since they knew not the Language of the Countrey Since Tysimenes was of the Prime Quality in all the Town and was very handsome his Return was no lesse talked of then that of Artaxanders And all the Town feared that some rufflle would fall out between them two whom all the world thought to be enemies for being of the same Age pretending unto the same things and had good right both of them to dispute in point of merit there was great reason to fear they would fall foul upon one another And when they met together in any place they behaved themselves with such coldnesse unto each other as was very probable would beget a Quarrell between them Thus their innocent Imposture did thrive so well as all the world was deceived by it But as it did thrive well in generall so it did thrive better in particular unto Artaxander for you must know that since Clorelisa did naturally love company and hated solitude shee was very glad she had found one out who was not a friend unto Artaxander and shee fancied some delight in contracting friendship with a man who passed for his enemy thinking this would spite him to the heart so as when Tysimenes went upon his first visit she did not entertain him with such severity and precisenesse as she used since her marriage But as he was well received by Clorelisa because she thought him the enemy of Artaxander so he was very ill treated by Telamire upon the very same reason for since it vexed her to see every day those whom she hated and never those she loved she could not chuse but be angry at the heart to see a man so civilly treated whom shee thought Artaxander hated She hath confessed since unto him that shee could not this first time know him to be a man of much spirit but told him that shee was vexed at him yet she continued not long in this errour and you shall see how she was undeceived Since then the Aims of Tysimenes was onely to satisfie his friend he tempered the spirits of Belermis and Algastus so well as they both of them desired Clorelisa to give him leave to see her often For as almost all old men do love to hear talk of Travell that they may have a pretence to â—alâ— of their own Tysimenes so fitted his humour and hearkned so attentively to what would please him that he doted upon him As for Belermis Tysimenes talked unto him of Battles and Combats and so much commended his valour that he loved him tenderly so as in three or four visits he had the freedome of the whole house Clorelisa having wit enough shee easily observed how Telamire was vexed to see an enemy of Artaxanders to often and to vex her the more she affected to place him alwayes next her But since he never saw her unlesse Clorelisa was present because Telamire shunned him as much as she could he was at first much puzled to make it known unto her that he was not the enemy of Artaxander but on the contrary was the confident of his passion But at last she understanding the Assyrian Language which Clorelisa did not and which Artaxander and himself understood very perfectly he caused his friend to write a Letter in that Language directed unto Telamire so as carrying it about him he went to Clorelisa who according to her custome did place him next Telamire to spite her and indeed she was not deceived In the mean time as those who are witty can turne discourse as they please Tysimenes that day fell into discourse amongst the Ladies of some excellent pieces of Prose and Verses And after he had repeated some in their own Language and promised others he told Clorelisa that he was extremely sorry that she did not understand the Assyrian Language for he had one of the most pleasant love-Letters in the world written in that Language which he seemed as if he would interpret but upon a sudden seeming to remember that Telamire understood that Language he gave her the Letter and forced her to look upon it whilst he made a shew as if he would tell the sence of it unto Clorelisa So that though Telamire had no great curiosity to see any thing that came from the hand of Artaxanders enemy yet she took this Letter not daring to offer any incivility unto Tysimenes openly But she was much surprized when she saw it written by the hand of Artaxander and much more when she read the words ARTAXANDER UNTO TELAMIRE Madam GIve me leave to tell you that he who gives you this Letter is not what he seems to be since he is so farre from being my enemy that he is the onely Confident of my Passion to you Look upon him as the dearest of my friends Tell you him all you are pleased I should know as I will what I desire you should know For it is onely in favour of my Love that he seemes to hate me knowing that none but such as do hate me are admitted unto the place where yru are Receive all his services as from my self Beleeve all his words as if I spake them and if it be possible tell him some thing that may preserve mee from dying for sorrow I cannot see you I beg your pardon for trusting him before I asked your permission as I would if I could But since I could not I had rather he knew I loved you then not to know whether you loved or hated me or then you should not know that I love you still more then I did when I swore most truly that I loved you more then ever any yet loved Artaxander Whilest Telamire was reading this Letter with a strange agitation of heart Tysimenes did so court Clorelisa that she could not observe her but striving to invent a Letter upon that subject which he said Telamires Letter was he took up the mind of Clorelisa as much as he could But since it was impossible hee should ex tempore invent such a piece as could merit those Commends which he gave unto it Clorelisa told him that certainly the excellency of that Letter consisted in the grace of that Language in which it was written since as she apprehended the conceits of it were no more then ordinary Oh Madam said he unto her you have good reason to say so for I assure you there is no comparison between what I say and the letter it self And beleeve it said he and took it again seeing Telamire had read it there are some passages in this Letter would ravish you with wonder if I could relate as in it self it is Also I am confident that Telamire which understands that Language will concurre with me 'T is very true replied Telamire this Letter is very rare and the interpretation which is made of it is very surprizing also You commend this Letter so highly replied Clorelisa that you make me desirous to learn the Language wherein it is written and Algastus who understands the
it was said this Philidaspes was son unto the Queen of Assyria and discovered by a Letter which he had written unto one of his Intelligence which Letter was intercepted Cressus told all this unto the Princess Palmis as news which was something pleasant speaking unto her with much admiration of all the great things done by the illustrious Artamenes As soon as he was gone from the Princess Cleander came in and since her mind was full with what the King had told her she began discourse with him and asked him many particulars which she had not asked the King Conceiving that he was present when all this news was told unto the King For my part said she I wish this Philidaspes though he be said to be the son of a King were punished for the violence he hath done and I would have Artamenes though it be not known what he is recompenced for his vertue Methinks Madam said Cleander I ought to thank you for him being unknown as he is and I conceive this conformity ought to interest me in what concerns him His condition said the Princess is not equal with yours for as I understand by the relation made unto the King he known where he was born and you neither know where you were born nor what you are Cleander sighed at this discourse of the Princess who fearing she had incensed him made haste to speak again No no Cleander said she grieve not so much at your misfortune for though you do not know your quality yet all the world knows you deserve the highest And I wish to the Gods for the honour of our house that you were my Brother and I am sure the Prince Myrsiles will not be