appear officious and cover'd her malicious thoughts with a black dissimulation The ill-will she already bore to the Queen was augmented by a mischance which I must now recount for since you have ordain'd me to give you the truth of my Fortune stript of all disguise I am forc'd to tell you Madam though the relation may offend Modesty that my mishap and no other cause made me be lov'd of Salome I had already observ'd her affection by divers signs but was easily perswaded to slight my discovery either by a just anticipation which chain'd me to another the meanest part of whom was infinitely above all that Salome could boast lovely or by an imperfect knowledge I had already got of her dangerous humour however I was content to answer her extraordinary Caresses with such a civility as I believed was due to the Sister of Herod and if I received them at first with any satisfactions from that time wherein my life grew considerable because I had given it to the Qu. had begun to seek all that sweetness I could fancy in her only I had scarcely allow'd one single regard either to the face or actions of Salome For that day she cut off my further discourse with the Queen but I had liberty enough to renew it in those that succeeded the Court was not then very large every man fearing to provoke Herod's jealous and suspitious spirit but in all the Converse I had with her fear still fetter'd my tongue and I had not the confidence to disclose my thoughts further than what my eyes or sometimes a sudden change of colour could express In the mean time Herod either through generosity or those reasons I render'd still permitted me those liberties when Fortune presented an occasion to improve my credit with him Malichus who commanded the Arabians an ancient enemy to Herod with a powerful Army invaded the Frontiers of Judea committing a thousand Acts of Hostility it was since believ'd he kept intelligence with old Hircanus who as I told you liv'd at Hierusalem in the condition of a private man without any craft or cognizance of affairs and with the Princess Alexandra however it was Herod uniting his dispersed forces with exceeding diligence had soon gather'd a considerable Army and not being able to go in person because of some troubles he suspected at home besides his intended voyage to go visit Augustus Caesar then at Rhodes he put his Brother Pheroras in the head of it I was asham'd that I had employ'd all my youth in running away from death and desiring leave of the King that I might accompany his Brother in that expedition he not only consented but gave me the command of all the Cavalry I parted very well pleas'd with the employment and endeavoured to sweeten the grief I took to leave Mariamne with a hope to merit her esteem by some action of Valour I will not trouble you with the particulars of this War and shall only content my self to tell you that by an excess of good fortune I acquired a reputation large enough in the Ingagements made with my Troops I defeated the Enemy in divers Encounters which I had still the hap to Signalize by some personal action In one Combat which was obstinately disputed with a Squadron of our Troops I kill'd the Brother of Malichus with my own hand and a few dayes after having surpriz'd half the Enemies Army at a pass upon a River I charged it with 4000 Horse I had then with me with so strange a success that we kill'd above 8000 Arabians upon the place and routed the rest with such a grand confusion that they left all their Baggage to our souldiers By this and the precedent encounters I had acquired as much credit in the Army as I could well desire and Herod receiving the news conceiv'd an opinion of me so advantagious as within a short time after having call'd home his Brother Pheroras to the Government of the State during his voyage to Augustus he desired me to accept the Command of the Army in Chief rather chusing to repose so weighty a trust in me though young and a Stranger than in any of his old and more experimented Captains After the departure of Pheroras I had the sole Command and Fortune that had favour'd my beginnings did so well second her kindness in what follow'd that at last I entirely chased the Arabians out of Judea after they had lost above 1000 lives in divers encounters Thus when all was pacified upon the frontiers and we had no more enemies to combat after the Garrisons were fortified I returned towards Jerusalem less satisfied with the applause was prepar'd me for my good success than with the hope of being suddenly restor'd the sight of Mariamne and to see her at such a time when I believ'd the service I had done her Countrey had purchased some esteem in her thoughts But oh Gods how surpriz'd was I at a sad report I met with upon the way which told me that Herod was departed from Rhodes with design to gain the same credit with Augustus that he had with Antony but before his departure had caused old Hircanus to be strangled out of suspition that he kept intelligence with Malichus and that great Princess his Grand-child with her Mother to be shut up in a Castle or rather a close Prison near the City under the Guard of Sohemus and Joseph with express order to restrain their liberty and forbid them all converse till he came back again This News not only moderated the contentment I took in my return and the successful event of my expedition but possest my spirit with astonishment horror compassion I was amaz'd at the cruelty of Herod who holding his Life and Scepter of Hircanus goodness though he was then fourscore had not the patience to stay till Nature would relinquish him to his Tomb the horrour of this act and the sad pity I had for the affliction and captivity of Mariamne bruis'd my Soul with a grief so weighty as I was ready to give over all resistance Arsaues and my Governour Polites seeing my sorrows swell to such a proportion as they thought too big for my interests in Herod's house earnestly entreated me to undisguise the cause of it At first I resisted but in fine considering the little reason I had to distrust them after they had given such clear proofs of their affection I abandon'd my secret to their discretion and avowed my violent passion for Mariamne This confession surpriz'd them though well knowing what charms the Queen possessed and after they had in vain represented all the reason they could make to extinguish my flame they disposed themselves to serve me at the peril of their lives I was a little comforted with the protestations they made me and began to judge their advice not unserviceable for the conduct of my desires I finished the rest of my journey with such a setled Melancholy that the reception I
as we had formerly appeared in Alexandria the Prince had a great number of Officers a large proud Equipage and indeed wanted no respect that was fit for the Son of a mighty King in his Fathers Court. His proper name and true birth were only known to such as the King honour'd with most confidence Among the rest he pass'd under the name of Cleomedon for a Prince only a Kin to Cleopatra and something allied to King Hidaspes Tyridates at that passage interrupted Eteocles Though I have been ignorant of Caesario 's destiny said he I have heard of Cleomedon and the distance that divided us could not hinder renown from bringing his name among us and with it the report of his grand actions that carried it Under that name reply'd Eteocles my Prince did things considerable and such as doubtless their reputation reach you but I shall relate them in their order You know the Aethiopians are black but the Kings having been oblig'd by reason of State to make Alliance with their neighbour Princes and so espouse white women have partly lost that scorched complexion of their Family This King who was born of a white Woman was only a little swarthy and the Queen his Wife who died a year before we arrived in Aethiopia being purely white and a most beautiful Princess brought forth a Daughter that not only Heir'd her Mothers complexion but became mistriss of so fair a Beauty as made her the wonder of her own and the better part of the World beside This was the fair Princess Candace and the same bright Queen now in your house which you deliver'd from the greedy waves where she had perish'd without your succour To come to the relation of her Life with my Princes I have begun you a Narration which though something remote from them will not altogether appear unnecessary and now I shall conduct your knowledge through all those accidents that compos'd the present fortunes of those two great Personages The Princess Candace exceeded not eleven years of age when we entred Aethiopia and we had not resided there above a year before my Prince render'd his Arms to her triumphant Beauty and deliver'd up unto it a precious liberty which he could no longer hold against the rare persections of that Princess This passion that entirely sez'd his Soul came seasonably to banish a dangerous grief and arrested him shortly after our arrival with the news of Cleopatra's deplorable end and the lamentable fall of that unfortunate Family This struck my Prince so deep that all the comfort we could urge had much ado to keep him from his Tomb nor had we so soon appeas'd his sorrow if Candace's beauty had not struggled more successfully with it than our arguments indeed it was half impossible for a Prince so born and newly entred an age capable of the sweet impressions of love to resist such uncommon puissance And though at first Caesario strove hard to preserve his liberty yet all his luctation fainted at last to the confession of his weakness and buckled to the yoke of a Tyrant that handled him more rudely because he resisted I did not disapprove the birth of this Passion for finding nothing in it fit to censure I no sooner knew it from my Prince but indulg'd him in it in stead of disswading He ever dearly lov'd and respected me and not only consider'd me as his Governour that had over-seen the growth of his greenest years but as him that had saved his life with the dangerous hazard of his own and to embrace his Interests had cashier'd all other thoughts that had eyes for his own This knit him to me with the tender ties of such a confidence as indeed was only due to the Queen his Mother He open'd his heart unto me so soon as he felt the wounds that Love had given it and having demanded my counsel and assistance and found me wholly dispos'd to contribute all to his desires Father said he at Love's first Alarm I feel a delightfull pain but because 't is cruel enough to rob me of my Rest me-thinks it resembles that Fire whereof I have oft heard the Queen my Mother and your self discourse and I fear it will usurp as much power in my Soul as it did in the unfortunate Antony Gods said he a while after what a bright wonder is this Princess Candace how impossible is it to see and not turn slave to her Beauty These words were accompanied with divers sighs which I had neither will nor power to condemn In the mean time his flame grew daily higher and in a short time made him a most ardent Passionist I shall forbear to importune you with the large discourses he made at the first sentiments of his Love and only insist upon some particularities that fell out in the blooming years of this young Couple and though I am willing to step hastily over those that I may bring them to an age more rational yet I cannot silence those passages which methinks deserved better than to be swallowed in oblivion The fair Aethiopian Princess was born to all those excellent advantages that the conspiring bounty of Heaven and Nature can bestow but the beauties of her Aspects which I presume you have noted are dim to those that shine within her Soul they began with her earliest youth to break out with such beams as were not to be seen but in her self her extraordinary vivacity was alwayes accompanied with a marvellous solidity a Judgement elevated above her Sex and Courage great enough to challenge a rank among Persons the most generous of this she hath given such clear proofs as will soon claim your Credit but before I pass to their recital 't is fit I stay upon something that preceded The Divine qualities of this Princess twisted such a respect with my Prince's affection that he long smother'd his sighs before he durst declare his Passion and though the sublimity of his Birth and the merit of his Person might have arm'd him with a boldness capable to attempt any thing and the tender age of the Princess younger by four or five years than himself might well have help'd to discard part of his fears yet he alwayes beheld her with so much respect as he wanted the assurance to serve himself with any of these advantages he daily saw her with more freedom than any of the other Princes that were educated in the Aethiopian Court and the King who dearly lov'd him gave him a more free and familar access to his Daughter than any of the rest She gladly admitted him a Companion to her Sport and though he had already a solidity that over-top'd his years yet his affection had found the way to sweeten the most serious and important employments he passed all his Evenings with her and in the day-time upon her Walks but still kept himself about her with so profound a reverence that he took no other advantage from the Princess civility to licence the declaration
wrought upon my spirit and running to the chamber door like a mad man I learned that after strong agonies Delia had begun to vomit up the poison and that by the vertues of the remedies which they had given her they hoped shortly to expel it all This success was conformable to their hopes and not to detain you any longer with this tedious passage I will tell you that a little after Delia having cast out all the poison found her self in so good a condition that the Physitians assured me of her life Certainly never was a Prince's pardon more sweet to Criminals who already beheld the sad preparations of death than that assurance was to my spirit which they gave me of the safety of my Delia and those from whom I received it received testimonies of it which might make them remember my acknowledgement as long as they lived Delia saw her self restored to a quiet condition those violent pains wherewith she had been tormented ceased by little and little her eyes partly recovered their accustomed brightness the pale wan colour wherewith her fair face was covered went away and if she did not presently regain all her beauties at least all the designs of death dis-appeared and we saw such a change in her as put us out of all apprehensions of danger O Gods how was I ravished at that time and what discourse can be able to make you comprehend the transports of joy to which I abandoned my self I was in such an extasie that I could not frame any rational discourse and embracing Delia's knees with passion much different from those I felt a little before Delia said I my dear Delia you are restored to me and the Gods have snatched you out of the arms of death to leave you entirely to me I know not replyed Delia to what intent they preserve me but the affliction you had for my death makes me receive the life they leave me with more satisfaction than I should have received it upon my own single interest These words full of acknowledgement and goodness transported me to new ravishments and looking upon Delia with eyes enflamed with love Ah! Delia said I with a sigh seeing the Gods render you to me and that 't is at my prayers rather than yours which were less ardent and less passionate that they restore your life will you render the miracle which they do only in my favour useless to me and will you henceforward oppose any obstacle to a felicity for which Heaven hath openly declared it self Do you not see that the pity of Heaven hath exceeded yours and would shew you by its example what compassion you should shew to me I had some other disdiscourse with her upon this subject and Delia having patiently hearkned to me gave me her hand and with a favour which she was not won't to do me pressing one of mine Prince said she to me I am obliged to your affection and I have received such pregnant proofs of it this day that I should be the most ingrateful person in the world if ever I should lose the remembrance of it Assure your self I will preserve it more dearly than my life and whensoever it shall be in my power to express my acknowledgment I shall do it with all my heart Some reasons oppose it at the present which you would not condemn if they were known to you but if I ever find my self in a condition that I may declare my thoughts to you without reproach I promise you before the Gods that I will free you from all those subjects of complaint which you suppose you have against me I satisfied my self with these words the best I could but I did not understand them and calling to mind by the likeness of it the discourse which she had begun when she supposed she was ready to die and was interrupted by the violence of her pain I requested her to proceed and prayed her as earnestly as I could possibly that she would perfect the discovery of her heart to me and not repent her self now I might make use of them of the good intentions she had for me at that moment when by reason of our approaching death I had lost all hope of enjoying them Delia continued a while without reply and then on a sudden turning her eyes upon my face with a sigh Philadelph said she I know not what it is you desire of me and I if made you any more particular discourse either the force of my distemper disturbed my sences or took away the memory of it since for I do not remember it Whether she spake truth or would not trust me any farther with her secret I did not press her any farther for fear of displeasing her and immediately after the Physitians having told me that by reason of the violent fits she had had she had need of some repose we retired into the Princess's Chamber who was little less interessed in the sickness and cure of Delia than my self The night was already come and all that day I had eaten nothing but then I supped with Andromeda and a little after I retired to my apartment where I took some repose The next day Delia grew a great deal better and we understood with much joy that within a few daies she might leave her bed Though I was moved with a just resentment at the attempt they had made upon her life and burned with a desire of revenging my self upon the Authors the fear I had to discover the shame of our house and to find the King culpable of so black an action hindred me from making strict inquisition after it and the King whom I believed thenceforth to be innocent of it and who had protested to do justice suspecting the Queen for it not without great probability was affraid of the success of the business on her behalf if he should prosecute it any farther but not being able to take my revenge upon those cruel persons I resolved at least to hinder the new effects of their cruelty and as long as Delia kept her bed I would not suffer her to take any nourishment but what I first tasted of my self letting those poisoners know by that precaution that they could not attempt upon her life without taking away of mine In the mean time I saw not the King and the resentments which my suspicions had caused in me against him would have lasted a long time if the same day that Delia left her bed in the effects which my displeasures had produced both in my body and mind had not thrown me into a violent Fever I neglected my distemper at first but within a few daies it so augmented that the Physitians began to be in fear of my life In effect I had so tormented my self for Delia's sickness that my body could hardly chuse but suffer for it and I had continued too long subject to such passions as deprived me of repose not to receive some alteration in my health
Path nor Retreat In the Estate wherein he was nothing being more odious to him than life which he so neglected that few dayes would have put an end thereto had not the diligence of his Squires prevented He left off those fair and famous Arms which under the Name of Alcimedon had rendred him so well known in Dacia and all other places where he carried them and delivering them to his Esquires to keep he covered himself with black ones in their stead imbroydered they were with branches of silver underneath which he doubted not to remain unknown I will not relate his continual sorrows wherein he alwayes reserved a profound respect for Menalippa not permitting himself the consolation of a murmur against her commands At length he arrived upon the Frontiers of Dacia and his Esquires not knowing what would be his Design saw him fall sick of a Disease which proceeded from his Grief and had like to have brought him to his Grave they found the commodity to conduct him to a little Town though against his will where they concealed both his true Name and also that of Alcimedon by his own order and there they serv'd him so carefully that what neglect soever he had for his life they preserved it by their diligence and intreaties yet could not this health be restored in some Months during which time though he yielded to the will of his Esquires and received the succors of nourishment which they gave yet he lived in such a manner that his life could not be properly called any other than a continual death In the mean while the great Discourse was concerning the preparations against Scythia and being perfectly cured of the indisposition of his body he left the little Town to continue his Journey hearing that the Rival Princes had joined their Troops with those of the Queen of Dacia and had begun their march towards Scythia What Despair soever possessed his Soul and how great an indifference he shewed to all things that regarded not the cause of his grief he could not but kindle at this report and as he loved Honour as dearly as Menalippa and alwayes preserved great tendernesses and respects for his Father the almost extinguisht flame of courage began to rekindle neither could his mortal sadness forbid him to go whither his Honour and Paternal Love and the hatred he bare to those presumptuous Rivals call'd him He found himself daily more and more confirm'd in this solution but it was resisted by the love of Menalippa and considering that he could not take up Arms for his Father without turning them against his Princess he knew not how to satisfie both his duty and his love nor please the one without offending the other How would he say shall I not succor the King my Father against those unworthy Rivals who perhaps aim more at his Life than his Kingdom And alas replied he How shall I fight against Menalippa to whom maugre her cruelty I will perserve a faith inviolable so long as I live But ah I must not leave the King my Father without assistance in the extremities to which his life may be expos'd so long as I can hold a Sword and yet shall I carry my Arms against Menalippa No the dues of Nature cannot disingage me from those of love With these Contests he grievously tormented himself visiting many unknown Provinces or rather many Forrests and horrible Desarts where he ordinarily sought his Retreats unable to to take any certain resolution and I think he would have remained irresolute to the end without being able to declare either against Love or Nature if in passing near a Temple of Apollo famous for the Oracle it gave he had not consulted that god at the solicitations of his Esquires whose answer was thus THE ORACLE Go Thy Father help thy Mistress see And so Repress that Grief which presseth thee This Answer so clear beyond the custom of the Oracle wrought very much upon the spirit of Alcamenes and resolved the doubt of what resolution he ought to take and something eleveated his abated hopes he resolved therefore without weighing the business any further to march and succor his Father and Countrey and he fancied that by the command of the Oracle which injoined him to revisit his Princess he ought to hope for a change in his Fortune the storm of that anger which made her banish him being blown over These meditations dissipating part of his sadness gave him his health and intire forces and put him into a condition of serving his Father against the lovers of Menalippa He entred Scythia a few dayes after covered with the same black Arms he had born ever since his depart from Tenasia and marcht directly to the City of Serica where the King made his abode but before he got thither he understood that the King was gone to meet the Enemy and by good Fortune lighting upon Two or three thousand Horse which were the last Levies of the Province of the Issedons and the choice of Oronte's Cavalry Alcamenes made himself known unto them and putting himself at their Head marcht with all possible speed to Nicea and reacht it on the day of Battel as I have related On this manner the Prince Alcamenes passed his life since his depart from Tenasia and because there hapned nothing memorable to him during that time I have comprised it in a few words but will relate at large the following Events which seem to me more worthy your attention Scarce had the Prince whose resentments were divided betwixt Love and Duty rendred as he thought what was due to the one but he felt himself sollited to do the same Justice to the other and as in succouring the King his Father he had obeyed part of the command of the gods he believed to that whereby they commanded him to see the Princess Menalippa was due an equal obedience and he found himself powerfully enough carried by his inclination though he had not been obliged thereto by Religion He already resolved of the order he ought to take though it was not without trembling that he disposed himself to appear before Menalippa and it may be valiant as he was he would never have had the assurance to have done it if by the command of the gods he had not been incouraged and by the success of the beginning he had not expected a like event to the last effects of his obedience The morrow so soon as he was up he called Cleomenes a young man whom he loved dearly and who had been nourisht with him in age and person so like they were that a great part of the Scythians supposed him a subreptitious Child of the King Orontes he had indeed exceedingly the hair of the Prince whereby you might judge him next to Alcamenes the handsomest man amongst the Scythians he waited not on Alcamenes in his Travels because he was not with him in the Province whence he departed having a little before sent him to the
what reasons soever he had to the contrary he had taken Menalippa out of Prison dismist her Chains and given her an Apartment in the Palace with order to serve her like a Princess of her Birth Alcamanes peaceably hearkned to the King and when he had left speaking My Lord said he if you love the life of the unfortunate Alcamenes Treat Menalippa not as his Murtherer but as his Princess and Soveraign Queen in taking away mylife she only takes her own and when she pierceth this heart by a thousand wounds she only outrageth her self In the Name of the gods my Lord Order that instead of Prisons and Irons that they give her Crowns and Scepters if she will receive them from us and if she refuseth them from an Enemy detain her no longer in a Captivity which cannot but be odious to her and cause her to be conducted into Dacia with an Equipage sutable to so great a Princess and the Heir to so great a Kingdom Do me this favour my Lord if you will that I dye satisfied or live so long as the gods shall please to permit and in reward of that fidelity which I will preserve for this memorable Princess to my Tomb obtain the favour of her my Lord that before my last sigh I am injoy her sight a moment though it be only to receive reproaches from her fair mouth which will make me either the more contentedly dye or give forces to prolong this life as you desire He had said more if the King who beheld with what passion he made this Discourse had not left him promising to indeavour what he desired on condition that he would perform his part for the preservation of his life Alcamenes promised the King all that he would that he might obtain what he desired and the tender King without deferring it longer went into the Apartment where they guarded Menalippa This Princess who had appeared before him with shame in a mans Habit had now taken the Garments of her own Sex and the King seeing her in a posture wherein she had not appeared unto him could not refuse her the respect due to so extraordinary a beauty and his heart being touched to the quick with Alcamenes's desire he accosted the Princess no more as a Criminal but as the absolute Mistress of his Sons Destiny and tendring her the honour due to her Quality Princess said he Alcamenes dyes as you desire and the sooner cause you desire it he shall dye full of dissatisfaction if he first sees you not free and conducted into Dacia so soon as you desire in a condition conformable to your Birth I vow I should not have been so generous as to have permitted you to depart gloriously with the life of my Son and of a Son worthy a better Destiny but since it is his Will and possibly the last Will of this unfortunate Prince you are free and may depart this odious Countrey when you please I only ask this one thing of you if the prayers of a King whom you have rendred the most unhappy Prince upon Earth may touch you that you will permit Alcamenes to see you a moment and give you his last adieu This favour such as it is is possibly due to the reparation of the injury you have done me and it ought not to be refused to a Prince who receives from you his Deaths wound with so much respect and resignation Menalippa was not only astonish't at these words but she also resented a mortal affliction to find so much generosity in persons against whom her hatred ought to extend even to the utmost extremities And unable to dissemble the first resentments that presented themselves to her spirit Immortal gods cryed she can it be that a man who by so much wickedness hath arm'd me against his life should testifie so much vertue in the rest of his Actions Or must it be that Barbarians become innocent only to render me more guilty My Lord continued she turning towards the King I will see Alcamenes since you desire it not as the price of that life and liberty which you offer me and which I refuse nor to express any Repentance of the evil I have done him but to make him confess before you as he confest to me in our Combat that 't is not the Fathers offence which hath arm'd me against the Son and that the cruel Treason which he hath committed is worthy of a death less glorious than that which possibly he hath received from the hands of Menalippa your interest in his misfortune hath touched me and I shall be well satisfied that you learn from his mouth that which will partly justifie the injury I have done you In saying these words she walked towards the Apartment of Alcamenes with the King who accompanied her followed by Belisa who left her not and gave no time to the King to advertize the Prince of her coming The Curtains were drawn in Alcamenes's Chamber to exclude the light and the Bed was placed in a corner so obscure that one might enter the Chamber and approach the Bed without beholding his face but the passionate Prince beheld attentively that of the fair Princess and was so strucken that his forces were unable to support him Menalippa unwilling to make a long stay in the Chamber of Alcimedon's Murtherer and desiring to explain her self in a few words she cast an assured regard on that side where she saw the Prince and doing violence to her self that she might speak Alcamenes said she I come at the desire of the King thy Father to present thee the face of that unplacable Enemy whom thy black Treason hath arm'd against thy life even to the last moment of hers 't is thy Crime and thy Destiny which hath rendred me cruel and not my inclinations and thou art not ignorant that that black Action which the forrests and obscurities have hid hath made me return into thy bosom so just a vengeance Declare to the King thy Father that which thou didst confess to me or rather discover a Crime whereof thou didst boast in our Combat Modesty hath made me hitherto hide the interest I have therein even in the extremities whereto it hath carried our lives I will pass by thee whom I have no intent to satisfie and give thee to the justification I owe to the King thy Father that which I have refused to the repose of the Queen my Mother if the gods will prolong thy dayes and defend them against the Arms of Menalippa after the sight and repentance of thy Crime thy life will be more tranquill and if it be their Will that thou dyest of the wound I have given thee thou wilt justifie me amongst men and make that known for a just vengeance which by misunderstanding passeth for an effect of rage and cruelty I am not troubled at the loss of my life if in sacrificing thine I have satisfied the Ghost of him I love Thus spake Menalippa and she
And want of skill bad me not write Yet Love said do though it be poor 'T will borrow lustre form his light A piece of Gum that from a free heart comes May shew true Love as well as Hecatombs A. LOVEDAY To my much esteemed Friend and Dear Brother Mr. Robert Loveday upon his happy labours of Translating CLEOPATRA WERE yet alive the Cleopatra fair Candace Elisa or Grand Caesar's Heir With th' Heroes of those times they 'd all allow They ne're such Lustre did receive as now What ever other Authors written have Had buried layn in dark Oblivion's Grave Or been deprived of the greatest Glory That all acknowledge due to such a Story But that thy Pen renew'd and imp't the Wings To their Illustrious Fame repeating things In quainter and conciser Terms than they Spurn then at Envie 's Plots contemn all them That strove to rob the World of such a Gem Or pay th' Opposers thanks since th' Others pain Serves as a foil to that Politer strain J. Wright To my very much Honoured Friend Mr. Robert Loveday upon his matchless Version Entituled Loves Master-piece SIR there is nothing that offends me so Next to my sins as these Your Lines must go For a Translation which no less exceed The French than Fertile-Nile the Barren Tweed Which when the Delphick Sword of Him that Reigns Hath Conquer'd France made the steep Mountains Plains And laid both Dialects in common shall Be thought no Copy but th' Original For where the Author onlie doth abound With Graceful words here th' are with Fancy Crown'd What he wrapt up in Clouds of grosser Air Your LOVE distills in Phrase polite and fair Where he Confounds us with an irksom Night Your DAY Reviveth by his Gladsom Light Chawcer and Gowr our Language but refin'd You SIR true Chymist like have it calcin'd Hew'd out the Barbarous knots and made it run As smooth as doth the Chariot of the Sun Whilst French is but the Foil to let us see The Lustre of our Tongues Prosperity And this choice Work more fitly stiled is Not onlie LOVE' 's but LOVED AYES Master-piece G. Wharton HYMEN'S PRAELUDIA OR Love's Master-Piece The First BOOK ARGUMENT Prince Tyridates rescues Queen Candace from the Jaws of Neptune invites her to his Solitary Residence and there gives the relation of his Life His Extraction Education and strange escape from the inhumane Cruelty of his Brother Phraates the after Murther of his Father and all his Brethren The secret and open practices of his Brother's malice pursue him through the Courts of Armenia Media and Bithynia where he runs the hazard of his Life by the Treachery of King Pharnaces He flies into Judea is received and treated honourably by Herod Relates his cruelties Falls in love with Queen Mariamne and Salome Herod's Sister with him He commands in the War against Malichus the Arabian gives him many brave defeats and at last by a total overthrow drives him out of Judea returning finds Hircanus murdered He gains Sohemus to let him visit her discovers his affection which she vertuously rejects Herod's prosperous return from his Rhodian Voyage to Augustus He inlarges Mariamne Salome artificially insinuates her love to Tyridates but is civilly refus'd which half converts it into spight Tyridates often renews his research of Mariamne and is often confuted and repulsed by her wisdom and vertue which refines his affection THE Shades of night had not yet given place to the first blushes of the day when the sad Tyridates waken'd by his cruel inquietudes and not able to wait the approaching light left his solitary Mansion to breath his languishing body and amorous thoughts upon the Shore of Alexandria The Estate of his Mind with that of his Fortune furnish'd him with matter ample enough to entertain the hours and upon this employment he still bestowed the better part of his day his griefs were the most lively and his misfortunes the most violent that ever Soul was capable of representing And yet he fancy'd so much glory in those sufferings that cruelly as they us'd him he could neither hate nor desire the end of a misery to which he had consecrated the rest of his deplorable life He had given some moments to these sad considerations when lifting his eyes from the Earth where they had long been fix'd and sending a look toward the Sea they were encountred with an object capable to arrest them It was a great Fire which raising it self from the waves seem'd to climb Heaven with no other design than to seek a Refuge in its proper Centre from the Enemies it fled the flames in some places mix'd with thick smoak rowl'd themselves in great flashes towards the Stars and shot their sparks upwards so fiercely that they seem'd to contest for splendour with those lights wherewith the Firmament was then imbroider'd Tyridates judg'd with much likelihood that the flames could not rise from the Ocean's bosom unless sustain'd in some burning vessel which made his generous and compassionate inclination deplore their mis-hap that were involv'd in that combustion and wanting power to give other succours he sent the assistance of some Vows to Heaven for their deliverance Ah! devouring flames cry'd he You yet act your part with less power and cruelty than mine if you be not suddenly quench'd the materials will soon fail that feed your fury but my fire finds in my Soul an eternal punishment no hope of relief from a contrary Element nor end of such a substance as may ever burn without consuming With these were mingled many sighs that rose in throngs from his brest and in the mean time beholding the Fire with a serious eye he spy'd it grow pale at the dayes arrival which soon after disrob'd the Sea and Earth of all their Sables and thus his sight was no sooner set at liberty but surpriz'd again by a second spectacle which touch'd him more feelingly than the first Hespy'd some persons that had indeed escap'd the Fire and were now disputing for life with the liquid Element and striving with all their strength to gain the shoar which they saw already near them This little number was compos'd of two Women who ty'd themselves with fast embraces to a Plank that sustain'd them and a Man that swam behind and with all his power push'd it towards the Shoar as if he had only tender'd his own life to imploy it in the preservation of theirs yet he was grown so weary as the hope of making good his assistance began to languish for though the distance between the Ship and Shoar was not so great but a man might swim it in a calm yet the pains he had taken in thrusting forward the Ladies Plank added to what themselves had suffered by waters coldness the tossing of the billows a toil too rude to agree with their delicacy had render'd them so feeble as all their force was left was not able to reach the Shoar Oh! What Beauties were there expos'd to Thetis mercy how
and am well pleas'd to find my opinion not erroneous and lest you should believe her a mean Person that hath engaged so great a Prince to this long Narration I shall let you know before I give a more ample Relation of my life that I was born a Princess and am lawful Queen to one of the most puissant and Rich Empires of the world At these words Tyridates rose from his Chair and making an obeisance as low as the verge of her Robe demanded pardon for the faults his Ignorance had committed the fair Queen made him the same excuses and when they had allow'd some time for this Discourse Tyridates being return'd by the Queens intreaty to his Seat thus pursu'd his Story I was born under an unfortunate Planet and those which consulted the Stars at my Nativity did all find me menaced by most malicious influences especially the Mathematician Thrasillus who before his Youth had done blooming had acquir'd a great reputation in that Science and does at this day pass for one of the Worlds living Wonders he saw me in Armenia which I visited in one of my unfortunate Voyages after he had perused some lines in my Hand and Face and been inform'd of the day and hour of my Birth he foretold my Miseries should not end but with my Life that neither should long continue that I was threatned with a Death which should be neither Violent nor Natural but participating something of both In my first Childhood I was nourished in the King my Fathers Court with a great number of Brothers of which I was the youngest Pacorus and Phraates being 16 or 18 years elder than I. I was not 8 years old when my Brothers the Princes Pacorus and Labienus broke into the Territories of Asia that obeyed the Roman People defeated Saxa and swel'd with their lucky success ravaged Cilicia with a part of Syria it may be you have heard of the progress they have made in so short a time But the end was much different for the following year they were defeated and unluckily slain by the Roman Army commanded by Ventidius Lievtenant to Antonius After the death of Pacorus the Prince Phraates my Brother not much short of his Age being already married succeeded to the Helm of the Parthian affairs for the King our Father beginning to stoop under his years desired the Comforts of a Calm Age and to be releas'd of the Troubles which his Youth had sustain'd At my tenth year the King sent me to a little City upon our Frontier where usually the Parthian Royal Infants were educated and there the Prince Pacorus had learn'd part of his Exercises I took some pains at mine with a success fruitful enough to content my Tutors and after I had there imployed about four years time and began to think of being called home to my Fathers Court I understood it had been lately dyed with bloud and that bloud Royal newly drawn from my poor murthered Brothers this Act hath been too well known to all the world for the honour of Arsacides whose name to all ages will stand blotted with eternal Obloquy the cruel and ambitious Phraates unworthy of the Race and Memory of Arsaces desirous to make sure of that Authority which he feared his Brothers might one day find means to disturb caused them to be barbarously slain and the aged King our Father for making his grief appear in his just complaints and declaiming against his detestable Inhumanity in some terms that displeas'd provoked him to compleat the Horror of this Age and the Infamy of Royal Dignity by the addition of Parricide thus punishing no other Crime in his murder'd Father than the giving life to that Cut-throat of him and all his Off-spring I had shar'd the same Fate with my Brethren if he that was dispatch'd with the bloudy Commission to the City where I was had not been touched with the sense of vertue and a respect due to the Extraction of Kings In stead of executing Phraates command he sav'd me from his Cruelty and having inform'd me in few words of my Brother 's deplorable Murther for that of the King my Father was not yet perpetrated with the charge he had given him But Arsanes said he will sooner choose a thousand ways to perish than consent to dip his hands in his Masters Bloud let us save our selves Young Prince and evade the dire design of that savage Monster that would destroy us I intirely resigned my self up to his conduct and being followed by my Governour with five or six Servants that were willing to run my Fortune I got to Horse and though I had scarce attained to 14 years I exposed my self to the hardship of a painful Journey uncertain to save a life which I never yet could own with comfort Thus I first grew miserable and began at an early age to inure my self to Banishment and thus I have learn'd to hope no better than to finish my disgrace and my dayes together Arsanes first conducted me to the Court of Armenia where the King keeping no very friendly correspondence with Phraates and not willing in his behalf to violate the right of Nations received me into his protection In that Court I enjoyed some Tranquility Besides what the King allowed me Arsanes had brought a quantity of Jewels valued at about a thousand Talents which the King my Father to whom he disclos'd the design he had to save me had given him at his departure but Fortune soon shew'd how much my repose displeased her by the Calamities that befell the good King that had given me shelter who most unfortunately fell with all his Family into the hands of Antony her Enemy and was led bound to Queen Cleopatra who some time after with most barbarous Inhumanity caus'd his head to be struck off This Disaster which doubtless you have heard being important enough to spread over the whole Earth sent me to seek another Sanctuary which Arsanes would needs have to be the Court of Media betwixt whose King and the King Orodes there was some alliance there I found the retreat I desired and staid two or three years In that time there happened the ruine of Antony and Cleopatra the establishment of Augustus Caesar in the Roman Empire and many other Revolutions in which the whole World was concerned The cruel Phraates often sent to demand me of the Median King but could never dispose him to put me into his hands yet after he had made many Incursions upon his Territories he at last obtain'd his promise to protect me no longer At Praaspa the Capital City of Media I receiv'd his Orders to retire colour'd with divers excusive reasons which laid the blame upon Necessity From whence I went into Bithynia where I was received by the old King Pharnaces who for two years time treated me with Humanity enough but at last the baseness of his nature shew'd it self And indeed what faith could I hope for from a disloyal wretch that
the reasons why the fair Queen detested her savage Husband it was then my eyes lost me all my repose by lifting themselves to that divine Princess The beauty of Mariamne was not like common ones to be seen without a dangerous wonder the eye of Man never saw any thing more perfect and till this day I believ'd none but young Cleopatra capable of comparison he that was sent by Antony to make discovery of the Worlds choicest Beauties publish'd her a piece that surpass'd humanity and to speak my opinion freely Madam your self excepted and that young Princess Daughter to the great and unfortunate Cleopatra I think the World cannot shew another that may equal her These words charg'd the Queens modesty with a blush and interrupting Tyridates I have not vanity enough said she to believe that what you call my beauty can challenge an equality with the Queen Mariamne 's I am better aequainted with her face than you imagine for we have often view'd at our Court the Pourtrait both of her and her Brother the Prince Aristobulus and indeed acknowledged them for the exactest Pieces that ever the hand of Nature drew It is true reply'd Tyridates the Princess Alexandra ravish'd as well as others with the beauties of her children had caus'd their Pictures to be drawn and sent to divers parts of the World but Madam had it been in the power of Art to represent her soul as well as her body your eyes had yet been entertain'd with better wonders all that report ever spake of the most sublime and refined vertue will but serve to express but an imperfect Ray of Mariamne 's worth and in those great and frequent occasions that call'd her to the tryal she gave proofs of it that could not be seen and not admir'd Her Constancy shin'd in her afflictions her patience in the persecution which she suffer'd without the least repining and that prodigious force of spirit taught her to endure a Husband whom she had so much reason to hate and one so contrary to all her inclinations fix'd her like an unshaken Rock beat off all the batteries of her Malignant fortune and took all those outrages in which another spirit would have found out reason for revenge with a temper that never so much as bow'd it self to the least thought that might unbeseem the Grandeur of her Courage And since Mariamne was thus was it possible for Tyridates not to love her having a heart susceptible of Love's Impression and a soul capable to comprehend the Divine Qualities of Mariamne was it possible to defend it self by the consideration of Vertue from such a puissance when vertue her self came and help'd to give the passion Birth Nor did it ever inspire me with a thought that might justly offend her I lov'd Mariamne with no intent to improve my hopes by the abuse of her vertue but because Love had no stronger Arms than what that lent him to make himself Master of my Soul and I lov'd Mariamne because it was impossible to see to know and not to love her Yet I endeavour'd to put my heart in a posture of Resistance and to the birth of my affection often oppos'd all the difficulties I could encounter in my intentions the danger I threw my self into and the remembrance of that which I ow'd to my Protector but all these considerations were too feeble to defend me one Look one Word from Mariamne would in a moment destroy all the Fortifications against her that had been three months a rearing Then I began to arm the Glory against the difficulties I had to vanquish the peril I slighted by undervaluing my Life and excus'd my self to Herod with the violence Mariamne did me my affection not being an effect of my Will and further Madam I confess I suffered a hope to flatter me of being let into the Queens Bosom by that just aversion which the King had given her for as I understood it the love of a Wife to her Husband founded either upon Inclination merit or obligation is the best weapon she can take up to oppose the pursuits of a Lover and the Queen having such strong reasons to dispence with all those ties had now no other defence than for her self singly considered no fear of remorse left for a Husband who had but too much merited all the revenge she was capable of taking and from that time I began to call in these apprehensions my Passion grew able to corrupt the most vertuous inclination to render me ingrateful to my Benefactor and to induce me now no more to regard him as my Protector from Phraates but as he that murder'd the Brother the Father and Grandfather of Mariamne Then Jealousie began to joyn with my affection and I could not reflect upon the advantages he possessed without deeply sighing and a thousand times crying out that the Favours of that fair Queen were more lawfully due to him who was willing to buy them with his best services and dearest bloud than to the man who had paid nothing for them but Indignities and injuries When Love first entred my heart it us'd me gently hiding those cruel Idea's of torment he hath since inflicted but now it hath taken an entire possession and doth exercise an authority which leaves no liberty to act by any other motion than his own all my thoughts all my discourse all my actions had no other subject but Mariamne nay my very sleep whose proper office it is by benumming the Senses to charm all our Cares would not quiet mine still representing to the eies of my Soul when the other were clos'd the Divine Perfections of Mariamne This continual fixing my Spirits rob'd me of all repose and produced effects that were soon observ'd both in my face and behaviour and though the care I took to hide it kept the true cause undiscover'd yet it could not hinder the whole Court from taking notice of my deep melancholly accompany'd with an unnatural Paleness a change of my Humour and an alteration of my Health Arsanes and my Governour from whom I never before kept any thing conceal'd in this were Strangers to my thoughts and I preserv'd the disguise with my best Care rather out of respect to my Passion and the cause of it than any doubt of their Affection or Fidelity In the mean time my access was so easie that I daily saw the Queen For the hopes which Herod cherished by my means to revenge himself of the King of Parthia had made him sweeten his savage humour on purpose to indear me with a kind entertainment A thousand times was my tongue ready before that adorable Princess not openly to declare my Passion for I had not the daring to take such a liberty before a Vertue that made me tremble but at least to let her know that no man had a more passionate Interest in her fortune or could pay down his life with greater joy than my self to purchase Solace for her affections But still fear
Court was then more glorious than ever the King highly pleas'd with the success of his Affairs and having nothing else to subdue that might keep him from getting above the reach of Fortune but the spirit of Mariamne he sought all sorts of occasions to divertize her but if the Queen whose griefs were gone too deep to be sweetned with the vain shadow of pleasure took little notice of it I was not less incapable than she of tasting any jollity and my remembrance kept the deep graven Characters of my Love and her Anger so fresh in my Soul as all the splendor and pomp of Herod's Court wanted power to charm them I still saw her every day because she forbad it not but I scarce durst open my mouth in her presence scarce lift up my eyes to her Face instructing all my actions to inform how deeply the fear to displease her was engraven in my heart yet neither her looks nor her actions exprest any sign of aversion indeed she had a Soul too beautiful too sweet an inclination to loath a man who had only offended with Affection since she had much ado to return hatred where it was deserv'd by such bloody Injuries but believing she could not hear my Love plead farther without offending Virtue she avoided all occasions of Discourse as much as possible and though she still spake to me with much affability yet she never did so but in Company and so contriv'd it that we never exchang'd words without a witness though this behaviour of hers could not give me an entire satisfaction yet it left me no cause of complaint and the knowledge I had of her admirable Virtue having extinguisht with my hopes a part of those flames her Beauty had kindled I learn'd to think my Passion sufficiently rewarded by the esteem she had of me Indeed there was never any person loved with less interest and with Truth I may say I loved Mariamne for her self alone nor in all the process of my Passion did I ever consider Tyridates In this manner I liv'd a whole year and though my eyes did all the Messages of my Love yet she might easily read in all my Actions that it had lost no ardour and that my sufferings were therefore more cruel because they stood in awe of Respect At last my perseverance link'd with discretion which she knew by a thousand marks touched her with compassion I say compassion for Love could never be admitted And what she did since in my favour did all proceed from a motion so purely generous as the most perfect Virtue was engaged to commend it nor could it be censured by any without Injustice Her heart which was neither Stone nor Brass suffer'd it self to be softned with pity but it was never capable of an impression not conform'd to the severe Rules of her Duty she could not see a Prince languishing so many years a Prince dying for her but dying in a fashion so respectful and obliging and dying without complaining of the cause of his death or of death it self and not give some proofs that Nature made her sensible but she would rather have suffer'd him to die nay died her self than let in the least thought to her Soul of pitying him to the prejudice of her virtue I was so happy in the conduct of my Passion and had carried so much caution in all my Actions that Herod the most jealous and distrustful of all men had not yet the least suspition of me and this discretion was not undervalued by the Queen I was one day in her Company with the King Pheroras Salome and some other of the chief Courtiers in the Palace-garden where we had walked a long time and where I had done my best to evade the pursuits of Salome who had then been trying having too much courage to give me her naked Passion to make me spy it in her Actions and understand it by a thousand ambiguous Discourses when the King who had walked all this time with the Queen alone being oblig'd by some important Affairs to retire he call'd me to him and giving me the Queens hand which till then himself had held I leave you to Prince Tyridates saith he and I cannot put that which I tender more dearthan my self into better hands than his Try if you please to divert her from her deep Melancholy To these words I returned no other Answer but an action â—â—ll of reverence and respect and considering how my condition stood with the Queen I durst not adventure to take her hand till she tender'd it her self with a countenance that did put on a world of sweetness And thus I helped her to walk without daring either to open my mouth or to look upon her Her behaviour was a long time like mine but at last she broke silence and took this opportunity to declare what her heart had for me Tyridates said she if the King knew your intentions he would not put me into your hands with so much confidence and since they were known to me I ought to have hindred it I could easily have done so if my will had consented and probably I had too if I had not believ'd I might permit your converse and acquaint you with my thoughts without interessing what I owe to him or my self Know then Tyridates that the first notice I had of your malidy gave me some resentment against you but the progress of it compassion I have truly pitied the estate you are in and cannot without grief see a Prince to whom Heaven hath given such excellent qualities pass his life in a condition so miserable But in fine Tyridates what are your pretences and if you have judged me worthy of your esteem what can you hope for of me Think you I can license in your favour the least Act that may satisfie your Passion I say the least for I did believe you could harbour a thought to my Dishonour I would look upon you as a Monster as a mortal Enemy Do you think the little content I have with Herod and the remembrance of the wrongs he hath done me can turn my affections upon another because less worthy of my aversion Is it upon this thought you build your hopes if so Tyridates disabuse your self and believe that if Heaven hath made me miserable by submitting me to this cruel man I will never consent to merit my misfortunes by my actions though my forlorn hap hath married me to him it shall never match me to his Crimes I would not be so ungrateful to the goodness of Heaven that is ever sending Comfort to my Miseries nor so unworthy of your estimation For my sake Tyridates consider these Truths since they are represented with as much mildness as much affection as I can keep for you with Reasons leave call up the greatness of your courage to give a brave assault upon your self and propose this ruinous passion to your thoughts as an Enemy you ought to fear as an
Enemy that would destroy you and probably me too unless you vanquish it The Queen ended with these words which I heard with admiration and during the Discourse having ralli'd part of the confidence fear had scatter'd I made it serve me to answer these terms I am unworthy Madam of this favour you have given me and since I have merited your Displeasure 't is fit I should perish for the expiation rather than reserve my self for such a pity as you lately mentioned nor should my tongue ever hazard a second purchase of your indignation if that generous bounty which keeps company with the rest of your admirable Virtues did not allow me liberty to justifie my thoughts before you I will adventure then to tell you That Love as I apprehend it can neither be odious nor considerable to the person beloved but by the effects it produceth since of it self it is obliging and advantageous even to the Creatures least capable of apprehension if my passion had hatched any desire within me contrary to your virtue you might detest it as a Criminal as an Enemy that would poison the purity of your Soul But if it shall never inspire any other than such as shall instruct me to revere those admirable qualities the Gods have given you to interest my self in your fortune and sacrifice my self for your interests where will you find a just occasion to condemn it Is it a Crime for Tyridates to do the homage of a pure veneration to the divine Beauties and Perfections of Mariamne Is it a Crime for Tyridates to give up all his thoughts and dedicate his whole time to this employment And is it a Crime for Tyridates to long for an occasion with the price of his Bloud and Life to buy repose for Mariamne Madam if I have other Thoughts other Desires than these punish me with all the rigour your first Resentments inspir'd you with and let the Divine Powers joyn with yours to compleat me the most miserable of all men But if you find in my Affection all the Innocence you require in the Gods name Madam give me leave to carry it to my Tomb it is a necessity which will never endure to be dispenc'd with a Favour which I conjure you by the remembrance of all that you hold most dear to grant me And if the place were clear'd of witnesses that I might be permitted to ask it at your feet I would never rise from thence till I had obtain'd it These words and the vehemence wherewith I pronounced them wrought upon the generous and tender Spirit of the Queen and stirred up such Thoughts as took her some time before she could get them out into Answer at length she dispos'd her self to it and as she was beginning we found our selves at the end of an Alley where turning to continue our Walk we spied Salome and the rest of the Company so near us as the Queen saw she should not have time to discharge her heart and seeing her Company staid to let us pass before we quitted the place she thus reply'd Tyridates If your Thoughts be such as you say I can find no just cause of Offence but were they yet more innocent I must counsel you and do with all my Soul crave of you if it be possible to discard them from your Heart since they cannot be but ruinous to your Repose and mine She said no more and whether it were that she was willing to pursue this Discourse no further or that she suspected the malicious spirit of Salome might ptobably raise a bad comment upon our privacy she joyn'd with the rest of the Company and would separate no more From this day I dated a happy change in my condition and believed my estate much more advantagious than formerly The Queen though she disapproved my research and saw the continuance of it with displeasure yet she endured it with a most noble patience that would neither suffer her to banish nor hate a Prince who ador'd her with a Devotion so pure and unbyassed as nothing in it could be found fit to censure and never hoping to advance farther in her favour I learn'd to stay my content upon what I had This began to restore my spirits and recal my colour and if my Face still shew'd some discontent it had a root in the Queens miseries and not mine The condition of this great Princess was deplorable and though the King loved her with an almost enraged passion such was her aversion to all the endearing passages of his love as She took them for so many effects of Heavens indignation and though her virtuous resolution held her to the severe rules of her Duty her great courage could not be pliable to such caresses as she believ'd not due to the destroyer of her Family and a man yet crimson'd with the blood of her nearest Kindred these disdains sometimes raised such tempests in the King as he was often ready to poure them upon her as the last effects of his fury but then would Love step in to check Anger and taking the reins from those raging Transports which he had suffer'd to get uppermost render'd him more soft and submiss than ever and sent him to seek that with Prayers and Tears which he could not obtain with all his menaces We were one day in the Kings Chamber whither he had invited the Queen and they standing together at a Window after some discourse which we heard not he proffer'd to kiss her but the Queen whether she thought such condescention injurious to Modesty in so great a Company or in effect follow'd the motions of a just Hatred recoil'd some steps back and turn'd away her head with disdain enough The King was so gall'd with this Action especially appearing before so many witnesses as all the power he could make was not capable to hide his Passion and beholding the Queen with eyes sparkling with rage and a Countenance on which Fury had spread it self You are unworthy said he both of the Honour was offer'd you and all those that went before it Go get you out of my Chamber and if you do not remember the destiny of your Fathers remember that I promise to make you know him for your King whom you now scorn to acknowledge for your Husband The Queen return'd no other answer to these cruel words than a disdainfull look which more provok'd him and saluting the Company without change of countenance quitted the Chamber to retire to her own The Kings Choler which had often produced horrid effects made the whole Company tremble only in me it missed that influence for all the prudence and discretion I could make had much ado to hinder my discontent from breaking loose and it was the consideration I had for the Queen and not my self that bridled it Yet not in such a manner but when I saw the Queen retire I hasted after and offer'd my hand to lead her to her Lodging But as her spirit was less
distemper'd than mine and had therefore more judgment at the Stern to apprehend how much the Civility I proffer'd might displease Herod and deeply endanger me she refus'd it and having no time to explain her thoughts she only made me a sign with hor Eye to retire I came back again to the King with much regret whom I had indeed displeased with this action but it was otherwise taken from me than it would have been from any one of his own Subjects he thundred still against the Queen in most bitter terms but seeing that without unmasking my inclinations it was in vain to speak in her defence with much constraint I silently heard all his injurious Language a few dayes after he was appeased by the powerful Ascendant the Queen had upon his spirit but he quickly relapsed again and their whole life was nought else but that continual Disorder which usually results from the incompatibility of Vice and Virtue In the mean time Salome had given so many clear proofs of her Affection as I could scarce any longer personate an ignorance and though she had still the power to foâ—â—id her self an open Declaration yet she had said enough and her actions had too well seconded her Discourse to permit me to doubt it I had sought all wayes to escape this discovery and when I was perfectly assured of the Truth yet I dissembled it as much as was possible Salome well judged by her actions and mine that I knew well enough what pinched her and this coldness kindled in her such a despight as in any Spirit but hers would have been capable to have quenched Affection We met one day at the House of Pheroras whom I often visited and who at that time was indispos'd after we had spent some time by the beds side Salome that longed to exchange some particular Discourse invited me to walk with her into an adjoyning Gallery pretending to shew me some Pictures I could not civilly avoid the snare and lending her my hand I led her thither where we entertain'd some time in perusing the Pictures wherein were represented the most memorable Events of the Judaick History there she shewed me so many admirable things as might pose the belief of all but those of their own Religion She pointed at some Captains which in the midst of their Battels with their Prayers staid the course of the Sun and gave a prodigious day to the Universe of others that opened the flanks of the Red-Sea for their Troops to pass through but she chiefly insisted upon the actions of David the greatest of their Kings and upon those of his Son Solomon which among them passed for a Miracle of Wisdom and relating in order the Life of that latter she particularly staid upon one Picture that represented a Beautiful Queen that fell so in love with the same of Solomon's Virtues as she abandon'd her Realm and travell'd a vast tract of Land to visit him Salome took occasion to assault me with this History having compriz'd it in a few words This Prince continued she was the wisest of all men and yet disdain'd not the affictions of a Prince that loved him but requited her with his to the satisfaction of all her Desires At these words Salome though in a little confusion beheld me with a fixed eye and by that action oblig'd me to answer her It was but just said I that a King so virtuous as you have spoken him should be flexible to so fair a Queen that had forsaken her Estate to eâ—â—pose her self to the hazard and inconvenience of a long Voyage to see him this enterprize was so considerable in the person of a great Princess as Solomon could not have been just as you have represented him 〈◊〉 he used her ingratefully You have said enough to convince your self said Salome and if these be your own thoughts you should consider what you owe to Princesses who 't is true have neither abandoned Realms nor traversed Provinces to see you but abandoned for your sake a Liberty more dear than Empires and trampled upon Obstacles more difficult to surmount than the incommodities of a Voyage This Discourse which I had alvayes feared put me to trouble past all dissembling and seeing my self oblig'd to reply I am too unfortunate said I to believe that ought can appear in the miseries of my Life but Subjects of Compassion the Affections of Princesses will doubtless find Objects more worthy of themselves and I am too far from imagining that a Wretch exiled from his Country persecuted by his King that hath no retreat upon Earth but what he owes for to the King your Brothers Bounty should triumph over those precious Liberties which are doubtless reserv'd for Persons more happy and for such as by the loss of their own with a long succession of faithful Service have deserv'd them Those that have bought them at a lower rate said Salome are more obliged than such as paid for them with Pains Blood and years of Service and without extream ingratitude they cannot prefer those things that have been dearly sold to such as have been liberally given them You are of this number Tyridates You evade the notice of Obligations that you may fly Occasions of Requital you are better esteem'd in Herod's Court than you desire to be and the Misfortunes of your Life are there less considered than the qualities of your Person You know this for truth though you force a cunning ignorance to disguise it You are too clear-sighted not to perceive it by a thousand actions and as many Discourses which have but too plainly declar'd it But disdain closes your eyes and ears and none but such a Soul as that you play the Tyrant with but would turn edge at your neglect yet she hath persevered many years in the same ardour and with much satisfaction would so continue her whole life time if you would let her hope that such a constancy should not go unrewarded While Salome pronounced these words her eyes let fall their looks upon the earth with all the signs of shame which she was not able to dissemble and indeed how should she when my self was so ashamed in her behalf as I had a harder task to hide it from her than to find words to answer her Madam said I after I had a while kept silence till now my Soul hath been so chain'd to the consideration of my Miseries as it hath not been capable of other thoughts and I have found so little appearance nay so little reason in what you have done me the honour to let me know as it could never have enter'd my imaginations 'T is this that must answer for the faults I committed and not a disdain which never grew in my Nature and which I should practise but unhandsomely The Gods have not given me those advantageous qualities to look up at a Fortune so little thought of and though it should offer it self indeed into my Arms in this wretched condition whereto
my Miseries have reduced me I think I should not have power to taste it Salome who could no longer doubt but that her Love was perfectly discover'd found my words and the action wherewith I pronounc'd them so disobliging that if it had been possible that very moment she would have thrown it off however she would no further advance a Parlie the beginning of which taught her to hope for little satisfaction in the sequel and turning back to Pheroras his Chamber in a fashion that shew'd the marks of Spight Oh! Well Tyridates said she your perplexities shall no more be redoubled by a Discourse so disobliging and since you are opprest with Affection there shall be care taken to free you of that importunity As we finished these words we enter'd the Chamber of Pheroras which stopp'd my Answer and she was so overcome with anger as all the time we staid together she would neither vouchsafe to speak or look upon me Since that day I began to understand her disposition of which I had already a very evil opinion and at my next conference with the Queen I had not power to conceal Salome's folly willing to prepossess her Spirit by a true relation lest the malicious Creature should render me some evil Office with her This relation provoked the Queens virtue to express more contempt and aversion for Salome than ever which after she had witnessed by some words she let fall against her Tyridates said she smiling are you so cruel then to Ladies that love you and a little after putting on a more serious look if you open these eyes to reason which passion hath shut up you will soon perceive that God doth punish your unjust Affection with another which your self disapproves and if Salome being married cannot hatch such Desires and not be wicked sure I that am in the same estate and having a King to my Husband cannot countenance yours without incurring the same sin you condemn in Salome Ah! Madam said I what a vast difference is there betwixt suffering an Affection pure and innocent as mine and persecuting with a vicious passion a person that loaths it and if ever my adoration shall oblige you to let fall any particular favour upon me how well may Salome serve to excuse it and then how little reason have you to consider a man which hath more right to the Title of Cruel Enemy than that of Husband I have often told you roply'd the Queen that you ought not to ground any hope upon that consideration nay though I were releas'd of all which is due to Herod yet I shall never forget what I owe to my self With such answers as these the Queen still gently confuted me and in these pleasing liberties of Discourse were stor'd my best advantages While this life lasted I was but too happy for my hopes had such weak encouragement to aspire at better Fortune from such a Virtue as Mariamne's as I did my best to bound my content in what I had The necessity I had of the aid of Sohemus made me open my heart unto him Besides by some Presents I had gain'd Philo the Queens Eunuch and Cleophe whom of all her maids she most trusted these persons though the Queen knew it not befriended me with their best industry and I had no hard task to get some confidence among them because I knew the whole Family detested the King Yet the Queen was ignorant of my influence upon her People which had she known she would never have suffer'd She avoided all occasions as much as possible of being alone with me and when she could not shun it she kept me in such awe to displease as I had scarce the daring to open my mouth yet sometimes I broke these chains and calling that commiseration to my succour which she ever had ready for my Miseries methought I tasted most delicious comforts in that very Liberty of speaking but when I presumed upon a large priviledge to take a Kiss from her Hand she would take such an anger into her looks as carried me to the extremities of grief and repentance In the mean time if the circumspection which I carried in all my actions deceived the eyes of Herod and his Court Salome as the most interessed and therefore the most clear-sighted of all others finding little cause to attribute this contempt of mine to any thing but anticipation set so much care and cunning awork to observe my looks and spy out all my actions as at last she began to gather part of the Truth but she had not then time to enlarge her Discovery because I soon after parted from Jerusalem and was oblig'd for a time to leave the Queen upon an occasion which I shall let you understand HYMEN'S PRAELUDIA OR Love's Master-Piece PART I. LIB II. ARGUMENT Phraates upon the old quarrel invadeth Judea with 30000 Parthians under the Command of his Lieutenant Barsapharnes they ravage and devast the Countrey about Samaria Tyridates is sent General by Herod with an Army to oppose them He sends a brave defiance to Barsapharnes which he stoutly accepts Barsapharnes is slain in the Fight and his Army totally routed Tyridates returns to Jerusalem and is welcomm'd by a general applause Salome plots his and Mariamne 's ruine by kindling Jealousie in Herod 's Breast which enrages him to a resolution of destroying Tyridates Mariamne gives him notice of it by a Letter Arsanes spills the Poyson as he was lifting it up to his mouth Tyridates with his Servants attempting an escape by flight finds the Streets all blocked up with Souldiers they endeavour to cut a passage with their Swords but oppressed with a Multitude are forced to take Sanctuary in the Temple The Contestation between Herod and the Priests about him Socius a Roman Senator interposes and threatens Herod to a Consent that Tyridates might go safely out of his Territories He conducts him out of Jerusalem Tyridates returns the same night in Disguise by Sohemus aid is admitted to the Queen takes a passionate leave of her and quits Judea goes to Rome and is Honourably treated by Augustus His Melancholy drives him from thence He is cast upon the Shore of Alexandria and so finishes his Story Eteocles commanded by Candace to acquaint her with his Fortunes begins with those of Cleopatra her Descent Beauty and rare qualities her Brother Ptolomie 's vicious inclinations by the wicked advice of his Counsellers he designes her Ruine she takes up Arms in her own Defence is overpow'red and besieg'd by him in Pelusium Pompey flies to him for Refuge after his Pharsalian Overthrow and is basely murder'd by his Command Caesar brings his victorious Army into Aegypt Cleopatra petitions his Protection against her Brother her Condition kindles Pity and her Person Affection in Caesars Heart He reconciles them Ptolomie 's treacherous intentions to murder Caesar being discovered he flies to open Arms. The Bloudy Sea-fight betwixt them wherein he is slain Caesar Crowns Cleopatra Queen of
Aegypt and privately marries her THe Barbarous Phraates seeing he could neither prevail with Herod to give me up into his hands nor put me to death which he had often solicited and being otherwise his mortal Enemy sent thirty thousand Parthians upon his Frontiers under the Command of Barsapharnes one of his Lieutenants and the very same that some years before had taken Hircanus and Phaselus Prisoners Barsapharnes did all the mischiefs in Judea that Hostility could exercise and made all that stood in his way without distinction feel his impartial Sword Yet his March was not kept so secret but before he entred Judea Herod that like a most prudent and vigilant Prince alwaies kept store of Spies in pay had a timely notice of it which made him rally his Forces with such diligence that before the Parthians had made any considerable progress he was grown strong enough to oppose them He would gladly have marched in Person but Mistrust the ordinary companion of Tyranny made him fear some palpitations in the heart of his Estate if he absented himself and therefore resolv'd to send one of his Lieutenants I had too much interest in this War not to seek the employment and all the regret I suffer'd to leave Mariamne was swallow'd with the greedy desire of glory and vengeance which drew me at the feet of Herod to ask the conduct of his Army He was very well satisfied with what I had already done in his Service and weighing the propriety I had both in the Motive and Success of that War he concluded he could not put his Forces into better hands than mine and therefore freely bestow'd the Command upon me So soon as my Equipage was ready I disposed my self to part from that place where I left the better part of my Soul The Queen who could not hate me though my Passion still perplext her was well pleas'd to hear the King had given me this Employment and told me in most obliging terms She had an opinion that I would bring home a fair encrease of Honour But when at the Even of my departure I desir'd she would give me a particular Audience and permit me to take leave of her in her Chamber without any further witnesses but those we suspected not she was deaf to my Prayer and after she had begun with some sharp words to shew me how much the Request displeased her No Tyridates pursu'd she with a milder look this Conference is not necessary I know already all you would say nor are you ignorant of what I have to answer you cashier these unjust desires if it be possible and believe it If a high esteem of your Virtues and a thousand wishes for your Happiness may requite your affections you shall never have cause to call me ungrateful Though these words were perfectly innocent yet the Queen fear'd they betray'd too much Favour and could not let them go without a blush wherein I read so much ravishing sweetness and fancied such advantages for my self that I found nothing in my condition that might patronize complaint I did all that was possible to obtain leave to write to her At first she return'd me a mild refusal but in fine she absolutely forbad me any further importunity I submitted to her without repining and being constrain'd to take leave of her in the presence of the King and the chief Courtiers I render'd the same respects to Salome who was then in the presence by this means avoiding a troublesome Discourse in which a particular farewel might probably have engaged me She well understood my intention and adding this to her former quarrel she could not keep her spight from breaking into her looks but when I bow'd to salute her after the Jewish mode she lifted up her head and thus whisper'd as low as was possible Signior Tyridates your Carriage is fair but somewhat dangerous I had no time to reply to this and indeed it had put me into so much disorder that I should hardly have found out fit words for an answer and this she understood so plainly by my looks as it powerfully served to confirm her suspition Thus I parted from Hierusalem and putting my self in the Head of the Army which attended my coming we marched towards Samaria where Barsapharnes had made some progress and already burnt some Villages with some little Cities that were not able to make resistance Madam I suppose you willing to learn the events of this War in a few words I shall endeavour therefore to contract a Narration that may sound too harsh to your tender Ears and only tell you that I advanced by great Marches towards Barsapharnes and being arriv'd within two dayes March of the place where his Army was encamped I sent to offer him Battel and to let him know that Tyridates himself had brought his Head into the Field and if he could get the good will of Victory he should reap that desired fruit of his Enterprize with the entire satisfaction of his Master Barsapharnes who was espoused to the cruel disposition of his King gladly accepted the Battel and trusting in the Parthian Valour quitted his Quarters to advance towards ours Upon the second day the Armies came in view and both being ranged with as much care as we were capable to carry there began a most cruel and bloudy Battel The Parthians were doubtless much better Souldiers than the Jews and their numbers full as great as ours but the Gods favour'd the Justice of my Cause and we so happily made good our choice of some local advantages as after an obstinate dispute which cost us five or six thousand lives Victory came and lighted upon our Banners The hatred which the Jews bare to the Parthians made it more bloody than I desired and though the unnatural Phraates had deeply provoked me yet in the pursuit I us'd all the power I had to spare the Parthian Bloud and to draw those out of the Victors hands that had not yet felt their fury A Jew presented me with the Head of Barsapharnes and though the view at the same time gave me horrour and compassion yet I thought it fit to send it to the King of Parthia in stead of that which he demanded and to let him know by that present in what manner I was able to defend mine against his inhumane pursuits The Prisoners I sent freely home again by this gentle usage obliging them to detest the cruelty of their King and after we had repair'd the damages the Parthians had made upon the Frontier and put the Fortresses there in a better condition of resistance I triumphantly return'd to Hierusalem where I was receiv'd by the people with great Acclamation by Herod with extraordinary Caresses and my fair Queen bad me welcome with an aspect that assur'd me the importunity she receiv'd from my Passion could not wipe out her interest in my success But Oh! the pride of my Content when I learn'd from her fair mouth that she had
