For what concerns me says Horatius I must attribute all my unhappiness to Constancy so far that if I would I should wish not to be constant but when all 's done since it is some comfort to find persons of worth of our judgment I shall be glad to know whether this Protector of Constancy be so excellent a person as I believe him Since you are all resolved replyes Aemilius I will describe Merigines to you he being a person so much concerned in the close of this History that I think it some obligation to give you an account of him Know then that Merigines is an Asian of very noble birth and virtuous inclinations He is tall of a good complexion all the linearnents of his face are very well made he is brown hair'd hath eyes full of spirit a noble air teeth admirably fair a pleasant smile and a fortunate and prudent Physiognomy He hath a clear understanding considers things as he should do and his wit and judgment hold such a correspondence that they never act one without another Sincerity discovers it self in all his actions and there is a perfect sympathy between his words and thoughts In a word he is a great professor of honor integrity and generosity he is a faithful friend and an earnest lover goodness he affects and professes he is eminent for politeness sweetness and complaisance his conversation is familiar and pleasant he argues smartly is a great lover of Books and is as well acquainted with them as a person of quality who doth not make it his profession should be For Morality he is very exact in it and if he be ask'd whence it comes that he is so excellent in it he answers that he is obliged for whatever there is of good in him to love That without him he would not be what he is and that if he be qualified as a person of worth he is the more obliged to a beauty who hath raised in his heart the desire of pleasing and the design of deserving her affection He makes all the pleasures of humane life to consist in friendship and love but when he loves his love is as great as it can be He is farther of the opinion that love smothers reason and that a Lover ought to do without any exception whatever the person he loves would have him In the mean time though he be somewhat inclined to a tumultuous life yet hath Philosophy raised in him a love of solitude and he often retires into a little wilderness that he hath made himself though there be not any thing that obliges him to that distance from the Court 'T is true he hath an illustrious friend in his neighborhood in whom he may find whatever the World thinks desirable since he is one that possesses all the virtues and whose politeness and wit are sutable to his generosity And for the place where Merigenes lives it is so pleasant and delightful that solitude was never so taking in any other place upon earth at least it might be said he hath an Arbor that is worth a Palace as I shall convince you anon So that with the assistance of a little conversation a few Books and abundance of love for virtue and liberty Merigenes is the happiest Solitary that ever was when he leaves the Court to go to his wilderness besides all this he is loved by many persons of honor insomuch that who should judge of him meerly by his friends would be soon sensible of part of his worth He is of a sweet and compliant disposition and there is in his humor such a just mixture of gladness and melanchoily that there issues from thence a very pleasant Tempertment For courage Merigenes is so well furnished as man can be and if his prudence did not check his ambition he would not be so great a lover of sollitude but he makes it so much his business to master himself that unless it be when love pleases he never obeys any thing but his reason This premised I am now to return to the fair Clarinta's where Teramus had no sooner understood the answer of Merigenes's friend but having commended his wit he set himself to oppose his Maxims but in such a pleasant manner that Caliantes Lisydas and Melicrates who pretended all to the glory of being accounted constant to Artilisa could not but be extreamly pleased with it For Clarinta she did not much discover her self but spoke in the praise of Constancy yet without blaming a gallant inconstancy For Alcimedes his inclination leading him to be extreamly earnest in any thing he desired he sided with Merigenes For my part says Teramus I am persuaded that as we have been taught that there is a Venus that is wholly serious called Venus Urania and that there is another that is absolutely amorous which is she that landed at the Island Cyprus so do I believe that there are two Loves whereof one is a froward child that is troublesome and untoward ever crying and knows not what he would have and the other an Infant newly awakened that plays laughs dances and makes sport and whose darts does but slightly touch their hearts whom he wounds as it were in jest Seriously says the Princess of Eryx smiling I think Teramus in the right for it were impossible there should be a people whose way of loving were so different if they were wounded by the same God But all considered since it is never just to condemn a person that cannot defend himself my opinion is that we should go and walk in Merigenes's Wilderness and conclude our conversation in his Arbor which hath been represented to me for so excellent a thing The Princesse of Eryx's proposal being approved by the whole company it was put in execution as soon as so many Chariots could be got ready as were necessary for the Ladies and horses for the men But not to give you a general description of the place of Merigenes's retirement I shall only entertain you with the particular rarities of the enchanted Arbor to the end that you may follow the fair Clarinta thither You are not to imagine it extraordinary magnificent for its greatest beauties are not within it self and all the commendations can be given it belong unto it only because it discovers the noblest objects in nature It is indeed reasonably large of a quadranguler figure its height sutable to its largeness the Architecture simple yet handsome the plain ground of it is Ionik the Tapistry is pleasant and what ever it is furnished with very convenient But what is most admirable in this Arbor is that it is open three ways and that at your entrance you discover three miraculous and different prospects whereof the least were enough to make a Palace most delightful For which way soever you cast your eye you see whatever the Country can afford that is most excellent The windows that are opposite to the door present you with the sight of a pleasant River which being
