they imagined Tarquin would not have them to tell it but they spoke in ambiguous terms enough to make it known Mean while this cruel Murtherer stood by still and he had so much dissembling inhumanity as to feel the Pulse of this deplorable Princess that he might guess how long she had to live So as this languishing person did in a manner pull back her Arm and being out of all patience turned towards Tarquin with a languor able to inspire compassion into cruelty it self I ask you pardon Sir said she unto him and blusht for being so long a dying but it is not my fault said she and turned another way for I took all the poison that was given me and never looked for any remedy yet these words were not heard by any but Tarquin and that Lady who knew all the secrets of this deplorable Ladies heart But she was so full of sorrow as she could not speak and Tarquin who was as bold as wicked beginning to speak he said she began to swound and that she would never recover out of it And indeed losing her speech a little after she fell into a Trance which lasted four or five hours But as soon as Tarquin saw her swounded and thinking she would never speak again he sent to acquaint the King and Queen who coming in all hast were extreamly grieved to find the Princess in that condition yet they never thought her to be poisoned nor of any thing else but remedies but all in vain for she died some two hours after the Sun was up Afterwards the unjust Tarquin bethought himself how to render her all imaginable honours after death But whilst this inhumane Butcher was sacrificing this fair Princess unto his Love and Ambition the cruel Tullia was offering the same sad sacrifice that he was and as soon as the Prince of Ameriola was returned home and according to his custom went into a Bath he began to find himself ill for Tarquin had made up his Dose of such a Composition as when Tullia had put it into the Bath the very vapour of it did stifle him and took away the use of his reason as soon as he was in The two Servants who waited upon him being privy unto Tullia's Conspiracy they had Antidotes to keep this vapour from hurting them and Tullia had cunningly sent away all others that were not of the confederacy But after this poison had wrought its effect and the Prince in that condition the cruel Tullia her self took him out of the Bathe and put him into Bed causing those who were of this horrid plot to say that he desired to sleep and had forbidden any to enter into the Chamber She her self seeing he did not die so soon as she desired she would not go to Bed that night and going often into the Chamber of this unhappy Prince her impatience was such as she caused him to be strangled with two Handkerchiefs tyed together to the end there might be no signs of a violent death and that it might seem he was choked with a Fluxion of Humours However it was this Prince died the same night with the Princess whom he loved which made so great a noise in Rome rhat nothing else was talked of Yet Tarquin and Tullia were so terrible unto all the World that People durst only whisper what they thought concerning the sudden death of these two both at one time though none called the cause of their death by the name of any disease These most cruel and inhumane Barbarians did well enough forsee that causing them to die so both at one time people would think as they did but they foresaw more danger to themselves in causing them to die at several times for if the Princess had survived the Prince of Ameriola she would have told the King her Father what she knew concerning his death And Tulliia would not poison her Husband until she was sure that Tarquin would poyson his Wife lest after he was rid of him who might dispute with him about the Crown he should not go on in his business Tarquin for his part would not poison his Wife had he not been sure of his Brothers death for he was sure that if his Brother survived the Princess he would revenge her death so as seeing much less danger in the mutterings of the people they resolved to commit these two horrid Crimes both at once with as much boldness as cruelty And as Tarquin did render all imaginable honours unto the Princess as soon as she was dead so did Tullia unto the Prince of Ameriola as soon as he was expired This cruel person had the impudence to go and comfort Tarquin after the death of his Wife And Tarquin also sent this Complement unto her that he was more sorry for the Prince of Ameriola's death as he was her Husband than as his Brother All this while the wise and prudent Servius Tullus was strangely amazed for though at the first he did not suspect that the Princess his Daughter was poisoned yet he was of another mind after the Prince of Ameriola's death and knew that Tarquin and Tullia were they who sent them into another World which grieved this good King to the very heart These two virtuous Persons who were dead were extremely dear unto him and their deaths struck deep into his sorrowful Soul Tarquin and Tullia after this horrid Crime were a horror unto him but they were a terrour also and he feared the same treatment to himself which he saw used unto others Yet this Consideration had not kept him from publishing his resentment had not a reason of honour restrained him For said he unto one whom he trusted with all the secrets of his heart why should I stain my own glory by accusing my own Daughter for poysoning her Husband and her Sister Why should I accuse my Son in Law for murthering his Wife and his Brother When I have accused these two persons can I prove their Crime or am I assured that I can punish them for it is likely that Tarquin and Tullia would never have attempted a thing of this nature unless they were sure of some great party in the Senate Besides I know no further than by conjectures and say I had a certain knowledge it is hard for a Father to punish his own Children unless they be obliged unto it for conspiring against the Senate for in that case the general interest ought to be preferred before the particular and ones Country before Nature But this is only to be revenged for the death of a Daughter and a Son in Law Rome hath no interest in the business or if it have it is in a different manner For I conceive it is a shame unto all Romans to have a King that shall convict his Son in Law for poisoning his Wife and that shall convict his own daughter for poysoning her Husband I conceive it better to dissemble it and look upon Tarquin and Tullia as innocent This
the life of a child that he looked upon as the child of a Prince whom he esteemed his enemy this Lady likewise who was her only consolation told her that after Mezentius had reduc'd things to the estate where they were he would not be capable to be mollified by the consideration of a child which was but in conception and who had nothing but tears to bow his obdurateness when he should come into the world so that they thought it was expedient to conceal that indisposition which produced their fear but the thing at first appeared so difficult to them that their consolation ended in tears But after a little mature deliberation they believed that if they could gain his wife who commanded the Castle it would not be impossible to conceal so great a secret for as she was the only person which had the liberty to see this young Queen except two slaves which served her they should fear nothing if they could procure her to be of their intelligence so that all the care Galerita used was to entirely to acquire that Lady who was called Flavia and who is sister to Nicius here present but to speak truly it was not difficult for the Princess to oblige her to serve her and to be faithful to her for she being naturally tender and compassionate had a particular inclination to love Galerita who knew so admirably how to acquire their spirits of those from whom she would obtain any thing that it had been very difficult for Flavia to resist her intreaties who much deplored the misery of so fair and vertuous a Queen but Galerita deferred the discovery of it as long as she could possible to see if the Prince of Perusia could desist from his injustice but hearing by some of her Guards that he always appeared more inveterate against Porsenna and that he used all the means possible to usurp his estate and that when Clusium was submitted he would assuredly put to death this Prince she determin'd to confide on Flavia to whom she learnt her present Estate and the fear Mezentius should know it but she told it her with such melting language and tender considerations to procure her fidelity to assist her in saving the life of of an innocent Babe which did not yet enjoy the light that this vertuous woman which had no obdurate heart mingled her tears with Galeritas and would not promise her without evaporating many sighs the accomplishment of all her desires so that the true cause of her indisposition might be conceal'd But without troubling my self to recite impertinent particularities I shall tell you in few words that Galerita having feign'd to be seiz'd with a greater malady than really she was to obtain that her Guards should come no more into her Chamber and Flavia who was very much belov'd by her Husband being wholly gain'd by her and they having gain'd the Physician which should see Galerita the design was in the end conducted with so much precaution judgment and sense that the true cause of Galeritas indisposition was not in the least suspected and she had the advantage to salute the times with a Successor to Porsenna it being not then known and the generous Flavia acted her part so handsomly that the Son of the Queen of Clusium came into the world without being publickly known and was taken out of her Chamber without being discovered for having foreseen what she would act she had so order'd it that the Queen of Clusium having seen from her Chamber a little child she had which was very fair and that one of her slaves held in his arms desired to see it so that insensibly she had used the Guards of this Princess to enter daily and go out with that person which carried Flavias young Son into Galeritas Chamber and which carried it sometimes divested and sometimes wrapt up in sumptuous swath bands as if it were asleep in her arms to the end to use this artifice when it should be necessary and as Flavia was his wife who commanded the Castle none which depended on her were suspected by Galeritas Guards so that when this Queen was in estate to have need of the address of Flavia she caus'd her which had accustom'd to bring the Son of this Lady to the Chamber of the Princess to come thither with the same swadling clouts wherewith she used to envelope it when she carried it asleep thither having taken a great bundle of flowers in going through a Garden which she carried as if it had been really the child she used to carry in her arms so that being entred in this manner into Galeritas Chamber with Flavia who followed her and having stayed there till the Queen had given Porsenna a Son she departed afterwards from thence with the child of this Queen whose face was covered lest the fallacy should be discern'd and this young Prince was carried to the Apartment of Flavia from whence she caus'd it to depart the same night to commit it to the care of Martia her Sister in Law to whom without any fear she confided this secret because she had always had so great a dependance on the service of the precedent Princess of Perusia that there was nothing to be fear'd but as of necessity that this child stould be carried in a Bark to the other side of the Lake to transport it to the house of Martia which was ten miles from thence There was a few days after some noise dispers'd of that which Galerita fear'd should be known and it so suddenly receiv'd an augmentation that Bianor hearing of it made it known to Mezentius and this Prince caus'd to be arrested the Physician which had assisted the Queen of Clusium and by most cruel threatnings he obliged him to confess the truth but hardly did he know it but fury wholly possessing him he commanded an exact search should be made for Galeritas Child he caused Flavia and her husband to be arrested and chang'd all the Guards of the Queen his daughter and so rigorously treated this Princess that she now fear'd Mezentius would kill her Son if he came into his hands 't is true she long time fear'd this mishap would arrive for knowing the humour of Mezentius and having understood from Flavia that some noise was dispers'd of the birth of this young Prince she oblig'd ber to command Nicius and Martia on her part to seek speedily a pretext to perform a voyage to carry this young child from the estate of a Prince whose violence and injustice she equally fear'd she gave Flavia precious stones of a very considerable value to give to Martia that she might make use of as occasion served during the exile of her Son and Flavia having instructed Nicius and Martia of Galeritas intentions return'd not to the Isle where she was kept till she had seen Nicius and Martia depart to seek an Asylum for Porsennas successor at first they had a design to put themselves under the protection
exposed them to perish at least just gods said then this generous Roman lifting up his eyes to heaven if ye have resolved my destruction save my Country and to die like a true Romane let me rather make vows for it than for my self do then you just gods I entreat you oppresse Tarquin the proud by his own tyranny let him be trampled under the Throne to which his crimes have carryed him and let the cruel Tullia which passed over her fathers body to mount the same Throne dye cruelly let all his family be exterminated let the name of the Tarquins be an horror and since Rome hath no more legitimate Kings let it I say be free and let it never have tyrants Clelius having thus spoken and Sulpitia by her suppliant action seemed to joyn her prayers with her husbands a gust of this enraged wind bearing Nicius his vessel on theirs split them both in an instant and covered all the sea with their ruines the Carthaginians were seen mingled with the Romans and the Romans with the Sicilians who in particular used all the means they were able to save their lives but amongst others Clelius who could swim admirably and who had a strong heart incapable of disturbance by the sight of any certain death endeavoured to swim to discover his wife or his son amongst that masse of planks which there floated and men clinged unto them to save their lives but as the violence of the waves soon dispersed the splinters of the ships Clelius without finding his son or his wife was constrained to think on his own safety and having discovered the point of a rock which overlookt the sea where he might retreat in such a pressing necessity he that endeavoured to gain it in despight of the impetuosity of the waves in hope all the vessels which he had seen in the beginning of the tempest were not perished and that some of them would take him from the rock when the sea was a little calm but as Clelius vigorously did swim to attain that rock he saw on his right hand a cradle which floated and a young child which without appearing affrighted at the horrible peril where he was smiled assoon as he perceived him this pitiful object sensibly touching the heart of this generous Roman and at that instant not thinking there was any other Child but his in any of the vessels which were shipwrackt believed it was his son and did swim with more swiftnesse to go to succour that Cradle which the waves so rudely tossed but approaching it he knew distinctly that it was not his child for he had different swadling clouts and very remarkable which gave him no doubt of it neverthelesse Clelius incited by a compassionate feeling and wishing his child were in the same estate who might find one which would succour him continued swimming towards the cradle of the young Prince of Clusium for it was Madam the son of him whom Clelius saw in imminent danger and which would have infallibly perished without his assistance this illustrious Clelius did swim with so much force and address for to take hold of a corner of the Cradle of that young Prince whom he knew not but that which was most cruel was that the waves which pusht it carried it from the point of the rock that he lookt upon as an Asylum nevertheless having found this Cradle he sustained it with one hand and swimming with the other he turned his head to the rock where afterwards arrived with much difficulty and assoon as he was there he put the Cradle of this young Prince on the highest part of that rock and seated him by it to behold the place where he was shipwrackt but looking on it he saw his own sons cradle which floated and which being intangled among the planks that the Sea tossed in a strange manner appeared to him ready to be drowned so that not having the power to resist his paternal pity weary as he was he left the young child which he had found and cast himself again into the sea to endeavour to save his but going thither had the misfortune to see that a gust of wind having pusht the prow of one of those broken ships between him and his son just as the cradle had been disintangled from the planks which supported it hindred him from seeing any more the cradle or the planks for at that time there fell a shower of rain so abundant that Clelius could hardly perceive the rock where he had left Porsennas son when he believed to have seen his own son perish he would return to him which heaven had given him and having nothing else to do he regained that Refuge but when he was there he sometimes believed that he and this child would likewise die there for after the cessation of this terrible shower he saw two vessels which had not been shipwrackt instead to approach the place where he was did all that they might to estrange themselves from it for as the Pilots knew that rock they would not by any means possible approach it so that Clelius finding his deplored estate judged that it may be if he enterprised to swim to gain those vessels it would not be impossible for him to do it if he went alone without enterprising to sustain the Cradle but as he would not forsake the child which heaven had put into his protection he could not resolve to do it for he was no sooner on the rock but the wind changed and pushed thither such an abundance of foam that if Clelius had not held the Cradle of this young Prince in his arms he had been drowned in the sea Clelius being in this deplorable estate believed when he see his son perish he did not doubt of his wifes death his generosity hindred from thinking of preserving his own life and he saw little appearance to preserve that unhappy infant but in the end one of these Carthaginian vessels which had not perished being pushed in despight of him towards that rock and Clelius having made divers signs was in the end perceived by him which commanded it which being capable of humanity had taken a particular care to save the most of those men he could which were shipwrackt and in the end the wind having ceased on a sudden it was easie for him without danger to approach the rock and Clelius put himself again in the water charged with the Cradle of the son of Porsenna to gain the vessel where he had the joy to find again his dear Sulpitia that a faithfull slave had saved her by bearing her upon the water and making her to board the ship where he sound her This interview had something very delightful for Clelius was much comforted by finding his wife and Sulpicia was very joyfull to see again her husband she believed at first she had recovered her son when she saw Clelius with a child in his arms but she was soon disabused and in
