the Will of the Gods so to suffer it only to let him have the glory of being furmounted by the charms of her eyes as he was by her sword He told her how much he was obliged unto her curtesie in procuring his enlargement of Ligdamon and swore unto her that when she thought to set him at liberty she so made him her slave that he could not think any thing could be more pleasing then his captivity In conclusion he expressed unto her all that his passion could suggest unto him But all would not melt the heart of Melandre for when he talked of his love she talked of that affection which she preserved for Lidias and if Lipandas begged any comfort from her she told him that she stood in as much need of it her self Thus some days passed over during which all that the Cavalier could obtain from her was that in the end she consented he should call himself her prisoner and whilst he lived in some sort comforted by the delight he took in that Tâ—tle which he thought so glorious unto him Melandre was more and more afflicted for hearing no more news of Lidias since she saw him tyed with Alexis and Astrea in the head of Polemas his Army she was full of jealousie and despair somtimes she imagined that he was escaped with Amerina and that in prejudice of the fidelity which he had vowed unto her he would marry that woman in the first Town they came at Afterwards considering it was impossible but he should be extreamly wounded in the combate she perswaded her self that he was dead Amidst the confusion of these vexing thoughts she was likely to die her self and certainly had done so if heaven had not shewed some compassion upon her and sent her some news of him in this manner Amerina whom Lidias talked withal under the window of that chamber where Polemas kept Silvia prisoner she no sooner saw her Lover carried away but she begâ—â— to follow him and though she protested a thousand times that he was not Ligdamon she could not keep him from being as the rest were she begged of them upon her knees to put the same cords upon her hands but seeing she could not obtain that favour which they used upon Lidias as a punishment she resolved however not to forsake him but to die with him In this resolution she followed the Army of Polemas and as soon as she saw Lidias by the favour of Semires loose from his cords and in a condition to defend himself she went straight unto him and having no other Arms to fight with but her tongue she made use of it to animate him and did infuse so much courage and strength into him that he began to think himself invincible but at last not being able to resist so great a number he retreated as the rest did into the ditch where he fought until he was so weak by reason of several wounds and loss of blood that he was constrained to fall down upon the ground Then did Amerina fall down upon her knees and without losing any time in vain complaints began to help him so as pulling out her handkerchief she stopped the blood which ran from a wound in his arm A while after Polemas was entirely repulsed so as when every one went back into the Town Lidias had recovered a little strength so as by the assistance of Amerina he rose up for she taking him by the arm and holding him up she got him within the walls as soon as they were within Lidias finding himself to faint did turn his languishing eyes upon that woman and would have bid his last adieu But she whom Love had inspired with strength did so sustain him that she got him some thirty pâ—ces further into the Town Now did Amerina believe she should lose him for he falling into a swoâ—n and she having an strength to sustain him any longer she was forced to set him down under the near house upon a stone seat which she found by chance and there finding no motion in Lidias she could not chuse but cry out and so violently that the noise came unto the Master of the house and though all the Town was in arms you so it hapned that he not being in a condition to bear Arms he never stirred out of his house but stayed within at his prayers and â—o expection of what success the Gods would give unto the Arms of Amasis This man was a Chirurgion by professions rich in the secrets of Nature but so very old that he could hardly stir out of his chamber and being very charitable he no sooner heard the cries of Amerina but he doubted the cause and commanded some of his domestiques to take a light and see who it was They were no sooner in the street but they brought back word that she who made the Lamentations was a very fair woman and bewailed the losse of Ligdamon whom she held all bloody in her arms At the name of Ligdamon the good old man changed colour for he loved Ligdamon extreamly yet recollecting himself perhaps said he that Cavalier is not quite dead let him be brought hither unto me for if there be any life I hope by my remedies to prolong it Upon this command almost all that were in the house went out aand whilst they were preparing a bed to lay him upon Lidias giving some signes of life the Domesticks laid him thereon who heard Amerina sigh extreamly and she hearing them sigh and say ah Ligdamon alas poor Ligdamon she hoped that as his name was the cause of Liâ—ias his wounds it might perhaps be the cause of his cure She resolved therefore not to name him but let them go on in their mistake and not to divert them from their charitable intentions of helping him so as entring with him and seeing what cure the old man had in getting him to bed and to look upon his wounds she began to have some hopes in his assistance Lidias was found not to be mortally wounded though he had received four very great ones two in his left arm very near his shoulder one in his thigh and one on his right hand which could not be cured without the loss of a finger As soon as the Chirurgeon had searched all these wounds he came unto Amerina and telling her how the wounds of Lidias were he gave her assurance that within a while he would be perfectly recovered at which she changed colour and though she was much disordered in her dress and bloody in several places yet she appeared so fair in the eyes of this charitable old man that he could not chuse but think the passage extreamly strange for he knew that Ligdamon was never married And therefore upon the first opportunity he beseeched her to tell him from what relation did that love proceed which she expressed unto Ligdamon Amerina answered him that in the condition wherein she was she could not possibly satisfie his curiosity besides the story
paper and drew this figure Brothers  Servants Sileines of Cercinea Clorian Lucindor Alcander Clorian of Palanice Sileines Cerintes Amilcar Alcander of Florice Lucindor Amilcar Cerintes Afterwards she proceeded thus Now in this ruffle of disorder our interests are so mingled and intangled that Cercinea cannot do good offices unto Lucindor towards me without disobliging Cerintes who is brother unto Palanice and without fearing that by way of revenge he should ruine her towards Clorian Palanice cannot speak unto Cercinea in behalf of Clorian without angrying me in the person of Alcander and unlesse she oblige me to ravish Amilcar from her and I cannot countenance the two passions of Alcander and Amilcar unlesse I do vex Cercinea and Palanice who had some right to take from me the one Lucindor and the other Cerintes This made us for a while look a squint upone another and live in most intollerable constraint and Tyranny and because we imagined that this confusion would cause a breach in our amities we went all together unto an Oracle who gave us this answer The Oracle LEt six within this place remain Till honour otherwise ordain No answer to the Female three Expect unless alone they be This answer made us think that the Oracle had something else to say unto us and therefore consulting with it alone we received that answer which the gods have communicated unto you as well as us This now is the principal cause of our voyage and coming into this countrey but since it is most requisite I should inform you what inclinations we have unto these Cavaliers whom now you see with us I shall begin with Cercinea and tell you that before Alcander my brother ever cast any eye upon her Clorian had so far ingratiated himself into her favour by the intercession of Palanice as it was believed this amity could not be broken Alcander must pardon me if the affection which I bear unto him be not strong enough to make me tell a lie and if being forced by a greater power to speak truth and confesse that this fair one is every way obliged unto Clorian It was he that first began to serve her and found in her those flames which burned him his affection was not born with him for any private interest but only because he had discovered in her tender years some sparks of those charms which now have inflamed him and made him admire her he was so obsequious unto her in his youth that for all her ingratitude towards him she must needs confesse her self much beholding unto his conversation for much of that gentilnesse which she is Mistresse off And truly I cannot chuse but laugh when I remember some of those replies which she retorted upon him when he began first to love her Be pleased to know she had not then attained to above the age of seven years when he began to be sprinkled with passion and talk unto her of love with as much ardure as if she were at full age One time standing by the fire he fell down upon his knees before her I wonder how it 's possible said he unto her that my fairest little Mistresse should ever have any desire of warming her self since she is able to inflame and warm a whole world Servant answered she very sweetly it is not to be thought I can warm any thing for were it in my power I would warm the weather so as it should never be cold The fire I feel replied Clorian and which your eyes have kindled in my soul will not suffer me to doubt but that you can but I professe unto you it is so great that I had rather dy then extinguish it Do you then burn said Cercinia and interrupted him yes replied Clorian but it is in the sweetest flame that ever heart was schorched in I wonder then said Cercinea that I do not smell it for if one cast a bone or a feather or a little câ—oth into the fire it will smell all the house over Whether it do smell or no answered Clorian who had much ado to forbear laughing I am certain my fire will encrease from day to day and perhaps will become so great that before you be able to remedy it it will reduce me unto ashes It is good then said she to apply some remedy betimes in saying so she would have gone away but Clorian holding her by the arm what remedy said he would you fetch 't me I believe answered she that if two or three dishes of cold water be cast upon you it will do you much good for I observe they use to do the same unto wood when it burns too fast Ah my fairest said Clorian the fire you speak of is much different from that I feel for if water were able to extinguish the fire of a Lover tears would do it but they do rather nourish then extinguish such flames Another time when he was going into the countrey about some businesse concerning his estate I went to visit Cercinea and to play with her though my age then was above the play with little children I found her at the first a little troubled at the absence of her lover for though she was incapable of knowing what love was yet she had some sentiments of an amity above the common strain and asking her how long it was since he went from her believe me answered she I have not counted the dayes How said I they say when one loves a person very well they will not only count the dayes of his absence but the howers and the very minutes That answered she very coldly is a testimony of more affection then he must expect from me for do you think I can keep an accompt of such things that can hardly tell how many the clock strikes Such discourse and entertainments as these fair and wise Shepherdesse they used during the innocency of that age and I was a very frequent witnesse of them for being near neighbours I saw Cercinea almost every day and Clorian himself who knew me more capable of reason did take much pleasure in relating unto me her pritty answers yet this Cavalier seeing he was to serve a long prentiship unto a child and that it would be at least six years before she could pay what was due unto his love he resolved to imploy his time in the wars and did as he resolved In his absence he got great reputation and Cercinea became such a perfect beauty that at his return he found himself a most perfect slave unto her She was now past a child and though she did remember the name of Clorian yet she seemed not at all to remember that liberty which she formerly had given him she received him indeed very civilly and well and being of a sweet and affable disposition and deportment all her actions and expressions confirmed this Cavalier in a belief that he was still loved Now consider him a most perfect lover and if Hylas would but take the
was in two or three minds and ready to cast it into the fire so to extinguish one flame with another or else to carry it unto Clotilda and so discharge my self of that blame which might be imputed unto me But as to the first course I thought that if I did burn it then if the King should come to know it he would be extreamly offended at this scorn and how could I answer him if he asked me my reason for it I thought it therefore better to read it first and then to burn it but then if Clotilda should come to know of this either by the King or any other how unkindly would she take this from me Questionlesse Gondebaut himself would be the first that would tell her when he sees I will not consent unto all that pleaseth him or if he should alter his humour as to my sad experience I find Merindor and Periander hath done their examples teach me at a dear rate that the constancy of a man lasts no longer then till his eyes finds an object that pleaseth him better This Princesse said I to my self does me the honour to love me and I am most confident of her good advice and say the King should come to know that I have acquainted her he cannot chuse but know withal that my duty obliged me unto what I did and I am very confident that when the heat of the humour is a little over he will esteem me more for it and say I did well According to this last resolution I took the Letter and went unto Clotilda and as fortune was found her in her Closset passing away the time with many of my Companions And because she honoured me so far as to love me above any of the rest as soon as she saw me she was pleased to come unto me and because all young persons have alwayes some trivial news to tell one another she took me aside unto a window of a little distance from the rest of the company where she related unto me not only all she had done since the last time she saw me but also all her most intimate thoughts at last she said unto me but good Dorinde tell me what you have done since last you were with me come come give me an exact accompt not only of your actions but even of every thought Madam said I unto her at another time I shall most willingly tell you what you please but at this time I beseech you give me leave to intertain you with a businesse of a very great importance and because I would not have any observe us I beseech you go into your Inner Closset and call me unto you that when we are alone I may impart a businesse unto you which is fit you should know The young Princesse longing to know what I had to tell her and being also very desirous to give me contentment she did as I desired her and when we were both in the Closset the door bolted she sat down and I according to my custome kneeled down before her most humbly beseeching her to think that my desire of keeping my self within the compasse of my duty and to carry my self in all things according to her commands did prompt me to impart unto her what I then would then I did not only shew her the Kings Letter but also imparted unto her all the passages of my three last encounters with Gondibautâ— which I did with that freedom as she knew me to be in no fault especially when she saw the Letter still sealed which after much commendations of me for it she opened and read these words King GONDEBAUTS Letter unto DORINDE YOu cannot Fairest think it strange that one should love you since you have already been loved by so many but perhaps you will wonder when you consider that he whom you have captivated was never conquered by the most powerful upon earth As there hath been nothing hitherto invincible unto my arms so Fairest use your conquest kindly for unto you I submit my Crown my Scepter and all my Triumphs and Laurels Clotilda stood mute after the reading of this Letter and after she had long pawsed upon it Dorinde said she unto me you need not entreat me to conceal a businesse which is so unfit to be published and because you desire my advice and I am obliged to give it not at random but upon mature deliberation I will take this night to consider upon it Thus we parted and because none of my Companions should suspect any matter of secresie to be betwixt us the wise Princesse went out laughing and commanded me to do the like as if we had been talking upon matter of mirth and jollity You know that the Prince Godomar younger brother unto Sigismond went to travel into the Courts of Neighbour Kings there to learn the Customs Laws and Manners of other Countries to be acquainted with their Countries and strength and the better to improve himself in his travels he carried with him the great and wise Avitus who had been Governour not only unto him but to his brother Sigismond also Now this young Prince was lately returned to the great contentment both of King and people for truly both Sigismond and Gondemar being instructed by such a Sapient Tutor werâ— both very hopeful This prudent Governour above all other documents did most imprint amity and concord betwixt them shewing them that little things grow great by union and great things become nothing by discord he hinted unto them the jars betwixt their father and his brothers how their ambition and emnity did draw upon themselves the odium of the Gaules and their own ruine that this wound would be long in healing in their family unlesse they with a contrary design did remedy it to wit by mutual love as the others did make the wound by hatred These sage instructions imprinted themselves so upon the spirits of these two young Princes that a greater league of Love and Union cannot be imagined then was betwixt them This wise man finding by the phisiognomy of Clotilda that she would prove a most Excellent and Wise Princesse he thought it would be advantagious unto these two Princes to contract a league of amity with her for consanguinity was not enough to salve up those sores which former dissentions had made This wise advise together with the sweet inclination of Clotilda did make these two Princes so exceedingly love her that all the animosities of their fathers hatred were not only rooted out but these young hearts did link themselves together in such strong tyes of affection as each of them had as kind a care of the others good as of their own nothing was in secret amongst them and knowing the humour of Gondebaut to be collerick and violent they after consulted together what was the best course to be taken in any affair and above all they followed the Prudent advice of their wise Governour And yet as there is often a certain kind
I would gladly have excused my fault Nay fair one said he unto me you need not be ashamed of your contemplation for I am most confident it is very good and you could not entertain your self better then with it Sir said I unto him I have more manners then to contradict you in any thing but I beseech you give me leave to say that your language proceeds either from your excess of courtesie or from flattery Could you but see your self fairest with my eyes said he unto me you would not say so I assure my self every one will be of my opinion and if you please to give me leave I dare venture a wager that I can tell what you were thinking upon when I came unto you Sir answered I it will be very hard for you to do it since I can hardly tell my self and I dare accept of your wager without any fear of losing You need not fear any losse by me answered he but what you please for I am so much yours that none can be more and if you would have any thing of me though it be my life ask and it shall not be denied Doubtlesse Sir said I and smiled you are this night disposed to jear me but the power is yours and I take all that comes from you with reverence and respect as is my duty This Language replied he were fitter bestowed upon another then me I mean upon him whom you were thinking upon when I came towards you I know not Sir what you mean replied I nor him whom you say I was thinking upon for I had no other thought but upon sleep You do dissemble fair one said he for you were thinking upon the Discourse the King had with you when he lamed your horse At this I began to blush and was extreamly surprised Nay nay fairest said he never blush at what I say for when you know with how much affection I adore you you will not be sorry that I am acquainted with the business whereof I speak I offer unto you my self and service most freely and to let you see the truth of my words I know the Kings design and advertise you that if you do not look very unto your self he will deceive you Ardilan and his accesse unto Duriana is discovered in the Court and every one thinks it tends to your disadvantage and be assured that this advertisement which I give unto you is the best you can receive from any He added unto this other discourse which did plainly evidence unto me that he knew all the Kings design and the pandarisme of Ardilan and because I thought that to deny it absolutely would but more confirm him in his belief also because I thought his advertisement not without some colour of reason I answered him thus You tell me of a thing Sir which if concealing it from you could hide it from my self I would sooner dye then confesse it to you but since I cannot to my misfortune make my self ignorant of it I do confess that the King has made such an overture unto me and I do know that Ardilan has held more communication with Duriana then I would have her but Sir what remedy is there against all this since it is the King unlesse I should get out of his Dominions so far that none who knows me shall ever hear the sound of my name Do not think Sir but I know that the King is only pleased to make himself a little sport by mocking me but that which most vexeth me is that every one will be apt to censure as they please and since Sir your are pleased to speak so much upon this subject and since the Title of Cavalier beside that of a great Prince does oblige you to assist afflicted and distressed Ladies I beseech you tell me what you think to be my best course Believe it fairest answered he that the affection which I have unto you will not permit me to refuse you the best counsel and assistance that I can give or you desire I am afraid that too much notice will be taken of our being so long in discourse together all I can say at this time is reject the Kings Love for believe me it will ruine you and your honour and above all take heed of Ardilan This was the first Discourse he had with me and because he observed Clotilda cast an eye two or three times upon us he went presently towards her to acquaint her with what had passed betwixt us but he never told her what expressions he had used of his good will unto me only told her what he had said unto me concerning the King and Ardilan And see how subtil he was to make her more zealous in diverting me from the King he seemed unto her as if I was not so averse unto this business as I seemed unto her and that Ardilan was crafty and subtil that if good heed was not taken he would insensibly prevail with me Clotilda who was very unwilling I should be deceived did promise him to have such a vigilant eye over me that neither she nor I should be deceived and he also was very assistant in it so as when to conjoyn the matter was not so difficult to divert the King and find out the subtilties of the man Oh Heaven how cruel are our distinies in being constrained to live amongst our enemies For what more Tyger enemies can we have then men since they never rest till they ruine us Were it not for this pittyless nature which is in them all why should not the King at his age let me live at rest in the service of that prudent Princess Why should Ardilan take such abundance of paines and care to corrupt Duriana But why should the young Sigismond leave off so many other good imployments to delude both Clotilda and me When I think seriously upon these things I must needs confess the saying true that all the universe is maintained by contrarieties and our contrary is man or to say better that the Gods not willing we should enjoy any perfect contentment upon earth produced men only to torment us And see I beseech you how crafty this young Prince was since this day he never talked to me of any thing but expressions of his affection to me yet told Clotilda that he spoke against Gondebaut and Ardilan And they laboured the business so betwixt them that I began to enter into doubt of the Kings promises and approve of those reasons which Sigismond alledged but my greatest wonder was the long delay of the King since my last answer and because I had till then concealed from the Princess the last discourse which Ardilan had with Duriana I resolved to acquaint her with it as well because I feared least the Prince should tell her and so she be angry with me as because being confident that the Princess loving me as she seemed to to she would be glad of my future grandure of it came to pass or
other answer but this and bid you look well upon Dorinde then tell me whether it be possible to look upon her and not love her If this be a fault Sister it is yours who has added unto her Beauty many excellencies and perâ—ections by your good education and converse If it be a fault to love one of such superlative endowments then You and Nature must plead my excuse But I must say further yet That the honour and respect which I owe unto you shall never receive the least blemish by this affection Protesting by Hercules and all that have power to punish perjury that I had rather die then have any attempts upon her that may in the least degree stain her honour This Sister in answer to your Question And now as to the Kings message who thinks by these Forbiddings to divert me from this affection I do declare unto and I beseech you tell him as much when next you speak with him That all the whole Universe together is not able to hinder me from loving Dorinde That she must not speak unto me but fly me and keep at a distance from me this may indeed put me to abundance of grief and torment but never whilst I breath divert me from that lasting affection which I have unto her This Sister is a most true answer unto the Question which you asked Now it is Dorindes part to answer the King as concerning her self The young Prince spoke this in such an emphatical manner that Clotilda smiled Truly Brother said she a most excellent invention to divert Dorinde from the Kings love But you Dorinde said she and turned towards me what answer do you give unto all this that the Prince hath said Madam answered I and blushed I cannot give any answer but that I do not yet I wish I did merit so great an honour How replied Clotilda Dare you presume to love the Prince Sigismond and would have him love you again The young Prince then interrupted for he saw that modesty would not permit me to speak Sister said he you can hardly have a more ample declaration then this Fair one hath given you but I will make it for us both and I think she will second me Then taking my hand See Sister this Ring said he unto her which Dorinde wears I did give it unto her as a Pledge that if I could marry her at this very instant I would but being under the authority of a Father and not able to dispose of my self without offence to the Laws of God and man I will stay until I have his consent or till time dispence with me from that duty The Princess hearing this stood amazed and in such a confusion that she did nothing but look somtimes upon one and somtimes upon another not being able to speak one word but at the last after a long muse she recollected her self and turning towards the Prince Truâ—y Brother said she unto him were not my love above all injuries I should be exceedingly angry with you for thus contracting your self with one who is in my service without my knowledge Sister replied the Prince If I have offended you I must heartily beg your pardon and above all I most earnestly beseech you to let all the blame reflect upon me and nothing upon this Fair one and if my life or any thing else will expiate the crime I am here most ready to obey whatsoever you please to command only I beg of you as you love me not to be angry in the least manner with Dorinde for I assure you Sister that if we have offended it was only in point of time for we were both of us fully resolved to acquaint you and put our selves into your hands But dear Sister continued he must I be so unhappy as to incur your displeasure I swear by the great Tautates I never entertained the least thought but which conducted to honour and respect you so as should I lose your favour I should think my self undone But Brother replied the Priness Why did you not acquaint me with your intention at the first At the first I could not replied the Prince because then I could not tell whether I should love her or whether she would entertain my affection But since said Clotilda why did you not tell me when you were assured of both And she who talked so freely with me concerning the Kings address why did not she as well acquaint me with yours Sister replied the Prince If ever you chance to love any one you will answer this Question You must know that when one loves it is not a work that is begun with designe He that walks upon a piece of Ice do you think his designe is to fall No it is a surprize caused by the slipperiness of the Ice so it is in Love When one sees a Beauty this Beauty does surprize and makes us insensibly glide into love and we are become Lovers before ere we thought of being in love We do protest unto you Sister and I can answer for this Fair one as well as for my self that within these two days we did not think it would ever have proceeded so far but the Intelligence which we had that the King would by extream tyrannry break off all affection betwixt us was the cause of our resolution to contract and it was no sooner resolv'd upon but we intended to acquaint you and follow your wise and prudent advice in every thing and sorry we are you knew it no sooner But sister the thing is past and done and now all counsel comes too late and we can do nothing else but most earnestly beg your pardon Brother said the Princess two things do give me great satisfaction The one is to see the confidence that you have in me in freely acquainting me with a business which if known to the King would certainly be very prejudicial to you and the other is To see your affection aim at a noble and honourable end and in this I cannot charge you with any fault But all the errour that has been committed is in Dorinde who knew very well that it was her duty to tell me she could be free enough in acquainting me with the Kings Courtship but concealed yours so subtilly that God knows whether I should ever have known it but for the foolish Duriana yet Brother for your sake I will not only pardon her but more I promise you both to forget it or if I do remember it it shall be only to assist you as much as I can for I do foresee a great controversie to ensue betwixt the King and you Sister said the Prince this Fair one and I are infinitely obliged unto you for your pardon and promised assistance and as for the King we have armed our selves with resolution to resist all that he can do against us we are not culpable of any capital crimes If the King transgress the bounds of a Father to a Son I shall transgress
divert Sigismonds affection from me As soon as the Prince was advertized of this he went unto Clotilda and acquainted her with all the discourse betwixt him and Ardilan and afterwards added Now Sister the King intends to come unto you and to command you to use your power in breaking off all amity betwixt Dorinde and me for my part I protest by heaven that death shall sooner seize upon me then any separation from her and yet the cunning Ardilan who loves neither you nor me would make the King believe that you have the absolute power over Dorinde and that you can do what you will with me so as you must take good heed of the King for he will employ you and if all succeed not to his mind he will be apt to do you some mischief the only remedy that I know is to prevent him I mean that before he come to you send you unto him and beseech him to let you come and communicate some affairs unto him which are necessary he should know when you are with him I would have you make a great complaint unto him against me and my love to Dorinde Beseech him to employ all his prudence in preventing it that for your part you have done all you can and all to no purpose for when you spoke unto me of it I told you plainly that I did love Dorinde that it was a thing impossible ever to separate me from her and the worst of all is that you think Dorinde also loves me and that things are gone so far that you fear there is some promises past betwixt her and me I make no question continued the Prince but the King will be very much incensed against me but Sister of two evils the lesser is to be chosen should his fury be turned towards you it would be worse you know how he used Chilperick the cruel death of Godomar the massacres of his male children the hard usage of your Sister Mutucuna in cloystering her up amongst the Vestals To be brief Sister these bloody cruelties upon those from whom you are descended makes me extreamly fear his fury should fall upon you But for my part what can he do but drive me out of his presence as he would have done before And I protest Clotilda that I do so much abominate his violences as were he not my father and so consequently I bound to honour and serve him I should sooner desire to be out of his sight then any ones living so that his punishment will be a kind of a pleasure unto me The Princess who did extreamly love Sigismond as well because he loved her as because of his many other good qualities after many thanks unto him for his indulgent care of her she endeavoured by all her arguments and reasons to divert him from his affection to me demonstrating unto him the great inconveniences he would draw upon himself by it instancing the lowness of my quality what a disgraceful graceful alliance it would be to his Royal Family how much it would displease the King hinting unto him the duty and obedience that he owed unto him as his Father and as his King Briefly she laid before him all the inconveniencies and discontents that would ensue upon it Sister said he in answer unto all these considerations I will use but one word and that is I Love and did you but know the validity extent and power of this word you would confess all these considerations to be poor and weak arguments to divert me from my unalterable resolution Since it is so said Clotilda and since you advise me to it I will talk with the King according to your directions and will let you know his answer Upon this she dispatched one of her servants to the King immediately according as it was resolved upon Gondebaut hearing this message sent her word that he also had somthing to communicate unto her and that after dinner he would come unto her The Prince knowing this answer and having no mind to be in the way he took horse pretending to hunt and so kept himself out of Town all the day Whilst these things passed thus Arcingenterix my father being very old and fallen sick of a Fever he grew so ill as being past hopes of life he sent unto Clotilda to beseech her that I might come and see him before he died Upon this she commanded me to go in all possible haste and to tell him from her that she would send him some things which haply might conduce to his preservation and thereupon gave me some excellent receipts which I carried with me My poor father as soon as he saw me and heard what the Princess had sent unto him he seemed to receive much contentment and taking me by the hand I hope said he unto me Tautates will provide one that will be a stay unto thy youth for now daughter reckon your self without a father and therefore beseech the Princess from me to have pity upon Dorinde as upon an Orphan left to the wide wicked world without any support and assistance but from God and her it will be tell her a charitable office and God will reward it double after this my father began to faint notwithstanding all remedies that could be applied and in the night after he died The King in the interim as soon as dinner was done failed not to go unto the Princess and taking her aside he began to make great complaints of the Prince but she who had been well instructed prevented him and told him that she had a very great desire to talk with him about a business of great importance in which she most humbly beseeched him to take some order And thereupon she related unto him how she had chidden me for those Verses which were sent unto me and which I had received unknown to her Afterwards she complained against the Prince Sigismond for tampering with one of her women nay worse that she had discovered an intimate affection betwixt us Nay worse then all that she was afraid the business was gone so far that the Prince had engaged himself by some promises Oh Heavens cryed out Gondebaut has Sigismond engaged himself by promise unto Dorinde Is he so far out of his wits Sir said Clotilda I will not absolutely assure you of it but some probable circumstances induceth me to think so and when you know as much as I do I am confident you will concur with me in opinion When you commanded me to forbid Dorinde from any speech with the Prince she answered me That if he came to her she could not drive him away And when I asked her why she received those Verses without my knowledge she replied That the good will which the Prince was pleased to honour her withal was to such intentions as could not offend any And when I urged her to tell me what those intentions were Madam said she the Prince can tell you better then I if you please to ask him
