willed her Maid to keepe the Curtaines ever closely drawne saying that nothing weakned her eyes more then light Mellida who knew best next to her own breast what most disquieted her when she was at any time sure that none could over-heare them whether it were to cheere her or to impart her own griefs unto her would use in this manner to converse with her Good Mistresse rouse up your spirits do you think lying in Bed will serve the turne But if you will not be so much a friend to your selfe I pray you befriend your selfe for my sake Alas all this time while you lye sobbing and fighing here my Suit to Mardanes growes cold And I must tell you a secret too Mistresse but none must know of it for if they should it might be a great blemish to my credit Truth is as truth ever goes farthest that since you fell into this distemper I became mine own Solliciter but I made bold still with your name And in very deed this you may think to be an immodest part but I am sure it came from a loving heart I sought in my Letter directed in your name to know the time when he would make me his own Fye Girle answered Doriclea thou hast spoiled all proffer'd love had never yet good savour And in the meane time thou hast brought me upon the stage in a dainty fashion by making Mardanes believe that I am liberall enough of my reputation But pray thee Wench what answer receivedst thou Nay Mistresse said Mellida you shall know all but I pray you impute it to my too much love if my love h 'as wronged your name But the harshest answer did I receive from him that ever poore Wench received from any one loving so dearly as I did And with that opening her bosome she pull'd forth a Paper which she reached to her Mistresse containing this Answer DOriclea after this manner to importune me suits not with Maiden-modesty I shall close in an equall-line sorting with our joynt desires when I shall see mine own time and may meet best both with your occasion and mine owne Meane time trust me this importunity â—ather duls then sharpens fancy So reâ—â—s he who will ever reteâ—ne a true estimate of your honour Dericlea could not chuse but smile though her heart were ill at ease to heare this insulting humour of deluded Mardanes but at first â—he knew not well whether to be angry at her Maids forwardnesse or to pitty her weaknesse so as raising her selfe a little in her â—ed she used these words unto her Surely Mellida thou caust not possibly be so simple as thou makest thee Thou hast now made a 〈◊〉 hand of it to make thy own Sweet-heart beleeve that without his love I cannot live Thou hast brought mine honour unto the Stake and I must in hope to get thee an Husband be thought nay be rumour'd that I beg one Nay it is very likely that he will now out of his Pesantly condition flight my affection because too freely offered or conceipt strangely of my modesty with much easinesse cashiere me and what then will become of thee All wayes then are stopped all meanes prevented when I my selfe who sought by pretending love to him to match thee to him shall be so contemned by him as he shall hold me unworthy of him Alas Mistresse answered Mellida pardon my kinde heart that could hold no longer then it could Had I lov'd lesse my modesty had been more But truly Mistresse I am so troubled with phantasies sleeping and waking that if I have him not I shall not be long mine own woman Yet rather Mistresse then you receive any dishonour by my indiscreet love I shall write in your name how my mind is altered and that I never bore him so much love as now I beare him hate I care not I will do it rather then displease you though it should break my heart Doriclea pitied much â—he Girles humour willing her by no meanes to discover the leaâ— token or semblance towards Mardanes oâ— displeasure And that so soone as she should be able to leave her Bed she would spare nâ— labour nor profession of favour to purchase her desires But she held it fit to use some small intermissions to make him sharper for such Haggards said she are soone cloyed they must then see their Game seldome and by rare and easie flights become sharpned Hawks full gorg'd will stoope to no Lure nor seaze on no Prey No more will thy ancient Sweet-heart if he finde thee too playable to his Call Nothing cheered Mellida so much as to heare her Mistresse so well appeased resolving to be only directed by her what issue soever should befall of her love But as they were thus diseoursing the Parents of Doriclea came into the Chamber bringing with them one Esâ—â—â—â—es an Artist of knowne experience approved judgement and in his Profession of such honest imployment as his chiefest 〈◊〉 was his Patients cure scorning nothing more then to spin out time or to practise Plobotomy upon his Patients 〈◊〉 or to magnifie his Cures with Mounâ—â—bank Bils Such an one was this judicious Physitian whoÌ„ they brought to their Daughter as to his Profession he was an honour and to his Countrey under God a soveraigne succour Him therefore they besought to apply his best receipts and to exercise the height of â—is Art in a case of such extremity as they â—â—ould be ready to gratiâ—ie his care her cure with an ample expression of their love But promises of rewards were the lowest of his â—otives his greatest gaine was in his accompt to do good And because delay might prejudice his cure drawing neare to her Bed-side and taking her gently by the wrest of her 〈◊〉 felt her pulse which though for want of naturall rest discovered some distemper yet â—ould not he gather either by Pulse Urine or any Symptome that she could be seased on by any violent Fever Imagining then and his imagination hit right that there was some other private distemper which wrought extreamely on her and purposing to search out the quality of her disease if either Art or industry could effect it he requests her Parents absence with the rest that were in the roome pretending that he was to try an experiment wherein the privacy of his Art would not so fitly comply with their presence And now the Room being voyded Eschites taking herby the hand said thus unto her Mistresse if I have any judgement as my long experience should teach me some you may be a Physitian to your selfe if you please Nay it is in your own hand to kill or cure I do not know your meaning answered Doriclea but surely Sir you have no such strange conceipt of me as to think my selfe so much my own foe as not to cure my selfe if I could I have not Mistresse said he but my skill failes me if you may not do much if you would I pray you let me ask you one
too liberall relation of erring fame What relation might that be my endeared Philocles answered Doriclea H 'as fame reported to you that since your heavie restraint I have been too liberall of mine honour or admitted too much freedome to an intrusive Suiter Have I slighted you in any discourse or preferred any other in your place So indeed report went replyed Philocles that your sometimes rejected suiter rich Mardanes had obtain'd your affection and that your marriage was to be shortly solemnized What Mardanes answered Doriclea Nay then me thinkes you should have holden your selfe safe enough for of all men to engage my fancy to an Earth-worme whose ambition consists in having but never in enjoying and who prefers this poore rubbish of Earth before the treasure of a divine minde my firme resolution hath been ever so farre divided as I should loathe my selfe to be so matched Panarchus sometimes propounded a Riddle and it was this How a man and no man can with a stone and no stone kill a bird and no bird sitting upon a tree and no tree And Athenaeus makes the answâ—r â—â—at an â—â—uch is the man and a 〈…〉 is the bird Fennell is the tree Surely I had rather contract my selfe with the first and with modesty I speak it content my selfe with the second and make Apollâ—'s bird of the third then tye my 〈◊〉 to such a barrâ—â— trâ—â— And howsoever thâ— wise Siâ—onides truly concluded being one day asked whether vertue or riches were oâ— more reputation that the vertuous did more frequent the doores of the rich 〈◊〉 the rich of the vertuous meaning that vertues constant attendant was poverty many times enforced to beg reliefe at the gâ—te of a vicious but rich family For thy 〈◊〉 Philocles did I chuse thee other poore respects were so far from working on my fancy as they never received entertainment in my thoughts I have ever accompted poverty a sweet companion where conâ—ent was the Guardian piety her Darling Vice 〈◊〉 she never so richly â—ndowed dyes poore whereas vertue be she never so much impoverished appeares rich O how much then did my deare Philocles fall short in the merit of his opinion in imagining his betrothed Doriclea could weane her affection where she loved so much to plant it on one whom she valued so little But Doriclea h 'as an excuse in store for ' her beloved Philocles I know Deare one it was thy unfeinâ—d love which begot this feare Had not thy thoughts been fixed on me waking I had been least in thy thoughts when thou werâ— sleeping Thus did these two loving Turtles rejoyce in their meeting wherein the Hermit took no lesse content observing how their loves were grounded on vertuous ends which could produce nothing lesse then prosperous effects With many pleasâ—nt stories did hâ— delight the eares of these two affectionate Lovers describing the happy successe of such who preferred vertue before wealth and how love could not want where there was no want of love Yes reverend Faâ—â—er said Doriclea there may be a want in the eye of a worldling Yea Daughter replyed he but that worlding cannot be properly said to love Amphiaraus loved Eriphile Eriphile Amphiaraus but what moved Amphiaraus to loue Eriphile but lucâ—â— what induced Eriphile to love Amphiaraus but hope of honour Now how could these continue long being so irregularly planted where either the ambitious style of a Lady or desire of money gave first conceptions to their fanoie Who makes the object of his fancy Gold Growes cold in fancy when his mony 's told And she who faignes to love to live a Lady Is honours 〈◊〉 I know not what she may be Nor is the purity of love to be stained with any earthly thought many pretend love but they clâ—athe it with an undeserving name 〈◊〉 declines from that purity wherewith it 〈◊〉 endowed by exposing it selfe to an immodest liberty from which it should be â—tranged Love should have staid eyes to affâ—â—t nothing lesse then wandering A discreet â—are to hâ—are nothing that may to lightnesse be inclining Achasâ—â— touch to embrace noting that may be wantonly moving A modest speech to deliver nothing that may be any way corrupting And in every part to well composed so gracefully disposed as â—n inâ—â—â—d 〈◊〉 love to piety may be cleerely 〈◊〉 This deserves well the title of love whatsoever transgresseth these bounds admits no such appâ—llation but rather to be disâ—layed by that badge which may best set her forth to her greatest dishonoâ—â— and imputation This 〈◊〉 rightly weighed who labouring to debâ—azon love and lust in their proper and distâ—nct liveries descanteth thâ—s upon them entitling his Poem Loves Description Love what 's thy name a phâ—ensie whence thy birth From Heaven how comes it then â—hoâ— lives on Earth I live not there yet e'ch usâ—â—ps thy name 'T is true indeâ—â— but hence râ—dounds their shame I live not there â—y Natâ—râ—'s pure and jâ—st But lust lives there and love's a foe to lust It was great pitty said Philocles that you Father who can discourse so contemplatively of so divine a subject would never yet actively practiâ—e it So Scholastically to reason of love and be never a Scholer in the Schoole of Love begets in me admiration O I confesse and with trickling teares said the Hermit that my youthfull follies exceeded all number so long as I sojourn'd in the world and became there a wanderer I could not walke in any street but I encounter'd many mistresses for pride trickt and trim'd up in a gorgeous habit infinitely took me Licentious liberty peep'd in at my window when I was at stâ—dy and she surprized mâ— Luscious fare prepared me delicious viandâ— and these estrang'd me from sobriety Sloth whisper'd to me in my bed the sluggardâ— Lullabe with yet a little and yet a little and this belulled me Wrath sparkled in my veinâ—â— and spurr'd me on to revenge and made me apt enough to forget ought that did most concerne me but to imprint in my memory the thought of an injury Envie revenged her selfe justly on me and made me pine away at the very sight of an others prosperity And Covetousnesse that age-benummed sinne made me desire most when I needed least and so besotted me Nor could I shake off these till I shak'd off my self by leaving the world which harbour'd these But within one halfe Apprentiship I blushed at those vanities I formerly affected and by a private retire from the world found what the world was while I was in it Many were the conflicts I must freely confesse which I suffered before I could wholly leave it Yea delights above conceipt presented themselves to my fancy solliciting me to love it And with these I long contested and at last conquered but with such difficulty as I many times failed and had been quite 〈◊〉 had not a more assisting hand guided me in the â—ignt and crowned me in the Conqueâ—â— Since which time I have ever in a contented privacy