admitted fear for the hazard of my Life what could I do nay what acknowledgment might my thoughts be capable to fathom that might suit with the effects of such a bounty This put me in possession of the most glorious estate that my reason would let me wish for and though the Divine Mariamne was neither able nor willing to bow her soul to any sentiments which she judged unjust and criminal yet she let me have as much estimation and affection as innocence could part with All those to whom either good fortune or a long perseverance had given an entire possession of what they lov'd could not boast so dear a satisfaction as mine nor could I fancy so much glory and happiness in having the rerest beauties of the World at my feet as I found in kissing the Robe of Mariamne I say her Robe for I never kissed her hand but by surprizal and when I took that Licence it cost me the pains of many days to expiate the boldness The different effects of my passion produced as many varieties in her sometimes she laughed at the extravagancies which the violence of it forced from me but the cruelty of my sufferings still made her conclude with Pity Indeed she would take up an earnest anger when any word chanced to seape my Mouth that she thought favoured of impiety for the severity of her Religion which acknowledged but one Deity would not permit me to attribute any thing Divine unto her but when I did she would use all the authority she had to command me silence I received her words as I would do Oracles for she never spake any thing but what deserv'd an entire attention and an eternal memory Tyridates said she one day to me how commendable it would be in you and how much you might oblige me for my sake and your own to recover your self of this distemper which must be fatal to one of us and possibly may betray us both to destruction I suffer'd the beginning of it with an indulgence that cannot be excus'd and 't is that hath render'd me guilty both of your misfortunes and your faults Employ the same courage wherewith you vanquish'd Judea's enemies to combat this Domestick Foe I know you have virtue enough for the Design if you would use it try but to oppose it with all the Forces of your reason and you will carry an undoubted victory in which both you and I shall find our perfect repose and satisfaction I have yet by the Grace of my God led my life in innocence and taken no licence from the provocations of Herod to commit any act unworthy of my Birth do not desire Tyridates to blemish that in me which you prize highest because 't is undefiled to drop a blot upon my Fame which can never be washed off again if you have yet blinded the eyes of Herod do not dim you own with a hope of the same success for the future Salome hath an interest that will set Spies upon all your actions and soon discover enough to ruine you and if that cruel woman doth neither spare the clearest innocence nor the nearest alliance 't is but just you should fear her as a Stranger and a man who in her opinion is already culpable The fair Queen utter'd these words with a Grace wholly Divine but alas they found little inclination in me to be so wrought upon for what influence could she hope upon a spirit that had reserv'd no power to dispose of it self that could resent nothing in those sweet words but what redoubled the passion they disswaded and render'd it incapable of that rigorous complacence she demanded I shewed her this weakness of mine in as passionate and submissive expressions as my love could utter protested how impossible it was to obey her and forgot nothing that I thought might stir her goodness I say her goodness for upon that only I built all my Fortune But I had roved too much in a Calm too long belied my unfortunate Birth and the Science of those Astrologers that condemned me to so many misfortunes Till then I had so warily kept my passion under hatches as the King though of a most diffident nature had not perceived it but Salome that surveyed my actions with more design than all the rest who of her self was one of the subtilest Women in the World at first suspected and in the end by divers marks discovered the truth of it Of this she gave me some intelligence by the words she let fall at my departure for the Army and though they sensibly touched and taught me to carry more care in my behaviour for the future to lessen her suspition yet all those endeavours proved unfruitful and the Artifice I employ'd to disguise my Affection which in all likelihood would have gotten credit in any Soul but Salome's in her produced an affection quite contrary and confirm'd her in that mischievous belief she had already entertain'd when this was once established in her head Spight came and joyned so violently with it that in a short time I think Hatred flam'd higher in her heart than ever Love had done the Queen she alwayes mortally hated as well out of envy of her admirable qualities which had inspir'd all others with Love and Veneration as some disdain she apprehended in that great Princess who indeed could not so debase her spirit to smile on such as she deem'd unworthy of affability Besides her power was too great with the King and Salome that aim'd to be uppermost in his favour was stung with discontent at the Queens authority With these considerations she mingled her Jealousie which stirr'd up such impetuous storms in her Breast as made it capable of the foulest Treasons and blackest Crimes and if she hardly endured her disrespect and authority she could not look upon her as a Rival without resolving her ruine and with her to destroy that which a few dayes before her Affection had set at so high a value This change may appear strange unto you but it was so true that she no sooner believed me amorous of Mariamne but that Love with which she had before perplexed me was converted into such a Hatred as render'd her apt to entertain most violent resolutions and set her presently a hatching a design to involve me in the mischiefs she prepar'd for that innocent Princess she was so well acquainted with the King her Brothers spirit as she knew it to be of the same temper with her own and therefore doubted not but to make the least impressions she could give him powerful enough to destroy us By this way as the most assured and the least dangerous she resolved our ruine and began to labour it with all the subtilty that her Malice could invent she first began to observe the long stay I made in Judea notwithstanding that I might elsewhere find Sanctuaries of more assurance and that the Emperour Augustus an enemy to the King of Parthia had invited me to
Rome and offer'd me a peaceable retreat there with all sorts of succours against Phraates she shew'd him how it disagreed with Reason that I should disdain such advantagious offers to be supported by the Masters of the Earth if I had not some powerful tie in Judea Then without unmasking her Design she made him curiously to mark my Actions desired him often to observe my Face when I entred the Queens Chamber to take notice of my Sighs my passionate Looks with divers passages in which a violent Love cannot belie it self to the eyes of interessed persons that will carefully survey them These things in a short time wrought upon Herod's spirit and as none was more tenderly sensible and impatient in that respect than he I should soon have felt his fury if he had not been restrain'd by divers considerations Besides the hatred which he bare to Phraates and the services I had render'd to his Crown he consider'd me as one protected by Augustus who had oft writ to him in my favour and express'd a particular care of me This dexterous and Politick King dissembled his first resentments only he made known to Salome a part of his Suspition and when that malicious wasp perceiv'd she had made way for her intention and half train'd the King to her design she neglected no time to strike the blow as she had premeditated Sir said she one day to him I am constrain'd to declare that which till now the care I cherished for the quiet of your Family made me conceal but the peace of your mind being yet more dear to me hath overcome all those considerations that made me dissemble my thoughts Seek no more for the cause of Mariamne 's disdain her aversion doth not spring from a resentment for the death of her Kindred for were she not prevented by another passion the proofs of your love must needs have softned her That Rock so insensible to your Caresses is not so unrelenting to others for that Parthian that holds his safety of your Charity does doubtless love her with better luck than you I have discover'd their intelligence by divers marks and whatever care they took to disguise it their passion hath so blinded them that they have lost all power to dissemble it and I fear at last the whole Court will perceive it with seandal I strugled hard before I could resolve with my self to reveal this to you and I should have been willing at the price of my bloud to have shunn'd the occasion of it without betraying you but at last Sir my Zeal for your interests and my indignation at the Queen's Ingratitude have vanquished those Reasons that would enjoyn me silence While Salome spake the King accompanied her Discourse with many sighs and swallow'd at deep draughts the poison she had prepar'd him this first information wanted little of transporting him to some fatal action but as he had shewn much power upon himself in divers encounters he then mastered these first motions and grew desirous to discover further before he enterpriz'd things that might bring him such displeasing consequences For this reason suppressing his apprehensions as much as possible Sister said he to Salome I am oblig'd to you for the advice you have given me and doubt not but it parts from the affection you bare me I have already had suspitions conform'd to your belief but they were not so strongly grounded to seize wholly upon my judgment besides I have understood the Queen's virtues by so many proofs as I found it hard to believe that her aversion to me could urge her to the violation of her duty Yet now I begin to lean to your opinion and with you to judge it almost impossible that a thousand ardent proofs of my affection should not efface the Queens resentments nor so much as soften her rocky heart if she had not given it to another I love her but too well continu'd he with a sigh too too well I love that ingrateful Woman and though she unworthily abuses my love yet I cannot choose but love her He stop'd at these words walked up and down the Chamber with an action that exprest his transport and irresolution wherein Salome might read that her plot had not ill succeeded Ah! Tyridates cry'd he after some silence dost thou thus requite the protection and refuge I have given thee dost thou not fear to find that in my just anger which thou hast avoided by my assistance had I deserv'd to have felt thy indignation couldst thou not have galled me in a part less sensible And canst thou believe that a cruel Brother is more formidable than a jealous Husband than a passionate lover He mingled these words with fresh Sighs and again took some turns in the Room then turning to Salome Sister said he before we enterprize any thing upon the advice you have given 't is fit we instruct our selves farther for the quality of Tyridates back'd with the care that Augustus takes of his safety prescribes me much caution if you please continue to improve your discovery of the truth and on my side I shall take such care as it shall prove a very hard task for them still to abuse me This was the discourse between the King and Salome all which a while after I learn'd from Sohemus who had been told it by an Officer of the Kings his intimate Friend that over-heard it in the Anti-Chamber From that day these two malicious spirits employed all their care to observe my behaviour and indeed I confess that whatever circumspection I endeavour'd to carry many passages slip'd from me capable to undisguise my passion to persons so powerfully concern'd my Looks Sighs and change of Countenance often betrayed me for before I understood the Kings suspition I behav'd my self with less prudence than I should have used had I distrusted it the Queen was yet more narrowly sifted and as that great Princess observ'd something in me if I may speak it with modesty that gave me a better title to her esteem than any of the Jews and possibly feeling her self obliged to my persevering respectuous passion she compell'd herself to shew such apprehensions of it as reason told her were full of innocence and treated me in publick with a countenance capable to confirm the King in those cruel impressions Salome had given him This Jealous Prince that saw not but with the troubled Eyes of his suspition beheld all our actions as if every one had the Countenance of a Criminal the effects of the Queens goodness and civility were interpreted for so many marks of her affection and thus he was ready every moment to abandon himself to such a rage as almost posed all the prudence he could make to tame it I often marked these changes both in his looks and his humour and though in the whole course of his life he had appear'd the most dexterous dissembler of all men yet his raging jealousie had so weakned the power which usually
held the reins of his passions as he could not so well contain himself but I discover'd much coldness and change in the discourse and entertainment he made me indeed I should have apprehended all these things with such a spirit as his and doubtless had so if the powerful love of Mariamne had not stifled that in my Soul which nature places there for our proper safety and forc'd a neglect of all that care I should have carried about me for the preservation of my life The Queen perceiv'd this which she always suspected as soon as I and though her conscience witnessed to her self the innocence of her carriage yet she was desirous to avoid the danger she apprehended by treating me with a more reserv'd behaviour if possible than she had done formerly I studied a more specious dissimulation but it was too late the tempest was already risen and at last made it self known by most dangerous flashes One day the remembrance of which I must preserve as the most remarkable of my life the very same whereon the Jems celebrate that which they call the Feast of Tabernacles being desirous through curiosity though of different Religion to assist at their Ceremonies I accompany'd the King to that famous Temple which from the Name of its Founder they call the Temple of Solomon and which for Riches and admirable structure may pass with more justice than that of Diana at Ephesus or that of Jupiter the Olympian for one of the Worlds wonders at first the Ceremonies borrowed my attention for methought they were very specious but in fine no longer able to keep them off I transported all my thoughts to Mariamne and with those tyed my eyes to her face with so attentive a regard as though Arsanes who stood behind me often endeavour'd to call me to my self and made me mark in what manner the King observ'd me I had much ado to retire them for a few moments while the Sacrifice lasted nor was I ignorant of the fault I committed but I believe the Gods struck my Reason blind to punish my offence of assisting at the Sacrifices of a Religion which was enemy to theirs whatever the cause was that was the day wherein the King abandon'd himself to his Jealousie though possibly he had not yet determin'd upon the resolution he was to take Coming back from the Temple he went to visit the Queens Lodging full of furious thoughts his Face carried the Copy of his troubled Soul and his eyes sparkled Messages of Death Yet they were no sooner encountred by the Queens but all their storms clear'd up and those tempests which rage had rais'd against her by that marvellous ascendent she had upon his Spirit did homage to the charms of her beauty and grew calm in a moment of one terrible as a Lion in a few minutes he became mild and tractable and in stead of uttering the threats he had prepar'd his disarmed Anger gave place to Kindness which rendred his Spirit pliable to Caresses and Flatteries He made the Queen a discourse full of Affection which she receiv'd with her usual modesty but then offering to take some liberties with her which he might have lawfully believ'd his due if by so many cruelties inflicted upon her and hers he had not violated the Rights and lost all those advantages of which Marriage had possest him that couragious Princess who could never tamely hide her resentment in a disguise disdainfully repulst him Herod that was not ignorant of the true cause of this though he suspected others would not take a denyal from her first coldness but perceiving she resisted with an invincible resolution and being no way able to obtain these favours from her which his desires were greedy of he recall'd that Choler that had so lately shook him and beholding her with Eyes that sparkled fury Ingrateful Woman said he do not longer think to abuse me by thy specious pretences but know I am not ignorant that it is the love of Tyridates and not the memory of Hircanus or Aristobulus that renders thee inflexible to thy Husband's Kindness Though the Queen had ever fear'd these things from Herod's humour yet she could not be less than surpriz'd at this language and appear'd as if she had been struck with a Thunderbolt her Tongue remain'd mute her Visage chang'd colour and from the profound astonishment which Herod there observed he received cruel confirmations of his Jealous thoughts This apprehension redoubled his fury and now not doubting but the Queens powerfull surprisal rose from the reproaches of her Conscience and the shame or fear she might have to see her Passion discovered he gave himself up to the most furious transports that rage could inspire and had much ado to keep it from committing outrage upon her Person but he upbraided her with the most injurious words that Choler could invent How now Traitress said he must I then be rob'd by a Barbarian's witchcraft of what is only due to my self And thou that wouldst fain pass for a demure Zealot does it suit with the Law of thy God or the repute of the World that thou findest more sweetness in the shameful embraces of an Infidel than the Legitimate affections of a Husband Ah! disloyal Woman unworthy of a Love which has preserved thee in a rank from whence thou hast deserved to fall with thy Family a Love that hath exposed me too to the Contempt of my People is it by these infamous passions thou makest good thy claim to the Macchabean blood of which thou hast so often boasted Thinkest thou those illustrious Asmoneans with whose glory thou hast still reproached me should they return to the World could approve of the ignominious preference thou makest of an exiled Parthian to a King whom the latest of thy Ancestors gave thee for a Husband or rather who honoured thee with the Title of his Spouse when he might have used thee as his subject He accompanied these words with a torrent of others more cruel and injurious during which the fair Queen having had time to restore her self from her first astonishment began to regard with all the assurance that innocence could give her and neither able to make her spirit flexible to his Flatteries nor her own justification of which she believ'd him unworthy after that he had given some truce to his invectives Finish said she thou cruel Man finish thy rage and believe that after the exercise of so much brutish cruelty upon mine thou may'st give it leave to let fall its last effects upon my self there only remains the last part of it to be acted upon me for having had by the murther of my dearest friends by a miserable Captivity and the bloudy orders thou gavest for my own my repose so often tortured there rests no more but to assault my Honour which by the favour of Heaven I have till now defended from thy horrid persecutions do tear my Reputation which hath maintained it self pure and spotless in
action full of transport and while thus my irresolution shook me with such terrible inquietudes Arsanes lost all his loyal pains about me but after he had alledged divers perswasive reasons to which I could not so much as lend attention Sir said he I doubt not but you dispose your self to this parting with much regret but if the care of your own life cannot oblige you consider the command you receiv'd from the Queen you will find it so express that if you have any respect left for her it is impossible to disobey it The Queens command replied I proceeds from nought but a compassionate care she takes of my life did she know that to die were a thousand times more pleasing then to quit her for ever she would doubtless permit me to stay here still Arsanes was about to reply though he could never have perswaded me when my Governour entred the Closet and told me in a few words that Sohemus desir'd to speak with me that favour'd by the nights darkness he had slipt into the Garden where he attended me not daring to approach farther without running a danger too manifest and giving the King such suspitions as might bereave him of the means to serve me I ran without replying to the place where Sohemus waited without a Torch or any company but Arsanes and my Governour and so soon as I came at him Well my dear friend said I embracing him then we must either die or separate and by the Cruelty of Herod and Fate either Life or Mariamne must be quitted Yes Sir replied Sohemus and if you use not diligence 't is possible you will have both snatched from you That may easily be done said I and I shall feel less pain and repugnance that way than violently to chain my Body where my Soul refuses to keep it company Then I repeated almost the same things I talked to Arsanes to which when he had lent an attention as serious as the troubles that involv'd us had left him Sir said he if you love the Queen you ought not to consult farther nor enlarge your explications upon her commands which cannot be but fatal to one or other if you neglect your own life you ought to consider hers and to believe that while you are in Judea she can never be in safety 't is not only against you that the Kings anger does lighten 't is rather her that this rising storm doth threaten and you have no other way to keep it off her head than by removing the cause of the Kings cruel Jealousie Then in order he briefly recounted what he had learn'd of the Conference between the King and Queen from the chief Eunuch who had over-heard it and thus by urging the Queens safety and repose he rang'd all that was repugnant in me under his obedience Yet I could not dispose my self to forsake the Queen for ever but I resolved for some time to fly the rage of Herod and in the mean time to go in search of some occasions that might either restore my condition by the knowledge he might gain of the Queens innocence or if it were possible procure to see her without her knowledge this was my hope that got my consent to part but I would rather have taken a thousand deaths than given it to take eternal leave of Mariamne While I discours'd with Sohemus thanked him for his good Offices and promis'd a perpetual Amity with such a share in my Fortunes as his own desires should crave if ever the Gods thought fit to change them and drew promises from him to persevere in his faithful assistance Arsanes and my Governour got ready our Arms and Horses and having caus'd them to be led without noise by three or four Parthian Servitors to the Garden Gate that had serv'd me from my Infancy and follow'd me in all my Voyages and having carefully pack'd up my Jewels and Money with what else was necessary I rewarded Sohemus with some Gems of great value and leaving others in his hand to give to Cleophe and the Eunuch that had been my Considents I bid him adien with tears in my Eyes and arming my self in a short time I got to Horse with Arsanes my Governour and my faithful Parthians without taking any Jew along with me or so much as letting them know of my departure I went out at the same Gate Sohemus enter'd which open'd into an unfrequented street while I issued out at the back-side of my Lodging the Front of it was assaulted by those that Herod had sent either to take or kill me and as they had order to environ my Lodging I had not trod many steps in the streets before I saw both ends of it seiz'd upon by a great number of Souldiers that shut up the passage on all sides I perceiv'd I should find it a hard task to save my self yet I resolv'd to sell either my life or liberty as dear as possible and turning to those that follow'd me Are you resolv'd said I to defend your selves like valiant men and either to owe your safety to your own bravery or perish with your Prince if the Gods have so ordain'd it they protested with one voice That they would die at my feet and being assured of their resolution I spur'd in upon those with my Sword in my hand that defended the passage and was follow'd so Couragiously by mine that my Enemies began to judge it not so easie a task to take me as they imagin'd I passed upon the Necks of those that first opposed me and cutting out our way with our Swords we bestir'd our selves so vigorously at the first encounter as after we had thrown many of our Enemies dead at our feet and scattered the fiercest of the rest the passage through the Street remained free and we advanc'd into another more large through which we gallop'd towards the Gate that was nearest And now we had begun to entertain some hope of escape when passing through a place adjoyning to the Temple we spy'd so many Troops of armed men from all corners approaching to us as we judg'd it very difficult to force them The light which the Torches cast shewed me Alexas the Husband of Salome in the head of the foremost and hearing him loudly animate his men either to take or kill me I ran up unto him with my advanced Sword in my hand which I let fall upon his head so forcibly that had not the blow been warded by a Souldier that put his Sword before it his life had payed for his Wives malice nevertheless the blow was not so slight but it threw him with a deep wound at the feet of his Souldiers the Jews raised a loud clamour at the fall of Alexas and in the mean time we charged in so successfully as we tumbled many of them dead at our Horses feet Indeed we did perform actions there worthy of some remembrance and 't is probable the Jews had never seen such a handfull of men in
and prevailed as if the gift of the Crown of Aegypt had augmented her dominion in his heart Of this he daily gave her fresh assurances and Cleopatra who by this last obligation felt her self engag'd to receive them with a deeper acknowledgment than formerly liv'd with him in a fashion as much obliging as she could without offending vertue One day he was with her by her Beds side when after divers other Discourses the length of which would weary your attention taking her fair hands and joyning lips unto them I die fair Queen said he with an action wholly passionate I die if your pity does not draw me from my Tomb and I vow by those fair Eyes which I adore with respective Veneration that 't is impossible my life should longer continue if your mercy does not strengthen the thred of it I should be much afflicted said the Queen to see it in any danger the gratitude I owe to great Caesar and the particular esteem I have of his Person will never suffer me to refuse means within the bounds of possibility to comfort him 'T is in your power replyed he not only to comfort but create me the happiest of all men in making your self the reward for what I have given you no other price can gratifie the present I have made you I mean not of a Crown upon which I never set an esteem but of a heart and a soul which can never be but to you and of a heart and a soul which I have made yours with a resignation so entire as I have reserv'd no power to my self of a further disposal This glorious Present replyed the Queen can never be requited with the price you demand a thousand such Lives as Cleopatra's can never weigh with the heart and soul of Caesar yet Sir I would bestow my self upon you as you demand pursued she letting fall her eyes with a kind of shame if honour could shew me the way to do it I am born a Princess Daughter to a long succession of Kings by your bounty I am now a Queen and which is yet more glorious by his proper confession I have triumphed over the Soul of mighty Caesar Sir these advantages having plac'd me in one of the foremost ranks of Women do oblige me to preserve my self there in a reputation pure and spotless and should I render my self unworthy of my Birth my present Dignity and the affection of great Caesar should I yield up my self unto him in any other way than what his vertue can approve of She stop'd at these words supposing she had said enough to be understood and that Coesar could well enough construe her intentions yet being by the maximes of State and the tyes he had to the common-wealth forbidden to make a more ample Declaration he stood as if surpriz'd at Cleopatra's words nor was he yet resolv'd to espouse her fearing that Rome would disapprove the alliance and it might prove prejudicial to his design to make himself Master of it as he did in a short time after but perceiving himself oblig'd by Cleopatra's words to declare his intention he remain'd silent a while not knowing in what manner to evade the protestations he had made her but at last he recover'd his speech and lifting his eyes from the Earth where they had been fix'd You do merit said he a condition yet more glorious than what would render the favours I demand lawful the world cannot afford a Spouse to Caesar more worthy of that quality than the Queen Cleopatra and I do vow by truth it self that were I free in that Election I should soon make it known with what passion I desire that advantage but I am now so tyed by Interest to the Republique that I cannot apprehend it expedient to make my conjugall choice without its approbation nevertheless I shall endeavour to express how much I desire to be entirely yours and passing by these considerations in few days if it be possible make known the truth of my Affection At these words Caesar retir'd without giving the Queen leave to reply but after that she liv'd with him in a fashion more reserv'd than she had done formerly and would no longer license those petty liberties which before she had permitted him He observ'd this change with much displeasure but so soon as he complained of it to Her My Lord said she you are too just to desire those things of me which I cannot consent to without my own ruine and since I must pretend to a quality that may authorize them give me rather leave to return the Crown you have given me and resign the repose and the life it self which I hold of you than license such Crimes as neither your greatness nor all the obligations I have to it can ever excuse This Discourse again struck Caesar dumb but after she had oft repeated her resolution it wrought such an effect upon his spirit as made him resolve what he executed a few days after One day after he had sent to desire a particular audience of the Queen he entered her Chamber only followed by Lucius Metellus and Caius Albinus two of his friends in whom he repos'd the greatest confidence he found the Queen prepared to receive him in the manner he demanded only accompanied with her two dear Maids Charmione and Iras my Father and my self Caesar that knew us and in what manner we were ty'd to the Queens Interests was well pleas'd to have no other witness of his intended action and after he had pay'd his ordinary Civilities to the Queen Madam said he I have been too long restrained by such reasons as forbad me to render what was due to my own Love and your Vertue I am now resolved to tread upon those inhumane Maxims that play the Tyrants with me and to present my self to you in that Honourable and Lawful way that my ardent Passion did ever truly intend But because this Marriage which I desire to consummate with you cannot be promulg'd without destroying my design to set the Crown of the Universe upon your Head let me intreat your consent that it may now be known to no other persons than those I see about you and these two friends whom I have brought to witness this action In the Gods and their presence if you consent I will presently espouse you and if it may but remain a secret amongst us till I enter Rome and there establish my power as my designs have framed it it shall then be published with all the Pomp and Magnificence your wishes can invent To these words Caesar added many other affectionate expressions to render the Queens spirit flexible to his intreaties and help her over all the difficulties she found in that proposition She took a long time to ballance the resolution she was to take and in fine betook her self to the Counsel of her Maids my Father and if I may dare to say so my self but above all other perswasions the belief prevail'd
she had of Caesar as a man that could not consent to violate his Promise given to a Princess of her condition in the presence of six Witnesses enough to convince him of Infidelity before Men and Gods which he solemnly invok'd in that action at last whether vanquish'd with Reason or undermin'd by her own weakness she yielded her self When Caesar putting his Hand in hers after he had call'd all the Gods to the Mystery he protested that he receiv'd her as his Spouse and solemnly swore that he would never own nor acknowledge any other These Protestations She seal'd with a Kiss in our presence and to contract the Relation the Company judging their presence no longer necessary retired and left Caesar alone with the Queen to take possession of those admirable Beauties envied of all the Princes of Asia which were then with an unbridled liberty abandoned to his desires Oh Gods cry'd Tyridates with a profound Sigh Gods Soveraign Arbiters of our destinies and what has the unfortunate Tyridates done to you that you should force him thus to trail on his Life without either happiness or hope when you dispensed so much felicity to the rest of Mankind These few words he passionately uttered with his Eyes lifted up to Heaven when Eteoeles thus pursu'd Her Story HYMEN'S PRAELUDIA OR Love's Master-Piece PART I. LIB III. ARGUMENT The Rebellion of King Pharnaces calls Caesar out of Aegypt and invites him to an easie Victory He leaves Cleopatra with Child The Birth of Caesario The early dawning of his rare qualities both of Mind and Body Caesar's Victory in Syria against Cato Scipio c. He wins the Battel of Munda against Pompey 's Sons which compleats his Conquests Comes to Rome and is made perpetual Dictator His ingratitude to Cleopatra He adopts Octavius and is killed in the Senate-House The Triumvirs revenge his murder by the Death of all the Conspirators Cleopatra 's care in Caesario 's Education Anthony in his Parthian Expedition summons her to appear before him He is taken in the Snare of her Beauty Repudiates Octavia and Marries her This rais'd a Quarrel betwixt him and Augustus which is decided in the Battel of Actium Anthony is overthrown and flies with Cleopatra into Aegypt The Conquerour pursues and besieges them in Alexandria Caesario is sent for safety to Hydaspes King of Aethiopia Is betrayed in the way by Rhodon and preserved by the Loyal Policy of Eteocles Hydaspes receives and treats him as his own Son Caesario falls in Love with Candace the Kings Daughter Anthony through a Mistake kills himself Cleopatra dies by the Bite of an Aspick The Character of Britomarus and his Haughty Pretences The gallant Combat between him and Caesario They are parted Caesario protects him Moderates the Kings Anger to a Banishment The brave Speech of Britomarus to Caesario at their parting SInce that Fatal Day which I know not whether I may call happy or unfortunate the great Caesar and the Queen Cleopatra entirely dedicated themselves to their unrestrained Delights and though the Marriage continued still a secret among us and while the day lasted they observed the same Ceremonies before Company they had formeryl us'd yet the nights by the means of Iras Charmione and my Father in whom the Queen repos'd a clear confidence still reviv'd their Contentments never did Love appear more amiable than in these two Persons Cleopatra liv'd not but in Caesar Caesar was Cleopatra's Idolater and they forgot nothing that might prove their Passion the strongest and yet the most sincere that ever invaded Lovers the whole Court nay all Aegypt took part in their Contentments though they knew them not and I think Rome her self scarce ever shewed so much Pomp as then our Alexandria was daily drest in The whole World knows Cleopatra was the most magnificent Queen that ever lived not only in the pride of entertainment in the splendor of her Festivals and the Gifts she bestowed on Anthony but in the whole course of her Life kept up her Royal Grandeur at that lofty pitch of Glory where she should still have flown and then perceiving her self the Soveraign of his will that was like to be the Soveraign of all men she forgot nothing that might help her to hold those advantages and Caesar not less satisfied with his Fortune judging her most worthy of his Affection was never weary of admiring the rare qualities of her Body and Mind which daily served to make his Love flame higher But at last Fortune interrupted the course of their mutual Felicities and Caesar that was not born to waste his life upon a Womans Lip for whom all great actions were reserv'd and to whom the Worlds Empire was destin'd was constrain'd to quit Aegypt and with his Army to pass into Syria where he had learn'd that Pharnaces King of Pontus Son of Mythridates and inheritor of the hatred which he bore to the Roman Name though not of his Virtues was up in Arms and had spoiled a part of Armenia I shall forbear to repeat the Adieus of these two Lovers for I do but touch upon their life as I pass by it and only take it in my way to another Story to which it serves me for a conduct Should I enlarge my self upon the Loves of Caesar and Cleopatra truth would engage me to defend the memory of that great Queen who doubtless hath been foully blotted by the ignorance of those that knew not of her Marriage but in that which befel her since with the deplorable Anthony I shall make but a short stay their unfortunate Loves and lamentable end being known to all persons in the World that are capable of understanding Cleopatra's tears were too weak to retain Caesar in Alexandria but he comforted her with the solemn repetition of his promise before us to call her to Rome so soon as he should be established in the dignity which his Ambition aim'd at of perpetual Dictator and then to declare their Marriage to all the World At that time the Princess began to perceive her self with Child and gladly believed that the assurance she gave to Caesar of it before his departure would yet more deeply engage him to remember his vows and the dear pawn he left behind him Thus Caesar marched into Syria leaving Cleopatra in Alexandria where she governed her People with such Moderation and Prudence as she taught all men to admire those Politick and Moral Virtues in her Sex that were rarely found even in men of uncommon parts she supported the absence of her dear Caesar with much anguish but she received frequent comforts with the News of his continued Victories not long after his Departure she learn'd that Pharnaces was defeated by him in a signal Battel and the War which in all appearance was like to last many years thus terminated in half a day a little after she received intelligence that in Affrica he had vanquish'd Cato Scipio and the King of Juba with a prodigy of Fortune and
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
the World by the advice of her Counsel she went to find him in that stately Galley whereof the Stern was all of pure Gold the Sails of Purple the Oars of Silver and all the rest drest in that proud Equipage that has since found the World so much Discourse you have heard of her meeting with Anthony and the Feasts they made so full of Pomp and Profusions but as Anthony was first vanquished with Cleopatra's magnificence so he gaz'd not long before he was subdu'd with her beauty to which he became a slave not with a servitude parallel to his Predecessor but such an one as only expired with his life and would have endured a thousand Ages had the Gods lengthened their days to so remote a period Anthony was something inferiour to Caesar and therefore Cleopatra in bestowing her self upon him might seem to descend a little from the height of her pretences But since she was resolved to give Caesar a Successor she could not choose a greater than Anthony amongst men whose glory was not yet blasted by the fortune of Augustus his birth was of the most Illustrious his Person recommended by a number of fair qualities and brave actions and his rank no less considerable than the chief upon earth Cleopatra rendered her self to these considerations and to the loyal affection of Anthony who for her sake deserting the amity of young Caesar and his Sister Octavia whom he had Married at Rome gave up all his interest in the Common-wealth and his own fortunes that were fastned to it to give himself intirely to her and confining his Ambition within her Embraces espoused her in Alexandria I know the Romans irreconcileable enemies to Cleopatra's memory have endeavour'd to disprove that Marriage as they did the former and persecuted that deplorable Queen in her reputation after they had sent her to her Tomb by their cruelty but my eyes were witnesses of what might serve to upbraid their inhumanity and justifie her memory against those cruel ones that would still disturb her repose in her very Sepulchre Anthony ty'd the Conjugal knot in publick but with an inauspicious augury which their misfortunes did since prove too prophetick They are so well known that I believe you are not ignorant of the least particular I shall therefore inclose them in a few words and swiftly follow the thread of my discourse till I arrive at what chiefly engages this relation Within the first year of their Marriage the Queen disclosed a double birth a Son and a Daughter the Son was called Alexander the Daughter Cleopatra and if I had not named Caesario I would have said that humane eye never saw any thing so fair as these Twins Indeed I think their beauty was fatal to their House and a cause of calling down the Divine Veugeance upon Anthony for so oft provoking the Gods by shewing these Children at publick spectacles with the usurped names of Apollo and Diana causing them to be dressed in the same fashion those Deities were usually represented in and commanding the same honours should be rendered them as were ordinarily paid to those Divinities I saw them not since they were eight or nine years of age but at that time they were the wonder of all that beheld them and it was thought the beauty of young Cleopatra would not only equal the Queen her Mother but out-shine all that ever were accounted fair Those that conceived such hopes of the Princess Cleopatra said Tyridates interupting Eteocles had much reason on their side my self saw her at Rome while I made my residence in the Emperors Court and agreed with the general opinion that Nature never shap'd a face so triumphantly beautiful She now lives at Court with the Empress Livia who tenders her with as dear an esteem as if she were her proper Daughter the fame of her perfections have already nois'd them in a large part of the World and were I not loath to interrupt your narration I would speake more amply of them Young Ptolomee her Brother was then at Rome in an high esteem for handsomness but the Elder Alexander whom you mention'd was a while since lost at Sea without any news of his escape Sir said Eteocles your relation doth sensibly touch me for while I have life I must own so passionate an interest in all that pertains either in blood or alliance to our dead Queen as I cannot hear them spoken of without extraordinary motion may the Gods frame them a fortune different from their Parents and do me the grace to let me see those dear Reliques of that Illustrious Family recover their splendour But to continue my Story a year after Alexander and Cleopatra was born that Ptolomee you saw at Rome little inferiour to the other two carrying in his Visage the fair marks of a glorius Birth Never was there seen a Court so Pompous as Anthony's and Cleopatra's most of the Kings upon Earth came thither to pay their Homage and many of them sent their Children that they might have the honour to be educated with our young princes indeed they were brought up with such care as was due to them only and though Caesario was not Son to Anthony yet his respect to him was proportion'd to that great veneration he preserv'd for his Fathers memory he caus'd the the Marriage of Julius Caesar with Cleopatra to be publickly proclaimed in all his Dominions declared Caesario the Legitimate Son and indubitable heir to his Father rendered him honours sutable to that dignity and whether it were to endear his Mother or to appear kind to Caesars memory he caus'd him to be styled the King of Kings as he had already Cleopatra the Queen of Kings and disdaining she should bear a barren Title he gave her the Realms of Aegypt Cyprus Soria and the lower Syria To young Alexander Armenia all Media and Parthia when it shall be conquered To young Cleopatra Lybia and Cilicia and to little Ptolomee Syria and Phoenicia Of these several presents he sent the Decree to be confirmed at Rome which nevertheless was suppressed by the Consuls Domitius and Sosius the very same you mentioned in your discourse In the mean time you know what Wars were waged while they lived together both in your own Country and in Syria against Antiochus The good success he had against Parthia by his Lievtenants and the ill luck that befel him when he carried the War thither in Person his resentments against Artabasus King of Armenia whom with his Children he led Captive to Alexandria where a while after he lost his Head by Cleopatra's Command as your recital exprest it You are not ignorant of the many voyages he made to Rome where he always resisted the Senate that would oblige him to forsake Cleopatra and at last fell soul with Augustus by that scornful repudiation that he made of his Sister Octavia In fine the War being openly declared between these two Masters of the World their grand factions almost
Agria and at the end of it found the Man that Neander had set Sentinel near the high-way to conduct me to the place where the Prince was hid without this precaution our task would have been difficult to have found him because the Forrest was vast and full of Thickets But Gods what a joy exalted me when I recovered the sight of my dear Prince what words did I not utter what tears shed when it was permitted me to embrace him for whom some hours before I had been shook with such just apprehensions But then what a pleasing satisfaction was given me when after I had receiv'd my Princes Caresses overflowing with affection I learn'd of Neander the inquietude he had suffer'd for my absence and his resolution after he knew the truth from Neanders mouth who could not refuse it to his pressing importunity to return back and run our fortune without permitting us alone to expose our lives for his safety A design so Noble from which Neander only withheld him by force in so young a soul pleasingly confirmed me in those hopes I had already conceived of the height of his courage and after I had express'd my resentments of his Nobleness and he rewarded us with tears of acknowledgment for what we had done for his preservation and as proofs of an excellent disposition paid some to the memory of that innocent Son of Rodon I caus'd him to mount on horseback and so we got out of the Frrest and continu'd our voyage My Lord the particular passages by the way deserve nothing but silence and to give way to things of more importance which I must inform you of Within a few days we left Aegypt at our backs and having traversed part of the Desarts of Nubia which are contiguous to the two Realms we enter'd Aethiopia and took our way toward the great City of Meroe where that mighty King then made his residence Our young Prince suffered the incommodities of the Voyage with an admirable courage and patience he was ever the first that urged our departure from those Towns in our way where I had oblig'd him to stay and take some repose we called him not by his right name lest the news of his safety coming to his Enemies ears should make them try to find Traytors in Aethiopia as they had done in Egypt and for that cause we accustomed to call him Cleomedon with design that none there should know him by any other name except the King and such other persons as must necessarily be trusted with the truth But why should I detain you longer We arrived at Meroe whither we had sent Neander some days before to advertise the King of our Princes coming and excuse the entrance of his Dominions without permission with the pressing necessity of his flight The King of Aethiopia one of the best and justest Princes upon Earth who hated the Roman Tyranny and ever honour'd Cleopatra exprest much joy at the confidence that great Queen repos'd in him and dispos'd himself to treat the Prince her Son as his own he would have given him a magnificent reception if Neander had not disswaded it instructed by the fear that we had to divulge that which former considerations taught us fit to be concealed The King to favour our Design was content to receive him in his Cabinet where he gave us a particular audience without admitting any to be present but such as he knew would guard the secret The Magnificence and Furniture of his Palace had doubtless astonish'd any persons but such as had dwelt in the Court of Cleopatra where there glister'd more sumptuous Pomp and Glory then all the World beside could boast of yet we there saw such an abundance of Riches as custome to behold such sights could not keep us from surprisal for as I believe you know in Aethiopia Gold is so common that it is employed by Persons of the lowest Rank upon the most vile offices But to contract my discourse upon this subject I shall only tell you That as the Majesty of the King challeng'd our veneration so the countenance of my Prince wrought an effect upon his Spirit that soon made him consider'd as the Son of Caesar and Cleopatra for he accosted him with a Garb that justified his Birth and saluted him with a stately modesty that had nothing in it but what was great and graceful which rather stir'd up admiration and respect than pity I had prepossessed him with some few instructions which he made use of with a most becoming grace and after he had render'd his due salutes to the King Great Prince said he my Parents whom Fortune hath abandoned have bequeathed me to you with a belief that you will not refuse me your Protection and with them I demand it of you as the sole Prince of the World from whom I am willing to receive it He said no more than these few words which he utter'd in a Kingly fashion and at the same time I presented the King with the Queen Cleopatra's Letter who presently acknowledg'd the Seal to be hers and in it found these words The QUEEN Cleopatra to the Great Hidaspes KING of AETHIOPIA THe Knowledge I have of your Vertues bids me hope that your Affections will not change with our Fortune and that having been our Friend and Allie in prosperity one Calamity can neither make you forget our Amity or Alliance Upon this confidence I give you mine and the Son of mighty Coesar whom the Arms of his Enemies have chased from his Native Country and reduced to ask a Refuge which but from you I would not beg of any If the Gods consent to guard us from the Roman yoak and oppression I shall dearly preserve the memory of this Obligation But if for expiation of ur faultt they have resolved our Ruine at least I shall perish with this comfort That I trusted not the dearest thing I had in the world but to him who of all Princes is most worthy of the confidence and amity of Cleopatra King Hidaspes having read these words and heard the Princes with a visage moystened with some tears that Cleopatra's misfortunes drew from his Eyes he turned to him and taking him in his Arms Son of Caesar and Cleopatra said he welcome I see and receive you with an unfeigned joy the memory of your Father and the Person of the Queen your Mother in me shall ever challenge a sacred Reverence Promise your self not only the same Offices from us you might expect from your own but be confident of our Protection so long as I have a man that can hold a Sword And thus my Prince was received by the Aethiopian King who presently caused him to be lodg'd in the Palace gave command for the provisions of his House and made his intention known to us that he would have him treated as his proper Son His orders were so punctually executed as in a few days we beheld our selves in as high a condition in Meroe
little more hardy and desirous to put a progress to this beginning he recover'd his discourse and without removing his eyes from the earth If you refuse my Adorations said he you do not imitate the Gods whom you commanded me to pray to in their Presence I protest that the resentments I have for you cannot strike sail to the respect I owe to them Madam let me then be suffer'd to avow this in their Temple I confess it is a presumption and the thoughts that ripen'd it too soaring to hope for pardon from a less goodness than yours but I have kept them covered with a whole years silence and should not now have adventur'd to let them go had it been longer possible to hide them if you find ought in it to be condemn'd to you I will not dare to excuse it nor alledge any other justification than the violence your self has done me against which greater forces than mine are not capable of resistance Doubtless he had said more if the Princess had not interrupted him This language could not justly offend coming from a Prince that by the greatness of his Birth and the qualities of his Person might dispute priority with all the Princes on Earth besides his tongue said nothing that she had not read before in his actions nevertheless this unmasking did a little surprize her and not willing to suffer him to go on I am sorry said she you should interrupt my Prayers with language I cannot like and henceforth you shall do well to find other subjects for discourse If I have displeas'd you reply'd the Prince I will not repine to endure the punishment you shall ordain and if I have been so unfortunate to kindle your anger by discovering thoughts full of veneration and respect I shall think nothing too unjust or rigorous to expiate the offence I have committed 'T is not for me answer'd Candace to appoint punishments for Princes of your extraction I have only right to complain of the displeasure you have done me in holding a discourse which I neither understand nor approve She pronounced these words with such a serious coldness as the Prince durst venture no more replies and receiving the anguish which Candaces displeasure had given him at the Centre of his Heart he retir'd with a Countenance so sad and troubled as almost put his Face out of knowledge and I think this grief had gone further if at the recital which he made of his adventure my Counsel had not stop'd it by representing that he had no cause to afflict himself but that in all likelihood he could not hope a more favourable answer from the Princess who before had never heard any Language of that nature Caesario drew comfort from my words and resolved this first repulse should not disarm his courage In the mean time he liv'd with her after the same manner he had done formerly and intermitted not the payment of his observances full of respect and discretion but she appear'd to him more reserv'd than usual call'd him not so freely to her Recreations and her Walks and though she still continued to him her first Civilities yet she kept him off from occasions to renew the discourse that had displeas'd her but if his tongue was mute his eyes and actions became Orators so eloquent that though her tender years had contributed less understanding than she had she would have needed no other interpretation of the respect that ty'd his tongue and might easily perceive that my Prince his passion in stead of abating daily took a greater inflammation from her coldness and in this condition he was with her when there arriv'd a memorable accident that merits your attention At a solemn Feast that was celebrated at Meroe upon the Prince's birth day without the City there were made most magnificent Courses on Horse-back at which the King with the most eminent Nobility assisted the young Courtiers were engag'd for this exercise where they appear'd in all the bravery they could make they ran arm'd at all points and in the course launc'd their Javelins against a mark and made divers other active trials of their force and dexterity Caesario was enter'd his 17th year and being already strong enough to make a stout performance in all manly exercises presented himself into the Lists clad in gallant Armour which the King had given him his Casque was shaded with white and black Feathers he was mounted upon a Horse white as Snow which he manag'd with an admirable grace and agility This was the first time I saw him in Armor and me-thought he became it so gracefully as my eyes could not be satisfied with a spectacle so agreeable The King Princess with the whole Court fastened their regards upon him with marvellous hopes and possibly the whole Assembly yielded but one person whose affection he had not attracted Before the Courses began all the young Gallants presented themselves before the Ladies they lov'd and publickly demanded their favours and upon such an occasion they were hardly permitted to refuse them there was scarce any that did not obtain of their Mistresses either Knots Scarfs Bracelets or other Presents of that nature only Britomarus made no address but stood almost alone at the foot of the Scaffold where the King the Princess with the chief of the Ladies were seated without expressing the least desire of what the other so eagerly entreated he had purchased so high an estimation at Court that divers persons became interessed in his coldness and the King himself having caused him to be call'd demanded the reason why he sought not to gain some favour as well as his companions to shew his activity in honour of her whom he best affected The bold Youth lifted up his head at the Kings demand and beholding him with a bravely assured look Sir said he I have lived till now among all the Ladies of your Court without parting with my liberty and though I have honoured them all as I thought I have made no single present of my heart to any nor indeed am I willing to bestow it I am entirely vowed to the Princess service to whom your Majesty has done me the honour to give me and though I ought to look upon her as a Subject and domestick Servitor I hope she will pardon me if I take the liberty to protest before her that I will not ask a favour from any but her self I never had other aim but at her service since I was made happy in my dedication to it and if I may not enter the Lists under her Cognizance I am resolved to beg no others While young Britomarus spake in this manner the boldness of his action became the wonder of all that stood near him this raised a cry among them which re-doubled his assurance and swelling with the flatteries of those Acclamations he advanced to the Princess seat and throwing himself at her feet If your Highness said he will vouchsafe to honour the meanest of
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
is yet a remainder left uncured that inflicts misery enough to justifie my Declaration that there are few persons in the world whose woes are more strongly woven than mine think it not strange this discourse seems to imply some preintelligence of your Fortune all I know that concern'd it was received from your own mouth by chance over-hearing your last nights complaint and discourse with your women upon the adjoyning Terass This contrivance of accident first begat the compassion and then the affection I have for you and from thence was born a desire which has since taken a considerable growth from the character was given of your beauty to see and know you be not troubled that I have discovered that without design which I should have been sorry to have known had I thought you could not part with the secret without displeasure nor will demand a greater illustration till you shall think me worthy of a greater confidence in the mean time take the obligation of my promise that my thoughts shall scan what I know with no other curiosity than what may improve my power to comfort and serve you If the face of the fair stranger confess'd a bashful surprizal at the beginning of this Discourse the gentle close of it restored her some assurance yet she could not so suddenly repulse that active vermilion that had invaded her cheeks but there still staid some behind that dwelt not there which endeavouring to hide with her hand You have possible heard enough from my mouth said she to purchase me a severe censure in the opinion of those that are less indulgent and if not to defend my self with insensibility against the assault of a persons affection that rais'd his batteries upon extraordinary merit and not to support his loss without a violent grief be a crime I shall be doubtless a Delinquent in yours too Indeed I should ever be prepossessed with Caution to hide my follies from such persons as your self possible they are like to find less favour from your sublime vertue than others whose feeble frailty may render them liable to the same imperfections however since this mishap has be fallen me I will endeavour to take comfort from the opinion I have of your goodness and of that I think my observation has already made such clear discoveries as I need not scruple to trust your knowledge with the most important secrets of my life No replyed the Queen I desire not that till time shall ripen you an occasion to accord me your amity nor will I abuse that opinion you have entertained of me by demanding the proofs of it with so hasty an indiscretion I hope you will not construe this as if the resentments I have for you and the Interest I take in your Fortunes have not nourished an ardour to understand you better but I shall stay for that favour till I can ask it with less indecency after I have given you some experiments of the confidence I have in you of this you will receive no contemptible mark when I shall discover and acquaint you with such things as you will judge worthy to be lock'd up in secresie especially in this place that has particularly deserved my suspicion from all other persons but such as have an invincible guard for a secret I have so poor an evidence of desert to shew for this excess of nobleness replyed the fair unknown as I dare not dispose my self to suffer it without prevention Madam this just civility is owing to the generous offer of your friendship I will not ask if your leave allows it a longer day than this to assure you mine in parallel and I beg your condescent to the proposition with the greater hope since my tongue in this is the faithful servant to my heart you will soon judge by what I shall tell you that I do deposite no slight or trivial confidence in your breast since as my affairs are ballanced there are few persons on earth can be trusted with it without much danger Stay then replyed the Queen interrupting her perhaps I may want descretion to preserve your secret as I ought and yet you shall leave off no disguise since my own thoughts have already look'd through it when I shall learn that your quality and mine are parallel Your face answered the unknown with those marvels I observe about you have already assured me there is little difference in our extraction and this will possible be better confirm'd when I have told you continued she letting fall her voice for fear of being understood by some persons present whose descretion had less credit in her thoughts than the rest that I am call'd Elisa and not only derived from the illustrious line of the Arsacides but sole Daughter and as yet legitimate Heir to Phraates King of Parthia known of all the Earth by the grandeur of his Territories and the effects of his cruelty She made a stop at these words when the Queen reply'd Your birth said she is not more sublime than before I conjectur'd from those visible marks that expressed your strain to the high and Heroick and since it is no longer just I should keep my condition in a mask be pleas'd to know that I am called Candace Princess and lawful Queen of Aethiopia At this mutual Discourse the two Princesses renewed the protestations of their promis'd amity and that parity of descent kindling equal desires of respect and affection they sweetly exchanged many tender Caresses and laid the foundation of strong and perfect friendship After some discourse fram'd on purpose to confirm what they had said the Princess Elisa thus continued know well Madam said she that to this Declaration of my Name and Quality I should adjoyn the recital of these sad accidents that have perplexed my life Madam if you have a wish that desires this obedience I am ready to pay it yet my memory still bleeds so freshly with the blows of my last disaster as my fear that has scarce left me strength enough to cleer that score as I ought has fram'd me a request that you will please to respite my relation for a day or two till I recollect and recover as much vigour as will carry me through so tedious and so sad a story She could not bring these words to a period without letting fall a christal shour from her bright eyes which the fairer Queen joyning hers to Elisia's wiped away with her cheeks and tenderly pressing her in her arms Be not so lavish of those precious tears my fair Princess said she and since as I learned by your last nights discourse there is yet some incertainty left in your misfortunes do not dash your hopes upon the Rock of a belief so desperate the Gods are sometimes pleased to tread strange paths to our deliverance and if any example may serve to fortifie that opinion in you it may possible shew you the way to recover life in your swoonded hopes In the mean time do
the greatest number were of the most considerable persons among the Aethiopians whose abject dispositions had listed themselves so many fawning slaves to his fortune and shewing himself in publick places he made Orations to the Soldiers and people which the Novelty had drawn from their houses interlarded with many artificial reasons he represented that he had taken instructions from the common interest and not his own to contrive and hatch that design for publick safety that though his breast had long inclosed a passion for me yet he would never have lifted his pretences to an honour he confessed was much above him if I had not obliged him to it by the discovery of a resolution to set the Crown of Aethiopia upon the head of young Stranger a Fugitive abandoned of God and men without either support or refuge but what he had borrowed of us In fine a man to whose Regency he knew the Aethiopian Nobility would never submit and one they could suffer to share the Soveraignty without provoking Augustus their mortal Enemy and the whole puissance of the Roman Empire against them he then insinuated they might make a fitter choice Prince in their own Country whose inclinations and integrity they had known by a long tract of experience and a man that neither wanted wisdom and clemency to Govern nor valour to defend them from all sorts of Enemies that the Queen though prepossessed with some partiality to the young Stranger would in time be reduced to do homage to Reason when once she saw her self obliged by the universal votes of her people and understood by the advertisement of time that this petty violence was offered her to no other end than her own advantage He larded this discourse with other likely arguments to take with a people that were generally inclined to wish him well and then supported by force and assisted by fear which of all the passions has the greatest operations upon base and vulgar Spirits he obtained all his wishes of an intimidated people The honest Party sighed among themselves at the injuries were offered to their afflicted Princess and the King their Masters memory but they were too feeble both in force and number to divulge their dicontents and the Soldiers first beginning to cry Let Tyribasus be our King let him espouse our Queen Candace which was seconded so loudly by the general acclamation of those that favoured his ambitious Interest as by little and little that beast the multitude ever a friend to novelty and disorder and now flattered by Tyribasus promises took example by his friends and Soldiers to sing their parts to the same tune through all the streets Let Tyribasus be our King let him espouse our Queen Candace The principal Inhabitants of Meroe that would not consent to this baseness and were not strong enough to oppose it either kept themselves close in their Houses or forsook the City that they might escape the guilt of being sufferers or fautors of so black a Treason and there wanted not some among them that secretly stole into Nubia with a purpose to find out Cleomedon and bely him to vindicate the quarrel of their injured Queen or fall a sacrifice to loyalty After the consent and acclamation of the people Tyribasus called a Council that consisted of a few principal persons about him he caused himself to be voted Prince of the Aethiopians not supposing it safe for fear of growing odious by too manifest an usurpation to assume the quality of King before he had espoused their Princess You may easily judge that all these things though begun in the first infancy of day could not pass without any knowledge yet the intelligence came late to my ear and I first received it with such a troubled apprehension as it was long before my astonished reason could come to it self or put any thoughts in order to compose a resolution at last calling for my cloaths for I was still in bed I went out of my Chamber only followed by my women with a few of my faithfullest Officers that had taken an allarm from the noise to attend my person I went hastily down the stairs with a purpose to shew my self to the people and if possible by my presence put a stop to the progress of that mischief but crossing the Pallace-Court instead of my ordinary Guards I found at the great Gate two battalions of Soldiers with unknown faces that defended it and insolently laid hold of my Chariot Horses as they were passing through and when I was lighted and come on foot to the Gate resolving to shew my self in the streets in that condition those that guarded it not daring to oppose my passage with the points of their Halberts shut the Gate in my presence which at that instance gave me intelligence that together with my Crown I had lost my liberty I shall forbear to repeat the passionate complaints my resentments sent to Heaven against the injuries of fortune since to allow them a place in my story would be as useless as themselves were vain yet I struggled very hard to keep a little moderation still at the helm of my behaviour and serving my self with some courage that Heaven had naturally given me I turned back to my Chamber betraying less apprehension in my looks words and actions than would possible have been confessed by other persons of my age and sex in a like disorder When I was entered my Chamber all my Maids throwing themselves at my feet fell a bewailing with bitter sobs tears and lamentable complaints the calamitous condition an captivity of their Mistress but instead of bearing my part I fell a chiding the extreams of their affliction and so strongly over ruled my own griefs with such a constancy and assured aspect and gesture as my Enemies could not so much as find a footstep of a tear upon my visage I would needs have all the rest to compose their looks by my model and to dispose them to it Comfort your selves my friends said I with this belief that Tyrihasus may be your Tyrant but he shall never be your King if he must first be Candaces Husband After these words with the addition of a few others to the same purpose I laid my self down upon my Bed where I resolved to expect my Destiny with patience I had continued in that posture a good part of the day when after he had brought his ambitious ends to the pass I related Tyribasus came into my Chamber followed by a part of those Traitors that favoured his design who now no longer treated him as a particular Man but a lawful King as he entred my Chamber and approached my Bed he still affected some form of respect and instead of doing honour to his new dignity I received him without so much as stirring from my place or almost vouchsafing to turn an Eye upon his Visage this coldness strangely surprized him being doubtless prepared to receive the shock of something more violent
to his advantage the whole frontier sack'd and devasted by his Army and several places with their unfortunate Inhabitants were made either Carkasses or Cinders by his Fire and Sword In fine the affairs of Media were reduc'd to a very drooping condition and Phraates hotly pursuing his Fortune especially after the gaining one signal Victory almost in the bosome of their Country did now more than hope to lay them as low as the hand of an entire ruine could throw them But at that time the King of Media having taken some wounds in the last Fight was forced to retire with little hope of repairing his broken fortunes to his Capital City and leave the Command of his shattered Army to a young Captain called Artaban who if the common report may be trusted from an obscure birth in a few years by the conduct of his proper vertue was risen to the tallest dignities and by that time the down appeared upon his chin had acquired a high reputation among the Medians By this change of a Commander Fortune revolted to the other side and Artaban ramassing some Troops with a marvellous diligence that were rais'd to re-inforce his Army and having weakned that of the Parthians by several surprizes and divers Combats upon parties wherein he always carried the advantage in a short time he found himself able to offer Phraates Battel who but a little before had made himself believe the Medians would never recover strength nor courage enough to give him another meeting in the Field Phraates misprising those Enemies he had so often beaten and now not fearing to draw a blank in the Lottery of War especially since his opposers Army was commanded by a young man without a name in War which he had so frequently vanquished when their own King lead them on in person march'd to the Battel as to a certain victory but the event confuted his confidence and that young Captain whose resistance he had so lately despis'd disputed the victory so luckily or rather as they reported that saw his behaviour in the functions of his Charge with so much gallantry of person and prudence of Conduct as after he had bravely tug'd with many glorious dangers and difficulties at last he broke the Parthian Ranks killed a great number upon the place and put the rest to a total rout My want of skill in the art Military has obliged me to shrink this relation to so narrow a Continent for should I adventure to discourse the particulars 't were to ingage in a Labyrinth without a Clue Phraates thus beaten to the opinion that he was not invincible began to consult his Interest with more circumspection and rallying his scattered forces and remanding those to his Army he had left upon the Frontiers he put himself again in a condition to make good his stake and throw the dice once more in a second battel He had no more time for this preparation than Necessity exacted and his gallant Enemy hotly spurring on his victory appeared a few days after within view of his Camp Phraates by this time had perfectly unlearned the contempt of his young opposer and with a preciser caution studied all the probabilities that might direct his aym to the event of the second Combat He might have made use of some local advantages had he pleas'd to defer the battel but his judgement scanning the difference of retreat told him there was more fear that his Parthians would run upon his Enemies ground than his owns besides his heart was too great to refuse the encounter of an Army that did not out-number his which consisted of a people that he had formerly so often beaten and so little redoubted The Battel was fought with a great deal of cruelty and blood-shed and the victory obstinately disputed on both sides but at last she declared for the Medes the Parthians were defeated with a far greater loss than before and the King himself very thinly attended had much ado to make good his personal retreat to a place of safety This unlucky blow unravel'd all his former success and recoyl'd the progress he had made in Media which he was now forced to abandon in a disordered hast for fear the active Enemy should get before him and cut off his retreat by blocking up the passages to his own Kingdom Of the numerous Army that followed him into Media he brought home but a very pittiful remainder and by this sudden vicissitude might easily discern the injustice of that pride which the timpanous womb of prosperity discloses When he invaded Media he had left my Mother and me in a City upon our Frontier the strongest of all the Kingdom and there it was we received him with all the regret that was due to the said success of his affairs but his stay there was not long and finding necessity press his sudden retreat to the heart of his Kingdom as well to make new Levies there as prevent the palpitation of such disorders as might either be stirred now Fortune wrinkled her brow by the secret intelligence of his Enemies or the infidelity of his own Subjects he left us in that City and with us the greatest part of those Forces that remained of his last defeat for our guard The reason that we marched not with him was deduced from his hope of a sudden return with a fresh Army and the opinion he had that his Enemies were too much enfeebled in the last battel wherein they did not buy their advantage at a cheaper rate than the loss of a great many men to be either in Case or Courage to invade his Territories but that thought deceived him and he had marched but a few days from us when the victorious Artaban strengthned with some Troops the King his Master had sent him appeared upon the Frontier and brought a fear into the hearts of our Parthians who had already learned from his last actions to listen to his name with terrour We had yet time enough to retire but the Queen my Mother a Princess of a great heart trusting to the strength of the City and the number of the men that defended it thought she might do the King a considerable Service by staying upon the Frontier where her presence might preserve an untainted fidelity in the Parthians breasts whom the fear of our Enemies and the change of our Fortune might probably fright into disloyalty This consideration made us stay the coming up of the Medes who a few days after shewed themselves at our Gates and took away the hope of retreat when we began to desire it There passed many memorable actions in that Siege which my ignorance in the trade of War condemns to silence and the Parthians whose courage took a kneener edge from the presence of the Queen and Princess than ordinary behaved themselves in their defence with an uncommon bravery The King too late repenting his inconsiderate desertion of us to the mercy of that stranger bestirred his industry to send
us a timely succour as well as the diligence of his active Enemy would permit him but the narrow time they allowed him to perform it enforced the loss of all his endeavours and those weak supplies he sent to our rescue being cut in pieces Artaban after he had often summoned the City in vain resolved upon a general assault the Queen my Mother perceiving her own liberty and probably a large part of her Husbands Dominions depended upon the preservation of that place appeared in person at all the Posts of the City exhorting the Commanders Souldiers and Inhabitants to fight in defense of their lives and liberties with all the moving language wherewith her proper interest linked with the Kings could inspire her by her command I stayed behind in the lodging where half dead with fear I expected the event of that threatning storm which indeed split our hopes upon a Rock for though the City was couragiously defended yet it was far more gallantly assaulted and from the top of a Tower where I was got up to see how the trial for my Liberty was like to be decided at the bar of Fortune with my own eyes I saw the Enemies General with his Sword in his hand first mount our walls and by his brave example inviting those he led on to follow him the Courtine was quickly covered with his men and himself become absolute Master with the City of our Lives and Liberties At the first noise of this disaster the Queen came to me and endeavouring to moderate my fears as well as the disorder that had then a little dazled her own courage would suffer her after she had lent an ear to that horrid noise that ran round her lodging composed of such lamentable cries and shrieks as usually eccho in the streets of stormed Cities where cruelty and disorder reign with unbridled License she sent divers of her servants successively to the Enemies General with her entreaty to use his Victory with a milder temper spare the bloud of many innocent persons that begged their lives by her intercession desiring they might hold them of his clemency the first of these Messengers perished by the indistinguishing swords of our Enemies but some of those that followed proving so lucky to reach the Generals presence and deliver their humble Embassy found him ready to accord more than they demanded He presently dispatched his Orders through all the quarters of the City to cease the slaughter and sent back the Queens Messengers with two of his principal Officers to assure us in his behalf that we might safely dismiss our fears and expect to be treated with all the respect that was due to our condition These two Officers in obeisance to their Generals Order staid to guard us from the Souldiers insolence and we found their authority so prevalent as the common people of their Army did not attempt so much as to peep within our lodging Artaban carried so great a sway among the Medes as after he had tugged with some petty difficulties to lay the Demon of their fury he subdued them to a perfect obedience and quietly retreated their precipitate ardour from the spoil and pillage but it cost him a large part of the day in reducing all those disordes to the form he intended and we passed away the same time in such a condition as your thoughts might easily figure By a sudden revolution of our Fortune we saw our selves Prisoners to a barbarous people whose inclinations taught us to apprehend all that might shake the stoutest courages and though the courtesie of our Vanquisher had already overcome the fear of our lives Captivity drags other miseries along with her that are so hardly supported by persons of our condition as we would make no reflection level no glance at our wretched estate that enforced not our Souls to shrink under the oppression of too just grief I wept excessively upon the bosom of my indulgent Mother who keeping more constancy and courage at the helm endeavoured to dry up my tears and strive with all the strength of her reason to give me comfort at the same time when her self so sadly needed it Thus we passed away that whole day and the following night without finding any change in the order and ceremony that was usually observed in our service without so much as descrying the least action or over-hearing one sillable that signified the loss of our liberty Before the Queen went to bed there came one from the General to demand her permission for his Master to come and wait upon her on the morrow not daring to assume that liberty the same day in so unbeseeming a condition to appear in her presence nor willing before he knew whether she would suffer the visit of a person whom the due obedience to the King his Master had inforced to disoblige her The Queen gathered a propitious Augury from the continuation of her Enemies civilities and not willing to abuse them she returned him this answer that he might come and see her when he pleased who would be ready to receive his visit as a worthy successor of those preceeding bounties that he had much more obliged than all the proofs and effects of his incomparaple valour which carried their own justification along with them could offend her The next day so soon as we were dress'd after a second message from Artaban that enquired if the Queen might be then seen without importunity he entered the Chamber where I then attended my mother followed by the principal Commanders in his Army for whom he had begged the same permission to see us In that abasement of our Fortune I appeared with a negligence of dress and gesture that basely suffered me to regard that man as the fruit of his vertue obliged me but so soon as I reached him with my eye at the same moment I felt my self engaged to a more particular attention Madam I may safely say that I never had seen any thing till then nor indeed ever since that could boast a parity to him in the meanest part and I confess at the first view my expectation was so strangely deceived as I look'd like a Statue with a face the perfect picture of surprizal and confusion his visage and port shewed the evidence of something so great and noble as in spite of the malicious noise that ran about the world of his obscure birth I could not consider him at a less rate than if his Temples had been impaled with a regal Diadem he was then without arms and his head uncovered which gave me the greater licence to remark as well the sparkling vivacity in his eyes the perfect proportion and kindred of all the featues in his visage his complexion was neither white nor brown and his hair neither fair nor black but of a colour composed of both fell in long rings of Natures curling upon his shoulders with a marvellous decorum in all the regards and lineaments of his face there appeared a
