of Aronces and the design of bribing him who expounded the Lots of Praeneste and in whatever cases their forces had order to be ready to march if it were requisite But if there were a tumult in the Camp there was a greater at Rome for some said the Hostages ought not to be return'd more because it was probable Porsenna knew of Sextus attempt and that certainly he would have had Clelia in his power without appearing to have broken the publick faith Publicola nevertheless persisted still firm in his opinion and so much the more because Horatius and Octavius could not go abroad this day by reason of their wounds for perhaps love would have oblig'd them to oppose it On the other side Clelia with the consent of her companions demanded that they might return to Porsenna to the end to accuse Sextus and justifie Aronces as much as she could for her jealousie was now much diminish'd At the same time also the intelligence which Tarquin and Tullia had in Rome was discover'd and one was seiz'd on who had promis'd to deliver the gate Naevia to the Tarquinians So that all this together caus'd so great a disorder in the City that the Senate was assembled extraordinarily to advise what was fitting to be done The result of their debate was to send back the Hostages with a strong guard to acquaint Porsenna with Sextus enterprise to carry away Clelia and that of Tarquin upon Rome after a treaty of peace But whilst all was in confusion both at Rome and the Camp and the infamous and criminal Sextus was retir'd to Tarquinia wounded and desperate for having fail'd of his attempt the generous Aronces overwhelm'd with discontents was going to re-enter into his prison Upon the way he met some of those who made shew of going to seek him and take him but they sought him only to advertise him of Porsenna's fury but whatever they could say to him he would not alter his purpose he also desir'd Telanus to leave him for fear he might incur Porsenna's displeasure but Telanus would not When he came to the Camp he went directly to his Prison and finding no guards there he sent Telanus to the King his Father to desire them again and to conjure him to permit him to see him to the end to give an account of his action But Porsenna was so incens'd that instead of hearing Telanus he caus'd him to be arrested and carried to the same prison where Aronces was whither also he speedily dispatcht guards for in his fury he believ'd the Prince his Son return'd only because he saw he could not escape apprehending or that perhaps he had oblig'd some of those whom he sent after him to say he return'd of his own accord So that he was fully resolv'd to punish Aronces The next day Galerita follow'd by the Princess of the Leontines the charming Hersilia and the generous Melintha enter'd into his Tent to intercede with him for Aronces But before the Queen of Hetruria could speak any thing to him word was brought to the King that the Romans had sent the Hostages back Whereupon being surpris'd to see that after what had hapned these twenty fair Virgins were remanded to him he seem'd sufficiently perplex'd though he wish'd to have Clelia in his power to the end to make use of her to convince Aronces The Senate said he roughly relies much upon the Publick Faith in sending back to me a person who has at least been privy to a conspiracy made against my life Ah! my Lord cry'd Galerita the prince most assuredly is not culpable You shall see that Madam said he to her you shall see that In the mean time added he with a grim air let the Hostages be brought hither This Order being given the Roman who conducted them and who was nam'd Celius enter'd in the head of these twenty fair Romans But because entrance was not prohibited the Prince Artemidorus Themistus Theomenes Zenocrates divers Officers and many others enter'd at the same time The sight of these fair Virgins whom he would not see when they were in his Camp surpriz'd Porsenna They enter'd with a good grace they faluted him with a civility perfectly noble and carrying a modest confidence in their countenances they forc'd him to behold them less fiercely than he would Yet he strove against this first sentiment which he could not restrain and recalling his fury Which of you said he to them without hearing Celius who was beginning to speak was so rash as to contrive that unjust design of violating the Law of Nations by departing out of my power without my permission and rather to endanger perishing in the Tyber than stay in the Camp That generous design answer'd Valeria readily being unwilling all Porsenna's choler should fall upon Clelia is so glorious that all my Companions and my self will have part in it No no too generous Friend said Clelia beholding Valeria it is not fit that you should unjustly expose your self to the indignation of a great King Therefore my Lord added she addressing to Porsenna understand the truth from my mouth and know that that glorious design belongs to me alone and I us'd all means I could to perswade my Companions to it who knowing the just ground I had to undertake it were so generous as to hazard their own lives for the preservation of my honour You ought rather to say reply'd Porsenna that the fear of being compel'd by force to accuse a Criminal whom you love oblig'd you to fly Ah! my Lord answer'd Clelia without being daunted or transported did I believe the Prince your son capable of so horrid a Crime as that you accuse him of I should hate rather than love him for my parents have taught me to hate vice even upon the Throne But my Lord I went out of your Camp for no other cause but for that I was advertis'd Sextus design'd to carry me away So that believing nothing ought to be so dear to me as the preservation of my honour I slighted death which seem'd so assur'd and attempted to pass the Tyber But to confirm that which I speak you need only admit the trouble to hear what Celius has order to say to you from the Senate Clelia spoke this with so noble an air that Porsenna was astonisht at her great Beauty Wit and Confidence Wherefore fearing his heart might become inclinable to pity if she spoke more he commanded Celius to discharge his Commission My Lord said this wise Roman I have order from the Senate to render the Hostages to your Majesty and to tell you that whilst Rome keeps her word so exactly those whom you protect against her outrage you with all the injustice imaginable For Sextus yesterday attempted to have carri'd away Clelia and with a hundred Horse attaqued those that guarded her under my command At first he appear'd disguis'd but afterwards he made himself known Horatius came to succour this vertuous Lady and three of her
treated by Clelius for that reason What Aronces replied she blushing do you know your Birth Yes Madam said he to her I know it with some joy though I am not a Roman because that as Son to the greatest King of all Etruria I can pretend with more boldness to the possession of the perfectest person in the World permit me then I conjure you that now I know my self to be the Son of the King of Clusium whom Mezentius detains Prisoner I offer a second time to you my heart and that I assure you when I shall be peaceable possessor of an Estate that my Grandfather hath nigh intirely usurped I le lay my Crown at your feet and without leaving those chains you have given me I will boldly publish it would be more glorious to be your Slave then to be King o're many Realms and because I see added he that which I tell you ought to surprise you and that I perceive you are surprised I shall not tell the whole narration of my story but leave it to Celeres to acquaint you with it whilst I shall go to seek Clelius to the end to learn him my adventure and to conjure him to suffer those knots of Diamonds you wear to be seen by those who have learnt me my birth and likewise to entreat him to prefer me before Horatius Clelia was so surprised to hear that which Aronces said that she knew not what to answer him 't is not that she suspected the truth of it but the thing was so surprising that she could not imagine it to be possible though she did not doubt of it she therefore answered him as a person infinitely prudent for without affording him so much time as to think she doubted of what he said she gave him cause to make known all the particulars of his adventure and Aronces going to seek Clelius who was in his house I remained in this Garden and whilst the friends of Clelia either entertained themselves together or with Sulpicia who then came thither I told her in few words all that Nicius and Martia had told Aronces and I gave her a most sensible joy to know that her Lover was of such an Illustrious birth I saw in her eyes that she feared this greatness would be an obstacle to her felicity but she did not tell it me In the mean time Aronces went where Clelius was and telling him he had an important business to communicate to him he entred into his Cabinet where he told him all he knew but he told it him with the same respect he accustomed to have when he knew not his birth and Clelius having consented to his desire I returned to find Nicius and Martia from whose mouths the Father of Clelia learnt all they had told us and to confirm that which they said those two knots of Diamonds being shewed him they demanded to see they opened them and in one there was a Portraict of a very beautiful person and in the other a Portraict of a very handsome Man who so much resembled Aronces that one could hardly think but this Picture was made for him and Nicius seeing our astonishment told us that the Portraict which resembled Aronces was the King his Father's and that the Picture of that fair Woman was the Queen his Mothers and that those Portraicts were made a little after Porsenna's first Imprisonment and since his marriage they remained in the hands of Galerita and that this Princess having desired to gain all her Jewels to her Son and thought not in the trouble where she was then to take those two Portraicts from those two knots of Diamonds which were made with such Artifice that one would not perceive they opened at least not to know the secret to open them and Clelius seeing all these circumstances concur together could not harbour any sinister thoughts of the truth of what Nicius and Martia had declared unto him it appearing by so many indubitable conjectures so that Clelius now looking on Aronces as the Son of a great King would have used more civility towards him then ordinary but Aronces opposed it and told him with much generosity that his birth should not change those obligations he had to him neither should it change his heart nor any thing between them In pursuit of which Nicius and Martia said that 't was not yet time to publish the birth of Aronces and that this great secret must be concealed some time but the principal business was to think of saving the King his Father's life and to hinder Mezentius as I have told you from forcing his Daughter to marry Bianor adding that it was necessary they should speedily go to advertise the friends of Porsenna and Galerita that the Prince their Son was living and that he should a little after follow them to the end to advertise with you what is best to be done Nicius exaggerated with so much eloquence the danger in which the King of Clusium was that Clelius joyn'd himself to him to perswade Aronces to come speedily to Perusia In the mean time as he had a passion in his Soul which would not agree with this Voyage though he had resolved to take it and said he would it was easie to see that he had something in his heart which contradicted his words But in fine Madam without tyring your attention with any trivial relations I shall tell you Sulpicia was admitted to this secret and Clelius and she forced Nicius and Martia to leave their lodging and to lodge in their house where they staid but two days for they had so much impatience to carry this agreeable news they knew to the friends of Porsenna and Galerita that they would not defer it longer but before they went they told Aronces the place where he might hear of them when he came to Perusia I shall not tell you Madam what were the discourses of Aronces and Clelia those two days for it 's easie to imagine they contained much delight but when Nicius and Martia were departed and that Aronces saw both Honour and Nature would have him go he felt in his heart an inexpressible emotion and he told me in fine after a long agitation of spirit that if Clelius would not give him Clelia he would not go till he had forced Horatius from Capua as well as he 't is not said he to me but I know that I do not follow the direct course of reason by thinking to espouse Clelia now I know I am Son to a Prince to whom I owe so much respect as not to marry without his permission but Celeres it is Aronces which is amorous of Clelia it is Aronces which ardently wishes her possession it is Aronces which cannot suffer his Rival to enjoy her and it is not the Son of the King of Clusium who hath this diversity of thoughts In effect I shall not pass for such but when I shall have saved his life and if this beatitude happens
the River Vulturnus over-flowed its banks as you have known without doubt and made such a strange disorder that they must necessarily stay till this inundation was passed before they could make a Feast After this Madam I shall not exaggerate to you the terriblest adventure in the World by recounting exactly how the morning after this inundation was passed which was the day which should have preceded the Nuptials of Aronces and Clelia there was a terrible Earthquake for you are not ignorant of the effects of it since 't was known further then Sicily and by consequence further then Perusia but shall only acquaint you that this terrible day where the winds flames and burning stones made such an horrible disorder during this Earthquake was an unhappy day for Aronces since he was separated from Clelia by a whirl-wind of scorching flames just as he perceived his Rival that a little before he believed to have been at Capua But in fine Madam to conclude his mishap Fortune cast Clelia in the Arms of his Rival he not knowing who had brought Horatius in that place or how Clelia came into his power and all that which I know is that Aronces saw her no more but when this great disorder was passed he believed that she was dead that he returned to Capua with those which escaped so great a danger and I did not so much afflict my self for the loss of my house as for the grief of my friend whom I followed to Capua where he soon knew that Horatius was not there and that Stenius had received a Letter from him and in pursuit he went to find him to indeavour to discover if he knew nothing of Clelia that he refused to tell him that Aronces forced him to fight that he vanquisht him that he took from him the Letter he had received from Horatius by which he knew he had Clelia in his hands and that he carried her to Perusia so that seeing his Love his Honour and Nature commanded him to go thither he resolved with Clelius that he would depart which he did for Herminius as he had some affairs which induced him to leave Italy Aronces and I gave him Letters for Amilcar and I would not desert my friend but leave Fenice of whom I was not too much satisfied and of whom I was but a little amorous But after that Madam imagine what was the grief of Aronces when he saw upon the Lake Clelia in a Barque which Horatius defended and what was his astonishment to see in the other the Prince of Numidia whom he did not believe to be his Rival imagine I say his grief to see he could not go to assault Clelia's Ravisher and succour him which assailed him imagine the deplorable Estate wherein he was when he knew by a Slave that they would assassinate the Prince of Perusia whose death would have delivered the King his Father and the Queen his Mother and in fine imagine the miserable condition in which he now is for Madam Aronces knows not where Clelia is he knows she is in the power of his Rival and he hath found one in the person of his dearest friends The life of Porsenna is in danger Galerita is still a Prisoner Mezentius saith she shall never depart from Prison if she will not re-marry there is danger to hazard to make Aronces known to the Prince of Perusia for Porsenna's Son he is at present incapable to act because of his wounds Sextilia always favours her Brother Bianor Tiberinus who is now Mezentius his Favorite hath more then one Interest to induce him to desire the loss of Porsenna and to oppose the discovery of Aronces and though he hath saved the Perusian Princes life his without doubt would be in great danger if he was known to be Porsenna's Son and what ought he to hope if he is not so Madam Aronces is every way unhappy for Honour Nature and Love assault him with most rigorous thoughts when that fortune mingles it self to make continual combates in the heart of a Lover therefore I dare hope Madam that being sensible of the mishaps of so generous a Prince you 'l render to him all the Offices which are in your power Doubt not of it replied the Princes of the Leontines seeing Celeres had finisht his Narration for I am so touched with his misfortunes that I shall forget nothing that lies in my power to testifie to him that I have a true compassion therefore I conjure you to pray him to inform what I shall do or say for though I have an inveterate hatred against Tiberinus I will constrain my thoughts in this occasion and indeavour to put him in his interest though as things are it will be a difficult enterprise you have so much address and so many charms replied Aurelia that we must despair of nothing you are so generous added Sycanius that we ought to expect from you all things in such an encounter In truth replied she I merit no great praise to be capable to have compassion for another's misfortunes for you so sympathize in mine and have thereby brought me so much consolation that I should be armed with cruelty if I should but seem to refuse mine to an Illustrious unhappy person After that Celeres seeing it was late rose up and went to Aronces with whom he found Nicius and Martia who assured him the next day the principal friends of Porsenna would come to the Castle where he was to the end to consult what was expedient to be done in such an important conjecture The End of the First Book of the First Part. CLELIA The First Part. BOOK II. LOve being the most predominant Passion in the heart of Aronces it prompted him to be a most assiduous visiter of Clelia and finding her interest to be the only square of all his actions it may very well be said That she was the only object of his mind and that his thoughts ran wholly upon her and nothing else besides The Prince of Numidia as well as he was wholly taken up with thinking upon the most admired Clelia and he did most passionately wish for a sight of Aronces that he might cheer up himself a little with some amorous discourses As for the Princess of the Leontines she had so many various discourses with her self that had she not been of an infinite generosity she would not have spared so much time as she did to think upon the miseries of Aronces Celeres for his particular his heart being not then infested with any violent passion and being composed more of friendship than Love his whole thoughts were how to cheer up the wretched Aronces so as complying with Silanus Aurelia Nicius and Martia whose minds ran all upon the same business all of them were wholly busied in discanting upon the present condition and state of the matter But at last the expected friends of Porsenna being arrived Sicanus presented them unto Aronces as soon as Nicius and Martia had informed
put Porsenna to death and that Galerita will be married unto his Brother that she may be comforted after his death For Mezentius being old she fears her Fortunes would not change if he should die before he put the King of Clusium to death and before he had married the Princess his Daughter unto some of her Relations At the last there is one that pretends to know her thoughts did assure Aurelia that these were hers After this they talked of many other things and much other Company coming in Tiberinus could not speak a word of his Passion unto the Princess of the Leontines But the day following he found an opportunity whether she would or no Yet being of an infinite ingenuity and knowing it was not a time to treat him ill if she intended to serve Aronces she carried her self with such a civility towards him as did put him into some hopes though her words did not signifie so much In the mean time as soon as the Victory of Aronces had put Perusia into a Calm Mezentius began to think upon Porsenna's death and at the same time to marry the Princess his Daughter But since there was no thinking upon the last of these until he had executed the first he began to renew the execution of the business and to draw up a charge against Porsenna for complying with that Assassinate who would have murthered him On the other side all the friends unto that Prince being advertised by Sicanus and Nicius they began to negotiate secretly for the prevention of so great a misfortune and to acquaint Aronces who was then in a most miserable condition for he could not hear any news of Clelia and both honour and nature would not permit him to depart from Perusia or if he should he knew not whither to go nor where the person whom he loved was Moreover though he was much in the esteem of Mezentius yet he knew that his hatred unto Porsenna was above it And he conceived that if ever he should acquaint him that he was his son he would then change his mind and hate him as much as ever he loved him All he could do was to try if he could prolong the matter until the friends of the King his Father had some power to help him when he should speak unto Mezentius as the Son of Porsenna In order to that as he was one day talking unto that Prince concerning the weighty matter he asked him whether it were not convenient to endeavour the discovery of the truth from the mouth of the Prisoner King For indeed Sir said Aronces to him if you should upon bare conjectures put a great Prince to death you would eternally stain your glory by it I would advise you to send some faithful and unbyassed person unto him who in a discourse which may appear to be without design may endeavour to find out something which may clear him or justifie him and if you would be pleased to permit me the liberty of seeing him I am confident to make him speak more freely than otherwise he would For seeming to enter into his interests and willing to serve him he may chance trust me so far as to impart something which will either keep you from destroying him unjustly or make it appear you may do it justly At the first Mezentius did reject this proposition and told Aronces that Porsenna had long since deserved death That it was sufficient he was able to Ruine him and that he was to blame for letting him live so long Do you not see that this Prince is an eternal colour for Civil War in all the mutinies in my Dominions Sometimes reports are spread abroad that Porsenna hath a son living and wandring up and down the World and that he will ere long appear sometimes again that he was in my power and that I kept him Prisoner and there is nothing uninvented to draw upon me the hatred of my Subjects And therefore to be rid of such a perpetual persecution it were fit and expedient to destroy him though he have no hand in the business of the Assassinate and if he have a Son living I wish to the Heavens I could at one blow ruine both the Father and the Son But to tell you truly I am confident he hath no Son but that he is perished and all reports of his life are nothing but only the fictions and devices of my enemies Truth is if this Son be dead he is more happy than if he were living and if he beliving he shall live no longer than he is out of my power Aronces hearing Mezentius say so was out of his excess of generosity and boldness in a hundred minds to tell him that he was the Son of Porsenna for sometimes he had a fancy that Mezentius owing him for his life twice and for a victory would not hurt him But at last reason telling him that he ought not to hazard a business of this importance wherein more than he had concernment he recalled himself and dissembled his thoughts Also thinking that if he should hastily discover himself the least punishment would be imprisonment then the interest of Clelia more than his own restrained him from telling truth unto Mezentius But according to his first design which was to protract the matter he did negotiate so well as that Mezentius gave him leave to see Porsenna And accordingly some two days after Aronces went unto the place where he was guarded with orders unto him who commanded the Castle to let him have the liberty of discourse without any witnesses So this Prince not known to be son unto the King of Clusium went unto the place where this miserable King was who knew nothing of all the Passages against him nor what Galerita did nor whether he had a Son or no A place wherein he lived a most melancholy life that his Constancy was high and though he had a soul that could look grim death in the face without alteration of countenance yet when Aronces entred into the Chamber he was surprized for besides his being unaccustomed to the sight of any but his guards he found in the face of Aronces so great a resemblance of himself in his younger days as he could not chuse but be moved at it but much more was his wonder when Aronces telling him that he had obtained liberty from the Prince of Perusia to see him and confer with him about some matter which concerned him he knew the tone of his voice for being very like that of his dear Galerita whom he did most tenderly love in spight of so long an absence he changed colour and was so moved that Aronces perceived the turbulency of his spirit Porsenna could not with-hold some expressions of joy to see him though he knew him not So as when the Man who conducted Aronces unto the Chamber retired he began to speak and looking most fixedly upon him who ever you are honest stranger said he unto him I am obliged
gently to him and took off his Head a Cap which he wore according to the Tuscan mode and after the Eagle had soared with it as high as the Clouds she came down and put it upon his head again And. I must tell you that Tanaquil being a Tuscan and having some skill in Augury she was so extremely joyned at this happy Presage and so assured her self it would be seconded with happy effects that she imbraced her Husband and told him that there was no grandure so high but he might hope for it So as Lucumo suffering his Ambition to be flattered by such sweet hopes he entred Rome where he no sooner was but he went to the King and offered him his person and all he had for the service of the State and the truth is he disbursed much towards the Wars upon divers occasions And to be suitable every way unto the Custom of Rome he quitted the name of Lucumo because it was the Roman Custom to have two names whereof one is particular and the other is the name of the family So he took the name of Lucius for the first name and of the Town Tarquinia where he was born he made the name of Tarquinius so as he called himself Lucius Tarquinius and left off the name of Lucumo Moreover he was affable civil and popular he Courted occasions to do men courtesies to the end he might oblige them and he got such credit during the reign of Ancus that this Prince determined upon nothing without him also he was very powerful in the Senate and extremely beloved of the people The King left him Guardian of his Children by his Testament so as making use of this favourable conjuncture to satisfie his Ambition he did openly labour for the Crown before Ancus was dead Declaring that though he was a stranger yet that ought not to be any obstacle since Tatius and Numa were such and yet Reigned But to the end his design might take effect the day that the people were to elect a King he sent the young Princes unto whom he was Guardian to a hunting lest their presence should put the People in memory of the great qualities of their Father and invite them to elect one of them two And the common opinion was that but for this trick Lucumo had not been King as he was The truth is he was a very glorious King for he acted nothing but great things ever since he was chosen His very pleasures were magnificent for it was he who instituted the Circensian Games so famous throughout all Italy and who built that which we call the Circle which is between the Mount Palatine and the Mount Aventine He was wont to say that in all things there ought to be a difference between Kings and Subjects even in their very Pleasures and that it was absolutely necessary there should be a character of Royalty upon every action of a King be it in great or little matters As for Martial matters he is eternized for his Acts against the Latines were all glory he triumphed over the Sabines and brought the City of Collatia unto subjection as he had before the City of Appiola afterwards undertaking a second War against the people of Latium he became Master of all their strong places one after another for he took Cornicula Ficulnia Cumeria Crustumerla Ameriala Medulla and Nomeuta After all this he employed himself in building publick places of eternal memory and he built one purposely to keep the people from being idle After many great and good works which he did either for the conveniency or Ornament of the Town he laid the foundation of the Temple of Jupiter which is within the Capitol only to fulfil a vow which he made during the War against the Sabines But before I speak of his death I must tell you several passages purposely to make you the more hate Tarquin the Proud when I shall come to relate his life and acquaint you with his Crimes Know therefore that at the taking of Cornicula there was among the Captives a woman whose Husband died at this Siege who was said to be very handsome and of good quality and who was preferred unto the Service of Tanaquil also she being big with Child she was brought to bed in the Palace for both being fair and witty and vertuous Tanaquil did love her and took a care of her So as being delivered of a Son he was brought up in the Palace where they said this Child whose name was Servius Tullus had his head all environed with a flame always when he slept This Prodigie making a great noise the King went to see it and Tanaquil also who would not suffer any Water to be cast to quench the flame but assured her Husband out of her knowledge in presages that this Child should one day be the light of the State and the greatest support of the Royal Family The King remembring what Tanaquil said concerning the Eagle and that all came truly to pass he gave credit unto her this second time as at the first he took so great a care for the good education of the young Servius Tullus that he grew to be so excellent in every thing as the King gave him his Daughter in marriage But after this the Son of the Predecessor unto Lucius Tarquinius who pretended that he had hindred him from Reigning being much incensed to foresee that Servius was like to Reign in his prejudice he resolved upon a revenge for him from whom they thought the injury proceeded And indeed they caused him to be murthered by pretended people who upon a pretence of going to ask Justice of the King did kill him in his own Palace but since all the assassinates fled after the fact Tanaquil not using any fruitless Complaints caused the Gates of the Palace to be shut to the end this News should not be divulged she encouraged Servius Tullus to mount the Throne she spoke unto the people out of the Windows and told them that the King was not dead but that he recovered and that ere long they should see him and that in the mean while Servius Tullus should do them Justice And Servius Tullus being gone out of the Palace in the Robe Royal which we call Trabea he did render Justice unto each one in particular seeming as if he referred all to the King as if he were not dead indeed both Tanaquil and Servius Tullus did carry all matters so cunningly as the death of the King was concealed many days During which time the Children of Ancus Martius who had caused the Successor of their Father to be murthered retired unto Pometia for those whom they employed in the crime being taken and perceiving the power of Servius Tullus established they knew not what course to take And the truth is Tullus having all the Patricians for him was declared King without any insisting upon the Suffrages of the people 'T is true he was in very great esteem and so
liberty of talk together But being both of them equally melancholy they were no sooner separated some few paces from those who were the troublers of their felicity but looking upon each other they saw so much sadness in each others eyes as the Love which they had unto each other was thereby much augmented for they did easily divine the cause So the Prince of Ameriola being grown more bold by the melancholy which he saw in the fair eyes of his Princess Oh Heavens Madam said he unto her I beseech you tell me truly whether or no you think I may not wish that those two persons which I see together may never part and whether you will give me leave to tell you that if I have not my wish effected the grief which I see in your eyes will be my death and that a death most desperate unless to make me expire the more calmly you will permit me to believe that I have some share in those sorrows which I see in you For truly Madam you know that I love you I think you cannot love my Brother and I am so presumptuous also as to think that you have less aversion unto me than unto him Your language doth so much distract me replied the Prince and blusht as I know not how to answer you unless this that at at this time I dare not tell you what I think Oh Madam said the Prince of Ameriola I am infinitely obliged unto you for this answer And I beseech you give the most miserable Lover alive leave to imagine what those thoughts are which now you dare not tell him and believe that the pureness of my passion doth merit so much indulgence from you I know very well that as the state of things stands it is hard to find a remedy against that evil which afflicts me But however one may dye more quietly one way than another and therefore Madam I must conjure you not to deny me this Since I am very ingenuous replied the Princess I will tell you that I have a very high opinion of your virtue and I think you are well perswaded of mine I must confess that there is a natural antipathy betwixt your Brother and me which makes me wish that the King had not commanded me to marry him and I will confess further that there is such a sympathy of humour between you and me as I wish either that Tarquin resembled you or that you were in his room Also I am perswaded that you do hold me in some esteem and I must tell you truly that I do much esteem you But when I have said this I have said all unless this that when I have done all that Decency will permit me to break my marriage with Tarquin then I must resolve upon obedience and to be the most miserable person upon earth But I beseech you Madam said he unto her if Ambition be not the predominate passion of your Soul as it is in the Princess your Sister why should you marry my Brother leave him to the ambitious Tullia let us not oppose their fidelity as they do ours I am originally of Corinth let us go and seek that security in Greece which we cannot find in Rome Do you abandon Tarquin as I will Tullia and take up a resolution worthy of the Love I bear you and of your own virtue For Madam I am confident that as soon as ever you are the Wife of Tarquin he will move you unto such things which your generosity will never consent unto I know very well that as his Brother I ought not to tell you thus much but as his Rival it is permitted me to tell you any thing that may serve my self Also Justice requires it that I should not smother a truth from you which may be of such a consequence as the well-being of the King may depend upon it The truth is Madam I know that my Brother dares not love you and that he doth love the Princess Tullia Nor would he ever marry you but that Ambition hath a greater prevalence with his heart than love hath Imagine then Madam what such a man is able to do who can act against his own felicity Expect and fear all that is ill from him Madam and beware whilst it is time Moreover I know of an infallible certainty that the Princess Tullia doth love my Brother and cannot love me but I value not the last of these for knowing that I shall never love her and that I shall ever love you Madam I should be unjust if I should take it ill from her But I beseech you consider that I am in a most miserable state for knowing that the King is fully resolved that I should marry Tullia and that you should marry Tarquin I know not what course to take If I refuse this honour which he would do me in giving me his Daughter then I must go out of Rome and must never see you again And if I should stay with you then I must marry a person who hates me and whom I do not love and must see you enjoyed by my Brother who thinks it no happiness to injoy you Imagine therefore Madam if I have not great reason to beseech you that you will be pleased to take these things into your consideration since they may produce such dangerous consequences I do verily believe all that you say replied the Princess but I believe them without seeing any remedy against them for my honour will not permit me to go with you into Greece and though a resentment of glory should not give a stop unto it yet my tenderness of the King and Queen is sufficient Also I think my self obliged to advise you to marry my Sister because I think she stands in need of your virtue to temper her ambitious humour and to restrain her from any unjust attempts Oh! Madam said the Prince of Ameriola then I perceive I was much mistaken when I thought you did not hate me for where there is any tender affection there cannot be so much wisdom but one shall have more compassion upon the miseries of the person whom one loves Since I have none for my self replied the Princess you would be unjust if you should murmur that I have none for you Then Madam I beseech you said he unto her reflect upon your own condition should I do as you advise and marry Tullia who loves not me nor I her but should still continue my love to you then Tarquin would marry you but love Tullia and it may so chance that you may love me then more than now you do and that I my self should contribute unto your misery for I cannot think it possible you should see me so full of misery as I shall be and your heart nothing touched with Compassion Think well therefore upon what I say Madam and afterwards favour me so far as to tell me what course you would have me take I would have you said she submit your mind
complains sometimes that you do not enough divert her but she will never find fault that your passion is not strong enough yet quite contrary with a melancholy Mistress for she will complain she will grieve and will even be sick for sorrow and anger she will break off with you by all means though God knows she cannot and when you have once appeased her she will fill up your Soul with infinite joys and you will find in her all the favours and ardency of a new affection nothing is so sweet as these reconciliations in Love You shall also have this advantage by loving a Mistress of a serious and passionate temper as never to hazard any thing as you shall often in loving a merry and fantastical humour for if you find the last of these in a good mood when she hath not power to deny her heart unto those who divert her she will give her heart unto you but yet she gives it rather by chance than choice a proud and fantastical Lady will often do the like and love you more out of an humour than out of any inclination But a vertuous melancholy Mistress who hath a tender Soul and a noble heart she is long in denying you and will not bestow her affection but when she cannot chuse but give it but yet when she doth give it she giveth it freely and yet she gives it not all at once as the others do she shews her heart by degrees and when you do see the bottom of ir you shall be so happy as to see none but your self in it Indeed a passionate and melancholy Mistress hath love in her head as well as her heart she can remember and repeat every passage and wheresoever she is her mind is still with her Lover she thinks upon all the places where she hath seen him and would never be out of his sight she hath continually a hundred thousand things to tell him which yet she never does and there is in this kind of Love such a sweet miscellany of joys and inquietudes as she is continually in the one or the other For not to be mistaken I must affirm that to know all the delights of Love one must know all the bitters of it and whosoever cannot make a great misery out of a trivial matter shall never take any great delight in a great favour But if one will be happy in love he must pick out great pleasures from slight favours and must have a heart so sensible as the very sight of a place where once his Mistress hath been must fill his heart full of joy as such joys as must grieve him his heart must be full of thoughts upon her he must think upon nothing else and he must think upon her sometimes with delight and sometimes with grief But the fair and merry Mistress and also the proud and fantastical never use to have any such tender thoughts It is onely the charming melancholy which is able to inspire a zealous lasting and pleasing Passion As for a merry Mistress it may be said she rather lends you her heart than gives it for she never gives it so absolutely but she can recal it as often as she finds any one that can divert her more As for a proud and capricious Mistress it may he said that one can never get her heart without a ravishment unless perchance she cast it upon you out of anger rather than give it you of good will and you can never be so sure in possession of it but you may lose it again by the same capricious toy which gave it you But as for a melancholy Mistress when she gives her heart she gives it wholly and absolutely and gives it in such an engaging manner as when one knows all the delicacies of this kind of affection which so few do know it is impossible there should ever be any change in love And if it were lawful in Rome to use so sacred a comparison with a prophane I would say that melancholy is the Vestal which preserves the fire of Love in the heart of a Lover since without it a zealous and lasting Love cannot be Good Celeres said Amilcar say no more for though I have undertook to be the defender of merry Mistresses and mirth yet I think if I were not near the lovely Plotina you would convert me The truth is said Artemidorus that Celeres and his expressions have tendered my heart But the wonder is said Aronces that Celeres who hath so eloquently discoursed upon Love yet never had any of those great and violent Passions is able to instruct others so well It is true replied Celeres and though I was never any more than a pidler in Love matters yet I am very well acquainted with the Passion And had I not thwarted my own temper or had ever met with a lovely Melancholy Mistress who would have loved me I should have been the deepest in Love of any man living For my part replied Amilcar I can scarcely believe you for since my first beginnings in matters of love I have begun a hundred several loves which have made me so knowing in that Passion as I have been loved two or three several times with all imaginable violence For ought I see replied Sextus if one should desire you to tell us the History of your life they should desire more than one single History True Sir replied Amilcar and laughed and to speak properly you must desire me to relate the History of my Adventures For my Part said Plotina then I have a great desire to know them I think added Cesonia that this curiosity would be general if there were any hopes of being satisfied For my particular pursued Clelia I cannot tell whether or no I am deceived but I think Amilcar had rather relate the adventures of any other than of his own It is very true Madam answered he there is nothing more unhandsome than to relate ones own worth for if one be modest be will not enough commend himself and if one be not he will commend himself too much But I perceive said Plotina unto Sextus That the dispute is ended and no judgment is given whether the merry or the melancholy the proud or the fantastical have the advantage Though I took upon me to be Judge replied Sextus yet I should be very presumptuous if I should pronounce any sentence before so many beauties whom I know so little perhaps there may be more of them merry than I imagine and those who seem melancholy are so out of some accidental Cause and not out of temper and therefore I think it much better to entreat Amilcar that he would be pleased to relate unto us some of those beginnings in love which he spoke of Oh Sir replied he I am not fit to be my own Historian But if you desire to have a Relation of some such Adventure I have had a hundred friends in my life who have had many gallant and