belief that his friendship towards him principally proceeded from his former affection to his Mother so boldly taking his Daughters part whose innocency she knew she took Aronces in effect said she to Clelius if Aronces is not a Roman born he hath a Roman heart and if Clelia had not lived well with him she should have disobeyed the command that you and I injoyn'd her if she had suffered him as her Brother replied Clelius I should have had nothing to reproach her but she hath endured him as a Lover and hath without doubt treated Horatius as an enemy by your favour sharply replied Sulpicia blame not me indirectly by blaming Clelia and be perswaded that she is altogether innocent that she loves glory and virtue that she hath not derogated from her birth but you are so opposite to the pretensions of Aronces because you do not know his Father and favour those of Horatius because his Mother hath been of your acquaintance At these words Clelius feeling himself touched to the quick at this reproach of Sulpicia because in effect there was some truth in it felt in his heart such a disposition to anger that for fear he should not overpower himself he departed not only from her chamber but out of the house and went to Aronces for whom he had yet a tender affection but against whom likewise he was much angred though he was resolved to speak to him rather like an angred Father than an enemy for Aronces received him with his usual respect but with such a profound sadness imprinted on his Face that it easily appeared that his Soul was much disquieted as soon as he was entred Aronces thus says to him with as much submission as if he had been his Father I doubt not but you believe you have cause to complain of me for that which hath passed between Horatius and I but I protest unto you he hath been the Assailer if he had not forced me to act what I have done the respect I bear you would have obliged me to suffer any affronts from him I am willing to believe Aronces replied Clelius that Horatius hath committed most wrong in that which reflecteth on your quarrel and I am very much deceived if I do not make you confess that you have been more culpable towards me then he can be towards you for in sine you know Aronces what I have done for you you know I found you in the Sea that I exposed my life to save yours and afterwards far from treating you as a slave the gods had given me I educated you as my Son and that there might be nothing deficient on my part to your advantage I desired my Wife to love you as if she had been your Mother and commanded my Daughter to love you as if she had been your Sister but O horrible and unparallel'd ingratitude you use the familiarity I have given you in my house to cloak your affection to Clelia and you pretend to enforce her from me that she might not obey my commands I therefore declare to you by a tender resentment which yet resides in my heart and to teach you to acknowlege those obligations you have to me by a grateful recognition to you for saving my life I say that if you will ingeniously confess all that which is passed between Horatius and you and swear to me never to pretend any thing to Clelia nor once to speak to her till she shall be espoused to Horatius I will preserve my friendship toward you and I will bury in oblivions grave the cause you have given me to complain of you Would I had the power said Aronces to him to shew you all that which hath passed in my heart for if it were possible for me to do it you would easily seal my justification and my infelicity would it may be receive a great diminution but seeing you cannot divine my thoughts permit me to tell them you and do me the favour to believe that I will conceal nothing from you I will then ingeniously confess to you that I have received continually from you all things I could desire and more then I could ever expect and I have been and I am yet linkt to you in such a chain of gratitude that nothing but death shall be able to untie and if I could but once reproach my self to have committed any thing voluntarily which might merit your indignation I should esteem my self the most ingrateful and persidious of all Men but generous Clelius that love which hath made a deep impression in my Soul and which irritates you against me is not of this Nature What have I not done to resist and banish this passion from my heart and for being just to you Clelia hath reason to tax me with injustice for I have been sometimes so transported beyond my self that I have wisht with a strange desire neither to admire love or esteem her but my wishes were still in vain for I observe love and admire her more than my tongue too weak an instrument to blazon forth her perfections is able to express but as I live without any hope to be happy demanding no reciprocal affection I cannot see how I should be conscious of any injustice towards you and though my person should be your captive yet I must tell you that the respect I bear you only hinders me from desiring to cease to be miserable and I must therefore ingeniously confess to you that I am not capable to see Clelia in Horatius his power without contributing to my own Tragedy neither give her to me pursued this afflicted Lover and I consent thereto neither give her to Horatius if you will not give death to a Man whose Life you have saved I very well know my words do not fall in the compass of Reason and that you have some subject to impute injustice to me because I seem to impose Laws on him from whom I ought to receive them I would not have unript my thoughts to you in this occasion if I had not imagined to oblige you to compassionate my feebleness I might have told you if I would that as unknown as I am there is something inshrined in my heart which may merit the particular esteem of Clelius but I declare to you without murmuring against you that if you never give her me I shall without doubt complain of fortune but never of Clelius and if Horatius shall not be more happy than I I shall not believe my self to be the most unfortunate of all Men. That which you say replied Clelius is so dissonant from Reason that I cannot give you any positive Answer and all that which I may or ought to tell you is that my Daughter is under my power that the Romans are not only Masters of their Childrens fortunes but of their lives and as Clelia's Father I shall bestow her on whom I please and I shall never give her you but according to all likelihood shall
consequently bestow on him the Princess his daughter But in the mean time Tarquin being as subtile as wicked seemed to rest satisfyed with the reasons of Junius and thereupon promised he would do no violence to Herdonius but by just and honourable wayes However he made a shift to dispatch him otherwise for corrupting a Slave belonging to Herdonius who while his Master was out of doors suffered a number of swords and other arms to be brought into his Master's house the cruel Tarquin confidently dressed up an accusation against him insinuating that it was fit enquiry should be made into the business and so engaging all those to whom he spoke of it by the apprehension of their own danger he perswaded them they should be fully enlightned as to what he said to them by searching Herdonius his house This was done and there were found the Arms which Tarquin had secretly conveyed thither and such other circumstances as amounted to make him thought guilty upon which those whom Tarquin had purposely brought along with him seized disorderly every one on a sword of those which were found and without any other ceremony threaten him with death He is taken bound and by Tarquin's order cast into the Spring-head of the Ferentine fountains where he no sooner was in but overwhelmed with stones he was presently drowned The business was done so of a sudden that Junius knew it not ere it was too late to prevent it though as soon as he had notice that some Souldiers were commanded to Herdonius's he went to divert Tarquin from so strange a violence But he could not make such hast but that Herdonius was dead and all he could do was to acquaint Tarquin that he was not ignorant of his crime in it This business broke off all correspondence between him and Tarquin insomuch that he went not to Court but when honor oblig'd him he gave order Tarquinia should go very seldom to the Queen so that both of them made it afterwards their whole business to see well educated two sons which they then had whereof Brutus is one It is true he was then but a child but his brother who was six or seven years elder than he made some advantage of the instructions they gave him Another thing which extreamly exasperated Tarquin against Junius was to see what use he made of that excessive wealth which he was master of for when Tarquin had consiscated the estate of any vertuous Family Junius and Tarquinia secretly reliev'd all those whom he had ruin'd which they did after such a manner as if they conceiv'd themselves obliged to enrich those whom the Prince impoverish'd and that it was their part to restore what he took away from all vertuous people Tarquin therefore thought that their liberality did as it were dis-arm his Tyranny by making him uncapable to make men miserable and that Junius having married his Sister robb'd the Crown of all he was so prodigal of Nay he conceived that this mans Vertue secretly reproved his Vices so indeed that at last he was no longer able to endure it Being therefore resolved to rid Junius out of the way and tempted withall with the advantage of being Guardian to his Children and consequently disposing of all the great Wealth of that house he caused him to be poyson'd But as it is hard to meet with poysons that leave no marks of their malignity the vertuous Tarquinia knew but too much to her grief that her noble Husband was taken away by the cruelty of her Brother But that which was most remarkable in his death was that Junius who had an infinite affection for Tarquinia and doubted not but that he was poisoned at a Banquet where he was forced to afford the tyrant his company yet had the generosity not to tell her of her Brothers cruelty nor ever mind her of revenging his death But if he shewed himself so reserv'd to her he was more open to his eldest Son who was arrived to years of discretion For he sent for Licinius an ancient friend of his whose faith he trusted with all his secrets and speaking to his Son in his presence he enjoyned him to be as dutiful to that vertuous friend as to himself to prefer Vertue before all things never to forget that his Father lost his life through the injustice of an Usurper never to miss any occasion might conduce to the deliverance of Rome and to instil these resentments into his younger Brother as soon as he should be capable to receive them which done he died in an admirable assuredness of mind But Tarquinia's constancy was at the first onset over-mastered by her grief and it was impossible she should not betray some light supicion she had about the death of Junius even while the fierce Taquin and the cruel Tullia were comforting her for the loss which they caused her for this inhumane Princess had a hand in this as in all the rest of her husbands enormities But Tarquin catching at so visible a pretence soon began to ill-intreat his Sister and possessing himself of all the wealth of the Family reduc'd Tarquinia to a very sad condition for he left her not any thing to dispose of nor was she suffer'd to have her eldest Son with her which added infinitely to the affliction of this generous Roman Lady who in that very circumstance underwent the greatest persecution which could fall upon her after the loss she had received For Tarquin observing in his Sisters eldest Son certain great and vertuous inclinations and that he had withal a great understanding and courage caused him barbarously to be murthered and that so confidently that he troubled not himself whether he were accused for it or not or studied any pretence for it as if there were not any other account of his loss to be given than that he feared that that illustrious unfortunate man should revenge his Fathers death and recover that prodigious wealth which he had possessed himself of Tarquinia who had yet hardly dried up her tears for the death of her husband was so transported with that of her Sons that to save what was left she resolved to steal out of Rome with this child and she did it so much the sooner insomuch as she was advertised by Licinius that Tarquin would within a few days snatch him out of her Arms. So that this wise Matron assisted by the counsel of this faithful friend of Marcus Junius absolutely determined to forsake that place where her own Brother reigned with so much injustice It is true she had the happiness of Licinius's company thence for being hated by Tarquin he thought it conduced to his safety to leave his country as well as she So that Licinius Tarquinia and the young Brutus who then had no other name that Lucius Junius departed Rome disguised and pitcht upon Metapont for the place of their retreat That which obliged Licinius to advise Tarquinia to that place was making it his business to bestow
impossible to hinder the marriage of Valeria with Herminius by acquainting some that were of Tarquins interest how that in policy he ought to prevent this Alliance Spurius then being acquainted with one that was kinsman unto Heslius that was in favour with Tarquin he went to see him and seeming to talk of the marriage of Herminius and Valeria as the news of the Town he began to speak of the good fortune of Herminius For truly said he very subtilly if he had not good fortune the King would never permit this marriage which unites two of the most potent Families that are his enemies and out of whom there are more exiles since Tarquin reigned than any others in Rome Spurius seemed to say this not as if he desired him unto whom he spoke to tell Heslius and that Heslius should tell Tarquin but only as wondring at the good fortune of Herminius For he knew very well that he to whom he spoke would tell Heslius all he heard And indeed as soon as ever Spurius was gone this man went to his Cousin and told him all he knew Heslius conceiving indeed that this alliance between two Families enemies of Tarquin was to be prevented he went unto that Prince to acquaint him with the business and the consequences of it Tarquin who except Horatius and Clelius hated Valerius and Herminius more than all the rest of his enemies he resolved to prevent this marriage by his absolute authority Thus when Herminius and Valeria thought to pass all their lives together in a most happy condition Tarquin sent for Valerius to tell him that for some reasons which related unto the good of his service he charged him not to marry his Daughter unto Herminius Valerius out of his great and noble soul told Tarquin all that his generosity guided by prudence did dictate unto him to oblige him not to constrain him in a thing which ought to be free But Tarquin answered That if Herminius married Valeria he would banish them Rome the next day and that they should never enter the City again Valerius not being able to oppose force he retir'd home where he found Herminius who impatiently expected his return for as a Lover is always fuller of fears than any other so he was more disquieted than Domitia that Tarquin had sent for Valerius But when he was returned the sorrows of Domitia of Valeria and of Herminius were extreme Valerius related unto them word for word all that the Tyrant had said unto him and all that he answered after which Valerius spake unto them with abundance of wisdom For after many other things worthy of his great heart and high spirit To testifie unto you said he unto Herminius how much I esteem your vertue and how happy I think my Daughter would be in being your wife I do declare unto you that were it not I have some secret hopes to be one day profitable unto the liberty of my Country I would exile my self and I would advise you unto the same that you might live with Valeria in some part of the world where vice does not triumph over vertue as it does at Rome But generous Herminius you having so much spirit so much heart and so much vertue as you have you are a Debtor unto your Countrey as well as I am Therefore I exhort you to stay here and to overcome that innocent passion which you have in your soul But to testifie how much I value you I do declare unto you That if your vertue cannot overcome your love and that you cannot live unless miserably I do consent to give you my Daughter to deprive my self of her and you for ever and to permit you to go and dwell in some other part of Italy where the power of Tarquin is not acknowledged provided Valeria consent unto it Oh Sir replied this wise Lady though I do esteem Herminius far above all other men yet I do declare that I am not able to abandon you to follow him and I think him so generous as he will not desire to take me from the best father in the world but I hope he is so reasonable as to be contented with that assurance which by your permission I shall give him of my affection that though we cannot live together yet I will with all the innocence and all the tenderness of a sister preserve it inviolably for him Yes my Daughter said Valerius I do permit you to love Herminius as the only man worthy to be your Husband and I would have Domitia also to love him as if he were her son Oh Sir replied Herminius you do set before me a most happy example of vertue for me to imitate for I must ingenuously confess that if you and Valeria did not give me so great an example of generosity I cannot tell what answer I should have returned But yet I see that I should be the most ungrateful and most unjust man in the world if I did not think my self happy in my misfortunes though through the grandeur of my passion and the Tyranny of Tarquin I am the most unfortunate of men As Herminius said this one came to tell Valerius that Spurius desired to speak with him And indeed that revengeful lover knowing that Tarquin had sent for Valerius and being impatient to know whether his design prospered he took a pretence of some business to speak with Valerius purposely to see in what temper his spirit was So that Valerius seeing tears in the eyes of Valeria and despair painted in the face of Herminius he went into another Chamber to receive the visit of Spurius Valerius was no sooner gone but word was brought Domitia that some Ladies desired to speak with her she seeing Valeria and Herminius in a condition unfit for visits she put them into a Chamber within her own and commanded the woman of Valeria to wait upon her Lady Valeria and Herminius were no sooner at liberty but excess of sorrow taking away their speech they looked upon each other a while and did not speak afterwards they went and sat down in the further part of the Chamber where the servant durst not approach out of respect though she had an itching desire unto it that she might report unto Spurius what she heard But after this silence had lasted a while Herminius was the first that broke it by a great and profound sigh which was a preface unto the saddest words that ever afflicted lover pronounced Alas Madam said he unto her Herminius now must never be happy in fair Valeria it may be I shall live a while after so sad a doom But Madam you that know how to love do also know that this word Never is a most fatal sound if it be applied as I do Yes Madam to think that you must never be mine does cast such a gloomy mist upon my spirit that my reason is confounded and I repent of what I said unto the generous Valerius and you when I commended both
