Paris never had such a grace in Arms as the young Demetrius his eies shot darts of love and war so equally that it was hard for his Enemies to see him in that Equipage without fearing and loving him both together Yong Alexander brave Ilioneus valiant Tiriclates the two courageous sons of Mazeus and many other youthful Princes without command would needs accompanie Demetrius in that first occasion They marched all together and in excellent order guided by them that had brought the intelligence and Craterus who would not hazzard them carelesly caused two thousand hors to advance out of the Camp and bee in a readiness to second them in case of necessitie Queen Thalestris who was present when this order was given desired Craterus to grant her the conduct of them which hee did with great civilitie and that new Bellona eager of that occasion to make her self remarkable called for her arms and beeing covered with polished steel shee put her self at the head of those men who submitted themselvs joyfully to her command and felt their valor redoubled by the presence of that fair Amazone whose reputation was spread over all Asia Demetrins was alreadie a good way from the Camp and marched before his men with a joy that was easily to bee observed in his countenance Alas hee was ignorant or his destinie and knew not how many sighs and tears that day would cost him Hee met not the Enemies so soon as hee imagined for they beeing com from Babylon only to burn som Village from whence the Camp drew great conveniencies had alreadie don their execution and were retiring toward the Citie in great diligence Demetrius discovered them upon a little hill that rose up in the plain and being inflamed at that sight with a youthful anger hee exited his companions to the fight by words that breathed nothing but fire My friends said hee how great will our glorie bee if among so many thousand gallant men wee bring home the first honors of this war 't is from this beginning the omen of the future success will bee drawn and all our Camp look's upon it as an infallible prognostick of the general event Saying these words hee advanced a pace and endevored to cut off the Enemies passage to the Town thereby to force them to an encounter whether they would or no but there was no need of that industrie to engage them to it for they were led by a man who for a greater number then his would not have quitted the Field without fighting 'T was Leonatus whose courage was little short of rashness and who in the Court of Alexander had alwaies past for one of the boldest and most adventrous Neither did hee continue his way to Babylon but seeing Demetrius advance whose forces hee judged by the eie to bee little different from his hee faced about and after having sent out a couple of horsmen to view his strength hee marched straight towards him and commanded his Trumpets to sound a Charge Never did a more pleasing nois then that fill the ears of the young son of Antigonus hee made them to bee answered by his at the same time and seeing Leonatus at the head of his squadron hee spurred on at a good distance before his and holding up his Javeline hee ran fiercely at him beeing covered with that shield whereon the god of Love was painted Leonatus met him with a courage not inferior to his and their Javelines breaking in the Encounter they ended their carreer without beeing thrown out of their Saddles but Leonatus lost his stirrups and was so shaken in his seat that hee tottered a good while in great danger of falling The croud of those that fell on after them hindred the prosecution of their combat and rushing each into his Enemies Squadron they instantly showed proofs of an extraordinarie valor the earth was covered with dead bodies in a moment and both sides fought with so much courage and obstinacie that the victorie remained long uncertain but in the end Demetrius who in those beginnings of his arms was resolved either to overcom or die and his valiant Companions who fought close by him animated their men so bravely by their words and by their examples that Leonatus his partie began to give ground Deometrius who saw them waver pursued his advantage fiercely and continued his charge with so much vigor that at last hee made the firecest of them turn their backs Leonatus strove to stop his men by entreaties and threats but when once fear had seized them it was impossible to make them face about Cambyses Araspes Tiridates Alexander and Ilioneus secondâ—d their young leader so gallantly that in the end their Enemies were utterly routed Leonatus not beeing able to rally fought like a desperate man and having overthrown Tiridates hee came up to Demetrius a second time but fortune was contrarie to him at that last combat and having received two wounds hee with much ado was rescued by som of his most faithful Souldiers out of the hands of that young Warrier for whom Victorie had alreadie declared her self Leonatus was carried off by his men whether hee would or no and the rest of his partie fled toward the Citie without order and without resistance The Conquerors prosecuted their Victorie eagerly and were alreadie within sight of the walls of Babylon when there came forth a bodie of hors consisting of three or four Squadrons Demetrius at that sight made a halt and all his friends counselled him to retire while hee had a free retreat but hee having a fierie courage could not dispose himself to hearken to their advice and would rather perish then turn his back to them who fled still before him The remainder of Leonatus his squadron taking heart began to face about to amuse him and without doubt his youthful order was going to precipitate him into a manifest danger when som of his souldieâ—s casting their eies toward the Camp perceived the Amazone Queen who with her two thousand hors came up at a large trot to have her part in Demetrius his glorie That young warrier finding his men recover spirit at the sight of that supply could no longer contain himself but utterly defeating those who yet made head against him as it were to rough-hew the victory before the Queen came up hee ran fiercely to give a charge to those new enemies Cassander was at the head of them and with him the valiant stranger who a few daies before had dismounted so many gallant men upon the bank of the Euphrates Demetrius knew him by that dreadful impress of the vultures and animated with a desire to seek honor where the danger was greatest hee took a javelin and gave his hors a loos directly toward him but Cassander opposed his design coming to receiv that encounter constrained him to imploy those arms against him which hee intended against another but hee was quickly punish'd for his presumption for having onely shaken Demetrius a little
temper'd that it was proof almost to the most dangerous Weapons and inrich'd with a graving worthy the hands of its famous Artificer heigthened with Gold by marvellous industry and spreading it self in leaves over all the Cuirasse with a pleasing and skilfull confusion from the body of the Cuirasse upon Bases of Cloth of Gold hung Plates of the same Steel graven in the same manner which reach'd almost to the knee ending with Tassels of Gold twist interwoven with Pearl those which coming forth of a Lyons mouth upon his shoulder fell over the sleeve of his Cassock were wrought and beautified on the same fashion and those of his Bâ—skin which covered from the middle of his Leg unto his Toe were all suitable and glister'd equally with the polishing of the steel and with the Gold which set it off his good Sword hung at a little Gold Chain which seem'd to come out of the mouths of two small antick heads of Gold before and behinde his Cuirasse and when he was fitted with all the rest of his Armour Toxaris cover'd his head with a Cask whereon the workman had set forth the utmost of his skill besides that the graving was more delicate and the polishing more beautifull the fore-part of it was adorn'd with an Eagle whose out-stretch'd Wings and all his Plumage were richly gilt and from the hinder part the the reâ—rose a little Pipe of Gold out of which came a long sprig encompassed with a score of black and white Feathers set thick with spangles In this habit with a lofty walk and a garb which breathed forth nothing but War he went out of the Tent with his Valiant companions At the door stood ready a brave Cappadocian horse which Eumenes had sent him except Bucephalus there had not been seen one better shap'd nor of a more advantageous stature his colour was black spotted all over with white spots in so great order as made that to be suspected for art which proceeded onely from nature his tail swept along the ground and his main which fell confusedly over his shoulders came waving loosely down below his knee Oroondates being got lightly upon his back and having tried him before his companions with a skill vigour and grace that was peculiar to him alone Armed his right hand with a strong Javeline and upon his left arm took a shield little different from that of Telamon's Son and which perchance would have made any other arm but his have sunk under its weight in the middest of it was represented a Cupid who trampling under foot a great many trophies of Arms heaped up together was invironed with storms and flashes of lightning in his right hand he held one of those bolts which Jupiter alone is wont to dart at guilty heads and near him were these words written in the Scythian tongue Nothing against Love In this equipage Oroondates would have appeared little different from Mars himself if amidst that which was terrible in him he had not had far more sweet and lovely features than those we commonly see in the pictures of that god of Battels Nor is he much unlike him in the fight woe be to them that shall oppose his force this bloudy day each blow of his carries a certain death along with it and his hand makes the most sovereign herbs to loose their vertue He marches in the middest of these Valiant friends toward the place where the Troups were already drawing up according to the orders resolved on the day before There he found Ptolomeus Craterus Antigonus and the rest all busie in the duties of their several Offices but though that day the Army by course should have been commanded by Ptolomeus he devested himself of all his Authority amongst his friends and would needs have them share equally with him in the honours of that action it began with sacrifices which were redoubled with a most ardent devotion and then having taken a light repast all the Officers retired to their charges and placed themselves at the head of those Forces they were to command The Army was divided into four bodies the weakest of which was of ten thousand horse and twenty thousand foot The first was given to Prince Oroondates composed of Aegyptians under the command of Cleomenes Lieutenant to Ptolomeus of Syrians under their Valiant Prince Laomedon of Lydians under the brave Alexander their sovereign and of Cylicians under the obedience of Philotas At the head of these and by the side of Prince Oroondates the Valiant Amazon placed herself having on the same Arms in which she had done the former actions and so visibly breathing forth revenge that she almost cast fire through the bars of her Helmet she was desirous to fight that day by the Prince of Scythia and was accompanied in that design by Oxidates Tyridates Ilyoneus and Pharnabasus Prince Oxyartes commanded the second body in which were first the Bactrians and Zoydians under Cophes the son of Artabasus he himself having been constrained by all the Princes to forbear the Battal by reason of his age and onely