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Title:  Artamenes, or, The Grand Cyrus an excellent new romance / written by that famous wit of France, Monsieur de Scudery ... ; and now Englished by F.G., Gent.
Author: Scudéry, Madeleine de, 1607-1701.
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me very well, and who was returned out of the Countrey, was not able to excuse me, but she nourished all her angry thoughts against me: Indeed Sir, it might very well be said that we were both of us as unfortunate as we were innocent, In the mean time, he with whom Amestris lived, and who had a desire to pleasure Megabises, and who seeing that he was ab∣sent, also knowing that there were abundance which pretended unto Amestris, intended to take a Voyage in the Province Arisantines, where the greatest part of his Estate was, to take some order concerning urgent business there; for Sir, it was unknown at Court, whither I was retired, and this man did not know I was there. Amestris who could not endure the Court was much against her minde, and who desired to hide her sorrows, was very glad of the motion, and much the more (as I heard since) because she hoped coming into that Province where I was, she might finde out the cause of my alteration, of which yet she was ignorant: In the mean time, as the absence of Megabises did facilitate the matter, my Fa∣ther having obtained my favour with the King, commanded me to return unto Ecbatan, just at the same time when Amestris went out of it. I confess I received this news with sorrow, and should have been content to have continued longer in banishment: Yet notwithstand∣ing I thought to tell things as they were, and seemed to beleeve that my heart was sufficient∣ly cured from fear of any more wounds at the sight of Amestris: I then returned unto Ec∣batan and met her not, because she took another way: I cannot relate Sir what troubles my minde was in when I came near Ecbatan, when I entred into it, and passed by the Palace gate of Artambaces. I feared to meet Amestris, and I looked about me exactly in passing through all the streets: I would have deceived my self, and not known the place where she was: But alas, that I should know my self so little, and that I should be so ignorant of what was to come: I was no sooner lighted from my Horse, but I went to my Fathers chamber who received me with unexpressible joy: though he resented some sorrows to see my face so altered as it was: for indeed Sir I was so much changed, that I doubted whether I should have been taken for my self: My Father at last told me that he had been so sollicitous about the business which concerned my life, that he never thought of pressing forward the busi∣ness of my marriage, because that might have too much incensed Megabises both unto love and unto revenge: Sir, said I unto him, you have done very well, for at the present, Mar∣riage is a thing which I more fear then desire: My Father desired me to explain that Enig∣ma, but I excused it, and went unto my old Chamber in a mighty melancholy. The next mor∣ning my Father carried me unto the King, who received me very well, and who would have reconciled the Family of Megabises and ours, but as for Megabises he was not yet returned unto Ecbatan. In going from the Court, I was not long alone, for the report of my return was no sooner divulged in Ecbatan, but many of my friends came to visit me: And since my Love unto Amestris was known unto every one; After the first complements were passed Arbatan the Brother of Harpagus (whom the King had heretofore employed to destroy young Cyrus) who was in the Catalogue of my best friends, asked me if I did not meet the fair Amestris upon the way as I returned to Court: I blusht at the name of Amestris, and asked my friend whether Amestris was in Ecbatan or no; to which he answered, that que∣stionless she was not: But here Sir, admire what Love can do! I was no sooner assured of her absence but I resented both joy and sorrow together: and my minde was so divided up∣on this occasion, as I could determine upon nothing: yet notwithstanding I think that if the ground of my heart had been well examined, I should have more desired her re∣turn to Ecbatan then rejoyced at her absence: not that I was fully resolved never to make the least shadow of Love unto her, but, not to disguise the matter, I did yet love her more then I thought I should: and it is the naturall quality of Love to desire the sight of the party loved: I reserved my minde so closely all the time of this converse, that I never was the first which spoke: I had a hundred desires, that every one should speak unto me of it, but I never durst speak of it my self: since I had no other confidents unto whom I durst open my Passions; but Artabes who now was dead, and Menasta who was gone with Ame∣stris: I could not make misfortunes known unto them who already knew them not. Yet notwithstanding I altered my resolution, and Artaban did so diligently seek my friendship, and enquired concerning the causes of my profound melancholy which appeared in my face, and all my actions, that I being moved by his affection and my own sorrows, did acquaint him with the originall of my Love, with its progress and end; for sometimes I was so bold as to speak as if I were no more in Love. It chanced one day when we were both alone to∣gether, and discoursing of some Passages at Court, I took the heart to tell Artaban that the time was when I loved Amestris; But Sir, in pronouncing these words I blusht: And 0