of those which held the part of that unhappy King in his estate but Nicius who is very prudent learning how that estate was divided and that the faction Mezentius protected was the most powerful it would be dangerous to trust this young Prince to men which in the low estate to which they were reduced would make use it may be of that occasion to make an accommodation with Mezentius instead of defending him against him as the Son of their King so that to put him in more safety Nicius and his wife leaving Clusium on the right hand they embarqu'd at a Port which was not above six miles from the famous City of Cera with intention to pass to Syracusa where Nicius had heretofore resided a long time seeming to them that the Isle of Sicily was a safer retreat for the young Prince which they conducted than any other place they could chuse for as Rome was at this time under the dominion of a violent Prince that they spoke of nothing but exile Volternum was not far enough Tarentum was then divided Capua was too delicious to sojourn for the afflicted and Syracusa seem'd a City where they might remain without informing who they were because of the great resort of strangers thither from all parts this City having the commerce of Africa and Italy as well as Greece Tarentum and a great part of Etruria but to conceal better so great a secret Nicius and Martia resolved to say that this young Prince was their Son and without having any other company with them save his Nurse and two most faithful slaves they embarqu'd as I have told you with intention to go to Syracusa but Madam before I relate the issues of their voyage I shall briefly tell you that Mezentius not only acted all I have told you after he had known that Galerita had a Son but he swore he would declare war to all Princes and all Republicks which gave him a retreat and that Porsennas party in Clusium being suppressed by the others Mezentius had the power to persecute impunely that unhappy King and men of the greatest knowledge are perswaded that if he had not had a Son his life had been in great danger but as Mezentius saw that if he put him to death it would give a pretext for a new war which he would not undertake since those which had the Prince in their power would use his name to revenge the death of the King he spar'd his life and seeing himself so absolutely master of Clusium as he hop'd for those that he had protected against the faithful Subjects of Porsenna had ever been there of the greatest Authority In the Interim Bianor endeavour'd to consolate himself by the great credit he had with Mezentius and by the hope that Galeritas child would perish and Porsenna die in Prison and that he should one day enjoy his Mistress But to return to Nicius and Martia they were no sooner embarqu'd but the wind which was at first favourable suddenly chang'd and became so outragious that for fear of shipwrack they must leave their intended course and abandon themselves to the wind which was stronger than the Pilots art who conducted them and the Sea was so tumultuous that the waves often passed from one side of the ship to the other with such impetuosity that they nigh overwhelm'd all that were there and these waves meeting sometimes together in such a manner that they form'd within themselves great foamy mountains that the other waves bore away in wheeling about and they saw a kind of fight between them which threatn'd shipwrack to all the vessels which were then on the Sea This Tempest became most dangerous to that Ship in which Nicius and Martia was for the wind after it had tost it in divers manners pusht it towards the Cape of Lylibeum so that as there is no greater danger for vessels when the Sea is angry than to be nigh the Land Nicius and Martia had much reason to fear the loss of their Vessel but that which more confirmed it was that they saw the Pilot who was very skilful after to have unprofitably used his art to resist the impetuofity of the winds and the tempestuousness of the Sea had left the helm and fell on his knees to make vows to Neptune declaring by this action that he no more hoped there but in the assistance of the Gods yet they appear'd in his face that he did not hope to obtain that he demanded for he had all the marks of despair in his eyes In the mean time in the middle of this tempest this young Prince which was Nicius and Martias principal peaceably slept in his cradle without knowing his life was in peril but though he feared not Martia and Nicius feared for him and there was other vessels in this place which were exposed to perish as that of Nicius and by fortunes capriciousnesse the tempest had brought together in a little space many ships which held divers wayes when it began for there was one of Carthage which being parted from Syracusa to return to its Country had been constrained to leave its course there was another from Tarentum two from Ostria and one from Corinth so that the wind seemed not to have formed this little Fleet but to destroy it these Vessels then fearing to be rocks to one another and to beat by clashing together performed all which they could to separate them but as usually the sea being angry disperseth the Fleets it seemed to have brought these ships together and would not separate them till they should be broken by one another and had covered the shore with their ruines but Madam the better to comprehend the marvellousnesse of this adventure you must know that there was in this vessel that went to Carthage an illustrious Roman family who to fly the persecution of Tarquin the proud which now reigns in that famous City had taken a resolution to seek an asylum in Africa because there is no great commerce between Italy and it except it be casual by the way of Sicilie and Clelius who was chief of it saw him self unfortunate and more unfortunate than Nicius for he had an onely son in the Cradle that was exposed to perish as well as he it is not that Clelius feared death through a resentment of weakness but that having all the generosity which true Romans make profession of he lookt upon his losse and his sonnes as a gain to Tarquin whereof he was enemy and he did not consider the losse of all his family and his own His wife who was named Sulpicia was not so troubled by the apprehension of death as by a resentment of glory who desired that if they perisht the enemy should not hear of their shipwrack so that Clelius and Sulpitia without concealing themselves during the tempest as usually all passengers do which are in vessels came on the poop to look upon this terrible agitation of the waves which momentarily
bestow her on Horatius and I expresly forbid you either to see her or speak to her After that Clelius departed from Aronces and left him in such a grand despair that I think there was never any Lover whose afflictions equalled his at least I know that when he told me his discourse with Clelius so many marks of despair were seated in his eyes that I feared he was not able to support such a cruel adventure and that his grief would act his lives Epilogue who ever saw said he to me any misfortune equal to mine for in fine I have not the consolation to accuse any one of those miseries which have drowned me in a Sea of desperation for I know Horatius ought not to yield Clelia to me and that Clelius ought not to prejudice Horatius by giving her to me whose birth he knows and I suffer an affliction so much the greater because I do not find it altogether unjust and I am so miserable that even the affability of Clelia towards me gives a continual augmentation to my despair for if I was not beloved of Clelia and had no hopes of gaining her affection it seems to me I should not so much hate my Rival nor so much murmure against Clelius and despair it may be would then somewhat mitigate my passion but alas Celeres I am not in this estate for on Clelius and Horatius his parts I see an absolute impossibility to accomplish my designs and on Clelia's I see such a seeming correspondency of affection which renders me more miserable but not enough to make me happy in effect she would it may be without any repugnance obey Clelius if he should command her to love me but she doth not so much affect me as to disobey him if he commands her to espouse Horatius and the sweetness she expresses to me doth increase my misfortunes I should not therefore be the less unhappy by the cruelty of Clelia added he and all that I can desire for my consolation is that my Rival should always be hated by her and that she will always affect me with a correspondent affection thus you see Madam the affliction of Aronces in this troublesome conjuncture nevertheless as he durst not go to Clelius his house after that he had told him and that he desired to know Clelius his thoughts in this occasion he prayed me to go to Sulpicia's house but as I was known for Aronces peculiar Friend I found that Clelius had given order to all his Servants to tell me that Sulpicia and Clelia were not there so that the unhappy Aronces found himself in an unequal'd despair Clelia on her side was not happy for she sufficiently loved Aronces sensibly to feeâ— the privation of his sight and she had a great aversion towards Horatius to imagine she could never espouse him without an extreme displeasure on the other side Sulpicia who had a jealous thought in her Soul who hated Horatius and tenderly loved Aronces was not without Inquietude for she would not directly oppose her Husband neither would she suffer that he should pretend to give his Daughter to the Son of a Woman which had heretofore given her such a cruel jealousie for Horatius he was more unhappy for besides as he was hurt he knew that he was not affected by Clelia 't is true he had the consolation to know he was by Clelius and to think this Father would employ all his Authority in his favour if he escaped the hurt he had received which was less dangerous then Clelius had told his Daughter In the mean time as Love is ingenious it made Aronces find the invention to write to Clelia but he was astonisht when she defended him by a Letter to continue his writing to her this rigorous command was without doubt conceiv'd in the most sweet expressions imaginable but for all that 't was a rigorous command and rude and it was done in such a manner that Aronces very well knew Clelia would have him obey it and he was during sometime depriv'd of all consolation till that Herminius who more lov'd Aronces then Horatius though he was a Roman somewhat asswaged his grief for as the true ground of the quarrel between Aronces and Horatius was now divulg'd and the prohibition he had made his Daughter never to see him Herminius made a Complement to that unhappy Lover and pitied his condition as a Man which had a tender Soul who knew the most sensibility of Love who deplor'd all those which were miserable and who used all means he could possible to comfort them and he so much endeavoured to comfort Aronces that his endeavours proved effectual for as he said he had been at Sulpicia's and that he had entertain'd a long time her admirable Daughter he extremely pressed him to tell him if she did not mention him in her discourse if I should tell you she spoke to me of you replied Herminius I should tell you a lie but if I tell she carefully avoided to speak of you I shall tell you a thing which is more advantagious for you then you imagine For in fine I so clearly know that that hindred her from speaking of you was that she felt she could not do it without expressing more inclination towards you then Horatius that I cannot doubt of it for I have seen her blush at her own thoughts I have seen her seem not to take notice what was spoken of you yet I have seen her attentively hearken to it and I have seen some marks of despight when Stenius who as you know is Horatius his Friend hath said something to her to his advantage Ah ah Herminius cryed Aronces you would alleviate my miseries and seek to diminish that malady which cannot be healed I protest unto you replied Herminius that I speak to you with all the sincerity of a Roman after that Aronces relying on the probity of Herminius pray'd him to repair oftner to Sulpicia's house and faithfully to relate to him all that he heard Clelia say reflecting on Horatius or himself but he durst not entreat him to say any thing to her on his part for knowing the modesty of her humour and prudence he judged that she would never discover the secret of her heart to a third person and in effect Herminius did all that Aronces desired and for some days he was the most agreeable Spy in the World for his Friend for he always reported to him some favourable observation he had made to his advantage for my part I had likewise pray'd Fenice to report to me all that she heard Clelia speak of concerning Aronces and Horatius that she then more frequently visited so that either by Herminius or me Aronces heard every day something which pleased him he was therefore much troubled to know that Stenius saw her more often then ordinary but after all he had some consolation in that he learnt by us that his Rival was not in estate to entertain her when
gave this fair person to understand that I was Aronces confident near Fenice though I went for her Lover or if that was not that Aronces betrayed me he even assured her that he had seen a Letter from Fenice to Aronces and he did it without making any scruple of the likelyhood of this lie because Horatius had effectually told him that he had seen one in Aronces hands it was not a considerable falshood to change one circumstance of this thing so Stenius did what he intended since he had put jealousie in Clelia's heart which procured Aronces's miseries for it was not possible to imagine what was the cause of Clelia's illegal proceeding so that he found himself most wretched principally because Clelius had forbid him his house that Horatius did mend daily that Clelius saw him assiduously and that it was divulged through the whole Town that he had promised him Clelia Aronces knew well in himself that being as he was so much obliged to Clelius he ought not to contradict his design in disposing of his Daughter and that equity permitted him not to seek means to destroy Horatius since he lookt on him as a Man which he would have espoused to Clelia so that love and equity counselling different things he found himself greatly perplext but in the midst of so many misfortunes he resented Clelia's jealousie more then all things so that the excess of his passion fram'd in his Cogitations the most elegant propositions in the World though he was so equitable for although he knew that I was sufficiently in love with Fenice he would shew her some publick incivility because Clelia knowing of it should no more believe he lov'd her he even would have me not see her during some days and he would in fine satisfie Clelia not considering whether the remedies which he would employ were lawful or not But at last after we had well considered what might be done for him we resolved that he should desire Herminius to speak to Clelia and to desire her from him to tell him what caused his anger and I perswaded him also to imploy Aricidia to perswade Clelius that he should not be so obstinate as to give his Daughter but to a Roman for I was strongly perswaded that if Clelius gave her not to Horatius he would willingly bestow her on Aronces though he was unknown and in effect Madam we went to Herminius and Aricidia who promised us to perform our desires But as diligence in this occasion was requisite because Horatius was to go abroad as it was reported within two or three days Aricidia went the very next morning to see Clelius and Herminius promised to go to see Clelia in the Afternoon But to begin by the conversion of Aricidia who had so much affection for Aronces I shall tell you that this officious Woman was no sooner with Clelius but entring in discourse I know not said she to him whether you will take in good part what I shall tell you but I am sure I have no interest in it but that of your Families repose Aricidia is so accustomed replied Clelius to be a Promoter of the contentment of her Friends that I am perswaded she can never have but good intentions Since it is so replied she do me the favour to answer me and that sincerely I promise it you answered Clelius and I promise it fairly for I can never do no otherwise Tell me then I conjure you replied she is it not true that Aronces is one of the most accomplisht Men in the World that he is most couragious most witty most virtuous and the most agreeable and that he is in fine a Man whom you esteem above all the rest in the World and which hath been most belov'd of you I acknowledge it answered Clelius but since it is so replied she why have you relinquisht your love and what hath he done to merit your hatred He hath had the impudence to love my Daughter replied Clelius he hath been so ingrateful as to forget he owes me his life and that 't is I which have made him what he is but I shall make him know that the Romans know well how to punish the ungratefuls Go not so fast Clelius said she to him and take heed that the Romans in thinking to punish the ungratefuls expose not themselves to ingratitude 't is true you have sav'd Aronces's life but he was but a Child so that it may be said that he did not see what you did for him but you beheld with your own eyes what he did for you when he sought to save your life as you have your self told me so you must not count what he owes you without counting also what you owe him and you must precisely tell me why you will match Clelia with Horatius who never sav'd your life who though he hath a great deal of worth yet is far short of Aronces and wherefore you refuse her to the latter I could tell you replied Clelius in two words that 't is sufficient that Aronces not knowing his birth to make me take it very ill that he durst have an intention to my Daughter but as without doubt you will tell me that he hath so noble a mind that 't is not possible to doubt of his quality I have another reason to tell you which admits of no answer for in fine Horatius is a Roman and by all likelyhood Aronces is not Ah Clelius replied she smiling this is not so strong a reason as that which you alledge not and for my part I cannot endure the humour of the Romans which set themselves so boldly above all the rest of the World for when all is done Virtue belongs to all Countries and of what place of the World soever Aronces is of I esteem him as much as a Roman believe me Clelius added she smiling again be not more curious then your Fathers were who for to get Wives ravisht those of their Neighbours and be not more then one of your Kings who married a Corinthian Slave though he was so great a Prince not considering she was not of Rome and for to shew that 't is not sufficient to be a Roman to have all things to discover to be lov'd by you is not Tarquin a Roman and the Son of Roman Parents yet I have heard you say he hath not the heart of a true Roman that he is the Tyrant and not the King of Rome that he is an ambitions a cruel and a Parricide that his Wife is an inhumane Woman which hath passed over her Father's body and that she is the wicked'st person of her Sex after which durst you maintain that 't is good reason to alledge unto me that Aronces is not a Roman and that Horatius is of Rome for as there are Romans without Virtue I maintain there may be virtuous persons which are not Romans therefore you must not say you ought to prefer Horatius to the prejudice of