to assist those with his counsel whose youth made them more fit for action next those of Armenia under Phrataphernes those of Hircania under Philippus and those of Mesopotamia under Archesilaus Those that accompanied Oxyartes were Mythranes Leostenes the Son of Ariobarzanes Lysander and Pisistratus the Sons of Phrataphernes and Archesilaus The third body was led by brave Eumenes who under him had the Cappadocians and Paphlagonians those of Thracia Pontus and of the Bosphorus Lysimachus his new subjects and those Arabians and Affricans that were under the obedience of Ptolomeus At the head of these Forces with Eumenes were Menelaus Ptolomeus his brother Leocaris and Dioxippus the Sons of Mentor and Trasillus the brother of Menander The last Battalion marched under the great Polyperchon consisting of fifteen thousand Macedonians brought by him and Craterus of Phrigians the subjects of Antigonus and of Illirians led by Callicrates the son of Philosas Polyperchon had with him his son Alexander Demochares and Cleobulus and the most Valiant as well as the most beautifull of all the disconsolate Demetrius for all his looks were pale and wan one might see in them an eagerness to fight and though he marched with a sorrowfull countenance it was not at all the less resolute for his usual courage being improved by the desire he then had to die thrust him on to the performance of miraculous atchievements his Arms his Horse withall his furniture were black and that weeping God of Love did so well accompany the sadness of him that bore it that it gained him the compassion of all those that beheld him To every Battalion there were fifty Chariots Arm'd with Sithes and fill'd with Archers which were to march in the front those of Oroondates commanded by Oxydates those of Oxyantes by Mythranes those of Eumenes by Menelaus and those of Polyperchon by Cleobulus This was the disposing of the Army in which
Nearchus with young Demetrius The fight was reasonable equal between the four first but desperate Demetrius whose grief seem'd to have redoubled his strength after some few blows given on both sides with wondrous violence beat down Nearchus at his feet and turning about toward his Friends was going to make their Victory sure when valiant Orontes came up unto that place He had made himself remarkable that day by a thousand Actions of an admirable Valour his Arms were all besmear'd with bloud and he was hardly to be known but by that famous device of the Heart torn with Vultures which had yet retain'd some part of its wonted figure he besides divers others had slain young Pharnabasus and the two unfortunate sons of Mentor and had left great Polyperchon and his couragious son Alexander half dead upon the ground As he came near to these brave Combatants he saw Nearchus fall and desiring to make amends for his disaster he clave the throng of those that opposed his passage and rush'd forward unto Demetrius That young Prince who knew him by his shield and who formerly upon the bank of Euphrates had been crossed in his design of measuring his strength with his receiv'd him gladly and advanc'd before all his Companions to meet him single they by some blows given with little inequality had begun to shew each other proof of their reciprocal Valour when Lysimachus open'd himself a large way thither with his sword he was still wet with the bloud of Nicanor Commander of some of the Parthians of Apiarchus of Criton the son of Acropates of Tydeus Nephew to Perdiccas and many others whom he had left biting the earth and seeking to enhaunce his glory by new Defeats he no sooner knew Orontes his shield but he came up close to Demetrius saying Leave this Combat to me Demetrius we began it once already and I was challeng'd by Orontes when we parted Scarce had he spake these words when another cried out The death of this faithless man belongs to me and none of you have right to disput it with me Orontes was not at all dismayed at the number of his Enemies but desiring them all together Come valiant men said he come all of you together assault this Life which I shall be well enough able to defend against you and if you be not ashamed of this inequality let 's get out of this crowd to make an end of our Combat As he brought forth these words he flew upon them like a Lion when presently amongst his Enemies he knew the revengefull Thalestris who more eager than the rest had at last obtain'd the place she sought before them That sight benumm'd Orontes his courage and in a moment froze his gallant Resolution O! Woman cried he art thou not weary with tormenting me and casting his shield behinde his back he took Sanctuary amongst his Friends against her fury and against her sight which he could not indure Thou fliest Traitour cried the inraged Queen thou fliest from a Womans sword but know this Victory would not be so shamefull to thee as the perfidiousness thou art guilty of She said these words pursuing him and overthrowing all that opposed her passage Acropates to his misfortune happen'd to be in her way and the desperate Queen whose force was doubled by her rage slash'd off his body at the waste leaving one half in the Saddle while the other tumbled among the Horses feet Cleon the son of Stratanor lost his life by her conquering hand and Listander the brother of Andiagoras had the self same destiny Perdiccas and his brother Alcetas were hardly able to stop her fury Perdiccas had that day done many Actions of a knowing General and of a valiant man for though there were very few that could surpass him in fighting skilfully with his own hand there were yet fewer that could equal him in experience to command an Army he by Orders often seasonably given aâ—d by his prudent diligence had many times upheld his party and had that day kept the Victory in equal ballance The Medes Pamphilians and Carians began to yeild a little to the force of the Egyptians Thracians and Cappadocians but the stout Argiraspides did with miraculous effects sustain and frustrate the Attempts of the most warlike Phalanxes they utterly defeated the Lydians Arabians and Phrygians and with justice carried away the glory of having preserv'd their party in that Battel Oroondates and Arsaces were already recovered out of their swowns and though they that had taken care of them used their indeavours to get them into their Tents it was impossible to perswade them to it each of them inquired what was become of his Enemy and not being able to learn any thing they had taken up other swords amongst the heaps of dead bodies and were gotten again into the thickest of the fight more fierce and terrible than before 't was to the misfortune of many gallant men that they return'd into the Battel and the rage that stirr'd them up was fatal to many Warriers whose prowess deserv'd a better destiny Thy courage O brave Amintas could not preserve thee from falling under the blows of Oroondates nor could the goodness of thy Arms O valiant Philotas defend thee from the sword of fierce Arsaces These two redoubted Warriers slew many other famous Captains and seeking one another through the middest of bloud and slaughter would sure have met again if the day would have allowed them time All things then were in a most horrid form the number of the dead exceeded that of the living and the field was covered with great heaps of bodies from whence ran streams of bloud that emptied themselves into the River the souldiers were no longer obedient to Command nor knew the persons that commanded and both sides were so eager to destroy those who had been formerly their Companions that night was hardly able to put an obstacle to their fury But for its arrival both Armies had been totally defeated and 't was not till it began to grow dark that after many signals to retreat the broken Squadrons began to rally Neither the Prince of Scythia nor the brave Arsaces did at all contribute to that care which their particular animosity made them wholly remit to their Companions At last the execution ceased the souldiers began to gather to their Colours and the Field remained almost equally to both parties This Victory so obstinately disputed declared not it self absolutely for either nor could they that day know their losses or reckon the number of their dead but each Army having â—allied as well as was possible in the dark retired into the place where it was incamp'd before These objects would have been dismall to behold if darkness had not at that time made them invisible among those that retreated with their Commanders divers were hurt and many others sorely wounded came softly behinde or rather crawl'd without any order after their fellows and a very great number were left
triall they had made of it in the former Battel were afraid with reason for their General and opposed the design he had to stand the fury of that dreadfull Enemy Oroondates hew'd open his passage to them but not without difficulties and dangers wherein any other man but he would have been lost Python who at the head of his Chariots made a lamentable Massacre of the Foot having a while beheld his admirable Actions notwithstanding the hazard he saw in that Resolution had yet the boldness to encounter him and remembring in how many perils he had out-brav'd pale death under the command of Alexander he thought that without dishonour he could not shun that last With this belief he opposed Oroondates his passage and charg'd him with so weighty a stroke as made the Prince of Scythia know the vigour of his Enemy but he soon gave him better proofs of his for with his shield receiving those blows wherewith he seconded his first he with one single thrust in the default of his Cuirass found entrance to the seat of life That famous Captain opening his arms fell dead at the feet of Agenor his youngest son who not willing to survive his father instead of giving him the last assistance ran desperately as a Lion to his Revenge Cruell man cried he to the Prince since thou hast kill'd my father either die or kill me also As he spake these words he rush'd precipitately upon him with so little circumspection that in the point of the sword yet reaking with his fathers bloud he found the end of that life which he no longer would preserve Nearchus a most intimate friend to Python flew upon his Murtherer with a great many others but the furious Scythian made way amongst them like a thunder-bolt and sending some of the forwardest to bite the ground laid Nearchus himself there also having given him two very dangerous wounds This Action was in the sight of Perdiccas and of his friends who altogether ran upon Oroondates with terrible cries and with Perdiccas whom he sought had like to have made him also finde his death Yet did he lay about him with a more than manly fierceness and there came but few blows from his hand that drew not some of the Enemies bloud He had descried Perdiccas in the middest of them and 't was at Perdiccas he rush'd headlong through the clashings of a hundred swords Are these cried he to him the effects of thy gallant Resolution and of thy love Come out of that Crowd which saves me from thy Valour and if thou art a worthy successour of Alexander shun not the sword of thy Rival and of thine Enemy These words receiv'd no Answer but the blows of a great many swords at the same time and without doubt that obstinate Prince had met his death among so great a number of foes if the Gods had not sent Arsaces and Lysimachus with a Troop of valiant men to his Relief Arsaces was all dyed in bloud and Lysimachus had shed so much that his Arms were red all over with it Those two brave Princes having found Oroondates in so great a danger