UNIVERSITY OF CAUFORI :':. AT LOS ANGELES i Lxy CU^oH^i^^^-^^^) ^aub.. - <^^t^. 4^ PHARAMOND O a, THE Hiftory of France A FAM'D ROMANCE. I N Twelve Parts. The Whole Work never before Engliflied* Written originally by the Author of Cassandra and CiEOPATRA. Trandated byj. Phillips, Gent. LONDON, Printed for T.Baffett, T.Dring and W.Cademan, at the George near S. Dmftatfs Church, and at the Har- roTP at Chancery Lane end in Fleet-fireet, and the Nejp Exchange. 1677. T O T H E Dutchefs O F ALBEMARLE. MADAM, Twere a prejumption to approach fo lUuflri- ous aPerfon^did not your Grace's Goodnefi give accefi to jour Greatnefs j andfince I have made the French VhdLYamond an En- glifh Gueft^ he could benon>here more no- bly Entertained^ or more Princely Lodg*d^ than under your Grace's Roof: and jvhenhe enters there becomes as i^ncas did into Carthage, only with this diffe- rence. That Trojan Worthy beheld the fair Dido's Palace adorned with his own Labours. Here he faw a Grecian there a Trojan Army ,* here Shining Navies^ and there Glittering Fields ;ontbis fide aBefieged, on that a Burning City; and on the Painted Roof a Scene of Deities deciding the Fate of Troy j here he faw Warring Hero's, and there Contending Gods, But Pharamond, when be approaches here, inftead of meeting his own Adventures, his Great Enemies and his greater Conftefls, is Treated by your Grace with a more Glorious Story : Here be views a Bleeding Nation, and the intefline wounds of a long Civil War, andthere he fees the Loyal and Valiant Newcaftle plungd in the Torrent, and flemming an impetuous Tide to fave a Sinl^ng Kingdom, and in oppofition to this aBive Hero, the Lantfcape above prefents him a J breatening Providence, lil^ the Anqel with the Flaming Sword before the Gate of Paradife. And in pur- ■^ 2 fuancc 454607 Cuance ofthisFrofhetkliVipon he beholds a Martyfd Mo- narch, a Ruin'd State, and an Enflav'd Country in a difmal Piece, Shaded and Darf\en'd with all the Horror f ofTreafon andFengeance.Homever no fooner are his eyes diverted from this Tragicl^OhjeU, but jiraight the next Proffe^ furfrifes him with a more Beantijul Scene. He admires the darling Lnftre of aNorthem Star, by whofejudden, and no kfs mi- raculoHS Influence, appears the Refurre&ion of Loyalty^ Peace and Liberty, the Tranfports of a Delivered Nation, and the Reftoration of an Exiled King. Whileflthe aflonijh'dVhdiXdmoviA furveys this wondrous Chronicle of your Sacred Original,andas Sacred Alliance, and confiders xr^hatperfeBionsyourGrace muft derive fromjuch in- finite Virtues, he humbly throws himfelfatyour Grace's Feet, and offers his Trophies to wait on your Triumphant Chariot : But when he prefentshis adored Kof^mond to your Grace's ProteUion , he would fain flatter himfelfby refembling his Heroine to the Dutchefs of Albemarle ; did he not l^w your Perfections to be above a Chara&er, as your Example is above Imitation ; fence fuch Divine Qualities as your Gra- ce's, cannot proceed from a kfs Fountain , or a greater then your own. The univerfal Adoration whereof ^is that which give s me the preemption to ft He my felf Madairiy Your Grace's moft Humble^ moft Obedient and tiiofi: Devoted Servant J. Thilljp JLi_ .^i^jj^ PHARAMOND. The firft Part. Book I. Hat magnificent Ennpire, which for many Ages had been Miflrefs of the World , and which in the Reign of tlie great 'TheodofM did feem to be Reeftablilhedin its Ancient Dignity , under the Government of his Children, began to fuffer thofe Revolutions which all Tyrannical Sovcraignties are fubjedt to : for fevcral of thofe Nations under its command , impatieiit of a Yoke, which had for fo many years been impofed upon them , after they had for a long time bewailed theQ^.felvcs, and with continu- al llghs waited for their Liberty , fodear to all men , in the End gathered together all their Forces , and throughout moll Farts of Europe covered the ground with Armed Souldicrs. France, Spain, Italy and Germany^ were the Stages , whereon the Intereft of Nations were by the blood-thirfty Sword dayly decided : but to the recovery of Liberty, other Provinces joyned their Powers, and 'twas only for Liberty, that a world of Souldiersof different Provinces and different Na- tions made the Banks of the River R/^iw found v/\i\\Ecchos of their Martial Alarums, by Encamping in that great Plain, which it enriches with its clear and beautiful ftreams, from within the view of the proud Agrippina that famous City , to which the people ( to bloc out from amongft them all memories of the Roman greatnefs) had left no other name than that of Collen •, even to the Banks of the River. • All the Plain was to be feen covered with Men, Horfes, Tents, Chariots, warlike Engins, which might render formidable the moft Puiffant Army ; fo that it feem'd to be that fatal Place where within few days the quarrel of feveral great Princes was to be determined at the price of one hundred thoufand lives. 'Twas from one of thefe Camps that the Anhorous Marcomire and the Valiant Cene^ baud fallied at the Head of one hundred Horfe , to take knowledge of feveral Polls and Paffes within the Plain ; they took their way along the River , with deiign to vilit before their return, thofe Parts which were moft free^ Mounted they were both on two beautiful Horfes of the beft Jennet-Race ■■, and with fo great a grace did their glorious Arms become them , and they their Arms , that it was impollible to be deceived in a true judgment of their incomparable Valour : Two Efquires bore behind them their Lances and Shields, iinown by the Ancient Device of their lUuftrious Families. The fair Matcsmire, whofc mind was enflamed with an amorous paffion, carried in his Eyes and in his Vifage fym- ptoms of his defires i but the Prince Gew^jwi , whofe fpirit was free and naturally jovial, endeavoured to entertain him with fomething of his pleafant humour, to divert thofe tbioughts which perplexed his mind , and by degrees feemed to overwhelm him with a profound fadnefs. , No great dillance were thefe two Princes fiorti the Camp, for they might yet eafily difi cover their Tents, when the Knights who attended them, gaVe them notice of five or fix men on horfeback, who at tirll marched along the River diredly towards them ■■, but upon difcovery of them , had after a fmall Hand quitted their courfe , and to avoid them were fallen off to the right hand ; whereupon the two Princes thought it not convenient to.lec B them 2 PHAKAMOND. Part I. them pafs "Without knowledge of them , both confidering the Country they were in , the prcfent occafions which could brook no negled , and that the behaviour of thofe Cavaliers might very well render them fufpedted , and make them be adjudged rather enemies than of their party : They therefore commanded Gillon with a dozen or fifteen Knights with all fpeed to cut off their way, and in their names to flop them,if they would not make them- felves known. ^ CHIon rides fwiftly after them , and the two Princes followed in the fame Road at a more gentle pace. Thefe unknown perfons might eafily have avoided being overtaken by him , if they had been of the humour to believe that inequality of number could have per- mitted them in honour to flee from their purfuers i but they kept on their ordinary pace j and when he approached them , entertained him mfuch an undaunted manner, that they gave him the means more eafily to obferv& them, and that not without fome aftonifli- ment. They were two Knights attended by four Efquires, who carried their Lances and their Shields. Their Maliers had before the approach of Gilion lifted .up the Vifers of their Helmets , which they fcorning to pull down again , they gave him the liberty to be- hold their Vifages , and to remark things in them , which though different in themfelves, yet of force made him entertain fome refped for them. One of the two feemed to be of the age of thirty years, the other not lefs than twenty five : the Countenance of the moft aged feemed full of complacency, but fuch a complacency as was accompanied with a no- ble Air and Heroick Majefty. In the Face of the younger might be defcried fomething much above all that wasicommon » there appeared a kind of fierccnefs in his eyes, and in all his A and confident his power was above theirs by reafon of the numbers that accompanied him, very imperioufly commands them either to tell their names, and the defign that had led them fo near the Camp, or to march with him and give an account to that Prince who had given him order to detain them. The two Knights hearing this Summons oi Gillon with difdain, look'd for fome time upon one another, as if they would confult what anfwer to returns but the youngeft (who was without doubt the raoft proud and moft impatient J firft broke filence. I k^otv not ( faid he to his Friend ) rvhat U your intention j but I have been fo little accHjhmed to obey , and have fo little inclination to it , that I had rather hazard my PuJJ'age xritb my Srvord in hand^ than ftfbtnit my felfto thofe orders I have no reafon to tak^ notice of. I approve your inten- tion : (anfwcred his Friend) And though there may appear rafhnejlin our defign^ my life is ft little dear to me, that I will never counfel you to any Cowardize to preferve it. In fpeaking thefe Words , they faw that Gii'o« and his men had drawn their Swords i whereupon they immediately did the like, and without taking their Lances from their Efquires, flew with fuch fury among their Enemies , that they foon made them believe that their inequality of number would hardly affure them of Vidory. Their two firft blows fent two men to the Earth,the one dead,the other rendred utterly uncapable of farther damaging them ; and with fuch fiercenefs did they handle the reft, that repentance quickly began to be the fequel of there rafti enterpriie : neverthelefs CiHon being a valiant Comba- tant, animated his Companions both by his Voice and Example •, but approaching fome- what too near him , who had his Armour wholly black , he received fo weighty a blow upon his Creft, that it made him fall upon his Horfe neck, quite dailed and aftoniftied. This Combat was not made fo far diftant from Marcomire and his Troop , but that they might plainly anddiftindly difcern all that pafled i fo that turning himfelf to the Prince Ctnehaud^CoH^m{{3\6i\\e.) you fee that our men have found a refijiance ■■, and thoxghtve be- lieved them the more jirong in number^ yet feem they now to have need of our a^jianee. At thefe words, without expeding an anfwer from Genehaud, accompanied by him, and fol- lowed by all the Troop, he put fpurs to his horfe, and gallopped towards the place where this unequal Combat was maintained. In few minutes they arrived there, where the two Princes, though they were efteemed amongft the m-oft Valiant , ftooe^ aftoniftied to fee that tlie Rcfiftance which their men had found, proceeded only from tvw) men, and two men who had not only defended themfelves, but fo valiantly maintained a Combat amongft fuch unequal numbers , that the one half remained dead or wounded under the" power of their fwords , and the reft delJDaired of Vi(aory. The Prince Marcowirf cafting his eyes upon Gillon^ who lay aftor-iihe(4 nnnn t-ic ?->c}dle-bow » was (bccaufe ©f the cfteem he had Book I. PHARAMONR ^ of his Valour) furprizcd with a clioler, which had moved him to a prefcnt revenge, had not a fenfe of Honour, and conlideiaiions of the Difgrace would accrue by a Vidory gained upon fo great advantages , relirained him : he therefore not only hindered thofc that followed him to run to the revenge of their Companions, but by all ti>e autiiority he had over them, commanded thofe who were. already engaged in the Combat to retire i in which being obeyed, he with Gettebaad advanced towards the two Strangers, who {being them approach with their Vifers up, likewife pulled up theirs, either to receive them in the fame manner as they perceived them to come in . or perhaps to refrcfli tlicmfelves, and breath more treely, after the great pains they had taken in lo unequal a Hght, The two Princes A/sm?/>z»-f and Gc«f/'ii«(i had conceived a great eficem for the(e two valiant Pcrfons -, but their anger for 6'i//(;«'s misfortunes and the td\ ofiiis Companions, appeared in their eyes: which the impatient Marcnmire 'zou]d vol difiemblc. / kyiowmt ffaies he, approaching them) W^i^t re afon you can have to kill^or tothink^yoit may }{ill mh. pitnijhed befjre oHf eyes ihife Perfo>ts rvbich belong tg us^ and vrb'icb bad tin order ta offend yott. The two Strangers Itood for fome time altonilhcd at the Noble prefence of tl-.c two Princes, and paticiilarly at the Beauty of Maramiire, which was fcarce to beparallel'd in the World i till one ot them breaking lilcnce , Tbereif fufficient Reafon Tfaid lie) tbat tve fl:ould do our heft a^ainji your men finceycu fent tbem to detain in : But (added his Companion, lefs patient th^r, he) tbcre is lef reafnt tbat ynulhoitld fend to jiay nien^ n^ho neither oxee \on any thing nor acknoxvledge y.)ur authority, or pjftbly any other in the World, If you l{>ren> (replied Mar- comire^ angered at this proud Anfwcr) the Orders of JFat ^ you would not feem fo much to wonder^fmce^iii in a place pfherettvo Holiile Armies are incamped^ andivbere ererv perfon may jiijlly be ffjfeaed, that roe have iifed this jirianefi. Tou are yet too yung (replied the Eldeft of the two Strangers, with a tierce countenance) ?o teach us the Rules of War^ who perhapr have taught them to perjons that underjiand them better than yott'r felves. If it he fo ( faid the youngelt Prince, moved with this Anfwer) 7y?^j// account my flf happy to fjtisfe fo great a Captain for the injury he hath received from a young mdn^ and Jl.'all much fnisfre my felf to maks ufe of my ftpord againfl fo great a Majier. At thefe words , turning towards thofe of his Troop, he commanded them to retire towards the Catrp , not being willing that their prefence fhould caufe any fufpicion in the Strangers : and feeing that they (hew- ed fome unwillingnefs to leave him , he commanded them \vith fo much authority, that they durfl no longer relift his wills and carrying Gillon along with them they departed from the two Princes, though with a feeming difcontent. They only kept with them four Efquires , feeing that their Enemies had an equal num- ber ; and receiving from them their Lances and Shields, they miight perceive their" Enemies do the like : and at the fame time thefe four Valiant Perfons turned their Horfes to take- their Carreer in a Place where the Beauty and Evennefs of the Plain gave them an intire liberty. Marcjmire being particularly inccnfed againft him who bore the black Arms without any embellirtiment, for thofe words which had paffed between them, addrelTcd himJelf to him, and the Valiant Genebaud run againft his Companion. They parted both the one and the other with the belt grace in the World ; and having paiTed with an admirable fwiftnefs the fpace between them , they encountred with fo much fury, that it could not be compared to any ithing but Thunder , or fomething more terrible : Their Lances, though they were of the ftrongeft , broke into a thoufand pieces againii their Shields : but with a fuccefs a little different , Marcomire and his Enemy received equally the two puiffant ftrokes, without being moved from their Saddlesv but their Hori'es wereafto- nilhed in fuch fort by the terrible Oiock, that their croupers touched the ground •■> nor were they able to recover, but with a great deal of pain, andallifted by the skilful iirength and Agility of their Matters. The Courfe of Gmc^jk^/ and the Stranger, whom he under- took, was finilhed in another manner i the Horfe of the Stranger being more feeble than that oi GenebauS^ or wearied by his long Voyage, was not able to fuftain the ftroke given by the young Prince, without falling quite along upon the ground : h\it Genebaud was fo terribly (haken with the Strangers Lance , that having ftaggered a little while, he was forced with his Enemy to meafure his length upon the Earth : they got up both the one and the other with an equal anger, fbut the Stranger being naturally proud, had this con- folation,that his mifchance happened not through his, but his Horfes default) and cove- ring themfelves with their Shields, they charged one another with an equal courage, and began a Combat on foot, worthy each others Valour. The Prowtfs of ihe other Stranger and M-jrw/wiredeferveda more gallant Tcltimony than the nuii.bcrof the prefent Speda- tors could afford; they -re dofe together wah ihcii fwords in their hands , -which rhe^ B 2 laidr 4 PHJRAMOND. Part L laid on with fuch fury, asdemonftratcd them to bePerfons coiuagious in the Higheft De- ,.grec: hlarcomire being enraged, and his Enemy having little relpcd'of his Life, they ex- changed two fuch blows, as puiffance and ftrength could pollibly enable men to give: If they underftood the Art to cover themfclvcs with their Shiclds^thty urderUood no lefs to ftrike-, and maugre the goodnefs of their Arms, their fwords forced the blood to guflu out both from the one and the other i tiieir Horfcs which might compare with the belt in the World , ferved their Mafters with a nimblenefs unexprellible ; only Marcomire^s was ftronger than his Enemie's, which made him hope he would the longer and better hold out. Cenebaud and the other Strangeir covering themfclvcs with their Shields, maintained a moft gallant Combat on foot, both violently labouring for the Viftory i but the Ilrength ot Cenebaudktmiidtohc (omewhat infeviour to that ot his Enemy, (o that an ealTe judg- ment might have been given to which hdc the Vidory would inclme, had the hght conti- nued overlong. However, the Combat ftemed yet doubtful between thefe four Valiant Pcrfonages : and the Squires not daring to help their Mailers, though thty earnehly delired it, ftood by, and beheld this furious tight with an infinite trouble and difquiet of mind. At length fome of them calling their eyes towards the Camp, from whence Marcnmtre and Genebatid hrft came, they might efpy a great number of Cavalry, which pcfted toward them: The near- er this objed: approached, they the more fully dilccrncd it, the day being clear ■, and the Sun darting his Rays upon the well- Poliflied Armour of this gallant Troop, cafi a fplendour Sufficient to dazle mens eyes-, yet not fo great, but that they might eafily difcern their approach, and the two Strangers obfcrve that thewhole Troop was compcfed of a gumber of Perfons of high and magnihcent appearance. But though the whole Body was great and ftately, there Marched one in the Head of it who feemed to draw, or rather command all their Obfervances. 'Hisllatufe, which by a great deal exceeded that of common men, made him feen> goodly, feated even beyond admiration within his Saddle, wherein he fate with fo much treedome that it gave him the greateft grace in the World : His Cuirafl^ which fecroed to be of burnifticd Gold, was enriched with many little Figures, which by the mixture of Gold with Enamel, reprciented the Story of his famous Progenitors: his thin plated Armour funrit tor Warjof the fame matter and worlimanHiip , falling from his fhouldcrs covered him to the knee , only held by two buckles of Lions enriched all over with Stones of an unimaginable value > over which he was enrobed with a Garment of TiiTue, Silk and Pearls i the diverllty of colours, and the Artitice of whofc workmanfliip paralkTd that oi his Arms.: his Leg from the Calf to the Foot was covered with an Embroydery which was falhied with a Buckle of Gold , and Enamel like to that on his fliouldcr, and charged with Plates of Gold and Enamel, which faftned it to his Leg , at certain dillances, over a TifTue like to that of his Helmet: his fair and rich Sword did hang by a Chain ot Gold , which by two Buckles made like the other, carne down from before and behind his Cuirafs •, it feem- ed that an Efquire carried after him his Helmet which he made ufe ot in hght: his Head being at prefent covered with nothing but a fmall Morion, after the. Grffil^fafliio|3, not ufeful for War, yet (hining like his Cuirafs with Gold, Enamel and pretious Stones > he carried for his Device on the fore-part of it, a Lion fighting againji an Eagle^ and the hinder pait was covered with various Plumes of different colours, all agreeing with thofe of his Arms and his loofc Robe. By reafon of this fmall Cap on his Head , his Vifage feemed wholly uncovered, and in that as well as in all his Pcrfon , he feemed to be the man in whom Nature had employed all her skill to form an excellency of Body to ac- company a greatnefs of Mind i all his Features were made of a )ult proportion , and his Eyes, though fparkling like two Stars, and glilfering with a Martial brightncfs, yet difco- vcrcd in them fomething foplcaiing, that from thence 'twas ealie to judge the natural complacency of his Soul. The Deporrmcnt ot his Perfun was attended with the fanne fweetnefs,yet mixed, with fomewhat that was to be difcerned fo great, 'fo elevated , and fo worthy a Royal Charadfer, that it was impoihble for any that faw him, to defend them- felves from a Charm, which would force them love him i or from a refped which would make them regard him as the only Pevfonage fit to com.mand other men. His Hair, the nearelt to black, courted his flioulders in delicate curls with an infinite Grace, and fell down to fuch a- length, that it feemed extraordinary to thole who had only been acquainted with the Komans^znd had not known the Habits of other Nations. This Noble Perfonage of lo accom.plifned a form, was mounted upon a Horfe, whofc Whitcnefs might outvie the purell Snow upon the frozen Alps, of a height fo advantagi- ous,andfoproudly prancing, that in his bounding he feemed to cxprefs the pride he had ^ '•to Book 1. F H A R A M N D, 5 to carry fo great a Mafier-, a!I Iiis Harnefs fairly and richly E'mbroydcr'd, accompanied the Beauty ot his Riders Array, his Bit and his Stirrups being of tiie fame workmanniip With his Cuirafs. Several Efquires carried after their Mailer a Helmet purpoftly fitted for the War, together with his Lance and his Shield , (equally rich with the reft of his Ar- mour) on which was embla7oncd three DiadernsO»", in aFieldG»/fj. He wasacconipa- nied with a great many ethers of particular remark, if his prcfencchad not ^ctijpfed their glory, and drawn all eyes to wonder at him. No fooner was he arrived at the place where the furious Cbmbat was deciding, but after having beheld them a fmall moment ot time, putting fpars to his Horfe, he rode between A/i^rcowOT and the Stranger againli whom he tought, whilft fome other of 'his Troops by his order did the fame between Geikhattd and his Enemy, jnercfore valiant men (faid he; rvill yij( thw dejhpv ynur felves without being Enemies f Are your lives then of Jo little im- pnrtance^ that you fjcrif.ce themto a light fnnnAlity f Is it for Empire f Js it for Liberty P Or t is it far a Mijirefi that you contend? In fpeaking fliefe words, he threw hitnfelf between them ; and Marcnmire no fooner (aw him appear, but he retired a good diltance : his Ene- my likcu'ife did the like, as vvell moved by llisExampIc, as by the ccnl^deration he had of a Perfimage of fo Magniricent a prefencc. And becaufe his Face was uncovered, he took the advantage, being chafed in the tight, to lift up his Vifer to rcfreili liinifclr, and breath with more iibcrty. There was fomcwhat more trouble on the other fide : for though Genebaud did retire at the light of thofe Perfons, which went towards hitti, yet his Enemy being naturally proud, aud believing that he owed no obedience to thofe who would hin- der him from executing his Refolutions, would not be intreated to quit the Combat, had not Gf/fP^^W, who was in truth too weak for him, yielded him the Honour. ' Being parted , the Stranger fpied his Horfe in the- hands of one bf his Efquires , and mounting upon him, approached his Cotnpanion, Genebaud likewife doing the hke i when the whole Company throng'd about them, and made a circle conVifling of many Great and Uluftrious Perfonages. The Stranger who had fought with W^/rcom/re, for fome time beheld with Adrairatioin the Perfon ot him who had parted them , as if he had been confidering with himfelf, that though he had piflcd his life among the principal Perfons, and in the chiefcft Courts of the World i yet he never faw i^ny that might equalize him in all points. In the mean time, the Perfon whom he admired had fixed his eyes upon him,with a great aftonifliment at his Noble Carriage, and that of his Companion i (whofierceashe was, yet could not hinder himfelf from being beheld with fome furprize)and approaching them with a Grace which was wholly particular to himfelf : Aslmttji needs judge by a Multitude uf Evidences ('faid he.) that you are no common FerfmsJ cannot but think^ my felf obliged to make an exchfe for the di^leafure you have received in a place rphere I pretend to fome Poreer and Command ■, and tell you, that thofe ,n'ho have pradifed the ordinary Formalities of War with you-.n^ould not have committed that fault , had they knervn you better : but they have fuff.ciently fuffered fir the proof they have made of your Valour ^ Tet is mtyour quarrel fo confiderable^as to nourifh ait Enmity between m and you^ or to hinder you from receiving from m all that fervice and all that a'jfjjiance^ tvhich Strangers like your felves can hope or expeCi from Perfns ivho widerfrand how to rejfeCi Virtue, ' . ' The two Strangers, who were fur'prifed with his generofity, had not been behind him in civility ; but whilll the tirecencfs of the youngell began to abate by his Noble proce- dure, and the other naturally full of wifdom and fweetnefs did prepare to return him An- fwer fuitablc to his Generolity, his Vifage, which was marked by all the Company , was known by Antemr and Vagohert , two of the moft confiderable of the Troop s and no fooner were they fatisticd in their opinion who he was , but running pailionately to- wards him i Sir (faud they , bowing themfelves to him with an adtion full of refpetS) our General and our great Captain^ have-the Gods again permitted us to fee you ? Thefe words wereliflned to, by the whole Company, with an infinite admiration , till ^>/ff«or turning himfelf towards that Noble Perfonage who commanded this Gallant Troop •, Sir^ (faid he ) pardm our unhappy fury, mtd pleafe to underftand, that it is not tvithout reafon that you have hid a rejfecl for this Illuflrioui Stranger, fince in his Perfon you behold that of the Great Conllance, that dejiroyer of Tyrants^ and valiant upholder of the Roman Empire. Antenor had fcarce fpoke thefe words, but fome difcontent feemed to appear in his Face, which te- ftificd to him who fpake them, that he was difpleafed within himfelf, that he had difcove- red himfelf. That Generous Perfon had liftnedto his words with fome furprize, which had obliged him to fome moments of filence , but he foon broke it with a Deportment truly Noble. Be 6 PHAKAMOND. Part. L Be not you troubled^ Antenor (faid he) that you have made us k>iotv the Great Conftancc, h/it believe that all our difereaces Tvith the Koimns, frjaH not hinder us from giving that riJpeSi to the virtue of fo great a Perfoa, rvhich all the IVorld ovcs him^or which be might hope from hii mofl faithful Friends. And at thcfe words approaching nearer to Co;/jfj«cf, with an Adion fuil of Civility and Gallantry; G>-f4,t 5ir,((aid he)do?iat at all regard thafe as Enemies of your Nation, rvho cannot be fo of Virtue ■, and though jve have fought agai)iji the Romans in defence of our Liberty, yet do mt believe that ynu pall find among them tnore reflect and more fervice than you (hall among Ferfons who have for a longtime been honourers of your far-famed Glories. \f the Romans f replied Conftance) are fn unfortunate^ vM to have many Enemies like you^ I {hall fear their Empire rvill be much endangered i but nhen 1 Jhould be Icfi obliged to that Noble Entertainment you give me^ I fee in y.iu things fo great, and fo little common., that ho Intere{\ of Nations rvhatfoever can be capable to render me your Enemy : but if ynu can pardon the curiofity of a Perfon, who in the ejiate he at prefent is^ hath no reafn to demand -■, pleafe yon to let me k^orv to whom I am obliged, for fo noble and generous proceeding. My name is Pha- tamond (anfwered the PrinceJ and I am '77/ enough (Taid Conftance, interrupting him) by the name of Pharaniond, you tell me all things , yet pojjjbly nntbin^ fnore than I ktieiv before: f.r to 'be what you appear to our ^f/, '/;/ neceffary that you muji be VhzYzmond^whofe renown the World puhlijhes amongfi its greatejl wonders. Ihat J\eno IllujhioUSy and fo important as yours, makes the whole World concerned in its confervatiott, and will pud defenders amon for befides that he judged, by the relped: Conjiance bore him, that he was of an Extraft equal to the Greateft, he did perceive marks of Grandeur in all his Perfon > which made him give him that refpcd, fit for a Perfon of the higheft Dignity. In the mean time, the Generous Conflancf and the Valiant Mdrcomire, having changed b11 their Enmity into a high Elleehn of each other , embraced one another with all the Tokens, not only of a true Reconciliation, but infeparable Friendship. The young Prince, notwithftanding his great Eminency, both by rcafon of his Birth,and the glory of his Ani- ons, out of refpedJ to the high Renown of the llluflrious Conjlance, endeavoured to ex- cufe all that had parted, in terms full of civility and fubmilfion. And the famous Roman, knowing him for the Brother of the great Pharamond, and a Prince whofe merit he had often heard publifhed, returned Anfwersto his civil Expreffions, with a gallantry becom- ing his virtuous Mind i telling him, that among great and noble fouls, couragious Adts leave lefs place for refentment than efteem. I am then pardonable ( returned the young VxiiKC) that have adventured to fight with fa great a Majier, and have by doing it acquired fj much glory, that I muji again ask, your pardon, if I cannot repent me of it, Tou may ("re- plied Conliance) teach the whole World, that which you praUife with fo admirable a Valour j and you have, without doubt, acquired /undent glory in the Combat, by dejpoyling me of that, which in fo many years of War , and feveral happy AOiont , Fortune hath been pleafed te throw upon me. Marcomtre anfwcrcd with a Blu(h, to this modeft difcourfeof Confiance,zud withal pre- fcntad to him Genebaud, who for his Noble Mind, and for the proof of his Valour upon this occafion, he received with infinite marks of Efteem. After him, the moftcontidera- ble Perfons of the gallant Troop came to falute him i and Pharamond prefented to his know- ledge the young Prince Sunnon, his Brother, the Renowned Priam, Antenor, Pharahert, Vagohert and Nicanor, all Illuftrious Princes of his Blood-Royal : The Sage Berther, and the Valiant Kithimer, chief of the Gauls^ who fought for his Interefl ■■, Heribert chief of Iflanders of GaUia Belgica j Sigeric, Prince of the Celtiberians •, Cledofile, Prince of the BruSeres •■, Iheodomir Prince of the Angrivariens s with many other chief of other Nati» ons of Franconia and with them the famous Charamont, Richer, Diodes, Merovee, Bafogajh^ Salagalle, Gajialae, Harold, Adelard, with many other Illuftrious Perfonages, whofe Repu- tations were fufficiently known, in the (hares they had in the famous Vidiories of their King and Soveraign. This Nobk Company arrived at the Camp, and paffcd by a number of Tents Cwhich formed as it were anew City, on the Banks of the River) to the Princes Quarter > which was a Caftlc elevated upon a Mount, which feemed to command all the Plain, conveniently (ituated, both for the view of diftant places, and to prevent diforders in the Army : and the Lodgings within, were all meft beautiful and commodious* After PWtfwo« ? It is true (replied Charamont) that this forrowful life^ which you lead, is but the contriver of that death which vox have fo long defired , but "'tis not of fuch a life as this that we defrre the continuation but much rather the change ■, which if you would do by a force worthy the Grandeur of your foul and that uf your Anions "lis enough, dear Friend, (faid the King, interrupting him) render not more than what you ha^e aheady jaid unprofitable, for I k^aw that neither my Inclinations 'nor J)efiiny it felf can alter me. At thefe words changing the Difcourfe , he turned hirnfelf to Antenor znd Kithimer and demanded of them the Effeft oi" certain Orders he had given them , for the Army : and after'they had fatisHed him with an account thereof he commanded his Brother Sun' mn to fend feveral Troops divers ways towards the Coaftof Segre, to ohkivz the coun- tenance of the Enemies, and fecure the Camp from furprizes i and having likewife given other Commillions to Nicanor and Diodes, tor the lodging of feveral Troops, and for cer- tain Convoys of Viduals, he fent to enquire after the health of Conjiance; when at the flme time, one of his Enquires came to tell him, that he was fent to demand the fame of him,fo foon as he awaked from a peaceable repofe, which he had taken ever fince Phara- »?20« but the particulars were wholly unknown to them, both by reafon of the little means they had to learn them, and the little intereft they had before now one with the other. They look'd upon one another vvith the fame thoughts concerning this fubjed, till Pharamond with a demeanour full of charming fweetncfs, thus iiill broke lilence. My Lor^( faid he) I fliottld ejicem my felf thrice happy far the honour we have to enjoy yett' you , whom the whole IForld jpeakj of with veneration , if I did not attribute this Kemem- brance to fmething d/jpleaftng to you: For befides thofe too, apparent markj of fadnefs upon your countenance, and fome Difcourfes which we have heard from your own mouth, the ejiate and the equipage in which we have encountred you, w.is fo little conformable to the fortune of • the great Conftance, who was wont not to be feen, but in the Head nf Pu/jfant Armies, or in the chief place of the moii Buftrioiu Courts of theVniverfe, that we mitjl needs judg^e Fortune hath in fome ftrange manner abitfed you, or that fome weighty reafons have con\irained you to pafs thus alone through Provinces , where though your name be not unkfiown, yet your Perfan is. "true it is, I am not wholly ignjrant of your misfortunes, and have often heard fieal^ of the interej} you had in the Sack^ of B^ome, and thofe other mifchiefs which the Empire hath of late years (iroaned u>tder : £«* in the end I have always believed that the IHujirtDUs Conllance fa- mous for fo many great Vi&ories , Conqueror ofthekhm, Cepidcs and Vandals /« Spain; of Conftantine, Jovinian and ht.tdi\v\i among the Gaules, and the only man , inwbofe hand the very dejiiny of the JFejiern Empire feems at this day repofed : Jhould be made partaker of thofe evils ^ and be forced to jiruggle with thofe misfortunes which would overwhelm other C ■ , men' lo PHJKAMOND. Part I. *»en , though they camtot wot\ the fame efeSi upon the great Conftance. The famous Rowa« (jgh'd at this difcourfe of Fharamotrd ■, and beholding him with a deportment wholly paiiionate, Mighty Prince (faid he) 1 (Isouldnot at aH think^what you have Jaid jhange, did it proceed from a man, rvho lik^ you had not made proof of good and had Fortune^ or lejl \\range from one v^ho had not underliood, that it U not the Kohility of our Extraiiion^ that can prefene us happy among men^ nor the glory of our great Aaiom^ that can ejiahlifj our felicity ; but that tve have certain paeons , which ftvayed by good or ill fuc- Cf^, do niojl nf all contribute to the happinefs or unhappinefs of our life. 1 uiiderjiand by a confufed report^ likf to that which may be come to yon of my miferies and adventures^ that ynji your felf have not been exempt •, and I believe that your great Vi£iories againji the Romans ifgainji the Suevcs, and againji the Cimbrians, though they have blazoned forth your glory ^ and made your name be i^nonnt throughout the IForld, have not e^ablijhed you a true repofe nor rendered your life happy, though they may have made it gloriouf. As the Mifchiefs of my Ife are without E Ample f replied Prince Tharamond) and that I am unfortunate a degree beyond misfortune , vphol'y prodigious and unheard ofy fa I proteji I have never by my 'own miferies given judgment of other mens : yet I doubt not but yours are great and extraordinary^ fuice they could produce fo great an effeii, as Ihavejpi''d in you, on a mind fa well rcfolved, Ihey are fuch (anfwered the affiidcd Conflance) that I can neither hope for remedy nor confolation ; and if J had not fame force of courage^ by with it is per- mitted me to flatter my felf after all the prgofs I have made^ I had without doubt long jince fallen under thofe evils ^which it is impofjible for humane ftrength to bear. 1 dare ajfure you (replied the Prince of the Franks ) that mine are of that Nature, tK not only to caufe pity^ hut to ajionijh all fuch M can but be fenfible of them. Ihe intereji I have in yours, mahfs me defire to know them particularly, except you have fame reafon to keep them concealed: and if you have any defire to hear the Story of my fad Adventures, I (itall when you pleafe make the rf- cital : I (hall not defne it from your own mouth (replied Conjiance) not doubting, hut your vioda^y will make you pafs over thofe great Aoions, which I would have related in all their beauty i but if you have any one near youthat is well infiru£ied in the courfeofyour Fortunes. I (hall be obliged, if y'^ ^'^ pleafe to give him commiffion : And in requital J. Jhall recount you all my life, even to th» leaji circumjiances ■, or if you will treat me as J treat you ", not for the fame reafon , but to avoid that grief with which the relation offeveral pajfages muji neceffari- ly affliU me ■■, Valerius (continued he, (hewing him one of his Efquires) can give you the fame fatisfaiiion with my felf , fince hitherto he hath not been ignorant fo much as of my thoughts. I am content with ivbat you pleafe (xt'pMtdi the Prince) and fmce you have com- }niffionedYi\cnusto do me this pleajing office, to morrow Cleomer, to whom all the fecrets of my heart are common as to my felf, pall come at what hour you fleafe, to render ym an ac' count of the chief particulars of my life. Co^iance confentcd to the propofition oi Tharamond,vn^ foon after Supper was brought in, during the repaft Vharamond fpi'd among the Squijes of Cot^tance, him whom his Com* panion had left behind him j and having for a time beheld him as a man worthy fbmere- fped: : Shall I not be too curious, faid he, if I demand of you the name of that valiant man, which we found with you ? Nor fliall you need to pardon the curiofity of my opi- nion, if I tell you I conceived him by feveral Marks, to be a Perfonage of extraordinary merit, and moi^ illuftrious Extradion. Conjlance zt this difcourfe caft his eyes uponM/- trane; and not obfervjng any thing in his countenance, which might hinder him the li- berty of performing the defire of the Prince, My Companion (faid he) having not at all en- joy ned me mt to difclofe his name, and I believing that he hath no intent to hide it from you > / fljall niaks ^'**^^ difficulty to tell it you, and withal that yon are not at all deceived in the judgment you have made, both of the merit of the Perfon, and his high Kank^ in the World: hif valour, of which you have feen fome Evidences, is accompanied (by fo much as I can judge in ihe fmall time of our converfe) with all thofe qualities which can make a perfon truly great: and for his 'Birth, it is fuch, that there is farce a Perfon in the World of equal dignity with him, fince this is Vzr^nes enly Son, and fole Heir c/ Ifdigerdes Ki«go/Perfia ^«^Parthia, whs alone for his greatnefs counterbalances the power of our Emperotirs. How I (faid Pha- ramond) is he Son of the great Ki«(^Ifdigerdes, w/^ow the Emperour Arciidim dying, did de- clare lutor to the young Emperour Theodofius /;// Son ■■, and who in the Education of that Prince, acquitted bimfelf with the fidelity he owed to the Memory of the F ather ? "lis of him (replied Conflance ) that the Prince Varanes // Son and fole Heir, and after his death, will pcf- fefs that magnificent Monarchy, which was taken by the Parlhians from ihe Peifians, after the death of Alexander i but after fome few Ages regained by the Perfians, and is now in its great e^ fjilendor. 1 am very forty (added Vharamond) that I havs not rendered that re^eS that Book I. PHARAMONR li that I ought to the dignity of Ja great a Frince •, but if he repajfes here^ as he hath made you hiipe, I fl'itlL ask^pardnn for that faulty and endeavour to repair it if prffible. Mitrane^ who was a Pcrfon ot Quality among the Perftaus^mzie bold to fpeak in his Mailers behalf, Sir^ (faiJ he to the Ring of tlie Frankj) I ajjure my felf that the PriHW Vatancs ir very well fatisfied with the Entertainment you i'a.e him ^ and that he rrill ivitbout doubt foon be here to te\iifie the ejieem that he hath conceived for Co great a Trince. Aftsr other fome difcourfe paflfed, Fharamond^ive the good night to C(i?;!t^;fcf : but in goingtorthot the Chamber, he led Kj/fr;«j along with him » not bting willing to fuffcr any longer delay , and being accuHomed of a long time to fpaie but few hours of the Night for flecp. Valeritu was a Perfon of a noble and virtuous mind ; and Pharamond had but very few Minutes entertained him. yet he judged him fufficicntly able to pcrtorm liis Mailer's comrailGon , or any other bufinefs of importance : but lie hrit acquainted Pharamond, that the Difcourfe could not but be very long, and ihcretoreuKht tor that fca- fon ■■> However he intreated him that he would that night begin the Story of his Mailer's Life, and continue it thC day following. Valerius difpofed himlelf to obey, and Phu' ramond having forced him to fit down , not confenting that he ihould fpeak fo long Handing, compofed him(elf likcwife to give a peaceable attention : and foon alter he be-? gan, in thtic words. The HiHory of Conft.ince.. BY obliging my felf fmoft Noble Prince) according to the command of my Matter, to tell you the Siory of his Life •, I am engaged likcwife to relate the Hirtory of a great part of the v\ otld, ^nd particularly all thofe things which have palled within the Weitern Empire. The Adventures of Co«/fj«ce being fo weaved with all the generous and im- portant events which have happened , and his particular interefts fo mingled with thofe of the Empire, that it is difficult to feparate the difcourfe of themi at kail if I will give your Majelly an entire Knowledge, and fuch as you dellre of riiy Mailer. Flavins Coytjianre, Father of h'm whom I have the honour to ferve, was in Illyrid^ where his Father had a command as a baniflied Govemourof that Province by the Emperours,. Enemies to their great Houfe : For inort certain it is, that they were not only Komans^hut that they were of the fame Faliiily, and the fame Name with the great Em'perour Co«/fia«- »/«e, and many other Emperours ot their Blood, who bofe the Name ot F/<«'^iiJ«/, as hath been continually obferved, both by thofe of the name of Conjiantine^ Conjiantius oi Con- fiance, and likewifeby thofe in lUyria. 'Twas the fplendour of this Illuftrious Family, that made the Emperour JoMnian, fear- ful of their greatnefs, command them thither from Konie : and by fortune they to vvhom the Command was given, being men of peaceable and quiet minds, eliablilhed thcmfelves in that Province and Government, without parting thence , till fuch time that C(?«jt.«M(;e Father of my Mailer, had permiliion from the great Emperour Iheod.f.ui to come to Kome^ and there inhabit with his Family , if not with all the glory bctitting one of that Houfe from whence fo many great Emperours weredefcendcd, yet at lealf in an ertate not to envy the noblelt Komant. The great Tbeodofius , of illuftrious and glorious memory , a Prince comparable in all things to the mightieft C and a belief that though it did not predidt to his Son the fupreme Dignity, yet at leaiiit promifcd much Glory and many Triumphs. And to fecond the fair hopes wlaich he had of his Son's greatnefs, he taufcd him to be educated with all requilrte diligence, and endeavoured to form his Body and Mind to thofe Exer- cifes which behtted his high Birth and Quality, that fo he might leave nothing negledcd which might perfect fo Noble a Nature, and make the young Conjiance both for Endovv- mcnts of Body and Mind, the moft accomplifli'd Pcrfon of the Empire. He was not above nine years old, when the Emperour commanded that he (hould be brought up with the young Prince Honoriiu^ together with divers others of his Age, Chil- dren of the moft Ulullrious Families of Kome ; amongll whom Euchere the Son ot 5 before his death, he parted the Empire to his two Sons, divi- ding it into the Ealkrn and Weflern Empires : and becaufe Arcadins- was twenty years old, and Hnmritts but ten, he appointed the prudence of Stilicen as a iiay to his young years, and to him he committed the Tutelage of his Son, and the Government of the Weflern Empire -, and to Arcadins he gave Rttffi>t»f^ with the fame power over him that Stilkon. had over /JtfWftnKf, though Unffinus could not fo ealily abufe his power by reafonof the riper age of Arcaditti, who was already man, and capable to govern all things himfelf, if he had not been, as well as his Brother, of too mild a nature, and eaGe to be Iwayed by a Fa- vourite. Arcadius kttkd his Court at CotTflantinople, the chief City of his Empire, and t-lofteriuf with the Princefs Placidia his Sifter Hayed at Rome under the Conduct of Stili- co»^ who had in his hands yet Soveraign Authority, which he for the Hrit few years ufed in fuch fo!t, that all things (ucceeded profperoufly under his prudent Government, fo that he acquired reputation among men, and made the whole World approve ot the choice whicli (he great Theodofiui had made of him to fupply the want of years in Hoiaritu ; but when he began ro perceive that years bought not any vigour to tliis young Prince, but that hisfwcet fpirit, naturally meek and fearful, was as fubmifs and complacent at thirteen years ot age as it had been at ten, his intentions changed by the facility he found to bring all his pro)cd-s to effcc!^, and feeing himfeU confirmed ma Power which he once believed would not be ot long durance, he did not only endeavour to cllablidi himfelt in it, and maintain this Authority during his life, but likcwife began to conceive other thoughts, which afterwards came to be known to the whole World. To further his Deligns, the foft and gentle temper ot the Emperour was a fufficient fpur : he propofed a Marriage between him and one ot his Daugiuets , in which he tound no more difficuhy , than if the thought it fclr had com.e from the very Bofbm oi HoHorius i ami the powa which he had over him in this bulincfs was fuch, that thowgh the eldeft of the Book I. PHARAMOND. ij the two Daugliters died whilft he was contriving the Match, yet he pctfwaded him with- out difficulty to wed the younger named I'erma^itia^ whofe Efpoufals he few days after ce- lebrated with infinite magnificence. Thus this bold Favourite feeing himfclt Fathcr-in- Law to tlie Emperour , and thinking himftlt advanced by his Alliance Ibme degrees a- bove what he was before, began to imagine nothing would be diflicult for him to etild: he thereupon projeded the Marriage of his Son Etichere to the young Princefs ?laddia. 'Tis true, that the Fiincefs being not yet arrived at an Age fit to marry, made hiin defer his de- (ign, and attend tlie event lomc few years longer^ yet in the mean time he commanded his Son to wait on her, and to endeavour to gain her heart by his love, and by his ferviccs, He needed not ufe many Arguments to incline thefpirit of Euchere : for the Princcf? wasfo rarely compleat both tor body and mind, that it was not only calle for him to per- fwadehimfelf to love iier, but impolfible tor any that approach'd her to forbear adoring iier: And certainly. Sir, I may fpeak it with truth, the [leavens did never form any thing hiore accomplitti'd than the Princefs Flacidia., the moR famous Both of this and patt A- ges, though they might compare with her, yet could hardly equalize her, for hers was a Beauty accompanied with fo royal and rcfplcndent a Majelly, that flie forced at one time both wonder and veneration : her Air was the beft in the World, her Eyes and Hair were black, and all the Features of her Face were formed with a regular proportion : my Mai Ikr would without doubt extend her praife much beyond what I am able, were he to recite it j but yet be would tell you that the beauties of her foul were not at all infcriour to thofe of lier body i that fhe had a lively, yet a wife and judicious difpoiition, a generous goodnefs, a courage which (he hath futficiently approved in all the alTaults of Fortune, a patience invincible in the moft fierce and cruel Adverfities i fo that it hath been often faid it Rome ^ That the great 77^ftfnanf. In the mean time the young Co»iia>:ce was advanc'd near the Emperour,and grew to that Luftre, that before he was iixteen years of Age, he was looked upon as a Perfon from whom the nobkl\ and greateft things might becxpedied: his Countenance (in which his tniferies have lince caufedno fmall change) was as beautiful as any could be, that had more in it of Martial than effeminate > his Air was noble and free, and the whole com- pofurcof his Perfon formed of an entirely petfed: but this Body in which Nature had fo curioudy lliewcd her utmott Art, was rendred more accomplifh'd by a perfedion in all Ijhofe Exercifes, which were becoming his Quality ; for there was none in Rome who for excel- lency in Horfemanfliip , or Agility in managing his Arms vvas equal to him : his Mind which Heaven had adorned with all that was Noble and Heroick , was yet more retin'd and polidi'd by his Studies, the precepts of his Father , and diligence of his Tutors i fo that he already feem'd adorn'd with all that Virtue contains of great and glorious. In all his Adions there appeared evidences of per fed goodnefs, an uncorruptible equity, and a greatiicls of courage which nothing could exceed ■■> he was an Enemy to all Tyranny and Oppreilion , pitiful to thofe in mifery , and impatient of all unjutt Authority : His fpirit was moil compofed of tire , which made hJtn naturally ambitious of great things. In Jfibrt, iiC was fo entirely accomplifh'd, that it had been hard to wi(h him that Noble Quali- ty, of wnichhe was not already poflefTed. Thefe Endowments rendred him highly erteemed both by the Emperour, and all the chief Pcrfonagesof Rome ; nor were thofe of his Age envious of his great Excellencies, in! Stilicm himfelf was highly favourable in hi? judgment of him i nor could he re- fr ii j fay one day before the Emperour, Ihat if Fortune were not averfe to him^ he would in ti ? not he inferiour either to the great Theodofius or the great Conftantine. On that day on which the Marriage was folemnized between the Emperour and the Daughter of Stilicn^ he made particular demonftration of his adivity, and admirable courage i and having in the Horfe and Chariot-Races overcome all thofe that ran againft him, and at the ti^his on Horfe-back both with his Lance and Sword, born to the ground whoever durft tncoL'nrcr him, drawing to his infinite praife all the peoples Acclamations , and re- ceiving, tht rewards due to the Conquerour from the young Emprefs, and the fair Prin- cefs I'lacidia ^vhilfl the Emperour who did truly love him, (hewed inhnite figns of fatis- fadion : And Stilicon himftlf, though he rather wiflicd that the fame Fortune had attend- ed 14 PHAKAMOND. Part. I. ed his Son, could not deny liim the praife he fo juftly merited •, but tliat which more fen- fibly touched him, was the particular mark of elkem. which he received from the Princeft Flacidia, who prefented him with a Sword enrich'd with precious Stones of unexpreliible price, the Reward of his Combats on Horfe-back. Conftance ffaid ihe) I prefent you thU Srrord reith a great deal of joy, perftcadhg my felf it cannot he given to a Perfon rvho wiV ufe it more worthily^ either for bis own Glory ^ or the be- Hefitoftbe Empire. •• Conjlattce upon his knees' received this fair Prefent accompanied with fuch obliging Wordsi and then humbling himfelf more than before to the Princcfsii\f.2/^^w,rfaid he,killing the skirt of her Robe) I receive as a Gift jrom Heaven this glorious Prefent of our great Frince^t and in receiving this Stford from fo fair a hand^ I engage to carry it by my fide to the laji honr of my hfe^ and to employ it in your fervice to the lajl drop of my blood. Placidid returned no other Anfwer to thefe Words, but with a Nod of her Head, and a charming Look , but the people teftitied by the clapping of their hands , their approbation of the Honour which he received. Oh Sir ! this Adion of Placidia^s gave a cruel beginning to thofe miferics vi-hich have ftill perfecuted the unfortunate Conjiance^ and which he hath fuftcrcd ever lince, and fuf- fers more cruelly at prefent : I attribute to this day, the beginning of all my Mailer's mife- ries : For this was the day, wherein he abandoned himfelf to a pailion, which hath been the eaufe of all the evils of his life: not that he had lived till now vi'ithout admiring the di- vine Beauties of Placidias 'twas impoilible that he fhould guard himfelf from not being touch'd, and from fometimes being fenfible of a palfion for her , which approach'd very near.to love, and which had often made himfigh, and many times banifh'd from him his refti but the little caufe he faw to conceive any hope, made him oppofe all his reafon to the growth of that pallion, which he was refolv'd to expel from his heart •, or to fpeak more truly, the Princefs till then was not arriv'd to an Age, wherein Beauty hath its great- eft force and lulire v and being but an Infant, though an admirable Infant, (he was not in aneftatefor Love to fliew his moil violent powers but after that the Princefs was paft twelve years of Age, (he appeared fo excellent to the eyes of my Mailer \ the fweetnefs of her Words, of her Carriage, of all her Adtions, firook fuch an imprelhon on his heart, be- ing of a difpofition fo ready to receive that imprellion, that he foon felt himfelf truly in- flam'd with an amorous pallion. He looked upon the change of his condition with aftoniniment, nor could he tell how he ought to receive it, or what judgment to give of it. Oh God ! 'ffaid he) w it prftble , that t tphi vpas free thU Mnrnin-y , jhould in fo few minutes become a flave ? But is tt ppfjible (ad- ded he prefentlyj that I have lived hitherto^ivithout being eMjlav^d to the beauteous Placidia? ICet rrh]i Ihfluld I love? f retorted he to himfelf) If^hy jhould I abandon wy flf to a. paffron^ inrvhich ] can tanceive no hope ? But though I (J-muld defend my felf i»^j/M/t /(/added he foon after)! ftwnld in)vain defend my felf from that love^ which ou^^ht to he tbeveMe glory of my life: nor rvottld I live J?Ht for the hopes I have fortunately to love Placidia. /^/^ Conliance ! (faid he again, lighing) confrder ferioufly reith thy felf and oppofe thy felf if poffihle^ to the ruine of thy rep' fe^ and of that fortune^ rrhich thou canji not hope for^ but hythy fn'ord : Ihe S/'tfff of Honoriusix Jf/f/«Wfo the greatejl Monarch of the fVorld^ and not to the mofi mife- '^able remnant of ihe Covernours of lllyria ■•, neither Honorius, mr Stilicon Commander of all things, wiE fuffer that thou fhalt fo much as think^fucb a thouzht : Placidia her felf^ who hath fo favourably h.inoHred thee this fatal day^ will look^upon thee as an Enemy ^ when thy prefumption (hall once be underllnod by her : yet for all this ("continued he, after thefe reflefti- 0ns) J mull love fhddlz, and mi/il love her to death \ If r.y Fortune be bad. yet my blood it fuffciently Noble to ferveher without offence^ and I may perhaps by the ajfijiaitce of my Valour^ raife my felf among men to no dejpicable height i or at werfr^nhenl fl.' all love without hope., my love will be the more Noble^ more worthy of her--, and if fie caufe me to die by loving her , t can no Wi:^'s hope a more glorious Vefr'wy, 'Twas at this refolution that he ftopt s yet both that day, and all the other dayes of hislife, he would continually difpute againfl his palli- on •, but neither time nor the accidents of his life, could ever bani(h it from hisfpiritj it increas'd day by diy : and as I was privy to all his fccrets, and one whom he favour'd with a more particular confidence, and who alone have never torfaken him in all his Voya- ges and Adventures, fol was the Hrfl and only perfon, to whom he difcover'd his pallion, fo long as it could be kept fecret, and was not made publick, as it afterwards came to be, to the whole Empire: Though I had conceiv'd of him marvellous hopes, and alwayeS look''d upon liini like fomething above Excellent, yet being now but about the fame age with him, my refleiflions were but weak, nor did I much difpute againlf his pallion, which -tieak^fo confidently on this otcafwn't hor rviU Imak^e it any point of difficulty to tell you, that the fan of Stilicon Jhall «f- ver be pnjfejfor of Placidia. Conjiance was ravifh'd with joy at thefe words, as much for the afTurance the Princefs gave him, as for the confidence fhe exprefs'd. to have of him y ind being unwilling to lofe the advantage to exprefs himfelf farther, / have alrvayj had Cfaid he ) great hopes of the courage of our Frincefi, but Il{fiorvnot horv flie can defend her felf againji the tviJl of Honorius, tvhich rvill never contradid that of Stilicon. I (hall tvell de- fend my fdf ( rcplyed tlie Princefs, with a refolution befitting her ) and with that con- I fdenct Book I. PHJRAMOND. ij fidence rchich Ihave teflified to you^J wiU teV ^oit that the weaktie^ of Honotwi (hall ttever en- fiave the Vaughter of Theodoilus, and that 1 will juffer all things rather than he the Spoufe of Eucherc. It is not juii ( replied the zmorousConftance) that yon Jliould fnffer for othert crimes : but rvithout expofrng you. to fuffer, I have a fl)orterway to hinder Stilicon's Sonfr»m efpoufing you. And what means have you (replied the Princcfs) more ready and moreajj'ured than that of my xvill I" 1 will (anfwered Conjiaticej fheiv him the way of this fwurd^rchich I received from you, and which I carry at my fide only to employ in your fervid. . Tlacidia at thefe words looking with a kind ot plealing wonder upon my Mailer : IVhy Conftance (faid flie) do you offer ymr felf freely to defirsy the Son of Stilicon,»'/tfeo«f confiderinci that it is the greateji and inoji dangerous enterprize, that the moll hardy and moft potent Terfm in the Jf^orldcan ever attempt ? I dare expofemy felf (vctiwncd my Malkr with a ligh) to far great'' er dangers for your fake and fsrvice ■, and I dare engage my felf that Euchere jhall never be your Spouje, except you defire it. Tlacidia having for fomc time looked on him with- out fpeaking i I fwear (faid fhe, with a moll obliging demeanour} that I am extreamly in- debted to )ionr kJHdnef, and fo much the more^ in regard there is none among all the Romans, hath had the courage toojfer me what yon have done : but I defire Hot at all the death of Eu- chcre, though both his behaviour and perfon are troublefome to me s and lefi that you fhould ex- pofe your felf to a danger^ unto which there is fcarcethat power in the World but muji yield. Conjiance was about to return her an Anfwer , but the company approaching the place where they were, hindred ium : yet he had the fatisfadirion to read in the Princcfs eyes, that (he had a large acknowledgment for the tefiimony of his good will. ■ , Afterrhat day the Princefs, which with all his other good qualities particularly admired the greatnefs of that Courage, and the refolution of that Spirit, which did not at all ac- knowledge the fortune of fo potent a Favourite,teftified a greater confidence in him, than (he had done heretofore ■■, and every day difcovcr'd to him the thoughts (lie had of the weaknefs of HcMor/ar, concerning which (lie fpoke with much more prudence and know- ledge, than could be expeded from a perfon of a far greater age ; but thefe teftimoniesof hergoodnefs and ertcem, though they did much encourage Cotijiance^yet did they not give him an entire fatisfadion, or yield him any comfort in his palBon i when he confider'd that the favours he receiv'd from Placidia were addreiTcd to Conjiance^hut not at all to the lover of the Princefs, whofe pallion flie was ignorant of: and that when (he had the know- ledge of it, he had reafontofear that (he would receive it with the fame refentment, that - (he did that of Emheje : oftentimes tempted by favourable occalions, or encourag'd by the favour of ?lacidia^ he had his mouth almoft open to difcover his pallion i and as ma- ny times withheld by a fear that he fliould not prevail, he fupprelTed his boldnefs, and per- fcver'd in his filence. . ' 'Twas not that, confidering his Birth, he did not find himfelf of a blood fufficiently i!- lurtriousjto pretend to all things ■-, efpecially in an Age, wherein he had feen fo many Ex- amples : But becaufe he faw that his Birth was not advantag'd by a proportionate Fortune; he judg'd that he ought to repair that fault by thofe Adtions which might give him Re- nown among men, and a lawful ambition to afpire to fuch heights. In thefe thoughts he Aop'd, and refolv'd to baailli his pallion for the Princefs, till by his Adtions he, had acquir'd a name worthy the greatnefs ot his AnceftorS, and a glory that might excufe his ambition. He therefore dreamt of nothing elfe , but to go and feek reputation and dignity by his Arms \ and feeing himfelf at an age fit to go to the Wat, he iigh'd after fome occafion to depart from Rowf, to lignalize himfelf in the Armies. • . .: .. , .: His impatience foon found means to fatisfie himfelf, in the time when 'Europe fouiid it felf over- run with the incurfions of the Barbarians : For the Goths, a cruel and terrible Nation, which a long time bjlore in the Pvcign of I'heod.ifius, under Athanatic and Fridi- ^erne had parted from Scythia, and the Borders of the 'Bjlti{jue Sea, but had by the va» lour and prudence of that great Emperour been forced to retire to their Native Country, l-etutncd again to invadc^ the Empire, with a powerful deluge of war, under the command of their Kings Alaricand Kadagaife.- Thefe people were divided into two diiferent Na- tions > and thole Goths which came from the moii Eaftcrn parts (as your Majefty without doubt knows J were called tht Ojirognths ; and thofe who carqe from the more Weftern parts, were called the Vifigoths. Alaric commanded thofe lall , and Kadagdife had the leading of the Ojirogotbs, and the Herules Nations under his own command. Many per- fons have bcliev'd that they were call'd by the perhdioufnefs bf RuJJinus , who fought ei- ther to render himfelf moreconliderable by the trouble of the Empire, or find the means to exalt himfelf by its dilturbances, and by th(\aliiftance of the Barbarians. However it was, the G(?;/^/ finding JR.?)'j^»;/j dead, and thtOrientialEivfire defended by D many i8 PHARAMOND. Fart I. many valiant Captains i they p^Rtd (xomthenct into the Occidental -y but not finding fuf- ficient Vidtuals, by reafon of the infinite numbers of their men, they feparated themfelves* and Jlaric with iiis rifr^o*^/ marched into Vannenia, Illyria and Valmatia ; and Kadagaife towards Italy, with an Array of two hundred thoufand men : and report was fpread a- broad among thofe who fearche.d not into the truth, that they were four hundred thou- fand. Alaric and Kadagaife were two men ot much different tempers : Alaris was a vaHant Captain, and of nolile thoughts, confidering the Nation from whence he was ex- tracted i being truly poffelTed of virtue i but Kadagaife was a Prince altogether barba- rous, a man naturally compofed of cruelty, and whofe whole virtue and excellence con- fifted only in (bedding humane blood : 'twas reported,that he had made a vow to f^crifice all the Komans to thofe gods which he ador'd : and truly he teftih'd by his adtions, that he had fuch intentions •, for in all the places where he march'd, he pardon'd neither Sex nor Age,butdeftroy'd all he came near, either with Fire or Sword, without being touch 'd with any fenfe of Humanity. The News of thofe deftru and the report thereof llrook cerrour and amazement into the whole Ctty. I believe that thofe that have accufed Stilicon to be of counfel with Kuffinus, when he caird them into Italy, werefcarce well inforra'd of the truth ■■, nay more, he could not iwftly be accufed to have aded in this bufinefs, otherwifc than as a great Captain, and one who truly intended the good of the Empircifor no fooncr was the news arriv'd of the Goths entrance into Greece, but he had gathered together all the Forces of the Empire : and at that time that Kadagaife entr^d into Italy, he found hiif.felf in a condition to oppofe him with an Army, though not fo potent in men as his, yet crmpofed of more valiant Com- aianders,and Souidiers better difciplin'd : and having tlius in Pcrlon balanc'd all things,and order'd the Affairs at Kome in the beft manner he could , he difpofed himftlt to the conduft of this War,which the Emperour,wholly inclined to peacc,willingly gave him the charge of. i Conjiance rejoyced in this publick Defolation, out of the hopes he had in (bort time to fignalize himfelfi and though he were young, and had not as yet either commanded ot obeyed, out of confideration had to his Noble Extra6l, the good opinion that all men had of him , and the recommendation of the Emperour, who much affeifled him i Stilicon gave him the command of a thoufand Horfe : with this command, which lic recciv'd with an unparallel'd joy, he believed that there was nothing above what his courage might ef- fcft. And his Father who had great hopes of him, and lov'd him dearly, fpar'd nothing which might be neceffary to fet him forth in a mort magnificent equipage. His ablence from P/jci^/«», would much more fenfibly have afflided him,had not the defire to render himfelf worthy of her,& the love of glory vihichMaugre his love to ?lacidia^r^o&(^ fed agreat part of his fouljinfinitely comforted him, and reprefented unto him.that whatever of gallant he (hould do in that War,would more advance his Fortunes towards Vlacidia,thzn. whatever he could do or fuffer for her in K-ome-tlt was likewife foiiie confolation to hiin,that EucherevciZ^t the fame Voyage, & that his Father would make him ferve his Apprenticeftiip inWar under him,6c to that end gave him a command in the Army equal to that oiCm^iance. He therefore prepared himfelf to depart with all thtfe fetisfadions, to counterbalance the for- rows he found in being banithed from the fight of the Princefsi which notwithftanding was fuch^ that he could not in taking leave of his Friends hinder it from appearing in his eyes j though he conftrain'd himfelf as much as he could to dilfemblc it ; and that day on which he parted from Kome with 5*'//w»,and the greateft part of the Court of Homriits, coming to take leave of her,he appear'd fo fad,that flic could not refrain from telHfyingfhe took notice of it: and after fome other wor and endeavouring to feign a chearfulnefs in his Vifage, How defirous foerer I am (faid hej of the glory, and fer- vice of the Emperour, yet the honour to wait in the pre fence of our lUufiriaus Trincef, is fo great a good, that it is difficult to lofe it without fme regret : and I intreat jom, Madam, fs permit me to be more particularly touch'':d than others. As there are few , ( replied the Princefs ) whom I ejieem as I do you, Jo I would have you be one of thofe that feel the moji regret to leave us: but I hope (2ddc:d(\^c with afighj yoit will fwn chear up again. Conjiance gave no other anfwer to thefe words but a figh, accompanied with a behavi- our might have given great fufpicion to the Princefs, had flie obferved it : but foon after .endeavouring to vanquifli his fadnefs, and appear with a more debonaire countenance, Madam(faidhe)youmayrememberif you pleafe, that I received this Sword which I carry by rmi fide^ from your heavenly hands^ and^tis the firji Sivord that I fl.'aU draa> againji the Ene- miet Book L VHARAMONR Uj mies of the Empire -, and therefore as I have a pirtiatUr Obli::^-nion not to aCi any thin^ but rphat (haUbe niorthy the glory I have received ■■, fu I hope you rviU always have apartiettlar it> tereli in aU thofe aUiom rphich I jhaJl perform for the fervice of my Country. With all my heart Iconfent to it^ frepli'd tiie Princefs,) and that fo much the rather^ becaufe I am perfnraded yoK rviU never do any thing that rrill give me caufe to repent. After thefe exprelTions which he rcccceiv'd with a becoming fubmi(fion, h? took leaVe of her, having perform'd tlie like ciuty to the Emperour and Emprcfs, who both gave him great marks of their affeftion : he mounted on Horfe-back, and departed from Home to go to joyn with the Army, which was already inarched, according to the Orders of Stl- licnn. 'Twas thought fit hrft to fupply the greatell neceility, and therefore judg'd con- venient fo march rirli againlt Radagaife, who with Fire and Sword laid defolate the Fron- tiers of J^'*/)' i and afterwards, if Fortune were favourable to them, to march againft AU' ric into Vanmnia. To this purpofe we march'd towards Etruria^ into which the Barba- rians were ready to enter, advancing by great Journies, to hinder the deplorable Progrcfs which they made in that Province. The fear had been fo gteat on all fides of Italy, that the unhappy Inhabitants had quitted their Habitations , and fled in great Troops towards Rome, not having the courage to defend their Country againft a World of terrible Ene- mies, choofing rather to feek for fafcty in their flight, than by ilaying to be expofed to the fury of thofc mcrcilefs men, who facrihced them to Fire and to Sword, with an unparal- kTd cruelty. Stilicon made l\op oi a great number of thole whom he found capable to bear Arms, which being fuppli'd within the Towns lie palTed through, greatly encreaied his Army. This War, Mighty Prince, beirtg begun, was ended in the name, and under the Leading of 5f?ftca«, andnot of my Mailer, though he had the command I inform'd you of-, and fincc I doubt not but you have already had cognizance of the whole management of it, Ifliall abridge my Story, dnd only tell you, that no fooner were we entrcd into JLtruria^ but we had advice that Kadagaife having had notice of our March, and thinking to de- vour us with the multitudes of his Combatants , withdrew his men from pillaging , and other diforders which he had given them leave to aft for avvhile,and was rallying them together with a refolution to give us battfle : This News affrighted not Stilicon at all, who defired nothing more than to combatc thofc Enemies whom he defpifed , though they feem'd terrible to all Europe. Yet for that he doubted left his men fliould be difcourag'd at their Multitudes, and that in a Plain where both Armies might have fpaceto tight with all liberty, the weakeft might have the greateft difadvantage, he endeavoured theretore to render himfelf Mafter of all thofe places where he might lodge ad vantagiOufly •, and Ifl the mean time he fent forth divers Parties of: two or three thoufand Horfe or more, as opportunity ferv'd, f before K^fl?^.;^c»//^ had ralli'd his whole Army) to charge them either in ftraits of Mountains , paffages of Rivers , or other advantagious places, which were better known to him and his, than to the Barbarians i and in the Skirmifhcs, the Viftory always fell on our fide. Thefe petty SucceJfcs were of no fmall importance : for by means of them, Kadagaije before he could come to a Battel, loft a confiderable part ot his Army : 'Twas upon thefe occafions that my Mafter began to tnake known his Prudence and Valour: and one day Stilicon having given him one thoufand Horfe mere, to thole thoufand he before command-: ed, that he might do fomevvhat worthy his great Courage, he charged eight or ten thou- &nd Goths which were- to pafs ovgr the Rh'tx Arnon , at a ftrait which he had the keep- ing of, and fo well took hi^ advantages to hinder their paft^age^joyning an inhnite Prudence to his admirable Valour, that more than five thoufand of his Enemies remained dead up- on the place, or were drowned in the River,- and the reft were totally routed on the other fide, and remained expofed to the mercy of thofe people vvhom their cruelty had driven into the Woods and Mountains : few dayes after, with a like number ot men, he affaulted one of the ftfongcrt Quarters of RWj;rj?/(? his Camp, fsE on fire their Tents and Baggage, atid left four or hve thoufand men dead upon the place i in many other places he Had tht like fuccefs, and in little time reudred his name famous among our Troops, and terrible a- mongft the Enemies; And as his Virtue made him be beloved of the, whole Worm, fo the whole World rejoyc'd at thefe his happy beginnings, which were fccondeJ with fuch fair fuccefs, that in tiuee or four Monctlis time, which (by reafon of the good conduft of 5f//i(ro;0 preceded the Battel, he became vidlorious in ten or twelve important Skirmiihes, where he alwayes commanded in Pcrfon : Infomuch that Stilicon, who naturally lov'd va- liant men, and who knew well what fervice he might expecS in this Expcdiiion from fo coniiderable a Perfon :is Conjiame^ \ooked no longer upon him as a young man of twenty D 2 year-; 2D PHARAMOND. Part. I. years of age, but inftsad of the Command he had given him of a. thoufard Hovfe, and (bmc other employments which he had added to it, according as he had fgnaliz'd himfelf, he raifed him to more high Dignities in the Army i and on the day of the Battel, gave to him, and his Son Euchere, the Command of all the Cavalry. Eucbere was indeed a va- liant Perfonage, and had acquir'd reputation in this his firft Entrance into the School of War, but yet not fo much as to deferve to be raifed to this Dignity, if the Quality of the Son of Stilicon had not been more confidcrable than his Services. In the end J Stilicon having weari'd and weakn'd the Army of Kadagaife as he defir'd, and perceiving his men enflam'd and encourag'd with their good fuccefs, and the Enemy fearful and out of heart by reafon of their Lofles and Defeats, prepar'd with all diligence to give them Battel, marching as it were to a certain Vidory. 'Twas near the Banks of the River Armn, that the Captains of one and the other Party Embattel'd their Troops : ■nor was 5*i//cy« wanting tofcizeupon all th(^fe Polls that might be advantagious to him, nor to order and difpofe his Troops in the belt manner that became a great and experienc'd General. Euchere commanded the Cavalry on the right wing, and my Mafter that on the left, which was oppofite to the right wing of Kadagaife his Army, in which he fought in Perfon with the moft valiant ot his men. Your Majefty hath without doubt long fmce heard of the fuccefs of this bloody day, which was fo memorable, and fo important, that the whole World cannot be ignorant of it. The Vidlory remained for fome time doubtful, occalion'd rather by the number than Valour of our Enemies i and for fome hours it thus hung in an even balance : but in the end the Barbarians yielded to the Prowefs of ours ■-, for no fooner did the hrlt begin to ex- prcfs a fear, but it became fo general, that they fcarce made any more refiftance, giving op- portunity to theincenfcd Row^r??/, andtothofe whom their inhumanity had iorc'd into our Troops, to revenge themfelves of their cruelty. I fiiall enlarge my (elf no longer on the particulars of the Battel, but fo far as concerns my Malkr in this memorable Vi(3:ory. I mull then tell you, that with the left Wing of the Koman Cavalry , which he com- manded, he not only broke the right Wing of Kadagaife, \n which he himfelf fought, but overturning all before him, and covering the Earth with blood and death, he in Perfon prtfTed towards Kadagaife with [o much vigour, that a powerful fuccour could hardly de- liver him from his fury i and in the end obtain'd an entire Vidory on that fide v and fo entire, that he had fcarce an Enemy left to difpute it : but feeing that on this vidorious fide he had nothing more to do, and beholding from a little Hill, that the light Wing had not fought with the fame fuccefs, he flew thither with his conquering Troops, where he found that the Viftory was not only doubtful, but did incline to the Coths ■■, and that it he had not arrived in time, that part of our Army had been in great danger to have been defeated : he rtceiv'd likewife news at the fame time, that Euchere with a fmall number of his Friends was environ'd with a great Troop of the Goths, and was fighting with little hopes of fafety ; I know not whether in the iirft thoughts which his love and jealou- fie infpir'd him with, he did not conceive fome motion of joy that the life of his Rival was in danger, and that he was forry that Fortune preflcd him at fuch a time to his fuccour > but certain I am, that fuch thoughts balanc'd not his refolutions: for turning himfelf to me, who always was as near his Perfon as I could poiiibly, Lff «y go Valerius, (faid he very foftly, that he might not be underftood by others) Let in go, faid he, and fave the life of out Kival, and mal^ the intereft of our Love yield to that of our Vnty. In effed, after hav- ing encourag'd his men with a few words, he flew to the place where the Barbarians were mod thick,and overthrowing all that flood before him, forc'd his paflagc,and ftruck fo much fear into his Enemies, that they did not only \ezve Euchere free, but like their Compani- -ons they loft their courage, and by their flight endeavour'd to avoid his fury. The cruelty which they had u(ed in all places where they came, was the occallon that my Matter was forc'd by his utmofl endeavours to (lop the fury of the Conquerours where ever he came ■, but Stilicon had refolv'd their utter extirpations and it was by his Orders, or by the fury of thd" Souldiers, that more than a hundred thoufand Goths, or Herules, remained that day dead in the Field. The number of thofe that fav'd themfelves was about fifty thoufand, the flight having favoured their Retreat ■, but they rdtir'd without any Equipage, and in the moll miferable manner in the World , into the Fefnlane Mountains , where the (Iraits were advantagious to them, and where they could very hardly be forc'd. But Stilifon, who had refolv'd to deflroy them, and who wilely judg'd that if Alaric fliould come to their aliiilance , it would not only be difficult for him to conquer them, but he Ihould be fcarce able to defend himfelf againft fo great a Power, march'd with his whole Army afterr them i and underflanding that they were retired into the h'efulan Moun- tains, Book I. THAKAMOND. at tains , and that it was impoffible for him to force them , he caufe'd a party of his Troops to gain the very tops of the Mountains, and with the reft fo ftopp'd all paffages, that there was no way left, but either they muft periQi with hunger, ot by endeavouring to open apaffage with their fwords, come to another Battel. The fuccefs was entirely a- greeable with his defign : the BarbariJits liv'd many days on the tops of the Mountains in all imaginable mifery, and in the end knowing that they muft either dye, or by fome o- ther ways fave themfelves, necelfity infpir'd them with valour, and Kadagaife believ'd that he could the better fave himfelf by force, in regard he percciv'd that to ftop his paf- fage, Stilicon had divided his Army into feveral parts. In which he did not wholly de- ceive himftlf i for moft true it was, that thofe which were placed on the tops of the Moun- tains could not give any alliftance to the other, but the quarters of thofe which were lodg'd in the vallies were difpofed in fuch fort, that they could in very fmall time re- unite and )oyn their Forces. But Kadagaife believing that with the Forces that follow'd him, he Cbuld forte his way through thofe he found at that llrait where he intended to pafs , before the quar- ters could )oyn, quitted the Mountains at break of day, and appearing at the head of his Army, with a horrible noife of all forrs of inllruments of War, he charg'd the lirft Court of Guard with fo much fury, thatfome thoufands of our men loft their lives before that their Companions could be in a ftate to fuccour them i but thefe having fuftain'd the firft brulh, gave time to all the reft to come to their alliftance; and now when KaJaga/fe hoped for vidory; he might behold our fre(h Troops come upon him from all fides. My Mafter with his wonted diligence, and according to his command, was in the head of the Cavalry, gallantly arm'd and mounted upon an excellent Jennet : Kada^aife^ as I believe, took him for Stilicon, and having refolv'd not to out-live this day, if it (hould as the former prove unfortunate, taking a Lance from one of his men, and covering himfelf with his (hield, he ran againft my Mafter with a great cry. Con\lame fcorned to refufe this encounter which Fortune feem'd to have rais'd for his greater glory, but putting fpurs to his Horfe at the fame time that he faw him do the like, and that he perceiv'd by his cry he gave him a defiance i and leaving thofe of his Troops a great diftance behind him, he met the King of the Goths in the midft of his carriere. Their Rencounter was equally impetuous, but unequal in the fuccefs : My Mafter had a flight wound in the flioulder, and was terribly fhaken by the ftrong Lance oi Kadagaife^ but fo well dired:ed was his blow, that the point of his Lance pafiing into his Enemies Vifer , tumbled him head- long, depriv'd ot lite, over the crouper ot his Horfe. Co«j?j«ce knew not yet over whom he was Conquerour, but foon after he heard a cry among the Barbarians, that their King was dead i and Stilicon arriving at the fame time, and finding the Geths fcar'd and dif- couragM for the death of their King, he aflaulted them with fo much vigour, that they were not able to make any farther refiftance : the greatcft part of them were ilain upon the place, and the reft which fled back to the Mountains, either periih'd with hunger, or wete deftroyed of the people of the Countrey, who to revenge the Cruelties they had exercis'd upon them, fcarce left one alive. Such was the end of this War, famous through the world, and in which I may truly fay my Mailer had a glorious fhare, as well for the death of Kadaga/fe, tn which his good for- tune 1 believe refer v'd him, as for faving the life oi Stilicon's Soni the many and ad- vantageous skirmifhes he made before the firft Battel, with feveral other valiant and re- nowned adions during tlie time of the War, which were all fo truly Noble, that the whole world admired them i and fome did publickly aver,That thefirft atchievments of a man of twenty years of age, might already compare with the greateft actions of the moft famous Captains : Stilicon himfelf paying to his virtue that which he could not refufe, and that which particularly he ought for the fafety of his Son, after having rendred my Mafter all thofe honours pofhbly he could, publickly declar'd that he was the Conqueror of Kadagaife and his Army, and treating him in all things with extraordinary kindnefs i writ to the Emperour the truth of all his great adions, not forgetting any thing that might make for his advantage. We underftood afterward that Honorius did not alone teftifie his joy for the death and defeat of Kadagaife, which was of fo great importance to himi but that with it he was fcnfible, and tenderly fenfible of the particular glory of my Mafter, in which all Rome concern'ditfelf, by lingingpublick Eulogies of his praife i but that which was more than all thefe raoft acceptable to Co«jtj;jci? was, thztTlacidia, his 2doi''d Placidia, had a fliare in this general joy, and teftified all contentment pollible for the advantages of a perfon whom (he fo particularly efteem'd. Though as I have faid before, he was treated by her with all imaginable 22 FHARAMOND. Part I. imaginable roarks of freedom and confidence, yet never having had permiflioo, durftnot prefume to write to her, believing that he ought to keep that refpedful diftance with the Daughter and Siller of his Emperour, But he writ to feveral other Koman Dames, who every day accompani'd her, and with whom he had diligently fought a frieudfhip, and without any great trouble obtain'd it. Virjrinia^ a Lady of a Noble houfe, and who was dearly belov'd of the Princefs, was the perfon with whom he had contradted a more par- ticular freedom : he had writ to her often, and had as often receiv'd letters from her i but at the return of the difpatch which Stllkon had fent to Eomrius^ (he fent him one, of which I have not yet forgot the words, which were thefe, or the like. Virginia to Conflance. WUen you jhaH bear from me reith what ]ny and amazement the Romans have receiv'd the news of the glorious commencement of your Arms, hove they talk^ of the death of Kz- dagaife, of the fafety of Euchere, of what your valour contributed to the gaininir of two fa- mous Battels, and of a hundred other great Actions, with thofe Praifes, thofe Honours, they would fcarce have given to Theodofius or the chief of the CxCztss that the Emperour hath iejiified a moji particular joy, and that the whole people of Rome are charm'd with your fair atchievments^ you will only be fenfible of the rewards julily due to your virtue, and find no- thing above what you might lawfully hope : But when you jhall underjiand that Placidia hath taken as great a part, as thofe who are mnfl concerned, and that (lie hath commanded me to affure yoit of, it, in the mofi obliging manner in the world; I believe that yon wiU not be fo in- fenftble, as not to place th'vi advautage above all thofe which you draw from your glorious aUions. For my part, I believe the approbation of this Princefi ought to be dearer to you than that of the whole Empire, and I am perfwaded it will be fo, if you he in the Camp what you are «• mong us, Ihat fame Conllance in rpham valour is yet advanc'd by an addition of all other Virtues. Though my Mafter had a great confidence in Virginia, yet he had never difcovered to her the. love he bore Placidia: for his difcretion inftruded him.to believe, that it was a fecret, which he ought to keep from the whole world : but as this fair Lady had obferv'd fomething in his Countenance and in his Adlions, which denoted a pallion •, fo 'tis pro- bable he had fometimes but weakly defended himfelf from the truth of her fufpicionj. But however it was, at the reading of her Letter he was tranfported with an extraordi- nary joy i and feeing that a perfon who was dear to Placidia, and who had fufpicion of his love to Placidia ■■, and who might have teftificd fomewhat of his pallion to that Princefe, did affure him and write to him fuch obliging thing* by her order ■■> his flattering thoughts made him believe, that his pallion was neither unknown, nor difagreeable to that great Princefs i and in thefe thoughts, he fuffcred himfelf to be tranfported with motions of )oy, equal to the Grandeur of his love : but after fliort confiderations, he moderated thefe by the contrary appearances i and with reafon judging that thefe marks of Placidia's favour proceeded not at all from any cognizance Ihe had of his love, he fuppreffed his raoft forward extafies, yet did not fo abfolutely expel them, as not to reft fatisfied with his fortune. Asl was the only perfon that had knowledgeof his thoughts of this nature* fo with me alone he confulted about all affairs that concern'd his love : and at this time I ivas wit- nefs of all thofe judgments, which this rencounter made him make of his condition v fome tew days after fending one of his confidents to Kome, under the pretext of viliting his Fa* therand Friends, amongftother Letters which he committed to his charge, he writ to Fir- ' ginia, thefe words or the like. Conflance to Virginia, To havehadthehappinefiat ntyfrfl takjng Arms, to have merited the ref^eU of the Empe- rour, and ejieem of the Rotnzns, is an effeB of my Fortune greater than I could hope for -y and to have a place in the thoughts of the Ami Me Virgin ia,M an advantage nd lefidear to me ■, but to have the leaji room in thofe of that incomparable Priitcefi, is a real benefit as much above all ex- prejion, as it is aboie all my merit or my hope.If I could ever doubt of your fmcerity,! could do it in this particular : hut as J l^nowyou to he truth it felf IwiVfuffer my felfto he fait er''d with the honour Book I. ? H A R A M N D. 25 honour rvhicb you promunae wc, a>td charge you to make ackfiowledgement^ as you are charged with the goodadion: fiipply my rveakpeji^ /ww/y Virginia, hy telUfyingto ourFrincef!^ thatjhe. hath reafun to interejl her felf for a man tvho hath devoted himfelf to her fervice^ by receiving from her hand the fafordrvhich I have the honour to carry: Froteji^ if you f leaf e^ for. we, that I reiU render my felf tporthy of her ejieem, ifjhe wii permit my anions to have that glorious Aim. I will fay no more : for I fear leji m fpeakjngto you^ I/hould fpeak^to the Trincefi ■, and 1 doubt if fomething too bold (hould flip from my pen, you rvould htrrdly have the indulgence to bide it from her. In the mean time, having finifhed the War againft Ki^-i/^U^//^^ and the Winter now ap- proaching we had fome hopes to return to Rome ^ but Stilicon, whether it was to blot out all belief of that report which had been fprcad abroad in molt parts of the Erapirc, that he wasof tlie counfel with Ruffin'its, in calling the Barbarians into the lands of the Empire i oiithathc judg'd it neceflary not to retire fo long as Alaric wa.s in Wyria, defpiling the ri- gors of the Winter, led his vidorious Army towards that Province, with refolution never to return to Rome, till he had cither defeated or driven away his enemies. It is true, that in this War he march'd with more warinefs than to the firfi, knowing well that he had to deal with anotiicr kind of Captain, and other fort of Soldiers, than Kadagaife and his Troops : For Alaric was a valiant and great Commander, and had be- fides with him many Princes of great valour : He likewife led the fame Soldiers, which for five and twenty years had fought under the pay of l/^foi^opw and his Children", nor had they then chang'd Party, had not their agreements been broken by Stilicon himfelf. There were two Royal Families among the Goths •, the Amales and the Balthes : The A^ males commanded over the Ofrrogoths \ and the Balthes, from whom Alaric was defccnd- ed, the Vifjcoths. This Prince well known and cxperienc'd in War, had well difciplin'd his Troops, and order'd his Army to the beft advantages of fighting : He brought them under good conrtitutions, and affecfting a kind of Juflice in hjs defign, had publifh'd that he had not invaded the Empire, if the Sons of "fheodofius would have oblerv'd that agree- ment, which he had made with their Father, but permitted him to enjoy that Land a- mongthe Gauls, which he had allign'd him. Tiiat they underftood themfelves that this was true, and alledg'd that Stilicon had broke thefe conditions, and hindred the perfor- mance of the Articles, to beget a War in the Empire, judging that he could much better maintain his authority in time of War than ;n peace. However it was, Stilicon marched towards them, without delay : and Alaric, who no kfsdelir'd battel, march'd likewife towards usi fo that we joyn'd near the Frontiers of Ilyria. It will be unncceflary to relate tire whole courfeof this VVar, which wasof a longer continuance than that of Radagaife\ I will only tell you that the two Chieftains be- ing expcrienc'd Generals, did both fcek their beft advantage, nor would either unadvifcdly come to battel, or ncgled: any thing,which might add any alTurance to their hopes of Vido- ry : for which reafons, they for a good fpace of time led their Armies up and down, often- times removing their Catnps, and always making ufeof that wary forefight, whicli be- came two fuch skilful Leaders. After they had a long time obferv'd each others motion, they began to enterprize fome- thing-, fo that many skirmiQies happened, but with different fuccefs : yet I can aver with truth, that all thofe parties,ovcr which my Mafter commanded,did continually gain an entire Viftory ; and in this War he did fo augment the glory, which he had purchas'd in the former, z^z'miiRadagaife, that both in the one and other party there was nothing talk'd of but the valour of the young C'o«|((a«cf. In fine, after many difputes, they came to a Battle, which was fought near the Vale of Epidaurm, with infinite cruelty and erfullon of humane blood; my Mafter had command of all the Cavalry, though the leading of the left Wing was given to Ew/jere, and that o{ the x\^\\tio hie fefel, who a little before with favourable fuccefs had put an end to the War in Africa, againft his Brother GiV.on. The right Wing of Alaric\ Army was commanded by his Brother Autalphe, a Prince of great valour; The left by 5i«gmc his Nephew i and the Cavalry by the young /^Tiii'ia, a Prince of the Blood, and not only the molt valiant among the Goths, but a man, in whom the valour which he was poffefs'd of in the fupremelt degree, was accompany'd with all other moft excellent 'Virtues. This Prince's command being equal to that of my Matter's, made them mutually try their force, before their Troops charged i and having broken their Lances the one againit the other, with the- beft grace in the world, they fet their hands to their Swords, and began a Combat worthy the view of both Armies ■, but they were parted by their Troops, and 24 PHARAMOND. Part. I. and the two valiant Warriors conftrain'd to carry the effedts of their courage to the exercife of their charges. The two Artnies fought even till Night, whilft Vidory neither dc- clar'd it felf for one fide nor the other ; the lofs was near equal, and in the whole amount- ed to between twenty and thirty thoufand men. The next Morning they kept within their Ports, and made a Truce for certain days to burn the dead., and give them the Rites of Bu- rial. 'Twas in this day , that my Maftcr and the valiant Prince W^^xW/j, befides the proof they had made of each others Valour in the Battel, being both equally amorous of that reputation which had extended it felf through the World both of the one and the others virtue, defired to fee each other, and mutually admir'd thcmfelves, finding all things a- greeable to what Fame had reported of them •■> fo that they not only truly conceiv'd a re- ciprocal eftecm of each other, but protelkd a real friendlhip, fo far as the interell ot their Country, or their own Honour would permit. This interview facilitated divers otliers, and in the end, they came to Propofit^ons for a further Truce: Stilicen found himfelf in an eftate not able to drive Alaric out of the Lands of the Empire : and Alaric being weakned,with the lofs of a great number of his men,and being in a Country where all were Enemies to him, found himfelf not fo ftrong as to be able to (lay, (Viould the Emperour with all his Forces endeavour to drive him out : There were many Confultations had before they came to an abfolute Accomm.odation. In the end, after many difficulties, the two Generals had an interview, and agreed upon a Truce to laft for four years : That Alaric (hould depart out of the Lands of the Empire, and not re- turn during the term of four years, in which time Stilicon promifed to mediate with th» Emperour, and to oblige him to perform the conditions which Jheodofius had formerly granted to the" Goths : and becaufe Alaric had taken feveral Places, though of fmall im- portance, he confented to reftore them, having a fum of money paid in part of his dama- ges fuftain'd in the War i protelHng in theend, that if when the four years were expir'd, the Emperour did not deliver up thofe Lands which had been affign'd amongft tht Gauls to his PredecelTors by the Emperour "theodofms , he would return into Italy with fuch a Power , that it (hould be difficult for all the Forces of the Empire to drive him out. A Truce being thus concluded on, and Alaric being departed out of the Empire without committing any Ad of Hottility : Stilicon return'd with his Army towards Rome, where wc arriv'd two years after our departure thence. Your Majefty mayeafily judge the exccfs of my Mafter's Joy, feeing himfelf now upon the point again to enjoy the prefence of Placidja, after fo long an abfence, and to fee her ia fuch an efiate as might make him hope (he would have fome cpnfideration for him, fincc lie had by his Renowned Deeds fo glorioufly perform'd the promifes which he had made her, and anfwer'd the hopes (he had conceiv'd of him. During the whole Voyage, he made me fenfibk of his contentment, both by his countenance and by his words ^ all thofe exprelFions with which an impatient Love could make eloquent a pallionate Lover, never came near what I heard him fay on thisoccafion. In fum, we avriv'd at the great City, all the People in a manner coming out to meet ws -, for the Emperour had command- ed a reception for Stilicon, worthy the Fame which he had atchiev'd in this Voyage, and the confiderations he had for him. He was pleafed himfelf to view the Honours of this Triumph : but Stilicon , who knew himfelf expofed to envy by reafon of his great Authority, and which he would em- ploy to ellabli(h his Grandeur, refufed this Honour with an apparent Modeily. However the Emperour himfelf, either to honour his Father-in-law, or to have tiie pleafure to be- hold his Arrival, came to meet him to the very Gates of the City, in a moft magnificent Chariot, open on all lldes •, having near him the Emprefs iermantia his Wife, and Daugh- ter of Stilicon^ znd for more Ornament the incomparable P/ac/Aj, whofe Beauty was fo much augmented in thefe two years, that I who beheld her with no other intereft than that of my Mailer , was aftonifii'd : and truly (he appeared to me with fo Majeftick a Luftre, that I believ'd nothing in the World could equalize her. For Conjiance^ he was ftruck in fuch a manner, that he had no eyes for any other Objed', and wholly abandoned himfelf to an entire view of what he fo religioufly ador'd. He marched on the left hand of Stilicon, cover'd with moft magnificent Armour, and mount- ed upon one of the fairclt Horfes in the World, wliich he governed with a furpalling grace : The People and all the Court, who had before heard the fame of his great Adions, feeing him fo, nobly beautiful, fix'd their eyes upon him as the only Objed worthy regard : Nor were the eyes of Flacidia lefs hx'd upon him, becaufe (lie now with joy beheld him, what (lie had dcfirtd him to be : Stilicon with the rctt that were about him, of whom my Ma- l\ci was tiic nearelt, alighted from their Horfes, when they drew nigh the Chariot of the Emperour, BdoK-J. PHARAMOND, 25 Empertjuir, to do him becoming reverence i who having afTcdionately embracM Stilkdjt\ receiv'd the reft with a pleafing fwcctncfs only natural to himftUi but to my Mafter he gave particular Care(rcs,ard in a few words exalted to the Skies the fame of his lirft At- cbievements. "/' ". After the Emperour, they faluted the Emprefs and the Princcfs Vlacid'ia : but here it wa$ th:it Cottfiance Cecm^d wholly ftruck dumb with ama7ement. He kiffcd the Verge of het Robe, without fpeaking one word i which might be attributed to his great refpcd, as well as to any other caufe : But the Princefs, whofe mind was not burthen'd with a paffion like his, having her fpirit more free, receiv'd him with the moft obliging exprellions in the World, remembring the Emperour of the judgment which (he always had of him, and of what (he had foretoTd, that day when (lie gave him the Sword as a Reward for his Combats at the Marriage of the Emprefs. Though it feemed that love did wholly pofTefs the Soul of my Mafler, yet the Senti- ments of Nature did like wife find their place, which he fliew'd by rendring in this occafi- on to the affedlion of a loving Father, all that a virtuous Son and naturally excellent couJi pay to jefpedl or paternal love i and the old Conjiance was fo much fatisHed with all the Anions and the whole Perfon of his Son, that he could hardly contain that toy he re^ fented. . , .', The fame Night My Mafter wertt to fee the Princefs , and received greater Care(tes in iier Chamber, than he had done in her Chariot > (he particularized to him all that (he had heard of his great Adions, and declared fo him the intereft (he had taken, and was ob- liged to take in them : but there vva9 fo many prefent, and particularly Eachere , who de- parted la(t , that my Mafter could never have one word of private difcourfe with her, though he judg'd well by the eyes of the Princefs , that (he much defir'd it i which made him refolve to pafs into another Chainber, to entertain himfelf with Virginia; and the Princefs feeing him upon departure, came to him, and told him in his ear, Touk^noiv well the thank/ I have to return you for having fo tvel} pre fervid Euchere for me. I rvas hound to do it at that time (anlwered my Mafter) and mooreover^ you told me that you did mt at all defire his death. Placidia return,d to her place without returning farther anfwer, and my Malkr pafled into another Chamber with Virginia , who had a great deiire to entertain him. This virtuous Lady gave him all the Teftimonies of an entire friendftiip, that he coulS defire, and receiv'd from him the like alTurances ; and at length they began to talk of thofc Letters, which had been fcnt between the one and the other, during the War, as that which they both defir'd to difcourfe of. Virginia preffed Conjiance in fuch manner, and did fo well expound the terms of his Letters, that in the end ftic forc'd him fo confefs the love which he bore to Placidia: (he brought him the more willingly to make this confeflion, becaufe beftdes the confidence he had in her difcretion and friendftiip, he found in her no inclinations to condemn his paffion. In efftik, Virginia did not at all blame him, but told him that thcfe thoughts were worthy of his great courage , and that if inhere were any man worthy of Placidia (as (he believ'dthe Emperour, according to the Example of his Anccftors, would prefer a Noble Komanhdote a King of the Barbarians ) thete could be nonefodeferving of her slS Conliance : But when he pray'd her to tell him with finccrity, if (he believed that the Princefs had perceiv'd his love, or that ftie had given her any notice out of the (ufpicions ftie had from his Letters', I k^ow better hon> to manage the interejis of my Friends (zn(wered fiie) and I never believ''d 1 could do it without putting your ret>oJe iHtg great hazards not that the Prince^ hath mt a far greater efieem fur you than for any tkan in the JVerld, or that (he doth not accompany thU ejieem with an affedion that maker her defire your advantages as if you were her Brother v but becaufe I k.noiv that though her jpirit be highly fweet and pleafant^ yet flje U fo great an enemy to all amorous attempts^ that I have always feen her condemn with fo much feverity thofe perfons tbdt fuffer ihem, that I never durji difclofe to her any thing of your pajfion^ had I believed that you would have ap- prov'd my doing it ; and if it mufi be that (he muji kjinrp it, as a thing that cannot be avoid- ed, J am not a little troubled, how to adventure on fo great a difficulty. Conjiance was fome- what perplex'd at thefe words of Virgtna's, though lie was before, himfelf, fenfible of the moft part of what ftie had told him •, but he loft not his courage and refolution to ferve f/ii«i//'4eveo to death. In this time, the Court: was extremely (brrowful, and in a great perplexity, for the News thatarriv'd of the death of the Emperour Arcadm : he di'd in the City o( ConflaH- iinnple, aged only thirty two years ; and left for his SuccefTor the young T';&foi(^w,his Son i' iht reft of his Family being compofcd of the PrincefTes Ftavilla, Marina, and the Re- E liowned' a6 PHARAMOND. Par.t 1 row^ed Fukheria.; But becaufc 7he»dofms was only ten or eleven years old, the Empcrour his Father had at his death deiiied the great Ifdigerdes King of the Perfians^ whofe friend- fliip he had prov'd to be fincere and loyal during his life, to be liis Tutor, and prote^ his tender youth, againfi thofe enemies which hisgreatnefs might ftir up. The King of the VerfiaHf, whois.the Father of the fame Prince V arraner whom you faw to day, accepted the tuition of the ^onngJheodiifiuf, and acquitted himfelf with an unexpreflible fidelity : And becaufe the greatnefs of his Cft'gnity, and of his Ernpire, would not permit him in perfon to pafs out of his own Dominions to Conjiantimple^ he fcnt a Governour to the young frince nzmci Aiitkchits^ a man adorn'd withal) great virtues, who with a marvellous di- ligence hath not only educated the young Prince in all the exercifes of virtue, but govern- ed his Empire with inhnite prudence, and defended it not only from Foreign invafions, but Intefiine broils. .But to this general forrow of tiie Court of Kome^ Coniance was conflrain'd to add a par- ticular one, for about that time his Father alfo departed this life, leaving him fo fenfible of his death, that for a long time he was not in a condition to receive any confolation ■■, heloft his Mother in his youngeft years, and owingtohis Father only all t1ie diligence of a noble and excellent Education), hecould not lofe him without feeling thofe due refent- ments, whichagrief of that cruel nature can infufe into the mind'; He was vifited by the Emperour, and all his Court ••, and the Princcfs Flacidia^ whofe Sex hindred her from ren- dri^g him that civility, fent fcveral times to him, and affured him of the thare (he had in his grief i and indeed it was from Tlacidia tliat he receiv'd his only confolation, while love alone drove to be the Milhefs of his Soul, by banifhing all other palGons : In the end it wrought itseffed, and having in a fmall time overcome his grief, return'd Conjlance into his former eftate, and rendred him capable of that converfation and fociety which his for- rows had depriv'd him of: But though love had fo ffbwerful a force over his grief, yet his grief had not thefamepower over his love, which never a whit abated nordiminifh'd the violence of its fury ■, yet he ferv'd himfelf often with li-'at pretence before Tlacidia^ to . cover the true caufeof that change which. his fufferings had caused in his humour, and in his Countenaiiice > and the Princefs often attributed it fc that pallion though it proceeded from one far more violent and imperious. In effed:, the Ajjiorous Conftance confum'd and dy'd, without daring to complain', nor was he conflrain'd only to reftrain his words, but knowing the lively and piercing (pirit of the Princefs, to rule his aftions in fuch fort, that when (he (hould examine them with the greatefl: rigour, they tnight be attributed only to refped, though it was a particular refpcd, and which, though extraordinary, might well be defended. This reftraint tor- mented him cruelly, andforc'd him many times into a melancholy, which nothing could diverts yet of all the Divertifements that were in Rome he had [fill the better part, nor was there fcarce any thing of importance done without him. Tlie Emperour had caus'd to be reftor'd unto hiin all the goods of his Anceflors i and to the Government of lUyria which his Father had pofTclfed , he added tiiat of DaZ/wdt/i?, which was a great Revenue: and he finding himfelf in an eftaie to defray a Princely expence, did it with fo much of Magnificence, Grandeur, and true Liberality, that there was nothing elfe talkt of at Kome i nor was there ever perfon that us'd the blellings of Fortune fo fplendidly and fo generoully as he did:His noble and wife management of things gave him flill more and more an efteem in Flacidia^s breaft , but (fill flie was ignorant that he dy'd for her, and wjth all the greatnefs of his courage lie had not fo much boldnefs as to difcover that burning fccret. In the mean time, Ettcbere continu'd his purfuits with a great deal of diligence, but with little fruit i andinfteadof making p'rogrefs upon the fpirit o( Tlacidia^ Time and hissfer- vices fcem'd rather to banilh him thence: not that EHc/jt-re was a man wholly defpica^lci he was lutficicntly couragious, and bore fomethingof a noble mind i but there feem.'d to be a kindot drowfinefs upon his fpirit, and fome parts of his perfon were not altogether fo amiable. But he was the Son of a Favourite who abus'd his Fortune, and ufurp'd an unjuft Authority over the Imperial Family i and this was enough to make Vladdia hate him. StilicoH judging that this Princefs would approve of his Sons fuit fooncri'^if the Emperour exprefs'd his vvillingnefs toit, than by his own motion, fyokc to Hanorm^ and prefs'dhimby all the reputation he had with him, roferve him with all thepowcr lie had with Tlacidia , and to rinifh the honour of his houfe with that remaining Al- liance, lance he had fo happily begun it. llongrius who with age had acquir'd more con- ftancy and rrfolution than formerly, or vvho perhaps now began to repent of the Com- mand lie had given Stilicon over his very inclinations, at firft would not himfelf at all fj'cak to the Princefs concerning her marriage with Lucbere^ having obferv'd fcveral times Book 1. THAR A MO NT). 27 times that the propofal was difpleallng to her •, but in tlie end, St'dicon having impor- tunately urg'd him, he fpoke to her, and in fuch manner, as made her know he dctir'd it i yet the Princefs who very well knew her Brother, and very well conllder'd that he was not a perfon of a humour to do her violence, anfwerM him with a futable courage i and having reprefented unto him that. "Jf/Z/cow delir'd not thefe Alliances in his houfe, but only totaifchimto a power fufficient to ufurp the Empire, as without doubt he had an inten- tion i (he protefted in fum, that if he would leave her to her liberty, which (he hop'd his goodnefs would perfwadc him todo, (he would never give an example of fuch bafe- nefs to the Princeffes of the blood, by yielding that the Daughter of the great Iheodofiw, fhould become the Daughter- in- Law of Stilkon. This anfwer, inlkad of provoking the fpirit of the Empcrour, which naturally was all composed of fwcctncfs, fortirt'd him in the delign which he had already begun,to abridge infome part the Authority which he had permitted Stilkon tografpboth over the Empire, and his own perfon. And when he rcturn'd him the Anfvver, and likewife to the Em- prefs his Daughter ( who as much as lay in her endeavourM to advance the intcreft of her Brother ) having teftitied to them the repugnancy Tlacidia had to fuch a Marriage, he ad- ded that he would not at all hinder E»«:/'e're from endeavouring to gain the heart of the Princefs by his love and fervices, but that no confideration (hould induce him to offer vio- lence to his Sifter. Stilkon and his Son were jnuch difcourag'd by this Anfwer, but not at all defifted their intentions, hoping that either time, or the power oi Stilicon^ would change the fpirit either of the Sifter or th,e Brother. In the nftean time, the palfionate Conjlance itmzWd a difcon folate lover, without da- ring tofpeaki fo much did the refpedt and knowledge of the averfenefs of Tlacidia cow- ardizehim in this occafion i and I believe, out of meer refped', he for many years had ne- ver open'd his mouth, though he had judg'd the hazard greater than he could have under- gone. Amongft the perfons with whom he held the chief converfe, Virginia had thelirft dfgree i and as fhe had the cognizance of all that pafs'd within his heart, fo he preferr'd her company before that of any other perfons, and vifited her conftantly every day, except he faw her with the Princefs ', the rather, becaufe his fpirit being wholly ccmpos'd of love, he could unwillingly entertain any other difcourfe but o{ Tlacidia and his pailion. Atthofe hours when he could not f detain'd by affairs of State ) wait upon Virginia, he us'd to write to her certain (hort Letters, in which he ffill made mention of the Princefs,' and the great love he bare her. Tlacidia us'd often to vifit Virginia v and one day being gone to her houfe, to fee her, 'twas told the Princefs that fhe was gone abroad i but the fervants of the houfe undcrflanding the refped due to the Princefs, intreated her to enter into the Chamber of Virginia whilft they went to fearch her. Tlacidia ftay'd for fome time in the Chamber, with thofe Ladies that attended her •, but by chance feeing the door of the Clofet open, flie alone went in i and feating her felf in a Chair by the Table, (T5e happen'd to (pye there certain-papers, and amongft the reft calf her eyes upon a little Note which Virginia had that day receiv'd from my Malf er, and which fhe had by miftake left there, for fhe us'd always to lock them up carefully. The Princeffes great love and af- furanceof the afTedion of Virginia^ made her believe that fhe would not be at all troubled, if fhe fhould view any Letters writ to her ■■, therefore taking up the Note, flie ptefently knew it to be the writing of Conjiance, which flie had often feen ( though ht had never taken she liberty to write to her J and of whom flie had often demanded Verfes, and fe- veral other paftimes of his ingenuity. The refped Ihe had for him, and the knowledge (he had of the acutenefs of his vi'riting, made her more willing to read the Note, in which {he found thefe words, or fomewhat to this purpofe. Conjlance to Virginia . SHaU I fuffer all my life teitJyout fieaktng ? and jhaW I not at length give a prioi to that filence which hjf been my prejudice already for fo many years ? Nuthins, is mors^ Sacred^ nothing more Keligious, and nothing more Dutiful than my Love, yet not n»ithjianding I am conjhrained to «{cpel it from me as a crime \ hoveever I ivill not complain of my defliny ■, 'tis, the mofi glorious and faireji of ihe rpurld ■■, though I mttji needs fay it hath fomething in it of CTMelty, if iphilji I dye for the fair Placidia, it is not permitted me tg let her kft^rf I dye-. far her. The Princefs concluded the reading of this Letter with no fmall aftonilTiment, accompa- E 2 , nied 28 FHARAMOND. Fart I. nied with divers different thoughts which it will be difficult to imagine, or reprefent : for though (he knew her felf Sifter of both the Oriental and Occidental' tmperours, and was fenfible there was none whofe birth could equalize her, yet (he had fo great an cfteem for the virtue, and efpccially for the extradl of my Mafter, that (he could not entertain a de- fpifing thought of him i and be(ides, as (he look'd upon him as a perfonage already raifcd to the height of glory, and adorn'd" with admirable qualities, fo (lie remembred that he ^vas defcended of a houfs that had bred many great Potentates to the Empire, and had once rul'd in the fame height and degree as thofe of her Family. For which rcafons (he could not confider his love as an affront, or conceive any violent refentment againft himi but when (hefufter'd her felf to be led away by the natural repugnancy which (lie had all herlife^ainft love, and that inward deteftation which (he bore unto it, (he was in fuch fortincens'dagainlt Co;;fbwf, that (he thought (lie could never pardon him. Soon alter fhe made refleftion of all thofe marks of (ricAd(Tiip Ihe had (hew'd him ■-, and finding he accus'd her of cruelty, (lie grew angry, and blufhing either through (hame or vexation, or both, He hath C faid (he, throwing the Note upon the Table j xHgratefufy abus''d the ejfelfs of my e;^QodneJi ■■, and it my goodnefi only rfihich hath givstt h'm courage to offend mei but Ijhall ktiorv hotp hemefofivard to deny my felf that •miocent manner of aoing i and living hetfccforth u>ith mare referv'dne^^ I Jhal keep menpethapt ivithiu thife hounds of rejpetl rvhicb they, otpe to my degree and perfon. . She was in this parley with herfelf when Virginia, who came' with all diligence to wait on her, entred into the Clofet. She accofted the Princels according to her accuflora'd manner, and expedlfed from her thofe carcifes which (he ordinarily made her: but oh the contrary (he wondrcd much to find her fo cold and ferious, and ma\>. ligns of difcontent and anger as well in her eyes, as ovcrfpread through all her countenance. Having beheld her in this condition for feme time with infinite trouble and grief, (he was about to open her mouth to demand the caufe ; but when tailing her eyes npon the Table, (lie faw the (hort Note (torn Conjiance ])'mg open, (lie now no longer doubted of the truth j and fuf- fering her ftlf to be tranfported by her firft thoughts, Poor Conftance ( faid (he ) I did well forefee thy >ri/f fortune^ but I never believ''d it fjould happen to thee by my fault i She ftopp'd at thefe words, holding her eyes fixed to the ground, with a countenance.which fufficientT ly denoted her difquiet i when the Princefs, who was,,rifen from her chair, and had walked three or four turns in the Clofet, beholding her with all that regret which her natural fweetnefs, and the love (lie bore her would permit •, AndrveV, Virginia f faid (he) do you then keep inteligence with thofe perjons that offend me ? And who are thefe that offend you ? anlwercd Virginia : In truth. Madam, if you are offended by Conftance, / k>iow not By rvhom you are honoured, nor by whom in the world you can be ferved. In fum, replied the princefs, you httotv my humour, andfince you had the knowledge of his folly, you jliould either hme cured it, or elf have prevented its coming to mine. If it is come to yours, replied Vir- ginia, you fee by what accident it is arrived, and it if by fame fatality that I forgot this Note^ contrary to my ordinary cu}iom to lock, them upcarefufy : he him felf can inform you, that it w hy my counfel that Conftance hath fuffered a long time without jfeakjng, though in trtuh this counfel WiS. not at all necejjary for a man, who wfuld rather endure death, than run the leaji d^^itger of drfjileafitfg you ■■> but to endeavour to cure his paffon had been the great elt vanity I chnl4 attempts and if ynuwiU permit me, Madam, J dare avow that I never effay'd it, and that befjdes the .inclination T mturally had to approve it, I have believed that if any man might afpiretqyoH^ thatprefumption was pardonable i/i none but Con&3nce, who in all things if to be pref^rr^d before any barbarian K/«g. Flacidia would have been troubled at thefe words, if her moderation, and the friend- fliip (he had for Virginia, could have permitted her •, however (he would liave teftitied , that they were not acceptable, and was perhaps opening her mouth for that defign, when Co«/?.2«cc himfelf entred into the Clofet, the door being opeii i by the commandment of Tlacidia he u(ed this freedom with her when (lie was to be vitlted, and he believed he might take the fame liberty wifh Virginia; Flacidia had not difapproved it at any other time, but, for thcpr^fent (he coifld not dilTemble the difpleafure which the tight of him caus'd, in a moment w^herein of force (lie muft cither break into an anger \vith him, or cruelly if tirain her (elf from doing it. Conljance incontinently knew both b"^ hetCountenance, ■!■..■ ■Virginia''s, thatfomcthing h^d tiappen'd, which difplcas'd the Princefs i but he be)'/ not himfelf at all to be the cau(e of the difpleafure (lie tcftified, but judging rather t' avoided the purfuit of EW^frf, and the Authority o( Stilicm, he concern'd liimf" was accuitomed, but thereby fo much the more he ftiil percciv'd greater marks in 'he Qycs.'c^.Pdjci^Ja ithan he ever yet behcjd. This defply touched hi Book I. P H A R A M N D, 29 preaching to her with a beliaviour full of all refpe<2:, Madam, faid he, flea.ff to pardon me if I cannot fee yoit afflided mthoitt demandhtgif it be pgjfible that I could be jo happy to find fontt occafiun to ferve you hi the caufe of your grief. • Placidia, who in any other rencounter would have anfwercd him the moft obligingly in the world, would not yet abandon herfelf tp^the violcnccof iicr iirit thoughts, which perhaps might be too pallionatc, nor diCTemble the refentmcnt (lie had againit him i but without returning ananlwer, continu'd ftill walking without fpeaking a word, and made him judge by a glance full of anger, that hehimfelf might he the caule of that change of her humour. That thought made him remain aftonilli'd, and like one half dead, leaning againll theTapiftry of the Clofet, and looking fometimcs on the Princefs, and Ibmctimes upon Virginia, to fee what he might tarthcr learn. As he had nothing upon his confcience wjiich might make him fear, bat his .love o( Placidia ■, and that he had often feared that which had this day fell out by an accident he had notforcleen, he remained not long time before he imagined the truth, by chance calling his eyes upon the Table to which he was very nigh ■■, and feeing his L.etteropen, which at firll light he knew, ht ceas'd to quertion the true caufe of Vlacidia's anger. The knoM^ledge whereof made him much more coji^ fus'd than before, he remaining in the pofture of a pcrfon convinc'd of fome great crime ■, 3n(;l had Placidia minded hjs beiiavioqr, (he had certainly found fomewhat therein to ap- pfgfeher, and touch her with a compallioni but flie walked without regarding him, while her rcfcntment and natural goodne(sand moderation, fiercely combated in her breaft how to govern her felfi for bclldcs.tlie oppofition flie naturally had to violence, the lyiew well that it muft be with a great deal of pain and difficulty that (he could be oftendcd againit a perfon whom (he had always particularly and tenderly elteem'd. Coiiliance remained a great while without daring to fpcak, but in the. end not being able to mafter his grief, nor prefumingyet to addrefs his words to the incenfed Princefs : Ah Virginia ! ( cried he ) ottght you to have exposed me as yoK have done, to the anger of the Princef, and to fitch an anger as your felf well f ore faw? Chance only ( zn(vicie^ Virginia _) hath expos''d you, and not my tvill -, nor are yott tnore furpris^d than I a>as, at tbis unhappy cf- fe& of my bad memory. After thefe words, they all kept fome time of iilence, till in the end CoHJiance calling to his affiftance all his courage, advanc'd fome paces towards the Princefs, who had taken a feat ; and bending one knee before her. Madam ( faid he > If I have been fo unhappy, as to difpleaje you, I rvould willingly dye to expiate my fault ; and death wiU without doubt be more agreeable to me, than a life odious to yon. I defire not your death, (replied the Princefs, without turning her head towards him ) butjhmtldbe much affliaed at it; but if you can pa^ the reft of your life rvithnut feeing me, you trill mttfb oblige me, / JJ^aB pafiit fo rvithout doubt C replied Couflance ) if you ordain it fo by the porv'er yen have over me : for mthirg can be fa cruel, nor fo difmal as to hinder my obedience to yoii. Conftance fpake thefe words with fo fad an afped, and with a voice which cxprefs'd fomething fo pallionate, that the Princefs mov'd at it, turned her head towards him with a^jehaviour more charming, t-hanilie feem'd before incens'd. I (hall never defire any thing cruel for you, (aid (he, hut I could rvell have rvijh'd that you had not loft the rejfecl you orvme, a.