is said to 'em and yet out of Custom making answer they do it for the most part very improperly Some persons moreover are guilty of improprieties said Horace out of a desire to be thought witty and knowing imagining to gain that Reputation they must never speak intelligibly For my part said Amilcar I know there are Men and Women who are sometimes heard to say nonsensical things only because they would be the first to make use of those words that have newly got some vogue which Chance introduces and the caprice of the World gives reception to and which time and use do sometimes authorize For these People not knowing their true signification place 'em improperly and very often say the contrary to what they mean There are likewise others said AEmilius who know not what they say For that being resolv'd to speak boldly of all tho they know nothing they venture with a very mean Wit to speak of certain things which can hardly ever be well discours'd on unless by those who have study'd ' em And yet there is much more shame in pretending to what we are not capable of than to be judiciously silent and in owning we know nothing of the things that are spoke of For Heavens sake said then Plotina let us leave those impertinent talkers unworthy of busying the Heads of so many persons who speak intelligibly and let us only speak I beseech you of those who talk too much or too little Now I must confess it is my Opinion that the latter do so tire ' emselves in tireing others that I should rather choose to speak too much than too little Since at least importuning my friends I should divert my self Tho I do not think reply'd AEmilius one can be of a contrary Opinion to yours without being in the wrong Yet I must once more say that I should rather love to speak too little than too much and yet sometimes should better love the Conversation of a great talker than that of a Man who hardly speaks at all And truly it may frequently happen that a Man who speaks but little has good sence but it can hardly ever happen that a Man who speaks too much has Judgment You are in the right reply'd Amilcar But does it not also often happen that they who hardly speak at all have a great deal of Wit and it pretty often happens too that those who speak too much are very well stock'd Now for my share I am perswaded that Wit is like fire and that it must absolutely shew it self after some manner or other when there is any of it Yet Great Men have there been reply'd Horace who did not love to speak You say true return'd AEmilius But they made their Wit appear by their Writings or their Actions tho they did not shew it by their words For I am really perswaded as well as Amilcar Wit cannot be absolutely concealed and must necessarily shew it self Yet we may find great Princes great Philosophers great Poets great Painters and excellent Artificers who speak little But their Actions or their Works will speak for 'em and will demonstrate their silence is not an effect of Stupidity 'T is not so with those People whose Wit is only in Words and never employ ' emselves but in speaking Since I am sure their actions commonly say nothing to their advantage But reply'd Zenocrates all People of Judgement are not such great friends to silence I do not say answered AEmilius that all who speak a great deal have no Judgment For I should do injustice to too many ingenious persons but only that they who speak too much cannot have any Take my word reply'd Plotena that between speaking a great deal and speaking too much there is often little difference to be made Liberality and Prodigality are in some sort very near Neighbours answered AEmilius yet 't is very well distinguished that the one is a Vice and the other a Vertue Thus we may easily distinguish him who speaks a great deal and well from him who talks too much and talks ill or at least improperly But resum'd Valeria are there not some who speak too much and yet speak well There are such an doubtedly answered Amilcar and I know a Greek in Sicily who spoke with all the Attique purity and yet was very troublesome in speaking more than he ought For to define a Man who speaks too much 't is principally by the small number of things and the great number of words he says that he is to be known 'T is thro the little necessity there is of his speaking perpetually 'T is by his eagerness to tell his Opinion on all occasions interrupting all People draining a Subject he speaks of speaking always without taking notice sometimes whether the Company hearken to him and of not being able to hold his peace though he be with persons of greater Quality and more capacity than himself Not but that I believe those who speak a great deal are sometimes expos'd tho they speak well to be importunate to People who love speaking as well as ' emselves But as that does not always happen we must not for the conveniency of a small number of Persons condemn People who speak a great deal and well and whose Conversation affords a thousand pleasures because they never say any thing but what is necessary or agreeable And indeed when a Man loves to have all the discourse to himself because that Nature has gifted him with an easiness of expression a copious Wit a quick Fancy that his Memory is fill'd with a thousand choice and rational things that his Judgment is Master of his Fancy and that his Conversation has the true Air of a Courtier he may unquestionably speak a great deal without speaking too much and I am sure if this Man be so as I describe him he will know how to be silent as often as he thinks convenient will suffer all those to speak who are desirous so to do and will not do like a great talker I met with at my Arrival at Syracuse to whom I would have begun to relate a great danger I had run at Sea by a Tempest that arose and whereof he had desired me to tell him the particulars ForI had hardly began to tell him that the Sea grew rough all of a sudden than taking me up This puts me in mind said he since that in a Voyage once at Sea I was under the like circumstances And do you imagine added he without remembring what he had requested of me that after having embarqued at Tarentum in a very good Ship whereof the Pilot belongs to Cume and which was laden with several Merchandizes because Tarentum is a rich and powerful City where there is a great Commerce of allsorts of things the Wind chang ing all on a sudden the Ship was constrained to stay fifteen days longer in the Haven of Tarentun where there happened to me a good pleasant Adventure For you must
And I add hereto when it is as strong as it ought to be in a wellsorm'd heart and for an accomplisht Prince it contains somewhat of all the strongest Passions that can make us love This is carrying the thing very far said Alcinor I am of the same Opinion said Philocrita and without pain I give to Princes Respect Obedience and if you will Admiration when they are worthy of their Station But as to the tenderness of heart I keep it for my friends Very far from going from what I have asserted replied Cleander I maintain this sovereign Passion if I may be allowed to use that Term holds something of all we know most strong in the heart of Man I mean the most ardent motions of Piety Respect and Acknowledgment which good-natur'd Children have for their Parents and generous Persons for their Benefactors of the Union of Interest and Heart which is met withal in a happy Marriage of the greatest and most firm friendship and of the most solid Love This is a very bold Assertion said I. True it is said Celanira that we do not at first well apprehend how this can be so As for the first thing which Cleander asserted interrupted Alcaeus I easily comprehend it And indeed added he a Man must be perfectly bruitish and stupid not to know by this great and beautiful prospect of Nature that 't is the work of a mighty and a sovereign power He must likewise be little sensible of motions natural to see so many Thousands of Men voluntarily obey one person who sometimes has no other excellence than his Character and not know that there must needs be in this I know not what that 's Divine which lays the first foundation of our affection to our Princes Alcaeus has exactly spoke my thoughts replied Cleandâ—…r But I shall add