Courage cried they both together we must conquer we must take Revenge and breaking into that Rampart of men which sheltred Perdiccas from the Prince of Scythia's fury quickly lessen'd their number and with Actions worthy of themselves dis-ingag'd their gallant friend Oroondates was sorry he had neglected the care of a General to follow his particular Revenge and knowing that all the Enemies Army began to incompass them sent word by Alexander to Craterus and to the Amazon Queen that they should bring up the last Battalions to charge This Order was presently perform'd and Craterus on the one side and that matchless Queen on the other came into the fight presently after Alcetas Peucestas and Neoptolemus Then it was that the massacre grew horrible and that the famous Troops of Alexander with the renowned Amazons slew many thousand men whose courage might have prolong'd their destiny against other Enemies But on the other party the Macedonians and the invincible Argiraspides made no less slaughter of those with whom they fought Those fearless women led by their warlike Queen got ground of Neoptolemus his Squadrons and Thalestris being ingag'd in fight with their Commander after some blows that passed without inequality wounded him at last with many others and made him fall under the Horses feet No sooner was Alcetas come up into the battel but Lysimachus had sought him through all the field loudly defying him to the Combat and by provoking words inviting him to use the same diligence on his side but Alcetas was not at liberty to do so for he was then exchanging blows with Demetrius and that with so little advantage that if his friends had not deliver'd him out of the hands of that young Prince there was no doubt but he had lost his life Among all the chief Commanders on either side there was not one but made himself remarkable that day by many proofs of courage Lysimachus did Actions beyond all the fabulous Heroes Ptolomeus thrust on by an old animosity closed often with Seleucus but they still were parted by their men and carried the effects of their anger other where which became fatal to divers valiant Souldiers Eumenes sought all about for his ancient Enemy Neoptolemus but the Amazon Queen had already dispatch'd him to his hand Craterus Oxyartes Polyperchon Antigonus and Laomedon appear'd both in the duties of Commanders and in the Actions of Souldiers worthy of their high Reputation Part of the day was passed without giving any probable conjecture of the success of that bloudy battel when Statanor whom Perdiccas had reserv'd with six thousand Horse advanc'd at the Orders he receiv'd and came pouring down upon the Amazons Seleucus on the other side having rallied the Argiraspides Invincible Argiraspides cried he who have never fought but to overcome will you suffer your selves to be robb'd of a Victory which is your due And will you lose in one single day that high Renown you have acquired in so many years Ah! Let us rather die together and if we cannot be Conquerours let us at least fall with a glory worthy of the memory of Alexander With these words he ran formost into the Lydan Squadrons and having with a shock orethrown their Prince the brave Menander he with two speeding blows slew Cleobulus and Leostenes the sons of Ariobarsanes who fought near his person The Argiraspides encouraged by that glorious Example gave such a furious charge against the Lydians and Cylicians that having forc'd their opposition they made them turn their backs and began to pursue them with a terrible Execution On the other side the Amazons not having been able to resist the brunt of Statanors Cavalry had given back in spite of them and those fresh men falling in when they were tir'd with fighting put them in so great disorder that they wanted but very little of being
his destruction and Darius would but smile at the losse of all his friends so he might but overwhelm Matheus in their Ruines Hope no more therefore for his alliance by ways of gentlenesse and thoughts of a reconciliation which thou oughtest not to expect during the lives of these two Kings since neither Darius will ever grant his daughter to Matheus son nor Matheus ever suffer his son to mary Darius daughter What canst thou then pretend to since these ways are forbidden thee Canst thou think to win her by the Sword and constrain Darius the greatest and most puissant Monarch of the world to yeild thee that by violence which thou oughtest to obtaine by services and submissions But though thou shouldst surmount that difficulty which is not in the power of man couldst thou overcome Matheus his spirit and teare that from him by force which thou must never hope for with his consent And though by miracle thou hadst broke through all these obstacles shouldst thou not still have a more dangerous Enemy to combat And doest thou believe that Princesse who ha's suck'd this hatred with her milk who has always been bred up in the Court of the King her Father with a horror and detestation of the family of the King of Scythia can ever devest her self of her natural inclinations to love the hereditary enemy of all her kindred Oroondates argued with himself on this manner upon all the crosses he foresaw in his affection and these considerations tormented him so violently that a lesse courage then his would infallibly have sunk under them but he having one invincible and capable of the greatest enterprises pass'd over the top of all opposition and grounding himself upon his most fortunate beginnings upon the friendship of Artaxerxes whom he had so highly and so handsomly obliged upon the esteem of the two Queens and of the Princesse her self all whom he had defended from the violence of his soldiers and used with such civilitie though they were his lawfull prisoners by the right of War and upon the probability that Darius himself whose mind and birth were Royal would not perchance be insensible of such obligations as happily hee had never received from his best friends he began to dissipate his former fears and to these last considerations adding the necessity of his love and the impossibility of being cured of it he imbarqued himself more and more upon that sea the Tempests whereof he has endured for the space of ten whole years In sum seeing them dis-encamp and that the King his father prepared himself to repasse the Araxis the next morning after having long disputed with himself he at last took one of the strangest resolutions that ever fell into the minde of a Prince and sending for me at night and calling me to his bed-side when he had commanded all those that were in his Tent to withdraw he said to me with a voice a little troubled Araxes If among all my servants I had not particularly observ'd your courage understanding and affection to me I would not have made choice of you to trust you with the secret of my life and to make use of you alone in a designe upon which all my happinesse and the settâ—â—ng of the whole remainder of my dayes doth absolutely depend but after having carefully considered both your Person and all your former Actions I believ'd you would have judgement enough to serve me in my Affairs valour enough to accompany me in dangers and fidelity enough never to deceive me These words obliged me to cast my self at his feet and make earnest protestations of my loyalty to him in which he observ'd so much affection that raising me up and embracing me a thousand times he discovered his passion to me and the designe he had newly taken which was such as you shall hear by the rest of this Discourse then having given me his Orders he commanded me to goe instantly about the execution of them which I did with much joy at the honour he did me and astonishment at his strange resolution I chose the four best horses of his Stable one for him one for my self and two more for two servants whose fidelity was well known to me and whose attendance only he meant to make use of in the Voiage he intended to take After I had fitted this small Train and set things in a readinesse to depart before day I went to wait upon the Prince in his Tent who instead of sleeping had in the interim employed the time in writing a Letter to his Father whereof as I remember these were the very words PRINCE ORÖONDATES TO THE KING OF SCYTHIA SIR I Should not have left your Majesty if you had not resolved to draw into Garrison for this colder part of the year I beseech you by all the affection which hitherto you have honour'd me with to pardon me the liberty I take to make a little Journey during this time of rest and idlenesse a youthful desire draws me from your Court together with a designe to mould my self in strange Countries and gain instruction in all things necessary to be known that I may become a worthy Sonne of such a Father my Voiage shall not be longer then the Winter and assoon as your Majesty shall take the Field again you shall see me with you to render you those services you ought to expect from your Son OROONDATES Having ended this Letter he wrote another to his Sister the Princesse Berenice of whom I have not yet spoken to you and who neverthelesse deserv'd a particular commendations as well as her brother since in the excellency of her wit and vertue she equalls not onely all the Ladies of her own but even of all former ages The King after the death of his Queen whom he had lost many years before had taken care to have her bred up according to her birth and the rare endowments that were seen in her and the Prince her brother who lov'd her infinitely would not depart without giving her proof of his remembrance by a Letter having folded them up he gave them to one of his servants commanding him not to deliver them till four days after When he had done so causing all those to goe out of the Tent which were suspected to him he took his richest jewels and the most portable money he had to supply our necessities and giving it all into my custody he furnish'd himself also with admirable good arms and having pass'd a great part of the night in these employments we took horse a little before day riding the way towards Persepolis and following the track of the Persian Army which had dislodg'd some few days before I will not tell you the Kings grief for his sons departure nor that of the Princesse Berenice to whom he was extreamly dear you may guesse at that as well as I and you know it is of no importance to the rest of my Discourse nor will I spend
