his Pulse they consulted his Urine but all their endeavours according to the precepts of their Art proved ineffectual which renderd the Old Gentleman a meer Desperado and I perswade my self that that grief which was derived to him from his Son was of the nature of some plants a slip whereof will make a more goodlie Bodie than the Mother-stock from whence it was taken Since his Sons extravagant sorrows were moderate in comparison of his The Young Symphronius still pind away and the Physitians being ignorant of the cause of it durst not make use of any Remedies The Loving Father was yet the more unfortunate in that he was enforcd by another's Pulse to feel for his own indisposition The Physitians acquainted the Governer with all they had done and avow'd that the Soul was more disturb'd then the Bodie that it exceeded their power to applie Remedies to that they expressed their sorrow that they could not serve him and protested that except his Son were better satisfied it was impossible he should stay long in the World You may give a guess at what Symphronius suffer'd at so unwelcome news as this if you consider a loving and indulgent Mother that was a little before made a Widdow by the Death of her beloved Husband attending the Bed of her only Son that she now tenderlie dotes on who just now in the Flower of his Age and when she had provided some Lovlie Ladie to make happie with her chast Embraces lies engag'd in a cruel Feavor which either over vehement Exercises or some Surfeit may it 's possible have produc'd and just now expiring his latest Breath which his good Mother stands readie to receive and catches at his Soul in it's excursion into Eternitie Thus stood the poor Old Gentleman and 't is possible somthing more afflicted in that he had somthing yet left to fear whereas the unhappie Mother was freed from so troublesome a Passion and she had lost so much she need not any longer fear the furie of her enrag'd Fortune But Symphronious rather then perish was resolv'd to do his utmost to extort this secret from his Son and thence learn the cause of their common unhappiness and he usd such address that the effect could not well be otherwise then what it was He sat him down on the Lover's Bed-side and takeing him by the hand with the tears trickling down his reverend Cheeks Must we Dye then my Boy said he with a sigh have Heaven and you decreed it so He was going on but a World of sighs broke off his discourse and looking on his Son with all the markes of sorrow and compassion he heard him with a low voice thus Answer him we must dye Sir when Heaven is pleas'd to call us hence No cruel Child reply'd the sad Symphronius hastilie we must not dye yet the Gods will not have it so I conjure thee by all that Religion Esteems obliging by that Dutie thou ow'st me by the consideration of thy own Interests as well as mine discover this secret that will undo us all if it any longer be conceal'd 'T is base and cowardly 't is impious and irreligious to dye when we can help our selves and to creep into the Grave for fear of our Misfortunes He made a pause here and looking attentive upon our poor Lover seeing him in suspence what he ought to do Out with it for the sake of the Gods pursu'd he Publish that Enemy to thy Repose Banish it thence and lodg it no longer in thy breast to thy utter ruin and my own He spake this with all the earnestness imaginable and allmost frighted the young man to a confession that it 's possible had never else been made Ah! Sir answered he and sigh'd why should you be thus urgent to know that which when known you cannot remedie Thou knowest not what an afflicted Father in his extreamitie replyed Symphronius with a great deal of precipitation can do for a Son that he loves better than all the world I can do any thing for my dear Child my Love and Pitty shal render me allmost Omnipotent and where my power shall prove deficient the Gods shall second me those Gods I have hitherto served with such Devotion and that could never exert their power in a more glorious occasion than this Good Sir omit your importunitie answered then young Symphronius almost astonished No Child replied the Father I must never omit it till I know what it is afflicts you so Will you know then said the Lover very passionately Know it at once 't is this I Love Is this that secret cried the Father with a smile that must be extorted from you with so much violence Hath this cost me so many tears Hath this so much impaird your health and disturb'd my contentment Yes Sir replyed the Lover with a languishing tone for now he dare himself avow it that love which I have preserved in my breast in the midst of all my sorrows hath been the cause of all But this is such a Love as when you shall have learned it's Nature and all it's circumstances you will undoubtedlie pronounce it the most fatal me the most unfortunate Lover in the world What some Coy Maid hath refused your addresses said the kind Father and you like a poor whining Lover must go and die for t Is that all Nay answer me And is not that sufficient Sir replied the Lover But that 's not all She hath scorn'd me indeed and forbid my addresses but my ill Fortune hath led me further She Loves but not me She saies she 's disposed of and that to a person that she prefers to all the world and Vows this Love shall as she pretends it ought to be be Eternal And what now could render me more unhappy than I am I Love and must do so while I breath She Scorns me and will do do so Eternally Now having