The HISTORY of HESIODE.
I Beseech you (interposed Plotina) stay a little, and first tell me, whether this Hesiode be not a great Poet, I have heard say lived many Ages ago? For if it be, I confess to you I should find it difficult to interest my self sensibly in the adven∣tures of people that have been out of the World so long. For my part (said Clelia,) I am not of your humor; for I am almost inclinable to lament the miserable adventures which are no more than fictitious, if they be invented with any resem∣blance of truth. That cannot I do, (replyed Plo∣tina) for that which passes in the same City where I am, affects me more than that which passes in Greece, and that which arrives in my own times, makes greater impression upon my heart, than that which hapned in the days of Romulus. In reference to such things (answered Clelia) as we see with our own eyes, or which befal people that we know, I consent with you, that they move more than others do, but in the telling of an Hi∣story relating to persons not of your knowledge, I confidently believe, we ought to be as much affect∣ed with an Adventure hapned in Greece, as at Rome, and there is no distance of places which takes away the sensibility of the heart, no Age so remote, but the fancy becomes near enough to it to excite com∣passion: for 'tis the things themselves we are moved with, and not so much the places or the persons; since every place or person you know not, is indifferent to you, and cannot affect you more one way than another. 'Tis the represen∣tation made to you of their sufferings that mollifies your heart; and if any man should invent a deplo∣rable sad Story, I conceive your self would be una∣ble to resist all sense of pitty: for in my judgment such as have greatest wits, suffer themselves to be most of all taken with things happily invented. The way to determine your controversies (said Her∣minius) is, to permit Amilcar to read. You have rea∣son, (answered Anacreon for if the amiable Plotina have no compassion for Hesiode, I think her the most cruel Virgin in the World, though the Histo∣ry Amilcar is going to read of him, should add no∣thing to the truth. Read then (said Plotina, be∣holding Amilcar) for it is not fit I should longer deprive the Company of the pleasure they expect from a History you have chosen to divert them. Yet you will please to remember, answered Amilcar, that I am engaged to relate none but an amorous History, and so the more love there is in that I shall read, the more I shall satisfie my Word. After this, the silence of all the Company intimating their expectation he should begin to read, he did so in these Words.