he ha's promis'd me repli'd the Princess and in his disobedience foresee the utter ruine of his happiness if so be he ground it upon Statira's friendship But alas continued she weeping and raising her voice a little I know not what it is that my sadness presages and though I strive to put it off because I see you participate in it yet can I not overcome my self so far as to forbear it At these words Artaxerxes being come in again and seeing her all in tears Sister said he you should be ashamed to show so little courage to them whom your grief touches infinitely what could you doe more if you saw one of us carried in a Coffin to receive the last duties of affection from you Ah! cruel Brother cryed Statira with what do you threaten me and with what unfortunate presages doe you redouble my sorrows will you not pardon these small testimonies of them to the friendship I bear you and to that you have given birth to I am very much obliged to you for both replyed the Prince but I should be glad to see you bear this parting with more moderation so excessive a sadnesse besides that it encreases ours may make it be believ'd that in this separation you lament more then a Brother not but that the proofs of affection you give my Oroondates are as pleasing to me as to himself but dear sister these tears were more excusable if you were depriv'd of all hope to see him again and if they were not prejudicial to what we have hitherto so carefully concealed Well then answered she I will endeavor to bear what it is impossible for me to shun but however Oroondates I recommend Artaxerxes to you and you brother have a care of Oroondates since you have commanded me to love him After this Discourse and many others seeing the day draw near they took their last leave of her when she had given my Master a bracelet of her hair which she tied about his arm and which he wore there a long time after notwithstanding all the accidents that happen'd to him At break of day they went to receive the Kings commands who embraced them a thousand times and could not let them depart without much trouble then getting on horseback wee marched after the track of the Army which wee overtook within three days During the whole Voiage they were inseparable yet Prince Artaxerxes who undertook it against his will was commonly so sad that hee had but very little of his good humour left and Oroondates considering to what extremities his passion had carried him and against what enemies he had taken arms was sometimes little lesse then desperate but the remembrance of Statira coming again into his mind blotted out all these considerations and overwhelm'd all his griefs in those which her absence caused in him The Reasons I have already alledged will hinder me from entertaining you with the particulars of this Expedition and from drawing out a War in length which was quickly brought to a conclusion I will content my self with telling you that the Inhabitants of Selena being advertised of our coming to relieve them armed themselves with a valiant resolution and defended themselves so stoutly that they gave us as much time as was necessary for us to come up to their Relief and it was very lucky that that Siege amused so potent an Army which without that obstacle would doubtlesly have much indamaged Persia In the mean time we advanced with great diligence and being within a days march of Selena a Councel of War was call'd and there was a long debate what resolution should be taken but in the end the general opinion was that they should attempt to raise the Siege though with the hazard of a Battel which they thought they might the better venture since the courage of their Soldiers was not yet abated but that with loud cryes they still call'd to be led on straight unto the Enemy Artabasus encouraged by their eagernesse and perswaded by the advice of all the Commanders prepared his Forces for that bloody day and dividing the Army into three Bodies hee gave the Van to his Brother Tiribasus a very valiant man and one who by the long exercise of arms was grown to great experience He left the Rere-guard to Narbazanes and kept the Battel for himself having besides these three given his son Hydaspes the command of five hundred Chariots of War arm'd with sharp Sithes and fill'd with Median Archers who that day did much mischief to the Enemy and to Prince Artaxerxes four thousand horse which being loose from the rest of the Army were to succour those that should have most need of it this was all the imployment he would take though Artabasus with much submission offered to resign what he thought due to his birth and courage Oroondates who desired to bee free from care and to be as little faulty as was possible for him refused all command and placed himself with the Prince that he might fight near his person This order having been taken in our Camp we advanced into a great Plain some thirty or forty Furlongs from Selena free from all kind of Trees and very proper for a place of Battel The Enemy advertised of our coming was already incamped and expected us in very good order for this praise must be given to King Matheus that there are few Princes in the world but must yeild to him in experience and conduct Night being near when we came thither Artabasus gave it wholly to the Army to take their rest and to prepare for the day that was to follow and in the mean time we incamped within sight of the Scythians whose fires we discovered in great abundance but not being ignorant of their custome we set forth strong out-guards that wee might not bee surprised and pass'd almost the whole night in arms Assoon as day appear'd and that the two Armies faced one another they cast forth terrible shouts which witnessing their marvellous desire to fight joyed the Commanders with the hope of Victory yet Artabasus having adored the Sun and causing sacrifices to be made through the whole Camp himself viewed most part of the beasts that were offered whose intrails were all found defective either in the liver or the heart and the fire they were burnt with look'd all blewish accompanied with a black thick smoak and which instead of rising up straight to heaven spread it self in great Clouds through the whole Army Some Victims having received the stroak escaped out of the Priests hands and ran through the Camp with horrible roarings which was the cause of a very great disorder Besides these unlucky Omens which Artabasus and the other Commanders understood very well and which not to strike a terrour into the Soldier they yet feigned not to take any notice of the day was so extraordinarily dark that we had much adoe to see one another and seemed all ready to have put on mourning for
will do me in believing it give me the boldness to represent unto you that it is no longer with tears you must remedy your misfortunes they are not perchance so great as your apprehension imagines them though Alexander be a Conqueror and young yet is he a Prince and vertuous he in the person of the Queens and Princesses vvill vvithout doubt consider the Royal dignity and the care of his own reputation In the mean time your Majesty may redemand them of him and offer him Treasures and Provinces for their ransome I will accompany your Ambassadors and visit them unknown to vvhom your interests and my passion make me flye if your offers cannot move him and if by my careful endeavours I cannot release those Illustrious Prisoners out of his power I 'le either kill that Conqueror with this hand which he hath already felt and restore a Calm to your Estates or die gloriously disputing with him to the last drop of my blood the price of my services and the fruit of that infinite favour your Majesty has granted me The King hearkned attentively to him and casting his arm about his neck I doe not doubt Son said he but that you love us very much and that you would cast your self into any danger for persons that are so dear to you neither did I expect any thing from you but such effects as are ordinary with you and I should rather hope to regaine my quiet by your assistance then by the help of all my Forces but how great a change soever your valour might bring unto my fortune I cannot resolve to let you goe away from me in a season wherein your sight is so dear and your consolation so pleasing to me We may use some other remedies and how low soever I seem I have yet powerful means to rise again for though Alexander hath seised on a part of my Dominions I have still ten times as much as ever his Ancestors possess'd I am going toward the Euphrates where I can yet raise a Million of men and will cover the Fields of his new Conquest with such vast numbers that in spite of all his fortune I 'le make him know the difference there is between the Persian Monarch and a petty King of Macedon While you are making those Levies replied Oroondates I 'le labour for the deliverance of the Princesses and if Alexander restore them willingly to your Ambassadors I 'le wait upon them to your Majesty not that I can leave you in this condition without a very sensible grief nor that my passion could draw me from you if my misfortune and the King my Fathers obstinacy had not made me unable to serve your Majesty with more then mine own person for the King of Scythia's hatred and my knowledge of his nature hinder me from offering you his assistance since then I can be no other ways useful here then as a single person be pleased to give me leave to go to Alexander vvhere I may serve you vvith much more efficacy Your Majesty shall give no Battel vvherein if I am alive I will not fight by your side and possibly before you are in those tearms I may have made an end of all your Wars alone They had yet some other contestations which the hazard the King might run if he should have staid longer so near his Enemies made them put an end to and my Master having at last obtain'd his permission to go to Alexanders Camp perswaded the King to get upon fresh horses which were brought him and having taken his leave of him of Oxyartes and the whole company with many tears he saw them take their way toward the Euphrates staying behind with Mithranes and those that were to accompany him in his Embassy We followed the poor King with our eyes and thoughts and my Master having lost sight of him appear'd so sad and so afflicted that if his grief had not been abated by the hope of seeing his Princess quickly he had been utterly incapable of any comfort After this parting I began to think upon our vvounds not judging that my Prince ought in that condition to ingage himself among the Enemies where perchance he might not finde that help and that repose which were necessary for his cure he gave ear unto my reasons and riding with Mythranes toward that little Town which was not far off we got thither within an hower There we had our wounds dress'd and rested the remainder of that day and the day following The morning after we received a Letter which Darius had written to Alexander and another to the Queens to give the more credence to my Master that good King knowing they would not be unprofitable for him and believing hee vvould be glad to carry them himself but the next day Alexanders Forces under the command of Craterus came and summon'd that little Town which finding it self too weak to sustain so much as their approaches cast it self into the arms of the Conquerours We had liberty to march away and going out in the same Equipage we came in we bethought our selves of another retreat where we might stay the cure of our wounds which were not great but grown much worse by our want of care to get them look'd to in time We learn't of the Macedonians that Alexander was gone toward Marathon which he already caus'd to be beleaguered with an intent to be at the Siege in person though he was very much troubled with the wound in his thigh and that he had sent Parmenio with part of the Army to Damascus where all the remaining wealth of Darius his Army with the Wives of the Princes and Satrapes of Persia were under the charge of Artaban the Governour of that Town My Master being yet very unfit to perform his Embassy to Alexander was by this news perswaded to put himself into Damascus which was not above a days Journey and an half from us with an intention to stay there till his wounds vvere cured to see the fair Barsina Widow to the valiant Memnon and many other Ladies of his acquaintance to whom his assistance might perchance be necessary in such an encounter but his last and chiefest motive was a design to use his utmost endeavours to doe Darius some service in the conservation of that place which was of so high consequence and though strong enough to endure a Siege yet he feared in some danger of being lost for having formerly known Artaban in the Court he who could very well judg of men had observ'd something in his carriage which made him believe so great a trust might have been put into better hands These considerations made him take the resolution of going thither yet being unwilling that the solicitation of the Princesses liberties should be so long neglected he delivered Darius his Letter to Alexander unto Mithranes whom he perswaded to go directly to Marathon after he had earnestly desired his secrecy in whatsoevet concern'd him and made an appointment to
