Parthenissa, that most fam'd romance the six volumes compleat / composed by ... the Earl of Orrery.

PARTHENISSA.

THE SIXTH PART.

The Second BOOK.

I Fear (continued Callimachus) thus retailing my Story, I shall make the Relation of it as unsupportable to you, as the Events in it are to me; I will therefore acquaint you, that after a few days, I recovered Strength enough to walk the length of that Gallery, which was between my Lodging and the Prin∣cess's Apartment; and welcoming that dawning Health I then injoy'd, only as 'twas an effect of my Obedience to her Commands; and in hope, that I might by it be inabled to serve her: I sent to beg her Permission to wait on her, which she was pleased to send me; and I, soon after, to make use of. By accident there was none but Nerea with her, when I came into her Chamber; and therefore, with the less constraint, I had the opportunity of Kneeling before her, and of telling her, I am come, Madam, to lay that Life at your Feet, which is yours upon so many Accounts, that I durst not end it with∣out your leave, much less against your Commands; though by its great unhappiness in having fail'd serving you, and its infinitely greater, in thereby having engaged your Goodness to indanger yours, it merited a thousand Deaths; and if I can support its being unex∣tinguished, 'tis only because thereby I suffer a more signal Punishment, than by the most tormenting Death could be inflicted on me. Sta∣tira having made me Rise by her repeated Commands, was then pleas'd to answer me: Since by your belief that I have a Right to your Life, I have thereby obtained a power to preserve it; I will not deny a Title, which though no just one, yet is very advantageous and obliging to me; and though as yet I see no visible means for my deliverance, yet I will not despair of it, the gods having given me so powerful an earnest of it, as your recovery of Health: which when you injoy'd, I have been freed from a more hopeless and more unpleasing Condition than now I am in. Madam, (I reply'd) That eminent Virtue and Innocence, which has shined so bright in the whole course of your Life, may well invite you to believe, though the means of your speedy Releasment is not now visible, yet it is certain: But alas! Madam, my Crimes make me despair of the honour

of contributing to it; for he that could not rescue you at first from being a Prisoner, and could afterwards survive that Infamy, cannot, I fear, be reserved for a happiness even too great for a Person of the most unblemished Fortune: But yet, Madam, this I do promise you, if ever I am bless'd with the opportunity once more to draw my Sword for your deliverance, if I be not so happy as to Act it, I will avoid being so miserable as to out-live it; and by a second Attempt, repair You, or punish on my Self, the misery of my unsuccessfulness. But, Madam, since yet we hear nothing from Ascanius, nor that the generous Ataphernes has yet a probability of getting together a Fleet able to force his passage with an Army hither; Why may there be no endeavours used by Treaty, to win Nicomedes to pay you the Duty of restoring you to Freedom, since with so much cheerfulness he pays you every one else? And though the way by which you lost it, being by Arms, seems to require by the like way your Restauration, and that by no other means but those, I have so much as an expectation to serve you; yet so much I prefer your Satisfaction before all things else, that I cannot but pray for any way which may lead to such an End. I confess, (said the Princess) that Nicomedes's usage is so full of Generosity, that since there wants nothing to compleat the Evidencing of his, but restoring to Liberty a Person, whose loss of it is neither considerable to him, or his Enemies; neither would her Recovery of it be otherwise. I have admired at my Detension, especially Ataphernes having so far prevail'd with Mithridates, as to offer him so high a Ran∣som for me, with the choice of having it, either in Treasure, or the Value thereof, by restoring some Towns and Countries in Bythinia to his immediate Possession: But it seems nothing will satisfie Nicomedes in Exchange for me, but the intire Resignation of all Bythinia, and Cappadocia; so that by asking so much, I begin to fear he has no mind to part with me; nor can I ever get out of his hands, but by force; and therefore could I any way contrive your Inlargement▪ I should hope, that a Fleet led by Ataphernes and Callimachus, would soon win what an unfortunate Fleet had the unhappiness to lose: And in this de∣sire I have not been Idle, though I have been Unsuccessful; for though Ni••omedes over-values me, yet he knows justly how to value you; and therefore, though but a little before your coming now to visit me, I was impowered by Ataphernes to propose to him as much for your Releasment, as Ariobarzanes offer'd for his, when he was my Father's Prisoner, yet I received a positive Denial, with an assurance, that no∣thing could put an end to your Imprisonment, but the end of the War between him and my Father; and that his Friends in Nicomedia, by presenting you unto him, had given him that, which he more valued than his Victory over the King of Cyprus and my Brother, and his ha∣ving made them both his Prisoners. Madam, (I reply'd) prostrating my self again at her Feet, (from whence she immediately made me rise) I am not able sufficiently to admire your Goodness, or deplore my own Infelicity, that, where I owe both my Life and Liberty, I must, instead of paying them to you, receive them from you; and though those im∣mense offers you were pleas'd to make Nicomedes for a worthless Per∣son, be above all things, but your Goodness, and my Wonder and Con∣fusion at it; yet I cannot but esteem my self more obliged to him in the refusal, than I could have been in the acceptance of them: For I know not, if I were at liberty, whether my usual unhappiness might

not involve me in that greatest, of being unable to serve you; but by being in restraint, I have the honour to suffer with you; and therefore, I had rather have a certainty of this, than run a hazard of that: But, I confess, Madam, I have not been without Thoughts, Why so active a Prince as Nicomedes hitherto hath been, has continued so long uselesly here, after his Navy was repair'd, and after his late Victory had offered him so large a cause for hope, if in the heat of that Success, he had vi∣gorously improved it: It may possibly give me occasion to believe, there is something in this place which he prefers to his Revenge, his Glory, and the Recovery of his Throne: I admire also, at his setting a Value upon what is above all; for nothing can fully pay the setting you at liberty, but the satisfaction of having done that Duty, without any other Consideration, but the honour of the performance. Nico∣medes has Acted a double Ill; to detain you a Prisoner at all, or, da∣ring to detain you, to offer your Redemption at any Rate. And, Ma∣dam, if I may presume to tell my humble Apprehensions, I must say, I know not which has done worse; Nicomedes, since he will Sell you, asking no more; or Mithridates, since Nicomedes will Exchange you, proposing so little: The Kingdoms of Bythinia and Cappadocia, ought not to be put in Balance with one moment of your Trouble, much less with your Liberty: The common Consequences of Battels, are the winning of Kingdoms, which is a happiness not to be named in com∣parison with the Guilt of letting the Princess Statira continue a Priso∣ner. Ah! Madam, Why have the gods made those only which have the Power to serve you, so unwilling to do it? And him that has so highly the Will, so little the Power to do it? Were Bythinia and Cap∣padocia mine, and were the giving up those two Crowns the Price of your Ransom, I would pay it with an unexpressible Contentment, and resent more Happiness in being so divested of Monarchy, than any could injoy by possessing that of the whole World. That which I had spoke of my Apprehensions, concerning Nicomedes's continuance in the Island, and what I had spoke in the latter part of my Answer, had covered Mithridatia with Blushes; and therefore the sooner to take me off from an intent considering of them, She reply'd, with a little smile; I perceive, Callimachus, though I am unlikely to recover my Liberty, being Nicomedes's Prisoner, I should have been much more unlike, had I been Yours; for, by condemning my Father in refusing so much, you thereby shew, you would have demanded more: But let us not mispend our time in discoursing of things which are past, and on things that will not be; but rather imploy it, to mind what may be, that is, your De∣liverance; and as a consequence of that, I shall hope for mine: 'Tis not improbable, but some of those Officers, to whose Care you are com∣mitted, may have their Fidelity to Nicomedes conquer'd by that Ran∣som Mithridates was offer'd him for you; and that I will assure them of, if they will act your Releasment any way. Madam, (I answer'd) Possibly in what I said, you might have found more cause to believe I detested Nicomedes's Crime, than that I would have increased it, had it been in my Power. Could such a vast Misery have again befallen you, as to be a Prisoner; And could such a vaster Guilt have befallen me, as to have made you mine; You could not, I hope, imagine, I would practise more wickedly that Sin I condemn in another; nor that I would part with Kingdoms to purchase you from a misfortune, which, had I the Power to exempt you from, I would continue you in: Let

it, Madam, I most humbly conjure you, suffice, That I am so criminal, and miserable in my Condition, and Actions, and make me not more so in your Thoughts, where I would appear to You, what I am to my Self in my own, that is, a Person, who, during the whole course of his Life, would serve you as perfectly in all things as you can imagine; and would sacrifice it a thousand times, rather than one moment ad∣mit of a contrary Thought. I believ'd, (said Statira) That the man∣ner in which I spoke, would easily have convinced you, that my Words, and my Intentions, were different; but since you entertain them other∣wise than I meant them, I will seriously assure you, I have no ungrate∣ful Esteem for you; nor will I believe, 'tis in the power of Fortune ever to force you to an Action which may invite me to alter it: But since you do renew your Promises of obliging me in all things, Do it, I beseech you, in this particular I so lately mention'd to you, and de∣sired of you. Madam, (I reply'd) I pay you my humblest Acknow∣ledgments for the Justice you do me, in believing what you now said you believed of me; and for your extream Goodness, in giving that belief so prodigal a Reward, as the high honour of your Esteem. But, doubtless Madam, I should too certainly deserve to be eternally de∣prived of it, if, having a hope, that Nicomedes's Officers could be won, I did not indeavour to win them for your Liberty, for the recovery whereof I would for ever with Joy lose even the very hopes of my own. Banish, I beseech you (reply'd the Princess) all expectations of that nature, unless you can hope to win Nicomedes to be unfaith∣ful to himself; for of late, he has Dismissed all his Officers that Guard∣ed me, and performs that Trust himself with a greater Assiduity than all of them till then did; and therefore, to design my Freedom any way but by force, is so far from being fit to be attempted, that 'tis not rationally to be hop'd: But if my Enlargement be considerable to you, evince it, by a speedy endeavouring your own, and omit no ways to obtain it; that in your Liberty, I may have grounds to believe I shall speedily after recover mine. I was about to reply, when Phar∣naces came into the Chamber to visit his Sister: He was very much surprised to find me there, and seem'd much more pleas'd to see me so well recovered; soon after his Arrival, there came in also Nicomedes, and Ariobarzanes: The first of them, after having paid his respect to the Princess, told me what noble Offers she had made him for my Enlargement; and that the high Value he had for me, not any Hatred to me, had made him decline them; which, if ever an Agreement was made between the King of Pontus, and Him, should be manifested, by giving me an unransomed Liberty. I gave him a Return suitable to his Degree, and to his Civility, and soon after, went back to my own Lodgings; having now in the fair Statira's, too many Witnesses to permit me to continue those Discourses which they had so disobliging∣ly interrupted. Several Days things continued in the state they then were in; and yet, to our Admiration, we heard nothing of Nicomedes's intention to leave us, or of Ascanius's preparations to help us; though almost every Day, by our Conquerour's civility, an Express from Ata∣phernes was admitted to the Princess, to bring him an account of her Health, and to acquaint her with his yet unsuccessful Indeavours for her Inlargement. That generous Prince had also the Goodness, by the same opportunities, still to be inquisitive after my Recovery; and to assure me of his utmost Assistance, towards the freeing me from my Im∣prisonment;

which because Mithridatia had so positively and repeated∣ly commanded me to endeavour my self, I did busie my Thoughts about it, and was not over-troubled, that the more I reflected on it, the less likelihood I found of it. For had I escaped, I had fallen into two of those misfortunes which I most apprehended; The being banished from the happiness of waiting on her; and by Mithridates's wanting a Fleet, from the hopes of serving her; nay, I knew not whether sometimes I were not almost so unworthy, as not to grieve at her Imprisonment, ra∣ther than that my Rival should deliver her, and after marry her.