to know that a few dayes after Artaban entred the Queens Chamber with the Characters of a grand satisfaction in his face though a little interlin'd with some petty displeasure and when he had accosted us Madam said he to the Queen I am come to tender the performance of a Promise that I lately passed to the Princess your Daughter and to let you know that I am now the happy Master of some power to serve you vouchsafe pursued he presenting a letter to the Queen to peruse this Commission I lately received from the King my Master The Queen took the letter from his hands and having opened it read these words Tigranes King of the Medes to General Artaban I Am ashamed my dear Artaban you should undervalue the meed of your inestimable valour at the poor price of two womens ransom and I wish with passion your demand had taken a larger compasse and included a part of my Province Time will not be much older before I shall see you upon the Theatre of your conquest where I intend to wrangle with your modesty for the offence it hath given to my affection In the mean time dispose of these two Princesses of all the Booty and Prisoners that are in your hands with an absolue authority This is my earnest desire and when I come I shall complain of your nicety if I find you have scrupled to perform it The Queen was infinitely pleased in reading this letter and not able to dissemble it I never doubted said she to Artaban that the Median King could stumble at the desires of a man to whose Heroick acts he owes the preservation of his own and the advantage he has gotten upon our territories had the King my Husband so brave a Servant as Artaban I am confident he would think all the riches and honour in his power to cheap to reward him I see our liberty is an entire dependent upon your will and though your deportment has infinitely sweetned the losse of it the desire to unte riestraint is so natural especially in persons of our sex and rank as I hope you will not think it strange if we ask it of you offering such a price to redeem it as your estimation shall appoint Would I set your liberties to sale reply'd Artaban the King your Husbands Crown were too little to pay the ransom but Madam I do not value the possession of provinces at that hight to compare with the glory I shal reap in rendring you a service that may in some manner repair the displeasures you have received by our arms Madam you are free your liberty had the same date with my power to pronounce it and you are in Suit of a ransom which you cannot offer again without disobliging a man to whom if Heaven has not given the birth of a Prince perhaps it has not refused the courage There 's none can raise a doubt against it reply'd the Queen tenderly touched with a graceful wonder at Artaban's nobleness and if the Gods have not yet reached a Scepter to your hands they have given you a vertue preferrable to the Roman Empire we do not blush to receive the gift you offer us from so great a man and our judgements shall take advice from the vast difference betwixthim and others to shape our recompence well by the model of his vertue as his obligation I shall only desire reply'd Artaban three three daies more of your Majesties residence in the City a space required by necessity for the preparation of an equipage worthy to attend you and not irrequisite to lengthen the comfort of a man who to serve you does possibly divorce his eyes from their dearest object for ever While he was uttering these words I perceived his face was suddenly overcast with the cloud of grief but I then only apprehended it as a Character of his excellent nature and the Queen deceived as well as I with the same opinion only suffered it to improve her estimation and augment her acknowledgment of his goodnesse We prepared for our departure with a great deal of contentment but the Gods otherwise disposed of our affairs and for the first Remora to retard our wishes the next morning my Mother was arrested with a furious Feaver the following daies it successively encreased with much violence and in a few others grew enraged to such a height as shewed an paparent danger of her life I will not sad you Madam with the recital of my grief nor repeat the regrets I uttered to see her so cruelly handled by her malady at that point of time when her health was so necessary I stirred not from her pillow where the tender affection due to so dear a Mother almost melted me into tears for her danger Artaban whose affliction appeared little short of mine forgot not to urge every shadow of a reason that might contribute to my comfort and caused the Queen to be served with as specious a care as if she had been in Phraates Palace The King my Father with Artaban's permission often sent to understand her condition and I wrote him a perfect account of all the passages and gave him every single particular how the generous Artaban had obliged us In the mean time Heaven was pleased to take away all the danger but her half conquered malady proved so obstinate a resistance of nature as it cost her more than fifteen daies after the Feaver had left her before she could recover strength enough to quit her bed When my fears were once over-blown Artaban resumed his usual parley with more facility than when my grief forbad that freedom but he still framed his discourses to such a fashion as I perceived he eclipsed part of his thoughts and was forced to do violence upon himself to keep his heart from his tongue I then began to entertain some little suspitions of the truth but the fresh sense of our obligation to that man made me flie all occasions to confirm them for fear of learning something that might urge me to treat him with an uneven brow and indeed himself sought them so coldly as I found no necessity to disfigure the face of my behaviour towards him At last the Queens approaches to health renewed the assurance of our departure but our destiny disposed it so that the same day she left her bed Artaban received intelligence that Tigranes was upon his march to the City with fresh supplies for his Army and three or four daies after we saw him arrived with a pompous and magnificent equipage I know not what Prophetick Demon taught us to look upon his coming at a point of time as an unlucky Omen but the Queen was troubled at it and Artaban himself though his Master received him with all the caresses that his service and deserts could teach him to expect appeared but little satisfied However we disposed our selves to receive him as became us and his visit was no longer deferred than till the second day after his
arrival The Queen had then strength enough to walk about the Chamber and hoped in a short time to endure a Litter which enabled her with a little help to give him the Complement of a meeting at the Chamber door he entered it leaning upon Artaban's Arm with a very plausible deportment thts Prince had a handsome aspect his years were about six or seven and twenty his accost very civil and the converse agreeable He treated us with a great deal of respect told the Queen he was come to confirm the promise Artaban had made her that he was sorry her malady had hindred her from gathering the fruits of it and that the satisfaction he resented to see her in a place where he might offer her some acceptable service was moderated by the displeasure he took from her indisposition The Queen replyed to this discourse with a great deal of acknowledgment assured him in behalf of the King her Husband that his Generosity would gain a greater conquest upon him than his Arms and forgot nothing that a dextrous and discreet Princess might speak to purpose at such an encounter Tigranes staid and entertained us that whole day but at the next interview he directed his language and behaviour to me with a partitular addresse and by the cruelty of my destiny mistook something in my face that he thought was amiable His first expressions were seasoned with nought but common civility and he contented himself to make me a discourse that might passe for a piece of gallantry among persons of any equal condition the second day he made my beauty his Theme and spent some Rhetorick in praises upon it though he let fall no language that imported it had made any Sculpture upon his heart but at the third he explained himself more openly and approaching to me near a window while Artaban entertained the Queen by his command Madam said she such Prisoners as you are very dangerous and I fear Artaban has done me a disservice in detaining you here so long to make an unhappy passe of my condition into the same with yours These words which I was not accustomed to hear discomposed me so strangely as I wanted assurance on the sudden to shape him an answer only in letting fall my looks to the ground I endeavoured to give him notice that I was uterly unprepared for discourses of that nature Do Madam added he remarking my action do turn aside those bright eies perhaps for shame of your last conquest the wounds they made are deeper and more mortal than any of those swords can give that are drawn to decide our quarrel and believe it the King of Parthia has nothing so powerful as they to disarm us or make me do homage to his Empire He said no more and the intelligence he took from my face that his words had refused me made him preserve the rest till some other time and address his discourse to my Mother but that Evening retiring with Artaban as I since understood Ah Artaban said he what a milky path of beauty is this Parthian Princess and how over-seen were you that you did not forewarn me of the danger to behold her Artaban was troubled to hear these words and the jealous conjectures he drew from these beginnings taught him too well to presage a part of the sequel but if he was nettled with those thoughts I was not less perplexed at the discourse his Master had made me and the Queen taking notice of some stings of discontent that stuck in my visage pressed me so earnestly to reveal the cause as I was constrained to strip the truth of it to her knolwedge The next day my anxieties were very sensibly redoubled and Tigranes repeating his visit having once more engaged the Queen in a discourse with two Princes of his lineage accosted me with more confidence than before and anticipating of a part of what he had to say by his looks I know not Madam said she whether the King your Father makes use of you to revenge his quarrel but I am sure he could not impose a harder condition upon his cruellest Enemy than the sad Estate whereto your beauty has reduced me and if I did not hope some redresse from your pity I should think my self the most unfortunate and lost Prince that ever felt a passion The close of this discourse was as unwelcome to myear as the Prologue and now no longer willing to personate a stupid insensibility I strugled with my self to return him this answer The King of Parthia's resentments said I are enjoyned by Justice to design a large part of their animosity to those noble offices we have received from you and yours and I cannot comprehend how you should be reduced to a condition worthy of pity either by his arms or mine I know not Tigranes whether to die daily for you will give me a good title to your companion but of this I am assured that the charity of it can never expend it self upon a greater necessity and if pains and sufferings can attract it never had any torment a better claim than mine This hardy discourse which implyed but little respect to a Princesse with whom the King's acquaintance was not above four daies old did a little anger me and not able to dissemble it My present condition said I enforces me to that from you which perhaps your own discretion would make some conscience to suffer dispense with at another season Tigranes was guided by these words to observe such a discontent upon my brow as perswaded him then to give over the pursuit of that subject but a few daies after he renewed the chase and in fine gaveme plainly to understand that I was reduced to endure his perfecutions Artaban who drove a greater interest in his Masters new-born passion that we conjectured perceived it with a very sensible displeasure and resolved to employ all his power to cut it off in its infancy the Queen quickly found her self able to endure a Little and perceiving it high time to challenge the promise of her liberty gave notice to Artaban that health would not permit her to accept his offer Artaban who knew he had no less reason to expedite the performance than she to demand it and who could not see us in the power of Tygranes without such disquiets as result from a timerous jealousie readily dispos'd himself to render us that office and the same day moved the King to confirm his grant whereof the effects had only been retarded by the Queens indisposition Tygranes received this proposition from Artaban with a face full of trouble and after he had taken some time to return his answer Artaban said he what need you make such hast to precipitate a business that does not demand it the Queen of Parthia has not been ill treated among us and we shall have time enough to talk of her departure when we may agree to it with more civility Artaban heard these words with a mortal
dis-esteem of my services and his own honour has unworthily decreed that You remain his Prisoners and that I must live with the shame of that affront he has given me and the sorrow of failing to redeem the reputation that was pawn'd in my promise to release you Madam I must leave you in the power of a King that basely ingrateful as he is I know will not dare to forget the respect that is due to you and I am going to make his Enemies amends for the wrongs I have unluckily done them in my services to him for which I carry away with me no other regard than shame and repentance if the King your Husband will now accept the service of this sword which I drew against him and his with too much success peradventure it may heal the wounds it has given in taking back what it took away and by this very sword I engage my self once more before the Gods and you to restore your liberty Madam if my Soul stayes in this clay you need not fear a second failing of my promise I am confident I shall draw you from the hands of Tigranes though deprived of all human assistance and if the King of Parthia judges me worthy of any eminent employment in his Army I do not question but quickly to send back that ingrateful man to seek a refuge in the limits that his Father left him I confess Madam I must ask some time to confirm you this assurance and to demand your pardon as I ought for the offences I have committed by this unwilling abuse of your expectation in a promise that I had not power enough to make good Artaban after these words prepared himself to take his leave of us when the Queen who had heard his discourse with astonishment and surprizal staying him by his arm Think not generous Artaban said she that because we see our selves deprived of the hopes you have given us we can find any cause of complaint against you 't was my indisposition that only hindred the effects of your goodness and we are still tyed in obligation to that noble intent as all the power the King my Husband has left him is too weak to requite it indeed we shall stay here with too much regret in being deprived of that support and comfort we received in you but the profit we are like to reap by gaining so brave a man to our party whom victory waits upon like a Page gives a pleasing relish to this second loss of our liberties the King of Parthia knows your vertue to his cost and he is not ignorant how deeply you have put us in your debt if you draw your sword in his quarral you will doubtless find from his just resentments all that you lost by Tygranes ingratitude and if as I hope it is your valour be allotted to cut our chains asunder we shall then see you in some other places where we can better accknowledge what we owe to your generosity At these words seeing he only returned her the answer of a low reverence she embraced him as her Benefactor and after he had taken his leave of her approaching to me Madam said he be pleased to allow this ambition of mine to serve you and yours till the last moment of my life and if the Gods permit that I thrive in this design do me the grace to regard the success with some bounty but if they decree that I perish in the enterprize I hope you will honour the memory of a man with a little place in your thoughts to whom the occasion to dye for your interest was far dearer and more glorious than the possession of Empires There was two much passion betrayed in these words and the manner wherewith he pronounced them accused his discretion too openly however as our condition and his kindness was then ballanced I was loath to understand them in a criminal sense but regarding him with a visage that spoke a great deal of good will Go generous Artaban said I obey the motions wherewith your good Fortune inspires you and do not doubt but I shall ever cherish as great an esteem of your person and as grateful a resentment of your actions as your own desires can frame you Artaban's face confessed a great deal of satisfaction from these few words and having kissed my hand by the Queens consent who made me a sign to give it him he took his leave and retired to the Chamber where all things were prepared for his departure and delayed his stay no longer than the time it would cost him to mount himself and some of his Servants on Horseback giving order to the rest of his Equipage to follow him to the place where he intended to lodge he was so passionately loved by the Officers of the Army as a great part of them offered to run his Fortune but they could not gain his consent so much as to suffer one single man to go with him besides his Domesticks Really we should have stayed behind him with no mediocrity of grief for his departure if it had not been sweetned by the cognizance we took of that considerable succour he carried to our Army in his single person the grandeur of his actions that had got him a loud fame among all those that loved and knew how to use a sword and the things he had done and was like to do to our advantage from the advice of these experiments we took an opinion that taught us to consider him as a man that was wholly extraordinary and since t is but fit I should give you my thoughts in their naked innocence I cannot but confess to you that the marvellous qualities of his person and the grand obligations wherewith his vertuehad tied us to him had fetched him some wishes in my breast that had more warmththan usually tempers common good will and could I have judged his birth but approaching to any equality with mine I think my soul had preferred him before all the men in the world this was all the advantage he had gain'd upon me and perhaps it was not so cheap in a person of my humour but it might have given him content enough had he known it The next day after his departure the King of the Medes made us a visit and accosted us with as great a confidence as if he had given us no cause of complaint against him he made the Queen very bad excuses for what he had done and told her that some important reasons had perswaded him to defer those intents that were proportioned to our wishes that so soon as he had ranged his affairs in the order he aimed at he would render a fairer satisfaction to our desires than Artaban could teach us to hope for The Queen replyed that she never had any other pretence to that favour than by such ways as the world had tracked before her and though Artaban with an access of generosity had refus'd the ransom she had
offered she had ever persisted in her design to send it him and she knew the King of Parthia's disposition too well to believe he would receive a present from his Enemies unless reason made the conditions Tigranes returned an answer that was near a kin to his former discourse but a little after accosting me Think not Madam said he that any other reason could oblige me to an action which if you place rigour in your judgement-sear I know undergoes a heavy Censure but the impossibility that I feel to rend my self from you so suddenly no Madam either consent to stay with us or carry me with you among the Parthians for believe it the separation from my Court and liberty will be less insupportable than to part with you nor need you afflict your self to stay with a King that is more your Prisoner than you are his with a King that will sooner give up the propriety in his Crown and life than ruffle the smooth harmony of your thoughts with the least displeasure where will you reign with a more absolute Soveraignty than in a place where Kings are your Subjects and what condition can your expectation frame among the Parthians that is more advantageous than to have a Crowned slave to atend you He vexed me with a multitude of hotter words to this purpose which I still replyed to in termes that were little obliging The following dayes were imployed in this manner to prolong my affliction but he alwaies sweetned his persecutions with respect and indeed not only himself but his whole Court by his example and Command behaved themselves to us with such a studied civility as I could accuse him for nothing else but the refusal of our liberty and the importunity of his love In the mean time Artaban advanced by great Journies to the place where the King my Father resided and though he passed through an Enemies Countrey that he had handled very harshly he carried such confidence in himself as he never so much as demanded a Convoy nor sought any Caution for the safety of his person nevertheless as his train was very great and magnifique for a private man he was oft examined about the cause of his voyage but so soon as he declared that he went to find out the King of Parthia all the passages flew open to receive him and the general belief that he was going with propositions of peace got him divers offers of a safe conduct and guard to the Court. In fine he arrived at Hecatompolis where the King was then making new Leavies on all sides to regain a condition once more to take the Field and march in person to the place where we were so soon as the season would suffer him Artaban was not so precise as to observe the ordinary formalities that usually precede the admission of a stranger to a Royal presence but having only demanded permission to speak with the King he entred the great Chamber where he saw him invironed with the principal persons of his Court The Nobility of his aspect and garb presently drew the eyes of all the assistants upon him and while they were gathering fresh causes of wonder about him he made his approaches to the King with a most becoming confidence and having paid him the reverence that he believed was due Sir said he I am Artaban that name is probably known to you by the damage it has done you and by some advantages in War that Fortune has given me upon your subjects I have quitted the Service of an ungrateful King to come and enroll my self in yours if you be willing to receive me the dishonour he has done me in refusing liberty to the Queen your Wife the Princess your Daughter by an infamous breach of promise has made me resolve to abandon him and bring that Sword to his Enemies which has been drawn with too much success in his quarrel Sir if you dare adventure a Commission to unsheath it in your service I shall forfeit a great deal of confidence if it does not unravel all his victories and do the same things for you against him thus repairing your losses I shall take hold of occasion to revenge my particular injury if you regard me as an enemy that retarded your conquests and destroyed so many thousands of your subjects you have now the power in your hands to punish the outrage it has done you but if you can bend any thought to consider me as a man that may be useful to advance your interests possible there wants no more than your own consent to re-assure your estate and revenge your selves upon your Enemies Thus did the undaunted Artaban discourse the intent of his coming and the King whose wonder at the first gaze had done homage to the haughty and handsome charms of his visage and then improved his surprizal at the name of Artaban which he had too much cause to remember could listen to so bold a speech and so conformed to the greatness of his actions that pronounced it without a marvellous astonishment he often travel'd his eye upon him from head to foot and incountred nothing but fresh excuses of his admiration in his person discourse and action At first the name of that Artaban that had snatch'd the Median Crown out of his hands and shaken his own so rudely as he already apprehended the fall of it began to kindle some resentments and for a few moments he regarded him as an Enemy that had blasted the fruit and glory of his Actions by the gaining of three great battels the taking of his Towns and the death of 100000 Parthians but at the same time he remembred what the Queens Letters and mine had mine had mentioned of his treatment and the noble design he had to set us at liberty in sequel he considered the franchise of his action and the grand confidence exprest by the exposure of his safety unforced by necessity to an uncertain and dangerous trial and in fine he fell to examine his own interest which he found was highly concerned in the gaining of a man that drag'd victory after him and who alone was able to change his destiny This last thought got the victory of all the rest and when he had cashiered the former and cleared up those clouds that seemed to presage a storm in his visage while he was yet irresolute he approach'd Artaban with open arms and giving him his hand with an affable and obliging look Gallant man said he you are welcome the memory of your last actions has wiped out all the injuries you have done us and the knowledge I have of your valour will not let me disdain your assistance which I receive as a certain Omen of my victory and my enemies ruine you may safely assure your self of all those advantages with us that you forsook in Media and possible you shall find we know better than they how to render what is due to your vertue At these words he imbrac'd him and
by his example oblig'd all those in his presence to proportion their respect to his high reputation nor needed he take much pains to dispose them to it for they were all so prepossessed with the noise that ran about the world of the vertue and the proofs of his gallantry which some of them had left to their cost that they look'd upon him as a person whom the Gods had raised above mortality it then happened contrary to the usual custome that those whose birth or desert might feed up an ambition in their souls to pretend to the highest charges were all willing to release their claims to him and calmly submitted to the Kings will without repining when he gave him the command of his Army In the soul of Phraates with many bad qualities there is a mixture of some that are good and as the natural channel of his inclinations still carried him to warlike designes he alwaies set a marvellous price upon valiant men and ever gave them the upper hand of others in his esteem that were only indebted for dignities to their birth or fortune which they could not merit by their vertue Of this he gave a clear testimony in his treatment of Artaban whom he presently placed in the highest rank of his men of War and a while after in presence of his oldest Captain gave a Commission to command his Army at the age of 22 years for he had lived no longer There wanted not some that Criticis'd upon the Kings facility because he did not stay for some experience before he trusted so weighty a charge that imported no less than the conservation or utter ruine of his estate to a young man bred up among his Enemies whom only a Capricious humour had caus'd him to abandon and with whom he was not assured that he did not yet hold intelligence but Phraates had so seriously studied the generosity that shined with an equal and continued lustre in all Artaban's actions as none of those detracting objections could penetrate his belief or lessen his confidence in him Artaban was very joyful to see himself invested with a power to act his revenge upon the Median King and believed the promises of his own great heart that before a year was run through the glass of time he should reduce him to terms of repentance for the affront he had offered The winters rigour did yet oblige him to make some stay with the King which he entirely employed in preparations necessary for his warlike expedition but so soon as the season grew milder at the Sun's approaches his Troops compleat his Companions full and all things fitted for a march he put himself in the head of 20000 Horse and 30000 Foot and advanced against Tigranes with an order that made the most experienced Captains admire him In the mean time Tigranes had not stir'd from Nisa that was the Cities name where we were and judging his presence more necessary in a Conquer'd Countrey than his own where all things were calm and assured or rather not willing to abandon us and indeed not daring to commit such a sin against the respect and complacence of his affection as to draw us after him like slaves into his own Provinces he dispersed his orders through all parts of his Dominions to the troops that lay scattered in their several Quarters to draw up thither and with intention to advance his conquests nearer the heart of Parthia he had formed the body of an Army consisting of 60000 Combatants he spake no more of our enlargement and hath already rejected all the King my Fathers propositions for our ransom though they prostituted very advantagious offers to his refusal for which he pleaded to me no other excuse than that a separation from me would be far more insupportable than the fatal divorce of soul and body he paid me his visits but with too much assiduity and bating his condescent to our enlargement forgot nothing either in language or deportment that might make him nearer approaches in his siege of my affection but instead of a successive progress in his industry every day was witness to a more obstinate resistance against his batteries and though his person was handsome and his qualities very commendable yet the falshood he shewed as my opinion told me in so base a revolt from his word had given me such a perfect disgust of all his endeavours to please me as rendred every thing disagreeable about him the efforts he made to combat my aversion were alwaies beaten off with the loss of labour and though the Queen my Mother often commanded me to humour the necessity of our affairs with a moderation of my rigour and sometimes to regard him with a gentler visage on purpose to secure his respect towards us from the violence of despair I found it very difficult to subdue my reluctance and my obedience was never upon harder service than in this obstinate quarrel with my obstinacy we had the same Officers and Servants that the King my Father left to attend us and Tigranes had diminished nothing in our house nor altered any thing in tenour of our service only he placed a very strict guard upon us especially since Artabans departure fearing for he knew his daring spirit was apt to climb over the greatest difficulties he would make some attempts to deliver us Thsu did the pulse of our condition beat when fame brought him news of the Parthian armies advance and told him that Artaban their new General marched at the head of it and was then coming up to meet him with displayed Ensigns Tygranes who knew Artaban too well to displease him was a little troubled at this intelligence but as indeed to give him his due he was a man of courage he quickly recovered the use of his discretion and trusting in the number and valour of his men which had been accustomed to overcome he drew his Army together to meet his Enemies and resolved to lead them on in person apprehending it no safety to trust the abilities of any of his Commanders to cope with such a General as Artaban he then saw himself constrained to quit us and believing our persons more secure in that place than if he took us into the body of his Army he left us there with a strong Garrison as well to guard us as defend the place In the mean time our languishing thoughts began to hold up their heads with more vivacity than ordinary and by the lucky success of Artaban's voyage and the hope that was reposed in his vertue you may easily judge that our wishes were mingled but with little good meaning to the King of Media and this was the subject of the Queens discourse and mine when Tygranes entered our Chamber to take his leave of us he was then in a habit of War and truly became it so well as doubtless the Decorum of his mind and deportment might well be considerable to all such persons as were not preposses'd with
arrival of some order from the King of Parthia that might probably countermand these favourable intentions presently accepted the proposition and though his affection hotly disputed against the necessity of resigning me into anothers hands the impossibility to close the wounds of his broken estate and buy his liberty at a lower value confuted all the arguments it could urge and he immediately sent order to his Commanders in the City to draw out the Garrison and leave us as absolute Mistresses there as when it was first taken His orders were punctually obeyed the Medians quitted the Parthians entered the place and we saw our selves at the same moment free and reigning where we had so lately and so long been captives Tigranes had likewise his liberty restored him and retired with his men towards the frontiers of Media upon the Parole and with the Convoy that Artaban had given him to clear his passage through those parts of the Parthian Dominion that lay between him and his Medians After his departure the Triumphant Artaban whose valour had unâ—inion'd our liberty quitted his Camp to give us a visit in the City and his presence was then far dearer and more agreeable than when we first saw him the year before The Queen believing she should not offend her dignity by stooping it with a just acknowledgment to her Protector embraced him with tears of joy and if I made him Caresses that were lesse familiar at least I endeavoured to spread my face with as pleasing looks and put as obliging words into my mouth as might serve to let him see that my apprehension was in no arrears to his merit the Queen and I fell both upon the subject of his admirable valour and the exact observance of his word with Elogies that proved oppressions to his modesty the first part of our discourse was woven of nought but Praises and thanks on our part of Respect and Submission on Artaban's and after the Queen had amply declared him her resentments and was turned from him to receive some of the principal Commanders among the Parthians that were come with Artaban to render their dutious respects to her Majesty taking hold of that occasion You have entirely captived our Faith Generous Artaban said I to your future promises and taught us to believe that the world has not difficulty capable to retard their effects but if we be indebted to the brave performance of your word the King of Media's violation of his has more obliged us since if he had strictly observed his engagement to you in our behalf we only should then have thanked him for our liberty and his ingratitude had not blindly given us Artaban with it Artaban said I whose valour disposes the destiny of Empires and who from that groveling and deplorable estate to which he had once reduced it has lifted that of the Parthians to its proper sphere and made it shine again with the same lustre which his invincible arm had once sequestred Artaban returned an answer to these words with a flexure of his body as low as my foot and methought received them with a peculiar air in his looks that would not have worn that destruction to any other person making so many witnesses of all the actions and syllables that parted from him that the glories he had gathered from the honour of his employment in our service did far out-value all those advantages we had reaped from the effects of his valour Madam said he I could not miss of success in so just an enterprise and the interests of so divine a person as your self were too dear to the Gods to be left to the disposition of men by these invisible blows they struck in your quarrel the King your Fathers arms have obtained the victory upon the injurious detainer of so precious a liberty and 't is your interest in heaven that rebated the points and edges of your Enemies Swords against which no humane power is capable of resistance 't is to those Madam if the gain be estimable and not the fault of Tigranes that you owe your Artaban and such as he is you are more indebted to him for your self than all reasons and resentments that anger ambition or any other motion could infer to arm in the quarrel He broke off at these words with a fear that his tongue had been too livish and indeed had I seriously examined them I should doubtless have found out something that tasted of too much boldness From that day he scarce ever discontinued his attendance upon us at such hours as modesty might admit him and his expectation of some farther orders from the King to whom he had sent an express of what had passed with a desire to know how he would have him to steer his course made him a plausible pretence for his assiduity In the mean time the Convoy came back that he had sent to guard the King of Media and the Gentleman that Commanded it presented me a letter that Tigranes had given him at their parting which the Queen beckned to me to receive and having opened it in the presence of her and Artaban who was then in our Chamber I read these words TIGRANES King of the Medes to Elisa Princess of Parthia I Have paid for your liberty to the double loss of mine own and the same destiny that made you my Prisoner for a time decreed me yours for ever The rigour of my fate has rent me from you but I shall quickly supercede the decree and vanquish the distance betwixt us and you shall see me return in the Van of 100000 men tod emand you of my cruel Enemies that made the divorce betwixt us I shall not enter your Fathers Territories to such an Enemy as an injured Lover in that quality they that hide you behind their bucklers will not find it an easie task to resist me and those powers that might possibly retard others will prove too feeble to oppose my design of your reprisal The Queen listened to this language without Emotion nor did it much uncalm the quiet of my thoughts but Artaban heard it with a grand impatience and gave me notice by the blood that hastily leaped into his face how deeply he thought himself concerned in the Menaces and design of Tigranes as well in the quality of a lover as an Enemy Perhaps said he with an action that expressed a great deal of anger he may invade your Dominions to his own confusion and the two qualities he speaks of may prove equally fatal to his Life and Love that I think we shall be able to secure our selves from the angriest part of his Menaces and if the Kings orders do but hold proportion to my hopes it may be we shall give him so hard a task to defend his own Country as will save him the labour of bringing the Oar into yours After this day we tracked more resentment and animosity against Tigranes than we had formerly discovered and methought I read a kind
person entered the Parthian territories and by large days marches bent his course with an amorous impatience to the City where we then resided Never was Triumphant Captain received into the walls of Rome with greater glory nor did ever her seven proud hills eccho with a louder acclamation and applause than resounded in the Parthian Court at Artaban's arrival the prime Nobility paid them honours that seemed only due to the person of their King and if the King himself did not treat him with the specious formality observed by Kings at their entertainment of crowned guests at least he received and caressed him with every tender proof of affection that might be expected by an only Son though stored with all the excellent qualities of Artaban from a paternal indulgence in effect he forgot nothing that could enter the thoughts of a studious Gratitude to express it self with Elegance and by his own example obliged all the persons of honour in his Court to a difference that offended his Modesty I shall take pity of your patience Madam by forbearing to amplifie the single particulars that conduced to his reception and content my self to tell you that after the King had locked him along time within his arms and held him a while in discourse of his own gallantry he led him into the Queens Chamber where I was then present in a confusion of thought a part of which cannot well be missed by your own imagination 'T is true that Artaban was not unwelcome to my eyes and I cannot say that there was not some impatience mingled with my wishes to see him yet it posed me to cast up a true account betwixt me and my honour and I knew not what face to put on to his publick accost nor how to receive his particular visit my judgement had not passed the vote whether it behoved me to treat him as a man that had publickly served us or privately offended me and in this division of thoughts I saw him enter the Chamber before I had time to settle their obedience to a resolution Oh what a restless puissance did he bring in his looks to disarm a part of my choller how had a full years absence struck new graces about him and added me-thought some Majesty to his mind his behaviour as my opinion weighed it was handsome and far more hardy than before but I judg'd it so by his deportment to the Queen he quickly shewed me reason to quit that opinion when he came to salute me and had any critical eye perused our faces at that account it had made an easie comment upon our hearts Urinoe told me since that if Artaban wanted any courage or assurance in his looks I appear'd not less confused and astonished nevertheless as he was naturally the boldest man in the world he quickly recovered himself to an estate of repeating his civilities to the Queen to whom the King taking hold of his hand had presented him See Madam said he behold the Man that divided you chains asunder and revenged your quarrel now me-thinks it should not ask much pain to obtain your pardon for the Captivity he made you suffer nor need we henceforth scruple to trust him with the care of your liberty and revenge He has clear'd the debt of his promise so nobly reply'd the Queen as he deserves the reposal of more confidence in himself than in the entire puissance of a Kingdom but you are not so deep in his debt for the conquest of a Crown as to those that acquired him for you from whom without ingratitude you cannot disavow that you received him Phraates enlarged the Queens discourse with much more upon the same subject which for a long time they bandied from one to another scarce allowing Artaban the leisure to speak against himself or his modesty the means to defend him from the oppression of their praises In effect he spake but little that day and after they had thus disposed of a large part of it the King led him back with his own hand still discoursing upon the Them of his great acts and when he had detained him a while longer by himself at last he set him at liberty to retire I was no sooner gone back to my Chamber when Urinoe having nicely observed the appearance of some indigested and irresolute thoughts in my visage Confess Madam if you please said she that the coming of Artaban has given you some inquietude and you are yet divided in your self in what fashion you should treat him If I treat him as I ought answer'd I my behaviour will neither suit his inclination nor mine and I confess there is now a combat in my soul that rends it several ways with the greatest torture that ever fainted a female heart Ah Madam reply'd Urinoe do not strive against the tide of your own inclinations since they raise no War against your duty and why do you refuse a few moments audience to Artaban which he devoutly begs by my intercession either permit him to justifie or accuse himself at your feet and then if your reason says he has offended you will find him readily dispos'd to pay you the forfeiture of his life for expiation and if he thinks he is innocent you cannot make your self less by giving him leave to prove it Urinoe said I after I had taken some time to let my thoughts controul one another I know it is my duty to be deaf to your desires and 't is my weakness thrusts me headlong upon an evident occasion of blame but I know how that I am not able to resist a motive that over-powers my resolution and since you desire it with such unanswerable vehemence you have leave to bring Artaban to morrow to my chamber Urinoe extreamly glad of the permission the same Evening gave Artaban intelligence how prevalent she had been in her solicitation and as he told me since he prepared himself for that visit with a most passionate impatience The next day I fained a little indisposition on puropose to enjoyn a privacy exempted from common visitants nor could any think it strange that Artaban was then admitted to that priviledge if they rightly examined the credit that he carried at Court or my particular engagements to the glories he had gotten to my advantage He came with Urinoe who received him at my Chamber door into my Cabinet whither I was retired and where I had seated my self upon a little Bed having caused the Curtains to be close drawn before the windows upon pretence of his head-ach banishing as much of the tell tale light from the Closet as was possible that Artaban might find it less easie to read the red letters of shame in my visage for the fault I committed indeed he entred with a grace and garb so becoming as the skilfullest piece of detraction could have found nothing common about him and though he carried less courage and confidence in his looks than ordinary yet he had still the undefaced impression
his feet and return him this answer Sir I was ever resolved to spend my whole life in a continued practice of obedience to all you shall please to ordain me but you know Sir your self has always taken care to nourish so strong an aversion in me to Tigranes as I hope you will not think it strange if I feel an impossibility to vanquish it Tigranes was my Enemy reply'd Phraates when I commanded you to hate him but now he is become a friend to the house of Parthia 't is my absolute and indispensible will that you love him with all the faithful rights of affection that are due to the man I have chosen for your Husband Ah! my Lord said I will you wrack the quiet of my life and sink my joys at once for State consideration and will you not give me some time at least to clear my breast of all that denies him entrance there before you force me to his bed never think to obtain any thing of me reply'd the furious King but the extremest degrees of hatred and rigour if you keep the least objection to my will unvanquished by your duty go get you out of my presence and come no more in my sight before you have bow'd your stubborn heart to obey me without a scruple of repugnance I was struck dumb at the cruelty of his language and returned to my chamber so confus'd and afflicted as it cost me the rest of that day to get my reason again into her place The next morning there came a command from the King that I should make my self ready to receive Tigranes Embassadours who a little after being entred my chamber they entred me an account of their delegation in behalf of their Prince and offered the first homage of that reverence which they paid me as due to their Sovereign Queen I would not suffer any passion to break loose in their presence as without doubt I had done if I durst have followed the stream of my own resentments but they cull'd a very slender satisfaction from my language and looks and if an impos'd formality put some of my words in a civil frame they came from me in a posture so visibly constrained as they might easily read through it the small inclination I had to become their Mistriss however in publick they deem'd it not fit to silence any further inquisition and the King without so much as vouchsafing any enquiry what blows I had struck in the Combat with my self caus'd all things to be prepar'd for a Ceremony to which I was to be lead as a victim to an Alter Gods what a world of unquiet thoughts did then tread the mazes of my soul what excuses did I not make to the unfortunate Artaban whom a rigorous constraint had caused me to abandon how often have I summoned heaven to take notice of the violence was offered me how oft from the justification have I passed to a complaint against him accusing his affection of Apostacy and falsly charging him with insensibility of my affection and discharge of my interests Cephisa and her Mother daily endeavoured to dry my eyes but were utterly unable to stop their source with any solace to my sad heart and the Queen my Mother whose sweet disposition ever charged it self with a tender care and a dear indulgence for the peace of my spirit knowing her power too weak to wrestle with the Kings intentions left nothing unessaid to ease me of my anguish by perswading a resignation to his will though she has protested a hundred times a day that she would not think it too dear a rate to ransome my repose at the price of her own and vowed she could not see the cruel preparation of my following miseries without getting all my sighs and sufferings by heart in her own brest But fortune had not spent the spightfullest mischiefs she intended upon me and she raised me up a fresh disaster unforeseen by my fears that struck me deeper than all that fore-ran it and now Madam you are to understand the uttermost effects of ingratitude and cruelty There was but one day left unspent before that which was appointed for my nuptial Ceremony when the King being in one of the Palace Courts inviron'd with a proud train composed of the prime Nobility among the Parthians and the King of Media's Embassadors saw himself aborded by a man whose unexpected appearance was quickly grown the astonishment of all the beholders His visage was pale and a little altered yet not so estranged by that change but he was quickly known to be Artaban by the whole assembly at the view of a man so indeared to the best and affectionately rever'd among all the Parthians their joy started out into a thousand acclamations and the King recovering his face as well as the rest appeared with a greater surpizal in his looks than any of those attended him Artaban not so much as straying one single regard from his purpose upon the troop that invironed him directed his addresses to the King himself and his steps no sooner carried him near enough to be heard when setting apart all other formalities King of the Parthians said he I am not returned to thy Court to demand Elisa nor to tell thee I am content to fall in the price of my services into a cheaper value I am only come hither to make thee a new offer of this arm which of late thou hast missed to thy grand disadvantage and whereof the sole absence has possibly reduced thee to take very shameful laws from thy Enemies I hear thou art resolved to give away thy Daughter to Tigranes the cruellest of all thy opposers to whom upon a fair and unforced treaty thou wouldest doubtless have refused her and thou receivest him for thy Son-in-Law at a time when all Asia takes notice to thy shame that nothing but fear and weakness makes the match Phraates if thou hast not cashiered all care and esteem of thy repute and glory yet break this dishonourable Marriage and instead of giving with thy Daughter the Crown of Parthia to Tigranes suffer me to restore thee that of the Medes which once before thou didst receive at my hands I dare engage all the honour I have gathered in the field to recover it before Gods and men and if with the sole assistance of thy Forces I do not set it once more upon thy head before the Sun shall compleat the Circle of a year I am contented mine shall be exposed to all the rigours thy wrath can invent with an utter abjuration of any plea for mercy Thus did the undaunted Artaban disclose his thoughts and the King who during this discourse had recovered himself from his first amazement darting at him a disdainful look And whence comest thou said he thou that didst so basely shrink from me in the war has thy foolish presumption brought thee to be my Counsellor in peace art thou now crept out of those lurking places where thou
thee again and now thou hast rashly removed that affliction but Ah! thou hast done it with a dangerous appearance that puts me to far greater pain than a perpectual divorce could ever have inflicted I tormented my self in this manner and wasted the whole night in such a doleful condition as I think my sorrows would have softned the stony heart of Phraates himself had he rightly understood them but in this full tide of affliction maugre all my protestations and tears I was forced to obey a cruel order from the King that caused me to be conducted to the Temple there to espouse Tigranes in the person of his Ambassador and receive the Crown of Media I was too great a sufferer at this Ceremony to bring away the description In short I was there espoused there publickly Crowned and after all the ordinary formalities that usually wait upon such solemnities led back to the Palace in an estate that contracted pity from all that saw me the King my Father excepted After this action he fell to consider what he should do with Artaban the revenge he believed was due to the unbecoming words he had given carried weight enough in his thoughts to make a seeming justice his assassine but besides the turbulent motions of his Choler he had many other reasons and those of no feeble footing in his breast that solicited Artaban's ruine his experience of this mans invincible spirit and his amorous aims at me hatched him some sanguine fears that he would prove a perpetual ague to himself and his Son-in-law remove Heaven and Earth to ravish Elisa from the hands of Tigranes and alwayes keep a capacity consistent with his life to disquiet the two Kingdoms as well by the help of his offended courage as the affection and authority which his grand actions had acquired and were likely to preserve him among the Medes and Parthians In fine he thought he could not sleep securely so long as such an Artaban was above ground to traverse his designs and this consideration easily got the victory of all that resisted it to conclude his murder but when his memory made fresh opposition by reviving the services that man had done him he gave credit to a new conception that he could not bring him to a Scaffold without deepning the tincture of his execrable crimes to the eye of the World and drawing upon himself a dangerous encrease of his peoples hatred to whom he was already very odious The influence of these reasons on both sides held him some dayes irresolute but the last could not prevail for Artabans pardon in fine he closed with one invention that he thought would render him less odious than any that had trod their successive steps through his fancy He was well acquainted with the cause and temper of Tigranes resentments against Artaban and besides the knowledge that all the world had of it he remembred in his propositions of peace he demanded his head or Artaban dead or alive in his first Article besides he had understood that since his imprisonment Artaban had openly protested if he were at liberty again he would kill Tigranes which being told to the Median Ambassadors they had brought it in as a new complaint against him to the King this sprung him a conceit that he might safely rid himself of Artaban and tye Tigranes to him in an immortal obligation sending with his spouse his Enemy in chains by his death to satisfie for all the losses he had caused him This thought had no sooner made it self known but presently grew up to a resolution and to the persons were appointed to conduct me into Media there was added a great number of others to guard Artaban thither but because he feared those friends that Artaban's vertue had acquired among the Parthians should attempt a rescue if we took the ordinary road he directed our voyage through Hircania though much the farther way and gave secret orders to a certain number of vessels that he judged necessary for my conduct and Artaban's to wait us at a Port upon the Caspian Sea where we were to imbark after we had traversed Hircania See Madam how far he stretched his ingratitude and what a rancorous malice inhabited his heart to expose a man that had so gallantly obliged him to the rage of an Enemy that had never been so but because he served him The rumour of this resolution that raised a general murmur among the Parthians stuck me with an unparallel'd astonishment all the bloud I borrowed from his veins could not stop my cryes against this last effect of Phraates cruelty but when I had spent some serious reflections upon this design I spyed a little glimmering of comfort and I believed there was more hope of procuring Artaban's safety by my intreaty to Tigranes upon whose spirit I still thought affection had left me some authority and whose disposition was never voiced by the common repute to be cruelly enclined than by leaving him to my Fathers mercy whose marble heart never gave access to pity when choler or ambition kept the gate But why should my relation travel the farther way towards its journies end by such unpleasant passages this design of the Kings was acted as resolved and I was snatched out of the Queen my mothers arms who as well as the wretched Elisa was ready to dye for grief at our separation before my fears of such a sudden divorce had time to feel themselves in season and conducted with Artaban through Hireania which is under the King my Fathers Dominion to the Caspian Sea where after I had given my last farwel to those who through private respect or publick command had accompanied me thither was put into a vessel among the Medes Artaban laden with Irons in another full of armed men and both these followed by three other Ships fraughted full of Souldiers that were rather sent as a guard to the Prisoner than a train to the Princess they were commanded by Orestes Brother to the same Euphrates that was killed by Artaban a few dayes before in the Court and therefore for the greater assurance preferred by the King to that charge as his bitterest Enemy Orestes had with him a thousand well trained men in those vessels and Polinices who by the Kings Commission was captain of my Convoy commanded two or three hundred Parthians that were all in our Ship with my Women and a part of my Family of all his Servants then the unfortunate Artaban had no other with him but Telamon a young man of a great heart a lively wit and rare fidelity I seemed as if I had rather been conducted to my Tomb than my Nuptials and if some Bolts and Shacles had not made the difference betwixt us it would have troubled any judgment not anticipated to distinguish which or Artaban or I was the Prisoner All the time we travelled by Land I durst not so much as demand a sight of him and I deemed the request would be easier
him a courtesie in permitting him to fight for your defence I hope he has fairly enough requited it to deserve the continuation The Parthians answered me with loud cries Artaban said they is not only free but still our General and you Madam are our Soveraign Mistress to whom we owe and will ever be ready to render all sorts of obedience Do you all promise me this replyed I and may I securely repose a perfect confidence in this affection you have expressed to your Princess Yes Madam answered they you shall never desire any thing at our hands that we will not undertake at the peril of our lives to serve you If that be so said I turning towards the Median Ambassadours that escaped the combat you may go home to your Master Tigranes and tell him from me that Elisa will never be a partner of his bed The chief Ambassadour reply'd something in the King behalf and assuming the liberty that his office and quality allowed him menaced the Parthians with the power of Tigranes and his Allies to revenge that indignity but in fine they were forced to suffer what they felt themselves too feeble to prevent and with those few men that Fight had left him he entred into a Ship I had caused to be consigned him and took the way towards Media full of grief for the sad success of his negotiation If Artaban had left any anguish for what was past he then saw his suffrings drowned in a flood of unexpected joy and though he had utterly given over treating with any hope at least not such a one as aimed at my rejection of Tigranes to put him in his place without the consent of those that nature impowered with a right to my submission he took such a comble of contentment to see me openly renounce a Rival whom in a few dayes he thought would be confirmed in the possession of his Elisa as he felt some time to tye himself to the rules of temperance fell again at my feet gave them a thousand kisses made me as many discourses full of transport that was Rhetorical without method or connexion and proved it by all his behaviour that a courage able to defend it self from the rudest blows of Fortune had not strength enough to hold in a head-strong joy but if Artaban was seized with these excesses of satisfaction and if my own were little short of his to see my self freed by such a favourable accident from the power of a man I detested and another pluck'd from the jaws of death and restored to my arms that I loved above my life I think their pride of his contentment and mine was abated at the same time with the same thoughts that assaulted it 'T is true I saw my self delivered from the hands of Tigranes or rather from an insupportable slavery that looked with a more dreadful face than death it self but when some soberer thoughts had gained my attention I easily perceived by the help of their eies to what a perplexing Dilemma that event had reduced me 't is true I loved Artaban and if the election of a husband had depended upon none but Elisa's will I preferred him as he was before the greatest of that Sex but I never humoured the least inclination to espouse him without my Parents consent nor harboured any intent of exposing my name to the Ages obloquy by an unexamined act so full of levity and so little a kin to the greatness of my birth besides the publick notice of his passion gave me some apprehension of blasting my repute by remaining in his power against the King my Fathers intent but then to condemn my self again to the rigid hands of Phraates was that I could not resolve for besides my inducements to dread a man that never had pity for the nearest of his blood the gentlest treatment I could expect from that furious Father was first to be used with a great deal of cruelty and then sent shamefully back to Tigranes to wear out my life in a bondage that had no parallel Artaban saw something in my looks that secretly pain'd me and requiring the cause I discovered all with an innocent freedom not so much as reserving the least part of the truth from his knowledge he was troubled to make his defence good against their considerations but as he was a friend to reason and had alwayes a ready submission to my will he quickly brought his judgement to an agreement with mine and easily cleansed his breast of those desires that might expose me to reproach Madam said he I am resolved that neither passion nor interest shall disswade the execution of your commands no though they should condemn me to lead you back to Phraates or give you up into the hands of Tigranes himself I would not disgrace my obedience so much as with a murmur but if heaven has not been deaf to your adorers wishes that you think the retreat to either of those Courts can neither be safe nor pleasing command me to carry you whither you please and I beseech you do not wrong me with a thought that I will ever take advantage of your sweetness to name a request though in the humblest manner that may make the same a sufferer but if my opinion be not erroneous the securest and most decent receptacle that can be thought of will be to the King of Lybia Father to the Queen your Mother 't is true the way thither is long and you will be constrained to travel part of it by Land but if can take a resolution strong enough to overcome the difficulty there are many inducements to the voyage that declare their favour to your wishes besides that affection which the nearness of bloud and the fame of your vertues has gained you in the King your Grandfather the distastes he has justly conceived of Phraates cruel humour and his mortal enmity against Tigranes will doubtless induce him to protect you from the latter and impower you by degrees to make your peace with the King your Father in the mean time you may live there in the quality of his Daughter till time and nature shall mollifie your Fathers marble heart and beget an occasion to break his conditions with Tigranes This advice of Artaban appeared so rational as I could find no objection weighty enough to fill the other scale against my consent and after I had tenderly acknowledged how much his vertuous complacency to my will and the noble care he took of my reputation had obliged me I readily consented to the present execution of his prudent advice protesting that no consideration should ever lessen the faith and fervour of my love and if my Parents proved inexorable to all mediations and entreaties that laboured our marriage at least their threats and promises reasons and rigours should all be lost upon Elisa who would never admit any other in the quality of a husband The comfort of this promise and the vows we both enterchanged for
themselves towards Artemisa who was younger than Arsinoe by a year This Princess by a sympathy which powerfully acted in the beginning of our affections permitted at the first that I should contract all the amity with her that we were both capable of her beauty which gave at that time marvellous hopes of its future excellence already made impressions in the soul of a child of seven or eight years old and the sweetness of her spirit and the gracefullness which accompanied all her actions did so Captivate my heart that it was impossible for me to live without her I disdained all sorts of entertainment and all manner of company to enjoy hers and I had this happiness too that she expressed no greater inclinations towards her own brother and sister than she did to me If any from Anthony or Cleopatra enquired after the little Alexander they must look for him in the company of the little Princess of Armenia and they had so much ado to get him from her that she was fain often-times to follow him to the place whither he was sent for or otherwise they would have hardly got him thither without tears and grand expressions of his displeasure The Queen diverted her self sometimes with these innocent testimonies of our affection and causing us to play together in her presence she pleased her self to hear our conversations She heard me one day talking to her more seriously than my age did seem to permit Artemisa said I to her I am affraid you do not love me I love you said she as well as my Sister That is not enough replyed I for I love you much better than the Princess Cleopatra And how would you have me love you then answered the young Princess As you do your self said I As my self replyed Artemisa ah Alexander that will be impossible for I love nothing like my self and I am very sensible that when I take any hurt I could wish it to any person in the world rather than to my self but next to my self I will love you as much as any thing else in the world besides Artemisa answered I I protest to you that when I see you suffer any harm I resent it so much that I would willingly endure it my self to ease you If it be so said she I confess Alexander that you love me better than I have loved you hitherto but for the future I will do what I can to render you the like affection I humbly intreat you to do it added I otherwise I shall never be satisfied The Queen my Mother was much pleased to hear this discourse and having told Anthony of it he was pleased oftentimes to make use of the same diversion Jealousie too began already to mingle it self our affection and I remember that Anthony seeing me one day extraordinary sad and having asked me before the Queen and before Artemisa and her Sister who at that time was in the Chamber the cause of my sadness I am sad said I because that Artemisa hath not looked kindly upon me to day You have nothing to do with my looks answered Artemisa disdainfully and you are sufficiently satisfied with the caresses which my Sister hath rendered you all this day Artemisa replyed I your Sisters kindnesses do not please me like yours and if you would have me I will tell her in your presence that I love her not in comparison of you You will do me a pleasure briskly answered the young Princess for she hath hit me in the teeth all this day that you you have quitted me for her with disdain which hath angred me very much Arsinoe continued I turning my self towards her Sister if you have any such thought you deceive your self and I desire to acquaint you in your own presence that I love Artemisa much better than your self Arsinoe who in an age so full of innocence had a composed spirit and admirable knowledge troubled not her self at my discourse and Artemisa was so satisfied with it that from that moment she began to look more kindly upon me I am tedious in relating to you these petty effects of Nature but these beginnings of my life have been of such importance in relation to the last events which have happened to me that I am forced to make you a slight mention of them and to prepossess you with the opinion that I was really amorous of Artemisa at that time when by the priviledge of my age I was permitted to see her that you may be induced to excuse those things which the memory of these beginnings caused me to do at an age more capable of reason During this time as without doubt you have heard the war between Anthony and Octavius Caesar brake out into such a flame that all hopes of peace were extinguished and these two being Masters of the greatest part of mankind did so eagerly pursue each others ruine that nothing was capable to divert the destruction of him that was most unfortunate In the time of this war the King of the Medes the ally and friend of Anthony but an irreconcilable enemy to Artibasus continually importuned Anthony and Cleopatra to put him to death and offered them in requital his forces to serve them in the war against Caesar but they rejected his propositions and could not resolve to use so much cruelty to a great Prince who by his ill fortune had faln into their power they persevered a long time in this resolution and I believe they would have continued so still if her misfortunes had not exasperated or rather changed the inclinations of Cleopatra The famous battel of Actium was fought wherein by the Queens flight the fortune of our Family was totally ruined and the victorious Caesar found himself in a condition to pursue the remainder to the gates of Alexandria Then it was that the King of the Medes redoubled his solicitations for the death of the King of Armenia and sent to offer Cleopatra in the absence of Anthony the whole forces of his Kingdom for the head of Artibasus the pressing necessity of her affairs and the despair to which she saw her self reduced might make the Queen hearken to the propositions of the cruel Mede but yet she would not have disposed her self to grant him what he demanded nor have stained her memory with a blot which will never be wiped off if at that time she had not been informed that the eldest Son of Artibasus who remained in Armenia having declared himself King served Caesar with all his forces and did highly threaten to ruine Anthony and Cleopatra and be cruelly revenged for the injury they had done to his Family The resentments of this Prince were just but the spirit of Cleopatra being as I told you exasperated by her misfortunes she did that out of despight which she would never have done for any other interest and giving ear to the pressing solicitations of the King of the Medes out of a boyling precipitation which was too late repented of
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
I should not dare to express my curiosity any farther but I can really assure you that it is less upon that account than out of a desire of comforting you in your displeasures if it be possible for us that I desire this knowledge The Unknown at these words held his eyes a while fixed upon the ground and afterwards raising them up to Artemisa's face Since my misfortunes have made me said he I have not declared them to any person and besides that the secrecy of them hath been of importance to me in many places where I have passed 'T is somewhat sensible to me to recal to mind by this discourselthe cause of my displeasures but a person so unordinary as you may expect extraordinary differences from me and besides the obedience which those divine beauties may hope for from the most savage souls I know too well what I owe to your generous goodness which you have expressed both in the consolation and the assistance you have given me to avoid or neglect any occasion of complying with your desires I will acquaint you without dissimulation both with my name and birth but the relation of my adventures if you desire it should be any thing large it may possibly be of too tedious a length for you and I fear I shall put you to some inconvenience by detaining you here with a discourse in which you are not certain to find any divertisement Without doubt I abuse your patience replyed Artemisa in exacting this of you but you may pardon it if you please upon the account of the interest I take already in your fortune and if this place be inconvenient for the relation I desire of you there is a house hard by at your service where you may repose your self as long as you please and possibly find some consolation to your sorrows in very agreeable company The Unknown humbly thanked the Princess for this offer and after some words of obliging contestation The condition wherein I am said he doth not permit me to receive the favor you do me I can neither stay nor take any repose in the most agreeable companies in the world though such as you offer me so long as I am possessed with these tormenting cares but since you desire to understand the Fortunes of this miserable person if you please I will satisfie your expectation here in this place The Princess having accepted his offer the Unknown after he had called his two Squires which looked to his horses hard by and given some orders to one of them came back and sate down by her upon the brim of the Fountain Sarpedon Leucippe and Tideus did the same some paces from them by Artemisa's order who prayed the Unknown to give leave that they might be present at his Narration and a little after the Stranger having mused a while upon the discourse he was to make he began in this manner The HISTORY of PHILADELPH I Would tell you Madam that by the relation which you desire of me and whereunto I dispose my self without repugnance in obedience to a person for whom I feel so extraordinary a respect you go about to revive my resentments if I could not say with greater truth that nothing is capable to asswage them and that of all the moments of my life there is not one wherein they are not present to my memory neither my long travels nor those accidents which possibly would have produced this effect in a soul less prepossessed were ever able to do it and I shall infallibly cease to live when I shall part with a remembrance which entirely possesses me and whereunto all my thoughts are chained by an eternal obligation Tarchoudemus King of Cilicia well known for his puissance and the amity and alliances he had with Anthony as long as he lived is he that sent me into the world and not having any other children living by the Queen my Mother but the Princess Andromeda my Sister and my self I am now the lawful and sole heir of his Grown This reason hath obliged him to cause me to be brought up with such great care that never possibly had any Prince greater advantages in his education than I nor more means to second good inclinations if I received any from nature my first years whereof I might tell you the employments were it not for troubling you were spent for the exercises of the mind and body whereunto my youth was formed and when the King my Father thought that I had made a passable progress in them to frame my self to a greater perfection to renew the alliances he had made with Augustus after his coming to the Empire he was about to send me to Rome to spend some years there with divers young Princes which were brought up there and to refine me from the barbarism of our own Provinces but he was diverted from this design by a report of a War wherein he found himself strongly interessed Artaxus the young King of Armenia inheriting the hatred which had along time been between his Family and the Kings of the Medes made war against Tygranes newly come to the Crown and conserving the same resentments against him as he had done against his Father by whose sollicitations as they say the Queen Cleopatra was obliged to put Artibasus to death he began to enter his Dominions and to ruine all that came in his way with a great deal of cruelty Tygranes is the King my Father's Sister Son and besides this proximity there hath always been so streight an alliance between our Families that in the affairs that have happened to either there was never known a separation of interests After two years of the War which passed so equally that Tygranes had no need of our assistance in the third fortune began to be contrary to him and having reduced him to the necessity of our succour the King my Father went to aid the King his Nephew in person I attended my Father and in this War I served my first Apprentiship in Arms There were many Battels fought and many memorable Rancounters passed wherein I had the happiness to give good hopes of my future progress by my beginnings and success did so accompany our arms that we chased Artaxus out of Media and got very considerable advantages upon the frontier Artaxus being extraordinarily exasperated and of an inclination naturally very cruel wasted all he could without pity with fire and sword and more fully to express his humour two Princes of the greatest proximity to our Family being by fortune fallen into his hands without any regard either to their birth or to humanity it self he cruelly put them to death and sent their heads to Tygranes By this cruelty the King my Father was so enflamed with choler against the King of Armenia that he solemnly sware to be revenged and in all that passed afterwards he endeavored to execute it without any consideration At last the weakness of either side did somewaâ—aâ—swage
their fury and when they were almost in a condition not to make War any longer Angustus having sollicited them to peace and having interposed his authority to their allegations obliged them to a treaty which made them both retire but could not banish the resettlments which remained for things past When we were upon our return to Tharsus the King who some years before had buried the Queen my Mother married the Widdow of the deceased King of Cappadocia and Mother to Archelaus now reigning in that Kingdom our Neighbor and Ally and had a design to marry me to the Princess Uranina her daughter whom the Queen her Mother had brought with her into Cilicia she was a Princess beautiful enough to create love in any soul that not been possessed before and I doubt not but that my affections would have enclined that way if things that befel me afterwards had not overthrown all the dispositions I could have to it and given my soul far different employments from those it firmly had 'T is time Madam that I enter upon that discourse and I will not enlarge my self any farther in the relation of things of so small consequence whereof in respect of things of greater importance I had hardly preserved any remembrance In this time of repose and tranquillity of spirit wherein I then was I employed my self in all corporal exercises and particularly in hunting whereunto I had a very great inclination being retired upon this design for some days with the equipage which served me for this divertisement to one of the King's houses which is a days journey from Tharsus and some furlongs from the Sea I took great pleasure in making War with the Beasts and as soon as the Sun began to display his Beams upon the Earth I went into the fields and passed the whole day in pursuit either of a fearful Hart or a furious Boar or of some other creature In this innocent kind of life I passed my days without any other inquietude than what sometimes the bad success of my hunting might make me sensible of and my soul was not agitated with any care that might disturb its tranquillity but fortune did not leave me long in this condition and the will of the Gods was that I should receive a great alteration when I was least prepared for it One day ah how many tears hath that day cost mine eyes and how many torments hath it brought upon my heart ah how fatal hath that day been to those that followed it and yet how dear is that day still to my memory though so cruel and contrary to the repose of my life One day I say whereof I had passed the greatest part in the pursuit of a Boar being separated from all my followers and having lost my way in a wood of great extent after I had ridden up and down the Forrest a while in vain I felt my self more weary than ordinary and incommodated by the violent heat and an extream thirstiness To ease my self of both I sought by-paths unknown to me for a little brook which I had seen divers times in the wood and when I was come thither I alighted and having tyed my horse to a Tree I first quenched my thirst and when I walked gently along the Brook side to find out a place free from the beams of the Sun that I might repose my self for an hour I had gone but a little way in this intention but I found the most convenient place I could desire to that purpose both in regard of the shade it received from some thick Trees and of the green and pleasant grass that covered the bank of the Rivulet I chose out my place by the eye and went forward to take it but I saw it possessed by a person who had gotten thither before me I believed at first that it was one of my hunters and upon that belief being come near enough to discern the truth I perceived it was a woman clad in plain cloaths such as Country-women were in those parts This accident did not at all displease me and out of a curiosity conformable to my age and the condition of life I then lived I went nearer to view her upon that side whereunto she had turned her face 'T was my destiny that guided me thither and I was fatally conducted to that sight that should blot out of my soul all that I had seen before I no sooner discovered some part of her face but I felt my self extraordinarily troubled and I had presages of this adventure which made me know of what importance it ought to be to my life but I had no sooner seen all that could appear to my eyes in the posture she was but there issued a brightness thence which absolutely dazled my sight Yet her glories were for the most part covered and her eyes being closed by a profound sleep could not dart out those beauteous rays which at other times proceeded thence as from their original but without their help the rest of her beauties were capable to raise attention into admiration and admiration into the primitive motions of a violent passion This fair or rather this Divine person was carelesly laid along upon the bank and the earth which sustained this beautiful body seemed to produce new grass to receive her the more agreeably Her head leaned upon one of her arms and the other was stretched out towards the rivulet whose clear waters she touched with the tops of her fingers but in this action her sleeve being favourably tucked up gave me liberty to behold as high as the elbow the whiteness and shape of an arm which might eclipse all manner of beauties if it had not been equalized by her neck which appeared half naked to my eyes by the help of a little wind that jealously blew aside the linnen that covered it and from thence passing over her cheeks amorously sported it self with her fair hair which fell upon them her mouth her complexion and all the parts of her face might not only out brave envy in regard of their absolute perfection but inspire a kind of Idolatry and some opinion of divinity in those that beheld them and in fine every thing in this admirable person seemed to me so far above all that is mortal that at first sight I was stricken with such a respect and veneration for her as we do not use to have for creatures I stood and viewed her a while with such exceeding earnestness that all the objects in the world would not have been capable to divert me from it and running over with my eyes amazedly the marvels that fortune presented to them I continued so confounded and astonished that I had hardly any remembrance left of what was past or any knowledge of my self remaining What rancounter said I doth my fortune cause me to make to day and what divinity doth she present to my eyes under a mortal figure Can it be possible that the Gods should have placed