great delights For my part said Cephisa I am willing to accept of your offer but to tell you truly I do not think you are able to do as you say I am not indeed replied he but in all likelyhood I shall be ere long for I assure you I cannot find either pleasure or honour in Pasithea's love since she could not love a man of much merit long enough Neither can I endure Cynesia's love since she could love a man unworthy of her affection and to tell you truly the affection of a woman to a fool cannot be innocent It is men of wit ingenuity and gallantry who can only devise a thousand innocent delights to entertain their Mistress between the time of their first being in love and the time of consummation As for a fool lover as soon as ever he has grosly told his Mistress that he loves her he tels brutishly that he presently expects a recompence of his love and if he find it not presently two to one but he casts off his Mistress Truly Artaxander said Cephisa me thinks you go a little to far for Cynesia is virtuous I think she is when I think well upon it replied Artaxander but when I do not I sometimes doubt it for what can a man of ingenuity say unto such a man as Alphidemon and what innocent delights can you imagine from a lover that hath no smack of gallantry in him Never ask what delights one can find in love replied Cephisa for love brings its delights with it and as soon as a heart is possest with this passion the mind is also prepossessed it cannot see things as they are but sees them only as love will have them So Cynesia being very young and having a strong inclination to Alphidemon love will not let her reason see his faults not but that I do condemn her for I cannot indure one should love that which is not amiable 'T is true replied Artaxander and if one will love let them love where they may have rest and not as I did though I can say to my comfort that any other then my self might have been catched but how could I guess that those things which do afflict me should have done so My fears also at the beginning of my love to Cynesia were wrong placed for I feared her wit would have been too delicate and high that she would have thought me a Man not sufficiently accomplished that my Gallantry would have seemed to her of too merry a strain and that she would be insensible of my passion but the truth is I feared those things which I needed not to fear and I did not fear that thing which only I ought to fear 't is true there was no shadow of any cause to fear it for how could I possibly imagine that Cynesia who stood upon her wit and glory should ever love Alphidemon whom all the World despised and who indeed deserved no esteem The truth is said Cephisa this could not be divined or believed unless there had been a hundred such circumstances as would have put it out of all doubt For my part said Artaxander I am better informed then any else for Cynesia hath confessed to me that she loved Alphidemon even with the same breath that she spoke kindly unto me unto me I say who does not a jot resemble nor never will nor will ever have to do with any thing that ever was his After this Artaxander began to walk about the Chamber and muse as if he had been alone though Cephisa was with him naming sometimes Alphidemon and sometimes Cynesia as they came into his mind and he was above a quarter of an hour in this dump Cephisa would not disturb him because she thought it good sport and indeed because she was not sorry that Artaxander's heart was dis-engaged from the love of Cynesia But at last perceiving himself he rouzed out of his study and had many pleasant conceits upon his being Alphidemon's successor After which he returned to his Lodging and in his way he met Alphidemon whose very sight did much incense him for he was very unhandsome and slovenly he saluted clownishly as if he were a Man of poor quality and when he came to the house of Philiontes his Father he there heard a hundred simple passages of Alphidemon So Artaxander being more and more exasperated and conceiving that it was not fit he should any longer love a person who could love Alphidemon he resolved to break off with Cynesia For said he unto Philiontes who would have disswaded him I shall have this satisfaction that those who will say she would have made me Alphidemon's successor will say also I refused it and renounced the succession If you quit Cynesia replied Philiontes you will so rejoice Pasithea as if you be of any vindicative temper you will not leave her I am fuller of revenge then you imagine replied he but I will not be revenged upon my self and if I should continue loving Cynesia only because I will not joy Pasithea I should be extreamly ashamed of being Alphidemon's successor But said Philiontes can Men love when they list and cease when they will I know not that replied he but I will try And indeed Artaxander went no more unto Cynesia but went every day unto Cephisa chearing up himself with his Amity for the loss of his love Mean time Clidamis who quickly heard how squares went between Artaxander and Cynesia he returned to her and quitted Pasithea but Cynesia not liking him so well as she did Artaxander she gave him bee cold entertainment imagining that Artaxander would take it well On the other side Pasithea was vexed to the soul to see Clidamis forsake her and that it pleased Artaxander whom she would gladly re-call As for Cynesia she could not imagine what course to take to cure Artaxander It was in vain for her to say that she never loved Alphidemon because she had confessed it nor would she make Alphidemon more esteemable or esteemed than he was So as she had no other way since she stood much upon her honour then to seem as if she cared not for Artaxander's slighting her Mean time Artaxander being quite out with all manner of gallantry the friendship of Cephisa was a real Cordial to him for beginning the rules of friendship with her he found himself in a very good condition and did not alter as long as he was at Crete He gave Cephisa an account of all his follies and took more delight in telling then he ever did in the acting them for Cephisa being of an excellent and pleasing spirit having also much good Will unto Artaxander and he likewise to her their Conversation was with such a friendly liberty as made it very agreeable And when Artaxander left Crete he was more sorry to part from his friend then from all his Mistresses and I am confident he lived in more content with Cephisa then ever he did with Pasithea and Cynesia with whom he
and a Lover which hath it not would do all that which might please him without any Reservation and he would demand in a rude and uncivill way the greatest favours as if they were due to him as a Tribute in effect those freer Lovers which are enemyes of tendernes and who defame it are ordinarily insolent uncivill full of vanity easie to anger difficult to appease indiscreet when they are favour'd insupportable when they are misused They believe the greatest work of Love they can give is alwaies to wish to be made happy for without that they know not neither favours nor graces They are not contented with favourable regards sweet speeches and all those petty things which so elevate the beatitude of those which have tender souls they are Lovers I say which read but once the Letters of their Mistress whose hearts have not joyfull emotion when they receive them who neither know how to rave speak idly nor sigh agreeably and are utterly ignorant of a certain pleasing melancholy which proceeds from the tenderness of an amorous heart and which is sometimes more pleasing then delight These are Lovers I say of great noise which makes all the prooves of their Love consist in excessive expences and which feel nothing of all those delicacies this passion inspires their jealousie even as more brutall then that of the Lovers which have a tender heart for they often pass from hating their Rivalls to hate their Mistresses when on the contrary those Lovers whose loves are mingled with tenderness somtimes so respect their mistresses that they restrain their anger against their Rivalls in some occasions because they cannot do it without exasperating them For my self sayd Horatius I cannot discern Tenderness from Love in an amorous heart for that passion when it is violent so strongly operates in those hearts it possesses that all the quality of their souls become as