him if I should see him and yet every night I infinitely love him and could chuse to live with him if he be flesh and blood as I hope he is for else I should not for all the world endure him Doriclea could not chuse but smile within her selfe to heare this simple Countrey Girle discover her imaginary love in this manner While an other as simple as the former but a more reall and substantiall lover stept forth and as one angry that her fellow should spend so much time in discovery of a Dreame or a dreaming fancy she proceeded in this sort Sister what makes you thus trouble Mistresse Doriclea's eares with a story of a Cock and a Bull Dreames are but fanciâ—s of the braine and a thousand nights have I had such Dreames and me thought took great delight in such a yongsters company that I carâ—d not a Chip for next morning But I pray you Mistresse Doriclea heare my Fortune for I love in good earnest and if he be a just Man of his word he loves me too Climenes is the Man I am not ashamed of my choice a proper Dapper Youth and h 'as wonne the best prizes from Admetus Melintus Palemon and the activest Youths of all our Parish at our Summer-Games two yeares together And my Father good Man h 'as promised him that if hee come away with the prizes next yeare againe he will bestow me on him And I could wish with all mine heart that I were his now for a whole yeare will be too long to languish in love But one thing now above all others there is Mistresse that grieves me and it is this Our Neighbours say he will never have a Beard and what a rivell'd Russeting will he look when he comes to age But if Nature will not be so bountifull to him if there be a Beard-maker in all our Countrey I will want of my will but he shall furnish him Your case is happy in comparison of mine said the third Girle one of you loves and you know not whom another loves and may enjoy whom she loves but my Fortune is harder for AEgon profest as much love to me as ever Suiter did to Woman and I knew nothing but that he thought as he spake and would performe what he had promised But â—waines can dissemble as well as greater Men for going th' other day to our Parish Church â— might heare the Banes of Marriage publiquely asked betwixt AEgon and Leucippe so as all those professions of love wherein he â—ood ingaged to his Mâ—tilda must now be renounced and a new love entertained And yet Mistresse Doricleâ— I were a Foole to lay that to my heart which another lyes to his heele A disloyall Man should never break the heart of a wise Maid He that can so easily leave his old Love may stand in need of the least graine of it if he live Meane time I hope if I live to enjoy one who shall more constantly love Thus discoursed these Countrey Girles and much content took Doriclea in this relation of their simple loves But her Father and Mother comming in prevented all further discourse for that time Their Daughter they found still languishing small or no hope of recovery ministred least comfort unto them Many times they wished that they had not opposed her affection but inclined to her will for so they might have enjoyed what now by all probability is very likely to be taken from them And as they were thus bemoaning their sick Daughter who daily grew weaker in strength but stronger in her distemper Eschites came into the Chamber enquiring how it was with her Drawing nearer and nearer to her end answered her Father Small hope of amends appeares yet Nor will any probably appeare to my judgement said Eschites No cure can be possibly effected till the cause be removed And though the cause of her distemper be too far removed as the case now stands the cause must be restored or no recovery to be expected Androgeus desiring to know what he meant requested him to explaine himselfe To whose satisfaction he willingly inclined and in a grave demure manner imparted his minde freely to them discovering both the grounds first introducing and receipts most soveraigne for curing her distemper Sir you may remember how forth of experienc'd grounds of Art I sometimes told you which they shall finde true that have neare relation to you That no Malady arising from fancy could without enjoyment of the Object loved receive remedy And though love rarely work such effects in these dayes yet too neare an instance you have here of your owne who confirmes what powerfull nay incurable distempers the quality of love produceth not only in the affections but constitutions of such who have received such deepe impressions of love as they must seaze on the person they effect or cease to live Too long have you deceived your selves with flattering hopes expecting that either by strength of Nature which you may perceive much enfeebled in her or by Physicall means which I told you could smally benefit her she might recover health And now you see how farre she is from seconding your hopes as every day promiseth nothing but a decline from worse to worse To prevent this if you expect ever to see her in health againe give way to my directions let her enjoy what she h'as so unfeignedly desired It is Philocles that must performe this Cure or effectlesse is our Art fruitlesse our Care Let him then be called home whose returne gives me assured hope of her health Alas answered Androgeus if that were possible to be done we should easily encline to such a motion but as he is not only divided from us but enter'd a strict-austere Order there is small hope that ever his purpose is to returne hither For since his departure hence I received a passionate Letter from him wherein he not only humbly craved my pardon for his indiscreet pursuit of my Daughters affection but advertised me of his late Conversion And how that course which he had now embraced had aliened his thoughts from all light love and that the choice he had now made should during life admit no change Very like said Eschites But I pray you how expound you that Clause His Choice no doubt which he meant by was your Daughter which he never intended to change Come Sir Discourses in affaires of this nature should be used as preparatives of what may succeed after you desire your Daughters health and you perceive the meanes to effect it but out of a scrupulous feare you doubt the way is diverted What say you unto him that shall expedite the way and make you happy if nature be not too much debilitated in her recovery We shall be defective in nothing that may further it nor ungratefull to whomsoever shall labour in it said her Parents With which words Eschites who tender'd nothing more then the advancement of his affectionate Philocles became so
Cupid retire What woulst desire Our flaming hearts are both a-fire THE TWO LANCASHIRE LOVERS OR The Excellent History of PHILOCLES and DORICLEA This holy vow Makes one of two LONDON Printed by E.G. for R. Best and are to be sould at his shop neare Graies Inn gate in Houlbourne THE TWO LANCASHIRE LOVERS OR The Excellent History OF PHILOCLES AND DORICLEA Expressing The faithfull constancy and mutuall fidelity of two loyall Lovers Stored with no lesse variety of dicourse To delight the Generous then of serious advice to instruct the Amorous By Musaeus Palatinus Pereo si taceo LONDON Printed by Edward Griffin For R. B. or his Assignes 1640. TO MY TRVLY GENEROVS and â—udicious Friend ALEXANDER RIGBY Esq. Clarke of the Crowne for the County Palatine of Lancaster the perusall of this History wherein the Subjects of love and loyalty are recorded to the honour of their Countrey SIR I here present you with two native Plants of your owne Countrey Branches derived front a faire and flourishing Family Give them entertainment according to their merit whose memory redounds highly to their Countries glory really Alexandro-philus The Argument with the Division of this History IN the first Chapter he treats I. Of the Descent and Parentage of Doriclea II. Of the Education of Doriclea III. How her Parents treasuring their hopes and addressing their cares on her sought to bestow her IV. How Camillus became her Suiter and how she rejected him through distaste of his breeding V. How Mardanes a rich countrey Chuffe solicited her affection and how he laboured to procure her love by indirect meanes when the proffers of a faire personall estate could not do it VI How Philocles whom her Parents had entretained for her Scholemaster took occasion privately but shadowingly to impart his affection to her and with what seeming scorne his moiton was received VII The discourse Doriclea used next day at Table being encouraged 〈◊〉 her Parents indulgence alledging by way of argument that she wondâ— red how Julia Augustus his Daughter could detract so much from her Princely descent aâ— to entertaine least thought of loving Ovid how a Schoolemaster durst attempt the solicitancy of an Emperours Daughter VIII The feare Philocles was in lest Doriclea should discover his suit to her Parents Which Doriclea though she had made choice of that argument only to affright him never intended being more affectionately disposed then either her appearance made shew of or any expression had as yet discovered IX The intercursive Letters passing betwixt Philocles and Doriclea and how she begins to impart by Pen what she had before conceipted in thought and how she desired nothing so much as the accomplishment of their love so privacy might give leave X. What Plots Doriclea devised to partake in private meetings and treaties with her Philocles and how by the jealousie of Euryclea her Mother she was prevented XI The passions of Doriclea and how she conversed with her owne thoughts in the election of her love inveying against such ungrounded fancies who measure affection rather by strength of alliance portion or any other respect then the pure effects of love XII How Doriclea being deprived all means of imparting the constancy of her zeale to Philocles having neither the benefit of Inke nor Paper to discover her loyall intimate thoughts to her faithfull lover she supplyed that want with her Needle sowing her minde in Letters of Gold and returning them in the border of an Handkerchiefe XIII Philocles restraint with those passionate effects which their enforced absence one from th' other produc'd He findes love ever most violent when farthest divided from his Object yet amidst these disgusts he adviseth her to patience in his restraint Confirming himselfe so individually hers as nothing may abridge the accomplishment of their desires but death XIV Doriclea understands by an aged Hermit of Mardanes practise how he intends to enjoy her by indirect meanes And how the Spels of Spurcina the Inchantresse with whom Mardanes contracted were ever frustrated by the devout morning exercise of Doriclea signing her selfe every morne in her going abroad with the signe of the Crosse a soveraigne receipt against Spurcina's charme XV. How Doriclea practised with Mellida her Maid for her escape How she sought to delude her Mother her prevention And how Androgeus her Father became enraged upon the discovery of her affection XVI How Mellida one morning unwarily lets fall her Glove whereon Spurcina the Inchantresse practiseth supposing it to be Doriclea's Mellida fals in love with Mardanes and discloseth her passion to her Mistresse who promiseth her best assistance XVII Mellida's passionate love XVIII Philocles procures his liberty and by a faithfull Messenger though to his apparent danger privately acquaints Doriclea with his delivery and assigning her a place whereto she might safely repaire if she could possibly make escape XIX Doriclea by the advice and assistance of Mellida gets from her Keepers and in her flight by night loseth her way but comming by chance to the Hermits house where she took that night her repose as she had formerly been directed by him she received much comfort from him being conducted to the place which Philocles advised her to XX. The great content joy which these two long divided Lovers conceived one of the others presence The relation of their former griefes being an addition to their present joyes XXI They take the advice of Solinus that faithfull Hermit what course were best to take in a case of such extremity he adviseth the privately to solemnize that Rite which their long affection had confirmed in heart XXII How these constant Lovers were hindred upon the very point of Solemnization of their Marriage by the intelligence and pursuit of her incensed Father Androgeus who with a strong prepared troupe entred the house where these two unfortunate Lovers sojourned And how by the Hermits device Philocles to prevent his fury was privately conveyed XXIII Androgeus brings back his Daughter the entertainment given her by her Mother XXIV Doriclea labours to free her Mother froÌ„ all jelousie touching her love to Philocles pretending that he had voluntarily made himselfe a banished man to his countrey through feare of their fury and enmity XXV Philocles writes a Letter to Androgeus as directed from beyond the Seas wherein he humbly craves his pardon for his too bold attempting his Daughters affection How his present austere penitentiall life shall witnesse to the world his repudiation of all light love How his devotions now were reserved for Heaven and had no communion with Earth And that the choice he had now made should during life admit no change XXVI Doriclea fals or seemingly fals into a Fever each day seemes to increase her distemper Eschites an experienc'd Physitian is sent for to apply his best art in a case of such extremity but he an intimate Friend to Philocles made show as if he despair'd of her recovery And that no malady arising from fancy could without
enjoyment of the Object loved receive remedy XXVII The Parents of Doriclea conceive incessant griefe for their distemper'd Daughter they bemoane their neglect of Philocles and dis-esteeme of his love but they finde no hope of reliefe to their languishing Daughter seeing the meanes of her cure was reported to have enter'd a Regular Order XXVIII Eschites undertakes upon the promise of their acceptance to use his best endeavour for calling Philocles homeward and that he is resolved how Philocles time of Probation will be quickly relinquished when he shall heare least hope of enjoying his Doriclea's affection XXIX Androgeus heares how Philocles besides his other native endowments was descended of a generous Family which inflames his desires more to see him returne into his Countrey He vowes never to oppose this solemnity so his presence may cure her infirmity XXX Philocles returnes home and is accepted by the Parents for their Sonne in law this revives their seeming distemper'd Daughter yet fearing still a relapse of her Parents acceptance she feignes the continuance of her distemper XXXI The Mariage is solemnized and with such privacy as knowne to none but their own Family Valeria who was supposed to be Euphilus Page discovers her selfe to be Philocles Sister with whose consent Euphilus marries her being long before privately affianced to her XXXII The occasion of this private solemnization and how Mellida by the advice of her Mistresse Doriclea assuming her name and habit writ to Mardanes how she preferr'd him in the choice of affection before any other acquaintiug him how in a private disguise to prevent danger and her Parents displeasure she would meet him when and where in a lawfull Nuptiall way he might enjoy her XXXIII The Plot holds Mardanes rejoyces infinitely at his unexpected happinesse thanks his Spurcina for her well-spell'd practise and infeoffes his unknowne Bride though much against his will in his riches THE TWO LANCASHIRE LOVERS OR THE EXCELLENT HISTORY OF PHILOCLES and DORICLEA CHAP. I. Of the Descent and Parentage of Doriclea NEare to that antient Towne of famous and time-honoured Gaunt for her antiquity of Site no lesse memorably recorded then for those eminent actions of her princely progenitors renowned there sometimes dwelled one Audrogeus a Gentleman of approved esteeme having borne offices of account and quality under his Soveraigne wherein he ever demeaned himselfe to persons of all conditions with such equity and equality as none knew him but accounted him an honour and ornament to his Countrey This Gentleman tooke to wife one Euryclea of good descent a woman excellently endowed with many choice and select vertues so as those exquisite parts wherewith she was graced expressed to her Countrey the native worth of that family from whence shee descended These two amongst other worldly blessings wherewith Gods providence had singularly enriched them were made happy in an hopefull progeny And of thâ—se in a vertuous discreet and religious Daughter called Doriclea one whose fame admitted no blemish whom as Nature had beautified with many extraordinary graces so her carefull Parents were no lesse ready to adorne those native seâ—ds with such Education as might accomplish those promising beginnings For which purpose They provided her of such Masters as might fit her in all generous Sciences One for musicke dancing and a proper or gracefull posture another for her Needle another for knowledge of the Tongues Nothing was awanting her that might conferre the least light or lustre to so faire and well-composed a temper Nor was shee lesse apt to receive nor firme to reteine whatsoever was taught her For she was of a docile and industrious disposition affecting