and Nobility did live that the young Cyrus was educated Amongst us all private men do breed their children with as much care as if they were to be all Kings and are perswaded that to be men and to be virtuous are terms inseparable Cyrus coming out of a poor uncouth shepheards Cottage unto this most famous and learned Academy it was a wonder that nature should furnish him with as much prudence and wisedom as if he had been brought up here from his Cradle He had for his Tutors in vertue the wisest which could be cull'd out of the Old Doctors Active young men for the exercise of his body and a younger sort for his recreation which were well educated in all virtuous qualities Great care was had to prevent all sorts of vicious persons from coming about him lest they should chance to corrupt his own naturall sweet inclinations for they knew well that if the soul of a Prince who must rule over a People be once poysoned the people also will be infected though here he saw none but examples of goodnesse and vertue Moderation Liberality Justice Valour and all the vertues were so eminent in him and got him so much applause among the Persians that they extol'd him as a Childe sent from Heaven rather to instruct then be instructed by them But I fear Sir that I have already transgressed my limits and by consequence abused your Patience especially those Persians which hear me because perhaps they know these things better then I my self My Master lived in this Quality until his sixteenth year of Age And then Fortune began to offer him opportunities of discovering the greatnesse and generosity of his soul both in his words and Acts And to put in practice that greatnesse of spirit which his youth did promise you remember Sir how Harpagus was banished by the King of Medes for not exactly obeying his commands in putting to death this young Cyrus This exile had formerly been of great power in Medea being so in such favour with the King as he made him Governour in one of his greatest Provinces This man did endeavour to reconcile himself unto Astiages but all in vain he was in this discontent forced to travel from Court to Court to finde out protection and relief from those Princes which were enemies unto the King of Medes and being some certain daies disguised in Persipolis found out an opportunity to discover himself His habit was Persian he mingled himself among the multitude which waited upon the Prince to hunt and having the language of the Countrey passable enough he was not known to be a stranger Cyrus was lively and active at the sports and none are lesse tyred or more bold and forward at these sports then he either in following the Chase or assaulting the wilde Beast at a Bay He drew a bow threw a dart and used a sword admirable well he was alwaies victor in the publique games and bore away the prize but to return to Harpagus he did follow Cyrus very close at this great hunting whereof I spoke and waited upon him so near when the Prince followed a wilde bore so eagerly and fast through the thick of the Forrest lest he should lose sight of the bore as none of all the Persians was able to follow only Harpagus Cyrus overtook this wilde Beast bent his bow and shot an arrow through his heart After this Victory whereof Harpagus only was a witnesse he sat down and rested himself until some of his own servants came in upon a bank close by a little brook which ran across the Forrest in that place In all these chases it is the custome of the Countrey for Hunters to carry a Bow a Quiver a Sword and two Javelins This gallant young Hunter wore them all and his Buckler also for them also they use in hunting as well as wars Ys he was thus sitting Harpagus drew near him Cyrus who had not yet seen him took him for a Persian began to shew him the Prize and cried out I have killed him I have killed him but Harpagus kneeling upon the ground told him that he knew how he might obtain a more glorious victory then this The Prince thinking the man had discovered some greater Bore then this which he had killed rose up and asked him heartily whether he should go to get this victory Into the head of an Army of thirty thousand men answered Harpagus which I come to offer unto you so that if you please to accept of it you may make your self Lord of a Kingdom Cyrus astonished at his words lookt upon him more earnestly then before and supposing he had seen him formerly Who are you said he that make this gallant offer I cannot yet think my self worthy of it since my valour was never tried against any but Bear Bores Lions and Tigers I am Sir said he one that is sent by the gods to tender you a brave opportunity of getting immortall glory If all be true you say said Cyrus shew me the way I must take and let it be as difficult as it can be I will follow it with all alacrity I have already told you Sir said Harpagus you must repair unto the head of an Army of Thirty thousand men which wait for your commands and to conquer when you bid them It becomes not him to command replied Cyrus who hath not yet learnt how to obey it is far fitter I should be their Companion then their Generall But I pray you Noble Stranger whom I think I have seen before though not remember you tell me where this Army is and who they are also who is the Enemy and what the Kingdom you would have me conquer Sir answered Harpagus I am not at all unreasonable in my desires when I wish your assistance against a King who hath basely broken the Laws of humanity against a Prince who is both the Love and Wonder of all which know him A King I say who hath acted against Nature Reason and Justice who by an ill governed ambitious jealousie would against all humanity or conscience take away the life of such a Prince in whose behalf I now salute you It is in the Behalf of a hopefull young innocent Prince and against such an unnaturall unworthy King I desire to animate you It neerly concerns your own honour to condescend unto my desires Your desire answered Cyrus is too full of justice to be denied And not to keep me any longer from this Army which you desire I should repair unto Inform me who is this barbarous King and who is the injured Prince for I do much wonder since I have been so carefully informed of all the prime passages of the world I should not guesse at them both Sir then answered Harpagus you are the Prince which owes revenge Yes said Cyrus And by whom Noble Stranger can I be injured I who have hardly yet begun to live I who ever since I first breathed have been rockt in a Cradle
one is not obliged to have and it is not enough to be proud because one hath some one vertue without which one should bee infamous For example If a woman who hath beauty wit and vertue do take so much pains as to cultivate those excellencies which nature gave her And do get some extraordinary knowledge in the Arts and Sciences which she knows how to use with all the discretion fitting for her Sex doubtlesse she hath good reason to pretend unto more commendations then another Moreover I must agree that those vertues which Isalonide hath not may in some sort be a just cause of boasting unto those who enjoy them But to draw a vanity out of vertue is a thing so shamefull unto all the sex in generall that I am ashamed to think of it For truly it may be thought that this kind of vertue out of which Isalonide draws a vanity is essentiall unto all women So in my opinion the pride of Isalonide is very ill grounded and I am perswaded that a man who looks for commendations because he never poysoned or assassinated any one hath as good a reason for it as she hath who makes her glory to consist onely in that she is not too much addicted unto Gallantry Doubtlesse she does not know replied Doralisa that not to be vitious is not enough to make one vertuous and that there is a great intervall between Avarice and Liberality The same may be said of all the vertues and all the vices replied Mandana betwixt which this intervall may be found in which if any one rest they neither merit blame nor commendations For my part replied Doralisa and smiled I am willing to think that Isalonide does not merit the Attribute of that vertue whereof she boasts for if she be so peevish so angry so scornfull and so proud as you describe her I cannot beleeve she hath many Adorers For my part replied Martesia I think you are in the right at least I know that none are more insufferable to me then such women as have souls so base as to content themselves with one vertue and yet are so proud as to scorn all those vertues which they want And the worse is her example of this insolent and savage vertue does not good at all unto any young persons but on the contrary all the apprehensions of such secure and arrogant women does incense their spirits and makes them so afraid of their resemblance as that often-times they will not resemble those who are good However it be replied Mandana we shall know by Amaldea whether Isalonide be still of the same humour and whether a young sister she hath be of the same If she be replied Martesia I must confesse I could not know it by her Physiognomy for I assure you Madam this young sister whose name is Clorelisa had such a look with her eyes as moved me to think she had a very gallant inclination though it be true that Isalonide has such an observant eye over her as she cannot follow her own inclination If this Person replied Doralisa be as pleasing as her name is she is more amiable then her sister Since I never had any experience of her replied Martesia I onely know she ha's a promising and gallant Air with her that she is fair and that she hath much spirit yet I cannot say she is amiable But in exchange added Mandana you may assure her that she has a brother named Belemis who is as well perswaded of his own valour as his sister is of her vertue or at least they accuse him me thinks for making too much of his bravery The truth Madam is replied Martesia that Belemis who is a man qualified well enough hath a little too much affected to appear what he is and that they have rightly accused him for making all the crabbed faces of a souldier For indeed his walk is too warlike his action is too haughty and when he comes into any company he has the Air of a man that was ready to give battle rather then for a conversation of Gallantry his clothes also has alwayes something unlike peace and his tone is so shrill as one would think his intreaties were commands military commands all he does and all he sayes would perswade one that he affects to be reputed brave yet certainly all this is his naturall way If so replied Doralisa then he hath great cause to chide Nature for I assure you such men in times of peace are no lesse ridiculous then such women as are of Isalonide's humour After Doralisa had said so Mandana being drest she prepared to go unto the Temple with Cyrus and all those of this Court Errant if I may phrase it so But since the sacrifice continued very long when Mandana returned to her lodging she found Martesia's Aunt already come and found with her the most pleasing company in the world For indeed she had with her ten or twelve handsome women and as many men of exceeding good quality so that Mandana being pleasingly surprized at this good company she received them with all possible Civility and the better because they were all known unto her for they were all of Themiscyra Cyrus for his particular was exceedingly satisfied that all this good company should come so fitly to make the day more delightsome unto Mandana And all those who were with him were very glad to see so many Ladies in a place so unlikely to meet with any so amiable As for Martesia she was so glad to see so many of her acquaintance that her joyes sparkled in her eyes But she was extremely over-joyed to see with her Aunt the daughter of Artucas whose name was Erenice with whom she had a particular friendship at Sinope when she lodged with her Uncle whiles Artamenes was prisoner She was no sooner at liberty to talke with her whilest Amaldea was talking with Mandana but she remembred that she was present when those four Lovers which pretended each of them to be the most unfortunate Lover in the world were judged by her in the presence of Cyrus Alas my dear Erenice said she unto her what strange accidents have hapned since that day I was so busie in examining whether Indifferency Death absence or Jealousie was the most Rigorous and how much time would it take up if I should examine which hath more perplexed me absence from you or my fears you should forget me But whilest Martesia was talking thus and whilest Erenice was answering with as much ingenuity and tendernesse Mandana did with admiration look upon a person whom she saw amongst the Ladies for though they were all very handsome yet there was no comparison betwixt her and the rest And indeed this Lady whose name was Telamire had such rare and extraordinary charmes in her beauty that they will hardly admit of a description For since shee was neither great nor little pale nor red black nor fair but held a just and even proportion betwixt all
therefore I defie you Multiply your penalties upon my Person and I will not complain of your injustice Since my Princesse wants a Tomb it is no matter though I languish in a Dungeon the worst is it can but hinder me from a more high and generous death Ah fairest Princesse said he whether you inhabit amongst the dead or amongst the living in heaven or upon earrh If you could but see the unhappy Artamenes in Caixares Prison you would resent it with wonder and sorrow However I complain not of his severity or injustice since I seem culpable in his eyes and indeed I am so but it is in a far different manner then he apprehends it I am culpable Dearest Princesse but it is against you indeed I am I confesse it I am culpable in loving you not as you are the daughter of the King of Medes but as you are the fairest Angel that ever lived As you are the daughter of a great King it was lawfull for me to love you But as you are Mandana I must love you and not reveal it I must suffer and not complain I must adore you in my death and I must die dumb and not speak a word of love Yet alas Mandana cried he out I fear I am the cause of your dire misfortunes for if I had not loved you and your soul not possessed with any thoughts of grace towards me then perhaps you might have plac't your affection upon that great Monarch of the world and without all these misfortunes have been Queen unto the King of Assiria then said he further I should not have been so happy in the glory of her Love nor would you have had any thought of Artemenes the unfortunate Artamenes a lover whose observant passions never offended against the Laws of vertue by any exorbitant desires and whose obsequious soul was ever obedient unto your will whose life and death is consecrated unto your service In sum of all I will die my Princesse and never let Ciaxares know what the ground is of Artamenes correspondency with the King of Assiria Think not this my Divine Mandana a small sacrifice which I am resolved to offer unto you in the carriage of this affair The desire of glory is a Passion as well as Love a passion most violent and imperious yet for all that I must value the honour of my Princesse above it What though Ciaxares think me perfidious it is no matter since I am not so I know the King of Assiria though my enemy will vindicate me and though he be my Corrivall yet he will speak in my behalf Beleeve on Ciaxares and think me a Traitor as long as you please since you do not know the true state of the matter for though my Princesse was most innocent and her vertue had but too much strictnesse in so pure an affection yet for all that Ciaxares and the censorious Court it may be will never beleeve that I could be so long disguised without her consent If I should discover who I am it would more confirm Ciaxares in that opinion which he entertains that I aspire unto the Crown although I am not born so far from a Crown as he imagins Alas said he how rigid are my destinies I am afraid to justifie my self though it be most naturall to do it My fears to offend my Princess transcend my fears of infamy although the fear of infamy should be above all other whatsoever and though never any did more greedily thirst after glory then Artamenes But why should I fear it as long as I have the Testimony of my own conscience and the testimony of my most mortall enemy The gods who are protectors of oppressed innocency will surely vindicate me after I am dead They who now accuse me will then justifie me by waies which I cannot apprehend Truth in conclusion will be found the strongest Whilest Artamenes and Ciaxares were thus tormented in their own melancholy resentments all the Court and all the Army were angred at the accident The King of Phrygia the King of Hircania the Prince of the Cadusians the Prince of Licaonia the Prince of Paphlagonia Hidaspes Chrisantes Aglatidas Thrasibulus Madates Megabites Adusius Artabases and Feraulas all these were wonderstrook at the imprisonment of Artamenes and not only these Princes and Captaims but also all the Inhabitants of Sinope and the whole Army all these did ill resent it As soon as the news was divulged all the Kings Princes and Commanders went unto the Lodging of Artamenes but were denied entrance Ciaxares sent for them all and told them that he was compelied for the good of his affairs to arrest Artamenes and commanded them to have a care that the souldiers who he knew loved Artamenes very well did notmutiny He told them that this transaction would conduce much to the safety of the State and the good of all the Princes his Allies This far fetcht Discourse made no impressions at all upon their spirits but all of them unanimously did beseech him to act warily in this businesse of so great importance You know Sir said the King of Phrygia and I do beleeve it an absolute impossibility that Artamenes should betray you you may remember Sir that the time was when we were at variance and I fully perswade my self if any such thing had been transacted by him I should have known it The King of Hircania seconded and said it cannot sink into my belief that ever he can be guilty of any treasonable designs No I warrant you said Hidaspes I would not beleeve it though he himself should say it If my head would be accepted as a gage for his innocency said Aglatidas I would throw it at your Majesties feet If so much innocency as he carries about him had half the Army for his accusers said the Prince of the Cadusians the army of Artamenes would confound them all if they should resist I should shamefully belie my own eyes and my own knowledge said the Prince of Licaonia if I should witnesse against him I do not think said the Prince of Paphlagonia that there can any one in the world be found who can or dare accuse him I am his Complice said Chrisantes if he be criminall and yet I am most certain that I am far from any treason I have seen his soul stand firm amidst the cloud of his misfortunes and cannot think it should shrink in the Sun-shine of his prosperity It is neither credible nor possible cried Madates and Migabites both together If your Majesty would 〈◊〉 be pleased to bring his accusers face to face I should soon stop their mouths said Feraulas In short all these Princes and all the Captains one after another and sometimes altogether did strive who could pleade with strongest arguments in behalf of this unfortunate yet famous Artamenes one put him in minde of his victories another of his generosity one extold his valour another his fidelity In conclusion they all fell off from the
satisfie fond curiosity so far as to fore-know his future Fortune yet that which chiefly restrain'd him as I conceive was his fear not to finde that in the answer of the gods which he so much desired to wit Glory and the occasions to acquire it War but the Event of things did shew how his fears were falsly grounded and that the Destinies would have told him nothing but of his Victories and Triumphs Whilest we were at Ephesus we conversed with many Grecians which came to that place some out of Devotion and some Curiosity amongst the rest Periander King of Corinth came hither in disguise and lodged in the same place with us Many terms of Friendship past betwixt him and me if it become to say so of a Soveraign This wise Prince whose wisedom was in highest esteem throughout all Greece had so great a phansie unto Artamenes as he forced me to promise him as soon as our affairs would permit to travell unto Corinth After we had past over all Chaire and part of Lidia we visited both high and low Phrygia in the first of these we saw that great Town of Apameus and in the other the mountain Ida the Port of Tenedos the River of Xanthis and the deplorable ruines of Troy Artamenes staied here with much delight and viewing the places where the valiant Hector and famous Achilles fought he could hardly stir off it at last we past on and behold the Tomb of this Demigod As we came into Jonia we procured a man of the Isle of Samos who being a great Scholar well travelled and very knowing in all Antiquity became our guide and shewed unto us all that was rare Artamenes asked him a thousand Questions concerning Troy and its Leaguer There remains yet some ruines of the two Marble Castles which neither the Flames nor old Time had yet demolished The Prince was much pleased with the sight and went over all the Ruines and Rocks and over the Famous Rivers of Scamander and Simois This Countrey which heretofore did flow with Noble bloud seemed now to be a Land consecrated unto the gods of Peace This Learned Grecian which we had with us told us that Periander whom we had seen in Ephesus was not the only wise man of Greece but that the Nation was now as full of wise and excellent men as in the daies of Agamemnon Vlysses and Nestor This commendations moved Artamenes to have a great desire of going thither So that we seeing the wars in Phrygia proceeded no further I perswaded him to passe into Greece to which he consented and we went To begin with the most famous first We came to Athens which we much admired as well for that Famous Port of Pireus as the excellent order of Laws here established by a man of great wisedom whose Name was Solon and who did voluntarily banish himself ten years for his own Countrey To the end his Laws might thereby not be changed he having obliged the Citizens by Oath to observe them until his return Artamenes came here acquainted with Pisistrates who as some said became Tyrannicall Whilest we were at Athens there was a flying Report that Solon was in the Isle of Cyprus so that I confesse I did forward Artamenes his desire of going thither as well to see that fair Island seated in the Aegian Sea also that Famous Temple of Venus as to be acquainted with that prudent Graecian but we were not so fortunate as to finde him there yet it was Artamenes his good fortune to contract friendship with a Prince called Philoxippes a man of high spirit and great vertue But I will not trouble you with every particnlar passage of our Voyage and omit many Islands which we saw in the Aegian Sea I will only tell you that after our coming to Athens whether my Master promised Philistaates to return we went to Lacedemon which government did not please him who thought all the Earth too little to fill up the chinks of his ambition This Great Soul thought two Kings in one Kingdom incompatible At last we come to Delphos Argos Micenes and Corinth where we were magnificently treated by the wise Periander for this gallant man ever thought the Laws of Hospitality inviolable and that strangers could not be welcomed with too much Civility It was his pleasure that the Princesse Cleobuline his daughter whose beauty and wit was fam'd throughout all Greece should honour Artamenes with her converse he was as exact in the Greek tongue as any Native Periander to entertain him caused Arion that famous Musician as well for his excellency in that Art as for the Dolphin which preserved him to play before him I will trouble you no more Sir with many remarkable passages and how my Master did infinitely better himself by the observation of the several Manners and Customes of those people and places where he came But in the Conclusion of all I must tell you that at the Port of Corinth where men from all parts arrive there we came to know that the war between Lidia and Ionia was now broke out and published and that the storm which had long hovered was now fallen upon them Upon this Artamenes becomes all Impatiency till he were in Arms and presently resolved for Ephesus there to engage with them against Craessus their Enemy In taking leave of Periander he told him how desirous he was to recompense the Graecians for the Civilities which he had received from them So Periander fuâ—nishing us with a well tackled Ship we put to Sail with a favourable winde Artamenes thought now he had met with an opportunity to put that prodigious valor which nature had infus'd into him into practice his desire of glory did elevate his soul so high as that he was wrapt into a heaven of unimaginable joy But Fortune which had made him wait so long for an opportunity did now offer him one which he looked not for and which was like to have proved very fatall unto him for suddenly a Marriner cried out he discovered four Sail of Ship coming towards them and if we looked not well about us they would immediatly fetch us up The Pilot he lookt and was more dismayed then the first for he discovered that it was certainly the valiant Pirate who made up to assault us Pardon me Generous Thrasibulus said Chrisantes and breaking of his Story If in following my Narration exactly if I give you a Name which was so much renowned in all the Seas where we passed No no said Thrasibulus to him I think never the worse that you should give me a name which my ill Fortune made me assume and which perhaps better Fates may render more considerable upon the Aegian Hellespont and Euxian Seas and which may wipe off all that infamy which waits upon the Quality of a Pirate Continue on your Story and omit not the least circumstance which relates unto the Story of Artamenes Chrisantes seeing Thrasibulus silent and all the Princes prepared for
but your self and are you not content with your own Victories but you must also rob other men of theirs Artamenes looking upon him with a fiery aspect It is such a one answered he who makes use of the valour of others to vanquish a distressed Prince abandon'd of his men who ought to be reproached with stealing a victory and not Artamenes who never imploys any arm but his own to obtain it and who leaving all the Plunder of a Field unto the Souldiers doth seldome make them partakers of his dangers Those whom Fortune favours Replied Philidaspes need not to call any others to their help Those who dare trust unto their own courage answered Artamenes never beg the help of Fortune I am certain she hath been your friend and helped you at this bout Replied Philidaspes And certainly she hath forsaken you replied Artamenes that you should thus need the assistance of twelve or fifteen to deal with one single Prince It is an easie matter for you to vanquish answered Philidaspes who never hath any to fight with but base saint-hearted and simple Antagonists It is an easie matter for you to vanquish an abandoned King with a great number but you would perhaps finde it a harder matter added he and raised his voice to vanquish Artamenes single whensoever you shall give him an occasion to fight with you for he desires it and it shall be to morrow morning if you please Let us not stay so long Replied Philidaspes then he stood upon his Guard ready to receive Artamenes who came most fiercely upon him and gave a furious blow which doubtlesse had deeply wounded him if his hand had not turned and the Sword glided upon his Arms. To be short they both of them felt the weight of each others blows and the strength of their Arms do what we could who endeavoured to part them But here Sir I beseech you admire what vertue and true valour can do we were but only four which followed Artamenes and they were twelve or fifteen which followed Philidaspes who when they saw the dispute that was between them though they took his part against the King of Pont yet they would not do so against my Master but turned on his side At this very time Claxares followed by a great number of men did draw neer us and caused these two surious Combatants to give over and suspend their choler What Demon enemy unto my Glory said Claxares would ruin these who have made me victorious And why would ye do that your selves which Fifty thousand men could not do After these words he asked what was the ground of their Quarrell and when he understood it he chid Philidaspes very much for drawing his Sword against one who had the Command over him and he did a little blame my Master for so saving the King of Pont. Sir said Artamenes to him I will engage my self to repair this fault by some way that is more Honourable and I will promise to bring you this illustrious Prisoner before the War be ended or else perish in the attempt Did I not promise in your Majesties presence that I would not suffer him to be vanquisht by any numerous multitude and I did but keep my word with him If the King had not come replied the desperate Philidaspes you might perhaps have been punished then added my Master interrupting him for your boldness and rashness The King imposed silence upon them both and by vertue of his Soveraign Authority agreed them upon the place and caus'd them to embrace one another before him In conclusion a Retreat being sounded they encamped upon the field of Battle and every one returned into his Tent and Artamenes thought upon his Feraulas who had been wounded did the same As for me who had escaped more happily then they I found my self in a condition to do them both service The King came to visit Artamenes at night who not being able to contain his joy that my Master had escaped so dangerous an adventure he expressed all the signs that possibly could be of a most dear and tender affection towards him He sent immediatly unto the Princess his fair Daughter to acquaint her with the Victory and Preservation of Artamenes and my Master as you may very well beleeve did receive this Honour from the King with much joy and reverence All this while though Artamenes and Philidaspes were good friends from the face outward yet they were not so at the heart and it may easily be conjectured that this last adventure did sharpen their spirits it begot phantasticall resentments in both their souls For Sir to disguise the matter no longerâ— Philidaspes whom my Master thought to be only an ambitious man did love the Princess as well as he and this is the reason why he was so hot against the King of Pont looking more upon him as a Lover of Mandana then as an enemy unto Ciaxares Nevertheless he drew some rest unto himself out of this accident for considering how generously Artamenes had preserved the King of Ponts Life he could not so much as suspect my Master to be his Rivall thinking it a thing impossible in such a case to be a Rivall and so Generous both As for Artamenes his thoughts ran quite contrary concerning Philidaspes for his suspicion of his Love to the Princess was by this days accident more augmented then ever How is possible said he to us at night after Ciaxares was gone out of the Tent that Philidaspes who cannot harbour any particular hatred of the King of Pont unless because he is his Rivall should offer to kill him as he was about to do That Prince I say who seems to be of a brave and Generous Soul and is inspired with a Gallant desire of Glory Ah No no Chrisantes said he to me Philidaspes Loves Mandana if I be not the most deceived man in the world Thus Sir you see that one and the same action produces different effects for Philidaspes did think that Artamenes did not Love Mandana because he saved the Life of the King of Pont and on the contrary Artamenes thought that Philidaspes did Love her because he did endeavour to kill him in a manner so dishonourably Yet notwithstanding this all these diversities of opinions were so dubious so uncertain and grounded only upon weak conjectures that they could not assure themselves of any truth but they entertained an inveterate aversion one against the other However some two or three days after the Battle Ciaxares held a Councel of War to consult Whether or no they should Pursue their Enemies who were retreated and who waited for a Puissant Recruit And to amaze them the more it was resolvd to divide the Army and send one part of it to besiege a strong Fort in Bythinia which was seated upon a great Lake by this means to divert and impede thse Forces which the Enemy expected Mean while the most considerable part of the Army to stay and wait upon
wherein we were but I wonder at the capritious humour of Fate For Anatisa was wrapt up into the height of joy to see her self preferred before Amestris by Aglatidas who neither preferred her nor loved her Megabises for his part he was infinitely glad to be called back by her who had for ever banished him though she which called him back did it not out of any affection she bore unto him onely Amestris and my self who if we had rightly understood one another had been the happiest of all we were the most perplexed souls upon earth Mean time though Megabises thought himself very happy in being with Amestris yet the remembrance of his brothers death and the sight of him who killed him did so reflect upon his heart as he had no good minde to be where I was Madam said he unto Amestris I should make a doubt whether the command which I received from the King could work so prevalently upon my spirit as to hinder me from my just resentments against a man whom I see before me if the respect which I owe unto you did not restrain me Therefore Madam fear lest this respect should not be strong enough to resist the apprehensions of bloud and nature I most humbly beseech you to pardon my incivility and give me leave to leave you Upon those words he made a very low rerence unto Amestris and without staying for any answer he went out of the Garden She who only staied him to anger me was not forward to retain him As for me Sir who never understood what they said I no sooner saw him gone but I was in as great a chafe as I was to see him enter imagining that he only went out to disguise the appointment which Amestris had given him Not being to stay where I was and thinking I should better hide my perplexity in walking then staying there I proposed a departure unto Anatisa who consented unto it But she more out of vanity then complacency would needs do what I could go unto Amestris thinking it would be a Triumph unto her to carry her slave whether she pleased Then we went to meet Amestris and Menasta and as we came near one another Anatisa not telling me her design began to speak unto Amestris whereat I was so angry that I was in a minde to leave her and be gone from that place where the object of my love and the object of my hatred were together I neither durst nor would look upon Amestris I wished with all my heart that Megabises were there that I might fight with him Sometimes I thought Amestris lesse fair and Anatisa more But O Heavens that sometimes was quickly over and I thought Anatisa ugly and Amestris Angelike fair yet Anatisa who as I told you would needs triumph and better assure her self of her Conquest spoke very spitefully unto Amestris and in accosting her I am very happy said she unto her to meet such good company in a place which is used to be very solitary and I have reason to think my self so since expecting only the pleasure of the walk I have met also with the delight of company My company answered Amestris very coldly is so far from pleasant that you have rather cause to complain if you had not some other to divert you If you should put to Judges replied Anatisa maliciously I am sure Megabises who I saw with you would not be of your minde and as for Aglatidas he is no competent Judge for he would give sentence in my behalf As for my part said I in a great confusion I do not doubt but Megabises findes Amestris to be incomparable in all things and I confess said I changing colour that he has good cause to publish that the conversation of Amestris is the most complacentiall of any in the world when she pleaseth Ah Madam replied Anatisa who was ravished with joy to see such signs of anger in the face of Amestris be not now of that humour and be pleased to suffer all those commendations which I will give you I deserve so little answered she that I will not advise you to imploy your time to so little purpose There is a kinde of humility replied Anatisa which honour will not admit of Yes replied Amestris and there is also a kinde of false humour which covers oftentimes abundance of basenesse I suppose answered Anatisa that neither you nor I are guilty of either I know nothing replied Amestris for none do know themselves very well It is much more hard said I unto her to know the thoughts of another especially of those replied she who do counterfet to be generous and sincere but indeed are not so I am confident said the malicious Anatisa that Megabises cannot disguise his thoughts Those who like him answered Amestris thinking to spight me do affect true honour do never use to do so there is none but base men use to dissemble their thoughts I confess unto you Sir thas I was infinitely perplexed to hear Amestris thus express her self that I could not possibly stay any longer in that place As I came not into Garden with Anatisa I thought my self not engaged to stay with her Furthermore I was not in a condition to observe an exact correspondency in my actions I had seen Megabises pleased so well I observed Anatisa so well content I saw Amestris so fierce contrary to her custome and I found my self so sad so angry and so desperate that at last being stirred by my Love my hate and my Jealousie I left this both dear and intollerable company I went then out of the Garden with an ill intent resolving to be revenged upon Megabises for all the wrongs that Amestris had done me And to that end in lieu of entring into the Town I went to conceal my self in the house of one of my acquaintance with intention to send the next day unto Megablses to meet me with his Sword I would not advertise Artaban of my design because I knew he would contradict it but alas I did not know that I should have been the happiest man upon earth if I had seen him whereas now I am the most unfortunate In the mean while Amestris who had not treated Megabises so well but only to anger me had no sooner lost the sight of me but not being able to endure the company of her Rivall she thought out a pretence to leave her and went to complain of her misfortune in secret unto her dear Menasta As for Megabises it may be said that his good fortune was but a flash and away which ending as soon as it begun made it more dusky and intollerable then before And as for Anatisa though her joys to be preferred before Amestris did last a little longer yet it was but to torment her more sensibly afterwards For my part Sir I never thought my self so unhappy as now I found my self At the first time when I saw Amestris favourable unto Megabises I had this