what I have considered a Hundred times with amaâ—…ment which is that Men who have established so many several sorts of Government have never succeeded so well as when they have seem'd to abandon their own Wisdom to commit ' emselves to that of Heaven Sometimes they thought fit that every one should keep his Vote his Suffrage an equal power in the Republick which also seem'd most consonant to Nature Sometimes they were of Opinion it was only for the wisest to govern and by consequence for the oldest Sometimes they have taken their Masters only out of the most Illustrious Familys Sometimes they declared Merit alone could attain to that Station Sometimes they have chosen 'em out of a very great number sometimes out of a less and sometimes out of a very small one They also one while reduc'd ' emselves to one sole Prince but Elective another time to ways of Government mixed of all these together But they did never any thing so well which contributed more to the Grandeur Tranquility and Continuance of States as when they resolved to take their Kings of one only Race from Father to Son such as it should please Heaven to bestow upon 'em sometimes Warlike sometimes Pacific sometimes Excellent sometimes Mean in Knowledge with Vertues and Vices which Humane Wisdom cou'd not foresee at such a distance It is not to be imagined that such a thing as that can be done by Chance An Accident once casually happen'd whereof all Ages will speak that a Painter throwing his Spunge finish'd a Picture incomparably better than all his Art was able to have done But in the most important of worldly things it would be madness to say that Chance alone gave a better success to Hereditary Principalities than to others that by Chance there has been of 'em from the beginning of the World not only more than of any other sort of States but more than of all the others together that by Chance in all Times and in all Climates so many different Nations in Temperament Genius Inclination Manners and Language have most commonly chosen a Form of Government which seem'd at first the furthest off from the relish and interest of each one in particular and this is without doubt what cannot be well imagined That I grant said Alcaeus the World must necessarily yield either to a certain Experience which makes the good success to appear of that sort of Government or else it has followed I know not what blind Instinct which mov'd it thereunto and it seems to be rather the latter for as much as we may see by Histories the first Ages have had no less inclination than the latter for that sort of Government And indeed added Cleander there were towards the middle of Ages as I may say several Republicks but all weak languishing agitated with Civil Divisions and in fine of a very short continuance except the Roman which began in Monarchy and ended too in it But in general no Republick has lasted so long by much as several Monarchics and especially the French Monarchy which was never so formidable to all its Neighbours as it is at prefent after so many Ages and which is in short so flourishing that there is reason to believe it Eternal it not being possible to conceive where it can be defective So from this Instinct of Nations for a Successive and Hereditary Government of one only Person I believe we may justly gather somewhat Divine which passes into the hearts of Men and inspires into 'em a dutiful love mixt with Religion I assure you said Philocrita laughing I shall be henceforward a better Subject than I was For tho the Prince in whose Dominions I was born is such an one as his People could wish 't was ever my Opinion that if I had lived in the First Ages and had a voice to deliberate in such like things I should never have bethought my self of making Kings nor of being a Queen But after all said Celanira Cleander has reason to say that there is something Divine which ties the hearts of Subjects to their Princes As for what Cleander has asserted said Alcinor that the Passion which one hath for his Prince has something of the Veneration and Acknowledgement which we have for a Father and Benefactour this is easie to be understood in those who owe all their Fortune to the Prince but much less in those of whom perhaps he never so much as thought I grant replied Cleander 't is much stronger in the first but I maintain that it is also in all the rest if they are endued with Reason and Vertue In the first place pursued he the Prince has no Subject of whom he does not sometimes think how unknown soever he may be to him in thinking of all his Subjects and of their general Good There are none but owe to a good Prince their Repose Tanquility and all the happiness of their lives The true sign of an ungrateful heart is to distinguish very subtily between the Obligations and their Causes By that means they banish all Obligation and Acknowledgment out of the World I easily apprehend said Alcaeus that there are
other inferiour by the fame which still remains of the one which the others have not And indeed not one of our Sex is ignorant of Alexander Scipio or of Cicero himself But we hardly know what is the meaning of Hephestion Laelius and Atticus tho we have lately seen the life of the last in Print in our own Tongue For my part added Philocrita pleasantly having not had the honour to know any of 'em I promise you to call them only henceforward without truobling my self with their names the three Friends of Alexander Scipio and Cicero But in short said Cleander I boldly maintain that Friendship can never be firm and stedfast unless it has been able to level the great space there is between one friend and another and surmount that first difficulty which seem'd to hinder any reliance to be made upon it A Prince in stooping to his Subjects gives the greatest mark of goodness and friendship that can ever be shewn and a Subject is very miserable if he does not recompence the Magnanimity of that Friendship by the Ardency and Excess of his own At the worst if you will needs have that this acceptation of Friendship is improper I agree to 't But 't is certainly something that has all which the most steddy and most tender friendship can have and that suffices me I have been long expecting resum'd Philocrita you would say somewhat of Love 'T is so ample a Subject said Alcinor that it would furnish us abundantly with matter to discourse upon Alcinor is in the right said Iphiâ—…tes But in my Opinion he is in the wrong said Celanira For I believe it the hardest thing in the World to speak properly upon that Subject Let us then see how Cleander will speak on 't as to the point we have before us As I never seek to speak thereof but only to speak what I think replied Cleander I say without more ado that the Essential Differences betwixt Love and Friendship are fervency disquiet suspicion obedience submission jealousie injustice vexation discontents reconciliations change of an Opinion in an instant and sometimes divers changes in one and the same hour For in truth Friendship has only the shadow of all those Motions and moreover that too is when Friendship is so strong as to râ—…mble Love But there is no Courtier wedded to the Prince but seels all those Motions almost as violent as the most perfect Lover Whatsoever Equality the Prince should make between 'em thro Friendship Always Submission Respect and Obedience on their side as from a Lover to a Mistress their disquiet is extream their diffidence eternal Incessantly they are in fear of losing the favour of their Master even when they are most assured of it They all look upon one another as Rivals They are only possessed with that Passion Who could represent how half a word a smile a look penetrates and Charmes 'em to the very bottom of their Souls were it not for what occurs in Lovers Their injustice is beyond all comparison and is the true mark of a violent Passion for tho they understand well enough the Prince owes his Caresses to all the World one would say he stole from 'em all the favours he bestows upon others If by Chance he casts not his Eyes upon them it is sufficient to put 'em out of humour for a whole day together One and the same hour sees 'em contented and discontented charmed and dissatlsfied with the Court swearing to quit all