offended at my wish It would be most glorious and obliging for me Madam replyed he but for all that Heavens forbid it should be so for I had rather be as I am then be Brother unto the adorable Palmis Do you know what you say replyed she and do you not fear to offend me Yes Madam I do fear and fear it much more then you have reason to do But truly since I am resolved to be ingenious I must needs confess unto you that I had incomparably rather be all my life a Slave unto the divine Palmis then to be her Brother or to be the greatest King upon Earth Yes Madam I think those fetters which enchain me so sweet and glorious though heavy that I would not change them for all the glistering Dâ—adems of the Universe Cleander said the Princess to him it seems you know me no better then you do your self for if you knew who I am you would not use such language Pardon me Madam I beseech you replyed he I know you are the daughter of a great King that you are the fairest Princess in the world and the most virtuous but I know also that I am the most miserable man upon Earth because I am the most amorous If I did not think you were besides your senses said she unto him I should treat you after another manner No Madam said he do not deceive your self the love which I have to you permits me the use of my reason and my senses clearly and I know most certainly that I ought to hope for nothing nor do I ask any thing but a little compassion for I dare not be so bold as to ask that which would be a remedy unto my misery but that only I ask which would comfort not cure me The King my Father said the Princess unto him is so much your Debtor and I also that I am resolved not to argue against you though in reason I ought to do it but let me tell you in less anger then I could that if what you say be not true though your boldness deserves I should forbid my self ever speaking with you again yet I will forget your crime and pardon you but if to your misfortune there be any truth in your words I shall not treat you so favorably How Madam replyed he will you punish me more severely for telling you an insolent lye then for telling you a most respective truth I shall do more then that answered she for I shall punish my self for your crime though I am not accessory to it Alas Madam replyed he if I am culpable you have made me so but in the name of the Gods Madam do not condemn me upon so slight a ground You have heretofore had so earnest a desire to know whether I was in love and whom I loved when the Prince Atis told you that I would not feign affection unto Anaxilea that I did not think it so great a wrong to tell you the truth once in my life Consider Madam I cannot in justice be accused of what I now discover unto you for can it be a Crime to be overcome by one who is able to overcome the whole Earth You ought at the least to hide your defeat replyed the Princess I hide it from all the world replyed he knowing well that my misfortune is so great that it is a shame unto my illustrious Conqueror but for you Madam I do confess I had a great desire to discover it unto you But Madam if I can obtain so much from your goodness as to pardon me this first crime I will promise you to regulate my life so for the future as it shall please you and to shut up the violence of my love in my own heart Do so then said she unto him and be sure that not one of your actions words or looks may ever call into my memory the fault which you have committed this day and I am resolved to forget and forgive it if you will do as I would have you and as I shall appoint you I shall do the utmost of my endeavours to obey you Madam replied he but in the name of Heavens do not treat me as one that is innocent but as one that was criminal and you have pardoned him The Princess not being able to tolerate this conference any longer took her leave of Cleander being not less incensed against her self then against him because she thought she had not spoken sharp enough unto him Since he does not know said she that the King has a design in his advantage what will he think of me for hearkening unto him with so few signes of anger And have I not some reason to fear that my over indulgence has blotted out that esteem which he had of me Yet said she and reprehended her self I being his debtor for the King my fathers life and for my brothers it were not just to be so severe unto him as his boldness deserved but indeed said she further whosoever is Cleanders father perhaps he may be of such a quality as would make me blush for shame if I knew him that he should be so bold as to tell me he loved me and I not banish him for ever Ah my heart cried she thou hast betrayed me For
Then he said further because his discourse should reach at me and I see that all the Gallants in that place unto which we are going will fall in Love with all the Beauties which the Princess carries with her My Master himself will be so busie in making his addresses at Court that I cannot make mine unto him And as for the Princess I believe she and her thoughts will be much taken up with variety of Courtships so that foreseeing that I shall be without Master without Mistriss and without friends it need not be wondered if I be not so gay and pleasant as you are For my part said I unto him and smiled I am so far from understanding your last discourse that I know no reason why we should remain in the desarts of Lybia rather then go unto Sardis Perinthus smiled to hear me say so and without any further continuance of this discourse we parted and every one prepared for the voyage The Princess Basilina could not go this journey for she had some Controversies and Suits of great importance with the kindred of her late Husband so that Panthea went to Sardis only with the Prince her Father I shall not relate unto you Madam how she was received by Croessus by the Prince Atis by the Prince Myrsilles by the Princess Palmis by Antaleon by Mexaris by Artesilas and by the illustrious Cleander but I shall imploy the time better in relating things more necessary to the story Let it suffice that I tell you only in general that they rendred unto the Prince and Princess all the honors that was due unto their quality and merit The Princess Palmis and the Princess of Clasomena did at the first contract a great league of amity and though they were both of them fair enough to beget envy in the hearts of each other yet the least spark of it did not appear Their souls were certainly of a far higher and more noble temper then to be capable of any thoughts so base but love they did and that with all sincerity though to speak the very truth of things they did never enter into any such deep confidence of each other as to impart the secrets of their lives not but that they had sufficient esteem of each other for it but since Celenisa had ingrossed all the confidence of the Princess Palmis I also had the happiness to enjoy that of the Princess Panthea The truth is her secrets at that time were of small importance however I was much obliged to her for her imparting her real thoughts of things unto me which she never did before the rest of my companions I make no question Madam but you are acquainted with that contrariety of humours that is between the King of Lydia and his Brothers and therefore I need but hint unto your memory that the Prince Antaleon was most violently ambitious one that would ruine all so he could but raign and that Mexaris was as covetous as Croessus was liberal though Mexaris in riches was not inferiour to him And certainly this vice did never appear so strange in any as in this Prince as you will see by the sequel of this discourse However he was capable of one passion one of whose noble effects was to produce liberality I am verily perswaded Mexaris thought that in matter of Love it was enough to give his heart and that 's the reason he never offered to stifle that passion which the beauty of Panthea did inspire into his soul But his only thoughts were to obtain the affection of the Princess without any conditions of charge unto himself and therefore he never offered to hinder