and fainted the hearts of our enemies Fear and Terrour has half defeated them before we come at them and if my conjectures do not much deceive me this second Victory will come at as easie a rate as the first The presence of the valiant Philidaspes will render it more facile and fortune which alwayes favours bold and dangerous enterprises will not forsake us in this Come on my brave Companions let us go for if you love difficulties you will never be without honour and if you expose your selves to ease you will never be in safety but put your enemies into a condition to be alwayes as thornes in your sides As soon as Artamenes had ended his Oration all the Officers and Souldiers did applaud the resolution he had taken In pursuance whereof he took a Muster of his Army to see how many he had lost and he found wanting only five hundred men though he had defeated sixteen thousand After this he commanded them all to take a little repose and within two hours after to prepare for Combate Mean while he treated Philidaspes with all civility But as he would have the reports of this first victory animate his Army and be a foundation for a second he sent back to the King of Phrygia Imbas his Lieutenant General whom he had defeated and took prisoner as I formerly told you commanding the Herauld which was to conduct him to tell that Prince how gallantly this valiant man had defended himself and had given such testimony of a noble soul during his disgrace that he would not do him the displeasure to keep him Prisoner during the Battle nor deprive himself of that honour to vanquish him the second time if good fortune failed not Philidaspes hearing him say so could not forbear contradicting him and told him that this man might be made use of after the Battle if the successe should not be fortunate If we be overcome replied Artamenes we shall have no use of prisoners since then we shall be either dead or prisoners our selves and those whom we have already taken will then be released in spight of our teeths And if we be Conquerours said he then all will be in our own power But it must be acknowledged replied Philidaspes that you have given a valiant man unto your enemies 'T is true replied Artamenes but in giving that one we have released many which otherwise should have guarded him yet so it was Sir that my master did what he pleased and Philidaspes was silent Mean while the King of Pontus and the King of Phrygia were extreamly surprized when at break of day they were advertised in their Tents of the great shouts of joy which were heard in Artamenes his Army and that many Phrygian Ensigns were seen there These Princes having seen the fires in the campes of their enemies all the night long could not imagine how it was posible they should fight and defeat the forces which they expected Neither could they believe that Imbas would betray his King countrie and take part with the Cappadocians Soe that in their incertainties they neither knew what to think or say All the Captaines and Souldiers were no lesse troubled and all together concluded that things went not well But as they were sending out to know what the matter was they saw Imbas arrive who being moved by his own generosity and intending to excuse his defeate by the valour of his enemies did so much extol their courage and magnified Artamenes so highly that he struck terror into the souls of all who heard him you have said enough answered the King of Pontus to take away the dishonour of your defeate in saying it was Artamenes who overcame you And it is enough said the King of Phrygia to oblige us not to flie such an enemy who if wee be vanquished by him it is no dishonour Tell then Artamenes said the King of Phrygia unto the Herauld that we will prepare to receive him as he deserues and if we can render him favour for favour and endevour to be in that condition as at our return we shall send him prisoners after the Battle Meane while Artamenes was resolved to finish this warr at this bout and neglected nothing which might Conduce to his happinesse he met not a captaine unto whom he did not promise some recompence from the King He never saw a common on souldier passe by whom he did not call by his name and unto whom he did not bestow some obliging language He did inspire into them all both by his words and by his actions such an ardent desire of glory that he was hard able to restraine them such was his powerfull art to invite mens hearts and make himself absolute master of their mindes After then all the Troopes had solaced themselves with a slight repast and offered a sacrifice unto the Gods in the head of their Armie Artamenes marched straight to the enemy in Battalia with Prince Tigranes and Philidaspes who would not leave him to the end that Artamenes should doe nothing which he did not doe as well as hee I Confesse Sir that when I saw things in that condition I could not resolue any longer obedience unto the command of Artamenes but I put in amongst this young gallantrie of the court which made up a Troop of Voluntiers and followed my master But yet I know not how he got a sight of me and as soone as he spied me he made a signe with his hand then I quit my rank and as he came forward to me some fifteen or twenty paces Sir said I coming to him I beseech you give me leave to fight No no answered he I will not and your disobedience has angred me I have done Sir said I since you will not permit it and I will retire my self However Teraulas said he if I die at this time you may assure the Princesse that the day of my death was a bloody day unto my enemies that in one day I was both Conqueror conquered after these words my deare best master commanded me aloud to obserue his orders to the end that none should think worse of my Courage and my retreat which otherwise might have been blemished After this I left him and he marched to wards the Enemy who did prepare to receive him They endevoured to perswade their Souldiers that the former defeat of their Troops would be advantagious to them since they had so wearied their Enemies as they must needs be weak yet for all that say what they could the very name of Artamenes did more daunt them then all the good language of the Princes could encourage them Meane while both armies seemed to be inspired with the same spirit and the same furie they both advanced Ioyne the Aire is obscured with Arrowes the breaking of which as they met and clasht one against another added a terrible noise to the martiall harmonie These first blowes on both sides did redouble their ardent
ground and without reason But what would you have a passionate amo 〈…〉 rous man do who can have no liberty without Mandana who cares not for his life without leave to love her who cannot think of any peace having such an inveterat war in his heart nor speak of any Ransom unto a Prince with whom he can have no treaty without Mandana I do know also very well that I am uniust to speak thus unto you But generous Artamenes if you ever have loved you will lament me as much as your self and you will comfort me in my misery though you cannot cure it My master harkned unto this discourse with extream sadnesse and displeasure He had a good mind to tell the King of Pontus that he could never have made choise of a more unfit man then himself to do him this office and indeed to have told him the true cause and by that means denyed his assistance yet not knowing whether the Princesse would think well of it therefore he would not take that course and therefore against his inclination he was forced to dissemble the truth The condition which you are in answered Artamenes unto the King of Pontus after he had a little thought upon it doubtless is worthy of compassion and I do pitty you more in respect of the fetters which Mandana hath caused then in respect of those which fortune hath brought upon you by my hand yet since it is the Princesse who gave them unto you it must be she only who can comfort you and you demand that of Artamenes which he neither can or ought to serve you in Think not Sir added he that it is for want of Generosity which causeth me to do this and believe that if you did know me well you would not suspect any such thing but would acknowledg that I do but what I ought to doe yet to testifie that I have a designe to acknowledg those obligations which I have towards you I do promise that I will endeavour to obtain an advantagâ—ous peace for you from Ciaxares which shall be more advantagious then if you were not a Prisoner and I will not neglect any thing which may obtain your liberty But as for the Princesse said he dispence with me I beseech you from doing you that office or speaking unto her of your passion she is a Princesse who makes profession of so much austere vertue and there appears so much majesty and modesty in her looks that though I were the greatest Prince upon Earth and sate triumphant upon a throne and she before me in fetters yet I think that I could not without trembling speak unto her concerning love either for my self or for another so Sir in that condition which fortune hath put you I do not think it is a service which I either can or ought to perform for you I know very well replied the King of Pontus that I have done you wrong to move it But Illustrious Artamenes what will become of me shall I die in my fetters without complaint and can I not at least obtain of you a permission once to see the fair Mandana Artamenes was then much perplexed for notwithstanding the high vertue of the Princesse yet Jelousie did seise upon his soul he saw that the King of Pontus was a Prince of a good Symetry and of much spirit he imagined that this enterview could not but cause him much displeasure Yet this first thought was presently corrected by a second which told him there was no fear of that he told then the King of Pontus that if he would obtain this favour he must send unto Ciaxares who perhaps would not deny it But Sir said he to him if you would take my advice you should not doe it for indeed what will the sight of her advantage you you will see her so fair that perhaps you will return more unhappy then before Ah Artamenes said the King of Pontus you know not how to love or to say better you were never loved for know assuredly that what all vsage soever can be how much severity soever appears in the eyes of the party loved and how much cruelty soever she can have in her heart what course Language soever she can give yet the sight of her has some such kind of sweetness in it which moves delight And I do not know whether an ill treated Lover who sees the party which so treats him has not some more happy minuits then a beloved Lover who is absent from the party beloved So generous Artamenes if I can but obtain so much happinesse as only to see Mandana I shall be much comforted although she give me not one obliging word endevour so I coniure you that Ciaxares do not deny me when I send unto him concerning it I have told you Sir already replied Artamenes that I know not how to meddle with any thing which relates unto the Princesse all that I can do is to endeavour your liberty and that I will so ardently solicit as you shall know by that how Artamenes would acquit himself of that duty and service which he owes you and if he do refuse any thing els which you desire of him it is because he has invincible reasons which prevents him do you not consider Sir said he further unto him that I am a meer stranger in Cappadocia that I have no more power then what my sword gives me and that this which you desire of me is a business which I neither can nor ought to serve you in The King of Pontus though he was most ignorant of the true reason which moved Artamenes to deny him yet did very well receive his excuses and knowing that he desired such things as were apparently impossible excepting the sight of the Princesse which he hoped to obtain he asked pardon of Artamenes for moving him with unreasonable desires and as my Master told him that he should ere long know by his endeavouring his liberty that he would do all which was fit for him to do this Amorous Prince desired him not to make so much hast for said he to him I make it a question whether it is better to be a prisoner in Sinope or to be free upon the throne of Pontus and Bithynia After this Artamenes left the King of Pontus with much perplexity and almost as much troubled as if Mandana had understood all that the King of Pontus had told him and as if she had seemed to be much moved at it As he went from thence he went to the King who bad him very welcom and held him long in privat discourse the King told him that he did owe unto him all the glory of his Kingdom and did attribute unto him all the favours which he received from heaven He discoursed concerning his own marriage with the Queen of Cappadocia of all his intanglings which he ever had with the Princes his neighbours and what happy issues he had from them all of his good fortune
and Aripithes who were both in love with her and served her above a year yet could she not chuse but be surprised at the merit of Artamenes But Sir It is worthy of admiration to consider by what wayes the Gods will contrive things when it is their pleasure to bring â—hem to passe Although Thomiris did know of many of the famous Actions which my Master had performed yet she knew not all the particulars therefore being very desirous to know them all she was pleased to cast her eyes upon me so that my Master sending me one day unto her to tell of something she did command me to relate all I knew concerning the glorious life of Artamenes For my part I did then think that I should rather have done my Master some service by it then augment the esteem which she had of him for I had then no suspition of what I told you therefore I related very exactly all his combats all his victories and all those passages which his generosity had prompted him unto How he saved the life of Ciaxares by exposing his own The Combat of the two hundred The duel between him and Aritanus The siege of Ceracea The Battle which he won The remarkable Arms which he had on that day when fourty Cavaliers conspired against his life The common Arms which he took afterwards to conceal himself thereby from those who had orders to spare him His Combat with Philidaspes and in general all his Gallantry during the war but concerning his love you may well imagine that I spoke not a word She asked me what his Quality was and I told her that it was very noble but that I had especial order to discover no more To tell you the truth Sir I think that the reputation of Artamenes his deportment his garb his handsomnesse and his spirit had kindled love in the heart of Thomiris and my discourse did serve for bellows to the fire and augmented it It became so predominate that she could not quench nor overcome it I make no question Sir but you desire to know how I came to dive so into the secret thoughts of the Queen therefore before that I do relate unto you such things as will surprize you I must recall into your memory how under the Reigne of the first Ciaxares father of Astyages who now lives the Scythians did invade all Medea and after they had possessed it eight and twenty years they were expelled Then Sir in their return unto their own Countrey they carried with them a great number of prisoners of all sexes ages and conditions There was a man of quality amongst the Massagettes which followed the Scythians and who was in love with one who was Aunt unto Aglatidas whom you know and who indeed is a man of much merit This man in his return carried her away with him and when he came into his own Countrey married her I tell you this Sir because this person was yet living when we came into this Court and yet retained so great a love unto any thing that related unto Medea that there was no good office which she was not ready to render unto us and Chrisantes had contracted such a confidence with Gelonida for that was her name since she came amongst the Massagettes that she did faithfully advertise him of all things which came within the compasse of her knowledge She being much promoted and knowing a thousand things which they were ignorant of in that Countrey she rated at a very high esteem especially having married a man of very good Quality and one of great esteem among the people so that by reason of these good Qualities she was chosen to be one that was alwayes with the Queen from her infancy and continued so still when we came to the Court of Thomiris Gelonida was doubtlesse a woman of a good spirit and much vertue and therefore she was constrained to tell some things unto Chrisantes which you shall know to the end he should endeavour to free her from one mischief which without his assistance she could not prevent By her we came to know Sir that Thomiris no sooner saw Artamenes but she began to esteem him and had so great an inclination to love him that it may almost be said she loved him at the same instant in which she began to esteem him This Princesse had a great soul but naturally very passionate she looked upon nothing with the golden mediocrity her weakest desires were like determined resolutions and as she was perswaded that all her desires were just so she submitted her reason unto her will and endeavoured every way to satisfie it so that there needs no wonder at those violences wherewith she transacted to compasse her desires yet notwithstanding when she first perceived that her heart began to engage it self she began also to bid resistance but it was after such a manner as rather augmented the malady then cured it and as the agitation of the Air does kindle fire and makes the flames more violent so Thomiris desiring to quench those sparks which she perceived in her soul did inflame them more and caused that small spark which at first had neither light nor heat in it to flame by that agitation which she gave unto it She endeavoured to know what it was which tormented her and plainly found it to be love How comes it to passe said she to Gelonida when she could not hide her grief any longer that the sight of this stranger does procure unto me both joy and vexation To me I say who have passed away thus much of my life without the knowledge either of love or hatred nor ever loved any thing but Liberty and Glory Why am I troubled said she both when I see him and when I see him not If he have a pleasant and delighting soul why do I not endure his company without pensivenesse If he have not why does his absence trouble me Do I not know very well that Artamenes is to be but a while here and that the same fortune which brought him hither will presently take him away again But suppose it should not added she what have I to do with Artamenes Do I not understand by one of his men that he will not permit the place of his birth and his Quality to be known Moreover do I not know that though these arguments are very strong yet there is one most invincible one against which there is no remedy For said she admit love to be a permitted passion suppose Artamenes were a Prince and a Prince of some of the Scythians ought Thomiris to love him since he loves not her Oh no no Let us not subvert the universal custome of the World The Gods gave not beauty unto women to begin love and court men But on the contrary It is their pleasure that this Ray of Divinity which in an instant doth what it pleases and as well as the Sun doth shine and heat immediately should beget women
to take beginning and grouth He lived with Intaphernes after such a manner as made all believe he would not look upon him hereafter as a brother in law he regarded the Princess Istrina with so much indifferencie that every one beleeved were it not for feare to displease the Queen the aversion he had towards her would have appeared more apparently As for Intaphernes as he was a Prince very well borne so he behaved himself with the Prince of Assyria in all such respects as was due although he had much adoe to endure his losty humour yet ambition and the advise of such as had the care over him caused him to be very complacentiall towards him The young Princess Istrina for her part she carried it with all the sweetness and civillity towards Labinet that can be expressed for though she was very young yet the Crown of Assyria unto which she hoped she was destined did shine so bright in her eyes that she neglected nothing which might win upon the heart of that Prince whom she hoped to marry The Queen for her part contributed all her endeavours to plant a liking in these two young hearts which she desired to unite and to that end she caused them to see one another very oft and at all feasts and publique rejoycings they exposed themselves unto the people both together who by their acclamations and applauses did approve of the Queens choyce for as I have heard say it was impossible for any eye to behold any fairer object then the Princess Istrina As for the Prince of Assyria we know that he is as well made as a man can be Intaphernes also was handsom and of a good garb But do what the Queen could the aversion of the Prince her son did grow with his age some ill minded spirits perswaded him that Istrina was ambitious and was only complacentiall towards him because she would be a Queen and therefore he accepted of all her civilities in a rejecting manner he hated Intapherne's for no other reason but because he was her brother in whom notwithstanding no fault could be found for certainly she was of a fine spirit and her complexion as lovely a brown as was in the world mean while the Prince of Assyria having attained unto his eighteenth year and the Princess Istrina fourteen the Queen did motion her son to marry her but he beseeched her not to press him yet to marry and told her that a Prince who never yet was in any war ought not to think of marriage The Queen knowing the violent humour of the Prince thought best to give a little longer time and the rather because in all appearance there was like to be a war with the King of Phrygia who had made some eruptions upon the frontiers of Assyria Since this proposition the Prince who before seemed only indifferent did now change his course of life and as much as he could possible shunned meeting with the Princess Istrina and therefore he used to go every day almost to hunt to the end he might not go so often unto the Queen But by shunning the company of the sister he could not shake off the brother for Intaphernes followed him alwayes which did a little displease him It often chanced that Intaphernes thinking to get his esteem he encreased his hatred for as he did not love to be surmounted in any thing so the extraordinary expertnesse which Intaphernes had in darting the Javelin shooting in the Bow and such activities did alwayes anger him one time above the rest the Prince shot at a Bear and missed presently after Intaphernes shot and killed him dead and the same day also the Prince shot at a Lion and missed but Intaphernes killed him immediatly the Prince was so much angred at this adventure that he could not commend him for it but gave out some bitter expressions against the action for as some could not forbear commending him stay said he to the man and keep your excess of commendations untill we have been both together in the wars of Phrygia for in my opinion there is more honour in killing of a man who can defend himself then in killing a beast which runs away Intaphernes did not hear what the Prince said although he was very near but some or other having told him afterwards his spirit was a little exasperated and upon this passage did rise a report which spread among strange nations that the Prince of Assyria killed him at that hunting The same report with as little truth in it took the son of Gadates for the son of Gobrias though the truth was only as I tell you Mean while the Queen seeing the Phrygian affaires were protracted did againe presse the Prince to marry Istrina and imployed Mazares Prince of Saces who was then in Court to perswade him unto it for the Prince of Assyria loved him very dearly Mazares according to his instructions and commission asked him from whence this aversion unto that marriage which was propounded unto him did proceed for truly said he to him the Princess Istrina is very faire t is true answered he but she is not such a one as can reach my heart why said Mazares she is of a sweet and complacentiall disposition as you can desire if she were a little more fierce replied the Prince of Assyria she would please me more But do you not confess replied Mazares that she is one of an excellent spirit and much virtue I beleeve the latter answered he but for the other since she knowes not how to move my heart I think I may be permitted to leave it disputable but after all this added Mazares you are not at liberty to chuse for the Princesse Istrina is the only Lady whom by the lawes of this state you can marry throughout your whole kingdome for my part I know not why you should not like her and why you should not esteem your self happy in such a wife since she is fair sweet sprightly and vertuous Ah Mazares said the Prince of Assyria this fatall necessity is the cause why I cannot endure the Princess Istrina yes Mazares I do confess since you will know it that this Princess has much beauty sweetness spirit and vertue But for all that although I confess she is very amiable yet I cannot love her nor ever shall No Mazares Kings which are above the liberty of other men ought not to be deprived of the liberty to chuse a wife It is a law which my predecessors have established but which I cannot observe especially in such a juncture of time where there is none to chuse or where there is such a necessity that if I will marry an Assyrian Princess I must marry Istrina For although that Gobrias have a daughter yet the Assyrians make a difference between his countrey and ours and moreover he is rather my vassall then my subject and I am most certaine added this violent Prince that if the law of the state and the
and know every truth in it this noble fury with which the Divine Mandana resisted all my Rivals was doubtless only an effect of her vertue and the miserable Artamenes and unfortunate Cyrus was not any cause of it at all Would you have me be so complacential replied Martesia angerly as not to contradict you I desire to know said he the pure and perfect truth upon condition it drive me not into despair No Sir replied she I shall not drive you into dispair when I shall tell you though I had it not from the mouth of the Princess that I see no reason she had so obstinately to reject the King of Assyria's affection unless the Illustrious Artamenes had his entrance into her heart But said he unto her being full of joy Certainly the Princess did not speak as much these are but your own conjectures upon which you ground these thoughts and intend to flatter me But however Martesia I d 〈…〉 murmur against Mandana I have received more honours from her then I can deserve 〈…〉 hough she should treat me coarsly and punish me for my rash boldness doubtless I should not complain After this manner did Cyrus and Martesia discourse as oft as he could having now only three things to do The one was to go into the Camp and give out all requisite Orders for the Armenia War The other to present all imaginable humility unto Ciaxares And the last to go and visit Martesia supposing it to be a kind of seeing his Princess to see her whom she loved and esteemed so much Indeed Martesia was a Lady who was excellent in all things she was owner of all good qualities her beauty was none of those which do planet strike at the first sight but it was such as the more one considered it the more fresh charms they found in it for she had an excellent spirit and a solid mind exceedingly complacential and discreet and the more one knew her the better one liked her Feraulas was not the only man who courted her for during the time she was constrained to remain at Sinope all the Court did visit her all the Ladies of the Town were observant of her and all the Princes observing with what civility Cyrus did treat her came daily unto her and were much delighted in her company for indeed it was ever very pleasant her ingenuity was not only natural but much adorn'd with Art understanding most of the languages in all Europe and Asia Amongst the rest of her Visitants Thrasibulus and all those illustrious Grecians of the Army to wit Thimocrates Philocles and Leontidas were often with her The Prince Artibies was he who was most frequent with her insomuch as the Company was full of sweet diversions being composed of persons exceedingly pleasant One day among the rest as Martesia and Erenice her Cosen were alone together the Prince Artibies accompanied with Thimocrates Philocles and Leontidas coming to see her the Company questionless was very delightful since certainly the Grecians of that time were of a much more delicate and refined Spirit then other Nations Artibies though he was a Cicilian yet he was a most compleat Prince and although he seemed to be very melancholick yet was very sociable Thimocrates had Nature for his friend who adorned him with all the advantages of body that she could contrive in one of his Sex he had also a quick and nimble wit which rendred him most pleasant unto company Philocles was not less exact and compleat in all things and the complacency of his humour was extreamly charming Leontidas was exceeding tall and handsom The composure of his face was noble his Phisiognomy had I know not what kind of furious sweet and meloncholy composition such as did not at all displease and although there was some kind of discord in his humours and a phantasticalness in his mind yet was he exceedingly pleasant These four being altogether with Martesia and the love of Cyrus being now no secret that was the subject of their discourse and after they had discanted upon the most considerable passages thereof or at least which were in their knowledg every one began to complain of his misfortunes according unto his own apprehensions For my part said Thimocrates that which I think to be most lamented in him is that he has been almost always absent from her he loves for as long as she was in Capadocia the Bithinian War did absent him and after his return unto Themiscira he never saw the Princess whom he loved This questionless is a great misfortune replied Philocles but yet since he lives in some hopes to be beloved his absence is not without some consolation and he has yet had no experience of that which in love is more rigorous Although he has had no experience of it neither by absence nor the hate of the Princess whom he loves yet doubtless he was apprehensive of it when he believed her to be dead as once he did when I do imagine in what horrid frights he was when he feared to find his Princess reduced into ashes by the Conflagrâ—tion of Sinope and when I fancy him hearing from the mouth of Mazares in the fishers Cabin how his Divine Princess perished I do confess my compassion of him is extream and I do conceive that all the delights which he can hereafter enjoy cannot equal those torments which he then endured It is most certain said Leontidas who had not yet spoken that absence is a very grand affliction not to be beloved is an angry fate and the death of the party beloved is doubtless a very sad piece of mourning But yet for all this if the Illustrious Cyrus was never jealous as I could never hear he was then does he owe sacrifices of thanks unto the Gods of love for preventing him from that torment which exceeds all others a thousand degrees But Leontidas replied Martesia do you conceive jealousie to be a greater ill then the death of the party loved Ah Leontidas said she think well what you say I have sufficiently thought upon it replied he and I do feelingly speak concerning a passion which I have been too well acquainted with For my part said Erenice I do conceive jealousie to be a very great evil and do not think it strange that Leontidas should rank it among the greatest punishments of 〈◊〉 but that Thimocrates should speak absence to be the most rigid thing in the world 〈…〉 ceive that his soul is a little too nice and delicate That man must be most insensible replied he which does not find absence to comprehend in it self all other horrours That only is his share who was never loved replied Philocles for if I may so phrase it he heaps up all the evils of love into one and he who has had no experience of this is ignorant of the supream misfortune That is a misfortune added Thimocrates wherewith a generous man will not be long tormented since there is nothing in the