money and men nothing did hinder him from executing his pernitious design but only his fears of Clidamant and Lindamore And now the King of the Burgundians hath written unto him of Clidamants death To be brief he omitted nothing which he thought expedient for them to know But all the extream dangers and perils which he represented unto them did exasperate their courage to undertake the defence of the Nymph And to joyn prudence unto their valour the enquired what safety there was for her residing in that place and what orders she had taken Adamas satisfied all their demands and assured them that nothing would be wanting but men As for Arms he had a magazine stored with all sorts in the Castle As for provision it was not a moneth since harvest so as their Granaries were full But as for men he knew not where to have them nor whom to trust My opinion is said Alcidon that the way to get souldiers unperceived is to appoint some publique sports and set up Prizes for shooting in the Bowe for Wrestling and such like and when they are assembled we shall order them into Arms. I think Madam said Adamas that the counsel is good for if there be any Traytors they are persons of quality it being not likely that Polemas would declare himself unto any others and we have an excellent pretence for it because seven days hence is the sixth of July a day destined to gather the Misleto of the New year It shall be given out that you intend to be present to invite many unto it and you know it is the custome for every one to bring what Arms they will in honour of the Feast when they are come together we may cull out those whom we like best This was the resolution Adamas went immediately to put it in execution and as he went out Clindor came in who by the Druide's command presented Merindor and Periander unto the Nymph Amasis and Galathea received them with abundance of curtesie And because they intimated that they had somthing to say in private the Nymph causing them to sit down by Damons bed she told them that they might speak freely before those two Cavaliers from whom she concealed nothing Madam answered Merindor since it is your pleasure to have it so we shall be obedient although we were charged to speak unto you alone and so we will though it be your pleasure to hear us with many ears Afterwards he continued thus The Sequel of the History of DORINDE IF great Princes were exempted from Passion unto which others are subject we might well esteem them Gods upon earth for if their high puissance were accompanied with this priviledge I know not wherein they would be inferiour unto Gods And hence it is that immortals being unwilling that men be they never so great should equal them have submitted Princes as well as other men unto unruly passions which torments them I use this preamble Madam to the end that when you have heard me out you may not blame those great Princes of whom I am to speak for want of Vertue nor Weakness but that you may think these imperfections in them to be only Tributes which they must pay unto their humanity Be pleased to know Madam that King Gondebaut having cast his eye upon a young Lady named Dorinde he fell so desperately in love with her that the affection which he bore unto Cryseide that fair Trans-Alpine was not equal unto the affection which he bore unto her This Dorinde was the daughter of Arcingentorix one of the most illustrious Families of Gaul But as all great Beauties are subject to be seen and loved by many so many cast their eyes and hearts upon her and amongst the rest Prince Sigismond yet both the Fathers and the Sons Loves were carried so closely that it was long before one another or any else perceived it But Dorinde receiving the love of Prince Sigismond more favourably then the Kings it hapned that jealousies did arise betwixt these two great Princes neither Father nor Son could brook any competitor so that Dorinde was constrained to fortifie one side by her consent She therefore turned to Sigismond with such a full resolution that he who negotiated the matter for the King had command from her to speak no more unto her concerning it unless the King resolved to keep his promise for Ardilan so was he called who solicited for the King had promised her marriage though perhaps without any intention of his master This man seeing his negotiation to thrive no better did believe that some new Love was the cause of it and being a sly and crasty fellow he presently after discovered the affection of Prince Sigismond with which for his own discharge he presently acquainted the King who was so extreamly displeased at it that great disorder and inconvenience was like to ensue thereupon At last the King by way of revenge resolved to marry her by fair means or foul unto one of the Court whereof Sigismond being advertised and not being able to endure such an injury should be offered unto one he so much loved and honoured he went unto her house for her Father died a little before and acquainting her with the Kings designe they resolved to go both together out of Gondebauts Dominions and because they would not be known to disguise themselves in other habits then to consult with the Oracle of Venus to know which way they should go The Prince would have only one man with him whose name was Cerastes in whom he had great confidence and she only one woman who had long served her and in whose fidelity she could not doubt Ceraestes was to lead the horses for all four unto a certain place which they had appointed without the Town And the Prince with her and Dariana for that was the name of her who served her were to go on foot to the place where Cerastes stayed for them But how hard a thing it is to deaf the ears and blind the eyes of jealousie The King or Ardilan or rather both had set spies over the Prince and Dorinde and therefore when they perceived that Sigismond went one evening unto Dorinde though he carried with him but very few men yet so it was that one of those who took notice of their actions went into the house amongst the rest who took no notice of him but he carried himself so confidently that the Princes servants took him to be one of Dorindes domestiques and Dorindes domestiques took him for one of the Princes servants This man saw the Prince talk with great modesty and respect unto the Lady and that beginning of their talk was only condoling the death of Arcingentorix the father of this Fair one Afterward he observed them to talk very low and the Prince to be very angry for the actions of his hands his head and the rest of his body shewed as much though he did not hear one word unless when he bade
Your sorrows replied she and smiled are doubtless to be condoled but I do not see which way I am any addition unto them or if I be I am sure it is very innocently That innocency said he is not enough to repair my loss which you have caused without some other cordial Doubtless their discourse had continued longer had they not been interrupted by the same accident which severed Cercinea and me And judge whether destiny did not drive us both unto this affection since the words by which we made the first overtures of our loves unto these Ladies were almost the very same although we did not consult together about it Now though these few words wrought no great effects yet they served at the least to open the eyes of Cercinea and Palanice and let them know that we were in love with them And upon the next opportunity of discourse with them we found not the difficulty so great to make them understand us It was not long before we had that opportunity for when the first dayes of mourning are past it is customary to return those visits which we received and you may well imagine that my brother and I were not very backward in paying such debts unto those fair ones with whom we might have what opportunity of speech we pleased Florice who accompanied us thither and observed that I had talked very long unto Cercinea when we were returned she took me aside and said unto me I forgot brother to advertise you when I shewed you Cercinea that you should have a special care of being surpised by her beauty for she is so engaged another way as I fear you will take abundance of pains for very small contentment O my dear sister answered I your councel comes too late for I am already so deeply engaged that there is no hopes of any retreat till death O Heavens brother cried she I pity you extremely and am very sorry that I was the cause of your seeing her for there is not a beauty in all the countrey more likely to make one in love then she You must know that Clorian brother unto Palanice does so possess her as I believe none whomsoever can divert her from him Sister said I unto her you astonish me extremely in telling me she is so engaged unto a man perhaps answered she I do not mean as you do when I say that she is engaged unto Clorian my meaning is that he being brother unto Palanice and Palanice the most intimate friend of Cercinea and besides the husband which Palanice had for you must know she was married being uncle unto Cercinea and as long as he lived she was alwayes with his wife these considerations hath caused Cercinea to honour her as much as if her husband was living so as Palanice has a great command over her and she loving her brother Clorian extremely well she gives him such access unto Cercinea and has such a hand over her that she dare hardly turn her eye without her leave Not that I will say she loves him or that any thing has passed between them that is unhandsome for she is esteemed to be a very virtuous and discreet Lady But certain it is that she being without father or mother she suffers the sister of Clorian to have so much authority over her as it is not credible any else can be entertain'd If it be so said I that Clorian loves her and that Palanice has all the power why is not the marriage compleated very many answered she who are ignorant of the cause and yet see their affections have asked the same question but in answer to it you must know that Cercinea has two brothers the one of which is extremely in love with Palanice and because he loves him not and to colour it pretends she will not marry again he is resolved that Cercinea shall never marry Clorian unless Palanice take him for her husband and Palanice being obstinate is the cause why Clorians contentment is retarded This sister replied I is the best news you could tel me for certainly if I had no hopes of Cercinea there was no hopes in my life But Sister if you love me let me be acquainted with the Brother of Cercinea that I may if it be possible gain him Brother answered she and smiled I would acquaint you with another secret if I durst and which perhaps may be more advantagious to you Dear Sister said I unto her I conjure you as you love my life conceal nothing that may advantage me in this business for heavens sake out with it since nothing ought to be hidden betwixt us Florice smiled since you desire it so seriously said she I will tell it unto you but Brother upon condition you receive this testimony of my affection to you as the greatest that I can do you Know then that Cercinea has two brothers the elder is called Selenes and the younger Lucindor The elder as I told you is desperately in love with Palanice and Luciâ—dor at this word she stopped and smiled and Lucindor said I is in love with Palanice too Nay nay replyed she and smiled it is not so and then laying her hand upon her eyes which made her more confident to speak she said and Lucindor says he loves me though I do not believe him but I dare boldly say that at my entreaty he will do you the best service he can for I am confident he will not deny me any thing I ask Oh dearest Sister said I and took her hand my life and my death is in your hands and if you do not help me in this condition which you your self have caused you are the most merciless Sister that ever was Oh Heavens Alcander said she unto me what a task do you put upon me And what will Lucindor say of me Do you not consider how I shall engage my self unto him Sister said I very seriously I beseech you hear me and mistake me not but be assured that if my affection to Cercinea were not qualified with all the conditions of a vertuous Love I would rather die then employ you in it I do love her with intention to marry her not abuse her And as for Lucindor he being the Brother of Cercinea I will think him to be a man of merit and if he be why may he not marry you Your young years will not let you continue long in a widowed habit and for my part I will never advise you should Oh Brother replyed she talk no more of that I beseech you for Theombres is yet too fresh in my memory to entertain any such thoughts Oh the grossest piece of folly that ever was replyed I Do not I know that you married him only out of obedience to my Father and yours And what great affection could you therefore have unto him Ah Alcander answered she and smiled you are very pleasantly disposed why might not I conceive affection unto Theombres in three moneths space as well
with my own thoughts that I took no notice of Belisard who was walking by himself in a close Walk This Belisard is the young man who is now asleep in the other bed who was appointed to have a care of us when our Father sent us to the Roman Schools The long time he hath been with us and our constant familiarity has begot in him such an affection unto me that I dare say he loved me with all his heart The knowledge which I had of this besides many other good qualities which might well make him amiable was the reason why I had a very dear esteem of him and concealed nothing from him This time only I did not tell him of that affection which I had unto Cercinea not knowing any reason for it unless because occasions did not handsomly present themselves Now this young man was as I told you before me in the Garden whilst I took no notice of him and by fortune I went into a Walk which was parted from his only by a Hedge of Lawrels which was reasonable thick He who spied me coming with my hat over my eyes and looking down upon the ground walking a great pace he knew that I had some deep thought in my mind which perplexed me and because I did not vse to hide any thing from him he knew not what to think of it and therefore getting as close to the hedge as he could to hear what words he thought he heard me utter I began to raise my voice thinking there was none to hear me Then did he easily hear that love was the cause of my perplexity And as I was uttering these words Since all I can do will not avail to conquer the courage of this cruel Fair one who is he that can help me and from whom can I hope for any relief I heard him answer in a loud voice Belisard Judge Hylas whether or no I was surprized at this voice I stopt and looked about me and seeing no body I must confess I began to think it was some Spirit which made the answer But the young man went a little about and came to me saying several times Belisard Belisard from Belisard you may expect all faithful service Oh Sir said he when he was a little nearer is it you that is thus perplexed and does conceal your self from me Have you forgot my affection and fidelity Oh friend answered I you need not be offended with me for concealing that from you which if I could I would conceal from my self thinking that as fire which is blown will belch out biggest flames and when it wants ayr will smother it self away so I by silence should become free as I was wont to be Oh Sir answered he I perceive this is the first time that you have been tainted with this disease since you think that it will smother of its self You must know Sir that when a heart is once stricken it can never be cured again but either by such extream scorn as will blast all hopes or by the enjoyment of the party who is the cause and this is the reason There is nothing that can naturally live without some nourishment now favours are the food of Love when a Lover is deprived of these favours then Love like a candle that will extinguish for want of wax will also die for want of nutriment Then again as superabundance of wax will extinguish that flame which would be nourished by a mediocrity so the fruition of the party loved will stifle Love by the superabundance of favours which on like occasions are received Oh Belisard said I unto him if you know no better remedy against my disease then you know how to discourse of it I am afraid I should be long sick before you cured me for I have found by experience that one of those things which you say will extinguish Love will make it greater and more full of pain Nor can I imagine how the fruition of a good can make one hate it so as reason on one side and experience on the other makes me conclude you no great Doctor in the disease of Love There is nothing Sir said he unto me which so much hinders the cure of a disease then for the patient to have an ill opinion of his Doctor Fancy and Imagination will oftentimes work wonders and produce effects incredible and therefore you ought not to give so bad a judgement of my capacity until you have considered my reasons I say that either extream scorn or superabundance of favours may either of them extinguish Love for is not Love a desire and one does never desire that which they possess if then by possession there be no desire it follows by consequence then that by possession there is no Love In Love said I there is an inexhaustible Abyss of sweets of delights and it is impossible ever to have them all but there will still be some greater and greater to desire then we enjoy Besides the appetite is not extinguished nor satisfied but on the contrary the new thought of the happiness enjoyed does become bellows unâ—o desire and makes it more violent and so according to your own argument Love being a desire and that desire being made more ardent and violent by the knowledge of the happiness enjoyed it consequently follows that it which you saâ— does extinguish Love does on the contrary make it more vigorous and violent Such a Love as you mention Sir replyed he must be a most excessive Glutron if nothing can satisfie it But Sir what do you say to scorn and disdain Can Love hold out against a generous spirit Cold will allay heat and all contraries will destroy their contraries nor can you deny but hatred being the contrary of love will make Love die All things in the Universe replyed I are preserved by their contraries and if there were no contrarieties all would be but one thing and so the world would end at the least be no world 'T is true replyed he but then these contrarieties are so equal in power that the one cannot surmount the other But what love is it which will not be extinguished by extream scorn According to your argument replyed I Love may resist scorn when it is equally in the extream But Belisard why spend we time in this unseasonable dispute What will it avail me whether what you say be true or no Since I do find by sad experience that neither disfavours nor scorn have wrought in me that effect which you speak of Perhaps Sir answered he there may be a failure in your experience I beseech you tell me what arguments you have to think your self scorned Oh Belisard cryed I so many and so great as makes them most apparent And that you may the better judge for I will not conceal any thing from you Know that I am most desperately in love with Cercinea Who She said he who Clorian so long courted The same replyed I and I assure
was I when opening Cercineas Letter I found her hair in it I kissed it a thousand times and it was happy that none was present when I opened them for it had been a thing impossible for me to have concealed my extream contentment At last after I had kissed and over-kissed this fair hair I read the Letter which was in these terms CERCINEAS Letter unto ALCANDER Your passionate Desire and Wishes of my Health do infinitely oblige and please me May Heaven in requital give you that happiness and contentment which you merit and desire This wish comes from her who loves you above all those that profess any affection unto Cercinea When I call to memory those contentments which I received at that time I cannot chuse but charge them with want of affection who say that there are more pains then pleasures in love For Hylas no mortal man can be capable of greater felicity and no less then two hearts and two souls are requisite to gust it Had any seen my actions certainly they would have said I had been out of my wits but I will abridge the relation of them into as narrow a room as possibly I can and tell you that the dayes which I was to stay amongst the Veragrois seemed longer then they were wont to be and therefore I made such haste as within six dayes after I departed and came to Lions As soon as I saw my beloved Belisaid I was so transported with joy at those good offices which he had done me in my absence that I could not Carress him enough He on the other side who loved me extremely well had so great a desire to talk with me in private that he would hardly give me leave to see my mother and my brother But after our first salutations having given a general relation of my baseness I pretended to be very weary that I might retire with my dear Belisaid and I believe my brother took notice of it for I saw him smile two or three times at my impatience and measuring me by himself Belisaid on the other side who was no less impatient then I did follow me so close into my chamber as I was no sooner entred but he had shut the door Then did I redouble my Caresses and asked particular questions of all he had done during my absence He answered unto every thing with more satisfaction to me then ever I durst hope for or desire Thus Hylas we spent above two hours which seemed to me not a quarter and I believe had we not been interrupted by beeing called to supper our separation had not been soon but it was not without a million of caresses and thanks Because Belisaid told me that Cercinea would be glad to see me the same night as soon as we arose from the table we seemed as if we would go to the Court but went straight to the house of that fair Lady and to have better opportunities of talk also my brother being as desirous to see Palanice as we Cercinea he went along with us and by this means we were welcome to the house for Palanice was very glad of my brothers company Lucindor who was a servant unto our sister saluted us with all possible currasses and Sileines as it fortuned was not there not thinking that Palanice would go that night unto Cercineas house both she and Palanice were a little surprized to see me so unexpectedly Cercinea blusht and turning to Belisaid after all complements and salutes were done Ah Belisaid said she unto him why did you conceal the coming of Alcander from us Madam answered he it was concealed from me almost as much as from you for he is but newly returned but going a little nearer her whilst I was in some complements with Palanice yet said he if he had come in the morning I would not have acquainted you Why said he for two reasons replied he the one because I would not be the relatour of any thing before Alcander And the other is because I thought you would not care for the news and because she looked upon us and did not answer him what Madam said he do you not consent unto what I say What would you have me answer replied she and smiled but that you are a lyer in both Upon this because I came towards her she left him I am glad of your return Sir said she because now I hope to see Florice shortly who cannot be long absent from so dear a brother I thought Madam answered I you would have been glad of my return upon another consideration more advantageous unto me but I see that as you are as fair as you were wont to be so you are no kinder then when I departed what reason have you Alcander replied she to accuse me thus because Madam replied I you do not say you are glad of my return for my own sake who honours and adores you above all the world I believe Alcander said she that Belisaid and you have conferred notes together in your chamber that you may agree both in one tale Truth is Madam said I Belisaid and I do often talk of you and had I said that we talk of nothing else in private I had said truly for I have as great a confidence in him as in my self but as for conferring of any notes together whereof you speak we never so much as thought of any such thing for there being but one truth we never agreed together upon any thing else Well said she seeming desirous to change discourse I will believe what you and Belisaid please But pray Alcander tell us how you have lived since we lost you Madam answered he if you would know of Alcanders life you must ask the fair Cercinea for it is only as she is pleased to ordain it Come come said she you are a dissembler tell me what adventures you have met with in your voyage and what contentments you have received in it Madam said I unto her never was man more miserable then Alcander in his absence from you nor ever any so happy as he when he received the honour of hearing from you and therefore I had reason to say that my life was just as you were pleased to have it nor ever shall be any otherwise but this is not it I would know of you said she and interrupted him tell me whether you have effected your business well and whether your voyage has been to good purpose Belisaid sent me word Madam said I unto her that my business was effected better then I could hope so did the fair Cercinea also and that 's the reason of my return so soon not only to kiss your fair hand for so great a favour but also to pay that Homage which I ow unto you as unto her who may dispose of my life and all I have as she pleaseth She would have answered when Palanice not being so attentive to my brothers discourse as to forget Clorians business she observing how
affectionately I spoke unto Cercinea she came and interrupted us seeming as if it was only out of civility because I was yet a stranger In the mean Belisaid was not idle but talked with Andronira and inquired of all domestick news a particularly as he could he heard that my affairs could not be in a better condition then they were unless Clorian did marry her or divert her from me That Cercinea had a great good will towards me but the imperious authority of that man by means of Palanice did so restrain her as it was impossible for so young a spirit to withdraw her self from that servitude so soon as she and I desired That if a means could be found to make Palanice in love with Amilcar it would be a way to divert her from the protection of her brother for believe it Belisaid said she love has more prevalence then friendship and if ever she should love in good earnest Amilcar might make her do what he would yet I believe he will have a hard task to overcome her for Sileines who has loved her long has gained much upon her O fool said Belisaid unto her new conquests are alwayes most esteemed and loved But being late we were constrained to part and therefore bidding goodnight we retired to our chambers with much satisfaction to my self where as late as it was Belisaid and I had a long discourse from whom I heard all the discourse betwixt Andronira and him As soon as Florice heard of my return it seems she had a mind to make good the words of Cercinea for she presently came to see me but because her Aunt was very sick she could not stay only dined with us and then returned yet not so soon but Lucindor was first advertised of it for Belisaid who thought this to be advantageous unto my affairs was of opinion that it was requisite to oblige him and to enter into some conferrence with him to the end that when he came to Cercineas house he might bid him welcome It was Belisaid therefore that gave him this intelligence yet he no sooner came but Florice departed But Hylas you may remember how I once did write something in the glove of Cercinea I know not how it came to pass but so it was that they came to Palanices hands we had conceit that Missina finding them did give them unto her but however Clorian was quickly acquainted and leaving all his Court business at randome he returned home with more hast then I desired The first vexation I resented was that Cercinea entreated Belisaid to keep me from making so many visits and when I did go to see her she durst hardly come near me or cast an eye that way much less to speak unto me I did resent this change very sadly and much admired at it for I thought those testimonies of good will which she had given me were too great to be forgotten and to dissemble it was too gross and because I could not indure this without making some demonstrations of my resentments Belisaid thought it good for me to send for Florice for Lucindor perhaps might gain upon her which if he did he might cause Cercinea to shake off the tyranny of Palanice and Clorian As fortune was when we were busied to find out some handsome excuse for her return the death of our Aunt did furnish us with a very good one so as she returned of her self sooner then we looked for her The ceremony of mourning for this good aged woman was soon over for the infirmities of old age were such a great burthen unto her that her friends rejoyced rather then mourned to see her delivered from them As soon as Florice came I desired her to use her utmost endeavours upon Lucindor to favour me she who loved me very well and wanted neither wit nor will to negotiate such a matter did so prevail with Lucindor that he took my part both against Clorian and against Palanice indeed he spoke so affectionately to his Sister as she to our thoughts had some inclination to me and began to lean towards my side when Clorian and Palanice taking notice of it resolved to negotiate with Sileines after the very same manner that Florice did with Lucindor for Sileines was in love with Palanice and was elder brother unto the fair Cercinea so as by this means he took their part all that possibly he could To what purpose Hylas should I use any longer discourse upon this matter Sileines for the love he bore Palanice took Clorians part so as these two Brothers were one against the other and the Family so divided that all was like to be in a great confusion But Hylas it hapned also at the same time that as Cercineas family was divided betwixt Clorian and me so ours also was divided betwixt Lucindor and Cerintes for those two Cavaliers as I told you loved our Sister Florice and I took part with Lucindor because he was Cercineas brother who did me all the good offices he could and Amilcar favoured Cerintes brother unto Palanice upon the same interest And presently after the same dissention hapned between Clorian and Cerintes because Clorian was all for Sileines who loved Palanice and Cerintes solicited Palanice for Amilcar because he was the servant of Florice So see I beseech you how Love had busied himself amongst us for Florice never met Cercinea but she spoke unto her in my behalf and Cercinea solicited as much in behalf of Lucindor Cercinea never saw Palanice but she entreated her to favour Sileines and Palanice at the same time recommended Clorian unto her When Palanice met Florice she solicited her in behalf of her Brother Cerintes and Florice solicited her in behalf of Amilcar Judge I beseech you when we met all together what fine discourse there was amongst us It was very happy we were all intimate friends before these cross interests fell out for otherwise doubtless things would have fallen out very foul amongst us But all of us foreseeing that things could not long continue thus without some more bitter exasperations one day when we were all met together at Cercineas house we all agreed both Ladies and Cavaliers to submit our selves unto the Will of God and so went all together to enquire of the Oracle at the Temple of Venus where we received this answer The Oracle LEt Six within this Place remain Till Honour otherwise ordain No answer to the Female three Expect unless alone they be An old man who expounded these words unto us said that the Oracle commanded us to stay in this Town until such time as some action of honour constrained us to depart and that if the Ladies came alone without us the Oracle would tell them what they should do We understood that three days after they went and consulted with the Oracle As for us six we still waited until some honourable occasion caused us to go out of Lions And now it so fell out that the Prince
came the Isle of Sayn otherwise called Sena in the Britanique Sea opposite unto those Banks which are termed Osisiniens a place highly renowned for Oracles there rendred The name of this woman was Melusine and she was one of the nine which inhabited in the Isle of Sayne But in as much as they divided themselves into nine Regions and this Sybils lot was the Picts the Santons and most of the Armorique Cities she came to inhabite upon the top of a Rock where she caused a Tower to be built which she named Lux ignis from that divine fire which shined in all her answers and which since was called by the people Lusignan thither came all the country about to consult with her At the first it was a hard matter to speak with her for she would never shew her face to the end as I believe that more reverence might be had of her and when any desired to know any thing of her the best of the company must always come and bring the demands and carry back the answers and not daring to presume so high as to look her in the face which to prevent she wore a veil that if any were so rash as to look up he might not see her Now this Sybil was then at the Rock of Luâ—gnan And though she used a fortnight before the Misleto was gathered to come unto a stone near Poictier and there remain nine days ready to answer all questions yet the Princess would not stay till she came so near us Having therefore the Kings leave she went unto this Rock with as few in her company as she could and having accosted the Sybil she asked her what would be her Sons fortune But the Sybil answered The Answer of the Sybil Milusine unto the Princess ARGIRA HArk what the Fortune of them both shall be With Fratride the one of them you 'll see And by an Incestous marriage menac'd be In Forrests where shall be Prince Godomar The other shall his senses there recover Then Fate will kindly be both t'one and other This Oracle not then understood did put her into a cruel perplexity and she saw now that the King her father had good reason to disswade her from that curiosity yet silently keeping the answer to her self at her return she fancied a different construction which was that if the young Celiodantes were seen either by his father or mother or any else except his Nurse and those that were to nourish and bring him up for a certain time he would infallibly die The Kings were exceedingly loth to be deprived of the sight of the little Cleodantes yet fearing some such malignant influence they consented to humour the Queen in her desires Now the reason why she desired this was only to put the son of King Policander into the place of the King of the Santons as well to enjoy the contentment of seeing him brought up with her as to see him hereafter King of the Santons and the Picts And her design was so handsomly carried that at the return of the wrong Celiodantes none had any suspition of him though he was a little too big for his age For the King of the Santons being of a big tall stature did help to make every one believe that he would be like his father Thus Madam this Princess was both a bad and a good mother In the mean time she fearing lest if the right Celiodantes should remain in a place where he might be seen by any of the Court he might come to be known either by his resemblance of his father or by the indiscretion of those who had the keeping of him she pack'd him away as far off as she could and sent him to a Port of the Santons to be brought up as the childe of Verances unto whom she committed the care of him with a good sum of money for his education and to instruct him in all such exercises and qualities which a Cavalier ought to be and lest by any fortune he should chance to be lost either by the death of Verances or any other accident she thought it good to give him some mark whereby he might be known In order to this she took a hot iron with intention to burn him upon the left hand but as she was looking about where it should be done to do him the least harm be least seen she saw that Nature had saved her that labour and had placed upon the same hand a most perfect Rose so exactly that no art could possibly do the like She contented her self with this mark and commanded Verances that at the first Town he came unto he should take the picture of that little hand and send it unto her which she intended to keep as a memorandum and when she was ready to part she took a Turkish stone from about her neck which Policander gave her and which she esteemed at a very dear rate not for the value of it for it was of no great price but because he gave it unto her when he told her that he was King of the Boyers which he was wont to wear in all his Travels This stone had engraven upon it a Lion with certain German letters which in that language signified a King the son of a King Policander wore it for his motto intimating as the Lion is the King of all other animals and was begotten by another Lion so he though he seemed to be only a Cavalier errant yet was he a King and the son of a King The Queen Argira seeing what fortune this little Celiodantes was to run she thought this motto suited with him very well besides a Turkish stone is very lucky when it is given with a good will so she hung it about his neck kissed him and recomended him to Verances beseeching the gods to be propitious unto him Natural affection began to work upon the heart of a mother yet the Tirant love would needs shew himself the stronger Perhaps Madam you may think it strange that in a business of this importance the Queen should imploy Verances a young man and one whose understanding perhaps was not so great as such a secret required But be pleased to know that Verances was son unto her nurse and they two only did know of Policanders love and the birth of that child which was in the room of Celiodantes so as she thought it not convenient to trust any more with those passages but better to imploy these then any other besides she was desirous that if it were her fortune to die the King Policander might be informed by some what love had made her do for his son and she knew that he would give credit unto whatsoever this man did say In the mean time King Policander had by the Queen his wife a son and a daughter The son was called Ariontes and the daughter Rosanira and presently after Clorisone died and left many that sadly lamented her loss Policander mourned beyond the
their age not gray and ready to drag into their graves This answer and message which was no better then a reproach did make a deep wound in the soul of the Queen who ever had entertained a most zealous affection unto Policander but this did blast all her hopes and made good the old Proverb that from great love proceeds great hatred For she conceived so great a hatred of him that she did abhorre the very name of Policander and all his and as she did for his sake love the son which she had by him better then the son of the King her husband so now she changed her mind and wished he had never been born for she never looked upon him but she thought she saw the ingratitude of his father imprinted in his face Now did she heartily repent she ever put him in the place of him of whom he bore the name thinking it a most just judgement of the gods upon her for that imposture This regret went so near her heart that she sent unto the Port of the Santons to enquire of the right Celiodantes but she heard that he was long since carried away by certain Pirates and his father also for so was Verances esteemed and that his mother was lost at least never seen since in those parts This news which took from her the foundation of her intended revenge did more aggravate her displeasure and blew it up to such a height that she resolved to make Policander and her self a most notable example unto future ages for all such as should run the same fortune The supposed Celiodantes was then about the twentieth year of his age and by the indulgent care of the King of Santons and Argira accomplished with all the excellent qualities of a great Prince He was every way so compleated both in parts of body and mind that though he had not been the son of a King yet was he worthy of a Monarchy But as formerly she looked upon him with the eyes of love as Policanders son so now she lookt upon him with those of hatred and revenge she was long in debate with her self before she could resolve what way of revenge she should take at last she made choise of the greatest that then presented it self before her eyes The King of the Cenomanes had some variance with the King of the Turonians and commonly arms being alwayes judges between such persons and the sword the best Justice both of them begun to Levy men and list Souldiers and Commanders The King of the Rhedonians and Condates as allies unto the Cenomances came presently to their aide The King of Venetes and Darioriques having married the sister of the Turonian King came almost uncalled with all his forces to the assistance of his brother in law so as these two Kingdomes were like to be the Theaters of many cruel and bloody Tragedies when by the advice of these four Kings Celiodantes was chosen to be the Arbitratour of their differences Though his young experience in such weighty matters might make him seem unfit for such an undertaking yet the wisdome Prudence and Justice had already wrought such incredible effects in all his other actions as got him so great a repute that by the a common consent they referred themselves unto his arbitriment and doom and suspending arms and actions of hostility for a time they waited for his Judgement This happened to be at the same time when the Queen Argiras anger was hottest against Policander As fortune was the two Kings of the Armorique Cities were deadly enemies unto Policander because when they were young he assisted Suenon the good Duke against them under the notion of a Knight errant and had caused them to lose some certain terrritories of which they had been long Possessours On the other side the King of the Cenomanes and the King of the Turonians loved Policander no better then they because his ministers had confiscated some boats upon the river Loyre loadned with arms because they had not a safe conduct This offence though but small yet was so fresh that it sought for revenge Argira thought then that if Celiodantes did compose all matters between these Kings he might easily move them both against Policander as well to satisfie his request us to be revenged for their particular injuries All the difficulty was to find a good colour of warre for Celiodantes which she could hardly do for Policander though a neighbour had carried himself so free from any offence as he took away all occasions of complaint yet hoping that time might perhaps afford one that which she recommended most unto the Prince her son and to those whom she had imployed to councel him was to make a peace betwixt these Kings and to consider that the best warre was not so good as the worst peace and that the fire of dissention being so near them some sparks might fly into their own houses briefly she so instructed them that a Peace was made and so as gave full satisfaction to all parties each in particular thinking the advantage to be on their side This did oblige them so deeply unto Celiodantes and got him so high a repute that all of them desiring before they parted to make a firm alliance they chose him to be their general in case they assembled any forces together An honour indeed so high and unhop'd for he being so young as in all likelyhood he would have been the lust that should have been chosen for such a dignity But see Madam how fatally-unavoidable some things are the Queen was seeking out for a colour of complaint against Policander and could not find it when by Fortune some of the officers of Celiodantes pursuing some pilfering robbers that fled into Policanders dominions the people of the town and some souldiers to maintain their Priviledges did not only receive these thieves but killed a great number of his men and took all prisoners but such as saved themselves by flight This news being brought unto the Queen she thought it a very good pretence and such an offence as she sought after And because she was sure that if she made complaint unto Policander he would give her satisfaction therefore she said nothing but sent some souldiers immediatly to sack the place and use all manner of hostility but in lieu of revenging the first injury it did but beget a second for those that went found such hot entertainment that the Commanders hardly escaped with their lives after the loss of most of their men Argira was sorry for their loss but she was well contented to have such a colour to move those Kings to revenge the injury which she said Celiodantes had received whilst he was out of his Dominions And in order to this she presently dispatched such a messenger as she thought most fit to aggravate this offence and move those Kings unto anger and certainly he did negotiate according to her desires for he used all manner of arts and