One morning, when I was alone in my Chamber, Rebadates came into it, being recover'd of his wounds, and having obtain'd of his Keeper leave to do it. I was pleas'd to see so good a friend past that danger, which his kindness to me had in part cast him into: But the business he came a∣bout, did not a little perplex me; for he came to tell me, That having found his Keeper was a Person to be wrought upon, he had therefore made him such large Offers, if he would connive at his escape, that he had embra∣ced them, and promis'd the succeeding night so to order all things, that without interruption he should get away; that he had given him a rich Jewel he wore about him, so concealed, that none of Nicomedes's Soldi∣ers had discovered it, as an earnest of the rest, when he was free. But, said Re∣badates, I have thought that he which could do this for me, might do it for you; and therefore I am come to assure you, I had rather you should have your freedom, than I mine; for an easie Ransom may deliver me; but I am assured you are valued above any. Therefore I conjure you, Sir, deny not this proffer of my Service, having by my now Condition no other way but that, to pay you any. I embraced and thanked Rebadates for this high evincement of his kindness, though I wished perfectly he had never conferr'd it on me; and then told him, That if his Keeper could employ his Industry for acting the enlargement of the Princess, it would be a Ser∣vice indeed, and should be paid with Treasures which should enrich him and his Posterity. I did already (said Rebadates) propose that unto him, but he cut me off with an assurance that it was impossible, since his King himself guarded her. But when I proposed you unto him, he seem'd not to be out of hopes thereof, and has within an hour promised to bring me a good account of his Endeavours therein; and I have promised him he should receive from Mithridates a proportionate Reward to the greatness of that Service; for he assured me, if he could contrive your Escape, he must accompany you in it; since that would be a Crime above the hope of pardon, though it were attributed to Carelesness, and not Design. I will not trouble you (said Callimachus) with the Dispute I had with Rebadates, to perswade him to embrace the opportunity of his De∣liverance; nor in telling you the Trouble I was in when I could not prevail with him: for he was unconquerable in his Civility to me. And soon after he withdrew, to learn from his Keeper what success he had met with, that he might acquaint me with it, whereby I might accordingly provide my self for that appointed hour. To be short, after he had with some impatience waited for his Keeper's Return, some hours beyond the prefixed Time, his Chamber-door was hastily open'd, and instead of his Keeper, a rude Stranger came to him, and told him, his whole Design was discovered, and the Manager of it put to a painful Death for his intended Treachery; and that, since he and I so unworthily abused that Liberty the Kings had allowed us, we should suffer for that Offence: I being now confined positively to my Chamber, with new

and more numerous Guards; and he being expresly sent to keep him from the hopes of any new design. This which this Officer told Rebadates, was too true: for the unhappy Keeper, sounding the incli∣nations of one whose help he was to need in my escape, did it so uncir∣cumspectly, that he discover'd his own, which the other went and re∣vealed to the two Kings, who punished the Keeper with death, and confi∣ned us to our Chambers, with Guards too numerous and too faithful to be deceived or corrupted. I did indeed with much more trouble endure the being denied the Happiness of waiting on Mithridatia, than my loss of li∣berty, or the narrow limits I was confined unto. But one evening when I was in a deep sadness for Mithridatia's and my own Condition, Nicomedes alone came into my Chamber, and having lock'd the door after him, he told me; I am come, Callimachus, to act a thing which possibly you will wonder at, and possibly you would more wonder at, if you were ac∣quainted with the cause, for I come to restore you to your Liberty; and that which lately Mithridates's great Officers, and which is much more, the Princess Statira's Commands, could not prevail with me to do, I now perform of my Self, without any consideration, but that of ob∣liging so worthy a Person, and perhaps of saving him too. But I doubt I have said too much, in those last words; at Midnight therefore, fit your self to follow Ostanes, the Officer that now Guards you, who will bring you a Disguise, by which he will safely conduct you to a Vessel in a small Creek, which has Orders to carry you where ever you will go. All that I ask of you, is, that you keep an inviolable Secrecy concern∣ing the means of your Escape: Let it always be believed, an effect of your having corrupted the Fidelity of Ostanes, who is one I intirely Trust, and much Esteem; and whom I recommend to your Favour, till I may again by some fortunate Accident, openly restore him to mine. I confess, (continued Callimachus) few Accidents in all my Life surprised me more than this; and the longer I reflected on it, and every circumstance of it, the more cause I had still to continue that Reflection: I told Nicomedes so much; and after, by many Acknowledgments I had endeavour'd to exalt the Gallantry of this Action, and the gratitude I had for it, I said unto him; Generous Prince, though after what you have done, there might seem nothing left for me to do, but to endeavour, by continued Services, to pay you some part of my vast Debt; yet I must by an hum∣ble Request add unto, and increase it: 'Tis, that you will pardon me, if, as soon as my hands are free, I use them against you; or else, that you will not restore me to a Liberty, which I must forthwith imploy against the Giver of it: For whilst you keep the Princess Statira a Prisoner, I must as certainly be your Enemy, as in all things else, I will be your Ser∣vant. When I told you, (the King of Bythinia reply'd) That I would set you at Liberty, I told you too, I exacted nothing of you, but your Si∣lence; neither after the Declaration you now make me, do I expect any thing else, but a Grant of that which I desired of you before. This (said I) is a Gallantry worthy of Nicomedes; and this is a higher Favour, than his free Breaking of my Imprisonment; and therefore Loads me with a great∣er Trouble, than by it he has freed me from: A Trouble which shall never cease, but with my Life, unless by some retributions, as eminent and signal as the Sense I have of your Generosity, I be inabled to act my Gratitude for it. That silence you injoyn me, I vow Religiously to observe, and by my kindness to Ostanes, I shall indeavour to make him endure his ab∣sence from you, as little inconveniently as may be, and in some de∣gree

convince him, by the respect I shall pay the Subject, how highly I esteem my self indebted to his Prince: Of whom also, I will not beg to know why such a Secrecy is injoyned me; because I perceive, that ought to be as much a Secret to me, as from whose obligingness I owe my Deliverance, ought to be to every one else: Though, Sir, I must assure you, 'tis no small Trouble to me, being so deeply in your Debt, to be prohibited from publickly acknowledging it, till I shall be so happy as to pay it: But, Sir, since this Action, when known to the Princess Statira, will, I hope, procure you her Thanks for it, which will be no ill Reward of it, though it will not at all diminish my Score; May I not beg your Permission before I go, to tell her of my going, and from whom I derive that Liberty, that in her Acknowledgments to you, you may have cause never to repent what you have done to me, if my own unhappy Condition should not allow me the satisfaction of doing any thing by way of Retribution for my self. I am sorry, Callimachus, (Ni∣comedes reply'd) That you should ask me any thing I should deny you: But I hope, when you remember, that for above twenty Days, you have been kept with such strictness, that you have not been permitted to see any one, nor to be seen by any, should you just before your Escape, have that Freedom allow'd you by me, for it cannot be by any other, it might raise a suspition, by what means you obtain'd it; and by destroying that end, for which I have desired so perfect a Secrecy from you, draw a greater incon∣venience upon me, than I believe, could I acquaint you with it, you would have me run into. But to omit nothing for your satisfaction, I will possibly contrive some way before the hour of your departure, whereby you may acquaint the Princess with it, and receive her Commands before you leave her; though neither She her self, nor the Person imploy'd between you, must upon any terms know I have the least hand in, or so much as know∣ledg of your Escape. Perhaps (continued Nicomedes) one Day I may live to tell you, Why I have thus dealt with you: But if such a thing should ne∣ver happen, oblige me, in believing there was reason for it. As soon as he had done speaking, he immediately withdrew, and with as little Noise as he had made when he came in; leaving me, not so full of wonder at the Action, and the Circumstances accompanying it, as of Trouble, that now I must forsake either my Princess, or highly Disobey her. The unhappi∣ness of this ill Choice, entertained me till an hour before Midnight, when I was interrupted by my Doors being opened, and by seeing Nerea come into my Chamber, who, in many Blushes, for so undue a Time to give me a Visit, told me, She now did it, because Ostanes a little before had whisper'd to her, there was a very great and real necessity of her coming to me immediately, where, possibly she might hear of things not unpleasing to her; but that she was to come then, or never: She told me, that having inform'd the Princess thereof, she had forthwith injoyned her to come to me, which Orders she had obey'd, being conducted to the Door by Ostanes, who had open'd, and then was waiting at it for her Return. After that I had paid her my Acknowledgments for the favour of her Visit, which could not be so unseasonable, but that her Virtue would preserve it from being thought so by any, that had the happiness to know her; I gave her an Account, how that above my Expectation, and even above my Desires also, a certain way was offer'd me, of escaping that Night; the Overture whereof I could not decline listning to, because it was Mithridatia's repeated Commands; but that I so much preferr'd being a Prisoner when she was one, before Liberty, when she was deni'd

hers, that at the same time, I told her, probably I could Escape; I begg'd her leave, not to do it, though by being of late deprived of the high Duty and Happiness of waiting on her, I had been deprived of my only comfort in my Imprisonment, which yet I supported without repining, as a righteous Judgment, for having been Guilty of the Princess's. Nerea told me, she would carry my Message, and durst tell me my Answer be∣fore she had received it. To be brief, she went immediately to Mithri∣datia's Chamber, told her what I had said, and brought me a positive Command, to lay hold of that opportunity which was so happily pre∣sented me, by which she now had more than hopes of soon being re∣stored to her Liberty also. Nerea told me at the same time, if I should delay my Obedience to these Orders, it would trouble the Princess al∣most as much as her restraint. She did acquaint me too with a parti∣cular I did think somewhat strange, which was, that as she was return∣ing to me, passing by Pharnaces's Chamber-door, she perceived Nico∣medes gently coming out of it, who no sooner saw her, but he hastily shut the Door again, and seem'd by his Looks to be in no small disorder at his having been seen by her at that hour in that place. I had not much leisure then to reflect upon this assurance, being so incessantly press'd by Nerea to that Obedience Statira had commanded me, and so concernedly expected from me; which at last I resolved to pay her, and begg'd Nerea to acquaint her therewith, who immediately retired to do it. And not long after, Ostanes came into my Chamber with a Live∣ry-coat of one of Nicomedes's Guards, which I put on, and being led by him, I past all the Soldiers, and came to that Creek where the Vessel staid for me; and all things being in readiness, the Wind too favour∣ing us, I desired them to direct their course for Nicomedia, to which City in two Days we arrived without meeting any Impediment: I went first to the Appartment of the generous Atafernes, whom I found in a deep Melancholy in his Closet; and because he protected to me my Absence and Imprisonment did partly cause it, he forthwith cast off so large a proportion of it, as did evidence the reality of that as∣surance; and after many Embraces he honoured me with, and many In∣quiries after the Princess Statira's Health and Condition, he was pleas'd to acquaint me, how many ways he had endeavour'd to to get a Na∣val Force able to Land his Army in the Island of Scyros, to restore his Sister, his Brother, and me to our Liberty: But that the late Victory Nicomedes obtained, had so terrified all Auxiliaries from serving against him, that even in that Success, he not only ruin'd the Cyprian Fleet, but almost the hopes of ever getting another together to oppose him: He further told me, That as soon as Ascanius was defeated, he had pre∣vailed with Mithridates to post away Betuitus, then somewhat recover∣ed of that tedious Indisposition he had so long Languish'd under, into Cylicia to engage all the Naval strength of that Nation; in which Betui∣tus had been so diligent and successful, that whilst Ascanius was here Vi∣siting the King and Court, acknowledging the high Favour of his inlarge∣ment, excusing his Loss to them, and making many positive Assurances of repairing his Defeat, and restoring Statira and Pharnaces to their Free∣dom; Betuitus had so far engaged the chief Cylician Sea-men, that when Ascanius was return'd to Cyprus, he found in his own and his Bro∣ther's unsuccessfulness, his Maritim Strength so exhausted, that he was ne∣cessitated to send to hire a foreign Help; but he could procute none, by reason of their pre-ingagement to my Father's Admiral. But the Cyli∣cians

