approaching neerer to the Princesse in an abrupt manner told her though softly in her eare that her new guest was no other but her brother Ascanius broake from his imprisonment under the Senates jurisdiction wherefore wisht her for some time to discharge her dwarfe that he might more freely discourse to her his adventures Cloria was so much confounded with a sudden joy to have her sweet brother in her possession whom she could not be permitted to see during their imprisonment that her distractions could scarce finde a way to put in execution what her owne judgement should have thought convenient at another season But at last breaking through her pleasant amazement she discharged her little officer for however she was accustomed to trust him in her own secrets yet she would not notwithstanding use any priviledge to hazard her brothers confidence least it might render him lesse assured of his safety When she had passionately demonstrated his welcome by many affectionate kisses taking his white hand in hers which seemed also to have a neere alliance in beauty she desired him to make her acquainted with the passages of his escape since as she said they could not but be admirable considering the strict guard the Senate was ever accustomed to set over the Kings children in the interim Roxana curiously attended to understand the discourse that was to proceed from such dainty lips Wherefore after Ascanius had saluted his sisters looks with three or foure gentle smiles in which he seemed lovely to congratulate his own fortune and deride his Goalers carelesnesse he began this repetition though first he excused himselfe for many circumstances belonging to the story My father said he as he had commanded my brother Prince Arethusius for his better safety into the Kingdome of Syria there to attend the directions of our noble mother so was he perswaded by the Myssians in whose power he then remained in the Army to get me into his own possession whereby the better to secure as they pretended as many as might be of the bloud royall To this purpose he commanded me to make an escape and presently to repaire to his presence however with this caution that if I should be prevented in the execution I must not by any meanes reveale his desire least the Myssians should be brought into suspition who were then treating with the Senate about their payment But be their pretences what they would I strengthened my duty and obedience by all the thoughts my young yeares and lesse discretion could suggest advantageable to the designe and the Kings command which I must tell you scarce gave sleep to my eyes in the night or rest to my body in the day since truly I must needs say my youthfull ambition became more violent then ordinary to doe something exactly that might pretend to care and wisedome Yet not to trouble you with long repetitions where the successe proved unfortunate I was to my intollerable griefe taken in my escape though more perplexed I must confesse to be foyled in my first interprize then sorrowfull at the consequence of the losse being apprehended I was by order of the Senate exactly examined before such Commissioners as their gravities ordained to be judges of my actions However the gods so farre favoured my weake constancy that neither tyranny nor flattery was able to shake my dutifull resolution which so inraged their froward spleens that they not only caused me to be shut up in a darke roome but commanded some slight punishment to be inflicted upon my person as a small combatant in my fathers quarrell at which I rather laughed then seemed to feele But not finding these petty sufferings could prevaile against my spirit they ordered a great part of my dyet to be taken from me as supposing belike my belly was easiest to be conquered when truly I never esteemed meat the chiefe part of my consideration especially when I was assured for their own sakes they would afford me sufficient to sustaine nature yet at last having tryed all other wayes to compasse their ends without receiving any fruit from their labours they withdrew from me those accustomed respects belonging to my birth and quality which I cannot deny but most wrought upon my disposition for that I conceived the dignity of my parents as also your selfe sweet sister suffered in the omission To be short finding themselves wholly overcome by the goodnesse of my cause rather then by my courage they began of a sudden to change though not the theatre yet the manner of their action which was not only to sweeten their carriages towards me but also to tickle up my young ambition with hopes of being their elected King For as they said my father having totally abused his trust and my eldest brother Arethusius being unkindly fled from their protection they could finde none other so fit a person to undertake the government of the whole Kingdom as my self if I would but expresse love in my nature and be ruled by their Counsels for their intentions as they protested were never to destroy Monarchy But I being enflamed with a new rage to heare them to scandalize my fathers goodnesse go about to withdraw my duty by their intentions I answered that as my father had been much too gentle a Prince for such people so was their dissimulation no more to be believed concerning my selfe in these offers then when they protested to the world to make Euarchus the greatest King of Asia And in the meane time had to the uttermost of their