that all its strength did consist in the multitude of the Inhabitants and truly it was so prodigiously vast that no other heart but that of Cyrus durst ever have attempted it Since he was come so neer this huge town where the King of Armenia was staying until his Army which already consisted of ten thousand men was strong enough to come into the field he would himself needs go and discover the scituation of the Town and Castle which he destred to take and after he had circumspectly viewed and observed all places round the enemy never daring to appear but a far off say what Chrisantes and his most faithful servants could unto him he would hazard all to deliver his Princess Then he caused twelve thousand men to march in the night unto that place and he left six thousand at several places to secure his retreat if need should be and to guard the passage over Araxes besides two thousand which he left to make good the passe over the river which runs between Armenia and Cappadocia After then he had drawn up his forces neer a little wood and drawn out those who were to make an assault upon the Town and Castle although he had intelligence that all Artaxates was up in Arms and all the Townsmen ready to come out against him yet did not this great heart saint but on the contrary the greatness of the danger infusing new spirit into him he made choice of a little rising ground which was between the Town and the Castle and after he had drawn six thousand men into Battalia upon this hill and had placed six terrible Engines which shot great huge stones to oppose any relief which the King of Armenia expected he went with four thousand others to assault the town in which they had placed three thousand souldiers entrenched some few days before Cyrus came within sight of Artaxates This Assault was given in four several places at once after that four Rams had battered the Barricadoes and Walls and that with so much fury that the enemies were at the first affrighted Any who had seen Cyrus bestir himself would have said he was invulnerable considering how he exposed himself unto the clouds of his enemies arrows The first Assault was commanded by the Prince Thrasibulus The second by Hidaspes The third by Aglutydas as for Cyrus he would reserve himself to fight within the Town against any that durst relieve the Castle The first Breach was on that side where Cyrus stood and those which defended it flying with all haste unto another Barricado were there killed and helped to enfor ãâ¦ã others by their own defeat Mean while both Thrasibulus and Aglatidas were happy in their attempts and he Souldiers also animated by the example of their valiant Commanders planted Ladders against the walls so that when the Inhabitants saw themselves assaulted on all sides they fled to save their lives some threw down their Arms and submitted others in a tumultuous disorder ran away some to avoid the Sword of their enemy finding the Bridg too narrow for such a throng fell into the River and were miserably drowned some would have defended the Bridg but the valour of Cyrus who never sits down after a victory did enforce them away and pursued them he killed all that resisted and pardoned all that submitted he who commanded the men at that pass was a man of great heart and was there killed because he would never ask Quarter and of those three thousand which were placed in that quarter there was very few which were not either wounded or taken prisoners The Prince Artibies who would needs fight that day as a Voluntier received two mortal wounds which did most extreamly trouble Cyrus Mean while those within the Castle seeing themselves not able to hold out against such valiant Enemies and the Princess which was in it promising them great recompences if they would render themselves unto this invincible Conquerour they began to beat a paâley which did so infinitely rejoyce Cyrus in hopes to see his dear Mandana presently that he was never in his life more sensible of any passion then at that time yet did he much wonder that the King of Pont whom he knew to be so gallant and brave did not appear How comes it to pass said he to himself that I doe not see him upon such an occâsion as this with Arms in his hands If he do well remember himself of some good effices which I have done him why does he not restore unto me my Princess If he will not restore her why does he not come out and fight with me Certainly said he he must be either dead or else some odd policy which I cannot understand causes the King of Armenia to keep him prisoner in this Castle but all these reflections did quickly vanish out of his mind his almost certain hopes that he should immediately deliver Mandana turned all into joy He parlied then with the Captain of the Castle he promised him all his desires provided he would presently render him the Princess whom he there guarded and the Captain obeying him and trusting unto his word which Cyrus did always keep even with his most mortall enemies he set open the Gates let all enter that would and caused those few Arms which were in it to be laid down As soon as Cyrus was in the first Court Where is the Princess said he unto the Captain She is yonder Sir replied he shewing him a walk where indeed he saw two Ladies coming towards him his imagination being wholly upon Mandana he went in all haste unto these Ladies but coming near the first Lady lifting up her Cyprus and presently stopping as if she were surprized at the sight of Cyrns he saw one of the fairest objects doubtless in the world yet at this time most unsutable unto his phancy since he saw she was not his Princess he then turned towards the Captain to accuse him for so deceiving him but the Lady addressing her self with a something disordered countenance Sir said she unto him the King of Pont my Brother was so gallantly treated by you when he was your prisoner that I must needs hope for the like favour from you since you are too generous to deny protection unto one of the most unfortunate Princess upon earth Cyrus was so troubled that he had not delivered Mandana and so surprized to hear that this Lady was Sister unto the King of Pont that for a while he was not able to answer yet clearing up his mind You are not deceived Madam said he most cruelly unto her when you believe I shall treat you with all the respect due unto me of your quality for though the King your Brother be him I aim at and came to seek in Armenia yet shall I render unto you all the services that are in my power As this fair Princess was about to answer Intelligence came unto Cyrus that there was such a prodigious multitude of people coming
to your felicity yet since it is not but that I am wife unto a Prince who doubtless deserves all my affections I will use all the means I can to root out of my heart that tenderness and opinion which I had of you and which yet whether I will or no remains in it Oh Madam I conjure you by all that 's sacred said I not to do so and I will promise you never to importunate you any more as long as I live so you will promise me some little room in your memory Let Tisander solely enjoy you let your beauty and your heart be only his and reserve only for me one of those secret and solitary thoughts which useth to beget a pleasing melancholy in those who admit of it Think sometimes most divine Lady that all the while Tisander enjoys his happiness the miserable Thrasibulus endures as many torments as that fortunate husband tastes felicities Alas Madam it is no unreasonable demand to ask three or four minutes in a day in remembrance of a man who as I told you before has devoted every minute of his life to think on you Those three or four minutes which you desire is too much for my honour to grant and you may assure your self that if I could I would banish you out of my memory as well as my heart but one cannot command ones memory as one will and perhaps said she and blushed you will forget me and I shall remember you whether I would or no. Alcionida pronounced these last words with so much charming confusion in her face that I kneeled to render thanks but she repenting of what she had said and did so seriously forbid me ever to speak any more of my passion unto her and never desire to have any private conference with her that I saw very plainly it was her real and resolute mind to have it so and I obtained yet one quarter of an hours audience longer during which time I could hardly move her to return any answer unto me and during which I did nothing but sigh and look upon her and conjure her not to forget me I had the comfort to see some signs of sorrow and tenderness in her eyes and had some hopes of remaining in her memory whether she would or no In the mean while we were come so near the Port that all I could do was to reclaim my mind and fit it for such company as would discourse of nothing but joy I shall not relate Sir all the passages of this Ceremony for I had no share in this publique Joy but was rather a very trouble unto Tisander who was most really sensible of my sorrows and was a Partaker of my misery especially when he saw I was resolved to depart from Lesbos and stay there no longer He set the Prince his Father upon me to use all his perswasions and motives to cause my stay in Mitilenes until such time as it pleased the Gods to afford me some ways to reconquer my Dominions but all was in vain and I departed not well knowing whither to go as soon as my ships were furnished with all manner of necessaries and as soon as two ships of his which he would needs give me were fit to put to Sea Since my own miseries did teach me how to compassionate them in others I would not suffer Leosthenes to follow my fortunes but I left him with Alcionida's Cousin with whom he was in love and recommended him unto the Prince Tisander as a man of good quality and much merit I shall not trouble you Sir with any relation of how I parted from this generous Rival who shed tears that his good fortune should be my misery for it would be impossible but I should blush for shame in relating unto you the obduracy of my heart towards him though he had obliged me by a thousand sweet expressions of love unto me nor shall I relate what adieu I bad unto the fair Alcionida since I had not so much as the consolation to see her charming eyes in taking my leave of her because she kept her bed that day and since there was many in her Chamber I did see her but one minute and in much disorder so I departed without this sad satisfaction and imbarqued with unequalled despair My most tormenting thought was that Alcionida was enjoyed by one whom I was obliged to love for had he been my mortal enemy I should not have been so extreamly miserable since then I might have had some comfort in revenge But the merit of the Prince Tisander did most extreamly grieve me also for I thought it impossible but Alcionida must love him and I wished with all my heart that she had married a man whom she hated Indeed there was not one phantastical melancholy violent or extraordinary thought which love did not infuse into my heart After this ambition became no torment unto me for since I cared not for my life I never valued a Scepter so that without any thoughts but of my misfortunes and of the fair Alcionida I wandred up and down the Seas until driven by a tempest I came to Sinope when the King of Assyria was there with the Princess Mandana and there remained until you came and found me on your enemies side without any designe of mine to be so After this Sir you know my life and that nothing observable has befallen it but your own goodness in a thousand testimonies of affection to me whereof I am most unworthy But Sir in the fight the other night at the bottom of the Mountains I came unto a place where I saw a man couragiously defending himself against ten or twelve Souldiers who pressed upon him I made all the haste I could up to them to prevent his being killed who knowing me cried out That Tisander wilâ yield himself unto none but the Prince Thrasibulus you may well imagine Sir that this name did much surprize me and that I no sooner heard it but forbidding the souldiers to fight any longer I went unto him but found him so wounded that presently after he fell and I was forced to hold him up I knew another prisoner also whom the souldiers had taken to be Leosthenes whom I left at Lesbos and who was not wounded so that promising to pay those souldiers their ransom for those two prisoners whom they had taken I caused the Prince Tisander to be brought hither who expressed so much affection unto me that I were not worthy to live if I were not moved with it Mean while I understood by Leosthenes how reports going that Craessus King of Lidia would fall upon the Islands the Prince of Mitilene went unto him intending to disswade him from that designe as indeed he did so that Pittacus taking his side left the Prince his Son and Leosthenes at Sardis where they made as great preparations of war as if Craessus would conquer all Asia though none knew what his designe was I understood also that
when he looked before him he saw the Coach wherein Mandana was and when he looked behinde him he saw his Rival going further from her and to pass over that River which would separate them for a long while So that though he was a Prisoner he would rather chuse that quality in following Mandana then liberty with Cyrus at a great distance yet these pleasing thoughts did not last long but on the contrary passing from one extreamity unto another he looked upon himself as the most miserable man alive and upon Cyrus as the most happy Who did ever meet with an adventure said he to himself so cruel as mine is for I have not only the misery of being a Prisoner but also to see my Rival released and released by one who makes his liberty insupportable unto me Does it not seem as if fortune did make him a Captive only to receive the greater testimony of Mandana's affection and to let me receive the most horrible sign of her aversion that possibly could be expressed for most certainly she saw me as well as she saw Cyrus Was ever such a piece of inhumanity as this seen She sees me a Prisoner and a Prisoner for her cause and yet in lieu of asking liberty for both she hath released my Rival only and loadned me with chains Though she would not consider me out of any love to me yet she might well have done it out of love to himself since my valour is not altogether useless unto Cyrus for her deliverance But inhumane woman that she is she has forced me to believe by this act that nothing can overcome her And yet the Gods have promised me that I shall make her sigh and mourn for all her cruelty and that I shall be at rest But which way is it possible to come to pass Whilst this tumultuous minded Prince was in these contemplations Anaxaris endured his misfortune with much constancie telling Tegeus after he had seen Mandana that he he did not now wonder that her beauty should cause so great and long a war Feraulas though he was much vexed that he had not yet got a sight of Martesia because she did sit on the other side of the Coach yet began already to project how there might be intelligence between Cyrus and himself Tegeus who had got sight of Cylenisa and was known unto her did think more of that pleasing object then of any danger he was in But as for Sosicles his thoughts ran all upon Prince Artamas whose pittifull adventure he did not yet know of In the mean time Mandana was no sooner out of sight of her unfortunate Cyrus but turning towards the Princess Palmis Dare I tell you said she in a low voice unto her that you have given liberty unto that illustrious Prince who only can make me either miserable or happy How said the Princess Palmis also in a low voice was I so happy as to release the invincible Cyrus I wish to the Gods that the Prince Artamas have no worse destiny then his As soon as she had said these words Andramites came unto the Princesses who had been speaking with a man who came to tell him that the Prince Artamas could not be carried any wayes but in a coach and he desired these Princesses that they would be pleased to let their women press close in one coach and permit a Prisoner of quality who was much wounded to go in the other Andramites had no sooner said so but the Princess Palmis began to change colour and asked him the name of this Prisoner but as he did not give her a direct answer as if he were unwilling to tell her she knew it was the Prince Artamas So that looking out of the Coach as it was entring into the Wood she saw the Prince Artamas lying at the root of a Tree his head upon a Buckler and his Scarf which held up his right arm bloody in divers places his Complexion by reason of the loss of blood was wondrous pale and his eyes then being shut she thought him dead Ah Andramites said she aloud making a sign with her hand to stay the Coach how dare you look upon me since your men have killed one of the most illustrious Princes in the world The Princess Palmis spoke these words so high that Prince Artamas heard her voice and knew it at the first Then he did not only open his eyes but lifted up his head also and leaning upon his left arm he offered to get up looking most earnestly upon her whose voice he heard But the Coach staying and Palmis going hastily out she was with him almost as soon as he heard her voice or had opened his eyes But alas how sad was this sight I ask you pardon Madam said this wounded Prince as soon as he saw her neer him that I am not able to render you those respects I owe and for having so ill defended that Life which might perhaps have been serviceable in procuring your Liberty It is I who ought to ask pardon replied she for being the cause of your miseries and wounds though I did most devoutly pray unto the Gods for your preservation who though they would not make me miserable in my own person yet do most severely torture me in yours Your Expressions Madam replied he make me most happy and since you are pleased to be a sharer in my misery let all be converted into joy since most certainly I shall die without any sorrow I had rather you would think of living replied she though it were only for my sake who cannot live without you Palmis expressed these words with such earnestness of affection that they made herself blush and look about to see whether any heard her So that seeing the Princess Mandana and all the rest of the women behind her did ask her pardon for so rudely leaving her and Artamas knowing by it that she was the Princess Mandana expressed such a Complement unto that Princess as it appeared he knew the Passion of Cyrus to be most violent but since he was ignorant of that Princes adventure he began to speak as if he were a Prisoner untill Palmis made a sign he should be silent and interrupted him by asking whether he could endure the joging of a Coach In the meanwhile Andramites fretting and fearing if his indulgence should come to the ear of Cressus he would be angry beseeched the Princesses not to trouble Artamas any longer but to lend him one of their Coaches since it was fit he should be in some place where he might rest himself Though the Princess knew he had some other reason for what he said then what he expressed yet they were contented to satisfie him and depart from Artamas I beseech the Gods Madam said he unto her that either my life or my death may conduce unto your Liberty And I beseech them said she and held her hand out unto him that I may rather spend all my life
them when we came to Ephesus Then did we resolve for Sardis and when we had put our selves into a handsom equipage we went unto that stately Town where the Prince my Master never feared being known For though Croessus had heretofore been on the King of Assyria's side as well as himself yet they never saw each other as well because Croessus was not in Babylon as because they were alwayes parted in several bodies so that he went boldly unto him and offered him his service Love telling him that it was not directly against the Rules of Generosity to conceal his design of releasing Mandana by such assurances of fidelity which he would never have failed in but only for her And since Towns are commonly taken by craft he thought he might without any baseness deliver Mandana by subtilty since I could not by force To get some reputation with Croessus he made himself known unto him for what he was to wit a man of a great spirit and able parts in Martial marters so that his design taking effect Croessus received him very well and treated both Belesis and me with much civility and the better to disguise our selves there seemed to be no difference of quality between us all but yet the inclination of Croessus did prefer the supposed Telephanes First though Belesis was very handsom of much spirit and a gallant deportment It is very true that since he did only surmount his sorrows out of his affectionate friendship unto the Prince Mazares and since that Prince did surmount his own sorrows only to release his Mistriss therefore they acted differently the one seeming much more forced then the other However it was in a few daies Telephanes was well known both in Court and Camp Croessus offered him imployment but he would take none upon him lest then perhaps he could not lay hold of any fit opportunity which might offer it self his only care was not to be suspected and to insinuate stimself with divers persons When he understood that they would lodg the Princess Mandana within the Cittadel when she came to Sardis his design was to make him that was Governour his friend and he brought it so handsomly to pass that he got a great stroke with him In the mean time since the negotiation between Croessus and the King of Pontus could not be compleated without an enterview it was resolved they should meet neer Sardis and since all conditions were agreed upon and they feared that in conveying the Princess Mandana and the Princess Palmis something might be attempted for their releasement therefore Croessus would have them depart from Ephesus whil'st the King of Pontus was not there purposely because the Spies which Prince Artamas might have amongst them might the sooner be deceived The King of Pontus was extreamly against it saying That since the River Hermes was between your Camp Sir and the way which these Princesses was to go there was no fear at all But Croessus told him that the Prince Artamas had so many creatures in his Dominions that he stood in fear of his own Subjects as well as of his Enemies and therefore the King of Pontus was forced to consent that orders should be sent unto Andramites to guard these Princesses and conveigh them with those Forces which he had unto a certain place where the King of Pontus would meet him with others and accordingly it was put in execution In the mean time since it was the will of Croessus that my Master should wait upon him when he went to meet the King of Pontus he was then put to an extream puzzle since that Prince intended to present him unto his Rival as a man from whom he expected great services And the King of Pontus perceiving by the proceedings of Croessus that he valued this Telephanes at a high rate and his handsom presence speaking him to be a man of much merit he received him with great civility and my Master did answer it with so much turbulency in his countenance that I have admired a hundred-times Croessus and the King of Pontus did not perceive it It is true that presently after he recollected himself and carried the matter with as much cunning as a man in Love could who had a plot to deceive his Rival and release his Mistriss The King of Pontus then was as well pleased with my Master as my Master would have been with him if there had not been some secret reasons which took the edg off all those civilities which that Prince expressed unto him and disobliged him yet sometimes when he considered him as one that saved Mandana's life he could not chuse but acknowledg himself obliged in his heart In the mean time as much as Telephanes desired to see the Princess whom he adored yet he durst not go with the King of Pontus who as I told you Sir was to meet Andramites that guarded her For since it was not so easie for him to disguize his face as his name he made no question but if she saw him she would know him and if she knew him before she was informed of his real repentance for carrying her away her extream aversion to him would discover him and so his design of restoring her that liberty which he had taken from her would quite be defeated therefore he made a handsom excuse for not accompanying the King of Pontus as he desired him but returned unto Sardis exceedingly disquieted because he was not able to regulate his desires for when his repentance and his generosity had the upper hand in his heart then he wished that the Prince Artamas might attempt something for the liberty of these Princesses and in lieu of conducting them to Sardis they might be brought unto your Camp Sir But then when Love was Queen-Regent in his soul he could not chuse but desire a sight of Mandana and zealously wish that it might be himself who should release her and restore her unto you rather then any other should have that honour from him yet notwithstanding he had no mind to be ignorant of all passages between the King of Pontus and the Princess Mandana at their meeting so that for better information of himself he desired Belesis to accompany that Prince not daring to send me because the Princess knew me But since he could not accord being seen by the Princess because she was to pass into the Town where he was he designed to see her out of a Window as she went through the Town unto the Cittadel so that he waited for the return of the King of Pontus and the Princesses Arrival with much impatience About two daies after the news was brought that the Prince Artamas attempting the liberty of the Princesses was taken prisoner and wounded in several places and that all his Party were either killed defeated or taken prisoners About two hours after this another Post came from Andramites who told Croessus that the King of Assyria was amongst the prisoners being known by
then the gaining of two Battles did rejoyce them In the meane time since Philidaspes undertooke the Command of the Armie under the notion of the Generall all the officers did without any difficulty receive orders from him As for the Prince Tigranes he was not to stay long in Cappadocia nor take upon him any imployment only as a voluntier All the Souldiers had souls so inquisitive of their Generall that they must be better satisfied concerning his fortune They spoke unto Philidaspes to enquire of the King of Pontus into what place they believed the King of Phrygia was retreated to the end a Herald might be sent thither to know if Artamenes were there a Prisoner for indeed there was two Souldiers who were certain they saw Artamenes a good way off iust at night pursuing his Enemies on that quarter where the King of Phrygia made his Retreat It was I Sir who was imployed unto the King of Pontus who was Lodged in my masters sent He assured me that the King of Phrygia was at that Towne nearest Cerasia close upon the River Sangar But Sir I never in all my life found a Prince more reasonable then he for when I expressed my fears that Artamenes was taken Prisoner If that be all said he to me never feare him and calling for pen and paper though he was wounded in his right arme yet he writ a letter unto the King of Phrygia by which he desired that if Artamenes chanced to be in his power to treat him with all possible civility a Herauld then was dispatched to the King of Phrygia Chrisantes and I with an infinite number of others of all conditions lighting abundance of Torches went to search amongst the dead for that which we wished never to finde though we much feared we should Alas said I to Chrysantes can the Gods be both so favourable and so averse unto Artamenes would they permit him to get two glorious Victories in one day to let him perish thus and let Philidaspes enjoy the fruits of all his hardship Though day did break yet we continued on our fears and glad we were to see we sought in vain Since we knew that Quarter where Artamenes was seen the last time Chrisantes and I went thither not well knowing why we scattered so from the rest of the company But the Destinies who conducted us knew that which we were ignorant of As we began to be in absolute despair of ever finding our dear Master and were resolving to return back we heard a pitifull weak voyce calling us we went thither in all hast and found two souldiers sore wounded the one in the legg the other in the thigh who not being able to rise lay there all night hoping for some Passenger to help them having both of them received their wounds in that place as they pursued the enemy But though their wounds were great and weaknesse extream by reason of their losse of blood yet the first thing they spoke was not to ask any help although they were our own men but on the contrary one of them speaking and looking upon us for he knew we belonged unto Artamenes Go said he to us towards the side of that river which you see some two hundred paces off and look carefully there whether your Illustrious Master be not in the same condition that we are in Our Master said Chrisantes and I both together Alas my friends what can you tell us concerning him We saw him yesterday very late answered the souldier which spoke before pursuing the King of Phrygia who retreated from fight but as they passed by us we saw that Artamenes was wounded at very parting of day for we saw his suit of Arms all bloody We alas were as you see us amongst these bushes which did interpose between our sight of the adverse Party but we saw the King of Phrygia before him and a great company following after him and we saw him in yonder place which I point at maintain a furious fight and if I be not much deceived there I saw the Illustrious Artamenes fall at least I am certain there was none stayed there nor any went off but some which swam the River of which I am certain Artamenes was none of them The souldier had no sooner ended speaking but Chrisantes and I began to run to the place which he shewed us with doubled fears which we could not expresse I think we had left these two poor souldiers without help had we not accidentally met some of our own men unto whose care we committed them Mean while we came to the river side which is the river Sangar that parts the Kingdom of Pontus from the Kingdom of Bithinia As soon as we came there we saw all the banks covered with killed men There was a little wood bridge which seemed newly broken and as the stream of this river was not impetuous we saw all along as far as we could look men killed and Arms broken the water it self was changed colour and all the grasse on the bank-sides was sanguin'd never was object more mournfull then this we found many of our own men amongst the dead and many also of the King of Phrygia's But oh heavens how I trembled when following the river a little lower I knew my dear Masters-horse which I saw dead on the side of the water two of his feet in the river as if he would have passed over when he was shot dead with an arrow which stuck in his flank Alas alas Chrisantes cried I doubtlesse our Illustrious Master is perished either by steel or water which way soever it be wee have lost alas we have lost the great Artamenes It is impossible to tell you Sir how great was our sorrows and astonishment We saw his horse which was very markable and within two paces further we found his head-peece and as the river was narrow we could see his Buckler which being within lined with wood did flote in the water and stop by some rushes which grew there In conclusion Sir we absolutely concluded him lost since we had searched so exactly all along the river and found him not and since upon our returne to the Camp the Herauld which we sent to the King of Phrygia brought no news of him upon a second reviewing of our sorrows Chrisantes and I went again unto the fatall river and mixed our tears amongst it We followed the sides as far as in all probability the waves could convey the Corps of our dear dead and honoured Master and since this river did empty it self into the Sea not far distant we imagined it might convey the Corps in that Abisse at last Sir we returned again unto the Camp all in despair we absolutely thought him dead and so did all the Army as well as we Never was Victory so sadly resented as this and the losse of twenty Battles had not moved so much sorrow as this Every one sighed all wept and lamented the Captaines had much ado
well that none upon earth knowes her betters and therefore I do in some sort betray the King of Assyria also I do know added he her own misfortunes better then she her self does I doubt it not replied the Princess for since you know him who is the cause of them better then I do you may also better see those dangerous consequences which that cause may produce Thus Chrisantes did Mazares somtimes speak such things as might move some suspition of his secret thoughts and thus did the ingenuity of the Princess cause her to expound them without any subtilty In the mean time we were alwayes upon extream incertainties the least noise troubled us I never came into Mandanas chamber but she looked in my face to see if she found any ill news in it and she often thought that she found signes of victory to the King of Assyria in it and the death of her father and Artamenes But presently after as we stood in that Balcone which I named before we discovered a great thick dust arise from the earth in that great plaine a great way off and presently after we discerned a great body of horse appeared this tight and the Princess feares made her look pale But after we had well considered them me thought they came too fast and in too great disorder towards Babylon to bring victory with them Madam said I unto the Princess certainly we have had the better on it it is easie to be seen for besides that they are no great number they come in such hasty confusion as conquerors would never do But Martesia said the Princess to me alwayes fearing the worst how know you whether or no these be prisoners of war which they send away and whether the King my father or Artamenes be not amongst these I see But Chrisantes presently after our doubts were all cleared for a little after these troopes were come into the Town we heard a great noise upon the staires ãâ¦ã and after that we saw the dore of our Chamber opened and the King of Assyria enter with his Arms all broken and stain'd with blood in divers places his scarfe all toân and bloody âhis plume all ruffled broken and bloody likewise for he had a slight wound in his shoulder There were such signes of sorrow in his eyes and so many marks of fury in his face that the Princess was out of all fears of her father or Artamenes As soon as this desperat Prince was come into the Chamber your prayers Madam are heard Artamenes has got the better of us and I hoped once in my life not to displease you in seeing at your feet him whom fortune has conquered It is none of my fault Sir replied the Princess that this misfortune is fal'n unto you and if you would have suffered my prayers to have overcome you Artamenes never should have vanquished you and the victory which you would have obtained over your self had been more glory to you then that which Artamenes has is honorable unto him Madam replied the King of Assyria can Mandana whom I have often seen so sweet and compassionate over the meanest subjects of the King her father hear with dry eyes and calme soule that for the love of her there is a field full of dead and dying men Charriots overthrown Armes broken Kings lost their lives Princes wounded or prisoners an infinite number of souldiers wallowing in their own blood that neer four hundred thousand men have fought for you can I say this obdurat Princess see me wounded and vanquished at her feet without one thought of compassion me I say who have quite lost all my fury as soon as I saw her who as soon as I look upon her has no sorrowes for my defeat and who should esteem my self very happy to suffer all these disgraces if it were permitted me to hope that she would once pitty my misfortunes Yes cruell Princess though I be vanquished wounded and misfortunat yet you can if you please make me the happiest of men but I beseech you do not insult over a miserable man and consider that Artamenes is not yet got into Babylon and Madam to temper your Joy a little give me leave to tell you that it is not so easie a thing to enter it as it is to vanquish in the field Battles doe more particularly depend upon fortune then fieges and therefore I can answer more absolutly for the event of the one then of the other and Babylon shall all be butchered also I will burie my self in its ruines then suffer Artamenes to enjoy you Sir said the Princess interrupting him without any passionate disorder fear of death does not tremble my soul and you have so accustomed me to desire it that it is not a threatning which affrights me if you should tell me of perishing in flames Ha Madam said this Prince kneeling unto her I beseech you pardon an unfortunat man in whom you have not left the use of reason I thought not of what I said when I said so unto you but yet what would you have me do I have often told you and do so againe that Artamenes shall never enjoy you as long as I live nor shall Artamenes overcome me without some danger to himself as brave and fortunat as he is But Sir said the Princess unto him Is it possible you should be so blind as not to see the gods are against you But Inhumane Princess replied he Is it possible you should not consider that you are the cause of this war and are the most cruel woman in the world which way can your heart be moved when I last spoke unto you I said in my self to excuse you that great souls are never flexible with armes in their hands and you speaking almost in the head of two hundred thousand men said that there would be found some way to resist me But now I come unto you vanquisht wounded and miserable confess the truth is it not somthing Inhumane Barbarous and Cruel not to look upon me with some compassion at the least the gods do know Sir replied the Princess that I am no lover of war and that I am a wisher of peace unto all Asia But for all that I can contribute nothing towards it but my prayers my will depends upon my fathers and my affection is a thing I cannot take away again after I have given it Oh Madam said the King of Assyria interrupting her speak no more in the name of the gods drive me not into absolut despair for I confess I am afraid my reason has forsaken me and that those respects which I would have unto you untill death will whether I will or no so sake me also speak not at all when you can speak nothing but what is insufferable yet said he in going away since my blood mingled with my tears will not move you and since the vanquished King of Assyria is no pleasing object unto you I will leave you
last Madam Cressus did consent and every one prepared for this Chase But when the Prince was ready to depart the King took Adrastus aside and told him that since the Prince his Son was his Protectour so he desired him to be his upon this occasion Sir said Adrastus to him extreamly rejoycing at this confidence which Cressus put in him if I do not safely bring back the Prince and victorious deny me all the favours that ever I shall ask or can hope for from you After this Madam they went unto this hunting in the most magnificent manner that ever was seen in Lidia Cleander went to take his leave of the Princess Palmis but there was so much company present that the adieu was not private nor any thing passed which was observable The Prince Myrsiles and Meaxis also went unto this Hunting and as Esope saw them depart Cylenisa asked him again whether the Shepheard was amongst the Hunters Yes said he unto her but they go not to hunt the Hind though it were much better for them they did When this gallant Troop of Princes and Grandees which disserted the Court came to the Mountain Olimpus they began to be in Quest of this Boar and when they had discovered his Den they compassed him about on all sides and every one strove to get the first blow at this terrible Beast which by his mostrous greatness did affright all Beholders they came near him and threw all their Darts That which the Prince did throw did miss the Beast so likewise did the Darts of Adrastus Meaxaris Abradates and others but Cleanders Dart did hit him and mortally wounded him whilest he was drawing his Sword against this wild beast Adrastus being envious of Cleanders honour and missing his aim at that time did throw a second Dart which as all Asia knows pierced through the heart of the Prince Atis who had changed his place since Adrastus looked upon him The fall of this Prince caused all those who saw him to cry out so that Cleander who was busie with the Boar and by giving him a great blow in the body which made him fall turned his head thinking the cry had been for joy of his victory but discerning better the doleful tone of those sorrowful voices he left his fierce enemy rowling in his own blood to go where the rest of the company were But he was extreamly dismayed to see the Prince Atis dead and Adrastus so furious and desperate that never sorrow was seen comparable unto his Cleander hearing it was Arastus which killed him and being transported with grief went towards him with his Sword drawn but seeing that all the rest of the Princes who were more interested in the loss then he was did pity him he did pity him also and indeed to speak the truth Adrastus was in a condition fitter to move compassion then choller for I never in my life saw one in a more sad and lamentable condition he had such a furious sorrow in his countenance and so many signes of despair in all his words that his pitifull estate is neither expressible nor imaginable The truth is Madam he offered several times to kill himself and they were compelled to take away his Sword and watch him They sent to advertise Cressus of the accident and we all followed the Coach which carried the Prince of Lidia's Corps never return from hunting was more sad then this nor never accident more mournful and amazing Cressus was so grieved no man could be more he called upon Jupiter the Expiator for help He invoked the Gods of friendship and hospitality whom Adrastus had violated he complained that ever he should receive into his Court the Murtherer of his Son thinking he had entertained a grateful Guess he invoked the God of friendship because he met with his most mortal enemy in him to whom he trusted his Son and to whom he would have married his daughter The Princess Anaxilea and the Princess Palmis were exceeding grieved in the mean time we brought the Corps of the Lidian Prince to Sardis Then did Cressus see it come into the Court of his Palace the man who killed him following for he would never be out of sight of it At this sight Cressus resented more sorrow then can be told or thought The conditions of Cleander and Adrastus were quite different Cleander had killed the Boar which was the cause of the hunting and would have destroyed the Province Adrastus killed the Successour of a great King the Son of his protector and his protector himself and which was most dismal of all the Brother of that Princess whom he loved and hoped ere long to have married he had so much sorrow so much rage and so many several confusions in his eyes as I never saw the like They would gladly have kept him from the sight of Cressus but he escaped from them that would have restrained him and ran to present himself unto that prince but in such moving language that he melced the hearts of his very Rivals he asked what punishment he would appoint him he desired him to pronounce that which was most rigorous and conjured him to make haste and he spoke indeed as if he did really desire death he called upon the name of the Princess amidst his complaints against himself and without any designe at all to live he said as much as possible could be to move Cressus for a pardon of his crime which indeed was not a crime but a most sad misfortune and worthy of pity Cressus himself was moved unto compassion and like a great and generous Prince did pardon him desiring him only to leave him at liberty to lament his misfortune Adrastus then did leave him and was conducted unto his lodging where they guarded him but the next morning he understanding that they would carry the Corps of the Prince Atis unto a stately Tomb which Alliaete had caused to be built upon the banks of a Lake called the Lake of Giges he stole from his guards the night following and run like a mad-man to this magnificent Tomb where he was no sooner come then he got up unto the top of a pinacle which was amongst the Statues and fell from thence with open arms upon the point of his sword which he had taken with him in the sight of those which followed him who there overtook him just at break of day Thus punishing himself he deserved the laments of all them who had greatest cause to accuse him for their misfortunes Cressus considering his Royal birth his repentance testified by his blood and his extraordinary misfortune caused his Corps to be layd in the stately Tomb with Prince Atis with an inscription sutable to so strange an adventure After this fatal accident Cleander began to grow in favor with Cressus who looked upon him as the only man who was fit to establish the Scepter after his death in the hands of the Prince Myrsiles Antaleon opposed these thoughts for
he who commanded in chief after he had caused the Body which he commanded to make a halt he came himself with a hundred Horse to know what they were not conceiving them to be Enemies because he could not imagine how Cyrus should pass over the river However not to neglect any thing he went forward and was no sooner twenty paces within the wood which was thin in that place but he perfectly perceived they were no Lydians and moreover observed they were no great number So that going after them and giving orders for those in the Plain to follow he was presently so neer as to fall on whilst Cyrus marching last as he that had least desire to flie would never so much as turn his head or offer to take his sword in hand hoping by this couragious action to make their retreat more easie But at last Cyrus turning suddenly towards the Lydian Captain who marched in the head of his men did run his horse so furiously against him and fell upon him in so couragious a manner that he forced him to retreat a little All his men made a sudden stop and Cyrus ãâã conding his first blow with another which made a river of blood to follow it then endeavouring the retreat of his friends he found himself compassed about with enemies on all sides without any hopes of escaping He killed one immediately but the multitude had certainly smothered him if Feraulas by good fortune turning his head and seeing Cyrus in that danger had not called Chrisantes to his relief who with the Prince Tigranes Phraartes Anaxaris Aglatidas Ligdamis and many others went unto him as for the King of Assyria who marched a long way before with the Prince Artamas and the rest they were assaulted by another body of enemies who were sent to cut off their passages Never was such a thing heard of as passed in this wood for Cyrus knowing that the liberty of Mandana did depend upon him and his life bestirred himself like a Lyon none who assaulted him escaped and few who he fell upon could be so quick as to flye or so ready as to guard themselves or so valiant as to resist So that there was very few of all them that were about him which did not feel the weight of his arm The valour of Tygranes was very notable as well as that of Phraartes the stranger Anaxaris behaved himself so that Cyrus saw he was the most valiant man in the world Aglatidas Ligdamis Chrisantes Feraulas all of them did shew such testimonies of prodigious courage to save the life of their illustrious Master that it is unexpressable The more the number of their enemies encreased the more did the valour of Cyrus double he turned and winded amongst the trees with such admirable dexterity and his horse being so obedient unto his hand did so well second his intentions that he could divers times have saved himself if he would have left his friends engaged but his great soul could not consent unto such a thought but he would still fight it out though there was no hopes of vanquishing In less then a quarter of an hour he made great heaps of dead bodies all the bulks of trees were bloody the green grass was turned red and the ground was all blood All the Caviliers which followed him had perished at this bout and certainly he had done so himself if the Gods had not by their supreme Power preserved him After he had sought a long time and seeing none about him but Tigranes Phraartes Aglatidas Chrisantes Ligdamis Anaxaris and Feraulas his valour encreased but the number of his enemies still encreased and one amongst them intending to kill his horse did thrust his sword through his flank so that this illustrious Prince could not possibly hold him for this furious animal finding himself wounded he ran away with his Rider whether he would or no through the thick of trees and enemies some twenty paces off where falling down dead Cyrus had much ado to recover himself from under him but having at last disengaged himself he perceived that he had nothing in his hand but the stump of a sword for it was broken against the bulk of a tree when his horse ran furiously away with him then being in an instant compassed about with a multitude of enemies the Conquerour of many Nations must needs be once conquered yet did he offer to defend himself but all in vain for they tumultuously fell upon him and took him Prisoner he having not received one wound Tigranes Phraartes Chrisantes Aglatidas Anaxaris and Feraulas seeing that Cyrus was taken and that it was absolutely impossible to think of releasing they began to think of saving themselves by flight if they could all but Feraulas who suffered himself to be taken that he might be a partaker in his Masters misfortune But the rest onely defending themselves and retreating towards the thick of the wood they fled away so happily that they who followed them hearing a great noise in the place where the King of Assyria and the Prince Artamas were fighting they made a stop searing some ambuscado during which they got into the thick of the wood and hid themselves until night all but Anaxaris who by the stumbling of his horse was taken However the King of Assyria the Prince Artamas Artabases Adusius Sosicles Tegeus and those Caviliers which were with him had made such a miraculous resistance and had killed so very many Lydians that their own valour was their ruine for those against whom they fought seeing what kinde of men they had to deal withal sent for fresh supplies So that seeing on all sides enemies upon enemies and that the more they killed the more they had to fight withal they thought of selling their lives at as dear a rate as they could especially Artamas for besides the general interest which they all had not to be taken he had a particular reason not to fall into the hands of Cressus Sosicles and Tâgeus might have the same apprehensions but yet they were not so deeply concerned as Artamas However that fatal Destiny could not be avoided for after he had received a wound in his ãâ¦ã ght arm and in three other places besides he was forced to yield himself The King of of Assyria also was surrounded with so many men and was taken Prisoner so likewise were Sosicles and Tegeus Artabases and Adusius only escaped this dangerous adventure These two Combates then being thus ended and all the Lydians which had fought met and having put the Prisoners which they had taken together Cyrus Anaxaris and Feraulas were much surprised when they saw the King of Assyria Sosicles Tegeus and some other of their Caviliers in the same condition as for the Prince Artamas he was so wounded that he could not be brought In the mean time these two illustrious Rivals seeing the equality of their fortunes were both of them both sad and glad Glad because a Rival was no
happier then himself sad because Mandana was without a Protector especially since the Prince Artamas was both taken and wounded They were also very much grieved to see that he was known by two Lydian Captains who had a good desire to have saved him but durst not Then they went to advertise him who commanded in chief and to give him some testimonies of their victory they carried with them the Prisoners which they had taken that is to say Cyrus the King of Assyria Anaxaris Tegeus Sosicles Ferulas and some Caviliers At their coming out of the wood Cyrus and the King of Assyria viewed all their forces which were drawn up in the plain and as they went these two Rivals observing by their manner of using them that they did not know them did agree together not to discover each other in case they could finde ways to escape and finding an opportunity to hint the same unto Feraulas as he was witty so he made it known unto the rest of the Prisoners hoping that not being known they would be more negligent in guarding them and so they might perhaps recover their liberty Yet Cyrus did extreamly fear to be carried unto the King of Pontus and when he remembred how oft he had conquered him and how that Prince had been his Prisoner the present condition of his fortune was most insupportable unto him yet he marched on though he knew not whither they would conduct him The King of Assiria asked the question of a Lydian Souldier who answered that they were to be carried unto Andramites who in absence of the King of Pontus commanded in chief and as he was enquiring more precisely into things an Officer came and broke off their discourse imagining that the King of Assiria was suborning the Souldier to further his escape After this they marched and were not permitted to speak so much as to one another each of them contemplating upon his own misfortune Cyrus was so generous as not to upbraid the King of Assyria for being the cause of their misfortune since but for him they had not come unto that place where they were taken Mean while they marched on and at last came unto the place where Andramites was who knew Tegeus and Sosicles as soon as he saw them so that not looking much upon any others I think my self very unhappy said he unto them for he was one of their friends that you should fall into my hands but since you know what belongs unto honor I hope you will not think it strange that I should speak unto you as Prisoners of War and not as unto my friends therefore I pray tell me what you were doing in the wood what number of men you had and what was Prince Artamas his business whom I know is wounded and a Prisoner We cannot tell you answered Sosicles very prudently what was the design of Prince Artamas for we only followed him and never enquired further but we can very well assure you his design cannot be very dangerous since he had only fifty horses with him And I do verily believe his designs were rather intentions to promote peace then war But where passed you over the River asked Andramites Since I will not prejudice that Prince whom now I serve answered Sosicles you must excuse me if I do not tell you where we passed over But where is Cyrus asked Andramites I saw him in the Camp yesterday when we came away answered Tegeus seeing Sosicles not answer quickly After this Andramites having bestowed a civil complement upon them commanded an Ephesian Captain to guard them Afterwards looking upon the other Prisoners he found something so great in the aspect of Cyrus the King of Assyria and Anaxaris though their arms and habit was very mean that he called Tegeus again to ask him of what quality these Prisoners were And as he answered that they were only common Caviliers If all the rest in your Army were such said he unto him Cressus will most infallibly lose the first battel he shall fight for I must needs confess he hath none such After this he commanded that the Chyrurgion belonging to the Army should go unto Prince Artamas and consider which was the best way to carry him For since he knew that Cressus held the Governor of the Castle of Hermes in suspition therefore he durst not go thither lest he should render himself suspected so that resolving he should be carried unto some place nearer Sardis and understanding that his danger was not great he commanded the Troops to march All the Troops then beginning to advance and all the Prisoners yet staying for want of horses because their own were either killed or taken by such Souldiers as could not be found they saw appear many Coaches in which were many women This sight made the hearts of Cyrus and the King of Assyria to beat and both of them advancing at once towards the way side by which these Coaches were to pass But when they espyed Mandana there O heavens what were their thoughts their souls were disordered their hearts trembled and were so transported that they thought to discover themselves and if shame to appear before Mandana in such a condition had not restrained them certainly they had staid the Coach and done some act as bold as their loves were violent But the thing which most of all disordered their reason was that whilst the Princess Palmis next to whom Mandana did sit was speaking unto Andramites on the one side of the Coach Mandana did cast her eyes upon these Prisoners so that knowing Cyrus and the King of Assyria she could not possibly chuse but cry out which reaching the ears of these two Rivals produced different effects though sad in both However the Princess Palmis turning herself at the cry which Mandana made and asking her what she had seen which caused her so to do that prudent Princess imagining notwithstanding the disorder of her soul that Cyrus was not known considering the condition wherein he was did ask the Princess Palmis pardon for it But said she unto her I could not chuse but be very much moved when I saw a man amongst the Prisoners who had served the King my father in a time when I thought my self very happy In the mean time Mandana seeing their Coach went on still desired the Princess Palmis to obtain of Andramites the liberty of this Cavilier not daring then to tell the truth unto the Princess lest she should be overheard Palmis desiring nothing more then to oblige Mandana desired Andramites to let the Coach stay and this Lieutenant General obeyed her Then did she entreat him to do her the favour to give unto her one Cavilier which Manda saw among the Prisoners which he had taken Madam said he unto her you know I ought not to do it I know very well said she that according to the exact and strict rules of war you are bound to deny me but withal I know that being
who could not chuse but know the King of Assyria did forbear asking his liberty for the love of me or for the love of him and gladly would I know whether the reason why she asked mine was only to set me further from her Yet methought her words and her looks were so obliging as I need not doubt that she is the same she was at Sinope and Themiscira But yet her beauty is the same so that I have cause to fear her heart is altered for if it were true that she did at all love me she could not possibly but be sensible of my miseries and then it is impossible she should preserve her beauty so well amidst so many causes of sorrow if they were not sweetned by some consolations which I understand not Then the jealousie of Cyrus changing object the rare qualities of the King of Pontus began to trouble him and presently after the King of Assyria came into his fancy but however his minde did change objects his sorrow still continued constant and he could not any ways comfort up himself because in lieu of his releasing Mandana she had released him Cyrus past over all the rest of the night in such turbulent agitations of minde as these and he could not understand how it should come to pass that the King of Pontus did not himself conduct these Princesses or how the friends of Meneceus and Timocrean had given them such false intelligence concerning the setting out of the Princesses But he understood from the Governour of the Castle who had it from a Captain belonging to Cressus that their departure was published to be deferred on purpose to deceive any spyes which the Prince Artamas should have about them And that which kept the King of Pontus from being of the Convoy was because he was gone with another parry of Souldiers to a Ferry and a Ford and to guard that place where in Probability their enemies would pass and intended to meet them nearer Sardis and since the place where they were to meet was above fifty furlongs from the Castle of Hermes he could not be there where the fight was Cyrus apprehending all these circumstances was much more grieved then before For he plainly perceived that if he had received right intelligence Mandana had most certainly been released Then did he renew his complaints with more bitterness then before which yet were interrupted by Artabases who told him that one of the Cavaliers who had escaped from the fight had brought him a Table-book which as he said he saw fall out of the King of Assyria's pocket whilst he was fighting and which after the fight was past he took up He told him further that finding somthing written in it in a language which he understood not and considering how the interests of the King of Assyria and his were linked together he used his best endeavours to get it out of the hands of this Cavalier and bring it unto him since he knew that he understood the language Cyrus took the Table-book and being full of curiosity to see it for it was Cedar and very magnificently adorned after he opened it he read these lines in the Assyrian language The Oracles rendred at the Temple of JUPITER BELUS Well mayst thou hope to make her mourn For all her cruelty and scorn Because hereafter in her arms Thou there shalt find such pleasing charms As quite shall terminate thy pain And turn thy sorrows into gain Whilst Cyrus was reading this Oracle Chrisantes entred and knew it presently to be the same which Martesia told him was rendred unto the King of Assyria at Babylon So that looking upon Artabases in such a manner as let him know he was very desirous to know who gave this Table-book unto Cyrus and Artabases telling him it was himself Chrisantes murmured in such a manner that Cyrus understood what he said and turning towards him Did you know of this Oracle said he unto him and when it was delivered Chrisantes something surprised at this question sought out for a handsom excuse but could not meet with one so that he confessed the truth and told him that Martesia Feraulas and he were resolved to conceal it from him lest it should be an addition unto his sorrows Whilst Chrisantes was excusing himself to Cyrus he was reading this Oracle over again Afterwards when he had ended it Is it possible oh ye just Gods cryed he out that a Prince whom you have so long loaded with misfortunes should be now so much favoured by you as to make Mandana sigh and mourn for him and that he shall find such charms in the arms of my Princess as shall terminate all his sorrows Why if I may ask it without crime did you let her hate him and love me if you thought him worthy of your protection or why did you suffer him to be thrown out of his throne And if I was thought worthy of your favour why was not he my Conqueror or why did he not kill me at the first battel Sir said Chrisantes and interrupted him As it is not fit for men to prescribe rules unto the Gods so it is not fit to dive too far into the exposition of their words I know it very well Chrisantes replied he but this Oracle is so clear that there needs no other interpretation but an expectance of the event For my part replied Chrisantes I do conceive it to be more obscure then you think it since I never heard that the Gods did speak in this manner of future events Did you never hear of any Prince replied he so unfortunate as Cyrus Do you not plainly see that fortune is favourable unto me only to be the more inhumane since she does advance me only to throw me down a greater precipice And on the contrary do you not perceive that she has afflicted my Rival to no other end but to make him more sensible of his happiness and dejected him purposely to advance him Do you not indeed observe that all his misfortunes prove advantages to him and conduce unto his happiness and on the contrary all my good fortunes are most sensible causes of my misery For does not his imprisonment bring him neerer her he loves and does not my liberty carry me further off her whom I adore It is so long since this Oracle was given replied Chrisantes and so little good fortune hath happened unto this Prince since that methinks he cannot build any great hopes upon such a foundation Ah Chrisantes said Cyrus you dissemble your thoughts to comfort me a little As he was saying so Artabases was said to be come from the King of Phrygia Alas said Cyrus and sighed that Prince does not know that misery is contagious nor that his illustrious son is wounded and taken prisoner After this he commanded that Artabases should enter and asking him what business he had he told him that the King of Phrygia had sent in all haste to advertise him that the friends