of disobedience or disorder in your family and if for the sake of an unfortunate stranger you should draw upon you the indignation of the King your father I will not contribute to the trouble you may receive upon that account and it were much better that you should engage your self in some affection wherein you might find your establishment and repose than to amuse your self about a small ill-grounded inclination which in reason you cannot bestow so much as a thought upon I will never have any thought for you answered I that you may justly condemn and though to make you an ingenuous confession I have loved you hitherto without any other design than to love you I shall be capable of whatsoever you approve rather than you should not be capable of some sence of affection for me I protest it to you by all the Gods that if in the course of this love which layes me at your feet without an interest I can be but so happy as to understand that you dispose your self to love me you shall quickly know that my desires aim at nothing superior to your self and as there is no dignity to which you may not rightfully aspire so there is no consideration which can hinder me from placing you there when my person shall be so agreeable to you as to cause you to receive the effects of my love without repugnance Delia blushed a little at these words which possibly she had not expected so promptly from me and after she had continued a while without replying I shall never have any repugnance said she either for your person or the testimonies of your affection but what design soever you may have to my advantage I will never approve of it so long as other persons may have reason to condemn it and the splendor of preferments and dignities cannot possibly charm me so much as to make me willing to purchase it with the displeasure of seeing a fault committed by a person whom I esteem and honour as my duty is By these words which proceeded from a courage infinitely high Delia augmented the respect I had for her and regarding her with a new admiration You are worthy without doubt said I to her of a much higher fortune that I can advance you to and I know you too well to believe that the hope of greatness is more powerfull upon your spirit than the proofs of a faithful and respectful passion but if besides his heart and soul the gift whereof hath exceeded all that he can do more a Prince should offer you 'T is enough Sir answered Delia interrupting me and I beseech you pardon me if I oppose the sequel of your discourse I do neither expect nor desire these propositions from you and as you may content your self if you please with the respect I have for you so I shall be satisfied with the particular esteem which you express to me without framing designs contrary to appearance and reason This was all I could obtain of Delia not only at this first conversation but in all the rest that I had with her a long time after and she kept her self so within the limits of an immoveable moderation that by all the proofs of my love I could never incline her spirit to a complatency which might cause her to remit any the least thing from the highest and severest vertue yet for all this she treated me with a great deal of sweetness she alwaies looked kindly uppon me and expressed by all her actions that she esteemed my person upon other considerations than that of my birth but this was all that I could get of her and she was so far from giving her self the liberty of granting me the smallest favours that she did not speak so much as one word to me that proceeded from terms of good-will and I confess that I contented my self with this fortune and maugre the inequality of our conditions I had formed an Idea of this admirable person to my self that rendred the smallest thing that related to her precious to me In the mean time this miraculous beauty appeared at the Court like a resplendent Star which with its lustre eclipsed all the rest and after she had been there a few dayes there was no discourse but of the fair Stranger which was in the Princess 's service The King and Queen beheld her with admiration and she had hardly begun to shew her self but she had made a thousand sighs for her and adored her they all crowded to her to give her the first testimonies of it but she treated them all with so much indifference and disdain that the boldest amongst them had hardly the confidence to renew their suit I saw her every day with facility enough but never without the company of her sister or some of her companions and in all the conversations that I had with her though she were of a softer sex and younger years than I yet she gave me examples and precepts of vertue which might have swayed my inclinations that way if I had capacity enough to profit by them Alas how many times in this happy season after I had passed some hours in her company with incredible ravishments have I cried out to my self with transport that all kind of employments and conditions in the world ought to give place to the glory of serving Delia how often have I prayed the Princess my Sister that she would interess her self and often bear a part in our society and to confess that the world had nothing comparable to Delia and that she was a thousand times more beholding to me for the occasion I had given her of gaining the company of this admirable person than I was obliged to her for the benefit she had procured me by it She likewise took no notice of the precautions she had made for the honour of her family and reposing an entire confidence in the vertue of Delia she left her to the conduct of her own life without troubling her self in relation to the interest she might have taken in it In the mean while she loved and caressed her in such a manner that this Maid being obliged to her amity whatsoever desire she had to return into her own country durst not require the performance of the promise which was made of conducting her back again thither and alwayes when she was about to open her mouth to that purpose Andromeda entertained her with such fine expressions and represented her with such tender and pressing caresses that she could not live without her that she insensibly engaged her to a much longer stay than she had intended In the mean time I had so abandoned my self to my love that I had no thoughts left but for Delia only and I did less interess my self in the affairs of Cilicia and all those things which in all likelihood might concern me than those would have done which were the meerest strangers to them Though I saw Delia divers hours
every day I did not think I saw her half enough and alwayes when I was constrained to part from her I could not dispose my my self to it without strange reluctancies and violences Nevertheless I desired to render to decency and duty part of that which they required of me and this was that which often times deprived me of that which I acknowledged to be my only felicity The King being sollicited by the Queen his Wife pressed me every day to serve Urania but he found no disposition in my spirit to obey him and though out of complacency to him I forced my self sometimes to express love to that Princess the violence I did my self was so easie to be taken notice of that those who were never so little clear-sighted might plainly have perceived it Urania who together with a rare beauty and a thousand excellent qualities which accompany it hath likewise an admirable Wit capable of making all manner of discoveries discerned my dissembling very readily and having a courage worthy of her birth she could not satisfie her self with a forced complacency in stead of that which in reason she believed she justly merited and upon this account seeing me often by some ill-composed discourse endeavour to perswade her to that which was contrary to my heart she received it in such a fashion as made me very well perceive that her obedience only made her endure it This continued a long time before we made any farther discovery to each other and I was sensible with a great deal of displeasure of the wrong I did to the beauties of that Princess affording her nothing but gross dissemblings in stead of an affection whereof I really judged her exceeding worthy But in fine her courage could not any longer submit it self to dissimulation and one day when I had made her some verbal protestations to which my heart gave no consent through which the violence I offered to my self might easily appear by reason of the little skill I had in the Art of dissembling the Princess shaking her head and looking upon me with a smiling countenance Philadelph said she You make me pity you a great deal more than you intended and this censtraint to which I see you cruelly exposed creates a real passion in me for you to please an unreasonable Father you conceal your thoughts but you conceal them in such a manner that it is easie for persons of ordinary perspicacity to observe them Offer no more violence to your self for the sake of a Princess who hath toâ— good an opinion of her self to thank you for the constraint you lay upon her self and you may believe that she would hardly afford that to your affections though real which such an obedience as yours is makes her bestow upon your dissemblings You shall never be forced in your inclinations for Urania 's sake and if you have so much esteem for me as to open your heart freely to me I promise you that for my part you shall never receive any opposition in your real affections I shall content my self without putting you to farther trouble with those devoirs which in obedience to the King you seemingly render me and I will not exact any thing of you wherein you may find repugnance and I very little satisfaction Urania spake in this manner to me and by this discourse she surprized me so that I was so far from returning her a present answer that for a long time I had not the confidence to look upon her I found so much reason and truth in her discourse that I could not disallow of it and though I could not repent my self of the passion I had for Delia I acknowledged that Princess so worthy of better usage than she had from me that a criminal surprised in the very fact could not appear more astonished than I seemed to be at that time At last this first perturbation being overblown and my eyes being open to the reason and freedom of the Princess which I could no longer abuse without baseness I resolved ingenuously to discover to her the condition of my soul and to excuse the faults I had committed against her by reason of my pre-ingagement Upon this design fixing my eyes upon the ground for I had not the confidence to look her in the face whilest I made this confession Madam said I It is not easie for me to conceal my confusion in a condition whereinto you have put me by a procedure so full of generosity and freedom and if I had not an absolute confidence in that goodness whereof you give me so many testimonies I should never have the courage to make a discovery to you which cannot handsomely be done but since you are pleased to give me so much boldness if the respect I owe you may give me permission I will tell you that I really acknowledge the admirable qualities of your person and that I am not ignorant of the glorious advantages I should receive in devoting my life entirely to your service I have had all the dispositions and all the desires to do it that I ought to have but I had not the liberty and since you give me leave ingenuously to confess my weakness I will discover to you Madam that for a long time I have not been at mine own disposing and that my soul being pre-ingaged in a passion which enentirely possesses it hath not found it self in a condition to receive those glorious impressions which without dispute you would form in all free souls It is easie for you to know so much by taking notice of your own powers and it would have been a difficult thing for me to have conversed with you so long without being captivated by your divine beauties if I had not been absolutely enflamed before by another object which hath hardly left me either eyes or understanding If I had had any remaining power over my engaged heart the Gods know Madam with how much satisfaction I should have submitted my self to your Empire and for how great an honour I should have acknowledged it to dedicate my dayes to your service according to the intention of the King my Father but Madam No no Philadelph said the Princess interrupting me do not justifie your self any farther I receive your excuses as favourably as you can desire and I shall no way hinder your former inclinations so as to oblige you to any constraint I shall find no great difficulty to quit the pretensions I have to you and I do not think you have perceived any other thoughts in me in relation to your person than of esteeming you as you deserve I might possibly in time have received other impressions if you had obliged me to it by your affection and services but that was not yet come to pass and I find my self as free as you can be and as much Mistress of my will as when I came into Cilicia In compliance to the King you may make what use of it you please
and as your passion will permit and we will continue upon the same terms we now are without enraging our selves farther in relation to any thing that either of us shall do in obedience to the King and Queen This was the resolution of the fair Princess of Cappadocia and I found it so rational that in spite of all my passion I could not hinder my self from crying out O Gods how generous are you and how unfortunate am I that by the pre-ingagement of my soul I am rendred unworthy of the glory which my fortune hath offered me but at least since that by this fatal engagement the thoughts I ought to have for you are forbidden me permic me Madam by a continuance of your goodness that in stead of those passionate resentments I may conserve others for you of another nature and interess my self in the occasions of doing you service as if I had the honour to be your brother Urania did not refuse me what I desired and appearing satisfied with the confession I had made to her she was well pleased that I should follow my inclinations without laying any constraint upon my self I did so too thenceforward and though I did seemingly render her my respects out of design and that in publick I pretended to some interest in her when no body heard our discourse I talked to her as to the Princess Andromeda and conversed with her very differently from the Kings and Queens intentions I could not forbear discovering all to Delia but at the relation I made her of it she was troubled in good earnest she protested to me she would not suffer that for the love of her I should fly out into disobedience to the Kings pleasure to my own hurt and that she would rather quit Cilicia than see me shun my advantages upon an amusement which could not have any good success This indifference wherewith she answered the proofs of my passion afflicted me with a sensible displeasure and looking upon her with an air that signified a little discontent I did not think said I that these testimonies of my love ought to be disagreeable to you and though besides Urania I should disesteem all the world for your sake I do not believe you could make it any just cause of complaint This possibly would have had some operation in any other spirit but yours and I am very unfortunate if by putting my self in danger of incurring the Kings displeasure I should likewise incurr yours in stead of a little acknowledgement which I might justly hope I am not wanting Sir replied Delia in the acknowledgment that is due to you and possibly 't is only in regard of that that I oppose those designs that are disadvantageous to you the proofs of your affection are exceeding glorious to me but I cannot approve of them if they be incommodious to your self and I do so far consider your interests as never to give way that you should abandon them for an unfortunate stranger or that for her sake you should expose your self to those troubles which your disobedience without doubt will raise in the Court if you persevere in it Ah Delia said I with a gesture all composed of passion the troubles of my soul ought to be more considerable to you than those of the Court and I am far enough from finding any repose or felicity in that obedience to which you would oblige me seeing I can protest to you before the Gods that I shall never find it but in your self and that if I lose the hopes of gaining your affection I shall lose all pleasure and desire to live Do not oppose then any longer what the Gods have ordained as to my destiny do not vainly endeavour to introduce another Image into a heart which yours will absolutely possess to the end of my life all the obedience I have for you would be unprofitable upon this account and by all the power you have over me you shall never divert my thoughts from Delia for one single moment These were the contestations that most commonly I had with her and if out of complacency she forbare to contradict me in this design yet she continually assured me that she would not contribute to the displeasure which by that means I might receive In the mean time whatsoever discretion I used to regulate the conduct of my love it could not long continue secret and as you know the actions of persons of my rank being much more observed than those of private men it was a difficult thing that Delia should be so fair and that they should see me render her offices full of assiduity and respect without suspecting that I loved her The fame of it spread it self largely about the Court and quickly came to the ears of those persons who were most interessed in it Urania who had suffered my engagement with a great deal of moderation and little resentment could not take notice that I dis-esteemed her for a person who was so inferiour to her without being a little moved with despite and without expressing as much to me upon some occasions but when she had well considered the person of Delia she began to accuse me and believed that there were but few spirits that could defend themselves against the powers of so admirable a person but the Queen her Mother who had often complained of the coldness I shewed in the courting of her Daughter could not give credit to this common report without being netled at it and without complaining to the King at first he heard without much taking notice of it and excused that to the Queen as the fault of my youth which she condemned with a great deal of sharpness But the Queen in process of time being confirmed in her opinions and having pressed him by her continual solicitations wrought upon his spirit and obliged him absolutely to declare his will Upon this design having one day detained me in his privie Chamber and causing all other persons to withdraw that he might speak to me with the greater liberty Philadelph said he I shall tell you no news when I shall acquaint you that to preserve and augment the alliances which we have with the King of Cappadocia I have resolved upon your marriage with the Princess his Sister but I desired to put you in mind that it is time to make preparation for it and that for very important reasons I am obliged to hasten the design I believe that you are fully disposed to it already and that you acknowledge as well as I that there cannot be a more advantageous offer made you than of such a Princess as Urania is Whilst the King spake in this manner it was easie for him to read in my countenance the displeasure I received at his words and when he had done speaking I continued a long time with my eyes fixed upon the ground without making him any reply he took two or three turns about the Chamber in expectation but when he
saw I did not open my mouth to give him an answer What Philadelph said he are you surprized at this proposition and besides the knowledge you have already received of my pleasure have you found nothing in the beauty and rare qualities of the Princess Urania to engage you in her service with satisfaction Sir replyed I at last the Princess Uurania is worthy without doubt both in respect of her beauty and all manner of advantages of a better fortune than is intended for her and mine receives but too much glory in having been destined to her service but Sir that which I have already rendred her hath been entertained by her with so few marks of inclination that I confess mine is unedged by it and if your Majestie does not allow me time to dispose my self to it I shall never engage my self any more that way without repugnance The King shaked his head at this discourse to signifie to me that he gave no great credit to it and looking upon me with an action which expressed some discontent Urania is too wise said he to nourish any inclinations that are different from the intentions of the Queen her Mother and the King her Brother and I know she hath received your services as she ought to receive them But Philadelph I understand you are diverted by other passions which cannot be approved of by any person and though hitherto I gave little belief to the report that was made me of it and thought that a slight affection which beauty might produce for some moments in a young man's mind had made no considerable impression in yours now you confirm me in the opinion which I was perswaded to have of you and you make me believe that it is this unjust preoccupation that hath rendred you insensible of Urania's beauties and disobedient to my will This discourse of the Kings though I was a little prepared for it before surprized me and made me blush in such a maner that by the change of my countenance the King received great confirmations of his suspicions and was ready to open his mouth to tell me so much when I began to speak Sir said I they which made these reports to your Majesty are ill acquainted with my intentions and I have received no impressions which hinder me from obeying you as my duty is you may understand the truth of what I have said to you if you please to inform your self about it and whatsoever deference the Princess Uranea had to the Queen her Mother's will she her self will not possibly deny what little disposition she hath to love me I will know that added the King and if those dispositions be wanting her duty without doubt will prompt her to receive them as I would have you resolve upon that account to obey me without repugnance He spake no more to me at that time but permitted me to retire my self so ill satisfied that I had not the power to dissemble it I went immediately to the Princess my Sister who perceived my alteration by my countenance and having prayed her to cause Delia to be sent for when that fair creature was come taking Andromeda's hands and pressing them betwixt mine with such an action as discovered to her the agitation of my spirit Sister said I I desire your assistance in my misfortune and if you love me you will not refuse me your consolations in the inquietudes which torment me The King just now hath imperiously declared his pleasure to me and his will is that I should dispose my self to marry Urania within a short time but he shall sooner throw death into my bosome than that resolution and all the powers of the whole world combined with his shall never introduce any other affection into my heart than that which I have for Delia. This Maid if she will permit me to accuse her of it before you repays me with an insensibility to which possibly I have not obliged her and she perceives in me the most real and pure affection that ever was without being moved to so much as a single acknowledgement of it I desire you dear Sister and conjure you by all the amity you have for a brother who desires wholly to rely upon you that you would work other thoughts in her in my favour and that by all the credit you have upon her spirit you would perswade her that she ought to interess her self more than hitherto she hath done in the life of a Prince who hath absolutely devoted himself unto her In stead of being pleased with the design which I have to dis-esteem all things for her sake she opposes it out of a principle which I dare not attribute to ingratitude and by a prodigious excess of misfortune I see my self reduced not only to suffer the persecutions of the King but I see likewise with an incredible grief that she for whom I would suffer them in stead of comforting me in them rejects them with disdain Dear Sister inspire other thoughts into this divine person seeing all those I can desire of her cannot be disadvantagious to her and do not suffer me if you love me to be ruin'd all at once both by the Kings authority and Delia's insensibility Andromeda hearkned to me with some inquietudes which might easily be observed in the countenance and when I had done speaking Brother said she you need not doubt but that I interess my self in whatsoever may concern you and render you all the assistances that you can justly desire of me but Brother I am able to do nothing with the King and I believe I have no greater power over Delia's spirit hitherto I have not seen you desire any thing of her which I might not and do not counsel her to grant you and so long as your affection shall contain it self within these bounds I will do what I can possibly to interess her in what you suffer and are like to suffer for her sake Madam said Delia interrupting her I have all the obedience and deference for you that may be and all manner of acknowledgement and respect for Prince Philadelph I receve the affection wherewith you are pleased to honour me as my duty binds and I am not insensible of his as he accuses me I desire no greater testimonies of it than those which he himself reproaches me withall and if I did not look upon it as I am obliged to do possibly I should find glory enough in the affection of such a Prince as he is to make me close my eyes to the considerations of his repose 'T is because I esteem him according to his merit that I slight mine own advantages to promote his and that I would not suffer if it were possible for me that he should expose himself to the Kings anger for my sake and to those displeasures which he may receive by opposing his will I will suffer them all for your sake replied I with such a joy as shall keep me from being
sensible of them and I shall never be happy so as when I shall be able by some extraordinary proof to testifie that to you which hitherto you have only taken notice of in my discourse It were much better answered Delia coldly that by my departure hence I should take away from the King the matter of his indignation and from you the occasion of drawing it upon you it will be with this intention which really proceeds from the care of you rather than from any other motive that I shall beseech the Princess to permit me to retire my self and to give me her assistance in relation to my retirement as she promised me You are said I with a very sad countenance absolutely at liberty and at your own disposing whensoever you shall desire to return but will you be pleased that I should wait upon you over all the world or that I should die by mine own hands in your presence at your departure I spake these words with so passionate an action that Delia seemed to be moved at it and the Princess taking her turn to speak next after me No Delia said she there is no necessity of so sudden a separation and if you love me as you say and as you are obliged to do by the amity I have for you you will not afflict me with the double displeasure I shall receive by your absence and my Brothers despair But Madam replied Delia what does he desire of me and what end can he propose to himself in an affection which cannot choose but ruine us both I have often told you answered I that my love should never aim at any thing that your vertue might disallow of and I will tell you more plainly before my Sister that if it were in my power I would marry you and in expectation of that liberty I will never entertain that design for any other person You can never expect that power replied Delia but by wayes which you ought not to desire and when you have obtained it you will not possibly have surmounted all difficulties O Gods cnyed I out at these words to what a pitiless spirit hath my fortune subjected me Cruel Maid continued I looking upon her in a very sad and dejected manner if you disdain and scorn the heart I have given you and all that I can offer you where shall I find any thing that may be worthy of being presented to you I pronounced these words with such an afflicted air that Delia's heart was a little moved at them as I perceived by her action and by the sweetness of a look which glanced upon me contrary to her design she kept her eyes a while fixed upon the ground and then on a sudden looking upon the Princess Madam said she since you have made me wholly yours defend my cause if you please against the Prince your Brother and I beseech your goodness to take the pains not only to justifie me from the ingratitude with which he would reproach me but to represent to him that he cannot in reason desire of me more acknowledgement than I have for his affection Having spoken these words she intreated her to give her leave to retire her self for some moments and so she left me much grieved for the small progress I had made upon her spirit but my Sister and I continued in admiration of that vertue whereof she gave us a thousand testimonies every day By making so small accompt of the hopes I gave her of a Crown she strongly perswaded us that she deserved something much more great and confirmed me more and more in the design of never desiring the possession of it but only to set it upon her head Andromeda opposed this resolution as she supposeth it was her duty to do by all manner of considerations but her opposition was all in vain and I saw nothing in Delia which did not make me judge her worthy of all the world I did not leave Andromeda till I had engaged her to suffer much for my interests and to oppose her self to the uttermost to the design which the King might have to take Delia from her and I was much comforted with the promise she often made me to do it The King upon the accompt of her Vertue and the good qualities she was Mistress of had very particular considerations for her and expressed more than an ordinary affection to her In the Interim the first time that the Queen had any discourse with him about my marriage with her daughter he told her that Urania had no great inclination to it and related to her what I had told him concerning her coldness and the little liking she had of me The Queen who desired our marriage above all the things in the world spake to Urania of it the same day and desired to learn from her mouth if the report which she had heard were true Urania either not to wrong her own merit by declaring how slightly I valued it or not to do me a bad office freely told the Queen her Mother that it was true that she had no inclinations to love me and that excepting what decency and the esteem she had for my person required it would be difficult to bend her spirit to any greater testimonies of affection At this discourse the Queen grew angry with her and after that she had sharply blamed her for the little care she had to shew her obedience she imperiously commanded her to do better for the time to come and protested that she would make her sensible of her displeasure if she made too long a resistance against her will For some dayes following she persecuted her in the same manner and the Princess had courage enough to suffer much from her before she would confess the truth telling her alwayes that she did what possibly she could to overcome the repugnance she had to affect any man but at last seeing her self extraordinarily pressed to it and exposed to some usages she thought she was no longer obliged to endure them for his sake who did not love her and after she had hearkned to a long and sharp reproof which the Queen bestowed upon her Why said she would you have me love a man who had no affection for me and that confessed as much himself after that he had sufficiently expressed it by his actions Does not Philadelph love you replied the Queen what mean then the publick testimonies he gives of it and the complaints he hath made of your coldness I am unwilling said she to do him this bad office to you and to the King whose intentions correspond with yours but if we have a courage worthy of our birth we shall offer no farther violence to the inclinations of Philadelph and we may find elsewhere as great advantages as those which we expect from him The Queen being exceeding angry at this discourse gave no ear to her Daughters counsel but presently went to the King and made great complaints to him
of me telling him that I had made a fool of her Daughter and of him too in perswading him to things far from truth that Urania was not of a birth to be abused in this manner and that all the Court thought it strange that I should prefer a poor stranger of a base and obscure birth before her that it was murmured up and down every where and if order were not taken in time I would render my self a laughing stock and a scorn to her subjects The King who in all things took the Queen's part was particularly moved at the complaints she made against me and protested to her that if I did not readily dispose my self to obey him in the desire he had to engage me in the service of the Princess Urania and if I did not abandon all manner of affections for her sake he would reduce me to my duty by making me sensible of his resentments and from that moment he began to use all his authority to make me submit to what he desired of me or to expose me to those cruel crosses under which I have so much groaned since and by means of which I find my self in a deplorable condition Philadelph related the history of his life in this manner when the Princess Artemisa who hearkned to him with a great deal of pleasure and attention judging that this discourse would be long and fearing left Prince Alexander should be in some care by reason of the length of her walk she sent Tideus to him to let him understand the truth and to put him out of all apprehensions for her After this order which she readily dispatched in Tideus his ear she turned her self towards Philadelph and after she had asked pardon for the interruption she had made in his discourse she heard him pursue it in these terms HYMEN'S PRAELUDIA OR Love's Master-Piece PART IV. LIB IV. ARGUMENT The King makes use of all politick mild and rigorous courses to divert Philadelph 's affection from Delia but all in vain The gentle modest and discreet behaviour of Delia makes her the Court-wonder Philadelph proffers privately to espouse her which she refuses till he had gain'd their friends consent and gives him some hints that her Birth was greater than be imagined She is poisoned by some malicious instruments about the Queen Philadelph loudly exclaims against that black Treachery and vows not to survive her Beyond expectation she recovers Philadelph falls sick of a Feaver His danger softens his Fathers heart who promises him no longer to oppose his Love whereupon he is cured Delia still renders the same reasons for her refusal of Hymen 's Ceremonies and highly indears her self to the King by her vertue Philadelph is summoned to the Median Wars At his departure Delia gives him a paper sealed up but forbids him to open it till he had order from herself or his Sister Andromeda He goes on successfully in the War and brings it to a period He receives intelligence from his Sister that Delia was retired from Court and had given him leave to peruse his paper He calls for his Cabinet but finds that by accident it was lost He was extreamly afflicted at it betakes himself to travel and resolves to range the world in her search He tells Artemisa what Countries he had already travers'd and so ends his Story The distress of an unknown Lady invites him to her rescue which he gallantly performs He takes leave of the Ladies and goes on in search of his Delia. Artemisa invites the unknown Lady to her habitation which she gratefully accepts THE King in compliance to the Queens humour had no sooner taken the resolution to torment me but he sent for me and after I was come into his presence receiving me with a frowning countenance The chear said he which you have put upon me is discovered to your confusion and if you had had as much obedience as the Princess Urania you would not have exposed me to the displeasure which I have lately received That Princess submits her self as her duty is to the will of the Queen her Mother and you do not render what is due to your Father though the things which he desires of you are only for your own advantage We know now Philadelph the truth which you concealed from us and we are no longer ignorant what the subject of your disobedience is This is not that which I expected from the inclinations which I thought I observed in you and from the education you have received and these base thoughts whereby you disgrace the beginnings of your life give a sensible displeasure to those who had established their dearest hopes upon you Reflect upon it in good earnest and with a resolution worthy of your birth discard these uncommendable affections whereby you will expose your self to your Fathers anger and the scorn of the whole world The King spake to me in this manner walking up and down with such an action as signified his displeasure and I continued unmoveable with my eyes cast down and in an uncertainty what answer I should make him I had a mind at first to dissemble still with him and to deny my passion hoping that in time I might work his spirit to a sweeter temper and bring him insensibly to give permission to it but in fine I perceived that there was little likelyhood for me to hope so and besides that it was impossible to conceal that from him any longer which was come to the knowledge of the whole Court and that it could not remain secret any longer if I did not forbear visiting Delia I believed that that fair person was very worthy of my owning and that she might justly be offended if I did any longer stifle the thoughts I had for her upon this account beholding the King with greater assurance than before Sir said I the fear I had to displease you hath hitherto constrained me to disguise the truth from you and if I had not a great deal of confidence in your goodness I should never have had the boldness to confess it to you 'T is true Sir I have failed if to love the most beautiful and amiable creature that ever the Gods sent into the world without your command be to commit a fault but this fault was not voluntary and all the considerations I could have were not strong enough to defend me against the powers of Delia. If you said the King had opposed any vertue against the birth of this passion you would have preserved your self from it and you might have fortified your self if you would have made use of them with good examples and noble education so as not to suffer your mind to be overswayed by vicious inclinations Vice replyed I hath no intermixture with those inclinations which I have for Delia if her vertue which she possesses possibly in an higher degree than ever person did were known to your Majesty without doubt you would never judge injuriously of it
that I interceed Sir she urges her departure more earnestly a thousand times than her most cruel enemies and if she would have permitted me to attend her neither she nor I Sir would have been in your Dominions You would have received more sensible displeasures if she had not opposed them and you are obliged to her Sir not only for serving your intentions more powerfully than you your self can do but for punishing me too by her disdain of me and of all that I can offer her more severely a great deal than you could do for my disobedience In brief Sir I desire either death at your hands or the liberty to see Delia I shall infallibly obtain either the one or the other and I am not so fond of my life without Delia but that I will sacrifice it at your feet as soon as you shall deprive me of all hope of prevailing with you I have stayed Gesippus as he was about to execute your commands and he could not have found a passage to go and do outrage to Delia but through my blood he still waits upon your will if that be not conformable to that which pity and the proximity of bloud inspire you within my favour you may be very well assured Sir that you are not like to have a Son long in the world All the while that I spake in this manner and when I had one speaking too the King walked up and down hastily he lifted up his eyes to Heaven and stamped with his foot and by all the gestures of his countenance expressed his indignation and the divers agitations of his soul The small disposition he saw in me to follow his inclinations and to satisfie the Queens desires by whom he was daily tormented put him into so much choler as made him partly forget what the nearness of bloud presented to him on my behalf and carried him out to more cruel resolutions than the former but at last as he really loved me and had placed all his hopes in me alone as his only Son he feared likewise the Tragical effects of my passion and perceived himself inclined to some indulgence towards me in spight of his own heart After that his irresolutions had a long time appeared in his countenance he turned himself suddenly towards me and breaking his long continued silence If I should hearken to reason said he to me rather than to fatherly infirmity which I cannot well resist I should make thee suffer such exemplary punishments as are due to thy disobedience rebellion and baseness but I will give thee a few days longer to reduce thy self to thy duty with less violence and to experiment whether thou canst do that by thy vertue which at last I will do by my authority when I perceive that my indulgence is unprofitable Having spoken these words after he had commanded Gesippus to retire he entred into his Cabinet without entertaining any longer discourse with me I saw Delia a little after and told her all that was passed not being able to conceal any thing from her and I found her in her ordinary humour from which she could never be unfixed upon any consideration Some days passed without any great Crosses as to me and the Kings choler though it was not extinguished seemed yet to be a little pacified He saw the Princess my Sister upon whom he cast a very severe countenance and made a very sharp complaint of her favouring me in my foolish affections Andromeda apologized for her self and protested to the King that it was none of her fault that my mind was not cured and that she employed all her perswasions to reduce me to the obedience I owed to him You should then said the King have sent Delia away from you since you knew that it was my design and you know well you cannot retain her contrary to my intention without displeasing me Sir replyed Andromeda I could not quit my self of Delia without making you lose the Prince my Brother and if your Majesty had seen the condition wherein he appeared to us every time I proposed it to him and that Delia pressed me to give her leave to be gone without doubt you would have judged as well as I that you could not deprive him of Delia without taking away his life But Andromeda answered the King your Brother has a design to marry her and that Maid who receives too much honour by being in your service raises her pretensions already to the Marriage of your Brother and to the Crown of your Ancestors I know not said the Princess whether my Brother hath any such intention but I can justly answer you for Delia that she will never give her consent without you and all those persons whom her birth hath given any command over her agree to it Whatsoever her Parents are added the King they will easily agree to this alliance and without their consent or mine a Crown hath lustre enough to dazle the eyes of a more constant mind than that Maid is of You are not yet acquainted with her Sir replyed Andromeda and she doth so much despise that dignity which you suppose is capable to blind her that it will never oblige her to any the least complacence towards it as long as she lives The King admired at Delia's vertue but his admiration reached no further than to astonishment and he did not cease to make me be tormented to tear that passion out of my soul by all manner of wayes I hardly visited Urania any more and if at any time I happened in her company I entertained her only with words of respect without intermingling any thing of love The Queen was so moved with despight at it that not being able to dissemble it she spake no more to me and looked upon me no otherwise than as an enemy but she continually whispered in the Kings ears that could not connive at the slight esteem I made of his will without entirely abandoning his authority and that he ought by all means to hinder me from making that unknown Maid Queen of the Cilicians She was not only of a proud and malicious nature but she had bad Spirits about her and I believe it was by their solicitation that I received the displeasure to which I saw my self exposed a few daies after The King after he had tried divers means in vain to cure me of my passion at last despaired of doing it and either out of the resentment he had of it or by the pernicious counsels of interessed persons he permitted his spirit to be enclined to things contrary to his nature through the desire he had to retire my heart from its agreeable servitude those who to please him or to follow their own inclinations had engaged themselves in Delia's service appeared no more and after the publick declaration of my love and usage I had shewed Antigenes there was none so bold as to present himself to her I visited Delia oftner than before I had quitted
could dis-engage your self from your passion you should know that I have a very rational interest in it to desire to hinder the prejudicial effects of it but if it be impossible for you to live without Delia and if by Delia's means only I can preserve my Son I will close my eyes to all reasons of State to save him and I had rather be blamed by my Subjects and Neighbours for this indulgence than to be any longer in danger of losing my Son Recover upon this assurance and receive the inviolable promise I give you that if after your recovery Delia be necessary for the preservation of your life or repose I will no longer oppose the affection and design you have for her At these words of the King I was seized with a transport of joy which in spite of the paleness which my sickness had caused was easily seen in my countenance and taking hold of the Kings hand which I kissed divers times with ravishment Ah! Sir said I 't is this day that I acknowledge you to be my Father and I am a thousand times more obliged to you for this second life which you give me than for the first 'T is certain Sir that the grace you do me is necessary for the preservation of my life and that it is impossible for me to live without Delia but Sir I may protest to you in requital of this goodness that you will never have cause to repent of it and whatsoever violence you offer for my sake to those considerations which my passion doth not permit me to take notice of you will find your recompence Sir in the acknowledgement of Delia and that strange Maid is endued with such qualities that her vertue will be one day more dear to you than all the alliances you could make with your neighbours I should have said more if the King who saw that I flew at random had not hindred me and retired after he had confirmed by oath the promise he had made me I was so satisfied with it that all the sickness of my body was dissipated by the contentment of my mind and it contributed in such a manner to my recovery that the next night my Fever in stead of being augmented by this days excess diminished very much and the Physitians by this amendment conceived such hopes of my life that they almost certainly assured the King of it The satisfaction he received upon that account confirmed him in the design he had conceived in my favour and the same day having met Delia in my Sister's company after he had accosted her with a countenance very different from what he had formerly shown her Fair Delia said he I have disputed your conquest too long with you but I will do so no more you are worthy of my Son and I leave him entirely to you as soon as he is recovered of his malady Delia blushed at these expressions of the Kings but she received them with a great deal of moderation and replied without being moved The gift of such a Prince as Philadelph cannot be but very precious to a person who esteems his merit and affection as she ought and if I were as free as he is now through your goodness I would let him know by all means possible that I am not ingrateful to the obligation I have to him What Delia added the King are not you free to express your resentments to my Son in the design he hath for you and have not you liberty enough to gain Philadelph and a Crown too boot 'T is not his Crown answered Delia that I look upon but I sufficiently esteem his person to grant him any thing I may without any other pretention if my duty did not bind me to render that to my friends in my own Country which he renders here to his and to desire of them the consent which the Prince had obtained of your Majesty The King was amazed at this discourse and looking upon Delia with admiration O Delia cryed he O Delia 't is this day that I acknowledge that you are worthy to be my Daughter and for that Vertues sake which you discover to me I shall never repent whilst I live of my indulgence to my Son See how the face of things was changed From that day forward the King having begun to take real notice of the vertue of Delia conceived such an esteem of her as made him a little after desire that which before he had so much feared and so much opposed and in stead of hindring it as he had formerly done he saw himself reduced by the desire he had of my recovery and repose to entreat Delia every day to love me and to offer her the Succession of a Crown which she slighted as not having charms enough to stagger her from the least of her resolutions The Queen seeing this change and being extraordinarily netled at the injury which she supposed was done to her Daughter would not suffer her to continue any longer in Cilicia but sent her back with a stately equipage to King Archelaus her Brother who had sent for her divers times She saw me before her departure contrary to the Queens intentions she graciously received my last excuses and assured me that she went away without any resentment against me Not long after I saw my self perfectly recovered and after the changing of the Kings mind finding my self free in the research of Delia I had nothing else to contend with but her self but then it was likewise that I met with the greatest difficulties and though she did not seem insensible of my love but flattered me with the sweetest hopes yet she kept her self constantly to the proposition she had made and to the design of expecting that from time which as she said was not yet in her power She had at that time a glorious revenge for the displeasures that the King had caused her and if she had been of the humour to draw any advantage from this change she would have had some pleasure to see that Prince make her every day such offers as she slighted and to be as forward to flatter her in my favour and to second the requests I continually made to her as he had been eager to torment as formerly At that time having no more complaints to make against others I often complained of her accusing her of her hard-heartedness and ingratitude to me but when I was most afflicted and most dissatisfied with her she quieted my spirit by the powerful Empire she had acquired over me and by the confirmation of the promises she had made me I lived in this manner enjoying the contentment of seeing her which was permitted me with all liberty and full of the hopes she gave wherein though I could comprehend nothing through the knowledge of her vertue I had a great deal of confidence when my Fortune raised me other business and employment Tygranes King of Media our Ally and near Kinsman as I have
already told you being despoyled of his Kingdom by Phraates King of Parthia or rather by the valiant Artaban General of his Troops who with a prodigious valour had reduced Media under his Master's Dominion in a less time than would well have served to have seen it all came to seek refuge among his Neighbours and Allies He made some stay first in Cappadocia and by the compassion which his misfortune wrought in the breast of King Archelaus he not only obliged him to protect him but interessed him so in his affairs that Archelaus a Prince of great Vertue offered to raise an Army for his re-establishment and to march with him in person to re-invest him in his Throne Archelaus alone was possibly too weak to put this design in execution and Tigranes having engaged him in this manner to his succour came into Cilicia believing he should find all manner of assistance in the amity of the King his Uncle He was received at Tharsus not as a despoyled Prince but as if he had enjoyed his former dignity and the King who had always dearly loved him treated him as if he had been his Son or his Brother and disposed himself to render him whatsoever he might expect from his affection he was already prepared by the news he had received of his misfortunes to assist and serve him and during the stay he had made in Cappadocia they had begun to make levies to that intention I will not spin out this discourse into a tedious length within a few months that Tygranes continued with us all things were put into an handsome condition for his assistance and Tygranes not being willing to permit that the King should make this Voyage in Person by reason of his age and for divers other considerations I received the commission and disposed my self to march with Tigranes in the head of ten thousand horse and five and twenty thousand foot which the King gave me for this expedition You may well judge Madam that it was not without regret that I prepared my self to leave Delia and You will believe nothing but the Truth when You shall believe that my soul was sensible of a cruel violence at this separation I could not without a mortal grief so much as think of being so far and so long distant from her whom I could not leave for a moment and when I reflected upon the evils which this absence would make me suffer all my courage could hardly furnish me with resolutions enough to dispose my self to it Besides I left Delia in a place where a little before they had cruelly made an attempt upon her life and though by the care the King himself took of her and the little interest the Queen had in the business I was almost assured on that side yet my love making me fearful for that I loved raised such fears in me as all my reason was not able to destroy but that which moved me most was that I went from Delia without being able to oblige her to engage her self to me any more than she had done before and understood so little of the reasons she alledged to me and the hopes she gave me that I could receive but a very imperfect comfort from them For all this I must be gone the considerations of my honour were strong enough to overcome all others and I was of such an age as obliged me to the prejudice of my repose and the peril of a thousand lives to pursue the occasions of glory which called upon me Neither did I much waver in the business but to shorten my discourse the day came which necessitated my separation from Delia. All the time before I had sollicited her in vain to declare her self in my favour more fully than she had done before I had spared neither prayers nor tears to move her but I could not by any expressions either of my love or grief remove her from her former resolution The last day going to take my leave of her I really sound some signs of sorrow in her countenance and she expressed to me divers ways that she sympathised with me in the displeasure I had to leave her After some passionate discourses whereby I expressed to her my just resentments I go Delia said I to her and what is most cruel and insupportable to me I part from You without any certainty of seeing You again and unassured of the condition I stand in your thoughts After such testimonies of my love as possibly would not have been ineffectual in relating to any other person but Delia and which possibly might have prevailed with any courage but hers I see my self as ignorant of my destiny as I was that moment that I gave my self to you I satisfie my self as well as I can possibly with the hopes You give me and seeing that I shall never have any desire but what may be conformable to Your will I endeavour to comfort my self with the expectation of a good which I cannot conceive but Delia I cannot vanquish my grief and what blind confidence soever I have in You 't is hard for me to take notice without a mortal displeasure how little progress I have made upon Your spirit I go from you with all manner of ill presages and if my fears deceive me not I am in great danger of never seeing you again if it be so Delia I shall abandon my self to the most cruel death that ever was suffered and You will live with the remorse of having bestowed such a recompence upon the most real and perfect that ever was I had some other discourse with her upon the same subject the length whereof hinders me from repetition and Delia having quietly hearkned to me and endeavoured to hide some marks of pity which appeared in her countenance Prince said she I will willingly endure all your reproaches without complaining and though possibly I might deserve that you should impose some belief in me I will expect that from you when those things you are now ignorant of are known to you In the mean time you may go with this belief that you have made a greater progress upon my spirit than you suppose and I should say you had done too much in that respect if I did not believe that I cannot be too acknowledging of your affection I shall not be always in a condition wherein I can only satisfie you with such hopes as you cannot comprehend and if fortune be not contrary to me my condition will be changed at your return I shall then be free from divers scruples which a Maid of my humour cannot tell how to overcome and you will be at liberty to demand that of me without hurting me which then I may grant you without fear of reproach Give if you please an absolute credit to what I tell you and receive a thing which I will trust no body with but your self that may in time make you change the unjust opinion you have of my humour
I had received this aversion answered the Queen from my nature I should have known how to have bridled it by my duty and I should have reduced my spirit to fit terms of submission to an Husband if in stead of my Husband he were not become the murtherer of all my Friends and my particular persecutor Ah! replyed Herod you are to blame to complain of my persecutions and hitherto I have not persecuted you but with too much love 't is for that you may really reproach me and though you had some reason to accuse me for the misfortune of your friends yet by the ardent testimonies of my love which I give you every moment of my life these resentments would have been effaced out of any spirit but yours Ah! what testimonies answered Mariamne what testimonies do you give me of your love which may endear me more than those actions whereby you have rendred me the most unfortunate of all Women What testimonies replyed Herod can you be ignorant of them ungrateful and unacknowledging Woman have you your eyes only open to injuries and will you eternally keep them shut against all the proofs of this violent passion whereby I have lost the reproof of my life Do not you remember that for you alone I abandon the care of my Subjects and of my own person which by your ingratitude you expose every day to the extremities of grief The Queen not able to dissemble her thoughts in this rancounter and by too prompt a precipitation losing part of that prudent precaution which she had hitherto used in the conduct of her life You forget said she in a disdainful manner to put me in mind of the most important proofs of your love and you would not have me know the obligations I have to you for the care you had of my safety in the Voyages you made to Laodicea and to Rhodes to Anthony and to Augustus It is certain answered Herod who did not at first apprehend the reproach she would make him that in spight of your cruelty nothing was so sensible and so insupportable to me in those Uoyages as the regret of being absent from you and they who saw me in that time of absence observed sufficiently in all my actions that I was separated from the better part of myself It was for this reason added the Queen that in both the Voyages you gave such excellent orders first to Joseph and afterwards to Sohemus for the conservation of my life and this part of your self was so dear to you that you were not willing that death it self should separate you from it At these words Herod seemed to be struck with a thunder-bolt and instantly calling to mind the orders he had really given to Joseph and Sohemus for the death of Mariamne he presently understood this reproach He had hitherto believed that she was ignorant of this effect of his cruelty and he had so odered the secret to those whom he had chosen for the Ministers of his cruel intentions that he could not imagine that for any consideration they could ever resolve to discover it but contrary to his expectation receiving this knowledge of the contrary and not being able to dissemble to the Queen this horrible effect of his jealousie he continued confounded and amazed expressing the motions of his soul by his silence and by the astonishment which appeared in his visage The shame of seeing his villany discovered to that Person of the world who should have been most ignorant of it was the first passion which possessed him and which made him hold his eyes fixed upon the earth without daring to raise them to the face of the so justly offended Queen then he thought upon the ill office he had received from his Subjects and sighed with grief for the infidelity of those in whom he most confided and in fine having an outragious spirit and capable by what he perceived in himself to entertain the strangest thoughts he imagined that Joseph and Sohemus could not have betrayed the confidence he had in them nor have failed in their duty to him both in regard of their birth and the benefits they had received of him but for the love of Mariamne This thought which threw it self with violence into his soul found as much room there to establish it self as could be and he knowing the powers of Mariamne by the daily proof he made of them made no further doubt but that by them only the fidelity of Joseph and Sohemus was staggered Jealousie that furious passion to which he naturally had so much inclination possessed it self incontinently of his soul and as in a place taken by assault it presently set all on fire the blackest suspicions he could conceive of the vertue of Mariamne presented themselves to his imaginations and the proofs he had received of it upon so many occasions could not in this last defend it from the criminal impressions which established themselves in his soul Ah! cryed he all in a rage I am betrayed I am undone both Heaven and Earth abandon me and all those whom I thought worthy of my friendship and my confidence ingratefully unite themselves to ruine me Ah envious Heaven Ah disloyal Wife ah ungratefull and perfidious Servants to what extremities do you reduce me After these words he continued some while without speaking revolving in his mind a thousand furious resolutions and walking in the Chamber with an action full of fury and transport The constant Queen who saw him in this condition was little moved at the expressions of his choler but she repented she had spoken so much and that by her discourse she had exposed to the rage of this cruel man those whose ruine she foresaw already she would have remedied it if it had been possible for her but she could not revoke what she had said and considering with her self which way to avert the tempest which hung over their heads and threatned them she continued in silence not without some confusedness which confirmed the jealous King in his unworthy imaginations After he had continued a while in this condition he approached the Queen with a pale and disfigured countenance and viewing her with a furious eye from head to foot Those which told thee of my intentions said he to her told thee but the truth and it imports me nothing to deny it that out of a violent excess of love I would not have left thee after my death either to thy Friends or to my Enemies yes my design was not to be separated from thee by death it self and I should have been too happy if I had performed in my life-time what I have commanded to be done after my death Those perfidious persons who have betrayed me have told thee nothing but the plain truth but they did not dispose themselves to deceive the confidence I had in their friendship and expose themselves to the punishments which are due to their infidelity but upon some powerful considerations thou hast
without doubt proposed a recompence to them which hath made them despise what they could expect from me and not fear that death which they affronted in betraying me It was not by a present of small price that thou hast corrupted those persons which had been always most faithful to me and Joseph who is one of the most eminent ranks in Judea as being my near ally and Sohemus whom by my bounty I had put into a condition not to aspire to Riches by so dangerous a Treason could not have been seduced by any Power inferior to thy beauty these are the charms which have gained them and thy favors only have made them contemn the dangers which might divert them from their Treason Herod pronounced these words with an impetuosity which sufficiently expressed the cruel agitation of his Soul and the Queen having hearkned to him with an admirable patience Say what thou wilt said she to him against a Person who is no longer in a condition to receive new offences either by this action or by thy discourse and God hath discovered to me the fatal orders which thou gavest against my life by other ways than thou imaginest and those whom thou suspectest to have revealed thy secret are not they by whom thy cruel intentions are made known unto me This is thy custome replyed Herod crying out more than before to excuse thy lovers in the bloody out-rages they do me and thou takest care of their love who never hadst any care of thy Husbands repose or thine own reputation Thou wouldst have rendred the like office to the perfidious Tyberius and those favours which thou hadst prodigally bestowed upon a Barbarous Prince are since communicated to my allies and descended to my Domestiques This is the high spirit this is that pride which hitherto hath made part of our divisions and the haughty blood of the Asmoneans which disdained a King her husband hath debased it self even to Sohemus In conclusion he gave her a thousand reproaches full of injuries against which the Queen did nor vouchsafe to justifie her self but looking upon him with more disdain than 〈◊〉 Thou may'st believe said she whatsoever thy rage can inspire thee with against me the outragious reproaches which thou layest upon me shew the baseness of thy soul and of thy birth and I scorn thee too much to take any care to defend my self against thy unworthy accusations Thy care would be but in vain replyed the Jewish King and thou mayst reserve thy justifications for the defence of a Life which I have spared but too long the time is come that I will mock at th◠scorn and thy infidelities shall be punished that love which hitherto hath guarded thee against my too just resentments shall no longer oppose it self against my justice and I have lost that fatal passion which created all my misfortunes since I have discovered amongst thy lovers the basest of my Domestiques they shall pay me part of the offences they had done me by their blood and torments shall draw such verities out of their mouths as shall make thy shame and perfidiousness appear to the world Having spoken these words to which the Queen had not time nor possibly any design to reply he called the Officers of the Guard and commanded them upon pain of death to conduct the Queen presently to the Prison to which they were wont to commit Persons of Quality The Queen submitted to this command with less repugnance than she had to come into his chamber and she followed the officers whither they would have her without speaking a word or changing countenance At the same time he sent other Officers to seize upon Joseph and Sohemus and though the former had married his Aunt and was of a considerable rank amongst the Jews yet he used him with no more gentleness than Sohemus but sent them both into several parts of the Prison He had hardly given these orders but the wicked Salome having learned by her spies whom she had ordinarily about him part of what he had passed came to see him in his Chamber where she found him in the violent agitations of rage and transport He no sooner saw her but coming to her with a disfigured countenance Sister said he I am very sorry that I did not follow your counsel long since and I had freed my self of those mortal displeasures which torment me if I had not suffered my self to be so much blinded with the love of this Woman which Heaven hath given me for the scourge and Plague of my Life 'T is not only upon Tyridates that this ungrateful Woman bestowes her affections she descends to Jews of a much inferior Birth than that Barbarian Prince and at last debases her self even to my Domestiques Salome made as if she were amazed at this discourse and by a mischievous and dangerous address whereby she gave more room and credit to her artifices she fainted at first as if she would have excused the Queen and not have given credit to so apparent accusations Herod who though prudent and subtile in all other things had incredible weaknesses in things of this nature fell into the snare which she laid him and opposing her seemingly officious humor with the testimonies which he believed he had of Mariamnes infidelity he related to her with a discourse full of vehemence and impetuosity what had passed at this last visit that she had rendred him he confessed to her that upon the knowledge he had of Anthonies amorous inclinations and the advice he had received that Gallus had carried the Pourtracture of Mariamne to that Prince to make him affect her at his departure to go to him at Laodicea he commandeth Joseph if he died in this Voyage to put Mariamne to death not being willing that she should survive him to enjoy with Anthony the fruit of a death which possibly she might have procured him and that upon the same consideration he had given the same order to Sohemus when he went to Rhodes to appear before Augustus but that he had commended the secret to them both in such a manner and had engaged them besides to the fidelity which they owed him by so many benefits that Mariamne could not have perverted them but by favours exceeding his and by proofs of affection which made them both despise the friendship of their King and death which they might infallibly expect for betraying him Salome shrank her shoulders at this discourse and feigning to be of the Kings mind against her will It is very difficult said she to guard ones self from the misfortune which it pleases Heaven to send us and principally in things so little foreseen and so far from appearance I never doubted but that Mariamne loved Tyridates but I should not have believed that she had fallen so low as Sohemus if in the discourse you have made me I did not see proofs sufficiently convincing Ah disloyal woman continued she after she had kept silence a while
who would have imagined that she being so possessed with pride should have had baseness enough too to bestow her affections upon Sohemus She continued after these words some moments without speaking with counterfeit signs of amazement and sorrow then on a suddain beginning again Sir said she you have too much courage to suffer your self to be overcome by affection and if you take counsel of persons who are really faithful to you and allyed to you in blood or by ancient affection you will not suffer this proud and disloyal woman to enjoy the glory of having reduced you to the extremity of grief Displeasures of this nature ought not to overturn your repose with so much violence and the offence you have received in your honour is not so much but you may easily remedy it Strip your self only of this love which creates all the misfortunes of your life and makes you blind to your most powerful interests and darkned the light of your understanding draw out by the means you have to do it the full discovery of the treason they have committed against you punish the culpable which expose you to such bloody displeasures and in fine make her submit to your justice whom you could never make submit to your love I am so resolved upon it said Herod to her that all humane considerations shall not be able to hinder me from it and since Mariamne hath not been affraid to reduce me to the extremity of shame and displeasure I will not be more affraid to make my uttermost resentments appear against her than if she were one of my meanest subjects This is a resolution from which nothing shall be able to move me and you shall see me go about it without farther delay They had likewise other discourse together which was related by persons who were near enough to hear them though the little importance of it hinders me from relating it to you By the counsel of Salome before she went out of the Chamber Herod sent likewise to lay hold on Philon the Queens chief Eunuch and other persons in whom she had expressed to have some confidence all presently became suspected to this cruel man and he disposed himself by the advice of his cruel Sister and Pheroras who came a little after and was received for a third person in his Tragical conversation to extort confessions by torments from those feeble Souls wherein they might find an apparent occasion to destroy his vertuous Princess Ah Monster cryed out Tyridates at this part of Arsanes his discourse Ah Barbarian how unworthy wert thou of that precious gift of Heaven which any but a Tygre like thy self would have had in sacred veneration all his life It must needs be that the indignation of the God which thou servest was absolutely declared against this Royal family from which thou hast usurped the Crown with so much injustice and cruelty and it must needs be that the Divine providence was asleep when it abandoned to thy rage the greatest and the most worthy thing of its protection that ever it sent amongst men Tyridates accompanied these words with sobs which hindered him from speaking more and Arsanes having taken this moment of intermission pursued thus his discourse It will not be easie to express to you how the whole Court of Judea took the disgrace of their fair Queen and what the resentments of the Jewish people were when they saw the last and fairest blood of their lawful Kings ready to be shed by the same cruelty which had been the destruction of all their Princes the chiefest of them murmured highly at it the weaker sort did tacitely deplore the disasters of that Illustrious House and both together sacrificed their tears to persecuted Vertue and Innocence Herod the most politick of men desiring to discover all his actions with a Masque of justice whether it were that he feared Augustus his authority who maugre the amity and protection he had promised him made him tremble every day or that he feared an insurrection of an ill affected people appointed Judges for Mariamne to interrogate her upon such accusations as he should produce against her and to frame her process after the ordinary way The men to whom he gave this commission were in appearance without passion but really corrupted by Salome and obliged to comply with the motions of their Prince by a base and dis-honourable interest They received command to go and examine the Queen in the Prison and when they were ready to go upon the design Herod whether it were that he distrusted them or that he was spurred on by an extraordinary animosity or on the contrary touched with some remains of love which still resisted his resentments would follow them secretly in this action and stand behind a door from whence without being discovered he might hear their examinations and Mariamne's answers This curiosity was inspired into him by Heaven which for the safety of the Queen would serve it self with the love which he really bare her He being absolute in his commands the business was executed according to his will and having thrown an old cloak about him which disguised him in part he went along with the Judges to the prison where the Queen was and stood behind her Chamber door which they left a little open to favour his design Mariamne as it was afterwards reported saw those who were appointed to be her Judges enter her Chamber without shewing any sign of astonishment and was no more moved at their sight than at one of her inferiour servants they rendred her the honour which they believed due to her in this occasion and in fine one of them named Joab speaking for himself and his companions declared to her their commission and humbly beseeched her to be pleased that according to the order he had received of the King for it he might examine her upon some accusations which were made against her The constant Queen patiently hearkned to Joab's discourse and when he had done speaking looking upon him with disdain and a smile which though mingled with a little sharpness shewed the undauntedness and tranquility of her spirit I have not learned said she that Princesses of my birth or rather Queens and lawful Heirs of Judea acknowledged such persons as Joab for their Judges and he which gave you this power hath not received enough himself from Heaven to make my spirit bow to so base a submission I can answer before God for all the actions of my life and by his grace they are innocent enough to be confessed to the whole world but it is to him alone that I ought to render an account and by my birth I have been and still am of such a quality as doth not permit me to look upon as my Judges those which were born subjects to my Ancestors and my self We have rendred replyed the Jew what we owed to your birth and quality as long as it hath pleased the King to permit us 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
name of a King by reason of the injustice which thou beginnest to practise against persons who ought to be least subject to it Nâ— Barbarian thou art not yet absolute enough in thy Dominions to extend thy authority over spirits and such a Spirit as Olympia 's I am not ignorant of the wayes to escape oppression and to defend that which thou assaultest I will arm my self with a courage which possibly thou didst not think to have found in a young Princess and the Sister of a man so little conformable to but disposition In this manner I bemoaned my self and deplored my misfortune night and day with a flood of tears But all in vain the Barbarous man was not moved at them and the repugnance I expressed to Marry him augmented his desire and seemed to redouble his passion I spent divers months in this manner during which time he saw me every day and tormented me perpetually Sometimes he intreated me and when by his design he fell to threatning and protested to me that he was resolved to make use of his authority without any longer delay A few moments after he grew milder seeing some tears fall from my eyes his love having given me some power over his Spirit There is no necessity that I should detain you any longer upon this accompt when he saw that all his flatteries were to no purpose and that he was past hope of making me consent to his desires he resolved in good earnest to put his threats in execution and commanded me with a terrible countenance to dispose my self to marry him within eight dayes without any longer delay I wept but to no end I threw my self at his feet but in vain after that cruel command all this was not able to move him but he protested to me before the chiefest persons of his Court that since I abused the indulgence he had for me in this manner nothing could hinder him from making tryal whether he was King in his Dominions or not I passed the eight days he had given me in the saddest imployments in the world and when I gave any intermission to my regrets 't was but to invent some means to save my self from his tyranny I was fully resolved if all other ways failed me to imbrace death rather than to consent to an action upon which I could not cast a thought without horror but I was minded first to try whether I could preserve my self from my misfortune by flight I knew well that I could not find any sanctuary in my Brothers Dominions against his power but I verily believed that if I could escape out of the places under his command and be so happy as to get as far as Cilicia I should find a retreating place there with the King who was Brother to the deceased Queen our Mother and probably though my Brother was near to him in the same degree would not desert me in so just a cause There was some uncertainty in the success of this enterprise there was danger to run and trouble to support and difficulty to save my self But yet this seemed to me more sweet than death and finding no other way at all but death or flight I preferred flight before death out of a fearfulness incident to my sex and age Before I had well taken this resolution the time he had given me was almost expired and I had not put those things in order which were necessary for the execution of my enterprise At last when I was fully resolved upon the design I shewed the King a little better countenance than I had done before and having seen him in my Chamber the seventh day of the eight which he had given me after I had again made trial of prayers and tears which wrought as little effect as before feigning that I suffered my self a little to be overcome and fixing my eyes upon his with a kinder action than ordinary I see well Sir said I that I do resist Your will in vain and am too weak to oppose the power of a great King in his Dominions I confess I find a great repugnance in my nature as to the thing you desire of me which hitherto I have not been able to overcome but at last I must resolve after I have made all possible resistance against an absolute authority and all that is necessary to justifie my self from an action to which you constrain me I desire eight days longer of you which I will imploy to surmount the difficulties which yet remain as impediments to an ultimate resolution and after that time Sir I promise you you shall find in me no contradiction of your desires The King was transported with joy at this discourse and expressed an excessive deal of contentment in his countenance and in his words he easily granted me the eight days I desired and protested to me that I should be the most happy Princess upon the earth with a Husband who would adore me whilst he breathed I confirmed the promise I had made to him with a very sad countenance for fear he should discover my policy by too quickly a change After I had begun to put my affairs thus in order I desired to lose no more time knowing well that which I had gotten was necessary to make preparation for my departure but then it was that I saw my self reduced to no small trouble For though I had divers persons in my service that were very affectionate to me yet I doubted whether I should find any bold enough to oppose the King in serving me upon this occasion and to expose themselves to ruine as they would apparently do by favouring me and accompanying me in my flight I feared likewise that those to whom I should discover my self would betray me and by discovering my design to the King deprive me of the means of putting it in execution This fear kept me one day in a strange perplexity but at last I was resolved to put it to the venture and I cast my eyes upon Eurilus the most ancient of my servants and Husband to a Lady that was my Governess I had observed in him by divers marks a great affection to me and I believed that I might better confide in him than in all the World beside I sent for him into my Closet and having represented the sadness of my condition which was not unknown to him I acquainted him with my design and the desire I had to thrust my life and whatsoever was more precious to me upon his affection and conduct Eurilus was amazed at my bold resolution and represented to me the difficulties and the dangers of it but seeing that all things relished better with my spirit than the violence that would have been done me he declared to me that he thought himself highly honoured by the confidence I reposed in him and that he would willingly embrace the occasion of hazarding all yea and of dying too for my service After this he named me the persons