power deprived him of his Crowne and dignity This blunt and resolute reply of mine belike gave them no further encouragement to proceed for telling me I was a pevish child and could not be brought to understand my own good they not only quitted my company but by degrees suffered againe the streame to returne into its right course to my singular content which however continued me still a prisoner Having past over so great a storme without shipwrack either of my own honour or danger to my fathers affaires I began to conceive good opinions of my judgement and beginning likewise to be extreame weary of my captivity since my yeares now required activity I fell into many considerations of another escape and had encouragement to put it in execution not only by daily rumours I heard of the discontents of the people for that they found no inclination of the Senate to agree with the King but also for that I understood many of the Kings ships had lately revolted from their service All which I say enflamed my thoughts to a new designe and these inflamations of hope desire and passion made me diligent to procure the good opinion of those that were intrusted with my person as a necessary consequence to my intention I oftentimes demanded of them to what end was it to use rigour in my imprisonment when it might turn to their prejudice if our side should hereafter prevaile neither could it at all
at Court which had been largely promised her though in the interim she must be content with her fortune since the State of Lydia thought it not fit for one in her condition bespotted with the opinion of so black a crime should have any correspondence with their Queen as 't was pretended of so bright a vertue when the gods know it was either the too much cleernesse of her own good parts or the rightfulnesse of her title being of a contrary Religion that was the onely obstacle of her happinesse But whilst Minerua under-went for many yeeres a hard imprisonment in Lydia since the Queen her selfe was so farre from easing her of her bonds as she would never give eare to her complaints the King her young sonne began to approach to mans estate and that maturenesse in age gave him a feeling of his mothers oppressions but her enemies in Mysia being also backt from the States in these parts who had an intention all they could to suppresse his greatnesse that he might have no power to claim his right in the kingdome of Lydia gave his thoughts and actions not onely continuall interruptions but at last imprisoned his very person in his own kingdome Notwithstanding all this the wise King bore these insolencies with unexampled patience knowing that as it was not in his power to free himselfe from their tyranny by any Kingly pretention so of the other side he hoped that factions amongst themselves would at last purchase his liberty In this state he continued untill his Guard found that it might be prejudiciall to his Titles in Lydia after the old Queens death to keep him thus as a prisoner whereby they might also be debarred from a plentifull share of the gain when Lydia by succession should fall to him upon these considerations they of a sudden not onely released him from his confinement but every one of these men themselves strived who might be most in his favour when as he not onely as a good natured Prince forgot all his injuries but became sufficiently pleased to be at liberty upon any termes But the old Queen of Lydia drawing now to her last period both of life and Kingdome conceiving it was reason sufficient for a just jealousie to have the heire apparant so neere her jurisdiction whom she imagined looked upon her continuance like a young blossome that strived to thrust out the ancient and withered flower from its stalke began suddenly to question the poore Princesse her selfe also being almost worn out by her hard usage about her correspondence with those forraine powers who were of her kindred And not content with any answer the truth of her proceedings could make called her to her triall before ordinary Commissioners As these might be evident marks of Minerva's ruine so were they not undiscovered by the sharp apprehension of the wise Lady though her spightfull fate would not afford her preservation notwithstanding her excellent endowments yet as she had good cause she excepted against those partiall Judges designed for her destruction by all the pretentions that a free Prin cesse or an opprest woman could alledge though the Queen seemed as deafe to her just and reasonable request as her enemies were violently bent to satisfie their cruelties untill in the end she was forced to desist from her importunities and stick wholy to the confidence her goodnesse had merited in God mercies This not onely brought her to a judgement-seat prepared with some outward circumstances fit to entertaine her dignity but to a condemnation prepared with ceremony to bewitch the understanding of the common people who rather desired to behold strange spectacles then to be delighted in just actions and in this May-game as I may call it of the worst cruelty when the form of Law was onely made use of to hide bad intentions was this brave and religious Queen as a period to all her fortunes sentenced to lose her head Notwithstanding this condemnation the Queen of Lydia for some time deferred the execution conceiving her own honour could not but suffer abroad in the opinion of all other Princes her equals as