learnt this Sir trouble not your self with him that is not only himself so unhappy but will infect all about him with his unhappiness No Son answerd Symphronius I must not yet leave you my pietie shall yet find some meanes to make you fortunate Only tell me who this fair Tyrant is and then if there 's no other way 't is but dying afterwards 'T is Sir you may easily guess her the Handsomest Lady in Rome said the Inamarato should I name the most glorious Light in the Heavens you 'd immediately say it was the Sun I meant and when I shall tell you she is the most beautiful Lady in Rome you may easily imagine 't is Agnes The good Father was extreamly satisfi'd when he knew she was a Roman and no ignoble one so that smilling If Agnes said he be the Person that enslav'd you you shall see e're long what I can do for you and assure your self I am not so much displeas'd at your Love as the concealing of it Hereupon he went out immediately towards the advancing his Design and left our
it utterly banish it and with it all the train of Jealousies Fears Hopes and other Distractions that will undoubtedly pursue it This Sir is the means to obleige me and this is the greatest Testimony I can demand of your Affection Ah! Madam reply'd our Gallant how unjust you are in this demand Should Love destroy it self to show it's sincerity And is there no other way to manifest the truth of it but by those Acts of indifference you mention Stay Madam for Heavens sake that He was vehemently continuing his discourse when the Lady interrupted him No Sir said she 't is my final resolution suspend your ardour or if you will continue your Affection which I cannot recompence expect no mutual return from her that avows to you and all the world she is already dispos'd of my Soul 's too free and open to make use of Artifice and draw you on into a Passion that it is possible may ruin you and I too much esteem that Obligation you have laid upon me to think you a fit Person to be so deceiv'd Be assur'd then that my Soul is prepossess'd and being engaged elsewhere cannot comply with your desires you are Honorable I must avow it and Rich and your Person is really Amiable but since my Faith is already ty'd else where these accomplishments and advantages will prove ineffectual to shock my fidelity Give over then in time and let your Duty comply with your Interests No Madam cry'd out the Lover I must still Love while you are still amiable Blame not the excess of my Passion while you are Lovely to Admiration You may forbid me to hope for a suitable return but know that despair it self cannot make me cease to love and adore you and though others are the most happy I may be the most faithful of your Servants He was Retreating having said thus with a most profound respect but in the most disconsolate condition that ever poor Lover was in when St. Agnes pitying his misfortunes wherein she found her self too deeply concern'd pul'd him back and sweetning all that Rigour she had put on not long before Stay dear Sir said she And pardon me that seeming cruelty which you think me guilty of my Soul is as capable of resenting your favours as you your self could wish I esteem you Sir and will love you too but as a Sister Content your self with all I can render you Leave your Love for God's sake or place it on some more worthy Object my choice cannot must not be alter'd He must have my whole Affection that 's only worthy of it He must indeed Sir and you must no longer pretend to her that will acknowledge no other Lord and Master but him that Heaven hath already assing'd her Who ever that happy person be reply'd our Amorist let him not think that I will tamely endure his happyness No Madam your Love cannot protect him Since he hath the happiness to be belov'd of the fair Agnes he shall also have the honour to die for her He spoke this with the greatest fury he could and without taking the least leave away he flung rowling in his Breast revenge on his unknown Rival Whilst our holy Votary in vain recalling him after she had bestow'd a Shower of Tears on his Misfortunes which though unwillingly she was the unhappy cause of she went into her Closet seating her self in a posture fit for her Devotion Sweet Jesu cry'd she thou art my dear Master to thee have I dedicated my Life and Honour Accept of this poor Sacrifice which is my reasonable service Preserve what my free gift and thy gracious Redemption hath made thine and let not the Devil withal his gaudy Temptations pull me from thy sacred Protection No dear Saviour he shall not by thy Help I am in thy hands and all the fury the rage as well as subtlety of Men and Divels shall never remove me from so agreeable a refuge My Virginity is now no longer my own keep me chaste and inviolate and render me a fit Vestal for thy service should I having ty'd my self to my obliging Saviour desert him for a frail peice of mortality And having tasted those preparations of Eternal Bliss and Glory run after those dull and insignificant contentments that so abuse the world with their pleasing appearances No gracious Lord I 'le accept of no Spouse but thee and how unworthy so ever of thy Love and Favour my sins have render'd me I will in my Chastity Imitate thy Holy Mother And though I cannot be at once a Virgin and a Mother pure and Fruitful at the same Instant which is the blessed Lady's Prerogative I will be a Wife and Virgin and with thy holy consent too nay and by thy command preserve my Virginity even after my Espousals Yes blessed Jesu I will