hired by ••etuitus, are not near enough with that little Sea-strength Mithridates has left, to form a Fleet strong enough of themselves to op∣pose Nicomedes; so that, though by preventing Ascanius, we have not done our selves much good, yet we have hinder'd him from wholly ingrossing that Force, which is necessary to reduce the Island of Scyros. Betuitus, who is a faithful Servant to our Family, and particularly af∣fectionated to Statira and me, having receiv'd a private Advertisement from me, how passionately I desir'd her Deliverance, without being in∣debted to Ascanius for it, but only to himself; had no sooner assur'd the Cylicians to Mithridates's Service, than he forthwith went to the Phoeni∣cians, and has prevail'd with many of them to come under my Fathers Pay; and whilst these are sitting their Galleys, he is returning to Miletus, where, if he can have the like Success, he assures me, not only to have a Fleet able to oppose Nicomedes, but to have it ready before As∣canius has his: who, by a double disappointment in Cylicia and Phoe∣nicia, has been compell'd to send into Egypt to hire Galleys there. And now (continued Atafernes) We hourly expect to hear of Betuitus's Arrival at Miletus, and what Success his endeavours will meet with there. I was not (said Callimachus) a little pleas'd to find what I most desir'd, in so hopeful a way towards a good Result; nor was the Prince less pleas'd, when in Obedience to his Commands, I had acquainted him, how by the means of Ostanes I had acted my Escape, even when I had not only lost the hopes, but the desires of it; neither would he be satis∣fied, till I had called in Ostanes to him, whom he Embraced with many Thanks for what he had done, (for I never mentioned any thing to him of Nicomedes, because of my solemn Vow) and forced him to take such rich Jewels, that even those had been of themselves too Prodigal a Ran∣som for me. Atafernes soon after told me, how he intended, and had got∣ten Mithridates's leave to Imbarque his Army in Betuitus's Fleet, not on∣ly to Strengthen it, but if it were bless'd with a Victory, immediately to Land, and prosecute that End, for which chiefly, if not only, 'twould be a Blessing to him. I was exceedingly joyed at this assurance, because the Duty of my Office led me, where the Duty of my Passion call'd me; but the Prince, who knew how much I should rejoyce his Father by waiting on him, made me attend on him to Mithridates, though it were very Late; We found the King in his Night-gown ready to go to Bed; But as soon as he saw me, he ran and embraced me with this flattering Complement, That he never had received more refreshment from Sleep, than he now re∣ceived in seeing me. I will not Enumerate all the Questions he asked me concerning the Princess Statira, the Prince Pharnaces, their Usage, What had made Nicomedes of late so unusually Unactive; nor how inquisitive he was of the means of my Escape; to all which I gave him the truest Answers I could; and when I had mentioned to him the Obligation I had to Ostanes, he sent for him into his Closet, loaded him with rich Gifts, and setled a plentiful Pension on him during his Life. Mithridates by my Return, had been so long interrupted from his intended Rest, that I thought it a Duty to Retire, which, whilst I was ready to perform, an Express came to him, and Atafernes, with the sad News of the Death of Betuitus, the same Day of his Arrival at Miletus; His Age, and the ex∣cessive Diligence he had used in preparing a Fleet in so many Regi∣ons for his King's Service, and the Deliverance of his Prince and Prin∣cess, had cast him into a Fever which ended his Life, just as he was come to that City, where he hop'd to encrease his Navy considerably, and

before which he had appointed all his Ships and Galleys, waged amongst the Cylicians and Phoenicians to Rendezvouz. This sad Intelligence wounded sensibly the Pontick King for he had no Subject to whom he could intrust his Fleet; and he fear'd, lest those Auxiliaries engaged by Betuitus, might esteem themselves absolved by his Death; and the Mi∣letians also, wanting the presence and solicitations of the Pontick Ad∣miral, might decline that Assistance, in which Mithridates had his Ra∣tionallest hopes. I was not unmoved at the loss of so worthy a Person, and in such a juncture of time, (and possibly those two Reasons gave the Prince opportunity to move his Father to employ my Service) ere I could present him an Offer of it: He told Mithridates, That my longest practice in War had been by Sea; that in several Actions I had gain'd some repute in the minds of those which frequent that Element; and that by my Education and long Residence in Miletus, my Interests there were likelier to contribute to his Service, than any other he could employ: He could have added, with at least as much probability, that my concernments for the relief of the fair Statira, and succeeding my Rival in that Duty, would add Wings to my haste, as well as Courage to my hopes. In brief, Atafernes said so much, and Mithridates believed so much, that immediately he declared me Successor to Betuitus, and gave Directions forthwith to dispatch my Commission and finish my Or∣ders and Instructions. I was a thousand times ready to have prostrated my self at the Ponti••k King's feet, to evidence my Joy and Gratitude for an Employment which I valued more than all his Empires; for by it I was inabled to dispute Statira on that Element on which she had been forced from me, and in a possibility to recover that Glory which my Rival then had lost. Never did Atafernes so sensibly oblige any, as then he did me; and never did Looks speak more acknowledgments than mine did to him. The generous Craterus newly recover'd of his Wounds, hearing of my Arrival, came to Visit me, and to give me new Assurances of an old Friendship; I met him just as the Prince and I were coming out of the King's Appartment, where in Embraces he celebrated my Return, and the honour Mithridates had so freshly bestowed upon me, which in a mo∣ment was dispersed about the Court: So, that the news of my Liberty and Succession to Betuitus, went together. I had only the next Day al∣lowed me by the King to visit and take leave of all my Friends; and though the time was short, yet the Duty of my impatience made me esteem it too long. My faithful Demetrius I found recover'd of his Wounds, and ready to go my Journey. When Atafernes retired to his Chamber, I waited on him thither, and in renew'd Repetitions of Gra∣titude, I endeavour'd to let him see I was not unsensible, though unwor∣thy of his Favours: The assurances I gave the Prince, that I would not mis-imploy one moment in the relief of the Princess Statira, made him give Craterus Orders to have his Army in a readiness to Ship on twelve hours notice, when ever I came upon the South-west Coast of Bithynia; that if the gods favour'd my Am•• by Sea, the Land forces might be ready to be transported into the Island of Scyros to perfect that Deliverance, which chiefly occasion'd the War; in which Atafernes was resolved in Person to appear.

This Night when I retir'd, Demetrius told me, amongst many other things, that he was exceedingly deceived, if Monyma had not some sen∣sible Reliques of that Affection she had once conferr'd on me at Miletus. I wonder'd to hear a Discourse of this Nature from him who never had

practised the like before; and knowing of how dangerous a consequence the least vent of that belief might prove, both to her and me; I told him so much in terms which might let him understand how highly I was concerned in his Cautionsness therein; and then as'd him, What Rise that Apprehension of his had? (for, possibly by my knowledg there∣of, I might be better instructed how to carry my self towards her and others; for, though those Beauties which had first conquer'd me at Mi∣letus, were still as Flourishing and Charming as ever, and had received no small Accession by the noble Ornaments of a Crown; yet I confess, her inconstancy to me, and the resistless and triumphant Graces both of the Princess Statira's outward and internal Beauties, had so intirely pos∣sessed all my Affection and Admiration, that Monyma's favour was so far from being my desire, that it would have been my trouble).

Demetrius in Answer to my Question, told me; As soon, Sir, as the Queen had heard of my Wounds and Danger, she sent her most experi∣enced Physicians and Chirurgeons to me, and commanded their constant attendance on me, till I was inabled thereby to attend her; which, as soon as ever I was, she sent for me to her, and without permitting me to pay her my humble acknowledgments for that Recovery, which (under the gods) I owed unto her favour, she began a Discourse of you; and knowing I was not ignorant of that Affection she had for you at Mile∣tus, she did the more freely speak unto me; there being then either by design or accident, none of her Women in her Cabinet: Her first Que∣stions were▪ Whether yet you had discover'd from whence you derived your Extraction? How you had resented her necessitated Marriage of M••thridate?s (For, continued Demetrius, she spake in such an Accent that word Necessitated, as I perceived well, she had a desire I should ob∣serve it). And whether you had ever had a Passion for any before her, or had ever resented any since?

I easily found she was more intent in my Return to the last part of this Question, than to all the rest; and though I gave her the best An∣swers I could, yet still me-thought she had something to say which she had not said, or would not say. ••And though in her whole Discourses, her Words had they been written, could not have strictly born a sense which could have manifested any thing more than a common Affection, and a concernment for you: yet in their Tone, in her Looks, and in her Dwelling more upon some parts of her Demands, than on others; I had abundant cause to believe her Inquiries after you, were the produ∣ctions of more than an ordinary Curiosity. And by several other Dis∣courses at several other times, (for ever since I was able to endure the Air, I was daily commanded to wait upon her) I perceived she still re∣tained her former Passion for you; and was not a little Jealous you had dedicated yours to some other Beauty.

Demetrius having ended speaking, I did again with earnestness repeat my former Orders to him; and though I needed Rest, yet before I would take any, I did in my Thoughts propound a thousand ways how to car∣ry my self towards Monyma, from a continuance of whose Affection to me, I more easily foresaw the Prejudices, than their Remedies: And after all were examined, I found none attended with less inconveniencies, than never to wait on her but in Atafernes's Company, or the Princess Statira's when she should return, for thereby I should not decline the Du∣of attending her, and yet do it in Company, where she would be con∣fined from evidencing any Inclination for me.

The next Morning I attended Atafernes at his Rising, and begg'd him, that in the Afternoon he would let me wait on him to the Queen, to kiss her Hands, both as my first Visit, and my last. He promised me this fa∣vour; and then we went to the King's Appartment, who had sat up so Late in preparing my Orders, that it was Noon ere he Rose; and then finding himself unfit for Business, he told me, 'Twould be the next Morn∣ing ere I could begin my Journey. That Afternoon Atafernes led me to the Queen's Appartment, who received me with many obliging Civi∣lities, and with Looks, which nothing but Statira's Idea could have enabled me to resist; the whole Discourse consisted of such usual things, that I shall not repeat any of them in particular: And after an Hour, the Prince rising to take his leave, I desired the honour of the Queen's Com∣mands, and acquainted her, That being by the King's Orders to go to Mi∣letus, 'twas not improbable but he might have some Services to command me thither. Monyma instantly reply'd, You have not a little obliged me, Callimachus, in letting me know you were to go to Miletus, for I hear Irene's Father being Dead, she inheriting all his Riches is return'd thither with her Husband, where most of them were left her: I intend to present her something, which may let her see she continues in my re∣membrance and affection; and therefore I will desire you this Evening to come hither and receive it, for I know your delivering it will give it a double good reception. I was so confounded at this Command which had defeated all I had built, and so vexed at my Self for having given a Rise to it, that I had like to have discovered to the Queen and Prince my Disorders; which the better to conceal, I told her, I would not fail to come and receive the Honour of such an Employment; since to ob∣serve her Commands, and oblige the fair Irene, were Duties in which I found a high Contentment. Atafernes hereupon retir'd, and I durst not beg him again to go in the Evening to Monyma's, left that might have discover'd, what I was so desirous to keep from his Knowledg.

From the Queen's side we went to wait on the Princess Nisa, and the Princess Cleopatra, who then began to disclose Beauties, which but for the fair Statira's, had not had any Superiour in the World. Both their Entertainments consisted in things relating to the Danger their Sister had been in; and inquiries, how she indur'd her Imprisonment, and what hopes there was to free her from it.

By that time these Duties were paid, and other Visits I owed to my Friends, it was Evening; and therefore I sent Demetrius to discover whether there were any Company with Monyma, resolving when there was most, to wait upon her, that I might not be engaged in a particular Discourse with her, which I so much fear'd, and she, I found desired: I waited so long, that at last he returned with assurance, that both the Princesses, Nisa, and Cleopatra, were with the Queen, attended by all the greatest Persons of the Court. To embrace therefore this desired op∣portunity, I went directly towards the Queen's Appartment, and cros∣sing a long Gallery which was in my way, I found Mithridates in it, who seeing me, called me to him, as he said, to make me a sharer in the good News he had then receiv'd: which was a Packet sent by an Express from Ascanius, to assure him, Though he had met with many diffi∣culties in forming a Fleet for the Princess Statira's Deliverance, and his Service, yet now he had vanquish'd them all, and would in twenty Days present him a Navy, which he was confident would cure the Wounds of his former Misfortunes, and present his Princess and her Brother with

that Liberty, the loss whereof was more insuppotable to him, than it could be to them. I was not (continued Callimachus) generous enough to rejoyce at such an additional Strength to the Princess's Deliverance; I had rather have had it left to my Fleet, than have had the Assistance of my Rivals: But this Packet made the King detain me a long hour, in resolving where the two Fleets should Rendezvous; and when, and how they should prosecute the War. Miletus was judged the most fit place for the Fleets assembling; that being in the way for the Cyprian Fleet, and the appointed Rendezvous by Betuitus for all his Phoenician & Cilician Galleys, as well as the place from whence we expected so consi∣derable a Force, which I thought would the sooner be much Augment∣ed by their seeing how considerable a Navy we had got together. The Fleet in the Hellespont had Orders sent forthwith (Wind and Weather serving) to Rendezvous in the Great Bay before Miletus, there to ex∣pect further Commands.