amused one part of the Enemies Never was such a confusion as amongst the Lydians All the souldiers that were off their Guards would have gotten whither their duty called them but could not possibly because the streets were already possessed by Cyrus The Inhabitants were so frighted that they never thought of either Barracading their streets or coming out of their Houses The women made lamentable screeks The clashing noise of Armes ecchoed from all sides The different noyse of Conquerors and conquered filled the aire with variety of sounds But Croesus having at last assembled some souldiers opposed Cyrus who after that got not one corner of a street without fighting for it The other Troops which had orders to possesse other quarters of Sardis met with resistance in severall places In this great confusion one might see in severall places woâen croud into the Temples into other places some that were desperate would throw all that they had out of the windowes to qualifie their Enemies Indeed the disorder was so great the Tumult so terrible and terror so universally struck both into the hearts of the Lydian Souldiers and also into the Inhabitants that they were at their wits ends Croesus in so great a disorder had no way left but to endeavour his retreat into the Cittadell with the Prince Myrsiles to the end he might make such a Capitulation as at least might secure his person and not doubting but since he had Mandana in his power he could atleast obtain his liberty This unfortunate King did extreamly wonder that the King of Pontus never came at him all the time of this great disorder yet upon consideration that his love of Mandana caused him to keep the Cittadell hee thought it lesse strange Seeing then that Sardis was lost That his Enemies were masters of all the principall streets That almost all the Ports of the Town were quitted by his men and were in the power of Cyrus He did retire as I told you into the Cittadell But since the first design of Cyrus was to get between the Cittadell and the Palace of Croesus to the end hee might take this unfortunate King he effected it so well that he cut off his way and there it was that the Combate was hotly disputed The approach of the Sun having dimmed the light of the Moon all manner of objects might visibly be discerned and one might know another So that the Lydians fighting in the presence of their King both for his life and liberty did things beyond beliefe The Prince Myrsiles though dumbe yet his acts did merit eternall memory but as valiant as they were all were not able to resist the invincible Cyrus who fought under the walls of the Cittadell with the heart he did at Sinope under that Tower which the flames of fire were ready to consume and in which he thought to find his Princess being no lesse valiant under the name of Cyrus then he was under that of Artamenes At least I am sure of this said he in himselfe in the midst of the Tumult I have this advantage that I am sure I shall release Mandana if I be victorious For my rivall has no Galley to carry her away in as Mazares had nor can the Sea favour his flight But whilst Cyrus did envigorate his valour by his sweet hopes Croesus intending to charge through the midst of his Enemies which opposed his passage to the end he might get into the Cittadell got into the front of his men repulsing all those that assaulted him with incredible valour Indeed he rushed so amongst them that he was compassed about The Prince Myrsiles seeing him so engaged came to relieve him but before hee was able to get to him hee saw a Persian Souldier whilst Croesus was defending himself ready to kill him behind having his sword already lifted up to run him through The Prince Myrsiles seeing the King his father was ready to be killed and he not able to help it was sensible of so sad an apprehension and straining to cry out with all his force his tongue unloosed and this Prince who never spoke before did speak to save the King his fathers life hee no sooner saw this action of the Souldier but striving with extraordinary violence he cryed out Souldier spare the King this voice which was as plain as loud penetrating the ears of that Persian did stop his lifted up arme and made him change his intentions of killing this Prince into a design onely of taking him a Prisoner But there was no great difficulty in that for Cyrus coming up just as this prodigie happened did find all the Lydians who heard the Prince Myrsiles speak so amazed that there was much lesse difficulty in taking both the King and the Prince his Son Also Croesus seeing no hopes thought it better to render himself then to be taken in a vain resistance So that this unfortunate King turning towards Cyrus and commanding the Prince his Son to cease fighting and follow him there was a Cessation of Armes on both sides Then Croesus turned the point of his sword towards himself and hilt to Cyrus he presented it unto him telling him that since he was not able any longer to resist against the Conqueror of all Asia he would submit both himself his Crown and the victory unto him Cyrus hearing the King of Lydia say so seemed much moved and answered him in termes worthy of his Generosity I receive your Sword said he unto him and took it but it is with a promise to restore it as soon as you have restored unto me the Princesse Mandana and surrendred the Cittadells wherein she is Since I have surrendred my self Sir said he unto him you may imagine all in my power is yours But Sir I must tell you that the King of Pontus is not in mine Then Cyrus told him he would send immediately to summon him after which Croesus and Myrsiles were committed unto the custody of Hidaspes who carried them to their own Palace which was close by and the sword of Croesus was put into the hands of Feraulus with orders to restore it whensoever he should ask it In the mean while since Croesus had surrendred himself there was no more fighting in any part of the Town but in houses which Souldiers would have Plundered But Cyrus whose mind ran all upon the Cittadell would not let his Souldiers think of Pillaging this goodly Town he sent Tigranes Phraartes and Anaxaris to hinder them and who accordingly did so In the mean time he who went unto the Cittadell from Croesus to bid the King of Pontus surrender it unto Cyrus returned and reported that the Lieutenant Pactias who was Governour told him that provided he could see an order signed with the hand of Croesus he would without resistance obey him So that Cyrus procuring this order he sent it and commanded that the Souldiers should come out and appointed also such Troops as should enter at the same time Also he drew up
paces from the King of Assiria whom two of the Guard which were left with him whereof the one of them was Brother unto him whom that unfortunate Prince had last wounded both of them fell upon him behinde and took his Sword from him say what Mandana could to the contrarie for this Princess seeing how things stood did what she could to defend him who now defended her considering the pittiful condition wherein he was and she was now as careful of preserving his life as she was of causing his death when she thought he had killed Cyrus 'T is true all her cares were fruitless because the last blows which this unfortunate Prince had received did so upon a suddain enfeeble him as not being able to sustain himself upon one knee he fell upon that arm which held Mandana's Gown and so weakly supported himself So that the Princess seeing him ready to expire and being moved with extream compassion she sat down upon the grass whilst the fight continued some fifteen or twenty paces from her and this miserable Prince whose strength more and more failed rested his drooping head upon Mandana's knee and this generous and pitiful Princess seeing him ready to expire did not draw back from him as she did a quarter of an houre before and would not deny him the consolation of taking his last breath upon her knee Since his great loss of blood had taken away from him some part of his fierceness by taking away his strength and since he had his reason very perfect because he feared not death he uttered nothing concerning Mandana but yet what was very tender and moving 'T is true he spoke but little yet that little wrought great effect upon the heart of that Princess And to make the freedome of his soul appear he remembred the Oracle which he received at Babylon in the Temple of Jupiter Belus which said thus unto him Well mayest thou hope to make her mourn For all her cruelty and scorn Because hereafter in her Armes Thou there shalt find such pleasing charms As quite shall terminate thy pain And never shall complain again This Prince very probably remembering this Oracle lifting up his eyes in a languishing manner and looking upon the Princess I beseech you Madam said he unto her in a dying tone let me have some share in those sighs which I hear you breath to the end that dying in your Arms I may meet with that rest which the Gods have promised me by their Oracles I assure you Sir said she and sighed again that what you have now done for me makes me extreamly sad to see you in this condition and if I were able to preserve your life as you would my liberty I would do it with all my heart It is enough divine Madam said he unto her in a very low voice and I shall die much more happy then I lived since I shall die unhated by the divine Mandana As this unfortunate Prince said so he offered respectively to take the hand of the Princess but at the very first touch of it he lost his speech and in a hollow whisper did let her understand that which his tongue could not pronounce So as this deplorable Prince dying immediately after he had the glory to make Mandana sigh and really to pity his death who had been the greatest torment of her life In the mean while the combat continued still but since the presence of Ariantes had given fresh hearts unto his men the face of things changed and both Aglatidas and Araspes who were met could not with all their valour prevent almost an absolute defeat for since the horse of Aglatidas was killed and himself wounded in the arm Araspes also being hurt in his right hand Ariantes and Andramites left a Party of their men to keep in work those few men which resisted them and went with the rest unto the place where Mandana was and say what she would or could she must submit unto force and be carried away against her will not but that it grieved Ariantes to the soul that his passion should transport him beyond his due respects But though he asked pardon for the violence he offered yet he behaved himself as a man who would execute his design and indeed he carried Mandana Doralisa and Martesia unto the Port where the Ship waited and as he remembred how Mazares in his carrying away Mandana from Sinope did set fire upon all the Ships in the Port he resolved upon the like lest he should be followed which thing was easily done because there was not above three or foure there and because the Port was separated from the Town which was neer and since there was not above two or three men in each of those Ships Thus Mandana Doralisa and Martesia being put into the Ship and Ariantes Andramites and their retinue also entred they began to hoyse sail not tarrying for those they left in hand with the King of Assyria's men for though Ariantes had left one of his dearest friends amongst those which fought yet he would not hazard the loss of Mandana to preserve him so violent was his passion Thus parting from the Port a little after Sun-set Mandana was in as sad a condition as ever But whilst this Princess and with reason was grieving Cyrus was as sad as his sorrow was just for after he had in vain sought Mandana chance brought him at last unto the place from whence she was carried away So as finding the place covered with dead and dying men he saw Mandana's Coach and the horses grazing loose he saw Aglatidas wounded as well as Araspes and he saw the King of Assyria dead So that not finding Mandana there and those who fought for her liberty vanquished his sorrow was most extream but it was at a higher pitch when he understood from Aglatidas and Araspes how the case stood and when he understood from one of Mandana's Guard who lay wounded neer the place where the King of Assyria's corps did lye some of that Princes dying expressions and all that he had done for her liberty So as this generous Rival in imitation of that compassion which they said Mandana expressed at the loss of so valiant a Prince he also pitied the lamentable destiny of so great a King though he had been his most mortal Enemy But to spend no time in fruitless complaints he commanded some of his Followers to put the corps of this renowned Rival into Mandana's Coach to catch the horses and to drive to the place from whence he came there to stay till he had resolved what Funeral Honours to do unto it After which visiting the wounded to see if any could tell which way Ariantes took the Prince Indatherses who was with Cyrus did know one of his Country who was of good Quality called Adonacris So as going to him and making himself known they were both surprized at the sight of each other But after the first passages of civility Indatherses
by flying were met withall by Mazares Thus the illustrious Cyrus had the glory to vanquish those who vanquished his Entirely to defeat the two wings of his Enemies Army and to have vanquished a great part of Thoniris her foot There remained now none but a huge body of Infantry to fight with which being composed onely of Massagettans were placed near the Artillery of that Army and who seemed to stand in such a resolute Posture that it was easie to see that they would defend their lives and liberties with the last drop of that blood the valiant Terez commanded this body but being very lame by reason of the former received wounds hee could not ride but alwaies was carried in a little Chariot This old experienced Captain being thus in the head of these Massagettans Cyrus assaulted them and he made the more hast because hee understood by some Prisoners which were taken that the Prince Aripithis was coming up with a Puissant Army of Sauromates and that hee was already in the Wood also understanding that Mazares who was in pursuite of those whom he routed had not met with Aripithis hee thought it best to fall on this Enemy before the other was joyned Yet he had but few horse with him for they were all busie in Pillaging after the last Victory But for all that or without staying for the body of his Reserve he couragiously charged the Enemy though hee had but few horse to back him But after he had beaten all the severall bodies of Thomiris Army and not finding Ariantes he charged this in hopes of meeting with him However Terez seeing Cyrus come in with such fury yet moved not but commanded his men not to draw an Arrow untill all their Enemies wree within lesse then Arrow-shot But when Cyrus was vvithin that distance Terez that old Souldier opened his Battalions and gave such a volley from their Engines and Bowes that the Aire vvas obscur'd and the Army of Cyrus extreamly galled and if the extream valour of that Prince had not held up their hearts those vvho vanquished others had novv been vanquished themselves But as good luck vvas Terez had no Cavalry to repulse them and so since he could make no advantage of their disorder they did not recoyl but Cyrus did so enharten them that he led them on again But Terez having time enough to charge his Engines again this second assault had no better successe then the first And it was the third time before the Conqueror of Asia could break these fierce Enemies though he did things which were absolute Prodigies and though the Princes with him did signalize themselves by a thousand acts of courage Yet all this resolute valour of these Massagettans was uselesse to them for Cyrus having caused the body of his reserve to advance and some other Troops whom hee had sent in pursuite being returned he compassed about this valiant Infantry on all sides So as these couragious Massagettans having no way left but to render themselves and since they might do it with honour they made such signes as those use who demand quarter and the illustrious Cyrus desiring to save the lives of such brave men advanced towards them to take their words and to give his but since he advanced without making any sign of giving quarter they thought he came to assault them so that discharging their engines and Arrows afresh all those who followed Cyrus saw that Prince in such imminent danger that out of their loves to him they fell upon these valiant Massagettans without any orders and so assaulted them on all sides at once that they quite broke them and dispersed their Battalions In the mean time Cyrus moved with a generous Passion to see so many brave souldiers like to perish his action was as glorious in striving to save them as it was a little before in killing others for maugre all the tumult and confusion hee ran into the midst of the Conquered and Conquerors crying as loud as ever he could that quarter should be given to the Massagettans menacing with heroique fury all those who helped him to get the victory if they did not pardon the Conquered and obey him This command was no sooner heard but presently the Souldiers of Cyrus ceased killing and the Massagettans charmed with the clemency of their Conqueror threw down their Armes and flocked all about him looking upon him then as their Protector whom a minut before they fought against as their enemy Indeed their was not an Officer who did not desire the honour of rendring himselfe unto that Prince and not a common souldier who at least longed not to come near him and they seemed not sorry for losing the Battle since so great and clement a Prince had gotten it and their actions were so significative to express the high thoughts they had of this Hero's clemency that words needed not to express them for maugre the tumult which could not be appeased in an instant they acknowledged that their joyes to see their illustrious Conqueror did much comfort them for being Conquered In the meane time Cyrus knowing that Conquerors must never sleepe in the Armes of a Victory as soone as he had saved the live of these valiant Massagettans had given Orders for the safety of the Prisoners and had commanded to have a care of the body of the valiant Tlerez who was killed at this bout hee intended presently to Rallie his victorious Troopes purposely to relieve Mazares in case he had met and were repulsed by Aripithis and to goe himselfe and fall upon the Prince of Sauromates if he durst come out of the Woods unto the Plaines But as he was busied in Rallying them together Mazares who had been in pursuite of his Enemies arived and acquainted Cyrus that Aripithis not daring to engage him in the Plaine kept still in the Woods where he had received into the narrow passes the Troopes which he had broken adding that for all this he pursued them hastily and understood by some prisoners taken in the Woods that the Forces of Aripithis which had not fought were retreated in such confusion that one could hardly discern them from those who defeated them But can you not learne from those Prisoners said Cyrus after he had in few words commended Mazares for what he had done the reason why I should not meet with Ariantes all this day though I have most carefully sought for him nor can you not learne where Thomiris was during the fight or in what place the Prince her Sonne fought As for Ariantes sir replied Mazares you were not likely to meet him for whilest you sir were defeating the Left-wing of his Army he fought in the Right and routed your Left-wing so that whilest you were assaulting his Infantry he left the wing which he commanded to helpe those whom I pursued but seeing he could not and knew by those whom you routed that you had vanquished his victorious wing he went to joyne with Thomiris
Corps of Spargapises But assoon as they were gone Cyrus gave himselfe wholly to fitt his Army for an advance towards the Tents Royall in case Thomiris did not change her mind as there was no great likelyhood she would In the mean time Cyrus was in such a miserable condition as no signes of any victory was to be seen in him Thomiris and Ariantes suffered incredible torment of mind and Mandana though a Captive yet had more sweet minutes then they all had for since the fame of Cyrus his victory had reached her ear maugre all the oppositions of Ariantes she was extreamly well satisfied and talked merrily with Doralissa and Martessia The Princesse Istrina and the Princess of Bithina were joyed beyond meafure for they verily believed that it was advantagious for them that Cyrus should be Conqueror and the fair Arpasia whom Licander had brought unto Thomiris was in the same mind In the meane time Ariantes used all his endeavour to Rallie that Army which Cyrus had Routed and gave all requisite orders for securing and guarding the narrow passes in the Wood that his Rivall might not advance towards the Tents Royall untill all the Forces of Thomiris were joyned Aripithis who bore a deadly hatred unto Cyrus because he was perswaded that if Thomiris had not loved him he should have been happy therefore he endeavoured all he could to give a stop unto the Victories of that Prince Yet he wished with all his heart that Mandana were out of the Power of Thomiris and his mind was so ravelled that he knew not himself what to wish Since his Troopes did not yet fight he stayed at the entry into the wood to stop Cyrus if he advanced So it happed that when Spargapises was killed a Prisoner escaped for this accident made such a noise as the Prisoners were more carelesly guarded their souldiers lurking some nights in the woods at lest came to the place where Aripithis was This Prince knowing hee had been a Prisoner unto Cyrus asked him what newes The souldiers having but a confused knowledge of Spargapises death said that that Prince was taken That the souldiers of Cyrus bound him and carried him into a Tent separate from theirs and that a little time after it was said he was dead Yet adding afterwards that the souldiers of Cyrus said he killed himself Aripithis desiring no more then to drive Cyrus out of the heart of Thomiris made use of this report to that end Not that he did suspect Cyrus would ever kill Spargapises but knowing that Thomiris was of a violent spirit and that the tale of this souldier was something probable and enough to make that Queen think that Cyrus had treated her son very ill he moved this souldier by large promises of recompence to tell Thomiris the same tale he told him and to chuse his time when he should be present At first this souldier dorred at it for the valour and clemency of Cyrus having gained his heart he was unwilling to infuse any suspitions of cruelty into Thomiris But at last Aripithis telling him that it highly concerned Thomiris to know it and joyning menaces with his promises he undertook it So that as soon as Aripithis came to the Tents Royall and was with Thomiris this souldier presented himself and told the Queen what he had told Aripithis to wit that the Prince her Son was taken Prisoner that they bound him that he was carried into a Tent by himself and that presently after it was reported he was dead which made such a hurley burley that in the interim he escaped Thomiris no sooner heard this from the souldier but Aripithis added that he knew as much from two others though he durst not tell her Is it possible cryed out Thomiris That my Son should be dead Dead by orders from Cyrus Is Cyrus capable of such a bloody Act against all the Lawes of Honor or War Is his hatred of me so high as it makes him violate all manner of Rights Since so I must and will be revenged As she pronounced these words one came and told her that Anacharsis was come with the messenger she sent to Cyrus and brought the body of the Prince her Son She no soooner heard this but all in a fury she went out and passed from Tent to Tent untill she came unto one which opened into a great Plain as if she would her self go see whether this was true or no But as soon as she came into this great Tent she saw the Coffin in which the Prince her Son did lie This sad object both grieving and amazing her and her mind being also highly incensed to think that the man whom of all the World she loved best should kill her Son she was almost starke mad She no sooner saw the Coffin but after such a sad cry as would have tendered a heart of stone she addressed her self unto Anacharsis How durst you said she unto him with eyes ful of fury bring me any thing from the murtherer of my Son who certainly would never have sent me his Corpes but because hee hoped it would be my death The Phrase you give Madam unto that great Prince who sent me to you doth so ill and so little sute unto him said Anacharsis to her that I am forced to interrupt your Majestie and to hinder you from wronging the Generous and most illustrious Prince upon Earth Ah Anacharsis cryed shee I must interrupt you For I cannot endure to hear a Prince commended who has treated my Son so ill who caused him to be bound like a slave and who has most inhumanely stabbed him I beseech you Madam replyed Anacharsis be pleased to receive the truth from my mouth and harken not unto those Lies which are belched out by the Enemies of Cyrus For believe it Madam confidently believe it that Cyrus never treated Spargapises ill But on the Contrary sent in all hast to unbind him and was grieved to the soul when he heard that young and generous Prince had stabbed himself as soon as ever he was unbound Since I was not in the Tent where that unfortunate Prince dyed replyed she I cannot directly tell the passages But I am sure that in all likelyhood Cyrus caused him to be killed For he was bound and none of the Prisoners besides he was carried into a Tent by himselfe and as soon as two men came to him from Cyrus his death was presently published Also though it bee as you say yet Cyrus is not innocent for though my son did not die by any order from him yet the rigour which was used to him did cause his death and therefore I charge you to say no more in his behalf but command you to tell him from mee that I declare eternal War with him That in revenge of my sons death I will loaden Mandana with more Irons then that unfortunate Prince carried And that within a few daies I will send him back the Corps of that Princesse whom he
and Nobility did live that the young Cyrus was educated Amongst us all private men do breed their children with as much care as if they were to be all Kings and are perswaded that to be men and to be virtuous are terms inseparable Cyrus coming out of a poor uncouth shepheards Cottage unto this most famous and learned Academy it was a wonder that nature should furnish him with as much prudence and wisedom as if he had been brought up here from his Cradle He had for his Tutors in vertue the wisest which could be cull'd out of the Old Doctors Active young men for the exercise of his body and a younger sort for his recreation which were well educated in all virtuous qualities Great care was had to prevent all sorts of vicious persons from coming about him lest they should chance to corrupt his own naturall sweet inclinations for they knew well that if the soul of a Prince who must rule over a People be once poysoned the people also will be infected though here he saw none but examples of goodnesse and vertue Moderation Liberality Justice Valour and all the vertues were so eminent in him and got him so much applause among the Persians that they extol'd him as a Childe sent from Heaven rather to instruct then be instructed by them But I fear Sir that I have already transgressed my limits and by consequence abused your Patience especially those Persians which hear me because perhaps they know these things better then I my self My Master lived in this Quality until his sixteenth year of Age And then Fortune began to offer him opportunities of discovering the greatnesse and generosity of his soul both in his words and Acts And to put in practice that greatnesse of spirit which his youth did promise you remember Sir how Harpagus was banished by the King of Medes for not exactly obeying his commands in putting to death this young Cyrus This exile had formerly been of great power in Medea being so in such favour with the King as he made him Governour in one of his greatest Provinces This man did endeavour to reconcile himself unto Astiages but all in vain he was in this discontent forced to travel from Court to Court to finde out protection and relief from those Princes which were enemies unto the King of Medes and being some certain daies disguised in Persipolis found out an opportunity to discover himself His habit was Persian he mingled himself among the multitude which waited upon the Prince to hunt and having the language of the Countrey passable enough he was not known to be a stranger Cyrus was lively and active at the sports and none are lesse tyred or more bold and forward at these sports then he either in following the Chase or assaulting the wilde Beast at a Bay He drew a bow threw a dart and used a sword admirable well he was alwaies victor in the publique games and bore away the prize but to return to Harpagus he did follow Cyrus very close at this great hunting whereof I spoke and waited upon him so near when the Prince followed a wilde bore so eagerly and fast through the thick of the Forrest lest he should lose sight of the bore as none of all the Persians was able to follow only Harpagus Cyrus overtook this wilde Beast bent his bow and shot an arrow through his heart After this Victory whereof Harpagus only was a witnesse he sat down and rested himself until some of his own servants came in upon a bank close by a little brook which ran across the Forrest in that place In all these chases it is the custome of the Countrey for Hunters to carry a Bow a Quiver a Sword and two Javelins This gallant young Hunter wore them all and his Buckler also for them also they use in hunting as well as wars Ys he was thus sitting Harpagus drew near him Cyrus who had not yet seen him took him for a Persian began to shew him the Prize and cried out I have killed him I have killed him but Harpagus kneeling upon the ground told him that he knew how he might obtain a more glorious victory then this The Prince thinking the man had discovered some greater Bore then this which he had killed rose up and asked him heartily whether he should go to get this victory Into the head of an Army of thirty thousand men answered Harpagus which I come to offer unto you so that if you please to accept of it you may make your self Lord of a Kingdom Cyrus astonished at his words lookt upon him more earnestly then before and supposing he had seen him formerly Who are you said he that make this gallant offer I cannot yet think my self worthy of it since my valour was never tried against any but Bear Bores Lions and Tigers I am Sir said he one that is sent by the gods to tender you a brave opportunity of getting immortall glory If all be true you say said Cyrus shew me the way I must take and let it be as difficult as it can be I will follow it with all alacrity I have already told you Sir said Harpagus you must repair unto the head of an Army of Thirty thousand men which wait for your commands and to conquer when you bid them It becomes not him to command replied Cyrus who hath not yet learnt how to obey it is far fitter I should be their Companion then their Generall But I pray you Noble Stranger whom I think I have seen before though not remember you tell me where this Army is and who they are also who is the Enemy and what the Kingdom you would have me conquer Sir answered Harpagus I am not at all unreasonable in my desires when I wish your assistance against a King who hath basely broken the Laws of humanity against a Prince who is both the Love and Wonder of all which know him A King I say who hath acted against Nature Reason and Justice who by an ill governed ambitious jealousie would against all humanity or conscience take away the life of such a Prince in whose behalf I now salute you It is in the Behalf of a hopefull young innocent Prince and against such an unnaturall unworthy King I desire to animate you It neerly concerns your own honour to condescend unto my desires Your desire answered Cyrus is too full of justice to be denied And not to keep me any longer from this Army which you desire I should repair unto Inform me who is this barbarous King and who is the injured Prince for I do much wonder since I have been so carefully informed of all the prime passages of the world I should not guesse at them both Sir then answered Harpagus you are the Prince which owes revenge Yes said Cyrus And by whom Noble Stranger can I be injured I who have hardly yet begun to live I who ever since I first breathed have been rockt in a Cradle
but your self and are you not content with your own Victories but you must also rob other men of theirs Artamenes looking upon him with a fiery aspect It is such a one answered he who makes use of the valour of others to vanquish a distressed Prince abandon'd of his men who ought to be reproached with stealing a victory and not Artamenes who never imploys any arm but his own to obtain it and who leaving all the Plunder of a Field unto the Souldiers doth seldome make them partakers of his dangers Those whom Fortune favours Replied Philidaspes need not to call any others to their help Those who dare trust unto their own courage answered Artamenes never beg the help of Fortune I am certain she hath been your friend and helped you at this bout Replied Philidaspes And certainly she hath forsaken you replied Artamenes that you should thus need the assistance of twelve or fifteen to deal with one single Prince It is an easie matter for you to vanquish answered Philidaspes who never hath any to fight with but base saint-hearted and simple Antagonists It is an easie matter for you to vanquish an abandoned King with a great number but you would perhaps finde it a harder matter added he and raised his voice to vanquish Artamenes single whensoever you shall give him an occasion to fight with you for he desires it and it shall be to morrow morning if you please Let us not stay so long Replied Philidaspes then he stood upon his Guard ready to receive Artamenes who came most fiercely upon him and gave a furious blow which doubtlesse had deeply wounded him if his hand had not turned and the Sword glided upon his Arms. To be short they both of them felt the weight of each others blows and the strength of their Arms do what we could who endeavoured to part them But here Sir I beseech you admire what vertue and true valour can do we were but only four which followed Artamenes and they were twelve or fifteen which followed Philidaspes who when they saw the dispute that was between them though they took his part against the King of Pont yet they would not do so against my Master but turned on his side At this very time Claxares followed by a great number of men did draw neer us and caused these two surious Combatants to give over and suspend their choler What Demon enemy unto my Glory said Claxares would ruin these who have made me victorious And why would ye do that your selves which Fifty thousand men could not do After these words he asked what was the ground of their Quarrell and when he understood it he chid Philidaspes very much for drawing his Sword against one who had the Command over him and he did a little blame my Master for so saving the King of Pont. Sir said Artamenes to him I will engage my self to repair this fault by some way that is more Honourable and I will promise to bring you this illustrious Prisoner before the War be ended or else perish in the attempt Did I not promise in your Majesties presence that I would not suffer him to be vanquisht by any numerous multitude and I did but keep my word with him If the King had not come replied the desperate Philidaspes you might perhaps have been punished then added my Master interrupting him for your boldness and rashness The King imposed silence upon them both and by vertue of his Soveraign Authority agreed them upon the place and caus'd them to embrace one another before him In conclusion a Retreat being sounded they encamped upon the field of Battle and every one returned into his Tent and Artamenes thought upon his Feraulas who had been wounded did the same As for me who had escaped more happily then they I found my self in a condition to do them both service The King came to visit Artamenes at night who not being able to contain his joy that my Master had escaped so dangerous an adventure he expressed all the signs that possibly could be of a most dear and tender affection towards him He sent immediatly unto the Princess his fair Daughter to acquaint her with the Victory and Preservation of Artamenes and my Master as you may very well beleeve did receive this Honour from the King with much joy and reverence All this while though Artamenes and Philidaspes were good friends from the face outward yet they were not so at the heart and it may easily be conjectured that this last adventure did sharpen their spirits it begot phantasticall resentments in both their souls For Sir to disguise the matter no longerâ Philidaspes whom my Master thought to be only an ambitious man did love the Princess as well as he and this is the reason why he was so hot against the King of Pont looking more upon him as a Lover of Mandana then as an enemy unto Ciaxares Nevertheless he drew some rest unto himself out of this accident for considering how generously Artamenes had preserved the King of Ponts Life he could not so much as suspect my Master to be his Rivall thinking it a thing impossible in such a case to be a Rivall and so Generous both As for Artamenes his thoughts ran quite contrary concerning Philidaspes for his suspicion of his Love to the Princess was by this days accident more augmented then ever How is possible said he to us at night after Ciaxares was gone out of the Tent that Philidaspes who cannot harbour any particular hatred of the King of Pont unless because he is his Rivall should offer to kill him as he was about to do That Prince I say who seems to be of a brave and Generous Soul and is inspired with a Gallant desire of Glory Ah No no Chrisantes said he to me Philidaspes Loves Mandana if I be not the most deceived man in the world Thus Sir you see that one and the same action produces different effects for Philidaspes did think that Artamenes did not Love Mandana because he saved the Life of the King of Pont and on the contrary Artamenes thought that Philidaspes did Love her because he did endeavour to kill him in a manner so dishonourably Yet notwithstanding this all these diversities of opinions were so dubious so uncertain and grounded only upon weak conjectures that they could not assure themselves of any truth but they entertained an inveterate aversion one against the other However some two or three days after the Battle Ciaxares held a Councel of War to consult Whether or no they should Pursue their Enemies who were retreated and who waited for a Puissant Recruit And to amaze them the more it was resolvd to divide the Army and send one part of it to besiege a strong Fort in Bythinia which was seated upon a great Lake by this means to divert and impede thse Forces which the Enemy expected Mean while the most considerable part of the Army to stay and wait upon
beleeve that Artamenes was killed as all Cappadocia thought not long since and that it was no more impossible that Artamenes should be Cyrus then that Philidaspes should be the Prince of Assyria Reasoning all these things in secret with her self she was a long time looking upon my master before she would give any answer which did so much trouble my master as not being able to conceal it I see Madam said he to her you cannot keep your word with me not to change thoughts of Artamenes I perceive by your silence that Cyrus hath disturbed you Cyrus replied the Princesse has indeed a little troubled the calmnesse of my mind yet I will assure you he has done no ill office unto Artamenes but on the contrary said she sighing but as I find Artamenes to be much more unfortunate then I thought him so also I find more disposition in my self to lament him But I pray said she tell unto me all your past adventures and do not conceal any thing from me which concerns the beginning of that life whose after years has rendred him so glorious My master to satisfie her did punctually relate unto her all that had chanced unto him He told her what Harpagus told him concerning the ill intentions of Astiages towards him afterwards what offers Harpagus did propound unto him how he would cause the whole Province of Paratecenes to rise against the King of Medea he told her also how he refused his offers and how he commanded him to make no more such propositions He told her also how desires of Travel to see the wars had caused him to leave Persia and change his name In few words he told her of all his Travels how a Tempest drove him into Sinope and how he was in the Temple of Mars where he saw her thank the gods for his death It is true indeed said the Princesse that I was with the Sacrificers to render thanks unto the gods for the losse of Cyrus but it is as true also that I did never rejoyce at his death And that it did ever seem unto me much rashnesse in those who dare undertake to explain the Oracles and the meaning of the Star so precisely Can I believe Madam said my master interrupting her that the fair Mandana did not rejoyce at the death of Cyrus Cyrus I say whom Astiages would have smothered in his Cradle Cyrus whom all the Magi were certain should possesse the Throne of the King of Medes and command all Asia And Cyrus who from his infancy has disturbed the tranquillity of a King who has such near relation unto you It need not seem strange unto you replied the Princesse that I should not rejoyce at the death of a Prince whom I knew not and who never did me any hurt since you had so much generosity as not to take revenge upon that King who would have put you to death and as you have done to serve that Prince who had his life from him who would have taken yours away But Artamenes said she unto him for I dare not yet call you Cyrus since you have told me what you are I have not lessened that esteem which I had of you and one the contrary seeing I am more obliged unto you then I thought I think my self engaged to acknowledge it yet notwithstanding I confesse that I do not well know how I ought to deal with you If I look upon you as a Prince who would not take revenge of his enemy by reason of relations in consanguinity As a Prince I say who in spight of all those reasons which might have absolutely diverted him yet hath not ceased to love me A Prince who hath saved the life of the King my Father who hath a thousand and a thousand times exposed his own for him who hath received so many wounds Conquered so many Provinces won so many Battles took a King a Prisoner prevented a dangerous Conspiracy and who has long loved me without telling me of it or displeasing me If I look upon you in these respects I do confesse Artamenes that without any prejudice to vertue or decency I could wish that by the consent of the King my father I might give you some testimonies of that extraordinary esteem which I have of you But if I also look upon you as a Prince whose birth began with so many prodigies so many eclipses which dimmed the splendor and heat of the Sun who shook the foundations of the Temple of whom the Stars have foretold so much and all the Magi assures us he will be the overthrow of all Asia I confesse I say that then I cannot well resolve my self for though 't is true my heart tels me that they who did interpret the meaning of those things have but ill understood them and that if the Stars did foretell your birth it was because the gods did presage unto men by them that you should be a Prince whose vertues should be extraordinary Though I say I should resent it so yet this is not enough Doubtlesse Astiages and Ciaxares will never allow that Mandana should dispose of her affection unto Cyrus But Mandana said Artamenes interrupting her this same Cyrus who is so terrible unto all Asia is now prostrate at your feet and you may dispose of his fate as you please To what end Madam said he to what end are all his Conquests which he hath made Can it be imagined that he aimed at any universal usurpation since he hath refused all that the King would give him though I have fought an vanquished and conquered yet doubtlesse he hath enjoyed the fruits of all my combates my victories and my conquests I am not so much as master of my own sword but since you do reign in the heart of him whose hand doth guide it you need not fear I shall commence any unjust war It belongs unto you Divine Princesse to order the destinies of people and Kings and the life of Artamenes depends wholly upon your will yet Madam said he in a most submissive manner if it be your pleasure that Cyrus shall not revive he is ready to obey you yes adored Princesse Cyrus who can disturbe the tranquility of all Asia and has hopes to reign of a great and glorious Kingdom is ready to renounce all his rights that he hath unto the Crown of Persia and passe away all the rest of his dayes under the cloud of Artamenes if he find any hopes that Mandana will not lesse esteem him And if it be so that he must wear a Scepter to merit you chuse you Madam in what place of the world you would have him expose his life to get one and certainly he will go Things that are most impossible would appear unto me most easie provided you will not take from me my hopes of your love Say then Divine Princesse would you have Cyrus revive or would you have Artamenes live or would you have them both die I give you the
to take beginning and grouth He lived with Intaphernes after such a manner as made all believe he would not look upon him hereafter as a brother in law he regarded the Princess Istrina with so much indifferencie that every one beleeved were it not for feare to displease the Queen the aversion he had towards her would have appeared more apparently As for Intaphernes as he was a Prince very well borne so he behaved himself with the Prince of Assyria in all such respects as was due although he had much adoe to endure his losty humour yet ambition and the advise of such as had the care over him caused him to be very complacentiall towards him The young Princess Istrina for her part she carried it with all the sweetness and civillity towards Labinet that can be expressed for though she was very young yet the Crown of Assyria unto which she hoped she was destined did shine so bright in her eyes that she neglected nothing which might win upon the heart of that Prince whom she hoped to marry The Queen for her part contributed all her endeavours to plant a liking in these two young hearts which she desired to unite and to that end she caused them to see one another very oft and at all feasts and publique rejoycings they exposed themselves unto the people both together who by their acclamations and applauses did approve of the Queens choyce for as I have heard say it was impossible for any eye to behold any fairer object then the Princess Istrina As for the Prince of Assyria we know that he is as well made as a man can be Intaphernes also was handsom and of a good garb But do what the Queen could the aversion of the Prince her son did grow with his age some ill minded spirits perswaded him that Istrina was ambitious and was only complacentiall towards him because she would be a Queen and therefore he accepted of all her civilities in a rejecting manner he hated Intapherne's for no other reason but because he was her brother in whom notwithstanding no fault could be found for certainly she was of a fine spirit and her complexion as lovely a brown as was in the world mean while the Prince of Assyria having attained unto his eighteenth year and the Princess Istrina fourteen the Queen did motion her son to marry her but he beseeched her not to press him yet to marry and told her that a Prince who never yet was in any war ought not to think of marriage The Queen knowing the violent humour of the Prince thought best to give a little longer time and the rather because in all appearance there was like to be a war with the King of Phrygia who had made some eruptions upon the frontiers of Assyria Since this proposition the Prince who before seemed only indifferent did now change his course of life and as much as he could possible shunned meeting with the Princess Istrina and therefore he used to go every day almost to hunt to the end he might not go so often unto the Queen But by shunning the company of the sister he could not shake off the brother for Intaphernes followed him alwayes which did a little displease him It often chanced that Intaphernes thinking to get his esteem he encreased his hatred for as he did not love to be surmounted in any thing so the extraordinary expertnesse which Intaphernes had in darting the Javelin shooting in the Bow and such activities did alwayes anger him one time above the rest the Prince shot at a Bear and missed presently after Intaphernes shot and killed him dead and the same day also the Prince shot at a Lion and missed but Intaphernes killed him immediatly the Prince was so much angred at this adventure that he could not commend him for it but gave out some bitter expressions against the action for as some could not forbear commending him stay said he to the man and keep your excess of commendations untill we have been both together in the wars of Phrygia for in my opinion there is more honour in killing of a man who can defend himself then in killing a beast which runs away Intaphernes did not hear what the Prince said although he was very near but some or other having told him afterwards his spirit was a little exasperated and upon this passage did rise a report which spread among strange nations that the Prince of Assyria killed him at that hunting The same report with as little truth in it took the son of Gadates for the son of Gobrias though the truth was only as I tell you Mean while the Queen seeing the Phrygian affaires were protracted did againe presse the Prince to marry Istrina and imployed Mazares Prince of Saces who was then in Court to perswade him unto it for the Prince of Assyria loved him very dearly Mazares according to his instructions and commission asked him from whence this aversion unto that marriage which was propounded unto him did proceed for truly said he to him the Princess Istrina is very faire t is true answered he but she is not such a one as can reach my heart why said Mazares she is of a sweet and complacentiall disposition as you can desire if she were a little more fierce replied the Prince of Assyria she would please me more But do you not confess replied Mazares that she is one of an excellent spirit and much virtue I beleeve the latter answered he but for the other since she knowes not how to move my heart I think I may be permitted to leave it disputable but after all this added Mazares you are not at liberty to chuse for the Princesse Istrina is the only Lady whom by the lawes of this state you can marry throughout your whole kingdome for my part I know not why you should not like her and why you should not esteem your self happy in such a wife since she is fair sweet sprightly and vertuous Ah Mazares said the Prince of Assyria this fatall necessity is the cause why I cannot endure the Princess Istrina yes Mazares I do confess since you will know it that this Princess has much beauty sweetness spirit and vertue But for all that although I confess she is very amiable yet I cannot love her nor ever shall No Mazares Kings which are above the liberty of other men ought not to be deprived of the liberty to chuse a wife It is a law which my predecessors have established but which I cannot observe especially in such a juncture of time where there is none to chuse or where there is such a necessity that if I will marry an Assyrian Princess I must marry Istrina For although that Gobrias have a daughter yet the Assyrians make a difference between his countrey and ours and moreover he is rather my vassall then my subject and I am most certaine added this violent Prince that if the law of the state and the
he in a more sharp Tone we must go fight and you have appointed it so The Princesse seeing that he was in earnest and was going away much moved that boldnesse which she retained in speaking unto him did forsake her and tears came in her eyes she then threw her self at his feet and fast holding him Oh Sir said she unto him what are you intending to do To fight and vanquish if I can said he unto her and hastily lifting her up But though you should vanquish the King my Father yet you should never vanquish the heart of Mandana replied she but on the contrary I here declare unto you in the presence of the gods who hear me that if in this War either the King my Father or the Illustrious Artamenes do die in it you shall expect nothing from Mandana but her death Fight Sir as long as you will you shall not enjoy the fruits of your victory And since the prize for which you fight is in my dispose you shall never obtain it You may perhaps overcome the King my Father and you may perhaps cause Artamenes to be killed after he once gave you your life but you cannot hinder Mandana from dying So that Sir if you bring her into despair she shall also do the like for you Think with your self once more and consider it well for indeed if you be vanquished then you will be vanquished with abundance of shame considering the injustice of the Action and if you be Conquerour you will finde no other recompence for all your pains but the Coffin of Mandana The gods Madam answered he did not send you unto the earth to take you away so soon and I will hope that if I return Conquerour you will then change your thoughts of me If ever I see you Victorious replied the Princesse and the noise of your Victory precede your returne my death shall precede the day of your Triumph But Madam replied this Prince what would you have me do Since things are at that passe I cannot live without you and since I cannot suffer Artamenes to live and you to love him but not the King of Assyria yet Madam I see you had rather all Asia should perish and you hope I shall perish in it Yes yes Madam I read this secret joy in your heart which mingles it self with your sorrows but yet for all that I still respect you love you and adore you Judge Madam whether there be any comparison between the love of Artamenes and mine For he sees he is beloved of the fairest Princesse upon earth what wonder is it that he should be faithfull unto such a Princesse who scorns all the Grandure of the World for him To know the difference betwixt his love and mine seem Madam to scorne him as you do me and treat but him as you treat me then if after that he shall love you as do I shall confesse he has more right unto your affection then I have You know Madam that I am Master in Babylon and so can cause my self to be obeyed Yet you have commanded absolutely here and I let you have the liberty to scorne me and all this because I am possessed with such a passion as has no paralell which combats with all those violent desires which are in my heart and which will not permit me to do any thing but adore you Indeed Madam I must be gone and carry sword and fire to the Camp of my enemies I must go and seek out Artamenes you will have it so and I will obey you In the mean time I know you will pray unto the gods for his Victory and my ruine but I conjure you to change your heart I have onely thus much to say unto you Madam That if when I am gone the image of all those misfortunes which you cause shall happily move you to repent of so unjust a Resolution and would have the Wars to cease It is but sending the meanest of your servants unto me and write onely this word HOPE and at that very instant when I shall receive that happie Ticket though I were in the midst of Battle and my hand lifted up to kill Artamenes and although the Victory were almost sure unto me yet I will promise you Inexorable Princesse to sound a Retreat to flee before my enemies to come and throw my self at your feet and look in your eyes for a confirmation of that blessed syllable Whilest this Prince was speaking thus Mandana was so sunk in sorrows that she hardly understood him what he said and found her self so weak that she was glad to sit down upon the seat which was in the Balcone so that the King of Assyria seeing she was inflexible and would speak no more unto him he left her after he unperceivedly had kissed her Robe When he was in another Chamber he caused me to be called unto him but I confesse that I never in all my life saw a more desperate man He spoke unto me a hundred things which I should repeat unto the Princesse and I answered him as well as I could to reduce him unto Reason And since the Princesse menacing her own death did much trouble his minde Martesia said he to me you shall answer for the life of Mandana speak no more in my behalf if you please but be sure you look unto her preservation afterwards he said the same unto Arianta and all the rest of the women about her also he spoke much more unto Mazares whom he was to leave Governour in Babylon and who had been busied in those Troops which his father had sent up to the Rendezvouz and that was the reason we saw him not two days together But Chrisantes if I should relate all that the Princess said after the King of Assyria was departed it would ingage me unto a long discourse she rose up and would once againe view this multitudinous Army But alas what sad thoughts did it produce Alas Martesia said she after she had been a long while silent can I ever consent that all these troops should march against my father and against Artamenes must I expose the lives of two who are so infinitly dear unto me to a long and dangerous war Can I who ever had an Antipathy to war consent that so many thousands of men so many Princes so many Kings should be killed for the love of me must so many innocent soules suffer for my sake Ah no no Martesia I am infinitly wronged and there was some passages in the King of Assyrias discourse at which I doubt whether I had my reason about me or no yet I do confess that neither my heart nor my tongue had so much power as to afford him one advantagious word I know not whether it be an effect of hatred unto him as the Ravisher of Mandana or an effect of love unto Artamenes But perhaps I have not said enough to qualifie him yet what should I do said she upon a sudden doubtless
with two hundred thousand men if you had been to deliver me out of the power of the King of Assyria so that Sir you shall come into the camp of Ciaxares as a Prince who has done more then a puissant army could do yes Madam answered he kneeling notwithstanding the opposition of the Princess but Madam do you know my thoughts and if you do know them can you think that the loss of my two kingdoms can alter them I think Sir replied the Princess that if you did esteem me you will do so still and you may in all reason think that since you have not changed your thoughts no more have I mine but that I continue still the very same I was oh Madam replied he will you continue so insensible and so inexorable for ever did the gods send me to raise you from the dead that you should so cruelly give me my death I do confess Sir answered the Princess raising up her self a little that I owe my life unto you but if you gave it me with any intentions it should be a torment unto me I do freely permit you to take it again when you please No Madam replied he you shall never lose it that way for it is a jewel which I will ever defend with the hazard of mine own Sir answered she do you think that there is neither fire nor sword nor poison can send me to my grave No no you deceive your self if you think it and there are other kinds of death more cruel then they though they do not look so horridly yes Sir said she I do prefer the most violent death above a servitude and I shall think you more innocent in killing me then keeping me by force or in making me die by despair but generous Prince I cannot believe you have any such design and when I remember how bravely you treated a man who did every day endeavour to catch you into his power when I remember I say how you advertised Artamenes of the conspiracy against his life and how you did command he should not be shot at I cannot think that since ambition left you your reason free love should so deprive you of it as not to consider in what state your businesse is in and though you were not generous but prudent only and interested yet would it be very advantagious for you to restore me unto the King my father and absolutely prejudicial unto you to retain me long I see very well Madam answered he that all you say is most reasonable yet I must be master of more reason then I am before I can execute it That which most comforts me in this adventure Divine Princesse is that I see you never were in love so that I have no other impediment to remove but that of insensibility For indeed Madam if you did but know what it was to love you would never speak thus unto me and you would know that all other passions in comparison of it are nothing But Sir replied she and blusht I think that they who love desire to be beloved again and that it is a general rule all lovers would not incur the hatred of them they love if so then consider if you please that by restoring me to my father you will at the least obtain some of my esteem and perhaps my friendship and that if you do not restore me I shall then hate you above all comparisons more then I think you love me Your esteem Madam and friendship answered the King are two things which are infinitely pretious and ought fully to satisfie such as do only esteem and honour you But love Madam is a passion much more tyrannical and will be satisfied with nothing but the same think it not strange then I beseech you if the hopes which you give me to enjoy your esteem and friendship do not move me to forsake the interest of my love But Sir replied she then in lieu of obtaining my love you will find my extream hate who knows Madam answered he whether a little time may not move an alteration in your heart and whether pitty may not procure that from you which nothing else can Consider I beseech you Madam that he whom you see here before you has a soul so possessed with violent passion as never man had the like and if you will know it be pleased to consider but two things First that one only favourable look from you does comfort more then the regaining of my two Kingdoms would Secondly that though perhaps I might obtain sufficient forces from the King your father to reconquer them if I should restore you unto him yet I had rather chuse to lose them both then be deprived of you Take heed Sir what you say replied the Princesse for in restoring me my liberty you will only want the sight of me but if you do not restore me you will not only lose my esteem but also in a few dayes my life whereas on the contrary if you please you may sit in your Throne again in glory and have this satisfaction to boot that I shall be most extreamly obliged unto you A Throne Madam answered he is not necessary for that Prince who cannot live without you and if during my late wars I had not retained some hopes to find out wayes whereby I might move your heart by my perseverance I should not have so obstinately disputed the victory with those who have vanquished me not Madam but that I know you have great reason to despise and scorn that Prince whom fortune has forsaken But yet Madam it is worth consideration to think how inconstant this fortune is who one day perhaps courts him whom the next day she cruelly persecutes and this very accident in meeting with you perswades me that all my misfortunes are blown over and that a serene calm will follow my boistrous storm yes Madam the sight of you speaks serenity unto me and infuseth lively hopes into the souls of them who before were sunk in sorrows I hope therefore Madam that good fortune will follow as long as I am with you and that there is no Country I shall not find a sanctuary in as long as I carry you thither yet notwithstanding Madam I do promise you never to use any thing but my tears and sighs and prayers and perseverance wherewith to overcome you fear not therefore Madam to be engaged in my fortunes and believe it that when I see I cannot obtain your love by these innocent wayes you shall then receive your liberty by the end of my life How Sir replied the Princesse with her eyes full of tears must I not have my liberty till âou die I beseech you do not force me to desire it it is a thing I never yet wished unto ây most mortal enemies and I should be very sorry to be compelled to wish it unto a Prince who has so many excellent qualities to one who has saved my life and one who doubtlesse
execution of them was impossible for the accident did so disturb their Reason and animate their Courage that all of them did strive how to signal themselves by the dangers they would undertake in the enterprise Some would have them go by open force unto the Castle and demand Artamenes others advised to joyn the subtlety of the Fox to the fury of the Lion and others would have them go kill Metrobates immediately Some advised to go and raise the people some others would have them cause the Army to advance and all of them concluded to transact and bestir themselves to save the life of Cyrus Since they looked upon Ciaxares as a prejudicated Prince yet since they were all of them really generous they had not one thought of attempting any thing upon his Person but only so far as might get that Hero out of his hands unto whom he owed the Glory of his Raign and the Conquest of many Kingdoms In conclusion it was resolved upon to let some one down the walls of the Town by cords that he might go unto the Camp and make it known unto the Persians that the only Son of their Soveraign was in danger of death if they did not speedily relieve him hoping that afterwards all the whole Army would come unto the Gates of Sinope and move Ciaxares not to execute his Design with so much precipitation In the mean time it was resolved that Ariobantes and Megabises should return into the Castle and advertise them concerning all passages and also to try if they could any ways qualifie the King For their parts they assembled all their friends which they had within the Town to wait until the Army came up and to be in readiness for any attempt if there were a necessity of it and to stir up the people if there were no other remedy but there was no need of taking any thought for that because they perceived the people to come out of the Castle in tumults and as they walked the streets nothing could he heard but the name of Artamenes pronouncing it with troubled spirits Immediately after the people of Sinope seeing all their hopes turned into fears and their joys into sorrows grew into so great a commotion that there was not any who followed his accustomed course shops were shut the women spoke loud in the streets Merchants consulted together upon what was best to be done the Gentry flocked about the King and Princes to hear what was done in the Castle and the confusion was so tumultuously apparent that it was easie to perceive they wanted but little of a declared Revolt That which did most of all augment the Tumult was the Orders which Metrobates had given to suffer none to enter or go out of the Town for they who were come dut of the Camp into the Town being desirous to return thither again and they who were gone out of the Town into the Camp being also desirous to come back and both restrained The one endeavouring to come in the other to go out made such an hideous Garboil at the Gates that the noise of them sounded throughout all the Town and one benefit accrued by it for since all the Souldiers which Metrobates had brought from Pteria were all busied either at the Gates of the Town or at the Castle it was less difficult for Madates during the obscurity of the night to get over the wall and ditch He went then in all hast unto the Camp and acquainted all the Persians that Artamenes was Cyrus and that their Prince would presently be put to death if they did not interpose their lives to save his when he came there he found the Camp already in disorder by the return of several Captains and Souldiers who were denyed entrance into the Town who reported that certainly they would put Artamenes to death and perhaps all their Commanders and Princes also Madates then found the Army in a fit posture for his designe if he met any Captains It must be you would he say unto them which must save the invincible Artamenes you who have been sharers with him in the honour and you who he has so favourably looked upon If he spoke unto the Common souldiers It must be you would he say to them who must preserve your valiant General who would ever be in the deepest dangers but would never have any share in the Magnificent Plunder wherewith you are enriched If he saw any Phrygians he told them that it was their Kings Command to come unto Sinope and demand Artamenes If he saw any Hircanians he would tell them the same from their King and so the like unto all the several Nations which were in the Army so that the Discourse of Madates meeting with that violent passion which had taken root in the hearts of all the Captains and Souldiers towards Cyrus for we will not hereafter call him Artamenes it is not at all strange if Madates did so suddenly kindle so great a fire out of matter which was so combustible The Name of Cyrus was quickly divulged throughout all the Army for the thirty thousand Persians who had it from their Commander in chief unto whom Madates had imparted it did presently disperse it abroad And as this great Body was moved by one Soul every one ranged himself under his Colours and desired to be conducted unto Sinope The Name of Artamenes and of Cyrus ecchoed from Company to Company from Regiment to Regiment and above an hundred thousand men did in an instant talk and bestir themselves to relieve him whom they regarded as a God both in times of Peace and War Mean while the King of Phrygia and the King of Hircanias Troops grew great in the Town composed of all the Men of Quality in Sinope and of those who were not permitted to return unto the Camp The people also who at the first did only grumble do now take Arms and randezvouz into Companies in divers Quarters of the Town Ariobantes and Megabises were within the Castle where the disorder was greater then either in the Camp or Town Metrobates moved Ciaxares with all his Arguments to pronounce the last Sentence of death against Cyrus and Ciaxares himself was at the ultimate resolution both of them did foresee the dangerous consequences of so dismal a designe but choller did so prepossess the Spirit of Ciaxares that he disguised his thoughts And the wicked Metrobates that he might expel out of the Soul of Ciaxares all just fears of an universal subversion of his Empire by the death of Cyrus did blow the coals of his fury and quen ched all such apprehensions in him Sir said he unto him the reason why all these Kings and Princes are so hot and zealous in the behalf of Cyrus is only because they hope that if they can get him out of prison they shall receive a recompence for it but if he were once in his Grave you should see them in another mind The fidelity of Courtiers