by thy help and favour nor shall either Love or Pity perswade me to any thing that may offend my love to thee or my Duty Having said either this or something like it she rose extreamly satisfi'd and the holy Spirit furnish'd her with all those graces that were necessary for her in that conjuncture which gently gliding through her Soul ravish'd her with all the delights that Saints were ever blest withal And then after somtime having paid her Devotion to Heaven she reflected on what the Young Gentleman had said to her Fond Man said she how do thy Love and Anger delude thee to what folly alas do they betray thee Thy Rival fears not what thy Sword can do against him he will keep himself and me too if it be his holy pleasure from those dismal effects of thy fury that thou so vainly threaten'st Do what thy Rage shall dictate to thee and at last learn to acknowledge that I had infinite reason to contemn thee and dote upon so Gracious so Almighty a Redeemer You may very well imagine with what Vehemence the Lady utter'd these words and what sorrows she then was perplex'd with both in pitying the Young Lover since she had bin the innocent cause of his mirfortunes and in deploring her own unhappiness and you may if you please hear her thus expressing her resentments A Soliloquie TYrannick eies for so ye still will be Cruel alike t'others and to me That with a guilty glance can storm a Heart And in each ray convey a Cupid's Dart Cease these your wild excursions and no more Procure Adorers as you did before Procure Adorers as you did before No to some higher happiness advance Then 't is to be the Center of a Glance Lye in your Lids fond Lights poor wandring Stars That make the Heathens twice Idolaters No no look out but doe not then doe not then descry Base worldly cheats that gaudy misery Desert these meaner sights and higher soar That make the Heathens twice Idolaters No no look out but doe not then desery Base worldly cheats that gaudy misery Desert these meaner sights and higher soar Where Love this fatal Love shall be
amorous Desperado in as great a contentment as his condition was then capable to admit He flatter'd himself with somthing like what we call hope and though he knew no reason for it and was confident that Agnes's resolution was unalterable Yet however he comforted himself since his Father was stirring in the business and that in a place where his Interests might make him hope for all things from his help where I shall leave him deluding himself with his pretty fancies and see what Symphronius is now adoing You may very probablie conjecture what address and industrie the Governour made use of in a Design that so nearlie concern'd him He search'd out for the Ladie 's Father and communicated his intentions to him to make a perpetual amitie between their two Families He made clear to him the advantages of such a necessitude and in a word did all he possibly could to perswade him to what he said did very much conduce to their common happiness The discreet Father of our blessed Votary entertain'd his proposal with all the civility imaginable and avowing to him that it would be the most welcome thing in the world to him to see his Daughter so well disposd of assurd him he would use all his endeavours to perswade her to it and though she seem'd to have a resolution never to Marry he doubted not but he might induce her to it But if I cannot prevail by this Fatherly method of perswasion continu'd he you must excuse me if I want the power to serve you and content your self with that hearty desire I shall ever preserve to favour both you and yours And this Sir is my final resolution and from which all the Arguments in Nature shall never be able to dissawde me never to descend to any violent means and force my dear Agnes to any Act wherein her happiness is so highly concern'd The Governour was not extreamly satisfi'd with these last words of the discreet Father and the joy that he resented at the first part of his discourse was very much abated by what follow'd considering what his Son had told of the obstinacy for so he term'd it of his beloved Agnes Nevertheless not to betray the cause he was engag'd in I cannot chuse said he after a small silence but condemn that over scrupulous discretion of yours Have you liv'd so long in the World and are yet ignorant that Maids must be forced to what they most desire and that their formal modesty oftentimes makes them refuse that which they pine and whine for ever after No Symphronius I 've often heard that piece of Raillery reply'd the other but can easily distinguish between that force you speak of and which you say will be so agreeable from that which hath produc'd so dismal effects in the World Our Marriages still represent the rape of the Sabines but they do but represent them and there would not be so much jollity at our Nuptial Solemnities were the violence as real as then it was you may assure your self I shall oblige you with that personated cruelty and will do all that a Father lawfully can to favour the Roman Governour Symphronius receivd his Civilities very Courteously and after having once more conjur'd him to forward his Design and protested it was the infallible means to make him his eternally and it is more then probable acquainted him with the danger his Son was in at that very Moment and the cause of it which really seems to me the most perswasive Argument that could be us'd in that conjunction he departed home-ward as fast as his Love could carry him and