The taking up these Resolves, and the dispatches for putting them in Execution, took us up a full hour; so that by the time I came to Mony∣ma's Chamber, I found the two Princesses and all the Company had left it; which necessitated me wholly to disobey her Commands, and break my own Ingagement; or else to do that, which next to an Incivili∣ty and breach of Promise, I most apprehended.

Whilst I was debating with my Self what to do, one of the Queen's Women, who thought my stay near the Door, was only to know whe∣ther the Queen was at leisure to receive my Visit; was so-over offi∣cious as to go in to Monyma, and to tell her I waited at the Door to kiss her Hands. Monyma forthwith sent the same Woman to desire me to come in, which cut off all Debates, and made me follow my Guide, who led me into the Queen's Bed-chamber; who no sooner saw me, but she rose and came to meet me: But so lovely, and so charming, that had not the remembrance of her Inconstancy been as much my Pre∣servative, as my Flame to my Princess, I must then have Acted that Sin myself, which was my only quarrel to her. An hundred Crystal Lamps shined in the Chamber, and yet gave it a less Light, both in degrees and quality, than the Queen's Eyes: Her Dress was at once so negligent and advantageous, that I found a great Art consisted in seemingly de∣clining of any: Her Looks had an equal mixture of Sorrow and Obli∣gingness; and yet I never saw any Face cover'd with Joy, inhabited with more Lustre and Empire. I must confess what I saw, made me often wil∣ling to have exchanged the hopes of the Glory of Triumphing over such an Enemy, to have avoided the Temptation of her Conquest; and if ever I knew the power I had over my self, or rather the power the fair Statira had over me, 'twas in that Night remaining (I will not say Unmoved, but I may say) unvanquish'd.

After my little Disorders were over, I told the Queen; Madam, I should not have been guilty of twice troubling you in one Day, had not the honour of your Commands occasion'd it; nor have paid you this last Duty at so uncivil an hour, if the King had not unexpectedly kept me so Late, and enjoyned me to begin my Journey so Early, that I must now have obey'd you, or else have been uncapable to do it.

Monyma walking towards a part of her Chamber, where, though some of her Women had continued in the place they were, yet they could neither see nor hear us; and there seating her self under a great Cloath of State: she told me; I did indeed, Callimachus, expect this favour

from you somewhat Earlier; and your staying thus long, might have made me doubt you would not have come, had I not remembred, that you so detested a forced breach of Promise in another, that you would not have acted a Voluntary one your self. But you see Mithridates has the power to hinder you from performing, at your own time, your intentions to me, as well as to hinder me from observing mine to you: I am so good Natur'd, (she continu'd, with a Smile mixt with a seri∣ous Look, that what she said might be taken either way) that I freely forgive your failer; and I will hope, that your Reason, your good Nature, and my Example, will invite you to practice the like towards me. This Answer (said Callimachus) made me judg what the whole entertainment of my Visit would consist of; and though it was but what I expected, yet it was also what I fear'd; and therefore the less to intangle my self in Discourse, I only chose to answer such parts of hers, as might give her the least Rise to dwell upon those particulars on which I apprehended she would most insist. I therefore only re∣ply'd; I will hope, Madam, by that power you have found Mithri∣dates has, you will the sooner pardon an Incivility in me, which is but an effect of that Cause. I shall never (reply'd the Queen) esteem your Visits an Incivility, but an Obligation; yet, lest you should think them otherwise, (for I find you have some Thoughts of me con∣cerning you, which you ought not to have) to silence those Scruples, I do grant you whatever forgiveness you desire: Then listing up her Eyes, and fixing them on me, she said, May I have that satisfaction, to receive from you as full a forgiveness, as I have given you? This is the second time I have asked it; and if your Answer be not as positive as the Desire, whatever words your Civility or Wit may dis∣guise it in, I shall esteem it a flat Denial, and deplore it at that Rate. Then casting down her Eyes, which began to swell with some Tears, she added; Callimachus, before you make me any Return, remember what I acted was in obedience to the highest Duty; was a perfor∣mance of necessity, not choice; and is a punishment as great as the fault.

At the end of these words, Those Tears which a little before had but appear'd in her fair Eyes, now began to give way to those which were to follow; which did so in such abundance, that though she strove, by wiping them away, to conceal them, or at least their excess, yet both were so visible, that they melted the violence of all my Resent∣ments: And in an Accent, which might as much evidence Truth in one of my Sex, as Weeping could in one of hers, kneeling at her Feet, I told her, Whatever, Madam, my Griefs, whatever my Resentments have been, I hope neither of them have been so rude, as to make you doubt my Obedience to any of your Commands: If they have been so undesignedly unfortunate, they have as much Wounded me in you, as for you; and if an assurance of an intire observance of those Commands you have mention'd to me, can repair that unhappiness, I shall find in my Duty my contentment.

At the end of these words, Monyma casting one of her Arms over me, she reply'd; Callimachus, What you have promised, cannot be a greater Justice than it is an Obligation; an Obligation of so noble a Nature and Efficacy, that I ought to cast my self in the like posture, to speak my Gratitude, as you have been in, whilst you perform'd that which caused it.

I was not (continued Callimachus) a little confounded and surpri∣sed

at what Monyma said and did: But though I were in the Arms of one of the greatest Beauties of the World, and of the greatest Person in it, th' Effects of whose kindness, in the then Dictates of it, I might pos∣sibly have carried to a higher degree; yet I had so intirely resigned up my self to the fair Statira, that the highest satisfaction I took in the Queen's favours, proceeded from a knowledg I attain'd thereby, that nothing was capable to alter or diminish my Passion for my Princess, since Monyma's Charms and Kindness wanted that Power; Charms, I say, which consisted of those almost resistless Ingredients, of Beauty, Kindness, Opportunity, and Quality: And though I were not a little concerned, that Mithridatia should have seen the small transports in which I entertained my first Mistress's favours, that thereby she might have read the intireness of my Flame for the last; yet I had so much respect for the Queen, that I would not have purchas'd such a satisfaction, at so dear a price to her.

But after she had a while continued in that Fashion I have mentioned, and I speechless, occasion'd by what she did, and what I thought; She rais'd her self up at last, with a Face so cover'd with Blushes, that I have since believed, what by surprise she had Acted, having caused that Ver∣million, she so long continued what she had done, to give it time to re∣tire: She had no sooner recover'd a little out of those disorders she had been in, then she told me; Rise, Callimachus, lest some unexpected Wit∣nesses of the postures we have been in, might mis-interpret them. These words waked me out of my Thoughts, and whatever else had entertain'd me; and having paid an Obedience to her Commands, she told me; I hope, Callimachus, you believe, that great Joy does bring some Madness with it; and therefore, that you will attribute to what you have promised me, all those Productions that assurance has made me guilty of; and since I am now (I hope) restored to your good Opinion, you will permit me, as an effect of that vast Concern I have still had for you, which always con∣tinued its first Lustre in me, though clouded to your Sight, to be inqui∣sitive after whatever relates unto you, and to offer you all the interests I have in Mithridates, to establish any of yours, which you are to derive from him: And because, when I left you at Miletus, (at which words, said Callimachus, she Sighed) you were in no small perplexity, at your Ig∣norance of your Extraction; Tell me, I beseech you, whether yet you have had any Light of it. Madam, (I reply'd) I am yet as great a Stranger to my Birth, as I was then; but having lost the generous Telamon on the Sea, as soon as I had in some degree conquer'd my Sorrows, I resolved on that Element to make a diligent Inquiry after him; in which search I continued, till the gods presented me the occasion to serve the Princess Statira; and ever since that time, you have seen and known my Adven∣tures.

Those gods (the Queen reply'd) were not a little concerned in the manifestation of my Innocence, and in restoring me to the happiness of your Friendship, since, as the way to the end, they permitted so excel∣lent a Person as the Princess Statira, to be reduced to a danger, which only Callimachus's Courage was able to free her from: But, (said Mo∣nyma, fixing her Eyes on me) confess to me, I conjure you, Were you not in the same Action, Conquerour, and Conquered? I was not (said Callimachus) a little confounded at so unexpected a Question; which made the Queen thus to continue; Blush not, Callimachus, at what I ask you, I know nothing greater than the impossibility of not

adoring Statira, but the Sin of being ashamed at it: You that did not resist that little Beauty the gods had favour'd me with, How could you resist those Graces, which disclose themselves with such triumphing Lustre in that Princess? I tell you not this, to discover your Inclinations, but by letting you know I am acquainted with them, I hope to invite you to make me your Confident: For by the Laws of the Gods, of Men, and of Virtue, being indispensably confined from even the Thoughts of possessing you my self, it will be my happiness to contribute to the making of yours. I know the height of her Birth, and your Ignorance of Yours, are vast Impediments; but I know also your Person, and your Actions, are above all other Men's, as much as her Quality is above Yours: I know too, that her exact Obedience to the King, and the near consummation of her Nuptials, are considerable hinderances; but I know also, that Love is more considerable help: And all my exactest Observations abuse me, if she had not gone with less trouble to the Temple, had she been led thither by Callimachus, instead of Ascanius. Who knows, but that the Glory of her third Deliverance is reserved to you? And who knows, but that those gods, which so miracu∣lously separated her from the King of Cyprus for a time, may, in the next Battel, separate him from her Eternally? 'Tis not impossible too, but that Mithridates, to reward your Services, and to repair the in∣tended fatal Obedience of his Daughter, may be induced to make that Happiness for you, which the gods, by so many repeated and admirable Events, have seem'd to declare they design you to: Possibly also, some happy Accident may discover to you in the progress of this War, it being Naval, and Tellamon being separated from you on the Sea, from whence you derive your Extraction, and the Knowledg of your Quality may give you as free an admittance to make your Ad∣dresses to Statira, as your Services have given you an interest in her. These (continued Monyma) are the Hopes I have for you; and if, by the affection Mithridates honours me with, I may in any degree contribute by my endeavours to change them unto Certainties, if you esteem me worthy of your Trust, you shall find by my Actions, that I have afresh desired your Friendship, but the more hopefully to place on you the effects of mine; and by my future Deportment, in some mea∣sure, to repair you for the Sins of my past Carriage: For though, Calli∣machus, I confess I love you, and possibly more than I ought for my Quiet, and perhaps for Yours too; yet, since such an Affection is a Guilt, I the sooner take this way, to free my self from it; and 'tis no small satisfaction to me, that what is the intended remedy of my Fault, should be the evi∣dence of my Esteem and Concernment for you.

Never, (said Callimachus) never was I reduced to a greater Trouble in forming an Answer, than at that time: The first part of her Dis∣course had so flatter'd my Passion, and my Hopes, that I listned to it in Extasies; but the latter part, reducing me to the necessity of owning my Flame, or of disobliging the Queen, who so generously offer'd me her Assistance, and seem'd in what she had spoke, to have taken off the Veil from all Disguisements, and to express a Tenderness for me, which at least requir'd Truth and Respect from me; that, between those extreams, I remain'd in Troubles so unexpressible, and great, that the gods pitying me, sent me an unexpected Relief; for just as I was going to speak, and yet not fully resolv'd what I should say, one of the Ladies of the Queen's Bed-chamber came hastily to her, and told her; Madam, the King has sent to tell

you, that, having all this Day wearied himself in Business, he intends to give himself the contentment of passing this Night in your Company; and is now coming through the Gallery hither.

Monyma casting her Eyes upon me, seem'd, by them, to say something, which, I interpreted, was to express more trouble than satisfaction at the King's message; and rising hastily up, gave me a Present for the fair Irene, and commanded me to tell her, She sent her that, as an assurance, that whomsoever she loved perfectly once, she would always love in that de∣gree. And then hastily taking leave of me, she went to meet the King, who was almost at her Chamber-door; where she entertained him a while, that I might have the more leisure to retire; which I did with a Joy equal to the Trouble I was then freed from.