would Leontina be the same unto me as now she is dead Slight petty sorrows may be lessened by habit custome and time but grand and violent afflictions the longer they last the more insupportable they are and more augment Let me further tell you that the impossibility to find a remedy for such a sorrow is only a cause of consolation in the mouths of Philosophers but in the soul of a Lover it is the greatest torment of all others Yes yes that horrid thought that all the Kings upon Earth that all the valour of Heroes that all humane Prudence cannot revive a dead beloved Mistress is that which properly can be called an abridgment of all the sorrows which love can cause Pronounce the sentence then Oh my most just Judge that I am the most worthy of your pity by reason of great misfortune and I shall confess that the miseries of Thimocrates of Philocles and of Leontidas do more deserve your pity then mine does in respect of their own personal merits so that rendring justice both unto the misfortue and the misfortunate I shall have less cause to complaine of your Equity then I have to complaine of my Destiny The Prince Artibies ended his discourse with so much sadness of heart that he had much ado to pronounce the last words distinctly so extreamly did the remembrance of Leontina's death perplex his mind his melancholy did participate it self unto all the souls of that Illustrious Company and he forced compassion even from them that contended with him for the first Rank amongst the unfortunate Notice was taken of his ingenious and passionate silence by which he concealed the rest of his adventures since the death of the fair one whom he loved as if he would tacitely intimate unto them that since her death he did not value his own life After that melancholy humour which this fatall Story had caused in their minds was a little dissipated every one maintained his own opinion and that with obstinate heat But Cyrus seeing it was late told Martesia that it was time Leontidas related his adventure and reasons if she intended to pronounce judgment that day so that as a Judg imposing silence she appointed Leontidas to begin which accordingly he did in this manner The jealous Lover The fourth Story SInce Sorrow has its different operations according to the several tempers of those who are possessed with it since it is sometimes mute and sometimes eloquent you must not wonder if it work not in me as it does in the Prince Artibies who by reason of his excess of sorrow has shortned his relation But I who am none of those whom sorrow makes dumb and who on the contrary never speaks but when I have great cause of complaint cannot do so nor can I as I conceive in few words express the greatness of my sufferings I shall be as little impertinent as I can and therefore in short give me leave to tell you that the Isle of Cyprus is my Countrey and that I have the honour to be of a Family sufficiently illustrious I shall hereafter tell you that I went out of this famous Isle which is consecrated unto the Mother of love so young that I had not time to fall in love with any for the war which was then between the people of Samos of Priennes and of Miletes moving me to learn there that mystery which the drowsie peace of my Countrey could not teach me I left it and in my choice of these three Countreys the fame of the valiant Policrates who was made Soveraign in the Isle of Samos did invite me into his though perhaps his cause was not the most just unless you will allow the Right of Conquerours to be the most ancient of all others So then it was in this famous Isle and in the Court of this illustrious Prince where my Love took first begining and where my jealousie has treated me cruelly The reputation of the happy Policrates is so great that I need not characterize him unto you yet notwithstanding shall in few words tell you that justice would have much ado to find a man in all Greece more accomplished then he nor more fit to distribute his favours with more equity rendring himself most perfectly happy without giving cause of murmur unto any He is as never man before was for he is born only a Citizen of Samos and he is become Soveraign of the same without hate he has all the Authority of a most absolute Tyrant yet he enjoys the love of his people as much as if he were their Father All designes of war are prosperous under his hands he is become terrible not only in the Jonian but through all the Aegean Sea The greatest Kings think it an honour to be his Allies and all his Neighbours both love and fear him he is very handsom of a good presence and great Spirit of a disposition as sweet in time of peace as it is furious in time of war you may well suppose then that the Court of Policrates must be very delightful and gallant since it is commonly like as the Prince so is his Court when I arrived at Samos he was ready to imbarque and to go and fight with the Prince of the Milesians so that after I was presented unto him by a man of quality named Theanor whom I knew at Paphos I imbarked the next day with him before I had seen any in Samos but only Officers of Gallies with one of which called Timesias I had a quarrel at my imbarking and two other small squabbles during the voyage This expedition was not long but very prosperous and we returned Conquerours over those we fought against Policrates at his return unto Samos was entertained with high magnificence and since I had so much happy honour to get some part of his love during our Navigation so had I also some share in those delights which he was pleased to to take at his return The same night I came to Samos after all the magnificence which was prepared for the entry of Policrates was past Theanor whom I affected as much as I was averse unto Timasias would needs shew me as a stranger all the ratities of the Town He carried me into the Temple of June unto whom that Island was consecrated which doubtless is one of the greatest and fairest in the world and which they more esteemed at Samos because the Architect who built it was a Samion from thence we walked towards a famous Water-course which surpasseth the greatest wonder that ever I saw in the world for it runs through a Mountain which is an hundred fathom high upon the top of which is a way made which is above seven furlongs in length and eight foot wide at the end of this way is digged a pond about twenty Cubits deep and from this most clear and abundant fountain they conduct water into the Town after I had well admired at this prodigious work of Eupalina for
do not prophane the name of the Princess in such an occasion as she ought not to be introduced if you have any secret hatred to me revenge your self generously and do me the honour to tell me with your Sword in your hand whether it be nature or fortune which puts a difference between us You shall know that presently replied Artesilas and drawing his sword as well as one servant which was with him so that Cleander having but his servant with him also the fight was upon equal numbers though with unequal success for Cleander being animated by his love by his jealousie and by the angry language of Artesilas did fight with such fury that this Prince as gallant as he was had a hard task to resist him since Cleander feared left some should come in to part them he dallied not but driving blow after blow upon his enemy without any defending himself he pressed so hard upon him that he lost his judgment and could neither defend himself nor assault his foe Not that Artesilas wanted any courage but because the miraculous valour of Cleander surprized him and put him into disorder he was wounded at the first in two places without any touch upon Cleander who after he had given him two other wounds he closed with him threw him upon the ground and took away his sword Then after he had disarmed him Do you acknowledg said he that you have some cause 〈◊〉 think my birth is not inferiour unto yours or do you not at the least confess that if there 〈◊〉 any difference between us it is fortune only which made it Artesilas was so wounded anâ— ashamed at his defeat that he had not power to answer At the same time some women which belonged to the Princess of Clasomena spied them out of a window at the beginning of 〈◊〉 Combat and sent some men to part them But they came not in till all was done Cleandâ—â—â— servant wounded the servant of Artefilas whose sword was broken Abradates came in also who caused the Prince Artefilas to be carried unto his house and who went with Cleander unto his lodging not letting him go unto his own until he knew the cause of the Combat and how the King would receive the news Since Cressus loved Cleander very well and never loved Artesilas at all it was no hard matter to perswade him that Artesilas was the Challenger so that he seemed to be much incensed against him for affronting one who was so 〈◊〉 and high in his esteem The friends of Artesilas did sweeten the matter and told the King thâ—â— the answers of Cleander did exasperate him and since neither of these two Rivals did naâ—â— the Princess some scornful words which Artesilas spoke concerning the birth of Cleander passed for the ground of the quarrel In the mean while all the Court came to visit him excepting the kindred of his Enemy and some of them also forsook him and offered themselves unto Cleander whom the Princess sent privately to visit and rejoyce that he was not wounded not knowing yet what was the cause of the Combat every one thinking that it was because Artesilas did treat him as an unknown man from whence he had his original Nothing else was talked of Those who had heard a hundred times how he was found still enquâ—red and related it The Princess her self desired my Father to make an exact relation of it How he saw him floating in a Boat with one woman could not weild it how he sent Sailors to succor him how he saw the Child in a Mantle made of Cloth of God how she who was with him was dumb how she held in her hands a Picture where this Child was represented as Cupid is used to be drawn and with him a fair Lady which seemed to be his Mother by those Verses which were written underneath and how this dumb woman dyed The Princess who never durst ask to see this Picture did prevail with the opposites to her curiosity and desired Timocreon to send it unto her which he did and it was I who carried it unknown to Cleander for he stayed with Abradates until such time as it was known whether Artesilas would recover of his wounds one of them being very dangerous The Princess blusht when she took the Picture not being able doubtless to receive the Picture of him she loved without confusion though it was only the picture of a Child yet a Child pictured like a God As she was always used to admire all beautiful things so she admired at this Picture which indeed was very admirable and observed how Cleander still retained a great resemblance of what he was then but she was charmed with the beauty of the Mother whom she commended with less scruple then she could the son though she could not commend the one without the other because there was a most perfect resemblance she thought the invention of the Picture and the Verses very pleasant and I observed that she looked upon the magnificent Border of that Picture with much delight because it was an inâ—allible testimony that the birth of Cleander was not mean and always extreamly commending the Limner who drew this Picture she asked me whether Timocreon would trust her with it for a few days that she might shew it unto some of her friends You may imagine Madam that I denyed her not and that it was not long before I acquainted Cleander that the Princess desired to keep his Picture But he answered me that he should think himself much more happy if she would give him hers since the one was only a bare effect of her curiosity and the other would be an argument of her affection Whilest things stood upon these terms News was brought that the King of Phrigia was drawing into the field So that Cressus commanded Cleander to prepare himself for a March which he did the very same hour sending his Train before him The King by vertue of his supream Authority did reconcile Artesilas and him the next morning At the same time a Phrigian man of good quality who was an Exile came unto Sardis to treat concerning the Ransom of a Prisoner of War and since his name was known and that he was a man of spirit Cressus received him very well and assured him that if ever there was a Peace made between him and the King of Phrigia he would make his in particular with that Prince Thimettes for that was the Phrigians name had not been long at Sardis but he went to present his service unto the Princess and coming to her one day when she was in her Close whilest they went to acquaint her he desired to see her he saw upon the Table in her Chamber this picture of Venus and Cupid which I told you of before yet he no sooner saw it but taking it up he seemed to be extreamly surprized he read the Verses he observed the Border and looked upon it most precisely and having no power to leave
enemies could not possibly avoid and where in all likelihood he might intercept and release the Princesses So that their only business was to be informed of the certain time when they would set out of Ephesus and what number their Convoy consisted of Feraulas was dispatched thither with Letters from Meneceus unto his friends there Timocreon sent also to Sardis so did Tegeus to the end they might every way receive intelligence and not be mistaken This fresh hope put such an impression of joy into the heart and eyes of Cyrus that he seemed more fresh and lovely then ever his conversation being now not so melancholy as before it did exceedingly delight the Queen of Susiana and the Princess Araminta as for the last of which the condition of the King of Pontus the absence of Spitridates and the Courtship of the Prince Phraartes all these considerations did procure her many angry hours Panthea also was not without her share of sorrows yet the civilities of Cyrus his pleasant addresses and his spirit did often times suspend them for he endeavoured as much as possible he could to make their captivities less tedions unto them Whilest this was the State of Affairs and whilest all Asia was in Arms waiting for nothing but until the Sun had dried up the field of battel and produced fresh palmes to crown the Conquerour Cyrus being full of pleasant impatience since he hoped ere long to release Mandana and acquire new glory saw Artaban arrive whom Ciaxares had sent unto him and who informed him that all Medea was in peace that Ciaxares was in health and that he would send Aglatidas back unto him with fresh supplyes At the name of Aglatidas Cyrus imbraced Artaban and enquired very earnestly how he did Sir said Artaban unto him I have orders from him to relate unto you the sequel of his history which is no less full of admiration then that part you know already was extraordinary It is Megabises then replyed Cyrus who disturbs his happiness It is in vain Sir replied he for you to guess at his adventures for they are so strange that it is impossible they should be imagined However since Artaban seemed very weary Cyrus would then keep him no longer from his rest but deferred the relation of it until the next day And in the mean time he managed his time so well and took such orders for all things that were necessary as the next day he came unto Artaban with intention to hear this Story Since Cyrus and he were alone Artaban put that Prince in memory of Arbates and his Cheat of Aglatidas and his Jealousie in seeing Megabises and Amestris together in the Garden of his Despair and Exile of his saigned Passion unto Anatisa at his return of the sorrows which this faigned Passion caused in Amestris because she thought it real how she knew Aglatidas was jealous but knew not of whom of the odd Resolution she took to justifie her self in his opinion by marrying Ottanus of whom she was certain he was not jealous nor could be of her Marriage of her and his own Despair when they knew their reciprocal innocency and also their last parting After a short Revival of all these passages Cyrus turning himself towards Artaban I do very well remember them all said he unto him the misfortunes of my friends do not so easily slâ—p out of my memory and therefore I pray you satisfie my Curiosity and relate all that concerns Aglatidas Then Artaban obeying his Commands began thus The Sequel of the History of AGLATIDAS and AMESTRIS FOr your better understanding the Story of Aglatidas and the accidents happened unto him since his return into Medea I must acquaint you Sir with the Adventures of Amestris since her Marriage with Ottanus and since that sad separation of Aglatidas and her wherein both Love and Virtue did eminently appear and reside both at a time in the heart of Amestris But that you may judg of her sufferings it is requisite I should make a particular description of the person humor and spirit of Ottanus for since it was Aglatidas who spoke of him unto you at Sinope and since I know him to be as wise and reserved a man as lives doubtless he would not aggravate his faults Imagine then Ottanus to be very tall but far from handsom of a sullen fierce and subtle aspect and an unpleasing and forced action of a rude and boarish conversation with these qualities imagine him to be of as much spirit and courage as ever any had So that if an art could have been found out to have separated the good qualities of Ottanus from his bad there was enough to be found in him to have sufficiently furnished a compleat man and also a very Monster However since that spirit which he had was of a turbulent and restless temper it had been better both for himself and for Amestris if he had been a dull Blockhead as I shall hereafter let you know for if he had been so he had not so much tormented himself nor persecuted her You may remember Sir how suddenly he became happy by reason of the odd humor in that fair Lady his happiness was so great that at the first he thought upon nothing else but of enjoying her he loved and so solely devoted his heart unto joy as I beleeve he did not observe the melancholy of Amestris on the marriage day and I think it was a long time after before he began to take any notice whether she was pleasant or discontented The truth is his good fortune seemed to be as great as possible for he had married with her own consent the fairest the most vertuous and the richest Lady in all Ecbatane who in her own choyce preferred him before all the compleat Gallants of the Court Moreover the two Rivals who were most to be feared were out of Town to wit Aglatidas and Megabises so that consider his felicity in that respect it could not but be imagined very great Also he was so excessively sensible of it for a while that he spoke of nothing else and whilest Amestris was weeping in secret with her dear Menasta Ottanus was publishing his joy unto all the world This prudent Lady was so wise as to hide her discontents from her husband But since it was an intolerable torment to be always in a constra ned mode she shunned the company of all others as much as she could and forced her self only in the presence of Ottanus She always delighted in solitude more then company and Ottanus did seem far from any jealousie But after the first edg of his joy was taken off and he returned unto his accustomed dull humor he began to consider among the rest of his sullen musings what reason Amestris had after she had so long a time treated him rigorously to change upon a sudden and make him happy he resolved to ask her the reason of her sudden alteration he pressed her very
earnestly to tell him her reasons why she hated him and why she loved him for said he unto her I am certain the change was not in me but your self This unexpected Question did so surprize Amestris that she blushed and gave him 〈◊〉 satisfactory answer yet she told him that as long as her Father lived the disposition of her self was in him and after his death she was resolved to marry according to her own affection but she spoke this with so much disorder in her countenance that Ottanus changed colour as well as she Then urging her no further he went to walk by himself as one of my intimate friends who was also a friend of his did tell me and revealed all his secrets unto me But oh Heavens what odd phantastical thoughts did come into his mind during this walk and how severely did he punish himself with his own capricious phancy Then he called to mind all the severity which Amestris expressed towards him he remembered all her scornings of him and the great difference which she made between him and Aglatidas or Megabises and did not forget any act which this fair and virtuous Lady did either in contempt of him or in advantage unto any of his Rivals However said he after a memory of all these things I am the Enjoyer of Amestris and all my Rivals which in appearance were then more happy were yet really more unfortunate What then would I have said he and what do I want to compleat my happiness Then would he walk a while in a more calm temper and thinking he had setled himself in more tranquility of mind he gave over the thought of these things and began to delight himself in the variety of flowers which grew in the Garden where he walked he quitted that shady melancholy walk which he made choyce of at first and took one of a more open ayr but notwithstanding the enamelled beauty and variety of flowers as soon as he had changed places he began to make comparisons betwixt himself and his Rivals and he could find no reason in the world why Amestris should make choyce of him before them and though it be the custom of all the world to flatter themselves and seldom to do Justice when they are their own Judges yet Ottanus in this business did censure himself with all severity possible he concluded then that Amestris ought not to have made choyce of him since she had no prepossessed opinion of him or affection to him as he knew she had not For said he the very day before my happiness she was intolerably incensed against me I never found her more cruel or uncivil towards me in her life then that day and the next morning the fit took her to marry me and did so though I could never conceive any Reason why she should think of so much happiness for me But what matter is it which way our good fortune comes so we enjoy it Amestris is mine and all my Rivals go without her nor is there any likelyhood they ever had any shares in her heart since she made not choyce of any amongst them as if she had pleased she might have done but preferred one whom they loved not before them all Yet for all this said he Amestris did not love me two days before she married me and I am most certain I used neither any charms nor enchantments to change her heart nor did I so much as ask that favour from the hands of Heaven because I saw so little probability of obtaining it yet upon a sudden I became happy and Then he stayed a while and went no further Afterwards repenting himself of what he had said and what he thought to have said But am I very well assured that I am happy and is it not so that I have only changed misfortunes And indeed Ottanus as my friend whose name was Artemon of whom I already spoke since told me after he had well examined the matter and sufficiently tormented himself could never resolve with himself whether he was happy or unhappy but he went home very reserved and melancholy He resolved to get the mastery of his mind and wrastle with those thoughts which disturbed his good fortune and indeed for some certain days did endeavor to be contented As for Amestris her thoughts were as far from any calm serenity as the spirit of Ottanus was and she thought her self the most miserable woman upon Earth especially since she knew the innocency of Aglatidas for before that though she had an extream aversion towards Ottanus yet she had some consolation in her hopes to undeceive Aglatidas in the opinion he had of her and if he were once undeceived then had she cruelly revenged her self upon him But as the state of things were knowing that if she had not married Ottanus she might have been happy and Aglatidas contented she suffered unconceiveable torment of mind she could find no consolation in condemning him who was the cause of her sufferings nor in any thing else but condemning her self However Aglatidas at parting having sent a Letter unto Menasta to give unto Amestris she quitted her self very faithfully and gave it unto her though with much ado to move her unto a reception of it For since Amestris was as virtuous as fair she conceived it something against the Rules of Virtue to receive any expressions of love from Aglatidas yet after Menasta promised her it should be the last she should be troubled with she read it and this was the Contents The miserable AGLATIDAS unto the unfortunate AMESTRIS I Can never consent to go far from you before I have asked Pardon for being a cause of your sorrows I would I were able for your tranquilities sake to wish you would absolutely forget me but I do confess my weakness and acknowledg that I cannot be so generous but on the contrary I desire that the remembrance of my constant Passion may be the greatest torment of your life As for mine I do promise you it shall be so miserable that unless you be the most unhumane woman in the world you will have so much goodness as to let me know you pity me lest I should dye with despair AGLATIDAS After Amestris had read this Letter with tears in her eyes though she refused to receive it at the first yet she kept it at the last and would not give it again unto Menasta and talking together concerning the crossness of these accidents Menasta told her that since things past and done cannot be recalled and undone the best way was to make the best of things one could and to comfort ones self Ah Menasta said Amestris how difficult is this counsel to be practised and how hard a matter is it to find any comfort when one is forced to see him continually whom one hates and never to see him one loves and I assure you that since the time Aglatidas did justifie himself in my opinion the aversion which I ever
had towards Ottanus is so much augmented as I cannot tell which is the greater torment never to see Aglatidas or continually to see Ottanus for when I do not see Ottanus I have but the moyety of my misery because then I think very often upon Aglatidas without any remembrance of Ottanus But as for Ottanus I do confess my dear Menasta with shame that I never look upon him but I think upon Aglatidas and at the same time look upon Ottanus as the only obstacle of my felicity and likewise the felicity of Aglatidas I use my best endeavors to choak such thoughts but cannot hinder them Ottanus never does any act or speaks one word that pleaseth me and which does not make me remember how Aglatidas was wont to tell me of a hundred thousand pleasant things However though I cannot be Mistress over the secret motions of my heart yet I strive to set the best face I can upon them in his presence and knowing that since he is my Husband both the Gods and Vertue and Decency do all require my obedience unto him and that I be complacential towards him this duty and complacency I do pay but it is with such a horrible repugnancy and by doing such extraordinary violence to my self that I wonder it doth not cost me both my Reason and my Life But said Menasta unto her the only way to find rest and remedy is to divert your self sometimes and see the world as heretofore you have done for when you are in company and walking abroad in the conversation of wits and pleasant men you would less think upon either Aglatidas or Ottanus since the noise and tumult of the world does at the least take up the mind if not divert it the variety of men which one shall see news walks wit musique and discourse will insensibly expel melancholy and make one delight in company Those who use these Remedies replyed Amestris do certainly complain but of common sorrows but they who use such as I do do know Menasta that all these things which you propound unto me as Remedies are so far from that as they are multiplications of miseries and indeed how do you think I can care for dressing my self as I was accustomed when I desire to please none and when all the world displeaseth me How can I endure to be perpetually in the conversation of men who would but importune me and grieve me more in lieu of comforting me You know that all I can see are either Friends or Enemies unto Aglatidas So that the same which you think would make me forget him will revive the remembrance of him Should I go unto any Balls considering the humor I am in they would be so far from diverting me that I do not think I should know so much as the difference of Tunes Musique would but make my heart more heavy in lieu of easing it As for News which you prescribe as a remedy since it pleaseth none but a certain sort of men who love to busie themselves in things which concerns them not it cannot by consequence delight me since I never think upon any thing but what concerns my self and never cares for the rest Let it therefore be concluded Menasta that solitary walks is the only recreation I can take and not upon the banks of Orontes where none walk but such as would only see and be seen Certainly I should see nothing there that would please me and if I should do so perhaps Ottanus to augment my misery if it were possible would become jealous of me But then said Menasta how do you intend to live I intend to live replyed she as one that would quickly dye This Resolution replyed Menasta is most lamentable however I beseech you do not banish me from your Company Ah my dear Menasta said Amestris I cannot have such a thought but since you cannot be much in my company unless you banish your self from the rest of the world I ought to deprive my self of my only consolation which is your company Menasta then made new Protestations of friendship unto her and so they parted but yet Amestris was as good as her word and lived a most retired life And though it be the custom of new married people to be most gay and more expensive at that time then any other of their lives yet she on the contrary was more negligent of her self then ever she faigned her self not well to the end she might avoyd all places of pleasure she never made any visits but such as were of absolute and obliging necessity nor would permit any to visit her so that she who of all the Court was most visited and courted became the most solitary and least frequented she was so early every morning at the Temple that not only all the Ladies but all the Gallants of Ecbatan were asleep when she was there So that never Husband had more reason to be at rest then Ottanus and the way of living which Amestris used was certainly enough to have satisfied the most jealous Lover in the world Yet Sir all these Antidotes against that Poyson was so far from satisfying him that they augmented his malady as the like was never heard Yet notwithstanding at the first he was glad of that which did so much torment him afterwards and thought that to have a fair wife whom none saw but himself was no mean happiness But yet this reservedness of Amestris did make so great a noise in the world that nothing else was talked on and since it was observed that neither she nor Aglatidas were to be seen none could understand the real cause of it but they thought that Amestris lived in that manner because Ottanus was jealous and had commanded her so to do so that he had a hundred curses every day for causing so fair a Lady to live so miserable a life and since no Subject is so fit an Anvile to forge a hundred thousand extravagant Tales upon as a jealous Husband Ottanus was the mark that every wit and tongue did shoot at and in less then eight days long Histories were made of his Jealousie In so much as Artemon of whom I spoke before who was his Friend and Cousin resolved to acquaint him with the voyce of the people thinking to do a good office both unto him and Amestris and though he knew the spirit of Ottanus to be very odd and that the business it self was something difficult to tell yet he resolved upon it and one day went unto him After a while of talk upon things indifferent he asked how Amestris did and as he answered she was very well Artemon told him all her Friends complain that they can never see her or to speak more sincerely said he unto him They complain against you for they suppose she would not forsake them but by orders from you Then did he acquaint him with some reports of him yet concealing the bitter part of them Ottanus
a one as I do love The first of these replied the Princess methinks is easily found It is not so easie replied she but in truth the second is as difficult or to express my self a little better impossible Methinks said the Princess you offer a great affront unto the Town and Court of Sardis to think that there is not one man in it sufficiently accomplished to win you by his services to accept of his affection Madam said she unto her there is a thousand accomplished Gallants in Sardis but amongst them all there is not one who has not already loved some or other and that 's my reason why I can affect none of them For truly if I could suffer my self to be loved and could resolve to love I would chuse one whom Nature only has dressed up a compleat man without the adulterate helps of Love one who should offer me a fresh new heart which never had received any impression but my own nor burned in any flames but such only as kindled at my eyes But Madam where is it possible to find such a modelled man as I seek after at the least I am sure that amongst a hundred thousand which I have seen there is not such a one to be met withall Nature alone added she does sometimes make them handsom and fair but they are never of a good behaviour if they have never been once in Love with any and a man can never have a pleasing spirit unless once in his life he have made it his business to please some or other The Princess began to laugh at the discourse of Doralisa but afterwards said unto her Love does never infuse spirit into those who have none of their own I do assure you Madam replied Doralisa that though it do not infuse spirit into those who have none yet it does marvellously augment and polish it in those who have any of their own I do believe said she that such a compleat man as is described by one of the wise men of Greece who is so much spoke of in the world may be found without any sparks of Love in him for those men require no more but that they know how to mannage the business well which they have in hand and that a man know honesty and courage and vertue But such a compleat man as I would have ought to have besides these things so absolutely necessary some things in him which are dilectable and complacential and these are absolutely impossible to be found in a man that neeer was in Love In sum Madam call into your memory all the young men whom you have seen enter into the world and tell me the reason why there is so many of them whose conversation are Pesantique and gross you will find the only reason to be because they want that respective and convenient boldness and that sprightly and gallant civility which Love only can infuse Their discourse and actions do not please and for my part I like the conversation of those old men who were sprightly Gallants in their youth much better then those young Simpliciars who think more upon the Ribbands which they wear then the Ladies whom they talk with 'T is very true said the Princess and smiled I must confess that I have observed many such as you speak of but I do not attribute it unto the same cause for I do think that their want of experience in the world is the true reason why their discourse and demeanour is not more dilectable To demonstrate unto you said Doralisa that it is not so I beseech you do but observe those who never were in Love and yet have sufficient experience in the world you shall find them so rude and of such a savage spirit that there is no complacency to be found in them you shall find that such men are steel-hearted and men of Blood whose lives are spent in Wars or els such hunting dispositions as affect only Forrests or such dumpish pieces of solitariness as are alwayes cloystered up in their Studies with a company of books or such as entertain themselves in Grots and Caves in the Country So that I must ingenuously confess that it is Love only which compleats a man to be such a one as I am in quest of However said the Princess unto her since Love is of such an efficacy as you speak of do but suffer your self to be loved and those men who are not such as you desire will in time become so Ah Madam cryed she out if I do not esteem him whom I am to marry the very first minute that I shall see him I shall never love him and therefore I must find him a most accomplished man and not make him one Make choice then said she unto her of one of those who have compleated themselves by loving some other and has made a retreat and now loves none I have already told you Madam replied Doralisa that I would have a fresh new Maiden heart newly kindled with pure and lively flames and not one of those hardened ones as have burned whole years together The truth is as men use to offer unto a Divinity such offerings only as were never upon the Altar of another so would I have such an affection as was never dedicated to any but my self So since I cannot love any man who has loved one another and since it is not possible to find out a compleat man uuless he have been in Love I am resolved and truly very willingly to love none at all This your rule is not so general replied the Princess but it will admit of some exceptions for Perinthus you know is a most accomplished man yet he never was in Love Ah Madam cryed she out it is impossible Perinthus either is infallibly in Love or at the least hath been it is impossible to be as he is unless he were The Princess then called me Is it not truly Pherenice said she that Perinthus was never in Love It is most true Madam said I unto her that I never knew he was nor ever knew him to be suspected by any Then certainly he is most subtil and wise replied Doralisa for let me tell you once again that Perinthus cannot be what he is unless he had been in Love As she was saying so he entred So that the Princess beginning the discourse and being ignorant of that passion which was in his soul she told him that she was very glad to see him because he would help her to convince Doralisa of an error wherein she persisted But said the Princess and addressed her self unto Doralisa I would have you ask him the question to the end you shall not think he dare not tell me the truth I do confess Madam answered Doralisa that I am so full of curiosity in the business as though it be something against the Rules of handsomness yet I will immediately obey you therefore Perinthus said she and turned towards him I pray tell me whether