whilst Sextilia was considering he employed a friend unto Tiberinus with orders to know his mind Tiberinus was put to a terrible perplexity for his heart was divided between a violent love and ambition So as not knowing which way to take he gave an ambiguous answer which signified nothing But presently after his love did check him into repentance yet for all that he was not fully reconciled in himself for presently after he thought himself too hasty in returning an answer that he did not consent unto the proposition at least he thought it good to be sure of satisfaction in his love before he refused the satisfaction of his ambition Mean time as chance was Aronces came to know of this proposition made unto Tiberinus and he went unto the Princess of the Leontines beseeching her to be so generous as to flatter up the passion of this Lover purposely to keep him from consenting unto this Marriage since the Princess was very tender of Aronces and since it concerned her to promote his happiness and since she thought the desire of Mezentius to be very unjust she promised Aronces all he desired So as when Tiberinus came to tell her what Mezentius had offered him and to beseech her she would set a value upon this sacrifice which he made unto her he did not at all surprise her but found her prepared the most in the World for without any engagement of her self unto him she gave him some ground to think she desired that he should not marry Galerita So as expounding what she said unto his own advantage he thought himself to be better in the opinion of the Princess than ever he believed At first she told him that she would not give him any counsel in the matter but bad him consult with his own heart Yet after he had vowed never to think upon this Marriage and that he demanded nothing from her but that she would set a value upon this refusal as done for the love of her then this wise Princess told him that she esteeming him so much as she did thought her self obliged to tell him that this proposition which was made unto him was more dangerous then he imagined Then she told him that it was not handsome to marry the Wife of a great and unfortunate King who was to be forced to yield her or die the day before the Marriage She told him further that the common opinion being there was a Son of Porsenna in some part of the World it was not likely that ever he would let him reign in quiet but upon the first occasion the subjects of Porsenna would revolt and perhaps deliver him up unto the Son of that King as the Murtherer of his Father and therefore she conceived it to be much better to refuse a thing which had in it nothing but a bare shew of grandeur Adding that it would be a thing absolutely impossible ever to esteem a Man who can find a heart to marry Galerita Tiberinus hearing the Princess of the Leontines speak thus did believe she could not give him any greater hopes than by counselling him to reject this proposition So as his love flaming more violently being blown up by these fresh hopes he never stuck upon the matter but vowed a thousand times that he would never reign unless he could reign and not lose her favour The Princess of the Leontines wished to have him still keep in that mind and therefore she seemed as if she were obliged unto him and without any further engagements Tiberinus took his leave of her fully resolved to refuse Galerita He went unto the Man who was employed by Mezentius and told him he could not accept of that honour which was offered him telling him after all that the Princess of the Leontines had said purposely to prevent his further thoughts of it Mean while Aronces thinking that Mezentius out of his obstinacy of will would offer Galerita unto all the Men of Quality in the Court he employed Aurelia and Sicanus who were newly come to Perusia to disswade them all from a thing which would be extremely prejudicial to them thought it seemed advantagious In order thereunto Sicanus and Aurelia told them confidently that they were certain the Son of Porsenna was not a Prisoner unto Mezentius as reports went but that assuredly he would e're long appear adding what a shame it would be to consent unto such an unjust motion And the business was transacted so handsomely and with so much good fortune that after Tiberinus had returned his refusal Mezentius made the motion unto all that were in any capacity of marrying his Daughter but found in none of them that disposition which he desired so as his mind being exceedingly incensed at it he fully resolved to put Porsenna to death and to marry his Daughter as he fancied not doubting but then any one would with joy accept of the offer So as consulting with Sextilia thereupon she approved of the design and both of them contrived how to put it in execution and afterwards to serve their own interest To that end Mezentius gave order that the Princess Galerita should be brought from the Isle where she was kept and lodged in his own Palace yet not suffering any whosoever to see or speak with her This Order being executed that fair and virtuous Princess who knew nothing either of her Husband or her Son or the cause of her being brought out of Prison could not imagine whether she had reason to hope or to fear but the wonder was she was never fairer in all her life then now and none would have thought she had been above five and twenty had they not known her to be much more When she came unto Perusia there was such an universal murmure amongst the people against the injustice of Mezentius for keeping so fair and good a Princess Prisoner That this Prince resolved to make all hast possible in the execution of his designs for fear of some commotions To that end he sent secretly his orders unto the place where Porsenna was kept and he sent for Aronces with such express command to come presently that he imagined some matter of importance was on foot he was told by some of his intelligence about Mezentius that this Prince had sent unto the place where Porsenna was guarded So as all the friends of the Prisoner King was in a Condition to attempt something for him and Nicius and Martia being come to Perusia Aronces sent unto them by Celeres all that he knew and appointed them to assemble themselves at the Princess of the Leontines house there to act further as occasion should require Celeres would have disswaded him from going unto Mezentius but he could not for he went and was received with demonstrations of extraordinary joy Sextilia was then with him who treated him with more testimonies of amity then ever before Then Mezentius began to speak Aronces said he I have hitherto been loadned with obligations to you
themselves in the behalf of that Prince who for his part was in a most inconceivable perplexity yet maugre all the confusion of his thoughts he could not chuse but think upon Clelia and to fear that if Mezentius did arrest him he should not be able to rescue her out of the hands of Horatius moreover he knew not whether his Father were dead or living he saw the Queen his Mother in a pitiful condition and he saw himself in a likelihood of perishing by the orders of his Grandfather whose life he had twice saved Mezentius for his part was not at rest for the sight of Galerita gaull'd his heart and the remembrance of what he had made her suffer made him ashamed but this shame was so far from moving him to repentance that it did the more incense him As for Aronces he had so obliged him and he had such inclination to him as he would not acknowledge him for the Son of Porsenna though his heart told him it was true However amidst all these tumultuous thoughts he moved Sextilia to ask Aronces what proofs he could make of what he said but he would not ask that question himself lest he should seem inclinable to believe it for whether Porsenna were alive or dead he was resolved not to acknowledge Aronces for said he if Porsenna be dead I must not acknowledge such a Prince for my Successor whose Father I have put to death and if he be living to acknowledge a Son of so much merit would too much fortifie his party But whilst he was thus contemplating with himself Sextilia coming towards Aronces and Galerita who were talking together she asked that Prince the question which Mezentius desired her so as Aronces whose great Soul could never be shaken by any bitter blast of Fortune unless by the gusts of Love did make her a concise relation of his birth of his exile of his shipwrack and all the passages of his life So as Galerita not doubting but that he was her Son after so many particulars told unto Sextilia she broke out into the most tender and passionate expressions in the world mixed with much sadness for she could not speak of him but she must needs speak of Porsenna also Mezentius being more and more incensed called for the Captain of his Guards and commanded him to carry back Galerita unto the Castle from whence he brought her and afterwards to secure Aronces in such a place as he might be very safe As things stood upon these terms a great hurley burley was heard in in the Palace Court Presently after the noise was heard on the Stairs and in the Anti-Chamber in an instant after this the Captain of the Guard whom Mezentius had called came into his Closet and seeming much amazed Sir said he unto him behold the King of Clusium in the Head of all the Grandees in your Estate and followed by a huge multitude of people coming all hither Oh ye just Gods cried out Galerita then must I see that illustrate and unfortunate Prince once again She had no sooner ended her exclamation which she could not restrain but Mezentius almost mad cried out is Porsenna living Oh is Porsenna escaped Then all my Subjects have betrayed me and my enemies come to murther me in my own house I beseech you Sir replied Aronces think better upon the King my Father I think of him by my self replied the Prince of Perusia most fiercely for as I would ruine him were he in my place and I in his so I cannot look for any thing but death and therefore I will prepare my self for it with courage and will go and meet him Then he asked for a Sword but none would obey Porsenna followed by a croud of strange men of all conditions entred and no sooner entred but Aronces going towards him I hope Sir said he unto him you have no intention to be revenged upon the person of Mezentius for what Fortune hath made you suffer by him Nay nay replied the Prince of Perusia never offer to flatter me in my misery and since my subjects have betrayed me and since I have not a sword to dye by I am ready Sir said he to Porsenna to take upon me those Fetters which I have caused you to wear and to take my death from you as I did intend to bestow it upon you Since I never used to sin by example replied the King of Clusium I shall not do as you say But though I am Master of your life yet I will content my self with giving liberty unto the Queen your Daughter which taking my son and my self out of your power and with entring into my own Dominions without any desire of usurping yours I will promise you an everlasting peace betwixt us unless you will force me unto a war And to make it manifest that my words and my actions do agree I do declare unto you that though all your forces be at my command yet I will continue in the head of them only until such time as you have restored unto me those places of mine which you hold from me until I have carried away my Wife and my Son and until you have given orders for all these Then will I leave you to be Master in your own Dominions and restore back all your Troops without any other condition than not to punish any of those who have helped me to my liberty Mezentius hearing Porsenna speak with so much Heroick generosity was in a confusion far different from that wherein he was before and looking upon Sextilia who ever did feed the fewel of his hatred unto that Prince Oh you unjust person said he unto her in a low voice why did I ever follow your opinions But afterwards perhaps higher what is past cannot be recalled said he but at the least I must admire that Generosity which I want since the condition wherein I am is so miserable as I am not able either to do or say any thing which can merit any glory The truth is added he and addressed his speech unto Porsenna should I tell you my heart begins to change out of consideration of what you have done and out of my affection to Aronces you would think I spoke it out of weakness but I am naturally so resolute and firm that I can never undo a thing of which I do not really repent But since you are not bound to believe me I will only tell you that I will perform more than I will promise and that I cannot think any thing unjust which you shall do a-against me At these words Galerita began to speak and expressed her self so passionately and tenderly unto the Prince her Father unto the King her Husband and unto her Son as she did almost establish a confidence between these three persous Afterwards they caused that crowd of people who followed Porsenna to go out of the Chamber of Mezentius Sextilia also went out into her own Chamber Aronces he stayed and assuming the
unto our Love and our Ambition But on the contrary all Crimes will be blotted out when they are followed with happy success Make hast then Tarquin and keep the promise which you made when you married me you are in so fair a way that I wonder you should go no faster You came from Corinth and are descended from Tarquinia to make your self King of a strange people as the first of the Tarquins did you are of a Royal Family you see in every publick place Statues erected unto the first of the Tarquins you dwell in the same Palace which he built you see the same Throne which he did sit upon you have the same heart spirit and ambition you fear neither any thing above your head nor about you the authority of the Laws nor servile fear of Imaginary Penalties do not affright you you have friends in the Senate and among the people and if you had not been over prudent you had been upon the Throne already and if you should continue still upon this prejudicial Prudence all that you have already done is to no purpose what good will all your extraordinary Civility which you have used unto the most base and abject of the People do you unto what end serves all your cringing complacency unto all the Patricians why have you lent out some monies given others and been unprofitably Prodigal will all your Ambition and turbulent Pangs of Soul serve to no end Truly Tarquin if you will make no more hast I will even advise you to return unto Tarquinia and Corinth and to seek out for felicity by some other way than by Ambition But as for me since Tanaquil who was a stranger was so bold and happy as to dispose of Crowns either in the person of her Husband or her Son in Law I will see what I can do and not stay till Tullus refer it to the Senate who will not render it unto you nor will I stay so long as till he die which perhaps will be a long time Speak then Tarquin will you be a Slave or will you be a King In telling you that I will be worthy of you replied he methinks I tell you as much as need but to let you see that you accuse me wrongfully I will discover unto you those reasons which move me to defer the execution of so great a design And indeed Tarquin told Tullia all his several plots which he had in the Senate and among the People but say what he could to move her unto patience and not to go precipitately to work he was forced to promise her to make more hast than well he could for every minute seemed an Age unto this Ambitious and cruel person which was employed in the advancement of her abominable design However she went unto the King and asked and obtained favours for men unto whom she would not have done them but upon conditions to serve her against that Prince who did them whensoever she should need Thus this vertuous King did by his own benefits contribute to his own ruine for not a day passed wherein Tarquin or Tullia did not obtain something from him for those whom they had engaged in their wicked designs In the mean time Tarquin lived the most wretched life in the World for he rested neither night nor day he had always a hundred several matters which tended all unto one end for labouring to engage all sorts of people in his design he held all manner of correspondencies some men under pretence of eating at his Table came to confer with him others whom he never saw but at the Temple other also unto whose houses he went and some in the Kings own Palace whom