fuller of perfection and if the Painter flattered them not 't was necessarie to confess that Nature had set forth all her skill in the making of those two admirable structures I was not so far dazled with the sight of them but that I read their names and saw they were Statira and Parisatis Princesses of Persia After these I saw Barsina the Daughter of Artabasus Roxana the Daughter of Cohortanus and Aspasia the Daughter of King Occhus and of a great many other Persian Ladies Araspes and his son had placed those of their own countrie first and next to them I saw a Ladie whose statelie presence and sparkling eies witnessed the ambition of her minde and the vivacitie of her wit it was Olymphas Queen of Macedonia and by her Cleopatra her rival and Mistress to King Philip the father of Alexander When I had considered the countenances of these Ladies I beheld two whom I instantly knew and whom the Painter had very justly rank'd among the fairest of all the world they were Berenice Princess of Scythia and Stratonice Princess of the Issedons I was much pleas'd with the sight of a person to whom I had the honor to bee very near and looking heedfully upon her I judg'd by the resemblance of that picture to the true Berenice that the Painter was excellent in his art and that without question hee had made the rest very like who were unknown to mee After these I saw Ada Queen of Caria and Cleopha Princess of the Massegnes and truly I observed in those two Princesses all the features of an exact beautie but I fixt my eie more earnestly upon the face of a woman arm'd at all points and who discovering onely a part of it through the beaver of her Cask which was set up shewed mee all the lineaments of a pleasing fierceness and of a look able to imprint both fear and respect The extraordinarie fashion of her habit caused an impatience in mee to know her name which I saw to bee Minothea Queen of the Amazons after I had read that I kept my eies a while upon her but O gods scarce had I taken them off when I cast them upon the picture of my divine Thalestris your age seem'd not to bee above thirteen or fourteen and yet you were arm'd as the Queen your Mother except your head which was quite uncovered and whose fair hair hung down in long tresses upon your shoulders and so to the bottom of your coat of arms One of your hands was laid upon a table where your helmet stood and in the other you held a dart the point whereof rested upon one of your feet I will not tell you what my thoughts were of you at that time beeing you are not ignorant what they have been since nor will I describe the beautie I found in a picture whereof by the favour of the gods and by your goodness I may contemplate and admire the Original but I will unfaignedly assure you that from that very moment I began to bee yours and to frame designs to serv you all the other beauties though they had drawn my admiration had not yet won my affection and I looked upon them with an indifference which I could no longer keep when I beheld you 'T is true my passion settled not it self in my heart with violence at the first nor do I believ a picture able to beget love so powerfully but in effect I in my opinion preferr'd you far before all the rest and I thought I should bee most happie if I could finde the occasions to see you and serv you I had often heard talk of your customs and judging that a man could not introduce himself amongst you without much danger and difficultie I desired to know of Araspes which way his son had gotten your pictures since men were so strictly forbidden to enter into your territories For all that answered Araspes this ventrous boy lived many months among them where his youth and a womans habit wherewith hee was disguised made him pass for one of their sex and gave him all the facilitie he could desire to satisfie his foolish curiositie Araspes had no sooner said thus to mee but I presently formed a confused unsettled design of what I after executed and when I had discoursed a while longer with him of what hee had learn'd from his son concerning your customs and the severitie of your laws I retired into my chamber After that time I saw that lovely picture every day and when I was from it the remembrance of that object troubled my minde and caused som disquietness in mee I resisted a long while and endeavored by divers arguments to oppose the birth of my affection but either the force of my destinie or the fancie of my youth carried it against the consideration of all difficulties and knowing that our armie was return'd into Scythia and that there was no hope of overtaking it I having no passion nor powerful reason to recall mee into my own countrie resolv'd to play a trick of youth and take a turn into your dominions to see whether the Painter had not flattred you and whether the beauties of your minde were correspondent to those of your bodie Since Araspes his son said I to my self hath dared it and executed it what should hinder mee from undertaking it shall I have less courage and less cunning then hee and shall not I do that for so lovely a Princess which hee did to satisfie an unprofitable curiositie What reason oblige's mee to return into Scythia and what reason forbid's mee to form my self in forraign countries to many things which are befitting persons of my qualitie am I of an age to make a retreat and to do nothing but after a mature deliberation No no Orontes 't is a shame to fear thou must bee bold and hazard somthing thou art of an age wherein follies are pardonable and if thou foreseest any difficultie in thy enterprise thou shalt also gain glory by overcoming it if thou must needs love 't is best to love somthing great and extraordinarie the gods favour adventrous designs and they have given thee spirit enough to drive all obstacles before thee In this resolution I waited for my perfect health and for the recoverie of my strength and when I felt my self in such a condition that I might undertake the voiage within a while I was willing to repay the kindeness I had received from Araspes by a trust to which hee had sufficiently obliged mee his discretion had been very remarkable in hiding the desire it was probable hee might have to know mee and I thought that without beeing ingrateful I could no longer conceal my self from him nor distrust a man to whom I was indebted for my life To that end beeing one day alone with him in my chamber after som other discours Father said I I were the most unworthie of all men living if I ever should lose the remembrance of your favours
Spitamenes found meanes to bring in a great part of his forces at several gates and when he had made himself strongest in the Town where the Garrison and the Inhabitants were very weak after he had given those Orders to his men which he resolv'd should be executed he came attended by a great many followers to finde my Father in his Chamber he the day before had told him that he intended to march about the expedition Alexander had imployed him in saying it had been retarded by his Marriage and my Father who saw how much the Countrey was burthened with his Forces was content to let him depart upon hope of a speedy return at that time seeing him come into his Chamber he believ'd he came to take his leave of him but Spitamenes quickly put him out of that errour and having desired to speak with him Cradates said he I have hitherto dissembled my intention because I was not yet in a condition to declare it to you but now I must lay open my heart and by my example oblige you to do what you ought since our ancient friendship and the alliance we have contracted perswades me to move you to it by such ways as I should not have made use of toward another Know then I am Alexanders enemy that the Forces which follow me have taken Arms onely against him and that if you have any love to your Countrey and any consideration of your Son in Law you ought to take Arms for the one and follow the fortune of the other I was present at this discourse of Spitamenes and saw that my Father not being able to suffer the continuation of it How Spitamenes cried he have you betray'd me then and was it onely with this intent that you sought my alliance I asked your Daughter of you said Spitamenes because I lov'd you and 't is because I love you that I yet once again intreat you to imbrace our party and not to make them your enemies who do yet consider you and who are stronger in Maracanda than your self By these words poor Cradates plainly found he was betray'd and instead of answering to Spitamenes his proposition Ah! Traitour cried he the just Gods will punish thy perfidiousness and if I must fall they shall see me die like a man that was faithfull to his Masters till his latest breath With these words he laid his hand upon the Hilt of his Sword but cruell Spitamenes having already drawn his ran him through the body and made him fall dead at my feet weltring in a stream of his own bloud my two Brothers were eager to have revenged him but those that accompanied Spitamenes kill'd them presently upon the place and at the same instant the signal being given they began through the whole Town to drive out and cut the throats of the Garrison I make you Judges my Lords of the condition I was in at that time I saw my poor Father breath out his life in my arms and my two poor Brothers fall murthered with divers wounds the bloud of them all spouted forth upon me and made me all over in a gore but I was not long a beholder of that dreadfull spectacle for having scarcely had the strength to give a shreek I fell upon those dear bodies without sense or understanding I knew not then what was done in the Chamber where these cruelties were committed but when I came out of my swound I found my self upon a bed encompassed with a great many women unto whose charge I had been delivered As soon as I opened my eyes I remembred the wofull objects I had seen and you may believe that at that horrid rememberance I neither spared my hair nor my face and that by all my actions I gave sufficient testimony that in the condition I was left in the world I had but little love of life remaining I had seen those persons murthered before my eyes who were the nearest and who ought to be the dearest to me in the whole world and I had seen them murthered by the hands of him who in spite of all his treacheries and cruelties was still my husband besides the force of bloud and the considerations of friendship the condition I was in by that horrible revolution of my fortune was very lamentable I in those dear persons had lost all the support and all the protection I had and I saw my self miserably exposed and abandoned to the mercy of that monster from whom I expected as bad a destinie At that time I thought not of all these things as being capable of very little sence in that extreamitie of trouble but fixing my self onely upon those so late objects and upon the bloudy Idea's which I had still fresh before my eyes I suffer'd my self to be totally possessed with grief and with astonishment As often as I named my poor Father and my poor Brothers I detested their treacherous murtherer and I made not more complaints for them than I powred forth imprecations against him I kissed the bloud which