many men and her complacency to them was very cold she told Leonisa diverse times of it but she not being of her Cosens humour and being something yonger then she she could not finde in her heart to banish any that came unto her and seemed to esteem her so that she told Cleodora that she could not be uncivill unto any and more then that she ought not to take so much upon her in a house where she is rather to obey their command Cleodora durst not speak of it unto her Aunt because she knew it would not please her that she should be of any smch criticall humour and therefore not knowing what course to take she entreated Belesis one day since she observed there was a great confidence between Leonisa and him that he would tell her that her universall civility did much offend her and if she answer you said she unto him that she does not love to disoblige any one tell her that in all reason she ought rather to oblige some one compleat gallant to esteem her and not shew such equall civility unto all that come to see her As Cleodora said so and thinking none did hear her but Belesis Leonisa was unknown in a closet and came unto them laughing and addressed her self extream sweetly unto Cleodora I beseech you said she do not condemne me before I may answer for my self Cleodora perceiving that Leonisa had heard what she said seemed as if she knew that she was in the closset and spoke purposely that she might understand her In the mean time I will seriously tell you Leonisa before Belesis said she who knowes the world very well that there are two sorts of people who without any choise use to affect a multitude which thus daily flock about you I pray tell me said Leonisa in which Catalogue you rank me and who are those two sorts of people which so affect that which I must confesse I do not hate They are replied Cleodora either Country people newly come to town or else they are light headed huswifes which love tatling Surely said Leonisa I am not of this last number I confesse it said Cleodora for if you be you would make me much to wonder yet I must-say thus much for you that you smell not at all of the country unlesse in this humour But Cleodora said Leonisa is it not an undeniable maxime that civility ought to be shewed unto all in generall and is it not by esteem only that one ought to put a difference between those men we see No said Cleodora for which way can one expresse esteem but by civility when one would distinguish one of excellent qualities from others you know it is not handsome to give men tender and obliging language The word friendship is something too hard to pronounce and it is dangerous to use it in speaking unto young and Courtly Gallants and the truth is a man must give a thousand testimonies of his wisdome or else do some very considerable peece of service before it will be handsome to be tender and affectionate to him after this consider Leonisa whether you be not too prodigall of your civility unlesse it be shewed only unto such men as really esteem you I shall be very reserved in my favours and my esteem replied Leonisa and be prodigall only of a thousand triviall passages and behaviours which indeed are nothing else but common civility your prayses and commendations and esteem replied Cleodora are certainly of an inestimable value But Leonisa It is men only that must handsomly give commendations so frequently when they speak unto Ladies and surely you never told Belesis since you saw him that you think him very handsome that his wit doth infinitely please you and that his company charmes you Alas Madam said Belesis I beseech you do not Jeere me in your disputes for it is not I who causeth the fair eyes of Leonisa to attract so much company that troubles you I pray you said Leonisa to Belesis let me answer Cleodora my self I pray answer then directly replied she so I will replied Leonisa and therefore I will confesse I never spoke any such thing unto Belesis as you mention yet I assure you that maâ—gre this universall civility wherewith you upbraid me Belesis hath observed that I put a great difference between him and many others speak Belesis said Cleodora does Leonisa say truth have you perceived that esteem which she had of you from that which she had unto any else Belesis was now much put to it for he was unwilling to disoblige Leonisa and fearfull to anger Cleodora so that carrying a levell hand between them both I have so little right unto fair Leonisas esteem replied he that I cannot imagine how she should put any difference between me and the lowest rank of qualified men But as I am oft apt to flatter my self and to beleeve things which I desire I must confesse I have observed some land of civility used more obligingly unto me then unto some others to whom she hath done more reverence so admirably well doth she know the art of obliging by little things Beleeve not Belesis said Cleodora unto Leonisa since I assure you he is no lover of multitudes and certainly he hath good reason for it So have you Leonisa for what can you do with so many men you cannot marry them all You would not be thought a Tatler you cannot esteem them all and therefore how can you endure them all Nothing is more sweet unto me replied Leonisa then to think that none doth hate me but that every one on the contrary should esteem and commend me Alaâ— Leonisa said Cleodora what extream folly in it to say so for what good will the esteem of a thousand men do you when you esteem not them and beleeve it Dear Leonisa it is very well if one can live so as none shall hate them with affecting that all the world should love them I do confesse that one ought to do all the good they can and not to let a person drown for want of a hand lent to help him out Yet for all this one must love for themselves and their friends and not altogether for the publique The fittest places for expressions of civility is in the Temples in the walkes and in the streets but in my chamber if my coldnesse to those that trouble me would not drive them away I should be then uncivill and perhaps go a little further sometimes to rid my self of some such men as I know And certainly all this not without good reason for one dull fellow may hinder me from enjoying the conversation of the compleatest man in the world And truly I have so nice a spirit that I cannot endure this kind of complacency which will not purchase one reall friend in a thousand yeers 't is very true said Leonisa that perhapps I have fewer friends then you but perhaps I can brag of having fewer enemies and do you not
and both they and he thought upon nothing but the taking of Sardis yet had they very different thoughts for Cyrus hoped that by the taking of this Towne he should justifie himselfe in the opinion of Mandana and assoone as he had vanquished the King of Assyria to enjoy her but as for this King the taking of Sardis and the vanquishing of Cyrus would not suffice to make him happy for when all this was done he had the obduracy of Mandana to vanquish which in all probabilitie he could never hope for unlesse in the promise of the Oracle as for Mazares he was in a more miserable condition then they both for which way soever squares went he could never finde any favourable hopes he did his best to banish that hope out of his heart by banishing that love which first planted it there so that at the same time when he fought against the Lydians he fought against himselfe and there passed not a day away wherein love and vertue did not contend which should have the dominion of his soule In the meane while Cyrus was extreamly vigilant he went perpetually from quarter to quarter and longed with exceeding impatiency to see things in such a state as they might make an assault upon the Towne though all the Walls were manned with such a multitude of souldiers that the very thought of placing ladders was enough to stagger the stoutest resolution 'T is true that those which in the Towne upon their ramparts seeing this great victorious Army environ it were not terryfied with the spectacle as not doubting their ruine thought upon nothing but how to sell their lives at as deere a rate as they could yet the sight of this apparent danger did not produce the same effect in the hearts of all the inhabitants for the Towne was so divided among themselves that Cressus stood in as great feare of his owne subjects as of his enemies As love is such an heroique pass on as is infinitely above the capacity of the vulgar so the people of Sardis could not believe that Mandana was the reall cause of the Warr but on the contrary they imagined it to be ambition only which exasperated Cyrus against them so that knowing how this Prince had rendred back the Kingdome unto the King of Armenia after he had conquered it and that he contented himselfe only with the honour of it and making him to pay a tribute which was due unto Ciaxares Therefore the rout of the people took up a Fancy to say that Cressus had no better way then to propose unto Cyrus to become his Vassall imagining that this Prince would accept of it so that this fancy passing from minde to minde and from mouth to mouth it raised so great a tumult in the Towne that Cressus to calme it was forced to tell the people that he would make some propositions of peace unto Cyrus but yet must stay a few daies first Whilst Cressus and the King of Pontus were in this condition Cyrus whose great soule thought nothing difficult prepared himselfe for a generall assault 'T is true one side of the Towne towards the Mountaine Tinolus was so inaccessible that there was no possibility of assaulting it on that side and every where else the Walls were so full of men that there was apparent danger in the assault however Cyrus resolved to attempt it he visited all his Engins and Ladders to see if they were long enough he mustered up all his forces he spoke his souldiers faire and after he had given order to assault it in three places at once the one of which was to be commanded by the King of Assyria the other by Mazares and the third by himselfe This Prince was the first that put a Ladder against the VVals of this Famous Towne after the ditch was filled full of Faggots maugre the resistance of his enemies considering the disorder in the Towne there was great hope of good successe unto Cyrus in the attempt Yet the report was no sooner spread about amongst the Inhabitants of Sardis that their Towne was ready to be stormed but despaire did so rouse up their spirits and made them so Valiant that there was hardly a woman that went not to defend it and had not to throw upon the heads of them that climbed the Ladders indeed the resistance of the Lydians animated by the King of Pontus was such that all the valour of Cyrus and them that sought under him could not force them that day Cyrus was repulsed above twenty times from the top of the walls and if fortune had not happly preserved him he had most certainly perished at this bout for the enemies did so stoutly defend themselves that there was no possiblity to get upon their Ramparts nothing but overturned and broken Ladders could be seen there flew from the VValls of Sardis such a prodigious number of Arrowes Darts and Javelines that the Aire was obscured by them those who escaped them missed not a shower of stones which were continually throwne at them they also had a kinde of Sythes which kept the Walls from the assaultants so that all three divisions were forced to come off but Cyrus in his coming off quartered under the counterscarph of the Mote since he would not be upbraided with getting no advantage Anaxaris who fought that day next him and did such wonders that Cyrus confessed he never saw a more valiant man did exceedingly help this Prince to take this Quarter and to keep it the night also coming on did much facilitate the worke and made it in a condition to be kept yet Cyrus was very sorry his first assault succeeded no better but knowing all daies were not alike in Warr he shrunk not no more then the King of Assyria or Mazares who were very gallant that day and he commended his souldiers as indeed he had no reason to complaine for they did as much as any couragious men could doe He was so happy as to lose not one man of any quality in this storme 't is true a great number of souldiers were killed so that assoon as day appeared a truce was made to carry off the dead during which time Cyrus was very circumspect to observe whether there was any other quarter of the Wall which might be attempted with lesse difficulty But whilst he was considering what was advantageous or disadvantageous the Lydians who in reason should have been more couragious after they had repulsed their enemies became more cowed in their spirits for many of them being wounded and killed they were more affrighted then before the women seeing their husbands and children wounded and killed were so full of cries and teares that they melted the hearts and courages of the rest so that supposing their King might now make a more advantageous treaty after he had repulsed Cyrus then before they began to speak of nothing else and that in so high a manner as this unfortunate Prince would willingly have parted with Mandana
to be once loved and then not to be so and since Beauties are more exposed unto that danger then any others I doe not recant of any thing I said These Sir were the opinions of Parthenia whilst shee was in her melancholly moods and this was the life she lived when a Gallant of high esteem called Timantes came to Paphos with an equipage proportionable to his quality and high birth and sutable to the magnificence of his mind and riches which were both as high as his Quality This Timantes Sir was descended from King Minos who raigned â—ong in Crete And though the Crown was not invested in his house but the form of Government changed yet the people did highly respect those who were descended from their ancient Kings insomuch as they had the highest honours and greatest authority amongst them So that it may be said that though the Father of Timantes had not the name of a King yet 〈◊〉 â—ad very near the authority especially in matters of War 'T is true that since he did st 〈…〉 observe the Lawes of that famous King which before I named and who was a patâ—â—rn 〈◊〉 the Legislators of Greece hee did not deceive that trust which the people repo 〈…〉 him but did infinitely purchase their love and no wonder for I am confident that 〈◊〉 â—oever is an observer of the Laws will easily get love and obedience also This Sir was the descent of Timantes whose person was extreamly handsome and whose wit was above ordinary capacities The reason of his voyage had no matter of privacy in it and being born in an Isle which had a controversie with ours in point of Reputation he had a longing curiosity to see whether Cyprus was to be preferred before Crete or Crete Cyprus So that his travel being a voyage of pleasure and curiosity onely he arrived at Paphos as I said with a most magnificent Train and Equipage His Quality was no sooner known but the King did him all imaginable honours and his merits were no sooner discovered but he was esteemed beyond all expressions So that in a few dayes Timantes was no stranger in our Court The Queen Aretephile much honour'd him the Prince Philoxipes had contracted a close friendship with him Policrite esteemed him and not a Lady in all the Court but had a good word for him As it is the custom of all Courts to double their diversions in favour of strangers the like was there for Timantes But whether in company or Balls or Sports or Walks or publique Feasts Timantes was the onely man of spirit wit behaviour and magnificence So that no one was talked on in Paphos but him his reputation rung as loud and reached as far as where the Princesse Salamis kept her solitudes and I think I was the first who described him unto her Yet she did all she could to hinder me saying she would not willingly know any more what passed in the world since she had quitted it But notwithstanding presently after she asked me which of all the Ladies in the Court was it that most moved the heart of Timantes Beleeve me Madam said I unto her hitherto his civility hath been so equall unto all that it seemes he 's not in love with any For at a grand Feast where there was used a kind of delightfull Combat where those which fought had their devices upon their Bucklers Timantes represented upon his a Phoenix with this Motto I stay untill the Sun doe burn me Certainly said Parthenia this Stranger puts none of the Ladyes out of hope to conquer his heart to the end none should hate him as long as he stayes at Paphos In the mean time Megasides you would oblige me very much in acquainting me with these diversions which I am ignorant of And therefore when you visit your Sister hereafter I pray you acquaint me with what the Court hath more then it had when I was there what new diversions what fresh gallants and what the old ones who are past diversions say This Sir Parthenia heard me speak of Timantes the first time but I was not the onely one who told her of him For the Prince Philoxipes went to see her and did the same Policrite also and Dorida writ unto her so that she had a most exact Idea of Timantes Yet would she never consent that the Prince Philoxipes should bring him thither as he affected this Prince telling her that a Stranger would not interrupt her solitude But she did so earnestly forbid him that hee durst not bring him or to say better the Gods would not permit him since they would have Timantes and Parthenia acquainted in another manner But Sir before I tell you how it was be pleased to know that there was a fair house of Timocleas Fathers about a dayes journey from Paphos about half way unto the town or place where Parthenia lived in this place there was a Labyrinth of Myrtle trees whose hedges were so thick and so high that one shall be as much puzzled to get out of it as out of the famous Labyrinth of Egypt or that in Crete but this was made with such art that those who were in them of Egypt or Crete yet could not finde out the issues of this For as that of Crete was made by ingenious Dedalus when Minos kept there the Minotaure whose modell Dedalus borrowed from that of Egypt So likewise that which is at Paphos was made by a man who having seen both the other took something out of the one and something out of the other and contrived one of the most pleasant diversions in the world The Architecture seemed in Myrtle as if it had been in Marble conveighing from room to room from closet to closet and from gallery to gallery In divers places there were erected Statues of Alabaster and Brasse which yet were no notions of the wayes in or out because the very same were pla 〈…〉 in many places alike there were also severall seats of grasse-cushions whereupon to râ—st the weary limbs of wanderers or for those that knew the passes to sit contemplate The center of this Labyrinth where 〈…〉 ese wayes did meet was a most pleasant round in the midst of which was a most admira 〈…〉 â—ource of water which was conveighed over the hedges as high as they were This Sir was the Lab 〈…〉 nth which Timantes had so much curiosity to see with more longing desire because he 〈◊〉 seen that in Crete which was visited from all parts of the World He spoke often of going to it and the Prince Philoxipes intended to make one but falling sick his journey was stopped So that Timantes turned his intentions into a hunting design with some others of quality in Paphos But as chance would have it Timantes lost his way and wandered from the rest of the company with a friend who travelled with him whose name was Antimaques So that not knowing were they were they espied at their comming
Pythagoras to help him out and addressing his speech unto him I render most hearty thanks unto the Gods said he in the Graecian language for bringing a man into this Desart whose Reputation transcends all the reports of those seven Sages which Greece at this time boasts of This Philosopher wondering to hear Amenophis speak unto him and in the Graecian tongue saluted him with a Majestique civility and to shew the esteeme he held of our Nation he would not answer him in Greek but in the Egyptian Language Thus did these two Renowned men at their first meeting greet one another but not in their naturall Languages both of them retaliating equall Civilities The Complements of Pythagoras were short for doubtless you know Sir how this Philosopher was so great a lover of silence that hee would have his Disciples study five yeares and not speake His Maxim being to say little and heare much and the onely way to speak well was to heare much However that little he spoke was enough to charm Amenophis who carried him into his Cabin after he had presented Sesostris unto him as his sonne and all the rest of his Family as servants unto Pythagoras But Sir all the diligence of Amenophis to bid him welcome was ill bestowed for this Philosopher never eat any thing which had life in it but Figs and Fruits were a fine Feast unto him After this slight repast Amenophis began to discourse of the most sublime Sciences and so admirably well that this Philosopher charmed with his knowledge told him that since his businesse in Aegypt was onely to learn know those great men in it he must needs stay a while with him not goe so soon to Elephantine where he could not meet with better company Amenophis received his discourse with much modesty and conjured him to let him become his Scholar as well as two more meaning Sesostris and my self In short Sir Pythagoras resolved to stay some time in the Isle so that he sent back the Boat which brought him and liked his solitude so well that hee stayed there four Months In which time he instructed Sesostris with much delight for this great Philosopher was so ravished to finde so wonderfull a disposition in the spirit of this young Prince to learne the highest things as hee taught him both with wonder and delight He admired also the young Timareta and so much the more because said he I never knew any of her sex who could so handsomely be silent or speak quicker when there was need or suffer others to speak with more patience The truth is Sir he took an extreame delight in her For his opinion being that all soules doe transmigrate from one body into another either men beasts birds or any animals which the Greeks call Metempsuchosis he had an universall compassion of all living things as oft as he found Fishers with their Nets full of Fishes he would buy them all and set them at liberty And after he had been a while in our Isle he took notice that the young Timareta had many little birds in cages which sung very sweetly and that she loved them exceeding well because Sesostris gave them The Philosopher according to his Doctrine gave liberty to these birds and thereby did exceedingly grieve Timareta for the losse of her birds and Sesostris for the sorrows of Timareta yet did they murmur at their losse onely in secret for as Sesostris received many sapient Documents from Pythagoras so he practised that silence which he taught his Scholars Sesostris talking with Timareta after her losse told her as pittifull as Pythagoras was he was not able to set him at liberty as he had done her birds Truly replyed she I should think it more just to set men at liberty rather then birds But Timareta there is a great difference between them and me for those birds are glad of their freedome but I should be sorry any should break my chains So since Pythagoras intends onely a good unto those he frees when he knows I am your captive he would not release me But as for your part fair Timareta why doe not you follow the example of this great Philosopher and become pittifull would you have me set you at liberty replyed she as he hath done my birds No replyed he but I would have you make me happy in my captivity How shall I doe that replyed she The way is answered he by obliging me more unto you by charming me with a million of harmlesse favours by being gladder when you see my love augments then all Aegypt is when they see the Nile to rise and if it would not anger you to say it by participating with me in my Fetters Ah Sesostris said she would you have me to be pittifull and your self so cruell as to wish my captivity Fie fie it were not just therefore all I can doe is to tell you it shall not be long of me if you be not free Then you doe not love me at all replyed he and looked sadly upon her I doe not see replyed she how you can draw that conclusion from what I said for what greater good can be done to a prisoner then to set him at liberty yet you never gave those pretty birds which sung so sweetly and delighted you their liberty replyed Sesostris I doe confesse it said she for their imprisonment pleased mee better then their liberty I beseech you replyed Sesostris why will not my captivity please you also since I am and ever will be an eternall slave unto your beauty As Timareta was about to answer Amenophis came and interrupted However you see the Documents of Pythagoras were no hinderances to the love of Sesostris but rather taught him a thousand innocent wayes to become more amiable and his passion did still so violently encrease that he asked Timareta leave to move a Marriage unto Amenophis This motion much surprised him for he did not think it within the spheare of his Authority to marry Sesostris unto the Daughter of Amasis Yet for all that he was willing Timareta should love Sesostris still For when things were ripe and that he had raised a party in the Kingdom this might be a means of peace between the Legitimate King and the Usurper at least would be a good Hostage For Amenophis knew that though Amasis was married yet he had no children with his Wife nor could have because he had repudiated this second Wife And though this motion did surprise him yet he told Sesostris that his choice was worthy of his spirit and judgement but yet he was not of age fit for Marriage That his Marriage was a matter of greater importance then he imagined and that Timareta was such a Jewell as he must long hope for before he enjoyed it This too strict answer not satisfying Sesostris hee still added his prayers unto his reasons but all in vain for he grew so extreamly melancholly and sad that he was hardly knowable All the documents
him yet by no means would she receive them but pressed him still to tell her how he got so much riches and asking him further how after this he could return to be a Shepheard Give me leave said he unto her to begin my answer where you ended and to tell you that I am a Shepheard because you are a Shepheardesse and when you leave being so I will then cast away my Crook and for all the rest said he seeing mee coming towards them you may know them from the mouth of Miris As I heard these last words I asked Timareta after I had saluted her what it was I should tell her and she telling me I made a relation of our voyage but since I was to acquaint Timareta with the valour of Sesostris he would needs impose silence upon me but seeing he could not he rose up and went to Edisea who was coming towards us so I made an exact relation of all his acts how great a reputation he had gotten under the name of Psammetites and which way he came by the medall but whilst I related all these things I perceived such joy in the eyes of Timareta as plainly appeared Sesostris was not a little in her favour In the mean time Sir what assurances soever Edisea gave this amorous Shepheard that Amenophis had changed his mind and promised at parting that at his returne he would give him full satisfaction yet he had a mistrust in all these faire words and if Timareta had not been as wise as faire Sesostris had certainly carried her away out of the Isle before the returne of Amenophis but she was so angry at the very first motion of it that he never durst think of it afterwards for she continued three whole daies and would not speak unto him though he courted her with all imaginable plausibility yet after a thousand petitions for a pardon and as many promises to submitt totally unto her will Sesostris made his peace and resolved according to the orders of this fair Shepheardesse to rest quiet untill the return of Amenophis so that after this reconcilement wherein I was a mediator they lived together without the lest jarre unlesse only such as are essentiall redintegrations of love as are every day both in and out a hundred times yet was their tranquillity much molested by the death of Edisea who being gone Timareta had no reasonable conversation but in the company of Sesostris Traseas doubtlesse was a man of much spirit and was much civilized by the long communication of Amenophis Nicetis his wife was also a little more sociable by the company of Edisea but for all that they were nothing suitable to the youth and aire of Timareta and therefore having no other agreeable company she was the more joyed in that of Sesostris yet ever with much reservednesse making it appeare that she would give her selfe no more liberty then Edisea her governesse would were she living yet this reservednesse had nothing in it but modesty without any rigour or severity so that after all teares were dried up for the death of Edisea Sesostris was without any inquietudes but to see Amenophis returned not and because he thought the longer his absence was the more was his happinesse deferred But Sir his longing expectations of Amenophis were all in vaine for he was faln into a desperate Adventure For be pleased to know Sir that as he was going to the places where all the Officers of that faction which he had raised were covered he was so unfortunate as in going through the Town of Nea which is in the Province of Thebes and where there was a sedition raised that Amenophis and his servant chanced to be in the midst of this Tumult against their wills In the mean time as ill lucke was one of the principall men of the Town was hurt and was so near Amenophis and his servant that they with many others were taken as authors of this sedition the party of the hurt man prevailing against the other Thus was Amenophis and his servant a long while prisoners for being strangers they had no support Amenophis not daring to make use of any his friends in Thebes since those who were masters of this Town were for Amasis So than he was forced to trust onely unto his innocency But those who were reall Criminals and were taken with him they had kindred and friends in the Town they were released and the innocent more closly kept in their Prison Yet could they not proceed unto judgement against them because they would first see of him who prosecuted against them being in his bed it was long before they could be certain whether he would mend or end live or die so that the punishment being to be more or lesse rigorous according to the event Amenophis and his servant were kept Prisoners not being able or daring if they could to apply themselves unto any Amenophis was extream grieved at one thing for he found that he had lost Ladices letter to Amasis in the Tumult by meanes of which he hoped hereafter to make Sesostris and Timareta known and which he would needs carry with him both because he would by it justifie himself unto his friends and because he would not trust it any where but where he was himself But whilst he was in this pittiful Condition the Nile did swell afterwards returned again within its ordinary bankes as alwaies it used towards Winter Heracleon drawing his Forces out of the winter Garrisons did suppresse those which revolted and almost quite defeated them so that they were forced all to retreat into Thebes Yet Heracleon could not besiege them but contented himself with being Master of the field and have by this action obtained greater favour with the King This happy successe perswading Amasis that his best course to keep the People in their obedience was to shew himself in all his Provinces and to Perambulate all his Kingdom he began to go from Town to Town to win their spirits and to imprint a new Respect And that his voyage might seeme onely a Progresse of Peace the King would have all his Court with him at last Sir he came to Elephantine and hee was no sooner there but the imperfection and weaknesse of his eyes did so augment that hee thought he should have quite lost his sight but that which did most affright him was a terrible apparition which he then saw I am confident it was rather one of those mysterious dreams which sometimes foretells men of future accident then a reall apparition however it it was Amasis said that when he awaked one night an hour before day he saw or at least thought he saw a gloomy light by the help of which he perceived the Ghost of Apriez and distinctly saw the wounds he received when he was most barbarously massacred The body was all bloody and disfigured but the great amazementâ— of all was to see following the dead King the Princesse Ladice in a great