were no calmer within the Town then without for all the people were so animated that nothing could be more terrible The Kings of Phrygia and Hircanâa did wish that things would have looked with another face and they were extreamly vexed to be constrained to make use of such a dangerous remedy since there is nothing in the world more to be avoided then the Rebellion of the people But that which cannot be helped must be endured and they endeavoured to qualifie this Popularity as much as they could thinking that this striking some apprehensions of fear into Ciaxares would be enough to save Cyrus Mean while the Gates of the Town were broken open and those who defended the walls forsook them who not knowing whether to retreat were all killed both by them without and within the Town This great Army being entered in several places of the Town did not stay to plunder but presently inviron'd the Castle Metrobates would fain have fled if he knew how but Guards were set on all sides both by Sea and Land That Ciaxares himself had no other thoughts but to die in defending himself after he had first put Cyrus to death whatsoever Thiamis and Ariobantes could say was vain for the King was all fury and despair Mean while Metrobates the vilest wretch upon earth not knowing what to do went to the Chamber of Cyrus and counterfeiting both pity and generosity told him that if he would promise him two things he would set him at liberty this Prince having no mind to promise him any thing he was forc'd to express himself that if he would bestow the Government of Pteria upon him for his security he would then kill Ciaxares and shewed him ways how he could bring it to pass For Sir said this villanous man this is the only way to prevent your death and to make you Lord of all Asia This vicious Proposition was so horrid in the apprehension of Cyrus that he thrust Metrobates out of his Chamber and as good luck was a Souldier which guarded this gallant Prisoner heard all their discourse This Traitor then seeing no way but ruine thought how to make all in the Castle perish with him yet since he imagined that some accident might fall out wherein the Person of Cyrus might stand him in some stead therefore he was not so hasty to kill him Mean while the noise and tumult increased and all that the Kings and Princes could do to restrain the Souldiers was in vain for since the greatest part of them were not Subjects unto Ciaxares they were extreamly animated by the thirty thousand Persians who would deliver their Prince They cast off that Reverend respect unto Kings which ought to be imprinted in the souls of Subjects insomuch as they were ready to act any violence They had already brought the Ladders unto the Castle and I am verily perswaded they would have set it on fire if they had not feared the burning of Cyrus among the rest The Battering Rams were brought unto the Gates and two thousand men ready to make an Assault when the breach was made and also an hundred thousand men more to second them when presently a great noise upon the left hand was heard which ought to be understood notwithstanding the tumultuous confusion of voices to be a noise of joy Presently after the Kings of Phrygia and Hircania accompanied with Persodes Artibies Adusias Artabases the Prince of Pophlagonia Thimocrates Philocles and many others did so see Hidaspes Thrasibulas Aglatidas and the faithful Orsanes conducting Cyrus whom they had happily delivered out of a window by breaking the bars as soon as ever Metrobates had left him This sight did produce a prodigious effect and every one that had a tongue pronounced the Name of Cyrus or Artamenes for as yet they gave him both names indifferently In the mean while this generous Prince as soon as he perceived the Ladders and Rams and all ready to assault the Castle speaking not a word of his intentions unto his illustrious friends did upon a sudden with his sword in his hand for he had one given as soon as he was delivered seperate himself from them who were about him and went straight unto the Gate of the Castle so that Ciaxares who was then in a Balcone to see what the Cry of Joy should be did see Cyrus separated from his deliverers and at the Gate of the Castle in a posture to defend it against them who for his liberty did assault it This Act being seen unto an hundred thousand several persons did cause as many admirations in their souls and moved them to suspend their Action Ciaxares who a minute before thought Cyrus to be a prisoner did not well know whether what he saw was true In the mean while this generous Prince being before the Gate holding his sword in one hand and making signes unto the people with the other that he desired to speak he did in an instant cause as husht a silence as before there was tumultuous noise Do not think my Deliverers said he unto Thrasibulus Hidaspes Aglatidas and Orsanes that I will accept of any liberty which shall be imployed against the King No no I do not value Glory at so poor a rate as to prefer my life before it If I did come out of prison it was only my-Companions said he looking upon the Souldiers to come and teach you that reverend respect which you ow unto your Master Force me not to turn this sword against you which heretofore has rendered you victorious Obey obey the Kings Commands without the least contradiction and if he demand my head of you you ought to give it him without resistance Did I ever teach you said he and doubled the fervency of his speech to rebel against your King Did you ever perceive by any of my actions that I would allow of what you have done No no deceive not your selves I can never be woon unto an act so criminal which makes me culpable as well as you For after all this which you have done I am not a whit more innocent then I was before but I rather find that the King without any injustice and may âhop off that mans head who hath raised all his Subjects against him Lay down your Arms then and if you desire to serve me cause all the souldiers to return unto the Camp and all the inhabitants to their houses whilest I after I have begged your pardon from the King will return unto my fetters Cyrus having ended his speech a great huming noise was heard all over those who understood not what he said asked of others and those who did understand him did with admiration Cry out and every one did absolutely say that they would die a thousand deaths rather then he should perish When he perceived that they would not obey him he then turned towards the Castle looking up to the Balcone where Ciaxares stood and speaking as loud as ever he could Command Sir
out of Artaxates that his Presence was requisite in the Army Pormit me then Madam said he unto her and taking her by the hand that I wait upon you unto your Chamber and there leave you Mistress of the Castle till I have finished the victory In saying so he conducted her unto her lodging where after a short complement and leaving Chrisantes within to see he wanted nothing he went down into the Court where he met some Souldiers and Captains bringing in the Prince Artibies wounded that he might be there dressed with more conveniency when Cyrus saw him in that condition and observing how those which bore him were very weary and weak and troubled in the carriage of him yet notwithstanding all the croud and all the sorrows of his soul this Prince did with his own hands help to carry him unto his Chamber and laid him upon a bed commanding all possible care to be taken of him After this Cyrus took horse and seeing he could not satisfie his love by the delivery of his Princess he would however satisfie his glory by doing the boldest act in the world every step he made he received intelligence upon intelligence concerning the Troops that were coming out of Artaxates but how great soever they made the danger appear yet he went to draw up his own forces and resolved to fight them though they were an hundred thousand men if they did begin the Assault and indeed they were no less for from the little valley under the Hill where Cyrus stood unto Artaxates all the Countrey was covered with multitudes of enemies who seemed as if they intended to fight for the King of Armenia held a Councel of War about it without the walls of the Town and advanced unto a little Village which was close by the valley that separated the two Armies there he made a halt yet the Great Cyrus kept his station still continually facing this innumerable multitude of enemies who stood and durst not fall on This great business was carried with so much good fortune and prudence together that it was six hours after the Castle was taken before it was known to them of Artaxates In conclusion after much consultation the King of Armenian concluded that it was not expedient to fall upon such a Prince as used to fight like a Lion and overcome all that came near him The Prince Phraartis who was pretty gallant would have put it to the hazard what ere came on it but his advice being not followed because an old experienced Captain maintained That it was not wisdom with fresh new Troops of Townsmen untrained in war to assault Souldiers dyed in blood and a General the Greatest in the world especially he having the advantage of ground Cyrus was well satisfied with the fight of his enemies he faced them from morning until night and would have presented them Battel if they durst have excepted it though they were above twenty to one The night came on apace and covered the shame of the Inhabitants of Artaxates in re-entring their Town after they had only seen that Castle taken which was so very considerable unto them in respect of the River Araxes which runs by it yet was the soul of Cyrus far from satisfaction and this great and bold act produced nothing but sorrow unto him for his hopes were so high to deliver the Princess Mandana that nothing else could answer them as soon as he saw all the Armenian Troops were entred into their Town and after he had placed good guards he went to take his rest that night in the Castle which he took After he had enquired concerning the state of the Prince Artibies whom they said was very ill and after he understood the Princess of Pont was retired he went into his Chamber only with Feraulas Well Feraulas said he unto him extreamly melancholy what do you now think of my fortune Do you not confess me to be the most unhappy Prince upon Earth I think Sir replied Feraulas that it is the part of the conquered to complain and of the Conquerours to rejoyce No no Feraulas said he It is not glory and honour which is the predominant aim of my heart and though I had defeated this huge multitude of enemies which I only looked upon I should have been still as melancholy as I am neither Conquests nor reputation nor honour is the mark I now aim at It is only Mandana I look after and since I find her not I think my self as unfortunate as if I had been vanquished Araspes lyed not said he when he told me he had seen a Lady of quality in the Castle that she was fair yellow-haired and of a good stature but alas this Princess as fair as she is yeilds me no satisfaction by her sight I conceive Sir said Feraulas that it is considerable to have got the Sister of the King of Pont into your hands a Lady of whom I have heard a good report when I was in the Bythinian war so that in all probability it will keep that Prince in some fears Ah Feraulas answered he and sighed how dear soever the Princess of Pont is to him Mandana is much more he will easily dispense with a Sister for a Mistress If he should have my brother if I had one or my father in his power it would make me to do any thing to release them but never upon such conditions as to quit Mandana Also knowing me so well as he does he will not fear mine ill entertainment of his Sister although he do not restore Mandana he knows too well that it is not my Genius to do a base unjust and cruel Act and so since he conceives no danger he will keep Mandana still But Sir said Feraulas are you fully assured that this Lady is the Princess of Pont Yes replied he for now I call to memory a Picture which the wife of Arsamones caused the Princess her daughter to shew me to the end she might discover whether or no I was Spitridates I do very well see that it is she for that picture resembles her extreamly But replied Feraulus if it be she I wonder she does not take you for Spitridates as the Bythinean Princess did because doubtless replied Cyrus the King her brother has formerly acquainted her with out extream resemblance But however Feraulas such things as these we must not discourse of Let Mandana only Mandana be the only object of my thoughts and the subject of our discourse did I but know where she was my Soul would be at some rest for though she were in Artaxates I would without staying for Ciaxares attempt her delivery Doubtless you might replied Feraulas for after this which we have seen if you do not enforce it it may well be said the reason is because you would not and the inhabitants owe you thanks for all those miseries which you will not do them when it is in your power After they had thus discoursed a good
would contract no alliance with those whom I ought and will ruine upon the first occasion which shall present it self Dissimulation is excuseable in weak oppressed people but yet not so far as any such alliance and if hereafter I shall arrive to such a condition as to pull my enemies out of that Throne which they usurp I would not destroy my own children with them live then with them in all appearing civility but ingage no further unless you will be unworthy of your selves and my affection I know very well that to speak thus unto persons of your age seems to be imprudent but I know also that since you are descended from so many Kings you must needs be generous and have souls sensible of ambition and therefore I do not doubt but you will honor what I say unto you and willingly obey me As soon as Arsamones had ended his speech unto them he went away not receiving any other answer from either Spitridates or Aristea but their humble reverence For this Prince had caused all his children to respect him so much that they durst hardly look upon him when he was gone Spitridates did so deeply grive at it that the Princess Aristea who was no less sad then he was moved to cheer him up Brother said she unto him since you have both more wit and more generosity then I have I hope you will not so desperately resent this accident and the excessive sorrow which I see in your eyes makes me take so much liberty as to beseech you not to be too much overcome by it He my dear Sister said he unto her what an advantageous thing is your insensibility to the prince Sinnesis unto you It is much more easie for you to endure that Arsamones shall hinder you of a Crown then it is for me to be hindred of the princess Araminta not but that I have ambition enough in me but it is because love is predominate in my soul and because it is much more easie for me tolet the usurpers of the Kingdom of Bythinia live in peace then for me to live without the Princess whom I love There are other Crowns in the Universe which Fortune and my Sword may give me yet there is but one only one Princess Araminta in all the world Yes my dear sister she is the only one in all the world I can adore without her all things else are nothing to me without her I make no difference between slavery and a Kingdom yet for ought I can judge by the orders of the Prince Arsamanes he intends I should nourish in my heart a design to poynard the King of Pont the father of Araminta to kill the Princes her brothers and whensoever occasion presents itself to bury her in the ruines of her house He no no I will never sit upon a Throne by such bloudy conditions I do know very well that the Grand-father of Araminta was an usurper I know also that the King her father possesseth the Kingdom which belongs to me but withall I know that since Araminta has usurped the Empire of my heart she hath rendred the possession of the Kingdom of Bythinia legitimate unto these of her house I pretend nothing unto it dear sister since I cannot come unto it but by the loss of my Princess who doubtless would never look upon me but with horror if I should wash my hands in the blood of her father and brothers The Gods do know it is not out of any feeble fear that my ambition submit unto my love and I am so well satisfied with an inward testimony of my courage that I do not care what men think of me But you my dear sister whose soul is so sensible of this tender passion certainly you are more ambitious then I am Can you be contented to lose two Crowns Do not I conjure you Harken unto the Prince Sinnesis and not unto the prince Arsamones for which way is it possible he can bring his design about he has been five and twenty years about it and yet can find no hopeâ he has educated me as a subject and he would now hinder you from being a Queen though he have no power to make me a King For where are his Allies where are his Armies or where is any retreat for his security he can have no design in it but by way of conspiracy against the persons of the Princes but by his favour he shall execute it without me or to say better he shall perish without me since what he would attempt is an impossibility Resolve then my dear sister to entertain the affection of the Prince Sinnesis for indeed if once you be Queen of Pont and Bythinia the prince Arsamones would not what ere he say subvert that Throne upon which you sit he has permitted you to dissemble and me also Let us dissemble then said he but let it be with him The Gods do know I would never do any thing contrary to that duty which I ââwe unto him wherein my love is not interested but when it concerns Araminta I cannot obey him Yet brother said Aristea unto him you run a great hazard in disobeying him I shall run a greater in not disobeying replied he And what sister do you intend to yeeld a blind obedience I am of that Sex answered she which permits me not to do otherwise Can you treat the prince Sinnesis unkindly said he unto her who offers you two Crowns he who hath spoken in my behalf unto the Princess Araminta he who may perhaps give her unto me he who has given you all his affections and does infinitely adore you I will not treat him unkindly said she but I will not marry him unless my father consent unto it Would you then have me die answered he Would you then have me dishonor my self replied she I would have you sit upon a Throne and save my life and make me happy answered this grieved prince The Gods do know said the princess Aristea that I would undertake the greatest difficulties for you but to marry without the consent of Arsamones is a thing which I neither ought nor can do for I believe that neither the King of Pont nor the prince Sinnesis would offer it if they knew that Arsamones would not consent So that said she since prudence tells us we must not bring things to that pass as that the princes should know my father is against our alliance with them since they would then easily suspect his reason therefore all the whole business had better reflect upon me and that I pass for a phantastical Girl that has a simple secret accession to the prince Sinnesis You are very prudent Sister replied Spitridates and it seems your reason is at liberty But since it is so consider well I beseech you into what a desperate condition you bring me if you deny me this favour at the least to testifie unto the prince Sinnesis that I have solicited you with all my power and
as he is I hope for victory But alas in the mean time I am all fury the fight of my old enemy Philidaspes revives all my jealouââe and hate The King of Pont also who loved me before he knew I was his Rival triumphs over all my hopes Perhaps I say he has not only the happiness of seeing her but hath gained her heart and obtained his pardon so that since he did not like Philidaspes ravish her away but save her from shipwrack she cannot look upon him as an injurious Ravisher however he is no less culpable in my eyes so that which way soever I look I see none but the Ravishers of Mandana to punish yet alas I see them but asar off since I must not fall upon the King of Assyria and since I know not where the King of Pontus is Amidst these thoughts Aglatidas entered and brought Artaban unto him who came from Sinope and assured Cyrus that within these two days the whole Army would be come up before Artaxates Cyrus did gladly receive him both because his news did please him and because he was a friend unto Aglatidas He enquired very affectionately concerning the health of Ciaxares the Kings of Phrygia and Heriania and of all the rest in the Army After this conceiving it fit to acquaint the King of Assyria and the Princess Araminta with this news he prepared to go unto them bidding Aglatidas very sweetly to make his friend welcome But said he addressing himself unto Artaban grieve him not with any stories of Amestris for his own passion without the addition of new misfortunes torments him enough I should be very sorry Sir replyed Artaban not to obey you in all things but I told him as we were coming hither how that fair Lady was not in a very happy condition and I told him also how Ottanus would not accept of the Government in the Province of the Arisantines which you would have conferred upon him Would not Ottanus replyed Cyrus in great amazement accept of a thing so advantagious for him what may be his reason for it I know not that Sir answered he I but I am certain he hath left Ecbatan and when I came from thence reports were that he came into Artaxates so that if this be true he is certainly upon the Mountains where the King of Armenia is If it be so said Cyrus unto Aglatidas perhaps we shall release Amestris before Mandana for it is to be supposed that Ottanus having committed so base an act as to side with the enemies of his Prince and a Prince too who had honored him with a Government so much above his desert he will perish and dye there which if he do added he and smiled Aglatidas must go and comfort Amestris I do not know replyed that sad Lover whether or no I shall be able to comfort others but I am most certain that I have had a long time need of consolation my self After this he thanked Cyrus for his tenderness over him and waiting upon him as far as the Princess Araminta's Chamber he went to entertain his dear friend Artaban with more freedom then before and to enquire more particularly of him concerning Amestris Mean while after Cyrus had acquainted the Princess Araminta with the King of Assyria's arrival and with the news of Ciaxares his advance he went unto the Chamber of his Rival whose mind was altogether as turbulent as the mind of Cyrus who in all likelyhood could never hope for the happiness of bâing beloved although he should deliver Mandana and vanquish Cyrus nor though he did flatter up himself with hopes in the Oracles yet could he never pretend to have any other satisfaction then revenge upon him However since love and hope are inseparabâe Companions he sometimes fancied that this his illustrious Rival should be no sooner out of the world but he should possess his place yet these fancies did quickly vanish and he did more often imagine maugre all his oraculous assurance from Heaven that as soon as he had killed Cyrus he should then be more hated then before These were the imaginations of that Prince when Cyrus came into his Chamber to acquaint him with the news which Artaban brought After he had stayed a quarter of an hour with him consulting what Quarters those Troops which he brought should have in the morning he left him and went to give orders for it and many other things Mean while the King of Assyria after he had sent to ask the permission of Cyrus went to visit the Princess Araminta In the mean while also Cyrus sent unto several Guards which he had placed that they should not be surprized or amazed when they saw the Troops of Ciaxares advance He sent also into Artaxates appointing them to prepare the King of Armenia's Palace for Ciaxares and the Princess Araminta for since the whole Army was to be joyned he thought it expedient to make sure as well within the Town as without He was also informed by Araspes that Hidaspes and Chrisantes had defeated some Troops which the Prince Phaartes had sent out into the Plain to forrage for victuals After all this he retired unto his Chamber and as usually he did passed over the night without a wink of sleep In the morning he went to visit the quarters of Hidaspes and others and the day following that he would go meet Ciaxares and carry the King of Assyria with him These two Princes then took horse Thrasibulus some Voluntiers and two hundred Horses only waited upon them and after he had caused the Assyrian Troops to advance and ranked them in Battalia with the rest to receive Ciaxares with the more ceremony he sent Araspes before that he might prepare the King to meet with the King of Assyria not but that he knew Ciaxares would keep promise since he had passed it but because he always used to observe order and decorum in all things After some three hours march they discovered clouds of dust to arise from the ground caused by the march of the Army Presently after they met and he came up to that Regiment where Ciaxares was with the King of Phrigia As soon as the Souldiers saw Cyrus they began to shout with such great acclamations of Joy that it may well be said they forgot Ciaxares was there Cyrus beckened unto them with his hand and with great modesty made signs unto them to be silent to march and keep their ranks he refused these honors with such a kind of obliging smile as spoke him neither pleased or angry at it The King of Assyria heard all these acclamations with much perplexity though he would not shew it and at last they met Ciaxares in a place where he was lighted from his horse to refresh himself and to see those Troops drawn out which he intended should march first unto Artaxates As soon as Cyrus discovered him under the Trees he advertised the King of Assyria so that lighting from their horses some
let such a vast number of people to perish for want of a little patience especially since they had no certainty that the Princess Mandana was in the place This advice being generally to be pursued no more was to be done but to keep most strict Guards round about the mountains and to find out all the blind paths and by-ways The next morning Ciaxares would take a view of the Assyrian Troops in Battalia by themselves which now they had mingled with the rest as being all of one side Mean while this Siege without a Town was not so idle a business as Cyrus did imagine it for since the Prince Phaartes was very gallant and since love was a spur unto his valour he began to bestir himself though during the first days he was sick with grief at his Fathers losses and that the Princess Araminta was in the hands of his enemies As he was well versed in all the by-ways of these mountains he would sometimes come and send us a shower of Arrows and so vanish in a moment that none could know what was become of him Sometimes he would come in the night unto the foot of the mountains by such blind ways through the Rocks where none but Armenians could come and give an Alarum unto all the Camp and since he had very good Spies in the Army of Ciaxares he always made his Sallies on that side where Cyrus was not for the valour of this Prince was most terrible unto all the Armenians But since Cyrus was not used to be surprized not surprize others he resolved every night to go into seve ãâ¦ã Quarters in hopes to meet with this almost invisible enemy who would never fall upon his side and who he knew to be the Prince Phaartes by some prisoners which he had taken Upon such a design as this which Cyrus had the King of Assyria would be sure to make one as well as other particular friends of Cyrus Thrasibus Aglatidas Araspes Persodes Gadates Gobrias Megabises Hidaspes Thimocrates Leontidas Philocles Adusias Chrisantes Feraulas and many others were then with him After they had waited several nights in vain at the last it happened one night that Phaartes having no intelligence in what Quarter Cyrus was and having a designe to send out a Captain disguized in the habit of a Peasant unto Tigranes his Brother he happened to descend from the mountains on that side where Cyrus lay in ambush with six hundred men which he had culled out for that purpose yet he had placed himself so that Phaartes taking a little path upon his left hand could not come unto the foot of the mountains but that which at the first seeing did anger him was afterwards his advantage for when Phaartes with half his men was past the foot of the mountains Cyrus did immediatly step between him and his retreat and perceiving that there was abundance of men amongst the Rocks as well as in the plain he could not tell in which of those two the Prince Phaartes was so that to be sure of meeting with him he divided his men the one half to assault those who were in the Rocks and the other half to pursue those in the plain who seeing their Retreat cut off endeavoured to find out another but Cyrus pursued them very close whilest the King of Assyria did scuffle with them among the Rocks The Heavens was very serene and clear and the Stars did give a splendent luster so that this nights combate proved very sharp and bloody Thrasibulus and Aglatidas did do wonders in seconding the valour of Cyrus who sound no small resistance from those he fought with for the Prince Phaartes being there did desperately defend himself and did things worthy of eternal memory yet being wounded in the right arm and left hand so that he could not hold his sword he endeavoured to save himself Then he fell off being followed by fifteen or twenty of his men whilest the rest kept their ground and unperceived by Cyrus or any of his men he got into a little valley wherein did fall a very rapid Torrent from the height of the mountains there Phaartes hâd himself hoping that when the Combate was ended and the Troops of Cyrus drawn off he might then perhaps get into his rocky way again In the mean time all the rest of his men were cut all in pieces and Cyrus finding no resistance went to see what the King of Assyria had done be found him very busie with his enemies who did not flye according to their old custom because they knew that the Prince Phaartes was engaged yet at the last hoping he might gain some other Pass whereby to retreat they retired unto a Pass beyond which it was not possible to follow them for as it was so narrow that two men might make head against an hundred thousand After that they had done all that was possible and were thinking upon a retreat Cyrus enquired concerning all his friends whom in the obscurity of night he could not discern Aglatidas being next told him that he heard the name of Ottanus used in the Combate I heard more then you said Cyrus for I heard one cry Ottanus is dead as Aglatidas was about to answer intelligence came to Cyrus that some of the enemy had rallied together in a little valley so that he went immediately thither But Phaartes for it was he they meant being advertised of their coming by a souldier whom he had set sentinal at the advenue of the valley and finding himself disabled from fighting with any and also considering the little number of his men and they all wounded as well as himself commanded them to throw down their Arms and follow him chusing rather to trust unto the generosity of his enemy then to a feeble resistance which could do him no good and since he was disabled from fighting he thought it less shame to render himself unto a gallant enemy then to flie ãâã let himself be killed without resistance All his men obeying him he went unto a passage where he expected his enemy to come and since the Moon shined very bright and objects might well be discerned Cyrus was no sooner in sight but one of his men knowing him because he had been with Tigranes at Sinope did shew Phaartes which was he This Prince then cried out with a most generous boldness so loud as he thought he might be understood Whither art thou going Cyrus doest thou not know that it is not glorious to overcome at all times Suffer thy self sometimes to be vanquished and be assured that being overcome after that manner thy victory will be more noble then if thou wert a Conquerour and at this time there will be more honour in the triumph of thy clemency then of thy courage and valour Cyrus upon this stood still and turning towards Chrisantes who stood next him said smilingly unto him I see there is nothing more ingenious then ill fortune nor any thing more witty
then necessity and how much more wisely and eloquent we speak when we are conquered then who we are Conquerours after this holding out his hand unto this disarmed enemy whom yet he knew not Assure thy self said he unto him thou shalt receive no harm from me and who soever thou art I will render thee any service in my power even so far as to give thee thy liberty for it is my custom to take them only for enemies who are in a condition to defend themselves Phaartes being charmed with the high generosity of Cyrus said unto him I do not wonder at all that the Gods should so continually give victory unto a Prince who knows so wel how to use it and I wonder less at the extream affection which the Prince Tigranes my Brother had unto the most Illustrious Artamenes Cyrus knowing by these words that it was the Prince Phaartes he imbraced him most civilly and perceiving him wounded he commanded horses to be fetched in all haste to carry this wounded Prince speedily unto some place where he might be dressed For generous Prince said he unto him the mountains may perhaps be dangerous for you considering the state you are in The horses being brought Cyrus commanded them to aid the Prince Phaartes and two souldiers to lead his horse because he was not able to hold the bridle by reason of his wounds When he was gone Cyrus missing Thrasibulus enquired concerning him and they told him that he stayed with a wounded enemy who rendred himself unto him Feraulus said further that after the fight was ended he caused this prisoner to be carried by souldiers to the Camp and he himself followed Since the place where now they were was not far off from the place where the Prince did quarter they went unto his Tents and placed the Prince Phaartes in one of the most magnificent Pavilions causing the Chyrurgions which were in the Tent of Thrasibulus to be called for Cyrus himself would see him dressed Mean while he sent Feraulus unto Ciaxares to inform him of all passages The wounds of the Prince Phaartes being found to be more painful then dangerous the Chyrurgions said that there was no danger if he escaped a feaver to prevent which it was requisite for him to rest all that night and a good part of the next morning Cyrus then retired as well as the King of Assyria though it went much against his mind to depart before he had asked him concerning the Princess Mandana which considering the condition Phaartes was in he durst not mention but reason at this time ruled above his love and Cyrus resolved to wait some certain hours for a satisfaction of his desires Mean time since Thrasibulus yet appeared not and since he understood the Chyrurgions had been in his Tent he asked them whom they dressed there They answered him that they had dressed a very handsom man who was in great danger of death and who told Thrasibulus an hundred obliging Stories That Thrasibulus was very much perplexed for him and that without all doubt he was a man of quality Cyrus sent to ask who it was but Thrasibulus leaving his wounded prisoner at rest according to the orders of the Chyrurgions came himself to relate the adventure Cyrus no sooner saw him but he saw melancholy in his face and asked him very obligingly how he did What generous Prince said he unto him are you so unfortunate as to wound a friend in lieu of an enemy Sir said he unto him again to make you understand the whole adventure It is requisite I relate the whole Story of my life it being impossible otherwise to comprehend the aversness of my Destiny for Sir when I shall tell you that he who is now your prisoner and wounded in my Tent is Son unto the wise Pittacus Prince of Mytelenes whose name is Tissander then you will doubtless know that he is Son unto one of the prime men of all Greece I have long desired said Cyrus to know the life of that Prince who hath taught me to overcome my self and I am much indebted unto your valour but illustrious Thrasibulus I have been so busied with my own misfortunes since you came to Sinope that now I have no mind to desire the relation of yours yet prepare your self ere long for the relation of it and in the mean time go and rest your self and take care of your wounded prisoner who cut of my affection to you I know not whether I should love or hate and if some Conference which I am to have with the Prince Phaartes concerning the Princess Mandana do not drive me into absolute despair and deprive me of my reason by depriving me of all hopes I shall then hold an hour or two in discourse with you in private Thrasibulus then thanked him for his goodness and retired leaving this Prince at liberty to lie down upon his bed for two or three hours to recover his weariness his sleep was not over quiet for his impatience to speak with Phaartes did so torment him that he could take no rest He sent above twenty times to know whether he was awake and how he did of his wounds but still the answer was he was asleep But desiring to see him before the King of Assyria came unto him he went himself to visit him and came just as he waked so that he and the Physicians and Chyrurgeons entered together they found him very well so that after he was dressed they permitted him to perform his Complement unto Cyrus for his great care of him not forbidding him to talk as they did the night before Sir said Phaartes unto him if you treat your Enemies thus how would you treat your Friends You may know that by your self answered Cyrus if you will for if you will sincerely tell me where the Princess Mandana is you will oblige me to be your Friend I should be extreamly glad to satisfie your curiosity if I could replyed Phaartes but I do profess before all the Gods whom we adore that I know not where she is and to make it evident that I am sincere I will not say with the same confidence that the King my father knows not because since he is a Prince who doth not use to impart matters of State unto any he may know more of it then I do But Sir if you dare take the word of an Enemy permit me to go as soon as I am able unto the King my father and after I have employed all my ingenuity to discover the truth I will return and give you a sincere relation of it Generous Prince replyed Cyrus you need not pass your word for you are absolutely free and may do what you please for I serve a King who uses to make good all the promises which I make so that when it is your pleasure to return unto the King your father you may but if the prayers of an Enemy have any prevalency with you I do conjure you to
of his affection which he would have rendered her whilest he had continued a prisoner then for any love she bore him though she did esteem him very much After this Cyrus returned unto the Camp again contemplating always upon his dear Princess or discoursing either with Aglatidas or Feraulas or Chrisantes in whom he put much confidence He loved Araspes very well yet since he never had been in love he never spoke unto him concerning his passion When he was come into the Camp he went immediately unto the Tent of Thrasibulus where since he was at leasure he intended to pass that day and part of the night in hearing a relation of what he desired so much to know As soon as he went thither he expressed his desires of being alone with Thrasibulus so that every one did leave him the liberty of Conference and as soon as Cyrus saw this opportunity he said very obligingly unto him Well my old Conqueror said he will you suffer your self to be overcome and acquaint me with all the circumstances of that life which as far as I know of it is most glorious You will not say as much of the rest when you know it replyed Thrasibulus and sighed for Sir you will only find two things in it that is much weakness and much misfortune Yet since it is your pleasure to have it so and since indeed it concerns the present condition of my affairs that you know it therefore I shall very exactly obey you But can you endure Sir the relation of so many trivial passages which must needs be very impertinent unto you and indeed very inconsiderable unto any who knows not what belongs to love Praise them not trivial and inconsiderable replied Cyrus when they concern my friends and when my dear Thrasibulus said he and sighed also I am not ignorant of that misery whereof I think you complain tell it therefore I conjure you and know that I have leisure enough to hear it though it take up all the day and night also for since there is a truce with the King of Armenia I have little other imployment and since nights are but tedious and restless unto me Thrasibulus then seeing his opportunity and knowing that it was requisite Cyrus should be acquainted with his past adventures considering the present condition of his fortune was most willing to obey him and taking their seats he began thus The History of THRASIBULUS and ALCIONIDA HAd I a Soul as sensible of ambition as love I do not think it had been possible to endure all those misfortunes which have fallen upon me But since I ever thought it a greater glory to merit Crowns then possess them I stood in need of all my constancy since I was not tormented with that proud passion which has razed and ruined all the Monarchies and Republiques in the world And though I am sensible of the loss of that Soveraignty which belonged unto me yet did I not give my self over unto despair and sorrow for it but only as this loss was an obstacle unto my love so that it may almost be said I never was sensible of ambition until I began to be in love But to acquaint you Sir with those miseries I have suffered both in my fortune and in my love Give me leave to tell you that I am the Son of Thrasibulus Prince of Miletes whose name I bear who as long as he lived was an intimate friend of Periander King of Corinth and whose name was very notable as long as he lived for the wars which waged for eleven years together against Sadiattes the little son of Giges and against Alliates father of Craessus which he finished with too much good fortune wisdom and honour to be related in a few words and since that which followed after was the foundation of all my miseries This war Sir was the more considerable since it was begun during the Raign of Giges when he usurped the Crown from Heraclidus for since that Ardis who succeeded him did keep it from him as likewise Sadiattes his Son after him and as now Alliates does the same The Prince my father then being very busie in the beginning of his Raign to establish in his house that Soveraign Authority which belonged unto him he could not during the first years of his War against Sadiattes with all the forces he had resist him because he had many enemies within the Town and not daring to go out of it left in his absence a seditious party should gather to a head in it Sadiattes was absolute Master of the field and continued his wars for six years together in a very strange manner for without making any attempts against the Town he brought every year in the Harvest time a very vast Army of Foot into the Milesians Countrey and without any burning of houses or destroying Towns he only carried away all their corn and fruits and stayed no longer in the Countrey Since my father was stronger at Sea he saw it was in vain to attempt any thing against Miletes since it could not be famished but his hopes were that the Milesians being forced to buy their corn of strangers and money growing scant amongst them then they would revolt from their Prince But for all this my father would not draw out of the Town until such time as he saw himself absolute Master of his people saying That the Sea would bring him corn when as nothing would bring him Miletes if it were once lost Afterwards when by fears he had made the people absolutely to submit unto him he drew into the field presently after the death of Sadiattes and the new King of Lidia made war after another manner The Prince my Father without the assistance of any unless them of the Isle of Chios who remembred the aids which he lent them when the Erithreans made war upon them was in a condition to fight that famous Battel of Limenia and afterwards that upon the Banks of the River Meander where with his own hand he killed the Prince of Phocians Son And since these two battels were bloody unto both sides and the victory dubious they gave a stop unto the progress of Alliattes who despairing of absolute victory according to his hopes did upon his return set fire unto a great field of corn whose flames did not only consume the corn but by the greatness of the wind did set the Temple of Minerva on fire and entirely consumed it This sad accident did trouble the people of Miletes more then it did the King of Lidia But within a while after that Prince falling sick and sending to consult with the Oracle of Delphos the Pithian told the Lidians that she would return them no answer until they had rebuilt the Temple of Minerva which they had burned Periander who knew of this answer sent to advertise the King my Father that he might make the best use he could of it so that a while after when the Lidian Embassadours
came to ask leave that they might rebuild the Temple my father commanded all the Inhabitants of Miletus to bring all the provisions of corn that were in the Town and to set them down in the publick place of sale where the Embassadours of Lidia were to pass which being done according to his command and the Embassadours making a report of what they had seen unto their Master they caused him absolutely to despair of ever overcoming my father and since they saw the Milesians themselves were able to make war with four Kings at once they offered them very advantageous and glorious conditions of peace Alliattes then caused two Temples in lieu of one to be rebuilt and afterwards recovering his health he became a very intimate friend of my fathers who since that pacification was a very quiet Possessor of his Dominions notwithstanding the several secret factions which he knew was amongst his Subjects for he was very constant bold and politick one that made every one to fear him and one who defeated all manner of conspiracies against him This being the state of things he lived a long time in great tranquility and Miletus was questionless one of the most magnificent Towns of all Cairo I was then about the age of thirteen or fourteen and a natural Son unto the Prince my father called Alexidesmus was some seventeen or eighteen years of age since he was the son of a Concubine whom my father did highly affect he loved him exceeding well and educated him with the same care he did me Since the Princess my mother died when I was very young and the Prince my father did enfranchise and marry that mother of Alexidesmus that illegitimate Prince had a powerful upholder which I was deprived of for that woman was of a witty and subtle spirit and one that was capable of any thing about the same time it was that the wise Thales so famous every where returned from his long voyage cut of Egypt where Solon was then Resident and he took so great affection unto me as I can well boast without any vanity that I am beholding unto his sapient precepts for that little vertue which I have had I made as good use of them as I ought doubtless I should not have been so unfortunate as I am for he always read so many lessons against love and against marriage unto me that had I followed his advice I should at least have prevented one part of my misery The principal rule which he taught for the order of life was never to do that thing which we would condemn in another But though he taught me the lesson over and over an hundred times yet did I not keep close unto his document for though I have often condemned others for suffering themselves to be so far captivated by beauty as to lose their tranquility I my self am so deeply plunged in the snares of love that I even lost my reason But since the miseries of my fortune did precede those of my love it is therefore fit I first tell you Sir that Melasia so was the mother of Alexidesmus called whom my father had married since the death of my mother did project a marriage for her Son with a Milesian Lady who was extream rich and of high quality This at the first seemed very strange unto the world for every one thought that I ought to be first thought upon But yet since the Prince my father did favour the designe none durst make the least murmur and Alexidesmus continued his address without any obstacle for though this Lady whose name was Leonia whose father was dead and she at the disposition of her mother had no fancie unto Alexidesmus yet she concealed it by the command of her mother and indeed if it be lawful to speak sincerely of a man who was the causer of all my misery Alexidesmus was far from amiable for he had the violent humours of my father but he wanted his wit his resolution and an hundred other good qualities which he was owner of on the contrary he was extreamly cholerick cruel ambitious weak and bold both together as for his person it was reasonable handsom and there was a great difference between his body and his mind yet since Melasia had the heart of the Prince her Husband at command he would not see the faults of her Son or at least seemed as if he knew them not for he was continually cherishing and flattering him up and made no distinction between me and him though I dare boldly affirm I was free from many vices which they winked at in him The mother of Leonia was Sister unto the Prince of Phoceus whose Son as I told you before my father killed at the last battel against the King of Lidia so that in her heart she hated our house yet notwithstanding the Prince of Phoceus being all ambition he sent heâ word that if she could so contrive it that Alexidesmus should raign and I disinherited that then she should consent unto this match but otherwise not so much as to think upon it This Lady being ambitious as well as her Brother and holding a great correspondencie with Melasia did so cunningly break the business unto her that there was no question but to find a sutable compliance between two women of one and the same disposition both of then did quickly understand the desires of each other since the same ambition did enflame them so that no longer hiding the matter they plotted together how they might make Alexidesmus Raign and concluded to bring it about though at the rate of many crimes committed Whilest things were thus transacting the Prince my Father finished that good strong Cittadel in Miletus and I was continually busied either in my exercises or in the conversation of Thales or else diverting my self in such delights as were fit for a Prince of my age I carried my self with all civility to wards Melasia and Alexidesmus but I do ingeniously confess that my aversion to them both was so great that I had much ado to dissemble it All this while the marriage of Leonea went slowly on for since the Prince of Phoceus would see some appearance of his hopes before he would consent unto it his Sister whose name was Philodicea did cunningly protract it neither could he bring it about soone because they of Prienna being forced to declare War against Policrates Prince of Samos who would needs be King of the Sea and fight with all he met my father thought that is common policy he was bound to oppose this new Soveraignty since he had a good pretence unto it and set forth a great Nevy of Ships of which he was constrained to make me Admiral because he could not handsomely do otherwise since he would not go himself in person unto this War Not but that I was very young for such an employment being then but fifteen years of age but since my Lievtenant General was a man of great experience he
any did but suspect what I desired to conceal I cannot chuse but be sensible of his You are all goodness replied Cleander and more indulgent then the Princess I do confess it said she and smiled and that which does most exasperate my severity is to see you do not think me discreet enough to trust me with a common secret for to tell me that you are in love is not to tell me all your adventure and story Well Madam said Cleander even transported out of himself if there need nothing but that to satisfie you I do confess it but I most humbly and heartily beseech you ask me no further for I had rather die a thousand deaths then tell any more When you are fallen out with your Mistress replied the Princess and smiled as the Prince my brother is with Anaxilea we then shall know all your Gallantry as now we do his I do not think Madam answered Cleander coldly that I shall ever be so far in favour with my Mistress as to fall out of it Time will tell us all said she in the interim I pronounce you innocent and beseech my brother to receive you so I know not Sister replied Atis very pleasantly whether after you have reconciled Cleander and me it must not be his office to reconcile us for you have railed so bitterly against my weakness that I know not how I should take it Your reason is now at too much liberty answered the Princess to take exceptions without a cause but as for Cleander since he is in love we had need be circumspect how we speak unto him for I have heard say that melancholy Lovers are soonest angered By that mark said Atis you came to know the Prince Artesilas is in love with you You are very apt to revenge replied the Princess to retort such an angry piece of raillery unto so mild an answer Atis could not reply unto this because Artesilas would have heard it if he had but since the Genius and conversation of that Prince did not please him and since his visit had already been very long he went away and carried Cleander with him who was sufficiently vexed to leave his Rival in that manner with his Mistress he was all the rest of that day with the Prince of Lidia who treated him according to his wonted affability and freedom but at night when he was at liberty to confer and open himselfe unto me I perceived by his discourse that he was sick of such a disease which nothing could cure but death Am I not most miserable said he for I did not deny to saign affection unto Anaxilea but only out of fear that the Princess whom I adored should not think that I was really in love with her and by consequence could never imagine that I loved her self yet now I see that my denial of the Prince Atis to do so hath perswaded the incomparable Palmis that I am really in love with her or else some other in the Court as I was forced to confess were she not thus perswaded she would not have been so pleasant as she was but certainly if she had any suspition of the truth I should have seen more signs of anger in her eyes It seems said I unto him by your discourse you would have thought your self happy in her anger Cleander made a pause at this and after a while consulting with himself I think said he unto me that rather then I should die and leave her ignorant of my love I should be contented to see her angry That is a favour replied I and smiled which you may easily obtain Ah cruel friend said he unto me I still find you more ignorant in matters of love But since I must open all my secrets unto you know that at one and the same time I wish things which are quite contrary to one another and that I no sooner say I should be contented to see her angry upon condition she were acquainted with my love but I repent of it and had rather die then displease her But how were you able replied I to tell her that you were in love I know not that replied he but I know that I had no sooner acknowledged it but I wished that I had not for had she apprehended my real thoughts I should have seen her eyes full of indignation yet to my sorrow I saw she thought me in love but never suspected it was with her self so that I endured most miserable torment Ask me not Sosicles what I would have her think when I confess I am in love with her for I know not my self but I am sure of this that to be less then a King and love the incomparable Palmis is the greatest folly in the world However that I do not know so much as whether I am the son of a Free-man or no yet I love her and shall do eternally and I cannot brook the affection of the Prince Artesilas This being the state of things abundance glorious and pleasant Company came to Sardis for the Prince Abradates second son unto the King of Susiana who then raigned and son unto a sister of Cressus whom that King had married came thither And at the same time also the fair Panthea daughter unto the Prince of Clasomenes a tributary unto Cressus came to dwell in the Court of Lidia with the Prince her father so that their arrival revived all manner of diversions There came unto Sardis also at that time a Brother of the King of Phrigia named Adrastus who as it was said had killed another of his brothers against his will and desired to be purged from that crime by that Laws of that Countrey which between the Lidians and Grecians is small difference Since this Prince was admirably handsom and of much spirit and since his banishment was rather for a misfortune then a crime Cressus received him very well and according to the custom of Lidia he was purified in the Temple of Jupiter and then appeared in the Court as a strange Prince whom every one did honour Cressus allowing him a subsistance befitting his quality and promising to endeavour a reconciliation between him and his brother the King of Phrigia It may be said of Cressus that he heaped up a greater Mass of treasures together then ever any did and was more magnificent then any Prince upon earth being therein much different from the young Prince Mexaris his Brother who was not less rich then he but was more covetous then another of his brothers named Antaleon was ambitious or Cressus liberal The Court being then so glorious as I have described Esope so famous for his ingenious fables which contained solid Morals in pleasant fictions came thither also and notwithstanding the ugliness of his face and deformity of his composure yet the beauty of his wit and greatness of his Soul shined so at Sardis that he was wonderous welcome And that this renowned Town might have men of all qualities Solon so
famous for his Laws came thither also who was entertained by Cressus with all imaginable honours So that it may be said and rightly that Sardis was never so full of illustrious persons as then for every one that had any excellence in Arts throughout all Greece either came themselves or sent their works thither so that which way soever one turned his eye he might see something for his instruction and diversion But though this Court was the most glorious in the world yet Cleander was there the most unhappy Lover upon earth for though he was adored by all the Court yet since the Princess Palmis was ignorant of his love and he durst never acquaint her with it he lived a life extreamly melancholy and whilest the Prince Atis Antaleon Mexaris Abradates Artesilas and all the rest of that Illustrious Crew were high in all delights solitary Cleander sighed in secret and wore only melancholy in his eyes The Prince Mersiles by reason of his imperfection was also very reserved and solitary However this conversation did much delight the Princess who not suspecting Cleanders love to her was only curious to learn with whom he was in love but with such an odd kind of curiosity as I understood by my Cousin who since did tell me that not knowing any reason for it she was really as fearful to know whom Cleander loved as in appearance she desired it for this Cousin told me that the Princess discoursing one day with her concerning his passion and bidding her to enquire concerning it she began to reckon up all she could think upon who might in likelihood be the cause and though she named all the beauties in the Court yet she could not find one who her mind did think fit for it so that this Cousin of mine whose name was Cylenisa and who was much in favour with the Princess began to laugh Madam said she you would either have Cleander not in love at all or else you would have him fix his affection much above or much below himself for I named all the Ladies who in reason are fit for him considering the present condition of his fortune to fix any thoughts upon 'T is very true said the Princess Palmis and blusht but I do not look out a Mistress for Cleander proportionable to his quality since he knows not what it is himself nor sutable to his fortune which is no more then very mean but according to his vertue and merit which is most extraordinary and this is the reason why I cannot guess who it is he loves because I cannot find any one amongst all those which you have named that is worthy of his affection and therefore I must needs conclude that he loves one that is below himself Thus Madam you see what thoughts the princess of Lidia had of Cleander who yet was oftentimes much puzzled to find answers unto her questions for when she remembered that she told him he would discover who it was he loved when his Mistress and he fell out with one another she would always when any opportunities were offered ask him whether he did not yet begin to be out of favor with his Mistress and whether ere long he would be in an humor to reveal his secret If I should reveal it unto you Madam replyed he one day doubtless I should be out of favor with her but as long as I conceal it I need not fear her anger How Cleander replyed the Princess cannot I know your passion but you must be out of favor with her and cannot you tell it unto me but she must know it No Madam answered he I should no sooner confess what you desire to know but she whom I love would know my crime by the shame which she would discover in my eyes and would most cruelly punish me for it If it be so said she and smiled then stay till you jar and till you be out of any fears to incense her Thus did the Princess before she was aware give a handsom opportunity unto Cleander to discover his passion had he been so bold as to have closed with it yet he was extreamly afraid of the disfavor of Craessus upon an odd reason I think I have already told you that Solon at his first coming unto Sardis was bid very welcome by that Prince But since it is the Custom of all Great Princes to love that one should commend their Magnificence Craessus having shewed Solon all his vast Treasures and the most prodigious Riches which his House was adorned with he asked him whether he had seen any in all his Voyages more happy then he was Since Solon did not think true felicity did consist in such things like a man of high wisdom but a bad flatterer he answered that he knew many more happy then he and amongst the rest he named one Tellus who winning a Battel and dying for his Country said That none were happy before their death Craessus thought by this saying of Solons that he preferred the virtue of Cleander who was become his great Favorite before all the King of Lidia's Riches and that this Prince did enjoy in him a Treasure which he was ignorant of and which was to be valued much above all the Riches which he shewed him with so much delight Since nothing does more incense the spirits of men principally Kings then to scorn what they esteem Craessus could not endure this plain-dealing sincerity of Solon but the pleasant and frolique humor of Easopâ did much better please him so that this wise Solon went discontentedly from him As Cleander had a most generous Soul so he did endeavor to hide this injury as much as he could and by the orders of the Princess her self had an especial care of this Athenian Law-maker He conducted him some thirty furlongs out of Sardis which act of civility did so much incense Craessus that he could not endure Cleander should be so bold as render any good office unto the man he frowned upon and this trivial business was like to have brought a great change upon the fortunes of Cleander but yet the Prince Atys and the Princess of Lidia did so intercede that they did procure his reconciliation In the mean while Adrastus became so desperately in love with the Princess Palmis that Artesilas and Cleander themselves could be no deeper wounded then he Atis also renewed his old love unto Anaxilea in spite of his resolutions to the contrary but it was after such a manner as that he made no secret of it and although Cressus did not approve of his choyce yet he expressed a hundred publique testimonies of his passion to her I think it was about this time that Abradates and Mexaris fell in love with Panthea yet since that business is not pertinent to the story of the Princess Palmis I shall omit the relation of it and only tell you that at the same time Cleander was most unhappy Yet had he so much consolation in his