he treated with to ruine him Moreover scarce a night passed but he went out of his own house in a disguise to confer with some of the Senators who were of his Intelligence during which time it was given out that he was gone to Bed Also he employed the most sacred things to serve his abominable ends for he engaged some of the Salian Priests and he made an under hand Proposition unto the Grand Vestal to enter into his interests but she would not though he promised to secure her from all danger Mean while the common opinion was that he courted her to extinguish the sacred fire to the end it might be said that Rome was menaced with some great misfortune and that this accident did signifie the authority to be weak in the hands of so old a Prince as Servius Tullus for he knowing very well the nature of the common People he knew that matters of Religion make a deep impression in their spirits and that a silly scruple aptly applied to the multitude will work more with them than all the solid reasons in the World Moreover though Tarquin was always full of tumultuous business though he scarcely ever slept though his mind was perpetually unquiet and though he saw himself always upon the very brink of a dismal precipice since if his design was once discovered he was utterly ruined yet he was as healthy and as vigorous as if he had enjoyed the greatest tranquillity of any man alive But for the better advancement of his design he asked divers things of the King particularly concerning Rome which were of such a nature as neither ought nor could be granted so as they were denied him and he asked them purposely that he might have a pretence of murmuring against Servius Tullus and at the same time he began to complain those whom either he or Tullia had suborned began also to declaim against the government and to belch out a thousand bitter invectives against the best of Kings And it is very observable that Servius Tullus who was the first of our Kings who made money and brought in the use of it amongst us did thereby make the way of suborning those whom Tarquin had need of more easie For thereby gifts might be given in private and without a noise unperceived which before could not be Also Tarquin had ingaged abundance of all sorts there was not any Trade or Art but he had some in it ready to do what he would he had a Party also working among the very Slaves so as it was easie for him to scatter what reports he pleased against the King some said therefore that he was but a Slave born of a Slave who after the death of the first Tarquin had usurped the Crown by the Artifice of a Woman who got him made King without the suffrages of the people Others told the Senators that Servius smelling of the baseness of birth had taken the goods of all the rich Families and divided them among the poor others told the People that the King had taken from them the nomination of all their principal Officers and bestowed them upon the great ones to the end they might oppress the weak And others said that this Prince who had caused the particular Estates of every one to be
upon a sudden and I found her so negligently drest so ill-favoured and so different from what she seemed before as I knew well she did not much care for pleasing her Husband and that if all passions were taken out of the World all handsomness and all that makes women appear fair would be taken away also So as though I went with intentions to offer incense unto her and perhaps my heart yet I was cooled and offered nothing but brought away my heart and my incense again of which I was very glad for within a few days after I knew not how to employ them better But to return unto passions judge you if it would not be the greatest loss that is imaginable if Passions were taken away for if there were none then all Ladies would be less lovely and never loved but as they would not be loved replied Herminius so they would not be hated for it is only love that makes them hated and commonly only ill treated Lovers or jealous Husbands do hate them 'T is true replied Amilcar that they would not be hated but yet if they be not loved their lives would be strangely tedious to them and I am confident there is not one woman that is young and fair but she had rather be hated by a hundred ill treated Lovers and as many jealous Husbands than not to be loved by one complete Gallant whom she affects or to be in such a condition as to be neither in love nor be loved by any Let us not complain therefore against Passions since they are the whole business and the greatest delights of men Yet I must tell you replied Artemidorus it is a business of great difficulty to overcome them 'T is true replied Amilcar in his usual freeness but since it is so difficult do not strive against them submit unto them and in lieu of striving to overcome them rather seek to satisfie them and then you will not be so tormented For my part I do not wonder that Passions should so tyrannize over the hearts of all men for every one can say they must strive against them and subject them the lesson is written both in Verse and Prose the Philosophers teach it the Sages command it Fathers teach it their Sons Husbands their Wives and Mothers their Daughters so as these poor Passions seeing so many enemies do more couragiously strive not to be overcome but to reign in the hearts of those who with so much injustice would drive them out And indeed this is their original they could not subsist otherwise they afford infinite delights to those who seek to satisfie them and seldom do any hurt but unto such as would destroy them For my part replied Zenocrates they never tormented me in that sort for since I am perswaded that it is very difficult to overcome them I had rather submit so as my reason and my Passions never jar for when my Passions are stronger than my reason my reason submits unto them and when my reason is stronger than my Passions it slatters but would not destroy them You know so little what great passions are replied Herminius and smiled that it appertains not unto you to speak of them but if you were possessed with a very violent passion of Love or if your own desires had caused you to endure a thousand torments or hopes had raised in you a thousand inquietudes then you should be permitted to speak of the force of Passions for had you but experience of one you might easily imagine what is the tyranny of the rest 'T is true said Aronces that whosoever knows the force of Love may easily comprehend that of Ambition and all the rest of the Passions Yet I am perswaded replied Herminius that one cannot judge of the passion in others rightly or ought to speak of any but his own for though they are still passions all over the World and love is love in Greece as well as in Italy yet the hearts of men do differently resent it and variety of tempers do produce several effects out of the same passion for love in the heart of Tarquin makes him commit a thousand Crimes and the same passion in the heart of Aronces makes him to perform a thousand Heroick actions 'T is true replied Artemidorus but still I must maintain that in what heart soever Passions do Reign they cause abundance of trouble to him that will content them and I must maintain still replied Amilcar that without Passions we cannot be happy This dispute had not ended so soon if a great noise of horsemen had not interrupted them and caused them to look who they were but they were quickly satisfied for they understood that they were Troops which were marching to be Posted about Ardes on that side towards the sea within a mile of the Town They understood likewise that Tarquin was to set out of Rome the next morning and would go unto the Camp Mean time since Herminius would not be known unto those who commanded those Troops of that Prince he would not look upon them only Aronces Artemidorus Amilcar and Zenocrates who since they could not be known they saw them pass by But after they were past Aronces was extremely impatient for the return of Celeres and the Slave he went unto Ardes because he feared that when Tarquin was come to the Camp the Town would be so be set that he could not get in if the interest of Clelia should require it But to his happiness his impatience did not last long for Celeres who was the most diligent and zealous friend in the World did return about midnight and confirmed what he heard before concerning Tarquins departure and told him further that it was not believed Tarquins design was to force Ardes but only to take it by famine and therefore he might easily get into the place if he heard that Clelia was there He added further that the Prince Sextus the Prince of Pometia and the Prince Titus would follow the King unto this Siege and that their Equipage of War would be so magnificent that every one was so full of Curiosity to see them go out of Rome as if it were a Triumph As for the Prince of Pometia replied Herminius I shall not fear being his Prisoner for he is much my friend and I am sure he will not expose me to the crualty of his father but would release me as for Tarquin I would as soon take poyson as fall into his Power After this Aronces being pricked on by his love he had a mind to be going towards Ardes and not stay for the Slave but Amilcar Herminius and Celeres did so perswade him that the interest of Clelia required his stay until the Slaves return that he resolved to stay until the next day towards night But after that said he unto them I will not stay for very probable the Slave is taken either in going or coming by the Troops of Tarquin and so will not return
reputation of a good Woman and when she will can give over the World Oh Sir replied the Prince of Pometia Lucrecia is none of those for she is excellent society though solitary she is severe and rigid onely to her self she alwayes thinks well of others and she maintains it neither good nor modest for any Women to suspect those of their sex in general of any great weakness she never condemns pleasures in others she puts a good construction upon every thing she is not lumpish nor Melancholy and if she were not solitary she would be adored by all the World You love her Sister in law so well replied the Prince Sextus that you are not to be believed in all you speak to the advantage of Lucretia If a Husband may be allowed to commend his own Wife replied Collatine I would say that the Prince of Pometia doth not slatter Lucretia and that the affection he bears unto my Sister doth not move him to speak against truth For my part said Sextus I do not insist upon such critical formalities and therefore Collatine without any consideration of being Husband unto Lucretia I pray you tell me ingenuously and impartially whether her beauty be comparable to the beauty of that fair Prisoner which you saw when the Vestals demanded her liberty For my part I must profess unto you that I never in my life saw any so fair The truth is she is very fair replied Collatine yet I know not whether it be because I affect black beauties better then the fair But I profess unto you that I think Lucretia as fair for a black beauty as that prisoner is for a fair beauty And of the two I would leave the fair and take the black For my part said Aronces I should not do so upon this the Prince Sextus having an extream desire to see Lucretia did becken unto all the young Gallants to second his design so as every one began to affirm that Lucretia was not so fair as reported If she be so as she is represented said Zenocrates then I am sure she is not so fair as one I have seen in Sicily For my part said Artimedorus I know one that will not yield unto her For my particular said Amilcar I have met with many Lucretia's but I know onely one fair prisoner in all the World Aronces had a good mind to say so also but he durst not for fear of suspition so as he let all the rest speak who all confessed that though they had Mistresses of their own yet the fair Prisoner was the fairest that ever was seen As for the Prince of Pomctia he did not say any thing against her great beauty but only said that Lucretia and his own Mistress could not be compared together because they were so opposite as two contraries could not be more the one having fair hair and grey eyes and the other black hair and black eyes Mean time This feast which Sextus made having raised the spirits of Collatine to a jolly height he was that time full of rallary so as the Prince Sextus beginning again to chide him for his pretended jealonsie though he knew well enough that he was not jealous Collatine did rise up upon a suddain and looking upon all the company To make it appear I am not jealous said he unto them And to let you know that Lucretia does merit all the reputation of beauty which she hath I freely offer to take horse immediately and carry you all unto my house Collatine had no sooner said so but Sextus ravished with joy did take it at his word So as though it was late they all took horse and went to Rome so came to Collatine where Lucretia was who not expecting so great a company was working with her Woman an excellent piece of work she made the business of her solitude However being alwayes naturally handsome though she did not think of seeing any that day yet she was not in such a negligent dress as did any thing take from her beauty but on the contrary her dress was very advantagious So as all this Company making a great noise at their coming and hearing that her Husband brought them she prepared her self to receive them very well So Lucretia leaving her work she went to meet them and not knowing that her beauty was the cause of this journey she shewed it in its full lustre for she had four slaves who walked before her with lights which made it at first appear unto all that came she merited all the reputation of beauty which she had and that there was none but Clelia who could dispute with her for being the greatest beauty in the whole World The Prince Sextus was so blasted that he stood dumb as he was the first time he saw Clelia so as Amilcar observing him he jogged Aronces who was very glad to see it in hopes that perhaps his inclination to Clelia would lessen by his liking Lucretia So as Amilcar after he had asked Aronces pardon for the injustice I was going to do his Mistress he began to cry aloud that the fair prisoner was vanquished that Lucretia had got the victory and that Collatine was the happiest man upon Earth Zenocrates also did highly appland the beauty of Lucretia Artimedorus did the same The young Sons of Brutus as much The two young Aquilines no less The Prince of Pometia asked every one what they thought the Prince Titus said as others did and Collatine himself in saying nothing did yet imply that Lucretia was never fairer then she was that night All the while this Wife and Modest Lady was so surprized at their expressions and at their tumultuous commendations which they gave her as she knew not what to think Yet being of an admirable spirit and not having forgot the mode of the World in her solitude she did handsomely retire But the Prince Sextus being charmed with the beauty of Lucretia as much as with Clelia he was something deaf to the motion and with Amilcar began to make a long invective against solitude For truly said Amilcar unto Lucretia whilst Collatine was talking unto some others whom he had brought thither you are infinitely to blame for thus hiding as you do the greatest beauty upon earth for take in which way you will solitude is good for nothing Yes Sir replied Lucretia it is good to satisfie those who seek it and love it But Madam answered Sextus those who do love it and seek if they were as you are they ought not to love or seek it 'T is true added Amilcar for solitude will not let either beauty or virtue shew it self and is good for nothing but to give the World occasion to say that when the Wife is fair and solitary her Husband is jealous Though I do not expose my self unto the World replied Lucretia yet I do not think that any will say that Collatine is jealous If they do not say so replied Sextus it is in your presence