it is or at least assume some amorous impression T is true replyed Aronces that love entirely possesseth the heart of a Lover and it is likewise true that he which hath an heart naturally tender shall love more tenderly then he which shall be of a temper more fierce and rude and I maintain to love well a Lover must have a naturall tenderness before he hath Love and this precious and rare quality which is so necessary to love well can be hardly acquired and it is truly a gift of the Gods of which they are never prodigall we may gain more spirit we may correct our vices and acquire all vertues but we can never acquire tenderness we may without doubt sometimes disguise ourselves but it cannot be long and those which have tenderness know not how to deceive In effect all the words all the regards all the cares all the actions of a Lover who hath not a tender heart are entirely different from those of a Lover which hath tenderness for he hath sometimes respect without having a kind of sweet submission which pleaseth much more of civility without agreement of obeysance without sweetness and even Love without a certain delicate sensibility which alone causeth all the punishments and all the felicities of Lovers and which is in fine the truest mark of a perfect Lover I likewise put for a foundation that a tender Lover knows not how neither to be unfaithfull cozening vain insolent nor indiscreet and not to be deceived neither in Love not friendship we must as well examine if a Lover or a Friend have tenderness as if they have Love or Friendship As Aronces had thus spoke the Prince of Numydia entred and a little after Maharball so that the subject being changed by their coming all the company after a little discourse went away with that violent Lover of Clelia At our departure from thence I went with Aronces to the Prince of Carthage but though the incomparable Amilcar had this night there all the merriness of his pleasant disposition and that all those which were with the Prince of Carthage confessed they never had heard from him more agreeable things Aronces appeared to be very melancholy and his melancholy was so generally noted that Amilcar demanded of me if I knew not the cause of it so that having observed him more carefully I noted that Aronces was not where he would be so that when we were retired for we then lay together I pressed him to tell me the cause of his melancholy at first he would disguise the truth from me but in the end when I did not think to ask him any more about it because I beleeved he would not tell me he stayd himself after he had walked sometime and looking stedfastly upon me thus sayd You are not very inquisitive said he to me to demand that which you would know and you have sure little desire to redress my melancholy since you press me no more to tell you the cause of it no Aronces cryed I to him fixing my eyes on him nothing but to demand of you to tell me whether you are amorous your expressions almost betraying it for in fine I prayd you with tenderness to tell me that which caused your grief and you refused it me Nevertheless a little after that you were angry I demanded no more of you that you refused me and I find you are even now disposed to pray me to hearken to that you would never tell me but in an instant it is therefore I conclude with reason and it seemeth to me that you are amorous since t is true that there is nothing but Love only which can frame such a fantasticall thing as this T is true Celeres sayd he to me I am amorous and though you tax me with Injuries you must be the only confident of my Passion and I tell you that which it may be shall never be known to the admirable person whom I adore though I see her daily you love Clelia then sayd I to him for it seemeth to me that t is but she alone you daily frequent yes Celeres I love Clelia replyed he and I love her ardently and so tenderly that according to all appearances I shall become the unhappiest man in the World but it seemes to me sayd I to him that if I was in your place I should account my self very happy for in fine as you have been brought up in Clelius his house you live with Clelia with the same Liberty as if she was your sister and her Father and Mother look upon you in effect as if you were her Brother t is true Celeres replied he but they look not upon me as her Lover and I am strongly perswaded that if they looked upon me as such they would hate me as much as they love me And they would think to have right to accuse me of an horrible Ingratitude and terrible presumption In effect I owe my life to the generous Clelius and I know not to whom I owe my birth he found me in the sea he saved me from an eminent
signalize himself upon this occasion and that Tiberinus was not sorry in his heart that he would expose himself it was an easie request to obtain the most dangerous command And indeed it was he who commanded a small Party of choice men designed for the Forlorn Hope unto all the dangers and perils of the Army Celeres was the faithful Companion of his Adventures in War as well as in his Adventures of Love Aronces did acquit himself so heroickly in this desperate employment that as it may be said he saved the life of Mezentius many a time for by his diligence he came to understand the state of his Enemies and he hindred the Enemy from having any knowledge of that Princes Condition for as soon as any party appeared he assaulted and repulsed them and he was the Actor of so many glorious exploits in this rencounter that if they were all related severally they would seem incredible At last after several days of only facing each other and both sides declining Fight they were both equally forced to give Battel which though it was not fought by such formidable Armies as the very sight of them strikes terror yet it was more terrible than if these two Armies had been more numerous For when a Battel is fought betwixt four or five hundred thousand men commonly a great part of them are only Spectators of the Fight and the Victory is oftentimes gotten more by a panick fear or a tumultuous rout which huge multitudes are subject unto where order is hard to be kept than by any true actions of valour or conduct of the Captains On the other side when two small bodies fight there are none idle all are in equal danger death is in every Rank all bestir themselves all sight and every particular Soldier is the Carver out of his own glory since chance of War here is not to be expected nor is the victory to be gotten by the capricious humour of Fortune but by true valour and prudent Conduct But if ever great actions were done in a short time and between a few Troops it was at this time when Mezentius was ready to perish if the valour and good Fortune of Aronces had not rescued him These two little Armies were no sooner in sight of each other but without so much delay as to seek advantages the Fight began and that with such animosity and fury as useth to be amongst such as are desperate At the first the right wing of Mezentius was broken and Bianor who commanded it was killed But Aronces whose Body upon that occasion was joyned unto that which Bianor commanded he having taken his place he made Fortune wheel about and rallying the broken Troops he routed them who broke them On the other side Mezentius being astonished to see that Bianor had made so poor resistance he cooled the courage of his men by his wonder at it So as the enemy making use of this favourable opportunity they charged through