and ready to give their Lives for the Service of their Master In a word all that is capricious in Love cannot be sound methinks in any other Passion than that of Courtiers for their Prince You are in the right said Alcaeâ—… and for my part when I see People who are naturally of great understanding and whom a long Experience has polished and rendred very able sometimes suffer ' emselves to be lur'd and decoy'd to the very end of their Lives by the vain hopes of the Court nay though they are very sensible they delude 'em Methinks I see that Lover of the Ancient and Modern Theater who says Ingrate I find her yet I love My Love and Death with equal steps do move I am resolv'd to Love and Die Since besides This That has no Remedy Beating Death at 's own Arms I Fear Lest now the King of Terrours fail me here So much does Love my Heart possess That not to die would be Vnhappiness But to hear you speak of Love said Philocrita to Cleander one would say you are almost as much in Love as you 're Ambitious Celanira blush'd and Cleander was in pain how he should make answer without discovering what he was willing to conceal and without Celaniraes accusing him likewise of want of Love and using too much dissimulation but resolving at length I was ever perswaded said he to Philocrita that People ought hardly ever to explain themselves upon this Subjâ—…ct by reason they are hardly believed whether they say they are in Love or say they are not And as to my particular if I had any Passion of that nature I would love so as it should be rather judged by my Actions than by my words You are in the right said I to him and Actions are more sincere than Words But after all Cleander there is a great distinction to be made between sincere Courtiers who love their Prince and interested Courtiers who only love their Fortune OF COMPLAISANCE AS Adherbal was speaking in this manner Valeria and Flavia came into the Room Clearchus came thither a moment after and were presently followed by Caesonia and Plotina whom Amilcar very seldom leaving arrived before all the Company were seated but as he seem'd more than usually out of Humour Claelia ask'd him the reason of it Tho 't is not easie for me to refuse any thing to a Person of your Merit yet am not over willing replied he to give you the satisfaction you request For you would laugh at me if I should tell you what you ask You are so seldom expos'd to such an Adventure rejoyn'd Plotina that tho it were out of Curiosity I should advise you to run this Risque Be assured replied Amilcar you will not believe me tho I tell you what I complain of As it will not be perhaps the first time that Credit has not been given to your words answer'd Plotina smiling you need not be so much in fear of not being believed Know then said he that in my Life I was never so much tired as I was to day for three hours together I was with a Man whom I have discours'd withal upon a hundred several subjects It must then be some Man of no great Sence said the Prince of Numidia That is not the business Sir reply'd Amilcar and I do not complain of his Stupidity It must then be one of those Men who dispute upon all matters said Clearchus who must be opiniatively contested with in regard they always
Letters and making Speeches He must likewise as I may say know the Secrets of all Hearts and not be ignorant of one of all the sine Arts whereof occasion may be sometimes found to speak by the by But it is mainly necessary he know how to prune Morality of all it has dry harsh and severe and Varnish it with something so natural and so agreeable as it may divert those to whom it gives Lessons insomuch that as Ladies do not break their Glasses for shewing 'em their Imperfections which they mend when they are once come to their knowledge neither would they hate a Book wherein they very often see things which people would not dare to tell them and which they would never tell themselves Thus 't is ealier for you to judge that it is much more difficult to compose well a Work of this quality than to make an History well What you have now said is admirable well spoken resum'd Anacreon That I grant replied Amilcar but what I think very strange is that if it were possible to meet with a man who should have composed a Fable of that nature yet there would be a great number of People found who would speak of it as of a mere Trifle and as an useless Amusement And I know several old Senators here and likewise several Roman Matrons whom Love would make so much afraid that they would even forbid their Children to read a Fable after that manner That Sentiment replied Herminius would be very unjust For Love is not learnt in Books Nature teaches it to Mankind and I have met with Love in all places where I have travelled But I have found it more buitish gross and criminal among people who have no Politeness and are altogether ignorant of the Gentile Gallantry than amongst people well educated And besides if those Books were not to be read that have Love in them we should not read Histories wherein we find Examples of all Crimes and wherein very often the Criminals are so happy as they raise a desire in some to imitate them History shews the horrible Action of Sixtus the lamentable Death of Servius Tullus the unjust Amours of Tarquin and Tullia and a thousand other things of a very dangerous example which would not be in a Fable after the manner I understand it On the other side Modesty should always therein be joyned with Love and there would never any criminal Amours be seen but what were unhappy For my part said Claelia then I find it of much more importance than some people may imagine to shew that there may be both innocent and agreeable Amours at the same time for there are but too many men who believe that this can hardly ever be Claelia has undoubtedly reason for what she says replied Herminius So those good Senators and those severe Matrons would do very ill to hinder their Children from reading a thing wherein they would find wherewith to learn the use of all Virtues and whereby they might spare themselves the trouble of Travelling for the becoming Well-bred persons Since so exact a Picture of the world might be drawn as they might see it in an Abridgement without going out of their Closets And as for the Ladies I likewise maintain that the reading of such a Piece as I imagine would rather hinder than incline them to the having Gallants For if they would but make comparison of the Love they bare them with that they should see represented in a Book of that nature they would find therein so much difference that they would never suffer ' emselves to be touch'd with their Passion I also firmly maintain that such a Book would not onely teach all Virtues lash all Vices and reprehend all those little imperfections which the World is full of but it might likewise teach men to adore the Gods by the Example that might be given thereof in the person of the Heroes who are proposed for Patterns And of what Nation and Religion soever a person was advantage might be drawn from it For when I see a Persian who worships the Gods of his Country he gives me a good Example though I am a Roman and teaches me I ought to reverence the Deity of my Nation Do not tell me then that there would be people so irrational as to blame a Book of that kind For I could wish I had made such an one at the hazard of meeting with that Injustice In fine as I should be satisfied with my intention I should comfort my self for the severity of a small number of persons by the general applause of the World and by the proper knowledge I should have of the usefulness of that kind of Work wherein Experience might be found without the help of Age Lessons without severity Pleasures without crime innocent Satyrs Judgement that would cost nothing and the means of learning that Art of the world without which one can never be agreeable AGAINST INDIFFERENCE I Perceive Madam it is but too true that you take a Pride in your Indifference though it be the onely imperfection you have As Thrasylus was uttering these last words which I very distinctly heard I entred into Cleocrites Chamber Insomuch as taking 'em up to begin the Conversation I do not ask said I to that beautiful person what that Imperfection