The History of Tiridate.

THe relation which I shall make, will be nothing but a series of misfortunes, and in many places so inconsiderable, that I should sufficiently tire your patience, if I were not resolved to abridge it as much as possibly I can, enlarging my self onely on subjects most materiall, and passing over very slight­ly, all things of lesser importance and concernment.

My name is Tiridate, and am of the illustrious race of the Arsasides, the son of Orodias, King of the Parthes, the same who gave the Romans▪ so terrible a blow, that it cost them the lives of their Generall [Page 13] Crassus and his whole Army: I am brother to Phraa­tus, who now possesseth that vast Empire, which hath been the continuall Seat of our Ancestors ever since the Reign of the great Arsasius, who first founded that proud Monarchie, from whom we are Descen­ded in a righr Masculine line: upon this discoverie of the noble birth of the Prince, this beautifull guest began to encrease her respect towards him, and there­fore interrupting him in the beginning of his dis­course, told him that shee had imagined upon good grounds, that he was of no mean extraction, and there­fore am most joyfull (said she) that I have not been deceived in the opinion which I had of you: but that you may likewise know, that its no inferiour person that presumes to put so noble a Prince to so great a trouble, I shall acquaint you (before I give you a more exact account of my life and fortune) that I am born a Princesse, and lawfull Queen of one of the most puissant and rich kingdomes of the world. Tiridate, hearing this discourse, rose from his seat, and kissing most respectfully the hemme of her garment, craved her pardon for those errours and mistakes which his ignorance of her condition had occasioned. The fair Queen answered him with complements of the same kind, and so having spent some time on that subject, Tiridate having reassumed his former place by the in­treaty of the Queen, he continued on his Discourse. I was born under an unfortunate Planet, and all those who advised with the Startes at my birth, did perceive that all their influences portended me nothing but mi­serie. The famous Mathematician Trasillus, who passeth for the best in the world in that art, having seen me in Armenia since my misfortunes, after that [Page 14] he had looked on my hand, and observed my coun­tenance, and had been informed of the day and hour of my birth, made this Prognostication concerning mee, that my miseries should never end but with my life, which, said he, shall be of no long continuance, for that I was liable to a death which should be nei­ther violent nor naturall, but both together. I was educated in my infancy in the Court of the King my Father, with the rest of my Brethren which were ma­ny, and I my self being the youngest; Pacorus and Phraatus were about the age of sixteen or eighteen, and I my self had scarce attained unto my ninth year, when as the Prince Pacorus my brother and Labienus, invaded the Territories of Asia, who at that time were reduced under the Roman Government, there having utterly defeated Saxa, and being puffed up with their prosperous successes, plundered and ransac­ked all Cilicia, and a good part of Syria: And it may be you have heard of the great Progresse they made in a very short time, although the end proved fatall, they being the very next year after both defeated and slain by the Roman Army, under the command of Ventidius, one of the Lieutenants of M. Antonius. After the death of the Prince of Pacorus, Phraatus, who was about the same age, was then married, and had taken upon him the Government of the King­dom, being thereunto encouraged by the desire of our aged Father, who loved his ease; about the tenth year, of my age, I was removed unto a Town upon the Frontiers of Parthia, where the King sometimes used to have his Court, and where the Kings Children were oftentimes educated. I continued there about four years at my exercises and studies, during which [Page 15] time, I behaved my self so, that my Tutors and Ma­sters were well satisfied (according to the report they made of it) with the progresse I had made in my stu­dies and exercises. I began then to have thoughts of returning to my Fathers Court, when as it was all besprinkled with the bloud Royall; The cruell and ambitious Phraatus, unworthy of the bloud and me­mory of Arsacius, the better to assure himself the qui­et possession of the Kingdome, massacred most cruelly all his brethren; The good old King our Father, having manifested his just resentments of so monstrous and horrible an action, caused himself to be killed also, as thinking that to be the greatest punishment that he could inflict on him; I had run the same fortune with my brethren, had not the executioner, who was sent to the Town to perform that action, had some sparcks of vertue, and born some respect to the blood Royall; for in stead of executing the commands of Phraatus, he saved me from his cruelty; he having acquainted me with the deplorable loss of my Brethren (for the sad accident of our Fathers death was then unknown to him) and the charge which he had received for my dispatch, rather said he, let Arsanus die a thousand times, than embrue his hands in the blood of his lawfull Prince; Let us therefore be gone young Prince, said he, and by our flight, endeavour to prevent your apparent ruine. I yeelded my self wholly to his Government, and so with my Governour, and five or six servants, who were resolved to run the same fortune with me, mounted on horse-back, and al­though I had then scarce attained to the age of 14, yet I was exposed to a wearisome and perillous voy­age; This was the beginning of my miseries, having [Page 16] began this hard Lesson betimes, in which I have ever since (which is about twelve years) continued: in which I now remain, and in which (the disgraces of my life are such) that I hope for ever to continue. Arsanus conducted me to the Court of the King of Armenia, who, for that he was at some distance with Phraatus, received me into his protection: I lived ve­ry peaceable and quiet there for some time, for be­sides the allowance which I received from the Ar­menian King, Wee brought with us neer a thousand Talents, which the King my Father gave my man, upon the discovery of his intentions to act for my preservation; but the misfortune of that King occa­sioned a sudden change of my condition, who falling into the hands of M. Antony, was with his whole Familie brought prisoners to Cleopatra, who shortly after caused his head to be most inhumanly chopped off; this misfortune, of which I beleeve you are not ignorant, enforced me to seek for refuge and shelter else-where. Arsanus perswaded me to visit the King of Media, who alwayes held good correspondency with the King my Father, where I found a safe re­treat for three or four years, during which time hap­ned the ruine of M. Antony and Cleopatra, upon which followed the perfect establishment of the Ro­man Empire upon Augustus Caesar: besides many other accidents, in which all the Nations of the earth were very much interessed; The cruell Phraatus sent often-times to the King of Media to perswade him to deliver me up to his mercy, which although with all his subtiltie he could not obtain, yet he prevailed so farre with him, as that he commanded me to re­tire out of his Dominions; having received this order [Page 17] at Pranspa, the Capitall City of Media, and there­fore leaving that Country, I went into Bithinia, where I was no soover arrived, but the King being corrupted with my brothers presents and promises, intended to betray me into his cruell possession. This treason being discovered to Arsanus, by one who had been tampered with to be instrumentall for the accomplishment of the design, and abhorred the barbarousnesse of the fact, we hastened out of the Country of Bithinia, faster than we came to it, and after many troublesome and tedious journys, we at the last arrived in Judea, which was under the Domination of King Herod, who had been for­merly supported by M. Anthony, and at that time by the Emperor Augustus. After this lamentable manner, did I spend the time of my youth, running from one Kingdome and Province to another, and from Court to Court, begging protection and shel­ter, for to prolong this miserable and deplorable life of mine, that is scarce worth the pains that I have taken, and the hardship that I have endured for its preservation. I have been very short hitherto in this narrative, by reason of my fear to tire you; but I shall enlarge my self more upon those acci­dents which hapned unto me in Judea, since its they only which at present doe render my life most mi­serable. I had some reason to seek for refuge at the Court of Herod, for that he was an irreconcileable enemy of my cruell brother Phraatus: for a little before my arrivall there, he had not only assisted his enemy Antigonus, but had made severall incursions into that part of his Country bordering on Parthia, together with divers other injuries, which he offered [Page 18] that King, whilst he was employed about other dif­ferences, and was not in a capacity to demand sa­tisfaction from him; so that Herod waited only for an opportunity to doe him mischief, by way of requitall. Upon these considerations, I was Civilly re­ceived by Herod, and indeed my civill reception was (by those who were acquainted with the rigid humor of Herod) attributed rather to a desire of an oppor­tunity to be revenged on Phraatus, than to any na­turall goodnesse or compassion of his own; in fine, I was nobly treated by him, and received not only promises of protection against my brothers cruelty, but also a supply of forces, to enable me to make war against him, and revenge my self on him for his barbarous persecutions. I accepted of these extraor­dinary offers of his very thankfully, and so being by the Kings order very much caressed and made much of by all his Courtiers, I began to live in some quietnesse, delight and security; I say I began, but Alas! this repose of mine was of no long duration, & if I found some rest for my body, sure I am, that my mind was embroyled in the most cruell War, or rather the strictest captivity that can possibly be imagined. Ah how much better had it been for me, to have ex­posed my body to the inhumane cruelty of Phraa­tus, than have undergone those inward torments, which have ever since most cruelly afflicted me? inso­much that I may safely say, that by endeavouring to avoid a little evill, or at least an evill of no long continuance, I have precipitated my self into the greatest of evils, and I might say the most cruell and cruciating of all others whatsoever, if the glory which I take in suffering did not the some measure [Page 19] counterbalance the crueltie. To conclude, Tiridate was predestinated to die by a more fair hand than that of the cruell Phraatus, and when he received that wound, which will bring him to his grave, he accepted of it with so profound a respect, that he thought it very criminall and heinous to murmur at it. Herod was then married to the Princesse Ma­riama, who descended from the illustrious race of the Asmoneans and Maccabes, by means of which, to­gether with that of Antipater, and the Roman sup­port, he had usurped the crown of Judea: you have I suppose heard the manner of his comming to that government, after that by the assistance of the Ro­mans, he had ruined Hircanus and Aristobulus; for although Mariama had a just resentment against the destroyer of her family, yet through the perswa­sions of her Mother Alexandra, and her old Uncle Hircanus, she was induced to marry him; but it was not possible for her to affect him as a husband, between whom there was such a disproportion in na­ture, the inequality of their birth, together with those bloody outrages she had received by the death of her nearest kindred, and the usurpation of the crown, which of right belonged to the young Ari­stobulus her brother, made her to look upon him with a version and disdain; she lived with him never­thelesse with an admirable moderation, and out of an excesse of vertue she offeted violence, and enfor­ced her inclinations for to bear with him, whom God and her friends had given her for a husband▪ untill that by a horrible tract of cruelty, he had wholly defaced every Character of it. This was occasioned by the murther of the young Aristobulus, whose incompa­rable [Page 20] vertues, and naturall endowments hastned his ruin; for Herod being very politick, and jealous of the inclination which the Jewish people had towards this young Prince, caused him to be stifled in a Bath, in the eighteenth year of his age. There was never known a Prince more beautifull or accomplished, and therefore it was no wonder, that Mariama did thunder out her just resentments for so great and irreparable losse; and although Herod had excu­sed himself of that horrid murther, before M. An­thony, yet he was not so innocent, but that every bo­dy had cause sufficient to deem him guilty; and Alexandra and her daughter had grounds enough to suspect him for that barbarous butcherie. It was in this conjuncture of affairs, that I arrived at the Court of Herod, and I my self was sufficiently sa­tisfied with the reasons that the Queen had to detest the cruelty of the King her husband, when most un­fortunately I cast my eys on that divine Princesse. The beauty of Mariama was not such, that a man might behold without great admiration and danger: never was there any thing so perfect, although I must con­fesse, that untill then, I thought that no beauty could have surpassed that of the Princesse Cleopatra. Those who made enquiry and search after the most-exqui­site beauties of the world, for to make their report to M. Anthony, did publickly declare, that she ex­ceeded all whatsoever; and to say truly Madam, I cannot make a better or more lively description of her, than by telling you that she can be equalled by none but your self, and the young Princesse Cleopatra, daughter of the great and unfortunate Cleopatra. The modestie of the Queen caused her to blush at [Page 21] these words, and therefore interrupting Tiridate, she told him, that he had not so much vanity as to beleeve that her beauty was comparable to that of Mari­ama; for said she, that Queen is better known to me than you are aware of, and we have oftentimes seen in our Court as wel her picture as that of the young Prince Aristobulus her brother, and have looked on them as the most admirable Workmanship of na­ture. Its true replied Tiridate, that the Princesse Alexandra their mother, delighting (as other wo­men usually doe) in her childrens rare beauties, cau­sed severall pictures to be drawn of them both, which she sent to divers places in the world. But Madam, if it had been possible for the Painter to have so much skill, as to represent the beauty of the mind, as well as of the body, you had then seen far greater wonders than those you speak of; all that ever was yet said of the most approved vertue, hath been nothing in comparison of that of Mariama; and amongst those many and great occasions which she hath had to shew it, there hath been none that hath been considered without admiration; her Constancy hath manifested it self in her afflictions, and her Patience, in her persecutions, all which shee hath endured without the least semblance of murmuring, and the exceeding height of her spirit hath been made appear, by her suffering a hus­band, whom she had so great reason to hate and ab­hor; in fine, amidst all the attachments of wicked fortune, and all the outrages which she had recei­ved from him, which were sufficient to have alie­nated the affection of any person, she remained stable and firm, without committing any act beneath the [Page 22] greatness of her spirit. And since Mariama was such a one, it was impossible for Tiridate to hold from ca­sting his affection on her, since he had a heart suscep­tible of the impressions of love, and sense enough to discern the Divine qualities, and rare perfections of Mariama. Was it possible for me, to defend my self against all this strength, by means of any vertue of mine, whereas it was that same vertue which in part gave life and being to my passion, and amongst all the thoughts which it inspired into me, there was not any one that might be censured as unlawfull. I loved Meriama, not because I had hopes of making any progresse with her any way tending to her dishonour, or stayning her rare vertues, but because love could not make use of more forcible weapons than hers, for to make it self master of me. And indeed, I loved Ma­riama, because it was impossible for me, either to see her, or know her, and not to love her; yet I must con­fess my spirits did not presently yeeld and give way, without some endeavours of resistance. For at the first dawning of my love, I opposed the difficulties that I should meet with, in bringing about any design what­soever, the danger into which I should precipitate my self, together with the remembrance of the duty I ought to bear towards my protector: but all these considerations were too weak and feeble for my de­fence, and one word, or one look of Mariama, would destroy in a moment all that I had found for my sa­tisfactions, in three moneths. I overcame the difficul­ties, by representing to my self the glory that I should get in the conquest of them; I sleighted the perill and danger, for that I esteemed little of my life, and I excused my self towards Herod, by the violence [Page 23] that Mariama used against me, since my love was not an effect of my will; and further Madam, I must needs confess, I lulled my self as it were asleep, with hopes of introducing my self into the affections, and good opinion of the Queen, by reason of that lawfull cause of aversion, which she had for the King; and see­ing that the love of a woman to her husband is founded either upon an inclination, or merit, or ob­ligation, which is the greatest obstacle in the attain­ing the ends of a lover, and finding the Queen to be freed from all these incumbrances, so that she could not defend her self against my attempts, but upon considerations of her own, or fear to offend that hus­band who had merited the greatest affront that shee could possibly put upon him. Likewise, from that time I began to entertain thoughts of his crueltie, And that passion, which is sufficient to corrupt the the most pure inclinations made me to be ungrate­full to my benefactor, for that it made me to look on him, not as one that had protected me against my brothers cruelty, but as a person who had murthered the Brother, Father, and Uncles of Mariama; Yea, and that which was the greatest of all, I considered him, as one who enjoyed Mariama her helf; My jea­lousie, joyning it self, with the resentments I had of his ill carriage, made me oftentimes sighingly to say, that the favours of that fair Queen, had been more fitly bestowed, and onely lawfully due to that man who should purchase them by his best service, and dearest blood, rather than on him who had ac­quired them by cruelty and outragious violence. These beginnings of my love, were entertained with much pleasure, and contentment, without any repre­sentation [Page 24] of those cruell Ideas of Torments, which I have since undergone: but as soon as love had taken up a full and absolute Possession of my heart, it left me no liberty at all, all my thoughts, words, and a­ctions, tended to no other Centre than that of Mari­ama, and even my sleep it self, (which is ordained for the refreshing of our bodies) did not keep me in grea­ter freedome, than whilst I was waking; For that whilst the eyes of my body were shut, the rare perfe­ctlons of Mariama were largely represented to the eyes of my mind. This perpetuall agitation in my thoughts produced such effects, that were suddenly taken notice off, both by my conversation and coun­tenance (notwithstanding the care which I took in concealing the naturall cause of it) my profound me­lanchnly, and palenesse of my face which was not naturall to me, was sufficiently observed, and the change of my humour and health was much enquired into. Arsanus and my Governour, who were privie to all my other actions, and intentions of neerest con­cernment, were wholly ignorant of this design, and indeed, I endevoured to mask it as much as I was able, rather for the respect which I had to the cause of my passion, than for my passion it self, or for any doubt I had of their affection or fidelity: in the mean time I had the freedome and happinesse to see the Queen every day with much Facilitie; And the Hopes which Herod had to revenge himself on the King of the Parthes, by my means, made him to sweeten his Rigid humour, and bestow upon me a very friendly entertainment; a thousand times, I had my mouth open before that adorable Princesse, not to declare to her openly my Passion, not daring to take so great li­bertie, [Page 25] before that vertue which made all my joynts to tremble; but truly to let her know, that of all men in the world, there was not any one who did more passionately interest himself in her fortune, or did more earnestly desire to expose his life to the grea­test dangers, for the Purchasing of her solagement and content; but I alwayes cut off my self short in this design, and was in her presence surrounded with all those fears that doe accompany the most timo­rous and dastardly Souldiers, at the sight of the ap­proching enemies; Neverthelesse, I did not stick to tell her that with my eyes, which I durst not discover to her with my tongue, but as soon as shee did cast her eyes on mine, and surprised them in the action, my re­solution and assurance suddenly vanished, and so by means of want of force to endure that lightning which dazled them, and by reason being surprised in that crime, they would presently abase themselves to the feet of that fair Princesse, and by that submissive action, crave pardon for so great a presumption. The Qeen had suddenly perceived the truth of my intenti­ons, if she had not been wholly taken up with cruell thoughts and cares, that would not permit her to take an exact view of my actions. I was one day in her company, at the House of Alexandra her mother, and for that the Queen, in regard of the good opini­on which she had of me, began to confide much in mee; Alexandra, who was of a more turbulent spirit, and a humour not so sweet and patient as the Queen her Daughter, gave her self up to the resent­ment which she had then very fresh for the death of Aristobulus, and exclamed most violently against the cruelty of Herod, and deplored the lamentable [Page 26] condition of her self and Daughter, with words full of fire and transportation; And then from the cruel­tie which he had used to her dear Son and neerest kin­dred, shee fell to inveigh bitterly against his jealousie, and the bloody effects that it produced, when he gave expresse order to his Uncle Joseph (before hee under­took his voyage to meet with M. Anthony) to dis­patch his Wife out of the world, in case any ill acci­dent should happen to him during his absence; Alex­andra enumerated many other cruell acts of her Son-in-law; during which time, the Queen never opened her lips, but onely accompanied her Mothers expres­sions, with redoubled sighs, and many christall tears which seemed to adorn her admirable beautie; but alas! at this sight my wounds were very much enlar­ged; And when I looked on my fair Queen in that posture and condition, I had much adoe to keep my self from falling into an extasie, neither was I able to refrain from discovering my thoughts any longer, but forgetting all considerations of my condition, or remembrance of the danger into which I should pre­cipitate my self by irritating Herod against mee, I abandoned my self to the motions of my passion, and casting my wet eyes upon those of the Queen, which had been a long time fixed on the ground, Good Gods cried I, is it possible that you should subject her to so great injuries, whom you have so excellently formed? and am I indebted to that man for my pro­tection, whom I have so just a cause to hate and ab­horre? I repented immediatly that I had spoken so freely, fearing lest I had made too clear a discoverie; and afterwards considering that I was heard onely by the two Princesses, and that they seemed not to take [Page 27] much notice of what I had said, I began to recover my spirits and assurance; and then the Princesse A­lexandra being retired to the other end of the room to talk with some company, and seeing my self alone with the Queen, I strugled hard with my timorous­ness for to continue on my former discourse, and see­ing the christall tears yet dropping from her fair face, I spake in this sort, Would to God Madam, said I, that I were able by shedding of my dearest bloud, to stop that course of tears which you shed: Ah! how wil­lingly would I poure it forth, and with how much de­sire would I sacrifise my life for the quiet and repose of yours. These passionate expressions were by the Queen attributed to proceed from the compassion which I had for her misfortunes, nevertheless they did awaken her from that profound consideration of her miseries, which had for some time wholly taken up her thoughts, insomuch that lifting up her eyes, and looking directly upon me, she spake unto me in a ve­ry mild and thankfull tone; I should be extremely sorry, said she, to purchase my own contentment and tranquilitie, with the danger of your life; and those miseries that I suffer are better due to me, than your discontentments: we are both of us grievously persecu­ted, you by a brother, and I by a husband, but although I cannot disapprove your resentments, yet I cannot lawfully entertain them against my husband; though by his actions he doth make mee most unfortunate, yet I think the Heavens doe make use of him as an instru­ment for the punishment of my faults. O wonderfull vertue! said I, interrupting her, must I by a further knowledge of you, receive a redoubling of my wounds, and see you exposed to so many miseries? [Page 28] my afflictions are supportable, replied the Queen, if you did rightly consider them, and if the God which I worship was known to you, you would likewise know that amongst my sufferings, I find such conso­lations, that you cannot now understand; for if he hath given me Herod, either for a scourge, or a hus­band, I ought to receive him, both for the one and the other: and since he hath commanded me to par­don the injuries of the most cruell enemies, it is his pleasure likewise that I should wholly forget those, which I shall receive from him whom it pleased him to give me for a husband. Its for this Madam, replied I, that I esteem my condition most unfortu­nate; for the heavens have not raised you up such an enemy or persecutor, against whom I may lawfully offer you my sword and life without trespassing on your vertue: and these great effects of it cannot be resisted by him who doth so much reverence it. I cannot likewise disapprove those considerations which you have for the King your Husband, since that its between his arms that I have found shelter and refuge, and without great ingratitude I cannot attempt any thing to his disadvantage; but if the part which I take in your displeasures, and the admi­ration which I have of your vertue, and other dee­per considerations, doe make me to find a subject in your afflictions— I staied at these words, and con­sidering that my passion had transported me insensibly beyond my bounds, and made me to use expressions enough to discover my thoughts, I remained silent, very abruptly, without making any sensible conclusion to what I had said. The Queen, observing my silence, looked earnestly upon me, ei­ther [Page 29] expecting a conclusion of my discourse, or with an intention to aske the cause of my hasty silence; but the Princesse her mother comming towards us, freed me of that inconvenience into which my im­prudence had then cast me; we might neverthelesse have continued on this discourse, had we not been interrupted by the arrivall of divers other Ladies, The chief of them was Soloma Sister to Herod, who for no friendship or affection came to visit those Prin­cesses, she having alwaies declared her self their mor­tall enemy; but she having a subtle and artificiall tongue of her own, made use of it upon all occasions for her own interests, and she knowing the power that Mariama had with Herod (notwithstanding her misfortunes) seemed very officious, and endeavou­red to palliate her malicious thoughts with a black dissimulation; the malice which she bore to the Queen was heightned by means of some accidents, where­with I shall acquaint you; and since you have enjoy­ned me to declare the naked truth of my fortune, I am inforced to tell you Madam, (although that in this discourse I shall trespasse upon my modestie) yet by reason of my great misfortune, and for no o­ther occasion I was loved by Soloma: I had then dis­covered her affection by many tokens, but I made no account of it, whether it was because my affections were wholly taken up with a subject, whose mea­nest part did far excell that which was most lovely in Soloma, or because I was then a little acquainted with her artificiall humor, or whatsoever was the cause of it, sure I am, that I satisfied my self in an­swering the extraordinary favours which I received from her, with those civilities only which I concei­ved [Page 30] were due to the Sister of Herod; but for rhat day she hindred me from having any further discourse with the Queen, but the day following I had liberty enough to entertain her (for that her Court and at­tendance was small, and every body refrained her Companie for fear of offending the King) yet a­mongst all my discourses, fear had so bound up my tongue, that I had not the confidence to discover my thoughts otherwise than by amorous looks, and changing my countenance. During this time, Herod, who had courreously treated me either from gene­rositie and noblenesse, or for the causes before men­tioned, offered me an occasion to advance my credit with him: For Maliolus who commanded the A­rabians, falling upon his Country, had done him much spoil and mischief, which caused Herod in all haste to rally his scattered Army, and being not able to command them in person, in regard of his inten­ded voyage to the Emperour, he gave the whole charge of the Armie to Pherorus his brother: and I being ashamed, that I had spent all my youth in avoyding dangers, desired the King to give me leave to accompany his brother in this expedition, which he not only granted me, but gave me the whole com­mand of the Cavalrie. I marched away, well con­tented with the Kings favours, and comforted my self against the grief which I had to forsake Maria­ma, with hopes of meriting her favour by some Heroicall action. I shall not spend time in telling you all particular passages that hapned during this war, but shall only acquaint you, that the excesse of good fortune did so favour me, that I acquired repu­tation enough in every encounter with the enemie, in [Page 31] fine, I routed and scattered the whole Armie of Arabs, by which means I gained as much credit in the Army as I could desire, & indeed Herod himself had so great an opinion of my behaviour, that being a while after enforced to call home Pherorus, to take upon him the Government of the Kingdom, during his absence on his voyage, it was his pleasure to make me Generall and Commander in chief of the whole Army, and put more confidence in me, notwithstanding my young age, and forraign alliance, than in his most experien­ced old Captains: I commanded alone, after the de­parture of Pherorus, and the same fortune that fa­voured me in the beginning, seconded me so well afterwards, that in a very short time I had cleered all Judea, from the plundring Arabs, after I had slain about twenty thousand of them in severall encoun­ters: as soon as all differences were composed, and affairs setled upon the frontiers, and that we had no more enemies to fight with, after that I had fortified the Garrisons on the frontiers, I hastned towards Hierusalem, not so much delighted, with the prai­ses and thanks which I expected for my good ser­vice, as with the hopes which I had to see Mariama very suddainly, and to see her at such a time, as I might look on her with honour, in regard of the ser­vice I had done for her Country: But good Gods, with what horrid news was I surprised, before I had gone the half of my journy; as that Herod was gone to meet with Augustus at Rhodes, for to labour with him to introduct himself with his good opinion, as he had done before with M. Antony, and that before he went he had caused Hircanus the Queens aged Uncle to be strangled, and that he had im­prisoned [Page 32] the Queen with her Mother in a Castle neer the town, under the cōmand of Sohemus and Josephus, to whom he had given strict orders for their safe keep­ing, without permitting any person to see or speak with them during his absence. This newes did not onely allay the contentment which I had for my re­turn, and the happy success of my voyage, but it fil­led me with astonishment, horrour and compassion; I admired at the crueltie of Herod, who although he held his life and Scepter from the goodnesse of Hircanus, yet had not the patience to expect the natu­ral end of him, who was already above 80. years of age; the pitty I had for the persecuted and afflicted Ma­riama was so great, that I was like to have sunk un­der it. Arsanus and my Governour Politus percei­ving me much troubled, earnestly desired me to ac­quaint them with the true cause thereof: I refused for some time to grant them their desire, but afterwards considering the little reason which I had to mistrust them, after so many testimonies of their affection, I communicated unto them my most secret thoughts, and declared unto them the violent passion which I had for Mariama; this acknowledgement did very much surprize them, although they needed not to have wondred so much at it, since they were no way igno­rant of the charming beautie of the Queen, and after they had urged to me all the reason and argument which they conceived was sufficient to make me change my opinion & resolution, they readily resolved to serve me upon this occasion to the hazzard of their lives. I was not a little refreshed with those new pro­testations of service, conceiving that their good coun­sells would much avail me in the management of my [Page 33] business; and so continuing on my journey, I passed over that little way which I had to goe, in a very deep melancholy. When I arrived at Jerusalem, the Honourable reception which I had by Pherorus, and all the Jewish people, did no way moderate my dis­pleasures. What (said I, when I was alone, or in company onely with those two to whom I had entru­sted my secrets) Mariama who of her self maketh all libertie to shake, is now become a Captive, and the Gods doe permit their greatest Master-piece to bee unjustly exposed to the crueltie of a barbarous wretch. Mariama now condoles the loss of her libertie, with that of her Uncle, and the powerless Tiridate doth onely lament with her, without affording her any o­ther succours; he remaineth quiet with his arms cros­sed, whilst those monsters tear him in pieces, in afflict­ing the person of Mariama, and weak and slender considerations doe hinder him from arming himself against his executioner. Ah Tiger! a thousand times more cruell than Phraatus, my enemy rather than my protector; unworthy monster, a thousand times un­worthy of those advantages which thou enjoyest, doe not trust any longer to that obligation, which untill now hath linked me to thy interests, and belief that thou dost me a farre less favour, in protecting me against my brother, than thou doest me injury in pro­secuting Mariama. I am resolved to take up arms in her defence, as well against thee, as all the world be­besides, and I shall not be taxed for ingratitude in de­fending a vertue unworthily oppressed by a Tyranni­call power. These were the effects of my passion, and by that last act of crueltie of Herod, my spirit was so estranged from all consideration which I had for him, [Page 34] that I did not scruple to doe him any mischief, so that it might tend either for the service or revenge of Maiiama-Arsanus (to whom I discovered my thoughts) earnestly desired me to dissemble them, for that he conceived my utter ruine would attend the discovery of them, and yet Mariama would not re­ceive any benefit by it; but in the mean time I told him, that it was impossible for me to live without see­ing her, and that I was resolved to try all wayes, how dangerous soever, for the satisfying of my longing desire. Arsanus for a long time opposed this inten­tion, but seeing that he could by no means diswade me from it, he attempted all wayes for to serve me in it; hee was well acquainted with Sohemus, and I re­membred that I had done him many good offices with Herod, upon occasions wherein he had use of my fa­vours; and this made Arsanus believe that he could probably obtain that from him, which I so much longed after, and indeed the successe was better than we could imagine. Mariama (whose charms were so great, that it was impossible for any man to defend himself against them) had so farre wrought upon the affections of Sohemus, that his greatest ambition was to please her, and indeed, he would have been ready to serve her, with the hazzard of his life and fortune; he had long since endeavoured to free her from her imprisonment, and set her at libertie, to retire whither shee had pleased, if he had not had a companion in his charge of a different disposition from his, and who would very unwillingly doe any act that might occa­sion the displeasure of Herod. Upon the first motion that Arsanus made to him, for to permit me to see the Queen, Hee affirmed a great willingnesse to [Page 35] oblige me, and stuck on nothing but the means to de­ceive his companion, for that hee had no hopes of drawing him to give mee that satisfaction, neither durst he propose it to him: Arsanus cloaked the de­sire that I had to see the Queen, with a pretence of compassion which I had for her sufferings, and so by his subtiltie made this bold effect of my passion, to passe for a meer act of Generosity; Sohemus desired the remainder of that day for to put things in order for to content mee, and the next day he told him that he was resolved to satisfie my desire notwithstanding the danger of the enterprise: Arsanus intreated him not to discover the design to the Queen, for fear, said he, lest she should oppose it upon some weak conside­rations, and it was upon this that. Sohemus seemed most of all to demurre, but afterwards being over­come with the belief that he had, that my intentions were onely to doe the Queen service, and that I would not have sought after such dangerous opportunities to see her, if I thought my sight would be displeasing to her. In fine, they concluded that towards the eve­ning I should not fail to meet Sohemus at a certain hour neer the Castle, where he promised to be, for to conduct me to the Queen; he made choice of that time, because the Queen was then most at libertie, and for that he might be freed from any interruption from Josephus, who would be then retired to his own house, and besides, I was so well known to all the Court, that it had been very difficult for me to have concealed my self during the day light. I ran a great hazard in that enterprise, as well in regard of the dan­ger that might have happened at the same time, as also in regard of the consequence of it, if Herod [Page 36] should chance to be informed of the business; but all these considerations were slighted by me, and I wai­ted for the desired hour, with so much impatience, that I thought every minute a twelmoneth untill the time came. In Fine, I went out of Jerusalem in the dusk of the Evening, attended on by Arsanus and my Governour, and having not far to goe, I sud­denly arrived at the place appointed, Sohemus failed not to meet me, according to his promise, and for that he had that day the sole command of the Castle, and consequently free libertie of egresse and regresse, he came to meet me accompanied with a Gentleman of the guard, of whose fidelitie hee was well assured, he had made choice of him the rather, for that he was about my age and stature, and therefore perswaded me to change clothes with him, and during our ab­sence this young man was to remain with my com­pany, that so I might pass in along with him as the same man that came sorth with him. All things hap­pened according to our expectation and desire, for hee conducting me to the Gate of the Castle which was flanked with great Towres, and invironed with large Ditches, caused the Draw-bridge to be let down upon giving of the token, and then leading me into the Court without any lights (for that he had before his going forth of the Castle expresly commanded that none should be lighted) I followed him up a back stair (for that he would not adventure to bring me through the main guards) and then through a gal­lerie, where was placed one Centinell, which he sud­denly removed, feigning to put me in his room, and thence he brought me to the dore of the Anticham­ber. I must confess, that at that instant all my spirits [Page 37] left me, and although I did not value the danger of my person, yet I trembled for fear lest this unex­pected visit should have been displeasing to the Queen, insomuch that making an untimely reflexion on the businesse, I was about to have staied Sohemus, and have returned by the way I came in, without daring to see the Queen. The dore of the