ceased to resist her inclination and did so peremptorily revolt from those that commanded her to banish Thrasimedes so incivilly that she began to slack her rigour to him Yet would not she permit him to speak openly of his love but without any anger or sharpnesse imposed silence upon him This being the state of things news came that Parmenides and Menecrates would return within two dayes This report had different operations in the heart of Arpalice for her love unto her brother made her rejoyce to see him so soon and her hatred of Menecrates made her strangely apprehend his return On the other side Thrasimedes had so little assurance of the heart of Arpalice that he knew not what to resolve upon nor how to behave himself towards Menecrates therefore he determined to find out a way how to speak with Arpalice in private But since it was not her custome to give him any such opportunities And since all he had to say required longer time then common conversations which lasted not above a quarter of an hour he bethought himself of an invention which did admirably well serve his turn Know then that to bring about his design he bestowed a visit upon me and after much common discourse he began to talk of Menecrates asking me confidently how I thought Arpalice would receive him Afterwards falling from one discourse to another he told me that he had a very great desire to give an entertainment unto Arpalice before Menecrates came For said he if one may credit Zenocrite she dares not so much as lift up her eyes after he is arrived For my part though I knew Thrasimedes was in love with Arpalice yet I did not suspect hee had any secret design in his words and he was so accustomed to treat us with fresh entertainments that the proposition did not at all surprise me I asked him then what kind of treatment this should bee telling him it must be quickly if hee would have it before the return of Menecrates Thrasimedes perceiving me so easily deluded told me that Arion who was so famous throughout the world was arrived at Patara but since he had a desire to passâ— unknown he would not be got to play upon the Harp unlesse one had some intimate friendship with him but being well acquainted with him at Corinth hee could prevaile with him provided it was not before much company This may easily be replyed I for it may be at Lycastes house The company would be too great there replyed he for there will not be â—ewer then â—ycaste Zenocrite Cydipe Arpalice and your self and you may well imagine that it is not possible to make Zenocrite keep any long silence to oblige Arion to play his best for you must know that such a man whose voice useth to charm the very Dolphins will not take it well that Ladies will not be attentive Me-thinks I see him already lay his Lute or Harp upon the Table at the first word which Zenocrite speaks and will neither play nor sing any longer What then is the best course said I unto him The best way is replyed he that you invite Arpalice hither to your house to morrow after dinner upon some pretence or other that she come alone and that you give it out all that day that you are not within and admit of none but Arion and your self who will come together Thrasimedes had no sooner made this proposition but I accepted of it for since my Father allowed me all the liberty I could desire knowing I would not abuse it it was an easie matter for me to do according unto this proposition and since I beleeved Arpalice would not dorr at it I made a positive promise unto Thrasimedes who having a Halicarnassian friend who played passing well upon the Harp and sung as well he made use of him in lieu of Arion To shorten my discourse as much as I can I obtained of Arpalice to come and see me and the truth is I forced her for she did long deny me but perceiving me grow angry she came thither the day following very timely You may imagine that Thrasimedes failed not to come nor to bring his pretended Arion with him but I forgot to tell you that he desired me to treat him with much civility and to commend him highly He told me also that the best way to make him sing and play well was to entertain him well before he began to sing for it is the humour of all the Musitians in the world to love applauds and therefore if any would have him doe his best they must commend him and allow him patience in relating some of his amorous adventures or his adventure of the Dolphin If that be all said I unto him let mee alone to doe all the civilities which are fitting And indeed the next morning when hee came I was as good as my word and Thrasimedes had so well described his Goddess unto him that he did all which was desired of him So that this counterfeit Arion who was a man of wit and spirit enough began to addresse all his discourse unto me according to the instructions of Thrasimedes whilst one of his men was to bring his harpe At first the discourse was generall amongst us all four but he fell insensibly to talke onely unto me tâ—hin king thereby to oblige him unto a better humour of singing I willingly hearkened unto him and desired him to relate his admirable adventure of the Dolphin which was so famed over all the World And indeed he began such a circumstantiall relation that I thought hee would not have finished before the next morning and so he would not sing nor play that night Moreover Thrasimedes had told me that he was phantasticall and I was so fully perswaded of it that I durst not seem so weary of him as I was In the meane while Thrasimedes desiring not to lose such a favourable opportunity as had cost such paines to compasse came nearer Arpalice then before Madam said hee unto her in a low voice me thinkes since Candiope permits Arion to relate his past misfortunes you may as well allow me to relate my present miseries But I beseech you Madam added he perceiving by her lookes that she prepared to deny him be not so inhumane as to deny me a hearing the harp of Arion will presently prevent me without your rigour therefore I beseech you let me speak Arpapalice thinking that ere long the Harpe of Arion would come and that then the pretended Arion would begin to sing and play did not impose silence upon Thrasimedes So that this lover not fearing to be interrupted by the Musique of Arion began his discourse Madam said he unto her I cannot think my self so unhappy as that you should not know I love and love you infinitely all my actions speak as much my very looks may assure you of as much and certainly it is impossible that there should be so much love in my heart and
had two yeares since but since I never saw them I took them for a novelty So that after he had read them unto me I sent them unto Arpalice But as Thrasimedes gave them unto me he slily slipâ— a note into them which I perceived not So that when Arpalice opened my Pacquet she was much surprised to find a Letter from Thrasimedes whose hand she knew very well and wondering I should undertake to send it without any mentioning it unto her The Letter was thus written To the Fairest Person in the World MADAM I Do not only beg a pardon for my own presumption in writing to you but for Candiope also whom I have deluded Yet Madam how can I chuse but ask how long this cruel absence will last which deprives me of the happinesse in seeing you and I must needs ask also whether you will for ever banish that man out of your heart who infinitely loves you and cannot possibly live without you I should subscribe his name but I beseech you name him your self to the end I may have the honour of being pronounced by the fairest person that ever was As this Letter was as full of respect as Gallantry it did more please then anger Arpalice and the delusion which Thrasimedes put upon me had a happier successe then he could wish yet shee seemed to be angry but it was in such mild termes as it was evident her anger proceeded rather from decencie then any sharp resentment yet Arpalice did not answer the Letter of Thrasimedes but sent it unto me and if I could as well remember her Letter unto me as I doe this which I have related I should make you confesse she writes as well as she speaks For truly it was the most facetious peece of wit that ever I saw She observed the severity of a prudent person in anger and yet had many expressions concerning Thrasimedes infinitely obliging 'T is true she charged me not to shew her letter but to tell you the truth I saw she had been so elaborate in writing that I thought she had no desire to be obeyed for when she writ onely unto me her Character was wont to be more carelesse and worse legible she used not such exact expressions nor elegant phrases So that I shewed it unto Thrasimedes chiding him soundly for the trick hee had put upon mee but to qualifie my anger I shewed him Arpalices Letter wherewith he was extreamly charmed not onely because it was admirably penned but also because it was obliging unto himself He used all his Rethorique to get a coppy of that place which concerned himself but I would not suffer him 'T is true he read it so oft that he could not chuse but remember it In the mean time this daies conference did so perfectly perswade me of the real affection Thrasimedes bore unto Arpalice that for the good fortune of them both I wished Menecrates so far in love with Cydipe that he would marry her and think no more upon Arpalice And I assure you that during this absence I did what I could to advance it I never saw Cydipe in a negligent dresse but I chid her lest it should be any hinderance and whatsoever she say now she was then glad Menecrates preferred her before the greatest beauty in all Licia And indeed she was a ful of complacency to him as any virtuous person could be 'T is true she was universally civill unto all so that many were not so subtle as to perceive but that never deceived me for I easily perceived she was glad Menecrates loved her In the mean time Parmenides who was deep in love with Cleoxene durst not shew it unto Menecrates because he was afraid to incense her And knowing that Arpalice did not love Menecrates he thought best to keep upon good termes with Cleoxenes Brother And for the better understanding of this adventure you must know that Cleoxene had as great a spirit as beauty but it was such a subtle secret spirit that those who thought they knew her best did sometimes find they knew her not at all and indeed at that time she passed for a person indifferent who valued not the love of any but delighted in all pleasures in generall and loved nothing else who did not apply her selfe unto any pleasure in particular who kept not secret confidence with any but told all the world she could not conceive any thing was necessary to be kept secret Yet this person whom I have described unto you held an intimate correspondency for above a year with a brother of mine whose name was Lysias and none ever suspected any thing 'T is true Lysias was as discreet as Cleoxene was subtle and I should never have knowne this correspondency if by chance I had not found Cleoxenes Letter whose hand I knew and which moved my Brother to impart his secret unto me for fear I should reveale it You may imagine after this which I have told you that Cleoxenes put my Brother into much peplexity yet since he thought her rigour proceeded from her indifferency the worse she treated him the more he loved her For as those who are of a proud and lofty spirit as he was either quickly recoile or more resolutely fall on Parmenides not doing the first of these did the second and did so hastily court Cleoxene that if Lisias had been capable of Jealousie doubtlesse he would have feared such a Rivall But as Cleoxene carryed the matter he was not at all jealous and the assaults of Parmenides did rather divert them and augment their affections For Lisias was more circumspect and Cleoxene was more exact and more obliging Moreover they made me promise and swear such faithfull secresie that I never acquainted Arpalice with this affection who thought Cleoxene to be as indifferent as indeed she was amorous And I have heard her wish a hundred times that she were of her temper and had a soul so disingaged as she thought Cleoxene had As for Philistion he behaved himselfe towards me as if he were perswaded it was not handsome for a man of spirit to stay so long in a Town without some peece of Gallantry and I carryed my self towards him as one that was not sorry he should esteem me so much above others as to talk of me when hee returned into his own Country Thus Philistion having a heart not over deeply engaged was very pleasant and obliging company Menecrates thinking upon nothing but how to please Cydipe Parmenides of nothing but how to move the heart of Cleoxene Cleoxene sporting at his passion with Lisias and Philistion and I having no further designes but to esteem one another Arpalice returned with Zenocrite but so admirably fair and so perfectly recovered of her sicknesse that she was cried up as a fresh new-come beauty and I beleeve she returned with full intentions to treat Menecrates coursly Know then that Zenocrite brought her into her Aunts chamber where she found abundance of company amongst
never to depart from his interests and inviolably to keep the conditions between them Cyrus had no sooner put this Crown upon the head of Croessus but the vault and roof of the Temple did ring with acclamations and the people could not be silenced from extolling the generosity of Cyrus But at the last all the tumultuous noyse of joy being appeased Cyrus ceasing to treat Croessus as vanquished and to behave himself as a Conquerour demanded his Daughter for the Prince Artamas in the presence of the Phrigian King who stood next him He had no sooner asked the question but Croessus taking the Princess Palmis by the hand presented her unto Cyrus and bad him dispose of her as he pleased After which causing the Prince Artamas to approach the Priest advanced also and the Princess Palmis At the conclusion of which Musique did play again and presently after the Prince Artamas conducted the Princess Palmis into a most magnificent Chariot which waited at the door of the Temple and which was followed by a hundred others full of Ladies all the Princes riding on horseback accompanied with all the Gallants of Quality When they came unto the Palace there was a most sumptuous Feast prepared and after Dinner a Horserace in the Great Plain The repast at night was no less Princely then that in the morning Bonefires were made at every door the Palace was full of harmonious Musique but the Princess Palmis would not permit any dancing by reason of the excessive sadness which she saw in the eyes of Cyrus though he forced himself as much as he could Also though Cyrus had restored much unto the King her Father in restoring the Crown yet Croessus had lost much in losing his independent Authority and his Treasures So that though it was a Festival day yet it was not one that had all the signs of joy which it might have had Yet the Phenician Ambassador was extreamly satisfied as well as Aristheus who could not enough admire the illustrious Cyrus and he was full of observance that his eye was never off him as long as he could see In the mean time Cyrus having not forgot the desires of Ligdamis Thrasimedes Men crates and Philistion the ceremony of their Marriages were accomplished the next morning after that of the Prince Artamas and the whole Court did honour them with their presence This second Feast was no less magnificent then the first and Cyrus was no less melancholy this day then before to see how far short he was of the happiness of all these Lovers Mazares was no more pleasant then he However Cyrus had an extraordinary care that the Phenician Ambassador should be vvell pleased vvith his civilities and to that end he did divert him as much as he could and prepared Presents for the King his Master and him vvhich vvere above the double vvorth of those he received and finding much satisfaction in the company of Aristheus he talked vvith him very often and certainly not vvithout good reason for there vvas not a man in the World who could speak better concerning Politiques nor vvho better understood the interests of all Princes in that time then Aristheus did And to speak truth Aristheus spoke vvell in all things vvhatsoever And Cyrus did not content himself vvith discoursing of Affairs in general but he carried him along vvith him into the Visits vvhich he made unto the Princesses and other Ladies He made use of him also to knovv hovv the King of Plenicia could furnish him vvith Ships before he made any Propositions of it unto the Ambassador of that Prince insomuch as Aristheus and Cyrus vvere almost inseparable Since he vvas generally knovving in every thing he spoke so many several languages that he vvas able to converse vvith all the Ladies there though there vvere those of many several Countries In the mean time since the Phenician Ambassador knevv that the sooner he returned the more acceptable he should be unto the King his Master he moved for his departure as soon as might be Cyrus designing to satisfie him that he might the sooner obtain those Ships he desired told him that he was ready to keep promise with him But before he restored him the rare Statue which he demanded the Princess Timaretta went to see it and afterwards all the Court Those who dwelt in Sardas and had seen it several times went again by reason of that curiosity which this adventure begot in them And indeed the curiosity was such as nothing else was talked on And Aristheus being very conversant amongst the Ladies they asked him a thousand questions but most especially Doralisa unto whom he applied himself more then unto any other though others courted his converse more then she did But the more she talked unto him concerning this admirable person whom this Statue represented the more he augmented her curiosity So that being one day much importun'd in the presence of the Princess Palmis and Cyrus to relate the History of her Adventures he promised that it should be exactly done by a friend of his who knew the particulars of it better then he did and who indeed did so most pleasingly Since you are not this Countryman replied Doralisa and since I have not the honour to be well known unto you you do not know that I never use to give any time unto those who promise me any thing especially when by holding them to their promises I shall oblige two persons so illustrious as those who now hear me and who will certainly be very glad to know the adventures of a Lady in whom the King of Phenicia hath so much interest Cyrus approving of Doralisa's Speech as well as the Princess Palmis Aristheus told them they should be satisfied when they pleased So that without further delay it was resolved that at that night he should perform his promise as indeed he did For he prepared him who was to relate what they desired to know to go with him unto the Princess Palmis Chamber where the Princess Timaretta would be a partaker of that diversion 'T is true Aristheus could not stay there because the Phenician Ambassador sent a Post that night unto the King his Master to give him an account of his happy success in his 〈◊〉 and he was obliged to write also So that after he had brought his friend thither whose name was â—clamis and that Cyrus and the Princesses saw him to be a man of good Spirit he 〈◊〉 asking leave of Cyrus to go whil'st Telamis was making his relation and make another unto the King of Phenicia of his magnificence and generosity and of all the most rare Qualities which he found in him adding further most obligingly that since he intended to conceal none of his active virtues from the King his Master he did not think he could return before the end of Telamis his relation After vvhich making me 〈◊〉 low obeysance he retired and left Telamis with the Princess of Phrigia
plain dress that vail hanging down to the ground over her fair hair that plated Tiffiny about her fair Neck and tyed with several black Ribbonds like a Scarf those turned up sleeves which let the whiteness of her arms appear and all her sad habit which gave a more fresh lustre to her eyes and was a foil unto the freshness of her complexion all of these were so advantageous unto her that her greatest adorers confessed they never saw her so fair and they pressed so that day to see her that one could hardly pass through the Chamber unto the Queen who did treat her according to her merits Amongst that croud of gallants there was one that day with the Queen whose name was Poligenes who was one of the most considerable men in our Court both for his quality and merit who being a great friend of Stratons and one of the prime Admirors of Elisa was ravished with joy at the acclamations which were attributed to her Beauty yet he thought that this his joy was as much an effect of that friendship which he held with the Father as the love which he bore the Daughter for having seen her in the Cradle and used in her infancy to speak unto her as if he had been her Brother also given her a hundred advisements in divers accidents he could not believe he was in Love with her yet it was not long before he did perceive it as I shall hereafter tell you Amongst this multitude of men of Quality who were then at Court there was one of Sidon called Phocilion who having never seen Elisa before was so surprized and charmed that he could not talk of any thing else He did not content himself with looking upon her whilest she was with the Queen but he followed her when she went out as far as her Coach afterwards he came in again unto the Queen and mixing with the company of three or four whereof Poligenes was one he began to extol the beauty of Elisa very highly asking where she lodged who used to visit her often and who could carry him thither Poligenes who till now was glad of the praises which were attributed unto Elisa began to think strange at those which Phocilion gave her for he was very handsom and he told this fresh Adorer of Elisa that the house of Straton was not now so open and free as it was wont to be in the time of the late King and therefore he would not advise him to court his new acquaintance adding further that since he was a Sidonian it was not convenient for him to see such a dangerous person in Tire yet for all this his perswasions would not work upon Phâ—cilion for which he was very sorry So that calling himself to an account he found that certainly the affection which he bore unto Elisa was of another nature then he imagined But before I acquaint you Madam with the progress of this Love it is requisite I acquaint you what kind of man the lover was Poligenes was doubtless descended from a very illustrious family and out of a house more noble then that of Elisa his person was very handsom he was rich and neat in his habit and never any had a more Polite and facetious wit then he Courtship and gallantry were qualities born with him civility was inseparable from him and though he was of a little too serious composition yet he was not melancholy but on the contrary his conversation was very pleasing 'T is true he was a little reserved and particular and never spoke in any of those tumultuous conversations where there was much company If he was at any time to give a treatment he would do it with so good a grace in such order and so neatly that one would believe it cost him half as much more as it did and in any thing which he undertook either Races Musiques Balls Walks or Feasts he alwayes had somthing extraordinary and rare so that all unanimously did give him the reputation of the neatest of men and it may well be said that all the spruce youths of the Court came not neer him Poligenes was about thirty five years of age when the late King of Phenicia died although he seemed not to be above twenty and eight He had a Brother much younger then himself but he was not then at Tire Poligenes being as I have described did not mix himself with the youth of the Court which made such a croud upon Elisa as if he were their Rival but on the contrary he behaved himself as the friend of Straton and his Daughter not but that he did commend her with a better grace then they and was as full of his expressions of gallantry but it was in a way more subtil and by not professing the Gallant he was more Courtly then they Since he knew the sharpness of Elisa's humour he carried it so as he perswaded her that whatsoever he said were only effects of that Gallantry which proceeded from his natural Genius so that Elisa not suspecting he had any particular design upon her lived with him in much confidence and as if he were her brother The better to palliate his own thoughts Poligenes would somtimes give her advice either in acquainting her what was said of her or in advising her to rid her self of some who visited her craftily chusing those whom he feared most prejudicial to him Elisa thinking him well intentioned towards her thought her self exceedingly obliged to him for his behaviour to her and his advice though she would be her own Governour nor was she of too easie a belief yet she lived with him in a most obliging manner So that whil'st she made all those to dispair whom she thought her Lovers Poligenes whom she thought only her friend received a thousand testimonies of esteem and friendship In the mean time Phocilion notwithstanding the advice of Poligenes found out a way by the help of a friend to be carried unto Elisa and being handsom and of a good spirit also being of good quality and a very compleat man Straton entertained him very well and the better because he looked upon him as one who might in reason think of a Marriage with his Daughter for he knew very well that all those Princes and Grand Signiors who had loved her would not marry her As for Elisa she looked upon him as a compleat man and never looked further for in the humour she was marriage was no part of her inclination Phocilion being discreet and wife having a sweet and pleasing wit and never speaking any thing unto Elisa which might give her the least cause to shun his company he courted hers and he had presently got that pleasing familiarity with her which she allowed to her friends and denied to her Lovers Poligenes upon whom Phocilion cast a shadow imployed all his Stratagems to put him out of Elisia's favour Somtimes he would tell her he was but a Rustique other whiâ—es that if she
can have and as capable of any high business when he pleased to imploy his parts But the wonder is there is not a man in the world who knew how to play the fool more pleasantly then he for his Spirit had such a Genius so apt and particular for it that nothing in the world made more pleasant sport then to hear him talk yet his way was nothing like unto theirs who make it their profession to tell merry stories and tales that which rendred him most pleasant was he talked as if he never thought of what he said yet wit phancy and quickness were inseparable from his words Moreover he would pass so subtilly from a serious matter to a merry that one could not chuse but take exceeding delight in it Some daies he would be very reserved and serious as if he were hatching some deep design and after he had kept a long and grave silence he would suddenly begin to talk of Gue-gawes and gallantry as jocondly as if he had never mused at all He would also address himself to the most and the most serious person in the world as well as unto the most merry and he did so well know how to hit the Spirits of those he talked with as he never spoke any thing which would let them take it ill He would somtimes act the child as if he were one indeed and with as much application as if he had nothing else to do he would also act the old and the young the wise the simple the sprightly the Blockhead when he was in the humour to make himself merry Moreover he was born with an amorous soul but it was not after a common fashion For the very truth is Madam Clearques was the most gallant the veriest Weathercock and the most constant Lover in the world and though this last quality seems to be incomparable with the second yet it is most true that he was both fickle and constant his soul hath been so full of passion that nothing could never stagger it but maugre this constancy he hath entertained a hundred petty transitory Loves he never saw a woman that pleased him but he would tell her of it and be ready to do a thousand slight services when occasions presented themselves and to take delight in seeing and be seen Yet for all this there was still a superlative and predominate passion in his heart which was never weakened by this multitude of trifling gallantries which he was in all places full of and he was ever able to quit these transitory Mistresses for her unto whom he had really given his heart and was resolved alwayes never to abandon her So that having found out the art of reconciling fidelity and inconstancy together he was all complacent unto all the Beauties he met with and yet preserved himself for his real Mistress It may be also said that Fortune had a mind to favour his gallant and merry inclination for he met with fit adventures in every place and found out occasions of imploying his talent amongst many Ladies and that fair ones so that his adventures were very suitable to his humour Moreover as he could speak excellently so he could write as well and I do not think any ever had a more amiable way of trying wit as Clearques had in his Verses and Letters so gallant and so pleasant as is inimitable For though all he writ was genuine and natural yet the wonder is how he could hit upon it having such peculiar phancies as none could light upon or if they did could not express them comparable to him In short Madam Clearques was a man so extraordinary that if the sweetness and pleasants of his Spirit were separated from the rest of his good qualities doubtless enough would be found to make up two compleat men out of one He is also universally loved and esteemed of all who know him especially by the admirable Cleomira and all those whose descriptions I have made Now Madam to follow the Rule I proposed unto my self I beseech you give me leave to describe unto you the wise Theodamus who was one of this Society He of whom I speak Madam being infinitely esteemed of all those excellent persons I have named ought in reason to be so of you nor do I doubt but he will as soon as you shall know him Theodamus is not originally a Phenician but of a good extraction and Family wherein virtue hath appeared with full lustre a long time Moreover though Theodamus by his profession may be ranked amongst those who are called the accomplished men of the Town yet in respect of his great virtue and rare merit he is ranked amongst the accomplished men of the Court all who do universally esteem him and treat him with extraordinary civility But Madam since the soul of Theodamus does merit a thousand praises I will not insist upon the description of his person and to let you know him I must first describe unto you his honesty his justice and his prudence and I assure you that all these three virtues are to be found in his heart as they are in themselves Indeed I do not think there is any man in the world more sincere more free nor more faithful then he he is most just in every thing even in such things as he is interested in and there was never any who with more reason doth merit the title of Prudent then he yet there is somthing in his temper which is not ordinarily found in temperance for he is extreamly vehement and if his wisdom were not accustomed to conquer all his passions and subdue them unto his reason his cholor would somtimes shake his soul But Madam this fire which upon some occasions put him to some pain produceth a thousand good effects for it makes him the more zealous to serve his friends it elevates both his heart and soul it contributes much vigor and spirit in the transaction of any business he goes about either in his own affairs or his friends Moreover he resembles the generous Megabates so neer that the love of his Country is so deeply imprinted in his herrt as there is nothing which he will not attempt for its safety if occasion served Again Theodamus is the most regularly civil of all men living and the most unwilling to disoblige any one 'T is true his soul was open but unto very few yet his heart was hard unto none As the soul of Theodamus was great firm and generous so his mind was as great solid and extreamly knowing but though he was knowing almost in every thing yet had been never versed in the Greek Tongue though his name was descended out of that Country where they speak no other yet truly this little piece of ignorance in him if the word may be applied unto so able and knowing a man did set off all the rest of his knowledg much better for though he had not the Grecian Language yet he knew all the
glory of having his Urn bedewed with tears from the fairest eyes and most illustrious persons in all our Court. Lastly Madam I must speak of Aristâ—eus of whose person I need not say much since you know him and since he hath been in your presence it will seem rashness in me to describe his Spirit unto you But since I Know it to be of vast capacity and so incomprehensible as you cannot fathom it in so short a time I think it permittable to speak of it as if you knew him not at all Give me leave therefore to tell you Madam that Aristâ—eus is illustrious in everything and is owner of so many rare qualities as I cannot tell how to rank them into order but I will shew them unto you as well as my memory will permit me yet it is fit that the qualities of his soul have the first place and I assure you that those of Aristheus are such as answers all that is deniable for it is great high constant generous and grateful If from his soul I pass unto his heart I shall find it full of a thousand excellencies I shall see a Love of true glory an infinite goodness and tenderness of his friends and a solid affection unto virtue and if from his Heart I ascend again unto his mind what is not to be found there So clear so great so high so universally knowing as I know none comparable unto him nor know I any thing which he doth not if he talk of the most sublime knotty and uncommune Sciences he talks as if he never talked of any thing else if he discourse in matters of Phylosophy he renders himself intelligible unto the very ignorant if he speak of the Stars of their scituation or elevation it is as if he knew the way 'twixt earth and heaven and as if he visited all the houses of the Sun as frequently as those in Tire if he discourse of the Morals he will make it apparent he teacheth no more by his words then he doth by his manners if he fall upon any Subject concerning the Politiques one would think he had governed the Universe for many years it being not possible one can imagine that books without a long experience should infuse so much knowledg he does not only reason upon publique business but also dives into the Councels of the deepest secrets he looks at the causes of the most strange events and foresees the sequel of things with so much Justice as it happens very rarely that he is mistaken If from the Politiques we pass to his Poesie he speaks as if he had taught the Muses and not they him for never was any more admireable in that act then he but the admiration is he hath reduced that Science into Act for he hath now compos'd a Poem of the birth of the Gods and for that reason called it Theogonia which is a piece so admirable that since Homer never any attempted so great a work it is not only great but also admirable and those who are able to judg do say that he hath observed a better method with more judgment and better excellency then Homer did He is Master also of many other rare works which render his name illustrious and which are too long to relate as well as many other qualities which Aristheus knows For indeed he knows many Languages most perfectly he knows all good books he is excellent in History Geography and to say all in few words he is ignorant in nothing but the greatest wonder of all is he knows men as well as manners and Sciences and there was not harshness in his conversation and Spirit as useth to be in most Scholers but on the contray Aristheus spoke more like a Courtier then a Scholer he spoke most elegantly and without affectation and thought commonly most men who speak much are accused for speaking too much yet it was not so with Aristheus though naturally he loves to talk Moreover Aristheus is not of that rigid Sect who scorns the conversation of women but he is much delighted with them and would pass away whole afternoons in trifling talk with them whom he knew could talk of nothing else He expressed himself and his Gallantries with as good a grace and perhaps better then those who are Gallants by profession 'T is true he hath been somtimes blamed for being a little too full of flattery of Ladies and too universally commending them he spoke unto but I know this to be a part of so good a principle as I am none of those who will find any fault for being prodigal of his good Language Aristheus is so gallant that somtimes he makes it known that he is in Love with an amiable person who is a friend of Elisa's and who so exceedingly resembles the fair Doralisa as one would take the one for the other both for her beauty her wit and her humours yet to tell you plainly I think the heart of Aristheus is only full of tender friendship unto her But as for matter of Gallantrie I believe he keeps that close in his heart for he can hide it and shew it when he will and is a most absolute Master of himself 'T is true he does and sayes a hundred things which may well be taken for a real Love and I believe the friendship he bears unto others 〈◊〉 person has a degree of their heat in it which is above that he bears 〈…〉 but for all this I cannot think it Love all I grant is that the spark whi 〈…〉 t is not altogether friendship However this doth produce much 〈…〉 ough 〈◊〉 make the Spirit of Aristheus appear Some also do upbraid him with the 〈◊〉 affection unto three or four one after another and yet he cannot endure should any should 〈…〉 d him with inconstancie but in his own defence he saith that he 〈…〉 d any o 〈…〉 out of his heart who once entered into it and that he only causeed them to 〈…〉 pla 〈…〉 and so without abandoning them or ceasing to love them he only releiveâ— the 〈◊〉 place in hiâ— heart for the best of his friends who sweetly dispute one with another for an Empire which assuredly he never gives without good reason However this helps out conversation and makes it more jolly Moreover Aristheus is so full of complacence as he never contradicts any voluntarily but my greatest wonder at him is his inclination to inhance the merits of others and to hide their defects which makes him so generally known as none can be better Indeed we have not a Prince nor a Princess who do not think themselves honored in knowing him and who do not treat him with abundance of civility And Madam upon a serious view of Aristheus I finde that he comes either short of a virtue or else is in the excess for he is somtimes so extremely modest as those who very well know his merit cannot endure it for he will so reject their commendations