nothing more then to learne nor distasting anything more then to glory in ought that she had perfectly learned Nor was it strange that so much care or cost should bee bestowed upon her considering she was the onely daughter and consequently the darling of her Mother One in whom she treasured many faire hopes and for whose future preferment she inlarged a provident care For high were the aymes at which they levelled her Fortunes being as curious in their choice as shee in her prime flower of youth resolute never to exchange her estate Her desires were confin'd to an harmelesse ambition of knowledge she measured no day without a line bestowing so well the Lampe of her life as she was ever casting forth some light or other to inlarge the Prospect of her inner house For the highest pitch of her emulation was in a pious imitation of such as had descended from her house to accommodate her more knowing abilities In a faire resemblance of that noble Roman Virgin who made this her resolution That her Life and Knowledge should manifest to the world that shee was the true Daughter of such Parents and that her house received no derogation from her from which shee had her beginning Truth is her Family as it was worthily to be ranked with the best so had it brought forth many eminent scienes whose thriving plantation had conferr'd much honour on their Nation Amongst which ONE who though he seemed a profest Favorite to all youthfull pleasures and as sociable in his waies and pleasantly discursive as if he had beene a downe-right Agent of the time preferring his pleasures before any other private mentall employment yet did it appeare unto the world that he enâ—oy'd more divine parts then a vulgar judgement could either judge or take notice of For sundry excellent Workes tasting both of Lampe and Judgement were by him composed though under an others name published which expressed the ability of his pen and the affected privacy of his mind Nor could shee reflect upon the excellence of their parts who had derived their prime beginnings from her House but out of a vertuous emulation shee held it a derivative duty to imitate them though not in such exactnesse as might seeme to equall their perfection yet in a well disposed Zeale to fit herselfe with the best accommodations and provision she could to draw neare them in imitation Nor is it to bee doubted but native seedes and sprinklings of goodnesse propagate themselves to posterity and beget in their successors not onely a desire but ability to imitate and retaine what their Predecessors in their commendable lives exprest For though Wit nor Learning be no feffements of Fortune yet shall we finde in the posterity of prompt and pregnant Parents most commonly resemblances of that quicknesse and preparednesse in their children which being seconded by constant and continued desires to imitate whatsoever they see worthily observed or observably presented Will and Power becomming such equall concomitants and assistants cannot but produce some notable effect as might bee instanced in none better then in this our Doriclea who directed all her actions to the improvement of her honour as in the whole Course of her Education you shall perceive hereafter CHAP. II. Of the Education of Doriclea MInes low laid are ever the richest yet the purest Ore retaines
then before many times pretending an indisposition of health or some other minted excuse to prevent her journey by remaining there where shee had planted her fancy But so tender were her Parents of their daughter being as shee was indeed naturally tender as they desired she should change the ayre fearing much that her long stay or retirednesse at home might enfeeble her health And this their resolve now and then closed well with her liking having Philocles assign'd her for her conduct whose society out of a modest policy though she seemed with all indifferency to admit yet how much that cheered her heart I appeale to all such constant and affectionate Lovers whose fancy h 'as beene crowned with such opportunity and whose Iourneyes have beene so incomparably sweetned with the Society of a Mistris whose conference had power enough to shorten the houre allay the difficulty of a troublesome way and to entertaine every object with such occasionall delight as nothing could more cheerefully nor intentively worke on the Conceit But howbeit Philocles had sometimes the happinesse to attend his Mistris He was injoyned to a short returne which could not but beget an equall proportion of passion in them both In him to be divided from her presence whom he so intirely affected In her to be dispossest of those unvaluable joyes which her affection had in his Society treasured But their personall absence was ever supplied by other remonstrances not onely to renue what was already begun but to prepare way for accomplishment of that which with joynt consent they desired might be solemnely done Intercursive Letters were ever passing betwixt them and that in so quaint and cunning a Character as interception though seconded with a nimble construction could hardly extract ought that might discover what they intended or apply ought that might occasionally prevent what their grounded affections had resolved For sometimes he would write in the person of another Suiter to free his lines from suspition sometimes he would feague under the title of that imaginarie Suiter that he was rejected by her which to prevent he would revive those protests of love hee had formerly professed And to instance these and display the subtilty of a Lover peruse this Letter which under the faigned Name of some dis-esteemed Suiter hee thus addressed to her Philocles second Letter to Doriclea DEarest let the presentment of these lines renue my suite and in the perusall of my passions let this be your maxim that it rests in your affection or rejection to make me happy or unhappy in my state your Zeale to goodnesse amongst these many gusts of extreames assures me your pious and well-disposed heart cannot but entertaine remorce to a Servant so loyall as hee holds the intyrest tender of his life an easy purchase to time but an easier sacrifice to fate to purchase your love Let me joy in enjoying you and let me be deprived of all joy if in every subject I close not in your content to make our mutuall joyes more truly absolute Amidst these hope and feare doe equally encounter me it is in your discreet brest to banish the one by returning assurance of the other and by checking the latter with a frowne to give encouragment to the former with a smile Your yeare of mourning is now expir'd receive him into your bosome who will hold you so deare as your comfort shall never expire My long neglect of attending you proceeded from the discouragement I received from you at my last being with you but I am perswaded that assurance your owne hand hath plighted me will induce you to recollect your thoughts and revive those sacred tyes which are so firmely united as by death onely to be dissolved Let but one line redart one small beameling of love and winged speed shall enliven my desires for those parts and style me in the fruition of you Your long trusty now happy Servant How much these plaide nay pleas'd the imagination of Doriclea it is not easy to conceive Smyling with her selfe at the Conceit of Philocles in seeming to feare what he feared not and pretending the affection of a Suiter whom he knew not Nor was Doriclea lesse prompt in addressing her affectionate thoughts to Philocles but still after his Copy for either would she make bold with subscribing Mellida's name to her owne Letter or counterfaiting some other Character to expresse the intimacy of her desires and constancy of her vowes to her selectedst Lover Nor would she inlarge herselfe too much lest by some Circumstance or other she might discover what her private thoughts would not have disclosed for the true and unvaluable estimate of her honour Yet did not her penne drop lesse love for the contractednesse of her line Each Sillable had his Emphasis as may appeare by this amongst others which shee sometimes wrote unto him to solace his pensivenesse Doricleas second Letter to Philocles FAile not faint not feare not I am ever the same I have professed constant No line can limit my love no distance divide my heart Meane while lodge these lines in thy bosome till I see thee Cold North hot South cleare East wet West Shall ne're divide me from thy brest On this then Dearest set thy rest I am the same that I 've profest Meane time sweet fancy use thy charme Till sleepe enfold us arme in arme No day past without some memoriall of this kinde A strong motive to love re-conveying to the memory what personall absence might raze forth without revivall This it was which wrought so strongly on the enlivened spirit of Marke Antonie as there was nothing that made him so great a stranger to armes which he naturally affected nor estranged his affection more from his Octavia to whom by conjugall love he stood obliged nor divided him more from the care of securing himselfe then one line comming from the hand of his Cleopatra Though her majestick state begot an admiration in her beholders a strong impression in the wounded hearts of her lovers Though her eye reteyned a power to command love and subdue the commandingst Conquerour with a look All these soveraigniz'd not halfe so much on Antonies affection as those amorous lines he received from her writ in Christall Amber Amethist and Ivory Not a line but contained a loves charme No modell which ever fancy devis'd or the imagination stampt which subtile Cleopatra presented not to make a Commander her Thrall a Conquerour her Slave Those secret delights of love which modest eares would scarcely have received nor shamefast eyes perused were into his conceipt freely instilled to decline his affection from those whom hee ought to have loved best and to ingage his heart to her whose embraces hee should have dis-relished most Thus did she cast forth her lines for lures to seaze on one of the highest flyers that ever perch'd Roman stemme becomming her own witty Secretary to ensnare the fancy of her deluded Antony But more modest were the lines of
so apparently confirmed Imagine then incensed Euryclea who prized nothing more then her Daughters honour nor distasted ought more then those imputations which censure might justly cast upon her taking up her Daughter in this manner What Girle is your modest seeming come to this H 'as our care our too much care of your preferment made you forgetfull of your honour Have you either so meane an opinion of your selfe or so weak a conceipt of our love as to suffer your desires to mount no higher then to be the affectionate Mistresse of a Schoolemaster H 'as your breeding begot in you a neglect of what you are or a contempt of that duty which you owe Be your actions so dark as they must have the night to shelter them Must your Fathers Family receive a blemish by your infamy Is this the hope we treasured in you the comfort we expected from you Little did either your Father or I imagine what you meant by that quaint discourse you occasionally vented at the Table in talking of that immodest love betwixt a wanton Poet and Augustus Daughter It seemes you delivered that Argument only to try us whether we stood affected to such a profession on which you had pitcht your wilde affection Simple Girle conceive remorse in time do not undoe your Fortunes there is none yet that can such is my too indulgent hope in you justly traduce you unlesse the eyes of this Family Redeeme their opinion be more tender of your reputation There is no portion proportionably comparable to the gage of honour which perish'd you are lost for ever No treasure so precious as a continent soule nothing more to be lov'd and nothing harder to be redeem'd being once lost It will grieve mee to heare your selfe griev'd with the relation of an ill report You may bee confident I shall take small pleasure in the discovery of this nightwork Well Girle those relenting teares promise amendment how soone is a Mothers anger appeased I shall be ready to salve all so I finde a desire in you to amend all I will not make your Father your too passionate Father acquainted with it neither will I shew in publique any displeasing countnance towards your too presumptuous Philocles All shall be carried with that equall and faire temper as you shall have cause to say that never indulgent Mother did more â—ender her Daughters honour nor could use more connivence where she found the least hope of repentance Retire then with all privacy into your Chamber I shall charme your Maide that shee discover nothing Only let this be a warning unto you henceforth never to expose your honour so freely as to give occasion to the family to speak lightly of you For as honest repute is the highest prize so it merits of it selfe such approved praise as were your actions never so private the eye of piety would survey them and crowne them Neither can any device finde such a shroud or shelter for vice as the piercing eye of fame will not discover it and display the Actors when they least dreame of it Be then what you have so long professed vertuous you cannot improve the Family from whence you came better nor conferre on your maiden yeares more true honour This if you observe it will give us cause to blesse you and second the continuance of our care in providing a Match for you that may equall your birth and fortunes yea and to close all in one confirme the opinion of your own fame by leaving to your posterity a president of your surviving goodnesse With these words seeing her Daughter lodged in her Chamber she departed leaving poore disappointed Doriclâ—a to summe up her discontents and to ask her Pillow counsell in cases of such extremity what were best to be done Whom now you may imagine turning and tossing in her bed without taking any rest desiring rather to be deprived of what reâ—resheth and nourisheth Nature most then to be rest of so sweet an opportunity of enjoying his presence whom she prized best For though she sought her Parents minds to please Her highest thoughts were fixt on Philocles But the day must now supply the night with our Doriclea by contenting her selfe with the sight of him in the presence of her Parents whom she in private conference so much desired to enjoy Their distance must admit no conference all their language now must be delivered by the eye readie no doubt to expresse by a look how much their united hearts stood ingaged to love Those Hesperian Daughters never kept their golden fruit with more vigilancy then restrained Doriclea was by her Mothers jealousie So as though her unfeined love devised many plots to possesse her of that which she so much desired yet by her Mothers intelligence was she ever prevented Howbeit she ever bore faire with Philocles never so much as discovering any discontent towards his person nor at any time reproving him for his presumption in aspiring so high as the procurement of her Daughterâ— affection Albeit one day taking him aside she told him that she conceived it to be a far better course for him to returne to his former Academick life and that he lost but his time in the Countrâ—y especially seeing for the present they had no imployments for him that might any way improve him nor answer those hopes he expected nor parts deserved yet if occasion should afterwards fall forth that it lay in their way to advance him hee should not faile in obtaining the best meanes that their assistance or furtherance could possibly procure him But little wrought these with Philocles he preferred one Mistresse before nine Muses His highest of humane Philosophy rested in the affection and contemplation of her on whom he had fixed his fancy Neverthelesse he expressed himselfe thankfull for so unwelcome a tender pretending ever that he expected daily to receive notice when some place might fall and then he would neglect no more time but addresse his course that way which hee hop'd e're long would offer it selfe in such ample manner and measure as might highly conduce to the improvement both of his credit and profit Meane time hee hoped his demeanure should not be such as might make any place where he so journed for the time weary of him And that he would choose rather to undergo the poorest life then be confined to that place where his carriage might not merit love But little did these reasons satisfie jealous Euryclea who laboured to prevent the worst by dividing Philocles from her presence whom she tender'd best To whom we must now returne and see what extreames she is brought to who in this her languishing plight intimates her griefes and in a secret repose to give more vent to passion imparts her discontents in this private pensive relation CHAP. XI The Passions of Doriclea and how shee conversed with her owne thoughts in the effecting of her love inveying against such ungrounded fancies who measurâ— affection by strength