the Battel where he was Insomuch that things were in a very bad condition when Aronces observing what passed left Celeres to keep things in the condition he had brought them He went then to help Mezentius carrying only two hundred Horses with him and infusing fresh spirits into the Soldiers by a thousand actions of Valour which they had seen him perform he came to the place where Mezentius was but he came just as that Prince whom he found forsaken of his men and environ'd with enemies was ready to render himself and be their Prisoner But Aronces assaulted his Enemies with such vigour as the vanquishers became vanquished and were forced to let go their Prisoner of that great importance And as if Fortune was resolved that Aronces should have all the glory of the day As soon as he had setled the Battel he perceived that the Wing which Tiburinus commanded had need of help So as without more delay he hasted to the place where necessity invited him he alter'd the face of things and got a most perfect victory For indeed the enemy losing their hearts after they had lost their advantages he broke them all and did so absolutely defeat them that those who died not at this bloody skirmish threw down their Arms and implored the mercy of the Conquerors It was most observable that though Aronces commanded only a little Body yet he commanded the whole Army as soon as Bianor was dead For his admirable Valour got him such credit in the minds of all the Soldiers and Officers that they did both acknowledge and obey him Mezentius Tiberinus and the whole Army did publish that it was he only who won the day Celeres did highly signalize himself that day and by high acts rendred himself worthy of that esteem which Aronces had of him In the mean time the Enemies General being dead and no Enemy appearing Mezentius after he had left the command of the Army unto the Conduct of an old Commander and taken order for the Funeral of Bianor he conceived it best to return unto Perusia to assure the people of Victory And Aronces having no mind to leave him lest he should attempt something against the life of Porsenna he returned thither also And he return'd with such Trophies of Honour as he was received with such acclamations that they raised a most timely jealousie in Tiberinus and did not over-well please Mezentius as much as he was obliged unto Aronces and as well as he loved him For indeed the fright being very great in Perusia every one looked upon him as the deliverer of the Town Insomuch without a word of Mezentius or Tiberinus nothing could be heard but the name of Aronces every street was filled with multitudes of men who pressed to behold him as if they had never seen him Those who had seen him in one street ran a back way to see him in another Women with Children in their arms did shew him unto them as the man who had saved the lives of their Fathers and preserved their Liberties and such glorious applauds were given Aronces at his entry into Perusia that his modesty made him blush Tiberinus yet dissembled the secret sorrows and he went unto the Princess of the Leontines as soon as he had lodged Mezentius in his Palace but he went with a most dejected look thinking it a shame for him to appear before a Princess with whom he was in Love since he could not bring with him the chief glory of the Victory And he was no sooner there but Aronces and Celeres came in also so as Tiberinus striving to constrain himself he began to commend Aronces who modestly interrupting him began to commend him again and presently after to talk of something else asking the Princess how Sextilia received the news of Bianor's death she received it answered she with much sorrow Yet it is believed that it is not so much out of tenderness as some resentments of ambition for she is so confident that Mezentius will
generally beloved that this Ceremony was useless Thus Tullus mounted the Throne and with so much glory as none of his Predecessors did ever exceed him For it was generally agreed by all sides that he was the owner of all the virtues and not of one vice He had also the good fortune to have the advantage in Martial affairs for he won a famous Battel against the Vejentines And at his return to Rome he did an act which merited immortal Praise For hearing how those who envied the grandure of his fortune did say that he was only chosen by the Patricians and that the People had not contributed their suffrages he resolved though those who said so were not in any capacity to hurt him yet to surrender his Authority and publickly declared that he would not stand upon the legs of Patrician election but that if the people would not have him Reign he was ready to quit the Crown But believe it in thus descending a step lower he ascended a step higher upon the Throne and by submitting to quit a Crown he fastned it upon his head For the people being always much taken with surprising actions the people of Rome were so charm'd to see a King submit unto their suffrages that he was proclaimed King the second time with more acclamations and applauds than ever any of his Predecessors However as soon as he was settled in the Throne he shewed his Authority for it may be said that he shook all the foundations of his State by the several Laws which he made be it either by regulating all qualities or distribution of Goods or contribution of all particulars towards publick affairs or Military Discipline or by the general Rule of the whole Kingdom He enclosed the Mount Viminal and the Mount Quirinal within the City he built a Temple unto the honour of Diana and many other publick edifices All this while he found great happiness in the society of Tanaquil and much more in the rare virtues of the Queen his Wife But his sorrow was that he had only two Daughters and to hear that Tarquin the Proud who Reigns at this day and a Brother which he then had should murmure in secret that they being Children of the late King should be so far from the Throne So as Servius being all goodness generosity and prudence he began to look upon him with a very favourable eye and to speak as if he intended to bestow his two Daughters upon those two Brothers But before I tell you any more I must describe unto you these four persons of whom this History is composed to the end you may the more clearly see the crimes of Tarquin Know then that the two Daughters of Servius Tullus were then both of them very fair though they were different one from another in every thing yet the name of them both was Tullia but for distinction in our Court the Elder was called the Princess without her name and the younger the Princess Tullia But to tell you truly the Elder was the Elder in all things for she was fair full of wit sweetness modesty civility virtue and infinitely charming Her beauty was brown but lovely especially by reason of a certain kind of sweet langnor which she had without any affectation which inspires tenderness and moveth love far sooner then a sparkling and sprightly Air. Her stature was of the middle size her eyes sweet all the composure of her Face was lovely and there was an unconceivable charm in every part of her person Her humour was equal and her Soul tender she affected glory and she would not buy any grandeur at the rate of any baseness for she did not think it impossible but one might be happy and not be a Queen The Princess Tullia was nothing like her for she was big fair and that very fair but her beauty had that fierceness in it as resembled an