Anti­chamber was immediatly set open at the naming of Sohemus, for that in regard of the great affection which he had expressed in the service of the Queen, he had free libertie to visit her at all hours. When we first came into her Chamber, she was on her Knees by her Bed side, where she prayed with great devotion to the God which she served, and the Prin­cesse Alexandra her mother was retired into her closet; upon the noise that we made as we came, she looking towards us, asked of Sohemus whether he had any businesse with her; I did not give time to Sohemus to make any replie, but going to her in a very disorderly posture, fell on my knees by her, and then taking one of her fair hands, kissed it with so much devotion, that it took away the use of my tongue: The Queen conceiving this action to be too familiar and passionat for her Keeper, pushed me of at the first with some disdain; but afterwards part­ly suspecting the truth, looked so intently upon me, that with the help of the lighted torches, she pre­sently knew me; her amazement was not ordinary at this sight, which caused her to withdraw her hand from me and retire two or three steps, and then spake to me, as followeth. Ah! Tiridate said she, what doe you think upon? what danger doe you run your self into? what danger replyed I, would to God Ma­dam, [Page 38] that there was a thousand times more, so that I might only find an occasion thereby to demon­strate unto you how much I should undervalue it for your service: I am too much obliged replied the Queen (making me rise) to the compassion that you have for my miseries; but I can by no means shake off that fear which you put me into, and the experi­rience I have had of the suspicious humor of Herod, makes me to wish from my heart, that you had not taken the advantage of so perillous an occasion to see me. I beseech you Madam to fear nothing for me, said I and be pleased to believe that in this condi­tion that your misfortunes have cast you, I doe not value the hatred of Herod, nor desire his friendship. I have heretofore looked on him as a King, to whom I was indebted for my life, but at present I consider him as no other than a man who hath made my life a thousand times more cruell than that death from which he hath preserved me by the assyle and refuge he hath afforded me: untill now those obligations disputed against his outrages, and in the person of Mariamas prosecutor I found that of my prote­ctor, but in fine Madam, these thoughts of acknow­ledgement doe give place to more lawfull resent­ments, and these last acts of crueltie, viz. The mur­der of your Uncle, and this strict captivity, have quite choakt all other considerations, which hitherto have disputed for him within me, & that makes me to pre­sume to desire from you such orders which I shall exe­cute without any condition or reservation; do not fear therefore Madam to command me to undertake any employment whereby I may serve you, and be plea­sed to beleeve that I shall not only winck at all other [Page 39] considerations, but that there can be no Remora or obstacle, that may hinder me from executing any de­sign, when I am fortified with the honour of your commands. Whilst I spake after this sort, the Queen observed me with very great attention, and although she was well acquainted with the malicious humour of the King her husband, and remembred well how of­ten she had been abused in that kind by divers persons, who under pretence of officiousnesse, and protestati­ons of service, had onely an intention to sound her in­clinations, and then to make report thereof to the King; yet it was my happinesse, not to be suspected by her of any such businesse, and she gave me to un­derstand so much by these following words: I have too good an opinion of you, said she, and I can too well distinguish between Princes of the blood of Arsaces, and men of servile and embased spirits, to accuse you of that dissimulation and treachery, which I have by sad experience found amongst many of them who have betrayed me; I know well, that those expressions you have been pleased to use in re­lation to my present condition, doe proceed from no other sourse, than a reall compassion, and a Gene­rous inclination, which is never wanting to men of your birth; you have heretofore given me too many assurances of your great vertue, for to leave any sha­dow of such a suspition; and for the further demon­stration of the confidence which I repose in you I shall with much freedome and willingnesse disclose to you my greatest secrets: Its most true, that I can by no means affect Herod, although the heavens have given him me for a husband, and I should be accounted rather insensible then Constant, if the losse [Page 40] of my Father Alexander, my Uncles Aristobulus, Antigonus and Hircanus, with my dear brother Aristobulus, could be remembred by me without a just resentment against their Murtherer, and the destroyer of the Royall family of the Hesmoneans; and moreover besides these great and notorious in­juries, I have received some more particular, which I can no lesse forget than the former; I am every day in expectation to have my throat cut, and the cruell wretch before his voyage to Rhodes, did give the same command to Sohemus, which heretofore his Uncle Joseph received from him upon another occasion, which was to dispatch me out of the world, in case any sinister accident should befall him during his ab­sence. I have now with much freedom given you the estate of my condition with Herod, yet I must tell you with the like libertie that as cruell as he is, he is notwithstanding my husband, and that the resent­ments that I have against him are not greater than the rules of my duty, and I can by no means desire that vengeance to befall him, which undoubtedly the heavens have reserved for him: by this you may perceive Tiridate my present condition and resolu­tion whereupon I am obliged to you, for that you are pleased to interest your self so much in my mis­fortunes, but I beseech you Sir so to behave your self for the future, that this passion may not prove fatall to you. Ha! would to God said I, that your miseries might determine with the most cruell death that Herod can possibly inflict on me. Oh, with how much cheerfulnesse would I embrace those glorious torments, which might make me worthy of some little remembrance in your memory, and how happy [Page 41] would my destinie be, if I should give my life to that adorable Princesse, to whom all the lives and souls of the whole world ought to be sacrifised. These words, together with the passionat action wherewith they were accompanied, opened the Queens eys, and gave her to understand (by a prompt reflexion on my for­mer behaviour) that those violent transports did not proceed from a naked compassion only, which sus­pition caused her to blush, but after she had looked on me for some time without speaking, in a very confused manner, in conclusion she said, Tiridate, think well on what you have said; these words were pronounced in such a tone, that I presently lost my assurance and power to make any reply, and consi­dering how indiscreetly I had discovered my self, and that I could no longer mask my passion, and upon these considerations being transported with love, sorrow and despair, I cast my self at the feet of the Queen, which I embraced and kissed a thousand times, without any power to open my lips, and so by those actions did strongly confirm that which she before understood from my mouth; and indeed she was most sensibly touched with it, and her first re­sentments were very violent for a person of so sweet a constitution: she balanced for some time upon the resolution she should take up, which time I employ­ed to gain force and recover my assurance. Madam, said I, (lying at her feet, without daring to look on her face) if my mouth have betrayed my heart, and if it hath discovered to you against my intention, that passion which I would have kept secret all my life time, be pleased to inflict upon me those punish­ments which I deserve, and I protest unto you, that [Page 42] I shall most readily and without murmuring submit unto them; I shall not goe about to justifie that passion, which in regard of its purity might elsewhere find some excuse: I shall not tell you that its im­possible for me to see you, without falling into the fault which I have committed▪ or that some years silence have given you some testimony of my respect; I am guiltie, if I have drawn on me your anger, and am worthy of the most cruell punishments in attemp­ting your displeasure. I had continued on my dis­course, if the Queen (being by that time resolved) had not interrupted me, who (thrusting me away with one hand, whilst she held the other before her face, to hide changings of her continuance) said un­to me, Tiridate, you are more culpable than you imagine, and if you had well known me, you had not taken upon you so great a freedom, in giving me that offence, which I even now received from you; I shall not goe about to publish your follie to the world, in regard I am so well satisfied with the hu­mour of Herod, that I am confident your ruin would be thereby occasioned, for even as I pardon those bloody injuries which I daily receive from him, in the same manner doe I now remit the crime which you lately committed: when she had said thus, she rose from her chair, and called for Sohemus (who was entertaining her maids in the adjoyning cham­ber) and commanded him to conduct me forth im­mediatly, and then without suffering me to reply, she retired her self hastily into the closet, where her mother had for some time expected her company: Good God? in what condition did I then find my self in? and in what posture did I then follow Sohemus, [Page 43] who conducted me out of the Castle, by the same way that we came in: I may say truly, that he had not one word from me, and indeed I had scarce the pow­er to embrace him, and return him thanks for the curtesie he had done me: being gone forth, I pre­sently found my servants, and mounted on horse­back, and so hastened into the City, but in a me­lancholly more dark than the night, and with a countenance not much unlike a condemned person: I could not much heed the consolations of Arsa­nus, to whom I communicated my disaster, but past over that whole night, in the greatest sadnesse as was possible for any soul to endure: I could no sooner call to mind the angry looks of my Princesse; but I was surrounded with the same terror that possessed me, upon the signification of her displeasure: neither could I think on the displeasure I had done her, with­out a very great affliction; all the words which she spake came fresh into my memory, but I must like­wise confesse, that I was not a little troubled, when I considered, that the offence which I committed, was put in balance with those horrid outrages which she had received from Herod. Ah! unjust Maria­ma, said I then, that you can no better distinguish between injuries, for certainly did you well con­sider it, you would find a vast disproportion, between the injuries of Herod, and the offence which Tiridate hath committed: Herod hath usurped a crown which belonged to your family, Herod is died red with the blood of your nearest kindred, nay hee doth not stick to give new or­ders, upon all occasions, for your own death and destruction; whereas Tiridate gives you the [Page 44] Possession and disposall of his heart and soul, and all that he hath; truly this crime is not of the same heinousness, as those tbat you have received from that cruell wretch, neither can I conceive that the same patience is requisite to undergoe it; but where­fore, said I then, interrupting my self, wherefore? Should I goe about to justifie my self, since its too true, that by my own temerity I have merited the displeasure of Mariama; I ought to look on her as a Deitie exalted above any humane thoughts or pre­tensions, I ought to tremble before her vertue, and although it be impossible to see those rare beauties without loving them, yet I should have suffered those glorious torments without making any disco­verie of them, and have forborn to draw upon mee such a misfortune by a sudden and unadvised discove­ry of my passions. In these and such like thoughts I passed away the remaining part of that night, and many more dayes following, during which time I saw oftentimes Soloma, Pherorus, and others of the chief Personages of the Court of Judea, who tired me with their thankfull entertainments for the service I had done their Countrey; but neither their compa­nies, nor extraordinary favours could divert those afflictions which my love made me to suffer, nor allay the displeasure which I had for the captivity of Mariama; but by this time newes came to Hie­rusalem of the triumphant return of Herod from Augustus, and how that by a charming Speech and artificiall carriage full of affected generositie, he had so wrought upon that great Emperour, that he not onely received courteous entertainment from him, but recei­ved as great expressions and assurances of friendship, [Page 45] as ever he had formerly had from M. Anthony, so that all those who were interessed in his good suc­cesses, were much rejoyced at it; not long after Herod arrived at the Town with a great train of attendance, and a joyfull countenance, which manifested suffici­ently the satisfaction which hee had received by his voyage: a great and pompous reception he had, and I my self was one of those who went forth to meet him; assoon as he saw me, hee hastened to me, and embracing me, called me the valiant and Heroick defender of Judea, and made me large promises of recompence for the services which I had done the State. But alas! how mis-sensible and careless I was of his curtesies and civilities! and although I knew my self obliged to him, yet the love which I bare Mariama, and the resentment of those injuries which he had offred her, carried me above all those obligations; he was no sooner arrived but he thought on her libertie, and being desirous to see her, went forthwith to the prison, where he spent all the follow­ing night, and from whence the next day he conducted her into the Citie, with all demonstrations of an ar­dent affection. I have since understood from Hirca­nus, that upon the first view he used many passionate expressions to her, for after that he had excused the death of Hircanus, telling her that he was necessitated so to doe for the prevention of a design which hee well understood he intended for his ruine; hee prote­sted that the sole end of her formall imprisonment, was for the safeguard of her person, against whom he was fearfull that some persons disaffected might at­tempt some mischief, or else lest that the seditious multitude might in his absence make use of her and [Page 46] her Mother, (whose spirit he knew was sufficiently turbulent) for the countenancing of a rebellion. The wise Queen heard this discourse with much modera­tion, and although she could not wholly conceal her thoughts, yet shee dissembled them in part, lest the discoverie thereof should cause as direfull e­ffects to Sohemus, as formerly to Joseph. The Court was at this time in its greatest glory, for the King being well satisfied with the good success of his affairs, and having nothing to contest with, but the spirit of Mariama, sought all occasions to divert and please her; but if the Queen (whose griefes had pe­netrated too deep for to receive refreshments from such vain shadows of pleasure) was not much affe­cted with it, Sure I am, that I was altogether as un­capable of any rejoycing, and I had so well with my love engraved on my spirit the remembrance of her displeasure, that all the magnificence and pomp of the Court of Herod was not sufficient to give me the least divertisement. I saw my Princess every day, for that libertie was not then denied me by her, but I had not the courage to speak in her presence, neither durst I to look her in the face, so that by all my actions I did discover unto her how greatly I feared to displease her; but it was neither by her looks or her carriage towards me, that I could perceive any marks of an aversion; Shee had too sweet a disposition, and her inclinations were too good for to permit her to hate a man that was guiltie of no other crime but of loving her, since she had much adoe to hate those who had merited her displeasure by horrid and execrable mur­thers; but since she believed that she could not suffer the testifications of my affection without injuring [Page 47] her vertue, she avoided all occasions of receiving them, as much as was possible for her, and although she alwaies spake very pleasantly to me, yet it was alwaies before company, and indeed she so ordered the matter, that I could never be in her company, when she was by her self; her carriage towards me, although it gave me no compleat satisfaction, yet it left me no cause to complain, and the knowledge I had of her admirable vertues, having in part extin­guished together with my hopes, a part of those de­sires which her beauty had occasioned, I found my passion sufficiently satisfied, and recompenced with the esteem that she had of me. And truly I may safely say, that never man loved so purely, as I loved Ma­riama for the love of her self onely; and in all the course of my passion, I never once considered the per­son of Tiridate. I spent a whole year after this sort, and although my eyes were the onely Embassadours of my love, yet she well perceived by all my actions, that the violence of it was no way diminished, and that it was the respect which I bore her, that occasio­ned my greatest suffering. In fine, my perseverance accompanied with a discretion (which she well per­ceived every day by a thousand marks) touched her with compassion, I say compassion, for that love had never the power to make any impression on her spirit; and all that she did in my favour, proceeded onely from an inclination purely generous; her heart which was made neither of Marble nor Brasse, suffered it self to be softned with Pitty, but yet never capable of any impression swerving from the most severe rules of her duty. She could not look on a languishing Prince many years, and a Prince not onely dying for her, but [Page 48] dying in such a respectfull and obliging sort, and dying without complaining of the cause of his death, with­out giving way to those resentments which he natural­ly should have, but yet she had rather let him dye, yea and die her self too, than entertain the least thought of giving him any comfort that might prejudice her ver­tue. I was so fortunate in the conduct of my passion, and so cautelous in all my actions, that notwithstan­ding the extraordinary jealousie of Herod, I gave him not the least shadow of discontent, and this discreet carriage did produce no small effects on the Queens spirit; I happened to be one day with her, the King, Soloma, and Pherorus, and some other of the chief of the Court, in the Palace Garden, where walking for some time, I endeavoured as much as possibly I could to dis-intangle my self from Soloma, who at that time had a spirit too high for to declare to me openly her passion, and therefore sought to make me under­stand her inclinations by her behaviour, accompanied with many ambitious discourses. It happened that the King (having walked for some time with the Queen alone, was enforced to retire himself for the dispatch of some important businesse) called me to him, and presented to me the Queens fair hand, using these words, I leave you, said he, to Prince Tiridate, and I cannot put that which I love more than my self, into better hands; endeavour, said he to me, if you can, to divert her from her deep melancholy. I made no re­ply to this curteous offer, but by an action full of ac­knowledgement and respect, and considering the con­dition in which I was with the Queen, I durst not hazzard my self so much, although she offered it with a countenance and action full of sweetness; I led [Page 49] her for some time without daring to speak to her, or look on her, she continued likewise a while as silent- untill at length she took that opportunity to discover her thoughts unto me; Tiridate, said she, if the King knew your pretentions, he would not so readily put me into your hands, with so great confidence; know therefore Teridate, that if the first knowledge of your passion occasioned my displeasure, yet the continuance of it hath affected me with compassion, I cannot without pitty consider your present condition, I cannot see a Prince to whom the heavens have given so many excellent qualities, spend his time in so sad a conditi­on; but in Fine, Tiridate what are your pretentions? and if you have deemed me worthy of your esteem, what is it that you expect or hope for from me? Doe you imagin that I will give my self a libertie to satis­fie your passion in the least action, I say the least, for if I imagined that you had any hopes tending to my dishonour, I should look on you as a Monster or a mortall enemy; Doe you conceive that the little sa­tisfaction which I have from Herod, or the remem­brance of the outrages which I have received from him, can make me cast my affection on a subject, not so much deserving my aversion? Is it on such thoughts that you have founded your hopes? if it be so Tiridate, doe not abuse your self any longer, but believe, that although the heavens have made me un­fortunate in submitting me to one so cruell, yet I will not goe about to merit my misfortunes by my actions, nor link my self with Herod by my crimes, although my bad fortunes have joyned me to him in Marriage; I should be unworthy of those favours which the hea­vens have afforded me, which doe comfort me amidst [Page 50] my miseries, and I should be altogether unworthy of that esteem which you have for me. I beseech you for my sake to consider these things seriously, since I doe represent them to you with so much mildness, and with as much affection, as in reason I can shew you; strive therefore with your self, by means of the great­ness of your courage, and propose to your self this ruinous passion as an enemie which you ought to fear, and an enemy which may destroy you, and me with you, in case you get not the victory. The Queen staied at these words, which I heard with admiration and astonishment, and having during her discourse reco­vered some of the assurance which I had lost, I made use of it in returning her this answer. I am altogether unworthy, Madam, of that grace and favour which I have received from you. and since that I have merited your displeasure, and have deserved to have perished in it, without any hopes of so tender a compassion, which at this time you have manifested for me, nei­ther should I have ever attempted by any discourse of mine, to draw upon me more of your anger, if the noble goodness which accompanies your other ver­tues had not encouraged me to justifie my thoughts unto you, I will therefore take upon me the boldness to tell you, that love which cannot be either hatefull or considerable to the beloved, but by its effects, since of it self it is both obliging and advantageous in eve­ry bodies understanding▪ I say if my passion should stirre up in me desires which might ecclipse your ver­tues, you had then good cause to detest it as criminall and heynous; but so long as it inspires no other thoughts into me than those of adoring those rare qualities which the gods have so prodigally bestowed [Page 51] on you, or of interesting my self so farre in your mis­fortunes, that I should be ready to spend my dearest blood for your interests, I doe not conceive that you can in justice condemn it; is it a crime for Tiridate to adore the divine beautie and perfection of Mariamne. And is it a crime for Tiridate to desire an occasion to purchase with his blood, the repose and quiet of Ma­riamne? if I have any other thoughts, Madam, or any other desires, punish them, I pray you, with all the rigour that your first anger could inspire into you, and let the Gods unite their forces with yours, for to make me the most unfortunate of all men living, but if a­midst those considerations which I have of you, there appears nothing but that innocence in its puritie, which you your self desire and commend, I humbly beseech you, Madam to permit me to preserve it whilst I breathe; its such a necessity, that nothing can dis­pence with, and its a favour which I beg of you, by the remembrance of all thats dear to you, and if wee were in a place freed from so great a number of wit­nesses, where I might with freedome cast my self at your feet, I professe I should not stirre from them, un­till I obtained my request. These words, together with the vehemencie and passion wherewith they were ac­companied, did somewhat touch the generous and sweet spirit of the Queen, and cast her into such thoughts as hindred for some time any reply, never­theless after a while she was disposed to return an an­swer, when as we came to the end of the ally, being turned back for to continue on our walk, we saw So­loma and divers others so neer us, that the Queen thought she should not have had an opportunitie to declare her thoughts unto me, but seeing the company [Page 52] to make a stand, to suffer us to pass by, she spake these words, before she stirred from the place; Tiridate, if your thoughts are no other, than such as you profess they are, I have no great cause to be offended with you, but although they were yet more pure and inno­cent, I should wish from my soul, and earnestly en­treat you to suppress and overcome them if it may be possible, since they will undoubtedly prove destructive both to your own and my tranquillity: shee said no more (whether it was because she would debarre me from having any further conference on a subject no way pleasing to her, or because she feared, and not without cause, that the malicious spirit of Soloma might take advantage from our long and serious con­verse, to do us a mischief) but joyned her self with the other companie, from which, at that time, shee would no more separate her self; From that time for­ward I found my condition much changed, and I thought my affairs were reduced to a more advan­tageous posture than formerly, for although the Queen seemed to disapprove my passion, and looked on the continuance of it with displeasure, yet not­withstanding she received my protestations with such a generous goodness, that she could neither banish nor hate a Prince, who loved her with so pure and dis­ingaged affection, that she had no cause to condemn it in him, and for that I never hoped to mend my for­tune, I thought I had cause sufficient to remain satisfied; I began at the same time to recover my lost spirits, and to look with a more chearfull countenance, and sure I am, that all the discontent which any body perceived to lye on mee, proceeded rather from the displeasures of the Queen, than any other [Page 53] dissatisfaction; for the condition of this great Prin­cesse was very lamentable, and although the King passionately loved her, yet the repugnance which she had, against those significations of his love, made her to receive them, as so many effects of the chol­ler of the heavens; and although her vertuous in­clinations, made her to keep her self within the most strict rules of her duty, yet her courage could not apply it self, to make much of the destroyer of her family, and a person that was freshly died with the blood of her nearest alliance; her reproaches some­times would so nearly touch the King that we were oftentimes in danger of seeing most sad effects; but afterwards his love would so sweeten him, that his furious transports would vanish and make him be­come more gentle and loving than usually, so that he would endeavour to obtain that with intreaties and tears, which his choller and menaces could not procure: We were one day in the Kings Chamber, whither he desired the Queen to come, where after some discourse by the window, which I heard not, he offered to kisse her, but the Queen (either because she conceived those embraces were not suitable to her modesty, before so great a company, or because she was moved by her lawfull disdain and aversion) retired two or three steps and turned her self from him most disdainfully, the King was so troubled at this action and carriage, and especially for that it happened before so great a company, that notwith­standing the great command he had of himself, he could not dissemble the resentment he had of it, and therefore looking earnestly on the Queen, with an enraged countenance, thou art said he altogether [Page 54] unworthy of those favours which I offer thee; and thou doest every day receive of me, get thee gone, said he, out of my Chamber, and if thou doest not remember the destiny of thy Ancestors, know that I will make thee to consider him as your King, whom you disdain to own as your husband; the Queen made no other reply to those cruell words, but by a look full of scorn and contempt, which provoked him so much the more, and so saluting all the com­pany, without changing her countenance, went forth of the Kings Chamber, for to retire her self to her own, the Kings anger which oftentimes produced most bloody effects, made all the company to trem­ble although it wrought not the same effect on me, for I had scarce the discretion to contain my self, and it was for the Queens sake, and not my own, that I strugled to overcome my passion: however I could not see her withdraw, without running after her for to lead her, but as her thoughts were lesse troubled than mine, so had she a greater proportion of discre­tion, and therefore, considering how much that offer of service might displease the King, and how by that means, I might precipitate my self into great dangers, she refused my offer, and having no opportunity to explain better her thoughts, shee commanded me with a winck of her eye to desist. I then returned hastily, but with some regret to the King, who to speak truly liked not my carriage at that time, al­though he passed it over with lesse bruit, than he would have done had any other of his subjects of­fered him the like displeasure; he continued his ray­ling discourse against the Queen for some time, and since I perceived that I could not intrust him with­out [Page 55] discovering my inclinations to no purpose, I did not undertake her defence. A few days after he was becalmed and appeased, so great a power had the love he bore to the Queen on his spirit: yet he sud­dainly relapsed into the same distemper, and all their life was spent in that continuall disorder, which may be expected from the incompatibility of vice and vertue: by this time Soloma had given me so many assurances of her affection, that I could no longer seem to be ignorant of her pretensions, and although then she had so much command of her passion, that she could forbear to declare it openly in words, yet she had expressed so much both by her speech and behaviour, that I could no longer seem to doubt thereof; I endeavoured to dissemble this discovery, by all waies possible, although I was throughly con­vinced of the reality of it; Soloma conceived right­ly, that both by her own carriage and mine, I was well acquainted with her passion, and the contempt which I had of it oftentimes occasioned a disdain, which in any body but her, would have extinguished it, It was my fortune to meet her one day at the house of Pherorus, to whom I then gave a visit, in regard of his indisposition, after that we had staied some time by his Bed, Soloma, who was desirous to entertain me in private, obliged me to walk with her into a Gallery, near to which she pretended to shew me some pictures: being not able handsomely to refuse this offer, I conducted her by the hand into the Gallery, where after we had spent sometime in discourse of the pictures, in which were represented many memorable accidents of the Jewish history, where to say truly, she shewed me most admirable [Page 56] things, which cannot be believed by those that dif­fer in Religion from them; amongst others shee shewed me those Captains who amidst a battell, by their prayers, made the Sun to stop in its course, and others that dammed up the torrent of the red Sea, that so their party might passe through; but she in­sisted chiefly on David, the principall of their Kings, as also his Son Solomon who passeth for a wonder of wisdome and policy; she explained to me at large the life of the latter, and from thence pitched on a certain piece, where was represented a very fair Queen, who falling in love with Solomon, upon the report of his vertues, had left her Kingdom and Coun­try, and traversed a great part of the world to visit him; Soloma took from hence an occasion to set upon me, and therefore abridging the story she told me: this Prince, said she, was the wisest that ever lived, and yet he did not contemn the affection of a Princesse that loved him, but for a recompence he gave her his heart, which was all that she could desire from him, after these words, she looked ear­nestly upon me, although with some confusion, and so by her actions obliged me to make some reply: It was both just and reasonable, that this wise King which you have described, should make an acknow­ledgment to that fair Queen, who had abandoned her territories, and had exposed her self to those trou­bles and hazards, that doe attend so troublesome a voyage, only for to visit him, for certainly the pains which she underwent were considerable, and King Solomon had failed in that justice for which you so largely commend him, if he had not made some thankfull acknowledgement, for so great an obli­gation: [Page 57] you have now said enough, replied Soloma, for to condemn your self, for if you were of that opi­nion you would well consider how you stand obli­ged to those Princesses, who have not forsaken King­doms, and traversed many Provinces to have the honour to see you, but have lost their liberties, which are more precious than Empires, and have overcome greater difficulties than those of long and hazzardous journies. This discourse, the end of which I alwaies feared, put me into such a fearfull condition, which I could by no means dissemble, but seeing my self obliged to return an answer: I replied, that I was too unfortunate, for to beleive, that my miserable con­dition could make me other than an object of pit­ty and compassion, and that the affections of Prin­cesses ought to be placed on persons more deserving, I am far from imagining, that so miserable and ba­nished a creature (who is persecuted by his friends, and hath no other shelter and refuge, but in the goodnesse of the King your Brother) can triumph over those pretious liberties, which without doubt are reserved for persons more fortunate, and those who have merited them, not onely by the losse of their own, but a long series of services: Those, replyed, Soloma who come by them so easily, are much more obliged, than those who have acquired them, with much pains taking, that is either by losse of their blood or whole years service, and therefore without extream ingratitude, that which is dearly purcha­sed cannot be preferred, before that which is given freely: And I shall not blush to tell you that you are of this number; Tiridate, you labour to avoid ob­ligations, when they are cast on you, for without [Page 58] doubt you are better esteemed of in the Court of Herod, than you desire to be, and the misfortunes of your life are not so much considered there, as the quallities wherewith you are endued, and you know it very well, although by a feigned and pretended ignorance you would seem to disguise it, and you are too apprehensive and clear sighted, for to be igno­rant of that, which too many words and actions have too clearly declared to you, but you have shut up both your eys and ears against them with disdain, and any other spirit, but that over which you have ac­quired so great an Empire, would have rebounded at your contempts, and slightings, but notwithstan­ding all your harsh carriage, she hath persevered some years, without suffering her affection to congeale, and she will persevere in the same, all her life time, if you shall but give her hopes, that her perseverance, will not be wholly unprofitable: Soloma as she spake these words, held her eys fixed on the ground, on whom I perceived many marks of shame and con­fusion, which she could by no means dissemble, and indeed had she not been troubled with her self. I should have been in the like condition for her, and I was more troubled in hiding her shame, than in studying for an answer to return her, Madam, said I, after a little pause, untill this present time, my thoughts have been so taken up with the considera­tion of my misfortunes, that I have scarce had the liberty to think on any thing besides, and have found so little ground and reason, for those things which you done me the honour to relate, that I could never imagine them, and for that cause, my carelesnesse ought rather to be accounted a fault, which I have [Page 59] committed than a disdain which was never naturall to me; The Gods certainly have not endewed me with so many advantagious qualities, for to raise me to so high a pitch of happinesse, and if it were really true, the disgusts of my life are such, and my miseries so great, that I should take no pleasure at all, in the greatest fortune that may befall me, by this time Soloma was satisfied that her passion was sufficiently known to me, and therefore thought my words to­gether with the action wherewith they were uttered, so disobeying, that if it had been possible for her, she would have ceased from that time, to cast her affe­ction on me, neither was she desirous to continue on a discourse, which in the beginning, she received so little satisfaction; and therefore, going hastily out of the Gallery she said, very well Tiridate, I shall not entertain you any longer, on a subject so un­pleasing and loathsome to you, and since you must be importuned to requite courtesies, I shall cease from so doing for the future: having said thus, at our entrance into the Chamber of Pherorus, I was hindred from returning any further answer, and indeed she was so enraged against me, that during the time we were there together, shee never offered to speak unto me, or so much as cast an eye towards me. From that day forward I began to be sensible of the fury of that spirit, which I ever thought to be sufficiently vicious, I took the first opportunity to discover the whole matter to the Queen, least that malicious creature should endeavour to doe me some ill office with her, upon this discovery the Queen began to entertain worse thoughts of Soloma than before, which I perceived by her discourse concerning her, [Page 60] Tiridate, said she, smilingly, are you so cruell to those that love you; but afterwards discoursing more seriously, she told me that if I would be pleased but to open my eys to reason, which passion had shut up, I might perceive that God had punished my unlawfull passion, with such a one as I wholly dis­liked, and since Soloma said she, can entertain no passion for you, but that which is condemned by your self and every body, in regard of her married condi­tion, how can I then, who have a King for my Hus­band, suffer the like in your self, without falling into the same fault. Ah! Madam, said I, I conceive my case differs much from that of Soloma, for if you should suffer your goodnesse, to bestow any parti­cular favour on me, you will be much mor excu­sable than Soloma, since the person that bears the name of your husband, doth merit rather than the esteem of a cruell enemy: I have told you oftentimes, said the Queen, that you may not ground any hopes upon that consideration, and although, I stood no way obliged to Herod, yet I should never forget that which I owe to my self; And these were the an­swers, which I usually received from her, and it was in such courteous forbearances, that I took my greatest pleasure and content; I esteemed my condition the more fortunate, for that I had no hopes of making a further progresse in the af­fections of so vertuous a Princesse: the occasion I had to make use of the assistance of Sohemus had induced me to discover my thoughts unto him, be­sides, I did with presents and favours, gain the affe­ctions of Philo the Queens principall Eunuch, as al­so Cleopha her chiefest maid of Honour, who were [Page 61] both very ready to serve my interests upon all occasi­ons, however the Queen was ignorant of these pro­ceedings with her servants, and indeed had she known it, she would not have approved thereof; Shee still shunned opportunities to see me alone, and if by chance she could not avoyd my companie, shee kept me in such awe and fear, that I hardly dared to open my lips before her, yet the compassion which she had for my suffering encouraged me sometimes to presume to speak to her, but although I found sweet consola­tions in this libertie, which she gave me, yet if I did but extend it so farre as to kiss her fair hand, shee would be so much displeased, that I was constrained speedily to repent, for what I had desired to doe. During this time, although by my circumspection and care, I did deceive almost every body in the Court, in the opinion they had of me, yet Soloma, who was more interessed than the rest, was more clear-sighted, and imagining that my contempt of her affections proceeded from some preoccupation, she held so vigi­lant an eye on my actions, that at last she began to discover a part of the truth; yet she could not be well satisfied with my pretentions, because suddenly after I was enforced to absent my self from the Court, upon an occasion which I shall presently relate.