me to tell Think better with your self and without any oaths or obligations upon me to promise any thing tell me what you would know and afterwards I will see if I can satisfie your curiosity or no. Oh Madam cryed he out If you were clearly ingenious I would promise what I desire but in telling me nothing you have told me all and I have no more to ask you Artaxander spoke all this in such a surly and angry manner that Cynesia being troubled at it and knowing that she had done nothing since she was acquainted with Artaxander which could anger him she promised to tell him truely whatsoever he should ask her Then I conjure you Madam said he unto her to tell me ingenuously whether you ever loved Alphidemon Alphidemon replied she and blusht was of my acquaintance so young as it may well be said we began to see light and be acquainted both together The matter is not replied he when you began your acquaintance but to know whether you loved him or no what caused you to love him how it came to pass you loved him no longer and what reasons did induce you to change your mind you ask me these Questions with such an arrogant tone replied she and they are so troublesome to be answered as if I were not exceedingly indulgent towards you I should not answer them at all but since perhaps you may think I conceal'd some crimes if I do not satisfie your curiositie therefore I will ingeniously answer to your demands and tell you that as soon as ever I began to open my eyes I began to be acquainted with Alphidemon and I will confess that from the very first dawning of â—ny days I had a strong inclination towards him and permitted him to love me And that you may see my great confidence in your discretion I will confess farther that the 〈◊〉 and assiduity of his courtships joyned with my own inclination brought me at last to love him and should have still loved him had he not been guilty of such a lightness as damped my spirit and obliged me to break off with him And the truth is though I well enough knew Alphidemon to be a man of no great reputation in the world yet should I have continued faithful unto him had he been so to me For I must in my own justification tell you that the world doth much wrong Alphidemon and that he is much more amiable then is beleeved to one he loves being certainly very sweet and complacential Oh Madam said Artaxander Alphidemon is less amiable towards those he loves then towards those he loves not because he sees them oftenest but certainly he is not less amiable towards those of whom he is loved and that 's the reason you find him not so disagreeable as all the world doth As I have already confessed that I bore affection to him replied she so I must with the same ingenuity tell you that I do not love him I would willingly believe it Madam replied he but that you did love him is enough to make me the most miserable of all men And such is my mind as I should think my self much less miserable if you had loved one who was worthyer of you then I am to know that you loved the worst and most unworthy of all the lovers you ever had I must confess Madam I wonder how it was possible I should win any thing upon your heart since Alphidemon did for I am nothing like him my making is not like his I do nothing that he does I speak not like him nor are my thoughts the same with his and indeed I know no two greater contraries then Alphidemon and Artaxander How was it possible he should please you and I too How could you love him and me likewise I wonder that the man whom of all the world I most despise should be the man whom you the most of all esteem As for that I shall give you satisfaction said she by explaning the affection which I had unto Alphidemon and the affection I bear unto you for I loved him by inclination only and you by inclination and knowledge Oh Madam said he unto her blot out your inclination to me for I will have nothing in common with Alphidemon I will blot you out of my heart also replyed Cynesia sharply being angry at Artaxanders surly tone for men may render themselves unworthy as well by phantasticalness as by want of merit When I began to love you Madam replyed Artaxander I gave you most hearty thanks for making me in love as for a very great favour But since I understand you have loved Alphidemon I must confess Madam that if you should take me out of love again I should thank you much more for I know nothing more cruel then to be successor unto Alphidemon Since certainly Madam this happy Alphidemon could never have won upon your heart but by telling you a thousand simple and ridiculous fooleries and as many impertinencies and by doing the same things before you which have made all the Town despise him Judge Madam I beseech you what honour it will be unto me to make the same conquest he did Cynesia being much offended at Artaxander though she could not give one good reason to excuse her affection unto Alphidemon yet they quarrelled untill the return of Philira who turned the discourse At his going from thence he went unto Cephisa who as I told you bore such good will unto Artaxander as was likely to grow over tender if she had not striven against that growing inclination So as when Artaxander who loved her very well did relate unto her the squabbles 'twixt him and his Mistress But first since she had not seen Artaxander since Pasithea in her presence had vexed him by calling him the successor of Alphidemon she no sooner saw him come into her Chamber where she was alone but beginning to smile Artaxander said she you are very much obliged to me for though that which Pasithea said unto you before me was enough to make any one laugh yet I did not laugh at all but no the contrary I did chide her for what she had said and almost fell out with her in your behalf I do confess my self obliged unto you replied Artaxander and should be much more if you could make me out of love with Cynesia Oh Artaxander replied Cephisa you do not consider what you say I consider but too much answered he for the more I consider the more I find it a shame to be the successor of Alphidemon And I am so weary of my two last adventures as I am almost resolved to alter my course of life Indeed pursued he if you will give me leave to love you with such a tender amity as shall be a medium between love and common amity and will endure I should turn weather cook and relate unto you all my follies I will absolutely renounce all those high passions which they say do only afford
sorrows But the truth is his fears of her being known to be the daughter of Clelius did take away the greatest sweetness of his hopes Also the very grief of being from her and leaving her under the power of that Tiger Tullia did so extreamly afflict him as it may be said this onely was enough to make him worthy of compassion Also they expressed themselves unto each other the most sadly that can be imagined whilst Celeres and Amilcar who was with them this visit did take their leaves of the other Ladies But the adieu of Plotina and Amilcar was as merry as the other was Melancholly and at parting were as full of their pleasant frollicks as ever Yet Amilcar set a more serious face upon the matter when he took his leave of Clelia For maugre all his mirth he did most obligingly resent the misfortunes of this fair one But after they had left her Aronces Celeres and he durst not go and see Verenia lest if it were known Tarquin should suspect them But they went secretly unto the virtuous Sevilia purposely to oblige her to let Verenia know that her illustrious Neece had in their persons some defenders against the Tyrant After which they went unto that Prince as well as Artimedorus and Zenocrates Mean time there might be seen go out of Rome that day the most magnificent equipage of War that ever was seen since the first Foundation of that proud Town for under their former Kings the Romans either out of poverty or moderation never used any superstuities Moreover Amilcar being equally agreeable unto Tarquin unto Sextus unto the Prince of Pometia and unto Titus he shared himself amongst them during this march for he was sometimes with one sometimes with another and though their humours were all different yet he pleased them all As for Aronces he was so full of sorrow that he entertained only himself Artimedorus he talked with Zenocrates for they two had enough to talk on in matters wherein none else had any interest and for Celeres he entertained Collatin in discourse of the siege However Tarquins Quarter being betwixt Rome and Ardes the Camp was so near that Famous City as one might goe and come betwixt them in a day but reason did forbid Aronces from doing so lest he should render himself suspected So as it might be said that he was as miserable as if he had been further off from Clelia since he durst not go and see her But Tarquin was no sooner come to the Camp then he gave out orders concerning the siege he went to view all the several Posts and would have the strangers with him to the end they might see that the way of Roman War had great congruity with the Grecian and African way As for Aronces he accompanyed Tarquin he reasoned so rightly and gave such good advice unto this Prince he began from that day to look upon him not as an ordinary man But as Tarquin and this brave Troop were upon a hill which Aronces said was requisite to be made good they of Ardes made a salley And so advantagiously for themselves at first as by the favour of another hill upon the left hand Tarquin was set about before he was aware So as then he was very happy in having so many brave men about him For maugre the vigorous assault of his enemies who doubled them in number they repulsed them and did such prodigious things that day as made all who saw him admire For knowing that Horace was in Ardes he bore a secret hatred unto those who defended him yet when he considered that Ardes was the harbour of his noble friend whom Tarquin hated only for his virtue his heroique heat which made him do such great exploits did began to slack But for all that when he considered that at the end of the siege Clelia was to be delivered he thought upon nothing but what might conduce to the taking of this Town so as bestirring himself that day to defend him who besieged it he did defend him as if he had infinitely esteemed him as if he had most dearly loved him and as if he had been incomparably tender of him though at the bottom of his heart he had a most horrible aversion against this proud Tyrant So as desiring to signal him self upon this occasion he did as I told you before such marvellous things as made both his friends and enemies admire him Also all they who followed Tarquin did acts worthy of eternal memory and one would have said that the Romans the Grecians and the Affricans did vie valours with each other in vanquishing those who assaulted them So as all these brave men fighting together they beat the other as brave and as strong as they were and did drive them to their very gates after they had killed many and took more prisoners than they themselves But amongst those who Aronces took with his own hands hee found two who told him things very different for after some of Tarquins Troops were come up to relieve them and that they could retreat without fear of any sallies he asked these prisoners concerning the state of the town and the number of men to defend it Sir said one of the souldiers there are men enough to find you work and if the valiant Horace doe escape his wounds as it is hoped he and Herminius joyning together will make you pay dear for your victory How said Tarquin and blusht for anger is Horace and Herminius both in Ardes Yes Sir replied the courageous souldier and had they been in the head of those troops you have beaten perhaps you had found a sharper business of it Tarquin being incensed at the boldness of this prisoner commanded him to be put to death but since it was Aronces that took him oh Sir said he to Tarquin with extream generosity since this prisoner belongs to me I beseech your Majesty not to be so cruel unto him for I think my self obliged to defend his life and I assure you he did so stoutly defend it that he merits better usage I will give him to your valour replied Tarquin in a rought one though his insolency deserves death for how durst he in my presence commend two of my most mortal enemies and enemies whom I hate as much as Clelius and Horace and Herminius deserve it After this Tarquin casting his eye upon the other captive whom Aronces took he began to ask him who he was for he seemed to have the ayr of a stranger Sir said he in very broken Roman language though I am taken amongst your enemies yet I am not so for I belong unto the Prince of Numidia who sent me into Ardes to know whether a daughter of his who was stoln away was there He had no sooner said so but Aronces Amilcar and Celeres did know the man and that he did belong unto the Prince of Numidia therefore their hearts began to beat extreamly fearing he would tell something
from the other Captives that she was narrowly watched and that there was a rendezvous of those whom this Tyrant used to employ when some violence was to be committed in any of the houses of those illustrous Citizens whom he hated only for their virtue So that she as famous for her Prudence as her Generosity conceived that order might concern her and that haply Tarquin had been acquainted with Aronces's retreat at her house for Amilcar had once sent thither and it was not impossible but that a Slave might reveal a secret of so great importance So that to go prudently to work she thought fit Aronces were accquainted with the state of Affairs and considered what were to be done for his safety if they came to search the house for him For having a high esteem for him and looking on him as a friend of her sons and though unfortunate yet guilty of a great Vertue she was resolved to do as much for Aronces as she would for Herminius for whom she would have done any thing Engaged in this consideration she went to Aronces who had just made an end of writing to Amilcar and acquainting him how things stood she proposed how much it concerned him suddenly to change his lodging But I beseech you sayes she conceive not I make this Proposition to you out of any suggestion of fear for my own concernments for it is long since I am prepared for any violence the Tyrant shall be guilty of But it so much concerns you that you be not taken besides the satisfaction my Son receives in my serving you that I shall neglect nothing The safest way therefore is that you depart my house and that very suddenly and lodge your self in some one less suspected When you are gone continued she fear not I shall discover where you are though Tarquin put me to the greatest torments imaginable I should be very unhappy replyed Aronces if I should expose one of the most vertuous Ladies in the World to so great misery and I would rather return into the power of Tarquin than lay you open to his cruelty To be short if the admirable and unfortunate Clelia wanted not my assistance I would spare you even that trouble of finding me a refuge But generous Sivelia it is you have acquainted me with her condition and if the contrivances of Amilcar seconded by your endeavours with those of your friends and Clelius's put me not into a condition to carry her away when Tarquin shall be returned to the Camp I fear I shall be the most unfortunate man in the World since that otherwise the earth shall not own a more unhappy person than Clelia This done Sivelia conceiving the departure of Aronces was not to be delayed considering the intelligence she had received told him that for to make his retreat good he should be let out at a back-door into a blind street abutting on the Cyprian street and that there was a Garden-gate which should be opened to him as soon as she had acquainted herewith a certain friend of hers who was Aunt to Brutus But that you may be the more confident of her fidelity sayes she to him know that this illustrious Roman Lady is a friend of Clelius's that she abominates the Tyrant and that if her life might deliver Rome she would be glad to sacrifice it She is very ancient yet guilty of a great vigour of body and mind a lover of Glory and Honesty a Kinswoman of my Husbands and one that hath a great affection for me Here Aronces staying her told her there needed so much precaution and that he wholly resigned himself up to her disposal so that to lose no longer time Sivelia sent one of her servants to this Aunt of Brutus whom she before had prepared for the business having indeed alwaies foreseen what she now feared would happen so that it being near night all was accomplished with ease Thus Aronces having taken leave of Sivelia who promised to acquaint him with what she should learn and to send him what ever came from Amilcar went from the house of this vertuous woman to that of Brutus's Aunt who not knowing him as yet to be the son of Porsennas entertained him onely as a friend of Clelius and Herminius and an enemy of Tarquin But he was hardly out of Sivelia's but he who was ordered to come to her house was at the door followed by those that were able to force obedience They soon were masters of the gates but Sivelia knowing they could not find what they came for she her self gave order all the lodgings of the house should be opened to them Which done the Tyrants officer in this business telling her that he was commanded by Tarquin to bring her to the Palace she told him that heretofore she had more willingly obeyed him when she was commanded to depart Rome than she could now that she was to go to a place where she had not set her foot since the death of the generous Tanaquil and the Princess of Ameriola but that howsoever she was ready to go along with him To be short followed by many of her Slaves she is conducted to Tarquin who no sooner cast his eye on her but he asked her whether it were Herminius or Aronces who had lain concealed in her house My Lord replies she without the least disturbance if you truly knew what I am going to tell you that is that I shall tell you nothing which shall give you the least discovery of what you desire to know For if neither Aronces nor my Son had been at my house I should be obliged to say I had not seen them and if either of the two have really been there I should so much the more earnestly assure you that your intelligence hath been false for there are some emergencies wherein truth it self is criminal If you might therefore with less trouble to your self have spared your pains of sending for the widow of a man of a great vertue whom you did not love and mother of another whom you hate though all the world assure me he hath all those qualities which can render a person of Honour worthy to be loved The question is not whether I have or have not reason to hate Herminius replies the rude Tyrant for I never much examined that in all my life because I suppose those that are in soveraign power do right when they do what they will But the business now is to tell positively in what place he now is who lay secret in your house and whom you now have disposed elsewhere No no my Lord I shall never be forced to tell what I know not or what I have no mind to reveal therefore all I have to do is to assure you that you get nothing out of me which may be prejudicial either to Aronces or Herminius and that this resolution is such as no rewards nor menaces can make me change Tarquin seeing this constancy of Sivelia was extreamly
speak with her accustomed freedome as being not quite disintangled from the adventure had happened unto her but Hermilia reflected not much on it but believed that little disturbance she descryed in Lucrecia to have proceeded from the trouble she had had to entertain Brutus who not able suddenly to shift himself into his stupidity chose rather to remove himself further from Lucrecia then coming near her to say nothing to her or at least nothing that might please her In the mean time Lucrecia though at the present she had no thoughts of entertaining Brutus's love was yet particularly careful to speak in time to Valeria to let her know that what she had told her the day before was of greater consequence than she conceived Yet could she not speak to her till they were retired to their bedchamber for before either Hermilia or Racilia was alwayes with them But as soon as they were private Luerecia acquainted her friend punctually with all that Brutus had said celebrating the greatness of his understanding and the difference that was between his ordinary manner of speaking and when he spoke freely and in fine pretending to Valeris that she had a great esteem for him though she were not half acquainted with him But all confidered added she I wish I had not known him or that he had been satisfied to have chosen me onely for his friend to comfort him in his affliction Ah Lucrecia replyed Valeria since after a manifestation of love you wish him that made it your friend I am confident you would soon admit him as your Lover I must then needs be prepossessed with a very strong inclination replied Lucrecia for though I am perswaded one may lawfully love once in their life so it be withal innocently and should believe there is nothing so Pleasant as a tender crimeless love yet must I needs as I said have my mind extremely prepossessed to ingage my self into Brutus's love since that you may easily judge that considering his reputation in the world my Father would never consent I should marry For my Mother knew she truely how things stand I am confident she would lay her commands upon me to entertain Brutus's affection for her heart is so sensibly possessed with the memory of his illustrious Father that the hatred she hath for Tarquin is certainly grounded upon the death of Junius with whom she was very intimately acquainted But you may well think added she that I shall not go and reveal this secret to her and consequently have nothing else to do but to avoyd meeting with Brutus But if you over-warily avoyd him replyed Valeria those who observe it will take occasion to suspect something for you have ever seemed less desirous to shun him then any And therefore added she laughing do not avoyd him so wilfully have a better confidence of your self and onely resolve to make good your heart while we stay here The advice you give me replyed Lucrecia with a gentle smile hath something injurious in it for it might be thence inferred that you do not much believe I really would avoyd Brutus But that you may be satisfied I tell you nothing but truth added she I will do what I can to hasten my return to Rome for in fine I must needs acknowledge I have so great an esteem for Brutus as to wish he might think honourably of me The next day Lucrecia writ divers things to her Father to oblige him to send for her home but the reasons which moved him to send her for that part of the Summer into the Countrey being the stronger Lucrecia's endeavours proved fruitless so that she was forced to be content to remain at Racilia's for she had a soul too great to give the true cause of her desire to return to Rome since Brutus's life was concerned in it In the mean time this disguised lover from his first opening of his love to Lucrecia was glad of any occasion to entertain her or to write to her and having an ingenuity beyond the ordinary rate of men he found out a hundred wayes to conveigh his Letters and that so as she could not but receive them But all notwithstanding Lucrecia having a real aversion from engaging her self to Brutus's love one day represented unto him all the difficulties which she thought might break the obstinacy of his love to her For in fine said this discreet person to him you may easily judge that my Father would not bestow his Daughter on a stupid Brutus and you may withal conceive that the Brutus who I think worthy my greatest esteem is not in a condition to discover himself and therefore not finding how I can any way dispose of my self you will excuse me if I intreat you not to speak to me any more of your love As for my friendship said she to him it is at your service and I promise you withal that I will not avoyd you as for some dayes I have conditionally you admit Valeria who knows all the secrets of my heart one of our company Your pleasure shall be my will returned Brutus so you will permit me still to love you contenting your self that I shall not challenge your affection till your heart should be overcome by the greatness of mine and be forced to do me justice Till then that you be onely my friend since you are so pleased and that I may be accounted Valeria's I am content but withal vouchsafe to stay till you fully understand what I am and if when you are throughly acquainted with my heart you can deny me yours I shall have no other business in this world but to dye I shall then at once forget the love of my Countrey that of Glory and that of Lucrecia and shall have no more to do but to commit to dust the purest flame that ever shined in amorous heart From that time my Lord had Brutus more of Lucrecia's company than before for that Valeria being admited into the Club Lucrecia did not so much avoid him Yet Hermilia stood many times in his way that he could not entertain Lucrecia with his passion for she was seldome out of their company As for Valeria she was so charmed by the excellent endowments of Brutus that in few dayes she became as great a friend to him as she was to Lucrecia and that which augmented the friendship of these two persons was that Brutus acquainted this discreet Virgin with the particular correspondence he held with Valerius But notwithstanding all the enjoyments the company of these two admirable Virgins afforded him yet was he still very unfortunate for though he knew that Lucrecia had really a great esteem and friendship for him yet was he not contented because it is particular to that passion his soul was engaged with not to be satisfied but by it self This found matter of perpetual complaint notwithstanding the prohibitions of Lucrecia to the contrary but commonly he did it by Letters which though he found a hundred wayes
merit every ones compassion and if you should be but what you pretend you would deserve the protection I offer you but to speak sincerely to you I desire you precisely to tell me whence and who you are If I would Madam replied Artemidorus I might easily invent a lye which you cannot presently disprove but as I profess sincerity I believe I had better ingeniously confess unto you that I have reasons which depend on none but my self which both obstruct me from telling you the place of my Birth and from inventing any fabulous narration But at least confess replied she that you are of a quality proportionable to your spirit and that as you have neither the language nor heart you have not the Birth of a simple Soldier for in fine I assure you Berelisa is very much your friend and I should be as much would you have this sincerity for me you may confide your secret to us without fearing to be betray'd The secrets of an unhappy person Madam replied he are so little worthy knowledge that if I should be what you think I am I should not acquaint you with mine for I should appear very ungrateful to recompense your generosity by a long recital of melancholy adventures therefore Madam if you please do not command a thing that I cannot nor ought not to perform and be certain that I am so sensible of the honour you have done me that if my misfortunes were of that nature to admit of any diminution the honour you vouchsafe me by conversing with me would give a cessation to my miseries Ah Berelisa you have reason said the Prince to her and your Prisoner is not what he would make us believe I pray Madam said then Artemidorus acquaint me whether the Prince of Agrigentine hath given me to the fair Berelisa No replied Philonice but she so much interesses her self in your affairs that she is insensiby accustom'd to entitle you her Prisoner and to oblige others to use that denomination for as you will not discover your name you ought to be known by some remarkable Title I am very happy in my misfortune replied he to be the Prisoner of so fair and generous a person In truth said Berelisa blushing you have thereby no great advantage for though I call you my Prisoner 't is not in my power to break your chains As she had thus said all the company approach'd so that Philonice being seated and having commanded all the Ladies to take their seats and Clisias likewise whom the Prince of Agrigentine had sent to bring news of his Victory The conversation began in this place Artemidorus believing he was exempted would have retired but as Philonice had found the grandeur of his spirit which had given her much curiosity and being perswaded he was a person of quality she commanded him to stay and at least to give attention to what they said if he would not have any conference with them Artemidorus returned thanks to the Princess for the excessive bounty she had demonstrated to him and remain'd leaning against the bars of his Window which look'd upon the seat where this company were hardly were they seated but Clisias said 'T was more happier for one to be a Prisoner of War than Love If one being a Prisoner of War could not be a Prisoner of Love replied Philonice you would have reason to speak as you do but in my opinion they are not incompatible chains and one may have them both In this case replied Clisias a man should be very unhappy As he thus spoke Berelisa casually looking on Artemidorus saw he changed colour and presupposing he might be both a Prisoner of War and Love she had both a desire to say something to him and to make Philonice note the change of his countenance but a little after repenting her self of this first thought not knowing wherefore she blushed and held her peace permitting Clisias to continue his discourse who answered Philonice he would ever maintain that a Prisoner of War without Love was less unhappy than a Prisoner of Love in Liberty It seems to me agreeable then said Philonice that as there is no man here but this valiant Unknown which can know the weightiness of those divers chains 't is for him to give his opinion for my part who have ever had my heart free who have never been a Prisoner and who according to all appearance never shall be I cannot give you a satisfactory answer therefore I request Berelisa to command her Prisoner to answer you As Love reigns in all Countries replied Artemidorus and it is found in all sorts of Persons without any distinction of conditions I will not say I do not know Love therefore Madam without expecting the command of the fair Berelisa I will obey you and on the contrary maintain that how unhappy soever a Prisoneu of Love is he had better be so than a Prisoner of War 't is not that the chains of a Lover are less weighty than those the fortune of War imposes on any man but there are a thousand and a thousand pleasures which accompany the first and which are not found in the second But after all said Clisias a Prisoner of War how carefully soever he may be kept hath his heart and spirit free and is certain one day to be freed from his restraint whereas a Prisoner of Love in an apparant liberty is in a continual slavery for he not only doth not what he would but doth not think what seems good to him he knows not when his imprisonment will finish nor can he wish the conclusion of it That which you say replied Artemidorus seems to make against you for since a Prisoner of War continually desires to recover his Liberty and that a Prisoner of Love doth not desire it it follows that the chains of Love are more pleasing than the others in effect there 's no punition in Love which hath not been preceded or followed by a pleasure and desperation often comes after one hath tasted the sweetness of hope without which there can never be any violent Love for is it not true that the grief of absence comes not and cannot come till after one hath had the pleasure to enjoy the presence of a person one regrets And fear likewise doth not possess a Lovers heart till hope hath first led the way and Jealousie is never altogether violent if it is not in the heart of a beloved Lover or who at least believes himself to be 't is not that other Lovers can be infected with Jealousie but 't is not so cruel as that I have before spoken of moreover those who have the infelicity to find Mistresses whose Inconstancy renders them unhappy have at least had the satisfaction to be beloved and I in fine maintain as I have already said that all the punishments of Love are either preceded or followed by most great pleasures I likewise confidently say added he that a part of those
and not willing by generosity to acquaint Berelisa that her Sister yet loved him would have explained it otherwise than he had said but as he is naturally very sincere he could not frame himself to tell a lye Berelisa then knowing by the manner of his speech he had something he would not tell her had such a strong curiosity that she earnestly pressed him to tell her what had happened to him which made him desist from desiring to know the contents of the Letter So that both having a strong curiosity and this curiosity augmenting by their resistance in the end Berelisa's being the stronger it obliged her to tell Artemidorus that if he promised her not to be transported with any resentment against the party whom she imagined had wrote the Letter she received she would shew it him And he likewise told her that if she engaged her self not to speak of what he said to her she should see that she had much injured him in speaking to him of Clidimira in that manner as she had done In fine Berelisa gave to Artemidorus the Letter he had given her which so surprised him that the fountain of his utterance was a long time sealed before he could perform his Word to Berelisa for they at first so sympathized in their thoughts that there was doubtless a transmigration of their souls For he likewise believing Terillus had invented this fallacy he then began to exaggerate his misfortune for having a Rival to whom he had many obligations and to seek by what way Terillus had known what he had wrote in his Letter For said he to Berelisa if there was nothing there but my Love for you and your goodness for me I should say Jealousie had dictated it to him since there is no better spy than the spirit of a jealous Lover But Madam I am surprised of what he relates concerning Clidimira since that in fine if I must tell you all things it is true that this unfaithful person would without doubt once more deceive me Berelisa hearing Artemidorus speak in this manner pressed him to retail to her that which he had said and this Prince willing to obey her recounted unto her that which I had told him But though she might remain satisfied yet she was angry he had concealed that from her so long time Nevertheless added she by a motion of Jealousie do not you imagine Clidimira would reconquer your heart by a resentment of hatred for me and if another had deprived you of your Love she would have resigned to her a peaceable possession but as I am unhappy I would not swear you will not become unfaithful Ah Madam interrupted Artemidorus you are the injustest person in the world to use those words As they were on these terms the amiable Philonice entred acccompanied by the Prince of Messina who came to Agrigentum during a suspension of Arms I came likewise to Berelisa's house a little after and as I was taxed of inconstancy Lysicoris who was come with the Princess Philonice having something to tell me called me whilst Philonice spoke to Berelisa towards the windows But as I answered not I pray said she to a Lady which was nigh me tell that unfaithful person who is by you that I would entertain him Hardly had Lysicoris said this but turning towards her I pray said he to her call me not unfaithful yet for Inconstant pursued I I endure it but for unfaithful I cannot suffer it I have not such a delicate Spirit as you replied Lysicoris and I know not too well between Inconstancy and Infidelity As Lysicoris said that the Princess Philonice who had heard her turned and seated her self and making one in this discourse she demanded who could doubt there was no distinction to be made between an unfaithful and inconstant person In truth replied Lysicoris I think in case of Love these two things very much resemble For my part replied I I am not of that opinion that one cannot sometimes be inconstant without shame and that one cannot be unfaithful without baseness Berelisa seeing then such a fair occasion to insult over Clidimira and to darken her esteem with Artemidorus engaged so discreetly this conversation that she saw her self obliged to make the distinction and she did it more easily than any part of the Company and the Prince of Messina as others without exact examination said that inconstancy and infidelity might easily be confounded For my part said then the Princess Philonice I am of the opinion of Berelisa and Zenocrates for I believe one cannot say there is a kind of inconstancy without infidelity or fidelity without inconstancy and if it was not that I am now in a melancholy humour I might very well bring my thoughts to tryal bvt since Zenocrates and Berelisa are of my opinion I give them Commission to declare my resentments for I imagine they know them But said then Lysicoris smiling is he not an unfaithful man which changeth love And an inconstant Lover is he not likewise who changes his Mistress A liberal man who makes a present without choice replied Berelisa gives something which is to him and a prodigal man which casts without choice gives likewise that which appertains to him the one practiseth a virtue and the other makes to see he hath a vice this which is well more estranged the one from the other than inconstancy and infidelity for I say not that inconstancy should be a vertue but I say that an honest man when he is young may sometimes be inconstant without dishonouring himself and that in some times in some age and in pretext that this should be no person can be unfaithful without baseness and infamy I sustain likewise that infidelity and inconstancy are yet more horrible in women than men Berelisa said this with so much emotion that I knew well that I might do her the greatest pleasure in the world to remit my cause in her hands and that she was not sorry to speak on this subject finding likewise much more fit to oblige her to defend me than to defend her self I left her at least to begin this innocent war But then said the Prince of Messina I would know precisely what is that delicate distinction you make of inconstancy and infidelity I call inconstancy replied Berelisa a certain incertitude of heart and spirit where young men are more subject than others since there is without doubt two or three years of life where those which are naturally of an inconstant inclination find nothing which pleases them which attaches them not successively For by example if Zenocrates would say the truth he will confess that a great number of women have pleased him that he hath fair brown and fair yellow he hath many times felt in his heart enough disposition to have love he will even confess I assure you that he hath began to tell it to many fair persons and that there 's likewise some others for whom he hath changed