is that Thrasylus reproaches you withal for since you have but one 't is easie to divine it Principally being so great as it is and so generally known by all the World In good earnest Lysiana said she to me laughing you have an excessive sincerity And I do not think there is any body on Earth who is so frankly reproached with their Imperfections as I am with mine As you take a vanity in the onely one you have replied I people tell you of it without fearing to displease you and also without hopes of ever having you mend it Then why should People tell me of it said she You take so much delight in their telling you of it resum'd Thrasylus that 't is the least Complaisance that can be had for you to tell you of it Why I am not displeased at it said Cleocrita is by the same reason that Beautiful persons are not angry when they are called Ugly For to speak with the same sincerity as Lysiana if I have no other Imperfection than this I am reproached with I am the most accomplish'd person in the world And indeed said I then to her 't is a little too much boldness in you to perswade us that Indifference is a good Quality Perhaps answered Cleocrita you call Indifference something I am not acquainted with and which is not in my Heart But I maintain that all my Sentiments are just and that of Amity whereof I am capable is the most commodious and the most rational of all I agree with you that 't is the most commodious for you replied Thrasylus but as for its being the most rational I think that is a point to
If I had known it my self replied he agreeably with a smile I should have spoke it before now But to tell you sincerely I know it not yet my self For as I am sufficiently sensible of Love I would willingly at least retain that Passion But besides as I am naturally very lazy methinks I should not be over-forry though no Passions were in the World because I imagine that if there were none at all Mankind would be continually in a certain languishment of Spirit and a pleasant kind of Laziness that would have something altogether charming Ah! as for Laziness you speak the truth resum'd Amilcar For true it is if there were no Passions all well-bred people would have nothing to do And indeed pursued he if there was no Ambition we see a hundred thousand people come and go through the world who would do nothing of what they do and would onely Enter Rest a while and then Return If a Lover was deprived of the Passion which poffesses him he would become very Idle If Kings were without that Ambition which makes 'em desire to surpass all their Equals they would never be distinguished by themselvs but onely by their rank And the Brave having no passion for Glory would remain content to be jumbled among the Base and Esseminate without having any thing to employ themselves in I also believe that the Fields would not be cultivated neither Cities nor Houses would be built and Mankind would remain scattered up and down the Country without seeking any other Lodging than that of Grotto's which Nature has made And for the greatest part of Ladies if there were no Passions in the World I know not what they would do For as they are the weakest if their Beauty did not produce Love in the Hearts of men and if it did not serve them instead of Force I should rather chuse I fancy to be a pretty Fly than a pretty Woman For they would certainly not onely be Slaves but would also be in a very irksome Idleness since they would not know what to do all the time they spend in decking themselves And truly you need but see a fair Lady in a place where she thinks no body will come to believe that if the Ladies knew they could never give Love they would not take the pains to be half a day doing a thing which must necessarily be undone every Evening I except however from this rule a small number of Ladies as those who are here whos 's Wi and Virtue raise them above all men But to return to the Passions judge ye if it would not be a great pity if there were none since then all the Ladies would be less amiable and would not be beloved But if they were not beloved rejoyn'd Arontius agreeably neither would they be hated since seldom any thing but Love makes them hated by those who are so unjust as to do so For commonly misused Lovers or Jealous Husbands are the onely persons who have an aversion to Ladies True resum'd Amilcar they would not be hated But if they were not beloved they would think the time strangely tedious And there are very few Women I am sure who have Youth and Beauty but would rather chuse to be hated by a hundred unjust Lovers and an hundred Jealous Husbands provided they were beloved than not to be hated by whomsoever it was upon condition of not being beloved by any body and of not loving any thing Let us not complain then of the Passions since they alone afford all the Occupations and Pleasures of Mankind Yet 't is a very difficult thing resumed Artemidorus to overcome them That 's true resumed Amilcar with his usual sweetness but since 't is so difficult do not struggle with them abandon your self to 'em and instead of amusing your self with endeavours to conquer them seek rather to satisfie 'em and then they will not so much torment you For my part added he I am not at all amazed that the Passions tyrannize over the Hearts of men for we do nothing else than preach up this Doctrine that we must struggle with 'em and subject them We find it written in Verse and in Prose The Philosophers have it the Wise men order it Fathers teach it their Children Husbands their Wives and Mothers their Daughters Insomuch as those poor Passions seeing they have so many Enemies make a great effort that they may not sink under them and to reign in all Hearts from which endeavours are used to banish 'em with a world of injustice And truly 't is the place of their birth they cannot subsist elsewhere They give infinite Pleasures to those who seek to satisfie 'em they hardly ever do any mischief but to those who would destroy them For my part resumed Zenocrates they never torment me after that manner For as I am perswaded there would be too much trouble to vanquish them I love rather to submit my self to ' em Thus my Reason and my Passions are never at War together for when my Passions are stronger than my Reason my Reason subjects it self to them And when my Reason is more powerful than my Passions it flatters 'em without undertaking to destroy ' em You so little understand what the great Passions are replied Arontius smiling that it does not belong to you to speak upon this Subject But if you had had any violent or obstinate Love or if your own Desires had made you suffer a thousand punishments and even if hope it self had given you a thousand disquiets you might be allowed to speak of the force of Passion For when we have once tried one of them we may easily imagine the Tyranny of all the rest True it is said then Orontes that who knows all the force of Love may easily comprehend that of Ambition and all the other Passions Yet I am perswaded replied Artemidorus we can never judge equitably of other peoples Passions and we ought never to judge but of our own For though every where they be equally Passions and Love is Love in Greece as well as in Italy 't is however true that it has different operations in the Hearts of all Mankind And the diversity of Temperament does likewise produce many different effects of one and the same Passion For Love in Tarquin's Heart made him commit a thousand Crimes And the same thing in the Heart of Aruntius makes him perform a thousand Heroick Actions Very true resumed Thrasylus but I still maintain that in what Heart soever the Passions reign they give that person trouble enough to satisfie them And I still maintain on the contrary resumed Amilcar that without the Passions we should not be happy If you take away all Passions said Aruntius Indifference must of necessity reign in all Hearts and by consequence there can be no more Heroes I do not speak pursued he of the Indifference which the fair Cleocrita is reproached with because a person may neither have a tender Heart nor Love