the best education upon his Friend's Son who had so much enjoyned it at his death he thought there was no City in ail Italy where it could be better done than at Metapont And in effect he was not deceived for it being not long since that famous Samian Philosopher whose renown hath so filled the World died most of his Disciples were there still nor was it a small number since there were neer six hundred who particularly professed tbat they had learned of him to honour Learning and practise Vertue Nay Pythagoras had left behind him a Daughter capable of the highest Disciplines who had withal so great a Vertue that her example was no less effectual in reforming the looseness of the Women of that place then the reprehensions of her Father There were constantly with her Archytas of Tarentum Alcmaeon of Crotona and Hipasus of Metapont nay even the dreadful Milo every where famous for his prodigious strength was forced to submit to the powerfulness of her charms and do honour to the memory of Pythagoras who had lodged at his Fathers while he sojourned in Crotonia Licinius therefore believing Metapont to be such a School as were fit for the education of young Brutus continued there with Tarquinia But my Lord I had forgot to tell you that Marcus Junius had enjoyned his wife at his death to marry that illustrious Roman that so his children may have a vertuous Father and that his Friend might have that wealth which he said he deserved better than himself and whereto he had much right for it was certain that Licinius had been in love with Tarquinia nor was she altogether void of love for him so that though the second marriages are not very frequent at Rome and that Tarquinia at first made some difficulty to obey her Husband yet she was overcome when she saw her self forced to flie considering with her self it were much more to her reputation to follow a banished Husband than a banished Friend how vertuous soever he might be as also that Licinius would have a greater care of her Son and would be inseparably engaged in her Fortune Thus the vertuous Tarquiniu who was yet very handsome though past that youthfulness which commonly illustrates a great Beauty married the vertuous Licinius but it was done privately and there 's not one in all Rome yet knows that he is Tarquinia's Husband and therefore cannot consequently imagine that the fair Hermilia is Brutus's Sister How interrupted Aronces this beautiful Virgin whom Amilcar yesterday entertained with such gallant Courtship is Brutus's Sister She is replyed Herminius for Tarquinia had this Daughter at Metapont in the time of her banishment But how sayes Amilcar is she said to be Racilia's Neece Supposing she were not Tarquinia's Daughter The sequel of my discourse shall acquaint you replyed Herminius but to hasten to that which relates to Brutus I am first to tell you that in a short time Licinius and Tarquinia were mightily esteemed at Metapont however they thought not fit to discover what they were but rather to conceal their Quality though they could not their Vertue for which the wise and learned Daughter of Pythagoras whose name was Dame had so great a friendship for them that she was particularly tender of the Education of young Brutus She recommended him to the most famous of her Fathers Disciples as soon as he had arrived an age capable to receive their instructions and she her self gave him that advice which hath not been smally advantageous to him in the sequel of his life For my Lord I must so far divert to the commendation of this learned Virgin as to say that no man in the world would think it a dishonor to have a heart of the same metal with hers insomuch that Licinius and Tarquinia having experienced her prudence goodness and her vertue deposited with her the whole secret of their fortune which reviving in this generous Virgin the manner how her illustrious Father had sometimes avoyded the tyranny of Polycrates she had a particular tenderness towards those who forsook Rome to escape the tyranny of Tarquin This consideration occasioned a strict League between these three persons which was no small advantage to Licinius and Tarquinia For though Dame was not very rich her self yet she is more esteemed at Metapont than those who can brag most of the favours of fortune and besides that there is a great veneration for the memory of her Father insomuch that the people have made a Temple of the house where he lived and that her Mother named Theano was also famous there for her Learning and Vertue her own rare and excellent endowments purchase her the admiration of all the world To be short she made one expression of Vertue which was very glorious and such as I cannot but acquaint you with that you may the better know her who hath instilled the first sentiments of it into the illustrious Brutus You are then to note that Pythagoras dying left to his Daughter all he had written while he lived not but that he had a Son a knowing and vertuous person but that he had a greater esteem for this Daughter than for him and believed that she would the more exactly obey him in that command of his that his writings should never be carried out of house This generous Virgin though she were not rich yet obstinately refused the infinite riches which were proffered her if she would but deliver up what her illustrious Father had entrusted her with chusing rather to live poorly than disobey the last desires of him to whom she ought more than her life as being indebted to him for a part of her Vertue This being an action very remarkable proved so glorious to this excellent Virgin that it gained her the general veneration of all Metapont Hence came it that her friendship proved so advantageous to Licinius and Tarquinia She was also the cause that Brutus was not brought up as other children and that he was never taught any thing but what was manifested to him by Reason not content with the simple performance of memory as is the manner of most Masters to deal with those are committed to their charge Besides though she were daughter to a Philosopher who professed austerity and one who had prevailed with the women of Metapont voluntarily to bestow part of those things which served them only for ornament towards the building of a Temple for Juno yet she was of opinion that those who but began to live in this world should be allowed a certain honest liberty and that Vertue should have a kind of Adolescence as I may so say during which Festivals Recreations and innocent pleasures should be permitted lest the soul should at the first assault be discouraged by the difficulties of study and should be over-whelmed by that which should make her bear fail against all adverse fortune whatsoever I shall entreat you said she one day to Tarquinia as I have learned since
openly professed himself a servant to Lucrecia no more than I did to Valeria but we had brought up a certain gallantry of friendship which signified almost as much since that the desire of pleasing compliance services and addresses were the effects of it When Brutus was minded to do some high piece of Gallantry he ever did it under my name so that directing it openly to Lucretia it served at once to hide Brutus's love to her and mine to Valeria But the love of Collatine and Mutius were extremely troublesom to us for when they came to Racilia's with the Prince of Pometia and Titus and that Collatina was there how pleasant soever their company be in it self we were strangely weary of it but among the rest Brutus was orewhelmed with it for as soon as any strange face appeared he was forced to resume his stupidity and suffer Collatine to say what he pleased when he was with Lucrecia which was no small affliction to him One day I remember above all the rest which was the last Festival day that we celebrated in the Country wherein Brutus was both extremely satisfied and extremely afflicted But since you are both strangers that you may the better understand it you are to know that there is one day yearly set apart for the celebration of a certain Feast which is called the Feast of the Fountains on which every one adorns the Fountains and Wells which are within his grounds with Garlands of Vervein and Flowers This is performed with great ceremony for these Garlands being prepared are carried to the Temple dedicated to that use where he that is to do the ceremony sprinkles them with Holy water which among us is in great veneration This done they pick out the fairest maids of the Quarter where the Feast is kept who are that day cloathed like Shepherdesses and they have each of them as many Garlands as they can conveniently carry Thus burthened they march two and two having before and behind them little Chorus's of Musick who sing certain things in praise of the Waters and the Gods which dispose of them In this order they march from Fountain to Fountain placing these Garlands upon little Altars of Turfs purposely erected for that end This Feast then falling while Valeria and Lucrecia were at Racilia's it was celebrated with great magnificence and joy for there being a many Fountains about this vertuous womans house that she is very punctual in the observation of all the ancient customs of the Country especially those which have any concerment of Religion she was particularly careful for the solemnity of this Feast and those who thought themselves interessed in the persons that were at her house would not certainly fail to be at a Ceremony of this nature For though it was at first instituted upon considerations of Piety yet there is withal something of Gallantry in it So that the Prince of Pometia Titus Collatine Mutius and my self went thither and brought some others with us As for women besides Valeria Lucrecia Collatina and Hermilia there were two kinswomen of hers who are of the house of the Aquilii and four or five other handsome Lasses According therefore to the custome all the men sent in a huge number of Garlands of Verveine and Flowers for those who were to carry them for in these occasions the Lady who hath most given her is the most honorable But that it may be known on whom these Garlands are bestowed those who send them cause the Garlands to be tied with divers knots which must be of the same colour as the Lady is in to whom they are sent she being obliged that day to have on her Shepherdess's habit divers knots of the colour she is most delighted with By this means is she known who hath most Garlands and the people superstitiously believe that she to whom that happens will infallibly within that year meet either with some great happiness or some great misfortune It does indeed often so fall out and if Reason were not stronger than Example one would be almost obliged to believe it However it be this Feast was celebrated at Racilia's with very gallant Ceremony for all the women that were to carry the Garlands were handsome neat and well made there was an incredible abundance of Flowers the Musick was as good as that of the great Feast of the Salii the order of the Ceremony was punctually observed even the day as to weather favored the celebration of this Country Festival the Banquet was under a great bed of Jesimin on one side of the Court in the midst whereof was a Fountain which they had covered all over with Garlands of Flowers and the rest of the day was spent in walking and pleasant discourse It happened in the mean time that Collatine and Brutus had under my name given so many Garlands to Lucrecia that she had more than all the rest unless it were Valeria to whom I had sent more than would have served to exceed Lucrecia but desirous to let her friend have the honor of the Feast she caused some of them to be laid aside Whereupon Lucrecia having the advantage all according to the custome bid her prepare her self for some great joy or some great affliction every one endeavoring to expound it according to his fancy Some told her she should bring all hearts into subjection others that her rigor would cost some servant of hers his life whose loss she should notwithstanding regret only Brutus speaking to her with his eyes signified to her what she was more pleased with assuring her by his looks he should love her eternally It was certainly a strange torment to him to see Collatine always near Lucrecia and I must confess it moved pity in all that saw him Not that Collatine is a strange person look'd on now as a Husband but considered then as a Lover he seemed not to deserve Lucrecia For if you look narrowly on him Collatine is neither well nor ill made he neither hath a great nor a little heart he neither speaks admirably well nor excessively ill He is at no great distance from a good capacity but he advances not a subtil intellection of things If he be guilty of no considerable Vice neither hath he any extraordinary Vertue to distinguish him from other men and if he have never done any unworthy action neither hath he ever given any Heroick expression of a great Courage In fine he is one of those men who never spake any thing which was not spoken before one whom a man can neither praise nor dispraise one of those who being spoken of are never mentioned in their own name and who are most commonly better known by saying he is such a woman's Husband or such a man's Son than barely by their own names By this account therefore Collatine should be no great eye-sore to Brutus who beside all this knew that Lucrecia had a natural aversion for this Rival nevertheless so prone are
did the like and those of the Aventine cut down almost all the old Lawrels wherewith their Hill was in a manner covered to block up the ways They also guarded both ends of the Sublician Bridge by which Ancus Martius had joyned the Hill of Janiculum to Rome Those also of the Quirinal Hill fortified themselves as did also all the quarters of that famous City There was also a Guard at the Circus lest it might have been made a certain Fort Those of the Sacred street barricado'd themselves Those of the great street of Apollo did the like that called Eros did the like the street of the three Ways which was very populous divided it self and was the only part of Rome where the Inhabitants disagreed But for those that lived in the Cyprian street never was there such fury heard of as they expressed against their Tyrants for it having hapned that it was in that street the cruel Tullia caused her Chariot to pass over the corps of her Father they conceived themselves obliged above all the rest to signalize their animosity against her And indeed these were they who contrary to Brutus's intention plundred certain Houses that belonged to some Creatures of Tarquin and kill'd some that fled from them though they made no opposition Brutus having thus possessed himself of the Gates and desirous to know what success Aronces had in his enterprise he was for some time in no small disquiet for he was informed that all those places I have named were barricado'd So that not being able at first to infer any thing thence but that the City was divided he had some reason to fear that his Design would not prove effectual that Lucretia should not be revenged and Rome not delivered from her Tyrants yet did not his great Heart fail him but without any further debate he went from quarter to quarter from Hill to Hill from one place to another and was extreamly satisfied to find that all the Romans were of the same party So that having acquainted them all that they were guided by the same Genius such an infinite number of people followed him that the multitude proved a hindrance to him Having therefore given Orders every where he went to see what posture Aronces was in who had it seems met with a greater resistance then he had expected For all Tarquin's creatures being tumultuously gotten about Tullia she had a many hands with her such as being by their own Interests obliged to defend themselves did it very obstinately 'T is true Aronces behaved himself extraordinarily in this adventure As for the cruel Tullia when they told her of the first beginning of the Commotion she laughed at it and thought it would come to nothing and when they acquainted her with her Son's crime and Lucretias death this detestable woman said that if Sextus had caused Collatine to be poisoned out of the way before he had made any love to his wife she had never killed her self But when she understood for earnest that the whole City was risen and that they were coming to seize her in her Palace she was hurried into the greatest fury and rage possible She would needs go up into a Fort which looked into the spacious place before the Palace but the people who were already gotten together there in Arms had no sooner seen her but they gave her all the abusive language she deserved So that not seeing any safety in exposing her self to the violence of an incensed multitude she thought it her best course to make good the Palace and to send to Tarquin hoping he might come time enough to hinder this Tumult from proving his destruction But at the same time as she was sending to Tarquin she commanded a ponyard to be brought poyson to be prepared and that the Palace might be set on fire if she were forced to fly at the Sally-port which was in the Moat which done being desirous to have the sole disposal of Clelia she sent for her Keeper to entreat him to translate her into that part of the Palace where she was that so said she to him she may be more secure during the Tumult But this man being sufficiently acquainted with the intentions of Tullia answered her that he durst not remove that Captive out of the palace where she was that he had sent to Tarquin assoon as the rising broke forth and expected his Orders concerning her whereupon he withdrew and putting himself in the head of his Companions would not return any more to Tullia though she sent for him divers times On the other side the Prince of Pometia and Titus compassing the Walls of the City to reach the Sally-port whereat they hoped to get into the Palace walked with an incredible disturbance for being discreet and vertuous they detested their Brother's crime and easily fore-saw how dangerous the consequences of that Insurection might be But when they reflected on the concernment they had in this unjust action they were almost perswaded to return into Rome and put themselves at the head of those who endeavoured to revenge Lucretia for Titus was in love with the Sister in Law of the Illustrious deceased and the Prince of Pometia with Hermilia who was an intimate friend of Lucretias 'T is true he would have been much more afflicted if he had known her to be Brutus's sister and that Brutus was the the Leader of that exasperated multitude which had taken up Arms. Things being in this posture Aronces followed by Artemidorus Amilcar Zenocrates Celeres and those whom Brutus had commanded to obey him was gone to set upon the Palace where Tullia was hoping either to take it or force her from Rome but principally to deliver Clelia And indeed this Illustrious but unhappy Prince did prodigious things in this business and having broke open the outer-gate he was the first with his Sword in his hand to assault those who made it good and indeed did it with extraordinary resolution for the Prince of Pometia and Prince Titus who were at last got into the Palace at the afore said Port were in person in this outer Court both giving Orders and fighting themselves What was most observable in this engagement was that the cruel Tullia who saw all from her chamber window and the admirable Clelia who with Plotina was gotten to that little grate whence she had seen the Body of him who should have delivered her when Amilcar was with her were both Spectators of it So that when the valiant Aronces seconded by his Illustrious Friends had at length caused those to retreat who made good the gate he had broke open he spies the cruel Tullia at the Window before him and the admirable Clelia at another on his left hand so that having before him at the same time the only object of his love and one of the greatest objects of his hatred it much augmented his Valour especially finding the Prince of Pometia and Titus at the head of theirs it seemed