father for giving him a man of so heroique a courage The King of Phrigia did fight in person with Cleander who thought once to have killed him but as he lifted up his arm a thought came into his mind which made him change his blow and turned it upon another next the King of Phrigia whom he killed at that blow saying in himself Perhaps I am born a Subject unto that King In short Madam after the King of Phrigia was forced to retreat into Apamea and the season of the year growing very bad Cleander after he had put his Troops into their Winter quarters returned unto Sardis after a compleat year since he had been there 'T is true Renown did speak so high in his behalf to the Princess Palmis that she could not forget him yet she would not admit of his passion and I know not whether or no she had some kind of fears that absence had changed his heart Cressus was received with high magnificence and Cleander was looked upon as the Conqueror of many Nations and in that posture wherein he came to Sardis there was none could come in competition with him but every one esteemed himself happy in his favorable looks But Madam in the midst of all these Triumphs Love did triumph over the heart of Cleander And he was more terrified that day he was to see the Princess then he was in all the days of Battel for he went to fight in hopes to overcome but he exposed himself unto the looks of his Princess in certainty to be overcome and in uncertainty of being kindly treated The first address unto her was in the presence of the King who in favor of Cleander told the Princess his daughter that she should regard him as the only Conqueror and as the greatest stay of his Empire Cleander answered unto this with much modesty and the Princâss did second the King her father with many obliging civilities But the next morning Cleander were himself alone to wait upon her and she entertained him neither with her former freedom nor her latter coldness As she was grown more fair so he more amorous and as victories does elevate Souls and infuse a kind of handsom boldness which is very much becoming if it be mixed with modesty so Cleander was grown incomparable more amiable then ever he was and on the contrary Artesilas much less for his envy at Cleanders glory did make him of so bad an humor that every one shunned him so that he coming unto the Princess as Cleander was with her she did so palpably perceive the difference between them that she could not chuse at night in speaking unto Cylânisa but wish that Cleander had the birth of Artesilas or that Artesilas had all the good qualities of Cleander However though she saw he was infinitely honored by all and Cressus esteemed him exceedingly the Prince Myrsiles loved him most tenderly and thought he was adored by all the world yet for all this he esteemed himself very unhappy for when he began to consider that he knew not who himself was and that in all likelyhood this incertainty of his birth would be an invincible obstacle unto an happy success in his passion he grew past all consolation and all additaments of honour did rather increase then diminish his sorrows But Madam these great favors upon Cleander eclipsing Antaleon that ambitious Prince who thirsted after the Crown did secretly treat with Artasilas unto whom he promised the Princess Palmis his Neece in marriage if he would help him to kill Cressusând ând the Prince Myrsiles This Conspiracy was so horrid that I will not trouble you with a particular relation of it for when I consider that a brother would murther a brother and a Nephew and that a Lover should embrew his hands in the blood of a Father unto his Mistress I apprehend such horrors that I must needs pass them over very slightly and tell you that Esope who was yet at Sardis having smelt out this Conspiracy did acquaint Cleander with it who went so prudently to work that he did not only discover the whole Plot but also quasht it Antaleon was forc'd to fly for refuge to the Phrigian King but he never reached so far for in his going thither he fell down a Precipice and so hurt himself that within a few days after death became his sanctuary for it seems the Gods would defer no longer the punishment of so black a Crime As for Artesilas nothing could be proved directly against him and though afterwards it came to light that he was of the Conspiracy yet he stayd in the Court as if he had been innocent 'T is true he durst not any longer shew himself openly as a Lover of the Princess for if she would have harkened unto any professions of love Cleander would have been near his happiness For Cressus thought himself so infinitly obliged unto him for this last piece of service that he esteemed all his Treasures too mean a recompence for it The Prince Myrsiles for his part being a debtor unto him for his life thought him worthy of all things so that though he knew Cleander was in love with the Princess his sister yet he would never take any notice of it In the mean while Cleander not being able to live and not have liberty to publish his love to her who caused it did lead a most melancholy life and the Princess also not being able to forbear an expression of too high an esteem of Cleander was extreamly troubled For said she one day to Cylenisa Though this esteem do me no other hurt but to hinder me from loving him whom my Father would have me marry is not that too much and ought I not to wish that I had never seen him As I think said Cylenisa that would be an unjust wish and Cleander perhaps has more reason then you to wish he had never seen your beauty You know Madam that the King is his Debtor for many victories and you your self do owe him for the lives of two Princes who are most dear unto you but as for him I do not see that he is obliged unto you at all for truly you use him very coldly because you are obliged to him and you wish you had never seen him because he is very handsom and amiable there is not much reason or justice in these wishes I beleeve said the Princess and smiled that Esope has suborned you to help to make his Fable true As Cylenisa was about to answer the Captain of the Guard unto Cressus who always loved Antaleon very well though none perceived it and who by that consequence had not over-much love for Cleander came to the Princess to tell her a piece of news which he thought deserved a recompence though perhaps it would not be pleasing Madam said he unto her I beg your pardon for coming to tell you a thing which doubtless will much trouble you but since by knowing it in time
CYRUS the GREAT The Fourth Part. BOOK II. NEver did hopes flatter miserable men with more pleasing minutes nor ever did fears infuse more cruel torments then these two contrary passions did procure unto Cyrus and the King of Assyria Mandana Released or Mandana a Captive was the whole business of their minds and according as these did present themselves unto their imaginations so were they either sad or glad though both of them had always a mixture of displeasure amongst their highest satisfaction to think that though she be at liberty yet it was not by their assistance yet since she was to receive this good office from a Prince who was not yet their Rival the thought of it did not lessen their joys and somtimes not doubting but ere long they should bless their eyes with a sight of their Princess they both of them began to think of vanquishing one another by combate according to agreement Three days thus passed on during which time Cyrus discoursed often with Sosicles because he had seen his Princess at Ephesus and during which time also the King of Phrygia entertained Thimettes and Acrates with much satisfaction by reason of the hope which they had given him to see in the face of Cleander so perfect a resemblance of his dear Elsimena that he could not possibly doubt but that he was his Son The Princess Araminta also was full of joys and hopes believing that since the King her Brother had Mandana no longer in his power he would become a friend unto that Prince who offered to set upon his Throne and so she might one day be in a happier condition then ever The Queen of Susiana though a Captive and not very well in health had yet the comfort to be served with the same respect as if she were at Susa for Araspes was punctual in the observation of Cyrus his commands and was very assiduous and observant of that fair and wise Queen whom Cyrus much honoured and grieved he could not after see her When those three days were thus passed Timocreon arrived and sought for his son Sosicles to understand from him how the King of Phragia had received those things which Thimettes and he had ãâã unto him after he understood the truth of all he went unto the King of Phrygia's Tent into which Cyrus entered presently after Thimettes who met him had presented him unto the King of Phrygia so that this Prince no sooner saw Cyrus but addressing himself Sir said he unto him this is that Timocreon who preserved my Son and who brings us news of what we so much desire to know but I know not whether it be good or bad because he is but newly come Questionless the news is but bad for me replied Cyrus for I do not look to be so happy as to hear the Princess Mandana is at liberty 'T is true Sir she is not at liberty replied Timocreon but it is not long of the Illustrious Cleander that she is not since he has done things most difficult to bring it to pass and had it not been for one misfortune which we could not foresee doubtless the Princess Mandana and the Princess Palmis both had been at liberty Tell us however replied perplexed Cyrus how fortune did hinder our happiness Sir answered Timocreon since I understand by Thimettes you know all passages since his departure from Ephesus I shall relate nothing what has already been told but I do assure you never was business better managed then it for when Agesistrata had advertised Meneceus of the day on which the Princess Palmis was to come out and the Princess Mandana was to follow her with two women who waited upon her and one upon the Princess of Lidia Meneceus made the Barque ready whereof he was assured the fifty men which we had in the Town lying in Ambuscado at all the advenues by which one could come unto that Gate out of which the Princesses were to come besides these above thirty friends of Meneceus joyned with Cleander who kept himself in the head of twelve or fifteen only for all were divided into little Troops least those which passed should suspect any thing he placed himself as near as he could unto the door of the Temple having a Coach there to carry the Princesses unto the Sea which was not far off and where the Barque waited Since there was none but Centinels stood in that place because it was a door out of which seldom any did come that could be no hinderance in the Enterprise and without killing them it was an easie matter to secure them without being perceived by the nearest Court of Guard Thus Sir all things being rightly ordered to execute our design the Barque ready the Coach come all our men placed at all the advenues unto the Temple Cleander waited for the opening of the door and the business came so far that the door did open and I saw the Princess Palmis who caused another Lady of an admirable beauty to pass before her whom I supposed to be the Princess Mandana and I did but see her for as these Princesses were coming out and we advancing to receive her there came out of a house close by two hundred men in Arms in the head of whom was the Prince Artesilas you may imagine how Cleander was surprized who looked for no other resistance but from the King of Pontus when he saw Artesilas in the head of them whom he thought had been with Cressus But though the wonder of Cleander was great yet that of Artesilas was no less to see Cleander with a Sword in his hand standing between him and the door of the Temple However as soon as the Princess Palmis spied Artesilas she went back and carried the Princess Mandana with her The door of the Temple was shut in an instant so that Cleander not being able to release his Princess nor Artesilas carry her away as he designed these two Rivals went one to the other with as much fury as their passions were violent they spoke one to another but I think were not understood In the mean time all our men who were dispersed into several parties gathering together about Cleander who thought our selves in a condition not only to resist Artesilas but also to overcome him and Cleander fought with so much courage that he killed his Rival with his own hand and many more so that after the death of this Prince the rest of his men dispersed themselves and vanished in a moment so that if they had opened the Gate of the Temple again the very same hour we had released the Princesses we knocked at the door but I think the noise was so great that the women durst not open it presently all the King of Pontus his men and all those belonging to the Governour of Ephesus came up to us and we were so surrounded with a multitude that it is an absolute miracle to see we are escaped for Cleander could not resolve to save
himself by the Barque which waited for us but would still be near the Gate of the Temple yet in the end seeing an absolute impossibility to resist such a multitude and thinking he had received a wound in the right hand resolved to retreat fighting until we came to the Barque unto which we entered in spite of all those who pursued us and made all haste away for they threw many Darts at us and we kept them off us with our Lances But when we were out of their reach we looked whether the wound of Cleander was considerable and found it to be more troublesom then dangerous Afterwards we mustered to see whether we had all our men and except ten or twelve Souldiers whom we had out of Ephesus and those would not imbarque with us we lost not a man but making a strict search I found amongst us a servant belonging unto Artesilas who in this tumult chose rather to enter into our Barck then to fall into the hands of the Ephesian Governour I no sooner saw him but I knew him and when I shewed him unto Cleander Sir said he unto him I beg your pardon for seeking Sanctuary under you Friend said Cleander to him my hatred to thy Master is dead with him and shall not revive to hurt thee but however tell us by what strange accident we met to day Sir replyed this man none can tell you better then my self what the design of that Prince whom I served was so I have had but too much knowledg of his secrets since the flight of the Prince Antaleon And then since he thought to merit much from Cleander by defaming his Master in lieu of answering to what was asked he told us that which we asked not and related unto us how the Prince Artesilas was of that odious Conspiracy with the Prince Antaleon not but that we knew it already in going between Sardis and Ephesus but he related it unto us more exactly Afterwards he told us that this Prince knowing of the Orders which Cressus had sent unto Agesistrata by which he appointed the Princess his daughter to take upon her the habit of a Vestal he became so desperate that since he had committed so many Crimes in vain he was resolved to venture upon one more which would be profitable unto him so that his plot was to carry away the Princess and in order to that he left the King upon some pretence or other and disguized himself and his men in habit of Paisants and kept them in that house out of which you saw us sally the Master of which had heretofore been his servant He told us further that Artasilas resolved to wait there until that door of the Temple was open and then to seize upon the princess Palmis and carry her unto a Ship which he had provided ready with intention that if the door of the Temple did not open within sixe days then to force it in the night and execute his design as he would now have done if he had not been prevented So that we collected thus much from the discourse of this man that Cleander at least preserved the Princess from being carried away by Artesilas whom the Gods by his own hands did punish for being in such a horrid Conspiracy as that of the prince Antaleon was In the mean time night drawing on we went to lodg in a little Village where we caused Cleanders wound to be dressed and also three or four Souldiers more who had been wounded also and whom we left there with men to have a care of them Afterwards quitting the Sea and taking horses which we expected to wait for us in that Town and which we sent thither in case our enterprize should fail we are come hither we stayed two days by the way by reason we sent to know some news of the Princess and we understood by a man whom Meneceus sent unto his friend that the Guards were now extreamly much more strict about the Temple and that there was no possibility of attempting any thing in the like manner again And Agesistrata her self was resolved to favor the going out of the Princesses no more she conceiving that this sad accident did manifest the Gods were not pleased at her connivance at it before yet we understood at the same time that the princess Palmis was fully resolved not to do what the King her father appointed and Agesistrata sent word unto the King that she could not receive her We also understand that the princess Mandana and she are resolved and have promised not to part from each other until better fortunes did smile upon them In conclusion Sir Meneceus and I after we knew thus waited upon Cleander hither After Timocreon had done speaking Cyrus as sad as he was did testifie unto the King of Phrigia that he was much obliged unto his son for what he had done concerning the princess Mandana desiring a pardon for not being so sensible of joy at the receiving of his son as he should have expressed any other time Not but that I conceive my self interested said he in what relates to you but the truth is as long as Mandana is Captive I am not capable of any joy whatsoever As he would have gone out the King of Assyria came in who came to enquire what news Timocreon had brought for he had heard he was come But as soon as Cyrus saw him and being impatient to have him grieved as well as himself Your hopes are broken said he as well as mine and our Princess is more captive then ever as you may understand by Timocreon The King of Assyria drawing nearer him caused him to repeat all that he had told unto Cyrus who was gone unto his Tent to lament his misfortunes with more liberty He sent one notwithstanding to Cleander to assure him from him that he should find a most inviolable Sanctuary with him and desired that he himself might have the honour to present him unto the King his father And after he had spent two hours in considering the obstinacy of his fate and had sent to acquaint the princess Araminta with this ill success one came to tell him that Cleander Meneceus and Tegeus were arrived Making then a truce with his sorrows for a while or to say better shutting them up in his heart to welcome a Prince whose reputation was so high he commanded they should enter and he himself went to meet him This first Congratulation passed very well on both sides And as doubtless Cleander was as handsom a man as was in the world and of as good a carriage Dyrus was charmed with him at the first sight and one might see them look upon one another with so many signs of admiration in their eyes that it was easie to foresee they would love one another most tenderly I am very unfortunate Sir said Cleander unto him holding his arm in a Scarf by reason of the wound he received at Ephesus that I am
in tears for my own misfortunes then have any cause to shed them for your death Live therefore Artamas if you would have me live and neglect nothing that may conduce to your preservation Artamas then most respectively taking that fair and dear hand which she presented unto him and looking upon her in such a manner as if he would ask leave to kiss it he saw she blusht and gently pulling it back she silently told him that he should content himself with that favour which she had already done him So that saluting her with as much reverence as his wounds would permit him he saw her depart with her eyes full of tears which she could no way hide but by pulling down her hood Yet would she not have her Coach to move untill she saw Prince Artamas in that which was to carry him unto the next Town which was not above fifty furlongs from thence Andramites having no mind to carry him unto the Castle of Hermes because of the friendship that was between Ligdamis and that Prince After this the Princess Mandana and the Princess Palmis began to deplore their misfortunes and to impart their most secret thoughts In the mean while Ligdamis who had carried Tigranes Phraartes and Chrisantes unto a corner of the Wood where they stayed with much impatience for night bethought himself of the best wayes to conduct them unto the Castle of Hermes and there to advise upon the best course for Cyrus whose imprisonment extreamly troubled them Whilst they were in this condition they heard a noise and thought themselves discovered but as good fortune was it proved to be Artabases and Adusias who seeking to hide themselves did meet with them Yet their joy to see one another was qualified when both sides made a relation to each other of the accidents which had happened For Ligdamis telling Artabases that Cyrus was taken he was almost desperate And Adusius telling Tigranes that the King of Assyria was also taken and Ligdamis that the Prince Artamas was both taken and wounded they did nothing but make a mixture of sorrows among themselves But night at last being come and Ligdamis who was well acquainted with all the turns of the wood being gone to see whether they might all come out in safety found that all the Troops were gone and the coast very cleer so that he presently returned to his friends and brought them safe to the Castle of Hermes where they had the comfort to find the illustrious Cyrus who resolved to stay there that night but they found him so sad as their joyes were much mitigated The sight of Mandana a Captive did so disorder his heart that he could take no delight in that liberty which was given him but when he parted from his Rival he envied him because he could not part from him but by going further from Mandana And as soon as he came to the Castle of Hermes considering his adventure more exactly the more he envied his Enemy Yet sometimes he could not well reconcile his own resentments he no sooner apprehended one thing but he smothered another yet he always concluded himself the most unfortunate man alive and much more unfortunate then his Rival although he was a prisoner What good has the gaining of so many battel 's done me said he so many Towns taken so many Provinces reduced so many Kings conquered They have indeed got me a little noise in the world but they have not all released Mandana for whom only I made the war I do not find the glory that I desire I do not meet with Mandana but only for her to release me and not I her Most miserable Cyrus cryed he out why dost thou not dye of shame to appear before thy Princess in such a despicable condition as thou didst Hast thou not good cause to fear that she released thee only to remove out of her sight an object that was worthy of nothing but her scorn how canst thou suffer her to release thee who aspires unto the glory of being her deliverer There is a necessity of death upon thee the excess of love and shame must make thee rather receive thy freedom from death then from Mandana But how can I dye said he and reprehended himself when as I have seen her whom I so much desired to see and has seen her so admirably fair and so infinitely generous Hitherto I was a debtor unto the illustrious Mandana only for some good intentions and some favourable words but now by this adventure she has given me that which is the most precious thing in the world my Liberty She has so loaded me with obligations that a million of services cannot repay my debt no though I should dye ten millions of deaths She has kept me from falling into the power of my Rival and my enemy She has put me into some hopes of breaking her chains what would I have more ought I not to be fully satisfied with my journey It is true many of my illustrious friends are Prisoners but to my comfort so is my most terrible Rival also and I shall be delivered from the sight of a Prince whom I shall be glad to see no more until Mandana be out of Captivity and then see him with a sword in his hands But why do I rejoyce at that which ought to grieve me since certainly it would be more advantagious to me to have the King of Assyria at liberty and in my Army then a Prisoner with Mandana and it would be more tolerable unto me to see him continually then to know that he is continually in the sight of Mandana for the King of Assyria will be known as soon as he is at Sardis and as soon as he is known Cressus will treat him as a Prince of his quality ought to be let the King of Pontus his Rival do what he can Thus will this happy Captive see the fair and illustrious Mandana and whilst I am turmoiling for the liberty of them both and loaded with chains as he is he will perhaps win the heart of my Princess and take from me the sweet fruits of all my Conquests And if so what good will all my Conquests do me And though I should overcome Cressus and take Sardis and deliver only unconstant Mandana can I be at all happy or if I should fight with a loved Rival can I ever have force enough to overcome him or so much as desire a victory since I am certain to have no share in Mandana's affection Yes yes I will yet desire to conquer though that cruel chance do happen and I will not think my self absolutely miserable if I can but out live my enemy But why said this grieved Prince do I torment my self with imaginary miseries since I have so many real ones to complain of Is it not enough that I have lost my hopes of releasing Mandana so soon as I thought but I must further persecute my self Yet would I gladly know whether Mandana
Let her hate me as long as she pleases let her arm both the Scythians against me if she can my soul will not tremble at it But that Mandana the most fair illustrious divine Mandana should leave loving me after she hath given me some hopes of an inviolable fidelity this is most intollerable All my constancy and all my reason cannot keep me from expressions of my weakness Were I but assured of Mandana's heart I would not care one pin for all other misfortunes that can be threatned against me The loss of so many crowns as in all appearances are to fall upon my head shall not cost me half a tear though the implacable Thomiris were ready to take off my head yet I should rejoyce in the hopes of one tear from the fair eyes of my adored Princess But alas how can I hope for one moment of rest considering all that hath hapned in one day unto me For it is so very apparent by âe multitude of disasterous adventures which have befallen me in this journey that the Gods will overwhelm me with miseries and it were extream folly to retain the least beam of any hope I come out of the fantastical humour of my Rival to view the place where I hope to release my illustrious Mandana and in lieu of that I am taken Prisoner my self also the Prince Artamas who was my only supporter in the War he is also taken and wounded Also it is my fortune to see the Divine Mandana but though she released me yet she keeps my Rival I had no sooner got into a place of safety but the Oracle of Babylon is brought me which tells me the Gods intend to make my Rival happy immediately after that I receive another from Delphos which precipitates me from the highest top of glory into an abyss of misery after this I had hardly breathed but Madates accosts me with a fresh disaster and I had no sooner heard his tale but Ortalques brings me a sentence of death pronounced by the famous Helespontique Sybil Judge Chrisantes if after all these it is possible I should apprehend the least glimpse of hope However Chrisantes I must not merit my misfortunes I must fight for the liberty of Mandana with as much courage and zeal as if the gods had not promised her unto my Rival I must fight against Cressus with as much magnanimity as if the oracle had not promised him the Empire I must also carry my self with as much serenity of soul as if I were not to be the Victim of Thomiris See Chrisantes said this grieved Prince what I ought to do and what I will do but I do not know whether I can or no. My soul is questionless above all ambition and also above any fear of death but love is so infinitely predominate over my soul that I know not whether I can endure the loss of Mandana if it should happen unto me But proud Thomiris unto whom the gods have promised my head though Mandana do prove perfidious yet you shall never triumph over me For I am so assured that my sorrows for Mandana's inconstancy will be my death that I never need fear the fury of your hand After this Cyrus desired to put in practise those couragious resolutions which he had set unto himself and therefore commanded Chrisantes not to tell the answer which Ortalques brought unto any lest the Souldiers should be dismaid and lose that confidence which does such wonders in war After this he went unto Tigranes Phraartes and the Governor of the Castle with whom he conferred about many things which related unto the war and to the Prince Artamas Then taking horse the same hour with those two Princes Chrisantes Sosicles Artabases Adusius Madates Ortalques and Ligdamis who would not leave him he took those hundred and fifty horse which he had left near the Castle of Hermes and returned unto the Camp with a soul so sunk with sorrows that he could not possibly all the way he went rid himself one minute from the multitude of these disasterous events So that Mandana a Captive Mandana perfidious and the King of Assyria happy were the only thoughts that took up the soul of Cyrus all the way between the Castle of Hermes and his own Tent. The end of the fourth Part. FINIS The Author to the Reader Reader I Am now in the midst of a long Labyrinth of Ten Volumes which this Book according to the Model I have framed is to contain This which I here present unto you is the Fifth The favourable eye which hath been cast upon the other four parts of Grand Cyrus makes me hope for the same aspect upon these which are to follow And since I have spared no pains to set them out in such a dress as may please you therefore I have some reason to believe that they will answer all my labour If any one be not so well versed in History as to be acquainted with the Ring of Giges which I make use of in my Book let him know That it is Zenophon Diodorus Siculus and others who mention it in their writings and that it is Ariosto who borrowed this precious Jewel from them Let them also know that it is too much observed in their Books to be omitted in mine and also since Cicero in his offices hath attributed such transcendent excellencies unto it This is all Reader that I have to say only this that the rest of the Parts will shortly follow SCUDERY ARTAMENES OR The Grand CYRUS The Fifth Part. Book I. CYrus was no sooner come to the Camp but he bethought himself how to comfort up the King of Phrygia with all imagineable consolations after the imprisonment of the Prince Artamas and to that end without any stay at his own Tent he went immediately unto that of the sad Father to acquaint him with all the particulars of the bad success in his enterprize and to assure him that he would neglect no possible opportunities which might regain the liberty of his Son Sir said that generous Prince and interrupted him in his talk had he lost his liberty in releasing the Princess Mandana the misfortune had not so much moved me But I do confess that since I see his endeavours conduce not to your service I stand in need of some consolation it grieves me to see him in a condition so far from being able to pay that debt of services which he owes you that he is like to perish unless you become his Liberator I cannot imagine replied Cyrus that our Armies are so inconsiderable in the King of Lidia's esteem as that he dare offer any violence unto any Prince who is ingaged in our quarrel to a Prince unto whom he is a debtor for many victories he cannot be ignorant that Kings are obliged by the Laws of gratitude as well as other men and that by how much their degree is elevated above the sphear of subjects by so much is the sin of ingratitude
more horrid in them therefore let not any fears of any violence from Croessus unto the Prince Artamas disturb the serenity of your soul Moreover without all doubt the King of Susiana and the King of Pontus will be his Mediators and Protectors for they being men of generosity will most certainly oblige Croessus to be no more rigorous unto the prisoners which he hath taken then I am unto the Queen Panthea and the Princess Araminta However since there is no discretion in trusting too much unto the generosity of enemies I will to morrow dispatch an Envoy unto Croessus to let him know what interest I have in the person of the Prince your Son I will also move the two Princesses which I named before to write some Letters in his favor and my earnest endeavours shall tell you how much I esteem his person and how dear his interests are unto me The King of Phrigia expressed abundance of thanks unto Cyrus for his indulgency towards him and took the sad disaster with a magnanimious constancy Cyrus thought it no discretion to tell him that the Prince Artamas was much wounded as well because he would not oppress him with too great a load of sorrows at one time as because he was in hopes to hear some happy news of his recovery After this he retired unto his Tent where common civility obliged him to spend an hour or two with the Commanders of his Army who came to see him and after that he allowed another hour in dispencing requisite orders in his Martial matters after which retiring himself in private with none but Chrisantes he spent the rest of the night in contemplation of his great misfortunes and the multitude of his miseries And though the consideration of them did most sensibly grieve him yet did they not at all blunt his courage but on the contrary the more miserable he perceived himself the more did he rouze up his soul to oppose the malignity of his Fate and although he had a hurt which was most tender and sensible yet was it ever firm and unshaken This advantage he had that he was sensible of no miseries but such only as Love brought upon him as for any others his soul was seated so infinitely above them all or any thing that could hap that they never reached him or if they did it was but weakly He had been a prisoner and fallen from the top of happiness into an Abyss of misery but since he was not guilty of any crime he stood not in need of all his vertues to support him Death it self how terrible soever could never stagger his soul though he had a hundred and hundred times been so neer it that he had reason to believe himself swallowed up by it But as his soul was as constant as any Rock against the rigorous surges of Fortune so was it also most tender and so sensible that it could not endure without unconceiveable sorrow all those torments which Love brought upon him This Prince who questionless could lose Crowns and Scepters without any alteration of countenance could not think upon the loss of Mandana without such trembling of heart as all his Reason could not master He spent a great part of the night in talk with Chrisantes but at last being more desirous to allow some rest unto a man whom he loved then to take any unto himself he dismissed him and lamented his misfortunes unto himself until very weariness did insensibly against his will cast him asleep and gave some respite unto his restless thoughts 'T is true this truce lasted not long for he awaked by break of day he forgot not the least circumstance of his promise unto the King of Phrygia so that casting his thoughts upon Aglatidas for an Envoy to Croessus he caused him to be sent for unto him and appointing him a Herald to conduct him unto Sardis he commanded him to follow after him unto the place where the Queen of Susiana and the Princess Araminta lodged to the end that when he had obtained his desires from them he might there give him his last instructions He took horse then immediately and a very small train followed him because he desired it should be so He arrived at the Queen of Susiana's lodging whom Araspes said was ready and might be seen Indeed that Princess was then newly returned from the Temple which every morning she frequented because her restless thoughts would not give her leave to sleep much When she knew what had happened unto Cyrus she was extremely sorry for him and for her self also For truly Sir said she unto him If the Gods would have permitted you to have released Mandana most certainly you would have kept your promise and all Warres being at an end I should have been in hopes to have seen my dear Abradates and have seen him your friend since being so generous as he is I am very certain that when he knew how you have treated me it would have most sensibly wrought upon him However Madam replied Cyrus It is in your power to do me a very good office until it shall please Fate to be weary of persecuting me Alas Sir replied Panthea Is it possible considering my condition that I should be able to do any thing which can testifie my resentments of all your favours to me Doubtless you are answered he if you will be pleased to take so much pains as to write a word unto the valiant Abradates and desire him to move Croessus not to treat the Prince Artamas too hardly and to use all the other prisoners which he took in this sad adventure very well for I make no question but he will consent unto whatever you shall desire I do not tell you Madam that according as he shall do unto them you shall be better or worse treated but on the contrary to induce you unto a more obliging Letter that though he shall deny what I desire yet I will never fail in those duties which I owe unto your Quality and Vertue and that by my consent you shall never receive the least distaste Your expressions are so full of generosity replied she that I were most unworthy of your protection if I did not use the utmost of my power for your satisfaction especially since your demands are only such as equity it self ought âo inforce from me After that Cyrus had returned some thankful language he told her that he would leave her at liberty to write and go to address the same desires unto the Princess Araminta to the King her Brother He found her no less disposed to grant him a Letter unto the King of Pontus then Panthea unto the King of Susiana She thought her self something interested in it for the person of Anaxaris was now very precious in her thoughts since she understood he had saved the life of Spitridates insomuch as she told Cyrus that he was not at all beholding unto her for writing in favour of those prisoners since there
notwithstanding they could not resolve to promise him obedience saying alwayes that Love was such a Soveraign passion as they could not so readily surmount it yet they spoke this with so much reverence unto Croessus out of fears to incense him lest he should send them both out of Sardis that their resistance did not offend and Croessus believed they intended obedience though they protested that they thought it impossible Thus it happened that the Conquerour was no happier then the Conquered and Perinthus was only he who reaped the fruit of Abradates his Victory out of his joyes to hope that the Princess should Marry neither him nor Mexaris But Madam the passage was rare when Perinthus returned to render an account unto the Princess of the combat for though she heard of others yet since every one is glad to have repetitions of any thing which pleaseth or which they have any interest in Perinthus was no sooner come unto her Doralisa and my self being present but she spoke unto him Well Perinthus said she unto him with much joy in her eyes Thanks be to the Gods the Prince Abradates and the Prince Mexaris are both alive They are Madam replied he but the last of these is wounded 'T is true said she but since I understand his wounds are not dangerous I cannot chuse but rejoyce that their combat proved not more fatal I conceive Madam replied he that whosoever understands the true sence of your words will think Abradates more glorious in your language then in his diâarming Mexaris However it be said she and blushed give me an exact relation of the combat Perinthus now was extreamly put to it and not being able himself to set forth the glory of his Rival whom he saw was too deep in the heart of his Princess already he told her that he could not truly do it for the friends of Mexaris reported one way and the friends of Abradates another but the principal of all was what she knew already that Abradates received not a wound and that Mexaris was wounded It is very strange Perinthus said Doralisa and laughed and who knew as well as I did the true cause why he would not satisfie the Princess you should be so ill informed of this combat For my part said she further to discover his thoughts had I been at any Ball and the Princess should precisely ask me what passed there certainly I should have related every thing with the least circumstance she should know whether the Hall were ill or well furnished who danced most which Ladies were best dressed and most fair which of the men was the greatest Gallant who talked long with such a one and who with such a one and she should know every trivial passage of the Assembly so perfectly as if she were there present In the mean time you who are a brave and gallant man in lieu of relating every circumstance as I could have done does only tell the Princess that Mexaris is wounded and that Abradates is Conquerour 'T is very true said the Princess and smiled Perinthus is to blame I should have thought it Madam replied he no great discretion to relate a combat unto Ladies in the same manner as it should be related unto men It had not been handsom indeed said Doralisa to have related Wars and Battels or your own peculiar Victories But for a single Duel and a combat wherein you have no interest and which is fought between two Princes of such eminency it ought to be exactly related I shall better inform my self another time replied he and remember your instructions hereafter Hereafter said the Princess Heavens forbid you e're be put unto it Panthea spoke this with such an Emphesis that Perinthus knowing thereby her thoughts was dumb for a quarter of an hour together during vvhich time Doralisa talking on as she begun did almost make him dispair But to return from whence I transgressed give me leave to tell you Madam that Abradates vvas so sad to see that in conquering Mexaris he vvas not the better as it vvas impossible he should be more though it vvas some comfort to see himself in better state then his Rival yet he thought himself most unfortunate When the Princess knevv it she vvas also much troubled though her care vvas not to shevv it So as the first time that Abradates met her at Doralisa's house there passed such discourse betvveen them as did confirm their amity The Princess kept still in those limits vvhich she had prescribed unto her self never to Marry Abradates vvithout the consent of the Prince her Father but never to Marry Mexaris vvhat violence soever she vvas put unto Thus that which in appearance should quench their Passions did render them more strong and Perinthus in striving to prejudice Abradates did against his will do him better service then if he had endeavored it This close Lover yet did think himself more happy then he was before the Combat of these two Rivals for though he knew very well that the heart of Panthea was deeply engaged yet he had some hopes that seeing she could not marry Abradates she would strive to exclude him out of her mind in so much as we perceived him more pleasant and free then he used to be As for Mexaris he was so melancholy that none living could be more not but that he had still good words from the Prince of Clasomena but since words are but wind and Perinthus kept him from bestowing his daughter without the Kings consent he was no less unquiet In the mean while Abradates and he lived with a cold kind of civility to each other such as seemed to be an inclination to another Quarrel Since the King did not forbid them seeing of Panthea but only from thoughts of marriage they often met at her house but more often in other places lest they should too much incense Croessus Thus did they live a kind of compulsive and unpleasant lives yet Abradates was much less miserable then his Rival since he did not only know himself not hated but so much in favour with the World that the Princess never went unto any place but he had intelligence of it the very same hour For since he was liberal unto all his Intelligencers were most exactly true and faithful to him And I am confident there was not a man of a condition whatsoever neither about the Prince of Clasomena nor about the Princess his daughter which was not most really for him except Perinthus On the contrary the avarice of Mexaris was such that he had not any intelligence so much as from his own servants so that he knew no more but what every one knew After then he had lived thus some certain days he fell upon a most unjust and violent Resolution which was to carry away Panthea if he could not by any means win the Prince of Clasomena to let him marry the Princess his Daughter secretly As he entertained these thoughts News was
a fury in spite of all his men vvhich surrounded him and engaged himself so amongst these Ravishers that if Abradates in the head of those Caviliers vvhich Perinthus took to belong unto Mexaris had not come in to his relief the poor Perinthus had died there But this Prince vvas no sooner come up vvith tvventy horse then the state of things did put on a nevv face foreseeing Perinthus in danger he made streight to him and clearly disingaged him To present unto you Madam the astonishment of Mexaris of Perinthus of us and every one to see Abradates in that place is more then language can reach unto Mexaris then thought the Gods resolved his ruine Panthea hoped they would preserve her and Perinthus told me since that when he saw Abradates save his life he was so extreamly full of sorrow that he had a mind to fight against him as well as against Mexaris who since the arrival of the Prince of Susiana thought it discretion to retreat since he was wounded and neither in a condition to carry away his Princess nor fight with his Rival yet he was hotly pursued But since the principal design of Abradates and Perinthus was only to preserve the Princess they durst not venture to scatter themselves in the thick of the Forrest So that returning again towards her she called them her Deliverers and rendred them a million of thanks for the service which they had done her Then as she observed that Abradates by his arrival had saved the life of Perinthus she rendred him no less thanks for that then for keeping her out of the power of Mexaris And since she did apprehend with abundance of tenderness all that Perinthus had done for her she did accept it with great acknowledgments On the other side Perinthus looking upon Abradates as upon him that had reaped the fruit of all his pains he almost repented of what he had done and perhaps rather wished Mexaris had carried away the Princess then that Abradates should share with him in the glory of defending her or that for his particular he should owe his life unto him Since that place was not very pleasant for us to stay in where nothing was to be seen but dead and dying men After all these complements were tumultuously addressed after the Princess had asked Abradates what accident brought him so happily thither and after he had told her that it was because he was informed of Mexaris his design by one of his Domestiques therefore he immediately mounted horse to oppose him then the Coach went on Abradates leaving some of his men to take care of those that were not yet dead as well enemies as friends also to relieve the one and secure the other But as they were going on the Princess perceived that Perinthus was wounded in his left hand and that he lost blood enough to weaken him and therefore she caused her Coach to stay and causing him to come in I gave him a Scarf to bind up his hand Thus the first Liberator of Panthea was in the Coach and the Liberator of Perinthus and Panthea both rid by them and could not chuse but render thanks unto this secret Lover for so well defending the Princess But alas what hollow-hearted answers did the poor Perinthus return unto all the civilities of Abradates The only consolation he had was sometimes to look upon me and to let me see the sorrows of his heart in his eyes At the first habitable place we came at the Princess stayed to dress the hand of Perinthus the blood being not yet quite stanched after which we went on I had forgot to tell you Madam how after the combat was ended we found one of Mexaris his men dismounted of whom we seized and whom Abradates caused to be brought unto Sardis that Croessus might be better inform'd of all passages I will not tell you Madam how extreamly that Prince was incensed against Mexaris when he heard of his intentions to take away Panthea nor how the Prince of Clasomena was surprized grieved and angry But give me leave to tell you that which indeed is admirable for Perinthus who did what he could to kill Mexaris did now use all endeavours possible by the means of Andramites to appease Croessus upon no other motive but only to make him an obstacle unto Abradates Thus the miserable Perinthus as generous as he was was forced by the violence of his passion to further him whose life he would have taken away and to hinder him unto whom he was a debtor for his own yet was he not able to effect the one nor the other for besides that Croessus was highly incensed against Mexaris for offering not only to marry Panthea contrary to his commands but to steal her away There happened another opposition for the Princess fearing lest Mexaris should return to Sardis and make his peace she desired Doralisa to treat Andramites a little better and to desire him that he would keep the King in his angry mind against Mexaris which accordingly she did and Andramites the next morning went unto Perinthus and told him that he could not satisfie his desires because Doralisa desired of him the quite contrary therefore he told him that vvhere the case of a Mistriss and a friend comes in competition he should not think himself unjust in giving the precedency unto Doralisa before him You may imagine Madam hovv sad Perinthus vvas at this nevvs for he knevv very vvell Doralisa vvould never have made this desire but at the instance of the Princess Seeing then he could not oblige his friend unto his desires yet he solicited him to keep Croessus still unto his design of not consenting that Abradates should marry Panthea and indeed Andramites did promise him to satisfie that desire provided Doralisa did not move him to oppose that also This transaction of Perinthus did not proceed from any vvillingness to prejudice a Prince unto vvhom he vvas so much obliged but the consideration that he vvas his hindrance from possessing the Princess was above all other considerations whatsoever He never acquainted me with this negotiation but only with the miseries which he endured In the mean while that dangerous poyson which was in his soul did so invenom his wound that it would not heal and his hand was as sore as his heart he grew weak pale and languishing being in a gentle Fever which never intermitted one moment But whil'st he endured all these secret maladies Abradates was much happier then he used to be for the Prince of Clasomena knowing what he had done for the Princess his Daughter did treat him incomparably better then ordinary and could not in any civility forbid him the visiting Panthea with whom his hours were much more sweet since Mexaris was not present It seemed that Prince who was retired unto a Town the Governour whereof was his creature was dangerously wounded so that there being no fears of his return Abradates enjoyed as many pleasures
discourse to reduce his Reason into its right Region he began by degrees to know things as really they were and by consequence to fall into his first despair Yet had he the comfort to see Tiburtus neer him whom he ever loved In seeing him his hopes revived also that happily Mandana might escape as well as he but his hopes of so much happiness were so weak that they could not induce him to take any care of himself or to receive any thing In the mean while Tiburtus considering how neer he was unto Sinope and in a place where the illustrious Artamenes had been and might come or send again he took the Master of the Cabin aside and conjured him that as he had saved his life so he would do him another good office without which the first was all to no purpose But lest there should not be prevalency enough in his prayers he charmed him with a great Medal of Gold hanging in a Chain of the same Mettel which the Queen Nitâcris gave him when he was waiting upon his Master at Babylon The very sight of so rich a Present so dazled the eyes of the poor Fisher that he did absolutely promise to do what ere he would have him though it were with most desperate hazard of his life So that Tiburtus without any loss of time caused him to take the Prince Mazares into his Boat and to clothe him very well lest the sharpness of the ayr might do him harm The Prince Mazares at first was very unwilling unto what Tiburtus desired saying he was loth to part from that place neer which his Princess perished and that he had rather dye there then in any other place But Tiburtus promising he should not be carryed very far and that it was to such a place as where it was more probable to hear of his Princess and where he was in less danger of falling into the hands of Ciaxares he began to submit unto his will Yet not at the first For Tiburtus said he unto him since death is that I look for why may not the King of Medes or Artamenes give it me as well as any other way Although it be all one to you said Tiburtus to him yet it concerns the King your Father and the Queen your Mother and all the people over whom you are destined to Raign therefore I beseech you follow my advice and harken unto Reason Alas Tiburtus said he that man who cares not for life cares not for a Kingdom However replyed Tiburtus though you do not care for either yet grieve not them that are interested in you and who would be much concerned if you should fall into the power of a Prince who would treat you as a Delinquent And truly I am such a one replyed he upon whom they would act no Injustice though they proceeded never so rigorously against me but Tiburtus do what you will with me After this Mazares was carryed into the Boat and all the people in the Cabin had orders to say If Artamenes sent to enquire of him that he dyed as soon as he left him In the mean time the lamentable condition in which the Prince Mazares was would not permit Tiburtus to carry him far off and all their provisions in the Boat were so small as they would not last above two or three days This wise old man being not of that Country knew not what Course to steer and since he was far off his own Country for be pleased to know it is a great distance between Sinope and the Country of the Saces which borders upon the Asiatique Scithians he could not tell where he should recruit himself any neerer He had about him but small matters to subsist upon the shipwrack having left him only that Chain of Gold which he gave the Fisher-man and one other Jewel of a very considerable value yet the Prince Mazares by chance had some rich things about him so that by them he hoped to find subsistence for a while but the difficulty was where to land in a safe place Not knowing then what to resolve upon they put off from Sinope unresolved what course to steer Yet the Fisher-man seeing Tiburtus in such a perplexity told him that if he would trust him he would carry him into such a place where none should find them Then acquainting him how he was not born at that place where he dwelt but in a little Isle which was inhabited by none but Fishers amongst whom he had many kindred Tiburtus consented he should carry them thither And this Fisher-man promised my Master to tell him in that place whether any news was heard of the Princess Mandana or whether they had found her body So not being able to take any other Course they came to this little Isle which indeed was no more then a huge Rock not above a days journey from Sinope He who was their Guide lodged them with a sister of his whose husband was a Fisher like himself and who entertained them very humanely In the mean while since it is the pleasure of the Gods to preserve Mazares whether he would or no he lived when as he hated life since he beleeved Mandana dead but it was a life so lamentable that death was much more sweet then it unto him The little hopes he had of Mandana's escape did now begin to dye for the Fisher-man according to his promise wenâ the day after to enquire but could hear no news either of her or her Corps yet this last circumstance leaving some far-fetched hopes in him which induced him not to depart from that barbarous place Tiburtus desired the Fisher-man to tell him once more that the Corps of Mandana was found For as Tiburtus did verily conjecture that this Princess was really dead and that though she were living yet it were good to wear her out of Mazares his memory therefore he conceived it expedient not to leave any more such uncertain hopes in him which might aggravate his sorrows and much multiply his perplexities The Fisher-man at his request did tell this officious lye and the Prince Mazares grieved so as it was easie to see the difference between an undoubted misfortune and one in which there was some incertainty When the first raptures of his despair were past he told Tiburtus that he would go and dye over the Tomb of Mandana and continued in this mind many days but at last the perswasions of Tiburtus did alter his mind but all his perswasions could not prevail when he moved him to return unto the King of Saces his Father No no Tiburtus would he say you shall not have your mind in every thing nor will I live as you would have me It 's well I satisfie you so far as not to kill my self without publishing my crime and my misfortune unto all Asia Live I will Tiburtus because you would not have me dye but I will live only to lament that Princess whose life I destroyed Oh unfortunate Prince would
do not see him yet at the root of yonder Tree replied he In saying so he shewed me the Tree where you Sir was leaning Oh Orsanus replied Cyrus I must needs interrupt you in your story that I may undeceive you and tell you that I was not in Paphlagonia when you passed through it I esteem you so much answered Orsanus that I will rather believe your words then my own eyes Your eyes replied the Princess Araminta and blushed are not so as you think them since in all likelyhood it was the Prince Spitridates whom you saw who resembles the illustrious Cyrus so much that it is no wonder if you were mistaken But I beseech you tell me the direct time when you saw him you speak of Orsanus in obedience to the Princess Araminta did tell her the exact time so that by the computation of Cyrus and her self it was concluded that Orsanus met the Prince Spitridates three weeks after the stranger Anaxaris left him wounded in Paphlagonia and in such a Wood as Orsanus prescribed so that by this the Princess Araminta had so much consolation as to know certainly that he was not dead of the wound which he received but on the other side she wondred to hear no news from himself After she had received all the satisfaction which Orsanus could give her he continued his discourse in these tearms The Prince Mazares had no sooner shewed me him whom I thought to be the illustrious Cyrus but I told him out of prudence lest an angry accident should happen that it was not Cyrus though he much resembled him Mazares yet had much ado to believe me and I think he would have asked this supposed Cyrus whether it was he or no had not Belesis whilest we were in this Contest told Mazares that certainly I must needs know him better then he could and therefore by consequence he ought to beleeve me mean while he who was the subject of our discourse rushed presently into the thick of the Wood and was quite out of our sight So the Prince Mazares was forced to continue on his Walk It is impossible for me Sir to relate his thoughts unto you for they were so tumultuously disordered that he could never tell them unto us Sometimes he was glad it was not you and sometimes again sorry without any reason either for his joys or sorrows But since all his pretentions were only to release Mandana and obtain her pardon we never met with any but he enquired both concerning her and you Sir That which wondered me most in the business was that all those with whom we spoke told us that you Sir was towards the Frontiers of Lidia and comparing my belief that it was you I saw with these reports the thought of it did so take up my mind that I could not chuse but express it unto my Master two days after the sight of him who resembled you I told him that I dissembled my real thoughts before and that I did beleeve it was you which we saw in the Wood So that we travelled a whole day reasoning why you should be there and not being able to reconcile our own sights and these reports which were so contrary to each other we still passed on unsatisfied But since I could not give my own eyes the lye I conceived that you had made some secret Voyage unto some neighbor Prince to negotiate some business or other and that though reports went you were in your Army yet it was not impossible but you might be some days absent Thus beleeving that we had seen you and that you knew not my Master we arrived at last at Ephesus The Prince Mazares then changed his Name for that of Telephanes but Belesis never altered his because it was unknown in Lidia I shall not relate unto you Sir what agitation of Soul was in the Prince Mazares whom now I will call Telephanes for a while when he saw the Temple wherein Mandana was for I would if possibly I could conceal his Passion from you lest I should too much exasperate your spirit against him yet since the greatness of his Love does make his Virtue appear I must needs have so good opinion of you Sir as to beleeve that at the end of my Relation you will admire and perhaps become a friend unto such a Rival as he is although I do set forth his Passion unto Mandana to be infinitely high And the truth is Sir it is impossible a Passion should be more violent but the Wonder is that since he came out of his Desart he never entertained one thought but how to make satisfaction for his fault and obtain a pardon for it and I am most confident that never any poor Peccant fuller of repentance then he nor did I ever see more cruel remorse of mind As oft as he considered that it was through his treachery that Mandana was now inclosed within that Temple his Soul was so sadded with sorrows that I wonder he dyed not and I verily think that had not the King of Pontus been so ill when we came to Ephesus that he kept his bed by reason of a wound in his thigh so that he was not able to oppose those who would have taken away the Princess Mandana and the Princess Palmis I am confident I say that if he had been there though he had saved the life of the Princess yet in the first raptures of his sorrows my Master had then assaulted him But afterwards considering that the King of Pontus his death would not have released Mandana since as the state of things were Cressus would not part with her he conceived it more expedient to break her Chains by Policy And considering that it was impossible to make any attempts upon that place for her Releasement he thought it better to go unto Sardis whither she was to be conveyed as soon as Cressus and the King of Pontus were agreed upon their conditions which were not yet concluded upon though the Negotiation had not been transacting ever since the King of Pontut came to Ephesus for as soon as he came thither he sent to demand protection from Cressus upon condition that what Treaties soever there were between him and Ciaxares or you Mandana should never be restored Since this Proposition seemed very hard because by granting it such a War would ensue as would never be ended till one side was ruined since it was not probable that Ciaxares would ever cease unless his daughter was declared therefore the negotiation was very long before it could be concluded and nothing was done in it till Crassus having received a smiling answer from the Oracle and then he consented unto the King of Pontus his desires yet to find out a plausible expedient wherewith to colour Justice he engaged himself never to render the Princess Mandana in any Treaty without the King of Pontus his consent so that after several sendings the one to the other the business was concluded between
extream desire But all in vain for fortune would not let them meet In the mean while he met with fresh resistance and the resolutenesse of his enemies gave him an ample subject for his prudence and valour So that not enduring that the victory should continue any longer upon doubtfull tear ãâ¦ã s he caused his body of reserve to march up The King of Lydia did the like but with different successe For the Kings of Phrygia and Hircania did so sharply charge their enemies and were so exceedingly animated by the example of Cyrus whom they saw do such incredible acts of valour as they had the honour to second him in his courage and outed the left wing and body of his enemies reserve who were forced to fly yield unto the valour of a Prince whom none could surmount In the mean while since the whole Army of Cyrus was inspired with the same spirit Mazares where he was did as much as any brave Prince could do who desired death and victory for he charged the Prince Myrsiles and Pactias with extraordinary valour He did not only go unto them with a resolution of fury but seeing they would not come unto him because they were on a very advantagious ground he went up the hill unto them with incredible courage though without any disorder or indiscretion and charged them so hotly that he routed them yet one of his squadrons passing up a place of difficulty was repulsed by one of the enemies squadrons but Gobrias releeved them and forced the Lydian Squadron to do like their fellowes which was to fly away in disorder Yet The second division of the enemy ateempted to relieve their first but Chrisantes comming up to Mazares the right wing of the Lydians was entirely squandered So that Mazares now made no doubt of victory though himself was two or three times in danger to be taken by the enemy The body of the battle in the head of which were the Charriots had no mean share in the victory and Abradates did more then he promised his dear Panthea and indeed more then he should have done for he did so expose himself unto dangers as if he had either known himself invulnerable or else desired death he drove the eight horses which drew his charriot with such fury as he tumbled down his enemies and forced their charriots to fly The rest of the Charriots which followed him doing the same struck terrour into all that opposed them Some of the enemies charriots fled others were tumbled over and broken all were rendred uselesse to the Lydians Abradates having done this and seeing the Egyptian Battalia keep their ground went with his Charriots to rumble amongst them and overthrew all he met either by the impetuosity of his Charriots or by his sword or with the Sythes wherewith the Charriots were armed Never was sight more terrible to behold then this The horses trampled upon the bodyes of dead and dying men The Syths cut off others and the wheels ran over those which the horses and Sythes tumbled down But alas the victory of Abradates proved fatall unto him for the field was so strewed with horses and dead men with broken armes and overturned Charriots that he could not passe but over Mountains of these mingled together so that the wheels sometimes went high and sometimes low and his Charriot unfortunately overturned maugre the skill of him which drove it Yet Abradates disingaged himself from under it and began to fight on foot but was forced to yeeld unto a multitude who seeing him down fell upon him so that this valiant Prince and all those with him perished at this time yet his death was revenged to the full For Hidaspes and Gadates comming in they charged all those that fell upon Abradates with such fury that they forced them to retire in confusion into the body of their battle Afterwards Hidaspes with those troops under his command charged Arimaspes and his troops and all the Battalions of the first division charged those enemies which opposed them with such vigour that Arimaspes as Great a Commander as he was was forced to yeeld unto the valour of Hidaspes not being able to resist him long The King of Pontus who fought with as much courage and ill fortune perceiving the disorder in Cressus his Army did what he could to Rally and was twenty times in danger to be taken But in that deplorable condition in which he saw himself he could do no good Cressus also as well as he gave many rare testimonies of his courage but could not finde any remedy against his misfortunes He saw the two wings of his Army broken in peeces and the main body of the battle squandred He saw the field was covered with his dead and dying men That terrour was in all his Troops they fled wheresoever Cyrus assaulted them and in some places where they were not assaulted So that Cressus seeing no way but to secure his person and defend Sardis And the king of Pontus thinking upon the preservation of the Princesse Mandana both these two Princes resolved to retire and so they did notwithstanding Cyrus sought all over for them and could not hear any thing of them for they were gotten into a great body of horse which hastily flying raised such a cloud of dust as obscured their flight and hindred him from the pursuite In the mean time Cyrus and Mazares being both of them in the heads of those wings which they had so gloriously conducted fell upon the Rear of the enemies battle which consisted only of the remainder of Infantry the Horse being all fled away So that Cyrus seeing none that was able to resist him but one Egyptian Battalion which stood still upon their ground He sent Feraulus to take their Guards the Captain whereof was killed and to give this Battalion Battel But as Feraulus did execute the commands of his master he found that these Egyptians did naught else but cover themselves with their Bucklers and stood as men that were resolved to dye upon the place Cyrus wondring to see this Battalion neither advance nor retreat and seeing all his Army victorious and also the Army of Cressus quite defeated He commanded the fight to cease and to ask the Egyptians why they would not throw away their armes if they intended to render themselves and why they did not fight if they would not unto this they answered that the Prince who commanded being dead and his body in the middle of their Battalion they were resolved never to forsake it and therefore if Cyrus would have them submit themselves unto him he must give them leave to render all the honours which was due unto his bodie and go to bury him this being granted them they would take the part of Cyrus and leave Cressus who had forsaken them otherwise they would be all killed upon the body of their dead Prince Cyrus no soonner heard their desires but he admired their fidelity and affection to their Prince