I will not trouble you, with all the various Thoughts which imploy'd me, upon what the Queen had done, spoken, and offer'd; but to repair having so long insisted on this Visit, I will hasten generous Princes, to tell you, That the Night, I took my last leave of Atafernes, and having dis∣patched Persons of Quality and Parts, with Mithridates's desires to the Cylicians and Phoenicians, to hasten their Fleets to the Bay of Miletus; I sent also by expresses of great Trust, Orders to Galatides, Admiral for Mithridates of the Euxine and Hellespontick Squadrons, that, because his Fleet was to pass by the Island of Scyros, where all Ariobarzanes and Ni∣comedes's Fleet lay, lest they should attempt to intercept him, to keep the Western-Coast of Asia close on his left hand; to have Scouts so far ad∣vanced, as to receive timely Allarms; to take up all the small Vessels of Bithynia, and Fisher-boats a long the Coast, with as much privacy as pos∣sibly he could; and in the beginning of the Night, to give all those small Vessels the Lights of his Fleet, with Order to keep as near that Coast as they could; which might not only delude the Enemy, but endanger them: For his Ships and Galleys being of the largest in the World, they would boldly (possibly without Sounding) follow such; and that with all his Fleet, during the Night, he should strike over to the Eastern-Coast of Greece, and keep that on his right Hand, till he were gotten so far to the Southward of Greece, as the length of the Bay of Miletus, for which he should then hasten, as fast as his Oars and Sails could carry him. These Orders, soon after my coming to Miletus, I found had not been needless; for, by them, Galatides assur'd me, he not only escaped Nicomedes, but the Lights in the small Vessels so well abused him, that not a few of his were Stranded, and others Cast away, in their Chase, ere the rest of his Fleet perceived the Delusion. The Miletians, who were a People wholly, of late Years dedicated to their Trade; though they received Mithridates's Letters to them, with all the formalities of reve∣rence, and respect, yet could not be induced to let that King have any help under their publique Flags; for Nicomedes seemed to give the Law on the Sea, and their greatest Trade was on that Element, and his Ships had been so Civil to them, as thitherto, not to have interrupted it. Yet by the help of the fair Irene, and her Lord, together with that Interest I had gained newly, and formerly, amongst some of the Chiefest of that City, I procured leave to raise what Volunteers I could engage, and particular Vessels I could hire, which was a Priviledg also, they gave at the same time, though unsought after, unto Nicomedes and Ariobarzanes; but they made not use of it, either as not wanting it, or not having timely notice of it.

From Miletus I daily renew'd my Sollicitations to the Cylicians and Phoe∣nicians; and whatever time I had to imploy from the Duties of my Charge,

I dedicated it to the fair Irene; in the happiness of whose Nuptials, I saw enough to make me at once rejoyce at her Condition, and deplore my Own. But when I deliver'd to her Monyma's Present and Words; she told me smiling, If the Queen's assurance be without Limitation, Mi∣thridates has a double Reason to ingage you to Command his Fleets and Armies abroad. But I assur'd her, all that had been Passion on my side, was turned to Respect; and all that had been seeming Affection on her side, was turned into real Friendship. She told me, she was perfectly glad thereof, both for Monyma's sake, and mine.

The last Evening that I waited on her, the joyful News was brought me in her Company, that a great Fleet was discover'd in the South-east, making for the Bay of Miletus: This Advertisement drew me hastily from that excellent Person, and her Lord, and made me take a final leave of the Magistrates of the City, having that Morning sent into the Bay all those Men and Vessels I could engage there to joyn with Galatides, then Riding there; and though I flatter'd my self with a Belief, that this ap∣pearing. Fleet was from Cilicia and Phoenicia, yet lest it should be Ni∣comedes which might come that Course, either from having pursued Galatides, or at the least to Alarm me, by taking that way by which my expected Helps were to come, I hastned on Board, and put my Fleet in the best post posture I could to receive them as Enemies or Friends. But the uncertainty soon ceased, my Scouts bringing me word it was the conjoyned Navies of Cyprus and Egppt, led by Ascanius in Person; and soon after, I perceived in the Flag of the Admiral, a Venus ascending out of the Waves; but a Venus fairer than she which sprung out of the Sea: For the lovely Image as perfectly resembled the Princess Statira, as the noblest Piece of Art could the noblest Piece the gods did ever Create.

Ah! How I envied the high Honour Ascanius had assumed of Fight∣ing for the Princess Statira under her Picture! and did a thousand times repine, that by the Barbarous Maritim Laws I could not change my Flags! And that the King of Cyprus, by observing those of his Countrey, might bear such glorious ones! Had I not been confined to those mise∣rable Tyes, I could have hoped by imitating Ascanius, to have rais'd the Valour of my Soldiers, by letting them see in the Copy what the Origi∣nal was for which they Fought: My Flag displayed a Terrestrial Globe; Mithridates thereby intimating his aspiring to the universal Monarchy; so that I bore the World, and Ascanius bore mine: Yet 'twas no small consolation to me, that though I carried not her Image in so conspicu∣ous a Place, as my Rival did; yet I carried it where it was more Lively drawn, and where I could not out-live the Loss of it.

Whilst I was thus entertaining my Self, the Cyprian and Egyptian Fleets cast Anchor, at which I knew not whether I was more pleas'd, or troubled; This, that their Admiral did thereby confess he stood in need of my help; That, because some precious time was lost, in acting for Statira's Deliverance. But the various Thoughts I was in, hinder'd me not from paying to the Cyprian King the Duty I owed his Title. Wherefore I went forthwith Aboard him, where I was entertained with all imaginable Civility and Honour; and with no small expressions of his Trouble, that the Cilician and Phoenician Helps were not yet Arri∣ved; which, he said, He esteemed advisable to stay some Days for, that they might lose no accessional Force in so Ambition'd a Victory. I as∣sur'd him, that it was more desirable, with the Force we had, to proceed in so Glorious a quarrel, than to permit the Imprisonment of the Princess

so long time, as must be spent in the expectancy of their Arrival; that the Justice of the Quarrel, and the Person for whom 'twas undertaken, were assurances of Success in the Result of it; and if we thought a good Cause was favour'd by the gods, we could not but believe thereby, we were supplied with more Strength than even the desired Addition could produce: And therefore I offer'd, with the Naval-Force I had, to com∣pose the lest Wing: that, to stay for those Fleets we expected, would convince the Enemy, and our own Soldiers that we thought we needed them; and if they can not, as 'twas as probable they would not come at all, as that they should not come by the Day prefixed by Mithridates, and promised by themselves, we must then either wholly decline the Action, or attempt it with the evidences of our own doubt of Success; nay, possibly by a continuance where we were, invite Nicomedes and Ariobarzanes to seek us out, when also by our continuance where we were, we acknowledged we apprehended their Encounter.

These Reasons, and that Offer of mine, made the Cyprian King cast off all Thoughts of delaying the Battel, or at least of presenting the Ene∣my with it; Possibly their own Weight, possibly that none might appear more forward than himself in that Action, in which he was to receive the greatest and highest Rewards, made him resolve and declare, That the next morning he would set Sail for the Island of Scyros: and there find the end of his Hopes, or of his Life. And to evidence his Apprehensions sprung from his fears, that my Wing needed assistance, not his, he offer'd me some eighteen Galleys to Fortifie it: But having paid him my Ac∣knowledgments for that offer, I declined it, thereby to convince him, his Fleet and mine, that I thought I needed no such Accession.

After we had resolved on all things for the Decision of the Battel, in which he chose the right Wing, and assigned me the left, He shew'd me several rare Inventions of his own Subjects, and of the Egyptians; both which had then the opinion of the best and most experienced Sea-men in the whole World, as well for Navigation, as Fight. One of which I cannot omit particularizing, which was, that the Egyptians, in most of their Galleys, had divers great Earthen Pots full of small holes: in which Pots they had inclosed great Serpents, which by the Holes, received Air and Sustenance enough to preserve them. These were to be flung into such Galleys as they grappled with. The fall of the Earthen pots on the Decks of the Enemies Vessels, would infallibly break them; And then the hungry Serpents being at liberty, would wind themselves about the Limbs of the next they could seize on: and thereby not only hinder them from Fighting, but in a short while put an end to their Lives.

This admirable and cruel Invention I commended, only because 'twas to be employed against the Detainers of my Princess; though in it self, I did not like it, esteeming it a Salvage cruelty, to employ venomous Beasts to destroy the Lives of Valiant Men. Soon after I had seen some other like Inventions, I retired to my own Fleet; and, according to the resolution taken Aboard Ascanius, made all things ready to weigh Anchor with the Morning's light: which accordingly we did, (I ha∣ving first left Orders for the Cilician, and Phoenician Fleets to follow me) And with Oars and Sails, we steer'd our course to the Island of Scyros; where, to my unspeakable Joy the Day following, by that time the Sun was two hours high, we discover'd the two King's Fleets, embattelling within the easie prospect of the Castle: and as ready to accept of the Fight, as we were to present it them. I soon perceived the Bithynian

Flags composed the right Wing, which I was to Fight against; and the Cappadocian the left Wing, which Ascanius was to oppose.

Elevated with the Glory of what I sought for, and before whom I fought; and troubled at nothing more than at the glorious Flag which the King of Cyprus carried, I began the Battel, which I might truly say, was replenished with more various accidents than ever any which was fought before. And though the Princess had the trouble to see her De∣liverance was a long time in the Balance; yet at last, she had the satisfa∣ction to see the Pontick and Bithynian Admiral engaged singly: and, though Nicomedes did all that became a King and a General, yet being himself sunk under the weight of his personal Wounds, I entred his Galley, and took him my Prisoner; though when I did it, he was by the loss of Blood, uncapable to see my Success, or deplore the want of his own.

As soon as ever that Admiral Galley was conquer'd, all the rest of his Fleet confusedly fled to the Shore; in which Chase we sunk many, and took more; and prosecuted our Victory as far as the Water would give us leave.

But the Success could not be more glorious on our left Wing, than it was deplorable in the right; for on my Return to see whether our Friends needed our assistance, I found the Cyprian and Egyytian Fleets, as to∣tally vanquisht, as the Mithridiatick had the Bithynian: nay, I saw a Cappadocian Galley carrying That glorious Flag at her Stern, which a little before had adorned the main-Top of the Cyprian Admiral. The fury I was in at that sight, carried my Galley with Wings to so desired a recompence and revenge; and the Enemy as proud of their prize, as I was inraged to see it theirs, disputed their Purchase with at least as much resolution, as that with which they had acquired it. The Fight was such, that even the winning of this Galley, cost me not less blood and time, than Nicomedes's: But at length she yielded, and presented me with an Effigies, than which, nothing to me could be more acceptable, unless the glorious Original. To recover that noble Trophy, was an Honour which needed not to set it off, the Foyl of my Rivals having lost it.

In brief, that large Scene in which the Battel had been fought, was clear'd of all our Enemies, but five Galleys: for Ariobarzanes satisfied with his having done that to our right Wing, which I had done to his; and having been disorder'd in that Success too much, to attempt the changing of mine: or else apprehending a Forest of Vessels, which then began to appear (and, which afterwards I found were my Phoeni∣cian and Cilician Fleets) retired to the Island of Scyros, and left those five Galleys I had mentioned, engaged against one single Egyptian Galley. Which, though it defended it self with much Resolution; yet I saw at last those in it, did not more deserve than need my assistance, I therefore hastned to afford it them. A young Gentlemen of that Nation, and of the colour of those Inhabitants, in splendid Arms, so animated his, both by words and by Example, that in his Valour only the hopes and life of their Party consisted. The Enemy observing my Approach, offer'd him all honourable Quarter; and though he was Courted by many Civilities to accept it, yet he declined it in words which testified his Resolution as much as his Defence had done. And by that time I had joyned his Galley, I heard the end of the young Egyptian's Reply, which he finisht in these words; That it was an unavoidable Fate for every man once to

Die, but he did not think it was the like: for Gallant Men once to yield. This generous Answer, in my judgment, made him and his the more worthy of my assistance; which I presented him with such Success, that he was soon in a condition to afford his Enemies those Civilities, which he had so lately refused to receive from them.