her kinswoman in person did at home under her jurisdiction But ambition jealousie and revenge at last got the victory over all her other vertues by the malicious and crafty perswasions of Minerva's enemies who believed they could not be safe as long as she lived since it was probable if ever she came to weare the Crown of Lydia she would alwaies be mindfull of their disaffections these reasons procured the Queen underhand to signe a warrant for Minerva's death which by the Lawes of the Countrey could not else be taken away by any power and with this authority a messenger presently was sent to the chief officer of the Province to give Minerva warning of her approaching doom When the sad Princesse beheld this bloudy character written with the royall hand of her neerest kinswoman it was a question whether amazement or courage governed most in her noble thoughts for as of one side she could scarce believe that the Queen had been drawne to an act so prejudiciall to the honour of her Sex so of the other side she entertained the newes with a gentle smile as a wished period of all her miseries onely with three or foure deep sighes she desired these requests of those commissioners that had authority to see the sentence put in execation First that she might have all her servants about her at the time of her death to beare true testimony to the world that she neither staggered in her religion nor derogated from her sonnes honour next that the Queen would be so charitable as not onely quietly to suffer those that attended about her person in safety to quit the Kingdome but to pay them their due wages if not reward them according to the just service she had received and lastly that she might have a Priest of her own profession to comfort and instruct her in her last suffering To the first they onely answered that as they could not give her leave to have all her attendants about her for feare of tumults by reason of their multitudes so were they willing to allow her some few to satisfie her desire For the second they promised to be intercessors to the Queen in her behalfe But for the last they absolutely refused her request pretending it would be a dishonour to the religion professed in Lydia With these answers Minerva retired into her chamber the better to prepare her religious thoughts against the next daies combate where she remained all that night with so constant a zeale to the worship of the gods and so cheerfull a demeanor in the perswading of her servants to patience by contemning of all worldly prosperity that it was easily to be perceived she rather entertained death as a kind friend that intended to put her in possession of a better life then as a fierce enemy that set before her imagination frights of a horrid destruction
many desperate inconveniences by reason of his want of conduct and providence that although Euarchus at that time fought not one stroake he was forced to compound for the lives and liberties of all his Souldiers which was an occasion that presently turned out Dimogoras out of his office whilst in the interim there was put into his place one Farezius whose melancholly valour in a very short time prevailed exceedingly for that the Myssians had caused the King to divide his Forces into so many severall commands that he could not conveniently maintaine a considerable body together under any Captaine to be able to contend with power sufficient wherefore after some Councell taken with his best friends the King resolved himselfe in person to endeavour to stop the fury of this new and prevailing Generall that seemed like an outragious Torrent to carry all before him whether he marched against Townes or Armies The King besides the inflammation of his own naturall courage was put on to fight with Farezius as 't was thought upon these reasons first to prevent a conjunction between him and the Myssians who were as yet at some distance next to continue a life in his own party that seemed something to decline his assistance in many places of the Kingdome in regard of the others extraordinary successe And last of all for that both money and other provisions failing he began to contract many necessities in his army It was not long before they both met upon a large Plaine in an open Countrey that afforded roome enough for an equall contention if the Fates had at all proved indifferent in the encounter The first charge was given with fury sufficient by both sides however the Kings horse without any known cause whatsoever of a sudden gave back and not long after most shamefully turned their backs though the foot with incredible gallantry still continued the fight with honour and safety Euarchus upon this however not being so much amazed as displeased presently rid amongst the flying Troopes as it were calling both gods and men to witnesse concerning the justnesse of his cause and the unfainednesse of his intentions withall perswading them either to shew more courage or lesse disloyalty not onely in his words but by his own unexampled courage evidently expressed before their faces he conjured them to fight or at leastwise to stand their ground at some distance whilst he and the rest exposed their lives to the fury of the enemy calling them sometimes his country men and subjects otherwhile he termed them no better then unworthy slaves that precipitately followed their own destruction and captivity when as they had a faire occasion offered them to be