that he should now lose Mandana as he had lost his Kingdomes so that these two Princes retired in silence and mourned in secret for their lamentable condition not being able to complaine either against Fortune or one another or of themselves since they knew themselves to be the causes of their miseries Terror had struck so deepe into the hearts of all their remainder of troops that those which followed them did continually imagine themselves to be followed and assaulted so that by degrees they disbanded themselves and in little troopes tooke severall waies And Cressus and the King of Pontus saw themselves so slenderly accompanied that they could easily count all that followed them so that considering how in the morning they were in the head of 200000 Men and that before night they saw themselves without one servant sorrow and despaire did so seise upon their sad soules that not knowing what they did and comming unto a place where theâe were severall waies they parted from each other without any intention so to doe and there was so very few men with them that it may well be said they were alone Which way soever Cressus turned his eyes at the beginning of his flight he saw nothing but dead and dying men and men that fled Presently after hee saw none but a few affrighted persons who saved themselves in the Towne with their Baggage At last leaving the high way and crossing the Country to get unto Sardis unseene in such a despicable condition he came unto a little solitary vally so that comming out of a terrible tumultuous world into a place where all was silent but onely a little murmuring Rivolet where birds were singing he sighed and as if a place of silence were a place of safety he marched softly But as hee turned his head to see who followed hee found himselfe alone for of those foure or five which did follow him when the King of Pontus strayed from him one of them had his horse wounded and could nor follow another himselfe wounded and stayed behind and all having some impediment or other upon them left their unfortunate Prince who seeing himself alone in this solitary Valley then knew that all his beloved treasures were but uselesse vanities and that wise Solon had good reason to despise them Whilst he was there in his sad contemplations still going forward he heard the sound of a pleasing Pipe and turning himself that way he saw that he who played upon that Rustique Instrument was a young silly Sheapheard about fourteen or fifteen yeares of age who without any feare of publique misery or knowledge of any Battle that had been fought plaid upon his Pipe and kept a little flock as innocent as himself Cressus then standing still and considering this young Shepheard who was very faire sighed with more Bitternesse then his countrey musique was sweet and casting up his eyes unto heaven he envied the happinesse of this silly Boy and though he was a King yet wished with all his heart he could change his Scepter into this Sheepheards hooke But since he could not be dictator to his destiny nor alter the mutable decree of that soveraigne power which rules the world he continued his March and came at last to Sardis where he was received by all the people with teares of tendernesse and sorrow The King of Pontus who wandred another way came not till an hower after him so did likewise the Prince Myrsiles and the Prince of Myssia who had taken another way All the Princes did what they could to keep up the hearts of the People but every minute wounded men came in who told the people of the death of some freind or other so that it was a hard matter to gull those men who saw their King return single after he went out in the head of the greatest Army in the World Moreover these Princes understood that the Thracians in lieu of coming to Sardis after they were rallied faced about into their owne country and that the Ionian Troopes did the like the Myssians also followed their example and retired so that in all appearance they could never recruit into a body againe and that their only course was to keep the Towne till they could make new levies for their reliefe Thus the people being too well informed of the lamentable state of things did murmur highly and said very boldly that the Prince Artamas must be released that there was no other way to prevent the danger which hung over their heads and that it was a shame for the Lydians to let so innocent a Prince be in prison who had formerly established their Empire by so many brought-home Victoryes and who onely was able to check the Power of Cyrus This murmur of the people seemed so full of justice and reason that it became the generall opinion of all in a short time and nothing could be heard of in all places but that Artamas was innocent Artamas was a gallant man Artamas knew what belonged to warr he was a great captaine and a fortunate conqueror so that pure respect which they bore unto their Soveraigne kept them from releasing this Prince But Cressus thought these respects considering the urgent necessity of things too weake an obstacle to prevent it so that he told them hee would release him and in order to that he propounded unto Prince Artamas to set him at liberty upon condition he would defend the walls of Sardis against Cyrus But since this Prince could not accept of this condition unlesse he should fight against the King of Phrygia his Father therefore as well as he loved the Princesse Palmis and as great a desire as he had to prevent the ruine of Cressus he refused it yet with so many signes of sorrow and evident testimonies of respect as made it apparent he grieved that Cressus should have such enemies against whom neither honor nor nature would permit him to fight However this unfortunate King was much incensed at the denyall of Prince Artamas and doubling his guards he divulged amongst the people all that he could possibly devise to allay their zeale of releasing him But the giddy incensed people who are light and capable of any impressions still continued their devices of this Princes liberty making eternall Elogies of his Valour and Magnanimity and rayling against Cressus threatening every hower to release this renowned Prisoner before they would sleep yet they did not attempt it In the meane time the King of Pontus took such order in the Citadell that the Princesse Mandana and the Princesse Palmis knew not that the Battle was lost untill Sardis was besieged as for the Princesse Mandana her soule was so full of sorrow that Cyrus should prove perfidious that those thoughts took up all her minde and she enquired of nothing therefore it was easie to hide it from her But whilst she thought upon nothing but the suspected inconstancy of the most constant Prince in the World And whilst the
enough she leaned upon the body of her dearest Abradates the blood which powred out of her wound gushed upon the arm of this Illustrious dead corps Though those who were near Panthea never perceived this act yet one that was a servant unto this Princesse and who was farther off did see her take this Dagger and crying out aloud and running towards her his voice made Cyrus and all the rest turn their heads towards him and not towards Panthea so that this was partly a cause that none but this Servant saw the act and by consequence why they could not prevent it But since the loud cryes of this Servant doubled who still cryed out and never told why Cyrus began to suspect something he went towards him and coming near Panthea he found her at the last gasp yet she opened her fair eyes turning them towards Abradates and afterwards up to Heaven where they fixed without any further sign of life Cyrus was so amazed at this sad accident so grieved for the death of two such Illustrious persons and so astonished at the great heart of Panthea that he was not able to expresse either his wonder or his sorrows On the other side Pherenice and the rest of the women were so full of pittyfull lamentations as would have melted hearts of Marble And the amaze was so generally amongst them all that were present spectators of this bleeding spectacle that none of them were able to comfort another And to compleat this Tragical adventure three of the Queens servants killed themselves within ten paces from the Queen And Araspes ignorant of this accident came by by chance and saw the dead Queen whose Beauty surmounted his Virtue and overcame the insensibility of his heart Araspes being of a violent hasty composition and still in love though he was full of respects unto Cyrus yet his Passion was above his Reason and the greatnesse of his Love did appear in the greatness of his Despair that he deserved some excuse for no better concealing it His eyes were full of fury he knew not whom he spoke unto and asked all one after another what brought Panthea unto this condition He could not beleeve she was dead by her own hand and resolved to revenge her death as soon as ever he should know the cause But when at last he beleeved what was told him he turn'd his fury against himselfe and had hee not been prevented would have faln upon his sword Afterwards he would have thrown himself into the River if Cyrus had not commanded two of his friends to have an eye over him and not to forsake him otherwise he had infallibly followed Panthea to the grave In the mean time seeing no remedy for this sad accident he caused the bodies of Abradates and Panthea to be put in one Coach and the women of the Princess in the other himself following on horsback with his men towards the Castle where the Princesse Araminta was Cyrus also caused the bodies of those servants which killed themselves to bee brought to the end they might be buried close by the Tombs of their Princes He sent Feraulas to order all things necessary for the Funerals of these two Illustrious persons which he desired should be as magnificent as possible In the mean while the Princesse Araminta who with extreame impatience expected the Queen of Susiana's returne was in the window of her chamber with Cleonice Doralisa and the rest of the Ladies which were Prisoners when these two Coaches arrived and followed by Cyrus So that she was infinitely surprised to see one of the fairest Princesses in the world and one of the most valiant Heroes upon earth in such a lamentable condition Cyrus commanded their bodies to be layd in a great Hall under a Canopy of State covering them with a Counterpane of black Velvet He also commanded abundance of Christall Lamps to be placed in the Hall and there these two Illustrious Corps to remaine untill the Ceremonies of Funerall were ready In the mean whil Cyrus went to the Princess Araminta to condole with her rather then to comfort her but what consolation soever he found in her company he made no long visit there Yet he assured her that the King her Brother was neither dead nor wounded as he understood by some Prisoners which were taken After which he left her saying he would wait upon her the next day for he was resolved to honour the Funerals of Abradates and Panthea with his presence After this Cyrus visited Cleonice and Doralisa in their chambers whither they were retired bringing Cleonice unto them and comforting them with extraordinary civility He assured them he would have as great a care of them as ever Panthea had nor would he forget the very meanest of her Vassals But to testifie how much he honoured the dead he command Chrisantes to provide Architectors for the erecting of a stately Tomb of Marble and Porphyrie in the same place where Panthea dyed The next day following an Aegyptian Sacrificer embalmed their bodies after the custome of the Country which was to keep them incorruptible After which they were layd in a Temple close by untill their Tombes were built whereon Cyrus caused their Epitaph to be written in many Languages setting forth to all that read them the Valour of Abradates the beauty and virtue of Panthea their dear affections to one another their lives and deaths and the fidelity of their servants After Cyrus had rendred the honours due unto Abradates and Panthea he resolved to see the Princess Araminta once more before he went whither his honour or to say better his love called him But in seeing her he conceived that since she had so much confidence in his discretion as to acquaint him how Spitridates was jealous of her and him so he conceived it expedient to acquaint her how Mandana was jealous of him and her but his principall motive of all was because he had a design to take all manner of choler from Mandana to be jealous of him and in order to that he beseeched this Princess not to think it strange if he visited her no more untill he had delivered the Princesse of Medea from her imprisonment and had justified himselfe but the best of the story was that at the very same time he intended to acquaint Araminta she intended to intreat him that he would see her seldomer lest those who perswaded Spitridates of what was so farr from truth should thereby have some ground whereupon to build their suppositions so that Cyrus needed not to feare his request would be offensive to her Afterwards she conjured him that as long as the Siege lasted he would not suffer the Prince Phraartes to visit her But wonder was that these two prudent persons who had such great reason not to be long together yet this time held a very long conferrence for after they had discoursed of their misfortunes and after she had put him in memory of all his promises concerning
read them so well as you spoke them I beseech you give me leave to read your words yet Callicrates could not get the paper out of Parthenia's hands who kept them whether he would or no perhaps if you desire to see what was writ in this paper that you might see the difference between the wiât of Polydamas and Parthenia But Sir that a sister which I have who waites upon this Princesse did tell them unto me yet I cannot remember them yet certainly nothing could be more different from another then the answers of Parthenia and Polydamas In the meane time this conference of Callicrates and Parthenia which began in rallerie did end in a more serious discourse for passing insensibly from one thing to another Callicrates moved Parthenia to confesse she could not but wonder Polydamas should be so Amiable and have so little Witt. For Heavens sake Madam said he unto her doe me the favour the first time you see him and are in discontent with him turne away your head and winke that you may heare him and not see him and if after that you doe not confesse you have no cause to love him I will for ever forsake those hopes I have that you will never hate me for really Madam there cannot be a greater difference between any two then between the Princesse Parthenia and Polydamas Therefore Madam take my advice prophane not those excellencies which the Gods have given you by giving your selfe to one who cannot halfe understand them but finde one out that is able to know and adore you This Sir was the conference between Parthenia and Callicrates who left her with much satisfaction that he had so well prospered in his designe and indeed ever since that day Parthenia was Mistresse of her selfe and disengaged her heart able to look upon Polydamas as a lover whom she would condemne unto despaire which was no small joy unto Callicrates who as ofâ as he met Polydamas did treat him most cruelly and abuse him in the presence of Parthenia yet in such a manner as Polydamas did not perceive it because it was by applauding him for things which were not at all commendable and in admiring all he said and making an Elogie upon every word he spake and he had been more gross in his abuses if the Princess had not imposed silence and forbidden him to use him so In the meane time the Prince of Salamis continued to see and serve her though he made no great progresse into her affection and observing that Callicrates was much in her favour but had not the least thought of his being in love though it was already noised in the world he indeavoured to oblige him and made him the confident of his designe but Callicrates having no minde to turne solicitor for another in matter of love told him that he could doe nothing for him and that Parthenia was one who would take advice from none but her selfe But since he perceived that Polydamas was not yet enough out of Parthenias Bookes he hinted such things unto the Prince of Salamis as moved him to apprehend that as long as Polydamas was a visitor of Parthenia none ought to be pretender unto her yet he told this as a mighty secret for his designe being to make the world beleeve Parthenia loved him he would not publish that she had any inclination to Polydamas But he told him all that he could devise which might move the Prince of Salamis to hate his Rivall and to make him quarrell with him hoping thereby to be quit of two Rivalls at once either by killing each other or by banishing them for fighting and indeed his plot did hit and that which did advance it was the Prince of Salamis being one day in Parthenia's closet she went out for something and left this Prince with others in it and the company coming out presently after left him in the Closet expecting Parthenia's return so that looking upon divers things which lay upon the Table he found a paper which the Princesse had left and forgotten and it proved to be that which Callicrates writ with the answers of Polydamas and Parthenia for the Princesse would not burn it because she kept it to cure her spirits in reading of them so that the Prince of Salamis seeing the name of Polydamas and Parthenia took up the Paper and would see the contents of it yet seeing there was much to read and fearing the Princesse would returne before he had finished and being transported with a curiosity as great as his love he took it and went away before the Princesse returned into her closet but he was strangely amazed when he saw it for it passed all mens understanding nor he could not thinke that Parthenia who had so much witt could thinke well of all that Polydamas had said nor could he imagine it writ by Callicrates with her consent though he knew it to be his hand nor could he beleeve considering his suspitions that Parthenia loved Polydamas that she should take any delight to see Callicrates full of such raillery against him so that not knowing what to thinke he resolved to make him who writ this fantasticall Dialogue tell the truth he sent then to seek Callicrates and rather then faile of finding him went himselfe to look him but since this man maugre his vanity he had in being thought to be Parthenia's Idoll and her lover had many other passions lesse honourable then that the Prince of Salamis could not easily finde him though he went unto twenty severall houses to enquire but at last accidentally seeing him come out of a house which he never thought of he sent for him and conjured him to tell him what was his designe in writing those answers of Polydamas and giving them unto Parthenia Sir said he with an answer as quick as his witt I wonder much you should not understand my designe and that you should not see I have no other but to doe you service in letting faire Parthenia see the odds that is between her witt and your Rivalls Ah Callicrates said the Prince of Salamis why would you keep secret my obligations unto you and why did you not let me know Parthenia suffered you to abuse Polydamas As she hath much witt replyed Callicrates what resentment soever she hath she makes no expressions of them However it be said the Prince of Salamis all will doe no good since after this I see Polydainas in as great favour as ever Callicrates perceiving that this Prince was not jealous of him he kindled it against Polydamas by a hundred cunning expressions so that when he left him he left him more jealous then ever but with more hope of revenge also against his rivall imagining that since Parthenia out of her prudence had winked at Callicrates his jeering raillerie she would be also discreet as to hide her resentments at his quarrelling with him The Prince of Salamis having this Fancy it was not long before he put his
designe in execution for as there never wants a colour of a quarrell between two Rivalls The first occasion that he met with he began to contradict all that Polydamas said very obstinately and passing from contradictions unto angry disputes they fell from words to blowes and fought a Bloody duell For the Prince of Salamis having a secret designe upon him stayed for Polydamas in a great plaine which is before Parthenia's Palace so that this Princesse was a spectator of the Combat out at her Window which was endedbefore they could come in to part them Which of these two had the advantage could not be judged for they were both of them equally wounded and their swords both broke when they closed and fell doing both of them what they could to vanquish each other this combat made a great noise in the Court butas for Callicrates he laughed in his sleeve yet hewent presently to the Priuceffe to grieve with her or rather to see how she took it but she thought him to be her friend she did not dissemble how this combat had a great influence upon her heart which newes was nothing pleasing unto Callicrates for she let him know that she hated the prince of Salamis and that she loved Polydamas better then before taking it very ill at the hands of the first that he should be so bold as to quarrell with the other in any consideration of hers not being ignorant that it was he who first assaulted and knowing that there could be no other fallings out between them but for her interests Truth is Madam said Callicrates to her you have reason to be angry with the Prince of Salamis and it is but just to hate him for his soe little respect of you But I cannot find you have any cause to love Polydamas better since he hath done nothing but that he would not let himselfe be killed for I cannot beleeve Madam you should thinke he had any other end in defending his life but to keep it for the love of you and were I to judge upon the actions of these two Rivalls I should thinke you are more of the two obliged unto the Prince of Salamis then unto Polydamas who for all this hath no more witt then he had for I protest Madam I am confident that if he were himselfe to relate his Combate with such Eloquence as he hath you would wish the Prince of Salamis Victory I assure you Callicrates said she unto him I have much adoe not to be offended at you for scoffing at a thing which both grieves and angers me And the the truth is Sir though Parthenia had not contracted any affection with Polydamas yet she could not chuse but be very sensible of his misfortune and the more because falling in a Feavour he dyed of his wounds the sixth day after the combat so that Callicrates needing not now to oppose that affection which he feared was in her heart towards him he began to pitty him in her presence saying that the high qualities of his soule and the handsomnesse of his person did serve to excuse the imperfections of his wit desiring if it were possible that her sorrowes for his death might keep her from any affection to the Prince of Salamis and moved him to goe out of Paphos untill all things were appeased but when Callicrates was out of Parthenia's presence he scoffed as much at Polydamas dead as living and said that all the Court was beholding unto the Prince of Salamis for ridding it of a man who spoke so much nonsence In the mean to satisfie his vanity whilst there was no professed Lovers of Parthenia he was an eternall visitant and saw her every minute she was visible and when she was not he affected to speak of her and oftentimes to name her in lieu of another So that he called every one Parthenia seeming alwayes to reprehend himself and be angry that his tongue should so betray the thoughts of his heart In short he carryed it so that all the Court suspected him to be in love with Parthenia none yet daring to speak of it unto the Princesse For certainly said every one she must needs perceive that which all the world sees and if she does see it why does it not displease her and move her to banish Callicrates from her So they thought Callicrates in love with Parthenia but never told their thoughts unto her who never suspected any such thing since he never talked unto her but of things indifferent and of small consequence As for him since he affected more the satisfaction of his vanity then his love fear of banishment would never let him tell her seriously that he loved her to the end there might be more suspition that he was loved In the mean time the Prince of Salamis having setled his businesse and the Physitians reporting that Polidamas dyed rather of the ill disposition of his humours then of his wounds he returned unto the Court as soon as he was recovered and he knew so well how to tamper with all the Parents of Parthenia that his Marriage was concluded upon before ever he spake unto her I shall not relate unto you Sir what unwillingnesse was in Parthenia to obey the commands of her Parents in looking upon the Prince of Salamis as the man whom she was to marry nor how Callicrates did augment her aversion to it But give me leave to tell you Sir there was no remedy Parthenia must marry the Prince of Salamis and Callicrates must be contented His comfort was Parthenia loved him not and in his hopes she would make him her secret Confident Also his hopes were that all the world knowing Parthenia loved not her Husband it would be more easie for him to make them beleeve she loved him Yet what vanity soever he had and what ill opinion soever he held of women in generall I am confident hee could never think Parthenia whose virtue he knew very well could have any vitious thoughts in all her life though she had a sensible and passionate soul In conclusion Sir the Prince of Salamis marryed Parthenia much against her will and he expressed so much love unto her at their Marriage that shee sweetned her bitternesse and diminished her aversion to him Hee gave her in case he dyed before the Principality of Salamis being more submisse unto her then ever any was But Sir as I have before described the beauty of this Princesse unto you so is it possible you should beleeve that the eyes of this Prince being accustomed unto the beauty of Parthenia should take lesse delight in looking upon her then in a fresh beauty which was a thousand degrees inferiour unto hers Yet it is true that this Prince loving her onely because she was fair and his eyes being glutted with the custom of seeing her his passion lessened and his soul insensibly fell off from lukewarm to indifferency and from indifferency to scorn For since he was of a fantasticall
the guard and my self But the strangnes of this accident is Sir that just as they opened the Kings Chamber dore to goe and wake him and tell him Sesostris desired to speak with him we saw the wardrobe dore open at the same time and many men with drawne swords enter into the Chamber which had a Lamp burning in it Sesostris no sooner saw this but drawing his sword he ran with a most magnanimous generosity between the Kings bed and these Assasinates not considering him as the usurper of his Kingdome but as the father of Timareta So that the King being wakened with the noise of them that would have killed him and them that defended him for the two Guards and I followed Sesostris with our swords drawn the first object that he saw was that Sesostris killed one of the Assassinates and wounded another he also observed that he still stood betwixt him and them as much as he could I cannot easily tell you Sir what an affrighting object this was unto Amasis but it lasted not long for the incomparable valour of Sesostris repulsed all the wicked Assassinates Tanisis who led them up felt the weight of Sesostris his arm being wounded in two places So that after this fear seising upon all the Conspirators they went out of the Chamber and Wardrobe Sesostris would have pursued them further but Amasis rising up hastily would not let him So that making the doors fast on that side and guarding them untill all were awake in the Palace the King sent two of the Guard down the back stairs to know the number of the Conspirators and to report all they saw unto him Also hee sent other two to cause all his Officers to come unto him and amongst the rest Simandius In the mean time those who failed in the execution of that designe rallyed about Heracleon for hee stayed in the Court with those whom he had appointed to murder Sesostris But since he saw his designes did not hit and that hee could neither kill the King nor Sesostris hee pitched upon another plot which was to carry away the Princesse of Aegypt Hee knew shee had but few men with her and that shee lodged farre off the Kings lodging For Elephantine not being the ordinary residence of our Kings the Palace where he lodged was very irregularly built So that Heracleon finding more facility in this design then the other he did easily execute it Causing then her door to be opened in the name of the King he entered and took away Timareta maugre all her teares cryes and entreaties and this great Princesse had scarce time enough to dresse her self Yet she had this advantage in her misery that her women went with her In the mean time those men whom the King sent to discover the Conspirators hearing some women cry returned in all hast and told the King that they were in the Princesse Timareta's chamber So that Sesostris hearing this ran like a man in fury to defend his Princesse but he came too late for Heracleon and Tanisis were both already embarqued You may easily imagine Sir how this Prince was grieved especially when he saw all his pursuits of Heracleon were in vain That which favoured his flight was that none imagined that he was embarqued in the Nile but that he was still hid in Elephantine The next morning it was known that Heracleon landed at the place where he had layd his horses and that Tanisis stayed by the Rivers side and dyed in the arms of some Shepheards who found him in that place though no news could be heard of Heracleon or which way he took and though Sesostris used all possible endeavours to finde it out for he wandered two whole moneths hardly knowing whither he went Amasis for his part caused a strict search to be made all over the Kingdome and all in vaine So that at last Sesostris was constrained to stay with the King untill he had further light where Heracleon was In the mean time all those who took up Armes for the Son of Apriez layd them down againe And the King went to Thebes carrying Sesostris with him whose sorrows were beyond expression From Thebes they went to Memphis where the King met with an Ambassador from Croesus who demanded ayd according to the alliance which was between them So that Amasis sent those men who served in the war of Thebes who had been witnesses of the valour of Sesostris under the name of Psammetites Amasis willing Simandius to command them but a while after these Forces were departed a Letter which Heracleon writ unto one of his friends in Aegypt did happily fall into the hands of Sesostris which let him know that he was in Lydia So that Sesostris not communicating his design unto any but me resolved to steal away from Amasis and Amenophis to serve in the War under Croesus And this he did with abundance of reluctancy for he was infinitely charmed with the fame of your valour and virtue and loth he was to take any side but yours Yet Love being the predominate passion of his soul he resolved to serve Croesus thereby to obtain Timareta So that Sesostris stole away from the Court and I followed him At parting he writ unto the King acquainting him with the cause of his voyage also unto Amenophis desiring him to appease the King assuring him he would never return unlesse he brought back Timareta also desiring him to move Amasis to write unto Croesus that he would make a strict search for Timareta and return her to him At last Sir we arrived at Sardis where Simandius was before us with the Forces he commanded who were as full of joy as wonder to see my Master I need not tell you Sir how Croesus the King of Pontus and the Prince Myrsyles received Sesostris very well But I assure you hee was infinitely grieved that hee could hear no news either of Heracleon or Timareta after all his care and search with Croesus made upon the Letter of Amasis In the meane while as things stood honour would not permit Sesostris to goe out of Sardis to seek his Princesse from Town to Town throughout Lydia also the approach of the Army presently made it a thing impossible for him So Sesostris in lieu of looking for Timareta was engaged to fight and he did so courageously that he deserved immortall glory and Sir you know that your Battalion was the onely one that day which was not broken But Sir be pleased to know that the Prince Sesostris was not wounded by any of your men but by the base Heracleon I cannot tell you Sir how he came mingled amongst us or how he came to know my Master but when we were fighting with the valiant Abradates and when Sesostris did things worthy of your esteem had you been a witnesse this Traytor Heracleon came behind him who thought he had no enemyes to fight with but what were before him and wounded him in such sort that hee fell down
apprehension since it was more easie to take the Town of Sardis then to relieve it it were better for him to receive Timareta from his hand then from Croesus therefore in lieu of relieving the Town he would help to take it and was very glad that he was certain she was in the Town which could not chuse but be taken since the invincible Cyrus would assault it My hope is replyed Cyrus that since the valiant Sesostris will fight for Timareta he will teach me by his example how to fight for Mandana In the meane time Cyrus treated Sesostris with all civility and would have all the Grandees of his Armie visit him and do him all honour so that Sesostris that day saw all the Princes which were in the Armie who were so well satisfied with him and so taken in with his spirit and civility that he was infinitly esteemed And to do him the more honour Cyrus would have him comm and one Brigade of the Assaulters so that the morning being come all orders being given all the Engines fit all the Ladders ready every one prepared to fight they began an hour before day to fill the ditch about the Town in diverse places with faggots which was so readily done that the assault was given almost in an instant and this great Towne was set round with ladders except that side which lookes towards the mountaine Tmolus which seemed inaccessible Cyrus was in that quarter next the Cittadell which was the most dangerous The King of Phrygia assaulted that side towards Pactolus The King Assyria that which was opposite to it And Mazares commanded that which was between Cyrus and the King of Assyria Sesostris that side which looked towards the Plaine Tigranes and Phraartes another towards the principall Port and Anaxares another quarter Hidaspes Chrisantes Andramites Aglatides Persodes Hermogenes Leontidas and all the brave men of the Army commanded under these Princes The King of Hircania Gobrias and Gadates remained at the Camp and commanded the reserves to execute all the commands of Cyrus and to send reliefe where there was need The orders of this assault were not onely judiciously given but most couragiously executed and the more because the Lydian resistance found matter enough for the valour of all these great Princes and Souldiers Both besiegers and besieged were all fury both in assaulting and defending There was such a vast number of Ladders and men to carry them that if the Lydians had not been incouraged by a man whom love made think nothing difficult certainly they never would have opposed so great a storm and so generall an assault but he infused such spirit into them and they fought so couragiously that they made their enemies admire them for though they were assaulted by the most valiant Princes of the World and by stout souldiers used to gain battles conquer Kingdomes and take Townes yet they resisted them so sturdily that they seemed invincible they did not onely send clouds of arrowes showers of stones and throw down Ladders but fought hand to hand with heroique fury against those that came upon the top of the walls But Sir though Cyrus did things prodigious and all the rest of the Princes wonders especially Sesostris and though every one fought with all their force yet they were not able to carry the Town that day Yet it was very remarkable that except Tigranes who was slightly hurt in the hand by the fall of a ladder there was not one of those Princes either kiled or wounded 'T is true Cyrus was oft in extreame danger for he exposed himself so oft that he was of tready to be thrown down from the top of the ladder or else to be knockt in the head with stones which the Lydians threw Yet he came off safe but so sadly that never any was more for he found it a matter of great difficulty to force this Town so that calling a Councel of Warre whilst a Cessation of hostility was made for four hours to draw off their dead it was resolved to force it no more because it could not be taken by storme by reason of the high walls multitude of Inhabitants and abundance of Souldiers which defended it but they began to draw a line about it with forts hoping to take those by famine who could not be taken by force And the next morning without more delay Cyrus went with the Engineers of his Army to view the ground and to consider at what distance they should make it and how they were to raise forts to defend it It was no sooner resolved upon but Prisoners and others began to cast up earth Cyrus himself being a while an example to encourage the laborers so that the Inhabitants of Sardis seeing their Town ready to be inclosed and that the besiegers went not about to raise their siege as they hoped their joyes for the last repulse of the enemies was quite quashed and they began to murmure some said one thing some another sometimes they would make them believe that Cyrus cared not for Mandana then they would perswade them that he would discampe if they did couragiously sustaine this assault yet it seemed thye were like to be exposed unto all the hardships of a long siege So that they fell unto a fresh mutinie for nothing is more terrible to the people then fear of Famine The thing which much augmented their disorder was that when the siege began there were many strangers in the Town who were forced to stay against their wills and who now would have gone out if it had been in their power amongst this multitude of strangers there was one Lician Ladie of quality who coming unto Sardis to see a sister which was married unto Doralisas Unckle was there shut up having with her one daughter one Neece and one of her friends all three very fair and amiable Every one was sorry that these three beauties and strangers should be shut up in a besieged Town They did earnestly solicite Croesus for leave to write unto Doralisa who they knew was the Princesse of Pontus since the death of Panthea that she would obtain leave of Cyrus for three Ladies who were not of Sardis to come out of the Town and go unto their own homes And since they knew Andramites was in love with Doralisa also in favour with Cyrus they hoped he would mediate for them Therefore having obtained a a Herald from the King of Lydia they writ unto Doralisa and Andramites giving their letters unsealed unto this Herald who according to his Commission went out of the Town unto the head of the Trenches where he stayed and where an officer and four souldiers came to conduct him unto Cyrus This Prince no sooner knew the Cause of his coming but he sent him immediately unto Doralisa and sending her word by him who conducted the Herald that he consented unto what was desired so Doralisa and Andramites in lieu of coming to ask a favour were obliged to come and
into two parties and came to blows that there was many of them killed and that those who did not perish in the business not daring to appear before him were almost all disbanded reports flying that most of the Souldiers were gone into Cumes whose Prince was said to arm very fast and strongly Cyrus also understood that Harpagus in lieu of keeping his Troop in exact Discipline did permit them all imagineable liberty so that the Xanthians and the Caunians though they were very well satisfied with Cyrus at the return of their Ambassadors yet not finding effects answerable unto words they were revolted and had entred into league both offensive and defensive with the Prince of Cumes who was levying a formidable Army Cyrus therefore understanding that he had lost an Army and that his Rival did daily fortifie himself he was extreamly grieved but that which made his sorrows most insupportable was that he could do nothing without Ships and that it was not possible to procure them as soon as he desired In the mean time the season of the year for war went on apace especially for a siege which required a Navy and the approaching Winter was not fit for it But not enduring to be shut up in a Town whil'st he had any Enemie at the field he resolved to look out a good distance from Sardis though he durst not look towards Cumes nor seem to know that the Princess was there until he had a Navy After hâ had communicated this resolution unto Mazares and those unto whom he used to impart his secrets he gave orders for every thing accordingly He left a considerable Garrison in the Cittadel of Sardis Croessus and Myrsiles prepared to follow him The King of Phrigia whose health was much impaired was forced to obey Cyrus who willed him to return unto Apamea and carry thither with him his fair Daughter the Princess Palmis As for the Prince Artamas he would not leave him do what he could Thus all this glorious Court broke up But to see how Cyrus was loved of all who knew him Ligdamis Trasimedes Menecrates Parmenides and Philistion though they were almost uxorious Husbands yet they quitted their new married Wives to follow this Prince unto the Wars though he was very willing to dispense with them Thus Licasta returned unto Patara with all her company carrying also Arpalice with her until the return of Thrasimedes Candiope took upon her the charge of the fair Androclea unto the end of the Wars where Lisias her Brother also was and wanting none but Menophiles the Husband of Licasta to conduct them though Cyrus sent a guard with them Cleomira also returned unto Ephesus with her Mother and all the rest of her friends and all the Beauties parted with much sorrow Thus in the last three daies that Cyrus was at Sardis there was none left in the Palace but Doralisa Pherenice and Araminta and they having no mind to stay there they went unto an Aunt of Doralisa's Then during the last three daies Cyrus went to visit Araminta to talk with her concerning his dearest Mandana Myrsiles went to see Doralisa to testifie his love unto her and Aristheus did also visit her in way of friendship and to take the same delight in her person and spirit which he used to admire in another As for Cyrus his discourse with Araminta was upon nothing but his Princess Somtimes he would make her relate unto him how she behaved her self towards the King of Assiria when she was in Babilon and Sinope afterwards to tell him how she carried her self to the King of Pontus at Susa and at Sardis Though he knew all these things before yet he thought that the time which could not be imployed in the service of Mandana ought to be spent in talking of her As for the Prince Myrsiles since he was upon his departure from Doralisa he must needs once more express his affection to her but though his design was so yet as soon as he came to her his confidence had almost failed him for he perceived in Doralisa's countenance such unquiet frowns as he took them for ill Omens and caused him to be silent which did no less perplex Doralisa then his language had because she imagined by the disorder of his soul that if no company came in he would begin to talk of that which she had no mind to hear of yet to prevent him she asked a hundred questions far off the business she suspected he would speak of At the first the Prince Myrsiles answered unto them but being at last tired with such and so many frivolous and impertinent questions I beseech you Doralisa said he unto her leave asking me such questions as neither concerns your interest nor mine and give me leave to ask you some questions which shall much import my tranquility that you answer and answer favourably To answer then Sir replied she I do promise you I will but I will not ingage my self to answer favourably before I know what you will ask I desire you to tell me sincerely said he unto her whether it be that natural austerity which is alwayes in your Physiognomy or whether you reject my affection out of some aversion which you have to me I beseech you added he give me leave to speak with the same freedome which you use unto your most faithful friends Lassure you Sir said Doralisa and interrupted him that if I tell you nothing but what I tell my best friends I shall not tell you any great secrets since I do not love to open my self unto any nor do know any thing which I less understand then this trick of confidence which layes open all motions of the heart all the thoughts of the mind and all the resentments of the soul unto those that would know them for I am perswaded that they use very often to say they think and resent such things as they did never think upon or apprehend For my part I do confess I am not of this humour and let me tell you Sir that they who would know my thoughts must guess at them or know them by my actions without any obliging me to tell them precisely what they are for I will never be ingaged to search into the bottom of my heart nor will I take so much pains my self as to know what I think For indeed said she to prevent the Prince Myrsiles from speaking to her I have often found in my self that I have had some friends whom I loved more then I thought to have loved and also some other persons whom I hated more then I thought I did Ah Doralisa said this Prince I fear that I am not of this last order But I beseech you if it be so let me directly know it that I may regulate the course of my life according unto those thoughts you have of me Hatred Sir replied Doralisa is a thought which I ought not to entertain of a Prince whose subject I am like to
you were proud The more you speak replied Mandana the more you make me ashamed and let me see my folly in trusting too much to my self For truly Martesia Do you remember the time when Cyrus was only Artamenes The time I say when Feraulas thinking him dead did bring me a Declaration of his Love that I read it in tears and was not angry because I thought that Artamenes was dead I remember it very well Madam replied Martesia nor have I forgot how pity then would not permit you to be angry wit ãâ¦ã him Then you have not forgot added Mandana at what a non-plus I was when Artamenes was received and how I thought never to see him because I imagined he would come to know how I steeped his Letter in my tears Judg now I pray you if he shall be so happy as to take Cumes how infinitely shall I be ashamed to see him when I shall remember that I writ such things unto him as will make him believe I was jealous In good earnest I am so vexed at my self for my fondness and inconsideration which I have expressed unto him that rather then seem guilty of such a fault see Cyrus persidious a thousand times Ah Madam replied Martesia the passion whereof you speak cannot be hid when one pleaseth or shall shew whether one will or no and shew it somtimes by hiding it Yet were it abundance of indiscretion and imprudence to shew it answered Mandana for whether it be well or ill-grounded it will procure hatred and therefore though one should be so unhappy as to be capable of it yet one should not shew it For all your ingenuous arguments which seem to be just answered Martesia yet I am most certain Madam that as you need not doubt of the fidelity of Cyrus so you may be very glad to have it from the mouth of Anaxaris that he left Spitridates to go after Araminta and hath neglected no opportunity to release you You pitiless woman replied Mandana what delight can you take in making me ashamed Do not think that if I have a desire to see this Prisoner but it is because I would know from him the state of the Siege then for any such reason as you speak of for I do profess unto you that I cannot endure to upbraid my self for haveing any such thoughts as are equally injurious both unto Cyrus and my self However Martesia having a most infinite confidence with Mandana did still dispute the business very respectively with her knowing she would not take it ill However the next morning according to the resolution Anaxaris saw the Princess who was so well satisfied with him as it was impossible she should be more At the first he was mighty high in his commends of Cyrus and all he did for her he expressed himself with such zeal and aggravations as he could not impose silence upon himself But at last he lessened his talk of this Prince and Martesia observed that he was so taken up with contemplation of Mandana's beauty that he could not take his eyes off her Since this Princess had a desire to oblige him she asked him of what Country he was But Anaxaris answered Madam said he since several reasons oblige me to conceal what I really am I have denied the illustrious Cyrus twenty times that which you do me the honour to ask and that which I am extreamly sorry I cannot tell you though perhaps it would be in some sort advantagious to me that you did know it After this Mandana asked him very inquisitively what news Cyrus heard from Ciaxares And afterwards enquired of all the Army but especially of Chrisantes and Feraulas Anaxaris answered unto all these questions but it ãâã like a man who was surprized with an over-violent respect though he gazed upon her most attentively Since he could receive better intelligence from his Guards then the Princess could from hers it was resolved between them that he should see her every day or at least should see Martesia and indeed so he did as long as the Siege lasted In the mean time the King of Pontus was in a most desperate condition especially when he saw the Port of Cumes so blocked up by the Fleet of Thrasibulus that there was no hopes of his carrying away the Princess On the other side the Prince of Cumes began to think he took an ill course in giving retreat unto the King of Pontus But whilst he was full of this vain repentance the man whom Cyrus sent into the Town who had spoken twice with Martesia who took a Letter from her for Cyrus and who had sent it unto him by a servant this man did cajole with the people as well as he could to move them unto murmure at their being thus ingaged in a troublesome unlucky war Thus whilst the illustrious Cyrus was in the toilsome works of a Siege he had some in the Town who were negotiating in his service In the mean time this indefatigable Prince being gone to visit some new works as he was giving some orders about it unto an Ingeneer this man was slain at his feet with an arrow But as if this day were fatal unto Cyrus and as if some malignant constellation were predominate as he was returning in the evening unto his Quarter he desired to go and give some orders unto a place where he conceived them to be necessary But he was no sooner in the Trenches then the Enemy shooting off an Engine which carried stones with such an impetuous celerity as was irresistable one of Cyrus his Pages which followed him had his head struck off The danger came so neer this great Prince as that the skull of this Page being shivered in several pieces did wound him in five or six places in the face and neck so that Cyrus was all sprinkled with his own blood and the blood of this unfortunate servant In the mean time this Prince had such a sweet tranquility in his countenance amidst this great danger that he cheered up the hearts of all his men and made it appear that his courage was incapable of fear and that nothing could shake it Megabates and Persodes had their shares in this glorious danger for they were very neer him On the other side Pactias and Licambes seeing they could not attempt any thing by Land to relieve Cumes resolved to try what they could do by Sea hoping that the bad weather would force Cyrus perhaps to raise the Siege To this end they tackled up all their Ships and set out to Sea as if they would force Thrasibulus to give them passage The sight of this Fleet filled all the Inhabitants of Cumes with as much joy as it did Mandana with sorrows who looking out of her window which was towards the open Sea did with inconceiveable sorrow see this Navy which seemed to desire a fight with Thrasibulus This Princess imagined that if one Fleet should defeat the other Cumes would be relieved and feared that if
the Corinth ãâ¦ã Queen as high as possible repeating all her virtues one after another and insisting principally upon that power which she had over her self in hiding a most violent passion For truly said he I know by this that she must needs have a soul much greater then mine since when I was at Sinope and fell in love with Mandana I was never able to vanquish that passion though I had then stronger reasons to decline loving that Princess then Cleobuline had not to declare her affection unto Myrinthus Therefore Philocles I must conclude the Queen of Corinth to be worthy of all those glorious Characters which you have given her And I do assure you that if I do tell Thimochares what you desire I should tel him it shal be only for the love of you Since certainly to follow the pure dictates of my own heart I should never advise a Princess who is in love to marry a Prince whom she loves not However since I do believe your intentions good and since you know the people better then I do and in what sphere the Spirits of the Court do move I promise you to do as you desire After this it being very late Philocles retired unto the Tent which was provided for him and left Cyrus in thoughts of envy against Myrinthus wishing with most passionate zeal that Mandana did as tenderly love him as the Queen of Corinth did Myrinthus The end of the second Book ARTAMENES OR The Grand CYURS The Seventh Part. Book III. THe next morning Thimochares coming to Cyrus that Prince performed his promise unto Philocles but yet he knew very well that he gave such counsel as the Queen of Corinth would not follow Yet to testifie how much he esteemed that Princess he doubled his civilities upon Thimochares to whom he shewed all the works After which and after a most Princely Banquet Thimochares returned unto his Fleet desiring to be on Land no longer lest some unforeseen accident should fall out He was no sooner gone but one of those men whom Cyrus sent with Spitridates came into the room he no sooner saw him but being extreamlie impatient to know what news he desired him to acquaint him but first he gave him a Letter from Tigranes in which he found these words TIGRANES unto the illustrious CYRUS SIR THe Prince Spitridates being wounded in his right hand it must be mine that must let you know how he is so unfortunate as that he cannot accept of those generous offers which you made him For after he had met with the Ravisher of the Princess Araminta whom I cannot call Brother and after he had fought with him whilst I was another way in quest of that Princess be escaped his revenge after he had slightly wounded him in the right hand and imbarqued at a Galatian Port whither we followed him and where we imbarqued also though we know not directlie which way he hath taken After this Sir I have no more to say but to tell you that the acknowledgments of the Prince Spitridates to you are as great as his sorrows and that my anger against Phraartes doth equal them both though it doth not exceed my zeal unto your glorie TIGRANES After the reading of this Letter Cyrus enquired verie particularly of him who brought it how Spitridates did meet Phraartes and by him understood that it was in a Wood that Phraartes at first taking Spitridates for him would have fled but one of the men knowing him to be Spitridates did first assault him that all their men fought but in conclusion Phraartes seeing Tigranes afar off with his Squadron he ran away and got into a thick wood where we lost the sight of him that afterwards they understood Araminta during the combat was in a Shepherds Cabin some two hundred paces from the place where they fought and that Phraartes went and took her away and carried her into a Port within thirtie furlongs of the place where those who guarded her had provided a Ship and that he was no sooner come unto this Port but he imbarqued some reporting that he was wounded This man related further That Spitridates and Tigranes making towards that place did come too late and that they resolved to imbarque also and to carry with them those whom you gave unto them and at last sent him to relate the passage When Cyrus had heard all that concerned Spitridates he understood from Feraulas that Arianita making no question but Cumes would be taken was gone out of Sardis to Thybarra with Doralisa whose Aunt had there some Estate and business and therefore she was gone unto that place where she might be neer her Princess and Mistress when she was released Feraulas said further that Pherenice having no mind to leave her was gone along with her The Prince Myrsiles who was present when Feraulas told this news unto Cyrus was much joyed in his hopes of seeing Doralisa at the end of the Siege But Cyrus had no sooner done with Feraulas then an Envoy from the Prince Philaxippes was brought unto him and another from the Prince of Cicilie who sent Ships unto him insomuch as Cyrus seeing fresh hopes of vanquishing and releasing Mandana his soul was all tranquility but this calm lasted not long For Mazares remembring that the King of Pontus had still the same Heliotropes wherewith he got Mandana out of Sardis was extreamly sad and desiring to communicate his sorrows unto his Rival also he told Cyrus of it the very same houre who was so surprized at the apprehension of it that his wonder was as great as his grief Alas Mazares unto what end is this Siege to cast up any works to have a puissant Navy to have made a considerable breach to have begun a Treaty which in all probabilitie will produce happy effects if our Rival can still steal himself out of sight and carry our Princess from us Alas Mazares I know not what to think nor can have any constancy of hope I cannot chuse but fear this accident against which there are no orders to be given Oh heavens how comes it to pass I should be so forgetful and so blind as not to foresee this miserie Doubtless the Gods have permitted it replied Mazares to the end you should go on with the Siege of Cumes so gloriously as you have done But alas replied Cyrus to what purpose is it to have so happily advanced it in spite of all the obstacles that Nature and men could block in our way since the qualitie of one little stone can render all our travels unprofitable Perhaps at this very houre Mandana is not in Cumes but that our Rival hath carried her away the third time Truly Mazares I know not what to say or think but I am sure that I will never pardon my treacherous memory Oh heavens that such a drowsie sleepiness of spirits should possess my thoughts in a business upon which depends all the good and bad fortune of my life Alas alas
now a mind to contribute unto his liberty But since he had more wronged Mandana then the King of Assiria and consequently it more concerned him to repair the one then the other he stayed in the Camp to the end he might be present at the taking or rendition of Cumes though the very imagination of the enterview between Cyrus and Mandana would cut him to the heart In the mean time since the Fates were resolved to put the generosity of Cyrus to the utmost test there arrived a messenger from Arsamones who having demanded private audience obtained it from Cyrus who received a Letter from Arsamones under his own hand but it being only a Letter of credance it was from the man who brought it which Cyrus knew the Proposition which the King his Master made This Envoy being a man of parts he prepared the mind of Cyrus by a very long Prologue aggravating the unjust usurpations of the Pontean Kings upon those of Bithinea and what violent affronts the King of Assiria had put upon a Prince and a Princess who were so neer related unto Arsamones After which desiring to induce Cyrus unto a consent to what he should desire The King my Master said he unto him after he had sufficiently aggravated all causes of complaint against those two Princes doth think himself to be happy amidst his misfortunes in having such Enemies as yours and cannot think that you will protect them against him In this thought he hath commanded me to tell you that knowing the King of Pontus will ere long be in your power so the King of Assiria is already in his and that if you will be pleased to put that usurping Prince into his hands he will put the King of Assiria into yours unless you had rather have him keep him a Prisoner to rid you of an Enemy I do not use replied Cyrus to rid my self of my Rivals by any such wayes and I cannot chuse but wonder that a Prince who hath so gloriously reconquered his Kingdome should desire to rid himself of his Enemy by such an ignoble way But since Arsamones hath been so unjust as to hold Spitridates in a rigorous Prison who is one of the most illustrious Princes upon earth I need not think it strange he should desire to use his Enemy so However though the King of Pontus be mine and the King of Assiria also yet I will neither deliver the first unto the King of Bithinia nor secure the other as he adviseth me but on the contrary I have several times offered the King of Pontus to reconquer his Dominions for him if he will restore the Princess Mandana unto me and I have this day sent to offer the King your Master the King of Assiria's Ransome for his liberty I pray judg after this whether I can hearken unto any such Proposition as you make But Sir replied the Messenger these two Princes are your Rivals your Enemies and the Ravishers of Mandana It is most true replied Cyrus and therefore I am the more obliged to be revenged by honourable wayes and not to give them so much advantage as to wound my reputation which thanks be to the heavens did never yet receive the least blemish Tell therefore your Master that I neither can nor ought to do as he desires and that if he be well advised he will call home the Prince his Son and suffer him to marry the Princess Araminta whose virtues are high to the end he may have a legitimate title to the Kingdom of Pontus if the Fate of Arms should chance to make him perish in this War to whom it now belongs And as for the King of Assiria I do intend to follow my first design in sending to Arsamones about him This Envoy would have given farther reasons unto Cyrus but this Prince was so constant unto his first Principles as he imposed silence upon him However he gave orders that he should be treated well and kept him two or three daies in the Camp to the end the Troops might have the more room to rendezvouz Whilst he was there Gadates understanding that he was a Bithinean and sent by Arsamones did much wonder that he should hear nothing from Intaphernes his Son nor from the Princess Istrina his Daughter But this messenger telling him that they knew not of his journey his wonder ceaseed and he writ unto them by him when he departed with Hidaspes After which Cyrus had more restless thoughts then he was able to Master for as oft as he thought that Mandana was not in Cumes his sorrows were unexpressible The sad disaster at Sinope and that which he had at Sardis made him apprehend such fears of taking Cumes and not finding Mandana in it that he was not in less sorrow then if the misfortune had happened already In the mean time these his fears which seemed so well grounded proved shadows and the King of Pontus was as much perplexed at the loss of this Heliotrope as Cyrus was in the belief that he still had it Indeed as oft as he remembred that as he imbarqued at the Port Atarmes in such hast when he took Spitridates for Cyrus that he gave all his Heliotropes unto one of his men to carry and when he remembred that he to whom he gave them did in the Tumult let them fall into the Sea he was in a most desperate condition accusing himself of extream indiscretion for making so bad a choice of him he trusted for the neerer the Truce was at an end the further off was he of finding out any wayes of escaping with Mandana The Prince of Cumes who saw his State lost if this Princess got out had alwayes a most watchful eye over the King of Pontus so that which way soever he looked all seemed disasterous to him If he looked upon Mandana he saw her still incensed against him If he looked upon the Prince of Cumes he saw his Protector become his Spy If he turned his eyes towards the Sea he saw a puissant Navy If he looked towards the Land he saw Works Forts and Souldiers resolved to vanquish or dye If he looked upon the Walls of Cumes he saw such a breach as would let in Cyrus upon the first assault If he looked upon the Inhabitants of that Town he heard nothing but murmures against him and if he considered himself he found that he was the most unfortunate man in the world whether he looked upon himself as a Lover or only as a King without a Kingdom or as the Enemy of Cyrus for though he was obliged unto him and might be more if he would have accepted his generous offers yet now he was nothing but a lump of black melancholy since he could see no way to escape and could not resolve to part with Mandana In the mean while that faithful Agent which Cyrus had in the Town negotiated under-hand with the people and disposed them to revolt in case the Prince of Cumes and the King of
