he feared did encline too much to Anarchus and morgages all his Plate and Jewels for money to pay his Army making the Athenians advance the superplus for they were perswaded that if Anarchus gained that all their goods should be confiscated and their lives if not endangered at least imbittered As also he advances one degree all his Officers obliging them to fight for their own dignities if they would not in his quarrel Many judged Monus a fool in this attempt like those who seeing only the first draughts of a pencile though never so curious yet thinks the face deformed whereas the skilful Painter himself or any exquisit Artist knows that it will prove well for he considered wisely that all the Senates faction and which was more all the Royal faction would owne him and that possibly he might gain some of theirs expecting pardons for their crimes but that doubtlesse they could never debauch any of his that the Cash being in the Senates hands and at their disposal none being in a capacity to levie money except a Senate and the Cash being the breasts by whose milk the Army was kept alive he knew they could not long subsist without it likewise he found by his well founded intelligence that dispair was arming all men in all the corners of the Nation Yet to encourage his souldiers he convocats all the nobility of Athens and communicats to the wittiest amongst them his design to re-establish Monarchy and desired them not to startle at any publick protestations to the contrary which necessity might wring from him and desires them to be ready waiting his call and for that effect he fills up all the vacant places in his Army with Athenians and authorâ—zes the rest to wear Arms as formerly But the Mercurialists in Athens endeavoured to oppose his designs alleaging that he desired a convocation of the Nobility only to ensnare them and laboured to impede the payment of those taxes which he required pretending that Anarchus would cause them be payed over again and not only so but would likewise impute the first payment of them to the Nation as an unpardonable crime by this means they thought to have hindered the payment of the Souldiers and without that they knew that Monus could not subsist As also they endeavoured to set the Nobility and Citizens by the ears alleagâ—ng that the Nobility laboured to cry down usury and to necessitate their Creditors to accept Lands for their Money which would ruine Trade But such was the zeal of the Nation for the re-establishment of Theopemptus and such was their affection to Monus that these Fanaticks gained nothing by all their pains but ignominy to themselves and a curse to their posterity Anarchus Army hearing that the Athenians were all in Arms covertly and fearing ambushes in a Country where they were both unaquainted and hated and knowing that Anarchus wanted money to pay their Arrears whereas Monus had paid those who served him they refuse to advance to Athens whereas it was thought that if he had advanced immediately that most of the Souldiery enclining his way that they had deserted Monus and followed him Whilst Anarchus is upon his march from Athens the Senate is setled in safety at Lacedemon by some Officers whom the Council had disobliged and whom the Senate had bribed with promises of future preferment which necessitated Anarchus to return but in his return all his Souldiers either dropped away privatly or revolted openly which forâ—ed him to make his capitulation but robbed him of the means of capitulating handsomly Monus follows and marches straight to Lacedemon and in his march is welcomed by the applauses of the people and addresses of the Gentry and found an unanimous desire in all men to have Theopemptus called home At his entry to Lacedemon he is carressed by the Senate at first yet afterwards they conjecture that he byasseth Theopemptus way wherefore to try him and to make him odious to the people they imploy him in razing down the gates of the City which he obeyes fearing to be discovered too soon but obeyes so wittily as that he makes the odium rebound upon themselves malice being a ball which if thrown violently bolts up presently upon the thrower and in stead of making the City his enemies he gains them to be his friends whereat the Senate shewes themselves dissatisfied fearing that such an honest servant would never satisfie such roguish masters Monus resolves joyntly with the City to procure the re-admission of those who being Colleagues with their present Senators were excluded because of their adherance to Anaxagius which he effectuates happily and thereby puts a bridle in the head of that unruly beast the Senate yet albeit those who were re-entred were the more numerous the old members so perplext them by debates and so oft discovered their secrets that they brake up the present Senate and called a new one In this Senate Theopemptus is called home not limited by conditions as some desired for how could Subjects give Law to a King and possibly these conditions would have been by the next ensuing Senate declared Tâ—reason and the Treaters declared Traitors but absolutely each endeavouring who should strengthen his prerogative most At his Proclamation the people kindled innumerable bonfires as if by them they intended to purge the air of these Nations which had been polluted with blasphemy against the gods and rebellion against the King formerly or else as if they intended to bury in these graves and burn to ashes those cares wherewith they had been formerly afflicted Their flames mounted so high that one might have thought that they intended to carry news of those Solemnities to heaven and the smoke covered the Tâ—owns pend-ways lest heaven should have discerned the extravagancies whereof the Inhabitants were guilty for gravity was banished as an enemy to their duty and madnesse was judged true loyalty the trumpets were ecchoed by the vociferations of the people and those vociferations seemed to obey the summons of the trumpets the bells likewise kept a part with the singing multitude so that both bells and people did both sing and dance all at once and the air no sooner received these news but it dispersed them to all the corners of the City and ears of the Citizens it being no crime to be in this a â—ale-bearer and the bullets did flee out of the Cannons as if they intended to meet him half way wine was sent in abundance to the earth that it might drink his Majesties health also and the glasses capreoled in the air for joy to hear his name some danced through the fire knowing that the wine had so much mâ—dified them that they needed not fear burning and others had bonfires kindled in their faces by the wine which they had drunk And as Theopemptus was remembred so Monus was not forgot some admiring his loyalty some his prudence and many both for he finding that the Army was the Ramparts which defended the late
into their scope likewise their travels acquaints them with the humours and interests of other Nations wherin homebred Princes are sometimes cheated and often mistaken by these Princes are obliged to moderate their passions to inure themselves to hardship and to converse with men of all conditions Another advantage they have likewise which is that by travelling whilest they are young they conceal many imperfections which to their great losse their youth would have discovered if they had lived at home These and many such considerations prompted me to travel and to disguise my name and birth which as it forced me to spend lesse so it capacitated me to learn more than else I could have done So having come over to Athens the general rendezvous of all great Spirits I did there meet Philarites whose fame and excellent qualities made me cull him out for my intimate Comrade but Sir I will reserve this story for his own narration that so he may have somewhat to gratifie your Lordship with his and my condition having robbed us of all other opportunities of doing your Lordship the least pleasure Monanthropus glad of this discovery but sorry for his former mistake did intreat Megistus to remember the Apologie he had made the other day whereat Megistus smiling said That all the reparation of honour which he required was his Lordships secresie in a matter of such importance and that he desired likewise rather out of custom than out of fear and desired that his Lordsh. should not think it detracted from the confidence he placed on his ingenuity seing the most intire and the least jealous friends will desire the like meerly to signifie that they look upon what is related as a thing wherein they desire secresie which their friends would else take for matters of no such moment and withall he intreated That his Lordship would acquaint him with the true state of affairs as they stood for the time in that Nation wherin he now sojourned Seing Intelligence was the soul of Policy by which it was animated and without which Statesmen could neither foresee nor shun inconveniences and of all intelligence that was to be preferred which was had by one who had been an actor as his Lordship was To which Monanthropus courteously replyed Your Highness which title Megistus conjured him not to make use of lest by it he should be deciphered by your command compells me to do what none but ye could gain from me for that discourse will reflect upon and detract from my native country of whose honour I would be as tender as of my Mothers for seing I am come out of its bowels I do