\id that yon had not ungratefid'y ahus''d th>fe innocent marks I gave you of my e\U£m for you. If I have either abus''d tbe.u, replied Conftance, or been wanting in the rejfeVl I owe you, I am worthy of all your anger ■, nor do I demand any pardon for a fault which can never merit it; but if my fault conffts either in what J have felt, or what I hive tejiifd, I dare to fay ^ iF yau tvilJ permit it, that I believe my feif innocent ; and that having never had'h/ty thntighfs fur you, which your felf would condemn if they were we^ k.noispfi to you,' yet. T haxie ftillcoti- eeafi them as if they had been criminal : All t^y pa\i ahions fafficiently )! which Valeria did in this man- ner. The end of the Firfl Book. PHARAMOND. Book II. 'Fter that day C fori mufl: omit in my Difcourfe feveral particulars, which would render it too tedious ) my Maikr found his condition much dif- ferent from what it had till that time been : for though the Prin- cefs did not give him the liberty which he might hope for to en- tertain his pallion, but made him carry towards her a greater circuna- fpedion than he had hitherto done \ yet the a(rurance that he had that his ^ love was known and not difapproved, render'd him as much fatisfi'd as if he had been encompafs'd with all imaginable felicity. He faw Flacidia every day, though he durft not ufe with her that familiarity which he had formerly done •, and (he did her felf debar her fclfof thofe little liberties which (lie had been accuftom'd to ufe with a perfon (he did not all fufpe but others who judg'd more favourably did fay, and with much more likelihood, that feeing his power over the inclinations of the Emperour began to fail,ai)d fearing left his abfence might wholly lofe it, he would not abfent himfelf from his perfon, but refolv'd to wait on him more diligently than before, to preferve by his prefence, that which his enemies might ruine ihould he part from Kome v whatever was the reafon be ftay'd, yet he gave order with great diligence to provide a puifTant Army to march for Spain. In the mean time the Emperour confulted with him, what General he ought to chufe v and though there were at Rome, a great number of famous men who had already com- rtiandcd Armies with fufhcient glory, and that Confiance had not yet been a General, nor was paft twenty four years of Age ■■, yet the Emperour had fo much regard to thofe great A6l:ions he had done under Stilicon, to the report which Stilicon himfelf had made ot his capacity to command an Army, and to his high Extradiion , that confidering him with a refped above all others, he preferr'd him to theCondud of this Mighty Army. The in- clination which the Emperour had for him, did mucli contribute to this command : but others have believed that Stilicon beginning to conceive fome Eclipfe from the greatness and mer,it of Confiance, willingly condefcended to find the means to fend him away upon this fair occafion, and therefore in ftcad of appearing difgufted at his Honour, teftiti'd by this means his affection, and the acknowledgment he had of his Sons fafety, for which he confcflfed himfelf to be contiderably engag'd to his Valour. In fum,my Mafter, thus pre- ferr'd before all other pretenders, was nominated General in this important Expeditions and for the reafons I have already alledg'd , receiv'd that employment with an unimagina- ble joy i the hopes he had to advance himfelf to a degree worthy of Flacidia, making him layafide the grief he conceiv'd at parting from her. He prepared to depart with all diligence polliblci and by his liberality, and natural Magnanimity, caufcd to be prepared the moft fumptuous and magnificent equipage, that KwMphadfor many Ages beheld : All thofe that accompanied him in this Expedition, ex- prcllinga great deal of joy, caufcd both by the alTedion which all the World bore him, and die advantages which he had gain'd by his fwcetnefs,and by his obliging humour,over the hearts of all men. One part of the Troops were to march with him out of Italy ; and the reft were called out of the Provinces, to join with him before he came to the Frontiers of Spain, where was to be the Rendezvous of the whole Army, which conllfted of near forty thoufand men. At length the day of his departure arrived ; and after having taken leave of the Em= perour , he went to render the fame duty to the Princefs Placidia : but on that occafion, he could not preferve his refolutions abfolutely firm •, for though he undertook this Expedition as a thing he had ardently de(ir'd,yet during thefe preparations for the fame, he could not forget to teftiiie often to the Princefs , that though he went with inHnite joy to ferve hi« Prince, which might render him worthy to ferve her, yet he could not at this feparation defend himfelf from fo violent a grief, that he was forced to make ufe of all his courage to fupport it. He faid now nothing to the Princefs conceriv- ing his paflion for her , both becaufc that he found her then taken up in Company , (not having yet fo much favour as to oblige her to give him a particular audience J and tor that the Emperour himfi-U' came %vhilit he was there, and after many obliging CarefTes told him that he came once more to fee him for that (hort timej but within iew minutes perceiving the Princefs alone, at a Window upon which (he leaned, he adventured to tell her, 52 PHJKAMOND. Part. I. her, Ihat jhe was the Aim to which he direaed all his enterprizes^ and that he would not breath but tg thinks continHaVy on her. Vlacidia had the goodncfs to return Anfwer, Jhat pe would condefcend to any thing might feme to advantage his glory , and that f}je could never have aiy greater joy than to hear that bit Valour was feconded by Fortune, whilft he might hope for any affiftance he could defire of her. If it be fo (replied Conflance) I promife you Madam, that I will returnvanquijher of the Enemies of the Empire : for if in fighting againfl them I can have the honour to be owned by you^ they can never haie Forces powerful enou and during the darknefs, Arderic and Araces, to di(remble their flight, having made many great fires in their Camp, diflodged their men, and paiTed over a Bridge of the River fomewhat diftant from thence, well known to them, and which ^hey broke down as foon as they had palTed. Conjhnce to whom the Country was unknown, would notpurfuchis Vidory during the Night, which was extreme obfcure, nor engage his men in that darknefs, hoping at the re- turn of day to renew the fight, if the Enemies would abide it ; or if they fled, follo\^,j.^ip them by day- light with more fafety, than in that great obfcnrity. But in the morning he ""'*"■ was much troubled when he undcrl^ood that they were paflTed the River, and had broken the Bridge, fo that he could not follow them to the other fide, but by another at a fmall Village dilhnt a great days march : Yet he comforted himfelf in this mifchance, with the hopes he had to overtake them in few days, or force them to quit Spain ■■, and having em- ploy'd that day in interring the dead, dreiling the wounded, and other affairs which may bufiethe care of a General after fo important a Battel, he majch'd to the Bridge where lie might pafs the River, and from thence diredlly to the place where he had advice the Ene- mies were retir'd. But they would not hazard a fecond Battel •, and the two Kings being both underfland- ing Wariiours, did fo ferve themfelves of the advantages they had gain'd in the Country, f Book II. FHARAMOND. jj of the Forts and Cities which were in t'leiir power, and of the ports' and palTagcs which they had fortihed, and fo well delayed time, in expectation of a reinforcement Irofn their Country or Allies, that they made us lofe the feafon of the ycar^ and the Winter ap- proaching incommodious by reafon of the great Rains, we were cnnlirained to quit the Field, and to retire into the Cities, after they had done the like into thofe that were under their obedience : In the mean time on all opportuniticsthatevery day offered, C("»/f^»f? te- liiH'd a perfect intelligence in warlike affairs, and ordcr'd and executed all things with a valour accompanied with fo much prudence, as might already place him in a degree equal to the molt great and famous Captains. He iiad many valiant men in his Army, and had given the Conduit of his Cavalry to the command of two young men, of the grcatnefs of whofe valour he had good reafon to hope, and of whofe capacity to manage warlike affairs he had feen evident proofs. Thcfe were Artabure and Arcobinde, whofe reputation began tofpread it fclf through the World, and particularly that of Artabitre, who had fignaliz'd himfelf by a great number of renowned Adions. During the Winter, Conjlance attempted feveral Enterpri/cs ( as many as the feafon of the year would permit) and fo diligently profecuted them, that a great part of the Cities revolted from the Enemy , and put themfelves under our protedfion ■■, fo that they had' hardly any other places left to retire to, when the feafon (hould again admit them to come into the field. But why do I amufe you with the recital of things which you already know ? To be brief, I will tell you in two words, that towards the end of the Winter, the Enemy having receiv'd a recruit of near thirty thoufand men, quitted the Towns and pla-' cesof their retreat, again refolvingto try their Fortune » but it was fo little favourable tc* them, that they were defeated in two great Battels, the laff of which vvas fo entire, that King Ardaric had much ado to fave himfelf with feven or eight hundred Horfe i King Ar~ caces was (lain upon the place, and the whole Army cut in pieces , before Confiance his compaffion could flop the fury of his Souldiers. After thcfe great Vidories, all the Forces that were garifon'd in the Cities which the Enemies had taken, defir'd liberty to retire, and delivcr'd the places into thehands of Con- fiance-, and all thofe of the Country, who either voluntarily, or through fear of the Bdr^ barians had imbrac'd their party, and endeavour'd to fliake off the yoke cf the Empire, became humble Suitors to the clemency of Conjiance, who receiv'd them with an humani- ty only proper to himfelf v fo that before.the beginning of the fuccecding Winter, there remain'd nothing to complete an entire peace to thofe Provinces. And the viftorious Con- ■ fiMce, after having gained three great Battels, made feveral confiderable fights, and re- duc'd more than thirty Towns to the obedience of the Emperour, was about to return to Kome , with hope to be received there, as the mofl "great and moft Triumphant Captain that ever entred thofe Gates, when he had advice that C««^mc King of the Vandals was entred into B«/M, and had already made himfelf Maf^el: of many impoitant placesj This News had affiidied him, if it had not given him occafions to acquire glory, and render himfelf more worthy of Placidia, with whom in all dangerous and perilous En>- terprizes, his thouglus were flill bufied. In all Combatcs he invoked her name as a Divi- nity which govern'd the fucccfs of his Battels ■■, and in all.charges which he.gave, turning . himfelf tovvards me, who was.always near his Perfoo, and the only of his Confidents that had knowledge of his Love : Valerius^ (-faid he) ^Tn to day that I njuji render my felf vpor- thy of Placidia, and raife my felf to that degree rvhither merit can only raife me. Hiclierto he durfl never write to her, nor ever had permiflion ; but when he faw himfolf dcpriv'd of hope to fee her in the time which he. once expefted , jjtid engaged in another W^, which perhaps would be more durable than the former, headvertur'd to addrefs a Letter to her ; but it was in fueh rcfpedful terms, and in fuch a manner as he might. jrun the leafi hazard to difpleafe her : for hercfolv'd to. ie^d \m Letter to Virginia , praying her in that . which he writ to her, to give it to the Pripcefs if fhe foand it convenient, or if (lie be- liev'd (he would pardon his prefumption ■■, but .to burnorke^p it, if (he thought the cor>r trary : with tlois pj^eca^ution, he pre^inied to write to this,etfcd: : Consiance to the Vrmccfs Placidia:''' ■' tlhnsjj it be already an Age that I bate been abfntjrofn pit , yet 1 fhmld contentedly endure the end of !nvExile,rjther than .endanger the J^jpieafing of yoH:^ if I did not fee it prolong'dly thofe occa^oits which, ivilire.nder it, nrithoiit donht much more tedious. J had patience tiUthe end of that ^Var rvhjch J iv'iff fent to finijff\ but fince I mufi. now mtirch to a F fecond, 54 THARAMOND. Part. E fecond, perhapt likely to hold longer than the frji. Pardon me, great Trinceff, if I hazard to make a-neip prot elation of my fubjeUtM: that which 1 fttffer by fo cruel a banifljment^ may merit that pardon, which I hope from your goodnefi, for a perfon that doth what is pojjible to render himfelf tvorthy only to ferve you : Permit him to preferve his glorious hopes, ifyott will have him be invincible, and to believe that what he pall do for the Empire cannot be dif- pleafmg to you. Jhat frpeet hope will fortifie me againji Jo rigorous a bamfliment, and wiU preferve him from all dangers, who ought never to die, but for the divine Placid ia. He fent this Letter by him whom he difpatch'd to Kome to advifc the Empcrour of the entrance of Gtinderic into Spain, and ot his defign to fight him i which he put him- felf in a pofture to do with all diligence polfible : and feeing his Army a little weakened, by the Battels which he had fought, and by the hardfhips they had fuftered i he drew to- gether the moft affectionate and moft warlike of the people, and afted with fo much di- ligence, that in lefs than a month he put his Army into a better eftate than they were finct their firft entrance into Spain ; Yet his Forces did not near equalize the number of Gun- deric's-, and therefore Conjiance knowing that he had now to do with men more valiant, ajjd 3 more famous Captain than thofe he canae to conquer, refolved to obferve more wa« rinefs againft him, than he hadagainft the Gepides and ihcAlams : He grounded this refo- lution upon rcafon i for betides that he knew the Vandals to be numerous and warlike, he \yas certain that Gunderic was a prudent and experienc'd Soldier, againft whom it behov'd him to ufe the beft of his martial skill : He therefore not only march'd in good order to- wards them i but when he approach'd tiiem, chofe his pofts with great diligence, which made the old Officers of his Army, moft of whom had ferv'd under 7beodofm, admire his great underftanding in War. At his entrance into Beticft, he received Letters from Kome ; and by thofe of the Em- perour, and Stilicon, who hkewife writ to him, he found the great fa{isfa(^ion and ac- knowledgment of Hsworwj and the eifed which his great Victories had won the minds of all the Romans v while he underftood with what Praifes they had extoll'd his great actions r but though thefe caufed fome motions of joy in him, yet it was not fo fenfible as what he received from a little Letter, which he found within a Letter which F/rgi/ji* writ him, and which he knew to be writ with Placidia's own hand. The extafie of his own joy was fo great, that before reading of it he was forc'd to (hew twenty adlions of a patlionate lover, little agreeable to his natural refervednefs. In the end he read thefe words: The Prince^ Flacidiato ConHance. I Ought not to pardon a liberty which you have tah^n without my confent : but what ought we not to pardon to fo great a perfon, the Vanquijher of fo many thousands of our enemies^ and renowned far fo maity famous Victories?! at leaji owe thus complacency to theEmperour and to the Empire wham you fo fucceffuVy ferve : And willingly do I continue my vows for you, fmce I perceive they are not unprofitable. I am likfwife content to have a Jhare in your great aSions, fince you defire it, and to kfep you in my remembrance, fmce yoti have fo well deferved it : rctnrn Conquerour, and tetwn quickly if '* be po^ible, and believe that both !from the oneandtheother,rjha}l receive an infinite joy. ''j;'! Never did thembft favourable, the moft tender, and the moft obliging Letters give fo_ much content to the moft paffionate lover, as thefe few lines gave my Mafter : and as he never hid from me the effeds which love wrought upon his mind, fo he cxprefs'd to me' his prefent content by tei'ms and adtions, which made me judge it extraordinary. Vale- riut Cfaid ht ) fortune is favourable to me in ah things > but the great eji ViQories that ever we can gain over our onemies, are^ not fo confiderable to me, as the leaji advantage I can gain over the heart of Placidia : »/-h< is that makes us fight, this is that will makf as overcome^ if if it be poffible. By this joy which the goed Ciccefs of his love gave him, his defire to engage his ene- mies fecm'd tobeencreas'd, and thathc nowhop'd the Vicftory with more affurance than he had hitherto teftih'd. In the mean he negltdted not all means to profecute them : and in 6ur entrance into Bfticj, he made fevcral fuccefsful and advantageous Skirniiflies with them, which though in tliemfelv^s of no great importance, yet were counted as good Omens. Gunderic had then befieg'd a place i but judging well that he could not con- tinue theSiegeinthe face of our Army, he rais'd it, and march'd toward us, to gain a paflage Book IL P H A R A M N D. 35 paffage which was very advantagious to him : But Conjiance who underftood his intent, having fentz/r^ij^wrefirft to view the port, the next morning went himfclfi and judging it agreatpieceof indifcrction toattacque.in fuch a place, an Army of an hundred thou- fand men, drew off to the other fide, making (hew as if he meant to aflfault certain places which were under the power of the Vandals^ thereby to oblige their King to diflodgefrom fo advantagious a place. The defign fucceeded to his defiresi and CjiWmc feeing us march by, followed as a man that fcorned to decline the fight,but who, as well as Coniiame-^ knew, he had need to make ufe of all his prudence, againft a perfon whofe glorious zCkvons had made him rather to be fearM than defpis'd. Winter was now good part fpent i yet to be (liort, wepafled it quite through, partly in the Field, and partly in the Cities, without coming to a general Battle, though there were n-any Skirmiflies of importance, which might deferve a particular mention. At the return of the Surhmer, the two Generals expreffed their defire to come to afet fight, but both endeavoUr'd to get the beft advantages i Con^ame zs ihc lefs in number, and Gunderkzs a Captiin that would overcome : but in the end, after feveral removals on both fides, and daily Skirmifhes of parties, Conjiance fo well ordered his affairs, that he ioyn'd with the Army of C««^eric, in a plain between two Hills, which yet was not vaft enough to ferve the Vandals^ with all thofe advantages which the number of their men gave them over us ■, and in this place he conftrained him to come to Battle ; never in Spain was there a more famous Engagement fought, nor more hotly difputed i but in the end the Vijftory did fo entirely remain on our part, that more "than fixty thoufand Vandals were flarn upon the place, and more than ten thoufand were taken prifoners; but we loft feven or eight thoufand choice men. Gunderic with about thirty thoufand men, of whom a good part were wounded, retired into the Mountains, covered with Woods, and from whence it would have been difficult to haveforc'd him. But Co«Jf j«« defigning to pro- fecute his Vidory, refolv'd to befiege him in the Mountains, and to that effecit ftbptupall thepaffagcs, hoping to familh them in few days. His thoughts and defign did not deceivd him : and Gunderic having try'd feveral ways to retire in the night, but finding his retreat impollible, extremely prefs'd with the mifery and hunger of his men, of whom a great part were wounded, defpair'd of fafety any other way than by the Generofity oi CoMfiance i to which purpofe he fends a Trumpeter to demand a conference : my Mafter agrees to his deQres, and upon his Parol, Gunderic defcends the Mountains to the place appointed : by being near my Mafter, and witnefs of all their difcourfe, Ifaw the King of the Vandal f^ whom I found to be a perfon of a gallant fpirit, and of a bold and noble afped , he highly praifed the Valour and prudence of Cnnjiance^ confeffing that it did fomewhat abate hi* misfortunes, to be overcome by fo Heroick an Enemy, and one who in fo many othei' places had gain'd fuch confiderable Viftories > and in the end demanded of him, how he would ufe his fortune, and the advantage he had over him. Conftance with a becoming affability reprefented unto him the calamity of his prefent condition, that he could force him with all his men to perifti in few days without the lofs of one man •, hut that he fcorn- ed to abufe his fortune, againft a Prince whom he had found fo couragious : That he would therefore give him leave to retire with all his men, as well thofe that were with him, as thofe that he had engarrifon'd in any places, upon condition that the places were fur- rcndred immediately to him, attd that he departed bato( Spain^ and all the Lands an^ Dominions of the Empire without delay. Gunderic returned thanks to Conflance for his noblenefs i and having accepted the con- ditions with infinite joy, he fent inftant orders to thofe whom he had left in the Cities, to quit them and attend his retreat: Conftance giving Pafs-ports to them, to the end thai; in their retreat they (hould not be fet upon by the people of the Country, who took tht Komant part. On the mOrning Gunderic departed from the Mountain, and took leave of Conjiance, who entertain'd him at a magnificent Dinner, and to court him with an extra- ordinary civility, freely return'd him all the prifoners without ranfom. Gunderic having highly applauded his Generofity, retir'd, and march'd without ftop out of Hi/^i/«iij Eff/ci, which he left fo free and peaceable, as if it had never been embroyl'd in War : at the Frontiers he told the Officers of thofe Troop's that had conveyed him, that the obligation he had for the Generofity of Con\lame, and the efteem which he had conceiv'd for his perfon, was fo great, that it fliould hinder him from returning into Spain fo long as he (hould live, or that he could but doubt he fliould encounter his perfon v but if by chance it (hould happen that he had no more Coytjiancd to encounter with, he would re- invade it with a Force that all the power of the Empire (hould with difficulty withftand. Conjiance luving fo glorioufly and with fo many memorable Vidlories, compleated the F 2 affairs ^6 FHARAMOND. Part 1 affairs of Europe-., after having etnploy'd fome time to cliablidi certain necelTary orders, fettle the Provinces in an entire tranquillity, and fortihe the people in their fidelity, he be- gan his march towards Kome with all that fatisfadion which he could receive from the glory of his adlions, and the joy which hi^ hopes to fee Tlacidia could infpire him wjth i but during the tinne which we were in Spain, there fell out things in Italy^ which it will be neceflary that 1 tell you, that you may underftand in what condition Affairs wer^ a$ Kome at our arrival. The War with Spain had lafted near three years i and the ^but years of Truce which Stilicon had made with Ahrk being expir'd, without any endear vours of the Emperour to fulfil the propofitions which had been made, Ahrie at the pre- cife end of four years not feeing any effefts of the hopes that were given him, with an Army ftronger than the firll, re-entred the Empire, and by tjie way oi fannoHia^ IlJyria znd Noritis^ marched directly towards 7^j/^, This news conning to Kowe, affrighted the Emperour i and Stilicon feeing that offeree himfelf mull; undertake . this expedition C unlcfs he woidd leave Italy, and perhaps the whole Empire a prey to the Barbarians } made hafte to gather together all the ftrength he could v and having formed a confider- able Army, marched in the head of it towards Km- J? moft contented him In this magnificent .9<;f:^(ion, was, .fhathis glories, might becotnci fcryant to h'is fortunes \\y Plactdh'j favou^..as_ ffic had pq^i^-iittcd him to.ljope. Atttun^ tlWfe wbicJi.Came foinect.him, he kncw.,ti^,^i;i^ce:'J';^^i'}^^,,,]^^^ jilf^,ri?nscmbci- rjsie friendship tjiey had contiafted, aftqr hayiiig.inutuaJIy, jirfjv^'d each others jvaiour: ifie great^iefs^ut" t^is Princes coux.'gcha4 pcrrvyp^^cj him nQt^^liy.\yithoiU eipwy, toibehold th€ glory, of- ■^'.perfon for vvhqrn /h|e had'.conip,e}v.|a, fp, gre«fj^%cin, bijt inade iiim wlUin^y- joyn iiimfclf with thofe who came to render-. fum tiiis honciot.^.^CojiJiajKe ,vyas.ihighly Itn- lible of this teftimony of.his atJet^ion, than wliich a , gjip at^ey^QuJId. not if\.rn§dj: i, pojcdidi t^^^turn ^ kfs futablc retallatfoiji',' bu|;.|3yjf)) his.34:ji.qfis ^^dj^^l ^is werdsjirqad^ .krfoWflJtjj a^iiTOwiedgment of it. , r _ . >. .'•[ j,, ,,(;, ,^j , ,; ...rjj o)~7.;v,/;., e,- Uv::! i : ; - .ilJ Their Careffesdid not finifli till tl;j£yappjoa(j}^.d the ^^qpcr^iv],; i^Br,vy|ij(j(j|ji be lijieWife faw the Prince y4«/ii^rawinghiftife"lf. from his friends, whof(; entertainments might hind"-'!; him from executing, his defign, he left the ^ourt, and taking vvith him none but me^ and tyvofervantsofljjprfebackto hold our?, wt parted out of the gate of Ojfi<», and flew: ^Rw^r.ds thf Pjint^fs'ls Palace, with t-l^ gteatcil (peed of our fwift-footed horfes. My Mafters knowledge that both the Emperourand all the world did underftand the particular refpe^ he bore the Pr^ne^fi;, and the intereft which (lie had publickly exprefs'd to have in the growth of his famcand fortunes, made him believe, that this diligence to wait on her, would not at all bring his palfion into fufpedf, nor of- fend his friends, if to theirs he preferred the v^ew of the glqriqu$ ;f rincefs^. The way Was accounted two hours riding at an ordinary pace, but we fcaree made one of it ; and it our arrival, there was yet two hours of Sun ere his dcfcent into the Welkrn Ocean. My Matter out of modelty, had not fent news of his arrival to Kwje, nor was the Ettiperour advis'd of it till the night before i fo that his prefence brought the firft tydings of his being come thither : no perfon being by fortune pome froni Rome that day, which made the light of CoHfiaHce extremely furprife thbfe that faw him i and as he was greatly be* lov'd and eiteem'd by all the houfliold of riacidia, fo their furprizal was agreeable : They would have run to inform the Princefs, believing fliC would entertain the news with no fiftall joy, biit. he entreated them to ftay i and having imderrtood from them (hat (he Was only with Virginia in the Garden, and that he might go without danger of difturbitig them, he went alpne, leaving me with the chiirfcft of her attendants. . , He had been oftentimes in the place, and knewall the waysbothof thehoufe, and into the Garden V and having furvey'd feveral Alleys, without finding any perfon, he ap- p^pach'd in the end to a Banquetting I^oufe, which is at the very utmoli extent of the Gar- den, over which it hath a clear profped:, being rix'd upon high and ilrong biams of Ce- dar vthe windows look'd forth upon a great and beaiittful Channel, on the "other (ide of which lies a vail and pleafant Meadow: CoH\}aiice found the Ladies attendants of the Princefs without the Banquetting Houfe, who were no lefs farprizcd at his light than the other perfons of the houle had l)een, and who told him that the Princefs was alone with Virginia^ in the Banquetting Houfe, whilft they iiad liberty to divert themfclves in the Garden; He hindred them as he had before done the others, from giving the Princefs notice of his arrival, telling theni that it would be ealie (or him to furprize Virginia^ who as the chiefettof his friends would be fufhcicntly interefs'd in his return. ■At length feeing the Banqueting-houfe open, and believing he might enter, he did fo, but •with that refpedt v^hich his love taught him, and which might eafily have been difcerned (ip his Countenance, had there been any by to have mark'd it. At his entrance the Prin- •fi^fs and Virginia were leaning on the Windows which over-looked the large and beautiful ' ? V Streams : 454607 38 PHARAMOND. IPart I. Streams : and Conflance entering with the lead noife he could, Vhile they being intent either apon what they view'd or what they faid, did not at all turn towards him, who out of the refped he had for Placidia, would not be fo rude as till (he turn'd of her felf, to interrupt her Difcourfe with Virginia : but in the mean time foftly approaching a Table which flood irt the middle of the Banquetting-^houfe , and feeing their Pens , Inke , and Paper, upon which he might difccrnfome Writing, his curiofity made him fix his eyes upon it, when he perceived them to be Verfes in little Stanza's which the Princefs and Virginia had made fo' divert thettifelves -,' they were in the form of a Dialogue > and of every Stanza^which cbhfi fled but of four Verfes, the two firft were writ by the hand of Tlacidia, and the two laft, which ferved as anfwer to the firft, by that of Virginia : The two firft Verfes of the firft Stanza^ written by the hand of the Princefs, were thefe : Jnfenfible w not my heart. Jet net rvith eafe from it Vlpart. - And the two laft, written by the hand of Virginia^ anfwered in this fort : . IVbo then can fuch a jpirit trove ihat is invincible to Love .<* The two firft of the fecond Stanza were ; ^iis noble yet in fuch a mind At mine, reludancy to find. But to thefe Virginia not having anfwered, they had placed themfelves at the Window without finiftiing the Stanza i and my Mafter having once more read over the Verfes, and believing himfelf to beconcern'd in the Anfwer of Virginia, taking up the Pen, he ended the Stanza^ by writing thefe two Verfes Under thofe of the Princefs. ^ut never loving, then mufi I Toor Conftance miferable die. He did not at all difguife his Charaderj and feeing that he was not perceiv'd, he be- liev'd that it would be a pleafant furprizal of the Princefs and Virginia, it he could retire without being feen, and give them time to view what he had writ. He did as he refolv'd » and going forth again without the leaft noife, went to find the Ladies, telling them that he would ftay fome time with them, not daring to difturb the converfation of the Prin- cefe and Virginia y but he led them from the place where they were, for fear of being too foondifcover'd, into a (hady walk not far diftant i his intention being neverthelefs not to ftay long , having great impatience to fee the Princefs , and to employ that little time he had to fpend, in difcourfe with her. In the mean time Flacidia and Virginia having prefently after his departure out of the Room withdrawn from the Window, and approach'd the Table , Virginia remembred that fliehad not yet finifti'd the Stanzas and therefore taking the Pen in her hand, ftie went about to anfwer thole two Verfes of Vlacidia's : but certainly never did any furprize paral- lel hers, when (lie beheld the Stanza finifti'd, and by a hand which at prefent ftie could not know i (he ft\ew'd fuch figns of aftoniftiment, that the Princefs was oblig'd to demand the caufe, and at the fame tiiiie approach her, to fee the reafon of it i which Virginia by (hew- ing her the Verfes foon made her apprehend , and rendred her furprize great as her own : they look'd upon one another a long time with amazement, demanding from each others eyes tlic reafon of what they faw, but their wonder not giving them time to anfwer, they for a good while kept a profound filence j till at length Firgi«i<» looking ftedfaftly on the Princefs , after two or three (ighs ■, Madam, (faid (he) I k^otv not what you judge of what has happened j for my pan I k*iovp not how to apprehend it ■, hut were vpe \\i]\. in the Keligion of our Ancejiors, I Jhould believe that fome god favourable to the paffion of Conftance, came and writ thefe, or brought him from the place where he was^ to write them himfelf-, for in fum, it would have been very difficult for any one to enter here, and write them without being dif' cerned by m ■■, nor is it lefi difficult for any to counterfeit fo well the charaUer 0/ Conftance,»'i5»»c& you are not ignorant I am very weW acquainted with s but more impojfibleit ix (continued ftie) that any fhould Jo far enter into his thoughts, fince I am confident I am the only perfon in Rome that Book 11. PHARAMONR ' 99 that is acquainted mth his pajjion for you. "that which yon fay is mnft true (lepli'd the Prin- ce(s ,J and if Conftance be at Rome ( at he may tfell be on hts way thither^ not h.ivin^ -any thini more to do in Spain, having pnt an end to the IVar again^ the Vandals ) I believe no o- ther perfon than himfelf can have rvrit thefe trvo Verfes j fo n^eU am I my felf acquainted with fns hand-Tvritin^. The Lines ( replied Virginia ) are ne leji hif own than the CharaHer ; and if he he here ^ IjhaH be ajjitred none but himfelf writ them. In fumm^ (aid the Princcfs, '"tntiU do well to kjtow the truth^ fincem god as you fay, hath finil}j''d this Stanza, or brought Conftance hither to do it. After they had endeavour'd in their thoughts to feareh the truth of this adventure, but found nothing of likclyhood, they quitted the Banquetting-Houfe to enquire of the Ladies that attended, if they had feen any one enter there j but not finding them thereabouts, they went to feek them in tlic Alley whither Co«jfj«ef had withdrawn them, and who was pre-' paring tQ return to feek them. They cntred at one end of the walk, whiirt Conftance was at the other , fo that by rcafon of the length of the Alley, they could not know him, though they might difcern his Garments to glilkn with gold and precious ftones with which they were enrich 'd, having the fame on with which he that day entred into F-ome, and which was a flatelyand magnificent warlike habit* nor when they drew nearer did they fcarce imagine the truth ■■> but Conjiance at the appearance of the Princefs, having quitted the Ladies, and advanc'd towards her with a deportment full of refped, was in the end known by her, and (lie by the liglu of him releas'd from her firft allonifhment. hutcaftintoa fecond furprifal, which made her almolt forget what had happen'd in the Banquetting'Houfe, bermind being now wholly bulled with thoughts how to receive a perfon who came to offer at her feet fo many famous Vidoriesi but Virginia lefs oblig'd loafcvere refervednefsthan the Princefs, no fooner knew him, but flieexprefs'd publick fignsof joyi and being approach'd nigh him. See there, faid (he, the ApoUo that fniffj'd >«y Stanza /or fwf, and atho hath not quitted fzxnzffns, and the fociety of the Mufes ^ but the Pyrenean Hills and martial Fields, to come and mal^e an end oftny Poetry. The Princefs had laugh'd at this difcourfe of Virginians, if at the fame time Conjiance on his bended knee had notaddrefs'd hitnfelf to her, as to his vifible Divinity : flie th&refore lifted him upi and having falu ted him with all expreilible civilit^Pvould not that the refped he had for her, (hould hinder him from faluting Virginia. After he had performed that Duty, and had fpoke to the Princefs, and heard from her mouth thofe firl^ words, which were cullomary in fuch occafions, Placidia gave him her hand, leaning with the other' upon Firgim,* ■■, and having walked fome time along the Al- ley, at length her felf tirft broke Glence: Conjiance C faid (he ) I am fo extremely fjtU fed to fee you after an abfence which hath rendredyou famous by fo many great ViUories, that I firfi begin to f^eak^ to you, by telling you that I pardon the furprifal you pnt me into at your jirfl arrival-^ for as 1 have already writ to you, Uis offeree that I pardon all things to fo great a man^ to whofe power and skjH in Arms all other powers are forced tofubmit. In fumm Con(\ance, I fee you returned fuch as I have defir'd you Jffould, considerable to the Empire andtotheEmptrour-i and in fuch reputation amongji men, that few ancient Captains have had fo large a repute : hut I will not now ( continued (lie with a figh J repeat your praife, nor re- prefeut t» you the Grandeur of thofe aUions you have done ; but lajjitre you that no perfon can be more intereJJ^d in them than my felf, and that Virginia can tell you, as I promised you at yowr departure, what concern I have alrvays had in them. Conjiance xecdvzdi this difcourfe of the PrinceflTes, with an infinite fubmiflion and ac- knowledgment! aud bowing himfelf 'to her with a demeanour full of refpedt. Madam laid he, If that which you have done me the honour to tell me be true, as 1 ought to believe it out of the rejpelx I bear your words, Ida receive from my anions, fuch m they be, themojt glo- rious fruit I could ever hope for, and all that I could ever propofemy felf: but if you will be pleafed to grace me fo much as to own that little I have done, and aH that I thai] do for the filtkre, as done by a perfon who has the honour to be yourS, and who could do nothing but to tkerit the glory to ferve you ; I will not only not change my condition with the greateli men in the world, but I will believe that Fortune her felf can add nothing to my happinefi. They have inadi me write, andj^eak^in your favour, replied the Princefs, more perhaps than I ought to da'; and if you be reafonahle, you will not demand any thing of advantage. Ah Madam itd^AVirginia, interrupting their difcourfe with an excellent grace ) after fo long an ab- fence, feven or eight years jufferance, and acUons fo great and important, you ou^t not to refufe the pajlion and love nf Condaiice^ finee he defires nothing from you, hut what you may grant him without offending yonr dignity, and the love you have for glory, and which you if yott well remember have already yielded him. If J hare yielded him anything ( replyed the 40 PHARAMOND. Part I. the Princefs ) 1 h^tve no intentien to rttraU it \ and the e^eem which I have aln>ays had for him^ iujiead ofbeinjr diminill^ed, w axgrnented by the fjim of his merit and fair rcp:ttation. j Jhould defve ( added t1ie palfionate Conjiance ) if it mi'^ht be permitted me to defire it^ that thif precioiif ejieem might rather be augmented by the ktiowled^e of what I fiiffer for yott^ than hy the merit of what I have done fur the ferviceof the Emperottr : for I had rather he confider- able to you for the pajjion which makes me die adoring you^ than for all thofe advantages^ which Fortune or my Sword can give me ■■, not that I would not endeavour b^ them to raife my felf to a degree might make me worthy to ferve ynu^ hnt that fuch means producing a defrr^d effect over the inclinations of the Emperour, I might obtain my w^flyes over yours^ if it be pof- fible^ by the proofs of a faithful pajjion, and compa^ my end, that if the Empercur one day can judge me worthy of the honour to which I ajpire, it (hould not be only the rejpeci you bear him^ to which I would owe my Fortune, I */;/«i^ f replied tiie Princefs J that there is little dife- rence between this y»u now demand, and what I have l^ijg fmce yielded you > and I tell you U' gain, if you can ( as you are already well advanced towards it ) raife your felf to a degree that may make the Emperour apprave your defign, J fljall not only not be averfe to it, but favour you as much as reafon, and what I owe to my quality will permit me. In the mean time ( fee- ing that Virginia if witnefof my this days folly ) you may live in hopes that you are not indiffe- rent to me, and that I wiH not do that for any man in the world, which I would for you, Conjiance, who eftcem'd the favours of the Princefs equal to the perfon that conferr'cJ them, rcceiv'd this iau with an extaiie of joy, which it will be difficult for me to exprefs, fince he could hardly do it himfelf: he returned her thoufands of thanks, with all the marks of a grateful acknowledgment : And in the'^nd, by the commandment of the Princefs they wav'd that cifcourfe, and my Mafter having anfwer'd Flacidia to many que- ftions concerning hi? voyage, had the fatisfadion to underftand from her lips and from Virgjnia^s, that the perfccutions which flie had fuffer'd for the paifions of Euchere, and the endeavours of the Emprcfs, who was extremely felicitous for him, inftead of being ad- vantageous to hiui, hadonly produc'd adifdain in the difpofition of the Princefs, and that he was as unhappy as his Rival could wi(h hjm : their conveifation held yet fome time longer i and Ctf«jfi««(;e had an entire permiliion to do what ever might cncline Honoriits to render him happy, at which hqljNmuch rejoyced, that he could hardly contain himfelf. . But night approaching, my^after, whofe refpedl forbid him to lodge in that houfCj took leave of the Princefs. I had the honour to give her the good night i and (he under- ilanding the affedlion v^hich Conllance bore me, treated me with an infinite goodnefs : I only fpeak this to draw thence an occafion to tell you fomewhat of her beauty, which I found fo augmented, and in fo an entire a perfection, that I was. wholly furpriz'd and a- ftonifliM : as (ox Conjiance, he was fo tranfported with joy, for his good fortune, that all the way of our return he ccas'd not to relate to me his happinefs, and tell me what I have now recounted to you, with other particulars of their difcourfc of lefs importance. Twas night before we arriv'd at the City, yet that could not hinder my Matter from receiving a great number of vifits i fo that the gueateli part of the night was fpent before he could retire. The ifext morning he waited on the Emperour, and then receiv'd from him thofe Carefies that-almofl confounded him i nor did the Emperour ceafc at bare Ca- refles, but in few days made him know by the Dignities and Honours he conferred upon him, that he had a defign to raife him to the highell degree afubjed could afpireto-, and that, ii Stilicon, who alone was above him, had more authority in the Empire, and over the Emperour, itwas by apower ufurped, which it would be difficult to make him lofe > and not by that inclination which feem'd wholly to favour Conjiance. Few days after our return, to teftirte the confidence he had in him, the Emperour told him in fecret, that he had been advertis'd by feveral means, that Stilicon had ill defigns, and intended to ufurp the Empire : that it was he that lengthen'd the War with the Barbarians •, that Alaric had by his Brother given him this advice, and that he himfelf had found it to be true, in that Stilicon did outwardly defire to have peace with Alaric, and had counfelled him to it in his Letters,yet he ga/c counfels wholly contrary to his profcfs'd intention,and daily reprefented (o him the inconveniences to which he would expofe himfelf, by giving to the Vifigothi' thofe Lands which they demanded among the Gaitles: He told him likewife many other things with jin intire conhdencei and ray Matter receiv'd thefe marks of his affedion, with a deep refped: and true refentment of fo obliging a carriage j but concerning the in- tereft of Stilicon, he faid he durft not lightly give his judgment upon fuch a man, who might truly be condemned as too ambitious, but for his great adions had merited well both of theEtnpire and Emperour: that itwas a great while that himfelf had murmured at the too great authority which hefaw him endeavour to ufurp, and had with many other noble Komitnr Book II. FHARAMONR 41 Romaut impatiently born the yoke he had irhpos'd on tiiem, but that this was all that wa$ to be condemned in liim, and that in the time that he had been with him at the War, he had found him (o zealous a ruiner of the enemies of the Empire, that he could not believe he-- held any intelligence with them. .. "Tis not an intelligence n>ith them (anfwcred the Empcrour , interjupting him) that 1 ac atfe kirn of^ but on the contrary it is believed that he irritates the people againji iif, by the dif- contentments tvhich he gives them , and that he caufes thcje broils in allcomers of the Empire to put all in trouble, and tal{s opportunity ditriitg thefe diforders to effeS his defigns rvith more fa- cility than he could hope for inquiet and peaceable times ; ejpecially trowing myjpirit to he peace- able^ and my complexion trfak^a.id delicate^ he )xd^ed that by the Labyrinth of affairs into tvhich be fvill involve me, I (hall lofe my cnitraj^e ■, and be obliged to leave him an entire Authority or ajficiate him in the Empire •, tvhich null never a^ree rvith my intention. My Lord and Em- ^frowr (replied CanjiaHceJtbat tphich you fay may have fometbingof truth in it, yet perhaps not be tvhAly f V "'td therefore I jhall ponnfel your Majefly not to believe any thing abfnUiteh:, for yet fo negleU aivf thing-, youmayjiill preCerve your Authority rvithout condemning a man who may yet be necejjary and profitable to yfl«, ejpecially upon the report of his and oHr enemies t whofe aecitfation may the rather be judged falfe, in that his aCtions have tejlijied, he hath not at all jpar''d them, hut well maintain' d the IVar againji them j and in the mean time , though he jhould put himfelf in a4 eflate to execute thofe ivicked intentions of tvhich they dccufe him yott rvillmt tvant faithful fervants to defend you, and makf him perijh in the Enterprize. He likewife added many things concerning this fubjedjto ftrengthcn the EmperoUr's iia- tural foftnefs 6c timorous difpolition, without abfolute incenfing him againft Stilicon, whom he fufpeded only for an unmeafur'd ambition, but not at all for infidelity or Treafon. But Stilicon was tew days after called toKowe, by an ill fortune happening to his Houfe, the death of the Emprefs !r/;er/«j«f/j his Daughter, who left the World after five or fix days ficknefs : as (he had few qualities confiderable, fo (he was lamented but by few perfons, though the Emperour, who was naturally good and tender , feemed much afflided. Pla~ cidid's virtue ( who was returned to Kome, the day after our coming from her Palace) made her take part of -her Brother's grief, and endeavour to comfort Serena the Wife of Stilicon, and Euchere himfelf, for their lofs ; but it was at the arrival of Stiticon, who had quitted Ravenna at this News, that the flavifti Favourites did make their Lamentations,and accompani'd at leaft with appearances of theirs, the trucgrief he had in his foul. Confiance induced by other motives, teftiti'd himfelf touch'd for his ill fortune, as indeed he was : and Stilicon, who knew how to difcern the thoughts as well as the adions of great men teceiv'd the civilities of Conjlance in another manner , than that of thofe perfons whofe vile complacence made them adl it : for Stilicon himfelf he wasgriev'd at the very heart i and many there were that judg'd it lefs the force of relation that prpduc'd this effcd, than the regret to have loft fo potent a flay near the Emperour, and one of the Itrongeit up- holders of his Authority, conhdering that the Emperour had no Children by this Mar- riage. In the m.ean time, to return to the interefls of my Mafter , the two Vifigoth Princes did every day fee the Princefs P/jc/«//*, and by the effedt of her Beauty and ill fortune of Con- ftance. Prince Autalph Brother to Ring Alaric became pallionately enamored of her. As he had pride enough to imagine that his love could not offend the greateft Princefs in the World,fo he took little care to hide it either iiom?lacidia,ox the whole Court of the Empe- ror ; But the Princefs being no lefs haughty,or perhaps having a pride grounded upon great- er Reafons than thofe of Autalph, was fo little fatish'd with a behaviour which Ihe found fomuch different from that of Confiance, zr\di Void of the refped which (lie thought due to her, that it appear'd to all mens judgments llse had conceived an infinite averfnefs for him. Not that VnnctAuialph was to be difdain'd for his perfon ■•, for he was neither de- (iitute of courage not valour, his prcfcnce moli comely and advantageous, and of a noble afpedl i but there was fomething of fuch excellive pride feem'd fpread throughout hisf whole Phyiiognomy, and his drlpolitiondeclar'd him fierce, warlike, and barbarous, rather than a perfon poliih'd and bred up in civil fociety. That of Prince Wallia his Coufin was quite different : for though he was valiant in War, in a molt eminent degree,he was fo fweet and affable in peace, and carri'd himfelf in all things with fo much grace and addrefs, that themofl: poli(hed of the Romans A'vdi with envy behold themfelves inferiour in all genti- lity to a Prince educated amorgft the Barbarians ; nor could they deny that both for body and mind, this Prince was one of the mo(\ accompli(h'd men in the World. The rivallliip of the Gotbick^ Prince, bred not a little difconteut in my Mafter, rather out 6f a natural reludancy we have to fuffer Pvivals in fuch occafions, or out of a predidion G 6f 42 FHARAMOND. t^ARt I. of the evils he was afterwards to be Author of, than for feat either Tlacidia or the Eifipe- rourdiould prefer him before himfelfi knowing well the advantages he had overfucha Rival : but as his refpedl wasunparallel'd , he wouJte, vvith the lofs of his whole Army. It was not only that day that my Mafter received thofe important proofs of the Ptih- ceffes goCid will i but after that time finding in him all thofe things which might create ai ■fabjettr Generpfity ( TcpVicdriacidia, vwith an iiitiHitefweeinefs J PUtejl.yau^ that I would not enjoy felicity but with you.\yaAd,if ithe bt wy power to caufe tijg^ happineji; of any per fin .^ it fhaH be none: but yours. ]■',-. . . ■ . • At thefe words, the moft obliging thatcouldpollibly be fpoTien by a perfon of fo higfe degree as tlacidia^ Coajiance was fo much tranfported with joy, that hardly the preierice* of tliofe per(bns that were within the Camber,, could hiudur. him from giving publick den monlfrations V but at length having overcome that paffion, and bowing his liead with i. moft fubmitfive behaviour, JKould to Heaveit C(a\d\i£toflacidia) that I could one day tne- rit that fortune to which you thii djy have raised me ■, but I fndit fi much too great fir' tiiei that I cdHHo't imagine my firengtb able to fuppart it. Thpir difcoiirie could not continu6 longer, by realbn of the company which drew near, among(V whom ■wacAuta'.ph^ E^- chere., hleracltdn^ Artabure^ and the excellent Claudian, fo fanioirs iot Her aick^ Poefie^ by which he had already gained fo much glory, that the Emperour had caufed hisStatue to- be fet up in Brafs in oneof the chiefelt places of Ko/wf : It is true, that he was much in-< clined to Stiticou., and his Houfe, as he had teftifi'd by many publick proofs > and Euchere. in all thofe Gallantries fo which his love obliged him, wasadilkdby Him in thofe pettj^ works of Poelie, which his ingenuity could not produce. Yet this ferved him fo little, that thofe who have chanced to fee any thing which proceeded truly from Euchere''^ own ftudies, have not failed to attribute it to C/ij«(iM». .. Yet this night he engaged himfelf in an Enterprize, in which he propofed to have tbe whole honour, though Claudian might have fome employment i and to this end he fpoke aloud before all that (air company, that within three days he would maintain in the great place of the Hippodrome.^ that the Princefs P/jci^/a was the faireft perfon in the world i and that he would break three Lances with thofe who would dare to difpute fo undeniable a truth. This propofition of Euchere''s plcafed one part of the company, for. the hopes they had of a plealingdivertifcmenti but it difpleafed others, and particularly his Rivals, who were troubled to fee the glory of Placidia in other hands than their own > and Au- talph was about to break (ilence when Conjiance did it. Tou will be in danger ( faid he to Euchere ) alone by your felf to breaks three Lances ■■, for you maintain a trxth fi much l^nowjt.^ that few perfiiHS will enter into the lijis to difpute it againji you. I aver ( added Prince Au' talph ) that feof perfiHSnfiU pght upon this !jujfrrel\ but it may give other perfons cenfiderabU motives to difpute a^ainfl him s and I aJJ'ure you that neither yott nor I fhali he wanting to be of that number. JFithout doubt I (hall nut ("replied Conjiance) if I can find any means io enter without doing an injury to the honour of the Prince^ : and I fliaU feek^ with you fome rea- fon or an other to enter .^ without difputing ihift truth^ which I would no lefi defend than any other. • ; ; ■■ - ■ Thefe words confirm'd Autalph and Euchere., in the fufpicion which the^ began 't6 have of the love ef Conjiance., and in their tJioughts accus'd him of hav-ingfo lately diC- cover'd its and from that moment they began to regard him as their Rival and mortal Enemy : for in fumm, nofooner did they believe him their Rival, but they believ'd hi^n belov'd of Placidia ■■, and refle(fting upon all that eftcem which (he had for him, -and his induftry infervingher, they both believ'd that it w^s Conjlmce whom they ought to fear as the moft alTur'd of her favour ■■, and at the fame time, part of the hatred which they had for each other, was turn'd againft Conjiance., as tgainil him who without doubt would be more happy, and more fortunate: They both with their eyes tcliitid their thoughts-i and Euchere anlwcringto what my Mafierhad fpoke ■■> It does appear ( faid hc^ that you mli not want reafins lefi than Autalph to break^a Lattce for the honour of Ladies j but under tfbai 4^ PHJRAMOND. Fart what pretext foever either one er the other comes ^ yeti (hall find me dijpofed to defend both that truth mhich I have propofed^and all thofe vphith 1 would maintain. It rvoulddo better, (faid Flacidia) to defiji from thU enterprize : fir in divertifementt of this nature.^ thvre arrives of- tentimes accidents., and but little fatisfadion. Oh! Madam (faid Camilla^afah Koman Lady that flood near her) n'^yrr;// you deprive ns of fo ^reai pleafure \ or rvhy will you not permit what is o>dy enterpriz'd for your glory and the public)^ contentment? for your diver- tifement Canfwered the Ytinctk) I confent to itwitb all my heart \ but for myglory^ I will not commit it to three csurfes of a Lance., nor would I have it confjji in that beauty^ which Euchere would render famous by hvs enterprize. They returned in anfwer to this difcourfe of the Princefs, many things which (he had no defire to give attention to : and all the while' the company flayed with her, nothing- Was talked of, but this Challenge. Conjlance flaying laft , to the great regret of the other two Lovers, had yet fome minutes converfatton with Flacidia, in which flie would dif- fwade him from entring the Lifts, telling him that it was notjufl that fo valiant a Captain, famous for fo many great Vidories, fliould adventure himfelf amongft perfons of a mean reputation, or ferve himfelf with his Lance but at the Head of Armies : but in the end C0n\lance obtained permiflion to enter, by telling her that it was in an Age , in which he could not difpenfe with fuch Exercifes , and that it concern'd him fo much to abate the Pride of thofe two infolent Rivals, that he could not without an infinite grief lofe fo fair anocca{ion,finceif Fortune were not contrary to him, hehop'd to humble them by this Adventure. The next Morning the Court of the Emperour was grac'd with the arrival of a Princefs, renown'd amongft the faireft of the World i and indeed ftie was of fo excellent a Beauty, that if theintereft of my Mjfter had not rendred me partial for Flacidia, I might fay that flie was not at all inferiour to our Princefs ; It was Iheodolinda, Daughter to the great King of the Huns, who having fome time before made an Alliance with Howr/w, would teftiiie the confidence he had in his friendftiip, and the defire which he had to render his Alliance durable, by fending his Daughter to flay fome time at Kome with the Princefs her Sifter. As ftie was Daughter to one of the greatest Kings of the World, fo (he came , to Kome with an Equipage befitting her Greatnefe, and indeed wholly magnificent > but no- thing was conOderable to her felf : and in truth, my Lord, 1 believe their are few Beauties in the World that have any advantages over hers j her skin was admirable fairj her com- plexion, compofedof themoft lively white and pureft carnation in the World, did aftoni(h thofe that beheld it •, her Eyes feem'd full of fiiC, though they were black i and her Hair of the fame colour, did marvelloufly well become her Face •, the Beauty of her Lips did not at all yield to other parts of her perfon i and thofe Ladies that behold her with envy, muft with difficulty endeavour to find any fault in her whole compofure : Her mind was no lefs excellent than her body, for though it feem'd full of haughtinefs mixt with a pride, which did prefent fomewhat of Barbarifm, yet is ftie by the report of thofe perfons who from frequent converfe have drawn their knowledge of her,indu'd with all charming fweetnefs. ... '. ■ ,;..... But as (behath little intereft in the Story of my Mafter,! (hall forbear farther fpeaking of hers and- I had fpoken lefs, if I had not believ'd I ought this Teftimony to a well known Truth. This fair Princefs was honourably receiv'd by Honorius, and by the Prin- cefs his Sifter, and lodg'dina convenient Apartment of the Paftce , where (he was nobly treated-, and for the love of her, thofe fportswere renewed, which after the death of the Emprefs had been intermitted in the Imperial Houfc. Flacidia being a perfon whofe vir- tue made her look upon no perfon with envy, ftie cheri(h'd a very great fricnd(hip for the Princefs "iheodolinda ■, and Iheodolinda having (and with reafon) a good opinion of Fla- cidia, as believing her inferiour to none, fo (he belield her with a becoming refped and true affedion. Cleomira a fair and complafant Princefs, Daughter of the King of the longres, the ancient and faithful Ally of the Komans , was likewife come to Kome fome few days before , together with the Prince Taxander her Brother , a Prince of great valour and merit : befides thefe Illuftrious Perfonages , there was a great number of whom I ftiall make no mention , which made the Court more glorious , than it had been for many Ages. The Night that preceded that Day on which Euchere was to perform his Challenge, 'iheodolinda, Cleomira, and many fair Koman Ladies, waited on the Princefs. The Empe- rour likewife himfelf came thither, and with him Autalph,Conjiance, fFallia.,Euchere,'tax- ander, Artabure, Heraclian,2iT)d other confiderable perfons of the Court, they began pre- •feritly to difcourfe of the divcrtifement which they the next dav expeded i and Flacidia .'.■.■ willing Book II. THARAMOKD. 47 willing to honour Tl'e()(:^(?//«rf^, told the Company thdt Oic would caiifc (he defign of that Enterprize to be changed, and have the fame pcrtormed for the Beauty of that Princefi, which was intended for hers : but Euchen who had the principal interelljteftificd his diP' like i and Ibeodolinda defended her fclf with an excellent Grace, from the civility of Vla^ ddia^ praying her to permit her to accompany her without any other intercft than what' (helhould have in her glory •■, and that when by a longer fiay {he had acquired Friends at RflwP, flie would not hinder thofe whotiiight have any fuch intentions, the enfc'rprizinfbP. any thing for hers. " '' ''" '■ ' '.t: The Emperour, whofe difpofition was naturally curteftm , and more proper for coh- verfc with Ladies, than the management of great Affairs v told her a thoufand obliging things upon this occafion, prOtcfling that he himfelf would be her Ciiampion, and main-- tain the Honour of her Beauty againlt the whole World : but in the end, atter a long corji^ teltation,'twis agreed that the Atchievement fliould be executed in the manner it >Way-pro« pofed, though P/dc/z//^ rcfifted it as much as fhe could. ' ' '< During this familiarity, the Emperour feeing upon a Table a beautiful Scarf enriched with all that Gold or the curiofity of the Workmanfhtp could give it of embclhfliment,' faking it in liis hands, and (hewing it to the whole Company, Sijler f faid he to the Prin- ted) methmkj with fome fuch prefent as this you ought to favour thofe that fight for ysur glory^ and they wiU probably defend it belter when encoura^d by fuch a favonr. My Lord' (anfwercd the Princefs ) Jiwe there are fa many of them in one intention^ I k^ownot to whom 1 may pifily give it ; a>id perhaps 1 fhaJI raife a jealoitfie for a thing of fo flight value. Give' me leave to tell yo:t (faid Eucbcre iwoA prefuminglyjt/jjjf J was the only perfonhad intention to fight for your Beauty^ for no other can have any thing common in fo glorious a defign \ and therefore if any one can merit fo precious afavom\''tU to me alone that you can give it with juftice^' Prefer nfit fanfwer'd Autalph^ looking upon him with difdainj^ioar intentien to that of O' thers i the propofition yon have made^ favours rather ofboldnefithan rejj>e& and fubmiffion^ arid yoH ought rather to attend the fuccefi^ than demand a reward^ which we hope to merit as well as you. For ?w ffaid Ctf«:;i yet he comforted himfelf with the hopes to pick up fome pretence from what fliould pals in this Aiftiqn, to quarrel with his Rivals » and after having kept fome time of lllcnce, t wonder not at covered with Arms fo rich , ^Jiat the Gold and precious Stones daxled the light : he was mounted upon a fair Italian Horfe, and had led after him feveral others covered wuh rich Liveries fuitable to the reft of the Equi- page, which appear'd moft noble and fumptuous to all the Spedators. Antalph {oWov/tA. icon after, attended by the principal of his Vifxpths^ and in an Equipage which though it had fomewhat of Barbarifm in it, yet attra(!Jed the fight with a great deal of pleafure, and was remarkably collly and magnificent : he was mounted upon a Barbary Horfe, but fomewhat bigger than the ufual Horfes of that Country, and fnorting contrary to the cuftom i which Autalph managed with fo good a grace, that he made himfelf to be look'd upon by the whole Aflembly, as a Prince of great courage, and whofe prefence denoted his Uluftrions extradion : His Arms were extremely rich, and his Head cover'd with fo large and fair a Plume,as cover'd all his Shoulders : his Liveries were noble, and his whole Equipage expreffed the Grandeur of the Mafter. Conjiance came after them, but drew no lefs than they, the eyes of the whole AiTembly, whofe affections he.had already gain'd : though their appeared in his Equipage lefs pride than in the others, yet it had no lefs magnificence, and all things were much better ordered i all the Liveries more proper and rich ; for being naturally the moft liberal man in the World, by his great expence he had done things in two days, which fo (liort a time had hindred his Rivals from effecting : his Arms were compofed of little Scales of Gold enamell'd with red and white, and enrich'd all over with Stones of infinite price ; his Helmet made of the fame workmanfliip, was adornM wi.h a fpreading white and carnation Plume, below which was to be fcen hang- ing on his Shoulders the fair Scarf of P/(ic/i^/ij,fa[ln'd with a great knot behind, and plac'd there with defign to be better obferv'd in thecourfe, by the help of the wind which play'd with the ends that hung down , and wav'd them behind my Matter as he ran -.He was mounted on a moft excellent Horfe ,• which himfelf had brought out of Eif^ama Betica, and of which King Gunderic had made a prefent to him, at their parting j and fuch was the nimble grace of his Horfemanftiip, that the two Rivals were not a little difpleafed to fee the whole Affembly fix their eyes upon him, but their choler was more inflam'd to fee the Scarf •> nor hardly could they moderate themfelves, or wait the time proper to difpute fo glorious a favour. After my Mafter, feveral others entred ; and amongft the reft, the Prince "taxander rich- ly armed, and proudly mounted, the valiant Artabttre^ Arcobinde^Heraclian^ Maximus^Fla- vian^ and others, whofe names are not unknown to your Majefty •, the greateft part of which fent to the Princefs Placid/a^ that if they ran againft Euchere , 'twas not to difpute with him a truth which themfelves would avow, but to give her a divertifement, if ftie pleafed to accept it. All things being rcduc'd at length in the accuftom'd order, Euchere having caufed the Trumpeters^ Book IL P H A Fx. A M N D, 49 Trurtipeters to proclaim the defiance which he made to all the World for the Beauty of flacidia, plac'd himfelf in the Lilts with a ftrong Lance i and (when it was perceived that ricitbex Conjiance nor Autalph preiTed themfelves to run the tiril courfe, Autalph out of pride tvilling to let Euchere gain fome honour before he would put himfolf in an eftafc to oppofe him, and Conjiance detain'd by other reafons not known to the Alliftants) Flavian prefcnted himfelf Hrfl in the Lifts, and parting at the found of the Trumpets at the fame time with Euchere, they encountred in the middle of the Courfe with a fufficient force and courage j but Flavian was thrown over the Grouper, and Euchere finilh'd his Carrier without being moT'd. The whole Affembly applauded the Beauty of this Courfe i and Maximm taking the place of Flavian^ ran with a fuccefs equal to his, and was tlirown on the Ground without having (haken Euchere in his Saddle. The Son of Stilicon glorying in thefe two profpe- rbus Courfes, might behold Heradian entred the Lifts ■■, and parting at the lignal given, he encountred him with fo much ill fortune for Heradian^ that he threw both Horfe and man to the Ground with fo rude a fall, that he broke his arm ■■, nor could he raife himfelf but by the help of his Servants, who carried him full of pain, but more incenfcd againft Ea- ehire , forth of the Lifts : The fair fuccefs of thefe three Courfes raifed fo much pride in thie haughty Euchere^ that he began to call to his Rivals, and demand of them , if they thought the defence of Tlacidia's BcdiUty to be in ill hands i when Jtttalphhdkv'wghim to have gain'd honour enough for him to run againft him, and not being able longer to fuf- fer his pride, he preftTed before the reft, and prefented himfelf in the Lifts j but before the courfe making a Ogn to Euchere that he would fpeak with him , they advanc'd each to- wards the other i and ^«tj//>^ lifting up the Vizer of his Helmet to fpeak more diftinift- ly, and be the better under'ftood, Euchere^ faid he ( fo high as to be heard by the Empe- rour, the Princefs, and thofe that were near them) I come not to combate thee upon the (juar- rel thou maintaineil \ I k^ow too tveUthat Placidia is the faireji Verfon of the World ; hut I maintain that the defence of her Beauty is rather due to me than thee^ and that no man in the World merits fo ivell as my felf the glory to ferve her. Thefe proud Speeches difpleafed both Tlacidia^znd many other perfons that heard them > znd Euchere iiaving liftn'd to them with fufficient difdainv I jhould rather (lepli'd ht) anfcver this difcourfe with my Sxvord^ than my Lance: but I hope that n>e Jhall have an opportunity both for the one^ and the other t in the mean time I particularly defie thee upon this quarrel^ as 1 have done all the iForld upon the firft. ■ At thefe words they return'd to take their Carrier i and Euchere having chofen a new Lance , they parted at the accuftom.'d Signal , encountring with an unfpeakable force, breaking their Lances into thoufands of pieces, without being moved in their Saddles : All the Spedtators praifed the gallantry of their Courfe ■■> the fecond fell our in the fame manner i but at the third , they having taken ftronger Lances than in the two hrft, car- li'd each other to the Ground with equal advantage. They feem'd enraged with anger the one at the other, and would have be^un a Combat with their Swords, if the Empe- rour, and the Judges of the Field had not caufed them again to mount their Horfes, by parting betwixt them the honour, and ordaining that Euchere ftiould continue his Enter- prize (o the end, and Autalph (hould with the reft attend the fuccefs. Ewe/jfrf being mounted on a frefti Horfe, and feeing that Conjiance flood flill in his firft place without rnaking any fign of coming to the Combat, he boldly defi'd him both with his Voyce and Gefture, and fcnt an Efquire to inform him that it was him that he attend- ed to make proof againft, and to merit by a blow of the Lance the fair Scarf of Placidia : hut Conjiance hdtv\n» patiently liftn'd to the Efquire , lell Euchere ffaid he) that J have kot yet found the reafon tvhy I jhould feel^to combat a man that defends the Beauty of Placi- dia i but I hope to make him kitotv that before the end of the day I may meet with one^ and then J ll;all defend as well the Scarf as the Beauty of Placidia. The good opinion which all the World had of Conjiance^ made them attend fomewhat extraordinary in the deftgn, whilft in the mean titne a Knight whom they had not before taken notice of, appeared in the LiftsV and having civilly demanded that Courfe irom Anabure ^ who was about to undertake "it, before he ran, he fent his Efquire to fpeak to Euchere •, and Eucbere being prepared to hear him ; My Lord^ faid he, (aloud, en purpofe to be underftood by the Ladies, and Con- jiance himfelf, whb advanc'd for that end) my Mafier hath commanded me to tell you, that he mns not again{i you with any intention to of end the Beauty of the FrincefiYhcidh-, for though he avows that nntbing^ in the World is fairer than JJje^ yet that which he maintains a* g»in{i you, and a^ainli the whole World,is, that there is another Lady in the World, whofe Beau- ty mtiji mi yield to any in the Earth. The Efquire at the words retir'd, and oblig'd the ' - H Sjjcdatoi's 50 PHJ.RAMOND. Part, 1 fpedlators to behold the unknown Knight with a more induftrious view. ' We was cover'd with very fi^ir Arms, and mounted upon a moll beautiful Steed ; but cfpccially his greai^ grace in the-faddle made them conceive a good opinion of him. The Trurapets founding, he parted ac the fame time with Euchere : and their fliock wasfo rude, that the Lances were broken into innumerable fliivcrs s Euchere loft his Stirrups, but the unknown KnigUc fini(h'd his Carriere without being mov'd. Stilicon's Son not having had any difadvan-* tage all the whole day till now, made the Spedators more diligently caft their eyes on tha unknown Knight, who having took another Lance after the example of Euchere, return^ ed to begin another Courfe : they parted at the fignal, and the unknown Cavalier with fo much violence encountred the Son of StlUcon^ that tumbling him over the Horfes Grou- per, he made him meafure his length on the ground, whilft he hnifli'd his courfe without making any ill pofture in his Saddle. : . ' At the fall of Ewe&f re, all the people gave a great Qiouti and though the Princ^fs f^wf her glory ill defended, yet (he was not at all diflatished. Eut 'twas now th3.t Con\lance advanc'd himfcif, and enlarging his voice to be underllood by tlic whole world, Emc/j«-«^ ( [aid he ) Behald mn> what 1 fought for, which rvas tn fght for Flacidia, and mtv I'taketbj/' place rvith hopes to defend her beauty better than tho« ha\i done. Flac/dia did with joy, behold the grace and behaviour with which Cg-'tjUnce proceeded in this adion, and the whole affcmbly teftiri'd their approbation of it by their cryes and clapping of their hands -, but whilft Conjtance was placing himfcif in the Lifts with a ftrong Lance, he might bcr, hold the Efquire of the unknown Knight to approach him, who accofting him with iaf-. ficient rcfped i My Lord, ( faid be ) my Malier entred mt here to combat againii you, but firice he cannot nvthoitt fo doiTJg quit the Lijis rvith hon:ur\ he hath intention to defend tht^ propofitknbe made ■■, but will only breal{^ one Lancezvith you. The Enquire return'd at thefe words, without expedting an anfwer : while Conflance thought himfelf fo oblig'd to the civility.of his Maftcr, thathe would willingly have yielded him the honour without run- ning againft him, if'by doing it, he fhould not have difpleafed Tlacidia : he made him a fign with his iiand that he acknowledg'd his courtefie-, and foon after they took their Carriere with fo much fury, that they made all that beheld them admire the gallantry oi[ their Courfe : yet neither the one, nor the other, moved in their Saddles, though the fplin- ters of their Lances flew up into the Air.* Cot^lance went to take another Lance, believ- ing that this equality of the Courfe would oblige the unknown Cavalier to run another; but he lOon pcrceiv'd he had no fuch defign, when he faw him depart the place, and difap- pear in a moment, leaving Euchere aiflided beyond comfort i but Jutalph hoylin^ with rage and jealoufie, advanced before all others to run againft Conjlance > and after having told him that he would run with him on the fame conditions that he had done with £«- chers, and witli delign Co difpute with him the glory to fcrve Placidia, and not the price of her beauty i he made ready to begin his, carriere, and at the found of the..Trumpets^ paflcd the firft courfe with little difadvantage^ but in the fecond. Fortune was more contrary to him, and he was fo rudely encountred by the Lance oi Conjiance, that he was thrown cut of his Saddle upon the ground, whilft my Maftcr was not at all ftiaken. The fall of /^W'*//'/:' caufed a great fliout through the whole aflembly j Cot Conjiance be- ing belov'd by all prefcnt, but only the V/figuths, there was fcarce, except them, a per- ibn that did not rcjoyce at his good fucccis. Conftance retired with modefty, not being willing to brave the unfortunate, though he had fufficient fubjed : and in the meantime Euchere, who had remounted himfelf, and who by the fire which darting' frum his eyes, made his anger appear, approaching fiercely towards him, and fpeaking with a loud voice > Since thou hajl not vanquilhed me ( faid he ) and that anothers fortune cannot give tlce any advantage over me, in my judgment, thou oughtejl to have run againji me before thou tookejl my place. 1 took, thy place ( reply ed Constance) after thou hadji kit it by thy fall, and I have defended the beauty of Vhcid\3, when it n>.H tvithout defender: ifthoutvilt run up n any other pretence^ it ii permitted thee; hut I will Hoiv thit day defend Vhc'idiz^s beauty, ^ntalph, who full of rage was now come near the other two, not giving Euchere leave to anfwer, No perfm ( faid he to Conftance ) hath dij^iited rvith thee the beauty of Placidia, nor can[i thott defend it better thanme in a Combat where Fortune Jf: all have lefi part than in ihii here. Euchere at this beholding Autalph with difdain. Let me alone (laid he ) to end my differences rvitb Conftancc : for ftnce he hath vanquilhed thee, thou by the cuftom of Arms canji no more dijpute itn-ithhim. "thou art vanquifl^ed as well as I ( rcp\yed Autalph ) and by a perfnn tvbo hath MO more valour than Conftancc. If he have but as much asl ( faid Cottliance, fomcvvhat provoked 3 he has emu^h to hnmble the pride of either of you two-, and I have enough to mah^e you ]{itow in another place, and i>i another fort of Combaf^ that you are both unworthy df the glory to ferve Vhcidi:i. 1 know Book II. FHAFxAMONI). 54 I know not wheiher 'twas anger that fo tranfportcd Ettcbere, that it deprived him' of hi^ judgment) or the reliance he had on the authority of his Father,. that made him forget the refped he ought to the prefence of the Emperour : and whether ^«/j//);E> being defccnd- ed of a Soveraign houfe, "fo far from being dependent on the Empire, that it made war againft it on equal terms, believ'd that he was not obliged to have any conlideration fot Homriiis ; but fcarce had Conjiance Hnifli'd thofe words, when his two P>.ivals having drawn their Swords, he might at the fame time feel two good handfome blows on his head. The choler wliich inflamed him at fuch an rnjury, made him make a cry, would have daunted the moft affured \ and palling with his head bow'd down between his two ene- mies, he ftopp'd his horfe about twenty paces from them, and at tlie fame time with his Sword in his hand, he charged them with fuch a fury, as made them repent their over- daring enterprife. As they were fomewhat abalFd for having both together afTaultcd him, fo not having any greater friendfliip the one for the other than they had for him, .they were tliemore difmayed ■■, and my Mafter having found Euchere fjrft, difcharged fo weighty a blow upon his head, that the Helmet proved too feeble to refift it, and the Son of Stllicon tumbled off his horfe to the ground defpcrately wounded : from thence, with a quicknefs like to lightning, being mounted upon one of the fwiftcft horfes in the world he flew towards Autalph^ before the Troop that ran to feparate them could hinder him j and making a full thrufl, pierc'd his right Arm which he had lifted up to ftrike him, fo that with the wound he let tall his Sword. Then making two blows more with an infi- nite adivity i he had not time, had there been any more to do, to have done any more; being environ'd by a hundred Swords drawn about him, by the friends of .the one and the other, and by thofe whom the Emperour had fent. The friends of Eucbere and the V'tfigoths of Autalph's train would have made feme ftir if they had dar'd : but though the power of Stilicon was great, the friends of Conjiance were more numerous than the others, and many valiant perfonages, who had fought under him in his Armies, gather'd themfelves together about him with infinite joy. His choler was foon paffed over •, and putting his Sword into his flieath, aflbon as they had carry 'd of} Eucbere^ and led off Autalph., in the midft of thofe brave friends that.accompany'd him, he went to attend the Emperour, whom his aftions had as much pleafed, as thofe of his enemies had incens'd him : being come before him, Soveraign CGidhe in a moft fub- miflive manner ) if I have offended the rejj^ed I owe to my Emperour^ by/ defending my life agaiHJi tbofe who have ajfauhed it in hU prefence -, I bring my head^ and fihmit my [elf to fuffer what yoitr juliice fhall pleafe to ordaiit. J am troubled ( reply'd the Emperour ) at the n>oundj of Eucheic and Autalph, for Ahnc^ s and StiVicon' s fa^e^ but I cannot ordain any punijhment to that perfoH who hath only defended his life : and if I did not believe his two ene- mies fufficiently pitniflied^ I would makf them know the fault they have committed. As the Emperour HonorJuf was naturally mild, and could not as yet overcome the power Stilicon ffill preferv'd over him, nor would provoke Alaric upon the point of concluding with him a dcfir'd peace, fo he would no farther exprefs his anger againff thofe who had fo iufolently violated the refped due to him, believing that their wounds were dangerous- and that they might poilibly be puni(h'd more feverely than hedelk'd. For the Princefs Flacidia, (he was furpris'd with many feveral pallions upon this occafion : at firli flie wa* fearful o( Conjiance^ when fliefaw him affaulted by two fuch furious enemies, but after- wards not having any thing of cruel in her nature, (he was troubled at the wounds of /?«. ialph and Euchere, though their perfons were little dear to her, believing they might be dangerous, and in the end prove tli£ lofs of thofe two men i but at laft , when (he under- (food there was little danger of their lives, (he was extremely joyful, to fee their pride a- bafed, and all that adventure fucceed fo happily advantageous to Conjiance. The Prin- cefs Theodolinda^ who had conceiv'd a great efteeiTi for my Maimer, was equally glad of his happinefs, remembring the judgment (he had given of him the night before, wlien (lie procured him the favour of t lie fair Scarf. But in the mean time they were extremely troubled, and all that magnificent afTembly with them, who that unknown Knight might be, who had thrown down Euchere^ and run againft Conjiance without difadvantage, of whom for his fair and happy courfes, they made many favourable judgments i but if they had a defire to know his perfon, they had no lefs to know the beauty for whom he com- bated : FlacidiaxoMlheodolinda^ that it was affuredly for hers, and that it was no wonder,- if in fulfaining fo ju(\ acaufehe had fo good fuccefs. That night my Mafter would not for modelHesfakego near the Emperour nor the Prin- cefs, believing that it would in fome meafute be anlnfultingover the misturunesof his Rivals i yet there fiay'd with him a great number of his friends, that the whole fortune of H 2 Stilicon 52 PHARAMOND. Part I. Stilicon fcarcelcd a train like him i but the next morning underftanding that thcEm- perour would willingly fee him, he went to attend him: paffing through a Gallery he cneountrcd Stilicon, tollow'd by a train of thofe whom his credit kept ordinarily about himi and niyjvialler having civilly faluted him, Stilicon returned his falute but coldly i and in the palling by told him. Ion once faved my Son's life, and yejierday you would have deprived him of it : but I hope you rviU gain le^ glory and lejl advantage from the lali aiiion than the fir{i. As I did my duty to fave your Son's life "( replyed Conjianee) I did the fame in repaying the injury he had done me : and as you hold no obligation to me for the firji aSion, fo you have mreafon to complain of the lali. He would not anfwer him more roughly, not being able to rcllrain himfelf from a confideration for him, excufing likewife the grief of a Father for the wounds of a Son, and the fhame he had for the ill fuccefs of his enterprize. But 5t///ctf« returning tohim, Jon bold ( faid he ) perhaps from me that fortune, rvhichhath put you into an ejiate to offend me ■■, but that fame power which ajp.jied you to mount fo high^ may liketvife make you defccnd, if it enterprize it. Conjiance utterly loll his patience at thisdifcourfe, and looking upon 5W/icff« with dildain, I fcorn ffaidhej to hold any For- tune front you, Tvbo are perhaps my inferiour in all things ■, I oa>e it to my Birth, and to my Virtue i and ai it w fixed upon other foundations than yo.irs, 1 hojpe it will be more durable^ andlefiexpofedtothofe accidents which mayreverfe it. Many conliderable perfons, who were prefent, hindred thisdifcourfe from proceeding farther ; and my N4alkrs friends leading him away, left Stilicon extremely incenfed at the lalt anfu'cr Conjiance xctmncd him. In fumm, he had been fo little accuftom'd, for many years, to hnd any perfons in the Empire, who durll give him replies of this nature, that he could hardly appeafe himfelf for this rencounter -, it making him refledt upon thofe niarks he had already obferved of the decay of his fortune, and making him believe it already changed, lince any other perfon but the Eniperourdurlt fpeak to him with fo much boldnefs: Both the one and the other made their complaints to the Emperour, who yet fomething fearful of Stilicon, but loving Conjhnce, as knowing the reafon on his fide, would take neither party, but charging them not to proceed farther in their difference, promis'd to accommodate all things fo foon as the wounds of Euchere were in a better cftate. Fortune at this time refol v'd to make tny Mafter as happy now, as afterwards (he intended to make him milerable v for the Emperour taking him by the hand, and leading him into a little Clofet, having beheld him fome time without fpeaking ; In the end, Conftance ( faid he ) // you have a true and faithful friendlhip for me, I would have you freely tell me a truth, which I am to demand of you, FUteH it you certainly C replyed CoHJiance ) though my confeffion would coji me all that I ejieem mojl dear i and I proteji that the lofi of my lifejhould not make me tell yuu the leaft faljhnod. I would then (replyed the Emperour J have you tell me fmcerely whether it be true that you are enamoured of the Princefi Placidia, m many perfons believe, and which ccufidering the thins^s that are faffed, it is difficult to douht. Con- Jiance changed colour at this difcourfe of the Emperours ■■, and fixing his eyes upon the ground, remained in that pofture, without replying any thing. The Emperour judged call ly by his adions a part of the truth-, but willing to know it more affuredly, and en- tirely, he prefs'd him in fuch fort, to anfwer him precifely, that Conftance feeing he could notihunit, endcavour'd to expel that artonifliment which had furpriz'd him i and lifting up his own, toward the countenance of i:/«>io>-;«.f, with an afpedt but ill affured » My Lord i faid he ) all your authority is necejfary to draw from me a confeffion of that miffortune., which 1 have hitherto hid from all the world, though I fell into it in the infancy of the Trincef : But fince it ii difcovered contrary to mv def.gn, after having been for fo many years kept fecret i and that it ii perhaps by my evil conduci that my Emperour hath k^own it ; give this prefnmptu- ous perfon all thofe punifhments that are due to him, and believe it. Sir, that I will not murmur at all, to die for that FrincefS, whom I am refolved to adore to the lajl moment of my life : I wiU not at all JHiiific my thoughts, though they are certainly fuch as I owe to the Sijier of my Emperour, and that in lifting my eyes to her, J have not forget any thing which a faithful fub- )ecr fliould pay to hit lawful Soveraign. "Tis only the raflntefiof others that hath difcovered me j and as I could not fuffer that theypould publickly ferve her, Tvho»t I durflonly adore fi-om the bottom of my heart, pafion forced from me that prudence^ which till then rul'd the conduU of my love. Conftance would have fpokcn more, but the' Emperour hindred him: ' 7is enough Con- ihiicc ( faid he ) and it fuff.ces me to underjiand from you that which I have defired, without demanding farther juftifications of an offence which I willingly pardon you, if Placidia will do the like : you are of fo Euftrious a blood, as cannot injure hers^ fmce your Ancejiors have held tlpe Book IL P H A Fx. A M N D. . 55 ihe fame dignities with BHTS : and for the merit of your perfnn^ it is fuel) ^ that a-itb-mt the af filiance of your extract^ there^s nothing hut rvbat you may fairly ajpire wito. I believe my Sijiers thoughts are nut much different from mine : I defire^ fr the love 1 bear ynu^ they may be the fame^ not. being of the humour^ as you rveli kitotv^ to violate her inclinations > but If (be be not at all contrary to you^ you may be ajfured that I (hall be always favourable to yo», and jhall affiji you to overcome thofe difficulties^ which you may meet with in her fpirit^ where my affillance may be neceffary. Cunjiance vfis ravifh'd with fo much joy at this difcourfe of the Emperours, that feeing himfelf alone with hiivi,he threw iiimfcU at his fcct.and embrac'd his knees with a demeanour which made him linow the grealncfs of hispaltioni and in (umin, told him all that rc- fentmcnt, which the reception of fo great a favour could pur into his mouth : and the Krri- perour opening himftlf entirely to iiim, bid him be certain of his good will, and afTurcdly rely upon it i but that it was not yet time to make it publick, and that it were bell attend- till the return oi Autalph^ and the conclullon of the peace with /llaric; and that things were in that po(turc, that there fhculd be no more realon to tear the ill intentions of Stili^ con. Constance recciv'd this advice of the Emperours with a becoming refped:, and io much joy, that he could liardly dilTeniblcit before him. Parting from.thc Emperour, he encountred the Prince IfaVia, whom he had not feen atthejuits, and whoexcus'd himfcU, that by reafon of a fall he had got from a Horfe, he could not be alhtiant at that publick divertifcmcnt ; and as he inhnitcly clieem'd his triend- fliip, he ran to iiim alToon as he fpi'd him s and drawing him apart to entertain him, I jhould dejpair ( faid he ) if what bath pajjed between Autalph and me^ fljould caufe any al~ terationin our jriendjhip : and although I am not i(^norant of the obligations you hare to that Trincehyrejf)n of the nearneji af bloody y^f 1 would have you believe that you owe fomething tothe friendihip which ynu have fworn me: And I proteji with truth to you^ that if Autalph had not lirucl{_ me, I JJjould have f offered all things from him for your fakf. Ton may per- haps add ( replied the Gothick^ Prince ) that amo^cji Hivals ^twiU be d/ffcult to prejerve a ' good correjpondence ■■, but be it for that occafwn^ or for any other, that this diforder w happen d between you, I k^ow rvelhow to difcern thofe occafions which engage me to take the part of Au- talph, from thofe which give me the liberty to confider fo precious a friendship as yours, which thire Jhall never be any thing of force fiiffcient to hinder rtte from opportunities to preferve at the price of my life. There parted many other civilities between them v after which JFaHia Im' vingtold Cunjiance, that he was going to make an excufe to the Emperour on tiiepart of Autalph, for the fault he had committed, -he told him likewife that he would entreat the Emperour to make reconciliation between Autalph and him, though he did not hope there could ever be a cordial tricndfhip between them, till the love either of the one or the other ceas'd, which he had Icfs reafon to hope of his than of Autalph's part. After they were parted, my Malk'r went, or rather flew to the Princcfs, not able to contain his joy, and dying with impatience to make her a partaker of his good fortune ; (he no fooner faw him, but (he read a part on his vilage, perceiving in his eyes, and throughout all his countenance, fomething of an amorous extatie i but being ignorant of the caufc, Coniance C faid (lie ) I did believe you more moderate in your good fortune'than now ynu feem to appear ; and I have obferved that in thofe great Vi[iories which you have won, you have teiiifi'd lejl \ov than I obferve in your eyes for the advantage over two meu. Ihough I had but that Jubjed of joy ( replied Con^iance ) though perhaps it ought to be as great as any I have drawn frum thnfe Ficiories I have gained againft the enemies cf the Empire-^ yet modejh would perjivade metodiff'eyuble It, how great fever; but my jpirit is now filed with a joy fa great, that there is no modeiiy can rejirain it, or hinder it from breaking forth. The Princefs at thcfe words tclHfying a curiollty to know farther, the perfons that were with her re- tir'd to the other tide of tiie Chamber i and Co>ii)ance remaining alone with her, told her word tor word all thedifcourfe which had pafs'd between him and the Emperours and reprcfenting to her his fortune, with all thofe marks of juy that could be given by a per- fon foinrinitely palhonate, he had the honour to know that the Princefs was as fenfibleof it as lie could delire. In eflcd, (lie telHricd withoLit any dillimulation, that die could not hear news more welcome, and more acceptable to her i and that fince the Emperour had the goodncfs to remit Wis happincfs to her will, he might be certain he lliould not be long a Itrangtr to thofe ailuranccs (he had given him of btr affed ion i flie counfcUcd him however to give the Emperour that fatisfadion he delir'd of him, by conceahng this truth till he thought tit to declare it. Virginia arrived ibon after, and receiving this relation fri>!n Conjlance, did fo partake in his good fortunes, that (he could not difltirible the joy V\hich(herefctucd. That 54 PHArx.AMOND. Part I. That night the greateft part of the Court being with the Princefs 'Theodolinda^ toge- ther with the Princefs PUcidia^ Cleomira, Camilla, Herfilia^ Flamhtia^ and many other Roman Ladies i the Emperour himfclf came, and with him CoHjianee, IP^al'ia, Taxjttder, Artabure^ and many others : they difcourfed of feveral things, which rendrcd the convcr- fation very pkafant i amongtt the reli, the Emperour having found occation to praife the htvixXti oi l-beodulinda^ according to his huTiour, dwelt longer than ordmary upon that fubjed : but T^6fj(i(j//W« having a while hearken'd to him without interruption, bly Lard ( faid fhe ) makg my beauty no longer your fttbjdi ■■, it appears fufficiently that it it not fitch at you jpeak^ it, fince among all thofe valiant Knights tvbich comp0s''d that gallant company rve yfjierday beheld, there was not fo much as one that did enteprize one fingle Courfe for itr honour. Ah Madam ! ( replied Placidia ) if you remember, 'twas contrary to your vniU •, and believe^ that if you rvouldhave permitted, there tvould have been many who would have embraced with toe much joy that fair opportunity to figiialize themfehes. I had fo much reafon not to requeji it ( rep\kd T^heodiilinJa ) that I could not abufe the civility you proffer'' d me ■■, bitt if any one badbeen fo well intended (continnued (lie with a figh ) they needed not have confulted my cnnfent in fuch an attempt. But Madam, {aid the Vi'wce Taxander, would you have given that permiffjfin, had it been demanded ? I kviow not ( replied fte ) whether in a day whgly devoted to the Princejl Placidia, I could have agreed to it ; but well I k^now, 'twas not at all neceffary to demand it. But if any one (added Vx\nctWallia ) had been fo hardy as to enterprize it without your k^iewledge, could you have pardoned it .<* If^e can eafily pardon ( re- plied fheodolinda ) thofe things that ttiak^ for our honour -. for fttch an offence would be fo oh~ liging, that it rather defemes an ackitowledgment, than reproof, 'faks care ( replied the Emperour ) le\i you unawares engage your felf to an ackiwwledgment : for I am much deceived if that brave unk^iown perfon, who unhors'd Eucheve, did not combat for your beauty: and you have then fttfxient advantage, fince the glory of the Courfe was parted between your Cava- Her and Placid ia's. 'Jwas truly egttal between us (replied Conjiance ) but I fear I fljould difficultly have maintained the honour I had got, if we had run two other Courfes. It is more liksly ( replied IVallia ) that he feared himjelf to lofe what he came to obtain, and that he believed he might with honour depart the Litis, after having run withoHt difadvantage agaii^l fucb a perfonage as Conftance. At thefe words my Marter turlting his eyes towards TFallia , could not reftrain the thoughts that furpriz'd his fpirits i Ah Wallia, faid he, you give me great fufpiciont. And there is no little probability, added the Emperour, that he for whom you anfwer fo modeftly, is no other than Prince Wallia. Jhere U fo much truth in what J have faid ( replied the Vi^- gotb Prince ) that I might very well make thu difcourfe, without giving caafe ofjujpicions. But to the purpflfe ( faid'the Princefs Cleomira ) Where were you yefterday, when the whole Court was to view thefe fair Jajis / There's many perfons kfiow ( replied Wallia } that by the fall of a horfe upon me that morning, I was fo bruis'd, that I was forced to keep my bed all day. He fpokenot thefe words with fo much affurance, but that the whole company calVing their eyes upon him, made him blufh as if he had been convided of fome great crime i and in the end the Emperour approaching him, prefTed him. fo hard, that he had no longer power to difavow that truth which he had an intention to conceal for a longer time : At the fame time he faw himfelf expofed to the Conteft he made with him for his DilFimulation, and the praifes which they gave him for the honour which he had acquir'd \ and the Emperour hayinglikewife urg'd him toconfefs whether it were not the beauty of Iheodolinda he defign'd to maintains After the favour flie hath done me in pronouncing my pardon with her fair lips ( faid he ) I will mt difavow my folly in committing to fo much weak^ nefi fo important a quarrel. In truth ( replied the Princefs I/>focio/zWj, blufhing to fee him blufh ) yott have tejiifi^d little weakfteji upon that occafion ; and though you are paid for this civility you have done a jiranger by the glory you have acquiid, yet I will all my life confefi my felf obliged to you. But Madam ( faid Flaminia, a Kom^n Lady of great quality, but of a malicious fpirit, and little beauty, her countenance being more fwarthy than fair J if he 1)ad been overcome in maintaining this quarrel, as fuch an accident might have arrived to bim^ as well as others, would you yet have any obligation ? Ifjould however be oblig'd to hU in- tention ( replied IheidoUnda ) and it may be more engag'd than I am, fince I fljould have caused that grief which would have feiz'dhim for being unfortunate in ha Enterprize. ICou are tsa grateful ( replied Flaminia with a great deal of indifcretion ) I (Ijould owe no favour to a man who (l)ould hazard my glory upon fuch an occafion ; and J ajjure my felf he would not have made himfelf k>town for thatunkttown Knight, if Fortune bad not been more favourable to him, than to Eucliere. // the fame ill Fortune had attended me ( replied Wallia to Fla- minia ) it [}jould not have boajled to have run for the besnty *f Theodolinda : but becaufe yoH Book II. PHJRJMOND. ^5 yoH have profefl'dyou vpould hsve owa'd no obligement^ I would have affirm'd that I had coiti' bated for yours. - . ... .. At this anfwerof)^^<»///'<«'s, all the company to whom the capricious humour of FlamU nia, as wcU as her pcrfon, was dirpleafing, could not refrain from laughing (b loud, that though flic had defign'd to havercturn'd fomcwhat more malicious, flie could not be heard. and WaUia protelkd to him that.it was with an infinite regret .that he ran againfj; himj that he did not believe he %vould take the place oi Eiicherv ■■> that he could not with ho- nour, or without offending "the Prirrcefs,"whofe beauty-he maintained, excufe himfelf from one Courfc,whighXaid he, you know was all I would make. I am too tedious on thefe fmall things, the recital of whicl> are Aiot Co important to the life of my Maftcr ; but what will itbe to you to know a great man, whofc adions, without doubt, have long fince flown eVen fo thefe parts of the world ? In the mean time the Empcrour having reqeivcd the excufes of Au t^lph and Euchem . by Waliia and h^ Stilicon^ vifitcd both the one, and the other i and tinT^^HnSsnlt being very dangerous, though they were gireaf, in few days they wererefluced (;o:a bette eftate: tKifcioner were they pcrfedtly recovered, but the Emperout made them embrace with CoHJiance, though he judg'd that amorigft Rivals it would be difficult toel^ablifli a true iriendfliip. .(4«/t»//'^ being cur'd, and finding littleTatisfaftion at Kawf, astoliislove prefe'd the treaty with the Emperour, And though 5*f7/crf?iendeavour'd by^r^ahy diffi- culties to break it off, yet m- the end, feeing he.could not oppofe himfelf longer, without making it rnanifefl, he defir'd the continuanf e of the War, and by the kriovvjedge of that render himfelf odious to' the Emperour and people, he confenfcd to it •, bat it Was vVitlj an intention more malicious than all the obftaeleshe ha'dliefore caus'd, andt)f wiiich the dire effedts did foon after appear •, and the Etnperour, as well by his own inclination, is bythecounfel of well-intended perfons, and particulairly c( Conftante^ who-^a^ wiilijig to procure the abfence of Autalfh, gave to KmgAlark ap&no( Ac^uitane^ and d^tbci Lahds among the Ga«/j, which the Emperour Iheodnf.uf his Father hail pfoiriis'd to his PredecelTor. - - . , ^ • Few days after the Articles were fign'd, and that the Gothiok^ Princes had their LettctS in good form, they took leave of the Emperour and the Princefs , and all perfons with whom 'they had contradcd acquaintance. Aittalph had at this feparation, a long difcourfc with the Princefs Flacidia, to whom heprotefted, that notvvithtlanding thedif- dain ftie had for him, his palfion for her fliould be eternal; but though the Princefs reliiri'd little correfpondence to his afFedion, yet fhe treated him at his departure with fufficient and becomingciy ility. 5:/7ici);« difTembled before the Vifigoib Princes, the particular refent- ments which he had againft them for the interefls of Euche're^ and told them that he fliould yet find fome occafion to teftitle his good intentions. Autalph and my Mafler aded at this reparation each according to his humour, and the eflate of his foctune i Conftance like a man happy and favoured, and Autalph like, one whofe foul the ill fuccefs of his love had fiird with dtfpight and envy againit thofehc believed more fortunate than himfelf. But thedepartureof ff^j/Z/adid fcnfibly touch my Matter i and with all the marks of imagin- able zfft&iov, they confirmed a thoufand times the promifes which they had made of an eternal Amity i my Mailer havingknown in this Prince (6 much virtue, and fo many great qualities, that he believed to whatfoever degree Fortune might raife him, he ought not to neglect his ftiendfliip. The fadnefs which he i]jarkcd upon thevifage of fyalljazt their reparation, much afflided hiin, forit feemed no Icfs than that of ^«*^/p/?, who could not without a fenfible grief lofe the iight of Pladdia. Fharamond would willingly have dedicated the refl of the night to that attention he thought due to the ad ventures of Co«/i both by Nation and Religion, named Saiilus^ a hardy and valiant Man , and whojn Stilkm for thofe reafons had raifed from degree to degree, unto the height he now poireiTcd, as a man in whom he had an entire conhdence. That by thofe Meffengers, and by many Letters •A'hich they fliewed the Emperour, he had given him command , but a command accompanied with great protnifes, to follow the Army of Alaric^ when they advanc'd to march into Gallia, and feck occafion to tight them, or at leaft to begin again the War, and break that peace v/hich had been concluded. That ,S'(?k/w obeying pundually A'^'V/com's injundlions , parted fome few days before ^/^Wc de*- camp'd •> and marching by thofe ways which were bell known to him, jull at the entrance in to the Cauls fwithout Alaric's having the leaft fufpicion of his march, by the belief he had of the occafion the Romans had ot an Army to oppofe their Enemies in Caliia) he had placed his whole Forces at a Poft by which the Goths mull of neccffity pafs: And while /i/i^w and. his Troops marched without any fufpicion, and in a manner out of any war-like Order, the perhdious Sauluf, had charg'd them with (omuch violence, that he foon made a terrible flaughter. That King Alaric h\mk\i., and the Prince his Brother, were both dangerouily wounded at the beginning oL the encounter •, and that by their miffortune the V/ftgaths were reduced to fuch extremity, that they werefcarce able to make refiilance : when Prince ^/'^a/Z/a having ralli'd the mofi: valiant with an admirable diligence, came tothefuccourof the reft, who encourag'd by his valour, in the end put the Battel in- to fuch a poUure, that the almoft-defeated Viftgoths, againft all appeai-ance , by the efFc(ffs of an admirable courage, changed the face of the Combat, and gained an entire Vidory. That fo cruel a treachery had in fuch fort incenfed the Souldiers, that they fcarce left alive one of their Enemies. That Satelus their Captain being flain among them, they found a- bout him Letters of Stilico>ii , which difcover'd his whole Plot. Tliat Ring Alaric ohf- h'g'd for his fafety, and this fair Vidory, to the Valour of WaHia, lay wounded in a littfe Village near the place of the Battle i and from whence he had fent them to lanow the reafon of this unworthy treachery , and to proteft , that if fetch a fatisfadfion were not made as the greatnefs of the Injury did merit, he would with Fire and Sword dellroy all Italy, In fum, they gave the Emperour the Letters, which they had taken in the p(x-kets of Sni' Ins, which Honnriits foon knew to be the hand-writing of StiUdon \ and in wliich he had not only given Satelus order to attaque thcVifigoths, but to ad m'^ny other things, which difcovered clearly the intentions of ^tdicon , and particularly a Oiort Lerr.T of which the fLib(tan-cc was this. I $t(liron 58 VHARAMOND, Part L Stilicon to Saulus Flf^ht in what manner foever yon can : It a uotfo important for us to overcome^ as to renem the War^ and hinder a peace fa contrary to our intentions. Tet I could n>ijh the defeat of Alaric, and the Frinces of his Houfe^ becattfe they defire not War with us ■■, which perhaps their Sttccejfors may mor^ ivillingly incline to. Conftantine is upon the point to enter amon^ji the Gauls i Gunderic returns to Spain, and Pharamond iviU ere long have pajfedthe Rhine : JFe i>ave too long been without War^ which jiops and interrupts the ceitrfe of our defigns. Ihe AHi' ance we have made with the Huns, paU ifpojjible endure but a (fjort time ; nor (hall much time be^ent e're the Empire be full ef troubles^ to give place to the execution of our thoughts, TCoumay judge of the part you have in our Fortune ■, for Stilicon and Euchere can never fr- get what you Jhatl contribute. * By the reading of thefe words, and by the difcourfe of the Vifgoths, the Emperour en- tirely knew the ddigns of Stilicon-, and Hnding them agree with the fufpicion he already had of him, he began to confult with himfelf, how to alTure himfelf againft fuch an Ene- my, and how to revenge himfelf of his perhdioufnefs : and having nrianifefted lo the F/}?- gothsy the difpleafure he had for the treachery which was aded towards them, for which the Adors had been fufficiently punilh'd , lince they all peri(h'd ; he promifed that he would do them fuch reafon, chat their King (hould confcfs himfeif to be fatistied i only en- treating them to dilTemble, and not make too publique a demonftration of their refentment. Honoriuj now refolved, though with a great deal of reludtancy, upon the death of Stili' M«, but his difpofition being naturally tender, 'twas rather his fear that carried him to this refolution, out of the dread he had of aperfon whofe power made him doubt his own fafety, than any inclination to cruelty i nor was it for a dii'pofition like his, a fmall enter- prife to punifli fuch a man as Stilicon •■, who had at his devotion not only the Govemours of moft places, but thegrcateft, and greateit part of the Officers of the Armies : and the Emperour feared with reafon, left if he had any knowledge of his defign, he would put himfelf in a condition to hinder the execution of it, and raife yet greater troubles in the Empire. The oldeft of his Counfellors, when he demanded their advice, told him, that there could be no mean in that adtion: that he ought to opprefs 5f//ico« before he gave him leifure to defend himfelf, or fo much as to fufpecS a defign againft him i not doubting butthatif time (hould be given him to retire, he would be fufficiently powerful, both in Men, Cities and Money, to begin a War, of whichthe fuccefs would be doubtful. By their difcourfe the Emperour was fortihed jn his refolution , and now thought of nothing but the means to execute it : and to this purpofe, after having examin'd his thoughts, what perfons he ought to employ, as well for this execution as thole events might follow it i he fixed his mind upon Conjiame^ as upon the moft hardy, moft power- ful,and moft afFcdionate to his interefts, of all thofe whom he durft confide in i befides that he believ'd him particularly concern'd in Stilicon^s fall, as againft a perfon who had lately declared himfelf his Enemy, and who notwithftanding their apparent reconciliati- on, might probably trouble him in all his deligns, and particularly in that he had for Fla- cidia. He therefore the fame day fent for him,and retiring onlywith him into his Cloflet, having made a preamble to the difcourfe he had to make him, with all forts of Carefles, and teftimonies of his affedlion •, he related at large, all he had underftogd from the En- voys of Alaric^ and fliew'd him the Letters of Stilicon, by the fight of which my Mafter could no longer doubt of his infidelity, nor find reafons to juftifichim, judging clearly of his defign, both by his Writings and proceeding. But when the Emperour, having finifh'd his complaints, and declar'd the defign he had to put Stilicsn to death , told him that he had caft his eyes upon him, as upon the moft faithful of his Friends, the moft couragious and powerful of all the iEomans, and him who ought moft delire the death of a man, who was his continual oppofcr ; and in theendcon- jur'd him by all the atfcdlion he had promifed him> and by all he bore Tlacidia, to execute iris will : Co«jJj??ce taking him by the hand, and killing it with a behaviour full of love and refped- Mv Sovereign ((aid he) my life is yours, and I fiwftld be the moli ignoble andmofl ingrattfiil of all men, fliouldl not be always ready to facrifice it fir your fervice : for as yo» have permitted me to hope from your goodnej! a. price which ought to carry me willingly to any thin:' may merit it , fn I Cnall be always ready to ferve you to the laft drop of my blood, and with joy fljalll Jj'eid it -all fir a Frince who hath conferred on me this never too highly to be valued favour. Bat Sir^ if I may yet merit any thing from your goodneji^ permit me to tell Book. III. THARAMOND. 59 iell yoH^ that you have not ^ it may be, a fttbjcd more capable to nppofe the itnxinns Jefiirnt of Stilicon thaiifgnv fiif, *^'^t ts, in ways confurmahle to my courage, and thofe employments voii have hoHOHr'ame tvith : and if Stilicon be to be fought tvith either oiie to one, or in the Head of your Armies^to dejiroy him,rvith all thofe that favour him , m man can d# it better than Con- itance : but to be his Executioner in thofe mayes which you think^ bell to d/jpatch him, you can- not in the rvhole extent of your whde Empire find a manfo improper .« my felf. I need not al* ledire to yoJtr Majeiiy that I bare my jirjl Ar.ns under him^ and that I cannot with honour draw that Stpord againji his life^. vchich I firji dretv ttnder his command : Ihis reafonif mt fuffici- ent for me to dijpenfe K>ith the obedience lotve to yourrvill-, but certajnly. Sir, you would be ill ferved by me in fuch an enterprize^for I k^iow fo well my own heart, that 1 dare tell you^ that in any di'fign I undertake, the leaji objecis of pity afe capable to di\\urb me^and then the fuccefi, without doubt ^ will not anfiver your intentions. But as } have boalied my. felf capable to ferve you in other tvayes,fs there are perfns Icfi able thanmy Jflf in them, but more fit in thofe which you purpofe. Give to every one an employment agreeable to his inclination and ca- facit\ \ and rvbiliT I affure for your fervice the affeciions of the Roiiiar.s , and the fidelity vf the Governours of Cities , and Officers of the Army, and prepare all tbhi^s fir the feqttels rvhich fuch.an affair may draw with it. Give Hcrac'ian , or Maxiniine, or other fuch men os them, the Commiffion, of which they will acquit then.filves much better than I fl'all un- derliand to do, ef^ecially if you engage them by any great inierejK It is not ( added lie a little af- rer, feeing the Emperour lilten peaceably unto him J but that if I dnr[i ffeak^m an. affair bf fo much confequence, 1 fliould tak^ the liberty to tell my Emperour, that this guilt\ Stilicon // jlill the fame Stilicon, whom you fo far haior^d as t» cffoufe his Daughter^ and who at other times by many great and important afiions, hath well fervid both his Emperour and the Empire and whom if your Majefty woulcl,yoH might affure your felf of, without dippnig your hands in the blood of one you have called Father i and fo preferve advantac^ioufy that reputation of cle- mency, which you have fo well acquired, and avoid thofe troublefome thoughts, which a bloody execution muji bring to your memory : for in fum. Sir, I cannot refrain from telling you, thai how criminal foever he is, the fortune of fuch a man makes me compaffronate him •> and willing- ly would I ffare fome of my blood to fave hit life, fa that his fafety might not cloud your repofe^ or the Empires quiet. ^ But what means can there ^e /o««i (replied the ^x\'\^txom)to affure us againfi his defigni, without putting him to death ? For I avow to you, thai it it with an infinite rehiUancy, and by a neceffity that himfelf hath impofed upon me^ that I tookup this refolution. Ion may caufe him to be arrejled(t£p\i'dConftance) and imprifonhim in the Hippodrome the relioflbis dayes--, and as I kitow the number of his enemies to be much greater than that of his Friends, fo I can affiire you.^ that few will embrace his party when he is deprived of liberty. Jhe way you talk of is very uncertain (repli'd the Emperour) and I believe it will he very diffcnit to arrefi Sti- licon, and hlf Son, who muji be arrefied with him, without kjlUng them : you fee what a great number of perfons accompany them, who will perhaps be fa hardy as to put themfelves in his defence. I« t/;// w/e (replied Coitflance) none can accufe you of the death 0/ Stilicon, nor can any other but himfelf be guilty of it,fmce he draws it by his ref fiance. With thefe words, and many others which he added, my Mailer inclined the Emperooij only to caufe Stilicon and his Son to be arrefied, though many have believed otherwifei and the fame day he gave order to Heraclian, who mortally hated Stilicon, and had redou- bled his hatred againft Euchere, for the fall with which he broke his arm : he having a foul much different from that of Conjiance, received it with joy, and executed it with fufSci- ent cruelty, as all the World knows. You have without doubt underftood. Sir, the par- ticulars of an Adventure known to the whole World , and that belief (hall hinder me from repeating it to you, and fuffer me to tell you in few words that Heradian having re- ceived Orders to take Stilicon and his Son, alive or dead, accompanied with the Pretoriaii Bands, he went to his Houfe, and met him coming forth thence, together with his Wife and Son, and a great number of perfons of his Train v nor did he only arrelt them as he had Order trom the Emperour, but under fome appearance of refillancc vvhich fome of his made Ihew of, he flew Stilicon, and his Son Euchere ; and the Princefs Serena, born of the blood of Emperours, throwing her felf between her Husband and Son, received two mor» tal blows, of which (he dyed the fame day. Thus fell iSt//iw«, a man without doubt endowed with great and noble qualities, and who tor his Heroick Actions, was railid by 'Iheodufuis to the higheft Dignities, and had me- rited not only to be the Father- in law of his Emperour > but to have the ablulutc Govern- ment of the whole Empire. Policy and Valour feemed in him vveavcd together, to inake' him both a great Politician, and a great Captain i and he tnight without doubt, liavc meri- • A 2 ted 6o PHAKAMOND. Part. I. ted a chief place among the ancient Hero's, if the glory of his life had not been blafted byhislaft unworthy intentions. His Son being flain with him, there fca|ce remained a perfon of his Family : for being by extradt a Vandal, he had few kindred at Ko/«e •, fo that no trouble followed his death : for as well for thefe reafons, as by the diligence of Con- flance, and the Authority he had over the Men of War, all things remained in that peace- able condition after thisaftion, as if no fuch thing had arriv'd. The Emperour tedified himfclf not well fatished with the feverity of Heraclian, and was pleafed himfelf to (bed fome tears at the death of Stilicoti's Lady j but he foon after comforted himfelf, as well for the belief he had t« have procured an entire repofe by this execution, as for the fatisfadion he had to fee that it was not difapprov'd by any perfon i and that both Koine, the Empire, and the whole world judg'd Stilicga to have been juftly puni(h'd. As for Con[lance, though he had little reafon to love Stilkon, and in pro- bability ought not to be troubled at the death of a Rival like Enchere, who by the Autho- rity of his Father, might have very mucli troubled him : Yet it is moft certain, he was touched with fo much pity for their misfortune, that he could not for many days forget the trouble it caus'd i fo that amongft the very friends of Stilicon, there were few that inanifcfted fo great forrovv. The excellencies of Vlacidia's nature made her fenfible of the misfortunes of this houfe, and deplore with excellive tears the deatn of Serenas and though flie never had other than averfi(yn for Euchere^ yet (he could not hear the relation of his death without fome marks of compaflion. By the death of Stilkon, Uomrm regained his Authority, but it rendred little repofe to the Empire : for were it by the devices of Stilkon which had given fubjefl: to the Barbari- ans to aflault the Empire on all fides, or by the will of Heaven, to abafe the proud power of a Sov'raignty continued for fo many ages ; they began hardly to tarte the change which the death of that great Favourite had wrought both in the Court, and in affairs, when it was underftood at Kome, that the Cauls, Spain, Germany, and many other Provinces of the Empire were tlueatned to be attacqued more fiercely than ever, by the Vandals, Frankj', Britains, Burgundians, and many other Nations. There ran likewife a Report that^- laric notwithliandmg the fatisfaftion that the Emperour had given him, did yet me- ditate fomething againll Italy, and feem'd not contented with the League he had made with tiomrius. ' But that which caus'd the greateft dread to the Emperour and the Komanr, was the entrance of Conjlantine King of Great Britain amongft the Gaitles, and the progrefs he had made ^lere : for hardly was it underftood that he was entred, but that news was fe- condedwitha relation how he had cut in pieces all the Forces which oppos'd his March, and that by the terrour of his Arms he had render'd himfelf Mafter of that Country, which is particularly called the Province of the Komans, unto the great City of Arlet^ before the which he was encamp'd, and hopM in few days to take it : To this difcourfe 'was added wonderful praifes of the valour and experience of Conjiantine, whom they compar'd to the moft Hcroick perfonages of the world, and the greateft Captains of paft Ages, and of whom they fpoke as the moft formidable Enemy the Romans had fincc the time of Hannibal. whatever inclination O^jJawf had for the War, or for the occafions to acquire glory, in a time when no perfon could difpute with him the chief employments i yet he could not but figh with griet to think he fhould by thefe troubles be banifh'd from his fweet hopes, not believing he could demand their accompliftiments with honour, whilft he was forc'd to go fight in this prefent neceffity of the Empire , he therefore dclay'd not to re» folve himfelf, though he was mortally afflidtcd s and not only counfeU'd the Emperour what heftiould do to defend himfelf againft fuch a world of Enemies, but demanded of him the command of the Army to oppofe Conftantine, judging this Expedition the moft important, and confidering the glory that he might yet acquire againft an enemy whofe reputation wasfo great, and againft a man to whom many Nations had already given the Title of Emperour. Uonorint^ with a thoufand praifes of his Generofity, which made him prefer the fervice of his Prince and Country before fo dear an intereft as his love, confented to his demand. Protefting to him, at his return from this Expedition,he wpuld not only give him Flacidia^ but by marks more confiderable tlian the gift of Flacidia, teftifie the efteem and the affedi- on he had for him, Conjlance took this difcourfe for the greateft promife could be made him, not believing that it was in the power of the Emperour, nor any man breathing, to bcftow on him a greater or more confiderable gift than that of Flacidia. Thus by the hopes to poffefs her, he endeavour'd to moderate the grief which he had to part from her, and Book III. PHAKAMOND. 6i and prepar'd himfelf for his Expedition with all diligence requifite in fo urging a neceflity. In few days all things were put in a condition fit for his departure i and the Forces he was to command having received Orders to joyn and embody themfelves, the day of his departure came. The Princefs, who dilTembkd no longer the affedtion which (he had for him, knowing it to be approv'd both by the Emperour, and all the world, all the time which preceded it had manifefted fufticient fadnefs i and when he took leave of her, flic aban- doned her felf fo to grief for a perfon of his Honour and Courage, that at the light of it, Conjiance was aftonifli'd, and felt his to redouble. She teftified the refentment which (he had by words which fully difcover'd it, and perfifted in her forrow after an extraordinary manner, when interrupting her i I am too much obliged to your goodnefi ( faid he ) fur the part you takf itt my misfortune ■, for in brief, mangre the glory which I may ppjjibly acquire^ Imuji call that misfortune which feparates me from you j yet thU notice which you taks thereof ^ gives me a fweet confolation, by making me fee that I am happy above my merit ^ and above my hopes i and though I never parted from Rome with thofe hopes as now accompany me in this expedition, and that I may well fuppsfe at my return^ I jl^all be the moji happy among men i / have fomething in my heart which hinders me from being fo fenfible of this joy as I ought, and which mak^s me fear fome extraordinary change in my fortune. J k,now not ( replied the Princefs J how you come to have thefe predidions^ hut I confefi to you that I cannot overcome the fadnefi which I have for your departure^ whatever oppofition •! make againji it j and if I could, without wounding your reputation^hinder your expedition, Ijhould do it with all my heart ■■, not but that I judge well, I may be more abided at this laji parting, than at others you have made, as well becaufe the frji were necejfary fur your glory, andyoia defrgn^ as becaufe you truly are, and ought to be more dear to me now, than then; but though by thefe reafons I ex~ cufe a part of my grief, yet I vow to you I feel fomething fo little common, that I cannot but draw from thence evil prefages. Endeavour you, ifitbf pofjible, to prevent the effeUs ■, and as you have no occafwn longer to fght for the purchafe of honour, but only to preferve what you have acquired, and that no perfon dijputes it with you, feel{^ not danger without necefjity hut confidtr that a great Captain, on whofe perfon relies the whole fortune of the Empire Hitght not to expo fe him felf like a young Adventurer. Remember lik^wife that this Vlacidis who in your firji Combates had no reafon to take that concern in your life, which Jhe now does hath fame part in you, if all that you would perfwade her is true \ and that you ought to pre- ferve your felf for her, when you would not do it for your felf. Conjiance at thefe obliging words bowing down his head, and fixing his lips upon one of the PrincelTes fair hands, which was the greateft favour his fervices, or the Empe- rours concurrence could yet obtain for him i I am ajham'd ( faid he ) at the favour you da me; and this life which you too much honour by the honour which you give it, is not worthy if the intereji you take in its prejervation. I have an infinite greater refentment than I can exprefi; but you (hall permit me to tell you, if yon pleafe, that it is not on that fide fortune threatens me; and that if 1 had nothing but death to fear, ejpecially in thefe occafwns where it is fo familiar, my heart would not be at all troubled. 