little satisfied of the truth of any thing he saies that of all he hath so confidently advanced I believe nothing How Madam replied Turnus somewhat hastily are you not satisfied that Persander and I love you so much that we begin already to love one another the less Ah Turnus replied Persander I must confess your Generosity is greater then mine for I should not have been so free as with my own to discover the love of my Rival I am fully satisfied saies Caesonia you are both in some want of your sences And truly replied I this adventure seems to me so pleasant that I condemn you to her good sport for the rest of this day I must indeed needs do so replied Caesonia or be offended in good earnest with two men for whom of all the World I have the greatest esteem Alass Madam I beseech you be not offended and not to examine things too strictly be pleased since Turnus hath spoke so much to you to allow me the same liberty That you may not deceive your self replied Turnus I have only mentioned your affection to make way for my own However it be saies Caesonia I shall believe nothing but what I think sit and shall not think but what I ought for it were little less then madness for me to imagine that I should in one day make two Lovers quit the one his fidelity the other his inconstancy But though it were not true replied I it may be supposed were it only to raise some pleasant discourse Conditionally it last no longer then this evening replied Caesonia and that my two pretended Lovers will to morrow content themselves to be only my friends it shall be so We shall be to morrow what we can be replied Persander but in the mean time give me the liberty to tell you what I thought not to have told you this day Say what you please replied she so I be not obliged to believe you For my part replied Turnus laughing I defie your incredulity as to what I shall say Be it as it will replied I only say what you have a mind and leave the sequel to the Conduct of Fortune I say then replied Turnus that if the fair Caesonia be not the most unjust woman in the World she will acknowledge her beauty never ceased any affection could more express its power then by subduing the heart of an unconstant man And I say on the contrary replied Persander that there is no beauty so mean which might not pretend to the Conquest of an inconstant man and that the greatest acknowledgement which Caesonia ever received for the force of her Charms is to have forced me to a change of apprehensions But replied Turnus you consider not what you say The truth is Madam continued he directing his speech to Caesonia there is no comparison betwixt these two For before I began to love you I led a most happy life all places were equally delightful to me I either loved or thought I loved a many excellent Beauties I was happy in their esteem and I might haply have without vanity pretended to their affections could I but have resolved to fix mine on any one of them The injoyments of my life knew not the least disturbance I had no acquaintance with jealousie or my thoughts with disorder I only desired those things which were easily obtained and in a word such a serenity was there in the Conduct of my life that I could not be in any impatience to change my condition But notwithstanding all this indulgence of Fortune and that natural inconstancy I have quitted all these undisturbed pleasures and forsaken three or four Mistresses by whom I was esteemed to confine my love to one by whom I shall haply be slighted But for Persander added he I do not much wonder at his change of life for being first blinded by love he must needs be perpetually unfortunate So that to speak rationally his change is so much advantagious to himself that I suppose you are not much obliged to him for it To answer what you object against me replied Persander I must also speak something against you which is not very hard to find For as I have already said Madam added he speaking to Caesonia change of affection is so natural to an inconstant man that it is much more to be wondred that Turnus should have known you so long before he loved you then that he loves you now And for those undisturbed pleasures he speaks so much of since it is certain there never proceed any such from love and that what he felt may be called only a passionate enjoyment of himself if I may so express it he should be ashamed to quote them It is not therefore very strange Madam that a person accustomed to court divers Beauties at the same time should at length take you in his turn since you are alone furnished with greater Charms then all he hath ever loved But for my part Madam I do a thing much more extraordinary I confess added he my love was blinded and that I have loved that which was not amiable and what I ought not to have loved but as I doubt not but you have heard errours of this nature are more excusable then any other for the judgement upon the first admission of love losing its liberty it were unjust to expect a Lover should judge as truly of his Mistress as others do However I was never so far blinded but that I was convinced you were a thousand degrees above what I loved even when I loved you not But in fine I confess my love was greater than it ought to have been nay I know I was not loved and yet I suffered all the afflictions of love Notwithstanding all which I maintain that a Lover who is unfortunate yet constant is the hardest to be lured into a new love of any man in the World For certainly it is no easie matter for him to cross his own experience and to jump out of one love into another when he found no satisfaction in the former I conclude therefore that loving you I do something far more extraordinary than what Tnrnus hath done The truth is replied Casonia I do not conceive either of you hath done any great matter for Turnus loves me because he hath haply made a vow to love all and you love me because you are of a passionate and tender nature and that not being able to fasten love where you desired you will try your fortune elsewhere and address your self to some person from whose favour you may derive this advantage to make the World believe that if you had not been loved it was rather through want of knowledge in her whom you loved than merit in your self I therefore think you both very happy that I take not what you say spoken seriously For if it were you would haply both repent it and if I were in an humour to satisfie you I should be much troubled to chuse
impertinences themselves These are a sort of men who are ready to break their buttons with laughing or are ravished with admiration as often as they see you they have always about them some Copies of Letters or verses a la mode new songs biting Satyrs against their best friends and many other conceits which often themselves understand not a line of They will shew you wit in one hand and folly in another They will ordinarily mistake wit for nonsense and repeat some good lines as things of no conceit And again will out with some pitiful stuffe in such a passionate tone as if they were repeating some sapphick Verses I remember a woman who to shew the bravery of her wit had always in her Pocket or memory all the good and the bad Verses that were made in the Neighbour-hood where she lived she told me one day she would shew me some lines which were much cryed up for good but for her part she found no great matter in them But said she I have some others that are most admirable But I not trusting much to the judgment of this Lady had a mind to see those Verses which she discommended rather than those she reported to be so rare so as after a few entreaties she was perswaded to repeat both But truly those which she said she was ashamed to remember were a most admirable composure the measure and numbers were so natural and genuine as spoke both passion and wit and such as touched the heart and moved to tenderness more than to please and divert When she had done these good lines you see said she that these are not worth so much pains as to remember but there are others of an excellent strain the expressions are admirable and the conceit delicate Oh Madam said I you are a most incomparable wit I beseech you make good your promise I will answered she upon condition that in recompence you will shew me some Verses of your own Then she began to spit out a number of big fustian words which made a mighty sound but signified nothing A Gallimafry of Gibbrish which wrought highly upon the fancy of this Lady that repeated them Well said she with an Air sutable to her capacity are not these strong lines Do you think I do not know what is wit Come Let me hear some of your lines Ah Madam answered I mine will sound very ill after such as you have repeated but being much pressed by her importunity I made two or three Verses of a Song upon a sudden stuft with nothing but non-sense in it which passed her approbation better than if they had been witty but in conclusion I waited upon her to her house with a resolution never to come at it again But the truth is this humour of hers is rife every where but my greatest wonder is that people should be so inquisitive and desirous of things which they understand not nor are pleased with but only to shew unto others of as mean capacities as themselves yet they will often venture at Verse themselves and vent lame cripled Copies which have neither reason nor rime in them a whole sheet sometimes of nonsense one Verse a foot too short another two feet too long and all but so much labour and Paper spent These kind of people will out of a fond vanity be contracting friendship with wits and hang upon them as their dear friends and lovers yet the world is full of such simplicians and many women will be extreamly ambitious in obliging a good wit to come and see them as if they had some real business of high concernment with them and if he do come but prove not of an humour to flatter the Lady she will study revenge she will scandal him she will hate all he loves I could say much more upon this subject but there are other friendships which must be discoursed upon As I remember said Plotina there was a friendship of interest mentioned As for that said Amilcar all the world knows it for there is an interest of pleasure at the least in all the friendships that are For eight days together I visited one of my friends every day but did not receive the least sign of any friendship the ninth day understanding accidentally That a man who had power to do her much harm did love me very well Then her cheek was smiles and nothing but love and fayour flowed from her she endeavoured all she could to captivate my heart if possible so as what all are wit and endeavour was not able to do this interest did it in a moment for ever since I found her so sweet so kind and affable as I believe if I had put her to the tryal I should have found her but too kind Thus matter of interest can make friends I beseech you said Plotina give me leave to speak of walking friendship for I know many women in the world who are good for nothing but to walk with their friends in Gardens and gadding abroad only to shew their dress or their fine Coach their discourse is only of Clothes Weddings and Burials and talk of any thing else they are most impertinently tedious I know one whom I have never seen all winter long but as soon as summer appeared she would come and carry me to walk and but for that she would never have seen me but I will speak no more of them because I would hear Amilcar discourse upon friendship of Love As to that replyed Herminius there is not any well accomplished man in the world but is able to speak something of it And I suppose Amilcar intends to speak of those who having a passion in their souls do endeavour to make friendship with all those women of their Mistresses acquaintance whether they like them or no. You have hit so right upon my meaning said Amilcar that I desire to stand silent and you to speak Amilcar replyed Herminius the company will be losers by that and besides you are more experienc'd in such kinds of friendships than I am Indeed said Amilcar should I reckon up all the simple friendships which Love has mov'd me to make you would then say I were a man of large experience in such matters for should I number up the million of Mothers Aunts Cousins Friends Neighbours Fathers Brothers Sisters and such like to whom I have been complaisant only because I was in love I should never come to an end Truth is the knowledge I have gotten by these kind of friendships has been much merry diversion unto me for I have by them made many an odd discovery whensoever I saw a man of ingenuity give a visit unto any simple woman I presently enquired whether she had not some fine kinswoman some fair Neighbour or some gallant friend And when I saw any witty woman frequent the society of any foolish fellow I never questioned but she courted him for some other kind of conversation so as in a short time I
under his own hand And alas I doubt he never values my honour For it is more ordinary for a Lover to give the Letters of his first Mistress unto his second than for a man in Love to give Copies of his Mistresses letters unto a friend Thus I have reason to think that he hath sacrificed me unto Clelia and that whilst I am looking upon her letters with most horrid Anger she is looking upon those I writ unto that unconstant Man as the most sensible marks of Love that ever were given After this Valeria never staying for Flavia's answer began to look upon other Letters and to afflict her self the more she often saw the word Amitie in the letters of Herminius unto you Madam And she saw it writ after the same manner he was wont to write it unto her when it was to signifie Love For Herminius by often use had gotten such a habit of writing that word with a great Letter or a little as it was to signifie that he writ it very often unto his friends without any manner of design So as imagining that he used the same invention unto you Madam as he did unto her her sorrows encreased more and she broke out into such lamentable expressions as Flavia repented she had obeyed her After she had read all the letters of this Gallant Amity which unto miserable Valeria seemed Love she opened the Map of Tender But when she cast her eye upon that place where at the departure from a new Amity those that hold too much on the right hand do go out of their way and go unto Negligence Inequality Faintness Levitie Oblivion and to the Lake of Indifferency See said she all the ways by which he has passed unto me and by which I cannot pass unto him And I wish I could be unfaithful unto his memory and not be constant unto one that is dead and was inconstant Afterwards looking upon the River of Inclination by which one goes so swiftly unto Tender she presently turned away her eyes as if that object had upbraided the violent inclination which she had unto Herminius Also finding some invention and wit in this Map maugre all her Grief and Anger she had a spleen which augmented her jealousie and consequently her despair So as not being able to consider it any longer she threw it away hastily and turning to the other side she seemed as if she would not any longer look upon the pretended marks of infidelity in Herminius When Flavia would have taken the Map again she would not suffer her and not knowing her self whether she should restore it or no or break in pieces she took it out of the hands of Flavia and after she had confusedly surveyed it she threw it again unto her friend who folded it up with intention to restore it unto him that lent it After this she harkned unto the complaints of Valeria who did not find that Remedie which she looked for Alas said she had I upon me but one of these two Torments perhaps I should find out some kind of Consolation For if Herminius were not dead but alive and unfaithful then pity would not oppose it self against my hatred I should have some kind of delight in hating him or in being indifferent if I could not hate him I should do him some ill office to his Mistress and be revenged some way or other But what can I do unto a miserable Man whom death only renders worthy of my Compassion So as I can neither hate him nor be revenged of his perfidie since the Grave is an unavoidable sanctuary for all miserable people and Criminals On the other side had he not been inconstant and I had nothing to lament but his death there might be some consolation found in time and one might hope to mourn more moderately When the violence of Grief is grown a little more moderate by habitude it is some kind of sweetness to talk of the person that is lost one shall read his letters with a tenderness which as full of mourning memorandums as they are yet there is some sweetness in it one shall remember all the Testimonies of affection which ere they received one shall imagine that they had a share in the last thoughts of him that is lost and one may perhaps have some far fetcht hopes of seeing him again and that death will reunite that which it did separate But alas in the pitiful estate wherein I am I can never think on Herminius without anger the very sight of his letters incenses me The past the present the future all torment me and make me desperate I know my dear Flavia that I trouble you with my tears and do tell you no more than what I have told you a hundred times But alas I hope you will think it just to pardon me since it proceeds from the object of my sorrows These Madam were the thoughts of Valeria whilst Valerius was at Sivelia's house who had sent for him to know whether he had received any Packet from her Son and consequently whether all these reports of her Son death were true by which it appeared that all was false because his Pacquet was of a very late date Valerius was infinitely joyed to hear it and commanded the news to be presently sent unto Domitia and Valeria Generous Valerius replied Sivelia Let us consider seriously what we do in making this news too publick For when the Tyrant heard of his pretended death he broke into such cruel expressions against him as I conceive it best to conceal his being alive from all the world lest Tarquin should send some to Assassinate him And to write unto Herminius that he go presently into Africa This replied Valerius is a very good reason but methinks not very just to let Valeria lament him always Valeria replied Sivelia is very dear unto me But if you consider the unfortunate condition of my Son you will find that it is better for Valeria not to know that he is living For as long as Tarquin lives there is no hopes of his return to Rome and consequently of his marrying Valeria is it not better then to let her remain in the error wherein she is For the greatest part of her grief is past and Time will so well cure her of affliction as she will be able to obey you when you command her to marry some other For as I said before it is not probable my Son can ever be her husband and though you should not intend to marry her unto another yet you ought not to tell her that Herminius is alive for she that cannot hide her sorrows cannot hide her joys when she hears the truth And though I know it will much grieve my Son when he hears of Valeria's marriage yet if he be just he cannot blame her since she thought him dead You know also that absence when it is Long is a great remedy against Love and therefore since it concerns the life of my
people in all conditions and of all sexes but there are withall such a vast number of compliances that I think it almost impossible to name them all For there are compliances of interest compliances of disposition compliances of love compliances of esteem compliances of friendship compliances of ambition un worthy base compliances compliances derived from dissimulation Court-compliances City-compliances serious compliances merry compliances eloquent compliances mute compliances true and false compliances and thousands more 'T is true there are of all those kinds that you have named says Plotina but in fine what I would fain learn is the true use of compliance whether it be with our Superiours or inferiours whether between persons of the same condition whether between men and their female acquaintances or between persons that are in love I think says Herminius it were an easier matter to say what ought not to be done than what ought But I shall briefly tell you all I shall think fit without any compliance To speak then of compliance in general I would not have it to be such as shall flatter vice betray virtue disguise truth derogate from Religion I would not have people to be less sincere just and faithful that they may be the more compliant I would have those that are related to great ones to respect them but would have them study such a compliance as regards only their quality and not their own interest and such as obliges them to commend that which they abhor in their hearts Compliance does indeed very well in things indifferent but it must ever be avoided in those that may be prejudicial either to him with whom a man complies or any other You 'll pardon me that I interrupt you says Plotina but I am so with child to know what you meant when you spoke of a mute compliance that I cannot forbear entreating you to inform me By a mute compliance replyes Herminius I mean those people that for fear of saying any thing that might displease their friends suffer them to run into indiscreet and extravagant actions without giving them the least notice thereof and know not that the greatest expression of friendship is to give faithful advice I am of your mind replyed Clelia but with this proviso that it is but fit that those who give advice should do it with mildness and prudence for there are few love those that acquaint them with their imperfections But to return to compliance added she I would fain know when people ought to have any when not It does always well replyed Amilcar when it is not unpleasant to those for whom it is had nor to him that hath it That 's too generally said replyes Herminius for though it ought to be had for all indifferent things yet were it not amiss to introduce into a society a generous freedom such whereby men may not be obliged to captivate themselves eternally and never say any thing but as you please or at your service to those who propose any thing of divertisement to them for as to matter of I am confident business there needs no great compliance and that it is the part of reason to regulate it Herminius does indeed speak very pertinently says Amilcar smiling for to speak properly it might be said that compliance is the Queen of Trifles and that it is of main concernment when there is a dispute whether it be better walking in one place than another to dance or not to dance o sing or not to sing But however saies Plotina I hope you will confess there cannot be in love any excess of compliance and that the more compliant a Lover is the more amiable he is I grant it replies Amilcar but I queston whether he will be as much beloved as he is amiable if he continue to be excessively compliant and whether it be not a kind of policy in Love and consequently very fit that a man carry himself so as to be a little courted into compliance For my part says Herminius I am not of your opinion for I think it is not so true that jealousie is the inseparable attendant of love as that there cannot be true love without compliance since it is out of all question that there are some Lovers so confident of the fidelity of the persons they love that they admit not the least jealousie and that there never were any that wanted compliance While a Lover is not loved replies Plotina I shall easily grant he may be compliant but in my judgment assoon as he is once confident of his Mistresses affection he is sometimes as much inclined to do his own will as that of the person he loves How ere it be says Herminius if he be not compliant he ought to be so nay I dare maintain he cannot forbear being such if he love truly But if compliance in Love ought to be implicite it must not be such in friendship for there it must ever be attended with prudence and sincerity Compliance is certainly the cement of civil society but as I have already said it should never either betray or flatter Things absolutely indifferent fall under its jurisdiction in all others it lies subject to circumvention artifice baseness or interest Not but that a man may somtimes have a compliance even in things of consequence though as it hath been said it ought not ordinarily to be so Yet is it allowable when the person who hath the compliance is only concerned in the business they have in hand and that generosity on that occasion supplies the place of reason and guides it as the other would But one of the most dangerous compliances of any is that which applauds detraction meerly to comply with the detractor and is so far from vindicating innocence that it suffers it to be oppressed basely and unjustly 'T is very true says Clelia that this happens daily for the person traduced being absent and the detractor present such as make it their profession to be compliant flatter those they see and neglect those they see not But says Caesonia I am yet farther to learn what you mean by Court-Compliances City-Compliances Serious-Compliances and merry-Compliances For as to the rest the very names you give them discover what they are For Court-compliances says Amilcar it is easily perceived that Herminius speaks of those who are ever telling you they will do any thing you will have them and yet do nothing but what they will themselves And for the City-compliance I understand it not so well I can only guess at what it is What I call by that name says Herminius is properly a certain forced compliance misconstrued stuffed with complements ceremony and unseasonable commendation and such as is not a little offensive to those to whom it is directed For serious compliance it points at people of a cold disposition such as are reserved and discreet such as force their inclinations not without some violence to their nature and so give their friends away
therefore since you must one day know it 't were best you had it from me Know then that there now stands before you that unhappy man who was desirous to bestow on you a Crown which my wife hath upon her death taken away from you whether I would or no. What you tell me is to my apprehension so obscure and so impossible replied Adherbal that you must express your self more clearly if you would have me to understand you Alas My Lord what I have to tell you is that you are not Son to the King of Numidia How replies Adherbal am I not what I ever thought my self No My Lord replied he and if you will needs be acquainted with your fortune it shall cost you but the patience to hear me Make an end once make an end O fortune says the unfortunate Adherbal leave me not any thing not so much as a noble birth but when thou hast done thy worst how great soever thy power and injustice may be thou shalt never take away from me a Kings heart though I should be so unfortunate as to have been born a Shepherd Whereupon Adherbal recovering himself look'd on Donilcar with an extream sadness and intreated him to relate the truth without the least palliation Since it is your pleasure my Lord replied he you are to know that the King of Numidia whose Son you thought your self being yet young enough had very violent inclinations for a young Lady of the Court a person of great quality but the disproportion there was between them being very great the King his Father then alive told him one day that he was not to do any thing as to that Gentlewoman but what proceeded only out of Gallantry and forbad him to entertain any thoughts of ever marrying her But as it ordinarily happens that the prohibition of things we are taken with augments the desires we have of them this young Prince fell so deeply in love that he secretly married the person he so much affected and had a Son by her insomuch that the noise this secret marriage made and the alarm it put the whole Court into was so great that the excellent Lady having but newly given life to a Son dyed out of meer grief Whereupon my wife having been chosen by the Prince of Numidia to nurse up the Child secretly he intreated us to repair into Sicily till such time as the Kings favour were re-obtained Thither we crossed and took up our abode near Lilybaeum where having no acquaintance we led a very solitary life Being gone one day a walking into a small Wood where the umbrage afforded much refreshment and delight my wife sate down at the foot of a tree and set the Child she had in her arms upon a Grass-plot where she thought she might sleep more quietly than in her arms But as ill fortune would have it she fell asleep her self while I was walking alone in the Wood whereof the umbrage was so delightful to me So that a great Serpent coming questionless out of the Thickets roll'd it self about the Child for as all Serpents love the smell of milk it found there something that drew it thither It was not long e'r the Child waked crying whereupon my Wife waking also on a sudden was astonished to see him incircled with a Serpent whereof the dreadful folds were terible to behold She had no sooner ey'd that sad object but she starts up furiously not knowing what she should do her self but treading as she got up upon the Serpent it stung the unhappy Child and without staying for any punishment for the mischief it had done it got into the Thicket from whence it came so that my wife crying out aloud I heard her came to her understood the accident had happend to her and participated of the affliction it was to her to see that young Prince expiring three days after We in the mean time stood extreamly in fear of the Prince's anger who had committed a Child to our trust which by reason of the affection he had for the Mother must needs be very dear to him However we thought it would be our best course to return to acquaint him our selves with the death of his Son yet so as to conceal from him the unhappy adventure whereby he had miscarried We took shipping being none but my Wife and my self in a Merchant-man that stood ready to set sail from Lilybaeum to pass into Africk We were no sooner at Sea but a Tempest overtakes us yet were we much more fortunate than other ships for we saw some sinking near enough to us indeed so near that the wind ceasing of a sudden we could save some part of the wrack of one that had been cast away and wherewith the Sea was covered But what was a very strange thing was to see a great Plank floating on the water with a Pack of Merchandise tyed to it whereof the Cords that tyed it being half loose had accidentally fastned on a Cradle wherein was a little Child much about the age of that we had lost This object working much upon my wives heart gave her occasion to intreat the Master of the Ship to give order that it might be saved and bestowed on her Now the Child being fastned to the pack of Merchandise assigned as it were for a reward for him that should save it her desire was easily granted Thus My Lord was your life easily saved for to tell you truly how things past it was you that my Wife and I found in that sad condition Ah Donilcar cries out Adherbal if what you say be true what an ill office did you do me when you saved my life and what cruelty was there in your pity Alas my Lord replyed Donilcar It was far from our intention to do you any such it was our desire not only to make you live but to make you live happily nay to bestow a Crown on you 'T is true my Lord it was not so much out of affection to you as to avoid the indignation of the Prince and to spare him an extraordinary affliction that we put you into the place of the young Prince that we had lost We were not as yet got far from Sicily so that our Vessel was forced to return thither as having suffered a little by the tempest but when we were gotten ashore my wife pretended such a fear of the Sea that no intreaties could get her aboard again We therefore returned to our old habitation where we continued not six months for news being come that the King of Numidia was dead we returned into Africk and told the Prince who then did and now does raign that you were his Son This we told him not only to divert his anger from our selves and to prevent his grief but also out of some thought it might prove a means to raise our fortunes We thought our crime so far the more innocent in that we injured no body for he who should have succeeded the
Madam replyed he you charge me with too much rigor for if I were unfaithful you would not charge me with infidelity What you say is so obscure answered she that it is apparent you are guilty and that you have no good plea to make for your self But to begin with your indiscretion is it not true that you have told the Prince my Brother what you never ought to have told any one which if you might have done Perianthus should have been the last of all the World to hear it Themistus was much surprised to see his Master had not kept his word with him but at length recovering himself a little Alass Madam said he to her had you been in my place you had said what I have for I was in such an unfortunate posture of affairs that I must have lost you for ever nay exposed my self to the reputation of an unfaithful person in your judgment had you known the cause of my banishment While you only tell me things I understand not replyed she roundly I shall not be friends with you but in few words added she not giveing him the leisure to speak the truth of the business is this that you made it no great difficulty to expose me so to conceal your true passion and made it your only means to keep the Prince my Brother from discovering your love to Demarata You had said more truly Madam had you said believing instead of discovering for it is true I would not have the Prince to think me an unworthy and ungrateful person But I protest to you Madam that when I confessed to him the affection I had for you so to hinder him from conceiving I loved Demarata I did it principally out of a consideration of providing that you should not one day suspect me to have been unfaithful for if the Prince had believed it he would have told you as much and you would haply have thought I had been really such Besides that the Prince having said he would pardon me all things conditionally I were not in love with Demarata I must confess I thought it concerned me very much he should know I had taken the boldness to direct my affections to you But Madam I have not told him I had the happiness of any favor from you You have done better than you imagine replyed she for I do not think at the present ever to do you any But Madam what have I done that I should be so lost to your affection replyes Themistus am I unworthy of it because I am unfortunate and unjustly persecuted You deserve all the aversion and all the revenge I can have for you replyed she for pretending to love me when you loved Demarata Do I love Demarata replyed he hastily from whom have you it from Demarata her self answers Lindamira who hates you as much as I would hate you Ah Madam replyed he Demarata is unworthy the discretion I have had for her and since she is bent every way to ruine me I must at lest endeavor the preservation of your affection which is the only happiness I look after and without which I could not live But Madam you must hear me without prejudice nay you must hear me with a certain goodness for I have concealed one thing from you which I shall now have much ado to acquaint you withall though my justification depends on it and that I am only to impeach a person that endeavors my ruine But all considered Madam I think I have not offended much against the love I have for you in not telling you that I had taken notice that Demarata had some inclinations towards me nor do I think I offend much against honour by acknowledging it now since she hath endeavoured to destroy me in your thoughts But Themistus replied she could Demarata have loved you if you had not loved her Alas Madam can you put that question to me when you know that I have loved you a long time without being loved You who cannot be ignorant that you are the absolute Mistress of my heart you who know well enough that I am neither base nor perfidious and who should methinks be satisfied that I look not upon any thing on earth but your self But why have you not told me before what you do now replies Lindamira Out of a conceit Madam replied he that a person of honour should never speak any thing against a woman by whom he is loved even though he had the greatest a version that could be for her So that to forbear doing what might prejudice Demarata and withal cause you to esteem me the less I have concealed the weakness of that Princess from you which I might rationally think she had overcome Lindamira somewhat appeased at this was desirous to know all that had passed between Demarata and Themistus so that he gave her an account of the conversation he had heretofore had with that Princess when it was her design to engage him to tell her that he was in love with her and thence fell upon a hundred little passages he had observed at several times to the conference he had had with the Prince the day he had met with him a hunting Themistus discovered such a sincerity through all this relation and entertained Lindamira with so many passionate things that she concluded him to be innocent But they at the same time perceived they were both equally unfortunate in that they were exposed to the fury of a jealous and exasperated Woman of whom Perianthus was still very fond However this reconciliation was not concluded without much kindness yet with this resolution that they would see one another privately as seldom as might be the less to incense the jealous Demarata whose sufferings were greater than can well be imagined Things standing thus news came that the Prince of Messena had gained a battel which cost Themistus the displeasure of being forced publickly to rejoyce at the glory of his Rival But for Demarata she was extreamly satisfied at it not out of any reflection on the advantage of the State thereby but a conceit that after that service done it was impossible Perianthus should deny the Princess of Himera to the Prince of Messena and indeed the end of the Campagne approaching he returns to Syracuse where he was no sooner arrived but Demarata furthering his interests and giving him advice he demanded Lindamira of the Prince of Syracuse He satisfied him that the Prince his Father would consent thereto and pressed the business so much that Perianthus was sufficiently troubled with him However he told the Prince of Messena that Lindamira was at liberty to dispose of her self and that for his consent he might assure himself of it provided he gained hers Themistus durst not all this while discover his resentments out of the respects he had for his master but withal resolved if he perceived Lindamira at a loss as to what she should do to perish himself or dispatch his Rival out of
found out the art of being exempted from sighs complaints and tears and would employ in their stead the graces enjoyments and laughters to perswade his passion But when all it done he hath said that he was in love or pretends it before he is loved and is content to wound hearts without any consideration because he would never do any thing but lend his own instead of bestowing it It is certainly madness for a man to have any love unless he have as much as he is capable of for the mediocrity of this passion produces but a mediocrity of pleasures and it is not very proper to effect illustrious conquests No question but a man should divert the person he loves but it is not enough to please her if it have not some influence on her heart so that to act rationally he must dispose and make it plyant by joy but he must move it by grief and know how to make his advantages of certain occasions wherein two or three sighs seasonably breathed out may be more effectual than all the Songs in the World I. For the multitude of Mistresses 't is a thing not to be endured for to speak truly whoever hath two hath not any at all II. For constancy whoever would banish it out of the empire of love destroys love it self for it no sooner comes into a mans imagination that a time may come wherein he shall love no more but he ceases to love at the very instant or to say better hath already given ever all thoughts of love it being impossible that a heart truly amorous should imagine that it can give over loving that which to it seems the only amiable thing upon earth On the contrary to say truth one of the greatest satisfactions of this passion is to imagine an eternity of love if a man may so express himself and to see in futurition a multitude of pleasures whereof he is not confident III. For discretion both the constant and unconstant that are persons of quality are agreed it ought to be observed and therefore I have not any thing to say of it save that it is no easie matter to be always discreet when a man is engaged in so many several interests IV. No doubt but a man ought to please and divert as I have already said but it cannot be said it ought precisely to be done by way of raillery for the general rule is that a man should accommodate himself to the humor of the person beloved V. Whoever can conceal what he thinks most secret from his Mistriss hath not given her his heart for it is so far impossible for a man to love any one and not acquaint her with all even to his least thoughts that it may be affirmed that a man does himself a certain violence when he conceals any of his sentiments from the person he loves and deprives himself of the most sensible pleasure of love by being uncapable of that exchange of secrets wherein there is so much satisfaction For indeed what are they but the mutual hostages of that eternal peace which ought to be between two amorous hearts and infallible arguments of the love a man hath in his soul and which he will ever continue there For those little secrets which signifie â—â—bing he needs not be put to his invention for them who loves passionately for they spring at every moment in their minds who know how to love VI. For excessive magnificence it ought always to be blamed when it ruines him that is addicted thereto yet it is certain that nothing makes it more excusable than love nay I durst maintain that he was the inventor of it But when all 's done I agree with my adversary in this that he who is magnificent either as to retinue or cloaths ought to make no account of it and should endeavor to raise himself into the love of his Mistriss without any assistance from such things as belong not to him VII When a man hath Rivals the surest way to do them any prejudice and to be better esteemed than they is to exceed them in worth gallantry and love and if after all that the Lady be unjust and makes an ill choice a man may change if he please without incurring the censure of inconstancy VIII It is certainly no small advantage that the Lady whom a man loves should believe that the person she affects may be loved by her but this perswasion must proceed from the great merit of him that serves her and not from his insinuations to make her believe so much IX For the news that 's abroad in the World I question whether a person that is very amorous can take the pains to inform himself exactly thereof for a sincere love finds a man so much business that it takes up his whole heart X. For jealousie it is so far impossible to love and not be guilty of it that whoever can regulate it in his heart is master of his own affection and consequently hath no great love for his Mistriss XI It is also my judgment that a man ought not to make it his profession to entertain all beauties with kind things for when a man loves but one he must have the less civility for all the rest He must at last so regulate it that it be not excessive nor yet dangerously interpreted by the person he loves XII As for that gallant-like subtilty which some are so much taken with and is so much feared by others it is so hard to pitch upon a mediocrity between a dangerous raillery and simple mirth that I would not advise those to meddle with it on whom nature hath not bestowed as on Teramus that gift of insinuation which at the same time causes a love and a fear of of him that hath it XIII For obedience if you deprive love of it you take away his Empire for he that can disobey the person he loves loves her not and deserves not the name of Lover XIV For the last Article I confess that he who thinks he may be always happy in loving deserves to be accounted a mad man if he be not one but love being not a thing voluntary the torments that attend it are of the same nature Whence I infer that Teramus hath only made it his business to instruct a pleasing Gallant and not a real Lover Though Merigenes's friends and I interrupted Amilcar are not of the same sect since I agree with pleasant Teramus yet I cannot but think him a person that is very understanding and would sain know what manner of man he is For my part replyes Herminius though I am not of your opinion yet do I agree with you in that desire and for my part added Octavius though I should have wished not to be of Merigenes's sect yet shall I be glad to be acquainted with him For my part says Personder I am so much taken with an ardent affection that I love all those that are of my opinion