The Historie of Julius Caesar, and of the Queen Cleopatra.

BEfore I shall enter upon the life of this great Queen, whom for the present I have the honour to serve, I must of necessitie spend some time upon another Queen more famous than any that preceded her, as well for her greatness▪ as her beauty and manner of living: you may well imagine that its of the Queen Cleopatra, that I am about to speak of, whose name was not onely known in this Coun­trey where she reigned, but over the whole world; her name was, and will be famous in all ages to come: every body knoweth what befell her by means of M. Anthony, and therefore I shall not have need to stay long upon that subject; but because her ene­mies have endeavoured to stain her reputation in the business which hapned to her with Julius Caesar, I hold my self particularly obliged in conscience (be­ing a person who was throughly acquainted with that affair, and knew as much of it as any body) to justi­fie her against all those calumnies; and therefore will in a few words without prolixitie, give you an exact account of the management of that business. The Queen Cleopatra, was the Daughter of King Ptolo­mie, surnamed Auletus, who without doubt you know very well, and she with her Brother King Pto­lomie, came of that noble race of Kings, who ever since the great Ptolomeus (who was the friend and Successor of Alexander) have reigned in Egypt, without discontinuance. This Princess was born [Page 110] with all the good qualities and endowments which the Gods and Nature could possibly bestow on a mor­tall person: her outward beauty was so excellent, that it surpassed all womens that lived in her time, and her inward qualifications were seconded with the same advantages, and the greatness of her courage farre exceeded her Sex; I should say more of her, had not her fame and renown been spread throughout the whole world, and had not her heavenly gifts proved too fatall to her for me to discourse of them without displeasure: but the Prince Ptolomie her brother, was naturally enclined to vice, and not onely bad of him­self, but suffered himself to be so farre corrupted by his Court flatterers and sycophants, that in a short time by their pernicious Counsells, he had quite lost all those good impressions which his high birth had given him, and in the end ran himseif into those acti­ons which utterly ruined him. He came to the Crown very young, by reason of his Fathers death, the liber­tie which he might have in an absolute Power engul­phed him in all manner of vice, insomuch that the Egyptian people sadly observing the beginnings of his Reign, and being much troubled to see themselves subject to a Prince whom they thought unworthy to Govern them, they looked upon Cleopatra, who was different from her Brother, as well in vertue and ma­jestie, as in all other qualifications, which might make a Princesse worthy of Soveraign authority, and were grieved at nothing more than the obstacles which her sex gave to their desires; So that in fine, they shewed upon all occasions, how much more they desired her Reign than her Brother Ptolomies, or rather of Poth­mius, Theodorus, and Ganimedes, with the rest of the [Page 111] knot of flatterers, whom he had raked out of the dirt, for to advance them to the highest degrees of honour and rule, these unworthy favorits, being sensible of the credit of Cleopatra with the Egyptians, soon made her to be suspected by her brother, and insinuated into him, that he ought to destroy her: the wicked Prince made no delay to put their Counsell in exe­cution, but the Princesse having bin informed of his bad intentions, retired from the Court and fled for shelter amongst those Egyptians, which she thought were most affectionate and faithfull to her; neither was she deceived in the confidence she had in them, for a good part of the Kingdome armed themselves in her defence, and many Cities declared for her, and though her partie was not the greatest, yet it was composed of the honestest and best reputed men of the Country; so that by reason of the justnesse of her cause, she defended her self very gallantly a long time, against all the Kings strength and power, but in the end, after many advantages, which the number of his troops had gotten him, he besieged the Princesse in the City of Pelouse, where she was retired for to save her self: 'twas about this siege that he was em­ployed, when as the unfortunate Pompey (that ter­rible example of fortunes inconstancy) who after that he had triumphed over three parts of the world, and by a great number of victories had equalled his reputation with that of Alexander the great, sa­ving himself from the battail of Pharsale, came and cast himself into his protection, against the pursuit of his enemy and Conqueror: certainly Ptolomie ought to have given all sort of honour and assistance to the vertue and worth of this great Captain, and without [Page 112] question any one but himself, would have received him with the greatest civility and respect, who a few dayes before, had bin the greatest of men, but this wicked Prince considering his present low condition, and not looking after his vertue, and (hearkning to the pernicious counsels of Pothimus and the rest, who perswaded him that by murthering Pompey he might gain upon the affections of his enemy) against all divine and humane law, massacred this unfortunate great Prince, neer Pelouse in the sight of his wife Cornelia, who hardly escaped the same destinie; the opinion I have of your through knowledge of this deplorable story, doth make me forbear to enlarge on that subject; a few dayes after, Ptolomie hearing that Caesar intended to come into Egypt, and know­ing that he would disaprove the cruell war that he had made against bis Sister, raised the siege from Pelouse, and went to Alexandria, where he imagi­ned he was to land. Cleopatra, no sooner saw her self free from the siege, but by the advice of her friends, and particularly of Apollodorus my Father (by whom she was wont to be much guided) shee resolved to goe and cast her self at Caesars feet, and desire his protection, before he arrived at Alexan­dria; this design was suddainly set on foot, so that within a very short time, she transported her self with some light vessels, to the Isle of Farum, where she understood that Caesar intended to spend some time; I was one of those that waited on her thither, and because of the faithfull service which my Father had done her, was one that had the greatest accesse to her, and much credit with her. Caesar hearing of her arrivall, came very civilly to visit her; now for that [Page 113] I was present at their first interview, I will give you a particular account of it; Cleopatra to gain the bet­ter successe in her businesse, had adorned her natu­rall beauties with her richest and most splended at­tire, which she was wont to make use of when she intended to set off her self with the greatest advan­tage: but yet though she had habited her self con­formable to her condition, and that she had rather studied mourning then Pomp, in an action where she was to appear as a supplicant or sutor; yet some­thing would have accompanied her mourning, that would have been more glorious and pompous than gold and pretious stones, her eys sparkled with fire a thousand times brighter than Diamonds, and the Majestie of her port and countenance would have better declared her qualitie, than a huge train of at­tending servants: her sight astonished Caesar, and all those that came with him; sure I am, that the coun­tenance of that great man (the greatest not onely in that age, but in all ages before and after him) im­pressed such a respect on our spirits, that we looked on him as a God; that vast reputation which he had acquired, in gaining an hundred battails against the most redoubted and valorous people of the universe, yea and the Romans themselves, whom he had sub­jugated to his obedience, with forces far inferiour in number to theirs, made us look on him with admi­rable veneration; and to speak truly, he had a face, that did not bely the dignity and greatness of his actions; for although we saw not those lineaments which with his youthfull dayes were vanished, yet we could see plainly all the marks of true greatness, shine through him; his tone was so imperious, al­though [Page 114] tempered with sweetness, that it would bee hard to take him for other than the absolute Ma­ster of the world; and indeed both Caesar and Cleo­patra continued a while together without speaking to each other discovering by their looks and silence their mutuall admiration; but in the end, Cleopatra, considering that she was before him who was to establish her repose and fortune, or rather before the master of her destiny, overcomming her naturall courage, and taking on her a degree of humility be­yond her custome, cast her self at Caesar his feet, and resisting the instant intreaties and endeavours, which he used to raise her up, thou seest great Emperour, said she, thou seest at thy feet, the daughter of Pto­lomie, who desires that from thee against a cruell brother, which she might expect from him against forraign enemies, oppressed innocence and weakness doe implore thy assistance, and thy generous good­ness cannot more justly employ it self, than in pro­tecting a Princess, cruelly persecuted in her fortune, tranquility, and life, amidst those territories which my Father hath possessed, and of which I have a lawfull claim to a part I am wholy destitute of a retreat, without it be by thy favour, and if that be denied me, I may suddainly give satisfaction to the cruelty of a brother, who will not be moved to com­passion, either by relations of blood, or consideration of my sex and young years; let me not I beseech you, uneffectually embrace these victorious knees, before which all humane greatness ought to abase it self, but make it appear to all the world that thou art great and that thou art Caesar, by thy pitty and goodness, as thou hast already done by those trium­phant [Page 115] Arms, which have made thee Master, not onely of Rome, but of the whole world besides. The fair Princess had undoubtedly continued on her discourse, if Caesar who could not hearken to her, and see her at his feet (although he had been accustomed to see many a great King in the same posture) had not employed with his intreaties, the force of his Arms to raise her up, which when he had done & saw her in a posture more befitting her beauty. Fear not Cleopatra, said he, the Roman force shall protect thee against the crueltie of thy Brother, if he will not otherwise hearken to our desires; and we will not quit Egypt before we have secured thy life and fortune. Hee uttered these few words with a Roman gravitie, and majestie sutable to his condition, but a while after, entring into discourse with the Princess, he met with so many charms, that he was suddenly becalmed, and lost his gravitie, and would no longer discourse with her, but in a very hum­ble and submissive manner: after that he had secured her from her fears, with his fair & noble promises never to forsake her, he told her that he would conduct her to Alexandria, and present her to her Brother, and then put her in possession of that part of the Kingdome, which of right did belong to her: Cleopatra could not resolve to accompany him thither, without some difficulty, for that she was well acquainted with her brothers malicious nature, but at the last she was constrained to comply with the will of Caesar, who would absolutely have her so to doe and had dis­patched away one of his Principall officers to Ptolo­mie, for to acquaint him that he could not see him as a friend, and ally of the people of Rome, if from him he would not receive Cleopatra, and be reconciled to [Page 116] her. Ptolomie received that order with so much in­ward indignation, that he was about to act some sud­den mifchief, had he not been afraid of the Roman power, and therefore he thought it best to dissemble his ranckor, untill he had a fitter opportunitie to de­clare it; he prepared himself to submit (although much against his stomack) to the law that was impo­sed on him; and in the mean time, to gratifie Caesar, he sent by that wicked Theodorus the head of the great Pompie; but he was frustrate of his expectation, and deceived in his opinion: for that Generous Con­querour in stead of accepting the present, refused to see it, and commanded the bringer of it to get him gone, after that he had sufficiently inveighed against the infidelitie of his Master: he continued on his De­sign nevertheless of going to Alexandria, where be­ing arrived, he was nobly received by Ptolomie, with many feigned demonstrations of friendship: Cleopa­tra was likewise caressed by him upon the same ac­count, and Ptolomie protested to Caesar, that he was ready to let her partake of the Government, and was willing to be reconciled to her; So Cleopatra forgat all cause of complaint; and many dayes were ther spent in feastings, and other Court divertisements; but the spirit of Caesar as great and invincible as it was, could not defend it self against the charms of Cleopa­tra. This Conquerour of the world, suffered himself to be conquered by the beauty of a woman, and he met with that in her sight and conversation which he had not found in that infinite number of battels which he had fought; But it will not seem a wonder to those who knew that great Queen, for any man would have much to doe to preserve his libertie, when [Page 117] she suffered her charms to employ their forces. Before that he discovered openly his passion to the Princess, his looks and actions did sufficiently bewray it, and as soon as he thought she was in a disposition to hearken to him, he acquainted her with the torments that he underwent for her. Cleopatra was one of the most ambitious women in the world, and therefore could very well brook the submission of the greatest of men. She had so good an opinion of her Perfections, that she thought they were capable to make the most in­sensible creature in love with them, and therefore ob­serving the actions of Caesar, she rightly judged what ayled him, before he opened his mind fully to her. The first time that he mentioned any thing of that nature, was in the Gallerie of the Palace, where wal­king some time courteously with her, and discoursing of the order that he would take for the settlement of her affairs. The Princess returned an acknowledge­ment for his favours, in very civill and thankfull tearms, and from that he took his first occasion to discover his thoughts, and therefore when he had pre­pared her, by his looks, for the discourse he intended. I never thought, said he, to receive such a recompence for the service I have done you, and if you had well requited me, you would not have undermined my own tranquilitie, whilst I am busied in the establish­ment of yours; Doe not marvell at this language, said he, in a tone more serious; for in endeavouring to procure your freedome, I have cast my own at your feet, and I am the first that must stoop to that Empire, which I designed to give you in Egypt: I had used the means to defend my self against you, as I have done against those that fortune hath heretofore made my [Page 118] enemies, had I not foreseen that they would have proved fruitlesse, and had I not found too much glory in my defeat, for to dispute with you for the victorie. I doe therefore give my self up wholly to you▪ most fair Cleopatra, with as much satisfaction, as I should doe to the most glorious Conquerour in the world, and to such a Conquerour, whose goodnesse I may implore without shame or dishonour: make use therefore of your victorie as your goodness shall per­swade you, and remember that you are both noble and generous, and therefore ought not to abuse it: These were the first words of Caesar, and the Princess who liked well enough this Declaration, not being able to expect more glorious effects of her vertue than in the conquest of so brave a spirit, after she had a while considered with her self, replied in this sort; I have not so good an opinion, my Lord, of that little beauty which the Gods have given me, or any other qualities and perfections that are esteemed by men, for to believe that they have given me any command over him, to whom the whole world doth homage, neither can I imagie that the Conquerour of the world should be thus easily ensnared, the Gods having for­med him with a nature so little different from their own▪ that all mortall beauties can only vainly pre­tend to such a conquest; neither indeed would it be equitable, that after you have deprived so great a part of the world of their libertie, that you should lose your own, for a Princess, who owes you hers, and is particularly engaged to you for her safety; neverthe­less, my Lord, I receive this discourse of yours with that respect which I owe to great Caesar, and my own benefactor, and therefore if his spirits can find any re­freshment [Page 119] in this kind of conversation amidst its great employments, I shall not be sorry that I have administred him this occasion, provided he take notice that I can suffer any thing from him as my master and protector. Cleopatra ended her discourse, looking on Caesars countenance in so pleasing a sort, that her smiles were enough to perswade him that she had spoken against her thoughts, and indeed she looked on him with an action so sweet and majestick, that it seemed to be composed of nothing else but the graces themselves; her eyes at that time sparkled out so much light, that they encreased the fire that was already kindled in the breast of great Caesar, and gave such a redoublement of his Passions that he could scarce hold from suffering it violently to break out upon the place, yet with much adoe he refrained himself, and looking on the Princess in such a fashion as did not ill represent his passion; I should be much offended with you, said he, that you spake against your knowledge, when you so much undervalued that Power which hath overcome me, it may occasion yet greater effects, and those advantages which my courage hath given me with the help of Fortune against many men, are no way able to protect me at this time, I will willingly give my life for the confirmation of this truth, if you doe not contemn it, and with it will cast at your feet all the vowes and protestations that you can possibly receive, not onely from your Master and Protector, as you are pleased to call him, but from him, who is re­solved to consecrate the rest of his daies, to the most divine Cleopatra, with a full and absolute submission and obedience. He had proceeded in his discourse, had he not espied King Ptolomie comming towards him, [Page 120] who for that time hindred the pursute of his discourse, but he went on with it the next day, so that both by his language and actions, he gave to Cleopatra so ma­ny assurances of his Passion, that she could no longer doubt of the reality of it; With this knowledge she behaved her self very prudently, and reservedly; for though shee was carefull not to give that man occasion to complain, from whom shee expected her support, and upon whom her quiet, and for­tune absolutely depended, yet shee so wisely car­ried the business, that he could never gain any ad­vantage against her, nor find cause to blame her, ei­ther of rigour or frowardness; she much pleased her self with the glory in overcomming him, whom the greatest Powers in the world could never resist; for besides the noise of his actions, Caesars person was capable to make it self beloved, for though he had not all those advantages which doe commonly attend on youth, yet he seemed to be in the vigor of his age, and had a mind so high and majestick, that was suffi­cient to impress respect on all those that did behold him. Cleopatra, who had eyes to look on him as well as others, and knew her self to be particularly obli­ged to him, for his good offices and affection, was much taken with him, and had begun to engage her self, when as the affaires of Egypt received that me­morable revolution, of which I doubt not but you have heard, and for this cause will abridge the relati­on of it as much as possibly I can; Whilst that Caesar gave up himself wholly to his love, and endeavoured to gain the affections of Cleopatra, by all the assu­rances that he could give her, the wicked Ptolomie and his perfidious counsellours were busied about [Page 121] another Design; they found in Caesar, as they thought, very little acknowledgement for the service they had done him in killing the great Pompie, and indeed that generous spirit who hated such baseness and treachery had shewed much disrespect to all those who had been engaged in that black perfidiousness. And besides, Ptolomie perceived with disdain the love that Caesar entertained for his Sister, and feared (not without cause) the assistance that he might give her in the di­vision of the Government of the Kingdome, these considerations being joyned with the perpetuall coun­cels and insinuations of Pothimus, Achillas, Theo­dore, and the rest of that perfidious crew, made him in conclusion to resolve to serve Caesar with the same sauce, as he had done Pompie, and in effect to mur­ther both him and his Sister Cleopatra. Caesar had lodged in Alexandria onely some of his neerest friends and souldiers, having for the ease of the Citi­zens left almost his whole force in the Isle Farion whose situation is so neer Alexandria, that one may see it out of the windowes of the Palace. Ptolomie thought that hee might take the advantage of this rancounter for to put in execution his design, and therefore gave out private orders for the sudden ral­lying of his Army, with an intention to draw them into Alexandria, and in the mean time tampered with all those that were in the Town, whom he knew to be at his devotion: His design was ill formed, as ill prosecuted, and worse executed; and its very likely that the Gods who abhorred such a wickedness, blin­ded them throughout their whole management of it. Caesar was in the chamber of Cleopatra, when as newes was brought him, that all the Town was in [Page 122] Arms, and that Pothimius one of the murderers of Pompie, was marching towards the Palace, in the head of a great company, with an intention to kill him, at a feast which he intended to be at that day: Caesar was not negligent upon this news, but with all hast and dilligence rallied together all those of his party and friends which were near him, and then went forth of the Palace to meet with the conspira­tors with such an assurance, as might well become his greatness, but before he went out of the Princess her Chamber, Madam said he, Its not I that doe covet your brothers ruin, but the Heavens which will not suffer so wicked a man to live, doe now pro­vide for you the Crown of Egypt, I am now going to fight both for you and my self, and I promise with my victory, to gain both our revenge. Cleopatra had not then time to reply, for that he made so much haste to be gone, but yet she accompanied him with her eyes so far as she could, and beeing well satisfied that he was about to engage in their common interests, she made many vows in his favour, for the successe of his armes; the traitors perceiving their plots dis­covered, resolved to fight it out couragiously, so that for some time the successe was very dubious, al­though at the last Caesar, either by reason of the just­ness of his cause, or his own admirable valour, re­mained victorious, Pothimius was killed on the place, with abundance of his souldiers, and Achil­las, with those that could follow him, fled out of the town after Ptolomy, who upon the first notice of the ill successe of his plots, retired in all haste to his army: Caesar might have stood on his guard in A­lexandria, if he had so pleased, for that Cleopatra's [Page 123] faction was not the fewest in number, or least in strength, but he chose rather to retire to his troops, that so he might give battell to Ptolomie, and hea­ring that the contrary party in Alexandria, endea­voured to stop up his passage, by sending away the vessels, he fell upon them with that little handfull of men that followed him, and did such execution on them, that if any one but Caesar had done it, it would have been looked on as an extraordinary mi­racle: yet he was then in greater danger then ever he had bin amidst the greatest Battels, for being no longer able to defend himself against the number of enemies, who encreased every moment, he was fain to leap hastily into a boat, to gain the Isle where his army lay, which his enemies perceiving, they assaulted him on all sides so furiously, that he being no longer able to defend himself against their rage, was enforced to quit his boat, and by swimming to the Isle, which was not farre distant, to save him­self, which with much danger and dexterity he performed; but being gotten at last in safety to his Army he presently disposed them to fight, and cau­sed them to goe aboard his vessels, and to row direct­ly towards the Army of Ptolomie, who conducted by his unfortunate destiny, made up with full sails to­wards him: the conflict was a while both dubious and bloody. I shall forbear to acquaint you with any more particulars, because I believe that I have told you already many things, that you very well know; it will be enough to tell you, that Caesar remained alwaies Caesar, and the Egyptians received a very re­markeable overthrow, and their King falling into the water was soon drowned by reason of the weight of his armour, his body was not found untill the day [Page 124] after, at which time he was taken up, covered with a guilded Helmet, half buried in the sands: after this notable victory, Caesar advanced towards the town, where at the Gate he met with Cleopatra, and many Citizens, who begged pardon for the rest, who by the Kings Authority had bin induced to take up armes against him, she obtained from him all that she de­sired, after which he entered into the Citie and Pa­lace, in a triumphing and pompous manner: So sud­dain execution was never known or heard of, nei­ther were there ever so great troubles and commo­tions so soon allayed and quieted, for the wicked Counsellours of Ptolomie were either slain or run a­way, and the rest of the Egyptians quietly submit­ted to Caesar without any murmuring. He told Cleo­patra that for her sake, he deplored her brothers death, but he withall represented to her, the little occasion that she had to be afflicted for his death, after she had shed a few tears, which her excellent nature could not deny him, she suddainly received those consola­tions which were applied to her; she observed his funerall rites with much solemnitie, and the day af­ter Caesar having assembled the estates of Egypt, gave to her the Crown and Kingdome, with their Generall approbation and consent: all those Egyp­tians who liked better her Government, than that of Ptolomie, received her with much joy and sattis­faction, and gave publick thanks to Caesar for so no­ble a gift; But those troubles which afflicted the mind of Caesar were not appeased with those of Egypt, for though he gave the people an outward peace, yet he kept for himself an inward War, hee every day complained to Cleopatra of it, and the [Page 125] fair Queen, who thought her self infinitely engaged to him for this last obligation, behaved her self in the most courteous manner towards him as was pos­sible for her without injuring her honour. As he sate with her one day on her Bed, where after a long discourse which would be to tedious to relate, hee took her hands and fixing his lips on them, I dye fair Queen, said he, in a very passionate tone, I dye, un­lesse, by your pitty, I am taken out of the sepulcher, and I protest by these fair eyes that I adore with so much reverence, its impossible for me to live any longer, except you prolong my life by your goodness. I should be much afflicted, replyed the Queen, to see you in any danger, after so many obligations that I have received from great Caesar, and the particular esteem that I have for his person, will make me con­tribute my assistance to comfort and content him; you might said he, both sattisfy me, and make me the happiest man that ever lived, if you would be pleased to give up your self wholy to me, like as I have done to you: this is the price that you may give in satisfaction for the gift I have given you; not of a crown for that I esteem very little, but of a heart and spirit, which shall be eternally yours, and so yours, that I have reserved no power over them for my self. This noble present, replyed the Queen cannot be pay­ed but with the price you aske, and a thousand such lives as Cleopatra's are not to be valued, in respect of the heart of great Caesar. I would willingly there­fore give my self wholy to you, as you desire, my Lord, (casting down her eyes with some kind of shame) if I could see the way open and honourable: I am a Princesse, daughter of a long race of Kings, [Page 126] I am a Queen by your goodness, and that which is beyond all, is, that I have triumphed over the soul of great Caesar by his own confession; these advantages, my Lord, which doe place me in a rank so considera­ble amongst women doe oblige me to preserve my reputation unspotted, and I should without doubt, make my self altogether unworthy of my birth, pre­sent honour, and of the affections of great Caesar, if I should give up my self to him any other way than by that which his vertue may approve of. She stayed at these words, thinking that she had said enough to discover her intention, and Caesar, (though he was not unacquainted with the disposition of Cleopatra, yet for some State maximes and relations to the Re­publick, shunned a more clear Declaration) was as it were put to a non-plus, hee was not as yet resolved to marry her, for that hee thought Rome would dislike the alliance, and for that hee thought it might prejudice his Design, of ma­king himself master of it, which a while after hee effected, and yet saw himself obliged to say something; he continued a while silent, not knowing which way to return an answer after so many open protestations of affection, at the last he began to speak, looking up from the ground, where he had for some time kept his eyes fixed, you merit, said he, a condition more glorious than that which might make lawfull those favours which I desire from you, and Caesar cannot possibly find a Spouse in the whole world, more worthy of that qualitie than the Queen Cleopatra; and I doe further protest to you, that if I had been free in mine election. I should long ere this have let you known how passionatly I doe desire so [Page 127] great a happiness: but for the present, I am so linked to the interests of the Common-wealth, that I cannot well resolve on a marriage, without their consent; yet I shall endeavour to let you know, that I am wholly yours by passing over these considerations, and within a few dayes I doubt not but I shall sufficiently mani­fest to you the realitie of my affection. Caesar with­drew himself after he had so said, without staying for a reply; but from that time forward the Queen lived more retired from his company than she had former­ly done▪ and would no longer suffer him to use that small freedome, which untill that time she had not denied him. Caesar was somewhat troubled to see this alteration, but when he began to complain of it, My Lord, said she, you are too noble and just for to desire that from me, which I cannot grant without my utter ruine, and therefore since I cannot pretend to so high a qualitie as might authorize it, I pray be pleased rather to take from me again that Crown which you have given me, yea, and my life too, than urge me to those Actions, which neither your greatness, nor the obligations that I have received from you can warrant Caesar his mouth was by this means stopt, but after that he had in vain often-times reiterated the same thing, he resolved with himself on that which a few dayes after he put in execution: for having de­sired of the Queen a private audience, he went to her chamber attended on onely by Lucius Mattellus, and Caius Lambinus, who were two of his most con­fiding friends, where he found the Queen ready to receive him in the same equipage which he desired, ac­companied with no body but Charmionna and Jra [...] (two of her principall maids) my Father and my self; Caesar looking about very earnestly, seeing no [Page 128] body present but us (who he knew were meerly lin­ked to the Queens interests) was very glad that he was like to have no other witnesses of his intended actions: After his usuall civilities to the Queen, Ma­dam, said he, I have been for some time bound up by many reasons from paying the debt which I owe to your vertue, and my own love, but at the last, I have resolved to exceed the bounds which those inhumane maximes might prescribe me, and to give up my self wholly to you, in an honourable and lawfull way, as I have already done by a violent and reall passion, but because the Marriage which I intend to contract with you, may not be declared openly, without ruining the design which I have of giving you the Crown of the Universe, I doe desire that none may know it, but those who are now present with you, and those two neer friends which I have brought along with me, for to be witnesses of the action, it shall be in their pre­sence, and the Gods, that I am resolved to knit the conjugall knot presently, if you so think good, and this action, which for some time may be kept secret untill I am returned to Rome, and have established there my intended Authority, may then be published to the whole world, and solemnized with all the Pomp and Magnificence that we can desire. Caesar used many other arguments to perswade the Queen to conform to his desires, and overcome all those diffi­culties which might hinder her complyance with this proposition. Shee debated with her self for some time upon the resolution that she should take up, but at the last hearkening to the advice of her Maides, my Father and my self (if I may so say) but more then all to the belief which she had, that such a person as [Page 129] Caesar could never break his promise given to a Prin­cess, in the presence of six witnesses, who would al­wayes be ready to convince him of unfaithfulness before the Gods and men in case he should violate his faith. In fine, either upon good reason or through weakness, she was perswaded to comply with his de­sires; So that Caesar taking her by the hand, after that he had invoked the Gods to be witnesses of his acti­ons, protested openly that he received her as his Wife, and that he would never acknowledge any other; all which protestations he sealed with a Kisse, which he publickly gave her in our presence, and so to hold you no longer in suspence, the company withdrew when they thought their presence was no longer necessary, and Caesar remaining alone with the Queen, made himself possessor of that admirable beautie, which was envied and adored by all the Princes of Asia. Good Gods cried Tiridate, with a profound sigh, who are the Soveraign Judges of our Destinies, what hath the wretched Tiridate committed, that you should make him lead so unfortunate and miserable a life, whilst that you accumulate so great successes and happinesses on other men? He said no more but these few words which he uttered very passionatly with his eyes lifted up to the heavens, and soon after Eteockle continued on his discourse.