his growing passion but loved her as much as his soul was capable of loving This fire for a while was closely smothered up in secresie and in the interim the Princess was visited and courted by all the great and illustrious Gallants of Sardis Amongst the number of those who came to see her there was one whose name was Doralisa of good quality who did infinitely please her and the truth was she was no ordinary person for besides her charming beauty she had a pleasing and merry wit but so full of reason that she brought all the world unto her own sense of things She had a subtil and witty way of jesting against which there was no defending ones self when she was in the humour of it and that which was most rare to be found in one of that humour she was full of goodness and sweetness also she did in many occasions more delight those which heard her then hurt those whom she did play upon but yet she made many stand in awe of her when we came to Sardis But yet for my part I must confess I ever loved her without any fear and endeavoured to confirm the Princess in that advantagious opinion which she entertained of her and truly I found no difficulty in doing so for her own natural inclination did byass that way so strongly that she loved her most tenderly Doralisa also made such respectful and obliging returns unto the goodness of the Princess that within a few daies the Princess of Clasomena was as affable and familiar with â—er as if she had been acquainted from the Cradle She understood from several reports and afterwards from her self that though she had living neither Father nor Mother but lived with an Aunt who had no compulsive power over her and though she was yet very young yet had she already refused above twenty offers of Marriage for when we came to Sardis she was not above eighteen years of age not that she appeared of any rigid or savage disposition for rather on the contrary she was of a free and jocand Spirit she was a lover of company and divertisements and there was not any Gallantry in all the Court wherein she had not her share insomuch as there seemed no inclination in her to become one of the vailed Nuns of Ephesus and therefore they would sometimes desire her reasons why she refused so many Gallants and compleat men which proffered themselves in way of Marriage But she would alwayes answer with a smile that it was because she had not yet met with such a man as she sought for and whom she phancied as a good fortune unto her self Thus turning the matter alwayes into a kind of Rallary and leaving every one to ghess at her meaning they imagined that she had an aversion towards Marriage and that she had no other reason for carrying the matter as she did The Princess then knowing thus much upon a time when she was not very well and had sent for Doralisa to divert her she told her that she had a great desire to know who that man was whom she said she sought for and could not find Since it is your desire Madam said she and smiled be pleased to know that I have a phancy never to marry any man but such a one as I am sure loves me and such
of Cleodora I consent you shall keep mine though you stole it from me At the pronouncing these words Leonisa was silent and blusht and I know not whether Belesis was hastier to render thanks then she was to diminish the obliging sence of her language But he was so ready to apprehend the obligation that the words no sooner touched his ear but they reached his heart and his heart his tongue to thank her Though you do nothing said he unto her but consent unto a thing which you could not hinder me from yet am I infinitely obliged unto you for creating it a gift and not a theft and I am most certain I shall finde your Picture more resembling your fair self since these three or four words which you have spoken in my favour do so pleasingly sweeten my imagination that I shall think my self much more happy every time I look upon it I pray Belesis said Leonisa do not give me so many thanks lest I should think I have granted you to much and repent then I must shut up my acknowledgments in my heart said Belesis and content my self with shewing you only my Love After this Leonisa desired to see her picture which he presenting unto her he had as great joy to receive it from the faire hand of his dear Leonisa as if he had received it from her own gift But first he observed unto her by the distinguishment of the claspes which was on that side where Cleodora's picture was to the end she might know in opening of the Case which side hers was on for though it is not the custome of those that have the pictures of the persons whom they love to look upon them in their presence yet it was not so with Belesis for whether it was Cleodora or Leonisa that hee loved he would look upon their pictures with such violent raptures of love and such private thoughts as if they were the very substances Hee was never better pleased then when he saw Leonisa in a great Closet at her Aunts where there was on four great Pillars four great Mirrours of pollished steel which way soever he turned he saw four Leonisa's and sometimes many more Leonisa's at least he said so when he would aggravate his passion and there also he looked often upon the Picture though it was in the same Chamber where she was Thus Sir you see upon what termes Belesis was with Leonisa In the mean time the poor Cleodora thinking that the love of Hermogenes was the true cause of Belesis his manner of behaviour resolutely determined to entreat him not to see her any more seeing that all her roughnesse of behaviour would not repulse him Since she knew he was very wise and knew most of the passages between Belesis and her She thought it best to speak unto him in all ingenuous sincerity so that finding him one day in her Aunts chamber as she was busie in talking with others she began to speak unto him In the mean time since she had a long while shunned him Hermogenes was ravished at the alteration but his joy was very short for shee no sooner opened her mouth but he knew that he should have more cause to complain against Cleodora then to thank her I pray you Hermogenes said she unto him do not murmur at the request I shall make and take that confidence which I have in you for the greatest testimony of my esteem and affection which you can ever receive from me For Heavens sake Madam said Hermogenes do not ask me any thing that will force me unto a denyall If I thought I should be denyed said she I would not ask but having great confidence in your wisdom I hope to obtain my request But Madam replied Hermogenes what can you desire more of me then what I have already given I would desire you for some urgent considerations which neerly concern me to forbear either seeing me or speaking unto me Alas Madam replied he you ask me that which is not in my power to grant But I pray Madam is this the testimony of that esteem and affection you spoke of Doubtlesse it is replied she for if it were not I should have banished you without speaking to you and therefore me thinks you ought to consent willingly to my desire If you will banish me replied he because the Person that hath Power over you thinks it not fit I should have the honour to see you or because my passion makes too great a noise in the world I could put a favourable sence of your act and obey you But fair Cleodora I know very well you onely would pack mee away to admit of Belesis I crave your pardon Madam said he seeing Cleodora blush at his answer for taking the freedom to speak with so much sincerity but yet the lamentable condition wherein I am might serve me thinks for an excuse However I must tell you that though it be onely to recall the happy Belesis that you drive me away yet you ought to let me love you and that freely for Madam if jealousie do not bring him back nothing will Therefore though you have no consideration of me at all and though you consider onely your self yet it is your best course to let mee live with you as formerly No Hermogenes replied she you must not deny me and therefore content your self that I am not angry at