1 hope to Heaven I Jhall return to fee you, and return Ccnquerour of the Enemies of the Empire; but I can fcarce ejiablijh in my Ipirit the hopes of that fole happineji I can defire, though according to all appearances, I never had more reafon, fmce your fair lips, and thofe of the Emperour, have a(fured it me. As you fear of our fide ( added the Princefs ) fo I fear of yours ; and if you can affure me from the fear which I have of your life, I will ajfure you from that you have of my affeUion ; and I promife you more folemnly than I have hitherto done, that at your return you fliall find Pla- cidia, as faithful and affeSiionate as yon can defire. Receive (continued (he, prefenting him her hand ) the word which I give you, and be ajjured that by my own will, I will never he to any, but to Conftance. All my Mafters grief could not hinder him from being fenfible of fome joy at this diC» courfe of Placidia's ; and at the fame time the Emperour entring the Chamber with the ViinceCs T^heodolinda, and many other perfonages i Conjiance iotiefyciifzke, retiring from Tlacidia, and approaching towards him, and beholding him with a behaviour which de- noted fomething extraordinary; My Lord C faid he) I promife you that I will overcome your Enemies, and powerfully contribute to the repofe of the Empire ; but remember if you pleafe, that you have promised me Placidia. As (he is a poffe^on too great for me, fo I Jhall, never overcome the fear I have to lofe her ; and now in departing from her, I can with difficulty prejerve the hopes you have given me : not that I dijiruji the word of my Soveraign, I believe it inviolable, but I dijiruji that fame Fortune which hitherto bath fo well treated me; and going now upon your fervice^ I conjure you Sir, to prefervt me Placidia. Tes ( faid the Ejnpe- rour 6i PHJRAMOND. Part I. tour ^ 3'V/,Conflance 7 will preferve her aj dearly as my own life ; and you may certainly be af- fufdof the promife I have made youbefere gods and men^ that by my confent^ Placidia (l)all never he any's but yours, Atthe(e words, Coaflance endeavour'd to difpel his fadnefsj and fome time after be had taken leave of the Emperour and the Princefs, he bid adieu likewife to Iheodolinda^ who had an infinite friendfhip and elkem for him , to Cleomira^ and to many lOther con- fiderable jperfons, whointerelTed themfelvesin his Fortunes-, and particularly to r/r^riK/j, to whom he bore a moft tranfcendent refped, which was encreafed by the elkem he had for her, in regard that for the love of P/jc/<^i<«, (he had refufed to marry with the principal a- mongft the Komant, and had fully refolv'd to yoke her felf to the fortunes ol.the Princefe. The mo(i conliderable perfonsof the Court would follow my Malcer to this War :, Ar- tahure marched with the chiefeft in employment i the young Caliinm, Aaaxilla, Ariohinde^ and many others, amongrt whom was 'taxander^ a Prince of great merit, who though Soveraign of a fair Monarchy, chofeto ferve under him, and weuld begin his firft proof in War, under a man who at the age of twenty fcven years hadalrudy furpalfcd the re* putation of the moft ancient, and moll; experienced Captains. With this lair Trcop, Con- fiance parted from Kowf, accompanied with the Vows of all the people, to whom lie was infinitely dear for his virtue : and having joyn'd his Forces, and rendevoui'd that body which was to compofe our Arn\y, we march'd towards the Gauh^ and particularly to- wards the Vrpvittce of ihtKomans^ in v^hxch Conjlantine had already made fo great pro- grefs, and whercheatprefent befieg'd the ftrong City of Aries. The Events of this War haying been fo important, that they could not but come to the knowledge of aWEurope^ and particularly of a Prince intereffed like your Majefty in the 'Roman affairs, I (hall endeavour to be fuecind, and yet fpeak as much as I ought, that I may not be filent of my Mafters greateft Adtions. We had made but a few days advance, when we underftood that Confiantine had taken Arles^ and having plac'd in it a ftrong Garrifon, was gone to befiege the proud City of the MaJJiUa-'is. This advice made us haften our march, though Conjiance hoped that Majftlia might flop the Enemies proceeding till our arrival. As this occailon was more important than all the preceding, and the Enemy more formidable than any that Conjiance bad hitherto overcome i fo his Army was greater, and more numerous than any he had commanded : for when we entred a- mongft theGa«/j',it was compofed of more than fifteen thoufand Horfe, and fixty thoufand Foot-men.With this potent Force we ad vanc'd by great marchesiand palfingby the Country of the Alexandrians and Lttcernoif, we approach'd .in the end to the Province of the Romans ■■, but by reafon that Conjiantine had broken the Bridges in feveral places, our march was more tedious thin Conjiance either expedtcd or defired v and we were forced to give.time to Con- jiantine to render himfclf mafter of the proud City of the MajfiUans^ which having befieg'd by Land and Sea with an extraordinary vigour, he had in few days carry'd by an ab- folute Force ,. againii the opinion of the whole world, and againlt all evident ap- pearances. .. , . C(7«/t««cf knowing by thefeadlions what man he had to deal with, thought he ought not to negle<9: any thing which experience had tauglit him ■■> and Conjiantine^ to whom the reputation of CoMJfjwce was not unknown, thinking himfclt oblig'd to employ all his judgment to preferve againft fo great a man what he liad already gain'd, parted trom Maf- filia to come and encounter ns.i and in the meantime fent before feveral fmall bodies to difpute the pafTages, and to perplex and impeach us upon all oppcrtunities pollible. In ef- fed, they gave us an infinite trouble, and it was in many combates with thefe Troops that ^«a^«r^ did nobly augment the general opinion which was before had of his Valour, and that the Prince laxander and Cafiinm began to make ihemfelves known by many lignal ia£tions. *Twas at this time that thofe two brave men which now attend your Majefty, and which yelkrday knew my Ma(kr, and made you know him, having rcceiv'd fome in- Jury from Conjiantine's party, prcfcnted themfelves to Conjiance, and during the whole time we were in Callia^ fought under our Banners. In fumm, notwithftanding the endeavours aiid hindrances of our Enemies, we at laft entred into Provence^ which they had almoft entirely reduced to thtir obedience: but as nei- ther of the two Chieftains could deipife the other, and ktif w of what confequence the fuccefs of a Battel would prove, they woulu i,.;t give it but upon- good grounds i and to thatpurpofe fought daily all the advantages which the knowledge they had in this martial mylkry might inlhuft them to find out i hereupon feveral Skirmilhes happen'd, wherein Fortune was various, but ftiil much blood was Ihed. In one of thefe, the two Generals CDcountred each other with their Swords in theii hands at the head of feme Cavalry i and after Book III. PHARAMOND. 6^ after having furioufly run together, they cxchang'd feveral bluwSj with which both were wounded : but the coming in of their Troops permitted them not to Hnilh their Conv bate, though they had a great defire, and parted mutually pcrfwaded ot each others Valour. In the mean time, as they had a reciprocal eftecm, and were both highly generous ■■, they made war with a noble civility upon all occallons that were ofllered, oftentimes fending back prifoners without Ranfome, and treating in all things like men truly great and mag- nanimous. Some months were pafTed before Conjlance could Hnd luchanoccafion as he defired, to give battles but in the end, being advertifed that Jovian who commanded over a part of the Gauls (or the Emperour, had tdiken Cot!Jiantine''s part, and was levying Soldiers in thofe Countries that were at his devotion, to come and joyn him(elf with him, and that in all probability he might in averyihort time arrive with a cnnllderable Army j he judged it not bed to attend him, and permit himfelf to be encompalTed by two potent Armies, fince that of Conflantine alone was at leaft as numerous as his, and in a condition to difpute the Vi;!iory : he believed now that thefe expe(!^ations of Juvian had been the caufe of C««/?j«*/w's endeavouring to fliun the Combat, and doubted nOt but. that with- out farther delay he ought to conlhain him to come to a general Battle i he therefore fought all means pollible : and CofiftantiHe, who naturally fcorned to flee fighting, and adted not all he might have done to evade it, bccaufe in etfed he found himfclt in an cllateto iight any Army which was neither rtronger nor better difciplin'd than his, and with an enemy, to whom the event of the fight muft be of more hazard than to him : Mov'd by thefe reafons, or others unknown to us, heoppos'd hintfclf little to the defign of Cottjlance^ neither difputed the pafTage of a River, by which we mufi of nccellity get at him, and where he might have fiopp'd and fought us at an advantage. 'Tis mofttrue, that CotiilaHce knowing how dangerous it was too precipitately to divide his ftrengthbe*- fore an enemies Army, had pafs'd over a party of his by night •, and thofe which in the morning found themfelves on the other fide the River, were firong enough to defend themfelves againft fuch Troops as Cfla/}4«ti«e mightifead to attacque them, and give time to therefl to pafs over with more leifure : Confiantine was blamed that he did not endea- vour to defend this pafTage ■■^ but perhaps not thinking that Con\iance defired fo foon to come to battle, he had negleded that precaution, which might have hindered him; however it was, the two Armies faced each other without any obllacle which might hinder thera from joyning, in a great Plain adjacent to the City > and after havmg began by fome Skir- mifhes, they at length came to a general Field. The two great Captains, both of the one and the other party, did all that could be Tiop'd from their valour and excellent conduit: and many valiant perfonages who fought under them in different employments, fignalii'd themfelves by an incredible number of noble anions : in (hort, all the Soldiers fought fo couragioufly, both on the one and the other fide, that night fhut in before vidtory had declar'd her felf for either, though the Plain was all cover'd with dead bodies floating in blood. The two Armies flood all that night in the fame field, where they had fo eagerly contended j the two valiant Generals employingthemfelves wholly in acquitting their charges, andinfeeking thofe advantages, which might yield a happy fuccefs to that Battle, the beginnings ot which had been fo iMjrrible and doubtful. No fooner did the day appear, but at the found of the Trumpets, the Fight was renew- ed : Artabure commanded the right Wing of our Army > Coniiance having placed him- felf in the head of the left, that he might be oppos'd toCoftlianthte whom he had obfcrv'd the day before, to fight in the right of his. Jaxander and Con^ance commanded our Ca- valry, and both the one and the other in that memorable day acquired a worthy reputation^ It will be diflRcult for me, to recount to you thofe many famous deeds by which my Mafler this day made his valour and his skill in War defervedly admir'd ; but I mufl needs avow, that Confiantine forgot not any thing which might be expeded from the molt va- liant men and greatcft Captains. The Vidory was difputed with a refolution equal to that of the preceding day v and we oftentimes beheld our felves in a condition that might rather make us fear than hope :' but in the end, CoMjfjwf, irritated with fo long arefiliance, af- ter having had two horfes flain under him, and two tired with the extraordinary travel he made them fuffer •, running through all the Ranks, and fhewing himfelf to the Soldiers, he encourag'd them in fuch a manner, by his fpeech, by his adlion, and by his example j and did fo feafonably fuccour thofe whom lie faw worfled,th3t in the end iiis enemies began toquit the field, and by little and little, ditbrdcr and fear incrcaling, they abandoned tliat Victory, which they had fo valiantly difputed. 'Twas ^4 PHARAMOND. ' Part. I. 'Twas in fine, as entire to us as we could defire : for the enemy having left more than fifty thoufand dead upon the place, the reft were in fuch fort fcatter'd, that Conjlantine could very difficultly rally a fmall number, at the head of which he made an admirable letreat to the City of Arles^ which he had taken fome time betbre, and where he inteuded toftay, out of the confidence he had of the fuccours which Joviat: had promised him. This Vidory was great and advantageous, but it coll: us twenty thoufand lives. And al- ways when Conlhiice hath fpoken of it, he hath been ufcd to fay, tiiat the Romans in this Battel had truly vanquilird the Britain!^ but that Coftjiance had not overcome Conilantine \ and that by the experience of fighting him hand to hand, as he had done that day, he durft affirm that he had been invincible, had he but commanded men as valiant as the Romans, or if Fortune had been lefs contrary to him. This knowledge he had of his enemy, made him )udgc that the whole War confilkd in hisCble perfon > and having given charge to Artahure lo beat up and down the Plain, and not permit the vanqiiilh'd to rally, and hirm fuch a body as iiiight obftrufl his dc- figns, he without delay laid fiege to the City of /Vr/n., wiiitlier Co^jhntine was retir^'d- TheKingof the Britaim was alloniffi'd at this diligence of his enemy i and though his courage was not at all kflen'd by the lofs of this IJatcle, he repented his having inclos'd himfelf in that manner ■■> judging well that CoTtjiance would not give Jovian time to come and fuccour him •, befides a belief he had tliat Jovian^ after having heard of his defeat, would not ra(hly engage the vidorious Army. Things fell as he had tore- judged : for Conjiance finding the City he attacqu'd unfurnifli'd with many things ncceflary for defence, and weaken'd in fevtral places, by the breaches which Cr)>?(rj/ffi«f had made when he be- liegcd it, and which they had no time to repair, he prefs'd it in fuch fort, anfd gave fo many vigorous alfaults, that in few days Cfl>/jfi««tiKe loll all hopes to defend it^ and refolv'd rather to truft his fafety to his Sword, than, to the Walls of the City; and to this pur* pofe, one day when Cojilhnce caufcd an affault to be given, after having for one part of the day defended the Walls with an admirable valour, and conllrain'd ours to retire with fuf- ficient lofs , in all places where he encountered them, on a fudden, whether it were that tiie prefent occafion infpir'd him with that rcfolution, or whether he had taken that refolution before he mounted on horfeback, with a' number ot the moft valiant and Left armed he had with him, caufinga Gate to be opened, when it was leaft expeded, he threw himlllf among the firft of our Troops that he found in his palTage, refclving to lofe his life among theKomait Swords, or open himielf a way through our Army. This nnexpcdtcd fally caufedfo much fear in the firft whom he encountred, that he had no great difficulty to rout them i and if the heat of the Combat had not made him forget the care of his (afety, he might without doubt have palTcd through the diforder he had caufed : but being chafed by fome light wound he had, and encouraged by thefirft fuc- ccfs vvhich he had, afpiring at fomething more tiian the retreat, he tngag'd himfelf farther than he ought in prudence to have done, or than himfelf had refolv'd ", giving time to the Prince laxander to come with Brigades of Cavalry, to the ailiftance of thofe whom tie had attacqu'd : after thofe fuccours, there came likewife more •, fo that in the end Con- flantine found himfelf encompais'd with his, a good part of whom he faw flain before Jiim, and had himfcU his Horfe killed under him i and having aded things worthy his prodigious valour, and tofpeak truth rais'd up a rampart of dead bodies about him, lie cbftinately dctermin'd ratiitr to lofe his life, than receive it from his cnem.y; when h* good fortune led Con\\ame into the fame place, whither the conlufion of the fallyhad Ipurr'd him, and where undexftanding the danger he was in, he made a lane through his own men to come up to him ;. and feeing him on foot all covered with blcKid, and yet in that condition making the moft hardy fear his approaches, he commanded his men to retire, with fo mucH authority, that there was not one, but attliefame inftant obeyed him. t-lis valiant enemy having time to breath and turn his eyes on all fides, knew him by fcvcral marks, but particularly by this adtion v and feeing that he was engag'd to him for his lite, he would no longer difpute it with him, but prcfenting him his Sword , If ym b? Conftance ( faid he .) J vender my jelf tg yoie,- nor can I difdain to yield to the Fortune and valour (if jo I'reat a man. Cowiance at the fame time alighting, and receiving the Sword which he piefentcd him •, As Lieutenant of the Umperuitr ( faid he.) I receive the Srverd yu yield to him \ bnt as a man that knows horv to render what he owes to fo noble a Frince as ymt. 1 ^iie you the Sirord of ConOaiicc. And at thc(e words, taking his Sword from his Jide. which by fortune was not the lan.c he received of Flacidia, he placed it at that of Cinliantiiie^ wiio received this civility with the bcft grace in the world, and with all the macks uf a true and noble u-Qurag'.', Cortjlance Book III. THARAMoUB. 65 ConjlsHce at the fame time having caus'd a fair Horfe to be given him, and others to fuch of his train as wanted : he led him to his Tents riding by his tide, and telhng hiit) all thofe things which he believ'd feafonable to comfort him in his misfortunes. In brief, he treated him in as noble a manner, as !i is bell friends, in his and their greateft profperity could have done; The next morning, the City being furrendred, he conducted him thither, judging it more commodious than the Camp s gave him the faireft apartment, and caufed him to be ferved like a great King, taking nothing frOm him biit the name of Roman Emperour, which his Subjects had given him : and in truth, all the civility hi jender'd liim, didfeemto be truly duei for 1 believ'd at the fight of him, never to have fcen any perfonageot a nobler afped than he, and whofe whole perfon would fooncr cre- ate an aiiedion and refped together. Nor was his perfon only excellent, orheonlya great and valiant Captain i but thefe qualities accompanied with all thofe which migh^ render a Prince accomplifli'd, and with a politenefs of fpirit, hard to be found in thofe of his Nation : he was enrich 'd with as much fweetnefs in his converfatioti, as fiercenefs iii fight, and with all that might render a man amiable both to one and the other (ex. Hi5 age was little diflerent from that of Conjiance, and the conformity of their minds and t^fr- tuous inclinations, gave them a mutual efteem. ' \ Co«/fii«cf having taken his Parol, took from him all forts of Guards, arid forgot no hiah- rer of .civility or good treatment could poflibly be madei and Con^antine receiv'd theni with a noble acknowledgment, and inftnite marks of affedion to him that rcnder'd them, teftifyingwith much carneftr.efs how much he was fenfible of them: but in few days he could not diffemble that grief which perplexed him, which by little and little augmented in fuch manner, that in the end he began to change his colour i which Con^Jnce perceived with an affedionate forrow, praying him in terms full of kindnefs to inform him the caufe, protefting that he would do all things polfible either to comfort or ferve him, not beirig able to imagine that change of Fortune could produce fuch a change on a fpirit like his, . cfpeciaMy fince he had promised him all civil ufage from the Emperour, anddurfthojje his future condition might be as happy as his pafti and in the end, he told him things fo ob- liging, that the Captive King being touch'd with his generofity, having intreated a patient audience, open'dhimfelf entirely to him, and gave him the recital of his whole life, the particulars of which are not yet come to my knowledge, nor are at all neceffary to that of the life of my Mafter. Conjiance hearken'd to the Heroick adventures of Coftjiantine with admiration v and when he faw it was time to give him that confolation that was neceflary for him. Generous Prince ( faid he ) the utterefl I takf in thofe great things which you have made me undejiand^ Ufmh^ that it wiU maks »t^ perhaps forget one part of my duty, to ferve you as t defire, Tau knorv that I am Lieutenant and fubjed to Honorius, rvhofe prifoner you are, fo that I cannot dijpofe of your liberty without his confent, or running a hazard to incur his in- dignation : but becfiufe his goodneji is well k*tott>n to me, and that liberty is neceffary for you, I will hazard ali things rather than render miferahle a Vritice of fuch merit; and out of the hopes I have that the Emperour will pardon me, I declare you to be free, and give you power to retire when you pleafe. If the Emperour condemns my proceeding, I Jhall prefent him my head for jatUfatiion ; but if he approves it, at 1 hope Ite will, I demand no other conditions from you^ than that you no more invade the Lands ef the Empire, nor fitffer more the name of Emper- rour, which you have receiv'd, as I underjiand by the recital of your life, againjl yonr own will, and which is not at all more glorious to you than the Title which your illttjiriotts birth and great aUtions have given you, '^' ConjiaHtine ad mir'd the generous demeanour of C(;;}/?i«»ce •, but not being willing to a- bufe his generofity by putting him in danger to provoke the Emperour, and feeing himfelf forced to accept it, by the refolution which Conjiance hid teHificd, he did it with this con- dition, thdit Conjiance (hould promife to write to him the truth, whether the Emperour were well fatisfied with his difpofal of his liberty ■-, protefting, that in cafe he were not, he would come and fubmit himfelf, aflbonas he heard of it, without finding the excufe of any necelfities that might impede him. 'Twas upon thefe conditions that he accepted the liberty which Conjiance gave him v and having tcftifted thofe acknowledgments a foul great like his could imagine, and promifed to return to demand the continuation of his ffiendr fliip, affoon as his affairs would permit him i he parted from Aries with the Convoy which Conjiance had given him, leaving us all full of the efteem we had conceiv'd for his great qualities. Scarce was Conjiantine gone, when we underftood that Jovian had his Army on foot, and had himfelf taken the name of Emperour. Conjiance having nothing which might K defer 66 THA RAMON D. Fart I. defer his marching againft him, parted from Arks with thoughts much diiferent from thofe which poffefs'd him when he went to the war againft Co>j/b«f7«e, and with a con- fidence full of difdain of his enemy i which led him againft him as to an aflfured enemy : and truly the effcds did not at all falfihe his hopes : but to abridge the recital of this War, I will only tell you, that having with a fwift march pafs'd through the Country of the Gaballer^ we encountred Jovian mwv^thtVfv^'rieKs; whoiknowing that we had loft a great part of our men iii, the Combat againft Cdnjianti)te, refufcd not at all -to' hght, but prefented us bt^tteU but it proved a bloody one, both to his party and hitnlelf: for he was flain, and almoft his whole Artriy cut off by to general a defeat, that its parallel hath fcarcp ever been feen. /lOilv/ dIo;' '■• ■. j!;;i;,:c!:;.- ; 5;)3,2i;a'jirj'-: ^' But this Vidtory, though, fo entire, coft us more than all the^'ftthers tvc cveirgaiTicd : for iry Mafter being wounded in the Arm with an Arrow, the fteel was found to be impoifon- e'd, and the vidorious Conftance not only reduced to the extremity of his life, but after we had feveral times defpaired of it, by reafon of the dire effeds of that cruel poilbn, he flayed a wholeyear in the City of the leiiufages^ whither we caufed him to be carried, hot only without recovering his health, but without leaving us at the end of the year any hopes of his fafcty. From this misfortune proceeded all the reft which have rcndred his life miferable : For in the time that he ftrugled and difputed with death, happened the ruine of my unfortunate Country^ and thofe pityful ditorders which have drawn com- paffion from the whole world,, and which Co«(f(j«ce had been able to hinder, and had hin- dred without doubt, if thjs cruf J wound had not deprived him not only of the means, but the very knowledge of ic, by the diligence we had to conceal from him .thofe miftries, which without doubt had deprived him of the little life he had remaining. It is fit that I fhould briefly telfyou ( though without doubt it is long fince come to your knowledge ) thofe fad accidents, which happened in Tfa/y, after our departure thence. 'My Mafter had had frequent news; and had received feveral (Letters from Pia- cidia, fill'd with plentiful marks of heraffedion, and the (hare ftie clairh'd in his honour i but after the Battel was gain'd againft Jovian, he rccciv'd no more •, which without doubt redoubled the grief he felt for his wound: For in the time that the atllidcd Canjiance was as it were loft to all our hopes, W€ receiy'd the cruel news of the defolation of our Coun- try i and in- fumin, by many meflengers, and by the general report which was fpread through all, we linderftood the entire lofs of z\\ Italy, and the particular lofs of the dC' plorable Cowjiaacf, who alone in the world was ignorant of it, by the diligence of his at- tendants, ancl my felf in particular, who refolv'd to rob him of that knowledge, which would have without doubt robb'd him of that poor remainder of his life, feeing he was incapable to.rerncdy thofe misfortunes. Hear, Sir, what we were advis'd of, which I fliall tell you, to purfuethe order of my difcourfe, and not to inform you of thofe things w'hich are certainly 'already known to you. ,' ..;' v y-.-.-t ~ Some thrie after we had quitted J/a/y. with .the faireft Troops of the Empire, and that altriort all the reft were fent mto Spiin ox Germany: Alaric, who after the defeat of Sau- Im, had by ireafon of .the indifpofijion of his wounds Remained fome time to repofe himfelf upon the Frontiers of Gallia Narbonefe, was no fooner recover'd, but he underftood with the death of Stilicon, and thedcparture of.tny Maftor, all the reft of the troubles which threatncd the Empire ; and knowing that all the Forces which could defend it, were difperfedin fo many different places, that Italy by their diftance, the death of Stilicon^ and the abfence of Conjlance, and many other brave men, who were employed in other expeditions, was left naked and deftitute, both of men to fight, and Captains to com- mand i and was in fum, in fuch an eftate, that he could never find a better occafion to render himfelf Mafter of that fair Country : ■ 'Twas this intelligence given to Alaric { more than the refentment of an injury, for which he had been too well fatisficd ) together with the folicitations of his Brother, who provok'd him againft the Komam, hoping by the war to find thofe means to conquer Tla* cidia, which he could not hope for in peace, that engag'd him to break the League he had made with Homrius \ to which he wanted no pretences, by reafon of the foul play of- fer'd by Stilicon\ orders ■■, though he well knew the Emperour was innocent, and that he icceiy'd all the fatisfadion he could defire.- in fliort, fpurr'donby whatfoever motive, he had no fooner recover'd his health, and underftood that Conftance was tar engag'd in the V7ar with Con\lantine, but he departed from the place where his Army was encamped, and re-entringl/ij/y, likeadeclar'd enemy march'ddiredly to Rowf, burning and laying wafte all the Country as he went, committing thofe hoftilc adions which he had not pradis'd in other wars with the Romans. By misfortune^ as I have told you, he found no Leaders, nor Book III. P H J R A M N D. 67 ror n"> Forces confiderable in Italy to oppofc him ■■> and having cut in pieces all thofe that; durll nuke head aj^ainft him, without rinding any oblhclc tollophin-i, he arriv'd at the Gates ol' t\ame. Fioftorius was departed fome time before to retire himfelf, to Kavennas and bccaufe it was belicv'd he was led thither by fomc love.which he would not publiflr, he had left the Princcfs Phcidia at Kome, and with her IhetidoUitda, Cleomira, zvi many other illuftrious perfonagcs of their Sex i but no man of command, nor any Forces to defend them i fo that at the arrival of /4^jr/c, the Komans wcxc in fuch fort furpris'd, that they had hard!? the alTurance to lliut the Gates, or put thcmftlves into any poliure of defence ; In the end necctlity forcing them, they effedtd it in the bell: manner they could pollibly, and this was by the exhortation of the Generous Vlacidta^ who endeavour'd to put fome order into their diforder, and to defend as long as it was poflible their lives and their liberties, Alaric difcreetly judging that by reafon of the multitudes of people that were in Ko>«i>, it would be difficult to render himfelf Mafter by force, or at leaft without lofs of a great part of his Army, of whom he Hood in need i and being advertis'd that there was but fmall Ilore of provifions in the City, hercfolvcdto (iarveif, believing with a great deal of appearance, that he might do it with much facility, by flopping all the paffages fo, that nothing more could be carried in. This was not very hard to etfeiii: j and by the orders which he took in tew days, tliere entered nothing more into the City, Alaric eitlicr at the entreaty oi AiitaJph, or by his own motion, fent feveral meflages to the Princcfs Placidia^ to tell her, that (he, together with the Princcfles Iheodolhtda^ Cieomira, and other perfons of their Sex, might iiave liberty to come forth •, exhorting them not to flay in a City, which within few days was defined to utter dellrudtion, pto- mifing to treat her with all the refped which was due to her birth and merit. But the Prin- ccfs foref(;eing that AlJric folicited her not to go forth, but to put her in the hands of his Brother, as llie had fufficicnt caufe to fufped i nor being willing to confide in thefe Bar - barians, who had fo ill kept their faith in the treaty with HoMoriiK, returned anfwcr to the Ring of the Vifgoths, 'That if the Heavens had refolvedthe dejlritUion of Rome, (he jhonld be ready rather to fall in its rtiines^ than commit her felf to the faith of thofe perfons rvho had fo treacheroufty violated it with a Roraan Emperour : Ihat Jhe hofd for fuccottr fom Heaven and from Honoxius C who in truth ought to have given it her ) ye if foe rverc deprived of tbat^ (iie could be content to dye rvith fo many thottfands of innocent perfons tvho tpere envellop d in the fame calamity. She not only return'd this Anfwer, but with an admirable courage-, aded what (hould have been done by Homrius ■■, and taking his place upon this occafion, (lie animated the people both by her words and example to the defence of the City ■■, and diligently endea- vour'd to provide for the necelluies of the mo(t needy, and to dilkibute proviiions with equality, that all might be equally exempted from that Famine which threatned them, and unto which Alaric flroveto reduce them: Nay, fo much generofity and equity had (he at this time,, thatnotwithrtanding the greatnefs of her degree, (he would not exempt her felf from the publick mifery, retaining no other provifions for her felf, than what (he caus'd to be diftributed to others, whom (lie thought to (trengthen and fortifie by het example. The Princcfs Theodolinda, to whom they likewife offered a retreat, though (he beheld her felf in that conditiofi with fufficientfear and grief, yet was fo much touch 'd with the virtue of Tlacidia^ and had vow'd to her fo much friend(hip, that (lie could not refolvetoforfake her, and though often folicited to it by Placidia her felf, (lie refolv'd to run the fame fortune with her, maugre aU the accidents which could happen: It is truej they had fome hopes that the Emperour would give them fome fuccour, they did abfolute- ly expeft it, but they were deceived in their hopes i for this feeble and fearful Prince, in- ftead of endeavouring to relieve the chief City of his Empire, (hut himfelf up in Ravenna, which he caus'd to be well fortified and ftor'd with provifions, for fear left it (hould be attacqu'd. Polkrity will hardly believe this truth of the Son of the great Theodofius, but 4t is certain, that during all the fiege at Kowtf he flayed at K<*w««j, either bufied in thofe loves whereof he was accufed, or in a ftupid tranquillity which -eould have found placeia no other brcaft but his. Antalph demanded feveral times to fpeakto the Princcfs P/<»c/i/'ii, but (he conflantly re- fus'd to fee the enemy of her Brother and Country ■■, nor would (he give this fubjed of fufpi- c\on to Conjiance^ whofeabfence (lie regretted, and perhaps fometimes complained of, judg- ing with reafon that he ought to abandon all things to come to her allillance. She would not have refas'd to Have fpoken to the Prince JFaHia^ whom (lie both elletmed for his vir- tue, and the fricndlhip that was between him and Coiiftance ^ but he appeared not at all in the K. I fiegsi,' 6S VHARAMOND. Part I. (Ictre •, and it was reported that he had intreated Alark to difpenfe with him, boldly tell- in* him That he could not [hew himfclf as an Enemy againll that place where he had fo lately been fo nobly entertain'd both by the Emperour and all the Komans. In fine Viduals beginning to want, the Famine in a fliort time grew fo great, that it produc'd 'the moft pititul effedsip the World, and the poor people began to make ufe of all things for the prefervation of their lives. The Horfes, the Dogs, andtiie Catts were eaten ■, yet in thefe extremities, and worfe, the perfwafions of the couragious Placidia^did as it were by force withhold the people from furrendring. They came at length to extrc- ttiities fo deplorable, that they will hardly find belief-, and thePrincefs, who would not be exempted had part in thefe miferies, as well as the mfaneit of the people. 'Tis reported that the moft Icathfome Animals ferved for nouriftiment to men •, nay, that there were fome women who flew their own Infants to preferve their lives with their proper blood. At laft by the will of the angry Heavens, the Komani no longer able to fupport their mi- feries one cruel and fatal Night, fome of them which guarded the Gates, to deliver them- felves' from the horrible death which threatned them, treated fecretly with Alartc^ and ope- ned a Gate to feveral Troops, who at the fame time opening a pafTage for the relt of their Companions on all fides, the whole Army of the Enemies entred. Scarce did the day appear, but the Vifigmhs were become Mailers of the Town ■■, and no fooner were they fo, but the Sword, Fire, Pillage, Ravidiings , and all other forts of mife- ries ufual at fuch times, endeavoured to make a fecond "Troy of this proud City, which had for fo many Ages been the Metropolitan of the World: Blood ran in ftreams down the Streets, Fire devoured the Houfes: The cries of the Women and Children pierced the Heavens J and in all places was to bee fecn nothing but horrour and dreadful defolation. I am over- whelm'd with grief to recount to you the deplorable milery of my Country, in which 1 was the more concern'd through the misfortune of many perfons dear to me, who were expofed among the reft toutmoft miferies : And pardon me, my Lord, if lam oblig'd i-o abridge this Recital the moft I c^n pollibly. The Princefs Placidia, and thofe that vvere with her, were firft advertifcd of the pub- lick mifery and their own particular, by the noife and horrible cries which refounded in their ears from all fides of the City i and in the end, by the multitudes of miferable peo- ple, who hoping to find a fafety there, ran towards the Palace. Placidia^izikd her felf up j zndkheodoUnda^Cleomira^zndmznyothexSy drawing near to her much affrighted, (he be- gan with an admirable courage to exhort them to fubmit to the will of Heaven, Gnce their Reli gion did not permit them to follow the example of Cleopatra's and Portia's , and o- ther famous perfons of Antiquity , who by a voluntary death deliver'd thcmfeves from thofe miferies which they might fear in fuch defirudiions i and was about to form a refo- lution conformable to her great Virtue , when (lie fpied the Prince lyallia enter into her Chamber : the view of this Prince, whofe goodnefs (he was acquainted with, gave her in- finite confolation, knowing the Authority he had among the Vtfigoihs ■■, and advancing to- wards him before l^^fo^o/i«'^'», whom his prefcnce had likewife much affur'd : Ah Prince ( faid (he ,• approaching him with a behaviour full of Conftancy and Majefty) are ygu our Enemy ? ton robom rve have fo much efieemed ? Wallia could fcarce reftrain tears at the fi»ht of a fpeftacle which touch'd him to the bottom of his foul. hUdsm, I am not only mt yoiir Enemy (faid he) hut I may truly fay that I have not been fo to the meanefl Roman at th'n unfortunate feafon, and that I was at a great dijiance from the f.ege : though 1 near not able to prevent it, / have at leaji contributed nothing to it ■■, and h/id mt appeared^ if I had not done it out of defign to do what I at prefent aU^ and if I had not believed that my fervice rvould mthave been unprofitable to you at thU time. Placidia was about to anfwer him when (he faw 'Autalph enter, who had follow'd WaVia with all fpeed pollible, and was perplexed to fee, that, notwithftanding his love, another had before him rendred himfelf to the Priccefs, whom he adored. Placidia received him not as (he had received ifallia •, but yet with a conftancy and gravity agreeable to her de- gree and virtues which augmenting the love and refped of /4«ta/;i/:», made him afhamed' to fee himfelf arm'd as he was, and in the pofture of an Enemy before the Princefs, whon» he pretended to ferve : he knew not in what fa(hion he ought to fpeak to her, when (he preventing him with a becoming alTurance i Andtfell^ Autalph (faid Che) m it in this man- ner that you return to fee Placidia ? Do you bring Fire and Srvord into a City fom whence you fo friendly parted^ and from which you never yet received the ieafl offence? I come (re- plied Autalph) like a Lover rather than an Enemy, and I come to conquer by my Arms thai which my love and fervice could not give me ; and for that, rather than far any other confide- ration have I ptrfwaded the King my "Brother to re enter into Italy. Thefe words poffcffed ' thfr Book III P H A R A M N D. 69 the mmd of Placidia \Mith z mortal griefj and flic was about to return him an anfwer, whea Ihe uhderllood by many pcrfons who cntred the Chamber with cries and pitiful la- mentations, the deplorable eliate the City was in, and the horrible cruelties exercifed by the Fify'othf. This Difcourfc touched her witli fo much pity, that thofe tears v;hich her own interell could not make dillil from her eyes, now fell trom. them in great abundance » and turning her felf towards Autalph , with a geflure which all aiMidcd as (he was, made her yet appear more beautiful than he ever before had judged her-, Ah Autalph (faid (be) there are other wayos than by blood,flau2,hter^ and the ruine of mr Countrey^ by rrhich to te- ftifie your affection--, and bat little am I obliged by the h^ovoUdge of tbefe cruel proofs yak give me. She was now about to turn to Prince JVallia, who was approach 'd to lheodolinJj,inA of whom more wihingly than of Autalph, (he would have demanded What favour they delTr'd for the miferable people » when (he was advcrtifed that King /^/.»ric was come to vifit her, and was ready to enter into the Chamber. She immediately addrelTed her felf to him with a moft affur'd behaviour ; and inftead of having recourfe to fupplications, pre- venting what he was about to fay i Alaric (hid {he) is it pojjible, that yott ktiorviHgthe God Tvbich rve adore ^ fljould with fo much cruelty fl^ed the blond of a. people which have never of- fended yon, and rvitb Fire and Stvorddejiroy this City^ which all Ages, and all Nations have >V- ^eVted ? Alaric was touched with the words of Placidia, dazTd with her Beauty, and charmed with the Grandeur of her courage i and being willing to te(\ifie the refped: and conllderation he had for her : Pr/wcf/J (faid he) I am forry that you are expojed to the mif- fortune which you endure ■-, but you m^l excufe me if J cannot help thofe a$it\ing objeUs which at thU time prefent themfelves to your view : for the Tillage of the City I promifed to give to my Souldiers, and cannot now hinder them from takjttg it, though I had a defign to do it ■■, but far the (laughter, and other diforders, though they are difficultly prevented in confujiont iike this, yet I pall do all that is pojfible forme to flay it. And at the fame time calling for fome of his Attendents, he commanded them to proclaim through the whole City, that the people fliould retire themfelves into the Temples i and that noSouldier fliould enter or commit any offence, upon pain of death, againft fuch as had fo taken refuge. ■ This Order being well obferv'd, fav'd the lives of many thoufands of perfons i but the unfortunate City was cxpofed to pillage during three dayes » and the Riches of fo many Kings, and fo many Nations, which by a Series of Vidory had been gather'd into that Ci- ty,Mi(lrefs of the World, became a prey to a Barbaroof people, who hardly knew the price of it, and who unworthily tj^mpl'd under feet the moft facred things, whilft they in their own thoughts triumph'd over the whole Earth, by infolentlyopprelGng thofe who had for fo many Ages been Mafters of it. . However, Alaric alTur'd the Princefs that flie fliould receive all good ufage from him, but would not promifeher liberty, telling her it was not in his power to give : for at his coming to B.ome, he had deftin'd the Pillage of the City to his Army, and the Princefij Placidia to his Brother the Prince Autalph. P/i»«W/j was like to die at thefe words ■■, but being endow'd with Courage, Virtue and Piety towards Heaven, flie call'd tiiem all to her alliftance, and refolv'd to undergo all, with an entire refignation to the will of that God which we adore. Yet (he would ofteri reply to Alaric with a Noble conftancy, that flie underllood how to fuffer ,fince Heaven had been pleafed to ordain them, all the miferies of that Captivity into which flie was thrown > but (he hop'd that though Autalph was his Brother, yet a Generous King would not do any violence to the Daughter of the Great itheodofms. ^/aric return'd her the mn(t civil replies, but gave her few reafons to hope otherwi(e ; and this defolate Princefs, notwithftanding all her conftancy, deplor'd her misfortunes for many dayes in fuch a manner, as wrought- compalfion even in thofe that caufed it, and which had obtain'd from them any other thing but that which flie defir'd : I doubt not at all but (he dedicated one part of her tears and fighs to the miferable Conjiance •, that (he lamented him at fome times, and accufed him at others i but as the thoughts (he then had are not come to my knowledge, I can only fpcak by conjedlure. In the mean time flie was honourably ferv'd , but diligently guarded , as well as the jPrincefs Iheodolinda^ of whom it was reported that Alaric was become Amorous, though he kept her with a promife to fend her to the King her Father, fo foon as he fliould depart from Italy^ where he intended to make no long flay. In fum, having continued fome dayes at Rowe, withdrawn by other deligns, or fearing the return of Conjiance and his Army, having placM a Garrifon in the City, and clhbli(h a Attains Governour with an abfolute power, leading Flacidia, theodolinda, Cleomira, and many 70 THARAMOND. Part. I. many other llluRrious Captives , and particularly Virginia, who ftuck to Tlacidia in hct misfortunes more than before, nor would ever abandon herj he repafled /fice at the recovery of his iiealth, iinderftood the lofs of his Country, and, that he had fiificred a particular lofs, of which without doubt he was more fcnlibl^e than be could be of that of his miferable life, which wasas it vt^cre bnly totiferved to let him know that he had loH P/ac/^jftf, and loft her for ever. , ' • Tis now, mighty Sir, that I find my (elf to have undertaken too great a fask, and ini[ volv'd in too great a difficulty for me, toreprefenttoyou the grief of CoJtfiance at this d- flonidiing news : you may underrtand it better by imagination, than I can make you db it - by difcoiirfe •, and you may judge, that as the" lofs that he had was fo great, as never td be fufficienly bewaiPdi fo his grief Was fuch, as no difcourfe can exprefs : it firlt he had fome difficulty to fancy there could be truth in fuch ftrange news ; but turning his eyes upon our countenances, and reading in them the fad confirmation of his niiftry, he was too much pcrfwaded, and felt in an inftant all that can be imagin'd of moH terrible afHi<5ti- on : 'Twas at this time that he madeufeof all the allillances of his great courage, to fup- port him from falling under fo great a ftroak of Fortune-, he had need likewife of thofe of Religion, which permits us not to feck an end of our evils by a voluntary death : and. it is is molt certain, that if the fear of Heaven , which he always reverenc'd , had not v/ithlield him, he would a thoufand times have pierced his own bofom , rather than havd outliv''d the lofs of Tlacidia: his grief was vigorous and piercing, a gticf aboVe all that' any other foul is capable ofi it broke not forth in feminine cries or extravagant words, but(hewcd it felf in his countenance, with fomething more lamentable than tears or plaints could make it : at the remembrance whereof I find my foul fo pierc'd with pity, that I carl fearce be able to continue my recital. After that' day he fpoke to none : if he utter'd any words, it was only the name of Tla- cidia^ which he would often repeat, lifting up his eyes to Heaven with a moft mournful countenance : it was impollible for us to make him take any nouriOiment j and fcveral dayes after we could difficultly oblige him by the fame conliderations which had pcrfwa- ded him, to live: but it was now he began to lament, and utter thofe words which with- out doubt would have made Autalph himfelf companionate his fufferings, if he had heard them. ■■ ^ ■ He knew not himfelf what judgment to make of his Fof-tune, though he could *i6t Bur behold italwayes deplorable i and if fometim'es he accu(ed Tlacidia to have too flightly efpoufed Autitlph, againft what (he ought to her love and to her word which (lie had given him, he prefently lamented her being conltrain'd by hard and cruel Captivity, to efpoufea man (he lov'd not, or rather to be made a prey to a Barbarian, to whom(he alwayes had an averfion : but whether the one or the other buli'd his thoughts, both in the one and the other he fomid himfelf equally miferable : But he was prcpoiTelTed with fo good an opi- nion for P/iici.!//*, that he could not believe (lie could forget him to efpoufe Antalpb, with' out being truly eonftrain'd, and that (lie found her felf in that condition whdrein (he was fprc'd to accept the Marriage, to avoid an injury lefs fupportable to her virtue. Ah Placidia (faid he fometimcs) is it pnfible that yon could forget me, after fo many pro-i-' mifes which i\i(','ht to be inviolable in a Soul lik^ yours ! Ah Conftance ("faid he prefently after) is it pojfjble that thouconldji not fuccottr Placidiai« thofe extremities to which jhe ro.yt reduc'd^and in a Captivity fo Utile agreeable to the fortune of a Vauq^hter of the Great The- ododus'. Ah cruel ones (iddcd he, regarding us with fome marks of refentment) »p/'fre/ffre hav» yoH concealed from me my misfortunes, in a time wherein though not able to remtdythem^ J might at leaji have had recourfe to a remedy had freed me from thofe ills to which you have cruelly referv'd me r What can you hope from thofe U7ijuji effeds of your affedion ? Or what ^od da yo!t for me, endeavouring to preferve a life, the fad condition of which you have fote- feen 'f AIm fcontinu'd hefeon alter i m h poffible that thofe miferies kitoirn to all the V/orld, (hould be fo long fince concealed fum him tvbo had more intere\] in them than all the World tO' getber ? OrUit pofible that I my felf have been depriv''d of this confolation,fomiderjiand by fomemark^s of the remembrance of Placid ia, that in her Captivity (lie hath Hot forgot me ? Thefe words which he repeated fovtral times, or others like them, iiiade me believe that it was now time to deliver him the Letter-of Tlacidia, which I had diligently kept , and approaching to him, I prefented it him, telling him in what time I had receiv'd it, and relating to himall the particulars palTed with the Meirengers of the Princcfs. Canjiance received 72 PHARAMOND. Part I. received the Letter without fpeaking one word ; and afcer having twice or thrice k^ft it with innumerable fighs, heopen'd it, and read thefe words. Placidia to ConHance, I Know net whether I enght to lament^ or accufe you i but as my inclination leads me fiiU to judo e vpeU of you'' I voii believe that our miferies are unknojvn to you^ fince you have not fuccou?dm. Italy i^ defolate., Rome w /o/f, Placidia w Captive., and that which ought to he more fenfibleto yoK., if you love her^ /fee is captive 0/ Autalph. He pretends that 1 amhvs^ by right of his Cotjqueji, and demands me for his Spoufe without confulting my will ; but can you confent Conftance, // yon are jiill faithful to me^ or if you are in a condition to oppofe it } Ihey lead melk>tow not into what Countries., and lefdo lh*iow to what condition my miferabli fortune referves me. Lament my miferies, Conftance, if you cannot nemedy them ; and be ajjitred, that if I be not threatned with any greater danger than death, I pall willingly facri' fice my life, to preferve my felf wholly yours. It would be difficult for me to reprefent to you the diverfity of Conflancehis thoughts after the reading of this Letter i on the one fide he found comfort, from the knowledge he had of the remembrance of Tlacidia, and the tirtnnefs of her affedion : on the other, he found himftlf overwhelm'd with fuch grief, 'underftanding the miferable condition of fo great a Princefs, that fcarce all the force of his fpirit was capable to fupport it. Juji Heaven ( faid he, fofoon as fighs gave leave to his words ) you whom Placidia hath fo re- Ulioufy adored, is it pojfible that you have abandoned her to the m'feries of a (harp Captivity^ or permitted that likf avile fave flje fi^ould follow a vidorioits Army, whilf you takeaway all means to ajfji her, from the miferMe and deplorable Conftance ? Or rather, was it JHJi to throtv him into an ejiate which deprived him of the knowledge of her misfortunes in a time when he might have remedied it i to draw him out of it, now jhe is no more capable to receive it, and re- jiore him to a life much mure cruel than that death from which you have recovered him ? Soon after again reading over the Letter, and thinking on the time in which it was' writi AL>s ( ctieil}jit:e had begot an infinite love and refped for him, That the dms Attaliu whom we before fpoke of, and he who having caus'd himfelf to be pro- cliim'd Emperour, had been driven out of Italy by Anabut-^, had quartered the night before with feven or eight liundred Horfe, a fmalldays journey from the City where we were, and intended that night to lodge at a Village which was not above fix ororfeveri hours journey dillant, with defign as it was reported, to retire into S'paw, not daring rd return to the Vifrgothj, having ufurp'd a Dignity fo much above him, and fo ill fuftain'd it : that the Cavalry of his train committed a thouf^id diforders in the places through which theypafs'd, which in part had oblig'd the inhabitants of a place h» had ruin'd, t6 give this advice. Though Con'iiance in renouncing all things, had likewife renounc'd all defires to fignalize himfelf, yet he could not underftand that one of the prineipa! deftroyers of his Country, and one of thofe who had moft of all contributed to the c:lptivity of Tlacidia, aiid hi who had been fo impudent as to ufurp a quality due to noneiiuP the Brother of Tlacidid, and whom he acknowledg'd for his Lord, fhould dare to pafs fo nigh him,' and that he fhouldnotrefolve to fight him, ^d let him fcel fomeefFeds of his juft anger: arid to this purpofe, having given order to draw together fix or feven. hundred horfcy'^Pho as I told you would never abandon him, he caus'd himfelf to be artticdy though yet weak with the iickgefshe had endur'd. ■ • But before he mounted on horfeback, he catrs'd that pfirfon to be call'd, which wSS fent him by the K,ing of theVandalt, and to whom he was to. much beholding for his re- covery i and after having given him a recompence fo magnificent, that he could not per- liapshopefo much-in all his life from the King his Mafterv Tow (Ijail tejiifie to fiing Gun- deric C faid he) the ackiiorvledgments I have for an adion fo fttll of generofitys but ivithdl ajfurin^ him, that I am too unhappy, to hope -my felf able to return a fujf.cieHt fathfaaion : you may tell him if you pleafe, that he'hath made me the gift of an enemy, and that that life fphich he .bath renJred me-by-ypur affijiance, is much more cruel thin the death from which ht hath delivered me. He fpoke thefe words with a figh j and tht Vandal, to whom the daic wasknown, lamented his misfortune without wondring Eft his difcouife, and de- parted highly famished with the rich prefent&he had reeeiv'd, '."• ' One hour after, we mounted on horfeback i Cc«jfi»«ce having defign'd not to march by day,, leil Attalm (hould be adverfis'd : but having good guides which led tis all the night, we arrived in the mornins; at the Village where /4«<»/«j was lodg'd, prccifely at the time he jvas about to" depart. Though the number, of his men was fomewhat greater than ours, Cotuiance delayed not to alTaulc them i but ftying amongft them like a Lyon at the head ot SL Troop which couragiouily followed hun, he thuck fuch a terrour into them, that they L fcarc9 74 ?HArx.AMOND. Part I. fcarcc made any refiftance. Having met with Attalm amongft his Troops, he dealt him fo furious a blow on his head, that what with the blow and the fliock of his horle he bore him with his to the ground i and as we fought againft the dellroyers of our Country, with more heat and fury than in all the former Battels, wefoon cut in pieces al moll all thofe which accompany'd him, without lofing more than fifteen or twenty of our men. My Malkr having defended /4«4fe from being flain, and feeing him before him much affrighted, after he had with much Cwcetnefs laid before his eyes the cruelties which he and his had exercis'd, and the crime he had committed in ufurping a quality fo much a- bove his fphe're, or theirs who had eflablilh'd him in that which he had defpis'd i he told him (hat his intention was to fend him to the Emperour Homrhts^ to whom he for many reafons ought this fat isfadion: but that he need not at all fear his life, which he did not only promife him he would demand of the ELmperour, butaiTur'd him he (hould obtain it. jittalm, who had rot conceiv'd fo large hopes, and whofe courage was much difmay'd, return'd him thanks for this effed of his goodnefs, and refolv'd himfelf to fupport his ill fortune, not doubting but Confiance had fufficient power to obtain his life oi' Honorm, who naturally was not at all inclin'd to cruelty. My Malkr had little converfation with him, being unwilling to infult over his hiifery, finding himfelf not in an eftate to tell him any thing that might be acceptable ■■, but feeing ^Vifigotb near him whom he ftraight knew, having before obferv'd him. in theferviccot Prince iFallia, he dehgn'd particularly to entertain ♦lim ^and having demanded of him news of the Prince he ferv'd, as of a man whom he inhnitely efteem'd, he entreated him the moft pr^elfifgly he could, to tell him fincereiy, what he knew of the marriage of Au- talph and Tlacidia^ and what he had heard fpoken of the refollitions of that Princefs toefpoufe him, and how flic carried her felf at her marriage. ThtFifigotb hearing him- felf honoured with the Prayer my Mafter made him, after he had told him that what be demanded of him was not known to him, but by the report at Kome, from whence he Jiad not Ilirr'd lince the departure of Alaric^ he could therefore give him no other account, fcut what ihe bad from the fame report, which in fumm was, " That as well at Rome as in other places, whither her adverfe fortune led her a Follows .^.erof the jGonquerour, Placidia had with a marvellous courage refifted the purfuits of *' Autalph--, • letting him ttill knpw that the change of her condition could not alter her in- " clinations S That this Prince knowing that all he try'd by love was vain and unprofitable, ."#efolv'd feveral times to inakeufe of the privilege of ^ar, and force' her to efpoufe him » *' buut in-fiich extremities flie had recourfe to Alaric^ who though he defir'd the repofe " and fatisfadion of his Brother, yet could not refolve to do this violence to a Princefs, *' both whofe Birth and Virtue he refpeded : That by this confideration, and as fome faid, " by theprayers of the Princefs Z^foc/tf/yWj, of whom .^/jr/c was enamoured, fhedefend- " ed.her felf againft Autalph until the death of Alaric^ whom a violent malady which feiz'd *' him at Cgnfenfe^ took in few days out of the world : That Atitalph being crown'd King •'■ of the Gof/^/ after the death of his Brother, had not only perfevered in his love to P/*- *^ cidia, but gave her to undertland, that if (he did not in few days confent, he would *' make ufe4P his authority to polTefs her ; That the Princefs ftill relilkd him as much as it " was poflible, endeavouring todiffwadehisdelign by all thofe confiderations (he bcliev'4 " capable to withhold him i but in the end, finding them all unproHtable, and that (h^was *' threatned and in danger tofatisfie.the paffion of the Conquerour in another condition " than that of. his Spoufe, the fearoJf fo horrible a mifchief made her fuffer the other more •" patiently: That (lie was married and crowned Queen of the Fifigotht^ at Confenfe ■■, and -'twas rqiorted that though (lie efpous'd the King Aittalph^ with an inexprellible re-r V*' pugnancy, yet after their marriage (lie liv'd admirably well with hirti: That fome time ■'Rafter they departed from Co^/e^p, and went into the Province of the Lacetans, which f is a Province of Spaiit bordering upon the MeditelrraHeaH Sea, which in a (h or t time the ^^ Gothf veduc'd to their obedience, and.from whence they intended to pafs among the ^' Gauls to poffefs their Lands which they pretended to appertain to them, and which were Valfign'd to them by the Emfetonts- 7 headofim and Hmoriiu : That it was in Barcelona^ " the capital City of that Country, that' Autalph at prefent kept his Court and reign'd f peaceably; : ;:F. ■■•(:•. . This difcoutfc of the V/figoth gave fome fatisfatStion to the fpirit of Con^ance^ though • it increas'd his grief ; and upon the knowledge he had of the place where P/i»«^ia was, he form'd a refblution, which fome days after he put in execution-, he determin'd once more to fee Placidia, whatever dangers mighl^ arrive in the execution of fuch a defign : but becaufe he could not march with his equipage, without being taken notice pf, nor go with' Book III. PHARAMOND. 75 with any train in thofe places, where his Countenance was fo well known both to the King and to moft of thofe perfons who were near himi he therefore not only fent vnxo Italy the Cavalry which came to fight againrt Attains, but he would that all his Houfc and Family (hould take the fanric courfe, keeping none with him but my felf, and two men to ferve him. LeoHtim, who commanded the Horfe, was much troubled to part with him-, nor were the Officers of his Houlhold lefs afflided to abandon him > but both the one and the other were conftrained lo obey, which they did fomewhat the more willingly, becaufc he pro- mised them he would in a fhort time be at Kome, whither he commanded them to go and attend him. He gave to Leontm the condudt of Attalut, charging him to prefent him to the Emperour, to whom he writ a Letter in thefe or the like words. Conftance to the Emperour Honorius. I Have acquitted my felf^ Sir, of the promife I made you to overcome your Enemiet ; but you have not preferved for me the Pr/wfJ? Placidia, according to yaurt. Though my jh- vicer had not been conftderable, a Sijier like Placidia tpos without doubt rvorthy of your af- fjUnce ; and I cannot comprehend for what reafon you jhould abandon her to the Barbarians : But it is not for t»to judge the aUions of our Soveraign \ and you are it may be fo fufficieutly toMch''d xcith the lojfes you have had, that our complaints need not renew them to your memory^ For my felf, having loji Phddh, I have nothing more to preferve, and nothing but death can be as dear to me as my life is odious : J go then to flee from the one, and feel{ the other, by thofe means Heaven Jhall be pleased to allot me. And for the laft effeCi of my fidelity, 1 fend yau Attains, whom the jftjlice of Heaven delivered into our hands, that he might be committed into yours, Tou may punifh hU unjuji Ambition by letting him kjiow the difference between his pre- fent conditien and the dignity he would have ufurp'd; but jpare him if you pleafe, a life which I requeji of you, and which I have prefum'd to promife him^ upon the k>towledge I have of your Clemency. This was the Letter which he writ to Honorim, for whom, notwithftanding he was not fo well contented with him for the lofs oi Placidia^ he preferved a refpe(S accompanied with a tender aflfedion. Leontius parted with the Cavalry he commanded, and all the Houlhold of Conftance, and we underliood afterwards that being arrived at Ravenna, he prefented Attains to the Em- perour, who led him in triumph to Rome, where he enter'd few days after i and that he confin'd him to the Ifland of L//>jr/, not inflidling on him any other punifliment, upon the recommendation of Conftance, We parted at the fame time from that City, where we had made fo unfortunate a ftay as well for the cruel dillemper of tny Matter, as for the deplorable news we receiv'd •-, and with that little equipage I told you, we went to feek the Country inhabited by that terrible Nation which had laid ours defolate. To accomplifh this defign, we had no very great journey \ for we had only to crofs a part of Gallia Narbonnefe to arrive at the foot of the PjTj«f J7J Mountains, where the Province of the Laeetans k fcituated. I(hal!not befo tedious as to recite the particulars of our Voyage, in which there was nothing of divertifement or agreeable to you : for running only where the paffion of Con- ftance called us, we made no ftay at any place we palTed through, which might give us lea- fure to make any particular obfervation : beiides, my Matter's grief to which he had fo entirely abandon'd himfelf, bulled us in that nature, that it left no place for other thoughts. His eyes feem'd fix'd on all forts of objedts, and his fpirit incapable of the remembrance of any thing, but his fad and cruel lofs. Hardly at my preffing entreaties Wt iii(J he take any nourittiment, or any moments repofe i nor could he think that what he went to feek was in another's Arms, and bound with fuch chains, as nothing but death ccuid loofe, without beingfurpriz'd with an aifedion neither to be equaliz'dnordefcrib'd. lie often cxprefs'd more by his filence, than by his tears and lamentations : and as my Mairex hath truly a noble patience, and a refolution not common, he reftrain'd his grief as- much as he could pollible \ not permitting it to break forth, but by thofe marks which he could not conceal nor diffemble. In this fad condition we travers'd the Country of the Nidiobriges, pafs'd nigh unto i\7a)^(7/;«« a famous City, which gives a name to apart oftheGa«//,3nd in thcend, entred into Spain : in approaching it, Conftance informed himfelf every day with the particulars L 2 of 76 PHARJMOND, Part I of Ilk misfbi-futi'cs '. and when vve were a good way entred inCo the Country which was {"ubjed to Autalph, we underftood that the £*>"ii«fwi King was much more fortunate in his Marriage than he could have hop'd, confidering theunjuft ways by which he accomplidi'd iti and tha{ his virtuous Spoufe making her inclinations yield to confiderations of Duty, liad conform'd them in fuch fort, that according to the common opinion, the Cuth.ck^ Kjng was no 'lifg in polTeffion of her foul than 6f her body,' and talkd thofe fwcetneffts which felJonn encounter in inclinations once fo different. -.This knowkdge of the happinefs of /^w*^//'/^, and of a happinefs fo unjuftly got, caft the afBid:cdG)*/MW^ into extremities of grief-, in which all his virtue was neceflary, tliough by. tluj virtue he found this confolation, that Placidia was not unhappy, which (he had been without doubt, if by her admirable wifdom (lie had not overcome thofe re- pugnancies which dayly oppos'd themfelves to her repofe and felicity. /4j& Valerius ( faid he torioeinthefe thoughts ) Is it then tme that Placidia loves fo truly *^f Barbarian King, tvhom force and violence made her huihand? hotv rvould (he have loved aSponfervhom jhe hadreceiv''d jrom her Farents, and from her own inclinations.'' hut by the bonds of that dptt]f which bath fomething in it more cruel than the Goths themfelves, (he hath forgotifimwhom her Parents J and her very inclinations dejlin''d her. Alcn ( added he) it m ida true, hut hotpever^ what mifery I find for my felf m this cruel k>Jon>ledge ; I cannot^ thdjtgh H .readeV- me eternally miferahle, defire that Placidia fl'iottld hate Autalph ; and I etis^ht to deftre that jhe would eternally forget m^, if my remembrance would! bring any trouble to her repofe. , He made me often fuch difcourfes as thefe i and in this fad converfation we approached Barceloiia, afaii'City neartlie Sea, where the Gaf^ic/^, Ring at prefent kept his Court i we knew- befdrcdur arrival that Prince J'f^allia was not there ^ that he had been along time departed,^ and fcarce any news heard of him (ince the death of Alaric : though my Mafter efieem'd and lov'd this brave Prince mo(t particularly, and that though at another time be would gladly have encountred him, in this he was not at all troubled at his abfence, having refolv'd if he had been there, "-Vb conceal himfelf from him as from the bcft of men, not finding it convenient to difcoverhimfelf to him atafeafon in which he could not be favourable to him, without being the contrary to the King his near Kinfman. Coa'iiaace his refolution not to be feen by any perfon that might know hire, and having ^afpn to feat many petfons whom he had feen at Kowf, made us attend the night to enter the City, and then we went to feek a lodging in one of the kaft frequented Ikeets, and ^oft diftant from the Palace. So foon as we werearriv'dand retir'd into our Chamber, tny Mafter began to invent with me fome means to fte the Queen, and ufe thebeft cau- tion, mlich lefs for the danger which might threaten him, than for the confid'Cration he had for the repofe and int^reft of that great Princefs, which he might difquiet by an im- prudent condudt. The better to inform our felves in this occafion, he propos'd to regulate his defigns by tl>e paffages of affairs at Court i and having caus'd our Hoft to be call'd, we underftood from him that We were arriv'd in a fortunate time. That Virginia, (lie whom the Queen of all the perfons that attend her efieem'd niofl; dear, and the good and faithful friend of CoT^ance^ had the fame day cfpous'd Hilderic the Favourite of the King, and the chief per- fonage amongft the Goths; next the two Princes Sigeric and iFaVia : that all the Palace was to fpend this night in pompous folemnitics : that on the morrow, in honour of fuch a Marriage,, in the great plain of the City, courfes were to be run, like to thofe my Mafter ran at Rome in the Hippodrome againft Autalph and the unfortunate Ettchere, which the r/l/^oz/j/ had firft introduc'd into E»n)/>e, which the Gf/w/j call Tourneys, the Englijh Tilt- ing: That Knightsof all Nations would be, receiv'd, and that the Queen her felf gave the reward to the Conquerour. This news: touch'd the fpirit of Co«j?JWCf with feveral different motions j and if upon one (ide he could notunderftand without fome refentment, that Placidia took her fhare in joy anddivertifement whilft he was overwhelmed with a mortal fadnefs i on theother^ herejoyc'd within himfelf for the happinefs of Virginia, whom he always dearly lov'd, and whom he eftcem'd more than ever, for the fidelity (he had teftified to the Princefs : and befides, though he refus'd the dancing and other divertifemcnts of that night, in which he well believ'd he could not fee the Queen without running an apparent ha7ard to be known, yet he hop'd in the fpedf ades of the following day, when it would be permit- ted to all to go atm'd in the City, and to prefent themfelves in that eftate in the place Without being oblig'd to difcover his Countenance, he might be there as well as others, and enjoy with liberty the fomuch defir'd (ight of the PrincelSj who would fliew her felf publickly ,BooK III. PHARAMOND. 77 piiblicRiy npon the Scaffolds for that purpofc erefted with 'infinite Magnificence, and theri he woiiW attend till Fortune and his own diligence gave him the means to fee her more particularly. .'• ■ At this prefent, though loaden with fuch an abyfsof fadnefs, he found fparkling in his foal fome dctlre once more to fignalize hinifclf before thePrincefs Tlacidia^ by fome adioti that iTiighc pleafc her, and abate the pride of that odious Nation which had depriv'd him of all hf3 happinefs. So foon as he entertained this thought, he refolv'd to put it in execu- tion, having, bur little rim-eto prepare bimfelf for this affion, in which he refolv'd to ap- pear without any Magnificence , and only adorn'd with the marks of that grief which lul'd his mind \ he would therefore have no other Arms than the fame black ones he wore iwhis Voyage, giving only order that Night to add fomething to his Shield i but becaufe hi* HoffeS were weari'd with the length of his Journey, he commanded me with the allill- ance of our Hoft to feck him one to ferve him in this occafion : and Fortune would, that for the great price he charg'd me to offer, I found one of tliefairelf and bef^ that were to be found in all thefe Provinces; and which as he defir'd, '^'SRof a colour correfpondent to that of his Arms and whole Equipage. After this, havinp|tven fome other orders for fuch things as were mort neceffary in fuch an occafion, he intended to dedicate the reft of the Night torepofe: but it was more difficult to him than all the preceding Nights > for the impatience he nad to fee the Princefs, whom he knew himfelf fo near to, did fcarce p.'rmit him a moment of fleep. I will not entertain you with the thoughts which toffed and perplexed his-mind during this long Night, though they might well dcfervea place iuour difcourfe, if they would not render it of too excctTive a length ■■, I will only tell you that the next morning, as foon as he underrtood that all things were ready in the great place , and that the King and Qneen having din'd, that they might have the'longer time for divertifement, had with the whole Court taken their places on the Scaffold, he put on his Arms, mounted upon the fair Horfe I bought him i and charging his left hand with his Shield, and his right with a ftrong Lance , he march'd with his Vifier down towards the place where the Courfes were already begun, not being follow'd by any but one Efquire, whom he had taken in to his fcrvicc in the Ga,J!ick^ vVar, and whofe favour could not be known by the Vifigoths. He refolv'd to give them time to fignahze themfelves by the firft Courfes , before he would prefent himfelf in the Lifts ■■> and as he had a defign to fatiate his eyes with the view of the belov'd Obje£f of his heart, he took his fland in a place where over the heads of the people he might fee the Queen feated on a high Scaffold to be eafily obferv'd by all that were in the place. This fight had almoll made all his (trength forfake him : he trerabl'd with the violent motion which his paflions gave to his whole perfon, to fee that Princely fo much belo v'd, feated by the fide of her unjutt Poffeffor, dnd his cruel Rival, in that hap- py ellare to v/hich he had fo much reafon to afpire. Plactfiia feemed to the eyes of Conjlance accompani'd with all thofe charms which ordi- narily attended heri her admirable Beauty ftill prefervedin thehardfhipsand changes^of Fortune, produc'd its accullom'd effedts in the fpirit of a Lover fo faithful, and fo pallio- nate. However , after the firft violence was over , and that Conliance had moderated his fury, he then beheld her with far lefs difturbance than before. It feem'd to him, whether fo in truth, or by the inclination we naturally have to flatter our felves,that there were fome marks bf fadnefs upon the Countenance of the fair Queen, and that her eyes pofleffed not all their gaycty and ordinary fplendour ■■, (he appear'd more pale and wan than at other times i and indeed, to alTill at fo pompous and folemn a rejoycing, all the ornaments of her perfon feemed extreamly negligent. Virfrima fate next her, adorn'd with all that magnificence that befitted the folemnity of her Marriages but fiie appeared in all her aftions to accompany thofe of the Queen, who holding down her head in a kind of languifhing manner , feem'd to entertain with her the objcds prefented to their view. Alas, what were the thoughts of poor Conjiance^ be- holding, or rather devouring with his eyes a treafure which had lb cruelly been taken trorni him ' What difcourfes did his prefent fad eliate caufe him to make of his part Fortune, and all the aftion5 of his life! You may comprehend it well. Sir, by the experience you have cf fo great a palhon, without which it will be impolfible to reprefent it. ■ '' He' had fo fix'd his thoughts upon thefe fad confiderations, and the fight of thofe be- lov'd eyes, that he feem'd to have entirely loff all remembrance of the Courfes, and defigrt he had to fignaliie himfelf In the end he recolleded himfelf, and feeing that they wCie already well advanc'd and that tlie people celebrated with cries of admiration the force of fome V-ipgatb Cavaliers, who had.already thrown to ground all that had prefented them- •' ■ felves yS PHARAMOND. Part. I. fdves on the place; judging it now time to (hew himfclf, making the people give way, and advancing within tiie Barriers, he put himfelf in Rank with thofe who were prepar'd for fight, Thofe who faw him pafs fimply arm'd, and without any Train, werefarYrom ima- gining th^t he was the great Conjiance, whofe reputation was fo glorioufly fprcad through the World, the vanquilhcr of fomany Kings, fo many Nations, and the valiant Upholder of the Empire. However, though without any Train or MagniHcence, he appeared in the Ranges with a grace, that made him be noted. among all the Adventurers, as foraewhat more than ordinary. His Arms were wholly black , as well as his Helmet , as was the Plume which cover'd his Helmet, his Lance, his Horfe, and all his Furniture being of the fame colour-, but upon his Shield was to be feen reprefented a C«^/Wlaid upon a Bed of dead and dry A(hes,fuch as they figure to blazon loft Hope, with thele words which feem'd tocomeoutof his mouth, I ^M ALIV E , THOV G H HOPE BE VEAD. And at the lower part of the Shield were written thefe Verfes : After all Hope U floam above, Still rvith a Faith and 'truth to Love. Alas I that this to none can be^ Afflicted Conflance, but to thee. He had caufed thefe words to be written in the Gal'ic/; Tongue, in which the name of Conjiance which he bore, and the virtue of conftancy have the fame termination \ fo that he had reafon to believe, that it would be of that virtue, rather than of him, that thefe words would be underftood : they were read by thofe who were the nearcft to him ■■, and as well by their fence, as the blacknefs of his Arras, they )udg'd the fadnefs of his foul > and from the little hope which he preferved, began to call him in the place, the Sad Knight^ or the Knight of loft Hope. He ftill beheld fonie Coutfes in the place where he had took his ftand, till at length co- pying a Vifigoth, proud, and full of Glory, for the great number he had overcome, he was refolv'd to abate his pride : without delay he prefented himfelf in the Lifts i his noble po- llurein the Saddle, and the grace wherewith he carried his Lance, and manag'd his Horfe, oblig'd the King, the Queen, and all the Company to behold him with a ftridl obfervation -> but their admiration was increafed, when they faw him part like Lightning, and encounter his Adverfary at the middle of the Courfe with fo much fury, that he overturn'd both Man and Horfe to the Ground, without fo much as being (haken in his Saddle. All the multitude eccho'd forth their Acclamations at the fall of the Vifie_ath , and at the Beauty of the Courfe i but their cries were augmented when they beheld the Fortune of the fe- cond to be like his Predeceflbrs, and that afterwards with the fame facility he threw down all thofe that prefented themfelves. In Qiort, Mighty Sir, for it is rot neccflary to recount to you the little important particularities of every Courfe, he bore to Ground all the Cava- liers of the place, without fo much as Icfing a Stirrup, or that any one oblig'd him to a fe- cond Courfe. The King and whole Affembly could not diffemble their amazement i and the Queen her felf, who till then feem'd little touch'd with curiofity at any thing which pafted, could not refrain from teftifying an infinite defire to know this Stranger, nor from beholding with fome concernment the marks he gave by his Equipage of the ladnefs of his mind. In the end, Conjiance fcarce finding any more to difpute the Glory of this Day, began to repent hirnfelf of having done fo much i not doubting but that if he were forc'd to receive the Reward from the hands of the Queen, who intended to prefent it, he (hould be oblig'd to difcover his Face, which he would notdoin that company to purchafe an Empire, fince he could not do it without putting in danger the repofe of Placidia, a thoufand times dearer to him than his life, which he muft likewife have apparently hazarded. He fought with infinite perplexity the means to draw him out of this trouble, not being able without exceflive grief to abandon a reward which could not but be dear to him from the hands of Flacidia ; yet hearing with difpleafure the Acclamations of the people, who declared him vidorious i when he faw the Barriers clear'd to a Knight proudly armed, and whom he underftood by ihofe flood near him to heHilderic the Favourite of Autalph^znd the Husband of Virginia, who (having till then been difpenfed within the Courfes,becaufe of the intereft he had in that folemnity, which was this day celebrated for his fake, could not cbferve in the Countenance of the King the difpleafure he teftified for th*; fall of all his Knights, without putting himfelf upon an endeavour to repair the difgrace they had fuf- fcr'd, tliough he hop'd little in himfelf the fuccefs of fuch an enrerprize > preparing rather to Book Hi. PHARJMOND. -',79 to keepcdtnpany with the others, if he could not revenge them') was rctir'd from near the King, and had arm'd and mounted himfelf with all fpccd polhble. My Mafter no foonerunderftood that it was he, but finding in this rencounter a fair oc- callon to retire, he embrac'd it without further deliberation, and advancing towards Hil- deric in the pollure of a man that would rather fpeak to him than hght him, he encountred hini juil at the entrance into the Lills > and reaching his mouth to his ear ■■, I will mt (Taid he, in the (Sof^ic^ Language, which he fpak,e perfedly well) diffute rvhh Hilderic the glory of- th'a Pay^ to rvhom it if entirely dne^ with thep(^effion s/Virginia ; a>td In>outd teflifie to Vir- ginia, l>y the coHJideratioM I have for her Husband^ the true rejped J continually bear her. His Helmet fo much conceal'd the tone of his voice, that though Hilderic hzd been fa- miliar with him, he could not liave known him : and he had no fooncr fpoke thefe words, but fpurring from him without attending an Anfvycr, and forcing with his Horfe a way through the Multitudes, he got out of the place without any farther Hay. The King and Queen, who with all the company taking notice of his departure, won- der'd no lels at it, than at the fair Courfes he had made ; not being able to imagine for what reafon he Ihould difdain a reward , which could not but be confiderable to all men coming from the hands of fo fair-a Queen : and Hilderic more aftonilh'd than they at the words of this valiant Unknown Perfon, being approacii'd the Scaffold , and havin^ re- counted the difcourfe my Mafter had made him, their furprize infinitely augmented not being able to fancy whom this Friend of Hilderic's or of Virginia's (hould be, that was fo willing to yield fo great a Glory, and whofe ftrength was as extraordinary as his be- haviour. "' UJr But P/:«c/(//« being alwayes juft.and efpecially to thofe whoteftifi'd an affedion to her faithful Virginia^ on a fudden took a refolution worthy of her felf. It it mt juftice ("faid fhe to Hilderic) that therejpe^ that thh Vnk^nvn Knight bath for -you ^ Jhould make him hfe the rewMtdheii willing to yield you j and fince you are this day fufficiently happy in the pof- fejfionof Virginia, »/tow the ejleem J have for his merit , and the obliTation I have for the glory he would procure me. Conjidftce deliberated fome time what refolution he (hould take; but in the end, not ht- ing able to r^fift the deiire he had yet to receive this precious favour from Placidia, and judging he could not refufe it without offence, he accepted the Bracelet, which Hilderic presented him •> and anfwering his Difcourfe without difcovering his Vifage i I had an z«- tentioH (Ciidhc) to leave you that reward, which you have perhaps merited better thani-, t)o^ voould 1 now receive it, came it not from the hat^ and by the orders of the ®ueea : But fittaf you are pleafed I Jhall hold it from her and you, you jhall receive if you pleafe this fmall gage of the ajfeciinn I owe to the Husband o/ Virginia, and you fhdll permit me to demand yours when I ian make my felf kjtown to you better than now I caUi Finifhing thefe words, he pulled a Pving from his finger, and having put it upon that ojt Hilderid at the fame- time that he receiv'd the Bracelet from his hand, he quitted him With* out attending an Anfwer ■•, fpurring from him with an infinite fpeed, when he was encoun- tred by three or four men on Horfeback, who told him that they had order from the King to oblige him to make himfelf known to them, or to bring him before his Majefty •, lean do neither the one nir the other (replied Conjiance very fiercely ) nor had I come, but k^owtHa that at fuch times as thefe, both accefi and retreat are free to all the Wot. .;. W'e have however an Order from the King (replied he who had (irft fpoke to_hitn j ivhich we mu^ execute i and yott wili di^.cultly defend yniir felf from either feeing him^ or making your felf known to m. At this difcourfe Qmliinae was enraged with a choler,he could not dhTembleiand behov- ing them with a look full of fury j tou may tell your King (faid he) that I am mt his SubjeCt, and that be ought perhaps bethink^himfelf more than ance before he violater in my perfonlhe So, •• PHARAMOND. Part I, right efNaiiom and pnblick^Liberty: And feeing at the fame time (hat one of fhem oppo- fedhis palTage, and was about to lay hold of the Bridle of his Hcyrfe, heafTaulted him with fo much violence, that tumbling him out^of his Saddle, he made him extend his length up- on the Pavement, and flew from the reft with fo much fwiftnel's, that they immediately loft the fight of him. 'Tis true, that Hilderic at the bruit was-approach'd to him , and being willingto favour his retreat, hindred them from purfuing him, by telling them that whatever deljre the King had to know him, he was certain he would not approve of this violence. And he having a great Authority in the Court, they obeyed him without re- Jslying: but bccaufe in the (hock with which my Matter had thrown the Cotfc to Ground, the Buckle which held his Shield broke, it fell down i and fome body having taken it up, prefented it to Hilderic : he beholding it fometimc, very circumfpedly read thofc words upon it j but fearing he (hould not be able to difcover the Mailer, he fent it away, with a defign to fliew it to Fire^inia. After this he rcturn'd towards the place, but in his way looking upon the Ring which tie valiant Unknown had put upon his hnger,and on which he had not yet had time to caft his eyes, it was no mean aftonilliment that furpriz'd him, when he beheld it to be a Dia- mond of fuch an extraordinary greatnefs and value, that it could not part but from the hand of fome great Prince, and one highly liberal. He was vex'd he had receiv'd it, but could not now help it : and when he was come in to the prefence of the King and Queen, who were departed from the place, to return towards the Palace i he equally furpriz'd them, with the relation of what he had (ctnConjiance do, and the richnefs of the Prefent he had receiv'd from him. Autalph vow'd that his men had gone beyond the limits which he had prefcrib'd in the order he gave them ■-, and by the diligence Hilderie took to appcafe him,he fhew'd very little anger for the refufal of the Stranger to obey him, and defignM not any farther fearch ■, yet both himfelf and the whole Court judg'd by the Grandeur and noblenefs of his b«haviour, and by the richnefs of his prefent to Hilderic^ that this Unknown muft be a perfon of a con- llderable degrees and many there were wh& fufpedted him to be Prince Bajamir ,. Son to the Kingot the H««/, a Prince of great valour and reputation, and who had before been ieen in feveral places, and upon the like occafions, in the equipage of a perfon that would not be known. . ■ This Adventure in which the whole World found fomething highly extraordinary and unufually excellent, afforded them a fubjed to entertain themfelves the reft of the day. But when Hilderic had oppor^nuy to fpeak more particularly to Virginia^ anjj had caufed her to hearken with attention to the words which the fad. Knight had told him, and thofc which were writ upon his Buckler, which he brought to (how her i he put great fufpicions into 'her mind, or at leaft gave her fufficient etixployment to torment her felf withal , in ■iceking that truth which (he could not know,> and yet in which i\r,e conceiv'd a great interert. All the Court fupp'd that Night with Hilderic, wliither the new Marri'd wascondudled with an extravagant Magnihcencei but after Supper the Queen retir'd into tl'ie Clofet of J>''i'rginia with her alone, where being private, (lie demanded of her, who this Unknown might be, that had teftihed fuch an ailedtionand confederation for her, and who by what one might judge, both by the greatnefs of Ms;A<3:ions, and value of the Prefent he had given to Hilderic, could not but be a man of great "importance. Virginia took forne time to confider, before (lie gave anfwertothis difcourfc i and the Queen having again folicited Mtr ; . .>\.,^ ii'.jJ ; * •- -^t* V- Ik^iorv not, Madain,(C3iiA (he; // I may tell. yotijAl I think^of' tUi Adventure ■■, hnt Ibelieve that you will enter at well as I into deep fttf^icmns ttpon fo great appearance. At thefe words /hq caufed the Shield to be bf:ought from the place where Hilderic had laid it, and after Iiaving (liewed die Queen the painting upon it, and read feveral times the words which were written ■-, When llie faw the Queen enter as well as flie into deep thoughts, and betray feveral tokens of a great aftonifhment : And rpcU^ Madam ( faid (he) upoa rehich of- my friends do you believe that my fuf^iciom may fall with appearance of Jujiice ? Or vplmh of them ivould be in fo fad an ejiate as this Vnl{itnTPn appeared to day^ abandoned of all hopes, and yet loving faithfully after the lojl of his hopes, able with fo much facility to vanquip all the Qoihs, make fo rich a Prefent to l^Mcxic, aiid preferve yet fome affeilion for Virginia, and in fum, writs thofe words which 'you fee up' en that Shield, if it be not the great and unfortunate Conftance ? Ihat equivocatian on the virtue which bears h'li name, might well deceive the ViCi^oths, as was without doubt his intenti- ''>, and a Roman intereffed like my Book III. PHAFkAMOND. 8i fdf ill the Fortune of the gCf<;t Conftance i and I believe I may fay after him^ of him that h,is done j.Hjhe/e.tbiags, Ahi ! that th'n to mne can he, j^lfliiied ConAance, hut to thee. Vvhilft Virginia was uttering thefe wOi;ds, the Queen feerti'ol ovCirwhelrhcd With adedp rucditation, or rather caft into a mortal perplexity » and her behaviour already difcovcr'd to Virginia the cruel dillurbances which began to torment her : (he remain'd fome time in tills eftate, liolding her eyes fix'd on the ground V but afterwards foftly lifting them up upon thrcouTitenance of Virginia ; 1 am loath t9 believe ( faid llie ) that lam fo much abandon' d by Heaven and t>y Tertune^ to lead hither Conftance in a time athen he cannot come but to trouble my repofe^ fuchji it hath pleafed Heaven to give me ; and bejides, that it it uncertain whether he be livings or e- ftafd from that cruel dijiemper^' tvbich my MejJ'enger found him iu : he bath wiihoHt doubt toJ> much prudence^ and confiders too much my repnfe and my reputation, to come and expofe both the tine and the other to danger, m hk prefenee of force mujiy and therefore, Virginia, t mil not believe my /elf fo unfortunate as you would perfwade me i and fo much do I fear that exil you pronounce, that I ^lould rather chufe with all the Vifi"oths to be deceiv'd^ than to Hnder[iand it with certainty, jo long .m 7 may have fome reafon to doubt. • >^Ah Madam ( reply ed Virginia ) can tb'u be a mis fort uHe fo flrange as you figure it^ t^ben you (haU yet once more fee the poor Conftance ? It will be fo great for me ( replyed the Queen ) that fcarce all I have yet proved can bt comparable to it >, for in fum, my dear Virginia, though the name of Convince be yet dear to my memory, and that I do tenderly pre- Jerve the remembrance of a man I lov^d, for fo long m it tPJS permitted me, I maintained my ^ffeitioH i but fince. Heaven hath hound me to a Vuty, whofe Rules are fo fireng and fo nice^ that the leaji thought of my firfi love if not fupportable, nor can I preferve it without rendring me worthy of thofe evils I juffer, and all thtfe which Fortune yet can prepare for me. For thU reafon, Virginia, and for the fear I have of the life «/Conflance, which without donbt will be in danger, if be Jhould be kftown in this Country, ^twillbe convenient to prevent thofe mifchiefs that may arrive, ifyour fuJpicioHs be true i by obliging Conftance, tf it be truly he, to retire without feeing me, and not hazard for a good of fo littl^ importance^ thingtof fo great confequence, as the honour gf'?\zc\d.\z, andthefafety of ConRzncc. They had enlarg'd this difcourfe, if they had not heard fome noife at the door of the Clofet i and the Queen not being willing to be furpris'd in this difcourfe, rofe from the place where (he was feated, and advanc'd towards the door, juft as it was open'd ■■, fhc hence went to find the King and all the company in the chamber where they had left themi but \lthere arofe fuch a diftradtion in her mind, as perniitted her to take little plea- fure in that nights divertifements. The end of the Third Book. M PHARAMONa 82 Part t PHARAMOND. Book IV. IN the mean time the defolate Cot^auce had pofied his horfe with fo much fwiftnefs, that having in a little time travers'd many ftreets, and by the Gate moft diftant from the Palace pafs'd out of the City, on that fide where the flowing of the Sea fcemsto wa(h the feet of its lofty Walls: He purfued for fome time hiscourfe along that fair ftrand •, but ftop'd when he faw himfelf far enough diftant, and in fome fecutity from them who had a defign to purfue him > and marching a gentle pace, gave, liberty to his Efquire to overtake him, who with much trouble had follow'd him : .his mind was fo replete with the Idea of what he had feen, that he was not able to difcern any other objeft : Flacidia feem'd ftill before his eyes, and in fuch a manner employ'd all his fcnfcs, that he could hardly preferve a knowledge for any other thing. vnt Alas, Sir, what were the thoughts with which his fpirit was turmOyl'd ? what de- fcription can I make, that can in any manner reprefent to you the doleful eftate of his mind? He came from kdngTlacidia, thsitCzms Flacidia whofe fight he had {o much dcr fir'd i but he had fcen her by the fide of a happy fpoufe, who triumj»h'd through his Fortune, and by a treacherous v*ar, over that his love and fervices had fo well merited* nor could lie think of thefe advantages, which his foftun^te Rival had gain'd over him, without feeling the affaults of a violent defpair ? Ab Placidia ( cryed he, when he found himfelf moft vigoroufly aflauUed by thefe fof? rowful thoughts ) Ah Placidia, 1 have feen yott by AutalphV ^<^^) <»«^ that which ii ytt more cruel to my imagination, yon Ore all day in the Arms «/" Autalph, Autalph, that fam0 Barbarian, before whom yon fo falemnlypromf^dmethe prehemifteme in your affeUipn. 'Tui true ( added he a little after) thut I have feenyou by Autalph'* //(^f) bia ifpty eyes hefVf not deceived me, 1 obferv'dfome marks offadnefin your eyes, and that on a day wholly dedicated to joy i and your condition it may be is w fortunate, and leaves n:e a larger fubjeS to bewail than accufe you : Let w no longer then aceufe our great and perhaps our miferable Princeff^ hut let w lament until death the ill fortum of ?hcidh, and if it be pojfible, that of deplorable Ccnitance.. In fpeaking thefe words, he caft his eyes on the Bracelet which Tlacidia had fcnt him > and though he was not ignorant that this precious favour was given to an unknown Van- qui(her at a Tilting, and not to the amorous Confiance, yet he could not behold it, but as a gift of his adorable Princefs, nor oppofe that joy he refented, but bringing his lips down toitalmoft affoonas his eyes i Dear PreCent of my Divine Placidia, f faid he, killing it with an extafie of tender affadiipp ) though tlfou wer^t not de^in'd f^ ^e dejpairing Conftance, yet Fortune hath with Jome jf^lice returned thee into his- hands ^ rather than into others, and hath permitted him to receive thee rather as Heavens gift than hers : But finre thou art with- out doubt the lafl which I jhall receive from my Princefi, I am oblig'd to Innk^ upon thee with- all the tendernefl of my foul, and to tejiifie by all the mark,s I can give thee, the conflation nhich thou bringefr to a mind fo jujily abided, -■ •— - - ' Speaking in this manner, he purfued his way with his mind fo intent on his misfortunes, and fo rtll'd with diftraftion for all other things, that he took no regard of a Knight fol- low'd by two Efquires, who^ccoftcdhim, and having civilly faluted him, prayed him to fell him whatiiewsintheCouiit of ^«fa//)&, and what had that day palTedat Barcelana. He repeated this requeft feveral times > but CoHjiance his mind was fo fwallow'd up in an abyfs of perplexing thoughts, that he anfwer'd him not one word, nor fo much as took notice Book IV. P H A K A M d N D. 83 rlotice that he fpoke to Wni. Tliis Unknown, although very wife, wis inccns'd at Ihk incivility of Conlxances and as he judg'd with reafon, that the Knights of Autalph^ Court- ought to pay him fome refped i If I had not in my Jpirh ( CM he, beholding him with i ilern Countenance ) thoKgbts more important thtn that of furcinf^ thee to thy Duty^ 1 (Iwuld perhaps I con teach thee both to hear me, and aufiver me. Thefe words pronounC'd with a loud voice, awakened Co«/b«etf from his melancholy thoughts, and oblig'd him to looft' upon hinn who (poke them i and feeing him ftand before him in a threatning poftute, hiS grief having dcpriv'd him df his ordinary moderation, bcfidcs that he judg'd every hnan his enemy whilll he was amongft thofe men who had robb'd him of all hishappincfsi his Sword was in his hand, fooner than words in his mouth, to rfeturn him an anfwer •, and approaching him with an afped as terrible as his v And who art thou (faid he J thou, rvbo dareft fa audacioufly to threaten nie, withont baviftg the leajl kyiorvledge of me i He neither attended, nor received an anfwer, biit chokr beitig kiuidlcd in the bteafts of thefe two Knights, they affaultcd each other with an equal atlger, and began, upon a quarrel of fo fmall importance, a Combate as furious as if they had been exafperated one againrt the other, by love, ambition, or all other moll violent pallions. My Mafter having loft his Sliicld in the ftreetsof Barcelona, and his enemy fcorning to Hght with ad- vantage, refuling to take his own from his Efquire, their blows fell upon their Armour with more cffcA; and in trath, their Combate ("null of neceffity be more cruel thdn if they hadanythihg wherewith to dover them againft a tempeft equally formidable, though not fear'd by either of them. By the proofs they had made of their forces in maiiy occahons, they foon mutually knew that of their Enemy, and their efteem augmented, as well aS their anger. The Combate was maintained with an equal advantage : and it had been difficult to judge for whom the Vidory would declare it fcif, when my Malkt having receiv'd a blow on tliedionlder, which gave him a flcight wound, he retum'd another dt the fame time upon the Helmet of his Enemy, and his Swcrd lighting upon thofe golden nails which faftncd his Vifer, broke them, and the Vifer tumbling down, difccver'd to my Mafter the face of his Enemy, and in that the Countenance of the valiant Prince WalJia his friend, whom he believed fardiftant from thefe Countries, and who by his laft adions had made his reputation flye through the world. My Mailer was ftruck with no fmall aftoniflimcnt at this encounter, and at the fame time ftrugglcd with different thoughts what refolution he had to take, either to hide or difcoverhimfelf to this Prince i but before he could de- tennine his refolution, hefaw the Cof^/'ci^ Prince coming towards him in a pofture that hindred his farther confiderations v and not judging it convenient to make himfclf known to him, he found it lefs juft to purfue a fight againft a perfon to whom be had vow'd a true friendfllip: he therefore refolv'd by flight to favehimfelf both from the one and th^ other; and turning the bridle of his Horfe, with the greateft fwiftnefs he could, he cn«r deavour'd to get as far as he could both from 'iVallia and Barcelona, The Gt)t/;/ci!^ Prince, who could not fufped his flight to be any defedi of courage, was'^ amaz'd at his behaviour, and had been more amaz'd, if a belief had not poflcffcd him that it might be fome Vifigotb, who quitted the place out of refped to a Prince of the Blood-royal. But as his valour had begot in him a great eftimation, for that he had not known the like among the Cotbi, he determin'd to fatistie himfelf farther ; and being mounted on a Horfe far better, and lefs weary than my Mader, he follow'd him at full fpeed, and at length overtook him, whatever diligence my Mafterus'd to prevent it. Co«-' /}<»«ce was difcontented to Hnd himfelf overtaken, but confirm'd himfelf in his refolution not to make himfclf known, when JVallia accofting him v I come not ( faid he ) again ta fght agaiitji you : I am already fat'ufed with the proof I have made of your valour; btit fmci Ikfiotv rveU that it is not fear that made you fye the Combate, if yen be a Villgoth^ I come t» tell yoU, that you need not fear any ill ejfeCt from a rencounter which hath given nie an in- finite ejieem for you •■, and if you be a ih anger, it is not j:t}i that I Jhould not ack>toti>ledge i)i yoK a confideration for me, tdvchich I have never obli^d you, 4nd of the catife of which I muji needs be ignorant. Conjiance was highly pleas'd as well with this noble deportment of the Prince, as with his love for his perfon ; but judging that he could not make himfelf known , without forcing either his virtue or his triendlhip to too dangerous a proof, he perfeyer'd in his de- fign to hide himfclf from him ■■, and knowing well that his Helmet chang'd the found of his voyce, in fuch fort as it could difficultly be known, and particularly to a man who could not have the leaft fufpicion of the truth •, Ihough I am no Vihgoth ( faid he ) 1 will fjot fght agaiiiii you, having dons fo mrtcb already far a man who neither can, nor will ever be M 2 yoHt 84 PHAKAMOND, Part. L your enemy. If it he pojfible^l fl?all hi few dayes tell you wore .<«t: Barcelona : In the mean time^ I demand of yan as a recompence to what you think^due to the consideration 1 have for yon^ that yon rviWm farther pttrfue^nor def.re to know a miferahle perfoa, to whom death would he more agreeable than the company of men. Finiftiing thefe words, lic"^ again fpurr'd on his Horfe to a full fpeed s and the Prince J^^i//a not willing to difplcafe him, orobftitiatly endeavour to know himagainlt his in- tention , permitted him to depart without farther purfuing him , or informing himfelf of . him by his E(qUire, who with difficulty follow'd him. And he being thus deliver'd from the fear of making himfelf known, pyrfu'd for fonie tiitie the fame Road » but when he faw darknefs ready to chafe away the day, he took another way, by which hereturn'd to a quarter of the City , which was moll remote from the Gate he paffed out at, and from the Inn he had formerly lodged at , and in which he had left-raej whither he would not return, for fear to be too well known by his Equipage, and the (lay he had madethere. So having found a conveniency at the utmoft extend of the City, and in the leaft frequented, a.nd moft obfcure place pollible, he fcnt to fcek me by the Efquire which had follow'd- hiin. So foon as he faw me, receiving me with an Afped in which all bis paffions were repre- fented > ^»d well Valerius (faid he) 1 have feen Placidia, I have gained the honour of the Gputfes^ and have likewife received a Bracelet from Placidia'/ Arm : Are not thefe great hap- pineffet in one day? But alas^ they are li^ht ones, in comparifon of the evils I have feen in their full career •, little have I been comforted in the fight of Placidia, fime I faw her only to fee my misfortunes^ and the happineji of a Hwhand to which our ttnpitiable defriny is fajhed with in- dijjflltible chains. After thefe words, and many others little different, the length of which hinders me from relating them to you, he had the goodnefs to recite to me all that I have now recounted to you i and he touched me fo much with the imprelfion of his afFecftionate grievances, that himfelf could fcarce be more. In the end, he began to deliberate, and long time he deliberated in vain the means to kc Placidia, finding none but what he judg'd too dan- gerous for the Princefs i for as for what danger might threaten himfelf, he confider'd it not at all. He believ'd that among all the Ladies that were come out of Italy with the Queen, there was none that would betray him i and he was likewife confident that among thofe Roman Officers which (he had, there were few but would hazard their lives for his fervice, and particularly libiirtim, whom he had fome years before plac'd with her, and who was a man of Courage, Fidelity and Merit , and one of the moft confiderable in the Houfe of Tlacidia, and whom had he rencountrcd, he had made no difficulty to confide in : but in fiiort, thofe things that might regard the honour and repofe of Placidia, bore fuch weight with him , that he had ■ none but Virginia whom he might be confident of, and by whofe means alone he might attempt the fight of the Princefs. Not but that upon any other occalion he could have laid a great foundation upon the Prince JFallia , (of whofe Arrival I undcrftood the News with joy, believing that by his prcfence and authority among the Goths ^ he might divert a great part of thofe dangers which m ight threaten the life of my Mailer, (hould he happen to be known J but in this he had no inclination to employ a perfon fo bound to the Intereft of Autalph, as he was both by Blood and Allegiance. . ■. 'Twas then to Virginia , he refolv'd to addrefs himfelf not doubting her ftill fo much his Friend, as to procure him all fatisfadion that waspoffible: and becaufe my Counte- nance was in much lefs danger to be known than his, as having been lefs obfcrv'd in the World, and particularly by the Goths , with whom I had never had any converfe, he re- folv'd to remain conceal'd whilft I fought an occafion to fpeak to Fir^/«?j, and inform her of his being at Barcelona. Things being thus detcrmin'd , I cmploy'd all my credit to make him take a light repall, and fome little repofe, to which with fome trouble I engaged him. In the mean time Prince IVallia had been receiv'd by the King of the Goths, and by all the Court, in which after Sigeric (one degree nearer to the Crown) he held the firfl Rank, but was befides what was due to his Birth, more efpecially ador'd tor his great vertues,and courted with all the marks of efieem and refpedt he could dcfire i and that Night having faluted the King and Queen at their return from Hilderic\ both the one and the other te- (Ufi'd by their reception of him, the great affedion they bore him. He entertained them a long time with the fubjed which had led him back to Barcelona after fo long an abfence, giving them an account of his Adventures, the ricital of which would perhaps be no lefs agreeable than thole I am now recounting, and which without doubt your Majefty hath heard. Book I\f P H A R A M N D, 85 heard, fincc they are of too great importance not to have attain'd to your knowledge. The next Morning fo (bon as the Queen Was ready, being in her Chamber with fi/me Ladics,amongft wliom was Firgi)]! a, who notwithdanding i:er marriage attended her as early as ordinarily > he was admitted in, as well by the priviledge of. his Birth , as the particular' conlideration the Queen had for him : For in (hort, duringall the misfoituneisof hcr.Oap- fivity , and all that had happen'd to her till her Marriage,, (he iiad receiv'd fp hiuch aflilf- ance, and good offices from this Prince, that there was fcarce any perfon in the World to Vhqinlhc believed her felt : more oblig'd, and in whom (he had more confidence: And as 9II the the thoughts (lie had for Confiame^ were full of Innocence and Vertuc, fhe had open'ct her mind to him upon that fubjed, and that fo' much t,herathei,bt:caufc liie had not pre^ fotved the leatl: thought in her bofome whichniight injure the duty fhe ought, to the King her Husband. -.ji •.••:) i.. qrj jiyoi :|!i Y3ija;jJ v^\ !!jw-..-;,;ijfibL};. . v-ni She theref6re now received hitri in the beff mannet 'in fhe'Wotld v aiii after havibg- made fome farther enquiry into his Adventures, in which (he ciaira'd a becoming interelf, and that he had acquainted her with the eflate of his life without any other witnefTes thani F/rg/»/j,the other Ladies kceping.a diftance out of refped,thcy fell into difcourfeof the Mar*-' tiage of F/r(jf«w,and thofe things which had fallen out the day before in the great place of Barcelunia. TFallialud already heard fpeak of ihcconfufion was made among the Goths by an Unknown Knight, and as well of his fair Gourfes , as of his difcourfe, and how he be- haved himfelt toward Hilderk^ and thofc who would have llopp'd him by Command of the King v and after having from Virginia infoTm'd himfelf of this Unknown , and was informed better than before of his carriage, and the fa(hion of his Arms, on an inlianf making a refleflion which he had not thought of before, land comparing what they had told him, to what he had preferv'd in his memory -, lam very much deceiv'd^ Madam, Cfaid he to the Queen) // / encottntred not thU Vnhitorvn Knight , and if this eutounter hath not Jhmethiftg in it of extraordinary^ and worthy yoKr attention. At thefe words he related par-* ticularly to the Queen all that had happen'd between him and my Mafler, as well upon theground of their quarrel, which he no longer attributed to incivility, but to the didra- ftion and profound fadnefs of the Unknown Knight i the particulars of their combate, the confidcration the Stranger had for himfofoon as he fawhis Face, the words they had had together, after he had overtaken him, and fixing particularly upon the laft, which had extremely touch'd him, and by which he pray'd him not to endeavour to kitow a miferabh ferjon, to whom death would be more agreeable than the company of men. Whilft If^allia made this Difcourfe, the Countenance of the Queen feveral times chang'd colour i and having beheld Virginia, with a deep (igh, (he fix'd her eyes on the Ground, and remain'd like a perfon wholly amaz'd and (lupified. Virginia's Adtions feconded the Queens, neither of them endeavouring to difTemble their thoughts before a man of whom they had not the leal^ dillruft : and the Prince obferving.thcm, was no Icfs furpriz'd than they, till addrelfing himfelf to the Queen » Ikttow not^ Madam, (faid he) if it be the dif- tonrfe I have made to your Majefty, which hath caufed this change I have marked tn your Counte- nance i and I am more ignorant whether the rejped that I owe you , will permit me to inform my felf. Flacidia remained yet fome time filent without anfwering him •, but at length, lifting up her eyes from the Ground where (he had lix'd them i "tis your difcourje, without doubt (faid (he to the Prince) which hath confirm'd me in thofe fujpicions which made this laji the moii cruel night of my whole life : and fmce in an innocence like mine, I can confide all things to your vertue, without fearing any thing from thofe whom this difcourfe may intereji ■, Virgi- nia may relate to you aV that Jhe would perfwade me to, and of which I remain almoji convinced by the confirmation you give me^ which makes me fear (ended (he with a (igh) / am come to the very lajl of my misfortunes, WaHia hearkn'd to thefe words with an intention which made him begin already to en- ter into fome knowledg of the truth : but deliring to learn more of Virginia, (he decla- red to him the fufpicion they had, that this valiant Unknown perfon, who had made him- felf fo much fpoken of in Barcelona, and who without doubt was the fame againft whom he fought, was the great and unfortunate Conjiance ■■, which they judg'd not only by his car- riage and adions, all parallel to thofe of that great man, but by the mournful colour of his Arms, his forrowful Imprefs, which denoted the lofs of his Hopes ; the words which were written upon his Shield,in which he had not fo much as concealed his name,though to abu(e the Vifigoths, he appli'd it to an other fence i the edeem he tertirted for Virginia, tor whom Conjiance had alwayes a great refped ■■, the Magnificent prefent he made to Hilderic, which could not come but from a great Prince, and from a man liberal like Conjiance \ the va- lue he had teftifi'd for himfelf, to whom he was alway-^s a particular Friend j and the-- 8^ PHJRAMOND. "^PartI. he words he had fpoke at their parting , all agreeing and conformable to the reft. Whiirt Virginia was fpeaklng in this manner , Placid/a perhaps touch'd with the lalt words of ConlUnce, which fhc fpoke over again, let fall fome tears which might be feen trickle down her Rofie Check i and after lifting up her eyes to Heaven in a languishing pofture ■-, God (faid (he J VroteVtor of the innocent and miferable^ can it be that you rejerve me yet to th'n dejperate mu fortune , if our fujpicions he trite ^ Or can you give Fortune fo much Empire over the Daughter of the grf-i» Theodofius ? lyallia xvis fo much touch'd with the words and tears of rlacidia^thzt he eafily entred into the fame fufpicions ; and both by the difcourfe of Virginia , and the refledion which himfclf made upon the Adion, and the perfon of him againfl whom he fought, he doubted not at all but it was certainly (he great Conjhnce. This thought, againft which he drove a little to defend himfelf, plung'd him into a deep fadnefs, as well for the pity he took upon the misfortunes of fo great a man, as for the grief he had not to be able upon fuch an occafion as this, which had brought him into thofc Countries, to givehira thofe allirtances which in all others be might cxpedtfrom his Friend (hip. Thefe conllderations, which began infinitely to difquiet him, (ilenc'd him fora longtime. But in the end forcinghimfcif to diflemble that AftoniQiment , which might augment the Queens, and increafe her difcontents,in ftead of giving her confolation, endeavouring to cloath his Countenance with a more ferene Afpedt : Madam, ( laid he to the QD,een3 / am much perftvaded by the reafons there are in your fuf- picioHi ■■, and in all the appearances af this Vnk^iattn Knigt, t find the Courage^ the Valour, the Carriage, and the Fortune of Conftance : Ihekjiowledge I have of his misfortunes, deth fen- fihly augment mine, and it is upon this occafion, that 1 find my felf truly unhappy, that I can' net offer to fo lllujirioHS a Friend the feryices which I would endeavour to render him, voere I net' ther Goth,«or of the Blood of the Kingyour Spoufe ■■, But however engagd as I am to the Interest of Autalph, both by Blood and Allegiance, there are good off ces which I can re««/fr Conftancc vfithout offending him-, and by offering him what I ranjhe will k^iow how to difcern by his virtue^ that vrhicb mine permits me to do , from that it defends me from. I da^e my felf affure yoa^ that your Honour is in fecurity as to his pretenftons \ and that love which without doubt maket Ifim feeJ{_ occaf.ons to fee you, cannot infjiire a thought into him, by vcbicb your duty may be of* fended. I am of the fame belief tfith yoU ( anfweted the Queen, interrupting him ) for I havi known fo much virtue in all the AViions of Conftancc, that I cannot believe any pajfion what- foevercan taint it : but though our thoughts are not criminal, in the condition lam, I Can havi no innocent commerce with Conftance , nor jee him , nor thinh^of him , without wounding that Duty I owe to the King my Spoufe, and my own Honour. However, in thofe mis fortunes which his arrivarmay make me fear, I receive you as a great comfort, and as a fuccour fent me from Heaven in my' a$inions ■■, not only becaufe you can jujUfe my proceeding, which (}}aJl be entire*' ly kttown to you : but becaufe by the friendjhip between you and Conftance , which natwitb* landing thelnterejis of your Houfe, you generoufly f>referve,ym may oblige him to retire hint' felf without feeinfT me, from a Country rvhere his jiay cannot but he ruinous to my reputation : and in demanding of him this proof of the confederation he hath for you, and of that which he may yet have for me, you may ta\e care, if you pleafe, to deliver him from thofe dangers which may threaten his life, if he fljould be kporvn in thefe 'territories : Behold now, Trince, what I hope from the friendjhip you profefi both to him and to me ; and behold the offce I conjure yeu to render to the unfortunate, to whom it is not permitted to receive or defire any thing more from a Friend generom and juji as yau are. In fpeaking thefe laft words , the fair Queen could not refrain from letting fall fome tears i and the Co//j/<:i;.Prince, notwithftanding the refentments he had of his ownunhap- pincfs , which perhaps at another rime was fo great as might juftly demand the entire thoughts of his mind, was touch'd in fuch fort, that there wanted but little to make him accompany his own tears with hers : but endeavouring to force that grief he felt for the Fortune of two fuch lUuftrious Perfonages, with fome pain, endeavouring to reply to the Queen : Madam, f faid he) I will faithfully perform one part of what you ordain me j and though you had ttnt commanded me to feek^ Conftance, it had been difficult for me to know that he it near w, and not ufe my utmofi power to find him, and offer him that fervice may be permitted me to render him. I ffall fee him, without doubt., if I have yet fo much happinefi tis to meet him, and (li all endeavour as much at pofftble to comfort his misfortunes, and to divert with the peril of my own life thnf dangers that may threaten his i but to make iy/orrw your intentions never to fee him more, I befeech you to employ, if you pleafe , fome perfon lej! fenfble than my felf of misfortunes of this nature ■■, and if you judge I may upon thit occaften procure Book iV; PHARAMOND. 87 procure the fatisfaHionof dH mfortmate Friend^ he pleafed alfoto think, it fit, that I Jhould not add to his miferiet. The Queen wasaboutto return an Anfwer to the Prince, when they !-.card a noifc at the Chamber- door, and immediatly after they perceiv'd the King to enter, foUow'd by Sigeric^ Uilderic, and fome oth.ers, whouCed to have the principal accefs to him. The Queen waS' furpri7'd at the Arrival of the King ; and fo much the tnore, becaufc (he feared left he (hould perceive' in her Face the marks of their fad converfci to conceal which, fheco- ver'd her eyes with a handkerchitf fhe had in her hand, feigning to be troubl'd with the head-ach j and Wallia^io favour her in that defign, approaching the King, began to enter- tain him in fome Affair, and in a fliort time after, under fome pretence led him out of the Chamber. So foon as they were departed, the Queen, to pafs away her fadnefs with more liberty, entred, only accompanied with F/>gi«ij, into herClofct, the windows of which anfwer'd to the Palace-Garden s and it was at the fame time that I being departed from our Lodg- ing by the commandment of my Mafter, to feek fome occafions tb fpeak to Virginia, was come into the Garden (where I underftood (ha often walked) and was now in an Alley not far diftant from the Windows of the Clofet i fo that the Queen had no fooner open'd them, but carting her eyes upon the Garden, after (he had for fome moments look'd about, (lie re- tir'dwitha pale countenance, and let her felf fall into a chair, with a violent difturbance of mind eafily obferv'd by Virginia. Virginia approach'd the Queen, (trangely a(toni(h'd , and earneftly demanding the caufc of that laft trouble which appeared in her countenance and whole perfon. Look^ Virginia (faid (lie, with a gefture craving compaflion) «« And well, Virginia (faid (he) w«aftW Valerius? ^«i <»»M«(7t I (continued (he, feeing FVVgi«M did not anfwer her^ themoji unfortm^te perfon inthe'JVorld, to bereduc'dto fear more than death, where all the" offence Jfav do to my duty^ is bttt the fight of a man once dear to mr^ and to whom I feem'd to be deftin'd by Heaven, by the Emperonr my Brother, and my own Inclinations ? However may it pleafe Go'd (add^d (he fome minutes zhtx)tbat I re five well what cottrfe I have to takfy and that the reiuUance which I have to flee the fight of Gon fiance, make me not forget what 1 ought to prefer befere all. things i go, my dear Virginia, (faid (he, embracing hex) go,fiad Valerius, who without doubt feehj the oceafion to fpeak^mth you--, and as all the fecrets of my heart are kjtown to yeu, tell him all J thinks, and all that I ean^ and all that J am oblig'd to do, 'I ell him that in all my mi fer its and in my change of condition, I have never forgot what 1 (iweto the affeQionand virtue of his Mafter: but this remembrance, which does but render me more m^ferable , cannot with reafontnaks me forget what I owe to my reputation,which if it had keen dear -to- him, he bad not come into this Country to feek^occafwns to ruin it, "fhat both his perfon and the love he bears me, are kffowH to the King my Husband, and the greatefi part of the Goths > and that he camst expofe himfelfio the danger^ to be kitewn, without expofmg to the fame hazard his Itfe and the honour of Placidia, T'hai I conjure him by all the affeCtion he ever bore me., and by all that e ver I had for him fo long as it was permitted me, to give me this fele frcoftljaan demand, to retire without feeing me, out of this Conntry , whet'e be cannot fee m rvithottt^ lofihg me, and where he cannot make any flay without cafling me into thofe unquiet varfs.^ which will be far more cruel, than death, Tou may add to this all you can judge fuffici- ent to perfivade him : and thin will you do me an o^ce I abfolutely define of you, and which ii the be(i that you can poffihly dome confidering my prefent fortunes. • LijViTginia would have" return'd an Anfwer to the Queen, and perhaps haveexcufed her felf from the commiffion (he gave her, and in which as well as Wallia (he found her felf little capable to ferve her •-, but the Queen ftopp'd her mouth fo foon as (he began to dif- courfe , and prelTed her in fuch fort not to lofe the opportunity to fpeak to me, that having made me a lign from the window, fhe was con(irain'd to defcend a .little pair of flairs, which came from the Queen's Appartment , and by which (he often ufed to walk doWn with her into the Garden. So foon as (lie was entred with only one Maid that at- tended 88 PHJRAMOND. Part I. tended hct, 1 obfcw'd, that not to fpeak to me in a place too much cxpos'd to view, {he (out;ht the (ludy Alleys, and after having taken notice what way (he took, I tollow'd her, and met her in the leaft frequented part ot the Garden. Sofoon as the faw her felf at liberty to fpeak to me, (he waited for me i and receiving «ne with a Countenance full of all marks of tendcrnefs and grief j " Valerius ( faid (he j " where is Co»\\ance? He is ztBarcAona Canfwcredl ) and you faw him yel^erday bear 4 " fucccfsful part in the foleninities of your marriage. Yes, Valerm, I faw him ( replyed "(he ) and the Queen faw him too, and wefufpedcd well that by his carriage a perfon " fo extraordinary could be no other than C(7«/fj«cf. Alas f continued flie with a ligh ) *' with what joy (hould 1 underlland his arrival amongft us, and with what joy (hould I " hope to fee him, if in that interview there were not inore to be fcai'd than liop'd ■,' and '"'' if in brief, wc were not unfortunate for thofe teafons too well known to you > 'Tis "true ("replyed I) my Mafter is certainly the moft miferable of all men i but he is not *' yet fo much as he will be, if you are no longer his friend : and I am charg'd before all " things to inform my feif, if youhaveUill prefervcd that amity for him which he hath " fo often had experience of. Yes without doubt ( faid Virghua ) 1 have preferved it *' for him, and will prcfcrve it to my Tomb: but this fricndfliip is little protitable at this *' tim.e, fince I cannot perform for him any fervice, thougli 1 deiire it more than ever. After thcfe hr(\ words, we walk'd in a very retir'd Alley, and had a long difcourfe, in which I related to her fuccindtly the miferies which had happen'd to my Mailer after our parting, and learnt of her all thofe other things which I have bilt now recounted to your MajeQy, cfpccially the difcourfes between the Queen and Prince fFalUa : but when in the end of our difcourfe, (he told me the lal\ rcfolution the Qupen had taken never to fee Co»- ftance^ and the oirder (he had given her to entreat him to retire without feeing her, with \Thich flie would charge me, though (lie teftirted the great repugnance (he had to doit »* I was, and (he fcein'dtouch'd witii a grief little ditfcrent from that whkh Conliance him-' fclf could have felt •, and interrupting her in the difcourfe which (lie made with a vifible trouble i my Madam ( faid I ) is it not enough that Conftancc dies^ but that Imuft be the perfon dfjiin d to pronounce bU death ? Ah Madam^ pronounce it your felf, if you have fo much courage \ for I declare my felf unable to ferve you in th'n rigid employment. 