The History of Caesarion and the Queen Candace.

AFter the memorable defeat at Actium, and the shamefull desertion of part of the remaining troops, the unfortunate Antony and Cleopatra re­treated to Alexandria, (every hour expecting their Conquerour) with those forces which they had left them, where they resolved to defend themselves to the last man; their courage had not forsaken them with their fortune, but they might have prolonged their destinies, and once more disputed for the Em­pire of the world, if they had not been prevented by that cruell errour which was the occasion of each others ruine: the Queen perceiving nothing but de­struction attending on her, began to consider the de­plorable estate of her Familie, which from the high­est pitch of fortune she saw was like to be involved in the greatest miseries: But Good Gods, what expres­sions did shee utter upon those sorrowfull considera­tions, and what marks did she discover of her law­full grief? Shee feared, and not without good cause, that the fury of the Conquerour would extend it self to the ruine of his enemies, and doubted not but hee would extirpate all those seeds which might disturb the tranquillitie of his domination, and being possessed with this fear, shee oftentimes solicited M. Antony to send their children away to some place of safety, either to the King of Ethiopia, who was a mighty and powerfull Prince, as well as their friend and ally, or else to King Herod who was [Page 144] a great friend and favourer of Antony, or to any o­ther friend of theirs, whom the alteration of their fortune had not caused them to lose; but Antony who doated so much on his children, could not en­dure to hear of their removall, or trust them with any strange Prince: He told the Queen, that possibly the Gods might give them assistance, and miracu­lously reduce their affairs to a better condition, as they had then ruined them contrary to the opinion and expectation of every body, and in case such a change should happen, how sorrowfull should they be, to have exposed their children to such a flight, the event of which was so exeeeding doubtfull; and although the Heavens have resolved our own de­struction said he, yet we may expect a better destiny for our children, from our enemies clemency, than from the loyaltie of barbarous Princes, who un­doubtedly with the change of our fortunes will change their affections. Cleopatra perceiving him firm in this resolution, and that shee could by no means take from him the disposition of his children, began to think how to preserve him, in whom he had no power, and imagining upon good grounds, that al­though Augustus Caesar should extend his mercy so far, as to give life to the children of M. Antony, yet he might not doe the like for the son of Julius Caesar, who claiming by a lawfull marriage, would have a right to contend with him for the succession to that Empire, which the other claimed and possessed onely by adoption; she thought it was not so safe to trust to his clemency, as to provide for her son his safety other wayes, and she having full power over him, Antony suffered her to dispose of him as she should [Page 145] think best: Caesarion at this time was about fifteen years old, but the most accomplished Prince in the world of his age; for besides his incomparable beau­tie, one might perceive such spritefulness in his eyes, and such an ayr in his countenance, as was proper only to the son of Julius Caesar and Cleopatra; his stature was extraordinary for his age, and his strength wonderfull, his activeness and address in all sort of excercises drew the admiration of all that beheld him; his lively disposition was accompanied with much charming sweetness, and his inclinations were so carried on to great things, that during the whole course of his tender youth, I never perceived a thought to come from him, that was not more than ordi­nary; he had a very great emulation for his Fathers glory, which occasioned the same effects on him as it had on the young Alexander but in the relation of his life which was made to him as a modell for him to follow, he did as much value his clemency, liberality, and his moderation, as his valour and good conduct, and upon the whole he gave me very much comfort by discovering his great love of vertue: many times during his tender age, he would have armed him­self, and have rushed into the dangers of the War▪ had he not been restrained by an absolute authority. Such a one was the young Caesarion, and a thousand times above my expression, when the Queen his Mo­ther, preferring his safety before the pleasure she took in seeing him, resolved to lose the sight of him for ever; being confirmed in this resolution, she sent unto me to conduct him into her Chamber; she could not look on him with this design never to see him again, without shedding many a tear, which action being [Page 146] seconded by the young Prince and my self, wee all remained silent for some time, without any power of speaking; but at the last striving against her grief, and wiping her eyes, she endeavoured to compose her countenance as well as she could. My son said she to the young Prince, as young as you are, you have understanding sufficient to reflect on your pre­sent and past condition: you are Son to a Father that was the greatest of men, and to a Mother that might say without boasting that she hath held some rank amongst women, and that may leave such a fame behind her as is not ordinary for persons of her sex. I see nothing in you that doth belie your birth, but doe hope so well of you, that I believe you will not shame the spirit of great Caesar (who is now placed amongst the Gods) that he hath begotten you whilst he lived in the world. Although fortune doth frown on you in the budding of your age, and though shee may deprive you not only of your Parents, but other advantages, learn betimes to slight her, and by your vertue force her one day to smile propitiously on you. You will wear a Sword as well as your Father, which one time or other may gain you those crowns which you have lost; and if it be the pleasure of the Gods (as in all probability it is) that we perish in this War, and that our days shall terminate in the losse of our Empire, yet you will be left behind, for to re­cover one day, by the glory of your actions, that which we shall lose by the last of ours, for to pre­serve amongst men the memory of Caesar and Cleo­patra, and it may be for to revenge upon our cruell destroyer, the destinie of Anthony and Cleopatra. These considerations my son, doe make me provide [Page 147] for your safetie, whilst I neglect my own, and the love which I bear you makes me to offer violence to my most tender inclinations. Well young Caesar, you must be gone, you must go beyond the power of the Romans, for to seek a better destiny than you can expect at the feet of our implacable Conqueror; neither is it fit or honorable that the lawfull Son of great Cae­sar, should beg his life from his adoptive Son, which if it should be obtained, cannot be accepted without shame neither can it at all be expected from him, who inherits onely the name and power, but not the clemency or other vertues of Caesar. It will be much easier for me to endure your absence, than to see you supplicating at the feet of our enemy, or led in tri­umph to that City which your Father first brought under his domination: the Queen stayed some time after these words, for to wipe off those tears which her greatest constancy and resolution could not hin­der her from shedding, and then looking from the Prince on me, Eteockle said she, its now the time that I must recommend to your care that which I esteem most precious and dear in this world; I have hitherto committed him to your care for his educa­tion, but its for the preservation of his life that I now resign him to you: make it appear in this last and greatest experiment that I shall make of your fidelity, that you are the worthy son of Apolodorus, who whilst he lived, acquired the reputation of the most loyall and faithfull servant that ever was known or heard of; take into your custodie and tui­tion the Prince my Son and your Pupill, conduct him from Alexandria, and this unfortunate Egypt, with all the diligence and haste you can possibly use into [Page 148] Ethiopia, the King of that Country is not onely Po­tent, but our friend and allye, and the onely man, a­mongst all our neighbours, who hath no cause to be affraid of the Roman Power, and who in case hee should be molested by them, is in a capacity to de­fend himself against all their strength; desire of him from me a protection and sanctuary for this poor Prince, whom I shall commit to his trust; you may tell him, that he is not onely obliged thereunto by reason of our alliance, and by the laws of generosity, which doe engage him to protect all oppressed per­sons. but by the common interest of Kings and Prin­ces, to oppose themselves against the violence and usurpation of the Romans, who like publike haters of mankind, would exercise their tyranny over all Kings and Princes whatsoever. I make no question but he will receive you very kindly, and will not stick to afford my Son that protection which I doe desire from him: you shall be gon this very night, for I desire that your voyage may be kept very se­cret, lest it should come to the ears of our ene­mies, who no douht will if it lye in their power, in­tercept you on your way; for company you shall have Rodon, Neander, and some other Officers, but few in number, lest a great train should discover you, and by that means endanger the preservation of my Son. I shall furnish you with money and Jewells sufficient to defray your expences, when you are gone. If we shall conclude a Peace with Octavius, or if the Gods shall please to alter the scene of our affairs, I shall soon recall you from this banishment, which I cannot support but with abundance of grief. The Queen had no sooner ended this discourse, but the young [Page 149] Prince cast himself at her feet, and told her, that he had rather dye a thousand deaths, than forsake her, and that he had courage enough to stay with her, and accompany her and M. Antony in their greatest misfortunes: the Queen gathering from these expres­sions, and his action, more marks of his courage, re­doubled her affection for him, and then looking from him whom she could not then behold without much displeasure, O great Caesar, said she, if thou art now among the Gods, protect this thy son whom thou hast left me, and who I well perceive is no way un­worthy of thee; and then turning towards her son, she at the first endeavoured to take off his resolution with mildness, but seeing she could not that way pre­vail with him, she at the last was forced to make use of her absolute authoritie over him, and to command his obedience, charging me, that I should use force, in case he refused to comply with her desires. The young Caesarion was in fine over-ruled, and indeed he so much respected his Mother, that he durst not disobey her. I shall not enlarge my self any longer on the regret that the Queen had to leave her Son, or the Prince his Mother, but tell you that the remaining part of that day onely was allotted for the prepara­tions for our journey: the Queen caused Iras and Chariniona (two faithfull servants who awhile after dyed with her) to bring out a Box full of Gold, and other Gemmes of great valew, which she gave to me, and assoon as it was dark, she took her last farewell with an Ocean of tears, holding the Prince by the hand, and giving him her last kiss; Goe, said she, young Prince, whither thy destinie doth call thee, and let the Gods take thee into their protection, but be [Page 150] mindfull of the greatness of thy Ancestors, and let not the lowest ebbe of fortune make thee to commit any action unworthy thy birth; having so said, she caused us presently to mount on horse-back, in her presence, for to quit the sad and lamentable Alexan­dria. This beginning of the adventures of Caesarion was not much unlike yours, my Lord, and he was forced to fly out of the Country about the same age that you left the Country of the Parthes. Hee went out of Alexandria, accompanied onely with twelve Horse, and he that had been but a while before Pro­clamed King of Kings, was seen to abandon his na­tive Country, for to seek shelter amongst strangers, in this slender equipage. This sudden & strange revolution of fortune may serve for an example to all those who confide over-much in her favours, and suffer them­selves to be blinded with deceitfull prosperities. The pomp and pride of Antony was so great, that I think it drew on him the choler of the Gods, for they who had seen a while before so many Kings prostrate at their feet, taking from some their Crowns, and from others their heads, as the unfortunate Antigo­nus King of the Jewes, and the unhappy Artabasus King of Armenia, saw themselves reduced to their last Town, where they every hour expected their desti­nie, and where within a few dayes after they were constrained to be their own executioners, which Cleo­patra for an increase of her miseries could not obtain but by Artifice and subtiltie. We went out of Alex­andria at the same time that Octavius Caesar was en­camped on the other side of the Town, within sight of the walls, and had we stayed but a very little lon­ger, we had not so easily escaped thence. The young [Page 151] Prince was necessitated to endure the hardship of that tedious journey on horse-back, but he had pretty well learned that lesson by reason of his morning exercises in the manage, and the great delight which he took in hunting, all which was of great advantage to us in our design; for certainly our toyl that night other­wise had been enough to discourage any man of a more nice or tender constitution. Towards the morn­ing we made some stay at a Village two or three leagues from Alexandria, where wee reposed the Prince, and fed our horses, about three hours after we mounted on horseback, for to continue on our journey, but we had not gone farre, before I percei­ved that the Princes horse with divers others of our company, went very lame, but not dreaming of any treacherie, I at the first imputed the lameness to the extraordinary hast we made on them the night before; we thought to have made use of those that were sound, but being unwilling to lose or lessen the num­ber of our attendants, we went on slowly that whole day, untill we came to a certain Village not farre distant from the other where we rested the morning, and by that time we got thither, our horses were scarce able to stand on their leggs, so that we were enforced to stay there that whole night. We sent im­mediatly for Smiths, and having caused them to view our horses, they suddenly returned us answer, that they had been pricked in shooing, and as soon as the Nailes that had wounded them were drawn forth, they were much eased, yet not so well, but that they would re­quire the rest of that night to fit them for the next dayes journy. I began then to suspect that we were so served on purpose, that our voyage might be retar­ded, [Page 152] but I knew not whom to mistrust, our small company was made of such persons from whom we might have expected nothing but fidelitie. Rodon and Neander were the chief next to my self, Rodon had been given to the Prince for a sub governour even since his infancy, and had no less share than my self in his education; he had a son who was about the age of the Prince, and had been alwayes bred up with him, and was then accompanying him in the voyage. Neander was a man of approved faithfulness, and all the rest were ancient officers of the Queens house, and particularly chosen for this service, and yet a­mongst this small number we found those who were tainted with the blackest treason and fowlest wicked­ness as was possible for any man to be guilty of. After that I had spent the greatest part of the night much distracted in my thoughts, I rose up from my bed on which I lay, without putting off my clothes, and opened the casement of the Window, for to see whether it was day, this window looked out into a little Garden, where I heard some people talking to­gether, and at the first I heard the voice of Rodon, which was very familiar to mee▪ and soon after I un­derstood that Acetes, a person in whom he much confided, was the other, to whom he spoke; they imagining that the time and place gave them free­dome enough▪ without danger of discovery, talked freely of their designes, but the heavens who then watched for my Prince his preservation, sent me thi­ther to over-hear them, that so I might take that mi­raculous occasion for to protect him. Rodon and A­cetes were newly come into the Garden as I opened the window, so that I believe I heard all their com­munication. [Page 153] Thy diligence, said Rodon, is exceeding great, but is it possible that thou couldst doe so much in so short a time, for thou wentst from Alexandria but at the same time when we came thence. I pray be satisfied, replyed Acetes, all things are acted according to your hearts desire, for I have seen Caesar himself, who well remembred your name, and the solicitations which he had made to you, for that which you now offred him; he kept me a whole hour, whilst he advised with his counsell, and afterwards called me in, and commanded me to repair to you speedily, and acquaint you, that he will not onely give you the Jewels which the Queen delivered to Eteockle, but that you may likewise expect great mat­ters from him, and you shall not fail to hear from him this very day, at the same place which you men­tioned in your Letter. I heard the command given to one of his Captains to be in a readiness, and I be­lieve they will overtake us, before we shall get to the Forrest of Agria, by which we are to pass; they will have time enough to doe it, replied the faithless Ro­don, for wee have rode so little way yesterday, by means of the care I took my self to prick the hor­ses, whilst Eteockle and the rest slept, that the Romans if they make any haste, may soon bee with us: but talke no more of this busi­nesse, it is so carefully managed, that wee may not doubt of a good issue: having so said, they went forth of the Garden, whether it was out of fear to be over­heard or surprised by the comming of the day, which began then to appear. I remained a while at the window, in such a confusion as is impossible for me to expresse. Good Gods how was I then perplexed [Page 154] in my thoughts; the discovery of this treason filled me with grief, anger and astonishment, I could scarce give credit to my own ears, and indeed, I was so sur­prised, that I was not capable of reason or judge­ment: in the first place I detested the treason of Ro­don, and then on my knees thanked the Gods for the miraculous discovery of his design, and to crave the continuance of their assistance of my intention to Act for the safety of the young Prince; yet I must confesse I knew not well on a sudden what to doe, and of all sides I saw so many difficulties, that I had little hopes of good success. It was quite light before I resolved on any thing besides the death of Rodon, and so revenge the Prince, although I knew not otherwise how to save him: yet having no time to trifle away, I retired into my Chamber, and gave present orders for sadling our horses. I awakened the Prince, and hastned to make him ready; whilst that he was putting on his cloaths I lead aside Neander (who I perceived by the discourse was none of the treacherous crew) and acquainted him with our con­dition, which put him into the same confusion with my self; whilst we were talking, Rodon appeared in our sight, and I could scarse hold from falling on him to strangle him, yet I contained my self as well as I could, and having learned Neander his lesson, I caused the Prince to mount on horse-back, without acquainting him with our discovery, lest the know­ledge thereof should haue troubled him so much, that we might have failed of an occasion to act for his preservation. We went out of the Town the same way which we intended, lest wee should have given jealousie to Rodon that his perfidiousness was disco­vered, [Page 155] and we were not gone a quarter of a mile, when as the Gods inspired me with a thought, which I resolved to put in execution without delay. I might have had some repugnancy aginst the danger that I should thereby bring on an innocent person, but the safety of my Prince was of greater moment than all other considerations, and therefore I soon overcame all obstacles that could oppose themselves to my in­tention; for this purpose I beckned to Neander, that he should ride before with the Prince and other com­pany, whilst I came softly after with Rodon, whom I kept busie in discourse, and being a little behind our company, I made as if somewhat had been broken about my saddle, and presently unlighted for to mend it, telling Rodon, that we should soon overtake the company by gallopping after them, and besides, I ha­ving some authoritie over him, and in that condition in which his guiltie conscience accused him, he had not the power to contradict me, and it may be he was well pleased with the delay, thinking that it might have conduced to the hastening of his design. Assoon as our compay were gone out of sight I mounted on horseback, and rode up suddenly towards Rodon with such a countenance as might well discover my in­tentions; Traytor, said I, thou must dy, and if it be so that thy Prince do perish by means of thy infidelitie, yet thou shalt not live to have the satisfaction to see it, or get any advantage by it. I had no sooner ended these words, but my sword was drawn, when as the faithless Rodon more smitten in conscience, than with the fear of my sword, receiving my menace with a pale countenance, had scarce the power to put him­self into a posture of resistance; he at the last drew [Page 156] out his sword though tremblingly, but defended him­self so poorly, that with a great deal of ease I ran mine quite through his body, which made him sud­denly fall down upon the sands and vomit up his spirit with his blood. After this execution I hast­ned up after the Prince, as fast as I was able, but when I came to the top of a hill, I looked back and espied a squadron of the Roman Cavalrie, which I imagined to be the same that Rodon had expected; this sight made me to spur on untill I overtook my company. I acquainted Neander in his ear that Ro­don was dead, but withall that the enemies were at hand, and therefore advised him to take with him the Prince, and two of our men, and make all the hast they could into the Forrest of Agria, and get into the most thick part of it, and there expect to hear from me towards the Evening; I doe not doubt but I shall so amuse our enemies, that they shall have no mind to follow after you, if the heavens will be pleased to favour my intentions; if you doe not see me towards the evening, goe on with your journey in the night, and let the Gods take you into their pro­tection. I spake to him onely these few words, with­out giving him so much time as to make any reply. I caused the Prince to hasten away with him, and the two other servants, one of which being very faithfull, carried the Jewels and Treasure which the Queen delivered unto me; Caesarion was well enough content to be ruled by me, and made no difficulty to follow Neander, as I had advised him. I saw them hasten from me with extraordinary swiftness, yet not with­out shedding some tears, for the incertainty I had to see him again, and in the mean time, turning to those [Page 157] that were left with me, my friends, said I, we are be­trayed, our enemies are very neer us, Rodon is stayed behind to discover them if he can, see there is the Traytor, said I, pointing to Acetes, there is the faith­less wretch that hath sold us; having so said, I offered to draw my sword for to use him as I had done Ro­don, but was prevented by two of my company, who presently dispatched him out of the world, just as he was endeavouring to save himself by flight: I had kept the son of Rodon all this while with us, although he would willingly have followed the Prince; He was about the same age and stature with the Prince, as I have told you; this young man was much terrified at the sight of Acetes his death; I came to him, and ta­king him by the arm, shewed him the Romans who were very neer us; We are all dead men, said I, if wee doe not delude the Romans by telling them that you are the Prince Caesarion, this subtilty may save your life, for if they take you for the son of Caesar, they will be satisfied in carrying you Prisoner to their Em­perour, therefore as you tender our lives and your own, favour this feigned pretension; This young youth who was much terrified with the thoughts of death, easily disposed himself to follow the fatall counsell which I had given him, but I had scarse done speak­ing, when as the Romans came so neer us, that they divided their companie, that so they might by en­compassing us prevent our flight: I was by this time sensible of the danger I was in, and indeed I had foreseen it, but the Gods are my witness, that I could have hazarded my life without any regret for the safe­ty of my Prince, and therefore I had no other thought, than how I might protect him; at a sign [Page 158] which I gave, we all dismounted, and on our knees environed the son of Rodon, who onely remained in his saddle, the Romans who were comming furiously towards us, seeing us in this suppliant posture, were commanded to forbear discharging at us, by their principall Officer, but assoon as I could be heard a­mongst them, I cried out, Whosoever you are, if wee have deserved your anger revenge your selves on us, but save I pray you the son of great Caesar, sacrifice us to your choler if we have offended you, but spare us we beseech you the life of our Prince. This submis­sive speech and posture, made the Romans forbear to strike us, but it proved fatall to the young son of Ro­don, for the Captain of the Romans riding up to him, said, we will spare your lives, but we must take it from the son of Caesar, and its him onely that we seek; assoon as he had so said, he thrust our young Gentle­man with his sword through his body, just as he was opening his mouth, it may be to tell him that he was not the young Caesar. I cannot think on the de­stinie of the young man without some remorce for my carriage towards him, but, my Lord, 'twas impossible for me to save our Prince by any other means, and if any were fit to suffer upon that occasion, I thought it could not more justly befall any, than the son of that traytor, who had occasioned all the mischief; and be­sides I thought really that the Romans would have satisfied themselves with carrying of him to their Em­perour, and not have treated him in that barbarous and cruell way. By this time I cast my self on his dy­ing body, and seemed to be as much afflicted, as if it had been the Prince himself; the chief Commander of the Romans, was as it hapned a man of qualitie, [Page 159] and was much troubled at my grief, and told me that he had not executed his commands without regret; many of the troop desired to have the head of the young man cut of, for to present it to the Emperour, but this commander opposed that advice, and told them that it was sufficient that they could assure the Emperour of his death, without using such inhuma­nity to the son of Julius Caesar: neverthelesse upon their sollicitation he asked me for the Jewels that Cleopatra had given me, but I returned him answer that one of our company named Rodon (who I thought had betrayed us, and had absented himself that day) had them in his possession, whereupon the Souldiers began to threaten and search us, but finding not much about us, their Captain remembred that Rodon was the man that had betrayed us, and that the Emperour had designed those jewels of a recompence for his treachery, and therefore easily believed, that he had gotten them into his possession; whereupon he commanded them to trouble us no further, but to restore us our hor­ses, and permit us to goe whether we pleased. The Souldiers were obedient, although it went much a­gainst their stomacks, and left us by the unfortunate son of Rodon, about whose body we kept a great stir, and counterfeited a desperate grief. When our ene­mies were gone out of our sight, we buried the body of the innocent youth, not without much reall sad­ness, and then made haste to find out him that was in truth our Prince. By this you may perceive all that passed, and gave ground for the false report of Caesarions death, and therefore those who affirms that Octavius put him to death are mistaken, for I [Page 160] can assure you that he never saw him. About two hours after our enemies had left us, we arrived at the forrest of Agria, where we were no sooner come but we met with a man whom Neander had placed to give intelligence to the Prince of our comming, and indeed had they not thought on this subtilty, we might have sought long enough ere we could have found the Prince in that great and thick Forrest. Good Gods how much was I rejoyced when I saw again my dear Prince, what words did I speak, and how many tears did I shed, when I came to imbrace him, whose safety a few hours before I so justly sus­pected: what satisfaction think you I received after his affectionate embracings, when Neander acquain­ted me how much he was troubled for my absence, and how that as soon as he understood the true ground of it from Neander (whom he pressed so hard that he durst not conceal it from him) he would have returned back after us to hinder us from endange­ring our lives for the safetie of his; this noble at­tempt, which Neander by force prevented, confir­med me in the great opinion which I had of his mag­nanimous spirit, so that after I had expressed my resentments of his goodnesse, whilst he continued thanking us with tears in his eyes, for the good office we had done him, very much deploring the disaster of Rodons son, I caused him to mount on horse back, and quit the Forrest for to continue on our voyage. I hope you will excuse me my Lord, if I forget some particular passages of small importance, whilst I hasten to that which yet remains behind, and is of greatest consequence. Within few days after we were gone behind the Egyptian Territories, and then pas­sing [Page 161] over the deserts of Nubia, we came in safety into Ethiopia, never staying untill we arrived at Meroe, the capitall City of that Country, and the place where that mighty King did usually reside. Our young Prince endured the hardship of a long tedious and fatigious journy, with an admirable courage and resolution, and was one of the first that would sollicite me to be going when we made any stay to repose our selves in those Towns we passed by. We called him by a strange name, lest the news of his escape should have bin carried to his enemies, who might for ought we knew have found more tray­tors in Ethiopia than in Egypt: we call him by the name of Cleomidon, with an intention to have him passe for no other amongst the Ethiopians, excep­ting some others who of necessitie were to be ac­quainted with the truth. Why should I detain you any longer with unnecessary and impertinent dis­courses, we arrived at last at Meroe, whether we had sent Neander a few daies before to acquaint the King of our comming, and to excuse the pressing ne­cessity of our flight and entring into his territories without his speciall licence. The King of Ethiopia, who in my opinion was one of the best and most just in the world, hated the Tyranny of the Ro­mans, had in great veneration the name of Queen Cleopatra, expressed much joy to understand the confidence that so great a Queen had of his worth, and therupon disposed himself to entertain the Prince her Son, with the same care and tenderness as if he had been his own; hee had received him in great state and magnificence, had not Neander dis­swaded him from it, for the causes before expressed, [Page 162] whereupon he resolved to receive us in his Cabinet, where we had speciall audience in the company of those personages onely in whom the King thought he might best confide: the magnificence of his Palace, and his glorious attendance, might possibly have astonished any other but those who came from the Court of Cleopatra, where was more pomp and sumptuousness to be seen, than in any other place of the world, and yet I may tell you, that we saw so much, that at the first we were much surprised, for I believe that you know well that Gold is very plen­tifull in that Country, so that men of low ranck doe oftentimes imploy it to servile uses, but I shall spend no more time on this subject, but onely tell you, that as the Majesty of this great King drew our respect to him, so the mind and behaviour of our young Prince, wrought such an effect on his spirit, that hee considered him as no less than the son of Julius Caesar and Cleopatra; he accosted him with such an ayr as did not bely his birth, and saluted him with such stately modesty, that he filled the King rather with admiration and respect, than pitty or compassion for him. I gave him some short in­structions how to demean himself, which he very gracefully made use of for after that he had saluted the King according to his place, Great Prince said he, my Parents, whom fortune hath forsaken, have gi­ven me unto you, and they were of opinion, that you would not deny me your protection, Its that which I with them doe now ask from you, being resolved to ask the like favour from none besides; he sayd no more, but what he spake was with a Royall acti­on, at which time I presented to the King, the letter [Page 163] of the Queen Cleopatra, whose seal he well knew, and breaking it open, he read in it these words.