hundred Horse Brutus took fifty of them and assigned the rest to Aronces But the difficulty was to get out of Rome for the Romans who then looked on Brutus as their Tutelary Deity opposed it with so much earnestness that it was like to cause a general disorder throughout the City and there were above two hours spent ere they could be perswaded that it was for their Interest that Brutus went out of Rome Aronces on the other side had as much ado to get out as he and they were both encompassed by such a multitude of people that though they were the deliverers of Rome they were not Masters of themselves So that it was almost night ere Brutus and Aronces could get out of the City which was no small affliction to this disconsolate Lover whose business was to seek out his Mistress But when these two unfortunate Lovers were gotten out of Rome their friends were divided Herminius and Mutius stood for Brutus conceiving themselves more obliged to him as being Romans and Artemidorus Amilcar Zenocrates and Celeres were of Aronces side But though they were divided as to Interests yet did they joyntly wish the prosperity of their several designs For Aronces he took the way that he was told Tullia had taken who he understood had taken up two Chariots at a house she had within two miles of Rome for she went from the Palace on horseback But for Brutus he wheeled about another way into the Camp with out meeting Tarquin and he was so fortunate as to reach it just at the break of day Nay it happened so critically that by the same time that Tarquin had got to Rome Brutus came to the Camp where he no sooner arrived but he understood that Sextus was gone out of the way as soon as the report of the insurrection at Rome was brought thither In the mean time how sensible soever Brutus might be of the death of Lucretia the design he had to revenge it was the reason that he spoke of nothing but joy triumph and liberty In a word this illustrious Roman going from Tent to Tent assembled all the Officers but while he gets them together he speaks to all the Soldiers he meets he tells them all that Rome is free that Tullia had left it that all the adherents of Tyranny were sent out of the City he assures them that Tarquin should find the Gates shut against him and entertains them with peace reward glory and rest He represents to them the fruitless inconveniences they had suffered during the time of the Siege of Ardea he calls them the true deliverers of their Country if they have but the courage to declare themselves he intreats them he importunes them nay sometimes he threatens them he takes Herminius to witness of all he says whose integrity he knew was well known to their interests he adds those of the Gods and he speaks to them after so confident and heroick a manner that the prodigious change which they found in him produced the same effect in the Camp as it had done in Rome and Collatia and raised in them admiration and respect for him So that the name of Brutus and the word Liberty passing from mouth to mouth the whole Camp fell into disorder and both Officers and Soldiers unanimously submitting to Brutus acknowledge him for their chief and the deliverer of their Country Whereupon sending hastily to acquaint those of Ardea that he restored them to that peace which Tarquin would take away from them provided they would joyn with Rome against Tarquin he raises the Siege and begins his march towards Rome bestowing the pillage of the Tyrants Tents upon the Soldiers so to engage them by that act of hostility to persist in their revolt But while Brutus seconded by his friends manages the affairs of the Camp with so much success for the Liberty of his Country and the revenge of Lucretia Tarquin arrives at Rome confident that his presence would establish his Authority there But he was much mistaken when he saw the gates shut against him and that some told him from the Walls that the people of Rome banished him for ever with all his Family and declared him unworthy the name of a King which he had with so much injustice usurped Tarquin having not with him at this time above four hundred horse was forced to retreat but could not do it without horrid threats to those who had denied him entrance for he knew nothing of what was happened in the Camp and thought he had no more to do to chastise Rome than to raise the Siege of Ardea But when in his return he understood by the King of Clusium's Envoy whom he met as also by some of his own creatures that his Army was coming against him under the command of Brutus whom all obeyed and acknowledged for one of the greatest men in the World and by this means found himself without any assistances between a City risen against him and a revolted Army he had certainly need to summon up all his Courage to support so great and so sudden a Revolution Upon the first relation of this strange accident he made a halt then he asked whether they knew where Tullia was and what was become of the Captives for those who came from the Camp told him they were gone from Rome But being told that the Captives were in Tullia's disposal and that she had taken the way to Tarquinia he also took the same and that with much diligence commanding secretly two of his creatures whom he had employed in thousands of Crimes that if his enemies should pursue him and set on him with a party stronger than his own they should keep close to his person and if they saw him in any likelihood to be taken kill him For though I have a heart great enough to hinder me from falling into the hands of my enemies said he to them with his eyes full of fury yet I fear my arm will prove too weak to dispatch my self or shall miss the first attempt I shall make on my self if I am forced to it Hereupon he began to march and this unjust Prince who saw himself overwhelm'd with all kinds of misfortunes in an instant and that through the crimes of his Son or Wives or his own was so abominable as not to have the least remorse but employed his Wits to be revenged of those whom Heaven used as instruments to punish him for usurping a Kingdom and ruling with so much cruelty and injustice Brutus in the mean time though crowned with the glory of freeing two Cities at the same time and being the deliverer of his Country and the revenger of his dear Lucretia was the most unfortunate man in the world when it came into his mind that Lucretia was dead and Sextus alive And indeed though Brutus was of a nature gallant mild and the most obliging in the world yet after the death of Lucretia he seemed to have changed his humour
under his own hand And alas I doubt he never values my honour For it is more ordinary for a Lover to give the Letters of his first Mistress unto his second than for a man in Love to give Copies of his Mistresses letters unto a friend Thus I have reason to think that he hath sacrificed me unto Clelia and that whilst I am looking upon her letters with most horrid Anger she is looking upon those I writ unto that unconstant Man as the most sensible marks of Love that ever were given After this Valeria never staying for Flavia's answer began to look upon other Letters and to afflict her self the more she often saw the word Amitie in the letters of Herminius unto you Madam And she saw it writ after the same manner he was wont to write it unto her when it was to signifie Love For Herminius by often use had gotten such a habit of writing that word with a great Letter or a little as it was to signifie that he writ it very often unto his friends without any manner of design So as imagining that he used the same invention unto you Madam as he did unto her her sorrows encreased more and she broke out into such lamentable expressions as Flavia repented she had obeyed her After she had read all the letters of this Gallant Amity which unto miserable Valeria seemed Love she opened the Map of Tender But when she cast her eye upon that place where at the departure from a new Amity those that hold too much on the right hand do go out of their way and go unto Negligence Inequality Faintness Levitie Oblivion and to the Lake of Indifferency See said she all the ways by which he has passed unto me and by which I cannot pass unto him And I wish I could be unfaithful unto his memory and not be constant unto one that is dead and was inconstant Afterwards looking upon the River of Inclination by which one goes so swiftly unto Tender she presently turned away her eyes as if that object had upbraided the violent inclination which she had unto Herminius Also finding some invention and wit in this Map maugre all her Grief and Anger she had a spleen which augmented her jealousie and consequently her despair So as not being able to consider it any longer she threw it away hastily and turning to the other side she seemed as if she would not any longer look upon the pretended marks of infidelity in Herminius When Flavia would have taken the Map again she would not suffer her and not knowing her self whether she should restore it or no or break in pieces she took it out of the hands of Flavia and after she had confusedly surveyed it she threw it again unto her friend who folded it up with intention to restore it unto him that lent it After this she harkned unto the complaints of Valeria who did not find that Remedie which she looked for Alas said she had I upon me but one of these two Torments perhaps I should find out some kind of Consolation For if Herminius were not dead but alive and unfaithful then pity would not oppose it self against my hatred I should have some kind of delight in hating him or in being indifferent if I could not hate him I should do him some ill office to his Mistress and be revenged some way or other But what can I do unto a miserable Man whom death only renders worthy of my Compassion So as I can neither hate him nor be revenged of his perfidie since the Grave is an unavoidable sanctuary for all miserable people and Criminals On the other side had he not been inconstant and I had nothing to lament but his death there might be some consolation found in time and one might hope to mourn more moderately When the violence of Grief is grown a little more moderate by habitude it is some kind of sweetness to talk of the person that is lost one shall read his letters with a tenderness which as full of mourning memorandums as they are yet there is some sweetness in it one shall remember all the Testimonies of affection which ere they received one shall imagine that they had a share in the last thoughts of him that is lost and one may perhaps have some far fetcht hopes of seeing him again and that death will reunite that which it did separate But alas in the pitiful estate wherein I am I can never think on Herminius without anger the very sight of his letters incenses me The past the present the future all torment me and make me desperate I know my dear Flavia that I trouble you with my tears and do tell you no more than what I have told you a hundred times But alas I hope you will think it just to pardon me since it proceeds from the object of my sorrows These Madam were the thoughts of Valeria whilst Valerius was at Sivelia's house who had sent for him to know whether he had received any Packet from her Son and consequently whether all these reports of her Son death were true by which it appeared that all was false because his Pacquet was of a very late date Valerius was infinitely joyed to hear it and commanded the news to be presently sent unto Domitia and Valeria Generous Valerius replied Sivelia Let us consider seriously what we do in making this news too publick For when the Tyrant heard of his pretended death he broke into such cruel expressions against him as I conceive it best to conceal his being alive from all the world lest Tarquin should send some to Assassinate him And to write unto Herminius that he go presently into Africa This replied Valerius is a very good reason but methinks not very just to let Valeria lament him always Valeria replied Sivelia is very dear unto me But if you consider the unfortunate condition of my Son you will find that it is better for Valeria not to know that he is living For as long as Tarquin lives there is no hopes of his return to Rome and consequently of his marrying Valeria is it not better then to let her remain in the error wherein she is For the greatest part of her grief is past and Time will so well cure her of affliction as she will be able to obey you when you command her to marry some other For as I said before it is not probable my Son can ever be her husband and though you should not intend to marry her unto another yet you ought not to tell her that Herminius is alive for she that cannot hide her sorrows cannot hide her joys when she hears the truth And though I know it will much grieve my Son when he hears of Valeria's marriage yet if he be just he cannot blame her since she thought him dead You know also that absence when it is Long is a great remedy against Love and therefore since it concerns the life of my
therefore since you must one day know it 't were best you had it from me Know then that there now stands before you that unhappy man who was desirous to bestow on you a Crown which my wife hath upon her death taken away from you whether I would or no. What you tell me is to my apprehension so obscure and so impossible replied Adherbal that you must express your self more clearly if you would have me to understand you Alas My Lord what I have to tell you is that you are not Son to the King of Numidia How replies Adherbal am I not what I ever thought my self No My Lord replied he and if you will needs be acquainted with your fortune it shall cost you but the patience to hear me Make an end once make an end O fortune says the unfortunate Adherbal leave me not any thing not so much as a noble birth but when thou hast done thy worst how great soever thy power and injustice may be thou shalt never take away from me a Kings heart though I should be so unfortunate as to have been born a Shepherd Whereupon Adherbal recovering himself look'd on Donilcar with an extream sadness and intreated him to relate the truth without the least palliation Since it is your pleasure my Lord replied he you are to know that the King of Numidia whose Son you thought your self being yet young enough had very violent inclinations for a young Lady of the Court a person of great quality but the disproportion there was between them being very great the King his Father then alive told him one day that he was not to do any thing as to that Gentlewoman but what proceeded only out of Gallantry and forbad him to entertain any thoughts of ever marrying her But as it ordinarily happens that the prohibition of things we are taken with augments the desires we have of them this young Prince fell so deeply in love that he secretly married the person he so much affected and had a Son by her insomuch that the noise this secret marriage made and the alarm it put the whole Court into was so great that the excellent Lady having but newly given life to a Son dyed out of meer grief Whereupon my wife having been chosen by the Prince of Numidia to nurse up the Child secretly he intreated us to repair into Sicily till such time as the Kings favour were re-obtained Thither we crossed and took up our abode near Lilybaeum where having no acquaintance we led a very solitary life Being gone one day a walking into a small Wood where the umbrage afforded much refreshment and delight my wife sate down at the foot of a tree and set the Child she had in her arms upon a Grass-plot where she thought she might sleep more quietly than in her arms But as ill fortune would have it she fell asleep her self while I was walking alone in the Wood whereof the umbrage was so delightful to me So that a great Serpent coming questionless out of the Thickets roll'd it self about the Child for as all Serpents love the smell of milk it found there something that drew it thither It was not long e'r the Child waked crying whereupon my Wife waking also on a sudden was astonished to see him incircled with a Serpent whereof the dreadful folds were terible to behold She had no sooner ey'd that sad object but she starts up furiously not knowing what she should do her self but treading as she got up upon the Serpent it stung the unhappy Child and without staying for any punishment for the mischief it had done it got into the Thicket from whence it came so that my wife crying out aloud I heard her came to her understood the accident had happend to her and participated of the affliction it was to her to see that young Prince expiring three days after We in the mean time stood extreamly in fear of the Prince's anger who had committed a Child to our trust which by reason of the affection he had for the Mother must needs be very dear to him However we thought it would be our best course to return to acquaint him our selves with the death of his Son yet so as to conceal from him the unhappy adventure whereby he had miscarried We took shipping being none but my Wife and my self in a Merchant-man that stood ready to set sail from Lilybaeum to pass into Africk We were no sooner at Sea but a Tempest overtakes us yet were we much more fortunate than other ships for we saw some sinking near enough to us indeed so near that the wind ceasing of a sudden we could save some part of the wrack of one that had been cast away and wherewith the Sea was covered But what was a very strange thing was to see a great Plank floating on the water with a Pack of Merchandise tyed to it whereof the Cords that tyed it being half loose had accidentally fastned on a Cradle wherein was a little Child much about the age of that we had lost This object working much upon my wives heart gave her occasion to intreat the Master of the Ship to give order that it might be saved and bestowed on her Now the Child being fastned to the pack of Merchandise assigned as it were for a reward for him that should save it her desire was easily granted Thus My Lord was your life easily saved for to tell you truly how things past it was you that my Wife and I found in that sad condition Ah Donilcar cries out Adherbal if what you say be true what an ill office did you do me when you saved my life and what cruelty was there in your pity Alas my Lord replyed Donilcar It was far from our intention to do you any such it was our desire not only to make you live but to make you live happily nay to bestow a Crown on you 'T is true my Lord it was not so much out of affection to you as to avoid the indignation of the Prince and to spare him an extraordinary affliction that we put you into the place of the young Prince that we had lost We were not as yet got far from Sicily so that our Vessel was forced to return thither as having suffered a little by the tempest but when we were gotten ashore my wife pretended such a fear of the Sea that no intreaties could get her aboard again We therefore returned to our old habitation where we continued not six months for news being come that the King of Numidia was dead we returned into Africk and told the Prince who then did and now does raign that you were his Son This we told him not only to divert his anger from our selves and to prevent his grief but also out of some thought it might prove a means to raise our fortunes We thought our crime so far the more innocent in that we injured no body for he who should have succeeded the