how to get Mandana out of Cumes he was at a stand whether he should wish that Cyrus should release her or the King of Pontus carry her away If the first happened he concluded that Cyrus would presently be happy and Mandana at his dispose but if the King of Pontus carried her away perhaps he should never see her again So that chusing rather to see her enjoyed by Cyrus then never to see her he was very vigilant that the King of Pontus should not execute his design Also knowing by Persodes that Cyrus and the King of Assiria were to fight before any Marriage of Mandana love moved him to phancy more advantage to himself by Cyrus releasing her then by the King of Pontus his carrying her away So that making use of that correspondency which he had with those Guards whom Martesia had suborned he carried the business so as he gained almost half the Garrison But since he had nothing to give them he tampered with them by telling them of the liberality of Cyrus and put them in hopes to be highly recompenced if they kept the Princess Mandana for him Thus making use of his Rivals virtue to further his design he advanced it so happily that he was almost as powerful in the Castle where Mandana was as either the King of Pontus or the Prince of Cumes and if to make himself Master of it had been enough to release Mandana doubtless he had tryed it But since that Castle commanded only one little part of the Town that was not sufficient also since he might possibly fail in the enterprize he feared lest in attempting to release Mandana he should make her more miserable So that to run no hazard he deferred his design until he had got more Souldiers This being the state of things those who were sent unto the Xanthians to the Caunians to Licambes and to Pactias returned and reported unto the King of Pontus and the Prince of Cumes that all of them thought it his only course to accept of the Propositions which Cyrus offered Pactias and Licambes sent word that fear was in their Army and how they were perswaded that if Cumes were taken without composition their Troops would all disperse the next day out of apprehensions that Cyrus would fall upon them so that they were jealous of the Event if the Treaty were not concluded As for the Xantheans and the Caunians they asked no more but a speedy agreement of what was offered These Messengers then bringing with them words of peace and being come to the gates of Cumes the people being incited by Tifernes did in an instant flock about them and asked them in a tumultuous and violent manner what news they brought So that the messengers to appease them said they brought news of peace This word Peace was no sooner pronounced but passing from mouth to mouth it caused such loud acclamations that all the people ran to the place where those shoots of joy made the ayr ring a pleasing peal unto men that were weary of a tedious Siege The Messengers were so environed with men that they could not walk do what they could the croud encreased before they had gone through one street the greater half of all the people in Cumes had flocked into two or three streets In the mean while Tifernes who would not let such a favourable opportunity slip went into the midst of this press to bring things unto such a pass as he desired He encouraged some in their desires of Peace unto other he said that he heard say the King of Pontus and the Prince of Cumes would not accept of it adding further that it might be made without them or else to force them to it That the way to have Peace was to open the Gates of Cumes unto Cyrus who of an Enemy would become their Protector if they would deliver the Princess Mandana to him Tifernes had no sooner spoken this but every one repeated it unto their companions and they to others adding more or less tartness according to the temper of the rabble Thus he did sow such seditious seeds amongst the multitude as it was easie to be understood by their cryes which were heard from all parts that if they refused Peace the people would fly to the last refuge and make it by force When any Agents of the King of Pontus offered to oppose such tumultuous opinions they threatned to kill them and stopped their mouths On the other side the Prince Anaxaris being advertised of what passed in the Town he began to temper with the Souldiers as Tifernes did amongst the people still using the name of ãâ¦ã them unto his bend Somtimes he would tell them of the high recomp ãâ¦ã ãâ¦ã them otherwhiles he would intimate the glory which they would ãâ¦ã the future under such an illustrious Conquerour perswading thâ ãâ¦ã all loâden themselves with riches under him Then to take from others ãâ¦ã Treason he added that by this act they would render the State unto the ãâ¦ã Master and that he would ingage his word to serve him as much as he could ãâ¦ã all shame out of their action by talking of Glory of recompence and ãâ¦ã brought them to promise that they would do whatsoever he desired them In the mean while the messengers having rendred their answers unto the King of Pontus and the Prince of Cumes the first of these was extreamly perplexed for he saw plainly that the other wished peace So that not daring to oppose his Protector in down-right terms he only conjured him as his last favour to protract the business a few daies longer under pretence of security for the Treaty hoping that since it was in a moneth when the winds use to be high and the Sea rough and turbulent a storm might happily arise and disperse the two Fleets which blocked up Cumes and so the Town might happily be saved or at least be able to get away Mandana The King of Pontus being very importunate he perswaded the Prince of Cumes yet their contest about it was so long as the people had cause to think that these Princes did not accept those offers of Peace which were made unto them On the other side Cyrus having seen the Messengers as they passed and understanding by the Heralds who convoyed them that they reported words of Peace he did not doubt of it So that this Prince seeing himself upon the very point of being either happy or miserable to release Mandana or to lose her to make a Peace or to begin a War he doubled all his diligence and cares and began to bestir himself as if the Truce ended rhe very same houre and to order all things for a general assault Philocles and Leontidas returned in all hast to their Fleet The Prince Mazares to his Quarter The Prince Artamas unto his Persodes to the place where the Artillery was and the generous Megabates with all the Voluntiers about Cyrus waited with much impatience for an answer from those
out of the outer Chamber and was not able to take his mind of that divine Princess whom he loved he came unto his own Chamber and there undressed himself whilst his fancie was still fixed upon the same object and sleep as powerful as it is could not deface the Idea of Mandana in his imagination Now did he begin to accuse himself for making such a bad interpretation upon the Sibels answer and upon the King of Assiria's Oracle and he began to hope that the Oracle rendred unto the Princess of Salamis would be as happily accomplished for him as for her His soul was now so solelie devoted unto joy as he never regarded the combat which he was to have with the King of Assiria as a thing of any doubtful event nor ever troubled himself to consider how sorrie Mandana would be if she knew it on the contrarie he contemplated upon nothing but the beautie-superexcellencies and charms of his Princess and he lul'd himself so in the fancie of Mandana that he saw her in his sleep as well as when he was awake he imagined that he saw himself presenting her unto Ciaxares and saw Ciaxares give her again unto him in recompence of all his travels and pains Mandana on the other side entertained her self with her dear Martesia confessing ingenuously unto her that she never in all her life saw Cyrus so amiable as now and that she could not chuse but think her self extreamlie happie in her raigning in the heart of the greatest Prince in the world But whilst these two illustrious persons did delight their souls in the innocent pleasures of seeing each other Mazares Anaxaris and the King of Pontus were all full of different resentments a civil War whose victorie was doubtful did flame in the heart of the first of these for somtimes his virtue was weaker then his love and somtimes his virtue got the upper hand But for the second his love of Mandana was so violent that he had not the least thought of opposing it though he could not imagine ever to find out any way of satisfaction So that abandoning himself both to his love and his dispair he was in a most miserable condition But as for the third his miserie did transcend them both for the truth is the King of Pontus was in such a deplorable condition as he would have moved Mandana and all his Rivals to pitie him if they had but seen him Since the man who did hide him was not acquainted with the virtue of Cyrus he imagined that if this Prince did know how he concealed the Ravisher of Mandana from his revenge he would severelie punish him so that for more suretie he put this unfortunate King into a little Cabin in a corner of the Garden where the Gardiner lodged This bad lodging yet was not at all resented by this unhappie Prince though he was much wounded and could hardlie be dressed But when he considered that Mandana would treat Cyrus as her Deliverer that he had for ever lost her that she would eternally hate him that he was miserable in the same Town where his Rival was happy that he knew not how to get out and that ãâ¦ã he should fall into his power his resentments of these were unexpressible The ãâ¦ã also he had an addition of double sorrows for Mandana having a desire to ren ãâ¦ã ââto the Gods as well as Cyrus this Prince would needs have her go unto the T ãâ¦ã soââ magnificent ceremonie to the end the People might better see her ãâ¦ã not go unto the Temple of Neptune so much celebrated in Cum ãâ¦ã ãâ¦ã tie pass under the Walls of this Garden and under the Windââ oâ ãâ¦ã the King of Pontus was this magnificent Pomp did pass that wa ãâ¦ã So ãâ¦ã te Prince hearing the noyse which the Troops made as they passed be ãâ¦ã he asked that Souldier which followed him what noyse it was and he ãâ¦ã that it was the Princess Mandana going unto the Temple of Neptune to tender thanks unto the Gods he was so transported with Love that he would see her once more before he died and therefore did rise out of his homely bed to look out of this little Window which was made only of a few Reads and where indeed he beheld all that passed But when he saw Mandana in a Triumphant Chariot with such joy in her looks as augmented her beautie he was sensible of more sorrow then ever was man before that which grated him unto the verie heart of his soul was to see Cyrus on horseback next Mandana's Chariot and to see him in a Garb so high and Port so majestical as in spite of his sorrows and jealousie he could not chuse but think him worthie of this Princess and to sum up the total of his miserie he saw more joy in the face of Cyrus then in the face of Mandana conjecturing from thence and truly that he had been very favourably received and in an instant did imagine a thousand favours done unto Cyrus more then he himself could have wished to himself This thought so disordered his soul that love jealousie rage and dispair depriving him of reason he violentlie broke down the little Window which did hide him from sight but as good luck to him was he was so weak that as he pulled the Window away he fell backward upon his bed so that his wound opening and beginning to bleed afresh he was not able to rise again yet he endeavoured though the Souldier did verie respectfully hinder him knowing that if he now looked out of the Window he would certainly be known In the mean while his sorrows caused by such a violent agitation of spirits did cast him into a sound for above a quarter of an houre and when he returned out of it his dispair was no better then madness Thus the renowned Cyrus had four Rivals nothing so happy as himself but though the state of their fortunes was very different yet had they a conformitie in their sorrows The King of Assiria a Prisoner and forced to ask succour from his Rival he thought himself the most miserable Prince alive The King of Poutus vanquished wounded and lurking in a poor Cabin thought never any so unfortunate as himself The Prince Mazares who would needs have his virtue triumph over his Passion and who yet saw himself every minute ready to be overcome by his Love he was perswaded that none could suffer more then himself And Anaxaris in love without one spark of hope and yet resolved to love Mandana till he died come what could considering the state of his soul and the state of his fortune he could not conceive it possible any should be so miserable as himself Thus whilst Cyrus and Mandana were rendring thanks unto the Gods for their happy conditions the King of Pontus Mazares and Anaxaris had much ado to forbear murmuring against the Gods for exposing them unto such disasterous and fatal destinies yet the misfortunes of these
is natural unto persons of Heroique generosity replied the Princess I wonder not your soul should be sensible of it But since I will not pity a Prince who had none of me I will take all occasions of it from my self therefore said she taking the Letter and tearing it in pieces I will not read it lest it should incline me to pity as it doth you I know not Madam said Cyrus then and smiled whether your fears of being pitiful should cause some sparks of jealousie in a Lover whose temper is to be jealous Nor do I know said she and smiled also whether your compassion of him would not move any other then my self to accuse you of want of affection Oh Madam replied Cyrus that accusation would have a very bad foundation It may be as well grounded as the other replied she Then I had rather confess unto you Madam replied Cyrus that they are both of them built upon a bad foundation then to dispute it with you After this these two illustrious persons did both of them agree that this unfortunate Prince deserved pitie they also understood the same day in what place he had been hid and as soon as the Port of Cumes was open he got out in the night as weak and wounded as he was in a Fishers Boat without any with him but the man who rowed the Boat who was the same Souldier who went out of the Castle with this unfortunate Prince So that this news did cause both Mandana and Cyrus much more to pity a King who had saved both their lives for it was he who advertised Artamenes of the conspiracie amongst the forty Caveliers who should have killed him and it was he also who saved Mandana from drowning after she had suffered Shipwrack therefore since they could do no less for him who had saved their lives they pitied him in his miserie though he himself was the only cause of it The next morning they understood that Pactias and Lycambes had layed down their Arms but Pactias having no mind to come into an Army where Croessus was whom he had betrayed he imbarqued for Mytilene and that meeting by chance with Harpagus who durst not look Cyrus in the face after his being the loss of that Armie which he commanded they both contracted friendship and chose the same place for their exile So that Cyrus seeing no Enemy to fight with and that the field was clear his thoughts were all how to get Mandana out of Cumes and to advance towards Medea though he had promised the King of Assiria not to marrie that Princess until he had fought with him and though Ciaxares had in a manner consented unto it and though he was fully resolved to keep promise with him yet he knew not how to acquaint Mandana with the ill news of it yet he conceived it a kind of blemish unto his honour to go unto Ecbatan before he had fought with that Prince since he knew he would not go thither but the way being long between Cumes and that Town and since the Princess could not go fast he hoped that before he got thither the King of Assiria would be released either by ransome or by force So that still entertaining his first raptures of joy he rejected all angry thoughts whatsoever and commanded Chrisantes and Feraulas not to mention a word unto Mandana of his intended combat with the King of Assiria Thus minding only how that Princess should arrive triumphantlie into Ecbatan he gave all requisite orders for the regulating her house and that her equipage should be magnificent Now was the time when the Souldiers which Anaxaris had suborned and which made him Master of the Castle did demand in recompence which they had done to have the glory of being a Guard unto that Princess which was granted unto them But the greatest wonder unto Cyrus was to see Anaxaris who had refused very considerable imployments in the Armie should only desire to be Captain of the Guards unto the Princess until now Cyrus thought Anaxaris to be of some very extraordinary high Quality but seeing now how he confined his ambition unto so low a sphere he thought he refused all higher imployments out of his modesty and desired only such imployment as was suitable unto his birth So that consenting unto it with all joy Anaxaris became Captain of the Guard unto that Princess whom he loved and was in that office with the approbation both of his Rival and his Mistress who being ignorant of the passion in his soul expressed a thousand testimonies of amity unto him But whilst all things were in preparation for Mandana's departure all the Ladies in Cumes resorted unto her and did strive how to divert her amongst the rest Cleocrite Italia Philoxene and Lysiâice were very assiduous Thrasiles also was often with her where also all the men of any Quality and wit about Cyrus were present As for that Prince this press of company was often troublesome unto him and the better to colour his vexation he was often constrained to go out of her Chamber and to comfort himself would go into Martesia's and talk with her of Mandana But as he was one day with her and making her repeat many passages which he knew before one came to tell him the Princess would speak with him Cleocrite Lydisie Atalia and another Lady called Lyriana and Thrasiles were with her As soon as he came into the Princess Chamber I beseech you Sir said she unto him do not imploy your self only in being the Arbitrator of Asia in ordering the interests of Kings and Princes and in taking and giving of Crowns and Scepters but I beseech you be a Judg in a difference wherein ambition hath no share and in which I do confess I dare not take upon me so much boldness as to give a definitive sentence I do not think my self more knowing in any thing then you are Madam replied Cyrus and I hope you do not think me so presumptious as to imagine my light of reason or knowledg to be above yours Since I must suit my words according unto your modestie replied she I must tell you there are many things which very handsomness requires that you should know better then I do for example in all the terms and phrases in the Art of War were it handsom in me to express them so well as you or were it not a shame for you to speak of such things so simply as my self Truly in some things one of my Sex ought not to express so much perhaps as she doth know for a kind of voluntary ignorance doth well become us You know pursued she and would not give Cyrus time to interrupt her that Cleocrite Atalia and Lysidice who would not speak any thing concerning Thrasiles when Anaxaris asked his libertie do now all speak unto me of him and after they had told me a thousand of his good qualities do describe him to be the most unconstant man alive But as
it self In the mean while Thrasiles being ingaged to go unto the wars and the day of his departure being come he sent to ask her favour that he might come and take his leave of her but because she was engaged with Lysidice to go unto some place I know not where about a business not worth a rush and even where some of Thrasiles his Rivals were to meet her She chose a verie mean pleasure rather then deprive her self of it in giving Thrasiles so much satisfaction as to bid her adieu You may well imagine Madam what thoughts Thrasiles carried with him and whether Cleocrite was very sorrie for his absence yet somtimes She would think upon him but it was only to lament the want of those diversions he was wont to give her and not one tender or obliging thought of him This Madam if I be not much mistaken is sufficient to justifie the change of Thrasiles Be pleased to know that towards the end of the Summer it chanced that I went one morning unto her to ask her if She should make a visit with me that day At first She told me that She was engaged unto Philoxene to go with her unto a place but upon examination whether She should find more pleasure in Philoxenes visit or mine She resolved upon mine and sent to excuse her self unto the others Then She began to make her selfe ready and to ask my counsel how She should dress her self As we were then in contest what She should wear or not wear one of her women entred into her Chamber with such sad looks as was easie to perceive She had some bad news to tell Madam said the woman unto her you will be much surprized and verie sorrie if you knew all Cleocrite whose mind ran all of dressing her self and never had the least thought of Thrasiles did think that her gown which was to be brought that morning was not yet ready or that the Carkenet of Diamonds which She had borrowed of a friend and which She intended to wear that day was broken or lost so that She hastily asked the woman which of those mischances it was No Madam replied She the news is worse Thrasiles is killed and news of it is brought unto Niside Alas cried I out with extream sorrow is Thrasiles kill'd Yes said the woman and all the world does infinitely lament him To tell you Madam that Cleocrite would have been more grieved if the Carkenet of Diamonds had been lost or broken then at the death of Thrasiles perhaps had been a lie and perhaps a truth for Madam all that ever She did in the business was to send unto Nisides to know whether the news was true and in the mean while She did a little lament the death of Thrasiles but it was with a very quiet mind and without one single tear or sigh Alas said She unto me I was in such hopes of a thousand delights from Thrasiles this Winter that I must needs lament the loss of the poor man For my part said I unto her I lament the loss of himself not for the loss of any delights and although he would have contributed unto no diversions at all yet I should pity him as much as I do Whil'st we were talking thus the news of his death was confirmed and immediately after I saw Cleocrite looking in her glass and being but half dressed She dressed her self with as much spruseness and alacrity as She designed before the sad news was brought For my part I must confess I was so surprized at the obdurate insensibility of Cleocrite as I was speechless so looking upon her actions with as much amazement as sorrow and with as much anger as amazement I observed that she ranged her locks and curled her hair with as much niceness and care and dressed her self as trimly as if She had some designe of conquering a fresh Lover in lieu of him She had lost After I had forced my patience a long while in silently seeing her deck her self and after her woman was gone out my choler could contain no longer Fie Cleocrite said I unto her does not those thousands of delights which Thrasiles hath given you deserve one day of mourning for him and to deprive your self for his sake of a poor mean diversion the day you hear of his fatal death If that would raise him from the dead replied she I should do it with much joy but since I have passed my word unto Philoxene I am resolved to keep it But you did resolve to break it said I unto her and to make a visit with me and may you not as well break it to mourn one day for the poor Thrasiles I can mourn for him better in company then in solitude replied this hard hearted Ladie and if I should this day hide my self I might perhaps be accused of mourning too much for him Fie Cleocrite said I unto her you are not in any such reputation of tenderness as that you need fear any such aspersion and certainly they would wrong you much if they should think you so inclined Why said She do you think I do not grieve for Thrasiles I protest I think so said I unto her And I protest replied she that I grieve as much as I can and more then ever I did for any I do believe it said I unto her yet it is because you love nothing in the world but your self and as long as you can look in youââlass and find your self fair you care for nothing else yet I would gladly know whether you could resent the loss of your own beautie Cleocrite then offered to give me some poor reasons but I rise up and left her not being able to endure such a stonie hearted piece of insensibility Howsoever she went with Philoxene unto the place agreed upon where She found more diversion then She expected for they danced until night But Madam all this was happie for Thrasiles for you must know that the cause of these reports of his death was that there was one Thrasiles killed but it was Thrasiles of Xanthes and not of Cumes For that Thrasiles who was an Adorer of Cleocrite and whose death I lamented being chosen by the Prince of Cumes to carry the news of the victorie which he had lately gotten he came to town that very evening after his death was reported his first care was to enquire how Cleocrite did and he was let know that She was at a Ball and at the same time he was informed that every one thought him dead he understood that Cleocrite sent unto his mother to enquire of it and that it was from her confirmed so that he could not doubt but Cleocrites heart was harder to him then any flint This did so much surprize him that imagining perhaps Cleocrite was not told of it or that perhaps she had heard the news of his death contradicted he resolved to go unto the place where they said she was But in his way
thing which I require of you generous Anaxaris is that you solemnly swear unto me that if the King of Assyria do Conquer me you will with all your power keep the Princess Mandana out of his For since I cannot be vanquished but by death I am very confident that if he become my Conqueror he will do all he can to sow fedition amongst the Souldiers purposely to become Master of the Princess And therefore apprehending that an Army composed of so many severall Nations and people newly conquer'd wherein also are some Assyrian Forces may be apt to mutiny I thought it necessary that you who have got much credit amongst the Souldiers and has an especiall care of the Princess should be acquainted with the state of things to the end that multiplying your Cares you may make sure of your Souldiers And that I may leave orders with you to shew unto all the Commanders ãâã the Army if I should fall in the Fight which I am to make and which most certainly I shall make very shortly since having taken but four dayes whereof one is already past I will before the last keep punctuall touch with the Assyrian King Anaxaris hearing this was much joyed that he desired nothing which he could not easily promise and which he could not keep though he was somewhat ashamed that he could not choose but be a Rivall unto a Prince who treated him so obligingly But at last striving with himself to hide the agitation of his spirits he promised Cyrus with all the zeal of a man that was resolved to keep promise that he would dye a thousand deaths rather then the King of Assyria should ever have Mandana in his power if it so hapned that he were Conqueror Oh my deare Anaxaris said Cyrus then unto him the assurance which you give me doth so elevate my heart that I am confident I shall vanquish the King of Assyria since now I do not feare he shall triumph over Mandana though the fate of Armes should let him triumph over me Yes yes my dear Anaxaris I shall owe unto you all the glory I shall get in vanquishing my Rivall if I do surmount him for really if I should have fought in feare that my death would have put Mandana in his power I should have been half overcome before I ever fought But since you promise me to employ the same valour wherewith you have done such miracles and whereof I am a witnesse and an admirer in behalfe of the Princesse I shall never fear my Rivall will ever rejoyce in the fruits of his Victory nor do I fear he can vanquish me Moreover I remember my generous Anaxaris that Mandana is a debtor unto you already for her liberty and this I would have you now doe is not more difficult then that you did in the Castle of Cumes Sir replyed Anaxaris could you but see my heart you would never offer to oblige me by any more new promises nor would you doubt but that I am resolv'd to dye for the Princess Mandana's service Be confident therefore Sir I beseech you that as long as I am living she shall never come under the King of Assyria's power but Sir I beleeve I shall never need to defend her against him for if I be not much mistaken his valour will thrive no better against you this second time then it did the first but I am confident you will overcome him now as you did before If I do overcome him replyed Cyrus then Sir I will come and give you thanks for my victory so that whether I be Conquerour or conquered I shall be still obliged to you and the Princess will be infinitely your debtor If I be vanquisher I promise you to let her know her obligations and if I be vanquished since she her selfe must be both Witness and Judge of your valour doubtlesse she will acknowledg your merits and consequently my deare Anaxaris your own vertue will purchase you the esteem of the most illustrious Princess upon earth Yet remember above all to be faithfull unto me you know how delicate a thing this honour is therefore for Heavens sake Sir do for mine as you would have mee doe for yours Yet this is not all Anaxaris that I require of you for it must be by your means that I must ridd my selfe of so many eyes as are upon me that I may steale from them to goe and fight with the King of Assyria which you may easily do by a way which I have contrived and which I shall acquaint yon with when time is fit Oh Sir replyed Anaxaris should the Princess know that I should facilitate your Combate she would extreamly hate me since she shall never know it replyed Cyrus you will not be exposed unto any danger of it but though she should come to know it I would engage my selfe to make your peace if I be not vanquished After this Cyrus and Anaxaris parted the first of these was well satisfied with his confidence in Anaxaris and the second had his heart so full of different apprehensions as that he was not able to master them The confidence which Cyrus put in him made him ashamed that he did not give him a sincere answer but his affection to Mandana stuffed so full of fancies contrary unto that as sometimes he could not choose but be over-joyed that these two Rivals were ready to ruine each other Yet since his soule was of a brave and generous composition hee stifled his Joyes as much as he could and condemned his owne thoughts Fie fie unworthy Anaxaris would he say unto himself canst thou suffer thy heart basely to rejoyce that two of the most valiant Princes in the world are ready to kill each other and that thou shouldst be rid of two Rivals at once without any danger to thy selfe Repent repent for shame of thy ignominious weaknesse and if these two Princes be any obstacle unto thy designs do not wish that they should ruine each other to the end that thou mayst have the honour of ruining them thy self But alas unhappy Anaxaris said he and sighed how vainly art thou base in thy wishes For though Cyrus the Assyrian K. were both dead yet Mandana is still none of thine and thou hast more reason to think she will never be any ones but that the death of Cyrus will cause hers But what doe I say said he and reprehended himself I do very unjustly accuse my selfe For indeed I cannot conceive that honour forbids me to rejoyce at the losse of a Rivall as long as this joy is no cause of it wait then with hopes the successe of this furious Combate between two of the greatest Princes upon Earth disputing for the possession of the fairest Princess in the World But alas unfortunate Anaxaris added he how much sorrow will the end of this Combate cause thee For if Cyrus be vanquished thou wilt see Mandana swimming in teares for him thou wilt heare all her sighs and dolefull
against any reasonable civility replyed Mandana provided it be not over long nor hinder me from departing within an hour After this Cyrus left her and went unto the place where they carryed the Assyrian King but being told that he was dressing he would not see him untill the Chirurgions came from him As they came out of his Chamber Cyrus asked them how he did and they answered him that of three wounds which he had received the most dangerous was in his right arm which was very ill and they would not answer for it telling him further how that the Prince desired them to say he was not in any danger After this Cyrus went unto the King of Assyria's chamber who was calling one of his men to send unto him So as he no sooner saw him but striving not to seem weak or dangerously wounded I am glad Sir said he unto him that you have taken so much pains as to come see me And truly Sir replyed Cyrus I am very sorry you should be in such a Condition as obligeth me to render you this visit Trouble not your selfe so much for my hurts replyed this furious Prince in a low voyce least any should hear but Cyrus for if I be not much mistaken I shall be well before you can come at Ecbatane Though I should come there before that replyed Cyrus it should not make me start from my promise I conjure you not answered the King of Assyria And to oblige you unto it know Sir that though this hurt in my right Arm were greater then it is that I had lost the use of it yet I would fight with you with my left hand rather then voluntarily yeeld the Princesse unto you for there is a fatall necessity in it you must either be my Conqueror or I yours To testifie unto you Sir replyed Cyrus that I donot wish to spare a fighting with you upon the score of your hurts nor to any advantage of that weaknesse which your wounds have caused I beseech you take as long time as you please to recover in and make choise of whom you will to keep you company but I beseech you Sir tell me what Heroe or what Assassinate hath brought you into this Condition Certainly you will have it from the mouth of my Conqueror replyed the King of Assyria sharply for I make no question but Intaphernes will come ere long and aske a recompence of you for ridding you of an Enemy though he fought only upon his own score but yet he has reason Sir to give you thanks for his victory for if my extream desire to vanquish him presently that I might fight with you also this day had not made me run head long into his Arms as brave as he is he had not so easily vanquished me Since I have such experience of your valour Sir replyed Cyrus I shall easily believe what you say In the mean time I assure you that if the Prince Intaphernes were not the sonne of Gadates unto whom I stand bound in many obligations I should hardly receive him well as accomplished as he can be since he is the cause our Combate is deferred but because I will not my selfe deferr by augmenting your paine with too long a visit You shall give me leave to retire after a second confirmation of my promise not to faile in the least tittle of my word and after I have assured you I will appoint some of my men to wait upon you with as much respect as upon my self and to have as great care of your life as if it were absolutely necessary unto my felicity Most noble Rivall said the King of Assyria lifting up his eyes to heaven do not over-load mee with your generosity but let it suffice you have promised me not to faile in your word After this the violent King of Assyria not being able any longer to master himselfe turned boisterously on the other side and began to accuse the Fates for being so opposite unto all he desired And Cyrus having no more to say unto him went out of his Chamber commanding those that were to wait upon him to have especiall care of him Thus this generous minded Prince in point of perfect magnanimity took care for the preseruation of an Enemy who wished not for life but to be his death But Cyrus was no sooner out of his Rivals Lodging then this unfortunate King called for one of his men and sent him unto the Princess Mandana to tell her he was very sorry he could not waite upon her as he designed but that he hoped to overtake her before she cawe to Ecbatane Yet conjuring her that if he was mistaken in his Conjectures and dyed of his wounds she would be pleased to favour him so farr as not to rejoyce at his death The man who was to deliver this odd messuage did very hastily perform his Commission yet he found the Princess ready to take Coach and Cyrus with her rendring her an accompt of the Assyrian Kings condition But she no sooner received this Messuage then she prepared to answer him that brought it Tell the King your Master said she unto him that I never use to rejoyce at the death of my greatest Enemies because I cannot do it without a piece of inhumanity but withall assure him that I should exceedingly rejoyce if in the recovery of his wounds he should recover the health of his mind as well as the health of his body After this Mandana with Doralisa Pherenice and Martesia took Coach and departed immediately And then Cyrus took Horse with all the rest of the Princes except Mazanes who stayed a quarter of an hour behind the rest to visite the King of Assyria but he found him in such a fretting and distempered humour as he was forced to leave him presently so as he quickly overtook the Princess Mandana In the meane time Cyrus having left order with one to send him exact word of the Assyrian Kings condition and to send it secretly for some Reasons best known to himself He also sent to seek Gadates and to tell him that it was his sonne who had wounded the King of Assyria and to aske him if he knew where he was Sir said Gadates unto him as they ridd I did write unto him by the Messenger of Arsamenes and commanded him to come and pay some of my obligations unto you by rendring you some considerable services knowing that since the King of Bythinia had now no Warrs in his Dominions he would willingly come hither but since that I heard nothing of him It is credible replyed Cyrus that we shall shortly see him For by the manner of the King of Assyria's speech I collected that Intaphernes was not wounded Though the King of Assyria replyed Gadates and sighed hath heretofore given my sonne a thousand causes of complaint in the life time of the Queen Nitocris and though its likely he hath given him some since in Bythinia yet I must needs be sorry both
know Madam what Antipathy there was in him towards her though he had no other reason for it but because he would not sute his fancy unto the will of any others I will not insist upon any aggravations of it Let me only tell you thus much that because the Princess Istrina was of the fair complexion he hated all the brown were they never so fair hated Intaphernes only because he was her brother Indeed you know Madam how he treated him one day when they were hunting together when the Prince Intaphernes more dexterous and happy then he killed a Lyon But Madam the thing which I believe you do not know or at least have but a confused notion of it is that whilst all the Court wondered to see this aversion as the Assyrian Prince towards her shee made many in Love with her And amongst the rest there was a young Prince in that Court called Atergatis who was most desperately in love with her and who was no lesse meritorious of her Love then she of his the Prince Mazanes who knowes him is able to tell you that the Prince Atergatis is one of the most amiable persons in the world and the fittest to make a faithfull and discreet Lover As for his person it is pleasing and it 's hard to look long upon it and not love it Since his Quality made him a Companion with the Prince of Assyria in all his pleasure he was often times a witnesse of that aversion which he had to the Princess Istrina And I have heard ãâ¦ã ce say that this his aversion was partly a cause of his Love because not being ãâã conceive how a Prince of his spirit could possibly hate so faire a person as she ãâã he had observed some particular faults in her hee therefore applyed himself unto her to see what was the reason her beauty did not captivate the Prince of Assyria's heart so that seeing her very often he saw her too oft for his quietnesse for he loved her with as much violence as it was possible for any living to love However since he knew that the Queen Nitocris was fully resolved that the Prince her sonne should marry her and since he very well observed the ambitious veine of the Princess Istrina he durst not therefore declare himself and therefore smothered up most tormenting flames but the oddest passage in his Love was that he adhered so much unto the interests of the Princess Istrina as he could not choose but hate the King of Assyria because he carryed himself harshly towards her though it would have pinched him to the soule if he had seen him love her Since at that time the heart of Istrina was swelled only with ambition and seeing her selfe looked upon by all the Court as her that was to be Queen of Assyria shee did imagine that none durst presume to look so high as she Insomuch as though she did every day see the Prince Atergatis and though he talked with her as much as he could and Courted her with continuall trifling services yet she did not perceive he was in love with her though many others observed it and though shee her selfe had a good inclination to esteem him The Prince of Assyria was the first that found it out and was very glad of it for he heartily wished that the Princess Istrina had a Lover whom she loved purposely that he might have a better pretence for not loving her as Nitocris would have him And indeed this violent Prince seeing that the Lawes of the Land required that hee should Marry Istrina because there was none of her Quality in all the Kingdome whom else he could marry And seeing that the Qu Nitocris was resolute would exact obedience from him as soon as the Peace with Phrigia was compleated which was under negotiation therefore he had recourse unto the most extream Remedies Then he made a hundred odd Propositions unto the Prince Mazanes who would not hearken unto them so that perceiving the Prince Atergatis was in love with Istrina he sent one day to him to tell him that he would use his best assistance to make him happy Atergatis much surprized at the Prince of Assyria's Complement told him that the only way to make him happy was to give him some occasion of doing him some considerable service No no replyed this violent Prince I meane not to make you happy by your serving me but by my serving you I know you are in love with the Princess Istrina Alas Sir said Atergatis and interrupted him I owe you more respects then to have any thoughts of that most excellent Princess but such as I ought to have of one whose Subject I must hereafter be No no Atergatis said he unto him do not dissemble the truth but confesse freely unto me that you are the Princess Istrina's slave without feare of being hereafter her Subject for Iassure you that I will never put the Crown upon her head Therefore for your owne satisfaction and to free me from the perpetuall persecution of the Queen who would have me marry her give me leave to steale her away for you and put her into your power yet so as I may not be seen in the businesse I will find you a most safe sanctuary for a Retreat where you may wait untill the Queens anger be over and untill you have got the Princess Istrina's Love Sir replyed Atergatis extreamly amazed and puzled to answer the Prince of Assyria I have already told you that I have no thoughts of the Princess Istrina but such as becomes me though I must needs confess that I doe infinitely admire her But were it so that I loved this most excellent Princess I would not Sir accept of this offer because it is not the way to obtain the love of that illustrious person because it would hinder her of a Crown Therefore Sir whether I be her Lover or not her Lover I ought not to consent unto your proposition Your answer replyed the King of Assyria doth so much surprize me as I almost believe my selfe mistaken in thinking you to be in Love with Istrina for I cannot conceive it possible one should refuse the possession of her he loves though he come to her by the most difficulty and unjust wayes in the world But perhaps pursued he you do not believe me and are not perswaded of my great aversion to the Princess Istrina yet I do prot ãâ¦ã ãâ¦ã ergatis I hate Intaphernes because he is her brother and should hate you a ãâ¦ã Lover were I not in hopes of perswading you be her Ravisher also I must confesse when I doe force my eyes to examine her beauty I do find her fair and my reason sometimes tells me she has wit enough But for all this she displeaseth me I cannot abide her and I am sometimes very sorry that I can only hate her and that I cannot but only in my heart scorn her How Sir replyed Atergatis who could
came to you But whilst I was in fear that Intaphernes might meet with this Prince the Gods who do not use to comply alwayes with the wills of men but often mock at all humane Prudence did conduct Intaphernes unto the banks of that little River where the Assyrian King was taking the Aire whilst you Madam was in the Temple and staying in the pleasant place untill the hour of your setting out I understand since by the Page which followed Intaphernes and by Intaphernes himself all the passages of this meeting And since I understand by Martesia that you Madam do not know it but desires infotmation I shall acquaint you with the particulars and if I should conceal an Action so gallant and noble I should not make a perfect relation of Intaphernes his life Be pleased to know then Madam that this Prince riding safely along the banks of this little River hoping still to meet with us again least he should be forced to arrive at a place where he thought you was without any Train or Equipage Love did so take up all the faculties of his Soul that he scarcely knew what he did or saw On the other side the King of Assyria who seemed as deep in contemplation as Intaphernes though according to his naturall impetuosity he went as fast as if he had a great journy to go he was also on the banks of this River with one Page only So as Intaphernes came towards the King of Assyria as the King of Assyria came towards Intaphernes who being both of them in deep studies they passed so neer each other that there Horses starting at the same time made both of them think themselves assaulted So that rowsing out of their studies and stopping their Horses they looked sternly upon each other to know who it was that assavlted them and both knowing each other the King of Assyria he thought that Intaphernes intended to all upon him as Intaphernes thought that the King of Assyria intended to put a new affront upon him So as both being high in anger they first looked upon one another as men who had dispositions to quarrell Yet Intaphernes gave him a Salute but it was with so many signs of indignation that his respects did not deminish the King of Assyria's fury For as soon as Intaphernes had saluted him he went two paces back and began to speak in a haughty and proud tone For ought I see sayd he in a most scornfull manner you are as insolent here as you were ambitious in Babylon and it seems also that you have been most unjust in Bythinia in being so bold as to cause Arsamones to imprison me purposely to make me marry one whom I do not think worthy to be the slave of whom I adore Oh Sir sayd Intaphernes you extreamly wrong me do not urge me against my will to forget I have seen you upon a Throne least I should not brook it For Sir hitherto I never failed in my due respects unto you I was never more ambitious at Babylon then did become me and was so far from forcing you to marry my Sister that I must tell you that she did more resist Arsamones then you did not being so base as ever to think of being Wife unto a Prince who hath so much scorned her and wronged me Therfore Sir I beseech you with all the Reverence I owe unto you as Son unto the Queen Nitocris do not force me to cast of all those respects I cannot tell what thou meanest replyed the King of Assyria sharply but I am sure I cannot brook the insolency of a Subject whose duty is to reverence me as much in my Fetters as if I were upon the Throne Upon these words the King of Assyria drawing his Sword he forced Intaphernes to draw his also but it was only at first to defend himself from the King of Assyria's blows And indeed this generous Prince striving to overcom his resentments did recoil some paces in defending himself and speaking again in the name of the Gods Sir sayd he unto him do not urge me any further for my patience can hold no longer wish only that thy Valour may hold out replyed the King of Assyria in pressing harder upon him unless thou wilt feel the sharpness of mine After this Madam Intaphernes being not able to endure any longer he did not only fight in defence of his life but also to revenge himself And his Page told me of such Prodigies which he did which are not to be conceived unless one had seen them For indeed Madam though the King of Assyria had fought with the Illustrious Cyrus and your self Madam had been the Prise of the Combate yet this violent Prince could not have fought with more Courage But as Intaphernes had all the sincerity of a most brave man so he told all those unto whom he related the passage that if the King of Assyria had stood any thing upon his Guard he should have found a hard task to have vanquished him and his modesty made him say that if that valiant Prince had not precipitated himself unto his Armes in striving to finish the Combate quickly he had not been overcome Indeed Madam the King of Assyria having wounded himself in striving to gain the Crupper his Sword being broke and he run through the right arme with a touch from his Enemy his great heart was constrained to yeeld Yet Intaphernes would not abuse his Victory by insulting over his unfortunate Enemy as unjust as he was But on the contrary he used many generous expressions he asked him whether he would be pleased that he should conduct him offering to hold him up seeing he was not able to sit on horse-back but this furious Prince would have only his Page to help him he forbad Intaphernes to come neer him and commanded him to retire Since thou art still my Subject though my Conqueror sayd this violent Prince unto him I command the to get out of my Presence for I cannot any longer endure a man who hath ruined all my hopes subverted all my designs and hath retarded either my death or my happiness These ambiguous words which Intaphernes could not understand mooving him to think that his sorrows for being overcom did distract the liberty of his mind he began to pitty him and offer again to help him but he fell into such a Chafe that Intaphernes seeing some Souldiers a far off coming that way he was forced to retire In the mean time in lieu of going unto the Castle where you Madam were he returned back being resolved not to present himself unto you Madam nor unto Cyrus nor unto the Prince his Father untill you were on your march Conceiving that the King of Assyria was in such a condition as he would not be able to follow And indeed Madam this Prince having happily met with us some four Furlongs from the place where he fought we went to wait upon you Madam at the house where you stayed and
coloured haire did produce the same effect that day as that dusky Azure doth which is about the Sun when the Heavens are most serene and cleer and when that splendent Planet is in its greatest lustre for certainly her haire gave a great lustre unto her Her Chariot was inlayd with mother of Pearl and streaks of gold and done with such art by some Grecian Artists that were employed as this Chariot by reason of the severall reflection from the mother of Pearl and some Topazes which were set in severall places was no lesse glorious then the Sun it selfe As for Cleonisbe she was adorned with so many Jewels that her lustre could hardly be looked upon And to resemble the Sun which she represented she wore a sun of Diamonds upon her head In one hand she held a vessell of mother of Pearl full of flowers as being the chiefe work of that glorious Star In the other hand she held the reyns of the Horses whose fineness made worthy to draw the Chariot of the Sun Cleonisbe being then in such state as I have told you and the day being as faire and glorious as was possible that place was an Epitome of the whole world and she carryed her selfe with such applause that the Aire ecchoed with a million of acclamations As for the Prince of Phoceus he was so charmed with the sight that if he had not already been in Love he would now But after Cleonisbe had gone round the place she left her Chariot at the foot of the Throne which was prepared for her upon which she ascended by the help of four men of quality who stood at the bottom of the stairs The dresses of these four men who represented the four seasons of the yeare were very rich The first was Bomilcar the second Britomartes the third Galathes and the fourth the Prince of Phoceus Thus Cleonisbe when she was upon her throne she saw at her feet four slaves whom Chance had brought together and whom love had wounded with one and the same Arrow But perhaps Madam you will aske me why the four seasons of the year was represented by men To which I answer that since there was not one Beauty who would represent Winter Custom brought it in that this Feast was represent by four men However Cleonisbe was no sooner upon her Throne of flowers but the great Gates of the Palace being opened there appeared thirty persons every one in a severall little Chariot which came gently one after another to render homage unto Cleonisbe But Madam that you may the better understand the nature of this homage be pleased to know that every one of these faire persons represented a severall flower which they made choise of according unto their fancies so as these Ladies to signifie the flowers which they represented had a Crown composed of them on their heads and another in their hands their Chariots being trimmed up with the same flowers And to compleat the gallantry of this invention their habits were of the same colours with the flowers which they represented and every one had a banuer on which was a device sutable Every banner had a flower printed and some inscriptions under it So that Madam since the season in which they did celebrate this feast all sorts of flowers did grow at once in that Country I am confident a more delightfull sight could not be seen For I assure you Madam these thirty Chariots painted guilded and trimmed with flowers did make a most admirable show and these thirty faire ones whose Dresses were both gallant and rich and all crowned with flowers were beyond all imagination admirable The first which came out of the Palace to render homage unto Cleonisbe was crowned with Orange flowers the second Roses the third Jessimine the fourth Olives the fifth with Violets the sixth with Pomgranets the seventh with Lillies the eighth with the ninth with Flower-de-luces and so with others so that this lovely Miscellany of flowrie Crowns worn by these Beauties did make a show beyond all imagination delightfull As soon as these Chariots came unto the Throne of the Sun those Ladies which were to represent the flower wherewith they were crowned they prepared themselves to render homage And presenting the Crown which they held in their hands unto one of those men who stood at the foot of the Throne offered unto the Sun only such flowers as the season which they represented did produce So since there are Orange flowers in Winter it was Britomartes who offered the Crown because he represented that season It was the Prince of Phoceus who offered Roses because he represented the Spring It was Galathes who offered the Crown of Olives because he represented Summer And it was Bomilcar who offered because he represented Autumn For as I have already told you Madam there is one season in that Country in which they have all manner of flowers together In the mean time as these Ladies passed before Cleonisbies Throne they saluted her and tendred unto her their Crowns and they were heaped one upon another with so much Art That when the last of these Ladies had offered her Garland there was such a Trophy of Garlands raised unto the glory of Cleonisbe all whose flags were set in such order as the mottoes might easily be read But whilst all these little Chariots passed before the Princess Cleonisbe and those within them were doing homage unto her Musique composed of severall Instruments imposed silence upon the People who made no disorder because the place was rayl'd round about and hindered them Nor did the heat of the Sun offend for this Ceremony was not begun untill it was declining and moreover the Palace and houses were so high as they cast a shadow over all the place and there chanced contrary to the custome of that Country to be some little Clouds that day which made a shadow and one would have sayd that this bright Planet to honour the Feast had resigned its lustre unto Cleonisbe In the mean while according as these Chariots passed by they ranged themselves next the Chariot of Cleonisbe unto which she went as soon as she had received the last homage of flowers The four Seasons causing to be carryed before her that Trophy of Garlands which were offered unto her After which these four Seasons did follow her every one in a stately Chariot entring with her into the Palace Court so as One sicrite going first in representing the Aurora the four Seasons followed the Sun and the thirty flowers the four Seasons After which Cleonisbe went to offer this Trophy of Garlands at a Church which was at the furthest part of the Town and then returned to the Palace where a Banquet was prepared sutable to the Feast for it was only of fruits for the custome was for it to be of no other Yet was it very admirably set out both with rare and excellent fruits in great abundance and variety and in most exquisite order The
such despair as would not suffer him to consult with the winds nor hearken unto the counsell of the Pilot who would have disswaded him from departing The waves were so rough and the winds so furious that they dashed this Barque against the point of a Rock on the left hand of Marseilles and broke it all to pieces so as the unfortunate Menedorus was drowned almost in the very Port into which the waves brought his body and as if the Gods had a desire to force Onesicrite to water it with her teares they permitted the Corp of this unfortunate Lover to be cast by the Sea just under the window of that Princess who saw it with her owne eyes and resented his death with inconceivable sorrow In the mean time Onesicrite having as I told you before a sweet and easie soule she could not resist Aristonice who knew so well how to perswade her that it did not consist with her glory to alter that resolution which she bad taken that she resolved to smother part of her melancholy and to be rulâd by those who had most right to advise her provided they would not force her to marry Carimantes over-hastily On the other side Carimantes making a thousand excuses unto Sfurius for being the cause of his sonnes death Sfurius answered him accoding to his wonted generosity After which they returned to the King in thoughts that the marriage of the Phocean Prince with Cleonisbe should with all speed be celebrated But Madam at our return we understood that the state of things were not so disposed For be pleased to know that Galathes whom Menedorus had made acquainted with many Graecians had suborned some to them to tell the Segoregians that the Prince of Phoceus was not the same he gave himselfe out to be so as this falshood passing from mouth to mouth it made so great a noise amongst the People that nothing else was talked of For Galathes having suborned the Segoregians as well as Phocensians there went an hundred severall tales concerning the quality of the Phocean Prince And since the Law which permitted Cleonisbe to choose her Husband was conditionall that she should choose a man whose Quality was sutable to her own The case was such that if the Prince of Phoceus was not the same he sayd himselfe to be then the choise of the Princess was null And to make it Galathes had caused this lye to be divulged amongst the People And Madam he had done it with so much art that those whom he employed in the business were never suspected to have any hand in the imposture And to the end none should thinke him to be the Author he would not be the first that should forbid the banes between Cleonisbe and that Prince not doubting but Bomilcar and Britomartes would take hold of that occasion which he had given to deferr it he hoping all the while to find an opportunity of carrying away Cleonisbe as afterwards we came to understand And indeed Madam Britomartes and Bomilcar hearing of these great reports did say that for their parts they did believe the Prince of Phoceus to be the same he sayd he was but since it was made a doubt by a great People they could not suffer that the Princesse should marry him The testimonies which all the friends of the Phocean Prince did give were all in vaine and likewise what all the men in Marseilles did say For the people of that Countrey being of a mutinous inclination and since many were suborned to raise sedition they took up Armes and sided with Britomartes Bomilcar and Galathes Neither the King nor Carimantes who were fully perswaded of the Prince of Phoceus his quality were not able to act accoding unto their inclinations and the lesse able because at the same time the friends of Menedorus had caused a commotion in Marseilles upbraiding Sfurius with his cruelty to his sonne accusing also the Prince of Phoceus for consenting unto the marriage of Carimantes with Onesicrite Meane while Glacidia endeavoured to perswade Bomilcar that it was in vaine for him to hinder the Marriage of Cleonisbe since he might assure himselfe she would never love him But he answered her that since he could receive no other consolation but in the ruine of his Rivall she must pardon him if he did it maintaining that he might very well do it without giving him any cause of complaint since he did no more then what Britomartes and Galathes did also In the mean time as great a care was taken in observing these Rivalls as well as the Prince of Phoceus Bomilcar and he fought the second time and were both wounded but with this difference that when they parted them the Prince of Phoceus who was closed with his Enemy was the uppermost But Madam this Combate more and more incensing the people things grew to a great height For Galathes being exceeding subtle and witty had insinuated into the minds of many Segoregians that our Town was much to be feared and that if we made the Countrey better it would be only for our selves and that after they had received us as their friends we would become their Tyrants and they our slaves But disorder and confusion being in every place it was advised to appease the People to talke of a Negotiation knowing it to be much better then to stop their first fury So they asked this incensed people and the three Rivalls who were their heads what proofs they required to testifie the condition of the Phocean Prince But they found themselves much gravelled for an answer for since there remayned none in Phoceus it was in vaine to send thither But after they had well thought upon it they agreed that the Conquerour of Phoceus should decide the businesse and that if the illustrious Cyrus would say unto those they would send unto him that Peranius was of the Familie of the Phocean Princes and that it was he who commanded the Fleet in departing from that Towne which his Armies had conquered then they would yeild up their Pretentions and agree that Cleonisbes choise was lawfull Though this Proposition might seem strange unto the Prince of Phoceus since his destiny must depend upon the testimony of a Prince unto whom he had not the honour to be known and who might hold him for his Enemy yet he did not refuse it For since he knew that the Prince Thrasibalus did know and that his action had been extraordinary and might be judged worthy to be related unto his invincible Conquerour he believed that the illustrious Cyrus would be so generous as to give a sincere testimony in his favour And so Madam it was agreed that I should come unto Cyrus That the King should send me with a person of Quality and that the three Rivalls should also send a person of Credance to heare what the Conquerour of Asia would say unto my demands But before we came away they made all their parties interested to swear solemnly to