The King Hydaspus having read the Letter, and heard the discourse of the Prince, looked on him with tears on his cheeks, which the consideration of Cleo­patra her misfortune drew from his eyes, and em­bracing [Page 164] him with much tenderness, I doe see you and receive you with joy, said he, O Son of great Caesar and Cleopatra, and the Memory of your Father and Mother is so dear to me, that you may not onely ex­pect from me those offices which you might have had from them, but be assured that I will protect you to my last man against all enemies whatsoever. In this sort was my Prince received by the King of Ethiopia, who at the same time appointed him an Apart­ment in his own Palace, and ordered him his atten­dance, by which we perceived that he intended to en­tertain him as his own Son: the Kings com­mands were so punctually obeyed, that in a very short time we saw our selves in as good a condition at Meroe, as we were awhile before at Alexandria; The Prince had a great number of Officers, and a gal­lant equipage, and for all things so well accommoda­ted as if he were the Son of a great Prince in his own house; his true name was onely known to the King, and those of his secret counsell, but amongst all other company he passed by the name of Cleomidon, a Prince that was onely of kin to Cleopatra, and an ally to the King of Ethiopia. At this place Tiridate interrupted Eteockle, Although I have been ignorant, said he, of the destinie of Caesarion, yet sure I am, that I have heard of Cleomidon, and although I have lived farre from him, yet not onely his name, but his famous actions have been reported to me; Its true replied Eteockle, that my Prince hath under that name done many famous exploits, and I doubt not but the reputation of them hath been carried as farre as to you, but I shall acquaint you with the whole matter in due time. You know that the people of E­thiopia [Page 165] are generally black, but their Kings having been obliged to marry into their neighbouring Princes families, have for the most part lost that black tin­cture which continues on all others of the same Coun­try; the late King was born of a fair woman, and was himself but very little swarthy, and the Queen his Spouse who had been a very beautifull Princesse, and dyed about a year before wee came into the Country, had born him one onely Daughter, who was not onely fair, but for her beauty was the wonder not onely of that Country, but of the greatest part of the world; It was the fair Princesse Candace, the same which you have saved from drowning, and is now at this present lodged in your house.

It is for to come to the narrative of her life with that of my Prince, that I have in my opinion necessarily troubled you with this Prologomena or Introduction, and its on this subject that I am now to enlarge my self, that so you may know distinctly and at large all that which hath hapned to these great personages. The Princess Condace was about ten or eleven years old when we arived first in Ethiopia, and we had not lived there above a year ere that my Prince gave up himself as one conquered with her beauty, and lost for her a precious liberty, which had been hard for him to defend against the admirable perfections of that Princesse; this passion wherewith his mind was wholly taken up, was in one respect very necessary, for that it banished a great grief which a while before he conceived upon hearing the newes of the deplo­rable end of Cleopatra, and the lamentable fall of their House and Family▪ my Prince was so sensible of it, that all our consolations had been scarce enough [Page 166] to have kept him out of his grave, had not the powers of Candace operated more efficaciously on him than our perswasions, I may truly say that it was a matter of great difficulty for a Prince that was born of Ju­lius Caesar and Cleopatra, and a Prince that was then entring into an Age that made him capable of the sweet impressions of love, to resist so powerfull a force; and although Caesarion in the beginning endea­voured to preserve his freedome, yet those attempts were of no other use than to discover to him his weakness and so to make him to yield up himself with a greater submission to the power of a Master which treated him by so much the more rigidly by how much he endeavoured to resist his strength For my own part, I could nor disapprove the beginning of this Passion: but on the contrary, as soon as I was ac­quainted with it, I rather encouraged the Prince to proceed, than by contrary Arguments to disswade him from it: I must confess I had the honour to be re­spected by him for he looked on me not onely as one who had been his Governour from his infancie, but as one who had saved his life, with the great hazard of my own: he opened his whole heart to me as soon as he was smitten by that powerfull God, and upon the whole desired my counsell and assistance; and in­deed he found me willing and ready to give him all that he could desire from me. Father, said he, at the first prickings of his love, Me thinks I am as it were sweetly sick, and yet my torments are sufficiently cru­ell I seem to feel within me that same fire which I have so often heard my Mother and you discourse of and I am afraid that it will make as great an im­pression on me, as it did on the unfortunate M. An­tony. [Page 167] O Gods, said he, how beautifull, and how lovely is the Princess Candace? and how difficult is it for one to see her, and not be in love with her? Hee accompanied these words with many sighes, which I neither would nor could condemn; and in this sort he continued day after day, untill he was as it were all in a Fire, and wholly given up to his Passion. I will not trouble you with the relation of all the discourse I had with him severall times on that subject, the length of it would be too tedious, neither will I spend time in relating all the passages that hapned during the infancie of the Prince and Princess, for that I in­tend to hasten to that which passed during their riper age, and yet some things I cannot conceal, for that I conceive them worthy your hearing. The fair Prin­cess of Ethiopia was born with all the advantages of Heaven and Nature; the beauty of her body, which I believe you have well observed, is not to be compa­red to that of her mind. In her very infancie she had such an extraordinary liveliness, accompanied with such a wonderfull solidity, and a judgement so farre above her sex, and a greatness of courage worthy to be taken notice of by the most noble and generous persons. Shee hath given so many testimonies of what I have said, that before I have ended my Discourse, you will be of the same opinion; but before I come to the recitall of them, I must spend some time on those accidents which preceded them. The divine qualities of this Princess occasioned my Prince not onely to love her, but respect her, so that he continued his sighs a long time before he durst discover his Passi­on; and although the greatness of his Birth, and the merit of his Person, might justly have emboldened [Page 168] him to attempt any thing; and although the tender age of the Princess, who was about four or five years younger than himself, might have in part dispersed his fears, yet he looked on her with so respectfull an eye, that he durst not make use of any of these advantages; he saw her every day with greater freedom than any other Prince in the Court of Ethiopia, and the King who entertained him farre different from strangers, gave him a more free and familiar access to the Prin­cess his Daughter: Shee alwayes desired his company when she was at play, and although my Prince had a soliditie farre exceeding his age, yet the complacencie for the Princess made her sports to seem very impor­tant and serious; he would oftentimes wait upon her when she was walking abroad, but carried himself so respectfull towards her, that from all her goodness and freedom, he got no advantage, nor durst discover his thoughts otherwise than by profound sighes, sted­fast looks, and passionate actions. The Princess was not so innocent, but that she began to discern and distinguish acts of civilitie from those that are foun­ded on other motives, and as she had an apprehension most admirable considering her age, so she soon per­ceived in the Prince, that which his mouth durst not declare unto her. Caesarion for his rare parts was by this time become the admiration, and delight of all the Ethiopian Court, and was so well perfected in those Sciences and exercises which he began to learn in Egypt, that every one looked on him as an extraor­dinary person, and yet I must tell you he met with a Youth at Meroe about his age, that was not inferi­our to him excepting in his birth. If I were not now relating the History of my Prince, this young Gentle­man [Page 199] would deserve a particular Narrative by its self, for to speak plainly, I cannot bereave him of that ho­nour which his enemies themselves doe say that he deserveth. Amongst a great number of servants wherewith the Princesses Court was filled, there were many that were wholly dedicated to her service, who never stirred from her, but only when womens atten­dance was onely necessary; they were alwayes in a readiness to receive her commands, and their greatest studie was to divert her; they were for the most part noble by birth, and the King made choice of them a­mongst the most accomplished in his Countrey, a­mong whom the young Britomarus appeared with wonderfull advantages, for although he was the son of a stranger, who for some years past had lived in E­thiopia, so that his Gentilitie was difficult to prove, yet the rare qualities wherewith he was endowed, made the King to waive all other considerations. I may truly say, that I never saw a more compleat Gentleman, either for outward or inward perfecti­ons; his stature was comly, his countenance sweet and amiable, and yet grave, his eyes were full of live­liness and vivacity, but in his air Port, mind and a­ction, there appeared something, too high and noble for so obscure a birth; his spirit was as lofty as the rest, for although he would comply with, and submit to those who might lawfully challenge superiority o­ver him, yet he would never yeeld to any who by rea­son of their birth, or other advancement would pretend to command him, and in truth he lived with his companions, as if hee had been their master; and although there were divers amongst them that were of the noblest of the Ethiopian Families, [Page 170] yet he regarded none more than another, excepting those who excelled in vertue. It was onely before the Princess that he observed his distance, and when any thing was to be done for her, he would seldome per­mit any to doe it but himself. This young Gentleman was much about the age of Caesarion, but yet hated him for that which in others he so much commended, I believe a naturall Antipathy of Spirits contributed much to this aversion; but he had besides many other motives to incite him to hate the Prince, which carried him on to those Acts which are worthy the recitall, and which will oblige me to make a more particular relation of them, than the quality of the person doth require. My Prince went one day into the Garden by the Palace, for to meet with the Princess, who at that time was gone thither, where walking through an al­ly he met with Britomarus, who held a Posey in his hand, which he had made, with an intent to give it to the Princess; assoon as my Prince saw it, he had a mind to give her that Present himself, & therfore stay­ing him, Britomarus, said hey give me that Nosegay, that I may present it to the Princess; My Lord, replyed Britomare, I have made it expresly for that purpose, & if you please to permit me I wil carry it to her my self; you may make another for that purpose, if you think good, replied the Prince, but you shall suffer me to de­liver that to her▪ assuring you that I wil acquaint her that it comes from you. Britomare durst not refuse that which the Prince desired from him, knowing well how much he was in the Kings favour, but yet he yeelded to him with such an action as did sufficiently manifest his repugnancy. Caesarion in stead of being angry at his carriage, was much taken with his courage, and for [Page 171] to satisfy him had returned him his Posey if he had not presently hastned away out of the Garden: he would fain have sent for him back, so great was his regret for offering him that displeasure, had I not hindred him from it, and acquainted him that Bri­tomare was not so considerable a person that he should be any way troubled at his anger: this was not the onely occasion which my Prince gave him of com­plaint, for as Britomare was the boldest of the com­panie, so did he make use of every occasion to serve the Princess, and oftentimes Caesarion would come into the Princesses Chamber and hinder him of that honour, so that he was wont to resign up his office to the Prince, but it was never with­out a deep resentment, which might have been observed by his countenance: yet for all this the Prince was never offended with him, although his love made him a little jealous, to perceive his constant employment by the Princess: for al­though he was of a very sweet disposition, and very unwilling to doe any one a prejudice, yet the infe­riour quality of Britomare made him not to regard his displeasure, not once suspecting whence procee­ded his readiness to obey the Princess, but thought that his only aim had been to make himself great: during this time, my Prince pined away every day, without daring once with his mouth to declare his passion▪ although his countenance and behaviour did sufficiently discover it: At last after a long con­testation with himself, he adventured, it was in the Temple of the Sun, where the Princess was kneeling at her devotion, and the Prince standing behind her a long time without interrupting her, but afterwards [Page 172] she looked about, and espying him in that posture, after that she had mildly rebuked him for his want of devotion, she perswaded him to kneel on his knees and worship the Gods: the Prince immediatly o­beyed her, and kneeling down behind her, I bend my knees said he according to your commandement, but the Gods must excuse me if I tell you that you are the chiefest deity that I shall adore so long as I live; having so said he looked down, the Princess blushed, perceiving well the drift of his discourse, and knowing well that his constant carriage towards her had alwaies confirmed the truth of what he had said: yet she would seem not to understand his meaning, but the blood in her face sufficiently manifested her thoughts, and the confusion that she was in hindred her from replying: the Prince gaining courage from her silence was willing to proceed in his discourse: if you reject my adorations and services, you will not imitate the example of those Gods to whom you have commanded me to direct my prayers, and I may safely affirme to you in their presence, that those resentments which I have for you doe not give way to the reverence which we owe to them. Give me leave Madam to make this declaration in their own Temple: I must confess my boldness is too great, and my pretensions too high, for to expect a pardon from a lesser goodness than yours, therefore have I covered them a whole year in silence, and never at­tempted to discover them unto you, but when it was impossible for me to conceale them: if you find any thing in them that may deserve your censure I shall not endeavour to excuse it, and I will allege nothing for my justification, but the violence you [Page 173] offer me which a far greater strength than I am able to make cannot resist he had without question said more, had not the Princess interrupted him▪ she could not justly be offended at any thing he had said, be­ing a Prince who not onely for the greatness of his birth, but for the perfections of his person might challenge precedency from all other Princes of the world; and besides she heard nothing from him but what she long before had observed by his carriage, how ever she was then much surprised, and not de­siring to hear him further on that subject, I am sorry said she, that you have interrupted my devotions for no other end than to entertain me with a discourse so unpleasing to me, and you will much satisfy me, if you will hence-forward seek some other discourse: If I have displeased you replyed the Prince, I will patiently submit to any punishment that you shall please to inflict on me; and if it hath bin my misfor­tune to merit your anger, for discovering to you my thoughts, which are full of veneration and respect, I shall not think any thing unjust or too rigorous for to expiate the crime that I have committed: Its not proper for me replyed the Princess, to inflict punish­ments on a Prince of your quality, I can onely com­plain to you of the discourtesy you doe me, in troub­ling me with such discourse as I neither understand nor approve of: she uttered these words with so cold an action as immediatly silenced the Prince, and therefore receiving into his heart the displeasure which the anger of the Princess had given him, he retired with so sad and mournfull a countenance, as put him almost out of knowledge. His grief might have increased had I not (upon the hearing of the relation [Page 174] of his adventure) given him some comfort, by telling him, that he could not well expect a more favourable answer from a Princess, who never heard the like dis­course; the Prince was hereupon much encouraged, and resolved not to recoyl upon the first denyall of his Princess; in the mean time he carried himself with the same respect to her as he had formerly, yet shee seemed more strange than usually, by neglecting to de­sire his company to walk, or at other pastime, but still used him with the same civilitie as before shee had done, although she debarred him of apportunities of continuing on his former unpleasant discourse; but if his mouth was silent, his eies and actions did manifest sufficiently his thoughts; and though the Princess had been less apprehensive than she was, yet she must needs have known that it was his respect onely that tyed up his tongue, and that his passion in stead of growing cold by reason of her cold entertainment, augmented and waxed more hot every day than other; in this condition was his business, when as there hap­ned a memorable accident worthy the relating.