By that time I came into his Galley, to congratulate his Success, and give his Valour those Elogies it merited, I found him weltring in abun∣dance of Blood, which he had drawn from others, and lost himself. The taking off his Helmet to give him Air, discover'd a Face as remarkable for the noble features of it, as any I ever saw; and which, though black, and in the Arms of Death, retained Charms enough to make me admire it. I gave all my Chirurgeons express and repeated Orders concerning him; and though I strictly examined all his Soldiers who he was, yet none of them would or could satisfie my Curiosity, protesting they had never seen him before that Morning, in which by the Egyptian Vice-Ad∣miral, he was put to Command that Galley upon the Death of the late Captain of it. But, continued Callimachus, I doubt generous Princes, my concernment for this eminent Stranger has too long carried me away from the direct Sequel of my Relation; which therefore (having begg'd your pardons for) I will re-assume by telling you, That several of the Cyprian Commanders which had fled under my Flags, to avoid the Cappa∣docian King's Navy, assur'd me, that their own Prince was fallen dead on his Deck, ere Ariobarzanes had taken him: and that his last words were, It more troubles me to lose my Flag, than my Life. His last consi∣deration being so worthy of an Adorer of my Princess, made me Cele∣brate his Fall with a grief as real as great; and the abhorred Name of a prevailing Rival, hinder'd not my paying his Merits the acknowledg∣ments due to his Title, and Unhappiness. I offer'd all those Cyprian Commanders, to employ my whole Fleet to recover his Body; that those which could not Conquer him whilst alive, might not possess him when dead: But they all assur'd me he was past recovery, as well out of the Enemies hands, as out of the hands of Death; for they had seen the Cappadocian Admiral carry under the Castle in the Island of Scyros, the Cyprian Admiral's Galley, in which their dead King and General's Body was.

This loss appearing past remedy, I went to enquire how the generous Nicomedes was; and how my Physician, and Chirugeon's care of him had succeeded: but alas, I still found him in that swoon in which I had left him, and in so little hopes of Life, that hardly any misery had befaln me in the whole course of my own, had been more intolerable or sensible to me. But those about him, either as it was their belief, or else to lessen that grief which his condition so visibly invaded me with, assuor'd me he was Alive; and that none of those Wounds they had sounded, appear'd mortal: so that his Escaping was not only possible, but hopeful. And though these words were very welcome to me, yet the gods were pleas'd to send me something else, which was much more; for even whilst I was under my fears of his Death, by a deep Sigh, and opening of his Eyes, he manifested he had Life. The emi∣nent generosity of this Prince to all men, and the particular effects of it to me, which also were in some measure the Causes of his then Con∣dition, gave me as high a satisfaction, as my sorrow for him had been before; both which, could not have been more sincere and eminent, had I then known the Relation I had unto him. And because the

motion of the Sea, and the small accommodations in a Galley, were in∣commodious, if not dangerous to him; I forthwith sent a Trumpet on Shore to Ariobarzanes with this Letter.

Callimachus, to the King of Cappadocia.

I Was till even now in no small apprehensions that I should have done that to you, which now upon the score of your Generosity I will hope for from you; and by sending to you the Body of Nicomedes, have ex∣pected from you the Body of Ascanius: But the gods having restor'd your great Friend to Life, and my best Physicians and Chyrurgeons giving me more than hopes of his Recovery, I was unwilling to keep so welcome an assurance from you. I believe you will not esteem the Restauration of the Princess Statira, and the Prince Pharnaces, too disproportionate an exchange for him; I have therefore sent this Letter to propound it to you: And because 'tis below the generous Ariobarzanes to detain the body of a dead Enemy, or receive any exchange for it, I will with Cer∣tainty wait for those effects therein, that his Virtue will give me; which cannot be greater, than my esteem of it, and confidence in it.

I was necessitated, both to cloud my passion, and not to appear too un∣worthy of Mithridates his trust, to add Pharnaces to the exchange of Ni∣comedes; and only to mention the name of my Princess, without particu∣larizing those inducements for her deliverance which her Innocence, her Beauties, and other admirable persections might have excessively furnish•• me with. Whilst my Trumpet was going, and returning, I was visited by the Cilician and Phoenician Admirals, who in such humble and moving Expressions, evidenced their sorrow for coming some hours too late, that I was more troubled to console them, than I had been at their ab∣sence; which was occasion'd by an unhappy Difference had fallen out between the Chiefs of both their Countreys, which had already drawn some Blood: and they doubted would draw more ere it was extinguish∣ed. Nay, they had not now come, but that a religious Person, who for being such, was eminent to both their Nations, represented to them, That whilst they strove about what was doubtful, they acted a Certain evil, by employing those Forces against each other, which were mutually engaged to serve Mithridates. This being spoken from so reverend a Person, produced this effect, That they all unanimously engaged to per∣form their Contract, and to serve the Pontick King in his first Naval Ingagement. But then by solemn Oath, they tyed themselves the next day to return, whatever their Success was, and to obey whatever their Superiours should enjoyn; who they hoped by this short Peace, would assume thoughts of a perpetual one: and by their Absence, might be invited to extinguish that Flame, which their Presence did but kindle and animate. That therefore they were come, not only to implore my pardon for their having been absent; but to beg my permission to re∣turn, that they might therein satisfie their Oaths to their gods, and their Duties to their Chiefs.

After I had acquainted them with my trouble for their absence, and for the cause of it, I began to endeavour to make them sensible, that

even by their Vows, they were confined to see one Engagement more; for this that was past, they had rather heard of than seen: That our Fleets which had engaged, were so shatter'd, that without their help we could not continue the Siege of the Island, till it was reduced: which to effect, we were to employ half of our number to transport at once the Prince Atafernes's Army; since to Land it in parts, were to expose it to the Army there, who by that worst proceeding, might soon repair on the Land, what they had lost on the Sea. I did not omit to add to these Motives, all those others which I thought might engage them; But plead∣ing their Oaths to the gods, and their Superiours, as soon as the first En∣gagement was over, and binding themselves to me by the most Sacred Vows they could make, as soon as their domestick differences were end∣ed by the Sword, or by Agreement, they would immediately return to Mithridates's Service if called, and face the Island for five days before they returned, which was a competent time to transport the Prince's Army into it. Not being able to prevail for more, I accepted so much; and forthwith sent an Express to the King, to acquaint him with our Suc∣cess, and at what at Rate we had bought it. I likewise employed another Express to the generous Atafernes, with an account of all things; and how that in two days I intended to bring into the Bay of Nicomedia so many of his Father's Fleet, as would transport into the Island Forces enough to Conquer it: and that I would leave the residue of the Fleet with the Cilician and Phoenician Navies, to block it up in the mean time, that none in it might get out of it, and no new Supplies might be recei∣ved into it. By that time I had informed these Resolutions, and dis∣patched these Expresses, the Barge I had sent with the Trumpet, return∣ed; and he brought me this Letter.

Ariobarzanes King of Cappadocia, to Callimachus, Admiral of the Pontick Fleet.

I Had now returned you the dead Body of the King of Cyprus, if two Noblemen his Subjects, and my Prisoners, had not begg'd it of me; that they might perform the Cyprian Funeral-solemnities due unto his Qua∣lity; and after that, carry it to receive the like Obsequies in his own Countrey; for which end I have given them their own Liberty, and their own Galley, with my Pass to return to Cyprus, as soon as these intended Ceremonies are finished here, and that his Corps is Embalmed. I acknow∣ledg your great Civility, in sending me news of Nicomedes being alive; which yet does therefore hinder me from being able to dispose of so considerable a Prisoner as the Prince Pharnaces is: But for the Prin∣cess Statira, as it was always against my will she was detained (Wo∣men being neither the Cause, nor the continuance of our War); so I shall willingly exchange her, and all the Prisoners with her, for Nicomedes; Who, I am confident in your judgment, and in her Fathers also, will be a sufficient Ransom for the King of Bithynia, if he does not recover of his Wounds: And if he do, you may with reason expect from his justice without a bargain, what ever he esteems this Exchange will fall short of the value of his Liberty.

The gods, continued Callimachus, only knew my transports at the reading of this Letter; For had the King of Cappadocia demanded for the Princess, not only Nicomedes, but also Callimachus, and the whole Fleet he commanded, he had in raptures of Joy delivered them up to Ariobarzanes; and esteemed that Purchase too low a Price for the honour of her Redemption. I therefore immediately accepted of his offer on the Conditions he proposed; and having received his assurance of deli∣vering the Princess on his receiving Nicomedes, I forthwith sent that ge∣nerous King to the Island in his own Galley, lest his removal might have been at once painful and dangerous to him; and as some small Evidence, how disadvantageous an Agreement I thought my Enemies had made for themselves, I cast their Admiral-Galley into the bargain; And I did with all my Fleets accompany the King of Bithynia towards his Port. And having attended him, as far as with safety I might, and paid him all the Sea-honours I was capable of, which yet-his Condition made him ig∣norant he had received, I then cast Anchor, and in impatiencies above description, waited for the arrival of the Princess; to whom I had order'd the Fleets to pay Submissions and Honours, which they never had be∣fore presented to any Admiral.

Whilst this ambition'd happiness was expected in Raptures due un∣to it, or rather short of it, I perused a Letter brought me by my Trum∣peter from those two Cyprian Noblemen, to whom Ariobarzanes had given their King's Body; who therein did acquaint me, That the neces∣sary Honours due by their Laws to their King's Embalming, would consume at least thirty days: by which time they desired, if any oc∣cassions called me elsewhere, I would appoint all the remainder of the Cyprian Fleet to be where now they Anchor'd, to receive their King's Body, and to attend it into Cyprus to the Tomb of his Predecessors. My Trumpeter also told me, That he learned Ariobarzanes, having as totally defeated our right Wing, as I had his left, had determined by a new Combat to have forced from me my Success, or increased it; but that the then appearing of the Fleets of the Cilicians and Phoenicians, which they knew was not for their assistance, they having then all the help they could expect; But chiefly the Cappadocian King's Wounds, which he dissembled till their effects then reveal'd them, and a large Leak his Admiral-Galley had received, made him retire with the glory of that Victory he had obtained over the Cyprians. That he had seen the Body of Ascanius wept over by all his Subjects, which were Pri∣soners, who in the greatest of their Griefs, had evidenced the greatness of their Loves.

Whilst my Trumpeter was entertaining me with these Relations, I perceived a Magnificent Barge appear from the Shore. I concluded the Princess Statira was in it; and having drawn up my Fleet in a Cres∣sent to receive her, leaving them in that Figure, I advanced with my own Admiral-Galley, to wait on her: And as soon as I saw she was there, I descended into my Barge, and in unconceivable Raptures went aboard hers: where casting my self at her Feet, I did more by Actions than Words, endeavour to shew her my Transports at her Restaura∣tion, and at my having been Instrumental in it. She had the good∣ness to receive me with that Empire and Modesty, which still accom∣panied her highest Favours to me; and having with acknowledgments dismist the Cappadocian and Bithynian Nobility, which had till then waited on her, as Ariobarzanes, notwithstanding the pain of his wounds,

had done to the Barge, she ascended my Galley, and in it went to the Fleet▪ who received her with shouts and clashing of Arms, and all the other Military Evincements and Complements of Joy. Nay, all the Flag-ships struck their signs of being such, and only let them fly again when she commanded; to show, that she only gave Laws where I was Admiral. All Ceremonies of her return being ended, she retired unto the Stern-Cabbin of the Galley, and none being present but Nerea, I did again prostrate my self at her Feet, and told her: Madam, I now find the Honour of fighting in your Quarrel, cannot be greater than is the Certainty of Success in so glorious a Cause; and if I failed of that happiness once, it proceeded from the mercy of the gods: which though intolerable to me, when dispensed; yet by what hath happened since, I have found abundant cause to admire. But could I have prevented my highest misery, at so Criminal a Price, as by wishing of your suffering, I should have esteemed that sin equal to this Success; for such is the Re∣spect and Veneration I pay the Princess Statira, that to have pre∣vented her Captivity, I would joyfully (had it been left at my Ele∣ction), have suffered what the gods destined, her Captivity should prevent. The fair Statira by her blushes seemed to tell me she under∣stood what I meant; and she had too the condescension to give me this Answer.