of allyance portion or any other respect then the pure effects of love GRiefes never come unseconded love-surpriz'd Philocles could never lament more the inequality of his fortunes which made him unworthy the embraces of his endeared Mistresse in the opinion of her Parents then this division from him whom she so entirely lov'd troubled the dis-passionate minde of Doriclea Her unsociable disposition now discover'd her affection Dark-shady Launes agreed best with her humour where in some private Spinet conversing with her own thoughts she used to discourse of the effects of her love in this manner How far art thou divided from thy selfe Doriclea Are all passages now stopt up of partaking his society to whom I have ingag'd my heart Can Children esteeme this for tender love which deprives them their sight whom they only love Alas do they hold it a matter of such indifferency to dispense with fancy Admit I have made choice of him for my dearest Lover whom my Parents provided for my Schoolemaster must this deserve such strict censure as to divide me from the presence of my Tutor This were to make a Truant of a Scholer Must none marry but with their equals None rich match with poore fortunes What will become then of poore vertue She may live a single life and never partake in the society of love Silken vice be it never so deformed must be honoured she cannot want preferment nor choice of Suiters nor variety of Admirers because wealth h 'as advanc'd her above the rank of inferiours Our Wooers now adayes must be rich or our Parents will entertaine them with a frowne Meane time what discontent attends such hopelesse marriages where fortunes make up the match while their affections never meet Doâ—es Loves essence consist in outward substance Was it this that made Leander crosse Hellespont and intombe his dying hopes in the waves Was it this that moved love-seazed Orpheus to encounter all hazards for his captiv'd Eurydice Was it this which expos'd long-divorced Ithacus to all adventures for his constant Penelope Was it this which ingaged trusty Telamon to such perils for his Hesione O no! It was true love which drew them to those extreames And yet did these rarely ground their affections upon equality of descents or fortunes Their choice was better planted and therefore continued longer For alas what will honour do to a discontented heart She that is so matched receives small joy from the Title of a Lady when this naked style h 'as bestow'd her on One she cannot fancy Ungrounded are these affections and so weakly to be weighed as I shall ever choose to inveigh against them who hold it sufficient glory to enjoy precedency meane time discontent becomes their Chamberlaine seeing neither style nor estate can reconcile an enforced love to a loathed bed O consider you this reverend Parents who enjoyne your Children to live where they cannot love This it is beleeve it which makes modest mindes too often transgresse by conforting with unlawfull loves and mixing with those whom sensuall affection h 'as made choice of in exchange Enforced loves beget straying eyes They finde nothing at home worth affecting which makes them with Dinah to go abroad and with too prepared a boldnesse to impaune their honour O retract then your too severe commands who enjoyne your Children such Tasks as affection cannot beare nor freedome of minde embrace without a resolved distaste It is better seasonably to forgoe what we cannot like then seemingly to approve what we cannot effect and then repent too late For my resolves I hope they shall never close in any other period then this That it shall be my constant scorne to measure affection by strength of allyance which to divided hearts can afford small asâ—istance or portion which without a love-inducing proportion begets the enjoyer nought but affliction nor any other respect be it never so gracious or specious to the eye but that only which conveyes pure and effectuall love to the heart Never let Parents think that any other affection can prosper seeing it is not grounded on that foundation which tenders the minde true solace and contentment Albeit such who make their choice by the eye receive only direction by sense and such a love neither deserves approvement nor to offer it selfe to others for a president But where reason and affection meet there such a sweet union and communion of mindes close in the enjoyment of one the other as nothing can dissolve that individuall tye save only the discharge of that debt we owe to Nature Yea but will provident Parents say there is more required in solemnizing a marriage then only bare love It is true yet where love is truly grounded it will ever finde a state competent to the minde or a minde competent to the state It is impure love that proves poore Affection cannot want a very little sufficeth where love reigneth Whereas greatest meanes prove meane fortunes where affectionate mindes are wanting to mannage those fortunes O let mee then enjoy my choice and it is not in the world that shall make me desire to change Rich am I above comparison enjoying the freedome of my affection Miserably poore above relation being deprived of loves fruition Either then give me liberty to live where I love and to become seaz'd where I have ingag'd mine heart or let me bee restrain'd for ever rather then so espous'd where I needs must hate O my dearest Parents reflect upon your owne condition when your unriper yeares gave first motives to your glowing thoughts of affection Did you only value meanes Was portion the on-only lure Could nothing work so strongly on fancy as fortune or outward ability Yes yes more purely were your undefiled loves grounded and more successively graced then with the refuse of Earthy Oare to be only guilded Look then down upon us we are of the same mould if our temper were impuâ—er we should lesse deserve the priviledge of your favour Since we resemble you in our desires second what we desire and accompt of us as you shall value the estimate of our deserts Howsoever Doriclea be it thy assay to reteine the good opinion thou hast purchas'd from thy Philocles his constancie h 'as deserv'd thee his demeriting parts every way equall with those fortunes thy friends may conferre on thee Meane time endure the aversenesse of thy Parents with patience so may the effect crowne thy hope and minister thee seasonable reliefe when all visible meanes denie helpe Thus conversed Doriclea with her own thoughts thus with much privacie discovered she her owne passions Resolved to endure whatsoever fate or fortune might inflict rather then forgoe the choice of her Philocles whom shee before all others did affect But how much shee became deprived of all meanes to expresse the love shee professed and which remained so constantly fixed as nothing but death could divide it the Chapter ensuing will declare where you shall finde nothing so constant an attendant to
love as care nor no distemper when brought to extreames more desperate of cure CHAP. XII How Doriclea being deprived all meanes of imparting the constancy of her zeale to Philocles having neither the benefit of Inke nor Paper to discover her loyall intimate thoughts to her faithfull Lover shee supplyed that want with her needle sowing her minde in Letters of gold and returning them in the border of a handkerchiefe SO jealous was Euryclea grown of the love of her Daughter and her amorous Scholer as though she prevented all means of familiar conference or treaty one with the other yet she still doubted the worst wherefore finding her Daughter one Evening privately in her Chamber writing and perceiving the character by the first blush and too hasty subscription of her Letter to Doricleas small comfort she thus encounter'd her What Girle will this never be left Will your Mothers instructions receive no place Is there none for you to love but whom we dislike Trust me Daughter this will neither redound to your comfort nor credit I pray you what hopes may you look for at his hands Will his unprocured revenews maintaine you Or his Philosophy feed you Or the leane hopes of some fat Advousion hereafter sustaine you Las do you not see how a Scholer is but made an instrument of necessity and after he h'as done his work like an old decaied Servingman to be discarded or if he stay to be fed with reversions or take his repast without feare of a surfet at a Philosophers dinner Prevent then this foolish love which lest you should hereafter signifie by the least line I shall remove all occasion for Pen and Paper you shall have none to expresse your inconsiderate affection the period whereof may bring you to a too untimely affliction Nay more assure your selfe that the next time wherein I shall observe the least semblance of your unseasoned love I shall divide you beyond the distance or limit of any line No pretended excuse shall satisfie me to induce me to suffer him to sojourne any longer within our gates Resolve then what you meane to doe fixe not your distemper'd fancy on him whom you cannot have Submit your affection in all obedience to our choice In vaine it is to oppose us seeing you labour to intercede for that which you can never receive from us I have hitherto shrouded your too forward fancy and casten such a vaile before the eyes of the Family as no dishonour yet h 'as touched you Compassionate my care and requite it with a constant desire to effect what we most affect by setting your rest on such a choice as may when God shall send you one support your charge Thus was poore Doriclea deprived all meanes of imparting the constancie of her zeale to Philocles No treaty could she partake with him No line of love could she addresse to him Eyes only were those Messengers of love which so redarted affection as the Optick part return'd a legible Lecture of a constant assurance one to the other Yet would not this suffice loyall Doriclea now must she skrue her invention to the highest Pin and by some other meanes supply the expression of her Pen. Which the pregnancy of loves art quickly performes For having neither the benefit of Ink nor Paper to discover her loyall-intimate thoughâ—s to her faithfull Lover she contrives an other way to expresse what she did so unfeignedly professe and in so modest and composed a manner as the subtilest part of jealousie could not unrivet the secrecie of such a Letter Her Plot is then to supplie that want with her Needle sowing her minde in Letters of Gold and returning them in a curious border of needle work so neatly and artificially shadowed as it was not in the power of art nor strength of fancie to discover it And amongst other curious devices which loves invention composed she addressed this in that manner we have expressed Doriclea to Philocles MY Pen a Needle now must be To manifest my love to thee While every stitch shall sting my heart Till it take harbour where thou art Where landing may it dye a shore If e're we live divided more What strong and impressive memorials these and such as these were to our constant Philocles I leave to your judgements experienc'd Lovers who have suffer'd under the malevolent quality of such a Planet where restrained of all oportunity your Mistresses invention found way by some ingenious device or other after this manner to discover the constancy of their affections Truth is as there is no passion which sooner works distraction then a depriving or distancing of us from the object of our affection so is there no such motive to the conceipt as this conflict of love How witty it is in contriving How various in those numerous delights which the height of that fancy is ever working No difficulty but love will encounter it no extremity but she can digest it There is no action meriting honour that can be atchieved without labour Infinite were those tasks and those full of jeopardie which were imposed on Alcydes before he could be seazed on his tyrannizing Omphale Nor were the affections of loyall Mistresses of lesse pursuit in their reall expressions to their Servants What vast unfrequented deserts unknowne to any other inhabitants but wilde Beasts have their tender virgin-feet traced to finde out those whom they loved What strange disguises have they taken what eminent fortunes have they forsaken what honours rejected what powerfull friends disclaimed to enjoy one only friend whom they so highly preferred as by their personall seazure they held themselves sufficiently enriched Instances we might here bring forth such store as might make up a story of themselves with out any other intervening discourse But omitting others both forraine and moderne in reflecting upon our constant Doriclea we shall finde such noble constancy and masculine spirit in her as every Act shall present a sufficient approvement and publish her by the impartiall verdict of time worthy that applause which the relation of that age h 'as given her For as there was none which ever shewed more constancy to those they lov'd so was there never any who with a more composed temper encounter'd those affronts which either friends or fortunes cast upon her Bearing all occurrents with so sweet and pleasing a smile as even her very profest enemies being I must confesse very few though vertue must ever have some suffered with her turning their passion into compassion the heat of their fury into a relenting admiration of her fancy which became so equally tempered as no distaste could alter it being no lesse ready to enter the List to enjoy her love then to obtaine the conquest of enjoying his love in whose bosome she desired only to live Thus was our Doriclea resolved to suffer and to joy in her suffering that she might enjoy him to whose affection as her thoughts were devoted so no houre passed wherein she