represented as Venus coming out of the Sea 't was easie to know Clearchus was her Son having the same Air and the same Physiognomy Antigenes had loved her very much and could never resolve to marry again though he was still young enough As it was near Dinner-time Antigenes having told us in two words that Don Alvarez and Clearchus came from the furthermost part of the East-Indies and by divers Adventures had almost been around the World led us to the Castle between two rows of Orange-trees so large they almost met and formed a very pleasant shade And for the rendring the Feast the more magnificent and that it might have something which had relation to the nearness of the Sea the Services were mingled and there were Fish of a prodigious bigness and admirable beauty As Don Alvarez spoke French very well because his Mother was a French Woman and had an infinite deal of Wit he contributed much to the entertainment of the Company He gave us to understand after an ingenious manner that he was overjoyed to to soe the Peace re-established between Spain and France in regard being born of a Spaniard setled in the Indies by considerable Employments and of a French Woman whom the Caprices of Fortune had conducted thither with her Relations He was overjoyed that he was arrived in a time when the War was ended between the two Nations During Dinner there was an excellent Symphony which put a Spirit of joy into the Company The King's Health was drank with the sound of Trumpets and noise of Cannon for that Castle is fortified and has several Pieces At our rising from Table we went into a magnificent Room where excellent Cassoletts had perfumed the Air. After the Company was seated a pretty pleasant Dispute arose between two Ladies For one of 'em lov'd strangely to hear the Stories of an ingenious Traveller which the other was as strangely afraid of Pray said Clarice to Antigenes procure us the knowledge of all the particulars of Don Alvarez and Clearchus their Voyage For my share said the last I find my self such a Stranger in my Native Country that I fancy I 've quite forgot my Mother-tongue so as I must have time given me to learn as if I had never known it before I engage in making a long Narration And as for what concerns me said Don Alvarez I am not willing to expose my self to the not being believed for almost all Travellers are very much suspected of adding to Truth and then as it was the Capriciousness of Fortune which carried us into so many several Countries neither Clearchus nor I are prepared to make long Narratives which tire the patience most persons who hear them Ah! Don Alvarez said Melinta pleasantly who as much dreaded long Relations as Clarice desired 'em how much joy have I to see you are none of those mighty tellers of Prodigies whom I have sometimes met and convers'd with against my will Who will spend whole days in telling you that in such a place there is a River which casts its self into an Abyss and rises again ten Leagues from thence That in another there are Mountains above the Clouds who amuse themselves in describing terrible Animals and extravagant Customs And this is extraordinary that very often they are ignorant of what touches themselves and onely know what they are not at all concerned in And indeed added she laughing I know a man who can give a particular Account of all the Monsters of the Nile who talks of the Phoenix and Halcyons as we talk of Nightingales and Linnets and yet knows not half the Trees in our Forests Perceiving by the Air of Don Alvarez and Clearchus they understood Rallery admirably well I rather excited the Contest than caused it to cease The rest of the Company did the same And looking upon Melinta whose humour is facetious and charming I assure you said I to her if I ever made a Voyage any thing long I would have a care of seeing you until I were grown weary of telling others all I had seen You would do me a very great favour resumed she For when I am of a humour to know those sorts of things I take a Book that treats upon that Subject and lay it by when I please which I cannot do when a Man of Honour takes the pains to tell me in one day what he has seen in Twenty years You are in the right Madam said Don Alvarez to her smiling for if I undertook to tell you all I have seen it would be to you such a mortification you would infallibly die before the end of the Relation and I should be perhaps as sick as your self All the Company laughed at what Don Alvarez said You are very Complaisant for Melinta resum'd Clarice in some sort of Pet. And yet this Complaisance deprives the Company of a very great Pleasure As I am not willing to incur your hatred said Melinta after an agreeable manner I give my Consent if Don Alvarez and Clearchus will give theirs that they should tell us something of their Voyages in expectation till it 's a fit time to go a walking But as I comply with you pursued she do you likewise comply somewhat with my humour and let us agree upon the nature of the Questions we shall ask of Don Alvarez and Clearchus For I declare to you I do not at all care as I have already told you for the fantastical Customs of Nations afar off nor all the singularities of Seas great Rivers Mines and a thousand other such like things I love all a witty Traveller can tell me replied Clarice provided what he tells me be new to me and the more remote things are the more pleasant do I find them But I am willing adâ—…ed she to give you the choice of them I must confess replied Melinta that what I find most agreeable is the Character of extraordinary persons And I doubt not but if I had been born in Caesar's or Alexander's days and that I had seen any Traveller who had known them I should have had the curiosity of enquiring into the circumstances of their make Well then said Clarice we must desire Don Alvarez and Clearchus to examine their Memories if they have nothing of that kind to tell us Don Alvarez answered he could not resolve to tire one Beautiful person for the conâ—…enting another Clearchus made likewise greater excuse for the same reason All the Company concerned themselves in this Entertainment after an agreeable manner rallying ingeniously the excessive curiosity of Clarice whose impatience was apparent to them all For my part said I addressing my self to Don Alvarez I should be desirous enough to know in what place of your Voyages you thought the Ladies most lovely You are pleasant interrupted Clarice to ask that Question You have a mind to have your self commended For my particular said Arpasia my curiosity would be to know if Rallery is of all Ages and all
a Rallery that might be returned upon us There is likewise a kind of baseness in all that is done out of a meer revengeful Spirit I also think it to be very dangerous to rally ones Master or Mistress That it is unbecoming to rally such as are much below us That a well-bred man ought to keep great measures with Ladies and a Lady must not be too hasty in rallying Men for fear of meeting with some one who would not sufficiently respect her In short said Melinta I fancy after the rate you talk you will not so much as allow the rallying ones self I assure you replied Euridamia though it be the most innocent Rallery that can be made if it is not done with great judgement 't is not over-diverting And 't is certainly much more difficult to speak agreeably of ones self than of others without it be on certain occasions wherein rallying ones self first does prevent the Rallery of others for it is the means of disarming them Moreover added she 't is my sense that we are never to rally people who have no Merit because Rallery at such times has hardly ever any grace Neither ought we to rally those who are deserving seeing it would be a great piece of injustice to fix upon a slight fault to the prejudice of a thousand good Qualities It being certain that Rallery does often retort upon the person who makes it I find for this reason we ought to consider well when we rally the place where we are and before whom we speak I likewise boldly maintain we ought not to rally Crimes because we ought to detest them nor Misfortunes because we ought to pity 'em Nor imperfections of the Body which those who have 'em cannot get rid of nor Old Age since it is an inevitable mischief when one does not die young nor Strangers as Strangers since a Persian for example can no more hinder his