1 fued M mncb to the ^ueen ( replyed Virginia ) and I vom to you, that I never had fuch a force upon my Jj>irits ttf to acquit my felf of thii eommi^on concerjting Conftance. If you be jiill hif jriend^ ( replyed I j or if you have a true pity if hif miferies^ you wiDtejiifie it upon this occafion : ^lit to youenly 1 have order to. addre.f tny felf to obtain fame means to fee the ^een: you ought not to refufe tbU fitccoiir t9 a friend^ who hopes it from no ether but ygur felf ■, and you n>iV itt^ faHibly give him a deaths if you confent not. Ah I Valerius ("replyed Virginia ) you are too cruel to fpeak^ tomeinthU manner: for you- judge iU of my intentions^ if you do not believe that nothing can be more dearto me than to ferve the afflicied Conftance i but alas ^ I have not the power to do it., and Fortune ^averjly contrary tow. ••■ " ■ '•' Fini(hing thefc words, pity brought tears to her eyes, and I obfcrving (licwas truly touch'd, preffed her in fuch fort, that in the end I brought her to feek fome mearts for my Mafter to fee and to fpeak to the Queen, though (he (hould run a hazard to difpleafe her : but becaufcthis could not be done without deceiving the Queen, who would liever confent to fuch an interview, (he fought with a great deal of difficulty the bell way > and in the end propofed one (lie believ'd the leaft dangerous, and moft likely. There is a very little way dillant from thejCity of Barcelona, a houfe of Religious men, confecratcd to tlie fervice 9f that God which we ^dore, and which, after the Goths became Mafters of that Country, was maintained by the authority of the Queen. Not that the Goths do not know and ferve the fame Divinity, and that under the Empire of Valens they quitted your Religion to embrace that of the Komans •, but that after (bme time they received into their belief thofe crrours which one Ariiu jntroduc'd, and which makes » confiderable difference between theirs and ours. But Flacidia having preferv'd the purity of hers, to which the King her Husband had given her liberty, and finding comfort in the convcrfation of thefe men wholly dedicated to God, (he viOted them often.-, and when her fadnefs n^ade her feek a folitude, after (he had offcr'd up her Prayers in the Temple, (he us'd to walk for fo(.ue time in a wood near, their houfe, in which there are both Alleys and ArbourSjWhich make it a curious retirement i and when (lie was in this place, all the Cotht and the King himfelf had (hat rcfpcdt not to trouble her retirements. Some days were pafs'd, fince (lie went laft, and this inade Virginia believe that it was in that place better than any other, that Co«)f(»»ff might fee her without her having any fufpicion that (he had , contributed : Book IV. P H AR A M N D. 8^ contribukcl'i flic told meat the Tame time, the hours at which flic was accuftomcd to go, prooiiinig to do wiiat Hie could to oblij^e her to go on the morrow. Akfr liaviiiginadLMne this promiCc, and vowed mc with a thoufand affuranccs her fiieudlhip tor my Matter, (he left mev and immediately after I quitted the Garden and weiic ro Hiid Conjia»ce. He ran to me without patience, and without giving me leave to aiifwcr, he ask'd me a hundred quelUons in an inliant, 1 rcfolv'd to conceal from hitn one part of the truth, believing that if I fliould tell him the hrm refolution the Queen had never to fee him more, I (liould cait him into a grief which might prove too fatal : and theitfore dilTcnibling that to hiiii,iwcetn)ng thofc things which 1 bcliev'd nece(rary,and tell- ing him that Placidn had Ihll rcferv'd for him an inhnite tcnderncfs and refentmcnt of his miferics I endcavour'd to abate the trouble 1 fcar'd ; yet I let him underhand, that fhe was fearful of ocealions to fee him, as well lor the fcruplcs her Duty infpir'd her with, as for fear of tlic danger would threaten him,' (V.ould lie be known. He hearkned patiently to this difcourfc, being well prepar'd with the knowledge he had of her fevere virtue, to receive a part of what I told him : but when he obferved me with dirticulty endeavour tofweetcn what might fcem irioh cruel in the intentions of the Queen ■-, Ab Valerius C faid he ) ynu flatter rue '. I l^iiurv tvell by your difcourfe, and hv the trouble yo/i have to dijj'ernble the truth^ that Placidia nuili fee me mmore., Tes^ Qie would fee yoit, my Lord, f replyed I^ but {he fears by feeint^ yKit to expafe yditr life and her repu- tation in liiuvjidahle danger ■, and therefore it rvas rritb a great deal of reafon that Virginia hath advit'd that we ought to feek^ aH^npportjDtity rvithoMt advert iftng her, leji her fear fl)i)itld deter her jrom taking fiicb a refilution. In ium, having told him the propolition Virginia had made me, to go to the houfc of thofe Pvcligious perfons, and the hopes flie had given me, that he might have a light of the Queen in that place, with more conve- nience and affurancc than in all others > I fee well ( faid he ) that it is to Virginia only that lorve that conifrt my bepes can give me; but 'tii not for me, unfortunate as I am, to chtife neither the favours nor the perfoHs from whom I am to receive them: but he it by whofe af- fijiance fever I gain it^ the fight of Placidia wiU jiill be more dear to me than my life. We now oilly attended the nights black mantle to conceal us out of the City s tny Mailer believing he could not in the day-time pafs the ftrcets, without putting himfelf in ■danger of being known, not having any pretence to pafs armed as the day before. In (hort, having fpent the reft of the day, and a good part of the night, ere the morning again ap- pear'd, we departed from our lodging and from the City, -going to feek this houfe of Re- ligious perfons, with del^gn to lodge, if pollibic, in foitie place not far didant from it. Bur here we bad an encounter which we did not experts "for after we had by the light of the riiitig Sun, (cen and known the Houfe, the Temple, and the WoQd,, of which Vir- ginia (poke ■, and that Conjiance, whofe excellent virtues have lYiW been accompanied withagreat piety towards Heaven, -was entred- the Temple, and had remained- fbrae time at his Prkvtrsi one of the perfons who fh this houfe had devoted himfelf to Divinity, having paffcd twice or thrice by him, and wilhly looking upon him, kncwhinni and Itanding bctore him with the ufual marks of great allonithment, he gave himthe Oppor- tunity to note more particularly his Countenance, and to know him, notwithltanding the change which foextraordinary a habit might caufe in a pcrfon who had fpent a good paitt of his life in his fervice, ahdwhom he had llngularly aile;ded amongfl his Domcltkks, ,aod vvhoni for his good qualities, and theconhdence, he .had' iritibinv ke/iad given toi'/^- laidin, when he parted from K.OWC to go to the G^/Zie/;, VVar,- . A-a(?,'.i ,-,;, V "iv.:U . U- liburtiiu^ tor fo he was called, had accompanied^he Princcfs in her capt^ty, afid.had flayed in licr fcjvice, until the time of her Marriage i bu t '.cither infpired by Heaven,. ,«r weary-of tJiC tniferies of tl>e 'world,. he. had, abandon d it, and retired- himfelf amonglt thofe perfons who liv'd in this Houfe, whcre'lie. was confidcrablc, both foi'ihis virtue?, ind thegreatefteem which the Queen IHII prefervcd for hiyi.^^ ;: , . r.,: , .-, . Hk dilcretion moderated the tranfportation of hjs tijOLightsat the v'ltw ufConflanc?-) and though Ik feund himfelf ftrongly aftlcftd with the kindnpfthe h^d forhjm, yet judg- ing well .that l&e could not he iivthat C4)iintry vyith any dcli^j^ ro n)ake'himfi.'lf known ; be- .fyre Ix'^at^pjoach'd him, he caretully louk'd. about him," leO there flioukl,beany peilon in theTfittpU" tobc a witnefjofhis adriops ; and then ad(^i-^jling' himfelf to him i Ah my Lord (faid he ) U it pojjible that my eyes fee. you- Withgut delitffon?. '^y ihtfcwoxiis, itnd • by the foupd.Ot his voice, Conliance covAi not doubt but this man was truly 'T/burtim ; vtv^ ..hnding fQiYie-\coni{orC inthc preftnce of a p^rCpn, vvho notwithlfanding hi-s lonji; abode among {k^-fioi,lfi^ was.nQt,at all (ufpedcd by hiiti':- Tes. Tiburtius C faid he with his nafy- ral fwi ejiate-where hts nteet- ' N ijt£ 90 THARAMOND. Part. I. ing with your felf cannot hut yield him fame comfort. fVould to God ( replyed "Tihurtius ) that you could find it in a place where I have foxnd my refuge and entire repofe^ and that in this happy retreat, there do but reji a means for me to tejiifie, that in renouncing all thingt in the reorld the affeUioti I bear to fo great a Alajier is the only thing J have not renounc'd. After thefe words, Co«/f<*«ce having made known to hinri that he was oblig'd to flay for feme days near this houfe with the greateft fecrefie imaginable, and that he (hould receive from him a confiderable piece of fervice, if he would inftrud him in the means how to compafsit: T/Z-wrf/w after having fome few minutes filently confidered i My Lord (faid he ) I have fo much knoccledge of your virtue, that I cannot judge ill of your intentions, n>hat- evfr paffion may mak^ you act ; and therefore without fear to offend the God I ferve, or my pro- fejjion I dare'offer you that little fervice you defire of me, and a retreat as fecret as you cart n>i(h. Infhorf, he told him that if he would fend away his equipage, as he might eafily do, he might pafstha;time hedefir'd in his Chamber, with all fecurity imaginable, and command with an abfolute power all thofe things which in the condition of life he had chofen, lay in his power to ferve him in. Conftance having thank'd him withgreat marks of gratitude, gave me his orders i and tv'hilfthecontinu'd in difcourfe with "iiburtius, I went to the place where we had left our horfes and the two Efquires, and commanded him who had foUow'd him the day before, and who was a perfon both faithful and couragious, to retire himfelf with the horfes into fome f)rivate place, and to come and find me alone at an hour appointed at the Temple Gate, to inform me where they were, and receive the orders of Conjiance according as there (hould be occafion. Having pcrform'd this injundion, I return'd to my Mafter, and following him to the Chamber of 'Tihurtiiis, where his orders were that I (hould (iay with him, and where 'fibitrtim caufed him to be ferv'd with all necelTaries, if not with magnjrtcence, yet at ka(t with decency, not fearing his companions, who befides the little curiofity they had for the things of this world, much lov'd and confidcr'j him : 'Twas here that my Maftermore largely difcover'd to him his intentions, the innocency of which he endeavour'd to juftihe with more diligence than he had done,' had he fpoken them to a perfon of any other profeifion, and principally to him, to whom belides my felf they had at other timesbcen more clearly made known, than to any other of his Do- itiefticksj and "tihurtius having attentively hearkned to him i Would to God, my Lord ( faid he, when he perceiv'd him filent ) that the change you prove in your Fortune, may tnake you ferioitfy takf notice of the truth, and tveakttef of humane condition, and not endea- vour to fearch among men a true confolation, which you will only find at the feet of that Di- vinity we ferve ■■, and afterrvardt regard with pity thofe , which you fee expnfed to thofe calamities which perpetually trouble this miferable life. But fmce it trill be difficult to reduce you prefently to thefe coTtfiderations, and that it will be perhaps fomewhat of injujtice^ to deprive the i^mpire and the true 'Religion of fo great a Hay, and fo generous a defender; I will not with too feeble Arms combat your intentions ■■, and I will refiji them fo much the le^, becaufe I find them not fo criminal at to be condemned by thofe to whom affe£fio» leaves the leaji indulgence. For your fatisfaiiion, Virginia hath told the truth, in telling to Valerius, that in this place rather than any other, you may fee the §^een, who here pa(fes her hours of retreat and folitude : and fince it is only the fight nf her you defire, and that I believe I (hall not of- fend in ferving you in this defign, I have hopes 1 may do it, by caufing yc-u to enter into the IVood by a fmall door, which we have on our fide, whilji the ^een enters at the great Portal to walk^ with Virginia, who ordinarily is the only perfon that accompanies her : But remember^ my Lord, that youdeMandonlyto fee the ^een, and that you ought mt to abuft the Minijiry of a perfon confeerated to the fervice of God, in any thing which might offend him, and which will incenfe without doubt the ^een, ifjhe (hould have any cognizance of it. Conilance return'd thanks to 'tihurtius for the offer he made him, and remov'd thofe fcruples by nevv protef^ations : but a little after, beholding him with eyes that cxprefs'd the feeling he had of his miferies i Ah 'liburtius ( faid he ) what confolation had you to ac- company Placidia in her captivity, and in her misfortunes ? But alas ! ( added he with a figh ) kow have you permitted her to be unfaithful to me ? Oh my Lord ( replied he ) accufe not ' Thadh of being unfaithful toyou; lament her evils, rather than reproach them, which yo» cannot do without injuftice. I (hould lament for her without doubt ( replied Conjiance ) if I believed her unhappy , but vehat unhappinefi can you find in the condition of a woman, who paffes her life in the arms of a husband whom fhe loves, and for whofe faks (he hath forgot all others who might have claimed a fhare in her remembrance ? J believe without doubt ( added JiburtiM ) that the ^een loves the King, at fhe it oblig'd tt do both by her duty and virtue \ but Book IV. TEARAMOND. 91 but you hnnrt> rveil, my Lord, her inclinations were never for him i and it was not without much dijjicitUy Jhe forc''d her inclination to yield to this violence, "You have underllood, without doubt, what (he did, and what (he fuffer'd in thd "fiege, and at the fack of Komes and you ought to underlland that in all thofc mifcries " that afterwards afflifted her, (he prefcrved as long as it was polllble, the defire (lie had " to give her fcif to none but you. During the time the Goths (\ayed at Kome^ Alarie " caus'd her to bcferv'd with all that refpedldue to her Dignity, but (he was continually " expos'd to the perfecutions of /4/^ in the mean time (he was led away captive with the *' other Prince(res, and a great number of Ladifsof Illudrious birth, companions of her "captivity and misfortunes: Yet (hefuflfer'd all with an admirable con((ancy, nor was " thereany thing (he fuffer'd not more patiently than the love oi Autalph: fometimes he " would treat her with fufflcient refped: i and as he was by nature extremely fierce, fo his " nature carried him fometimes to a misbecoming violence, making her know by his words "the change of her condition: but whether it were through the great ncfs of her cou- -" rage, or the confidence (he had in the protcdion of Alarie, (lie manifeftcd to him art " invincibleconikncy, making him often judge that the taking of Kome had render'd hi^ " condition little happier than before. ■ ■ . , • " It was in one of the Cities of L«M«/i» where we made. fome (fay whilft the Gothick " Troops rava'g'd the whole Province that he hircely a(raulted her i and after he had uhpro- " (itably with prayers endeavour'd to bend her, finding her ftfll firm in her refolution not " to give her felf to him, his anger overcame the refped lie liad for her j and beholding "her with eyes, which expreffed both his cholerandhis love i I fee, Madam ( faid he^ " that the ways which I take, do not at all advance my hopes, and that I muft in fpiteof " my felf, haverecourfeto thofe which therights of war permit me to follow: I am un- " willing to fall into extremes, and (hall w'ith a great deal of trouble violate that refped I " bear you \ but you may remember, if you pleafe, that a defpairing patience turns into *' fury,' and that you ought not to reduce to thoft terms a man who could do all thing?, " if his love to you, were not greater than his power over you. '''•'Placidia liften'd to' this difcourfe with an infinite difdaini and looking upon Autalph "as aperfon whom the change of her condition could only . make her fear i The powct "that you have over me (faid (he) comes by Fortune, ,arid..not by a legitimate right j N 2 "mi 9Z PHARAMOND. Part I *' and though by the fuccefsof in anjuft War I am brought undet your power, you can- " not be ignorant that I am Daughter and Sifter both to the Eaftern and Weftern Empe- " rburs. This ought polhbly to hold you in remembrance of what you owe me : but " when you (hall forget it, I hope I (hall not be forfaken by Heaven, though I find no " fuccour among men. Thofe from whom you ought to receive it ( reply ed Autalpb ) are "very flow to give it you ; and without fpeaking of your Brother the Emperour, who " feems to approve my d^ign, lince he doth not endeavour to hinder it, that happy Con- '■'■ ^ance to whom you defi:ine this Fortune, which with fo much obftinacy you deny to "me, is either very negligent of his duty, or perhaps employed in a War which in my " judgement may be of lefs importance, than your defence, and his Countries. " Thefe words made the very heart of the Princefs tremble; and being yet ignorant of *' the eftate wherein you were, which (lie underftood few days after, fhe felt a mortal grief "for the reproaches cart upon youv however (he endeavour'd to difTemble it, and was a- " bout to return an anfwer to Antalph which might equalize his fiercenefs, when Alaric " entring the Chamber, (he complain'd to him of his Brothers threats i and the Cothici^ " King blaming him in her prefence, commanded him to preferve the refped due to fo great *' aPrincefs. * ' In the mean time, as I was he of her Domefticks who had the mod entire knowledge " of the aifedion fhe had for you, and in this regard, he in whom (he had the moft con- " fidence , as to v.'hat concern'd you •, fhe often ccmplain'd her fclf to me of you, but " ftill with an infinite fweetnefs, and in fuch a manner, which made me well judge of the '' difficulty (lie had to accufe you : But when the MefTenger return'd which.(he hadfent, " and (he by him had underlfood the deplorable condition in which you were, (he not on- " ly excus'd you, but feem'd far morefenfible of your misfortune, than (he had been either " for that of her Country, or her own i and gave her felf up to a griet fo immoderate for " a perfon of her humour, that without the help of Heaven, t© which (he had dayly re- " courfe, with an admirable Piety, fhe could not have liv'd fo long as to fall into the " hands of AutaJph. " My Lord, Ifhallnot recount to you all the Difcourfes (he made in deploring your " misfortunes, and her own. Sometimes perhaps (he attributed it to the goodnefs of Hea- " ven, which to deliver you from fo many mifchiefs, as her misfortunes might caufe you " to fuffer, took you out of the world. Nor will I recite to you all that (he dayly endur'd "through the perfecution of Antalph^ who did every day in the fame manner afBi(3: her, *' as his palTion infirufted him. All her comfort and ftay againft his Power, was in the " fuccour (he receiv'd from Prince WaHia^ and the Princefs "theodolinda^ who to be in a J' capacity to ferve her, admitted more willingly Alaric's love, than for any other con- *'■ fideration. But in Campama^ where we made fome flop, (he loft the alEftance of WaHia- " that Generous Prince, having fome controveriies with Alaric known to the whole world, "which con(train'dhim tobani(hhimfelf fromhim, after he had manifefted upon this oc- I' cafion an admirable Grandeur of courage. L. " After the departure of JFij/^Z-j, which begot in her an infinite difcontent, fhe yet made "ufeof the Authority of ^/ar/c againft the enterprifes of his Brother: and certainly that ".King, though zBarbarian^ had a brave and generous foul, nor would ever havefuffer'd i'' th:it Antalph (hould have adted any violence againft her, but Fortune would have it fo, "that being arriv'd at Confettfe^ he was furprifed with a malady, againft which all reuie- " dies proved vain, and by the which he in few days loft a life made glorious among men. " Though Tlacidia had no great reafon to afflift her felf for the lofs of a man who had " been theruineof her Country, and had reduc'd her to a deplorable Captivity, yet flie "had fome particular reafons which made her receive it with a particular grief, fliedding ?' fome tears at his deceafe. fhe caufe of which were well known to us, and foon after to " all the Cotbs. Autalpb fucceeded to his Brother by rights of his birth, and wascrown- *'«d foon after his death. No fooner did he fee himlelf feated in his .Soveraign Authority, "I' but he made the unfortunate tlacidia fenlible of his power, declaring to her his deCgn to J^efpoufe her in defpight of all obftacles whatfoever. I " tlacidia (igh'd and griev'd at this deplorable etfedt of her helplefs condition •, (he la- "mented, ftiewept, (heinvok'd the Heavens, as (he was accuftom'd, and trycd all ways *'pollible, either by fweetnefs or rcfolution to divert the intention of the King of the *' Gothi V and indeed, (he manifefted at that time a conftancy and rcfolution admirable, ma- rking her Lover, yet her perfecutor, oftentimes know, that death would be mach more " fwcet to her than tlie Marriage he propos'd, or the Crown he olfer'd : But Autalpb did "reithei menace her life, nor was (he -of a Religion which might percait her tofeekher " end Book IV. PHAKAMOND, 93 " end by violent means \ yet whilft (he had nothing elfe to fear, (he remain'd unfliaken in " her deilgn, never to be others than yours. *' But when Autalpb by the knowledge he had that the change of his condition nothing «'hetter'd his Fortunes, grew more and more cnrag'd, and loll all the rcfped he had for "her, treating her like a Captive, and making her know that his intentions were more "cruel againfther than he had yet flicwn i and that he pretended by the power he hado- " ver her, to what (he refus'd by Marriage, (he trembled with honour, and in an inftant ** lort all her courage. " In effed, my Lord, (he was fo much frighted with the threats of the Barbarian King, •'and'fear'din fuch fort thedifgrace to which (he faw her felf expos'd, that as well per- " fwaded by this fear, as by tiie counfels of all per(ons that were near her, (he was con- " ftrain'd to accept of the leaft of thofe two evils which he propos'd : and it is certain, my *' Lord, that her moil faithful fervants counfell'd her rather to confent to efpoufe Autalph^ " than attend thofe utmoit extremities he prepar'd for her, and that difgraceful condition " into which he would throw her. I was my felf of the number of tho(e that folicited " her, though I was not without doubt the perfon to whom your interefts were leaft con- " fidcrable, and I affure you, my Lord, you would have (elicited her your felf, rather " than havefeen her expos'd to that infamy with which (he was threaten'd. " In (hort, Heaven and Fortune would have it, and (ince of force 1 muft pafs lightly o- " ver this rugged way, I'll only tell you that (he efpoufed Autalph j but I muft tell you " with the fame truth, that (lie went to the Temple as one may go to his Tomb i and that " Qieentcr'd into this condition, as one may enter into the moft cruel Prifon, or into the *' moft deplorable miferies. If (he efpous'd >4«fa//'/> without loving him, (he was a great " while his wife without being able to perfwade her felf to love him, though by herad- " mifable virtue (he us'd all her power to do it, and dayly demanded from Heaven that '• change in her heart which fhcbeliev'd her felf oblig'd to by her duty. But fometimc " after their Marriage, (lie did a thing ..which touch'd him very nearly, and which more "than all the reft, reduced her to thofe kind thoughts (he hath for him-, which arc " without doubt fuch as (he thought owing to her virtue, and to the refped (he had for *■' Heaven. " The news being brought that /4«<»/w was chas'd from iM/y, that Artabure had dif* " comfited in feveral incounters thofe Gothi which AUric had left there, and that Honorim <' prepar'd to return to Rome, and fettle all things in their Hrft eftate ; he prefently refolv'd, " as well for the natural inclination he had for war, as to revenge himfelf of the injury he ** pretended to have rcceiv'd i and more than forthefe reafons, by thefolicitationof the " Cotbs more covetous than ever of the pillage, of which they had tafied the fweetnefs, " to turn once more his' Arms againft the unfortunate ItaJ.y^ and finifti the ruine of that '* deplorable City, which the cruelty of his hand had already lay'd defolate. "■"So foon as he refolv'd, he began to put his defign in execution i all things prepar'd " themfelvcs for the war more than ever i the difpcrfed Troops were rallied from all " parts, and in few days he faw himfelf at the head of a multitude of armed Soldiers de- " ftin'd to the ruine of her Country. The Hrft fweetnefs of his Marriage could not divert " him from his refolution, and he prepar'd himfelf to march more vigoroufly than ever "to the deftrudion of I*(j/y, when he obferv'd in the Countenance, in thedi(courfe, and *' jn all the adions of the Queen, far greater grief than he had ever feen in the greatefli " miferies of her Captivity. Inftiort, ftie was fo fmitten with this laft blow of her evil " fortune, and belicv'd her felf fo little oblig'd to diifemble the grief (he felt, that ftie gave " her felf up wholly to it, , and demonftrated all the marks which could be expcded froift " xhe moft fenfible miferies. At whatever hour the King her fpoufe came to vifit her, he "found her cheeks overflowed with tears, and heard nothing but plaints Kfue from her "lips, and llghs from her breaft > his inrinite love made him tenderly fenlible of her grief, •'andJiaving earneftly preflTed her to know the caufe, why (he mourn'd fo much at that •""time when (he had born her part mKeries with fuch a conrtancy i Wby^ »»)iXor J fi{ffJer'4 ike. change of my fortune^ .ff.^mifsry to which htmanecpn- ' *'"' iitioii 94 PHARAMOND. Part I. ditioH if expofed : hut noa> my misfortune is both vpithout comparifon and without example^ and Fortune hath now put on a more terrible countenance : For in briefs my Lord, they were at other times our Enemies, which marched to the ruine of the places of our Nativity : "'twas Ala- ric, whom Hooked upon as a Barbarian King, rvho came to afjault ourWaUs i and I had the /i- berty to make vows, and to invoke Heaven to our afijiance againji thofe Enemies, whom it was ' permitted me to hate ; but at thU time they are our SubjeUs, that March againjl the SubjeUs of Honorius : "lis my Husband that goes to mak^ JVar againjl my Brother ; and on nhatfoever fide Fortune declares it felf, in fiead of the frveetneji may be hop^dfromViCiory,! fee for my felf only occafion of tears and defolation : Shall I fee you again wade in jlreams of the blood of thofe Citizens, among\\ whom I received my Birth) and burn again the Houfes of per font who were dear tome \ and the Falaces of my Frogenitors , ddlroyed by the fury of thofe people you would give me for SubjeBs, and by the order of a perfou, whom Heaven hath given me for a Husband ? Or Jhall I fee, if Fortune be contrary to you andm your SubjeUs, my Spoufe per- haps fall under theviaoriouf Arms of my Brother ? But when I jhaU be preferved either to the one or the other of thefe cruel extremities, jhaU I be expofed to that hard reproach of being faid my felf to run to the defolation of my Country ? ercan I without dying hear it faid that Pla- cidia her felf brings a fire to enflame and burn down the City of her Birth ? Oh^ my Lord ! if I am defiind to this la(i mifery, prevent by a blotv of pity thofe mi/chiefs, the very thoughts of which ajfliVi me, and facrifice Placidia firji to the implacable hatred you bear her Alliance. Xou may fatisfie your felf in this fort, without expofmg your people, or without expofing your felf to any danger ; and by delivering me this way from the fear I have for you, and in an En- terprise in which Heaven may be contrary to you,you may deliver your felf from thofe plaints^ which I fljall make you aV my life. " The Qyeen (poke in this manner , and to thefe words (he added fo many more fo " forcible and perfwafive , that Autalph was not able to refirt hep •, and taking one of " her hands, which he kifled with an infinite refped \ Madam, (faid he) / fubmjt my felf " to your will, and I gii e you your Country, with protejiation that it fi'all not proceed from " me, if the Emperour your Brother 4tHd my felf be not united by an eternal alliance. "He faid no more than thefe few words, and from that moment letting fall thedefigns " he had for War, he changed all his Orders i and in Ikad of taking the way to 'Rome, he "ordered his Army to march towards this Country i and few dayes after, he refolv'd to "eltablifli himfetf, (as he hath fince done) and to extend his Dominions as well over that " part of Spain as upon Aquitane, and the other Provinces which have been affign'd the " Goths and the Gauls. • "This adtion of Aiit alph, v/hkh was without doubt very remarkable, being known "throughout all Ewr.)/;?, produced very different effeftsi and if the Gof^x murmured on "one fide in fo much that they came near to a revolt, it ftnfibly touched all the Kemans^ "who were in the fervice of the Queen > and wrought lo great an effeA on the fpirit " of this great Princcls, that after that day (he gave her felf entirely, at leart as much as (be, "could to that affeftion, which (he believ'd due to her Husband, who had fo much value '* for her : In brief, (he accuftom'd her felf to live wi^h him, with fo much fwecfnefs and ** complacency, and found from her virtue as great allillanc^ as was neceflfary upon fo great " an occafion, to make him believe that he was as happy in his po(Fe(Iion, as if he had ob- " tain'd it by ways lefs conftraining than he did. '■'"- - "See, my Lord, that which I could and ought fuccindtly to tell you in iu(\ification of *'the Queen, who perhaps hath done all (he could to forget you, fince (he hath believ'd her " felf lb boiind by duty i but who without doubt hath done all things to preferve her felf " for you, fo long as (he had nothing more than captivity or death to fear. Thus fpoke 7'i^Kr/w, and to this difcourfc added feveral particulars upon the queftions which Conjiance made him concerning thofe things, in which (he took mo(( delight, as well concerningthe Adventures of the Princefs7^<'fl^o//Wj,C/fo»»/r*and Virginia,zs more par- ticularly upon thofe of Prince IValUa, of whom tiburtius told him all he knew, and things without doubt worthy your attention v but of which 1 (haH not fpeak, becaufe they are rot at alt concern'd in the life of my Mafter. Tiburtiuf had fufficient leifure to give him this account, becaufe that day the Pmncefs came not to vifit the Religious Houfe, as Virginia had made me hopei at which Cojtflance was fo much afflided, that we could fcarce comfort him, imagining that Flacidia had been advcrtis'd of the defign, and that the knowledge (he had had of it, had hindred her from coming-, and this fear made him but ill pafs that Night. But the next Morning, much earlier than we hoped for, tiburtit^ came to advife him that the Queen was entred into the Temple, where (he a(fi(ted at Divine-fervice, and from whenc« Book IV. PttARJMOND. 95 whence he did not doubt buf (lie would take a walk in the Wood, asfhe had been accufto- med : that only Virginia and fome of her Ladles in whom (he had the greateft confidence accoitipani'd her. Cottjiance was affailed at this difcourfe with the motion of divers diffc- fcntpaifionsi and after having remained fome timetorefolvehimfclf,he C3uCed Tiburtius to conduct him to the little Gate of the Wood, where I enter'd alone with him, not to ex* pofe Tiburtius to the reproach he might fear from the Qieen, by contributing as he now did to the fatisfadtion of Conjiance. 'Twis not without reafon that PlaciJia went often to walk in this pIace:for when the love of folitude did not invite her,the beauty of it was fufficient to allure her j for though it was not adorn'd with all thofe Embellifhments which Art could give it , yet it was not too much negleded > and thofe good perfons had with a great deal of diligence endeavour'd to add perfection to what nature had made moft fair. The Wood is encompafTed with a high Wall round about , except only that part wich looks towards the Sea, where it is no higher than to lean upon ; and from this fide, as from a fair Terrafs, one may with li- berty extend his view to the Sea, and over all the ftrand of Barcelona. At the two ends of the Terrafs , there are two very fair Arbours of interlaced Branches •, and becaufe the Wood is fquare, there are two others in the other corners \ and the paffage from one to the other , is by Alleys fquare after the manner of the Wood j from thefe , many others ftrike into the middle of the Wood, where there is a fair Fountain, great and large, that cafts the Water almoft as high as the Trees, and which may be feen at the entrance into all the Alleys. 'Twas in this place that the paffionat€ Cot^Unce walked fome time , wi*h trouble upon his fpirit, which left him little liberty to obferve other objeds, how agreeable foever they might be v and in the mean time in one of the Alleys which butted againft the great Gate I waited to give him notice when (he cnter'd. Long had not I attended, nor fcarce had he vifited one part of the Wood, when I faw her enter, accompani'd only with Virgifiia, and two or three Koman Ladies, having left all the men of her Train at the Gate, either as flie was accuftom'd , or as it had been now order'd by Virginia : flie lean'd upon Virginia's Arm , and the Ladies follow'd fome paces behind, but coming near the Fountain they ftay'd, and the Queen paffed only with Virginia, into the Terrafs- walk j where having walk'da little while, they retire into one of the Arbours, and there feated themfelves upon thofe Benches, which are moft conveniently plac'd. Nothing could be more favourable to the defign of Conjiance, who beheld them from a- mong the Trees, with thofe commotions of fpirit, which it will be difficult to reprefent •, and fearing in fuch fort, that. he who had never known fear in fo many perillous hazards, where his lite had been cxpofed, now arm'd with all his courage, could fcarce refol ve to approach a Woman that he lov'd, and by whom he was perhaps as dearly belov'd i he difperft, in the end, thofe difficulties which hindr'd him' and tremblingly difcovering himfelf from among the Trees, he came to the entrance of the Arbour, and prefented himfelf to the fight of Pldcidia. She was juft rifen from her feat, either to depart from the Arbour, or per- haps becaufe (he faw a man contrary to her ordinary ufance appear in her retirements : but fo foon as (he had caft her eyes upon the countenance of Con^ance, if that fight did not furprizc her fo much as (he had without doubt been, if (he had been ignorant of his Ar- rival in that Country ■-, yet (he was troubl'd in fuch a manner, that (he fcarce remained ap- prchenfive of any knowledge i and after (he had only utter'd, Ah Conftance ! She turabl'd back into her feat, and let her felf fall into the Arms of Virgiuia^ who made hafte to fuftain her. From thence, flowly lifting up her eyes upon the Countenance of her unfortunate Lover, who not having power to approach her, had refted himfelf again(t the Branches which fafln'd the Arbour, (he beheld him with a languilhing tendernefs,and with behaviour which feemed to fpeak more eloquently than (he could do by her difcourfcs : her tears foon after accompani'd her looks, and her eyes oVerflow'd in fuch a manner, that in a little time (he water'd her fair bre(ls > yet in this condition (he feem'd to the deplorable Conjiance more beautiful than ordinary, and Maugre all hisconftancy, and the Grandeur ot his courage, he could not refrain to give marks of a grief almolt as violent as that which pofTelTed her. In this pofture they a long time kept filence ; but in the end, Placidia^ who had lefs palli- on than Con\]ance, or more command over what yet refted in her bteft, broke it firft, and drawing away (that (he might yet again look upon him) the handkerchifflhe had put be- fore her eyes to dry them i Conliance ({"aid (he) what come yon to feek^ in thefe unfortunate CoHtttriei, and amongfi thofe cruel men trha havedeprbed yoH »f Placidia > I come to feek^ a death (replied the afflicted Cot^anee) and you may n>tll judge that I can feek, nothing lefi than 96 PHARAMOND. Part I. than desth^ after' having lofl Placidia. "thf Gods which roe adore fanfwer'd the fair Queen) permit us not to feek^ our own. death •, for if it had been permitted to flee to that in our mif- fortunes, I had perhaps in the Arms of Death found a releafe to fo ma»y miferies^ which may render mine as Tcvell as your life odious y hut if Heaven defend you from feekjng your death^ yottr virtue Jhould no le^ defend you from ftekjng Placidia , ejfecially in a time rtherein floe cannot fee you rvithnut offending her Vuty^ nor you prefent your felf to her^ tvithout troubling that little repofe rvhich Fortune hath left her , and putting her reputation, into an apparent danger. -.., Thefe words fcem'd too cruel to the difconfolate Cowjfit^ff s and regarding the Queen with eyes which feem'd to exprefs fomewhat of a jull forrow ; Ah ®ueen of the Goths, ' faid hej though you are Wife to Autalph,jyft you are jiill the Sijier of Honorius, and Daughter of Theodolius : And in fum, that Placidia tvhom in requital of my fervices^ by the promife of the Emperoury and by your orvn,ottght rather and more jiiftly to have been mine than the King of the Goths. Is this the confolation you give to the miferable Conltancc, after having fo cruelly forfak^en him s" Injuli Conrtance( replied the Queen,with a behaviour wholly pallionate) do you accufe me to have forfak^n yon / Me tvhom you have firfl ahandon'd to the fury of the Barbarians ? IVhy did you not then defend againji them^ that which was due to your fervi" ces, both by Honorius hU word and mine <' Qr why did yoit let them take arvay that which fo legally belonged to you ? Ah Madam, f return'd Conflance, overwhelm^ with new grief at thele words) can ynn with jtijiice thus revile me ? Or are you ignorant how 1 pajjed my life^ whilji Heaven and Earth refiifed you their fuccours ? No, Confiance (added the Queen J I am not icnorant^ and 1 ki'i'tv I cannot complain of you with reafon; hut you k^ow likervife that ypu cannot accufe me ; and whilji, if Heaven and Earth have refufed me their fuccours, you were in HO condition to give it, nothing hath defended me againft my ill Fortune, but by the will ef angry Heaven I have been captivated to that violence.. which deprived you of Placidia- / knorvwell (repli'd Confiance) that it was violence put youin the power of our Enemies, and that is was Hot willingly that you were made the Captive of ■ Autalph, but if the miferable Confiance could have merited , that for the. love of him you had defended your felf a little longer from this fatal Marriage, by which he hath utterly lofi you, there was yet perhaps time enough to divert it, and to have put a jiop to the Fortune of the Goths, that they fliouldmt have been able ta do you any farther violence. ICou may have underfidod (repli'd Placidia) what refifiance I made to this Marriage, and the miferies which made me confent to it\ they were without doubt flrong enough to merit the approbation 0/^ Conflance, as well as that of other men : but it is neither permitted me to recount, nor fn much as remember thofe things which may hut fir feme mo- ments alter that affeUion , which I ought to preferve pure ind entire to my "lomb'^ and the plaint which 1 have at other times been permitted to make is become criminal, bv the change of my ' conMion. In fcm, Conftance, whether gttilty or only unhappy, yet I am the Wife of Autalph, and that may. inform you that you fee me m an ffiate which permits me not to fie. you, .nor fa much as think^ you : from the fight of you I hope to deliver my 'felf by the affifiance of Hea- ven, and by the care your felf ought to have ta .preferve my reputation and repofe, and for the remembrance of you, I have not perhaps fo well defended my felf that it hath not hitherts. contributed more than any thing elfe to the greatefl misfortunes of my life, and oppofed it felf to that tranquillity, which my Duty would have ejiabl/Jh^d in my mind : but 1 hope by the aids of Heaven, a>id thofe of my virtue, to reduce it to thofe terms it ought to be in, to pe)'mit me to live in an innocent ejiate : and it is for this reafon-, Confiance, that I conjure you. ip all that yau k^ow mofi holy and mnji f acred, that you would contribute as much as you oitght, if you trulv love me, to my future quiet, Tnu j^'wif, without my reprejenting it to you, rchat I owe to another, and what I can do for you, and I dare well believe that you fo well kyiorvmy heart, at net to hope any thing beymd^my Duty ; and I believe as certainly that you defire it not , at leaji if our ill fhrtMne hath not ckan^d your inclinations: but this is not enough, Conikince, for the honour and repofe of Pldcidi4 i and fmce thefe are the appearances that willruine it, we y mu^ not make the appearances mare criminal than ihe'intentions : Heaven is my witneji^ that it ,.is with a violence, no lefi intolerable than all others 1 have fuffered, that I demand thefe markj ef your affediou i fn- you k>iow that Honorius his word was the leaji that engaged me to you, if my fortune had permitted me to follow'my inclinations , as they were conformable to reafon, ■ g^^bandonedmy felf tothem ai-ith all chearfulnefl : and as you were truly he ef all men wbmn \yjh'ave k*iown mofi worthy of my affeUion and my efieem ■, 'twould have been with ton much joy, „ahat I fhould have; preferred you before all msn,(tnd before the Empire of the whole World,.if ^,Heavenhad permitted me the liberty^ but in the end, Convince, I have it na mare; and fmce ^ it hath pleafed Heaven to make m'e thaxfFife of Autalph, his yojt ought ta let me be. without tomhating the rvUl ef Heaveti which gave me to him, or dij^uting with him a heart which he cucbt Book IV. PHARAMONt). 97 otight entirely to p^jfe^, rvithoui affaultbtg a virtue which 1 cannot offend without rendritig ny felf mtrv.irlhy of your ejieem, or troubling with your prefence, and that interview which canntt hut produce dire effeds, a repofe tPhich oitghtjiill truly to be dear to you^ if you hav.e ever truly loved me. Whilrt Placidia fpoke in this manner, the defolate Conjiance beheld and heatkned to her, virith a demeandur wholly pallionatei but when he undetltood lier lait w()f4s, he found in them fomething fo cruel, that he could nqt xelvain from .interrupting her, i and carting on her a look full of all the marks both of grief and love: How, Madam,! (hid he) do you ordain me not to feeyoti any more ? Now that of all my hopes there remains only the fight of yoH to me, and after having given that to another, which perhaps was only due to me,-wiU ym lik^wife deprive me of that rvhith you give to all the IVorldi' But Madam, will j^oi^ never fee me mere ? Wo, Conftance Creplicd the Queen) J will never fee you more, and when this re* folution Jhall coll me my life, I will rather refolve to lofe it, than to fe you again, 1 will yetfer^ mit yott to believe (continued (he, letting fall fome tears that fhe could not refrain><»/ leal^ jT" fhU belief can give you any confolatioH, that Ida not enjoyn this without feeling a grief per* taps little different from yours : But in fijart, when that grief fljall guide me to my Tomb I rviU employ willingly the reji of my life, fttch as it is, to maintain me in a duty, which ought not to be lejl dear than that, though it were as happy as I could defire it. Ah Madam (laid Cof^iance, o'cr-power'd with a mortal grief) 'tis not your life that my mUfurtune can me- tidce\ 'tit only *9 Con fiance, that the misfortunes of Convince can prove fatal.: 'tis bythit 'iit^iertdinly (for others feem too difficult) that you will be delivered from my fight fur ever: aniibofe orders of Heaven, cruel ones to me at this preftnt, which permit me not to employ my vwn hand to give fhy felf a death, cannot defend the receiving it from my grief: That without idoubt will be fuffcient without the fucconr of my Arm ; and 'tis from my farrow only I Jhalt receive thai jhan which all humane power cannot give mt more, after the /o^ c/* Placidia. - The Queen was fenfibiy touch'd at thefe words of Conjiance, nor was (he able to reply for fome time, which fhe dedicated to a flood of tears, which itream'd freely down her (air cheeks. Con^ance behcfd her in this elf ate, with the countenance of a defpairing man * liiot knowing in the marks of her grief how he could find any confolation for hisi but at length, in this incertitude, abandoning himfelf to thofe thoughts , Alas (cried he, on a fud- den) ali that 1 fee then h for the happy Autalph, and death only rejis to the miferable Con- fiance. Veath (faid the Queen, forcing her felf tofpeak)i/ a debt all menmnjipay: but among men, who likg you, kttnw Heaven and the true Religion, 'tis in the hand of God. and Hot in their own diff>o[ition : J k*tow well thatit is little formidable to thofe, who lih' ycu day- fy brave it in perillous Adventures, aitd that for this reafen you would eafily receive it, though it JhottlJ prefent it felf in the moji terrible fhape: but k>tow, Conftance, that, you have not ibe fame liberty with other men, to abandon your felf to death; and that ym owe your life to the Glory of your Country, of which by the great qualities wherewith Heaven hath endow'd yen you remain the fole Pf/f«ifr (confidering the weaknefs of Honorius) agatnfi thofe Bzxhaxizns' who ruine dnd defolate it on all fides : you owe it to the God you adore, and to the true Religi* oH,perfeciitidhy fo many Nations, with a horrible cruelty : And (if I may add this lajiconft- deration)yoU owe it to that intereji I may yet tak^ in you without offending my virtue^ and to that prayer which Ima}^ you, by all that affeCiion that you have had for me^ to preferve it till Heaven jhall dijpofe of it, ks this is the laji re^ueji I Jhall makg yon in my life, Jo Conftancc I defire it may obtain its entire effeS : and in the confidence that I have of it (continued fhe' raifing her felf from her kit) and the ktiowledgel have of the fault I commit in continuing folong time a converfatioH which may eicpofe Uf to great dangers, I bid you adieu Conftanctf' dnd Ibid you adieu for ever. ; j- 1 Fini(hing thefe words, (he withdrew her eyes from Conjiance, whom (he could no longer look upon, in that condition her words had left him i and pulling down her vail to con- ceal that trouble which appear'd in hers, (he departed from the Arbour with an ill aflTured pace, leaning upon the Arm of Virginia, who followed her with much trouble that (he hail left my Mafter in that pitiful condition wherein (he faw him. They were fcarce gone forth, when Coi^iance not having the power to follow them not the alTurance to do an aftion that might difpleafe Placidia, let himfelf fall on one of the feats with all the marks of a fatal fortow in his Face i abandoning himfelf to a grief fo extraordinary, that I feared left he (liould have expir'd in the Arbour. I ran thirher (a foonas I faw the Queen depart-, and feeing in his eyes and in all his Adions the vilible figns of dcfpair, I was feiz'd with a mortal affright,and approaching to him,I affayed to put him into another humour by all thofe words which the paiiion I had for him could make mfe Uttetj but in (fead of producing any effect, 1 could not draw one word from him ■, bti^ O h« 98 fHARAMOND. Part! he keeping hiseyesfix'd on Heaven, guarded a filencc which much more affliaed me than the greateft complaints he could have made : it Was above an hour that he obferv'd this pofture, whatever I could fay to oblige him to break it \ and when he would fpeak, his fobs fcarce left him the liberty to utter fome interrupted words. With thefe and the fighs which maugrc his conftancy brake forth in multitudes from his breaft, the tears ftream'd from his eyes in abundance \ fo that I vow, in all things I ever faw him do, I never fawfo much the courage of the invincible Co«/?««ce overcome. • So feon as he could open his mouth, beholding me with a dying eye ; Ah Valerius, Cfaid be) I /hall never fee Placidia more; flie hath pranounc'd me the cruel arrej}^ and jhe hath told me in exprefl terms , that Jhe will prefer death before any occafwns to fee me again. In fnm the fight of Conftance if lefi fupportable to her than that of death it J elf, and rvhilfi jl,e give] her felf entirely tg Autalph ,Jhe prizes death before the view of the miferable Conflancc. Jitfl. Heavens^ f cry'd he a little after,lifting up his eyes towards Hea ven j rvill yon defend me from dying in this extremity? Muiithe rej^ea I owe to your holy places^ and to the orders 0/ Placi- dia, force me to the cruel necejjity of leadinz^ fo deplorable a life .? - >> ' He ftay'd a good while with this confideration, fecking the mearts to difpenfe with rfii orders of Heaven, and the will of Tlacidia , and as he had thofe commotions wherein his grief complacent to his defire feemed to Hnd what he demanded, yet he had others witK which by his piety and the great refped he had for the Queen, he oppofcdall the hopes he could conceive. This thought fentibly redoubled his grief i and fuffering himfelf to be tranfported to all itcould infpire him with', Neither Heaven nor Placidia (faid he)TPill that IJhoulddte; hut indefendingme from dying , they deprive me of the means t., live: and Vh- Q\^\z her felf hath too much inhumanity, to refitCe her fight to uphold that life Jfjc hath ordain'd me to preferve. Ah Placidia (added he) ;/ in the terms to which yon have r-ditc'd me, you de. fire obedience from me], order me things pnfible s or rather, if you love the life c/^ Autalph, at without doubt you do, force mt the dejj>airing Conftance to preferve his. Ton k'rv not what this dejpajr may produce in a jonl though naturally flexible and tpoderate y mr m« Conftance bimfelf refolve you, whether the life of Autalph be fecure from his defiair : I \now that all it tan in^ire me with in this extremity, wiU not render my condition more happy than it is \ and I kitow you too weV, to hope the return of my fortune by this means: but do you believe, that in the ejlatein which you have thrown me,myreafoH can predominate over aU my refolutions or that in the laji violence of my grief I can preferve moderation and wifdom ? ■ - - - Thus he tormented himfeifi when liburiius, whoentred into the Arbour a little tiffie after the Queen was departed, endeavour'd with me by perfwafions to caufe him recal hi? fpirit, when we were conHtm'd in this defign, by a perfon whom we did not' exped i for when we leaft thought it, we might perceive Prince IVallia enter into the Arbour. We were furpriz'd at his Arrival i but Conjlance had been more, if in the extremities wherein we were, he had been capable of all the reflexions he had made the day before, and had been ftill oblig'd to any caution for his intereft in a time wherein hope had entirely aban- don'd him, • The Cothick^ Prince, who had underftood from Placidia zr\d VirginidWie condition wherein they had left my Mafter, found the contirmation of what they had'told him, in his Face, obferving in it the marks of fo cruel a grief, that his foul could not but tenderly re- fent it -, and fo much the more, becaufe he was not ignorant of all the effedis, which a paf- fion like that of Confiance could produce in a mifery like his. The thoughts which this fight infpired him with, hindered him prefently from fpeaking, and he was contented to make himfelf feen by Conjlance, by all that he could pradtife of moft civil and obliging, in the rencounter of two real Friends, whofe. friendftiip was not at all altered by the acci- dents of their lives, or by any judgment they could make of each others intentions. Con- ftance xctwmd his Carefles not only with thofe marks of true apprehenfion, which he had fcarce teftifi'd for any other thing, but with a vehemency which made the Prince know, that for a Friend lefs confidciable he could lefs ealily have.aded that violence on him- felf. In the end JFallia endeavour'd to teftifie the fenfi he had of his interefts , when Cor^ance preventing himi Wherefore, Prince ( faid he) do you come to feeh^an unfortunate friend^ whom all the Worldought to flee, and who flees himfelf prom you, not to concern you in the for- tune of one fo miferable ? Js it pofible that in the injuries I have received from yours, you can preferve your amity? Or do you regard me as a Friend, whofe misfortuner deferve pity? Or as a perfon who for his hatred of Autalph, is unworthy of your friendjhip ? Would to God,tha( without being accufed to have merited it by his aUions, he could 'flnd in it thoughts more agree- able to your anions ^ than to your particular nature ■, or that you came lefl tg comfort me in my mifery^ Book IV. PHARAMOND, ^<^ mifery^ «/»j» tff«/J7<)-f Autalph, by the death of a dejpairing lover^ againjl all thofe thought r bis dejpjir might tnfpire him with againji me. Thefe words increafed thecompafllon that the Got/^/c^ Prince had for the infortunesof myMalkri and after he had manifclled thofe marks- in his countenance, which could not let us doubt it j / k?orv not ( faid he ) //; what manner you will look^upon the diligence I have taken tj fearch for you, after I ttnderliood you were in Barcelona, nor what judgment yoti can mak^ of the jhare I have tak^n in the mif fortunes of your Country^ and in your own par- ticular : but I pall be extremely unhappy^ if you can believe that any confederation hath wrought the leajl change^ or the leaji alteration in a frienJihip, in which I judge to conftji a good part of my fortune, and in which Idefire to maintain my felf in prejudice of any other intereji^ befides thit of my homur and my duty. I k^tow well that they cannot be offended with the in- tentions I hjve maintained for you y and though I doubt net but the defire ^o/fe Placidia, led you into this Country, and that I am not ignorant, that it is mt permitted me to ferve you ^' in defxrits which you may have either again\\ the life or honour of Autalph ; I am fo much perfivaded of your virtue, that it is impojfible for me to have any fujpicion of it •■, and I believe that nothing can hinder me from ferving you in thofe enterprifes, which I may be per- mitted to dive into, or to lament with you thofe in which you will not employ me, AIm, ( replyed the miferable Conjiance ) your friendfhip is rather cruel than favourable to me ■) it would be more advantageoiu for me to find an enemy, who would by his officious cruelty pierce this unfortunate breaji, than a generoiu and pitiful friend, whofe afjrjiances are Of unprojitable to me, at his friendfhip is dear. In fhorl, great Prince, you fee me in a con- dition, which perhaps you would condemn, if you had never been fenfible of that paffion which csufes allmy mUfortunes : and oflfhallbe mo[i worthy of your companion, and of that part you have prejerved me in your friendfliip, having protejied before Heaven, that I feek^ nothing more in this Country, than the fight o/Placidiai fo you will k>tow the greatefi of my misfor- tunes, when you fiiall underjiand that that innocent good^ which only remains for the prefer-- vat ion of my Hfe^is refufed me for ever. "^ lk>tew it before you, ( replyed the Prince ) and you may perhaps have underfioodthat the ^ueen having told me her intention, would have obliged me to have declared it : God is my wit- nefi^ I am as fenfible of your grief, as I can be of my own; and 1 eould jpare a part of my blood to fatUfie you in all things which are pgfftble for me : but having protejied to yotf this truth, wiH it be permittedmetoreprefent to you other things, which you cannot be ignorant of, and to demand if you have not courage enough to fupport the akfence of Placidia, fince you muji refolve to lofe her perfon for ever ? can it be to fuch a misfortune, and to fuch a fpirit as ytiurs, a confiljtion fo great to fee again Placidia, and to fee her in the power of another.? Or can yoH be fati^fied to furfeit your eyes with a beauty, of which Autalph is poffeffor ? Or would yoH buy this light fatisfaUion at the price of the repofe and reputation of Placidia and pojjibly at greater danger both to you and her ? Ah, Conftance, bethink^ yoitrfelf of what I fay and conftder, the gireat lofi you- have had, is in the perfon, and not in the fi(rht of Placidia i whom a great many reafons ought to hinder you from feeking, though flie her felf bad not for- bid it. Confider, ^f«fro/«-Conftance, who you are, and in what manner you lead your life in feeking miferable occafions to behold a happinefi which is no longer yours : Yointpon whom the whole world caji their eyes, as upon the greatefi man of this age\ confider the degtee you hold " among men, the gUry you have purchased by fo many great Vi&ories, and the necejjity which both the Eajiern and Weiiern Empires have of fuch a perfonage ai Conftance : you may if your: grief oppofe not your Fortune, eafily mount to the higheji Dignity in the world ; nor will lldf^ my hope to fee you featedin the "throne of the Cffifars. But, Conftance, if yoti cannot over- come that love which I atnnot condemn, at leaji erttploy your great courage to moderate youA grief. Placidia defires no other conflation, and ( it may be, if I may be permitted to fay}'r°y the consideration of your misfortune, renders her as equally unfottunate : t demand it therefore of yoH, for all the affedion you bear her V and of the coutifel I give you, I may be tie l^ fuffeded, beingexempted' m lefi than you, font the fame pafjion that caufes your miferies. " ' •■ In this manner (piktfyall/a, and to tlitfe^Word's he added a great many others, the moft preffing his aflTcdiion could invent', and eafily might he fpeak to a perfon, whoanfwcf'd' him not but by lighs and fobs, and by all his adions made himfelf adjudged little capabl(i of the comfort which he endeavour'd to give him: In the end, having hesrkned as long as he could dellre i I fee i faid he ) that you are both very reafonable, and ver^ well intend* ed towards me \ but I neither am in an eliate to yield to reafon nor the value I have for you all that Empire they ought to have over me. However , I will perforin one part ofwhai you de- fire-^ and if I cannot prjmifeyouto comfort my felf fot a grief, which wiU without doubt endurtf fo long as my ill fortune ; Ipromife you at leaji, that it fhall not produce any effeU which mry O 2 difflejfe rod PHARAMOND. Part I. di^leafe Plactdi^ : "Hoat IrviU no more feek^ occaftoas to fee her, ndr cattfe any trouble to her re- fofe^ b\ any adion of my life. Whilft tny Malkrfpoke in this rtianncr, and Prince JFi/iV,* found fomc fatisfa(3:ion for Tlacidia in the promile he had made, but found little hopes to compofe his fpirit, we heard a great noife in the diftant Alleys i and_ Prince iVaMa being raifcd from the feat where he was {tiviCztCon\\ance^ advanc'd tow'ards the door ot the Arbour, and faw ap- pear at the otiur end of the Alley King Atttalph himfelf, followed by Sigeric, and a great number of perfons ordinarily ot his train. This fight flruck the Prince with a mortal ap- prehenfion, not doubting but both the life of Conjiance and the repofe of Flacidia were in manifelt danger-, znd iH Conjiance inthedefpair to which he was reduced, feared not his life, yet he feared for Flacidia, and felt a cruel redoublemcnt of his grief for the trouble which this adventure might caufe : however, that courage which had always made him invincible in his love, made him take a refolution to defend his liberty at the price of his life, and rather die by a thoufand wounds, than fall alive into the hands of AtttsJph, and give Placidia the forrow to fee him fubjeftcd to the mercy of his enemy. He was already determin'd^ when ^^, f faid he, V<:ry lowj your^Majejly wili furprize me^ with perfons who rvill be much troubled^ if fuch a misfortune befal them. Andrvhatarethgfe perfons (faid Antalph ) rvith whom yon have fo fjtrtjcithr a converfe^ They are ti^» men T reply ed the Prince J n^ho have brought menervsx)f thjfe affairs^ with tehieh I entertained yoit I a\i night; and having exprefi order to conceal them- ff Ives from all, perfns of your Court ^ I befeech your Majeliy to fiare the dfjpeafure I fijall re- ceive, if they are feen contrary to the defign of thofe that fern them. The King laughing at tiiis difcourfe of Ji^.«//m's y I am content (faid 'he yto grtfut your defire, upon this condiiion, if at this mgbtyoH tell me alh^H fecret : and at thefe words he turned about > and making a:4(gn to all thpfe.that were with him to do the fame, he walk'd towards the Fountain, :, But the Prince Sigeric^ hoping to find in this adventure fomething to coriteft with IVal- lia, of whofegrqc^treputatioii,, and fUe rcfpecft the Geths gave him, he was envious; parting from ti>e Kfipg< when he was ait a little diltance farther with two or three men that fftijovved him,, ,he:r(;turned tawatds the Arbour, with defign to enter, and know the (e- cretof ^ri?///«i lit.this Pribfte. ^ I P^uld dni-fjf^fame^ if I believed the occafioH fa important, to tejiifie the confideration I kmye for,yqtt^, j^Ht^hncaufel 4m^ mt of, that JHdgmefi(,,biH perfmaded that it is with fome Ladies that yoii. hold a -particular correjpondence, youc^inmt.takeit ill, -if J endeavour to find out your familiarities: and in fpeaking thefe words, he would have advanc'd towards the Arbour ; but Wallia fieppiRgbieforc him.v/ When rsbnt^^^u believe flwuld be true, ( faid' he J) J fl'ould ■ have nolef interefi to guard the fecret of this adventure; and you cannot but your felf ap- prove that I fl^o^l4 kinder you going into a place tvbither you (tre fipt conduUed by any other reafon^ than that.gf dijfleaf^^tgyW.f 'W^^i'^ 'P'^(i^om^QeA thQk^NOlA'i with a great com- dlotion of fpirit. "■, And 5^mt b^rg a haughty and courageous Prinze, beholding him with a futable.HMcenefs i I believe ( faid he > you do no longer remember ri'hat' yoM owe me ? lk>tofvtbatyo.^,^^rej^yCoufin:Cx^iSe6. Wallia ) but 1 jhall vpithout doubt forget it, ^f yo» f^ic^fm^y fAU:ifi»AA Sigeti^^^ guard of his Sword, > ,Ies,,myfelf C,rfply;ed /^>///.«,,' diQing the'&tiip J; and yQui^wme fifficiently to believe me capable of a g^^ate'r enterjpriz^s.- y yic\\7iA {cawe.endcd thefe iwords, but he ftw Sigeric with his Sword iri^'i^nd, and.t-lirteufKHidraiwinghisr 1x5 put Uimfelf in apoitujre to make him repent his ^uriofity. .. -Z ■:-''.»-i^'\'..-( "-■ ■ ■ -•' ■■ • _ ^Butof the three men, whieh^followed S/gmc, one run to ad vertife the King, fo foon asjie faw the Princes begin to /grow angry v and the other two, though they were ot Si' gerics train, knqwing the refped they ought to the birth and merit ot Wallia, were con- tented to catithea^felves between the two Princes to part them; yet they had had fome difficulty Bo^oK IV. P HAKAMOND: ioi difficulty to withhold them, they bcgiDnitig to charge each other with a furpafiing vio- lence, when they heard the voice of the King, and faw him at thc'fame time advance to. wards them at a great pace; his light made tlicm both retire and put up their {wcvd> appearing before him not a little afluni'd. Autalph blam'd them, and fiercely threatntJ them, tur having loll the refptift tliey oughf him, by drawing their fwords fo jiear his pcrfon : but when he had heard the reafonsof ^/''^/.'/^, he condemn'd the behaviour oi Si- gericy and having (harply reprehended him, he commanded the two Princes to embrace i and having expreily order'd them to forget the remembrance of Tuch petty diifcrences, he bid i';^mc follow him, and leave JFallia to the liberty of preferving hisfecret. Your Majcfty may judge what trouble m.y Mailer was in, whiUl thefe things pafs'd, and with what impatience he (uffcr'd tiiat iVallia Ihould draw his Sword in his defence againft a l^rmcc of his blood, and a I'rince that miglit be one day his King i he was ready feveral tjuies to llep forth, and himfelf decide the cotltroverlie with Sia^enc^ to divert his gene- rous friend from an occalion which miglit prove prejudicial to him ; and many times in this thought he advanced to the door of the Arbour, to throw himlcif into the Alley i but as many times the.coniideration of Placid/a^ whom 'Xibiirtitu and my fclf Hill minded him of, Itaid him ■-, we rcprefenting to him, that he could not fhew himfelf without lolingiierin the affedion of the King her Husband and all the Co*/^ J", and putting Prince /^./i'/^ into greater danger than he could run by the enconnter oi S'geric: and this made him moderate, though with a great deal of vexation, the heat which tranfported him to a delign to hazard all tilings toailift U'aHia^ fl^ould he fee him in any danger. , He thanked Heaven for the good luccefs cf this adventure, when he faw him return fo us : and fo foon as he was eiitred into the Arbour, embracing him with great marks of acknowledgments i lour geiterotis hehavioHr doth imt ajhviijj}^ ( faid he ) but coaf moid me-i andt!.\i:4gh 1 oii^bt not t.> hopelefi jrnm a foul noble lik^ yours ^ yet I ought mt tu f.jffr that fir my i'ltereji you Ihouldcome to fuch terms^ as yon tlore did rvith a Frinceqf yonr own blood ; and you may rvell judge that I had not fufferedit without running a great part of the dancer if the feartj expofe you to a greater^ and malting you fufjteded of an intclligenee rvhicb Au- talph would diff.cultly have pardon''d^ had not withheld 7ne, 'Jhe danger to which lexptfed my felf ( replyed the Prince ) // mt at all considerable , and though Sigcric may be my King,' I hope befirehe comes to that dignity^ he will have forgot this fmall difference. However, flionld ' he remember if, tlie fear I have of hU difguji, (l)all never make me repent what I have done : and to tell yfiu the truth, I am not at all forry for an adventure, which may jujitfie in your Spirit the carriaq^e of the ^ueen towards you, and mak^e you under\iand that the occafwns offie- in;r her cannot but be dangcroiu, in a Court where your countenance is kjtown to all. IFould to God ( reply ed Confiance ) that it was only for my own fak^, and that the defire I have to fie Placid ia, had mthingto combat rt>ith, but the love 1 have for my life ■, you flwuld fee which if the two ihould have moli power over my jptrit : but fince that Placidia mifji bear apart in the mifchiefs which I ought to fear, and that thu adventure hath truly made me tremble fir her, innocent as jhe is of my intentions, I wdl depart as fJ^e hath defired, and I will depart from a ■place where J leave all my joy, and where Heave my foul with Placidia. 7his is my reflu' tion, fince it'mstil he fo, and the Sun-rife (iiall not find me within the verge of Barcelona. Though the Prince JFalliaco'alA not without a great deal of grief leave fo foon a perfon for whonn lie had fo great e Ike m and affection, yet he could not counfcl him tomakea .longer ftay in a Country which could not but be fatal to him, (hould he be known i he therefore diffembled not, telling iiim that he fliould be ftill in fear, both for him and (ot P/<7c/^/'j, fo long as he Hayed at Btcrpri7e have you engag d tnc, both by tlie obedience which T owe to my I^rince, and by the pur-pole T have (o fatistic your dclllrcs ! How fliall I inlhnd you, in thofc grand event* 1 am to recount to you, though I have alWled in them all ! How will ir be polhble tor mc to rcprefentto you the tender thoughts of a foul, againrt whom the moH violent pallions bavccrnclly made War, and which cannot be declar'd by any other tongue, than by that to wliich the heart that refcnts them, furnilhcs words capable to cxprcis them I Yet 1 (hall, my Lord, do as much as my ability and the fad concernment 1 take in my Mafiers misfor- tunes will permit mc, and acquit my felfatlcall of the charge he hatti given me, with the grcatelt cxacftncfs and truth polTible. Before I fpeak to you of the Birtii and Adions of my Prince , I am oblig'd , Great Sir, to tell you fomewhat of his Original » as well to let you know thole Truths,- which the Errour of many people hath rendrcd-doubtful to many Nations, as to ju(titie to yoil the rii^ht which our Princes have o'er the Gattls^ and make you Ice that it was nor only de- iircof Glory, or that of aggrandiving their Dominions, which made them with tlieir Arms in their hands encounter that puifTance, which wai Mirtref* of the World. Thofe who would draw our Original from C^nwj/iy, and perfwade the people that it is from Franconia^ that the Franckj^ Frsncous or French-men took their name, are not at all inftru(^ed in the truth : for it is certain, that we are not only defcended from the Gauh^ but that the Fami- ly of our Kings is the fame that for llxtAn Ages govern'd the faireil part of Galiiu Thofe who are the molt underftanding in Genealogies, fetch their Original trom the blood of the gods •, and before the time of Hprc«/f /, hnd the Ganh among thofe that defcended from Pr/»f, the Samothes, and the hrfl Kings whofe names have been known to men. But however that be, 'tis a general belief eltablilli'd among us, that Fra-mw Son ot He£ior^ faved by his Uncle He/f''/«< at tiie Deftru(Sion of T'yoy, and conducted by Fortune among the Gci«//,efpoufed the Daughter ot K'\v\gB.hemiis : yet this opinion is contelkd againlf by many Nations, who affirm that the Sons of Hedor periOi'd in the ruins of that City, but bcfules many other proofs we have, moft certain it is, that the Jrnjan names have been pre- ferved in this Royal Faiiiily almoft without any difcontinuance, and that a great part of our Princes have born the names of Priamuf, Helemis, Antenor^ and many others, which have not been known, but in the Family of the Ancient ^ro]in Kings. In fum, whether Fratscus came trom 'troy, or whether he was born among the Gattlty 'tis certain that from him and frorn the Daughter oiKhemus ifTued that long Race of Kings, which have commanded over the Gi«//, over the SicambreT^and over the Franl^j : They had Pvcign'd many years among the Gauls, when the people not finding convenience to live in their own Country, by realonof the (hange multitudes of people which inhabited it, feeking new Dvvellings in many parts of the World, under their Princes Si^ovefe, EeHavefei Brennm, znA Belgius, made all F-ttrnpe zx\d a great part of Afia tremble. You haveunder- ftood that which Brennus did at Kowe i nor are I believe ignorant of the pafTage of the o^ ther Bre^ww into A^\<» and the Ocean; and lay the foundation of a Monarchy, which from his Franks he called FM«««.'rf, and which in refpeft totheo^ber, many have called the Oriental France. The manner how the Frank^t eftablidi'd themfelves in that part of Germany, which is the fame where we at prefent are, was admirable. And King Clodomire having fent them their Wives and Children, and all things neceffary for perfons going to inhabit a ftrange Country •, they built Cities, tilled the Earth, and lived with as much eafe and freedom, as if they had been born among thofe people. And fome time after, Genebaud, either by the gentle treating of his Subjects, or by the terrour of his Arms, having rendred himfelf Ma- Iter of the Countries of the Cattches^ of the BruUeres, the T'enUeres, the Marfes, the Angri- variens, and many other Provinces, he left to his Succeflbrs a Kingdom little inferiour to that of his Brother. Vagobert his Son fuceeeded himi wVagobert^Clodion; and to Clodion i Marcomire , the Father of our Prince Pharamond ; under whom, as well as under his Prcdcceffbrs, the limits of Franconia were extended from the Khine to the O- cean, to the Sueves, and to the Marcomans : fo that he polTeffed a Country compofed of a great number of Provinces , and which without doubt is not the leaft confiderable of Europe. Such is the Birth of Tharamond^ to whom without doubt few can compare, either for Antiquity or Noblenefs of Blood, lince without going to feek his Original from Samothes^ nor yet from the Son of HeUor, moft certain it is, that frotn the i\xit Marcomire which paffed the Khine with the Sicambres^ he is the four and fortieth King defcended from Father to Son, from his IlluftriousHoufe. Moft true it is, that Prince GeKfj&id. 'Twas then of the great AiiJ)-co;«/>e. a Prince of glorious memory amongft us, and ron- fiderable to all Europe iox his Royal Virtues, that Prince Fharamond was born in Peapolif a fair City fcated upon the Banks of the Meine, and Metropolis of Franconia : and in the fame place, fuccellively after him, were born the Princes Marcomire and Sunmn his Brothers V and after them, the Princefs Po//;cf«j his Sifter, a Princefs in whom all Virtues are accompanied with an admirable beauty, A little time after her Birth, her Mother yielded to Fate, and this Noble Offfpring was left under the condud: of their Father, who employed for their Educationall the diligence which could beexpeded from his af- fediion, and their virtuous inclinations. 'Tis moft true, that he found them fuch as he could dcfirci and polfibly for advantages both of body and mind, there never iffued fo many excellent pcrfons from one Family : you have feen what the three Princes are i and had you feen the Princefs, you would perhaps agree with me, that (tv/ perfons in the world can with juftice be compar'd to her. For the education of fuch children, W^rcow/Vf difdain'd thofe of our own Nation, and therefore he calFd from amongft the Romans^ and from amengft the Greek/, perfons that were the molt capable, as well for the Sciences, and the knowledge of Languages, as for the.exercifes of the body : And he faw at the very beginning fo fair effeds of his diligence, thathecuuceiv'd the moft noble hopes that his aifedions could flatter him with, particu- larly in^the perfon of Tharamond, in whom he believed to behold an abridgement of all tliat could beconceiv'd moft great, and moft amiable. . He was Icarce yet eight years old, when an extraordinary woman, and of whom won- ders have been publi(hed, pafe'd through Franconia to^omtoGaUin, where ftie is reported to befinceretird : She was vulgarly called /^/^or^wd, but others have mni'dhcT Melufina\ and.becaufe with the knowledge of all Sciences (lie had likewife the gift to foretel things to come, as ftie had prov'd by many experiences, all the world ran to confulr with her, and receiv'd her anfwersas infallible Oracles. Our Prince, whofe paternal love em-i ployed as 'twere all his thoughts, though little infeded with any fort of Superlhtion, yet would fee this marvellous woman, and hear from her the deftiny of his children. Ahor- ii«<«favy theKing, and the three little Princes which he led with him, in a folitary houfei where Oie paiTed fome days 4 but though ftie polfibly beheld in each of themfomewhat to fix her thoughts, ftie addreflfed her felf only to Pharamond--, and after having a while beheld him more heed fully than ftie us'd to behold other perfons j Oh Infant ! dear to Hea' veu ( (he cry 'd ) how Noble is thyVejUny ? And horv much more happy would be thy Fatt' if thy heart xvere infenfible ? JVhat glory reill crorvn thy days ? And what mijeriei jhall per- ficute thy fair life (• She ftopp'd at thcfe words, to behold him more earneftly than before ,- and a ftiort time after breaking filence, with a behaviour fomcwhat tranfported, Go^ youar tjon ( continued (he j go combat e the Eagle rehich it furps thy Royalties ; Pafithe Khine, K#- t . veug* no FHAKAMONV, Part. U. venge the blood of thine^ and re-enter into the inheritance of thy Fathers^ the Earth Jhall iremhle under the feet of thy Soldiers ■■, Glory andViaory Jf^all every where accompany ihee^ and thy pojlerity jhall reign even to the laji Aies over the faireji part of the trortd. What Pojierity ( added flie foon after, with a tone fomewhat extraordinary ) what Kings^ rvhat Princes fliali there be among thy Nepheeps, and among thy StfcceJJors ? What glory to the Country of my birth ? What glory to the 'Rivers cf Seine, the Loire and Garonne ? And rvhat glory to the Ocean it felf rvhicb from the Bankf of the P.hine to its very bofom, Jhall fee all the people ft/h. mitthemfelves tothyEmphe? Ending tliefe words, (he feem'd as if fhe would have fpoken more, if (he had not been hindred by fome unknown power which tyed her tongue. In Chort, (hefaidnomoreatlcaft inpublick, though many peifons believ'd that (he told many particulars in fecret to the King , which never yet came to our knowledge. Few days after, (lie quitted our Country, andretir'd, as was reported, among thcGaitls: but her words made fuch an impreilion in the fpirit of Mai-csmire^ that all his pretenfions for the recovery of the Crown, loll by his Family, were Itrongly rekindled in his brealU and he figh'd for grief that he wasnot at prefentin a condition to execute his generous purpofe, at leall he doubted not bur that glory was refervM for a Son, to whom fo great things were promis'd : and thcle thoughts made him regard him with more eficem than before, and with greater hopes than he had ere that conceived. And this young Prince himfelf, near whom I had the honour to be educated, and who was plcas'd to prefer me in his atfed:ion before any youth of my degree or age, had his fpirit naturally carried to great things, and found thole motions in his heart which did incline him to as^ions above what he could hitherto propofc himfelf: and as he was not fo young, but that he had heard fpcak pf thepretenhonsof his Father, and had underflood a great part of it, he began to bethink himfelf beyond what his age would permit, what he ought to do to anfwer wor- thily thofe expedations which were had of him. Marcomire^s hopes were extremely fortified after the death of the great Iheodifna, feeing the Empire in the hands of his children, who were much inferiour to him in all things j and the Government of .the Empire in the power of B-ufmus in the Ealt, and oi Stilicon in the Weft. He belie v'd that either through the inftances of the Emperours, or the am- bition of theirGovcrnours, theaiTairsof the Empire would be reduc'd into fuch a con- dition as would give him liberty to enterprise any thing V and with thefe thoughts ex- peding a fair opportunity, he refolv'd to attend the years of Tharamond^ upon which he grounded his entire hopes : he therefore educated him in fuch fort, that it might be judg'd by all appearances his chief aim was to make him a moll Htroick perfonage : and to fecond thofe marvellous advantages which he had rcceiv'd fijjm nature, with all thofe helps edu- cation could give himi be began with great tranfportation of fpirit, to obferve the ad- mirable effeds of an excellent nurture in an excellent nature. But though he had delight at the beginning, he enjoyed not what he proposed to himfelf would follow i for in the iaire(l of his hopes, a cruel llcknefs, againft which all remedies prcv'd in vain, took him Jrom among men, betore PKo«(iarrivM at (ixteen years of age: His youth did not at all hinder him from being fen(ible of the lofs of fuch a Father ■, but in that age he demon- firated by the marks of his grief the Idea of his good inclinations. Marcomire before his death, left theadminiflration of State' affairs to the care of Vago- hert and Genebattd^ Princes of his lHulkious Blood s and the condud of young Thara- mond to the famous Bafo^ajius, whofe rare virtues had purchas'd him a great reputation a- niong(^ men : Marcomire and Sunnon were committed to the care of my Father Viocles^ who was appointed their Governour ■, and the Princefs Tol/xenato that of the virtuous 'theodomira, wife to Priam^ a Prince of the Blood-royal, nearcft to the Crown after Va- gobert zndi Geneb and ^ and Father to the valiant Geneband who Qiared with Marcomire the honour of combating you and ycut lllulf rious Companion. The (age Eafogajie, who bad the fuper-intendency over the young King, placed feveral virtuous perfons near him-, and amongrt the moft rcmarkzhk, Charamont^ who both for his birth and merit, worthily held the chief degree. Nor did this llluftrious* Governour ^rget any thing that might condhce to fo important an education. But not to hold you over-lo)igin the recital of things of fmall confcquence, his delign fo well profper'd, that he did iu)t only render tlie young Prince luch as Marcomire could have de(ir'd him, but much beyond what either he could hope, or any that had an intered in him could exped. I (hall Ipicak nithingof the perlon of Pharamond: you have feen him enough already to obicrve, that for a noble afped, excellency of carriage, and B.oyal Majedy, perhaps no man in the world furpalfcs him. You tnay have likcwifc obferv'd in that convetfation you have had vvitliliim, that ht is truly and wholly charming, as well for the vivacity and delicatenefs Book I. P H A K A M N D. lii 'Jclicatencfs of his fpirif, accompanied with a perfed knowledge of all Sciences, as for. a fweetnefs which ii wholly particular to him, and a complacence, which without having any thing of bafcncfs or flattery, gives thofe tiiat difcourfc with him that fatisfadiun which they coirld not find in any but his converfe. The (amc fwcetnefs accompanies him in all theaflions of his lifes though perhaps wherQ fierccncfs is neceiTary, you have never feen a man more fierce than he. All his inclinations are in (Uch manner fix'd upon virtue, that, "noconfideration nor pallion can dillurbhim ■■, and in thofe extremities into which his ilK fortune hath call him, he hath never let pafs any occafion to do good, though cmbrac'd at the peril of his life, and all that he could think moll precious. His clemency, whether towards Enem.ies he had vanquilli'd, or towards thofe from whom he had recqiv'd any particular injury, can never be paralleled : and one may truly in fome manner fpcak of him., that Ik never rafted that pleafure, which fo many other perfons propofe to themfeives in," revenge. His liberality is beyond what I can fpcak: fo magnificent is he, and fo excef^r, live in his prefects, that if his friends, and thofe that live near him, iiad not had more care to maintain iiis Grandeur and Dignity, he had often thrown hinifelf into extreme poverty to enrich thetn. His word is inviolable, as well in the leaft things, as in tlipfe of greatell importance •, and fome have affirm'd that it was not without a myUery, that at his birth they impofed him a name, which in the Cerw;i« tongue lignihes the Mouth, of Truth. His modelly will not fuffer the moll lawful praifcs ; and he is adon:ed with ari equity foexadl in all tilings , that he cannot futfer the (eaft etfccft of injuftice. Neitbet prolperitics heighten him, nor misfortunes abafe him : And as there is nothing more mo-' delr, nor moderate than he in good fuccefs, fo we may aiiirm that his fpirit never feems greater than in the greateft misfortunes. 'Tis then that his courage is admiiablev and! would fay he were invincible, could he better have refifled love, and its dire ctfedti;,. whicb hath caus'd all the mifcries of his life, and cmbroyl'd the fair courfc of it, with thofe- horribledifafters into which it hath precipitated them. He is naturally very jovial, but without excefs or any tranfportation of mind, except his ill fortunes have chang'd his humour: yet in this m.elancholy, which for fome time part hath poiTcfs'd him, thole who converfe with him find fomething more charming, and more agreeable, than in the coverfation of the moft efteem'd perfons. ' To thofe excellent qualities of his foul, which I know not well how to defcribe to you, is joyn'd an unparallel'd ftrength of body, a force almoft more than natural, which is in him fo much the more wonderful, becaufe both his colour, and the whole compofure of his perfon, would make him rather judg'd of a delicate, than firong complexion. But in fliort, few men fufter all forts of travel better than he ■> and fcarce is there any can better endure the firft (hock in a combat. Ac all exercifes of the body, all-the moft expert Mafters will confels their ignorance in refpe nor who fifl may be permitted to fpeak of Exercifes of Peace, after having made mention of thofe of War ) dances more becomingly than he, plays better on all forts of inftruments praclifcd both a- mongrt the Grffi^j and 'Romans \ oraccompanies better all thefe graces, by tlieadvantag.es he hath in Painting and Mulick. His adlions have fo fufficiently blazon'd forth the know- ledge he hath in the myftery of war, that I need not mention it to you : but perhaps you will find enough in the Difcourfe which I have to make you, to judge him not inferiour to the moft ancient Captains. In fum, I (hall end, by faying ( for it may be I have alrea- dy faid too much for your patience, though not too much of truth ) that my Prince had been the mioft accomplifh'd perfonage, and perhaps the moft admired of men, if he had 'better difended himfelf againft love i and if with his other great qualities, he had been Lis fentlble of this cruel pallion, which renders him the moft unfortunate of men. Pharamo/td became what I have endeavoured to defcribe you, by the diligence of Bafj- >li Troops, which they in fewdayes drew tegether, they had the great- eft part oiGermany for their Allies ; and though it was fear rather, than afledion that held them fo, yet they ceafcd not to caufc them take Arms in all Provinces which were yet at their devotion. And by this means they had in a fmall time aflembl'd two Armies much more puiffant than thofe of Vharamond or Condioch : Towards the Danube^ the Carithi- fiens, the Latobriges and the I'uringiens raifed Forces for them ; and towards Vifurgues, and ihe Mountains of MH'eboCj the Dandutes^ the Ncneriaas and the Snevei^ who for a long titiie had been Enemies to Ymnconia^ did the like i but the Romans received the greateft affifiance from the King of Cimbria and Bohemia^ who being a mortal Enemy to Condioch, 'enrtbrac'd with joy this opportunity to tei^ifiethe hatred which he bore him. With the Forces of all thefe Nations and their own, Auretian and Maxinms believ'd (and that with a great deal of probability) themfclves in a condition to defiroy their Enemies, and having parted their Forces into two Armies almoft equal, y^«rp// he difcamped one Night (contrary to the expedationof his Enemies, who did not at all fufped he would take his March that way he did J and by a great circuit reached the City of Vevona^whtxt over a fair and large Bridge crofs the Meine^ he pafled his whole Army before that Maximuj perceived his defign. Thi5 hardinefs of Pharamond aftonifli'd him , who could not believe that with forces fewer in number than his, he ftiould have the affurance to pafs the River , and come to him : and in ftead of having before difdain'd him as a young man little experienc'd in War, and whom the firft da-ngers would affright ; this elfedt of his courage made him be- gin t© fear, and to doubt more than before of the fuccefs of that War to which he had march'd with an affured confidence of Vidory; fo that he made no farther fliew of de- liring a Battel , or at leaft he deferred it fo long as it was polfible : not that he was not in condition to give it, being ftronger than we by more than ten thoufand men > but he had advice of the march of the Sueves, whocameto joyn with him, and he was in hopes to opprefs us without danger, with that great power, wiien it (hould be all united together. One party of thofe he expeded, might have arriv'd,had we given him the leifure to at- tend that great reinforcement i but our Prince having been advertifed of the Levies of the Sueves, and knowing them to be Allies of the Row^iax, doubting not at all but that they were to march againft us, judged well, and his judgment was approved by all his own, that without giving further time to our Enemies to fortifie themfclves, we ought to give them battel. To this purpofe heapproach'd towards them, endeavouring tc draw them to fight by all means Book I. P H A R A M N D. 115 means polliblci butitharl been diflicult for him to have perform'tl his dcllgn, If Maximut^ -who was young and cnuragious, had not judg'd it difgracetul to the Roman name, to avoid the ComLmtwith Forces much furpailing his Enemies i or had not belicv'd himfclf afP.'.r'd of Vid'ory. without attending the Arrival of the S««'fj, who were fcarcc march'd out of their Countvy. Wheretore without tarther deliberation he prepared for Battel, and drew "his Troops from the places in which they were encamped, to range them in a great Phi'i, whic'i is between the River Meine^ and the Country of the Herniun/inref. Thara- T»)!td had 110 fooner knowledge of it, but joy and courage were fccn equally glillering in his eyes i and we might eafily obfcrve Ibniething more than humane in his Pcrfon, and in all the Aclions which he did to prepare himlelf againft this fortunate day. You have already. Great Sir, too largely heard the fuccefs, to have the patience to hear me recount all the particulars : I (hall therefore pafs them over , and only tell you, becaufc there arc fome things you may be ignorant ot,That my Prince having rang'd his Troops with an admirable order, and following the counfel of the old Captains, to whomhehcark- ned wiih a wonderful quickncfs ot apprelienOon, he plac'd hiuifelf at the head of the right Wing, and gave tne left to be commanded by the famous Priam •■, Ihereind Merouee^ younf Princes of his Blood, and of his Age, commanded the Cavalry. Prince Marcomh-e bis Bfother he kept with him, to fight without any charge, together with Prince Cefteh.tud^ Son fTf PfiarH. B.ifigaiiiis, Charamont^ and others the molt confiderable, who would not confcut to be diffant from his perfon, in a time of fo much danger. The Prince Snnmn was not yet able to'bear Arms, having hardly p.'lTtd fifteen years i but though Marcomire was but in thcfeventeenth, they could not oblige him to be difpenfed with. Never did the Countenance of the faired Amazon appear iw Armour fo beautiful as his : and had he carried it naked in the fight, there could have been no Enemy fo barbarous as to offend it. put into die molt tirliOrous fouls the alfurcd hopes of Vidory : But if all the Grace of his pcr- fon could charm us, thofe who could hear his Difcourfe, when he encourag'd the Souldiets were no Itfs furpriz'd with his eloquence : and befides the force his becomig Deportment gave to his words, a tire was to be difccrn'd to ilfue from his Eyes, which enflamed with a Martial vigour themoli faint hearted fpirits. The Arms which he that day carried, we^e no lefs fair than you faw him wear yelkrday j the Gold and precious Stones gliflered throughout them, and behind the Lyon cotribating againft the Eagle, which was ereded upon his H'-lmet, in remembrance of the words of Altornua^ he wore confufedly a great number of tair flumes, which yielding to their own weight, feemM almoft to cover his Shoulders. He was mounted on a Hoife mod proper for the employment of that day and carried his Lance with fuch a grace tha. he feem'd compofed by the Graces themfelves! But all that appeared of fierce and terrible in his Eyes, could not blot out that charadfer of fwcetnefs, which isdepainted in his Countenance, and which in what condition foeverhe be, reigns in all his Adions : fo that whatever may be difcetned in him to make him appear warlike, he feems by nature inclined rather to make himfelf belov'd than fcar'd. As this day was dcllin'd to be of infinite glory to him, fo all things contributed to it : for he was not only fortunate at the firfi blow he gave, but with the fir(} fuoke of a Lance he had ever given in his life, hedepriv'd a Soveraign of his, and threw d^ad before the eyes of Maximus^ the Prince of the Latobriges^ who for fear rather than afFedion ferv'd the Korpans againft their Neighbours. The firft happy- fuccefs of their Prince feem'd as t good Augure to the Irankr ^w\\o made the Heavens eccho with their acclamations of joy : but that blow wasfollow'd by fo many others of the fame hand, that the remembrance of that v/as utterly loll, and. nothing lookt upon but the confuiion and horrour into which he had put this fide of the Battel, The young Marcomire iignali^'d himfelf in this his Hrft cfTay, with a thoufand memorable adions : and the Princes Ibere^ Merovec and Gcnebaiid' made both their friends and enemies witneffesof the faireif beginnings in the World. Thtrd was never poffibly a fight better maintained in Germany than this days Combat, both by the valour of the Captains and Souldiers, both of one and the other par-ty i fo that the llaughter was fo bloody, that the W.uers oi the Meine were changed for fcveral furl6rgS to a crimfon hew. The left Wing which was condudcd by the valiant Priam feefn'd tp give way a little before their enemies, who were commanded by Maximus j and pollibly had fell inj;o a great extremity, had it not been fuccour'd-t^ PharamaHtl^ who ( having broken the wing of the enemies which he oppoPd i and by tht eiTeds of an •admirable va- lour, and a condud rnore than extraordinary, in an age like his, atchicv'd aVidory-eri Q_2 all ■idinch, whilft he was obliged to run to the more prelh'ng necellity, and with the reft of the Army went to joyn with thofe new Troops were levied among the 5fR/««f, the Elba, the Ocean, the Sala, zndtheVanube, which did nOtfubmit to his power, or feck his Alliance. Befides the ef- fects of his great renown already fpread through the whole world, and the veneration which the charms of his perfon might caufe ; the mildnefs with which he treated the peo- ple, as well thofe whom his Arms reduc'd to obedience, as thofe that fubmitted volun- tarily, gained inalhort time upon the herceft hearts, and rendred his name as dtar to all thofe who were* not arm'd with fome intereft againft him, as it was te«rible to his ene* mies. 'Twa* Book L P H A R J M N D. 119 'T was now that with joy his valour was attended with the effldts of thofc fair hopes which Iiatl been concciv'd of him : for his Forces encreating every day, through the corti hdence the people had of him, and. the conllant mcflcngers fent by all to delire his pro- tedion, that he made no doubt at all to be inapofture to pafs the Khine^ andcliabliOi a- moiiglt the CfJitlr the ancient Monarchy of -liis Fathers. And thofe who formerly would have dilTwaded him from this enterprife, by the great difficulties they fawinit, were now the tint to folicite him, and to telHtie the impatience they had to follow him in fo noble an expedition. But his great courage needed not thefe folickations; for the love of glory being at this time the fole pofieflbr of his mind, he would have looked uponf that River which feparatcs us from the Gault^ as too poor an obRacle to ftay him, if lie had not re- membred the league which he had made with the King oi theBurgundians^ and the obli- gations .which engaged him to fuccour him in a war which had be«n broughtlipon him,' partly by their Alliance. He had underilood that after the departure of Aurelian^ he.had not only defended him- fclf agaiurt the Forces of the King of the Cimbrianj and Bohemians ^ whom Amclian had left to oppofe him i but that after a long time having maintained the War, with a rare con- duiftand admirable valour, he had in the end, in a great Battel not only defeated his ene- mies, and retaken feveral Cities, which they had poffefTed themfelves of in his Territories, but that he was upon the point to drive them entiWy from thence, and carry the war into their own Countries: when the King of the C/»»ir/"(i«j' found means to joyn the King of the Sucves to his quarrel, and to drawto his alliftance a raoft powerful Army, which he had already rais'd, kfs for intercft of the Komans, than to revenge the death of hfs Son, who loll his life by the Lance of Fharamond. Thefe two Kings had not only been a long time tied together by an ordinary Alliance, but had bound themfelves by more particular and ftronger bonds of friend lliip, and by the defign they had to joyn in a more firm union, by the marriage of the unfortunate Vin- dimir^ and the fair Princefs ot the Cimbriam. Thedefolate Father had with tears of blood lamented the lofs of his Son •, but after he had given fome time to thofe unprofitable (bowers, he comforted himfelf out of hope of revenge i and to that purpofc had fent throughout the world to feek his young Son Viridomar^ whom fome difcontcnt had caufed about two years before to part from his Court, and who in his tender youth had given proofs of an admirable valour, and a courage advanc'd above any thing common. In the mean time he had arm'd all parts of his Dominions, and thofe of his Neighbours who intcrelTed themfelvjs in his grief. The Kingof the Qw^rirfw/ was not wanting to teflihc the portion he had in it, and which he ought to have for the intereft of his Daugh- ter, ( who had been fcnilbly touch'd for the lofs of a Prince, whom their Parents and their own inclinations had dertin'd for her Spoufe ) promifing him all that he could hope from a Brother, to perfedl that vengeance which fliould be common to both : and Hnce he underilood that he was in a condition, and had already refolved to march againrt Tba- rsmond^ he reprefented unto him that they were not to follow the examples of Maximus znd Attrelian^ who had not perifh'd with their whole Armies, had they not fo unadvifed- lyfeparated them: That he Qiould be ready to follow him, fo foon as he had finifh'd the War, which he was already engaged in; and that if. he would joyn with him againrt G««- dioch^ who as well as Pharamotid was their common enemy, he would follow him and ferve him even to the lad of hisSubjedts, againft the murthererof hisSon, and the Spoufe which he had dcftin'd to his Daughter. *v The King of the Suevei had found fo much of reafon in the propofitions of the King of Cimbria , that he eafily comply'd with his defires i and affured him, that he would diredly march to his atlirtance, now that his affairs were brought into fuch a condition i and that the King oi lYtzBiirgundians having driven him out of his Country, was pre- paring to enter into his. No fooner did Pbaramond Y .ar this news but not long debating what refolution to take, he quitted the Banks of the K/j/w, and with an Army of forty thoufand Foot, and fifteen thoufand Horfe, marched to the alliftance of his Allie. 'Tis true, he was fain to take a long and tedious Circuit, to avoid the Country of the SufvC'f or their Allies, who without doubt would have difputed his pafiage, and who had pafTes in the way, the difficulty whereof would have retarded his journey, and hindered his Allie trom the hopes of his fcafbnable aililtance : and therefore, cntring into the Country of the hUrcomans^ he flrook into Fra«c(7«/<» i and following that courfe to the Territories of the BruOeres^ he there ^z^cdi ovex the Vifurgues ■, and crolling the Country oi the G ami ere t^ he came to the Banks of the YJbi, over which he made a Bridge of Boats i and from thence mafching among the Varinet and Accarpss^ he arrived at the River Cuttale : but this no PHARAMOND. Part II this march was fo long, and he loft fo much time by paffing over feveral great ftreams and Rivers which \iVere not fordable, that before we could arrive to the aliiftance of Gaaisf/oc/?', the King of the Sueves had not only time to joyn hiqifclf vi'ith the Cimbriam •, but after that conjundtion they made a war upon Gondtoeh^ with fuch a fuccefs as furprifed my Prince when he received the news of it. Not- that the King of the Burgnndians had not received them with an invincible courage, and that in feveral Combats with them he had not fupplied the default of numbers with afurpafling valour, and fiich excellent conduit, that his enemies could not vaunt any great or conllderablc advantage over him i but that it was his misfortune, that being one day engaged farther than (o great a Commander ought to have done, in the parfuit of fome Cavalry to which he gave chafe, he fell into an Ambufcade, and was taken by the Son of the King of the Cimbrians v and being by him prefented to his Father, was fent pri loner to one cfhis Cities. The taking of Go«iwefe had entirely ruin'd his affairs, and his Troops having loft their , courage by the lofs of their Captain, made no refiftance, but retir'd into the heart of his ^ Dom.inions, not daring to abide the enemies that purfued them. Fortune, which was wholly contrary to them, had deprived them of a valiant Defender by the abfence of the young Brother of Gondioch, and who in an age little different from that of Marcomire^ had already made himfelf known through all the world, and whom a delire to know the world had caus'd to travel into ftrange^|ovinccs with Co«/M«,a Prince of the Blood-royal, who by many great anions had acquir'd a fair Renown. The two Kings making ufc of cheirgood fortune, though they could not force them to fight, gained- dayly advantages over them. But in the end, feeing they durft not maintam a field againft them, they laid (lege to one of the principal Cities, with delign either to make themfelves Maftersof the Country by the taking of places, or draw the ^urgundiafu to a Battel if they endea- voured to relieve them. It was at this Siege that they were buficd, when we arrived at the Frontiers of the Burguiid/ans i and although they were advertifcd of our march, wcr had pafTcd the Cz^/fj/f before they could give us any impediment in our paffage. Our valiant King lively afflifted with the mifery of his Friend, refolved to try all his valour and wifdom in a war fer his alliftance i and to this purpofc, though the Country i was unknown to him, and though our enemies had a numerous power, he took his times; and his advantages, and managed fo wellall things to bring his defigns about, that mau- gre all tlie obftacles of the Ctmhrians and Sueves, he joyn'd himfelf with thofe Troops of Go«^/W-' his Army which ftill remained embodied, and encreafed our Army to more than thirty thoufand men. Tlie Bitrgundians feeing themfelves commanded by fo valiant a Captain, regain'd the courage they had loft by the captivity of their King, and became rather more zealous for war than ever, demanding nothing, but to come to a Battel, Fharammd, who was well acquainted with their former Valour, though it had been fome wliat difccurag'd after the taking of Gondiocb \ and having a marvellous confidence in his Soldiers, and in the valiant men which commanded them, not at all dreading the number of his enemies, though far greatet than his own, marched towards them in a fair order, determining to give them Battel the firft opportunity that ftiould prefent it felf. The two Kings had rais'd the Siege ot the place fo foon as they underftood of ourap* proacli i and being both well cxpcrienc'd in warlike affairs having with them the Son of the Cimbrian King, a Prince of great Valour, and the Country being much better known to them than us, they gave us fome trouble at the beginning ot thi's War, and made it endure for fome time with variety of fortune •, but fo foon as my Prince was a little better inftrudled in the knowledge of the Country, and the enemies with whom he had to do, he began to put fo well in pradice that which in fo little time he had learned, that the Leaders of our enemies began to diftruft their Fortune, and fear the Arms of a young Warriour, whofe reputation was already the caufe of aftoniftiment to meft diftant Nations. The King of the Cimbrians was of opinion not lightly to hazard a Battel, of which theCuccefs might be doubtful, and muft of necellity be of great confequence to their party ; but the heat of the Prince his Son, who defir'd nothing more than the combat, over-iul'd his opinion i and the choler of the Sitevijl) King, who breatlicd forth nothing but revenge for his Son, and who believed that the gods had fent him in thepcrfon ot our Prince, the only vidime fufBcient to fatisfie his indignation, foraftily precipitated all things to a fight, that after many enteprifes on both parties, and feveral Skirmiflies, in which the valour of our Princes and Commanders was tignaliz'd by a thoufand worthy anions, the two Armies , came to a general Battel. * ^ I fliaO Book I V H A K A M N 1\ i.h Ifliall not tell you, my Lord, tl.e particulars of this, more tiian of many-ot!.crs, rtariii--' toinakc that recital tediouS;, wl.crc I have (b many Warlike Afts to recount, Ihouid I nrj? pafs themover asdiccindly asl could. 1 will only tcli you, that Fortune, which, thoupj^ fcidom, had now declated it felf for Virtue, accompani'd my I'riuce this day, as (Ticliad- done all others i and alter a iiot difputc which iiicrcafed tiie Waters of the G«/u/? vvitlii ftreains of blood, P/^jrtf;K,3?«^vanquifhed the -Kings of the C/wir/aw and .f«fw, ashehad^' done AH,-(lia» and Miximus ^ covering the Plain with tr^ore than forty thoqfand of theirt' men: Night faved the idt of their Army, which was coinpofcd of more tJipn tiity rliou^, (and: but feme dayes after, the Vidf or tollowing. them to.the Banks of thcJ'/jf*/*, forc'd! thera to come to a fecorid Battel, wherein the fucccfs was yet ir.orc advaptagicus than tlie,* tir(t, and fnl'which, after the entire defeat of their Army, the Kinj^ ot the ^tievej^ and tlw;, Prince of the Cmibrians fhaving lought with an invincible coursize) were taken iTifoners,! Tiie King of C/wiri ilav'd l.iraleU with lome tew Horfe \ and by rcafon of tiie little care-' theViit>5t';tQok to purfue him,efcap'd out of the Tciritofies of the Burgundians into his! own Kingdom. . The fucceisof tiiefe two great Battels, and the taking of the King of the 5««'f/, and the Prince of the Cimhrians^ were ot fuch confcquence, that they might have drawn with tiiem the lofs of thofe two Cruwns, if the Conquerour would have pui{ucd his Viftory and madcufc of his Advantages totuine his Enemies, while it was pollibly not vcrydilli- ciilt for him to make himlelt Mailer of their Dominions. There wanted not thofe who counfell'd him to its but he rejeded their .Advice, telling thsm, that it was not for the fpoyls of Enemies, but for Glory that he fought. He gave his two Illurtrious prifoners a molt Royal Entertainment , and comforted the unhappincfs of their condition with the pleafing Honour which he did ihcin ; but he would not (liew himfelf to the King of the .<>«fz'ej', judging well that he could not with' outrenewinghisgrief, let himfee theperfon that had flain his beloved Soni but he daily law the Cimbrian Prince, who was a perfonage of a noble mind and great courao-e , but of a fpirit fo tierce, that he feem'd but little fenlible of my Prince's civilities. Yet he ceafed not to heap them upon himi and having made him know by all his proceedings that he had lefs caufe than he believ'd to afflid himfelf for the difgrace which had unfortunately befallen him, he told him that all the advantage he would draw both from the gain of two Battels, and from the taking of him and the SueviJIj King, fliould be only the Liberty of Goitdiocb ■■, which though he might exped for his alone, or for that of the King of Sueves^ yet he would return them both for the King of the Bttrgtmdians, fo toon as it (hould pleafe his Father to confent. 'Theobafdiis ''foT fo was the name of the Prince of the Cimhrians) related the intention of P^;jr.zmi7«ito theKing of thtSiteves^ who, fo "much incenlcd as hewasagainft fo great an Enemy, could not but with lamenting his own misfortune, elkem the gallantry of my Prince's proceedings s and as he found his own advantages in this propotition of Phara- tno'id^ he readily accepted it, and prayed the Prince of the Cimbrianj to write with him to the King his Father to (end Gondiocb fftr their exchange. The Ci:nhr'ian King, whom the captivity of his Son, and of his Allie, had atflidted with a mortaL grief, prefcntly confcnt- ed to fo advantageous a propofal : and this Treaty was made in i'o much halt, tliat in fcvy( dayes the King of the B«r^«/; but in the end, Condiod) knowing himfelf bound to Pi&J/'awo«.'/ both for his Liberty and Crown, not being able, nor believing he ought longer to conceal his acknowledgment, beholding him with \ countenance which denoted fomething of confuli on i / thaugbt ffaid he) when I .fomy^ht your Aujitce, to have fecn yotuguni)! Brother at oitr firji interv-ctv •, but ii,)n-< looking ttpnn you at a Pri)!ce t~i whom I oive botamyCrorvn and my Liberty ^l fee my filf by nrnf^rtune red'.icd to fitch a condithn R thj\ • 122 THAKAMOND. Part. II. that it is Hot in my porter to offer you any thing that is not already jn^ily yours. Thiramond liftned to this Difcourfe with a grace which the gods have given to few men like him •, and coupling to his words that charming fweetnefs which accompanies the Ma- jefty of his Looks > lam mere obliged to yon (faid he J /or the gift you have made me of your Friendjhip before I could merit it^ than you can he to the happy fttccef of o:tr Arms : the gods, rt>ho had lefi favoured la in a leji jtiji quarrel , were obliged without doubt to rejiore you that Liberty which you lofl only through too much Valour •, and the Honour to have contributed to any thingof fo great value, finds in it felfitsotvn recompence. Thcfe tirft words of the two great Princes were attended with all thofe other expreffions which in foch a time the Ge- rerofity of two fuch Perfonages could infpire them withal-, and the acknowledging G^/f- dioch publifh'd the obligation he had to that favourable infpiration which had hrfi made him demand an Alliance that had been fo profitable to him. The Generous King of the the Frankj teftihed no lefs fatisfadion in thofe happy opportunities which had given hira the means to merit his Friendfliip. All that paffed between them was truly great, and truely anfwerable to their Dignity i and in this their hrft fanniliarity, they did not only confirm the Alliance they had contracted, but accompanied this familiarity with a thoufand promifes of a Friendlliip which neither time nor any accident fhould cancel, At laft, Condioch cafting his eyes upon the fair Troop that accotnpanied rhjrjmcnJ^v.'ould know the names of thofe Valiant perfonages, who had io generoully fought for tiie de- fence of his Kingdom, and recovery of his Liberty : for though he thought he had fixed all his Admiration upon the pcrfon of Pharamond, yet he found new Objeds in that of Marcomire, SuHmn^ Gencbaud, Jbere, Meroveus, and many other Illullrious perfons, who were in this noble company, to whom he teftilied his acknowledgments with all the marks of elkem he could imagine owing to their Birth and Merit. After he had with an excellent grace thus acquitted himiclf, he together with Thartmond remounted on Horfe-back, and ad vanc'd towards his Country, whither his return brought as much joy, as his Captivity had caufed defolation : hereceiv'd publick teftimonies ot it in all the Cities he paffed through i but he rcfufed the Honour they would have given him, to throw it entirely upon Tharammd^ not forgetting any thing which he knew to be due to a perfon, to whom he confeffed himfelf oblig'd tor all things, and whom he confidered for many qualities fufficient to caufe the fame effed in his mind.had he not anticipated it by fo many powerful obligations. I will omit telling you the magnificent entrances they made into all the Cities, the divcrtifements by which the people cndeavour'd to folemnize the re- turn of their King, and the great expences which himfelf was at to honour the Redeemet of his Crown and Liberty. Some days were fpent in thefe Solemnities v and they mutually acquainted with the great qualities which each poffeffed , ftill inore firmly knit the knot of their FricndQiip : but fcarce by their familiarity had they form'd it into a habit, but that contrary to thofe pub- lick demonftrations of joy, which the King of the 'Burffundiayis feemed oblig'd to tcfhfie, PWawoWperceiv'd him overwhelmed with a difmal fadnefs, or at Icaft his fpirit troub- led with fome violent pallion, which depriv'd hirh of his reft. He diffembl'd the firft knowledge which he received, not doubting but time or feme opportunities might give hitn more certain Intelligence: but the following dayes he perceiv'd l\ich contirming Symp- toms thereof in the countenance and behaviour of his Friend, that whatever violence he ufed to himfelf, he could not conceal a part of what he felt-, and waifo much opprefTed vvith his evil, that it was no longer poilible for him to hide it from thofe who daily conver- ftJ with him : and in few dayes there might be perceiv'd a change in his vifage, which he could not conceal as he might that of his thoughts. In biief. his evil at length got fuch -in head, that neither he that fuffered it could difguife it s nor thofe who perceiv'd the llrange eifcA which it produced, retrain from demanding the caufe. Tharamnnd^ having long waited for an opportunity to fatisfie himfelf, refolv'd at length (o learn it of the King himfelf, not believing that there was any rule of difcretion, which cojld defend him from informing himfelf of a thing,in which he believed himfelf llrongly conccrn'd, by reafon of the friendthip he had contradfed with Condioch. To this purpofc ht went one day to feek him in a little by Alley of a Garden, where he often fought a re- tirement, and where he ftill withdrew, when the civility he ought to PWawo^c/ would permit hira i and having commanded his Attendants to wait at adiftance, that he might more freely difcomfe him, he found him in an Alley, where he walk'd with fo profound a Melancholy, that he perceiv'd not the Arrival of fharamond^ till he was within lix paces of him: he endeavoured at light of him, to have cloth'd his countenance with foBB kind of alacrity, and was about to n)ake excufes for the bulinefs of his thoughts, whenwy Prince prcvtnrir.g himat the bcginiiingof his Difcourfe , Study Book I. THARAMOND. 125 Study nut (faid he) to j»jii(ii yonr Carriage with a Friend^tvho doth not dcfire thefe forma* lities Hiir hath any intention to conjlrain you : hut if it he true that yott have for me fo (treat a friendship Jf you h we prmnifcd^defer no longer to let me knorv the true cattfe of that jirangt cbinie^Tvhich rvehave obferv'd in all your demeanour. 1 may rvithotit doubt complain that yoU have k^pt fenret from me , thofe difcontents which you cannot diJJ'emble •, and might reprefent to youy that after tve are united hy an intereil again\i all forts of Enemies^ there if little nhich fi)i)Hld njt be common amoitgii jw, and hy which tve may not demand the proofs of that friendfl-nn tpbich we have cotttraUed. Bttt ,K I judge by many figns that you are not without trotthle and vexation I will n>t augment them by my complaints^ nor be wanting^ to nff^er you upon this occapen all that )'.)« can dejire of a Friend, to whom nothing jhaU be diff.cult that may contribute to your fAtiifaUiion. VVliillt ?hjramondi^Q\\t in tliis manner, tlic Kingof the Eurfuudians held his Eyes fixed- on the Ground wich a behaviour which dcelar'd the trouble ot his initid i and afterwards lifting them up upon the countenance ot my Prince, witli an Afpcift that begg'd for pity: Believe not (faid he) that 1 h.tve any Intention to conceal my Misfortune^ wh.ncver it fl.'ail ke^ from him to whom I oive all thins,s^or at leajl attribute my filence tn a defign tojfare yoitr frie>id(h>p that portion n-hich it mi^bt make you covet in them, 'lis trite J have deferred the difcnvery of H to yju,fi liinj^ as I had hopes to overcome it : for it had not been at all neceffary to give you the kjtowledge of what I could have cur^d myfelfby the helps of my reafon^and hy a violence oppof^'r^ my pjffion: but fince all remedies prove vain, and that of force it muii appear contrary to injr firjirefolutions ; "tis to ynu I truly ought to open my heart, nut only to pay a duty to our friend-' jhip^ but obey that cruel necejfity, which hath reduc'd me into a condition to demand repofe of the fame Friend of whom I hold my Crown and Liberty. (Fould to God (zided he after (bme mi- nutes lilence J that I had lo\i my life in that fatal Battel, wherein I doubly h