Amazonian Air and it may be said she was fair but not lovely her looks were bold her actions disordered her voice shril her spirit imperious her soul ambitious and she was so naturally inclin'd never to submit unto any that from her very infancy she always made her Elder Sister stand in awe of her whose disposition was rather to obey then obstinately to resist Moreover the Princess Tullia was ever full of dissimulation malice and disguisement and above all she was ambitious so as though the Princess her Sister was one of the most sweet and charming Persons in the whole World as I have heard a Cousin of mine say who had the honour of her acquaintance yet she did most horribly hate her without any other reason in the World but only because she was Elder and because she imagined that Servius Tullus loving her the better her fortune would be better And on the other side Tarquin and the Prince his Brother they also were very unresemblant and as much unlike as these two Princesses were unto each other But it was after another manner for the younger of these was fair handsome of a sweet moderate and agreeable spirit and all his inclinations were noble and though he did affect glory yet ambition was not the predominate passion of his heart but was more inclinable unto Love then that turbulent passion But as for Tarquin he did not resemble him in any thing for he was big though far from a handsome stature his Physiognomy was gloomy and fierce his looks were melancholy and disdainful his mind base and poor but he had the boldest heart in the World the greatest spirit upon Earth and the most prodigiously ambitious that ever was any Moreover his fancy was quick and ready which made some turbulency appear in all his actions so as one would say he was always upon some grand design As for matter of pleasure he never seemed sensible of any and doubtless his supreme felicity consisted only in this that he could see nothing above him so as it may very well be said that he loved grandeur only for it self and not at all for those diversions which follow it He would always make use of any thing which might conduce to the satisfaction of ambition when he thought it convenient to express some signs of his Piety to blind the people he would then send offerings unto Delphos he would build Temples and his prophane intentions would imploy all sacred things when he thought them conducing to the execution of his designs But on the contrary when he thought there was no need of any pretences cloaks and colours to dazle and blind the people then he would make no scruple at ruining of Orphans and both by Steel and Poison murther Innocents and indeed he never thought that to be a paricide and ungrateful were crimes This Artemidorus is the true Character of Tarquin as he was and as he is The Elder of the two Princesses was fair and virtuous the younger fierce and ambitious and in contrary to this order the Elder of the two Princes
know him that his heart is susceptible of love But if this Prince merits an high encomium he hath a daughter worthy of him and able to command admiration from all Philonice is the Princess of Agrigentines name she is the most surprizing Person in the world for you must know that as the Princess her mother was wrapt in the cold embraces of the grave ere she compleated a triennial age her illustrious Father having at this time many warlike Preparations which have since impal'd his brow with victorious Laurel instead of leaving her at Agrigentine caus'd her to be educated at a magnificent Castle belonging to him scituated in the Campagne and as she appear'd in the world she was adorn'd with all imaginable politeness and I assure you without flattery that she is acquainted in many things which her only imagination hath dictated to her and for her Person 't is infinitely pleasing her head is crown'd with black resplendent hair she is of a mean stature yet so agreeable and noble that it admits of no disadvantage her action is free and natural without any affectation the circumference of her visage shews the extreams of an imperfect Circle and almost form'd it to a perfect oval the new fallen snow was turn'd in comparison of the refin'd purity of her complexion her mouth for shape shamed the imitation of the most exquisite Painters and all the features of her face had so near a kindred of proportion and symmetrie as the severest master of Apelles art might have call'd it his glory to have copyed Beauties from her as the best of models her eyes darted forth such a radiant splendour as neither the firmest eye nor the strongest soul could arm themselves with resistance of proof against these pointed glories but there results from all these perfections such a modest ayr on the visage of Philonice that her only physiognomie clears what blemish can be imputed to the vertue of her soul and delicateness of her spirit 't is not but when she meets with any that she neither esteems nor pleases her she hath a certain coldness which without being uncivil seems more touching to those to whom it is address'd she 's affable but the grandeur of her soul and habitual probity retains her from making those delusive caresses which by many Ladies of the Court are practised with so much Prodigality but for a person she loves there 's no Princess in the world can testifie her tenderness in more obliging and real expressions she is of such a liberal inclination and all her resentments are so discreet and generous as she believes her action should not bely her words for spirit she hath it to admiration she speaks both naturally and gallantly she writes pleasant Letters in a stile so natural reserving her quality that I can mint no expression to equal their praise she hath a solid vertue glory is the cheifest of her delight her heart is tender spirit firm her amity both constant sincere and agreeable she 's discreet in all her actions she 's never capable of any transportment she is both young and wise she hath judgement without experience and prudence without pride and she is so accomplished that I can tax her of nothing but of too much vertue since 't is certain she is so modest that she doth not well know it at least she speaks as if she esteem'd her self not so much as she ought 't is true she accuses her self in such an ingenious manner that her own words betray her There 's likewise in this place another Virgin whose Father is Governour of the Castle of Agrigentine who is highly esteem'd by Philonice not without desert for besides as she is fair and hath an engaging spirit which both pleases and charms all those who approach her she knows how to fit the humour of all Persons her Discourse is admirable she never appears distemper'd at her company she hath a modest jovialty that gives delight to many persons This Virgin called Berelisa hath moreover such a passionate spirit that she makes her glory consist in knowing how to love her friends and as Philonice hath much inclination for her she is commonly with her The day in which Artemidorus was brought to the Castle of Agrigentine she was with this Princess in a great Hall where the Prince her Father was with many other Ladies leaning on a Balcony which jetted on the Court to see twelve stately horses that had a little before been sent to her Father and she desiring to go next morning to the Chace he would have both her and Berelisa chuse those they would have for that gallant sport as their eyes were wholly imployed in surveying these Horses Terillus who had