being a Persian than you your being a French Woman At least added she if you would rally any one let it be in speaking to the Party himself and never say things that can really displease and onely such as do meerly something animate the Conversation For in that case I confess it may be allowable to make War upon ones best Friends But Melinta there are few people who know how to rally either agreeably or innocently And truly at this I do not at all wonder For Birth must give this Talent it being certain that Art cannot give it in the least And whosoever would force his Nature has such ill success in diverting others that he affords ample matter of rallying upon himself while he imagines he is lashing and scattering his Wit upon others 'T is not so with all the other agreeable Qualities of the Mind pursued she since none but may be acquired by study But as for this it must be given by Nature and managed by Judgement And truly 't is not sufficient to have pleasant thoughts there must be I know not what turn in the Expression which must render them perfectly agreeable The Air too of the Countenance and the Tone of the Voice and the whole Person in general must contribute to the rendring pleasant what of it self is not sometimes diverting I should never have believed said then Antigenes that so serious a person as Euridamia could have spoke so well of a thing she never does On the contrary replied she 't is because I do not rally that I ought to be believed in matter of Rallery for as I have no interest therein I speak of it without Passion And I examine all the different Ralleries of those persons I am acquainted withal without doing any one injustice But to tell you the truth except one of my Friends who has an admirable delicacy of Wit and a gallant gentile Malice in the Imagination which is taking on all occasions I know not one besides Melinta in whom I pardon Rallery True it is said I then nothing is more insupportable than that sort of people who without thinking on 't do horribly slander one in onely thinking to rally and believe that because they speak of others Imperfections and that grosly too it is a Rallery Persons there are of another stamp said Polemon who torment me to death when I meet with 'em For they make all their mirth consist in a Popular and low way of speaking which onely fills the Imagination with disagreeable things and makes their Discourse consist in all that is said by the coarsest sort of People and which shews that to learn all they say they must of necessity have spent the greatest part of their Lives in the worst Company upon Earth Ha! Polemon cried Melinta you please me extreamly in hating those sort of People you speak of And though I defend Rallery in general I abandon almost all Jesting if I may be allowed to speak in that manner and this in particular For I would have Rallery be Gallant and Gentile and Malicious But I would have it nice and modest too neither to wound the Ears nor the Imagination and that it never make any one blush for vexation And truly added she the Rallery of a well-bred Man ought not to be of any pâ—…ofession but onely of a Gentleman For there is a Rallery of the Mobile the Citizen the Army the Inns of Court the University the Country and there is also one of the Court which is almost ever the best But if the Court-Rallery be such as I mean it you shall not distinguish any other by it and 't is with that as with the Accent which to have exact and Noble is to have none at all What Melinta says is admirable resumed Euridamia But there are still another sort of Rallyers I am tormented with when ever I meet with 'em in regard they have got a fancy that they ought to rally upon all Insomuch that as they are always wracking their Brains to find out what they seek for they say a thousand nauseous things for one that is divertting Thus it happens that for three or four supportable Ralleries which they shall have said in all their Lives those they converse with must of necessity hear a hundred thousand that are ill For my part adjoyned I sometimes I meet with a man who mortifies moâ—… extreamly with continual Repetitions of what he thinks he has said pleasantly and I may swear to you that I have heard him tell one Rallery a hundred times I am also strangely afraid added Don Alvarez of those tellers of silly Stories who laugh at 'em first themselves and would laugh at them all alone if they told them to no others than me since in my opinion I know nothing more incommodious than a certain Flat and Insipid Rallery which is proper for nothing For when those who speak seem to have a design to be merry and are not so nothing is more tiresom Those great makers of long pleasant Recitals rejoyn'd I who say a
the Character of some great Foreigner Don Alvarez and Clearchus excused ' emselves after so pleasant a manner that Clarice could almost have beer displeased and not understood Rallery insomuch as Antigenes taking up the Discourse after that the Company had admired this fine Answer I perceive said Antigenes smiling it is for me to do the honours of my House but happily I can do them without pain For since Melinta will suâ—…er a Character provided it be of some person elevated in Rank and Desert and Clarice will onely abide things a little remote from us as to Time and Place I have wherewith to satisfie 'em both in speaking to you of the Prince whose excellent and judicious Sentiment upon Rallery you have newly admired The same Consul of Alexandria whom I spoke to you of not long since and who sent me the King's Panegyrick translated into Arabick by the Patriarch of Mount Libanus has added them to the French Traduction of an Arabick Manuscript which is pretended to be a remnant of those Writings which the Egyptian Priests kept for their Kings 'T is from thence I have taken this saying and according to the calculation of the Manuscripts to which I refer my self the Prince in question lived about Fifteen thousand six hundred sixty five years ago All the Company fell a laughing at so old a date But Antigenes rejoyned coldly Do not laugh at this for Manuscripts and Printed Books too do sometimes lye But in truth the most ancient Greek Historian we have and he who is called the Father of History reckons Fifteen thousand years from their Hercules to Amasis Now by our Manuscripts this Prince lived about Thirteen thousand four hundred years before Amasis And by the most exact Chronologie there are from Amasis unto us above Two thousand and fifty years Insomuch as joyning this time with Thirteen thousandthree hundred years above Amasis it comes to about the number of years I have told you Being well understood that a Calculation of this nature Five or six hundred years more or less are no great thing And that when one has disputed five or six hours together you will find that it was full as good to know nothing at all thereof You see said Melinta Antiquity well setled even at such a distance I fancy Clarice will be satisfied with it But have a care that I be so with this so remote a King For if he had done nothing but built the Pyramids which have been so much talked of I could easily content my self without knowing any thing more of him And for my part said Clarice before you go any further I would willingly know his Name and also if that Manuscript gives some account of his Person I should be very glad you would begin with it for this sort of Pictures make the Idea of all the rest the more pleasing and remains likewise more fix'd in the mind I shall tell you answered Amigenes all I know thereof He was called Sefoftris the Great in distinction from that other Sesostris that is known in our Greck and Latine Historians who was a mighty Prince but as our Arabian pretends much below this former Sesostris the Great So that they gave him says he the name of Sesostris onely by reason he had some light resemblance of the Virtues of the former Sesostris And this former by all that is said of him is so perfect that it may be suspected whether it be not a meer Idea of a Prince rather than a real one as some have said of Xenophon's Cyrus This is very promising said Clarice but how was he shap'd The Book does not onely say replied Antigenes he was the handsomest man in his Kingdom but it