  • tow,ftnce'tis' necefj'ary yon ]{now it, that I have not been in one prifon only among the Cimbrians,/7J7'/«(T been lefr a Captive to the Arms of their King , than ts the Eyes of their Pr/ncefr. In Jum it will Jjtffice that I tell you, that I have feen that moji Divine Rolamond, whom all the Irumpets of Renown have publ/jh^d the moji beautiful throughout the Vniverfe : and in telling you thit sjreat name, I ]u\}if\e that weaknefr for which you might reprehend mc : I faw her in one rf the Ci' ties of the Bohemians, whither I was conduced, and where the ^ueen her Mother did me thofe civilities, which fl.'e believed due to a Koyal Captive : and by that cruel Honour jlje wounded me to death. AH that the Language of man can jpeak^ of this Beauty , is too much beneath the "truth-, and if the force of your imagination fupplies not my recital, it will be difficult to make you underftand it by my Vifcourfe : No humane eye can behold her, without being davcld-, nor any fpirit fx one moments thoughts ttpon her, without giving it felf entirely to admiration : and with more truth. No heart among all Mortals is able to refiji her divine power, 'thus the firji moment that I had a fight of her became in truth the laji of triy Liberty ; and I was jiruck. as witha'thunder-bolt,or fomethingmore formidable and dreadful. Ihe Beatifies of her Mind are without doubt what one can imagine of moji fublime within the whole circuit of the IForld, and not at all inferiour to thofe of her Body : and though I faw her in a time when (rrief had clouded one part of her jplendour, or at leaji obfcur^d that which was moji tranjpareni ■, the greats- nefrof her Soul appear''d above all that men have krtown of High or Noble ; when Jhe feem'd touched with fome apprehenpons of griefand the tears which (he (lied at the death of Vindimir, if they were not to be attributed to love, yet at lea\i made her accounted capable of all ackjtow- ledgment and tendernefi. I dare likewife believe her apt to receive another paffinn : and if I may ivithout cruelty declare this News to my BenefaCtor, I believe that the death o/Vindimir hath created in her a hatred agaiuji him that gave it : I have heard her fpeak^ of him with tt4rr^ in which flie feemed more brioht to me than in her ordinary fplesidor ; and her grief mixt with thjfe charms flie gave it, was fo fufficiently powerful to engage in her interejis, that if 1 eculd hate him who had fought fo generoufly for mine, I fear I Jhould become his Enemy, who caujed thofe tears to dijlil fr.^m RofatTiondV Eyes. I faw her oftentimes by the goodnefiof the ®ueen her Mother, who ^ave me this comfort to my miferies : and my paffion augmentiitg every moment, became in the end Jo great, that it fcarce left me either the ktiowledge or ufe of reafon : yet I made ufe of all that which I had left, to conceal an evil which I was not in an ejiate to mak^ l{»own i or at leaji, it was only by my regards and by my fighs, that I (rave her any cognztnce. But Rofamond V thoughts were prevented by others than thofe I cottid iitlfire into her : Jhe re- R 2 garded 124 FHARAMOND. Fart 11. garded Hot at all the figns , though vifible enough , of the evil rvhich flie made me fnfer; and perhaps for a long time , (he did not perceive it ■■, but my pajjion in the end, grown jlroKger than all my refolutions , made me open my lips to difcover it, and contjraind me to fie a}^ in a time; wherein perhaps I wiS moji oblig'd to be ftlent. Oh Gods I into what a condition vpas I thrown by this ejfeli of my imprudent hardineff' What T.hu7ider ever fo afioiiiJJjed the fearful Hare^ Uk^ to that which (he with a more than jove-like power darted agaiirji my pre- fumption ? I tremble at the remembrance of the marks if her dreaded anger ; and 1 doubt not but thai jhe had exp^-e^ed it with a far greater feverity, if I had not been a pri finer to the Kim, her Father, This day was the laji that it was permitted me to fee her ; and though I de- fir'd the fight of her much more vehemently than the preftrvation of my life, I durji no more demand it. By this misfortune my imprifonment became a thoufand timts more cruel than it had been befori , fcarce leaving me jtrength to fitpport it , a:>d I believe I could not have fuffered it much longer, without my body's being over powered with the ajiiiiions of my foul, if the King of Cimbria had not returned as joon m the Netts of his Vefeat, and the taking of his Son and the King of fZ-if Suevcsi and if that few dayes after, by the exchange you made, he had not relior^ d my Liberty^ in a time wherein my wijhes were neithir fur it, nor the prefervati- oft of my Kealm. See, oenert'ii! Pharamond, thcnnhapfmefi of my Condition ! I hum with a fire the moji vio- lent that ever attaqud any heart j and I piffer a mifchief fo much the more terrible , by how much I am forfiken by all appearances of hope. Ihe Image of the divine Rofamond, /ii// pre' Cents it felf to my remembrance , and employs all the thoit^^hts of my life : and though by your fight, and the l{nowledge of what I Owe you, 1 have endeavoured to drive away, or at leajl fujpend the violence vf my PaJJlon i all force again'ii it has proved in vain and improfitable ; a^td it feems that by that force which I would oppofe to its power, I have eliahi!lh''d it a more abfdttte and tyrannical Empire : Not that in my love I find fo much of misf>r(une as my grief my coun- tenance and mv difcoiirfe may reprefent to you, if frme cruel Accidents do not conjfire my mifery : for in^fhort, neither is the degree 1 hold in the ll^urld inferiour to that of the Father of Rofa- mcx^d , nor my fortune more contemptible than that of the happy VlndimW, who was dejiin'd to the glory of pn£ effing her, I have Dominions, I ha.e Armies , I have courage, and I have rcptttation among men : but I am mortally hated of the Father and of the Brother of Rofa- mond i and befides the little dif^ofition I have found m this Prince(i to favour my paffion, I have underjiood that the intentions of the King of Cimbth is to unite himfeif more than ever t^lth the King of the Suevcs, and that he expects but the return of a Son, without doubt not mush inferiour to Vindimir, to give him the fame hon^mr of enjoying Rofamond, that was de- iUn'd to. his Brother: he hath already caufed him be fought for throughout the World, by the Fame of his great ASiions, which were every where known : at the fame time he is to be wedded '»Rofamopd, helikewife pretends to zive to the Tnnce of the CimhThi\s the Frincefi ti\btC\nd:i bis Daughter, whjfe Beauty according to common Fame yields to none but B.ofaraondV i and by this double Marriage to joyn their Crowns in an eternal Alliance. Not, that by what I kjiow ef thefiint of Rofamond, it would be eafie to perfwade her to netv affections, or that I do not be- lieve but that the love f^e bore X'mdimh, proceeding rather fro-ti an effect of her obedience than her m>>i inclinations \ but as (he hath little lefi Virtue than Beauty, a:td that in her Sotd, the l&veaf glory is greater than that of her private fatisfatiion, I doubt not but (l:e will facrifice all things to her duty. However, all thefe impeachments which my Hi fortune oppofes to my felici- ty, can never diminifl) my love, nor abate my courage : and whatever wayes the mifery of my life confirains me to make ufe of I mufi either die or gain Rofamond \ without her my life is odious to me, and to purchafe her I will put in practice all that love jhall injpire me with, or glory permit me to aU : I will call to my affijlance all that little valour which hath fo happily fervid me at fome times • I will cover with Armed men the Countries of the Sueves and Bohemians : I will de- ftroy half their Subjeds, and perhaps that happy Succeffor of Vindimir v and to be invincible in, all my enterprizes, I will Arm perhaps in my quarrel a friend, who may give me Rofamond, as he bath given me my Crown and my Liberty. .Wlnlft"thepalIionatcGoWitfc/>fpake in this manner, the fpariiks feemed to flie from his eyes, in which his love and choler had kindled an extraordinary ftame ■■, and the Prince whohearkned to liim,fecmed furprized at his difcourfe with a troubleof mind which he had never before felt : he fecm'd likewife accompanied with fome appearances of a mifery, yet unknown to him > and though he knew not it he ought to attribute it wholly to what he felt of his Friend's misfortunes , yet it fecmcd he intercffed him(c:l{ more than he was willing, both in the hatred and grief of Rofamond, whom he knew not but by the Fame of her Beauty, and whom he had innocently inccnfed. Theft thoughts gave him fome diftur- banccs, and indeed a melancholy, of which he knew not well the reafon : when he believed that Book I. . V H A K A M N D. 125 that he ought to difpcl this cloud, which by fpreailing it fcif , began to excite fomfr trouble in bis mind, and remit himfcit into an eltatc to orfer to his Iricnd all that he could expcd; from hi? contraiftcd Amity. To this cfFcdl recalling the wonted fcrenity cf hi-s countenance, which lie liad tor tome time loft, ar,d taking him by the hand, with a de- portment vviiully pallionate i / fhal, be very unhappy ( (aid he ) ff you jvdge me teilling to leave you at jttcb a time ivberein your Friends may he fo ufeftd to yon '. or that J jhould not defre you to dijprfe of the Armies^ Dominions and life of^hiwzmoViA as f/jjf c/" Gondioch. ¥vr the heart of l\o- fainond, I believe ynuouj^ht to gain it by love and fnbmijfuTi, hut for the King of the Cim- brians, if prayers cannot overcome him^ cmp'iiy thrfe Arms which he hath no reafonto dejfije and m ike him kflorp that the Al'iance of the Burgundians wiwW be no left advantage )us tohim^ than th it nf the Sue ves, 1 pjall he ready to folion> you fo fon as you defre it^ and I R>ill per- haps appeafeibe cholerof Rufamond ( continued he with a i^^h, of which he knew not the caufe j in t^ivin^hera lover m-fe ivorthy of her affeciions^ than him 1 deprived her of. Thefe words flattered in fuch fort the thoughts of the tnamour'd Gondioch^ that in a moment he fcetird tranfportcd from grief to joy i.and giving villblefigns of it by his change of countenance i / apprehend ( laid he to the King of the Franks ) that pfefa^g of gold Fortune rrhich y^nt declare to me s and I receive it with a joy fo much the greater^ af the declaring and the givingif equal'y eafie to your valour. I could not at all doubt, that after' what 1 owe you, and the kjto^ledge I have of the glory refcrved for you in the world that it xv.ts only from you I Jhould receive myhappinefi; fmce befdes all others but you, I perha^t had fuffcient courage to be enga^d to none but my felf: Let in try, fmce you approve it, the tPayf of fubniilJion ivith Ptofzmond till death; and with her Father, t -11 fuch time m tve are reduced by neceffity to feek^ others : I wiH combat thU divine enemy with all thfe Arms which d lave watthy of her can furniflj me rvith ; and if her Father be inexorable to my Vrayers, 1 n-ill cjmhat him with thofe Arms which Jhall perhaps Jhake hisreflution. To thefe words the two Princes added many others, by which the paffion of the one and thefriendlhip of the other were equally expreflcd : And in fine, they flopp'd with a delign tofend AmbafTadours to the King of Cimbria, to demand of him on the behalf of the King of the Burgundijns, peace, and the Princefs his Daughter i and to offer him at the fame time all the moil advantageous conditions he could dcllie, both in the peace and in the marriage, with an eternal union with him, in all forts of interefts, and againfl alJ fortsot enemies, what they had propos'd, in a few days after they put in execution* and one of the moft conlldcrableamongll the Bnrguadians, was lent upon this Negotiation, with power to accept all conditions which they propos'd, fo that he v;ould promifc Ko- famond. Bnias Gcnd.jch expeded little from this EnibaCTy, by the knowledge he had of the intention of the two Kings his enemies-, inftead cf difarming and disbanding his Troops, he gave order to make new levies throughout all his Dominions, and prcpar'd all things for war more than ever, though his Forces ablkin'd from all atis of Hoftility, and that our Army was lodg'd in the Quarters allign'd them, and whither by the rigour of the feafon they had been confirain'd to retire. In the mean time Pharamnnd prepar'd himfelf to this war, in cafe it fliould happen, witir areludancy which he could not overcome : and though he had not at all balanced his rcfo- lution, nor made any difficulty to enterprifc and ha7ard all things for the fei vice of hisf friend, yet he felt fomcthing on his heart, which he could not diliipate whatever oppo- fition he made i and that Martial heat which carried him on to aftions of glory, languilli'd in him, nor eouJd he enliven it, though he did do what pollible to ihr it up. He could not hear the name of K»/i>»o«^ pronounc'd, without fome trouble, nor Gondioch I'pczking cf the love he bore her, without an alteration, wliich he could not apprehend. I per- cciv'd it often by the change of his countenance, but I underllood more by the difcourfe he made me i and as "I was the pcrlon, of all his attendants, to whom he open 'd moft willingly his heart in many things, having one day taken me aiide, and beholding me with an afpc feel in my heart. It feems to me my felf, that my foul lyes under a cloud, which I can.mt dif^cl \ and that my reafln does not ail fo freely as it wont. I find my felf fad. i'nqniet, ir-'efolute ; and I believe 1 grow a coward, without k^ioW' ing what caufe there can be of my fadaefi, dijiurbance cr fear. He told me many other things to this purpofe j and as I could not render him any leafon where he knew none ■ ■ hin,fLU' 126 PHARAMOND. Part 11. himfclf, I endeavour'd only to remove that trouble which might furprife him, by attri- buting the change of his humour to fome effedi of his temper, rather than to any other caufe. Inftiort, as his courage was above alltliat may be called great, by the force there- of he difpell'd thofe milts which rofe up to fmbther his repofe, and trouble the calm of his fpirit i or at leaft he concealed it in fuch a manner that Gondioch had never the Icaft knowledge of it. In the mean time, he that had been fcnt to the Cimbrian King return'd, and brought back the [harpeft anfwer could be expeded from an enemy oblUnate in his hate and anger. This King, rather incens'd, than dreaded by the lofs he fuffer'd, calling to his alfifiance all his Neighbour- Forces, had already covered with men of Arms all the Countries of his obedience, while the King of the Sueves on his hde, gathered together an Army much more puifTant than that he had before loft •, and both together prepar'd to war with a firm tefolution to fee the entire ruine of their Kingdoms, rather than make peace with P/^^rj- mond or Gondioch: fo that the Ambafladour of the BurgHndmn King could not havear- riv'd at a more inconvenient time, nor have been worle rcceiv'd than he wasi fcarce had they hearken'd to his propofals, but the proud King beholding him with difdain, "Tell the King, of the Burgundians ( faid he ) that I will tteitherhave him Si>n-irt-laa>, Friend, nor AUie : And tell him moreover (added the Prince his Son with a herce afpedk ) that I TviJl bring him ananfcver to hif demands at the head of one hundred thoufand men. This was all the fatisfadion that Gondioch recciv'd by his Embaliie : but fmce he had never expected better, it furprifed him not, thougli it highly incenfed him, and foon made him have rccourfe to his former refoiutions. That which remain'd of the Winter in a Country yvhere it is very (harp, was employ'd to put thofe Levies which were made in the Countries of the BMr^;/W^<««j-, the Nutbions, Sidenes, Khugiani^nd Kutilians^ who were all fubjcds of Gondioch^ into a good equipage i and that they might be ready fo foon as the Seafon permitted him to take the Field i our Army quitted their Winter. Quarters, and )oy Ring with thofe of Go«i/9c/?, both t(5gether they formed an Army of one hundred thoufand fighting men. The two Kings placing thcmfclvcs in the head of them, with the Princes of their liluflrious Blood, and many great perfonages whicli commanded in their Armies, marclicd with an affurance which prefagcd them the victory, towards the Country of the Bohemians^ where the King of the Cimbrians at prcfcnt encamp'd > a Coun- try enrich'dwith die waters of the E/iii, and environ'd, as with a ftrong Rampart, with the Hercinian Mountains, and the large Hercinian Forreft. This Country was at fir ft inhabited by the 7«/o«/: afterwards, the Boyeni^ a people de- fcended from the Gault^ madcthemfelves Mafters of it, and gave it the name of Boyemia^ and by corruption Bo/.'f/M/^, which it keeps to this time v notwiihlianding that thcCimbri- «»/ making ufe of their llrength, inhabited it after the great and bloody lofs they receiv'd againft the Romans under thecondud of Maritts ■■> and from the time of the famous itejtto' baciK, of whom the Father oiKofamondis dcfcended, the Cimbrians have peaceably reign'd over tlie Bohemians, .We entted into this Country by the foot of thofe vaft Mountains at which the Elba takes its fpring, but not without a great deal of diHiculty, and indeed a great deal of Blood* flied i for we found feveral Squadrons at the defence of thofe paftagcs, rtfolute to be cut in pieces, rather than quit them. Scarce were we entred, but Prince Jheobaldus advanc'd towardsus with a flying Army, to amufeand wcaiy us, rather than fight us, not having order nor intention to come to a Battel, but with the Forces of the Sueves and Cimbrians together: but as the Country was known to him, and he Mafter of all places and paflages, he annoy'd us very much, and gave the two Kings our enemies titne to joyn their Forces in thebeft manner they could defire. The King of the Sueves was entred into the Terri- tories of the Cimbrians, by the way of the Country of the Vandutes; and advancing witii an infinite diligence to the EZ/jj, was without any obllacle come to the place where the Cimbrian King attended himi and having together paffed that great River, they march'd towards us with above one hundred thoufand men, befidcs tiiat body which "fljeo- baldm commanded apart, and which was composed of twenty thouland men. Neither P/jjr4w<3«(i nor Go«i^/oc/) were aftonilhed at the approaches of tliis Puilfancei but leaving Prince /V/arcow/i-e with a body of fifteen thoufand men to oppofe the Prince of the Ciwiri- ans, thty advanc'd with the whole Army towards that which the two Kings in perfon con- duced. This War was cruel and bloody -, but 1 (hould be tedious, withoiit doubt, and extend my Difcouifc to an excelfive length in thofe things which are leaft ncceffary for you to know if I ftiould tcli you all the particulars. It fulficcs that you underfland that in thefe Book I. fHARAMQND, 127 thefc, as ill all preceding encounter^, vidtory accompanied lharamo>uiiwiK\%mx{^. The young Mi»rc')»«/rf, who had oppcs'd iiinifcU" to the Om/'>'/<»m I'rince, dcJeatcd him inhwe or (ix engagements, with a ccniiderable lofs i and in nwny combats in feveral placoiof the Bohemian Xauxoxizs, the advantage remain'd ahnott continually on ouriide. In fine, the two Kings our enemies vvcic utterly dilcomhted by l'haramo)id and Gondmch in two great Battels, the one on the Banks ot El ba^ the other in the Plains of Crf/; and the difconfolate Kofamond was left in thofe tears which this lall lofs made her joyn to thofe (he flill dedicated to, the memory of Vindmiir^ without any other confolation than what fiie received from the charming Princefs (jf the 5afW-f, whom the King her Father had Tent at the beginning of the War to teftihe the confidence he had in him, andthe dellre he preferved to unite their houfesby a double Alliance, according to the proportions they had formerly made. 'Twas not without great grief that the two Kings were conftrain'd to abandon their Daughtersto the hazards of war, and particularly Kofamond^ who was the motive of if, but bclides that the impolfibiliry to fuccour them made them take this refolution i They hoped that Brioimr^ whofe experience and valour they had known in many adventures, might defend the place till fuch time as Prince Theobaldus, whom they had fent before in- to Suevia to haften thofe fuccours they expcdfed, were in a pofture to relieve it. It had been calie for Fharamond and Gondioch to annoy them, and perhaps entirely ruine them in their retreat i but they would not i and inltead of living like Enemies or Con- querours in the Country of the Bohemianf, they commanded that their Troops (hould a<3: in all things as if they had been in the Country of an Allie : but as all the thoughts of Gok- diocb tended to no other thing than the poffeiiiion of Kofamond, 'twas only the conqueft of Kofamond that he endcavour'd i and when he had no longer a Field-enemy to make head againd him, addreffing himfclf to Fharamond ■■, Generous Friend ( faid he ) as it to you I am hound for all^ fi it U to you that I would orve, and from you that I ivojtld demand all things : onr Valour hath made w Conquerours^ and the Country of the Cimbrians is ours-, or rather yours alone, for yon are truly Vidor i but you kjtow rvell that it U neither for glory^ nor Empire, hut fur Rofamond that rve fight , and that in doing all things for your own honour, you do nothing for me, if you give me not Rofamond ; Fortune is mere favourable to our intentions than rve could defire ; Jhe happily of- fers us her in this City, which her Father and Brother have abandon'd, and nothing can now op- pofe my felicity if you (iill favour it. Though Pharamondheziken^d to this difcourfe of Gondioch with fome apprchenfion of grief which oppos'd it felf to the joy he had to ferVe him, yet he confulted rot long what anfwer to return '-, but banifhing by his generous friendfliip that unknown rcludancy which opprefs'd him, Let ik go, my Friend, f faid he ) let m g^o where the occafions , in cafe he fliould delueiti nor would he havelodg'd in the Palace, left his fo near approach (hculd prove caufe of gric-f to the Princefs: but being extremely wounded, and finding his ftrength bigin to tail through lo(s of blood he furtl'r'd hiinf-'lf to becondudfed by thofe Who were near him, who took care to get him to ft?(t, androfca'rch his wound. It vvas found very great, but not believed da nt^crous by the molt able Chyrurgions employed to work his cure. Inliead o( afllidling hinifclf ar this accident, he pvais'd the gods, judging well that they dclivcr'd hini trqm infinite troubles, to which he thought himfelf cxpos'd by the reludhncy he had againft all which the frienddiipof Go«i^MC^ had made him a for the high-minded Pnncefsfcorning to pray, at leaft to pray in vain to an enemy, neither fpoketohim, nor evercaus'd him to be fpoke to, nor ever demanded of him the leaft fa- vour either for her felf, or any of htr Subjedts. Gondioch had in fuch manner given his orders, that it feem'd that all perfons that rb- S ferv'd i^o THARAMOND, Part II. ferv'd her, approach'd her to do her all honour pollible, and not to guard her s and in all their carriages towards her, it appear'd that they not only look'd upon her as free, but as their Soveraign ; No perfon approach'd her Apartment, nor that of the Princcfs of the Sueves, which was very near hers. That of Pharamond (which as I have told you, he had by reafon of his wound , made choice of ) was fo far difiant , as well as that of Condioch that (he could fcarce have any knowledge that they were lodg'd in the Falace. She kept her Chamber feveral dayes, nor had fhe for a longer time come from it, if fome indifpofiti- on of the Princefs Albi^inda had not oblig'd her to take the Air ■, and becaufe liofamond would not let her go forth without her, they walked oken in a Garden belonging to the Palace, to which they had a palTage from their owp Apartment, and which truly is one of the moft pleafant in the World, not only for its fair and ipacio.us Alleys, where the Trees are of an excellivc height, but for a great number of pleafant Fountains i a Wood cmbelli(h- ed with many Arbours, and a magnificent Terrafs, which advances it felt over the Banks of the EZ/'rf, and from whence the Profped: extends not only over the River, but over all the Neighbouring Fields. In this place, the two fair Princefles ufed often to confume their fad thoughts: and the Sifter of Vmdimir had this confolation, to fee that the tears flic dedicated to the memory of her Brother, were ottenaccompani'd with thofeot that Divine Princefs, whom he adored, whilft he was among men, and to whom her precious remembrance would give more glo- ry in the fe'cond life, than he could have had of happinefs in the hrft. At thcfe times, the perfons to whom the guard of Kofamond was committed , acquitted themfelves with as much civility as it was polfiblci and contenting themfelves to obferve the Gates of the Garden, and thofe places which might give them any fufped, they left to the Princefs the liberty of a full retirement. In the mean time , by the diligence of thofe perfons who had care of rry Mafter's wound, it was brought in few dayes to a good degree of recovery, and in a few mors they permitted him to quit his Bed, and walk up and down the Chamber. Gendioch^ who con- cern 'd himfelf much in his fafety, came often to villt him i and gave him an account with inhnite grief, of the little progrefs he had made in gaining the affedion of the cruel Rofu' mondy drawing with his lighs thofe of fharamond to accompany them, whilft he attribu- ted to compallion that, which my Prince himfelf could not attribute to any caufe known to himfelf. He comforted the afflidled King with all thofe words which his fricndftiip could furnifti him with ■, and with making him hope that time would Iweeten the fpirit of the Princefs, he continually prayed him to make ufeof mildnefs, where violence would be much more odious than any thing in the World : and in the mean time, as he faw himfelf with rela(^ancy in the Houfe of a Princefs, to whofe mifcries he had contributed by fo many dire effeds,and to whofe Beauty (though he knew it.not but by what fame had;fpread abroad of it) all the World ow'd a veneration j fo he prepar'd himfelf to depart, and retire himfelf to the Place where his Troops were quartered, (o foon as his health would per- mit him i he likewife commanded the Princes his Brother's to retire , not keeping about him more than fuch Officers as were necelTary for his (crvice. In the end, he believed himfelf able to walk abroad ; and feeing that from his Apartment he might enter into the Garden, the Beauties of which he had difcovered fiom his Chambes- window; oneday compelld by his Dcftiny, and fparred on by that Genius which guided him to his misfortunes; he departed from his Chamber, and commanding me only to tollov/ him, he defcended without other company into the Garden. He was walking in one of the Allcys,neareft to the utmoft bounds of it,and which as all the reft led to the Terrafsiand from that Alley palling up to the Terrafs by hve or iix afcents, he marched gently along by a Bilifter of Marble,which on the iide of the River reaches from one end to the other : Carting his eyes fometimes upon the River, and the Fields which arc difcovered from thence, and fometimcs upon the Garden, whofe Beauties were fufficieut to arreft his light. 'Twasa long lime that he thus walk'd without fpeaking to me fo much as one word, a thing not ordina- ry with him i and in his words and all his Ad'tons , there appeared to me more refcrved- nefs and melancholy than I had ever oblcrv'd : I was much troubled at it,andhad,it may be hazarded the liberty he had given me to inform my fcU ot the caufe, when he prevented mev and beholding me with a ligh, which feem'd todiiiipate part of that cloud hung over his eyes: Cleom'.'r (laid \\t)yon fee it may be tvitb fo-.ne .ilUinijhmeHt that I am to day more penfive aiid more referved than ordinary ^ bitt you will perhaps be mere alionifh''d, xvhen 7 fljoU have told yoH the canfe^ tvhich I dare mt declare to any other perfat but ynur plf, for fear to have my fij'y Uttghed at^ in av'rp/fta that a Dream can give me f> much dilinrbance^ and almoji be- get a fadneji: I jhgiild without doubt mock^anotber^whom J jhotitd find guilty nf the fame fol- Book I. PHAKAMOND. i 31 /)' ^ and r a^.rm that the Tream ] have had could not be able to move me, had it not been ai» tended ivith feveral other aj)prehenfi(>iis, which fitice tve jirji made War agaiiijithe Bohemians' feemed to foretel me fome nivfjortune : and more it U., that the place where Mon> rve are puti me in mind a(^jin of the particulars of my Dream, and figures to me what my imafmation did repnfent. It W4S then thU MorniHsr, at the hnur K'hen '/w faid Dreams have the mcji agree- ment tvith t^uth^ that in a place little different from this, I fare an Eagle-Knyal defcend with an iiiexprejjible Violence from Heaven ttpon me, and fnatch my heart from its place, before 1 co'tldput my felf in a pojiure to oppofe its fury: it feemed likewife that my inclinations at welt as my {henq^th, tpontdbave flood me in little ftead to oppife it \ for the heavenly Bird n>as f) fair , thit I [hove with all my potver to follorv it , and farv without any regret my bloody heart in its 'ldins,thoH!!l) Ireas very fenfible of the rvound it had given me. I jirttqled as ysiit l^orv men do in vain in their Dreams , and I lamented that weight rrhich hindred me from raifntii my f:lf «/> a'j^ainli it, -when it made me underhand, not with a cry lil\e to Birds of its kjnd^ but iviih a voyce clear and intelligible, which pronounced difrinHly thefe words : Tliou hall cruelly made War againll me, tliou hafl fpilrmy blood, and ruin'd my Reyal Scat: but 1 will revenge my felf of thy cruelty by a thoufand Deaths which I will make thee feel, not btinj^ able to revenge fomany injuries with onedc^ith alone. Scarce were thffe words pronounced, bttt I faw ih'u unfoj-tunale heart torn by the Talons and the Bea\ of the Bird ■, and thouqh it was out of its place, J fch every bltirv which it received thri)!fgt>cttt all my body, with grief which camtot be exprejjed, and it ii p^'fible Icfr in the truth it felf, than in many a Dream. VVhiKVmy Prince fpake to mc in this manner, we vverc dcfcended from the Tirrace into the Wood : and he had without doubt continued his dilcourfe, but that approaching to a Fountain which was near that place, we heard fome voyces very nigh us, and heard thera fo clearly, that by the found we might difccrn them to be Women. The King flcpt fo foon as he heard them, fearing lelt it (hould be the two PrinccfTes, to whom he liad given fo great occafionof rcfentment againil himi and as he had refolv'd not to prefcnt liioifclf to them, nor to aggravate their grief by his pretence, he wopld prcfently have returned back and fliunned by his retirement the danger of encountring them. Having a while iirug- gled with his thoughts what courfe he was to take, he remained firm in his dellgn not to let hiinfelf be fcen by them v but having heard thofe wonders publi;lied of Kofimond's Beauty , with which the whole World is till'd , and which have a flrong power over the (pint of a young man i or to fpeak better, he being folicited by his evil Genius, vvoiAi endeavour to fee her without (hewing himfelf to her i and it was the convcnicncy of the place, as well as any other reafon that infpircd him with this delJgn. The Fountain near which we heard the found of thefe voyces, is on one fide of the Wood, in a place where many little Allies joyn, but fomewhat diftant from the great ones: encircled it was-witli many fiir Trees, under whofefludc was to be feen a very fair Bafon fupportcd by a Bafis of Marble, in the midfi of which was another raifed, which received the water fpouting up to the height o; the neighbouring Trees, and falling down again to the lower by many ftrcarps in different pleating figures ; there was a large fpace to walk about the Fountain, defended irom the beams of the Sun , as well by the high branches of the Trees \i'hich fhade it to the very foot, as by thofe fmaller branches covered with leaves to the very roof, which being pruned with a great deal of art, make a kind of Paliladoe, thick and unpatTa- bk , which robs the fight of the Fountain from all parts but by thofe Avenues which lead to it. 'Twas this that made Tharammd enterprise to approach, judging that making through thefe little branches a fmall pallage for his fight, he might without being perceived con- tent hiscuriefityi and to this effedt, leaving me in a place Where I might advertife him, and hinder his being furprifed in an adion, which though innocent in it. felf, feemed to him fomewhat criminal , he advanced with the lead: noife pollible to the utmoft of the Trees which form the Circle, and approaching with his eye to the little branches, hcgtntly removed thofe leaves that oppofcd his fight, and /ound intheend fuch a paltage for it a? he could delire, to difcern with facility all that was done about the Fountain : and his ill for- tune would that the petfons whom he Icall fought which were the Ladies attending on the two Prirtcefies, were on the farther fide of the Fountain, fo that he could not but fee them imperfedly i but they whofe fight was to prove fo fatal, were placed dire7iond^ have only faid that flie was too great : it is moft certain that her ftature is as much above that of ordinary Women, as that of fharamond is above the common fort of men i but few perfons have been of their opinion > but in ftead of looking upon this excefs which they'find in the ftature of Kn/iwW as a fault, they have found it neccflary to perted her Beauty, feeing that with its height her perfon is moft ftraight, moft free, and moft delicate > her deportment fo noble, her walk and all her aftions fo excellent, that the Mijefty of her Face could not be accompani'd with a more fuitable Body, nor the dclicateneis of a Beau- ty the moft regular in the World , meet in the fame perfon with fo iiately and Royal a Majefty. Tliis admirablePrincefs,yet a thoufand times more fair than my weak Difcourfe can defcribe her,feemed to the eyes of my Prince that which (he truly is,that is to fay,much more than I have reprefented her ■■, and this brightnefs did ftrike him like lightrving, or fomething more violent, aftoniftiment poflefling all his foul before he could come to feel the other ef- feds" of this unhappy fight. All that he had heard of the beauties of Kofamond^ could not prcfent her fuch to his imagination as flic now appeared to be in truth', and though lie was at preient aftoniflied at that divine fplendour which feemed to (hine about her vi- fage, the tire that patfed from the eyes of Kofamond to his, feemed to open and clear them, the more to make him at once obferve all her beauties. And he too readily obfcrv'd, and too foon knew them : for by this fatal knowledge he foon faw himfelf expofcd to all thof« mifcries which have tince till now turnioyrd his deplorable lite ■■, yetat hrft hefeem'd to de- dicate hiaifcif wholly^ to admiration and not perceiving at all the rradof his wound, lie received through his eyes with pleafure that poyfon which infenlibly infeded his heart ; but as his wound was not of the nature of thofe which could remain any long time with- out Book I. PHARAMOND. i^j out being felt, he found in fliort time the mortal blow, and obferv'd that he did not only admire, but violently and palhonatdy lov'd, before he had any knowledge of his love or palHon. Though liis mifery was with fweetnefs crept into his bofome, he was with infi- nite grief foon fcnllble of it i yet advancing his rcaibn to his allillance , he endeavour'd with all the force of it to combate fuch an Enemy : he would have fled from the place where he was, to feck in his flight a fafety which he could not find in fuch a Combat ■■, but he in vain effay'd it, and chains more llrong than all he could rind, Hopped hi5 body in a place where they had already arrclkd his nobkft part, his foul. So foon as he found himfelf vanquifli'd, he Itgh'd fighs proceeding from love and grief together, and gently lifting up his eyes towards Heaveni gods ffaid he to himfelf J) U this then that heavenly Bird which ought to attacqne my heart .<* And if this then that misfortune with which fi many fgrbodinii have threatrted me ? His eyes were not the only caufers of his mifery i his ears contributed, by the attention they lent to the entertainment of the two fair PrincefTes i I fay, the two fair PrincclTcs : for mod certain it is, that the beauty of Al- i//i«<^jisluch, that it is able to obfcure any other beauty but that of KoCamond ■■, and that in any other place but near the Princtfs of the Cimbriant, there is no perfon but would ad- mire it, and tew but would be forc'd to love it. They entertained themfelvcs with a great deal of libcrty,not believing themfelvcs litined to by any perfon, but with an infinite lan- guor, and marks of a profound fadnefs. Their countenances and all their ad^ions tcftifi'd it tooviliblyi and after that difcourfe, to which the rirlf amaiement of my Prince had not permitted him to lend attention, the fair Princefs of the C/w^r/ir;// purfuing that which in likelihood (he had before begun, with a voyce accompani'd with a chaini equal to that of her perfon : It is moll true ffaid (he to Albijinda) that the prft affeUion I bad for your Brother^ rvas only an effeli of my Duty ; and that the humour which you kitow in me^ had not been eafily em^as,ed without the commandment of the King my Father : but in the end^ the noble qualities nf that faar ?rince^ and the mark/ which he gave me of fuch an affeUion as I defircd in him, made me approve the choice of the King rfith all my inclinations, and made me feel at his death that grief which we cannot but be fenfible of, as at the lof of thofe perfons which have been extreamly dear to us. happy Vindimir (faid the Princefs of the Sueves with a figh j to what ploriotif Fortune wer^t thou referv'd, if a cruel hand had not cut the thread of thy blooming daves ? And what happinefi art thm yet poffejfor of, fince, though amongfl the dead , thou can{i merit the tears and the remembrance .of Rofamond ? But my Sijier (for it was by the name of Sirter that by reafonof their Friendfhip, the hope of their future Alliance, and by the command- ment of their Fathers, they called each othet) admire not at jI/ (added the Princefs of the Cimbriani ) at the fantajicl{_ humour of ottr dejiinies, which to render m miferable, will not ufe ordinary wayes, mr common perfons : for in the end, fince we oug^ht not to rob our Enemies of that praife is due to them, befides,what may be faid with truth of Gondioch, who hath perfe- cted me with an odious love , and who after having chafed my father fi-om his efiates , keets me captive in the Palace of my Ancelhrs : befides, I fay, that which Fame reports of him to be valiant, generoiu and truly great in all things, it is no lefi certain, at leaji if the report fpread threugh the IForld be conformable to truth, that this Pharamond,w/:'tf hath made its ali miferable for greatnef of mind. Valour, Courage, Clemency, Liberality, and all other excellent Virtues, is the mo{\ accompliJl;ed amongji men, and one whom the whole World fpeakj of as a man miracu- lous in all things. And yet this Pharamond, adored by the reft of the World, is the fame who deprived of life your Brother, who was deftined to be my Spoufe, who in the Country of the Bur- g^imdhus defeated the Armies of our Fathers, who dyed the Earth with the blood of fo many thoufands gf our Sub]eUs,wha hath chafed away our Fathers by fo many bloody ViBoriSs, who by fo many dire effeBs caufed the death of the ^een my Mother, whofe affliCiion would not let her furvive the ruine of her Houfe, and who to accompliffj thefe Cruelties, hath himfelf forced thefe Walls, and made me a Captive to Gondioch. The remembrance of thefe injuries were fo fenfibly apprehended by the defolate Rc/2r- mond, that fhe could not fpeak them without letting fall fome tears from her eyc« \ and eve- ry one like an Arrow pierced through the heart of my Prince that liften'd to her, and who for thofe tears of Chryftal which (he fpilt, (hed drops of blood. Alas, with what a fadnefs was his foul furprifed , at this reproach which (lie made him of fo many cruel injuries ! And with what regret did he make reflection on the fatal occafions which had rcduc'd him to this mifery ! Fortune void of pity 1 ( faid he to himfelf) was it neceffary then that I fliould a£i fo many outrages againii a Princeji whom I ought to adore? Or oughtft thou make me adore her, after having committed fo many outrages agaittji her ? , Whilfthe in this manner felt that tempeft arifing in his brca(\ which was prepar'd to difluib 134 PHARAMOND. Part. 11. (difturb the- lepofe of his life, theafBidcd Princefs , dryed her tears by the affifiance of Albifmia^ who gathered them in her handkerchief, though (he let thofe ftream down her cheeks, which comtnon intereft. or the example of her friend made diftil, and anlwj;r'd to her difcourfe with a fwectnefs which (he had naturally wholly charming. It it true my Siller ( faid (lie ) that I have often made refleUuon, as voeU m you, onthis par- iicularity of eur mifery^ and have often accufed Fortune for not giving, ti; enemies which we might as well difdain as hate \ hut, my Sijier, rvhatjoever (he can do for the glory of our ene- mies^ or whatever Fame hath publijFd for their advantages, if it be not too much deceitful in what it hath made m underjiand of my Brother which yet remains, I hope that you will not aff.rmthat all glory and virtue v! only comprifed inthe perfon of Pharamond : you have often heard jpeak^ of the advantages of h'vs perfon, and have had fame hiiowledge of hU lienown Jpread through the world , few perfons in the Vniverfe have acquifd the lik,e without any af- fiftance of Fortune ■■, and though alone and unknown in jirange Countries, where his difgrace hath made him wander, he hath made himfelf kiiown by fuch rejplendent aCiions m have at' ready given him a name great among men, I cannot as his Sijier jpeal{_ more with modefiy : hut fiitce he hath the happineflto be called hy our Fathers to the glory dejiined to his Brother, and that he ought foon come, and at your feet feek^ occafions to merit it. Alas t faid PW«(«o«(i ( whom the new trouble he found arifing in his mind, permitted not the patience to hearken to the reft of this difcourfe ) can it then he that 1 am already ihreatnedwith the coming of this proud Rival, this happy Brother deiliti'd to the glory of Vin- dimir? (hall I not have in Gondioch a Rival fufficiently formidable, and a Rival much more to be dreaded for our friendship than aity other can be^ armed with all the power of Europe ? He had fuffer'd himfelf longer to be tranfported with thefe thoughts, if he had not ob- fcrved Kc/I«wo«^ about to anfwer to the difcourfe of Albifinda\ and enforcing himfelf to liften to her, I kitow well, my Sijler ( faid (he) that all the praifes you can give to the Prince Viri- domar, are legitimately his due ■■^ mr am I ignorant of the marveVoits reports jpread about the world of his Renown: I bear as great a part in'ihem as you, and I fhould infinitely defire his return, if ire were in an ejlate to hope for any fuccefiby it : but, my Sijier, if 1 may with free' dom fpcal{_ti) you, I find little in my heart which can d/jpofe me to a fecond affeCtion, after fuch misfortunes in my frA ■, andlhoiigh Viridomar might expeci all things from his merit, yet be might travel perhaps in vain, if 1 did not owe all things to our fiendfhip , or if I were not refolved to obey exalily the will of my Father. Tharamnnd could have flay-ed all the day attentive to the converfation of the two Prin- ccfTes, and fixed to theconfiderationof thofe fatal beauties which had already bound him with an indilToluble chain •, but feme time after, they rofe from their feats, and having made a turn about the Fountain, took their walk to the other lide of the Garden ; and in going, KflpwoW gave the pallionate Prince the liberty to view the beauty of herftature, which he could not entirely behold in the porture flie before was in. Tharamond followed them not only with his eyes, but he found his heart Hee after them, and force his body with an unknown violence to run after what he ador'd. Yet his reafon was ftrong enough to hinder him, and to make him coniider that he ought not to buy tlie joy he had again to fee her, with the difpleafures his prefctice migiit give her j he therefore flopt himfelf near the Fountain, marking the place where a little before he had feen the Princcfs feated, and by the effcft of a palhon which began already to difturb his reafon, Hooping down his lips, he kifled with a tranfportation of mind, which he could not mafter, the cold Marble againft which B of amond had ksiu'' d : he at length feated him in the fame place, and calling his eyes towards Heaven, with an afped truly dclerving pity, he began to con- ^derthe llrange change of his condition. ; I was now drawn near to him, having feen the Princcffes pafs: on the other fide, and I (li-aight marked an alteration in his countenance vviiich aiionithed mes the trouble of his foul was amply denoted in his eyes i and in all his aiitions there appeared fomewhat fo much of change, and fo extraordinary, that I imtnediatcly judg'd fome accident was be- fallen liiiiii and by the fame fpread abroad ot the divine beauties ot Rofamond, 1 gueis'd a part of the truth. In the mean time, 1 heard him ligli in (uch a paanner, and (aw fuch Oi^rliS in !iim ot violent agitation of fpirit, that 1 could not refrain from demanding the caufe, with all thofe arguments which my faithtul atfcdion could furnilh me with: but fo foon as I was about to open my mouth, Hopping me at my tirll; words, Cleomer (faid he ; lamlof; demand m mure, but prepare thy fe If to fee figns much more fatal than thofe thou ever halt objerv^d in my countenance. He accompanied thcfe words vvithfo many iighs, that my heart was fenfibly touch'd with Book I. T H A K A M N D. 155 with compaflion, and I in a moment conHrtn'd in tlic (ufpicion whicli I iia'd : byt'^i.liftk after, looking on me with a pitliionate aspedt, in the txtr.incU txccCsi I have peHl^oi'iL' mond (did he ^ this is to tell thee all my firtHfte ■, the rejt'itn>dl{ytamt tothee^ ai:d too ivell htown to my felf: tvnuld te God I rfen igmrant of it. J fhould yet perhaps have fufjkieni ouraii^e to receive the love of l\o(i\nor\ the refentment (he had againft him ', but his loverefus'd to be obedient to his dclires, and his body more complacent to the one than the other, could not depart from a place where a violent paliion held it fo firmly fix'd. Nor was Kofamond during this time without fome trouble: for having let her eyes run over and over a perfon fo extraordinary, and perhaps the only perfon fhehad ever found worthy her confideration, (lie began to lofe that patience which had made her fo longtime behold him, and in a time wherein itrather feem'd that her difcontents fliould (lop her eyes to all forts of objeds i fo that entrin^ into a kind of choler,that he had not quitted the place, and retired from the Fountain fo foon as he faw her approach, and breaking lilence in a majeftick manner i And what are you ? ( faid (he ) you that by your prefence hinders the repofe and folitude of the Captives of Gondioch ? She had fcarce fpoken ^thefe words, but fhe repented them, judging by all demonftrations that a perfon fo extraordinary could be no other than Pharamond, whom her own milcries had fo well fixed in her mind, and whom fhe had heard defcribed for fuch as he now appeared. His admirable figure, his royal port, the magnihcence of his habit, the marks of his wound i andinhne, all things made him be known for what he was : but fhe was foon conhrmed by the countenance of my Prince, who maugre the grcatnefs of his courage, had not the affurance toanfwcrto the demand (he made, but keeping a trembHng (ilence, feemcd to feek words to defend him- felf before a terrible Judge, and to fear more than the mofl: cowardly fpirits have feared the moft formidable death. Kfl/iwoM^/ for fome time beholding his behaviour perhaps with much different motions j but in the end, permitting her choler to fucceed to thofe doubts flic had ditlipated v Ah ( faii 1^6 PHARAMOND. Part II; ffaid fiie^ I doubt no mate ■-, JkpovD thee by too many tokens, for the cruel author of our mU- fortunes : jhame perhaps hinders thy confe^tng it \ but whether thou regardefi me as the Captive of Gondioch, er thine, thou canft not defend thy felf from jhame^ which the remembrance of thy crimes ought to involve thee in. Having ended thcfe words, (he would have retired, if Albifinda, whofe foul was com- pofed of fweetnefs, and who in dcfpight of the hatred (he bore the name of Fharamond could not but find thofe charnnsin his perfon, which blotted out a part of her difguft, had notdayedher, to make her hear his anfweri and it was in a time when P/;^ri»- mond, fubduing with all his courage that fear which had tyed his tongue, found both af- furanCejind words i and lifting his eyes towards thofe fair eyes which he adored > D/w«e FrinceJ!, ( faid he ) neither the confufion yon may ma)\ in my countenance^ nor any other reafn can dijj>enfe rvith my obedience to you ; and tvhatfoever effeii my conffron may produce, ! am conjiraind to teU you the truth, "'tis for fnme time, that I have been Pharamond i but at prefent,! htoro not what I am-, and changing condition^ I have almojl forgot my name : hither, to perhaps I might have owned it without (Piame •, but before you , great Frincefi, I coafeS that I do with difficulty pronounce h, and begin to be odious to my felf, fmce I began to fee you, IFouldtoCedthat the firji blow rf this ftvprd which 1 unfortunately carry by my fide had pierced my heart, and that with fame honour which it hath given me ami^ns^men, Ihadlojl this miferabh life, before 1 had fallen into thofe dire cccafjons of offending you. I would eii' deavour te jufiifie my intentions, if I were not too guilty by the effeds i and J could fay, if it were permitted me, /^at Vindimir lofl his hfe in affmlting mine; that I was obliged by ho- nour and friendfljip ro fuccour my friend and Allie againji his enemies j and that in the lali in- jury you have received from our Arms, I only had a defign to ferve a lover which adores you ; but not to offend a Frinceji adored by my friend, aud worthy the admirations of the whole world: Butjn funi, I cannot be innocent, fince I have unhappily contributed to your miferies ■■, and I owe at leaji aJl my blood to the tears I have made ynu ffed : I would give it with a?' excef? of joy, if by its lo(i T could appeafe your anger, but all reparations 1 can give of thofe wrongs i have done you, can neither blot them out of your memory, nor merit ynur pardon. My Prince fpoke in this manner with a behaviour, which as well as. his difcourfe ex- preffed the internal motions of his foul » and the Princefs, who hearkned to him, finding fo much reafon in his language, and fo much grace in the perfon of him that utter'd it, could fcarce prelerve dll her anger i and pollibly (lie had loll a part of it, had (he had the patience to hear him longer: but oppolingher felf with jfome violence to thofe charms that began to feduce her, (he recalled in a moment all her grief and all her choler, and regarding the Prince with eyes which feemed to dart Thunder and Lightning •, Neither doji thou defend from the blood of Hedor ( faid (he ) nor art thou worthy of thofe advan- tages, which Heaven andfortune give thee. Any other but thnu, wmild have been contented to have deprived a Prince of his life, who was dejiin'd my Spoufe : to have fain te?o httndred th.mfand of our Snb]cds, reduc''d me under the power of our enemies, n'itb,!Ut airgravating my griefs^ or aujyncntingthe miferies of my Captivity., by the odious prefence nf the cruel author /)f my misfortunes : But fmce thou art not fatisfied with fuch bloody injuries, frniflf that thou haji fo well begun, and by a blow worthy of thy hand, give the blood of KcSsimond to Condi- och fmce thou canfr not give him her heart nor her affedion. Go, Barbarian ("added (he with a voice fomewhat more rais'd ) trouble no more by thy fight, that little repofe thou haveji to thy Captives ; and if than feareji neither the anger of the gods n'hich can revenge, n.irthat of men, who perhaps wiU arm themfelves in my quarrel, blufl} at lea(i to death, for Jhame to have employed thv Arms and thy valour, far the perfecution and ruine of a Sex, which thou 0H(i}}te{l to rejfeci and defend to death, P ii.g rini(hed thcfe words, (he retired with Albifmda 3rd her Ladies, and left thedc- folate Fhiramond in an extremity of grief (b terrible and prelling, that there wanted but little, that the violence of it had not made him lofe his rea(on and knowledge-, he had not lirenina able to fuKain his body, but fell from the bafis, again(l: which he would have leaned, upon the Benches underneath, where lie rcmain'd in a condition fo deplorable, as if the Heavens had been Brafs to him, the Air cover'd with darknets, the whole earth fcarce able to upheld liim, or as if all things had confpircd to cail him into an Abyfs of grief, not to be either exprcfs'd (>r apprehended. / proteti Cfaid Conlhnce, interrupting the difcourfe of Cleomer ) that this beginning of the misfortunes ili lend me a hand tu deliver me? Oh\ my too trite dream: Ah I too k^itd foretearnim. Jfby heark^ted I not to you ? And if>by jhumt''d I not, by your injpi^, ration, the moji horrible misfortunes into which ever man n>.is precipitated <' He llopt fome moments at this rirft thought > but a little after, through the trouble which his new paf- fion caus'd in his foul, fpeaking to thePiincefs, as if Ihe had been prefent •, Tou are mcijt jujl, ( faid he ) y ttare mjji jujl. Divine Princefi, to chafe jrom yon thif Baibarian, who hath employed all his valour to render yon unfortunjte : for a man fo rrorthy of yoitr angcr^ U net. tbertporthy of the light of yottr fair eyes, nor the light of the day, Happy Vindimir ("ad- ded he a little after j thy condition is far better than mine •, for if both the one and the other have drawn tears prom thebeaitteoitf^oiimon^ '. thofe which jhe bath (lied for thee, are glorious to thy memory > but thofe which I have made her dijlil, are the djfgrace of my days, and the trou- blers of my repofe. . > . From the remembrance of Kofamond, he pafs'd to thzioiGondioch--, and linding botJ* in the one and the other an equal unhappinefs in relation to himfelfi Ah Gondioch I ( faid he J if ii prfflble that after having travelld to make thee fortunate, by thofe ejfecis. which ren- der me miferable, I (hoitld become moji unhappily thy Rival? A Ilival jvilhoitt h I fee well (addeci he ) that 1 owe my life both to the one and the other ; and as I ought without doubt rather to lofe it than ojf^nd the Amity I owe to Gondioch, fo I fljould give it tvithajtixegret, to refunif thofe injuries I have done P.ofamond. vv\.>.r\^ He difcours'd in this manner, with thoughts prelfing him to the Confidcration of his mifery i and I doubt^ot at all but that he had fo palTtd the reft ot the day, if I had not ad- vertis'd him that I fa w the Ring of the Burgundians who fought himj and who with a great number of other perfons was coming to the place where we were. Ah I Gondir och, ( faid he with a ligh, when he heard me pronounce hjs name J boiv (ritel is thy fiendr fljip? Or- how happy had I been, if I hadlnji my life in thy quarrel, rathfrihaH falen i»tf that mifery, into which thou haji precipitated me ? Finifliing ,thefe words, he rofe from the place where he was feated, and not hiiding hiniklf in a condition to end me the conver- fation of Qindioch or any other pcrfoO', he end(?»voi4r'd .tO:-3void it i' ^nd retiring by the t k-ait 238 PHARAMOND. Part II. leaft frequented Alleys, pading out of the Garden, he entred his own apartment, and (hutting himfelf into his Clofet, gave me order to fay that he repofed, and to pray thofe thatcanieto fee him, to give him liberty to dedicate the reft of the day to fome indifpo- fition he felt. Gondiech came foon after i but underftanding from me what he com- manded me (hould be known of his intention, would not abufe the priviledge, which ei- ther his degree or their friendOiip gave him, but was the tirft to order others to leave him to the repofe he delir'd. But certainly, inftead of finding any repofe in this retirement, to which my Prince con- fin'd himfelf till the following day, he was rather encounter'd by a cruel War i and all the enemies he had fought in fo many great encounters, feemcd little terrible in compari- fon of the enemy he now combated. In vain did he oppofe a palfion C which the rirft day of its birth had all the force wliich time could give to the moft grown and moll vio- lent ) by all that his reafon could prefent to his alliftance : for all the etfeds of his reafon, and all thofe of his courage, were equally unprohtablei and having tormented himfelf the reft of the day, and the night following, with fuch turbulent tancies as permitted him not the leaft moment of fleep, he drew no other fruit from this torment he had given him- felf, but a more clear knowledge of that miferyhehad conceived with confulion : and at the return of the day, he not only found bimiclf more palfionately amorous of KofamonJ, than he had been at that moment he laft ccas'd from feeing her > but he knew well that all the hatred (he had for him, and all the triendfhip he had for Gondioch^ eould not re- ftrain him from loving her to the laft minute of his life: herefolv'd however ( by a refo- lution not eafily taken by any other virtue than his ) to fupportconftantly that miferyinto which he was thrown, without feeking to comfort himfelf by any thought that might re- proach his friendftiip i and remain miferable until death, rather than difturb the fortunes or hopes of his friend : but as he fulTer'd not only by his love, and that that paliion had joyn'd to his torment, the grief he had to have contributed to the inisfortunesof Re/i/woW, or rather to have cntirelv caus'd them , he refolved to feek fome comtort to this grief, without feeking any for his love' and if it were polfible to put an end to tlie miferics of Kofamond, without promiling to himfelf any other advantages, but that of appearing kfs criminal to her. In this defign he prepar'd in the beft manner he could polllble to ad, what he believ'd he ought to do •, and driving away by a force worthy of his courage, that which he felt moft violent on his foul, he put himfelf in a condition to fee his friends, and to execute a part of what he hadrefolv'd. To this purpofe he prepar'd to go fee Gondioch : at what time he faw him enter into his Chamber, he endeavour'd to receive him -after his accuftom'd manner-, but howfo» ever he ftrove to dilTemble what he ftlt, he could not hinder Gondioch from obferving fome alteration in his countenance. After they had talk'd together for fome time in the Chamber, they pafs'd into an adjoyning Gallery : the perfons that attended them, flaying at the entrance, to give them the liberty to walk and entertain themfclves. So foon as they had walked a turn or two, the King of the Burgnndians^ whofc foul as well as my Mafter's was fiU'd with the Idea o( Kofamond^ ftopping on a fudden, and fixing his eyes upon the countenance of Fharamoiid^ with a pailionatc behaviour : And well ( faid he ) yoH have feen Rofamond ; and more^ pe hath feat yon , jfiok^ to you , and kiiawn you. "that rvhicb you fay is truth C replycd my Prince very coldly ) and agahijl my intentions 1 have feen the Princef Rofamond. I kftpiv not ( replyed Gondioch with a ligh) if J ou^ht to rejoyce at this adventure : th'n vietv was fufficiently dangerom to mak^e mc fear fnme dire ejfeds^ both for you and me ■■, but at leaji I can hope ihU advantage, that you n-iil exatfe^ better than you have for the time paji^ all that my love hath made me fujfer, or enterprife for this beauty. I excufioomuch (replyed my Prince ) the love you bear her^ and doubt not but in all other breajis Jhe may kjndle a fame as great as fije hath in yours : but Gondioch, 1 cannot excufe that which you have done againjl her^ and the injuries which you have made her fenfjble of. My heart is fenfible of them ( replyed the King of the Burgundians ) and I could willing^ ly have jpar^d thein with the hfi of the be\i part of my blood \ but you k>towtoo well that X tried aH ether ways before I attempted thofe extremities which might dijpleafe her •■, and that it was not but with an irrefijiible violence that I was reduced to this cruel necefftty. Ah Gon» dinch ( (^xdiVharamond^ with a (igh which he could not hold j weeught to dye rather than effend Rofamond. He fpoke thtfe words with an afped fo palfionate, and after a manner fo extraordi* nary, that Gondioch was ftrangely furpris'd i and inftead of replying to him, hefix'dhis eves upon him, and beheld him like a man whofe amazement had tyed his Tongue. The King Book it. T H A K A M N D. ' 159 King of the F>-<»>»i^r eafily pcrceiv'J the cfftd whicli Iiis dUcourfc produc'd in the foul of Gondiach i but bting rcfolv'd to purfuc his intention, he ftopt not at thufc marks which he faw in iiis face of the trouble of his foul, but taking advantage at the attention he gave to the difcourfe he liad to make s " 1 fee well ( faid he) that my proceeding furprifes you, and that *' you would expeft any thing clfe from me rather than the counfcl I ought to give you, " and the Prayers I am contkain'd to make you : but Gondwch^ my Brother, my real Friend, " if you have thought for the time paft that your irterefts have been conlidcrable to me i in " the name of the gods, and by the remembrance of all our trJendlliip, hearken, and re- " ceive as you ougiit to receive the difcourfe of a friend, who picters your fatisfa(Sion " before the whole comfort of his lifci You love the Princefs of the CimbridHS, and you '' detircnothing more pallionately than to be lov'd by her, and yet you have committed "againft her thcgreatelt olfenccs Ihe could pollibly receive from her moll cruel enemies: " 1 doubt not but that you have a lively repentance in your foul i nor (liould I ever have '* comfort in my life, if I had done that for my own intereft, which I have done for yours. "In hue, the Princefs you adore is by your Arms, and by you, the mo(t infortunate and " difconfolate perfun on the earth i her Country blu(hes on all iidcs with the blood of her " people i her Father is driven frtim his eftates,and flie is a Captive,(hc her felf,of a man who ''fays, and truly is her Captive. Repair, fince it is in your power, repair fo many cruel "injuries by anadtion worthy of your virtue, and more worthy of your love than thofe "■ which we have done i and fince you cannot doubt but that it is by you that Zvo/iwwW is " miferable, do you gencroufly end her miferies by fenditig back her Father into that *' Throne from whence you have chas'd him, and relloring to her that precious liberty, " for the lofs of which llie hathflied fo many tears. For you cannot be ignorant that thole " injurious ways murt needs be more unprofitable with her than fubmilGon atid fweetnefs, " and* that if you can hope to bend her, it will be rather by fhcwing marks of your re- " pentance, than by apcrfeverancein eternal injuries : iier high and noble foul, which ri- '' gout cannot touch, will be fweetncd without dentjt ty feme t^t(Xi of your love, as " much as it is incens'd by opprelfion and violence, and if that fail, yet you will have aC " lead this fatisfadion in your mind, not to be longer guilty towards her, nor to merit her "■ hatred if you cannot obtain her love. Fharamond\\z6ihn[\tx purfued his defignto perfwade Gondioch^ but that Prince, who had with impatience hearkned to his difcourie, could not longer fufier the continuation of it, but on a fudden interrupting him •, Ah Pharamond ( faid he ) is it pnfihle that yote can with fo much cruelty give me this cnunfel^ after you have with Co much geiremfity given me your ajjijlaitce ? or. can you fo much repent the good you have do7te me at the price of your bloody to make me lofe the fruit by fo hafy a change ? for the Realms of the Cimbrian iC'^K, / will Tpiliingly rejiore them ; and as you ktiotv that it n>a( not for this Co>iqueji that rve emrtd his 'territories^ fo you ought to believe that poffe^ng Rofamond, if 1 can be fo happy to poQ'eji her, I have no defign to def^oil her Father, or her Brother of a Crown that appertains to them ; for if that which I have received from my Ancejlors fuff.ceth not my ambition^ I wear a Sword by my fide can give me others, which I (liould poffefl more contentedly thanthat of the Father of Rofamond, for the prefent, m it is by your valour, and by yonr Arms much more than mine, that we are become majiers of this Crown,l ought not, nor will mt dijpute with you the dijpajal of it V yoH may either rejiore it to the King of thi Cimbrians, er give it to whom of yours yon fhall judge worthy s but for Rofamond , Ah Pharamond, you have promised me her, you have conquered her for me, and you your felf have given her to me, and cannot but think^ it jitji that I fhould guard her to the laji minute of my life. " Yes, Gondioch ( replyed the palfionatc King ) I would that you fliould guard Kofa- " mond till death, nor have I any intention that you (hould ever yield her to any perfon ; " I would yet fpend more of my blood to preferve her for you, and to acquire you het " a(fe(5Hons : but as they are of too great price to merit from your love thofe efFe and if this reparation fuffices "rot for the injuries we have done her, there is none but we ought te give her at tlie " price of our own lives. Our King pronounc'd thefe words with fo much pallion, and the Burgundiati mark'd fo much alteration in his eyes, that his thoughts foon difcover'd to him the truth i and in an inllaat making rtfledion vt all that had appcar'd in the perfon of my Mailer, he T 2 doubted 140 PHARAMOND. Part. II. doubted no longer but he was become amorous of Kofarfiond. Tbis tbouglit , like a fubtil and violent hre,feix'd ftraight on all his (pirits ; and that new pallion which introcluc'd it felf with the fame promptitude, not permitting him todiffemble it, made liim inliantly thunder it out with violence-, Ab Pharamond (faid he, calling a look upon my Prince, which exprefied the new trouble which had feii'd his mindj yen are amorous vf Rofa- mond Thcfe words fo conformable to truth, and a truth fo rooted in the foul of myMafterj furprifed him with fufficient confufion and aftonidiment, to deprive him of the liberty of anfwering for fome tunei and the jealous King hnding in his countenance tlie conhrma- tlonof his fufpicions, and not being able to reliit thole in*petuous motions which agitated his fpiriti Ah! I tvili doubt «o /oK^er (faid he with a voice fomewhat louderj hut that aU the mifery I could fear is befallen me ^ and this Friend on whom I founded all wy hopes is be- come my Rival. If that miftry be hapfjen'd*(iqA'i'd the King of the Frankj}you ought ra- ther to bemoan me, than accuje me \ and this love (if it be true that I am in love J may well render me miferahle^ but can add nothing to your misfortunes, [nice I have no defgn to dif^ute with j(?«, Rofamond, whom I yield to yon tv/thout murmuring whatever love I may have for her. Ikitorvnot (replied the King of the Eurgundians) if yuu can do what you fay; but 1 avorv to you that 1 have not the fame power over my felf, and that all that which I owe to our friendjhip cannot oblige ^ne to yield ^owRofamond. I defirt not this effect of your friend- fiiip (replied Pharamond) nor Ihould yon receive it perhaps from mine, if the love, with which you tax me, preceded yours \ but fince that is not,Iwill inviidably furrender what I owe to out Amity, in demanding that xvhich I hope from yours : and fo that you will give liberty to the Trinceji of the Cimbrians, I promife yon before the gods, and befre men, thai I will never fee her more: Tott make me this promife (zniwertd Gondiocb) with a conditionveryiirange; and you m'lfi permit me to tell you, that in the ejiate you now appear to me, your propufat may weU be fufpeded. I have not forgot that to you I owe all things, and that it is by your valour, and by your afjjiance, that I hold my Crown, my Liberty, and thofe adi ant ages we have over out Enemies : but it is nith 'a- maji fenftble grief, that in the perfon of fo -great a Friend, I fee that of fo formidable a Fdval, and of a Rival voho in this quality feems more cruel and more terrible to me by how much he hath been afjijiant to me tn all thofe Offices with which he may xvith jufiice reproach me. I hive nothing to tax you rmith (replied my Prince very HercelyJ for all that I have done for you, of what merit foever it be, n\n due to our friendjhip ; but I fhall difdain my felf till death fir thofe laji actions I have done for your interejis, if I cannot repair them in fome part by the means which I have propofed. I haze hopes you will not oppafe them, when you fiiall make refle£lion on them t but that you will kjiow by my proceeding (zdd- cd he with a figh) that in a time when I appear to you fo terrible a Rival, I give you a proof of my frienJffip , greater and more diffcuh than any you have yet received. 1 have told you already (replied fhc Eurgundian King) that I ewe you all things, and that 1 have the remembrance of it too well engraven in my heart ever to forget it \ ^ but 1 ewe you nothing, if you deprive me of that only fruit I can defre of all you have done for me i and in vain jhall I be engagy to you far a Liberty, and a Crown, tvlnch zptll he little dear to me, if yau take from me Kofamond, whom I love a ■ thoifand times mare than my Liberty, my Crown or my Life. It may be (repVlcd Fbarainondjthat you oweme nolefllofdimovdthanall other things for which you believe your felf obliged to me; and without rejpe£r to our friendpip, 1 ivill tell you, that ynkhave no more right than I to dijfofe of her: Uberty : but however it be, I have.no intention io deprive you ^fher'thouql:) Idefirs ihc jhouldbe free •, but wili ferve you tfith athny Forces, and n-ith all my blood, .tyain\\ al! thofe rvho dare diffirte her with you.' Few Rival s;f nee I muji ap- pear in thar^»ality\'wouldtreat ia this' mamierV., nor Jhostld I perhaps be the moji dejpicable of •otLyour Competitors ,ihouQij hy'rhfi -mi s fortunes J am the mo\i odious, if my intentions tvere as \rbutrar)/ toyqif'-asihey -are favourable. I kitotv notwh'at are your inte/itio»s{t\tfct\y repli'd ■Gondioch, \i^!iofe jealoufie infenfibly troubrd his reafon) and it will be diffcult for me to kjtoiv them, fmceJ cannot- /y;9ip you better than your felf: but whatfoever your defign may be, mine ihMl be to defend till death rehat I cannot abandon hut with my life i ^nd to hold all thofe for my ■Pioji cruel Enemies, whoiwill d^f%tto deprive me (fit, ■,.■-'<• -•' The King of the Franks oppqi'cd with all his natural fwcctncfs, the rcfentitients which - the words of C/dWi^/fc/' were^nbdnt to raife in his foul i and beholding him with an eye •which rather ap^carM;!an^ailh'ing than incenfcdi Ingrateful FwfWCfaid he) renounce mt our friendihip upon the point when you fljould begjn to be truly bound to it; forget, if you pleafe,ferv't'eesofiittle importaace;toconfider,'that for your fake,I confent to the molt difficult thins, i'' *be W«rld. Ton will better this ivay find your advantages than by that you feek,them i fir hi the conditivn wherein yon are. Enemies like me are mt nectffary. I cunfeji I rvofild not be your Book II. T H A R A MO N D. 141 yoHr¥.yie.n\,\thr>u^h perhaps the repi'>it,ice youri from this mpnt'ent ; and lvol{^ upon him mmore 'hit ar your Enemy ^ who rviU be fo to his death. Ton will perhaps yet ovce mvre think of it f anfwcred my Prince, wifli his ouiinary t'wcetncfs) mr would I by your example lightly break^the bjffds of ^ friendlhiplre^ed^thoiigl} I Jhouldoccafwn all the mrferies of my life; bttt in the mean time remember^ thit rvhetber Friend or Enemy ^ I defire that Kofamond /A;o«/^ i^ free : for either in the one^ or in the other quality^ I am obli'r'd to give herher-liberty. Tottjhal} hardly compa(5 vonrdefurnCxepVicd the Burgwidian King, with a lui it)us bciiaviour) but at the price of an b:tndfcd ihovfand lives ■■, and it may be that either by yours or mine tve fl)all futisfie Rofamond for the in]uries rve have done her. Fini{hir,f', thefe wofd"^, he laid liis hand upon the Guard of Iiis Sword i and Tharamond beginning to he inflamed with choler, both for iiis Dilcourfe and Btliaviour, tliere was no fmall danger XtW they- rtiould have come to extremity upon the place, if the pcrlons who from the othcf end otthc Gallery had heard part of their convcrlaiion , and principally when they beg,an to' gro'w- angry, and palhon had made them raife their voyces, had not advaiic'd with infinite quiekr.ef';, and calt theiTifelves between the two incenfed Kings to divert that misfortune :' Gow^ak:/' retired from him in a furious manncri and uttered fuch words as nothing but l#s paltion could excufe. Tharamond uiore moderate than he, though no leis amorous, fecnTd a little tranfported ; and I believe he was not a{ ali'diipleafcd at the behaviour of Condioch , which difpenfed with him what he belicv'd owing to liis friendlliip, permitting him to give place to thofe thoughts and hopes whith he had not ii|l then dared to conceive. ■ ''n-,V ■.-/: '■■i'ok The relf of that day, and the following, the wifcll of the Franks, and of the Bur^rijtdu a»T forefeeing the miferics which might arrive by the divilion of their two Kings, ufed all their endeavours to appeafe them, not forgetting any thing with which p) udcncc n.ight in- fpirc them upon fuch an occalion : but as Gvndiocb knowing Pharamond lot iiis Rival,had introduc'd a mortal hatred to fucceed that alfedion he had for Rim , . and Pharamond le- main'd firm to his defign to give liberty lothe Princefs of the Ctmhrians \ all their dili- gence who endcavout'd to paciiie them, prov'd incffedual, and all things contributed to the begetting of a War between thefc two Princes, who ha'd been before ucited in fo firm a League : both parties blam'd the ingratitude of Gondioch^who being bound to my Prince for fo many great fervicts, ought to have refufed him nothing for any co^ifidcration , and moft judg'd that by tliis difunion, the face of his Fortune would foon iind a change. The (amc day, fpurr'd on by that new pallion which turmoyl'd him, and Icarce left his reafon any power over his liiind, he went to vilit the Princefs, who was conlhained to (iif- fer fuch vilits, though (lie did it with fufficicnt rclu(3:ancy i and accofting her with a coun- tenance oil which (he might remark the alteration of his foul, if flie had notdifdain'd to take notice cf it ■-, Madam {didhe) your Beau-ty doth every day beget new Miracles, "hndcaufeth in minds the fame difrder it canfetbin Monarchies ■■, it troubles the rcafn, cancels fnend]hiJ7^ and makes infidelity reign in the place of Virtue. I am fo little oblig^'d by all the efcHs it hath hitherto prodt(c''d (zn(wcred the Princefs very fiercely) »W I can neither conffi mr hope any good from it \ or if it he to that^ that I ought to attribute all my mli fortunes^. you may rvili . believe that I look^npon it but as my cruel Enemy. If it hath given yon any trouble ("replied • Gottdioch )or made you feel any difquiet^ it bath without doubt reveiig'd yoit on thofe r^johaue toHtributed to it ■-, and for thofe ta>o perfons rvhich are moji odious to you-, if it bath fnie tiine pjft rendred one molt miferable^ Fortune hath f,nce yejierday thrown the other into an cjiate little different, fer^^'in /«w, Madam,, whatever imprudence I commit by telling yott it^ pliaramopjl if become my Kival^ and he who kl^ed the Sppuje who was d(\liH''d to you^ would wd'ingjy enjoy his place^if he micht be fo happv as to merit it:, that heart which was thought iinpenitrable by love^ and ■fortified againji stf fuch feeblenefi^ could not defend it felf one miment a^ainli your ffair eyes i and ■ only one of your Look^J)ape,.re»4ffji,bimMtbe, fkr»f tinfe,Hnfailhfiil to his -P ri end ^ and Slave to Pvofamond. v r,r :A ■•■l ••: ■y.\i "i-, ,. ' v ,'t' - • ■. " ■ '■ The Princefs of the Cimbrians hearkned td this Difcourfe with a figri full of difdain > arid bc\v.^\({M IheJ I averr to you Ifliouldhe fenfible of what you tell me,: 'for as among men. there is mlhing jo great as Pharamond,/^ there is no perfon in the World ■ whieb wnnld not he Mig'd to that beauty rvhich could give her fo Koyal a Slave : the Renown of his gy^Ut ASionsdoth. already ajiomjh, the; whole- Earth ^^rf^nd I have found in his perfon thifigs fo coMfofmjbleto bis great reputation, th*t J cetfldmt httt admire him fo foon as I ftw ■him. ^. J . '. -....,,( k,' /;. , . t. . ■" Hrwivcr 142 PHARAMOND. Part II. However incenfed the Princefs was againft my King, yet the greatnefs of her courage roade her render thisTeftimony to truth, without confidering the difcontent which Condi- oc/; rcceiv'd by her difcourfe : but that Prince could not diffemble it , a^d difcovering it perhaps more than he was willing, by the redncfs which covered his countenance i godt (cried he) hom ftrange is my mifery .? Horp faon do I receive the pHuiJhment of the fault I committed in fervi>ig my Rival againfl my intention I He hath ferved you fo weli in yours (ie~ plied the Princefs) that it vpiU be difficult for you to acquit your felf towards him, by nhat' ever fenice yiu can do for him ; yet I rvill tell yott without other defign than that of jfeakj/tg truth that the judgment I gave of him, (hall not mah^ his condition more happy if his felicity depends on me ; and that his being the mo\l accomplijked of men, renders him to me nothing lefi odious. Ah^ that is too much (repli'd the jealous Prince) for with whatever rcfolution you arm your felf againll a man who h.tth fo crueliy offended you, his Forturie is too great by the Idea you have of his merit. He would feemto you lefi accomplifli^d , ;/ he wete more odious ■-, and how great foerier he may be, if you have entirely preferv^d your hatred, you would believe there might be feme among men as great as he. If this which ysn have fiy/kf of him be true (re- plied the Princefs) /^^ may in time prove what are the thoughts which I hare for him ; but I am not jo happy as to find Jo fair an opportunity to revenge my felf of my Enemies. Ah ! Madam, (faid the pallionate King) permit me to tell you, that it is not perhaps for revenge that you defire this opportunity ■■, and I fear by the Jucceji my Kival kath hitherto had in all his "E'literprifes, lea\l the fame Fortune which hath ferved him in Warjhoti'd accompany him in his love : not but that I can hope the contrary, if your happineji be governed by reafon ; or that I can- not tell you, that in the injuries which both of us have done you, he is much more guilty than J, not only by the death of the Prince of Sueves, in which I had no part, but by all other aSions, to which he was excited by no ptjjion which may render him excufable, while I in all thnfe which I have done to gain you, have been forced by a love for you, and fuch a violent love as hath nei^ ther left my will nor my reafon fee. I believe with you (replied the Princefs ) that when Pha» ramond amended me, he did not love me ■■, and I believe more, that had he lnv''d me. he would ne- ver have offended me. if his paffionhadbeen as powerful as mine (replied Gondwch) he had attempted all wayes to gain you i axd fcarce is it born, but it makes bim violate a friendflnpy rohicb ouirht to be eternal ■, and he prepares him felf to take you from his friend, and to drive him cruelly from you. He believes himfelf perhaps oblig'd (anfwercd Kofamond) to reftore to me that liberty he hath deprived me of, and^tis that without doubt which caufes ynur divtfion : but I hope the gods or men will reftore it me, without the affijiance of Pharainond, or your confent. However, you may if yon pleafe beHeve\ that though I be a Captive all my life, yours fijall riot be at all more happy. The King of the Burgundians was about to reply, when the Princefs Alhifinda entrcd the Chamber s and F^ofamond t'lfirig to meet her, began to carefs her in that manner, that Gondi- och no longer having that attention given him he defir'd, or not being willing to fpeak be- fore the Princefs of tiie Sueves, what he bad in his heart, departed the Chamber, and retir d to his own Apartment. In the mean time, the two Kings did no more fee each other : but as Gondioch was ani- mated againft r/'jrawnW by many violent pallions, which made him look upon him as his Enemy: and Fharamond had been advertised of the intentions and refentments ot Gondi- och, they began to diftruft each other, and ftand on their Guards: Not that tharamond, though he were not oblig'd to Gondiech, for any good aftion, did not refpe hardy to execute in perfon that which he wiuld execute by his Guards. And. at tiicfe words, j'idi^iiig well that he ought no longer deter his departure, he fct forward with a fair troop of valiant men, and marched in the head of them towards the Gate of one of the Biidgts. over which he was to pafs toour Troops, which were lodged on the other lide of the River. Tlie Soldiers wiiich kept guard at the end of the (heet, and in the place, drew up when they faw him appear, and made fome (Ik^jw of betaking themfclvcsto tliCjrAnriSj but when they faw the face of the King, they had not the affurance, but we palled to the Gate without Itop or hindrance. So foon as wecame at it, thofe who guarded it, according to the Orders they had re- ceiv'd, put thcmfelves in a poilure to hinder our paflage : hut the King putting his hand to his Sword, flew in amongit them i and thofe who knew his admirable valour, and had a refpcdf for him which the dirterence between him and G'i«iiW:» could not d'fpenle with amazedly retir'd before him, and left him as free a paflage over the Bridge as he could dc- fire. Yet by their behaviour he knew the truth of tlic advice was given him of Gondioch his intention, which enflam'd iiis anger more and more againd him : and when he was out of the Gate, turning towards the Guard, and beholding them witli a menacing counte- nance, Xou may tell Gondioch f faid he) that in the City I yield the place tu the firongeft^ but that tve fliall meet in the Field ^ if he hath the ajfurance to come forth i fur jir.ce be will have a rvar with we, 1 declare it again\l him jrnm ibis moment. Thefe words pronounc'd by a man well known to them, put them without doubt in fome fear i and as tiie molt pru- dent among the Burgundians approv'd not of the proceedings of their King, tliey beheld the departure of ours with inrinite grief, forefeeingin part thofe mifciies wiiich would be- fal them by the divifions of thefe two Princes. It is moll certain, that GoW/oc/^ forefeeing the trouble which Tharamond might give him if he retir'd to his Camp, had a defign to have ftoppM him : but though lie was Orong enough to have done it, yet he found a great deal of trouble to rcfolve it, as well for the grief lie felt in his foul, to come to fuch extremities with a Prince to whom he wasob- lig'd, and from whom he could not refrain a refpecft, as for the dangerous confcqucnces he forefaw in fo great an enterprife: and when he had refolvcd it, Pharamond was on horfeback, and in a pofture to make thofe run no fmall hazard, whofliould attempt to execute ir. G««^/rtci followed by a very great train, came to the Gate a little alter we were gone i and having underftood what had palTed and particularly fharamond's words of which in aperfonof his humour, he had no fmall conhderation, he was inrinittly dif- contcnted either to have ill undertaken or ill executed his delign •, and judging that lie Ought to prepare himfelf for war, and for a war, the event of which he might (o much the rather fear^ as knowing his enemy the moll formidable living, he immediati.ly difpatch- edthe meflengers to the places where his Soldiers were lodg'd, to advertife their Officers to keep them in readinefs, and to forewarn themfelves againft their enemies : lie had the fame day gone to headthem, not having any defign to (hut himfelf up in the City, whijft he had an Army abroad much ftronger than ours ■■, but his love, to which he made all things yield, would not permit him to depart without feeing Rofimind^ and giving fuch orders for her guard as might kecphis.mind in repofc whilll he was abfent from her. To this purpofe he went to fee her, and found her in the chamber of the Princefs Alhi~ finda^ where they were reading the fliort Note from my Prince, which had fometime be- fore been given her, and which maugre the refentment (he had againlt him, (lie had open'd at the folicitations of Alhifinda, who reprefented to Kofamond^ that in the ellate wherein ,they were, they ouglit not to neglctft the advice ot a Prince incens'd againif Gnndincb, and who according to the common opinion had defign'd to rellore them their liberty. Gondioch no fooner appioach'd them, but having rendred them the hrll civilities due j My Rival hath quitted me the place f faid he_) and I believe you trill foon have the plea- fare to fee a J'/ar kindled between thofe pcrfons rvh:)myju lave not at all. It Jeems ( an- fwered the Princefs of the Cimbrians ) that you fu^eUed me yejierday partial for Phara- n.ond ■-, 144 PHJRAMOND. Part II. mond i hnt you rcill have more reafon to day, feeing that vpe receive and read hU Letters, Thefe words, and the fight of the Note which was open on the Table, made Cnndioch twice cr thrice change colour \ and after he had remain'd fome time filent i h it true f faid he in the end ) that his felicity is fo tvell advatic'd in fo fljort a time, and that yon xviH fcarce grant to a perfon xvho hath jpent all his days m yottr fervice, thofe favours xvhich yon confer on one tteho is fiot \nownto you, but by his offences a^ain^ you? If you rvill look^on his Letter, ( rc- plyed the Princefs coldly ) you rvill find the difference of his proceeding and yours, and judge perhaps by that the difference of yaur fouls. If yon think^good that I flould fee it, (faid Gondtoch ) I nvUread it rpiliingly, and rvill explain to you pojjibly after I have feen it^ the differences it puts betrveenw. And judging by the Princeflfcs alpeit that (lie confcnted, he took it, and read thefe words. >■ King Vharamond^ to the Princeis Kofimond, "~V^Js -not the Guards of Gondioch which defend my acce{i to your perfun-, I pwtild file JL thro.'/gb greater difficulties under the condtta of a Divinity rvbich rvould open to me all pajfages, if my mifery to be reit^eafon odious to you, tvoitld permit me once more to appear be- fore your incenfed eyes. I ihrreffire ■:lcpart, Madam, both to be lefi criminal tojvards you^ by carrying far dijiant from yon wirst you deteji, and to endeavour to repair one fart of rvbat I have aQed, b\ what I have a deficit to aQ . but you trill permit me to remain upon your Terri- tories, until fuch time M I have chased thence your enemies, and rejior''d you that liberty to the lofl of which I have unhappily contributed, "the fjcred Bonds of Amity made me have recourfeto prayers, before I would tak? up Arms againji my friend i but the force of his love permitted him not to hearken to what he nitght to reafnn, and piffihly to our friendjhip. La- ment his mifery. Madam, infiead of incenfng your fe If more againji him', and judge nf the great ne^ of his pajjion, by the faults which it hath made that Prince commit againji virtue^ whofe inclinations however arc truly virtuoHf. The reading of this Note did equally excite cholct and fliame in the foul of Gondioch: tor if he were incens'd that it (hould declare to the Princefs, the deJign tha' Tharamond had to rellore her to liberty, he was r\u lefs aflum'd at the diligence he took to cxcufe hiiiifclf towards her, and to fee him fpeak in his favour in a time when he might well have difpens'd with it. Thefe two palTions made him blulli at the fame time, 'while it was net polfiblc to difctrn, to which of the two it might be attributed ■, and foon after, laying the Paper again upon the Tables / co«/>/? ( faid he J and if any pallionsfeem to trouble its fcrenityj they are neither terrible nol: th- Icnt \ with this fvVeetnefs (he enjoys a courage and ctJnRancy, a generous goodncfs; a forby iiis marvellous beginnings, all the \Vorld cxpcdcd trom him (and thst with reafon ) not only the conqutft of the Gauls , for wliich he had prepar'd himfclF, but that of a good part of the world. Agitated by the cruel paffion which left him not a minute of tepofe, nor bufying his' thoughts about any thing, but how to appeafe part of the aiigcr of Kwpwowc/, by thcfcf- viccs he (hould render her i he drew his Troops from the places where they wcrclodg'd, and put them in a condition to attacque thofe oiGondioch^ if their Prince would "hot give him thcfatisfadionhe demanded. For theinjuf-y he would have done him, in ftriving to detain his perfon, he was ready to pardon hirh, fo that Rofamoid were free, and her Farlur teflor'd to the pofTellion of his Dominions. But though it was no light enterprife to make waragainrt G(7«^/oc^, whofe reputation yielded tono Frince's in theworW, and tint hi might with reafon hope that the King of the Cimbrians^ whofc quarrel he efpoufed, would willingly joyn with him, to recover the Country he had loft ■•, he vfould ^ot hearken to the propo{alsi but he had not the fame compljcencc as to the fcruples which he faw in him about the amity which had been betwixt them : and as naturally he was lefs patient than his Brother v It feems tame^ Sir, ffaid he ) thatGon- dioch bath very rpeS difpeni^d w'tib all thofe co»fideraiioHf yon can have fcr him, and th.jt after the treatment he hath made you^ it if not only permitted yon to feef{ your advantages in lore id his Htmojl prejudice^ but tvitbottt fear of any reproach, make r^jr J^ainli him as the greateji rf yonr enemies. It may farther he aVedged, that the obligations are Hut equal between ynii, and that Gor\d.\och cannot pretend p-om yon any duty or recognifance^ rvhilt he Jsohlig''dto ynu fr all things. " In ferving a man to whom I promis'd ffiendlhip, ( rcplycd the King J I lia\ e * done no niorc than my duty •, and if 1 have been more happy than he in the renconntti' '" of occafions tavouiable to his fervice, I ought not too much to abufe what fortune " might have given him as well as me, nor pretend by it todifpenfc with what is duetrf '' our friendthip. The gods are my WitnelTcs, that I have never had any fuch intention, V "bi.: 1^6 PHARAMOND. Part. II. '' but that all thofe thoughts with which my love hath infpir'd me, were dill againft my '' own repofe, but never "againft that of Gondioch. I have truly contriv'd how to repair " thofe faults which made me incur the hatred of Kofamond : but you know, dear Bro- "ther, how unwilling I was to commit them, before I had feen the perfon I offended i " and I proteft to you with truth, that I would do tlie fame tilings for her fervice, when '' I had not a paflion for her. Many perfons will perhaps believe otherwife, but my inno- " cencefuffices for my repofe-, and to give to men that knowledge! ought, and to deliver " me from thofe reproaches they may make me, I do declare, and will caufe it to be de- " clared again to Gondioch before I purfue the War, that maugre the treatment he hath "made me, and the love 1 have for Kofamond, when 1 ouglu infallibly to rind my death in " this refolution, I will neither pretend to heraffedions, noi ever again fee her, if he will " leave her free in the Dominions of her Father, as I have demanded of him. I will yet " render this Duty to our friendfliip, and keep my fclf in thefe terms (o long as it fliall " be pollible •, but if Gow^wciS' continue to abufe them, and that my reafon rind not Arms " ftrong enough to defend me againft my love, I know not whether I may preferve my '' refolutions till death, or oppofe my felf all my life, to that 3e;lilre which we have na- " turally to be lov'd, where we truly love. ' . '' He fpoke thefe words with many llghs, which he could not refirain i and to make it appear he had fpoke nothing but truth, he fent the next morning my Father to the City, to make once more to Gondioch that propofil he had before made him, and to proteft to him, that notwithrtanding the rigour of his proceedings, and the defign he had to detain his perfon, and pollibly to do him fome greater injury., yet he would for the refped he bore to his friendftiip, keep himfelf to the conditions propos'd, and renounce all forts c/ hopes or thoughts for Rq/iwoW, if he would rcftore her her liberty, with what he pof- fefled of her Fathers Territories. But the King, of the hurgundians, whofe violent paf- lions had left reafon no placeinhis foul, inftead of having any confiderationsfor the pa- tience of a Prince to whom he had given fo juft a fubjed to lofe all thofe he had for him, deported himfelf with violence in theanfwer he returned my Father, and having remand- ed him without any fruit of his mediation, fave that of taking from my Prince a paft of that averfion he had to this war, hecaufed feveral of his Troops to pafs over the River, which were on the other fide the Elba, to joyn with the others, at the places where they were lodged > and having taken the bctt order polfible, both for the Guard, of the City, and that of th& Cimbrian Princeflcs, he carrie to the head of his Army, vvhcre he had al- ready cauied all things to be prepar'd toprofccutQthat war on which he vvas refolv'd. The fame day two men of incomparahle valour and great merit, prcfented themfelves to him, returning from a long travelin ftrange Nations: thcic weitGondemar his Brother, and Gontran a Prince of his Blood, well known both, and particularly Gondemar^ by many adfions which gave them a great name among valiant men. Gondioch received them as he wasoblig'd by his Blood, and the conlTderation of their merit j judging him- felf no lefs fortiried by the arrival of thefe two men, than he fliould have been by that of feveral great Bands of men : he therefore prefently gave them the whole command of his Armyi and thofe who had enjoyed it before their arrival, yielded all things without mur- muring, to their Birth and Virtue, Pharamond feeing that he could no longer ftiun the war, and that Gondioch himfelf open'd tiie way as much as pollible, to thofe hopes againft which by the fcruples he had for their friendftiip he had ftill defended himfelf, negleded no more any thing neceffary a- gainft an enemy who would not at all fparehim, but began to adt againft him, ashehad done againft the Sneves and Kom'uns, Nothing now fcparatcd the two ArmicL-, which were both encamped in that great Plain which is below the Elba, that extends it felf from that River to the fi^rc/«/^« Mountains i and as the two Captains were two grand Maftcrs in the art of war, and that each had a good opinion of his enemy, they both fought their advantages, by all the knowledge vvhich their paft experience could teach them. In the mean time, a report flew abroad , that the Kings of the Cinihriani and 6"«<'Z'fJ' did puilTantly arm xhtmkXv cs in Sitevi a, ,by the ailiftance of many Princes, who had embrac'd their quarrel. 'Twas likewife t(^ld to Pharamond, that the King of the Sueves thrcatned Frj«M(//rf, and prepar'd himfelf t(j attaccjue it, to make a diver- sion : and Gondioch recciv'd intelligence, that the Cimbrians kept a correfpondence, in the Country , and in the City it felf. But thefe two Princes making love their only intcrcft , it was that vvhich ftopt their eyes from all others , and made them abandon all things to ferve their paiUon i and that of Gondioch was fo violent, that though he knew, and had reafon to fear the valour of Pharamond, yet lie fear'd not to cxpofe Book II. T H A II A M N D. 147 expofc liitnfdf to fo great a danger, but dar'd to defic my Prince to a particular Couibaf: of body againU budy, offering in this manner to end their dilfcrenccs, inftcad of facriticing tlielivcsof many thoufands toth'.ir fole coatrovcvlic. I admir'd at the patience of cuq King upon fuch an occafion, though I had expcricnc'd it in divers othets », for though the detiancc of Go«J/flc/j kindled fome anger in his Ipirit, and aliilied (with the other injitries he had reeeiv'd ) to bloc out by httlcand little that frienudiip he had ttill prcferv'd for him i yet lie refus'd tiie Combat he demanded,, and had tlie adi^antagc to refufe it in the face of the world, without rendring hiujlclf fufpe(3ed ot (ear or cowardife; Xou IhaU ttO, the Kias^ yofir Mjjier ( faid he to him whoii; he had fent ) that it is the liberty of Rofa-* mond that I deina>fd, and not the death of GonJiuch : thjt in the war i»hifk,be conjiraint me f,i makf, J (hall fpjre his perfoit m much tiS 2, can pi^Uil^ly^ bttt that 1 pray him mt too often to try his fortune^ and to confider that a maa cf my age is mt always capable of fuch a r^o- deratiott. -jql Thofe wlw were near my Prince, fciHHcd an admiration at Ids proceeding ", and particu- larly the young Princes, whom a boyling blood made eager upon fuch occallons. But. though Gc«^we/» would have drawn an advantage from it, iiaiightily founding forth the defiance he had made my trincc i and fending to tell the Prlncefs KofamoMd, thatthag Pvival in whom (he had created fo much love, as to make him cntcrprife a war againlf.his friend, had not yet fo much courage as to difpute againlt hiin '^vith his Sword in his han4t% However all that he would perfwade in difadvantagc oi Tharamond^ return'd not but. tu hii honour, and made the whole world admire his wifdomand generoljty, ■ „.j In the mean time, T^jrjwow^prepar'd for a Battle, knowing that Gondio:h dcfir'd„ij:j and having fufficient knowledge of the valour and condudt of Goadioch^ he behav'd h'^xii\ fclf in this war with more warincfs, than he had done againii the T-omans^ ar.d againfi the Cimbrians, One day marching at the head of live htindicd Horfe, to vilit feme polls be- tween our Camp and the City, which he had adefign to fcize on, he rencountrcd aparr^ of the enemies, who perhaps were upon the fame dclign •, who finding thcmiclvTs ftronger than we in number of men, attacqued ns with great fury : he that commanded ihem, had not perhaps been fo hardy, if he had believed our King had been in the head of us i and I believe he repented himfclf fo foon as he perceiv'd it. The Coaibat remained for fome time with a doubtful fuccefs : but as the prefence of Fharamond carried vidory through all, in a few minutes our enemies were no longer able to fuitain the ert'eds of his prodigious yalour, and in few others turn'd their backs, feeking that fafety in their flight they could not find in their Arms. As their hardinefs and a flight wound my Prince had received, had incenfcd him, he purfued them to the very Banks of the Elba, toward the fame place where it walhes the walls of Marebttda^ and if his anger had lalkd, few of them could have fav'd thcmfelves either from the Sword, or the waves of the River; but at fuch times his anger ordinarily abating, he commanded his men to fparc the blood of thofe who few days before had been tlieir companions. In the mean time he marched along the Banks of the River v and becaufe the heat of the fight made him fweat under the weight of his Arms, he lifted up the Vifer of his Helmet to refrelh himfclf-, and cafting his eyes crofs the River towards the City, where the goddefs he ador'd was indos'd, by fortune the place where he was, was diredily oppollte to the Garden of the Palace, and to that proud Terrafs where he was walking fome days before, and that fame day on which he had fatally loft his repofe and his liberty : he foon knew the Baliftcr'd Walk, and at the light of it was aflaiFd with fuch vehement motions of fpirit, that he could not reftrain their violence ■, but he was aifaulted by others more powerful, when he faw a company of Ladies upon the Terrafs, and in the midft of the others, who kept a little diftance for refped, he knew his divine Kofamortd, and the Prin- cefs Albifmda. The breadth of the River, and the height of the Terrafs, made notfo little a diftarcc as to permit himdiftindly to difcern che features of their faces ; nor was it fo great, but that he might obferve one part of thcmi and it feem'd that from that of B-ofamoitd de» fcended a refplendent flame like tiiac of the Celehial Rayes, and which could not permit any diuance to rob him of fome part i F her beauties: he faw her then, by thealliftance love gave his light, as diftindly as if he had been but within four paces of ha j and at this light remain'd wholly furprisM, trouijled and aiionith'd. He ftopp'd at the Bank cX the River, and it feem'd as if with His looks, and fighs which accompanied them, he would have made his heart pafs under the waters to th^place where it was unfortunately loft. This fight gave new forces to his love, though they were rot ncceffarytoraife to arj V 2 nr.quclliCnublii 148 FHARAMOND. Part IL a unqueftionable ptedomir.anGy •, and that heart which the force of her beauty, or that of his deftiny, had fubmitted to the Fetters of the cruel Kofamond^ at this view was entangled in new fnares, from which all the greatnefs of his courage and reufon prov'd vain Aili- fters or Deliverers. Alas ! what were now the thoughts which tormented l)im ! and with how many different paflions did he now feel himfclf forc'd to Itruggle with ' the )oy which we naturally have at the fight of what we love, prefented it felf hr(l to his fpi- tit, and fo fill'd him with the7^e<*of it, that forfomefmall time it rendrcd him infenlible of any other thing : the defirehe had to fee what he ador'd at a lefsdilbnce,fuccecded it, but the jealoufie he refented for the fortune of thofe to whom this happinefs was permit- jed, at the fame time begari to infeft himi and the grief to fee himfclf mortally hated by her that he fcould only love, moft violently perplex'd him. Ah my eyes (_{a\6.\\G. with fighs, which parted from his Lips inftcad of words which he fpoke to himfelf )j'o« from whom 1 feel^ my happinefs ^ why have yon reitdred me miferable ? rejoyce in ymr fortune if yon can •, and fmce it w permitted ynu to fee Rofamond trithoKt refenting the effeUr of her cruelty^ behold if you can, thU Celejiial Object without being d.izPd^ and leave aJI the pain to thU unfortunate hearty again\} which yOu huve fu trueliy brought War. But, O gods (added he a little after J in this 'Divinity of my ful which I behold i»iih fo much joy., do not I fee that inceitfed V/vinity, to whom fur facrifcet J have offered no other than cruel offences and bio >dy injuries ? And a Divinity arm''d with thunder ready to lance it at this miferable perfon^ who hath too much merited it i' Ah my eyes^ t.ike avray your look/ > and by the pleafure you receive^ expofe not to new Arms this unforunate ^ who hath already committed to' many hn pre fence m odious to his incenfed goddeji : and we ought to content our felves to have'once drawn her anger by our fight [^ without falling again into the fame fault. But whatkitorv we {zdidiCdiht a fmall time after,; cjpprcffcd by fome flattering thoughts) ^»t the intention rve have to ferve her, may have appeifrd part ef her dijpleafare , and that a heart fiMfible of offences, may nut have the fame dpprehenfio;t of the fstisfaawn we would give her ? 'Tis no tight reparation of our faults, to tal^e up Arms againji nrtr Friend; nor a light fervice^ at the peril of our life to rejiore her liberty^ and the Kingdom of her Fath-r. It fcfm'd that this thought gave him fomeconfolation, and fome raysot hopes j but it ivas all deltroy'd in a moittent after , by thole that fucceeded : and himfclf aliilling his grief to torment himi Ah miferable ffaid he) flatter not thy felf with a happmefi which thou canfi not juflly hope. 7hou hajl acquitted a part of thy duty, in repairing a part of the evils thou hail done , hut thou ha\l not blotted out thai impreffion of hatred thou haji ftamp'd in the heart o/RofamOnd •, and in that odious efiate wherein tbott 'art with her^even the greatejl fer- vices will feem odious . ■ • ' while he difcourfed in this manner, and that his contemplation was fixed upon that hea- venly objed, he was likewife feen and beheld with 3 very nice obfervation by the two Prin- ceffes : for they had not only perceiv'd him iince he had ftop'd at the bauks of the River, but from the high place where they flood, they had feen the Combat, and difc:rn'd as di- Ainftly what had paficd, as the diftance would permit : but when Tharamctd purfuing thofe that fled was advar.c'd towards the River, they iiad mark'd him by feveral things which tliey difcern'd to be more than common. His Armour (hone witli Gold and pre- cious Stones with which it was enrich'd, and his Helmet was (haded with white Plumes which cover'd his head, and wav'd gently over his (lioulders ; but than by thefe exteriour Ornaments, he wasealicr knovvn by that Martial vigour, and that admirable grace he had in all his poltures, and efpeciallyon Flotfebacki fo that the two Princeffes had no fooner caft their eyes upon him at a diftance which might permit themdiltindtly todiicern him, but they took him for himfeU: and by what we afterwards underltood, the Princefsof the Cimbrians turning towards Albifinda, My Sijler ffaid fliej / am much deceived if that perfon fo remar]{able amongfr aU the re^^be not the fame ^h^x^iVaondi, from whom we have received fo many ir.jitries •, atid notrvithjlanding the refentment I have againji him, I find him fo little re- fembling common men, that it is difficult for me to mijprife him. The Princefc of the Suevet agreed in her judgment with Kofamond : but as at that time they walk'd not without having the Guards of Gondisch near them, Albifmda demanded of him who commanded them, if that perfon who had purfu'd the vanquifli'd Troop to the banks of the River, and whom (he fliew'd him with hej hand, were not Pharamond; and the Burgundian, who had feen him feveral times in the fame pofture,and in feveral bickerings of the fame nature, having aifur'd her that he was the fame. Doubt not at all, my ,97/^fr(f3id (lie to the Princefsj hut that is realy the King of the Fftmks '■> but if I be not much deceived, it is not to do you new injuries that he appears notv before you; and if you mark^ hU countenance (added Ihe, juft when (he law l/ini (lop on the banks of the River in the pollute I endeavour to reprefent to Book II. THARAMOND. 149 to yo\x)yBii may jud^e rvellthat he hath nothing of aii Enemy , and that ymr In'jtily hath pro- Anc'd aU the effeU which Gondioch declared. ''lU perh.ipr yoiirj (rcpYx'd the Princtfs) and the jealoufte ff/GondiocIi, may have deceived him in the judfiment it haih nude him make ; hut tvhen it jhall be trnly mine^ I will tell you as 1 f.)W(iondioch, that it vs fi little accuftom'd tn d.i me any d^od offices^ that I p.-'ull not at all rvonder that it hath made t»e be beloved by a per- fun, jvhii of all the ff^orld^ can hate the leali hupes of my ajjeiiianr. 1 kjtow wot (rcpli'd the Princefs of the Suever (\oU\i\g) rvhether ym fj-eak^ this pncercly or according to reajon ; and if I tpere not the Sijler of Vindimir, w/'o /h} pretendsto the h)itoitr of enjoying yott , / p.uni'.d oppife thvf difcumfe with thofe reafms rvhich thefe confiderationt command me not to alledj_e. Ihat tvhich you could /^// we (repli'd llnfamond) rpould not be perhaps fi JH]i m yoHthink^-, and thmigh notrrithjianding my refent- tnent^ I kjtjw as well as yott the perfon and glory of Fliaramcnd, and that by the defignhe hath to, bring us out of the power of Gondioch, he puts himfelf in a condition td repair the injuries he hath done us i 'ds enouirh if by this reparation I can drive the hatred from my heart rpithout introducing another pafjion. of which all the greatelj fervices can fcarce render me capable^ (Ijould he make them the entire employment of his life. They fpoke in this manner,and 1 e beheld them with eyes fo powerfully faftned to the place, t'.iat though from the walls many Arrows were (hot at him, and that he was in danger to be either kill'd or vvoanded ; neither this contidcration, nor any other, avail'd to draw him from the place, if the two Princedcs, cither mov'd by their gcncrolity, which permitted them not to expofefora longer time to that danger the life ot To great a Prince at a feafcn when he had intentions favourable for their fcrvicc, or to a witness of their difplcafurc, which made them flee his prefence, had not retir'd from the place where they Itood, and depriv'd him of that fo dcfir'd fight, when his foul was moH tix'd upon it. At thur de- parture, the Heavens to lym feeniM covcr'd with cloudy darknef<, and the Air l(.)li its fcre- nity : he accompani'd thefenfe of their departure with as many iighs as he could utter, and at length began to hearken to the intrcatics of his Souldiers, who endeavoiir'd to re- tire him from a place where the ftay was dangerous by reafon of the fiiowcrsof Arrows which had already killed two or three men: the King at lall fuffer'd himfelf to be pcr- fwaded, gently withdrawing, and turning his eyes from time to time towards the place where he had fcen the Princefs > but becaufe among the Arrows which f^ll at our feet, there was one found with a Note fallned to it, he that rtrft perceiv'd it.ur.bour d it, and prefentcd it to the King , and as all things that came from that fide touch'd him to the heart, he feiz'd it withanextraordinarygreedincfs, and having open'd it, read thefe words. To the King of the Franl^. I Hope that your good intention rpill produte the effeU you defire ; and I believe that I have kjtown^ that jpirits that are incenfed at offences^ are mnllifi'd rvith fervices. However^ 1 oitght to advert! fe you^ that if you do not purfue it rvith diligence ^you will not have the entire glory of your enterprife \ and that there are fome would rob you of a part, by means which 1 could inform you, if I had a way more ajfured than that to which I truji this Paper. The King feveral times read over thefe word, the beginning of which flatter'd him with as much confolation as the lafl gave him difturbancc, not being able to imagine, neither by what perfons, nor by what means he (hould be deprived of part of the glory he pretended in his enterprife: he doubted not but this Paper came from x^//'/wfr, who was that Inhabi- tant of Marobuda^ to whom he had intruded his Letter to the Princefs, and who not on- ly for being the moll honeft man in the City, had frequent accefs to her, but had a Silfer who had iiiany years waited on her, and a Sifter who not only had fpirit, but was particu- larly lov'd by h.er Miflrefs. This was that which caufcd a fpring of joy in the foul of the Kingi and hebeliev'd that \\\\:it Albimer told him of themollitying of the anger of Ra- famond., had come to his knowledge by the report of that Lady, who might have fome part in her confidence i but heemploy'da good part of that day in fcarching out the truth of what he writ him in the end of the liillet i and though many things prefented them- lelves to his imagination. he could find no judgment concerning it that could content him. In the mean time, as his pallion increafed by this fecond view of llofamond^ and by that little hope which the Paper of Albimer gave him, he believed he ouglit to negled nothing for the Liberty of the Princefs, attctfuch advice given hitn, andhis diligence folicitcd i he therefore prepar'd for the Battel, upon which he knew Gondioch wasrefolv'd as well as he: and I50 FHAKAMOND. Fart 11. and not to be over-fedious with you, I will only tell you, that each of them having done ell that the greateft Captains could do, and fought all their advantages by fo much the more that Gondioch well knew Fharamond^ and Fharamond could not defpife Gotidioch^ they drew out all their Troops tvom the places where they were incamp'd, and by a mutual confent rang'd the two Armies in the great Plain which is within view of the City. Ours, though the lefs numerous of the two, was compofed of fifty thoufand men, but they were men made fierce and valiant by fo many great Vi the fiilt of which he gave to Prince Marcomire^ the laft to the famous Friam, and kept the main "Battel for him- fclf. Ihere znd Merovetu commanded the referves, and Prince 5«w>fa«, VtWaCcnebiJudand Charamant had the command of the Cavalry. The Ring of the 'Burgundians having, like my Prince, referv'd the main Battel for him- felf, gave the Vant- guard to Prince Go«(ie»jixr his Brother , the Rear-guard to Gontran his Kinfman, and the other commands to fuch of his as were moll capable, and whofe valour and experiencehe had proved in feveral conflids. He march'd to this Combat with lefs confidence than he was wont to the others which he had fought againft lefs terrible Ene- mies than he whom now he oppofed i and he knew fo well the faniiiiarity which Vidtory feem'd to have contrailcd with Fharamond , that for all his great courage, he could not hinder himfclf from fearing the event. The order in which my Prince had order'd his Battalions, was admired by all the old Captains : and after he had exhorted the Souldiers with a charming eloquence, and encou- rag'd his men with the moft preifing Arguments his defire of Vidtory could in(pire him with, he caufed the laft fignal to be given fat the fame time that Gondioch did the like) and began the Battel. You will confent (my Lord) that I (hould abraige the particulars, left otherwii'e I (hould be tedious, and that I content my felf to tell you, that after the example of the two great Captains, many valiant men who fought under them, fignaliz'd thera- felves by many brave adions •, and all the Souldiers, both of either fide, fought with infl- rite valour, Prince Marcsmire and the gallant Gondemar broke their Lances the one a- gainft the other, and began a Combat with advantage little different-, but "they could not tmifti it,by reafon of the necellity which conftrain'd them to feparate themfelves to look after their charges, in which they both acquir'd fufficient honour. The King of the Burgnndi' ans gave many extraordinary proots both of his Valour and Martial Difcipline : and as he was animated by a palGon wholly violent, he led his men to the Combat with fo much fu- ry , or rather he fpurred them on with fo much rage , that our firft fquadrons could hardly endure rfieQiock. As his were ftrongerthan ours in number of men, he made ufc fo well of that advantage, and of the heat wherewith he had infpii'd them, that he began to (hake ours, and to openhimfelf the way toVidory. This hope which they conceived, rendred them more fierce and furious ; and our Officers beheld with infinite grief, that our Souldiers began to give Ground, when our great King, whom this difadvantage had in- flamed with an anger not ordinary in him, fan with a courage able to alTure the moit fear- ful, to aU the places where necellity called him to the afliftance of his : and palling from fide to fide with his Face open, he enliven'd the hearts of the Souldiers with the fire which feem'd to dart from his eyes ; and animated them in the end in fuch a manner, both by his fight, by his fpeech and by the diligence he took to fuftain thofe that were faint, and by the feafonablealfiilance which he brought them, that he not only fl opt the diforder which be- gan to grow among his, but tranllated it in a little time among his Enemies, and charg'd them fo fiercely when lie once faw them (lirink , that in the end he put them to rout, and made the Vidory in all places declare it fclf in our favour. GonHioch did a hundred Adions worthy particular notice i but he could not put aftand to the Fortune of Fharamond^ which after he had attempted with a Valour extraordinary, hcfawhimfelt in the end vanquilhM, and his Army entirely broken on every fide. 'Twas now that liis difpair made him feck Pharamondin aU, thofe places where he believ'd he might rencounter him, cither to give him Iiis death, or to receive his own at his hands: but the King of the Fnnkj^hy a motion much different Irom his, not only avoided the Combat with him, but caufed it to be prcclaim'd throughout the whole Army, that they" (hould refpeA the perfon of Govdioch, and fpare the blood of the Burgundians as much as podible. Yet it had been difficult for him to (hun the rencounter of Gondioch^ if in a place far diftant from wlience he was, the valiant Prince Ihere had not oppofed his fury, and fiop'd him by a Combat, in which tliey bot1^ receiv'd feme wounds : though the King of the BxrgH»diaHt in Book II. T H AR A M N D. 151 in the end quitted him to folIo\V fome othef d<2fign which his love infpir'd him with, having Ibfl the hdpM of Vidory. - ' •"■'n i ..;. . > . - r: v ..,.i-,) It rerhain'clasentirctousas theKingcdu^d'defiVe t as'fbf.theSouldiers, I doubt not h\xt they had rcndrcd it iniich more hloody than it Wa^ if the' cjlemcncy of our I'rJnce had not fLy'd their fuvy i however, the Enemies loll more t hair' tliirty tlioiifand men,andicill'di »■< Bbvc ten thoufand of ours. If had been 'difficult ^^xGnifdioifka have fav'dThfmfelf aftdrlie h&d thrown himfelf fo faraiViOng us, if t»ui:'R4i^g had had b¥>y'deilgn to tahe^liirri : but in /fcad of oppoilng his retreat, lie favouVM 'iPs and whftttVCT advantage' h&mght hava drawn by it, he would not give him thedifplcafuretb fee hiiYifelt 'Priioflei£tiaa>Priiicc, wbo fiHTic few dayes before had been his bc(f Frfendwni ■Ain>\ if the hght, nor the dellre of 'Vi(ftory made 'hitn )0(J the 'rt<rance ©i. 2w>/i;»oW; folj whom alone he fought: and not doubting but that' If- JC?07/rf»*Mi lort the Datcd^ he would rehire into the City, and once toore render hi fnfclt MalW-'OF the 'Liberty, of the Princtf«, and either remove her thence, or defend her'ti'ithin the-VVferts*', lie ^refolvd-to provide frS tliis mifchief ,' which in all likelihood mr^h't happen \ and d^cr'efinrctbition as he fawit-hd Vid'ory declare in our favour, and the King o'i- ■ (ha-Biiti^mdianr englg'd aition'g ours,b? commanded 'Prince Marcntiike to ad vane executed the Orders ^f'the'K^gEwithan^admmibJcitalc-stjIr^i^d diligence-, and having \eh GrnebaMd and Mfrowwr at the avenue of OffiJ^b riie Bridges; he defended the other againli Gondioch, who prefented hihirciif 'aJfhorx tiiM ialVer-: and hixJli a very refolute Conflidf, he not only repuTfcd him, and ciufediiim 'forTtiaJiy tiftlongsalOTg the River, but byaneffed-of Fortune which hehad nOt^Hop'^i.for during^rhe.Gonaba'tjtte that 'commanded in the City for GffHd^/flc^,' knowing his -Pi'ince by fcvoraMnfftks, a'nd ^bet lieving himfelf oblig'd to favour his retreat, came at the beginning to the Bridge ■■, and (a theend,tranrported by an imprudent he'atvhe Caufed eber.'C-afe)5'Jb'-be'Open'd,fand ot-'the Head of five hundred Horfe charg'd Mareoraire in thi: 'Rear;'- Thus luoifltiroamc fo 'Gom- diocb upon the point when he had juft tu^n'dWs^badi,and'\Vheni^e wasiina'icoudicion riei=- tlitr tomake ufe of it himfelf, nor hardly perceive it •, idnd-the-Brothcr'of Ji'/jwjjwwji tahJ- ?hg h^ refolution with a marvellous promptitude of fj)jru,'cdmmanded;my Father, whh was near him, to purfue Gondioch with one part of the^Gavalry which- heigdve him. aria with the reft heturn'd head againft the Biirgnndia»s^ who weiT'e falli'd out'of '•the Qty, artd charg'd them with fo much fury, that they were not able to^fuftahl it. InfuHY, ht; oppreflTcd them, diforder'd them, and put them to flight all in a moment s and the ronti-'d Burgu'itd/- OK/ gaining the Bridge in this diforder,'the multitude of thofe that fled hindvcd the (Wai- ting of the Gate.":., and permitted tHfe'vanquithers to cnict ^f^ well with the •anqiiilh'd. -•i^ ' Marcomire mzde ufe fo well of this favourable opportunity, that by -this confufioni-'hfe rendred himfelf Mafter not only of the Btidge , but the Gate of the City,wl-iidi he'de- fended till the arrival of Genebaud and Meroveus^ to whom he had fcnr ndiiticc of;it-'ft) foon as he had gain'd the Gate of the Bridge. As foon as they arrived With their men, Mi^rwOT/re prefled into the City after the Enemies he had before him i andmy Father, who had no order to puxfae Gondioch far, returned juft at the fame time that the Prince faw hiftf- Iclf Maftcr of the City by an admirable Valour and good Fortune. There was for-'thfe prefent fom.e blood (lied by the refiftance which the Burgttndians for fome time made vy'^t foon after. Prince Marcomire^ who, though more cholerick and violent than tlic King,' is iiotwithftanding full of a true generofity, knowing himfelf the ftronger, and not doubt- ing longer the Viftory, caufed Proclamation to be made to the Burgundians to lay down their Arms, and commanded his own to defift from the flaughter. He that commanded in the City for Gondioch^ was one of the firft llain at the Gate i and thofe who remain'd after him, not having fo great an intereft to defend it, rcceiv'd willingly the favour which M<»r- ' cow/re granted them, and made no longer relirtance. ".Li The King of the Frankj receivM this news with a furpafiing joy i and feeing himfelf in the fame day vidorious overa formidable Enemy, andMafterof the i ity, in' which Was inclofed her whom he ador'd •■, he could with difficuky,by all the forceiofhis moderati- on, retain the marks of his contentment. He left the care of the Civnp.m Pwjw apd Charamont^ whofe experience was well known to him , and with' a iiriall huoiber attend- ing him, hecamc towards the City, either carri'd by an impatient dcfte to fee the Prin- ctfs, 152 PHARAMOND. Part IL eefs, or by a belief tliat (he could not be defended by any power fo Well as by himfeU. En- tring the City, he found things far more calm than he expcdted : and you may judge, my Lord, that he was not wanting to give to this gallant adion of the Prince his Brother thofe prayfes were due to it, and to tertitie the iiindnefs he had for a fervice of fo great im- portance. He prefently made all the Burgundia»s depart the City, permitting them to go feck their King, and to carry with them all that appertain'd to them, without fulfering any' lofs in their Equipage, or injury to their perfons i and at the fame time he font back to the Camp part of the Cavalry, and caufed fome Infantry to come to the dekncc of the City againlfc the enterprizes of Gondioch : and took fuch order for their lodging and fubfifiencc, that the Inhabitants fuffered no trouble nor inconvenience from them, tliough they ferv'd for their defence, and under the Orders of their Prineefs, to whom Fharamond at his entrance committed the entire Authority over them. while he put all things in order , which were neceflary for the fervice and fecurity of "Rofamond^ he knew not in what fadiion he (hould'proceed with her : and if upon one iide his paflion carri'd him above all things, to the detire he had to go and enjoy at her feet this precious fight j on the other fide he was withheld , by the remembrance of the injuries he had done her, and thofe cruel words which he had heard from her own mouth i not being able to imagine that the fervice he came to do her, could be fo confiderable to coun- terbalance all thofe great injuries flie had receiv'd from him > he therefore bcliev'd there was need of time to takehisrefolution : hefawlikewifethat the night was already fome- whatadvanc'd : and he bdieved that though his acccfs to the Prineefs was free , he ought to take a time to vilit her at a lefs inconvenient |)our ; but in the mean time, he doubted not at all, but he ought to (end fome-of his to inform her th^ eftate of affairs, and to tell her that (he was MilUefs of the City, and Ibould be in few dayi^s reinvefted in all the King- dom of her Fathcr.He did me the honour to give fne this commilliun, though he had many perfons about him, who might be more worthy j and I parted from him to go to the Pa- lace, where he would not now lodge, but in that quarter of the City moft diftant from it. when I was come to the Palace , I was brought before the Prineefs of the CimbrianT^ who was now, as (he almoif always ufed to be, accompani'd by the Prineefs of the Sueves^to whom I was likewife charg'd to bear my Malier's civilities : I had before feen thefe two Princcfles, and therefore in all likelihood ought to have been arm'd againlt any furprize a fecond fight might caufe : but molt certain it is, 1 was no icfs artonifh'd than I had been at the firit, fothat my feeble eyes were fcarce able to fupport the fplendor with which they were fmitten \ yet the beauty of Kofamond^ which may damp the brightnefs of any other beauty in the Univerfe, hind red me not from admiring that of the Vimctk Albifmda, \ faw them by the light of many Torches, which made a day out of darknels \ and the Prin- eefs of ihtCimhrians was feated upon the bed, on which Jlbifinda repofcd. I confefs that theMajefly o£ Kofsmond, and the fire that fecm'd t»flce Oom her eyts, dazl'd me, and ftruck nieinto fuch an aftonifhment, that for a time it dcpriv'd ise of the power to dif- chargemy commiffion: but in the end , compofing my mind in the inoft vefpcdful and moll fubmifs terms that I could find, I made her undcrftand the intentions of my Ma- fier. Ro/iwo»^ heard me with an infinite refervedncfs and gravity i but liowever , with- out pride: and Jlbifinda hearkn'd with a winning fweetncfs to thole obliging words I told her on the behalf of my Mafter : and after they had remained fome time to confider, as I conceived by the looks which they cafl; upon each other, what anlvver they Hiould re- turn ■■, in'the end, Kofamond^ as moft concern'd, breaking filence with an admirable grace > Be f leafed ffaid (he) to tell the King of the Franks, that jve duubted nut at all but he would o- vercome in fo juji a ctiufe^f nee mothers more unjuji he hath jUll been invincible; and that xpe ■ ack^inrvled^e^ as much as is permitted to us, the reparation he gives to the injury he hath done w : and tf the death of Vindimir oppoje not to hU reconciliation with the King of the Sueves, it jJjall neither be mine nor my Sifter^s fault that he ceafe mt to be the Enemy of our I athert. She pronounc'd thefe words with a Royal Majefty : and Albifmda , by fome words which (he added, teftifi'd that her inclinations were not diHerent from thofe of Kofamond. But when I addrcfled my felf to the Prineefs of the Cimbriaiis^ to demand of her if flie would pleafe to grant my Mafter the honour to wait upon her j It rmas mt at all necejfary (repli'd (he coldly) to demand this permijjion, in a place where he kotows weU he is Majier by right of Arms. And it is mt juji, my Sijier (replied the Prineefs of the Sueves) that ycu fljoulddeny it, fince becomes to do you fervice in a matter effo great importance, ^ofammd anfwcr'd not at all to thefe words,though (he teftifi'd by her countenance a little to approve them I Book II. THARAMOND. 15J them : and I taking her fiknce for a confenf , departed the Chamber, before I gave her time to explain it, polCbly in a nianner lefs favourable to the intentions of my Mafter than I ought. He had attended my return with an impatience, vi^hich well made manifeft the greatneft of his patlion i and he hearkn'd to the difcourfcl niadc him, wich a commotion of mind which vilibly demonlkated the agitation ct his mind : he employ'd one part of the night to explain the words of Kofamond, and did all he could to find in them a fence that might be favourable to him. In thisdelign he wanted a great alliftancc, which his ill Fortune depriv'd him of » and therefore cauling /^/iiwfr to be fought for, fo focn ashe entred the City, he was informed that he was departed the day before, and that no farther news was heard of him. This unhappy chance gave him much trouble, having hopes bv tiiis means to clear himfelf of many things : and not having any acquaintance with his Sifteir, though the Brother fcemed abfolutcly tix'd to his interelfs, he bcliev'd that he might be departed out of theCJty, to give him iuore plenary advice concerning wliat he had mentioned in his Billet j and he fear'd, nor without inhnite trouble, left he lliould be fallen into the hands of Gimdiocb. The words of Ro/iffZffK«^feem'd to him very cold, and fomewhat too fierce, in a time wherein he came from gaining a great Vidory, and expoling his life for her fcrvice : but when he made refledtion on thole which (lie had faid to him at their firft rencounter, he found a great deal of fweetnefs in thefe, and cauf; enough to believe that a great part of that difguft which (he had thundred forth with lb much violence, was now over : but he recciv'd a far greater confolation, in that the Princefs deni'd him not to viGt her •, and he prepar'd himfelf to this view, with an impatience eafie to be obferv'd in his eyes, but not without a fear little different from that which accompanies the moft cowardly fpirits, in the mort perilous conflidis. The next Morning (Tor it is necelTary, my Lord, that I fliould pafs over things of little importance, in which the recital may be burthcnfom to you , though it may give you a more particular knowledge of the greatnefs of his love) fo foon as he believed that ht might fee the Princefs , he went to the Palace accompani'd by the Princes his Brothers, Ihere^ Genebaud and Meraveus : but approaching the Palace, he pray'd the Princes to walk in the fatal Garden, where he had loft his Liberty > telling them, that he would not render them all mifcrable by the fight of Kofamond, againft which he btlievM no power or force was capable to refill. Marcomire led all the other Princes into the Garden, and I alone follow'd the King by his order. He trembled like a fearful Infant, when he approached the Chamber of the Princefs ; but when he vi^as introduc'd into her Clofet where flic then was, and that his eyes were again dazled with the brightncfs of that celeftial beauty, he re- mained wholly aftonifhed, having the countenance of a perfon, to whom was fcarce left any fenfe or knowledge. Yet he foon came again to himfelf, by the force he oppofed to thofe impetuous motions of his fpirits: endeavouring to preferve all his courage in the greateft difficulty that he had ever encountred i he could neither from the countenance nor from the behaviour of Kofamond^dvzw any knowledge of his Fortune-, and though,- neither in the one nor the other, he could fee any mark of fweetnefs or complacency, he found in her proceedings all that vvas due to his dignity, and what in all likelihood he was to hope for. But if the Princefs of the Cimbriani conferved all her Majefty, and feemed to add to it a new luftre,at the approach of the King of tUtFrankj i the King loft at her fight all the remembrance of his Dignity, and forgot thofe Formalities, which a great King like himfelf ought to obferve in fuch an occafion, to remember only that he was amorous, and that he was criminal. In this thought, which entirely commanded his breaft, and chac'd away all others , in ftead of faluting th« Princefs, as perhaps he had done in another cftate of life, he bended his knee before her i and bowing his head to her very feet, with the moft paflio- nateaflfedion in the World v May it be permitted to th'a Offender {iziA he with a voice that betray 'd his want of confidence) to appear yet before the feet of his incenfed Divinity? Or may he hope an abatement of your jk^ dijpleafure , fmee he hath not yet facrific^d his life to expiate his crimet ? This humility in the perfon of fo great a Perfonage, and in a perfon who in all his at maftercd it by thofe great reafons he had to iDoderatc it, aiid the little foundation he had to conceive it. 7 wnutd buy (replied he} the friendjhip of the Kiitz your Father, and the TriHce your Brother^ at the price of what I havs moji dear ; and I wifh I could fatisfie the urief of the King of the Sucvcs. by a part of what I unhappily deprived his Son of: But, alas ! (added he with a iighj / had been happy in this ntisfortune,'^if hit d)eath had only drawn me the hatred of the Sucvi{\-\ King; or if.it had been lef apprehended by iW divitte Roiamond than by him t^hatgave him birth. This is net Cpuifued be, Book II. THARAMOND. 