Rosilion and Adrastes are cured In the mean time as they were talking of nothing but this Vision in the Castle and many laughing at the Nymphs being so affrighted a great noise was heard below in the Court and looking out they saw some run one way and some another and saying nothing but Ligdamon Ligdamon The Nymphs that were with Leonide and Silvia and laughing at them hearing that Ligdamon was there they all fled away as fast as they could some ran to save themselves in Galatheas chamber and some into the chamber of Amasis As the women were affrighted so were some of the men and the Guard at the Castle Gates knowing Ligdamon and seeing him to come towards them whom they thought to be dead they all ran away and left the Gates open Adamas seeing every one to run in this manner was afraid left this panique fear should be the umbrage of some Treason and therefore going as fast as he could to the Gates he found them open and all the Guard fled which did much astonish him But seeing some of his own men coming from the Town he beckned unto them to make haste to shut the Gates and to guard them till the Souldiers returned And because he still heard the cry in the Castle he went to see what was the true cause of it In the mean time Ligdamon who had caused all this terror and confusion finding the Gates open he entred much wondering to see every one fly from him and cry out so pitifully He knowing all the rooms in the Castle being brought up in it from his Infancy he went straight unto the chamber of the Nymph Amasis and because the Ushers of the Chamber had command to keep the door shut they did not only lock it but also blocked it up with chairs and tables so as when Ligdamon came he found all fast and not daring to be so bold as to knock he waited until some came out The Nymph Amasis Galathea and others being advertised that he was at the door of the Antichamber they trembled for fear and one who was the stoutest amongst them peeping through the key hole and seeing it was he they all fled away crying it was he it was he The noise continued so long before any had the courage to go out that Egides who had served him a long while and whom Silvia ever since did keep with her passing from the chamber of his Mistress unto that of the Nymph and looking as the rest did through the keyhole he looked upon him O good god said he it is my dear Master and running presently out at another door for they would not let him go out at that he went unto him some of the affrighted wowomen would have hindred him telling him his master was dead I know he is answered he but no matter I love his soul as well as his body and am sure that nothing which is his will hurt me In this resolution this faithful servant ran to him and kissed his hand with such a flood of tears in his eyes that he could not utter a word but ah my dear master Ligdamon on the other side embraced him with extream contentment and when he could speak Egides said he unto him what is the reason that every one thus flies from me O Sir answered he who can chuse but be affrighted to see you so unexpectedly your death being published by me who saw you dead Why then said Ligdamon didst not thou shun me as well as the rest I Sir answered he why should I shun you that would most willingly follow you in death and doubtless had done so but for disobeying that command which you imposed upon me with your dying breath well said he didst thou then deliver my Letter unto the fair Silvia I did answered he and more then that I told her all that you commanded me and related unto her the whole story of your death The Nymphs all this while who looked upon them through the key hole and heard them talk they began to take heart Adamas at the same time came also to the door of the antichamber where finding Ligdamon he was a little suprized yet still a person of judgement and resolution Ligdamon said he unto him I charge thee in the name of Tautates that if thou beest a Ghost to return unto thy eternal rest and leave this place in quietness Sir answered Ligdamon and smiled I should be glad to be a Ghost to meet with that rest which yet I could never find But know that I am the very same Ligdamon whom formerly you have seen and whom the great God hath raised from death to life to shew that as men come into the world by his appointment so they cannot go out of it until it be his pleasure upon this Adamas embraced him with open arms and was extremely joyed for Ligdamons virtue got himself the love of all At this great noise the Prince Godomar Alcedon and many other Cavaliers came to the Nymphs chamber door to see what the matter was The Nymph hearing that the Prince Godomar Adamas and Alcedon and many others had spoken with him she took courage and commanded the doors to be set open but neither she nor Galathea would have suffered him to come near if the Prince Godomar by one hand and Adamas by the other had not presented him unto them Is it possible Madam said Ligdamon and humbly kneeled down that I should be here in this place taken for another and not be known to be my self We in this countrey said Amasis and commanded him to rise up are so seldome used to see any raised from the dead that we could not but wonder to see Ligdamon have that priviledge but thanks be to god the man who brought us the news of your death proves a lyer and if ever any lye was welcome unto us it is this I would to God Madam answered he that this life of mine which is preferred might be lost in doing you any service yet be pleased to know that Egides was no lyer when he told the fair Silvia I was dead for I commanded him so to do and knew him so faithful that he would not fail me and yet said the Nymyh thanks be to god you are alive how then could you assure her that you were dead unless he were a lyer Madam replied Ligdamon did I not fear I should be over tedious I could tell you how Well replied she I will leave you with Galathea Silvia and the rest of the Ladies they have not so much business upon them as I pray tell them and let them relate unto me at night Upon this the Nymph Prince Godomar Alcedon and Adamas went unto the Queen Argira and in the mean time Ligdamon after a thousand Caresses from the Nymphs he was conducted by Galathea unto Damon who was almost well recovered and began to walk up and down his chamber and also did passionately desire to see him After all civil
Ligdamon at that time did testifie that the man escaped and though they saw him when he went away yet they had so many other prisoners in their hands that they could not follow him O most omnipotent Tautates cried out the stranger lifting up his eyes to heaven and would have done so his hands had they not been tyed is it possible I should be so happy and that my despair should help that person to escape Certainly said all the company we saw him out of the ditch I am very glad on 't said Ligdamon But to see the strange effects of inward joy one might perceive the eyes and the countenance of this man so to change that he seemed not the same he was a minute before and addressing his speech unto Ligdamon Cavalier said he unto him with a mild and temperate voice in giving life unto one you have given it unto two for if she of whom I complained had died nothing could have kept me alive I say she for you must know that though you saw her in the habit of a man yet she is the most generous and brave woman that ever was upon the earth and that you may see what cause I had to love and admire her give me leave to relate the history of all my troubles Ligdamon who saw him much changed and his speech more moderate and discreet he had an opinion that this news had settled his mind and pittying to hear him talk so tyed Stranger said he unto him I should be very glad to hear you but am sorry to see you in that condition and yet I dare not suffer you to be untyed lest you should do some act of inhumanity against your self No no Sir answered he your courtesie has more obliged me then so and the assurance of so many persons that she is alive whom I so much lamented does command me to live that I may serve both you and her Upon this assurance said Ligdamon I will command you shall be untyed you shall go with me to my lodging where you shall find better accomodation then in this place This unask'd for favour said the stranger obliges me to pass my word never to forsake you until you dismiss me and to tell you that being neither any Officer nor Souldier unto your enemies nor having passed any promise to serve them I would never whilst I live bear arms against you nor ever go into your enemies army but with a sword in my hand to fight your quarrel were it not that she for whose sake I am your prisoner is in their Camp and I cannot dispose of my self until I have found her Upon this the corporal untyed him and he went with Ligdamon unto his lodging where he was put into good clothes for his own were plundered from him by those who took him and those which remained upon him he had torn to pieces in his rage afterwards Ligdamon causing him to sit down and they two being alone in the chamber he began thus The sequel of the History of LIPANDAS THose who never knew the Grandure and Puissance of that god which is called Love ought to learn by my example how to honour and reverence him unless they will incur the same punishments which I have for abusing those who did adore him and for not doing so great reverence unto that great Deity as is due for know Sir that as soon as I left my Nurse I began so much to despise love and all that followed him that to tell me one was a lover was enough to make me scorn him when at any time I chanced to hear of any extraordinary effect of that passion I used by way of mockery to say that they changed the name of things and that this which they called love was indeed madness and so ought to be called When I was at any meetings where I saw many idolizing a fair face and were so tyed by the eyes that they could not move out of the presence of those fair ones I was wont to say that the men did but mock the women and the women the men when some would needs prove that he was forced to a beauty and that her charms were inevitable I presently concluded him to be only a Sophister that to shew his wit would argue for or against any argument that was propounded Nay more then al this from my very infancy to the Autumn of my age I could never find in any of those who were cryed up for such high beauties any thing more amiable then in other women So as I may say that as there are some who are born blind others deaf others without a taste or at least a taste different from others so was I born without any sentiment of love or beauty and all my delectation at that time was in hunting or in wars which I followed wheresoever I could see the seat was Now Sir I lived in this contempt of love and beauty until of very late when that God who would not suffer any mortal to trample his honour and his laws so under foot did make me know his power by a way as extraordinary as my crime Those who knew me called me by the name of Lipandas born in a city of the Neustrians called Rothomagues and of Parents who there held the prime rank And whereas my countrey maintained great wars against the Romans and they against the Franks I had occasions enough of shewing my valour without stirring out of the Neustrian limits or at least out of our Army and therefore a place of great concernment being in the power of our Lords which was called Callice the government of it was committed unto me and I kept it several years About a month since one whose name was Lidias coming from great Brittain unto which he was fled for Sanctuary landed in this place Ligdamon upon this laying his hand upon the strangers stay a while Cavalier I beseech you said he unto him are you the same Lipandas who being Governour of Calais did imprison Lidias for the death of Arontes I am the very same answered he but what knowledge could you have of me in a place so distant from the Neustrians Content your self replyed Ligdamon that I know what you tell me and more that a young woman of great Britain called Melander armed like a Cavalier did fight with you about the liberty of that Lidias afterwards to deliver him did put her self into prison and when the Franks surprized Calais was delivered out of your hands I perceive replyed the stranger that you do know almost all I have to tell you and therefore my discourse will be shorter then I intended Then looking upon him a little better Oh heavens cryed he out why do I make any relations of it unto you for if I be not much mistaken it is Lidias unto whom I speak To Lidias answered Ligdamon No but to one that has paid very dear for his resemblance unto that Lidias as you shall understand
when you have done your discourse The credit which I give to your words replyed the stranger makes me give my eyes the lye for I durst have sworn you had been Lidias but since you do deny it I will return from whence I digressed and then he replyed thus Oh Sir since you are acquainted with these accidents perhaps you know also that this Melander was no sooner out of my prison but she went after that ungrateful Lidias who having forgotten all those extraordinary favours which he had received from that generous woman went unto Rothomagues to marry Amerina her for whom he had killed Arontes my neer Kinsman As for me I remained a Prisoner in the hands of one Lindamore a Cavalier of Gaul the most accomplished that ever came into Neustria and the cause of it as afterwards I understood was this fair Melander whom I retained Prisoner for Lindamore hearing I know not how what testimonies of generosity and affection this woman had expressed unto Lidias and being informed that she was a prisoner in the Castle as soon as the Castle was taken he ran to deliver her But not finding her for the doors were set open and she with many others escaped I think there was not any corner or hole which he did not seek continually asking me where she was I who could not tell him nor knew Melander but under the notion of the sad Cavalier I knew not what to answer him At last making me understand that he sought for a woman in the habit of a Cavalier who fought with me for Lidias and was afterwards imprisoned As for the sad Cavalier answered I he indeed was my prisoner but as for any woman there was none in my hands Well replyed Lindamore that sad Cavalier is the woman I mean How replyed I the sad Cavalier a woman Why said Lindamore was she so long in your hands and you not know it Why it was she who loved Lidias and in defence of him armed her self and vanquished you and afterwards with a most heroique courage bought the liberty of Lidias by the loss of her own Now Sir you shall hear how that puissant God of Love was revenged upon me I who always mocked at his power and despised his Laws no sooner heard that this sad Cavalier was a woman but I fell into most extream admiration this admiration bringing into my memory the generosity of that woman I began to esteem her and at last contemplating upon the sweetness of her face and aspect her modest behaviour her admirable patience and her unparallell'd affection I fell from esteem to love her a thing which I ever thought impossible But learn O all ye mortals to reverence the supreme Deities for I not resting in an ordinary affection Love had stuck his arrows so deep in my heart that I became all passionate flame so as I may serve for an example unto all such Atheists as do not acknowled the puissance of this great God who above all the rest ought to be called Hesus that is strong and puissant In the mean time Lindamore understood that Melander was no sooner at liberty but she hasted after Lidias who was gone to Rothomagues and the very truth is had I been free as Melander went after Lidias I had gone after Melander but having passed my word unto that Cavalier not to stir out of his house I was able to do nothing but languish and think my self worthy of that punishment which I endured for having so fair and so sweet a woman so long in my hands and never knowing it I found then that this passion made me have a different opinion of things and was forced to say that none was able to resist the god of Love I that was wont to laugh at those that begged any trivial favour from her they loved could now be contented to kiss and adore the very chains which touched the fair hand of my Saint Melander And therefore I desired one of Lindamors men to go with me into the prison where she was wont to be The man like the master being all Courtesie went with me and not being well able to discern which chains had fettered her I desired him to put them all upon me as soon as I had them upon me O chains said I which once fettered the hands of her who now has fettered my heart yet less cruel then I since you were broken to let her go at liberty whom I so unworthily kept in my prison you may with abundance of reason upbraid me with the crime which I have committed for I was the cause and the Authour but you more insensible then I was had some pity upon her and knew that she to whom the liberty of all hearts is due did not deserve to be so imprisoned O you most happy bonds said I and kissed them happy in the touch of her fair hands shew me in what place you received that honour that by kissiing it I may express the devotion which I bear unto them upon this I kissed them again and beseeched those that were about me to fetter my arms and my hands with all the shakkles in the prison and because out of pity they refused to do me that office O good gods cryed I out is it possible that he who had no compassion upon the fairest and most generous woman upon earth should find any so compassionate unto me Upon this their denial I spoke and did many things that were ridiculous some could not chuse but laugh and others seeing a man so lost in love did resent my condition All these passages were reported unto Lindamor and Lindamor related them unto Clidemant and both out of curiosity would needs come and see me The condition wherein they found me was such that any that saw me would say I was out of my wits I had fettered both my feet with as many chains as covered them and one hand was tying the other as well as it could as many chains were about my neck as could hang and thus hardly able to stir I kissed those that my mouth could reach reverencing the rest because they had touched that fair one Although I saw them enter yet I continued my devotion of kisses as if I saw them not which held them a while admiration at last Clidemant came nearer unto me Cavalier said he what are you doing with all these chains and why are you thus fettered with them Sir answered I I do not only desire them to be continually upon me but I wish I could hang them about my heart About your heart said Clidemant you know that then they would kill you for any thing that touches the heart is mortal O Sir replied he that rule is false For Melander doth not only touch my heart but has pierced it with a hundred arrows yes has pull'd it out of my brest and yet I do hot die That touch of your heart replied Clidemant is only in imagination but if these chains should touch
Town was much higher then it he promised to make a pass under the ditch from it unto what place Polemas would appoint if one thing did not hinder him which was that he knew not what to do with the earth which he digged out in making this pass Polemas did exceedingly approve of this way and asked him if there were any Wells about the house and being answered that there was Then said Polemas throw the earth into those Wells But said the young man they will be presently filled besides another Cave which is used for keeping of wood for all are nothing to contain the earth which will be digged out Then said Polemas I will spring another Mine as neer yours as I can that both may meet in this I see no difficulty but one which is that our Works may be so streight that they may meet each other Sir said the young man to morrow about three of the clock in the morning set a light upon the place where you intend to begin your work and we will set another upon our house towards which you may work and so we shall see which way to direct our courses I shall said Polemas and moreover I have two Levels the one I will give unto you and keep the other when you see the light upon the place where I intend to begin the work then plant your Level directly towards it as I will mine towards yours and so we cannot miss of each other For the Miners having the direction of these Levels to work by they will directly make their Mine that way Upon this he himself took the two Levels and shewing the use of them the young man having a quick apprehension quickly understood them Yet Sir said the young man I am to advertise you of two things the one concerns your life and the other the welfare of your affairs As for the first of these Ligdamon hath vowed your death unless you speedily release Silvia This advice Sir is not to be slighted for you know he is desperately in love with her and he that contemns his own life is master of his enemies The other is Sir That there are many who yet stand neutral and are neither for nor against you who are ready to fall unto your enemies side because they think the war you undertake against your Soveraign is unlawful and without good ground Now Meronthes your faithful servant thinks it expedient to retain many who yet waver that you seek out for a specious pretence and a handsome colour for your War which though it be not altogether true yet it may have a face and probability of truth And therefore he thinks it not amiss for you to give it on t that Adamas aspires at the Soveraign Authority and detains the two Nymphs Prisoners in order to which he has procured the Prince Godomar unto whom he has made mountainous promises of reward if he compass his design That likewise he hath held secret correspondencies with Neighbour Princes witness an unknown Queen that came into Marcelles and left in it many souldiers Briefly by this course many things will be imputed unto him which though afterwards they appear false yet no matter since they will serve to blind the people who take only the first impression of things and will so declare themselves thereupon that they cannot afterwards change though they would Polemas gave Meronthes many thanks for the care he had of his person and for his good advice Above all Sir said the young man and interrupted him he beseecheth you to make it appear how you resent the death of your great friend Climanthes that all the world may see your love of those that serve you and that it is a great shame to see him still hang before the Gate of the Town from whence doubtless he would be taken were it not for fear of being â—isâ—overed to side with you and so men ruine themselves without doing any conâ—â—â—â—â—â—ble service to you As to this point answered Polemas you may tell him 〈◊〉 know this wicked Adamas to be the instrument of our loss in Climanthes but to morrow he shall see what revenge I will take upon Alexis the daughter of that damned Villain whom I have in my hands Also upon Silvia whom I have sent for to make Amasis and that Tray or resent the injuries which they have done me As for Ligdamon I do believe the notice which Meronthes gives me is true for I have heard as much other ways but I shall look well enough to him So after many thanks and promises the young man took his leave When night came and was dark the man being well instructed by his father crept over the ditch and coming to the place where Ligdamon had made a great slaughter of his enemies he began to groan and complain in a pitiful tone so as the Sentinel hearing him and asking who he was Alas said he faigning to fâ—ar being heard I am the son of Meronthes who coming out with Ligdamon have been here ever since amongst the dead The Sentinel calling the Corporal acquainted him and the Corporal the Commander of the Guard Order was given to throw down Cords to pull him up So after he had bloodied his face and durtied himself complaining as if he were all wounds he was pulled up the Wall and carried to the house of his father who was the Inventor of all this and who seemed to be transported with joy at his sons Resurrection from the dead For said he I gave him for dead since he came not back into the Town with the rest Oh father said the subtle son you may well say that the Gods have twice given me unto you for I have been ever since I went out amongst the dead The father held up his hands praised the gods and thanking those that pulled him up did reward them liberally for their care and pains Then getting him presently to bed and seeming to send for a Chirurgion he went with the company to the door of his house and gave them a thousand thanks As soon as ever they were gone he came into his sons chamber and the door being shut he gave an accompt of his voyage advertised him of the light which would be placed where the Mine was to be begun shewed him the level and the use of it and to be breif made a most circumstantial relation of every particular passage all which gave Meronthes abundance of contentment And lest friends should come in the morning to see his son and seeing him well should suspect any thing he lapped his head about with two or three napkins patched his face all over and instructed him so well with what to say that he was prepared for all comers In the mean time Polemas acquainted Peledontes Argonides Listander and Ligonias with all these advertisements that had been given unto him by Meronthes and the reason why he could not open a gate unto them and entreated them they would disperse
and yet this shall contain no expressions of my sorrows for it but only tell you that Polemas has besieged me in Marcelles where I am like to see the loss of my son seconded with the loss of my state Lindamor is now all the hopes I have in my affections he need not now any longer shew his valour in a strange countrey since he has a more glorious occasion for it in his own I conjure you therefore by the tears and sighs I spend in the memory of Clidemant to come hither and give liberty to a Princess who is deprived of it by a rebellious Subject O thou most impious wretch said Lindamor if heaven do not punish thee it declares it self a sider with the unjust Upon this opening Galatheas Letter he found these words GALATHEAS Letter unto LINDAMOR THough the Letter of Amasis should not have any power over you and though I were deprived fo the command which once I had upon your will yet I am confident that the delight you take in glorious actions will invite you to relieve us Polemas will needs triumph over Galathea without any other pretence or title but the injustice of his Arms and whilst Lindamor is striving to crown himself with Laurels he is striving to ravish from him those Mirtles wherewith love would recompence his fidelity Iudge then my Cavalier whether any punishment can equal his crime or any interest more considerable unto you then that of your own good Come therefore and visit Polemas and Galathea both to keep him from living and me from dying both will be equally advantageous unto you since in ruining an enemy you will save a lover who will no sooner be out of hopes of your relief but will have recourse unto sword or poison as thinking them not so bad as the presence of Polemas in the disobedience of Lindamor Think therefore upon what I say Come and all the gods be with you Lindamor read this Letter twice over and thinking a while upon it Yes yes fairest Galathea said he and pulling his hat over his eyes I will come through fire and blood to pull down the arrogance of that rash man Upon this he presently sent for two or three of those in whom he had greatest confidence and communicating the Letter of Amasis unto them it was concluded that Lindamor who had appointed all his troops to meet a Rendezvous to pay and dismisse them off should now keep them on foot for the service of the Nymph The Cavalier thought this to be the best expedient he could chuse so as having paid all his Souldiers and asked them whether they would continue still under his command there was not one who thought it not an honour to serve him And therefore he resolved to go and relieve Amasis with all possible haste and vowed not to take any rest until he had done that Princess some service worthy of his valour but his had been very small if it did not surpasse that of Polemas all that while and particularly that night wherein Peledontes was taken for though he lay upon the bed with endeavour to sleey yet could he not reconcile his eyes and before he could compose the ingratitude of his mind the night was gone The Moon shined very clear and Astrea waking in the middle of the night and having no mind to sleep again she rose out of her bed and went to the window as soon as she was there she began to study a little at last upon a sudden she said as this night will not be long so mine methinks ought not to be eternal and then I should receive some consolation But what a desperate condition is mine for my sun once set will never rise again afterwards fetching a most profound sigh Ah Celadon said she is it a signe of love or hatred that I should suffer my self to live so long after I have been the cause of thy death Alas I am afraid it is a testimony of hatred in thee since thou dost now want the company of her in the Elizian fields whom thou didst court in this world with so much passion but also it is an argument of thy love since thou dost still suffer her to love thee and in her tears to wash away that crime which she committed against thy fidelity upon this tears flowing in great abundance down her cheeks and dropping upon the window where she leaned Alas poor tears said she why do you not the same unto me that Lignon did unto my dear Shepherd and drown'd me but I know the cause you are dryed up too soon by the fire of my love With such thoughts as these she entertained the memory of her Shepherd and the window where she was being towards the place where Polemas gave the last assault upon the Town the good office which Semires had done her came also into her mind Poor Semires said she thy death has well repaired the wrong which formerly thou didst against me and presently remembring the last words he uttered but why said she didst thou pray heaven to keep Astrea for her happy Celadon Didst thou imagine that Shepherd to be still alive since I am so thou hadst indeed some reason for thy thought since the soul of Celadon does still live in me or wast thou deceived by the resemblance of Alexis and took her for him If thou wert I would to heaven I could be so mistaken also and that I were not so sure Alexis as the daughter of Adamas as I have some kind of suspition that Alexis may be Celadon But alas alas I know too well that Celadon is dead and I have not so much forgotten his favour unto me but I well remember how I saw his Ghost Why then Simires who in this I must call cruel shouldst thou offer to torment me thus May heaven didst thou say preserve Astrea for her happy Celadon If none be happy till after death and if Celadon be happy then it follows he is dead and how can I be happy then unless I be dead as well as he Perhaps and I believe this is thy meaning the heart of Celadoa and mine being but one and the same thou prayest heaven I may preserve it intirely for him and not suffer my soul to take the impression of any other object but his If this be thy request Semires assure thy self it is granted and heaven it self cannot warm me with any other flame But pardon me valiant Alexis for pleasing my self in these vain fancies and for remembring the name of this Shepherd so much as in some sort to forget my duty to you I have but only two contentments in thr whole world and they are to think upon him and see you Astrea entertained her self long with these thoughts after which seeing the night was far spent and knowing by her eyes that she wanted sleep she went back unto her companions where insensibly she fell asleep and waked not until the rayes of the Sun jealous of
should stand in fear of the judgement of Lidias for your own merit is the cause of it and I know that unless he be blind he cannot prefer my beauty before yours you are owner of so many eminent qualities above me that I am forced to beg that from your pity which my own merit can never obtain I know very well that my demand is high when I ask this Cavalier but then consider that if you grant him unto me you do render your glory and my obligation to be extream I am sure fair Melandre that you know very well how due this recompence is unto pains and that my many years sufferings deserves no less reward If you tell me that you may pretend unto him by the same title and that you have endured as much as I consider I beseech you that your courage which is naturally prompt unto great things was never put unto so much difficulty as mine whose inclination never reached above that of a silly woman and who never durst attempt any thing if love had not used a particular violence upon me Again discreet Melandre you have many persons here about you the possession of whom will be no less glorious unto you then if you enjoyed Lidias and will be a Fortune as advantageous unto you Wheas if I do lose what I do expect from the inclination of that Cavalier I am utterly undone left desolately alone far from my native countrey destitute of all humane help and perhaps abandoned to the mercy of some ravisher who will triumph over me and has none to defend me from any violence I do conjure you therefore even by Lidias himself not to deny me this comfort which I begg and consider that if you have so much pity as to yield unto me this upon which all my joy and felicity does depend I shall not be so ungrateful as for your service to lose that life which you shall preserve Amerina expressed her self in such a sweet obliging manner that Melandre was exceedingly moved and had not love been abundantly predominate above her compassion she had at that very instant granted unto this fair one that contentment which she asked and seemed to merit Yet her own interest being above that of Amerinas she paused a while and studied what to answer at last she broke out thus The gods be witnesses fair Amerina I am extreamly grieved that I cannot render you this contentment which you ask for pities sake put your self into my room and tell me what you would do if I should make the same supplication unto you If you do love Lidias above your own life would you not rather die then suffer another to enjoy him but alas I am extreamly afraid left that misfortune befal me and that his judgement will be advantageous unto you for I must yield unto you in all those qualities wherein you think I have the advantage above you But however this is my designe sage Amerina to wait upon that judgement which he shall pronounce do not think it is any want of affection unto you which moves me not to yield that happiness which you desire for command me to attempt things even impossible nay even to die for your contentment and I protest I will do it so my love unto Lidias may be excused This was all the answer that Melandre gave at which Amerina was so stung that she was not able to stay any longer with her after therefore a civil adiew she went away in such a dejected manner as it was apparent she was not all satisfied by Fortune as she went out she met Adamas and went with him unto his house beseeching him to let her go to bed without any supper or being seen by any The Druido would hardly consent unto it yet to satisfie her importunity he permitted her to do as she would All the night long she never closed an eye and though the last testimonies which she received of the love of Lidias was a great subject of consolation unto her yet she could not chuse but fear and extreamly afflict her self as oft as she thought upon the promises which he had made unto Melandre The remembrance of this forced some tears to trickle down from her eyes and afterwards to fall into a thousand dangerous resolutions The last of which and upon which her mind fixed was not to suffer that her Rival should ever tryumph over Lidias so as to prevent that she intended to arm her self with a poniard which she would wear under her Gown and in case the sentence was pronounced in the favour to Melandre she vowed to kill her afterwards Lidias and lastly her self Lidias for his part was as much disquieted as they all his obligations unto Melandre came into his memory and swelled his soul with such lively apprehension of them as he thought he could not chuse but satisfie her desires unless he suffered himself to be branded with extream ingratitude On the other side his vows unto the fair Amerina had such an influence upon him and the merits of both held him in such an inequality as he knew not which of them to chuse or reject Lipandas also received such a hot alarm when he heard of the passages at the house of Amasis that he would never let Ligdamon be at rest but forced him to accompany him unto the Castle where he so expressed his passion unto Melandre that if he did not move her unto any love yet he moved her at the least unto pity The hour when they were all to appear before Amasis was no sooner come but all the Court assembled there especially the Lovers but with very different thoughts and resolutions Lidias endeavoured to oblige Amerina without offending Melandre Amerina was afraid that Lidias would not be favourable unto her and therefore prepared to execute her dismal designe But Melandre being more confident then any of the rest before Lidias was commanded to speak did cast her self at the feet of Amasis with these expressions It is to believed Madam that every one will wonder that after so violent a pursuit of a happiness I should now deprive my self of all hopes therein but if they will be pleased to take so much pains as to consider the reasons which induce me thereunto doubtless they will rather commend then condemn me At the first Madam I was in hopes to enjoy Lidias without any prejudice unto Amerina whose affection does merit to be preserved but now if I do voluntarily yield unto her an advantage which perhaps she may obtain in spite of me I shall so oblige her as I believe that her affection unto me will be for ever immutable And since Madam though Lidias should give his judgement in favour of me he would still be guilty of breaking those oaths which he hath sworn unto this fair one and though he should be favourable unto her he could never clear himself of infidelity unto me so as Madam either Amerina or Melandre must of their