discovered to her how infinitely she stood bound to her Mistresse for her love For discreet Doriclea perceiving the passionate affection of Mellida and desiring nothing more then to bring her in a way of enjoying of what she was so eagerly pursuing resolved of a course that might expedite this designe and this was to expresse all showes of affection to Mardanes as if she intended nothing more then to reteine him her constant servant whom she had formerly rejected and to redeeme that neglect with such arguments of love that the world might take notice that he and none but he was the man whom she affected Which relation so ready is fame to disperse her selfe upon every occasion no sooner vented it selfe abroad then her Parents supposing her love to be now declining from Philocles infinitely rejoyced Nor was insnared Mardanes lesse transported hoping e're long to enjoy what his desires had so long pursued But with this was jealous Mellida no lesse afflicted imagining that no hopes could accompany her suit where her Mistresse affection had taken place Thus in this Comedy of Errors were all things confusedly carried and by as doubtfull an issue attended Mardanes loves Doriclea and he is loved by Mâ—llida and Mellida thinks Mardanes lov'd by Doriclea when all her taske is how she may espouse Mardâ—nes unto Mellida Againe Doriclea's Parents think that their Daughter h 'as relinquisht Philocles and solely fixt her affection on Mardanes whereas the show of love she pretends to Mardanes is only to prepare a way for her enjoyment of Philocles But this little contents distressed Mellida she collects by what she sees the aime of what she most feares Her poore simple heart is so farre from dissembling as she verily thinkes these Love-signes and tokens of her Mistresses cannot but proceed from the heart and what hope then left for her to enjoy her Sweet-heart The meditâ—tion of these drove her into such extreames as in the most disconsolate manner that ever accompanied perplexed Lover she discovered her discontent with as much privacie as the retirednesse of the place could afford that the Aire might be only witnesse of her griefe while she became her own relater Unhappy Mellida hadst thou none to make choice of but one who doth despise thee None to impart thy thoughts to but one who will deceive thee Alas thy fortunes must not aspire to such happinesse as to enjoy the imbraces of Mardanes One of higher state prevents thy suit He and thy selfe have now got one Mistresse Poore rejected Mellida What Sanctuary maist thou retire to Or what affectionate friend maist thou impart thy minde to It was not done like a loving Mistresse to promise her poore Maide assistance and to betray her trust where she reposed most confidence She might have disswaded thee from thy choice by acquainting thee how she meant to enjoy him her selfe and so discouraged thy hopes at the first rather then thus delude thee at the last I should have quickly desisted though the losse of my love had shortned the line of my life had I but knowne how she stood affected But under so faire a semblance to shroud a dissembling count'nance and make a shew of affection when it is guilded with treason should I freely remit it Loves Soveraigâ—e would not so easily pardon it ' Las what a poore conquest h'as Doriclea got in her competition with Mellida who had never attempted what she now affecteth had not Doriclea first rejected whom she now esteemeth The ground of Mellida's loving was Doriclea's leaving And can she now have the heart to love whom she did sometimes leave because what she did so scornefully leave Mellida begins now faithfully to love Did her distaste beget my love and must my love now beget her distaste Well this do'es meanely requite me if she would remember what fidelity she h'as found in me There was no night so dark no task so hard which with a free bosome I entertain'd not so she might enjoy what she had not Philocles then was the only man in her eye and I her Agent which she wrought by Proper parts were the Adamants of her affection and these she found in none so well to life portrayed as in her Philocles Mardanes was then a rough-hewen Swaine whose presence she so much hated as she estranged her selfe from that place which he frequented And must he be now entertained because he is by poore Mellida affected Well I am glad that the love of her Maide h 'as chang'd her minde and advanc'd him to the choice of a Mistresse Let my losse be his gaine my deprivall of what I desire most the enjoyment of her whom he expected least The ruine of a poor Maide is all that she can have which cannot redound much to her honour seeing she on whom she so much relyed and to whom her secret'st counsels were imparted became the only instrument to undoe her Doriclea having over-heard some of these distemper'd passions of love-sick Mellida could containe her selfe no longer but interrupting her in this manner resolved by a contrary cure to allay the extremity of this distemper How now Mellida h 'as love so distracted you or too much liberty of enjoying your own desires so much entranced you as to become thus forgetfull of what you are whom you serve or whose affections you so highly deserve Must my endevours addressed for your good be so interpreted My desire of your advancement so recompensed Is your conceipt so meane of me that these expressions of my love and familiar respect to Mardanes proceeds meerely from my own affection without relation to your selfe Or that I did purposely leave him with a resolution that whensoever you made choice of him I would love him Trust me Mellida this distemper'd fancie tastes of a frenzie These humours will make your constant'st friends your profest foes Shake off this jealousie lest it become thy mortall enemy I am the same I have professed nor will I faile in ought I have professed so thy ill-grounded suspicion divert not my aime which effect is it produce blame thy selfe I know well there is no way for thee to attaine thy desires but by this meanes He must first take knowledge of their love who love him not before ever thou canst enjoy him who loves thee not Doriclea must take upon her the person of Mellida and Mellida be taken for Doriclea before ever Mardanâ—â— make his Bride of Mellida What I intend I will not yet discover only let me advise thee to restraine 〈◊〉 indiscreet humour perswading thy selfe that Mardanes had never received a gracefull count'nance from Doriclea but in hope of advancing Mellida And that my better thoughts are so farre from domineering in thy ruine which were a poore conquest indeed as it shall be my principall aiâ—e to prevent it so thy indiscretion crosse not my designe Let it suffice thee that though it concerne thee most thou maist be seene in it least So present I am in others affaires
her which so infiniâ—ely cheered her as her confidence readily winged her enlivened fancy with an undoubted assurance of successe Daughter it had been well you had made your Parents command the line to have directed your love But since your affections are so firmely united as not to be divided I hold it an office of piety to effect what vertuous loves so jointly affect Thus long have I had experience of you and I have neithâ—â— seene nor heard any immodest expression fall from you this confirmes me that you are no lesse then what you seeme not pretending to be what you are not but in desiring to approve your selfe what you seeme This those faire out-sides fall short of who affect nothing more than to appeare most what they inwardly professe least For these whos ' ere they be seeme thus to me They be and seem not seem what least they be For goodnesse-sake estrange your better-disposed thoughts from these painted Puppets who may be aptly resembled to the Zibethum which naturally yeelds a sweet perfume to others but reteines a stinking sent to it selfe Let those preciouâ— odours of your vertues not only afford sweetnesse to others in proposing an example worthy imitation but to your owne heart which cannot flye from it selfe but must one day returne as it do'es now reteine of whatsoever it hath receiv'd a true naked impression You have now enter'd the Maine where you shall graple with many contrary winds and surging waves Report like an ill-winde will be quickly raised and this may happily disperse a light faâ—â—e upon all your actions As first this private retire from your Parents and making your selfe carver of your own affections without their consent may beget you a strange opinion in the world Men will judge all is â—ot well more then pure love drove you to â—â—ese courses Waves likewise there will be to menace your ruine Divided passions to perplexe you and inthrall your late-enjoyed freedome to the worst of extreames Yet what of all these The roughest windes of infamy to a pure and undefiled minde can do no injury Nor all those naturall inbred passions which breed distemper'd spirits most disquiets can annoy the rest of that Soule which is fixt on the exercise of piety and makes her triumph over her own affections her highest victory Observe this rule Deare Daughter and these intended Spousals of yours shall finde an happy period and after so many violent windes of infamous tongues so many turbulent waves of swelling passions you shall finde that calmenesse as neither that lownesse of fortune which may hereafter encounter you shall amate you nor all those contemps which injurious disdaine may throw upon you an way disturbe you I have showne you the best roade which if you hold directly you cannot but arrive safely Doriclea having received much comfort fâ—om these instructions of the Hermit and encouraged too with the promise of his conduct to the place which Philocles advised her to after a small repast being enough for a stomack inflamed with love to digest she addressed her selfe to the short remainder of her journey which though short had appear'd long to her longing fancy had not the difficulty of the way been sweetned with the Hermits company by whose happy convoy she soone arrived where her desires were lodged and where she found her Philocles safely reposed CHAP. XX. The great content and joy which these two long-divided Lovers conceived in one of the others presence The relation of their former griefs being an addition to their present joyes NO calme so cheerfull as after a storme no harbour so gratefull as after a rough Sea The least beameling breaking forth of a Cloud appeares like a more full and glorious light This experimentally felt these long-divided Lovers who conceived such infinite joy and content in the sight of one the other as their first encounter for want of expression closed it selfe in silence wanting a tongue to discover what delight their intranced apprehensions took in one anothers presence Looks now were to supply more discursive Organs gladly would their affectionate breasts unfold themselves and relate those many occurrents which their true loves had passed and with comfort vanquished but their desires must be first feasted with eying and intentive looking upon one another This must be the pleasing prelude to a more delightfull Sceane at last affection labouring of too strong a passion to be enjoyned a perpetuall silence broke forth on Philocles behalfe after this manner Ah Doriclea which taking accent so transported him as not an other word for a long space came from him Am I in a Dreame or waking Can I imagine any mortall capable of such joy How pleaâ—ing now is the memory of my restraint My long division from thee my dearest Doriclea whom I preferred before the world For to be ever happy so surfets the conceipt as it dreames of no other state a small storme to him who hath ever enjoy'd a calme seemes like a tempest Whereas my present condition makes me more sensible of my former affliction I was deprived of thee whom I incomparably loved From all civill curt'sies save such as I received from strangers excluded All hopes of future advancement by thy Parents distaste estranged A Grate became my best prospect the World my story where I saw no action of sorrow presented more to life then my own misery O how the relation of our former griefs become an addition to our present joyes Before I had none to converse with but such pittilesse Guardians as rejoyced in my restraint Tedious were the houres of my life because divided from the object of my love Terrors I encounter'd with daily passions I wrastled with hourely No receipt found I to allay my griefe none to impart my woes to but such whose hearts were iron-temper'd like my Grate O what an exchange have I found in being free'd from what did so inthrall me and in being restored to her presence which of all earthly joyes doth only revive me O my Doriclea how many fearfull visions have startled me how many distemper'd Dreames have disquieted me And whence proceeded all these but from that love and feare equally working and no lesse sundry effects producing which had taken such strong possession of me as not to be removed without enjoyment of thee At which Doriclea interrupting him after a more cheerefull recollection of her over-joy'd spirits said unto him O my deare Philocles I am an eye-witnesse of your distemper'd dreames You know well what the Contents of your last Letter discovered trust me I will not chide you for I can finde no such language in my tongue but I would not for a world have you think waking what you suspect dreaming Philocles calling to min dethe purport of that paper of Verses he had writ unto her and how much his too affectionate feare had made him transgresse desiring her pardon by imputing that error to report acknowledged his fault and condemned that