If you have received any advantage by a Captivity you then so much deplored, and would have so fatally revenged, on him who had been so far from acting it, that he almost lost his life to prevent it, I shall find that contentment in it upon your score, which I could not on my own; for 'tis but reason, that he who frees me from Captivity, should receive some consolation in my having undergone it: and that my suf∣ferings should pay some of that Debt, which my Actings could not. And since by experience you have Learned, that even the bitterest things which the Gods cast upon us, have by patient waiting on them, a sweetness in the Result, I will nope, that thereby we shall be prepa∣red with an entire Resignation, to submit to whatever portion they snall think fit to allot us. 'Tis in the force of this Duty, that I find strength to submit to the loss of the unhappy Ascanius; and though he perished for my Relief, and though by designation of my Father, his nearness to me might apologize for my Tears, nay, render them a Duty: yet so much I mind that hand from whence I received that stroke, that in as little Emotions, as the frailty of my Nature is capable of, I desire to submit unto it. At these words, said Callimachus, her Eyes were obscured, which made me say, Madam, In those admirable Expressions, you do not more evidence your piety to the gods, than by those unvaluable Tears, you manifest your kindness and Esteem for Ascanius; whose fall there∣by is Celebrated with nobler Obsequies, than all his Friends and Sub∣jects can design for him. To be loved by the Princess Statira whilst he was alive, and to be wept by her when he was dead, are Felicities which render him a fitter object of Envy, than of Sorrow: And since, Madam, you are so Charitable and Just to the Dead, Permit me to beg you to be the like to him that yet is alive; which is, to believe, though had I got as much by your Captivity, as the King of Cyprus lost; yet even therein I should have condemned your Fate, and my own too, for being so mistaken, as to think I could raise any joy, by your sorrow. In that particular, the power of Destiny is limited; for it can present nothing of contentment to me, which is caused by your suffering. Could you,

Madam, believe the contrary, To lead you out of that injustice (pardon the Zeal of that expression) I would elect Eternally to be miserable, rather than be made happy by a cause, which might confirm you in that misbelief; and might reproach me with having valued my self above you. But, Madam, I continued, whilst I ought to imploy all my time in expressions of my Trouble that you were made a Captive, and of my Joy that you are no longer one; will you pardon me, if I employ some of it, in imploring a concession from you, which only can be granted by you; and which I fear you may with Justice deny me. 'Tis, that by your Order I may enjoy a part of this dayes Victory, which by the Law of Arms is mine already; yet only by your decree, can Authentickly be made such. The Princess again was cover'd with Blushes, fearing my Confidence had been greater than my Success; and that my implorings would have been more suted to my desires, than my merit: therefore to free her from those wounding imaginations, I told her, by the fate of War Ascanius lost his Flag, and by the chance of War I recover'd it. 'Tis the Effigies of a Venus ascending from the Sea; but a Venus so like the Princess Mithridatia, that no Production of Art was ever compa∣rable to it. I thereupon presented her with the King of Cyprus's Flag, which contained a Copy, nothing but the Original could transcend. She consider'd it a while, more I believe to gain time to form her An∣swer, than on any other score; for her Glass could alwayes entertain her with a nobler Prospect: though whilst she was unresolved what to say, she might the sooner be induced to grant my suit, than give Reasons for denying it; and therefore I did with no small importunity, seek a Return to my Request; which at last obtained from her these words.

I am wholly ignorant, Callimachus, of your Maritine Laws; but I sup∣pose you are so just, as not to ask any thing from me, contrary to them; and since you are on that Element where you give the Law, I must not contradict what you assure is yours by it: though in my own Judgment, I think it little just, that two Fleets which came to Fight in the same Quarrel, the misfortune of the one, should compose the Trophies of the other. Madam, I reply'd (expecting at least as much reservedness as I found) 'tis not time, but possession which gives Armed numbers a Title to what they possess; else those which did wrong the longest, should have the greatest Right to what in wrong-doing they acquired. And there∣fore the Enemy being a while possest of this Flag, Ascanius lost his Title to it, and the property was alter'd; which when it was our Adversaries, was both lawful for me to recover, and keep when it was recover'd. I know not, said the Princess, whether the Laws be not proportionate to the Element, on which, or for which, they are made, and therefore that being wild, those may be the like also, as best suted to it; and be∣ing received as such, Custom may authorize what reason could not; else if the possession of an Enemy▪ alters the property of what is possessed, and that this Rule went throughout in all Cases, (as what is Reason in one particular, ought to be the like in every other of a parallel nature) then Prisoners of your side which are taken by an Enemy, if recovered by you, are Prisoners also to you; and so the success of their Friends changes not their Condition, but their Masters. By this Law too, said the Prin∣cess smiling, Tomsones, Rebadates, and to say no more, even Nerea her self must be that to you, which your Valour and Civility have presently freed them from being to another; and thus make one of the noblest

Actions of Friendship, become in its effect one of the highest impositi∣ons of Enmity; and thereby make what should nourish and encrease Friendship, totally destroy it: by this rule also Ariobarzanes must be Nico∣medes's Prisoner; and had both those Kings been recovered by their Soldiers, they must have been such unto their very Subjects. I must ac∣knowledg, said Callimachus, this reasoning of the Princesses did not a little surprize me; and her particularly specifying no higher than Nerea, with that smile which accompanied it, seemed to tell me what she would not speak. I therefore made no small haste to tell her, There is, Madam, a vast difference between the exchanges and acquisitions in War; that which is by Pact and Agreement, relishing more of the Civil, than the Military nature, is exempted from these wild Rules which Force has im∣posed, and Custom has authorized amongst Soldiers: besides, Madam, things which men may buy and sell, and thereby may transfer the pro∣perty of them to the Master which last acquired them, may well have that property transfer'd by the purchase of mens Swords, which may be transfer'd by common ways of bargaining. But Women and Men, not being vendable, are not subjected to the like rules that things which are so, are liable unto: for liberty being not to be valued, ought not to be sold, though it be lost: and so life, though it be above price, is not there∣by exempted from deprivation. But, Madam, I hope you will remem∣ber, that when I first moved this unfortunate request, I told you what I was to beg, was fit to be denied: and since I find the invinciblest Argu∣ment against me, is that of your not approving what I have implored, I here put a period to my sute, and change those Prayers which I made to obtain it, into as fervent ones for your pardon, that I durst desire it; only Madam, I will earnestly beg that you will so dispose of it, that what∣ever has the glory to bear your Image, may never be exposed to the ha∣zards of composing a Trophy to your Enemies; and for my particular, I shall find my contentment in my obedience, and in carrying about me an Image which much more resembles you, and which lies not in the power of fate to take from me. Statira receiving the Flag which I then presented her, told me; though I know few things I more desire, than to receive evidences that Callimachus is of my opinion, yet not to appear too unworthy thereof; and to owe that in some degree to his Justice, as well as to his Civility; I will only mind him, that there are Slaves amongst men, and made so by no law, but force; but yet are bought and sold, as merchandize is; and though liberty to him that loses it, is above price; yet he that takes it from him, values it to him that buys it of him: Though thi••gs inanimate taken by force of Arms, become the property of those who take them, and are no longer so to those that lose them; yet all such things are not subjected to that Law: for then the Images of our Gods, in which we reverence themselves, might by the fate of War become the property of men. 'Tis upon this score that I accept of this Present; had it born any Image, but that of a Deity, I should have rejoyced at your possessing of it. But since it carries the Effigies of a Goddess you have formerly adored, in reverence to what she is in her self, and for what she has been to you, allow me to restore her to her Temple, from whence I shall oblige all the Cyprians, by solemn vow, never to remove her; lest the needless exposing of their Goddess, may make their whole Island indure the like misfortune, which their unhappy King has been involved in; and whose fall I attribute to the impiety of carrying that power he Worshipt, to a Forreign War, which should have

still resided in her Temple at home. The piety of my Princess in giving me this refusal, and at the same time, confecrating her Picture to a Temple, the just, though undesigned reward due unto it, gave me a full Consolation, and made me admire the goodness of the gods, that in the duty of taking their part, made her receive ever after her self, the Ob∣lations due unto themselves. For that noble Effigies being accepted of by the chief Commander of the Cyprian Fleet, on the terms the Princess prescribed, was by him sent unto Cyprus, and in the Temple at Paphos is worshipped unto this day. Yet Statira, to hinder as much as in her lay any Glory, which her resemblance to that Picture might cast upon her, Caused to be written over it in great Letters of Gold, The God∣dess Venus. The fair Mithridatia having thus taken, or rather accepted from me, the highest prize of that dayes Victory, did by many repeated Civilities convince me, that that Action proceeded from her respect to the gods, and not out of want of it to me; so that I received more from her denial of what I had asked, than I could have received in the grant of it. I decline particularlizing all those discourses which then past be∣tween us; mine chiefly consisting in the expressions of my Joy for her Deliverance, and hers in expressions of Acknowledgments to me for it.

Whilst we were making ready to Sail for Nicomedia, whither the ne∣cessity of Mithridates's Affairs did call me, as well as the restoring the Princess to her Father; I entertained with many embraces, Rebadates, Tomsones, and those other Gentlemen, to whose Valour and Friendship I owed so much; and having ordered the Cilician, and Phoenician Fleets their Stations, for blocking up the Island, and residue of the Enemies Fleet, till with mine I had transported the Prince Ataphernes's Army; I assembled the chief Cyprian and Egyptian Commanders, and desired to know of them, what instructions they had in case of their King's death, which now was happened; and if they had none, what resolutions they had Elected, in which if any assistance of mine were necessary, I might pay it them. They told me their Instructions were, in case that misery should befall them, which now had happened, never to stir from Mithri∣dates's Service, till the Princess Statira was at liberty; and then to obey her Commands, whilst his Successor allowed them that Honour. This made me accompany them to the Princess, who was not a little sur∣prised at this assurance; but having declined that power Ascanius had given her, and they protesting a perfect Obedience to it; She told them, that she thought she could no way better use that unexpected Authority which their dead King had given her, than imploying it in Orders which might evidence the Value and Honour she had for him; that therefore they should keep about the Island, till the Solemnites there, of his Fu∣neral were ended, and then attend his Body to Cyprus, and obey the Orders of their new King. This they all declared they would punctu∣ally obey. Having thus setled things, that Fleet which was to wait on the Princess, and transport her Brother's Army, weighed Anchor, and steer'd their Course towards the Bay of Nicomedia, which the neerer we came unto, the more I found my Joys clouded; the ••igh Honour of the Pontick King's Alliance, and the higher of possessing the Princess Mithridatia, would, I knew to well, draw all the Eastern Kings to his Court; and thereby only alter my Rivals, not suppress my Fears. Whilst I was entertaining my self with these sad thoughts in my Cabbin, which was under the Princesses, they forced from me such loud and

violent sighs, that even Statira heard them; which perswaded her to send Nerea to visit me, lest some unexpected indisposition might have seized me. I was ashamed when Nerea came with this message, that my troubles had been so loud in their effects; and therefore finding by her, that Statira was not in any entertainment, which my waiting on her might offensively interrupt: I went to her Cabbin with Nerea, to apo∣logize for the rudeness of my Griefs, which yet had obtained the honour of her sending to enquire after me.