that I am the most happy man alive and that the love which I bear unto you joyned with the assurance which you give me of your affection is a thousand times more dear unto me then my Fathers Scepter O heavens said Dorinde the Scepter of Gondebaut and the affection you bear unto me are two things which will sute very ill together For the one will no sooner come into your hands but the other will go out of your heart All my oaths vows and protestations answered the Prince should methinks remove all such suspitions out of your mind and believe it my fairest Dorinde the effects of my fidelity may well make you cease doubting of my faith if you would but please to call them into your memory but to my great happinesse you do not judge rightly upon my humour and are perswaded that the name of King can exclude that of Lover but No no my dearest Dorinde the discretion which you have seen in all my actions is a most evident demonstration that I do not pretend unto any thing which can offend you and that entertaining no passion but what is legitimate I shall still preserve it as pure and sacred when I have an Empire as now when I am only in hopes of it I wish I were more free then I am that I might be able to give you a better assurance of it but since I do absolutely depend upon the power of a father and a Father incensed I cannot at this time do any more then make a most faithful promise to marry you as soon as ever I am at liberty Dorinde flattering her self with the title of Burgundean Queen and imagining that this Prince might raise her fortune as high as her ambition she did fully build upon these last promises and suffering a pritty kind of shame mixed with incomparable joy to appear in her cheeks she returned this answer The good will Sir which I bear unto you does not proceed from these great hopes which you are pleased to give me for I dare say and that most truly that I do love your person above your Crowns and Scepters and your merits above your quality yet since you are pleased to assure me that your love is so great unto me as to make me a sharer in the glory which your birth doth cast upon you I do most willingly accept of the offer which you make unto me and promise never to dispose of my self but according to those commands which I shall receive from you and in testimony of what I say continued she pulling out a ring which Sigismond gave unto her and breaking it in two let this be the Symbole of our union The time whilst the pieces of this ring do remain separate shall emblem our absene and when you are in a condition to accomplish what you have promised their conjunction shall be ours also Then Sigismond taking the one half of the ring and kissiing it several times I do swear said he that I will never believe my fairest Dorinde defective in her fidelity until she send me back the other half of this ring which remains with her and I would have her think the same of me in saying so the Prince took her hand and laid it to his heart be assured my dearest Dorinde said he that this heart over which you lay your hand is much more yours then my own and will sooner die then fail in the least tittle of what I have promised Dorinde looking silently upon him and the eyes of the Prince meeting with hers they both swore an unalterable fidelity unto each other by the language of their eyes which though mute yet did more eloquently expresse their passions then any tongue could tell At last Dorinde fearing to lose her self in this rauishment she first withdrew her eyes and blushing a little she beseeched him to go unto the rest of the company Lindamor in this interim had not ill imployed his time for as soon as he saw Rosilion apply himself to Rosanira and Sigismond to Dorinde he went unto Galathea and knew so well how to set forth what she owed unto all his labours that he obtained leave to court her openly and though he had a great confidence in the good will of Amasis yet he thought it not expedient to consult with her without communicating his design unto the Druide who beside the power which his virtue had gotten him with the Nymph had a very particular inclination unto him He propounded then unto Galathea that desire which he intended to acquaint Adamas withal and that Nymph thinking it to be very just Lindamor sent to seek him but word being brought that he was gone out of Marcelles I perceive said Galathea that he was very desirous to carry home unto their habitations those Shepherds which Clindor entertained and truly I am very sorry that he did not acquaint me before he went but I will entreat Ligdamon to go unto him and solicite him to return as soon as possibly he can Upon this Galathea beckning unto Ligdamon who was then entertaing Silvia that Cavalier came unto her and had no sooner received her commands to go but he went immediatly and took horse Amasis came out of her closet at the same time and because she had been a long while cloistered up in Marcelles she was very desirous to ride out into the fields to take the air she caused therefore her coaches to be made ready and going into one with the three Princes Lindamor Rosanira Galathea and Dorinde the first place she visited was the place where Polemas had pitched his Tent and his Camp from thence she went unto the plain where the blood of that Rebel was still to be seen and remembring the fears she was in she related unto them the extream perplexity and anguish of spirit in which she was when they fought At last after they had sufficiently aired themselves they returned to the Castle where Amasis did all she possibly could to Carresse them so much did she acknowledge her self obliged unto them for the great care they had in delivering her from the insolence of her enemy Ligdamon in the mean time came unto the house of Adamas whom he found walking in his gallery with the Shepherds and fair Shepherdesses of Lignon when the Druide first saw him he was a little surprized and was afraid that some new disorder had hapned in Marcelles yet when he aked the cause of his coming he was very glad that it was only to desire him from Galathea to come unto her as soon as he could He intended therefore to go very early in the morning that he might be there as soon as the Nymph was ready and beseeching Ligdamon to be his guest till then he took him by the hand and carried him to the rest of the company They were no sooner there but they perceived Cercinea Palanice and Florice were standing all about Phillis unto whom Cercinea spoke thus But fair Shepherdesse or
have any power of you I command it But fair Phillis to shorten my discourse Palanice carried the matter so that she stayed him and gave him such full satisfaction that in the presence of his Sister who ever since had a share in his secrets she swore that as long as he carried himself with the same fidelity and discretion as formerly she would never change Now O our fair and just Judge I cannot tell whether it be that men grow weary in prosperity or are glutted with too many favours but most certainly they are all inconstant and more by being too much loved then too little Sileines is an argument of it in his change for without any good excuse and colourable pretence he cast off my companion and devoting himself unto Dorisa did so extreamly offend Palanice that in revenge she permitted Rosiliander to make addresses unto her but though a marriage betwixt them was almost fully concluded yet she resolved that if her persidious Sileines would return again unto his duty she would find out some invention or other to break off with Rosililiander she ventured therefore a Letter unto him but he in lieu of giving her any hopes returned this answer The Letter of SILEINES unto PALANICE You think that the Letter which you writ unto me is a testimony of your love but I take it to be a full assurance of your infidelity You are like unto such as are ready to die and would never have any recourse unto any remedies till their disease be past all hopes of cure Marry freely Palanice since heaven and you have conspired my ruine and do not think I will ever forbid the banes since it is not fit men should contradict the ordinances of the gods I must needs confesse that he whom you shall love shall enjoy the richest treasure that is this day upon the earth But since I shall never be jealous nor have any desire to buy it at so dear a rate as the losse of my liberty I shall not envy him your inconstancy has begot in me such an odium unto all women as if they do but hate all men as much as I do hate all them the age wherein we live will be the last of Nature and so adieu This Letter did put Palanice into such a rage against him that to put him out of all hopes of ever pretending again unto her she gave her self unto Rosiliander who after he had married her did carry her into the most fruitful place of the Sebusians Sileines repented himself of his fault but it was now too late and all that he could ever obtain from Palanice was some Letters by which she assured him that she did esteem him as much as the condition wherein she was would permit her In fine Rosiliander died Palanice returned to Lions and the lover of Sileines and she began to kindle into as hot a flame as ever yet with lesse tranquilility unto him for Amilcar his brother who returned at the same time became his Rival and fell so desperately in love with Palanice that after a million of expressions of it she could nor chuse but wish him well I must confesse that at the first I would have diverted him but at last when I saw his wound was incurable I left Sileines and took Amilcars part and do what Cercinea his Sister could I did so harp upon this string unto Palanice that the first falling away of Sileines had made him so unworthy of ever being loved again that if I did not absolutely overcome her yet at least I made her confesse that both of them had an equal weight in the ballance of her esteem and that she would give her self unto him whom the gods appointed her by their Oracle Now fair and wise Shepherdesse there remains no more but to acquaint you with the follies of my youth which I could wish any other were to relate but since the lot is fallen upon me I will relate them without any artifice and beseech you to excuse me if my imperfections make you think the relation tedious Be pleased to know fair and just Judge that of these two Cavaliers to wit Lucindor the brother of Cercinea and Cerintes the brother of Palanice Lucindor was the first that professed love unto me I will leave it unto Silvander to find out the cause of this affection for my part I do ingeniously confesse my self not to be so good a scholler as to know it But however thus it began Lucindor hapned one day to come into a great deal of good company where they fell into talk of me and to lament the death of a young Cavalier who they say served me and who some five or six months before was slain by a man whom he loved This Cavalier was called Meliseor a man of an excellent wit and one who though very young yet esteemed one of the best Schollers of all Gaul-Lyonesse Now after many a sigh at the remembrance of this losse they assured Lucindor that there was an extream resemblance betwixt him and Meliseor and that they found the very same features in both their faces which Lucindor being very glad of and proud of that resemblance he resolved to see me and to try whether he should have the same inclination unto me which the said Meliseor had but see the power of Sympathy or rather Destiny Lucindor being brought by Cercinea unto a place where I was in company he no sooner cast his eye upon me but he was ravisht and suffering himself to be captivated by that appearance of beauty which he saw in my face he made a secret Sacrifice of his liberty unto me For my part I must needs confesse his handsome mind so charmed me that I presently began to have a design upon him and to spruce up my self to catch him but it was not long before I saw that the place which I intended to besiege was already rendred unto me for Lucindor after some amorous squints had passed between us ' coming nearer me Did you know fair Florice said he unto me an encounter that is befallen me it would make you laugh and you may make it sad or pleasant unto me as you please I answered only with a smile which told him that his first accost was not displeasing unto me and this made him the more confident and bold to go on and relate unto me what they had told him of the resemblance he had with Meliseor and truly said he I do verily believe it since they told me at the same time that he loved you and since the first time my eyes had the honour to see you I was never able to defend my self against those overcoming charms wherewith you have captivated me You ought not answered I give any more credit unto them that Meliseor loved me then I do unto you when you would perswade me that you also do love me 'T is true I knew that Cavalier and I did no lesse esteem his merit then
I do lament his sad and fatal end but I am of an humour so far from suffering any courtships of men as I know that though I had a desire unto it yet he durst never be so arrogant as to presume any mention of it In saying so I cast my eye upon Lucindor and perceived that he changed colour for the coldnesse of my answer went to his heart and struct him dumb but afterwards taking a little better courage If ever he did love you said he unto me I cannot believe but he did expresse it unto you and truly though you are pleased to accuse him of a fault if he had yet what punishment soever I must expect I cannot chuse but commit the same crime I shall trouble you my Judge with a relation of his answer and what arguments he used to win my consent unto a reception of his service But so it was that I yielded unto his importunity and permiting him to expresse his passion in writing I received almost every day a Letter from him for a long while together all which he gave unto me himself for want of a person whom I durst trust with the interest which I had in him Within a short while after Cerintes he declared himself and because he feared I was too far engaged in my affection unto Lucindor he did not discouer himself at the first unto me but he knew so well how to comply with the humour of my Father that the good old man thinking him a convenient match for me he did command me to love him This did not put me to a little pains and the more because Lucindor having some touch of a jealous nature did evidently make it appear unto me that he could not brook his Rival without abundance of impatiencience yet I carried my self so swimmingly both to the one and the other that they both went away without any reason to boast of any particular satisfaction Yet I had a stronger inclination unto Lucindor then Cerintes and the greatest light that ever he had of it was one night when we were at the table and jesting with one another my Father gave a book unto us out of which we might draw our fortunes either for war or for riches or for love or marriage or many other several things Cerintes was the first who cast the dice to know whether or no he should obtain his Mistresse and met with a very favourable lot which gave him great contentment Lucindor on the contrary he was so unfortunate as he met with the most unkind answer in all the book at which seeing him a little troubled cast the dice again said I unto him for to be more assured of the truth one must try more then once to which Lucindor consenting he threw the dice the second time but meeting with the very same fortune he fell into a most furious chase and swore he would eat the dice if he met with the same lot again but he might well be angry with his Fortune for it changed not for throwing the dice again he was as unhappy as before Let me die if it did not extreamly astonish me for though I gave no credit unto such fooleries yet I could not chuse but suspect that our affection would meet with some sinister event Being no lesse damped at this chance then he I took up the dice but Lucindor laid his hand upon mine to take them from me and eat them according to his oath and seeing I resisted him he prayed me to give them unto him but I said unto him in a low voice I fear Lucindor that you will use them ill if I submit them to your mercy I will use them said he as an enemy that has robb'd me of all my hopes unlesse you will be pleased to make my Destiny more kind unto me then they have your welfare Lucindor said I unto him depends upon your merit and not upon chance and therefore if you have any good opinion of your self let me advise you to hope well You must peremptorily command me so to do replied he if it be your pleasure I should live Well said I unto him in a low voice I do then command you and be confident you shall be as happy as I can make you Upon this I threw the dice upon the Table and we continued in our rallary until it was my Fathers pleasure to retire It was not the latter end of Winter and as ill luck was an Aunt of mine who lived in the countrey fell sick and sent to entreat my Father that I might come and stay with her Upon this I went and being well assured that both Lucindor and Cerintes would come and visit me I was afraid lest some fits of jealousie should make them fall foul upon each other as they met upon the way and therefore I charged them both upon pain of my displeasure not to stir out of Lions Cerintes was obedient and I must confesse his obedience did much please me But Lucindor after he had endured this absence with as much grief as a man that loves well could do and imagining that what crime soever he committed I loved him so well as to pardon it he resolved to see me and began to consider upon the way how Fortune presently after favoured his desires for my Aunt sending a young man to acquaint my Father with her recovery Lucindor chanced to meet with him and knew so well how to tickle the fellow with fair words that he made him promise to bring him unto my chamber when I was ready to go into bed So as when the young man was returned and told us how glad my Father was to hear of his Sisters recovery he began to think upon the promise which he made unto Lucindor who according to appointment was to come that night The Cavalier in the interim forgot not his time but before I tell you how I received him I will tell you what befel him by the way First he set out of Lions in the evening none taking any notice of him and because the gates of the Town did use alwayes to be shut very timely he went out also betimes and stayed in the suburbs until it was a fit time for him to set forward The air was very muddy and much disposed unto rain so as he was no sooner set forward but the clouds began to open and shower down in such abundance that though he had a very thick cloak yet was he as wet as if he had been thrown into a river The Moon lent no light at all and thus accompanied with rain and obscurity he went on his journey yet chearing up himself in hopes of enjoying two or three sweet hours with me He had not gone above the third part of a mile but missing his way and galloping through woods and bushes he hit his head against something which struct off his hat at the same instant he spied a man who as he thought had an intention to pull
vanish and Palemon wakening took notice that day began to dawn At the first he durst not speak for fear of disturbing me which I perceiving I seemed to awake also and therefore be casting his eyes upon me though he could not perfectly see me he told me that I was very restlesse all the night long to which I answered that indeed the night was not very delightfull unto me but that it had enabled me to continue on our intended design In saying so I got up and Palemon doing the like we wakned Halladine and departed before the sun was up This fit of a feavour which I had besides my natural complexion which was never good did make me look so pale and meager that Palemon could not chuse but tell me that it was my best course to return and that our journey being long I was never able to go through with it since I found my self so ill the first day but I who desired no better Fate then to die by the way did so contend with him that he was forced to yield unto my desires of going forward and so we came to Lions unto which we were no sooner come but Palemon knowing that it could not be a single fit of a feavour that could cause in me such a profound melancholly he took me aside in a chamber and sitting both down upon a bed he used this discourse which I shall relate unto you that I may not omit the least circumstance relating unto the interest of Doris and me and so he began it thus Dear Adrastes said he unto me I beseech you pardon me if I be so inquisitive as to ask you what the cause is which makes you so extreamly melancholly and sad I know very well that you are something indisposed and that travel may something trouble you but I cannot believe it possible all this can cause you to be of so sullen a temper If any memory of the last sad accident which hapned unto you be the cause of it and if that thought do nourish a sorrow in it for not being alwayes in your perfect senses I beseech you consider that such a sorrow ought not to trouble your mind by reason of your joyes at your perfect recovery besides that were to grumble at the will of heaven which was pleased to deprive you of your reason only for a time to render you afterwards a more eminent measure of it I heartily beseech you my dearest Adrastes to tell me what it is which troubles you I do conjure you unto it by the torments which I suffer to see you so sadly afflicted by the affection which I bear unto you and which I desire you should bear unto me I beseech you do not hide the cause of it from me and to believe that if it do lie within the compasse of my power to apply any remedy unto it I will not spare my own contentment or my life to procure it This was the first discourse that Palemon and I had of it unto which I answered in these terms It does grieve me extreamly my dear Palemon to see that my malady is so contageous and that my sorrows should be any cause of yours I wish for your own contentment that you had lesse compassion of me and wish for my own sake that I were lesse sensible then I am but since you your self do confesse it extream imprudence to grumble at the will and pleasure of heaven I think that you are no lesse to blame in taking so much pains to know my disease then I should be did I hope ever to be cured of it Therefore dear Palemon I do most heartily beseech and conjure you even by that which you love best to cease all this improfitable care which you take for my preservation and not to mingle my bitter sorrows with those contentments which heaven does give you I spoke this with such an accent that Palemon was moved to drop some tears in fine embracing me my dear Adrastes said he unto me why will you still offer to conceal that which pale looks do force you to tell me if it be because you know me unable to remedy your misery do not discover it unto me as unto a Physician from whom you expect some remedies but tell them unto me as unto a friend who will be ready to lessen your pain by partaking of it with you I answered that the argument which he used to induce me unto it was the only thing which restrained me since I loved his contentment so much as I would never consent that the relation of my miseries should ever make him a sharer in them But in conclusion Palemon was fully resolved to know the cause of my affliction or else never to let me rest in quietnesse Adrastes said he unto me or rather my brother for I will never suffer you to call me otherwise I do once more conjure you even by my affection and by the love that you hear unto Doris to ease my mind of that impatiency which is caused by your silent reservednesse and to believe that if any man living can give you any comfort in your misery I will rather die then suffer any other but my self to do you that good office I must needs confesse Father that at the name of Doris all my blood did rise and now thinking it a crime against her not to satisfie the desires of Palemon being conjured unto it by her name Dear Palemon replied I you have such a commanding influence over me that you may obtain any thing in my power and you not use any other asseverations by your command and therefore I will no longer defer the satisfaction of your desires for I know that it were a crime punishable to oppose whatsoever you desire Let me tell you therefore in the first place that I do most gladly accept of that alliance which you offer unto me and next I do most ingeniously confesse that the very same thing by which you have conjured me to discover my grief unto you is the only thing which is the cause of my griefs Do not wonder dear brother to hear me say that though I do love Doris yet I love Palemon too and that though my affection unto her be never so great yet it is not able to make me forget those respects which I do ow unto you I would it had pleased God continued I that the first day my eye ever saw her had been the last of my life as it was of all my happinesse and tranquillity then should I have avoided a thousand deaths by suffering one and should not as now I do be forced to nourish a flame which burns but does not consume me Believe it Palemon the arrow that first wounded me was shot from the fair eyes of Doris but it was shot by the hand of a God which did communicate part of his own Nature into it and made my wound immortal and therefore it is that though I do despair of
any cure yet must I needs love the hand that gave me the blow and do know that it is much easier to cease living then not to love that dear cause Fair Doris continued Adrastes and turned towards her your dear Palemon heard all this without any interruption and without taking his eyes off mine and when I saw him still look and not say a word I perceive said I upon a sudden that my love as much tempered as it is with discretion does make an impression in you and that you cannot endure the continuation of it without very great impatience and therefore to stop your jealousie and my own torments both at once it is most just I do ruine my self and betimes rid you of a man whose presence will be alwayes a heart-burning unto you Upon this I leaped off the bed where I sat and ran to take my sword which lay upon the table my intention being to go out of the house and afterwards to end my sad dayes in some solitary place where the Sun should never daign to look upon me But Palemon who saw me in such a fury and feared lest I should do my self some harm he fell upon me and took my sword out of my hands I making no great resistance for I was so very weak as I was hardly able to sustain my self He began presently to chide me for my rashnesse and used such handsome arguments as he qualified my mind unto his own will and as I was still hinting unto him how impossible it was my affection unto Doris should not displease him that brother said he unto me were indeed very true if I did not very well know her virtue and discretion But on the contrary I do desire that you should love her and to assure your self that your affection shall never trouble me Upon this he took me about the neck Come come said he love her still perhaps heaven will have pity upon you and will one day permit you to possesse that place which I confesse I have in a manner tyrannically usurped from you I wish to heaven it were now in my power to transfer her unto you if it were I swear the condition wherein you are and have been for her sake does move me unto so much pity that she should be the wife of Adrastes and the sister of Palemon As he said so he embraced me most kindly and bedewing my cheeks with his tears Not but dearest brother continued he my love unto her is infinitly beyond all my expressions but I must confesse that my compassion of you is not of a lesse degree I stood a while without returning any answer but in sighs at the last seeing that he said nothing unto me I were extreamly ungrateful replied I if I did not the same thing for you which you would do for me Therefore Palemon live for ever unto Doris may you be happy in the enjoyment of her many years and as long as I shall my misfortunes and be assured of this that she shall be the sister of Adrastes as long as she shall be the wife of Palemon Upon this I grasped him in my arms a long while at last we parted for such a coldnesse seized upon me at the same time that without his assistance I could not get my self to bed At the first Palemon did not know my disease but when he saw me vomit up abundance of green and yellow water he conceived that a fit of my feaver had seized upon me He sent presently for a Physician who was no sooner entred into the chamber but he sate down in a chair by my bed side where after two or three coughs and a supersilious spit he took my arm and felt my pulse then began to consider upon the quality of my disease Presently after he asked me whether or no I had been excessive in any thing to which I innocently answered that I had never been excessive in any thing but love but he who put a wrong construction upon my meaning that said he unto me is very dangerous especially at this time now the canicular dayes approach Afterwards coughing two or three times again I observed that Palemon took him aside and as I understood afterwards did infuse a better opinion of me into him then he bad conceived and gave him a particular exact accompt of all the accidents that had hapned unto me after the Physician was better instructed he came unto me Well well Sir said he take courage we will not prescribe you any thing until to morrow when we have seen the state of your disease mean time eat but little nay nothing till your fit be past or at least past the violence of it Palemon promised to be very careful in seeing his directions observed and waited upon him down the stairs Halladine in the interime came to my beds side and began to use some arguments of disswading me from continuing the journey when Palemon presently returned who joyning his arguments and entreaties unto Halladines did conjure me not to think any more of keeping them company not said he that I do intend to leave you for if your disease continue I will not go away until you be perfectly recovered but the reason why I disswade you is because I see you altogether unable to perform so long a journey without extream prejudice to your self Halladine who heard Palemon say that he would not depart untill I was perfectly recovered but Palemon said he unto him do you not consider that whilst we stay for the recovery of Adrastes we shall lose the opportunity of our imbarkment we must of neceessity take the time when it is and not carry till a tempestuous reason hinder us from executing our intended designe I knew he said truly and therefore told Palemon that the next morning we might go in a boat unto the Town of the Massilians and when we were there I might take sea or return as I found my self in a condition they approved of my proposition but to be short I was not able to go any further for my feaver continued and the Physician who visited me the next morning assured me that without extream danger of my life I must not take the water but that it was far better for me to stay there where I might be accomodated with all things requisite and pertinent to my disease it was therefore determined amongst us that I should stay at Lions and because Palemon and Halladine could not any longer defer their departure and my feaver grew worse and worse Palemon came unto my bed side and with tears in his eyes used this language Now my dear Adrastes I am ready to depart or rather ready to die for I cannot call our separation a life especially since I must leave you in so sad a condition but I beseech you consider that were I not by oath obliged unto this voyage nothing in the world could make me undertake it I call the gods to witnesse how sorry I
would draw a happinesse O Diana said Paris do not sin so much as to esteem your self so little whose beauty and perfections are such as merit ten thousand times better then my self Could I dispose of Scepters and Empires as freely as I can of that estate which the affection of a Father will confer upon me I swear my fairest Diana I should humbly cast them at your feet and should be as prodigal of them as I am of my liberty See replied Diana how the gods are pleased to mingle bitters with the sweets of our lives since in ordaining me to be yours they will not let my consent go along with them but will have that honour which would accrue unto me by your alliance to be accompanied with my sorrows that I can have no inclination unto it How said Paris much astonished I beseech you from whence proceeds this repugnancy Did not you freely consent that I should go and ask Belindes consent unto our marriage I must needs say answered Diana that I did so far consent unto your seeming desires of having it so not remembring that Astrea and I had made a vow never to part from one another Now since your departure it hath so fallen out that she has an intention to go and live amongst the Carnates so as I being more obliged unto her then unto you I must needs follow her and have engaged my self to no kind of life but what she lives I cannot tell said Paris how heaven will dispose of Astrea but I am sure that unlesse you do openly infringe the doom of your Destiny you cannot oppose your self against that happinesse which I beg from you Come come my fairest you must give your self unto Paris as Paris does most inviolably vow never to be anyes but Dianas In saying so he took her hand and lifting it unto his mouth against her will alas continued he how unfortunate should I be if in leiu of the highest happinesse I can ever wish I should find all my hopes blasted has any of my actions dearest Diana offended you If I have sinned let me know wherein for I have courage enough to punish my self and love enough to make you satisfaction Upon this he leaned towards her and Diana who for all her good will unto Silvander could not hate Paris The greatest fault which you have committed answered she is against your self in addressing your self unto one in whom you cannot find any thing answerable unto your merits I wish you had placed your thoughts upon some more noble object then my self for as there you would find more honour so also would you meet with more contentment not but that I do set a high rate of esteem upon you and value you as your virtue and quality deserves but I must needs confesse that I should think my self infinitly obliged unto you if you would cease this addresse unto me and not oppose that earnest desire which I have of going with Astrea and ending my dayes amongst the professed Virgins Paris was ready to reply when one came unto him from Adamas who was in his closet with Belinde so as supposing that he was sent for to treat concerning this match he said nothing unto Astrea but this your Fate and mine fairest Diana are in the hands of those who can dispose of us and I believe you will think it a crime to disobey them for my part I am fully resolved to observe whatsoever they shall ordain concerning me In saying so he kissed her hand and went to the place where Adamas and Belinde stayed for him Silvander no sooner saw him out of the chamber but he left Alexis Leonede and Astrea and came unto Diana but so dejected in his countenance as if he would have died First he fell down upon his knees because none remained in the room whom he mistrusted and casting his eyes upon Dianas which stood already in water well my fairest Mistresse said he unto her now am I utterly undone Belinde is now come Paris is all joy in hopes ere long to enjoy you Dianas desires are now accomplished and poor Silvanders hopes quite blasted O heavens answered Diana why will you wound me to the soul so mortally Is it not enough that I am constrained to suffer the Tyranny of a Mother and that I languish in the most affliction ever poor woman endured but you Silvander must grieve me more by your suspitions and think me guilty of a misery which is to befal us My suspitions answered Silvander faintly were turned into assurances that very minute you first permitted Paris to make his addresses to you it was an easie matter to judge that his quality would win upon the will of Belinde and that the honour of being the son of Adamas was of it self sufficient to make him merit that happinesse which he is going to enjoy but Diana I do wish you all joy at the rate of my own misery may you long live contented in the enjoyment of my rival bestow upon his quality that which my love might very well obtain if I do murmure it shall not be against you Heaven had been unjust had it endued you with more fidilety it is not fit you should be the conquest of a Vagabond a Stranger a miserable wretch upon whom the Stars have shot their most malignant influences Paris only is worthy to possesse you not because he loves you more but because he is more rich and more fortunate then I. The last sentence which must doom me unto him replied Diana is not yet pronounced and I do promise you to put as many obstacles as my duty will in any handsomnesse give me leave I have already told him that I had made a vow to confine my self unto the Carnates and that I could with lesse violence upon my self execute that design then receive his alliance but he protests he understands from an Oracle that I must infallibly be his that I confesse does most trouble me because if it be the decree of the gods I am afraid all our endeavours are not able to thwart it I also must confesse said Silvander that it were an impardonable piece of folly in me to desire a happinesse which by eternal decree is forbidden me The gods cannot lye and since they have ordained that Diana must marry Paris and that Silvander must die it is most just we should submit unto their wills I will go therefore fairest Diana and seek out some means to obey them and deliver my self all at once from those miseries which persecute me In saying so he rose up but the Shepherdesse laying hold upon him whither will you go Silvander said she unto him will you offer to attempt any thing against my contentment your love unto me ought to be above all other considerations and you can by no Law be dispensed from that obedience which you ow unto me The Law which bids me despair answered Silvander ought to be the most inviolable because it is most
sutable unto the will of the gods Their intention is that I should cease to live and since they would have it so both you and I are obliged to be also conformable Therefore Diana do not hinder me from that benefit by it I shall have the accomplishment of my desires if you love me you will not deny that which end all my miseries and begin all my delights should I follow your inclination and prolong the course of my miserable dayes what would it advantage you further then to be a witnesse of your violated faith and Diana what do you think would become of me Do you think me able to survive that fatal sight of seeing you in the power of another Alas alas Diana assure your self I should run stark mad and do such strange things as posterity should wonder at It is therefore better for me to distance my self from you betimes and by one sudden death avoid ten thousand which your marriage would put me to and so testifie to the world that I have more love and more courage then you have Silvander expressed himself in such a manner as made Diana extreamly pity him and because it vexed her to see him in such a fury it was long before she answered him in any other language but that of tears at last clearing up her voice and looking him in the face did I think Silvander said she unto him that death were an argument of my affection and courage perhaps I should open my veins sooner then you imagine but I am afraid it would be in me a mark of infamy and would give unto my survivers a subject to accuse me of some greater fault then that of loving you Life is not so dear unto me as my honour and were it possible to leave the one and not the other Paris should nere triumph over Diana nor would I ever be forced to receive any other husband then you Believe this Silvander for a most certain truth I do invoke the gods to be witnesse of it and let heaven never pardon me if I would not execute that design with as much courage as now I do mention it I perceive for all this replied Silvander dejectly that all you say is only to assure me that I must not pretend any more unto you and since so can you think that I can ever receive any comfort after such a losse O my dearest Diana do not injure me so much as to think I can live in this world after all hopes of you is gone Let what arguments be alledged that will or can I will not stay in it nor do I think any can be found strong enough to condemn my despair Upon this Belinde entred into the room which did not a little surprize Diana who being infinitly afraid to lose Silvander was very desirous to sweeten in some sort those bitter displeasures which she saw him resent She hasted therefore to say unto him in a low voice Servant if I have any power over you I do command you to live at the least until you hear for certain that my marriage is consummated upon this word she rose up to go unto her mother who made a sign unto her so to do Alexis Leonide and Astrea who had also discoursed upon their affairs did rise up at the same time and joyning themselves with Diana went altogether unto Belinde who carrying them into the garden desired that she might have some privacy with Diana to tell her of some particular businesse which she had to communicate unto her Upon this they severed themselves Leonide Astrea and Alexis went into the thick of the Grove whilst poor Silvander not knowing which way to go went out of the house and took the first way that his foot stepped into He came by Fortune unto the place where formerly he had taken delight in discoursing unto the rocks concerning the beginning of his Love and leaning himself against the trunk of an old willow which the river had insensibly undermined he stopped a while to look upon the roots of it and finding them to be almost all quite bare and out of the earth he compared the state of that tree unto that of his love Poor stump saist he upon how small a thred does thy life and mine now hang thou art sustained only by two or three small strings of a root which the swelling of the river Lignon will loosen from the earth and carry thee away So likewise miserable I who only do subsist by one bare command of Dianas and cannot live any longer until the anger of heaven do put me out of all hopes to enjoy her Afterwards casting his eyes upon the little waves which dashed against the banks and presently retired back Clear waves said he is it not me whom ye call unto you and do not you invite me to follow you This sweet murmure wherewith you flatter my griefs does it not assure me that you will be more kind unto me then Diana do you not tell me that you are so pitiful that you will most willingly receive me into your bosome Ah Celadon continued he how happy thou art in finding amongst these waves a remedy to all thy sorrows For let them talk what they will in lieu of falling into the water to help Astrea I believe thou didst cast in thy self only to help thy self and be safe from those storms which her anger or perhaps jealousie had raised against thee O Heavens O Celadon why should not I do the same Lignon does offer me the same help Diana does give me the same cause but cruel woman that she is she takes away from me the power of doing it and most unjustly does oblige me unto the observation of a vow which I have made to obey her After this leaving unto his thoughts the liberty of wandering whither they would he stood near an hower studying upon the several accidents of his life but after a thousand thoughts he fixed them all upon his love and comparing all the pleasures that ever he received with his present pains he found so great a disproportion as he had much ado to remember that ever he enjoyed any contentment this made him curse his first flames and not being able to check the first motion made him repent that ever he lived yet calling to memory the perfections of Diana and considering that since it was his Fate to die he could not lose his life in a better cause he condemned his first thoughts and as if he would professe himself an enemy unto himself in loving this Shepherdesse still he wished more misery upon himself that he might be the more her Martyr Probably he had spent all the rest of the day in these imaginations unlesse by Fortune he had coughed and a neighbouring Eccho returned the noise back again unto him and though he knew well enough from whence that hollow voice came yet would he needs consult with it upon the present condition of his life and therefore