expressed to me in all his actions and all the Apologies he often made me for those things which he was constrained to do in obedience to the Kings command I believed he had absolutely lost that intention which he only pretended for fear of incurring the Kings displeasure and I as easily imagined that he would acquit himself of his commission with more affection than another that by that means he might the better gain his Prince's favour At last I disposed my self to depart under his conduct after the King had assured me of his fidelity and discretion and after I had taken my last leave of the Princess Andromeda with a great many tears upon both sides and received from the King all the testimonies of love and good will I mounted with my Governess and Melite into a Chariot which the King caused to be provided for us and Antigenes accompanied us on horseback being attended by seven or eight Men in the same equipage The good usage I received from the King your Father after your departure the endeavours he used to retain me and the belief I owe to the word of a King and of a King who is the Father of Philadelph alwayes hindred me from suspecting the Treason that was practised against me which might proceed only from the villany of that Person which committed it or if it was by any order I never accused any body for it but the Queen your Step Mother who hath alwayes born a great deal of resentment against me for being though innocently an hindrance to your marriage with the Princess Urania her Daughter Howsoever it was we departed from Tharsus and travelled the first Stage the direct way to Armenia but the next morning without being perceived by me by reason of the little knowledge I had of the ways Antigenes made us take one quite contrary and having no body with him but such persons as he absolutely disposed of he followed his premeditated way without being opposed by any body in his intention All that day I mistrusted nothing marching under the faith of my Conductor and not suspecting any such infidelity in a man in whom the King had reposed so much confidence but the next day I was amazed when I saw my self upon the Sea side and saw a Vessel that waited for us by Antigene's private order into which he told me I must enter Though I was so ignorant of the Country as not to perceive the first cheat they put upon me yet I was not so simple but that I knew well enough that to go the direct way out of Cilicia into Armenia there was no Sea to pass and I had seen in the Map and had often heard that the way lay by Land crossing over Mount Taurus and entring into Armenia the less I presently let Antigenes know as much and refused to enter into his Vessel telling him I knew very well that was not the way to Armenia Antigenes at first would have amused me with words and have made me believe that I was mistaken in my Map but when he saw me stedfast in my opinion and that he had no hope to get me into his Vessel by his discourse and perswasions he took me under one arm and making one of his companions do so by the other these two men carried me by force and put me into the Vessel my words my cries and all the resistance I could make not being able to save me from it They which followed did as much by my Governess and Melite and they were not much troubled to do it finding them fully resolved to follow me into what part of the World so ever my ill Fortune should conduct me In conclusion they stript the Chariot and the Horses and after they had hoised up their sails they commanded the Pilot to steer towards the Island of Cyprus which as You know is separated from Cilicia but by a little arm of the Sea You may judge very well Philadelph without my striving to represent it to You what my grief was upon the knowledge of this cruel Treason and with what fears I was seized seeing my self in the power of a man who had the confidence of committing this disloyalty I am not naturally apt to be over-passionate and if I may say it of my self I patiently support the assaults of my bad fortune but in this unlucky adventure by which I was become the prey of a Traytor and of a Man who by this action made me sufficiently judge him capable of any thing that might afflict me I lost my constancy and moderation and looking upon perfidious Antigenes with eyes inflamed with indignation Traitor said I to him is it thus that thou acquittest thy self of what thou owest to the fear of the Gods to the command of thy King the interest of thy Prince and the honour of our Sex are all the considerations of honour fidelity and vertue extinguished in thy soul or if they have no power to set the horror of thy crime before thy face dost thou not fear to be punished for it by so many Enemies as thou raisest against thy self by thy infidelity Madam answered the disloyal man I hope to be pardoned by Gods and men and your self too for the offence which you reproach me with and the Gods will not be angry with me for it seeing they themselves have visibly contributed to it Do not judge Madam by the constraint which I laid upon my self in respect to Philadelph that the love which formerly I expressed to you is either extinguished or diminished it was never so strong and so violent in my soul as now as you may judge by this action seeing it makes me to despise all that any other man might fear in relation to the anger of the King and Prince Philadelph and abandon all things to confine my self with you in a place where without any obstacle or disturbance I may give you testimonies of that love which you have so much disdained Fear not Madam nor afflict your self your destiny will not be bad with a man who adores you and you ought not to grieve for a Prince whose inclinations possibly are already changed nor for a Crown which you never would have possessed and which you quit your self of by retiring into Armenia To these words the perfidious man added a great many others to cause some moderation in my grief but it was exasperated the more by them and throwing a look upon him that partly signified my intention Do not think said I to him do not think thou monster of infidelity that thy base flattery can gain any thing upon my Spirit thy person which before I did only disdain is now made as odious to me by thy treason as the most detestable man in the world and my most cruel Enemy Do not hope that these thoughts may be changed but only by the repenting of thy crime and returning into the way by which thou promisedst thy King to conduct me into
cruelly threatned him Besides Is it reasonable that I should desire the return of that poor Prince And if I love him really ought I to desire that to come and see me he should throw himself into such a manifest danger Ah! No Ericia let us never hope it let us never desire it and let us seek our utmost consolations in our tears As I ended these words I shed a great quantity of tears and all that the poor Ericia could alledge to me did but very little diminish my grief 'T is true that having accustomed my self from my infancy to an absolute resignation to the will of the gods I endeavored to practice it in this Adventure and in that indeed it was that I found some ease alwayes hoping that the Divine goodness would favour innocent designs or at least would give me constancy enough to support whatsoever it had resolved as to my destiny Lingring out my dayes in this manner two whole Months were slip't away before the Kings wounds were cured and he was not yet in a condition to go to Sea again when the two men whom he had sent into his Kingdom returned back in the same Vessel which he had furnished them with and brought him the saddest and the most unpleasing News that he could receive which was in a word of a general commotion and almost the total loss of all his Dominions This hapned in such a manner as I am going to relate to you in a few words The King Adallas our Father was not setled in the possession of Thrace till after he had had great War with a Neighbouring Prince Sovereign of Taurica Chersonesus and pretending to the Kingdom of Thrace by a great many Reasons that he alledged saying That he was descended from the lawful Kings of that Kingdom and quarrelling upon these pretensions with the King my Father as an Usurper divers persons affirmed that his pretensions were just enough and grounded their Discourse upon very probable Arguments but howsoever it was there was a great deal of blood shed in this quarrel and though the King my Father was more strong in men and had larger Dominions than his Enemy the events of the War were a long while doubtful and possibly it would not have been ended a long time if Anthony had not interposed his Authority to bring them to agreement a little before that War wherein he decided the Empire of the Universe with Augustus and in which the King my Father kept him faithful Company and served him with his Person and his Forces These two Princes either willingly or out of fear remitted their interests into Anthonies hands who being favourable to our Family dismissed the King of Chersonesus from the pretensions he had to the Crown of Thrace yet leaving him a small part of that Kingdom joining to Chersonesus which his Father and all his Predecessors had alwayes possessed by means of a Tribute which they annually paid to the King of Thrace which he obliged him to pay as before After this Accord my Father continued peaceable in his Dominions and the King of Taurica though he thought himself ill-used lived at peace with his Neighbour whom he knew to be more strong than he but he dyed almost at the same time that the King my Father did and left his Dominions to a Son which he had almost of the same Age with the King my Brother a fierce and haughty man but of exceeding Valour and born with all the necessary qualities for a great Warrior He had already acquired great Reputation in the War which the Queen of Dacia made in Scythia And though he had some disadvantage against the Valiant Alcamenes Prince of the Scythians and had been constrained to renounce the pretensions he had to the Princess of Dacia 't was certain for all that that he had rendred his Name famous by a hundred gallant Actions This Prince named Merodates being not contented with what was allotted him but complaining of the injustice which was done him by the judgment of Anthony after the death of my Father was oftentimes upon the point of taking up Arms to begin the War afresh upon the old pretensions of his Family but he saw himself unequal in Forces and though he was rash enough yet being prudent withall he dissembled part of his designs in expectation of an occasion to discover them when he should be in a condition publickly to undertake the execution of them endeavouring in the mean while to gain and keep some intelligences in Thrace and sowing the seeds of Discontentment and Rebellion in the minds of the Thracians who are naturally inconstant and unfaithful and to whom besides I know not by what misfortune my Brothers Government was not very agreeable Adallas having had some suspition of Merodates's practices and seeing him otherwise very slow and backward to pay him the Tribute which he owed him for the Lands which he permitted him to possess in Thrace after he had caused it to be sharply demanded of him and not receiving present satisfaction he sent his Troops into those places which he held in Thrace and they being ill furnished for defence against the Forces of a mighty King Adallas quickly made himself Master of them and absolutely dispossessed Merodates leaving nothing in his power within the limits of Thrace After this Adallas might believe that his Enemy would lose no opportunity he could meet with to revenge himself and knowing him to be haughty and full of Courage he had a reason to fear him or at least not to leave him in a condition to express his resentments and yet the gods whom the unlawful passion of the King my Brother had provoked against him permitted him to be so blinded That he did not only neglect to put himself into a condition to keep his Enemy within his limits but as destiny would have it a little while after I flying from his Court and Kingdom as I have related to you his passion did so transport him and did so close his eyes against all other considerations that without foreseeing the evils which apparently threatned him he committed the whole Government of his Dominions into the hands of his Favorite Eurimedes and running whither his Folly carried him He went to Sea with one single Vessel and being attended only with a hundred men taking no greater Equipage with him which might discover him in the design he had to search all the Seas all incognito till he had met with me He had been two Months at Sea to no purpose when he landed at the little Island where we had suffered Ship-wrack and as I told you we had stayed two Months in Cyprus when these two men came back to us and brought us News of the Disasters which in those four Months were hapned in his Kingdom They informed us then That a little after his departure Merodates seeing so fair an occasion for his revenge and for the recovery of his Countrey came in with all
the Field This News filled the Kings heart with fresh hopes and to augment them the more within less than six dayes there came from the Coasts of Thinia Three thousand Horse and from Halmidassus and the Promontory of Philia above Seven thousand Foot With this grand supply and Four thousand Souldiers which were still in the City the King who had intelligence besides that Four or five thousand men raised in the Countrey of Apollonia were gone to join with Ariamenes's Troops would stay no longer in Bizantium and leaving only the Inhabitants for the defence of the City he made up a Body of about Fifteen thousand men which he was resolved to lead in person towards that which Ariamenes commanded which at that time wanted very little of being as strong as the King 's I continued in the City at some liberty from the importunity which I received continually from the King and yet so strictly guarded though under pretence of doing me honor that if I would have undertaken a second flight it would not have been in my power to have done it In the interim my fair Princesses without my troubling you with a long Narration you may imagine what the perplexities were which tormented me and how my spirit was continually agitated between hope and fear the desire of seeing Ariobaozanes again and the fear lest he should throw himself into too great a danger for the sight of me I should never have done if I should go about to represent to you all the thoughts which possessed me and repeat all the Discourses I had with Ericia upon that Subject I will proceed with the remainder of my Story and will tell you That upon the third day of his march the King arrived at Ariamenes's quarters from whence the General came forth at the Head of Five hundred Horse to receive him about a Hundred Furlongs from off his Camp The King no sooner saw the body appear but he knew that it was that valiant man to whom he was so redueable and disposing himself to receive him according to the greatness of the obligation he had to him he caused the Troops that marched before him to open to the right and left to give him free passage The valiant Ariamenes as I was informed since wore Arms that day all glittering with gold and precious stones a little Morion after the Greek fashion shaded with Twenty white Feathers covered the top of his Head leaving his Face all uncovered and a great quantity of Hair naturally Curled which fell in great rings as low as his Armour his Horse was black bedapled with white spots whose gallant stately Pace was less remarkable than the good Grace and Horsmanship of him that rode him Before he came to the King he was looked upon with so much Admiration by all that stood in his way that they could not forbear to express it by their Acclamations which came to the Kings ears and caused a greater curiosity in him to see such an extraordinary person As soon as Ariamenes saw the King he alighted to accost him with the Respect due to the Royal Dignity and in the Head of his Party he marched towards him with such a Majesty as could not be found in any common person As he drew near the King took notice of his proportion and countenance and when he was nigh enough to be plainly discerned the King without difficulty knew him to be the true Ariamenes that Ariamenes whom he hated as much as I loved him and the same Ariamenes to whom he was reducable for his life Never was astonishment like to that of Adallas and never in the most surprizing Adventure did a mind appear so troubled as Adallas's did at this sight He stood as immoveable as a piece of Marble and Ariamenes though he observed his emotion accosted him with a confident countenance did reverence to him with a great deal of grace and humility the King not using any gesture whereby it might be judged that he perceived his action Ariamenes who was prepared for part of what he saw did not seem ever a jot the more daunted for it and beginning to speak with an action that sufficiently expressed his confidence whil'st the King and all that were about him made their silence speak the greatness of their astnishment Sir said he If I have offended in disobeying the Command which you laid upon me I come to put the Offender into the hands of your Justice and if by some small Service I have repaired part of that fault I come to beg my pardon for the recompence that is due to me for it This first Discourse of Ariamenes though it was bold and proceeded from a Courage truly Royal yet it was full of humility and did sufficiently express the intention he had according to the request I made to him to work upon Adallas his spirit by submission and services But the King was not so sensible of it as probably he should have been and beholding Ariamenes with eyes sparkling with rage What Audaciousness said he and what foolish rashness is this of thine to come after the express prohibition I had made thee not only to shew thy self publickly in my Dominions but to put thy self in the Head of my Subjects and to present thy self to me with as much assurance as if I were not thy irreconcileable Enemy and as if I had not protested to thee before all the gods That no consideration should save thy life if thou ever did'st set foot in Thrace It may be replied Ariobarzanes I came into your Countrey by chance and the desire of doing you Service hath stayed me there I have done it possibly with success enough and if I have resolved to declare my Name and to present my self before you after the threatnings you had made me 't is at a time when for the Service I have rendred you I might expect from a Soul that is truly Royal more recompences than punishments and more acknowledgment than ill usage Thou knowest said Adallas full of fury That the most pressing obligations cannot produce that effect between us and that the same necessity which possibly made me to be ungrateful to thee when I was beholding to thee for my life will not permit me to look upon those less important Services which thou hast rendred me in the defence of my Dominions Besides Thou can'st not deny but that thy ruine appears more odious now than formerly and thou could'st not come into Thrace through so many dangers as threatned thee but by the instigation of thy Love and it may be of Olympia's Commands Thou comest to ruine the Repose of my Soul in endeavouring the peace of my Kingdom and thou wast not ignorant that the injury thou didst me in my heart was more sensible to me than the Service thou could dest render me in the defence of my Kingdom After all this judge what thy destiny ought to be and do not complain of me if that which thou
hath been the only cause of all the misfortunes of my life by bestowing your self upon me you would have married a King and have worn a very considerable Crown upon your Head but if you marry Ariobarzanes how illustrious soever his Birth is you can never hope to be a Queen and the Scepter of the Armenians which is in his Brothers hands so as it is never likely to come into his will not exempt you from passing your dayes amongst the Armenians as a private person This Discourse of the Kings being made in Ariobarzanes presence did very sensibly afflict me and fearing lest the Prince being interessed and obliged to make a Reply should have done it too sharply I gave him a hint with my eye that he should leave the care of that to me preventing him just as he was about to open his mouth Sir said I to the King Though the Prince Ariobarzanes could never hope for Crowns his Birth is sublime enough to satisfie the Ambition of the greatest Princess upon Earth and the merit of his Person great enough to make it preferrible before the greatest Kings And besides if Fortune second his Vertue he may yet expect a Crown and it is probable that he that did so valiantly defend yours or rather that so generously snatched it from your Enemies to restore it to you may make use of his Sword with the same success and Conquer one for himself You may Madam added the impatient Prince who could no longer contain himself You may add to that which your Goodness causes you to say on my behalf That when the King your Brother was a Prisoner to Merodates and saw his Throne turned Topsie-turvey standing in fear of the Enemies Sword which hanged over his Head he made no such reflection but after he had represented very civilly to me what nothing but Generosity could oblige me to do in his Favour without demurring upon the want of a Crown with which he reproaches me he promised me the Princess Olympia for my recompence Yes cryed the King quite transported with fury Yes I did promise thee Olympia and since thou dost demand the performance of that promise with so much rigor I will inviolably keep it it shall never be objected to me that I break it and I acquit my self of it from this moment by putting Olympia into thy power and giving thee leave to marry her Did I promise thee any more No Sir immediately replied the Prince I disengage myself then of my word answered Adallas in giving thee Olympia Thou may'st marry her to day if thou wilt but thou must resolve to dye to morrow I have promised thee Olympia but I did not promise thee to let thee live in the possession of her nor to let him triumph over my life who hath proved my Murderer in seeming the Defender of my people Resolve thy self upon this chose when thou pleasest if there be any cruelty in it thou hast taught it me by thy example and if thou canst reproach me with any thing 't is not with falsifing my word I was so troubled and so terrified at these cruel words of Adallas that I had hardly any sensibility or understanding left and I was so extreamly amazed that I had scarcely so much power as to cast my eyes one while upon the cruel Adallas and another while upon the unfortunate Ariobarzanes But the Prince did hardly seem to be moved at all and looking upon Adallas with an Action full of scorn The possession of Olympia which thou offerest me said he is of so high a value that thou shalt not see me waver in the choice which thou presentest to me and since I cannot expect so glorious a recompence from such an ungrateful and cruel person as thou art without purchasing it with my life thou shalt see me yield it up to thy rage without regret when thou hast bestowed that upon my love which thou owest unto it Give me the Princess then to day and since the gods do judge that I deserve that happiness for no longer a continuance dispose of my destiny to morrow as thou wilt Thou shalt be satisfied replied Adallas more furious and more transported than before and thou may st when thou pleasest enjoy a felicity which thou shalt survive but for one dayes space I have lived long enough for thy ends answered Ariobarzanes seeing that from the miserable estate wherein I saw thee implore my Valor to save thy life I have brought thee into condition to threaten and attack mine If I offer any violence to thy life interrupted Adallas and if I sacrifice it to my misfortune 't is according to thy own will but if thou lovest it so well as to free me of my promise and to content thy self with any other recompences but Olympia thou shalt know that nothing but my misfortune makes me ungrateful and that 't is my despair rather than my inclination that transports me to cruelty Keep thy self replied the Prince keep thy self to thy Proposition as I continue firm to mine except Olympia thou hast nothing in thy power but what is far below me and the least of my Services and with Olympia whom thou owest me I prefer the death which thou presentest me with before thy Friendship to thy Crown During this Discourse having had time to recover out of my former astonishment and to consider the interest which it did concern me to take in that contestation I did not permit it to go any farther without interruption and not judging it convenient to dissemble any part of my thoughts in that extremity of Affairs Do not think said I Prince of Armenia That thy life and person are so inconsiderable to me that I can consent to the cruel agreement which thou makest with this ungratefull man I shall be thine if the gods have so decreed it whatsoever Adallas can do to hinder it but I will not be thine only for a day neither oughtest thou to accept of any condition not common to us both though the Proposition of this Barbarian should be put in execution his Fortune would not be one jot the better and though he were not my Brother he hath rendred himself too unworthy of any hopes that he might have for the widow of Ariobarzanes Reserve thy life then for that which the gods have ordained it for and if Heaven will not permit me to be thine be assured that I will never be any mans else Ariobarzanes being extreamly moved at my words threw himself at my feet notwithstanding the presence of Adallas and all his constancy could not hinder him from bedewing them with some tears The King not being able to endure this Action and the words that I had spoken which filled him with dispite flung out of the Chamber in a furious Transport after that he had again protested that he would keep his resolution and Ariobarzanes staying there after him made me such tender and such passionate Discourses that I could not
cruel injuries by which you have filled his Soul with despair might give him just cause enough to complain yet they have not expunged that profound Character of Love and Respect which your Beauties had ingraved in his heart Though you turned away my Ambassadours though you declared your cruel intention to them and though in scorn of my Services and of the King your Father's will and of that solemn Action which gave me lawful pretensions to the possession of you you followed the fortune and the person of a man unknown at the mercy of the Waves of Pyrats and of a Thousand other Dangers yet you have not so much injured me by rejecting my person and my love as by the neglest you have had of your own life in exposing it to so many perils only to avoid the sight of a Prince who adored you The just gods in preserving you from so many hazards that apparently threatned you have been pleased out of their goodness to put you again into the hands of him for whom your Conduct was reserved Do not look upon him then with the eye of an Enemy since he beholds you still with the same eyes through which love made a passage to his heart and be pleased that by freeing you from a condition which doubtless is not conformable to your Dignity he may deliver you from all the outrages that Fortune could do you and settle you upon a Throne where you shall Reign not so much over the Subjects as over their Prince Doubtless heaven would have it so that hath so luckily conducted my steps to meet with you those whom your Birth might give some Command over you have sufficiently expressed that it was their intention and I hope that you will not be repugnant to it your self if you permit any consideration of Justice to succeed that cruel aversion which I am bold to say I never deserved and which hitherto hath exposed me to so many misfortunes During Tigranes's Discourse Elisa having had time to recompose her self a little and taking Courage from the Command which she knew she had still over his spirit after she had expressed by a look the thoughts of her Soul to Artaban upon whom Tigranes had not as yet cast his eyes and made that valiant man judge that the fear she had for him was the thing that most troubled her At last lifting up her eyes towards Tigranes with a more assured countenance than before Tigranes said she I do not doubt whatsoever cause of complaint you believe you have against me but that I shall still find you to be a vertuous Prince from whom I ought not to expect any thing but respect and service neither do I expect any other from you if you give ear to reason in the complaints you make of me and when you shall consider that I have alwayes resisted the Testimonies of your Affection without giving you any hope and on the contrary have done all that possibly I could to extinguish all those which you might have conceived and that I did openly and to the uttermost of my power oppose the violence which the King my Father did me in your Favour when he committed me into the hands of your Ambassadors you will not receive as an injury the Declaration I made to them of my intentions nor the retreat I pretended to make to the King of Lybia my Uncle with whom I might have made an honourable stay till the violent humor of the King my Father was a little moderated I did not commit my self to Artaban 's Conduct neither did I follow Artaban 's Fortune and you your self are not ignorant that it was much against my will that he was put into our Ship laden with Irons to be conducted as a Prisoner to you and that he was not freed from his Irons till your men and mine had need of his Valor for the defence of their lives I have since by good Fortune found Sanctuary under Cesar 's power they which command here for him have put me under his protection and at his feet I will expect my Destiny without undertaking any longer Voyages till it shall please the gods and the King my Father to assure the condition of my life The King your Father replied Tigranes will never like it that you have chosen your retreat amongst his Enemies the Empire of the Romans and that of the Parthians are too opposite and they have had too many bloody Contests for you ever to think to perswade the King of the Parthians to permit the Emperor of the Romans to dispose of his Family But though it should fall out so I will never trust my Rights to any mans disposing and seeing that by the will of the gods and the consent of the King your Father you are my lawful Wife I ought not to endure that you should beg for Refuge who may offer it to others nor seek for protection from any Forraign Power since you your self have absolute command over a great Kingdom which acknowledges you for its Queen I should be answered Elisa your lawful Wife indeed as you pretend if together with the will of the gods and the consent of the King my Father which you alledg you could have gotten mine too that was more necessary for you than the other to make you my Husband and without my will there is no power can make you so The Action replied Tigranes was too Authentick not to be known and no man will wonder if I take possession of that which belongs to me wheresoever I can find it Upon these words drawing near to her he took her by the Arm and though she made resistance he did what he could to lead her towards his Troop Artaban who till then had hearkned to their Discourse expecting what conclusion they would make grew altogether impatient at this Action and though he knew very well that being alone unarmed and feeble after his wounds as he was he could not shew himself to Tigranes without exposing himself to an apparent death yet he closed his eyes against all the considerations of danger and presenting himself to Tigranes with that great Courage which nothing could ever daunt Stay Tigranes said he and do not think to do Elisa any violence as long as Artaban lives The King of the Medes had been till then so taken up with the unexpected meeting of Elisa that he had not so much as cast his eyes upon those that accompanied her and Artaban being on foot without Arms or any thing that might attract the sight of a man which was strongly fixed upon other Objects Tigranes took no notice of him but he had no sooner spoken nor appeared besore the King who for very great reasons had alwayes his Idea present in his memory but not withstanding the condition wherein he saw him and the change of his countenance he immediately knew him The fire doth not more suddenly seize upon the most combustible substance than Tigranes's Choler was
Discourses of his Voyages that the Princess Artemisa desired him to divert part of Cleopatra s sadness and Megacles being willing to satisfie them related manythings worth attention and capable of charming some part of their griess but when he had described what he had seen most memorable in the Courts of Capadocia Cilicia Mesopotamia Thracia and many other Kingdoms and having told them that he passed the Bosphorus entring and making a considerable stay in Scythia Cleopatra interrupting him hattily That Alcamenes King of Scythia of whom you speak said she and whose Actions have given him the surname of Great is now with Augustus unless the Tempest by which we had almost suffered Shipwrack hath divided them and is to accompany him to Alexandria It is very strange replied Megacles that so great a Prince as the King of Scythia who hath no dependance upon the Empire and who knows no greater than himself in the world except the Emperor of the Romans and the King of Parthia should put himself into the power of another Prince it being a thing never done but with great formalities and precautions The Reputation of Cesar replied Cleopatra and the free spirit of Alcamenes hath made him infringe these considerations and the King of Scythia in whom the glory of Augustus hath raised a great emulation and passion to see him having learnt that he must go into Macedonia sent Ambassadors to demand his Alliance and Friendship and to tell him That if he would give him his word he would pass over the Custome of the Kings his Predecessors who never passed their own bounds unless to make War and come into Macedonia that he might see the greatest man of the world and the worthy Successor of great Cesar who had filled the whole Earth with his glory Augustus believing himself obliged by the Civility of that King whose Ancestors never feared the Roman Armies and having heard marvels related of him notwithstanding the great distance between and the little communication that the Romans have with the Scythians he testified a great desire of knowing him and also believed that his Alliance could not but be profitable towards the establishment of the Empire Upon this account he honourably received the Ambassadors and replied by Decimus Fabius whom he sent back with them that he should with joy receive the offers of his friendship that he had a great desire to see a Prince whose fair Reputation had often reached his ear and he not only gave him his word which nothing was able to alter but in case he desired it he would advance himself and contract the way to see him With this Answer the Emperor ordered that Livia should send a magnificent Present to the Queen his Wife whose name and adventures are no less known than that of the King her Husband Alcamenes intirely confident in the Emperors word having left the government of his Kingdoms to the Queen who is no less capable thereof than the bravest men departed thence accompanied only by Five hundred Horse and came to find Cesar in Pella the capital City of Macedonia The Emperor made him a most honourable Reception and treated him with much more deference than he ever testified to any other King and in my opinion his esteem was very just for beside that the Mine of this Prince is as good as any I have seen all things in him appear so great that he hath much more of the Hero and of the Demi-gods of Antiquity than of ordinary men Had you heard replied Megacles the Relation of his admirable Adventures you would have beheld him as a person much more extraordinary for before he came to the Crown there hapned to him in the course of his Loves things so little common that were not the memory thereof fresh and the testimonies publick they would be rather taken for Antique Fables than real Truths I believe that the distance and little Commerce between the Scythians and other Nations may have deprived you of part yet I believe not so but that you have heard mention thereof It is true replied the Princess I have heard of many valiant and amorous Deeds which have rendred this Prince famous in many parts of the World but what I have heard hath been confusedly related and I know not whether my Sister said she looking upon Artemisa hath had any clearer knowledge I have heard many things replied Artemisa but with as little order as you and I doubt not but if you have a desire to know the particularities Meglacles can give you a full information knowing that he is too curious and too intelligent not to have learnt them whilst he stayed in Scythia It is true replied Megacles that there are few persons in the World who know those passages better than my self having taken care to inform my self even to the least circumstances and if Great Princesses you will both promise me to receive the recital as some refreshment to your griefs or at least whilst the Relation lasts to suspend some part thereof I will do my endeavour to relate things worthy your attention Cleopatra and Artemisa being willing to be acquainted with those Adventures which had made so great a noise in the World promised Megacles what he demanded and he being willing to comply with them so much as he could possible having taken a Seat at their command he thus began the expected Discourse THE HISTORY OF ALCAMENES and MENALIPPA BOOK I. THE adventures which I take upon me to relate are not such as arrive in the courses of ordinary lives and principally to great Princes such as Alcamenes who by his birth and the rank he holds amongst the most puissant Kings seems that he ought not to be exposed to particular Accidents more proportionate to the fortunes of a private man than to that of a Monarch of whom likely the most remarkable actions ought to pass at the head of Armies in a splendour conformable to their Dignity The Scythian Monarch as you know is not only the most ancient of the world but also the greatest and most puissant and after the Roman Emperour and the King of Parthia there is no Soveraign that possesseth a greater Countrey than the Scythian King nor who commands a more War-like people Never could the greatest Conquerour amongst either the Greeks or the Romans extend their limits upon the Frontiers of Scythia neither did ever the most powerful or the most happy carry a War thither but to their own confusion I will not give you a description of this Kingdom nor of the manners of the Inhabitants 't is known to all the Earth and few persons are ignorant of the valour policy and simplicity of the ancient Scythians or those now living I will only add that what hath been reported of their former poverty will appear otherwise at present and although the Scythians affect less pomp ceremonies and riches than many other Nations are nevertheless sufficiently proud in their Armes Equipages beautiful Cities
and fair Houses and inhabit not Tents and Chariots but when they march in the body of an Army I will say no more of a people who have but a small part in this History and as it altogether for Alcamenes I will not enlarge but upon the recital of his particular actions During the non-age of this Prince the King Arontes his Father a great and redoubted Warriour who dyed lately and during whose raign the most remarkable of his Sons adventures happened had a long and bloody War with Decebalus King of Dacia and the fields of either King had often blusht with the blood of their miserable subjects The Kingdom of Dacia was formerly obscure and of an indifferent consideration But this at present very potent and its Princes may keep file with the greatest Soveraigns of either Asia or Europe To the ancient Dominions of the Dacians are added either by conquest or alliance the Getes and the Gelones and it was as I suppose about the Tribute that the Scythian King demanded of these Nations which bred the quarrel But be the original what it will the process was cruel and for some time doubtful but at length the King of Dacia sunk under the Arms of the Scythians and was killed by the King Arontes's own hand in a battel fought on the Frontiers of his Countrey Arontes after this Victory was in a capacity to have extended his Arms over the Dacian Territories but he contented himself with the advantages he had without seeking greater conforming his Ambition to the custom of his Predecessors who have alwayes believed they could not without a crime invade their Neighbours Possessions He therefore granted to the Widow of Decebalus the truce she demanded keeping himself peaceably within his own limits and governing his subjects with all justice and moderation But the Queen Amalthea that was the name of Decebalus's Widow retaining an inconsolable grief for the death of her Husband and breathing nothing but revenge was not appeased by the moderation of her enemy forgetting none of her resentments though the evil state of affairs forced her to dissemble them and also her impuissance to continue a war the success whereof had been already so mournful The only testimony of her marriage was a daughter then about five or six years old fair amongst the marvellous beauties of the universe and born with an extraordinary spirit and grandure of courage The afflicted Queen sought in this little Princess all her consolation and in her founded all the hope of her premeditated revenge supposing this growing beauty when it ripened to perfection would enslave all the Neighbour Princes and arm them in her quarrel The Princess whose high spirit made her easily consent to the resentments of her Mother refused not to make those advantages which she had received from Nature the incendiaries of that revenge they both equally breathed In this Hope was the young Menalippa educated with all that care could do to advance the design of making her a most accomplished person neglecting nothing that might acquire spiritual ornaments to accompany those of her beauty Like a young Lioness the Queen brought her up inspiring her alwaies with more of the Fierce than the Sweet and during her infancy she never heard the name of Arontes pronounced but with hatred and horrour Her recreations were framed after a sort little common to her sex and seeing she was of a vigorous strong complexion and an extraordinary stature they made her practise the most violent exercises to ride so soon as she was able to sit and chase the savage Beasts with bow and arrows and if she were not entirely an Amazon at least she was capable of those Martial women practices who till Alexanders time inhabited Asia with so much reputation Menalippa marvellously seconded the designs of the Queen her Mother fair to the admiration of all those that saw her her spirit tempered with all the Graces that excellent education can add to excellent Naturals her body accustomed to violent exercises with as much force as those of the strongest men her heart naturally high and proud easily received those fierce impressions from her Mothers inspiration and withal as much hatred to the person name and house of her fathers murtherer as she could desire when the Queen saw her such a one as she wished she concealed her intentions no longer but practizing for succour with her Allies and Neighbours to make a puissant expedition she proposed the fair Menalippa who besides the Marvels of her person was heir to a potent Monarchy the price of that vengeance she continually breathed not scrupling to promise her to that Prince who with the greatest power and most fortunate success would aid her against her enemy Whilst Menalippa was thus nurtured in Dacia the King of Scythia to whom the Gods had given but one Son older than Menalippa by two years this young Prince employed all his study to render himself conformable by education to those hopes were conceived of him and certainly it was not without reason that they expected Marvels from him since Heaven seemed to have inspired this young Prince with whatsoever might entitle him admirable I shall add nothing Madam to what you have said concerning his good Mine which certainly might dispute precedence with all those I have ever seen of great or majestick in the whole course of my Travels his spirit is excellent lively and active his soul adorned with all the vertues and form'd with the most beautiful and grand inclinations but you will know him better by my relation than any description I can make of him This young Prince so happily seconded the designs of the King his father that at the age of fifteen years he not only rendred himself more knowing in all sorts of exercise than his teachers but also appeared at these years the strongest man of Scythia in all exercises wherein address and force of body could shew it doing things which made all that saw him judge that at a more advanced age he would surpass all those whom antiquity had presented for the most famous But in a short time he gave more authentique proofs for scarce had he attained the seventeenth year when the King his father was obliged to march against the Masagetes who were in Arms through the inspiration of the Queen of Dacia and her Allies And being willing to teach his Son his trade gave him the command of a part of his Army he did in this Imploy things surpassing belief defeated the enemy in three or four Combats such as might pass for Battels testifying a marvellous Conduct and excellent intelligence in an occupation which he had but begun to practise he had alwaies the glory to have killed the Chiefs with his own hands at the head of their Troops and did things in his own person so astonishing that the Scythians compared him to Achilles Theseus and the fabulous Heroes of Antiquity and a little after the King his father being
retired having left him the sole command of the Army he gain'd a memorable Victory terminating that War by the most glorious successes could be desired These marvellous beginnings fam'd the reputation of Alcamenes through all the neighbour Kingdoms they talked every where of Alcamenes as of a prodigie of valour and the noise overtaking all places arrived in Dacia possessing the irritated Queen with a mortal displeasure fearing this young Prince as a potent obstacle to her designs of one day possessing his fathers Territories and this rendred the name of Alcamenes both to the Mother and to the Daughter as odious as that of the King his father The Scythian Monarch who had a great and generous soul view'd with an incredible joy these transcendent actions of Alcamenes and beholding in him nothing but grand and elevated above the rest of man-kind treated him as an extraordinary Son a Son given by Heaven for the glory and consolation of his dayes and as a Prince who would bear the honour of Soythia to a higher degree than it ever yet arrived and moreover being acquainted with the Queen of Dacia's practices and the preparations she made against him who with those succours she hoped to draw by her Daughters beauty was not to be despised he believed himself furnished in the person of Alcamenes with a valiant desender and disdained more than formerly the evil designs of his adversaries He had often spoken of it to the Prince and perceived him burn with a generous resentment against those enemies of his Family and a vehement desire to measure his Sword with whomsoever the perswasions of Amalthea or the beauty of Menalippa had armed against his father desiring rather to carry the War into the enemies Countrey than expect it in their own The King who was as moderate as valiant and who now loved peace as well as formerly he had done the Wars reprov'd without condemning the noble heat of his Son alledging that he ought after the examples of his Predecessors contain himself within the justice of his cause and expect the enemies on-set before he endeavoured their ruine and besides he had compassion on a Queen whose resentments could not be condemned though they were not entirely reasonable and who transacted more through the love she bare her husband than out of any hope she could conceive to conquer Scythia Alcamenes in whom generous resentments found all manner of approbation troubled not himself to combate these reasons and easily excusing the revenge of Amalthea and Menalippa both through the respect he bore to their sex and by the report he heard of the beauty of the Daugther and vertue of the Mother so that turning his anger against those Princes who had embraced their interest he no more solicited the King his father to begin this War Besides this consideration which prevailed upon the spirits of these two Princes they understood that the irritated Queen instead of being in a condition to fight them was imbarked in another War against the Prince of the Sarmates and the Prince of the Nomades upon some dispute they had with Amalthea about the extent of their Frontiers The King Arontes might have taken this advantage against his Enemy and others possibly would have done it but he judged it unworthy his courage and the Prince his Son boyling as he was for occasions to get glory had not the least thought to lay hold on this advantage But although the King of Scythia tasted the greatest satisfaction in the company of a Son so brave and so lovely he was forced to part with him through the necessities of his affairs and ordered him a journey into some Provinces where the Father's or Son's presence were absolutely necessary Alcamenes departed from Palena where the King then made his abode and transported himself into those places whither he was sent by his presence he reduced all things into an entire tranquillity But having bravely acquitted himself of his Commission given by the King his Father instead of returning where he was expected he found himself prest with an ardent desire to travel and visit unknown some stranger Courts few persons 't is possible have known his true designs which came not to my knowledge and I have thought with the rest of the world that curiosity only and a youthful desire led him to that resolution which many have condemned But whatever was the cause he writ a Letter to the King wherein with many excuses he begg'd his pardon for this sally of youth professing that he left him only to render himself more worthy to serve him by the experience he hoped to reap by his Travels promising not to absent himself longer than a year and during that not so far from Scythia or Dacia but easily to observe the motions of his enemies in which case he would abandon all things to render his King that service to which his duty obliged him he accompanied these promises with words full of humility and submission to efface the resentment which the King might conceive for his fault and having given the Letter unto the principal of his servants with whom he returned all his retinue retaining only two Squires to accompany and serve him in his Voyage and on this manner maugre the resistance of all his attendants he leaves them and takes his way by the side of the Boristhenes to go towards Bizantium I 'le not entertain you with the return of his People to the King nor the Kings grief at this unhappy news you may believe it was excessive and Orontes had need of all his courage to resist this displeasure yet he had a firm confidence in the Princess promise and knew his courage too well to believe any thing could recall him save the War that threatned his Father he only feared those dangers to which he might be daily exposed in an equipage so little conformable to his dignity and turning all his thoughts this way he not only caused publick vows to be offered to the gods for his preservation but commanded some persons in whom he had most confidence to march after him with express order not to leave him what commands soever he gave to the contrary whilst this Prince Adventurer carried with a youthful desire to see the world visited a part of Thrace under the name of Alcimedon which he would take to disguise his own and seeking occasions to signalize himself in some Wars wherewith this Kingdom was troubled by divers actions of extraordinary valour he rendred the name of Alcimedon famous through all Thrace obliging the old King Adallas Father of this which now reigns to entreat him to come to his Court. Alcimedon went and by his good Mine added greater credit to the fame of his actions receiving all manner of Carresses from this good King he would not here make any long abode though they offered him charges as much as they thought above him as they were indeed below him the fear of being known in a Court
to which he was too near a Neighbour hindred him from staying longer there From Thrace he would have gone to the Taurick Chersonese which obeyed Merodatus a Prince of great valour and reputation but this Prince was then absent and as Alcimedon understood he was in the Court of the Queen Amalthea whither he had been drawn by the beauty of her Daughter the Princess Menalippa and by the hope which they gave to yield her to that person who most puissantly served the Queens resentment against the King of Scythia He saw that in the absence of Merodatus they made great Levies in his Coutrey to pass into Dacia the first intention of their Prince having been to employ them in the Scythian expedition but 't is supposed they serv'd in the War which the Dacians had with the Sarmates and Nomades The brave Alcimedon beheld with indignation these preparations against his Father and told his Squires that followed him that he hoped to render this enterprise as fatal to it's Authors as it had been light in it's cause But that which he learned in the Taurick made him take a strange resolution which was to pass into Dacia and make some abode there by which he might learn many things capable to give him great advantages in that War for which they prepared beside this consideration he felt himself drawn by an unknown force to this design and out of curiosity to see whether the beauty of Menalippa which raised so many enemies against his House was parallel to the fame spread abroad of it On this account he made no difficulty to hazard this voyage believing with reason he could with greater facility remain unknown in Dacia than in any other Kingdom in respect of the little communication the Dacians have with the Scythians their ancient enemies and particularly in the Court where he had been educated He left the Taurick and passed into Dacia which he found all in Arms especially the Frontiers bordering upon Sarmatia upon which already many bloody Battels had been fought the events whereof were doubtful enough Alcimedon hating to remain peaceful in a Country of War visited the Armies rather than the Court of Dacia believing this employment more suitable to his courage and also that here he should run the least danger of being known and chiefly to observe the enemies fashion of War before they brought it into his own Country so that without further weighing he put himself into the Dacian Army commanded by the Prince Barzanes Brother to the deceased King of Dacia a great and experienced Captain And for one of the first proofs of his generosity though he knew how much the Queen of Dacia was his enemy knowing that on this occasion Justice was on her side he chose rather to serve on her side than on that of her enemies knowing also that neither the Prince of the Sarmates nor Nomades were friends to his Family and if the Queen would have given them the satisfaction they required they offered to serve her against the King of Scythia At last whether by these reasons or others Alcimedon put himself into the Army of Barzanes without any charge and to abridge those things which I must but succinctly relate in respect of the multitude of others of a far greater importance which I must decypher more at large being carried on all occasions with his accustomed valour he did things marvellous that in a little time the valour of Alcimedon was the discourse of the Dacian Army Barzanes to whom he was constrained to shew himself the first days complemented him with a thousand extraordinary Carresses offered him the most important charge of the Army writ of him to the Queen and Princess with all the Elogies he was capable of to represent his valour and other admirable qualities but he did much more when Alcimedon having been over-born by the entreaties which he made to take the command of one part of the Cavalry executed things so much above the hopes of the Dacians that they regarded him as a divine person he saved the life of Barzanes in divers encounters and n a great Combat which might have past for a Battel being joyned in person against the Prince of the Nomades who had gain'd the repute of valiant he slew him with his own hand at the head of his Troops These actions and many others of the like nature made the name of Alcimedon so glorious in the Court and Camp of Dacia that they talked of nothing else and the Queen Amalthea writ to Barzanes expressing a marvellous esteem and an ardent desire to see and know him as a man whom she believed heaven had sent to serve her in her design against Scythia Alcimedon understanding her intentions both by her Letters and the discourses of Barzanes had divers debates amongst his Esquires concerning this adventure which to relate would draw this story to a troublesome length But if the Queen of Dacia testified a desire to see him the marvels which he daily heard both by Barzanes and the principal Officers of the Army of the Princess Menalippa gave him no less curiosity to apprehend whether the truth were conformable to the repute he intended no stay in the Court believing that in time he might run some hazard but he resolved to pass by and see this person of whom such wonders were related He communicated his design to Mandaris and Sosthenes his two Squires in whom he had a perfect confidence And a few days after the enemies being reduced by his valour to bad terms demanded a years truce which Barzanes granted so that Alcimedon finding no more occasions to employ his Sword took leave of the General promising him that if it were possible he would see him in the Court of Dacia whither he intended to go to lalute the Queen if his affairs permitted him Barzanes did what he could to stay him or at the least to perswade him to retire into the Court of Dacia but although Alcimedon had a design to visit the Court yet he would give him no absolute promise fearing lest Barzanes should make it known and he contented to give him the Hope knowing well that Barzanes notwithstanding the Truce was obliged to make a stay of two or three dayes upon the Frontiers when they parted Alcimedon would visit a part of Dacia and particularly those places which bordered upon Scythia before he went to Tenasia where the Queen kept her Court which is in the heart of the Kingdom yet e're he went he complemented all those Officers which Barzanes had given to serue under him in the Army retaining only one Esquire named Leander whom he knew passionately devoted to his services and whom he admitted at his instant intreaties having first absolutely forbidden his Scythian-Squires to let him know any thing of their Masters birth or true condition so that this affectionate Dacian linckt himself to his service with much fidelity without knowing him by any other name than that of Alcimedon
retain public demonstrations of that happiness which so many reasons commanded him to conceal he made a thousand passionate Discourses and as he loved with as much violence as ever any did so all that his love produced was violent like it self but if his joy was immoderate at the first view of his happiness it became more compleat when he perceived that he was not only dearly loved by Menalippa but that he had need of a spirit firm and solid to require a Princess born with a true generosity and uncapable of any artifice At last through the sympathy of their humors and the force of their destinies their affection became so strong as to justifie the opinion of those who believe that the love proceeding from inclination is more powerful than that of acknowledgement and obligation you will see by the sequel of this Discourse that this is true and may thence conclude that there was never a more strong love contracted than between these two illustrious persons Menalippa inâ—irely opened her heart to Alcimedon and this happy Prince read there his happiness with extasies his love increased daily by the fresh graces he received from the Princess and although they extended no further than the honour of kissing her hand yet he found so many charms in the Action and those words by which she daily established his happiness that he scarce believed there could be a compleater Bliss yet he was sometimes perplexit to think what the knowledge of Alcamenes would produce against the Fortune of Alcimedon and Menalippa justified his fears a few dayes after when in a converse they had together having hearkned with her ordinary bounty to the protestations made of his fidelity Alcimedon said she whatever promise I have made to favour your Designs in case you prove faithful and true yet that which you call your happiness is not intirely in my hands and although I hope the Queen my Mother will yield much to my choice yet it is certain that in the disposition of Menalippa she will follow her first resolutions to give me only to him that shall most powerfully advance the King of Scythia's Ruine and were I not confident of your Valor from which I hope in this occasion much more than from all the other pretenders whatsoever affection I have entertained for you I should not think my self obliged to my promise but as I know that in this War we are to expect nothing but Wonders from you you need not doubt a favourable success and I am more troubled at the danger you must expose your self to for the love of me against those redoubtable Enemies than comforted by the advantages you may carry away This Discourse troubled Alcamenes though he long since expected it and being prepared he quickly recollected himself and did all he could that the Princess might not observe the disorder in his face Madam said he I am not ignorant of the conditions that engage those who aspire to the glory of serving you and you ought not to doubt since my heart is yours without reserve but that I will also espouse your resentments and I will not only serve you in your Design against Scythia with ardor and fidelity but I dare promise you above all those who ingage in this War for your Service that I will serve you with success and will put the Crown of Scythia upon your Head This promise may seem extravagant in the condition you see me but when I shall be better known I hope you will expect the performance with some confidence there is a great deal of presumption in my Discourse yet to drive it to the highest point I promise my Princess never to demand the possession of Menalippa till I have Crowned her Queen of Scythia Whil'st Alcamenes spake Menalippa beheld him attentively and being unable to accuse a man of vain boldness and presumption whom she knew of a true and solid vertue was ignorant what judgment to make on this hardy Proposition and the conditions wherewith he bounded his own good Fortune his great confidence in promising things so great perswaded her of the grandure of his condition and calling to her thoughts all the powerful Princes of the Earth to find Alcimedon amongst them Alcamenes only being excepted in the Number not imagining that Prince would unnecessarily expose himself to too manifest danger or that he against whom the Queen her Mother arm'd the whole Earth should come and submit himself to the power of his implacable Enemies Having kept silence a good while and then beholding Alcimedon with a smile You promise things difficult enough said she but I will distrust neither your power not intention I will only say that in case you prosper not in your Design of making me Queen of Scythia I will not bind you so rigorously to the conditions your self hath put to your pretences and will not for the Crown of Scythia lose the affection I bear to Alcimedon yet you have given me an occasion to call to mind the Oracle by the conformity I find between it and your promise for the Queen my Mother having consulted with the most famous of the Earth concerning her Design of revenging the King my Fathers death they have all unanimously answered That the Conquest of Scythia was reserved for Menalippa and that Menalippa should be one day Queen of Scythia You need not doubt that the Queen received great satisfaction from this answer of the gods and I believe that this hope is as great an incendiary to the War as the vengeance she breathes against the King of Scythia Alcamenes hearkned attentively to these words and instead of fearing the success of this War he saw his hopes increas'd and believed that the gods promised not the Crown of Scythia to Menalippa but by her Marriage with Alcamenes he again confirmed the promise he had made and Menalippa protested with incomparable bounty that she desired not so much the Crown of Scythia as she feared the death of Alcimedon having Martial Enemies to encounter a King valiant and experienced and against the young Prince Alcamenes his Sonne who had the Repute of one of the most Valiant men upon Earth But whil'st Alcimedon enjoyed this felicity he had the displeasure continually to see his Rivals and was obliged even before his face to permit Merodates Phrataphernes Euardes and Orosmanes publickly to proclaim their affections to his Princess 'T is true the cold reception she gave them did minister some comfort to his spirit and if the need she had of their assistance did seem to smooth her brow with a pleasing aspect 't was with such a visible constraint that Alcimedon had not any cause to harbour the least umbrage of discontent she alwayes testified more esteem to Merodates than the rest viewing him as a Prince whose vertue and courage claimed every ones respect but she confin'd her resentments to this esteem without permitting him any place in her amity Alcimedon by the appearances of his
condition was obliged to shew them some exterior respect and to seek in secret what they openly pretended to yet thought not his Fortune any thing worse desiring rather to be secretly lov'd than publickly esteemed Whil'st these interessed Princes beheld his access to Menalippa his frequent converse with her and many other testimonies of her esteem which she would not hide they began to regard him with envy and a little after this jealousie increasing by the appearances that caused it they entertained a mortal hatred against him and believing him their Inferiour would sometimes treat him with disdain but though Alcimedon did disguize his Birth and pass in that Court for a private person yet in these incounters he would not belie himself nor give place to these Rival Princes his Enemies no more than if his true condition had been known One day they were together in the Queens Cabinet who entertained them about the War of Scythia to which she daily prepared her self Euardes who was the most inconsiderate made a Hundred Discourses full of Bravadoes against the King of Scythia the rest seconded him in the same manner one brag'd he would depopulate Scythia another promised to present the Queen with the King Orontes's Head and the most modest assured her they would lay at her Majesties feet both the King and the Prince his Son charg'd with Irons Alcamenes though he derided their presumption yet could not suffer it without Reply and addressing himself to the Queen having beheld the Princes with disdain Madam said he though your Forces are great and the assistance of these Princes considerable I counsel you to prepare to the King of Scythia's Defeat as to a business much more difficult than they represent it and to forget nothing that may advantage you in an Enterprize where you I have need of all I know the power of Scythia which is not less than that of all these Princes together I know the King Orontes who in valor and experience may not be equalled by any of those who imagine themselves able to carry so assured a Victory over him I have seen his Son Alcamenes fighting with a Courage might make the most hardy of these tremble who imagine themselves able to Chain him with so much facility Alcimedon had scarce'uttered these words but he repented them fearing he had said too much to conceal the interest he had in the King of Scythia the four Princes murmured together and Euardes who spoke first believing himself most interessed in the Discourse of Alcimedon took the word and casting a regard on the Prince of Scythia which sufficiently signified his resentment It seems said he you intend to terrifie us with the praises you give our Enemies we know Orontes and have heard of the Prince Alcamenes but we know nothing of either that might make us apprehend the ill success of this War and you are misinformed of our Valors if you imagine we can tremble for one Alcamenes or many Alcimedons though they imbrace his Party Euardes replied Alcimedon wish your self no other Enemies to joyn with him who of himself is strong enough without others assistance and believe that to vanquish one Alcamenes and many Alcimedons would require a great Number of Bithinian Princes Ah! it is too much Alcimedon cryed Merodates were you well affected to the Service of the Queen you would not take her Enemies part I beg the Queens pardon replied Alcimedon if I have failed in the respect I owe her in publishing Truths well known to me to the advantage of her Enemies I am nothing the less zealous to her Service and when we appear in the Field against her Enemies we shall see who will give the braver on-set whether those that praise or those that despise themselves This Discourse had passed further and without doubt had carried these Princes to extremities had not the Queen interposed her Authority and gently blaming Alcimedon who desired pardon and intreating these Princes not to quarrel with a man who was very affectionate to her and to whom the was redeemable for many great Services The four Princes united against Alcimedon but the Prince Barzanes who loved him dearly offered himself and all his Friends publickly and could not indure that the Queen should Treat him differently from the rest though there was in appearance a manifest difference Alcimedon besides those excuses he made to the Queen made many to the Princess Menalippa and she attributing what she had said to the grandure of his Courage which could not dissemble a Truth and partly out of aversion to those Princes whom he knew to be his Rivals took nothing ill but participating his resentments treated his Rivals with more disdain than before But they must leave Menalippa for the Queen having communicated her Design of marching against the King of Scythia so soon as the Princes had joyned the succours they designed for her obliged them to take leave and seek those Troops they had ordered to be raised intending to bring part of them into Dacia and the rest to meet at the appointed Rendevouz Euardes and Phrataphernes departed first being most distant having done all they could to obtain some shadow of hope from Menalippa Merodates and Orosmanes who were Neighbours retired not till some dayes after the one to the Tauriques the other among the Basternes But scarce were they gone when News came to the Court That the King of the Sarmates and the King of the Nomades Brother and Successor to him whom Alcimedon slew had broken the Truce upon some slight pretences and exercised all manner of Hostility upon the Frontiers The Queen whom this News troubled in respect of the delayes it brought to her Designs disputed not the Resolutions she ought to take Barzanes departed with the Troops which were ready to join with those left upon the Frontiers and Alcimedon knit to Barzanes by a strict amity also infinitely joyful to find in this War occasions of serving Menalippa at whose desire he took a command under Barzanes in the Expedition against his Father march't under him with a part of the Army against the Sarmates and Nomades You will pardon me if I inlarge not my self upon the Adieu's between Alcimedon and Menalippa in which either expressed all that a violent passion could render soft and touching and excuse me also if I particularize not a War so suddenly ended I will only say that after some light skirmishes upon the Frontiers Barzanes fell sick and was constrained to expect his health in a bordering'Town leaving the whole command of the Army to Alcimedon who managing his advantages with admirable prudence and leading on his Souldiers with incomparable Valour forc'd away the Victory in many considerable Combats he re-took divers Towns which the Enemy had carried by Surprize and having brought them to accept of Battel he gained it so bloody and so intire that Fifteen or Sixteen thousand men were slain upon the place the rest put to flight took the
two Kings Prisoners and conducted them with all the glorious spoils to the Town where Barzanes lay sick This Prince's Recovery was very forward but this good News rendred him his health compleatly and instead of envying Alcimedon's glory who had rob'd him of the Victory he interessed himself in it as though he had been his Son he writ of him to the Queen with praises that could not be given but to a Demi-god and in all things he testified as much affection to Alcimedon as could be expected from a Father A few dayes after the Frontiers being setled through the Defeat of the Enemies Army and the Imprisonment of the two Kings there remained no more business so that marching towards the Court and leading the two Prisoner-Princes with them they found a very civil Treatment at Alcimedon's desire his Soul being great and generous in all things The King of the Sarmates received these good offices at his Conquerors hands as he ought but the Nomad hated him mortally partly because he had slain his Brother but most for this Imprisonment and the cruel faithlessness of his Nature 'T was in this Voyage that Barzanes became captivated with the vertues of Alcimedon and though he could not oblige him to declare his Birth yet resolved to chain him to himself by undissolvable Bands and having an only Daughter a most fair and amiable Princess without consulting the Fortunes of Alcimedon which he could not but judge great having vertue for his portion he resolved to bestow her on him making him effectively his Son by alliance as he was already by friendship Alcimedon during his abode at the Court of Dacia had almost daily seen the Princess Alithea that was the Name of Barzanes's Daughter and really she was next Menalippa the most accomplished person of Dacia and whom Alcimedon's respect to Barzanes had rendred the most considerable in his thoughts he had made her very particular and assiduons visits and having alwayes designed carefully to conceal his love to Menalippa he was nothing troubled that the Court suspected him to entertain some thoughts for Alithea Barzanes who observed Alcimedons assiduity with his Daughter believed that he had a particular inclination for her which confirmed him in the Design of making the Offer and bound his Daughter's Fortune by so considerable an establishment Moreover being a Prince whose Martial humor rendred him less artificial he studied not a greater finess in this occasion but opening his heart nakedly to Alcimedon propos'd this Marriage with his Daughter as a thing he thought very advantagious and doubtless it had been so had not Alcimedon been Alcamenes The Prince received this offer from Barzanes with a very sensible displeasure being unable to accept it though with his Daughter he could have setled him in the Throne of the Universe nor could he refuse it without offending a Prince to whom he was so much obliged and a Prince who knowing him only by his vertue offered him that which the Son of a great King might be contented withall This consideration cast him into a great perplexity yet he knew that he ought not to stick at the answer so that being resolved he dissembled his displeasure the best he could and testified all kind of respect and acknowledgment for the Offer he made protesting he had never merited the honour but would endeavour to render himself worthy of it by that passion he had to serve him Alcimedon believed with reason that it was better to use it thus and receive the offer of Barzanes with respect rather expecting when his Affairs would permit him to render his lawful excuses than provoke him in rejecting his Daughter without any probable reasons of this injurious refuse or acquaint him with the true cause that hindred him from accepting it that being the thing of all other which he desired to keep most secret imagining Barzanes would not press him so hard as to deprive him of the opportunity of resolving with Menalippa after what manner he ought to Treat her believing also he would freely pardon him when the Truth was sufficiently known Barzanes doubted not Alcimedons consent to this alliance and altogether satisfied with the Election he had made arrived with his supposed Son-in-law at Tenasia within few dayes You will not doubt I believe that they were gloriously received and that a Victory so signal obtain'd by Alcimedon the period put to that War by his Valor his captivating two Kings which he brought to Tenasia made him to be regarded as the most gallant of men all that you can imagine in this Encounter is below the Truth Certain it is that Alcimedon received from the Queen and Princess and all the Dacian Nobility who beheld him as their Deliverer and a person altogether extraordinary all the Caresses and Honour they were capable to render him The Queen embracing him a thousand times call'd him her Son by a special favour and promised him all the acknowledgment he could expect from the Grandure of his Services Menalippa received him with a countenance expressing her love and Caressed him from her eyes more than from her mouth in presence of the Queen and many other Witnesses remitting greater testimonies of her affection till opportunity should favour them with a private Conference yet by the most favourable regards she let him see her heart was not changed filling him with all the joy he was capable to receive After he had rendred his first Devoyres to the Queen and Princess in expectation of a more particular converse with Menalippa he retired to pay his Visit to the Wife and Daughter of Barzanes to whom he thought this the second Complement due and the Queen desiring to entertain Barzanes concerning the state of the War and the Frontiers which he had left retired with him into her Cabinet and would also that the Princess her Daughter in whose prudence she did much confide should enter into their Discourse Barzanes rendred them an exact Account of the passages of this War even to the least particular and of the condition he had left the Enemy in but all his Relation contained nothing but Alcimedons praise which the Princess hearkning to with a great concern could scarce contain her joy After the Queen had hearkned with admiration and given to the brave Actions of Alcimedon the approbation they merited Brother said she to the Prince Barzanes what you have related of this valiant man and that which we knew before makes me resolve to recompence him with the most important charges of this Kingdom and retain him here at any price to serve us in our Wars particularly in that we are designing against Scythia knowing no man in the World that I can better oppose against the Valor of Alcamenes of whom Fame speaks as of a Prince altogether miraculous let us see my Brother what we can find worthy of him and if it be possible so to oblige him that he may never depart from us Barzanes smiled at this Discourse
depart with the pitiful circumstances that accompanied it but the sad Princess felt her self struck as with a Clap of Thunder How said she to Leander Is not thy Master in Tenasia And you may add Madam replied he Is he any longer in the World being unable to imagine he departed from Tenasia upon any other design than that of dying To these words he added many more which had almost lodg'd death in the heart of this afflicted Princess who learning with what despair he departed yet also with how much resignation and respect to her command she became the Subject of grief fear and repentance She mightily indeavoured to shadow part of her passions from Leander and believing that after this Adventure Alcimedon would have less care to disguize himself she asked Leander whether he knew the true condition of his Master I never knew it replied he nor desired to learn since it was his will I should be ignorant and as all things declare the greatness of his birth so the magnificence of a Present he made me ere he went confirms me in the opinion of the grandure of his Fortune whereupon he shewed the Ring Alcimedon gave him and Menalippa with Belisa having beheld it both judged that such a Present could not come but from a great Prince after several Discourses which the Princess with great agitation made Leander said she I do not think that in that little time since your Master departed he can be far from hence go therefore and follow him with all possible speed and if you become so happy as to overtake him give him from me a Letter which I am going to write I should be sorry that Dacia should lose so valiant a man and one from whom we have had so many obligations if it lyethin my power to call him back do what you can to find him but if you succeed not happily return to give me an account and stay in my Service since it is the desire of your Master being the least acknowledgement we can render for those Services he hath done us She sealed these words with a gift and obliged him instantly to take Horse and follow upon the Tract of his Master having given him a Letter which she writ in his absence After Leander was gone Menalippa commanded that Visitants should know she was indisposed that she might remain peaceably in her mournful solitude and desiring the Queen also to leave her this day free she consumed it wholly in tears and laments wherewith she celebrated the sad departure of Alcamenes it would be difficult great Princesses to relate all the complaints she made on the lightness of her belief and the promptness of her anger But if in these first dayes whil'st there remained any hope of the return of Alcimedon by Leanders diligence she afflicted her self moderately her grief became excessive when after a Months search she saw the afflicted Esquire return without any News of his Master All that a sensible grief could produce in a Soul capable of the most violent passions like that of Menalippa tormented hers with most violent assaults and had not the discreet Princess imputed the cause of her sadness to her indisposition whereinto her grief had really cast her she had been discovered to the Queen and Court of Dacia where though she was the most afflicted for the departure of Alcimedon yet was she not singular in her resentments the Queen who beside an inclination she had to for his vertue having lost so valiant a man and on whom she had founded so much hope became unspeakably sorrowful at the News of his departure Barzanes who loved him as his Son and who saw the hopes he had entertained of his alliance vanish could receive no consolation All were at a loss in guessing the cause what care soever they took to discover it only their griefs were seconded by the general sorrow of all Dacia for the loss of so valiant a man The Queen understanding that the Forces of her Allies were on their march prepared her self for the Scythian Voyage and mounted those Troops she had long since designed for that Expedition and found a way to encrease her power by an addition of that of the Sarmates and Nomades whose Kings were by the Valor of Alcimedon still in her Prisons these two Princes sent her word that if she would restore them their liberty they would serve her with all the Force of their States in the Scythian War The Queen by the advice of her Council hearkned to these Propositions and a little after having generously freed them they left Tenasia and marched with diligence towards their Kingdoms where they had Troops ready for the Field and in a condition to march so soon as any of the rest who had been so long a preparing before them At last to abride my Discourse Merodates entred Dacia with Four thousand Horse and Eight thousand Foot and Orosmenes with Six thousand Horse but no Infantry and at the same time the Queen understood that the Prince of Bithinia with Three thousand Horse and Twelve thousand Foot and the Prince of Pont with Fourteen thousand Foot and Two thousand Horse would be in a few dayes at the Rendevouz appointed Amalthea raised in Dacia and amongst the Getes and Gelons her Subjects more than Eight thousand Horse and Five and twenty thousand Foot scarce were they ready when in execution of their promises Pharnaces King of the Sarmates and Orchomenes King of the Nomades appeared the first with Three thousand Horse and Seven thousand Foot the latter with Two thousand Horse and Eight thousand Foot This numerous Army composed of more than Eight and twenty thousand Horse and Sixty five thousand Foot and commanded by many valiant Kings and Princes had probability enough of overpowring Scythia or any other Countrey it should fall into and the Queen Amalthea could not see her self at the Head of such an Army without giving absolute credit to the Oracles which promised the Crown of Scythia to Menalippa She committed the charge of the Dacians Getes and Gelons to the Prince Barzanes which made the greatest one part of the Army and she could not have given them a more valiant or experienced Chief but she sighed for grief not to see Alcimedon on her side fancing her Troops unvincible had this great person fought at their Head But if the absence of Alcimedon afflicted the Queen and Barzanes it incomparably more tormented the inconsolable Menalippa but for Merodates Euardes Phrataphernes and the other Rival Princes it became a Subject of rejoycing to them and particularly the disloyal Orchomenes Prince of the Nomades in whom injuries had made an impression against his Conqueror more than all his civilities during his Captivity resolving to indeavour his destruction by all wayes possible without any consideration of honour or the rank of Prince which he held Over this numerous Army composed of so many different Nations and commanded by so many Princes there wanted a