in a manner esteem it my Mother as also my narration may seem to receive a false tincture from my discontentment neither is it fit to make such relations to strangers who may glean from it some of the hidden Maximes of our State the concealment of which would make the discourse seem empty and would leave you Sir seing I must term you so most unsatisfied yet seing that same providence which hath sent you thither perswades me that it hath singled you out as a Physician to cure our maladies I shall conceal none of our infirmities from you Wherefore Sir ye shall know that this Kingdom which is one of the first Lodgings given to poor mortals by the immortal gods was governed alwayes by Kings and to abridge my story leaving to history what may be learned from it Plistus father to our present Monarch was a good but a simple Prince whereof his Nobles taking advantage sought to settle the Government really in their persons that they might imploy the publick treasure to repair the breaches which their profuse luxury had made in their private fortunes and the power and honour of the State to satiate their unsatiable ambition wherupon first six and then moe combined amongst themselves and against their Prince which Plistus simple in other things but witty in this perceiving became almost distracted with fear yet providence diverted that blow which doubtlesse else had murdered both him and his Kingdom for Malâ—hus the Mufty for so they call our High-Priest convocating all the Priests whose number the laziness and superstition of our Nation hath made infinit to a solemn Assembly went and secretly proffered his service and assistance to his Prince whose hatred to the Nobles and whose fear of the event had made him willing not only to accept but even to desire the aid of his subjects the King having first thanked and then condescended to imbrace his proffer they plotted the extirpation of the complotting Noblemen which was thus acted The Noblemen and the Priests meeting in Alexandria about the same time Malchus having taken an oath both of secresie and obedience from all of them unfolded to them the complot of the Noblemen and how the King had none to confide in besides them whose courage might make in one instant their Countrey and their King eternally happy he likewise shewed them proof of the Noblemens treason and of the Kings pleasure Whereupon all assenting he went by way of procession carrying the Image of Apollo streight to the Lodging where the Noblemen were assembled where having seized upon them and upon their papers which had been shewn him by one of their Secretaries whom he had bribed he was presently rescued by the King who commanded the flocking people to retire home The King in requitall of this courtesie advanced presently Malchus to be Chancellour of the Nation wherein at first he evidenced both so much wit and moderation as that the gods themselves seemed to be his cabinet counsel yet at last his ambition which he had all this time keeped chained by prudence did at last break prison and he treated privately with some of the imprisoned Nobles to ransom themselves by marrying his Neeces which they willingly accorded to he likwise perswaded the King that it would blunt extreamly the edge of the peoples envie and would strengthen extreamly the Kingdom whose noble parts the Nobles were and consequently whose weaknesse would weaken the body and that wise Kings should be like wise Physicians who should never cut off a diseased member if there be any hopes to cure it he sent abroad upon foreign imployments all the active Spirits fomented all the old jealousies and created new betwixt the Nobles so that the King by curing himself of one disease as it hapneth in the usage of all nimious and vehement cures fell in another as if not more dangerous Malchus finding that one of his own countrymen was unfit to be his Minion and Successour after his death did chuse one Sophander a Grecian who had been resident at the Court for the Athenian Senate to be his Favourite for he imagined that if he had chosen a Nobleman of his own Nation he might have supplanted him and if he had chosen a base and low-born Gentleman his extraction being notorious to all the Nation might have rendred him despicable
rellish the better that they were eaten in his society whose presence could make the worst fare a feast Madam replyed Megistus who feeds on your ravishing looks feasteth beyond all the dainties that Venus table can afford him But whilest she was pulling these Cherries Megistus was pulling the poysoning hemblocks of poysoning love for looking upon Agapeta's eyes he thought they were Cupids quiver wherein he kept all his mortal darts every trait of her face seemed a storehouse of sweetness and her hair which because of its colour and curlings resembled so many gold rings proved to him chains to fetter the feet of his trembling soul he was in end awaked out of his extasie of admiration wherein his love had lulled him asleep by Philarites who had traced him from his Chamber whom Agapeta saluting courteously they fetcht some walks in the pleasant Alley recounting the various and charming pleasures of the â—ast Solemnity and amongst the other pleasing passages that had occurred Agapeta told hâ—m how a Lady had fairded her decayed looks with the youthfull colours that she had borrowed from Art was deciphered by a young Gentleman who by the reflection of a burning-glasse melted away those splendid colours who seemed shamefully to hast awayâ— how soon they were discovered I remember said Megistus of such an affront wherewith just providence rewarded a young Ladies cheating pains in our Country who being mistris of a Ball given her at her own lodging retired alwayes to an inner chamber where by a little feather she sprinkled her face with some white Lilly water with which she seemed continually to recruit those auxilaries which she had hired out of Arts territories to assist her weak beauty a Gentleman perceiving that the Phyol wherein it was stood in the dark corner of a chamber which she had purposly obscured fearing lest light should discover that work of darknesse went and removed the Phyol exchanging it with another full of Ink which the Lady at her return made use of as formerly besmearing her face with it and returning was welcomed by the unrestrainable laughter of all the spectators It is just said Agapeta that the gods should punish those who by the pencil of vanity will undertake to amend any thing in a piece which hath once past their hands they are added Megistus like those cunning hunters who cover branches with birdlime to ensnare some silly fowl which little expects their Art yet I think that as these are skâ—llesse merchants who hazard much where there is but little to be gained and where the gain albeit they escape cannot ballance the losse if their voyage thrive not So those Ladies will lose more in their repute if once entrapped than the repute of a fine face can advantage them if discovered for the one will cry them down below all those at Court albeit the other can never plead preference to them before all those raying faces which shine there Yea I think they accuse themselves of some notable defect which they think cannot be palliated but by some notable cheat and detracts extreamly from their own sex shewing that colour is its greatest ornament and from ours in thinking that colour is a sufficient price for our dearest liberty Agapeta being called-for by a Lady from the Queen left Megistus in a drooping condition like a lowring Solsequium at the Suns absence or like the disconsolaâ—e body receiving the flitting soul's last adieu Not long after this an accident at Court disturbed somwhat the quiet of both the Knights who dragging after them one link of misfortunes fatal chain were followed by all its fellows Some Noblemen at Court not daring to attaque Sophanders grandour in his own person resolved to affront him in the person of these Knights his avowed minions and petitioned the King that their priviledges might not be infringed by his nimious respect to strangers and that seing their predecessors had planted by their pains and watered by their bloud the thriving Vine of blossoming Monarchy in that Nation that they their successors might now eat with pleasure and in safety its delicious fruits and that strangers might not reap what they had sown Therefore they entreated his Majestie not to prefer these strangers to them seing albeit they might be Nobles at home yet they could not be esteemed as Nobles in Egypt for albeit Gentility because it is a quality dyed with the bloud be the same everywhere so that a Gentleman in one Nation is a Gentleman in every Nation he having received that honour from the hand of Nature whose subjects all Nations are whence it comes that a Gentleman of one Kingdom may by the Law of Arms challenge another seing he leaves not his Bloud when he leaves his Country yet Nobility is the donative of the Prince which none are obliged to acknowledge who are not his subjects and so out-reaches not his Territories but like the Loadstone loseth its energie when without the spheare of its allowed activity Therefore by the Law of Nations and of Arms Noblemen are not accounted such when amongst strangers The King calling Megistus and Philarites privatly told them the quarrel who entreated his Majesty to satisfie his Nobles and not to put them in the scales with strangers whose assistance was