will constrain you unto any thing but what reason dictates unto me I would have you consider whether it be possible I should suffer what you desire first this amity which you have contracted with Astrea and Phillis will at the lâ—st have an and or at the least not afford you that pleâ—sure which formerly it hath because you must all part and though not on your side yet probably on theirs then will you not find any felicities in life when two Companions who are so dear unto you are gone the very places where you lived together will after you have lost them present you every moment with fresh subjects of sorrow But suppose it possible that this knot of amity should last eternally and that you were inseperable you must yet know Diana that you cannot resist the power of a few years which will wrincle you with age and then God know how much you will be ashamed of a thousand disadvantageous reports that will go upon you Some will say that it was in you a sign of a weak judgement that could not take a good match when it was offered others will say that you are a woman of such shallow merit that none has a mind to make any addresses unto you And almost all without any farther inquiry into your life will he squibbing against you any thing that comes into their fancies whereas by living under the power of a husband you are safe from all these slanders and quietly enjoy the pleasure of being inseperable from one that perfectly loves you Madam said the shepherdess Marriage is not always the mâ—aâ—â—â— to stop the black mouths of scandalous people Those who have a mind to blast the actions of others will soon find matter enough to work upon in any kind of life that one can live I have heard say that slander resembles an arrow which is shot and must necessarily light some where and has this ill quality with all that most comonly it hurts the innocent and makes the lest actions condemned as crimes So as Madam if any have an intended design to blast my reputation I cannot avoid the blow nor do I think the name of wife a better armour then the name of a maid however it be said Bellinde I must of necessity discharge my self of that care with I am bound to have of you to the end that those few days I have to live may be the more seriously imployed in the service of our Gods But I beseech you Madam said the shepherdess if you find so much satisfaction in the service of those divinities may not I also pretend to be imployed in the same Doubtless you may said Bellinde but the gods have made known their pleasures unto me and have commanded me to Marry you unto Paris For you must know Diana that as it is not my humour to do things rashly so would I not at the first hearken unto the request which Paris made unto me but taking a little time to consider upon it I first did what I could to know whether his inclination unto you were as real as he pretended it And in order thereto I consulted with the Oracle of that Deity whom I adore who commanded me to consent unto it in these very words The Oracle ENquire no more Bellinde Go Order and contrive the matter so As he whom ere Diana marryes Be son to Adamas calld'd Paris Oh good gods cryed out Diana how insufferable is this necessity which is imposed upon me and how shall I ere be able to endure the tyranny of this husband In saying so her eyes began to flow in tears with Bellinde perceiving But what abundance of pleasure replied she will you enjoy in the possession of this lover who will be a second self unto you Madam replied Diana and kneeling down I do conjure you by the memory of my dear Father and by that love which once you bore him to consent that I may end my days no where but in your Company you cannot procure unto me a greater advancement and if it be true that you do value my contentment out of pitty grant this request unto me Bellinde who imagined that the tears and expressions of Diana did not proceed from her apprehensions of being under the power of Paris but rather from a kind of bashfullness which is inseperably incident to her sex Diana said she unto her I do know better then you what is most convenient for you and unless you will exceedingly displease me you must not oppose your self against him whom I have propounded unto you In saying so she commanded her to rise up and afterwards she continued thus though the quality of Paris were not so considerable as it is yet his virtue being in so high a degree you have no cause to doubt but you may be more happy in being his then you can deserve and therfore I charge you to let me see no more of any such signes of discontent to appear in your face if I do I shall take them for so many testimonies of your disobedience I think Madam answered the shepheardess I shall have so much power over my face as to keep it from telling you my displeasures but I am afraid I have not so much power over my inclination as to make me receive the alliance with Paris with any joy I do much better love Sil heere she made a stop and was surprised that the name of Silvander was so neer comming out And Bellinde commanding her to go on Diana who knew that if she had named Silvander her mother would not have liked of it therefore she replied thus I say Madam that I do much better love Silence in my grave or to live amongst the Carnates if you would be pleased the in the company of Paris I tell you once for all answered Belinde seemed to be angry that you ought to have no other will but mine and since I desire to be obedient unto the gods who would have me bestow you upon Paris you will extreamly anger me if you be in the least against it Begin therefore betimes to prepare your self for since Adamas hath consented unto it I will have the businesse fully resolved upon this very night Upon this she left her to the mercy of a thousand tormenting thoughts which came into her mind and not staying to hear any answer she went unto Adamas Diana no sooner saw her self alone but she opened a passage for those tears which that respect she bore unto her mother had kept within her eyes and now being at liberty to sigh Though said she they will not please me yet they cannot hinder me from complaining Afterwards considering the abundance of tears which flowed from her eyes and down her Rosie cheeks like rivers alas poor feeble tears said she why will you attempt a thing so full of difficulty Alas you can only bedew and make grow those flowers which the earth brings forth whilst you drown and wither those that
condition he should not stay above three dayes at the most Lindamor Damon Alcidon Ligonias Ligdamon and the rest thought it fit not to promise any thing without the consent of Amasis who knowing that Rosilion had promised was well pleased they should bear her company As soon then as they had dined â—â—d Amasis gone unto her closset to resolve upon something concerning the departure of Sigismond that Prince addressing himself unto Rosanira and Galathea who held Dorinde by the hand I think fair Ladies said he unto them that if my journey should be according to your wishes it would be very bad since doubtlesse you do wish me very ill for the crime which I shall commit in taking from you your Cavaliers It is very true answered Rosanira and did I think the return of Rosilion would not be very speedy I shall never consent unto his departure and should have a just action of complaint against you but being confident you will not offer to take him away but with intention to return him safe and soon again I can with more patience put up the injury you do me without any thoughts of revenge This fair Nymph said Sigismond and addressed himself unto Galathea perhaps is not your humour Sir answered Galathea in this her mind concurrs with mine and I cannot answer you better then in her words Is it you then fair Dorinde said he that will not pardon this crime Dorinde would have answered but Sigismond interrupted Nay fairest said he I would not have you pronounce your doom before so many witnesses I would have you by the leave of both these fair ones speak it unto none but my self Upon this Rosanira and Galathea withdrawing a little from Dorinde Sigismond took her hand and leading her unto a place where some seats were desired her to sit down and then spoke to her in these terms Did I think dear Dorinde that my departure would make you judge otherwise of me then as I desire certainly the time of my departure would be the time of my death or at least I would not upon any terms in the world consent unto such a sad separation I do know exactly how much I ow unto the commands of a Father and I know also what obedience is to be given unto the commands of love and if my Father command any thing which shall crosse the affection which I do hear unto you I think it no sin to disobey him I conceive the stay that you are to make here will not be tedious unto you and the lesse because you will not be hanted with the impertinent courtship of Gondebaut and because I shall every ment be saluting you with Letters of love and assurances of my fidelity If you think you should enjoy more contentment in another place honour me so far as to tell me into what part of the world â—â—u would have me carry you I protest I will do it and lay aside all considerations in the world to please you Sir answered Dorinde I see so little ground to hope for any good from your absence as I am not to be blamed if I fear that the day which takes me from your presence will take out of your soul all this love you talk of Had I any qualities either in my birth wit or Fortune able to keep an affection after it is once got I should not be altogether in such a desperate opinion but knowing how extreamly defective I am in all or at the least in comparison of you I expect all the rigours of a bitter absence after I am once at a distance from you Not but that I do consent unto this departure for I will not have so much care of that amity you are pleased to honour me withal as I have of your Fortunes but I must confesse freely I do not expect any good unto my self by it but I do infallibly believe that either the perswasions of King Gondebaut or the mallice of my enemies will extinguish all your love to me Mistresse replied Sigismond for I dare swear you merit that name and shall have it before any woman in the world be fully assured that this shall never be and that it shall be more easie for them to take away my life then my love Know Dorinde that I have prepared my self long since to answer unto all such points as they dare propose unto me for indeed what can they object but that there is a great inequality between our conditions and that you being born a subject unto the King my Father it will be little honourable for me to marry you This is all they can alledge against my affection to you for as concerning your virtue they know it is without any exception all the malice and scandal upon earth is not able to blemish it But I shall answer them that I being no slave but a Prince born free in my own choise and will it were most abominable Tyranny and injustice to constrain me unto any other alliance then where my own free-born inclination moves me unto I 'll tell them that the knowledge which I have of your humour and wit does promise me more contentment then I can find in any strange Princesse who being born and educated in a clime contrary unto mine will be of a contrary Genius and not so sutable and pliant unto my desires and mind and for a conclusion I 'll tell them that it is the property of Kings to do memorable acts and I shall take delight in surmounting Nature giving the quality of Queen unto a woman whose birth denied it unto her but if these arguments should not prove valid and full enough to stop their mouths I have another which is more strong and prevalent and I know they cannot gain say it when I shall peremptorily tell them that it is my will Therefore my dearest Dorinde you have no reason to fear but that my passion unto you will have as good a successe as we can desire Alas Sir said Dorinde and sighed If I do fear it is because I do esteem you and fear and amity are alwayes inseperable I do not doubt but you mean well and will to your power perform what you promise But when I consider with what stratagems and arguments they will endeavour to subvert your constancy and what malicious devices they will use to ruine me in your opinion I must confesse I cannot believe you will be able to resist them I do freely confesse Sir that I have an inclination to you perhaps more then becomes me to have unto any man but I do swear that if even I hear you begin to fail in that fidelity which you have vowed unto me I will hate you so abominably as though I cannot be revenged upon you yet I will upon my self for loving you more then I ought I hope dearest Dorinde said Sigismond that you will sooner hear of my death then my inconstancy and if it should so happen that the malice of any
brightnesse seemed there to be blind As soon as she was out Licidas and she went unto the place where they sate before and the Shepherd beginning discourse first But my dearest Phillis said he unto her is it possible Astrea should undertake any design without acquainting you believe it answered Phillis it angers me she should and if ever I do see her again I shall chide her more then perhaps she imagines I will But not with so much reason as I have said Licidas for abusing Celadon as she hath However replied the Shepherdesse I will let her see how ill she has observed those Laws that were established amongst us Alas alas replied the Shepherd how should she observe the Laws of friendship when she has so cruelly offended against the Laws of Love We have the greater cause to complain against her said Phillis and that it were only to punish her for it I will continue on my voyage and will not spare any pains of care to find out this ungrateful woman Well said Licidas I am sure you have more pity and care of her then she hath of us and since you desire it I do wish you as much contentment in your quest of that cruel one us I do unto my self in seeking Celadon After some other discourse they parted and Phillis taking her way Licidas stayed still by the side of the river where a plump of Willows made a very delectable shade and after he had spent a good part of the day under it for he was very weary with looking up and down he said himself all along upon the grasse not being able to resist a heavy inclination to sleep which surprized him for he had neither slept nor rested all the night before But how great soever the inquietudes of Licidas were yet were they nothing comparable to the restlesse cares and cold fears of Silvander For this amorous Shepherd having lost himself in the thick of the wood and being surprized by the obscurity of the night he resolved to stay and enjoy the fresh air although it was nothing able to allay or cool the flame which consumed him He seated himself therefore upon the ground and leaning his head against the bulk of an ancient and shady oak there was not one accident of all his life which did not present it self into his memory not to comfort him but to make him think the condition whereunto he was reduced the more intollerable He continued in these restlesse thoughts very near two hours but when he saw the Moon appear then did his sorrows encrease as if it were fatal unto him to have his fury take beginning from her yet taking this Planet for a witnesse of his misfortunes fair Cinthia said he who by the luster of thy radiant beams seems to dispute with thy brother the Sun for supremacy of brightnesse Glorious light which in thy course about the world is pleased to make another day where ere thou shewest thy self Clear Planet which does discover and see all those sweet secrets which are taught in the Schools of Love tell me for pities sake if ever thou didst hear any complaints more just then these I make and whether it be possible any mortal should be a more real Lover or more afflicted then my self then staying and musing a while and afterwards breaking out again O thou delightful flame glorious Moon shalt thou never see me contented Wilt thou never blesse me with any kind influence I conjure the by my love to shower down some sweet influences upon my Mistresse Move her heart she is fair and she is Diana as thou art Upon this Silvander was silent and in his silence giving his greifes their full liberty he wisht for death a hundred times and complained against Diana the Hunteress who formely did dwell in forrests that she and her Nymph had distroyed all the Lyons and Tigers in the Countrey and not left one to devour him After this considering what little or no hopes he had ever to enjoy Diana he did so abundon himself unto greif that is probable he had been for ever lost if sleep more kind unto him then himself had not in some for allayed the bitterness of it and made him find some ease in his inquietudes But as if this rest were only to enable him for the enduring of more miseryes he no sooner waked and seeing the sun a good height he resolved to enquire of some or other what success the design had of marrying Diana Up therefore he got and finding a path way he followed it yet not knowing which way it would lead him he had not walked above a quarter of an hower or there abouts but he heard very near him the sound of a flute and turning that way he espied some sheep passing a long and after them a young boy dancing and playing both togeather This boy was all alone which made Silvander imagine that he had some great cause of mirth since he was so merry by himself Silvander no sooner came near him but the young shepherd left of dancing and turning his face towards Silvander Silvander knew him for it was the boy that looked to his flocks As soon as the young fellow saw his Master he ran unto him and seemed to wonder that he was not amongst the rest of the shepherds Silvander who sometimes took delight in talking with him because of his pritty innocent answeres where wouldst thou have me be but with my flocks said Silvander ah Master said the boy it is so long since you used to have so much care as to visit them as I cannot beleive any thoughts of them brought you unto them now Indeed said Silvander it is a meer chance I met thee now but since I am here I am resolved not to forsake them any more I beleive said the boy you do not intend to be absent so long again but I know you will leave your flocks a little if it be but to go unto the house of Adamas where a great feast is kept what feast asked Silvander and was a little surprised a feast replied the boy for the marriage of Paris with a young shepherdess who is the daughter of a certaine woman whom they call I know not what Doubtless said Silvander it is Bellinde the very same said the boy and he who keeps the flock of Lycidas told me that they say the marriage is past for Hoboyes and Bagpipes were gone thither that the shepherds and shepherdesses might dance and be merry togeather Silvander ravished at the disorder of his answere but confirmed in his opinion that this marriage was in effect accomplished he retired himself without any shew of transport and without recomending his flocks unto him that had the charge of them as having neither any hopes or mind ever to see them again he went once more into the thick of the wood again and having walked a little way his strength began to faile and a great trembling seized upon him and therefore
not being able to sustaine himself he leaned against a tree and by degrees sinking down to the ground he fell all along at the tree roote he lay neer an howre as if he had been in a swound but at last seeing his faintress would not give him that death which he desired he resolved to give himself that ease which nothing else would Now did he know that it is much easier to give good counsell unto others then to take it himself for he who had often blamed all such who for want of courage to graple and bear an affliction did suffer themselves to sink under the burthen of dispair he himself was ready to commit the same fault and yeild unto the violence of it The greatest enemy he had was his own imagination which never thought upon Dianas obedience but he found some suggestion to taxe her with ingratitude infidelitie Afterwards thinking upon the good fortune of Paris and of his own ill fortune alas said he how blindly are the destinies of men decreed Good gods must I because I am not rich enough nor well enough known lose in one moment all that my affiduitie and faithfull services have meritted from that fickle Shepherdess Was â—ver age so depraved as this Did nature ever govern with such little order as now Must men be weighed and esteemed according to their riches Is money the only thing that makes a man Ah Bellinde Ah Diana what an unworthy estimate is this Then stopping a little but sensless man that I am said he upon a sudden and reprehended him I am extreamly to blame my self for finding fault with the choise which they have made as if Paris were deficient in any thing which may render a man most exquisitly accomplished No no Bellinde you owed unto his merit as much as you did but Diana she owed her self unto my love she she alone is too blame for how great soever the qualitie of Paris be and let the virtues of his soul be never so many yet she has shewed more affection unto me then him and it was she only who gave my ambition leave to aspire so high as the glorie of pretending unto her And yet will this inconstant woman sacrifice me upon that altar of which Paris is the god This perfideous fair one Laughes at my misery and has forgot all oathes of fidelitie that ever she swore unto me Ah most cruel fair one I do see you joyed in the sweets of his embraces whilst I die in that horrid dispaire into which your inconstancy hath brought me I see you Diana take life from the moist and warme lippes of my Rivall but I shall never see any of my hopes ever revive again for you have stifled them under the rigour of your change ah happy Paris how many glorious beauties are this day submitted unto thy mercy How gloriously mayest thou tryumph over thy rich spoiles Ah Silvander how unfortunate thou art in ever desiring them in ever hoping for them and in being so miserably distant from all meanes of ever enjoying them Upon this he stopt to give the more liberty unto those sighes and groanes which his sorrowes sent from his brest And after he had long sighed and sobbed still thinking upon those delights which he fancied Paris to enjoy but poor and unfortunate Shepherd said he upon a sudden to what purpose is it to murmure eyther against the destinies or her The doome which hath submitted Diana unto the power of Paris is irrevocable and since she has so much power over her self as to consent unto it I have now so much libertie as to do what I will with my self in saying so he remembred the last words which he heard Diana speak and knowing that she did not forbid him any longer then till he heard of her marriage Now said he my disign has no obstacle and since there is no spark of any hope left in my soul her forbiddance to die is determined dye then Silvander and soon since the destines will have it so and since Diana consents unto it Then being fully resolved to put an end unto his life he began to think of such meanes as might most easily shew him the way and after he had thought upon the way of poison upon the way of sword and upon the way of water These remedies said he to himself me thinks are very incertaine and too far off to be applied unto a disease so desperate as requires a more near and speedy assistance for it is to be feared that if I should make use of poison I may be deceaved as Ligdamon was and so make my intention too much known Should I imploy a sword Cryserde she opened her veines and the blood which congealed in the orifice of the wound was a cause that she did not die and should I throw my self into Lignon perhaps some fisherman will take me up as Damon was so as I doubt that none of these three wayes can give me such a death as I desire then beginning to think upon it by fortune he cast his eye upon the same rock from whence Laonice used sometimes to veiw those beauties which the plain of Forrests did present unto the eyes of the inhabitants And imagining that it was a thing most impossible he should not perish there if he did precipitate himself from that top to the bottom he stayed himself upon the thoughts of this kind of death Yes yes â— said he this death will be the most honourable I can chuse and most sutable unto the state of my love for punishments ought in some sort to equall the offences and is it not just that since I aspired higher then it was my humble duty to pretend unto I should fall from such a precipice as wil be mortall unto me Now this which almost reaches heaven may be taken for an Emblem of Dianas perfections which are as far above the common sort as it is from the level of the earth I out of an indiscreet vanitie did think to arrive at the top of my hopes afterwards precipitating my self I find my self almost reduced to dust and all my rash desires converted into smoak In saying so he went towards Mount-Verdun yet chasing the least frequented way least he should be hindred in his disign by meeting any On the other side Alexis was no sooner escaped out of Leonides hands but he began to prepare himself for the execution of Astreas command and as if the gods were minded to make his fortune in some sort equall unto Silvanders as soon as she was at libertie and amongst the horrors of darknesse she disputed whether the night or her sorrows were the blacker or whether both were so dismall as the cruelty of Astrea she began to consult with her soul which way she should take to find a suddain death There was no invention to make one self away which came not into her fancy But a good genius and perhaps the very same which inspired Astrea did
next morning to prosecute the search which they had began and every one promising to obey they bad him good night and went to bed Astrea and Diana had in the mean time gone a little way after they parted from Lycidas But when night came and they saw the air duskye and full of clouds and that the heavens amidst the obscuritie did send forth such flashes of lightning as promised so many Thunder-bolts Then chill feares did seise upon them and that courageous spirit which they shewed did now began to droop and vanish when they came to consider that they were but poor silly weak women The imbecilitie of their sexe did infuse a thousand considerations into their souls whereof the least forcible was strong enough to hinder them from going any furtheâ—â— They resolved therefore to turn fairely back and seek out a shelter from the raine which began to fall so as they returned into the same gratto from whence they departed They were no sooner lodged but the air began to discharge it self of such great abundance of raine and with such great clappes of thunder and lighting as they began to fear that the rockes were not able to preserve their lives from the injury of such tempestious weather Lignon began presently to rise and with a swelling pride to overflow its banks such torrents fell from the neighboring hills as still did swell it more and more so as in two howers space it came up to the very mouth of the gratto And that place which once harboured the flames of Celadon was constrained now to receive the moistur of this cold Element and it entred in so suddainly as all that Astrea and Diana could do was to get out and as good fortune was they were no sooner out but the raine ceased so as seeing the air begin to clear and the Moon to shew her argent complexion they set forward and never rested till they arived with in three hundred paces of that fountain which they had made choise of for a remedy against all their displeasure There they found the forme of an altar raised from the ground upon a little square the steps whereof were stained with blood in severall places and blacked with the smoak of victims that had been there sacrificed At the first they conceived it to be consecrated unto some dyety and imagining that the dyety of that enchantment perhaps resided there they both fell down upon their knees at the bottom of the staires and Astrea began to pray in this manner Oh most puissant god of love preserver of nature absolute God of souls take away I beseech thee the maske that blindes thy eyes and see whether my fidelity be not as great as my courage Heere is the female lover that must appease thy wrath and who by the loss of her life is to have the glory of stopping the mouths of these Lyons and Vnicornex which rendring this fountain inaccessible do hide from all lovers the verity of these great misteryes Accept oh thou Son and Father of Eternity of that blood which I shall shed and to keep me from allignominy that may follow my death take care I beseech thee of this my body which I do voluntarily expose unto the cruelty of those mercyless animals in saying so she went and kissed the foote of the altar and then Diana lifting her eyes up to heaven great God said she that which Astrea does aske from thy pitty do I implore from thy hatred Thy rigour has never ceased from tormenting me Let my miseryes and thy tyrannies this day cease I will not give the â—â—â—y accompt of my fidelity thou dost see it in the secret of my soul and knowes that it was even inviolable Spare oh god of love spare the beauty of Astrea do not let thy Lyons be insensible inspire their fierce souls with fear and respect and do not let them glut their hunger and thy cruelty upon her most beautifull and delicate body After this she arose up and having kissed the foot of the altar three times she went down to the place where Astrea stood Oh Sister said that Shepherdesse unto her you have done me wronge for your own preservation ought to have been the subject of your prayer and not mine and if the gods should grant your request I should taxe them with injustice and therefore said she and fell down upon her knees again I beseech thee oh god of love to punish this iniurious Shepherdess with a deniall and make her know that as I have more right unto what she prayeth for so I ought to have more hopes of obtaining it Then would Diana have kneeled down but Astrea hindred her and putting her hand before her mouth Sister said she unto her if you love me do not disoblige me any longer for your request is directely contrary to my desires and tranquility in saying so teares came into her eyes and Diana not being able to restrain hers they said not a word more but began to embrace one another And sitting down upon the ground because they were weary with travelling a whole day and a night togeather without any rest and prompted unto it as I think by the inchantment they both fell asleep and remained thus embracing each other as they did before the sleep did surprise them They were no sooner falen a sleep but day appeared and appeared much fairer then the winds and storms of the precedent night promised Alexis and Silvander were not yet awake But Bellinde who hardly ever closed an eye by reason of her great inquietudes she no sooner spied the first blush of Aurora but she started out of her bed and putting on her gown she ran unto Leonides chamber and desired her to solicite Phillis unto so much paines as she had taken the day before in the quest of her Companions she found that Nymph already drest and Phillis also for both of them were so zealous in behalf of their two friends as they both got up betimes purposely to go and look after them Bellinde wondered at their early diligency and as she began to tell Leonide the cause of her comming unto their chamber she was prevented by Phillis who addressing her self unto her You see Madam said she what a deal of trouble and paines Astrea and Diana does put me unto but if ere I find them this crime which they have committed against me shall not be unpunished Alas fair Shepherdess answered Bellinde I am afraid you are already sufficiently revenged Madam replied Phillis I am not so easily satisfied as perhaps you imagine For I am of such an humour that I never think sufficient reason is done me unless I take revenge my self Pray heavens replied Bellinde is ever come into your power I am afraid the penance you would enjoyn them is far inferior unto that which they have already suffered Madam said Leonide it is impossible but before this day be at an end all our doubt will be cleared we shall imploy so
afterwards was wise unto Theodosius and grand Mother of this for being asked why he gave all his estate by will unto his two Sonnes and nothing at all unto his Daughter It is portion enough answered he if I leave her but that which fortune doth promise her Meaning that he observed so much virtue beauty and merit in her as was beyond all portions he could give her But to return unto my discourse Genserick had no sooner left Eudoxe alone but by fortune I came in and finding her all in tears I wondered at so sudden a change but when I knew the cause I must confess I found she had most just cause for it Now did I begin to see clearly what the drift of Genserick was which was before unknown unto me but now I found all his compassion of this Princess was meerly passion which made him wish for her recovery she told me every syllable he said unto her and when she told me what term of time she had taken was only to acquaint me with her misfortune and to pray me that I would apply the best remedy I could Madam answered I tomorrow I will take the honour to talk with you more particularly and do promise you to think upon it all the night Mean time be of good comfort and be assured that if my life and blood will deliver you from these fears that afflict you you shall not be long before you be delivered Upon this I went out of her chamber and retired home where according to my promise I spent all the night in thinking which way I should best serve this sage Princess but after I had stretched my brains and turned every stone I could not hit upon one expedient the execution whereof seemed possible unto me for if I thought of getting her out of captivity by flight I saw that we had not time enough to gain the guards nor to furnish our selves with all things necessary for our enlargement To divert the King from this amorous fury I saw but little likelyhood for very well knowing his vicious Nature I know that nothing but death would quench his lust To kill him besides the enormity of the crime and the inevitable danger that would fall upon my self I did foresee this perhaps was not the way to deliver Eudoxe since he would leave two sons who doubtless would succeed him in his humour as well as his Empire Thus not being able to invent any thing that would do her good as soon as night was past and her chamber door open in the morning I went to give her an accompt of my thoughts and this Princess finding what difficulties I met withal but Olicarsis said she there is one remedy which you have not thought upon and which is a very easie one I asking then what it was you know replied she what Cleopatria did before she would fall into the hand of Cesar now since I find a great conformity between her misfortunes and mine it is but fit I should imitate her in her violent end she would not survive the loss of her dearest Anthony and why should I live after the loss of my dearest Vrsaces who was so infinitly dear unto my soul Upon this Eudoxe held her peace shewing by her countenance that this resolution was pleasing unto her and that she wanted not courage to execute it And therefore I told her that indeed this remedy was the most sure of all but yet I did not think it fit she should have recourse unto it until the utmost extremity I told her that I would first talk with Genserick and try whether I could divert him from his vicious design and after that I would not be against that expedient which she had propounded unto me but on the contrary would help her the best I could and if need were I would serve her as a guide through that dismal passage and advise her rather to die then lose her reputation I presently found that my discourse did please her humour for taking my hand go dear Olicarsis said she unto me the most generous person alive go and if you can bend the soul of yonder Tyrant do Remember what you have promised unto me and be assured that I will die a Princess Upon this compassion moved me to drop some tears and having left her I went unto Genserick I was no sooner out of the chamber door but a young man whose face I knew asked to speak with Eudoxe from Thrasimond and as soon as he was brought into the chamber he kneeled down upon the ground and having told her that he came from his Master to desire leave that he might deliver a message unto the young Eudoxe her daughter the Princess did presently consent unto it and to give him the fairer oportunity she retired into her closset leaving none with her but Placidia The young man whom Thrasimond had trusted with his life did presently take a Letter out of his pocket Madam said he unto her here is a pledge of those promises which my Master made yesterday unto you by which you will find in what state his soul is since you did wound it At this the young Princess smiled and not daring to take the Letter Thrasimond said she must excuse me if I do not receive it but upon condition to open it in the presence of my Lady and Mother If you think not that fit you may carry it back and tell him that I do give him most humble thanks for honouring me so far at to remember me Madam replied the young man Thrasimond is so much your most humbly devoted servant as he will not desire any thing but what you shall think fit but I beseech you let me not return till I know whether you will ordain him death or life In saying so he offered her the Letter and the young Eudoxe taking it she went with Placidia into her Mothers closset where opening it they read these words THRASIMONDS Letter unto the young EUDOXE Fairest EUDOXE I Am most insinitly in love with you and if my passion be not as pure and Legitimate as ever was any then may your rigour make me the most miserable amongst men I do know very well that my affection is a testimony of my rashnesse but it is also a testimony of my resentment and your merit If you think the one worthy of punishment I hope the other is as worthy of recompence Thus in this uncertainty whether you should punish or recompence refer it unto the decision of time which is the best Judge of all things Punish me if I lie and if I love you love me again I vow dearest Eudoxe I do pity your Fortune since I became a slave as you are The knowledge which Eudoxe had of Thrasimonds love did put her into great hopes imagining that she could make him do great matters and therefore she her self came with the two young Princesses to give an answer unto this welcome messenger and to tell him that