General in Chief whom all the rest ought to obey for this great Body must have a Head to actuate its members to this honour all these Princes pretended equally Merodates the most fierce and valiant though the youngest demanded it expresly and said aloud That he was most worthy of it though possibly the least powerful Phrataphernes Euardes Orosmenes Parnaces and the wicked Orchomenes had as many reasons to pretend to it and Barzanes a Kings Son though no Soveraign a great experienced Captain and commanding already the greatest one part of the Army would not yield the command but as reasonably as they hoped for it But the Queen ended the controversie by demanding it sor her self reasoning that having armed them all in hers and the Princess Menalippas quarrel it was just that Menalippa and her self should take the journey in person and march to a Conquest wherein Menalippa was particularly ingaged since the gods promised it to her only All the Princes understood with joy the resolution of the Queen and all the pretenders to the Princess were ravish't to know that she should be an eye-witness of those gallant things they intended to perform for her sake Menalippa who was more naturally addicted to Masculine than Feminine Exercises whose strength yielded to that of few men and whose contiual Hunting-imployment had perfected her in-riding and casting the Javelin to attaque the most furious Beasts with her naked Sword had so hardned her body to all sorts of toyls and having long since espoused the resentments of the Queen her Mother against the King of Scythia she imbraced the resolution with joy and prepared with some consolation to carry against the Scythians whom she hated the effects of her despair innocently caused by him she most tenderly loved Some sparks of hope failed not to kindle that the bruit of this War with her personal appearance therein might cause Alcimedon to appear signalizing and reconciling himself to her by some gallant action or some wound receiv'd for her interest this hope which was not without a foundation rendred her more gay than ordinary and made her prepare for this Expedition with much resolution and the Queen permitting she covered her body with a Cuirasse and her fair face with a terrible Helmet and built her self up into an Amazon nothing less couragious or vigorous than the most gallant of those valiant women who have fill'd the Earth with their Reputation I will hold you no longer with these preparations This great Armado conducted by the Queen the Princess and so many Princes dislodged from the place where the Rendevouz had been kept and in a gallant posture marched towards Scythia which it entred by the Province of the Napeens where Amalthea carrying Fire and Sword desolated whatever the found in her passage but meeting with nothing capable of staying her upon the Frontiers she marcht towards this capital City with great confidence of subjecting this powerful Kingdom under the Dominion of the Dacians The King Orontes who supposed Dacia more inflamed by the Arms of the Sarmates than it was and who could not imagine Amalthea would be so soon in a condition of bringing the War into his Countrey with so great a power had been a little slow in putting himself in a posture of defence and had not fortified his Frontiers against the Enemies arrival as he might yet being one of the greatest Kings of the world and commanding a greater number of Provinces furnished with Martial men having sent orders to the Sarcarians Napeens Massagetes Issedons Dahes Arimaspes Rimnicians Pesicians Amordiens Histians Edonians Enchatians Cokers Cameenes Antarians and many other Nations which composed his Monarchy he raised quickly above Thirty thousand Horse and Fifty thousand Foot 't is true that before these Troops were fit to serve him according to his intent those of the Queen of Dacia were far advanced in his Countrey and had every where left the cruel marks of her passage The King Orontes a brave and valiant Captain having reduced his Army into a gallant posture and believing that although his number was inferior to that of his Enemies yet the Scythian Valor would supply the default so not expecting the Dacians in the Metropolis he march't in excellent order towards the Enemy resolving to give them Battel Now was his Soul fill'd with grief for the absence of Alcamenes and this Son on whom he had founded such fair hopes or rather from whom he expected the Victory and the defence of his Estates appeared not in a time wherein his assistance was absolutely necessary and the King knowing he wanted no courage to seek such dangers nor affection for his Father and Countrey feared lest by some sad accident he were lost for ever and knew not how to accusehim as ungrateful or unnatural lest he should accuse an innocent and possibly a Prince who was no more in being a hundred times did this sad remembrance draw sighs from his breast and his whole Kingdom who had adored the fair beginnings of Alcamenes universally participated of his resentments highly regretting the absence of their valiant Defender In the mean while the King being advanced to the City Nicea a place very fair and strongly fortified incompassed with a great Plain where he quartered his whole Army resolved to attend the Enemy who lay not above two dayes march from thence and who approached him with all diligence The King resolving to give them Battel divides his Army into four Bodies The first composed of Massagetes Dahes Sagues and Napeens he gave to be commanded by Madates Prince of the Massagetes The second composed of Arimaspes Rimnicians Pesicians and Amordiens to Cleogaris Prince of the Amordiens The third consisting of the Etheens Histians Edoniens Enchateenes and Ariaces to Alcastes Prince of the Etheens retained the fourth for himself formed of the Isedons Cameens Antraians Camaces Satarchiens Aseens Agrippeenes Tauro-Scythes and divers other Nations The Queen Amalthea bestirring her self in this War and giving orders by the counsel of the Prince Barzanes having first called all the other Princes advanced within the sight of Nicea and encamped in that great Plain within fifty stades of the Scythians The King of Scythia sent out Scouts to discover the Enemy who skirmishing upon the place hindred the commodious lodging of Amalthea's Troops and their preparation to give Battel the day following Orontes might have further incommoded his Enemy by seizing some places of advantage whereby he might have disputed their passage but having no Design to draw this War out at length and considing marvellously in the Valor of his Scythians he gave the Enemy all convenience to lodge and prepare for the Battel so much desired by both parties The marrow Amalthea having gathered all the Princes into her Tent and by their counsel given the last order for the Battel and having learnt the disposition of the Scythian Army by the counsel of Barzanes she divides hers into four Bodies after the Enemies example
could not dissemble her satisfaction Alcimedon said she I know very well that the greatness of the peril cannot divert you from a glorious enterprize and upon the knowledge I have of your valour I know you rejoyce to understand that your Lot is to desie the Prince Alcamenes to a single Combate and to deprive the Scythians by your courage of the succours of so powerful a friend These words so troubled Alcamenes that not knowing what answer to make or what resolution to take in so strange an adventure he remained a great while quite confounded searching some invention to draw himself out of this phantastique Labyrinth wherein fortune had shewn how capricious she could be at last fearing lest his silence and the astonishment which appeared on his face might be ill interpreted he endeavoured to compose himself and beholding the Queen with as much assurance as he could possibly Madam said he I have been perhaps too slow in testifying the joy I conceive for the honour you have procured me yet have I for a few moments entertained some doubts that in case the Prince Alcamenes be as scrupulous as these Princes he will difficulty be drawn to measure his Sword with that of a man who passeth but for a private person But I know the spirit and courage of Alcamenes and I assure my self he will receive me as though I were known to be the Son of a King and will not hope for less honour from me than from a King of the Nomades or a Prince of Bithinia I cannot make a longer stay here being call'd away by an affair for the rest of this day which very much concerns me I beseech you therefore Madam to send a Herald to the Scythian Camp to defie Alcamenes and I will not fail to morrow an hour after Sun-rising to render my self upon the place of Combate by you appointed the Judges such as you shall chuse and the conditions such as you desire The Queen approved the discourse of Alcimedon and understanding more particularly that an important necessity forced him to leave the Camp for the rest of that day she took upon her the charge of defying Alcamenes and providing things necessary for the Combate The news was spread over all the Camp that Alcimedon was come and that it was he that must fight with Alcamenes on the morrow and as the valor of Alcimedon was known with admiration amongst the Dacians they all praised the justice of Fortune but there were some who comparing the grand actions of Alcimedon performed against the Sarmates with the terrible efforts of Alcamenes against them the day before were in doubt from which of the two to expect the Victory and were unassured of their Champion in so dangerous an enterprize Alcimedon having taken leave of the Queen by some words and of the Princess by a passionate regard went out of the Tent and finding Cleomenes at the Gate he took Horse and with difficulty dis-ingaging himself from the imbraces of those whom the name of Alcimedon and the love they bare him drew thither from all parts he left the Queens Tents and traversing the Camp where by reason of his known Arms he was saluted by all as he passed he made towards a high Wood which he saw some thirty stades from the Camp He had recourse to divers intentions whereby he might keep his word as Alcimedon and save his honour as Alcamenes without discovering Alcimedon for Alcamenes against whom he had observed so much hatred in the Queen and Princess that he could see no reason to discover himself his spirit laboured so much unable to imagine what to resolve on but after a long meditation he thought he had found a good way to draw him out of this intricacy and upon this consideration turning towards Cleomenes My friend said he I have need of thy assistance in one of the greatest extremities of my life and I confide sufficiently in thee to believe that I may escape through thy means Cleomenes having upon this discourse given him new assurances of his fidelity the Prince related punctually all that had hapned and having acquainted him that he was ingaged to fight against himself My friend pursued he having well considered the difficulty of this affair there is presented to my thoughts one only expedient Thy make is very like mine thy face resembles mine very much thou must take these Arms which I wear which all Dacia knows for those of Alcimedon so that when thou art covered with them no one can know thee from him with these Arms thou shalt go and lodge this night in some place of this Wood where thou mayst lye concealed and tomorrow render thy self upon the place of Combat assigned between the two Armies I will be there also but I will aim my Javelin so and so carry my blows that they shall not wound thee after the Combate hath continued some time on this manner I will take thee in mine arms and after some appearance of resistance bear thee to the ground where thou shalt yield the victory and render thy self my Prisoner I will carry thee along with me to our Camp till thou art out of the Dacians sight then feigning to render thee thy liberty e're thou see the King thou mayest retire and quit these Arms where thou thinkest fit so shall I have the liberty to see Menalippa as Alcimedon and serve the King my Father as Alcamenes This invention is a little deceitful but my adventure is so also and having sufficiently meditated I can find no other means of assistance in so strange an extremity Alcamenes would not lose time but having sought the most retired part of the Wood he alighted he disarmed himself of his own Arms and covered Cleomenes with them under which he appeared so like Alcimedon that Alcimedon himself might have been mistaken The Prince armed himself in the Armour of Cleomenes and when all things were in the condition they ought to be Alcamenes having imbraced Cleomenes with transports which seemed to foretel some sinister accident and having again instructed him how to carry himself in the Combate took leave and followed the path to the Scythian Camp but would not enter till 't was late because the Herald of Amalthea might have performed his office before he came fearing lest the Herald should know him what care soever he could take to conceal himself and it hapned as he desired understanding as soon as he came to the Kings Tent that a Herald from the Queen of Dacia had been there to defie him and that the King had returned him without an answer Alcamenes was highly satisfied that it hapned thus but the King would not by any means consent to the Combate alledging to the Prince his Son that Alcimedon was an Unknown against whom a Prince of Scythia could not draw his Sword without offence and that he could not without an extreme imprudence permit his only Son to expose himself to an uncertain event without
and 't is certain that at this time the difference was so small that she might easily have been taken for Alcimedon When the Princess saw her self in this posture as she desired and that Leander had brought the Prince's Horse and Buckler she bowed towards the beloved body and took her last adieu with a tenderness able to cleave with pitty the most savage hearts and conjuring Leander and Belisa to remember her commands and to declare nothing that they knew till the time she had prescribed she took Horse and being no Novice in that exercise she spurr'd him forward to the address of the strongest men and ran with so much impetuosity that they presently lost sight of her The field of Battel was already covered with the Souldiers of both parties who with great diligence had fastened the Barriers and erected a Scaffold for the Judges there were two of them one for the King of Scythia and the other for the Queen of Dacia and the Princes of her side and the Barriers were invironed with a thousand Horse of either Army The Judges had already taken their seats with much civility and a little after the King Orontes on the one part although he had some wounds which would have kept in bed any person of a less robust complexion and the Queen Amalthea on the other with the Princes of her Train placed themselves upon the Scaffold at the sound of a hundred Trumpets that attended them and which made the fields of Nicea eccho they expected only the two Combatants who seemed a little slow and 't is certain that Alcamenes marching not to this Combate with that ardour and fierceness which used to accompany him in others it being only a fiction and dissembled action was not over-hasty to take the Field yet he appeared a little after the appointed time but it was not with his accustomed boldness and gallantry nor with that menacing Mine which darted fear into the most assured His Arms were enriched with Gold and some stones his Buckler of the same without any device his Casque was covered with a shade of Plumes and he alwaies kept the vizor of his Helmet down because of Barzanes who from the Scaffold might easily have known him though he affected nothing terrible in his gate yet could the God of Battels have pleaded small advantage over him and Barzanes concluded with the Prince of the Massegetes that nothing could match him unless the brave person who was to fight him this day had the good fortune Alcamenes walked a long time in the Field ere his Enemy appeared and all the world began to condemn the sloath of Alcimedon and those to whom he was not well known made sinister censures on his courage Amalthea who was out of humour and in some trouble for the Princess the cause of whose walk the could not divine and prickt with delight at Alcimedons delay and the more in that the Princes his Enemies indeavoured to stain his courage and openly blamed his sloath the perfidious Orchomenes who with the life would also have taken away the Honour of his Enemy said he knew him better than the rest and had alwaies made a judgment of him different from that of others and that he believed he would not come at all Barzanes who dearly loved Alcimedon supported impatiently their murmures and still assured the Prince of the Massegetes that he would not fail to appear usless some important adventure hindred Alcamenes himself was astonisht at the delay of Cleomenes and for some moments thought that he wanted courage for this enterprize at last he heard the most remote say that Alcimedon was come that Alcimedon was hard by and a little after they saw him approach or rather the furious Menalippa in his Arms in a posture so terrible that it had been easie to have perceived with a little observation that she was agitated with some other passion than the desire of glory the Dacians gave a great shout at his arrival and Orchomenes believing himself betray'd by his Servants beheld him to whom he had given the commission with a menacing eye and by an inflamed regard reproacht his fidelity So soon as Menalippa was in the Field not musing her self with formalities she road to the end of the Barriers and fastning her self in the Saddle she started with a mighty impetuosity imploring assistance from the Gods she might pass her Javelin through the throat of her Enemy Alcamenes started at the same time but having no design to hurt Cleomenes he had chosen the weakest Javelin he could find and instead of addressing it to the Vizor or any other dangerous place he threw it against the middle of the Buckler where it brake without any further effect Menalippa aim'd hers directly at Alcamenes's Vizor but whether it were by the fury of her course or passion or the little experience she had in this exercise which made her fail in the attempt her blow sliding by his Casque it past without doing any harm then drawing her Sword she made to her Enemy who expected her in the same posture She aimed many blows at him which he put by with his Buckler and wherein he perceived if not more force at least more fury than he could have expected from Cleomenes struck only at those places where he found her covered with her Buckler being very careful not to hurt a man who only sought to serve him and as he had not been accustomed to sport and feign in such occasions he was quite ashamed of the person he represented being obliged in this Combate to dissemble that valour which on all occasions he so prodigally testified At last the impatient Menalippa breathing nothing but fire made a furious blow which he avoiding it fell upon her own Horse and the Blade being exceeding good it gave him such a wound that the inraged Beast ran with all his force to the end of the Field yet not so swiftly but the Princess had leisure to quit her Stirrups and alight Alcamenes joyful to see his enemy on foot ready to terminate the Combate after the manner he had designed with Cleomenes alighted and approached Menalippa with his drawn Sword The desperate Princess cast her self upon him with so much fury that the Prince could not prevent her Sword meeting with the default of his Arms a light wound Alcamenes was astonisht at this fury of Cleomenes and seeing that all the spectators were too far to understand what they said Friend said he thou sparest me not and if thou fightest long thou wilt not represent amisse the person of Alcimedon These words confirmed the Princess in the belief she had against Alcamenes and not induring a discourse wherein he seemed to play with the destiny of poor Alcimedon Ah Traytor said she hast thou imagined that the obscurity of the Wood could hide thy Treason or dost thou think to save thy self by thy deceit Give me death immediately or expect to lose thy life by the hand of thy
if it be true that I have succoured my Father with successe it is as true that this sight of Menalippa which you ordained me is the greatest misfortune that can happen to me in my life since by this visit I have found her more cruel and inexorable than I could have imagined nor have I seen her O Gods but to present my Sword unto her beautiful breast and to draw blood from her fair Body Speaking thus he felt his Grief boyl into rage and casting his eys by chance upon the Sword which he had used in the Battel and upon which he might still have observed some drops of Menalippa's blood had not the mixture of so much which he had spilt that day confounded it Perfidious instrument of my crime cry'd he the first service thou hast rendred me hath been sufficiently fatal to me if I had the Sword of Alcimedon which I left with Cleomenes and which is now in Menalippa 's power it would possibly better than I have known Alcimedon 's divinity and would have denyed obedience to the sacrilegious hand which drew it against her but this first service shall be the last I will receive from thee for I shall be ashamed to wear the criminal steel that hath drawn blood from Menalippa Saying thus he brake it into several pieces not without a revery of some moments whether it were not better to plunge it into his breast Thus did he passe the Night tormenting himself and the day appearing ere he had either sought or found a moment of rest one of his Squires who entred his Chamber related that the Queen Amalthea under pretence of carrying off her dead demanded of the King Eight Days Truce Alcamenes who well knew into what condition the Enemy was reduced and that if the King would take his advantage he might ruine them in a day had reason to fear that he would refuse the Queens demand and finding himself too culpable towards Menalippa he sent and instantly desired the King to grant Amalthea's desire The King Orontes who naturally was an excellent Prince and who beheld with regret this effusion of blood considering also the prayer of his Son he thereupon granted Amalthea the Eight Days Truce and having given orders to fetch off and bury the Dead and incamped his Army further off by reason of the infection of the Air he went into his Son's Chamber with a spirit full of tenderness and quite bent upon a resolution which he now discovered He found Alcamenes in the condition I represented him and though he indeavoured to recall himself in the Kings presence yet was it difficult to hinder the whole appearance of his grief from him The King having sometime entertained him with the affairs of the War and seeing he could not draw a word from him which was not diffected into sighs and sobbs he resolved to oblige him to disover his heart to advance which design he took one of his hands and pressing it between his own with much affection My Son said he I cannot taste with satisfaction the advantages your valour hath given us nor rejoyce to see in a few days my Kingdom intirely delivered from its Enemies so long as you appear in this condition wherein to my extream sorrow I behold you I alwayes hoped better things from your courage what reason soever you had to afflict your self and I must believe it exceeding great since it can conquer a heart like that of Alcamenes I thought yesterday upon the first observation of your sadnesse that it proceeded from drawing your Sword against a Woman and a fair Princesse but seeing you this day in the extremities of the most violent grief I believe it could not render it self so powerful over your spirit were it not fortified by some other passion and it is not impossible but that in the moment wherein the fair face of Menalippa appeared to you in the Combate it might produce love enough in your Soul to resent the violence of your Sword against her and for having drawn some drops of her blood Blush not Alcamenes continued the King seeing him change colour if this be the true cause of the sadnesse wherein you appear to the eyes of a Father who dearly loves you you shall receive no hindrance from him to the compleating your felicity and though the action of Menalippa hath something in it very contrary to the sweetnesse and moderation of her sex yet hath she many vertues as I have heard by the common report which makes me look-over this action And born she is of a Blood and in a Fortune which might make you hope from me an approbation of your love and indeed the Heir of Dacia is a person considerable enough to surprize the affections of the greatest Prince and the repose of Alcamenes is dear enough to me to make me overcome those resentments I might have against my Enemies If your sadnesse may be dispell'd by this proposition I will offer peace to Amalthea in a time when she can no longer make War against us and with the Peace propose to her the marriage of Alcamenes with Menalippa She will not perhaps be so obstinate in her hatred towards me as to shut her eyes against so great advantages and she will be ill advised to refuse a Peace when it lyes in our power to ruine her or reject for her Daughter the greatest and most advantagious Match she could wish Whilst Alcamenes heard the King speak thus though he received by this discourse but an imperfect joy yet could he not dissemble it and kissing the Kings hand with a profound reverence and some sighs which he could not retain My Lord said he beside the obligations which are common to me with all children I have particular ones to your bonnty which I cannot dissemble without ingratitude I will not deny to your Majesty since you have discovered it against my will that the face of Menalippa inspired me with love when my Sword was upon the point to have given her death I will say no more nor give bounds to a bounty too great for Alcamenes But if your Majesty hath any inclination to this alliance I will receive it with all the respect I ought I doubt only that all the advantages which Amalthea can find will not bow the spirit of Menalippa and I beseech your Majesty not to use the authority of the Queen to force her inclination Alcamenes said no more and the King who knew his intent and who as I told you was weary of the War though it had continued but a little while and preferring the repose of his people before a bloody Victory having commanded the Prince to comfort himself and to hope all things from his care left the Chamber and past into his own where sending for Amphimachus Prince of the Tauro-Scythes he largely instructed him with his intention and giving him a Letter to Queen Amalthea caused him to depart towards the Enemies Camp Here it was that Grief
and Desolation put on their true shape and if the whole Camp groaning for the losse of so many thousands that had been slain that day for the death of the Prince of Bithinia and the King of the Nomades and for that of a great number of principal Officers who had left their Bodies in the Field as Trophies of Scythian Valor The Queen to the great cause she had to regret this loss joyned the grief she resented at Menalippa's despair She caused her to be carried off the Field to be disarm'd and her wounds drest and though they were but light yet the unconsolable grief of the Princess would have put the least bodily distemper into a capacity of indangering of life In vain had the Queen imbraced her and bedewed her face with tears in vain had she conjured her by the most pressing words affection could put into her mouth to declare the cause of her despair and funest resolution The desperate Princess answered not but by sobbs and tears which flowed incessantly from her fair eys or if the afflicted Mother could sometimes force a few words from her they so savoured of rage and fury that they easily discovered her Soul to be possest with a mortal sadness But though Menalippa could not conceal her grief yet she would her love choosing rather to suffer the perpetual demands of the Queen than confesse she had loved Alcimedon and that it was for him she fought with Alcamenes and was faln into despair Notwithstanding the pre-occupation of her Soul she caused Belisa to order the Body of Alcimedon secretly to be buried which was very easie amongst so many thousands that kept him company and this Maid who with Leander had carried it to the Camp according to her orders would nevertheless divulge nothing of this adventure having not yet received the Princesses commands so she put the Body of Cleomenes in an unfrequented place where it could not be known by reason of the wounds in his face and being stript of Alcimedon's Arms which might have made him observed Menalippa in her design of concealing her love from the world received some satisfaction from this discretion of Belisa charging her to recommend the secret to Leander and all those who knew ought of this adventure The Queen pressed her uncessantly to reveal the truth partly to understand the cause of her despair and also to know how she came by Alcimedon's Armour and what was become of that valiant man and how he permitted her to fight in his place yet he could never draw the least word out of her mouth that might give any satisfaction in what she desired and all that she could obtain was a promise to declare the truth within six days on condition that till then she would give her the liberty of her tears without troubling her for a clearer knowledge The Queen who even adored her and placed in her only all her affections and hopes was constaained to be satisfied with this promise and though she disapproved and condemned the furious resolution and Combate of her Daughter which she could not attribute but to a violent despair yet durst she not blame her for this action as she would doubtless have done had she been in a condition capable of reproof Yet was not Menalippa's heart so replenisht with her own misfortunes but there was room left to resent the Queen's and seeing her drowned in tears at her Pillow Madam said she I render my self unworthy by my folly of that bounty you testifie towards me In the Name of the Gods allay the troubles of your spirit and hope with me from the bounty of Heaven that mine will repose it self when yours becomes more serene Ah Menalippa reply'd the Queen with a sigh You have little reason to imagine my spirit can be at rest whilst yours remains in the condition it now appears and you have little valued my repose when you exposed a Daughter more dear to me than my own life to the conquering Sword of the valiantest man upon Earth I am not reply'd sadly Menalippa the first person of my sex that hath drawn a Sword against men and you your self have inspired me with Warlike inclinations by the education you gave me however this action may partly be excused to you by the hatred which with my milk you have made me suck against the Fâmily of Orontes and which I believed might reasonably transport me to this extremity against the Son of my Fathers Murtherer against a man who robbs us of the hopes of revenge and of the possession of Scythia which the Gods hath promised us and against a man to whom for other reasons also I have an irreconcileable aversion It must be Menalippa reply'd the Queen and shaking her head that these desperate resolutions against Alcamenes have some deeper causes than those that are common to us both and were he not born of your Father's Murtherer he hath done nothing in this War nor in the Combate against you but what might rather cause esteem than aversion Pardon me Madam repli'd Menalippa brisquely in that my resentments are not conformable to yours and if I have not generosity to love enough vertue in mine Enemies Amalthea knew by the manner of pronouncing these words that she could not contradict her without augmenting her affliction and a little after going out of the Chamber she permitted her to passe the night through her instant intreaties without any other company save that of Belisa During the remainder of this night which she gave wholly to sighs and tears for unhappy Alcimedon she made often reflections on the actions and words of Alcamenes in the Combate and observing amongst those cruel ones whereby he owned the death of Alcimedon that he was in love with her and offered himself to her with all the marks of a passionate man she became astonisht at the quick birth of his love and flattered her self possibly notwithstanding her mortal grief with the glory of such a conquest and of the quick and marvellous effects of her beauty After a long revery If it be true said she that Alcamenes loves me I praise the gods for the occasions they have given me of revenging his cruelty by that I will exercise against him and if the Barbarian be so happy to escape the death which I prepare for him I will make him feel from this heart pre-occupied by a passion so just all that a just resentment can inspire me with of most cruel and most conformable to the hatred I bear him In these furious thoughts she passed the night and part of the next day receiving some nourishment and permitting them to dresse her wounds not out of love to life but of design to imploy it wholly in revenging Alcimedon Part of the day was past when they came to advertize the Queen that the Prince of the Tauro-Scythes desired admittance from the King of Scythia What hatred soever she bare his Master yet knew she how to treat Ambassadours
especially in a time wherein Fortune had been adverse to her and where she was forced to acknowledge that the surety of her Troops and safety of her person depended wholly upon his bounty She received the Prince in the presence of Merodates Phrataphern Barzanes and other principal Officers of the Army Amphimacus presented her with a Letter from Orontes by which he hoped to incline her more than by the mouth of his Ambassadour Amalthea opened it in the presence of the Princes and read aloud these words ORONTES King of SCYTHIA to the Queen of DACIA IT is not in my power great Queen to blot out of your memory the losse you have received by our Armes But I can easily represent to you that the King Decebalus dyed in the Field with his Sword in his hand without trechery cruelty or any circumstance that might inspire you with a greater hatred towards me than other common Enemies You have already powred forth much blood in his revenge and you ought to be satisfied with the death of a hundred thousand men whom you have sacrificed to his Ghost Few Women have so solemnly and gloriously acquitted them of their conjugal affection But it is enough Great Queen and I demand peace in a time when you may well judge I can nothing apprehend the event of the War There is blood enough spilt and I have pity both upon your Subjects and mine own And if you refuse it not I desire your amity and Alliance the gods as I am informed have promised the Crown of SCYTHIA to the Princesse MENALIPPA your Daughter and I offer it in presenting ALCAMENES for her Husband I beleive 't is thus the gods would be understood and all other wayes to advance her upon the Throne of our Ancestors will be found lesse easie MENALIPPA hath conquered SCYTHIA in a moment since in a moment she hath conquered the heart of ALCAMENES and this Prince whose life she assaulted with so much animositie layes the same life with the Crown I shall leave him at her feet The Prince of the TAUROSCYTHES whom I have impowred will negotiate according to your Commands so soon as you let him understand them and will testifie unto you how much I desire the union of our Crowns Families and Affections Whilst Amalthea readd this Letter the divers agitations of her Soul were legible upon her face and if on one side the resentment of the King her Husbands death possessed still her spirit filling it with aversion to the King of Scythia on the other part the advantage she found in his offer and the pitiful condition she was in through the defeat of her Amry of which in all likelihood she could expect nothing but the intire ruine disarm'd by degrees that revenge which she had preserved so many years forcing her to give Reason audience though hitherto she had preferred Passion and Animosity and beside comparing the offer of Orontes with the Oracles which had promised the Crown of Scythia to the Princess her Daughter her eyes were opened to these appearances and judged that it was by this Marriage and not by Force the Gods intended she should be Queen of Scythia Whilst she rowled these thoughts in her mind without expressing them to the Company Merodates being amorous of Menalippa and impatient of a proposition which destroyed his hopes cryed with precipitation that the offer of Orontes ought not to be imbraced and that the Gods Blood and Nature would be visibly offended in case Menalippa should marry with the Son of her Father's Murtherer Phrataphern full of amorous pretences confirm'd his exclamation and added what ever he thought capable to authorize it but Barzanes more prudent than they though he exceedingly resented the death of the King his Brother found no difficulty to tell the Queen after they had conducted the Ambassadour of Scythia into another Chamber that she ought to receive with open arms the Kings proposition and that this fortune which at this time was very great for Menalippa could not with prudence be rejected at a time wherein through the defeat of their Army they lay exposed to the mercy of the Enemy where neither the valour of Merodates nor Phrataphern could hinder them from being cut in pieces if the Scythians had any such intent The reasons of Barzanes were confirmed by all the Officers of the Army and by Pharnaces who having a few moments before lost all hope of re-seeing their dear Country could not hear the proposition of so glorious a peace and so little expected by all appearances without protesting aloud to the Queen that unless she intended their intire ruine she would not reject it Amalthea hearkned to this discourse as unwilling to be accused of the destruction of those Souldiers which remained by her obstinacy nor could she think without some joy upon the fortune which presented its self to Menalippa in a conjuncture of time when she expected to be expos'd with her to a multitude of disgraces so that maugre the crye of Merodates and Phrataphernes who would never consent but in a rage departed the Chamber she sent for the Prince of the Tauro-Scythes and told him that she willingly imbraced the Peace which he offered nor had she any repugnance to the Kings Alliance but it was just that she communicated it to her Daughter who had herein the principal interest and whose consent she would demand Amphimacus reply'd to this discourse of the Queen with much civility and respect who having left him with the King of the Sarmates and the principal Officers of the Army she with Barzanes went into Menalippa's Chamber to whom she read the King of Scythia's Letter and informed her that all the Dacians setled their desires on this Peace and Alliance and her self also who had a desire to terminate this War by an honourable conclusion Amalthea hoped that notwithstanding the hatred Menalippa had exprest against Alcamenes she would yet submit her resentments to those of her Mother and open her eyes to Orontes's advantagious proposition but scarce had she discovered her thoughts when the irritated Princess casting a transported regard at the Queen How Madam said she do you designe me for the Spouse of Orontes's Son who kill'd Decebalus and who would yesterday have taken away my life in your presence with the same Sword wherewith he hath slain three Kings fighting in your Quarrel and him against whom you have inspired me with so much hatred from mine infancy Daughter replyed the Queen It is not just that enmities should be eternal and prudence commands us to persevere in or change our resolutions and inclinations according as they are either advantagious or hurtful Alcamenes is very innocent of the King your Fathers death and in the death of the Kings his Enemies he hath done but his duty if he wounded you in the Combat not knowing you he treated you with respects so soon as he knew you and yielded to you with the Victory both his heart and
liberty and beside you know that amongst all the Princes of the Earth only the Emperor of the Romans is greater than he and the King of Parthia alone his equal so that in our better Fortune you could not have hoped for a more advantagious offer than that which presents it self to you now our Affairs are desperate and when the King of Scythia can finish our ruine and render himself Master of our Destinies The King of the Nomades the King of the Basternes and the King of Bythinia's Son are dead for our interests and of an Army of an Hundred thousand men there scarce remains Twenty thousand and a great part of those wounded who beg the peace with as much strength as they are weak to return to the Battel beside all this your Destiny calls you to it and you have not so little judgment but to know that the Crown of Scythia promised by the gods to Menalippa cannot be Conquered by our Forces nor put upon Menalippa's Head but by her Marriage with Alcamenes To these perswasions the Queen added whatever she thought capable to bend the Princesse's mind to what she desired and before she concluded made her understand that she askt her consent but to a thing already resolved and to which she absolutely commanded her to conform her obedience Menalippa understanding the Queens resolution and not daring to contradict her long sighed with grief and dissembling so much as she could possibly the rage that transported her Madam said she I was not prepared for this dayes Tryal nor did I think the cause of Orontes and Alcamenes would be handled by the Queen Amalthea against Menalippa respect closeth my mouth yet will not hinder me to demand till to morrow to remit my spirit into that obedience which it ought in which time I hope so to work on my heart that I may contradict you no more but I beseech you that I may have it intirely free from the visits of any body Amalthea believing that the Princess would submit to her will for the reasons sake at least which accompanied it easily granted what she demanded and having kist and imbraced her with all the marks of tenderness to which the disconsolate Lady made no return went forth out of the Chamber commanding that he should be seen only by whom she would The Queen acquainted the King of Scythia's Ambassador with what had passed intreating him to stay with her till the morrow that he might return to his Master with the intire resolution of his Negotiation The Prince obeyed sending one of his Servants to advertize the King concerning the state of Affairs and the disposition which he had found in the Queen of Dacia to conclude the peace which he had proposed During the rest of this Day and the Night following the Dacians the evil Estate of whose Affairs made them ardently desire the peace and who the day before had feared their total Defeat passing from mortal fears to the sweetest hopes gave a thousand Testimonies of their joy and even those who came from burying their Brothers or dear Friends could not but partake in the common satisfaction the thoughts of the Commanders were conformable to those of the Souldiers and except Merodates and Phrataphernes there was scarce a man in the Army but appeared full of content praising the moderation of the King of Scythia The next Morning so soon as the Queen was drest she went into Menalippa's Chamber imagining that her own time of considering being expired she was disposed to follow her Mothers Commands But O gods how great was her astonishment when approaching her Daughters Bed she found her not there and only saw a large open place in the Tent by which she went out Amalthea would not give credit to her first fears but going into the Chamber of the Princesses Maids she found them all except Belisa who lay with her Mistress but could learn no News of Menalippa Then in passing again into her Chamber she saw a Letter upon the Table which at the first sight she knew to be the Princesses hand she snatcht it up with precipitation and readd these words MENALIPPA to the Queen AMALTHEA FInding it impossible to obey your cruel Command and being unable without an extream grief to see my self reduced to a necessity of disobeying you I have indeavoured by my flight to prevent the one or other of these evils and I am possibly less capable in this action towards you than if I had openly opposed your will and towards the gods than if I had espoused Alcamenes A Barbarian it is whose Crimes whereof you are ignorant are known to me and will be in time declared to you in the interim Madam pardon me if I preserve those resentments wherewith you inspired me and if I declare that I will never marry Alcamenes nor any other that cannot bring me Alcamenes 's Head 't is to this I invite all those who have testified hitherto an inclination to serve me and to this it is that I sollicite the valiant Merodates and Phrataphernes and all those who believe the possession of Menalippa to be a Fortune good enough to invite them unto any danger Trouble not your self at my departure I go before you into Dacia where you shall find me so soon as you have quitted the Design of giving me to Alcamenes It is not without a sensible regret that I leave your Majesty but I have left a far greater in my Soul for having been so unhappily deceived in my opinion of your affection which hath abandoned me in a deplorable extremity but this cruel constraint which I expected not from a nature sometimes so full of bounty in taking away my last consolations hath not taken away from me the resentments of that love respect and veneration which I have hitherto preserved for my Mother and will preserve to my Tomb. I know not great Princesses how to express the Queens grief at the reading of this Letter and the knowledge of Menalippa's flight all that I can say will be so far below the Truth that you will pardon me if I inlarge not on this part I will only say that possibly never a person so constant and couragious as Amalthea gave so publick testimonies of grief she poured forth a River of tears tore her Hair and call'd the gods a thousand times for witnesses of her misfortunes and uttered all that a most violent grief could inspire a Soul less moderate than hers withall and when the first transports were past having sent for the Princesses Domestiques who were all there except Belisa and Leander she knew that only these two had accompanied her you may imagine also that she failed not to cause many to take Horse with order to bring her back if it were possible or to wait upon her into Dacia if her Design was to retire thither part of the Army disbanded upon this occasion and the Camp was almost quite deserted through every ones impatience to seek Menalippa
Merodates and Phrataphernes content with the rupture of this Marriage and fierce and proud at the mention Menalippa made of them in her Letter and the confidence they had in their own Valor having protested aloud they would obey this glorious command that they would lose their lives or take away that of Alcamenes took Horse with the first and followed according to the best conjecture the Tract of Menalippa The Queen perceiving amongst the rest in her Chamber the King of Scythia's Ambassador turned towards him her eyes drowned in tears and presenting him the Letter which she held in her hand You may see my misfortune said she and you may acquaint the King your Master and the Prince his Son that it is no fault of mine that the peace and alliance second not his intent nay rather though having desired it with passion causing me to make use of my authority out of season I have lost my Daughter and with her all the consolation of my life The Prince of the Tauro-Scythes answering in tears which exprest the interest he took in her afflictions I will hope from the generosity of Orontes added she that he will not set upon me in my misfortune nor refuse me now a peace which himself hath offered the alliance shall be if he desires it compleated so soon as I have the disposition of my Daughter in the mean time I demand a free Retreat into my Countrey promising him never to trouble him in his nor will I ever forget how generously he hath used his advantages over us The Scythian-Ambassador retired and quickly after presented himself before his Master who understood with much astonishment the success of his Negotiation Alcamenes was less astonisht but mortally afflicted and perceiving the King uncertain in his resolution he conjured him to make up the peace with Amalthea and to permit her to retire peaceably with her Troops and the King willing to comply with his Son sent Amphimacus the same day to the Dacian Camp with full power to conclude the peace and to favour the Retreat of the Dacians so much as the Queen could desire Amalthea received with joy the courtesie of King Orontes and protested she would never be his Enemy then giving order for the march she disencamped the next Morning towards Dacia full of a mortal grief for the loss of Menalippa Thus ended that War which had been conceived and begun with so much noise and so fair hopes and that Army who expected no less than the Conquest of Scythia returned inconsiderable in their number and pitiful in their condition having left the greatest part of their Companions in that Countrey which a few dayes before they beheld as the Field of their Victories A little after the King Orontes quitted the City of Nicia and having taken leave of his now unprofitable Troops and ordered their Princes his Vassals to lead them into their several Countries he returned to the chief City carrying the said Alcamenes along with him which he could never have done had not his respect to the King made him do violence to himself You may imagine that his mortal sadness received no small increase at the reading of Menalippa's Letter which fell into his hands nor could he apprehend why this Princess who before these last effects of his passion had appeared most moderate in all her actions should not be content to have precipitated her self into a dangerous Combat through the only desire of killing him nor content to have disobeyed the commands of her Mother for whom she had alwayes preserved a profound respect but also by her flight to expose her person to those dangers which do continually threaten her Sex declaring to the Queen her Mother and all the World that she would never marry any man but him who brought her Alcamenes his Head he could not consider all these things without a clear sight of Menalippa's hate which possest him with the greatest extremities of grief a heart ever submitted to and as he continually reasoned with himself upon the cause of his unhappiness Is it possible would he sometimes say that my being born of Orontes should kindle so much hatred in a heart I have formerly known so generous and so reasonable And is it so great a Crime for the Son of Orontes to love Menalippa And an offence so cruel against the Daughter of Amalthea to be loved by the Son of Orontes that it should render the Son a thousand times more odious than the Father and inspire her with so cruel and desperate Designs against him having never entertained but moderate ones against his Father but what could be this Crime hid and unknown to the Queen her Mother whereof she accused me in the Letter unless it be the boldness of having loved her knowing my self to be the Son of her Enemy After what manner soever I examine the actions of my life I can find my self culpable of no other fault and that methinks cannot justly deserve those punishments which the pitiless Menalippa ordains me nor carry the fair Princess to such resolutions against her faithful and innocent adored the love of Alcamenes should appear more considerable in the person of a man who was Enemy to her house and in the person of a Prince who was conceived born and nourisht in the hatred of Menalippa and her Family rather than in one who had submitted under favourable aspects and who had no crosses in his pretensions neither from fortune nor former inclinations yet it pleased the gods and my cruel Destiny that this fair and just Menalippa should arm her self with an unknown steel to take away my life exposing her own to danger to destroy mine and arming the whole World against me He stopt some moments upon this consideration which had almost awaked resentments in his Soul able to combat his love but he found himself too weak to undertake it for although the comfortless Prince apprehended in the unjust proceedings of Menalippa a just occasion to revolt from his love yet could he not bring it about or scarce form a desire towards it If I consult my reason said he if I consult my courage they will tell me that I ought no longer to love this cruel person who arms her self against my life with such obstinate inhumanity But though my reason and courage are counsellors strong enough yet are they unable to assist me and it is assistance I want when counsels are unnecessary depart then all other thoughts all other resolutions save those of dying for Menalippa 't is my life I must give her since 't is my life she demands it is unnecessary to arm Phrataphernes or Merodates to procure my death for Alcamenes himself will serve you more faithfully and more powerfully and through his means you will doubtlesly obtain that whereof by other means you will be very uncertain I will go and pierce in your presence this unfortunate heart whose flames are so criminal and will satisfie your eyes
not resist succeeded and opposed themselves to all the tumultuous expression she would have uttered but having given to her joy all that she could not refuse to Alcimedon living she began to consider Alcimedon dangerously wounded by her own hand and this consideration had almost carried her into her former transports of grief How often in a moment did she ask pardon for her cruelty with a torrent of tears how did she detest that cruel hand which gave the unhumane blow and how often did the transported Prince protest that her greatest favours had never been so sweet as this precious wound which had given him so infallible a proof of her affection for Alcimedon I shall abuse your patience great Princesses if I draw this discourse to a greater length and since there is nothing more considerable to say I shall conclude in a few words The first transports being over the King drew near to participate in the common joy and having joyned to the pardon which he begged of Menalippa for his resentments against her his thanks for her affection to Alcimedon he understood by Leander and Sosthenes all his Son's adventures to the least particulars and Menalippa recounted the cause of her errour to proceed from Alcimedon's change of Arms with Cleomenes and Alcamenes learnt poor Cleomenes's fate whereof till then he had been ignorant The wound of Alcamenes was the only obstacle to their happiness and it pleased the Gods that within a few days they lost their fears of him and a little after he quitted his Bed and Chamber recovering with his fortune his strength and courage though with displeasure to see himself so soon cured of a wound which he had received by a hand so dear and upon an account so glorious He was scarce cured when the King having obtained Menalippa's permission sent the Princé of the Tauro-Scythes to the Queen Amalthea to relate the wonderful adventures of these two Lovers and demanded her consent to the Marriage To which she agreed with exceeding joy and a satisfaction much more intire when she understood that Alcamenes whom she had sometime so hated was Alcimedon whom she so dearly loved She sent into Scythia the flower of her Court to assist at the ceremony of so famous an Alliance and the Prince Barzanes ravisht with joy at the fortune of his friend and pardoning him the refusal of his Daughter was the chief of that proud Ambassage At last they arrived at Serica where Alcacamenes excused his ingratitude to Barzanes and received him with all the caresses and honour he could have rendred to the King his Father and his power from the Queen of Dasia was no sooner understood but all things were prepared for this famous Wedding which a few days after with all imaginal pomp and satisfaction to the two Lovers in the injoyment of a happiness which had been crost by so many traverses of Fortune was accomplished Merodates intirely cured assisted at this famous Marriage not testifying the least regret and having promised to Alcamenes an eternal friendship returned into his Kingdom whence as I learned since he carried a War into Thrace and there lost his life having acquired a beautiful reputation by many Victories It is some five or six years since the conclusion of the Amours of Alcamenes and Menalippa and it is certain that their love hath ever since continued in its primitive ardour and that Alcamenes contemplating daily the admirable vertues of the Queen his Spouse hath alwayes considered her as a divine person The King Orontes dyed two years after these Nuptials and it was about the time of Alcamenes's Coronation that I arrived in Scythia where I had the honour to be known by this great Prince and where I took care to inform my self particularly of his memorable adventures Thus finished Megacles his long relation possessing both the Princesses with admiration which they expressed by divers Questions notwithstanding the pressures of their own misfortunes After this converse Megacles caused Supper to be served in and a little after gave them the good night both the Princesses lying together fought to unbend their cruel inquietudes by some moments of repose The End of the Eighth Part of Cleopatra HYMEN'S PRAELUDIA OR Loves Master-piece Part. IX LIB I. ARGUMENT The two Princesses Cleopatra and Artemisa compare their Misfortunes and compassionate and comfort one another Artemisa out of her Love to Alexander and the Desire she had to be acquainted with her future Relations entreats Cleopatra to give her an account of her Brothers and Sisters Cleopatra relates the History of Julius Antonius Antonia and young Ptolomy Julius Antonius riding a hunting one day is thrown by his Horse and relieved by an unknown Lady whom he falls passionately in love with Lucius Scipio is in love with Emilia the Daughter of Statilius Scaurus Being a friend of Antonius 's he carries him to see his Mistresse where by a fatall chance he meets with the unknown Lady who proves to be Tullia the Daughter of Cicero She abhors Antonius as being the Son of Anthony and Fulvia who had put Cicero to an ignominious and cruel death Tullia is courted by Cecinna with the approbation of her brother Quintus Cicero who bringing her one day to the Amphitheatre to see the combats of certain beasts Antonius hath another sight of her but is much troubled at her kindness to Cecinna She shews him a box wherein was her own picture which he going to return her it slips out of his hands into the Area where the beasts fought Antonius perceiving how much Tullia was troubled at it out of an extravagance of passion leaps down into the Area among the beasts and takes it up but bringing it to her out of a confidence she would take that expression of his love with civility if not with kindnesse she out of the horrid aversion she had for him would not receive it whereupon he keeps it protesting he would never restore it to any hands but her own Cecinna meeting him afterwards alone demands the box of him which Antonius refusing to deliver him it begat a duel wherein Cecinna is killed Upon which accident as also at the request of Tullia that he would not appear in her sight again Antonius leaves Rome and is never after heard of THE slumber of the two fair Princesses could not be long not only because the night was far spent before they fell afleep but also because the importunate resentment of their misfortunes would not permit a rest of any great continuance They had hardly opened their bright eyes to receive in the light but they opened them withal to let out tears and it could hardly be discerned whether came out of their mouths first or certain broken sighes or some mournful expressions The dawning must needs be full of affliction that was to be delivered of a day so fatal to these two desolate Princesses for neither could the great courage of Cleopatra nor the resignation of Artemisa
be much troubled to lose it when ever it shall please my ill fortune to put me into any such exigency and if the King your Brother violates the respect due to me or do any thing that shall make my captivity insufferable to me I shall free my self by the same courses the Queen my mother took to avoid it and I have that example so much before my eyes that I were unworthy the name I bear should I seek for assistance any where else while I have that of my own courage This resolution once taken I no longer fear the King of Armenia and since I hope no more of Coriolanus whether dead or unfaithful I look on whatever may happen to me in a manner with indifference and shall entertain it haply with a constancy whereof the very example may add much to yours No doubt but Artemisa found some comfort in this discourse of Cleopatra not that she approved that hope which the daughter of Anthony grounded only on a contempt of life but was glad to see her in a quieter posture then she had been in before and though she had not the confidence to discover to her the reflection that had found her the entertainment of some few minutes yet was she of a belief that time might so dispose of her as to endure such a discourse and that in the mean time she might admit a conversation lesse afflictive than that wherein they had already passed away so many cruel hours Accordingly no sooner were these two Princesses resolved to submit to what the uncertainty of fortune might cast upon them but they seemed to be quite changed from what they were the current of their tears was dried up and by degrees they passed to some discourse different from that of their present misfortune Yet could not Artemisa give over disputing in favour of Coriolanus and would maintain against Cleopatra that after the last expressions he had given her of his affection in his forsaking of his kingdom the trouble it was to wander up and down the earth to find her out and the late combat he was engaged in before their eyes against those that would have ravished them she could not be perswaded he was unfaithful to her Cleopatra who would gladly have been induced to believe Coriolanus innocent opposed what she said with the reasons before alleadged yet so as that through her arguments might be perceived part of what Artemisa represented in his favour But at last this discourse of a person of whose life there was much uncertainty adding to her grief she would needs change it and put Artemisa upon some other The love which that Princesse had for Alexander made her desirous to know and willing to hearken to any thing that related to his family as if she had some concernment therein and that consisting of divers illustrious persons of both sexes Artemisa who had seen only Alexander and Cleopatra and young Ptolomey while yet a child had the curiosity to desire some account of the Sisters and Brothers of her beloved Prince She had not the time to understand the particularities of their lives and fortunes for what she had heard from Alexander related to the time while they were yet very young and not what happened to them since his departure from Rome but though she would gladly have been informed of all yet had she a more particular inclination for the Princes Antonia whom Cleopatra had mentioned very much to her advantage in her own History and young Ptolomey of whom she had heard such beginnings as gave many occasion to conceive very great hopes of him Cleopatra satisfied her as to all she desired but afterwards observing her design was to have a more particular knowledge of them and thinking it cruelty not to comply with the affection she expressed towards her house Sister said she to her I perceive you are not satisfied with the account I have given you of our house and if we were in some other place I had already entertained you with the discourse you would put me upon of the fortunes of our neerest relations but Sister the likelihood I am in to engage in a long relation much disconsonant to our present condition and such as would require such a freedom of spirit as I now have not as to narration nor you to attention deterres me Ah Sister sayes Artemisa for my part what misfortune soever I am persecuted with I cannot want the attention I ought to have for the fortunes of our Brethren and if you can as well without inconvenience give me a particular account of their lives and affairs as I should hear it without passion you would make no difficulty to undertake a relation that may prove the greatest case to my afflictions that haply they are capable of Not Sister that I dare without blushing put you to that trouble and if you think it fit that Camilla or any other of your Women who haply can satisfie me as to what I would know supply your place I should make lesse difficulty to abuse her patience than yours and should neverthelesse receive the satisfaction I desire Sister replies Cleopatra no doubt but Camilia is able to acquaint you with part of what you desire and would entertain you with adventures such as must needs be known to the persons that were about us but she cannot possibly give you an account of some particularities that haply went no farther than my knowledge since it was to me more than any one else that the persons now to be spoken of communicated their most secret sentiments and that it was in a manner in my presence that the greatest part of the things happened The relation will haply be somewhat long though it may not contain any great variety of adventures and that in all likelihood I shall not be able to leave off when I would but since I made a shift yesterday to continue that which I had begun of the History of my own misfortunes I hope I shall be as able to go through with this and I shall endeavour all that lies in my power not to omit any thing that may any way satisfie your curiosity Whereupon Cleopatra preparing her self for the narration the two Princesses thought it their best course to lye still abed because it was very betimes in the morning and bid those that waited on them to prevent as much as they could any from coming to disturb them Camilia took that charge upon her and so not long after the fair Cleopatra having bestowed some few minutes to recall into her memory the things she had to say began her discourse in these terms THE HISTORY OF JULIUS ANTONIUS ANTONIA and PTOLOMEY BEfore I give you the account you desire of the adventures of Ptolomey and Antonia it will not be amisse Sister to make mention of an Elder Brother we have had whom haply we have yet though I said little of him in myown History in regard it is so long
the difference wherein Phraates was so much exasperated against Herod and which bred the war that hath happened between them since and which was begun by Phraates not long after the carrying away of Phasela and old Hircan In the mean time I made a shift to get away with a certain number of ships destitute of all friends and supply nay indeed lost as to all things for having applyed my self every where for assistance all proved ineffectual all denyed me Insomuch that my mind exexasperated by the constant malicce of my Fortune I became lost as to all vertue and morality and thence out of an assurance I had that all the World were enemies to me I became an enemy to all the World While my grief for the loss of Elisena continued strong upon my spirits I was but little troubled at the loss of my Estate and Friends but when time had wrought some abatement of it I could not without indignation and rage look on the change of my condition and see Herod possessed of all I had and so powerful through the authority of Augustus who maintained him in it and there was but little probability of ever getting it out of his hands This put me upon resolutions of getting that elsewhere which had been wrested out of my hands at home and having yet a number of ships under my command I began to make a Sea-war first against those only that had taken away my Estate and afterwards against all Nations without any choice or distinction of parties I had gotten with me my Nephew Ephialtes as valiant and daring a person as ever followed this course of life who contributed much to the carrying on of my design insomuch that when I had by a great number of rich prises got together abundance of wealth I bought more ships and so reinforced my Fleet and lur'd in a many Souldiers who found better service and pay in our war than they would have done in any lawful one In fine I became so powerful that I had squadrons of ships on all Seas Having made Ephialtes my Vice-Admiral in those parts of the Sea which admitted not of any communication by Sea we went and met by Land having Horses and private retreats for that purpose So that of a desolate man and one that in all probability should have spent his whole life in weeping over a Tomb I became terrible and dreadful to all Nations the terrour of all that had any business with the Sea and famous for thousands of Prizes which had made me the richest of all the Pyrates that ever were This course of life have I led for these ten years very neer and yet I shall not entertain you with the most considerable actions I have been engaged in not only because it would require a long relation such as possibly might prove very troublesome to your Majesty but also for that I am confident you have already had some account thereof and have not without astonishment heard of the several changes of my Fortune I shall therefore only tell you that during the space of ten years that I have followed this trade there hapned not any thing memorable unto me in comparison of what hath come to pass within these few days upon these very coasts there having in a manner at the same time fallen into my hands two of the most beautiful preys that the whole universe can afford And this I am confident you cannot but acknowledge when I have told you that in two days time I had in my power and disposal the fair Candâ—â—â— Queen of Aethiopia and the Princess Elisa the only daughter and heir of the great King of the Parthians I took the Queen of Aethiopia just at the mouth of the Nile and this soul of mine which since the death of Elisena had not entertained the least impression of love nor ever thought it could have been capable of any remitted some part of its Forces upon the first view of that Princess and by degrees became absolutely subject to her Beauties I was ignorant both of her name and quality and yet love made me at first slight the proffers she made me of a considerable ransome and when afterwards she told me that she was Queen Candace I would not absolutely believe what she said out of an imagination that she might take that name upon her purposely to keep me within those terms of respect which she perceived I should not be long able to observe During that uncertainty I did all that lay in my power to perswade her to my will and having found all the waies I took ineffectual I hoped at last to effect my own satisfaction by making use of the power I had overher when that during the space of one night which I had allotted her to fix on some resolution this Princess daring above her sex and beyond all example set my ship on fire which broke forth in several places and cast her self into the sea within some few stadia of this river You may well imagine what an astonishment I was in when it came to my knowledge that I had lost her in that manner I made the best shift I could to repair the breaches which the fire had made in my ship that I might the sooner make after her into this river whither I conceived she might get upon planks with the assistance of some men who had cast themselves over-board at the same time with her We were very busie a mending of our ships when it was the pleasure of Fortune to make me some requital for the former losse to send me a vessel wherein was the Princesse of the Parthians which having with much adoe escaped wrack in the great tempest that had been and being not furnished with men to maintain her came and â—ast her self into our hands We boarded her without any great difficulty and the first thing I was entertained with was the shouts of certain slaves whom I found to have been my souldiers and some of those that I had left Ephialtus They presently gave me an account of the death of my Nephew and pointing to a person that stood neer the Princesse they told he had been his murtherer I cast my eyes on the man and not withstanding the admirable things I could observe in him yet was I resolved his life should be sacrificed to the Manes of my Nephew whom I had so dearly loved and thereupon caused the points of all our swords to be tuâ—ned upon him But good gods how strangely did he behave himself for passing through our armes without any fear he comes up to me takes hold of me by the midle and cast himself into the sea with me in his arms I was relieved and taken up again by my own men not without much difficulty but when I had recovered the danger cast up the water I had drunk and put on other cloaths the presence of a Beauty which all the World might admire but that seemed orewhelmed
up in his service over-joy'd at the accident had taken such pains about him that at last he brought him so far to himself that he was sensible of what was said to him To this Pelorus added That Teramenes had commanded him to carry him to Eurinoe's as having no place where he might well retire any neerer and that thereupon he had been forced to acquaint him with the truth of all that had passed as having far greater respects for his Master then he had for Eurinoe That Teramenes had almost dyed in good earnest at that cruel news and that neverthelesse out of a desire to see the consequences of that adventure and to apply those remedies which time and his own resentments should suggest unto him he was content to be carried to a house that belonged to a Sister of Pelorus's not far from Eurinoe's Castle where he might not onely be privately looked after in order to his perfect recovery but also be in a place where he might every day understand by Pelorus what was done at Eurinoes That all things came to passe as Teramenes had desired and that he had been waited on and dressed with so much care as might be by persons concerned in his welfare and such as had not any way betrayed the secret committed to their trust That this had been done with the greater ease by reason of Eurinoe's continual imployment about me and the little curiosity she was then guilty of to enquire what was done in her neighbourhood That he brought Teramenes notice every day of what was done at the Castle in regard he might go and come to his Sisters house without the least suspicion That Teramenes conceived such a grief and affliction thereat that many times he was upon the point of discovering all not doubting but that Tiribasus and Eurinoe's Brother and all of that party would soon find out some means to dispatch me when they were once acquainted with the place of my abode but that he had been perswaded to the contrary partly by his intreaties who desired him to delay it and partly by those remainders of love which he still had left in him for whose sake principally it was that he forbore putting that bloudy design in execution that at last through the assistances of those that were employed about his recovery he was come to the posture of health wherein he saw him and that having notice given him that Eurinoe and my self walked every day in the Garden he would needs come thither to over-hear our discourse if it were possible and to take his opportunity to be revenged of me in such a manner as might least prejudice the reputation of Eurinoe That he had many times over-heard our discourse through the hedge-row but that in those which I made to Eurinoe he had found so much prudence and vertue that he immediately changed his resolution and that perceiving I had no affection for Eurinoe he thought fit to make his advantage thereof and had then discovered himself to us to implore my assistance upon the opinion he had of my generosity Thus did Teramenes give us an account of his adventure and prevailed so far with Eurinoe that she pardoned Pelorus who in those transactions had expressed a greater love to his ancient Master then to his new Mistresse But to what purpose should I spin out the particulars of this relation all things were composed quiet and serenity of thoughts began to chase away all former dissatisfactions onely Eurinoe discovered by certain sighs that her soul was not absolutely recovered and three daies after finding my self in a condition to depart thence I charged Eurinoe with her promise and in my presence obliged her to marry Teramenes There happened some particulars in this action which I carefully concealed from Teramenes and the next day I pressed them to accomodate me with those things that were necessary for my departure that I might repair to those places which I was obliged to go to promising them I should acknowledge when it should please the gods to enable me the assistances and kindnesse I had received from the officious Eurinoe Teramenes granted my request and furnished us with cloaths arms and horses and would have gone along with me Had I accepted of his company but I gave him thanks for his kind proffers and told him that I was satisfied he should be no longer my enemy without engaging him to be any way serviceable to me against Tiribasus who was much his freind and so intreated him not to discover any thing he knew of me and to promote the report which was already spread abroad of my death And this I was the more confident he would do not only upon the promise he had made to do it but also out of a consideration of his own interest which would advise him not to publish a thing that might exasperate Tiribasus against him They also taught me an invention which proved very fortunate to me for perceiving I was somewhat troubled how to conceal my self in the places I was to passe through by reason of the fairnesse of my face so different from the complexion of the men of that Country they gave me a certain water which is commonly used among the Ethiopians by those that are desirous of a more shining blacknesse in the countenance and having made experience of it first on my hands they afterwards therewith painted my face as also that of Eteocles so that after three washings we were grown as black as if we had really been Ethiopians They gave me a little Glasse-Bottle full of it to carry along with me and shewed me the way to take it off when I had a mind to do it which was onely with warm water and certain herbs put into it In this posture after some bemoanings from Eurinoe which she was not able to forbear and thousands of protestations which I made her to acknowledge her extraordinary favours if ever Fortune proved kind to me I departed from that house without any other company then that of Eteocles and one servant on horseback Teramenes bestowed on me and of whose fidelity he gave me very great assurances The design I then had was secretly to get to those whom I knew to be still my Friends and were desirous to serve their Princesse and had a zeal for the memory of their late King hoping that upon my returne they would be encouraged to attempt something for the service of their Queen whom I knew to be well beloved among the Ethiopians Among those Telemachus and Oristhenes were the most considerable and having understood in my way that they were retired from the Court to certain houses they had in the Country where they passed away their time in grief and solitude I without any danger got to Oristhenes passing through all palces without the least suspicion by reason of the blacknesse of my countenance which disguised me so well that you your self Madam were mistaken in me I shall
gods that notwithstanding my Obligations to him I might without attempting his life deliver Clopatra and Artemisa out of his hands and I protest to you that I should neither spare my pains nor my blood upon that account The King of Armenia added Artaban hath shown himself in those last actions to be the same man he had ever been for it was out of the horrour I conceived at his cruelty that I sometime quitted his service when he barbarously put to death two Cilician Princes both Prisoners of War whom I had taken my self in fight But I can assure you thus much that he is hardly in a condition to undertake any long Voyage or any great enterprise that I have seen him and spoke to him within these two daies and that we parted but yestereday after we had remained for some daies together in the same house Upon this he related to them how he had met Artaxus at the house of Tiridates as also what discourse had past between them and told them how that the day before he had left that house not long before his departure thence upon a visit to Tiridate's Tomb. That discourse of Artaban gave the Company new matter of reflection upon that adventure insomuch that at last Philadelph who had been silent a long time taking upon that occasion to speak If I thought that Prince Ariobarzanes and the Princess Arsinoe said he looking on them would pardon me the injury I have innocently done them I should acknowledg how far I have been engaged in this adventure and would tell them that if I am not much mistaken it was my self that fought with Artaxus for the recovery of Cleopatra and who encouraged by the justice of the quarrel gave him such wounds as made him incapable of further fighting Here he took occasion to acquaint them how he had met with Artemisa neer the spring though he spoke of her as a person absolutely unknown to him how that at first he took her for Delia what grief it was to him when he grew sensible of his mistake what compassion she had expressed thereat the long discourse there had past between them and how that upon the point of their departure one from the other he had seen Cleopatra passing by making all the hast she could before a person on horse-back that pursued her He told them that he had not any acquaintance with that Princess but that by the admirable beauty he had observed in her countenance it must needs be either some Goddess or the Princess Cleopatra This account of Philadelph raising in the Company new matter of astonishment as that by a strange traverse of fortune two men that were implacable Enemies should come and engage one the other yet without eithers knowledge of it and that the amorous Philadelph should fight with the Brother of his beloved Delia. He once more craved their pardon for it and both of them assured him that the greatest affliction they conceived at that adventure proceeded from the fear they were in it might further exasperate Artaxus against Philadelph and would make him the more inexorable as to the consent he expected from him for the quiet enjoyment of Arsinoe It was generally concluded that the faire Ladie he had met with at the spring was no other than Artemisa and that especially after the description he had given them of her and the resemblance which upon the first sight had made him mistake her for Delia though there were a difference between their faces observable enough an imagination that were not so violently prepossessed with the impression of Delia. The end of the Second Book HYMENS PRAELUDIA OR Loves Master-peice Part. X. LIB III. ARGUMENT Flavianus is brought in wounded to Alexandria having been worsted in his attempt for the deliverance of Cleopatra Whereupon Agrippa Artaban and others prepare for her rescue but upon their coming to the port discover a ship arriving wherein were Alexander and Marcellus bringing in Cleopatra and Artemisa Tigranes desires the favour of a visit of Elisa but is denyed Cornelius persisting in the presumption he had that Candace was onely a Lady of great quality in Ethiopia persecutes her with the discoveries of his affection Cleopatra and Alexander are brought into Alexandria Artemisa perswaded that Ariobarzanes and Arsinoe had been dead swounds upon the first sight of them and afterwards acquaints Ariobarzanes that he is King of Armenia by the death of her Brother Artaxus Ariobarzanes Alexander Philadelph Olympia Artemisa and Arsinoe condole his death and afterwards reflect on the advantages they all have by Ariobarzanes 's coming to the Crown Candace and Elisa are made acquainted with Cleopatra to whom Queen Candace discovers both her self and quality and entertains her with the History of Cleomedon Elisa does the like with that of Artaban Agrippa hath a private conference with Elisa wherein he further discovers his passion to her Artaban entertains Elisa and Candace with a relation how he escaped drowning after he cast himself all armed into the sea with Zenodorus the Pirat in his armes Cleomedon hath a secret interview with Artaban in Elisa 's Chamber where he discovers himself to Cleopatra and Alexander to be Caesario the son of Caesar and Queen Cleopatra which they not easily crediting are confirmed and satisfied by Candace Elisa and Eteocles WHile these Illustrious Persons were thus in the midst of their entertainments discoursing of the many strange accidents that were come to their knowledge Cornelius comes into the room discovering by his action that he had something of news to communicate Whereupon addressing himself to Agrippa My Lord said he to him I have just now received some tidings from the Princesse Cleopatra and those that carried her away Those whom we sent in pursuit of them were gotten far enough hence to find her when in the mean time they were neerer us then can well be imagined insomuch that Flavianus a Commander of one of our ships met but this morning with that wherein were the Ravishers lying close under one of the Rocks which in some places hang over this coast came up to her saw the Princesse spoke with her and fought for her deliverance with so much good success in the beginning that he boarded the enemy with divers of his men and was in a manner possessed of her when a certain Person who had not appeared at the first engagement comes up upon the Deck without any other arms then his sword and fought ours with so prodigious a Valour that having either killed or forced away all that were gotten into the other vessel he struck down Flavianus himself loading him with such wounds that he was incapable of fighting any longer and so by the death of the Commander abating the courage of the Souldiers they gave over the enterpâ—ise and were forced to quit their attempt for the deliverance of Cleopatra and to make what hast they could into our Port. Flavianus is brought into the City very desperately