Ungrateful Fair another with Ungrateful Iris a third with What strange ingratitude is this of yours a fourth with The ungrateful beauty which I serve and another which pronounces All that 's handsome is ungrateful To conclude Ingratitude is so general a thing that a man would almost protest against obliging any person and for fear of doing any thing for one that may afterwards prove ungrateful resolve to do nothing at all but to live so as only to live without taking care of any thing For Ingratititude said Aemilius who all this while had been silent I assent to you that there is too much of it in the world I am of your opinion answered Herminius but there would be much less of it if there were no slothfulness and idleness for they are usually supine and negligent persons who are most ungrateful and who are willing to be oblig'd by all the world without obliging any body In truth said Plotina you have all a great stock of wit and methinks you are in the humour to day of expressing more than ordinary and therefore I beseech you satisfie me of two things which I am desirous to know First Which is most shameful to be a sluggard for want of wit or for want of courage and Secondly to examine well all the different ingratitudes the world is full of and determine which is the greatest for there are various kinds For my own particular I have a she-friend who makes no account of the services which are done her but forgets a thousand considerable good offices without ever thinking of retribution and who because she is fair and loves her beauty better than her self if I may so speak never forgets one flattery or commendation but will do much more for them which deceive her provided it be in her own praise than for those who do her real services What you speak of said Cesonia fails out very frequently but before speaking of ingratitude let us discourse a little concerning these idle persons whose idleness has divers causes I know some who are so only because they are careless for they have wit enough and testifie also in some occasions when they are forced to it that they want no courage and besides it is not perceiv'd that they have any bad qualities These people answered Herminius are culpable in the highest degree for I know nothing more strange than to be unprofitable both to the world and ones self to have wit and do nothing with it and a certain indifferent mind which causes a man not to interest himself in any thing to have neither ambition nor love and to live with a negligence that renders him incapable of all great pleasures For my own part I should almost like it better for a man to addict himself to something not altogether good than not to apply himself to any thing at all As for me replied Plotina I am of Herminius's mind and I judge it more shameful to be an eternal idler for want of having the Will to attempt something than to do nothing for want of Will For what reason is there to accuse a poor stupid person who by engaging himself in action would only manifest his stupidity I affirm confidently that they to whom the gods have been sparing of the riches of the mind are happy when they assign them an unactive life withal so that they remain hidden in their own obscurity This deficiency causes the same effect in them which prudence does in others by restraining them from appearing unbecomingly in the world For there is none but knows there are people which would not be spoken of if they were not in great employments of whom a thousand dispraises are rumour'd because they acquit themselves ill of what they rashly undertake Promote a hair-brain'd man to the management of State-affairs and one faint-hearted to command an Army and you will find it convenient there were more idle persons than there are For idle persons injure none but themselves but they which manage employments they are unworthy of oftentimes overthrow the order of the world They make war when there is a greater necessity for peace and contrarily make peace when 't is more convenient to undertake a war and not understanding the import of their own actions it would be better they did nothing at all For which reason upon due consideration I judge it more reasonable to censure impertinent busie-bodies than those miserable lazy-backs who seek ease and oft-times do better by indulging their own quiet than by forsaking it to become active Let us leave them therefore in their happy idleness answered Cesonia and I repent me of my curiosity I had to know distinctly the different degrees of contempt I ought to allot them in my mind I cannot leave them yet replied Herminius but I must tell you that the most criminal of all idle persons are they who addict themselves to nothing when they are oblig'd by necessity to betake themselves to the employment which fortune has given them For though all idleness is blame-worthy yet when a man addicts himself to nothing and chooses no profession but out of choice floth or incapacity or some other reason passes his life in so great sluggishness that he might in a manner die without the loss of pleasure or benefit to any and even without being sensible of it himself it is sufficient to reprehend and slight him But when we see a man who by his birth and his own election is instated in a great employment which requires him to act and he does not he is to be hated and despised According to my judgement said Amilcar ye have much reason for this but yet there are people worse than those idle ones you speak of I beseech you interpos'd Cesonia tell us who they are for my part I cannot comprehend there can be any such They are those answered Amilcar who being engag'd in a great employment do not cease to forecast how to acquit themselves of it that they may enjoy a certain quiet which hath always some pleasure in it yet having a kind of humorousness in their heads which I cannot express they do not the things they are obliged to but busie themselves in matters which they might better dispense with and neglect all their lives and to which they have no engagement For when I see a Priest omit the care of the Temple he ministers to that knows nothing of the quality of Victims and scarce the ceremonies of a Sacrifice but yet discourses well concerning War Musick and Hunting I am possess'd with the most pleasant indignation in the world for at the same time I contemn him I take infinite delight to mock and abuse him When I observe a Senator with his grave aspect which he sometimes sets off with a little constraint ignorant of the Laws of his Countrey and going about to play the Gallant with a Lady who derides his bad courtship I conclude he will do better to keep in
be more possess'd with choler than grief but at length having determin'd in his mind what to do he went away without approaching to the bed where Hortensius was But at his departure he left half of his Guards with him with order to hinder Hortensius from being remov'd to any other place without his commission Agenor being ignorant what reasons oblig'd Melanthus to this was desirous to abide with his friend but the Prince commanded him to follow him without giving him any reason for it Eumenes also was deny'd to stay behind though he requested it and it was in vain that I offer'd my self to take care of this Illustrious person during the danger of his wounds so that there remain'd with him only a slave the Chirurgeons the Priest the Prince's guards and he that commanded them At this time also the Prince of Cyparissa having purpos'd to return to Pisa after the hunting took leave of Melanthus and departed with his own followers The Prince of Messena being left now in greater liberty appear'd more tormented than before by the way he gave order to some of his Attendants to look well to Agenor and without more discourse went silently to the place where he lay the preceding night As soon as he was arrived there he commanded Agenor to follow him having something to speak to him after which he order'd Eumenes to redouble his care in the guard of Elismonda and sent to seize upon the Cabinet of Hortensius which he caus'd to be brought to him imagining he should find some Letters in it from the Princess of Elis. As soon as he had broke it open instead of finding what he sought for he unhappily found a memorial written in the same character with that of the four Verses in Elismonda's Picture-Case For Love and Jealousie had so deeply engrav'd that hand in his imagination that he scarce knew his own writing better than he did that And now no longer doubting that Hortensius had taken the Picture that Hortensius had made the Verses and that Hortensius was in love with Elismonda he also question'd not but that he was lov'd by her that he had betray'd him that he was ingrateful and that he had some hidden design wherein ambition bare a part He therefore caus'd Agenor to enter into his Closet but in-instead of receiving him well as he was wont for Hortensius's sake he beheld him very fiercely and demanded of him what he meant when perceiving Hortensius wounded he cry'd out asking the gods if this were the manner in which they would cause Hortensius to Reign Agenor at first was a little amaz'd and answer'd not directly So that Melanthus confirming himself in his opinion and letting loose the impetuosity of his humour No no Agenor said he to him seek not to disguise the truth I must resolve this obscure Riddle and know thoroughly all that the perfidious Hortensius has complotted against me Alas my Lord answer'd Agenor Hortensius is the most faithful servant you have Hortensius replyed Melanthus is ungrateful and unworthy and I shall know how to punish his ingratitude and unworthiness if he die not of his wounds Agenor found himself strangely perplex'd at this for Hortensius had forbidden him to discover any of the Predictions which had occasion'd his banishment out of his own Countrey for fear he should Reign there But after having a while defended himself he fear'd he might injure his friend instead of serving him by being obstinate not to discover the cause of his exclamation for there was no other means to put a good construction upon what he had said but by laying open the truth of it Agenor therefore declar'd it ingenuously thinking to justifie Hortensius and so in few words recounted what had been the occasion of that which Melanthus heard him speak But jealousie possessing his mind with a great disposition to interpret all things to the disadvantage of Hortensius this information of Agenor perfectly incens'd him there arising a mixture of divers sentiments in his mind which put him into extream confusion He felt in himself the violences of jealousie choler despight to have been oblig'd by Hortensius regret for having lov'd him and some slight reluctance against ill treating him a great desire to see him die and some fear of seeing what was foretold concerning him come to pass though he was not accustom'd easily to give credit to Predictions Thus love hatred friendship glory and jealousie dividing his mind he continued some time in a great incertainty but at length not being able to contain his grief in his breast after he had commanded Agenor to be taken into custody he went to find the Princess Andronice When he came to the Apartment of this Princess it was told him she was at that of Elismonda but instead of going thither according to his custom he sent to tell her he expected her at her own This proceeding amaz'd the Princess so much the more in that they were newly told some great accident was fallen out though they could not learn what it was Yet Andronice as she was going from Elismonda's Lodgings to her own understood Hortensius had slain Attalus and was himself very dangerously wounded So that she believ'd Melanthus desir'd to see her only to communicate to her the grief he resented for the danger Hortensius was in I come my Lord said she to him to help you to commiserate the generous Hortensius for though I have reason to be glad of the death of Attalus yet the sorrow I have for his wounds that overcame him renders me uncapable to taste the sweetness of revenge Alas my Sister cry'd the Prince you ill understand my thoughts if you commiserate the most unworthy perfidious and ingrateful of men But my Lord reply'd Andronice all amaz'd 't is not Attalus but Hortensius that I commiserate I mean him also answer'd he 't is Hortensius that has betray'd me 't is Hortensius that is my Rival 't is Hortensius that projects to Reign in Elismonda's heart and in my dominions and in a word Hortensius is he that I hate as much as I have lov'd him and whom I will punish so severely that he shall serve for an example of Ingratitude to posterity But my Lord said Andronice I confess I know not Hortensius according to the description you make of him Have you forgot Hortensius was he that hindred me from being carried away by Attalus and that you owe part of your Conquests to his valour and counsels that he had the good fortune to save your life in the last battel that he has done his utmost for you with Elismonda that he was unwilling to dispute the victory with you at the Olympick Games and has newly slain Attalus whom you hated 'T is true answer'd the Prince fiercely he has done all that you speak of but since he loves Elismonda I ought to hate him more than I hated Attalus After which he told her all he had discover'd and then declar'd to her all he
thought and at last intimated that he doubted not but that Hortensius lov'd Elismonda and she him that he had betray'd him and complotted to Reign in some place or other either in the Countrey of Elis or that of Messena This discourse of Melanthus seeming grounded upon very strong presumptions Andronice knew not what to answer She had great kindness and gratitude for her Deliverer but yet was at a loss what to conjecture concerning the adventure of the Picture She call'd to mind she had upon divers occasions observ'd Hortensius had a very tender affection towards Elismonda Nevertheless she had so great an opinion of his virtue that she could not believe him capable of perfidiousness But though she desir'd to excuse him she could find nothing to say in his defence in reference to his love of Elismonda of which the Picture was a convincing testimony but as for the design of Reigning she told the Prince there was no appearance Hortensius ever had a thought of it But on the contrary answer'd Melanthus I believe he is in love only because he is ambitious and to speak without prejudice it must be confess'd Fortune has in a manner forc'd him to be so for that which he did in acknowledgement of the obligation he had to you was the cause I receiv'd him at first with an extraordinary goodness After which his valour proving Fortunate he saw himself in a short time become more powerful than my self by the credit I gave him in my heart In the mean time this unworthy person as he is betraies me in the most cruel manner in the world Of all that I have conquer'd and of all that I can ever conquer added he I desire only the heart of Elismonda which he deprives me of under pretence of gaining it for me and by a most horrid perfidiousness uses the permission I give him to see Elismonda to draw her to love himself to make her hate me and to contrive with her without doubt how to possess himself of the principality of Elis and perhaps to poniard me But my Lord reply'd Andronice if there had been any intimacy between Hortensius and the Princess Elismonda he would not have committed the prank of the picture Not if he had had discretion answer'd Melanthus but love and ambition blinded him and believing it impossible I should discover it was he he made himself pleasant at my cost In short added he to understand more clearly whether he be as much lov'd as he loves I will go my self and inform Elismonda of the danger Hortensius is in and dissemble my choler at first if I can to the end it may not hinder her from manifesting her sorrow and I may the better sound the secret of her soul But my Lord answer'd Andronice do not seek to torment your self give me commission to discover the sentiments of the Princess of Elis and go not about to judge of her by deceitful conjectures For is it possible she should be otherwise than afflicted with the danger Hortensius is in though she had seen him only twice No no reply'd the incens'd Prince I will be the spy my self and if I discover that Elismonda loves Hortensius as I scarce doubt it I will then redouble all the revenge I am preparing for that ungrateful person who has so horridly betray'd me Having spoken this he went immediately to the apartment of the Princess of Elis. Andronice would have been glad he had not gone thither without her but he would not permit her to accompany him When he enter'd into Elismonda's chamber she was speaking to Cleontine and wondring she had not seen Hortensius all the day and speaking this something aloud Melanthus over-heard the name of Hortensius At which he blusht with indignation and changing his resolution of dissembling his sentiments approach'd towards the Princess of Elis and looking upon her attentively He that you mention Madam said he to her is not in a condition to make you a visit for he is wounded very dangerously in several places Oh gods cry'd Elismonda hastily turning pale with fear into what mischievous adventure is the generous Hortensius fall'n You give him a title that so ill befits him Madam said Melanthus that to prevent your over-much commiserating him I must declare to you that he is the most temerarious and perfidious person in the world I have alwaies found him so respectful replyed she and I know he serves you so faithfully that I can scarce believe he merits to be styl'd perfidious and temerarious When I shall tell you answer'd he that he is amorous of you that it was he that stole your picture and made the four Verses which gave you such curiosity you must necessarily agree with me concerning his audaciousness and when I shall moreover add that I know that instead of endeavouring to promote my interests with you he has only contriv'd to serve himself notwithstanding whatever hatred you bear against me you will be oblig'd to confess that in reference to me he is a perfidious person which deserves a thousand punishments and in relation to your self an audacious one that is unworthy of the goodness you have for him I know not my Lord replyed she who has mis-inform'd you that Hortensius is my Lover but I can swear to you with truth that if he be so he has made a great secret of it to me and has spoken a thousand and a thousand things to me in your favour which a Lover uses not to speak in behalf of his Rival And as for the Picture you mention if Hortensius took it away could he be sufficiently imprudent to shew it or tell it to any No Madam answer'd he but he has been unhappy enough to lose it after he was wounded in killing Attalus with whom he fought Yes Madam with my own eyes I saw the Picture fall and I was he that took it up without his knowing it and to compleat the conviction of his perfidiousness I haue caus'd his Cabinet to be opened and have there found divers things of the same hand he made use of to write the four verses So that Madam 't is beyond all doubt that Hortensius is an unworthy and an ungrateful Traitor and the question is only to know whether you be a complice of his Crimes If I believe him concerning the rigor you have against me added the Prince you not only know that Hortensius loves you but you love him and I know not whether after he inform'd you of the pretended predictions which say He must reign one day in some place you have not complotted something against me in hope he might restore Elis to you and hinder me from taking Pisa My Lord answer'd Elismonda with extream prudence I shall not stand to deny that Hortensius is amorous of me for I confess to you sincerely I know nothing of it though I shall withal tell you that it seems to me not impossible because he has appear'd really to interess himself
that I am injurious in loving you than in being jealous since this cruel passion is an infallible concomitant of a tender affection Indeed my mind continued she is in a miserable condition if I am generous I ought to counsel you to desert me and to put your self in a capacity of being once again deceived by Clidamira since she alone is able to re-ingratiate you with the Prince of Leontium and without her you will be perpetually exil'd On the other side if I follow the pure sentiments of my own Soul I should rather choose to see you in eternal banishments than to see Clidamira deprive me of that which she has lost by her own fault and I have merited by an inviolable fidelity Now judge what quietness my mind is capable of especially when I see you have still as great civility for Clidamira as if she had not been unfaithful But is it possible replyed Artemidorus that you conceive an intelligent person can be uncivil to a Lady and to a Lady he once Loved and who would still perswade him that she does not hate him But is it possible answered Berelisa passionately you can understand a true Lover can innocently have civility for a Lady who causes jealousie in the person by whom he would be loved However added she because I will not make my grief apparent to the eyes of so many persons who know me not I will conceal my sentiments the best I can and observe yours with the greatest care possible for in my conjecture you know them not your self In earnest added she you love Clidamira more than you think you do and love me less than you believe and so undavertingly commit infidelity against me Alass Madam interrupted Artemidorus I beseech you do not accuse me with injustice But moreover said Berelisa you know not well what passes in you own heart and take nor sufficient notice of the proceedings in mine As Artemidorus was going to answer her there came a great number of people who interrupted him yet he began to speak and tell her that he was necessitated to leave Clusium for fear of being discovered by a man whom the Prince of Leontium had sent to Porsenna of which having received notice by the Princess his Sister he came back to Rome the Princess also having taken upon her to send him intelligence how her affairs proceeded After which Herminius being arrived with Telanus told the company that the Festival appointed was to be hastned in favor of this generous Veientine because the Veientines were within two days to send the Figure which they at first so peremptorily denyed and so Telanus would be obliged to depart and without obeying the command which Lot had layd upon him being the person designed to give the Collation Sulpitia coming thither with Clelia a moment after it was concluded it should be the next day and so Telanus took upon him to prepare for the Collation Artemidorus to give the Musick and Amilcar to make the relation he was obliged to Yet he declared that he would not trust to his memory nor his eloquence but for the contentment of the Company read them a History famous for the name of the person principally concerned in it which he not many days agoe had translated out of the Greek into the Roman Language All the Company required he should relate some adventure wherein himself was interessed but Plotina craftily alleadging that being obliged to recount an amorous History it was not fit he should speak of his own Love because he knew not how to manage that passion his choice was allowed and the next morning the same persons who had been at the former entertainment being met together in the same Garden it was resolved Amilcar should read the History which he had translated and that before the Collation or the Walk because it was not unreasonably presumed the passages of his Relation would supply matter for the conversation of the rest of the day Wherefore all this fair Company being seated in a magnificent Hall out of which was a very delightful prospect Amilcar placed himself in such a manner as he might be most easily understood by all that were present and began to read the History of Hesiode in which some are of opinion that in the place of Apollo's prediction some thing has been added in latter Ages But to leave that in suspense Amilcar began to read in this manner The HISTORY of HESIODE I Beseech you interposed Plotina stay a little and first tell me whether this Hesiode be not a great Poet I have heard say lived many Ages ago For if it be I confess to you I should find it difficult to interest my self sensibly in the adventures of people that have been out of the World so long For my part said Clelia I am not of your humor for I am almost inclinable to lament the miserable adventures which are no more than fictitious if they be invented with any resemblance of truth That cannot I do replyed Plotina for that which passes in the same City where I am affects me more than that which passes in Greece and that which arrives in my own times makes greater impression upon my heart than that which hapned in the days of Romulus In reference to such things answered Clelia as we see with our own eyes or which befal people that we know I consent with you that they move more than others do but in the telling of an History relating to persons not of your knowledge I confidently believe we ought to be as much affected with an Adventure hapned in Greece as at Rome and there is no distance of places which takes away the sensibility of the heart no Age so remote but the fancy becomes near enough to it to excite compassion for 't is the things themselves we are moved with and not so much the places or the persons since every place or person you know not is indifferent to you and cannot affect you more one way than another 'T is the representation made to you of their sufferings that mollifies your heart and if any man should invent a deplorable sad Story I conceive your self would be unable to resist all sense of pitty for in my judgment such as have greatest wits suffer themselves to be most of all taken with things happily invented The way to determine your controversies said Herminius is to permit Amilcar to read You have reason answered Anacreon for if the amiable Plotina have no compassion for Hesiode I think her the most cruel Virgin in the World though the History Amilcar is going to read of him should add nothing to the truth Read then said Plotina beholding Amilcar for it is not fit I should longer deprive the Company of the pleasure they expect from a History you have chosen to divert them Yet you will please to remember answered Amilcar that I am engaged to relate none but an amorous History and so the more love there is in
to another despight would suddenly cure me I should pass from Love to Hatred and from that to contempt which would afterwards leave me in a quiet indifference But as for the manner after which he ceases to love me they whose hearts are not very nice in love would almost believe Lysicrates not absolutely culpable But according as I apprehend things inconstancy would seem less horrible to me than the change which is hapned in his heart since the alteration of his fortune There is frailty and weakness in ordinary inconstancy but there is unworthiness and poorness of mind in the change of Lysicrates but though I should dye of discontent I will drive out of my heart a passion which is not criminal but only because he that excited it is not worthy of it Moreover though he should be willing to return to me he would not have leasure to think of it he has so many important affairs in his head which all the punctualities of a dear passion could not consist with But said I to her why do not you change as well as Lysicrates Be ambitious as well as he and without considering whether he loves you as much as he did heretofore dissemble your sentiments and engage him at least to establish your fortunes since he is able to do it No no answer'd this generous Virgin I will never have any obligation to a man who loves me less than he ought and whom I intend to love no longer And though my fortune were much more unhappy than it is I should be absolutely uncapable to receive any thing from a person that had depriv'd me of his heart I know my brothers are of a different opinion and would have me sacrifice my self to their interests but they shall never oblige me to follow their inclinations When Lysicrates was not in favour they condemn'd the affection I had for him and now they think it necessary for their preferment no doubt they will blame the manner after which I intend to treat him for the future However I will continue firm in my resolution But said I to her at least give Lysicrates to repent I shall give him sufficient answer'd she for I find my heart will not so soon obey my reason Accordingly Clymene continu'd to love Lysicrates in spight of her own resolutions that which sustain'd her passion was that Lysicrates some days spoke to her with as much love as ever he had done Indeed it was sufficiently seldom that he discours'd with her in private for he had always so many affairs that he ever began to speak to her with these words I have but one moment to spend with you or two at most I have not leasure to tell you any thing or some such like expressions Things being in these terms there was a great assembly wherein Clymene was oblig'd to be present whereupon desiring to appear handsome there that Lysicrates might see she deserv'd his affection she omitted no ornaments that might render her more amiable And indeed she out-shin'd the beauty of all the other fair ones and so pleas'd the Prince that he spoke not to any Lady but Clymene not but that the Prince had heard Lysicrates was amorous of her but he beheld him so assiduously at Court that he thought it was no very violent Love Clymene who beheld the Prince's civility towards her interpreted it at first as an indulgence to his Favorite but at the end of the Ball when he entertain'd her a part she chang'd her opinion for after having given her a thousand praises I find you so charming said he to her that I cannot but wonder at the assiduous attendance of Lysicrates at Court for had I such a Mistriss as you assuredly my Master if I had any should be worse serv'd than I am by him Clymene blush'd at the Prince's discourse and answer'd to it with so much wit that she seem'd to him still more fair So that having his fancy fill'd with the Idaea of her he spoke of none but Clymene all the rest of the evening He likewise spoke to Lysicrates concerning her with earnestness but in case said he to him in the presence of a friend of Clymene's who inform'd her of it the next morning I should maugre all my reluctancy become amorous of your Mistress and if you saw me ready to die for love would you be generous enough to yield her to me and not hate me No doubt answer'd the ambitious Lysicrates I should be very unhappy if that should come to pass but however my Lord added he it would be so great an honor to Clymene that her interest consider'd together with the respect I have for you I think I should resign her to you and that your happiness and that of this fair person would comfort me for my infelicity Lysicrates spoke this with so free an air that it was perceivable he spoke his real sentiments whereupon the Prince who till then had lookt upon the inclination he had for Clymene as a thing he was to oppose with the friendship he bare to Lysicrates now perceiving Clymene not so deeply fix'd in his heart as he imagin'd flatter'd his beginning passion so sweetly that having seen Clymene five or six times in a very few days he became infinitely amorous of her for he is a Prince whose passions are violent during which he is not scrupulous of doing any thing to content them In the mean time Clymene understanding what Lysicrates had answer'd the Prince became extreamly exasperated in her mind though she dissembled her discontent Indeed within a little time she had occasion to discover it for the Prince's passion being grown too great to be kept in his own brest he discover'd it to his Rival before he made it known to his Mistriss but it was in such powerful terms that Lysicrates saw clearly he must either lose Clymene or his fortune wherefore not sticking a moment what choice to make in this difficulty he told the Prince he sacrific'd all his pleasures to him that he would be his confident and intercede with Clymene for him And the truth is Lysicrates who had always oqserv'd Clymene to have a very great mind imagin'd the hope of marrying the Prince would cause her to approve his action not considering that sometimes there is more grandeur of courage in despising fortune than in seeking it Yet he did not absolutely resolve to renounce the affection of Clymene but intended to make it serviceable to him for the further augmenting of his greatness and wealth In which thoughts he went to visit her when having desir'd a private conference with her and seeming more sad than he was he prepar'd her mind with much address to hear some unwelcome matter which he seem'd to be very loth to tell her Clemene immediately believ'd his business was to inform her that the Prince intended to marry him to one of his Cosins who was a very rich young Lady but at length he told her
amongst brutes and if they have subtilty 't is only to avoid dangers or seek wherewith to subsist It seems said Belintha with a low voice one single ingrateful Man makes you judge all Animals acknowledging but however added she aloud though Hesiode were of your opinion I should not disclaim my own nor hinder my self from decrying the inclination you have to love brutes For that you may not mistake continued she speaking to Hesiode you must know that if Clymene were even amorous of any one she could not resolve to give him a beast which she loved and if at any time you would be assured of her heart desire her Dog of her and you shall see whither it will not be more hard to obtain the one than the other You speak very excellently replyed Clymene in comparing my Heart and my Dog together yet I am not offended at it added she for they are both faithful and can love well But are you not ashamed said Belintha to attribute Reason and Friendship to beasts But do not you deceive your self said Clymene when you will not know that a little Bird who makes its nest very proportionably is more ingenious than a hundred dull Men whom I know and that a poor Dog who follows me every where and moans when I forbid him has more friendship then a Man who is obliged with nothing and who injures all those whom he ought to serve For my part said Hesiode then I confess I could willingly amuse my self in observing the Reason of Beasts if it be fit so to term that Light which Nature has given them and I am also sensible of their kindness I have always observed answered Clymene that cruel Men hate Beasts and usually good persons love them or at least cannot endure any hurt should be done them But as for ambitious people who are so satisfied with themselves and cannot think but of great things they take no care to observe the Neast of a Swallow to admire the labor of Pismires the singing of Nightingales the love of Turtles and the kindness of Dogs nor to amuse and divert themselves innocently with the caresses of these poor Animals whose felicity is so easily accomplisht For it suffices to that of my Dog that he suffer not hunger that he find a little Brook to drink at that he lye upon the corner of my Robe and that I make much of him He comes not but when I will he goes away when I please he is silent when I think good if I chide him he does not remember it a moment after and is not less ready to caress me Judge therefore I beseech you whither that person would not be happy that should find another whose heart were so tractable But however replyed Belintha I cannot suffer that that should be called Reason in Beasts which is only a blind instinct and makes them act whither they will or no. Ah! my dear Belintha answered Clymene how noxious is the power of choice oftentimes unto us and that supream Reason which arrogates so much to it self and makes no account of instinct but causes us to commit faults against Virtue and even against our own pleasures 'T is certain said Hesiode that the power of choice occasions all the errors of Men and that at least brutes have this advantage in their misery that they precisely know every thing that is fit for them Some avoid heat and seek cold others flee cold and follow heat without any variety in their kind but as for men though they are born and dye alike and that considering them in themselves it seems they have need only of the same things to be happy yet it is certain that their reason which is various according to their different tempers is oftentimes that which causes the happiness of one and makes the infelicity of another and they apprehend things so differently that they agree neither in reference to the gods which they adore nor the Laws which they follow nor vices nor virtues nor even in their peculiar pleasures 'T is not so with Animals that which is good to one Nightingale is good to all the Nightingales of the World all fierce beasts have need of Dens all Neasts of Swallows are alike there is no different architecture in them and every species of animals has an immutable reason that governs it as I may so speak which pleases and charms me for amongst us every one makes himself a reason after his own mode so that when we would find out true reason among so many different reasons 't is a very difficult task You speak admirably well answered Clymene for a discreet man who flies the World and an ambitious man who pursues it may both have Wit indeed however differently they reason This proceeds replyed Belintha for that men are as different amongst themselves as Animals are in their kinds and there is oftentimes as great a dissimilitude between one man and another as between a bird of prey and a Turtle so that every one must reason according to himself and not according to another But however it must be acknowledged that humane reason has something very noble and sublime in it by attempting to raise its knowledge even to the Heavens and to the Center of the Earth and he that shall consider the infinite number of profitable and delightful Arts which men have invented the great number of Sciences whereof they are capable the wise Laws which they have made the different Ornaments which they have brought into the World will laugh at the Neasts of Swallows the labour of Bees and the Husbandry of Pismires I confess answered Hesiode that the reason of men is worthy of admiration for its vast extent that considering it in it self that half-reason of animals is but obscuritâ— in comparison but to speak truth the bad Use men make of it astonishes me and causes the possession of so great a good to seem less advantageous to me since 't is so difficult to imploy it aright And on the contrary beasts scarce ever make any bad use of that light which nature has given them 'T is true said Clymene there was never any Honey but what was sweet nor Pismires which did not providently labour nor Swallows which made Neasts after different manners But it is not so with men for they will not so much as build their Houses alike There is many times folly in their buildings when they make them too magnificent for their own condition On the other side beasts who can content themselves with things necessary and can make and proportionate them to their own uses ought to make men blush whose reason cannot bound their desires whose natural incapacity stands in need of instructors experience examples and practice for the knowledge of the least of those things which are necessary whereas the most stupid of all animals have that within themselves which is sufficient for them without intermeddling with that which does not belong to them Bees