I thought, said Statira, that the Glory you had this day acquired, and the Obligations which you have laid upon me, would have exempted you from troubles like unto those which you have often assured me, my Captivity did only occasion. I observed when the Princess was speaking these words to me, that the motion of the Galley having dis∣ordered Nerea, she retired to a small Cabbin at the door of the great one; which made me to kneel at Mithridatia's feet, and tell her; I con∣fess, Madam, in the Day of your Deliverance, I ought to entertain no∣thing but raptures of Joy; and that I ought not to admit of a grief, whose troublesome productions have even reached your Ears: Judg, Madam, what my Griefs must be, when in such an occasion of Joy, I can∣not suppress them, nay, from coming to your Knowledg. Had they been confined to my own Breast, they would have acted that miracle of becoming at once the more great, and the more supportable; the giving of vent to Sorrow, which to others is an ease, in me is a sin: For my afflictions are of such a Quality, that they appear as great a Crime, as a Punishment to me; and could I tell the Cause of my Sorrows to any, they could no more pity, or advise me, than I can pity or advise my self. Yes, Madam, the knowledg of what I ought to do, is not more evident, than is the impossibility of doing it; I am necessitated at the same time to condemn what I act, and still to act what I condemn. I thought, and hoped, replyed the Princess, that since you could find by your own confession, even my Captivity a mercy from the gods, which at first you had considered as their sharpest Judgment; you would in that past Event, have found wherewith to have raised your Faith in any other in the future; I rather expected you would have contributed to ease those Sorrows Ascanius's death hath rais'd in me, than add unto them, by acquainting me with your own. I could bring, Madam, I answer'd, but a few reasons to console you for the Death of one, whose Condition has always had, and now does deserve rather my Envy, than my Sorrow. That Generous Prince lived in your favour, and died in your Service; what life could be more happy, and what Death could be more glori∣ous? Do not therefore, Madam, I humbly conjure you, expect that I should console You for that Fate in another, which I ambition for my self; and if you are capable of such a condescention, as to entertain a grief for either, bestow yours upon him, who aspires at no better a Destiny than that, which even in another you think fit to lament: If he deserves your weepings, who had all that I wish; what then do I, who want all that he had, and wish no more than what he possess'd? You are, said the Princess, casting on me a languishing look, too too in∣genuous to torment me; Ascanius's death, which is my Sorrow, you tell me is your Envy; And Callimachus's life, which is my contentment, you tell me is his Trouble. But, O gods! Callimachus, What new af∣flictions can those be, since I saw you last, which can raise such a storm in you? Madam, I answer'd, no new afflictions have befaln me; But only a

more clear contemplation of those I am already involved in: whilst you were in troubles, the duty I owed you, and the care of ending them, so intirely took me up, that I neither had the time, nor the will to reflect on my own; as the greater Sorrow suspends the Actings and Effects of the lesser: But now that the Justice of the gods have put a period to yours; the same Justice revives mine: For I have that sensible accession to my sufferings, as to be convinced, my Ambition does deserve them: And I think by the rest they have had, gathering new strength, they as∣sault me with the more unsupportable Violence; possibly in revenge, that having been so vast, I could so long neglect them. Alas, Madam, could you condescend to a thorough consideration of the causes of my Sorrow, you could not but pity, if not excuse their production; for what is there now for the unhappy Callimachus to expect? He has nothing which can be so much as acceptable by you, but his Services to you; and those, the height of your condition, and the lowness of his own, renders his hopes of paying, equal impossibilities: I am so far from the expectancy of Happiness, that I am not within the wishes of it; for though by the Crime of Fate, my Sword has been render'd serviceable to you, yet I can∣not be guilty of the Crime of wishing you may ever be reduced to a con∣dition of repeating that misery, though I were certain of repeating that Honour. You see, Madam, how desirous soever I am to serve you, yet I am much more desirous you may never stand in need of being served by me; And even whilst by the sin of your Destiny, I derived an occasion to serve you, yet I shall call it the Sin of your Destiny; and the Obli∣gation it presented me, could not bribe me to call it by another Name: Nay, the sorrow that you were in captivity, silenced the Joy of my be∣ing instrumental to end it. Sure, Callimachus, said Statira, interrupting me, you cannot notwithstanding all that you have said, esteem your self more unhappy, than you esteem me unjust; you first make me bad, thereby to make your Condition worse: Do you think your Obligati∣ons are so small, and my sense of them the like, that unless you still pre∣sent me with new ones, those I have already been loaded with, will lose their Efficacy; I am not a little pleased you have told me the cause of your Troubles, how wounding soever they are to me, both upon your account and mine also; since thereby I find in freeing you from being unjust to me, I free you from being the like unto your self. And in be∣lieving I need fresh and unintermitted Obligations from you, you injure me as much as you oblige me by your favours to me: which are of a nature, that whilst I have life, I must remember them; and whilst I re∣member them, I must rather be troubled, considering my incapacity to acknowledg them as I ought, and as they deserved, that they are so many, than that they are no more. Your past Actions have hitherto obliged me in a degree, that nothing can equal, but the generosity with which they were confer'd, and the sense with which they were received; and for the future, what can be more obliging, than after your eviden∣••ing your great concernment to serve me, you evidence a greater, that I may never be in a Condition to be served by you? By which its im∣posible, but that I must still be obliged to your performances, or to your wishes. Alas, Madam, I reply'd, if my Services be valued by you, how unhappy have I been, that I have pay'd you so few; and how mi∣serable am I, that I can neither hope, or so much as wish ever to pay you any more? I see your goodness endeavours to repair the Deficiencies of my Fate; and finding I am never likely in the future to serve you but in

wishes, you would have me believe, that even those are accepted of by you; when that Condescention rather increases my debt, than any way lessens my Trouble: But, Madam, since by your Mercy, you seem not to be unmoved at my Sorrow; and since it's above me ever to cast it off. I will endeavour to cloud that which I cannot conquer; and so confine my Afflictions to my heart, that I will keep them as invisible to your Eyes, as I have beg'd of the gods I could have kept that Adoration which can∣not be a greater confidence in me to acknowledg, than it was an impossi∣bility to avoid. Perhaps, Madam, I may not tell you an untruth, if I should assure you, that my Ambition cannot be more strange than is my enter∣tainment of its punishment: For whereas in other Afflictions, it's a conso∣lation not to deserve them; in mine, the contrary is the only one I re∣ceive: for by the knowledg of the vastness of my Crimes, I derive some support in the enduring of their Punishment. For since all that I do suffer, nay all that I can suffer (if at least both those be not the same in me) is in my own Estimation much disproportionate to the height of my aspiring, the Justice of the punishment hinders me from repining at it, though not from being sensible of it; and the less you condemn my offence, the more just I esteem my sufferings, and the less impatiently I will bear them. Yes, Madam, though I know by attending you back to Mithridates, I shall restore you to the capacity of repeating that fatal Obedience for some other King, which the Justice of the gods has punished Ascanius for soli∣citing and accepting; and though by my waiting on you to your Father, I am like to see what I most fear; yet I will go: yes, I will pay you my duty, though to the encrease of my Torment. But, Madam, if some de∣jected look, if some unsuppressible groan force it self from me, pardon, I beg you a Fault, which you cannot be so much troubled to see, as I shall be to commit; And ascribe all to a sorrow which possibly will not be above your pity, since 'tis for having offended you, that 'tis so great and unconfinable: Or else, Madam, permit me, rather than to be still a trouble to you, and a greater to my self, because I am such to you, to seek that Death on some Enemies Sword, which you have prohibited my own from acting; you shall then soon be convinced, that I have not so willingly offended you, as I am ready to punish my self for having done so; and that nothing is more preferable to me, than revenging of you. But fair Prin∣cess, if my sin be such, that your Justice decrees me rather to a lingring, than a speedy Death: and that you therefore condemn me to see all those Kings prostrate at your Feet, which the priviledg Mithridates gave Asca∣nius, will invite unto that happy Posture: (For no Monarch that knows the Princess Statira is to be obtained, but will flie to be that happy Per∣son that shall obtain her). If, I say, Madam, you Destine me to this misery, I have destined my self to an entire submission to it; and I shall think my Torments my Happiness, if by undergoing the greatness of them you may be convinced, my Passion, and my Obedience, are proportionate to your Beauties, and to the Duty I owe you.

Though possibly, said Statira, this Discourse might as much trouble me, as the condition you apprehend your self in, does you; and that some parts of it might justly exempt me from answering any of it: yet to let you see, That your past Obligations, and your present Wishes have that Operation on me which I even now assured you they had, I will not only pass over, without any further notice, what you have spoke; but advise you too, not to afflict your self with antedated fears, which is to abuse your Reason, and make that wound you, which should help you.

Our highest Prerogative so imployed, will make the condition of Beast preferable to that of Man; they feel nothing but what actually is: and if you so injure that noble Gift, as thereby to sink your self below the state of irrational Creatures, 'tis but just that even that blessing should be your Tormentor.

Ah Madam! I reply'd, Judg then of my condition, when that which in it self is given for a Preservative against sorrow, and often a Cure of it, changes its nature, and becomes the cause of that, whose effects it should remedy. Reason, reply'd the Princess, is still it self, and therefore still a help; if ever it be other, 'tis in the abuse, not in the nature of it. If by a consi∣deration of things to come, I have more reason to fear the Ill, than to hope the Good, I have then Reason not to entertain those considerations; and if it cannot hinder me from being miserable, when I must be so, it shall hinder me from being so, before I am so: Nay, after I actually am miser∣able, Reason leads me into a contemplation of the gods, who inflict the punishments, as well as they bestow the blessings; and who being just in all their ways, I am taught by it to believe, I deserve what they impose; and therefore should with cheerfulness submit to what they determine, especially, when by repining at what I must acknowledg, I deserve (or else I must not acknowledg them to be just; and to deny any of their At∣tributes, is in effect to deny them), I provoke the continuance of their Judgments, and by an entire resignation I hasten their forgiveness. Possi∣bly, Callimachus, I teach you the Theory of what I have practised my self; and when I advise you to that which I follow, though you may suspect the advice, yet you cannot the Adviser. Since, Madam, I reply'd, your goodness does not decline the condescention of giving advice to so unfor∣tunate and low a Person as I am, permit it, I beseech you, to continue its actings; and having told me what I should not do, that is not reflect upon what is to come, and not express a sadness for what is, let it also tell me what I shall do. Wait upon the good pleasure of the gods, said Statira, they know better what is fit for you, than you know what is fit for your self; and their Time is the best. But to fortifie you in the duty of this At∣tendance, remember, That nothing can be more improbable in the time to come, than you have seen Acted in the time that is past; and this also you may believe, if you please, That he whose Death I deplore, and whose condition you say you envy, had not more of my esteem than you have: and perhaps had not so many assurances thereof from me, as you have had. Let this suffice, continued the fair Statira, rising up, and Blushing; and if you have that Friendship for me, that I believe you have, do not force me to give you such (I will only say) uneasie evince∣ments of mine. These words, said Callimachus, and the obliging Majesty with which they were spoke, charmed all my despair, and my Tongue also; for I had not words to declare my thoughts, nor gestures to ex∣press the raptures of my Gratitude: which possibly yet might expose my Acknowledgment to her apprehension, in more lively and significant Characters, than any other way they could have been exprest in. As soon as Statira was risen, she told me, I doubt Nerea will think I am more concerned for your indisposition, than I should be, and less for hers than I ought to be: Let us therefore go and visit her. Statira went imme∣diately to her Cabbin, which was at the door of her own, and finding She was at most ease, when she lay on her Bed, would not permit her to rise; but went her self upon the Deck, to take the fresh Air; and to see at what rate she hastened towards Nicomedia.

As soon as we were come upon the Deck, an Egyptian Captain came close up to my Galley in his own; and told me, That the young Gentle∣man whose Valour I had so much esteemed, was recover'd out of his fainting, and was desirous to be carried to Nicomedia to be cured of his Wounds. The Sea, and the ill accommodations on it, being not only troublesome, but dangerous to him; I forthwith stopt my Course, hoised out my Boat, and received the Valiant Stranger with his Servants into my Galley; but the motion in his removal, made him again to swound; and Tomsones being present, calling hastily for some Vinegar, and chafing his Temples and his Nostrils with it, he perceived the Blackness of his Face to vanish with the force of his rubbing, and the sharpness of the Liquor: and by degrees the whole coming off, he discovered a Countenance which even in the paleness and disfigurings of Death, was not without Graces and Charms which merited an Admiration. The Princess Statira at so unexpected an Accident, went to see this strange mutation; and while we were in the discourses of it, His chief Servant who was gone under the Decks to prepare a Cabbin for him, returned: and finding what Tomsones had done, exprest so much of grief more than astonishment, that we all concluded, he was not a stranger to that Disguisement, nor a little troubled at our discovery of it; but his Master's fainting beginning to leave him, he carried him to his Bed. The Night of this day I sent for the wounded Stranger's Servant, who called himself Photinus, and desired him to acquaint me with his Lord's Name and Condition, and why he had assumed such a Disguse? Photinus reply'd; I am Sir, con∣fin'd to Secresie in all these particulars, by such Sacred Ties, that should I break them, I believe you would esteem my Obedience a greater Crime than my Disobedience, for which yet I most humbly beg your pardon: But this I will assure you, that his Quality and his Merit is such, that you will not I hope repent your care of him; nor possibly, when he knows how he ows you his Life or Liberty, and your Curio∣sity to be acquainted who he is, will he decline satisfying you therein. This Answer made me press him no farther, and made me enjoyn him to acquaint me from time to time, how his Lord did, and whether any thing was in my Power to serve him. I further desired him when we came to Nicomedia, that he would carry him to my Appartment; where Lodg∣ings should be provided for him, and all other Accomodations. Pho∣tinus promised me all that I expected, and having made me many Ac∣knowledgments, went to pay his usual care to his wounded Master.

The End of the Second Book of the Sixth Part of PARTHENISSA.