what you say But I will ingenuously confesse unto you said she holding her hand before her eyes and turning away her head to hide her blushes that the jealousie of Belesis begins to anger me especially since it discovers his folly unto some who else would never have known it I beseech you Madam said Hermogenes do not disguise the truth but consider that Cleodora being my Mistresse and Belesis being alwayes my intimate friend it is not possible but I should a little know how things are Certainly replied she since Belesis is your rivall you cannot be his spie Belesis carrying himself now replied Hermogenes as the lover of Leonisa and not of Cleodora I do not resent him as my rivall However it be Hermogenes replied she do not deny me in my request and do not force me to banish you with a noise But Madam I beseech you replied he since Belesis is in love with Leonisa is it not unjust in you to treat Hermogenes thus Doubtlesse it is not answered she for I have such a horror to all men that your self must needs bee included Revenge is very sweet replied he I confesse it replied Cleodora yet there is no sweetnesse to be revenged upon ones self by desiring it upon another And since Hermogenes you have too many excellent parts to owe your affection which one hath to you unto the hatred which one hath against your rivall therefore it were more expedient you looked about for some better fortune No no Madam replied she I am none of those delicate scrupulous men who are so precise as to observe
I think there is none who loves better to serve their friends nor is more glad to see them then I am You might have added replied I nor none that can better tolerate their absence It is true said she that when I lose the sight of them I do not lose my wits But I pray tell me if I were the most grieved in the world at the absence of my friends what good would it do them Doubtless I am sorry to part with friends but it is without any mad excess or troubling my friends which remain by an insupportable grief which does them no good who see it not and troubles them who do see it and casts down my self without any other benefit but getting the reputation of a tender-hearted thing but in my judgment these are arguments of a weak soul Did I not really esteem my friends according to their merit and serve them whensoever they stand in need of my assistance I should set a worse face upon them when they come to see me I should not let them condemn me as they do onlie because forsooth I do not give them my whole heart and because I am not sensible even to the very last gasp and because I do not mix with my talk words of tenderness zealous amity and such like therefore I must pass for a piece of hard indifference though to speak truly I am no more then what is requisite and concordant to reason this is it which I cannot endure And indeed pursued she and laughed do not all the Sages who are so fam'd in the world make prudence to consist in a self-denial of all things and according to their precepts am not I temperate as they by their sapient documents would have me None of the Sages you speak of replied Thrasiles did ever condemn amity No more do I replied she but I do regulate it and give it limits For to think that amitie should be a heavy burthen and an overload unto those who have it is a thing most unjust if so I had rather chuse ambition hatred or anger then amity which is praised tender amity heroique amity since certainly I should suffer less by those three violent passions then by that you call amity You might have wished jealousie as a higher aggravation replied Thrasiles If one could be jealous replied she without love I should have put it in for company and if you will I will also add envy which is no less tormentive then jealousie that I may let you see how inconvenient I think this kind of tender amity is I am confident that if the hearts of all men were layed open as mine is even those who make the greatest profession of tenderness they would not be found more tender nor sensible then mine is even those who make the greatest profession of tenderness they would not be found more tender nor sensible then mine is all the difference 'twixt me and others is that I speak what I think and would not pass for what I am not or for what I would not be Oh I beseech you said I content your self with your own indifferencie and do not undertake to condemn amity which is the most innocent the most just the most sweet and the most heroique quality in the world for truly this amity which you so much slight is of such a Nature as without it there is no true satisfaction in the world all other pleasures without it are but imperfect they reach no further then the senses but never fill the soul or charm the heart with abundance of sweetness 'T is amity doubtless which sweetens all sorrows which doubles all delights which makes one to find comfort and consolation in the greatest misfortunes and indeed it is that which prompts every one unto a thousand heroique actions The truth is pursued Thrasiles It is had â—n veneration amongst all Nations and there is not one person in all the world except Cleocrite who is not offended at it if they be charged with want of amity I pray do not except me replied she for I should not be pleased that I should say I do not love my friends But it is true I do not much affect that any should think my amity to be worthy of any Elogies If you did but know what true amity is replied I you would be ashamed to call such an affection as your heart is capable of by so glorious a name However it be said she I would not alter my opinion After this Thrasiles and I did argue a long with Cleocrite to no purpose for we could not argue her unto any repentance nor make her acknowledg she was in the wrong However since my design was only a bare visit unto Cleocrite after I had stayed out a reasonable time I went out and left Thrasiles alone with her who not being able to leave her before he had expressed his affection as soon as he saw I was gone he began to speak unto her Because I dare not ask a favour Madam said he unto her which would be opposite unto your humour I shall this day only desire of you that you would be so indifferent as to let me love you and not be angry I have already told you Sir replied she all that I can say upon that question But not to deny you everie thing I shall further say unto you that upon condition you will live eight daies as heretofore you have done and mention not a word of that pretended passion which you say is in your heart nor by any of your actions manifest it unto me I will do what I can to forget all that you said unto me the other day and to day And after this I protest I will never examine upon what grounds you visit me and to testifie how pleasing the sight of you is unto me I promise you never to attribute any thing which you shall do for me to any thoughts of Love Oh Madam cried out Thrasiles I do not desire this last favour but on the contrary I conjure you to believe that whatsoever I shall do or say are only such effects as my love of you doth inspire into me When you see me sad think that I am so onlie because I am not loved of her whom I adore if you see me joyed the onlie reason is because I am neer you if I be in a deep studie imagine it your self who hath sole taken up my soul if I look upon you think that is in hopes you will cast a favourable eye upon me again and if I do not look upon you conceive it is because I am afraid to anger you and find it in your eyes and indeed Madam without any interpretation of my actions as actions of indifferencie believe that whatsoever I shall do is done with a premeditated design and hope to obtain your love To testifie unto you replied Cleocrite that I am of a verie pliant humour I shall believe as you would have me to believe