155 iie with a beli&viour yet more paflionatc ) that the coitdiuonof that 'Prince fecms not ta me mofe worthy of envy than of companion ■, or tbatlwoul^^ mt^nutingly chang^ethe glory lean hope for among men, for that of extraUing from your fair ,eycij(bfjf't(ajf-yi>ath made you Ihed. ■ '.• ,' ,'. ' ■ V ' ' He had perhaps faid more, but that he thought by fome figns in the countenance of the Princcfs that thule WDvds had (iirr'd up fame gvicf in her mind. This belief touched hitn with a fcnfiblc apprehention, and made iiim rcfolve not only to change the difcourfe, but to put an end to ( notvvithlhnding the violence which oppos'd his rcfokuion J a villc which ought not be too long, contidcring how he (loud in the opinion of Kofamond. To this purpofe, railing himfell: from tlie Chair where (he had torc'd him to lit, AW^jw, C' (aid hi) it IS not jujl to permit longer before yo2< thisofendrr., and I have perhaps too much a- btts^d your pitience^ that yew have fuffer'd it fo long : nor is it neceffary that I longer fiay til a Ciiy rvhere you d) not command me to tarry for yciir^fervi^ce^j^ndfehere t^cannotbut fee my felf with fj.ime^ havin;j^ appeared as an enemy. I go to e:ipel out of your ferritoriet thofe which may remain of yiar enemies, and to rejlore tnyoia obedience that which may yet be p-fji-ffed by Gondioch , and in hopes of .the return of the ^ing your Father^ into, a Cottntry ojf a.'hich he jhalJ in fere days be peaceably Majier. I ivill depart out of his Dominions fv fun as I fl)jll be no longer neceffary in his fervice \ anrl though^ he ceafe-uct to hate me , yet J jjjall ^e altpays ready to a0 himivith my Forces, with my btiad, and[jvith my Iife^,lf his enemies .te-^ new the war againji him: this is what I can offer to the King. your Father., 4nd for yoa, htadam, I offer yoH the miferable fufferings of a bc.zrt rrhich rvill carry yonrchfuistiU death -^ and if a ful which if fortune ceafes tooppofeit, will difuie perhaps ttitb.lhf..n-pole world fhc glory to ferve yon. r ' , r ''-■'■ i , :^'\iVv:\ \ ^, The fear he had to receive a cruel anfwer to thefe wordsj made uini depart ,(b fooa?* hehad fpokethem 1 but not before he had bended his knee to her, as he ii?d done at •his'' crurnncci nor without making her fee in his eyes, that ajl t,ha^)yhich iifje}^pre{fed,pf^l^ paliion, was below what he had in his bread. 'vr'v-.u/ ; : 'vr,-; ! !i , '-^ Before wc departed from the Palace, he fent me to the Princcfs of the Sitrues, to tt\\ her, that by reafon of the misfortunes beliadtomake himfelf odious to herhoufeby tlje unhappy death of her Brother, he durll not prcfume to vifit heri yet he itioulJ clieem himfelf moll happy, if iTie would give hiai fome oecaficn to appeafe, by liis fcrviees, a part of the hitred (he might have againft him : and this Princcfs, whofe foul was full, of fweetncfs, having with an infinite grace receiv'd the civility of my J^rjntje, made rhe Jiaow that llie could without reludancy have feen hitn in the Chamber of fcj^amond, if flie had there met him^i but that for the fear fhe had ot the fevcre humour of the King h^s Father, flic durft not receive liim in hers, though (he was no lefs fentibJe'o^'the fervice which he had willingly done her». than (he .could be of the injury he had doi)e theiiji, p^- fibly- againA his own intentions. . ,j . .,, ,.', By this laft view of 'Kofamond., the love of fharantond gairi'4 new force, and was peiSj haps already arriv'd at the higheft that ever any paflion mounted to : he had not feen hei before, but incens'd, and in a condition terrible to him j fo that, Fear, v/i.th Giief and De- fpair, poflfefs'd the beft part of his mind : but at this, time it (eemM that the t)(hcr palliops were in part difpelPd in his mind, to leave it entirely to jovei and thstj^y-this fwcei^ nefs, which he found in thcdifpofition of the Princefs, he was permittee! to admit thofe hopes which till then found no accefs. In tine, Rofamnnd had endur'd his Oght and his difcourfei and though it were with a gre^t deal of coldnefs, yet it feem'd to him to ^g without any refinance, and that her coldnefs pi;ght to be attributed to her difplcufure lav ther than to other caufe5, as to the death of a Prince whpm, (he ought to have efpous'd, and^po the dependence Ihe had on the will of her Father, wlipfe. thoughts (he could not.b& ignorant of, and whom (lie knew yet not reconciled to Pharamond, though hp; Ii^ad no mora reafon to hite-him; and more, he had declai^ to her what he had in liis hear,r, thoijgh he dpubtcdnotat all bul flie, already knew it V and he believed {hat he had pbfe^.yed in ;iieE ^yes that thisacknowkdgmeint had not difpleas'd her, ani^ tljat;,by hts lo\^j?^']5^'J;was not'be^ con^e-guilty of any new crime towards her: befides; he found his confcience more free than it had hitherto been on the behalf of Gondioch , and as he remembred,^ha|t that io'^ grateful Piincci, both in the Battel, and iri^iij^at l;ad palTed before it, had openly tCiliifiedL an ardent defire to take away his life ; and (b much the more fought to do "it, when he re- fus'd the Combat with him, and us'd all diligeni-e to prefcrve his friendfliip,, when hefaw him moif incens'd to his ruine i that he himleif had taken aHifpleafure at h}m in his foul, which had driven away thofe fciuples that had tormented him in favour of teis pall amity;> • though he could not yet conceive a hatred for him i and he believed tint he had done e- :, >i 2 nough 1^6 THARAMOND, Part. IL nough, and fuffer'd enough, not to fear tliat the world (hould accufehim to have ofFend'ed the duties of friend (hip towards a pcrfon, to whom he was not bound for any good turn, though he (hould endeavour to gain the affections of Kofamond : he belicv'd then that both on the behalf of Kofamond^ and of Gondtoch. he had reafon to hope -, and (hat if For- tune would a little declare in his favour, it would not be impoffibk that he (liould be one day happy. Thefe thoughts rendred him in a moment wholly different from what he had till that time been •■, and it appeared fo much both in his eyes and all his perfon, that thofe who were about him eafily difcern'd the change. Cods, { faid he with a behaviour much differing from the ordinary condition in which we had for fome time feen him ) if it be fojjible that it may be permitted me to hope, and that 1 have no longer reafon to fear neither the hatred o/Rofamond, nor the friendpjip of Gond'ioch, how great n>il! be my fortun-? f or rather, n>hat objlacles can oppo ferny fortune, if I ceafetolove Gondioch, or to he hated of tlofamond ? Have not I birth, free and cottrage comparable to any of my Rivals ? or which ofthemifitagainjltvhom I durji net openly dijptite i" That Brother of Vindimir, that Witido' inar , to whom they have dejhn^d fo gloriouf a Fortune, what fever fame is already jpread ihroagh the world of hit valottr, or rehatjeever advantages bave been pttblijh'd of hn perfon, cannot be well ajfur^d of his happinef, if he be not fortified againjl me with the hatred of Ro- famond ; and may not I hope that the Father and the Brttther of Rofamond, rvhoCe hatred tny paji anions may have attraUed, will be fenfible of what I now do foi- them, and of the fer- tices which I will do them? Ah! if this happinefi might befal me, f purfucd he, confirm- ing himfelf more and more in his Iiopes J I would make it p^-ffibly appear by fair effeCis, that of all the lovers o/Rofamond, I am not the tHoji miferable ■, and by that little in which Heaven it favourable to me, I will give fuff.cient trouble to the moji powerful of my Rivals. He flattcr'd himfelf in this manner, being ignorant of what that fortune vvhich feemed fo behold him with a pleating eye, was preparing for him more cruel and terrible; but as he would give the Princefs the moft ablolute marks of his fubmitlion, he prepar'd him- felf to depart the City, and go to his Camp, when at the fame inftant the Scouts which he had fent into the Fields on the other fide of the City, where the accefs to it was not at all defended by the River, being returned, brought him word that they had feen appear towards the Coaft of CafurgU fome Squadrons of Cavalry, and that the men of the Coun- try had told them that they had feen others in other places, which fecm'd to have fome defign againft fuch places as yet remained under the power of the Cimbrian Kiag v but that by the impatience of Gondioch they had left them, to come and attacque Marobuda where the Princefs was. The King, and thofe who were about him, who knew well that Gondioch before he came to the Battel had pafled his Troops over the River, and had left none on that fide, thought that he might have, during the night, found fome pafTage, in a time when the iVaters were more low than ordinary i and that he had fent fome Troops on that fide, ci- pher to give fufpicion, or to put himfelf, if he could find an opportunity, into one of thofe places from whence he might make war in the Country, and attend the recruit of his Troops. And though upon this confideration theKingfonnd little reafon to fear a defeated Army, and which was not in a condition to perform any great exploit of war i yet he thought bcft to fend to know further > and attending a more full advice, to flay in the City the re(\ of the day. He fent to tlic Princefs to beg her permifHon, that (he would be pkas'd to let him remain there for her fervice ', acquainting her at the fame time with the reafons that oblig'd his ftay •, and becaufe Prince Marcnmire was already returned to the Camp, he commanded Genebaud with three hundred Horfe to march to the place where our Scouts had feen thofe Cavalry, with order to do all that he could, to bring fome certain intelligence. In the. mean time, whatever difquiet hefcffer'd to remain till the morrow in the City withoutfeeing the Princefs, he thought as the cafe flood, he could not without violating the refped he ought her, give her two vifirs in one day, in a place where notwitfland- ing^he rcfpedthegave her, it roightbebelife'v'dhe wasflillMafter-, and not daring to ha- zard the demand of a fecotid Sadicncc, he paftrhe time in far greater impatience than he would have done, had he been farther dift^nt from her: but it is time, iiry Lord, that whih^ I tell you whit paft within the brCaft df fhurainond, I'fhould enter into a farther difeourfe of his deplorable fortunes. t'it'was not without reafon, that Gondiochhzd been advertifcd, that the Cinibriant hzd fome'infclligcnccin fhcCouhtry, and in the very City of Marobuda : and though he had sirglcdtcci the advice wiiicb. be had received, as well becaufe his love wholly bulled him, and I Book II. FHAR.AMOND. 157 and render'd him almoft incapable to think of any thing clfc, befidcs wha^ had relation to that i as bccaufe he had not heard it, but by a confus'd report, and by pcrfons which were not fo well inform'd of the trjth, as to fpeak it with any certainty : but inoft cer- tain it is, there liad palFcd things of too great importance to be neg,k(itcd ■•, and to acquaint you with them, my Lord, I mull tell you, that whilft the love of Pharamond and Condioch hindred them trom thinking of their enemies, they had not remain'd idle, but that the two Kings having call'd to their alliftance all their Friends and Allies, had rais'd moft powerful Forces to renew the war, and give trouble to their enemies. The news which they had heard of their divifion, had much augmented their hopes", and as the King of the Cimbr/attt attributed it to a jealoufie which might be rifen between thcfe two Kings, either for the love of Kofamond, or fome other conlldcration, rather than to any thoughts of Pharamond, which might give him place to become his friend j inftead of being totich'd with any acknowledgment, or dreaming to joyn with him againll Gondioch ; he prepar'd equally 3g3in(l them both, believing he could never find a better opportunity to ruine them, than during their difunion i befidcs that he was joyned with the King of the 5«fi/f/ in an Alliance fo llrait, that no confideration could feparate them : and knowing well that nothing could divert his detign, which he ftill vehemently preferv'd in his foul, to revenge the death ot Vindimir^ heremain'd lixM in his refolutioiij to follow his for- tunes to the end. . Prince Ihejbdjiis \\\%Soi\ whoagainllall forts of reaP^n had recciv'd an infinite an- tipathy againlt my King, andiwho by reafon of the love and the dcilgu he had for Albifin- da, was more particularly knit to the interell of the King of the S never-, contirm'd his Father in his intentions, and perfwaded him to the war againfl us, as much as he could polfibly : but as he found himfelf not yet in a condition to cotne with open force againij: two fuch Princes as Pharamond and Condioch,^ who difunited as they were, might reunite themfclves againft tlie common enemy at their arrival i they joyn'd policy to open war, and manag'd thofe intelligences which they receiv'd among the Bohemians, before they cnter'd the Country with their Armies, At prefent they likcwife knew that the Princcifts were in the hands of their enemies, and that having fuch precious gages, they mignt al- ways be in a condition to impofe hard conditions, and make their own advantagcoully i they therefore contider'd, that if it were polfible to redeem them from the place where they were, and condud them to fome Town which yet held out for therp, it would extremely advance their affairs, and put themfelves in a pofture to ittacque their ene- mies, without any fear which might retard them. To endeavour the execution of this delign, Briomer prefented himfelfi but P.'ince "XbeobaldHS himfelf would have a part in this enterprife. This was the fame Briomer^ who had defended Marobuda againft Pharamond and Gondioch ; and I will add to that which 1 have told you of him, that though his birth was none of the highefl among the Bohemians, yet he held one of the chief degrees, and pofTefi the greateft charges of the Realm J for befides that he was hardy, valiant and ablei he had the education of Prince J/^foij/i«^ from his cradle i and as he was dearly belov'd of him, fohehadfor him an af- {cQi\ox\ more like that of a Father, than of a Governour. 'Twas then with Briomer^ that the Prince would enter fecretly into the Country of the Bohemiani, and quarter them" felves ready at fome place, which Hill continued under their fubjedfion, to Hnd the means to execute the greatcft things, and toforai a party which (hould tiavour the entrance of their Armies into the Country. Briomer havinggrcat acquaintance, and the inhabitants of Marobuda being all at his de- votion, he believed that during our diforders, he might find fome means to enter, and pof- fibly to carxy thence the Princefs i which was what the two Kings and Prince T'heobaldm did moft eagerly delire. One part of thefe deligns were executed as they could have wifh- ed them. 'Xheobaldus and Briomer with very little equipage were entered into the Coun- try : andibecaufe they knew that the Plains on the other fide of the Pviver from Marohitda, were covered with the Armies of the BnrgttndiaHt and ours, they had taken their way by ihc Country of the Coldttles, and fo paffed to Egttiita^ a good City, in which the King of the Cimbriam hud k ftrong Garrifon. They had kept their arrival fo fecret, that no perfon knew of it i and Briomer had fc ■weU manag'd hisdefigns, that he had found means/to enter into the City, the day before ■we gave battel : he had conferred with the two Princefles, and told them the intention of ^heir Fathers, and the defign which Prince "theohaldiu and he had, to take them out of the ■hands of their enemies. The PrincefTes, who had a great belief in Briomer, and knowing what efkera both the King and Prince had of him, difpos'd themfelves to fecond his de- fign j 158 THAKAMOND. Part II. figtr, and fo foon as they (liould find an opportunity to retire thcmfelves with Prince Iheo- baldm. They had fuch an one as they could dclire, fo foon as ray Prince was enter'd the City •> for as Kofamotid was not only Miftrefs of her liberty, but of the City it it felf, (he had the power to go forth, whenever (he had an intention : 'tis true, that after the di(^ courfe which (he had with my Prince, (he had fon:)e averfion to execute this dcfigni it fecming to her that it was to deceive in fome manner a Prince who had dealt fo gtntroufly with her, to flie fecretly from a place where he had left her the Soveraign Authority, and where the retreat, the ftay, and all things were in her difpofuioni flic (poke to Briomer^ who was concealed in the Palace, fo foon as my Prince was retired, and would have per- fwaded himthat it would be perhaps more advantageous to her, and to her Houfe, to treat in another manner with Pharamond, and to make ufe of his aihltance to chafe out Gondioch, (ince heoffer'd himfelf fo willingly, rather than to make him again an enemy of her Father by a flight, and a proceeding which feem''d to partake ot incredulity, and did but ill correfpond with that of the King of the Frank/. Briomer found a great deal of reafon in the difcourfe of Kofamond^ but could not ap- prove this delign : for knowing that of the King his Mafter and the Prince his Son, he told the Princefs that he did not doubt, but Pharamond as well as Goadktb might become ena- moui'd of her divine beauties i and that adling as this pailion guided him, he did ap« parently all things which he believ'd capable to pleafe or move her i but that (he ought not to truR a young man, who might deceive her, and who remain'd ftill Malicr in her Country, whatever refped' he gave her; and in the end, that though it ihould be true, that he aded (incerely, and that they could not hape of him other than real fervices and afliftance, the intention of the King her Father was not to receive from him any obligation which might hinder him from being fl;ill his enemy, as he was bound to be by the Alliance; which he had contracted with the King of the Stteves. Tliat he attended nothing to enter into the Country, but to underlknd that (lie was at liberty i and tiiat he would rever pardon her, if he (liould kno\v that (he had remained an hour under the command oi Pktramojtd^ having had power to depatti -•That in^ tlie end, Prince Iheobd^ htt Bromer, upon the advice which he had given hiln of what had paflcd, would be on the morrow before day, with four hundred Horfe, at fome furlongs diftant from the City, to j-eceive her in cafe (lie could get forth, and would condudt her to- Egitan , where they niight defend thcmfelves againft their enemies Forces, till thofe ef the King her Father were arrived. - ' '• ■ . * At thefe words of a man whom the Princefs knew to be cfieem'd by the King her Fa- ther, flie remain'd without anfwer, only contenting her felf to fay, that (lie would obey the King without murmuring: All) ifi nda iV\d the fame: and their departure being thus refolved on the morning following (for they judged well, that howabfolute foever the Princefs was in the City by the command of Pharaini»td^ yet (he could not get forth by night without giving great fufpicion 3 Briomer piffed the xcR of the day, and' the follow- ing night, in preparation of things neceifary, and-fent againto Prince Theobaldus^ to ac- quaint him with the hit refolution s and fo foon as the day appeaired, the Princeffes being habited, mounted with their Ladies in threfe Chariots which were ready j and to giv6 Jefs fufpedl, they vifited fevcral Temples within the City, apparently with dciign to thank the Gods for the happy change of thci'' condition : having done their devotions in two or 'three of thofe in the City, they feigned theywi>uld go and pay the fame Duty to that o£ Viaiia, which is fome furlongs diftant from the City : and having caufed themfelvcs to be driven to the Gate, by which they were to ilTue out, thofe which guarded it, and who had order abfolutcly to obey the Princeft, faw her.no fooncr appear, but they open'd the Gate, and left her a paiTage, as free as (he could deiire : from the Gate they went to the Temple of Viana^ under the condt!<3: of Briomer^ who was paiVd out difguis'd, with fome men on Hovfcback which accompanied him. But they made hctle liay ; for Briomer hav- ing caus'd them to remount into their Chariots, drove towards the place where T'heobalduf attended them i which was in a Wood, di(tant only fome tewiurlongs from the Temple of THana. T/;iro/?ir/c/w came ftfrib to' meet thcm.i and thebcitcr to dilguife himfelf, in cafe that they fhould be fcen by any perfon, and to make Ph.iramond judge that it was by d- tliers, and not ^y thc'CitU^riHHs, tlwt the"' Prtnteffes were taken away, he feiccofted the Chariot with his Sword-in'his'hand, asene-H?»icR.might do, and .fcign'd to take them ^way by violence. All things happen'd according to Iheobaldus's intention, ,wh6 would not by any means be fufpecftcd to be ill the Country •, and thofe perfons, who by chance faw at a great diitance what had pafTcJ, judged as he dclircJ, that it was by enemies that thePrin» cedes were taken away , and made the farac report in the City, fo foon as they eatei'd. In Book II. F H A KA M N D. 159 In the mean time, my Prince, whofe love had waken'd him very early, was no foon- er rifen, but he underftood that the two Princcflls had vilited the Temples of the City, and were gone to that oi Viani, which was without the Gates. So far there was nothing but tlie hour that furpris'd him ; but as the feafon was for the prefent very hot, he be- lieved that to avoid the heat they had taken the morning for their progre(s and devotions as much Icfs inconvenient. In the mean time, he found fome time for himfelf to icpofe; judging that Rnfamorid did not difdain the office that he had done her, fince ihc had fo readily made ufc of it i but fome time after, he underftood by feveral perfons at the fame time, that the Princeffes vvcreforc'd away by a great body of Cavalry, who po(tcd them thence with all diligence. The vexation that he had likewife upon this news, was, that it arrived late, and that the perfons who gave it being Footmen, which had come llowly, undcrllood but little, and minded icfs affairs of this importance: the noifc of it had run a good while among the vulgar people, before it came to the knowledge of the perfons who gave advice to the King. All his wifdom, and all his natural moderation, could not hinder him from breaking out into a pallion, nor did lever in my whole life fee hin» in thatpofture heappear'd in at this cruel news : He at riift could not believe it : but be- ing contirm'd by the perfons that reported it, whom they brought before him \ and in the end by others, who afterwards faw the Chariots go with the Cavalry that conduced them i he did but too well know his misfortune, and was but too much perfwadcd : his coun- tenance was an affured teftimony of his inward grief, to thofe that flood about him i nor could he hinder himfelf to make known to them, by fome words, not mere than they be- lieved, but more than ciH then he had declared to them. Ah Gondioch, ( cryed he ) hotv cruelly rio\i tho:t revenge thy felf an me? and rendreji me by the Infi of thatrphich tbott now iakeli from me, morewifDrtitmMe than thou eouldjibe by the left of a Battle : but hope not to e»' joy thy fjir prize rpjtb fecurity \ for fince by this viotent proceeding thou blotted out ef my foul all that remained there of friendjhip for thee^ which mauqre thy ingratitHde I had yet pre- firv'd, fear all things from a mat^ whom a pa^on likfi thine may deprive of reafon as rvell as thee. The belief he had that the PrincelTcs could not be forced by any but Gondioch, made himfpeak in this manner: and though by the facility they had themfelves given to this adiion. In palling out of the City at an hour fo little ordinary, it might eafily be con- jedur'd that themfelves had contributed, and that it was either by the Cimbrians ot the Sueves that they were led away, rather than by the Burgnndians > the report made of the violence which they uled, took away part of the rcafon of this thoughr v and it feem'd ei:tirely loft, by the little appearance there was, that the Vtincekliofimond would be perfwaded to fuch an adion, and in a time when no neceliity i nor any rcafon could ob- lige her to expofe her felf to the hazard flie muft run of being encounter'd by her enemies, when (he was in the City with an abfolute power, an entire liberty, and a Iccuricy as great as (he could find with the King her Father. /// believe-d ( faid he in this thought ) that it tvas with her will, that the Trincefr bad quitted us, either to render her felf near hi^r Father o^'to flee from an enemy, whofe repentance perhaps cannot find faith with her i injiead of op^ fofing my felf to her retreat, I would favour it with all my powers and if the Convoy Ijhould give her in perfon would be odious to her, I would fend aU my Army before her and he had gone himfelf, without doubt, had he been alone in fo preiling an occafion. He gave however oid^t to Gajialdus to go and command fome Cavalry from ths i6o PHARAMOND. Part II. the Camp to follow us with all diligence v and he hoped like wife that we might find Ce- ftebaKd^ fince, according to the report made , he had taken the fame road with thofe ihat had carried away the Princeffes. I confefs to you, that as at no time whatfoever he had been incens'd as at this ■■, fo at all others I never faw him fuch as he appeared to me this day : for in defiance of the natural fweetnefs which was predominant in all his perfon, he had fomcthng fo fierce and fo terrible in his eyes, and in all his adiions, that his fmall Troop gather d courage from him, and refolution to follow him without fear to the moft terrible enterprifes. We, purfuing thofe who had got a great advantage of us, march'd withutmoft dili- gence, though it concern'd us mod not to kill our horfes at the beginning of a courfe which might prove long V and having followed the trace of the Chariots aad Horfes as far as we could perceive it, at thofe places where we loft it, we inOrutflred our felvcs as well as we could of fuch perfons as we encouiuer'd in the way ■, among whom, we found ma- ny who gave us intelligence of what we fought. However, we (hould with difficulty ■have overtaken them ; for by theincertainry which we were otten in which way to follow, we had given our enemies time to gain ground of us, if by chance at the palTage out of a little wood we had not encounter'd Ade lard With an hundred of thofe Hnrfe which had parted the day before with Ceueband. We no fooner knew them, but the King having de- manded of him news both of what we fouj^ht, and the red of the company, he gave him an account of both i telling him, that the day before, they had rriarch'd over a great part of the Country without any encounter ••, and that after having quartei'd all night in a Vil- lage, this morning Prince Ge«f^<»«^ having undcrllood that levcral Troops were feen pals divers ways in the night-time, and believing it important to bring fome news, chofe ra- ther to weaken himfelf by dividing hislittic party, than retufti to the City without doing what poflible to inform himfelf: that to this effed he had commanded him to take fix- fcore Horfe, and return towards IVi^aroZ'wiii* in the fame path they took, and endeavour to inftrud himfelf as much as he could i and that the Pijince in the head of the reft, had taken another way : that fince that time he had heard nothing of Genebaud ■■, but for him- felf, travel fing about half an hours way from thence, he had met a body of about four hundred Horfe, which guarded three Chariots ■-, and that he which commanded them, having known him, had attacqued his with infinite fury, and by their inequality, con- ftrain'd hitti to yield to their nuinbers, though his had fought with fufficient valour: that he had ten flain, and as many wounded i and that there had been perhaps a greater num- ber, if the enemies had not teftified a greater dcfire to retire, than purfue them : that he had rallied his own with as much fwiftnefs as he could polFibly, and now fought Cenebaitd to joyn with him, that he might be in a pofture to fuftain a fecond encounter. Tharamond^ to whom the valour of ^/if/jrJ was well known, cheared himup with a great deal of kindncfsfor his fmall difgracej telling him that it was very ordinary that a great number (hould gain advantages over a fmall one j and that if he had any fault, it was by the too much courage which Genebaud and he had had in dividing themfelves : and in theend, he commanded him to follow with his men, and to lead him to the place where he had fought. Thus was out party ftrengthned with one hundred Horfe i and with this number my i'rince doubted not but to carry the vidtory from a numbfr far greater than our enemies. Adelard QO\i\dx\oi inform him whether they wcie C/mbrir'.s oxBur^undians s but he only told him that in that little time he was with them, he faw not any whom he had known a- bout Goitdioch\ as indeed it had been difficult for iiiintodo, not having feen any face uncover'd, noranyVifer lifted up. The King was glad for the hop^s he had to fuccout Knfamond, though in his mind he found much more difpolition to grief than joy, not be- ing able to defend himlclf from an apprehenfion which feem'd to threaten him with fomci fatal adventure. We march'd under the condud of Adelard to the valley, where we faw the figns of the conflift i and with the dead bodies of thofe which he had loft, we found many more of our enemies who were llain with them, from thence fome time after, we marched through a wood, wherethe way being dcop, we judged the Chariots had gone but heavi- ly ■■, and having employed about an hom to crols it, we were no fooner paft it, but in a great and fair plain, which prefented it felf to our figlir, we faw the Chariots of the Prin- cefTes, and the Cavalry which conduded them. This fight made Pharamond give evident figns of his joy to all about him 5 and turningtowardsus with an afped in which there fccm'd to (hine fomething more than humane. My friendf, ( faid he ) 'fix here that yon mnji fght for Pharamond, as hitherto joa have fought for glery, and his mrv that J de^ Book it. PHARAMOND. i6i maHd front a fmaJl numhcf of valiant men a viUory which U much more important than aB tbafe which our entire Armies have cjven. I hope that I ffliaU do my endeavour with you^ and that we (hall overcome toirether^ if fortune do not oppofeuf. Speaking thefe words , he took a Lance, which would have bended any Arm but his with its weight, and charging his left Hand with his famous Shield, and pulling down the Viferof his Helmet,, he march'd in the Head of us toward our Enemies. We hadiib great trouble to joyn with them i for they, flopping fo foon as they had difcovered us, foon after turn'd head, and advanc'd to receive us with a refolution parallel to ours. IheobaU when he faw, I fay, the Princefs whom he ador'd, feated in blood, and amongft the dead -■, and holding in her lap the Head of her deplorable iirother, who gave up his Spirit in her Arms, and whofe yifage (he- bcdew'd with a torrent of Tears : they had taken off his Helmet, and on his oper^ countenance might already behold p5lc death in its moft terrible Figure : they would! Jlkewife have pull'd otf his Cuirafs, but the cruel Tronchion which had g6oe through his body, made it difficult ■■, and when they drew it forth by violence, as they were forc'd tb do,- there iffv'd from the wound a new River of blood which cover'd the whole body of the Prince, and depriving him of the reff of his force, left him fcarcea moment of life. Albifmda was feated on one lidc, and Briomer^ the defpairing BHomer, on the othei^. Al- ii bifmdifj i52 PHJRAMOND. Part. II i//iK«^tf, according to her fweet inclinations, cxpreflfcd het grief by her tears', but Brhmer Vrcfoundcd iiis with cries full of fury, and words which denoted his defpair : andthe divine Jiofamond, whofe conftancy was quite loli at fo fad a fpedacle, in the mid'ft of a thoDfand llghs fending fome plaints to Heaven, with her countenance bedeck'd with tears that fell on the dying body of her. Brother, feem'd to receive into her bofonae that death which (he faw painted on his countenance: her Garments were in many places befmear'd with blood, and her Auburn Locks, which all her moderation could not deliver from feme touches of her iair hands, by their djforJer dctnonlhated thatof her foul, and the violence of her grief. But neither grief uor diforder were capable to take any thing from her beauty i and maugre all that her aftlif^ion could prcfent to our view, (he feemed to us yet more fair, than (he wasafflided. T;bfff4.t/«^w tended vilibly to his end > but his anger endured as long as his life : and pirt- ting himfelf to a great force to utter fonie words v My Siiier 'faid he) ofer blood, and not ifars to my tomb ■■, and revenge me, if it be pojpble^ revenge me of that cruel one n'ho bath tri- umph'dever my life, and that if Vindimir. He could fcarce fpeak thcfe words,and the Prin- cefs who perhaps in a more quiet condition would not have approv'd thefe violent moti- ons' abandon'd her felf at this time to all that grief which fo dire an objed could infpire her with i and receiving in her troubled foul that cruc^ imprelfion her Brother aim'd to imprint i Tes, my Brother (izid (he) I will revenue you, and I ftvear it before the immortal sods, that I rrill purfue to the la\i moment of my life the rruel niurtherer of my Brother, It feemed that the fpirit of Ibeobaldiis parting from his body, receiv'd fome confolation from the promife of- Kofamondi and he folicited her to it by a lock at that very moment when life forfook him. ^li.'bJ: Tharamond arrivM time enough to fee himfurrender up his life, and to under/land hfe la(\ words, and the cruel promife of Kofamond. Either the one or the .other had been e- nough to let him know that it was the Brother of Kofamondhe had flain, tiiough the fight of his countenance, which he had often fcen when he was his prifoncr, had not confirmed Iiis knowledge of it : and in a moment wherein he believ'd to have paid a neiv lervice to the Princefs, and pollibly hnifli'd his pardon for all paft faults, he found that by a dire ef- fedl of his misfortunes he had, and that before her own eyes, (lain her Brother. ThiscrU- elknowledgcpf .a misfortune fo little forefeen, and the deplorable objc£l: which prefcnfed it.fclf to his eyes, as well in the pcrfon of the dying 'theehaldiii,zs m that of thea(fli but itJhaV not be only the Sueves and Bohemians which Jhall demand of thee the lives of their Princes , / will arm with them all that the JForld hsth of valiant men and haters of Villainy : and fince that by my misfortune, and thy cruelty I fee my felf engaged in an Enterprife little conformable to my Sex^ and perhaps leficmtformable to my iriclinatioHs ■, I will eaV gods aod men to my affijiance , and cover thy Country with a Iforld of mercilef! Enemies , and with a thoufmd Swords fnatch away that life which thoit didji receive from Heaven only for my torment and thy mifery. Ah (cri'd my Prince) if it be thii life that can fatUfre you^ that fatUfaUion will be eafrly given you ■, and you will arm un- profitably fo many thoufand of menagainji me^ fince from my own fwotd you may receive what perhaps you might in vain attempt by fo many others. Speaking thefe words, he laid his hand upon the hilt of his fword, whichi had put up in its fl-icath,and drawing it,turned it againfl his own bofom, when I caft my fcif down before him, and at the fame time Ibere, and many others feized on his Arm to divert his cruel refolutioni but we had with difficulty done it, if Kflpm*;;^, eager as Ibe was for his ruinCj had not her felf, by what motive I know not, oppofed it. Tw not to thy felf (faid fhej with a demeanour which feem'd enlivened with fome intereft for his fafety } that I would owe a revenge to which I am ebligd •, nor canjl thou redouble the hatred I have for thee by a more cruel offence, than it will be to deprive me of the glory 1 hope for. Go, miferable matt, frnee it m to thy misfortune that thou wouldefr I f.wuld attribute tijy crimes -, and if thoit beeji pnfible of any grief deplore that cruel neceffrty to which thou haft reduced me i but kttow^ that th I eu^ht to affail thy life to acquit my promife, and my duty, it U thy duty to defend it, to let me have the glory of depriving thee of it ; and if thou haji abandoned it to this grief, whe- ther true or feigned, which thou tejiifreft, I (hall perhaps more diff.cultly pardon this fault than all the others thou hali committed againii me. Finiftiing thefe words, (he made a fign with her hand for him to retire •, and turning her head on the other fide, teiHfied that (he could no longer fuftlr his prefcncc. Yharamond remaia'd for fome time in the place where he was , overwhelm'd with an Abyfsof Grief, which his whole courage was not able to fupport : and a little after with fome fighs tak- ing leave of the Princefs, he turned the head of his Horfe, and fpurring him to a full fpecd, fled from the Objedt he ador'd with a fwiftnefs wholly prodigious, and threw him-. Y 2 f:!f 1^4 PHARAMOND, Part IL felf into the Wood which we had parted, without regarding wliether he was follow'd by his own, or thinking into what place heretir'd. But^my Lffrai fcontinued Cleomer ) 1 con^der not at aV that I do infenfibly abufe your pati- ence dnd attention ■, and besides that the King my Majier may have, fume impatience again to fee you^it m mvp fo late, that it u necejfary yoHgive fame time to Supper, and the reft of the Night to yourrepnfe. Doubt not at all f laid Conftance) but I have a great defire to fee the King, ejpeciall^ after fo many admirable things which yon have recounted of him i but he fliai pardon me, if for himfelf I canitvt brea\ihat attention you have given me to the Story of hit adventures, and particularly, in a time when I can hardly give you a moment of releafe. At thefe words, he fent Valerim to intrcat Pharamond to pardon him, if he could pa(s the Night without feeing him, and give him leave to dedicate it entirely to the relt of his Hiftory, rather than fuffer a difcontinuation > and in the end, having fuftercd Supper to be ferved, and caufing Clcomer, whofe merit and quality he knew, to accompany him, ht took a light repaft i which was no fooner hnith'd, but having made fome excufes toCleomer for tbfi trouble he gave him in (o long a recital, hedefir'd him toieontinue, and heard him begin again in this manner. The end of the Second Book of the Second Part. PHARAMOND. Book III. As the Adventures of Tharamond, and of Jinfamond, form but the fame Hiliory ; it feems to me that I ought not to divide the recital, and prin- cipally in thofe moll important things which are come to our know- ledge : And for this reafon. My Lord, I will tell you. That after Fha^ ramond had in that manner remov'd himfelf from us by a precipitate flight, and we had follow'd towards the Wood which we faw him takei The defolate Princcfs of tht Cimbriani, and the afflidfed Albi' finda, remain'd in that fatal Field, where amongft the blood and dead bodies, the unfortu- nate Iheobaldm had loft his life. And in the fame place they yet dedicated fome time to their tears s for the Soul of Kafamoitd was fo overwhelm'd with a prcffing grief, that it permitted her to take no refolution, nor to depart from the dead body of her deplorable Brother: but in the end, die was forc'd to hearken to reafon, and to the prayers of the perfons who attended her, who could not longer fuffer her to remain in a place, and in fo mournful an employment : and thecomtortlefs Briomer having caufed the Corps of Ibeg- baldtu to be taken up, and plac'd in one of the Chariots which had carried the bodies of the Princefles, (bated himfelf by it, not being able to forfakc it upon any confideration, whilft the two Princefles being with the Ladies mounted in the other two,they were about to take the way towards Ee;'ti»i», whither Br;wwfr intended to conduft them, when they faw appear a great Body of Cavalry which advanc'd towards them with too fwift a career. They remain'd fome time witliout power to difcern whether they were Friends or Ene- mies, though they had more reafon to fear the one, than hope the other^ feeing them come from a part where the Cimbrians had no Parties ■-, and in the end, wlien tiiey were at a di- Itance which permitted them to obfcrve them more dillinflly, many which were about the Princefs Book III. PHARJMOND. 165 Princefs knew them for BurgnndiMs ■■, and fobn after they difcertied the fafnbus Erifigti of Gondioch, which made them know that he was in that Party. This advice which the^ ^:2ive to Rofamond, begat anew trouble in her mind, though there was already fuffjciettt there to leave her little liberty to obfcrvc what flie did-, which made her, without pet- ceiving that the Princefs of the S neves wdii not in the Chariot where (he faw feme Ladies about her, to command ir to march after Briomer^ who was already depai'tcd with the Corps of T'heobalduf. The chariothad not moved far by her order, but tlie Ladies atJ* vertifcd her thzt Albifmda was not with her : bur they told Iier in tlie faific titne, that feeitig her Chariot depart, fhe was got into the other that followed with the reft ofthe Ladies ; and foori after, feeing it advance near herS, they chotc rather to march i'6 fcparated, and Itay.a lEore convenient time to come together,- (han flop and attend their Enemies. '•' j- '•''■ '■■' ' ' ■ ' ' /' ■'■-''"'■' ' ••■-v- But they had gone buta little farther,! 'when they faW him^omcup^'krid tofamatid kntw Gondioch at tlie heati ot his, whohaving lifted up the Viferof his Helmet, abdrded her Chariot, and faluted hor with an intinite refpedt. The Prince Co?idemar his Brother was next to him, and made himfeUealily be taken notice of by his noble carriage- and by the beauty of his^ ArmSi Condioch had under(iood by the CimhrianfyWhotn he found flying through, the Plain, the defeat of their Party, and the deplorable death of their Prince by the hand of the King of the I'rankss and in this accident fo crUel'to all other pcrfons, he tbund matter ot great joy, for the misfortune of his dreaded Rival, whom hbfaw by his miferablc Adventure, depriv'd of all the hopes he had conceiv'd. • It was with this advantage which Fortune had given him, that he approach'd Kcijfiwo;?^ with more affurance i and feeing her countenance cover'd with tears, I praip the Gods, Madam, ( faid he J as much as it is permitted me in the deplifrable ejiate in which I fee you, not only that I have not contributed to that miifortuke which mak^s you diflil 'tho'fe tears 'hut that I come the firji of aJI men to offer you my hand and my life for the revenue you 'oti!>e to the FrtHce your Brother, andto prote\i to you that I ivill lejf mal^e near with Pharamond, as it- gtAnfi my Kival^ than Irviil againll the murtherer of ThcoyAAns. 1 hough 1 may feeni tpeakned with the loJS of one Battel, the event of which. Fortune, rather than Valour, decided ■■, yet I am not wholiy ruined, but have jiiU the entire Forces of d potent Realm, ready to wait en your d/jpleafure, and that of the King your Father. I will mufler together a power which ihaUmthe dejpifeable; and when this Pharamond, this lover, as cruel as he is a friend un- faithful, together with the Cimbrians and the Sueves, Jhall have the 'S>\it^ur\nay pojjibly change, and he with difficulty find amongjimen the leaft refuge from fo great enemies^ To this effed fpoke Gondioch ■■, and perhaps his palfion had made him fpeak more, when Kofamond gently turning her eyes towards him, and beholding him with a behaviour which might make him judge how little (he was fcnfible of his offers i fhough you have not fain my Brother ( faid (he ) you know well that fmce the death of Vindimii", I have felt nothing of mifery, with wilich I ought not to accufe you, and at prefent you are bound by fa great obligations to the murtherer of my Brother, that I cannot but be f»fficio{is of all the offers- yon make me. Let it not then d/fgufi you ■■, if 7 employ both other forces and other hands than yours, in that I owe to the blood of my Brother : and in requital oF that diligence 1 taketopre- ferve your reputation in rcfufing ana^jhnce from you tvhich xfifuld make youp.if amongmen for ingrateful, I only demand of you the freedom to lament my own misfortunes. This reply o( Rofamonds [arpiWd the Eurgundian King, and the confullon it gave him, tender'd him for fome moments artonifli'd •, but foon after, difpelling that withapallion which made him ihfeniible of aH things but it felf, If I have contributed ( faid he J to d part of your injuries, you can accufe nothing but a piijjion which may demand a pardon for greater crimes -^ and for thofe obligations I have had to the King of the franks ( though the reproach would have been lefl difileafjng, and perhaps more jtijl from any other mouth than yours) youk^ow^ Madam, that by his infrdelitv I ant dijpens''d with them, and that without fearing to pafi as ingrateful among men, I can purfue him unto death as the greateji of my ene- mies. Ifitb^fo, Creplyed the Princefs very briskly J Pharamond is not fo far dijiani from you, but that the fame day you may fatisfre the d/fguji you hive a^ainji him, I fljould fat'vsfre it without doubt ( anfwercd Gondioch ) and ffonld run with infinite j.y to the opportu- nity you offer me, if I could forfake you ", but as the opportunities to ferve you are more pre-- Clous to me than all others, you jhall permit me to accompany you to an ajfured retreat. If yon no longer continue tn makf war againji in ( replyed the Princefs ) we have ne more ene- mies in this Country ■■, and then with the perfons which yet remain with lu, we can retire to fome place of the King my Father , without any necejfrty of yoiir condutl. Ton may think^it ■ good. i66 , PHARAMOND, Part II. good, if you pleafe ( added the Burgundian ) that I depart not from you, and that I tell you, that you cannot be fo aJJ'ured with the King your Father, as with a Prince that adores you^ and cannot rvithant death defert you. I fee well ( faid the Princefs very fiercely ) what Toill be our condition : and no fooner did I fee you, but I did not at all doubt we were p-ifonersk But let us (TO (continued (he with a noble and becoming conftancy 3 whither our i ortune n>ill pleafe to lead ui. The Cods, who have once delivered m jrom your hands, mayjiill yi^ld lis the fame fuccours, and leave you nothing of your unworthy proceeding, but (liame and coa- fufion. Speaking thefe words, flie arm'd herfelf with a rcfoUition worthy of her great courage > and turning her head on the other 'lidc, fpoke no more to Gondioch, nox de- fign'd longer to look upon him, though he march'd by the fide of her Chariot. In the meantime, Prince GoWewjr his Brother, having beheld the Princefs of the Cim- hriansmxh that aftonilhment which her admirable beauty gave the whole world, and had excus'd by this fight the aftionsof the King his Brother, which perhaps he before con- demned ■> having underl\ood that the Princefs of the S/zfjiex was in another Chariot, wil- ling to render her what he believ'd due to her degree, and what he had heard publifli'd of her merit ond beauty, he approach'd to her, and faluted her with a becoming fub- miffion i and the charming Albifinda, who had at the fame time learn'd his naeie and quality, receiv'd his civility with no lefs fweetnefs. Condemar beheld her with an in- finite curiofity : and if the beauty of Kefamond had dazled and aftonifh'd him, that of Albifinda touch'd him with ftrange and tender motions, and made him already begin to feel fomething extraordinary. The more he beheld her, the more he perceiv'd forae al- teration in his foul i and he knew in the end that he became, and pollibly that he was al- ready become enamour'dof that fair Princefs. Yet the greatnef* of his courage permit- ted not this knowledge to artonilh hirni* and as the fweetnefs which appear'd on the coun- tenance of Albifmda attradted rather than diftiearten'd, he permitted himfelf to be fe- . ducM by a charm which might without doubt produce a more grand effed. He had by his tirft difcourfe tertitied to the Princefs the fhare he took in the grief which appear'd on her vifage > and he was about to open his raouth pollibly to fpeak to her accQrding to thofe motions which his growing palhon could infpire him with, when he was difturbed by the confufed voices of the men of their party : and turning his head at the noife they made, he with them beheld appear and advance at a great trot a great body of Cavalry, whofe Forces feem'd little different from theirs. The more they approached, the more they made doubtful the minds of the Bur^undians : and when they were fo near as to give place to fome difcernment, Gondioch himfelf knew the firft by many marks to be FrasJ^/. To fpeak the truth, it was indifferent to him to encounter Fm/j^t or C/w^rw«j', fince botii the one and the other were equally his enemies V but he would much rather have chofen to liavc feen the Princefs whom he loved, in the power of the King her Father, than in Fbaramond's. He feared not at all the Combat , nor could he be reproached for de- fault of courage-, but at this time it was with infinite grief that he faw his enemies ap. pear, judging well that he could not fight them without haz^ding the lofs of his fair, priie: and as his love ftopthis eyes to all other confiderations, addrefling himfelf to the Prince his Brother, who was near to him, and fpeaking to him very low, not to be un- derftood by the Princefles, My Brother ( faid he ) it is to day that I would owe all my For- tunes te your friendlhip and your valour; and as I cannot believe you will judge ill of my courage to fee me flie the Combat upon an occafion that concerns the whole repofe of my life, I pray you to fujiain with all our party that of our enemies which you fee approach us, whilji I with ten or twehe Cavaliers only, lead away the Princef to that place where I have refolvedto eonduU her. I defire no greater number of our men, that I may not too much weaken you 'y ttor jhould any pa^on or inter eji perfwade me to leave you, if I faw you not in a conditigH to gain the vtQory. In this manner fpoke GoWioc^ •, and Gondemar, feeing that he had no time to fpare to execute the will of his Brother, amus'd not himfelf to anfwcr him, but putting himfelf in the head of his Troops, he placed them between the Chariots, and the enemies whicli advanc'd towards him j and fo covering his Brother and the Princeflcs, he^uve Gondioch the liberty which he dcfired , to retire with that Chariot in which only Kofamond was, which he caufed to be encompaffed by ten Cavaliers, marchingon the fide of the Princefs, whilft one of his guided the Chariot that way he reiblved to take, whom he made to drive >vith all polliblefpeed and diligence : th:ii oi Albifinda, to which he did notufe the fame violence, ftirred not trom its place v and as this Princefs, and the perfons who were about her, could not but exped either from the Cimhrians or Fra»kj, much better conditions than they could hope from the BurgundiMs^ they attended the fucccfs of the Combat, with fome thoughts of liberty. 'T^*3g BooK.IIL PHARAMONR i6j ■ 'Twas in few morrents that the EurgaHdiam and Franks drew near to each other ; tioT was Gottdioch fo far dilknt , but that lie might cafily have fcen the beginning of; x\\Q Combat, if both his eyes and thoughts fo abfolutely fixed upon liofammd^ would haV^. permitttd him to turn his head that way. But, my Lord, before I make you the recitai of the fight, I mull tell you, that it was by the Kings order fent by Gaftaldus to the Camp; that a part of the Cavalry were mounted on Horfeback.^ to come and joyn with him j and Prince Marcomire, more diligent than the others, and more zealous for the intcrcft oi the King his Brother, parted thence Hrtt with Hk hundred Horfe, and had followed the ti20:soi Pharamond, with a fwiftnefs which permitted not the reft to overtake him. The knowledge he had, that the King his Brother followed after the Princeffes, who were led away in the Chariots, made him that he nofoonerfaw the Chariots and the Troops which encircled them whom he took for their Raviflitrs, but he doubted not at all, that theft were they againft whom he was to tight. with this rcfolution, having for fome few moments ftopt his Party, and with forhe few'words reprcfented unto them the ncccllity which invoked their utmoft vaiouri he marched in the head of them, with a countenance and prefence fo gallant and courageous, as could makehim be fuppofed no other tFian the Brother of Pharanwnd. The nuovbet was equal or little different betwixt the two Troops: The courage of their two Chief* tains alike, and the Combatants on each fide advanc'd with an equal vigour. The two Princes liaving run againlt each other, with an unfpeakable fury, fhivered their Lances to the very handles, without moving, in their Saddles : but in the Hrii encounter, the earth was fecn covered with great numbers of dead, wounded and difmounted pcrfons of each party ■■> and many Horlcs having loif their Riders, ran with an uncontroul'd liberty^ through the Plain. After the trial of Lances, the Swords tegan to gliftcri and between thcfe two parties was maititain'dfo bloody a conteO, that in a fl^ort time, thenuniberof the dead (urpaifed the living : The two brave Captains, by the effefe of a prodigious va- lour, endcavour'd to force a viAory tor their party > and in truth, they carried it into whatever paits they applyed themfelves : many times they affaulted each other wifha heat and valour little ditferent, and as imany: times had they been feparated by their own^ or conftra n'd to lend their allilfance in other places where their courage iiill open'd them a paflagc. Infum, the ilaughter was fogreat^ by the obftinacies of the combatants, that both of Frankj and Burgundians there remained but a fmall nijmber of men, who though covered with wounds, refoUitely difputed the victory, and feemed yet relblute to difpute it to the lait drop of their blood. The two Princes iighcd at the fame time, to fee thoft men whom they eftecm'd dear, fall on every fide of thern ■, and Marcomire being touched with companion, once more approaching Oondemar with his Sword in his hand, made a fign to him, that he would fpeak to him. The BHrgundiaii having obferv'd him, ftopt to know his intention i and thePrinceof the' Fra»j!y approaching to him with his Viier half lifted up, Ihere is alre-ady too much blood ilied (faid he ) for a part icuhr quarrel: and if thoti heeti fo valiant as thou feemeji^ and fa reafonable as thou art valiain^ thou wilt mt refufe either to Jpare the rejl of the Hood and lives^ which ^remain to other men, Jiy a combat of thy perfon and mine^ or torejiore that liberty ti) the Princeffes, which thou haji deprived them of. If it be the Prince^ of the Cimbrians thou demJndeji ( replyed Gondemar ) jj^e is not in our power t and for the Princefiof the Sueves, whom thou mayli fee in thit Chariot^ I wi]l fight agaiHji t^tee and againjl the whole world, rather-tban lofe her. , iirail 'Twas caufe of no fmall difcontent to Marcomire, to underftand that it was not the liber- ty of Kofamond he could hope for from the fucceis of the Combat: however, his true generolity pcrfwaded him not to repent what he had doi>e for the fervice of Alhifmda^ though it little concerned that of the King his Brother j and beholding fiercely the Bkt*' gundian Prince-, Ihe Primefi of the Ciit^brians ( faid lit ) wiJl pi'jjibly find a defender more TPorthy thanmyfelf: biit fince the gods have conduciedmetotSje fuccour of tlie Princefof the Suevians, I will as wSfight^thee for her^ as I would have done for both i and wili-lofe my Itfe^ or give her liberty, ■■:■.. Whilrt the two Princes fpake in this manner, they raifed their voices to fnch a height, and were fo near the Chariot of Albfuiia^ thatftie could eafily underftand their difcourfe ^ and by th-e knowledge (he had of their intentions, flie knew for whom (he ought to make her vows, and the difterence ftie ought to put between her Raviflier- and Defcndet^ And therefore beholding them with an equal diftindion, and having caft her fycs on the Vifage of Marcomire, which appeared in part under his Vifer, and obferv'd rliofe beauties', which in a Sex like ours defervcdly might attradiadmirationj flic foon perceiv'd him covti that part of his face to renew the Combat, and the tv7o Warriours ( having with * : rob .ive.wIfarioiSS i68 PHARAMOND, Part It furious voice commande and looking upon the Princefs with thofe eyes which his many wounds had enfeebl'd i Madam, ((zid he) I believe' thai you are free, and I come to offer that which remaint of my life, to that which refts to complete your fervice. He had fcarce ftrength to utter thcfe words ■■, but foon after his fight was co- ver'd with darknefs, and his ftrength forfaking him, he remain'd fenfelefs in the Arms of two of his men, who came to fuftain him. The charming Albifinda could not fee the fair Marcomire, in this condition, without be- ing fenfibly touch'd with coppalfion i nor could (he rejoyce at that liberty fhe thought (he (hould buy at the rate of the life of fo extraordinary a perfon. She learnt his Name from his Attendants i and this knowledge doubly furpriz'd her with a violent grief, to fee a Prince whofe dignity accompanied both the valour and the charms of his perfon, reduc'd to the extremity of his life for her defence: yet could ftie not know him to be Brother to tiie Murtheter of Vindimir and Iheobaldiu, without finding in that knowledge a cruel fub- jedof extraordinary grief Not but that ftie well knew Marcomire to be innocent of the misfortunes of her Brother, or that he feem'd lefs worthy of her compalfion, and poffibly of fome more obliging thought for being the Brother of Tharamend., but (he was not ig- norant of the humour of the King her Father, fearing all things from his feverity, if (he (hould pay all (lie believed due to her generous Defender. However, this fear was not fuf- ficient to reflrain her \ but yielding rather to her pity and to her acknowledgments, than to any other conliderations, Ihe caufed the bleeding Prince to be laid in her Chariot, believing he might better fo, than in any other manner, find thofe helps his condition did require. Thofe that remained of the FraKJ!^/, follow'd their Prince, and the Chariot which carried him, towards Egitina, whither the Attendants of the Princefs conduded her : and the Burgundiant taking up their Prince, departed another way, without oppofing or hindring their retreat. In the mean time, the King of the 'Burgundians led away the Princefs of the Cimbri- ans, making the Chariot march with all pollible diligence. In a little time, he had paffei fevcral furlongs from the place where he had left his Brother engaged in a Combat, crof- (Ing all that Plain without finding any obftacle to ftay him. The coutzgioas Kofamotd fuppoited this laft difgrace with a countenance worthy the greatnefs of her Soul s and in (lead of breaking forth, or permitting her fclf to be tranfported to a pafljon againft her un- iWorihy Ravifher, ftie was contented to teftifie to him her difpleafure, by her filence, and by herdifdain : and to make him judge that the grief he might polhbly caufe by his vio- kofe, had no part in thofe fighs and thofe tears which (he dedicated to the death of Theo- balduiy asoftenas he opened his mouth, either to comfort her dKpleafures, or to execute his own procedure, ftie turned her Iicad on the other fide, not deigning to anfwer him ai word : and more fenfibly did (he atftift him by this manner of behaviour toward him, than* ftie could have done by complaints and reproaches, Fiona Book III. P HA K A M N D. 16^ From the Plain they defccnded into a fair Valley, and iiad fir foine time kept along (he Banks of a fmall Strtam, wliich rriurmur'd along a plcaling Meadow, when they fpi'd com- ing diredly towards them a Knight toHow'd by eiglit or ten Horfcnien, who march'd lome paces behind him, and feem'd to be of his Train: His Squires bore alter him his Shield, his Lance, and his Helmet, and his Vifage being uncovcr'J, thofe Who nearcll faw him, judg'd tiiat few men in the World were adorn'd with fo Noble a Gcflure, Majtfly and Grace in all his perfoh : all the Features of his Countenance were prnportionably com- poftd -, his Eyes lively and fparkling, his Hair black, long, and flowing in fair and beauti- ful curls i his Stature large, Ihaight, and the fairelHn the World •, or to praife him truiyj little or nothing different from that of the King n.y Malitr. He wastnounttd on a moft Itately Ste'cd, and his Arms were beyon«>mca(urc rich and magnificent. Hiscafic march gave Gondiocb and his the more time to obfervc him: and when he can;c near the Chariot, he permitted it to pafs without moving from his place i and faluted th4 Ladies, whom he confufedly beheld, with inhnitc civility : Gondioch zvA his men had not fepirated themfclves at all from the Chariot, but an hundred paces behind it follow'd two Orticers of the Frincefs , vvlio would not forfake her \ and whom Gondinclys fear to in' cenfe the Princefs had forbid him to draw away. When the unknown Kniglit paiTed by them,heftav'd them to inform his curiohty, and pray'd t'lem with a becoming civi ity,tnte!l him what thofe Ladies were he had feen pafs by in the Cliariot : but (caicc had he opened his mouth to ask them, when one of the men hartily breaking likncc i It is the Princefi of the Cimbrians f faid he) and the only Daughter of nUr great K'niz^ whon an unJHJi Eavi(f:er hath fxrpriz'd^ and thm leads aivay by violence. Tiic unknown Knight feem'd touch'd at thefc words-, and addrclEng himielf to him that fpoke them, Do you jpeak^the truths' (faid he, with a countenance full of rierccnefs.J Tfj-, my Lord^ (added the Companion of him who had before fpoke ) and if ynu at all doubt it, you may ejf:!y clear your fclf. He had fcarce ended thefe words, but the Unknown covering his Head with his Helmet , and making lign to his own to fi>llow him, return'd on a full gallop towards the Chariot, which he ea- fily overtook. GoWmc/^ perceiving his return,and doubting polhbly his intention, llopp'd t\\t Chariot and all thofe that convoyed iti and prefenting himfelf at his approach, before he could come near the Chariot, tiercely demanded of hini what iiedefired. / reould utt- derjiand frepli'd the Unknown Knight, with aboldnefs not infcricur to his) if thefe La- dies xphich thou leade\i away^ do i^illittgly follow thee ? And what concerns it thee to inform thy felfs' (replied G(;««/ioc/7 intinitely enrag'd.) J/jjw (anfwered the Unknown Knighf)*/wr of fervice and intere\{ which we owe to the Sex : and if it be by force that thou leadeji them a- way thou fJ.'alt hardly accomplif}} thy dtfign, though affilied by far greater Forces, He had fcarce fpoke thefe words, when the Ladies which were about the Piinccfs, by their cries and confufed words conhrm'd him in the truth of tlicir Adventure, and at the fame time demanded his alliftance. This folicitation was little necclTary for a man, whofe vcrtucand courage were fufficient fpurs ta incite him to fo generous an adlion i therefore taking his Lance and his Shield from the hands of his Squires, he made Condioch knov^, that before he led away the Princefs, he mult with his Sword open his pafijge. Thisob- ftaclebegata furious rage in the B«rg«iji/Ws breafti and beholding his Enemie witli eyes fparkling with anger, Ihouwilt repent thy fe If ((zid hej of thy pre fumpiuoiu undertaking': for with thy lifejhalt thou fat'vsfie the diffleafure which thou makfli me pufble of. 1 hjvs feed (replied the Unknown Knight with a look full of difdain)jj terrible a thy flf who could not affright me \ and inthe condition in which I encounter thec^Ican dif.cultly believe thee to be a valiant man. Thefe words were not neceffary to incenfe Gondioch, whofe cholcr was raifcd to the higheft pitch-, but believing that he (hould have need of his tr.cn to guard the Chariot, and fearing if he (hould call them to tight with him againft thofe ot the Unknown Knight, the Princefs might in the mean time eicape, he fought a remedy for tliat danger : and look- mg on his Enemy with a moft affured conhdence ■■, T'o takf froiK thee all dnubt (faid he) of m\ valour.^ I defire that thou mayeji without any hinderance prove it : and though feldom men Itkf my felf commit themfelves to the lik^ pri^ofs^ and that considering the glory I give thee op- portunity to acquire^ I can hope for little \ if thou wilt that our men he Spcv.atnrs of our Gnm- bat, we will end our difference in thy perfon and mine. I am pleajed with what thou defirejl (repli'd the Unknown Knight) fo that the Chariot depart not from us ■■, and I will teH thee more, that if Fortune give thee the ViSiery in our Combat, thou wilt perhaps lofe nothing of the glory tbou haji acquired. fiiiilhing thefe words, they commanded their men not to move from their places j and turning the heads of their Hotfes, they took from each other the diftance cf a ;uft carrier, Z ard 170 PHAKAMOND. Part II. and foon after parting, they ran together with a marvellous ftrength and agility. Their (hock was truly terrible, and their Lances flew in a thoufand fplinters whije they fat un- niov'd in their Saddles. At the fame time they put their Hands to their Swords, and turn- ing with an equal courage, charg'd fofurioufly, and dealt fuch furious firokes, as could not but be the etfe<2: of an admirable and extraordinary force and valour. Tiie Combat re- main'd a long time equal i for the moft feeble of thefe two Champions were perhaps able to have for fome time withheld and ftopp'd the glory of the itioft valiant in the World. Many times did their Spedators balance their judgment of the event of the Combat,and as often they believed it could not be ended but by the death of both the Combatants : but in the end (for I hope you will be pleafed, my Lord, that i pafs over paiticuiars of the leaft importance) fome ditference might be noted«between the Forces of Gondinch and his Enemy v and that Gondioch, famous by fo many celebrated Vidfories, began to faint by rca- fon of the many wounds he had received ■■, and found with an infinite grief, that thofe of his Enemies, though very great, did not caufethe fame effed in him. Fie difpair'd not however of Vidory, but fceking it in the greateli danger, threw himfelf more than ever under the force of his Enemy i and in requital of the blows he received from him, made his Armour blulh with thofe ftreamsof blood which iflued from theopen'd pa4rages. Yet the unknown Knight feem'd incenkd, rather than weakn'd, and prelim^ Gondioch with more fury than he had hitherto done, he threw upon him a ttmpell of fuch terrible blows, that in fine, his Forces were conftrain'd to yield and bend under them i and he after having fome time reel'd in his Saddle, to fall without fenfe to the Earth, ftayning in feveral places with his blood the verdant Grafs i His Vanquiiher feemed to behold has fall with fome compallion, when the BttrguHdians^'m whofe Souls he had equally incited a fury and defpair, ran upon him with great cries, and forgetting the command of a Mailer, who was no longer in a condition to be obey'd, endeavour'd with all their might to revenge them- felves upon his Enemy : but the Unknown flew among them with fo extraordinary and prodigious a valour, that before his men could come to his alliftance, he had with his two firfl blows given a defcrv'd death to the two moll hardy i and made the vd\ judge, that without the afliftance of his own men, he could carry the vidlory from them all : he had likewife tumbl'd dewn fome others, and they had all without doubt been flain, had not the valiant Unknown pcrfon taken diligent care for their fafety, by coiniranding his men to re- tire , and ordaining thofe which remain'd of the vanquifli'd to take up their Malkr, and afford him thofe helps he was yet capable to receive. After this Adion he approached the Chariot, and having before underflood the name and quality of the Princefs, he alighted to accod her with more rcfped. UnfamoKd, who now beheld his Noble Carriage with as much alloniftment, as in the Combat fhe had admir'd his valour, and who by the fuccefs of it was bound to him for her liberty, tQ receive him with more civility, lifted up her Veil, which till then had covered her Face, and difcover'd that prodigious beauty, whofe fird brightnefs mortal eyes are hardly able to fupporf . This valiatrr unknown Knight was not only aftonifli'd at it, but feem'd ftruck in that manner, that he appear'd like one almoft bereav'd of fenfe and knowledge i and remain'd at this fight, on which all his fenfes were fix'd,immoveabk, mute, and amaz'd in fuch manner, that he had not the alTurance to open his mouth to fpeak, or fcarce the force to fuftain that re- (plendent light which dazl'd him. As this was not the tirll effed of this nature that the beauty of liofjmo>td had produc'd, Qie feem'd not at all furprifcd at his behaviour-, how- cverdiffcmbling the fufpicion (lie had of the truth, and fupplying the trouble which (be obferv'd he had in his countenance by the allillance (he gave him, (he feign'd to attribute it to other caufcs than to that which (he ought to have acculcd ■■, and having in few words, but with an infinite fweetncfs, return'd him thanks for th.e alliltance he had given her, (lie demanded of him witii a manifcll diliurbance and compallion it he were not wounded. The time which fhe took to fpeak , was fufficicnt for the Unknown Knight to recover himfelfi and at the length with great difficulty finding words to anfwcr her ■■, les^ Madam { faid he) 1 feel that I am rvnunded^ nor can it be eaf.e in fuch encouuUrs ,m thefe to efcape rvith- out vDotinds ■■, hut thofe tpbich I have received, jlpall not hinder me to jiHifJ} whatrejij for me ta do in your fervice^ and to accompany you to whatever place ynu refolve to retire. At I otve ym my liberty (answered the Vuncck) I tvoiild not re fiife ynir comp.itiy^ tf in the condition in which yoH are^ I could accept it without expof^ng you to fome danger s hut huK>ever it be, I Re- lieve that to afford y.m fitting remedy for yeur monndt^ there U a retreat nearer than that we have defign'd to be if pujjible conduded to. The brave unknown Knight figh'd at this Difcourfe, without returning anfwer, and made her Judge by his illcnce and adion^he felt more than he could exprcfsiand in the mean time Book III. P H A R A M N D. i^:^u time the Princefs calling to her otifi of tliofe Officers wiiich followed her, dcmanded"bf liim how far it was to Ei;if/«J, and underliood from liim that l>ie might be there in two" hours. The day was already fo far fpent that the Ptincefs could not hope to get thither- by day-light, bclidcs that fht had fpcnt all that day, and a day full of fo many cruel ac-' cidents, without taking any nourithmcnt : but there was no nearer place of reticat undtr the obedience of the King her Father, and the Counrty being fo well known to her mcr'< that they could condutl- her through by ways, flietcfoWd to march to EgH'ws without farther delay, and to commit her (elf, lince flie was reduced to a-necclhty to do it, to the condu.3: of a peifon of whom the had conceiv'd a marvellous good opinion, and whbfe gcnerous'proceedings could not beget in her the leaft milirult. In thefe thoughts addiif- ling lier fpeech to him, 7 am cii>i\bain'd ( faid flic ) tn accept that company yw offer me '^ and to lead you farther than perhaps your wounds rviJi permit you to gn without inconveuM eacy: htit we have no place nearer where we can g^ive yotf.ifhat afijiance rt>e owe' your^ and I hrjpe in that ym will receive fame mtrkj af the ach^oseled'iments of the King my Father: Bitt f added (liC ) wi'J yon not permit me to demand ta wh'jm I am engaged for my> liberty^ and exc^e the defre I have to k^now a perfon in whom I fee all the figns of a t/^ud GrandeuY? Hitherto ( replyed the unknown Knight ) 1 have made my f If little knomt inthofe places I have paJJ'edin that condition you now fee me \. but now. fince my conditum bath received a chanq^e which it owed perhaps to the condul] of my life ^ there ii no reafonbut I fhoMld fihmit to the obedience J owe yon\ and therefore p.nce you command it^ I will tell yon that Jam Son to the King of the Hims, and my name it Balamir. That name of B, (though he that bore it vi^as not much more aged than the Kingmy Malier ^ was already in fuch manner blazon'd througii the wc^rld by many ef» fe(ffs of an admirable valour, that the Princefs of the Cvnhruns could not hear it prrf- nounc'd without paying him that refpe(S due, and fhewing her felf glad to be oblig'd for fo great a fervieeto a Prince of that high birth, and whofc great reputation acompanic-d fo worthily all thofc advantages (he had mark'd in his plerfon : (he permitted her eyes to run over him more accurately than her grief had till then futfered her ^ and again ad- drelling her felf to him with a behaviour full of fwectncfs and majcffy, Ihis name of Ba- lamir, C faid (he ) U fo famtis throughout a^l the world, that .the very naming it is fufficient to make Hi learn all ive ou(Tht to knatv : but all that I have feen in you, feems fo conformable to that great name., that I could indeed hope no lefi from yoa.. Ton will pardon the trouble and the grief wherewith my foul is this day afjliUed-, and if they have thade me commit'' any faults againjl you^ permit me to repair them in another place, and in another condition, "the bejl I can pnffibly. ■ • ^ . After thefe words, (he prayed him to get upinfoiier Chariot, -for fear left travel on Horfe back (honld injure his wounds: but he excus'd himfelf from this great civility of the Princefs, with a profound fubmi(iion i which having rr.ore advantageoufly tclli' fied to her by his behaviour and by his looks, than by his words, he mounted on Horfe- back fo nimbly, as made him eaiily be adjudg'd able tofupport a greater travel.' The Princefs had the goodntfs to let the Burgundians know, whom (he faw in a capacityto fuccour Gondioch, that if they would carry him to Egitina, he (hould be treated like a King, and not like an enemy : but they accepted not her oifcrs ■% but making a Hand-bar- row, with the greateit dilige'nce pollible, they carried him another way, wluUi Rofimond with Balamir took theirs towards E^/ti«a, where, with Eriow^r andthe body of 7/^fo/W- dus, (he hoped to find Albiftnda, if fortune had been favourable to thefe that fought for her. You (hall under(\and at leifure, my Lord, the fortunes of them both i but .it is now tiinethat I return to the dcfolate Pharamond^ whom I have perhaps too long forfaken in this recital of what befcl to the two Prince(res. The unfortunate King of the Fr(\ obfcure, and mol\ conceal'd. Hewaodred a longtime without other defign than that to flie from the world, from the light, and from himfelf. If it were poflible : but in flying all thing";, hecouid not flief om his grief, which cruelly followed him every where, and begat a war in his bo(bm in what place foever he retir'd. At this fatal time, a thoufjnd iighs iffucd from his brcaiU and accompanied fnmetimes with fome lam.enting word-:, made tliofe place? ot tlie wood he palTed, cccho his mournt^ul founds, and had touched with pity the noli (bduiate hearts, had they been witiic(Tcs of the fad marks of hisdifccnfolatc grief Z 2 Oh 17^ PHARAMOND. Part 11. oh Tertunt ( faid he ) though all men are fenfible of thy mconi^ancy^ u there any among men whom thou haji treated likf me i 'thofe favours tvhich thou mayji have afforded me ia tt>ar^ can they be ejieemed favourr^ if they prove more unfortunate to me than all the miferies of thevanqui^di Ob Gondioch, O/' Maximus, Oh thoitKing of the Cimbrians, 1 envy your condition •, and it tvould^ perhaps^ have been moreftveet to me to have loft ten battels, and to have been de^oiVd of my ejlates, fo I had not become the murtherer of the Brother of Rofamond. Theobald us, thy death caufei me to die ten thoufand more cruel deaths ■■, and that vengeance vfbicb thou baft dying demanded, muft be cruelly executed againft thU unfortunate^ tpho tpokld tpillingly, if it were pofible, at the price of his otvn, refiore thy life, Infpeaking thefe words, and many others like them, he found himfelf near a fountain, by the fide of certain Ruines, covered with Mofs, in the moft obfcure and favage place of the wood •> and becaufe night approached, and he found himfelf wearied with that days travel, he alighted, drank fome water of the fountain, and let himfelf fall upon thegrafj, lying without any care either of the wound he had in his(houlder, or of the need he had of nouriflimcnt, having taken none all that day. It was in this place tiiat I found him a little before that the day had yielded its brightnefs to obfcurity : and as I was, perhaps, of all his, the perfon moft aifcdtionate to his fervice, and which was moft obiTgcd to it by the confidence he honoured me with> I was the moft diligent tofollow him, and the mod happy to find him. I could not fee him in the condition wherein he appeared to mc, without diftilling fome drops from my eyes i and approaching him, I accompanied for fome time my grief with my tears, and with my filence, without fpeaking a word : but a little after, hedifcover'd me v and gently turning his eyes towards me, J am much pleafed, Cleomer, ( faid he with a feeble voice ) to fee you alone near me ; for in th'n deplorable eftate into tvhich For- tune hath thrown me, the company of other perfons v^uld fcarce be fitpportable. That grief which had lock'd up my heart, and bound my tongue, hindred me from anfwering him for fome time ■■, and when I could do it, inlkad of amufing my fclf in vain to combat his grief, I entreated him not to be offended if I folicited him to depart from that phce, and go to fome other where his wound might be drefled, and he receive thatnourifliment which was neccffary : he received my difcourfe with his accuftom'd fweetncfs, yet feem'd little perfwaded > but beholding me with a languiftiing eye, which difcover'd the little love he had for life. Ah, Cleomer, ( faid he ) thofe things for which you ta\e care, are of little importance : happy fhould I be, if th'n wound tphieh gives you fo much difquiet, reere in the midft of my heart. I muft die, ( added he a little after ) andfince Fortune bathfo cruelly abused thofe hopes I durii conceive, and that in a mifery like mine, none that have not loft their reafon can thinly; of a remedy, I muft embrace that which only death can offer me, and not any longer fuffer a thought fur the prefervation of this deplorable life. He {poke to me many others things to the fame puipofe, which the length permits me not to recount you ; and whatever I could fay to him to oblige him to quit that place, he paffed the night there in the moft pitiful condition in the werU ; and though I was wea- ried, and had fafted as long as he, yet the trouble his condition made me partner in, hin- dred me from feeling it : but I laboui'd as much as I could, to perfwade him to mount on Hnrfe-back, not daring to ftir a pace from him to go feek our people, or procure things nectifary, for fear left I ("hould no more find him. The Sun was nowrifen, yet could not I judge what refolution he would take, when I heard the wood refound with the noife and neighing of Hoifes ■■> and a little after, I faw our menappearon all lides, who, having fcarched over the reft of the wood, in the end came to this place. Had I followed the intention of my Prince, I had conceal'd my felf : but on the contrary, I both fliewed my felf, and call'd them with a loud voice i and no fooner had they difcover'd us, but they came running to us on all fides > and the principal of them being alighted, approaching the King, environed him: he raifed himfelf half way to look upon them, and faw not only Piintc Ibere, Merovem, and Adelard, who had follovved him the day before, but with them he faw Charamont, Calialdui, and many 0* thcr principal Captains of the Army, who had parted from the Camp after Marcomire^ and followed him with the grcateft part of the Cavalry. My Prince, however overwhelmed with this grief, could not but with fome (hame be- hold himfelf before fo many brave men in a condition lo little conformable to hisgreat courage i and caftingdown his eyes with fome confulion, hecndeavour'd todiflemble a piitof what he felt. Charamont, and all thofe that came with him, had underftood from iifiv what had paffed the day before v and by the knowledge they had of fu great amis- turtur.t befallen t,heK.ing, thty feem'd not allonilli'd at all at thofe marks pf fadnefs tbey beheld Book III. PHAKAMOND, i;^ beheld in his vifage, and inalihis proceedings. Charamotit^ whofe fpirit was fchfibkof the mifcry of his Prince, flattered at prcfcnt his grief, inftead ot condemning it i and on- ly told him, that there might yet be a remedy for his misfortunes •■, that if he would be afi filUng to himfelf a little, and not lofe his courage at a time vvhcicin it was moU ntcclTaiy, he did not defpair to fee him iiappy. Though the King had ever a great belief in Charamont, yet he perceived now but little foundation of realon in his difcourfci attributing it to his affedlion, ratlier than to any appearance of probability ; and (baking his head with an afped that exprcfs'd his thoughts, Charamont, ( faid he ) flatter in no mare \ never rvas any misfurtttne parallel to mint : and as my mifery ii rvitbout example^ fo it is rvithout remedy^ ivithuut cmfnljUnn : I tpill there' fore feek^ neither thevne »ur the otber^ bttt only in death ■■, fir the fear which it gives to the moji happy and maji fltint-hearted comes not near the borrour 1 find in life. Though Charamont would not at hrl\ dillurb the grief of my Prince, he oppos'd tO his difcourfe found and folid reafons i telling him, That a mistoicune like that which was befallen him, might well produce (ome effeft on the moll hrm and conllant fpirit in the world, but ought not to daunt a courage like Iiis, or make him forget that he Was a great King, made illuftrious among men by fo many famous vidtories, and a King on whom the whole world had calf their eyes, as on the fairell objed of their hopes ; That a palhon like that which he refented, was pardonable in a Prince of his age, whillt it drew him not from thofe limits which were prcfcribed to his degree and virtues i but that it would be no more fo, when it fliould make him lofe the memory of what he ought to all the earth, and more efpecially of what he ought to hirrjfelf. But when he faw he was infcnfibic of this dif- courfe, and feem'd to have buried in his grief the remembrance of what ought to have been moft important to him j My Saver aign, (faid he J J had no defign to tell you all things in the condition wherein I found you ; hut fince you conjirain me by tlm abandoning^ your felf to pafjion in a timet wherein all your virtue is mnfl necejjary^ I mnji m longer fatter you^ but advertife yow, that if the love of your felf can prevail mthing with you, it is by that of glory and by that of duty that you are called to the defence of your Kingdoms. The King of the Suevesi&jf^.jjd'iw/teiFranconia i and that Viridomar wifl^w they have fo long expected, and to whom they have dejiin''d the poffefjion of Rofamond, not only accompanies his Father, hut hath^made the blood of ynur people run down in {ireams, and overturning likf an unrefifiible torrent the great eji part of your Frovinces^ has already laid fiege to the Metropolif of your Realm \ and by a bolditeji yet lefi pardonable in a Kival than any other enemy, he will Hot. prefenl himfelf before bis dejUn''d Rofamond, tiV he be able to offer her the Crown of your Fathers. Thefe words which Charamont pronounc'd with'an infinite grace and vehemency, im- printed a deep fenfe in the foul of Pharamend, and wakened him from that fatal dream wherein his grief feem'd to have buried him i and turning his head towards Charamont, he demanded of him if what he had related of the King of the Sueves, and the Prince Viridnmar his Son, were true, when he prefented to him a man on whom he had not as yet caft his eyes : Soveraign, (faid he ) fee here Harald, whom Bafogaftus hath fent to youi, be arrived laji night at the Camp, and it is from him your Majejly may btji learn the ejl ate of Franconia. Tlie King received Harald with his ordinary fweetnefsi and having liilen'd to what he had to fay, he undcrftood that the King of the Sueves and Prince Viridamar his Son, were entred into Franconia, with an Army of one hundred thoufand men, whillt the King of the Cimbrians, as it was reported, was turned towards the Country, where wcnow were with the like Force : That they had opened their palfage by the Country of the Catti, and foon cut in pieces all the Forces they found in the Frontiers: That by thefole terrourof their Arms they had made themfclvcs Matters of the Country of the ChJjfuares, and all the Territory bordering on Vifurgues : That having laid walk the Country by the leverity of the Swrn/fe King, who dcftroyed all with Fire and Sword, they wereadvanc'd towards the Mein without finding any confiderable refinance : That Bafigajiiis had per- fnrincd all the duty both of a faithful Lieutenant, and experiene'd Captain ; That with all podible diligence he had caufed Levies to be made amongll the Angrinarians, the Mar^ fes, theBru^leres, thclenderes, the S aliens, and other people which compofe Ffancunia: That with thofe Forces he had on foot, he had defended the paifages as much as he could polVibly, but that he was found too weak to oppofe fo great a power ; and having been over-powered by numbers in many encounters, and in the end defeated in a great Battel whicii he wasconftrain'd to give, and by which he had loft a great part of his Army, he was retired into Peapoli', ( which was well furnilh'd w||h all things to maintain a Siege ) refolving 174 PHAKAMOND. Part. II. tefolving to defend it to the laft man : That he had fent feveral tnefTengers, but that none were returned : That fearing left they were fallen into the hands ot the enemy, and that the Ring was ftill ignorant of the mifery of his Country, in the end, HaraW, though he had molt important employments in the Army, judging well of what ncceliity this ad- vice was for the fafety of the Kingdom, had offered to go himfelf: and that ineffedt, by t\)e dangers he had run, and the difficulties he had to enter into the Country of the Bohe- mians, the paffages of which were guarded by the Cimbrians, lie had judg'd that thofe who were fent before him had been taken. To this difcourfe Harald iddcd feveral other things, which were publifli'd of the valour of Viridomar i by whofe prefence the King his Father thought himfelf more fortified, than by his beft Squadrons i recounting many particular proofs, of whicfc no examples were to be found but in the pcrfonof P/j»/c, and Gundiocb j and how that B^- Umir^ the youngeft Son of the King of the f/«Mx, who had already gain'd fo fair a reputa- tion in the World, having overcome GoW/oc-& in the fight of llofamnnd^ had acccmpanj'd her to Egitina^ where (he caufed thofe wounds he had received to bc.drefla.1 with great care ^ and where it was reported, that he was more deeply wounded by the eyes of Kofxi- tnond, than by the Sword of Condioch, PharamoHd^ to whom Renown had already made known the valour of Balamir , and that pollibly among men theie coifld not be found a Rival of greater merit, and who with greater advantages might difpute with him Rcfa~ mond^ principally in a time wherein all things were as favourable to his Rivals, as they were contrary to him, underftood with no fmall grief, that his ill tortune liad raifed him up fuch a Competitor: and though he did not fear his valour, nor that of all men together, if all men had been his Enemies i yet he fear'd his fortune, and the advantages he had to be introduced to the Princefs by his feivices, while he himfelt had made himfelt known to her, only by too cruel offences. This rcfledion which he had made, both on the good fortune of Balamir, who by a De- ftiny fo contrary to his, had begun to ferve Rofantond fo foon as he faw her i and on that of Viridomar^ to whom (he was defign'd before a fight of her, or without having bought the polTellion, by one fole (ight, drew many fighs from his breaft, and made him fpeak many words deploring his mifery, and difcovering the birth of a padion, which joyned it felf with his love and grief, the more to torment him : but as by his great courage, he was re- folv'd again(\ the moft terrible events, he fortifi'd himfelf with whatever of moft heroick it could infpire him with, to combat his ill fortune to the end : and the corrivaKhip of two fuch valiant men, in ftead of adding to his mifery by abating his courage, revived in hitii what his grief fcem'd to have laid alleep, and rencw'd a Hre in his eyes, which denoted the return of his priftine fiercenefs i Jf^e (hdU fee ffaid he) thefe terrible Rivals, which my <:niel dejii»y hath raifed me. we Jhall fee them without fear of that great repntation renown f.atters them xvithal ; and if the Heavens be nn as favourable to them m they are eppofite to me, I dare hiipetve fljaJl fee them without envy. All things concurrto their fehcit)/, as they arm themfeher for my ruine > btit with all thefe advantages, they have not yet overcome me * and if my courage abandon me not, it Jhall cojl them Rivers of blood, before they fl;all be pojfef- foTs of Rofamond. With this refolution, which feem'd to give him new firength, and banifli'd all that fee- blenefs which his love or grief might have wrought, placing hiinfelf at the Head of his own men , we march'd towards the Elba, which we pafled over by the Bridge of Boats which he had caufed to be made i and fo into the Country of the Coldules, where we joyn- ed with the body of the Army , condudled by the famous Priam , and took our way to- wards the Frontiers of the Bohemians, whom we left on that fide where they border on the Country of the Narifques, zndi with much difficulty climbed up the Mountain?* Not but that the paflTage had been more eafie on the Coalt of Vsbittm, and the Mountains lefs crag- gy i but theKing not doubting but that the Cimbrians did defend that pafTage i and fear- ing befides, left a retardment might caufe the ruine of his Country, he flumned as much as he could the meeting with the Father of Rofamond, for tear of finding new occafions to oiTend her. From the Herc/wiiw Mountains, wedefccnded into the Country of the NariJ. qttes, and marched towards that of the Hermandnres : but bccaufe our Army came not near the number of our Enemies, not being compofcd of more than forty thoufand men, fo foon as we were parted, the King fent back Harald to Bafogajim, to advertife him of his Arrival, in cafe he could enter into Peapolis, and oblige him to come to his alhllancc i the Princes Sunn^n and Genebaud were pofkd before with all pollible fpeed towards the Pro- . vinces to make Levies, and to lead all the Troops they found in a polfure to march into the Country of the Marcomans, where the King had appointed thr general rendevouz. From the Country of the Hermandures, we march'd into that of the Harudes , which borders oa the Frontieres of Franconia j but before we entred , the King being informed what 17^ PHJRAMOND. Part II. what had paffed, the condition of PeapolU, and news of thcVnncdsTolixetta his Sifter, for whom he fuffered no fmall trouble, underflcod Hkewife, that by the valour of Viridomar, the -AfFairsof the Field were in an 111 eftate i that with a part of his Troops he had on all fides beaten the Allies of FraneoHia^ whom Bafogaflus hzd called to his affiftance, and flain with his own hand the two Princes of the "turometis and the MarcomaKs in a battle gain'd over them : That as for the bcficged City, Bafgaflus i\i\[ defended it with infinite valour i and that as he had retired into the Walls with a good party of thofe which reniain'd of his Army,-helUllmide fallies, by which he much annoy'd the bcficgcrs: That as for the Ptincefs Polixena^ (he was in Peapolit^ where (he was retired fometime before the licge,from a Palace in the Country, together with the Princefs Ihendomira, wife of I'nam^ not with- out having been in manifeft danger of falling into the liands of the Sueves, It was far- ther told him, that the King of the Sueves was fome dayes before retired into his King- dom, leaving the care of the Army, and of the management of the whole War to the Prince Viridomar his Son, for which the whole Country rcjoyc'd : not that the Prince was lefs formidable than the King his Father, who was without doubt much infcriour tohim, in valour, and tht whole mylkry of Wars bufbccaufe he better treated tlic vanquifli'd and made War with a noble mildnefsand generotity, whilll the King Siis Father put all to thefword, in all places where he commanded. The King thus fully inform'd, was allonilh'd that his Enemies could fo long time keep him ignorant of the misfortunes and miferies ot his Country, though he might well per- ceive the caufe to be the fituation of the Country of the Bohemhns, encnmpaffed on all fides, as with a high Wall, by the Hfrc/K/^wMountjins, and that vaft Forrtit, all the palTa- gcs whereof, by which in likelihood news was polled, were guarded by the C/win.7«j--, he therefore deliberated at prefcnt with the principal Commanders of his Army, what was neceffary to be done in the condud of this War, not being ignorant that he had to deal with a Prince, whofe Renown was already flown through the Earth, and who, according to the fame fpread abroad of him, was inferiour in valour to none in the World. Many of his Comrnanders were ot of inion that he was not to advance mto Franconia^ till our Army were ftrengthned by thofe Succours we expected , judging that we ought to attend thein in the Country, whither the Princes Surtmn and Genebaud had order to con- dudi them, without committing our felves, in the condition we were, to the hazard of a battle, the lofs of which might draw with it that of the whole Kingdom. But though the Kinghearkned vvillingly to the advice of his Friends. and refpeded it as far as he could, yet he could not refolve on what they prcpofed \ reprcfenting unto them, that it had little appearance of reafon to attend a Succour, wiiich by the lofs of his Neighbours and Allies was very incertain, and could not but at befl be late : That the Army began to increafe, and would by his farther advance into the Country, daily ftrengthen it felf on all fides, whillf that of his Enemies muft of necellity be weakn'd : that therefore he judg'd it better, and Oiore honourable for him and for us, to march by little Journeys ftraight to Peapojii ; That by nut wiarch we (hould either oblige Viridomar to raife his fiege, and advance with his whole Army towards us, or at Icaft with a part of it, whilft he left tlie other to beleaguer the City •, or if neither of thefe, yet to (fay in his Camp, and there expt<5t us : That if he took this laft refolution, he would thereby give us time necclTary to lodge advantagioufly, attend the Succour of our Allies, and annoy the Enemy in fuch fort, that it would be im- poliible for them to make any progrcfs in the fiegc : That if they came to meet us with a part of the Army, ours would be (hong enough to tight iti or if he intirely raifed the liege, and came with his whole Forces , Bafogjlim , who had a good party of Cavalry, which he might draw forth in little time, being free to fally, would fall upon them in the R.tar, and give no little trouble to an Army that were to hnd another in their Front i and efpccially in a Country which yielded all advantages to us, and all inconveniencics to our Enemies : That he would fend new Orders to Sttitmn, to march with all fpeed to- wards Pejpniif with thofe men he had raifed v and that he could not fail to arrive either to our alliftance,orto thatof Bofagajias. This was the King's refolution, which wasapprov'd by all his Commanders, not only becaufe it was more glorious than any other he could take, but bccauie the fuccefs might in probability be fuch as the King forefaw. So loon as it was taken, they began to put it in execution \ and on the morrow, the Aimy eiitred into Frjucnnia^ in a molt gallantordcr : the march prov'd fo much (hemoreeal)e,in that we had no Rivers to pals which in that feafon were not fordable, nor any City which might (lop ns. The City of Peafolvs is fitua* ted in a fair Plain, on the Banks ^f the River Ai««f, which on one fide waflies the feet of its W alls i whilll on the other it is fortih''d with a deep and large Ditch full of Water, and the Citadei Book IIL P H A Fx. J M N D. lyf Citadel flank'd with a great number of ftrongand Qatdy Towers which defend it, makes its approach very difficult. The King of the Siteves had befiegVl it on both fides, but his Army had an entercourfe by two Bridges of Boats, which lie had caufed to be made above and below the River: he was fciz'd on part of the Suburbs, which was on tl-,c other fide of the River, which the Inhabitants had forfakcn, feeing well they could not defend it, and was lodg'd on a Hill amongft the ruincs of an old Cafilc tlicre dcinoliOi'd, and which com- manded not only over the Suburbs, but over a Bridge of Stone which led from tiicnce to the City, the Entrance into which isfortifi'd vvitii llrong and great Towers, which the Sueves batfer'd with their Engines , and which the Franl-j defended with inHnite valour, and a refolution to break the Bridge, wiien they could no longer maintain it. Though the King of the 5«f:'e/ had affaultcd fiic City, with an incxpreilible care and condudl, yet he had made little progrefs i for bclides the experience wliich Bafogajlm had in the mylkry of War, he had fo great a number of men for itsdelencc, that he feared ra- tiier to befamifli'd than forc'd : but when he underllood by HaralJ^who favour'd by a Sallcy made by the befieg'd, found the means to get into the City, that the King march'd to his relief, hecealcdto fear his Enemies, and prcpar'd himfelf to favour his approach, ■when opportunity (liould prefent. So foori as the King of the S neves was departed , Prince F/r/Wow^r underllandingthat the Princefs Folixena was in the City, had offer'd her liberty to depart, and a coflvoy toconduft her in fecurity to any p'ace the vvould retire to: but though he had often folicited her, with all that civility due to her, that fair Princefs, born with a courage worthy her Illufirious Houfe, and inccnfed with a particular difpleafuie a- gainll thofe Enemies \^ho deftroyed her Country, and brought into it a War with fo much injurtice, difdain'd his offers, and return'd for anfwcr, that (lie was content to perid^ in the ruines of the City, if it (hould be reduc'd to that, rather than fee her felf oblig'd for her fafety, to the irreconcilcable Enemies of the King her Father. Her generous refolution in- fpir'd the like into the Princeffes and Ladies of Quality, who w»re with heri and Bafoga- fins himfelf fcem'd more ftrongly encourag'd to her particular defence, than to that of the City, Vir'idomar teftifi'd fome difpleafure at this conflancy of the Princeffes i nor Was it known whether for this confideration he lefs preflid the befieged, than they had been by the King his Father : It feemed Jikewife to his Followers, that he continued this ficge with fomc re- ludhncy, or at lead, that his vigour and natural hercenefs were obfcur'd by afadnefs ana melancholy, which they had for fome timeobferv'd in him, without being able to imagine the caufe. But both the one and the other feemed powerfully revived in him, when he un- derflood that Pharamond was entred into Franconia ■, and that that Tbaraninnd, murtherer , of Vindimir^ and lover of Bofamond-, that Tharamond^ whofe glory he had enVi'd with a generous emulation, and him whofe perfon he fought, and not his Kingdom, march'd to- wards him to tight him •, the news rckindl'd a martial ardour in his bofom, and return'd into his eyes their accuftom'd fplendour : he weigh'd not at all what refolution he was tQ take i and as it was Pharamond^ and not his people, againft wliom he would carry the War, he no fooner underftood his return, but he difpofed himfelf fo march direSly towards him, and gave, that very moment, Orders to his Army to prepare to depart the next Morning. Yet he would not wlioliy raife his ficge, fearing to difpleafe the King his Father, who hadj abfolutcly defended if, but believing with an Army of (ixty thoufand men he could over- come P/;»jm»«3W, the number of whofe Forces he had good intelligence of, left fiill thirty thoufand at the Leaguer of Veapoliu It was perhaps the great delire he had to difpute with fo famous a Competitor both in love and glory, which made him march fo readily againft him : however, he told his Captains, and the reafon Which oblig'd him to go with fuchhaft to fight hirn, was bccaufe he undcrflood that his Army was every day incrtafed by, the people of the Country, which flock'd in to him from all parts i that he fear'd if lie (hould give him time, he would m.akc himfelf fo powerful, that he fhould not be able tcj maintain the Field againft him but upon great difad vantages. There was not 6nly proba- bility and reafon, but truth in what he faid j fpt it is certain, that after our entrance into Franconia^ our Army was (Itengthned by more than ten thoufand raen, and that before WCf approach'd them, there wanted but little to make itasnufnerousas the Suevd. Pharamond^ who had his Scouts in all parts, no fooner underftood the march of Viridd- wijr, and thedivifionhe had madeof his Troops, but he tliank'd the gods for this opportu- nity to encounter him with liopesof Viflory : and having embattel'd his Troops in an admi- rable order, he march'd towards him with a joy which we had not for a long time mark'd on his vifage : yet he vvould not tire either his Men or Horfes by too long Journics : but as be defii'd Vidtory in this War more than he had done in all other, and vvcU knew that the A a lofs 178 PHARAMOND. Part. II. lofs of one Battle could not but be of a terrible confequence, he refolv'd to negleA no- thing which might give him any advantage over the moft valiant enemy he had ever to deal with. All our Commanders, and all our Soldiers, who befidcs the love they had for their Prince, were firmly perfvvaded that they could not be overcome whilft he fought in the head of them, followed him with an infinite courage and confidence. In the end, after fome few days march, which was fo much the (horter, becaufe each of the two Armies went half the way, they fac'd each other in a great Plain between the City of Vevoiia and the River Sala, a little above the place where it disburdens it fclf into the Mein. The Sun was fcarce four hours high when we difcern'd the Army of the S never : and becaufe that it was at that feafon of the year when the days are longelt, and that the King judg'd well that there was little appearance but that the fight would begin that day i he caus'd his. Troops to flop, and his Soldiers repofe themfelves , whilft he employed his time in preparing things neceffary for fo important a Battel. He would himfclf as he was always accufiom'd, not ouly view all the Plain, to obferve what Polls might be ad- vantageous to him, but alfo take notice of the countenance of the enemies, and the order of their Battel : and Fortune would, that as the Prince of the Suevej did the fame on bis iide, theyfaw each other twice or thrice, and the lad time fo near, that they had withput doubt come to blows, if they had not been feparated by a large and deep Ditch caufed by fome fpringsof water, and which was above three thoufand paces iu length. The two Princes by feveral marks knew each other, and kept for fome time along the Banks of the Ditch, one beholding t'other with a menacing afped : but as they were both generous and modeft, they threaten'd only with their eyes, without breaking into words : and niaugre the intereft which incens'd them, they had conceived mutually an efteem which permitted them not to behold each other without a refpedt: however, their an- ger might eafily be obferv d in their vifages under their half lifted up Vifers •, and if they had not rcmembred that they had two great Armies that day to fight, they had foon by the end of the Ditch fought a way to joyn, and determine by a more fingle Combat their particular quarrel. I doubt not hut Vharamond appear'd fuch to the eyes of Virldomar^ as he hath ever ap- pear'd to all other men ) but I confefs that Viridomar^ by what I could difcern, feem'd fuch a to me as nothing but m.y Mailer could equalize. That little I could difcover of his countenance charm'd me, and I had certainly been more taken with his perfon, his carriage on Horfe-back, and all his aitons which were admirable, had I not been ftillpre- fent wit'- J King my Mafier. His Arms were no lefs fair or rich than thofe of my Prince i his Helmet was covered with a Plume fo white that it exceeded the Snow, and which by the agitation of the wind wav'd upon his Shoulders > and on his Shield, with which his left Arm was charg'd, were fcen three Lions fable in a Field Argent, the fa- mous Badge of his Illuftrious Houfe : the defire they had foon to fee each other nearer, Inade them willingly depart from each other, to range their Troops, and prepare for Battel. Both theMeriand the Horfes having taken both repofe and fepaft during the farvcy of the King, at his return the Illuftrious Prij>w and the \z\\znt Char amont rang'd them in that order which they were to obferve in that days conflid. Tharamnnd plac'd himfclf in the head of his right Wing, Vr'iam commanded the left-, Jifre the Cavalry on the right, and Meroveiis ([\t\dt; zx\dChayamont brought up aR.eferveof two thoufand Horfe, and fix thoufand Foot men : before the Army marched, the King rode through all the Px.anks, and fnewinghimfelf in the body .of the Army with his face uncovered, encourag'd both his Commanders and Soldiers to the Fight, and by a difcourfc full of eloquence, and with an afpeft which feem'd that day enlivened with fomething extraordinary, reprefented iTptb them not only of what importance it was for their glory, to prefcrve that reputation they had acquir'd'info many Battels, wherein Vidory had ftill accompanied them, but the nfSei.iity which oblig'd them that day to fight for the fafety of. theii Country, which de- pended "on the event of that Combat : and the Soldiers by their cryes on all fides feem'd to encourage and quicken each other with an heat equal to his own. , Finding them thus heartned, without further delay he led them to the Combat : obferv- ing at the fame time his enemies to advance with a refolution equal to ours; and whcti the Armies were feparated but by a very little diftance, he gave the lad orders, and caus'd the fignal to be given. 'Twas now that in the middle might be feen Piles march agairft Piles-, and the Cavalry in the Wings having, levelled their Lances, part at the fame time, ai;.l cTcounCcj withan undaunted fury. TheFxiversof tlie hUine. and thofc of Sala re- ecchocd Book III. THAKAMOND. 179 ccchfied this teriible encounter i the Heavens were darkened with the SplihterS rif the Lances, and the earth covered with blood, and the bodies of men dead and dying. The Infantry defpiling the diltant Jight of Arrows, to come to handy blows^ began a fiaht much more bloody i and foon after, finding their Pikes too troublelome, letting them fall, at their feet, made ufe only of their Swords, with which, my Lord, you know better than my (elf the great maflacre ordinarily made in Battels. Fortune fo ordcr'd that Viridomar that day, as well as FharamnnJ^ fought in the head of the right Wing of the Army ■■, and fo he found himfclf oppos'd by Tnam who com- manded the left wing of ours, as Pharamond was by Altmric^ a valiant Captain, who- commanded the 5«fw}7; left Wing: fo that by this array the two Captains had not that' latistadioh which they polhbly equally dellrcd, to begin the Combat of the two Armies; with that of their perfonsv but if it proved fafe to the one and the other, it was no lefsf cruel to thofc two Wings which Trium and Aloieric commanded : for thofe two Com- manders, though valiant, could not relift the PuiiTance of tlie two Enemicis which op- pos'd them, which like two violent Torrents, ravagcfd and threw to the ground all that oppos'd their palTage. The generous ?ri.vyi^ lllultrious for a thoufand fair exploits in-, War, yielded to the prowefsof a young man, and was thrown down by the Lance of Vi', rjdjrrur: But Almeric, yet more unhappy, was run through by. that oi Fharamond.^ and fell without life under his Horfes feet. Thebllof the two Captains wrought no Gnall terrour and fear in thofe bodies that of; beyeJthem: and if on the one iidc Pharamond overwhelm'd all that flood before him, and by his example made his followers fight with fo much vigour, that they foon broke the Wing that oppos'd them, and in the end, pat it to ati entire rout s on the other fide, Viridomar led his to the Combat vvith fo much valour and good condud, that all the re- fiftanccof the Frj>ik/ was in vain, and they in the end broken, by the great force of the Prince of tlie Suever. The generous Meroaee, xvho cottimanded the Cavalry of this Wing, fjftain'd it a long time with an extraordinary valbur i and engaging in perfon with Viridomar^ yielded not unto him, till after a long and doubtful combat > but in the end, he found his (Irength inferiour to that of the Suevilh Prince, when covered witli wounds, and fearce able to fupport himfelf in his Saddle, he was fuccour'd by his friends, at a time when he was ready to abandon the Vid:ory, and perhaps, liis life to the ftrongefl-. : . • , di:j.n;;i-^. , -i yri' a. ' •.•s\/l •-.The affairs were in thiseftate, on the two fides of the. Ba'ttet, and the tvi'O Captains were on each fidepurfuing the VicSory they hadgain'd, and ignorant of. the dcfliny of the other, vihcnPharamond^ whom though the heat of the fight had a little tranfported, yet had not made him forget that he had the fame interetlin the other Wing, as in that which fought under his condud i having made his enemies turn thejt backs, and purfued them without any refilbnce, rode to a little Hill, which lie faw^ncar him, from whence he might plainly difccrn whatpafTcd over a^od part of the Plain : No foonerwas he mount- ed on it, but he perceived the misfortune of his, and beheld his left Wing defeated, and- retiring in diforder before the Sueves. This fight eniflam'd him with anger, and com- manding Ibere to purfue them that fled with a part of the Troops, and to hinder them from rallying or joyning with the others, he with the reft turn'd headj aB and as it was his perfon which he particularly fought after, fpurred on by apprciienfions both of glory and revenge^ he had nofooner taken notice of him, but with alhong Lance, he ran againli him,- af- ter he had defied him with a loud cry4 Pbarammd not difdaining fueh an enemy, accord- ing to his example took a Lance, and covering himfelf yvith his Shield, parted at the fametime with a fwiftnefs and fury which nothing could equalize: the Sun in all itsdayly furveys of the world, never beheld fo ttrrrble an enciauntcr, which^jtriade ihefe two the valianteft men in theworld prove fomething to them extraordinary.My Mafter could not hi fiiaken in the Saddle by the Lance oi Viridomar ; but as the blow was too great to pafs without a great effedl, the Horfc- girts were broken, and the Ring conftrainM to fall be- hind the Horfe- crupper, with thcSaddle between his Legs. Viridomar receiv'd the blow oi Tharfimond on his Shield, and held him fo firm in his Saddle, that he could not be A a 2 mov'd iSo PHJRAMOND. Part. II. iftov'd i but his Horfe not able to fupport the puifTance of To great a flroke, tumbled with his Mailer a great diftance oiF, rouling upon the ground, as if they had fallen from the ruines of fomehigh Tower. Tharamond b\u{hcd with (hame and anger, for an accident which had never before befel them -, but being on his feet, in an inftant i and cafting himfelf lightly upon a fair Horfe, which I had the honour to prefent him. Virldomar was taken up by his own men, but with more difficulty v and before he was again mounted, Thara- mondhzd many times call'd him, and made more than one of his own feel the effedsof thatanger his fall had caus'd. Nofooner was the Snevip Prince remounted but with his Sword in his hand he returned to feek Tbaramond i and ovenurning all that endcavour'd to hinder his joyning with him i Let us finijh ("cried he with a clear and thundring voice ) what we have heguns and fince ihott art the /iiwr 0/ Rofamond, and I the Brother of Wadimii, let us end a qnarrel, which is only PharamondV and ViridomarV, and not the Snevcs and Franks. Pharamond^ who difdained to (hun the combat, and whofe fall had incenfed him, ran at thefe words to Viridomar, with a refolution no whit inferiour to his » and both the one and the other, with their Swords in their hands, endeavoured to clear the pafTage to each other: but as the Sk^wx caft themfelves before Viridomar, we did the like to Fharamntdi both equally endeavouring to prevent thole fad confequences which might follow upon the combat of thofe two Princes. They foamed with anger, and feem'd to dart fire through the lights of their Helmets : but do whatfoever they could, it prov'd impolfible for them to get together again •, and they were conftrain'd,having thrcatned each other with their voice and with their hands, to carry thofe effedts of their anger to a general vicftory, which they could not employ in a particular combat : nor did either the one or the other forget any thing which might conduce to the gaining it by their party, however in the end neither had that fatisfadion they delired, though it feemed to incline more to our fide than the Sneves, and that we might well have hoped it, if the day would have lent its light for vidory to declare it felf entirely : for when night made the combat ceafe, there were few places in the field where the Sueves yielded not place to the Yrankj : the number of the dead o-n their party exceeded ours ; and if they retired in good order, and without any ap- pearance of a rout, we had the advantage to kerp the Field all night. We loft twenty thoufand men, and the enemies five or fix and twenty thoufand : and if Prince Priam^ Meronke, and many other remarkable perfons among us, were wounded i Almeric, who commanded next after Viridomar in the Sueviflo Army, and many other confiderable per- fons of their party, loft thdr lives. But though other perfons might poffibly have found fatisfadion in thefe marks of out advantages, Fhjramond, who was never accuftom'd to conquer by halfs, had no fatis- fadion in the event of the combat, but feem'd as much afflided, or rather as much ir- cens'd, as if he had loft the Battel : he therefore refolv'd at the return of day, to • renew the fight, and prepared all things in fuch order ihd diligence as was to be adtDii'd i but fcarce had the Sunfaluted Aurora, when he was advertised that Viridomar was paited fome hours before, and retir'd with his whole Army towards Peapoln; yet not like a man that fled, but like one called by other affairs, marching ftill in battel-array, and in condittion to fight. Pharamond, knowing well that it was not fear that made him take this refolu- tion, judged that he either went to joyn with fome reinforcement from the King of the Sueves, or to attend him at Peapolis, and give him Battel wi(h his whole Forces.,, having been deceiv'd in his hopes to carry it with thofe that followed him. - This belief obliged the King to march after him to fight him before he joyn'd. with the left of the Ariiiy V and already had he given orders to his Horfe to mount, when he re- ' ceived a Meftage frorh the Prince Swtnon, by which he afTur'd hirri, that in three days he- would be with him with twenty thoufand men. This news made him change his refolu- tion ; for not doubting but with this alhftance, and thofe Troops which Bafogaflin,hzd in the City , that he" fliould be able to fight the entire Forces of the Sueves^ he took ano- ther in the Field i and having commanded his Officers togive tbatday to the rrpofcuf the .Sdldiers, and tothe interring of the dead, as VieW Sneves ^s Frankj, he returned the mef« fenger to the Prince Sunnon, com.manding him to march diredly towards Peapoln,. and to- govern his march in fuch fort, that he fliould come to the place afljgn'd on the precifeday- and hour appointed j giving him more time than nccclTary, that he might the more ealily do it without wearying his Soldiers*, and at the fame time he fent to Bafogajhs a valiant ,;erfon, who proniis'd him toperifti or get into the City, by whom he gave him advice of the day and hour he would affauit the SfieviJhCzmp, and giving him order to fally out with his Troops fofoon as he ftvjuld hear the alarm in their Camp. By I Book III. P H A R A M N D, i8i By this means, he doubted not but he might carry the victory, how valiant.focvcr he knew Prince Viriiiomar •, and having employed that day in preparing all things nccc/Tary and exhorted the Frankj on all fides to tortiHe themfelvcs with a noble Jrefolution to deliver their Country from theoppredion of their enemies, he departed on the morrow, and marched towards Pw/'tf/w by little journics, but in the belt order in the world, keeping himfclf riill in a fighting pollure, in cafe the enemy fliould make head againft him; we might in all probability have been annoyed in this march, following an Army, who to famiOi us, ruined and burnt all in our way : but by the excellent orders of the King, and the atfedion which his people had for him, bringing us provilions from places far di- ftanf, wefulfer'dno want, but had the means in hve days to come,vvithin view of Pf^fto/^, where we might have arrived in three, if the Prince would not' have fpared the travel both of men and Horfes, to keep them in better condition to fight, and likewife to give time to Prince SttHnon and Genebaud^ of whofe advance he had every day advice, to fliew themfelves at the precife hour, at the appointed place. The Sun was juft laid down in Ihetif her lap, when we arriv'd within two hours march of the City i and becaufe the King had refolv'd to aflault the enemies at the dawn of the following day, he had caus'd his Troofis to take fome refrefhmcnt, that they might the better march in the night, to their appointed Quarters : and before darkncfs again forfook the world, we drew near the enemies Camp, and ranged our felves in order to hght: But Prince Viridamar, not being lefs expert in the myftery of War, than the molt cxperi- enc'J Captains, having forefeen a part of our defign, had not feparated his Forces ; but whilil thofe which he had left at the Siege, kept their hrll polls, though in a readinefs to fally when necellity (hould call them j thofe which we had before tought with were rang'd in battel array at the foot of a little Hill, on which, as 1 told you, the Prince of the Srteves was lodg'd, and from which he had equally the fight of the City and his own Camp. From this place, which extends its profped over all the neighbouring Plain, hefawat the break of the day, the King of the Franker alTault the Army at the foot of the Hill: SunitoH and Ceneband with an infinite fury and refolution, charging thofe who were ladg'd between the Hill and thePviveri and the valiant Bafogajius making a no lefs furious falley upon' thofe who bdieged the City towards the land fide. By this vigorous proceeding, he knew with what a perfonage he made war, and blam'd perhaps for fome time, the hafty choler of the King his Father, which had engag'd him in it. However, as he had a courage which nothing could daunt, he in a moment took his refolutions i and judging that the Troops which were on the other fide of the River, and the City, and which Baf,- gajiin auzcqaed, were more than necelTary tofulfain hisafiault, and that thofe which were between the Cavalry and the River, were too feeble to refift Sunnon : he fent fpeedy or- der to him who commanded on the other jjde the River, to cauic a part of his Troops to pafs over the Bridge of Boats, to the afliftance of thofe which Sunnon and Ceneband af- faulted, and to defend himfelf again'ft Bafogaflm with the reft : and having given orders to him whom of zWtht Stt^ves he had meft confidence in, to command againft Sunnon himfelf defcended the Hill, and came to the head of his Army tooppcfeu'fcjMOToW, The King my Mafter rem.cmbring that at the preceding Battel, Viridoma-f had fought on his right Wing, refolv'd, that he might become his oppofite that day, to fight on the left Wing; and Viridomar, who had made the fame obfervation, and who defir'd nothing ■with fo much zeal as to fight with Fharamond^ had with him chang'd his place, and put himfelf in the head of his left Wing, that he might charge the right Wing of P^^r^- mmd: this equal defi re both of the one and the other, was that which hindrcd the effc<2 of their defign i and as inftcad of Viridomar, Tharamond cncountred Haldan, a Prince of the Royal-blood of 5«m«v Viridomar [ound the Prince Jbere, to whom in the abfence of Friam, the King had given the right Wing to command, and who by a vigour which youth rendred moreftrong in him, than in his Father advanced in years, fuftained the great Forces of J'/riJewjr with infinite courage .