hearts and make her such a miserable Bride as she shall wish her Bed changed into a Grave That Bridall feast her Funerall to invite a mournfull guest And this were Doricleas case to impaune her virgin-state to such a curse O then by these unfeined teares this humble-bended knee your poore distressed Daughters prayers look on me and make me his who do'es so entirely love me And lesse deare Sir you cannot make me since my faith h 'as confirm'd me his which cannot be dispensed by me For such Sacred Vowes are too strong tyes to be loosed being recorded in Heaven where such contracts can never be cancelled Injoyne me what you please so you injoyne me not to leave Philocles for sooner may Doricles leave from being her selfe then leave his love whom choice without changeh'as confirm'd my second selfe If the true obedience of your lowly Daughter may expiate this offence and alas this offence is only love that Task shall not be by a Father imposed which shall not be by a Daughter freely embraced This Speech wrought more remorce in her auditory then in her Father as may appeare by his discontented answer Doriclea but my Doriclea I shall never accompt thee tell me canst thou look on thy Father thy dishonoured Father and not blush at so egregious an errour Shall my Family receive an ignorminious brand from my Countrey through thy loose and irregular liberty Is there no remedy but my gray-haires must be brought with sorrow to their grave Have I bred thee Viper-like to destroy me Go on and see the issue of it Prefer the love of Philocles before the blessing of Androgeus Disclaime that obedience thou doest owe me bestow thy selfe on him who of all others is most contemned by me Thou canst not contract this unhappily spun threed of life before the Destinies will Meane time expect revenge for believe the indignation of a Father who intends to take a full revenge of this licentions affection of that inconsiderate Philocles and make him glad to relinquish his suit by entertaining the meanest state to secure his life â—eserve then those knees for whom thou reservest thy selfe those easie-enforced tears for him who thou preferrest beforethy self those undevout prayers to continue his love whom thou meanest to make thy second-selfe But this fruitlesse expostulation foreslowes my revenge I will see if I may finde the trace of this bold Libertine whose pleasing oratory h 'as so deluded thee whom having found I shall shortly divert the current of your fancy and by a legall course deprive him of future liberty And presently upon these words neither Doricleas â—â—â—yers nor teares nor the perswasion of his entirest friends could so farre prevaile with him as to keepe him from ascending the staires But â—uch good opportunity had these passionate debates below given to that discreet Hermit above as by his device Philocles to prevent his funy was privately conveyed so as what Androgeus expected coâ—ld not be pursued None findes he above but the old Hermit and that intended agent for solemnizing their Nuptials who was as full offear as Androâ—eus was of fury but wisely pretending himself to be one of the Family he passed by him without much inquiry So unexpectedly was this pleasing Morne darkned with a sullen Cloud Two friends then which none more dearer must be divided all occasion of recourse one to another henceforth debarred this faithfull Hermit who addressed his discreet care for their cure to his Cell confined Thus must me leave all things dis-joynted and out of orders a discontented Father contesting with his Daughter a dis-passionate Daughter labouring to appease her Father all whcih have power enoughâ— to perplexe a Family and beget rumouâ— in a Countrey as you may heare hereafter CHAP. XXIII Androgeus brings back his Daughter the entertainment given her by her Mother VNwilling was Doricleas mind but unwinged must not be her speed to depart Leave her Philocles she must without taking leave For having laboured as was formerly expressed to appease her incensed Father but all in vaine she before she could come into the roome that sorrowfull roome wherein she had left her Philocles by the device of that discreet Hermit to prevent Androgeus fury which admitted no treaty was he conveyed and with that privacy as he became priviledg'd from discovery Along now must Doriclea go with her Father who desiring nothing so much as to surprize her conveyed Lover but prevented of what he most expected he holds himselfe for the present sufficiently content with the reskue of his Daughter Whom he hoped to reclaime from this madding affection for so he conceipted by one meanes or other A dayes journey at the most they had scarcely travelled till Androgeus with his Company arrived where he defired and bringing his perplexed Daughter in his hand to her Mother to this effect he recommended that charge unto her Euryclea I have brought back at last your dainty Daughter and prevented what her wilde fancy was incurring she desired much to be our late Pedant Philocles his Bride all things were prepared to accomplish what they intended and had not timely intelligence â—â—ustrated this designe she had to both our discomforts beene unworthily married It was my aime to have intercepted Philocles who since his escape from prison hath beene more forward in the pursuit of his desires then before but how or by what way conveyed I know not him I could not finde so ready was some fâ—â—end of his to expedite his escape Now must I recommend this charge to you Euriclea as you tender our honour and the reputation of your Daughter to reteine a more circumspect eye of her Walkes then you have hitherto done Let such attend her as will not be deluded by her Mellida h 'as been too much her friend whose indiscreet counsell had it succeeded had made her selfe her only foe Abridge not her liberty so you be consident of her company Too much privacy may hurt her health as too much liberty revive her love Time may weare out these prints of youthfull fancy Imployment or delightfull company being such as may suit with virgin modesty may finde power to discampe these dangerous Assailants which so mainly work upon the inward quiet of hte minde I make little doubt Euryclea but your kinde heart will be too tender to inflict onâ— her any heavie censure Be it as you please seeing to your charge care and cure â—â—â—cely recommend her So tender-hearted was Euryclea that at the very first sight of her Daughter she could not refraine from teares oft did she feine anger and with a furrowed brow foreshow a tempest but her teares were in earnest her anger in jeast Yet desirous to schoole her and in such manner as her discretion conceiv'd would leave the deepest impression in her she receives no other entertainment but this from her Mother Disobedient Girle what faire fruits have our deceiving hopes produced How often have I colour'd thy private escapes
and enjoyned this whole Family not to publish thy folly What pleasing promises have I received from thee that all should be amended Philocles undeserving love rejected and those Suiters entertained whose fortunes might raise thy preferment And what reâ—quit all hast thou given thy Mother for her care too â—â—nder care on thee conferred by her Now it is in vaine to stay the tongue of Rumour the whole Countrey resounds with the report of Doricleâ— and he wandring Lover And how gladly would I be to still this report to â—ecover thy repute Well there appeares yet a little hope which relyes on this one and oâ—ly helpe As good fortune was all this time Mardâ—nes h 'as been abroad and so farre remote from us by reason of his occasions elsewhere calling him as this report of your â—traying course may happily yet be concealed from him Let then that love which you so lately pretended be continued Once againe let a Mothers teares or threats prevaile so farre with you as to estrange your thoughts from him whom you must not affect Be perswaded Girle let not poverty come in at one doore while love goes out at th' other Let not your fame receive a blemish from your indiscreet choice with our blessing you cannot enjoy him timely then relinquish him I will not have too strict an hand over you so tenderly presuming am I of you An hard and harsh task were it for me to enjoyne you ought that might deservingly beget your discontent Tender then a Mothers care and prevent her feare her care to procure your good her feare lest you should prevent her 〈…〉 only reâ—eeme the time you have lost but regaine our esteeme with the ample interest of our love which you have so strangely forfeited as it resteth in your obedience only to repaire it CHAP. XXIIII Doriclea labours to free her Mother from all jealousie touching her love to Philocles pretending that he had voluntarily made himselfe a banished man to his Countrey through feare of theâ—â— fury and enmity NO sooner had Euryclea thus expostulated the cause with her Daughter then Doriclea desirous out of a pious duty to satisfie her Mother whose passion tempered by a naturall affection seemed something allayed labours to free her Mother from all jealousie whereof she had received too inducing motives touching her love to Philocles and that her defence might appeare groundâ—d upon sufficient reasons she proceeds in this manner Deare mother I must confesse and with teares of pious sorrow I lament it that my indisâ—reet affection h 'as exceeded those bounds which maiden modesty should have â—ept by giving too free scope to my own fancy but let not these be any motives to decline your good opinion from me There is no offence so great which repentance may not exteâ—â—ate And now to remove all occasion of jealousie believe it Mother that never any arguments of love shall be continued betwixt us hereafter For the feare of your fury hâ—as diverted our fancy and made discontented Philocles a banished man and that by voluntary censure to his native Countrey It is true our amity begot your enmity our love your hate But now believe the true relation of a Daughter that ayre which he here breathed grew distastefull to him through the distaste you conceived against him A voluntary exule is he become and h 'as constantly vowed to entertaine that condition which shall free his youthfull minde from light affection Indeed had not mâ— Fathers seasonable comming prevented what our resolves had mutually intended Neither might he without my consent have enjoyed that liberty nor my selfe been so freely at your dispose as now I am But since the Fates would have it so I shall not only study to obey your commands in whatsoever you may be pleased to impose but infinitely rejoyce in performing whatsoever your Parentall awe shall enjoyne Philocles appeared no such 〈◊〉 to my fancie that might any way make me to foreslow the discharge of my dutie Yet must I needs confesse deare Mother such was his vertuous love as I could not lesse expresse my selfe then tender him a gratâ—full requitall for such ample testimonies of his constant affection Then with your favour be it that I reteine so thankfull a memory of his professed fancie as for the present to affiance my selfe to none love though 〈◊〉 be countermanded it cannot for the present be extinguished Meane time as your tender care h 'as been and continues ever for my future advancement and that Maâ—â—â—nes must be the man whom you hold â—â—tingst for my choice so far shall my Countnance appeare free from strangenesse my entertainment of him from nicenesse as he shall finde no cause of dis-respect from me nor ought that may dishearten his hopes in pursuit of me Nay so entire shall be my obedience as were the disposition of Mardanes like that of Margites of whom it is said that he never plowed nor digged planted nor reaped nor in private affaires advised nor discreetly conversed nor did any thing all his life long that might tend unto goodnesse but wholly unprofitable to the world I should with a free embrace receive him because your commendations did present him and your obedience enjoyne me to love him This ingenuous acâ—nowledgement of her offence and expression of her obedience infinitely over-joyed her Mother but above all others the relâ—tion of the travell of her Lover imagining that all occasions now were removed and no feare at all that their loves should be here after reâ—ued But whatsoever Doriclea pretended old love could not be so banished Love she must but seeme to dis-affect her Philocles Haâ—e she must but seeme to affect Mâ—rdâ—nes And so far from coynesse must she seem as she must have a smile in readines whensoever he comes in presence And the freedome which her Mother gave her being now secure of Philocles ministred occasion to Doriclea to invent many quaint devices to ingage more strongly her distasted Lover Mardanes to her pretended affection Whereof he perswaded himselfe to be so firmly possest as nothing had power to alien her love from him so as he began to be so far presuming thereof as the very least distaste which she might seeme to offer him received a very harsh construction from him This might appeare by one occasion which hapned casually and it was thus Doriclea to allay those pressing discontents which surprized her amorous thoughts would make it her pleasing task now and then to play with fancie and to discover sundry apparent arguments of her unfeined good-will towards Mardanes the better to expedite those desires of loveâ—â—nwreathed Mellidâ— and to â—â—teine that constant zeale which she religiously professed to her Philâ—cles diverse private meetings accompanied with some of her more familiar Consorts would she purposely appoint to passe an houre or two away and tedious had the passage of those houres been had not some merriment allaid it with her late-created Servant Mardaâ—es And one time above the
she more discreet in her love then he perswasive in his line for now you must suppose him estranged from his Countrey divided from all thoughts of fancy and if you will believe his own hand such a strict Convert as Doriclea may have small hope to make him 〈…〉 CHAP. XXV Philocles writes a Letter to Androgeus as directed from beyond the Seas wherein he humbly craves pardon for his too bold attempting his Daughters affection How his present austere penitentiall life shall witnesse to the World his repudiation of all light love How his devotions now were reserved for Heaven and had no communion with Earth And that the choice he had now made should during life admit no change PHilocles must bee now accompted a forrainer to his Countrey a stranger exposed to winds and waves and divided froÌ„ his friends Nay since his supposed arrivall he pretends his induction into so strict a profession as it proclaimes him to the World an Alien to all youthfull affection But what Harbour received him or what place this was which harbour'd him or what Profession it was that admitted him appeares not fully by any Relator howbeit what he was and what he resolved to continue may appeare sufficiently by his own Letter Philocles Letter to Androgeus FOr exiled Philocles to write a Letter to incensed Androgeus and this to be directed from beyond the Seas may seem strange and yet know noble Sir that this is true He even he who sometimes affected irregular love h 'as now betaken himselfe to a regular life and in this his poore mendicant proâ—ession humbly craves pardon and be it your generous pity to encline to his suit for his too bold attempting your Daughters affection It was lâ—â—e and that seasoned with as much vertuous constancy as youth could afford But know now deare Sir that his present austere peâ—itentiall life shall witnesse to your selfe whom he h'as so highly offended and to 〈◊〉 whole world wherein he h'as too long youthfully sojoâ—rned his repudiation of all ligl â— love And too long Heavens know too long h 'as he there lived where true discretion could finde nothing worthy to be entirely loved For what shall man finde there but a Tragick Theatre hung about with Arras presenting a numerous confluence of feares and cares All complete Actors but their Play-bill beares no better style then A Comedy of Errors To see a Man turne himselfe into all shaâ—es like a Camâ—lion or as Proteus transforming himselfe into every prodigious forme to act twenty parts at once for his advantage to temporize and vary like Mercury the Planet good with good bad with the bad to forme himselfe to all religions humours inclinations to fawne like a Spaniell rage like a Lion bark like a Curre fight like a Dragon sting like a Serpent as meek as a Lâ—mbe â—nd â—et againe grim like a Tyger weepe like a Crocodile insult over others and yet others insult over him here to command there crouch tyrannize in one placâ— be bâ—ffled in another a wise man at home a foole abroad to make others merry Then to reflect upon the indignity of the Age. To see a Scholer crouch and creepe to an illiterate Pesant for a meales meat For there is nothing from which Learning receives more dishonour then to have her freedome ingaged to anothers