At a solemn Feast that was celebtated at Meroe for the birth of the Princess there were many courses run on horseback without the Town, the King was there present in person, together with the whole Court, most of the youth of the Nobility were busied in this exercise, and indeed they appeared with as much Magnificence and Gallantry as was possible; they ran all in Arms, and brake their Launces against a mark that was set up for that purpose, and did mady other rare feats for to shew their activity, and address; Caesarion was by this time about seventeen years of age, and was strong enough for any exercise, [Page 175] so that he appeared there in very rich armour, which the King had given him, his Helmet was shadowed with black and white Feathers, and his Horse was milk white, which he made to goe with a wonderfull grace; now as it was the first time that I had seen him armed, so I looked on him with great satisfactien, he seemed to me so gracefull, that I could not look suffi­ciently on him. The King, Princess, and all the as­sembly had their eyes fixed on him, and I think there was scarce any one whose affections he drew not to­wards him. Before the Exercise, most of the young Gallants went to their Mistresses, and desired favours openly from them, for that at that time they were not easily to be denyed them, so that there was scarce any one who had not gotten either Knots, Scarfs, Bracelets, or such like favours, onely Britomare stood still neer the scaffold where the King, Princess, and divers Lords and Ladies were placed, without once offering to stirre for to gain favours with the rest. Now as every body did respect this Gentleman, so did they interest themselves in his neglect. The King obser­ving him, called him unto him, and asked him why he desired not favours from some Lady as well as his companions? This bold youth looking on the King, answered; My Lord, said he, I have lived hitherto a­mongst all the Ladies of your Court without the losse of my liberty for any one of them, for although I doe much honour all of them, according to my du­ty, yet there's not one of them to whom I have par­ticularly engaged my affection; I have been onely de­voted to the service of the Princess, to whom your Majestie hath given me, and although I ought to look on her as a subject and domestick servant, yet she [Page 176] must excuse me, if I doe profess that I will accept of no favours from any body but her self; I never had any other design than to doe her service, and therefore my desire is only to be commanded by her. Whilst Britomare spake after this sort, the boldness of his action having affected the whole company with ad­miration, they gave a great shout or acclamation, which so farre emboldned him, that he went directly to the Princess, and casting himself upon his knees, if your Highness. said he, shall be pleased to honour rhe meanest of your servants, with such an effect of your goodness, there will be no body in this great assem­bly that can contend with me for the Prize of this day, or the victory in any Combat whatsoever, when as I shall undertake it for your service. The words and action of Britomare were diversly taken by the assistants, some blamed his audacity, others excusing the rashness of his youth, imputed it to the greatness of his courage, which had alwayes manifested it self in his other actions. The King himself was of this number, and in stead of rebuking his temerity, com­mended his carriage, and commanded the Princess to give him somewhat. Candace was preparing to obey him, when as my Prince, who observing the action of Britomare, with another eye than the rest of the company, and being touched with a pricking jealou­sie at this proud demand, could not endure to see him possess that happiness which was designed for him, and imagining that the favours of his Princess were onely due to himself, could not endure that a person so much inferiour, should goe away with these advan­tages which he dared not to ask; with these thoughts he hastned to the Princess, and kneeling on one of [Page 177] his knees, I durst not be so bold, Madam, said he, for to aspire unto the favour that Britomare hath desired, I thought my self as unworthy of it as he is without question; but yet if you shall please to favour any body so much, I think I may more justly lay claim to it than himself, and shall as well defend it in any kind of encounter. The Prince had no sooner spoken, but his request was granted, and the King not permitting the Princess to reply, Give to the Prince Cleomedon, said he, the favour which he desireth, Britomare shall not dispute his pretensions with him, but to content him, command one of your Maids to give him a fa­vour. If this language seemed terrible to Britomare, sure I am it was very pleasing to my Prince, who ri­sing up, received from the fair hands of the Princess Candace, a very rich Bracelet, and as soon as he had kissed it, for to shew his respect, he mounted on horse­back, transported with joy and satisfaction, and then hastened toward the front of those who were to be­gin the courses. Britomare was called on to receive a present from Artemis, one of the Princess her Maids of honour, but he not so much as looking towards it, got on his horse, and spurred away in great hast out of the company. The Exercises began, but I shall not trouble you with a description of them; It shall suffice that I tell you that my Prince behaved himself with so much gallantry and nobleness, insomuch that all the company were not onely exceedingly delighted to see him, but the King and the Court were confir­med in the great hopes that they had of him. To­wards the end of their sports, my Prince retired a lit­tle to take the ayr a little way distant from the com­pany, where he espied Britomare standing in a discon­solate [Page 178] posture behind a tree, observing the carriage of his companions. Although the Prince was not well pleased for that which hee had done, yet the punish­ment which hee had received, togethet with the great esteem which he had of his vertues, moved him to pitty. In fine, the abundant goodness of his nature could not endure to see him so disconsolate and af­flicted with a displeasure which he had occasioned, without disposing himself to comfort him: being in this mind, he rode towards him on a soft gallop, and being come neer him, he perceived the tears hanging on his eyes, which truly moved my Prince to com­passion towards him. What Britomare (said he un­to him) you lament and grieve, and it may be you have little cause so to doe, I wonder to see this in you, in whom we have observed so many marks of a great courage. Yes, my Lord, replied Britomare, I weep, and I might shed tears of blood, when I consider the injustice of my fortune, that hath exposed me to those miseries which my spirit cannot bend under. And have you no other ground for your affliction, replied the Prince, than that which is known to us? No, replied Britomare, for they are enough to bring me to my grave since the heavens that have given me a high spirit, have not given me a birth suitable, that so I might make use of it. I was born, my Lord, with a heart as good as yours, and thoughts altogether as high, it may be; it is onely fortune that hath differen­ced us, when as vertue possibly could not have done it. Its by reason of those advantages, that you are in a condition to affront mee every day, whilst I am enfor­ced to bear it patiently; you have heaped shame, dis­grace and discontent on me several times, and al­though [Page 179] respect hath made me endure it without murmuring, yet my courage could never stoop un­der it without grief and reluctancy. If I had recei­ved these injuries from any body, with whom I might have measured a sword, by which I hope one day to get some credit, this sadness, which you see in my face, would suddainly vanish and disperse it self; but for that it is my unhappiness to be affronted by a Prince from whom I cannot hope for that satisfaction, I am resolved to turn my weapons against my self, and so correct that ambition which would fain be aspiring above my birth. Whilst Britomare spake, the Prince heard him with admiration; for although he perceived somewhat of temerity and unbounded am­bition in his action, yet he perceived withall so great a courage which he could not disapprove; upon this consideration, he answered him in this sort: I well thought Britomare that the difference that is between us would have prevented all disputes of this kind, and that you ought not to have been troubled at those advantages I have had of you, for this cause I have been so careless of offending men of great courage, which for the time to come I shall be better able to prevent. I am sorry that I have offended you, and the better to express my displeasure, I will not seek for excuses from my quality or condition, that so I may refuse you that satisfaction which will so much comfort you; I will grant your courage that which your birth could not expect from me, and possibly I may let you know, that its not fortune onely, that hath put a difference between us. Ah! my Lord replyed the young Britomare (who upon the hearing of this discourse was transported with joy) you shew [Page 180] your self to be indeed a Prince, and Britomare is much engaged unto you for the honour you are pleased to doe him: I accept your free offer with more satis­faction than I should have for the gift of a Crown: I will make no other use of the favour you shall doe me, than to let you see that I am not altogether un­worthy of it. I should not have been so presumptious as to desire it of you, but since you have made me so Noble an offer, so hereby I may comfort my self for all the injuries you have done me, I can by no means let slip the opportunity of accepting it. Let us be go­ing then, replyed boldly the Prince, who began to be somewhat in choler, and since you desire that so much, which you say will be so great consolation to you, let us quit the sight of that multitude of persons who possibly may hinder us in our design; our weapons are equall, so that I can have no advantage against you in that kind. With that he spurred on his horse from the company, Britomare being exceedingly re­joyced, followed close after him, so that in a short time they lost the sight of the company; yet they were not minded to stop, untill they were gone a mile or two off, for fear of an interruption, at length they came into a plain valley, where none could look on them, and Caesarion judging that place convenient, made a stop, and turning about towards Britomare, Let us goe no further said he, but as soon as wee have given our horses breath, let us here end our quar­rell. Britomare was so rejoyced, that he gave the Prince no answer, but giving his horse breath, hee looked on the Prince with such an eye, as might dis­cover his willingness to engage. Their age and stature were equall, and it was the first time that either of [Page 181] them had put on arms, they had each of them a lance in their right hand, and a shield in their left, their horses were very good, and expresly chosen for the solemn exercise of that day: they had scarce the patience to breath, but defying each other with a great shout, they lanced at one another with so great impetuosity, as could not well be expected from the most accomplished Warriers, much less from them who were newly entered into that exercise; they brake both their lances inshivers against their shields, and the two young Champions were so little dismayed there­at, that without any disturbance they drew forth their swords, which never untill that time were un­sheathed upon such an occasion, and shaking them in the ayr in a very menacing sort, they made at each other as furiously as before at the first passe; they both drew blood, and at the second they received each of them a great wound, Britomare was run through the left Arm, and Caesarion through the flesh of his thigh, there was never two Champions that saw their bloud spilt with more violent resentments than these, for they equally desiring a revenge and victory, [...]un at each other, with so little precaution, that if the Gods had not protected their lives which they sligh­ted, they had undoubtedly dispatched each other in this very beginning to exercise their weapons: they had received each of them another small wound, when as comming to graple, my Prince caught hold of him, which the other perceiving did the same, after which, they both set spurs to their horses with a design to drag each other on the ground, which ac­cordingly hapned, where they rowled over each o­ther with wonderfull fury; but with this fall and [Page 182] strugling, they lost so much blood and spirits, that when they agreed to rise, they had not the strength scarce to hold their swords, nevertheless they made at each other as well as they could, and without doubt had ended the combat, with both their lives, which untill that time had been managed with e­quall advantage, if we had not fortunately found them, time enough to prevent such a mischief. Their sudain departure made us to suspect somewhat, al­though the mad rashness of Britomare was far from our thoughts, but I having alwaies my eyes upon the Prince, and care for him, could not be satisfied with the ground of his departure, but took a horse, and in the company of divers Gentlemen rode after him; we arrived there as I told you in the nick of time, for to separate the two young Combatants, and we found them in such a condition, as our comming was of absolute necessity. As soon as my Prince saw us, he sighed for grief to be interrupted, and fearing lest some displeasure might be given to Britomare, he put himself before him in a posture to defend him. Assoon as he perceived me in the head of the Compa­pany, My Father said he, if you love my life, take care that Britomare be not injured; Its I, that have as­saulted him, and inforced him to defend himself, I am resolved to dye rather than suffer him to receieve any harm: I will defend my life as well as I am able my self, said the furious young man, without being obliged to you for it, after I have attempred what I could against yours. These Noble and ge­nerous speeches made us to admire them, and in the mean time, taking care for the preservation of Bri­tomare according to the Princes desire; we dismounted [Page 183] from our horses in haste, and run to the two Com­batants, just as they fell down through weakness on the grass. I caught up my Prince in my Arms, wet­ting his cheeks with my tears: but when I put him on horse-back, and mounted my self behind for to support him, he desired that they would doe the same for Britomare, and being not contented with that care of him, he made me unlight, and commanded Neander to supply my place, to the end that I might goe to the King and beg pardon for the pre­sumption of Britomare, and acquaint him that un­less he would grant it, he would never look him a­gain in the face. I had with much importunity and intreaty procured his pardon from the King (who was resolved to punish him severely) yet upon this condition, that he should depart the Country, assoon as he should be recovered of his wounds, and never presume to return again. By this time my Prince was conducted into the Town, and put into his Bed, where his wounds were soon searched by the Chi­rurgians, who found that they were no way dan­gerous, and that the losse of much blood had oc­casioned his greatest indisposition; when they had applied their remedies, and bound up his wounds, they ordered him rest and silence untill the day fol­lowing; in the mean time the report of his generosi­ty was spread over all the Town and Country, and the report which Britomare himself made to his friends of the noble and free carriage of the Prince filled all the Court with admiration. I was very much re­joyced to hear him every where commended, and I was soon freed of the fear and discontent which his wounds had occasioned in me, when I considered [Page 184] the nobleness of his carriage and the manifestation of his great courage in this his first encounter. I could not perceive any thing throughout the whole action, that might not well become the son of Julius Caesar and Cleopatra, and although I seemed to blame the Prince, for fear lest he should oftentimes engage upon the like occasion, yet it was after such a sort, as he might well perceive, that I could not well disaprove of what he had done. The King came to visit him assoon as he might with conveniency, where after that he had let him know by many loving and familiar expressions, how much he was interessed in his welfare, he sufficiently commended his generous carriage, although respecting the consequence of it, he seemed somewhat to blame him, and intreated him that he would never more, upon so slight an oc­casion, hazard his person against a man of so low a ranck as Britomare. The King was no sooner gone from him, but the Princess his daughter by express order from her Father came to visit him. The Prince no sooner saw her, but his joy was so excessive, that his wounds were in danger of opening, and by the change of his countenance a man might easily per­ceive the movings of his spirits. The fair Princess being sate by his Bed side received his thanks, with as much modesty, as Majesty, and assoon as she spake, she assured him in very obliging tearms, of her reall sorrow for his indisposition; and upon this discourse Caesarion took occasion to entertain her concerning his passion, and perceiving that all the company kept at a distance out of respect; Its but just Madam said he, that I should purchase your favours with that little blood, which they have cost me, but yet if with [Page 185] that little which I have already lost, I should give all that yet remaineth in my veins, I should not pay a sufficient prize for the least of them. I am very sor­ry replyed Candace, that by the Kings command I gave you such a present, as might haved proved fa­tall to you, and at least hath cost you so much blood, too pretious for to be shed on so slight an occasion: You despise and undervalue replyed the Prince, that which the most ambitious Princes doe preferre before Empires, but if I were to dispute the value of them, against any one but your self, there's not any one that I should not make affirm, that all other good or content is contemptible, in respect of the favours of the Princess Candace. I must confess that I should more prize that which I have obteined, if I had got­ten it from her own disposition, and not by the Kings command, or upon any other consideration than that of obedience. I know that my request savou­reth too much of boldness, but in this weak condi­tion, its a hard matter for me to forbear, and if it hath occasioned your anger, I am here ready to make you satisfaction, and to give that blood and spirits that are left in me, for the reparation of the offence which I have committed. I doe not desire said the Princess such satisfaction as you offer, for any offence that you can give me, and we doe not put so low an esteem on your life, but that we could rather suffer much from you than put that in hazard, but you will much oblige me, if you shall please to find another subject to discourse on, and not to enforce me (by using such language that I scarce un­derstand) to visit you very seldome; she spake these words with so serious an action, that the Prince [Page 186] had good cause to fear that he indeed had displeased her and being of this opinion, If I am so unfortunate, said he, to displease you, either by my discourse or acti­ons, I protest unto you (whom I am resolved to ac­knowledge for my Soveraign Deity as long as I live) I will inflict on my self such a punishment as shall give you satisfaction. The Gods had raised up Britomare for to punish my presumptuous ambition in looking so high as your self, and since his hand alone hath not been able to doe it throughly, I will help the justice of his quarrell with the assistance of my own; and since its a rashness so deserving your anger, to open my lips before you, for to declare a passion which you so justly misllike, I will shut them with a perpetuall si­lence. The Prince spake these words with so passio­nate an action, that the Princess was exceedingly moved thereby to pitty him, and being not willing that he should with his continued replies afflict him­self more; I have already told you, that I doe not desire from you such cruell reparations; and I now tell you again, that you should think on nothing more than the recovery of your health, in this place where there is no body that loves you so ill, as to de­sire that any mischief should befall you. She said no more, for that there came in divers persons of quality into the Chamber, amongst which was Tiribaze the Kings favouritc, or indeed the second King of Ethio­pia; I have not yet told you any thing concerning him, but in my remaining discourse I shall make much mention of him, for that he is one of the chiefest parties concerned in this History; Hee is a man of the greatest Familie in Ethiopia, of a great spirit, and greater ambition, very comely of person, [Page 187] and well experienced in all things, and indeed one who very well deserved the great trust and high em­ployment which he then had; as he was in good cre­dit and esteem with the King, so had he a greater re­pute amongst the souldierie, whose hearts he so well gained during his employment amongst them, that he had the absolute command and disposition of them. In fine, he was the greatest man in all Ethiopia; for although there were some that were neerer allied to the Crown, yet their authority was much lesse than his. There being at that time no ground of difference between him and the Prince, they lived very friendly together (Tiribaze knowing that the King was mach pleased therewith) at that time he gave the Prince a civill visit, and stayed there so long as the Princess, and when she withdrew, he accompanied her to her lodging. My Prince had the happiness to see her di­divers times, whilst his wounds kept him in his bed; but from all the discourse he then had with her, he could not make any good judgement of his fortune, neither could he discover what impression he had made on her spirit. He had no sooner quit his bed with an intention to walk abroad the next day, but newes was brought him, that Britomare (whose cure was wrought as well as his) was at the doore, and desired admission to see him, we opposed rhis inter­view, fearing lest Britomare who was become des­perate, should have attempted something against his life, but he knowing his heart better than we▪ and ha­ving no cause to distrust him, he commanded us to let him come it. Britomare came into the Chamber with his face somewhat pale, and his arm tyed up in a Scarf, but with a countenance and behaviour so [Page 188] noble, that notwithstanding our prejudiciall thoughts concerning him, he drew both our respect and affecti­on towards him. Caesarion rose up to meet him, and Britomare very civilly aboarded him, although with a countenance somewhat sorrowfull. My Lord, said he, to the Prince, I was very unwilling to leave the Court before I had given you my thanks for those fa­vours you have done me; you have suffered me to draw a sword (as bad a souldier as I am) against a great Prince, you have protected me against the fury of your friends, and you have made use of your cre­dit with the King for my safety: these obligations, my Lord, how great soever, cannot make me your friend; the shame which you have put on me, and the grief I have to leave a place for your sake, where I have so strong an attachment, doe oppose against it, and my own nature doth require it; but I must tell you, that it was not to make this declaration, that I am now come to take my leave of you, but to assure you, that how great an enemie soever I am of yours, I shall seek all occasions for to acknowledge your ge­nerosity and nobleness. I am now going to seek my fortune, and it may be some repute in a Country that may be more gratefull than this, and I am not with­out hope but that by this sword, which I have had the honour to draw against you, I may get such ad­vantages as may perchance enable me to see you a­gain with as much credit as I ever yet saw you; my heart tells me that my birth is not inferiour to yours, and if it doth deceive me, I will punish its de­ceit, by making it to seek for that amidst the greatest dangers which my birth hath denied me. I have been contemned by the King of Ethiopia, the Princess his [Page 189] Daughter, and your self, and yet I shall be so bold as to tell you, that neither of you ever knew me, and I hope one day to appear before them in a condition to discover my self more than hitherto I have done. Having so said, he curteously saluted the Prince, and retired out of the Chamber without staying to hear any reply, although the Prince called after him, and followed him, that so he might speak with him; from thence he went immediatly to his horse, and rode a­way from Meroe, and since that time we have not seen him. Tiridate staied Eteockle, and told him that he was much deceived if he could not tell him some newes of this Britomare, and so much that I wonder you have not heard of him, but that deserves a discourse by its self, and therefore I will not inter­rupt yours. Eteockle was beginning to continue on his discourse, when one came and told him that the Queen was awaked, and had called for him; where­upon he took his leave of Tiridate for a few mo­ments, and in the mean time the Prince called for his cloathes and leapt out of his bed, where the narration of Eteockle had kept him longer then he had been accustomed.

The History of the Prince Coriolan and the Princess Cleopatra.

THere was never any man that did begin his life with so great a cause of sorrow, as my Master, and it may be Fortune never shewed her self so variously during so short a time as hee hath now lived; yet I may safely say that my Master hath gotten nothing by her propitious­ness, [Page 8] but hath rather lost all by her averseness; for before he was born she bereaved him of his Crownes, Parents, and Liberty, and hath since afflicted him with greater displeasures than those losses could occasion, and ât what time soever she hath seemed to favour him, she hath been alwayes inforced thereunto by his vertue; he was born without any Estate, although he was the lawfull and undoubted Heir of two great Kingdomes, and he was born a Vassall, al­though he vvas Son to a free and mighty Prince in Africa; he no sooner beheld the light, but he saw his shame, and he began his life in such a sort, which tò prevent, Cleopatra killed her self, and he had unquestionably imitated her ex­ample, if he had been of an age that might have made him capable of the same understand­ing.

The great King Juba, whose memory is sufficiently famous amongst all men, was the sole Soveraign of the two Mauritanies, and had kept himself in such a condition as made him terrible to all the neighbouring Territories, for that he was the greatest Mo­narch in Africa, had he not ruined himself by joyning with an unfortunate Party, and had not Fortune cast him down upon the approach of him for whom the Empire of the World was reserved; his Dominions were of a large circuit; his Court was stately and magnifi­cent, and the authority which he had gained over his neighbours by reason of his force and strength, made him the absolute Soveraign [Page 9] of that third part of the World- In this glo­rious and peaceable condition he lived and maintained himself, when as after the defeat of the great and unfortunate Pompey, his scattered Troops fled into Africa for shelter, under the command of Scipio and Cato. The King Juba, who either reverenced the memory of that great man, or was jealous of the greatness of Caesar, joyned himself with his enemies, and with his recruits made those scattered Forces a very formidable Army: With this strength they all three opposed the Conqueror of the World, and by that meanes they not onely stopped the course of his Victories, but by reason of many advantages which they gained against him in the beginning of this War, they made every body doubtfull of the success: But at the last fate lead them into the Plain of Thap­son, which is situated near a Town of the same name, where being puffed up with vain sha­dows and hopes of victory, they offered bat­tell to Casar. Truly they might in probabili­ty have hoped for good success, had not the Gods fought for him to whom they had de­signed the Empire of the Universe, insomuch that in despight of all the strength of Africa, they gave him the compleat Victory. The King Juba and his companions lost there for­ty thousand men on the place, and saw them­selves so wholly ruined, that they had no hopes ever to make head again. And indeed they looked for no other deliverance by any other meanes than death, and although they might [Page 10] have expected a better destiny from the cle­mencie of Caesar, yet they chose rather to die, than to expose themselxes to the mercy of the Conqueror. Scipio killed himself with his own sword in the field. Cato, when he saw himself blocked up in Vtica, killed himself in like manner; and although there were some who attempted to save his life notwithstand­ing his wounds, yet he found out a way to deceive them by tearing his bowels. The King of Mauritany retreated with his remaining Troops to one of his neerest Townes, where after some endeavours to encourage his dis­heartned souldiers, and perceiving that he was pursued by the Victorious Army, he prepared himself for death. For this purpose, having made a stately Feast for one Petreius a Roman Captain, who had been of his Party, and was then a companion in his misfortune, at the end of which, looking on Petreius with a countenance which manifested his desire to die, Petreius, said he, let us die whilst we are free men, for if we defer our death any longer, we shall not be able to avoid that shame which our enemies are preparing for us; for a mark of thy affection, I desire nothing but to dye by thy hand, and in the condition whereun­to I am now reduced, I cannot demand a greater or dearer assurance of it: Pierce this breast, said he, shewing him his bare stomack, and strike this heart which hath so unfortu­nately preserved its self against the Roman force, and let that King fall by thy friendly [Page 11] hand, whose courage all the strength that the Romanists can make, cannot allay. He accompa­nied this discourse with so many passionate and pressing expressions, that Petreius could by no meanes denie him that which hee desired from him; but ran him through with his sword, the King looking earnestly upon him, without committing any act beneath that greatness of his courage; Petreius having seen him give up the Ghost, turned the point of the same sword to his own breast, and falling on it with the might of his body soon expired at his feet; thus in the conclusion of the feast was the bloud Royall powred out, and this was the destiny of that great King, who was of so noble and generous a humour for to prefer an untimely death be­fore an ignominous life. Within few dayes after Caesar gained the full possession of his two Kingdomes, and seized on the person of the Queen his Spouse, whom hee designed for one of the principall ornaments of his triumph: she had been with child some months before the King her husband died, and was delivered of the Prince my master within two dayes after her ar­rivall at Rome, whether she was sent above six weekes before Caesar came thither: After this sort was my Prince born a slave, although hee was a free man long after his conception, and it was between his conception and birth, that the great revolution of his fortune hap­pened; within few dayes after his birth he served as a remarkable ornament of Caesar his triumph, happy he was in his misfortune, for [Page 12] that he was not sensible of the shame which hee suffered. His Mother did not long survive the infamy which she underwent, yet he wanted not friends to take care for his breeding and educa­cation, for Caesar himself being touched with compassion for the destiny of his Father and Mother, gave order that he should be bred up at Rome in the quality of the son of a King, and took so particular a care for him, that hee could have scarse expected a better education if his friends had continued in their wonted greatnes and prosperity: I may ad further, and that tru­ly, that the loss of his Dominions was in part repaired with the good entertainement he met with at Rome: during his childhood Caesar cau­sed him to be brought often times unto him, and observing with his beauty so much of Majesty, he had so great an affection for him, that he de­clared openly, that if the little Juba (for that name they gave him at his bith) did answer those hopes which he had of him, he would re­store him his Fathers Crowns and possessions; he was very carefull to breed him up in the Roman inclinations, and indevored to wipe off all that savageness which his African blood might prompt him to, and the betrer to strengthen his affections to the Republick, he caused him to be called by a Roman name; and because he was brought up amongst the Family of the Martius, which were illustrious Patricii, from which that famous Coriolan, so much renown­ed for his valour, formerly descended, he or­dered that this Prince should be called by the [Page 13] same name, and by this means covered the name of Juba, which seemed somewhat bar­barous, and savoured of disaffection to the Republick: And indeed the affection and goodness of the great Dictator had not been bounded here, if he had not lost that Prote­ctor, or indeed, Father, before he attained to his fourth year, at which time he could onely fancie great hopes of him. But the greatest man that ever lived was murthered in the Se­nate, even by those who had shared of his boun­ty, and all the World became interessed in the loss of him, who had gotten to be its Master with the edge of his sword, yet held it in a sweet and peaceable subjection.

After the death of Caesar, the young Corio­lan (for so he hath been always called) want­ed not for protection; for the Senate succeed­ing in the goodness of Caesar, took speciall care for his education, and he had the same care taken for him as was had for divers other Princes that were Friends and Allyes; many young Gentlemen of quality in Rome were appointed to attend on him, and I my self was one of those who were imployed neerest his person, and one whom he hath particu­larly honoured with his affection. During all the cruel distractions of my Country, and that bloudy Civil War which vvas undertaken for the revenge of Caesar, and during those pro­digious effects of that horrible Triumvirat, vvhich made the streets of our City to run vvith the bloud of its Citizens, and those remarka­ble [Page 14] disputes vvhich happened betvveen M. An­tony, and Octavius Caesar, the young Prince grevv up at Rome, even to the admiration of every body. There vvas never any young man that handled his Armes vvith such a grace as himself. There vvas never any one heard of, vvho attained such a perfection in all sorts of exercises in so short a time; he had so great an inclination to the Sciences, that there are fevv men novv to be found vvho have greater knovvledge, either of the motions of the Stars, or any other kinde of Philosophy; even that fa­mous Oratour, vvho by the cruel command of M. Antony lost his life in the heat of the Trium­virat, did scarce excell him in Eloquence. The endovvments of his body equalled those of his minde, and those ancient Patricians vvho found so many patterns of vertue in the Roman Di­scipline, had heard nothing famous of the Fa­bricii, Camilli, or Scipios, which to their great astonishment they did not see appear in the acti­ons of Coriolan. Besides his naturall propensi­on to great things, he alvvays shevved a horrour for oppression and injustice, and they could not discover in him more contempt of dangers, or more love to glory and honour, than com­passion for the misfortunes of any body, and readiness to quit his own particular interest for the ease of those vvho vvere in misery. I have heard him many a time (although he was not above 12. or 13. years old) earnestly de­sire those vvho had the tuition of him, to con­duct him into that famous vvar that vvas then [Page 15] carriied on by those tvvo Masters of the Em­pire, the unfortunate Antony, and Octavius Cae­sar, since called Augustus: He vvould vex and grieve vvhen he heard of any famous exploit, for that he had not been personally present at it. Those reall marks of greatness gained him the heart of Augustus as vvell as of every body besides, so that if his first inclinations for him had not been traversed vvith other interests, and some other accidents vvhich happened af­tervvards, he could not have expected less fa­vour or protection from him, than from the great Julius his Predecessor.