too true and I too criminal to be excus'd But death added this despairing Lover shall without doubt punish me for my crimes for since I am the cause of that of the most excellent person that ever was I am unworthy to live And indeed to increase my despair continued he I will believe the unfortunate Clymene did not love Hesiod but only out of revenge and that it must be imputed to me whatsoever she has suffer'd by her affection to him But since it is not possible for us to live together yet at least we must reside in the same tomb and all I have acquir'd by my ambition shall be employ'd in that Structure Which fatal thought coming in an instant into Lysicrates's mind Belintha and Clemene's Aunt endeavour'd to divert him from it but in vain for having a Chariot in that Wood in which he had design'd to carry away Clymene to the Sea-side which is not far distant from it where a ship attended for him he caus'd the body of Clymene to be taken by his followers notwithstanding the tears and cries of these Ladies and himself helpt respectfully to lift it into his Chariot After which he caus'd it to be put into his ship and setting fail with all speed cross'd the Ionian Sea which is on the West side of Peloponnesus and landed not far from the place where the River which passes by the City of Elis discharges it self into the Sea and commanding Clymene's body to be carried into a Temple of Diana which was near the Bank of that River he perform'd to her all the honors of Sepulture which being done he gave himself wholly to bewail her death and caus'd a stately Tomb to be built for her in building of which he according to his promise bestow'd all the riches his ambition had gain'd him reserving only enough for his subsistence during that time and as soon as the Tomb was finisht the unhappy Lover shut himself up in it and dy'd for grief in having been the cause of so many fatal accidents though others have believ'd ambition had as great a share in his death as Love Thus Clymene was reveng'd after her death but she had not the sad happiness to be in the same Tomb with Hesiode who has had a glory transcending that of all others for the Orchomenians having consulted an Oracle which promis'd them much felicity if they could get the body of Hesiode into their power they of Locri to hinder them from it so carefully conceal'd the place of his Sepulture from strangers that there are few persons know it And moreover the Prince of Locri dying of Melancholly not long after the Locrians augmented the honors which they paid to Hesiode's memory whose very name intimates in his own language how purely he writ and whose glory is so celebrated throughout the whole World that it may be justly thought it will be so in all Ages Amilcar having done reading this History of Hesiode perceiv'd the minds of the Ladies were verymuch affected with it and that instead of delighting the company he had afflicted them In truth said Clelia the death of Clymene affects me very sensibly For my part said Valeria I have a greater commiseration of Hesiode than I am able to express I have the like for Lysicrates added Clydamira I am not of your opinion answered Berelisa for I never have any pitty for those that have once ceas'd to love though that Passion revive again in their hearts and I compassionate only Hesiode and Clymene My commiseration goes farther than yours said Salonina for I pity poor Troilus too But mine is yet greater than that you boast of answer'd Plotina smiling for I am almost dead for fear lest that poor Dog so faithful to his Master after having discover'd his Murderers be lost in the multitude of people or died of grief after having lost both his Master and his Mistriss All the company laught at the pity of Plotina and went forth to walk in several troops except Clelia Valerius Plotina Anacreon Herminius and Amilcar who began to assault Plotina with raillery for her pity to Hesiode's dog No no interrupted Anacreon do not set upon her with your jests for it perhaps her pity of that poor Dog has a more real foundation than ours for the death of Clymene for to speak sincerely though I am both a Greek and a Poet and am somewhere mention'd in the Prophecie of Apollo which you have read yet I cannot but believe but the History you have read is almost all of it invented Yet it is contriv'd ingeniously enough added he for methinks 't is not only handsomer than the truth but withal more probable History mentions nothing more of Hesiode than that he dwelt at the Town of Ascra in Boeotia near Helicon that the Muses inspir'd him and that an Oracle which spoke to him admonisht him to avoid the Temple of Nemaea which is in Peloponnesus that he travell'd into divers places that he obtain'd the Golden Tripod and that he got advantage over Homer in the judgement of Panis There are some also who affirm these two persons did not live at the same time however all that have written of Hesiode agree that he was at Locri and content themselves to say in three words that he lodg'd at the house of Antiphanes and Ganetor who had a Sister and suspecting him to be the confident of a Lover of hers killed him together with his slave that the body of the slave was found at a Cape or Promontory which was afterwards call'd by the name of Troilus in reference to him that the body of Hesiode was brought by Dolphins near a Temple of Neptune where a great sacrifice was solemnising that Hesiode's dog occasion'd the discovery of his murderers who were torn in pieces by the people and that for fear the Orchomenians should get away his body they conceal'd the place of his burial As for his Works he that invented this History has fictitiously ascrib'd to him only the Sonnet the four Verses which he relates Hesiode to have spoken and the Hymn which he makes him Author of for Neptune's Sacrifice Now it cannot but be acknowledged that fiction in this occasion has greater verisimilitude than truth it self When the purpose is to bring about extraordinary events it is no question handsomer to introduce lover in them than any other cause which has been practis'd by the inventor of this History for by seigning the love of the Prince of Locri Lysicrates Hesiode and Clymene he has made you know all these different persons and oblig'd you to love them which were to be the most unfortunate In the next place he has given probability to that which carry'd not much with it for there is far more likelyhood that two ambitious and wicked Brothers should be led to kill a man whom they look'd upon as an obstacle to their advancement by hindring their Sister from being favourable to a Prince from whom they expected the
extreamly rational answer'd Damon but yet it would be better to proceed to inform us what you have been in latter times Of a jealous Husband said Amilcar I became a Tyger in Lybia a Shepherd in Arcadia a Carver at Corinth a Peacock in Sicily a Painter at Athens a Musician in Lydia and an Owle at Praeneste But for that the relation of my adventures while an Owle would not afford you much Pleasure I shall content my selfe to tell you only what I was before I was Amilcar I beseech you tell us that presently said Plotina I was Servius Tullus answer'd he with a strange confidence How said Plotina with a fain'd astonishment were you a King of Rome Yes answer'd he and therefore it was I told you in the beginning of my discourse you would no longer wonder at my boldnesse in loving you after you knew all that I have been and this is the reason also that I hate Tarquin so much and have lign'd my selfe to the service of Rome For they who have any remembrance left of their several changes have also some inclinations in their present condition correspondent to what they have been and therefore you ought not wonder that I love Rome altho I am an African No reply'd Plotina maliciously for Rome is sufficiently lovely of her selfe to attract your affection but I wonder very much at your so exact remembrance of so many things and at my own remembring nothing at all For as for my part I declare to you I do not remember I was ever any other than Plotina But perhaps answer'd Amilcar similing it is because you have not consider'd on it for certainly it is not without the strength of deep reflection that I have been able to recount to you all I have done Amilcar spoke this with a certain air beholding Plotina which suddenly signifi'd to Damon that this Rival had made pastime of his opinions and fain'd these stories to divert the Companie For my part said Acrisius then who sought occasion onely to speak I will endeavour to recite all the changes Amilcar remembers of himselfe Do not give your selfe the trouble answer'd Damon rising up for I am assur'd that tho it be true that Amilcar remembers what he has been when I am gone he will say his intention was only to make pastime and divert you with pleasant mockerie but whatever he sayes it is cetain the opinion of Pythagoras is that alone which can be follow'd with reason Damon spake this with something a sharp tone of his voice which signifi'd that he at length perceiv'd Amilcar only to deride his belief Plotina therefore was offering to say something to to pacify him but he went away and would not continue longer 'T is true he afforded great pleasure to the Company and especially to Plotina who had an extream desire to laugh in liberty at Amilcar's confidence in relating all those odd changes For my part said she I cannot understand how a man otherwise indu'd with reason can be capable to believe things so extravagant I am not of your mind said Anacreon for I never wonder'd at any thing and lesse at these kind of things than others because there is never any prepossession of mind so strong as that which has some appearance of Religion and Piety For the morality of Phythagoras having pleas'd Damon because it was full of humanity and sweetnesse he afterwards submitted his mind to believe all that has been taught by a Man whose Virtue charm'd him For as we more easily believe what our Friends tell us than what we learn from our Enemies or people who are indifferent to us so it often times falls out in the reading of Books Men take an affection to the opinions of some persons in certain matters and when their affection is so setled they are afterwards capable to believe all that he saies upon his word and in the mean time thinks they are perswaded to do so by their own reason But in brief interrupted Plotina should the best of my Friends tell me 'T is further from the top of the Capitol to the bank of Tyber than from the bank of Tyber to the top of the Capitol I should not believe him because my reason would inform me otherwise As often as any one goes about to tell things contrary to a truth known to all the World reply'd Anacreon you will not be perswaded to believe them but when a person for whom you have a very great esteem endeavours to perswade you to follow his opinion blindly no question it must be some thing of that kind which no person can ever know perfectly unlesse the gods reveal it to him and which cannot be judg'd of but by conjectures the testimonies are so frequently dubious that they sometimes occasion great errors in the world Which being so it is not to be wonder'd if a person who by his own reason cannot penetrate into the truth gives credit to a man whom he otherwise infinitely esteems and believes him to have discover'd what he is unable to do blindly embracing his sentiments upon a false conceit of being induc'd to do so by a thousand reasons Therefore they are to be excus'd who are not of our sentiments for the belief we have of things supernatural does not depend absolutely of our selves If I were an Aethiopian I should not believe that which I now do if Amilcar were a Roman he would have other sentiments if Herminius were a Greek he would have opinions which now he has not altho the Greeks and Romans agree in several matters Wherefore I think I have reason to say 't is injustice to accuse those of folly who endeavour to defend the opinions of their Forefathers and their Country and that their unhappinesse is justly to be pityed in being educated with a prejudic'd reason which hinders them from discerning the truth and it is charity to pray the gods to enlighten them Let us therefore pity the poor Damon answer'd Plotina for he his really worthy of pity for believing Amilcar was a Phoenix After this the Subject of the conversation being chang'd they discours'd of a thousand delightfull matters till Artemidorus coming thither inform'd the Company intelligence was brought that the Siege of Rome was resolv'd upon by Porsenna and Tarquin and that in a few dayes they must look to see the enemie's Army about the walls This news chang'd the discourse and oblig'd this noble company to retire Three dayes after there was a magnificent Ceremony in Rome for the Chief Vestal being dead suddenly she that was to succeed her and to whom she had voluntarily a little time before resign'd all authority was put in possession of it by the Chief of that Order in presence of the Senate and all the people The deceased Vestal being Sister to Clelius Clidamira and Berelisa thought â—â—t to go and comfort Sulspitia and Clelia but Valeria withheld them telling them that when a Vestal dies after having satisfi'd all the engagements she
loving one so ungrateful that he had rather save her life by whom he is hated than hers from whom he has receiv'd a thousand courtesies But Madam repli'd Aemilius if I am ungrateful towards you are not you so towards Theanor and is not Aurelisa the same towards me In truth answer'd this fair Lady I know not whether we be ungrateful but I know well we are extream unhappy However it be said Terentia I have this advantage of my infelicity that I owe nothing any longer to Theanor and have so great cause not to love Aemilius more that if indignation do not induce me to mistake I am ready to hope I shall renounce my passion As she ended these words one came and inform'd Theanor and Aemilius that Aronces was returning to the Camp which summons constrain'd them to go away without time to speak four words or hear one that pleas'd them Aronces being more sensible of the misfortunes which are caus'd by love than of any others when he was upon the way did not cease to speak to Theanor and Aemilius he piti'd and comforted them and pitti'd himself too tho without comfort not having so much hope as to see a possibility of ever becoming happy At his arrival at the Camp he found a Council of War ready to be assembled so that it behov'd him to make truce with Love and bestow at least part of his mind upon the cares of the army and the siege Now the Tuscans being a superstitious people the accident of the broken Bridge and the interpretations of the soothsayers upon it gave occasion to several rumours among the Souldiers some affirming that if Rome were attaqued by force it would be taken others on the contrary maintaining that if the course were attempted it would not succeed Nevertheless the first opinion being more generally prevalent than the other Porsenna and Tarquin conceiv'd this belief would probably excite the Souldiers to act with greater courage Whereupon understanding by some Spies that it was believ'd at Rome that they had no design to storm it by force they took up a resolution to endeavour to surprise it Tarquin being perfectly acquainted with the strength and weakness of the City and instructed concerning the Fortifications made there since his absence advis'd to make the principal onset on the side that appear'd most inaccessible tho indeed it was not so because it would be the least guarded That for this purpose it was requisite to seize upon Janiculum and become Masters of the Sublician Bridge which would afterwards be easily kept because the Hill that was to be seiz'd on too would command it That in the mean time no care ought to be omitted in order to such things as were necessary for the happy success of the Siege in case this design should not take effect Accordingly Porsenna sent order for the Boats which he had provided to come away not only with intent to stop up the Tiber with them both above and below Rome but also to make two Bridges with them which might be serviceable for the communication of the several Quarters of his Army The resolution therefore of attaquing the Hill Janiculus being taken order was given for the Forces design'd for the attempt to be in readiness to march at the first break of Day and for those who were to make false assaults in several contrary places to be ready also to execute what should be commanded them and likewise for all the rest of the Army to be in arms Aronces was the man to whom this bold enterprise was encharged Titus was commanded to back him Porsenna and Tarquin remaining in the Camp to give orders according to occasion and Sextus was intrusted with the care of the false assaults Nevertheless he was desirous to be in the most dangerous place of all but Tarquin knowing how violently he was hated by the Romans conceiv'd if they should know him during the fight it would make them become the more valiant This design having more need of Foot than Horse because it behov'd them to seize on a Pass the access to which was difficult Aronces put himself on foot at the head of the Forces intended for it and a Horse was led by for him to make use of when he shall see it convenient There was this difficulty in the thing that the attaque could not be begun till it was day because the Souldiers being to pass through rough and intricate places would have molested one another if they had gone in the dark without seeing their way But not to lose time Aronces marcht away in the head of his Forces as soon as the first appearance of day light The Cavalry kept themselves on both sides of them either to withstand such as might come out of Rome by the Sublician Bridge where the Hill Janiculus was attaqued or to oppose such as might come from the Hill by any other side Titus kept in readiness to back Aronces if there were need of it and Aronces prepar'd himself to shew the Friends he had in Rome and the Enemies he had in the Camp that he deserv'd all the glory he had acquir'd in so many several occasions as he was present in Telanus Aemylius Theanor Lucilius and Cesonius brothers to the generous Melintha and all the other brave persons of the Army fought near Aronces whose mind was then very much imploy'd not onely with the care of coming off handsomely in this great enterprise but also with the passion he had in his breast For he was now beginning to draw his sword against Rome for whose interests he had gain'd a Battle and he was going to see the house of Clelius if his attempt succeeded for it stood at the end of the City on the side of the Hill Janiculus He had indeed the consolation of apprehending that neither Clelius nor Octavius would be in this attaque for the hill Janiculus was a kind of out-piece of the City which in all likelihood a man of Clelius's age would not go to defend nor was it probable Octavius's weakness occasion'd by his wounds would yet permit him to come into the field He had likewise understood by a Spy that Mutius was upon the guard of that place and therefore knowing how couragious he was and looking upon him as Rival to Herminius and consequently no friend to himself he went to this assault with a resolution to signalize himself highly in it He fanci'd also some pleasure in thinking that after the taking of this Hill he might be able to seize on the Bridge and the Gate and that his valour might have the fair eyes of Clelia for Witnesses it being sufficiently difficult for the last daring Ladies to refrain from beholding that which nevertheless they would be willing not to see Aronces therefore went to the fight with all the ardour of an Heroe that would make it the interest of his Love to be courageous to the end he might be more so He caus'd his
His messages were accompani'd with such earnestness that imagining he desir'd to speak with me concerning a business relating to a friend of mine of which he understood something I broke off an appointment I had made and sent him word I would attend him And so I did to no purpose and that with very much regret For it being a fair day in which all the world went abroad to walk no body came to visit me and I was all the afternoon turning my head as often as my chamber door was open'd thinking always 't was he that I waited for And which was worst I understood in the evening that this shuttle-brain'd friend had spent the day walking with the Ladies which he met as he was coming to me Judge therefore said Herminius whether the little exactness which troubled you in so inconsiderable matters would not disgust you in more important occasions Besides 't is certain that when a person makes a custome of not being punctual in small things he easily fails to be so in great and consequently many times hazards the displeasure of his best friends And therefore the surest course is to be punctual In truth said Amilcar I am of opinion all things are dubious that there is no side but may be defended and If I were to establish a Sect I would have it lawful to doubt of every thing except matters of Religion For there is nothing we can be confident of Many times we are ignorant of what we fancie we know and know what we take our selves to be ignorant of There are whole Nations which have Opinions that pass for errors amongst others and as all men have a constitution and temper particular to themselves so every Kingdom every Country every City has its peculiar manners customs inclinations and opinions too so true it is that reason varies according to the Climates and Nations For the most part we believe what our Fathers believ'd before us without searching into the reason of our belief onely there are a few sublime Wits who pry into things in their Original who seek to make a perfect discovery of their Opinions and after all their pains find it almost impossible to be done For indeed our Reason from the very first use of it is prepossest with the sentiments of others and can't without violence clear it self from all that entangles it In which respect I am perswaded men are almost alwaies deceiv'd even in things wherein they think themselves erre least and the surest course would be as I said before to doubt almost of every thing And to prove what I say is it not true that till the daies of Pythagoras the most learned men believ'd the Evening-Star and the Morning-Star to be two distinct Stars And nevertheless the knowing Philosopher has discover'd to us that the same Star which we behold so twinkling at the beginning of night is the same which is so fair at break of day All men before judg'd of it in that manner and two names were given it which it bears still and yet we see manifestly that all men were mistaken That which you say is true answer'd Anacreon but the same man that could discover a truth that had been unknown before teaches a ridiculous falshood in his Metempsychosis 'T is in that regard reply'd Amilcar that I have reason to affirm 't is best to doubt almost of every thing since the greatest men are lyable to be deceiv'd in something For my part said Herminius I cannot conceive that that excellent man positively believ'd that which his Disciples teach for the Moral Precepts are so excellent that 't is hard to believe his Doctrine could have been so foolish As for my particular said Berelisa I confess I cannot yet very well believe that he thought he remember'd he had been a Cock and Euphorbus at the War of Troy could be of any great judgment Nevertheless 't is certain answer'd Herminius that Pythagoras was one of the wisest men of the World But what then said Plotina did he teach so Excellent A thousand things Madam answer'd Herminius and to tell you some of them he commanded his Disciples to honour the Gods and never to desire any particular thing of them maintaining that no man knows exactly what is fit for him and that 't is more respectful to submit totally to the order of Heaven than to endeavour to alter the Decrees of Destiny according to ones humor What you say has no doubt something very excellent in it reply'd Valeria for I conceive indeed that all men know not what is proper for them and that the cause of disorder division and Wars in the World is for that in general all men desire good and know not what it is But to return to the excellent man you speak of I remember I once heard the Illustrious Brutus who was an intimate friend of the wise Damo daughter of Pythagoras say that this great man compos'd a thousand excellent Verses concerning heroical Friendship 'T is very probable answer'd Herminius and to the same purpose he establisht a Community amongst his Disciples for he confidently maintain'd that there ought not to be any distinct interest amongst true friends and that where there was there was no friendship but society and it may be averr'd that never any before him so well understood all the duties of true Friendship But that which makes me love him the more is that he was a profest enemy to Lying which I hate more than can be imagin'd No doubt Lying is an evil thing reply'd Amilcar but to say truth it is sufficiently hard to renounce it absolutely and upon due observation it would be found that even they who hate it most sometimes make use of it notwithstanding their detesting it At least I know that I do upon some occasions and shall do still many times in my life Not that I love to lye but it has certain little conveniences in it very necessary For example is it possible to make a Story delightfully without lying or adding some circumstance to render it more pleasant Can one commend a woman without speaking a little more good of her than she deserves Can one speak ill of his enemy without aggravating his fault Can one bemone himself in Love without making his misery a little greater than it is And to prosecute sincerity to the utmost could I have compos'd the Dialogue of sick Damon if I would have confin'd my self to the truth All the company laught at this which Amilcar said and as Plotina was going to answer him Aemilius entred and ask'd if they had heard the great news which he lately learnt I assure you answer'd Plotina that we have heard none all this day I inform you then reply'd he that I am just now assur'd there is a great division between Tarquin and Porsenna and that it may be an occasion of raising the Siege and delivering Rome As things desir'd are easily believ'd this news was receiv'd with joy and
tho Herminius made scruple at first of believing that Tarquin would fall out with a Prince without whose protection his case was desperate yet he yielded at length and discours'd upon this surprising intelligence as the rest did A little while after Flavia enter'd and having taken a seat ask'd whether they had heard tell of the apparition of the God of Tyber who was reported to have threatned Porsenna's Camp and then making the description of that God repeating the very words that were attributed to him and indeed speaking as a person well perswaded of what she affirm'd was true For my part said Amilcar smiling I have walk'd upon the banks of the fairest Rivers in the World and also upon those of the River Alphaeus so famous for his love of the fair Arethusa but none of the Deities that preside over them would never yet do me the honour to appear to me and therefore Madam added he looking upon Flavia you must permit me to expect till the news you speak of be confirm'd before I believe it Flavia was going to answer but Merigenes being enter'd hinder'd her for beholding Amilcar in the company he seem'd so surpris'd at it that assoon as the first civilities were past he could not but testifie his astonishment I thought said he to Amilcar you had been gone disguis'd to the Enemies Camp to foment the division which they say is between Porsenna and Tarquin for I just now came from speaking with a man who confidently assur'd me he saw you depart thither Well then said Aemilius you understand by Merigenes that I am not the only person that have heard report of the division amongst the enemies But if it be no more true answer'd Herminius that they are divided than it is that Amilcar is gone disguis'd to Porsenna's Camp there is not much ground to rejoice at this great news But I beseech you said Plotina from whom did you learn it From a man answer'd Aemilius that I seldome see but in the Publick places where they talk of general affairs He seems to be ingenious speaks much and well is not much to seek for what he would say and affirms things so positively that none dare doubt of what he delivers 'T is certainly the same said Merigenes that told me you were gone disguis'd to the Camp of the Enemies May it not be the same man too added Plotina smiling that acquainted Flavia with that wonderful Apparition she tells us of To speak truth answer'd Flavia I think all our newes comes from the same place for Mutius who inform'd me of what I have related to you assur'd me he heard it reported by an ingenious person in the Grand Court of Hostilius 'T is there I was told of the division of the Enemies reply'd Aemilius And 't is there also that I was assur'd added Merigenes Amilcar was gone out of Rome disguis'd but with all the circumstances so precise that any other besides my self would have been deceiv'd as well as I have been Is he a Roman demanded Berelisa smiling that told you all this News No Madam answer'd Aemilius and I find his pronunciation manifests him to be a stranger Certainly then said Clidamira to Berelisa 't is a man whom we know who accompani'd us in our passage from Cicily to Ostia I doubt no more of it than you do answer'd Anacreon and accordingly describing that person to Merigenes and Aemilius they understood 't was he of whom he spoke But what is this universal Impostor said Plotina He is a person of extraction good enough answer'd Berelisa born at Lylihaeum he spent his youth in Africa and has got such a faculty of lying that 't is impossible to hinder him from it So that I think I may safely affirm he never spoke any truth in his life but he thought he ly'd Nevertheless as you were told he is ingenious speaks freely and delights those sufficiently who know him not for a Lyar for he alwaies tells new things his wit is never exhausted and alwaies forgeing matter of discourse he talks all his life and withal hath the art to contradict himself less than all other great Lyars But for that I am a lover of truth and very much abhor lying I cannot endure him and he comes no more to see me For an hour or two reply'd Anacreon one may be diverted by him but continuing longer his conversation is insupportable for what heed soever one takes and what resolution soever one makes not to believe him yet one is alwaies circumvented by him and he speaks things with so free and ingenious an air that he is able to deceive as long as he lives 'T is remarkable said Clidamira that he has been so horribly encounter'd for his lying at Lilybaeum that he dares live there no longer and for that he is perswaded 't is impossible to speak truth alwaies he is come hither with intention to go to Praeneste to inquire whether it be possible there should be a veracious man in the World If he please answer'd Amilcar I will shorten his journey for I will assure him sincerely that no man alwaies speaks truth and moreover that there are as many great Lyars as speakers of truth As for me said Herminius who make a particular profession to love truth and detest lying I wish people would absolutely conclude that it behoves never to lye How Never reply'd Plotina I do not think it possible For there are little Lyes of civility which we cannot but sometimes make use of and decency does not oblige us to decline them There are also Lyes of generosity added Amilcar which sometimes are very convenient to be us'd As for the pleasant Lyes said Anacreon I beg favour in behalf of them For my part added Clidamira I approve using a Lye in way of excuse For that I fear death much answered Flavia when I am very sick I am contented that people should Lye and tell me alwaies I shall recover tho they do not believe so As for me said Valeria I will never use a Lye unless when it may serve to save the life of some person For my part said Merigenes I should extremely scruple to tell the least Lye in the world but I confess perhaps I might Lye at the command of a Mistress In good earnest said Berelisa there are more Lyars than I imagin'd Some there are to answer'd Aemilius who are Lyars tho they do not think themselves to be such But since we are in the humor of speaking truth reply'd Plotina I beseech you let us establish Laws which may instruct us how far 't is lawful to Lye I confess said Herminius I am of opinion it behoves to have a general purpose of Lying at no time and not to produce in our selves a habit of those small Lies which are not scrupl'd by any and to which people insensibly become accustom'd For since no crime is so easie to be committed nor of more frequent conveniency than a Ly we ought to
restrain our selves from it to our power and look upon Lying as a cowardly low weak and infamous thing arguing a less fear of the Gods than of men But on the other side we ought to look upon Truth as the Soul of Honesty if I may so speak And forasmuch as scarce any thing besides Speech distinguishes Men from Brutes as being the image of their Reason whoso falsifies it renders himself unworthy to be a man Beasts have no deceitful cries except those terrible Animals that are bred upon the banks of Nilus there is none but man whose wickedness perverts the use of the Voice Moreover truth is the Universal bond which maintains order in the World the Publick-Faith the Law of Nations and Justice are founded upon it It bears the supreme sway in Love and Friendship without it the World would be nothing but confusion all men would be cheats cowards and impostors and there would be neither honour nor pleasure in the World if truth were banisht out of it There is no greater inconvenience then a servant that is a Lyar that assures you he has done what you commanded him when he has not so much as thought of it For my part I confess to the shame of my Reason I partly owe the hatred I bear against Lying to a Lying slave that I had who caus'd me to lose my patience a hundred times and spoyl'd the order of my affairs by his continual falshoods For he was so excessive at it that sometimes he affected as much to accuse himself by lying as to justifie himself by speaking truth But to return where I was is there any thing more insufferable than an Artisan who promises you what you have commanded him and deceives you continually Is there any thing more odious than the practice of those Great persons who with favourable words cause a thousand favours to be hop'd from them which they have resolv'd not to grant Is there any thing more cruel than to discover that a friend whom you love did not tell you truth when he told you he lov'd you above all the rest of the World And lastly is there any thing more insupportable than to have a Mistress that swears to love none but you and nevertheless loves several other persons or to speak more properly loves none for a divided love is no love A Lye serves for dissimulation fraud perfidiousness cowardise and almost all crimes and 't is only weakness or imprudence to make use of it For a man continually incurs the commission of a crime that can never be committed but in publick and by endangering himself to be convinc'd of it To lye for nothing is folly to Lye for interest is a great crime since certainly there is nothing so contrary to the Gods as Lying the Gods I say who are so true in the Oracles which they render And moreover do not we see that the search of Truth is the Universal design of all men and especially of the wise That which I find yet more pernitious in Lying said Merigenes is that it is a poyson which speedily communicates it self and whose effect is scarce possible to be afterwards stopt For when any one relates a Lye in company all that hear it Lye after him with confidence and cause all others to Lye to whom they impart such false relation so that I conceive Herminius has reason in condemning Lying as much as he does As for all great Lyes answer'd Amilcar I think no man can justifie the practice of them at any time I condemn the middle sort too added Plotina but as for those small ones which are in use all over the world I think 't is no easie matter to be able to disclaim them For my part said Herminius I condemn all sorts yet perhaps I can pardon some but if I might prevail none at all should be permitted But then said Plotina 't is requisite I should be fully instructed in this point and propound Questions to the Company which may teach me and correct me for the future In the first place said Herminius it behoveth never to make either a great or a little Lye which may prejudice any person whatsoever for since Justice and Generosity require not men to speak endammaging truths they are far from permitting injurious Lyes What you say seems so equitable and generous answered Plotina that I will not contradict it but however will you license those officious Lies which turn to the benefit of our Friends or serve to conceal their faults I love my friends very well reply'd Herminius and I am very joyful at any occasion to serve them but if I should be unable to do them a courtesie except by Lying I should be extremely perplex'd Then you would suffer me to die for want of a Lie said Valeria smiling I find I could not answer'd Herminius but I confess I should have very much regret to save your life by a way so little honourable for in brief every Lye is a crime and all I can do in favour of officious Lies is to account them excusable in certain occasions But when a Lye injuries none said Amilcar and benefits some person is it not innocent A Lye answer'd Herminius never fails to hurt him that uses it tho it should injure no other person and be only his own Lye since it renders him less vertuous and all that can be said is that to hinder a Friend from falling into a great misfortune kindness may prevail above truth But as for what concerns me I confess I should scruple to secure my self from a very considerable mischief by a Lye Sincerely reply'd Plotina my generosity does not go so high as yours for it I ly'd in behalf of another I should also Lye in favour of my self I am of your mind said Amilcar Nevertheless that which Herminius says is very noble and generous answer'd Merigenes for I think it shameful to Lye for ones self in any occasion and it were better to undergo the mischief that threatens us than avoid it by such means so that I conclude a man may Lye to save his Friend's life or liberty but never for his own interests I maintain too said Herminius that Lying is always a crime and that even when a man Lies to save his friend's Life he ought to do it with reluctancy and sorrow because all Lying is unworthy of a man of honour Moreover it ought not to be conceiv'd that there is but one sort of Lyers since there are a hundred different kinds 'T is oftentimes to make a Lye not to speak a truth that is requisite to be spoken and dissimulation is so dangerous a concomitant of Lying that they may be confounded one with another I confess said Plotina I could sometimes have justifi'd certain persons if I would have declar'd what I knew but I care not to oppose what people speak affirmatively especially when it concerns only indifferent persons and who are accus'd of no great crimes But
why will you by your silence said Valeria charge your self with a Lye which you do not speak For if you can refute it you are culpable of it and I conceive well that Herminius has reason when he saies there are several kinds of Lyes for there are Lies in deeds as well as in words Lying looks deceiving signs dissembling smiles and a Lying silence Valeria has reason said Anacreon and I think too there are Lying civilities and Lying courtesies for sometimes people do services to some persons whom they hate because they have need of them in some occasion and to others out of fear and weakness sometimes also they make shew of being glad to see persons that are extreamly distasteful to them I assure you answer'd Berelisa Clidamira is the person that of all the world has most of this Lying civility you speak of for 't is not three daies ago since a young slave came to tell her there was a man desir'd to see her Clidamira had no sooner heard his name but she grew red with anger because the slave had not told him she was not at home then she sought all waies possible to cause him not to make his visit long and gave order that a quarter of an hour after his coming word should be brought her that she was expected elsewhere After which changing her countenance action and speech it may be said she ly'd all the waies that can be in receiving this man For she saluted him with an obliging smile she caus'd him to sit down with all imaginable civility and began to entertain him with so pleasing an air that I am confident the poor man thought he should pass the whole afternoon with her and that he did her the greatest pleasure in the world in visiting her Nevertheless it is certain his presence was extreamly disgustful to her I confess it said Clidamira but how can we tell unwelcome persons that they are so It would be discourteous to tell them so reply'd Berelisa but yet 't is not necessary to make such a false countenance to them 't is enough to shew them only a kind of cold civility that is inoffensive on the one side and on the other is not treacherous and does not attract people that are not lik'd But does not all the world use to do so said Clidamira For my part answer'd Valeria I could not I confess ingenuously said Plotina sometimes I can Lye in this manner but not so perfectly as Clidamira for they that understand my glances and smiles perceive well when they are feigned or sincere In earnest said Amilcar you could not deceive me with them But I would know further said Plotina whether Herminius who loves truth so much does not make complements as others do Nevertheless to speak sincerely all complements are Lies I grant it answer'd Herminius but for that they are known to be such and no person laies any solid foundation upon complements they are Lyes without malignity People know well enough that no great credit will be given to them they are return'd as they are receiv'd and I conform to custome without scruple yet with such moderation that I make as few as I can But as for pleasant Lies reply'd Anacreon you do as little condemn them and should I go about to make a delightful relation you would allow me to add something to the History for truth has for the most part somewhat too serious in it which does not delight so much as fiction As for this sort said Herminius I think they may be permitted for since stories are no more believ'd than complements I leave your fancy liberty to invent what pleases it and morcover it belongs properly to you to enjoy the priviledge of lying innocently Indeed to speak strictly there are no lyes innocent but those that are related for lyes as all the ingenious Fables of the Poets yet they ought to have the appearance and shew of truth so true it is that a lye is foul and unhandsome of it self Yet there is a sort of lying reply'd Amilcar which is an inseparable companion of vanity and I should be sorry if there were none of it in the world for the lyers that use it sometimes give me sufficient divertisement What lyers do you speak of said Poltina Of those answer'd Amilcar who commend themselves every one according to their fancy for some people are guilty of the weakness to desire the world would believe them to have a greater reputation than they have and tell a thousand lies to make it believ'd There are Hectors who make long relations of dangerous enterprises in which they never were these are false Gallants who pretend to good fortune and spend the nights in devising amorous adventures and the whole days in relating of them as if they had hapned to themselves I know some such as well as you repli'd Plotina and I know others as very fools too for I know a man that had the impudence to tell me he was descended in a direct line from Danae and yet 't is known he is of a very mean birth However he has made a long Pedegree with which he tires such as give him the hearing As for false pretenders to Heraldry said Anacreon they distaste me as well as those that would seem wealthy and think to keep themselves from being poor by lying I assure you answer'd Aemilius I know some people very rich that lye as ridiculously as these who have a fancy to make it believ'd that all that belongs to them is dearer than it is really and devise a hundred extravagant lyes to publish their false magnificence There are some likewise said Merigenes who have the boldness to say they have given things which it would not be often in their power to bestow I know other lyers also added Anacreon that are sufficiently extravagant namely such as when they have been puzled by some person in discourse without knowing what to say make the handsomest answers in the world at home and which is more notorious relate the same afterwards as if they made them upon the place Moreover there are some added Clidamira so vain as to report that persons of quality write to them and go to see them tho they never so much as thought of them The sum of all is said Herminius that there are many fools and lyars in the world and that I have reason to hate Lyingâ—e fâ—ctly They that lye to prejudice others added Anacreon are worse than they that lye to commend themselves but I look upon it as so ridiculous to tell lies out of vanity that I find my inclination would sooner lead me to utter some lye a little malitious than to commend my self like those above mention'd Yet some of those that lye in their own commendation answer'd Amilcar cause me to pity them because they do it according to their judgments and having a better conceit of themselves than there is reason for lye innocently but the worst