passion which she would advise him to assume Lyriope hath since reported that she was in pittiful perplexity at that time and indeed it is easily to be imagined that envy and jealousie contesting in her heart did put it into a strange disorder On the one side she saw that she might do a great honor to Elisa whom she hated on the other side she might spite Asiadates and extinguish a passion which disturbed her tranquility But though jealousie was powerful in her Spirit yet she had not overcom her envy had she not phancied much happiness to her self if this project could wean him from the love of Elisa for as it is ordinary for envy to make those partial who are possessed with it Lyriope began to think Elisa not so handsom as she was and never to think that the King would fall really in Love with her so that the tumultuous turbulency of her soul beginning to calm upon a suddain she named Elisa unto the King But she had no sooner named her then this Prince cried out Oh Elisa said he unto her Certainly you have read my very heart Elisa being she who of all the Ladies in the world best pleaseth me and with whom I can with least pain seem to be in Love Lyriope hearing the winde in that corner began to tell the King her envy growing stronger then her jealousie that she should be extremely sorry if she should kindle a real passion in his soul and therefore she would disswade him from the choice of Elisa since he had a greater inclination to love her then any other but her labour was in vain she could not quench what she had kindled nor change the Kings minde at last she resolved to stand unto her first principle Thus it was on all sides resolved that the King should seem to be Elisa's servant Since ths Feast of Neptune was to be celebrated within two daies a sit occasion of expressing his gallantry did offer it self such a one as would make all Phenicia his witnesses In the mean time Elisa knew nothing how Lyriope plotted against the tranquility of her life but enjoyed a thousand innocent delights in Cleomira's Palace finding more contentation in the conversation of her friends then ever she could in the multitude of her Lovers Phâ—cilion also as amorous as he was did not think himself altogether miserable though he was not loved so well as he would be for he had the consolation to hope that none would ever be more happy then himself Poligenes and Agenor had an infinite esteem of her still since reason and dispair had cured them of their Love to her but as for Asiadates he was still in most horrible torment the violence of his passion was without any hope he received a thousand affronts and checks from Elisa neither Lyriopes jealousie nor his own would permit him any rest yet were his sorrows much augmented upon the Feast day of Neptune For the King in prosecution of his intended design applied himself to commend and Court Elisa more then any other and to speak high in her advantage He took her out to dance at a Ball which was kept at the Court and made such applications to her as that the next morning the general noise was all over Tire that the King was in love with Elisa But Madam imagine with what a restless soul Lyriope did pass over the day of this Feast For my part who by chance was next her the same night that this pretended Love of the King made the greatest flame I must confess that I never saw any thing more equally carried in my life for though I did not then know the true cause of Lyriopes changing countenance nor did I imagine that envy only was the cause of it yet did I observe all passages I saw Lyriope look somtimes upon the King somtimes upon Elisa somtimes upon Asiadates and somtimes upon nothing though her eyes were open but stood in a most profound musing I perceived her pronounce some words somtimes half aloud and perceiving her own error would restrain her self As for Asiadates I heard him say that never man was such a sufferer as himself when he saw the King become his Rival for though he never was in the least hope of Elisa's love yet was he as much grieved at it as if that Prince had taken from him the heart of Elisa or hindered him from enjoying her As for Phocilion he also was troubled at it but his was with a mixture of some tranquility and the more because he did not conceive that Elisa's eyes would ever be dazled at any grandure since she was used to treat Princes and Subjects all alike and was so far from being startled at Majesty that she slighted it But Madam the rarest part of this encounter was that the King had not talked above three words to Elisa but he was was really in Love with her and in as high a degree as possible could be yet was this Conquest no joy unto Elisa but on the contrary it troubled her Yet to draw some good out of a thing which she looked upon as evil she imployed all the credit she had over the Spirit of this Prince to dispose it unto virtue unto which he had already much inclination and indeed it may be justly said that all Phenicia was beholding unto Elisa for a thousand excellent things which she infused into the soul of this young Prince In the mean time Feasts Musiques and all delights were more in use at the Court then ever and though Elisa since the Kings love did more affect solitude and appeared in sight less then ordinary but carried it as if she would let the Court see that she was no way contributory unto the love of this young Prince nor rejoyced at all in the Conquest yet it was impossible that she should not be present at these great assemblies whereof she was the cause yet she transacted so wisely that without incensing the King she perswaded him that all he was to expect from her was respect and acknowledgment and that such acknowledgment only as should be locked up in her heart without any other outward expressions then wishing his glory and the happiness of his raign And indeed this Prince who was not of his Fathers inclinations did love Elisa with a most pure flame In the mean time Lyriope found her self extremely mistaken in her opinion that the Kings love to Elisa would quench the flames of Asiadates for on the contrary he seeing his choice authorized by the Kings his flames were hotter and he began to scorn and slight Lyriope much more on the other side this envious woman seeing the King did really love Elisa and that loving her as he did it was very glorious unto her she thought how she should quench those flames which she had kindled endeavouring to perswade this Prince that if he did love Elisa in earnest he would lose himself in the minds of the people more then
the very Basis of all others do at any time transgress it is only when clemency prompts her to pardon some Noble Delinquent indeed she knows so well how to mix the severity of Justice with the mildness of clemency that from these two virtues do flow a milion of good effects which makes her to be both feared and loved by all her people Moreover she is able to give advice she is knowing in all affairs and understands them so admirably well that it is a hard matter to pose her in any thing she never frequents any but magnificent Feasts in her Court and stately recreations but the predominate passion of her soul is Love unto the Sciences and she may as well be called Queen of the Muses as Queen of Corinth and indeed they do in all places pay her homage in perpetual Elogies and Panegeriques both in Verse and Prose the name of Cleobuline is celebrated in all places of the world and her glory is above any additions But Sir to omit any relations of her Government since we have nothing to do with the Politiques at this time Be pleased to know that there is a man in the same Court whose name is Myrinthus who is not originally a Corinthian since his Grandfather was a Lacedâ—monian This Myrinthus is a man of excellent parts for he is not only tall handsome fair and of a good Garb but he has as much heart and as much Spirit as any one can have He had also this advantage that his Grandfather and Father having both of them very Noble Fortunes both of them had the most honourable imployments in the State By this means Myrinthus ever from his first budding in the world had much familiarity both with the Queen and with all the men of highest Quality in Corinth 'T is true Myrinthus was of a very considerable Rank in his Country yet the truth is also that Fortune carried him higher then his birth but never higher then his virtue Yet Sir he need not be looked upon as the only foundation of those honours which I shall tell you he received since I am very confident that the Queen of Corinth had some reason to say one never loves but because they cannot chuse and because there is some compulsive power which forceth us whether we will or no to love and hate without any help of our reason But Sir since in order unto my design I must discover a secret unto you which few know a secret which doubtless the Queen of Corinth would not have you know therefore I must tell you that there is in our Court a Prince whose name is Basilides a man doubtless very amiable both for the Qualities of his person for those of his wit and those of his soul Moreover Basilides looked so neer the Crown that by the Law he was to succeed Cleobuline if she married not Thus Prince had ever a most reverent and violent passion unto this Princess but since she made her self feared as well as loved the Rank she kept did enjoyn him silence yet I know very well that the Queen was not ignorant of his passion though he never told her of it and I am sure that if she did not love him it was not because she was ignorant of his Love but because her soul had a secret ingagement which she her self knew not of For Sir let me tell you Cleobuline was born with a most strong inclination unto Myrinthus But that you may not wonder how I came to the knowledg of all these secret particulars be pleased to know that Stesilea who dwelt at Corinth of whom you heard at Sinope and who married the Brother of Philista she I say was of confidence with the Queen a long time and Philista being intimate with her since her return from Corinth I knew from her all these passages which I relate unto you I know therefore Sir as I told you that none can have a stronger inclination to love another then Cleobuline ever had to love Myrinthus and this affection was so bred in her from the Cradle as she perceived not the greatness of it until she was a Queen She knew before that the sight of Myrinthus did please her more then the sight of any other that his company did more divert her that in her eye he had a better Garb then any in the Court that his cloaths did better become him that he had a better grace then any else that his Spirit was more pleasing ing and that she esteemed him more then any she knew but she thought all these to be pure effects of her reason and of Myrinthus his merits not thinking her inclination had any other ground But the truth is she loved him and knew it not and she went on so long in this error that her flame could not be quenched when she discovered it As for Myrinthus the vast distance between the Quality of this Princess and himself did so limit his veneration of her virtues as that it did not produce those effects which perhaps it would have done if Cleobulines quality had been equal unto his for he knew very well that in all reason he could not look upon her but only with an eye of respect and not with the least thought of Love he knew she was the most accomplished person upon earth but this knowledg produced only of admiration and if he did bear any affection to her it was only to her glory and to do her service but not unto her person yet was he very officious in rendring most exact reverence unto this Princess because being of a very ambitious temper and knowing she was to be Queen he conceived that she might advance his fortunes and indeed he was not mistaken for after Periander died Cleobuline conferred upon him one of the greatest offices in the State yet she did believe that in conferring it he would execute the office better then another and that what she did was conducible to her service But she was not long in this ignorance of her own heart for she began presently to conceive that she was not her own Mistress Since Myrinthus had this Queen in high veneration since he was obliged unto her and since he expected much from her doubtless he failed not in any thing of duty to her as the Queen of Corinth yet she confessed since unto Stesilea and Philista that somtimes though she knew no reason for it yet she was not satisfied with his obsequiousness with his respects and services and that she was vexed at him though she did conceal it and not being able to reach the cause she knew not whereof to complain Thus not knowing what her heart would have of Myrinthus she only knew that she was not contented But though these disorders did often take her without any outward expressions of them yet she could not believe that she was in Love with Myrinthus and she had rather accuse her self of being phantastical then of entertaining
impossible for you to be happie replied Stesilea therefore take that course which may ease the Queen of those sorrows which you have caused you may easilie do it since all is but to think no more upon Philimena Easilie do it replied Myrinthus and looked upon Stesilea If I were able I would immediatelie become perfidious Yes Stesilea since you have told me the Queens reason for denying my request there is nothing which my heart hath not alreadie invented against Philimena I have opposed against her the Queens beautie her spirit her wisdom her virtues her grandure and all my obligations to her and the sooner to vanquish I have racked my imagination even unto folly I have phancied things that might accrue unto me I have allowed my ambition all the swinge that vanitie it self can imagine and I have set my thoughts so neer a Crown that some second thoughts correcting the first I have blushed at my own audacitie and rashness But for all this Stesilea This great Queen who raigns so absolutely in the hearts of all who know her and who indeed hath right to raign cannot drive Philimena out of my own heart therefore if you have any generositie pitie my imbecilitie and miserie Tell the Queen as from your self that I am most unworthie of her affection that she abaseeth her self too much in looking upon me and since I dare not presume to lift up my eyes so high as her I am not worthie of her looks But yet I beseech you do not drive the nail too far and do not make her pass from love to hatred for indeed Stesilea I must profess unto you that I should be almost as sorrie to be hated by Cleobuline as not to be loved by Philimena therefore I beseech you transact with all your discretion for since I must die I desire I may with the glorie of her favour I have yet one Petition more unto you which is that you would keep her from hating Philimena and in order to that perswade her that in conquering my heart she will never displease Philimena And perswade her also if you can that I deserve some commendations for resisting her charms These are things so full of contrarieties replied she that I think my best course is to do none of these things you speak of Yet I do most constantly tell you replied he that I shall ever love Philimena but withal I tell it with a sigh and with a blush and that I cannot resent the happiness which I enjoy for thinking of that which I lose Oh heavens cried he out why is 't not possible to reconcile the Queen and Philimena in my heart For my part I conceive it may be for as you express the affection of the Queen methinks she should be satisfied that I hold her in infinite reverence that I respect her as they use to do the Gods that my Spirits and my reason doth acknowledg her power that I vow all my services unto her that my valour shall be ever imployed unto her glorie and that she only leave my heart unto Philimena But what do I say said he and reprehended himself it seems my reason wanders in offering to prescribe Laws unto Love and to divide that which will not admit of any division I must confess the Queen deserves a thousand hearts if I had them but confess also that since I have but one and that one already given it is not in my power to retake it and that it is only Philimena's As Stesilea was readie to reply Basilides entred who was much surprized to find so many signs of a troubled mind in the face of Myrinthus This thought did so much disquiet him as when Myrinthus rise up to go away he rise up also to ask him what the matter was though he was newly entred yet Myrinthus did not tell him what the matter was but to say somthing to colour the matter he told him that having desired Stesilea to do him a good office unto the Queen she told him how resolute the Queen continued in denying his Marriage with Philimena So that Basilides having some reason to think that the disorder he observed in the Spirit of Myrinthus proceeded only from the obstruction which he found in his design did make him new protestations and professed he would use his utmost endeavours to effect it after which they parted Myrinthus carrying with him the most restless heart that ever was Since his soul was of an ambitious temper and since he naturally bore much affection to the Queen this love of this Princess did huff him up and when he considered with himself what glorie it was unto him to be loved by a Queen so fair so illustrious and so charming it was a thing impossible but he must needs be joyed at it and to desire that he were able to be perfidious unto Philimena yet when he began to think that by preserving the one he must lose the other his ambition began to yeeld unto his love and all his cares was to find out wayes how to enjoy Philimena But since these wayes were hard to find the Queen not consenting unto it he was most extreamly grieved Moreover he had cause to think that if he married Philimena against the mind of Cleobuline she would then abase him as much as she had formerly exalted him So fearing lest Philimena who loved him when he was in favour should not love him when he was in disgrace his sorrows were an insufferable torment and as an augmentation to his misery he durst not acquaint Philimena with it or put her fideility to the best so that fearing all things and hoping in nothing he spent the rest of the day in extream restlessnesse and all the night following without a wink of sleep But that he might not bee miserable by himself there chanced a businesse which did not a little perplex Basilides For Sir be pleased to know that in order to his designes upon the Queen his care was to get himself creatures in her house both amongst the officers and amonst the women and there was one amongst the rest whom he had entirely gotten This Person then watching upon all opportunies to observe the Queen especially when she seemed most melancholy told him all that she at any time observed But at the last she observed so closely that she one day heard all that Stelisea said unto the Queen concerning Myrinthus and all that the Queen said unto her and she heard enough to collect that the reason why the Queen would not let Myrinthus marry Philimena was because she did not hate him her self At the first she resolved not to make it known unto Basilides knowing that it would not please him but upon second considerations she changed her resolution and the next morning told him word for word all that she heard The surprise of Basilides was so great that if he had only the testimony of this woman he had not given credit unto her words But
the Corinth 〈…〉 Queen as high as possible repeating all her virtues one after another and insisting principally upon that power which she had over her self in hiding a most violent passion For truly said he I know by this that she must needs have a soul much greater then mine since when I was at Sinope and fell in love with Mandana I was never able to vanquish that passion though I had then stronger reasons to decline loving that Princess then Cleobuline had not to declare her affection unto Myrinthus Therefore Philocles I must conclude the Queen of Corinth to be worthy of all those glorious Characters which you have given her And I do assure you that if I do tell Thimochares what you desire I should tel him it shal be only for the love of you Since certainly to follow the pure dictates of my own heart I should never advise a Princess who is in love to marry a Prince whom she loves not However since I do believe your intentions good and since you know the people better then I do and in what sphere the Spirits of the Court do move I promise you to do as you desire After this it being very late Philocles retired unto the Tent which was provided for him and left Cyrus in thoughts of envy against Myrinthus wishing with most passionate zeal that Mandana did as tenderly love him as the Queen of Corinth did Myrinthus The end of the second Book ARTAMENES OR The Grand CYURS The Seventh Part. Book III. THe next morning Thimochares coming to Cyrus that Prince performed his promise unto Philocles but yet he knew very well that he gave such counsel as the Queen of Corinth would not follow Yet to testifie how much he esteemed that Princess he doubled his civilities upon Thimochares to whom he shewed all the works After which and after a most Princely Banquet Thimochares returned unto his Fleet desiring to be on Land no longer lest some unforeseen accident should fall out He was no sooner gone but one of those men whom Cyrus sent with Spitridates came into the room he no sooner saw him but being extreamlie impatient to know what news he desired him to acquaint him but first he gave him a Letter from Tigranes in which he found these words TIGRANES unto the illustrious CYRUS SIR THe Prince Spitridates being wounded in his right hand it must be mine that must let you know how he is so unfortunate as that he cannot accept of those generous offers which you made him For after he had met with the Ravisher of the Princess Araminta whom I cannot call Brother and after he had fought with him whilst I was another way in quest of that Princess be escaped his revenge after he had slightly wounded him in the right hand and imbarqued at a Galatian Port whither we followed him and where we imbarqued also though we know not directlie which way he hath taken After this Sir I have no more to say but to tell you that the acknowledgments of the Prince Spitridates to you are as great as his sorrows and that my anger against Phraartes doth equal them both though it doth not exceed my zeal unto your glorie TIGRANES After the reading of this Letter Cyrus enquired verie particularly of him who brought it how Spitridates did meet Phraartes and by him understood that it was in a Wood that Phraartes at first taking Spitridates for him would have fled but one of the men knowing him to be Spitridates did first assault him that all their men fought but in conclusion Phraartes seeing Tigranes afar off with his Squadron he ran away and got into a thick wood where we lost the sight of him that afterwards they understood Araminta during the combat was in a Shepherds Cabin some two hundred paces from the place where they fought and that Phraartes went and took her away and carried her into a Port within thirtie furlongs of the place where those who guarded her had provided a Ship and that he was no sooner come unto this Port but he imbarqued some reporting that he was wounded This man related further That Spitridates and Tigranes making towards that place did come too late and that they resolved to imbarque also and to carry with them those whom you gave unto them and at last sent him to relate the passage When Cyrus had heard all that concerned Spitridates he understood from Feraulas that Arianita making no question but Cumes would be taken was gone out of Sardis to Thybarra with Doralisa whose Aunt had there some Estate and business and therefore she was gone unto that place where she might be neer her Princess and Mistress when she was released Feraulas said further that Pherenice having no mind to leave her was gone along with her The Prince Myrsiles who was present when Feraulas told this news unto Cyrus was much joyed in his hopes of seeing Doralisa at the end of the Siege But Cyrus had no sooner done with Feraulas then an Envoy from the Prince Philaxippes was brought unto him and another from the Prince of Cicilie who sent Ships unto him insomuch as Cyrus seeing fresh hopes of vanquishing and releasing Mandana his soul was all tranquility but this calm lasted not long For Mazares remembring that the King of Pontus had still the same Heliotropes wherewith he got Mandana out of Sardis was extreamly sad and desiring to communicate his sorrows unto his Rival also he told Cyrus of it the very same houre who was so surprized at the apprehension of it that his wonder was as great as his grief Alas Mazares unto what end is this Siege to cast up any works to have a puissant Navy to have made a considerable breach to have begun a Treaty which in all probabilitie will produce happy effects if our Rival can still steal himself out of sight and carry our Princess from us Alas Mazares I know not what to think nor can have any constancy of hope I cannot chuse but fear this accident against which there are no orders to be given Oh heavens how comes it to pass I should be so forgetful and so blind as not to foresee this miserie Doubtless the Gods have permitted it replied Mazares to the end you should go on with the Siege of Cumes so gloriously as you have done But alas replied Cyrus to what purpose is it to have so happily advanced it in spite of all the obstacles that Nature and men could block in our way since the qualitie of one little stone can render all our travels unprofitable Perhaps at this very houre Mandana is not in Cumes but that our Rival hath carried her away the third time Truly Mazares I know not what to say or think but I am sure that I will never pardon my treacherous memory Oh heavens that such a drowsie sleepiness of spirits should possess my thoughts in a business upon which depends all the good and bad fortune of my life Alas alas
in love with Lysidice Rather pitie me good Lyriana said he because she does not love me and not because I love her I assure you answered she I pitie you for both causes and I know not whether or no you would be less miserable in her hate or in her love for really Thrasiles considering the peevish inequalitie of her humours I do foresee you would be intolerably puzzled to endure them Alas replied he so she would let me love her I would endure them all After this I used all my arguments to disswade Thrasiles from any longer loving Lysidice but all in vain However he desired me to let him lament the miseries which he foresaw he was probably to endure and I consented unto him And indeed after this there grew a great amitie betwixt him and me insomuch as I dare say that I knew his most secret thoughts But to return unto Lysidice you must know that though she resolved to banish Thrasiles yet there was so much giddiness in her humour that she altered her mind And Madam not to trouble you with too much impertinacies Thrasiles was not banished And Lysidice became one day in so sweet a humour that She suffered him to love her yet I think it may very well be said that She allowed him this favour to make him resent the toyishness of her humours with more sorrow And indeed I believe there was not a day after this on which Thrasyles did not find the truth of my predictions in saying that his love to Lysidice would cost him abundance of sorrow yet I must needs confess that all his hours were not equally ill but I think I may verie well say he suffered more in loving Lysidice then he had done in loving all the three which formerly raigned in his heart and that the foolery of the first the engagement of the second and the insensibilitie of the third did not put him to so much trouble as the inequalitie of Lysidices humours For indeed he never knew in what state he stood and could never tell in what disposition to find her mind when he came to her He thought some days that he had a deep share in her heart She would impart a hundred particular passages unto him in a most sweet and obliging manner insomuch as he would think himself sure of her affection But at next meeting the case would be most miserably altered and he would find her the most harsh peevish austeer and cold woman in the world And I must go a little further and tell you how it was even ordinary for her to go into her Closet in a very good humour and come out in an extream bad one And to set forth her unequal humours a little higher yet She has several times had several discourses with Thrasiles and has not ended with the same humour she begun though there was no occasion in the earth given which could make her change it When She was in the good fit she would commend all that Thrasiles did and nothing could anger her and when she was in the bad She would find fault with every sillable he spake and would be angry at everie thing sometimes she would complain of his passion that it made too great a noise in the world at other times She would have him do a hundred things to publish it and She would very often quarrel with him for obeying her own commands I remember one day amongst the rest when Lysidice was the most charming person upon earth and the most complaisant and falling into discourse of Feasts Pleasures and Walks before five or six persons whom she loved very well every one propounded their own diversion according to their own pallate so that Lysidice in her turn after she had hearkned unto the phancies of others She began to coment upon them and said that there was not one in all they had proposed which had not some inconveniencie in them As for dancing said She The trouble in matters of dressing themselves the croud one finds there the setting up late the spite to see another dance more and to be more applanded all these surpass the pleasure of it As for musique it moves melancholy or at least does so take up the spirits that so long as it lasts they can do nothing but hearken also the pains of commending the musique does alwaies follow the pleasure As for Grand-feasts they are intolerable by reason of that glutting abundance in them and by reason of that prodigious variety which in having so much to chuse of doth take away the liberty of choise yet acknowledging that walking came nearest her inclination provided it was in delicious places and choise company yet notwithstanding to content all the world she could fancy such a feast as should have all those pleasures which they had proposed without anie of the inconveniences which follow them I pray said I unto her how would you contrive the business First said she I would make choise of a most rare Garden vvherein vvere many murmuring and cooling Fountains excellent Statues shady Walks open and aiery Alleys great Borders but of Flowers close Arbors and all that 's excellent for a Garden Also I would have it near a fair house But after all this I would have the libertie of naming all the persons to be present whom I would order so handsomly in my choise as they should not be weary of me as I should not be weary of them nor they wearie of one another After this not to be troubled with too much tricking and dressing I would have all the Ladies there undressed that there should be onlie so many Coaches as not to make a throng that the dividing of companies should be sutable and that every Coach should be filled with those who love best to be together that none should be put to rise too soon in the morning and that every one should come to the place just to have so much time as to see the house before they sit down and no more Moreover I would have the meat to be most exquisitely good without anie superfluitie Then order should be observed and that the odour of flowers should take away the smell of a feast All dinner while I would have such musique as is more fit to exhilerate the spirits then to molifie the heart also I would have the musique in a loft by themselves and not too near After all this I would have us pass into a cool handsom Chamber and talk till the Sun gives us leave to walk after which everie one should follow their own inclinations and chuse those places they like best When night came I would have us sup as we dined but in a place where the murmure of Fountains might be heard at rising from table I would have return to walk again and to content those who affected dancing I would have two or three hundred chrystal Lamps fixed in every Tree in a large Walk to make the night day Then to
not go he would not go neither and for above half an houre I was in a belief that neither she for whom the Feast was made nor he that made it would be present at it But in conclusion She was so earnest with Thrasiles that he himself should go and She her self to stay behind that obey her he must and accordinglie went unto this Feast without her You may imagine Madam in what a sullen humour Thrasiles was in all that day yet he did bear out this peevish passage with abundance of patience and as inconstant as he was reported to be he did not desist from loving Lysidice though in my opinion he had verie great cause but on the contrarie he desired me to tell all the company that Lysidice was really sick lest they should speak somthing of her which might be disadvantagious unto him But the oddest Passage of all was that the next day she would needs perswade him most unjustly that he was very merry at the Feast though he never seemed so melancholy in all his life and charged him with a crime for obeying her in the entertainment of those Ladies which she her self made choice of However her waspish humour being over She easilie appeased Thrasiles But since it was not possible the fantastical humour of Lysidice should be concealed She made the love of Thrasiles to her more apparent insomuch as one who was an Enemie unto Lysidice and had a squint eye her self upon Thrasiles did give it out that Thrasiles did not onlie love Lysidice but also that Lysidice suffered Thrasile to love her And She spoke this before so much company that some friend of Lysidices did acquaint her with it So that She never considering that it was onlie the reports of an Enemie did take the matter as hainouslie as if it had been the vulgar talk of all the Court and charged Thrasyles never to see her again yet She did a little moderate her doom and confined him only not to see her at her own house So that Thrasiles who was all obedience sought out all occasions of comfort to himself in seeing her at other places either in the Temple or in the Walks or at other visits which she made insomuch as though he did not see her at her own house yet he saw her very often but he did not long enjoy this favour wiâ—h any tranquilitie for Lysidice growing into a worse mood began to be very harsh to him and to think that he slighted her since he came not to see her though She positively commanded the contrarie and though he never in his life loved her more In the mean time Thrasyles seeing himself so coursly treated could not devise unto what to attribute the cause and I believe would never have found it unless he had by chance come unto 〈…〉 e when Lysidice was there where casually I was speaking of a man in Court who was one of my friends One of your friends replied Lysidice sharplie how can that be since I never see him with you I do not say replied I that he is in the first rank of my friends yet however since I see him almost everie day in several places I may say he is my friend Oh Lyriana said she you do strangelie mistake your self for it is my opinion that though I should see you everie day at Philoxenes house and not at mine I should look upon you only as my friends friend and not my own But if Lyriana should onlie aim at seeing Lysidice in Philoxenes Chamber replied Thrasyle what would you think of her then I would then think replied She that She might have spared her labour for I am not at all obliged unto her for it There is such a notable difference between visits at ones own house and visits at anothers house one is not Mistress of the conversation but must submit in civilitie to the pleasure of her whose house it is Moreover when one is not at home one is obliged to see a thousand persons whom they care not for meeting with and who somtimes desire not to be seen So that the humour taking me as oft it doth I shall be a whole after noon and not speak a word and there is so great a difference between Lysidice in her own Chamber aâ—p Lysidice in anothers as one would say she was two Lysidices Yet replied I and laughed yet there is not necessity of being so different in your self However it be said She it cannot be denied but that it is incomparably more sweet to have good companie at home then any where else and that any one is fuller of life and spirit in ones own Chamber then in anothers According to your Maximes Madam replied Thrasyles I am onlie to be the friend of your friend You need not doubt it replied She and from this verie houre I will look upon you as Lyriana's friend and not mine for I do profess and declare unto you that all the men I find abroad do never make any particular impression upon my heart and it would be an Age before I should look upon them as having any right unto their amitie but should rank such men in the Catalogue of my acquaintance and not of my friends But I beseech you Madam replied Thrasyles if one do forbid anie one of their friends to come unto their house does such a friend lose the glorious title and qualitie of friend by being obedient unto their commands Yes replied She if such a one will willinglie be obedient in such a thing as might be disobeyed without disobliging her who did command it I know one of your friends replied he unto whom I will give this counsel Be not too hastie said she for perhaps the counsel which I give in general is not good for him you speak of in particular The truth is Madam Thrasyles did easily understand her for since he had a mind to go the next day unto Lysidices she did treat him most abominablie ill and told him that since he would scarcelie ever see her at her own house he should not see her any where else so that there was a fearful quarrel between them but for all this it ended to the apparent advantage of Thrasyles for since that he obtained leave to see her at her own house as before But Madam it was to torment him more then ever he was before for I am confident that there was not one day on which the inequalitie of this fantastical woman did not torment him with a new punishment the greatest crueltie was that she would so smooth him up with her sweet and pleasant houres that he could not for his life disingage his mind For truly said he one day unto me when I was perswading him to desist were She alwayes in her ill humours I could easily break those bands which tye me to her service But Lyriana did you but know how amiable She is when She pleaseth you would not wonder I should love her maugre