lesse valuable and more uncertain than that of his natives But the King ashamed of their insolency and willing to gratifie the generous Knights told them that he would advance them to be Knights and honor them with the Collar of Iupiter an Order instituted in Egypt to difference highly-deserving persons from the rabble of ordinary Knights whom the ambition of the Subject and lenity of the Prince had by making it ordinary made it despicable and that thereby they might claim preference from all the other Subjects every-where without the verge of National Solemnities such as in Parliaments Senates Councils where none could be admitted but these whose fortunes lying within the circle of the Nation might oblige them to riske their lives for their Countries safeâ—y men being alwayes most willing to go when interest pouseth them As also it is dangerous to admit strangers to the intimacy of national mysteries neither is it thought prudence in a King to admit those to manage affairs who have not estates to be hostages for their fidelity and to repay the injuries done during their Government to private persons The Knights did on their knees acknowledge his Majesties civilities but told him that they wished his Majesty not to prostitute these honours to ignominy by conferring them upon persons so little meriting for they were sensible how destructive the impressa of honour was to subjects draining the purses of suâ—jects in buying them from the hands of profuse Courtiers who as they sinned against the King in abusing his favours so they sinned against the Gods and Common-wealth in imploying its price as suffultors to support the shield of their matchless pride and how when these abject richlings or richlesse Gentlemen had once
for its own defence did alleadge that jealousie might be mistaken aswell as hope and especially amongst women whose genius byassed most that way for as men because of their courage are oftenest befooled by hope so women because of their innate timerousness are oftenest betrayed by fear and of all women lovers are soonest overcome by fear for as their love multiplieth perfection in the person loved so those perfections multiply fears in the person loving even as they whose coffers regorge with treasures fear most the losse of their treasure Love likewise teacheth us to overvalue others and undervalue our selves and so perswadeth us that all the world gapes after what we affect most and that of all pretenders we deserve least and so there is reason to fear that seing we deserve it not albeit none pretended to its enjoyment that there is much more reason to fear a losse of what we love in the throng of so many competitors Now Pleasure intended to change its camp and like the Sun to make all the world debtor to it splendor by turns intending often to aggreage its respect by its absence and to conciliate respect elsewhere by its presence so that oftentimes it doth like all other agents by the same means produce contrary events so that some by being merry others by being retired some by being proud others by being humane attain by these contrary midses to the same end of glory like two men by opposite wayes meeting others on the other side of perfections globe to which men may go by contrary motions For whilst the Court was bathing themselves in their pleasure a Currier comes telling the King that a Navie of strangers were riding before Iris expecting a safe entry from the next tide and that some Fishers had by their Flags perceived them to be the Navie of Prastus King of Persia who disputed propriety in the Kingdom of Egypt For Xistus grandfather to the King who now liveth was by birth King of Persia and for his valour elected King of Egypt and so Prastus's father being his first-born was righteous Heir of both Crowns but the Nation really scorning to be annexed to Persia and thinking that slavery too unworthy a recompence for their respectfull choice elected the second son because albeit he was but second son to Xistus yet he was their Kings eldest son Prastus's father being born before his fathers acquest of Egypt and so they preferred him to his elder brother so that ever since he and his successours have still waited a quarrel to revenge their unjust resentments The King allarmed with these news did by his fear adde to the strength and number of Prastus Forces and by looking upon his own Forces through the wrong end of truths prospect did see them lesse and more inconsiderable than really they were his danger was eminent and his Forces scattered his Courtiers dissatisfied and his Adversaries rich his Soldiers unexperienced and theirs most expert as also their remoteness from their Country would make them stack all the stock of their courage upon the game whereas his Souldiers knowing where to retreat would care the lesse how to fight Megistus perceiving that the waves of the King's doubts raged extreamly intended to calm them by the oyl of his courage whereupon accosting his Majesty as he was solitary in his Cabinet he desired a Commission to muster under his Majesties Standard such as would make their lives their Countreys bulwork and who might catch some advantage of the unwary Persians whom either presumption or Sea-sickness might weaken beyond expectation The King loth to hazard that ominous Encounter for so the first alwayes is upon so great odds told him he would reserve his courage as the spurre whereby all his Army might be incited to ride triumphs carreer and that a skirmish was not a theatre large enough to Megistus to display his courage upon nor a handfull of men witnesses enow to so renowned a valour yet at last confiding in Megistus's courage and afraid of the peoples dangerous commotions he authorized his Designe Megistus name was a trumpet loud enough to call together all those who longed to draw the swords of their Courage out of the sheath of laziness and to sheath them in the bowels of their Countries enemies and now he had clewed some twelve hundred who like a snow-ball became more bulkish the further it was rouled wherefore he intended in this his first addresses to Agapeta to usher himself in with this happy opportunity and after a profound reverence said Madam I come to levy new forces out of your looks to assist me in this combate against your fathers enemies and to have my Commission sealed by the hand of your pleasure Who dare resist when ye command and who would love that bloud which would not kisse the ground for your satisfaction I know justice will take off that vail wherewith we see her eyes ordinarily mufled up to behold your quarrel and will put victories garland in your hand that ye may crown those who stand in your defence wherefore Madam I am come to resign my heart to you and to leave it under your cure and in the hospital of your mercy where many thousands besides it lies seing its wounds forbids me to take it alongst with me and in place of it I shall fill my breast with a drachm of hopes which I am to expect from the scales of your Ladiships favour Agapeta fearing lest her rudenesse might unfit him for the journey and desiring to animate him who only by his example could animate the rest and who was the axletree whereon courage's wheels was then to roul told him that she wisht her wishes could assist him whose valour was to assist her and that she thought her self most fortunate who could salary such Warriors with so little expence of treasure her smiles being all the solde which was sought wherefore she entreated him to expect all the favour that a Lady could indulge to him Megistus being ready to reply was called by a Gentleman who told him that his Troups were ready to march so that leaving Agapeta's chamber he rendezvouzed his glorious Troups whose glory was sublimated by the presence of Philarites and the Martial Knight who seemed to be the Diamonds that set the great price upon the Golden Ring of that Assembly from thence they marched about midnight and did the next morning arrive at Iris where they lurked all night in caves expecting the enemies landing whom the boisterous wind had hindred from landing till then which was not a tedious attendance for the next morning Sotorus who commanded these Naval Forces fearing no resistance because of the unexpectedness of their voyage and the covertness of their designs did foot the shoar as if he had come rather to triumph than to conquer and expected that victory would meet him half way to welcome him to Egypt but whilst he was shoaring his Regiments Megistus giving the signal to those who were