Trencher A Scrivener better paid for an Obligation then for a studied Sermon a Faulkner receive better wages then a Student a Lawyer get more in a day then a Philosopher in a yeare better rewarded for an houre then a Scholler for a yeares study He that can paint Thais play on a Fidle curle haire c. sooner get preferment then a Philosopher or a Poet. And is not this a dainty Theatre to win the heart of a discreet Spectator where Love and Hate are like the two ends of a Perspective-glasse one multiplies the other makes all things lesse O how rightly did that moderne Stoick invey against those inhumane qualities in Man which if he did but see into himselfe he should finde so unmanly as they made him altogether unlike himself How shall I know thee to be a Man said that Golden-mouth'd Divine wheâ— thou kickest like an Asse neighest like an Horse after Women ravest in lust like a Bull ravenest like a Beare stingest like a Scorpion rakest like a Wolse as subtile as a Fox as impudent as a Dâ—g shall I say thou art a Mâ—n that h 'as all the symptomes of a Beast How shall I know thee to be a Man by thy shape that affrights me more when I see a Beast in likenesse of a Man And what did poore Philocles encounter withall so long as he conversed with the World but Creatures of this condition Well then might mine eye my strangely deluded eye be made the sense of sorrow because the sense of sinne Nought could I see but did wound me no pleasing Object but did pollute me Only my thoughts deare Sir were so free from harbouring one light conceipt of your vertuous Doriclea as I saw in her that goodnesse as disheartned any loose attempt And may your Age receive that comfort in her as those easie errors which too deservingly bred your distaste may be redeemed by a fuller furplusage of content My desire shall be only this that you would not decline your affection from her for her sometimes bestowing so much undeserving respects on me Divided am I now from her and all the World and who knowes but that I was thus prevented in my love to the end I might be weined in my love from the World Admit then my Plea and let it receive place seeing my devotions are now reserved for Heaven and reteine no communion with Earth Love was never to converted Philocles so familiar as it is now a stranger It now reâ—ts that my best prayers ever accompany you and that my teares wash off those wrongs I have done you Be it your piety to have mercy and to look on Philocles resolve who h'as set up his rest upon this stake that the choice he h'as now made shall during life admit no change Philocles This good Androgeus expounded to be that new course of life or religion or whatsoever else he had so lately professed but constant Philocles had another meaning which he ever expected time would bring to perfection Howsoever Androgeus was not a little cheered in the perusall of this Letter the Contents whereof so well freed his suspitious thoughts from this mortified Lover as hee could not containe himselfe from expressing the joy he conceived which to this effect he discovered Well done Philocles In this course thou hast taken thou procurest thy selfe peace and us rest Thou hast done rightly to disesteeme fancie and to preferre thy private Study before such a vanitie There is no comparison betwixt pure devotion and light affection Content is of ampler extent then the whole Continent And if my serious care prevented thy indiscreet love be it thy love in
thy private devotions to remember my care Thou â—aist thou hast now set up thy rest and in this thou hast done right Wordly love and Heavenly contemplation suit ill together Thou could'st not here enjoy whom thou lovedst with our consent thou didst well then to relinquish her love the purchase whereof might beget thy ensuing discontent How happy had many bin if they had been so prevented for so had they never tasted those miseries which they so unfortunately incurred As Androgeus was thus privately discoursing of Philocles late profession which he conceived to be so sincere as all occasion of further renuall of his Daughters love and his was wholly removed Euryclea came to him to whom he read the Letter which he had received from Philocles Wherein they equally joyed while Euryclea related to her Husband the free entertainment which their Daughter upon her direction had given to Mardanes and how she feared not if they gave approvement to it but that would be very shortly a Match And though said she there be a disparity in their yeares that will beget our Daughter more esteeme And a good life with an Husband exceeds all youthfull â—ove And yet I must tell you Husband said Eâ—ryclea if his harsh disposition should either â—â—get in him a jealousie or any other unbeseeming quality I should chuse rather to go to her Buriall then her Bridall For poore Girle her good condition would brook so ill that surly humour as it would discourage her for ever And I have heard his disposition was none of the best and what were it then to enjoy all his estate and want the comfort of a contented life Our care h 'as neither been so weak nor Gods providence so small as that the Portion we intend to conferre on her may not procure her such a Match as may suit with her desires both for competency of estate and equality of yeares And for my part Husband said she I never knew any Match made up for wealth only that ever begot comfort to the party And you your selfe know Husband that when at first I preferred you in my choice the very least thing that wrought upon my affection was your wealth and yet have we had ever enough so much the more in regard we thought love in those dayes to be enough How is it Euryclea said Androgeus that you â—lead so much in defence of poverty and would not admit of Philâ—cles who was none of those who had superfluity One must make a vertuâ— of necessiâ—y replyed Euryclea I know Philocles to be poore enough and to love Doriclea enough But our Daughter was not to ground her love on every poore Lover for that might have madâ— her a poore Liver but so to plant her fancie as neither the undeservingnesse of the maâ— might beget in her a neglect of duty nor a coldnesse of affection by meanes of poverty To divert then the current of her love I made choice of one for her who had sufficient whereon to live That by comparing the want of a Scholler with the wealth of a wordly improver she might the sooner diâ—cerne her errour and betwixt these two 〈◊〉 out one whom she might both approve and love and expresse himselfe worthy her choice by his faire and affable temper Yea said Androgeus but it was dangerous to give opportunity to fancie which it seemes you have done to Mardanes already Alas good Old Man answered Euryclea there is small doubt but his yeares have so tempered him as in affaires of love his moderate desires rather aimâ— at a Consort then a Play-fellow one to cheere and comfort him then with light dalliance to solace him And could you then endure one in the prime of her youth whose posterity should be the comfort of your age to close in such unequall imbraces and by living where the does not love make her grieve that ever she did live No Androgeâ—s no replyed Euryclea my desires are that she may live where just grounds of discontent may never give her occasion to grieve And this I think she very hardly will finde in Mardanes for as 〈◊〉 richest treasure closed in a Chest affords 〈◊〉 small comfort to the Owner when to his â—wn he becomes a Prisoner so all outward substance be it heaped up in never so much â—bundance can scarcely minister the least portion of content to a minde ingaged to all heaâ—inesse But our Girle shewes no such thing for if she dissemble not and I verily think her condition will not admit it since my direction she h'as profest more love to Mardaâ—â—s then any other that ever suited her excepting Philocles Nay she will not stick sometimes to say that her unmannaged youth â—ands in need of such a Tutor and that since Philocles absence and reliction reverend age was the most taking Object to her affection If it be so said Androgeus the Girle shall have her minde but I am perswaded when fresh youth comes in the presence of age though she pretend râ—verence to age she will â—incline rather to imbrace youth Thus discoursed her Parents of their Daughters love but were farre from diving into her heart to search out for whom she reserved her constant love But love she must for tender is their care to bestow her where both person and fortune may give her content But all is not Gold that glisters nor all winners that are Wooers For though she have an enforced smile for Mardanes she reteines an heart full of care for the safety of her Philocles CHAP. XXVI Doriclea fals or seemingly fâ—ls into a Fever each day seemes to increase her distemper Eschites an experienc'd Physician is sent for to apply his best art in a case of such extremity but he an intimate friend to Philocles makes show as if he despair'd of her recovery And that no Malady arising from fancy could without enjoyment of the Object loved receive remedy WHo knowes not how to dissemble he knowes not how to live But if that Art 〈◊〉 receive approvement Love and no other Objâ—ct should be the instrument This 〈…〉 who now 〈◊〉 or seemingly fals into a Fever Long is it now since Philocles absence but longer to her conceipt then any other having not as yet heard from him since his departure from her From the benefit then of fresh aire which could not chuse but infinitely cheere her she retires making her selfe a stranger to those Groves and Gardens wherein she walked and betakes her selfe to her Bed where she privately expostulates with fancie recalling to minde wherein soever she had suffered A violent Fever within some few dayes after strongly seazed on her which whether it was seeming or so indeed I will not here dispute but each day to the great griefe of her Parents seemed to increase her distâ—mper Sleepe was a stranger to her eyes meat distastefull to her palat and loathing to her stomack A great desire she had to be private pretending that much talk distemper'd her braine and
thing Mistresse are you not strongly troubled with imaginations I have a phantasie quoth she as others have and that must needs according to the nature of it be discursively wandring here and there but never fixed on any one Object I will burne my Books said Eschites if that prove so Come Mistresse I must be round with you your minde h 'as begot in your body this distemper your blood had never beene infected had not your minde beene first to love affected Be then so much a friend to your selfe as either labour to forget him or by imparting your thoughts more freely to your Parents to enjoy him This is the best receipt that Art can apply to you which if you reject dye and who will pitty you Doriclea wondred much how Eschites art could possibly so soone make him of her Cabbinet counsell as so quickly to discover her infirmity Bâ—t long it was before her modesty would admit any such discovery At last with a winning kinde of reluctancy after a Vermillion blush which plaid the shamefast Harbinger to prepare way for what should come after she disclosed her griefe freely to Eschites in this manner Sir so presuming am I of your secrecy as a poore Patient intends to make her Physitian her Secretary nor am I lesse confident of your care then your cure of your care to keepe my counsell then of your desire to cure my Malady I shall here relate to you what I meant to have buried with me It is true Sir there is one that I have lodged neare my heart and remove him I cannot and enjoy him I may not Nor will I conceale from you any thing the Man who h 'as taken this place is Philocles now a banished man to his Countrey which censure he h'as voluntarily incurred and cheerefully imbraced to decline my Parents fury And his absence it is Sir that h 'as begot in me this infirmity No sooner did Eschites hear Philocles named then he rejoyced much to have so faire an occasion offered him both in respect of his Patient whom he desired to recover as likewise for the advancement of his friend Philocles whose former acquaintance had ingag'd his respects more then any other To palliat all things then with more art he intends to work a cure without applying any medicinall receipt and this must be by Argument for otherwise he knowes not how to effect it And now a fit opportunity is given him for this perswasive receipt must not be ministred to his Patient but her Parent Who desirous to heare what the Physitians opinion was touching their Daughter came in the very instant which prevented Doriclea from imparting her mind any more at that time to Eschites Androgeus beckning oft to the Physitian demanded of him what he thought of his Daughter and whether he had hope to recover her or no. Eschites withdrawing himselfe a little from her bed side and taking her Parents aside begun freely to discover his opinion of her in this manner Sir as it h'as never beene my use in the whole course of my profession to delude my Patient with vaine hope where I found my receipts could afford no helpe so I must ingenuously tell you what I think without flattering you in cases of this extremity I finde small hope of recovery unlesse her youth be a meanes to repell the malignity of this humour Nature is much weakned in her Her sleepe which is the very dew of the braine h 'as left her Nourishment will she take none and if she did yet by reason of obstructions in the Orifice of her stomack it would not digest with her So as should I apply purgative or ligative medicines unto her yet would they work small effect by meanes of those indispoed humours which have got dominion over her Shall I tell you my minde freely It is not in the vertue of hearbs that may returne her remedy her malady proceeds from fancy which must receive 〈◊〉 from the Object it loves or no hope of recovery Having delivered his opinion in this sore he took Androgeus and Euryclea by the hand desiring to know of them whether their Daughter had not at any time professed love to some Gentleman or other in those parts or whether she had not discovered so much unto them yes answered Androgeus â—he doted too much upon one Philocles whom I here reteined for her Schoolemaster one of knowing parts but weak fortunes Then it seemes said Eschites you crossed her in her desires We did indeed answered Androgeus for we conceived that such a marriage would 〈◊〉 highly to her dishonour to marry a poore private Scholler and therefore sought to decline her affection that way Which like an obedient childe she h'as since that time done and observed our directions with that care as an ancient Gentleman and one whom you well know whose rising fortunes may highly advance her h 'as lately renued his suit unto her whom she with all faire respect entertaines So as her former indiscreet fancy seemes wholly banished and consequently her Malady if it should proceed from any such occasionall fancy perfectly cured Alas replyed Eschites what your Daughter may pretend is one thing but what she intends is another Affection I must tell you will be hardly forced whatsoever her filiall obedience may enjoyne her love reteines too much soveraignty to be so countermanded or to extinguish that heat which it first cherished Thus he though he professed no such matter but as an Artist should in delivering his opinion touching their Daughter expressed himselfe an intimate Friend to Philocles by making show as if he despaired of her recovery closing his judgement with this Maxime That no Malady arising from fancy could without enjoyment of the Object loved receive remedy Which much perplexed her sorrowfull Parents conceiving by Eschites relation that the image of Philocles had stamped so deep an impression in their Daughters affection as the ground of her distemper arose from being so imperiously divided from her Lover CHAP. XXVII The Parents of Doriclea conceive incessant griefe for their distemper'd Daughter they â—emoane their neglect of Philocles and dis-esteeme of his love But they finde no hope of reliefe to their languishing Daughter seeing the meanes of her cure was reported to have enter'd a Regular Order DOriclea could not more passionately suffer in this her amorous distemper then her Parents did for their daughter Tender was their love and incessant was the griefe they did conceive No meanes was left unassaid no cure unpractised to regaine her health whom they so dearely loved But all experiments were in vaine the more they laboured them ore she languished So as little could be expected but that this her encreasing distemper would bring her e're long to pay her debt to nature This moved Androgeus and Euryclea the tender affectionate Parents of sick Doriclea to bemoane their neglect of Philocles and dis-esteeme of his love which her Father one day discovered with a pensive heart