had such a commanding power over her self that her sorrows for the departure of Intaphernes did not appear But in exchange she shewed him so many Civilities and expressed her self in such obliging language that he could not possibly complain against her not grieving enough And to tell you truly he needed not to look any further then to the eyes of that Princess to see her heart though much sorrow did not appear in her face As for Atergatis he was a little more happy then Intaphernes for though I cannot perfectly say that Atergatis had any share in those tears which she shed for her Brother yet I can assure that her manner of bidding him adieu was enough to perswade him that though he had no share in her tears yet her sighs at parting were very deep that he should go and expose himself to so many dangers But at the last Madam we departed and left Berisa with these two Princesses unto whom she was more comfort during the absence of Intaphernes and Atergatis I shall not need Madam to particularize unto you all the passages of this War knowing that you are not ignorant of them I shall therefore only mark out the principall events I shall tell you then Madam that Arsamones was always prosperous though he had to deale with one of the most valiant Princes in the world But to tell you truly it is no wonder if he made use of all Advantages for Arsamones had all the necessary qualities to effect a great design For he had not only a great wit deep capacity and grave experience He had not only high courage and lofty ambition but he had also a kind of rash prudence if I may phrase it so which made him able to attempt the most difficult enterprizes and which helped him to execute them with as much success as boldness Moreover the politique Arsamones did not confine himself to the ordinary limits of Justice for I have heard him say that all unjust means might be used to compasse a just design And therefore striving to get upon the Throne of his Ancestors I can assure you he employed all to bring it to pass Furthermore it cannot be imagined that he would omit any occasion to advance it And so he carried the matter that the King of Pontus after severall Combats wherein Arsamones had alwayes the advantage was constrained to retreat to Heraclea which is the Metropolis of his Dominions and the only Town that was left him in all his two Kingdoms During all these Victories Intaphernes and Atergatis whose reputations were very high did often write unto the Princesses whom they adored for they had obtained permission so to do upon condition that their Letters should contain only matter of News and Civility without any gallantry You may well imagine Madam that this restraint went against their minds and that it was difficult to love so much and not dare to speak of it Yet this command was not disadvantageous to them for both of them being admirable at their Pens and since their Letters included nothing which was to be concealed Those unto whom the Princesses shewed them did so highly applaud them as it may well be said that they spoke in behalf of their Loves in not speaking of them However since their passions were not satisfied they invented a way to make their minds known without any disobedience unto the commands which they received For since Istrina had not prescribed unto the Prince her Brother what he should write and had only forbidden Atergatis to mention any matters of Love and since the Princess of Bythinia did not think of charging Intaphernes not to mention his passion in his Letters unto the Princess his Sister these two Lovers resolved that Intaphernes to whom Istrina had prescribed any limits should write unto her all his thoughts of the Bythinian Princess and all those which Atergatis had of her so that by this invention these two Princesses might shew the Letters from their Lovers and the Princess Istrina durst not shew hers from her Brother She being a Lady of a most admirable wit after she had received the first Letter and shewed it unto the Princess of Bythinia she answered it the most wittily in the world Alas Orcames said Mandana and interrupted him I cannot endure to heare a Letter so much commended which cannot be produced Therefore I intreat to try if you can remember the sense at least though not the words of these two Letters For your satisfaction Madam replyed Orcames I can do more then that for I think I have a Copy of them about me which I got from the Prince Intaphernes who having lost the Originall in coming hither he complayned of it so exceedingly that to comfort him I resolved to confesse my crime in stealing that Copy and let him have a Copy out of mine And therefore Madam I am able to satisfie your desires Then he looked in his Pocket and found these two Letters the first of which was thus indited INTAPHERNES UNTO The Princess ISTRINA Sister SInce I know you have enjoyned the Prince Atergatis to acquaint you with the News of the Armie And since I am sure he will obey you as exactly as I shall the divine Princesse who hath imposed the like commands upon me You need not thinke it strange if I doe not hint unto you the same things he doth I leave it therefore to his care to acquaint you with the Enemies defeat and victory of Arsamones and reserve only unto my selfe to let you know the passages of my heart Know therefore dearest Sister that my adored Princess does so wholly take up my memory as I know not whether I should be so unjust as to forget you if I did not need your assistance to keep her from forgetting me For since she hath not forbidden you to speak to her of my passion but hath forbidden me to write of it unto her you may without offence protest unto her that I can thinke of nothing else but her that I do eternally adore her that her absence is intollerable and that her rigor in denying me so much satisfaction as to mention my love in my letter to her doth put my life more in danger then all the King of Pontus his valour I beseech you deny me not this request for if you do there shall not a Messenger come by whom I will not give the Prince Atergatis so much satisfaction as to let you know that he doth still and ever will most passionately love you And that there is not a day on which we are not ready to quarrell sometimes because he maintains that he loves you as well as I love the Princess of Bythinia and sometimes because I will be always talking of her when he would be always talking of you The truth is deare Sister he is as melancholy to be at such a distance from her he loves as I am for being from her whom I adore speak then unto my Princesse
it were weakness in her to deprive her self of the pleasure of talking in secret only because perhaps she may be talked of and it 's enough if She do nothing against the Laws of vertue for if She do love very well the pleasure of free discourse with him She loves 't will be above the talk of spiteful tongues One that hears you talk would say replied Noromata that you do not value honour and that you do not understand the sorrows of such as are injuriously dishonoured yet I assure you there is nothing more hard to be endured then stander when it reflects upon ones honour as that which reflects upon ones wit or beauty I am one who of all the world am least concerned for truly should they say of me that I am simple or ugly it would not anger me at all but should they say of me that I was addicted to Gallantry and a Gossiper this would most sensibly grieve me nor could I endure to be the Subject of any injurious Rallary To live after your mode replied Agatherses were to live more unto others then themselves It seems replied Noromata and laughed that in all your actions you would strive only to please your self without any satisfaction unto others Since others care not for contenting me replied he I never trouble my mind with contenting others for setting the interest of her I love aside and the interest of my friends which is ever dearer unto me then my own neither those who are above me nor those who are below me shall never hinder me from doing what I have a desire to do provided it be but honest and it is the greatest folly in the world to do every thing according to the fancy of all our acquaintance for Courtiers and Citizens see things with different eyes old men and young the like melancholy and merry men are of several minds Such as we call Libertines and