for these favours said Madam Philarites is not unconstant but Pinasa is a cheater so she spun out to her the whole web of their discourse so exactly as that ARETINA by the help of what her memory furnish'd her from the Letter and from Placeta's discourse did easily piece up the whole progresse of their hellish treachery ARETINA who would not unvail her resentments in presence of her maid desired the curtains might be drawn for she intended to sleep and commanded the door should be shut The maid being removed she accused her self thus for her former jealousie O unworthy ARETINA seing thy credulity hath declared thee such Was it not enough that thou mightest be vicious by one of those vices which could reach its poyson only to thy self without harbouring a vice that stained the repute of such a spotless person as Philarites was neither his fame nor thy experience antidotes sufficient against that venome of jealousie How darest thou place his portracture in so polluted a room as thy polluted heart and if fate convoy him to paradise in the chariot of some glorious enterprise there to punish thee for thy crime and reward him for his vertue who shall absolve thee from that guilt which thou hast contracted and if he pardon thee that will evidence his goodness but not thy guiltlesness and his very smiles shall be thy continuall accusers Whilest grief was thus triumphing love replied that she was not so culpable as she alleaged for â—â—alousie was at worst but an excesse in love and excesse is not accounted so heinous a guilt as defects were seing excess had all that was to be found in the vertue which it transgressed and superadded somewhat to it whereas the defect could frame no title to any of the least of vertues perfections Moreover seing the greatness of the temptation was the golden rule whereby Moralists squared the smalness of the viâ—e that in this case the undiscoverablness of their plots minâ—ed exceeding the guilt of her escape Lovâ— in its plea alleageth also that albeit womens breasts be ordinarily Cristal-like transparant yet she had not blazed abroad her passion nor his crime but had chosen rather to sit destitute of comfort than to receive comfort from one whom she behoved to make conscious to her griefs and his escapes and how that Philarites himself had been a builder in this Babylon of mistakes by not saluting her at his departure and in wearing the Livery of another Lady Thus ARETINA loved more now than formerly resembling in that a curious Watch which runneth most soundly when it is first disjoynted and thereafter pieced up by a skilfull Artist or the breaches of a besieged City daubed thereafter with more strength than formerly by the wary indwellers Thus she spent some restless hours till sleep truced up a cessation of arme betwixt these warring passions After two hours sleep which were not able to defray so much wearinesse she was awaked by the deafning acclamations of a great many street-runners whereupon calling her maid she desired to know the origine of these confusions who told her That the Persians were beat by the two Knights and that Philarites had captivated the Persian General This report was seconded by a Letter from Agapeta who to congratulat Philarites success acquainted her with all the passages of the Victory The next morning Philarites the lungs of whose love could breath no air contentedly but what they suckt in ARETINA'S presence sent Kalodulus to learn if he might have accâ—ss to ARETINA'S chamber which being indulged him he came circled in his passage by the joyfull Egyptians and being entered and the servants removed spoke thus with a majestick and yet discomposed air MADAM That arm which hath been so fortunate as to be imployed in your service and which your interest hath strengthened to the extirpation of your enemies comes now by imbracing your feet to do homage to its divine Princesse the veins of my courage were filled with no other bloud than that of love neither was my sword otherwise edged than by the whetstâ—ne of true affection Wherefore Madam it is upon your head that Victories garland should be placed and it is to you that I carry these Bayes of applause which your too civil Compaâ—riots have propined me with SIR said ARETINA if ye had resigned your self over to my disposal as ye long since professed surely ye were too rash in jeoparding a body which was not your own and I should think her much mistaken who would set her heart in a breast which ye expose daily to so many hazards Madam if I knew replyed Philarites that my breast were the residence of such a noble guest doubtless I would be carefull of it yet Madam I am confident that if such a heart as yours were placed in it the gods would imploy their special providence to be a buckler to it ARETINA'S eye travelled alongst all the proportions of his well limb'd body whose proportion his close armour shewed most remarkably But Philarites eyes dwelt upon each trait of ARETINA'S face and upon the most negligent motions of her body as objects proportionated enough to a mans united admiration in whom he perceived all beauties globe mapped up in small bounds The next morning their correspondence was somewhat discontinued by Monanthropus arrivall whom the King had at Megistus's instigation recalled to Court The Knights at his arrival waited upon him assiduously and their attendance re-invited the eyes of the Courtiers to behold him as a person in whom their Nation had great interest only Sophander dreamed that his grandour was much ruffled by his presence and it would be somewhat minced by the respect which all did bear him neither was he much mistaken for he became the standard under which the male contents at Court listed themselves and to whom all true Egyptians made address and all concluded that he was a Comet appearing before Sophanders destruction Yet the King vizarded his real love to Monanthropus and his real aversion from Sophander leâ—t the change should prove as dangerous as it was sudden and Monanthropus imployed his friends to desire his wellwishers to lowe somewhat the sails of their nimious respect till providence should calm the ocean of their misfortunes Prastus finding his hopes stifled and his designs blasted and being informed of Sophanders murmurings treated with him incognito to promove his interest and in requital he should after his conquest of Egypt be promoted to the Government of it and if that project framed not that he should have the same charge in Persia which he enjoyed at that time in Egypt This was a bait at which Sophanders avarice did greedily bite and the rather because he found every accident prognosticated his ruine and that his misery wanted onely time to ripen it Wherefore he did now begin to bend all the force of his malice against the Egyptian Monarchy imploying the experience of State which he gained in their service to do them now
the sons of Noblemen and possibly his own friends might have some void Charges and Offices whereto they might pretend and wherein being once installed they might evidence more loyalty to him than strangers would do as also that the Nobility might be counterpoised and might not share alone in all the Offices of State in whose hands they were more dangerous than in the hands of Ecclesiasticks whose revenues were not great nor whose vassals and kinsmen were not numerous these the other Ecclesiasticks grudged infinitly not so much because they thought their promotion illegal as angry because they were not promoted themselves ambition perswading the soberest amongst them that the higher they were they would be the nearer to heaven Many judged likewise that he was most ill satisfied with the Lacedemonian Senate which was composed ordinarily of the wittiest and turbulentest persons in the Nation and intended often to have each City choose as their Representative some Residenter who might understand best the necessities of his Town and would nible lesse at the Royal Prerogative whereas Lawyers and others being often commissionated by them dipped too much in what belonged to the King and too little in what concerned the place represented by them and in Athens when it was tabled whether each County and Town should be licentiate to chuse any they looked upon as fittest it was concluded by the Nobles there that this choaked their interest for if they should be permitted to chuse the Lawyers or Wits of the Nation the Nobles should be topped by them in all debates and upon all occasions He likewise was most unsatisfied with the dependences of the Tribes of that Nation upon their own Families and upon the Princes thereof to whom the King in their affection was but second for he esteemed these the storehouses of faction and nurseries of oppression none daring either follow the Royall Standard except under their conduct nor daring countenance a stranger if not in bloud or affinity with them and as that wise Prince often said these could not be properly thought his subjects who were so much in subjection to others nor could not imploy both their hands in upholding the Throne the one whereof was busied in paling up the Prince of their own Family and so by dividing their hearts betwixt their Prince and him they made them unserviceable for either These seemed but dwarf discontentments when placed beside that gyant prejudice which was conceived against him because of his irregular and monster-like affection to Phratus his Minion who enhanced all the Royal favour as due to none but to himself whose mean extraction when collationed with his top-high preferment seemed insufferable to those of higher birth and lower fortunes but these adverted not who seing no familiarity nor intimacy can be betwixt those amongst whom there is no equality that therefore Princes must advance some one above all the rest to whom he may communicate and in whose breasts he may pour out his greatest secrets that so he may not be vexed alwayes in bowing down to speak to them or to hear what they would speak to him and customarily Princes pile out those whose birth cannot occasion any fears that they will entertain any nimious pretences These Favourites are the skreens which defend Kings from popular malice and the pack-horses upon whom all enmity and miscarriages are laid and their ruine is often the main article of pacification betwixt the King and Subject who to repay their