and passionate voice in this sort O Euryclea how well have we deserved to suffer this affliction in neglecting Philocles and his honest affection Admit his fortunes were poore his conversation was vertuous his life blamelesse and his love to our Daughter loyall and religious Were we to contemne him because Fortune had not so freely imparted her selfe to him Was love only to be weighed by meanes without respect to those inward endowments which conferre the best beauty on man What comfort might wee have reaped in seeing them live in constancy of love and composing their mindes to their state to bestow the residue of their dayes in content Aâ— must not be neglected whom Fortune h 'as not favoured It is blinde love that is directed by such a deity And too tyrannâ—â—â— are those Parents to their Children who labour to enforce their affection It may be said Euryclea that her distemper for all this opinion of her Doctors râ—ceives ground from some other griefe For I verily think Doriclea could not so dissemble with us as to pretend love to Mardanes and reteine such a constant remembrance of Philocles Let us call forth then if you please her Maid Mellida who knowes her minde best and we shall perceive by her whether her fancy continue towards Philocles or no. Mellida who sorrowed no lesse for her Mistresse sicknesse then any for her distemper wholly declined her hopes from enjoying her Mardâ—nes acquainted them how those little short sleepes she had were full of distractions and how ever and anon she called upon Philocles Which so confirmed them as they presently gathered that his absence had begot this distemper in their languishing Daughter which highly aggravated their sorrow Gladly would they recall him so they might regaine him but they finde no hope of reliefe to their weak Daughter seeing the meanes of her cure the sole cordiall of her care was reported to have enter'd a Regular Order No hope then remain'd for her recovery being so deprived of the Object of her fancy While they were thus discoursing and descanting of their griefe one below called for Mellida which was a Messenger indeed from Mardanes with a Letter directed to Doriclea the issue of whose motion her Parents desired much to partake So aâ— presently upon Mellida's going in to her Mistresse to deliver this Letter they went in after her but with that privacy as upon the delivery and perusall of the Letter Doriclea knew not they were there The Contents of this amorous Scroule were these DOriclea you may expect that these lines should have been prevented by â—y personall attendance and trust me so they had could I have dispensed with one occasion which requires present dispatch Let not the least conceipt of disloyalty pre-possesse you I will sooner perchance then your own opinion can assure you seâ— you to consummate our joyes which by how much the longer delayed in our fruition will be more sweetned Alas good Man said Doriclea how he troubles his braines to no purpose As if his personall presence could do me any good or procure me ease No no unlesse he were transformed into Philocles and then the enjoyment of his feature would do me an infinite pleasure Surely said Mellida I could with with all my heart that we had them both in their own proper shapes I know who would be the more pretious pearle in my eye Well replyed Doriclea God send thee much good of him when thou shalt have him And if I recover my health whereof as yet I finde small hope I should make little doubt but by a device I have to possesse thee of him I pray God you may have your health restored you soon said Mellida for I am sure you cannot suffer more in your Fever then I my selfe do till I be made happy by the free enjoyment of Mardanes favour This discourse seemed strange to Doriclea's Parents for they little knew what their Daughter intended by that device howsoever they now perceived that the love she pretended to Mardanes was not reall but dissembling and that Philocles was the Man who was only interessed in her heart and that without him she despaired of health Which could not chuse but strangely perplexe her affectionate Parents who now so they might become confident of their Daughters recovery would easily incline to Philocles fancy But they were out of all hope to procure her health by this meanes seeing retired Philocles was now to his Countrey a stranger and had enter'd a strict religious Order which assured them that he had now disclaimed the title of a Lover CHAP. XXVIII Eschites undertakes upon promise of their acceptance to use his best endeavour for calling Philocles homeward and that he is resolved how Philocles time of Probation will bee quickly relinquish'd when he shall beare least hope of enjoying his Doriclea's affection WEakned daily became constant Doriclea by meanes of this her languishing distemper For now her stomack by feeding on those fancies which her loyall love to Philocles usually suggested was so sated as other nourishment she could admit none unlesse such Julips or Cordials as required no strong digestion so well became Nature sustained with the very conceipt of affection Nor is this much to be admired for if that Maide of Pâ—iâ—tiers could abstaine so many yeares from all sustenance and be surprized by no such fancy what may we imagine of Doriclea whose digestive parts were so well satisfied with the thoughts only of her dearest Philocles as no repast could comparably delight or refresh decayed Nature so much as the very conceipt or apprehension of his affectionate feature Her Parents desirous to try all meanes to allay her griefe and to banish the memory of her transplanted friend from her distemper'd minde sent for such neighbouring Maides as formerly kept her company to come to her and to invent one sport or other to passe away the lingring night or to tell Tales to solace her troubled braine which for want of sleepe was much distemper'd And many pleasant pastimes would these Countrey Girles finde out purposely to cheere her While one amongst the rest drawing â—eare the Bed-side and taking Doriclea by the hand Good Lord Mistresse said she what a stirre you make with this love I am sure for my part I am troubled with a thing as like love as can be and whether it be downeright love or no I know not but every night there appeares to my fancy a dainty proper young Man but of what Countrey I know not and to my knowledge waking I never yet saw him But trust me Mistresse I wondrously love him and if he be no Hob-Thrâ—sh nor no Robinâ— Goodfellow I could finde with all my heart to sip up a Silly-bub with him in my Fathers Broome-pasture For I shall on my conscience never love any one halfe so well And yet I know not whether I shall love him when I am waking so well as when I am sleeping nor do I know whether I should know
from Eschites cut off their further discourse for now was Philocles summoned to a more amiable task the delightfull visit of his Doriclea The absolute comfort whereof is more easily conceived then delivered for in discoveries of this nature Imagination ever becomes the best Painter Let it suffice that their first salute closed it selfe in silence discourse was supplyed with long-languishing looks Tongues had theit tyes while affection became sole Prolocutor for the heart One that had seen Philocles would have thought that he had been some professed Artist and that he was gathering the symptomes of her Malady by the motion of her pulse And for Doriclea though she durst not well forget her Fever for feare of her Father yet she found in her selfe no such distemper but she might leave her Bed and admit the style of a Bride so this dissembling love-errour might free her from censure Nor need she much fear her Parents displeasure for so propitious a Genius hâ—as breathed on Philocles as in this his returne home Hymen is ready to pronâ—unce his doome being so well accepted by the Parents for their Sonne in law This so revives their seeming-distemper'd Daughter as her Doctor may safely leave her seeing Philocles presence secures her from danger A silent expression gives the pregnant'st testimony of a deepe grounded affection where every lâ—oâ— darts forth love no other parliance was afforded to these two extasied lovers unlesse a trickling teare drain'd from the exuberance of love stole innocently from Doriclea to discover that passionate impression wrought in her amazed thoughts through affection thus were loves lines legible in both their eyes and their eyes sole intelligencers to their thoughts Much had restored Philocles to speak to Dâ—riclea no lesse had restrained Doriclea to impart to Philocles Joyes had their fresh supplyes as if some golden dreame had imparadis'd their thoughts with some glorious vision the conception whereof could not be delivered till a sacred Rite had really confirmed what their united hearts had mutually vowed Yet like a discreet jealous Girle fearing still a declining of her Parents acceptance which might beget in her a relapse or some further inconvenience she feignes the continuance of her distemper which soone after becomes clearely removed by her Parents cheerefull approvement of their loves as you shall heare hereafter CHAP. XXXI The Marriage is solemnized and with such privacy as knowne to none but their own Family Valeria who was supposed to be Euphilus Page discovers himselfe to be Philocles Sister with whose consent Euphilus marries being long before privately aâ—â—ianc'd to her FAncy which had beene so long in conceiving must now come to her full birth perfection And that which before breathed only in desires must now cheerefully aspire to action Suppose we now Doriclea to have shaken off her Fever left her Chamber to prepare her selfe for those loyall and lawfull embraces of her constant â—over Her Parents to inlarge the extent of her comforts rejoyce no lesse in their Sonne then she in her Spouse All things are provided nothing neglected that may comply with the content of two enlivened spirits so affectionately united Hands could not be wanting where hearts were so joyntly knitting Nor could there want a full Consort to cheere their assistants with complete harmony when these two affectionate Consorts so gracefully appeared in Hymens livery What would you have more to life expressed The memory of their formeâ— discomforts becomes quite exiled by this presentment Here might you see loves Metamorpâ—â—oâ—is lively acted and by such persons as their â—â—â—ractive features bestowed an infinite grace on whatsoever they presented But Love admits no Rhetorick unlesse it be that which the Orator held the sole ornament and accomplishment of an Oration which without any other adjunct completely closed it selfe in Action To make an abstract then of all conceive our late distemper'd Doriclea now recovered and perchance her feigned â—ever discovered her deare Philocles now restoâ—ed and in a new state ready to be invested her distasted Parents now attoned and all things so well composed as this long-desired Marriage is now to be solemnized and with such privacy as knowne to none but their own Family Mellida who every foot no doubt thinks of her own Sweetheart must be the only Bride-maide to her Mistresse and faithfull Euphilus the only choice Consort that must wait on Philocles The way with flowers is privately paved no Guest invited but what their owne Family afforded all things were with much secrecy carried and to good purpose as shall be hereafter declared To the Temple they come where these Nuptials are with all privacy celebrated And here Dorielea's Father takes his Daughter by the hand and playes the best part that joyfull Doriclea could ever receive from a Father Which Rite being thus solemnized and the Married Couple with their few Attendants homeward returned an other occasion of infinite joy unexpectedly arose from this auspicious meeting After dinner Philocles with his dearest Doriclea took along with them in their company his loyall and constant friend Euphâ—lus to recreate their spirits abroad to whom Philocles imparted himselfe in this sort Deare Friend though every minute of time be this day incomparably precious to me being only to be imployed in discourse with my Choice yet must I reserve ever some houres for your selfe from whom I have received not only contentment in my youth when our Studies were communicated together but from that continuate profession and expression of your love all which confirme me yours so long as I have life You have been this day a witnesse of my long-expected happinesse nor could I have one to whom I stood more indeared in all the world to witnesse it And I should hold my wishes highly crowned might I have you seazed of her whom you sometimes so much affected I meane Valeria one who though my Sister preferred you in her conceipt farre above her Brother And I must freely unbosome my selfe to you it did not a little content me to perceive such arguments of mutuall affection betwixt you But perhaps Eâ—philus your disposition becomes now estranged from those thoughts Either her meane fortunes could not content you or some aversenesse in her friends distasted you or some better hopes of preferment have so possessed you as Ualeria h 'as lost that place in your heart which she sometimes had and consequently poore Wench must be content against her will to forego what she so entirely desir'd and leave you to a Choice whom you better deserv'd You reteine a worse opinion of me Philocles then my true zeale and affection to your vertuous Sister ever yet exprest No my noble friend Ualeria never found Euphilus inconstant to this houre I have preferred her in my choice fortified my resolves against a change Nor was it a weaknesse in her fortunes that declined my love but the meane estate of a younger Brother which could not supply us with meanes how to live This was