pious people have thoughts quite contrary women who are fair and such as are ill-favoured have often very various thoughts So that whosoever will content all sorts of people at once will certainly spend their time to very ill purpose For my particular replied Noromata I should spend it much to worse purpose if all these sorts of people you speak of should unite themselves to wound my reputation as doubtless they would should I give them cause for certainly there is a kind of malignity that raigns in the minds of all the world in general which makes them apt to interpret in an ill sense all things that may receive an exposition of that nature But Madam replied Adonacris what hurt doth any ill exposition of any of your actions do you when it is spoken out of your presence and never to your face Though I should have no other grief replied She but to think that people will say the worst they can of me and to think they will say of me as they do of others it were enough to blast all the pleasures I should take in the presence of that person I loved best in the world However said Agatherses Do we live for others and not our selves Yes sure for our selves in the first place if so Why are we not contented with the secret testimony of our own consciences and never torment our selves at any people who love us not nor esteem us nor whom we know not let them think or say what they will The reason why I will live as I do intend to do replied Noromata is because we are to live for our selves for it is the strangest thing in the world that one should loose their reputation without a cause and my humour is such that I would sooner pardon the misbehaviour of a person whose manners are really irregular then I would the misbehaviour of one who is vertuous and truly I cannot conceive why one should manage their reputations carelesly when they know they deserve well nor why one should not take a little pains to appear so since it is easie to be done and dangerous not to be done Though you should appear never so good replied Agatherses yet all appearances are no armour against slander For as you know by experience that Menopea with all her vertuous appearances yet is not so So I could say if I would that all your actions are but dissimulations and that I know some things which do give all your actions the lye When I have done all I can replied She I cannot chide my self if my reputation be scandalized nor shall I be exposed unto a thousand dangers as those are who think themselves above all that can be said or thought for those who despise the thoughts of others will in time come to despise the thoughts of themselves However I must tell you Madam replied Agatherses your life will be extreamly tedious to you if you should live alwayes in a constrained course The example of Menopea and Orique do clearly shew it unto you for though Menopea doth both love and is beloved and by consequence enjoyes all that is requisite to make the happiest person in the world and enjoyes all imaginable pleasures yet her close reservedness which she observes to hide her correspondency with her Lover doth daily bring a thousand inconveniences upon her for she dares neither look nor speak unto her Lover but with most intolerable pre-caution and as She lives I am confident that She has not one hour of a thousand which is absolutely agreeable unto her wish but on the contrary Menopea though not in love nor in any particular correspondency with any yet She lives the most pleasant life in the world only because what She does She does without constraint If you be more a Lover of your Liberty then your glory replied Noromata you then had good reason for what you say but for my part since I value my honor above my liberty I have good reason for what I say and to maintain that a woman who cares not for her reputation but is contented with the esteem of her self not valuing the esteem of others She does deeply expose her self to do things against vertue more then one who sets a prize upon her honour Truly Madam said Agatherses you would have our Ladies more reserved then some of our Goddesses for I would you not speak thus against the reverence which is due unto the Gods replied Noromata not giving him time to tell on and if it be possible leave off that ill custom of using the name of the Gods alwayes to justifie every trifle I had rather you would swear by Agatherses and by Eliorante said She and smiled then by Mars and by Hercules were I of the opinion which many of our young Court Gallants are who scarcely think they were ever men much less Gods For ought I see Madam replied Agatherses and smiled also you think me an absolute Libertine No replied She for if I did think you so I promise you that should not be any friend of mine
sexes in one single person I beseech you content your self to be esteemed or envyed by all weomen and so to be adored by all men without hating them in generall Since I cannot be unjust replyed she I know very well that I ought not to assume unto my self any share in those Praises which you give me and I know that there are many men so excellently accomplished as they deserve all my esteem and may obtain some share in my friendship But as soon as ever I look upon them as Husbands then I do look upon them as Masters Masters so apt to become Tyrants as I cannot choose but at that time to hate them and to thank the Gods that they have not given me any great inclination unto that fatal thing which they call marriage But Madam replyed Tisander when some happy and rarely accomplished man should move your heart perhaps then you will change your mind I cannot tell Sir replyed she whether I shall change my mind or no but I am sure that I had rather even lose my wits then ever lose my liberty and I am fully resolved never to make my Slave my Tyrant I am so far from conceiving replyed Tisander that there can be any one in the world who dares be so bold as to cease obaying you that I am confident none dare command you For how can it be imagined that a most admirable Lady who is knowing in all things Nay I beseech you Sir sayd Sapho and modestly interrupted him do not speak thus for I know so very little that I know not whether I have any reason for what I say As soon as she had sayd so one calling away Tisander about some business he was forced to leave Sapho but he left his heart with that fair One nor was this love long concealed for Tisander being young and of a quality which attracted many eyes upon him every one did presently perceive his love unto Sapho for he went unto her the next day after the marriage of Aminothe and was obsequious and Courtly to her as there was no doubt but that he was in love with that most admirable Lady At that time all manner of Pleasures were in their highest Lustre at Mytilene and every day had its fresh diversions In the mean time Tisanders Fate being not to get the love of Sapho and her Fancy could not comply that way she only esteemed him and acknowledged the favour of his affection but could not follow the councels of her brother who advised her to sacrifice her liberty unto Fortune by answering the love of that Prince But Sapho naturally hating Marriage and not affecting Tisander she would by no means consent unto it though she were sure she might marry him with the consent of Pittacus However since he was still in hopes to win her affection He courted her with a thousand Entertainments and filled the Town full of Diversions insomuch as the little Court was so full of Gallantry as none could be more Indeed the admirable Sapho had inspired such a spirit of politenes into all that conversed with her which also did communicate it self unto those who never saw her as it was a wonder that it should not spread it self through all the Town of Mytilene and also throughout all the Isle of Lesbos but it did not for Envy Ignorance and Malignity kept almost half the Town from being benefited by the Conversation of Sapho and her friends But to say truly she was no looser by not seeing these kind of people unto whom the Grandure of her spirit and wit was a terrour Few