coming to our languishing Lover he cry'd out very chearfully Courage my Symphronius hope still Thy Agnes must be thine only live and recover that thou mayst be in a condition to receive her favours He spake this with so much satisfaction that the Young Gentleman raising himself from his Pillow as much as his weakness would permit him and Reading his Destiny in the Air of his Father Do not abuse me Sir said he out of an Oppinion that I fear I have too much reason to retain Is it possible I should obtain my wishes Can Agnes then be flexible and pitty one that her Divine Beauty has almost drag'd to his Grave Oh! answer me Sir but with Sincerity and use not any Artifice to appease my Passion that must have real blisses or it will never cease its cruelty No Child answer'd the Loving Father there is no need of Artifice only confide in me and minde thy recovery thy Agnes shall be sooner ready to receive thy Caresses then thou to Embrace and thank her for her Kindness Thus did the obliging Symphronius comfort the drooping Lover who though he intreated him to tell him his success could by no means perswade him to it Only his Father acquainted him with the greatest part of the discourse that he had with the Ladies Father so much I mean as made for his purpose but he did it as it were unwillingly or before he was aware which made the abusd Lover believe his affairs were in a better condition then at first he could hope they would ever come to So that relying on his Father and recommending his Love to him and desiring him never to use any violence against the Fair Agnes he desisted any longer to importune him And the old Symphronius not long after left him to ruminate on his imaginarie pleasures and expected with all the impatience in the world what answer he should receive from St. Agnes's Father who was really no ill agent in the buisness but press'd his Fair Daughter to a Marriage that he told her was very advantagious to her But meeting so uncommon a repugnance in her and being at last acquainted with that sacred vow she had made of perpetual Virginity he not only left off his perswasions which he knew would prove useless but also encourag'd her to keep her Vow notwithstanding all the violence of Symphronius He promis'd her all the help he could render her and flatterd himself into a fond Opinion that he being of a Noble Family and of no small Interest in the City the Governour durst not assault either him or his But the Sequel baffled his presumption and hath left us a dreadful Example of what a man is capable of performing when hurri'd on by the sudden Violence of some domineering Passion But I must not prevent my Story The two Fathers not long after had a meeting which doubtless was infinitely pleasing At the first indeed their discourse was very obliging but their common civilities once past over where Symphronius urg'd the other to some Positive answer the brave Roman after some such short preamble as we commonly usher in ill news withal told him plainly his Daughter's repugnance to the Proposition not out of any disrespect to the Young Symphronius whom all the City for his many excellent accomplishments both Lov'd and admir'd but out of a most fix'd determination
for your advantage I dare witness what I say and will embrace this opportunitie as I shall all other wherein I may serve you most willingly The Governour could scarce believe this at first hearing but being confirmed by Oaths and Protestations and those too the most Sacred that their Religion could furnish them with he began to think that some plot might be built upon this and the thing being not verie difficult be resolved on it immediatelie and thanking his Friend for his Intelligence and conjuring him by their former Friendship and what ever else he thought was perswasive to keep all secret and to be with him on the morrow somthing earlie he departed and laid all in readiness for his proceeding But he took all the care in the world that Young Symphronius should not know of it who not dreaming of any thing else but his Mistrisse's favour their Nuptials and all that Train of Delights he might expect from thence was enjoying his imaginarie pleasures that never must have any other Fond Men how do we pursue we know not what and place our selves upon a Precipeice Little thought he of a destroying Angel or that Calamitie that hung over his head The Governour at the time of Judicature dispatch'd his Officers to bring the Holie Votary to his Tribunal who when they came to her Fathers house and demanded her in the Name of the Governour would not perhaps so easilie have got her thence had not the Blessed Martyr her self been consenting to it Her Father was providing for Resistance and imagining what was the reason she was sent for he could not easilie be induced to part with his Pious Obedient Child The Mothers sentiments were not much diffetent from his She wept she lift up her eies to Heaven and with a thousand piercing Ejaculations invok'd the Holie Jesus to her rescue she recommended her Child no longer hers but his Spouse into his Sacred protection nor did her Devotion hinder her Endeavours It was in the midst of these preparations that the Holie Saint was acquainted with the Officers demands and perswaded her self that Christianity was the Crime she was to answer for and then kneeling down most devoutlie and directing her fair eies to Heaven The hour is coming Sweet Jesu she cri'd out when my Soul shall take it's flight to Thee and Glorie Lord preserve thy