she received the affection of his Master as a most high honour that for want of paper and ink they could not thank him any other way but by voice and if he expected any other answer from them they should be glad to give it unto himself the next time he honoured them with a visit The young man told them that he was gone abroad and would not return till night but as soon as he did he would obey their commands After this he went out In the mean time as I told you before I went unto Genserick and falling upon the subject whereupon I intended to talk with him I told him in what a sad and miserable condition I found Eudoxe after he left her I told him also what inventions I used to make her tell me the cause of her grief and that when I knew it I came expresly from her most humbly to beseech him once more not to make any attempts against her I laid before him how angâ—y the gods would be at such ingratitude and that he rendred himself culpable of a most horrid crime if after the spoils over which she had made him triumph he should ravish away her honour I put him in mind of the Ancestors from whom that Princesse was descended and of such men unto whom she had the honour to be allied That it was abominable she who is the daughter and wife of Emperours should be treated as a slave especially since he had never thought upon the conquest of Rome if she had not invited him I told him also that he was beholding unto her for the glory wherewith history would honour his life and that it was not just but shamefully he should eclipse the luster of it by an act To foul and horrid and indeed I used all the best Rhetorick I had to perswade with him but in lieu of lending any ear to reason became all rage and mixing jealousie with his fury he began unhappily for me to fear that I had some thoughts to enjoy the same happinesse over which he was resolved to triumph This blind passion did so disorder his judgement as without any thoughts of Eudoxes virtue he suspected me to be guilty of that crime from which I would have reclaimed him and therefore with a fury that sparkled in his eyes he swore he would that very night have his fill either of love or revenge and forbidding me ever to see her again he commanded me to retire unto my own house where my chamber was to be my prison upon pain of the greatest punishments his anger could invent I must tell you it was not the fear of death that made me obey him but being resolved to give unto that wise Princess the remedy which she intended to imploy when all things were in desperation I went and confined my self to my chamber hoping my captivity would not continue long since it would end by the death of Eudoxe and my self I no sooner came into my chamber but I went into my closset where I kept all those secrets and wonders in Nature which I had been in collecting above fourty years and because with abundance of study I had knowledge in all rare and admirable secrets it was not long before I found such ingredients as would compound a poyson so subtil as would quickly accomplish my design first I took black Agarick which I had pounded into powder and having incorporated it with the juice of Thapsis I mingled an essence with it which was extracted from the leaves of Lethale commonly called deadly Nightshade and the leaves of Texo which the Gauls call If or Ewe afterwards I put into it Aconite or Wolf-bane and of all these together having made an extract I put in a little scumm of the deaf Aspick and as soon as I had put the one half of this into a little glass I took ink and paper and writ this note unto Eudoxe The Note of OLICARSIS unto EVDOXE IT is now time Madam to take that remedie which I have prepared against your miseries The injustice of Genserick hath slighted my perswasions and having involved me in your misfortunes he hath inspired me also to die with you This night he hath vowed to accomplish his wicked designs by the loss of your honour unless you prevent him by the losse of your life Consult therefore with your courage upon it and be assured that you never had a more glorious occasion to imploy it All things being ready I called a slave which waited upon me and who used to follow me when I went to visit the Princesse with one hand I gave him the little glass telling him it was a Medicine which she desired of me and indeed I did not lie with my other hand I gave him the Note which I pretended to be a direction how she should use it but above all I charged him to be very secret and to make as much haste back as possibly he could Be pleased to know that because I would be out of the dinn and trouble of the people I lodged in the most dark and private corner of the Town I could chuse and because such places are commonly the receptacles of Thieves and Rogues rather then students it chanced that three or four young men that were conscious of some robberies murders were come for a refuge into a lodging very near mine Justices were presently advertised of their coming and intended to surprize them in the beginning of the night These Thieves were stout and desperate and by consequence terrible unto almost every one so as to run the lesse danger it was contrived to catch them in snares and in order thereunto they laid in the streets several cords about a foot from the ground and distant one from another about five or six paces After this all the neighbours were commanded to stand ready in their Arms to fall upon them when they were caught in the snares The stratagem did take according to their desires but harke I beseech you what hapned before my slave who as I told you was gone upon his errand and as fortune was went through this street And had not gone above twenty or thirty paces but running very fast his foot was catched in a snare and down fell he with his nose next the ground now as it is naturall upon such accidents to save the face with the hands as much as one can he broke the glass in a hundred peices and had like to have broak his neck At the noise and out-cry which he made upon his fall some neighbours opened their dores who as I told you had command to fall upon those theeves and thought that it was now their time to fall on But when they saw only the poor slave whose blood gushed out at his nose they came gently to him and without farther enquiry whither he went would have lent him a light to pass the street with more safty but he who saw the cause of his voyage broken he
stood still lamenting and complaining whilst as ill luck was two great dogges wherewith one of the neighbours used to bait bulls at Publique shews did come into the streets and being greedy of blood they presently began to licke that which the slave had innocently mingled with the poyson They had not lapped with their tongues above three times but they tumbled with their feet upwards and died imediately at which the owner of them was so extreamly angry that needs would he kill my slave the very same instant and to know the cause of so suddain and strange an end he seised upon him and carryed him to his house where the poor slave having given him an accompt of the business wherin I imployed him he gave him the paper also assuring himself that it would serve for his justification The man did quickly find out my design and conceiving it most fit to acquaint the King he went presently to advertise him of it I understood since that Genserick was ready to fall down at the sight of my letter but at last recollecting himself and turning all his fury against me he commanded twelve or fifteen of his guard to go imediatly to my house and seise upon me and to put me in that prison where traytors used to be locked up which command was presently obayed And I being prepared to die staying only for the return of my slave they found my dores open and a glass upon the table full of the same poison which I thought Eudoxe had received I will not tell you in what a condition I was when I saw this obstacle unto my resolution it will suffice you know that imagining the Princesse to be dead I did exceedingly rejoice at all those tortures which I conceived were preparing for me Thrasimond was returned from hunting a little before and being extreamly impatient to see his Mistresse that he might know what effect his letter produced he went unto the Palace where Eudoxe was and telling her all the storye which you have heard he made the Princesse think that her resolution was not unknown unto him no more then the wicked design of Genserick Eudoxe then seeing all was discovered and fearing least the King should that night execute what he threatned she thought good to make use or Thrasimonds love hoping that the honest and legitimate passion of the son would give a stop unto the burning and unlawfull lust of the Father And indeed she armed her eyes with all the persawsive charmes she could to move pitty she took her hand-handkercheif and listing it to her eyes two or three times she began to speak unto him in this manner Since Sir you know what intentions Genserick has upon me it is impossible but you should approve of the design which I have to prevent by my death that shamefull staine wherewith he would sully my honour and reputation Though nature had not made me the Daughter unto Theodosius and though fortune had not twice submitted the Emperedom of the East unto me yet it is enough that I do know what a wife and a woman does owe unto virtue never to consent unto the loss of a thing the price whereof is beyond all value And certainly what tiranny soever Genserick is resolved to use unto me his passion shall still find resistance That which his violence will not let me execute upon my own person my rage shall attempt upon his and perhaps he shall to his woe find what dispair can do in the incensed spirit of an honest woman if he be weary of her life which he has undertaken to protect and if it anger him to hear himself accused for violating faith let him with all my heart take away this life with I live with sorrow and if he will let me die gloriously and with honour he shall see how little I will startle at death By this generous Thrasimond you may perceive that if there be no remedy to stop the fury of Genserick there is no hopes of my life or of my two Daughters whom heaven has only left me for witnesses or rather Companions in my misfortunes If as our last refuge the love which you profess unto young Eudoxe be grounded upon honour certainly you will be her Protector and will be ashamed to marry her after her Mother has lost that only thing which will be a glory unto her in the match shall it be ever recorded to future ages in history that Genserick would glut his brutish lust upon Eudoxe the captive and that Thrasimond the glory of his time stood still and would never offer to be an obstacle unto such a blacke design Oh good Sir do not suffer such a blur to dim the story of your life And if the young Eudoxe have any power with you or if you have any pitty upon miserable persons let me execute what Olicarsis had prepared for me And good Sir let not that mans innocence bear the blame of that crime which I only committed it was I who forced him to prepare that poison and his feares only that I would attempt upon the person of the King made him consent unto it Now Sir if for any particular interest you may have in my life you do intend to hinder my death turn if it be possible the mind of Genserick I conjure you I do conjure you unto it even by Eudoxe if you love her by these teares which I drop at the memorie of my miseryes by your self and by these armes which I fixe about your knees which I will never let go untill you promise what I implore from you In saying so she fell down at the feet of Thrasimond and clasped about the leggs of that Prince with so much strength as he was not able to rise so soon as he would at this he was so milted into pity and Eudoxes desires to preserve her honour did please him so well that his love encreased and made him think that no greater advantage could be unto his fortune then to marry the Daughter of so virtuous a Mother Besides this the glory to see at his feet a Princess whom so many millions of people had obeyed did so pleasingly flatter him that from thence forward he resolved to use his very utmost endeavours for her delivery out of those paines which her feares had infused into her and therefore unloosing Eudoxes armes as well as he could he presently kneeled down upon the ground and helping her up Madam said he unto her hope well in the goodness of heaven and in my love Genserick shall joyn my death unto yours or if his pity preserve me his passion shall never hurt you Upon this he left her to go unto the King but he found him not in the Castle for that Barbarian having no thoughts in his mind but the ruine of Eudoxe and fearing that by the accident which hapned the death of that Princesse would be some obstacle unto his desires he resolved to prevent it and therefore when
Genserick unto what he would Olimbres even ravished at this beseeched him to negotiate so with the King as to get him to go unto the house where Eudoxe was and told him that the only expedient was to invite him unto a dinner in that place which indeed was the finest seat about all Carthage Thrasimond thought this no hard matter to do and therefore making the proposition unto the King they appointed a day for it In the interim the Cavalier acquainted Eudoxe with his resolution and though she did find some difficulty in it yet she did approve on 't being assured of Vrsaces his love of Thrasimonds promises and Olimbres his fidelity The day appointed being come Genserick Thrasimond Olimbres and many others of the best rank in all Carthage went betimes in the morning unto the house where the Prince had ordered the Tables in the dining room to be near unto the chamber of the Princesses And there as soon as dinner was done Olimbres addressing himself unto the King did beg that leave which before he had asked Genserick then in a most affectionate manner dear Olimbres said he unto him I do find your desires so just and reasonable as I should be extreamly ashamed to oppose them any longer 'T is true I am very sorry that I have not given any testimony of that affection which I bear unto you but till occasions fall out that I may I beseech you accept of my good intentions and be assured that I would do any thing which would be contentment unto you Sir replied Olimbres after many thanks you may if you please do two high favours for me in one moment and did I not fear denial I should assume so much boldnesse as to ask them of you Upon this the King making a solemn vow not to deny him any thing he would ask Olimbres kneeled down upon the ground Sir said he since it is your Royal pleasure to say so I do ask of you the liberty of Eudoxe and Olicarsis In saying so Thrasimond opened the chamber door where the Princesse was trembling with her two daughters and the King surprized at an accident so little expected stood a while and knew not what he did At last being moved at the tears of Eudoxe who came presently and cast her self at his feet having Placidia in one hand and her sister in the other he granted the request of Olimbres and promised for the future to treat her as a Princess not as a slave Thrasimond who would also make use of his time he beseeched Genserick to give him the young Eudoxe for his wife and the King knowing what advantages this would be unto him did consent unto it Amidst this common joy I was not forgotten for Genserick at that very instant sent for me but I who knew I was never to go out of prison until I went to execution I confesse that I had so prepared my self for death as I thought they only jested with me At last my own eyes cleared me all those suspicions for being brought into the Kings presence there I saw Eudoxe at liberty and received a pardon for my life The news of this accident was quickly spred all over the Town and the Princesses were waited upon unto their lodgings with all usual magnificence Vrsaces was the only one unsatisfied as fearing the King would fall into his passionate fits again but presently after he found by the Kingâ— repentant tears that he would never make more attempts against the chastity of Eudoxe but had quenched his flames with tears and indeed a little while after he sent her back to Constantinople with her two Daughters in a most honourable Equipage unto which she was no sooner come but Vrsaces having married Eudoxe in great solemnity he received that happiness which Fortune had made him pay so dear for And where Olimbres by the command of Marcian and consent of Eudoxe he found his long'd for happinesse in the arms of Placidia as a reward of his fidelity The great Olicarsis had no sooner ended his discourse but Phillis entred yet so out of breath that she astonished all the company especially Adamas and Belinde who feared extreamly that she brought them some ill news concerning Astrea Diana and Alexis therefore the Druide who thought it best that if any disaster had hapned not to acquaint Belinde with it upon such a sudden he rose up and went to meet her and Phillis no sooner was come up to him but with extream amazement O Father said she unto him I can tell you the strangest accident that ever was heard or seen Astrea and Diana are found they are both asleep close by the Fountain of Loves verity Abundance of Shepherds Shepherdesses stand looking upon them but not one has so much courage as to go near them For and this is the greatest wonder the two Unicorns lie close by them with their heads upon the knees of my companions they grinn and roar so terribly at any that offer to come near them that not a Shepherd dares attempt it This did extreamly astonish the Druide for he plainly saw the design of the two Shepherdesses but that which most troubled him was his fears that they were dead already and that none daring to come nearer them it was credible they all thought them so yet being unwilling to tell Belinde what he thought he went unto her and told her what Phillis had seen Belinde rose up presently and in her excess of joy forgetting her duty unto Rosanira and Galathea she went out of the Gallery intending to run unto the place where she thought Diana was but Adamas would not suffer her be not so hasty sage Belinde said he unto her you need not take the pains of going to them for we will send some others Pardon me answered Belinde I must not defer it one minute longer I cannot live if I do not immediatly see her and since Phillis has told me where she is if you love me let me go unto her and bring her back My intention Madam answered the Druide is not to hinder you from seeing her but on the contrary I will make as much haste as you yet since Phillis does know so well where these two Shepherdesses are let her be my guide and never trouble your self for I will take upon me the charge of bringing her back However Father said Galathea do not refuse our company for it is a sight so remarkable as all of us will be glad to be spectatours of it Surely said Belinde when she saw Adamas consenting unto it I am she that has most interest in these women and why should not I also see them and believe it I must for I had rather incur your displeasure in disobeying you then not see them in what place soever they be Adamas would willingly have disswaded her as thinking still that these fair ones were not in such a condition as would give her any contentment but all his arguments being not so
of never seeing Stella again or any of the Shepherdesses unto whom he had any inclination But when they were all in the deepest apprehension and belief of this danger the lightning and thunder upon a sudden ceased but not the darkness for it remained as obscure as before And in this dismal silence none durst begin to speak for every one thinking themselves the only one alive were afraid to incur the same misfortune In fine the darknesse began to dissipate by little and little the Sun gave light to the world again flowers assumed their fragrancy and trees gave shadows again Adamas was very glad to see this hidious storm ceased and the Sun to break through all these dusky clouds but his joyes to see Belinde alive surpassed all other contentments so as he went to embrace her and acquaint her with his fears Yet Belinde still thinking upon the loss of Diana and not thinking the fairness of the day any comfort unto her she told him that heaven would have obliged her if out of pity it had suffered her to follow the Fate of her daughter The life said she which it has left me and for which you seem so much joyed is a most intollerable burthen unto me since my Destiny will not let it be accompanied with those comforts which I expected from the virtue of Diana Upon this Belinde began to grieve again and Rosanira Galathea Silvia and the rest coming unto her every one endeavoured to give some comfort unto her but her grief was too great to be so easily allayed especially by such weak remedies as words She therefore giving no intermission into her tears and sighs they all resolved to refer her cure unto time and in the interim they observed that the clouds wherewith the air was obscured for a time were all gathered together over the Fountain from whence all this enchantment proceeded This obscurity made it inâ—ccessible and Belinde who extreamly desired to give up her soul upon the cold and pale lips of her daughter and seeing this obstacle was unto her desire Wilt thou not O pitilesse heaven give my misfortunes so weak a comfort as to see the marks of thy cruelty upon the body of my daughter O ye Destinies whose rigour has ravished her from me are ye more deaf then trees and rocks Hearken I beseech you vnto the prayers of a wronged mother and render her unto me for one hour only who ought to be mine all her life I do ask you nothing but what belongs unto me The soul of Diana is indeed the gods and they may take it when they please but her body is absolutely mine I would have it and without extream in justice you cannot deny it unto me In saying this she had her eyes still towards the Fountain Adamas and the rest after her example they looked upon the thick darkness which overshaded it out of which one might often see proceed a thick smoak as from some great combustion and sometimes a blue flame like unto that of Sulphure and Aqua vitâ—â— fined After they had gazed a while upon those Prodigies they perceived that with this smoak many of the clouds were dissipated which gave some good hopes unto the Druide and Belinde who thought now to have light enough to find either her Daughter or the Lions that had devoured her she advanced as near the fountain as she could But Adamas pulling her back to look upon something which he had observed they perceived that all the thick darkness which remained was risen a yeard from the ground thinking therefore that it also would vanish as the rest did they resolved to stay a while and then upon a suddain they perceived in the midst of this obscurity a cupid full of shining brightness who rising up by little and little seated himself upon the top of a Piramide of Porpherye At the sight of this god all fell down upon their knees and when Adamas Bellinde and the rest were in their height of admiration at this so little expected novelty they saw that he held in one of his hands a table of black marble wherin were written these words in capitall Letters Be not Amazed nor murmure at these miracles But cause these bodies to be caryed away And tomorrow come and consult with my Oracles They no sooner knew the will of this god of love but this god did throw himself unto the fountain and left no markes of himself but immediatly all the clouds vanished no darkness remained only so much as hindred from looking into the water Bellinde ravished with joy at this permission she lost not a munite of time but passing close by the Unicornes and Lyons she went straight to the place where Astrea and her Daughter lay upon the ground seeming as if they had given up their last breath Adamas after he had bidden Paris to go and fetch the coach that he might obey the commands of the god of love he followed Bellinde and was all amazement to see that these four beasts had no motion in them and this gave him so much boldness as to approach nearer them but then he found them absolutly imoveable indeed And indeed by the power of this great inchantor whó first placed them for guards of the fountain they were all turned into four figures of marble yet still retaining their shapes and coulours As soon as all the Company was advertised of it and come near to be witnesses of this miraculous metamorphosis they were all seised with incredible astonishment but yet not comparable to that which they resented when in lieu of two corpses which they expected to find their they perceived four two of which were known to be Alexis and Silvander In the mean while Bellinde would needs embrace the body of Diana and finding it without any pulse or motion she fell into such extreames of greif as was able to move deaf death it self Phillis she ran unto the body of Astrea and Lycidas being gone to that of his brother the Druid went unto the body of Silvander They thought to have found them full of wounds and torne in peices by the Lyons but they did not find so much as one drope of blood upon them which made them think they were only stifled by the weight of those furious animals Galathea who at that instant remembred those flames which Celadon had kindled in her soul she could not chuse but be so sensible as to shed some teares Rosanira and the rest after her example much greived to see all things in such a sad disorder and certainly they had no souls that would not be moved unto Compassion by such sad spectacles especially by the lamentations of Bellinde For that sadly afflicted mother tearing her hair and scratching her face ah my Diana said she art thou dead all cold as ice what my dear child not one look Ingratefull child or rather ungratefull destines who have ravished her from me is it not just my hopes should have a
sight of this Shepherd she followed him from tree to tree until he found what he sought for and it was not long first for he found the little Rivolet unto which he paying his tribute of a few teares he presently after went straight to his cave As soon as he came their he entred in and as soon as Laonice lost the sight of him she doubled her pace and without any feares of being seen she got as near the mouth of it as she could and there lending a most listning ear to hear what the designes of Tircis might be she heard him say Dear habitation which may cover me from the injuries of heaven as thou dost from the importunities of Laonice Pardon me for having lost my way in the confusion of my thoughts I absented my self from thee a whole night Into what a lamentable dump did these words strike Laonice she was even ready to run out of her wits and now seeing all her sweet hopes blasted she was even ready to die Yet hearing Tircis say something else she wished for life only to hear him and therefore heard him proceed thus But dear cave if thou wilt make me the most happy man that ever was I beseech thee let me live no longer to kill another would be Barbarisme but to kill Tircis charity If because thou knowest not the dismall successes of my disasterous life thou beest ignorant of the cause I have to wish for death Know dear Cell That I did love Cleon That her death did seperate me from her and that my death is the only was to reunite us upon this he was silent and because he continued so long Laonice thought that his teares had drownded his speech or that perhaps he was kissing the rock in which he was shut Needing therefore to hear no more she retired her self the most sadly afflicted woman in the world only she received a little poor consolation when she considered that since he intended to inhabite no where else but there she might often have the pleasure of seeing and hearing him So leaving him in his Cell she returned to her own out of which she durst not stir all the day Tircis did not so for after he had sighed a while in his little Grotto he went out but durst not go far least he should lose himself as he did the day before he sate him down under a shady tree and there he pulled out of his pocket all the favours and Letters which formerly he had received from Cleon and reading then one after another all the passages of his love came so fresh into his memory as at that instant he fancied her to be yet alive but this pleasing imagination lasting no longer then the time he imployed in reading them he had no sooner ended but his sorrowes began again Thus having kissed them and lapped all those dear Letters in a bag which he called his treasury he rose up and walked up and down till night invited him unto his Cave Laonice did not spend the day so for she durst not stir out of hers least if Tircis should it would make him quit his habitation for ever which he had chosen for the tranquility of his last dayes yet not being able to leave thinking upon him she never lest contriving out some way or other which might in some measure allay that irreconcilable hatred which was in the soul of this shepherd towards her Amongst all her thoughts which most touched her to the quick the Oracle which she had received held the prime place so as continually thinking upon it But if the gods said she have promised a kind remedy unto my passion is it not most just I should hope well in their goodness and if I may hope why may I not think upon such meanes as may obtain it a ghost did thy tell me must be the remedy unto my affliction but what ghost can this be It cannot be the ghost of Tircis For if Tircis were only a ghost my misery in lieu of being less would be extream I value his life at such a rate of love as if any fatal accident should ravish it away I should conspire against my own It cannot therefore be Cleons for the dead do either know the actions of this life or else they do not know them if they do know them then it is impossible but the soul of that fair one must rejoyce to see Tircis continue his love and fidelity unto her So as it is in vain to expect any assistance from her since it concernes her interest rather to prejudice then to help me If the dead do not know what we of this life do why should I look for any help from a place where oblivion raignes with so much Empire No no Laonice thy miseryes must be eternall and thou mayest think that if the gods had any mind to put a period unto them they would have inspired thee with some invention more easy But said she is it not a beginning of happiness that Tircis is brought so near me Has not the world other deserts Forrests it self has other woods vvhere this shepherd might have found his solitude if some kind Demon had not brought him hither to case thee Upon this thought she opened the table book where we had written down the Oracle that concerned her and having read it over severall times The gods said she do assure that if Laonice be firm in her affection the heavens will send a remedy unto her passion Does this remedy depend upon the affection of Laonice or upon Laonice her self or upon the ghost or are not Laonice and the ghost one and the same thing Upon this she stopt and falling into a most profound study as if she had some deep design in her head come what will onâ— said she upon a suddain I will venture an undoeing it is credible the gods would never have put it into my mind unless they did intend it should take effect She spent all the rest of the day upon this thought and as soon as night came she went out of her Cell unto that of Tircis All the way she went she was ravelled with a thousand irresolutions and her feares not to bring her enterprise to pass made find her almost an impossibility in those things that were most easie Sometimes she conceited that to get the love of Tircis by fallacies was the way not to keep it long otherwhiles she perswaded her self that he would know her voice or that when the Moon shined it would discover that secret which she would not trust unto any thing but darkness But when she remembred that in love all subtilties even the fits are allowed and began to think he could hardly know her voice also that the Moon might perhaps not shine into his Cell she took a little courage and kept to her first resolution Her greatest fear was to meet him out of his cave for no other place but it could be favorable unto her design And
the Gods should never let you see her again I should think them just in it since you have already treated her with so much disdain as they may think they are kinde unto you in it But Father replied the shepherdesse would you have mee pardon the offence which I have received from her disguise You have told mee so much of her innocence that I do consent to love him no lesse then formerly I did and since they know that I am not now angry against her nor can live without her why do they not restore her unto mee When I told you of her innocence replied the Druid I told you but what I thought obliged mee not to conceale knowing her discretion so well and you have not known since that I said nothing but truth Since the Unicornes were seen by you and it is a most infallible truth that those Animals never come near a woman who is in the least blemished in her Chastity But the greater the innocency of Alexis is the greater is your crime and therefore I am afraid that the Gods do intend to punish you for it and will never suffer you to enjoy a person whom you have without any reason twice banished from your presence I perceive Father said Astrea faintly that Alexis is dead and that the Gods are just in punishing mee so But they will not be just if they let mee live or at least will not suffer mee after I have been punished for the unjust anger I conceived against Celadon to be recompenced for the Love which I preserved for him in the midst of our greatest misfortunes In saying so her eyes gushed out with Tears And Adamas having compassion upon her Daughter said hee do not thus immoderately afflict your self until you hear more particulars of the losse of Alexis my cares of bringing you hither were a cause of my not knowing what was hapned unto her but if you will promise to stay untill I returne with patience I will promise to bring you a faithfull relation Father answered Astrea though the condition wherein I saw her makes mee more certain of her death yet since you command it I will stay till you return that you may afterwards think my design of following her the more just But Father continued shee even for pities sake do not slatter mee in thinking to comfort mee you will make mee the more desperate Adamas did promise to do whatsoever shee desired and seeing Bellinde in talk with Diana hee would not interrupt them but went straight into Celadons chamber where finding Silvander out of bed and his countenance not so sad as before hee seemed to rejoyce much at it Afterwards going unto Celadon How comes it to passe said hee unto him that you are not up as well as Silvander Is not your couragâ— as good or are you not so well as hee Lycidas prevented his brother in his answer Father said hee neither of those are the reason of it but because I cannot finde his cloaths Then Adamas remembring that hee had locked them up hee went and brought those that hee was wont to wear before his disguisement and giving them unto him Here son said hee unto him may you be happy in that habit and enjoy her whom you love best Celadon did take them with a thousand thanks for his good wishes and as soon as hee began to cast his eies upon them so many thoughts came into his minde that hee could not chuse but fetch a deep sigh which the Druid observing How now Celadon said hee had you rather continue in your disguise then assume this habit I cannot tell Father answered the shepherd faintly which of the two make me the more happy For under the habit of Alexis Astrea commanded mee to die and under that of Celadon shee banished mee her presence Adamas who saw that the memory of these things did trouble him and having no minde to talk any more of them but withdrawing a little to give him the more time to dresse him Celadon said hee do not dispute upon the choise any longer but weare this that I have brought unto you and if you will referre all the rest unto mee I will finde out a way to make you happy Upon this Celadon dressed himself and when hee was ready Adamas embraced him Then Lycidas did the same with so many tears and expressions of Love as it was easie to judge that the affection which tyed them together proceeded from some stronger causes than consanguinity Silvander was extreamly joyed to see it and as handsome as hee had appeared under the disguise of a Druides daughter hee appeared much handsomer in the habit of a shepherd Adamas took him by the hand and carrying him out of the chamber Sonne said hee unto him you must know that Astrea does infinitely desire to know what is become of you and because such welcom newes will be best from your own mouth I think it most fit you should carry it your selfe At this Celadon changed colour But Father said hee shee has commanded mee to die and though I did endeavour to obey her yet it is to be feared shee will not take my endeavour for good payment Never let that trouble you replied the Druid I have so well prepared her minde in your absence as shee is resolved never to give you any more cause of discontent If you do love her you must not refuse to see her for all the hopes shee has is now only that you are alive In saying so hee entreated Silvander and Lycidas to accompany them unto her chamber Celadon did tremble at every step till hee came to the beds side of that shepherdesse and then began to sigh and was not able to speak one word Astrea did mildly cast her eyes upon the Druid and seeing him so silent did think at first that hee brought her bad newes Ah Father said shee your silence does speak my ill fortune Tell mee truly is Alexis dead Then Adamas looking upon her with a seeming sad eye Daughter said hee I should never be the messenger of such sad newes but that I am forced unto it Upon this Astrea began to tremble Good Father said shee hold mee no longer in suspence speak plainly and relate unto mee all the accidents that have hapned unto Alexis as shee said so shee seemed to be so sadly afflicted as if shee had not a minute to live Good Astrea said Adamas why should I relate the successe of a thing that will but displease and trouble you You your self knowes more concerning Alexis then I do you saw her in combare with the Lions and by that may judge what is become of her But good Father answered Astrea did the Lions turn their fury only against her Could not I as well have satisfied their rage and hunger Oh most cruel Fate continued shee with eyes flowing in teares Miserable Astrea Poor unfortunate Alexis art thou dead and my rigour the cause of it Then shee began to