for them is that tho 't is commonly said The way to deceive others is to decieve ones self yet they do not perswade any to be of their opinion But I beseech you said Plotina tell me further what you think of those that write caressing and lying Letters both together I think the same of them answer'd Herminius as of those who speak lying civilities In earnest repli'd she after a little musing if truth were well establish'd in the world people would speak almost nothing of what they use to speak This intimates said Amilcar that we ought not to trust too much in your words For the future answer'd she I promise you to be the truest person in the world for to speak freely all that Herminius has said in behalf of truth and against lying hath so affected me that I will never lye more at all And to shew you that I have profited well by what he has said I conclude also with him that every Lye is a crime that if it were possible lying ought in no case to be practis'd that 't were good never to employ a Lye to do a benefit that it is less criminal to lye for saving the life of ones Friend than ones own that lying good-turns argue weakness that dissimulation is a baseness that lying civilities are blameable that to lye for ones own commendation is ridiculous and that complements are lyes so known that they do no mischief to any that there is an implicite lying in silence which ought to be avoided that the custome and habit of the least lies is a great fault and that the Poets are the onely Lyars that deserve to be commended You have undoubtedly benefited by the discourse said Valeria but methinks it might be further askt whether a Lye be not more criminal in writings than in words Do not doubt it Madam said Herminius and I wonder all the company has left this to be observ'd by Valeria In brief added Anacreon I conceive that of all the manners in which lying can appear there is none more criminal and unworthy than that of certain mean wits all whose faculties and genius consisting in their own malignant humour they employ themselves onely to heap falsities together to the end to compose Satyrs of them 'T is possible no doubt to make innocent Satyrs said Herminius but they ought to be against vices in general and such as these do not make use of lying but altogether of truth But as for such as are made against particular persons lying and calumny are inseparable from them they are alwaies the issues of hatred or envy and the composers being never able to keep themselves from Lying are the most criminal of all others that practise it For they endeavour to fix a Lye if I may so speak to render it immortal if they could to impose upon posterity and to accuse people even when they shall be no longer in a condition to defend themselves But whereas the Gods are just those whose hearts are so ill temper'd as to affect making Satyrs are alwayes hated and despis'd even by them that laugh most at their calumniating lyes They are like Tygers and Panthers amongst men people desire to see them out of curiositie but not to have them at their own houses They are fear'd even when they sport themselves and no trust can ever be put in them And to speak freely there is reason not to desire friends which are declared Enemies of Justice Humanity Vertue and Truth I see well said Valeria that all the companie approves what Herminius has said but I know not whether a Lye may be excusable in War and in Love and whether equivocal and ambiguous answers which seem to be in the middle between truth and falshood may be permitted As for equivocal answers said Herminius as they are the products of subtility and deceit I have great inclination to condemn them absolutely saving in certain occasions wherein out of goodness we desire to avoyd speaking truths that are disadvantageous to any Moreover I should not love to find my self constrain'd to use them and to speak sincerely it behoves alwayes to answer according to the intention or meaning of the person spoken to and not to endeavour to deceive him As for lyes which are made in war said Anacreon I do not account them criminal because assoon as War is proclaim'd each party distrusts the other I confess it said Herminius but yet I am assur'd no Heroe would take upon him the office of a Spy or get a Victory to his party only by a lying speech without being otherwise instrumental to it Wherefore without going about to examine whether in general a Lye be lawful in War I confidently affirm that I would never take a Commission to lye and I should alwayes chuse rather to fight the Enemies than to deceive them But as for Lovers said Amilcar if you absolutely deprive them of the priviledge of lying you take away all their strength For true Lovers answer'd Herminius I think that at utmost I should but permit them to lye in Verse provided they always speak truth in prose But the case is not the same in reference to light impertinent Lovers for I license them to speak all they please for since they are in no great danger of being believ'd unless by Gossips that deserve to be gull'd 't is not needful to deny them their feigned sighs and deceitful tears flattering lyes dissembled despairs and a thousand other counterfeit toyes Should you have been all your life as very a flatterer as I reply'd Amilcar you would not better understand the practices of extragavant Lovers If he has not been such said Valeria smiling he may be and I know not if he follow'd his inclination whether he would not be so a little I detest lying so much answer'd Herminius that methinks I ought not to be suspected to be lyable to become a fond Lover especially by the amiable Valeria who is the fittest person in the world to cure those that honour her particularly of such malady Herminius had scarce ended these words but one came to advertise him that Publicola desir'd his presence wherefore he departing at the same instant the discourse was alter'd for a small time and soon after the Company separated Yet Plotina made an observation which caus'd her to judge it harder to speak truth alwayes than it seem'd for all the civilities made by these several persons were for the greatest part more flattering than sincere Herminius was no sooner arriv'd at Publicola's house but he understood it was requisite to hasten that design of attaquing the two Forts of the Enemies because it was known they were making new entrenchments which would render the taking of them impossible if it were longer deferr'd An hour after a Council of War having been secretly held at which the second Consul Clelius Horatius Artemidorus Themistus Mutius Octavius Herminius Aemilius and some others were present It was resolv'd not to
after he came out of the Senate delivered Aronce's Letters to Clelia and the rest he writ to he intended also to carry the old man who accompanied him to Plotina but he requested him to leave him at Clelius's house However Telanus desir'd at least to signifie to that fair Virgin of whom he was still amorous that Aronces had kept his word which he had pass'd and to that purpose he went to wait upon her where he found good company for Valeria Berelisa Anacreon Amilcar Herminius Acrisius and Spurius were with her as also Octavius and Horatius The action of Mutius and the Peace being two matters new and important they were talked of alone in all companies every one magnifying or diminishing the merit of Mutius's act according to their own judgements or inclinations For that Telanus was esteemed by all the World he was received with joy he was askt tidings concerning Aronces he was thanked for the peace as if he had made it and a thousand caresses were made to him For my part said Plotina pleasantly I believe Berelisa Clidamira and my self see Telanus again with more joy than Valeria for being they are not of Rome and I think my self no Roman tho I know not precisely what I am we are not in the same fear that she is of going as Hostage to Porsenna's Camp That which you do not fear answered Telanus is that which discontents me for I should be sufficiently joyful that you were in a place where I could render you any service 'T is true said Valeria with a melancholy aspect my joy for the peace is not absolutely pure and fear lest the Lot fall upon me sufficiently disturbs me Confess the truth said Berelisa to her with a low voice 't is not that alone that causes the sadness in your eies but your fear left Mutius's action which produces peace to Rome cause Publicola to change his mind and be prejudicial to Herminius occasions your discontent 'T is true reply'd Valeria blushing my Father is so accustomed to Sacrifice all things to the Publick-good that I cannot but fear becoming one of the Victims of the Peace Whilst Berelisa and Valeria were speaking low Plotina not being able to contain from turning the most serious matters to raillery for my part said she I confess I have at present the greatest ardency in the world to know who were the three hundred men which 't is said Mutius affirmed had conspir'd to kill Porsenna I know at least I am none of them answer'd Herminius I should be very sorry to be suspected for one added Horatius I am of your mind pursu'd Octavius Anacreon and I said Amilcar being not born at Rome we have no concernment in it since Mutius said they were three hundred young Romans who had conspir'd against Porsenna's life As for me said Spurius whereas Mutius and I have not the same intimacy as heretofore it cannot be believ'd that he communicated his design to me And for my part added Acrisius I have several reasons for which I cannot be accused for one as first I was not born in Rome Secondly Oh! I beseech you interrupted Plotina laughing and knowing how much Acrisius affected to speak stop there for I hate nothing more than those people who in a great company where every one has right to say something begin to speak with First and to proceed to Secondly and Thirdly and I am ready to dye with fear left they should go on till they come to Fiftiethly All the company laughing at the manner in which Plotina interrupted Acrisius he was a little abashed but yet he was constrained to bear the railery whether he would or no for fear of offending Plotina of whom he was highly enamoured However this fair Virgin that she might not give him leisure to be angry chang'd the discourse and beholding all those that had spoken But according as you all speak said she it might seem an injury to you to accuse you of being any of those three hundred Conspirators To save you the trouble of searching for so great a number of them said Telanus then I shall assure you I believe Mutius was the sole person and made use of that untruth to induce Porsenna to what he desir'd for by the way as he came hither he spoke certain things which suffer me not to doubt of it at all If it be so said Plotina I think this unhappy adventure ought to reconcile Herminius to lying 'T is so far from it answer'd he that I shall hate it the more for tho I am zealous for my Country yet I confess I should not like to deliver it either by a Lye or an Assassination and if I were to chuse either Horatius's action or that of Mutius I should not deliberate a moment notwithstanding the success of the last is far more considerable than of the former But that it may not be thought I speak as a Rival or as an envious person I shall commend Mutius for the constancy wherewith he endur'd the torment of the flames that burnt his hand and for his courage in attempting a thing in which it is probable he would perish but as for the Lye and Assassination I confess to you I cannot find any thing in them that does not clash with my inclination For according to my judgement to do an action perfectly Heroical not onely the motive to it ought to be just but likewise the means noble and innocent Indeed added Valeria suppose an indifferent cause in the action of Mutius he will be the greatest Criminal of all mankind and the most inconsiderate and he can not be commended saving for a happy rashness Should you speak this at present in the Court of the Capitol answer'd Plotina the people would look upon you as an Enemy of Rome Nevertheless Valeria has reason reply'd Octavius But however said Amilcar 't is good there be Heroes of all sorts that is such as are scrupulous scarce of any thing rash and Lyers for in brief without Mutius you had had no peace wherefore I conclude that the Lye he made use of be put in the rank of those innocent Lies of which we spoke so much here one day It will be enough answer'd Herminius to put it in the rank of happy Lies In truth said Plotina then I perceive there are scarce any pleasures how great soever but are mix'd with some sorrow Peace which is so great a good perhaps will shortly cause several displeasures to me for I apprehend Berelisa Clidamira and Anacreon will speedily go from us and besides I am in great fear lest the Lot which is to appoint those twenty Virgins of Quality that are to be given in Hostage should cruelly deprive me of all those I love best As Plotina had done speaking Clelia enter'd who came to seek Valeria there A little while after Cesonia brought Clelius into Plotina's chamber with the same old man whom she had seen once before and who was to inform her of
which such as are possess'd with it think they do too much honour to those that serve them when they only take notice of the respect they bear to them who despise all that are not of a very considerable rank who are not oblig'd by any thing whatsoever who will be lov'd without loving again who scorn gratitude who will be yielded to in every thing who understand nothing of liberality and who have not so much as the art to chuse their own pleasures well On the contrary I can assure you she has alwaies very well known how to discern the truth of all things she has lov'd those that lov'd her person more than such as respected her condition and has been as diligent to render her self worthy to be lov'd as if her birth and beauty had afforded her no advantage And to speak truth the diligence she has us'd has admirably succeeded I was some years elder than the Princess but she attaining to an early prudence lov'd rather to converse with such as exceeded her in age than such as were younger so that my mother being very much belov'd by the late Princess of Leontium I went frequently to the Palace where I had the good fortune to be chosen amongst a hundred more amiable Virgins than my self to be the Princess favourite At that time a very near Kinsman of the Prince of Syracusa who dwelt at Leontium became extreme amorous of Lysimena his name was Meleontus and he a is person of undoubted courage wit and magnificence but he is naturally distrustful and tho he be very noble yet he is so little master of himself when he is in choler that he is at such times capable of many things which he would not have done when his choler is pass'd Moreover Meleontus is a very goodly Person and has a kind of noble boldness in the air of his countenance which sutes both with his Quality and humour Being usually a partaker in all the pleasures of the Prince he had the freedome to see the Princess Lysimena very often Whereby it is to be wondred if seeing a most amiable person every day he could not hinder himself from loving her Besides to speak truth it was so much the mode to love Lysimena that it was said at Court She had not one slave that was not amorous of her It was discover'd that a Painter as he drew her Picture became her Lover and one of the Gardeners of the Palace to whom she had spoken very often because she much delights in flowers lost his reason through the excess of love he had for her Moreover it was for this cause that she was styl'd so as she is at this day for a certain person saying one day pleasantly that to distinguish her from the Princess her Mother who was call'd the Princess of Leontium she ought to be term'd the Princess of the Leontines since she reign'd in the hearts of all the Prince her Brothers Subjects the conceit was taken up and she came by degrees to be generally styl'd so Nevertheless this universal love caus'd her to be hated and envy'd by several beauties Clidamira who you know was certainly a little envious at her but amongst others there was a woman of Quality that thought her self more beautiful than Lysimena who proceeded so far to wish her as much mischief as if the Princess had undone her in her fortune tho she was guilty of no other crime but being as amiable as you see This woman who is call'd Amerintha is indeed very fair and has no common temper of mind as you shall know in the sequel of my discourse Meleontus having been her servant for some time and afterwards forsaking her to adore Lysimena she thereupon began to hate the Princess as I told you altho she dissembled it as much as she could In the mean time Meleontus omitted nothing which he jugd'd might serve to make his passion known to Lysimena who had no inclination at all towards him But because the Prince her Brother did not disapprove this affection she durst not treat him unkindly but her particular humor was so averse from all Courtship that upon all occasions she commended Friendship above Love maintaining that there is nothing more delightful than to have Friends and nothing more troublesome than to have Lovers whether they be lov'd again or no. And accordingly she was very severe to the former and very gentle at the latter Zenocrates was at this time at Leontium where having been very amorous of an amiable Lady nam'd Andromira his love at length turn'd into friendship Which besides was a friendship without ardour and not much pleasing so that he said sometimes laughing That there is far more pleasure in having a Friend of a Lady that had alwaies been a Friend than in having one that had been considered as a Mistress and is no longer lookt upon but as a Friend Andromira being a little related to me I frequently reproacht Zenocrates with his change and this is no unusual subject of our conversation If you did not know him I should tell you of the goodliness of his personage the vivacity of his wit and all the good qualities he is indu'd with but it will be sufficient to let you know that he is of a very noble extraction that he is Originally a Greek tho he was born at a City call'd Herbesa which was his Father's and is not far from Leontium I shall add further that he was at that time of great esteem in this Court. That which hapned between him and Andromira being a very rare case all the world talk'd of it and Lysimena making advantage of it in reference to her own sentiments said it was easie to perceive thereby the expedience of returning to Friendship For my part said I to her one day in the presence of Meleontus and Zenocrates I do not conceive how any one is capable of Friendship towards another that has been lov'd for if I had once had an affection for a man I think I could not desist from it without hating him or at least without having an indifference for him which could never become Friendship I am of Amiclea's mind said Meleontus and I do not think it possible for me ever to be a Friend to my Mistress For my part said Lysimena Friendship is so high in my esteem that I account it good at all times But how is it possible said Meleontus for Love to become Friendship What becomes of the desires impatiencies melancholies fears transports little and great pleasures suspitions hope jealousie and all the other passions that are inseparable from Love In truth said Zenocrates I cannot tell you what is become of all these but I know at present I have the greatest tranquillity of the world in reference to Andromira and that she cannot give me either great trouble or great pleasure I behold her without desires or without hopes I should serve her if it were in my power I esteem her
not think to be eternally lov'd without your consenting to it and perhaps not without loving too But Amiclea said Lysimena the inclination I have for Zenocrates is certainly no more but Friendship For my part Madam answer'd I smiling I have thought long since that when one has Friendship for an agreeable Lover it wants not much to turn it into Love For confess the truth Madam you would not like that Zenocrates should have a violent passion for any other I acknowledge it reply'd the Princess but t is only because I think a great Friendship cannot consist at the same time in the heart with an ardent Love But Madam said I that which you say does not well sute with the case of Zenocrates for you know he is possess'd with Love Sincerely answer'd Lysimena turning away her head a little I will not name his affection so and besides if he continues so diligent a Courtship to Andromira's Kinswoman I believe in a short time he will have neither Love nor Friendship for any other person and She will wholly engross his heart 'T is not added she that this ought very much to displease me for I would not have given the least hope to Zenocrates but out of a humor I am not Mistress of I could be willing he would alwayes consider me more than all the rest of the World As the Princess was speaking this she lift up her head thinking she heard some noise about the pav'd steps which lie round about the Cabinet And it happened that she saw Zenocrates leaning upon the Balustrade who being there when we enter'd into the Cabinet durst not shew himself because the Princess immediately began to speak of him Lysimena perceiving him made a great shreek which causing me to look on that side her eyes turn'd I beheld Zenocrates almost as much surpris'd as Lysimena Yet he recollected himself in a little space and descending with extreme diligence came to cast himself upon his knees before the Princess before she could resolve what to doe I beseech you Madam said he to her pardon me a crime which Chance and Love have caus'd me to commit I would not speak in these terms before Amiclea If I had not understood from your own mouth and hers that you have told her something concerning the passion which I have for you and the indifference which you have towards me Zenocrates answer'd Lysimena hastily you are not indifferent to me for I had a Friendship for you a quarter of an hour agoe but at present I find that I am going to hate you horribly Was there ever any boldness equal to yours proceeded she to dare to hear what I speak in secret to Amiclea Alas Madam reply'd Zenocrates if you knew how it came to pass you will find that I am innocent I conceive Madam said I to the Princess no person ought to be condemn'd without being first heard and therefore you may please to give Zenocrates the hearing If I thought he could justifie himself answer'd Lysimena I would forbid him to speak but being perswaded the more he speaks the more criminal he will appear I permit him to say what he will I shall tell you then Madam said he to her that I am an unfortunate person That 's not the thing I would have you tell me interrupted she but only what you came hither for I came hither to entertain my self with thinking upon you Madam reply'd Zenocrates at a time wherein I could not be with you with liberty to entertain you alone But to think of me said the Princess it was not necessary for you to be alone I acknowledge it Madam answer'd he but having purposed to write something in my Tablets with intention to cause you to read it I made choice of the place of greatest solitude and if you please to see whether I speak true give your self the trouble to read what I was writing when you came hither At first the Princess refus'd to read what Zenocrates had written but at last she took the Tablets and therein found these words Will you never go farther than Friendship incomparable Lysimena and those fair eyes which have excited so great Love in me will they never behold me with compassion I have promis'd you Madam not to speak of Love to you but I have not promis'd you not to write to you of it and indeed tho I had sworn it the torments which I suffer would dispense with me for my Oaths Consider therefore seriously Madam what you would have become of me for The Princess blusht as she read what I have repeated to you after which beginning to speak If you think to justifie your self by this said she to Zenocrates you are extremely deceiv'd I pretend only answer'd he to prove to you that I came hither for no other reason but to meditate of you But when you saw me said she Why did not you come down Why did you not go forth Or at least why did not you shew your self When I saw you Madam answer'd he I thought of no more but seeing you but presently after I heard my self nam'd and Love making me curious I hearkn'd what you said concerning me and after that respect caus'd me to stay where I was and the fear to displease you constrain'd me not to change my place This Madam is the cause of my Crime nevertheless I am sufficiently punished for my rash curiosity for I have heard nothing that I can draw to my advantage Ha! Zenocrates reply'd she you are better pleas'd with me than you signifie but I am so angry both with my self and you that I will punish both of us alike and therefore I resolve to deprive my self of a Friend and you of a Mistress Goe leave Leontium for some time said she to him goe to Herbesa whither your affairs call you and if it be true that Andromira's Kinswoman has not laid very powerful chains upon you every place will afford you objects of consolation Ah! Madam cry'd he you are too cruel No no you shall never banish me so easily and as for the reproaches you make me I will soon put an end to them I will never more see the person you speak of and if it be still your pleasure that I should counterfeit being a Lover to hide the passion I have for you I promise you never to serve one and the same person above eight dayes but to appear so inconstant for the future that your self shall never have reason to doubt of my constancie Yet Zenocrates could not prevail at all with this discourse nor make his peace all that day Lysimena went away without granting him pardon and we left Zenocrates in that place so pale sad and so afflicted that I was moved with his discontent And so was Lysimena too as well as I and more but she endeavour'd to hide her sentiments from me and counterfeited pleasantness the rest of the day Nevertheless Zenocrates made good his word he gave over
several things transiently spoken of it came to be ask'd Whether benefits produc'd Friendship rather than Friendship it self or great desert without benefits I assure you said Lysimena thereupon that benefits alone produce no great dearness in the hearts of most people for usually the remembrance of benefits wears out of their minds as grief does out of the hearts of afflicted persons from whence every moment steals a part So that time weakens and diminishes gratitude as well as it does affliction 'T is true Madam in ingrateful minds answer'd Meleontus but not in such as are generous which are alwayes grateful For my part reply'd Zenocrates tho I am not ungrateful and will never be so yet I conceive that if I received benefits from a Person without merit the friendship I should bear him would be more in my will than in my heart But if benefits without merit said Amerintha cannot produce Friendship doe you think that friendship without merit can produce a very tender one and doe you think that desert alone without friendship and benefits is able to beget a great affection In truth said Andromira if friendship be not joyn'd with desert and benefits those latter will have no great effect But how can we doe otherwise said Meleontus than love those that serve us and doe us good upon all occasions And how can we but love such too said Amerintha as love us very ardently Many times answer'd Zenocrates they that are so officious doe it out of Vanity and not out of any honest principle wherefore provided we publish their good deeds and be ready to return the like in case of need I conceive we may dispense with loving them and yet not be ingrateful For friendship and gratitude are two different things and I think we ought to have the latter towards all from whom we receive benefits and the former only for those that affect our heart either by their deserts or their friendship or by reason of our own inclination But will you love People of no merit said Amerintha because they love you and is it not just to love those that doe you services For my part said Lysimena if I were to love people of little merit I should think my self more oblig'd to love such as lov'd me than such as serv'd me but to speak sincerely Friendship not depending upon our Wills 't is in vain to dispute of a thing that is not in our power and all that can rationally be said in this case is That desert alone produces esteem only which is alwayes a great disposition to friendship That benefits ought insensibly to ingage the receivers to their interests from whom they receive them and at least beget a kind of gratitude in their minds the effects whereof resemble those of friendship but as for friendship singly without desert and benefit I conceive 't is sufficient to have a complacencie and pity towards such as bear it for to ingage to love all people without merit of whom we may be belov'd would be injurious to our true friends All which you say is extremely ingenious Madam answer'd Meleontus but I know services and merit are of no account with you unless your own inclination set a value upon them So that Madam for the obtaining of your love it is necessary to seek rather to please you than to serve you but the mischief is 't is more difficult to be agreeable to you than to render you service I acknowledge it reply'd she rising up but I conceive all the world is of the same mind and so I am not to be blam'd for it Meleontus was no doubt dejected as he observ'd the aspect wherewith the Princess answer'd him but he dissembled it tho his discontent was extreme violent Upon which the Princess notwithstanding her aversion for him could not but judge that he acted like an honest man which she being vex'd at and perceiving Zenocrates took no notice of nor determin'd to be melancholy this day as well as her self the debonair humor of Zenocrates disgusted her nice mind so that when he approacht to her in the walk to speak to her apart she frown'd upon him and told him he lov'd her so little that he was not displeas'd to see that Meleontus deportment was extraordinary commendable I confess it Madam answer'd Zenocrates wholly surpris'd that I did not think of being discontented because the Musick was good and the Collation magnificent but I am so at present with the commendations which you give my Rival Ha Zenocrates said she to him as she went from him I will not thank you for the indignation which I have by force excited in your heart After this she call'd Amerintha that she might not be alone with him so that the conversation became general all the rest of the day Zenocrates not having opportunity to speak one word in private Lysimena to avoy'd it propos'd it to consideration Whether it is more pleasing to be very lovely without being much lov'd than to be much lov'd without being amiable But after every one had spoke their Reasons it was concluded That 't is better to deserve to be lov'd and not to be so than to be lov'd without desert yet it was granted that whereas usually people desire to be lovely chiefly that they may belov'd it is more pleasure to be lov'd than to be barely lovely because instead of receiving of contentment thereby the lovely person is disgusted with living amongst people that understand not to doe justice to desert But at length night approaching preparation was made to return to Leontium Which returning was with sufficient melancholy Lysimena was pensive Meleontus dejected Zenocrates sad Amerintha vexed and they proceeded in the way after a silent manner when by chance a young Hart coming from amongst the bushes a Greyhound that follow'd one of Meleontus Attendants gave chase to him in the plain Which unexpected Adventure causing the Ladies that were on the same side to give a great cry Amerintha would oblige Lysimena who was on the other to turn her head to see the young Hart running swiftly upon the Plain But the Princess was in so deep a muse that not being willing to break it off she told Amerintha carelesly she would not see the chase unless it came on her side without taking the pains to turn her self She had no sooner spoke this but the young Heart chancing to see people coming towards him in the Plain turn'd short and passing before the heads of the Horses of Lysimena's Chariot came so near her that it seem'd to those that heard what she said just before to happen by some inchantment Lysimena being agreeably surpris'd with this Accident could not hinder her self from taking pleasure in beholding this casual divertisment But it lasted not long for by this time it was grown late so that both the Hart and the Dog were soon lost out of sight And in fine the night sav'd the Young Harts life and the Dog
first Court of the Castle where there is one of the fairest Walks that ever was seen As for me I was than in my Chamber leaning upon a window that lookt towards one of the handsomest Courts in the World for 't is large square all pav'd with white Marble environ'd with stately structures and has a Pedestal in the middle upon which are represented the three Graces holding one another by the hand like Shepherdesses dancing but made with such exquisite art that these three Statues are an admirable spectacle in the midst of that fair Court Having mus'd a while at my Chamber window as I told you I retir'd from it and betook my self to read In the mean time the Waiting-woman whom as I mention'd to you went to walk beyond this stately Court was no sooner there but she saw the Prince and Meleontus arrive the latter of which came directly to her to enquire what the Princess was doing and to hinder her from going to advertise her of the Prince's coming The Woman telling him the truth inform'd him that the Princess of Leontium was gone abroad in the morning and that the Princess Lysimena who would not accompany her as soon as she was out of bed went with her head half dress'd into her Cabinet with Artemidorus where she believ'd they were still in great familiarity and conference Meleontus no sooner heard this but returning to the Prince and telling him what he had learnt and animating him against his Sister without considering what hurley-burly he was going to cause or what the consequences of the course he took would be he commanded his Guards to secure all the Gates of the first Court. After which the Prince of Leontium enter'd into that stately Court and went directly to the stone stairs leading into the Castle But for that this could not be done without some noise the Princess being advertis'd of his arrival spoke to Artemidorus to go forth of her Chamber and meet the Prince to whom Meleontus who had seen him before might present him For since Cleanthus is to arrive suddenly said she it is not yet fitting to think of making your self known especially too the Princess my Mother being absent Accordingly Artemidorus passing through an Antichamber went into the Court but the Prince conjecturing by the place he came out at that the Princesse's Waiting-woman had not ly'd and himself having seen at the windows of her Cabinet for Lysimena's apartment was next the ground with what haste she caus'd this man of good personage to come forth he did not doubt but she was very culpable and that the affection she had for him was criminal Upon which without considering any thing but his desire to punish the Princess and satisfie Meleontus as soon as Artemidorus was in the Court he look'd upon the violent Meleontus who transported with choler jealousie and fury My Lord said he to the Prince permit me to punish the boldness of this Stranger who comes insolently to affront you If you knew me well answer'd Artemidorus without being mov'd you would find it rather belong'd to me to desire justice of the Prince for your insolence Whereupon the Prince of Leontium becoming suddenly enrag'd and believing the Stranger intended to counterfeit himself a man of quality that he might save his life roughly commanded his Guards to seise upon him After which he went towards the entrance follow'd by Meleontus Zenocrates and many others Artemidorus desir'd to speak to him but he was not heard so that seeing several of the Princes Guards with their swords drawn about him he was no longer master of his indignation and could not contain from drawing his sword and dispersing them so dextrously that one of the Guards running himself upon Artemidorus's sword fell down dead immediately The rest thereupon making a great cry and all pressing hard upon him he recover'd the Pedestal upon which the three Graces stood to the end he might not be surrounded or assaulted on any side but before The Guards made a great cry again which causing me to give over my reading I lookt out at the window and beheld the most sad spectacle in the world for the pavement of white Marble was sprinkl'd with bloud in many places Artemidorus had slain two more of the Guards whose bodies lay at the feet of this valiant Prince who defended himself like a Lyon Presently after all the Guards that were left at the Gates quitted their stations to come and revenge the death of their companions Meleontus Zenocrates and all the rest and the Prince himself return'd back to the stairs of the enterance astonish'd at the valour of this man who defended himself so couragiously and immediately stew a Brother of Meleontus that advanc'd against him Yet it must be mention'd to the commendation of Zenocrates that tho jealousie was deeply imprest in his mind yet he extremely disapprov'd this violence and told his sentiments to the Prince but he would not hearken to them All this while whatever Artemidorus said to make himself known was not regarded he had no other recourse but to his own valor which indeed was such that none durst approach him wherefore some of the Guards without the Prince's order shot arrows against him and others cast javelins tho the Prince and Zenocrates endeavour'd to restrain them As for Meleontus his fury was so impetuous that he wish'd nothing but the death of Artemidorus believing he was his Rival and a greater Favourite For my part I confess to my shame I was in so great amazement and seis'd with such excessive fright that I was unable either to speak or stir from the place The Princess was more valiant than I for when she saw so many swords turn'd against Artemidorus who was slightly wounded in the left hand so many arrows shot at him and none heard what he said seeing I say that tho by his dexterity courage and agility he repell'd all that set upon him who durst not approach nearer to him than as far as the bodies of those he had slain yet it would be impossible for him to avoid being overcome at length she went forth with extreme diligence as soon as she was return'd from her first astonishment and without considering that she had nothing upon her but a plain flying robe of white stuffe that her neck was half naked her hair loose and her arms bare she pass'd through the porch into the midst of all the armed people endangering her self to be wounded with the arrows and javelins and by her rare beauty shaming the Graces at the feet of whom Artemidorus defended his life so valiantly she plac'd her self between this valiant Prince and those that assaulted him desiring by this generous action to cause the fight to cease and to make Artemidorus known to the Prince his Brother And indeed all the fierce assailants suspended their fury at her appearance but for that this action was interpreted by the Prince Meleontus and Zenocrates for a great