• hot that his llrength was not found fomewhaS inferiour to that of Viridomar •■, but as he was truly one of the moft valiant men in the world, he did all that could be done againft fo terrible an enemy, and by his great prowefs, hindred a part of that diforder Viridomar had brought into the body, had it been commanded by a lefs valiant perfon. For Fharamond, he found lefs refiftance, though truly he found fufficient both from the Chief and Soldiers : but in the end, he overthrew all that flood before him, and open 'd a fair way for yiilory. The Princes Sunnon and Getiehaud^ on their fide aeSed all that could b; expc^ed from their valour : but the Troops which they commanded were much diifcrtnt i82 PHARAMOND. Fart IL different from thofe whicli had [oWowci Phara>7iond in h many famous encounters i and though at rtrft they lay hard upon the S«rof/, which were between the City and the Hill, thofe which were fent to their alliftance from the other fide had ftopt them, and difputed with them the vidory : however, they gave to Sunmn the advantage he defired, which was to amufe a part of the enemy, whilrt Fharamond combated the reft, Bafogaftus bufied at the fame time thofe whom he had before him, the Combat palfing between them with much equality, In fura, my Lord, for I (hall grow tedious to you in recounting the particulars of fcve- ral battels, to you, I fay my Lord, who have gain'd fuch important ones, and who being fo great a Mafter in the art of War, can with no great pleafure heark'n to that mean dil- courfe I make you : In fum, I fay, after a long and rtfolute Combat, by which the earth was feen covered with blood, and the ftreams of the Mein dy'd with the fame colour ; Tharamotid conquer'd intirely on his fide, and Viridomar , Maugre the valour of Ihere^ having gained fomc advantage on his, the Conquerors and the Orongcft came to the allill- ance of the vanquilh'd and moft feeble, as they had done in the firft battel i and the two valiant Princes again faw and ran at each other, with their fwords in their hands, with a fury not to becxprcffed: but they could not continue their Combat, by rcafon that the Frankj and the Sueves equally hindred them, which conllrain'd them to turn all their thoughts on a general Viftory. The force of Viridomar was too prodigious for us to dilpute > but in the end, he per- ceiv'd that he difputed it with us in vain : and knowing that he could no longer maintain liis Army, who weakned by the number of the dead deferted him, and run away in dif- order on all fides,9 he caufed the retreat to be founded i and leading with an infinite dili- gence the llrongefl to the help of the others, and oppofing them to the fury of the franks^ he made his Troops retire towards the Hill i but ftill fighting with an order whicji Pbara- »W(7«(/ admir'd i and with the ftctheft men, fiillfavouring the retreat of the wearied, which the roughnefs in many places, and the number of the Ditches made more eaiie than it Would otherwife have been, he efteem'd Viridomar''s wifdom in the retreat, no lefs than he ■had done his valour in the fight : but having for fome time obferved him, he called thofe Troops which were moft neceffary for his defign, and by his words and adions animating others to the Combat, he refolved to purfue his enemies, and gain if pollible an entire vi- dory : when the Suevei from the top of the Hill, made the Heavens eccho with their cries of joy : and foon after, Pharamond was advertifed that there were feen appear a body of twenty thoufand men, which the King of the Sueves had fent to the alliftance of his Son. Tiie King ftopt at this news, and after having a (mall time deliberated what refolution to take, he judged it not convenient to engage farther his men, wearied with long travel, or oppofe them to the fury of frefh men, whO; might charge them at fuch advantages, and e River, after he had lodg'd fome men on a little Hill, between the Camp of the Sueves and his. Twelve tlioufand of ours were this day (lain, but the enemy loft no lefs than they had done in the former battle v yet by the alliftance which was arriv'd, they yet :found themfelves ftronger in nwniber than we, but not '^n, ,^ condition to continue a fiege before an Army like ours. ' - ■' ,f r'-'r' The King employed the reft of that day, and the beginning of the following, to draw fomc Trees from that Hill where he had lodged his men, to our Camp, and (xom the foot of that Hill to the Pviver \ and prepar'd for the defign he iiad again to prefect battel to the enemy i and if he refus'd it, to aifauk him on all fides, and endeavour to chafe him from the advantagious pofts he poffefs'd > at wjiat time was fent fo^^^^^m.a Tiupapeter from the Prince of the 5aei'W, accompanied with one of his Squires. ■{, rr-,"''^ }■• ' -; '; ;• Atter the uibal formalities at the entrance of the Camp, they defir'd tofpeak vvith the .King; and the chief Otficcrs of the G^aid, leaving advertis'd the King, brought them before him by his order i he received them with his ordinary affability, and the Efquire of Viridomar, telling him that he had a letter from his Mafter, the King reaeh'd forth his hand, and having opcn'd it, read thcfc words. , ' - VirUomrtr Book III. P H A R A M N D. 183 Viridomar Prince of the Siteves^ to Pharamond King of the Fraiih^, T Hough tve are not at all rveakeri'd by thofe advantages^ nhkh thy fortune er thy valour may have ghen thee over us, and that rve can yet continue the IFar with our firfi hopes : \h Iconfefs that the blood offo many thoufand men, tvhich we facrifire to our particular quarrel moves me to companion. And therefore if thou heeji valiant, as renotvn publijhes thee and Of I have kitowM thee, thou mlt not reftife to end cur diff'erences, by the combat of our ttvo perfons. Ihou oweji thU fatisfaciion to the Brother of Vindimir, and thou oughteji to defirt it as th; love of Rofamond > aytd as I confeji that I (l.'ould win infinite glory in prevailing againjithee, fo 1 dare affirm thou wilt lofe nothing of thine, by fighting with me. Ibe Place the Day, and the Arms pall be at thy choice: for befiJes that the Laws of Combat ^ive thetH thee, i owe thu re^ed to a King, e^eciaUy to a King lefi confiderable for his Crown than Virtue. The Princes Sttnnon, Ibere, Genebaud, Charamont, Gajtaldiis , and many others the conliderabkof theArmy, were prefent, when the King recciv'd and read this Letter: no fooner had they heard it, but they began to murmur, and aloud adventured to tell the King, that it was not for a great King like himfelf, to commit himfelf to a particular com- bat : that rhefe examples were of too great confequence among Kings : that Viridomar ^ who neither was one, nor had been oiTended by Pharamond, but by his Arms, and in a legitimate defence, had no reafon to demand the Combat •, and that he could not accept it without being blam'd by all the earth, not only for the interert of his Dignity, but for having expos'd to a hazard, with which he might well difpenfe, that glory he had pur- chas'd by fo many famous vidlories. Prince Sunnon boyling with choler, demanded his place, telling him that his birth was equal to that of Viridomar, and that neither the one nor the other were refponfible for their lives to their people, fincc neither of them wore a Crowrn. Ibere uni Genebaud kidzhet him, that being born of Royal-blood, they might afpire to the fame honour, againft a man who was no King-, and Genebaud particularly alledg'd, that if Viridomar demanded reafon of the King for the death of Vindimir he ought to do the fame of him, for the wounds he had given his Father Prince Yriam in the Battel. PZ;jr/*>woW hearkned to them with his natural patience and modefiy j but in the end, he reprefcnted unto them, that if Viridomar was not a King, yet he would be fo after the death of his Father i that fince he was not inferiour to him, neither in Birth, Valour nor fair Reputation, he by combating him could neither wrong the Royal Dignity, nor the Glory he had acquir'd : and afterwards turning himfelf towards the Squire of Viri* domar \ Tnu will excufe ( faid he ) the ajfedion of my friends, who cannot without fome 'grief fee the danger I expofe my feJf to, in fighting with your Prince, h is only their fear forme, that makes them fj>eak,, and not any default either in his degree or reputation: but becaufe the danger ought not to be more confiderahle, than the honour I have to gain az^ainll fo valiant a man ■, and that pofibly my apprehension! ef injury are no leji great, nor lefi jujl tipan bis, I accept with infinite joy the occafion he offers me, to fpare the blood of our people. After thefe words, which llopt the mouths of all thofe about him, having underftood from the Efquire, that he had charge from his Mafter to agree all things with him i they agreed that the Combat (hould be fought the third day fonowing,in a place alfign'd bctwccfi the two Camps, which (hould be guarded by an equal number of Soldiers of one and the other party i that they (hould name Judges of the Field, and be arm'd with the accuflo- mary Arms of Cavaliers. They agreed moreover that during the three days there fliould be a Truce, during which the dead fhould be interr'd, and thofe perfons who wete in the City, be fecur'd to come and vifit their friends in the Camp. The King added this h[\ caufe, out of the defire he had to fee the Princefs Polixena his Sider, whom he dearly lov'd, and whofe (ight he fiad many years been banifhed from. Thofe that were about him' would likewife have had it concluded, that fince the Combat was to be fought to fpare Blood, if Viridomar fiiould be vanquith'd, his Arm.y (liould re- tire without delay out of the limits of Frarcnia : but the Efquire having reprefentcd on tlie part of the Prince his Mafter, that whatever intention he might havt to perform their deiires, he could not be affuvcd of thofe of the King his Father, and much lels if he (hculd i84 PHARAMOND. Part 11. flioulJ lofe his life in the Combat •, that Article was pafTcd over, and liberty remain'd to each to fini[h or continue the War, whatever were the fuccefs. This made us again mur- tnur i but we were conftrained to render our felves obedient to the Kings pleafure, whofe eyes were blind to the injuftice of this condition, through the defire he liad to hght with a man to whom the polTeflion of Kofamond wzs deflin'd. The King having fien'd the Agreement, fent one of his Efquires with Viridomar^j, to fee the fame performed by the Prince of the Siteves : but before his departure, he return'd Anfwer to his challenge in thefe terms : Vharamond King of the Franl^, to Vmdom.tr Prince of th^Sneves. BOth as from the 'Brother of Vindimir, and as from the Lover o/" Rofamond, I accept the Combat thou prefenteji »;e, and am n-ell content that the reafon thou haji to make Jf^ar <»- gaiHJi me both in the one and the other quality.^ fliouldbe decided by onr Arms. As the fir^l hinders thee from being my friend^ the h\i permits me not to loiethee. In as before fuffci- ently unhappy by the hatred 0/ Rofamond, mr is it necejj'ary that the fortune 0/ Viridomar f-iottid render me more miferable. I tvill therefore difpute thine mith thee, though I cannot hope it ; andfliaUdo it fo much mure tvill ingly^ tvhilji I j};all believe 1 difpute not only with the tnoji hjppy, but moji valiant of all my Kivals. This was the Anfwer which my Prinoe returned to Viridomar^ and in an hour after- wards, the agreement being lign'd by the Prince ot the Stteves^ the three days Truce was proclaimed in both Camps, and in the City, and both parties began to make ufe of the liberty it gave. By tliis alTwrance Bafogajlus came forth of the City, with the moll con- fiderable among thofc that had ferv'd the King under his command, who came to vifit him in his Tent. He receiv'd him not like a fubjed affedionate to his fervices nor hke a Govcrnour, who in his youth had educated him with fo rhuch diligence \ but like a real Father, with all thofc marks of tendcrnefs and affedtion which a fon could teftitie. Bafo' gajlus feeing in his perfon fuch fair and happy efTccits of his care, could not fufficiently thank the Gods, or applaud his own good fortune v and as he was confiderable to all for his Merit, every one took part in the inexprellible joy which he teilified. The King had dedicated a longer time to the welcome which he thought due to him, if he had not been forc'd to retire at the arrival of the Princefs Pnlixcna his filler, who •»vith the Princefs "theodomire, wife of Triam^ and many other Ladies which foHow'd in feveral Chariots, aliglucd at the Tent of the King, vvhofc impatience to fee her had inade him fend for her. The whole Army ran with ardency, anu the whole Army re- main'd aftonilh'd at the fight of her admirable beauty. For' my part, having the Idea of the beauties of Rofamond in my remembrance, 1 was of no eaOe bclict that any other could aftonifh me i but I confi-fs that- at this laft light of VoU.xena, 1 loll that opinion : for I found her beauty lb prodigioufly augmented iiuce our lall departure from Feapolis, that I could with difficulty imagine it atall intcriour to ti.at of Rojamond. Having faid hitherto nothing of this Princefs, give me leave now, my Lord, to fpeak a little i and bccaufe it is not jull you fliould longer be ignorant ot the accoinplilhments of the Siller of my King, I will tell you, that with the faircll and moft lively complexion that Nature did ever form, (he has two black eyes, and her locks of no fefs fable hue. The colour of her hair, with the more than fnowy whitcncfs of her complexion, pro- duce an admirable elTed of wonder > but her eyes create another far fuperiour : befides that they are^ well adorn'd, and of the moft exad form in. the world, they caft a lullre rot calily fupported, and a tire replete with a fpirit more than natural ; Yet they want no fweetnefs when (he is pleafcd to be complaifant ■■, and at thole times that fweetnefs is the moft charming in the world : but ordinarily a tiercenefs predominates over all her other qualities, but fuch a fiercenefs which much differing from any thing ofrlide or proud, there is nothing but it attradfs, touci^.es, and infcniibly engjgcs, though t^is effed be not ordinary, but to fweetnefs and complacency : nothing is fo lair and beautiful as the form and colour of her lips, nothing more white than her teeth. Her vifage is oval, but little, as her (latu^c and perfon j-. indeed delicate, though noble and free, and her breafts and feer bancs more fair, if polliblc, than all the reft of her perfon, \Vi (liort, it inay be faid that the Graces have compo^'J every part of her, and all hei aliens > and thougli there be nothing Book til. PHARAMOND. ,85 nothing of afFeded, ticitherin her countenance, nor in her difcourfc, (he feems together cr.livened with an air fo great, fo noble , and fo extraordinary , that into whatfoever eliate Fortune cin throw her , there may yet be dcfcern'd the marks of that Grandeur which predominates in all her perfon ; for her fpirit is much above all that I can make you comprehend, and adorn'd with that noble vivacity which gives an admirable grace both to her difcourfc and to her"aftions : (he hath a folidity in her judgment comparablfc to that of pcrfons of a far greater age, both of the knowledge (lie hath of the World, atid for a refolution not ordinarily found in thofe of her age nor fcx. I will tell you nothing oi her excellent virtue, of her wifdoin, of the regular (Iridtnefs of her manners i all that 1 can fay will be below the truth, and it may be judged better by the condudi of her life, than it can by my difcourfc. She hath been accufed often to v.'ant a loving tenderneft and compallion, and my felf have heard the King and the Princes her brothers laughing tax her of this default i but for my part, I believe that like other pcrfons (lie might be capable of it, and that (he might have a foul tender and pailionate, if (he had not always judged that fuch pallions' were vicious fo foon as (he perceiv'd them, of had not ftudicd to rclilt them by a fevere virtue. You may well judge, my Lord, that a Princefs a thoufand times more amiable thah I could teprefent her by my difcourfc, was recciv'd by a brother who dearly loved hef , and who had not for many years feen her, with the greatc(t marks of aficdion", and it is mo(\ certain, that all that which a friendfhip of this nature could produce of ten- derncfs and foftnefs, appear'd at this time. The King embrac'd her a thoufand tirne^, and a thoufand times teftiiied his joy to fee her arrived at that perfeftion of merit and beauty: And the Princefs with an admirable grace, and a difcourfc full of Charms, let him know the (hare (lie took in that great gloiy, which by his admirable adions he bad acquii'd amongft men ; but the modcl^y both of the one and the other, foon made therh leave off this lubjed, and from it they fell into an entertainment full of fweetnefs, and more particular to thcmfelvcs, in which they fpent a great part of the day. The Px'mccblheodomirahid vifited the generous Priam her Husband, whofe wound?, no more than thofe of Prince Merovetts , had not hindred them from appearing at the Camp in their Chariots, and who were now in bed in their Tents, with an entire hope of recovery. The King would not that the Princefs his Sifter, voilheodomira, or thofe which had accompani'd her, (hould return to the City with Bajogaftui^ of whofe going thither, there was a neceility : and as Iheodomira was well content to ftay with her hus- band, to ferve him in that condition wherein he was, the King detir'd the Princefs to ftay with him, at \tz{\. the three days of the Truce i' cauGng her to be magnificently lodged in his Tents which were the faireft> and moft commodious in the world. • It was there that in a more particular difcourfc, he learn'd from het in what manner (he had fpent her time ilnce their feparation , and ( by an appvehenfion which makes thofe that are violently tormented with any pallion find fome conlolation, by difcovering to any pcrfons that intereft themfeives) he related to her the (ad difcourfc of all tliat had befel him in his unfortunate loves, and made her und«r(\and the prcfent deplorable con- dition of his life. The Princefs often (hed tears at this recital i but in the end, (he liopt that fource, not to augment the afflidion of a Prince, who was already plung'd into an Abyfs, •nd endeavour'd to make him hope not only that it was not limpollible that the m?fcd of Rofamond might change, but that (by what might be judg'd by the recital he had made of her difcourfc, and all her behaviour ) her inclinations were ftjangers to thofe appearances of hatred (he was oblig'd to teftitie to him. The King, though little fenllble of this hope, yet recciv'd it more kindly froin the mouth of his lifter, than he flioijld have done from any other perfon. But if llie were atfiided with the knowledge (lie had of his fad adventures, flic could receive no com- fort for the trouble flic felt, nor affure her felf from the fear that poffcfs'd her, when (he bethought her felf that he was to tight againft the Prince of the Steeves, The Kcnown fpread abroad of his valour , and that which the King himfelf had proved in two encounters, hll'd her foul with tenor, and made her fhowr down tears, notwithftand- ing the entreaties of the King, whoreafTur'd her the bcft he could pollible, by telling her from how many dangers, which he had judged no kfs than this, bis good fortune had Tetriev'd him. He told her likewife that to divertifc; her with a light not ordinary to her, and to incenfe him to the Vidfoiy by a prcfcnce fo dear to him, he refolv'd that (he (hould behold the Combat together with jheodamir'a^ and the other Ladies which had foMow'd her, for whom he would caufe a Scaffold to be ercded in the Field i and though the Princefs teftih'd great reludancy, alluring him that flie could not fee him in that danger B b Without i86 THARAMOND. Part IL without betraying too great marks of fear, yet he importun'd her in fuch mannerj anda- bated her fear with fo great hopes, that in the end (he refolv'd to obey him. . The tirft and fecond day of the Truce pafs'd in this manner ; and that I may not re- tain you in too tedious a recital,the day appointed tor the Combat no fooner appeared, buc all things were prepared. At an equal diflance between the two Camps, they had en- epmpafs'd with Barriers a great fpace of ground, in which the two Princes were to tight : that part which viewed the Camp of the Sueves^ and by vA\\c\\ their Prince was to enter, was guarded by two thoufand ^wfi/e/, chofen amongft the moft coniidcrable of their Ar- my i and that which was on our fide, by a like number of Fm«V, as liad been agreed. The rert of the two Armies were to keep within their Camps, where their Officers had or- ders te detain them. On one of the other fides was ereded a Scaffold for the Judges of the Field » andoppofiteto that, theKinghadcaus'danother to be rais'd for the Frincefs, and the Ladies of her Train > having however fent to know of the Prince of the Stteves^ if he would confent that the Princefs roZ/pc^wa his Siller, and fomc Ladies that were come with her to vifit him, fliould be fpedlators of the Combat. The Scaffold tor the Princefs was covered with magnificent Tapirtry, and had on the top flretched out very high a Pa» vilion of a light fluff but rich and fliining with interwoven gold : and becaufe all before it was open, there was to befcen belov/ the feat appointed for the Ladies, and in the middle above all, that for the Princefs, with a covering of gold which made it remarkable. So foon as the hour appointed for this terrible Combat, which made fo many thoufands of perfons to tremble, was come, that the Guards of the Field wererang'd, and that the Judges,who were Bafogajhu for the King,and Haldan for Viridomar, had taken their places in their Scaffolds '■> the Princefs, and the Ladies of her Train were conduced to theirs by Ibere^ Cenebaud, and many other confiderable perfons : and Volixena having taken her place C and made Ibeadomira and the other Ladies fit down in thote ordain'd for thern ) drew all the eyes of thofe who werefonearasto obferveheri though jt might be faid that her beauty had loft fome part of its luftre, by the effedt of a fear which made her look more pale than ordinary, and feem'd to take from her eyes a part of that vigour which they had at other times. Her habit had been extreme carelefs, if the might have followed her own humour \ the fadnefs which accompanied that fight, not only having made her forget, but refufe all ornaments, if tiieKing, whofe thoughts were contrary to hers, and who would not that at this time there fliould appear any thing of fadnefs in his party, had not importun'd her to do otheiwife, and add the lultre ol Gold and Jewels^ to that of hej excellent Beauty. She had not been longplac'd, but that -Gn both fides the Plain and the River might be heard toeccho back tiie found of a hundred Trumpets i and at this noifc, as terrible at this, as it had been pleafing and agreeable at other times, were feen to wax pale hundreds of vifages, and hundreds of valiant men tremble, whofe own peril could never have made them fear. A little after, and as it were both at the fame time, the Champions prefented • tbemfclvesat the entrance into the Barriers, accompanied with two flourifliing Troops of their own party, whofe number was equal, as it had been agreed. Though the foul of my Prince was abandon'd entirely to grief ilnce his faft snisfortun'e, yet he would not now demonftrate it, nor give by the knowledge of it any caufe of joy to iiis enemy i and therefore inllead of denoting his fadnefs by his Arms, as hoiihad for fome time before done, not doubting but Viridomar would be magnificent in his, •he co- vered himfelf that day with thefairelt ; nor had he any thing in his whole Equipage which v^as not pompous and magnificent. Prince Stt)t)wi carried his Helmet, coveVd with fe» veral Plumes ■■, Cbiramnnt came after with his Lance, chofen among a number iorfo im- portant an (ifficei and I had the honour to carry his Stjjeld : In which, inlUad ot the fa- iiiuus iinlign of his Houfe, he had caufed to be painted a hand coming out of a Cloud, and darting Thunderbolts on a heart which was exposed to them, with thefe words in the I[i6man Tongue. • . Lfj? o'uel than thofe, of your Eyes. Entringinto the Barriers, he cover'd his head with his Helmet, charg'd his right hand with his Lance, and hiskft with his Shield, and advanced with a counttnauce like to that of the god of war, at the fame'inftant that Viridom.u appeared on the ptlier fide in the fame polture. It was impollible to fee any thing more llately than Ins Aims, the precious lipncs whereof by the luixre of the Sun, whicli darted its Kayes from above, dazlcd the eyes of the Beholders ■> yet they !hone more lively on his Helmet, than on his Curiafs, be- hind Book III. THARAMOND. 187 hind which was raifed a long Pennon laden with fo many feveral Plumes, that lusHeaJ . feem'd to bow under their weight. His Lance, though ftrong and weighty as it was, was cover'd with little fcaks and devices of gold and enamel ■, and on his Shield be had caus'd to be rcprefentcd a Love in a languifliing pofiiire, turning. his eyes troi.n a Sun which darted its Rays through all the Hemifphcrc, and turning them towards, another, which only appeared conhiiedly behind the Clouds, which concealed it, with ilicfe words in tiie Latine Tongue ; IFhither nty Vefihiies jJ.'all call mt. There were few of thofc perfons who endcavour''d to explain the device of Viridnmar' who did not believe that by tlie Sun which he difdain'd, he meant iouie beauty which he had known, and whom he had abandou'd for Knfamoitd, whom he had never feen nor known, but by the fame of her Renown. He was mounted on one of the fairell Hurfcs in the world, tierce and proudly prancing v and whom he managed with (o good a grace, that if I had feen him at another time, I had beheld him with pleafurc and admi- ration. The two formidable Warriours, having beheld each other with an eye full of incens'd anger, while the Sun was equally divided to them according to cuftom, after the Heralds had made their ufual Proclamations, gently advanced to the dillanct- of an oidinary Car- tjere, whence they darted at each other a countenance that ftruck fear into the moil hardy \ and when the Trumpets had given them the lart lignal, levelling their Lances, and letting their Horfes go with a fury which nothing could equal, they encuunter'd in the middle with a ftiock, which refembled rather that of two armed Galleys, or foniething more furious thai^ that of only two men: their Lances were good and iirong, but they broke into athoufand fplintcrs, which flew towards the Sky with a violence fufficient to have ftruck the Stars from the Firmament j and the two valiant Knights having receiv'd the terrible blows on their Shields which refilled them, bended and (liook in their Saddles through the force of two fuch powerful aflaults : but flaying themfelves with all their ftrength, they refeftlcd themfelves equally, and fpurring on their horfes, whom fo fierce a rencounter had almo(\ fet upon their Groupers, they finilh'd their Garri«re, and turning about, appeared in as good pofture as if they had never encounter'd. ^Twas now that having turn'd head, they drew their terrible Swords, and were about to return to each other with a fury fo much the greater, as the elfedi of their encounter .' poflibly little anfwerablc to the hopes they had conceiv'd, had equally incenfed them i when by a prodigious effcCt of Fortune, Viridomar being near to the Scaffold of the Prin- cefs, though he had fufficient reafon to bufie hiinfelf wholly in the affair in hand, lifting up his eyes towards her, eafily obferv'd her on her feat, which was rais'd fo much above the refl, that it was not ealle for him to mitbke her. At this fight he lisem'd not only allonifh'd, and wholly loft, but remain'd unmoveable \ and planting hinjftU before the Scaffold in the poilure of a man who remembred no longer what he had to do : godt ! Cfaid he, fo high as to beunderftood by many peifons J this is the fame : and i little after, AIm I ( added he ) what fortune is mine ? He was in this poflure when Fbaramond came up to hiii) with his Sword in his hand, and with a countenance which flruck with fear all the Sueves, It hac) been calictbr him to have flruck him in a time wherein he put hiiTifelf in no poflure to defend himftlfi but as ordinarily he preferv'd in all fights his judgment entire, heobferved the adion and poflure of Viridomar •, and feeing that he nejthcr prepared to affault hiin, nor defend him» felf, he would not make ufe of the advantage he gave hirt), but approaching him with his Sword advanc'd •, Hob?, Viridomar C faid he ) hali thou then forgot that thou haji a» ene- my before thee, an enemy whom perhaps thou ha\i no reafon to dejpife (• The Prince ot the ^Kftte/feemed to be awakened out of a profound fleep, at the words of Pharamond ■■, and beholding him with an eye troubled with the dilfereur thoughts that turmoyl'd hira i Pharamond ( faid he ) I am not at prefent in a condition to fight thee \ and if thou art jiili g^enerouf, thou vcilt not refufe to delay tilt to morrow the end of enr Combat. Fbaramond wzs is muchaftonilh'd at this Adventure, as he had ever bten in his lifei and as he certainly thought it was no fear of the event that could tnake Viridomar quit the Com- bat \ fo he could not divine the caufe, nor imaginjgpjtvhat judgment to make : he kept filence awhile, obferving his behaviour, but foon after breaking it, IVe f^ioulddo weHdzid he ) to finijh what we have begun: for we Jhall be blamed by all the world, to have broken but oHt Lance to difjute Rofamond j iat '/ thou haji any wound, or any reafon which hinders thee B b 2 t$ i88 THARAMOND. Part. II. to finijli ourCembat^ I mill mt refttfe thee the delay thotcdemandefl, ViridomarauCv/eted not to thefe words of PWj»« and being mounted on Horfcback, was returned back in great halk. TheKingfindinghimfclf more free by his departure, gave the Letter to the Princefs hi$ Sifter to read, defiring that from her hands it ftiould pafs to thofe of Sunnon, Ibere^ and o- ther principal perfons, who coveted to fee it. At the reading of it, the countenance of Folixena was covered with a carnation dye, which render'd her yet more beautiful •, and the King beholding her with a figh > My Sijier ( faid he ) I am peftbly not lightly obliged fo your beauty^ nor could it froduce its effeQs in 4 time more favourable to me : but in truth J mHJl confef! I findit fitpernatural-y for though I rvas furpris'd by the divine beauties of Ro- famond, the firji moment I faxv her, it was in a time i^herein I dedicated all my afedion to her^ had nothing to think^ofbut her^ no enemy before me able to divert or bufte my entire thoughts : "this would makf me judge that the Prince of the Sueves had feen you before^ if I had not too ff'eat reafons to confute that opinion : For in fum, you were witnefl with what zeal and with what animofity he defired the Combat againji me; and you are ivitneji horv he quitted it^ and ceas''d to be my enemy, fo foon as he faw you, and k^new me for your brother. The Princefs anfwered not at all to this difcourfe of the King, either out of a modeft frame which would not eafily permit her, or out of anger for the prefuinption of a perfon who durfl declare fo publickly, and make known to all the world he was enamoured of her : yet after many importunities, (he told the King that (he had never feen Vmditmar^ and that (he as well thought he had never feen her v when the King again continuing i However it be ( faid he _) I cannot refrain from conceiving infinite joy at this adventure ■■, for befdes the danger I was expos''d to, in combating a man, whofe jlrength has not been hitherto found iiiferi^ OUT to mine ; I lofe hint, who of all my Rivals was the mojl formidable, and who with a me- rit equal to that of Balamir, and the moji accomplijh'd perfons in the world^ had the advantage toh^ordain^d^y the King of the Cimbrians to the prffejfiou o/Rofamond. Ihis gnod effe£i ( faid the Princefs, with a (ie(h blu(h ) might appeafe a part of the chjler I have againji him if the caufe which produced it^ had ever produced anything lefS pleafing to me : but as not hint is more dear to me than your fat is fad ion and repofe, I would willingly be expofed to the war you wage againji me, to fee you freed from fuch an enemy, and fuch a Rival. As there are none but our friends ( replyed Pharamond ) 1 Jhall without difficulty tell you. that bt fides the in- tereji Ihave inthe change of Vwidomzr, 1 fee nothing in yours which may dijfleafe you : for kefides that there is nothing in the world, to which by reafon of bis great degree fair repu- tation, and all otbtr advantages, this Prince may not ajjire ■, I confeji, that in the concernments we bad together, I have conceived fo much ejieem, thaugh I had little friendpip fir ^tm and inhis carriage wholly extraordinary its it U, I find fometlnng fo great and fo noble that if he hath need of me at this time, 1 fl>all m way oppofe him. The King tinifh'd thefe words laughing, butin fuch a manner as made the company judge he had fpoke his thoughts ? aixd I90 PHARAMOND. Part II. and the Princefs endeavoUving to dilTemble the trouble they gave her. I hope my Lord ( faid (he to the King) that if Viridomar k^efs his word rvith yoit, ive (hall not hear any thing fpoks of him, but by the noife of his renotvn ■■, and then neither flisll ive have anyfabje^ to complain of him, nor yon occafion to be either oppofite or favourable to him. The King judg'd it not convenient to explain himfelf farther on this fubjed i not would he prefs the Princefs overmuch, in a matter he perceiv'd but little plealing to he^i but as the change of affairs requir'd new refolutions, the three days of truce being cx- pir'd, and he not knowing whether the Sueves would continue the War, or retire with their Prince, he fent Gajialdus with a Trumpet to know their intention. Cijialdns went to their Camp in the ordinary form > and foon after returning, reported to the King, that Viridomar was departed from the Camp at the break of day, accompani'd only witii three or four men •, not as it was believed , with defign to return to his Father, from whom by his knowledg he could hope but a very ill treatment : That at his departure he had exhorted the Sueves to retire, and had prayed Haldan and the priccipal comman- ders of the Army, to lead them back into Suevia, hoping that the King of the Franl{s would grant them free paifage : That he would not ufea greater authority tor tear to offend that of the King, who was highly jealous i but had tcHihed to all the Captains, that he would never lofe the remembrance of what they fhould do at his delire: That they re- folv'd to obey, though they intinitely fear'd the difpleafure of their King •, and were ready to retire, if Pharamond would give them a free retreat. The King, who with no fmall trouble beheld the miferies of his people, entertain'd with joy the Sueves refolution, and not only afforded them all forts of alhllance and favour in thevr retreat,but offer'd all forts ot good entertainment and noble conditions in his Court, to fuch as miglit tear the choler of their King. He gave magniricent prefents to the prin- cipal, and treated the reft like Friends and Allies, through all the Lands of Franconia v delivering our Country from the oppreffion of their Arm?, and from a bloody War, in which by the unjuft difpleafure of their King, there had peridi'd many thoufands of men. The King entered into Feapolis, where he had not tor a long time been feen ; and Franco- nia breath'd under the fweetncfs of peace, thoilgh to all appearance it could not be of long continuance. , The Frankj began now intinitely to rejoyce, at the fo much defired fight of their Prince : and as by his excellent virtues, and the fweetnefs of his government, he had drawn the hearts of his people with a violent affeflion, all his fubjeds ran from all parts to Fe- apolis to fee him, fo that his Court* was without doubt greater than that of the greateft Monarchs. There might you behold renew'd all the pleafures, and all the moft floiirith- ing divertifements, by the magniiicence of the Prince, which drew from all parts all that fould contribute to them. But during the repofe of others, his mind was cruelly tor- mented 5 and if the lieat of the War, the fence of Honour, and the jealoutle he had conceiv'd againrt Viridomar, had apparently buried a part of thofe violent griefs that af- flided him: Now he had no longer thole objeds of glory, of duty, and of emulation, which had before buhed his mind, but that his grief and his love might mOre eafily be felt j in this appearance of repofe he feem'd to taft, they began again to make War upon him with all their forces, and caft him into the moft difconfolate condition imaginable. The divine beauties ot Kofamond, and all that could contribute to his love , not only now rcturn'd to his memory but withal what was mo(\ powerful to force his love, what was i.nolt foruiidable to caufe his tear, at the fame time prefcnted it fclf. The marks of her firft anger tor his former offences, and that of her latt for the death of Iheobaldus, witii the cruel promife by which (he was engag'd to purfue him to death, appeared before his eyes in their moll terrible (liapts, and rendred his condition' more miftrabJAihan th'tt'tf the moil untbftunate living. He loved the Princefs of the Cimbrians with tne moft vio- lent love that ever heart tdt, but he knew he was hated with a hatred little inferiour to the love lic bore her, and with a hatred which not only made her infenfible of his love, but made her arm, or caufe to be arm'd ail the Power imaginable againil his lifei yet with this knowledge he could not retrain not only from adoring her, but could no Ion- ger live without feeing Iier v but as he well pcrceiv'd that the light of her was a happinefs, he could with little appearance ot rcafon hope for, he niiierably confum'd and fpent his d:jys of all men the molt deplorably. ' . All. his triends exceliively atflided themfelves •, and as the caufe of his evil was no lon- ger fecret, thofe who were the moft familiar with him, the young Princes, and tbofe to whom age gave a little more authority, as Friam , 'Bajngafus, Chjramo>tt, and others, rcprefented to him all things which they judg'd convenient to yield him comfort; but though Book IV. V li A K A M N D. 191 though he hearkned to thdr difcourfe with his accuftorri'd atfability, and inftcad of bciiif, troubled at it, teftify'd his obligations for thcfc marks ot their aficdtion, yet he made them in the end know that thefe endeavours of thiers were wholly unprofitable, and that as he was unfortunate in a manner wholly itrange, and ot which never any cxjniplc had htm fcen, if they could not lind remedies proportionate to the nature of liisiU, lie mull on- ly lament it, and attend fome comfort from heaven, or from the change ef hjs iv>rtunf. He fpoke thefe words oftentimes with a troubled countenance , and not feldom .with rears, which with all the greatnefs of his courage he could not retain > and in (uch fo|t did he foJten them by his difcourfe, and the fwcetnefs of his behaviour,; tl^t they 113^; pp longer power to oppofe him, but received into their louls the (ad imprellion ot hi^roj- feries. ,.'.-[ The Princefs ToUxeiu was aiflidcd in fuch manner, that it fcem'd.not to be the gri^f of a brother, but her own that (he refented i and as the King difcovcr'd, himfeif to, her more than to any other perfon, all that he had in his heart, ihe had. greater caufetprflf- flidt her felf, and become paifionate for him, than thofe whu only faw the exterior txiaths of his love and grief. To fettle him again in thofe glorious defigns which the courfe of his love had interrupt- ed, they propofed to him the palling over the lihine, and the Conqucli qf the Gj^/j-,. in a time wherein it was fo rnuch more eafie, in regard the Roman Empire was depriv'd of all its llrength, the Goths under the condud of Alanc being poiTei^^'d of Ru^wf and /mAj^, tiie Vandals under G««^fr;c/!;, being re-en^^into Spain. The Empciour Honorius palhrg his lifc in folitude at Ravenna^ not fo ^^n as informing him(elt ot the ir.iferics of the Empire i and you, my Lord, in whom only it could hnd a flay and defender, languiQi- ing in the chief City of the leUofagesoi a cruel wound, from whence nought but death was expedfed: But the love of Pharamond, who other times had been fo delirous of all opportunities to reap honour, and fo firmly fix'd to this cnterprife, render'd him now ii}- fenlible of thi? Importunity j and he reprefented to thofe who fpoke to him of it, indeed with fufficient appearance of reafon, that though he had a paliionate deCre, yet he had little caufe to abandon his Country, and deprive it of its main flrength at a time, when it was threatned by the King of the Cimbrians^ and the King of the Sueues^ who inten- ded not only to affault it with all their own powers, but according to the common re- port were arming all Germany againft him \ but that when by the alhflance of heaven, ei- ther by Peace, or the events of War, he fliould fee his Country fecurcd from his enemies, they Ihould fee him more delirous than ever to attempt any enterprife to which honour call'd him. .1 He liv'd, or rather languifh'd miferably in this condition, when one day walking in an Alley in the fair Gardens of the Palace with the Princefs his Sifter, three men came to falute him, two of which he prefently knew for an Efquire of Prince Marcomire's, and one of the Officers he had left with him, and the third loon after for Albimir^ that Inhabi- tant of Marobuda, ot whom I have already fpoke, by whofe means his Letter was deli- vered to Rofamond, and from whom he had rcceiv'd a Note falfned to an Arrow during the War with Gandioch ■■, and whom at his entrance into Marobuda , he could not find, though he made diligent fearch after him. He receiv'd the two firft with his accullomary affability i but fo foon as he knew Albimir^ he embrac'd him, and fliew'd him a thoufand kindnelles extraordinary , not without many times changing colour , and giving the Princefs his filler occalion to note that the fight of hiin did very much'concern him. He demanded in the end with a longing defire, and as it were all at the fame time, rewscf the Princefs Rofamond, of Prince Marcomire^ and the caufe of their arrival : they feared at fir ft to fpeak before the Princefs'v but the King having told them that he had nothing to conceal from her, the Squire of M^/rcowirfafTured him that the Prince his Mafter was recovered ot his wounds, having been a long time ill at Egitim : that he had been well attended by the care of Albifinda^znd by the Orders of Rq/i/wswi her felfj and that by what he could judgc,thc Hay he had there made, was not at all prejudicial to him i but that at the fame time that the King of the Cimbrians was arriv'd at Marobuda^ Briomer had caufcd him to be ftopp'd at Egittna, where he was very flrongly guarded, and not permitted to fee but a fmall number of his people whom they had left with him to ferve him ; Jhat the Princefs of the Suevet had made great complaints, reprefenting that a Prince who had cxpos'd his life for her de- fences and (hed his blood to refcue her from the power of her enemies, (honld not be treated like an enemy : That the Princefs of the Cimbrians feemM but ill fatisried i. but that neither the one nor the other could hinder the eifcds of the King's will, nor that of ^Tiorner^ who was folely powerful with him, and ieem'd more ineens'd than bimlelf to the revenge 192 VHAKAMOND. Part. II. revenge of 'theobaldm : That the Principal of thofe who attended the Prince, were like- wife detain'd and kept Prifonerss and that the Squire who fpoke, and the Officer of the King had with difficulty fav'd thennfelves by the alfiftance of Albimer^ who was likewife come with them, by reafon of the little fafety he could hope for in the Court of the King of the Cimbriaus, where he was known to be affedionate to the King of the Franks^ by reafon of the earneftnefs he fhewed to ferve his Brother. The King was infinitely difpleas'd and vex'd at the imprifonment of his Brother, and teflified a great forrow to have forfakcn him at a time when he was ftrong enough to have refcued him out of the hands of his enemies : but remembrifig at the fame time, that nei- ther the Prince was in a condition to follow him, nor could he have taken him from the place where he ^vas, without carrying the war to a place where Kofjoiond was in perfon, he found himfelf not fo guilty, and lefs worthy of reproach. But all the difpleafure which had incens'dhim forthe intexcR o{ Marcomire, could not hinder him from lending attention to what they faid concerning Rofamond ; and he under- ftood from the mouth of Albhner^ who was better inllruded in the affairs of the Cimbn- ans than MjrMwirA ' Efquire i that Kofamond, having made Lome itay azEgitina, was by the Orders of the King her Father, at his arrival there, returned to Marobicda^ accom- panied by the Princefs /^/^//i«!^J and Prince Balamir : That the la(t had been admirably well received by the King of the Cimbrians^ as well for the afliftancthe hop'd from a Prince of his degree, asbecaufe that with fome Troops that Bcwwer had given him before the arrival of the King, he had utterly drivei^|eB«c^?/«^i nor had he at all any doubt but he would teiliHe the mod violent refent- tnents for the deatli of his Son. But in the imprifonment of Marcnmire^ a Prince of ad- mirable merit, whom he had always dearly loved, and who was not fallen in that dan» ger, but for his particular interelt, he met with matter of afflidfion, in which he could not comfort himfelf > and as in this accident he faw himfelf not only concern'd by fraternal amity, but by honour, which engaged him to fuccour his Brother, he could neither hnd one moment of repofe, nor one grain of patience. Ah ! let IK marcb^ ( faid he, breaking out into a pallion ) let us march tvithout farther ieUy ■■, and ftncs my dejferate misfortunes xviH yet again lead metoihife crnel Plains^ where I have loll f> mHch^ let uf once mnre cover them rvith armed men^ and refcue Marcomire from that barbiraiis Kiiig^ in rehom my go»d intentions begat nothing hut cruelty. It U to me a dejperate mifchief but it is a mijchief rvith which no confideration can dijfence ; and at the price nf all my fortunes^ and all my repofe. nay of mine oivnUfe, 1 mnji deliver Marcomire. He remained fome time in this refolution, preparing to ad what he thought himfelf boOnd to, notwithltanding all that his love could infpire him with : but a little after, Jiikning to thoughts quite contrary, and feeling the power of his atfedir.n, which pre- Tented it felf with its entire Forces i If^herefore ( rcplycd be to himfelf ) jhould I again make War againji Pvolamond } for I (hall not only prefent my felf in Arms againfi her Father, but I jhall with tny Arms ajjartlt that fame City, where Jhe is environed rvith Marcomire, and with the fame ill fortune which hath accompanied me in my love, after having fain her Bro- ther, I fhiuld put my felf in danger to deprive her Father of his life. This thought made him rave and tremble from head to foot : and as by the proofs he had made, he had reafon to fear his fortune in all that regarded his love, he fear'd that it would prove fo fatal to him, as to make him flay the Father of Rofamond. This fear madehimgrow pale i and ftill more and more fortifying it felf in his mind, made him refent all it could contain of moft cruel, or moft terrible : fo that having his fpirit wholly fiird with this dreadful Idea i Ah, ( cryed he ) / n>ill not again make war againfl RoTa- mond, atd draw on my felf that danger ( to which I feem provoked by my cruel deilinies ) to charge my felf before her, with crimes yet leji pardonable than thofe I have unhappily C'immitted ; I have already toa much (hed the blood of her miferable fubjeds , and I would I cmld repay with all mine, that which I have jfilt nf her IVt/jhioiu Huufe : I have o- ther ways to fatisjie what I owe to Duty, and to fraternal Amity j and I will yet deliver Marcomire from the hands of oar enemies, withotit appearing an enemy to Rofamond. He was turmoyl'd for fome days by thefe different thoughts, without being able fo de- tertnine what he (hould do: but in the end, he took his refolution, a refolution wholly agreeable to his love, though little to prudence and his dignity s and having caufcd Al- bimer to be call'd, withdrawing with him alone into his Clolet > Albimer f faid he) whatfoever injury I receive, from the King of the Cimbrians, I cannot refolve again to carry a war into your Country ■■, and though J am obliged to it, by the uiijujl iniprijonment of my Bro- ther, I may frnd perhaps ways to deliver him, without rendring my felf more criminal to the Princefiwhom I adore, and whom I friali adore to my death : and if all others fail, I have one infallible one, which I (hall embrace in the utmoji extremity, and by which I (liall acquit my felf at the fame time, nf what I owe tt Marcomire, and of the hatred of Rofamond. I fear indeed that if the Kin^ of the Cimbrians fee me return armed into his Country, he jhould be tranfported to fome fatal refolutions againji my Brother, and that thfe powers I employ for his liberty, Jhould be turned againji hii life: but above all, Albimer, I cannot live without the fight of Rofamond, though the lofi »f my life Jhould infallibly accompany the fight of her ; for at prefent, itU fo unfertttnate and deplorable, that it would be but a bad effeCl of its pru- dence, to think^of its prefervation j and I hazard Co little in hazarding it, that my friends can- not blame me with reafon, when they fee it exposed to this danger. "tU fortkU rejfiu, Al- bimer, that I have need of your ajftliame : and if by your help I may pafr unknown to '^\\to- buda, and remain there fome days, and frnd means to fee the PrinceJI, you ought not only hope all things from my ackfiowled/ments \, hut if this hope is beneath your courage, you may be ajfured that I will be indebted to you for fomething more precioiu than all I can hazard, nor ever forget how much I am oblig'd. After thefe words, he more clearly explain'd his intention to Albimer, whom though the greatnefs of the danger to which he would expofe himfelf, made fomewhat fearful, C c he .194 THARAMOND, Part II. he found in himfomuch difpofition to ferve him, that he had nothing to conquer in his Ipirit, but that fear he had for a life or a liberty fo precious: in the end, the King van- quifh'd all difficulties, not by reafon, but by refo'ution •, and the fame day, calling Friarn, Bafogajius and Charamont, to whom only he would communicate his defign, to hinder them from being alarm'd by his abfence, and to oblige them to fupply by their prudence the ill effeds it might produce. You may judge, my Lord, that they withllood his de- fign with infinite reafons, but they withftood it in vain j and the King, who by his natu- ral aiTability, had all his life treated them rather like Friends than Subjedts, fpokc tothem now with fo much authority, and teftified fo well that he would be maltcr at this time, that they were conftrain'd to fubmit to his will, though with much averfion and dif- content. Yet it was by their counfel that the King parted not from Veapolis^ in an efiate fo as to alarm his Court or people-, but as he had not his Troops in that readinefs his necedities requir'd, by reafon of the threats and preparations of his enemies, and fo wanted no pre- tence to vifit the Frontiers, dayly threaten'd tobe affaulted by the St us •, yet the knowledge he had of the valour of r/je aJfdHlted it^ '•' He fpoke to the Kin^ only rhefe vvords, and in the fame inflant quitted him, believing' that he ought to go fcarch a grcatcl-alfiftaljce than we could give him, againll a numbef 6( men thrice as many as we, The King rtdpfTomc time, ro'conlidcr the llrangcnefs of itKi^ adventure, and the fantaftick hui-h()ur''6f liiVfe/rnine, \Vhiifh had condudrd him to fucK an opportunity V but he deliberated not'it^lf whitrtfrihuroh to^take, but wh.eir^/i^r was no and caAing himfelf on a Horfe, which without a Mafter pafs'd clofe by him, he returned to the Combat with his Sword in his hand ■-, and fpurring up by the fide of Fharamond with his Sword in his hand, made him mark with aftonifhment, and it may be with fome difpleafure, the courage of his Rival. 1 did what was poilible for me at fuch a pinch, to reuact my ftlf worthy the iionbur to accompany fo great a Mailer i and Albhner fought near me with fufficient gallantry ; bu't our enemies, whether they fear'd a greater help, or found themfelves too weak to retitt the tempeft, fell from the Arms oi ?haramotid :it\^ "Balamir^ made little re- firtance, but after having a fliort time maintain'd the hght witii icfinitc diforder, and feeing more of their Colnpanions piefled to the ground under the weight of their -ga- ping wounds, forfook their enterprife, and in the fwiftnefs of their Hotfes fought- their fafety. B, foHow- ing them, flew fome of the floweft i but he foon retum'd afham'd to purfue vanquiih'd and affrighted men, having more impatience to return thanks to his defender, than/ 1«> revenge himfelf of his enemies. He approached him with a demeanour; which! for befides that we ouiiht to ad with more modeliy againji a Trince of fo fair a reputation, I doubt not but he will defend his head againji all the Power of the earth. If he defends it againji you (replied ray Prince) he will defend it eajily againji the rell of his enemies ■, and by what I hear by publiel{_Renown, I doubt not but tboje who have fo highly engarred info bold an enterprife, will run a doubtful hazard. Thefc words obliged the Prince of the Huns to look mere rtrictly upon my King, and poflibly with fome lufpicion, when we faw appear eight or ten men on horfcbacii, who advanced towards us on full fpeed. The King no fooner faw them, but he demanded of Balamir if they were his enemies ■•, but the Prince who knew them, though they were yet a good fpace diftant, having affur'd him that they were his friends, and pcrfons who came to ferve and aliift him : I leave you then with them (faid he) fince I am no longer necef fary to you, and that lam called hence by affairs very important. Fini(hing thefe words, he turned the head of his Horfe to depart^ when Balamir flop- ping him by the skirts of his Armour, Wherefore ffaid he) will you leave me without let- ting me krtow to whom I am obli^dfor my life ? and when you Jhould be Trince Marcomire, m many appearances makf me fufpeH , you may believe me, that thofe contentions I have for love, or^far glory, with the King of the Franks, fljonld not hinder me from rendring to his bro- ther what 1 owe to my valiant Defender. I am neither him whom you beliez'e (faid my Prince) Mor any other perfon may be kttown to you ■■, but I hope that we pall fee each other in a place where you may be confirmed in the good opinion yon have of your enemies > in the. mean time, permit me to leaveyou, fmce I amunufefultoyou. '^r i.'! And at thcfe words, feeing the perfons who came towards us were very nigh, he fpur'd his Horfe away fwiftly. Albimer, the two Efquires, and my felf followed him the like pace ■■, and fo foon as we got out of the Gght of thofe perfons, we purfucd under the Con- duft of Albimer the way which led us to the houfe of his Siller. Ihis adventure ( faid Conjiance to Cleomer, interrupting him ) makfs me at once kiiow what is the fortune of Pharamond, which equally leads him to occasions to offend what he lovts^ and to ferve his enemies: but if this humour of fortune bath furprifedme, yet the proceeding of Pharamond doth not at all ajionifh me ■■, for I never doubted him incapable offuch an effeS of vertue, though truly this aUion be worthy all thofe praifes can be given to the faireji and moft extraordinary. ■'It was night (continued Cleomer) when we arriv'd at the houft of Alhimer^s fifter : but before we cntred it, Albimer went to advertife his fifter, and to prepare a conveniency for all things, and foon after returned to fcek the Ring i and having caufed him to pafs through a Garden, conduced him to an apartment feparated from the reft ot the lodgings, and in which he might remain without being feen by the Dbmetiicks. Thofe to whom the fifter of Albimer could not conceal oar arrival, believed by what (lie told them, that Albimer was returned, but that by reafon of his difgrace, and the fufpicion had of him, he durft not remain in the houfe but with infinite fccrccy, and contributed as much as they could to conceal our ftay. . ,1. _ ,-\i-i^afilda (for that was the name of Albimer''s fii^et)' did not only receive my Prince like a perfon educated in the Court of a King, and caufed him to be ferv'd in her houfe with an-admirable diligence, but govern'd her felf upon this cccaGon with a conducfl extra- ordinary » and though ilie confider'd with an inhnite fear the danger to which the King cx^oiied himfclf, and could not reaffure her felf againft thofe great leafons flie had to fean for him, yet flie diflembled all cxteriour (hews of it, the better to let him find that farisfadlion he came to feek with fo much peril, and (b little warinefs: and not doubting hut Luciaua her fifter, who was ftill near the Princefs, and whom fhe knew well affeded towards him, and eiuitely fix'd to the inttrelt of their brother, could better than her felf prpcure Book IV. THAKAMOND. 199 jprocurc a part of what he deiired, (he font to IJf^rgii^ to pray her to come and vjfit he*"' and entreat the Princcfs to give her leave for a day i which Ihe eafily obtained; and be- caufefrom Vfiirgis \o the houle of Brafdda, itMs no more than an hours journey, we faw Luciana the morrow after our arrival. This Lady (cem'd the mod altonillicd in the world, when (he faw Fharamond in hci Silkrs houfei and coiiceived fo great a trouble for him, that flie could not concealit ; Wherefore^ my Lord ( fiid fhe ) w/;i/|f all things are falJe>t eut here agahi\t a life (vbich you can defend with fuch admrahle valour^ and with force not at all inferimtr to that of your ene- mies^ do yoit come to give it them ^ and yield them a viUory without tmuhle^ rvhich perhaps the)/ jvouldhjrdly obtainrvith the itnited power of Germzny^ Tes C anfwered the King J J come to expofe to the anjer of Rofamond this life which jhe deteiis, and for which you feem fo much concerned ; and in the condition to rehich it is Ted!tc''d by the hatred nf the Frincefi^ I ex- pr.fe fo little in expofvig it, that if its mifery were kiiown to yon, ycii n'.^uld not fo mnch fear its lo(i. In fum, Luciana, 1 cannot live hated ^ji Rofamond, mr can I live without feein^^ her \ it is h:r f7s,h^J feek^at the peril of this unfortunate life : and if by yoitr affijiance I may fee her, I wili be indebted to you fomething much more precious than tb.it life you would pre- ' ferve me. Itisn.it difficult to fee the trince^ ( anfwered Luciana ) but it is difficult for you to fee her, or to let your felf be feen by her with any fecunty. Ah Luciana (" replycd Fhjratnond ) let us not take fomuch care for my fecurity, but let lis give fame Empire to Vor- tune for a happine(i for which I had not thitf^xpos'd my felf, if I had regarded my fafety. I would willingly, if you defire it, conceal my felf from the King of the Cimbrians, from Brio- mer, and all fuch, whofe interej} like theirs, might encourage them to my lofi ■■, but 1 would pre- fentmy felf *o Rofamond \ andiffl. and the King feeing that Luciana, as much allonifhed as we, kept a filencelike toours, l<:/o«^^««f <»^ i^Z/ (added he) but in com- mittiitimy felf to you in my miferies, I jJ7jlI expofe your houfe to fame difgrace ; but I hope I Ihall difpelall thofe miils that may threaten it: and befides that I do not defire yeu (hould do any thing for me which may render you fufpeUed, if Fortune is too much contrary to me, I will place Albimer, and all his., in an ejiate^fjall not permit them to repeui of the affection they bore me. To thefe he added many other words, unneceflary to recount you •, and in the end, propos'd an hundred quelUonsto Luciana i to which (he gave him all the fatisfa andfew dayspalTed, but (he walked with the Princefs/i/i/fw^-*, and fome attendant La- dies; without other company, in the mo(^ (hady and obfcure Alleys of a great Park, which from the Palace extends it felf to the Banks of the Elba : That in tiiis place (lie often left Albifwda, that flie might alone meditate with more freedom, and that at thofe hours there were few perfnns who had the privilege to enter into the Park. 'Twas in this difcourfe of Luciano's that the King believed he .had found what he fought i and having demanded of her in what manner the Park was fenc'd, and un'der- flood from her, that near the Alleys where Rofamond did moll ordinarily walk, the wood was fo thick, that one might eafily hide himfelf from the eyes of perfops that paffed clofe by •» that below the Park there was a little Gate, by which they entred into the Foreft i and that from the houfe where we were, there was a palTage to go to that little Gate, without going out of theFore(^, and byways which few perfons pa(red, but were well known to Albimer : he demanded of her, if it were not poflible going through the Fo- relt to that little Gate of the Park, to enter it by her means, and conceal himlelf in the thickcrt of the Wood, from whence he might behold the Princefs palling, and govern himfelf as Heaven (hould infpirc him, and the occafions would permit. LutianA 20O PHAKAMOND. Part II. Lucians meditafed a long time on this propofit ion •> and in the end, (heanfwer'd the King, that in this way to fee F-ojamond^ (he found infinite danger, but that (he yet faw far more in all other ways Qie could imagine ■■> and that if he could not be diverted from his delign, to prefent himfelf to the fight of the Princefs, he might as well try this as any o- ther: that the little Gate of the Park was continually fliut, but fliut in fuch fort, that it might be opened in the inner fide, which (he promiied him to perform, and leave it fo, that with a fmall pu(h he might thruft it open. At this difcourie, which made us all tremble, and which Lttciam her felf fpoke not but with trembling, the King believ'd to have found his repofe and entire felicity > and thanking L?/n««i» with an admirable fcrcnity of mind : and the marks of a joy wholly extraordinary, he conjured her to perform what flic had promis'd, and preft her in fuch a manner, that (Tie gave him her word the day following to do him that fcrvice. The King having taken this order for the execution of his defign, and being more par- ticularly intruded by L«ci<»«4 what he ought to do, prick'd by a palfion tor the know- ledge of which he had never till now given any exteriout marks, began a'difcourfe concern- ing Bulamir, conjuring her to tell with fincerity, how (he believ'd him to Hand in the af- fection of the Princefs. It would be d/ff.citli for me { faid Lucijua ) to tell the things tvbkb the Pri»cefi difcaurfes but to fea> perfons^ and pojfihly to uorte hut Albilinda : hut by what I might judge, the Prince of the Huns, by the merit of his perfn, and by the fervices he ha rendred the Trinceji^ hath attracted no fmaH portion of her ejieem and good rcill : fiie hat given him thofe mark/ which jhe h.a not hitherto tejiified to ether men ■> and I ferioufly believe, that if h'n fortune would that he fhould be preferr''d before other pretendants, the Prince^ wonld receive the King's command to ejpoufe him, with lef! oppofition than jhe would many others : but 1 believe that this is all the advantage he hath eter her rejolution i and J tbink^ not at all, at I have told your Majefy, that Jhe hath any thoughts for him, but thofe of ejieem and good n>ill: be bath in perfon attended her ever fmce he chas dthe Burgundians forth of thefe 'ter- ritories, and hath fiill accompanied her to Lifurgis, where flje often keeps her Court; but yejierday being a hunting, he wm ajjaulted by a 7roop of armed men, and had, m himfelf fay r, been kjfl^d, if he had not been ajjijied by fame unkftown per fans, to whom he gave a thoufand fraifes, and w.is conduced back^to the Ca\Ue with many great wounds, hut none judgeddange- Tous : the Prince^ hath tejiifed an infinite dij}eafure for his wounds > hath vifited him, and caiifed him to be ferved with fufficient diligence. And in fum, according to my judgment, and that of the whole world, he is the moll to be fear'd ef all your Kivals. 'Tw true, that he ferves her only with his perfon, and that not being heir to the King of the Huns, and being him~ felf at prefent in difgrace with his Father, he hath mjZr owns to offer, nor great Armies to lead to the fervice of the King her Father, like his Kivals, who are all great Kings, poffe(fors nf potent Realms ; and it bath without all doubt been this confderation, that hath hindred the King from declaring himfelf in his favour, as I believe he had otherwife done, .upon the change o/Viridomar. The iKing here interrupting Luciana., "Tel! me (faid he ) if you pleafe, what effeds that change of Viridomar, of which you Q'eak- produced in your Court, and par- ticularly in the mind of the Prince fi. "the Princefi ( anfvvcrcd Luciana ) tejiified little difpleafure at it, at leajl fitch m could come to our knowledge: that which moji touch'd her at that time, was the difconteut of the fri»cf/7 Albilinda, who feeing^ how Heaven Bppos''d all prnpifals made for the Alliance of their two F-oyal Families, remain' d for fame few days wholy difconfolate. Our King at firji high- ly rejented the aUion, but was at length fomewhat appeas d , by the ajjitrance the King of Sueves gave him, of the continuation of his affedinn, the confirmation of their alliance agaixji you, and by the oath he made never to look, upon his Son, hut as his mortal enemy ■, andtotejii- fie to the King the truth of what he faid, he ordered that the Princefi A 1 bill no a /?/(?«/«/ /f/l!/rf- mainwiththe Prince(iRo(dLmond,for the better ajj'uringof his promifet, though all the hopet of the proposed marriages were extind. ■''- The King had many other difcourfes with Lttciana : but towards evening he permitted her to return to Lifurgis, this Lady having reprefented to him, that to prevent thofe fufpicions might be bad of her for the future, and to put her felf into a condition to render him that fervice he defired of her, 'twas necelfaiy that that vitit (hould be of no longer continuance. The King pali that night with an impatience as great as if the fuc- ceeding day had been deflin'd to his utmoli felicity ; and lie rufe very early in the morning, though he was not to go to the Park of Lifurgis til! it were late : the hours that remain'd, feem'd of an extraordinary length ; and when that of Luciano's appointment approach'd, he mounted on Horfeback, and went to accompUQi this dangerous adventure, with as much alTuranceas if he iiad been going to take his pleafurein iiis own Gardens in Peapnlis. You Book IV. F H A R A M N t). ^6i You fee well, my Lord, that this cntcrprife was ill conceived, both in the beginning and procefs of it i or to fpeak better, that it had never any Contoraiity witii good rcafon : I will not therefore jullihc it, but only tell you, that when men once defpife or abaridbh their lives, all things are ealie i therefore the King not being capable to live in the hatred of Kofamond^ relblv'd thus ptoJigally to go and prefent her that head (hedetnandcd, in thV ll^ht of all the CimbriaHs^ llnce other ways thcycould not elfedl it ■-, and it was for this reafori, my Lord, that you heard me fay in the beginning of my difcourte, that ?baramond had been a pcrfon truly admirable, if he could have defended himfelf againlt a paliion, which hath often tranfported his foul to fury, and earned him to thofe extremities, which no rea- fon can excufe. It was then under the conduit of this pafUon, rather than under thit bi Albhner^ that we cvofs'd the Foreft towards the Park of Lifurgis ; and we were come within light of the Wall, and of the little Gate which Albimer Qiewed us, when the King alighted, and per- mitting only my fcif to follow him, hefenC back Albimer and the two Efqiiircs, with his florfes, totheHoufcof his Silter, ordering him not to return till night to the fame place, k(t if any accident fliould happen to him, Albimei\{di whofe life he with rcafon fear'd, (hould be furpris'd with the Horfes, and be precipitated into a danger from whence he could no more retire: he fear'd not the fame for me, knowing well that rot being fubjed to thi^ King of the Cimbr-iaitr^ I was not cxpos'd to tlie fame puniQiment that might threaten Albimer j and it was for this reafon, that he fuffer'd me to have the honour to accompany him. The CMc oi Lifurgis is built on a Hill, which commands over the River, and the Neighbouring Country. The Gardens are below, and extend to the Banks of the River ■■, and from the Garden there is an entrance into the Park, which for its beauty worthily de- ferves to be annexed to a R.egal Manfion. The Wood is very thick, but pavted intofcveral great Allies, the faireft of which runs along the River, and butts at one end to a fair Arbour very near the little Gare-, and at the other, to another fair Arbour, from whence the pro- fpe and the King being advanc'd td the end of the Alley, feeing there was no perfon appear'd, believ'd thathe might have the liberty to Walk to the other end, and take a little notice of the place, not knowing but that it might prove neceffary for him before he conceardhimfelf in the wood, as he had agreed with Ltteiana. In (hort, hewalk'dto the end of the Alley, though it was very Ibngi cntted into the Arbour, which was at the end, and beheld its admirable beauty: but being about tore- turn, hefaw thePrincefs appear in the Alley, into which (he entred by another door that butted againft the middle of that great walk v and cafting his eyes up another Alley which from the height of the Park defcended to the Arbour, hefaw, though at a great diftancc, feveral men (topped. Albifinda was with Rofamond, and only two or three Ladies attend- ing i the reft of their Train being walking in other places, to leave them a more free di- vcrtifement, as they were accuftom'd. Notwith(tanding all the courage of my Prince, the fight of Kofamond. both furpris'd and made him tremble-, and his furprifal was fo much that he had not leifu re to conceal himfelf as he had refolv'd, and prepare himfelf for an adion fo important, it being im- portible for him to go out of the Arbour, without being feen by the Princefs, whofe fight and pace were both direded towards us, or expofe himtelf to the difcovery of thofe men, if he retir'd on the other fide. You may judge, my Lord, that it was not the fear of death that made P^jr^waKi tremble, but the fear that feifed him at the fight of a power more formidable to him than all things moft terrible could be to the mof\ faint-hearted fpi- rits. I perceiv'd eafily the commotion of his thoughts, though I were extremely trou- bled i but in a manner much different from him : and I obferv'd the trouble that per- plex'd him, though my foul vvas troubled with a thoufand fears, for the danger which threatned his life, or his liberty. To that fear which had Hr(\ pofTefs'd his fpirit, fucceeded other paffioris v and if he could not defend himfelf againft the joy which tranfported him at the fighf of his adored objed, at the fame time he felt the mercilefs grief which tormented him at the remem- brance of that cruel hatred which caus'd all his misfortunes •, nor was he exempted from the affaults of jealouiie for thofe happinefles which feem'd promis'd to his Rivals. Thefe things prefented themfelves confufedly, and without order, to his imagination i but as he beheld the Princefs (till advance, and that moment approach which he had fo much defired, yet fo' hiueh fear'd, he had no time to dikevn what he himfelf apprehended, or take any rcfo- D d lution 3 20^ PHARAMOND. Part IL lution i yet Fortune was pleas'd to give him a little time to recall his wandring thoughts, and to bethink himfclf, by letting the Princefs to return when flie was come within twen- jty paces of the Arbour, and continuing to walk with Albiflnda. It feemed tliat this little time given him to prepare himfelf, afforded him fome com- fort i and he began to breath a little inore quietly, though he knew not whether he ought to rejoyceat what deprived him of fo beloved a fight, and robb'd him for fome mi- nutes of a happinefs he had fo much |7gh'd for. In this incertainty both of what he ought to do, and what heought todellre, he held his eyes lixed upon the Princels, and leem'd to give fome repofe to his heart by the liglis which iifued from his breall. His love rendred it felf already miftrefs of the other pallions it produc'd i or to fpeak better, infenlibly difllpated the endeavours of all other, to niakehim icfentthat alone. His eyes were not only fixed upon the Princcfs, but his heart followed every pace (he took , and •when flie turned her face to return towards us, it feerri'dt^jat a new tire parted from, her eyes, to kindle new flames in his foul. ,•.•)•.-. •■■.' -.j ■■.:''' 'V--'*' See there ( faid he fighing ) fee there the Divinity ef Pharamond ! but gods ( added he foon after ) it is a. Divinity anri'd reith Lightnings and 'thunders^ and a Divinity from whom all our voxvs extraU nothing but an anger imder which xve mnji be forced to yield. What matter a it to her ( purfued he, in the tranfportations of his pallion ) to be environed with celellial fire ? t! (he Icfs adorable ? or if her flames are fatal to the infortnnate Pharamond, is his condition Icfs glorious !" He made now, whatever oppolition he found in himfelf to it, fome few minutes refledion on his (irange kind of mifery, and not being able to re- fill, having fome companion of 'himfelf, Alas Cfaid he) is there among aV mortals a con~ dition like to mine? or can all ages fitrnijlj an eocample of a mifery parallel to mine > who befides ine^ among oilmen^ excites nothintr but hatred for fo much love ? and rvho befides me can be* hold, as I at prefent do, in his beloved objed, his pitylefs and implacable enemy ? Ah Rofa- mond (added he, with new fighs^ you iphofe fight I have rvith fo much zeal defired, and jvhofe fight at the fame time inflames and freezes me with love and fears can it be, that a body at K>hofe beauty the celefiial Luminaries blujh,jhould be pojfefs''d by a heart infenfible of pity ? er can it be pnfflb le that the infortunate PbaYimond fnuld come to feek^hit death at yonr feet^ n>ith,iut touching your foul rrith fome motions ef cgmpajfion ? Thefc were his thoughts or words, or words like thefe, whilft Rc/i/«o«^ was walking with Albifmda ■■, but little after, he faw the two Princeffes feparate, and Albifmda ^o to- wards the other end of the Allev with one of the Ladies on whofe arm fhe lean'd ; but Hofamond came towards the Arbour without being followed, and that too at a great di- ftance, by any but Lkcw«j, who without doubt had caufed the others to depart, to give the King that conveniency he defired. The Princcfs coming towards the Arbour, walk'd fafler than (he had done with Albifmda j and it was this confirm'd the King in the opinion that flie had a defign to enter : he faw now that it was impoliible for him to (hun her fight, though he had an intention to do it, without expofing himfelf to that of the other perfons who were in the Alley, by which he might retire, and whom in the fame time we perceived to advance towards the Arbour i fo that overcoming all thofe fears which oppos'd them- felves to his refolution, and feeing that the Princefs was not above fifteen or twenty pacts from the Arbour, he went forth to meet her, and cart himfelf at her feet before (he could obferve his countenance. The pcrfon oi Fharamond^ and his behaviour, caus'd fome furprife in the fpirit of the Princefs i and (he was about to open her mouth to demand of him what he was, when he having lifted up his head, which he had before bowed to the ground, (he faw his counte- nance, and knew it. All the polTible marks of artoni(hment ftraight appeared on the coun- tenance of Rofamond; and haltily retiring fome paces. Oh gods ( cryed (he) it is Phara- mond ! The King open'd not his moutii to return anfwcr to thefe words of the Princefs, but beholding her with the countenance of a pcrfon wholly al\onifh''d, Is it pojpble ( ad- ded fhe, raifing her voice ) that I fee Pharamond ? Tes, Madam ( anfwered the King ) it is Pharamond himfelf whom you fe ■, his miferies have made him too much different from- other men, to be mijiaken. And what comeji thou to fecl^, ( replyed the Princefs, fuffering her felf to fall 6n a feat (lie found beliind her) what feekfjl than, cruel enemy of our blood, in a Country where death is fo well due to thee, and where death is prepared thee by fo many ihoufands of men who arm them felves againji thy life ? It is that death I came to fee\ ( faid Fharamond wUh a fettled countenance J and fince youdefireit, I (l.'ould be unworthy of my glorious dejiiny, if I fliould permit you to be behglding for it to my enemies. Ton in vain arm all Europe againji a life you hold in your hand: and fince this heart, which was yonrs from the ^rji moment of your life^ is the feat of this odious life of mine, it it jti^} I fl/ould came to freficni iBoo K IV. P HAKA Mo Nb, 20I prefent it to the point of fi many fvorJt yott turn agjinU it. At thcCc words the Prince^ fecm'd to be extremely mov'd ; and having tor feme time kept filcnce, J have already Jnfficiently exj^lain'd to thee^ that it is not to thee that I tvoitid he obli(T^d far the rcveiite 1 oTpe the blood of my Brother \ but fiitce thou rvilt dye by thofe xvays which deprive me of the Hlory 1 expeaed, thou fjalt dye. Tw, he (Ijalldye, faid a voice we heard trom tlie Ar- bour we before quitted : and at the fame inlbnt we faw Briomer come forth with his Sword in his hand, tollowed by a Troop of men in the fame pofturc. My Prince was lifen up at his arrival, but he made no proffer to puthitiifelf in any pofture of defence, thouglj he faw him runagainrt him with his Sword naked, and with intention to pierce his bofom s which prefcnting to him with an undaunted countenance^ Strik/^ Briomer C faid he he) and fwce Rofamond defires the death of Pharamond, give it hiin^ if thott dareji fo great an attempt, Thefe words accompanied with a behaviour and look which feem^d to have fomcthiiig in it more than humane, caft fo much fear and fo much refped into the foul of the furious Brio'Tier, that it almoll: made him let fall his Sword from his hand, and depriv'd him for fome time of the confidence he had to execute his delign : but being (lung with a palliori much more violent than what could pufTcfs any other perfon, his hr!i fury foon return'd ^ and again lifting up the point of his Sword, he was without doubt reiolv'd to have run it through the heart of my Prince, when one of the Ladies which attended the Princcfs Al- bifiiidi., who was again advanced towards us, running to him with a great cry, pufli'J him with fo much force, that (lie madehimrecoyl fevenor eight paces ftaggerin^^ amon^ft his men, who hinder'd him from falling •, and before he could return to my Prince, as he did return with more fury than ever, Jinfamond^ putting her felf before him and catchin*^ hold of his Sword-hand, Stop, Briomer f faid (he) a>id kjtoiy, that it is not permitted, thee to mtirther a King., and that before the eyes of thy Princefi^ without having received orders for it from my Sovereign and thine ■, fince it is by his will^ and not by ours, that the life of Pharamond ought to be dijpos'd of-^ and 1 declare to thee, that thou {halt anfryer it at the price of ihy orvn. It might eafily be difcern'd by the countenance of Briomer, that the words of the Prin- cefs, and the flop [lie gave to his defigns, did fenfibly aftlidl him : rage and grief made him utter many fighs. However, having a great refpedt for a Princefs that was one day to be his Queen, fearing the effeds of her anger, and that of the King himfelf if he difobeyedt her, and judging polfibly that the condition of Pi'^)-a/w«J would be little better by th^ delay of his death, he moderated the violence of his anger i and contenting himfilf only to take the King prifoner, hecnviron'd him with the Troop of rhcn which accompanied him, and dernarided his Sword : but the King looking on hihi with difdain, and taking hii Sword from his fide, Thoti art not worthy (faid he ) to receive the Sword of Pharamond 5 but I Ihallwillingly yield it tothe Yrincefs \ and at thefe words caft it at the feet of JLofa- inond. The Princefs caus'd it to be taken up, and at the fame time feeing Cloderic come into the Alley, who was a man among the Cimbrians, of a Birth much more noble than Briomer, though he had lefs power over the heart of the King, whom fometime bcford the King had made Governour oi Marobuda, having given to Briomer more important Em- ploys, (he gave to him the charge of the imprifonment of the King of the Franks, corh- manding him to condudt him to Marobuda, whilft Briomer remain'd with her for thofe af- fairs in which {lie had occafion of his fervice and prefence. * BriomertcRiRed no fmall difpleafure at this order of the Princefs, but he durfl not op- pofe it ■, and Cloderic, who was patticularly oblig'd to the Princefs for the Government of the City which (he had procur'd him, having received with all that refpcd he ought, thri Commiflion (he gave him, caufed the Guatds to be call'd, of which a part were at the great Gate of the Park •, and whilft the Princefs walked towards the other fide, that flid might no more fee PWjwowi, and led 'Brwwr with her, who with fome reluftancy fol- lowed her, he caufed the King to march in the middle of the Guards that encompaffed him, to the great Gate of the Park, where he had given order for a Chariot to attend, to conducfl him to the City. I had never parted from near my King, but my defiife to dye with him had made m6 put my hand to my Sword, when 1 faw Br/awfj- endeavour to kill him, although thofij which accompanied him had fallen upon me, and having difafmed and taken me, guard*- ed me along with the King, who having askcd for me , and feeing me fo near himj prayed CWfr/c that he Would permit me to ferve hirij i znd Cloderic knowing v/hat wai due to his degree and dignity, and who regarded him with refped, though he were hi'i prifoner, calily confented to his defire, and tcftificd that he would fefye him as far as hi^ duty would permit him. D d 2 As' 204 PHARAMOND. Part 11. As we Were marching towards tiieGate of the Park, whitlicr we went fliortly, to give the more time to prepare the Chariot, and mount the Guard wliich was to convoy us, I heard a voice which call'd me by iriy name, and a voice which (eem'd to me very familiar > ,and turning my head towards that fide, from whence I tliought it came, 1 faw, though Indiftinflly, becaufeof the men that cnviron'd us, one of the Ladies of the Princclfes, ■who followed us at a fmall dillance i it feemedtome that it was (he, who had fo for- tunately and courageoufly defended the Ring againft the fury of Briomer : But having neither the liberty to fpeah to her, nor to flop a moment, I obferv'd, without making any fliow I perceiv'd her, though I doubted not at all but that flie was a pcrfon well atitdcd 'for the fafety of my Prince ; and it fecmM to me, that I as well knevv the found of her voice. At the Gate we found the Chariot in which the King took his place ; and Cloderic having caus'd me to enter after him, feated himfelf afterwards with two or three men i and the relt, who were a great number, cnviron'd us, and followed on Hcrfeback to the City. See now, my Lord, what was the event of an enterprife guided by a pailion fomuch an enemy to prudence-, though little different from what I had in truth expedied, and not at all from what the King himfclf had hoped. The fwiftnefsof our horfes brought us foon to the City, where the King was fliut up in a Caflle, ordain'd from its foundation for the imprifonmcnt of confiderable perfonages, cnviron'd with great Towers, and a very deep Ditch. The King was very well lodg'd, and as wellferv'd, but very ftridtly guard- ed, being limited to one Chamber, and a little Clofet to walk in ; having none to con- verfe with but my felf and tliofe which guarded him i nor had I much more liberty, it not being permitted me to pafs farther than to a little chamber which was aliign'd me near his; and this rigour caus'd fome trouble in the King for /^./ii/wfr, to whom he would wil- lingly have fent, if he had had the means, to command him to retutn mtoFrancoma-., not doubting but if he were difcover'd, and the Horfes and Efquires found at his Siflers, he would infallibly be put to death: yet he believed that Lxciana would not be wanting to give a ready intelligence to her Sifter of what had pafTed ■■, and this belief put his thoughts in fome repcfe. I tell you this, my Lord, to let .you know his natural difpofition, by informing you that he was afflicted with this difquiet, whilft he took no thought for his own fafety ■■, nor did he fear for me, though he honour'd me with an alTedion I had never merited, believ- ing that the King of tlie Cimhrians having no reafon to hate me for the fervice I did my Maflcr, and my King could not in honour treat me ill. I have few particulars to tell youof theimprifonment of my King, but only to let you iindcrfland, if it be poilible, what was the condition of his mind, during his captivity i and to this effeft, I muft tcll.youi my Lord, and you will eafily believe me, after alljthofe things I have recounted you, that henot.only never teftified any fear of that death, with %vl)i^i he was fo apparently threatncd, and from which by the unworthy proceedings of the King of the Cimhrians^ who demanded his head from all the world, it might be be- lieved that his Digtiity would not deliver him, though in all likelyhood amongll other e- nemies, it might have produc'd a greater erfedt » nor ever had any dellre of liberty, though his imprifonment was fo rigorous i but he feem'd entirely fatisfied with the teftimony he had given Kofaniondoi the love he bore her ■■, nor was his reft difturb'd at the remembrance ef a hatred, which he Qiould appeafe by his blood. Yet however, he fometimes endea- vour'd to perfwade himfelf that his life was not fo odious to Kofamond as it was reprefent- cd, fince it was truly her felf, who had hindred £mwfr from taking it away, and had been- fo careful to take him out of his hands. To thcfe thoughts he added (cveral others, which might affifl: him to flatter himfelf; and it feem'd to him, that in the very words of the Princefs, there were things he might explain favourably, '■, and that in this mifery, and the danger which threatned his life, lier countenance exprefs'd more grief than joy ; for fome times he entertain'd himfelf pleadingly with thcfe thoughts i but a little after, all that he found for his advantage being banifli'd his remembrance, by quite contrary appearances, and the cruel impreiUon of hi; misfortunes imprinted in his mind, having defaced all that endeavour'd to Ikuggle with it i Ah ! let us flatter our fehes no more ( faid he ) rvitb a vain appearance^ tvhich ought not to ahnfciis\ nor let U! attribute the tvordsor aU ions of Rofamond, to any abatement of her ha^ iredjjer hatreds fo much the greater^ jlje not believing that (he canexeciite her revenge fi entirely, if flje doth not her felf execute it rvithout my a^ifiance •■, this is the greateji mark pe can give of the hatred flie hears me : andnecejfarily muft flie abhor all that comes from me, fince to wj ofpft death^ my own ajfi^}mcs is odious : Jhe defires it lefi than fie tvQttld defreit^ becaufe fic ffeif » Book IV. THARAMONT). ,205 fees I rvonld fujfer it a>hb j:t)' ■, a:td (he would again with impatience ftek^it^ tflhefarv me fea^ it. Ihe objlicle (he gave to the defv^n of Briomcr, came lefs from her pity than her pelicy, or from that mblcmfs to which jhe was nblio^^d: and besides that jhe was too highly burn^ to fee ihed in her pre fence the blood of a Frince^ which himfelfhad yielded to her rez'enge^ fl-.e judg'd that the death of a KiH;r mi^ht draw after it troublefome confeqttences ■, nor would jhc ivithout J{>towi>tg thei intentions of her Father, difpofe of an affair of fo great importance .: Ihat which the hath done^ is no more than the erdinary form, nnr bath (he tejiifed other than prudence in fitch an accident; and too much wifdom bath flie, to (iieiv gladnefs inber eyes, at an adven- ture fo little common. In brief, Ifljould be m lefs perfwaded nf her hatred, fl^ottld f^^e not dsfre my death, [vice ihe too well l^tows^ it would be more agreeable to me, than thatr-.life which /he would prolong me. ■ t ■ 'Twas with thefe thoughts that his unfortunate paffion did ordinarily entdrtarn •hiit and to abridge my recital, it was in ihefc difcourfes or the like, that he paffed ail the time of his confinement : I know not wliat the fucccfs might have been, it his imprilonmcnt had been of much longer continuance: the orders CKpedcd from the King of the Giw- hians, keeping all the World in expeftation of what lliould happen •, when after lix days confinement, and on the night which fucceedcd to the fixth, a little before the King u- fed to betake himfelf to his reft, Cloderic, who had continually treated him with inhnrte refpccf, cntrcd into his Chamber, and told him that he came to intrcat him to come forth and attend the Princcfs, who delired to fee him. The Ring was furprifi-d at this, difcourfe more than he had been at all the adventures of his life •, and regarding Cloderic with a look which denoted his aftonidiment ; Do yotefpeal^trttih ? (faid h.c) or is it p»^ibit that the Princefi would fee me ? Tfj, my Lord, ("faid Cloderic) and jhe hath comvianded m to bring yoii prefently before her. She may difpofe of her prifoner, (rcplkd Pharamond) but J (hall kave too much canfe to praife her goodnefs, if before my death fi:e permit me to fee her. And at thefe words, without farther informing himfelt of the intention of Cloderic or that of Rofamond, he departed out of the Chamber, defccnding a little pair of Stairs into a Court, whither C/ijifric conduced us : but I was not a little aftonilh'd to fee, that neither hi the Court nor on the Stairs, there was any of thofe Guards that us'd to watch conftantly near us i and that a little after we paffed on, not follow'd by any, to a little Gate, whi- ther he led us, and where there was a Chariot ready, into which he prayed the King to mount. The King was much aftonlfb'd at what he faw i and finding no more Guards about him, he demanded of CWcric if he were any more a prifoner. No my Lord, ([zid Cloderic) you are not any longer : but if you pleafe to thank^the Princeji for the liberty f;e gives you, ym may do it in that place whither (he hath commanded me to conduct you. As the ^ ace which Jhe hath done me, in permitting me to fee her (faid my Prince) is incomparably greater than what I receive by the gift of my life and liberty, you niay believe I will run with all joj' imaginable^ to a happinef fo little hop^d for. And at thefe words mounting the Chariot, having firft receiv'd his fword from the hand of Cloderic, who prefented it with a noble rcfpedf, de- manding pardon of my Prince, if forreafons very important he led him without lights ; and the Chariot having with an infinite fwiftncfs conduced us to a Court of that fame Pa- lace where we had formerly made fome ftay, and where my Prince lolt his repofe and li- berty "> caufingus to afcend a pair of Stairs, unknown to us, and pafs through a Hall, a little more clear, he led us into a Chamber, where by the brightness of many lights, which darted a fplendor equal to that of the morning fun, we faw the Princefs Kojamond accom- panied only by three Ladies. At this fight my Prince was more aftonidi'd and amaz'd, than he had ever been : and whillthemade trial to recal his reafon 'and knowledge, which feem'd utterly loft at that time, the Princefs advancing towards him with a behaviour full of Majefty, and accom- panied with fomething fupernaturaU Pharamond (faid (he) as thou art not our prifoner by fair War, f it is not )u\l to detain thee, nor to draw from thy imprifonment thofe advantages Tve owe only to thy felf. ''twas never from me, without doubt, ihat thou didjl expeB thy li- berty , and that which I this day do in delivering thee, is little conformable to my juji refent- Hient, and will poffibly appear lejl conformable to my duty. But thouqh I may expofe my felf to ihe judgment of men, and to the anger of the King my Father, if tfhat I do for thee be l^town to him,^ yet lam too much a lover of glory, tofufferhimto triumph over thee by thy felf, or that he f.'ould be Majier of thy Vominions and thy life, by an effect of thy will, rather than by the flrength of his Arms. Co by the valour which hath raised thee above other men : Co and defend thy cottn- iryagainji a JForld of enemies, which come to overwhelm thy Territories, go and defend thy life ^gainjlfo many FriHces, whom the hope to poffejiRofivaond hath rendred thinecnemies. Thoit 2o6 FHJRAMOND. Part. It. wi/t defend it rvell, vnthout doubt ^ if fortune he noUcwtrary io thee; or if thou Jofl fall by their Arms ^ I canwitlhutjhamethenreceive a revenge andavi^ory^ J Ih all hold no longer from thy felf. ■ Koftmottd i^okc'm this manner, and the King who liftned to her without being touch- ed with other morions than his love, beholding her with thoTe eyes which fpoke his patlion better than his tongue could do it-, " Ceafe great Princefs (faidhe) to mantle under an ap- " parent generofity, a true cruelty i and fince pity bears no part in what you do, content V.yourfclfwith your revenge, without feeking farther gloiy in the lofs ot a Prince who dies "for you. I might defend pollibly with fuflicient valour this unfortunatclifeagainft which t' you arm fo many enemies, if it -were not odious to you i but fmce you defire my death, " I will not at all defend my life againft thofc you fliall fend to give it me, but will pre- "fent my brcaft with too much joy to the fwords of Bahmir, of Gondioch^ and of all thofe that Qiall be own'd by you. But if it be true (replied the Princtfs, with a beha- viour which denoted fome conftraint of her humour) if it be true that thou loveji wf, ai thou rvoifldji perfivade all the JForld, and as in defpite of my felf I mitli ferfrvade my felf^ tauldji thou fee xvith fo much joy, that Balamir and that Gondioch pojfejfors of Rofamond by the death of Pharamond ? Or if thou looi^eji upon them as thy T^ivals, roilt thou abandon to them to'-relber rvitb thy life, that prize thou ottghteji at the price of thy very life to difpute nitb them ? I camiot difpute it rpith them freplied Pharamond J f;iice all hopes of it is taken from me \ nor fliall I jee them enjoy it, fmce it is by my death alone they can obtain it : but I ought indeed to confent, fmce you defire it, and fmce you your felf fo order it. Why doji thofi* Hot rather belieie (faid fhe with a demeanour exfreamly paffionate ') that nothing can be more cruel to me, than this fortune of thy Rivals ? for amonjiji them, I fee nothing worthy of me, and pojftbly none but thy felfamongfi men could merit Kc^Lmomi^ifthy ill fortune or perhapt her's had not opposed it felf: 'this is poffibly a truth I have believed J might confefito thee roith- cut offending my felf-, and to this confejfion I will add, that if it be true thou Ijvefl n-J, and that thy love gives me fome power over thee, I not only deftre that thou flwuldji live to deprive thy Kivals ef their hopes to p offefi Koiimond, but J order it thee by all the dominion I have ever thee, Finiihing thefe words, the made a fign to Cloderic, to lead forth the King ■■, and at the fame inftant (he paffed into her Clofet , without permitting her felf to be l&nger feen. The King, whofe fpirit was rcpleat with thofe things he had feen and heard, and who beliew'd he had found matter for new reflexions, and perhaps fub)e to which intent, he made the Guards retjre by a ftign'd order of theCimhrian King'si and obfervM all tliofe other neceflary cautions, that he was afTur'd, that all the hatred of this adion would fall upon him, and the Princcfs not be in the leaft fufpe- ded. To this difcourfe of Cloderk, the King return d great marks of his acknowledgments, telling him, that llnce he had been fo willing to hazard his fortune for his fafcty, he might not only efcape from the anger of his King by retiring, if he pleas'd, with him into F/va- conia i but that he would there eftablifli him in fuch honours, that he (hculd have no caufe to repine at thofe he had loft. Cloderie accepted the retreat which he otfered hini, believ- ing well that during the Reign of the King of thtChnbria-m, there would be but little fe- curity for his life, in the lands under his obedience i and the King no longer doubting but he might difcover many things to him, prayed him to give fome orders for the fecuiity of Alhimer^ whom he had with his Efquires left at his Sifters houfc. Cloderie lead us crofs the Fields : and becaufe that way he made us follow, was not the ordinary Road, but brouglit us nigh to the houfe of Erafildj^ he fent one of his men in whom he had an en- tire confidence, with an order to Albimer and the Efquires, to come to a place by which we were to pafs, and which was not far diftant from whence we then were. All things were executed as the King defircd, and the McfTcnger having, purfued his way with great diligence, return'd with 4/^'»'f. and the Efquires to the place appointedj before we arriv'd there. The King was delivered from a great trouble, {tt\n^ Albimer^ from whom he underftood, that upon advice which L-'tciana had given, he had in fuch manner conccal'd himfelf and the Elquircs, that no perfon had knowledge of them. Af- terwards Cloderie made us purfue our journey more warily, though he believ'd that the Princefs being Miftrefs of Marabuda, and Briotner being abfent,. no perfon v^ould endeavour to purfue the King. J22nci; As for my Prince, he now fix'd his thoughts entirely oh the remembrance of the words and the adion of the Princcfs, and found he had fo much reafon to comfort up himfelf that he appear'd to us wholly different from what he had been before his imprifonment, and feem'd not to have preferv'd any of thofe thoughts which had fo much torirfented him -, he open'd now his foul to other thoughts more pleafing, and which could before find no place in his breaft i for he not only believ'd that the hatred of liofamond was not ib vio- lent as it had till then appear'd, but he imagin'd that he had reafon fufficient to believe, that if the misfortunes of his life had not oppos'd themfelves, he might have been be- lov'd by the Princefs. The words ftie had fpoken, mucli confirmed him in this hope i and though from her proceeding he could not draw confequences fo favourable as to alTure himfelf of her love, yet flie had made him at leaft know, that (he had no inclination to render his Rivals more happy than himfelf v and that that fame Balamir, whofe merit made him formidable above all others, was not much advanc'd in her affections, though he might bein herefteem. This knowledge returned a joy in his fpirit, of which it had not for a long time been capable i and returning with his joy all his fiercenefs into his foul, inade him begin to think fcrioufly what he owed to the defence of his Country, the pre- fervation of his glory, and the confufion of his Rivals. Iwi^live (faid he) (;«<:? Rofa*. mond hath ordain' d it, and I netll live to difpute voith my Kivals even till death, that felicity to rvhich I am not [uffer^d to afpire. Ijha'J however he lefs miferable^ if I can hinder them from being happy ; and I hope it pall be teith the heji part of their blood, I fPiaU make thojs rajh ones buy the head of Pharamond : Rofamond doth confent^ Rofamond doth dejire it^ and Rofamond doth command it by all the power floe hath over me. He now made a refledion on thofe laft words of Rofamond •, and he found fomethinig Co charming for him in that claim flie had made of her power, and in the obliging manner with which ffe made ufe of it, that he believ'd he could no longer with juftice complain of his condition. You may believe, my Lord, thdit Cloderie and myfelf, who were pre- fcnt at all that paffed at that interview, were not wanting to fet all advantages before liis eyes, and relieve his hopes by all the confequences we could draw in his favour. Thefe and fuch like difcourfes fpent the time during our journey ■■, and before v/e entred into Franconia, we found in him a contiderable change. The fame of his being taken, xvas arriv'd before him in the Countries under his Dominion j and as he was belov'd by his people with the moft ardent affedion fubjeds could bear their Prince, this cruel news had caufed a genetal mourning. The Princefs his fifter was half dead v Sunnon and the other Princes, having the fame moment fent to demand ailiftance of all their Allies, ga- thered Forces on all fides •, and Charamont, who receiv'd the firft report on the Frontiers, where according to his orders he had flayed, prepar'd all things for War, with a care and dilioenCf? !2o8 PHAKAMQND. Part H. diligence admirable. But both the one and the other, receiv'd the good news almoll; as foon as the ill i and fcarcc had they refentcd the griet of his imprifonment, but they were comforted with the news of his liberty, and by the light of their Prince, which tranfport- ed them with an immoderate joy. You will content your fclf, my Lord, that to abbreviate a long recital, I fhould pafs tiver particulars of little importance i and that I leave your felf to judge what fo dear and fo dclired a fight could produce in the minds of Prt/«£'«<^, Sunnon^ Priam^ Bafogaji»i. and fo many other ilUUlrious pcrfons, who judg'd their entire felicity to confill in the fortune of their Prince. If they were fatisticd with his return, they were no lefs with the marks they receiv'd of his atTcdlion, by carelTes full of fweetnefs and tendcrnefs i and their fa- tisfaflion was fo much the greater, becaufe they bcliev'd to fee in his perfon a part of that change they had fo long detircd. Tolixcfia^ to whom the King opcn'd his whole heart with a tender confulation, under- ftood from his own mouth all that had bcfaU'n him i and flie endeavoured not a little to draw from that adventure the mort advantagious confequenccs he could defire : but he was not a little difcontented at the abfence of Prince Mjrwww , whom he bcliev'd he fliould have found in Franconia j and fearing IcA fome accident was befall'n him, or left poflTbly he (hould again be falPn into the power of his enemies, he fuffercd for him a per- plexity from which he could not free himfclf, though we reprefented to him, that hc could neither be retaken or Jlain by the Cimbrians^ but that we fhould have receiv'd foine advice of it, ciiher after his departure, or whilft he was amongft them. The hrll days were devoted to rejoycings for fo happy a return , of which from the liighefl to the ve;y mc^neft among the people, the whole Kingdom gave extraordinary dcmontlrations j and foon after, all things were prepar'd to fuftain that cruel War which attended us. As the puiffance of fo many Kings was threatned to invade us, Fharamottd bcliev'd that the alllftance ot all his Allies would be necefiary i and to this purpofc he neg- ledcd not to fend to all places from whence he believ'd he might receive allillance. And Fortune fo ordered that cither by the Orders hc left at his parting, or by the MefTengers from the Frontiers fent by Z^fce and Gfwfi'aW, all things were extreamly forwarded, and a great part of the people already in Arms, and ready to march for his ftrvice, His fair reputation, and fo many great virtues , by which he had gained the hearts of all the world, arm'd in his favour, notonlythofe of his neighbours, who had been always )oyned in the Alliance with him, and thofe who had remain'd neuters againft him and his enemies in his firft Wars, but even thofe who had carried Arms againfi him in favour of the 'Romans as the LatobrigeSy the Carithinens^ the 'luHnges, Be!an»es and Ceunauns^ and iTiany others, now took up Arms in his qnarrel, towards the flreams ot Khine and Vanu- if i and on that fide of the Sea next the Fri/o?;/, the two Provinces of the Ci««c/>f/ joyn- cd themfelvcs to the Franh^ i fo that all the Provinces which are encompafled by the Sea of K/;;w, zndVifptrgues, and all thofe which extend to the Helvetians ^ the Like Lemart^ and the Mountains which ferve as Bulwarks to Italy, gathered together their forces for his ailillance. Yet he believ'd not all this power great enough to bear head againft that of fo many Kings as came to invade hims he therefore prepar'd to fend to King Cunderic^ who a lit- tle before had madehimfelfMaftcr of Hifpania Betica, from whence you, my Lord, once before chas'd him •, and to that valiant Agilmond King of the Lombards^ whofe reputatiort and adventures arc fo great, and who with fo much valour hath founded a Monarchy in the faircft part of ha!y. Remembring, that all thcfe Princes had demanded his Alliance for the common liberty, and had offer'd him all their forces. But in the mean time, he underftcod that all the people which among the Gj«/jcompos'd that part ot France^ over which his Anceftors had always reign'd, and who by the death of their King Marcomire^ of whom I have fpokcn to you in the beginningof my Difcourfe, vverefall'n into the power of the KoDuus^ in brief, thofe very people, the Crown and Dominion over whom did by a long order of fucccilion lawfully appertain to him, and tor the Conqueft of whom he had prepar'd in his very infancy to pafs the Khine^ having new made ufe of the diforders of the Empire to regain their liberty, had taken Arms, and not only driven thcKotnait Garrifons out of their Cities, but with a powerful Army came to feek their lawful King, and were already approached the Banks of theKhine, to call him to the poffellion of that fair Crown which attended him. Pharainond, in whom a defire to overcome his cncrtiies was now very ftrongly eftablifh'd, praifcd the Gods for this happy encounter, which made his peopleTubir.it to him at a time when he was not in a condition to endeavour a Conoucll, to which lie had been called from hiN Book IV. V H A K A M N D, 209 his very birth, and had fcnt them now to his fuccour wheii their aili.lar.ce was fohc- cefTary; auJ not doubting but that to make them in this prclling necelfity, ht ought to aflilt them in their palTige over the f^hine^ headvanc'd towards tijat River with a part of his Troops-, and coming t9 the Banks thereof in the Country ot the Jnhotis^ httle di- fiant from this, and very near to the place where the Mrj'ella encreafes with its plentiful water thcKheitipf ftreams, he caufed Bridges of Boats to be made, on which thefe Git«/,', the ancient fubjcdls of his Fathers, or ratiier the true Fra«Jy or frrac/;, pafled the Rhine-, and joyning with us, faluttd their Prince with acclamations tuU of joy, conjuring him to come and take polTeliion of the Scepter of his Progenitors. Thefepeople were led and comnTianded by the princes of the Royal Family, and by o- thcrs who willingly fubmitted themfelves to him, though till that time they had refufed to acknowledge any other power but their own- The Prfnces ot the Royal Blood werfc Thafibert, A>itei:or :xnA Da^nbert ; and with thele came tleribert chict of the lllanders of GjI//j Belgica; Sigeric, to whom a part of the Cf/ffj did obey, Kithimcr^ Nicjuor^ TJcher^ In'irer, Soveraign Princes of many fair Provinces among the Gauls^ and many other il- lullrious pcrfons, who almoft all had the honour to falute you. They were all con fid er- able botii by their birth and virtue. The Army which they conducted was compos'd cf more than fixty thoufand men. The King received them with a Royal noblenefs, as well by reafon of his natural fweet- ncfs and innate civility, as for the obligation he had to thofc perfons who came with fo much generofity to offer him a flourilhing Crown, to the conqueft of which, the unhappy eftate of his affairs fufter'd him not to employ himfelf, and for the fuccour they gave him in fo urgent a necellity. But if he were ublig'd to them who came to call him to the inherit tance of his Ancellors, you ought to believe him more bound to thofe, who having never been fubjedl to his Progenitors, as Kithhnir^ 5/iTfr/c and Nicaisor., came to fubmit them- (elves to this Empire, giving him Iiope by their example that the reft of the Gi«a/x would do the fame. He was not thereh re wanting to teflitie his refentmcntt by all the marks o£ k.indnefs he could pollibly (hew •, and by fo fair a beginning, he gave them reafon to hope all fprtsof happinefs and fatisfadion under his Reign ■■, but in the end, he reprefentcd un- to them thofe misfortunes which hindrsd him from repalling thcKhhie with them, to go and receive that Crown they prefented him, praying them tofufTcrhim to do what he ought to do in the defence of his Country, of liis honour and of his life, which an infinite number of enemies had in few days defign'd to affault. Both the French Princes, and the Princes of the Gaxls, which had accompanied them, were fenfibly apprehenfive of the difcourfe of the King, teflifying to him, that it was upon the report, which had rcachM their Countries, of the war which the King of the Sueves carried into trjuconia, that they had put themfelvcs in Arms to- come and ferve him with all their Forces s that not only they would not refufe to perifli with him even to the laft of their men, but if it were necelTary to make greater Levies in their Countries, they af- fijr'd him thac they had yet many more thoufandsof men ready for his fervice. The King thanked them, and treated them with a freedom which abfolutcly gain'd their hearts i and feeing himfelf iirengthened with this powerful relief, lii march'J tuwaiu; that City betore named Hf/f/iJ/ifl/;^, but which from this time Began to bear the »ppeiIa:ionof Tramkfort, feated upon the M««,as well as Pfj/'j/ji, where the Forces of thcScdiiCuns^xh^ Carithinent, xh^ Latsbriger^ and all the othei- Provinces which from the Wt'^;; extend even to the feet of the Alpr, and to the Helvetians, were to rendezvous ; whilrt ?ria>n and Ibere gathet'd the Forces together out of the Country of the Sica,7ibres^ that of the Frlj^ns, t;:e Cattches and other nations, which from Vifurgttes and t'y Ocean inhabit as far ar Fratt' coftia. Infum, my Lord, to abridge to you this difcourfe, a'l the Army rendeivouz'd at the places appointed j and the King having made a»gencral conjundion, entred into Fraw^- fort, where he caufed thofe that came from the Coall of the Helvetians and Artannum to pafs the Mei», and where Vriam having conduded thofe he had levied towards the Coafts of the Sea, he faw himfelf at the head of more than Gxfcore thoufand Footmen, and above forty thoufand Horfe. This diligence was indeed necelTary to prevent that pf his enemies: for his Forces were fcarcelyalfcmbled, when thofe of the King of the Cimi'n'a;^/ appear'd at the Banks of the W"^ and began to enter into the Country of the Nertereans which were fubjed: to Pha- ramond. With the King of thcCimbrians marched GoJegefile King of the Herules, Arda- ric Kiu^o( the Alaftes, Odoacer King of the Bajiernes, and Amalaric Ring of the Twri/i^ f/>«/, all four lovers oi 'RofamoMd^ and all four enflam'd with a delireto conquer, and E c hopes 2IO PHArx.AMOND. Part. hopes totTierithcr by the mine o[ Pharamond : their Army was compos'd of more than two hundred thoufand men ■■, and the belief that the King of the Cimbrians had, tiiat Fhara- moftd wou]d not be fo readily in a condition to fuRain this power, had made him to ad- vance without attending the Army of the King of the Sucves^ or that of Condiech, who were to joyn together at the foot of the Mountains ot Mellibor^ and enter into Franconia by the river of Vifurgiies^ and by the Country of the Gutt'i. But though the King of the C/;w^r/i/;// was followed by four Kings, brave, valiant and zealous after the d^czlhoi Vharamond^ that which was more formidable to him than all the power of the enemy, was the Princefs Kofamond her felf, whom the King her Father ■would lead in his Army to animate her lovers by her prefence to the ruine of their Rival. It wasfaid that (betook this journey with much reludancy i but (lie was forced to obey the will of the King her Father, as the Princefs Albifinda was forced to yield to the King- of the Stteves^ and to keep her company. As Gondioch by reafon of the wounds which he had rcceiv'd from Balamir, and the ob- ftacle whicli the pad enmity did for fom.e time give, was rfceiv'd the lad into this Alliance \ fo he came laft into the vvar : and the King of the Sueves, though he was animated againfl Tharamond with a hatred not at all inferiour to that of the C/wirw« King, having had by reafon of tlie change of Prince Vhidomar his Son, and by other aft'airs which fell cut, very great Iiindrances, relolv'd to attend 6o«(^/oc/j, who was to pafs by the Confines of his King- dom, and to form with him another body of an Army of more than fixfcore thoufand men. A power fo formidable might have made F/j.7r:jwr;;/«? tremble, if he had been capable of fear : but by the grcatnefs of his courage, he undcrllood without any terrrour the know- ledge of thofe preparations, and prepared toanfvver worthily the opinion which all tlie world had of him, and prcfcrve generoufly that high reputation, which he had acquir'd through the whole world. However, as he would ncgleft nothing in a time wherein all Was riecelTary to his advantage, he would not hinder that the Princes of the Gaa/i, which were come to his affiftance, (liould fend to make other Levies in their Countries, as they had offered i and bcfidesh.e hearkned to the counfel of his friends, who advis'd him to fend to the King of the Lombards^ and to the King of the Vandals^ as himfflf had before propos'd. He judged in the mean time, that he ought not to attend the arrival of the King of the Sueves-ixiA Gondioch ; but fince he muft fight with the enemies Army, he (hould do it be- fore, by this conjunftion, they were become fufficiently powerful to overwhelm without any refiftance any thing durft oppofe them : He marched then, though much lefs in number than they, with a confidence in his valour, and in the juftice of his caufe,which permitted hitn not to fear the events of the fight •, and he found himfelf ftrengthned in fuch fort, by the command which Ko/jwowj/ had given him to fight his Rivals, and difputc with them that Fortune to which they ought to raife themfelves by his ruines, that he could not think of them, but with a difdain which prefaged him the viftory, Balamir was the only pcr- fon he woufd not difpute, both by reafon of the great adrons fame reported him to have done, and by tlie proofs himfelf had feen of his valour: but befides that he had only his fingle perfon to offer againft him, he knew that at prefent he was not in the enemies Army, and that his wounds were not fo well cured at the departure of the King of the Cimbrians^ to permit him to accompany him. The enemies had left the River Meine^ and the City o^ Memf^ade^ on their left hand i and being without much difficulty become Matters of thofe paffages which were guarded by the Troops left by C/:'^)-.i)»(j?j/ on the Frontier, they had crofs'd almoft all the Country of the Nertereans^ which they had in all places laid wafte, wlien we arrived very near them, to hinder their advancing farther without fighting. The King of t\\c Cimbrians^ though the knew himfelf the (trongcr feaiing the valour and fortune of Tharamond, by the proofs he had already made of it, would willingly have deferred the Battel till the arrival of the King of the Sueves^ and the King of the Burgnndians j by whofe afliftance he hoped to over prcls us, and irrecoverably ruine us. But the Jovers of Kofamond^ impatient of occalions to fignalize themfelves in her feivice, and not willing th^t Gondioch^ of whofe glory they were poflibly envious, fliould have a part in the expedted fuccefs of that Battel, fheyprcfted him with violence to refolvci and P/'.«r,j»zoW, who knew well that if he gave itnot now, he fliould bcnotnorein a condition to do it, and that he had not Forca* able to oppofe thofe who would fall upon him, if be did not in part weaken them whilft they were divided, aded with fo much vigour and good conduit, that the enemies had not the power to fhun the corabat^ though they had had a defign to do it. It Book IV. ■ V H'AKAMOND. iit It was then intliat vaft Plain that is between Phetigaritm and the Country of the /7frw- reans, that thcfe two puiflant Armies came to battle, and covtrd the held wich the great- eft number ot" combatants, that poilibly Germany ever faw in one fatal day. My Prince put now in pradice all that h.e had learnt in paft occafions, not Ibrgetting any thing in thu' order ot the Combat, or in the difpofal of his Troops, of all that which could be knowrt' to the moft experienc'd Captains : he lead that day divided his Army into four bodies, of which himfelf commanded the hrft, the three others being led on by i'?<;w?<7/;, Pnjw and Pharabert: Ibere ^ Meroveitf ^ Rhhimer^ and Charamoyit^ Commanded four bodies of Ca- valry, appointed to the allillancc of the four great ones. 1 ought to extend my fcif on the recital of this battle, more than I have done in all others my i'rince hath foiu',ht, in regard this was the molt conliderable, for the number of combatants, tor importance of events, and for the memorable z&'xoxisoi Tharamnn-'^ who Jhi'thing;; without doubt beyond be- lief or very imagination : but the fear I have to prove too tedious to you, by the recital of fo many Combats, and the belief I have that this day hati-i been fufficiently tamons to be known to the greateft part of the v/orld, lliall make me pafs oi.'er thcfe particulars which I could recount you, to tell you, that it v/as not the French and their Allies which fought againll the Cimhrlans and thcfe of their party, but that it wiS FharamvaJ, who combated the Lovers of Kofamoud^ and who at this time appeared not a mortal man. Both Armies had already on all tides charg'd each other, and by the admirabls order which the King provided among his own, the ditadvantage of the number prov'd not dif- advantagious to him ■, when leaving at the head ot his body Bafogjjruf and Cenebaiid (whom he had purpofely kept by him, to command in his place, when he Ihould be oblig'd to tuccour fome other quarters) he flew through all parts of the Field, to animate with his piefence thofe to whom it was thought necelTary, or rather to carry Vidtory through all : And by the care he took to fuccour thofe that were weakned, to whom a hundred times that day he led aiiiftance, with a diligence which cod the lives of five or fix horfcs^ he ferv'd his Army more than a re-entbrcemcnt of hfty thoufand men could have done. In all his adiions, appearing and Ihewing hirnfelf in all parts like lightning, or rather as a Comet bloody and fatal to his enemies, he on all fides call'd with a loud voice to the lovers of Kofamond, bidding them perform their promifes. There was perhaps more than one of them this day repented themfelves of their prefumptuous enterprife, and felt themfelves tremble under their Arms at the Cght of fo terrible an enemy, thbugh they were Valiant, nay more, Enamoured and fought almoll in the fight of Kofamond. Ardaric and Godegefde^ with the Hernles , and the AUinf^ maintain'd an equal fight againft the Gauls which Tharabert commanded , and that body conduced by Merovear^ which fuftained them : and Odoacer on the other fide, in the head of the Frifans, againft the Salient^ and the people neighbouring on the Sea, who were under the conduct of Sufinon : when Amalaric having with fome Squadrons ot Cavalry which followed him, pierced the Sicambres, who fought in' the body commanded by Priam, turning to the other fide with a fierce countenance , which he drew frora fome appearance of Vidtory, beheld Phara- mond with a great body of Cavalry, who flew to fultain the Sicambres, whom he had feen in diforder. Amalaric could not miftake Pharamond , who made himfelf known from others by too apparent figns : and Pharamond having underhood that it was the King of the "tHringiens his Rival, fpurring liis Squadrons againft his, and running towards him with a threatning cry, whilft the enamour'd Amalaric advanc'd towards him with an affurance equal to his : when they were fo neer as to be underftood by each othef, A- tnalaric fcryed the King of the Frankj) let us fee if thy forces are equal to thy great defigyi ; and fee here the head of Pharamond, which 1 bring thee. Amalaric anfwcred not to Ph^- ramotid, but with a blow of his fword which he let fall on his head, which from thence glancing on his fl\oulder, gave him a light wound v but the point of pharamond's prov'd more fatal, which palling under the arm which he had lifted up, pierc'd him quire to the other fide, fo that he fell deprived of life between his horfes feet. Both the Franks ar>d 'fnringiens, though from a diilerent provocation, ecchoed forth great cries at the fall of Amalaric. And Pharamond, whom at another time, modcily would not have permitted to open his mouth after a Vicftory, fighting in this againft his Rivals with more courage than ordinary, Neither jhalt thou give my head to the King of the Cimbrians (faid he) Mt>r . (fjalt thuu pf)JJe(i Rofamond . The death of Amalaric, and the fight of Pharamond, had caus'd fo much fear in the 7«- ringiens, that inftead of charging thofe they had to oppofe them as they begun, they firll: made a ttand, foon after fell into diforder, and in the end abandoned the Field to their e- nemies : from hence the King haften'd to aliift where necellity moft requiv'd > and haying E c 3 chang'd 212 PHARAMOND, Part IL chang'ci the face of the Combat, and given his the advantage in every place where he flievved himfdf, he was coriduded by the fame Fortune which had vn^dc Amalanc lofe his life, to the place where Odvacer with his B^/ffrafj fought agaiiift the Fri/i«x and the S.iViens : and no fooner did he know him for one of his ralh Rivals, who at the price of his head would merit Rjfamond, but [hewing himfclf to him, with an afped full of fury ; See here^ Pharamond (cried heat a great dillance) and fee (hat head thou promifeji to give Rofamond. Odoaccr had no fooner known him by many formidable tokens, but judg- ing that he had need of all his Arms againft fuch an enemy, he took a Lance from one of his Efquircs, and fetthng himfelf well in thefaddle, he ran againft Tbaramond^ with hopes to pafs his Lance through his body. The King oppos'd it with his Shield, on which it broke in a hundred pieces : and my Prince, who was not at all Ihaken, receiving the blow with a figh full of difdain i Wherefore (faid he) with jo mean forces, fogreat an enterprize ? And at the fame time turning to Odoaccr, who came towards him with his fword in his hand, after he had received another blow, which did only glance oti his Armour, hedire- and having encourag'd them by the fair adions they faw him do, he led them to the Combat with fo much vigor, that thofc who before had made them yield ground, were now no more able to ftand before them ; but Godegefile himfelf, who in perlon combated in that'place, having receiv'd fome wounds from a hand fo power- ful as made him ftagger in his Saddle, was conftrain'd to yield, and quit the field with his Goths and Herules. The Valiant perfon who had put them to flight, carried his affift- ance againft Arderic with the fame fuccefs i and ftrengthned by the arrival of Ibere, who with the Cavalry which he commanded, was come to the fame place, he charg'd the A- lains and their King with a valour fo extraordinary, that as well as Godegefile^ he conftrain- ed him to abandon the Vidory. In the mean time, tharamond had done overcoming on that fide, where the main bo- dy of the enemies Army fought under the command of the King of the Cimbrians^ and under Briomer ■■, who not permitting his King to expofe himfelf to the greateft dangers, having left him in the middft of a Troop of valiant men, who had nothing to take care of, but the defence of his perfon, he perform'd all the duties of a General, and acquitted him- felf both like a valiant and expcrienc'd Captain. But he in vain made refiftance againft' the Valour and Fortune of the King of the Frank/ i for he beheld with infinite grief, or rather with fome tranfportations of rage, his firft Battalions turn their backs to thofe that charg'd them, and the Frankj with their great King carrying through all parts, difordcr, terror and death. To what end (hould I enlarge farther > In fine, my Lord, Vidory extended it felf in our favour, tlirough all parts of the Field, and the whole Plain was in a little time feen covered witk dead bodies, floating in blood. Tharamond in his Viftory having nothing tor which he was more folicitous than the fafety of the Cimbrian King, made proclama- tion through all his Army, to leave him a free pafiage and retreat, and take as much care for the prcfervation of his life, as they could do for his own : but he was not long time in this trouble, for by the care he continually took to inform himfelf, he learn'd in the end, tliat feeing the general rout of his Army, and being no longer able to flop it, he was re- tir'd with a fmall number of his to a little City behind him, which he had fome days before made himfelf Wafter of, and where he had before the battle left the Princeffes. Pi&i?MW(;«i underftood this news with no fmall joy i and finding that caie over, he ob- tain'd Book IV. VHAKAMOND. i*i taiii'd thcfaireft and moft glorious vidrory that had for many ages beengain'd in Germany. it had beenv^iiuch more bloody than it was, it the King, had not made proclamation that :hcy fliould fpare the lives ot" the Sub)cds of Kofamond, or if the nighc arriving toon after, bad not dclivcr'd them from the fury of thofc whom their diftancc from tlic King pcr- niittcdnot to be partakcirs of his clemency. The ad vantages of this Battel remain'd to us fo entire, that for ten thoufand of ours which were killed, the enemies lort near one hun- dred thoufand ■, amongll whom might be counted two great Kings, and a great nuyibcr of their principal Othcers ; and that formidable Army, which the day before feemM to threaten and make all 'E.tmfe tremble , in one lingleday was reduced to the one lialfdF its firength. "-ri To the joy which the King had for fo great a vidory, was added another as great as he could podibly receive, by the fight of that valiant Cavalier, who by the alliftance he had given to the Gi««//, and to Merovens agw^d Ardaric and GoJegefile, had fo powerfully contributed to the fuccefs of the Baftel, and who being pre fen ted to the King, who had c^rneftly demanded for Iitm, was known for Prince Marcomire^ whofe abferice had caufcd ifo much grief and perplexity. You may believe, my Lord, that the King Ihewed all the kindnefs he could to a Brother fo worthy of his atfedion and eftecm, and that he telHtied a joy fo much the greater, by how much he was before cruelly tormented for him. All the Princes, and all other conlldcirable perfons, took part in the return of the Prince, and all the world gave him thofc praifcs which w^rc due to the great anions he had that day done, t- • ct? '■ . .