both glorious and happy but at last seeing nothing would prevaile he looked up to heaven with tears in his eyes beseeching that the gods would take pitty on him in his necessities at leastwise prove propitious to the Monarchy of Lydia that seemed absolutely to depend upon this dayes adventure Thus between praying fighting and perswading he continued untill he saw most of his Souldiers either taken or slaughtered so that at last being constrained with a very few number in his company to quit the Field he left his Campe to the courtesie of the enemies mercy whilst by obscure passages he got againe safe in person though much in his thoughts dejected to the strong Towne of Philadelphia where not long after by the whole power of Farezius he was besieged with the rest of his Court friends and family As this said he was the proceeding of that fatall day so may I suppose by the dispersing of the most part of the company it will be also time for us to retire so taking Narcissus by the hand he promised he should have the rest of his discourse at home His house was seated at the end of a small town only divided by a pleasant grove of wood that encompassed a round Temple built with Jonick Columns within which was the statue of Apollo when they had performed some few devotions according to the manner of the country amongst other Priests of their own order that remained in the place the old father led him to his habitation being entered into the Parlour he presently shewed him the picture of Euarchus which for some time he had kept as he said in an obscure corner of his house though now he seemed to expect more freedome whereupon he began to read a lecture concerning his life and disposition which gave him an occasion to discourse in this manner The father of Euarchus our now King being a Prince wholly given as I may say to his own pleasure only studied wayes to keep himselfe during his life in a quiet security to this purpose he not only brought up his sonne after the death of his elder brother in learning and domestick exercises under the protect of his own eye and jurisdiction but when he came to yeares of consent he endeavoured with some violence to marry him to the King of Aegypts daughter by whose greatnesse he thought to establish his owne regall power the better in Lydia perceiving his subjects were apt enough upon all occasions to kick against his authority But finding the Treaty was protracted he sent his son in person with an intimate favourite of his into Africa to court the young Lady To be short the journey produced no effects at all answerable to his desires for the two favourites of each Prince clashing together although a certaine day was appointed for the marriage yet the match broake though upon what grounds I neither know or can well dispute after this breach Euarchus made presently his addresse to Hyacinthia our now Queen being sister to Orsames King of Syria esteemed a most mortall enemy to the greatnesse of the Kingdome and Monarchy of Aegypt no sooner was this match concluded but the old King dyed leaving young Euarchus to inherit in outward appearance as much glory and prosperity as was possible to be enjoyed by mortality upon earth and so continued for many years untill these late unhappy difference obstructed his felicity which truly I must the rather bewaile in regard that he is a Prince given to no manner of vice however perhaps some will say he is more beholding to nature for his inclination then to resolution for his temperance unto which I must needs answer that as the world ought not to take any notice of the inward thoughts of man when people receive a generall commodity by the outward expressions of vertues so of the other side when good and laudable actions are accompanied with an entire justice in appearance it is unpossible but either the gods have placed such upon earth to become rare examples for imitation to others or else have ordained them to be extreamely beneficiall to themselves so that both wayes deserve singular countenance and preservation and this without any partiality may be said to be the right character of the disposition of Euarchus now for his
thinks that season longer and his torment greater by much then in the day time for where the minde is kept high by ambition to compasse something it coveteth it hath power enough in that interim to hold up the body from falling to its proper center the earth where naturally it inclines but being without comfort if a man doe not make strong use of his noble part his soul to maintaine his courage and resolution the suffering or captivating of flesh and bloud will render a man quickly totally overcome and that is the reason that long and tedious persecutions have destroyed more competent spirits then sharp and violent tortures since they were prepared for the one with expectation and only weared by the other with continuance We know that old men strive more greedily to preserve their lives that short time they are to live then young men in their most flourishing yeares because diversity of prospects operates so much in youthfull bosomes by reason of continuall activity tending that way that they have not leasure to settle their imaginations upon horrid apprehension when old people have so much time to think wanting power of action that the object which is naturall appeares often before their eyes to fright them and so fares it with a person that only suffers in comparison