friendship if I may so speak we leave the thorns to those sincere Friends who resent all the sorrows of those they love who engage in all their interests without exception who maintain the same courageously against the World who have no fortunes apart whose very honour is mutually common who can never be poor whilst one of them is rich who think themselves not in health when their friends are sick Believe me added Amilcar this kind of friendship is not competent to all sorts of people and I know some persons that have not been able to attain to it though they much desir'd it And therefore for fear of the same miscarriage I content my self with loving according to the fashion that is very commodiously for my self To conclude whatever Merigenes is pleas'd to say he knows no great number of those Heroes in Friendship For my part said Plotina I desire no more of him but the Character of one for I conceive he must needs be a very agreeable person it being almost impossible to be perfectly a good Friend without being perfectly a brave man I grant it said Merigenes and I assure my self that assoon as I shall have named Lysimantus Amilcar will confess he is an excellent man and a faithful Friend I acknowledge it answer'd Amilcar and that which renders his friendship more solid is that he is indued with an immutable honesty and as for constancy he has given a thousand eminent proofs of it and lov'd the illustrious Meriander even to the death Since Lysimantus was Friend to Meriander and is so still to Merigenes said Valeria we must needs know and I joyn my self with Plotina to desire his description I do the same said Clelia and I assure my self Merigenes will not refuse us It would be sufficiently hard to do it Madam replyed he and therefore to obey you know Lysimantus is a man of illustrious Lineage and whose Ancestors have born the most considerable Charges in their own Country But to speak truly he is so well worthy to be commended by himself that 't is not at all necessary to fetch his praises from the vertues of his predecessors and it suffices to speak only of what is truly his own He is tall of a goodly aspect time has a little thickned his shape he has a fresh and lively complexion handsome and sprightly eyes something a great nose a happy Physiognomy the air of a Wise man and a very obliging address especially towards his Friends Nature has given him a great Wit but solid and firm with a very exact judgment of the highest matters Not but that he has a pliable mind which obliges him not to despise the meaner for he speaks well in the most trivial things when he pleases to give himself the trouble but it is certain his mind is naturally more fit for serious matters He has an universal knowledge of the World which scarce ever deceives him he understands the soundest Policie and the most solid morality By his prudence he foresees the most remote and least probable events and his firmness of mind causes him to support constantly the most unexpected misfortunes He knows how to undergo the changes of Fortune without changing his countenance exile and imprisonment shake not the firmness of his heart and never studying but to do that which he ought he leaves events to the power of Fortune and always prepares himself for the most improsperous that so he may not be surpriz'd by them He is honorable honest punctual secret and as great a friend as possibly can be His manners are very innocent yet his vertue is nothing austere towards others but on the contrary he conceives the wiser a man is the more he is oblig'd to excuse the light follies of his Friends He is naturally inclin'd to ambition and action but his vertue renders him so absolute a Master of his mind that he conforms himself admirably well to moderation and quiet 'T is true this quiet is sufficiently honourable to him for his vertue and his great love of justice and truth being known to all the world he is the comforter of his unfortunate friends the umpire of many great contests and the depository of the last wills of divers eminent who would be assur'd at their death to have their intentions perform'd For Lysimantus is incapable of bending for any respect whatsoever when he sees virtue does not require it and indeed all the Grandeur of the World nor death it self cannot make him demur a moment to do his duty He believes a man is not oblig'd to be happy but is oblig'd to be virtuous and he thinks he should be more miserable if he could reproach himself with an action of weakness than if he were expos'd to the most cruel persecution that ever was In which regard he confines himself so scrupulously to do what he ought that he can never fail in it and friendship as powerful as it is in his heart has never been able to cause him to omit the least thing which he thought himself oblig'd in honour to do though it were in the most nice and difficult occasions Nevertheless he loves his Friends very tenderly for being Love in general never much touch'd his heart though he may be not uncapable of a great passion his Friendship is thereby the more ardent and tender But how strong soever it be the love of glory and virtue have always the greatest influence upon him 'T is true he does not flatter himself with self-conceit in these occasions nor make a pretext of justice to the disadvantage of Friendship but he so well understands the just bounds of generosity justice and friendship that he is never mistaken in them Nevertheless he has a virtue which he is troubled to give bounds to in his heart For he believes goodness ought almost never to have any and therefore he makes a particular profession of being good and this is so much the more excellent in that having a very high Soul his goodness has nothing in it but what is noble and can never be suspected of weakness Were I minded I could relate to you a hundred eminent actions of this illustrious man which would confirm that which I say but since I know he loves not to have his actions publisht I shall conform to his humor and deprive you of a very great pleasure by depriving him of a great glory But though I forbear to tell you any thing of his life yet I shall at least inform you that he was dearly belov'd by the illustrious Meriander whom you have heard so much spoken of and is infinitely so at present by the generous Theander the prudent Theodamas the agreeable Teramus the ingenious Amilcar the illustrious Herminius whom he saw at Syracusa and by a man of eminent worth call'd Clidamantus who has a high and tender heart a very great capacity with all noble inclinations who is very sensible of Love and Friendship who is honourable
so wicked as to desire to take away your life what need had he of Mutius and why should he not rather have suborned one of your guards That was not the safest course answer'd Porsenna for by that means he might perhaps have come to be suspected but in the other way taking away my life by the hand of a Roman the action would seem to proceed out of zeal for the delivering of Rome and would not at all reflect upon Aronces But Love alone put them upon this crime and to manifest to you that 't is so added he I am newly inform'd that Mutius is fled Judge then whether after this I have reason to doubt of their testimony who accuse Aronces And to the end you may doubt of it less see this Letter from Clelia to Aronces which was found in his Chamber and must needs have been deliver'd him by one of his Guards Lysimena taking it knew the hand of Clelia in which she had seen several Letters and opening it found these words Clelia to Aronces AS Criminal as you are I do not cease to pity you and notwithstanding your Crime I shall still make more ardent Vows for your liberty than I should do for my own This Letter no doubt seems to make against Aronces said Lysimena but my Lord two persons that love have so many little contests which embroil them together that it ought not to be concluded from hence that Clelia knows Aronces is a criminal against you On the contrary it is to be thought that if she did she would not have written to him in these terms You are a strange person Madam answer'd Porsenna roughly to attribute judgment to persons prepossess'd with a great passion However all that I can do for Aronces added he is to defer his punishment for I confess to you I would willingly convict him by Mutius himself Were it not that Hostages ought to be inviolable I would use Clelia in such a manner that perhaps I might come to know many things by her though I do not believe she was privy to the whole secret of the Conspiracy On the contrary I imagine that perhaps Aronces being unwilling to lose the merit of his Crime in her esteem has only told her something of it since In the mean time I have two men who will maintain that he is culpable But as I told you I will cause Mutius to be sought after and oblige Publicola who affects him not to force him to declare the truth After which I will give as great an example of Justice as Brutus did when he beheld his own Sons put to death for I will not be surpass'd by a Roman Ah! my Lord said Lysimena you make me tremble with fear to hear you speak in this manner I beseech you examine things well remember that appearances are fallacious and rather believe all that the great actions of Aronces than that which the cruel Tullia tells you who is accustom'd only to artifices and wickedness For do you think my Lord added she that this Prince has any great tenderness for your life after you have granted peace to Rome and ought you not rather to fear that she designs only to ingage you in a Crime Be it how it will answer'd Porsenna that which she tells me seems to me to be true all conjectures are against Aronces who cannot be happy so long as I live and I will not be prevail'd with either by your prayers or tears the murmurs of all my own Subjects or the complaints of the Romans which moreover testifie Aronce's intelligence with Rome nor even the secret sentiments of Nature which I feel in my breast in spight of my self But my Lord reply'd Lysimena how comes it that those two men who accuse Aronces inform you of a past danger of an attempt that has fail'd and are their own accusers They could not have access to me answer'd he before the business was executed afterwards they reveal'd it to the prince of Messene to inform me of it which yet he did not undoubtedly because he would not hurt Aronces But for that they apprehend I knew nothing of the truth they address'd themselves to Tullia to whom I granted their pardon on condition they told me all they knew of the Conspiracie But where are those men my Lord said Lysimena They are in a sure place answer'd Porsenna till I cause Aronces to be publikly condemn'd You know added he I had a purpose to make a Marriage between you and him but Madam you have too great a virtue to have a Parricide given you for a husband and the Gods no doubt reserve you a better fortune In the mean time speak no more to me of him and forbid Galerita to intercede in his behalf for the more he is pleaded for the more I shall hasten his punishment After this Lysimena was constrain'd to be silent to retire and go to augment the sorrow of the Queen by relating to her this discourse with Porsenna Lysimena's sadness appearing manifestly in her countenance as she came away from the King of Hetruria all the Court was in fear for Aronces and the rumor of it spreading abroad in all places was augmented in the Camp Tullia being thus become necessary to Porsenna not only because it was by her means that he could convict Aronces against whom he was extremely incens'd but also because his own Army being mutinous against him he fear'd he should have need of Tarquin's Troops Sextus went and came continually to the Quarter of Porsenna whereby he extremely molested Clelia who was incredibly sorrowful to see his passion for her increase in his heart Not but that she avoided his sight as much as she could but in the case things were in she knew not where to find any protection For the sentiments she had concerning the Princess of the Leontines would scarce suffer her to speak to her But the greatest of her griefs was to understand Porsenna's sentiments concerning the Prince his Son the correspondence of Tullia with that King and the care that was taken to guard Aronces diligently For this unfortunate Prince as extremely belov'd as he was could find no way to communicate his mind to Clelia in answer to the Letter which he had receiv'd from her for Telanus being become suspected durst not come near one of his guards Clelia had also another discontent in not seeing her friends of Rome so often as formerly for in this conjuncture a tumult being both in the City and the Camp the Consuls caus'd Horatius Herminius Aemilius Octavius Spurius and all the other Romans to forbear visiting the twenty fair Roman Ladies which were given in Hostage Which was something difficult to make them consent to but causing them to consider that if matters should fall cross and they should be arrested Clelia Valeria and all the rest would be in a worse condition than if they were at Rome a sentiment of love induc'd them to resolve upon that which
not to be wonder'd at being more truly amorous than yours Be it how it will said the Prince I love Lysonice and if she be willing to love me and Cloranisbes to resign her to me I will marry her with joy and I declare to you there is nothing which I will not attempt to cause my design to succeed Anherbal spoke many things further to avert the Prince from this resolution but they were to no effect But that he might have more frequent occasion of seeing Lysonice he recall'd the Princess of Carthage to Court who was ravish'd to observe the Prince's passion because she hop'd to make use of it to be reveng'd on Cloranisbes whom she did not affect To which purpose she made a thousand caresses to Lysonice and sent to invite her to her continually Cloranisbes soon perceiv'd the passion of the prince and the design of the princess so that he was extremely afflicted at it and could not keep himself from appearing sad what resolution soever he had to dissemble his discontent Whereupon Lysonice believing he was jealous was much offended in her mind at it because she could not endure to be suspected In the mean time the prince's passion augmenting every day he resolv'd to discover it to Lysonice and so afterwards to speak to Cloranisbes of it in case he found any favourable disposition in the mind of this fair person Being it is always easie for a Soveraign to find occasion of speaking in private he soon had one to open his passion to Lysonice though indeed it fell out naturally enough after a conversation which I am going to relate to you The prince found Lysonice at the lodgings of the princess of Carthage where there were also Pasilia Delisia and divers other Ladies Anherbal was there too and several men of quality Cloranisbes who attended on the prince seeing Lysonice arrive would have gone away that he might not see such things in the eyes of his Master as would extremely displease him though he was not jealous But the Princess of Carthage maliciously detain'd him upon a pretext of having something to speak with him about for she liv'd very civilly with him though she hated him At first the discourse was about an insurrection which was at that time at Carthage but insensibly passing from policy to Love it came to be question'd Who is the most unhappy a Lover that receives a thousand favours from his Mistress and is jealous of her or one that obtains none other and has no jealousie at all For my part said the prince I put no comparison between these for I account it the greatest of all unhappinesses not to be lov'd at all and to obtain no favour from the person who is lov'd Though I am not jealous answer'd Cloranisbes nevertheless my Lord I am of an opinion contrary to yours and strongly perswaded that a jealous Lover will be a thousand times more miserable though he obtain a thousand favours than he who obtains nothing if he be free from jealousie What reply'd the prince do you conceive a greater infelicity in love than not to be lov'd at all and to desire a thousand things which you dare not hope Ha! my Lord answer'd Cloranisbes there is nothing so bold as hope and nothing so impossible which a man who loves ardently cannot hope So that in his greatest torments he makes a comfort to himself which does not forsake him the future seems more agreeable to him than the present and hope never abandoning him he is never altogether miserable But on the contrary a favour'd Lover who is jealous has nothing but fear for an inseparable companion Every thing causes him to fear every thing disquiets and afflicts him and the very favours which he receives becoming suspected to him he imagines then when he is favour'd he is deluded and that he is not treated well but only to be betray'd All which you say is very cruel reply'd the Prince but do you count it nothing to be continually in fear of being never favour'd at all 'T is a very severe sentiment answer'd Cloranisbes but nothing near that which causes a perpetual fear of losing that which we enjoy and think we have purchas'd with a thousand services and can never lose without injustice Inasmuch as the fancy always magnifies all sorts of pleasures reply'd the Prince I conceive that a man not hoping to obtain the sweetnesses which he imagines infinite is more miserable than he who fears to lose a good which he knows what it is Ha! my Lord cry'd Cloranisbes assoon as the advantageous pre-conceiv'd opinion ceases in love love it self ceases and jealousie would cease also if it could But whereas on the contrary that prepossession of the imagination increases at the same measure that jealousie does a man by continuing jealous comes at length not only to believe that the good which he enjoys is the greatest of all goods but withal to perswade himself that all the people in the world believe it such desire it seek after it and are ready to ravish it from him Judge therefore my Lord if there be any comparison between an unhappy Lover free from jealousie and a favour'd Lover who is jealous No answer'd the Prince there is none for an unhappy Lover without jealousie is so much the more jealous in that he can never cause his unhappiness to cease because it does not depend on himself Whereas a jealous Lover and who is jealous without cause needs only to make a great resolution and to make use of his reason to cure his evil Ha! my Lord cry'd Cloranisbes again you ill understand jealousie if you believe a jealous man able to cure himself of the evil which persecutes him On the contrary he increases it every instant by false conjectures ill deduc'd consequences a thousand groundless suspicions continual fears causless reflexions and imaginations void of all probability A jealous man accounts nothing impossible he believes he sees what he does not see he believes he hears what he does not hear there is not one of his senses but is liable to betray him and his very reason being perverted by his fancy and no longer understanding the art to distinguish truth from falshood serves further to delude him and render him more miserable You speak so well of jealousie said the Princess of Carthage maliciously that certainly you must needs have been very jealous I say have been added she for the vertue of Lysonice is too great to permit you to be so still and she is too fair to suspect you of having any other affection Lysonice blusht at this discourse and to hide her colour turn'd away her head and fell to speak to Anherbal As for Cloranisbes he said gallantly enough that the question was not about a jealous Husband but a jealous Lover and that in what manner soever the case were considered he was wholly unconcern'd in the contestation After this there came some Ladies who caus'd the conversation
to change and propounded to the Princess of Carthage to go take the air upon the Sea-shore in a place where it is as streight as a 〈…〉 and where it is as even as the course of the Olympick-Games So that this motion being agreed to all the Ladies went in Chariots and men on horse-back excepting Cloranisbes who went not along with the company When they were arriv'd at the Sea-shore all the Court walkt a foot in the handsomest place of the World for when 't is calm the Sea as gently drives its billows upon the shore as if it were no deeper than a small River The sand of it is of a fair Colour the shells which are seen on that side are very agreeable and the herbs which the waves cast upon the banks delight the eyes with their lively and various colours Besides this vast extent of Sea which seems to unite with the Heaven has a kind of grand aspect which pleases and inspires respect On the other side stands Utica which makes a handsome shew and several other Villages and many Cottages of Fishermen who by their rusticity adorn this maritime prospect In one place people are seen drying their Nets and others mending them in another women making Baskets of Bulrushes which serve for fishing otherwhere Fisher-boats scatter'd upon the Sea and men sitting upon the Rocks who holding lines in their hands are as attentive and immovable as the Rocks upon which they sit But however observe what a place it was in which all this fair Court went to divert themselves The Sun was then setting and his last rays guilding all the surface of the Sea and painting all the Clouds almost with the very colours of the morning presented so fair a sight to the eyes of Lysonice that leaving all the rest of the company to go forward she sate down by the Sea side upon a Rock cover'd with verdant moss and fell to consider with pleasure these several effects of the declining Sun But she had scarce began to muse when the Prince leaving Anherbal to whom he was speaking went to her and respectfully interrupted her I beseech you Madam said he to her tell me whether you decide the question in your mind of which Cloranisbes and I lately disputed In truth my Lord said she to him and rise up I was not thinking of it but I was only considering at this instant whether the Sea were not more graceful than the Sky That 's but an inconsiderable question to entertain the mind of a fair person answer'd he who has a thousand other things to think of however being this sight pleases you stay where you are and only suffer me to be with you And so Lysonice placing her self again upon the Rock where she sate the Prince seated himself upon another which was right against her and began to discourse to her I wish Madam said he to her whilst your eyes are diverted with seeing all those tremulous lights which the waves beating upon one another shew you you would really tell me what sentiment you were of a while since during our dispute and whether you would not more pity a Lover that were not jealous and had the unhappiness not to be lov'd than one that were favour'd and extremely jealous I am so perswaded answer'd Lysonice that such as are causlesly jealous deserve all the torments which they suffer that I need not deliberate to determine my self in favour of an unhappy Lover who is not jealous and to grant him my compassion rather than to a favour'd and jealous lover who almost ever becomes the most inacceptable Lover in the world assoon as he is possess'd with a vehement jealousie I am oblig'd to you Madam said the Prince to her and I owe you many thanks In truth my Lord answer'd she you have no great obligation to me since I only speak my opinion so as it is I have more than you believe reply'd he and to leave you no ground to doubt of it know I am one of those unhappy Lovers who love with favours and without jealousie but who love so desperately that never was any lover so miserable as I. When I engag'd my self to have compassion said she I did not imagine my Lord that you were concern'd in the case That knowledge Madam answer'd the Prince ought not to cause you to change that mind on the contrary I am perswaded there is not one of my Subjects for whom you ought to have so much compassion as for me Methinks reply'd she smiling it would be a want of respect for any to dare to say they have pity on their Soveraign and therefore my Lord you shall permit to seek out some other expression which may agree to you better That you may find a more exact one answer'd he suffer me to tell you the greatness of my evil for you cannot be ignorant of what nature it is and no doubt you know that after having lov'd your Picture which was less handsome than your self I love you so ardently that I have almost ceas'd to love Cloranisbes who has debarr'd me of that which belong'd to me and hinder'd you from being Princess of Carthage Lysonice no doubt was much amaz'd at this discourse of the prince though she knew he was amorous of her But her ambition made it a little less ungrateful to her Cloranisbes discontent incens'd her mind and she was infinitely troubled with the thought of his being jealous But after all the same temper which inclin'd her to ambition caus'd her to love honour and hinder'd her from being able to consent to a criminal love Nevertheless being she believ'd Cloranisbes guilty of disloyal proceeding both towards the Prince and her self and alike deficient in generosity to them both she did not reject the Prince with so much severity as she would have done in another case I grant my Lord said she to him I am oblig'd to you for the love you had for my Picture and I ought as long as I live to acknowledge the advantageous intention you had for my fortune at that time but the case is not the same in reference to the love you say you have for me at present which cannot be but injurious to me Therefore my Lord do not destroy that first obligation by an injury for as ambitious as I am that passion is incapable of exciting me to commit an unworthiness I beseech you Madam said the Prince to her do not suspect me of offering to do an injury to a person whom I adore I will but only love you and I promise you too to do all I can that I may desire nothing else but if I cannot give bounds to my passion my desires and my hopes I will do all I can to obtain your permission to demand you of Cloranisbes for if you and he be so willing the Laws will permit me to marry you There are examples of this kind and you may cease to be wife of Cloranisbes and still become
For the last conversation Mutius had with Valeria made a deep impression upon him so that being desirous to try whether whilst she was at the Camp he could more easily bring Publicola to be favorable to him he went to him and spoke to him with an air so little submissive that it was apparent he behav'd himself like the deliverer of Rome At which Publicola being displeas'd answer'd him with a generous sincerity which cast him into despair for he so clearly intimated to him that he should not take his daughter from Herminius that he became desperate leaving Publicola in a great fury and soon after departed from Rome Whereby it was easie to judge that Love was a greater cause of his absence than any other consideration It was therefore resolv'd that Themistus and Artemidorus should go to Porsenna the next day and tell what they had understood from Publicola to the end Mutius's departure might no longer pass for an evidence against Aronces Not that what they had to say was a convincing truth but it was at least a favourable presumption and being they could do no better they did as people use to do in great misfortunes namely rather to do a hundred things unprofitably than fail of doing one thing which may be beneficial But whilst all in Rome or the two Camps were devising to destroy or save Aronces this unfortunate Prince indur'd the greatest torments an amorous heart which loves honour is capable of He saw himself accus'd of a horrid crime by a father whom he had deliver'd from a long imprisonment and whose life he had sav'd and by a father whom he respected still notwithstanding the injustice he did him But that which afflicted him most was that the letter he receiv'd from Clelia perswaded him either that she believ'd the accusation charg'd upon him or else accus'd him her self of something and to augment his grief he saw he had lost the Letter which might be of some ill consequence to him if it were in the hands of Porsenna so that his affliction was more than can be imagin'd But he did not suffer alone for Clelia's mind was more disquieted than ever any persons in the World She lov'd Aronces more than her self but she could not but believe or at least fear that he was unfaithful to her She wisht nothing with more ardor than to hear Porsenna was appeas'd and nevertheless she could not hear without indignation that Lysimena acted with that generous confidence which led her to speak to Porsenna whatever she believ'd might advantage Aronces without considering that this augmented Zenocrates's jealousie for being she knew her self innocent she conceiv'd it would be easie for her to justifie her self at any time and therefore she continued to act the same generosity in so important an occasion Which so disgusted Clelia that she almost wisht the prayers Lysimena made to Porsenna would take no effect that so Aronces might not owe his life and liberty to her Plotina and Valeria being the confidents of all her sorrows she spoke of nothing else to them when they were alone especially at nights for these three fair persons lay in the same place not but that it might be said that these twenty fair Romans were in one and the same Tent because they had communication one with another but nevertheless they had in a manner every one their own Clelia Valeria and Plotina being one evening together lamenting their misfortunes Clelia told her Friends she had still more cause to fear some greater than they knew of For I beheld said she to them or thought I beheld the virtuous Lucretia last night and I imagin'd too I heard her voice Being unhappy people said Valeria seldome have pleasing Dreams 't is not to be wonder'd if that dismal Idea came into your fancie 'T is true added she considering what befel her illustrious Lover these kind of advertisements seem not altogether to be rejected for if you remember Lucretia appear'd to him Tell us therefore in what manner you thought you beheld that fair but unfortunate Lady My discontents as you may imagine answer'd Clelia strangely possess my mind so that I never sleep but out of weariness Hereby it hapned that it was almost break of day before I shut mine eyes In this condition I know not whether my heaviness forc'd me to sleep or whether I was really awake but me thought I beheld a good great light which nevertheless was somewhat dusky too a moment after Lucretia appear'd to me fairer than ever I saw her her hair was dishevell'd she was cover'd with a large white Robe and held a bloody Ponyard in her hand In this posture methought I heard her voice which was something terrifying Flee Clelia flee said she to me but flee speedily for I advertise you that the Tyrant who caus'd me to have recourse to this Ponyard has a design against your honour as he had against mine Have recourse therefore to flight and bring not your self into the necessity of being oblig'd to have recourse to death After this the light disappear'd Lucretia vanish'd but the sound of her voice has made such an impression upon my mind that all this day I have done nothing else but think upon what I imagin'd I saw and heard and had not so much power as to tell it you besides having not seen you alone I was unwilling to speak of a thing which seems only fit to make me suspected of having a mind something weak Clelia had scarce done speaking this to her Friends when one of their Guards enter'd into their Tent with a certain hasty air which signifi'd he had some important matter to tell I beseech you Madam said he to Clelia pardon me the liberty I take of entring into your Tent if Lucilius or Telanus had been come back from the King I would have addressed my self to them but being they are not here and I cannot tell that which I have to say to him that commands us in their absence I address to you to advertise you that Sextus will carry you away by violence if you do not take care to prevent it I have not been able to learn whether he intends it this night or the next but I know infallibly he hath laid all his contrivances for that purpose several of my Companions are to be assistant to him he that commands us is his Creature he has Boats in readiness and is himself to serve in this violence Wherefore Madam conceiving I could never serve the Prince better than by serving you I come to give you this intelligence The business is urgent added he and I understand the design as fully as possibly one can But by what means came you to know it said Clelia much affrighted One of my companions Madam answer'd he who would have engag'd me in this criminal design told me of it and I made shew of consenting to it to the end I might give you notice of it Valeria Plotina and Clelia
and my self after which he remembring it was the day on which to write to Volaterra he ask'd me what he should write about When he had half done his Letter one came to seek him to go to a walking appointment whereupon he left his Letter half finisht and went to walk with certain Ladies without minding the finishing of his Letter though he could not have the like opportunity till four days after When he was gone I took the Letter which he had begun and withal I confess I read it But I was surpriz'd to find that he was writing to his Mistress as the most sad melancholy and afflicted man in the world by reason of his absence For he told her he avoided the world took pleasure in nothing and led the most irksom life that ever was And which was rare at his return from the walk he came to my house again and without thinking of his Letter desir'd me to lay aside the picture I had begun and the next morning to begin that of one of the Ladies he had been walking with that afternoon And therefore ever since I have not given much credit to the Letters of absent persons For my part said Celius I never yet saw an absent person long melancholy Yet I know one answer'd I whom you cannot have seen very chearful for being he is banisht about an unhappy affair I imagine you must have found him sad I perceive reply'd Celius you mean Martius but since they report added he maliciously his heart is a Conquest which the amiable Plotina has rejected I shall not fear to say that I have seen a fair person in the place where he is who boasts of being greatly lov'd by him I say who boasts because she is a woman that easily enough publishes the Conquests which she makes They who boast so easily of taking hearts said Plotina blushing seem not to understand the art of conquering them Be it how it will answer'd he she shew'd some very pleasant Letters and I stole one from her without her perceiving it Martius writes so well reply'd Plotina that I have a great curiosity to see some of his Letters especially concerning love for I have not seen any Celius seeing Plotina's mind so dispos'd as he desir'd shew'd her accordingly a Love-Letter of Martius which Lucia had given him for she had a hundred in her keeping which had no names to them So that Plotina knowing Martius's his hand and stile believ'd he was inconstant and did not suspect Lucia of this guile of Clelius Wherefore being of quick resentment and high-minded she regretted this adventure more than you can imagine But she resented it with indignation and in stead of complaining to Martius of his inconstancy she took a resolution to do all she could to drive him out of her heart And the next day she answer'd only in these few words to a very obliging Letter he had writ to her Plotina to Martius THey who divert themselves very well in the places wherein they reside need not seek pleasures elsewhere Therefore for your own conveniency and mine forbear to give your self the trouble of writing to me any more but forget not I conjure you that I told you heretofore That when an heart in love's Realm goes astray That heart is lost for ever and a day You may judge how extreamly this Letter surpriz'd Martius who was really very faithful Not but that there was a fair person in the place where he resided who gave pretext to the lie of Celius for she was one of those gossiping women who have a thousand little inventions to force virtuous men to say more to them than they would and than they think Martius nevertheless writ several times again to Plotina but she answer'd him no more And therefore I often told her she was unjust to condemn Martius upon the bare report of a man who was a kind of Lover and who besides was Brother to Lucia who sought only to prejudice Martius I believe perhaps more than you answer'd Plotina Martius is not so culpable as I make semblance to believe but to speak truth being I should be loth to have a great passion in my soul now my reason is a little stronger than it was I seek my self to accuse Martius and to improve my anger I thought heretofore continued she blushing it was possible to be lov'd by a virtuous man without loving him more than was convenient but I have now undeceiv'd my self and I find that unless I take care I should come perhaps to love Martius more than he lov'd me Therefore to avoid so great an unhappiness I conjure you never to tell me any thing that may serve to justifie Martius He is absent I may suspect him of inconstancie I am sensible of my honour I love liberty and joy so that there needs not much more to cure me Plotina spoke this with a certain fierce and angry air which made me believe she would have more difficulty to drive Martius out of her heart than she thought However I did as she desir'd and spoke no more to her concerning Martius After this many alterations hapned in Plotina's fortune which I will not detain you with relating both by reason of his absence whose Daughter she believ'd her self and by the death of her whom she took to be her Mother But at length when I chang'd my condition Plotina came to live with me a little before Tarquin came to besiege Ardea This adventure so amaz'd our City that I cannot represent to you how great a terror there was at first amongst the people But for that the inhabitants of Ardea are very couragious they soon took heart again and resolv'd to make a stout defence As things were in this posture Martius making use of this occasion and knowing an attempt was to be made to bring a supply into the City he put himself in the head of those that guarded it and did such brave exploits that it may be said 't was he alone that procur'd the entrance of the Convoy into Ardea Assoon as he came thither he went to the Governors of the City and with much eloquence and boldness told them he was come to desire to die for his Country This Action seem'd so noble that in spight of Lycastes Relations Martius had liberty to stay in Ardea where there was great need of such persons as he Whereupon he addressed again to Plotina but found not such reception as formerly At that time Horatius had brought Clelia to Ardea and all the world was so charm'd with her beauty and virtue that though she was very melancholy she caus'd her self to be ador'd Plotina and I were the two persons to whom she testifi'd most goodness she made us privy to all her unhappiness and we promis'd to serve her in every thing we could though Horatius guarded her very carefully Martius in the mean time was in despair because he could not regain Plotina's heart though he sufficiently