for Chariots to convey them to the Palace perswaded them to remain in the Vessel till they were come and in that interim would needs know after what manner they had been recovered and what accident had brought Prince Marcellus into their company Marcellus thought it then unseasonable to give any particular account of his adventures and so only to give Agrippa some satisfaction told him that he came into Alexandria just at the time that Alexander was going to take ship to find out the Princesses and that having met him and known him upon the Port after they had embraced one another with that fraternal affection wherein they had been brought up by Octavia he had acquainted him with the loss of Cleopatra and the design he had to relieve her and that upon that account of her he without any further disputing of the business went abroad resolved to run the same fortune with him But when the Princesse Cleopatra was pressed to give Agrippa a particularly account of her being taken and her deliverance she looked on Marcellus and Alexander as not knowing whether she should make any mention of Coriolanus before Agrippa in whom the concernment of Caesar might have altered his inclinations But Marcellus who was satisfied of the vertue of Agrippa advised her to give him a faithfull relation of all without disguising any thing assuring her out of the confidence he had of his generosity that he would rather relieve than crush the miserable Upon this confidence of Marcellus the Princesse gave Agrippa a brief narrative of what had happened to her since her last carrying away whereof the accidents of greatest importance had happened that very day and surprized him in such a manner by the relation of the great performances of Coriolanus and by that of the King of Armenia's death that he could not for some time recover himself out of the astonishment which the consideration of so many extraordinary occurrences had raised in him And thereupon taking occasion to let Cleopatra know that it was not without some reason that she reposed so much confidence in him he related unto her how he had met with the disconsolate Corâ—olanus in the wood the night before she was carried away the second time how that that unfortunate Prince had discovered himself to him by his speech and how that not being able to do him any other service he had bestowed on him his own horse and had passed over the night in the woods after he had spent the day in pursuit of those that had carried her away Cleopatra could not forbear celebrating the generosity of Agrippa upon that occasion and being before more then half convinced of the innocency of Coriolanus she was not a little glad to find that even in his misfortunes Agrippa continued that Friendship towards him which he had ever had for him Artaban before whom upon the engagement of Agrippa who had to that purpose satisfied Cleopatra were related the prodigious effects of the valour of Coriolanus was very much pleased with that discourse and being acquainted with that Prince by reason of the combat wherein he had been engaged against him in the presence of Candace and Tiridates and by the abode they had both since made at Tiridates's house and having accordingly conceived very much affection and a more than ordinary esteem for him he thought himself very much concerned in what he had heard said of him and though he concealed what he knew of him because he saw there was not any necessity to speak of it he was earnestly desirous to meet with some occasion wherein he might serve himself And indeed it was partly upon that ground that he had so generously proffered his assistance in order to the relief of Cleopatra at a time when the posture of his health and other allowable motives might well have procured him a dispensation from engaging in that enterprise Upon that reflection looking on Artemisa and perceiving the teares standing in her eies for the death of the King her Brother he was troubled at the misfortune of that Prince though he was neither taken with his disposition nor his person and so gave the Princesse his Sister the best words of comfort he could He thought not fit to tell her any things of Ariobarzanes or Arsinoe because Agrippa and he had so resolved before that she might be the more surprised when she saw them and yet when he heard her called in the ship by the name of Queen Artemisa he could not forbear telling them that they should not be so hasty to give her that title before the Kings death were published and that he had a certain imagination that she would not be Queen of Armenia This discourse made Agrippa smile which Marcellus perceiving would fain have known the meaning of it when they perceived Cornelius was come with two chariots followed by an infinite number of people whom the tidings of Cleopatra's arrivall had drawn down to the port The name of Cleopatra was in so much veneration in Alexandria and the children of that great Queen were so dear in the account of the people who had seen them born and brought up in their City that they could not understand that the Princesse Cleopatra and Prince Alexander her Brother whom they had sometimes upon the coumands of Anthony reverenced in a manner as gods were coming into their City without running before them with exclamations and such expressions of tendernesse as could not admit any thing comparable thereto but upon such another occasion Nor indeed did Cleopatra and Alexander much mis-interpret those expressions of their affection for they could not look on either the walls or people of that City wherein they had received their first breath where they had passed over their first years with so much reputation and whence after the deplorable ruine of their house they departed ten years before to follow as far as Rome the fortune and the triumphall chariot of their Conqueror but the sadnesse of the commemoration must force them to shed tears which iâ— was impossible for them to keep in And it was the more observable in Cleopatra for that she never gavâ— over weeping from the port even to the palace the sight whereof multiplied her grief when she could not look on it only as the magnificent house of the Ptolomey's but that also where the unfortunate Anthony and the deplorable Cleopatra had lost their lives with the Empire not to mention thousands of other sad circumstances which at the same time pressed into their memory Cornelius had so ordered things that Olympia and Arsinoe Ariobarzanes and Philadelph as also Tigranes and Artaban were not lodged within the Palace because that had been reserved for the Emperour and the Empresse who were to come thither within two daies and how spacious soever it might be the Emperours retinue was so great that there would be but little lodging to spare for other persons But for the Princesse Cleopatra Cornelius
after another manner and to make that adventure contribute somewhat to the diversion and entertainment of those that were present Cleopatra was hardly gotten into Elisas chamber ere word was brought her that Prince Alexander her brother was come into her own and that having left the King of Armenia he thought not fit to depart the lodgings till he had wished her a good-night Cleopatra was going to send the Messenger back again with word that he should stay a while for her when Queen Candace knew it was Caesario's design to discover himself as well to Alexander as Cleopatra entreated her to send for him assuring her that there was none had the least mistrust of him and that Cleomedon was too much engaged by the assistance he had received from him to deny him the opportunity to see him Cleopatra having done what the Queen desired of her saluted Caesario and Artaban with that ceremony which she conceived she ought to have observed towards two such eminent men and of whom she had her imagination full by the account had been given her of their gallant actions She looked on them one after another with a certain astonishment as not knowing any one in the World whom she could think comparable to them but onely her own Coriolanus They were going to fall into some discourse when there comes into the room Alexander upon the first sight somewhat at a losse to find that company there Artaban and he had spent the evening together with Ariobarzanes and it was not long since they had parted after they had conceived confidering the small abode they had made together abundance of esteem and respects one for another But the sight of Cleomedon was it that he was most astonished at and having not seen him since he had left Tidaeus's house in pursuit of Cleopatra he wond red much to find him in the same room with her Yet was not his astonishment so great but that he expressed the satisfaction he conceived it to meet with him and after he had in the first place addressed his civilities to Elisa and Candace with much submission he came to him to let him know how glad he was to find him in a condition so different from that wherein he had left him craved his pardon that by reason of the urgent necessity that had called him away to the relief of Artemisa and Cleopatra he had been forced to leave him and to recommend to other persons the recovery of a health which he infinitely esteemed Caesario thought this discourse so obliging that he could not but make an answer suitable thereto whereupon looking on Alexander and Cleopatra with an affection which blood obligation and merit had easily raised in him No it is I said he to the Prince that ought with much more reason make my excuses to you and had you afforded me the time to put my self into such a posture as that I might have followed you the indisposition I might have been in by reason of my wounds should not have excused me for not bearing of you company to relieve the Princesse Cleopatra That was an affair which I was more particularly obliged to look after then you could have imagined and besides the engagement I stand in to the assistance I received from you when my life was in greatest danger the remembrance of a person whom you have sometimes esteemed and of whom I have undertaken to bring some tidings to the Princesse Cleopatra and your self makes me concern my self in your interests with a very violent affection It is very true replies the Princesse Cleopatra that the Queen hath put me into very much hope that I should receive by you some account of a person I have sometime dearly loved and it is out of that confidence that she hath been pleased I should come tâ— her Chamber at such a time that it may be some inconvenience to her I must needs confesse that this promise of the Queens hath raised in me a curiosity which is more then ordinary to me as well out of the imagination I have that from a great person such as you are I shall understand onely great things as out of a self â—lattery I have been guilty of that it might be a Beloved brother a person of excellent endowments whom an amorous despair forced from Rome about seven or eight years since that you have something to say to me We are to learn whether he be dead or living and it is not impossible but that in his travels he might have met with you and been of your acquaintance I am very much troubled Madam replied the Prince that it is not in my power to give you the satisfaction you expected from me for as to that brother you enquire of I have not certainly any account to give you of him nay which is more I never knew him But I may haply have somewhat to acquaint you with concerning some other persons of your house who were no lesse dear to you and whom I have heretofore familiarly seen and conversed with in this City before the ruine of Anthony and Queen Cleopatra And that you may be the sooner convinced observe well my face and see whether notwithstanding the change which ten years may have wrought in it you can find some features like to those of that person who was brought up with you and whom you dearly loved I have been heretofore flattered by some with that resemblance and know not whether you have preserved the Idaea of it so well as to find there is yet something left of it These words raised no small astonishment in the children of Anthony and Alexander coming up close to Caesario who was purposely got near the torches Cleopatra and he looked on him a long time with much earnestness It was about the tenth year of their age that Caesario departed from Alexandria and about the fourteenth of his own so that by reason as well of the infancy of Alexander and Cleopatra as the alteration which more remarkably then in any other degree of mans age happens in the countenances of men between that of fourteen and that of four and twenty which was then the age of Caesario it might well happen that the Princesse and the Prince her Brother could not upon the first sight discover the face of their Brother in that of Cleomedon whose speech proportionably to the rest was altered by growing bigger since their separation Yet was not all this alteration so great nor their memories so weak but that after what Cleomedon had said and the particular observation which he had obliged them to make they would have known the Prince had they not been carried away with the general opinion that he had departed this world Nay after they had well considered his face they in a manner knew him but that discovery had no further effect on them then to force out certain sighes whereupon the Princesse Cleopatra assuming the discourse after she had looked on
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
that kindness she perceived with an astonishment much beyond the former that she was between the arms of Delia. Her surprisal had been much less if she had been the night before with Augustus when Agrippa gave him an account of what was most remarkable at Alexandria But having not had the least notice of it that unexpected interview raised such a disturbance in her that it was a long time ere she could find words to express her thoughts of it She thereupon quitted her Brother to return Delia the expressions she received from her of her Friendship and when the astonishment she was in permitted her to speak What means the kind Deities said she to her to make me so happy as not onely to meet with that Philadelph whom Delia had taken away from us but I must with Philadelph find that Delia whom he had lost as well as we You are not mistaken Sister replied the Prince you indeed see that inexorable Delia and which is more you will find her such by birth as that you will think it no less honour to entertain her alliance if you may obtain it as you sometime thought you did her in the proffer of yours Arsinoe and Andromeda were going to make some reply but they were interrupted by those that thronged in and were forced to expect the mutual account they were to give one the other at some more convenient time and place and Philadelph after he had saluted the Princess Urania with very much respect went to do his duty to the Queen of Cilicia his Step-mother who notwithstanding the ancient quarrel she had against him received him with expressions of a cordial affection The Palace of Alexandria which some years before had been the Royal Seat of the Ptolomeys enriched and embellished by the magnificence of a long series of great Monarchs was one of the most sumptuous and most spacious Houses the earth ever was proud of so that all the Court of Augustus at least all those persons who out of a consideration of their quality might expect Lodgings in the Emperours Palace found conveniences enough here The King of the Scythians and after him all the Princes that were about Caesar had sumptuous Lodgings appointed them and the King of Armenia who with the Princesses his Sisters and Prince Philadelph had taken a House in the City left it upon Order from Caesar to come and lodge in the Palace Elisa and Candace being unwilling to part had kept the Lodgings they were in before but Cleopatra left hers to be near Octavia whom she was wont not to be at any great distance from and it was taken up by the Queen of Cilicia and the two Princesses her Daughter and Step-daughter The numerous retinue of so many Princes was disposed up and down the great City of Alexandria which seemed then to be rather the Metropolis of the Universe then the principal City of Egypt and more proud of the abode of Caesar and so many illustrious persons then of that of so many Kings as had reign'd there and the glory of its Founder People immediately resort thither from all parts of the Universe and the report which was scatter'd abroad of Augustus's intention to continue there some time brought thither some out of all Naâ—â—ons upon earth The Emperour finding himself accompany'd by so great a number of â—â—e most considerable persons of both Sexes that the world could afford and particularly by the King of the Scythians whom he had more then ordinary respects for the Princess of the Parthians and the Queen of Ethiopia whose Territories had not any dependance on the Empire resolv'd to treat them with all magnificence and entertain them with those divertisements which the pomp of the Romans had invented such as Races perform'd by Horse alone or with Chariots and Duels fought by the Gladiators a-among themselves or with savage Beasts which he caused to be brought every where after him and whereof there was already come a great number to Alexandria The very same night there met a magnificent Assembly at the Princess Julia's Lodgings where to the sound of a great number of Instruments that illustrioâ—s company danced all those Dances which from the Greeks and other Nations had been derived to the Romans and which for that time prov'd the chiefest of their divertisements Julia appeared more chearful then â—he would have been at that meeting to comply with the Order she had received from Caesar though that by reason of the absence of Marcellus her soul seemed to be in a mourning posture but a mourning indeed suitable to her humour which was not over-susceptible of the most pressing griefs Thousands of Torches convert Night into Day to comply with the enjoyments of the nollest company that the Sun through all the period of his course cast his all-searchiâ—g eye upon The King of Armenia and the two Princesses his Sisters were dispensed from being there by reason of the late death of Artaxus though the whole Assembly were extreamly desirous of the presence of Delia. These famous beauties the chieffest haply the Earth could afford appear'd that night with all the advantages they could derive from either ornament or dressing and whereas Elisa and Candace had not at Alexandria all things requisite suitably to their quality the officious Cleopatra whose external beauty and internal excellencies were beyond all emulation and envy made provision for their dressing and furnish'd them with all they could desire to heighten that by forreign ornament and accomodations whereof Nature had been so liberal to them Nor was their appearance in that admirable company otherwise then as that of two bright Stars raising an admiration not onely in those that had not seen them before but even in those that had seen them in another condition though with some inequality Elisa's fairness giving her some advantage over the complexion of Candace to whom the Torches were so much the less favourable Julia indeed was the most glorious object there as well by reason of her natural beauty as the ornaments whereby she had advanc'd it and adding to the lustre of her countenance the sprightliness of her eyes the freedom gallantry and insiâ—uation of her action and deportment she for a long time inhanc'd to her self the observance of the whole Assembly Antonia though with less Art appear'd no less beautiful then she and by the command and modesty of her looks she produc'd as great effects as Julia had done by all the surprizing management of hers Never was there any thing seen that expressed more modesty and at the same time more attraction nor yet was ever Vertue so well discover'd and acted in external apparences as in the countenance nay indeed the whole personage of Antonia Her Sisters Agrippina Marcia and Marcella fair and sumptuosly drest had also those that approv'd them And Terentia Wife to Mecenas the worthy object of Caesar's affection and whose beauty was not much inferiour to the most accomplish'd shewed her self
day divers of those that were about Augustus would have kept away had it not been out of a fear to disoblige the Emperour who had sent them particular invitations to that purpose Several Ladies both Roman and strangers accompanyed the Empress thither but most of the Princesses excused themselves and particularly the fair Cleopatra the attractive Elisa the Queen of Aethiopia Arsinoe Olympia Antonia and the Princess Julia who not condemning publickly what was by custome and the Emperours command authorised prevailed with him to leave them at liberty to pass away the Afternoon in other divertisements more suitable to their inclinations King Ptolomey Father to Queen Cleopatra had built an Amphitheatre in Alexandria taking his pattern from that of Rome he dying Queen Cleopatra and the unfortunate Anthony during the abode they made in that proud City had taken care for the absolute finishing and adorning of it and passing over three several years in the height of delights they had not omitted ought that any way heightened their enjoyments as endeavouring what lay in their power to raise a second Rome in Alexandria It afforded at this time at least whatever was requisit for the sights order being given that where-ever the Emperour went there should follow a certain number of Gladiators and savage beasts and all things subservient to his pleasures which was as punctually observed as what concerned things that were most necessary and this was generally look'd on as a punctilio of Roman magnificence The Emperour and the Empress and that noble Assembly of both Sexes whereof a great part attended them thither though not without some violence to their dispositions took up the seats assign'd them after which all plac'd themselves with convenience enough The entertainment began with the engagement of savage beasts which made excellent good sport There were Lions Panthers Tygres Leopards Bears and other kinds of dreadfull creatures which they match'd together with as much equality as they could as Tygres against Leopards Panthers against Bears and Lions against a sort of Bulls that were more then ordinarily furious and bred up to that exercise Hitherto the bloud which was spilt occasioned no great horrour But not long after they brought into the Arena those unmerciful Gladiators whose savage countenances and eyes full of blood did in a manner frighten the Spectators Their heads were covered with a little Head piece according to the Greek mode having to guard the left arm a large Buckler and in the right a crooked Cimitar the rest of their bodies was in a manner naked that they might fight with greater activity The engagement of the two first that came upon the Stage gave very much divertisement to those who were taken with that kind of sport and the weaker being fallen the Conquerour expected a second Adversary who was soon brought him and over whom after a very doubtfull combat he obtained a like Victory Having not received any wounds he would needs try his fortune once more and she prov'd so kind to him that with the same good successe he made a shift to dispatch the third The insolence he conceiv'd at these happy successes and the demonstration he had made of his valour oblig'd those who were the overseers of the exercises to bring against him a stouter Adversary then any of the former telling him by way of encouragement upon his running that new hazard that if he overcame the fourth he might hope as a recompence of his extraordinary valour that Caesar would set him at liberty Having flatter'd him into that expectation there comes up a man clad and armed as the former but one of the Spectators took much more notice of then any of the rest he was tall above the ordinary pitch of a free make of a very fair countenance though it was easily observable he was much altered from his wonted posture his light-flaxen hair being of great length and naturally of a gentle curle hung down over his shoulders for his age he câ—uld not at most be above two and twenty but besides the natural fierceness of his looks there seemed to be in his eyes upon that occasion so much choler and indignation as forced out of them all the mildness there might be in them upon any other and made him appear more terrible then he ordinarily was This young man on whom the whole Assembly cast their eyes but with sentiments much differeâ—t from those they had for the others discovering in his countenance the shame and indignation he felt within instead of lifting up his eyes to the Spectators fastened them on the ground and instead of making forwards to his Adversary with any confidence as they had done who had gone before him he sate him down on the lowest stair of the Arena and leaning his head on both his hands he continu'd there some time in the posture of a man o're burthen'd with sadness The Gladiatâ—r insolent upon his three victories and aspiring to the fourth comes up to him in a proud manner with eyes threatning nothing but bloud and several times challenged him to fight But the exasperated young man seeming to be little mov'd at his sollicitations and hardly turning his eyes towards him Go wretch said he to him go seek thy death from other hands then mine and force me not to dishonour my arms by so ignominious a victory The barbarous wretch scornfully smil'd at this discourse attributing it to the cowardize of his Adversary and perceiving that words could not move him he gave him over the Head-piece such a hearty blow as might well have awak'd him had he been sound asleep and threatned to kill him if he endeavoured not his own defence The young man's courage needed not that provocation so that his anger over-powering the shame he conceived at such a combat he rose up in fury and went towards that unworthy enemy in a posture that made him repent his confidence and struck a mortal coldness to his heart However he stood upon his guard a man resolute and well skill'd in that exercise but his Adversary gave him but little occasion to make use of his knowledge for perceiving that he held up his Buckler to ward off a blow which in all probability would have fallen upon his head and that his side lay all open he changed his resolution and by a cruel back-blow turning his Sword to the disarmed side he by a dreadfull thrust rippâ—d up his belly upon which he immediately fell down weltring in his bloud and bowels which came forth at that enormous wound There was a general shout among the Spectators at so unexpected a chance as being much troubled at an accident that had reduced to so wretched a condition a man that in all appearance seemed to have the greater advantages of the two He that was engaged against him next met with a fortune not much unlike that of the former losing at one single blow his sword with the arm that held it A third received his
as necessity shall advise you to and I shall be ready to serve you to the utmost of my power The small satisfaction which I receive from Caesar in answer to the intreaties I make for the two Princes whom he detains Prisoners after I had done him a civility which as I was not obliged to it so was it beyond all ceremony and example give me that liberty and if I can help you to escape out of his power I can offer you a safe abode in dominions that have not hitherto feared the forces of either Parthians or Romans You may assure your self of the respect and affection of Queen Metralippa in expectation of the change or death of Phraates and if after either you find any difficulty to settle your self in your Territories all the forces of mine shall assist you to do it as remembring the promise I have made to Artaban to serve him in the head of an hundred thousand men The fair Princess of Parthia receiving as she ought the generous proffers of the Scythian King made her acknowledgments thereof with the greatest discoveries of gratitude imaginable but the submissions of Artaban being extraordinary suitable to his resentments Alcamenes could not without some violence receive endeavouring to perswade them that what he prosered deserved not so great acknowledgments Nor did Elisa accept his kindnesses though she did not absolutely refuse them and between the necessity which forced her to escape out of the hands of Augustus or fall into those of Phraates and the dishonour she feared might attend her following with Artaban a King such as Alcamenes one to whom she had no relation either as to kindred or alliance she was in a strange perplexity and was lifting up her eyes to heaven as it were to implore its assistances in her misfortunes when the hears a sudden noise in her outer-room soon after sees Cephisa coming into her chamber in some disturbance and with the countenance of a person that had something of consequence to impart The Princess was going to ask her the reason of that precipitation when Cephisa preventing her Madam said she to her I bring you very great news The Queen of Parthia the Queen your Mother is at the Port of Alexandria and before her landlng hath according to custome sent to demand the permission to do it Ah Cephisa said she to her what is it you tell me Nothing but truth Madam replies Cephisa and Timagenes who with divers others of the most illustrious among the Parthians are come along with the Queen is in the outer room desiring admittance Elisa with much patience commanded he should be brought in and he expecting only that Summons came immediately into the Chamber and having made his obeysances kissed the bottome of the Princesses robe She received him with much kindness and civility as being a person very eminent among the Parthians and after she had rendred his person what she thought due to the rank he was of she asked him news of the King her father though not without trembling but of the Queen her Mother with more confidence Timagenes told her that the Queen her Mother would give her an account of all things that she was her self coming not far off and had not charged him to inform her of any thing before her arrival Soon after the Princess understood by others that were come into her Chamber that Lodgings were appointed for the Queens entertainment and that the Emperour had commanded Drusus and Mecenas to give her a reception in the Ship and to conduct her to the Palace For though Augustus was a little surprized at her arrival and troubled at the news was brought him of it as feeling a certain remorse at his late treatments of the Princess her daughter yet had he given order she should be entertained suitably to her dignity nay he flattered himself with an opinion that all things considered her presence would rather promote than prejudice his design Elisa would needs go and meet the Queen and the Emperour having notice of it commanded Domitius and Crassus to furnish her with a Chariot and to wait on her King Alcamenes who much concerned himself in her fortunes was loth to leave her but she not permitting him to go along with her perswaded him for several reasons to forbear Artaban would not expect the Queens coming to the Palace but having obtained the Princesses leave went along with Timagenes being very impatient to see a Queen who had favoured him so highly and he went with the greater confidence for that Timagenes and the Parthians that came with him had saluted and looked on him not only as their famous General for whom they had so much love and veneration but treated him with a respect much greater than what they had formerly expressed towards him and little different from what they rendred their lawful Prince Artaban attributed it partly to the affection they had for him and partly inferred from those Ceremonies that he was much in the Queens favour Being got on horseback he soon came to the Port and brought thence into the Queens Ship he was conducted to her Cabbin by Timagenes The Queen no sooner perceiving him coming but she goes towards him and he cast himself on his knees before her and notwithstanding her endeavours to hinder it kissed her garment She embraced him with an affection great as she could have expressed to a Son and with higher demonstrations of respect than he had ever received from her before Artaban gave her assurance of his zeal and fidelity with more vehemence than order and recollection and that excellent Queen satisfied him of her affection by caresses and the most obliging words that could be She was going to ask him news of Elisa and himself when she perceives coming into the Ship Drusus and Mecenas who by order from the Emperour were to receive her and they had hardly acquitted themselves of their charge as persons that understood it if so the world had any when the Princess Elisa comes in attended by Domitius and Crassus The Queen runs to her which those transports of affection which she was not then able to overpower though desirous to shew a respect to those illustrious persons who were come to receive her and whose names Artaban had given her and the Princess casting her self at her feet washed her hands with her tears joy and tenderness opening the passages of her fair eyes upon so joyful a meeting Nor were those of the Queen much behind in their return and when she had caused her to rise she held her between her arms along time not able as yet to speak to her At last when she had recovered the freedome of speech they expressed their first thoughts one to another but with much confusion and for a good while the Queen was able to utter nothing but the name of Elisa and her dear Daughter When these transports were a little remitted O ye great powers above said the
thereto To that end he sent away one of the trustiest instruments of his cruelty in the head of a party whom he was confident of with a recommendation to the King of Media for the delivery of Artanez if need were While the Queen continued her discourse Artaban was in no small torment through the respect which hindred him from interrupting her insomuch that at last not able to Master the disturbance he was in Ah Madam said he to her will you not pardon the affection which obliges me to interrupt you to ask you whether it can be possible I should be so unhappy as to occasion the ruine of Prince Artanez I am not a little glad at that disturbance says the Queen to him as much confirming what we have been inform'd and what I am to acquaint you with though you know it better then my self had no great reason to conceal it from us You are then to know Daughter and you also Artaban that the King expecting Artanez to be brought in continued the massacres of all those whom he discover'd to have held any correspondence with Artaban insomuch that he was grown so exorbitant in his cruelty that the Parthians began to to murmur to threaten and at last to rise and particularly several Officers of the Army who had lost their Friends by those bloudy executions and who daily themselves expected the same fate At last through the indignation of Heaven the business came to that height that one day the greatest part of the Inhabitants of the City Praaspa where we then were together with the Souldiery seeing one of their companions carried to execution furiously took up Arms killed those that conducted the Prisoner and march'd violently towards the Palace The King having notice brought him of this Insurrection slighted it but being a man soon fired into displeasure he immediately went out of the Palace attended by his ordinary Gaurds and march'd towards the place where the Insurrection was with a design to put all the Traytors to the Sword But the Gods had otherwise ordered things to come to pass and thought fit that having met and charg'd them in a spacious place he was mortally wounded with two Arrows whereof one had taken him in the throat the other in the heart so that he fell down dead among his own who discouraged at his fall fought but little after The people who were encouraged by this and who after the death of their King were not deliberate what they were to do run upon the instruments of Phraates's cruelty and of those that came within their reach few escaped their fury They had haply been heightned to some more cruel resolutions it being no easie matter to quiet a Populace by just grounds forced into Arms if some eminent persons such as for whom they had no aversion had not interposed themselves and represented to them that they had no more enemies to engage against nor further subject to exercise their fury on that all then left in Praaspa were their Friends and that by death of the King and those inflexible creatures of his who had served him in his barbarous intentions they were sufficiently revenged for the loss of their Friends and and Kindred that of the Bloud-Royal there was not any person left on whom they might with reason exercise their revenge that their Princess was absent and worthy their services and respects rather then of their resentments and that for the Queen her Mother and Widow to the King they had killed they knew what a disconsonancy there was between her nature and her Husband 's how dearly she had ever loved them and to what dangers she had many times exposed her self to appease the King on their behalf The People and Souldiery contrary to their ordinary carriage hearkened to this discourse and were beginning to submit themselves thereto when Prince Artanez conducted by those who were employed to take him and had fortunately executed their Commission was brought to Phraaspa His conductors finding the face of things altered cast themselves at his feet begging their lives which they easily obtained of him but with much ado of the People who would needs punish them for the readiness of their inclinations to execute the cruel Orders of their Prince Artanez being respected by them as one of the Blood-Royal of their Kings loved by them for his vertue and that so much the more by reason of his being hated by the King and ready to be delivered up to execution as their Friends and Kinred whom they had revenged had they surrounded him with acclamations calling him Arsacian Prince worthy the Bloud of Arsaces and declar'd their readiness to obey him Artanez finding them so good an humor entreated them to lay down their Arms promising them upon that condition impunity for what had past and with the assistance of Timagenes and other considerable persons who before his coming had endeavoured to pacific things he managed all so successfully that before night all the people were gotten into their houses and the City was as quiet as if nothing had happened Artanez who had looked on that day as the last of his life and by a revolution which he could not attribute to any thing but divine Justice saw himself followed by all the Parthians with applause used his good fortune with much moderation and generosity and having caused the Kings body with much respect to be taken up and given order for the burial of the rest comes to the Palace where notwithstanding the aversion I had for the Kings death I was ore-whelmed with the grief which so unexpected an accident must needs have raised in me and where I stood in expectation of death through the fright I was in to see an armed Populace which had not spared the life of their King I trouble you not with a discourse of what I felt during that time because it would not onely prove tedious but not any way requisite in order to the discovery of those things which I am yet to acquaint you with Having received a punctual acount of what was done by the care of Zoilus Timagenes and divers other faithful persons who had provided for my safety and endeavoured to comfort me I knew that Artanez was innocent as to the Kings death and afterwards understood what pains he had taken to appease the exasperated multitude and the respect he had expressed towards the Kings memory though he might well have a just resentment against him so that seeing him coming in the posture not of a Prince of the blood of Phraates but of the humblest of his Subjects I embraced him with much affection acknowledged his generosity and recommended to him the memory of the King my Lord and the concernments of my daughter Artanez assured me that all the mischief was over that it was to be looked on as a stroke from heaven and that there was nothing to be feared provided the promise which he with Timagenes and divers
others had made were observed which was that what was past should be pardoned and that the people should not be called to account for a misfortune which the King run himself upon first by his cruelty and afterwards by his imprudence in hazarding himself as he had done and assaulting with so much animosity and so little foresight an armed and an exasperated multitude That for his own part he assured me of his fidelity to the last gasp and protested he was not glad at the Kings death though he had pronounced the sentence of his against him and that that day might haply have been the last of his life if the Gods had not by so unexpected a resolution prevented it That the people were ready to honour and acknowledge me for their gracious Queen that the most eminent persons were the more confirmed in that sentiment and that all desired the Princes might be sought out and setled in the throne of her Ancestors with a husband fit to govern them Such favourable dispositions in the hearts of our Subjects delivered me from all my fears and somewhat alleviated my misfortune and in fine Artanez did so well with the assistance of other well-affected persons that the next day all things were wholly appeased and the next to that the Kings body was disposed among the Monuments of the Arsacides with little pomp but with the same Ceremonies and as if he had dyed a natural death Two dayes after Artanez on whom I dis-burthened my self of some part of the government tels me that the most eminent among the Parthians and with them the people though ready enough to obey me desired a general Assembly wherein it might be considered what were to be done for the recovery of the Princess and the joyning of her to a husband that should succeed Phraates and govern them with more moderation then he had done I thought their desires very just and suitable to my own intentions since that they thereby discovered that they looked not on Venonez Phraates's natural son who was brought up at Rome with some pretence to the Crown so that a day being appointed all the principal Nobility among the Parthians met with several representatives of the people having all freedome of debate about what the whole Nation was concerned in The first thing resolved on was to oppose the pretensions of Venonez if so be he had any and to maintain against the Bastard the right of the lawful Princess to the last man This passed it was taken into consideration how the Princess should be found out and that to that purpose such persons should be imployed as the State were assured of and afterward it was proposed that she might make choice of a husband worthy her and the rank she is to be of But it was generally declared by all that it should not be Tigranes that he was a stranger an Allie if not a dependent on the Romanes and which is more that he was their enemy and not affected by the Princess who was not to be denied the liberty of her own choice There were those among the Souldiery who gave their Votes that Artaban should be their King that he was a person not hated by their Princess that the Crown was due to his valour and that under such a Prince as Artaban was they should fear neither the Medes nor the Romanes nor all the forces nor powers of the World This Discourse was no sooner started but the Assembly rung again with the name of Artaban so that the major voice was that Artaban should be chosen King But all the most eminent persons among the Parthians being present and among those many that were allyed to the House of the Arsacides who were flatter'd with a hope of being preferred before persons of a lower rank then themselves there was a considerable number of them that opposed the Proposition made in favour of Artaban and represented to the multitude that desired him That Artaban was indeed worthy the Government design'd him that upon the account of his Valour he might aspire to any thing and that his worth was such as that nothing was too great for him but that they would not have an unknown person placed in the Throne of Arsaces which had never been possessed but by Princes of the most illustrious bloud in the World and that those very persons who so much desired him would in a short time think it a regret to obey a Man whose Birth was nothing above their own Several persons had heard this discourse and it began to get credit among the multitude when Artanez who should have been the most likely to countenance it as being by reason of his Rank and the Bloud-Royal whereof he was the most concerned in it having with much patience heard the opinions of all the rest assumes the discourse and looking on the Nobles and People with such an action as whence they imagined he had some great matter to acquaint them withal I approve said he to them the fidelity of the Parthians and the zeal they express for the welfare of the State and the interest of their Queen and I am to acknowledge it the goodness of the Gods that I am this day in a capacity to satisfie both according to their just intentions These gallant Souldiers and brave Men who by their Swords have maintained this Monarchy have reason to desire for their Prince the same Artaban under whose conduct they have gain'd so many famous Victories and those whom Blood hath raised to the highest Dignities of this Kingdome desire with justice a Prince for their Soveraign But to satisfie all I am now to declare that Artaban is not onely a Prince born but a Prince of the same Blood with their Kings that he is descended from the great Arsaces as well as Phraates and that this truth will be undeniable when it shall be acknowledged that he is my Son It is certain O ye Parthians continued he Artaban is my Son and there are many persons among you who may call to mind that they have seen a Son of mine of that very name of Artaban which was also that of my Father and of the same age who about his tenth year accompanied me in my escape and whom since to elude the cruel designs of the King who attempted his life as well as mine I sent to be brought up in strange Nations He came back to me about the beginning of the War between the Parthians and the Medes and out of the resentment I had against the King who desisted not his persecutions of me even in my solitude I sent him to the service of the King of Media where by his Valour he soon came to the highest Commands in the Army Yet thought I not fit even then to discover this truth but have still conceal'd it though I have had secret conferences with Artaban as with a Friend and not as with a Son Nay I had caused it to be given out that
which afterwards carried us into Media I did what he desir'd and would have done more but he intreated me to forbear lest he might raise against him both Tigranes and Phraates as expecting no quiet or security but in the condition wherein he was In fine amidst all the revolutions of my misfortune our Friendship was continu'd by a correspondence by Letters and I found his upon all occasions such as he might really have had for that Son whose name he had bestowed on me and which I have kept to the contempt of my own as well for his sake as for the honour I have had under that name to consecrate my life to the service of my Princess Thus Madam have you an account how I am Son to Artanez thus have you seen how I am a Prince descended from Arsaces Imagine with your self with what regret I disclaim an honour which would be envy'd by all the Princes in the world but an honour withal which is much more considerable to me upon the account of the Princess Elisa then upon that of the Parthian Crown were the Empire of the Universe annexed thereto Artaban disburthened himself of these lastwords with those discoveries of tendernesse which all the greatness of his courage could not smother and the Princess was so troubled thereat that it was hard for her to dissemble the effect they produced in her thoughts Not long before she had been incensed against him for disclaiming a name whereby he should become her Husband with the consent of all but having during his discourse examined his intentions and the openness of his soul which suffered him not to be guilty of falshood towards his Princess in an emergency of that importance and to purchase her and a great Empire by an untruth and a cheat she might afterwards have reproached him with she had other thoughts of him and was more and more confirmed in the admiration she had for the transcendency of his soul Yet would she not say any thing before the Queen as respectfully desirous to know her thoughts before she discovered her own and the Queen in whom the procedure of Artaban had heightned the esteem she had for him was extremely troubled at his disacknowledgment of a birth that so much furthered the inclinations she naturally had for him The affliction she conceived thereat made her continue a good while silent having her eyes fastened on the ground with an action which sufficiently discovered her disturbance which caused those which were much more cruel in Artaban but at last lifting them up and fastening them on Artaban's countenance after a manner wholly passionate Might it have pleased the Gods said she to him that you had been less generous and suffered us to continue in errours so much to our satisfaction and your advantage I should have died rather replies Artaban and though I were no enemy to falshood as I naturally am yet had I disclaim'd a life a thing I could much more easily part with then such glorious pretensions rather then basely surprize a Princess I adore by a cheat which she would never have pardoned and it will be much more easie for me to recover the loss which I may derive from this acknowledgment of the truth though nothing but death can give me perfect ease thenit would have been for me to pardon my self a treachery which no passion no pretension whatsoever could justifie The Queen hearkened to those words with admiration which in a manner convinced her that a person so extraordinary must be of a birth much beyond what he seemed to be She thereupon continued silent a while as one in a strange suspence what to think and at last looking on the Princess her Daughter with an action which satisfied her of the uncertainty she was in Daughter said she to her you see me in a great distraction of thought and trouble out of which I find it hard for me to disengage my self You may contribute much to my quiet and by the assurance you have that I have ever furthered your desires you may let me know your resolutions I neither could nor ought to have made any such discourse to you while you were under the power of a Father but now that you condition is otherwise and that the Parthians acknowledge you for their lawful Queen and her whose consent is to give them a King I am to deal otherwise with you and leave you at liberty to discover your own intentions The blushes that spread into Elisa's countenance hindred her a long time from speaking but at last doing her disposition a little violence upon that occasion of that importance Madam said she to the Queen it is neither the death of the King my Father nor any other consideration whatsoever shall dispense with the obedience and submission I owe your commands but I shall inviolably comply therewith how contrary soever they may be to my most violent inclinations Artaban can assure you that I have persisted in that resolution and that neither a respect to his services nor the affection I may have for him have prevailed with me to do any thing beyond it but if out of the goodness you have ever expressed towards me and to which I would owe all things rather then to any change of my condition you give me the liberty to satisfie you of my inclinations and the resolution I should take if my will depended not on yours I am to tell you that Artaban though not a Prince born seems to me greater upon the account of his Vertue then all the Princes upon earth and that such as he is when it comes to my choice I shall prefer him before all the men in the world Elisa spoke this with confidence more then natural in her nor could Artaban hear the closure of her discourse without casting himself on his knees before her and rendring her adorations proportionable to the greatness of the favour she did him The Queen for some short time seemed as it were surprized at the discovery she had made but soon after recovering her self into her ordinary serenity Daughter said she to her you have taken a resolution of great weight such as no doubt on which you have bestowed much reflexion before you were fixed therein Those who would not approve it might haply find reason enough to oppose it as there is on the other side much to justifie it but what ere may may be the issue I shall for my part further it and am so well satisfied as to the worth of Artaban and have so dear a remembrance of the services we have received from him as not to disallow the declaration you make in his favour For Daughter though Artaban were not a Prince born yet is he worthy your affection meerly upon the account of his vertue and the services he hath done us and among all mankind you could not have made a more rational choice nor haply one more suitable to my inclinations Onely I shall
intreat him upon motives of necessity and great importance that he would continue the Parthians in the account which Artanez hath given them of him and let all the world beleive that he is a Prince of the bloud of Arsaces this perswasion will establish his Government with more security will take away the dissatisfactions of the most eminent among the Parthians and will clear you and me of all the accusations which might be put up against us Artaban entertained this discourse of the Queen with such eruptions of joy which he could not suppress otherwise then by the same submissions which he had made to the Princess and being pressed to make the Queen some answer concerning her desire that he should take upon him to be Artanes's son As I am not said he to her obliged to do that for the Parthians nor all mankind besides which I am for my Princess so am I not by any reason compelled to give the Parthians that account of my birth which with all sincerity I should to my Princess and so I shall be content they believe me of the bloud of Arsaces nay of that of the Gods if they will and suffer them to persist in an opinion which is glorious to me and that so much the rather for that they have received it of themselves and that I have not attributed ought thereto Mean time Madam continued he casting himself again at the Queens feet give me leave to render you what we owe our Guardian-Gods and to assure you that though you raise me to a Fortune beyond the highest pretensions yet shall you not make me forget that I am Britomarus rather then Artaban and that among all your natural subjects you shall not find any more submissive or more faithful To this he added other protestations whereby he expressed his gratitude towards the Queen and Princess so that at last the Queen seemed to be no less satisfyed then himself with the resolution had been taken for his advantage But after that interval of joy there was to succeed another of grief for the Princess being obliged to give the Queen an account of what she knew of her adventures her condition in the Court of Augustus after she had made her tremble at the relation of the dangers she had run through by her meeting with the Pirates the loss of Artaban and her own captivity and raised her spirits again by that of her arrival in Alexandria her finding of Artaban and the good entertainment she at first received from Augustus passed to the story of the love of Agrippa the persecution she suffered from the Emperour and at last to the cruel declaration he had made to her that very day and the choice he had put her to either of marrying Agrippa or being return'd into hands of the King her Father adding to this discourse that the Gods had sent her to her assistance when it was absolutely necessary and that if she had stayed but a day longer she would haply have found her in some deplorable condition The Queen was vext to the heart at the procedure of Augustus thought it very strange that to countenance his Favourite he should violate the priviledges of Hospitality and would usurp an unjust Authority over a Princess who might dispute precedence with any of her Sexe in the World After she had expressed her dissatisfaction by some complaints against him she in some measure comforted and re-assured the Princess by telling her that the change of her condition was such as that she might slight the threats of Augustus that she could not imagine he durst force her to marry Agrippa that it was in his power to have put her into the hands of the King her Father and might have effected it but that she could not beleive he would do to a Queen of Parthia a publick violence which would raise against him the interests of all those Kings that were not tributary to him and that she would make no difficulty to declare to him that her Daughter was promised to Artaban a Prince of the Blood-Royal of Parthia whom the Parthians desired for their Soveraign After this resolution taken as also that of opposing to the utmost the pretensions of Tigranes if he persisted therein the Princess acquainted the Queen with what passed that were of importance at Alexandria among so many illustrious persons as were then in that City gave her the names of all the most considerable and an account of their most remarkable adventures She particularly on the concernment she took in those of the Princess Cleopatra and Queen Candace and by the short discourse wherewith she entertained the Queen thereof she raised in her a great compassion for the misfortunes of two such illustrious Princesses as also abundance of acknowledgement for the generous proffers of that famous King of Scythia of whom she had with admiration heard so much and whose sight she was desirous of as that of an extraordinary person While things stood thus at the Queen of Parthia's and that at the Princess Cleopatra's and the Queen of Aethiopia's there was nothing but fear and dispair Livia was with Tiberius much joyed to see him escaped the mortal danger that had threatned his life and on the other side much troubled too see him exposed to the torments which his unfortunate passion forced him to She had several times endeavoured to cure him of it and the predominant passion in her being that of Ambition she would have been more glad to see him make his addresses to one of the Emperour 's Neices then to the Princess Cleopatra and considered the advantages he might make of Caesar's alliance more then the attractions and divine excellencies of Anthony's Daughter Tiberius himself who was no less ambitious then amorous and who upon the predictions of Thrasyllus who was still about him had entertained some pretensions to the Empire would himself have gladly been rid of that violent love which made him spend the choicest part of his life in unhappiness and torment Nay it was some trouble to him to disturb the fortune and persecute the life of a person who with so much generosity had given him his own and when he did it would not oblige him to disclaim his pretensions to Cleopatra Upon these considerations he often wished his own recovery but still ineffectually for that notwithstanding all his endeavours the Idaea of the fair Cleopatra would not out of his thoughts At last the Empress perceiving she could not to her own desires contribute to the settlement of his greatness would needs further that of his satisfaction and if possible assure him of Cleopatra since the preservation of his life was dependent thereon It came at last into her mind that the life of Coriolanus was such a hindrance to his enjoyments as nothing could remove and whereas she was highly exasperated against him as having two several times reduced her Son to the extremeities of life and death she thought no
but I have sometime been in such a condition as he would not have found it an easie task though he had employed all the Forces of his Empire to do it and if the Gods are so pleased they may restore me to such again Quintilius who admired him as indeed all those did that saw him and could not but fear that resentment which he observed in his countenance would have made some wretched excuse to him for the Commission he had taken but Artaban interrupting him with scorn I wonder not said he to him that you have by the command of your Master secured Artaban when out of your own inclination you have exposed Arminius to Gladiators and Savage Beasts It is in him that you have raised your self a dreadful enemy but for my part if I have any resentment of the injury I receive you may be sure it shall not fall upon Varus With these words which Varus as it were by a fatal prediction grew pale at he went into his Closet where they left him at liberty to walk there being before the Window a strong iron gate The noise of this accident was soon spread all over Alexandria and whereas the Princess of Parthia and the Queen her Mother were the most concerned in it they were accordingly the first that had notice of it The news put Elisa into no small disturbance though she had ever feared that her designs would be crossed by Augustus and that he would never consent to the felicity of Artaban while he might hope any thing for Agrippa Nor was the Queen her Mother less troubled insomuch that the news made her hasten the design she had to see Augustus that morning as imagining that when she should tell him that Artaban was a Prince of the bloud of the Arsacides and give him an account of the death of Phraates and the state of the Parthian Monarchy she should oblige him to a greater respect for a Prince raised to so eminent a Dignity then he might have for a private person Upon this consideration after the had sent a person before to demand audience she went to him attended by the Princess her Daughter and some of her Women The Emperour received her in his Closet with all apparent discoveries of respect and civility but they were hardly set down ere came in the King of Media whom they had not thought so well recovered as to be able to walk so far That sight was very ominous to the Princess and the Queen her Mother nay Elisa was so much the more surprized in that Augustus had seemed to be incensed against Tigranes insomuch that she thought he durst not adventure into his presence However the Queen resolved to disengage her self out of her astonishment and resolved to speak to the Emperour before Tigranes since she was reduced to that necessity and to that end assuming all her courage My Lord said she to him that which is this day happened by your Order hath given me in some measure occasion to change the design of this visit and the Audience I have desired of you or at least obligeth me to add another of no less consequence then those which I had before I came hither my Lord to make acknowledgment of the kindness which you have expressed towards a Princesse whom a malicious fortune had cast upon your Territories and the protection which you generously afforded her I should then have acquainted you that by the death of the King my Husband Elisa being designed for the Ctown of her Ancestors was obliged to go hence and desirous at her departure to demand an Alliance of you wherein her Subjects might hope a Reign much different from that of her predecessors that is such as should bring a long uninterrupted tranquility and lastly I was to tell you that this same Artaban who by such extraordinary actions hath defended and maintained the Parthian Crown having been acknowledged a Prince of the Royal Bloud of that Nation hath been demanded by the Parthians for a Husband to their Princess and is expected among them to take Possession of a Scepter which hath never been but in the hands of those who were of that extraction This my Lord was the occasion of my voyage and I thought I should not have met with any other but understanding that the said Prince whom the Parthians desired for their King and whom the consent of Elisa and my self have granted is secured by your Order and deprived of his liberty in a place where you had honoured him with so many demonstrations of your esteem and at a time wherein he was accounted no other then a private person in this place I am apt to believe my Lord that when you caused him to be apprehended and secured you knew not that he was of the Royal Bloud of Parthia and called to be their Governour and therefore hope that knowing it you will consider Dignity in the same person in whom you had before considered Vertue and will not injuriously treat in your Territories a person designed for a Monarchy with which there are few others in the World dispute precedence Thus ran the Queens discourse and after the Emperour had with much patience heard it Madam said he to her I can with sincerity assure you that my design hath been to receive you into the Dominions that are under my jurisdiction with all the respect due to you and all the discoveries of affection observed between Allies and you may also very well believe that I have been a stranger hitherto to the Birth of Artaban and that Fortune whereunto you have designed him but you will give me leave to tell you that though I had been acquainted therewith I should not have forborn the securing of his person considering the just occasion I have to be distrustful of him since I have after much another manner secured the Son of Julius Caesar and Cleopatra who is of a rank no less considerable then a Prince of the Bloud of the Arsacides and who as well as Artaban is designed for a powerful Monarchy It is with that Prince whom I have discovered lurking in Alexandria and whose intentions I am justly to be very jealous of that Artaban hath had a secret intelligence and conferences in the night time which the Princess your Daughter hath not been ignorant of That is that which obliges me to secure him and that the rather the more I am certified of the greatness of his courage and think him a person capable and fit to carry on the greatest enterprises You will be pleased therefore to give me leave to take some time to inform my self what the intention of either my enemies or those of our Empire may be and to take those courses which may secure me from the attempts of two men whereof the one looks upon me as the Usurper of a Dignity which he thinks justly his and the other by your confession is of the Bloud and designed for the Throne of those
very Kings who by the loss of so many millions of men have satisfied all the world of the hatred and detestation which they have for the Roman name Our security is all I endeavour and not the revenge of those injuries which we have received from those of that Bloud and Nation those I am willing to forget and to enter with you and also with him who shall marry the Princess Elisa into the Alliance you so much desire and by the means to assure you that the Imprisonment of Artaban is not likely to prove dangerous to him as being no more then a precaution to secure the quiet of a great Empire You may if you please continue among us till the discovery which I expect oblige me to set him at liberty and if your intentions are otherwise you are free to depart and shall receive from me all manner of assistance and accommodations to return into your own Dominions To this effect was the Emperours discourse much to the astonishment of the Princess and the Queen her Mother and he had hardly put a period thereunto when Tigranes addressing himself to him with a confidence derived from the intelligence which was between them My Lord said he to him though Artaban be my professed enemy yet shall I not say any thing to you as to his imprisonment or the reasons that have obliged you to secure him but as to the departure of the Princess Elisa you will give me leave to oppose it and to demand justice of you both against a Mother and against a people that design her any other Husband then him whom she hath solemnly received from the King her Father The desire I have ever had to continue such legal pretensions and that passion which I have not been able to master forced me upon an enterprise contrary to the respect which I owe you and since you have had the goodness to pardon it you will also have the justice to restore me my Wife or at least give me leave to dispute her with all those who would take her away from me The Queen was going to make Tigranes some answer when the Princess by a submissive gesture having demanded permission to answer him her self and putting on a resolution which was more then natural in her Tigranes said she to him I know not why you continue your cruel persecutions against a Princess that hath deserved neither your hatred nor your affection you know the Emperour hath already acknowledged the injustice of your pretensions and I have his own word and promise whereby he hath assured me of his protection against you You have saith the Emperour interrupting her slighted that protection and ought not to alledge it in such an occasion wherein I cannot refuse those justice who demand it of me The Queen enduring this discourse with much impatience as being injurious to her Dignity If Tigranes be your Vassal said she to the Emperour you may do him justice but you know that the Kings of Parthia never demanded any such thing of the Romans and that their power is not derived from any but that of the Gods so that though we are now exposed to yours in our present fortune yet you will give me leave to tell you that you have no right to dispose of my Daughter nor yet to detain her since she is neither by birth your subject nor by War your prisoner I know replies the Emperour not a little vexed at that discourse that she is neither my subject nor my prisoner and it is for that reason that if she be Wife to Tigranes I cannot take her away from him to put her into your power nor deny him the liberty to demand his Wife no more then I can you of demanding your Daughter Elisa is my Daughter replies the Queen of Parthia but she is not Wife to Tigranes and if she were there were no need of your Authority to oblige her to follow a Husband whom her duty would force her to run fortunes with all the world over You are not ignorant that formalities observed towards Ambassadors without any consent of my Daughter cannot make any absolute Marriage that the design which her Father had to effect it hath not been effected and that Elisa being freed by his death may well refuse that man for her Husband whom she would not accept during his life These Reasons replies the Emperour are such as you might alledge before those whom the Gods or your own choice shall establish Judges of your differences but in the mean time since it belongs not to me to do justice in this case you will not take amiss that I forbare the doing of injury and violence to a King who notwithstanding what I had done against him in the behalf of the Princess Elisa hath nevertheless a confidence of my impartiality The Queen and Princess were satisfied by this discourse that the Emperour was resolved to detain them though they could not but imagine that it was the concernment of Agrippa and not that of Tigranes that so much prevailed with him and it was with much a-do that they expressed a moderation when so great an injustice was done them and forbore to tell him that it was upon the account of Agrippa that he did it and not upon that of the King of Media But considering withal that it were not safe for them to incense a person who could do any thing and that their intention was not to depart from Alexandria and leave Artaban a prisoner there they endeavoured to smother their resentment yet could not do it so but that in some measure it appeared in their countenances and in some measure in the discourse of the Queen I see then said she to the Emperour rising off the chair where she was sate that we are not to expect much favour from you and that we as well as Artaban are prisoners in Alexandria but the Gods who sees the intreatment we receive and the right you have to do it will be Judges between us and will haply deliver us out of a misfortune into which we are fallen meerly out of the confidence which we have had in the Laws of Nations and the respect due to Royal Dignity With these words the went out of the Closet together with the Princess after she had demanded leave of the Emperour to visit Artaban which he durst not refuse her as unwilling to make too manifest a discovery of injustice and animosity They would needs go to him before they returned to their Lodgings and in their way met the King of Scythia the the King of Armenia and the Prince of Cilicia who had been at their Lodgings to give them a visit and were desirous to see them to assure them of the concernment which they took in what had happened to them As they were coming towards them Elisa acquainted the Queen her Mother who they were who with much joy entertained Princes of so great fame especially Alcamenes whose reputation
was so full of miracles The worthinesse of their persons satisfied her that what she had heard of them was but their due and thereupon she received them according to their worth and rank in the world These great Princes being such as from whom it could not be expected they should have a servile compliance for any man such as out of any base consideration or fear to displease Caesar should hinder them from following their own generous inclinations especially the the King of Scythia who knew no superior in the world They satisfied the Queen and the Princess her Daughter how much they concern'd themselves in all had happened to them as well to the death of Phraates and the acknowledgment of Artaban to be a Prince of the Bloud-Royal of Parthia as to the imprisonment of Artaban and what might be the consequence thereof as real Friends and Princes whom nothing should oblige to conceal their own sentiments According to the present exigence of their Fortunes they proffered them all the assistance they could and as to the sequel thereof all that they might hope for from Allies The Queen having given them thanks with all the civility due to such illustrious persons and Princes who expressed their inclinations towards them in so ticklish a conjuncture Alcamenes intreated the Queen and Princess to pardon him if he expressed more joy at the acknowledgement of Artaban to be of such birth as he had ever wish'd him then trouble at his imprisonment wherin he saw not any thing to fear doubted not but that he should soon see him King of Parthia and that he would confirm with him the Alliance they had already designed together Ariobarzanes and Philadelph expressed themselves much to the same purpose and having understood that they went to visit him they were desirous all three to accompany them but being come to the door Varus how much soever he might respect their Dignity told them that he durst not admit them in without order from the Emperour who had onely commanded that the Queen and Princess might be allowed to visit him The three Princes went away from the door with loud discoveries of their resentment at the refusal and expressed their discontent in words which sufficiently signified that they were not slaves to the Fortune of Augustus But though these great Princes were denied entrance another person being alone and not richly clothed made a shift to get in either as belonging to Artaban or the Princess and was not so much observ'd as to oblige Varus to hinder him from coming in Artaban comes out of the Closet where they had left him alone to receive the Queen and Princess in the Chamber and being come to them fell on one knee before the Queen and with much submission acknowledged the honour she did him The Queen raising him up embraced him and discovered to him that she as well as the Princess had her countenance bathed in tears That of Artaban seem'd the same it had ever been insomuch that he was not any way moved but by the grief which he observed in their countenances The Chamber being full of Souldiers and Artaban having told them that he had the freedom of the Closet they would needs go into it to avoid the presence of those unwelcom witnesses leaving two or three of their Women in the Chamber to hinder any from coming to the Closet door to over-hear their discourse But the person who was gotten in with the Queen followed her into the Closet and kept behind the Women that went in with her The Queen and Princess having their thoughts taken up otherwise took no notice of him nor did Artaban observe him as taking him for one of the Queens retinue When she was sat down and the Princess by her Artaban with much acknowledgement and submission renewed his thanks for the favour they did him and after he had made the greatest expressions he could of his resentment thereof he intreated them not to fear any thing as to his imprisonment which in all likelihood would not prove dangerous to him telling them it was onely an effect of Augustus his Friendship towards Agrippa and the desire he had to disturb his Fortune to divert it to his Favourite that those things were acted no question without the knowledge of Agrippa whose vertue was such as he would not permit them if he were acquainted therewith that it could not come into his thoughts that Augustus should resolve his ruine since that thereby he in all likelihood quitted all hopes of Elisa's being married to Agrippa and as for the pretence which he had taken from his intelligence with Caesario it was of no great concernment since he could only be charged with being present at a discourse where the Princess Elisa and the Princesse Cleopatra had been also and whereof the particulars since they were come to the knowledge of Augustus were enough to vindicate him To this Artaban added many other reasons to clear the minds of the Queen and Princess of the obliging sadness which he observed in them and when he had given over speaking the Queen whom all his discourses could not satisfie no more then the Princess her Daughter acquainted him with the visit which they had made to the Emperour how they had there met with Tigranes and all the conversation which had there passed between them as well with Augustus as the King of Media Artaban out of respect hearkened to their discourse with much patience though he found it no small difficulty to suffer without resentment both the injustice of Caesar and the proceedings of Tigranes and seeing the Queen expected what he would say upon that occasion Madam said he to her if you and the Princess continue towards me that goodness whereof I receive such glorious expressions I shall little fear the competition of Tigranes as being confident that Augustus hath no thoughts of favouring him and onely brings him upon the Stage meerly to retard your departure and making his advantage of time endeavour with some appearance of justice the satisfaction of Agrippa All this business is full of Artifice and unworthy a great Soul and were I but once more in the head of those very Parthians whom I have commanded in your service I should not onely make the King of Media quit all his pretensions but haply find trouble enough for him that sets him on work and fondly believes that all the earth should submit to his power I am apt to believe added the Queen that the power of the Parthians should not be despicable in the apprehension of the Romans and that they have felt it such though things were not carried on by the conduct of an Artaban it is the assurance which Augustus hath of your valour that puts me into the greater fear for you it being not unlikely he should rather wish that the Parthians had such a King as Tigranes then as Artaban But the Artifice he is forced to make use of to detain
all I had left of the presents of Cornelia except two Letters which out of the excess of their kindness they were pleased to leave me I was some dayes after given in exchange for one of their companions to certain Cilician Pirates who kept me two years in their ships undergoing the same insupportable hardship and inconveniences with the other slaves yet with much more patience then the loss of my Britomarus The Pirates sold me afterwards to a Fhenician Merchant who had many Vessels at sea and a great number of slaves who treated me with more humanity and with whom I have continued since not meeting with any opportunity to recover my liberty though I might hope to be redeem'd by Cornelia could I have given her an account of my misfortune At last after many voyages my Master had occasion to come to Alexandria where he died some days since and to gratifie the good services I had with much patience done him he at his death gave me my liberty The kindness he did me in that hath prov'd the occasion of a far greater happiness for walking as soon as I was free the streets of Alexandria which I could not look on without horrour out of a reflection on the base Ptolomey I perceived among those illustrious persons who accompanyed Augustus a Hunting my own Britomarus well mounted and sumptuously clad and in a condition not much different from that of the most eminent persons in the world Though I had not seen him in many years before heard nothing of him and was in doubt whether he were alive yet did I without any difficulty call him to mind and by the Idea I had of him in my heart should have known him however he had been disguised I asked his name of those I met and it happening they were intelligent and not unacquainted with the Court they told me that that person whom I saw among so many Kings and Princes and seem'd not inferiour to them was himself neither King nor Prince but one whom his vertue and great actions made more considerable than they and that it was the famous Artaban who by somany noble victories had maintain'd conquer'd the Kingdomes of Parthia and Media and spread his reputation all over the world Having during the time of my slavery made many voyages and been upon several coasts with the Phenician Merchants I had heard much talk of Artaban and his great actions but never suspected that Artaban was my Britomarus So that not doubting but it was he and so much the less for that it was also said he was a person of unknown birth my joy was such as I could hardly bear It was my business all that day to inform my self of all could be learn'd of Artaban at Alexandria I understood that it was generally believed he might in time be married to the Princess Elisa Heiress of the great Kingdome of Parthia The next day having taken greater notice of him and gotten so near him without his perceiving of it as to hear him speak to those persons whom he was with I was so well satisfied that it could be no other than Britomarus that I was absolutely confident of it yet durst I not discover my self to him in publick out of a fear he might be troubled to see a person so ill accoutred whom he was to look on as his Father and while I was thinking of some way to do it with convenience and so as he might not take offence thereat I understood yesterday Madam of your arrival at Alexandria and heard this morning from the common report that it was credibly thought your intention was to bestow the Princess your Daughter on Artaban and to advance him to the supreme Dignity of the Parthian Kings but I had hardly given entertainment to the joy I should have conceived at that news when I heard that he was by order from Augustus secured That account of him hath brought me not a little frightned to finde him out and being neer his chamber door when your Majesty came thither I thrust my self among those of your retinue as if I had been one of it I made a shift to follow you even into the closet and having found by your discourse that Pompey's son was now in the condition wherein his Mother had given me leave to discover the truth I had conceal'd from him I made no difficulty to let him know it especially at a time when I ought to have done it to recompence the generosity which you and the Princess your daughter have had to prefer Vertue in such a birth as he was of before the dignity of so many Kings as envy his fortune as the most glorious the greatest men in the world could aim at Thus dip Briton put a period to his discourse and thereupon taking advantage of the silence of the Queen Princess and Artaban himself who look'd on one the other without speaking any thing he drew out two Letters he had left of Cornelia's and presenting them to the Queen intreated her to read them The Queen having opened them found in the first she took these words THe account you give me of my Sons education and the hopes you conceive of him fills me with the greatest joy I am capable of and would rejoyce even in the ashes of his Father if the Gods receiving him to themselves had left any sentiment in what is remaining of him among men Continue dear Briton the faithful affection you have for the Son of a Father who dearly loved you and a Mother who owes you all the enjoyments nay haply all she has remaining of life Sosippus will give you an account of me and tell you more than I dare trust to this paper as I do to his fidelity The second contained thus much THe greater things you tell me of the Son I have committed to your care the more you put me into fear for him and if he one day prove such as you hope he will it will be hard for him to conceal himself from his enemies and confine his thoughts to his present fortune This consideration obliges me to intreat you by all the affections you have for him and the Oath you have made to me not to let him know the truth of his birth till he be arrived to that greatness among men as that he may with defiance of his enemies acknowledge it I shall see him when fortune shall so bring things about as that I may do it without exposing a life which continues my own in the just occasions I have had not to cherish it and I shall dye satisfied if I can but once more see in his face the resemblance of his Father such as you represent it to me While the Queen and Princess were busied in reading these Letters Briton having ask'd Artaban whether he still had the box he had given him Artaban who had very carefully kept it taking it out of the place where it was presented it to him It