strangers ever came to Lesbos who went not immediatly unto the admired Sapho and who went not out charmed with her discourse And certainly they had reason for it was impossible for any to talk two hours with her without a high esteem of her and without a great inclination to love her Also there was a knot of five or six of us men who were inseparable and who alwaies waited upon Tisander when he went unto Sapho and who somtimes went unto her without him when her severity made him so melancholy that he would not go In the mean time the ignorant and envious Caball which was opposite unto ours did talk of us in such pleasant manner as I cannot think upon it without a little wonder For they sayd we never talked of any thing at Saphos but Poetry Philosophy and mysterious questions and I think they sayd that we taught Magick there also The truth is these professed Enemies unto all Wit Sence Reason and Virtue are a most dangerous sort of People for I found that the most rationall amongst all those who shunned Sapho and her friends were a sort of young fine sturdy and merry Fellows who made it their brag that they were no Schollars and whose ignorant vanity made them so bold as to cenâ—ure and judge of what they knew not and who were perswaded that men of parts and wit did nothing but talk of things which they understood not Thus did they talk of these Persons whom they shunned with much care and made such extravagant Tales of them as were most ridiculous unto such as were in their Senses But besides this generation of people who are capable only of a Vapory and disordered kind of Jollity there was also a sort of women which I rank together with them who shun the company of Sapho and her friends and who are also full of their own frothy Rallary Truth is they are a sort of women who think it their duty to know nothing unless that they are fair and how to dress themselves Women I say who never talk of any thing but Fashions whose Gallantry consists in eating the Collations which their Gallants bestow upon them and whose discourse is nothing but most egregious folly There was also another generation of Women who thinking that exact Virtue requires a Lady should know no more than how to be wife unto her Husband Mother unto her Children and Mistress of her Family they think Sapho and her friends spend too much time in Conversation and that they ought not to discourse so much upon things which are not of absolute necessity There are also some of these men who look upon their wives as the chief Servant in the house who forbid their Children to read any books but Prayer-books and who will not allow them upon any terms to sing one of Sapho's songs Again there was some both men and women who shunned us and who without Injustice cannot be counted amongst the dull herd of beastly people since they are persons of quality And indeed there were some men of ingenious parts being prepossessed with a false imagination who beleived our way of living was such as these ignorant men reported and who not endeavouring to un-deceive themselves rested in their errour Truth is there was one thing which did much contribute unto their implicite beleife For Madam be pleased to know that there was a
the Character was faire enough but that served only to render it ridiculous for the Orthography was so bad the sense so shallow the expressions so poor and the order of words so confused and opposite unto all rules of eloquence and reason as it is a wonder how any woman of quality could possibly write after such a rate But the oddest thing was that the Letter which Phaon writ unto Sapho was the most elegant the most gallant and passionate peece that ever was seen so as it was not credible that any man who writ so well could hold any particular correspondency with a woman who writ so ill Yet it appeared by this Note that Phaon did often see her and that he had given her severall Serenades as I told you before And I assure you Sapho was so sadly astonished at this cruell adventure that not being able to hide her sorrows she communicated them unto Agelaste and me Did ever any see such unparalled weaknesse as this in your friend said she unto me I know that when he sees me he loves me as much as he is capable of I know also that then he thinks himselfe unable to take delight in the company of any other person and yet it appars by this Paper that he bears some kind of affection unto the veryest fool in the world and that hee mingles her Letters and mine indifferently together though I think mine have some order of sence in them and those of his new Mistress none Since I knew the humour of Phaon better then Sapho did I did my friend the best office I could and endeavoured to perswade this admirable woman that the heart of this Lover had no share in any of these pleasures which he took during his absence and that Phaon lived as he did rather to look upon these trifles then to divert himself in them Ah Democedes said she unto me a grieved Lover cannot find a heart to look upon such trifles And if Phaon loved me as he should do the most pleasing Serenades would never divert him he would be so indisposed to give them unto others as he doth that he wouold shun the place where others give them And therefore I am resolved to love him no longer but will hate my selfe if I cannot hate him It was in vain for me to protest unto Sapho that Phaons love did not change and that it was only an effect of his humour wherein his heart had no share for she would not believe it so as in the rapture of her sorrows she answered Phaon in a very singular manner for she sent him back the note which he had unawares sent unto her and writ only these words SAPHO unto PHAON SIR SInce you have contracted amity with a Lady whose Letter I have sent you backe resolve to breake off ours for I thinke it an unworthy thing in me to let a man have any share any longer in my heart who hath withdrawn his owne from mee to give it unto another so much unworthy of himselfe SAPHO This Letter doubtlesse was enough to enforce sorrow into the soule of Phaon but to tell you truly I writ him another which grieved him to the very heart of his soule for I chid him so home for his levity and did so terrifie him with his likelihood of loosing Sapho's affection that as soon as he had read her Letter and mine he became a Convert when he considered that Sapho perhaps would withdraw her heart from him he easily resolved to quit the lesser delights to preserve the greater so as knowing no better way to reconcile himselfe unto Sapho then by quitting Sicily and coming to her he resolved to come disguised unto Lesbos and accordingly he came in a Merchants Ship And landing at a Port in a corner of our Isle he concealed himselfe with a friend who had a house very near unto that of Sapho's in the Countrey He was no sooner there but enquiring where she and I was but he understood that I was gone a journey of fifteen dayes and that Sapho was at her own house vvithout any other company then her dear Agelaste so as losing no time and knovving her usuall hours of vvalking unto that Fountaine vvhich formerly I mentioned he vvent and hid himselfe in a little thicket of Trees vvhich grevv about it leaving his horse some fifty paces off vvith a Lacquey he had not vvaited there a quarter of an houre but he favv Sapho and her friend appeare and savv her so sad that as insensible as he vvas of sorrovv his heart was tendered 'T is true the thought of being so tenderly loved by the most excellent woman in the world did make him more joyed at it then Sapho's sadnesse made them melancholly However he would give her time to sit downe before he would shew himselfe to the end he might a little digest those sorrows which this fight caused in him But as it chanced these two Ladies did sit down upon a seate of Grasse with their backs towards Phaon so as he could easily hear what they said for the Grove was very thick in that place and he crept so gently that they could neither heare nor see him They were no sooner set but Sapho began to speak But my deare Agelaste said she unto her there is so