The intentions of the Emperor vvere favour­ed by all the Nobility of Rome, and the excel­lent inclinations of this young Prince, his svveet, noble, and obliging disposition, even to the hazard of his neerest interests, his affable conversation & behaviour, together with those other advantages vvhich he had by his good mind and gracefull deportment in all his acti­ons, made every vertuous man to love and respect him. In all their publick meetings and shevvs, he so demeaned himself, that even the Senate, as vvell as all the spectators besides, ad­mired him; and vvhen he vvas not above 14. years old he alvvays vvon the prizes at all sorts of exercises. He vvas about 18. years of age vvhen Caesar came in Triumph to Rome after the deplorable defeat given to M. Antony and Cle­opatra. by means of vvhich he remained the sole Master of the Universe. It vvas upon that occasion that my Prince appeared in admirable [Page 16] glory amongst others who went forth to meet the Emperour: All those who then saw him in a suit of cloaths, which with its richness did in some measure set off the advantages of his naturall beauty, mounted on a proud Horse, which he managed with a wonderfull grace and address, and in the head of a Troop of young Gentlemen about his age, declared open­ly, that he was not only vvorthy to command them, but that he would one day merit a greater fortune than his Fathers Dominions; and the Emperour himself, notwithstanding the glo­rious condition that he then was in, as soon as he saw him, made a stop for to imbrace him, and spake more in his commendation than the modesty of the Prince could suffer him to hear. This was one of the most magnificent Triumphs that ever Rome saw, and all the pomp in the World seemed to be put together to compleat the glory of one man; however I vvill not trouble you vvith a particular descrip­tion of it, because I knovv you have heard suffi­ciently of it elsevvhere, but shal only tel you, that the greatest beauty of it appeared the third day: The 2. first days Caesar triumphed for divers Vi­ctories obtained over several barbarous Nations, and for the battel of Actium, but the last day was for Egypt and Cleopatra. I shall speak nothing of the incredible riches, or the prodigious number of Captives vvith vvhich it vvas in part made up, for my eyes, as vvell as of e­very body besides, vvere most fixed on a state­ly Chariot, vvhere vvas placed the Image [Page 17] of Cleopatra pictured to the life; She vvas re­presented in the same posture as she vvas in vvhen she died, vvhich vvas holding out her Arm to an Asp, and dying vvith his mortal stinging: The countenance of the Queen vvas full of Majesty, and that sad spectacle drevv tears of compassion from the eyes of all the company: But as the sight of that Image mo­ved every body to pity, so the children of Anthony and Cleopatra, vvhich vvere living, and sate at the feet of the Effigies of their Mo­ther, did not produce less effects: The young Alexander, and the Princess Cleopatra his Si­ster, vvho vvere about 10. years old, sate to­gether, and one step higher sate their Brother Ptolomy, vvho vvas one year younger. There vvas never seen any thing more beautifull than those illustrious Captives. All the people of Rome had their eys fixed on them, and they themselves vvere not so young but they vvere sensible of their condition, and manifested it sufficiently by their countenances. Alexander and Cleopatra vvere attired in the same habits of Apollo and Diana, vvhich Antony out of a foolish vanity had caused them to vvear; and if the condition they vvere then in had not de­stroyed the belief, every body had taken them in that dress for those Deities vvhich they re­presented; those Rays vvherevvith the head of the little Cleopatra vvas invironed, seemed ra­ther to come from her eys, than any other out­vvard adornment; and if shame and modesty had not made her to look for the most part on [Page 18] the ground, she vvould have cast out more fair lightnings than those of that Goddess vvhose shape she had taken. M. Antony vvas a beau­tifull Prince, and therefore it could not be othervvise expected but that the children vvhich he had on the fair Cleopatra, must be exceed­ingly vvell formed. The Princess resembled them both, but far surpassed either of them: She had a mouth and countenance much like her Mother, but a more fair and delicate com­plexion; her eys vvere blue, yet full of svveet­ness and Majesty; her hair vvas much vvhiter than her Mothers, and yet blacker than her Fathers. It vvas then difficult to judge of her neck or stature; but since, vve have seen both so vvell formed, that one cannot desire or i­magine any thing more accomplished. I should have spoken more of her if you had not seen her so often that you needed not to have heard that poor description that I have made of her. Oh vvhat vvonders did my Prince find in this sight! Hovv vvas he avvake­ned out of the melancholy vvhich the thoughts of the destiny of his Predecessors had cast him into! He had not much regarded the pomp of the tvvo first days, and he did not much look after the gold and riches of this third day, but he could not behold the Image of the Queen Cleopatra vvithout shedding many a compassi­onate tear, accompanied vvith divers sighs, vvhich the conformity of her condition vvith that of his ovvn Family, drevv from his heart; vvhen he beheld the young Princess in the same [Page 19] condition as by report he had heard he had been in himself during his infancy, he could not refrain from pitying them; from thence he took an occasion to observe and admire their beauties, and so by degres he came to be overvvhelmed vvith that passion to vvhich he hath ever since given himself up. I being then very neer him, according to my custom, he turned tovvards me; vvhat do I see Emili­us, said he, hath nature ever formed any thing like that young Princess? and she vvho is this day led in triumph, ought she not one day to triumph her self over the most precious li­berties? O Fortune, said he a vvhile after, hovv thou dost play vvith the destiny of Princes, and vvhat illustrious companions hast thou this day given me? Whilst he spake in this sort, he looked more earnestly on that Object, vvhich took up all his thoughts. In this posture he kept himself on Horse-back by the Chariot, and stirred not thence during the whole Cere­mony. The Prince was not then in an age capable of strong or violent impressions, and the Princess was younger than himself by 4. or 5. years, and therefore had not then attained to that perfection of beauty, which since hath made so many Vassals; yet the spirits of Coriolan yeilded before they could be susceptible of any great passion; and the beauty of Cleopatra did did not stay for age before it began to produce those effects which afterwards were very usual and ordinary. The young Prince was in a short time become pensive, would often sigh, and [Page 20] love solitariness, and for that he used no dili­gence to hide any thing from me, I soon per­ceived (although I was not much older than himself) what it was that troubled him. E­milius, said he unto me a few days after the Triumph, was there ever seen any thing more beautifull than the young Princess Cleopatra, or rather can the imagination of any man con­ceive any thing like her? It's true, answered I, that the Princess is beautifull. She is beauti­full, said he, somewhat in anger; rather say that every thing is ugly in comparison of her, and the Gods have contributed all their pow­er and skill for to make her the most admira­ble piece that ever passed through their hands. Oh how fortunate will that man be to whom the Heavens will give the glory to adore her, to expose his life at her feet, and spend it whol­ly in occasions to serve her. It may be it shall be your self, said I; for I see such a disposition in you, that I cannot but expect from you part of that which you seem to desire. You need not doubt, replyed the Prince, but that I am resolved to dedicate my self wholly to her ser­vice, and to abandon all other thoughts and considerations for those that may make me to merit her approval of my design not to live but for her. My Lord, replied I, you should not so rashly resolve on a business of so great consequence, for in the condition you are now in, you should rather think on those alliances that may restore you to your former fortune and greatness, and in a matter of so great im­portance, [Page 21] you ought to indeavour to gain the approbation of Caesar, and the Senate, since its on them that your destiny depends. The Prince looked somewhat scurvily upon me for this discourse. I did not think, said he, that thou hadst such low thoughts, or that thou wouldst advise me to offer violence to such noble in­clinations, upon any consideration of Fortune; for if in the service of Cleopatra I cannot pre­tend to those Crowns that Fortune hath taken from her, I shall partake of that glory over which that inconstant Goddess hath no power, and my thoughts cannot aspire higher than to the daughter of Antony and Cleopatra, who were the Masters of so many Kings, and were reputed in their time the greatest Monarchs in the World; neither Caesar nor the Senate can justly disapprove of my design; and although they should deny me their profection upon this account, yet if I have any vertue or courage, the Gods will not forsake me, and I may per­chance obtain that with my swords point, which I might hope to gain by their assistance. These were the first thoughts of the young Prince; and if in so tender an age he took up such strong and firm resolutions, sure I am, that time did so well fortifie him therein, that a­ny consideration in the World was not capable to divert him.

In the mean time the children of Antony and Cleopatra were brought up at Rome, rather ac­cording to the greatness of their birth, than the present condition of their Fortune, and the [Page 22] Princess Octavia, Sister to Augustus and M. Antony's Widow, whom he forsook to marry with Cleopatra, instead of remembring the in­dignity that he had offred her, was so no­ble and generous, that She took home the children into her own house, and was as carefull of them, as if they had been her own, and put no difference between them and her two Daugh­ters which she had by M. Antony, or her Son Marcellus, whom she had by her first Husband, of the same name. I know you have seen this young Marcellus, who was the darling and delight of Rome, during your sojourn there. The Emperour liked well his Sisters good­ness, and publickly expressed the esteem that he had for her for so doing. The Empress Livia her self, for to second the good inten­tions of the Emperour, took home the Prin­cess Cleopatra, and bred her up with great care and tenderness in the Emperial Pallace, and the other two young Princes continued with the vertuous Octavia. During this time, the passion of our young Prince augmented e­very day, and as he was naturally hardy, so he attempted and performed every thing with an excellent grace; he had neither power, nor a desire to dissemble it long, and by this time he had seen and entertained the Princess seve­rall times, and finding with her rare beauty a wonderfull liveliness of spirit, and such a solidity of judgement, which was not usually seen in persons of her age, together with a charming sweetness in her discourse, he gave [Page 23] up himself wholly to love her. He declared nothing to her during the time that she lived with Octavia, although by reason of her ten­der age he might have adventured very far; but after that she was removed to the Pallace, and his opportunities were loss, he hazarded himself more. He meeting her one evening in the Empresses chamber, where the Empe­rour, and some of the chiefest of the Court were present, after that he had aboarded her with a grace, and gallantry which was peculiar to himself, Fair Princess, said he aloud, our de­stinies are alike, and I would to God that our thoughts were the same, and that you had as much favour for the design that I have to give up my self wholly to you, as I have passion to adore you as long as I live. These words were spoken with such a pleasing boldness, that every one that heard them, admired at them. The young Princess not knowing at that present how to receive them, and yet be­ing not so innocent but that she well under­stood the force of them, blushed, and remain­ed silent without offering to reply. But the Empress, who over-heard them, repeated them aloud to the Emperour, who seemed so much to approve of what was spoken, that the bold­ness of the Prince was thereby much increased. After this, every one began to talk about the Court, that there could not possibly be a fit­ter match then the Son of Juba with the daugh­ter of Cleopatra: The hopes which every one had of them were alike, that their Birth and [Page 24] Fortune was not different; and that the beauty and excellent qualities of the young Cleopatra could not be equalled but with the good mind and naturall parts of the young Coriolan.

These discourses which were in a short time spread about the whole Towre, did much fa­vour the Prince in the beginning of his passion; for undertaking it with a universall consent, he promised to himself a better success, than he could at the first hope for: whereupon he gave up himself openly to her service, and making use of those advantages for to discourse freely of his love, and make impressions on her spi­rits by reason of her tender yeares, which in a riper age he could not have so easily performed, he accustomed her to hear the assurances of his own affections, although he received none from her, and prevailed so far that she valued and prized his company before all others whatsoe­ver; the merit alone of the Prince had bin enough to produce such an effect; but to those advantages he joyned not onely an extraordi­nary diligence, but a great respect and comply­ing behaviour; he foresaw that his condition would alter as the Princess grew older; and for this cause he resolved to make the best use of his time, and to prepossess her mind that he might remove those difficulties whilst he had the opportunity, and weaken that Enemy which he knew he should one day encounter withall: such providence and circumspection is not ordinary for persons about sixteen yeares of age; but at that time my Prince understood [Page 25] himself as well as most of the wisest sort of men; and all those who observed his carriage, gave strange judgements concerning him: during this time he laboured to divert and please her with a thousand feates of gallantry; for having an active and inventive spirit, and a body well fra­med for all kindes of exercises, he made matches every day with the young gallants of Rome for to run races on horseback, to manage combats and many other pleasant pastimes which are or­dinarily seen in the Circle, in all which the young Prince made himself to be admired by all the Spectators, and won insensibly the hearts of every body: But he was not the onely man in this design of serving the Princess, who as young as she was had gotten admirers amongst the most illustrious Romans; two young Princes about my Master's age, had their eyes on her, and in regard of their quality, fortune could not have raised him up more redourable Rivals: Their names were, Marcellus and Tyberius, the first was as I told you, the Sonne of the vertu­ous Octavia, wife of M. Antony and the Sister of Augustus, and Marcellus her former husband whose widdow she was when Antony married her; the other was the Sonne of the Empress Li­via, by her former husband Drusus; they were bred both the one and the other with the same favours and hopes, although their inclinations were much different. Marcellus was of a sweet, free, and generous disposition, of a noble cou­rage, which ever carried him on to great things; for his person, he was very comly and lovely; [Page 26] Tyberius had a hansom body and a courage tru­ly great, but was of an artificial and malici­ous disposition, and as young as he was, he was observed to have as great art in dissem­bling as any of the cunning old Courtiers; my Master was obliged to Marcellus in a strait bond of friendship, and the Sympathy of their spirits and conformity of their inclinations made them to love each other with an intire affection; but he lived far otherwise with Ty­berius, and contented himself with considering him as the Sonne in Law of the Emperor, with­out linking himself to him in affection: my Master openly discovered his passion for Cleo­patra; but Tyberius, managed his design with as much privacy as was possible, and carried it so subtilly, that for a long time no body could discover his design. It hapned that the young Cleopatra went one day to walk in the stately garden by the Pallace, acompanied with the Princess Juba the Emperor's daughter, who was about the same age with her; a beautifull Princess she was indeed, and had a very lively and active spirit. The Emperor had designed her for the young Marcellus his Nephew, the bet­ter to strengthen the alliance between their Fa­milies, and to confirm the people of Rome in their hopes of making him his heir: The two Princesses had not long walked in an Alley near the River Tyber, but they espied my Mast­er and Marcellus that had sought after them and vvere coming towards them: Although Marcellus did not much dissemble his love to [Page 27] Cleopatra, yet the knowledge he had of the Em­peror his intention made him in publique to respect and wait on Julia, although at that time he had no inclination to love her: he thought himself obliged to make his addresses to her; and the Prince of Mauritany was much pleased therewith in hopes of enjoying Cleopatra's com­pany more freely. The fair Princess, who had as great a respect for him, as was possble for a Lady of her age, received him courteously and joyfully, and giving him her hand they vvalk; ed at a little distance from Marcellus and Julia she vvas not at that time above tvvelve yeares of age, and my Master vvas much about sixteen, but I may truly say of them both that they sur­passed their yeares in knovvledge; my Prince entertained her a vvhile vvith ordinary dis­course vvithout mentioning any thing of his love: untill observing the carriage of Marcellus and Julia, I vvould to God, my Princess said he, that I vvas as precious in your esteem as Marcellus is in Julia's. I doe not vvell knovv vvhat it is that you desire of mee, replyed she readily; but I do believe that the Lady Julia hath not a greater esteem of Marcellus than I have of your self. This is such an effect of my good fortune, replyed the Prince, as I could not rea­sonably hope for, and I should be very unjust, if I should not remain abundantly satisfied vvith this noble Declaration; but yet if you vvould give me leave to speak clearly and plainly I should let you knovv that this esteem onely is not enough to make me happy. I did [Page 28] think, replied the Princess, that I had spo­ken enough to satisfie you, and that I could not acknowledge the esteem that I have for you, without letting you know the value which I put upon your person, and excellent qualities I may very well boast of my condition, added the Prince: yet give me leave to tell you, that all this is not enough for to establish the rest of that soul that is wholly yours, and doth desire from you more particular expressions; for if the Gods have endowed me with good qualities, I may gain the esteem of all the peo­ple in Rome, and yet they may wish me never the better. I might, it may be, make my self to be esteemed by strangers in Countries far di­stant, by reason of some famous exploit. I may add further, that its possible for one to e­steem and respect his enemies without any change of their inclinations; for Hannibal was as much esteemed at Rome, as he was at Carthage, and yet he was mortally hated there; and the Faction of great Pompey, had in great esteem Julius Caesar, and accounted him the greatest of men, although he was their greatest Enemy: You would infer thence, reply'd the Princess▪ that one may have an esteem of you, and yet not love you: That is my opinion, replied Co­riolan, although I cannot deny but that an e­steem is of great advantage for those who de­sire to be beloved; and that love never creeps into a wel-framed disposition, but that esteem doth go before, and make way for it; and therefore I will take this esteem with which [Page 29] you pay my ardent affections, for a beginning and basis of a greater fortune, and I shall ex­pect from time, my services, and your good­ness, that which in truth I have not as yet merited. I have no repugnancie, replied the Princess, to receive your services, and I know no body, whose actions and conversation I do more prize than your own. I vvere much too blame, said the Prince vvith an action full of acknovvledgment and respect, if I should desire more of you; I shall onely intreat thus much from your goodness, that time (which shall have no power over me to make me change the design which I have to adore you so long as I live) may not efface those favourable im­pressions; and that the knowledge, vvhich in a fuller age you may have of your admirable beauty, may not make you to look disdainful­ly on him vvhom you have deemed vvorthy of so many favours; or that more advantagious re-encounters for your advancement, may not make you to prefer persons more fortunate, or more supported by those vvhom Fortune hath made our Masters, before those vvho are dis­poiled of their Crovvns dignities, like to your self. Cleopatra, as young and childish as she vvas, vvas much touched at this discourse, and looking vvith a pleasant countenance upon my Master, she returned an ansvver far exceeding her age. If bad Fortune, and the loss of King­doms should render persons contemptible, the children of Antony and Cleopatra should deserve little respect or consideration amongst men; the [Page 31] fall of your House and Family is little differ­ent from mine; and although I did enjoy my vvonted dignity; yet neither age, nor the knovv­ledge of it, which you so much fear, should hinder me from seeing that in you, which For­tune could not bereave you of, and that vvhich the support and favour of our Masters cannot be­stow on those who (as you pretend) are your Superiours. The Prince heard this discourse from the young Princess, (which indeed he could not expect from a person of her years) with admiration and transport; and being not able to master his passion, although there were some who observed his actions, kneeling on his knee, he fastned his mouth with a kind of violence to the hand of the Princess Cleopa­tra; The Gods are my Witnesses, said he, that I do confess my self wholly unworthy of those favours which I do receive from my Di­vine Princess; but I protest unto her in their presence, that I will endeavour to merit them, as well by considerable services, as such acti­ons which may repair the misfortunes of my Family, or hinder my Princess from repent­ing that she hath been so gracious and boun­tifull unto me. He had said more, had not Marcellus, who loved more the company of Cleopatra than Julia, obliged the princess to expect his company, and so to walk toge­ther. If my prince had not really loved Mar­cellus, he might have born him some spleen for that action; but this consideration, joyned with the satisfaction of his mind, made him [Page 30] at that time to dissemble the displeasure which he had received by reason of that interrupti­on, and accost the princess Julia with such a countenance as discovered no alteration. Af­ter that time he took many occasions to con­firm the princess in the knowledge which he gave her of his passion, and his hopes were very well satisfied by a thousand marks of her innocent affection. These beginnings were very fortunate, and yet he met with some traverses, by reason of the concurrence of Mar­cellus, which indeed was the cause of great displeasure in my prince. Marcellus was, as I have told you, very lovely of person, and came not much behind the prince in all other good qualities, and had an advantage over him by reason of the Emperours support and good opinion with the people of Rome, whose delight he was: His good mind, and excel­lent parts, together with his discreet beha­viour towards Cleopatra, did much eclipse the glory of Coriolan; and besides, Marcellus, for that he was the Son of Octavia, the Relict of M. Antony, had the opportunity to live and converse with her, with as much freedom as if she had been his own Sister; and indeed they always called each other by the name of Brother and Sister, by the command of Octa­via, and the approbation of Caesar, by which means he had an advantage above all Rivals, and enjoyed that liberty which others were debarred of; but that which troubled him most, was, that Marcellus, who was his redoutable [Page 32] Rival, was also his most dear and intimate friend: insomuch that all these obstacles and feares were so far from alienating his affection from him, that it was not without regret that he was enforced to desire that from Cleopatra, because that by which having obtained, he should prejudice his nearest Friend. This re­flexion made a great impression on the Prince his spirits, and I shall tell you what effects it wrought on Marcellus, whose thoughts (for I must needs give that testimony to truth) were altogether as Noble as my Masters. By many markes these two Princes knew the displeasure which they gave each other, by rea­son of their concurrent affection; yet they con­tinued very great friends, and amidst all their addresses to Cleopatra, they never spake one word to the prejudice of each other; my Mast­er, according to our judgement upon outward appearances, was in greater favour than his Ri­val; and he had been very joyfull for his ad­vantage, had it not been against Marcellus, and if he could have been delighted with those groundes of satisfaction which tended to the damage of his Friend: but as Coriolan did moderate the resentments which he had for his good fortune, with the disturbance which they gave to Marcellus: so did Marcellus patiently undergoe this disadvantage, for that it tended to the welfare of Coriolan; and he could not afflict himself with the consideration of his own misfortune without consolating himself vvith the thoughts of his Friendes advantage: [Page 33] Coriolan vvould say to Cleopatra, I doe not de­sire that you should disesteem Marcellus, he is worthy of your affections if any man in the World could merit them: but if they are de­signed for any mortall living, I hope that Cori­olan shall have the full enjoyment of them. Marcellus talked after the same manner, but he declared not his passion so openly as my Mast­er, and the fear which he had to displease his Uncle the Emperor, who intended to honor him so far as to marry his Daughter unto him, made him to dissemble his thoughts, and to disguise those which he discovered with the pretext of that fraternall love which Octavius had com­manded. In this sort he passed away a whole yeare, during which time my Prince, who was without doubt more deeply in love than Mar­cellus, shewed his grief for this concurrence of his Friend, by the sadness of his countenance, yet he concealed the cause to every body but my self, to whom he alwaies communicated his greatest secrets: Why, said he once unto me, hath my bad fortune raised me up a rivall who is the best of my Friends? and such a Friend whose contentment I cannot undermine with­out destroying my own? I would to God that any body but Marcellus did aspire to love Cle­opatra, our swords should then suddenly decide our controversie, and I should easily van­quish any one but him in so just a quarrell. At the last his sadness grew to be so great, that Marcellus, who was the first that dfscovered it began to be exceedingly troubled therevvith, [Page 34] Sympathizing in the displeasures of his dearest Friend, he oftentimes asked him vvhat vvas the reall reason of it, although he suspect­ed in part the truth; but Coriolan for a long time dissembled the true ground of it, and gave him such reasons as vvere no vvay satis­factory to a man so judicious as Marcellus. At the last he vvas enforced to open his mind unto him, and one night as they lay in bed together (which oftentimes hapned) Marcellus having pressed him earnestly on that subject, and protested un­to him that he could not be capable of any satis­faction so long as he savv him so melancholy, & vvas ignorant of the cause of it, the Prince after a deep sigh told him; Brother said he (for so they usually called each other) the Gods are my vvit­nesses, that it's the amity vvhich is betvveen us vvhich makes me to declare that to you, vvhich I had resolved to hide from you as long as I live, and it's that vvhich you might have easily conjectured vvithout constraining me to make you so unpleasing a discourse. Could you be­lieve that I can see my self traversed in a passi­on whereon my vvhole life depends, by a Friend vvho is as dear unto me as my ovvn self, vvithout a mortall displeasure? and you might well judge that I could not disturb your con­tentment without a very sensible grief, or neglect the care of my own repose without a cruell violence. I had lost my self for the love of Cleopatra, ere that you did cast your eyes to­wards her, and if I had been prevented in the design which I have to serve her by my dear [Page 35] Marcellus, I would sooner have died than inva­ded his pretensions, or made him to suffer those torments which I have undergone by his means. But as soon as I perceived that you were my Rivall, I was so far engaged, that I could by no means discharge that duty which I owed to our friendship, as indeed you on your part have, in my opinion, failed in the discharge thereof. I would to God that this concurren­cie of ours had been for Crowns, or Empires, or somewhat more precious, you should soon see me forsake them for you; but for Cleopa­tra, dear Brother, I have not been able to pre­vail so far on my subjected spirits; my bad fortune hath cast them into such an Abysm, that it's impossible for me to draw them out a­gain; I say my bad fortune, for how much glory soever I find in the service of Cleopatra, and whatsoever happy success of my passion I may hope for, yet it cannot be good I am sure, when it is built on the ruin of your re­pose. Coriolan used many other pressing ex­pressions to the same purpose, and Marcellus was so much touched therewith, that he was disabled for a long time to return any an­swer, at the last he strugled hard with him­self, and imbracing him most affectionately, Dear Brother, said he, I call the Heavens to witness, that when I first pitched my thoughts on Cleopatra, I did believe that our tender years would not have been capable of any formed design to serve her, and I must confess, that I have suffered my self to be drawn along by that [Page 36] commanding power which she hath over mens spirits, which I believe no body can easily op­pose: And I must also confess, that I have trespassed against our friendship, and I should make my self unworthy of the affection which we profess, if I should not endeavour to make you due reparation: I know well the reality of my intentions, it's my power that I only doubt, but for to try it, I desire onely this night, and before we part to morrow morning, I shall let you know the value that I put on our mutaul amity. Coriolan would willingly have replied, but Marcellus opposed it, and pressed him so much, that he was inforced to give him that nights respit without any further interrupti­on: They passed it over both of them with­out much sleep, and my Master heard Marcel­lus often sighing, but in such a sort, as if he indeavoured that my Master should not take any notice of it. A little before their usual hour of rising, Marcellus turned himself nimbly to­wards the Prince, and in a very pleasant and resolved tone, told him; Brother, said he, I have long contested, but at the last I have pre­vailed for your advantage, or rather my own, because by this victory I may possibly in part repair the injury that I had offered you: I do quit you Cleopatra, and do earnestly desire your pardon, for that I have so long unjustly disputed with you for her; our friendship, and reason joyned with it, hath banished all former thoughts, and whatsoever yet remains on my spirits, will with a little time and absence, [Page 37] (which I conceive necessary for my compleat cure) vanish. I am now grown up to an age which will call me to the exercise of my An­cestors, and it must be by my svvord that I must acquire some reputation: I am resolved to procure the Emperours leave to accompa­ny the Consul Vinicius, vvho is shortly to go with a povverfull Army into Germany, this de­sign I look on as my best remedy; my absence, together with the various imployments which I shall have, and the firm resolution that I have taken up, to consider the honour vvhich I have received from the Emperour, and to bend all my thoughts tovvards the Princess Ju­lia, vvho already honoureth me vvith more affection than I do deserve, vvill assuredly ac­complish my desires. I vvill assure you, that at my return you shall find me wholly chan­ged, and am resolved to preserve no other thought for Cleopatra, than to honour her as a Princess worthy of my Friends affection, and to confirm and serve her in any design which she shall have in your favour, against all per­sons whatsoever who shall have any other pre­tensions.