was yet upon my cloathes and left horrible marks thereof upon my face I should fear to weary you my Lords and perchance I should not have life enough to make an end of my recital If I endeavoured to repeat all the words which my despair made me bring forth and it will suffice me to tell you that I passed all that day and all the night following like a person utterly out of her wits and had it not been for the hinderance my women used when I was so violently transported I had infallibly attempted upon my life I had continued above thirty hours without taking any nourishment at all when I was forced to it by the tears of my old Nurse who hanging about my knees and sighing by me touched even me my self with pity whose condition was wofull enough to move compassion in all the world That second day was passed just as the first and the next after impudent Spitamenes presented himself before me O Gods with what a violence did that cruel sight waken my resentments I felt my strength redoubled and leaping from my bed I ran to strangle that Paricide with my hands and without doubt in the fury that transported me I should have perished by his or should have made him run some hazard but that I was stopp'd by those women who having held me back with much adoe carried me by force and laid me again upon my bed Cruel Spitamenes was not at all moved at my action and being set down at a distance from me he gave ear a long time without reply to the reproaches and imprecations I vented against him after I had said all that rage could put into my mouth Perfect thy crime continued I thou murtherer stain'd with illustrious bloud and with bloud for which thou oughtest to have shed all that whichh runs in thine own veins send the disconsolate Hermione after her Father and her brothers piercet his heart an enemy to that
forcing his way through the mid'st of them like lightning had made his horse leap over the Trench and was advancing toward the Tents with such a confident rashness as was enough to win belief that some strong despair had Arm'd him against all apprehension of death That of Prince Oroondates was one of the outmost and they that had the guard of it seeing this Cavalier advance with his sword in his hand and with his gesture threatning something more terrible than ordinary ran to meet him and presented the points of their Javelines against him but he contemn'd those feeble obstacles and spurring on his horse trampled some of them under foot laying at the rest so furiously with his sword that almost every stroke brought death to one or other He had already open'd himself a large way to the Tent when Eumenes and Phrataphernes arm'd and on hors-back came unto that place these two Warriers look'd intentively upon him and Phrataphernes by his Arms and the mightiness of his blows presently knew him to be the redoubted Arsaces who a few dayes before had kill'd his Son in his presence and had reduced his own life to great extreamity The sight of this cruel Enemy whose idea was ever in his remembrance waken'd his fierce resentment and running at him like a man transported with rage O Pisistratus cry'd he thy Father will either revenge thy death or perish in the attempt As he spoke these words he darted his Javeline at Arsaces which having given him a slight hurt remained hanging in the sleeve of his Coat of Mail from whence Arsaces quickly pull'd it and seeing Phrataphernes come thundring at him with his sword on high he met him with an equal violence and aiming the point of his Javeline under that arm which he held up made the head of it pass quite through to the other side the unfortunate Phrataphernes was presently all bathed in his own bloud and letting go the reins of his bridle fell dead at Eumenes his horse's feet That Valiant man whom his friends destiny touch'd with grief and compassion rush'd forward to take revenge upon Arsaces who was turning another way and opposing his passage after he by a loud cry had given him warning to defend himself discharg'd a blow upon his Helmet with his utmost force The hand of Eumenes was not light and indeed Arsaces was roughly shaken by it but he shocked Eumenes so violently with his shield and with the breast of his horse that Eumenes his being too weak for that encounter was thrust upon his hinder quarters and came down upon the sand with his Master This action passed before Oroondates his Tent just at that very time when having put on all his Arms he was run to the door whither the Princess Berenice had followed him Arsaces cast his eye at the same time both upon the Brother and upon the Sister and no sooner knew them but he lift up his hand and head toward Heaven and discovering his fury by a terrible cry and by a threatning action he leaped from his horse to assault Oroondates without advantage and running at him with his sword drawn made him sufficiently know that 't was onely for him he broke the Truce and brought the War alone into the Camp of his Enemies Oroondates knew him presently by divers marks and thanking the Gods in a moment for that so wish'd encounter came to meet him as fiercely as a Lion and threw himself headlong into the fight with a rage that came no way short of his they drew bloud with the first strokes they gave and having made some few more at one another with the same vigor and animosity they closed and seizing upon each others body began to wrestle with an excessive fury they made use of nothing but meer strength and the blind rage of these two Warriers suffered them not to think either of sleight or skill they that stood by to behold this Combat would have faln upon Arsaces but Thalestris who was one of them and who detested such base odds hindred them with all her power and in the interim these two Valiant men came down together like two Collossuse's and began to rowle upon the ground with such a fury as struck terrour in those that were spectatours Berenice Araxes and many others made prayers for Oroondates but none of them durst undertake any way to assist him and his generosity was so well known to them that they dared not to hope for any advantage to him but by his valour alone they both struggled in vain to get the better and after they had devested the earth of its greenness and died it all over with their bloud in which they wallow'd they with their arms and legs thrust each other away at the same instant and start upon their feet again they had already lift up their swords to begin a second bout when a Souldier coming behind Arsaces thrust him into the reins of his back with a Javeline the head whereof stuck a good way in his body and the shaft remained broken in the Souldiers hand Oroondates who beheld this action with an unspeakable grief ran at him who had given him that shamefull assistance but Arsaces who for all he was so chafed and heated felt the blow he had received sprung suddenly upon that Enemy and not giving him the leisure to get away he with a slash of his sword cut off the arm that had strucken him at the very shoulder After this revenge he turned toward Oroondates but his strength began to fail him and he was so weaken'd by that last wound that having reeld three or four steps he could no longer keep himself from falling on the ground Oroondates enraged at the issue of this Combat wherein he saw so little honour was like to have turn'd his Arms against himself to blot out the shame he had received Berenice Thalestris and Araxes ran presently to him and began to disarm him to look upon his wounds as they led him to his Tent but he would not go into it without taking the care he thought himself bound to have of his Enemy and turning toward Menelaus Alexander and Hyander who were with him For Gods sake said he if this gallant man be not dead get him some help and let him be brought into one of the rooms of my Tent where I will give order he shall have that assistance he stands in need of Those young Warriers obey'd him and coming to the place where the great Arsaces lay all along they saw the earth stain'd with bloud round about him and found him in a condition wherein their succour was very necessary He had scarce any understanding left but they pulling up his beaver the fresh air recalled his fainting spirits and they saw him open his eyes and lift up his head very weakly Menelaus causing him to be taken up by Souldiers and helping himself in that charitable office carried him into Oroondates his Tent where
know you to be a Prince and I was already confident of it before I heard you were the Son of Prince Antigonus his name is not unknown in our Countreys neither was his person to the King my Father Your youth hath not hindered your reputation from extending it self as far as the place of my nativity and I cannot but thank my fate for having so happily given me this first encounter Demetrius answered with very low submission and reiterated the offers he had made her with so much affection and respect that she thought she was obliged to discover her self to him and to give him a perfect knowledge of her fortune For which purpose Sir replied she if your generosity incites you already to comfort my misfortunes I hope when they are known to you you will not loose those charitable desires and the obligation I have to your goodness will not suffer me longer to conceal the name nor the life of this unfortunate woman whom you have thought worthy of your assistance The recital of my sad adventures may perhaps be tedious to you but if you please to grant them an hours time I hope I shall interess you in my fortune and I shall make confessions to you which I cannot do without shame nor without showing my acknowledgement for your civilities and the confidence I have in your vertue Demetrius confounded at so obliging a discourse could not find words to express the sence he had of it and the sight and sweet conversation of that divine stranger having in part suspended his remembrance of Hermione he prepared himself for attention with a respect suitable to the favour he received and having testified how considerable it was to him he sate down with her by her command and making sign to the Officers to retire he lent a greedy ear to her relation which she began immediately in these words The Historie of Deidamia I shall not injure modesty if I tell you that there is no bloud more illustrious than that whereof I am descended since indeed it draws its original from the Gods and that from Father to Son without any interruption we fetch our pedegree from the great Achilles He was the Father of Pyrrhus who after the siege of Troy being driven out of his Countrey came to inhabit among the Molosses where he established the Monarchy of the Epirotes His Son succeeded him in the Crown and his posterity hath reigned after him in a right male line to King Arimbas the Father of Alexander my Uncle King of Epirus of Aeacidas my Father who succeeded him in that Kingdom and of Queen Olimpius the wife of Philip and Mother of Alexander the Great By this short touch of our genealogie I have let you see the kindred that was between the late King Alexander and us and moreover you without doubt have heard how to augment that alliance between our families King Philip gave his daughter Cleopatra whom he had by a former wife in marriage to Alexander my Uncle who by that double affinity became both his Son in Law and his Brother in Law After this knowledge of my quality I will tell you that I was born of Prince Aeacidas and of the Princess Phtia his wife the daughter of Menon the Thessalian who acquired so great a reputation in the Lamaick War I was bred up in the Court of King Alexander my Uncle and he seeing himself childless