many taxations and losses seek no other requital than their destruction and whom Princes themselves often suffer like spunges to suck in treasure from the people knowing that when they are filled by them they will devour lesse of what pertains to the publick cash as also that they may wring them when they are full and so be thanked by the people for retaking that treasure from the Favourite which if they had immediatly taken from themselves they had been most bitterly exclaimed against this Gentlâ—man was but meanly born and ascended to honours parlour rather by the back-stairs of private affection than by the publâ—ck entry of merit and ordinarily those thrive best for all the difficulty of agrandizing ones self at Court is at the first entry and commonly those who are well descended have all the bars of difficulty laid in their way by their competing equals and many to pull them down whilst they are mounting whereas many persons mount these stairs undiscoveredly without being once leted Yea oft-times they imp themselves in some Noblemans train who in flying high drawes them after him Another great mean of his advancement was his favour amongst the Ladies who are more prodigal of their encomions to those whom they affect than are their wary husbands and whose sex and charms procure often both countenance and respect to those whom they once honour with the title of their Favourite non daring offend such lest they should be forced to take up the cudgel of enmity against a Lady and all being most ready to signifie their respect to these Ladies in the persons of their Favorite seing most want the means of engaging themselves from this grain of mustard-seed did grow up that large stalk whose fruits did thereafter so bite the mouths of all the Nation and by this sparkle was kindled that great fire which did thereafter both scorch his enemies and warm his friends and whose flames were the only lights which shew Courtiers the way to preferment Yet the people ceased not to cry out against him as the Canicular Star which made the influence of Court so noxious all the dayes of his reign being their dogg-dayes his prodigality was called the occasion of the many taxations and his pride the reason why all others were disgraced which a zealous friend to his Majesty did one day thus remonstrate to him Sir it is not your own but your Favourits prodigality which uncoffereth your treasury for all Kings that ever reigned in Lacedemon have successively lived at the same rate that ye live yet have their treasuries often grown fatter whereas yours becomes daily more lean but the reason why one King spends more than another is because their Minions are more or lesse profuse for when a King chuseth for his Favourit a lame wit which needs silver stilts to uphold him then is the treasure impoverished he feareth all and so must bribe many and his intelligence I mean not for his Princes maintenance but for his own must be maintained at the publick charge as also the frequency of your Majesties Nobles at Court is one of the moths which consumes this poor Nation for luxury having made lean their purses in an instant they must be privatly interlarded with publick treasure and the carcase of some Pension or Monopolie must be presently thrown to them to feed upon neither is this the only inconvenience which ensueth upon their constant attendance at Court for they must when there contend with one another whose train shall
befooled resolved thereafter to imploy alwayes two or three knowing that they could not then be so easily bribed This Taurus did thereafter find the King's ear alwayes very open to him and as he was happy in being his Master 's Confident so each man thought himself happy if he could but once obtain the favour as to be his yet his Majesty was much mistaken in this choice for this wit was too subtile to be imployed in such subtile times and it did afterwards prove so sharp that it cut himself sharp wits being like sharp razors which should only be used by very stedfast hands else if the hand vary the razor cannot but make some gash which was sufficiently verified in Taurus for he endeavoured so much to cheat all and please all that he was in fine cheated by all and pleased none for not being able to head one faction himself he was alwayes zealouzed by both the other factions who endeavoured both to ruine him seing neither of them could ensure him for as winds that changes oft are hated by all sailers because they can neither serve those who are to go or come So these changelings are neglected by all parties neither can they ever advance themselves for whoever gains they will be still losers whereas if they did constantly adhere to any faction they would either gain when their interest were masters or at least they might secure themselves by their own parties capitulation neither are ever these changlings admitted to the cabinet-counsels of either nor know ever more nor what the revealers fear not to divulge He was admitted by his Prince to oversee his treasure wherein it was thought that his Prince was much misted and wherein he himself did likewise bewray some weaknesse his Princes errour was that he should have promoted one whose estate was yet to be founded by the government of his Cash which was all one as if he would put his full trencher to the mercy of a hungry dog and especially seing it was notory that not only his necessity but even his humour poused him too much to these designs his own errour was that he should have begun to reform those errours in the State which because of his poverty and humour were concluded to be inventions hatch'd rather to enrich himself than his master Thus flourished and thus perished Taurus whose wit occasioned both his advancement and his ruine like one thrown down those same stairs by which he mounted Taxes and gabels are as necessary in the politick body as the spleen is in the natural yet in both they engender many diseases private men thinking that lost which goes from their own privat coffers and as patients often judge the moneys bestowed upon Physicians ill imployed after they find themselves re-instated in their former health attributing their recovery more to Nature than to his pains So subjects when they are enstated in that peace which the vigilancy of their Prince aided by their taxes hath procured for them judge their taxes superfluous never pondring in the scales of prudence what advantage the reap by them which indeed the meaner sort who complain most cannot faddom but ruminate still upon the losse in once paying them yet this natural aversion they have from them is oft scrued up to a greater height by the bad choice of those who are by the Court destinated to collect them who being avaritious and odious persons for those alwayes offer most for the farm of them knowing by their rigidity to repay those vast sums and so are still preferred which incites the people to abominate those taxes more than formerly knowing that not only they go from themselves but likewayes go to fill the purses of these detestable miscreants Neither is the unequall distribution of these taxes a small disadvantage to the Prince for as it grieves a man to pay any at all so it grieves him yet more that they should pay more than others So that whilst the friends and clients of some Courtiers are spared others must bear their burdens and so men being alwayes prone to compute their own wrongs by the Arithmetick of comparisons those who are wronged judges their injuries so much the greater that they see their neighbours totally exempted for albeit the Prince may satisfie his people in telling them the true cause of such impositions in general or hoodwink them in forging reasons where there are none yet there is no Court-sophister so cunning as to shew a reason why some are exempted others not whereupon those who are extortioned they exclaim first and then are oft-times seconded by those to whom no wrong was done at all who hope by these vociferations to get these impositions totally banished or else do fear lest the case of their vexed neighbours may one day become their own seing they have no leases of these favours more than others and which they know to be mortal aswell as those who indulge them but if people would advert how that twenty or thirty crowns a year keep off either a forreign war or prevents a civil which would moulder away the half of their estates if not prevented yea and rob the wife of her husband and the father of his children they would then condemn themselves because they now condemn their Prince and it is often seen that those Nations flourish best and conquer most whose subjects are poorest and whose treasures are fullest the riches of subjects occasioning their luxury and their luxury kindling a war that which is fattest kindling alwayes soonest whereas the riches of the publick cash are a rampart against publick invasions and forceth strangers not to interrupt the Nationall Commerce nor to abridge but rather to enlarge their Priviledges These contemptible grievances were the small Machines which first moved that bulkish body of the popular fury in Lacedemon not against the King but against Court-parasites as they pretended the mal-contents of that Nation who were then members of the Senate taking occasion of Anaxagius his present necessity being engaged by a National consent in a forreign war which as it tended to the repute of Lacedemon should have in reason been prosecuted upon their charges Some thought that these debates might have been easily reconciled for many at least some of these taxes had been granted to some of Anaxagius his predecessors for their own life-time only the subject thinking that the securest way to preserve his priviledge and the Prince thinking it sufficient to satisfie his present necessity and considering that if his successors were able either by love or power to command their people that then he might prorogate that tax for their life-time also but if contrariwise his successors would be so simple as rather to beg than to acclaim these taxes as due that then they could never expect to obtain them albeit they had been granted as appanages of the Crown wherefore seing the Senat denyed them only as due by succession they thought that the King might either have