taken Artemidorus entred into the Hall followed by his prisoner leaving his men at the entry of the gate you know Artemidorus is of a gallant deportment which will easily make you believe that he attracted the regards of the Agrigentine Prince of the Princess Philonice and the amiable Berilisa and all the rest of the company for though his habit was but simple yet had he the ayr of a person of Quality though in the design he had to disguise himself he affected unusual simplicity 'T is true seeing all perfections concenter in these Ladies he would not hinder himself from saluting them with such a grace that disposed them to conceive a good opinion of him In the mean time Terillus who presented him to the Prince of Agrigentioe seeing him prepared to give him attention thus said Sir I come to present to you this Prisoner I am obliged to praise and to excuse the weakness of those who took him and to give you occasion to treat him with civility for to speak as a person of Honour who ought to commend the courage of his enemies it hath sometimes been more easie for me to put five hundred men to flight then to vanquish this valiant man for there was so much difficulty to make him render himself after his Sword was broken that I conceiv'd it requisite to acquaint you with his valour to the end that treating him according to his merit he should repent himself from having exposed his life rather then to be your Prisoner It is so natural said Artemidorus for generous Conquerours to praise the courage of those they have vanquished that I ought to draw no vanity from the praises you have attributed to me He which praises you is so brave himself replyed the Agrigentine Prince that you may glory in his praises and if you had ever seen him in any dangerous occasions as he hath seen you you would retribute the like praises to his Valour and as your great magnanimity and the air of your Visage easily dispose me to believe you are of illustrious blood though your habit contradict that opinion Tell me what you are and what 's your condition and what motive induc'd you to take such an unjust party I know by your accent you are
and I would have your friendship be my sole consolation But generous Berelisa added he why do you not endeavour to heal the passion of Telesis for as Clidimira hath left me for him she will perhaps desert him for another do him this courtesie and by this means you will act my Revenge For what concerns my Brother replied Berelisa I have no desire to blot out his affection it being not so easie to cure a Beloved as a Deserted Lover and for what concerns you I would rather gain Clidimira twenty lovers than deprive her of one that your hatred might extend so far as never to permit any reconcilement After this Artemidorus expressed many obliging words to Berelisa but they were so interweaved with others which glanced on his former affections to Clidimira that she hearkned to them with different resentments when he was returned to his apartment he esteemed himself so unhappy that he wished his death had anticipated that day in which he lost his liberty for he was at variance with his Brother he had destroyed his Fortune he was a Princes Prisoner enemy to him from whom he derived his extraction he saw himself cashier'd by that person who had wounded his heart he had a Rival which generosity and gratitude forbid him to destroy being a Virgins Brother to whom he ow'd the favourable treatment he received in his restraint and who knew him to be the Prince of Leontine's Brother not knowing then how to direct his thoughts his sole consolation was Berelisas friendship On the other side this amiable Virgin was not exempted from inquietude for though her joy exceeded the ordinary limits of moderation she having introduced Anger and Jealousie into a Lovers heart from whence she would have banished love yet she feared his despight would not ascend to such a degree as utterly to extirpate this love and that if this first should be extinct his heart would remain incapable of a second Passion The words of Philonice tending to the conclusion of the War did in some measure heighten her grief because she imagined Peace should no sooner be composed but Artemidorus would receive his liberty and that secret love which had scal'd the Fortress of her heart even forced her to wish the declaration of the true quality of Artemidorus to the end his liberty should not be so soon licensed she conceiving his life would not thereby be exposed to any danger But generosity soon strangled these unjust thoughts which Love would have imprinted in her mind In the mean time the charming Philonice who thought of nothing but how to manage rhe reception of the Agrigentine Prince with most magnificency sent out her Orders to that purpose so that all the Ladies were wholly imployed in providing those things which might most advantage their perfections the Princess was like wise advertised by a Letter from Clisias that the day the Agrigentine Prince should come to Carisalis she should receive a Letter from the Syraousan Princess who is a Person embellished with all those Graces which compleat a perfect Beauty Her Body shaped with such exact Symmetry that Nature hath here shewn how far she transcends the Art of the most curious Pencil For the Prince of Syracusa having sent me to the Agrigentine Prince at that time as he sent Telesis to him the Princess of Syracusa entrusted me with a Letter for the Princess Philonice and having told Clisias when I arrived at the Camp he gave her notice of it and when I delivered her Letter she parted with so much goodness as to receive me with an extraordinary civility bringing a Testimony of the Friendship of such an exquisite Person But before I relate to you what passed that day the Prince of Agrigentine returned 't is expedient for me to acquaint you with three things to the end the Narration of this Festival might prove more delightful to you The first that I had been a long time one of the principal friends of Artemidorus The second that I believed he had undertaken a long Voyage not in the least suspecting he was a Prisoner at Agrigentine The third That 't is necessary to describe the Scituation of that place the amiable Philonice had selected to receive the Prince her Father for I ought to render justice to this Beautiful Princess to demonstrate to you that there appeared both Spirit and Judgement in all her actions and there hapned in this place so many things depending on this History that I believe I shall not traverse my reason by describing a place which hath given me so much delight both by its natural Beauty and by the merit of him who resides there For Cleodamas to whom Carisalis belongs is a Person of eminent desert whether one considers the grandezza of his Spirit or the solidity of his judgement his capacity politeness integrity gallantry or generosity But to execute my Design Carisalis is a place so framed for pleasure that 't is impossible to give you a perfect description of it 'T is not one of those whose Beauty appears by the opposition of the circumjacent places for you no sooner come from Agrigeutine but fair objects salute your eyes the way lies in a direct line a river with its silver streams travelling along with you this pleasant Voyage the diversity in all places where you pass and the only pleasure of the beautiful prospect seems to cheat the length of the way 't is even so singular and the ascension so inperceptible that you receive no incommodity by