and loving the Prince his brother very dearly caused great care to be taken of my education the Princess my Mother contributing on her side whatsoever could be expected from so tender an affection as that she bore me I will not entertain you with the particulars of my infancy among which there is nothing worthy to be told you and 't will be sufficient to let you know I passed it without any trouble and that that was the onely time wherein I tasted any sweetness or tranquillity I was as much made of by the King my Uncle and by the Queen his wife as if I had been their own daughter and the marks of a reasonable good nature which were observed in me rather than the appearances of a growing beauty wherewith some began to persecute me gained me the affections of the whole Court I lived on this manner since I must abridge the recital of matters of small importance until my thirteenth year which was the last of the calm and quickness of my life The King my Uncle in whom the fame of the other Alexander his brother in Law and his Nephew begot an emulation and who was neither behind him in ambition nor in courage imagined himself to be born for great enterprises as well as he and did not despair of obtaing as glorious Victories as his With this design he raised a potent Army and aiming at the conquest of the West he passed into Italy after having put the government of his Kingdom into the hands of my Father who took the care of it upon him at his desire and bearing a great affection to his brother used that confidence he had in him with a perfect fidelity and acquitted himself without reproach of the charge that had been given him The Kingdom for a certain time remained peaceable enough but within a while after some of the Molosses who naturally are a stirring seditious people rose up in Arms by the secret practises of Antipater whom Alexander the Great had left in Macedonia and who contrary to his Masters intentions strove to make himself great in Europe at the cost of his neighbours and Allies To foment the Rebellion of the Molosses he under hand furnished them with men and mony and by his assistance they grew so powerfull that at last they made War openly set a mighty Army on foot and marched straight toward Aeacidas with an intent to give him Battel My Father who at first had been a little negligent of that revolt was extreamly unprepared yet having a very good courage he with all possible speed drew together those forces he had and giving order for new leavies had not the patience to stay till they were in a readiness to serve him but went to meet the Rebels with a handfull of men He trusted in the Justice of his cause and believed that his Enemies half conquered by their guilt would never have the boldness to stay his coming but be found himself deceived in that expectation and having given them battell very unseasonably his Army weaker by the half than theirs was utterly defeated and scarce was he able with a small remainder of his men to save himself in Ambracia the Metropolis of the Kingdom where the whole Court did still reside Then it was that he saw the fault he had committed in fighting so rashly and that foreseeing the continuation of that War and the progress the Enemies might make if they knew how to lay hold of their advantage he sent Dispatches on all sides to his Allies to demand their assistance and in the
and the remainder passed in a delightfull conversation wherein the Princess Deidamia who with the other Ladies was come to visit the Princes appear'd like a fair star and made some of the company doubt whether Berenice had any advantage over her That lovely Princess had already given her a large place in her affection Thalestris had not been sparing to her of hers and all the Princes charm'd with her beauty and with her admirable qualities and touch'd with the sad Events of her Fortune and with the Ruine of her House had with much joy and civility promised her that protection and assistance she demanded of them Demetrius interessed himself more in that business than all the rest and his Father began already to observe that he beheld that Princess with Eyes less drown'd in tears than ordinary and that he was not altogether so much fixt upon the sorrowfull remembrance of his Hermione This was the last day of the Truce which oblig'd the Princes to spend the remnant of it carefully in putting the Army in order either to assault if they saw occasion or to defend it self if it should be assaulted Those great Souldiers were too skilfull in their Trade to be ignorant of any thing that could serve for their advantage but after having visited the Camp they thought themselves not in a condition to attempt any thing for some days and the knowledge they had that their Enemies were altogether as unfit for action made them onely prepare for their defence or to avoid those surprises whereof too great a negligence might afford an opportunity and in the mean time they were extremely diligent in hastening the cure of their hurt men and in causing those that were well to work at their Trenches The next day Arsaces was so much better that he himself could hardly believe the sudden return of strength he felt and Oroondates as soon as he was awake having ask'd him how he did I am so well said he Brother that I finde my self able to satisfie the desire you have to learn my Adventures you have more interest in the recital of them than any body in the world and our two lives are so chain'd to one another that 't is almost impossible to separate them I lost one half of mine reply'd Oroondates when I thought I had lost you and the other subsisted onely by the love I bore my Princess I ow'd that part of Oroondates to her and but for that I should have sacrificed it all to my sorrow for the death of Artaxerxes but O Gods is it possible you should have liv'd ever since without giving this afflicted Brother any knowledge that you were alive These words drew some sighs from Arsaces and when he was going to answer him they saw the fair Thalestris come into the Chamber and with her Prince Lysimachus Oxyartes and Artabasus As soon as they had bidden the two Princes good morrow and that they with joy had heard from them the estate of their health Oroondates turning towards Arsaces Brother said he these pesons are not to be suspected in the relation I have demanded of you and I believe 't is partly that desire that has brought them hither If I am suspected added Lysimachus I shall not take it ill if you think fit I should retire and leave you in a more absolute liberty No Lysimachus replied the Prince you shall never be suspected by me and I shall be extreamly afflicted if you conserve not that friendship to Parisatise's brother which you already have promised to Arsaces He detain'd Queen Thalestris with the same civility but Oroondates desired their entertainment should be limited to that number of persons and Lysimachus gave order at the Tent door that the Princes should not be disturb'd that morning Arsaces was going to begin his story when Oroondates fearing he should be obliged to speak too loud by reason of the distance between their beds had a mind to go into his but the presence of Thalestris hindred him which Lysimachus perceiving led her for awhile into the next Chamber and at their return they found the two Princes in Arsaces his bed link'd in a very different embrace from those they had given one another not many dayes before These illustrious persons took their places close by the bed and Arsaces having held his peace awhile broke silence in these terms The Historie of Arsaces O Gods with what face can I own my having been alive while Alexander over-ran my Countrey destroy'd my family and triumph'd over my Fathers life and Empire which way shall I be able to make this shamefull confession and what excuses can I find in my love and in my misfortunes to justifie my self of such a seeming cowardise 'T is true I lived during all the losses of my friends and the miseries of my Countrey but I lived in a condition which if it cannot make me absolutely innocent may perhaps obtain some pardon amongst you and leave you still in a belief that if Arsaces had been free he would not have been so base as to see the desolation of his Countrey without burying himself in its fatal ruins I speak this before you Lysimachus whom I shall ever be able to discern from the Enemies of our house and I call this remembrance into my mind without keeping any heart-burning against many of our generous friends who have now taken arms for the remnant of our bloud and who heretofore while they serv'd their King and laboured for their own glory obliged Darius his family by most considerable services and have now left in his Son neither any animosity against them nor any discontent for seeing them possessours of those Countreys which were the King my Fathers and which ought to have been my Dominions at this present if by the anger of the Gods this Empire had not been overthrown from the highest pitch that ever humane greatness attain'd I cannot think of this sad remembrance continued Arsaces with a sigh or two without showing some tokens that I am sensible of the ruin of our house but for all I am an exile for all I am devested of an Empire whose scattered pieces make so many sovereigns the Gods are my witnesses that I shall never bewail that loss if I may but keep Berenice and if with those Scepters which Heavens wrath had put into other hands I loose not also that worthily adored Princess for whom I freely did forsake them all These words drew tears from the eyes of all the hearers and Arsaces having wip'd away his prosecuted his discourse on this manner I died not Brother in that bloudy Battel wherein you thought you had lost a brother to whom you were a thousand times more dear than his own life and three dayes ago I should have said that I lived to my misfortune but my recovering of Berenice and of your self banishes all those ingratefull thoughts out of my heart and cannot suffer me to complain of my destiny without blasphemy and