the goodnesse of their quarrel I know they deck my death with their inhumane triumphs to make death seem the more terrible to me and my cause seem the more undesirable to others But as for me seing the cause for which I suffer is just the more I suffer the more the immortal gods and my kind prince are my debtors and the more remarkable they make it the more famous shall it prove to posterity I have alwayes esteemed them happy who lye upon the brinks of times impetuâ—â—s river remarking how it glides away swiftly bubling up bells here and 〈◊〉 whereof the greatest are alwayes the least durable and dissolving them instantly whereof two or three somtimes joyn together and shortly ruine each other and in other places foaming through rage and spight 〈◊〉 some rock or stone retards its violent course but unhappy are thâ—se who delights too much to swim in it and as it were by way of compliment to run alongst with its streams yet seing happinesse consists in action and since it is unnatural in any man to be a willing or at least an idle spectator of his Countries miseries for to be idle is in some wayes to be willing in things commanded by duty I admire him most who acts most for it and who like the bees will sting him who intends either to remove or to wrong their hive I am condemâ—ed as guilty of treason because I obeyed my Prince against whom treason only can be committed and seeing it had been treason if I had disobeyed how can my obedience make me a traitor I am accounted crâ—el but can truly be no more reputed such than he who endeavours with rebukes and lashes to reduce a runâ—agate and runaway servant to the obedience of his kind and condescending master Neither I hope shall others be frighted by these my sufferings sâ—ing misfortun 's balls canâ—â—t hit alwayes the same mark and I hope others shall be admitted to build that pallace to which we have only served as Quarriers and albeit they should meet death either in the Camp or upâ—â— a Scaffold why should that terrifie them seing to die so is to die in the arms of honour after which they may expect to have a Monument of Fame erected for them Whereas those who put the hour-glasse of their life in the trembling hand of fear will oft-times have it broken unâ—xpectedly by a fall both dishonourable and irrecoverable This discourse being ended the Executioner first hanged and then quartered him and the very Scaffold dyed with his blood seemed to blush at the cruelty of his Judges all condemning their cruelty and admiring his courage so that Sampson-like as Christians use to say he overcame moe at his death than he did in his life teaching Statesmen never to execute publickly those who are loved generally and thus was extinguished by the puddle of faction and malice that lamp which was kindled by the hand of providence Anaxagius affairs in Lacedemon were by this time wholly ruined for the specious pretext of liberty being displayed as a banner by the Senate all the Commons rendezvouzed themselves under it and albeit their consciences and experience did therafter inform them sufficiently of their errour yet fear of being punished obliged them to continue in their crime telling them in the ear that albeit their cause was bad yet their danger was inevitable Anaxagius own servants likewise did sing their own parts in this treasonable song for they as they pretended when challenged by their friends fore-seeing their masters ruine which they were not able to resist resolved rather to stand without him than fall with him like those who having sailed long in a pretty ship finding that she is like to split do break away a piece off her whereon they may come ashoare in safety But it is no wonder to see the Devil who cheated the judgement before the commission of the sin cheat the conscience after it is once committed and by such impious sophistry defend his cheats against the just accusations of piety and duty These miscreants did pick nightly his Majesties pockets and send doubles of his Letters to his enemies whereby both his plots were discovered his friends laid open to his enemies malice and likewise his own repute hugely tashed for some finding their correspondence with him and only known as they thought to him thus revealed concluded that he behoâ—ved himself to be the revealer And certainly â—his scarred even his most loyal friends from corresponding with him who albeit they durst â—ot harbour such disparaging thoughts of him â—s that was Yet shunned to throw themselves 〈◊〉 that snare wherein they saw others both â—atched and murdered Another cardinal errour in Anaxagius was That upon the tumults and insolencies of the â—â—ulgar sort in the City of Lacedemon he reâ—â—quished the City fearing that these fatâ—l â—omets did animate some signal alteration But by his flight he rather encreased their jealousie than evited their clamourous malice which was so swift-footed as to pursue him whereâ—ever he went for in his absence the authorâ— of these seditions did not now fear to be revealed nor when revealed to be so sharpâ—â— punished as formerly Whereas if he had stayed at Lacedemon his generous and modest â—â—portment would have refuted most of thesâ— malicious and groundlesse discourses whicâ— were now openly ventilated against him thâ— City likewise finding that he misconstrueâ— them so far as to think himself not securâ— whilst amongst them did now joyn with thâ— Senate cordially advancing them money wherâ— by both Army and Navie was maintained anâ— whereby those who followed Anaxagius werâ— entised to cantone themselves in the Senatâ— faction neither could the Senate commanâ— the Navie without the Navie from whom 〈◊〉 its materials could only be expected Whereâ—upon a Gentleman said to his Majesty one morâ—ning That a King was like the heart whicâ— when it is by any unnatural motion removeâ— from its wonted seat that certainly its dissolution must ensue shortly It is likewise firmly believed by many in thâ— Nation that the Senate fearing lest the Kâ—â— of Egypt brother to their Queen should seâ—â— some auxiliary Forces against them did by their Ambassadors buy with considerable sums Sophander's friendship representing likewise covertly that such a War would pick his Masters purse leaving little or nothing to his friends and favourites who otherwise might expect largely and that it was the interest of Egypt to see Lacedemon in such a hubbub They likewise treated with the Common-wealth of Corinth to advance them Arms promising that they should have liberty of fishing in their Seas without any toll a priviledge which the Corinthians feared Anaxagius would both question and recall The Sun of Anaxagius power was beginning to set the Nobles of whom his Army consisted mostly in Lacedemon were like flies returning in the cool of the evening and many attributed his ruine to their military disorders and unskilfulness for each of them behoved to be preferred to some
helpfull to them seing the sons presence would impatron their defection from the father and seing the father behoved either to condescend to their overtures fearing lest the people might uphold the Crown upon his tender head which was not yet strong enough to bear it else if that framed not according to their wishes they might keep the son as an hostage for the fathers obedience intending to cut him off how soon the father cut off their hopes these were the endeavours of wicked Autarchus who as he was wicked in this so was blind in not perceiving that providence perceived his bloudy designs The Mercurialists who had a long time pedled under the Jovists did now begin to trade for themselves these were persons whose zeal was so hot as that it burnt their charity and whose charity was so cold as that it did frieze their natural affection interesting themselves in all businesses and busying themselves with all interests who sighed not so much out of piety albeit that was pretended as because they saw their faction crossed or themselves not advanced and whose tears gushed out fearing that if they stayed within they should be contaminated by their pestiferous breasts which the dullest of men might by the breath of their words know to be infected these had in their hearts abjured their Prince and perjured themselves perjuring themselves in so far as they had abjured their Prince and by tolerating all sects and slagitious persons had almost possessed all the Offices of the Army and who were perswaded to desert the Jovist faction when they resolved to desert their Prince knowing that these two justled one against the other whereupon they proclaim immunity to all crimes providing the criminals