Prince in case he had dyed without issue is as you know one of the wickedst men alive Upon these considerations did we tell the new King that you were his Son and he was the rather induc'd to believe it for that the Princess your Mother being of a complexion different from that of an African he imagined you were like her He accordingly entertained you with joy he made much of you and caused you to be publiquely acknowledged his successor in a word he hath brought you up as such and you have ever since thought your self his Son as he believed himself your Father I shall not tell you what affliction your love to Clelia hath cost him nor what displeasure he takes at your absence and at your departure disguised to follow the object of your affection but must needs tell you that after your departure having sent me to discover what way you had taken my wife fell sick in my absence but the disease proved so violent that it soon deprived her of her reason And whereas you were very much in her affection she could not speak of any thing in her fits but of you Sometimes she said that God punished her for thrusting you into the place of the true Prince of Numidia sometimes that she was not sorry for it that you were better than he that is dead would have been and a hundred such things amongst a many more that had no dependance on these At first those that heard her made no reflexion thereon but she so often repeated the same thing that at last a certain woman who visited her often and was Mistriss to his Secretary that should have raigned after you took some particular notice of it and acquainted her beloved therewith This man told his Master who seeing it a business that concerned a Crown thought it not to be neglected This woman thereupon received order to put several interrogatories to the poor sick party and that before such people as should testifie what he had said The business was thus carried and my wife told all she knew nay she did more than all this for having the command of her reason some six hours before she died and her conscience being strangely troubled at that subordination she in her perfect senses and memory declared the truth after a promise made her that I should not be punished You may imagine My Lord for I shall still call you so what grief this was to the King of Numidia and what good news to the Prince that should succeed him In the mean time hearing all this upon the way from persons that knew me not and understanding that search was made after her Husband who had revealed a secret of that consequence I thought it no good course to expose my selfe to the indignation of two Princes that I have offended and that I should rather find you out to see what course you would take For my Lord it were an obligation put upon my Countrey to hinder it from coming under the Government of a wicked man 't were to oblige the King of Numidia not to deprive him of a virtuous Prince that he loves as his Son and it were to do you but justice to continue you in the condition into which I had put you And therefore my Lord if it be your pleasure I will expose my self to all torments imaginable to maintain that my wife had not recovered her senses when she spoke as she did for we lived in a very solitary place near Lilybaeum and it would be in all probability a very had matter either to find any people that knew me in Sicily or to meet with the merchants who saved your life at my wives intreaty it being so long since that this truth will not easily be discovered besides that King having an aversion for him that should succeed him will gladly be over-reach'd and so my Lord I am ready to hazard my life to make you King It should have been done without my privity replied Adherbal very smartly had you made it your business to get me into the Throne and you must have deceived me first before you had deceived others But now that I know my self not to be what I ever thought I was the Gods preserve me from purchasing a Kingdom by a cheat Nor indeed do I take so much pleasure in life that I should be over-sensible of the loss of a Crown which were not haply enough to make me happy But alas how am I afraid that my fortune is yet much worse than you imagine Tell me then added he but in what place you found me when you saved my life It was so near the Cape of Lilybaeum replied Donilcar that we expected to have been cast away in it But further added Adherbal In what year what moneth what day did this wrack happen Donilcar having satisfied Adherbal very particularly his colour changed for having before understood all the circumstances of the Adventures of Aronces he found that the very day on which Donilcar told him he had been found on the Sea was the same with that whereon Clelius found Aronces and had lost his own Son He found it to be the same place so that there was no question to be made but that he was Son to Clelius Insomuch that this very consideration raised more disturbance in his thoughts than had done that of the loss of a Crown But I pray said he to Donilcar could you not guess by the swathing-bands that were about me what Nation I might be of and of what birth For your birth replied Donilcar it must in all likelihood be noble for your swathing-bands were very rich and for your Countrey I think you were a Romane for it was reported at that time at Lilybaeum that Tarquin was so cruel that all the virtuous people was forced to leave Rome Besides I found a Ring tyed in a Ribband such as they said the Roman Knights used to wear which haply might have been your Fathers and which for what reason I know not should have been hidden in the swathing-band you had about you And have you this Ring still replies Adherbal infinitely desirous to find something that should confirm him I have My Lord replied Donilcar and for what reason I know not I took it the very day I came away to find you out but now I find it was the good pleasure of the gods As he said so Donilcar shewed him the Ring which Adherbal had no sooner looked on but he knew it to be like that which Clelius had worn since his return to Rome so that being in a manner fully satisfied that Clelia was his Sister he felt such a distraction in his soul that not able to master his own sentiments he bid Donilcar stay with him and locking his Chamber door he walked a while without saying any thing and indeed without being able to fasten his thoughts on any one object But at last reflecting on the sad condition he was in
just now gave us He is her Husband answered Merigenes and the person I mentioned after I had described the Princess his wife and it ought not to be wondered at if Mamilius speaks to that Prince with authority for he is his father But how comes it to pass demanded Plotina that the son of a Veientine is Prince of Elis Fortune who is capricious answered Merigenes does things much more astonishing than this But yet I can assure you that since she first made adventures of War of Love and of Generosity she never made any more surprising than those which have befallen the Prince of Elis. And truly it ought not to be accounted strange that Mamilius is so strongly perswaded of a Power foreseeing things to come for he has an example of it in the Prince his Son which will not suffer him to doubt it All the company hearing this discourse of Merigenes had great curiosity of knowing the History of the Prince and Princess of Elis but because it was already sufficiently late and Herminius judged it important to let Valerius know the Prince of Elis was Son of Mamilius and moreover was willing to go see Valeria he said 't was requisite to refer the business to the next morning and that Valeria ought to have her part in this pleasure and accordingly the company broke up and departed But to the end Valerius might be better informed of what it was fit he should know Themistus accompanyed Merigenes to the Consul to whom he declared very important matters For you know said Merigenes to Valerius that the Family of the Tarquins is originally of Corinth upon which account it would not be impossible but Mamilius might engage the Prince his son to persuade the Corinthians to embrace the interests of Tarquin And being the Commerce of Corinth into Sicily is great they might afterwards engage some of the Princes of that Island which is nearer hither than themselves to intermeddle in this War After which Merigenes offered himself to negotiate with the Prince of Elis whose virtue is so great that he was confident he would be always on the side of Justice assuring him that there were also some matters in his life which engaged him to be enemy to all Tyrants Valerius thanked Merigenes and without refusing the offer which he made of treating the interests of Rome with the Prince of Elis he entreated him to inform him by what adventure the son of Mamilius who was believed lost in a long voyage came to be Prince of Elis. But Merigenes answering him that the story was long and that there was at least as much War as Love in it Valerius smiling gave commission to Herminius to learn the same from Merigenes since the publick affairs did not allow him leisure enough at present Thus the History of the Princess of Elis which Merigenes was to relate only to content the curiosity of Cesonia Plotina and Amilcar became almost a necessary affair of State But in order to it the next morning after Herminius had been to make a visit to Clelia and Octavius who was somewhat better to day he went to Valeria's house where Cesonia Plotina Themistus Amilcar and Merigenes were also met And Merigenes knowing he had many things to relate after the first civilities were over and Valeria who received him very civilly had intreated him to begin the narration he had promised spoke in this manner addressing himself to Valeria to whom Plotina had already told all that she knew concerning the Princess of Elis. THE HISTORY Of the PRINCESS ELISMONDA YOU will perhaps judge me very presumptuous Madam in daring to entertain you with the adventures of your Neighbors and tell you of things done at Veii which is not far from your Gates as if I were a Tuscan and not a Native of Asia T is true Fortune has guided me into so many different regions my habitation has so long been in Sicily and my travels so universal all over Italy that I can almost term every place my Countrey To me according to the genius I am of all persons of honor are fellow-Citizens and I never put real distinction between men besides what virtue alone makes Now Madam I must acquaint you that the Prince of Elis whose name is Hortensius is of a most illustrious race For his Family is as antient as the City wherein he was born which is as you know one of the most considerable of those twelve famous Cities which share amongst them the Dominion of all Tuscany But not to detain you with unprofitable particularising all the several badges of honor which belong to that House I shall only intimate that it possessed the highest imployments in Veii and that they report that one of the Predecessors of Hortensius heretofore gave that famous Statue of Juno whom they call Queen Juno which they have plac'd in a stately Temple erected for it For as the Veientines adore the Goddess represented by it as the tutelar Deity of their City and are naturally superstitious so they believe if this Statue should be taken from them their City would be destroyed I say this Madam to the end that remembring the nature of the Tuscanes you may not think strange that the Illustrious Father of Hortensius has been capable of doing that which you shall understand in the sequel of my discourse Which before I unfold to you it is requisite you know that that generous Veientine who is called Mamilius was always virtuous from his first youth that he loved his Countrey eminently more than all things and glory as much as his Countrey and that as it is the custom of those of this Nation to consult their Augurs which are the most learned of the world in the art they pretend to he consulted the most famous that he knew concerning the birth of his only son Hortensius whose life I am relating to you But all he inquired of first telling him that his son should be indued with a thousand great qualities assured him it was the decree of fate for him to raign in the place where he should live and that it was impossible but he should dye a Soveraign This generous Veientine instead of rejoycing was afflicted with this answer for loving his native soil with an extream Passion he judged himself the most unhappy of all men in having a son whom he feared would become Tyrant of his Countrey Which perplexing thought not forsaking him and being willing to find cause to doubt of what the Augurs of his City had told him he went from City to City throughout all Tuscany to consult all such as were in repute for skill in the art of Divinations But the more he consulted the more was his fear augmented for all told him the same thing Afterwards being not yet satisfied he went to Praeneste to the famous Temple of Fortune which is upon the top of the Mountain on which this City is built to try whether the Praenestine Lots would agree
was of a very Noble race as well as she he had wit and courage he was good and generous he loved glory more than all things and Melintha as much as glory This generous Lady hapned to be shut up in a besieged City which her illustrious Husband defended with excellent valour and resolution he endeavour'd to oblige her to go away out of it with her children but she would never desert him and as long as the Siege lasted afforded very great succour unto him For during the few hours he took to rest in she made it her care that the orders of her dear Belisantus might be exactly observ'd and gave some her self with as much judgement as a great Captain could have done Being very well ascertain'd of her illustrious Husband's conduct she never offer'd to oppose his courage So that after Belisantus had defended the place beyond all appearance of possibility he could not resolve to capitulate but prefer'd a glorious Death above a Treaty which notwithstanding could not have been otherwise than very honourable Nevertheless a sentiment of dearness for Melintha obliging him to desire her consent he propounded to her not to yield at all and since the City was to be abandoned to the enemies to make a Sally forth with all the people he had left and attempt by his valour to make his way with sword in hand and beat the Enemies at the same time he yielded up the place The wise Melintha well understood all the danger of this resolution but perceiving the aversion of Bellisantus to surrender she couragiously consented to what he desir'd and accordingly he dispos'd all things for that design The Chariots of Melintha and her Children were made ready and to shew the tranquillity of his mind in the sight of greatest dangers he took care to cause several things to be put into them which serv'd only for his pleasure After which being oblig'd to call a Council of War the Officers so urgently represented to him the reasons which should oblige him to render himself without scruple that at length he made a very glorious Capitulation and thus the generous Belisantus marcht out of the place the gaining of which was less glorious to them that took it than to him that deliver'd it up after he had destroy'd a great Army before it and defended it two months tho it was thought unable to hold out two dayes and had no other strength but the courage of him that defended it But to let you further see that the heart of Melintha was as tender as resolute amongst so many generous actions as she did during that Siege I must at last relate one to you Her children being in a House which was not far distant from the Walls of the City it happened one day that the Enemies suddenly bethought themselves to place Engines upon a Tower which they had erected on that side So that a great storm of stones was seen to be discharg'd in that place which by the violence wherewith they were cast overthrew all they fell upon and slew such as were struck by them Melintha was at that time at the house of one of her friends on the other side of a large place where that house stood and seeing the fatal storm and horrible havock made by the Engines both upon the house in which her Children were and in the place which it behov'd her to cross to go to it did not deliberate a moment but being impell'd by the true tenderness of a generous mother ran couragiously through the hail of Stones to fetch her children out of so dangerous a place and that with so much ardour and haste that she scarce made any reflection upon so great a danger till she had escap'd it having at that instant nothing else in her mind but to save the life of her Children and preserve them for her dear Belisantus whose love she will be eternally sensible of Which indeed she has in some manner repair'd by choosing for a very lovely Daughter of hers an illustrious Husband whose rare valour and activity resembles that of the greatest Heroes and who by an hundred gallant actions has made it apparent how great a Lover he is of Glory Besides Melintha having two Sons very goodly personages and whose inclinations have appear'd extreamly noble from their infancy it is to be hop'd they will prove worthy to be Sons of their illustrious Father Melintha moreover has four Brothers each of which in their way deserve a thousand praises she has also Friends whose vertue is so great that tho Fortune has been very liberal to them yet they injoy much less than they deserve and perhaps some other occasion will be offer'd wherein I may present you with a fuller description of all the persons I have mention'd I beseech you said Plotina agreeably since you have the colours and pencils in your hand be pleas'd to draw the pourtraits at least of Melintha's virtuous Brothers For my part said Clelia I desire onely to know one of her Friends You ask too much for one day answer'd Amiclea for Melintha has a Friend whom I cannot tell you of without recounting the History of all Hetruria because the rare vertues of him I speak of are at this day one of the strongest props of his Country therefore I will expect some other occasion to let you know that incomparable Man whose vertue is above envy and whose moderation makes his vertue more eminent and I will only tell you that Melintha is a Lady who serves her Friends without interest without vanity and with all imaginable zeal She conceals her self sometimes to do good offices and I know a person whom she oblig'd after the noblest manner in the World who durst not speak of the obligation he has to her for fear of displeasing her tho he is extreamly desirous to testifie his acknowledgement of her generosity by publishing it In brief Melintha is one of those Women who are so rarely found that no Age or Country reckons above two or three whose accomplishments equal hers After this that you have spoken said Herminius I am her friend for all my life For my part said Valeria I shall not repine if Aronces has more friendship for her than for me And I said Plotina should account my self extream happy if I could have an interest in her Love You have reason said Clelia since nothing is more desirable than to have a friend of such worth for 't is not only an advantage to be lov'd by such but the friendship of a person of great vertue reflects to the honour of those who possess it you are a friend to almost all her friends and after a manner enjoy her glory as your own tho you merit not so much as she and be far inferiour to Melintha Clelia would have proceeded further if the Princess of the Leontines had not return'd to her but for that as she enter'd into the Closet she heard the name of Melintha