extreamly love Thrasimond and the young Prince with whom I stayed as a Governour so as the interest of this affection was enough to make me forget the greatest injuries I ever received from their Father Genserick then embarqued himself flattering himself with hopes that his voyage would be no lesse prosperous then the conquest of all the world But O how fond and deceitful are all humane intentions One single day saw all this glory and all this war like Array vanish to nothing for Leon who feared that Anthemius was not strong enough to resist so formidable an Army did haste away relief under the conduct of one Basiliscus who being by the favour of the gods and the winds joyned with him did defeat Genserick and gave him so sharp a chase as he was constrained to retire into Carthage with as much shame and infamy as his ambition did before promise him glory and honour In a very short time this Basiliscus made himself master of Sicily and regained all that the conquests of Genserick had ravished from the Romane power but not contenting himself with those Trophes which he had already gotten whilst Anthemius was returned to Rome he designed to subjugate Africa and not to leave Genserick so much ground as to make himself a grave This resolution did put Genserick into a greater confusion then I am able to expresse He saw all his Armies defeated Basiliscus triumphant Sicily lost the Vandals ruined and all Africa affrighted so as not knowing which way to resist his enemy one day he did me the honour to communicate himself unto me I freely told him that if he did not think himself able to defend himself by force he had no other way but to have recourse unto Pollicy and that the most favourable expedient would be to stop the mouth of his enemy by corrupting him with gifts and promises and that though he spent herein all the riches that he had gotten by the plunder of Rome yet would have this advantage by it that he gave nothing but was their own and had thereby preserved his life and estate This proposition did sound well in his ears and thinking that perhaps I had wit enough to bring this about he imployed me to go unto Basiliscus and gave me a full power to manage this negotiation as seemed good unto me Upon this I went and found Basiliscus advanced very far but not to insist upon every circumstance and course I took to overcome him let it suffice I tell you that after I had told him there was no prudence in exasperating an enemy so far as to make him desperate That the greatest glory he could hope for was to get by his valour all that which Italy had lost That Genserick did offer to restore it unto him even all the riches that he had brought from Rome This Man who doubtlesse was of a greedy and covetous Nature was wrought upon by the promises which I had made unto him to keep this negotiation so secret that never any could come to the knowledge of it Thus did I in some sort give peace unto Africa and rest unto Genserick who had no sooner performed the conditions of this secret treaty but Basiliscus suspected as I believe for it is impossible such actions should long lie hid was commanded by Leon to return unto Constantinople This Emperour would never suffer neither Vrsaces nor Olimbres to be absent from him for trusting in their courages and affections also suspecting the Factions of Ardabures and Aspar he was very glad to keep them by him as two Pillars to support him in cases of necessity but at this time when the malice of these two Factions had broken out anew and Vrsaces and Olimbres after several skirmishes little prevailing he was constrained to send for Basiliscus who had under him the only forces which could secure him in the possession of the Empire Basiliscus then was no sooner sent for but Vrsaces addressing himself unto Olimbres and telling him how great a shame unto them it was that they could not do any service unto Leon and that it was better for them to perish in a brave attempt then to stay and let another have the glory of giving peace unto the East to whom Olimbres whose spirit aspired unto great actions answering that he was ready to avoid that stain upon their honours they assembled together one day all the Forces they could raise and charged Ardabures and Aspar so furiously that after a long and sharp Combate wherein the loss of blood was the least mark of their courages they took them both Prisoners and brought them to the mercy of Leon who to stop all fears of any further Rebellion did publickly put them to death This was the state of things whilst Anthemius found how far the perfidie and ingratitude of a man could go for Rithimer a Goth by Nation whom Severian had made a Citizen of Rome and Lieutenant of his Army and unto whom Anthemius married his daughter he rose up against him and forgetting all the benefits which he had received from his father in Law he strove at the Empire and endeavoured to usurp the Crown and Authority Anthemius more grieved at his ill Nature then at his pretentions did generously oppose himself against his enterprises and had no sooner advertised Leon of Rithimers ingratitude but the Emperor dispatched Olimbres to him to deliver him from the oppressions of this kinsman-enemy But the doom of the destinies being inevitable some accident or other impeded the voyage of Olimbres so as he came no farther then Ravenna when Rithimer having violated the peace which he contracted with Anthemius only to have the more facility to betray him did rebell a new defeated Belemer who came with relief unto Anthemius Entred into Room plundered the houses Pillaged the statly Palaces burned the Temples and miserbaly put him to the sword who had done him so many benefits This violence had like to have killed Olimbres with greif and the more because he conceaved that he might have stopped his comming unto Rome But this horrid cruelty did incense the gods much more who being unwilling to suffer such abominable iniquity and base treachery to passe unpunished they would never suffer such an impious wretch to raign but let him die the most violent death that ever did man Olimbres presently after was declared Emperor and called unto Rome as the only hope of that desolate estate which news quickly carried unto Carthage and was so welcome unto Genserick and Thrasimond because of the affection which they ever bare unto him that they resolved to give some perticular testimony of their joy For my part I must confesse my joyes were far above my expressions or any imagination and in my excesse of gladnesse I thought a thousand times of that which an Astrologer foretold him which was that he should not die untill he was made Emperor and had commanded the Empire of the west not bring able to comprehend how
in the composition of this salve which I brought in a little box for Olimbres I had not omitted any ingredient which would not make extreamly subtil and by good Fortune when I came from Carthage it was not above a month before I had finished that making of it though it was a whole year before I began it for besides the oyles which were to be extracted as the oyl of Flax and the oyl of Roses there was yet required Bol-Armianian Mans blood Mummy Mans grease and the moss which grows in the scull of a man long exposed to the air So I had no sooner dressed those little sticks but we parted and the man who had relieved me hearing me name Forrests unto Halladine he beseeched us to let him go with us but because I thought every moment upon the danger from which he had released me as soon as we were got into the way I asked him as civilly as I could what good Fortune had brought him thither so opportunely and from whence proceeded that rapture wherein I saw him he lifted up his eyes presently to heaven and afterwards casting them upon me with a deep sigh Alas said he unto me that which you do call a rapture is rather a just punishment which the gods have inflicted upon me for the expiation of my sins But since you desire the discourse of it though my disease be beyond all hopes of cure I will obey you provided you permit me to stay no longer upon the relation of it then I desire left the remembrance of it do drive me into the same extremities wherein you saw me Upon this whilst Halladine was in deep study some thirty paces from us he began his relation thus Know Father that my name is Azahides the place of my birth is amongst the Allobroges My Father was one who ever held a considerable rank in that Town which stands upon the Lake of Leman When I was hardly capable of reason and when that Province was involved in many troubles because they would take from Gondioch all that he had on this side the Rhyne they did put arms into my hands when I had hardly so much strength as to sustain them After the expiration of some time a truce was made which lasted some yeares During which my Father considering that he had no child but me for the stay of his Family and age he resolved to marry me and so indeed he did unto a very fair and handsome wife whom I kept not above a year for the died in child-bed after she had left me a daughter as a pledge of her love Presently after the great captain Aetius had the government of Gaul and renewing the first designs which the Romanes had against us he prepared himself for the execution of them This was the reason that Abariell for that was my fathers name could never keep me with him for my humour which found some particular satisfaction in blood and slaughter was stronger them all the perswasions he used to hinder me from leaving him So I parted from him and until the time that Aetius had command to leave us in peace I was alwayes in every combate at the taking of all Towns and in every dangerous enterprize that was to be executed One time amongst the rest much plunder falling to my share I gave it all in exchange of a young boy called Silvander about five or six yeares of age and who they told me was stollen from some place beyond the Rhosne and in the Province of Vienna The aspect of this child did please me so exceedingly well as I resolved to give him as good education as possibly I could and afterwards to take him home unto me as a man that was obliged unto me for his life In order hereunto peace was no sooner concluded but I sent for him to my house and shewed him unto my Father as the best booty that ever I got But here I beseech you observe a very strange effect of divine Providence This child whom I destiny'd unto perpetual servitude no sooner appeared in my Fathers eye but considering the little comfort he had in me by reason of my turbulent and stirring Nature he resolved to bring up this boy and to establish upon him the foundation of all his hopes This resolution was not so close but it came to my knowledge so as beginning to foresee what might afterwards happen I began also to use all my Art for stopping the course of this growing good will But all my plots and devices were in vain for my Father taking him from me as his own did send him to the Massilian schools where he grew so good a proficient and so every way accomplished as for all my envy of him I could not chuse but confesse that my Father could not place his affection upon an object more worthy of esteem Yet all my Fathers estate being in his own free disposition and fearing left he should dispose of it as well as of his affection to my disadvantage I designed not only to oppose his Fortune but against his life also if occasion did offer it self In the mean time the daughter which I had was no less grown in beauty then she was in body and wit so as then being fit for marriage my Father made a proposition to marry her unto Silvander And indeed I took this as an occasion of my revenge for having commanded my daughter to make my Father believe that I would never give my consent unto it and told her that it was better for her to marry him secretly I contrived it so that poor Silvander appointed a certain hour in the night when he would come and that he should come up a rope-ladder in at a window which is over the Lake At the hour appointed I came into the chamber I cut the rope when he was half up and let him fall into the water like a stone so he was never heard of since You may well judge Father that though I had no other sin but this yet this was enough to merit from the gods a most severe punishment but as if heaven would set me out unto men as an example of avarice and cruelty I was loadned with other burthens more heavy and intollerable Know then Father that as soon as Silvander was drown'd I was the first that would needs run unto the place where the noise was and commanding my daughter upon pain of death to say that the cord did break of it self I did cast the fault upon the effect whereof indeed I my self was the sole cause My daughter did not fail me and after I had looked out at the window I went unto Abariel and acquainted him with this sad accident At the first he broke out into tears and cries and afterwards finding his sorrows to be remediless he fell into such a deep swound as I thought he would have rendred up his spirit We put him therefore into his bed where reviving again he fixed
of their company that night was very sorry sorry that Amasis had debatred him of that happiness yet not daring to complain because obedience vnto the Nymph was but his duty he consented unto their departure and waiting upon them part of the way he beseeched them to honour him with their return the next day Galathea promised to ask permission and afterwards seeming very sorry that she had not time enough to talk with Astrea she went away fully resolved to emply her endeavours to see her again As soon as they came unto Amasis they gave her an exact accompt of all that they had seen and after they had told how much the Inchantment had affrighted them they told her thot the god of love was to pronounce some Oracles and commanded that they should come and consult with him This Novelty made the Nymph very desirous to be present so as without Galatheas mention of her promise she commanded to make all things ready that she might go unto the house of Adamas very early in the morning Merindor was come from Mount Brison with the Nymph and because he said he was sent from Sigismond Dorinde received him as kindly as she could though she retained still a fresh memory of his behaviour towards her But at this time forgetting all his levity she bad him welcome and after Supper imagining that he durst not not talk of any thing but of the Princess buâ—â—ness she gave him such opportunity of speech with her as he had time enough to acquit himself of all that he had in commission Adamas on the other side to whom the joys of Celadon was an incomparable contentment he returned unto the company he left in the Garden but there hapned to be a change since he went For Doris being acquainted with the death of Palemon she fell into such extreamities of griefs and complaints as would have moved a stone to compassion Adrastes seemed to be no less greeved then she and when he considered that he was the principal cause of that Shepherds death he could not imagine any thing that was able to comfort him The Druid thinking he could not do a more charitable office then to comfort them in their sorrows he took Doris in one hand and Adrastes in the other and betwixt that place and the house he gave them such cordial Language as he much allayed the sadness of their souls and put them into hope that as the gods had sent this sad affliction upon them so certainly out of their goodness they would send them comforts In the mean while the sighs of Doris did blow that fire more vehement which love had long since kindled in the heart of Adrastes And the tears which that Shepherd shed at the sad resentments of Doris were so pleasing unto that afflicted Shepherdess as they served for a kinde of comforts and ease unto the pain which she endured When Adamas found that his perswasions had a good opperation with them he left them and went to see Bellinde who was already returned unto the Chamber of Astrea and Diana And because he feared that if all this company went to visit them it would be but troublesome to them he thought it expedient that none should see them till the next morning Therefore he commanded Paris to wait upon Celadon Silvander and the rest into their Chambers and advised them to be all in readiness the next morning to go and hear the Oracles which the God of Love was to pronounce Paris was obedient unto this command and though he had great desire to see Diana yet he durst not ask permission imagining that since Celadon could not see Astrea Adamas would not grant unto him more priviledge then unto the other Bellinde found Diana in a very joyful condition for the return of Phillis and the report which he made of Silvanders health had almost restored her fresh complexion into her cheecks so as after she had rejoyced a while with the Druide she retired full of joy that Diana promised her to rise the next morning Adamas also after a while of discourse with them he went unto his Chamber and desired Phillis and Leonide to lye in the Chamber of Astrea and Diana that in case they should need any help Leonide might serve them Thus every one desposed themselves to rest that night and the last that retired themselves was Adrastes and Doris for that shepherd fe ring least Doris should suspect his greif and think some craft disguised under that veile he addressed himself unto her and looking upon her with an eye that spoke the sorrows of his soul Sister said he unto her If my griefs for the death of Polemon be not the greatest and the most real that ever I resented may I eternally perish I know my self guilty of his death and that but for me he had still been happy in your love and company Now in some sort to satisfie the ghost of that dear husband which Adrastes has ravished from you It is most just I should punish my self and that I separate my self from that person who only can give me any consolation or delight which person is your self Dear Brother answered Doris with tears in her eyes Adrastes indeed is partly the cause of Palemons death but for all that I think it extream in justice to punish him for it because he did engage himself voluntarily unto that fatal voyage and do what I could I could not divert him from it Alas alas how oft have I feared this misfortune which hath befaln him It seems as if some secret Genius did tell me of the accident for truly never did any day nor night pass but either my thoughts or my dreams did menace it You know it Adrastes you you have seen it in my face since you returned and for all the good hopes that you gave me I had still some secret fears which told me that I should never see him again Ah my dear Palemon continued she how fatal a passage were all my sorrows at thy departure of those afflictions which were afterwards to fall upon me Dear Palemon at this word her speech failed for her tears and sighs took it away And Adrastes whose grief was no less violent beginning to speak Fair Doris said he unto her me thinks I find too deep resentment in your grief you ought to punish the Author of your disaster and shew me how farre the revenge of a wronged woman can go It was I that have robd you of Palemon let mee feel the fury of your anger If you have not resolution enough to command me unto death yet command me unto an eternal banishment for that will be no lesse then a death unto mee But I shall obey though I shall never finde any delight in the conversation of men since I am deprived of him whom I loved best and whose affection was dearer unto mee then my life Alas answered Doris with a deep sigh though I should be so severe as to
sometimes upon Astrea and when she left looking upon Astrea it was only to admire the comeliness of Celadon Thus in this pleasing business she went disputing in her self which of them two was most worthy to be loved but finding them to be equally exact and perfect and not being able to find any difference but in their clothes which distinguished their sexes she confessed that they had no advantage of each other and that love was most just in uniting the souls of two so fair and virtuous bodies Thus they went on a while without speaking one word but whilst Galathea was ravished in her thoughts of them the thoughts Astrea and Celadon were no less busied For that Shepherd considering that but for the Nymph he had enjoyed the happiness of holding Astreas hand and talked unto her of his love O Galathea said he to himself will you eternally oppose my happinesse your presence is perpetually prejudicial unto me Then looking upon her and afterwards upon Astrea and that Shepherdess seeing Galathea to be very fair she presently began to think of the discourse she had with Adamas concerning this Nymphs affection unto Celadon and amongst her joyes to know that the fidelity of her Shepherd could not be shaken she yet raiâ—ed a tincture of jealousie and feared left he should at that instant become sensible of those charms which formerly he had dispised yet since this thought had no good foundation so it did not long continue and if her sighs did testifie any of this jealousie unto Celadon she presently smiled upon him to testifie her repentance probably they had gone all the way without any entertainment but their own thoughts if Galathea had not at last broke this long silence For Celadon and Astrea whose tongues were out of respect tied they durst not presume to begin any discourse and seeing they could not talk of their own interests they cared not to talk of any thing else But the Nymph clearing up her voice and addressing her self unto the Shepherdâ—ss Well fair Astrea said she unto her I dare say you are in a most pleasing rapture since Celadon is the subject of it Madam answered Astrea I do not think that where you are one can admire any thing but you not but the presence of that Shepherd is very dear unto me but if you do observe any extraordinary motion in me I beseech you be not offended if I say that you only are the cause of it I beseech you fair Shepherdess replied Galathea let us lay aside all artifice and as you see that my habit now does not separate me from your quality so treat me with the same freedome and affection that you do Phillis or Diana be not afraid to trust me with your thoughts for assure your self that be they as secret as possible if you make me your confident I will never betray you Madam replied Astrea I should think my self extreamly bold should I entertain you with any of my follies I know it to be a kind of crime if I should dare only to cast my eyes upon you your high quality and as high merit forbids me any such free accesse and without your expresse command I durst not stay so long near your person I vow unto you dear Astrea said the Nymph I would have you treat me as a Shepherdess and you will extreamly displease me if you will not let us enjoy our selves with all ingenious freedome I came hither yesterday purposely for it and the accidents of the day would not let me see you but now when there is nothing that interrupts and all things contribute to this contentment let us my dear Astrea enjoy and I would not have you hide any thing from me discover the secrets of your soul freely unto me Astrea seeing her self obliged to satisfie the commands of the Nymph she first blush'd and afterwards answered her thus Alas Madam there is nothing in my life remarkable but that which relates unto the love which Celadon has professed unto me nor do you enquire of me but indeed of him But alas fair Nymph why should you enquire of me since I have more reason to enquire of you concerning Celadon Galathea who had never entred into this discourse but only that she might have an occasion to tell her what she had done for her Shepherd she found by her answer that she was already informed and never mistrusting Adamas she thought that Celadon had given her the relation of it Turning her self then towards him Celadon said she you are a Tattler but good Shepherd tell me truly when you entertained your Mistress with the discourse of your being at Isoures did you commend me for my assistance or did you condemn me for my love Celadon would have answered but Astrea fearing he should say he never told her any thing interupted him Madam replied she when Celadon told me of the good office which you did him he spoke of you only as a Princess unto whom he was obliged for his life and if he did at any time speak of the mind you had unto him it was only in confessing himself unworthy of the honour which you did him Upon these words the Shepherd did understand what was Astreas design and therefore interrupting them Madam said he unto Galathea how great soever my ingratitude be I cannot deny but that your assistance did rescue me out of the arms of death and because that favour was no lesse advantageous unto this fair Shepherdesse then unto my self since it preserved the life of a man who loves and honours her above all the world I did acquaint her with the circumstances of it to the end the she having the same interest might also be obliged in the same ingratitude Indeed fair Astrea said the Nymph but for me you had never seen Celadon again and as he is a debtour unto me for his life so are you a debtor unto me for all the contentments you shall ever receive from his love and services T is true those admirable features in his face that sweet grace in his deportment and all the excellent qualities of his mind are the gifts of nature But after that fatall accident which did precipitate him unto Lignon if my pity or rather my love had not preserved him all those features and graces and ornaments of his body and mind had been lost and you out of hopes ever to enjoy any of those delights which his fidelity did promise unto you Madam answered Astrea I am but too well informed of those favours which you have done unto Celadon and though I was then rather an obstacle unto your desires then any object to make you pity him yet now I do acknowledge my self infinitly obliged in the behalf of that shepherd And I do wish it were in my power to render him unto you for of all sinnes I do most hate that of ingratitude my fairest Mistresse added Celadon the benefits which I have received from this fair Nimph
for that successe which they would give unto our desires Hence it is that many in complaining of their misfortunes do murmure against heaven But as soon as the sun of Prosperity begins to shine upon them then they begin to repent they ever accused heaven or dispaired of help this makes me to say that a well tempered spirit ought to be alwayes equall and alike and both in adversity and prosperity set the same face Believe it Silvander but you know it as well as I this lesson is not so hardly learnt as is thought a good courage will master all manner of passions and remember that to submit all unto the good will of the gods is undisputably the best document a man can learn and the greatest secret of life I do know Sir replied Silvander how great the imbecillity of men is nor am I ignorant of the omnipotency of the gods I have equally had experience of both and without looking any farther then my own self I can find most remarkable examples of it if I have not so much power over my own soul as to keep it from sinking under the blows of fortune it is not that I am ignorant of my duty or that I do not most humbly submit unto the will of the Gods But this great imbicelity whereof I speak and which is almost intollerable to humanity does make me indisposed unto any good consideration Upon this Silvander was silent and Adamas would have spoke but upon a sudden he heard a great cry and saw Amasis running to him as fast she could This accident did very much amaze him and enquiring to know the couse Oh said the Nymph do you not see the Nymphs ready to divorce us for Heavens sake let us fly away as fast as we can In saying so she began to run but the Druid staying her Madam said he they cannot hurt you and unless you be afraid of Marble you have no reason to ran away How Marble said Amasis do you not see them move near us At this Adamas could not chuse but laugh to see what effects fear had wrought in the fancy of the Nymph and turning himself towards her Madam said he I will be your warrant and I believe Galathea will warrant me Amasis then looking upon her and seeing that neither she nor any of the rest were afirighted she began to take courage but as soon as ever Adamas told her how those Animals came to be metamorphized Truly said she I do not more wonder at the Miracle then at Galathea in her discourse yesterday of the Inchantment should never acquaint me with this particular after this she was perfectly recollected and being but a little distant from the Fountain The Druid leaving the company he advanced almost close to the Cloud which hung over it Then falling down upon on his knees and all the company after his example doing the like he began this Prayer unto the God of Love OH thou Son of Venus adored Deity whose Empire is above and over all and inveterate enemy of confusion We beseech thee as thou didst Chaos so dispel all these disorders and this Enchantment It is not any curiosity that brought us hither but thy own command so as having appointed this day Let our obedience excuse our necessity of making this voyage Pronounce Oh God of Love out of pity pronounce what thou hast destined in favour of these Groves And as the glory of pleasing thee is the only object which we do propose unto our selves So let our contentment be the subject of thy Answers This Prayer being ended Adamas returned to the place where the Troop was and then a little wind did arise which wasted unto our ears the noise of stirredwaters Presently after the wind grew more boisterous and comming only by blasts it brought with it great flashes like to Lightning which had but an instant between their beginning and ending many affrightning clapps of Thunder followed Then upon a sudden the Cloud above the Fountain opening one might see come out by degrees in the midst of the water a huge Bason of Jasper upon a Pedestal of Porphery most curiously enriched upon which the God of Love shewed himself in the same form as before he appeared At the sight of this Deity Reverence invited every one to look down but afterwards Curiosity raising up their looks they saw that the God of Love held in his left hand a great Azure Table in which were written these words in Letters of Gold Since Alexis is the faithful Female Lover Whom the Gods required Receive Celadon that Happiness which Heaven does offer unto thee Astrea is the Reward of all thy Pains And That heart which hath so long mutinyed against thee Shall never more oppose thy Constancy Adamas and the rest of the company had no sooner read these words but they heard a murmur and a noise like to the clapping together of many hands It was an Emblem of that joy which all the Shepherds and Shepherdesses did resent for the happiness of Astrea and Celadon At that instant the Shepherd did lose the memory of all the miseries he had endured and not knowing how he should enough thank the God of Love for that happiness which now he saw infallible he lifted up his eyes to Heaven and not being able to speak one word his face changed colour two or three times Astrea received no less contentment Phillis was even ravished with joy and Diana her self did find some comfort unto her sorrows in those delights which were promised unto her companion But as the greatest felicities may sometimes be taken for a presage of some future great misfortune by reason of that link which does inseparably tye adversity and prosperity together So this joy did not long continue in their countenances For after the God of Love had given them time to see his pleasure in this Table presently he turned it and in lieu of Golden Letters written in Azure they saw in a Silver Table written in black Characters these words THe Dooms of destiny must be obeyed Silvander must dye and leave Diana unto Paris And Adamas though this Lover be dear unto thee Yet I command thee to sacrifice this Shepherd Tomorrow and let him dye by thy hand The Heavens began to Thunder again and upon a sudden the Clouds and the Tables vanished This command did so extreamly astonish all the company that it was long before one word was spoken Every one did in their very souls lament the loss of this Shepherd for he having lived in a Country where the people set an esteem upon virtue Silvander could say that he never raised any envy or enemy against him But a midst this common affliction which which might well be called a just resentment of pity Diana was moved in a far different manner For the God of Love had dooned the death of Silvander in such a dismal manner as she resolved to to precede him or at the least not to
will I have learn'd that they have given me a free will and power to make what choise I will whether it be a crime or no to make use of it it is no matter so I do not offend Silvander all 's indifferent and believe it Astrea your sin is not small in advising me to be perfideous In saying so she looked upon her with such an eye as would have moved any unto pity and Astrea being touched with compassion she was quite out of countenance My dear Sister said she and broke into tears may I never live if I be not extreamly sensible of Silvanders misfortune and would with all my heart I could for your sake change his Destiny but be my sorrows never so great for him my resentments for you are more violent and that is the reason of my speaking as I did thinking that by advising you unto a perfidy I might give you some consolation especially since your fidelity will do him no good because his death will not suffer him to reap the fruits of it Nay on the contrary replied Diana my fidelity will doubtlesly cause him to have this satisfaction in dying that he has as much as he desires and since it is long before we shall see each other again if my constancy be meritorious he will give me leave to follow him This was the discourse of Diana by which Astrea and Phillis gathered that after the losse of Silvander they should have a heard task to preserve her yet loving her infinity well they resolved to comfort her as well as they could thus they went on the way whilst Amasis being near unto Galathea and Celadon did cause him to relate the principal â—ccurrents of Silvanders life Belinde for her part she made no question but Diana had an inclination to him and infinitly admiring with what discretion this passion had been carryed she also lamented the loss of that Shepherd and condemned the too much easinesse of her daughter in wishing him so well After this remembring that she only was the cause of Silvanders coming to dwell in Forrests she looked upon her self as culpable both of his love and death Yet since it was not in her power to divert it now because she would rather die then disobey the gods she continued her Lamentations which was all she could do for this unfortunate Shepherd Adamas also whom the Oracle had interested in the death of Silvander by commanding him to be his Sacrificer he could not find out any reason why this Shepherd should be so rigorously used yet for further satisfaction he would confer with him and taking the Shepherd by the hand Silvander said he unto him what grand sin have you committed which thus moves the gods to be greedy of your death Their Oracles speak nothing else whether you consult with them in private or publick still they have some design upon your life Father answered Silvander it would be a vanity in me worthy of punishment to say I never sinned but I must needs confesse that I do verily believe the greattest sin I ere committed was in presuming to pretend unto the possession of Diana hitherto I have concealed my passion lest there should be too many witnesses of my presumption but since you would have my ingenious confession to excuse the rigour which you find in the punishment that is ordained me I will freely tell you my offence and beseech you to pardon me if it hath been any obstacle to the design of Belinde and Paris my love unto that fair Shepherdess began before ere she knew him and if she did entertain his affection only out of respect it was perhaps because she had beforehand received mine out of inclination Yet the gods most just they have found a more sutable conformity between the merits of Paris and Diana then between the perfections of the Shepherdess and my miserable condition Upon this ground they commanded their marriage should be accomplished and that I should die because they knew that if they had not so commanded it yet I would never have survived their marriage one minute The gods replied the Druide do not give Diana unto Paris because he deservs her nor do I think they deny her unto you for want of any good qualities which may intitle you to a legitimate presence unto her I do very well know both your worths and for all my affection unto him I am not so partially blind but I also know what great advantages your wit has above his but to tell you truly I think the gods do thus to shew how oft men are deceived in their judgements and that the Laws of all humane Prudence is far inferiour unto those that are established in heaven But Silvander continued he give me leave to part from you a little that whilst you do joyn with the rest of the company I may think upon some course which may be expedient both for you and me In saying so Druide stayed and Silvander who was very glad to be alone he did not wash away so fast as ordinary but going softly he did nothing but think upon the Fatal doom which had debarred him from the enjoyment of Diana to augment the glory and triumphs of Paris Adamas in the mean while being come near the Altar upon the stairs whereof Astrea and Diana slept when they went with a resolution to die at the Fountain of verity there he sate down and there beginning to think upon the office unto which he was called then upon his life and afterwards upon the miserable condition of Silvander and finding in himself greater motions of affection towards him them ever he had before O said he how apt is compassion to cause love For I never had so great an inclination unto Silvander as since his misfortune forced me to pity him Afterwards thinking upon the Oracle which commended that Shepherd to die and that he himself should sacrifice him O heavens said he how comes the gods to be so barbarous as to sprinkle their altars with humane blood If some uncouth Victimes only would appease their wrath why then in lieu of Bulls and Sheep did they not command the burning of our houses I would with all my heart have been the first that would have fired mine to appease them and shew my obedience But why O god of Love must our houses stand and Silvander he sacrificed and to make me the greater sufferer in his punishment by dying daily with grief for killing him why must I be his sacrifice Alas is this the abundance of contentments which should accompany my dayes after I had given Celadon unto his dear Astrea Ah Heaven has thou deluded me Upon this he slept and considering that he was a Druide O pardon me replied he for accusing you of injustice Pardon me great gods for being too much transported with my reresentments Alas alas I do love Silvander and being but a man I am subject to humane frailties In saying so he began to think
run at the Ring with Prince Sigismond this very day and should I fail him something might perhaps be suspected Upon this the King scratched his head a long time together and said not a word afterwards upon a sudden It is no matter said hee if you go not till night for let Rosilion Lindamor and the rest of the Cavaliers be as hasty as they will to return unto Amasis I shall stay them till to morrow to the end that before they can tell Dorinde Sigismond is not married you may have time enough to get her consent to marry you and if I be not much mistaken you will finde no great difficulty in it For very spite to see that Sigismond has cast her off will make her content to what you will and to be revenged will give unto you that Empire which my son pretended unto Which if it come to passe never fear what Sigismond can do afterwards For if hee offer to attempt any thing against you or against my service I shall take a course to keep him within compasse of his duty This Madam was the command which I received from the King and which Love making mee as blinde as himself did move me to undertake For certainly had I not been stark blinde I should have foreseen the misfortune which hapned unto mee since But to proceed be pleased to know Great Nymph that the Course at the Ring being ended where every one did very well and wherein Rosilion and Lindamor amongst the rest did get a most high esteem I departed with a resolution to ride all the night but it began to rain so extreamly as I was constrained to tarry at the first Town I came at The next morning which was yesterday I got up betimes and came unto you very early I shall not need to tell you with what an eye Dorinde looked upon mee for you were a witnesse of it but let mee tell you it was with a kinder aspect than shee would had shee known the message which I brought I told her that I had a Letter to present unto her from Prince Sigismond and then I saw through her eyes the contentment of her soul but because you were ready to sit down at the Table I did not present it untill wee were risen Perhaps Madam you observed how shee took mee aside Indeed I did answered Amasis and I made a doubt whether it was for the love of Sigismond or yourself Then Madam you must know said Merindor that seeing none near to interrupt us first shee asked for the Letter which the Prince had sent upon which seeming to look for it and in some sort to prepare her for reading of it But fair Dorinde said I it seems you expect some great contentment from this Letter Why not answered shee and smiled since the Prince has done mee the honour to write it I cannot tell said I and seemed as if I could not yet finde it but upon this I stopped And Dorinde looking mee in the face shee found there such coldnesse as shee began to fear that all was not so well as shee imagined shee presently changed colour and hoping that I said so only to deceive her It seemes Merindor said shee unto mee you have a minde to make mee buy the contentment of this Letter very dear but pray give it mee for the favour is at so high a rate as I shall never be able to pay it Shee had no sooner said so but I found it and presenting it unto her Here Madam said I may you finde in it as much contentment as you expect These words did renew the feares of Dorinde so as receiving the Letter with a troubled countenance shee opened it with a trembling hand and at last read it Shee had no sooner read two or three of the first lines but shee tryed whether or no her eyes had deceived her and pointing with her finger at the words which were so displeasing unto her in hopes to find some other sence in them she still found the same and so read on to the end of this sad Letter And when shee came to the place where Sigismond advised her to seek for happinesse in my armes anger did then surprise her and I heard her say in a low voice Yes yes persidious man could I but pull out of thy breast that heart which thou didst promise to preserve so faithfully upon this shee began to sigh and to be quite out of countenance so as she cryed in good earnest And chusing rather that I should be a witnesse of her teares then you shee turned her self towards mee and when shee could speak said thus unto mee I cannot tell Merindor from whence such a sudden change should proceed Pray tell mee if you can Faire Dorinde said I unto her perhaps that Letter will give you a better accompt then I can No answered shee it mentions nothing at all but onely that hee is married and I wish to heaven I had dyed before I heard that word Then Madam replied I I shall acquaint you with the Circumstances to the end I may lessen your sorrowes and pardon his Infidelitie Then I told her all that I could invent to colour this Lye I told her that Sigismond was no sooner entered into Lyons but Embassadours from the King of Theurons came to treat about this alliance and that Gondebaut having found it very advantageous had turned every stone and used so many arguments to perswade Sigismond unto it as at the last hee consented That afterwards the Prince would have stoln away but being prevented Clotilda was imployed to perswade him unto this marriage That this Princesse was once out of all hopes to bring it about but at last shee tampered so with him and had such a prevalence with him as shee made him signe the Articles and at the same time procured from him this Letter and this half of a Ring which I come to restore unto you To this I added a thousand signes of sorrow that I should be the messenger of such sad newes and only received the Commission to get the opportunity of putting her in memory of my former services and not to grieve her My discourse and her teares did end both together and I protest Madam I was amuzed to see her sorrowes so soon vanish at least I observed in her countenance a most strange alteration and was the most surprised man in the world when I heard her say Since I must knew the treason of this persidious Prince I am not sorry Merindor that you have brought mee the newes Know therefore that I will content you for it very shortly and end my dayes with you After this shee left mee and went towards you For my part I was the most satisfied man upon earth and wished that the night was already past hoping shee would perform her promise in the morning which indeed shee did but Madam in a farre different manner from what I expected and see how shee went to