Pherenice to tell her So that having passed away the rest of the night and part of the morning in reasoning upon this strange adventure she sent to seek out Chrisantes yet it was long before her servant could get out because the foure Guards which Anaxaris had placed at the Gate of the Castle would not suffer any to pass out because their orders was to the contrarie but at last obtaining their leave this servant got out and went unto Chrisantes who understood before that you Sir was not at your own lodging And hearing at the same time by Arianita that the Princess was also gone out he thought it not fit to conceal her astonishment So that acquainting the Prince Artamas Mazares Intaphernes Myrsiles and others with it there was presently raised so great a report of your death Sir and of the Princesses her departure that I am not able to represent unto you the disorder which this sad news caused both amongst all your friends and amongst the Souldiers The greatest wonder was that none knew what course to take nor from whom to receive orders Some said the best way was to go unto the King of Hircania others unto Croessus and every one voting to revenge your death and going after Mandana yet all their Spirits were in such disorder that neither of those courses was taken Some said that happily Anaxaris had not carried away the Princess considering the manner of her departure But the Prince Myrsiles understanding from some of his servants that Andramites many daies since had prepared some of his friends for some great design which he said he had in hand he made no question but his design was that knowing Anaxaris would carry away Mandana he would also carry away his adored Doralisa So that supposing them to be carried away by fallacies this Prince making no reckonings of these reports which went of the King of Assiria's being alive and that he had killed you he assembled together some of his friends and went in all haste to see if he could discover which way Anaxaris took The Prince Mazares also took up the same design but took another way As for the Prince Artamas Intaphernes Chrisantes Aglatidas and my self we divided our selves with intentions to find you out So that being guided doubtless by the Gods unto the place where you were I have good reason to believe that they will also guide you Sir very shortlie unto the place where Mandana is No no replied this grieved Prince there is no hopes but on the contrarie all is to be feared After this the Sibels answer which was brought him by Ortalques coming into his mind he assured himself that he was destined unto a sad fate and that Thomiris would destroy him Then also he believed that the Oracle of the Assyrian King would be fully compleated and prove to his Rivals advantage nor durst he so much as hope that the Oracle which the Princess of Salamis had received could be interpreted unto his advantage So that his Spirits being wholly possessed with sorrow he talked no more of what happed in the place where Arianita was from whose own mouth he intended to be precisely satisfied of all that Feraulas told him He found her with Pherenice Amalde Telamire and all the rest of the Ladies which used to accompany her but he found them all in tears yet his sight was a great comfort unto them supposing that since he was living they needed not to fear Mandana However their astonishment was not a little unto them that believed the King of Assyria dead and had heard say afterwards that he had killed Cyrus when they saw them both living and carrie themselves to each other as formerlie And after they were informed of all that Arianita knew after they had examined the four Guards whom Anaxaris had left and who knew nothing but that Anaxaris had commanded them to let none go out of the Castle until it was late and that the King of Assyria had been dressed of a slight wound which he had in his left Atm they advised together upon the best expedients in such a disasterous occasion 'T is true their counsels were often interrupted for men come from all Quarters of the Army to be satisfied concerning this great report which was so suddenlie spread abroad both concerning the King of Assyria's life and the death of Cyrus and also the carrying away of Mandana But at the last since the necessity of the business did extreamly urge it Cyrus with the advice of all his friends and of his Rival and when they understood that Anaxaris had not above a hundered men with him resolved that the King of Assiria the Prince Artamas the Prince Intaphernes and himself should each of them take two hundered horse and divide themselves to try if any of them could find out the way which Anaxaris took of which they had no light at all But since Cyrus was glad that some of his friends would be with the Assirian King in case he should find Mandana and recover her out of Anaxaris his hands And so he had no means to break his promise and carry her away for himself therefore Cyrus transacted with abundance of discretion maugre all his sorrows And caused many of his friends to follow his Rival As Araspes Aglatidas and some others Thus these four Princes taking with them such men as they stood in need of they parted after they had agreed upon the several ways which they were to take and of the place unto which they would send intelligence in case they heard any news of Mandana But when these four Troops had taken their several ways and that Cyrus marched and enquired all the way he went also when he considered how after he had taken Sinope Artaxates Babylon Sardis and Cumes and how after he had subdued so many Kingdoms and delivered Mandana when she was carried away by the King of Assiria by the Prince Mazares and by the King of Pontus now to see her carried away again by the Prince Ariantes he fell into a most extream dispair For he saw himself in as miserable a condition as he was when he went under the name of Artamenes when upon his return from Massagettes as he approached Thimiscyra he understood that the King of Assiria under the name of Philidaspes had carryed away Mandana yet sometimes he imagined that Ariantes perhaps had not carried her away but this imagination was very weak in him for having confidence in his secresy he had told him the the hour when he was to fight with the King of Assiria So as seeing he had carried away Mandana before he had so much as fought with his enemy he could not find any foundation of hope And not knowing well what to think of this cross adventure he very well saw it to be full of cruelty unto him In the mean time all his vigilancy and cares to enlighten his knowledge was in vain The Prince Artamas was no
more happy then he was in his way no more was Intaphernes But though these three Princes with Mersyles sought Ariantes in vain It was otherwise with the King of Assiria for fortune seemed to conduct him unto unto Mandana and he found the way she went within forty furlongs of the place where he parted from Cyrus so as making all hast after and continually enquiring he understood that the Coach in which the Princess was being broken it would be a long while before it could be mended So as then hoping to overtake them quickly he marched so fast that he came at last upon a little Hill within thirty furlongs of the Euxine Bridge from whence he saw horsemen coming out of a little Wood he saw a Coach stay also he saw a Lady sitting under some Trees whose head leaned upon the knees of another and who by her action seemed to wipe away her tears there being another woman upon her knees before him who also behaved her self as if she wept So as knowing that Mandana had none with her but Doralisa and Martesia he doubted not but it was she whom he saw Then without the delay of one minute he encouraged his men unto valor He commanded them to have a principle care not to fight over neer Mandana least they should unawares hurt her After which he commanded them to march and at the very first to cut all the Reighs of that Charrot in which the Princess was to the end Ariantes might be disabled from carrying her away yet since he was not neer enough to know their faces he only conjectured who they were but his conjecture and appearances deceived him for Ariantes having left Mandana under that shade was gone himself to enquire whether the Coach could pass a certain way which would shorten that way at least two hours in going unto the Port where he had provided a Ship as soon as he understood that Cyrus was to fight with the King of Assiria So that Andramites staying to command Mandanas Guard no sooner saw this body of Cavelry appear in the head of which was the King of Assirias but he expected an assault Yet to the end he might know who it was that assaulted him he sent out one of his men to know who those were which he saw And commanding all the rest to prepare themselves for a stout defence he set one party about Mandana and placed so me other at the entry into the little Wood which was easily defended because they could not be surrownded Since all this could not be done but in Mandanas sight and since her magination was filled with a fancy that the King of Assiria had killed Cyrus she started up in great hast conjuring Andramites that if it were the King of Assiria which appeared to defend her against him and obliged also Doralisa to imploy all her power over Andramines to make him lose his life rather then suffer her to fall into the hands of a man whom she thought had killed Cyrus She had no sooner said this but those whom Andramites had sent to diseover whether or no it was the King of Assiria returned with all speed assuaed him that it was the King of Assiria So that Mandana aggravating her prayers unto Andramites and her commands upon her Guards she her self was an obstacle unto those who came to deliver her not imagining that there could be more danger in being carryed away by Anaxaris whom she did not know to be Ariantes then by the King of Assiria by Mazares or by the King of Pontus Adramites after he had assured her that he would die in her service and after he had sent to acquaint Ariantes with the adventure he advanced towards the King of Assyria as the King of Assyria advanced towards him so that a most fatal and terrible combat began betwixt them Since the King of Assyria in his march had divided his men into many small Parties lest he should be mistaken and since his intelligence of Mandana's march was various he was no more numerous then his adversarie so that the combat being upon equal terms it was both sharp and bloody But whilst they were at handy blowes and whilst Andramites endeavoured to hinder the King of Assyria from coming at Mandana that Princess would needs go unto her Coach whilst Andramites kept his ground But since the King of Assyria had been exactly obeyed she found that some of his men had cut the Reins of his horses so that returning unto the foot of a tree environed with those whom Andramites had left to guard her her imaginations were beyond all expressions especially when she knew the King of Assyria and saw him fight with incredible fury for seeing him with the same Sword wherewith she thought he had killed Cyrus her sorrows were such as words cannot represent Alas said she ifting up her eyes to heaven and sighing must I come under the power of him who hath taken away the life of the most illustrious Prince that ever breathed and unto whom I was most obliged of all men living Oh ye just Gods cried she and bathed her eyes in tears Since the death of Cyrus must infallibly be the cause of mine I beseech you defer it no longer but let me even now expire with sorrow and if you will be favourable unto me let those who fight in my defence revenge the death of Cyrus upon the King of Assyria or at the hast let not that unjust Prince triumph over my Tomb much less over my person Whilst Mandana was thus breathing up her prayers to heaven a great noyse of strange voice of armes and of horses was heard one man no sooner fell of each side but another stept into his place and their fury both in assaulting and defending was as hot as at the first The King of Assyria for his part did things beyond a man and he killed almost as many with his own hand as all the rest of his followers did On the other side Andramites as well in point of love as honor did what a man of courage could do but since the King of Assyria was stoutlie seconded by Aglatidas and Araspes he pressed so hard upon those he assaulted that they were forced to give ground so that Mandana Doralisa and Martesia then thinking they should fall under the King of Assyria's power they all breathed out such scrieââ of sorrow as reached the ears of Andramites This Lover no sooner heard the voice of the person whpm he adored but recollecting new vigour and encouraging his men both by his example and language he repulsed those who had repulsed him then seeking for the King of Assyria maugre the confesion of the combat he fell upon him with extream furie and environed him with foure of his men So that the King of Assyria being weary with the combat which he had in the morning with Cyrus who had wounded him slightlie in the left arm and now not having his usual strength
unto the Princess to deceive her I shallonly tell you how according to his resolution with my Master he told her that the King of Assiria was alive He told him what you promised that Prince at Sinope And he shewed her the Order which you left him to execute in case he fell in the Combate with the King of Assiria So that the Princess seeing an Order written with your own hand Sir and perceaving it was not to be read until after your death she drew as sad a conclusion from it as Ariantes wished and she assured her self that the King of Assiria had killed you and the more because the Prince Ariantes by the means of a witty fellow who was his servant had caused him to get out of your Chamber that Scarfe which you wore the day before being the same as I have heard say which that Princess denyed you in Cappadocia and which you took from the Prince Mazares when he was almost dead by reason of the Shipwrack with the Princess So as when she asked Ariantes how he knew you Sir were dead he told her that Ortalques who followed you brought back the news and likewise brought back the Scarfe which formerly had been hers adding that he had brought Ortalques himself unto her had not that faithful servant been resolved to revenge your death Sir upon the King of Assyria's second and fighting with him he was so wounded that all he was able to do was to come and advertise him of the sad accident according to the order which he received from his Master before the fight Ariantes added further that as wounded as he was he would have brought him had he not feared that if the Guards of the Castle had seen him the accident would have been too much divulged before she had well considered upon her own safety After this Mandana asked him with a sad sigh what Ortalques had done with the Corps of his Master And Ariantes answered her that the King of Assiria had made himself a party amongst the Souldiers and would not suffer Ortalques to bring it off but he had much adoe to steal away and save himself Therefore Madam said he unto her It is most expedient that you think upon the best course to secure your self for I must confess that I am afraid the commands of a living and victorious King will be more powerful then the orders of a vanquished and dead Prince though he were the greatest in the world You may imagine Sir how this news grieved the Princess Mandana But in conclusion after abundance of sad complaints she told the Prince Ariantes she desired his advice conjuring him to make his promise good unto you Sir and to die rather then to let her come under the King of Assyria's power Madam said he unto her you need not exhort me to defend you against this Prince for I am sufficiently resolved upon it but the difficulty is how to do it hansomely and not to die before you are at liberty In the mean time I must once again tell you that I do not beleeve the Order which I have from the illustrious Cyrus sufficient to keep the Officers and Souldiers in obedience For Craessus and Mersyles seeing their Conqueror dead will perhaps be glad to aid the King of Assiria in getting the Throne to the end they may ascend their own Thrones The Prince Artamas as generous as he is will perhaps cease being Tributary unto Ciaxares unto whom he was not so obliged as unto Cyrus The King of Hircania will doubtless be of the same mind And I make a doubt whether Gobrias and Gadates will not make use of this occasion to make the King of Assiria forget all they have done against him To be short Madam so many new Conquered people are apt to rebel and I have good cause to fear that the Orders of the illustrious Cyrus will be but ill obeyed if your person be not secured before the death of the Prince be divulged Mandana hearing Ariantes speak thus and finding much probability in all he said she told him that her sorrows were so much above her reason that she was not able to resolve upon any course to keep her self out of the King of Assiria's power and desired him to tell her what she should doe Since you command me Madam answered he I shall tell you that in my opinion the best course is to depart in all hast and goe unto some Port upon the Euxine Sea which I know is not above a days journey from hence that as soon as you are there to provide a Ship and make use of it if occasion be after this when you are out of the Assyrian Kings reach then to send unto the Troops to come and receive your Orders if they obey and that the King of Assiria do not hinder them you may then continue your voyage and if they do not obey the Madam you may imbarque presently and secure your Person from the violence of the Assyrian King Mandana finding all this to be full of reason did beleeve him yet she had a desire to send for Chrisantes and Aglatidas But Ariantes telling her that they lodged far from the Castle and their design requiring both secrecy and hast she was contented to let them alone though her grief was extream and she feared so much to fall into the King of Assyria's power that indeed her Soul was all sorrow and fear So that since she thought no man more fitting to trust then him unto whom you had trusted your secrets and your honor she submitted her self wholly unto his conduct yet she chid him much for not acquainting her with your engagements with the King of Assiria but to put that off he told her that he never knew of it until Ortalques told him and gave him this Order which he shewed her So that the Princess resolving to follow his advice she sent to give Orders for her departure she did rise as fast as she could and departed with two women only beleeving that Ariantes had no further design but to secure her Person But Sir I forgot to tell you that in case Mandana had not been willing to follow the advice of Ariantes he had carried her away by force and would have told her that he had Orders so to doe and to carry her unto the King her father yet Sir that needed not for as I have already told you the Princess confiding in the man whom you trusted Sir and not suspecting that he was in love with her she her self was accessary to her own carrying away And the truth is when the King of Assiria came up she beleeved Cyrus to be dead and that Ariantes under the umbrage of Anaxaris was her Protector But I pray tell me said Cyrus and interrupted him what is the design of Ariantes and whether will he carry Mandana Sir replied the man if he have not changed his mind he will land at the Port of Cholchis and
very easie to move them against him whom the Princess had trusted with her Authority also to drive him out of the Town and make the Prince Ariantes master of it And indeed since he had no Army which could come up time enough to appease this disorder Octomasades did happily execute his design of feising upon Issedon and began war in the very heart of the Kingdom I shall not Sir insist upon any particulat relation of the whole business for I have so many other passages less tedious to tell you that I will only in two words tell you that the people by the Artefice of Octomasades did rebel some said according as they were inspired that Ariantes was their legitimate King and that Thomiris did but usurp the Kingdom of Issedons from him others did second them and all proclaimed Ariantes King who took up arms and drove the Lievetenant of Thomiris out of the Kingdom and secured all the strong places of the Town And all this in so short a time that it had been done without any resistance if Agatherses had not been a rub unto his design But Sir since the passages were extraordinary I beseech you give me leave to insist a little longer upon them Be pleased to know therefore Sir that Agatherses whose mind was enflamed with love and jealousie he visited Elibesis as much as he could not only because he was pleased with the sight of her but because he would hinder Ariantes from all private discourse so as when this great tumult was in Issedon Agatherses was with Elibesis who lodged far from that part of the town where the sedition began in so much as Ariantes was master of a great part of the Town before they knew it But at last the disorder was so great and universall that the noise of it reached their ears and interrupted Agatherses who was discoursing with Elibesis both concerning his love and his jealousie As they were much surprised at so great a noise and full of curiositie to know the cause one of the women of Elibesis came frighted in and told her mistress that all the town was in arms That Ariantes would make himself King and that none durst resist him You may well imagine Sir that this news filled Agatherses and Elibesis with wonder yet Agatherses believed that Elibesis did not onely seem fuller of wonder than really she was and that she knew something of the design For I forgot to tell you Sir that the night before Ariantes talked at least two howers together of his passion with her and Aâatherses knew it So that this Lover hearing his Rivall would be King and fearing least he should become his Subject his sorrows were beyond expression and the more because he believed or at least feared that Elebesis was Prince to the plot and approved of it so as not knowing what to believe or not to believe he looked fixedly upon Elebesis as if his eyes would look into the very bottom of her heart I have reason to think Madam said he unto her that you are acquainted with the unjust proceedings of the Prince Ariantes since you told me once that unless you were a Queen I was in no danger of losing you But know Madam that since I am as faithfull a Subject as a Lover and as terrible an enemy as a Rivall the Prince Ariantes is not yet in a condition to offer you a Crown and he shall never set you upon the Throne untill after he hath sent me to my grave Let me therefore leave you Madam and either go meet death or give it him who removes me out of your heart For I do profess I can never live a Subject either unto my Rivall or my mistress And I swear by all the gods that are adored at Issedon or any where else in the world that I will never be your Subject or Ariantes After this Agatherses went his way though Elebesis would have stayed him for though she was ambitious and desired to preserve Ariantes yet she loved Agatherses But it was in vain to recall him for since the noise increased Agatherses transported with rage and fury would needs go and see if he could find any means to quash the Rivals design so as he went out at a back door least he should be compassed about with a croud of seditious people and not know what to do But he was no sooner got out then he met one of his friends who with a hundred men onely would seize upon a For or Tower which Ariantes was not yet master of So as Agatherses without more delay went with this party to oppose Ariantes But before they could get into this Tower they met with this Prince and fought him with incredible valour As for Agatherses he did as much as any jealous Lover could who fought with his Rivall and he made his way so through the press and got unto the Prince Ariantes who seeing him come on so furiously received him with the same vigour the other assaulted him asking him for all the tumult whether he fought as subject unto Thomiris or as the lover of Elebesis I fight replied he fiercely to hinder you from being King to hinder Elebesis from being Queen and to keep my self from being subject unto either her or you After this Agatherses made a blow at Ariantes which slightly hurt him in the left arm And Ariantes made another at Agatherses which scratched him on the right side and which had killed him had he not warded it with much cunning and force But in conclusion Ariantes being ten times more numerous then his enemies Agatharses was not able to retard the designs of this Prince For all his men being neither souldiers nor men of quality they ran away as soon as they saw ten or twelve of themselves killed So that Agatharses fearing to fall under the power of his Rivall or else to become either his Prisoner or subject he was forced to retreat by a back-lane but it was with so much sorrow and rage that never man was more desperate All he could do was to get into the house of a friend for since he had assaulted Ariantes he durst not go into his own house Furthermore he sadly heard that nothing could withstand his Rivall and that the tumultuous assembly had declared that Thomiris was onely daughter unto the Prince Lipacaris and that Ariantes was the son unto the late King of Issedons and consequently King according to the Lawes of the Realm But to his greatest grief he was given to understand that Ariantes whose wound was so slight that he wore his arm in a scarf rather for fashion than need had been a whole house with Elibesis And indeed Sir since the ambition of this Prince was onely an effect of his love he no sooner saw his design executed but maugre all his business he would needs visit her whom he loved and adored and he might the better do it because the main weight of this great enterprize did
but somthing must appear either in the tone of the voice or in the eyes or in some of the actions and I think that her generosity may as well be accused for often when she hath been hearkening unto one friend she hath been thinking how to serve another Thus it may without flattery be said that whatsoever the Princess of Armenia can be accused of does conduce to render her more amiable and more perfect and are only pure effects of the greatness of her soul and goodness and when she talked in good earnest unto any her discourse was the most pleasing in the world and able to give full satisfaction unto the most delicate and difficult questions there being nothing so high unto which she could not give a good accompt nor nothing so low unto which she would not Nobly speak Moreover it may be said that never any serious person would be so wittily merry when she had a mind nor ever any had such a fine mixture of modesty and Gallantry together as this Princess nor who better understood the subtilties and intriques of the world As Onesile was eloquent in her language so was she as excellent at her pen few women ever writ comparably to her yet for all this her eloquence her wit and her beauty came short of her generosity of her goodness and of her virtue never any had a soul more solidly generous then Onesile had nor did ever any know how to oblige in a more noble way for she would not only do such favours for her friends as they desired of her but she would do such offices for them as they never did nor durst ask her Moreover whosoever was virtuous was sure of her protection and she was so much taken with any extraordinary merit that she could never see any man of parts miserable without much sorrow though they had no relation to her Indeed Onesile had so great and noble a heart that though she was destined to sit upon the Throne of Armenia yet it may truly be said that she was below her fortune and merit and all the world who knew her did so pity her want of health that they did most zealously pray for it Moreover still Onesile was as liberal as ever any was and the very truth is she had all the virtues in a high degree and she was so respective and so tenderly loved of every one that had the honor to come unto her as it was no wonder the merit of such a person should make a deep impression in the mind of Cyrus and move him to all possible civility in going to her as soon as he heard she intended to come unto him and he went with Indatherses and six more only As soon as Onesile heard that Cyrus was coming to her she went to meet him but he going very fast up the stairs she was no further then the door of her Chamber where after the first complements were over and that Cyrus had saluted a Cozen of Onesiles which was with her he presented Indatherses unto her and in few words acquainted her with his quality and merit After which Onesile expressed her sorrows for the actions of her Brother-in-law Phraartes and that she could not hear where Tigranes was whom she heard went with Spitridates to seek his Brother and to move him concerning the Princess Araminta I am confident Sir said she after many other things that you will think my sorrows not without good cause and that hearing Phraartes was gone to ask retreat from Thomiris I had reason to undertake this journey to the end if Tigranes came hither I might prevent those two Brothers from killing each other for Phraartes alwayes expressing much friendship to me I had some hopes of reducing him to reason if I could see him I wish unto the Gods Madam replied Cyrus that you could perswade both Phraartes and the Prince Ariantes to set those two Princesses whom they carried away at liberty and that the reports of such a noble adventure might bring Tigranes back to you But Madam not to spend time in vain wishes give me leave to tell you that I make no doubt but you will ere long see the Prince Tigranes here for since it is impossible but fame must needs tell him that the Princess Araminta is with Thomiris and that I am at the River Araxes it is very credible that I am not deceived in saying you will see him very shortly Whilest Cyrus was thus talking with the Princess of Armenia Indatherses and other men of quality who came with Cyrus did talke unto the cosen of Onesile whose name was Telagene who was one of the most noble families in all Armenia This Lady understood Greek and Indatherses having got that Language very perfectly in his quest of Anacharsis he much delighted to talk with her and certainly not without great reason for she had many attractive and pleasing quallities Telagene was of a mean stature but well made She had eyes great and blue of a sweet and languishing lustre which pleased infinitly Her complexion was smooth her face oval and her hair so fine that one may call it fair without doing her a favor Moreover Telagene had not only much beauty much sweetness but her memory was furnished with all the excellencies of Greece And from Hesiode unto Sapho nothing of all that the Muses produced escaped her curiosity Her reading gave her a most excellent faculty in writing and that so gallantly as that might with reason be ranked amongst those which rendred her most amiable Her discourse was sweet and complaisant Her soul was tenderly inclined unto friendship and all her inclinations so noble and disposed unto virtue that it was no wonder if Indatherses took delight in talking with her and thought the time not a quarter of an hour when Cyrus went from the Princess of Armenia who was resolved to stay in that place in hopes of seeing the Prince Tigranes For the Town where she was being an allie both unto the King of Armenia and the King of Medes she was safe enough there Also Cyrus being Master of the Field on this side Araxaes And all the Forces of Thomiris being on the other side she might safely enough stay there In the mean time as Cyrus returned back along the River with those who accompanied him he saw a good way before him a man who went into a Boat which was so little as not being able to hold his Horse he let him go and beckened unto another man on horâe-back as if he desired him to make hast Cyrus observing this the loose Horse came towards him and seeing him to be a very handsome horse he conceived the master to be a man of quality Cyrus being full of curiosity to know who he was did gallop as fast as he could to the place where this Boat was But when he was within fifty paces and he in the Boat knowing Cyrus he changed his intentions of staying for the man he beckened
else I will do it without him When you have sent her back into my Camp replied Cyrus I do ingage my self to come into yours Madam provided Mandana consent unto it For I do protest Madam I would do any thing in the world to procure her liberty and your favour To procure my favour answered she and lessened her tone you know that the way is not to be Mandana's Lover For as long as you are added she and raised her voice again She shall be my Prisoner and I will be revenged upon her for all the injuries you did me in departing out of my Dominions without my permission Oh Madam cried out Cyrus if you keep Mandana Prisoner only to be revenged upon me I beseech you deliver her and I will promise you to punish my self for the crime whereof you accuse me and of which I cannot repent At these words Ariantes accidentally appeared with his Troop though he had no orders from Thomiris This Princess seeing him before Cyrus did and not doubting but now Cyrus would be in her Fetters as well as Mandana she told him That it was not now a time to talk of Mandana's liberty but to surrender his Sword and become her Slave She had no sooner said these words but Cyrus and all his company seeing Ariantes and Andramites coming in the head of fifteen or twenty horse they then gave themselves for lost In the mean time Cyrus seeing no delay was expedient and that he was so far from taking Thomiris that he was himself in danger to be taken he took upon the right hand for fear of being compassed about one passage at this incounter was excellently remarkable for Cyrus as he parted in an instant from Thomiris it was in his power to have killed her he saw the thing so easie to be done that it was his virtue only which restrained his arm he was so absolutely Master of her and himself at this time that imagining it would be a shame for him to kill a Queen he used not the least action which might raise suspition he had any such thought but on the contrary as he left her Learn Madam said he unto he by the respect I bear unto you to respect the Princess Mandana and do to her what is fit since I do not to you what I could On the other side Thomiris who saw that Cyrus by his respect gave her an opportunity to give him a blow did upon the first brunt of her fury lift up her arm but a second thought restraining the first she negligently let fall her Sword and looked whether Arianâes was coming In the mean time this Rival unto Cyrus seeing that this Prince by reason of his quickness could not be compassed about he joyned his Troop unto that of Thomiris so that now he overnumbered his Enemy by more then half 'T is true his repugnancy to fight against a Prince unto whom he was obliged did somthing lessen his ordinary valor and made him fall on more faintly But Thomiris charging her men not to kill Cyrus but to take him and promising great rewards if they did take him she did so incourage them that the Conquerour of all Asia was never so neer taking Prisoner since he was at the Castle of Hermes as now But his great heart being bravely seconded by Mazares Indatherses Aglatidas Ligdames Araspes Feraulas and others which followed him they did so closely unite themselves and kept a pass in the wood where they could not be compassed about so well that they stood the first charge of Ariaâtes so vigorously as those who would have broken them were broken themselves So that Cyrus falling violently into the body of his Enemies he met with Ariantes As for Thomiris she only gave orders and fought not still chargeing her men continually not to kill Cyrus but to take him In the mean time when this Prince was neer enough Ariantes to be heard Oh thou perfidious Anaxaris said he and fell upon him restore me that Princess whom I trusted thee withal I cannot tell whether Anaxaris will restore her unto you replied that Prince and warded the blow which Cyrus made at him but I am sure Ariantes will not though he knows he does you wrong and is ungrateful After this these two fierce Enemies talking only with their hands the combat became hot and if their numbers had been a little more equal then it was Cyrus had certainly defeated his Rival as brave as he was But since he still retained his judgment he perceived that if he strive only to vanquish Ariantes himself would be overcome by his men and fall into the power of Thomiris So that after he had very dangerously wounded Ariantes in the left shoulder and seeing there was no way but to retreat he disingaged himself from amidst his Enemies and rallying all his men together he still retreated fighting and so bravely that his followers began to faint upon it For since Ariantes by reason of his wound did not follow and since Thomiris would not follow any further for fear of an Ambuscado Cyrus by his wisdom and rare valour made good his retreat with the loss only of three Cavaliers In his return he perceived that he had received a flight wound in his right sitle So that seeing no more Enemies to fight with he hasted his march that he might be dressed and came very happily to his Camp where he was expected with much impatience and so he left Thomiris in most insufferable dispair The End of the Second Book ARTAMENES OR The Grand CYRUS The Nineth Part. BOOK III. AS soon as Cyrus was come unto his Tent he altered the orders which he had given Chrisantes of going to Thomiris and he took a short accompt of the state of things whilst his Chyrurgions were sent for and gave his orders for every thing in so short a time that he had nothing to do when they came but to search his wound which they found to be very slight and without any danger But yet they told Cyrus that it was absolutely necessary for him to keep his bed two daies and to be seven or eight before he ventured on horseback because his wound being neer his hip it could not close in a short time unless he gave it rest adding that if he did not take that course it would be in danger of a Gangreen and make him much worse At the first Cyrus would not obey them thinking seven or eight daies as so many ages for he knew that as long as he could not stir his Army could not attempt any thing Yet at last considering that their advice in such things was to be followed he obeyed them yet he had scarce rested himselfe two hours but Adonacris who stayed in the Tents Royal after Anacharsis returned and came to give an accompt of his voyage Truth is Cyrus was not hugely hasty to ask him news considering the tempers he had left Thomiris and Ariantes in However he had a
desire to know what made him so soon quit the Tents Royal and what moved Thomiris and Ariantes to go into the woods where he met them for he knew they could not have any intelligence of his passing over Araxes So that as soon as Adonacris came to him I do not ask you generous Adonacris said he unto him How you have prevailed with Ariantes for having talked with him when he had a Sword in his hand I know what answer he made you But I ask you what moved Thomiris to come into the wood on this side the Fort of Sauromates Sir replied Adonacris to satisfie your curiosity I must tell you of many important passages and therefore though my negotiation proved ineffectual yet I beseech you give me leave to acquaint you with what I have done to the end you may better understand what I have to acquaint you withal I shall tell you then Sir since your silence seems to give consent that true it is I have not prevailed with Ariantes yet most certain it is that once I saw his mind stagger and when I remembred him of all his obligations to you I found in him as much shame as love Yes my dear Adonacris said he then unto me when I pressed him very earnestly all that you tell me is most true and I must confess that Anaxaris is a base ungrateful and perfidious man such a one as Cyrus has reason to hate and that he is equally unworthy both of the friendship of Cyrus and of Mandana's love But Adonacris though Ariantes had a desire to repair the fault of Anaxaris that it would be in vain if he should attempt it for Mandana is so little in his dispose that Thomiris will hardly suffer him to see her and therefore he is far from any ability of rendring her unto Cyrus Therefore since I should repent in vain because I cannot release her if I would I had better not repent at all Also I am perswaded that I should ere long repent that ever I repented And therefore I beseech you do what you can to make my Rival hate me without scorn and endeavour to lessen the greatness of my crime by instancing the greatness of my love After this Sir I redoubled my reasons and my prayers and I dare assure you my affection at that time made me say much more then a more able man then my self could have imagined at that time and upon this occasion But as I was with this Prince one came from Thomiris to acquaint him that the Prince Phraartes going to see the works at the Fort of Sauromates did meet with a stranger and fought with him and that he was mortally wounded as well as his Enemy So that Phraartes being high in the esteem of Thomiris she no sooner heard in what condition he was but she went from the Tents Royal unto the Fort of Sauromates where they had carried him because he fought neer that place So that setting out about two hours after Anacharsis and carrying the Prince Ariantes and Andramites with her I followed them hoping that my importunity might happily work with Ariantes Thus I came with them as far as the Fort of Sauromates where we were no sooner arrived but Thomiris and Ariantes went to visit Phraartes whom they found at the last gasp yet having his intellects perfect he desired to speak with them in private and so he did for half an hour After which he growing speechless they left him but it was very observeable that as soon as they had talked with Phraartes they consulted a long time together the mind of Ariantes seeming to be displeased at somthing After this Thomiris left him and went to see him whom Phraartes had fought with whom they brought into the same place So that it is to be imagined this unknown man was some very considerable person However I could not know any more of him all I can tell you is they are both dead and the same honors were done unto them But Sir to end my relation Ariantes and Thomiris having a design to ingage you amongst those narrow passes which are in the woods about the Fort of the Sauromates went to view them and to see where they should place their men in case you came over Araxes But since it would be too much to view them all in one day if they went together Thomiris and Ariantes took several wayes into the woods to view these passes not knowing that you had passed the river and those who watched the river thinking her to be at the Tents Royal it 's probable they sent their intelligence thither and I can assure you they knew nothing of it at the Fort of the Sauromates until the return of Thomiris and Ariantes In the mean time though Ariantes was wounded he would needs send news of it unto the Tents Royal where the body of the Army lay but he would not let me speak with him So that I returned to you Sir very sorry I was not able to do you any better service no more then the friends of Anabaris who have all promised me to let slip no opportunity which Fortune shall present unto them to endeavour the liberty of Mandana When Adonacris had pronounced these words one came and told Cyrus that the man to whom he spake unto neer Araxes when he returned from seeing Onesile asked very earnestly to speak with him So that Cyrus thinking it to be the same man whom he sent to the King of Pontus to tell him it was better fighting on his side then for the Ravisher of Mandana he commanded him to enter So Adonacris being retired and this man entred Cyrus asked him What he had to say from the King his Master Sir answered he and sighed I beseech you pardon me that I cannot conceal my sorrows for the death of a Prince who was your Rival but what he hath commanded me to tell you will perhaps render me excuseable and oblige you to lament the misfortune of so great a Prince How cryed out Cyrus Is the King of Pontus dead Yes Sir replied he and died with thoughts very contrary to the Prince who gave him his death This is such a wonder to me replied Cyrus that you must relate the accident with all its circumstances before you can make me believe it Which to do Sir answered the man I must tell you that after I left you I went over the River at the next passage and I was so happy that the next morning I met with the King my Master who stayed at the first house to get a horse But Sir though I told him all that you charged me withal and though he was much moved at it yet he continued his journey three daies after and being told that the way through the wood was the neerest way to go unto the place where the Army was he took it and went unto the Fort of the Saumorats where enquiring of news in general he understood that Phraartes whom
lament him I have done it my self Madam replied Cyrus and have extreamly pittied the sad destiny of so great a Prince and I thank the Gods with all my heart that though he hath been my Rival and my Enemy yet that you Madam cannot charge me with his death And I assure you Madam that if I could revive him though with the same Love unto the Princess Mandana yet I should joyfully do it to cease your sorrows and stop your tears But Madam said he being forced by the violence of his love Why did you not bring the Princess Mandana with you That I might have been obliged unto the Prince Intaphernes and the Prince Atergatis for delivering her as I am for setting you at liberty Alas Sir replied she I need not answer this question but after I have commended your generosity in lamenting the death of your Enemy I must tell you that the Princess Mandana is now guarded with so much exactness that there is no delivering her but by the overthrow of Thomiris yet she is waited upon with much respect and she knows so well how to make her Ravishers fear her that the Prince Ariantes trembles as oft as he comes neer her and speaks unto her as humbly as if she were not in his power But Sir pursued she the news of taking the Fort of Sauromates hath extreamly amazed the Queen of Massagettes and if the Prince Ariantes had not been wounded it had been ere now besieged but that Prince being unable to act by reason of his wounds I believe the design is deferred for some certain daies After this Sir I must needs maugre my sorrow tell you of the Prince Intaphernes and the Prince Atergatis their generosity who knowing that those who conducted me were carrying me unto Arsamones a mortal Enemy unto the King my Brother did fight them and brought me unto you Sir When you know them well replied Cyrus you will finde that you are more obliged unto them then you imagine for as you are a Debtor unto them for your liberty so are you unto the Prince Atergatis for the liberty of Spitridates When one hath done no more then what was their duty to be done replied that Prince there is no obligations owing and by the same reason added Intaphernes I do declare that since I have done no more then what I ought to have done I cannot pretend unto any right of obligation However it be said Cyrus you will give us leave to think what we please But Madam added he I can stay no longer before I tell you that we expect the Prince Spitridates his being here very shortly Do you know Sir replied Araminta and both blush'd and sigh'd where that unfortunate Prince is I do not directly know in what place he is Madam replied Cyrus I know he will arrive here ere long and that he was at a Port in Cholcides when the Prince Tigranes did write unto the Princess Onesile and so I know he will ere long have the happiness of seeing you After this Sir Cyrus asked Intaphernes and Atergatis in what place they met this Princess And after they answered that they found her as she was passing over the river he asked Araminta whether the two Princesses which Arsamones gave as Hostages unto Thomiris were come or no To which she answered as she had before Intaphernes and Atergatis that they arrived the day before she came away and that she was extreamly sorry she could not obtain so much leave as to see the Princess of Bythinia whom she had long loved After this Cyrus told her that though the unfortunate King her Brother had only left her the Title of a Queen yet he would treat her as Queen in possession of those two Kingdoms which he had lost For Madam said he unto her I know that the Prince Spitridates will restore them to you and I am sure he will never enjoy the usurpation of Arsamones but as soon as he comes here will treat you as Queen of Pontus though his Father possess the Kingdom And Madam if it be the pleasure of fortune that I shall deliver Mandana Arsamones shall render Justice unto such as it is due unto Araminta charmed with the civility of Cyrus did answer him with as much generosity and spirit and with as much sorrow as generosity After which Cyrus ordered that she should be waited upon unto a stately Tent and to stay there until Boats were ready to convey her unto the Town where Onesile was where she might be more conveniently and safe At the first though Araminta did infinitely esteem that Princess yet when it was proposed to be with her she could hardly consent unto it because she was Sister in Law unto Phraartes but Cyrus satisfying her that this Princess did highly condemn the violence of Phraartes and that Tigranes was a dear friend unto Spitridates and a great Enemy unto his Brother for carrying her away she was well contented to be with her Also she seeing but two wayes to chuse either to stay in an Army or to stay with a most virtuous Princess she quickly resolved with her self and was conducted by Chrisantes unto her the day following Cyrus first sending to acquaint Onesile with the King of Pontus his death and with the death of Phraartes also with the arrival of Araminta to the end she might know how she ought to receive her The meeting of these two Princesses was very tender and they spoke so excellently unto each other as it was most evident they had both of them as much judgment as spirit and as much virtue as judgment In the mean time the Bridg being repaired and Cyrus being ready to go out of his Tent he resolved to pass over with all possible speed all such provisions as were requisite during his march and to disencamp as soon as they were over giving several orders for a continual supply of subsistance for his Army So that being to depart within two daies he resolved to imploy one of them upon a Visit unto the Queen of Pontus and to bid adieu unto the Princess of Armenia Since Cyrus loved the company of Anacharsis very well he obliged him unto this visit with him So that Cyrus setting out betimes in the morning accompanied with that renowned Scithean Indatherses Araspes Ligdamis Aglatidas Menesiphiles and Chersias it was early when he arrived Since Araminta was in mourning and moreover since he would treat her as a Queen he went first unto her and afterwards unto the Princess Onesile But he took no notice at his entrance that Anacharsis did not follow him but stayed at the bottom of the stairs with a stranger 'T is true as soon as he was in Araminta's Chamber he missed him and asked for him But Chersias telling him that he stayed with a man who seemed to have much business with him he went on with his visit and did ingage himself so deep in talk of Mandana with Araminta that he forgot Anacharsis
adores in the same Coffin which brought my Sonne As she said so the Prince Ariantes coming to her and hearing these words hee grew pale with fear and wonder So that his love of Mandana moving him he was necessitated to justifie his Rivall lest the violence of Thomiris should become dangerous Also shee had no sooner pronounced terrible words but Ariantes spoke unto her with as much reverence as sorrow you know Madam said he unto her that Fate hath brought me into that condition as I can never be a friend unto Cyrus but have many reasons to hate him Yet for al that honour bids me tell your Majesty that I can never believe that Cyrus did either use ill or kill the Prince Srargapises for he is one that stands more upon his glory then to have his hand in any base act and I must tell you Madam that Mandana being in your hands it is not credible he should ever do such a thing I know said she unto him that this Prince had no reason for it but I know better that howsoever it was he was the cause of my sonnes death and if I cannot be revenged upon him yet I ought and will upon Mandana and therefore added she transported with fury I take it ill you should set limits to my vengeance and justifie the murtherer of a Prince in presence of his Corps and unto whom you should have been subject For Heavens sake Madam said Atacharsis then stifle all these thoughts and let your reason surmount your sorrows for I am most confident that to morrow you will repent of this daies thoughts I have already told you replied she that I will hearken no more unto you yet tell Cyrus that if within three daies he will come and put himselfe into my fetters I will spare Mandana's life if he will not I will take my course and in lieu of seeing her in triumph as he hoped he shall see her in Spargapises Cosfin Anacharsis and Ariantes seeing her so incensed would have said something to appease her fury but abruptly left them after she had given three commands The First to set the Corps of Spargapises in one of her Tents in the hands of Religious men the second to double the guards upon Mandana and the third that Anacharsis should depart that very minute and not speak unto any one living And indeed this wise and victorious Scythian was forced to obey this unjust Princess and carry unto Cyrus the saddest news that ever he received since Mazares told him at Synope that Mandana was drowned The end of the Ninth Part. ARTAMENES OR THE GRAND CYRUS THE TENTH AND LAST PART BOOK I. SINCE Ortalgues was not with Anacharsis when he had audieence from Thomiris because he was busied in discharging himselfe of those Letters which he took upon him to deliver Those who were to see Anacharsis depart that very houre from the Tents Royall never thought upon him So that Anacharsis with those who waited upon the Corps of Spargapises went away without Ortalgues But when Anacharsis came to the last guard of the Massagettans which was at the strait passage in the wood and began to think upon the Gulfe of sorrow which the soule of Cyrus would be plunged into to reflect upon all the miseries of this life and to consider the sad consequences which do commonly follow all violent Passions How happy did he think himselfe in that he had wholy subdued all his passions unto his reason and that he was above the reach of fortune in scorning all that shee was able to do unto him and in applying himselfe only unto the love of vertue and study of Philosophy yet he stood in need of all his wisdome to keep himself from murmuring against the gods whom he adored for exposing Cyrus unto so many disasterous adventures But his greatest care was to find out such words as might sweeten that message which he was to deliver unto him from Thomiris yet that labour was saved for this revengfull Princesse imagining that Anacharsis would not deliver her message in such tearms as shee expressed did send an emissary of her own unto Cyrus not only to see that her message was fully delivered but also to know his precise answer So that though this envy from Thomiris did set out two hours after Anacharsis yet making more hast then he did he overtook him before he came to the Fort of Sauromates where Cyrus was Thus this wise Scithian had not power to lessen his sorrows by concealing a little the fury of Thomiris for he was sure that this messenger would speak her message in her own words However this great and miserable Prince no sooner knew that Anacharsis was returned with a messenger from Thomiris but his heart and spirits did begin to beat a turbulent and disordered pulse hopes and feares did successively raise and deject him There was then present with him Mazares Artamas Atergates Intaphernes Hidaspes Araspes and Aglatidas But though much inquietude and impatience appeared in all their faces yet it was easie to discern that Cyrus and Mazanes had such a curiosity to know the business of this envey from Thomiris as could not possibly proceed but from one and the same passion Indeed they had both of them such a desire to heare how that Queen received the news of her Sons death and were so affraid least she should have some revenging resolutions upon Mandana as they expressed their sorrows and their feares in every wrinkle of their faces They did communicat their sadnesse and impatiency by their very looks Though Mazanes did still strive as much as ever he could to hide some part of his resentments purposely to hide his love from his generous Rivall with whom he neither could nor would dispute for Mandana yet he had much ado But at last Cyrus commanded that Anacharsis should enter and the messenger from Thomiris to ââay in the next Tent untill he was a little instructed what to say unto him Come wise Anacharsis said Cyrus to him as soon as he appeared how has Thomiris received you Alas Sir replyed he and sighed I would the fidelity that I owe unto you would permit me to disguise some part of that Princess sury from you But since you must know it and since this messenger will not mince it I must tell you that this unjust Queen did receive me so unworthy both of you and her selfe that even the very worst is to be feared and nothing that is good is to be hoped for Alas Anacharsis cryed Cyrus out so there be nothing to feare concerning Mandana Let fortune do her worst any way else and I will freely abandon my selfe unto the furie of Thomiris But what 's her greif and what unjust revenge does she draw from the death of Epargapnes Sir said Anacharsis then since it is not impossible but her mind may change since I left her I conceive it fityou know what this messenger will tel you before I impart what
death of Spargapiees she suffered under no notion of violence However the truce being ended Cyrus be thought himself of executing his design so as giving all requisite orders for it he was ready the next night to try the rare secret of the Ingeneer which would burn all the wood between the two strait passages and cut off all communicatâon between the enemies quarters Cyrus then having made choise of such troops as were to assault the enemy at that place which was most weakly guarded he prepared himself for the execution of this enterprize which was of so great importance Yet he did not quit that quarter which he possessed neer the other pass least the enemy should discover his design In the mean time the project of the Ingeneer did take admirably well For he judiciously foresaw that the wind would rise to favour his enterprize and would rise so as would blow the flames towards those Enemies which would releive those which Cyrus assaulted and not towards the troops of that Prince Night being come Cyrus ordered his men fit for an assault but before he marched he acquainted the officers with the fire which would be on their left hand and they acquainted their souldiers so as the thing passing from mouth to mouth every one was prepared in a quarter of an hour not to wonder at an accident so extraordinary but on the contrary to beleive that the victory would be certainly theirs almost without any danger This being the state of things Cyrus in the head of his troops began to march towards the pass But least the assault should precede the burning assoon as that Prince began to march the Ingeneer according to his first design did set fire unto twelve trees which he had prepared to receive it and so judiciously that those twelve trees being in severall places and in the midst of many others which were rubbed with the same composition immediatly all that wood which seperated the two passes was in a flame Cyrus making his assault at the same time that the fire began the enemy was strangely surprized yet since he who commanded that pass was a very brave and gallant men he made a stout resistance in hopes that the fire would not run through the wood and in hopes he should be releived by Aripithes who was at the other pass but he was deceived in his hopes for the conflagration was so great that never was object more full of terrour and astonissiment In the mean time since the wind waâted the flames towards that side on which Aripithes was they never hindred the march of Cyrus his troops so as they had all fire on their left hand without any trouble unto them but on the contrary it helped them in their way with light and was a terrour to the enemy they were to fight withall Not but that this valiant Commander who had the Guard of that pass and was a Sauromate by birth did most couragiously oppose Cyrus And Aripithes on his side being advertised of the Assault which was made upon that Pass he would needs come in person to defend it but the flames being an obstacle unto him he was forced to go a great way about to oppose the passage of Cyrus but this great Prince did not give him any time for it for seeing that the valiant Sauromate whom he had before him would rather perish then forsake the Pass which he guarded he would needs make the assault in person and fell on so couragiously that he forced him to give ground And as those who fight retyring do not alwaies preserve their usuall judgment so this valiant Sauromate retyred towards the Wood which was on fire yet since Cyrus conceived that by driving him further he should leave the passage so open unto his Troops that Mazares Myrsiles might pass whilst he was fighting he did force him on so vigorously as it might in some sort be sayd he did drive him too far And indeed this couragious Sauromate seeing himself and his men in a most terrible extremity he turned his valour into despair and did such prodigious Acts of Valour as Cyrus was never in all his life in so much danger as now And that you may the better know into what danger this great Prince was exposed be pleased to know that driving those valiant Sauromates towards the inflamed Trees in hopes to force them to yeild themselves he also had engaged himself in the fire for since the Souldiers who did according to the commands of the Ingeneir he unluckily prepared some Trees to receive the fire in a place where he did not command them and where Cyrus did not think any had been prepared so it chanced that the fire took hold of these Trees insomuch as Cyrus who was fighting with the Sauromates was upon a sudden in the midsts of fire and flashing flames yet he was so fully resolved to vanquish this vaââant Sauromatan Commander that he still pursued him Never was Combate more terrible then this the great light which was in all the Wood did make a strange fury appear in the countenances of the Combatants Their Arms did glister exceedingly and the fire and smoak together did so alter objects as Cyrus was hardly knowable But though he could not be known by the colour of his Complexion yet he was by his valour In the mean time the flames increased and the blows of Cyrus falling thicker the Sauromates to avoid them did run into that part of the Wood which was most in flames and thinking therfore to avoid his pursuit a huge Tree did fall and gave a stop unto their flight so as they dyed in a most horrid manner Moreover the horses being frighted at this fall of fire they carried their Masters into the most dangerous places of the Combate these miserable Animals choosing rather to avoid the flames then their Riders Enemies The rumbling of the wind which blew the flames aâded unto the crackling of leaves the falling of fiery Trees and to the scrikes of dying and vanquished men did make a noise more hideous and terrible then the murmuring of the enraged Sea and most loud thunder together could do Cyrus thus being in thââ condition at last saw all his Enemies dead except that valiant Sauromate whom he desired to overcome and one other and he saw himself abandoned by those few men which followed him not that they were fled but the fall of an enflamed Tree having separated them from Cyrus they knew not how to come at him again so as this great Prince was alone in the midst of fire and flames against two most terrible Enemies However in lieu of being astonished he became more valiant and hardy and fought it out with such strange vigour that he vanquished the two Sauromates for he ran the one thorough the body and wounded the other in his right arm and thigh and came with such fury upon him that he overthrew his horse which to avoid the flames left his
by her writings you may as well infer that she is a souldier as in love Alas Democedes said he unto me the case is not the same for the very reading of Homer is enough to teach one how to speak of war but it is Love only which can teah one how to speak of Love For my part replyed I I know not how you argue but I am sure Homer speaks of Love as well as War and Sapho might learn to speak as he did Ah Democedes said he with a pensive look gladly would I beleive it was you who taught Sapho to write so passionatly as she doth for if you did not you would say as I do and swear that it is impossible any should write well of Love and not be in Love if you do but compare those expressions of Homer with those of Sapho you shall find a vast difference honest Homer does better set out the friendship of Patroclus and Achilles than he doth the Love of Achilles and Priseus had Sapho only used such high expressions as Love doth cause and not used them passionatly I should have beleived as you do that she might have writ of Love and not have loved any But Democedes she has such delicate tender and passionate fancies as are impossible to proceed from any heart but such a one as is in love the truth is I know it by my own experience for when I returned unto Mytelene I must ingenionsly confess that I did not know what Love was but in such a gross manner as I should never have understood the depth of Saphoes lines And that fair fool whom I loved in Scicily did inspire me with thoughts only propotionable into her own wit Therefore my love of Sapho hath taught me to know infallibly what is in her heart and I have now nothing else to do but to learn who that happy one is whom this fair one loves and inspires her with such tender and passionate thoughts Therefore my dear Democedes added he if it was not you who taught her this Art then help me to discover whom it is she loves to the end I may of two courses take the one of them either to cure my self or else to ruin my Rivall Seriously said I unto him once again I cannot possibly beleive that Sapho is in love with any for it is most certain that she neither loves the Prince Tysander nor Nicanor For these two Lovers kept such jealous eyes upon one another that they would have found it out had there been any cause of suspition given them and therefore friend you have no cause to trouble your mind with any such fantasticall and ill grounded jealousy I know not Democedes said he unto me how its possible you should think as you say For my part though I had seen with my own eyes and heard with my own ears a thousand passages which might perswade me that Sapho either is or hath been in Love I could not more confidently beleive it then I do Therefore if it be so that you are not in love with this fair person nor have any manner of hidden interest in saying as you do I conjure you to imploy all your ingenuity in discovering what I desire to know Cydnon loves you so dearly and you have so much wit of your own added he and flattered me that if you will you may quickly finde out who that happy one is which raigns in the heart of Sapho and inspires her with such passionate thoughts Oh! Heavens said he how worthy should I think my self of envy if the most admirable Sapho had such thoughts of me as she has of some other the greatest wonder to me is that he should have the honour to make her in love with him and that their correspondencies should not be discovered and how is it possible he should conceal so great a felicity After this Phaon used a hundred expressions which made both his Love and his Jealousy equally apparant and I did promise him to be as carefull in enquiring of what he desired to know as if i had been as fully perswaded of it as he was In the mean time I was certain that Sapho loved none unlesse she loved him and that her writing so passionatly proceeded only from a naturall tenderness of her Soul Yet for the satisfaction of my friend I asked my sister the question as if I had doubted it But I asked her in vain for she did not so much as tell me that she began to love Phaon so as telling Phaon that I could not discover any thing he was extreamly disquieted and confessed since that somtimes he beleived Sapho loved me and that her friendship unto my sister was but her umbrage to shroud her affection unto me In the mean time since he could not disvcoer any thing which might confirm him in his beleife he durst not make it appear unto me and yet he could not so constrain himself but that I perceived his soul was in a very Hell And indeed this fantasticall jealousy did torment him in such a cruell manner that all the world perceived it as well as I that he was extreamly troubled Sapho her self asked him the reason of the alteration in his humour but he durst not tell her nor durst he speak any more to me by reason of his jealous fancies so as he did live a melanchollick life Moreover since it was not possible for him but to hear many of Saphoes verses repeated every day this was a dayly fresh torment unto him for he could not hear them without a tremble of heart Again he kept an observant eye upon all the men which used to come often unto Sapho and also he was very vigilant over some who never came there And jealousy did never torment any person more than it did Phaon though he had no cause but was the only one that was loved of all Saphoes Lovers He knew not what to do noâ what to think to clear suspitions So as he resolved to go into the Country for a while and try if that would cure him both of his Love and of his jealousy he took up this resolution without imparting it unto any insomuch as I was much surprized at his departure Sapho also murmured much that he would not bid her adue before he went and all the rest of his friends did nothing but ask the reason In the mean time so it chanced that I had some business which called me into the country and I went two days after Phaon I was no sooner out of Mytelene but the Prince Thrasibulus landed there to leave the Prince Tysander in that place whom the invincible Cyrus who then named himself Artamenes had wounded in severall places when both falling into the sea they had a combate together so admirably strange and extraordinary that the Prince Thrasibulus who was then called the Famous Pirate had as great a desire to save the life of his enemy who had so bravely resisted him as