addes That he had never any Statue or Picture but it came short of him That if a Stranger had arrived in his Court and found him disguised and travestied in the Croud of his Courtiers he would not have failed to have distinguish'd him by I know not what air of a Master which told all the World 't was he that was King That this Air was not however a forc'd and conceited Gravity in not Frowning as is that of most part of the Eastern Kings who are hardly to be distinguished from their Statues when they do so much as shew themselves in publick That on the contrary there was seen in him and his ways all the liberty of a perfect Genleman and all the Dignity and Authority of a great Prince And that his particular Character when he was either amongst his Officers or amongst Ladies on with those he made use of and to whom he gave his Orders in so many different manners was I know not what Heroick Familiarity mingled with so much Grandeur that people could less forbâ—…ar Reverencing than Loving him 'T is well for us said Melinta this Prince lived Fifteen thousand years ago for if he was still alive we should find it very difficult for us to forbear going to see him though we were to travel as much as Don Alvarez And who knows but that we should have also some desire of becoming his Subjects But I apprehend said Clarice this Greatness it self which appears in his least Actions came from that he had done great ones which prepossessing peoples Minds made them find every thing great in him That 's true said Antigenes but particularly from a certain greatness of Soul and an extent of Heart and Spirit almost without bounds which equally embraced and contained all that can make a King esteemed and admired This Manuscript remarks how though he had merited several times the name of a Conquerour and by his inclination would have lov'd it perhaps better than any othâ—… the Publick chose rather to call him Great because there have been very Famous Conquerours very low in other things but he was great in all The AEgyptians said for many years after his Reign that their Nation held from him all that had placed it above others and that the Times were good or bad according as the Princes deviated from or approached his Conduct That he had re-established the Authority of the Royal Government before staggered causing Justice to reign Changing the manners of his Subjects reforming the Laws redressing and maintaining Religion regulating the Revenues nourishing and promoting Sciences and Arts. That on the other side he had changed the whole method of making War and taught his Successors what all his Predecessors had been ignorant of in that Art which is the mystery of all others His Wisdom and Foresight were equal to his Prudence and Valour And those who did not see the first Springs of 'em took for unheard-of happiness and for Miracles of a blind Fortune the surprizing Effects of all these Qualities joyned together in so eminent a degree Places before impregnable were taken almost assoon as attacked The Euphrates and Tygris were passed like Brooks The desolation of War fell onely upon the Enemy Abundance marched with his Armies The years had
not jealous of Theramenes's happiness Androcles who still loved her and hated all those who looked upon her was very much troubled at his Rivals return Euripides finding no happiness in being married did but faintly rejoyce at the Marriage of his Friends Besides his gloomy humour made him seldom rejoyce at any thing But Xenophon having a very tender Heart did with delight espoufe the Sentiments of those two persons and contributed very much to all the Parties of Divertisement that were made at the Bath Several Balls there were at the Princess of Sicyon's House Theramenes gave several Feasts as well as Aloibiades Thrasybulus appeared there very indifferent Lisander to follow the moderation of Sparta contented himself with being at 'em without giving any Androcles criticiz'd them all very malignly and the diversity which was to be met with amongst all those persons rendred the Conversation the more agreeable One would also have said that Chance did every day furnish us with some new and extraordinary Scene And indeed as we were one day a walking we saw Enripides surrounded with eight or ten Souldiers upon their Knees who seem'd to thank him for some considerable matter He listened to them with great gravity according to his humour and made 'em a sign to rise We had the curiosity to know what was the business but were quickly informed of the truth by the principal among those Souldiers who knowing Theramenes for that he is an Athenian came and desir'd him to help them thank Euripides But what Obligations have you to him answered he him We all owe him our Liberty replied this Souldier For we were Prisoners of War in Sicily and so ill used that we had lost all hopes of ever coming out of Captivity But how can he have steed you at so great a distance inturreupted I. For that Madam replied he his admirable Verses are the ruling Pastion of the Prince whose Slaves we were And as one of those men you see and my self know many of 'em and that we recited them pretty well that Prince having heard of this would needs see us and commanded us to rehearse 'em in his hearing We obeyed him and he was so charmed that crying out generously The Gods forbid said he I should load any longer with Chains persons whose Memories are filled with so many fine things Go said he you are free and tell Euripides from me that if he will come to my Court he shall reign there more than my self While this Athenian was saying this Euripides came near almost out of Countenance at so great an honour And we had further information that these Souldiers had been loaded with Presents That in consideration of those who had recited the Verses that Prince had delivered all their Compinions and that Euripides would find at his returnto Athens many more who had taken another way thither Arera Thucydides's Daughter who was with us would needs know what those Verses were they had recited They made answer they knew almost entirely that admirable Tragedy of the Phenisses which passes for the Master-piece of Euripides All the Company admired this generous action of that Prince of Sicily and concluded men were capable of Passion for many very different Objects Some love Poetry others Painting others Musick and a hundred other things For my part said Alcibiades I have lov'd all these in their turns even to the committing Injustice For all the world knows I confin'd an excellent Painter in my house at Athens constrain'd him to paint it from one end to the other against his will And as he was the most Libertine of all men so was he the most unhappy But giving him to understand that he should not be paid until he had finish'd his work he worught with an unparallel'd diligence demanding no other recompence for his labour than his liberty You do ill to stop there said Theramenes seeing Alcibiades held his peace For after having begun this Adventure by a violence you finished it by such a liberality as that you gave four times more to the Painter than his labour was worth I assure you resum'd Alcibiades that the same Passion which made me commit an Injustice in confining him made me liberal in rewarding him by reason I was charmed with his work During this Euripides was discoursing those Souldiers who were delivered But the Princess of Sicyon coming to walk in thaâ—… place joyned the Company who went to seat themselves in a large green Bower which that Princess had caus'd to be made for reposing in the shade There we saw the Sea pretty near Trees on the right and the left and in short a wonderful Prospect Seats there were all around and a finer place could not have been chosen for entertainment It seemed likewise as if Chance had made an agreeable choice of the persons which composed the Company The Princess of Sicyon had with her that lovely Lady of Corinth called Eupolia whom I have already mentioned who with a thousand great Qualities which render her admirable is to excess afraid of Death She was also accompanied by Areta Daughter of Thucydides and by Hiparetta whose humour is charming and I had Melicrita with me who that day appeared in all her Beauty