it though 't is scituated on a mountain this mountain is crown'd with a great Plain it having nothing ordinary but the commodity to discover all the Beauties of the adjoyning fields to limn out in lively colours this amiable Country in general 't is sufficient in particular to character Carisalis Imagine as if you were now in a Court of a proportionate grandeur to a Building your eyes at your entrance survey on the left hand the symmetry whereof framed to breed delight on the Superficies is a Balustrade beyond which is a kind of a Rustick Vestibulum the Columns whereof are Cyprus This Vestibulum is bounded by a row of great Trees placed on purpose there to hinder at first sight the pleasure which doth compose this place on the top Madam of the prementioned mountain there is a grand Parterre like a Terass along which is contrived a Walk flanked with fair Trees you ascend this Walk by two stately steps between which are two Balconies erected fixt to a marble Balustrade from whence one might discover so many different objects that I fear I shall be taxed either of equivocation or exaggeration if I only represent a part of them unto you for in fine Madam there is to be seen all those which frame a delightful prospect you may see many remote and cacuminous mountains embroydred with spreading Trees of a famous Forrest which without coustraining the sight confine it to an agreeable arrest but before your eyes
her propitious fortune for she had acquired so much esteem with Artemidorus that to her his thoughts wore no cover but as she would not be too curious in prying into his Actions she intreated her dear Lisicoris to observe with a vigilant eye the Passages betwixt Clidimira and this Prince she did not relate to her the cause of her curiosity though she was one of her dearest friends colouring it over with her Brothers interest for 't is more difficult for a woman adorned both with spirit and vertue to confess a violent inclination to any person who doth not express his love to her then to avow she favours a Lovers passion as the last adventure had armed Artemidorus against the charming force of Clidimira's eyes knowing that if he went not to visit the Princess at Cleodomas his house she would prevent him by coming to him he determined to wait on her after dinner which surprized the company they not imagining the state of his health had yet licenced him to leave his Chamber When Philonice was informed of his arrival she was in the great Hall I have formerly mentioned no sooner did Clidimira and Berelisa cast their eyes on this Prince but their faces were shaded with a crimson colour which even planted his Cheeks with blushes he could not conjecture whether this agitation proceeded from his new or ancient love confusion did at this time so distract his senses In fine after he had saluted Philonice she presented Clidimira to this Prince and knowing what accidents had formerly happened between them she did not ingage them in any long discourse but spoke to Artemidorus who seeing now only the beauties of Clidimira was glad he had discovered the dissimilitude of her other parts she being so discreet that her hands never lay open to the sight of any person her breast was masqu'd with a pleated scarf which barred the eye from descrying her deformed features so that if any one had seen her dressed after this mode would have judged the whole composure of her body proportionable to the splendor of her eyes but Artemidorus contraryed this opinion her defects being now as apparent to him as if they had been visible for Berelisa he knowing the pure whitenesse of her breast and the perfect shape of her hands admired her modesty for not disclosing those things which Clidimira concealed through affectation and concluding it an effect of her vertue began to feel his heart retreating from Clidimira's love to be stormed with Berelisa's perfections as Clidimira's spirit was a little disquieted it stopt the Organs of her speech which incited Berelisa's desire to wing away the time in pleasant discourses 't is true her spirit was not yet re-stated in its former tranquillity but knowing how far her beauty surpass'd Clidimira's her joy framed her to this agreeable humour Philonice after a little stay in the Hall went into the Wood followed by Cleodamas and all this company at first they discoursed of the beauty of the place and clearness of the day but the company being strayed into these divers alleys fortune placed Artemidorus between Berelisa and Clidimira all three were surprized to hear no words break from each others lips the unfaithful Mistress durst not speak to Artemidorus before her sister to appease the distemper of his spirit caused by the levity of her former actions and Berelisa willing to see to whom Artemidorus would address his speech did not unlock the silence of her harmonious voice this Prince not knowing in what language to express himself in the presence of these two persons expected one of their tongues to supply its office in this manner they arrived to a Balcony at the end of this Ally where Philonice Cleodamas and Lysicoris stayed his coming the Princess seeing them walk in this mute posture scarce taking notice of her demanded of Artemidorus on what subject he entertained the attention of these two amiable persons I assure you replied Berelisa not giving this Prince leisure to shape an answer my sister and I are not jealous of what Artemidorus hath said for he hath been so sparing of his words that he hath spoken no more to one then to another I had more to say to one then another replyed he but I did not think it convenient to declare my thoughts for my part added Clidimira being a stranger here I did not imagine my self obliged to begin any discourse for my particular added Berelisa I am so pleased with my own idle fancies that my words would have been a pennance to me for interrupting my sweet repose it seems to me replied Cleodamas that the fancies of such an excellent person as Berelisa if she declared the subject of them would produce much delight for it only appertains to those who have tender hearts to be skilled in the pleasures of a certain pleasing deliberation which diverts the spirit and so sweetly seduces reason that one cannot desine its inticing allurements 'T is true replied Berelisa all mens humours do not comply with this delightful dotage and there 's many speak of it who believe it only consists in licencing their Spirits rather to the motions of their hearts then to the conduct of this imperious reason to enjoy our pleasant fancies we must let our spirits wander up and down confine them no where we must have something in our souls which whispers no disturbance our temper must be inclining to Melancholy we must think on something which pleases us and we must be capable of a certain Lethargie of the senses which imprints belief in all our thoughts and the use of reason must be for some time suspended I say we must but confusedly hearken to the singing of the Birds or the murmuring of the Springs neither must our eyes distingush the diversity of colours Ah Berelisa cryed Cleodamas you describe these fancies too clearly to be ignorant of them If idle Imaginations were a crime replyed she I would subscribe to your opinion but as they are the most innocent pleasures I confess I know them and that I sometimes prefer them before all company whatsoever But you do not dream replyed Philonice that you have said to draw these fancies to the life there must be something in our hearts which doth not displease us Pardon me Madam replyed Berelisa but that something I have named is not that something you imagine I assure you replyed Artemidorus that if one mention something that you have done it will admit of no other explication then that of the Princess Whatever it should be said Cleodamas I should think that man happy which should insinuate into Berelisas heart that she hath called something which in a vulgar expression is termed Love Berelisa blushed at this discourse and fortune conducting Terillus to this place they changed the subject of their conversation on the contrary Philonice finding her self on a square Base of stone on the right hand from the house as one ascends the high alley Cleodamas sent for
