What did he think? Am I not, said he, the most unlucky man that ever lived? Can a more horrid torment be imagined then this, which by the Tyranny of my Fate I now endure? Ah my fairest Princesse, was it the intentions of the gods only to shew you upon the earth? Did they make you to be the wonder of the world, and must not we all adore you? Ah! alas, alas, ye furious fatall flames, (cried he out looking upon the Town, whose ruines might be seen far off) what cause have I to curse you for the losse of my unparalleled Princesse? I know too well it was your opposite element which gave me my dire and dismall losse; yet mercilesse though you be, you would have left me her precious ashes, that so mine might have had the glory to be mixed with them: but the rigour of my fate is such, that this inex∣orable element of water will not render me my Princesse either alive or dead, although it is her will to save the life of her Ravisher and my Rivall: Had the fates left this Rivall in such a state, as I might without blemish unto my honour have satisfied my revenge, it had been some light consolation amidst my grand misfortunes: But this barbarous Element re∣tains my Princesse and saves my Rivall, only to tell me the sad news how he saw her in ine∣vitable danger, and left her in the arms of death; that he saw her in such resentments of me, as I durst never hope for, and at last lost his tongue, so that I could gather from him nothing but despair. You have this comfort yet remaining (said Chrisantes) that he could not say he saw her dead, that ultimate and fatall syllable was not yet pronounced: Also it may rationally be hoped (added Feraulas) that the same fate which followed Mazares might also follow her; and haply hers much better then his, for she hath no reason to wish her own death like him: yes Sir, it may very well be she lives, and hath no sad resentments but of you. Ah Chrisantes, ah Feraulas (cried he out) this poor pittance of hope which remains at the root of my heart, may chance to cause a greater evil. Yet if this were not, you might be sure, my Friends, that without any further cries, or tears, or sighs, I would presently follow my most adored Mandana, there is not any thing but this faint hope which restrains me: And though it be a good Preservative, and a cordial Antidote against all mis∣fortunes, yet it is too weak to hinder me, if I once were fully perswaded my Princesse were perished: Alas Chrisantes, me thinks I see her in the Sea how disdainfully she receives help from her Ravisher: Methinks I see that boisterous wave take her from him, who when he he had ruin'd her, would then too late preserve her: Me thinks I see the waves (oh ye gods what should I say, what should I think?) smother her, and sink her to the bottome of the Sea. I saying so, tears did flow: He kist the Scarf with profound sorrow, and sadly said, Oh thou which heretofore was the height of my ambition to wish for, and thought thee he greatest honour I durst presume to aspire unto; I could never beleeve that I should re∣sent thee with so much sadnesse: All I desire from thee now is, to inspire me with courage enough to vanquish those who are enemies unto my King and my Princess. I look upon thee now as a motive unto my memory of Mandana, which will double my despair, and hasten my death. Now Chrisautes, said he, do you not now wonder at the odde contrivances of my humorous fate? that I should receive more testimonies of my divine Mandana's affection to me, from my Rivall then from her self? Her severe vertue did distribute her favors with so much wisedom and reservednesse, that I my self could never presume of so much happi∣nesse: as I understood from the King of Assiria, from Mazares his Letter, from Ma∣zares himself, and from Mazares dying, who all do tell me I had a greater sharer in her heart, then ere I could hope for; But oh ye gods why do you afford me so great a blisse, so much certainty of her affection, since she in whose election my felicity consists, is not in a condition to love, and since I must abandon life, hope, and all which can be called happy? After he had thus vented his sorrow, he was a while silent, sometimes looking up∣on the Sea, sometimes whether those he had sent to search were returned; and sometimes casting his sad eyes upon the Scarf, Chrisantes seeing the day was much spent, would per∣swade him to walk towards the Town, because the day was far spent. This reason, though it had argument enough in it to perswade him, yet it could not have caused him to remove, if he had not seen at a good distance off Thrasibulus, Araspes, Aglatides, Hidaspes, and many others coming towards him, who out of civility did retire, to give him the liberty of en∣joying his thoughts, but after they had a reasonable time absented themselves, they drew near; he no sooner saw them but he rise up, and looking upon Chrisantes and Feraulas, said, What shall I do to perswade these men that my Passion for the Princesse is for her, as the daughter of Ciaxares, and not as the Mistresse of Artamenes? happily you may (said he unto them) but certainly, my friends I cannot; I know if Mandana could appear at this nstant she would command it, and would charm my tears; as soon as he had spoken, Thrasi∣bulus0