Love they did contribute their whole assistance unto Cyrus and to get the victory And the last of these had a new reason to desire it for he understood that Meliantes was in the Tents Royall and that Lycander did not know him to be his Rivall Moreover Artamus Tygranes Spitridates and all the rest of the brave Ones in this Army prepared themselves for victory or death But though Cyrus at other times when he was ready to give battell was wont to be all joy yet now his spirits were not so tranquill as he was wont and he perceived in himself such a secret melancholly the cause of which he knew not as seemed a bad Omen unto him Yet he did dissemble it as much as he could and tempered his sad thoughs with reason Indeed he was as active as if he resented no such thoughts yet that day he would weare only a a common suit of Arms but as for Spitridates he wore those which Cyrus gave him and he wore them with so good a grace and so noble a Aire as he was much more resembling that illustrious Hero Indeed many souldiers who knew not that Cyrus had given those rich arms unto Spitridates did take him for Cyrus and were deceived by that marvelous resemblance which was between them However though Cyrus had only common Arms yet he had so high an Air and such a Princely command that it was easie to see that it was his admirable presence which was his only ornament and which attracted the looks of all about him But at last after Orders were given in both Armies some certain spies which Cyrus had in the Army of Thomyris returned unto his who acquainted him that in the morning there had been a combate betwixt two strangers who were with that Queen the name of the one was Meliantes and the other Lycander that the first had killed theâ second and that the Conquerour was still in favour with Thomyris and would be in the battell relating afterwards all they knew concerning the Enemies Army Hydaspes being then with Cyrus heard what the spies said for he commanded them to speak aloud before Hydaspes so as being exceedingly grieved that this amiable Rivall was not killed by the Ravisher of Arpasia he made a hundred vows to meet him in the battell and to have a particular combat with him in the generall battell for he alwaies had observed that Meliantes was so much in Arpasias favour that he could not choose but be jealous yet since that place was not fit for the expressing the resentments of his Soule hee said not a word unto Cyrus whose mind was so taken up with desires of vanquishing that he took no notice of Hydaspes In the mean while the fatall moment destined for the beginning of this bloody battle being come the two Armies which were drawn up almost with equal advantage advanced and as soon as ever they were within bow shot a cloud of Arrows began to dusk the Air But when their Quiers were emptied and that all their other Engins had done their Execution the sword undertook to decide this great and terrible dayes work which did nothing resemble the battells which Cyrus formerly sought For in other battells he alwaies fought his Troops in order but in this he could not possibly and there was such a confusion in both Armies that the souldiers hardly knew their own colours However the fight was sharp and bloody and there was such an animosity between the Combatants as there appeared the same cruelty in both of them As for Cyrus his actions were this day so prodigious that were they particularized they would be incredible for in the midst of this great disorder where death looked grim on all sides he helpt the feeble rallied those which fled and going continually from place to place it may be said that he run through all the dangers of the battell yet his care could not bring him to meet with Ariantes but he killed the valiant Octomasades with his own hand and he made his way through all places where his sword did glitter Indeed this great Prince being seconded by the valour of Mazares and so many valiant Commanders and brave men that he had put his Enemies so to rout as the victory had been his without dispute Thomiris and Ariantes had been ruin'd and Mandana released had it not been for one peice of ill news which he received For as he was in this glorious condition intelligence was brought him that Andramites had surprized the Fort of Sauromates that he had sent the Queen of Pontus and the Princess of Armenia unto the Tents Royall that Anacharsis and the King of Hyrcania were in the Fort very slenderly guarded that Andramites told Meriontes that he was free and that Meriontes told him again he would not be so but would return unto Cyrus as soon as he could take horse for he would not be delivered by any hand but that which had saved his life Adding that Andramites was with his Troops between the Fort and the Wood which was burnt This news doubtless did much trouble Cyrus but since the bringers of it had told it confusedly unto all they met it had such ill consequences that it intirely changed the destiny of the battell for things were told and heard in tumult they are never rightly understood so as passing in a short time from mouth to mouth in the very midst of the Combat the tale was so changed that it was told the Van-guard that the Rearguard was routed that the Army of Cyrus was set about on all sides and that Thomyris her self in person was at the Fort of Sauromates to hinder Cyrus in his retreat This false news did so blunt the valour of the souldiers that from hopes of being Conquerours they fell to fears of being conquered and indeed were like to be so for they were so full of Pannick fears that the flying Enemy perceiving it did rally again and the destiny changing âthey shrunk before those whom they put to rout Spitridates who was gon to the left wing after this ill news was known he was so compassed by those whom fears had most put into confusion that he did what he could to infuse courage into them and to bring them to fight but he could not yet he reassembled a little body with which he kept his ground but it was so inconsiderable in comparison of that vast body which was before him that as brave as he was he thought it impossible to retreat without dishonour but this Prince wearing those rich arms which Cyrus had formerly so gloriously worn he thought himself obliged to do somthing extraordinary and therefore he incouraged those whom he had rallied to second him in his design and by his example to move those who fled to return so as in this dangerous occasion he did things worthy his resemblance of Cyrus In the mean time Ariantes being in the head of those who were before Spitridates also knowing those
man of any extraordinary parts yet Meliantes after he saw him in his Tent did make no question but that he was a prisoner of some great quality and remembring how long he himself had been a prisoner when he was taken by the Troops of Cyrus in Assyria he would render the same civilities which he received For since Hydaspes did imprison him only out of jealous resentments he was treated very favourably so that Meliantes being charmed with the valour the Spirit the handsom Presence and the constancy of his prisoner he carried him into his Tent and caused all his men to be as respective to him as to himself Nor was he out of a generous resentment very forward in divulging what he thought of his prisoners quality untill he knew it a little better intending not to discover it unto Thomyris if it proved to be as great as he did imagine it Unless his quality was such as might oblige that Queen to put Arpasia into his power for since he had no dependance upon Thomyris he was resolved to do his prisoner no ill office if the interest of his Love did not oblige him unto it Thus Cyrus not knowing any thing Meliantes was thinking how he might best keep his prisoner from being known who he was In the mean time Cyrus being ignorant of Meliantes his thoughts and judging by his Air and Physiognomy that happily he might be in Love he thought it expedient to tell him in obscure tearms that the interest of a passion which was predominate in his soule required that he should be unknown in the Camp of Thomyris and that afterwards he should conjure him to do him that good Office And indeed Cyrus did express himself so sweetly that he obliged Meliantes to promise him any thing And though Meliantes knew very well that his Prisoner would not discover all his secret yet since he doubted not but that he was in love he added compassion unto his esteeme and expressed himself so generously unto Cyrus that this great Prince was charmed with his virtue Yet the soule of Cyrus was not so tranquill as to set his mind wholly upon any thing which did not relate unto the present state and interest of his love But when he remembred all the Victories which he had gotten and considered the pittifull condition wherein he was he could not choose but wonder at the fickleness of fortune and grieve for his owne misery For indeed it now depended wholly upon Meliantes whether he would present him unto Thomyris or put him into the hands of his Rivall nor did he know whether his whole Army was defeated whether Mazares was dead or taken Prisoner and whether so many Princes as were his friends might rally his Troops and joyn them with that puissant relief which Ciaxares sent him nor did he know how they could joyne if it was true that Andramites had considerable forces between the Fort and the Wood. But his greatest perplexity was the thought that they would presently acquaint Mandana with his defeat So as fearing least the alteration in his fortune should work upon that heart of that Princess he suffered unexpressable torments And he thought his condition so deplorable that he believed the answer of the Sibill would presently be fulfilled and that he should perish by the cruelty of Thomyris But whilst he was in all these melancholly cogitations all his men were in a strange inquietude For since he appeared no where they thought him either dead or taken Prisoner So as never was such a dolefull murmure heard Cressus Mazares Myrsiles Artamus Gdbrius Gadates Intaphernes Atergatis Indathersis Hidaspes and all those who had any command in the Army endeavoured to perswade their Souldiers that Cyrus was not dead least after they had rallied them they should run away againe Likewise they did not think it expedient to say that they thought him a Prisoner nor to send unto the Camp of Thomyris to enquire of him least if he should be there unknown unto the enemy So that all these Princes said that Cyrus seeing in what a bad condition the Army was was gone to the Auxiliaries which Ciaxares sent so that being in the head of a fresh Army he might vanquish his vanquishers Adding since Spitridates appeared not that they were both gone together For the truth was they knew not what was become of either However Chrisantes and Feraidas who were grieved beyond measure that nothing was known concerning their illustrious Master they disguised themselves in the habit of Massagettans to the end they might the better passe through the enemies Camp and heare what they said of him Thus whilst Cressus and Mazares by the consent of all the Princes did take upon them the command of the Rallied Troops untill it was known what was become of Cyrus These two faithfull servants went not only unto the Camp of Thomyris but also unto the Tents Royall which were very neare whether they understood the Queen was gone presently after the Battell Indeed a chance happened which caused this incensed and amorous Queen to take that Resolution For since those who killed Spitridates took him for Cyrus and since one of those who commanded the Gelons in that Army had a most feirce and cruell soule he had cut off the head of that unfortunate Prince and being followed by his companions who carried the Corps upon crossed Lances he did present it unto Thomyris whose mind being extreamly incensed against Cyrus by reason of the last letter which she saw she received this sad present in a most inhumane manner Yet at the first apprehension she thought to turne away her eyes from such a terrible object but recollecting all her rage and the animosity of her heart she beheld it afterwards without any symptoms of compassion though her mind was much perplexed And the more when this Captaine who presented this glorious victime told her the words which Spitridates spake when being fallen he bad his men go away because that was the place where he was to dye but not where they were to vanquish and deliver the Princesse whom he adored by forcing her out of the power of Thomyris Then did her hatred double For thinking this to be the head of Cyrus those last words did so revives and augment her choller that stifling all thoughts of love humanity and compassion she was inflamed with jealousie hatred and fury she renounced all the tendernesse of her sex and dignity of her birth and yet for an umbrage of her inhumanity she seemed to be much troubled So that without a word of her Passion she began again to speak of Cyrus as the murtherer of her sonne and as a Prince who to satisfie the gust of his ambition did quench it with Rivers of blood She gave the Captaine of the Gelons as many thanks as if he had wonn her a hundred Battles she made him huge promises of large recompences and commanded him to follow her with that illustrious head in his hand
worthy of the Epethite of cruell Thomyris which he gave thee in his Last Letter and with his expiring breath Yes yes inhumane Princess that thou art is it pitty he should be unfaithfull unto that Princess whom he loves thou dost deserve he should be as cruell unto thee as thou art unto him Though thou dost keep Mandana in thy power yet he did let the point of his Sword fall when thou didst meet him in the wood of the Sauromates Though he might easily have killed thee yet thou triumphest in his death Yes mercilesse Thomyris though this Prince was infinitely in love with Mandana yet he would not deprive thee of life Thou who hast vaunted to have loved him better then ever any else knew how canst thou look upon him dead without any resentments of sorrow and hast thou nothing else to do but invent such Cruelties as will make thee odious unto thy very selfe and all the world After this Thomyris being silent she had a thousand severall imaginations upon this adventure and she did so particularly call to memory all that ever Cyrus had done or said in her Court when he carried the name of Artamenes that her heart beginning to melt she grieved for that Prince whose death did at the first news of it fill her full of joyes and she grieved with more apprehensive sorrow then ever her soule was before sensible of And though as oft as she remembred his last words she could not grieve for the death of him who pronounced them Yet Love being the most prevailing passion of her heart she sometimes thought that she saw Cyrus sensible and living yet was an object lesse grieving then Cyrus was in that condition which she saw him So as tormenting her selfe all manner of wayes that an amorous heart could be tormented she was as great a sufferer as any could be Her most sensible perplexity was that knowing how Ariantes loved Mandana she thought that she had not liberty enough to treat her ill and to be revenged of her both for the death of Cyrus her own cruelty and for her own misfortunes So as her soule having so many torments to endure at once that for some days she was unable to order the generall affairs of her Estate but sent all those who came unto her about any business unto the Prince her brother And that you may see the inequality of her thoughts for all this act of cruelty struck horrour into all beholders yet she commanded that all due rights should be done unto the Corps of Cyrus and that they should be performed as not coming from her orders But to return unto Mandana and to say something of her resentments when she saw the bloody head of Spitridates which she thought to be Cyrus be pleased to know that she continued so long in her swound that this sad Scaene was not only ended when she recovered out of it by the cares of Araminta Onesile Doralise and Martesia But the Tent was shut and all the people dispersed before she recovered her sight and speech when she first opened her eyes she turned away her head and shut them again for her imagination being still filled with that terrible object which caused her swounding she thought that she saw it still But after her eyes were a little setled and her reason recollected she knew that she saw nothing but people mourning with faces and eyes all swelled with teares both for her grief and for the death of him who caused it Indeed the unfortunate Araminta not knowing what a sad share she had in this fatall losse which thus grieved Mandana she was most sensibly troubled and yet she endeavoured to give all the consolation she was able not knowing that she her selfe stood most in need of it And therefore beginning to speak In the name of the Gods Madam said she unto Mandana make your constancy and patience appear rouze up your selfe and consider that if you should kill your self with grief your death and his perhaps would be without revenge but if on the contrary you endeavour to live all Asia will take Arms for your liberty and for revenge of Cyrus his death Alas said the sad Mandana how hard a thing is it to follow your counsell and therefore Madam continued she beginning to flow in tears which the excess of her sorrow had til then restrained before you give me any more of this advice I pray consider whether your selfe were able to live if you should see Spitridates in that pittifull condition which I have seen Cyrus But oh heavens continued she and would not give Araminta time to answer is it possible that I should live and see Cyrus dead But most illustrious Prince though I am yet living yet I would thou couldst know it is against my will and that I look upon death as the only thing desirable Indeed what have I else to do but to dye For since Cyrus is dead victory is not to be looked for It were folly to think that any can now either revenge his death or deliver me since he could not release me And though they should what should I do in a world wherein is nothing that can please me I should do nothing but continually lament the death of Cyrus and should not have so much satisfaction as to shed my teares upon his Tomb For considering how the cruell Thomyris hath used his sacred Corps certainly she will cause it to be torn in pieces by wild beasts so as it is better to dye presently then to live in such an eternall sorrow which would brand me with ingratitude to the greatest Prince in the world for alas how great is my debt unto Cyrus and therefore I were most unworthy of that constant affection he bore unto me if I could think upon any thing but death After this Mandana being silent because a flood of tears would not suffer her to speak Doralisa Martesia in their turns did use all their perswasive arguments of comfort As for Araminta it coming into her mind that perhaps Spitridates was also killed her soule was so troubled that she hardly minded what Mandana said and the certain death of Cyrus together with the incertainty of Spitridates his life did so disquiet her mind that she could not continue comforting Mandana as she begun And indeed considering the sad condition of that Princess it was a hard matter to find any apparant reasons by which they could perswade her that she was not in a most miserable condition and all those about her could do nothing else but shed bitter tears and lament the losse as well as she All were in tears at once and they wept as if they would all weep continually On the other side Chrysantes thinking the death of his Master certain he resolved to carry this sad news unto Mazares and all the Princes in the Army lest if reports of it should be divulged amongst the Souldiers any other way they would not be so forward
to revenge his death But as for Feraulas he would stay upon the place to know what they did vvith the Corps of Cyrus and to try if he could see Martesia to lament vvith her the misfortune of this Prince and to receive some orders from Mandana for he imagined that since Cyrus vvas dead they vvould not guard her so strictly In the mean time it may well be said that the supposed death of this great Conqueror did more illustrate his glory when it was known on both sides in being lamented both by his friends and Enemies Thomyris her selfe grieved Ariantes did pitty though not grieve All the Massagertans lamented him all his friends desired no life but to revenge his death Mazares lamented his death as if he had not been his Rivall All the Souldiers grieved for him as their Father and some of those who fled from the Battle did kill themselves for very shame and sorrow that this Prince should suffer for their basenesse Moreover besides those who grieved for him out of affection generosity and compassion there were many who were engaged to it by particular interests For Intaphernes and Atergatis did see that their Princess could not be so soon released Gabrias and Hydaspes had the same concerning Arpasia Tigranes had the same thought for the admirable Onesile Again the Princesse of Bythinia Istrina Onesile Arpasia and Telagene did see that their chains would not be so soon broken But whilst all the world were lamenting the losse of Cyrus and were ignorant of Spitridates his destiny Cyrus understanding by Meliantes that he was thought to be dead he was both sad and glad of it Yet he had many more reasons to be sorry for when he heard of this Tragicall Ceremony of Thomyris he verily believed that Spitridates was dead and that they were mistaken by the great resemblance betwixt him and that unfortunate Prince so that besides his own miseries he was extreamly sensible of his losse and Araminta's sorrows Moreover he was not only sensible of Mandana's resentments in a beliefe that he was dead but he feared lest her resentments should prejudice him in another manner For said he in himselfe though she did never change her thoughts of me is it not to be feared that this supposed death will make her change those thoughts she had of me for said he out of some jealous apprehensioos one may be faithfull unto a living Lover when one is not so unto a dead one Few carry their affections further then to the Grave of the person loved so as since the belief of my death may either cause her death or cause her to be inconstant it doth more concern me that Mandana do know that I am living than that Thomyris should be ignorant of it In the mean time I know no more how to shew my self unto Mandana then I know how to hide my selfe from Thomyris for should I aske Meliantes any questions concerning that Princesse he would perhaps not only suspect who I am but would imagine it concerns Thomyris and Ariantes to know that I am in his hands So that Cyrus not knowing what to resolve upon either to procure his liberty or to let Mandana know he was not dead his soule was in a most sad condition Yet upon second thoughts he conceived it expedient to say nothing unto Meliantes for some dayes lest his too much earnestnesse should render him suspected and that afterwards he would aske so much favour from him as to send to one of his friends to acquaint him that he was a prisoner and to let this friend of his come disguised into the Camp of Thomyris and confer with him about ways for his releasement But during this little intervall things went reasonable well for Mazares after he had rallyed his Troops he entrenched them very advantageously in expectation of those Forces which Ciaxares sent And Ariantes having a most earnest desire to see Mandana and still fearing the violence of Thomyris he also entrenched his Army and went unto the Tents Royall for though it was victorious yet the victory had cost him so dear that he was not in a condition to attempt any thing against Mazares considering the ground he had chosen for his intrenchment Yet did he find no great satisfaction in his voyage for he found the mind of Thomyris so incensed and unquiet that no proposition could be made which did not vex her especially any thing which related unto Mandana On the other side having visited the Princess whom he adored he found his entertainment so bad that he was forced to retyre and stay till her forrows were a little over The truth is she gave him such sharp Language she charged him so oft with the death of Cyrus she protested so earnestly that she would not live but only to the end the King her Father and the Prince Mazares might continue the War against Thomyris to deliver her and be revenged for the death of Cyrus and she did so fully assure him that she hated him as much as if he had killed Cyrus with his owne hands that this Prince did think himselfe in a worse Condition by the death of Cyrus then by his life In the mean time the Princesse of Bythinia the Princess Istrina and Arpasia were alwayes together not having the liberty to see Mandana with whom Araminta and Onesile continually were For since they were put there in the absence of Thomyris when Andramites sent them to the Tents Royall Ariantes durst not incense the Princess so far as to take them away Also since it was believed that Cyrus was dead they did not so much care if company came to her and the Princess of Bythinia Istrina Arpasia had leave to see her in the presence of him who commanded her Guard 'T is true they had no great comfort in seeing her for they saw her so full of sorrows as they did not think she was able to endure them long Again Arpasia hearing that Licander her Ravisher was killed by an unknown hand and understanding from Niside who was with her that she saw Meliantes in a disguise she made no question but it was he unto whom she was obliged for it but she knew not whether she should be sad or glad at it for though she did still much esteem him yet she had still much tendernesse and inclination unto Hydaspes But since the matter was not hard to see Arpasia and since Meliantes his passion was always in his mind he took this opportunity and came one morning unto Niside unto whom he had addresse without much difficulty Niside being always his friend she was glad to see him and to heare from his own mouth that it was he who killed Licander He told her then how he came disguised unto this Court lest Licander should induce Thomyris to arrest him and that he was in hopes to rid himselfe of one Rivall by particular Duell and of the other by generall Combate After which he desired Niside
to be unfortunate then to be happy by any base wayes or by the miseries of illustrious persons he seconded the valiant Mereontes who had negotiated the businesse so happily that all the Captains of his correspondency assured him their Souldiers were at their command and they at his demanding yet some days to get the Gelous unto their side who exceedingly murmured that it should be a Captain of their Nation who in hope of recompence should present the supposed head of Cyrus unto Thomyris though they said that without them he had never conquered that Prince In the interim Cyrus heard by Meliantes that the Armies were still in their Trenches That the Reliefe which Cyaxares sent drew neer that Arsamones was killed by a Rebellion of the people that the Princess his Daughter was extreamly troubled and that both she and Araminta grieved that they could not hear what was become of Spitridates But the most observable of all was Meliantes understood by Arpasia that these two dayes Mandana was nothing so sad as she was her tears did stop her sighes were not so frequent and she could talk of any thing Cyrus asking every day how Mandana did and Meliantes using to shew him the greatnesse of her sorrows because he saw it was some sweetnesse unto him to know the fidelity of her he loved he was much put to it how to answer him that day yet since he would not disquiet him he told him that he knew not how she did that day but being somthing slow in the return of his answer and the spirit of a Lover being more penetrating than any others Cyrus did know that Meliantes had not answered him sincerely so that imagining Mandana to be very sick with grief his spirits were so stirred and he expressed himself so sadly unto Meliantes as he acquainted him ingeniously with what Arpasia had said adding to qualifie the matter that doubtless Mandana did moderate her grief at the hearing of the relief which the King her Father had sent And therefore hoping to see his Death shortly revenged and her self delivered the Excess of her sorrows did somthing diminish Alas Meliantes cryed Cyrus out if Mandana can so soon forget my death Mandana will never think upon revenging it No no Mandana is unfaithfull Ariantes triumphes over my misfortune and I am the most miserable of men Oh I beseech you Sir replied Meliantes do not thus afflict your-self at what I tell you untill you know whether you have any cause for you have so many reall causes to greive at that me thinks you should not build upon any appearances which are often fallacious No no Meliantes replyed Cyrus the consolation of Mandana can have no cause which can be advantageous unto me and I am sure that if she had not changed her affection to me she could not beleive me dead or receive her Liberty without Tears And therefore I must sadly conclude that since she can so soon clear up her sorrows I must despair but yet Meliantes I desire to dy at her feet after I have killed Ariantes Sir replyed he when our design is ripe then perhaps in delivering Mandana you may kill your Rivall but in the mean time I beseech you be not too rash Is it possible unjust Princess cryed out Cyrus and addressed his speech unto Mandana as if she had heard him that you can so soon forget the Death of a Prince who valued his own life not at a straw when he thought you dead at Synope and who had most infallibly killed himself had he been certain that you were not living you I say who has made me a promise of immortall affection and whose soul alwaies seemed unto me so high and generous Oh most ungratefull Princess have you forgotten all I have done for you can you retain in your imagination that bloody head which you thought to be mine and be able to talk of things so indifferent Oh Mandana Can you think me dead and not grieve if it be so then am I the basest of all men living if I continue still my Love unto you As Cyrus was in this extreamity of grief and as Meliantes was endeavouring to comfort him they heard a great noise and a little after they understood that fire accidentally hapning in Mandana's Tents they carried her and all the rest of the Ladies Prisoners unto other Tents and in their passage to them they must of necessity go by the Tent where Cyrus was This sadly afflicted Prince would needs see Mandana with his own eyes though Meliantes did what he could to hinder him But Meliantes and Mereontes both got neer him purposely to hinder him from shewing himself as Mandana passed by and indeed they had good reason for their foresight For when Mandana passed by when he saw her in a Coach guarded by Ariantes and when he observed in the Countenance of that Princess a grave sadness without any extream sorrow his resentments were beyond all imagination But to compleat up the totall summ of his sorrows Mandanas Coach was forced to stay because one of the horses in that Coach wherein Araminta was being lame upon a sudden and that Coach going before Mandanas it was also forced to stay And as chance would have it staying just before the Tent where Cyrus was that Prince had better leasure to observe the motions of Mandanas face he could not discover either any joyes or myrth in her nor could he see any greif or excessive sorrow but he saw one thing which made him almost mad and needs would he go and upbraid Mandana with a thousand reproaches And if he had had any Arms it is to be believed he would have set upon his Rivall for all his great number of armed guards The cause of his excessive rage was because Mandana having Doralise and Martesia only in the Coach with her and turning her head towards a multitude of people on her right hand which looked upon her as she passed by she whispered Martesia in the ear shewed unto her some body whom Martesia also looked upon and as Mandana shewed her a little collour came into her Checks which presently dissipating part of her sadness did bring into her eyes such an inclination unto joy as appears in the aspects of such as smile yet this disposition lasted but an instant For presently after Mandana lifting up her eyes unto Heaven as if she prayed for somthing returned unto her former aspect of serious sadness but though this little smile did last but an instant yet it raised a great and long sorrow in the soul of Cyrus But as good fortune for him was he was so surprized at this sight as his wonder did for a time deprive him of his speech otherwise certainly his complaints had been so loud that Mandana might have heard them from the Tent where he was and as good luck was Meliantes and Mereontes were with him to hinder him from shewing himself as he intended But the Horse in Aramintas
Coach being recovered both it and Mandanas began to put on and Cyrus loosing the sight of this Princess he remained in a most miserable condition Is it possible said he after he had recovered himself that Mandana can smile under the power of my Rivall and in a beleif that I am in my Grave Since I have seen such a prodigious alteration in her heart I shall not despair but I can cease loving her But alas the worst is I do still love her and she loves not me miserable wretch that I am added this afflicted Prince I did foresee it was an easier matter to be unfaithfull unto a dead Lover than to a living and yet I would not let Mandana know that I was not dead But alas continued he how could I ever imagin that a Princess who has seen the greatest Princes in the world at her feet and yet preserved her fidelity should now be perfidious How could I ever think that she who for the Love of me had rejected the King of Assyria the Prince Mazares the King of Pontus and Ariantes himself should the very next day think me in my grave exclude me out of her heart and memory and become the most ungratefull and most unjust person in the world But Sir said Meliantes I do not understand why any thing I have said unto you or any thing you have seen should so excessively trouble you No no Meliantes replied Cyrus I cannot be mistaken I know the very bottome of Mandanas heart and I am so sure that she had some pleasing thoughts in her mind when I saw her that it is impossible but I should be infinitely grieved I thought that after all I had done for her she should not so soon forget me but that she should acknowledge my services by a long continued sorrow for my death and yet I find her thoughts far different and in such a condition that if our design be not suddenly executed I shall hear of her being at some publik Diversion and that she has recovered all her joyes and pleasant humours again Oh Heavens that I should ever see this day is it possible I should outlive the sight which I have seen Yes yes added he upon second thoughts I will live to be revenged upon her that does not lament my death and to kill my happy Rivall who hath driven me out of the heart of that unjust Princess and who thinks himself my successor in her affection But perfidious Anaxaris as long as I live thou shalt never enjoy Mandana Afterwards this afflicted Prince fell into many bitter expressions and was so instant with Meliantes and Mereontes to hasten their design that he inspired them with fresh zeal to the Execution of it And indeed they did transact their business so well that all the Sauromattan Captains did not only assure him of all the Sauromates but of the Gelons also So as now having nothing to do but to make it known unto Cressus and Mazares that Cyrus was living and to agree with them upon an hour of these severall assaults which they thought fit to be made all at once they propounded it as the safest expedient that Meliantes should desire a Herauld of Ariantes to go and see a friend of his who was really a prisoner on the other side and that in the mean time he who went with this Herauld should speak in private with Cressus and Mazares or if that could not be then to Chrysantes or Feraulas and acquaint them that Cyrus was living and inform them of the state of things But all the difficulty being to find a faithfull man for this imployment whom they might trust and finding none they changed their intentions and resolved that Mereontes should disguise himself and go into the Camp of Mazares For said he I can do it without any danger since if any of Thomyris side do stop me they will know me and take me to be one of their own side and if any of Cyrus his men take me they will carry me unto Crâsus and Mazares After this Mereontes without more delay disguised himself and after he had received all necessary instructions from Cyrus for the Execution of the work he departed But that those Princes might give the more credit unto what he should tell them Cyrus writ a little note of three lines only unto Mazares which Mereontes might tear or swallow in case he were stopped by any of Thomyris men and before he went Cyrus maugre all his sorrows courted his fidelity with a million of obliging expressions But they were needless for Mereontes of himself was wholly devoted unto the service of this Prince and did negotiate the business with so much ingenuity and fidelity that though he was stopped severall times yet he happily went his journey for his habit being of that Nation of which there was some in both Armies he was able to tell any side that he was of theirs and he went through all the difficulties so fortunately that he got unto Cressus and Mazares the truth is he did not so much surprize them as he expected For Feraulas an hour before was returned from the Tents Royall and had told them that certainly the head which Thomyris had plunged in bloud was not the head of Cyrus but of Spitridates So has Mereontes giving Mazares that Letter which Cyrus wrote unto him they had noe reason to doubt any thing he told them afterwards also they knew him to be that valiant Sauromate whose life Cyrus saved from the flames after he had overcome him But it was very observable that though all the hopes of Mazares did dy by the reviving of Cyrus yet he was so generous as to rejoice at it The truth is that to uphold his virtue he had recourse unto his Love and his hopes of seeing Mandana soon delivered made him rejoyce that Cyrus lived And to let the height of his generosity appear he endeavoured all manner of waies to hasten the execution of a design which he thought being retarded might ruin Cyrus who being in a place where he might be discovered he was in abundance of Danger So as consulting with Cressus and finding it expedient to impart the business unto the most considerable friends of Cyrus they sent for the Prince Artamus Myrsiles Tygranes Intaphernes Gabrias Gadates Atergatis Indatherses Hydaspes and Chrysantes But in the interim Cressus and Mazares caused Mereontes and Feraulas to tell them all they knew concerning Cyrus and Mandana both of them sadly bewailing the sad resentments of that Princess when she heard of the supposed Death of Cyrus Sirs said Mereontes there is more need of bewailing that great Prince than that Princess At least he thinks her two much comforted after his supposed death for he saw her in a Coach before his Tent and saw so few signs of sorrows in her face that he saw her smile as she talked unto Martesia And to tell you truly I know not how she can excuse her self for being so
advertise Myrsiles Meliantes Hydaspes Mereontes and Chrisantes of his fears So as they began to consult what they should do to get into some place where they might safely wait untill they heard that the Sauromates who were to quit the Camp of Thomyris were come and had made an assault upon those who guarded the Tents Royall and conceiving there was no safe staying in that Tent wherin they were they got the Habits of slaves upon their own and as soon as ever it began to be dark they went out at several dores unto another Tent where Chrysantes carried them and where he and Feraulas lay âid when they disguised them like Massagettans and came to enquire of their Illustrious Master Otryades also shifted his Tent and assembled so many of his friends about him as it had not been an easy matter to take him thought ât had been attempted In the mean time Thomyris was in a strang perplexity as soon as the night came for considering the intelligence which she had received she had a desire to be in the head of her Army but not being able to be far from Cyrus and Mandana since she would be sure to dispose of their lives therfore she would stay in âke Tents Royall and in the midst of all her violent thoughts she found some sweetness in thinking that though all her Army were defeated though the Tents Royall were forced and though she were forced to fly yet she could prevent Cyrus and Mandana from being delivered since it was in her power to put them to death as soon as she saw no other hopes To that end she would not go to bed that night but be in readiness to give orders as she saw occasion and to fly if forced But at last the fatall time of disturbing the serenity of that quiet night being come every one from severall Quarters began to act their business at such a just hour that almost at the very same instant Artabatis fell upon Andramites at the entrance of the Wood Cressus and Mazares assaulted the Camp of Thomyris The Sauromates came to the Tents Royall half of Artabatis his Forceâ got between the Camp and the Tents Royall and the friends of Cyrus and Ariantes met in the place appointed And indeed as soon as the Sauromates began the Assault the friends of Cyrus and Ariantes divided themselves one went to the Tent of Cyrus the other to that of Ariantes each of these courageous Troopâ consisting of about a hundred stout Souldiers which they had secretly made sure of So as Thomyris hearing by severall waies at one time that her Camp was assaulted That Forces had got betwixt and cut off all Communication that others would fall upon the Tents Royall and that some also would assault the Tents of Cyrus and Ariantes she was more perplexed then is imaginable In this great disorder she commanded that they should defend that Tent wherein Cyrus was as her own and indeed that wherin the Prince was and that wherin Mandana was were so close to hers that they all made but one In the mean time according to the Massagettan custom in popular tumults or in surprizalls of War every one began to set a light upon the Tops of their Tents to the end they might distinguish between friends and Enemies So as hard by this huge multitude of Tents having every one a Lamp like a guilded apple wherewith the Massagetts use to adorn the tops of their Tents they made such a pleasant shew and gave such a light as on âmight easily know friends from foâs The Tent of Thomyris standing in the midst and the highest she might discern from thence the noise which the Sauromates made in assaulting the Tents Royall The noise which Otryades made in assaulting the Tent of Ariantes that which Myrsiles Meliantes Hydaspes Mereontes Chrysantes and their company made in forâing those who guarded aâbar which was before the first dore of the Tent where Cyrus was which Tent was so contrived that they must pass through three Tents before they came into that wherein he was and by consequence they had three Courts of guard to force Thomyris hearing such a tumultuous hurly burly from all parts did prepare her self for flight and indeed there were horses ready behinde the Tent and those who were to wait upon her were ready also and she called for a ponyard to the end she might be mistress of her own life as well as of the lives of Cyrus and Mandana and never become a Captive to her Enemies Every minut some came to acquaint her with the state of things and every minut she received a fresh affliction Cressus and Mazares having faln upon the Camp of Thomyris at the same time when the Sauromates fell upon the Tents Royall they had put them to such great disorder that all the valour of Agatherfis and of all the rest of the high Officers could not keep their men from sinking under their own fears So as thinking it fit to acquaint Thomyris with the state of things Agathersis was so plain with her as she knew that since such a valiant man as he despaird of victory she might well fear the worst On the other side the Sauromates who assaulted the Tents Royall fighting as well to revenge their dead Prince as to deliver Cyrus their animosity was so great that their valour was terrible so as Thomyris saw all went wrong with her But her greatest greif was those who would force the Tent where Cyrus was were masters of the first barr and were fighting for the first Entrance into the Tent. Her greatest astonishment was that the people would not stir against the Sauromates nor offer to releive her For since they thought the imprisonment of Cyrus to be unjust they wished that he and Mandana both were at liberty in a thought that then the war would soon be at an end Thomyris seeing her self in this extremity had but the choise of these two waies before her flight either to leave Cyrus and Mandana happy in their liberty or else to put them to death A thought of Justice Generosity and Love gave some repugnancy unto such aâtragicall resolution but on the other side Love being accompanied with Jealousy Despair and Fury she thought that since there was no hopes of enjoying the party loved there was no way but revenge Yet she stood and studied a while as unresolved and would tarry till the very last extreamity before she did execute her cruell Resolution She intended to ponyard Mandana before she killed Cyrus and she intended during this great tumult to try once more if she could tender the heart of that Prince But as she enâred into his Tent she heard him name her so as staying to hear what he said she changed her mind For Cyrus being in a strange inquietude to know the cause of so great a noise which he heard he asked that cruell Captain of the Gelons whether Thomyris had designed him for his butcher and
Hydaspes Mereontes Chrisantes and those who followed them who after they had cleared their way and forced unto the Tents of Cyrus which they found empty went afterwards unto Mandana's where they found the unfortunate Hesionide dead whom the Gelon Captain had killed in lieu of Mandana for she being of the same stature she had put on Mandana's cloaths and Mandana hers in hopes to escape during that great hurly burly which they heard So as Myrsiles and the rest having no mind to leave Mandana in that Tent did bring her along with them with Doralisa and Martesia when they found Cyrus at the entrance into the Tent of Thomyris This great Prince seeing his Princesse amongst his friends was so transported with joy that hee never thought upon the ruine of that cruell Queen who would have ruin'd her selfe But on the contrary his first rapture of joy being over he perceived that Thomyris did lift up her arme to kill her selfe he cryed out unto those who stood nearest to prevent her For seeing Mandana was not dead though she had given orders for it yet did he most generously pardon her But during this tumultuous minute when friends enemies were so mingled together without fighting another great and strange noise was heard so as Cyrus thinking now upon nothing but how to preserve Mandana he never thought upon Thomyris who being hindered by her own men from killing her selfe did take that opportunity to go out of her Tent by a back door so as taking Horse shee with those who were to convoy her forsook the Tents Royall and did abandon her selfe unâo more horrid sorrow than ever soule was sensible of But whilst she was flying away it hapned that those who made the great noise were the Prince Intaphernes Atergatis Feraulas whose Guards being affrighted at this great disorder had left them So as being got out they went to the Tent of the Sauromates who were to fight for Cyrus and afterwards unto the Tent of Thomyris where they found them But when the first apprehensions of joy were passed Chrysantes not seeing Thomyris in her Tent asked Cyrus whether he would not follow her and bring her captive back But this generous Prince understanding from Myrsiles and Mereontes the conditions of the Treaty which they held with the friends of his Rivall he told Chrisantes that it was better to keep promise with his friends in delivering Ariantes than to pursue an unfortunate Queen whom questionlesse the Gods would punish without his medling with her And indeed Cyrus after he had taken all requisite order for the safety of Mandana he went himselfe to help the friends of Ariantes and his own in the delivery of that Prince but there was no need For in going thither he met with Otryades who told Mereontes that Ariantes was dead How replyed Cyrus is Ariantes killed Yes replyed Otryades and killed by an ancient Rivall of his yet the truth is that unfortunate Prince did urge him unto it But I pray sayd Cyrus let us understand in few words how Agathyrses came to kill Ariantes Sir replyed Otryades when your Army had entirely defeated that of Thomyris maugre all the valour of the Massagettans Agathyrses thought it his best course to come with that small remnant of his Cavalry and joyn himself with Thomyris But Sir in his way thither all those who followed him forsook him except only five or sixe However his great heart would needs go through unto that Queen but in this way he was to passe before the Tent of Ariantes and came just thither as we had delivered that Prince unto whom we had given Armes to the end he might come according to our promise to your friends and help them to deliver you So as Ariantes seeing Agathyrses whom he had never seen since their last difference and his mind being exasperated by his ill fortune he spoke something unto him in an arrogant way as if he had upbraided him with all the misfortunes of his life Agathyrses having a high and sensible soule answered him in the like Upon which Ariantes without any reply drew his Sword and fell upon him so suriously that Agathyrses who out of his respect was alighted from his Horse was forced to defend himselfe And indeed so he did in such a manner that before we could part them Ariantes was mortally wounded and Agathyrses in the throng escaped So since Ariantes was the first who assaulted honour would not permit us to follow him However as soon as Ariantes was fallen I thought hee should dye therefore beginning to speak and looking upon me 'T is past Otryades said he unto me and I have no more share in life only so much as to entreat you to tell Mandana that none ever gave her a greater testimony of love than my selfe in being ungratefull unto Cyrus After this Ariantes growing weak upon a sudden he expired so as having layd his Corps in the next Tent under the guard of some friends I came with the rest to keep my promise unto the Prince Myrsile Meliantes Hidaspes Meriontes and Chrysantes Otryades having done speaking Cyrus according to his custome behaved himselfe with all imaginable generosity for he spoke very worthily of the valour of Ariantes and seemed to lament his death very much since he had taken from him the glory of using him kindly After which this great Prince received news that Cressus Mazares were advancing toward the Tents Royal were joyned with those Forces which quarteder between the Tents and the Camp of Thomyris That Artabatis had defeated Andramites who dyed at that bout and that at the same time he had re-taken the Fort of Sauromates and consequently delivered the King of Hircania and Anacharsis So as seeing no more Enemies to fight against he had nothing to do but to appease the great tumult which was in the Tents Royall and to prevent plunder Thus causing Proclamation to be made that Thomyris was fled that Ariantes was dead and that hee would pardon all the Massagettans so they would lay down their Arms In one hour all was quiet all the Massagettans layd down their Arms and kept within their Tents The Sauromates left plundering and went under their Ensigns unto all the advenues of the Tents Royall unto the publique places before the Tent where Mandana was After which Cyrus permitted Intephernes Atergatis Meliantes and Hidaspes to go unto the Princesse Onesile the Princesse of Bythinia Istrina Arpasia and Telagenes to bring them unto Mandana Yet he would not have given this permission unto Meliantes and Hidaspes to see Arpasia but upon condition they should carry themselves in this businesse as friends and not aa the lovers of Arpasia And indeed they obeyed Cyrus who after he had given all requisite orders for all things he went unto Mandana unto whom all the captive Princesses were come And she received him with so many signes of joy in her countenance that he thought himselfe richly recompenced for all the
narrowly but all in vain This Prince went in Person to the principal Port of the Town to see the Army pass so that seeing all the Regiments one after another he might more conveniently command them unto their duties And because he was beloved and feared and reverenced by all the souldiers they obeyed him without the least murmur and returned as joyful as if they had won a battel and as well content as if they had been loaded with plunder within three hours the Town was quiet and the whole Army without the walls excepting those Companies necessary for the Guard of the Ports and Castle whither he returned to render an account unto Ciaxares of what was done The King of Hircania and all they who had not seen the King since all these adventures were presented unto him by Ariobantes and the night causing every one to take leave Cyrus by orders from Ciaxares was lodged in his old Chamber where he was no sooner entred but every one came to testifie their joy for his liberty But after all complements had passed and none but Chrisantes and Feraulas with him he imbraced them with extream affection Well my dear friends said he unto them Do you think we have now made our peace with Fate or is this serene calm which we now begin to enjoy only a breathing to give us more leisure in preparing your selves for new misfortunes The Gods replied Chrisantes have made trial of your vertue by so many several ways that it is a piece of great difficulty to foresee what ought to ensue hereafter But now Sir said Feraulas you are at liberty you are also known to be Cyrus Ciaxares knows it nor is he ignorant of your love to the Princess and the Princess her self esteems you It is true replied Cyrus sighing but yet the Princess is in Armenia and in the power of the Rival Yes Sir replied Feraulas but it is such a Rival whose ambition Fortune has so crost that it cannot possibly be thought she will favour him with any part of her affection With such discourse as this Chrisantes and Feraulas entertained their dear Master until he was in bed yet he was no sooner laid but all the prodigious revolutions of his Fate came into his memory The Image of Mandana appeared in his fancy and entertained him until after midnight Sleep was no sooner closing up his eyes but his imaginations being filled with his Princess awaked him The next day in the morning Ciaxares sent him his Cabinet within which he had put the Magnificent Scarf of Mandana very carefully but he found not the Picture of the Princess in it because the King had sent it back unto Martesia who was returned to Artucas as before I told you his murmur at it was only in secret and he went unto the King who prepared himself for the Temple of Mars where the grave Thiamis attended him But that he might make it evident unto the people that he was really reconciled unto Cyrus he walked through the Town talking unto him The whole Town did ring joyful acclamations to see the most Illustrious of men at liberty All the Kings and Princes which were at that Court did wait upon this Ceremony and the press was so great between the Town and the Temple of Mars that there remained none in Sinope but only those who guarded the Ports As the King lighted from horse for they did ride thither within ten or twelve paces of the Temple Gate Cyrus who was next him observed four or five men whose faces seemed odd and were unknown unto him who endeavored to come nearer Although he had not any reason at all to suspect or fear any thing yet notwithstanding as if he were inspired by Heaven unto it he fixed his looks upon on of these men who had a very bad promising Phisiognomy presently after he perceived two of these men pull out daggers the one designing to stab Ciaxares and the other advanced towards him with the same intentions The most generous Cyrus did immediately interpose between the King and the assassinate and received that blow upon his left hand which was aimed at Ciaxares whilst with his right hand he forced the dagger out of that hand which strook with it and laid him dead at his feet there were eight or ten others who abetted these two who undertook to kill the King and Cyrus and who seeing the design faile did make escape during the amazement which every on was in at the adventure but Cyrus drawing his sword did so pursue these conspirators through the midst of this great croud of men and assaulted them so furiously that most of them perished by his own hand for after he had in a minute put the King into the Temple and commited him into the custody of the King of Phrigia and many others he pursued the assassinates close unto the Sea side whether they fled and where a fishers boat did wait upon them that thereby they might escape away Although there was a world of people about Ciaxares yet the thing was so sudden and so few saw the first passage that it was a long while before it was known what the matter was and certainly had not Cyrus interposed Ciaxares had bin killed and perhaps the assassinates escaped But Cyrus being aided Principally by Feraulas and Araspes pursued them and killed them and took one of them after they had well wounded him who rather then he would be taken would have thrown himself into the Sea when Cyrus catched him by the hair No no Traytor said he unto him I must first know who you are and upon what score you have made this attempt he had no sooner said so but for all the disguise of his habit and face and though he was all over smeered with blood yet he knew him to be Metrobates who endeavoured all he possibly could either to escape or kill himself or else throw himself into the Sea But several of the Kings guard being come in Cyrus did put him into their custody and commanding them to follow with him he went unto Ciaxares who was at the house of Thiamis which joyns unto the Temple as soon as Cyrus appeared the King did closly embrace him and this being the second time that he did owe his Life unto him he did acknowledg it a hundred times over and expressed as many testimonies of repentance for what he had done against him Sir said he unto him and causing that Traytor whom he had taken to be brought neerer I give the Gods most hearty thanks that they have shewed you the difference betwixt Metrobates and my self As soon as the King heard that Name and looked upon him but he knew him Oh thou Vilain said he unto him is it thou that makes such attempts upon my life as well as upon the life of Cyrus for the King did perceive the intentions of those two men who would have killed them Yes it was I answered the Traytor most furiously
who not enduring to commit unprofitable crimes intended to commit two which would something advantage me From whom wicked wretch replyed the King didst thou expect a recompence for such an act From so many Kings and Princes replyed he as Artamenes by his good fortune has subjected unto you who by this my Act would have been no longer Tributaries The King of Phrigia and the King of Hircania did then begin to speak and say that he ought to speak more perticularly concerning this wicked action but he without further pressing and conceiving no hopes of life although he should escape of his wounds told them that they need look for no other Author of the conspiracy then himself and as for his complices they were all of them dead He confessed further that seeing himself ruined when Cyrus went out of Prison he himself went out also That since his Principles was only Ambition he conceived all his fortunes utterly undon since Cyrus was at liberty and that he thought he should receive a large recompence from the King of Assyria if he had at once took away the life of him who possessed his Dominions and the life of him who had conquered him and contended with him for the Princess Mandana Metrobates confessed this with so much insolent ingenuity that the truth of it was not at all suspected As for those who assisted him they were all of them known to be the same Souldiers which went out of the Castle with him and which he had brought from Pteria The King being not able to endure the sight of such a villain any longer who had attempted both against his own life as well as against the life of Cyrus commanded him to Prison until some severe punishment for such crimes were better resolved upon but that needed not for he dyed in the hands of the Chyrurgions and saved himself thereby from a more tormenting death Mean while the sacrifice became a sacrifice of real thanks unto the Gods and Ciaxares renewed the tenderness of his affection towards Cyrus and to augment it if it were possible so that his mind enjoyed abundance of tranquility The Grave Thiamis who from the first day that he saw Cyrus under the notion of Artamines and had ever most dearly loved him did make an excellent oration full of strong arguments to confirm Ciaxares in his good opinion of him I should absolutely have lost my reason said the King unto him if I should be ungrateful unto that man who hath hazarded his own life to save mine after my intentions of putting him to death for grave Thiamis said he unto him this most generous Prince was contented to receive that blow upon his left hand which was intended at my heart and to interpose his own body between the Assassinate and mine No no added he never fear but that I shall as long as I live look upon Cyrus as my Protector and Preserver and as a Prince whom indeed the Gods has sent unto me for my Glory and Felicity These were the apprehensions of Ciaxares when he retired himself ever desiring to have Cyrus neer him This action being divulged not only unto all the people of Sinope but the Camp also Applauds and acclamations of joy were redoubled and Artamenes was never so precious to the soul of Ciaxares as now Cyrus is so that which in the compass of three days the the Kings Soul and all the hearts both in Court Camp and Town were full of joy Ciaxares would needs send unto Persia to the King his Brother and Queen his Sister to let them know that Cyrus was alive he then remembred how at the birth of Mandana the Queen did send to rejoyce with him for it and he out of a peece of Galantry sent back this complement That he wished his Daughter might hereafter becom Worthy to be the Mistris of Cyrus and he gave Madates whom he sent thither to present the same complement this sâcond time unto his Sister Cyrus also desired the King to give him leave to send on of his own servants and he pitched upon Arabaces for it whom Chrisantes did send a letter by oâ rather a History of the wonderful life of his dear Master also excusing his long silence and telling that there was an unresistable fatality in it which prevented him from doing any otherwise After this there was nothing that disturbed the mind of Ciaxares but the absence of the Princess yet since he replyed so much upon the valour of Cyrus his care of her was moderated by his hopes and his soul did rest in great security In the mean time since it would be a long time before the Army could march into Armenia and since Cyrus had so great a desi ãâ¦ã know precisely where the Princess was he moved Ciaxares to send Araspes disguiseed into Armenia to discover where those women of whom Megabises spoke when he returned out of that Country were placed for since Araspes was very well versed in the Armenian language he was the fitest for that imployment Ciaxares then approving of the motion disâatched Araspes thither with orders to find out the King who doubtless world ere long be upon the Frontiers Cyrus the better to move him and all his inginuity to discover where Mandana was did not only give him all necessary Instructions but a hundred good Admonitions besides insomuch as though Araspes had been of the dullest capacity as indeed he was nimble yet Cyrus did prescribe such exact order unto him that he doubted not of a happy expedition and as Araspes used to be very familiar with Cyrus so he could not chuse but tell him that if Megabises had been as well instructed by Ciaxares as he was by him doubtless he would have rendered a better account of his Embassie and brought back more certainty of the place where the Princess was then he did I do understood you very well replyed Cyrus both embracing him and sighing I do confess Araspes I have spoken too much when I consider your ingenuity but me thinks I have spoke to little unto you when I apprehend how much this voyage concerns me If you ever were in love pursued he you will doubtless excuse me for being so importunate with you to use your best endeavors but I see you are an incensible man who may perhaps be one day Captivated by some beauty or other who will punish you for the raillery you are pleased to use to your friends After this Cyrus embraced him again and could not forbear repetitions of what he had already told him And as soon as this faithful spy was gone Cyrus knowing that the King was busie with the King of Phrigia went unto Martesia with whom he desired to discourse privatly concerning his dearest Princess As soon as she saw him come into her chamber she would have thanked him for the honour he did her but he would not permit her No no said he unto her my sweet Martesia you have now no reason to