For as she was at length cured of part of her Fear Joy sparkled in her Eyes and she was not to be seen without being admired As for the Men Alcibiades Theramenes Xenophon Lisander Thrasybulus Euripides are those who were at this Conversation At first the Discourse was upon those Souldiers who were set at liberty Whereupon said the Princess of Sicyon it must be confessed that Athens is fruitful in extraordinary men But not to speak of those who are here I must own I cannot sufficiently admire all I have heard say of Socrates You have reason for what you say Madam resumed Xenophon For Socrates is incomparable in Virtue and in Knowledge But as I remember said she again I have heard he does not over-much approve of all those Sciences which have taken up all the Lives of the Learned who have gone before him True it is said Theramenes that the knowledge of the Secrets of Nature is not his ruling Passion though he has a great understanding therein too and he is the first who has preferred Morality before any other part of Philosophy He says the search of natural things is full of doubts and followed with errours That the true Science of Morality is indubitable in its Maximes and that the knowledge of Virtue is certain solid useful and pleasant This seems to me very fine said the Princess But who are the principal Friends of this man The principal Men of all Greece Madam replied Alcibiades For besides Xenophon Theramenes and Euripides who are here the famous Cebes is one and Simias of Thebes Criton Clerephon Phendon Cherecrates all excellent men But amongst all these Madam I find my place in his esteem and such as I am I may boast of having a share in
hoary Frosts and Snow are now deform'd But then a brisk a gay and cheerful day Will all the glories of the Spring display And the whole frame of Nature smiling lie Its beauties all appear its horrours die The yearly course does different changes make Vnhappy man does of 'em all partake Great Cold or Heat equally him displease And in no Season finds a charming ease If at his choice he Nature could destroy Yet something still his Pleasure would annoy His giddy humour would turn Day to Night And various thoughts would sowre all his delight If he could once be bless'd to his desire Wou'd he ye Gods burn with a constant fire His bosom is the onely Stage of War Where divers Passions for the Empire jar But when clear Reason does her right maintain And o're the Passions a due Conquest gain She yields to Time and always lives in peace And dares the fury of a Mind's disease But yet we must our Frailties still bemoan Reason can seldom sit upon her Throne Ambition fierce desires usurp her seat And foolish Pleasures all her power defeat Our Rebel-Senses by fly wiles betray That Soveraign Queen and place her under sway The wisest then are but half-witted Fools To their own ease and others noisom tools In their own Breasts all bear their greatest foe One cheats himself and makes a mighty show Others by flattery their ends design And all to excuse themselves do all combine A private interest does us all abuse And we false measures of true Justice chuse And since our selves we do not understand Nor our tumultuous humours can command We the whole Vniverse would mould anew Though change our selves is what we never do I am pretty cheery said Eupolia smiling for since the falling Leaves which I was so much afraid of do not tend to what I so much apprehended I am not at all afraid of the Leaves in the Bud And I find those first Verses so well made that I am very impatient to see the others Yet it sometimes happens said Alcibiades that we meet with Serpents hid under Flowers Be it as it will said Eupolia after having passed the Leaves which fall I cannot fear the budding Leaves All the Company without excepting Euripides after having commended the former Verses desired Alcibiades to read the others which he did in this manner after having said these last Verses had been made in the Month which precedes Violets and in the same little Grove Come budding Leaves renew our Groves in hast The Sun the watry Pisces Sign has past Come and display the riches of the Spring And shade the Birds that in our Woods do sing On your young Greens let the soft West-winds blow The Spring shall only Joys and Pleasures know The while we visit Flora Flora more fair By Dew of Heaven and by Aurora's care Youth has resistless Charms which still in Love The innocenter does the stronger prove How glorious how lovely is the Rose While in the Bud which does at once disclose And lose her Beauty in the Morn we see Her in her pomp at Night dropt from the tree She is no more the same so bright so gay You should have gather'd her within the Day Her mighty Charms are past her Colours fled Her Smell is gone her Leaves are withered Just such is Youth which while she does delight She cheats her fond Admirers by her flight A fleeting good whose haste we cannot stay Which ne're returns when once she 's fled away How certain is her loss and yet what care Heavens do we take in vain to keep her here What time what pains we loose to re-obtain What being past can ne're be had again Then let us now be wise and youth enjoy And when Age comes let 's bear it chearfully The mind grows never old the virtuous Soul Can feel no change but 's still entire and whole She always makes advantages of Time In every Age she 's ever in her prime She 's still content and can with patience see All her advances to Eternity Eternity whose very thought still finds Such Fears and Terrours in unstable minds Born for to live as well as die we are Why should we kill our selves with fruitless care Tiâ—… Innocence alone maintains the Field 'Gainst Fate to which all other things must yield He laughs at Fate who when the world is past Is sure that Heaven will be his at last Ah Alcibiades cried Eupolia you had great reason to say that sometimes a Serpent is found hidden under Flowers But who would have thought that this first Verse Come budding Leaves renew our Groves in haste which gives an Idea of the most pleasant and most smiling Season of the year should end by so sad a Moral and so little true in my regard for all the innocence of my life does not spirit me in the least Ah! in good earnest pursued she Alcibiades you are cruel For in spight of me I have retained in my Memory the most doleful Verses of this Copy and if Euripides has not the goodness to recite some of his own which may take from me so melancholy an Idea I shall not sleep these eight days Euripides desired to be excused and all the Company laughed at Eupolia's vexation and failed not to commend the Verses upon the Leaves They also examined which merited the most Encomiums and their Sentiments were divided As the Sun was going down apace the Princess got up and all the Company followed her to go walk for half an hour longer before they went to their several Lodgings We were no sooner out of the Bower wherein the Conversation had pass'd than we perceived Androcles and Chrysila holding each a Letter open and Polemon listening to 'em making actions which shewed astonishment Assoon as they saw us they came to us and the Princess addressing her speech to Chrysila who was known to be a lover of prying after and telling all the News that were stiring I am perswaded said she to her you have received some News from Sicyon No Madam resumed Chrysila it is from Athens that one of my Relations writes me so surprizing an occurrence that if Androcles had not had the same news I should not have believed it But as those who write to us are not acquainted and that they jump in their Story it must needs be true All the Company re-assembled and surrounded Androcles and Chrysila But pray said Theramenes what is this so surprizing piece of News It is pursued Androcles looking maliciously upon Melicrita who was come up as well as the rest that notwithstanding that blessed Law of the first of the Kings of Athens which requires the Athenians to have but one Wife onely the People being reassembled after having been so long time separated by reason of the Contagion which had deserted and laid waste their City The People I say to repair this Calamity have made a solemn Decree by which every Athenian is enjoyned to marry and to