the world to the most miserable slaves all complain and murmure against Fortune 't is in vain that she makes presents to men they turn her favours into poyson they have that within themselves which destroys their felicity and seeking it always without they take no care to find it in their own hearts Yet methinks said Amilcar all that is needful to make men happy is in the Universe but 't is certainly added he their extravagant desires transposing the order of things cause them to be disgusted with what they enjoy and to wish that which they have not That which you see is true answer'd Telantus but yet something further must be added to it for the cause that there are so few people happy is because men make desires to themselves which Nature alone does not give them What I say to you added he I say to my self and against my self since 't is true that almost all men do not busie themselves only in seeking such things as they have need of and are fit for them but chiefly such as they believe the opinion of the world requires them to seek So that without confining themselves to follow Reason alone they desire to content that famous Chimera call'd Opinion and mind more what will be said of them if they do not advance themselves above their Ancestors than their own quiet How many men are there which would be contented with the patrimony of their fathers if they did not think that their relations their neighbours and all that knew them would esteem them less in an indifferent than in a high fortune and nevertheless these people who seek so much to content the opinion of others desire a thing impossible For Opinion is the most mutable thing in the world and if you would know how different the opinions of men are it needs only to oblige all that are present to make Wishes and I am confident if all those that compose this company speak sincerely you will observe so great a diversity of opinions amongst them that you know it is sufficiently difficult to be capable of happiness But seeing there is so great a variety of sentiments said Berelisa how then can there be any certain opinion which is establisht in the world and thence forth holds the place of a Law 'T is because the multitude of men answer'd Amilcar is so great that there cannot be so great a number of contrary opinions as of men So that such as resemble one another being united there results from them a certain general opinion in every Nation which prevails over the rest But this does not hinder but that even they who compose this opinion have opinions in a manner peculiar to themselves For my part said Clidamira I do not believe that if all the company were oblig'd to wish something you would find so great a diversity of wishes as you imagine for I am perswaded all the Ladies would wish for great beauty and almost all the men to reign in some part of the world and to be Kings I do not agree to what you say answer'd Amilcar for as for my part I speak sincerely I would not be a King and I should account it more noble to wish to be worthy to be one besides I know Royalty has a thousand consequences enemies to liberty which would strangely disgust me For it must be had in mind that Kings can never do any thing but what will be known that the least of their actions is publick that they can scarce ever discern those who love their condition from such as love their persons that they seldom know the truth unless they divine it that ceremony attends them every where that they are always encompassed with self-interested flatterers that they never have any great pleasures but openly which to prudent persons are many times great troubles not to reckon the cares requir'd to the well-governing of a State or the shame there is in governing it ill But which chiefly makes me averse to be a King is the thought that it would never be permitted me to be idle And yet an idle life has something so sweet in it that I could never resolve to renounce idleness as I ought to do to reign with glory For if an idle Gallant were a King and enjoy'd the same idleness he would be a good-for-nought unworthy of his dignity Wonder not then amiable Clidamira if I am not of your mind For my part said Anacreon if I may advise every one of us shall wish something according to our inclinations and we will leave Amilcar the liberty to condemn or approve the wishes we shall make and after every one has declar'd their wishes he shall tell his own I account this proposal of Anacreon a very agreeable motion said Berelisa After which all the company having approv'd it Amilcar said he would do as he was desir'd and turning himself towards a man of quality of Tarquinia who was next him towards his right hand he ask'd him what he wisht To be as rich as I would answer'd he for we have no desires but we may satisfie with riches You should have added answer'd Amilcar to be rich without being covetous for without this circumstance your wish in stead of rendring you happy would render you the slave of your treasures For my part said Clidamira I am in haste to tell that I would wish to be without contradiction the handsomest person in the world You ought withal to have wish'd to be always such answer'd Amilcar for I think there is nothing more difficult than for a person that has been perfectly a Fair to inure her self to bear contentedly the decay of her beauty and besides you wish a thing impossible when you wish to be without contradiction the handsomest person in the world for every body judges of beauty according to their particular fancie so that none can be universally acknowledg'd for the handsomest person in the world moreover amiable Clidamira you would have a reign of too few years for the greatest beauty passes very swiftly away and I account you more happy to be infinitely charming than to be infinitely handsome You see added he smiling I believe your words more than my own eyes for if I gave credit to them I should tell you that you enjoy what you wish'd and are the handsomest person in the world However it be said she if you please ask Berelisa what she wishes To be very well lov'd and not to love at all or not much answer'd she beholding Clidamira Ha! charming Berelisa answer'd Amilcar you make the most unjust wish in the world for what pleasure would you have in being lov'd if you did not love consider therefore I beseech you and make a more equitable wish For my part said a man of condition of Valterra who had a pale countenance and a languishing air I should wish to be always in most perfect health Your wish is assuredly very good answer'd Amilcar for health is
follies wickednesses frauds and treacheries that I think it better to wish to know ones own heart well than those of others For my part said a man with a fierce aspect I should wish to be the most valiant man in the world And I to be the most eloquent added another Eloquence and Valour answer'd Amilcar are two excellent things but 't is good to wish at the same time to know how they ought to be us'd for to speak truth they are a strange sort of people who understand nothing but killing of men and I am much of the sentiment of those of Agrigentum who have a Proverbial saying amongst them That Valour is like salt good for nothing by it self and yet good for almost all things But as for Eloquence it is not less necessary to know the right use of it for an Eloquent person who declaims always in conversation is very troublesome and as often as any one wishes Eloquence he ought to remember to wish judgment with it As for me said a Greek who was present I should much desire to write such excellent things as I might believe would descend to Posterity and that with glory and I am assur'd if Anacreon who hears me would speak truth he would confess that the thought of being one day translated into various Languages and commended in several Ages is infinitely sweet to him I assure you answer'd Anacreon smiling if you knew that pleasure by experience you would not account it so great as you imagine for at the same instant that I think perhaps my Works will live a long time I think perhaps I shall not but shall infallibly live less than they So that this chagrin strangely troubles the pleasure of this pretended immortality Anacreon is very equitable in speaking as he does said Amilcar for those pleasures are properly the pleasures of fancy not but that I know well 't is almost a general weakness to affect to have our names live but to speak truth upon a serious consideration 't is but a folly for cannot we judge by what is said of those that have written before us what will be said after us of those that write at this time 'T is true they are sometimes commended but yet they are blam'd at least as much as they are prais'd They are robb'd and ill translated and besides though it were not so what concernment can we take in things which shall happen when we are no longer concern'd amongst the living Believe me then let us be contented with present pleasures let us enjoy our glory whilst we live let us seek to obtain the praises of such as are alive and let us not care for being commended by people not yet in being whom we know not and never can know No doubt there are a thousand agreeable things in the Odes of Anacreon which will not be understood two thousand years hence because Manners Customs and Gallantry will be chang'd with the Ages Nevertheless I allow that people may by the by comfort themselves in some manner against Death which the thought of having some priviledge above the Vulgar and leaving a name which does not die with them but let us not account this amongst the most exquisite pleasures nor so affirmatively ascribe to our selves an imaginary immortality which perhaps posterity will not give us for I assure you every one does not live in this manner who desires it and many people think they write for immortality whose works will die As for me said a very amiable Virgin who was sister to that Lady of Praeneste who had spoken before I am confident my wish will please all the Company Tell it quickly then said Amilcar 'T is to be invisible answer'd she Ha! Madam reply'd Amilcar this is the first time no doubt that so fair a person as you made this wish In good earnest added she I know nothing more agreeable than this But what would you do with your invisibility said Amilcar smiling I would make use of it answer'd she to know the secrets of all the World and especially to know truly what they who do not love me speak of me As for my part reply'd Amilcar I have no curiosity to know what my Enemies say for I easily imagine it But I confess to you I should be ravisht to know that my Friends spoke of me in the same manner when I am not with them as when I am For experience has taught me there are few people but upon some occasions make railery upon their Friends or at least endure to hear it made in their presence Yet this is very culpable answer'd Berelisa But when we have Friends said Clidamira who have certain natural defects which cannot be conceal'd as deformity or the like what ought we to do Never speak of them answer'd Berelisa But if others speak of them reply'd Clidamira 't is necessary to agree with them When we cannot contradict them answer'd Berelisa we must blame them of injustire in accusing vertuous persons of defects not in their power to amend rather than to commend them for a thousand good Qualities they are indu'd with and thereupon we ought to take occasion to praise them and exaggerate all that is commendable in them for there is nothing more unworthy and unjust than to upbraid any one with his natural defects However it be said Amilcar let us return to invisibility of which various uses may be made One might thereby be present at all the Counsels of Kings and Master of the secrets of all the world and nothing besides the thoughts alone could escape the knowledge of an invisible person It would be good in affairs of State and War but chiefly in Gallantry for we might deceive all Husbands Mothers Aunts and Rivals but being by ill hap this wish is one of the most difficult wishes in the world to be accomplisht let us see what the remainder of the Company wishes For my part said a man of Ardea who was very rich and ingenious I would wish to have no Envyers You would then answer'd Amilcar have no vertue be poor deformed and miserable for whoever has good fortune merit and virtue has Envyers infallibly As for me said an amiable person who sate next Berelisa I should wish more to be an accomplisht man than an accomplisht woman As for this wish answer'd Amilcar I find nothing to say against it for though women are infinitely more amiable than men and I love them a thousand times better yet I judge Madam that you have wish'd very judiciously for were there no other reason than that which allows us to use Courtship and Gallantry and forbids it you I should account your wish very just For my part added another Lady I should like well of immortality I am wholly of your mind answer'd Amilcar and this wish is the best of all for it would be great pleasure to see the whole Universe continually change being unalterable ones self But to speak truth this happiness
you will at length love those which have lov'd you so long time and perhaps you will not always love those you do if they can never love you Theanor and Aemilius were amaz'd and seem'd alike dejected at this Answer and so they retir'd with sufficient sadness and made way for several others who follow'd them After which that famous Lyar whom Berelisa Clidamira and Anacreon knew and whose Lyes had occasion'd a long conversation at Rome amongst divers ingenious persons presented himself and ask'd whether it were possible there could be one man in the world who were always veracions But as if the Gods had been offended the Sooth-sayer having observ'd the Lots according to custom answer'd him in these terms Rash man who seekest to excuse thy self with the faults of others know that for the punishment of thy continual Lyes thou shalt not be believ'd even when thou speakest truth This is all which the Lots of Praeneste can answer thee which will not so dishonour all men as to make it credible that sincere truth is scarce found upon earth Next Herminius Aemilius and Spurius enquiring of their Destinies receiv'd such an Answer The first-lov'd ought always to be the lastlov'd unless he have render'd himself unworthy of being so should it be otherwise there would be five persons unhappy and in the former manner but three Moreover it shall come to pass that Aemilius shall be satisfied with his own vertue Spurius cur'd by his anger and Mutius comforted with his glory This answer caus'd a very sensible joy to Herminius and much afflicted Aemilius and Spurius and this latter beginning to speak The Lots of Praeneste have given a true decision said he fiercely for I begin already to resent such a horrible indignation that I doubt not but hatred will cure me of my love Which said he went away with a very incensed aspect But Herminius who always lov'd Aemilius spoke to him with much generosity You see said he to him the will of the Gods cannot be withstood 'T is true answer'd Aemilius and I see too that I must be always miserable and not being able to find a remedy in hatred as Spurlus does since generosity obliges me not to hate my Rival or my Mistress I must seek one in death You will do better reply'd Herminius to seek it in the amity of a generous Friend and in that of a faithful Friend who is extremely sorry he cannot be happy but by rendring you miserable Whilst these two Rivals were discoursing in this manner Meleontus desiring to know whether he should be happy receiv'd this answer Whoso would always have ambition and love together it is absolutely impossible for him ever to be happy for it is not in the power of Fortune to content a Lover and an Ambitious man in one single person After this the multitude of Strangers which were at Praeneste continu'd enquiring what they desir'd to know But for that Amilcar was not concern'd there longer after he had congratulated with Herminius for the happy answer he receiv'd he went to entertain himself with that Lady of Elis whom he had spoken to the preceding day and who was walking in a place beset with great Trees before the Temple of Fortune expecting till she should be call'd to go signifie what she desir'd for the order was that there should be none in the Temple at that time but they to whom answers were given all the rest in the mean time attended in that place whom a young priest came to the door of the Temple to call according to the order of their names Wherefore Amilcar addressing to Aretaphile askt her if he might presume to enquire the cause which brought her to Praeneste adding that he believ'd it fit to do in this place as those do who go to the Spaws who scruple not to pretend maladies however which carri'd them thither I assure you said she to him I never yet had any secret which I could not tell and it will be easie for me to satisfie you Know then that being one at the Valley of Cupids with the Princess Elismonda Hold I beseech you cry'd Amilcar and let me not pass from the Valley of Cupids without making some stay there Tell me therefore I conjure you whether this place deserves so fair a name and wherefore it is called so No doubt it deserves it answer'd she but it has not always born this name for it was sometimes call'd Telisangis but a great Prince having caus'd a stately Palace to be built there to give to his Mistress it was from thence call'd the Valley of Cupids because Love was in effect the occasion that it was built This circumstance seems so extraordinary reply'd Amilcar that I cannot but conjure you to make me the description of a place which seems to have been consecrated to love and where a second Mother of Cupids is seen for according to the reports of the Princess Elismonda she is a person fit to produce such I will content you said Aretaphile though I am not very good at making the description of a handsome place Know then that the Valley of Cupids is a place of such particular beauty that it may with truth be said that it has a thousand charms which cannot be found elsewhere Yet its situation is wild and solitary but though Nature have not given it the like advantage with places which have prospects of a vast extent and lie near great Rivers yet it has a thousand graces which render it an infinitely delightful habitation This Valley is very fertile and the place which I am going to describe to you is perfectly magnificent and agreeable It is situated upon the brow of a Hill which to make the first Court of this house The ways which lead to this Palace are admirably fair for a Royal Forest is to be pass'd through the great and handsome Wastes of which make the goodliest and most solitary Walks in the World especially in a certain place where the Trees seem to reach up to Heaven they are handsome straight and so thick set with verdant leaves that their shade is infinitely agreeable As you arrive at the Valley of Cupids you find a very fair fore-court which has a face of rustick edifices on the right hand and a balustrade on the left from whence is discover'd an agreeable Valley From thence you pass into another Court which has the same Balustrade on the left hand and a Walk of Trees on the right From this place you see the stately front of the Palace which is of a particular structure the middle advances towards the Court as well as the two sides of this building all the Windows whereof are great arches which made a goodly sight and on the side of the terass'd Garden the face of which resembles that of the Court are seen two Cupids without fillets which seem to consider all the beauties of the prospect But to return to the Court from whence I have
that yours hath happily succeeded and to testifie unto you that I believe not to be so well with you as you may be evil with me I pray send me the Verses I have demanded of you but I likewise pray you to be strongly perswaded that you can never enterprise any thing that less resembles truth than what you have undertook for in fine to speak sincerely I live after such a manner in the world that one must have lost ones sense and reason if he think to procure my friendship and not my hatred by disclosing his affection to me in an amorous Letter I am assured Madam you know that though these two Notes were written on one subject and by one person and that this person had an equal design in writing them that that which addressed to Horatius was clothed with more rigorous and severe language than the other but I must tell you the effect they produced in the minds of those which received them the next day imagine then Madam that when Aronces received that which appertained to him there was a strange emotion in his heart for as he writ to Clelia that if she answered him not he would believe she was favourable to him he thought seeing she wrote to him he was going to receive his arrest of death and that which made him think so was that Clelia's Slave by the orders of her Mistress had given him this Note without staying for an answer so that he opened it with an extreme Inquietude but when he had read it his spirit was a little more setled but he was much perplexed to divine what Clelia would say when she told him that he had contriv'd with another this deceit Nevertheless after he had well considered on it he believed that Clelia had purposely premeditated it not to be obliged to evil treat him and that it was I that she made him seemingly think which had part in this pretended deceit of which she spoke in her Note so that looking upon this Artifice of Clelia as an obliging procedure for him he found himself more happy than he hoped He likewise received me with much joy when I entred into his Chamber a quarter of an hour after he had received this Note but as I was sufficiently troubled at the anger of Fenice I hearkned not to him so attentively as he would have me so that being angry at me Ah cruel friend said he to me you interest not your self in my fortune You take so little part in mine said I to him that I have more cause to complain of you than you have of me for after you have told me you are not so miserable as you thought your self you demand not of me how I stand with Fenice but for to make you see you are happier than I to read the Letter I leave you that this fair person hath wrote on the adventure of the Echo for I am pressed to go to a friend of hers to adventure to oblige her to justifie me to her After I had left Fenice's Letter in his hands I left him but departing from his Chamber I met Horatius who entred there and who appeared to have something in his spirit which made him melancholy for he took no notice of me In effect Madam you must know that Clelia's answer had highly perplexed him for he knew he had not mentioned his love to any one nor the Letter he had wrote to her so that he knew not what to think of that she wrote to him seeing that on whatsoever side he looked on the thing he found nothing of true semblance In the mean time he felt I know not what in Clelias words which made him believe that he had not any part in her heart he was notwithstanding perswaded that he might have right to pretend thereto if it was not engaged so that now thinking on what he never before thought of he sought to find if it was possible whether Clelia lov'd any one but after he had examin'd it he found that if this fair person had some particular affection in her heart it must necessarily be for Aronces and that it must consequently follow Aronces lov'd her for he suspected her not to love without being belov'd This thought was no sooner formed in his imagination but it excited in him a great disturbance In effect as Horatius is generous and that he had many Obligations to Aronces he had a strange agitation of heart when he thought he might be his Rival it likewise raised a War in his Spirit and he effectualy took a resolution to resist his passion if he learnt Aronces loved Clelia So that endeavouring handsomly to clear himself he went to Aronces his house and he arrived there as I told you when I departed from thence so that he had the Letter of Fenice in his hands I had given him and Clelias answer but as soon as Aronces saw Horatius enter he concealed Clelias Letter and still kept Fenices in his hands for in this inopinate occasion he thought on nothing but his own interest and not mine 'T is true that this Letter was writ in such a manner that the Author of it could not be known if one did not know the writing neither for whom it was it having no superscription and the reproaches of Fenice were in such a nature that one would not divine the cause of them Horatius then entred into Aronces his Chamber with an intention to discover by a familiar discourse if he loved Clelia and endeavour to divert his love if it was so he saw some emotion in his countenance because his mind was then disquieted and according to the nature of love which make Lovers fear the slightest things in certain occasions he feared that Horatius should see Clelias Letter and know it so that this disquised Lover seeing some agitation on Aronces face and seeing a Letter in his hands which was written in Tablets he held open without thinking on it he so little dreamed of me and seeing they were made in a manner as Ladyes ordinarily use to write to men he demanded of him after some complements if those Tablets came from Clelia Horatius having not any other design than to speak to him of that fair Maid on all sorts of subjects to note either by his actions or words if there was any suspicion that he was amorous of that fair person But Horatius had hardly demanded this of Aronces but this Lover which was unprepared was much surprised at it because it was true as you know that he had one of Clelias Letters about him and would not hinder himself from telling him this Letter was not from her so as Horatius noting it and not doubting but those Tablets were Clelia's he spoke to Aronces beleeving it so by your favour said he to him do not conceal the truth from me and tell me if the Letter you have in your hand is not from the admirable daughter of Sulpicia as I do not doubt of
it shew it me I pray you for as I am perswaded she writes as well as she speaks I have a great desire to see one of her Letters at least I very well know her Character is the fairest in the world for I have seen verses of her writing at first Aronces believed that telling a second time to Horatius that this Letter was not from Clelia and telling it him very seriously he would believe it and would press him no more to shew it him but it hapned otherwise for Horatius reiterating his intr eaties with much earnestness perswaded him he suspected something of his passion so that fearing extreamly he should know it and for fear he should acquaint Clelius with it with whom he had a most inviolable amity resolved to shew him Fenice his Letter to make him a false confidence by shewing it him to the end to frustrate his conceived opinion that he was amorous of Clelia if it was true he thought so that the better to conceal his passion I know not Horatius said he to him giving him the Tablets he held from whence it comes you will not believe me but to evidence to you you have wronged me by suspecting the verity of my words see if this writing is Clelia's but after you have seen this Letter do not speak of it I pray you though I am resolved not to have any commerce with the person who writ it therefore Horatius tell none yet nevertheless I will not be indiscreet without any exception that you have seen a Letter of this nature in my hands As you tell me not her name who wrote it replyed Horatius after he had read it I can hardly be unfaithful to you if I would For what can I say to those to whom I would tell it but that you have shewed me a Letter Since I know nothing else but that it is from an incensed Lady who wrote to you with such an high indignation that I believe she will easily be appeased when you will and that she hath more disposition to love than hate you whatsoever it be speak not of it I pray you said Aronces for in the thoughts in which I now am I am assured I shall never mention love to that person Whilst Aronces thus spoke Horatius had an extream joy to believe that he was not an amorous of Clelia for though his friend told him he would never have any commerce with the person whose Letter he had seen he harkned to that as the discourse of an angred Lover who believed sometimes to hate when he loved most he doubted not but Aronces had a great engagement to this Lady whose Letter he had seen so that believing he was not exposed but to be a mans Rival to whom he owed his Life and whom he very much loved he expressed a great resentment of joy by the only imagination of it and lest that mishap he greatly feared might happen to him he resolved whilst Aronces loved another to tell him that he had the same for Clelia though he loved not to declare his secrets for as he knew him to be very generous he thought that after he had once made him his confident he would not become his Rival so that casting an obliging look on Aronces For to demonstrate to you how dear your friendship is to me said he to him I have almost stolen from you your secret but I will voluntarily declare mine to you know then continued he that time hath worn out many months since love seized my heart and I every day feel my hatred against Tarquin increases because I look on him as the cruel cause of those punishments which are prepared for me Aronces hearing Horatius speak in this manner imagined he had some Amoretta's at Rome and did not fully comprehend that he hated Tarquin more than ordinarily because it was his exile which had caused his passion for Clelia so that willing to testifie to Horatius that he would obligingly espouse his Interests he commiserated his cruel passion prying to tell him his adventure Alas my dear friend said he to him my adventure is declared in few words for as soon I shall tell you that I love without being beloved I shall tell you all which hath happened to me since I was amorous But hath not absence replyed Aronces healed you of a love which hath been so ill rewarded as he thus spoke and that Horatius was about to tell him that he was not absent from the person whom he loved and that he would have named Clelia to him Clelius entred into Aronces his Chamber and broke off the conversation of these two Rivals which knew not themselves to be so and they could not renew it this day nor a long time after for as Aronces would not render secret for secret to Horatius he rather avoided than sought him Horatius on his side had his spirit so clouded with grief that though he had a design to confide in Aronces he could not do it no occasion presenting it self In the mean time as he believed Aronces to be engaged in another love he clearly submitted his heart to Clelia But to return to the two Letters these Rivals had writ her and the answers she returned to them you must know that three days were fully completed before Aronces had the happiness to see Clelia though he sought for her in the resolution he had taken not to oppose his love and had resolved to tell her that that which he writ was positively true for Horatius though he resolved to love Clelia he feared to see her lest she should be displeased when he should tell her the contents of his Letter were true but at last by a fortunate occasion these two Rivals met together after Dinner at Clelius his Gate with one design to see Clelia Horatius said nothing particularly to Aronces because he had with him a friend which he had found at Capua called Stenius whom he had brought to entertain Sulpitia that he might discourse with her daughter so that being entred without discovering their hearts to one another they seemed as two men which had great friendship together but they were very much troubled when they approached Clelia and this fair person seeing them both at once and seeing in their countenances an equal agitation confirmed her self in her conceived opinion that they both had contrived together those Letters they had writ to her it happened that Horatius nothing Aronces his change of Countenance looked on him and Aronces doing the same thing looked on Horatius so that Clelia believing they made some intelligent sign to deceive her determin'd with her self to tell them they were not come to their end and thus smiling said you see well said she to them in the manner with which I receive you both that you have not deceived me and that your fallacy hath not succeeded therefore do not enterprise it once more if you will not have the shame to be discovered for if
things else But farther Madam added this Lover who would now be curious out of design I would fain know who could be guilty of the presumption to tell you a thing of this nature Demarata perceiving that Themistus avoided the opportunity she had given him entertained on the sudden other imaginations and considering the countenance wherewith Themistus answered her was satisfied he had no affection for her So that inclining to indignation she immediately applyed her self to the art of dissimulation which she was so well versed in and putting on another countenance how said she to him with a strange confidence can you make a serious answer to what I have said you do not perceive that I had not spoken as I have but to discover the progress of ambition in your heart which it seems is such that you imagine it possible that people should report that you love me and I you Ah Themistus added she of an understanding man as you are have you not answered me well nay I could not conceive you should have made me that answer but for your punishment know that no body hath said any thing to me that I do not think any one loves you or that you love any thing but greatness and glory This put Themistus into another disorder but all considered he was not a little glad to see that Demarata knew nothing of the affection he had for Lindamira he therefore made Demarata the best answer he could telling her that never presumeing to make the least doubt of what she said she was the occasion of his confidence or to say better his simplicity he craved her pardon and so got off as well as he could out of so troublesome a business but though Demarata were sufficiently Mistress of her self when she was resolved to disguise her thoughts yet could she not in the sequel of the discourse avoid divers things whence Themistus might take occasion to suspect something He was more satisfied as to that point an hour after for diverse Ladies being come to the Princess among whom came also the Prince of Messena who detained Themistus there though he were desirous to be gone they fell into a discourse of generosity honesty and love and it was put to the question whether a person that were tender of his honor might without ceasing to be such receive any expressions of affection from the wife of a man whom he loved and by whom he was loved At first it was generally thought there could not be any thing so unworthy or so opposite to honesty But after a while Demarata took occasion to make it a question whether it ought to be so generally affirmed for in fine said she I know not when a woman begins to love a man and gives him occasion to imagine as much whether that man be not more obliged to that Lady for her love than to his friend for his friendship and consequently whether that circumstance would not take off much of his crime and make him less blameable than if he began to love first and should make it his main business to cajoll his friends wife No question but he were less censurable replyes Themistus though yet a virtuous man would think himself very unhappy to be in so dangerous an adventure but when all 's done added Lindamira he were still blameable enough and must needs pass for a base and perfidious person in their judgments who are acquainted with the true rules of honesty for a man must not upon any pretence whatsoever either betray or be ungrateful Themistus having accidentally met the eyes of Demarata discovered in them a certain disturbance wherein he thought might be read love indignation and shame nor indeed was he mistaken for Demarata notwithstanding her natural dissimulation could not hinder Themistus from perceiving that she had within her whatever those three sentiments can inspire that is most cruel and to make her affliction the more insupportable she imagined she saw something in the eyes of Themistus that signified he understood well enough what hers meant and that he would make no answer thereto So that night being come she was extreamly afflicted How said she am I so unhappy as to love yet not to be loved again nay I am so unfortunate as to be in a manner satisfied that the ungrateful man who loves me not knows my weakness and will not bear any part thereof No no I am not able to bear with this injury and let people say what they will I am perswaded that the most horrid of all crimes is that whereby a man makes no return to a womans affection being in such a condition as I am in Let me then tear from my heart the unjust passion that tyrannises there but alas added she presently I have loved Themistus from my infancy 't is a natural inclination which I cannot overcome nay which I cannot find so far guilty as that it deserves to be condemned for all I desire is only to love and to be loved without either giving or entertaining any criminal expressions thereof In the mean time the ambitious Themistus who prefers his Masters favor before any Mistress triumphs over my weakness and slights me as much as I love him But though I should die for it I must do my self an extraordinary violence and not thinking it enough to pass from love to indifference I must know no mean between love and detestation and be revenged on him that makes me unhappy because he minds not his own happiness Had he loved me and afterwards betrayed me I should not be so much incensed as I am now that knowing I love him he makes no return to my affection This resentment is haply somewhat unjust but I know not how to remedy it Love is it self the reason of all the imaginations that proceed from it and revenge is so natural to love that I should not think it much to be pardoned though people came to know the cause why I now do or hereafter may hate Themistus He must certainly have a horrid aversion for me that he makes no return to the tenderness I have for him he is ambitious and I am of a quality to satisfie his ambition I am young I am not unhandsome I dispose of his Masters heart I can ruine him when I please and all this notwithstanding he guesses at my sentiments and pretends he understands them not No no Demarata this injury is insupportable and thou must banish Themistus thy heart or at last thrust him out of the Court. These Madam were the sentiments of Demarata whilst Themistus was sufficiently troubled on the other side for he had but too well observed whatever Demarata had either done or said and was absolutely satisfied that she loved him Then reflecting on the inclination she had for him even in her infancy and a hundred things she had done since his return he was convinced of the truth so that he was extreamly afflicted for it was easie for him to
foresee that the consequences thereof might prove very fatal as well in relation to his fortune as his love He knew the Princess to be violent passionate and bold and that she had a great influence over the Prince of Syracuse who still was as fond of her as on the day he married her However he thought it discretion not to acquaint the Princess of Himera that he thought himself loved by Demarata nor any way endeavored to make her party good against her with the Prince but only to avoid the opportunities of having any private discourse with her But what he thought he did with prudence proved prejudicial to him for Demarata looking very narrowly into his actions took notice of his carriage and was more offended at it than before For Themistus he thought the best course he could take was to dispose things in order to his return to the Army either to prosecute the War when the cessation were expired or to conclude a Peace with the Prince of Heraclea But there being many rubs in his way he was forced to have patience for some time In the mean time Demarata made it her business to insinuate into Perianthus more than she had ever done and dissembled so well that only Themistus could look into her soul Thence he inferr'd that Demarata's love would soon be turned into hatred and was the more confirmed in it by a discourse whereof I have gave him an account as having made one in it I doubt not but you remember that Themistus is very excellent at a paper of Verses since I have repeated some of his to you you are now to imagine that Demarata being with some few about her in her Closet they fell to discourse about Musick and thence they fell to talk of Painting and Verses every one commending Poesie Painting or Musick according to their several inclinations For my part says Demarata I look on these three things as such as contribute much to the entertainments of all virtuous persons but that they are so far from being requisite in a person of quality that he may be infinitely such though he can neither sing draw or write verses 'T is true Madam replyed I these three excellent qualities are not so necessary in a person of honor but they are requisite to make a man pleasant company especially Musick and Poesie and that above all things in what relates to matter of gallantry I must needs confess replyed she that love in Musick and love in Verse is a gallant thing but it is very hard for a person of quality to be very excellent at either of these two qualities Besides as to singing I see no great difficulty in it but for a person of great quality to play the publick Poet it shews him commonly a very strange kind of man There is indeed Madam replied I abundance of difference between a person of worth that writes Verses well and a meer Poet. Believe me said she there 's more danger than is imagined for a man to expose himself to such an adventure for if he makes ill Verses 't is a pittiful thing if good he shews them is much pleased to be commended and in a trice he becomes a Poet by profession then you are desired to repeat your Verses people beg copies of them nay they give you Subjects on which you must make others you must take it as an honor you are desired to do it and at last you are treated as a person to whom men may not well presume to speak in Prose It must therefore needs be a troublesome thing for a person of quality to be exposed to such odd inconveniences I grant Madam said I that there must be judgment to make good use of a Talent so precious as that of Poesie but it is not only requisite in that but indeed in all things for a Hector that should ever be talking of combats and quarrels would be yet much more troublesome than a great repeater of Verses For that matter cryes out the divertive Melisera I am of a different opinion for I assure you there is not any thing more importunate than those people that make ill Verses and know not so much yet thinking others take as much pleasure in them as they do themselves when they recite what they have done persecute you with perpetual repetitions For my part added she an humor came on me the other day to go to one of those troublesome people to ask him whether he had not that pretty Song which had raised so much talk of Mericia but I think I paid for it I no sooner asked but he gave it me but afterwards without any intreaty he gave me another of his own as ill as the other was handsome That done he repeated another and so falling insensibly whether I would or no from one repetition to another and from one paper of Verses to another after he had begun with a Song he concluded with a large serious work of above a thousand Verses which he told me he had made an imitation of Hesiod if my memory fails me not and to recommend the work the more he assured me that he had shewn it to very knowing persons who had recommended it extreamly But his comparisons signified little with me for I only gave it an ambiguous commendation nothing at all to his advantage if he would have understood it aright for I was never so tired out with any thing in my life He you speak of replied I must certainly be very importunate for he is in a word one of those who ever lie lieger to be the first to make Verses upon any accident and who belabor themselves with equal violence upon all subjects Give them a battel to write upon they are ready to celebrate the Conqueror if a City be taken they shall do no less for him that hath taken it If a person of any consideration die they furnish him with Epitaphs if a Beauty she carries away if you believe them love and the graces along with her into the Tomb though they were never acquainted with her If some young Prince be born they presently erect a Poetical Scheam of his Nativity which promises him Conquests and Victories whereof there will never happen any thing If there be a marriage they provide Epithalamium's though not so much as invited to the wedding If some great Ladies dog chance to dye they promise him immortality nay so busie are these merceuary Poetasters that they take it very ill there should any thing more than ordinary happen in their time on which they should not exercise their foolery in verse But Madam when I speak of Poesie as a thing worthy commendation nay necessary for the absolute accomplishment of a gallant person I would not say that such as I have now described ought to sit on Mount Parnassus no these are only the weeds and excrescencies of a fair and fruitful Garden There they have their growth and nourishment with the