be willing to associate with them in the crime of treason when any thing was to be agitated in the Senate they sent abroad those members who were of the Jovist faction imploying them either in levying men or monies in the Country or in transactions of small importance up and down the City and under pretext of guarding the Senate they placed alwayes guards of their own cabel for all the Souldiers followed their principles as those which licensed them most to satisfie their own irrational appetites and by that means hindred all the Senators who were not of their judgment from entring to give their judgments in subjects debatable and this cheat they used when Anaxagius was declared by the Senate guilty of treason as we related formerly yea at that time they caused some of the Guards call them out of the House pretending some particulars with them whom when they came they pulled away not suffering them to enter till the debate was ended and hurrying away others to prison alledging an order from the Senate for what they did which none durst challenge seing they dared once to alledge it But after Anaxagius death all the Jovist faction removed themselves abhorring by their presence to authorise such illegal actings as also Cyrus Generall of the Army resigned his batton finding that Autarchus endeavoured both to defame and ruine him in the Army Meetings amongst subjects have alwayes been esteemed unmeet by the Prince as being the nests wherein the Cockatrices of Rebellion are oft hatcht and seing in them treasonable projects are oft at least may be easily ventilated the Prince hath reason to advert to them and may justly prohibite them for since they resemble Incorporations they should aswell as those be authorized by his permission but especially such Conventicles as dare not admit light to be a member wherfore Law justly presumes that to be done illegally which is done secretly for if the actors might avow publickly their meetings it is not probable that they would be at the pains to hunt for privacies especially seing ambition prompts the least vain amongst men to act what they think allowable before witnesses In these Conventicles all the cheats of that faction were hatched for whilst they perswaded men that they were sacrificing at these times to the immortal gods they were really but borrowing the seal of devotion that they might affix it to the forged writs of their own capricious and rebellious fancies and were afterwards inhibited by Autarchus when sole Governour who knowing best by what means he had cheated the people himself knew best how to close those back-passages upon others and who by condemning it in others acknowledge it damnable in himself The Athenians perceived now their errour in believing the Lacedemonian Senate and Phanosebus did now conclude that since Autophilus and Oranthus were removed he would monopolize his Princes affection wherefore he moves the Senate of Athens to send to Corinth where their Prince lived in exile to bring him home which is done instantly and Theopemptus is brought home privatly lest the Lacedemonian Fleet should have ensnared him at Sea but all who had served Oranthus or stuck by Autophilus were banished from Court and Theopemptus is necessitated to submit to all the determinations of the Phanosebean faction who vex him daily with new suits and fill his Court with new favourites whose clownishnesse dissatisfied his noble and courtly spirit and whose ignorance tortured his accute wit and vast experience all affairs were chewed by the rotten teeth of these dolts who determined all things in their private conclaves before they came to the Council-table studying rather how to crosse than how to serve their Prince yet shunned that wise Prince either to offend them or to seem to be offended at them for albeit he was so judicious as to discern their follies yet was he so prudent as to dissemble his resentments knowing that cheats are like flowers and herbs which are best discerned when they flourish most and most hated when best discerned The Lacedemonian Senate hearing that the Athenians had refuged Theopemptus resolved to send an Army against them under the conduct of Autarchus who assured the Senate that he was confident of many friends there and their factiousness would prove his intimate well wisher as also that it was surest game to fight Theopemptus in Athens lest if he marched into Lacedemon his Army might prove like a ball of snow which the further it rouls grows alwayes the greater and that possibly the command of a King joyned to his diligence might piece up those differences which did like wedges for the present cleave assunder that rent Nation Besides these Autarchus design was to engage further the Lacedemonian Senate in that rebellious quarrel and to imbrew so their hands in the Bloud-Royal as that no capitulation might be able to wash it off and by this new imployment to acquire new respect to himself from the Army and to render the Army necessary in the Commonwealth fearing lest they should come to want respect if they come once to want imployment He marcheth to Athens with a well equipaged and long-experienced Army having exact intelligence from his Army of all that passed there The Phanosebeans who only commanded both Church and
Father Justice requires that ye should punish Traitors and Gallantry requires that ye should rather follow than flee dangers Let not your Valour be like the Physician who can cure others but not himself and whilst those who know you not talk of your courage and conduct let not your subjects who know you smile at your esseminate cowardishnesse This discourse determined the question betwixt Philarites affection and his courage so leaving Megistus he march'd streight to Aretina's chamber where finding her alone Monanâ—hropus being gone to the country he enters waited on only by a chearful countenance and after a low obeisance made he thus expresseth himself to her Incomparable Aretina my Fathers commands and the necessities of my Nation rather drives than takes me away from this place neither is it so much to ensure a Crown as it is to ensure your Crown that I undertake this pilgrimage If I wanted natural affection I were unworthy to be your Servant and if I wanted a Crown I were unworthy to be your husband Wherefore I come to beg your permission to return home to satisfie the one and to fix the other hoping in my absence to testifie my constancy and by my speedy return to witness what a high value I put upon your presence in which I taste the choicest of contentments and without which all things besides seems but tastless to the palate of my pleasure Aretina surprized but not dejected at what she heard did much to his satisfaction deceive his expectation returning him this sweet answer Philarites Vertue and I are not at such odds as that ye must displease the one to obey the other no Philarites I am confident the gods will prove a target to defend you whilest ye prove the sword of your family my sex makes me fearfull yet my experience makes me confident of the unalterableness of your affection and I know you to be too generous in every thing else to prove base in that wherein the basest of men prove often generous Wherefore go invincible Philarites victory waits for you only remember your friends when either your leisure or pleasure can steal an hour from your more weighty imployments and with that she imbraceth him and intreats him instantly to be gone for said she a womans courage should be tryed not tempted and if ye would wish me to persâ—vere take from me by your speedy removal the means of repenting Philarites was confounded by this command for albeit she gave him leave to go yet she did that with so much grace that it invited him once yet to stay wholly But whilst he was thus debating what was fittest to be done she fell upon an expedient her self of taking at her own hands what she desired from him for stepping in to her closet and closing the door she left him alone obliged in civility to depart her chamber Yet in retiring she glanced over her shoulder and then only one tear broke the prÌ„ison of her fair eyes prest out by the multitude of those other tears which stood behind it but no sooner was she entered but that unruly crowd forced themselves a passage and as a volley of small shot discharged themselves in honour of Philarites intended voyage who rather dissembling than quenching his passion went to Agapeta's chamber accompanied by Megistus to tender his respects to her for his Majesty was then gone abroad to whom immediatly upon his return he addressed himself and by whom he was dismist with many extraordinary testimonies of his singular affection to him ordering his Guards to wait upon him to the utmost confines of Egypt and all the Ordnance to send their shot a piece of the way with him he ordered likewise by the Lord Chamberlain that his Master of Ceremonies should carry to him some Jewels and that the Kings Jeweller should carry to him some Plate for these were the formalities of all those Nations all which he refused accepting only from the hands of Agapeta to whom the King entrusted that particular hoping by the quality of the giver to oblege him to accept the gift his Majesties Portrait richly deckt with inestimable Jewels which he accepted telling her that he thought himself much honoured by having the means when he pleased of coming in his Majesties presence and so he departed Alexandria