Marcellus having so said, left my Prince so ravished with his freeness and generosity, that for a long time he was disabled to ex­press the sence which he had of it. At the last he opened his mouth, but it was to con­tend with the intention of Marcellus, and not to thank him for it; he would not seem less noble than himself, in endeavouring to offer [Page 38] violence to his own inclinations, that so he might favour his Friend; whereupon grew so wonderfull a contest and dispute, which lasted a great part of the day; and indeed it was so long, that I shall not spend time in relating the particulars of it: But at the last, Marcellus, whose passion in truth was not so great as my Princes, but was one who entertained the de­sign to serve Cleopatra, long after him, remain­ed Conquerour, and my Prince was content that he should turn his thoughts wholly to Julia, according to the desire of the Emperor, and all the people of Rome: But he could not resolve to suffer him to undertake the German expedition without his company; and besides the consideration of their friendship, his desire of glory did much encourage him to that en­terprise, he resolved therefore to take up Arms with him under Vinicius, and prepared him­self for that absence, with some hopes which did in part sweeten the displeasures which he had to leave the company of Cleopatra.

There were some Provinces in Germany that had revolted at that time, and cut in pieces the Roman Souldiers that were then in Garri­son, and had raised two mighty Armies neer the River Danube, which much terrified the neighbouring Provinces; and being fleshed with some good success, they began to threaten the power of the Empire. Caesar resolved to send Vinicius, who was a grave and experienced Souldier, with some of the best of his Legions, and he was ready to undertake that Expedition [Page 39] when the two young Princes resolved to ask the Emperour leave to go and gain their first reputation in this important service.

You know well that it hath been the cu­stome amongst the Romans, and all those Fa­mous Captains of whom there hath been so much talk, to go and serve under some expe­rienced Commander, during their youth, to be instructed in Warlike Discipline, without any command. The two young Princes standing firm in their resolutions, did cast themselves at the Emperours feet, and represented to him that they had attained to the seventeenth year of their Ages, and that they had strength and courage sufficient to support the inconvenien­ces of the War; and that it was now high time that they should begin to make themselves worthy of his Affection, and the Glory of their Ancestors, and suddenly obtained of the Emperour (whose generous Spirit could not disapprove of their resolution) all that they desired from him: Whereupon they presently went to set all things in order for their jour­ney; but my Masters greatest work was to prepare himself to leave Cleopatra; his passion was by this time augmented to a very great height, and the Princess continued her respect to him, although she kept her self at a greater distance, and debarred him of much of the free­dome which she suffered during her youth; which the Prince foreseeing, prepared himself to support it with patience, and in all his acti­ons shewed so great respect and submission to [Page 40] her, that he could not lose any impression which he had made on her spirits: He could not quit her company without much discon­tent, and had he not been encouraged by that earnest desire of glory which carried him over the grief which he had to depart from that which he best loved, he could not have hindred the discovery of his displeasure on his counte­nance, but when the day for their departure came, he made use of all his constancy to bid adieu to his Princess; but he was not a little satisfied when he perceived by many markes that the Princess was much troubled at his de­parture, and feared lest he should precipitate himself into some danger: I have too much to tell you for to insist upon all the discourse which passed between them at this separation, and therefore it shall suffice that I tell you, that my Prince after near protestations of his eter­nall faithfullness, received promises from her fair mouth, that she would preserve him in her memory, and assurances that his absence should not make her alter her intention to prefer him before all men whatsoever.

But Marcellus his discourse was very re­markable, for after that he had protested at the Feet of Cleopatra, that in favour of his Friend he had dispoyled himself of all those pretensi­ons which his love and services might give him; he spake so much in my Princes commen­dation, yet notwithstanding it was nothing but truth that he spake, yet such expressions could not fall from any one but a reall and [Page 41] cordiall Friend; but the sweetest comfort which my Prince received at his departure, was the permission which he obtained, with the leave of Octavia and the Empress, to write unto the Princess.

I will hold you no longer, the Princes went from Rome with a very stately Equipage, and I waited on my Master in that expedition as I have ever since done in all others; they went out of Italy with Vinicius, and having met the Troopes who expected their coming, they made long marches untill they came to the Ri­ver Danube. I ought not to spend much time in relating all the particular passages of this voy­age, but must sleightly mention and pass over the youthfull actions of my Master, that so I may come to those of greater importance, wherewith his life hath been composed: I shall onely tell you that this beginning of my Mast­er caused great admiration, as well in Vinicius as all the other Romans, and indeed his actions were so famous, that they were by many thought incredible, when they were reported at Rome: Marcellus in like manner demeaned himself with so much gallantry, that his first actions doe deserve a perpetuall remembrance, and the two Princes, instead of envying and emulating each other, were reciprocally inte­ressed in each others glory: Marcellus did not receive greater satisfaction for the reputation which he acquired, than for the fame which Coriolan had gotten, and Coriolan did not hear his own commendations trumpetted out with [Page 42] greater content, than those of Marcellus: It's very true nevertheless, that my Master had the good fortune to doe those things which made a greater sound than those which were acted by Marcellus, and in many conflicts which they had with the Enemy, before they came to a pitch'd Battell, he made himself known to our Troops by such effects of his valour, as gave the Romans occasion to report that they never saw or heard of the like. He with a small hand­full of men, regained the Roman Eagles that were taken and possessed by a great number of the Enemies, and brought it all besprinkled with their blood unto Vinicius, who commen­ded him so much for that action, as did not stand with his modesty to hear; at the taking of divers Townes, that had revolted, by assault, he was the first that attempted to enter the breaches, and by the report of the Romans, the cause of their gaining those Towns was the cou­rage which he gave to those who were near him, to follow his good example: His onely vertue was not seen in his valour, but upon all occasions and chances of the war he discovered an unparelled moderation; He treated those E­nemies which fell into his hands with the same civility as was due to Friends, and many times when Towns were taken by storm, he got protection for divers Troops whose obstinacy as well as gallantry had incensed Vinicius a­gainst them: by meanes of his Noble carriage towards the Officers and Souldiers of the Ar­my, he was so beloved of them, that they gene­rally [Page 43] desired Vinicius to give him some consi­derable command amongst them, although it was never heard in the Roman Discipline that a­ny man of his yeares had any command; but when Vinicius at the solicitation of the Army, and out of the esteem which he had for him, gave him and Marcellus the joint command of the Cavalry, all Officers and Souldiers readi­ly expressed their satisfaction, by giving a rea­dy obedience to their commands: But the Ger­mans were not the onely Enemies that they had to fight with, the remembrance of Cleopatra troubled them more than their barbarous Ene­my; my Prince made no opposition against it, but confirmed himself more and more in his thoughts of submitting himself wholly to that Princess, all the Ideas and fancies concerning her were pleasing unto him, and made so many sweet impressions on his spirits; but Marcellus had a harder task to perform, and met with no sleight difficulties in his design of banishing her out of his thoughts; however he used his utmost endeavours, and such diligence in the manage­ment of it, that he failed not in the end of his design: my Prince did in part observe those difficulties which his Nobleness made him un­dergoe, and endeavoured, as much as in him lay, to divert him; he protested to him that he would rather leave him his Rivall for ever, and withdraw his own pretensions, if there was a necessity for it, than see his Friend to offer such violence to his inclinations for his sake onely: But the Noble Marcellus remained firm [Page 44] and constant in his resolution, and in regard of his youth and perpetuall divertisement in the Warres in a yeares time, he almost gained that which he desired, and striving to introduce Julia, by the remembrance of her beauty, which truely was one of the most exquisite in the World, as also the consideration of her good­ness towards him, and the pleasure of the Em­peror, on whom his whole fortune depended, made him make a great progress in it: during this time my Prince did write oftentimes to the Princess Cleopatra. Its impossible for me to think on all his letters, yet I remember the effect and wordes of some of them, and I think the first which he wrote was to this purpose.

Not long after he wrote another, the sub­stance of which was.

These were the two first Letters which he wrote, to which he received no answer; but a while after, having done such wonderful acts as were reported at Rome, the Princess Octa­via, and the Emperour himself, expressed their willingness that she should write unto him, which accordingly she did; and as I remember, it was to this effect.

My Prince received this Letter very joyful­ly, and kissed a thousand times those preci­ous marks of her affection. When he under­stood how much she was interressed in his glo­ry, he was encouraged to undertake greater Designs, and came off with so much reputati­on, that the effects of his valour was the whole discourse of the Army. The Enemies them­selves talked much of it; and having received so great dammage thereby, he was as well known amongst them as amongst his Friends. At the last, after many Skirmishes, the two Armies came to a pitcht Battel, neer the River Danube, and it was so bloudy, that the water was dyed red. The young Coriolan, and his Friend Marcellus, in the head of the Cavalry, performed such service, as untill that time the Romans had never been acquainted with, and gave such testimonies of their prudence and good conduct, as was not to be expected from persons of their age and experience: They rallied their Troops two or three times that had been scattered with the fury of their E­nemies, and led them on with such an un­daunted resolution, that they forced their pas­sage [Page 47] through the greatest bodies of the Ene­my, and at the last put them into an univer­sall Rout; which behaviour of theirs gave the Consul occasion to say after the Battell was ended, that they were engaged to them for the Victory. Marcellus saved the life of Vi­cinius; for after that he was dismounted, and had fought desperatly on foot, being invironed with the Enemies best Force, he mounted him again, and rescued him from that eminent dan­ger. My Master, amongst other remarkable actions that day, after that he had forced his passage through the strongest Squadrons of the Enemy, slew their two chief Commanders with his own hand, which made their souldiers to faint immediatly, and lose their courage: But the War was not quite ended after this battell; there were many dispersed Troops which remained to be defeated, and many re­volted places were to be taken in. This Ger­man War lasted two full years; after which, the two Princes having no more to do in Ger­many, they went with the Consul Vinicius to­wards Rome, loaden with credit and reputati­on. My Master went thither with so much joy, as the hopes to see again Cleopatra after two yeares absence could give him. The cure of Marcellus, which by this time was quite perfected, did much add to his satis­faction.

The carriage of Vinicius in Germany was such, that the Senate ordered him a Triumph, but for that he refused it out of modesty, they re­compenced [Page 48] his service otherwise: However he had a magnificent Entry into Rome; but the greatest part of the people were most taken with the two Princes, who rode on each hand of the Consul, and were covered with shining Armour, garnished with gold and precious stone: Their shoulders were shadowed with white plumes, and they were mounted on two brave white horses, whose pride and beauty did much add to the good Grace of their Ma­sters. All those who beheld them passing by in this posture, and had heard of their famous actions in the War, filled the Air with their joyfull acclamations, and used many expres­sions in their praise and commendation. The Emperour received them with abundance of affection, and Marcellus his relations at that time gave him no advantage over my Master. They were likewise courteously saluted and welcom'd by the Empress, and the Princess Octa­via; but when they came into the presence of Clepoatra, my Master regarded no other object; he found her wonderfully altered during his 2. years absence: Her stature (although she was not above fifteen years old) exceeded that of ordinary women; and her beauty began to ap­pear in that condition in which you saw her, but with this good change, her countenance ha­ving Royal Majesty imprinted on it. She was armed with more severity than formerly, and my Prince could not look on her without being accompanied with such a fear as was not usu­all during her more tender years, yet she re­ceived [Page 49] him with much civility; and he no sooner came neer her, but without any regard of those who were spectators of his action, he kneeled on his knee, and kissed her hand be­fore she could make him to rise up, and by this submission he publickly declared part of his thoughts to those who untill that time were ignorant of them; before so many witnesses, who desired to salute him one after another, he had not the opportunity to discourse with her, but his eyes performed the part of his tongue, and by his passionate looks he in part expressed that which he would have done with his mouth. The whole Court at that time cryed him up for a brave Prince, and the Em­perour made such Eulogies on him, as were e­nough to have contented the greatest ambiti­on. Every body approved of the Honours which he received, and he was envied by none but Tyberius, who having a mortal jealousie of him, was grieved at his heart to hear him so much commended.

Marcellus shared of the glory which he had justly merited, and the affection which the Romans had naturally for him was much in­creased with the knowledge of his vertues.

As soon as my Master came home to his Lodging, he was visited by a multitude of his Friends; and the first newes which he heard, was the love of Tyberius to the Princess Cleo­patra. My Prince suspected it before he went, but during his absence Tyberius had made so great a discovery of it, that every body took [Page 50] notice thereof. Coriolan was much troubled at the newes, yet before his Friends he dissem­nled his displeasure as much as he could; but when they were gone, and that he had the liberty to speak with me in private, he ex­pressed his fear of so powerful a Rival. He feared neither his valour, nor merit of his per­son, but it was the power of the Empress Li­via that terrified him: He knew well, that by means of her power with the Emperour, she might be able to cross his designs, in case she should approve of the passion of Tyberius; however he resolved to prosecute them, not­withstanding any obstacles, and to dispute with him openly, even to the hazard of his life, for that which he conceived was due to no man more than himself. He longed much to speak with the Princess on that Subject, that so he might understand what thoughts she had concerning him; and the next day he had his desire, for having obtained leave to visit her, he was with her alone for a long time, with­out any interruption from any other compa­ny. One may better imagine their discourses, than repeat it; and you may be assured, that my Masters work was to tell her how much mischief he had suffered by reason of his ab­sence from her; and Cleopatra's was to acqaint him how much she was delighted to see him returned with honour and safety; yet she talk­ed with him with such moderation, as made him to fear the loss of those hopes which he had conceived during her more tender years. [Page 51] This observation gave him an opportunity which he desired, and therefore, speaking to her with such respect as this new severity re­quired; If it may be lawful for me, Madam, said he, to discover to you my thoughts with­out offending you, I shall take the boldness to tell you that I look on this strangeness of yours as a bad Augur; for if it were the know­ledge of your merit that made you to use it, I could not in reason find fault with it, but think with other persons dis-interressed, that it suited well with the Majesty of so great a Prin­cess: But if it should arise from any other consideration, I could not look on it without seeing my condemnation and utter ruine. I cannot perceive any difference, replyed the Princess, between the manner of my conversa­tion with you at this time, and heretofore; and although I being now older, am likewise som­what more reserved, I cannot understand how this change can be any way prejudicial either to your hopes or contentment. I was always of opinion, answered the Prince, that my for­tune was too favourable in the beginning for to last long, and I cannot justly complain, al­though you should debar me from those fa­vours which I never as yet merited; but since every body else is as unworthy of them in my opinion as my self, I shall be of opinion, if you will give me leave, that Tyberius can­not more justly lay claim to them than my self.

Cleopatra, by this discourse, easily perceived the [Page 52] beginning of my Master's jealousie, and did not doubt but that he had been informed of the car­riage of Tyberius, during his absence; but she being resolved not to dissemble with him, I thought said she smilingly, that you would hear of all that hath passed during your absence, and that you would know that Tyberius hath pro­fessed a great affection for me, I will not endea­vour to hide the business from you, and will not stick to tell you that Tyberius hath the same thoughts concerning me as you have; as I, said the Prince interrupting her hastily: Ah Madam, doe not so afflict him who cannot hear such a comparison and not be mortally offended; I shall easily believe that Tyberius doth love you; and I cannot be so soon perswaded to believe any thing but that his passion should be equall to mine; this is such a belief as all my obedience and submission can never bring me too: Tyberi­us hath excellent qualities, and it may be his person is more considerable than mine, but our mindes are very different, and altogether un­capable of the same sentiments; if I were to make protestations of fidelity on my knees, or to aggravate my passion with many artificiall discourses, I know that I should get no advan­tage against Tyberius, but yet if I were to for­sake and contemn all those things on which the most ambitious spirits doe establish their great­est felicity, and if I were to dye at your Feet, and dye a thousand times if it might be done to doe you service, I believe that then you would find some difference between the affection of [Page 53] Tyberius and that of Coriolan. I shall tell you then, replyed the Princess, for to repair the dis­pleasure which I have given you, that I doe put some difference between you; and if I did not think that you would take too great an advan­tage thereby, I would add that I have a better opinion of you than of Tyberius; not but that he hath given me the same testimonies almost of his affection as you have done, yet I may safely tell you, that I have not been at all moved with his discourses, or behaviour, and unless I shall change my mind, I think it may be long e­nough, before I shall be enclined to hearken un­to him. This free and clear declaration of the Princess, gave my Master so great satisfaction, that it secured him against all his feares. He could not dissemble his content, but looking very cheerfully, I am too proud said he of the Honor which you have done me, in making this free declaration of your inclinations, and since they bend not towards my Rivall; but if I may dispute with him by my services, I doe not doubt but that by the favour of the Gods, and and your goodness, I shall defend my self well enough against him. I must likewise tell you freely, that I feared his person least of any thing, and I did more redoubt the credit of the Em­press, than the services or good qualities of Ty­berius. It's true, replied Cleopatra, that the Empress, a while since, did speak to me in his behalf, but of late she hath been silent in that business, for she having more thoughts of ad­vancing her Sonne, than indulgence for his [Page 54] love, laboureth more to gain him esteem with the Emperor than my self. I hope the Gods, an­swered Coriolan, will favour her in that design, for they are my witnesses, how that I doe not nvy him either the favour of the Emperor, or he possession of the Empire, for that he hath no hare in the affections of my Princess. Cleopatra was about to reply, but was hindred by the coming in of the Princess Julia and Marcellus, who with a great train of attendance were en­tring into the Chamber, but the day following, they had an opportunity to continue on their discourse, so that both by the discourses and behaviour of the Princess he might easily per­ceive, not onely that he was dearer in her esteem than Tyberius, but that he was as he could wish, considering the person of Cleopatra, who by this time was grown so high, that all human considerations whatsoever could not make him entertain a thought below the great­ness of her Family; during this time the two Princes her brothers were educated at Octavius house, with as great care as their birth, and hopes which they gave, did deserve; Alexander was as old as his Sister, and Ptolomy was about a year younger, but both of them exceeding beautifull, and shewed so much nobleness in all their actions, so much grace and addresse in all exercises which they learned, and such great­ness of courage in all rancounters, that every body in Rome looked on them with admiration; the Emperor made exceeding much of them, and the whole Court looked on them as chil­dren [Page 55] worthy of their Fathers greatness, and de­serving a better destiny; when they were but fifteen yeares old they kept company with great persons, they busied not themselves with those imployments which were used by persons of their age; my Prince, who looked on them as the Brothers of Clerpotra, and persons worthy of his esteem, had a great affection for them, and was as tender of their interests as his own; he observed so much greatness and nobleness in the countenance of Alexander, that he could not but love him, and the young Alexander as young as he was, was so well acquainted with the admirable qualities of my Master, that he came not far short of Marcellus in his affection towards him.

Marcellus was by this time much changed, for having a design to forget Cleopatra, and to look on the rare beauty of Julia, he found it so charming that he could not behold it with an indifferent eye: And truely this Princess Julia, for her beauty may be ranked with the chiefest in the World, and she hath such a facultie in setting it off, as few women have; she hath a bold spirit, yet pliable, and disposed to any thing, but very volatile and dangerous for per­sons that love her; so that if Marcellus had been well acquainted with her diposition, he would not so easily have engaged himself in those displeasures which the unconstant and artifici­all humor of that Princess made him endure. Although you have heard somwhat of this affair, yet I believe you are ignorant of the par­ticular [Page 56] passages, which I shall acquaint you with in the narrative of my Masters life; and indeed their adventures are so complext, that I cannot well separate them: when Marcellus first addicted himself to the service of Julia, he found her well disposed and willing to receive him, which he could not have expected in so short time, notwithstanding his merit, had she not a very great inclination for him; but she be­ing subtill, dissembled it according as she per­ceived the passion of Marcellus to encrease, and she would seem to make him purchase that with some difficulties, which in effect she had freely given him long before he attempted to ask it. Neither was Marcellus the onely servant which the Lady Julia had, there were many of the chiefest of the Romans, and other Prin­ces, who were brought up in Rome, that sighed for her.

During this time, my Master & Tyberius met each other every day in Cleopatra's Chamber, whom they openly professed to serve, and indeed they had not endured this concurrency, if they had not been restrained with very strong considerations. Tyberius was well acquainted with the courage of my Master, and my Master eonsidered the authority of Livia, and the cre­dit which she had with the Emperor; they chanced to be there one evening, which was be­fore a day which the Emperor had dedicated to publique sports and pastimes, for on that day besides the fighting with the wild beasts and the Gladiators, the noblest of the Romans [Page 57] were to shew their address on horseback, and to run severall courses. My Prince, Tyberius and Marcellus, provided themselves for the exereise of that day, and had made parties for to shew their Gallantry before their Princess, and every body expected great matters from them.

The two Princes meeting at the Princesses lodging, who for that she had caused a vein in her Arme to be opened that day, held it in a curious scarf of Tissue and Silk, the two Princes no sooner saw it but they had an equall ambition to have so precious a favour: My Prince, out of his respect and mo­desty, dissembled his thoughts, but Tyberius, being more hardy, or rather less respectfull, would not then make use of that which he practised in his other actions, but speaking to my Master, doe you not think Coriolan, said he, that he who shall appear to morrow ador­ned with that pretious scarf, will have a very great advantage beyond his companions, and having so precious a favour, will he not have great pretensions to those prizes and Trophes which the Emperor hath prepared: I can ea­sily believe all that you have said replyed cold­ly the Prince, but as it's a favour too great for any man to hope for, so I am of opinion that the Princess wil confer it on [...]o man; why not re­plied Tyberius, what reason can satisfie any bold spirit? especially such a one as will attempt any thing to do her service; wee may hope from her goodness all that she may give us, but I think it rather rashness than boldness, to pre­tend [Page 58] to any thing as if a man did deserve it, when if he have it, it must be a reall favour on­ly. Tyberius was about to reply, when the Prin­cess (who untill that time had kept silence) looking on him with a scornfull countenance, Trouble not your self no more said she unto him, to dispute for those pretensions, my fa­vours are below your services it may be, and therefore you may expect a more considerable recompence for them, and it may be such a one as you will obtain with more ease. If for all my endeavours, replyed Tyberius, I doe expect any other recompence than your self, I wish I may goe without it, and I doe not despair said he smilingly to gain that which I have desired from you; and I am now going to implore the Gods, that they will give you a disposition to grant it me. Having so said, he made a low reverence to the Princess, and went away with a countenance seemingly satisfied. My Master who had heard him discourse with some pain, had the opportunity to entertain the Princess with more freedom when he was gone, he ex­pressed his ardent desire to appear in those pub­lique shewes adorned with one of her favours, but found her not disposed to grant it, and as she was very circumspect in all her actions, so she contented her self with letting him know by her discourse, and behaviour, how much she esteemed him above all others that professed themselves her servants, without giving him those advantages which he thought would be­lie the high vertue which she professed.

The day following all things were prepa­red at the Ampitheater for the solemnity of that day; but for that I know that you desire onely to be informed of that which concerns my Master, I shall not trouble you with the particulars, I shall onely tell you that all things were in a readiness for the celebration of the pastimes. The people ranked after the usual manner. The Emperour was placed on the one side, with the greatest part of the Se­nate and Nobility; and the Empress on the other, with all the principall Ladies of Rome.

When as my Master came into the Circle, ar­med and mounted most advantagiously, his Armour shined with gold and precious stones, which vvere so Artificially set, that the eyes of the spectators had been long fixed on them, had not the gallantry of him that wore them justly drawn off their fight. His Casque was shadowed with white Plumes: His Visiere being turned up, he discovered such a noble fierceness, as made all the spectators to admire him. He heeded not much the acclamations of the peo­ple, but contemning all other objects, he look­ed after the Princess, whom he savv placed at the feet of the Empress, by the side of the Prin­cess Octavia, there he savv her shining like un­to a bright Star vvhich dispersed all other lights, and drawing the eyes of all Rome to­wards her, and every bodies thoughts imploy­ed in admiring her Beauty. The truth is, that when I saw her in that posture, my own eyes [Page 60] were dazled as well as the rest, and I could not then admire at the strange effects which her wonderful beauty had occasioned in my Ma­ster. When he had a while considered her in the posture of a man in a rapture, he was ob­liged to go on the other side unto the Front of his Troop, accordingly as Tyberius, Marcel­lus, Agrippa, and the young Alexander had done before him. Nothing could be more glori­ous to behold than Marcellus, for his good mind, and gracefull deportment, was set off with all the advantages and curiosity that Rome could add to it; but Tyberius was altogether as richly accoutred, and he was beautified with an infinite number of jewels, so that his Ar­mour did cast out rayes, enough for to dazle the eyes of all that beheld him; but for his most precious and remarkable ornament, he wore on his shoulder the Princess her most curious Scarf, which my Master had seen on Cleopatra the night before, and had been the occasion of the discourse which I even now re­lated unto you.

My Master no sooner saw it, but he knew it; and he no sooner knew it, but he found his heart overwhelmed with a mortal grief; a cold­ness like ice seized on all the parts of his bo­dy, and in a moment he lost a great part of his courage and understanding. He beheld for some time this object, which seemed to him to be full of cruelty and bitterness, and re­mained a while in such a posture as if he had lost his motion, until he was roused up with [Page 61] the noise of the Trumpets, which sounded o­ver all the Amphitheater, at which time he considered of what was meet for him to doe. The first thought which he had was to rush on Tyberius, and kill him in the sight of the Empe­rour, and people of Rome, and so have made that Combat bloudy, which was intended only for pastime and divertisement. He could scarce re­frain from putting in execution those furious thoughts, but that reason which he had left him, with-held him, or rather the fear which he had to offend Cleopatra. Then he thought to have reproached that Princess publickly, for the injustice which she had done him; but his respect to her made him to suspend the execution of that resolution; and at the last he resolved to withdraw himself from those Sports, since he had no force left to assist him at them, and to advise at a greater distance of the course which he should take. He stayed so long upon these thoughts, that all the Troops were advanced for to begin the intended exer­cises, and his was the onely Troop which continued in expectation of his commands. The young Alexander, who was neer him, had oftentimes put him in mind to be going. At the last I came unto him, and pulling him by the arm, said unto him; My Lord, do you not see that all the Troops are gone, excepting ours onely; upon that he came to himself, and said, come let us be gone, I can stay no longer. Ha­ving so said, he desired Alexander to supply his place, and made as much haste out of the com­pany [Page 62] as possibly he could. Tyberius, who was much interressed in this business, observed his action and departure, and thinking himself in a capacity to brave him, he called unto him; what will you be gone, said he, and leave the Lists? My Master could scarce refrain from fal­ling on him, for that he was so insolent by rea­son of his advantages; but the understanding that he had then left him, made him to suspend the execution of his resentments; however, he turned about, and looking very furiously on him, told him, that it was not for his sake that he had left the Lists, but for those marks of thy Fortune, said he, which thou unworthily wear­est, all which thou shalt resign unto me it may be with thy life. I believe that Tyberius did not hear what my Master said, for that he was going away; yet he was heard by many, who I think reported it unto him, which was the reason of my Masters speaking. It may be, said Tyridate, interrupting him, that those who o­verheard him had so much discretion as to con­ceal it, lest they should thereby make a differ­ence between those Princes who were so much in the Emperours esteem. I shall not dispute the business, replyed Emilius, but shall desire you to give me leave to inlarge my self on some passages of my Masters life, which though they are not of so great concernment as others, yet I think they are such as you will think worthy the relating.