but I lookt upon Lysidice who as soon as ever She saw him changed colour so that I turning to her and speaking low lest our women should hear Well Lysidice said I unto her did you think Thrasiles would ever return Provided Philoxene did not send him replied She I do not care though he be returned For my part replied I I care not upon what reason he return so he think upon the end of his Letter which 〈◊〉 writ unto you However it be said She unto me you would do me a great pleasure if you would tell Thrasiles I am much joyed at his return I promise you I will said I unto her though on my conscience you are not so glad of it as you say you are As we were thus talking we came to a Ladies house unto whom we intended a visit which done I waited upon Lysidice to her own house and returned to my own where Thrasiles stayed for me I no sooner saw him but I seemed very joyful at his return But yet said I unto him before my joys be full I must know whether you be returned free from this thing called Love for if you be not believe me in lieu of rejoycing I shall be extreamly grieved Grieve then you must said he unto me for I was never more in love in all my life then now and in all probabilities shall be so till death Fie fie Thrasyles said I unto him you are not so much Master of your self as I imagined nor care I for the friendship of a man who since he can so easily forget injuries can as easily forget good offices But Thrasiles said I have you forgot how you writ unto Lysidice that you would never retur unto Cumes until you had left loving her Pardon me good Lyriana said he unto me for I have kept my word You are not then in love as you say you are replied I. I am more in love Lyriana said he then I say I am yes much more then I am able to say But my dear Lyriana it is with Philoxene and not with Lysidice whom spite and reason banished out of my heart before Philoxene came into the Country Though it be not my custom replied I to be very glad that anie of my friends should be in love yet I profess I am infinitely joyed that you are in love with Philoxene since it is an infallible argument you are not in love with Lysidice After this I began to vaunt that I should so foretel his passion and I related unto him what Lysidice and I had said when Philoxene came to bid me adieu After this he acquainted me how having seen Philoxene every day since she came into the Country with all the freedom which the Country could afford he had seen her more in a month there then he should have done in Cumes in a whole year and that indeed he had found that in her alone which he had vainly sought for in those four persons which formerly he had loved How Thrasiles said I unto him Are you not only in love but loved also No replied he you do not well explain my words for my meaning is that Philoxene hath more good qualities then all the rest together have And certainly Madam Thrasyles had good reason thus to commend this lovely Widow since questionless there cannot be a more accomplished person Doubtless he might have found one of as great beauty and as much wit and spirit but never any so without fault For truth is she had none her beauty was infinitely pleasing her behaviour was high noble and modest her Phisognomy spake goodness and sincerity and there was such pritty mixture of mirth and seriousness together in her face as did exceedingly become her She had a million of charms in her humours as many graces in her mind and as many good qualities in her soul virtue was alwayes the end she aimed at in all her actions She affected glory She is most tender to her friends She serves them with joy and never disobliged any It may be said her anger is an ornament unto her in raising up some lovely blushes but vanishing so soon as it will not give her time to do any injustice It is impossible but to judg favourably of her She is fair She is young She is rich and She is a Widdow She knows so well how to regulate her life that her reputation is high though her vertue be neither salvage nor austere but on the contrary sweet and sociable This Madam was Philoxene when Thrasiles began to love her and this She is at this very day yet I understand by him that he durst not discover his passion unto her but tells me that he is fully perswaded She knows it or at least suspects it Since he came only unto Cumes upon some little business and to let Lysidice know how he did not now love her he stayed but three days and returned to Philoxene To tell you how vexed Lysidice was is not an easie matter especially when Philoxene returned to Cumes and Thrasiles followed her the next day for when she perceived that he was in love with this fair one She was veved to the very soul Then did she contract a great amity with Cleocrite and both of them had a plot to make him pass in the world for the most unconstant man in it hoping thereby to ruine him in the opinion of Philoxene and indeed I believe these reports which they had scattered abroad did not do him much good nor hurt But the great obstacle which Thrasiles met with in the mind of Philoxene was not that for indeed after he had served her a whole year with extream assiduity and fidelity She saw he was far from inconstancie But Madam the love She had to liberty kept her from the reception of Thrasiles his services I know she esteemed him above all men living and that if ever she married Thrasiles would be her choice But yet for all this favourable inclination which apparently she had to him She did not chuse him nor put him in any hopes yet for all that Thrasiles whom they said was so unconstant desisted not but suffered all because he did not find in her such things as stifles the very soul of Love As the foolerie of his first Mistress the engagement of his second the insensibilitie of the third and the fantastical humours of the fourth But he stood firm and constant to his loving her and seemed as if he were resolved so to do as long as life was in him and I am most confident it is true for since Thrasiles loved Philoxene his constancy hath been put unto all sorts of trials First it is certain that Cleocrite and Lysidice either out of vanity or malice or some other reason laid all the stratagems they could invent to disingage him for her and to reduce him unto their services Niside also for a while had a strong desire her Son should marrie one of the fairest Ladies
he heard it from the mouth of the vanquished what was the cause of the Combate divulging also the generosity of the Conqueror and publishing that Armatrites was the first challenger to fight And after all this said Intaphernes I must go into my Sisters chamber But generous Prince sayd Atergatis to him what will you say of that man whom she will not know I will tell her replyed he that she ought to preferre him before all the rest of the world and that being so much obliged to him as she is she deserved the Prince of Assyria's scorn if she were not as gratefull as Atergatis is generous After this seeing it was late and would be dark before they came to the gates of Babylon they began to walke and came so happily that they could not be known by any who could acquaint the Prince of Assyria that Atergatis was gone unto the Lodgings of Intaphernes However as soon as that Prince had carryed him to his Chamber he left him Atergatis desiring him to have a greater care of what he said unto the Princess Istrina then of what hee should say unto the Queen but as he was ready to goe out a Page from that Princesse entred who having heard some confused reports of a Combate with Armatrites did send to see whether her Brother was returned from hunting and whether he knew with whom it was that Armatrites fought Tell her said Intaphernes that I will see her presently and that I send her word it was he whose name she would not know that fought with Armatrites and is his Conqueror The Page remembring word for word what the Prince Intaphernes told him went back to the Princesse Istrina and made an exact relation of the Prince her Brothers message and shee was extreamly surprized when she heard it The cause of her wonder was not only to know that it was Atergatis who fought with Armatrites and overcame him and to know of a certain that it was Atergatis who was in love with her but her greatest wonder was to understand that the Prince Intaphernes should be acquainted with the conference she had held with Atergatis not being able to imagine that he who would never tell her openly that he loved her should acquaint the Prince her Brother with his passion But whilst she was descanting thus upon the novelty of this adventure Intaphernes went to the Queen unto whom he related the combate of Atergatis moving her to set a value upon his zeale who had defended her glory against him that opposed it and was vanquished assuring her of a truth that Armatrites confessed it before he died Also since at the beginning of this contest between these two Princes there was severall witnesse of it the noise of it was spread throughout all the Court and had come unto the Queens eare so that whatsoever the Prince Intaphernes sayd unto her being but a confirmation of what she heard before it was an easie matter for that Prince to dispose her unto a Protection of Atergatis And indeed though she had no inclination to authorize such Actions yet she sent to tell that generous Lover how she wished he had nor been so zealous in defence of her glory However though she was very sorry for the disastrous accident yet she thought her selfe obliged unto him for interesting himselfe so far as to hazard his life for her Adding that she would protect him as far as justice and fittingnesse would permit her But though Nitocris had this good opinion of Atergatis yet the Prince of Assyria was quite contrary and undertook to protect the kindred of the dead person in so high a manner as made it apparent he lamented the losse of Istrina's intended ravisher And being a man of an infinite spirit and penetrating wit his fears were that Atergatis would make his vanquished Enemy confesse his intentions and knowing it would acquaint the Queen However Intaphernes meeting him as he came out from the Queen and as he was going unto Istrina this violent Prince knowing that Intaphernes had already spoken very advantageously in behalf of Atergatis he stayed I know said he unto him in an angry tone that you are the great abettor of the Prince Atergatis but let me tell you that I am resolved to revenge the death of Armatrites Since Atergatis Sir replyed Intaphernes mildly had not fought with Armatrites but in behalf of the Queen I had thought Sir you would have been his protector and I am confident you will as soon as you have spoken with that great and glorious Queen therefore I beseech you Sir give me leave to rest in my owne opinion which ere long will be 〈…〉 urs No â—o answered the Prince of Assyria very sharply never imagine I shall aâ—ter my opinion whom I love now I shall love as long as I live and whom I hate now I shall for ever hate therefore never hope that the Queen can make me change my mind either in what relates unto Atergatis or any else And therefore by consequence it is your part to conform your mind opinion unto mine I will ever conform my selfe Sir unto the dictates of Reason replyed Intaphernes and will never faile in my duty to you or to the Queen But Sir I cannot cease being the friend of Atergatis since honour will not allow it Then be his friend answered the Prince of Assyria very hotly but withall be sure to find me your enemy Then this violent Prince did leave Intaphernes who had much a do to keep within compasse of his respects but striving with himselfe not to give any such tart replies as he desired he expressed himselfe in as sweet Language as his generosity was capable of and afterwards went unto the Princess Istrina who expected him with much impatience which was accompanied with a kind of feare and shame As soon as he came into her Chamber he desired her to goe into her Closet where he would try whether all Atergatis had told him was true and whether she knew any more then he had discovered to him so that beginning to speak and looking attentively upon her Methinks sister sayd he unto her that considering how I have ever lived with you and since you have known the very secrets of my heart and have not been ignorant of my inveterate hatred of the Assyrian Prince you should have acquainted me how you reign in the heart of Atergatis Atergatis replyed the Princess Istrina and blusht hath kept his passion so close that though it be so he does love me yet I knew it not and therefore could not acquaint you with it 'T is true I had of late a kind of guess at it but I might perhaps be mistaken in my Conjectures No no replyed Intaphernes you are not mistaken sister if you thought that Atergatis adored you and he hath given such ample testimonie of his love as you need not doubt it But Sir I beseech you replyed the Princess tell me how you came to know
unless Fortune do call them unto it by some extraordinary way Indeed were it not a fondnesse to hope that persons of most high Quality should ever care for such Companions one must owe them all things and they be obliged by nothing They love you only because they love themselves and measuring their affections to you by the diversions which you afford them as soon as your diversions faile their loves will cease Do you not by experience find that how Princesses who are the best of any in the world do slight you and since they have company enough they will not carry you with them to take the Aire Good Berisa let not the Court deceive you but undeceive your selfe and shake it off before it shake you off It is but a habit and may easily be left Do you think that Provinces far off Courts have not wits and men of spirit in them and can you think those wiâ—s and spirits are idle and weary No no Berisa it is not to be imagined but be confident they think themselves as happy as you or any Courtier in the world The laws of amity and friendship is regularly observed amongst persons of their quality there is as much complacency amongst them as amongst others there being no Lords nor no slaves amongst them they live much sweeter lives then you imagine I pray then judg Berisa what should you do at Court Oh Orcames sayd she I see you never use to make any visits into the Countrey since you know no better how tedious and wearisom they are For know Orcames that all of them either talk not at all or talk too much or else talke scurvily They have not only a pronunciation different from the Court but their matter and manner of speaking doth also differ Their gallantry is so grosse that it is rather an impertinent piece of a talk which is insufferable To hear them talk of love is enough to procure hatred to hear them talk of Martiall matters would move ones pitty of them If they talk of news they know so little of the world and tell such unlikely stories that they are not worth the hearing yet you advise me Orcames not to stir out of my own Quarters I must confesse sayd I unto her that I do advise you to it because the vexations which follow the delights of the Court are greater then the other though it were so that no accomplished persons were there to be seen For the truth is as I have already told you persons of high Quality care not a straw for their Inferiours Their friendship aâ—mes only at themselves they will give you a thousand welcomes to day and hardly look upon you to morrow they will promise more then ever they intend to perform and their delicacy is such that if you do not flatter them sufficiently you do them wrong Believe mee Berisa though there were no other consideration then this to drive one out of all Court-fancies that one must spend all their dayes with people that are above one unto whom they must hold a continuall complacence and blind obedience I think it were enough to move one unto my advice Besides matter of honour which cannot endure to be slighted is considerable for indeed Berisa you know as well as my self that if a Town or Country-woman chance to love any Courtier she exposeth her selfe to more talk then any other since certainly it is a piece of injustice which reigns in the spirits of all men of that quality in Courts to think that a Country Lady is more beholding to them for their services and visits then a Court Lady is Moreover that 's not the place where Country Ladies use to seek for Husbands either for themselves their Daughters their Sisters or their Friends and the truth is there is nothing more odious then for a Country or Town Lady to be too much at Court Therefore Berisa if you will be ruled by me you shall erect a Court in your owne Chamber and attract all the gallants of Calcedonia which are reasonable thither the number of whom is not so small as you imagine I do not advise you said I to be troubled with such men whom the name of Court affrights and who have as great an aversion to Court as Court hath to them but like some Creatures who live sometimes on Land sometimes on water make choise of such friends as are a Miscellany part Court part Country and pleasing in all No no Orcames replyed she you can never perswade me to it for though I know that what you say is partly true yet I assure you I cannot change my opinion Indeed said she and smiled I am so farr from mewing my selfe in my own Family that I professe I care not if I never came at it so I could but heare all in it were in health Since you are of that mind said I I will move you but unto one one thing more so it be not to quit the Court replyed Berisa I will willingly follow your Councell Then said I unto her to oblige the Princess of Bythinia not to neglect you again try if you can absent your self only for three or four dayes and thereby force her to send for you But suppose she should not send for me replyed she I should then be pittifully puzled how to return again to her And therefore Orcames I had rather follow my own inclination then your advice Then follow it said I since I cannot cure you of this fond Court-humour but if they should chance to slight another time when they are going unto any diversions blame not me for it After this Madam I left Berisa and was very sorry that I had no better acquitted my selfe of my Commission to perswade her from haunting the Princess of Bythinia For all I could say against the Court did make such small impression upon her spirits as she went unto the Princess that very same night who received her civily enough For besides her naturall sweetness there was another reason which obliged the Princess to tolerate her which was because the Father of Berisa who was a very popular man in Calcedonia had done Arsamones very considerable service Thus not knowing how to be rid of this troublesom Creature I was again made choice of by Intaphernes and Atergatis to counterfeit Love unto her And indeed Madam though I did not love to dissemble my thoughts but ever affected sincerity yet I begun to make experiments upon Berisa so that holding her continually in talke I gave Intaphernes and Atergatis opportunities to talk often with the Princess of Bythinia and the Princess Istrina Thus Madam was the Winter spent But the Spring bringing warre with it it was resolved we must depart I believe Madam I shall tell you no lye If I tell you that the adieu betwixt the Prince Intaphernes and the Princess of Bythinia and between Atergatis and Istrina was much sadder then mine and Berisa's Yet the Princess of Bythinia
been more desirous to know the state of his wounds then they were but as inquisitive as they were yet they could not know any more then what pleased Cyrus to impart because those whom he left with the King of Assyria did give an accompt only to him so that since Cyrus gave it out he was very ill they knew no other In the mean time this journey being a journey of jollity and victory Cyrus did not only give order that Mandana should not be distasted at any thing but contrived all way possible to please and divert her in her journey so as if Mandana to rest her self in any Town did stay a day there the day was employed in seeing all that was remarkable in the place The Ladies all assembled they feasted they danced they had races and Cyrus carryed Mandana unto no places of his Conquest but he presented the sweet fruits of his victories unto her so that betwixt Cumes and Ecbatan seemed to be but one continuall triumph And the truth is the people were so fully perswaded of the vertues in Cyrus that nothing but universall acclamations were to be heard in all places where he came Also he had an extraordinary care that the march of his Troops should not do the least injury unto the Countrey And it may be most truly sayd that he came unto no place during all this voyage where hee had not signalized some one of his vertues For in one Town he had left testimonies of his humanity in cheering up the people in an another he made his Justice to appeare in punishing som insolent Souldiers In a hundred places he had left glorious marks of his liberality according as occasions presented themselves And in what place soever he came he was alwayes himself which was always incomparable As for Mandana she gave severall testimonies of her Piety during this Journey by re-edifying ruined Temples and giving them new foundations according to the peoples Petitions And it is most certain that Cyrus and Mandana passed not a day without some excellent work of goodnesse The Prince Intaphernes was such an admirer of their vertues that he could speak of nothing else when he talked with the Prince Artamas with Myrsiles Mazares Anaxaris or any else And there chanced one adventure which gave him further subject of talk For Cyrus desiring that Mandana should go but a very little journey that day by reason of convenient Lodging she came unto a place which afforded Intaphernes a subject of Compassion and to talk further of her vertue Cyrus then having resolved that the Princess should lye in a little Town upon the Rode not far from the place where she lodged before it was so long before she set out that she came as late to her Lodging as if her journy had been longer yet she came time enough to observe the extraordinary delighfull and odd scituation of this Village where she was to lye She saw as she came unto it that she was sometimes high and sometimes low somtimes on a mountain and sometimes in a valley and between Rocks Moreover she saw there an ancient and stately Castle standing upon the point of a Rock whose prospect was towards a Forrest over against it she saw three great deep vallies environed with Rocks into which they descended by a winding path in the Rocks And to make the place more pleasant and extraordinary there was to be seen at the foot of a hill and on the side of a Torrent 2. stately Tombs the one built after the Aegyptian the other after the Grecian mode So as the Sun setting that Evening without any cloudy umbrage it might almost be said that the Sun-beams did guild the whole Countrey and made it the more delectable This magnificent object did make a deep impression in the mind of Mandana so as when she arrived at this great Castle where she was to lodge she talked upon nothing else enquiring very earnestly whose were those Tombs which she saw as she passed and why one was built after the Aegyptian manner and the other the Grecian The questions you ask Madam replyed the Master of the Castle whose name was Eucrates a man well in years of a good spirit and much travelled is questionlesse worthy of your curiosity for the truth is Love was a cause of their foundation as well as Death it being most certain that if he who caused them to be built had not been in Love they had never adorned the Country about this Castle The Princesse Mandana hearing the old man say so was fuller of curiosity then before so as pressing him to tell her all he knew he related unto her in few words how a man of quality and high merits called Menesteus descended from the race of the first Phocensians who left Phocides to go and build Phoceus which the Prince Thrasibalus had taken being resolved to travell after he had lost his Wife who left him one Son and one Daughter he came into Aegypt where he fell desperately in love with a Lady of Heliopolis whom he with her consent did carry away That after this passing through Asia he came unto this Castle where this fair Aegyptian dyed within four dayes after he came thither and from whence he would not depart but built this stately Tomb after the mode of the Countrey and since Menesteus would never forsake her who had followed his fortunes and left her own Country for the love of him he built his own Tomb near hers which is also his house where he waits for death to finish his dayes How said Mandana and interrupted him does he live yet who caused these two Tombs to be built and lives he in that which is built after the Grecian work Yes Madam replyed he but it is in such a manner as deserves compassion It may be said he lives dying for he spends whole dayes in the Tomb of her he lost and never comes in his own but at such howrs when sleep forces him to take truce with his sorrows so as I assure you Death and Love together did never make such an emblem of despair as Menesteus Yet one would say that the Gods take delight in his sufferings and lets him live to pay an eternall tribute of sighes and tears unto his lost Lady for he has already lived above eight years in this mournfull manner and yet cannot dye I wonder said Mandana then that since he is of so good a Quality his friends and neighbours have not forced him to change his heartlesse habitation I assure you Madam replyed Eucrates that the illustrious Peranius his sonne who should be Prince of Phoceus after him if the Armies of the invincible Cyrus had not conquered his dominions has done all he was able to move Menesteus unto a change of his living but could never perswade him All he could obtain was to let two servants stay in a house next his Tomb to bring him once a day only such things as were of
face that is imaginable It cannot be sayd her face is ovall or that it is round but such a just proportion of parts as both those kind of faces can give unto an exact beauty Her mouth was the handsomest that ever eye beheld for it was not onely well made and her lips were not only that lovely Carnation which animates beauty but it had an unexpressible Charm which would perswade you though you looked only upon that part that she must of necessity be eloquent and that she had abundance of wit there being such a kind of little Dimples at the corners of her mouth and such a kind of sprighly smiling and melancholy together which alwayes appeared and forced every one to beleive what she sayd But Madam now I have made an imperfect description of Cleonisbe's Stature Mine Complexion Hair Face and Mouth how shall I describe her Eyes yet since I am engaged to describe them as well as I can I must tell you that they are black great sparkling and sweet indeed they are so sprightly quick so wonderous modest and so sweetly passionate that they inspire love in the very hearts of all Beholders Moreover they are not such Eyes as use to a certain tumultuous stirring in them as will not suffer one to judge of them because they are continually changing Objects But on the contrary though they be very quick and lively and though she have most penetrating looks with them yet are they all sweetness and tranquility Whatsoever she looks upon she looks upon it applicatively and without abandoning her extream modesty which is inseparable from all her Actions she never casts her Eyes off those who speak unto her and by consequence doth suffer one to look and admire those million of Charms which are in them for indeed there appeares in them a miscellany of Wit Spirit Love Languishing Modesty Passion Vivacity Virtue Goodness Mirth Melancholy Beauty and Charms So that Madam if you joyn such Eyes as I have described unto all the rest of her Superlative Excellencies which I have related unto such a buxom Plumpness as usually is in youth you may easily beleive that people who had three daies of tempest together seen the Image of death about them were pleasingly ravished to see the admired Cleonisbe on the Deck of her Bark I cannot think that those of the Isle of Cyprus who saw Venus in that Magnificent Shell which was both her Cradle and her Ship did more admire her then we Cleonisbe She was that day dressed after the African mode to wit her hair half loose part wherof was brayded with Ribbons of lively Colours behind her head her Gown which was of Carnation and white was of a very pleasing Fashion and Gallant which without hiding the Comliness of her stature was very Majesticall The Claspes of this Gown was Lockets of Diamonds all before and likewise about her shoulders Her Sleeves were half turned up and shewed the hair hands and armes of the wearer as well as her Neck about which was a rich Carcanet of Diamonds covered with a thin Tiffany To add somthing more of Gallantry unto this little Maritine Triumph Round about the Tent in which Cleonisbe was were set green boughs whose Odor reached us before we came unto the Bark there might be seen a thousand branches of Orange Trees full of Flowres mingled with branches of Myrrh Jessemine and such as making a Canopy over Cleonisbie's head did perfume the Ayre This miscellany of Leaves of Flowers of Diamonds and other rich Ornaments did make a most admirable and pleasing Object In the mean time though we were very attentive in beholding Cleonisbe yet we observed that there was many handsom Ladies with her and among the men there was one who seemed to be of high quality both by his port and by his habit and also by the Carriage of Cleonisbe towards him I beseech you Madam pardon me for being so tedious in relating how Cleonisbe appeared unto me the first time I saw her I wil now acquaint you with Passages in the Bark of Cleonisbe and tell you that the Cock-boat going before us as soon as it came neer enough for the Prince of Phoceus to see and be seen he saluted her with all possible Reverence After which Hipomenes carrying him into the Bark he carryed him unto this Princess who received him with much Civility You see here Madam sayd he unto her in Greek an unfortunate Prince who gives you hearty thanks for keeping all the people of a great City from perishing For I am most confident that it is your presence which calmed the incensed Waves and caused the storms to cease which would have ruin'd us And Madam after my thanks for saving the lives of so many miserable Souls and innocent Persons I beseech you out of your goodness preserve them by obtaining from the King your Father an entrance into his Ports for our weather-beaten Ships that he would be pleased to lend an Eare unto the cause of our Exile unto a relation of our miseries that he would afford us some comfort in our extremities and fulfill the promises of a great goddesse Sir replyed Cleonisbe I am so glad to find an occasion of helping the miserable especially such unfortunates as your selfe that I have much ado to say I am sorry for your diasters since they give me a fit occasion of doing you a good office and of letting you know that our Nation is not so barbarous as it is believed to be In the mean time since I understand by Hipomenes that there are Ladies in your Ship I bseech you let us go and take them into my Barque since a place wherein they were like to have perished cannot be pleasing unto them And when we have taken them in you may send orders unto your Fleet to shelter themselves amongst these Islands untill I have presented you unto the King my Father and obtained your desires from him for let me tell you Sir once more that I do hold it so glorious to do all the good that one is able as I am confident that I shall be more joyed in protecting you then my Protection can be profitable to you Oh Madam replyed the Prince of Phoceus and looked upon her with admiration is it possible to find such a person as your selfe in the remotest parts of the Earth Can fame be so injurious as not to make you known unto Greece and maugre the huge Sea which separates make you adored Those who taught me the Grecian Language replyed she and smiled did also teach me that Credite is not alway to be given unto the flatteries of your Nation and therefore waving your Commendations I will heare no more of them from a man who questionless is most knowing in all things since he is of that Country where the ignorance that reigns in ours is banished After this Cleonisbe seeing the Prince of Phoceus his ship was neer she commanded her Barque to meet and entreated that