maugre the valor of those that had taken him one of his attendants having given him a Horse he had saved himself and took the way towards the Camp followed with a small party of his own the Inhabitants of Elis having in this sedition cut the rest to pieces So that continued this Citizen there are no more enemies at least left in the City and provided the valiant Hortensius will not forsake us we hope notwithstanding our City being destitute of Walls to defend our selves courageously against so furious an enemy Elismonda who knew what Hortensius's sentiments were beheld him as a person that dared not answer But this generous Lover after haveing made a great violence upon himself If you should be defended Madam said he sighing only by a Traytor the gods would abandon you and therefore 't is better I should abandon you and betake my self to my duty For Melanthus has had grounds to believe me culpable and his cruelty is innocent towards me so that if you please I must follow my resolution and go find that Prince I leave you at liberty in a City that is yours and if the action I am going to do restore me to any favor with Melanthus I will mploy it only to oblige him to make peace with you and leave you in tranquillity Hortensius spoke this with so sad an aspect that all that beheld him had their hearts much affected with it Elismonda her self admired the generosity which excited indignation in her and was so astonished at it that she was not able to speak half her thoughts But at length Hortensius notwithstanding all Elismonda's importunities to divert him went to find Melanthus but as he was going he found him ingaged in a very unequal fight against a party of the Prince of Cyparissa who was there in person and by his exemplary valor redoubled the courage of his Soldiers The arrival of Hortensius caused an alteration in the face of things Melanthus was already wounded when he arriv'd and his forces put to the rout But Hortensius joyning with the Prince of Messenia who was infinitely amazed at this grand action dis-ingaged him from five or six that environed him encountered with the Prince of Cyparissa wounded and took him prisoner and turned the Victory to the party of a Prince who had intended to take away his life the same day 'T is true Melanthus was not in a condition to enjoy his own for through the extraordinary agitation and heat of his spirits and rage of his mind his wound though not very great of it self became mortal by reason of the bad temper of his body at that time so that the next morning his life was despaired of But for that his reason was still free this action of Hortensius inclined him to believe what he alleadged for his innocence and this Prince as violent as he was expressed a thousand obligations to him and desiring to understand the truth of his condition he no sooner was told the approaching of his fate but he caused Hortensius to be call'd who being come jealousie remaining in his heart even to death he constrained him to promise him never to deliver the Prince of Cyparissa but on condition that he should not marry Elismonda and then told him that he would declare him his Successor provided he would marry Andronice Hortensius whose great soul was never at a loss told him He would undoubtedly do his utmost to hinder the Prince of Cyparissa from marrying Elismonda but as for what related to the Princess Andronice he conjured him to leave the Soveraignty to her as for himself he was resolved to dye a thousand times for her service and content himself with the glory he should have in serving her Melanthus then knowing that Hortensius's love to Elismonda was that that hindred him from accepting his offer was despighted at it so that he turned away rudely to the other side and continued some time without speaking The approaches of death changing nothing in the sentiments of this exasperated Lover he caused the Commanders of his Forces to be assembled for they had carried him to the Camp and told them that he commanded them to obey Hortensius and acknowledge him for their Prince in case he would Marry Andronice hoping Ambition at length would tempt his Rivals mind and call him off from his love to Elismonda After which his reason failing him he dyed the night following You may judge Madam what a change his death caused in affairs the Princess of Elis saw now that her safety depended on Hortensius for the Prince of Cyparissa was a Prisoner and she had none to defend her interests if the Messenians would carry on their Conquests But when she was informed of the declaration Melanthus had made to Hortensius she resented extream trouble at it because knowing of all the predictions which assured he was to reign in some place she doubted least he would accept what was offered him and to be a Soveraign marry Andronice and renounce his love to her self So that the secret inclination she had for him excited a perplexity in her heart that sufficiently resembled a violent love though she concealed her sentiments After Hortensius to whom all Melanthus's Army submitted without scruple had performed the last duties to the Prince of Messenia he assembled the Officers of the Army and declared to them that he would be the first to obey the Princess Andronice and so would accept the glory of commanding them only till she were at liberty After which he sent to the Princess Elismonda to request her permission to speak with the Princess Andronice conjuring her not to refuse him a thing which might possibly produce peace This proposition augmented the jealousie of Elismonda but the generosity of her heart not suffering her to discover it she granted what Hortensius desired Accordingly this interview was made in a Temple dedicated to the Nymph Gonniades which stands between Pisa and the place where Hortensius was incamped I shall omit to tell you Madam all that was spoken in this interview because it would be too tedious At first Hortensius comforted Andronice for the death of Melanthus he related matters to her as they had passed and acknowledged to her the love he had to Elismonda and then coming to the declaration Melanthus had made in his favor I protest to you Madam said he though I were not prepossessed with an affection to the Princess Elismonda and had a whole heart to give you the respect alone I have for you would cause me to serve my self no farther with this declaration than to settle the Soveraign power in your hands without ever desiring to oblige you to do for me more than your own inclination should induce you to But since I am unfortunate and born only to be so it is fit Madam you would please to appoint me what I ought to do in relation to your iberty I know I owe my life to you and consequently ought to do