little appearance in what you tell me that I know not whether I should believe it and therefore I desire to know all the particulars of this adventure They are very easily known replyed she For yesterday in the afternoon I understood from the mouth of Phylire that Clirantes whose quality is so great that he is neer Cousen to the Queen of Sauromates is so much in love with her as that he will marry her if she will follow his fortunes and go into his Country So as Phylire who loves him no less than he her and is freely in his own dispostion she is resolved upon it and ready to follow this Illustrious Sauromate But since she desires the businesse may be done without any noise she imparted the secret unto me and willed me to desire that you would be pleased to let them be married in your house which done they would presently after depart and go into that Countrey where there are such severe Laws against unfaithfull Lovers I wish with all my heart replyed Sapho that the inconstant Phaon were there also that he might be punished for his levity And Agelaste continued she sighing since I know you have no great businesse at Mytelene but all places in the world are alike unto you why may not we two follow Phylire into the happy Country of Clirantes For I must confess I cannot endure living in Mytelene But Madam replyed Agelaste as long as Phaon is in your heart I would not advise you to go into a Country where he cannot be admitted As long as I am not in Phaons heart replyed Sapho I should be glad to be in any place where I may never see him
for you Madam your power has a greater influence upon me I love you after another manner and when I do apprehend the bitterness of this horrid absence I begin to prepare my self for infinite miseries for this bitter absence is unlike all the rest indeed when you were in the Country I alwaies expected your return so shortly that it was no wonder if my hopes of soon seeing you should diminish my sorrows and that my beleif of your loving me was so joyfull unto me as to keep me from grieving But alas Madam a whole year looks like a little eternity to me and I shall go away in fear that you are not fully perswaded of the great ness of my Love But Madam I beseech you judge me not by what is paest since certainly I never loved you so much as I now do Yes divine Sapho I do love you more than ever and more than ever I shall any other and more than ever I can hope to be loved I beleive it said she and interrupted him but for all that in all appearances you do love me less then you thought you did after you had been fifteen dayes out of my sight After this returning a very plausible answer he made a million of protestations of fidelity unto the fair Sapho and in such a passionate manner as she was perswaded that the heart of Phaon was changed and that he would resent this long absence with abundance of sorrow so as both of them used the most delicate and passionate expressions that Love could possibly infuse into the hearts and tongues of two persons deeply in Love and ready to depart from each other Thus Sapho and Phaon parted infinitely satisfied and reconciled Phaon imbanqued the next morning and Sapho went in the country carrying my sister with her but she went not thither so much to enjoy the sweets of sollitude as to hide the sorrows of her soul and to avoid bidding adieu unto Nicanor who know too weH that all the favour he received belonged not unto him But Madam since Phaons departure Sapho was all melancholly T is true at her return unto Mytelene she contracted a very great league of friendship with Clyrantes who was so extreamly in love with Phylire as none could be more In the mean time the company at Saphoes was nothing so pleasant as heretofore because she was grown to very melancholly that she shunned as much as handsomness would permit her all occasions of delight so all the good company broke up For Alces at last married Ashys who since her marriage did not frequent Saphoes Erinne she fell sick of a languishing disease my sister went into Phrygia with my Mother who was of that Countrey and Amithone went into the Country so as I was the only One left unto whom Sapho could talke with any confidence And yet she had one deare friend whom I did not mention at the beginning of my relation because she was absent from Mytelene during all the time of this long love but since she returned the same day my sister departed it may well be sayd she took her place And certainly she was worthy of Sapho's friendship though her fortunes were not so high as the rest of her friends Indeed this Lady who was called Agelaste by reason of her melancholly temper had most rare qualities her person did please much more then some could who were fairer then she She was not tall but handsome her hair was brown her eyes gray and sweet her face a little long her nose something high her mouth pretty her complexion well but a little pale her teeth white her neck admirable her hands and arms faire and her Physiognomy so wise and modest that every one had a good opinion of her at the very first sight Agelaste also played upon the Lute most admirably But I alwayes most esteemed her for her wit her discretion her goodnesse and her fidelity were so great that one might trust her with any thing in the world Moreover though she was naturally melancholly Yet she would be very pleasant in company especially with her intimate friends for unlesse with them she spoke little Agelaste then being as I have described her she was inseparable from Sapho since all the rest of her friends had left her And Phylire also did visit her much oftner then she did before The truth is Sapho stood in need of some comfort at that time for you must know that Cynegire with whom she lived and to whom she was much obliged dyed and a few dayes after she heard that her Brother of whom she alwayes heard bad newes was faln in love with a Slave called Rhodope whom Esope also had loved and that the passion of Charaxes had been so extream that after he had enfranchised her his love of her had quite ruined him Also Sapho understood that Rhodope whose beauty and art had rendered her more famous in Aegypt then her vertue had she sent him back to Mytelene in a most lamentable condition Moreover the death of Tysander had so altered the Court of Pittacus that people did not live in that Citie as formerly they did yet Sapho was so happy as to finde a satisfaction in her selfe without seeking it in others In the mean time the greatest inquietude which she had being Phaons absence she was forced though she did not affect to have any Confident to let me talke unto her sometimes for I was the conveyer of all the Letters between Phaon and her yet it was not possible to have many Letters from him which was no small addition to her inquietudes But Madam she was much more restlesse and unquiet a little after when she receiving a packet from Phaon which I brought in all hast unto her she found besides her Lovers letter a Note directed unto him written with a womans hand but so scurvily writ that it was evident she who writ it was not guilty of over much wit In the mean time it appeared by it that Phaon had writ many Letters unto her that he was much in her favour and that he had given her severall Serenades And indeed Madam I understood afterwards that though Phaon did love Sapho most passionately yet he would sometimes solace himselfe with that faire Foole whom he had formerly loved in Sicily Not that there was any comparison between those thoughts which he had of Sapho and this faire Sycilian for his passion was most zealous and servent to the first of these and his engagements to the other might rather be called a musing then any reall affection However he did divert himself as much as if he had not been absent from that person whom he loved with most passionate tendernesse But to return unto Sapho you may imagine Madam how she was surprized to find in Phaons packet this note directed unto her and a Note stuffed with the most fond simple gallantry in the world indeed I think that never such a piece was seen yet