all who met him proffering him their attendance but he acknowledging their courtesie told them that his business with Megistus required some retiredness and thus they two rode out together followed only by Kalodulus whom Megistus commanded to wait upon Philarites and prest him further to accept of his attendance alleadging that he could not now abandon him in difficulties apparently greater and certainly such as related to him more nearly than those wherein they had been formerly joyntly engaged but Philarites declined it most resolutely for said he our affairs here requires that one of us should be present and my pressures at home are not yet come to that maturity but that I alone may suppress them So that since your presence is necessary in the one and would be superfluous in the other I will entreat your stay and if these weeds wax higher I will then and not till then entreat your absence and will in this play the wise General who keeps the choice of his forces as a reserve till the latter end of the day Whereupon locking themselves in one anothers arms they shewed more compassion than could be expectâ—d from men of such a vast courage bold mens veins and eyes being filled with bloud whereas those of compassionat men are filled with tears for those objects which move the one to compassion move the other to revenge We see ordinarily that steel cannot be softned nor can the fiery flint be hollowed by the falling drops of water as the softer stones are yet sometimes sorrow which cannot beget revenge nor ease it self that way breaks out in compassion and when the heat of affection tempers the steel of courage it becomes plyable at pleasure After this Philarites ships in and by the help of the complacent winds who whistled like a waggoner to move the ship to run more swiftly in a short space takes leave of Megistuâ— long-tracing eyes who stood upon the shoar both sorrowfull and glad of his so ready passage After a fortnights journey he arrives in Thracia and writes to Evander his father to provide Coaches Suits and Attenders for him and shortly enters Bizantium the capital City of Thracia and passeth alongst all its streets with a cavalcade of all the Nobility and Gentry of the Nation who conscious to their own guilt and fearing that it would be revealed by some of their Colleagues each laboureth by his discovery to prevent the rest of the Complot and thus every one fearing to speak to his neighbour of a Combination they acquiesce to what Philarites commanded yet he desirous like a good Physician that that ulcer should ripen that so it might break and purge the body of some
love intends a conjunction it must make a parity and is arogance to wish that love should make a parity wheâ—â— nature hath made such an imparity Yet Madam suffâ—â— me to respect you since respect hath imbosomed in it 〈◊〉 subordination and be confident that my desires shâ—â— never advance beyond the skreen of a profound respecâ—â— till it be ushered-in further by your irresistable comâ—mands or at least connived at by your permission Aretina shunned to use any eloquence in heâ— answers to him but rather in discourse gestureâ— and all her other actions endeavoured to reclaiâ—â— him from his passion by a feigned shew of imperâ—fection but all in vain for his disease had conâ—tinued too long to be now cured neither was hâ— so blinded by his passion but that he saw heâ— dissimulation which because it argued so much wit did engage his affection more deeply thaâ— formerly Her father continues to press her but she declines the match protesting that albeit she had no inclinations for any else yet she had aâ— aversion from Ophni and to marry her to him were to tye an eagle to a stone or make a fish flieâ— in the air for that was as much contrary to heâ— humour as these actions were contrary to theirs Aretina finding her fathers perseverance in 〈◊〉 wherein she intended to shew so much obâ—â—acy acquainted Agapeta with it who reveaâ—â— it to Megistus and disswaded her likewise 〈◊〉 it and one day it was Megistus good forâ—e to have an occasion to flout Ophni for at Marriage of one of the Officers of the Crown â—â—re was a solemnity to be used of running at â—â—e Tilt wherefore Megistus feigns himself inâ—sposed a day before but at the day appointed 〈◊〉 mounts himself in a blue armour over-spread â—ith the Ivie and the Vine twisted together in 〈◊〉 shield for a device he carried two Hands â—â—asping one Sword and defending one Heart â—â—e word was If against one against both â—fter that the Kings nephew had run his course â—gainst the Martial Knight who was now returâ—ed to Court and had almost broken his heart â—ith rage because he could not break a spear â—ith success in presence of Agapeta whom all â—he Nation did destinate for his Mistris Ophni â—ppeared next who longed to give proof of his â—itherto unexperimented valour before Aretina â—is armour was painted over with a green field â—herein some fruits and flowers were beginning â—o flourish but lookt as if blasted with a cold â—â—ost and their leaves engrailed or beaten with â—ail in his shield he bore Cupid piercing a flaâ—ning heart and yet trampling upon it the word was Too cruel to be a god Against him appeared Megistus who had but presently entered thâ— field carrying upon the top of his spear Aretâ—na's Picture which made Ophni presently tâ— single him out of the croud to be his antagonist 〈◊〉 but the other sent a Trumpet to meet him anâ— desired to know if he carried her Picture also which Ophni presently produced whereupoâ— both the Pictures were delivered to the Judges to be given to the Conqueror This done they begin their carreer and at the first encounteâ— breaks both their staves with equal success anâ— then drawing their swords they bestow many blows very freely but courage was not able to defray Ophni's charges in contesting after thaâ— fashion with Megistus and albeit Ophni foughâ— for a Mistris and Megistus only for a Friend yeâ— there was greater disparity betwixt the Champions than there was betwixt the Quarrels Yet even in the Quarrel Megistus had the advantage for albeit he fought not for his Mistris yet he fought before his Mistris from whom no vizard could disguise him neither desired he to be so disguised but that she should know him wherefore enraged to see an apprentice so resist him he ramasses his courage and by an irresistible blow bears Ophni to the ground so bruised that he was scarce able to recruit himself and thereafter rides to the Judges who deliver him both the Pictures Whilst all the eyes of the company are fixt upon Megistus some enquiring after his name others admiring his courage and none daring yet to appear against him The Kings Nephew vanquish'd by grief aswell as by the Martial Knight falls a swouning shame contracting the heart and denying the body a fresh supply of spirits as its opposit confidence dilatats it and sends it fresh supplies flushly which withdraws â—ll mens admiration from Megistus each running to recover the other giving Megistus leave to reâ—â—re secretly to his bed without being noticed The Tilting ended Ophni retires to his chamber distracted with rage and confounded with shame trembling by the chilness of the one and burning by the heat of the other cursing providence for the niggardly allowance of strength it had bestowed upon him and his own heart for daring to engage in a quarrel which it was not able to maintain Yet Monanthropus and his Lady who valued not much such trifling affronts did prosecute their former intention but with very bad success for Aretina who could never remember Philarites but with affection could never remember Ophni but with disdain neither could her affection taste any more satisfaction in his society than a stomach which is full already of excellent entertainment is able to rellish an ordinary dish which is set before it Which at last Ophni perceiving he resolved to undermine what he could not storm and plots this project Monanthropus had now retired to hsi own Country-house for a fortnight where Ophni goes to give him a visit after that he had first hired a Pirat who frequented those coasts to go and lye before the house secretly At his coming there he deals with Aretina's Nurse whom only of all her servants his bribes and her Mothers commands had gained to his faction to tryste Aretina down to the shoar one morning very early where she was no sooner come than the Pirat who waited behind a rock with fourteen men falls upon her and her Nurse and Maids and makes them prisoners which Ophni at some distance perceiving comes running to them with his sword drawn as if he would have rescued her and begins to combat with the Pirat whereupon he who held Aretina holding a sword to her breast swore that he should kill her if he yeelded not This seemed so to prevail with him joyned to the cryes of her hellish Nurse who knew all the mysterie that he submits and becomes their prisoner and are all carried a shipboard Aretina's Maid only excepted whom Ophni had ordered that she should be suffered to escape both fearing that she favoured too much Philarites as also that she might inform Monanthropus that Ophni was not accessory to the plot but rather testified much courage in fighting and much affection in rather yeelding than that she should have suffered by his resistance At their entry a ship-board the Pirat testified very much respect to Aretina protesting that he had no design in her surprisal but only