ready he took me by the hand and drawing me aside from all the company lead me to walk with him in a Gallery which is near his Chamber I was watching an occasion to speak to him of the Prince his son when he himself began the discourse in terms full of anger and indignation aggravated the cause he had to hate him never more to have any confidence in him I hearken'd quietly as long as it pleased him to speak but when I had let him vent part of his choller that by his silence he shew'd that he expected to know something of my opinion Sir said I if your Majesty would give me leave to speak my thoughts with a little liberty I really protest I would abuse it no further than to represent to you what a true zeal inspires me with The King looking upon me at these words expressing by his gesture that he expected the continuation of my discourse Is it possible Sir pursued I that that son of yours the most great the most lovely of all the Princes in the world whose virtue found nothing but adorers amongst his greatest enemies should not find some remainder of love or at least of compassion in the heart of the King his father Have those faults which a violent love made him to commit and for which he hath suffered so long so sharp a penance choak'd all the tenderness of nature in you and banish'd the knowledge you had of the admirable qualities of that son whom the gods gave unto mankinde as their most accomplish'd workmanship Where were there another King to be found who would not redeem a son like Oroondates by the loss of all his Dominions and who in consideration of his youth and of his passion would not forgive an offence which he accompanied with a thousand great and miraculous Actions Have not whole years of a strict and cruel imprisonment punish'd a Prince of his quality severely enough Are not they that inspire this Rigour into your Majesty and that sollicite you to a Revenge which falls onely upon your self satisfied with so long a Captivity if they love the glory of Scythia ought they not to indeavour to restore it its greatest and most illustrious Ornament Pardon me Sir I beseech you if in this conceit I indiscreetly interest persons who it may be are considerable to you but I feel my self oblig'd by the honour you do me to put you in minde that their own interests sets them on and that they labour to prolong the Princes Restraint onely to prolong their own Authority Their thoughts perhaps are yet more destructive to the happiness of this Kingdom and of your Majesty in particular Time will give you informations to which you will lend more credit than to my words but if you hearken to the wishes of all Scythia and discern the counsel of your real servants from that of others who are sway'd by their own particular ends you will consider Prince Oroondates as your son and those that would ruine him in your opinion as persons not well affected to your service The King would not suffer me to pass further but stopping me in this part of my discourse Arsaces said he I know that you are generous and that the Report of some virtue which appear'd in Oroondates in his earlier years makes you speak as you do in his favour It is true he was born with parts good enough and by the care I took in breeding him I had made him a reasonable compleat man but all his good inclinations are lost and since he betraid me and betraid himself with so much baseness and meaness of spirit I cannot consider those things that were good in him as other than so many Advantages which he has unworthily abused if he had valour he should have imploy'd it for the good of his Countrey and for the service of his father and of his King if he had handsomness and gracefull fashion he ought to have made use of it for a more justifiable and a more glorious Conquest than that of Darius his daughter and of Alexanders captive and in short if he had ambition he should have shew'd it at the head of an Army like that of Alexanders and according to the Rudiments I had given him instead of wasting the prime of his life vilely and shamefully in the service of my Enemy These words of the Kings touch'd me so deeply that I could not possibly retain a sigh or two and scarce was I able to keep my tears from discovering how much I was concern'd in that discourse I strove to dissemble it as well as I could and looking upon the King with an unsatisfied countenance What Sir said I do you believe then that your son has shamefully abased himself in serving the daughter of Darius and do you think that King held so inconsiderable a Rank amongst other Monarchs that you look upon the purpose your son had to contract an Alliance with him as a mean and as an unworthy design I am not ignorant of Darius his quality replied the King nor was it to the defect of that I attributed Oroondates his meaness of spirit but how great soever he was he was my Enemy and my Enemy with a kinde of hatred which no consideration was able to reconcile Ah! Sir added I more nearly touch'd than before is it possible that the misfortunes of the House of Persia should not have mollified you and that you should behold the fall of it with the eye of an Enemy Hath not poor Darius who was once the greatest King in the World soften'd your Resentments by so lamentable a Death and by the loss of all his family and can you consider that sad Revolution of his fortune as other than a dreadfull Example of all Kings in general No Sir you can no longer conserve against his memory and against what is yet remaining of his House that hatred which heretofore produc'd such fatal effects between you nor can you look upon the assistance Oroondates gave him in his misfortunes as an unpardonable crime His love was the cause of his first faults and these last Actions which you accuse of so much baseness were inspired into him by meer generosity If Darius his son were alive he if he were able would repay you all the services Darius received from Oroondates he would not look upon you as his Fathers Enemy but as the Father of his dearest friend and if love were joined to those considerations he would give you his whole life and Darius if he were living would easily pardon him that offence The King troubled with this discourse would not suffer me to continue it I do not rule my self said he by the example of my Enemies and of those who from the beginning of their Empire have by all manner of wayes endeavoured to invade that of my Ancestors I never desired peace in a War which they alwayes began and as my hatred was more just
which were heard from one Camp to the other rouz'd up those that were fastest asleep and excited in the faintest hearts a courage which was not natural to them The Prince of Scythia had not stay'd for it but his cares and his generous impatience had made him leave his bed before break of day As soon as he perceived the shining of the earliest beams I salute thee cry'd he O glorious day and thou bright Sun the tutelary God of my Princesses Countrey who to day art to give light to an action worthy of thy presence If these years which my love has covered with a gloomy obscurity have passed with some kind of dishonour to me perchance I to day may find occasion to make my Fortune alone be accused of part of those faults which have hitherto reflected upon me My Arms continued he my Arms and presently after Loncates having brought them he put them on with the help of Araxes who busied himself in that imployment with a joy which he drew from the contentment of his Master They were the same he wore in the former Battel as well because he had try'd their goodness and for love of the Prince that had given him them as to make himself the more easily known to Perdiccas against whom he had now turn'd all the anger which before was chiefly against Arsaces There had been but very few with him at his rising because he was one of the first up in the whole Camp but his Arms were not quite on when his Chamber was full of Officers of the Army He with them went out of his Chamber to go into that of Arsaces whom he found out of bed and with him Oxyartes Ilyoneus and many other Noble persons whose affections that Prince's admirable vertues had acquired Brother cry'd Oroondates as he came in to day we shall have you to fight with us and I hope we shall conquer since in turning of our side you without doubt will make the Victory turn with you Yes Brother reply'd Prince Artaxerxes we shall Conquer and if the Gods are not too much our Enemies an Army commanded by Oroondates and by so many valiant Princes cannot chuse but hope for Victory After these words and many others full of modesty and civility they received Lysimachus Ptolomeus and Craterus and by little and little all the considerable men of the Army Berenice Apamia and the other Ladies whom the apprehensions of that day had waken'd sooner than ordinary came thither also Apamia and Arsinoe openly shew'd the fear they were in for their dear husbands and Berenice though she endeavoured to dissemble part of hers or to make the opinion of it fall upon her affection to her Brother could not keep the company from discovering that though Oroondates was very dear to her yet her greatest disquiets were for Artaxerxes Oroondates observed it with much joy and as jealous as he had been of him for another he envyed not his friend the precedence in his Sisters affection 'T was in her presence Artaxerxes called for his Arms which had newly been presented to him by his Unkle Prince Oxyartes They had been Darius his and were the same he wore when under the name of Codoman he by a memorable Combat had added Armenia to the Crown of Persia and the Prince his Son having kissed them out of the respect he owed unto that memory could not put them on without solemnizing that remembrance with some tears nor without drawing some by his action from the eyes of Oroondates and Oxyartes with the rest of their companions As Darius had been the greatest and most magnificent King in all the World his Arms shewed tokens of his magnificence and of his greatness and the gold stones of value wherewith they were enriched afforded no sight of the matter whereof they were made so that when the Prince had put them on he look'd like fierce Achilles in those gallant Arms whereon Vulcan at the request of Thetis had set forth the utmost of his skill All the Princes went out of the Tent together to be present at the sacrifices that were going to be offered through the whole Camp and by the zeal they testified in that action made the Souldiers know that 't was rather from the Gods than from their valour they ought to expect the success of that dangerous day the Priest found nothing ominous either in the smoak or in the entrails of the beasts and some among them having espied an Eagle flying toward their left hand drew a presage from thence that gave them a very great hope of victory The Troups began presently after to march out of their entrenchments and were drawn up in the plain by the care of Eumenes and Polyperchon while Arsaces took a leave of Berenice which she could not give him without breaking forth into sorrow and while Prince Oroondates attended by his faithfull Araxes gallop'd through all the several Divisions and by his words and presence stirr'd up a desire to fight in the hearts of the veriest cowards The Princesses were already retired all the Commanders were at the heads of their Battalions and the Forces being quite drawn up marched toward their Enemies in gallant order they had mov'd but a little way when they perceiv'd them and from a rising ground saw all the Field of Babylon covered with men and horses Their order was no less beautifull than that of our Princes nor their march less considerable Perdiccas had divided his Army into six Battalions The first composed of Macedonians Parthians and the inhabitants of mount Caucasus was commanded by the valiant Seleucus Cassander led the second consisting of Carians Lycians and of the invincible Argiraspides The third obeyed Leonatus and under him marched the Pamphilians the Oraches and the Argeans The fourth was under the conduct of Alcetas in which were the inhabitants of the two Mediaes the Pelasgians and those Zogdians that were not under the Jurisdiction of Artabasus The fifth whose Leader was Neoptolemus was made up of natural Persians and the inhabitants of Susiana and those of that part of Bactria which was under the obedience of Scytheus Peucestas brought up the last and was followed by the Babylonians Bellites and the Souldiers of Margiana Python had the charge of two hundred and fifty arm'd Chariots and Statanor that of five or six thousand horse which were a reserve for the same purpose as those of Demetrius The two Armies were no sooner within sight but they saluted one another after the usual manner and all the valiant Commanders of each side animated by the present objects and by the resoluteness they observ'd in their souldiers faces shew'd a generous impatience in their own and forgot not any thing belonging to their charge that could conduce unto the Victory Lysimachus Ptolomeus Craterus Thalestris Eumenes Polyperchon and Demetrius appear'd at the head of their Troops like so many invincible Alcides Arsaces was before the first with a more than humane presence and