of him that doth both suffer and act together wherefore that person hath need of a double courage because there is nothing to accompany his thoughts of variety or diversion for certainly it pleaseth a man rather to contend for his life though he know he shall be deprived of it then to lose it without any strife at all which seemes to be the case of Euarchus since they will not so much as permit him with reason to dispute his rights but force him unheard to deliver up his Crowne and more grievous a great deale is his condition in that he appeares to be left of all those friends that have been most obliged to his goodnesse What is the reason that a delinquent upon the Scaffold is accustomed to have his eyes banded before the stroake of death to take away from him the apprehension of the blow which he knowes he shall receive When a valiant Souldier in the Field without shaddow will charge against a thousand weapons with as much certainty of destruction but because the ones action frees him from the others terrour All which shew that a sad expectation of an ill augments the suffering when a diversion by imployment of the body or busying the senses by diversity of objects take away that apprehension that makes any danger or misery excessively horrid as for example men for the most part are put to torture in uncouth places where there is nothing but silence or low whispers to render the sufferer more sensible of the paine by the quieting of the imagination and so it fares with such as passe through darke places being afraid of every small rustle when in the day time the same way perhaps is pleasant so that as I say without doubt all smart griefe and discontent is encreased by want of action and too much leasure for consideration for I must conclude that it is a great deale easier for a person to dye fighting in the Field though he should be cut in sunder in a thousand pieces then to endure a long and tedious captivity which is Euarchus present condition in so much as at last if he should in some sort yield to this cruelty I must not finde fault with his courage but if he gaine the victory I shall esteeme him a miracle of nature As I must not said Roxana goe about to disprove your arguments grounded upon such reasons and more delivered by the knowne authority of your excellent judgement so of the other fide I could wish the King had some Counsell to assist him in these difficulties besides his own capacity and courage since it is impossible but humane nature at the length will be tired with over much suffering and by consequence faile for want of true information there is no contradiction of your opinion said Creses but such is the crafty spight of some that they will permit none to be about the Kings person that dares loyally afford him any profitable consolation because they may the sooner bring him to consent to their desires Yet replyed Roxana it is not well known what those desires are since they never durst for all I could ever learne publickly declare their intentions but doe as it were in a dark mist endeavour to possesse the people that the King refuseth something he is obliged to grant for the good of his Subjects by which meanes they strive still to maintaine their credits and opinions amongst the common sort It is so Madam said Creses however since you are fallen upon that point I shall let you know how farre the King hath yet condiscended to their demands whereby the better to dispossesse the People of that beliefe they are perswaded to have in the Senates integrity though I verily thinke they now more feare their power then trust their intentions for whereas not many dayes agoe they proposed to Euarchus to have the power of the force of the Kingdome for twenty yeares both by Sea and Land the King hath yielded to grant them that jurisdiction during his life though not for that terme which appears now to be the greatest difference between them since the Senate seemes not content with this offer whereupon the Myssians have lately put out a furious declaration against the Senate pressing the King to such unreasonable conditions In good earnest answered Roxana I cannot tell whether I have more cause to smile at the seeming ridiculousnesse of these proceedings or be amazed to see men growne so foolishly unreasonable since Euarchus appeares to my understanding to be willing to part with more from his own hopes then what the Senate requires for that if he grant the power of the Kingdome out of his hands during his life it gives more assurance to the Senate that he intends no more to raigne if he had quitted his power for so many yeares only since he might have some thought to over live that prescribed terme againe for the Myssians I wonder most of all at their new loyalty to their Prince when they have been as I may say the only cause that hath made him no King though now anew they seeme to desire to re-establish him in his ancient authority which certainly cannot be but upon other designes of advantage to themselves more then for Euarchus prosperity Truly Madam said Creses in the generall it is as you say but yet there are so many mysteries hid under these proceedings that they are capable to deceive the sharpest judgement if some light be not given by information Wherefore you must know that both Euarchus and the Senate know very well that the consequence of all the Affaires chiefly depend upon the assurance of the safety of the Kings person