sayd she unto him give me leave to tell you in all due reverence that this Tempest which hath cast us upon your Coasts hath given you an ample occasion to shew your Virtue in receiving us It was a great Goddess who did conduct us hither who desiring to have a Temple erected unto her Glory in your Country and to be known amongst your people hath commanded me to do what I have done Take heed Sir of incensing her by rejecting those who are unfortunate who as miserable as they are have in their Ships inestimable Treasures since they have there a great number of Virtuons men men full of wisdom and knowledge excellent Artists in all things who have all the Arts and Sciences in their Ships which they can impart and communicate unto your people if you will be pleased only to allow them some Corner of your Country to build a Temple in and to enjoy that liberty which hath cost them their Country Once more I advise you to beware how you refuse those Favours which the Gods do offer you and know that the Goddess whom I adore does promise you by me to make your Country so famous over all the World if you receive us favourably that it shall excell all other parts of the World Aristonice spoke this with so good a grace and so much authority that all the Company were much moved and especially the King And he answered the Prince of Phoceus and Aristonice with all imaginable sorrow and presently consented that their Fleet should enter into his Ports upon condition that there should be but a certain number of armed men in every Ship And as for giving them a place to inhabit he told them that he would assemble the Sarronides and confer with them In the mean time he would permit them to hope for a favourable answer Since Madam this word Sarronides may perhaps be a stranger to you I think it requisite to tell you that the Sarronides amongst the Gaules in generall are very like unto the Magi in Persia with this difference that the Magi meddle only in matters of Religion and the Sarronides in civill matters and particular differences This sort of Philosophers Priests and Magistrates altogether were first instituted by the third King of the Gaules named Sarron who would after his own name have them called Sarronides yet there were some part of the Gaules where they were called Drauides because in the Raign of one of their Kings called Druis he would have them called so They also are divided into severall orders and into severall names for those who do officiate in Sacrifices are called Vaces Those who study the knowledge of naturall things are named Eubages and those who are appointed to sing the Heroick Actions of virtuous men are called the Bardes As for those who bear the name of Sarronides or Druides since they are the most knowing of all they are called as I sayd before unto the Councel of Kings to render Justice to teach the people and particularly to instruct the youth T is true that among the Segonigians all these severall names are not used as they are amongst the Celtique Gaules the Belgique Gaules and amongst the Allobroges which are other Gaules But the name of Sarronides only amongst this people doth comprehend them all The King then having referred this business unto his Councel which was composed of these Sarronides The Princess Cleonisbe seemed to be well satisfied therewith assuring Onesicrite that those men who taught humanity unto others would advise the King her Father as she should desire promising her to solicite them in the business Carimantes for his part did promise the same Afterwards the King talking one after another with the Prince of Phoceus Aristonice Onesicrite and Menedorus he was so extreamly well satisfied with them that he could not chuse but give them great Commendations Moreover Madam we were so happy in pleasing all the Court as I may well say never strangers were so little strangers as we were there for we found such earnestness to do us good Offices that there is great reason to believe it was the act of the Gods to dispose all hearts unto our good reception In the mean time the King thinking these storm-shattered people to be in need of rest he commanded that the Princess Onesicrite should be carried unto a fair Chamber next Cleonisbies and that all the rest of the Ladies with her should be lodged as conveniently as might be as well as the Prince of Phoceus and Menedorus Commanding afterwards that all the Fleet should come into the Port which was to little to contain them all You would wonder Madam if I should tell you how carefull Cleonisbe and Carimantes was to see the King obeyed for it is hardly credible that persons of their Quality should be so officious unto strangers whom they knew not Indeed they gave such express Commands unto all the Kings Officers to wait respectively and magnificently upon these persons as it was apparent their Merits and Misfortunes did much move them unto Compassion Glacidia for her part was so full of obliging Acts both towards Onesicrite and Aristonice and all the rest of their Company as I saw Hipomenes had good cause to tell me that she deserved the favour of Cleonisbe for she was so full of all goodness spirit both that she purchased much esteem from the Prince of Phoceus One passage hapned that night which since made it evident that the Gods resolved that the Prince should in a short time get much love much esteem and much friendship amongst all these persons who knew him so little yet in a little time after loved him so much For Madam be pleased to know that as soon as the Prince of Phoceus knew Cleonisbe was gon unto her Chamber he went thither to present his first visit and was accompanied with Menedorus Whilst Carimantes also went to see Onesicrite the first time accompanied with Bomilcar For my part I follow'd the Prince of Phoceus and was a witness of his long discourse with Cleonisbe In going thither I acquainted him how Glacidia was Cleonisbes Favourite and from that time he was very carefull to speak such things of her as might be pleasing after much other discourse wherin he did very much commend her and sayd that he had observed her to be a person of much spirit and goodness Oh Sir sayd she unto him do not judge so soon of Glacidia for I do assure you that in so short a time you cannot judge of her without much Injustice since it is not possible be as ingenious as you can be that you should know all her excellent Qualities I assure you Madam replyed the Prince of Phoceus I am confident she hath all she can have since you love her so well That reason is not very convincing replyed Cleonisbe very modestly but to let you see that though I live amongst a people whom the Graecians called barbarous yet that know who are
many men depended And there was such a multitude of all sorts in the Castle that there was not one corner which was not full of Phocensians and others But to strengthen our Cause all the Fishers which did inhabit along that Coast where we landed hearing that this was the morning on which we were either to be received or rejected they flocked in great troops into the base Court of the Castle and demanded to speak with the King saying aloud that he must receive us and that they would never let men who could instruct them in so many profitable things go out of their Country But the Officers of the Guard having desired them to stay unto the end of the Councell this croud of Grecians and Segoregians mingled together which made such a hurly burly were all quiet in expectation of the Kings resolution We understood since by one of the Sarronides that the King after he had proposed the business unto them did expresse unto the Assembly that he should be exceeding glad if the good of the State would permit it to assist so many miserable people and give sanctuary unto so many illustrious persons as were amongst us yet adding that he preferred the good of his people before his own inclinations that if they thought it dangerous to receive us he would endeavour to deny his own desires and reject us At the first opinions were divided But since the chiefe of the Sarronides was for us and being a man of a sound judgment and wit he brought all to concur with him except him whom Galathes had solicited But he since he had the pretence of the publique good to favour the designs of his friend he made use of it with abundance of zeale against us and if the chief of the Sarronides had not been as resolute as he was obstinate we had all been banished For my part Sir sayd he unto the King I know very well that not to consider the miseries of those who desire Sanctuary from you and to deny their desires doth seem to be a peece of cruelty But I know also that considering the dangerous consequences which the favour they aske might bring with it if consensented unto there is great reason to deny them For it is not one particular which demands receipt of you but it is a huge People who by their multitudes may become terrible to you and also by the abundance of good qualities which are attributed unto them for the more wit and spirit these Greeks have the more they are to be feared it not being expedient that your Subjects who are faithfull in their simplicity should become more knowing by the conversation of strangers lest they should grow mutinous Do you not see already Sir how these Fishers who use themselves only to their Lines and Nets begin to meddle in matters of State and will have you entertayn these strangers who begin already to have a share in your authority Moreover these strangers are Rich they are a warlike People abundance hath made them luxurious and voluptuous and it is to be feared that those who they say can teach all the Arts unto your Subjects will communicate the vices of their Country unto them also Ignorance and Poverty Sir are good properties to make Subjects obedient and therefore I conceive that those People who can take from your Subjects these two Properties which makes a Soveraign so absolute ought not to be received without great and serious consideration Moreover the new Religion of these strangers will either subvert your own or at least raise abundance of scruples and errours in the minds of your People And I know not Sir whether they will shake your Throne it selfe so that in my opinion to satisfie the rights of hospitality without any danger to your Kingdom the best expedient were to permit these Graecians to repayr their Fleet to give them all things necessary for a long voyage and to let them go and seek a Sanctuary somewhere else but not to let them inhabit here This friend unto Galathes was so vehement that some of those whom the Prince Sarronide had brought unto his opinion began to waver and return unto their first thoughts But this wise and good old man seeing their minds began to stagger did answer all the reasons which this friend unto Galathes had delivered I am not ignorant Sir sayd he unto the King that to consider the business in hand with a byassed interest there is some shew of doubt in it but I am sure to consider the true grounds of the businesse and not to be deluded by appearances there is all the reason in the world to be of my opinion For Sir the most ancient of all Lawes and that which ought certainly to be most inviolable is the law of Hospitality and I am not afraid to say that upon some occasions a King may be more culpable in using Strangers ill then in using his own Subjects ill Moreover this whole multitude which is used as an argument to hinder your Majestie from being pittifull is an argument to oblige you the more unto it since it is more glorious to relieve many then a few But to answer positively unto the objection of Feares which this multitude of persons may cause I only answer thus that in comparison of the multitudinous number of your Subjects these strangers are so few and weake as there is no reason of any fears in the world Also being of a Country so far distant from yours and a Country wherein they have no power they never dare attempt any thing against you since they cannot hope for any relief from any part and since it is a most easie matter for you to suppress whensoever they shall incense you Furthermore since all these Grecians have their whole Families in your Land it may very well be sayd that you have most sure hostages of their fidelity so as you may with much lesse danger receive this numerous multitude then if they were fewer and had not with them such persons as are most deare unto them and unable to beare Arms. Again I do admire any one of wisdome should say that the more wit these Grecians have the more they are to be feared and that Poverty and Ignorance are two necessary Qualities to make faithfull Subjects For truly Sir my opinion is so contrary unto that as I dare undertake to maintain unto your Majestie that the greatest care of a Prince ought to be to make his People rich and to teach them their duty to their King The truth is as ignorance will sometimes keep them under so it will after make them mutiny without a cause It will make People wilfull without reason It will fit them for tumults and seditions it will not let them understand their own interests It will ruine themselves in ruining the State and for want of knowledg they will subvert Kingdoms fall off from their duty to their Soveraigns and also from their duty
aimed at that there were few men in the world whom Mandana esteemed more then Anaxaris Also she gave him a thousand obliging testimonies of it either in speaking a thousand good things of him unto Cyrus or in assuring him she would oblige the king her father to acknowledge the services he had done her or in her way of carriage towards him For indeed she commanded him with such mild sweet and civil authority that her Commands were more obliging then the prayers of many others But as Anaxaris had a great care of insinuating himself into the love of Mandana so he had a great care to make himself both loved and feared of all those under his command And the truth is he was both so loved and feared as there were very few things which he was not able to make them do In the mean time this Illustrious Troop still advancing Cyrus and Mandana came one evening unto a little Town scituated upon the banks of that great and famous River Halys which hath its originall and source amongst the A◠menian mountains and after it hath twined it self through many severall Countrey◠It divides Cappadocia from Paphlagonia in this place not being distant from the Euxine sea above three hundred furlongs Since the journey had been something long and since Mandana found some delight to think she was in Cappadocla where all the people received her with unexpressible joyes and continuall acclamations she intended to rest there a day whereof Martesia was very glad because she remembred her self of an Aunt which commonly dwelt at Themiscyra who had a very noble hou 〈…〉 within fourty furlongs of it Remembring moreover that she was ever used to dw 〈…〉 there about that season so sending presently to enquire to the end she might finde her at home she asked Mandana leave to make a visit in the morning since she did not travell so as in this hope she passed away the evening in a very merry disposition Since Feraulus was the man who took upon him to enquire whether her Aunt wa 〈…〉 home he made such hast that as soone as Martesia waked in the morning she knew that her Aunt was where she thought her and had much good company with her Martesia no sooner knew this welcome news but rising in all hast shee went u 〈…〉 Mandana and beseeched her to let her go this visit The Princesse at first could not remember who this Cosin of Martesia's was But calling to mind presently after t 〈…〉 she was sister unto her whom Artucas married who delivered up a Port of Sinope 〈◊〉 to Cyrus when he came thither to release her but did release onely the King 〈◊〉 Assyria Then she told Martesia very obligingly that not to deprive her of th 〈…〉 pleasure nor to deprive her self of that satisfaction which she hoped to receive 〈◊〉 seeing her since she was so neer she would send her upon a complement unto 〈◊〉 Aunt and send her own Coach for her that she might oblige her to come and see her Martesia not daring to refuse such an obliging Proposition thanked Mandana for the favour and would be carefull to send and acquaint her kinswoman who was called Amaldea but the Princesse would needs send one of her own servants and so she did Then Martesia went out to write a letter unto Amaldea by him that was to go for her which done she returned again unto Mandana's chamber where Doralisa and Pherenice were Martesia said the Princesse unto her as soon as shee entred I know not whether my memory fail me but I think that when we were at Themiscyra your Aunt who is one of the most accomplished persons in the world had a friend with her who in my mind was one of the most insupportable women that ere I saw though she was one of the most vertuous in point of gallantry 'T is very true Madam replied she and I never in all my life knew any unto whom I had a greater aversion then unto her you mention But how was it possible said Doralisa that such a one should be the friend of Amaldea for in my mind it is very extraordinary that any person of merit should have a friend who is not of the same mould It cannot be said replied Mandana but that she of whom I speak hath many good qualities since she had been very fair◠and was so still when I went from Themiscyra Moreover she is very vertuous and hath wit and spirit enough but withall if Martesia would describe her unto us I am confident you would agree that she is not very amiable Ah Madam said Martesia you speak too favourably of a person who deserves not the attribute of vertuous since her vertues do so ill become her And truely said she turning towards Doralisa since the Princesse is pleased I should describe this friend of Amaldeas whose name is Isalonide be pleased to imagine her as she hath described her that is fair and vertuous and also full of wit and spirit but a spirit so full of foolish pride that I know not how I should describe it unto you Indeed because she knows she hath the vertue of modesty she thinks she needs not the vertue of humility and because she cannot be upbraided with any lightnesse or gallantry therefore she thinks she hath a peculiar priviledge to be peevish fantasticall cholerick and imperious and indeed she thinks that because shee hath one vertue she may be permitted to have all the vices And for my part were I her husband I had rather she were a little too gallant and had a little of all those vertues she wants then to have but one vertue and have a little of all the ill habitudes that one can have For my particular replied Doralisa I think nothing can be more unreasonable then for a woman to value what she ought to be at as high a rate as if she were so Isalonide doth so value her self replied Martesia and as there are some insolent fools who think that valour is enough to make up a compleat man so Isalonide thinks that because she is not a light housewife she is the most vertuous woman of the age In the mean time the result of this fine opinion is that she makes her husband even mad with her fantasticall humours she disorders the whole family by her severity and pride she sharply checks all her kindred that are young she censures all the women in the Town where she lives she scorns all that come neer her she gives a hundred unjust judgements she puts no difference between a little too much Gallantry and a great crime and she condemns all that she sees and sees not thinking that she her self onely can brag of being vertuous And indeed she is of such a presumptuous spirit that she is most intollerable The truth is replied Mandana that this vanity hath a very ill foundation since if it be at all excusable it must bee when one hath some good quality which
these as one would say Nature did distinguish her from all others to the end there might not be confusion in the severall Orders of Beauties which sometimes breeds contests between the black and between the fair Beauties Moreover Telamire was not onely Fair but of an admirable behaviour and had an Air which was not at all proud yet majesticall Again since Telamire was neither black nor fair her Aspect was neither melancholy nor merry but had such a just mixture of both as made her discreetly pleasant But as Telamire did charme the eyes of all the company so likewise there was a man with her that did attract their eyes as much as she since certainly his behaviour was as good as she was fair His Physiognomy spoke him to be a man of much spirit And hee hear kned unto what was spoke with such an Aire as it was easie to perceive that he understood things aright But that which rendred him most considerable unto Mandana was his being sonne unto Amaldea and Martesia's Cousin for since he was not at Themiscyra when she was there she knew him not She remembred very well that Amaldea had a sonne whose name was Artaxander but she knew not it was him she saw And she did no sooner know it but she made him a most obliging Complement and he answered her in a most Elegant stile So that discourses beginning by degrees between so much excellent company time passed away so pleasingly that Mandana thought it not a minuit since she returned from the Temple when she was advertised that it was dinner time So that Cyrus carried all the men with him and Mandana retained all the Ladies to dine with her but she declared unto them that it was not for a dinner she retained them but they should not return home that night But to answer the Civility of the Princesse Amaldea told her shee would do more then that because she was resolved to wait upon her two dayes journey farther Thus all this good company being together the time passed away with much delight one chance fell out which caused that Mandana could not depart so soon as she intended because in the night time that great River on which this little Town did stand did so overflow that the Countrey all about was water and for twelve hours together it rained so fast that it was one cause of the Rivers rising though the main reason of it was the falling of waters from the Armenian Mountains which running into this River did cause it to swell above its ordinary Banks and over-flow the Plains However Mandana must crosse it before she could continue her journey and therefore of necessity she must stay untill the waters were asswaged and also this good Company must needs stay with her because Amaldeas house was on the other side of the River And though there was a bridge and this bridge not broken yet there was no getting within twelve furlongs of it so as all this good Company staying together there designe was onely to passe the time without wearinesse unto Mandana who for her part did contribute all her endeavours to divert the Company But Martesia said she one morning unto her how came all these Ladies to assemble together at your Aunts I assure you Madam replied she I do not know but since they came hither I have done nothing else but talk of you and satisfie their curiosities concerning your adventures And though fame had partly told them yet it told them false and I was glad to let them know the truth But now I have told them all they desire to know I must move them in their turnes to tell me all I desire to know for all I know yet is that there is a notable adventure between this Beauty you see here whose name is Telamire and Artaxander and that it seems love makes happy and unhappy every where Telamire replied Mandana is very likely to produce those two different effects for I never in my life saw any that pleased me more And therefore Martesia informe your self a little better of her fortune and let me know it I shall be very glad to obey you Madam replied she since I have such an inclination my self and indeed that Evening Erenice being with Martesia without any company but Doralisa she obeyed Mandana's commands Dear Cousin said she unto her since I have related the Adventures of our Princesse and of the Illustrious Cyrus I hope you will not be silent in your own and those of your acquaintance When I have told you replied she that after your departure from Sinope my father sent me unto Themiscyra to Amaldea and that I was often sorry never to hear from you doubtlesse I have told you the most important passages of my life Tell me at least replied Martesia how it comes to passe that so many amiable Persons who heretofore had no society together should now make a journey together To satisfie your knowledge in this replied she it is requisite I relate the whole lives of Artaxander and Telamire Though Artaxander be my Cousin as he is yours replied Martesia yet fortune hath so often parted us that we hardly know each other But since he seemes to be a very well accomplished man I should be very glad to know him from you Therefore my dear Erenice I beseech you acquaint me with his life and let Doralisa have her share in the diversion The adventures of persons unto whom others have no relation replied Erenice are so farre from diverting them that I conceive it best to stay untill you and I be alone for though what I shall tell you have something that is extraordinary in it yet as I said before those who have no interest in the fortune of them whose History is related cannot take any delight in hearing it I am so much interested in the happinesse of Artaxander and Telamire replied Doralisa that I should be extremely glad to hear their Adventures For the truth is it is impossible to see them and not desire their happinesse And to testifie unto you that they are not indifferent to me I assure you that I wish with all my heart if Artaxander have any Rivals that they may be ill treated and if Telamire love any that it may be Artaxander But perhaps you have some secrets to impart unto Martesia which you would not have me to know and therefore it is better to leave you at liberty Oh Doralisa said Erenice and would not let her go I beseech you do not offer to go away for I am perswaded if I should deprive Martesia of your sight mine would not give her any satisfaction Moreover as sweet as she seems to be I assure you she is one of the most revenging persons in the world and to prove it I remember that having one day the misfortune to take her out of very good Company she was never at rest untill she was revenged by putting me upon the company of one of
had any thoughts of Marriage it should be one of a better Rank and that she might the sooner take his counsel he would speak sometimes very well of Phocilion whom he feared more then all the rest For since he was well acquainted with the high virtue of Elisa he did much less fear the Princes who loved her then Phocilion whose condition and quality being more equal unto hers might permit him to look upon her as a man whom she might innocently Love But notwithstanding all his advises he could not perswade Elisa to his wish and knowing her to be imperious and that perhaps he might anger her if he assumed any authority over her he durst not be further importunate However his soul enjoyed her usual serenity a few daies after for since Phocilion was not forward and since his design upon Elisa was not a simple design of Gallantry but of Marriage he did not transact as other Lovers did but carried it with much less noyse because he was not sorry to observe the carriage of Elisa amidst so many Adorers before she would declare her self So that negotiating as the friend of Straton Poligenes did a little reassure himself and also came to be very friendly with Phocilion who having observed that Poligenes was in Elisa's favour took a special care not to be upon any ill terms with him As there is no manner of mourning is so soon passed over as that of the Court especially where a young Prince succeeds an old King so pleasure now began to bud out in Tire where they began to make many magnificent Feasts of which Elisa was the fairest ornament There were also divers games of Prize to be played and I remember one which conducted much to the glory of Elisa and which procured her the hatred of many beauties For imagine Madam that those who won the Prize that day were to carry it unto Elisa out of the extream desire they had to please her and to get some honor in her presence Those three Princes Rivals whereof I spoke and who were Brothers and Rivals both were in the number of those who were to lay at her feet those marks of advantage which they had won But it was most admirable to see with what modest pride Elisa refused what they presented unto her and with what repugnancy she obeyed Straton who commanded her to accept their offerings Poligenes who was one of those who brought the Prize was yet received more favourably then the rest because she feared not in him those consequences which she apprehended in those who were her declared Lovers yet I am confident that for all her fury she was not sorry for receiving an honour that day which none but her self ever had yet she did hide her satisfaction so well that she returned home with so little sign of joy as if she never thought upon it The next morning all those who shared in her glory went to visit her to testifie that they were very glad of the honour which she had received but they found that she had a soul so infinitely above all that can be phrased vanity that they judged her more worthy of a Crown then the Prize they had offered not but that she received their applauds with a submissive modesty but on the contrary it was with such a proud and fierce humility if it may be said as made it apparent that she found more satisfaction in her self then in the praises of another not but that she did love the commendations of her friends but she would have their commendations to be real signs of that esteem which those who commend her have of her and that they be worthy who give her any such applauds As for those tumultuous Encomiums which are given out of custom or decency they did more vex then please her and I have seen her receive them so fiercely as she hath been ready to convert her love into hatred against those who gave them and truly it is not strange she should for besides her natural humour of fierceness and cholor Poligenes did much contribute unto it and I am confident that he would commend this Spirit of fierceness in her a hundred times more then her beauty voice or wit I remember one day amongst the rest when none but Poligenes Phocilion and I were with Elisa and beginning to commend her generosity in loving to do good offices unto her friends we fell insensibly to repeat one after another all the excellent qualities which she was owner of though she endeavoured to make us change our discourse Since you will needs have me endure your Panigyriques said she seeing we still went on I pray do me the favour to tell me of my faults that I may amend them For my part said Phocilion I cannot find any but one which I can desire should be mended which is that you are a little too scornful For my part replied Poligenes I think and could rather wish she were not so sweetly familiar for I do profess unto you that if there were a necessity Elisa should lose any one of those qualities which renders her so admirable I would let any of them go rather then her scornful and haughty way of demeanure How said I with admiration and looked upon Poligenes Do you prefer the pride of Elisa before any other of the good qualities which she is owner of I beseech you consider well what I say replied he and do not think I speak without reason I must confess replied Phocilion that my reason reacheth not so far nor can I understand how it should be possible you can consent that Elisa should part with the least good quality she hath rather then that pride and scorn which addeth an ingredient of fear to be mixed with the Love of those who profess any affection to her For my part said Elisa and laughed I am so glad to find any one who will commend a fault which I cannot mend in my self as I cannot sufficiently express my obligation unto Poligenes for it I assure you Madam replied he you need never thank me for a thought which I cannot chuse but think But I beseech you said Phocilion What is the motive which prompts you to affect this pride in Elisa which blemisheth all the rest of her virtues It is replied he because thereby her heart is not easily conquered and as I am fully perswaded speaking in kind of rallary that it is not my destiny to make that illustrious Conquest so I am very glad that there is somthing in the spirit of Elisa which may hinder others from it as well as my self and to speak in reason there is nothing that better becomes any high beauty then this noble Pride yet I must needs say that this humour does not suit handsomly with every one for there is requisite a thousand good qualities to produce those pleasing effects which I speak of and it must be a high Beauty that must set it off for Beauty
only is not enough but a high spirit and a great heart are essentially requisite and I am perswaded that the haughtiness of a fair fool hath such a neer resemblance of Pride and comes so neer a kind of foolish idle vanity as it doth much misbecome them and renders them insufferable I know that if this person who hath this loftiness of behaviour have not also a great and generous heart she will be bitter and tart and surely in lieu of being stately this I do not wish to be in any accomplished person Sullenness and Stateliness are two different things the first is Ugly the other is Majestical the one a sign of a melancholy Spirit the other of a great and noble soul Yes the stateliness which I speak of is a spark of Divinity which distinguisheth those who are so from the common herd of people which makes them feared and respected of those who love them and which without the least incivility forbids too much familiarity with those who are so stately and which quality I do every day admire in Elisa and therefore wonder not that I should desire her to part with any other quality then with this noble Pride which I so much love in her and which also hath rendred you so good offices To me replied Phocilion For heavens sake do not offer to perswade me that I am any Debtor unto the haughtiness of Elisa Indeed you are replied Poligenes For can you think that she being so fair so amiable and so much adored as she is her heart would have been at this time to dispose of if she had not been as stately and majestical as she is or if she had been so affable and sweet as you seem to desire her she could never have seen so many denied Suitors at her feet without having pity upon some one of them insomuch as when you came unto Tire and courted her acquaintance you would have found her heart ingaged whereas now you find it free and so disingaged from any affection as the most passionate of all her Lovers cannot find in her behaviour the least cause of any jealousie 'T is true replied Phocilion But on the other side they cannot find any foundation of hope Yes replied Poligenes very much since there is no fear that any will be more happy then your self But I beseech you said Elisa and interrupted them Wherein does this stateliness you speak of consist I pray tell me that I may know how to be more or less lofty as occasions shall be offered Is it in the Aire of my visage that it appears or in all my actions in general Is it in my words Or in the accent of my voice Is it in somthing which I cannot define replied Poligenes For truly you are more civil then many others who pass for more sweet and affable then they are you are essentially good you are ready to do all good offices to your friends with an excellent grace Also upon some occasions you are pittiful and tender but with all these you are high-minded and stately as I would have you to be and to say truly I think that this brave and noble Pride hath its source from the root of your heart and from thence it passeth into your Spirit into your eyes into your face and into all your actions and words Since so said Elisa then I must be as long as I live the very same I am at this present for I must needs confess unto you that I would not change my heart for any others Though your highness of behaviour should make you have no other thought but that replied Poligenes yet I should for ever love it for as I said before I should not be sorry if others cannot enjoy that thing which I cannot my self enjoy Phocilion was not yet satisfied with the reasons of Poligenes but this discourse lasted so long that night summoned us to leave Eliâ—a who doubtless was gladder to see her stateliness commended then any other Quality for she heard every one applaud her beauty her voice and her Spirit and somtimes she met with some who found fault with her stateliness and extreamly complained against it This was the state of things Madam when the Brother of Poligenes whom I told you was travelling in Greece returned unto Tire He was then about four and twenty years of age and there being such a difference of age between Poligenes and him he respected him almost as his Father and indeed Poligenes took as great a care of Agenor as if he were his Son he was therefore extreamly glad to see him so handsom and pleasing every way and I assure you Madam a man could not be more handsom then he was he was not only handsom and of a good garb but he was also exceeding agile in all the exercises of his body especially in danceing Moreover he had an admirable wit but it was a merry and diverting wit which infinitely pleased all companies Moreover he was the aptest of all men to make secretss to discover those of others and to hide his own when he would 'T is true this humour lasted not long nor took him oft for he had a vanity which caused that he could not be loved without desiring it should be known yet the passions of his soul were very violent but vanity would not permit them to be strong in his heart and certainly if Agenor had not had this fault he had been much more amiable in the eyes of those he loved then he was For as for others except his Rivals he was the sweetest and most civil of men towards them his vanity being only confined unto his Gallantries Agenor being such a one as I have described he returned to Tire whilest Straton Barce and Elisa were gone for fifteen daies into the Country In the interim Poligenes shewed his Brother all the Court who got in it extraordinary reputation especially among the Ladies In the mean while Agenor having a soul naturally disposed unto Gallantry could not live without a business of that nature he applied himself unto one of the Queens women named Lyriope one both of beauty and merit but of an envious and revenging spirit such as would not permit her self to be at rest Indeed Lyriope looked upon any thing that was advantageous unto any of her companions with a spiteful eye and I believe she never saw a good face but she had ill rest all that day I think also that she wished her self both fair and brown both at once that she had eyes both black and grey and indeed to be all that others were yet be what she her self was also Lyriope was not only envious at the beauty of others and their Conquests but at their very cloaths also not enduring any should have more riches nor better made then her self without extream regret You may then imagine Madam that a woman of this humour was extreamly joyed that a man whom all the Court most talked of and