work Shee feigned her self to be sâ—ek to have a pretence of asking your Coach and afterwards to take a way quite contrary unto yours You who never suspected her designe did lend it unto her but you were no sooner gone then shee took mee unto the Coach with her and commanded the Coachman to carry her unto Bonlieu I who thought upon nothing but my Love and the promise which shee had made mee night before But faire Dorinde said I unto her what moves you to go unto Bonlieu I am resolved said shee to keep my word with you though Sigismond has broke his I must confesse my blood began to rise at this and was joyed beyond all expressions Therefore kissing her hand I vow fairest Dorinde said I unto her that you will be the happiest of all women I expect no lesse answered shee for otherwise I should not thus dispose of my self With such discourse as this wee came to the Temple which they told mee was dedicated unto a Virgin which was to have a childe There Dorinde caused the Coach to stay and desired mee to stay in it whilst shee talked a little with one of the Druides which belonged to the Temple I waited there almost two houres and when I began to be past all patience I heard one call mee Upon this I looked round about and seeing no body I heard a voice again which bad mee come into the Hall the doore whereof was immediately opened unto mee I who knew not what belonged or to what purpose this was entered in and spyed Dorinde in great barres of iron so close as one might onely see but not come unto her Now Merindor said shee unto mee see the performance of my promise here will I die to all the world and by you as I promised Carry this Letter unto Amasis and if shee ask you the reason of this my holy resolution tell her it was your voyage Acheâ— Upon this shee cast a Letter at my feet and drawing a curtain which hindered mee from the sight of her I earnestly entreated to see her once more but do all I could it was not to be obtained Seeing then all my prayers and my teares were in vaine I took up the Letter and returned in your Coach to give it unto you with an exact accompt of Gondebauts Treason of my owne indiscretion and of Dorindes despaire This was the discourse of Merindor at which Amasis could not restrain her tears and doubtlesse her grief had been greater had she not known that there was a remedy Chearing up her self therefore in hopes to hinder Dorinde from confiâ—ing her self for ever amongst the Carnates she rose up and in returning to the house Merindor said she you have done very well in advertising me of this accident so soon for yet there is time to remedy it because do what Dorinde can it will be two months before her vow will be received to admit her amongst the rest Madam answered Merindor I make no doubt of what you say but I fear it will be a great difficulty to perswade Dorinde that Sigismond has not deceived her The plot has been acted so cunningly and they have glossed it with so many colours of truth as it is hard to be known for a falshood But Madam I am in a most desperate condition for now there is no place where I can find any safe Sanctuary Sigismond will not sooner hear of my doing but he will with all his power ruine me and I cannot condemn him for it for I do acknowledge my fault and know that I ought not for an Empire to consent unto any wicked action In this said Amasis there are many things to excuse you and though I did not bring your love to Dorinde for one yet it was a hard task for you not to obey Gondebaut who would himself have ruined you had you refused to execute his command Still Madam replied Merindor it had been more glorious to perish that way then the other and it would have been great satisfaction to die without shame or a stain upon my reputation All those said Amasis who know the power of a passion when it is seconded with the command of such a King as Gondebaut will rather find matter of excuse then matter of condemnation However I offer you safe retreat with me and promise to make your peace with Sigismond provided that as you have contributed in the fault â—o you will be an assistant in the reparation of it Madam answered the Cavalier my design was to go and die amongst the transaspines under another name then my own The glory of war invited my courage thither but since you conceive me necessary cure to the wound which I have made I do in all humility accept of your offer and promise Madam to spare nothing that is whithin the compass of my power to restore unto Dorinde that contentment which I would have robbed her of After this they went into the chamber of Adamas when Amasis found beyond measure afflicted and after she had spent part of the day with him she called for Rosanira Calathea and the rest because she desired to go home betimes that she might the sooner get Dorinde out of the place unto which she had confined her self Amasis did not acquaint neither Galathea nor Rosanira with Dorindes resolution because she thought to divert her from it before they should ere know it only she told them that she was going to Bonlieu and that being desirous to visit the Temple of Carnates she intended to spend all the whole day there They castly believe the Nymph and the sooner because not knowing of Gondebauts plot they did not think that Dorinde had any reason to leave the world But when they desired leave to wait upon the Nymph thither and she denied them then they began to suspect something of the business Yet lest they should displease Amasis they pressed her to further though the sorrows which they saw in the face of Merindor and the ill humour of Dorinde ever since that Cavalier came had made them extreamly desirous of it Thus they were no sooner come to Isoures but Amasis left them there and without any company but Merindor she went towards Bonlieu she had not gone above two or three hundred paces but she espied a man coming in great hasle and presently knew him to be the little Meril whom she had left in Marcelles she caused then the Coach to stay and the little boy was no sooner come near but kneeling down upon the ground Madam said he with a laughing countenance Lindamor will be returned within this hour and the Princes Rosilion and Godomar will come with him They were much troubled when they found neither you nor any of your Nymphs in the Castle but when they heard where you were they intended to leave all their Equipage in the Town and come to surprize you The truth is they came presently and I thought fit to advertise you to the end
Madam you might have time to put things in order for them Amasis was very glad of the news and little Meril knew it by her carressing of him but Merindor who knew himself culpable did presently conceit that Sigismond had discovered his crime and had sent Godomar to take revenge he looked therefore for the worst and resolved however to die like a Cavalier The Nymph observed his countenance to change and therefore asked the cause I knew Madam answered Merindor that Rosilion Lindamor Damon Alcicon and the rest did not intend to stay long after me but I cannot understand why they should bring back Prince Godomar since here is now no enemies to fight withal unlesse he take me for one by reason of the crime when I committed against the contentment of his brother I believe replied Amasis the reason is only because Lindamor has obliged him to come and see me but after she had commanded to drive back unto the pallace Mâ—rindâ—r said she never trouble your self I will undertake to secure you from all the dangers that your sin does cause you to fear After some other such discourse the Nymph arrived at Isoures and no sooner saw Rosanira Daphnide Madonthe Galathea and the rest but she acquainted them with the good news which Meril brought The god of Love knows how they all rejoyced at this and since Rosaniras quality gave her more freedome to testifie her resentments she was the first that spoke and asked whether they came to Isoures and being answered according to her desires she run unto the window to see whether they appeared she presently heard the noise of horses in the Court and presently after she espied Rosilion Godomar Lindamor and Damon so as Amasis and the Ladies had hardly so much time as to go unto the stairs but they met them with expressions of extream contentment Rosilion was the first that asked the reason why they were all become Shepherdesses and whilst Rosanira answered that she was inconstant in nothing but that change Godomar looked round about for Dorinde but having long imployed both his care and time in vain he addressed himself unto Amasis and asked what was become of her To whom the Nymph answered in a low voice that she must have more leasure before she could satisfie his curiositie and that the accidents which had hapned unto that fair one since they went away deserved a private audience They separated themselves therefore a little from the company and presently after taking Coach they went out of the Pallace They were no sooner in the way to Bonlieu but Amasis told him all that she had heard concerning Gondebauts plot and the resolution of Dorinde Yet before she began this discourse she made him promise not to deny her a request which she would ask so as requesting a pardon for Merindor he vowed that he would never bear him any ill will This discourse did entertain them till they came to the Temple where Amasis coming out of the Coach and intreating Godomar to stay in it she desired to see Dorinde The doores were immediatly opened and she was no sooner entred in but she was brought out by the sage Cleontine who held her by the hand Amasis could not chuse but smile when she saw her approach with such a composed face of gravity as if she had been ten years amongst them yet seeing her time short she took her aside and talked to her in these terms I do not come fair Dorinde to resist your resolution for I will approve of it if you shall think it legitimate but I come only to acquaint you with the most black and horrid plot that ever was invented to destroy an affection It is probable you will give credit unto my words since if you consider who I am you may well think I will not authorize any lie Let me tell you then Dorinde that you are betrayed I know it very well Madam answered Dorinde and interrupted Merindor has given me sufficient testimonies of it This is not it replied Amasis which I mean It is Gondebaut and not Sigismond who is the Authour of this Perfidie and to put you out of all doubt I will faithfully tell you the whole truth Then Amasis briefly related unto her the confession of Merindor but seeing Dorinde not at all moved at it nay rather on the contrary seeming by some smiles to sleight and mock at what shee said I perceive said Amasis that you give no credit unto my words but at my request go with mee so farr as my Coach and I will give you undeniable testimony of it Dorinde who thought this only some trick of Amasis only to carry her away shee protested at first that shee would not stirr out of the Temple but after that the Nymph swore shee would bring her back again shee contented to go Shee was no sooner at the Gates but Godomar came out of the Coach and taking her in his armes Sister said hee unto her how can you think it lawfull to dispose of your self against all the promises which you have made unto Sigismond Dorinde was all amazed at this discourse and the more because shee did not think that Godomar was returned Yet a little recollecting her self Sir said she unto him I thought that his violated faith would have dispenced me from all my oaths and promises and that I ought not to be blamed if not being able to imitate his infidility I make choise of a death so honourable Dâ—ar Dorinde replied Godomar you must live long if you do not die tell my Brother change I protest his love was never so great as now and I will give you a testimony of it which perhaps you do not expect in saying so he gave her a Letter in which she found these words witten with his blood SIGISMONDS Letter unto DORINDE THey say that blood does emblemâ— cruelty but I would have this be an eternall mark of my love and loyalty Receive it as yours dearest Dorinde and consider that I shall not be coveteous if I conquer your beauty by my armes as I have already Tryumphed over your heart by my services At the sight of this Letter Dorinde was really moved and Godomar who perceived it did take his time so well that his perswasions prevailed with her he swore so many oathes in excuse of Sigismond as at last she did believe it was only Gondebaut that had deceived her so as not thinking her self obliged to follow her last resolution she returned with Amasis and Godomar to the Palace of Isoures where she no sooner had talked with Merindor but she reasumed her good humour On the other side after Adamus was quite out of all hopes ever to find any remedy to appease the anger of the gods and make them stay the sentence which they had pronounced against the life of Silvander he prepared himself to obey them and made a vow that this sacrifice should be the last he would ever make He therefore commanded
the Eutages and the Vaces to be in readiness and he himself sent to erect a pile of faggots near the fountain where the body of Silvander was to be burned And accordingly Aurora no sooner proclamed the return of that bright Planet which was to be a witness of this sad spectable but Silvander arose out of bed and went unto the Druides Chambers to shew that he was ready to go where his fate did call him Adamas received him with teare but seeing the shepherd not at all moved and that though he had in his face the features of a man that was to die yet of a man that was contented to die he could not chuse but add unto his sorrows his admiration to see him so courageous But as the spirit of Silvander was very strong to bear out this last blow so Dianâ—s was as weak For this shepherdess no sooner saw the day appear but her soul was swelled with most sensible afliâ—â—â—ion but since she could not sigh freely enough she stole from Astrea and opened the window as softly as she could There did she fill the air with her sad breath and the Ecchoes all about seemed to approach her voice and help her to lament This sad entertainment lusted a while but afterwards looking towards the plaine she saw the Eubages and the Vaces goeing to the sacrifice where all her joyes were to be offered in the person of Silvander This object did so peirce her to the heart as never thinking that her grâ—â—f would wake Leonide and Phillis who were a sleep in the bad close by the window oh god cryed she out now have I but one moment to live Oh ye cruell executioners of the wrath of angry gods why should you not be myne rather then my shepherds Why will not the destinies be contented with my life And since it is their pleasure to punish innocence what moves them to spare me In saying so she sighed so loud that Phillis waked who seeing Diana all in teares did quickly guesse the cause She got up therefore and goeing to the window where her Companion was leaning Sister said she I do not ask what is the cause of your teares because this is the fatall day whereon Silvander is to be vanished from us Alas alas replied Diana though we should lose the memory of it yet yonder objects are able to revive it Do you not see how all the shepherds do leave their houses to go and see this sad ceremony See how carefull they are to rise betimes and how they croud in all haest as if the fear of some enemy had driven them from their habitations Good gods must I have so many witnesses of my misfortune Upon this she stopt and was silent and Phillis who did not think it justice to comfort her in such a sad affliction she durst not open her lippes to answer but still holding her eyes upon the objects which Diana had shewed her she did by little and little lose her sight for her teares did insensibly steal it from her Leonide and Astrea waked almost at the same time and seeing Diana and Phillis up they quickly dressed themselve s Phillis also she dressed her self But Diana who had hardly so much strength as to sustain her self by the perswasion of her Companions she lay down upon the bed Astrea and Phillis sate down by her and least Bellinde should come and interrupt them they beseeched Leonide to contrive it so that she should not come or at the least till after the sacrifice which the Nymph promising she went out and did as she was desired for Bellinde doubting that Diana would sadly resent the losse of that shepherd she easily consented to let her complain by her self This little liberty was some smal comfort to her but it being almost impossible that so little water should quench so great a fire the ease she received was as little as nothing In the mean time the Eubages were come to the house of Adamas and those whom curiosity had invited unto this sad spectable were waiting round about the house whilst Amasis Godomar Rosanira Galathea Rosilion Dorinde and the rest were with the Druide The noise of so great a Company was so loud as it reached the ears of Diana who doubting the cause did double the sorrows of her soul Astrea and Phillis did quickly perceive it but not being able to remedy it did nothing but accompany the sighes of this sad shepherdesse with theirs They all drooped in a long silence but Diana upon a suddain interrupting their silence dearest Sisters said she unto them the only confidents unto whom I have communicated both my sorrows and my joyes pray tell me Do you not think that the Sun makes more hast then ordinary and stayes only because Silvander is not yet dead Alas alas what has this poor shepherd done against nature that it should have such a desire to see him perish After this she was silent and falling into a profound study but is it a sign of love replied she upon a suddain or a sign of ingratitude if he should depart before he bids me adieu Dear Astrea said she and turned towards her for pityes sake order it so that I may see himâ— tell him he need not fear to aflict me more for my sorrows cannot possibly be greater Good gods continued she if he do give his life to obey the destinies who are his enemyes dares he deny to speak one single word to his Mistresse After this she began to sigh again and Astrea who was glad of any occasion to please her she was very willing to undertake this commission and the sooner because she thought Celadon would be with him and indeed she was no sooner entred into the hall which was already full of people but she met him and Celadon taking her hand and kissing it now said he I am sure it is day since my bright Sun is up your Sun answered the shepherdesse will this day be eclipsed and dark for the sorrows of Diana and the misfortune of Silvander â—do cloud her with abundance of grief then Celadon would have replied but Astrea addressing her self unto Adamas Father said she unto him in a low voice Diana will eyther die or see Silvander and I believe she will turn desperate if they will not let him bid her the last adieu The Druide thinking that without injustice this consolation could not be denied he went and presently advertised the shepherd who having no difficulty to surmount but this prepared himself to overcome it Astrea then conducted him into the Chamber of this afflicted shepherdess and to give them the more opportunity to speak there most secret thoughts at this last meeting she took Phillis by the hand and leaving them no other witnesses but love and pity she carryed her into another room As soon as this shepherd came into the Chamber Diana was ready to go out of the world at first she give a great cry and raising her self up
yet if you will take my advice let mee tell you that I do think the Inchantment to be quite dissolved and do conceive it fit that since the Female Lover which was to die was Alexis and the Hee Lover Silvander for death being only a deprivation of being they are both dead since neither Alexis nor Silvander are in being but the one become Celadon and the other Paris my Son some order be observed in it For it is to be feared that if every one should follow his own fancy some confusion would arise amongst this great multitude I do conceive it fit therefore that wee should observe some order in which every one in their turnes may finde his particular Contentment And because wee see that the God of Love is no lesse pleased to have his power admired in the homely Cottages of our Shepherds as well as in great Palaces Nay to break the force of an inchantment hee casts his eye only upon them as taking most delight in their innocency mee thinks it fit that they by whose meanes this Inchantment is dissolved should have the first Essay Alcidon thought this to be but reason and the Druid having asked the advice of the Great Nymph shee gave him leave to do as hee pleased Adamas then went unto Celadon and got his consent to be the first that should look into the Fountain at the first Astrea did oppose it imagining that it was in some sort to doubt of her affection But the Druid telling her it did much conduce unto her Glory that Posterity should know this Inchantment ended only for the tranquillity of this Shepherd shee was obedient to whatsoever hee pleased So Adamas took Celadon by the hand and leading him unto the side of the Fountain both kneeled down And the Druid having made a prayer unto the God of Love Celadon stooped down and hee had no sooner cast his eye upon the water but hee saw his Mistresse as fair as imagination was able to represent her This sight did ravish him the more because hee saw himself alone with her and because it was a full assurance of her inviolable Fidelity Presently after Astrea was conducted thither by Amasis who kneeling down as Adamas did before shee made a signe unto the Shepherdesse to stoop down which Astrea obeying the Image of Celadon immediately appeared accompanied with all the Graces that Nature could infuse into his face After this shee yielded place unto Diana and Phillis who never forsook her in this mystery of Love since their affections had linked them together So these three fair Shepherdesses one after another did look into the liquid Chrystal which was then unto them the Fountain of oblivion For at that very instant they lost the memory of all the miseries they had endured And the sight of Celadon Paris and Lycidas whose images they saw was a perfect remedy against all their past paines Next after this Rosilion at the desire of Amasis approached this miraculous water and though hee had stronger arguments of Rosaniras Love then ever to doubt of it yet hee looked in because hee would be an eye-witnesse of this miracle So as hee saw himself next his Mistresse and not being able to conceive that Rosanira should be so near him hee turned about to see whether shee stood behinde him but not seeing her there hee looked into the water again and remained in that contemplation until Rosanira came and took him off that she might see the same which he had done Dorinde was the next that advanced in a trembling pace to clear her suspitions of Sigismonds fidelity and as soon as ever she looked into the Fountain she was fully satisfied concerning the love of that Prince so as she accused her self of incredulity and made a vow never to doubt again of his affection Alcidon in the mean while beseeched Daphnide not to deny him that remedy which the Oracle had promised unto them To which she consenting they went one after another to consult with the water which presenting them with what they desired they were infinitly well satisfied with their good Fortune Damon because he would not be singular he went as the rest did and beseeched Madonthe to do the like but because they were already but one and the same this sight did hardly add any contentment unto them They had no sooner left the Fountain free but every one did cast their eyes upon Lindamor whom his respects unto Amasis did keep from this mysterious water and because the great Nymph knew his mind she made a sign unto him to go thither whom he immediatly obeyed but after he had received from this sight all the satisfaction he could ever hope for he perceived his joyes to lessen when his fears of a denial did forbid him to ask what the Fountain had promised unto him yet remembring the discourse which Godomar and he had together as they went to Lions he took a little heart and therefore as soon as Amasis desired to know what success he had he told her clearly that the water made him believe he had some share in Galatheas favour Brave Lindamor answered Amasis you do deserve her better then any man in the world and I would have you to enjoy her Then causing Galathea to come near and presenting her unto the Cavalier here Lindamor said she I do give her unto you and if this recompence do not equal your services yet take it in good part and consider that I do give you all that I can Upon this the Cavalier kneeled down and even ravished with joy did kiss her hand by way of thanks Delphires Thomantes Dorisea Filiutes and the rest who had all left their habitations to come unto this Sacrifice of Silvander they had all the priviledge of this water and found such Dooms as ended all their differences far better then the sentence which Diana had pronounced a little before for in despite of the pretentions and pursuit of his Rival Thomantes continued possessour of Delphire Ligdamon Silvia and after them many Shepherds and Shepherdesses went to see their Destinies in this water and amongst the rest Doriâ— was inspired to look in Doubtless the only thing that moved her unto it was her hopes to see the Ghost of Palemon but the god of Love who is an enemy unto the dead was revenged of her and presented Adrastes unto her in lieu of Palemon and this Shepherdess was so surprized at it that though she did not much love him yet not to disobey the ordinances of this god she received him into the place which Palemon had ravished from him Thus after every one had looked into the water Hylas was the singular person that approached not which moved Amasis to ask the reason to whom the Shepherd returned this answer I know Madam you are not to be told and since this Fountain bears the name of the truth of Love I will not oblige her to commit a fault for my sake That replied Amasis
but came up unto us with flying colours which did so encourage his own men and so affright ours as if the very name of Rosilion were enough to defeat us His smal piece of an Army at every Quarter where he lodged like a tumbling Snow-ball grew bigger for the whole Country flocked unto him and as if they were already dividing our spoils they made themselves assured of Victory And so it hapned that by the just judgement of the Gods we were defeated I may well say by the just judgement of God for otherwise it was not likely so small a handful of men could ever have got the victory of such an Army as ours which had so many Kings and so many Grandees to command it and so many old experienced Souldiers accustomed to Combats and Battles But the truth was our Army was routed yet not totally but so as we were constrained to raise the Siege and let Rosilion enter into the Town with all his men The caresses of the King the kind aspect of Rosanira and the joys of all the people when he came into Avaricke cannot be expressed But Policander knowing that it was requisite to pursue an Army that fled he went out of Avaricke in all haste with all those whom he thought fit to be added unto the Troops of Rosilion whom he kissed and made him Lieutenant General of all his Armies and commanding all his Subjects by Edict to obey him This honour setting an edge upon the courage of the generous Rosilion and whetting his desires of doing somthing worthy of the Reputation he had got he pursued our shattered Army and four days after overtook us at a little River which is called Clein where he forced our Army to face about and give him Battel in which we were almost totally defeated with the death of the two Kings of the Turonians and Cenomanes and to our greatest grief with the taking of young Celiodantes prisoner But because Rosilion was resolved to drive the Nail to the head he pursued on after our squandred Army and sent Celiodantes with a good guard unto Policander and the Princess Rosanira You may easily imagine Madam that the Kings joy was not a little when he saw not only his Kingdoms recovered but also so many Kings defeated and the chief of all his Prisoner It was such as not knowing which way to gratifie Rosilion enough he resolved to make him after his decease possessor of those Kingdoms which he had regained by the marriage of Rosanira and therefore he specified as much unto him by Letter to this effect King POLICANDERS Letter unto ROSILION WHat Gift can equal the merits of him that has set the Crown upon my Head but the Crown it self Yes I will give him more then that For besides all my Dominions I will give him that which is more dear unto me my daughter Rosanira and therefore Rosilion she is at this hour yours and after my decease so is the Kingdoms of the Boyens of the Ambarres and of the Bitturiges Haste therefore to vanquish for these are the Tryumphs which I prepare for you to congratulate your Victories Now see Rosilion and Rosanira almost at the very top of their good Fortune for this Cavalier did love this Princess with such excess of passion that he would not have lived but in hopes that Policander would bestow her upon him And she whose affection was not inferiour unto his though she did more dissemble it hoping that Rosilion would become such a one as she might take for her husband without dishonour she seeing him now so high in the Kings esteem it could not chuse but be a most singular contentment unto her But now Madam you shall hear a very pleasant encounter Whilst Rosilion after the Receipt of this Letter was continuing his Victories chasing his enemies as far as the Armorique Cities and crowning himself with Palms and Lawrels Celiodantes a Prisoner in Avaricke is treated by King Policander with so much civility that going abroad where he pleased upon his Parole he was permitted to see the Princess Rosanira whose Beauty and Vertue did presently convert a Prisoner of War into a Prisoner of Love For this Princess had so many inevitable attracts as it was almost impossible for any eye to see and not adore her When Celiodantes was taken Prisoner many others were taken with him and amongst the rest an old Cavalier called Orontes who had been his Governour ever since he left his Nurse This man was very prudent and wise and so affectionate unto the service of Celiodantes that his interest took the deepest impressions in his heart On the other side this young Prince knowing how affectionate he ever was unto him did love and esteem him very much as he was obliged Some days passed before Celiodantes would acquaint Orontes with his passion thinking this Love to be in such an unseasonable time as it could not chuse but have a bad destiny This silence caused the Prince to fret at heart and his soul to swell so with vexatious thoughts that his body began to fall away every day more and more which Orontes observing and thinking that this sadness proceeded from his detension he feared it would become prejudicial to his health so as one day when he was alone in his chamber he used this discourse unto him If those Sir who govern Kingdoms and Empires had any priviledge to be exempted from the blows of Fortune more then other men I should say you had reason to be troubled and grieved at the condition wherein you are But we see the highest hills most subject to the storms and winds and not so serene as the valleys and plains so as the highest Soveraignties are exposed to the tempests of Fortune more then the humble condition of subjects what reason then have you to think you should be exempted And why should you complain of a general Law that is commong to all great ones Your high Birth and Quality which elevates you above the rank of other men may well excuse you from petty misfortunes and trivial calamities which they are subject unto as too inferiour and unworthy for Grandees but great afflictions and such as are insupportable to the common sort of men are proper only for Princes and such great Kings as you are and as you would blame those who faint in courage and shrink under the burthen of little misfortunes esteeming them as effeminate and pusillaminous so believe it Sir Those that see you with such a sad dejected countenance and bending at the first blow that Fortune gives you what will they think of you The fidelity which I owe unto my King and the affection which I have unto the person of Celiodantes does oblige me Sir in duty and love most humbly to beseech you and conjure you even by the memory of the King your Father to rouse up your magnanimity and courage and to look all dangers and misfortunes bravely in the face If you tell me
the blow is great I will answer that you ought to arm your self the better against it For the courage of a man cannot be vanquished but by its own fault nor can any accident of Fortune stagger him if his own will do not betray him and consent unto his defeat Courage Sir and rouse up your Princely soul you have before your eyes an example of unconquered vertue as oft as you turn them upon King Policander Did any of his defeats ever make him shrink Did he droop and drown himself in sorrows when he lost his only Son And did his courage fail when his Kingdoms were taken from him No no Sir but on the contrary he armed himself against all the malice of Fortune by such a generous vertue that at last he overcame her and if it may be so said did force her to take his part Orontes would have proceeded on if the young Prince had not interrupted him Father said he for so he called him your pains was very ill bestowed and both my courage and memory were very bad if the loss of one Battel part of my Dominions friends and my liberty should make me forget those sapient documents and wise instructions which I received from you I would never have taken any Arms into my hands if I had not known that all these accidents might fall upon me And since miseries foreseen do less hurt assure your self that all those you speak of do make no such great impressions in me I did I must confess resent the change of my Fortune as being sensible not faint-hearted or pusillanimous The sorrows you see in my face and actions more then ordinary O my dear Orontes are caused by no wounds that any do know of but by others which none sees but my self Upon this he groaned out a deep sigh and after a silent pause he began again Yes yes Father no eyes but my own sees the wounds whereof I complain and though I see them incurable yet such is my confidence in Orontes that I will discover them unto him yet without any other hopes but only that he will help me to condole my misfortune Upon this he made a long relation of the extream affection which he bore unto the Princess Rosanira the little hopes he had in the good will of that Princess or in the King her Father since he had been the cause of so much sorrow unto them especially by the death of Ariontes Now judge continued he whether I have not reason to droop and whether it were not better for me to end my miserable days presently then to groan away a life which will be so wretched and disastrous I know you will tell me that Love is but folly and madness and that a generous spirit may be ashamed to be surmounted by it but Father whether it be wisdom or folly commendable or shameful if it be folly I must confess my self a fool and if a generous spirit may be ashamed of it I would not be thought generous for the fatal truth is that I do love Rosanira and so that I must not love my self unless I love her Doubtless you wili advise me to resist this passion but alas all such advice is given unto a deaf man and to one that has not a will to be cured The sage Orontes gave Celiodantes a long and patient hearing without any interruption knowing very well that a sick soul finds ease in emptying it self unto some faithful friend But when the Prince had done he began thus I am very glad Sir you have told me your sorrows proceed from Love especially since your passion is grounded upon such a worthy subject as the Princess Rosanira for till now I thought you had drooped under the burthen of your misfortunes and that your injured patience had fainted at your disasters But now I find your disease to be so easily cured as I wish you may continue a little longer in it for I hope this Love will be a means to re-invest you in your former estate and splendour Do you think Sir that the King Policander has forgot those extremities unto which your Arms reduc'd him and out of which heaven has most miraculously rescued him Believe it Sir though he do see himself a Conquerour yet he knows that all his Victories and Tryumphs may turn into the same condition wherein he was and that this is but an interval and a gleam of Fortune Do you think he knows not how momentary and uncertain they are Yes yes and questionless so prudent a Prince will be glad to make his peace with you now he may and not defer it till perhaps he may be forced to take up such terms as shall please you Assure your self Sir he is more wise then to let such an opportunity slip I dare be hold to say this peace will be concluded and nothing can hinder it but your own courage This Love of yours to the Princess Rosanira will remove all difficulties which can be proposed Courage therefore Sir and command me to negotiate the business for I dare assure you upon my life to give you all desired contentment This was the answer of Orontes who infused such courage into this young Prince that though his spirits were a little dulled with his hopeless passion yet upon better consideration he saw some probability in the designe the conduct whereof he referred wholly unto the prudent Orontes giving him commission to treat and conclude what peace he pleased so Rosanira might be his Orontes who knew he could not do more acceptable service to his Master nor greater advantage to the State then to negotiate the matter he employed the whole strength of his Wit and Prudence in it And having observed the several Interests of all those about Policander he perceived that two of the prime officers about the King who had most particular access to his person and bore a great sway in affairs were very ill satisfied with the Kings design in giving his daughter unto Rosilion a man unknown or at best but of an ignominious extraction and as they said they blushed to think a man bought and sold for money should ever be their Lord and King That it was a vile blemish to the names of Boyens Ambarres and Bituriges to make choise of a Slave for their Soveraign and that he should command over so many Provinces and such Provinces as abounded in great and noble Cavaliers whose valours and courages were not inferiour to this enfranchised slave for he was no better though his acts were very notable But that which moved these two Grandees most to dislike this match was a particular Interest which touched them more nearly for each of them had a Son and they had a squint eye at the same happiness after the death of Policander which they saw Rosilion was like to enjoy And though both of them had the same designe and were in the same hopes and certainly had been deadly enemies unto each other