servent in this my last encounter against our common Enemies Continue thy Gracious Goodness let me not faint in my last effort of Piety Preserve me to thy self sweet Jesu I am thine my Vow and thy Goodness have made me so O do not desert me in my last Extremity but be pleased to lead me from one Crown to another from that of Martyrdom to that of thy Eternal Glory What a sweet Joy and pleasure did the good Lady then resent what an agreeable earnest did she then receive of a blessed Eternity in spite of her Body that clog to her ardent Soul that hung on it's Wings when it took any brave flight towards Heaven In spite of it and all its Passions she was almost ravished in to Happiness and saw her Blessed Lord even before her Matyrdom But she staid not long here before she went to meet her ruine as others would interpret it but as her Pious Soul thought her way to Glory She found her Father in the midst of his Preparations and looking upon him with a Face as gay an Air as brisk and lively as ever she had in her Life Stay dear Sir said she stay and be pleased to remember that we call our selves Christians This is not that resistance that our blessed Lord hath taught us both by his word and his Example He that could summon all the Angels in the Heaven and make all the World assist him died quietlie and suffered tamelie the rage and fury of Men and Divels He did so good sir and let us for Gods sake do no otherwise The Father was very much surprised at so charming a perswasion and was in a doubtful suspence how to behave himself when his blessed Daughter pursued her petition Ah! can you doubt Sir whether you ought to follow so glorious an example Let us go and stem the fury of our Adversaries but let our Tears and Praiers be the only Arms against them Let me go Sir and be more nearly united to my dear Redeemer and let me testifie to all the World that neither Love nor Fury can separate me from so good a Master wilt thou go then dear Child and leave thy wretched Father replied he with a languishing Accent Yes Sir I will fly to my sweet Saviour cried out St. Agnes I will perform his holy pleasure with all alacrity I have hitherto waited with patience for the happy hour wherein he would be pleased to take me out of this miserable Life but since the time is come I will not by an un-Christian resistance stop up my passage to Glory 'T is my Interest as well as my Duty that invites me to it and your extravagant Love would be infinitely prejudicious to the should it any longer oppose those Superiours that God hath commanded us to obey I must consent then I see said her Father throwing down his Arms with an action wholy disconsolate and taking my last farewell of my Dear my Obedient my Christian Agnes Go then to that Glory which thy Lord hath provided for thee and leave thy Parents here in tears while thou art advan'd to a place where all tears shall be wiped from our eies I should never have done should I tell all the passionate and pious discourses of the good Mother to her blessed Child who hanging about her fair Neck took a Thousand Farewels and would never have left her had not the Officers been urgent to hasten her delivery At last they parted but with no less pain and trouble then ever Soul and Bodie did in the Rigour of Youth after the familiour acquaintance of Thirtie Years Her Father would accompanie her though she expressed a great deal of repugnance to it fearing least his immoderate Love might hurrie him on to some Violence and make him endeavour to retard her Martyrdom But go he did and led his fair Sacrifice to her Stage of Glory where the Governour sat expecting her and according to the usual formalitie which was but too too common in those daies that is about the Tenth Persecution demanding what she was whether a Christian or otherwise She confidence avowed it and that with as much courage and assurance as if she had expected the greatest honour in the world from her Confession Symphronius seeing her Noble Confidence began to shew her the danger of her obstinacy and with a malicious kind of kindness advised her to desert it He promised her she should be pardoned her crime did she not continue in it and allured her to this Apostasie by a magnificent promise of honours and preferments and spoke really so obliginglie to the fair Martyr that any Soul but
and here to morrow we shall expect her final determination and thence proceed either in her favour or to her prejudice The Proposition pleased the people and they expressed their approbation by their Acclamations and solemn Euge's Whereupon Symphronius addressing himself to the Saint We give you this night to consider better on it and hope your reason will perswade you rather to accept your life with Honours and Preferments than a Death as Painful as Ignominious That shameful Death replied the holie Votary very brisklie I prefer to all thou can'st bestow upon me You need not delay your cruelties you have my Answer which the fear of Ten Thousand Deaths shall never alter She was proceeding when the Governour gave order to have her taken away to Prison She went without the least repugnance and considered her Prison as the Preludium to her Martyrdom It will not be difficult to imagine how her good Father resented all this He was going to speak in her defence a Hundred times but considering it would be only an imprudence to involve himself in her Calamitie without any hopes of helping her he stood astonished and in the midst of all his sorrows a secret joy would often surprise