have for Elisa This desire of the Queens is so just added the Princess that I cannot imagine you will make any difficulty to satisfie it and my confidence in the affection you have for me is such as I dare hope greater demonstrations of it Artahan all submission for the commands of Elisa immediately smothered all the repugnances he had to conceal the glorious name of Pompey And though his thoughts were already upon such designs as would make it more known in the world than haply it had been in the triumphs of his Father nay to make it a terrour even to those who had ruin'd him yet finding much reason and likelihood in the Queens discourse and reflecting how highly he had been obliged by the Princesses who had not slighted him for a husband and son in law while he was yet but son to Briton he thought he could not without ingratitude but comply with their desires and thereupon assured them that how glorious soever it were to him to make the world sensible of his being son to Pompey yet all gave way to the obedience he had for the advice of a Queen and Princess to whom he both was and would be obliged for all things and that what condition soever they might out of their goodness raise him to he should never forget the generosity they had exprest towards a person who had received nothing from Fortune but his sword nor to the last gasp quit that happy name of Artaban under which he had the glory to serve the Princess Elisa After such expressions of himself and that resolution taken the Queen dismiss'd him to the caresses of Briton who was so transported with joy that he could hardly contain himself Artaban on the other side satisfying him that though he ceased to be his son yet was the affection he had for him no less than if he had been his true father as finding greater reasons to love him upon the account of his education and his faithful and generous deportment towards him then upon the obligation of birth The Queen and Princess entertained him with great demonstrations of their esteem and all put him into hopes that his last days should be more happy and more glorious then all the precedent part of his life had been Mean time Sempronius had acquainted Caesar with Cleopatra's resolution concerning the way proposed to her to save Coriolanus's life by a marriage with Tiberius upon an assurance from Coriolanus's own mouth that he would accept of his life upon those terms Augustus Livia nay Tiberius himself conceived little hope from that answer of Cleopatra's as concluding from the knowledge they had of the great courage of Juba's son that questionless he would prefer death before the loss of Cleopatra and so they imagined it was only to have the opportunity to see the Prince that she had sent Sempronus back with that message They were a good while in consulting whether they should permit that interview it being Tiberius's fear it might destroy all that had been done in order to his satisfaction but at last they thought it should be granted though but to oblige Cleopatra to make an absolute discovery of her intentions that it could not be prejudicial as things stood with her and the Prince nay that it was not impossible but that the fear of present death and that such as appears with a much different face from that which it hath in combats might shake Coriolanus's constancy It was therefore resolved that Cleopatra should visit Coriolanus in the Castle where he was in restraint that Sempronius should attend her thither and that she should not speak to the Prince but in the presence of Sempronius and Levinus Sempronius was the person employed to bring her this order She received him in her chamber where she was with her brothers Queen Candace Antonia and Artemisa She hearkned to Sempronius with much patience and moderation And when he had delivered his message I am content Sempronius said she to him to go along with you to the Prison where Coriolanus is I shall speak to him in your presence as having nothing in my thoughts which I dare not discover and do any thing he shall desire me to save a life which I value much beyond my own With those words she immediately prepared for her departure inflamed with impatience to see her beloved Prince whom she had so little seen since the discovery of his fidelity had set him right in her thoughts The Princesses her Brothers would have accompanied her and Antonia and Artemisa would have gone along but Sempronius told them the Emperour had given him order to the contrary The two Princesses were extremely troubled at it and the three Princesses loudly exprest their sentiment of the rigorous treatment they received in a City which brought into their memory all the old injuries and might put them upon a design to shake off the unjust yoke imposed upon them Candace who was no less desirous to see Caesario then Cleopatra was to see Coriolanus sent to the Emperour to desire his permission to do it but it would not be granted upon which cruel refusal almost out of her self with grief after she had detested the inflexibility and injustice of Augustus she out of the greatness of her courage sought out the means to oppose his Tyrannie and deliver her Caesario out of the captivity and danger he was in by other ways than intreaties and tears The incomparable daughter of Anthony went out of the Palace alone attended by her women and Sempronius with some of the Emperours Guard and taking leave of her Brothers and the Princesses she left in her chamber she embraced them and bid them adieu as if she had been to go a long and dangerous journey The old Castle of Alexandria where the Princes were secured was at an extremity of the City that had on one side the sea and was fortified towards the City with a deep and broad moat having been the seat of the ancient Kings of Egypt before the late Ptolomies built the sumptuous Palace which Queen Cleopatra had finished it was commodious enough to serve for other uses than what it was then put to there being in it some Lodgings not only convenient but magnificent There were the sons of Juba and Caesar in restraint both with little hope of deliverance thence other than that of death as having learnt either by experience or the reputation spread abroad of him that Augustus was no less implacable towards his enemies and those whom upon consideration of policy he was jealous of then kinde and obliging towards his friends and those whom no concernment of State put him into any fear of Upon this reflection they both had present death in their thoughts yet how cruel soever it might be to persons in the height of blood and youth all its terrours troubled not their mindes so much as the remembrance of their Princesses Notwithstanding the danger they were in the lively
the Princes he would put to death yet was he infinitely troubled thereat What cries he in one of my Cities at a time when all is in absolute peace a Woman and one man and he a Prisoner shall arm my people against me and defie a power that hath subdued the Universe But what stung him most in this adventure was that being a deep peace he had brought with him to Alexandria onely those forces which usually attended his Person which were the Pretorian Bands and some Horse They were indeed sufficient to deal with more powerfull enemies than those who were then in arms but would have been too weak to reduce the City of Alexandria in case there should have been a general rising for the children of Cieopatra Besides though Augustus had done great things yet had they been performed for the most part by his lieutenants and he sound himself then deprived of the assistances of the most valiant among them by reason of Agrippa's being sick and Tiberius wounded Add to this that from the presence of so many Princes as then were in his Court he deriv'd more confusion than advantage and knowing there were few among them who disapprov'd not his proceedings he durst neither hope nor indeed desire any assistance from them in that emergency Having bestowed some time in these considerations and afterwards learnt by the return of Petronius that Sempronius and Aquilius had been killed and that Artaban was storming the Castle he issued out Archers to prevent that accident sent Officers to get together and bring to the Palace the Pretorian Bands that were lodg'd in the Subburbs and others to call in the Cavalry that was quartered up and down the next Villages and at the same time sent several persons of the most considerable of those that were about him into the several quarters of the City to keep the principle inhabitants from rising and reduce the rest to their duty either by intreaties or menaces He would have gone abroad to that purpose himself but those about him would not suffer it but represented to him That out of a consideration of his dignity he should not hazard himself among an exasperated populance That when he should be in a condition to reduce it and the Cohorts were come he might go in the head of them to order all things with less danger and better success He complyed with this advice dissembling out of prudence some part of his fury and the other passions that strugled within him though he had withal the affliction to see that the greatest part of the Princes and illustrions persons Romans that were in Alexandria seem'd to side with him but such as were strangers extremely indifferent not expressing the least desire of acquiring glory upon that occasion as no doubt they would have been earnest to do upon any other The King of Media being an enemy to Artaban proffer'd his service in any thing he should desire and the Kings of Pontus and Comagine who had received their Crowns from him though virtuous Princes seem'd to comply with his desires though not without some repugnance But the King of Armenia the Prince of Cilicia and King of Cappadocia had freely told him that they would sight and dye in his service if need were either against the seditious multitude or any other enemies might rise against him but intreated him not to make them instruments in the execution of Princes whose Virtue had raised a love and whose destiny a compassion in them such as they should defend against any but himself to the last drop of blood But King Alcamenes in stead of coming in to him was gone to the Queen of Partha's Lodgings whence he had sent him word That it was a great affliction to him he had not been able with all his intreaties to divert him from the resolution he had taken to destroy Princes who were worthy the love and respect of all the world and that it was as much greater to him that he was not in a condition to relieve them Augustus had yet this further dissatisfaction to see that even among the Romans the most considerable such as Domitius a servant to one of Cleopatra's sisters Crassus and Lentulus particular friends to the house of Anthony could not serve him upon that occasion nor he well trust them Notwithstanding his displeasure he had dissembled some of his sentiments and discovered others with fierceness enough and in the mean time had given order Agrippa should know nothing of what had passed as well in regard of the affliction it would be to him such as might haply add to his sickness as out of a fear he might oppose his intentions and having at last news brought him that the Troops were entring the City and that the Inhabitants those only excepted who had taken up Arms at the first and made no considerable number were not any way inclined to rise though troubled at the misfortune of their Princes he prepared to march against his enemies with a design to cut them in pieces without any resistance which he might with some probability hope from the Coharts being about ten or twelve thousand men In the mean time the Castle had been stormed with a miraculous eagerness and Artaban getting first upon the Ladder he had planted had seen the Brothers of Cleopatra by a generous emulation following his example and coming up at no great distance from him upon Ladders which they had planted with a resolution little inferiour to his Queen Candace who from the windows of one of the next houses where the Prince had disposed of her looked on that terrible assault animated her Ethiopians as much as lay in her power and was many times frightned at the danger which such gallant men were exposed to in so hazardous a kind of engagement The prisoners had not the same advantage their Chambers being so as they had not the sight of that action though they heard the noise of fighting and Marcellus had been acquainted by the Guards with the cause of it Oh how did the Princess Cleopatra make her servent addresses to Heaven on the behalf of those valiant persons who fought for the safety of Coriolanus and how delightful did she entertain some hopes of a life that was so dear to her Marcellus and Drusus unresolved what they should do upon that occasion joyned their vows to those of Cleopatra and the Prince of Mauritania seemed the most undisturbed and most unconcerned of any In another Chamber was the son of Caesar not knowing what he should either fear or hope but expecting the issue of it with the same courage he had expressed in all the actions of his life Artaban notwithstanding the darts and stones showered down upon him being at last gotten up to the top of the Ladder was taking hold with his left hand of one of the Battlements when Levinus running to the place where he saw him appear as that where his resistance was most necessary gave him
the Queen her mother whom the late adventures of Artaban had put into new troubles for him intreated not the Emperour as to him imagining such intreaties fruitless and it below their dignity to become Petitioners to a person who behaved himself with so much insolence towards them but sought out other ways to get him into their power then by submissions yet all proved ineffectual and besides that the Emperours sentiment was such as made all supplications fruitless he had answers specious enough to rid himself of those who besought him on the behalf of Coriolanus or Cesario Why do you sollicite me for Marcellus said he to Octavia have you observed he was less dear to me than to your self and do you imagine that if he perishes ungrateful as he is my grief will be less than yours Use your sollicitation rather to him to get him out of the danger into which he hath willfully cast himself and assure your self that notwithstanding his ingratitude I shall spread my armes to him as my son when ever he shall return to us He said the same thing in a manner to those who spoke for the sons of Anthony especially for Julius Antonius who being as he said infinitely obliged to him had that day in the heat of the engagement for sook his party to cast himself into that of the enemy Having thus shuffled off the persons that most importuned him he withdrew but with such a resentment against all the Kings Princes and others among the Romans who had not followed him that day that he would not see any one of them though he saw that Ariobarzanes and Philadelph upon the kindness they had received from Artaban and the alliance they had already engaged themselves in with the children of Anthony as also Archelaus Domitius Crassus Lentulus and some others either upon that consideration or that of an ancient friendship there was between them and the house of Anthony had much reason to be excused For the King of Scythia he quarrelled much at his proceeding but knew not how to behave himself towards him thinking it on the one side very strange and not to be endured that in his own Court he should declare for his enemies and on the other not conceiving that any reason should incline him to give any discontent to one of the greatest Kings in the world one that not upon any account obliged thereto was come to visit him contrary to all the ordinary Ceremonies used by Monarchs who had no dependance on the Empire and who otherwise was such both for the vastness of his Territories and the greatness of his person as was not to be injured without thoughts of a War whereof the event might prove uncertain especially if his Forces should be joyned to those of the Parthians as it might happen through the friendship which that King had contracted with Artaban and the Queen and Princess of Parthia That which gravelled him most in these intricate conjunctures was that Agrippa whose arm and advice were his surest refuge not only was not in a capacity to serve him either in the one kind or in the other but was not to be acquainted with what passed out of a fear that if he were he might dis-approve of it and oppose it with all the interest he had in him Mecenas gave him that advice which his vertue inspired him with and consequently not much consonant to the intentions which Caesar was then in but he wanted the courage and authority of Agrippa to press it home Augustus had indeed taken particular notice of what Coriolanus had done on his behalf but had attributed it to Marcellus as having not in the disorder he was in observed the armes of Juba's son and being apt to believe that among persons whom he persecuted with so much cruelty there could be only Marcellus that should have that tenderness for his life He would have admired that action in Coriolanus could he have believed it done by him and attributed it to a generosity more than ordinary but he esteemed it the less in Marcellus from whom he might have expected greater things and thought himself less obliged to him for that relief than he thought he should be incensed against him for the assistance he had afforded his Enemies fighting against his men at a place where he himself was in person Yet could he not without some terror reflect on the danger he had been in nor think on the terrible posture of Cesario without making his acknowledgments to Heaven for the assistance he had received in so great an extremity He saw only Agrippa that night and having staid a short time with him retired with thoughts divided between the grief he felt for the injuries he conceived done him and the joy he imagined to himself from a revenge which nothing should be able to divert In the mean time the Princes were gotten into the Castle where they had been received not only by their valiant Companions but their beloved Princesses who with the joy they conceived to see them escape so great a danger went to meet them with Marcellus and Drusus Cleopatra and Candace said to their Lovers whatever an affection they had for them they would no longer smother though they took ill their exposing of themselves to such imminent danger and hazarding their lives so unadvisedly upon an account so different from that of so many noble victories as they had gained The two Princes excused themselves upon the necessity that forced them thereto but after Cleopatra had entertained Coriolanus with her first caresses and discourse she was a little astonished to find Julius Antonius with him and to hear from Ptolomy after what manner and with what generosity he came into their party Cleopatra kindly imbraced him and after she had assured him of all the affection which out of respects of blood the knowledge of his worth and upon that last obligation she might conceive for him Ah Brother said she to him why come you to aggravate our grief by augmenting the number of those that are to die and why will you put a period to the house of Anthony when all the hopes of its countinance are only in you Those persons who are so ready to die replies Antonius are so illustrious for their quality that there is more glory than danger to participate of their fortunes and you have conceived a very bad opinion of me if you thought that as things stand now I had any other resolution to take then that of endeavouring to serve you and my Brothers With those words he imbraced Alexander who received him into his armes and whose expostulation with him was much like that of Cleopatra Marcellus and Drusus though troubled at his coming to share in the glory which they only might hope from their generosity imbracing him with much affection Cesario looked on him not only as a Brother to his Brethren but as his own and Artaban considered him as a Prince as worthy his
ere they would suffer them to be lost told them he was very much satisfied to find them so resolved and troubled at nothing so much as to see the posture he was in at Alexandria that he came thither attended only by 500. Horse which made him the more cautious in a matter of that importance that his oppinion was that they should address themselves once more to the Emperor and that to that end notwithstanding the aversion he had to do it he would go along with them and speak to him but that if their addresses proved ineffectual other ways must be thought on to relieve them and that he was so confident of his 500 Scythians whom he had about him well armed and well mounted that he despaired not in the head of them to force the Emperours Guard and put in provisions into the Castle and make way for the besieged to get aboard the ships giving them notice by Letters which might be fastened to arrows to make a sally and set upon their enemies before while the Scythians should deal with them behind that they should take along with them the provisions they would put into the Castle in case the other design being the more difficult might not take and that it would be no hard matter for him to have his men armed and mounted under pretence of departure after he had to that purpose taken leave of the Emperor Though there was much danger in this enterprise yet were not those who had heard of the great actions of Alcamenes astonished at the making of such a proposition and besides the friendship and compassion they had for the persons they were desirous to relieve there was also a respect to Royal dignity which made them take so hainously the tyrannical proceeding of the Emperor against Kings and Princes that they thought nothing difficult or dangerous to oppose it and told the King of Scythia they would follow him what resolution soever he should take But in regard Ariobarzanes and Philadelph were to provide for Olympia Arsinoe and Artemisa and that the King of Scythia would get Elisa and the Queen her mother out of the power of Augustus they resolved not to put their design in execution till night at which time they thought it might be better carried on both as to their setting upon the besiegers and getting the Princess out of the Palace not doubting but the besieged might pass one day without provisions upon the hope they should put them into of relief Having thus resolved and spent some time in giving orders to some trusty persons as well concerning provisions as the securing of the ships in case they might force their passage they went all together to the Emperor whom they found in the great Palace-Hall with Tigranes Polemon Mithridates some of those creatures who were most at his devotion and the Officers of the horse which he had ordered to come into Alexandria and to quarter about the City Their arrival much troubled the Princes as what might make their enterprise prove more difficult yet were they resolved to carry it on so predominant was the love of Virtue in their souls in comparison of all obstacles and dangers The King of Scythia those that accompanied him conceiving their addresses might be better received if they were seconded by those of Octavia Julia and Elisa her self sent to those great Princesses to intreat them to be there so that they entring at one door met the Princess Julia with Octavia Antonia and her three Sisters and soon after the Queen of Parthia with the Princess Elisa accompanied by Olympia Arsinoe Artemisa Ismenia and the Princess of Cilicia and Cappadocia coming in at another But at the same time comes in also the Empress attended by what other persons of rank there were about the Court which the Princes looked very ominously upon out of a perswasion that she would oppose their desires and that her presence alone was enough to divert the Emperor from those good intentions which upon their applications he might be induced to Though the Emperor imagined what brought so great and so noble an Assembly before him and was resolved their mediations should not prevail with him to abate any thing of his resolution yet he entertained the Queen of Parthia and the Princesses with a seeming civility and the dissatisfaction he had conceiv'd of the King of Scythia hindred him not from receiving him suitable to his rank and the hospitality he might expect from him The Hall they were in was one of the most spacious and magnificent in the world it had been enriched by the profusions and pride of Queen Cleopatra and there it was she had often taken the pleasure to see the vassalled Kings doing their submissions and homages at the feet of Anthony This illustrious Assembly being seated according to Cesars order who plac'd the Queen of Parthia on the right hand of Livia the King of Scythia next himself and the other Princesses Kings and Princes according to their rank and dignity the Princess Julia on one side with Artemisa and on the other the virtuous Octavia with all her daughters cast them selves at the feet of Augustus and washing them with their tears begg'd of him the lives of Marcellus Cleopatra Alexander and the sons of Anthony but the Emperor causing them to rise silenc'd them with the same answer they had receiv'd before and addressing himself to Octavia You are unreasonable sister said he to her to demand that of me which I should rather desire of you restore me Marcellus whom I love ungrateful as he is no less then you can do and get him out of that party into which he hath willfully cast himself it is the best office you can do me in a word Marcellus notwithstanding his ingratitude is dearer to me then my life I have also an affection for Cleopatra as out of a respect to her worth and the friendship you have for her I think my self obliged nor do I hate the children of Anthony though I had resolved to secure them not to do them any injury but to divert them from doing what they have and which I foresaw they would For my part I give them you and Julia and your Daughters and the Princess Artemisa so that it is not of me but of themselves that you are to demand them By such discourses as these was he waving their importunity and eluding their sollicitations with pretences specious enough when the King of Scythia speaking in the name of those that had accompanied him You are willing Cesar said he to him upon the intreaties of these great Princesses to give up such Princes as you have a love for which certainly is no great discovery of your lenity as having no resentment at least no aversion to over-master against persons that are either dear or not hateful in your sight but I come with all these Kings Princes and Illustrious persons continued he pointing to those that had accompanied him
would be very precious to me to comfort thee for the losse of Cleopatra or follow the inclination I had to bestow her on thee But I am engaged both by my promises and obligations not easily avoidable and what I owe the affection of the Empresse and that which she hath for her son leave me not in a capacity to make any other disposal of her than what may be suitable to their desires He would have continued his discourse but the Empress interrupting him My Lord said he to him though the injuries I have received from Coriolanus are notorious as having two several times as it were in my slight reduced my son to the extremities of life and death and that I may well endeavour the enjoyments of a Son great enough to deserve some regard yet the complyance I have for your desires and the acknowledgments which Tiberius will while he lives have for your goodness ought to prevail with him beyond all resentments and all manner of interest and accordingly how justly soever I might be incensed against Coriolanus and what affection soever Tiberius may have for Cleopatra we can smother both to satisfie you and I am to assure you out of the influence I have over Tiberius and the knowledge I have of his intentions that if it be your desire to bestow Cleopatra on Coriolanus he will submit to that disposal of her and we will never repine at the favour you do such persons for whose vertue I have my self an affection and esteem There was a general acclamation and beating of hands at this discourse of Livia as being such as gained the hearts of so many Illustrious persons more than all her precedent actions would have done and the Emperour having heard it with all the expressions of an extraornary joy I humbly acknowledg the indulgence of the Gods said he that they afford me in some mesure the means to make reparation for those miscarriages which an immoderate indignation and a certain jealousie of my authority had made me guilty of I shall be very happy said he turning to Alcamenes and the other Princes if I may perswade to an oblivion of them so many illustrious persons who with too much reason were dis-satisfied therwith Thou shalt live Coriolanus continued he turning towards him and enjoy Cleopatra Marcellus hath given thee thy life by being desirous to die with thee the Empress hath given thee Cleopatra by dispensing with the promise I had made her and in regard it were not just that having received my life from the by a generosity beyond all example thou shouldest receive nothing from me I give thee the kingdomes of thy Ancestors which thou hadst recovered by thy valour and afterwards lost by thy mis-fortune thou shalt reign over the two Mauritanias from which I reserve to my self no tribute nor other acknowledgment than that of thy alliance and to confirm it between us I embrace thee as a King my Friend and Allie Having so said he spread his arms to receive him and the son of Juba casting himself at his feet and in that posture receiving his embraces Ah my Lord said he to him now is it that I feel a grief and remorse for having offended you and this expression of your goodness forces me much beyond all the effects of your power to acknowledg you my Soveraign Lord and Emperour Augustus having caused him to rise embraced him with much affection and perceiving that Cleopatra was going to cast her self at his feet he takes her in his arms and preventing what she would have said to him Divine Princess the ornament of the Universe said he to her be pleased to forget the persecution I have made you suffer and receive as a satisfaction I should make you the life and liberty of Caesario which I give you upon that account I am inclined to hope he will not disturb the quiet of our Empire since his fortune will be considerable enough in the enjoyment of Candace and possession of the great Kingdom of Ethiopia not to envie his whom he sees in the place of his Father Upon these last words of Augustus the Illustrious persons that were present reiterated their acclamations and while Marcellus embraced his knees with a certain transportation Cleopatra made another attempt to make her acknowledgements to him in the same posture for the life and happiness of her Brother Only Elisa of all that Illustrious Assembly seemed not to participate of the publick satisfaction so that Agrippa having taken notice of her grief comes up to the Emperor and embracing the knee Marcellus had quitted My Lord said he to him to be absolutely great to be absolutely just to be absolutely Caesar in all things you must consummate what you have begun It is to sollicit your goodness to do it that I have overcome my weakness and made a shift to crawl to your feet You have bestowed Cleopatra on the King of Mauritania and the Queen of Ethiopia on Caesario you must my Lord to accomplish all things with the same greatness bestow the Princess of Parthia on her valiant and faithful Artabau He only of all the world is worthy of her and besides your doing therein an action suitable to your justice you will have the glory to have given the Parthians who were the most in veterate enemies of the Roman name a King The Emperour was not a little surprized at the discourse of Agrippa though he should have been better acquainted with his vertue than to have received that expression of it with so much astonishment and looking on him with a countenance wherein was legible what his thoughts were upon Agrippa said he to him the Proposition you make to me is I must confess conformable to my inclinations but not to the obligations of friendship which lie upon me and you know I have a friend who hath suffered much upon the account of Elisa's love and whose concernments I am obliged to prosecute He for whom you have that goodness replies Agrippa is not more satisfied with the expressions he receivs thereof than he hath been troubled at the effects it hath produced and he would not to save his life did it depend thereon retard for so much as one day the happiness of those illustrious persons In fine my Lord he hath conquered that passion which was so inconsistent with his glory and his duty and with the assistance of his courage had reduced it to such a posture as not to raise any further disturbance to his vertu Consider not any thing somuch in order to his satisfaction as the request he now makes to you for that of the Princess of Parthia and give him leave to repair the injuries he hath done by affording him the means to serve those whom he hath with so much injustice oppressed The Emperour was extreamly satisfied with this discourse of Agrippa and embracing him with a tender affection I cannot give you a greater commendation said he to him than in affirming
you are still Agrippa and that you discover the greatness of your soul no less in the conquest of your passions then in reducing the enemies of the Empire Whereupon turning to the Queen of Parthia Madam said he to her you have heard the discourse of Agrippa and accordingly since his desires are so rational it shall not be my sault if Artaban be not happy and you satisfied I crave your pardon for the trouble I have caused you upon an account which will in some measure oblige you to excuse it when you shall understand it and I hope you will not refuse me the friendship and alliance I intend to make with you before you leave our territories Elisa's satisfaction was so great at this discourse of Augustus that all her modesty was not able to smother it and the Queen in whom her expressions of it were more allowable made her acknowledgments to the Emperour in the most obliging terms she possibly could In the mean time Coriolanus Cleopatra and Mercellus were at the Empresses feet to thank her for the favour she had done them acknowledging themselves obliged to her for their enjoyments and lives and though she looked on the credit of Marcellus with some jealousie yet had she embraced him as her Son assured Coriolanus that she could not forbear loving a person who had saved the Emperours life and said to Cleopatra that since she was not willing to be her daughter by a marriage with Tiberius she expected she would be by the affection she would ever have for her She told him further that what Drusus had done for them should remit somewhat of the resentment they had against her and which she was willing to pardon for their sakes and Antonia's This past the Emperour turned to the King of Scythia and craved his pardon that he had been so backward to comply with his desires intreating him to forget it and continue his friend While he was speaking to him Octavia and her Daughters embraced one while Cleopatra another Marcellus and caressed them as persons returned out of the other world and such as they had lamented as either dead or ready to suffer death After those mutual embraces of the Sisters Marcellus and Drusus did their submissions to Julia and Antonia and if Marcellus observed in Julia a certain dissatisfaction that he had done that upon the account of friendship which he had never done upon that of love Drusus on the contrary read in the countenance of Antonia that she was sensible in the highest manner that could be of what he had done for her Relations These entertainments might well have taken up the whole day but it was fit they thought of the besieged Princes and Queen Candace for fear any thing should happen that might interrupt their joy The Emperor immediately sent officers to draw off the forces that were about the Castle and would needs have Marcellus Coriolanus and Drusus go themselves with Mccenas Domitius and divers others to conduct the Queen and Princes from the Castle to the Palace They departed without anydelay and their diligence was no more than needed for just as they were got before to the Castle and that according to the Emperours orders the Officers made way for them the surious Artaban and the valiant son of Cesar with the three sons of Anthony preserring the death they might receive from the points of their enemies swords before starving and encouraged by Queen Candace her self who would not expect death behind dead walls were letting down the draw-bridg to run desperately upon the first party they met with and the terrible Artaban was already come over the bridg with a fury which notwithstanding their number struck a terrour in those who were first to oppose his passage when the Princes his friends discovered themselves to him and his valiant companions and they at the same time saw the Emperours forces drawing off according to the orders they had received Artaban and Caesario made a halt somewhat astonished at the sight and Marcellus running to them and embracing them with transportations of joy acquainted them with the happiness of Goriolanus and their own with a passion which satisfied them that he was no less glad thereof than they might be themselves Though the Princes entertained the news with that great courage which neither misfortune could abate nor prosperity heighten yet could they not but be sensible of such good fortune but much more out of a respect to the Princesses they loved than themselves and if Cesario were glad to see his fair Queen escaped the death which had threatned her not long before the son of Pompey could not without an excess of satisfaction understand that he was called to the enjoyment of Elisa and that his fortunes were in such a posture as to defie all obstacles Yet was there still one rub in his way though inconsiderable in comparison of those he had over-mastered for assoon as the three Princes were gone out of the Palace-hall and the noise which these great adventures had raised there a little abated Tigranes came to the Emperour and after he had made his complaints to him that he had bestowed Elisa on Artaban without minding his interest he intreated him not to doe him the injustice and to permit him to prosecute those hopes which some dayes before he had encouraged him to conceive But the Emperour interrupting him at the beginning of his discourse Tigranes said he to him I advise you not to oppose any longer the fortune of of Artaban the Queen would have him for her son Elisa for her husband the Parthians for their King and you are not desired by any You will find it no easie matter to overcome all these difficulties though you were more powerful then you are and besides you are not disengaged of your promise to the Princess of Cappadocia nor have decided the difference there is between you and the King her Brother who whether friend or enemy is not to be slighted Follow my counsel endeavour your own quiet by performing your promise and satisfying a Friend whom you are obliged to for you Crown all will countenance you in that design where as in the other you meet with opposition of all sides To this discourse of the Emperour Ariobarzanes as also Alcameues joyning with them represented so many things to Tigranes that despairing the enjoyment of Elisa he told him that if Archelaus and Urania would forget the injury he had done them and never urge it against him he would make good his promise and marry Urania The Emperour undertook for Archelaus and having thereupon caused those two Kings to embrace one the other he determined their differences and setled that marriage to the satisfaction of many persons especially Philadelph Things were thus far composed when Queen Candace Artaban Cesario and their companions entred the Palace Augustus went to meet them and coming to Artaban first Are you content to be my friend said he to him if
lover who passed not away the evening with the person he particularly loved even to Tigranes who with some confusion renewed his addresses to Urania There seemed to be some rub in the happiness of Philadelph by reason of the scruples of Arsinoe who made some difficulty to marry him though she infinitely loved him before he were assured of his Father the King of Cilicia's consent whom she knew to be much averse to the Alliance of Armenia but as good fortune would have it the next day after these great accidents had happened there arrived at Alexandria certain Deputies from the Kingdome of Cilicia whose business it was to acquaint the Prince with his Fathers death and his being King of Cilicia so that Philadelph having rendred to nature what might be expected from him resigned himself absolutely to the embraces of his amiable Delia and proffered her with his person the Crown which was then fallen to him The Emperour made also some difficulty to bestow Ismenia on Arminius as being Daughter to an Allie of the Romans and one that mortally hated Arminius conceiving he should not do an Allie such a displeasure as without his consent to bestow his Daughter on his enemy but Julia and Agrippa who much concerned themselves in the enjoyments of those two Lovers took away that obstacle by obliging Arminius to make an Alliance with the Romans and protest he would court that of Segestes as of his Father Arminius promised friendship and service to the Romans Varus only excepted who had made him a Gladiator with whom he desied all reconciliation and assured the Emperour that he would never engage in any War against his subjects conditionally he would never send Varus into his countrey which if he did he would not undertake to lye quiet but by all manner of wayes Prosecute the aversion he had against that cruel enemy who of a soveraign Prince had made him a Gladiator Augustus excused the earnestness of his resentment and was content he should upon these terms marry Ismenia before he left Alexandria assuring himself that he would engage Segestes s consent thereto He had some intentions also to defer the marriages of Marcellus and Drusus till his return to Rome where he would have them celebrated in the sight of the People of the City with that of Agrippa whose indisposition suffered him not to think so soon of marriage But those two Princes cast themselves at his feet and made it so earnestly their suit to him that their felicity might not be deferred any more then that of all the rest that at last he was content and would honour the City of Alexandria with the marriage of his Daughter as also with those of all the most considerable persons upon earth But to what end should I spin out any longer the closure of these adventures At last after the impatient expectation of so many illustrious Lovers the happy and so much desired day being come the City of Alexandria saw the greatest solemnity that ever any City in the world did and the Temple of Isis was made celebrious by the noblest assembly and most important ceremony that ever had been seen in any age There it was that the indissoluble knot was ty'd between Coriolanus or Juba for with a Crown he resumed the name of his Ancestors and his divine Cleopatra Artaban and the excellent Elisa Caesario and Queen Candace Marcellus and the Princess Julia Drusus and the fair Antonia the King of Armenia and his Olympia Philadelph King of Cilicia and his amiable Delia Alexander and Artemisa the King of Capadocia and the vertuous Andromeda the King of Media and Urania and the valiant Arminius and his dearest Ismenia Never certainly had the Universe seen so solemn a festival never had so many Beauties appeared together before that glorious star which shed on them that fortunate and remarkable day and never had there been such a Conjuction of Beauty Love Vertue Valour dignity and real worth in one City and in the same age The City of Alexandria prouder of the glory it had received that day then what it derived from it's Founder saw with joy the happiness of so many great Princes who after so many traverses of fortune found within its walls the sweet recompence of their sufferings and met with the enjoyments of those Beauties for which they had sighed so much Their felicity can better be conceived then represented and more may be learnt from Imagination then discourse The Emperour deferred to be celebrated at Rome with the marriage of Agrippa that of Domitius with Agrippina that of Ptolomey with Marcia though the young Prince discovered but little forwardness thereto and that of Lentulus with his fair Tullia As for Julius Antonius whom the rigours of Tullia had made insensible of any amorous inclinations he would hear nor talk of marriage and it was a long time after that he married one of the Emperours Neeces Augustus with his own hands crowned Juba King of the two Mauritanias Artaban received the Crown of Parthia from the hands of the Queen Mother to Elisa and Cesario that of Ethiopia from his fair Queen The Emperour invested Alexander in a great part of Egypt with the City of Alexandria in soveraignty dependent on the Empire left Petronius his Lieutenant in the rest of Egypt The Kings of Parthia and Scythia solemnly confirmed the alliances which Alcamenes had proposed the like was done with the Kings of Mauritania and Ethiopia and since inviolably observed What time these illustrious persons stayed afterwards in Alexandria was wholly spent in divertisements magnificence and confirmations of so many great and important Alliances And when they were to separate to resign their soveraigns to the Nations which expected their return upon the same day Augustus with the Kings Marcellus and all the Romans took their way towards Rome and all those great ones with their fair conforts went their several ways towards their Kingdomes to govern and felicify the people under their jurisdiction Their governments were excellent and flourishing as we have received from the Historians of their times but the design I have proposed to my self not to exceed the limits of my scene suffers me not to wait on them in their several travels homeward nor to give my Readers any account of the glorious reign of Artaban over the Parthians among whom to comply with the desires of Elisa he passed for the son of Artanez and was content the world should believe him descended from Arsaces nor of that of Juba over the Moors whom he governed with admirable lenity and made dreadful to all Africk nor that of Caesario over the Ethiopians and the happiness of his fair Queen whom many years after Heaven was pleased to illuminate from above as we find in sacred Historians Nor am I to say any thing of that of Ariobarzanes over the Arminians of Philadelph over the Cilicians of Archelaus over the Cappadocians and those of so many other Nations that lived happily under their jurisdiction In like manner must I be silent as to the marriages that were celebrated at Rome the happiness and glory of Drusus who not long after came into great reputation by his gallant actions as also the consequences of the noble friendship between Marcellus and the King of Mauritania which no doubt the world had heard much more of had it not been soon after terminated by the death of that illustrious Roman the marriage of Agrippa with Julia after the death of Marcellus and the fulfilling of the predictions of Thrasyllus by Tiberius's attainment of the Empire I think I have done enough to bring so many illustrious Lovers into the Haven after so many storms whereby their noble Lives were crossed and to have haply with success enough considering the greatness of the undertaking put a glorious and happy period to the adventures of my Cleopatra The End of the twelfth and Last Part of CLEOPATRA FINIS
arrested my intentions and I have shak'd at the thought of my design like a timerous Souldier at the sight of an Enemy or his approaches to an Assault yet I exprest part of that in looks which my tongue would fain have said at large and then if she chanced to cast her eyes upon mine and take them in the fact they lost all their assurance and were either too feeble to receive the beams she shot without astonishment or confounded with the surprisal threw themselves at the feet of this Divine Princess and seemed by that submiss action to ask pardon for the fault The Queen had soon discovered the truth if she had not been prevented by so many cruel Cares that would not permit her to fasten an observing thought upon any of my particular actions I was one day with the Princess Alexandra her Mother and as I kept a complacence full of respect in my behaviour to them by the help of an opinion which they had conceived to my advantage they began to repose much confidence in me Alexandra being of a boiling spirit and a temper which wanted much of the sweetness and patience the Queen her Daughter was indued with abandon'd her self to the resentment which was yet fresh for the death of Aristobulus exclaimed against the cruelty of Herod in most violent terms and deplor'd her own and her Daughters condition in words full of passion and transport from the injuries she received in her Son's death and the ruine of her Kindred her bitter complaints passed to the deadly jealousie of Herod and the fatal effects it had like to have wrought by the Order he had given to his Unkle Joseph which at the brink of his going to appear before Anthony at Laodicea commanded him to kill Mariamne in case that voyage proved fatal to him Alexandra went on with vehemence in recounting divers other effects of her Son-in-law's cruelty and during all the discourse the Queen never so much as open'd her mouth but only to let go some redoubled sighs and made her tears keep company with her Mothers words which gave fresh lustre to her beauty Oh Gods what new deep wounds did the sight of that lovely sorrow give me how possible it was to behold my Divine Queen in that estate without suffering all her sorrows I had now no longer power to dissemble and losing all remembrance of my present condition and the danger whereinto I threw my self headlong by provoking Herod against me I blindly abandoned my self to the motions of my passion and casting my eyes moist as the Queens upon hers that were letting fall their dejected looks to the Earth Good Gods cried I sighing is it possible you should submit the most accomplish'd piece that ere you made to so much affliction and must I owe safety to a man whose actions have given me so much horrour I presently repented that I had suffered these words to escape me fearing I had declared my self too far but after I perceived I was understood by none but the Princesses and that they appeared unmoved I recovered my assurance and a little after the Princess Alexandra being retir'd to the other end of the Chamber to confer with some Persons and seeing my self alone with the Queen by her bed's side I made a strong assault upon my fear to recover my Discourse and beholding the Tears that still crept upon her fair Cheeks Would to Heaven Madam said I that all the bloud I have could stay the recourse of those precious tears you spill Ah! with what joy should I resign it how gladly sacrifice my Life for the repose of yours These words wholly compassionate as they were were ascribed by the Queen to nought but the Compassion I took of her Misfortunes yet they called her from the Contemplation of her miseries which had seized her thoughts and raising up her eyes to mine with a look full of a sweet acknowledgment I should be sorry said she to buy the quiet of my life with the danger of yours and I have yet more right to my own miseries than to your afflictions we are both persecuted you by a Brother and I by a Husband your resentments I cannot disapprove but I can admit none that are unlawful against my Husband and if his actions do frame our calamities 't is fit I should believe that Heaven makes use of them to chastise our Crimes By them it hath let fall its wrath upon the head of our deplorable Family and therefore if any complaint breaks from me it makes its way through the weakness of my Nature and must be owned for the Child of Justice O miraculous Virtue cry'd I interrupting her It is requisite I should redouble my griefs to see you plunged in such deep Calamity My Misfortunes are not insupportable replied the Queen if you would find the way to understand them right and if you knew the God which I adore you would likewise know the consolation I tast in my sufferings which now you cannot apprehend If he hath given me Herod for a Punishment as well as a Husband I ought to receive him from his hands as both and if he ordains me to pardon the injuries done by the most cruel and remote Enemies sure he would have me forget those with an entire resignation I received from him to whom he hath pleased to tie me in a knot so sacred It is that Madam answered I that makes me hold my condition unfortunate that Heaven hath raised you up an Enemy and a Persecutor against whom I cannot offer you my Sword and Life without offending your Virtue that your high raised Reflections cannot be combated by a man that reveres you nor can I censure the consideration you keep for the King your Husband since in his Arms I found my refuge nor do him any ill office without ingratitude but if the interest which I take in your wrongs the admiration I have of your virtue and resentments much more pressing and particular make me find in your afflictions a Subject at these words I stopped and considering how the insensible transport of my passion had carried me into terms of discovery I staid in an abrupt silence without conducting my words to any period The Queen observing my strange breaking off looked upon me and doubtless either expected what was behind to close my Discourse or would have asked the cause of my sudden silence when the Princess her Mother came back again to my rescue from the perplexity wherein my imprudence had engaged me yet I think we had spent more time in this entertainment if the arrival of some Ladies had not interrupted us the principal of which was Salome the Sister of Herod It was not amity that brought her to visit the Princesses for she hated them mortally but having a dexterous and artificial spirit she made it bow to her Interests and knowing the power Mariamne had as unfortunate as she was in the Kings affections she forced her self to
follow the destiny of your Father I see my self reduced by my destiny to hearken to discourses whereunto possibly at another time and amongst other persons I should not have been exposed but I support it with patience and it is just that I should suffer something from him who hath received so cruel a displeasure from my relations If by my discourses replyed I you suffer any thing the Gods are my witnesses it is not by my intention and it shall never be out of revenge that I give you my heart and despoil my self of my liberty Your powers are too well known by your self to let you find any strangeness in this change and though you have not contributed to it by your own design yet you will not be innocent of it if you do not look with pity upon the evil you have done me Cleopatra then composed her countenance to gravity and severity more than before and looking upon me with a coldness accompanied with some disdain You shall never be in a condition said she to me to have need of my pity and it shall never be my intention to reduce you to it I shall be very much obliged to you if for my sake you would abandon the desires of revenge you have conceived against the remainders of our family but if you please I will pass by that or if I require any effect of your goodness it is only this that you would cause us to be conducted to Alexandria the passage over thither is very short and there without doubt you shall receive thanks from Caesar for the good office you have rendred to persons who are not indifferent to him These word of Cleopatra did not presently receive an answer and the request she made to me was very unconformable to my intentions Fortune had put her into my hands by a too extraordinary adventure to make me lose all the advantage of it so quickly and if her beauty had freed her from my choler I could not consent that her return to her Friends should so speedily rob my love of her I saw that in the very place where she was subject to my power and where in respect of the danger she had run she had some cause to fear me she appeared little disposed to any compliance with my love and I had reason enough to fear that when she should be no longer in the place where I might serve my self with those advantages which fortune had given me near her she would reject my affections with disdain whereof I had noted some marks in her visage and her last expressions This consideration made me resolve not to have her back to Alexandria till I had better sounded her inclinations and judged whether I might hope for any acknowledgement of my love from her when she should be at liberty yet as my passion made me affraid to displease her I dissembled my design to her and after I had told her that I was disposed to obey her will I prayed her to pass out of her own vessel which was broken and unprofitable for navigation into mine which was in a condition to do us service The Princess passed into it with her Maids and the few men that were left the rest having lost their lives in the resistance which they would have made against us Of two Chambers that were in the vessel I left her the best where having intreated her to repose her self a while I retired my self into the other with my men and having caused those to be called who had the care of conducting the vessel I commanded them to sail slowly towards Alexandria but not to land and to keep themselves along the coast some furlongs from the City I caused them to take this way though as I told you my intention was not to go to Alexandria partly not to allarm the Princess and partly because the wind stood that way and was quite contrary to our return for Armenia A little after night came on and we having cast Anchor in a place where we found ground we passed the night at so near a distance that if the darkness had not hindred us we might have seen the walls of Alexandria Some while after I returned to the Princess from whom I could stay no longer without great constraint and being entred into some discourse with her she prayed me to inform her what displeasure I had received from Prince Alexander her Brother for whom she was extreamly in pain having heard no news of him since the arrival of his Equipage at Rome after his return from Pannonia I made some difficulty at the first to satisfie her desire fearing to incense her against me by the use I shewed to her Brother but because I naturally hate to dissemble I was willing to let her understand the truth and beginning to speak after a short interval of silence Madam said I I cannot give you a more perfect testimony of the power you have over me than in making the relation you require I fear truly that by recounting what I have done and what I would have done against your relations I shall incur your aversion and if you do not excuse me by the just subject of my resentments without doubt you will condemn them of effects contrary to clemency but seeing it is impossible to disobey you and my humour shall never be to conceal my most secret thoughts from you and lastly what I have done against your Brother is less criminal than that which I have undertaken against you I will inform you of all without any disguise After these words I related to her all that had happened to her Brother in Armenia in the same manner that I related it but now to you and though I endeavoured in some places to smooth over the roughness of my proceedings I could not do it so but that the Princess was troubled very often and found in the confession which I made to her great cause to hate me During my discourse I took notice of it divers times by the change of her countenance and by some exclamations which she made in those parts of my relation wherein she saw her Brother in the greatest extremity of danger but when I was at the end of my narration looking upon me with eyes wherein her new resentment was expressed whatsoever she did to disguise it I must needs tell you said she and I cannot hinder my self from doing it that to have been capable of what you have recounted to me you must have been the issue of a Lion or some thing yet more cruel and this perseverance to make an innocent Prince die a shameful death joyned with an obstinacy against pity which so many objects and so many reasons ought to have introduced into your soul expresses an harshness of nature which I should never have suspected in the Son of a King If my cruelty against your Brother replyed I merits the horrour which you express at it you will hardly excuse
that of the Queen your Mother who without having received any injury from him only at the solicitation of his enemy really executed that upon the person of a great King which I would have done upon your Brother in revenge of my Father Yet I will not say before you that I am innocent and I confess that though I should have been excusable for putting to death the Son of Anthony yet I ought to treat the Brother of Cleopatra with sweetness and respect but Madam at that time I was as ignorant of what was due to you as I was of your person and since that of your presecutour and your enemy I am become your adorer I condemn all that is past and I tremble my self at the memory of that which I have enterprized against your Friends Do not therefore O divine Cleopatra follow the example of that which you detest avoid in your self that cruelty which you justly condemn in others This pity and this goodness which are so natural to you will find in me fit matter to employ themselves upon and the more culpable I shall be towards you the more commendable will your compassion be in exercising its self towards him who of all men hath rendred himself least worthy of it I used other discourses to her whereunto she made little answer and seeing that some part of the night was spent and that it was time for her to take her repose I bad her good night and left her in the Chamber with her Maids I know not what her thoughts were during the night but I very well know that mine kept me awake till day-break and this fair image was not a moment out of my memory These admirable beauties whereunto the Sun without doubt never saw any equal presented themselves to my mind with new forces and all that could dispute any thing against them in my soul was so dissipated by the reflection I made upon them that persons grown old in love could hardly have been more subjected to them than I was in a piece of one single day I considered then as much as I could possible the change of my condition and seeing how different I was from what I had been some hours before I could not think upon it without being amazed my self and admiring at the capriciousness of my fortune This said I thou didst run as furious as a Lion to the ruine and death of the children of Anthony and this night thou seest thy self in a condition not to hold thy life but from the daughter of Anthony The choler which agitated thee with so much violence hath made way for another passion no less violent than thy choler and if at the first appearance it conceals its cruelty from thee it will make it self known to thee in a condition wherein all the force of thy soul will not be able to secure thee Certain it is thou lovest the greatest beauty the world hath but thou lovest a person whom thou hast prepossessed with aversion and horrour both by the relation thou hast made her and by that thou hast attempted against her self she will hardly love him who with a Barbarous design hath presented his sword at her throat and who was obstinately resolved to the very last to make her well-beloved Brother suffer a shameful death Cleopatra is not a prize to be obtained by outrage and cruelty and what I could not merit by my blood and services I shall hardly gain by the horrible ways which have brought me acquainted with her O love thou which establishest thy self so unseasonably in an heart which never knew thee what wilt thou have me do to march under thy Empire and what way wilt thou open to me through the cruel difficulties which oppose my fortune shall I go to require Caesar and of that Alexander whom I have used so unworthily a Sister whom chance hath put into my hands in exchange of a Sister which he hath robbed me of Ah without doubt the resentment both of the Brother and Sister doth oppose all the hope I can conceive upon that part Alexander will call to mind with a just indignation that I have caused him to be brought upon a Scaffold to lose his head and Cleopatra will no sooner be at liberty but she will look upon me as an Executioner thirsting after her blood rather than upon one who at first sight hath surrendred up his heart to her Shall I make use of my fortune and take the way back to Armenia to conduct Cleopatra into places where by an absolute power I may render Cleopatra more conformable to my will Ah this violence will be contrary to that love which is established in my soul with respect and observance and if Cleopatra consents not to it I shall hardly dispose my mind to offer her any constraint What shall we do then O love and what counsel wilt thou give me in my irresolutions I discoursed within my self in this manner and I found so many difficulties on all sides that the day appeared before I had determined any thing When Cleopatra was fit to be seen I went to give her good-morrow and I found in her countenance disdain and marks of dislike though out of prudence in the condition wherein she then was she endeavoured to dissemble it which I took for a very bad augury After the first discourses wherewith I accosted her approaching to her in the most pleasing and submissive manner I could possibly May the Gods said I be pleased to pardon You the ill you have done me but I may truly tell you that I have suffered more since I have been with you than I had ever suffered either by my passions or the calamities of my Family throughout the rest of my life It is no design of mine replyed the Princess coldly and I am no more culpable of it than Alexander was of the death of the King your Father This reply full of reproach made me blush who at another time and from another person could have heard a thousand times as much without being moved and looking upon the Princess with an air altogether passionate Do not compare said I to her the innocence of your self and yours in relation to the misfortune of Artibasus to that whereunto you pretend in respect of the ill you have done to his Son that comes entirely from you and your design was not necessary to that which your powers could execute alone without calling your intention to their aid These are they who conspiring with my destiny entirely give me to you and if you do not disdain the affections of a Prince who renders at your feet the homage of an eternal fidelity together with my person such as it is I offer you a flourishing Crown by such ways as probably will not be disapproved by Your friends which banishing the hatred of our houses will unite them by an eternal alliance There is but a little probability replyed the Princess with her former coldness
some despair in Arsanes of qualifying his Master's spirit and after that Marcellus melting with compassion at this deplorable adventure was sate down by Tyridates to hear this sad narration Arsanes with a great deal of pain began in these terms The History of Mariamne I Will relate to you Sir seeing you command me and my evil destiny will have it so the end of a great Queen who was worthy of your affections and the admiration of the whole earth I will recount to you the particularities of it in a few words as I have understood them from such of her Domesticks who best knew them in Jerusalem where the Queen rendred up her Soul two daies before I arrived Herod's humour and manner of life with Mariamne is sufficiently known to you Sir and you have not forgotten in what condition you left her at your departure from Judea Jealousie to which he was inclined above all other men tormented him at that time with very great violence and during some daies his rage expressed it self by all the marks he could give it without coming to those cruel extremities to which he was since transported he complained highly of the Queen whom he termed unfaithful and against whom he vomited out whatsoever his unjust passion could put into his mouth and the wicked Salome whose rage was augmented by your departure and the scorn you made of her affections inspired these resentments into him as much as possibly she could and did not let slip any occasion to exasperate him more and more against the Queen whom she could only accuse of having robbed her of an heart to which she pretended but in vain This savage spirit being susceptible of all bad impressions easily received what this wicked Sister would have him and in this rage to which he was immoderately abated he continued divers daies without seeing the Queen or hearing her spoken of by them who out of a good zeal interposed for their reconciliation Mariamne thought her self never the more unhappy for this and the caresses of this cruel man being as insupportable as the effects of his choler she would have been contented to have continued in the same condition with him if she had not been accused to have drawn this disgrace upon her self by some action wherewith she might be reproached and whereby she might seem to have deviated from that sublime vertue to which she had alwaies born so great a love The resentments of Herod continued as long as possibly they could but at last they gave place to his love and he really bearing a very violent affection to the Queen his Wife by this force the indignation he had conceived against her was dissipated and he returned to her more kind and humble than before he expressed his repentance for what was past and conjured her to retain no memory of it as he would forget the suspicions which he had conceived against her fidelity The Queen whatsoever repugnance she had against the person and humour of Herod did yet respect the character of an Husband and being full of a generous goodness by the regret which he testified to her by very significant expressions she was pacified as she believed it was her duty to be and she was reconciled unto him as far as the disproportion of their manners and the memory of the cruel injuries she had received in the death of all her relations would permit Herod's mind was in some repose and there were general appearances enough of it in the Court Salome only and those she had drawn to her party even dyed with despight in the publick tranquility and could not endure peace in the Royal Family without having a cruel war in their hearts Herod was continually with the Queen and expressed to her the same ardency of affection as he did in the beginning of his passion and by your absence having lost the object which might put him again in distrust he continued a long time without shewing any mark of jealousie only the unwillingness of the Queen to endure his caresses caused sometimes some disorder between them and as it was a difficult thing that this Princess should keep her self in an eternal constraint and for a Man whom she had so many reasons to hate so she could not choose sometimes but receive him with coldness and express but little sweetness or complacency to him Herod's spirit was then transported with very violent excesses and Salome seeing him in this condition lost no time nor occasion to represent to him that the disdains of Mariamne proceeded from the memory of Tyridates which absence could not blot out of her mind Herod's jealousie easily renewed it self at this discourse and as long as he was tormented by it he flew out into discourses and sometimes into designs full of violence but at length love returned more powerful than Salome and all that the solicitations of that wicked Creature had raised against the innocent Queen was overthrown by this predominant passion in Herod's soul In this sort they passed a whole year that one could not tell what to call their kind of life peace or open War and possibly they might have lived a longer time in this manner if the destiny of this fair Princess had not been hastened by a terrible disaster Herod having one day sent to intreat the Queen to come into his Chamber she whether she were busie about something which was more dear to her than the sight of that cruel Man or whether she were then in the height of aversness from him as the memory of the injuries she had received renewed in her mind refused divers times to go and at last being extraordinarily pressed to it she disposed her self to render him this visit but she did it with a countenance whereupon Herod might easily read the repugnance she had to give him this satisfaction Herod upon this discovery being netled with a violent displeasure could not dissemble it any more than she and greeting her with a discontented look I am very sorry Madam said he that you are obliged by any law to offer that violence to your self that you do and if I had not this violent passion for you which by your bad usage you endeavour to banish out of my soul as you can possibly I should less often give you the trouble of seeing an Husband which by his misfortune is become so odious to you The Queen was little troubled at Herod's words and looking upon him with a disdainful eye I hate You not answered she the God whom we serve and my duty forbid that but you may well imagine that my affections could not be strengthned towards you by such bloody displeasures as you have done me Ah! ungrateful Woman replyed the Jewish King proud cruel and irreconcilable spirit wilt thou never put an end to thy unjust reproaches wilt thou eternally serve thy self with the pretence of injuries and displeasures to palliate the natural aversion thou hast against thy husband Though
esteem and friendship as he was of the blood he was descended of and the name he bore But the King of Mauritania seeing in him that Brother of Cleopatra lost for so many years whom he had loved as the worthy Brother of his Princess and by whom he had been so gallantly seconded against those who would have carried her away the day he had fought with Tiberius and fallen into the hands of Augustus thought himself obliged more particularly than all others to assure him of his affection and resentment and was not wanting to acquit himself thereof though it troubled him above any to see so many persons that were dear to him cast themselves into a mis-fortune which he conceived none should be engaged in but himself Having taken all necessary order for the defence of the Castle the two Princesses would have the Princes put off their armour to take a little rest which in obedience to their commands they did and went all together with them to the chamber where they had staid during the assault There it was that Cesario took occasion to acquaint that Illustrious company with what Coriolanus had done for the rescue of Augustus and that craving Marcellus's pardon for the intention he had to be the death of his Uncle he represented to him the new obligation put upon him by his Friend All present admired the action of the King of Mauritania and the son of Octavia embracing him with a transportation greater than what proceeds from friendship It is certainly your design said he to him that this single action should eclipse all the demonstrations I can give you of my friendship and reduce me to a condition to die ungrateful though I die with you O ye Gods continued he is it possible such an exemplary vertue should find persecutors and enemies among men Ah friends added he but the truest that ever was since that in the heat of fighting and in so just a resentment as that you might conceive against so cruel an enemy you protect him against the armes of your friends Oppose not any longer what I would do for you and only pity my mis-fortune which in acknowledgment of such transcendent discoveries of your friendship permits me not to give you but trivial demonstrations of mine To these words of Marcellus the Assembly added their celebrations of the generosity of Coriolanus but he was but little sensible thereof at that time as being extreamly cast down at the news brought him that there were no provisions in the Castle and that there was hardly to suffice the persons that were in it for the remainder of that day He saw by this account of their condition that the place was no longer to be maintained by valour that there was no way but to perish and that though the Princes might have the constancy to endure hunger to the utmost extremity the souldiers who had no heroick souls would not be so satisfied but the next day if that mis-fortune came to their knowledge deliver both them and the Castle into the hands of Augustus The reflections he made thereon were as so many thorns in his breast and knowing it was through his means that those he so dearly loved were all exposed to the same extremity his constancy how great soever could not but give way upon his thoughts of it Whereupon death presenting it self to his imagination not such as he had often defied in combats where it could never daunt him but under the most horrid shape it could assume by hazarding the lives of Cleopatra and Marcellus made him tremble and put him into a condition much more deplorable than if he had been at that very instant to lay his head down to the cruel Instruments of Augustus's revenge Cleopatra and Marcellus observing in his countenance the disturbance he was in would have comforted him but their presence instead of producing that effect rather aggravated his affliction nor could he but with eyes orecast with a fatal cloudiness look on those beloved persons who so readily embraced death upon his account In the mean time Cesario having had the opportunity of some discourse with Artaban had express'd to him the joy he conceived at his happy acknowledgement of being a Prince descended from Arsaces assuring him that news had not any way surpriz'd him and that he had ever considered him as a person so excellent in all things that he could not be perswaded but he was of noble birth But the Son of Pompey who had not with the discovery of his original reassum'd the unjust aversion which he deriv'd from nature against the son of Julius Caesar and called to mind that generous confidence of Caesario upon which the very day they had been reconciled he would have discovered his birth to him in a place where such a discovery might have prov'd dangerous he concluded it was not from him he had received Elisa's commands to conceal his own and that the Princess would not be dissatisfied that he should make that return to the generosity of so great a Prince To which end taking him aside to a Window whence they could not be over-heard It is not just said he to him I should answer that noble freedome you expressed toward me by a reservedness which I am commanded to observe towards others and since you out of a confidence worthy your courage would have discovered to me that you were the son of Caesar I cut of a like am to let you know that I am the Son of Pompey By this acknowledgment I clear Nature of the aversion she had given me against you but should not vindicate my own reason if it had not overcome it upon my knowledge of your admirable Vertue I am to tell you further that with the discovery of my being Pompey 's son my love to the son of Caesar hath not only received no remission but that I should not hate Caesar himself were he living since he carryed on the War against Pompey for Fame and the Empire and had no hand in the baseness of Ptolomey against whom I should turn all revenge if Caesar himself had not done it I am accordingly inclined to hope that you will not hate me for being Son to Pompey since the misfortunes of Pompey leave not Caesar himself any ground to hate him and that you are master of too great a Soul to wish those ill who court your friendship Caesario had with much astonishment hearkened to the discourse of Pompey's Son and when he had given over speaking rejoyning thereto with an action wherein might be seen that that discovery wrought no change of sentiments in him You surprize me not said he to him by the account you give me of your self it was but necessary that a person who can so well abate the insolence of Kings should be descended from a man who had seen so many Kings at his feet I am infinitely obliged to you that after this discovery you will continue your friendship
towards me nay though I am satisfied that neither Caesar nor Queen Cleopatra had any hand in the last misfortunes of Pompey and that it is not unlikely Caesar would have been moderate in the advantages of his fortune if that of Pompey would have permitted it yet I entertaine the proffer you make me of your friendship as a pure effect of your Vertue and am to assure you that next to the obligations I have to Candace there is not any thing I more value Whereupon embracing one another upon the new confirmation of their Friendship Artaban gave Caesario a short account of the particulars of his birth and the assurances he had of it as he had received them from Briton By this time night was drawing on and the Princes having caused a distribution to be made of what provisions there were in the Castle found much to their grief there was hardly to afford a light repast for so many persons and that the next day they must either be miraculously supplyed from heaven or suffer through hunger what they had avoided by the sword The Princesses and Princes made that poor meale with much constancy neither Cleopatra nor Candace discovering any thing of weakness upon so strange a misfortune Coriolanus and Caesario seem'd the only persons troubled as reflecting it was upon their account that their Princesses and Friends were fallen into that extremity and the grief which seemed to be legible in the countenances of Artaban Drusus and Alexander proceeded from their remembrances of Elisa Antonia and Artemisa rather than the danger that threatned them Drusus and Alexander discovered so much the less because they had left their Princesses safe among their Friends and feared not any thing might happen to them but Artaban was much in disturbance and though he were resolved out of a consideration of honour to perish with his Friends if he could not avoid it and had a courage great enough to face death without any trouble yet could he not reflect that Elisa was in the power of Augustus and that to be revenged for the injury he had that day received he might force her to marry Agrippa without an affliction that proved extremely a torment to him He was upon the rack of those considerations when Coriolanus and Caesario came to communicate their grief to him and ask his advice in the extremity they were reduced to and all the Princes being called to deliberate together what resolution should be taken it was without any contradiction resolved that when the night was a little advanced they should endeavour to force their way through the Guards and with the Princesses and all the men that were in the Castle endeavour to break through the Enemy on that side which led to the Ethiopian ships not but that the execution of this enterprise would prove difficult and dangerous yet was it to be embraced before the death they were assured of in the Castle being of that kind which was most unworthy their courage This resolution taken about an hour after they set things in order for the execution of it and the Princes having satisfied the souldiery of the necessity there was they should behave themselves gallantly Coriolanus Artaban and Caesario led them on and ordered the two Princesses with their women to come behind conducted by Marcellus Drusus and the three sons of Anthony That illustrious company consisting of what was most great in the world either as to Valour or Beauty went in that posture out of the Castle with a courage no less remarkable in the Princesses than the Princes and the three Chiefes who had severally commanded so great armies and were now all reduced to the command of so small a number fell in with such fury upon a guard placed almost at the end of the bridge and immediately forced it with such success that having cut some to pieces the rest fled in disorder to the next post This not only encouraged the souldiers but put their valiant commanders into some hope but when turning their faces towards the sea they would charge those that kept the passage that way they found their attempts would prove ineffectual the wayes being made up with barricadoes and great beames and maintained by above two thousand souldiers commanded by valiant men So that having set upon them very desperately but to little purpose and perceiving it impossible to get through and that upon the loss of some of their men the rest were unwilling to advance upon a design absolutely desperate they were forced to make what hast they could towards the Castle having out of a prudent foresight lest Briton and Eteocles at the end of the Bridge with fifty men to prevent the enemy from getting into it during the engagement and accordingly Marcellus Drusus and the Sons of Anthony conconducted the Princesses thither while Artaban Caesario and Coriolanus made their retreat so as to keep the Enemy in play till they came to the Castle gate into which they were the last that entred Upon this last act of misfortune was it that griefe and exasperation wrought their saddest effects in the two Princes who saw so many illustrious persons that were dear to them exposed to certain death upon their account Caesario fell at the feet of Candace to divert her from the design she had to dye with him and intreated his Brothers to leave him in an extremity wherein he could make no advantage of their generosity He pressed the same thing to the Great Artaban putting him in mind of his obligations to Elisa and representing to him that he should slight all things for the service of that Princess But the son of Juba was transported in such manner as would have raised compassion in the most insensible hearts and betraying what might be thought the effects of weakness in him had he been reduced thereto out of any respect to himself he endeavoured both by words and tears to prevail with those persons in whom the expectation of sudden death produced no such effect to leave him to his own misfortunes He lay prostrate at the feet of Cleopatra washing them with his tears and with much ado recovering the freedome of speech if ever said he to her Love begat compassion in any soul and if you would have me at the period of my life flatter my self with the glory of having been loved by my Princess my adored Princess by that love which I shall inviolably preserve in the other life by all you acknowledge sacred and in submission to those Deities whom you have ever reverenced and now incense by the injustice you do me force me not to die the most terrible kind of death my Enemies could have invented for me and think it enough that after the example of the Queen your Mother you have satisfied the world how easily you can slight death for his sake whom you love without exercising to the utmost this strange kind of cruelty upon me For in fine imagine not that when