him to see his Daughters pious assurance which he could not chuse but applaud and admire though he knew it would rob him infalliblie of what was dearest to him in the world his dearest Agnes In this Condition he stood when the Virgin was carried away and though he was resolved to follow her he could not go a step in her persuit and then it was when Symphronius chanced to see him who coming to him said very mildly Go Sir and perswade your Daughter not to throw away her Life My Symphronius would be a better Companion then the Stake and a Nuptial Torch then a Funeral Flame He said no more but immediately left him least he should answer unpleasantly as indeed with reason he could expect no other He might have spared himself the trouble of this admonition and the Loving Father needed not much perswasion to do what his Love compelled him to He presenly followed the Young Lady to her Prison and I should give my self an unnecessary trouble to tell you all their Holy Communication Her Mother was not long absent who being informed of all that was past ran to the Prison Never was such dear and obliging Discourses such Pious Consolations such Affectionate Tears in the World as then that Prison was Conscious of And I should never Have done should I insist on the particulars It shall therefore suffice to say that at last her Parents withdrew To leave her to her Devotions which 't is possible no other consideration could have induced them to What Pious Raptures had our Good Agnes when she considered her approaching Martyrdom Ah! good God would she somtimes say 't is in vain they expect I should renounce my right in thee they shall never force me to disclaim the Interest I have in thee The more I consider thy incomparable goodness the more I am confirmed in my holie resolutions to Live and Dye a Christian I did not imbrace Christianitie to desert it shamefullie No Dear Lord I will never stain my former Life with so black an Apostasie I will not sweet Jesu by thy gracious assistance and Flesh and Blood Durst and Ashes as I am by thy help I will carrie away the Victorie from the conspiring fury of Hell and Earth Then got long after in a deep Reverie would she be almost transla ted into Glory and inticipate that Heaven she was going to possess A Soliloquie FOnd man that dost with Fetters bind the Saint And keep fair Agnes in a forc'd constraint How thou in vain expend'st thy cruelty And throw'st away thy rage She still is free Free as brisk Lightning from it's Mother Cloud Broke loose and freed from it's surrounding shrowd Fetter the sprightly Sun in 's wat'ry Bed When in Hesperian Seas he hides his Head And let the Morning call him up to vain The fetter'd Sun will soon return again When this it done the blessed Maid enchain She and the Sun will both break forth again So did the Jews her Saviour once entomb A Virgin Grave he had as once a Womb. They seal'd the Stone and careful watches sent His moveing flight to hinder and prevent The Righteous Sunbreaks forth the Watchmen run Or prostrate fell t' adore the rising Sun Turn'd Persians without superstition She Praies she Sighs and so transmits her Soul To her dear Lord without the least controul Fetter her Pious Thoughts and Chain her Sighs And seal that Lovely Source of Tears her Eies Whil'st she can Pray in vain you cruel are Her Praiers make God her fellow Prisoner There can no Prison be while he is there THus did the Holy Votary keep the Vigil to that Glorious Festival of her Martyrdom after the primitive custome of the Church before Superstition or Profainess had debauched the true Christian Piety But the Morning was at last come and Symphronius at the accustomed hour seated on his Tribunal commaded the Prisoner to be brought He had taken infinite care to conceal from his Son what had past the day before and left him now engaged in as pleasant imaginations as ever while his own Soul God knows was travers'd with the greatest distractions imaginable Somtimes Piety prevailed and presented him with the fair Idea of the Chast Virgin tyed to a Stake with the Flames all about her and then starting up on the suddain she must not dye would he cry out that is so Lovly in the midst of all her Sorrows If the Sun shining through a watry Cloud dazles our eies what would he do in a clear Heaven and at his full Meridian While pitty thus wholly possessed his Soul and controlled all his other Passions Justice began to oppose it he considered her then as the Blasphemer of the Gods and then presently damming his guilty Pitty he resolved to see her die or hear her recant And then the next minute he looked upon her as his Sons Mistress in whose ruine he should infallibly bury his own and his Son's contentment In such a distraction as this did he ascend the Tribunal whither the chast Agnes was not long after brought I need not tell you her Parents accompani'd her since their former affection may make you very confident of it She came with her former courage and her Air so lively and so nobly confident did very well inform the Judge and all the People of her Constancy Her eies proclaimed her no A postate and a Tyrant after he hath waded through Seas of Blood to acquire a Crown never hug'd it with a greater Satisfaction than she did her Persecutions When Symphronius demanded whether she did yet repent of her impieties and would accept her Life upon his conditions you would have admired her Christian answer The brave Heroine still avow'd her perseverance in that Opinion which he falsly called Impiety