■,: ' The King was ft ill welcoming him, and informing himfclf of his adventbres, when d great number of coniiderable prifoners were brought before him, and in the bead of the reft he was prefented with Erhmer : thefigiu of this implacable enemy,. who had twice carried his Sword to the breaft of the King, and from .whofc hands Hojamond had with fo much difficulty refcued his life, gave ibme joy to tharamond, and mov'd the Prince his Brother, lefs patient than he, to anger i but it made the King neither tofe his fwectncfs nor modefty, but receiving him with a countenance which had nothing of an enemy in it j Briomer ( faid he ) Fortune bath been contrary to yoic, but you ought to pardon the injury JJie bath done you^ fmce }he hath not expoj''d youto a greater mvi fortune^ than that of receiving, ki'idacfi from the man yon hate, 'Briomer expreffed his anger by his filcnce, not anfwcring at all to the words of Pharamond: but the King ceas'd not to carcfs him, till by his con- tinued civilities he oblig'd himtofpeak: Iconfefi (faid heatjength) that you are ir eat and generous : hut after an injury you have done me^ for n>hich I can never receive reparation, I eounfel you to tahg away my life, if you rviU ajfure yottr own. I Jhall rather diligently endea- vour to preferve it { replycd the King with a figh J and if by my misfortune I have done yoH any injury, I fljall endeavour to make you lofe the remembrance, and to gain the friendjhi^ of a man tvbo hath fo much fidelity for the blood of Rofamond. Finidiing thefe words, he fent him back with all thofe had been taken with him, giving them a convoy to condu(3: them to the place where the King oUhzCimbrians was retired, to whom with the prifoners he likewile fent the bedies of the two Kings, with a liberty to take away all thofe to whom the Cimbrians would give Burial. fharamond without doubt might have put an end to the defeat of the enemies Army, if he would have renewed the combat on the morrow : Nor was it fo well lecured by the City whither the Cimbrian King was retired,but that by fiege of that place, it had been eafie to force them to come to a fecond Battel i but he could never difpofe himfelf to it, and pro tefied openly, that whatever (liould arrive, he would not go to aflault the Father of Kofa- mond, efpecially in a place where (he her felf in perfon was. This conlideration, of which he could not repent himfelf, was the caufe of no fmall damage to him : for the night following, the Army of Gondioch, and the King of the Sueves came to meet, to whom the Cimhrians had fent a difpatch, and having paffed the Foreft GaZ^rfW^?, which borders on the Country of the Nertereant, joyned with .theirs, and not only made it ftrongcr than curs by fifty thoufand men, but fortified it in the perfon of Gondioch with a Captain, who in good condud and experience in war yielded to few Captains in the world. This encieaie of the enemies power, which liowever was no more than wc expedlcd, made it appear with how much reafon the King had given Batteh and becaufe we were forced to remove our Camp, as well by reafon of the infcdion which a great number of bodies which could not eaiUy ht interred, might give to our Army, as to encamp our felves where we might live more commodioufly than in that place where the want of water per- mitted us not to ftay, we retired towards the K/j'iw, and pitch'd our Camp in fuch man- ner, that both leaving the River as a Bulwark behind us, and enjoying all the conveni- enses 214 FHARAMOND. Fart II. ences wc couM receive, we fecured Pej/'o/i/j Franckfurt, and a good part of the Country from the incurfions of our enemies. Hitherto P/:'>?rii'M3«<^ had reafon to believe, that he had bynoadion augmented the ha- tred of Knfaini»id, and having only flood in his own dei^ence as Ihe had commanded him, (he would in all likelyhood perfevere in thofe thoughts (lie exprefledat his parting from her. But Fortune would that the King of the Cimbrianr, feifed with a mortal grief for thelofs of the Battel, or rather not being able to rellft the rage which tranfported him for the ill fuccefs of his entcrprife, not only rtopt his ears to all thofe confolations which the Princefs his Daughter, or his friends endeavour'd to give him, butrefus'd to receive any jiourifhment that day, or fo inuch as fuffcr that a flight wound which he received by the (hot of an Arrow fhould be drefled v tormenting himfelf in fuch fort, that the day fol- lowing he was feifed with a very violent Feaver. And as he difdained thofe remedies they would have applied, but perfevercd in his affliftion, and his pallion, his Feaver be- came more ftrorg i fo that when by the arrival of the King of the Sueves and Gondioch^ he might hope to redeem the lofs he had fufFtr'd, he was reduc'd to fuch a condition, that his Phyficians began to fear his lite. The Princefs his Daughter, and the Kings his Allies, caus'd him to be ferv'd with infinite diligence i but all their afliftance prov'd vain : for his malady that was grown too mallerlcfs for all remedies, took away his life the feventh day after the Battel. He yielded up his life into the arms of Kofamond; nor dying, took he any oher care fcut to recommend his death to her revenge, of which he accus'd only Fharamond ■■, threat- ring her with the fury of the gods, and the deteftation of men, if ever (he releas'd her fdf of that promife to purfue him to death. The Princefs pouring down tears before him, promifed to perform what he cnjoyn'd, though without doubt (he detcftedthat obftinate cruelty which accompanied him to his Tomb. Yet the King of the Sueves, who was prefeut, and whofe inclinations were not more tender than thofe of the Ci»2^n<>/2 King, nor his rcfentment lefs violent, engag'd her by new proteftations to the union they had made to the ruine of Tharamond. So foon as the King was dead, (he was faluted by the Cimbriani as their Queen, alid de- clar'd Soveraign of the T'entont, Cimbrians and Bohemians, as her Predece(rors had been > but her grief was fuch, both for the lofs of her Father, and pollibly for thofe things to which fhe was engag'd, that for many days (lie was not fenfibleof any thoughts but thofe of deploring her misfortunes. Fharamond xViS ready to dye with grief when he under-* flood this news-, not that he found any fubjed of afflidion in the death of a man who af- ter death it felf made war againit him, but he judged well, that innocent as he was, he was condemned to fuffer the greateft puniflitnent v and that (ince by his misfortune he dyed making war againft him, and that it was reported that a flight wound he received in the Battel might have contributed, he fliould be lock'd upon by Kofamond^ if not as the authour, at leart as the eaufc of his death. He confirmed himfdf more ftrongly in this belief, when he undcrftood the particulars, and the protellatiens which the King of the Sneves and he had exacted from the new Queen of the Cimbrians. When the recital was made to him, lifting his eyes to Heaven, and permittiiig himfelf to fall on a feat that was near him i AIm ( faid he j can there this mifery rejl for me jiiU to prove ? and mujl I with fo much innacency be eternaly criminal ? Oh Fortune ! ( continued he a little after, rifing and walking leifurely ) art thou then Jo favourable to me in Fights, to be fo contrary to me in al] thofe things that concern not my Ho- nour, mr my Glory ? Vain glory ( continued he ) importunate glory, which ince^antly flyes all repofe, and which m felicity accompanies I {l)aU I dedicate my intire life to you, and (haH I not fee fame moments exempt from the cruelty of this mercilefi Fortune which fo perfecHtes me? His padion made him utter many things like to thefe, and he tormented himfelf all that day, whatever Prince Marcomire, and fo inany illuftrious perfons that were about him could reprefent to him v and on the moning calling Cloderic unto him, for whom he had ever referv'd a great efteem, he commanded him to go with a Trumpeter to the Camp of the enemies, tofpcak to the Queen of the Cimbrians, if that Honour might be permitted him C as he might hope, fince he was her Subjed, and one of thofe (he mollconfidered ) and in teftifying to her the great (hare he took in her grief, to re- prefent to her how far he was from rejoycing at the misfortune which caufed her to (lied thofe tears i and to offer Her anew for vi(fiime to the Manes of the King her Father, that life which (he had hitherto refus'd, which he had not preferv'd and detended but by her commandment, and which he was ready to abandon more willingly than ever to the Mi- nifters of her revenge, Cloderic Book IV. T R AK A M-x) NJ), 21:5 C/o«/mc being thus amply inftnid^ed from the King, departed from oii'fC^lrptowar'tJs that of the C/wir/j-f/ -, anJ as we undcrftood at his return, lie not only faw the QJjcen in that profound perplexity which was obfery'd in her habit, and in all her pcrfon, in the middle of a great company of Princcsand other ilhiftrious perfons which cnviron'd her, and who look'd upon her as their Soveraign, or rather as their goddefs i but notwith'- fhnding that trouble which feem'd to render her inaccetiible, and notwirhllanding tha-t grief which pofiefs'd her, he was very well received, and had all the liberty he defired to difcourfe with hcrof what he had in charge. Kofamondw e^zwhWc he fpokc, and when hedopp'd. drying her eyes to return him an anfwcr, Cloderic (faid ilie ) of force I muji per/IJj, or Pharamond muji perrjh ; thefe are not my iitclin^tior.s^ but it is my cruel deltiny tvhicb CQmmmds it^ and it ix to my deftiny I mull yield uhedience^ and not to my inclinati- ons : Pharamond >s tint cuilty, hut he is nnfortttnate \ and though I am not criminal^ J am Ml) lefi unhjppy. Jhe gods rchicb oppife themfelves to his intentions, are perhaps no more fa- vourable to mine \ but [mce they fu vifibly haze forejlietyh their rviTi, n-e mtiji -ne^Jfarily fubmit to it. Bid him prepare bimfelf as I am prepar''d , and tell hint, that in ajj'julting hU life, as I mu,i .■jjfaultit^ it is my tvill that he defend it as I ha-je ordani'dhi;):. Cloderic would have replycd, but (bejvould no; that he Ihould fpeak any more of Vha- ramond ■■, though Cloderic believ'd by fome outv/ard tigns in her countenance, that it was not without doing violence to her thoughts, that (he declin'd her fclf from that difcourfe ; and began another of CW-r/Vs proper interefts, leaving him the liberty to ilay with Fha- ramond, or to return to her Court, where flie promis'd not only to re-tllab!ifli him in his Ertate and Offices, but to make his Fortune rr.uch better than it had becnduring the life of the King her Father. This was what Chderic reported to the King when he returned to our Camp \ and by his difcourfe he knew not what judgment to make of his fortune, though Prince Marco' wireftillaffurcd him that he had no reafon to dcfpair. On the morrow we undernocd that the enemies Army march'd diredly towards us ; and the day following we faw them come very near us, and encamp on the other hde of the Segre, which is that little River you may behold from thj windows of this ciiamber, and which taking its courfe fromia little City, which from its name is called Segodnmim, flows to difchargeit felf into the ^bine a little below CoHen, After their arrival, we underfiood that all the Kings and Princes, of whofe Forces this Army was compos'd, rccciv'd their orders from the fair Queen ot the Cimbrians, who by the commandment of the King her Father, and by the importunity of the King of the Sueves ^ was to await tBe ciid of the waii and that next to her, the other Kings had yielded the chief command to the King of the 5«fwj, as well becaufe of his age, and the Forces which he conducted, as because he was the moil con- ccrn'd, and molt fervently fought the ruine of Fharamond. Behold now, my Lord, what are the Adventures, and what is the prefent condition of Pharamond:, 1 allure my felf that you have tound in his Fortune lomethirg more liiange than what your imagination reprefented to you ■■, and if you do not judge him the molf miferableof allmen, yetatleaft you will eonfefs that his is a kind of misfortune fo parti- cular, that fcarce the ftrangeft Nations, or the mort ancient of ages can furnifli an example : His Adionsare fufficiently heroick and noble, to give him a great name amongft the moft famous men: _And-you-inuJl pardon me, my Lord, if I dare to fay, that if his misfor,' tunes had not thrown fuch obliacles in the ways of his glorious defigns, he had not only eftabli{h'd himfelf in that fair Monarchy on the other fide of the Rhine, to which he is called both by the Oracles of the gods, and the deiires and hopes of men, but had pof- fibly followed the tradls of more famous Conquerours, and been mounted by his valour and excellent virtues to a glory equal to theirs. I confefi C-faid Conjlance to Cleomer, feeing that he had made an end ) f^-*^ Pharamond it not only capable to exceed all mens hopes, but that nothing among men mas ever greater than he. If his qualities were admirable, his fortune is no lt(i prodigious ; but though it be more extraordinary than mine, by the jirange events which compofe it, I fee no reafon to retract fsm what I have ttld him : and I do maintain yet, that my mifery is greater than his^ fmce aU. hopes are lojl to me ■■, but according to my opinion, he may yet hope. C»KJf««ce added many other words to this Difcourfe i and that of the Adventures of fharamond, gave him fufficient matter to entertain a farther converfation withC/^o- tHer, if the Frank., perceiving that the greatcft part of the night was fpent, and that in the zi6 ' THARAMOND, Part II. the condition wherein he was, his health might be endargcr'd by fo long watching, after he had demanded pardon of him for the tedioufnefs of the recital, and receiv'd from his civility the thanks he believed due to the pains he had taken, had not given him the good right, giving him liberty to dedicate to the remembrance of the Adventures he had heard, or to his proper misfortunes, thofe hours in wiiich by his grief he was often de- priv'd of ileep. The end of the Second Part of PHARAMOND. PHARAMONB. Book T. 2i' PHARAMOND. The Third Part. O O K I. He great courage of the King of the Franks made him impatiently fuifcr the power of his enemies in his own Territories •, and though he was much weaker than they in number of men, yet he had without doubt fought occafion to fight them, if he had not re- fpeded the prefence of Keftntond^ who waS in the head of them, and whom hedurft not alTault, though flie had commanded him to defend himfelf. The remembrance of this command, which (he had enjoyned with all her Authority, and which after the death of the King hei Father (lie had reiterated by the mouth of Cloderic^ joyned to the indignation he bare againft his Rivaisi Infpir'd himevery moment to enterprife fomething againfi: them, and made him often call for his Arms, to return upon their heads thunders more formidable than thofe where- with they threatned his. But then calling his eyes on their Camp, and with them find-"- ing out the place where the divine Queen of the Cimbrians \o6^^d, that place feem'd to him a place mortfacred, which he could not behold without veneration i and having rea- fon'd on all things which were permitted him, he laid afidc his dedgn of driving back th6 enemies Forces with all his, or oppoting himtelf to all the enterprifes of his Rivals, re-*- folv ing only to hold the defenfive part, without aflaulting an Army which K#/if»w and commanded Gajialdm and Ade- lard to k\(c on thcllraitsof the mountain with fome Infantry, with a defign to raife there a little Fort to annoy the enemy, and guard that Port againft all attempts. In fine, he conferred with Bajogalius concerning the Government of the State , on whofe prudence lierelyedmbre than ordinarily, llnce his pallion had clouded a part of his natural light, or at Icart hindred him from ading with an entire liberty. He advis'd with him fo-much the longer, becaufe that day he was to return to F)*bich I am to learn of you, concerning thofe Adven- tures that hefel you fince our feparation ■■, not but that you have told me fo^nething, but it nat fo confiifedly, and that little I have underjiood^ feem^d ti me fo important^ thai I apprehend- ed it with a great curioftty, and very much concern, I have prepar''d to devote f much of this day as Jfjall be ireguifite, if your health mil permit you without ineonveniency, to makf the recital j and becaitfe by the little I hme k^orvn, I judge that you woitld not willingly coni- municate to other perfons, that vpbich our friendjfjip may oblige you to tell me, i am come alune^ as you fee , ta give you a more entire liberty. It is trtie My Lord, anfwered tlie Prince, 1 believe I have things to tell you may merit your Attention, and that for the little time I tvtt ahfent from y6u, there befel me Adventures very confidtrable. I have fiill attended your tpttl and your conveniency to make the recital, and fmce you deftre it to dajy I tan obey yoit fu muih^ the more eafily,my Wounds being in a condition ta permit me to undergo a greater 'travel than this i «o<" have I anyftckitefto objlruH a much longer difcourfe. At thefe v/oxAsTharamond callirfg fothc of the Attendants, and having given them Order to take care that they (hould not be iri-* tcrrupted, he teftified to the Prince, his willingncfs to hear, and foon after the Piifl :b,::u. ThQ Mittory o£ Miircomire. I Should be difficultly pcrfwadcd, MyLora, torccolint t& yoa, much more to conftfs to you thofc things which by the rUles df Prudence ought to be condemned, if. I did not know you would be favourable to one, jnd that you .are, too couverfant with the i'af" fion that hath caus'd them not to pardon the ciTeds it hath produced. You have uiideti fteod Sir, that by the Combat which I fought agajnft GoHdetfiar and his Burgundiam, .foi *he liberty of Albifin^, (tliough at the beginning 1 thought;! had tought for that of j^e^ t f 2 / fiUmond) 220 THARAMOND. Part III. f.tmond) I was reduc'd to a condition which permitted me not to be glad for any advan- tage I had over my Enemy, and that after his fall, I fcarce had time to fiagger, as I may fay, to the Chariot of the Princefs, and to open my mouth to tell her (he was fjcc, but my ftrcngfh (which was fpcnt by the great quantity of blood which I loft,) forfook me in an inftant, and I rcmain'd without fenfe and without knowledge, in the Arms of thofc that came to fuftain me. You have known moreover, how the Princefs of the Srteves, touch'd with Compaffion at the figlit thereof, and not willing to leave without fuccour a man, to whom (he believ'd her fclf oblig'd for her Liberty, laying alide the fear fhe might have to incenfe the King her Father, by the effeds of her pity and acknowledg- ment, caufed me to be laid in her Chariot to conduft me to Eghma, v.'hithcr flie re- tir'd. The Chariot drove on a great way, Beforcl regain'd my fenfcs, and I have been told lince, that vvhilft I lay in that condition, the Princefs exprefs'd both by her Countenance and Difcourfe, great marks of a truegiief, forgetting nothing fhc could do to fuccour me. We were gone a good part ot our wayj and the Sun was ready to fct, before I re- turn'd to life, when palling near a Fountain , the Princefs commanded to flop, and ha- ving caus'd fome water to be fetch'd, order'd it to be caft fevcral times in my face, thofe lefrefhments in the end procured the effed they defir'd, for by little and little I recover'd my fenfcs, and open'd my eyes. As for the prefent, my' Knowledge not b?ing return'd entirely, and my Memory la- ter than my Knowledge-, By a light which wis y^t clear enough to let me eafily difcern all Objedts, I found my felf with aftonitlimcnt i.mong the Ladles, and near a Lady whofe beauty attended not the return of all my fireugui, to give me furprife and admiration. I beheld her very ftedfaftly, and as the eifedt of fair things is to pleafe in what eflatc foevet they appear to us, I remember I beheld her with delight, and though I cculd not well difcern what I faw, yet in my weaknefs I felt fomewhafcthat allur'd me in this fight, which agreeably flatter'd and comforted me. I held my eyes hrmly fixt on that fair face, and I heard, though very confufedly, the found of a Voice as fweet as the Air of all the perfon who defircd to know how I did, and affur'd me of my recovery i when with my entire Knowledge., my Memory began to return, and recalling by little and little to my remembrance all that had befalFn me to the moment of my fwounding, I knew in the end that I was near the Princefs of the Saeves^ and had fufficient ftxength to difcern her from the reft, by the fair marks I difcover'd. With this Knowledge i that of my Duty rerurning into my Senfes , brought with it RefpefiTvledgemeHt of the Service. Horveveritmaybe, renown'd Prince, or however I may fear the opinion may be hadof vie, Icome toteliif.e to yon the grief I have to Jeeyoic in the con- dition you are reduc'dto for niy fake, and to ajjkreyott of the dcpre I have to acquit tny felf of that J orve to you, by taking care of your prefervatiou in a place rrhere pnjfibl^ll things are not favoH" rable toyoa. Albifvtda fpnkc in this manner, and the time I had employed to hearken to her, having fcattei'd a pait of the trouble which my growing paliion at the light of her had rais'd in my mind, I found my felf in a condition to anlwcr her better than I hoped, and bci'.old- ing Iier widi a paiiionate afpeft » Madam , faid I , neither do 1 believe 1 have merited your difpleafitre, Mor am I tvorthy of the ackywrvledgment your goodnefs is pleas''d to tejlife : And as I am not ignorant of the injuries you have received from a Trtnce, rvhom his misfortunes tnly have made guilty i So thefervice I have done you is not offo great importance to hope that glorious re~ cornpenjc ynu afford it. Would to God, added I with a (igh, that it rvere po^tble for me to merit it by all the remnant of my blood, or that at the price of fonicthing more precious than this life, for the prefervation whereof you defign to employ your felf, 1 could make yoH change the opinioH you have of the Houfeofthe King of the Franks, into more favourable thoughts. 7he thoughts I have of your Hnufe, replied the Princefs, are not perhaps fa dijlant as yoti ihink^from tvhatyeu can defre : A>td though I am not permitted to regard the King of the Franks, but as a man -who both flew my Brother, and a Prince whom the will of my Parents had dejlin'd me for Spoitfe > let J have always been fd deprived of life a Prince that ought to have been yojtr Spctije, asitfeem'dtjmeyoufaid. How, xeplkAAlbiftnda, are you ignorant yet of this idii accident, orhaveyou not underjhod, that an hour before you fought in our. favour againji the Eurgundians, the King your Brother had ajj'aulted the C\n)btiir\s which conduUed us, andb«» fere the eyes of Pvofamond and mine, [Jew the unfortunate Theobaldos ? Thefe words in an inilant pierc'd my Soul with a mortal grief, not doubting Sir but that tliis misfortune which the Princefs related, was the mol\ terrible you could pollibly prove. J exprefs'd it at firft by ray filence, but at length breaking forth with a behaviour which fuf- ficiently denoted my artonilliment; No Madam, faid I to the Princefs, I never before k>iex» cf that misfortune yoH tell me, but by what I perceive we are much more infortunnte than 1 ever yet heliev'd. Iflopt atthefevvojds, with fo many fgns of grief, that the Princefs repented 10 have told me this fad news v but feeing (he could no longer remedy it, and believing I was willing to Icaxn more, (he recounted to me what had pafs'd in that fatal Adventure, even to thclcart particulars, though not without lettingfall fomc Tears, which (he devoted to the memory oilhechaldus^ or to the grief of Kofamond, and which I accompanied with mine, by the reflexion I made of the peifecution you fuffcr'd by your ill fortune. Ab tharamond^ faid 1 , fo foon as (he liad ceas'd to fpeak, a this the favoxr able change you hcp''d, or is there any misfortune in the World equal to yours. I had perhaps faid more, and had afflidied my felf longer than I did, if in the Grief F found for you intcrcfl, the remembrance of my own had notyiclded me a great Coniolation. I am adiam'd Sir to tell it you, but moft true it is, that in thercfledion I made ot the Crof- fcs, the death of T/.'fci<»W«x might bring you f for no other reafon could make me bemoan a pcrfon whom I had never lircn, who was your cruel enemy, and of whoni 1 never heard Book I. F H A K A M G N D. 225 any tliino' migiit make tne much effccm liiin ) I thol:;-,ht of the lore I aircaddy hacl (oi Albiftnd-t aild coming to uiiclcr(kn(.l trom Iicr lips, as I had already done by the biuit of Fame, that fheob-ildas was ddtin'd to the glory to polfefs her, I could no lon|»cr sffliS: my fclf, as I ought to have done, conlidcrinj* your inicreit, for the rkatli ot a pcifon who had been my molt formidable Rival, and a Rival who might without difficulty have _ blaltcdallmy iiopcsi or atlealt I wasnotalflidtcd for any thing elfc, but that he had not ' dyed by any other hand than that of Vh^tramond. I cxprcffed not aj all to the Pimtcfs this variety of thoughts which tnrmoyl'd mc, both for your interelf, Sir, and for my own i but having endeavoured to mailer them by a (iiencc which I kept longer than almolt civility granted me to do, I deplore^ faid I in tine to the Princcfs, both the death »/ Theobaldus, a>i-l the mUfortiute f/Pharamondi but if it be to the memory of Theobaldus that you give thofe precious tearf, which I fee trickje fro n your fair eyef\ there are ferv men who wi'j not emulate bis condition^ and n>ho n^utld Hot buy them at the price of all he hath hil. I owe perhaps ihnfe tears to the memory of Theobaldus, replyed Albifinda^ but if 1 owe a tejiimo'ty to the truth ^ I may fay I otvt them to my Vutv, rather than to my inclinatioit, and that the marriage pretended to be made between Thcoh-dXAm and my felf^ was aneffca of our Parents wiH, and not of our choice. I Tvill likewife fay^ if 1 maybe fuffer'd to fj'eak^ to you rvitb con'Jdence^ that there was a harf^j- nefi ill the dijpofition of ThcohMus, which everdijhkrdme; and that after the obedience I owe to the King my Father^ nothinz,bad diff-nfed me to ^his marr't^e^ but the dfiretoaJymy felfby all tyes that I could to the Frincefi R(-,famond, whom 1 love more than my life. Toit /?e, added (lie in words wholly charming, with what liberty 1 explain my felf to you, there are ferv pcrfons inthe world to rvhom I confefi fa mttch, and I hope that youwili mt judge ill of this freedom. To thcfc words fhe added many others full of civility, and others very obliging ■, and fearing led in the condition wherein I was, a longer converfation might impcacii my health, (lie rofe up and departed, having don§ mc the favour to tell me that flic would every day vifit me. This fwect promife comforted in part the forrow which, her depar- ture caufeds bur fcarce was (he forth of the chamber, when a Lady that was come with her, approaching my Bed, and being featcd, after the refufal I had made to hear her in any other pofture , My Lord^ faid Ihe, Ton may permit me if you pleafe to give you this vifit, and to mike you my particular prote'^ations; I have received a favour from you, nhich J have engraved in the middle of my heart, and I owe you the life of my only Son,, who being imprudentlv .vingled amoKgthe Burt^undians, when ynu tooh^the City of Marofeuda, andbe- inz tipon the po'r-n to lofe his life by the Arms of the Franks, iv.Jr delivered by y,mr generofity^ and receivd from you alone a life, which hitherto hath been more dear to me than my nw»i ihe remembrance of fo great a benefit renders me entirely yours, and ohtis^es me to offer you all the fervice you can receive from me or mine, in a jirange Country, and in the Territories of your enemies. My name is Imbergida, 1 bad the honour to be Governef to ihe Princefi Aibilinda, and am bound to her fervice the reilof my days ■, if in this employment, or any o- ther Cervices which are pffible for wf, you find any occafion to make proof of the porver yott have over me, you fljall fee my Lord^ that at the hazard of my life^ I will endeavour to pay you what . 1 ome you. I hearkened to the difcourfe of this Lady with great attention, and as in the con- dition wherein I vvas, nothing could be more favourable tome, ror more advantage- ous, thanfuch an accident, I praifedthe Gods with all my heart, and conceived all the joy thereat which I was capable to contains I neither could, nor would I difTembleit to Imbergida, and breaking filence fome time after (lie had made an end of fpcaking ; I am too happy, faid I, to have been able to do you a Iqndne^ which will make me deferve your jrie>idfhip; and though for anadionto which I was obltg'd, I oti(^ht not to hope an acknow- ledgment equal to what youtefiitie. permit me Madam to accept the offers you have made me ^ and to receive' your ajjijiances in thofenecejjities I may have of it, attending till time (haUgwe me fome occasion to render nie more worthy of your diligence. To thefe iir{t words we added many others, and before Imbergida departed from my Bed, fhe gave me fo many marks of a finceve atfcdlion, that I could not doubt but j tnight confide in her in all things. It was trom her that I underftood the delign Brio- tner had againfl: my life, and the endeavours he had us'd to execute it, if the Princefs Kifamond, mov'd both by the intereft of /^Z/j/r/Wj, and by her own g-ncrohty, had not Oppos'd htm with all her authority, and had not in the end oblig'd that furious man to de- part the City to meet the Cimbrian King, who as it was reported was entring then into Bohemidi The 224 PHARAMOND. Fart III. The cruel clc-figns of Bmwfrhad made me fear my life, in a time wherein I was in no condition to defend it, if my Love, whicli wholly pre poUlffed my Soul, had left me a place for other thoughts than thofc which it infpired, and iiad not "been fufficicnt to make ine neglcfl things of greater price than this life, which I faw apparently exposM to fome danger. That converfation I had had with Albifmdj^ in which befides the charms of her Beauty, I had difcovercd others which had fenfibjy touch'd me, had abfolutely re- doubled my pallion, and as every moment it gathered new force by the eternal fixation of my thoughts, which I could not divert from her-, two days viiit wrought upon me, what two years could hardly have done on difpofitions more gentle and more moderate than mine. * The morning after Adelardame Sir, to vifit me on your behalf, and gave me thofe marks and affurances of your goodnefs, that you may well judge no pailion could hinder me from being as fenlible as I ought of your forrows, nor divert metrom feeking occa- fions of your confolation, by all thofe means which my being fo near Kofamond might af- ford. I prayed Adelard to affcxe youfo, and having fent back with him thofe men which followed me, I rgtained only my peculiar Servants. 1 told not Adelard at all what I had underitood of the cruel intentions of K;Vfl/wfr, for fear lell by reafon of the affedion you have always born me, you might fulTcr fome trouble, though they afTured me a little after, that I had no reafon to fear for my felf, whilrt Kofzm.md v/zs at Egitina, who by ireafcnof the refpefl all the Cimbrians bore her, was abfolutc Midrefs in theabfence of the King her Father. I underfiood that (he vifited Bilamir, and had the fame care of him that Albifinda had of me ■-, and it was likewifc n.poj-ted, t\nt either out of confidera- tionof hismcrit,or an acknowledgment flie ought to^he^crvice (hehadrecciv'd fromhiti), flie tellitied much more eileem for him, than Hie had done for all other men,and had receiv'd without difdain the profeliion of that love he bore lier. I conftfs to you, that the noble things I have heard related of this Prince, joyn'd to what renown had publifti'd of his famous ad-ions, begat in mc a great dcfire to fee him, and I heard it fpoken, that he (hould tefiifie no fmall defiretofeetheBrc^her of Fharamond., but though we were both in the fame City, and very near each other, we were both at the fame time wounded, ■and in a condition which permitted not fuch an interview. In the mean time the fair and diligent Albifmda had the goodnefs to vifit me every day, and by thofe fights and thofc new Graces Idifcovered in her perfon, my love continually augmented i and became in the end fo ftrong that I could difficultly dilfemblc it: Not hut that fometimcs to its ftrength I oppos'd the weaknefs of my hopes, or that I did not confider with much grief, the little appearance there was I fliould ever be hap- py. That implacable hatred which the King her Father bore againft you, and your Fa- mily, was an impediment I could never hope to remove ■> and though by time it might have been poifible to overcome this difficulty, my Fortune opposM it felf to my hopes, nor were there any but Kings who might pretend to the poffeflion of Albifinda. 1 made often refledion on thcfc truths, but the knowledge I had of them was never able to di- vert, or oblige mc fo much as to ule the leafl endeavour for my recovery from this paf- fion. And by that inclination we have to flatter our felves, I imagined that I might by cbnfiderable fcrvices appeafe in. time the anger of the King of the Sueves, and by the afliftance of my Sword one day raife my felf to a degree e<}ual to that of rny potent Rivals i though I doubted not ait all, but many great Princes, whom the competitorfliip of I'heabjlduf, and the intentions the Sitevijl) King had jn his favour, had made con- ceal their delign, would engage themfelves in her fervicc, after the death of the Cimbri- an Prince. However it ((\ould happen, I neither could nor" was willing to ftruggle with rny paflion, ror was I longer able to conceal it from Imbergida, who was continually at my Bed- fide, and rendred me all the offices I could exped from an atfedionate Mother. It was then to her that I entirely opcn'd my heart, mov'd both by the confidence I had of her difcretion and friendship, and by the belief I had, that from her rather than from any other perfon, I might find confolation and alliflance. I was not at all deceived in the judgment I had made, and flie received my difcourfe with marks of fo great gninterell:, that tertificd her nottobcmore concerned in the fortune of her fon, or of her own-, but after die had peaceably hearkened to me, and at the end of that attention made me a thoufand protefiations of the dcfire (lie had to fcrve me,in defpight of all confiderations which might oppofe themfelves, (hereprefentcd iinto me the difficulties I encountered, and certainly did not reprefent them Icfs than I had apprehended them-, but when I faw that (he fumm'd them altogether in tlie fcv'crity of the King of the Sneves, and that fiie made me feajf Book L T H AJi A MO N D. ^25 fejr notliing on the bchalt of die Prio^cfs, which was much more to be feared than all tlic angi;r.;ot her Father, I gave hopeaqd joy an cntrantc into my foul ■■, and bcholjiflg Jmber'^tdi \\'a\\ an afpcd: wliich fuipris'd her; If i>f my Love^ faiJ 1, / have mthing ta, \irhe .i^sfnA hut the hatred, of the King of the Sncvcs, or if I cnuld hope that the inclinjti'nnf of the Princefi tvere not contrary to me^ l^jaula not oaly.dejpife of} other difficult iei which I might encounter^ but from this mament elieein my condition mire happy than that oftbemnii f}rtHitJte\ and if yon cjit^ Ma(i^jw( continued I, taking hold of one. of her hands, and, locking it jp mine in^nigxtafie of atfedion ) give me fame hopes of a, happtHeji of rvhich..i^ feems yott would njt by your aifcourfe leave me hipeUji^ ynu will raife me to a condition tvik merit tf much envy^ as that lyherein you htfidence I have in your dijcretion^ and the intereli which I iakf in your rep:^fe, I c^a-, mt hinder my felf from telling you^ that according to my opinion^ the inclinations of the Prin- ce^ are rather favourable than contrary to your defires. let tejiijie to her nothing of tlxif^ though wy difcaurfe may mak^ you believe it ^ for though flie he of a nature extremely fweet^ flfe hath a.modc;iy full of Scruples, rvhich rvill ruine your affairs, if Jhe fjould believe her felf guiltfi of any.rveakjiefi difcovered to you before jlie be well^ engaged. * \- ' I hearkened to this diftourfe of Imbergida with much fatisfadtion, and I was opening^ my lips to let her know part of what I thought, when the Princefs of whom we fpcke cntredher felf into the chamber : to any other but her felf I fliould with difficulty have pardoned this interruption ot adifcourfe in which I was with fo much delight ciiiplojp.^ cd ■■, but at the fight of this divine objedi all other remembrances vanitliM, and I gave my felf entirely to the fight fo dear and fo defired. My health was at prefent in a much better condition than it had been fome days before, and the Princefs who beheld this be- < ginning of my recovery with no fmall gladneis, was, no fooner feated^.,bu( flte telUhed her fatisfadion by words full of fweetnefs i yet fl\e recciv'd not the anfwer llic expeded : for I having hearkened to her difcourfe with a countenance in which (he law no marks of cheerfulnefs, Hitherto Madam, faid I with a mourntul voice, / have been bound to your goodnefi more than I can utter, nor are a thoufand lives like mine employed in your fervice capable to acquit the teaji part of what I owe you, hut at prejent permit me if you pleafe tti tell you that 1 am little obligd to the joy you teliifre at the greateji misfortune can befal me. And what misfortune, faid thePrincels wholly furprifed,. /;(*:/? J teliified a jjy^ ftnce it feems to me that it it only for your recovery J made any appear ? Alas, replyed I vi\K\\,'3.i\'^\, this recovery is cruel to me, the benefit it affords me is little confiderable to the f rice of that bappinefi it deprives me of ; for in (Iwrt (continued I in pallionatc words J 1 fjallnot otly not be any more vifited by the Trince^ of the Sueves, as I Jhould have been in a- nother condition, but it mil he no more permitted me to remain with her, or poffibly fee ber during my whole life. Having faid thefe words, I obferv'd blufliesarife in the cheeks of Alhifinda, but there feemed yet no anger to dart from her eyes, and lefs when after a (hort fiknce; Ihit ill yeu tetiijie a fear of faid tlie, is not fo great to hinder the fy is owing to the return »f your health, but though you flieuld never fee me more, I believe you would with a great deal of eafe comfort your felf for all that. I was about to reply, and it may be to difcovef more than I had refolv'd, but (he fearing the purfuit of that difcourfe chang'd the jnat- ter, to hinder me from continuing it, but it was witly a behaviour which gave me fome caufeto fear that I had attraded her anger. It was thus that I exprelTcd my felf to her, without daring to difcover my felf more openly, and though naturally I want no. confi- dence} yet methcught I ought her that refped, that I could not do more without abufin^ the kindnefs Ihe had fliewn me. I had faid enough to let her know what I felt, and I faid not enough to give her any juft fubjed of anger, and by letting me judge that llie defired not a more entire knowledge, (he left me to believe that what ihe had receiveci had not incenfed her. I lived in this manner with her, highly fatisfied with my condition, imagining tha^ without being able to accufe me, flie knew the love I bore her. When my mJch teared recovery was at hand, I faw my felf deprived of a happinefs fo dear to mc, though in a manner different from what I expeded : In effed I had but two days left my Bed, when we underftood that the King of the Cimhrians was' returned io htarobttda^ and on the morrow Briomer arrived at Eg/*i«i», with an order from the King, which he fhewec^ to the Wmcek Kofamond, and by which lie that fame day caufed me to be arreded in my Lodgings, and guarded with a feverity, that not only the Princefs Albifmda had no longei the liberty to fee me, but it was not fo much as granted to Imbergida or any other perfon but thoft appointed to ferve me.' G g Alb'infif ■'126 THARAMOND, Part. IIL Alhimer who was at prefent at Eghini^ and who was always very affcftionate to youir intercfls, having vifited me often during my wounds, and albiicd me with an irhniteaf- fec^'ion, faw me yet for feme days, and offered to do all things which were poihbic to f?rvciTie, but by his ailiduity to vilu mc, he became fufpeded by Bnomir^ ird the iight of him was denycd me as well as of all other perfons. The Princefs Kofamond telHhed no fmall indignation at this proceeding of the King her Father, and told Briomer publickly, that there was no reafon to detain a Prince who was not fallen into the power of his cnernics but by the fervice he had done them-, but (he could not hinder the etfcdt of the King,'$ will s fothat after (he had witne{rcd her juO di(tafte to Albifmda, (lie promifed to employ for my liberty all the credit (he had with the King her Father , but the Princefs Albifinda, all composed offweetnefs, as (he naturally was, broke owt into paflion, and teftifyingto Brww^r her difpleafure with infinite courage : IfyeMhad ftot^ faid (he, difi^nifcd the truth to the Kin^ yot& Majhr^ he wottld Mnt have given you jo MHJftji an order^ and rvheit he jhall ttnderjiand^ that it rvas not by rvar, but by fighting for hit Service^ for iheVrincefihis Daughter^ aitd fermine, //^at Marcomire remains in hisVo' tninioHs, covered tvith thofe ivounds he received for his intered, he rvill repent without doubt of that ynu have made him aVt, aud not approve the counfel you have given him. She added to thefe many other words, which made this fierce Soldier lofe a part of the refpcft he ought her, and obliged him to anfwer her with infolence, "the King my Majier^ faid he, nvU approve all I have done by his order ^ but the King your father rpill not approve irithottt doubt what you have done for the Brother of a man that flerv the Trince his San. This was all the fatisfadllon (he received from Briomer, and whatloever endeavours (hfe ufed to give me advice of things, (he could never find the means, and It eiug that (he could do nothing for my liberty, nor for my comfort, fhe refolved to go to Marobnda with Rofa- mend, to reprefentto the King of the Cimbrians the iniu(\ice he did. I haveunderllood lilicwife, that Prince Balamir^ who was entirely cured of his wounds, whether it were out of complacency to the thoughts of Kofamsnd^ or by the motions of his own Gencrb- fity blamed publickly the proceeding of the Ring of the Cimbrians , and protef^ed he would employ himfelf to the utmoli for my liberty i but he departed thence prefently after, to put himfelf in the head of fome Troops which the King of the Cimbrians hzd fent him, and with which he went to fight the Burgundians, which yet remained in thofe Territories, and after, having vanquifh'd them in fcveial encounters, drove them out in few days. For my felf. Sir, T may fpeak it with truth, that I fupported very patiently my im- prifonmcnt ; that it excited in me more choler, than fear or grief? itd, that if it caufed any grief in me, it was f or the lofs it made me fuffer of the fight of Albifmda, rather than For any other conlideration. 1 teflified to thofe of my Guard a part of my thoughts, with a great deal of liberty, and feeing one day their Captain in my chamber, 7ell Brioifief, faid I to him , and teV your King himfelf if you pleafe, that be ottght^ cr might have thought mare than once, before he refolved on an aUien fo full of ingratitude and indignity -, that it is from the Franks he hath received the Crown he had loji, and that be is ill conn' felled, to draw yet up»n himfelf thofe enemies, againfl which be was fo ill defended. I had pollibly faid more, if I had fpoken to the King of the Cimbrians himfelf, and if I had not remembred that I Was obliged to fome refpeo/w, and theprogrefs oi Viridomar ■■, that by the diligence of our enemies Forces, wc had rceeiv'd many lofTes. I had died with grief certainly at this news, feeing my felf miferably (hut up, whil(\ you my Soveraign were lighting Battels, and encountring dangers, in which my misfortunes permitted me not to accompany you \ but as on the one fide I had found caufe of forrow, 1 received on the Other fome confolation, undcrdandmg fome few days after, the ftrange fucccfs of that War, the adhiirable change of Viridomar, and the retreat of the S'wifi/f/. They who made me this recital, made no difficulty to relate to me, the eflfedJ that news Book I. P H A K A M N ll 22^ news had producM in the hnrt of the King of the Cimbrijuj, aiid to tell mc that the Prlii- ecfs /4/i/fiw(/j had been fcniibly afHidJtd, fcjcirg Iitr fLlt by thar misfortune depriv'd of th^ hopes to be Siller to Rnfimond^ by alliance, as llie was already by alVLv^ion : that Oie was for many days comfortlefs, and that iicr griet could i.ot be appeas\i but by tlic Princcis Kofxmond, who lecm'd but little touched at this change of Viridsmar^ nor had appcaf'd fo at all, but for the love of Alhifmdj. That the King cf the Cimhrians h id born it iaips- tiently, and that few days after feeing hiir.lelf nolonger engaged to the King ot the Sueves^ he had made Proclamation, that he would give his baughtcr and his Dominions to that Prince that (hould bring him the head of Pharamond : That he was upon tht poinf to have fent back the Princcfs Albifmda to the King of the Saevfi, and to break all alliance with him, but that the King had appeas'd him by a proceeding contrary to that of his SoH^) prorelling that he would never fcparate from his interells; That lie would till death allilt him with all his Forces againft their common Enemy •, and that if Viridomar did not re- turn to his duty, and renounce the Princefs Folixtna, and yield himfelf to Kofamond^ ac- cording to the Hrft intention, he not only would never own him for his Son, but in al! things treat him as his mortal enemy, praying him liill to keep the Princefs Alhiftnda witli the Princefs Ro/i»»o«^ for the alTurance of his word, fo that the alliance was re-conhrmcd by thefe proceedings of the King of the Sttevn^ to the great contentment ot the two Prin- ceflx's, who by this means, were to ftay together till the end of the War, to be made againlt Pharamond, for which they Arm'd fo many Princes, and fo many Provinces. See Sir^ the news I underftood, which made me in the end infinitely glad, bat of the hopes I had that the love of Viridomar to my Silkr, might facilitate my fortunes with his, and that he would be favourable to me in my love, to receive frbm mc t!ie fame allillance in his : Irt the mean time I remained yet feme days in the fame Prifon, during which, not- withrtanding the trouble it was to mc, the recovery ot my wounds was complcated, and I reftor'd to my former health, and entire ftrength, fo that I wanted nothing but liberty for the reft, being well allilkd, and as ^kll ferv'd. I underwood in the end, and I un- derftood it with an intinitc forrow, tliat the two PrinceCTes were gone to Mi/r(?Z'«^i<, by the Order of the King, under the condudf of Briomer^ who had the charge to biing them thi- ther, Thisdil^ance from Alhifindj, thought drew no advantage from her (lay at EgitiftJ^ afflidted me morefenfibly than all the rigours of my Imprifonment could do, and thofe that were about me, beheld me more melancholy and fad, than they had ever known me. But I was not long in this affliftion, foron'the morrow, by an Order which came from the Court, they took me out of the Prifon to condudt mc thither. I mounted a Cha- riot vehich they presented me, with Clotarim, he of all my men, whom I have always rrioft eflcem'd, and four of my Guard, who plac'd themfelves at the Boots with their Arms* The reft of my people followed the Chariot oh Horfeback, but without Swords, and the Chariot was environ'd with one hundred men of War, well Mounted and Armed Cap a-fe. He that had the charge of my Imprifonment, marched in the head of them i And in a CouHtrey where the King had no more enemies, and where in all likclyhood, no pcr- fon would endeavour to relcue me, they bcliev'd a greater Convoy unneceitary. I found my felf in the Countrey with fome delight, and underftanding that I went to- wards Albifmda^ though I had no hopes to fee her, I followed without reluctancy thofe that conduced me to the City where (he was, and into which I had entrcd not long be- fore after a manner much more diiTerent : we had already pafled the greateft part of the way, and in lefs than three hours might have arriv'd at Marohuda : when they that guard- ed mc faw a Body of Cavalry appear twice as ftrong as theirs, which came after us uport a round trot. Their Captain believed at hrft, that it Was a re-inforccment fent him, not fearing any Enemies Troops between Egttina and MarStida •, But when they were fo near, as they could clearly difcern them, tbey faw that their Arms and their Caflacks were like to thofe which the BurgtindiaHi ufually wore. They began to be atfrightcd at this fghf, and ftopp'd, toconfider what refolution they fliould take : but at the fame time they law the Enemies 6quadron level their Lances, and advance towards them on full fpeed, with thofe cries the Burgundiani are ufcd to make wiien tliey begin their onfets : At this light my Condudtors not doubting they were Enemies, and truly knowing themfclvcs too weak for them, loft entirely their Courage, and their Captain feeing that all his men aLandon'd him, and fought their fafcty in their flight, had rccouvfe to his fpurs, as well as the uthers,- and fled after the reft on a full carrcir. The Guards thcinfc 1 vcs, who were in the Chariot, letting down the Boots, endeavoured to lave themfelves ua loot, by running towards a Wood they faw near us : and the Chariottr himdit leaping from his feat, ran alter the others, fo that there remain'd about thcCluriot only tluL fmall number of iViy ftrvants, who followed without any .Arms. G g "2 Thsy 228 PHAKAMOND. Part III. They who had affrighted my Convoy, made feme (hew of purfuing them, but it well appear'd, it was \yjthout deiign to reach them > and without killing or taking one, they Icatrer'd them in fuchfort, that they werenomnre to be fccn throughout the Plain, llcapt out ot tlie Chariot with my Guards, and my men began to range about me, but not ha- ving fo much as a fword, we remain'd in the place where we were, with delign to attend with patience, what might be the end ot this adventure : Our expectation was not long, for a little after, the party of my Deliverers return'd tons, and their Captain more than fifty paces before the relf •, his ftature feem'd to me in his Saddle the faireli in the world, but I could fee but a fmall part of his vifage, becaufe he had- lifted up his Vifer but a very little to fpeak to me ; He drew near to me alone, leaving his men at a little dillance i and. being allighted, becaufe he faw me on foot, Frince, faid he to me, yon are free, but make ufe if yoH pleafe of your Liberty^ for it is mt permitted me to fiay longer xvitbyou. I receivq this benefit, faid I to him, with all thofe achwwledgments I ctve it, but if you tvill make i^, entire, be pleased to tell me to tvhom I am thus ejtgag'd. " You are not i"o- to any perlbn^ "•' replied he, for this alhftance was due to you from all who know how to refpedf a great "Merir^.andanllluflrious birth: You muft permit mc not to tell yo» any more, but fhali " fee me perhaps one day in thofe places, where you may better know me. j At thci'e words, feeing that Clotfrius and my fi.lt were on foot, and without Arms he caufed two .of his men to bcdifarm'd, whofe llature was near ell to ours, and whilft we cover'd our felves with their Arms, which were very good ones, hechofe.the two beft Horfes of his Troop, and having dclTr'd me to mount, and given m.e a guide to whom the Country was known, to condudl me to whatever place I would retire, he bid mcadien, and march'd away with his Troop in great haft. ''Itfliall be only your fault, cryedl, '"'feeing him depart, that I acquit not my felf of what I owe you, but at what timefoever, "and upon whatever occalion you make yniir ftlf known, you fliall fee that I have not " forgot you. I know not if he underftood thefe laft words, but his behaviour gave raa as much allonifliment, as it gave me joy, fo'th'at if I had not fear'd to difpleafe him, I had tollovvcd, and had not left Wm without knownig him, had it been polhble; I march'd fomc time by the guidance of that man whom he had left for that purpofc (whom I could by no prayers nor promifes obhge to difcover him, be it that truly. he knew him not, as he (till alfur'd me, or that he would with fidelity keep the fecret he bad order'd him) and who by unfrequented ways, led us towards the Country of the Col- dnles, but if I followed him, it was only to keep my felf at a diftance from places where I might be re taken, and to fend m,y men out of the Territories of the Bohemians, to re- main alone with Clotarias, and not depart without feeing Albifutda, whom I could not a- bandon for any confideration of danger. I meditated on ways to effed: my defign,'riot finding any, but thofe which were very difficult, by rcafon of the little acquaintance I had at Marobuda to find a retreat : When I heard one cal^atter us, and having turned my bead, I faw a Cavalier, who being allighted, and having taken off his helmet, approaching rae, came to falute me with infinite rcfpeft and fubmilhon : It was a young man, of an excellent grace, and who fcem'd not above twenty year,'; of age, and 1 being (fopp'd, to hear what he defir'd of me, " I have run af- "ter thofe which conduifted you from Egitina, faid he, to come and offer you that fcrvice you ought to hope from a man that owes you his life, I am the Son of Imbergida, whom you (aved out of the hands of your own iouldiers at the taking oi Marobtida,2ind being re- turned yefif rday from a voyage I made into Saevia^my Mother made me depart at nighf,to ■ come to Egitina, and endeavour to render my felf rear you in any place, or in whatever condition I fliould find you. I obeyed her with infinite joy, and I (hall efteem my; "felf molt happy, if I can teftifie to you my acknowledgments by a fervice full of i>> " delity. I embraced feveral times the Son of Imbergida, whil(\ he fpoke in this manner, and re- metnbring to have fcen his face at that time when I did him the kindnefs for which his Mother and he were fo grateful, I gave him all the proofs of an atfcdtion I thought due to the Son of a Mother to whom I was particularly oblig'd, and from whom I yet hop'd for good offices, and becaufe he was arnv'd as if he had been lent by Heaven to ferve me in the deilgn I had, I Hopp'd the Guide who march'd fome paces before my people : and ha- ving affur'd him of the acknowledgments 1 had for him, and (hewed them in part by a Ring I gave him> I prayed him to condudt my people out of the Territories of Bohemia^ into the Country of the Narifqttesy where I ordered them to (by in fome City of that Coun- try, nearcit the Frontier, and not to depart thence till they had.receiv'd rews of me. I kept only Clotarim with me» telling the red that I was oblig'd to do thus, becaufe it being probable ti cc Book I. P H JR J M N D. 229 probable I fnoukl be fulIowcJ. there was great danger left my equipage fiiould make m? be known, whilll marching alone with only two men) arm'4 like my felt, 1 might pals without any great peril. Being thus rid ot' my people, and that with a very apparent excufe, I turn'd tovvard the Son of Imhergidj, who was remounted on horfeback, and having (hewed him-new marks of kindncfs, XntfljaS J'ee^ faid I, the cnn^dence I have in a perjon tvi;ll born, m without doubt yoa are ■> and Jiiicc yon arc the Son of Imbergida, to whom I owe allthin^s^ and who pev fijh Jo genero;iJIy in an ajfea/on for me, it is to yoHthat J ,wi\l truji mj life^ and fomeihing more precious. Gertmtes^ for fo he was called, having made me again new protellations, ■ and, having prayed me to command what I delired of him, 1 would fMn if you pleafe^ faid I, go to Marobuda, where we will enter when the Hcvens are curtained with nighty and fvhere I kisorv we'll they will not at prefent fearch fur me , defiring you to guide me to the ho ip which your Mother hath in the City ^ where I k>iow jhe k^cps her retinue^ and that you. bring me to fi>eaJi^ with her^ without other wituefthau your felf and Clotarius. ;,'(« \ vy, Gerontes feemcd altonilhed at my difcourfe, and beholding me like a man that doubted my iafCBtion, Can it he pvfjible my Lord., faid he to me, that you will returnto'i^nxuh\Xf\d,> Inhere is mt^ faid I llghing, perhaps fo much danger as you believe^ hiti however it be^ th'n U arefoluiion lam refulved to execute. Since it is fo m.y Lord, replied Gerontes^ I am rea- dy to obey; you., and I. hope I Jfja'J this day make you fpeak^with Imbcrgida, with as much ficrecy iiS you can defire. . >, ., . After thefe words, and others which we ufed on the fame Subj^dt; we marched to- wards M^coZiWj, by other ways than tlie ordinary, though in the equipage we were, and the Arms which we wore, with the little appearance there was I Ihould take that way, we might have followed the ufual Road, without any danger. We had no more time than was ncceffary, and the day was already ended, when we arrived at the Gates of the City, there were no Guards kept fince the return of the-King, but we palTcd with all li- berty to the hout- of Imbergida. She lodged in the Palace, with the Princefs Albifmda, but becaufc flie was a woman of conljderable quality, and had a very great retinue, (he had a houfe f whither her (elf very otten retired ) for her private occafions. Gerontes led m^e into his chamber, without my face being fecn by any of the Servants of the houfe, by rcafon of the Helmet wliichcover'd it, and when we v»?ereentred, having flrut the door upon us, he oblig'd metodifarm my felf, afTuring me that no perfon (hould enter the place where we were. A little atter he caufed fomething to be brought for our Suppes, I not conlcnting he (hould make any great preparation, and he received it at the door, not permitting any to enter into the chamber, though we believed thatamongll the Domefiicks there was not any could have known me, but Clotarius iud he thought that we could not be too circumfped, and for thisreafon I was forced to receive from them thofe fcrvices which at another time 1 would not have received. After a light repalt, Gerontes at my entreaty went to the Palace, leavihg us (hut up in bis chamber, and foon after he returned with Imbergida. This Ladies furprife was not fo great, rinding I'ne in the chamber of her Son, as it would have been, if (he had not be- fore knoWn I was there, yet when I advanced to falute her, beholding me with all" the marks of aftonifhrnent. How, my Lord, faid (lie, are you in Marobuda, and whil\i the whole Country is in Armsto fee\you, do you come to cdji your felf into the hands of your enemies ? Xou fee Madam^ faid I, that my defire to fee you is more powerful over my fnind^ than the fear of all danger. Iwouldthank^^you, anfwered (he, with a behaviour like to mine, if the fear I have for you would permit me, but in truth that troubles me a little too »0Kcb, for I have feen at the Palace fo many preparations to run after you, ttpon the report tvhich arrived here of your efcape, and fo many orders to flop you at all the pajjages, that I cannot as I defire rejoyce at your liberty, and the honour I receive by feeing you. Ton may yudge tvell by that you have, told me, replyed I, that in any other place I fliould he in leji fecurity than in this, and that thofe who have orders to purfue me^ and from whom pofjibly I have diffictMy efcaped, will fee\ every where rather than in Marobuda, therefore I have no defire to depart, continued I after we were feated, and 1 confefto you, that it would be more pleafing for me to dye, than to be remote from the Frincef A.\bi{\ndz. For this reajon Madam, I require your ajjiftance, as of a perfon whom I would always confider as my Mother, and if you do not ^nd the means for me to jlay fome time near the Princff, before my Honour and P«- ty drive me from this Country, to carry my Sword to the fervice of the King my Brother, in that war prepared againji him, I jhall be the moji unfortunate, and mofi difconfolate of all inen. And in what manner, my Lord, faid Imbergida, believe you that I can give you the means? For wbilji you would conceal y cut felf from the knowledge of aU other perfons, by rvhofH 2^6 PHAKATAOND. Fart III. whom yonmayhe indawrer^ yost nuy rvcli jnd^e ih.it the Triice^^rv'-iiitever ejieem fl:t nijy, hive for you. n'ill n.it fujfer tbjt you jhould remain unkjian'n ftexr he)\ I hehe'ie ■-;>, ■ le- flvcd I, but it w the Friitcefi her Celf whom tve muji deceive., and it n in t'ou deceit- that I implurc your affijiaHce^ and demand of yon the ejj'eru of that fiendP/:ip ycx have frjmifed me ■, th'A may teach yoit perhaps not to defire it longer rvith the miferahle., hvho cjn be only a ch.irge.^ aiid tnconveniency to their friends --, hoieever } proteji to yon, that fom tht deceit of rvhieh I rvotild have yon to participate , yo.v fl.'all never receive either reproach or itijnry , and xphen n^e jljaH be f> unhappy to fee the rffedr prsve contrary to ottr hopes . both r\cH and. yoKT hofffc (hall fnd a liay :rl'ich Jh.tll free yon from all \oh can fe.ir., and perhapt r.-iife yotl above aU you can at prefent hope, hut my Lord, replycd hnhergui.i, rvhat reay can I have either t» deceive the Princefi.^ n'ithout xiolatingthe jidelity loivc Ivr .<' or t/> deceive the ^rvholi rvgrld, by letting yon remain mikfien^n near her? Tropofe Sir thofe that you hr.ve imagined^ and if it he but the expufuig if my Fortune, cr my Itfr it felf to all thofe dtnge'-s may threaten US, I tvill gladly doit to do yon that fervice I orre you, and rvhich 1 have fromtfed ynu, but do it in f Itch manner, that [ viay deceive Albifinda nvthnii(betriyrrtgher,fortoarta'trcj- fon, my Lord, and a "tftafen again;! my Frincefi, all the p.jjjion I hjve for ynnr fervice rviU wver mak^ me confent. For the deceit, anlwcrtd I, if is not agxinll me that yoM (lionlduft thir premonition, yoHk^orp I love the Frincefi too v>ell to counfl yen to aH againjl her a deceit vnay he cilTd a "Treafon, but for the means which I have imagined, it is Jq little ordinary^ that I belii^ \oit will fnd in it great difficulties, thortgh it be not rvithout example \ For iH fine, Iniiicrgida, be pic a fed not to make atiy wonder at it, J l^now no other than difgnifing my Sex , there is nothing in my countenance which may hinder me from paffrng for » Lady., xvhen in thife habits, mohair ( for you fee rve rvear it longer than the reji of other Tiationi ) it fitch that it ivill comply rvith any drefftng \ and for my Stature, though it be taller than ordi- tiarilv that of women u, it is not, by what is reported.^ taller than that of the Trincefi Rofa- iiioiid : My Face hath mt been feen but by very few per fans of your Court, the Trincefhatli ftcn it but once in her Chariot, then when by the lo(! of blood J was very pale and extremely changed, all the other timet fl}e fart> it, tvasinBed^ in a place very obfcure, and never in its firdrn.iry cjtulition, fo that with the change which the drefftng and habits will add, (he will fcarce find any thing (J.'e c.in obferve, and though (lie fljottld find fme refemblance (which m.iy happen by the found of my voice., rather than by any other way ) there are amnng all per- fvts every day found fome thinz,s fo like, that (he cannot be al^onijhed. 1 Jpeak. very well your Countries Lancua(^e, and you may make me paf! for one of your kjtdred come with yottr SoH to fee v(iu, and in this quality keep me for fonie time near you, where 1 may fee the Princeji ath'cryturn, at thofe Ladies which wait on her do. And when one day the truth fl/all bedif^ c.n'crcd, that rrhich poffibly may never fall out but by advantageoitf ways, yau may jujiijie the de^pt which you did to acquit your felf of what yon believed you ought me for the life of your Son, by conceal'iftir me in yottr hgufe, when I had tto other retreat from the purjuits of ■my enemies. I xvill add yet the hopes rve may conceive of Prince Vividomar, if he be truly eitimnurcd nf my Silier, as report hath puhlijhed, you will believe he cannot be oppofite to tis^ and that inSucvisiit felf he can deliver yoM from all may threaten you. To thcfc words I added many others, which tedioufncfs hinders me from reciting, by which I prcfs'd and tormented in fuch manner 'the Spirit oi Jmbergida, who of her felf was as affectionate as I could delire, that though flie found many terrible difficulties and affrighting fubjeds of fear in my propofal, yet flic rcfolv'd in the end to pafs over all things, and to flop her eyes againil all dangers to ferve roe as I defired, tellirgme, that for the Princcfs flie hopM to obtain her pardon, and for the King whofe anger iTie had more caufe to fear if he fhould difcover it, (he would avoid it by flying after me into ?><»»■ eonia, if (he did not receive protection from Prince Vtridumar, from whom flie could not butliopc it, if he were fo paltionate for the Princefs Po//>ff«x as they defrredi thatpollibly there might happen changes yet more favourable s but in fine, whatever fell out flie was refulvM to hazard all things to ferve me. Having given me her word, flic returned to the Palace, with promife to return to mc again on the morning betimes. And not to detain you with this difcourfe, by the reci- tal of my difqniet and inipati^rnce, on which 1 could largely extend my felf, flie came ou the morrow, though fom.cwhat brer than I cxpcdtd, and bcought with her into the chamber a Lady which belonged to her, in vvhofcdifcrctionflvc confrded, and ut whom fhc muft of force make ufe in this delign •, (he told me prefemly that flie had already fnoke to the Princcfs, of a Neecc of hers arrived from Suevia with her Son, and had already begot in her a delire to fee her, by the recital (he had made of Iicr. That things difpuled themfclvcs tomy fatisfadticii kf.CFthan I (.oulrt hope v tiiat tliac day was appointed h^^ th.e Book I. P H A R A M N I). ajt the Funeral Rights and Honours due to 7'/^«/'jWw, whofe Body tluy had brought frotri HgitiHJ, and to folcmnize whicli only the King was coiriC \.o Marohiida\ that he deparf- ed the morrow alter to go to the Frontiers to a Rendezvouz agreed on with his Allies^ where it was likcwife belitv'd the King of theSwfWJ would be prcfent i that ioon atteir his departure the Princels his Daughter, and the Princefs Albiftida^ intended to leave the City, to go and pafs away fome time at Lifurgis^ a Royal Manfion, (eated on the banks of the Elba, about four hours journey from Marobuda, and that in that place, in the ab- fcnce of the King, whom fhe fear'd for my fake, and in a place where the Princefs Kcfam >wi;W would be Millrifs, flie durl\ attempt things more boldly, and could more conveni- ently keep me with her, prefent me to Albifittda^ and give me opportunity to fee her every day as if I were in her fervice. 'v I was refolv'd then by her Counfel to attend till the Princefs was at Lifurgif, before 1 would (bow my felf under the name and (liape of Ericlea^ who truly was a Neece to Imber^ g'dj, and a Neece who liaving been bred up with her Parents in tiie utmoft parts of Suevia, had never been fcen by the Servants which flie had now about her. We fweetncd thus bv httie and little the difficulties whicli had appear'd fo great at the beginning, and Itnbergids defired me at that time to put on the habit of her Sex, to fee how it would become me; and to accuflom my felf during thofe two or three days I had to expedt, to the end that t might be the more apt, and compofe my felf better to the Gellure and Countenance ot Women. She therefore order'd me to be drefled in thofe habits which (he had caus'd to be brought, having lengthned them for fear they (hould be toofhort, but exped ing to make ine others with more Icifure, fhe clad me with thenri by the alfillance of that Maid which came with her, whofe they were, and who being very ftraight and tall, they prov'd of an abfolute proportion and htnefs to my Body : In the end they dreffed my head, and by the reafon of the length and thicknefs of my hair, they did it eallly in the manner as is ufed by the Ladies of the Cimbrian Court, and put me in fuch a condition that I had fome difficulty to know my felf when I came to the looking Glafs : and certainly the Change was fo grearj that there were few perfons in the world who would not have been deceiv'd. 1 k»orp not (faid the Kingof the Frank/ to M^reowirf interrupting himj how Strangers {hould not be de- ceived, fiHce I was my felf, mt doubting but that you rvere a woman^ and that yott rvere that La^ dy which turned Briomer's Stpordfrom jvy breaji. ..s^i 1 confefs, continued Marcomire, that I faw my felf with fome {haine th a cbhdition To lit- tle conformant to my Courage, though I could flatter my felf by the examples of Achilles^ o( Hercules, and many other great perfons of Antitjuity, whom a likeCaufe had oblig'd to likedifguifements, and that if my paffion had not been very violent, I had caft from me all that Apparel, and reaflum'd my hrft Qiape. Imhergida and others mark'd well the rednefs I had in my Forehead, but their thoughts were different from mine, and though they had before Condemn'd my dellgn, they were now very much fatisfied, and found (if it maj^ be permitted me to praife my felf for a quality I ever efteem'd as nothing) not only that i might pafs for a Damfel, but for a very fair Damfel. Imbergida told me a hundred pretty ftorics on this fubje» Kinfwomen you promised to let me fee^ and doubt not at all^ bat fittce they are fo near allied to you, that I behold them with no fntall affeUion. Whilft flic fpoke in this manner, we advan- ced at the. fame time to falute her, and it feem'd to me we prefs'd forwar'd with dciire to receive the Kifs Albfnida was to give us, and that we equally envied each other for lo pre- cious a favour. For my part, I found fo much fvveetnefs in it, that I faw it with regret made common to another, and mctiiought that carting my eyes at the fame time on the Countenance of Iheodora, I faw fome llgns in her of the fame thoughts. After ih\s Jlbi(inda cauling Imbergida to draw near her, with Mathilda^ and cafting her eyes on Imbergida'' s Countenance, ihe made her blu(h fo extraordinarily that (he was forc'd to demand the caufe : Imbergida x^mzm'd fome time to recover her feU, and after flie vvas fomewhat embolden'd, I blufh Madam^ faid, (lie to the Princefs, for the fault I have committed^ in prefenting you a Damfel bred up in a Savage Country^ and tvho hath no more the Air of the Court than a perf in that never came near it. I may well ("faid Mathilda) at the fame time make the fame excufe to her Highnefi^ nnr had I beenfo bold if f>e had mt given mi her Command for what I have done, lou have nothing tofear^ faid the Princeis to them, mr nothing you need to jitilrjie in this matter, if it be not for the diffimulation you have made in fpeaking fo modefily of thefe two Perfons fo well composed. I anfwercd not to this Difcourfe but with a profound reverence, ^u Imbergida hzi wtW taught me, and as 1 had feen pra- dltfed : But a little after the Princefs having drawn Imbergida apart. Ah 1 Imbergida faid (he, your Neece is a moji beautiful Vamfel, and having commanded me to approach the lights fhe wanted but little of putting me <^uite out of Countenance, conihaining me to cafl: down my eyes for fear, which without doubt (he took for Modef^y. She beheld me fometime withan afped which made me think (he had obferv'd in my face fomething that appear'd like Marcow/rf, but then when I was eonftrain'd to anfwer, (though in very few words, and very low) to feveral Demands (he made me concerning my Journey, and con- cerning the places where I had been bred, her Countenance was cover'd with fuch blu(hes, that I infallibly believ'd 1 lliould be difcover'd : 1 believe it was to conceal her bluihcs that (he tnrn'd her head on the other fide, and during that time, as it had been out of refpcd, I fell back fome few lieps, and retir'd behind Imbergida. We were in this condition, and I knew not whether I ought to repent me of my enter- prife, when the Princefs Kofamvnd came into the Chamber, and by the fplendor o( many lights, I Ihaight beheld the more refplendent rays of that prodigious beauty. I avow to you my Lord, nor is it out of the comply ancc I owe to your thoughts, that all the pailion with wliich my Soul was prcpofTcfs'd for Albiftnda^ aiid all the precaution I had arm'd my felf •withal, could not detend mc from al\oni(hment at the light of this wonder, which I beheld like fomewhat more conformable to a Divinity, than any thing Terreftial. It is molf cer- tain, all that admiration could produce, was at prefent found in my fpirit .- but it is true Jikcwife, that I beheld Ko/iwa«^ no otherwife, than as a refplendent liar, which ought not fo dart its rays on any thing but Gods, or men like you: and that the beauty ot Alhijinda^ lefs heavenly and lefs bright, but full of a fwectrrds, totally charming, a dmoreproporti- onabl Book I. P H A R J M N D. ^^ enable to our wcakncfs, prcferv'd as I defir'd, its entire empire o're my hcar^. Albi(mda made us to be laluted by the Frincefs liofammd^ who treated us as (he had done; and honoured 'me with a Kils, which any other man but my (elf would have rcceiv'd with infinite tranfportation, and which 1 wiOi'd yours with all my Soul. After (lie had fpokcn lome moments to us with an Air full of Royal Majefly, but however without any pride, (lie retir'd v/\i\\ Alhi[mdj into her Clofet, where they had private difcouife till bed time. Imbergida made me retire with Gerontes , and being yet unwilling to give the Prin- cefs any fubjed: of Complaint, which (he could not well pardon, (he accuftom'd me to re- tire at an early hour, that I might not fee hor in a time wherein my di(rembkd Sex might have i)ad thofe privikgcs which accords not with ours, and that eitiier riling or going to bed 1 might have feen thofe beauties which are wholly conceal'd from us, but much lefs from perlons of their Sex : She obferv'd it daily with the fame diligence and never forgot to make me a lign to withdraw, to fpare the Princefs that (hame, which the remembrance thereof might one day have caufcd had I us'd a full liberty. On the morrow ihc led me again to the Chamber of the Princefs, whilll (he dre(r'd het felf, but it was at a time when (he was to be feen as well by other perfons as the Ladies that ferv'd her, and (l-.e receiv'd us witii a Countenance which made us judge that our Deceit was not difcover'd : though truly fiie had found in my face, and in the found of my Voice fomething refembling that of Marcomire, (lie could not at all diffemblc it : but having ta- ken hnbergids and my felf near the W indow : Do you not obferve, faid (he, that your Neece refe miles fumewhst in Face, and entirely in the found of her Voice Fri«ce Marcomire > Thefc words inftead of giving us fear, rea(rur'd us we were not difcover'd, judging well that the Princefs would not have fpoke in that manner if (lie had had any fufpicion of the truth. VVe at this time lolt nothing of our Countenance) but Imbergida having narrowly eyed me for fome time, In truth Madam, faid (he to the Princefs, I never before obferv'd rvliat you have now obferv^d, but I find that which you fay is very true, and that both the Voice and Features of Ericlea, have a great agreement with thofe of Prince Marcomire. I kpovc not Madam, faid I to the Prince(s , whether I ought to be glad at that refemblance you are pleased to give me, for though I have heard that that Frince of rvhom you fpeak, hath had the good fortune to render you fome fervice, I know that he is of a Houfe odious to yours^ and I fear that my lik^nefs to him : may bring into your mind the memory of things difadvantagiou's to me. Marcomire, replied the Princefs, m the Brother of a per f on who hath done ns many hloody injuries, rather by our Misfortune than hy his Will , but befides that , Marcomire hath no part in them, he bath dona me a mo\i important piece of Service, at the price of .his Bloody and at the peril of his Life : and you need not fear, added (he-wit^ aligh, tb;tf your refembling him will hinder me from loving you as I believe you merit. -.Ax Us> ■j('> . > t >j-.-hl I anfwered to this obliging Difcourfe'with a profound reverence, arid at the farrre time I faw enter Mathilda, with her Kinfworaan, ^nd after her many other perfons who hindred the Princefs from fpeaking longei; to us iO participial, but the tcI\ .of that Day, and all following, (he did us often that favour, and by my good fortune, having found either in my perfon, or in my Carriage fomething -.that pleas'd her, (he began to manifeft an atFedion for the, and in a little time made me know that (he preferr'd me before all the Ladies that attended her : Not but that "Theodora did difpute with me this eminence as much as it was poifible for her, and though the Princefs, who found her perfon well conl- pos'd and her difpoiition pleafing, did truly efteem her, yet in the end (he kenfd to caft a better Countenance on me than on her, and called me oftner to her particiilSir converfation, teftifying much more confidence in me. I foon knew both by the countenance and Adions of Iheodora that (he fupported impatiently the advantage I had gain'd over her : but as by the knowledge I had who I was, I judg'd there could be no importarrt Competition between her apd me, I laugh'd firft at her jealoufie, and had fome pity df her, but when (he began to be importunate towards me, and that 1 faw this Datnftl pre- vent me in thofe fervices I would have rendred the Princefs,' take charge with a kind (3f zeal of thofe Commillions (he would have given me, to hinder me from executing then), and always malicioufly come and interrupt us, when I was in a particular Converfe with her, I at firft beheld her with fome fplcen, and in the end began to hate her, if not fo much as (he made known (he hated me, at leaft as much as I could hate a Woman, and a Wo- man who endeavour'd by all means to injure me in all that poliibly flic could i I there- fore llrove to do the like to her, without (paring her, and took pleafure to crofs her in the De(igns (he had in gaining the heart of Albifiada. In the mean time the Princeifes affedion towards me increas'd from day to day,, and in a little time my happineG was fo great, that at all times when (he was net with the Prin- H h ceft 254 THARAMOND. Part cefs KofamsMd, (he was pleasM that I (hould be with her : (he called me every day into her Retirements, and into her particular wal^s, and had that conridence in me to tnift me with moft (he had in her heart. It is true that. I forgot not any thing which might ferve in thedefign I had to pleafeher j that 1 fought with great diligence all occafions to render her thofe little fervices, which though they were not of great importance, might be pleaGng i that I endeavoured to fell her things plcallng to her humour ■■, and that I employed all the skill I had, and all th« knowledge of things I had (een in the world could furnilh me -with to feek means to divertife her : with thcfe the paliion with which I was encourag'd gave my words and adions an Air wholly dirferent from what might be noted in thofe of other perfonsi and efpecially Sir, as you know, my voice to be good, and that I was taught to ling with great care, I fung often before her, and (ometimes thofe words which exprelTed to the full what I felt, and then I accompanied them with a demeanour fo paf- fionate, that it had not been difficult to difcern how I was touch'd at the heart. . There being at L//«i'^'J' no Lodgings but for the Royal Family, and the moftnecelTary Officers, the Court is never great, and at this time by reafon of the abfence of the King, and many other caufes it was lefs than it had a long time been, and we paft the time in a very delegable privacy. Albifrtda one day walked into the Park ( whilft Kofamond had foitie bulinefs which kept her in her Clofet J and having only taken with her I'heodora and my felf, to bear her company for fome turns (lie was pleas'd to make in the Alley, (he walk'd a good while leaning on our Arms, and having as long hearken'd to thofe things I faid to divertife her, (he made me fo many obliging fpecches, and did me fo many fweet and charming favours, that if they had been done to Marcomire, and not to Ericlea, I had preferred my condition before the moft fortunate in the world, fo that I could not dilTcmble my joy (though I faw Theodora enrag'd with fpight atit ) but fix- ing my h'pstoherfah hand which I held, and which I had the liberty to kifs, and pref- 'fingit witha tranfportation in which the might difcern fomewhat more pallionate than theaffeftion of a Damfel: Is it pcffible^ faid I, that that rvhich is the defireof all the Kings tf the earth, is granted to the too happy Ericlea, and that Jhe Jhould rejoyce in a happinefs which the greatefi Princes in the rvorld tvauld buy at the price of all their Blood ? " You j,*^fpcak too much, anfwered the Princefs, for this is all you could fay if you fpoke to my ,*VSifter Cfo it was that (he called the Princefs R:jia>itine, King of Great Britain, as tliere are circumllances in their Fortune '' little favourable to the defign I have to fix my life to your Service, fo it is not into " any of them I would be changed i and for Prince Balamir^ whofe Glory may compare '■ with thegreatelli the Gof/:'/c)^ Prince JFallia^ whofe Renown is fpread fo far •, Ginde- ^'- mar. Brother to the King of iht BHrgundians '•, znA- Marcofnire ^ Brother to the King of *' the Franhj j and fome others who in Valour, Birth and Merit, are not pollibly interi- *' our to part of thofe I have named, they want Crowns which doubtlefs are nec.ffary to " thofe who afpire to the Glory to pofilfs you, and therefore not hnding any, neither a- ♦'mongil them, nor amongft the firll I have named, whofe condition (eenis worthy to *' be preferred before mine , I know not how to refolve what choice to make. But if " you wil! permit me to tell you to which of all the Princes which I have named, I [hould " with before all others, the Glory and Happinefs I pofTcfs, ( continued I, killing her '■'■ hand which I held ) I will tell you that the interert I rake in the fortune of a man "whom you have done me the honour to tell me I refcmblc, the pity I have of him for *' default of a Crown which he wants to raife his thoughts to you, the good will I bear •' him for thefervice he hath done you, and that which I have heard fpcken of his pallion " for you, would make me defire this fortune for Marcomire rather than any other. And *'fincethe atfcdion you have createdin me for him extends fo his Brother, I could Willi *'^ if a wiili for the Unfortunate may be permitted before you J that Yharamond n:ight " hope the polTeliion of Rofumond^ and that Marcomire might afpire to the Glory to ferve " you. Whilft I fpoke in this manner, 'theodora had hearkened to m.y difeourfe with an im- patience, which by what we could judge, had often oblig'd her to interrupt it, if the refpeift of the Princcfs had not withheld her -, and when I had done fpeaking, break- ing filence with a demeanour full of vehemence, Madam, ( faid (he to the Princefs J. /^i- K>e are Rivals, Ericlea and my felf, in the defign to gain your precious affedions, permit us if yit pleafe to oppofeeach ether in our thoughts, and to contradia tvith liberty a part of rvhat agrees not with our thoughts : Without amufing my felf therefore to defend particularly all o- tbers amengjl tvhom I might find oithont doubt ,k great advantage as fl'e can in thofe on whom {he hath fixed her affeUioH, I rviH only tell her, that 1 find her as little rea finable in the iacli- Hatiim fl)e hath for the houfe of the King of the Franks, tK in the averfwn Jhe tejiifies to that of the King of the Burgundians. 7 never underftood that the nfiences which GondiOch hath com- mitted agaiujl his Mi'ireji, tvhich in fum, tvere only endeavours to conquer her, rvere of the nature of thofe Jhe hath received from Pharamoud, who before her eyes JJetp her Brother, and deprived a Prince of his life who w.is yours, and ought to have been her Spoufe : and for that proceediH(r towards his Friend, of which (};e accufes him, J never underjiood Gondioch WJi guilty lil^ Pharamond of infidelity towards his Friend, or that he endeavoured to deprive him of a Mijire^. for the confjueli of rvhom he had taken up Arms for him as a friend in whom he entirely tru'.ied his Fortune. For Gondemctt his Brother, J never heard it fj^nken, that ei- ther for his Birth. Valour, or any other ejiimable quality, he was at all inferiour to Marcomire j and therefore not only to opp.fe the thoughts of Ericka but to pay to Reafon and Juliice that which I thinks I owe them, J cotild tfiflf that Gondioch were PfiJJ>fJor of the Trincefi of the Cimbrians, and that Gondemar were fu happy as to be permitted by the Trincefiof the Sueves to the Glory to ferve her. " If the Princefs, ( fud I, fo foon as theodora had done fpeaking") will grant me the *' fame liberty you have taken, I (hall fay to juiutie what I- have tellified ot inclination " for the houfe of the King of the Franks, and of averlion for that of Gondioch, that by " that Renown which fpread it fclf in thofe places where I havepaffcd my life,, I have only " underftood that Gondioch was bound to Tharamond for his Liberty, and for his Crown, "and that it was by ferving Gondioch that he fell into a part of thofe mrsfoitunes with "which you tax him j and 1 have heard more, that with whatever paihon Phatamond ," was infpir'd for the PrincefsKo/j»»oKtow not if the nffijiance yoxexpeded JTom me, had been fo favourable as you hope ; and all that I could have J aid the mofi advan- tagcom for your party, U, that pharamond ought to be odious to me, hut that Gondioch truly U i that I hate Pharamond by his misfortune and by my diity^ but Gondioch for his faulty and by my inclination-, and though concerning the merit of their pcrfuns, I .will 7iot make any comparifon, the difference I fhould allow , would never be for the advantags <•/ Gon- dioch. ',■ ■' -a .; ..;> . I know not Sir, how to exprefs the joy I refentcd to hear this great Princefs exprefs Her felf fo nobly and gencioufly in your favour, The Princefs Albifmda appeared highly con- tented. Book I. T hi A R A M U D. 537 tented, nor was there any pcrfon i'n the company, but teftificd a great Qtisfaci^ibn, bnly Ihei'dira^ who even fwcll'd with Tplccn and fl-iame. , After that day, the Princefs oi the Suever^ to divert her felr, called us often by the names of thofe whofe parts we had took-, and fcldoni was it that (>ie (aw us enter her chamber, but (lie faluted us by the names of Gondemar and Marcomire j many pcrfoni following her example, accuflom'd themfelves to call us after the fame manner, and fucH a habit was at length got of it, that they called us not oftner by the names ot Ericlea and Iheodora^ than they did by thofe of Marcomire, and Condemnr. 1 found in my owri thoughts much fport in this adventure, and if I could have imagined th^tl'heodom had beeil truly Gondemar, as I was truly Marcomire, I had admired this fantaftick effed of lovC and fortune, which having made us encounter in a fight, wherein both the one and the o- thcr failed but little of lofinghis life, two men touch'd with equal interetls in the patfions of their Brothers, (liould in the fame day, and upon the fame occafion, conceive the fame pallion in their fouls, infpire both with the fame delign, and bring them to live under their true names in a place where they were equally unknown. As I proved in truths a part of this adventure in the perfon of Er/clea, I imagined fomctimes, that the othcf might meet in th:ix: oi Iheodora, and this thought entcr'd fomctimes fo ftrongly intomy' mind, that it begat in me a jealoufie and trouble, and made me confidcr the adtions of Iheadora more exaftly than I had done before, to find forae means the more eafily to clear me of the fufpicions I had conceiv'd. However it fceni'd to mc that I had fufficient fubjedl of fatisfadion, by the advantages I had over her-, and though Iheodorahy the vivacity of her fpirit, by the good grace llie had in all her aftions, and by an extraordinary merit oblig'd the Princefs to conlider her m.ore than all the other Ladies that attended her -, yet I obferved, that in the treatment (he made us, there was a notable difference, and that though die had a part in thofe cateires which proceeded from the fvveetnefs and civility of the Princefs, her fecrets and things oi truft began to be conferred on me alone-, yet by this advantage I was not touchM with all that joy it might have made me fcniible of, when I beheld 7/'f(?^f,'M only as a Lady ■, but when I began to imagine by many great appearances, that under the habits oi Theodora Gondemar might be conceal'd, as Marco- mire was under tliofe of Ericlea, I received an entire contentment, and was highly content-^ ed with the fweetnefs of my condition. ■ - The impatience with which Iheodora fupported my being preferred before her, caufed my fufpicions to augment, and principally, when I faw her obferv'd with fome diffati'ii fadion, by perfons who took part in her interefts. \Vc werp one day together, with mafif other DamfelSjin the chamber of the Princefs, and becaufe fhe would bufie her (elf that day in curious works of Tapeftry, (he made fome be given to all that were in the cham-. ber to work on, and to Iheodora and my fclf as well as the reft. You may judge my Lord, that I found my felf in a Orange trouble at this accident, not knowing in whai manner to behave my felf : However I took the Needld, and aflay'd to imitate whati faw done, at the hazard of fpoiling it, rather than declare my ignoratice. ■ T had endei* Voured to make fome points in great diforder, when one of the Dauilels olthc Princefsj ■who was very nczr 'Theodnra, having ealt her eyes upon what (he did, toi^ her\V(!)rk^ which (he had wrought quite contrary, and fliowing it hercompanionS'vv*ith a great laugh?* tcr, prayed them to look upon the work of Iheodora. She bluflied fot fome timeatrhfi Mockery of the Damfels, but a little after being embolden'd, I confe^, faid 'Ihc, tfc^i"-! am ignorant in this exercife,' and that l never yet learned it : but if you caji yoiir ey^i on^ feri- clea's rvork^, ( continued (lie, laying her hand upon it ) yok will fee that /he is no betiffl'di it than I, and as well merits a part of your laughter. ■ ' ' • - • ■ ''•b'jui This report likewifc made me blu[h, but being recovered in a (hort tirn^V andba'vflrtg fnatch'd my work to me in a great chafe, to hinder 'Theodora from taking itC^TSu jT'oB'ttaf. have that pledfnre , faid 1, and it f[)M fuff.ce, that I confefs that I am-poftbly no more skjlful than you in this foH of rvork^, without giving yow farther j atUfaciiom' "'•'■ t hclkifi "indeed, (faid Mathilda, to anfwer me with a malicious figh j thit' Er>7«/fiis'nerrit5fe "skilful than Theodora, or rather that the affairs of Marcomire are in no better conidkloti "than thofe of Gondemar, So that their fortune be f^Mj/j-'icplye'd Imhergidj to htt^p'ii have no reafn to complain. " I know not, faid I again,'; whether this Equality will cotii "tent her, but for my part, 1 (hall not be at all fatisticd- and F do' not believe that 'A/ir-i comire, whofe name they give me, would liiflerin his tohunc vvith Gondemar, I believ'f^ replyed Iheodora, th at Gon^tmd^t rvould fuffer it tefi than Marcomire, and fince I hdi'e Jo tnuch takgn his part, I will confent no more than Ericlea. ■ ' -* This difcourfe had poilibly paffed further, if it hffd not been interrupted by perfbnsi wfitj fintjed d put you into thofe of Cloderic : though I well knew hpr intentipn was favourable to you, and that fhe would oppofe all danger which piiglit threaten your life, yet I could not ajTure my, felf, but tollovy.ing thofe that led you saw^y, fo foon as.l faw them depart, I call 'd feYcral times C/fft>wff, v/hom I had taken no- tice to be with y.ou, forgetting entirely the perfonage of Ericlea^ in an encounter indeed Sufficiently important to make me lofe the remembifance of my intereft,. whcp Ir^bergida., who followed rq^, coming behind me, and flopping me by my Coati lf''h.ttdtce, when that of Pharamond is in danger-, that on fuch an occafwn I re- member no wocf Marcomire, though I cannot forget Albifinda. I fpoke many other words, by which I made her know, that in the trouble which poffefs'd me, I could no longer think of Kriclea : but ilie reprclented lb well the danger to which I (liould expofe ycm, by making Jinown that your Brother was difguis'd like a Damfcl in the Court of the Cimbrian Kmg, , , where Book I. THARAMOND. 239 where you were at prcfcnc Prifoncr, and the little fcrvicel could do you in the condirioii I was, and by the noife I made, that (he indiie'd trie to rclolvc to try ways more favourable to your aliillance, and led me backwards towards the Princelfes, from whom I had hopes of all allilbncc, difpoling my felf however, if they were wanting, to quit that very day the habit I wore , and prepare my felf to attempt other entcrprifcs tor your deli- verance. Wc found the two PrinccfTes yet in the fame Alley where this ftrangc adventure happen- ed, and though Ko/iOToW wereextrearply troubled, (lie faw me no fooner approach with Imbergtda^ but turning her felf towards the Princcfs///Zi////?tow in the ahfence of the King is ahfhite over the Cimbrians, caufes Brio- mer to depart to morrow towards the King, under a pretence which permits him not to find any way to excufe the Journey, and that during his abfence, Cloderic, who is a Creature of the Frincejfes, andwhom fie can entirely command tn aU things, will fet V])3.rzmorid at liberty. It is not necejfary that I recommend to you this as a fecret, you kflow it of great importance, and ■you' willjudgi well that I would not truji it to yduif Idid not dearly loveyou^ being certainly af~ fur''d that Ko{ur\ond hath nptreveaVd it to any hut my felf . , . ,, . » Thefe words Sir begat jp me as you may well judg, all the joy T couW poffibly receTve, and not being able to difiemble itj I fix'd my lips to one of the fair hands of the Princefs, and killing it a thoufand times, with a tranfportation enough to have difcovcr'd me, if (he had well obferv'd it, "I praife the Gods, faid I, and my good fortune, which hath *'"brought me to thofc ocpafions to dedicate my Life to the ferviceof a Princefs fo good and *' fo generous : I cannot hold the mifery of Pharamond fo great as he without doubt himfclf *' believeSjit, fince in the midrt of his misfortunes you yet referv'd for him this noble com- "pallion. I told her in purfute many other words, which exprefs'd the joylrefented for the News (lie had told me, and a little after lifting up my eyes upon her face, with a little more fear and lefs confidence, than when I fpoke of Pharamond,' iud beholding her with a paiiionate behaviour, " But my Princefs, fa'id 7, fince you permit me to interelt *'my feUin the Fortune of one Criminal, will not you pardon me if I take fome part in that *'• of an Innocent, whom you have told me fo often I refemble, by whofc name you every "day call me, and who (to ftrengthen my Telf more firm to his intcreft) hath no lefs paf- *' fion for you, by what I have underftood, than the King his Brother hath for the Prin- " cefs of the Cimbrians?\^\\\ you not rny fair Princefs,that I demand, whether that Marcomire *' who dies for you, and who hath never offended you : That Marcomire whom you have "alliikd with your Cares, and honoured with your Vifits, whiW his Wounds kept him *'near you ; And that Marcomire , who during that happy time, hath pollibly made you *'fcnow that he adores you, can merit any place in your memoiy i whether his perfon be 240 THARAMOND. Fart III. 'not odious to you, as you have teftified tome : whether liis AcSrions have never difpleas'd 'you : Or whether his love could come to your hearing -without inccniing you, will yuu " not permit him to believe, that your heart is touched with fome Senfibility, and tliat he " may yet hope a finall part in your precious Memory ? VVhilft I fpoke in this manner, the Princefs lifted up her hand to her Face, to hide thrfe bjuflies that dy'd her Fair Cheeks, and after (he had kept filence a fraall while, " You are "not wife Ericlea, (faidjhe^ in a manner wholly langttijhiftg) to ask me fuch (Irange qucfti- * ons, and I (hall perhaps be no wifer than you if I (\udy to anfvver you ferioufly : but fince '• I have done fo much, and have reveal'd to you the fecret of another which (hould have '■ been kept Sacred, I ought not to be referv'd in my own, of which 1 alone am Miltrefs, "and therefore with the fame Confidence 1 have already tefiitied to you, and which I would "only repofe in you, I avow to you, that neither the Perfon nor Affcdlion ci Marcomire^ "if he hath truly any for mc, are at all Odious to me, and that at the firil moment of his " iight, I conceiv'd an inclination for him, of which my heart had nof till then been capa- "ble, that all I have fince obferv'd in him (as well the qualities of his perfon, as the proofs '■ of an afFedion which he hath let me very well know, thougii he never entirely dqclar'd it "to me) hath coniirmM it in my mind. And in fine, if the misfortunes of our Families, " or the hatred of the King my Father, oppos'd not it felf to all thofe favourable thoughts I ■" have for him, I (hould prefer him before all men in the' World, " O too happy Marcomire^ ^'' (cried I, rvboVy traajported ivith joy at'thisVifcoifrfe)VJhy is it not permitted thee entirely " to rejoycc at thy Fortune ? Or rather why is it not permitted Ericlea that knows it to be- " come Marcomire ? " This MctdLtnorphoiis^daidthe Princefs to me fighi»g,)c2nnot eafily hap- " pen nor can I my felf wi(h it, forifto the affedion I have for Macrowire, werejoyn'd thati " bear Ericlea^ I (hould without doubt be tranfported to too great an e'xcefs for him. And if, (replied I, very ■wziW'j ,) fromunderthefigure of^ncXtzyoufliouldfee appearMzxcomixey would you not preferve all that affedion you have both for the one and for the other .? As thir would be, (replied the Princefs,) an Adventure which I never expeUed, I hjiow not well how I fjould ufe it, though I am not perhaps ignorant how I ought to do it, hut becaufe it is a thing 1 ought not to defire, I will not fo much as think^ it can ever happen. Thefe words though pro- nounc'd with an Air full of fweetnefs, reprefledmy boldnefs, and ftopp'd a violence which carried me infenfibly to Difcourfes enoilgh to have difcover'd my felf. Albifmda was per- haps furpris'd to fee me remain confus'd as I was, and prepar'd her felf polhbly to demand the cau(e of fome figns* of a(\oni(hment (he obferv'd in my Countenance, when Ibeodora under fome pretence which exciis'd that liberty, entred into the Clofet : it was this time alone I was not difpleas'd at the interruption (he ordinarily gave to cur entertainments, nor could I find my felf very much troubled at her arrival. I pafs'd that night in a great perplexity of different thoughts, and befidesithe inquietude . which in defpight of the afTurances (lie gave me, I fuffer'd continually for you, T found things in my Condition which did ftrahgely moderate the joy which I might feel for the happinefs Albifmda declar'd to me. It is true, that in the Confeffion (he had made me of her good intentions for Marcomire, I found fome fubjed to rejoyce at my Fortune greater than I could have defir'd, and that by the refledion I made on thofe obliging words by which (lie exprcfs'd her felf in my favour, I gave my felf up to a joy I could not contain : But in the end thinking of her lad words by which (lie had made me judge that the change of Ericlea into Marcemire would not be agreeable, though I found not any thing to coun- terhallance a joy fo great and lawful, yet I obferv'd wherewithal to crofs it with great di- lhirbances,and to employ my Spirit to feek other inventions than thofe I had propos'd to my .felf: In fum, my joy gain'd the Vidory over all that which could trouble it in things that regarded my L,6ve. And as nothing was fo ardently defir'd of me, as to fee Marcomire beloved of Albi^nda, and that I my felf did not propofe this happinefs, but as a happinefs to which 1 (hould difficultly afpire, the affurancc I had rcceiv'd from the mouth of this a- iTiiable Princefs put my Soul in Hne in that condition of fatisfadion which nothing was capa- ble to difcompofc but the fear I had of your fafety. Not but that I had an entire Confidence in the words of Albifnda, or that I did not be- lieve that the Princefs Jlofamond might eafily execute what (lie had rcfolv'd in your favour, but as that bulinels' was a thing of fo great value as your Life and Liberty, nothing could affure me againft the fear that perplex'd me. As I was in a condition not to enterprife any thing in that Country for your deliverance, and that I thought it' to k-fs purpolc to remove my iclf from you to feek afliftance in Franconia, I would have fent Clotanus who rcmain'd with the Son of Imhergida, but that Imbergida reprefented unto me that I ought to attend fome days the cffcd of Kofamond's Defigns, and that if I faw Britmer return from the Voyage Book I. P H A R A M N D. i:jj. Voyage he maJe to the Ring, without Rnjamond^s having executed vvh-at flie pron;is'd tcJ Alhifittda^ I might cntcrfnilL- things after the \ok of that hopes wlucii polhbly before niiglic '^ive fome oblirudtions to thofc irircntions defign'd in your favour. I pafTed in tliis manner foiuc days in great perplexity, though every moment I received from the Princefs Albifindi new aflliranccs, and in the end the affair was perledtcd .n [\\q had promis'd, and the Princefs Kofamond ^i,oing one night to Marobnda^ with a private Retinue, andln fomachfecrelie that no perfon had knowledge of it, executed what flie had refolv'd, caufed you to be fct at liberty, and that fame night returned to L//;/rgk with as much diligence and privacy that her departure was never pcrceiv'd. I will not tell you my Lord, what was my joy when I underllood your deliverance from the mouth of the Princefs of the Sueves^ but you will I hope do me the favour to believe that rothing in the World Vv as ever able to touchmefopowerfully as theiccnlideratibn of your fafety. ' When I was delivered from this cruel care, I dedicated my felf wholly to my Love, tcfulving to facrifice it to the reft of the time I had to fiay near Albifvida^ which could hot be long, by reafun of the approaches of a war for which they made fo great pre- parations, and by vVhich I Was to be recalled to your alliilance, notwithlhnding all that hiy love could do, to pcrfwade me today nczx Albifvida ■■, for thisrcafon I endeavoured to make ufe of that time as much as pothble, and ufed all my cndeavburs to gain the heart of my Princefs, either for Marcomire , or for Ericlea, or for both together , and the conHdencc (he had given me ot the good opinion flic had for Marcomire gave me the liberty to fpeak to her often concerning him, and I lort no occalion to tell her all things I thought expedient to retain her in thofe favourable thoughts (he had of him. Belitvc not however my Lord, that I thought only of my felf, or that your intercft was not as prefent in my memory Is my own » from thofe private difcourfcs I had with Albifmda concerning the fortune oi Marcomire^ I pafs'd often to that of rhar>amond^ and as fhehad permitted me to take his part, and had approv'd what I did for him, I fpoke boldly to her for him, and oblig'd her as much as was poffibleto favour you with the i'rin- cefs Kofamond : I endeavour'd dayly to underftand what place you held in her efteem, andl one night having prefs'd her by that liberty (he gave me j I have already told yon^ faid (he, that I am not Mijirefiof the fecrets of another as of myoivH^ horvever I rpill teJ] yon concern^ ing what you defire of me^ that not only Rofamond doth not hate, hnt that Jhe cannot hate Pharamond, and that if among all men flie could ever love any mdn^ (he could never have loVed but only Pharamond, rvhom alone flie thinks worthy of her^ and in comparifpn of rvhom Jhe leokj upon aH others rvith dtfdain; horvever (he tvill aa againji him all thife things totvhiS Jhe believes her felf obliged by her duty^ by her promife^ and by the will of the King her fd~ iher, but Jfie will atithem with a grief which would beget ^i ^i/y ;;/ Pharamond himfelf had be thekitowledgeofit, Thefe were the mod important particulars I could learn, though the better to inflrudt tny felf, 1 had contradted a (Irid: amity with the Ladies of the Princefs Kofamond^ and particularly vvith Pfrjr^r/d, wlio is the mod dear to her, and with Lnciana^ who being Siflcr. to Albimer, \ believed real i6 ytiut interefts i' nor did I deceive my felf in that judgment I made of. her, for Ifouridherfo well inclih'd towards you, that I fail'd but little of difcovering my felf to her. Ihtodora on her part feem'd no kfs preiling upon Al- bifirtda^ but (he lived with me in a far greater di(lru(t than (he had at the beginning, and by many marks made me judge that (he had great fufpicions of the truth. She thought at that time (lie had an advantage otrermc, v^hich (he negledted not, the I^evps arriving at Lifargli that Ring Goniioch had hot only made peace with the King of the Cimbrians, who turned his entire hatred againft you only, but that by reafonof the 6ifers he had made to ftrve him with all his Forces againll you, he had been received as the (S^hct pretendants to the hopes of enjoying Kofamond by the head of ?haramond. This news wrought an ill cffed for Gondioch'm the mind of 'Rofamond^ aiid I underftooc^ from the Piiucds Albifnda, that if hitherto the Princefs of the Cimbrians hud felta re'n hiftancy to love him, (he had now conceiv'd a difdain for him, which made her look up- on him as the (nan of the whole world lealt worthy of her efteem. I undcrftood this par^ tieularly in a difputp which Ibeoda'ra and my felf had in her prefence, and that of Albi- finda: for Iheodora belic\/ing flic had a fair occafiorl' to re^^engc her felf of a reproach i had at another time made her, and not being able to di(remble the difTatisfacftiun ihe re- cciv'd, Ihe time income Ericlea^ faid flie, that you cannot longer make uj'e of an advau' tigi which yait have unjHjily tak^n againji me, in the i/itereji of thofe Trincer, of pchich yoH I i ditd 242 • • PHAKAMOND, Fart III. and I have tak^'tt the parts; and when Gondtrmr fljaV be feen to fi^ht near the King of the Cimbrians, and the King of the Sueves, /or their quarrel^ and th.it of the Ffincefjes their Vaitghterr^ and Muxomite near Vhix^mond at the head of their enemies.^ there will the Trin- cf// Albilindai^'!Dirn?f//, as y.iudefired fame days pjjt, hsivto put the J/jference (he ought be- tween ber Enemy and her Defender. I make no doubt ^ replyed I coldly, hut Marcomire nv// fght in the quarrel if the Kififf his Brother^ and J or the interejl and defence of bis Country \ and that Gortdemr will fiUiiw his Brother inth.it glcriolU enierprife for which here-ajfiunes his Arms : hut 1 doubt lef but that the PrinceJJ'es which hearh^u to us will l{iiow how to mak^e the difference they ought between a Prince that renders what is due to his honour and to his duty, and him who takes part in the infamy of his Brother, Tou fpeak^unworthily in my opinion, re» plyed Iheodora, of th.fe who are at prefcnt employed in the intcreftsof perfons to whom both yoH and I owe rejf^ecl ; but befides that, Gondioch, with his love to the Trincefi Rofamond, which may authorife all things, hath many great reafons to jnflifie his proceedings again[l Pha- ramond, Vrince Gondemar is noleflobli^d than Marconiire, both by his honour and his duty to fight in the quarrel of his Brother. For Gondemar ( faid the Princcfs Rofamond) Se cannot be at all blamed to adhere to the interefis of h]i Brother, but for Gondiocb, we are fo much the more bound to hint fir the affilhnce he gives us, at we leafl expected it from him > for I expelled the head of Pliaramond fi'om any other hand, rather than from that of a m,an who is bound to him for his Liberty, and fr his Crown. The Frincefs of the Cimbrians pronouncM thcfe words with a MajeAy which dcpriv'd Iheodora of the boldncfs to re^ ply, anJniadeobfervableas much confufion on her countenance as there was fatisfadion in nuiie. In the mean time I began to be cruelly difturb'd at the preparations I faw made for the war, and the indifpcnllble neccllity which would force me fo foon to abfcnt my felf from Albifnda. I heard, as I fancied, thofe Trumpets which calPd me on all fides, and I beheld my fclf with much (hame under the habits of a woman, whilft all the world was covered with Arms i but it was not only the fear of this abfcnce that afflided me, and I was refolv'd, as other men might refolvc, to abfent thcmfelves from what they love, flattering my felf with hopes of return, as if the accefs of Albifmda had not been forbid- den, and perhaps forbidden for ever to the Brother of Vharamond ; for to hope that I could yet again return to her under the habits of Ericlea, there was little appearance, for belidcs that in all likelyhood my deceit would be difcovered during my abfencc, I had reafon to fear, that that which might ferve mc for a little time, and in a folitude like to that of Lifurgis, would not have the fame fuccefs in a longer ftay, and in a great Conrt, as that of the Ciffj^rirfw King's ordinarily was. I had many times a defign to difcover my felf to the Princcfs before my departure, and it wanted little that the confidence I had in her goodnefs, had not given me that boldnefs i but the remembrance of the words fhe had (poken on that fubjcdt, took away all my alTurance for fuch an enterprife, not permitting me to run a hazard by which I might entirely ruine my felf. The difquiet I felt by reafon of thefe troublefome thoughts, often chang'd my hu- mour, and made my dilhadtion fometimesobfervable in my countenance. I began to be more penfive than ordinarily, and at thofe hours wherein I could not be free with Albi- fmda, I fought to be alone, and went ufually to walk in the leaft frequented places of the Garden and Park. 1 fotgot my felf one night after the PrincefTes were returned from walking, yet without thinking what judgment might be made of a Damfel who remained; alone, and fo late, in that folitude and obfcurity, I was fo much prepoflclTed, that I thought not of retiring with the others, but gently treading along the Alleys, I remained till night was v/d\ advanc'd. In the end I return'd towards the Caftle, and becaufe the chamber of the Princcfs /4/^/(iH^i« looked out on the Garden, I lifted up mine eyes to- wards the windows, and not feeingany light, I judged that (he already iltpt. I beheld for fonie time the place where all my treafure lay, with thofe thoughts which are not pardonable, but to perfons poffefs'd like us with a violent palTion i and in fine, I found my felf importun'd by a motion of love and tendernefs to ling under her window fome words which I had compos'd the day before, and which I had never yet fung be- fore the Princcfs i I approach'd therefore, by the knowledge I had of that place, rather than by any clearncfs of the night, which Was extremely dark, to a place dire<3:iy under the windows, and when I was juft beneath them, 1 kan'd my felf againll aPaliiade, di- ledly oppofite to their light, and bc£an to ilngin a tune very pallionatc' ;. "the Book I. PHARAMOND. t. THe V:'y jiar robbiMg tP Earth of Light doth eafe It felf beneath the fFejlerit Shore^ Leaving to Mortals a Repefe and Peace ■, But that fair Star which I adore ^ Jn tb'' Armr of Sleep makes fiil] tn\'Torments live^ And Joys in that Repnfe Jhe rvill not give. Ihe lovely violence of my Griefs makes me Vifturb this pleafng filent Night, . ; JFhilji Zephyius breaths roith fome regret^ leji he ■ ..a Should difcompofe QWm^ut bright : ' > E.'ft pardon, faireji, day mnji k.nor,' no name, 'Tw only Night mit\i jhade my fecret flame. 1 had fcarcefungtbefe firft wordsvvitlv adcfign to continue, when I heard a noife ar $^ain(\ the Palifade, on wliich I leaned, and calling my eyes that way, from whence, my thoughts made me imagine it came, 1 law fomething white, and notwithltandingtheob-r fciirity of the night, I in the end knew.it was a woman i as I doubted not but the had known me (ot Ericlea, I went towards her, and at my approach to her, I knew that it was 'Lheodora. This encounter infinitely difpleafed me, believing tins Lady ( interelTcd to obferve me by the jealoufie (he teftitied, and of whom I had no kfsfufpicionsthanflie could have of me ) would find in my acftion and in my fong, fufficient fub)e£l to con- firm her thoughts. The darknefs robb'd both the one and the other of the knowledge of that confulion which this encounter might have made obfervable in our vifages, and after we had fome time beheld each, other without fpeaking, Iheodora fixi\ broke iWcnce, How, Ericlea, ( faid (he ) at fuch an hour as this, and rvhiljl all the tvcrld repofes, are yon alone walking, and under the rvindorvs of the Princef ? 1 am not alone, replyed I, fwce we are together ■, but I fliould be no le(i ajionijhed than yott, to encounter yoa, if I were of the humour to be ajhniJJ^ed at fmall things. But both in you, and in me, replyed Jbeudora, walking thus late, it maybe an effeU of the love we have jor folitude, hut fuch finding tender the windows of the Trincefi Albilinda, feems fomething jirange for a Vamfel, and mure con- formable to the condition of a Lover, than that of the ZVefce-f/Imbergida. Ihe love of fuli- tilde, neither in you nor in^ any other perfon, ( replyed I, marching forwards, that we might get farther from the window, from whence our difcourfe might be underllood ) can never ajionilf} me '■> but this jealoufie you tejlifie of perfotis who ftng under the rvindws of Albilinda, is very jirange for a Vamfel, and more proportionate to the pajfion of a Lover, than tothe tranquillity of perfoHS of our Sex. Damfels like yon and J, C replyed Jheodora ) are not ordinary Vamfels, nor can it be thought jirange, that perfons opposed in the defire of the fame thing, Jhould be capable of jealoufie; I cot^fi you give me infinite caufe, and if I be-* lieved you of the humour to explain your felf to me, as I will explain my felf to you, we fiiould faon be out of doubt and trouble. Thefe words, which (lie pronounc'd with a voice fnore refolute than ordinary, and prelfingone of my hands with a force much ditferent from that of a Dam(el, not only confirm'd me in my fufpicions, but turn'd them into a certainty, and had obliged me to re-* ply to Iheodora, oi\\txmki\\zx\zs to a Damfel, if I had nat judg'd that it Was not yee time to declare my (elf, and that I ought to difTcmble a part of what I thought, till a better occalion , yet I did not forbear to tell her, preiling her hand with a force little in- feriour to hers, Co to Bed, Theodora, / have nothing to explain to you now, but when it fljall be time, if what you and 1 believe be true, 1 will explain my felf to you more than yoH defire .If you forget^ laid (he, I fl: all put you in remembrance, and in the mean time you ex- plain to me enough for me to underjiand what I have to do. Finilhingtheie words, (he retired another away, and I went to fcek. my chamber, where I paiTed the reft of that night in a terrible difcompofure s I queftion'd no longer but thar I wasdifcover'd, 11 nee my fecret vi/as tn the hands of a perlon, whom I look'd upon asi my Rival, and my enemy, and I judg'd well thzt though Lheodora would not divulge ic toall'the Goutt, for the refpedt (he bore /4/^////;iow me^ that I have not contributed to it^ but it mull be hy ptinifhin^ as I ought ^ and banijlnng from my fight for ever, a perfon who hath fo unhappily abufed my innocent goodnef. I have an intention to do fo, but I krtow not whether 1 (l.'all he able to execute it, end by my mU fortune y on have hut too much kiioivn my reea\nefi. To u have by a firatagemtoo contrary to the freedom of my proceeding, drarvn fi-om my heart a fecret, which iti) complacency fliould have ever forc'd from thence; and you as Ericlea, have underfiood rahat Marcom-ire ought never to have k^ioivn by my confffion ; thistvoiit made yeu continue 'your crime with more prejiimption, but you may perhaps be deceived as weHitsI, and you ought /tot to affure yi^ur jelf in fuch fort, by what you have learn' d of the thoughts I have for you^ as not jhll to fear theeffeds of a JHJl refentment, and arefentmeut which ought nottdbe lefi powerful over my heart, thanall that it could haverefenled of moji favourable for you. VVhilft fliefpoke in this manner, the tears from her fair eyes ftream'd down her cheekSj and through all her countenance (lie tefritied fo true a grief, that notwithftanding the con- fidence 1 had in her goodncfs, I could not hinder my felf from being mortally afflidted. 1 remained fome time without fpeaking, not being able to refift thofe etfeds which drew tears from my eyes as well as hers-, but in the end breaking filence as it were by a great violenceovcr my felf-, Trhtcef!, ( faid I, with a moli paiiionate behaviour ) Neither will I jujiifie my felf, neither will I murmur at whatever punifJjment you (Jjall inflili on my crime^ and injlead of reprefenting to yoUy that by its great nefi you may judge that of my Love, I at- tend at your feet that dejUny you ordain me, and fubmit my felf to it without murmuring^ though the lo(i of my life fliouldbe infallibly your Sentence, that is without doubt fixed to the defign you have to banijh me eternally your prefence ; but when that death jhould be accom- panied with all could make it terrible, the fear of it fiall never hinder me from obeying you^ nor from finding fn^eetneflit felf in that obedience which ffiotild condu6l me to my 'Xomb, if by that obedience I jJjould appeafe your anger, and preferve to M^ivcom'ive in his Sepulcher, that which you have granted him during his life, and rphilji he feem'd innocent before you, I wiU make you however remember to fweeten your d/jpleajure rather than diminiflf my crime ■■> that 1 have not fo much abus''d your goodncfi as I might have done if my rej}e£i had been lefi thatt 'jny luve, and that 1 have taken care my felf to deny Marcomire thofe liberties and advanta- '^ts might have been granted to Ericlea : And that no remembrance can caufe in you any con- fufioHj nor make you repent^ but that of having told to Ericlea */^rft Marcomire JVti/ not odious to you. I aggravate p'ifiibly my offence by recalling to your memory the happinefi of a man wbofe condition is fo miferably changed in fo few moments ■> but whence my Princefi, can I find a fjfty if this be not declared to me ? And if Marcomire was this morning the moji happy of all wf «, why jhould he the fame day become the mofi unfortunate^ and moji deflate, by a fault for which you your felf can accufe nothing but his love ? I confeft there was rajhnefi and imprudence in my enterprife: but in an age of more experience than mine, can there be found wifdnm in a pajfion lik^ mine ? And without alledging to you the example of Gondemar, it prudence ever the companion of one fo highly enamoured } I fpoke to her in this manner witha tranfportation of love which flie might eafilyob-* fcrvc, and to thefe words I added fo many others (which I accompanied 'with fo many tears. Book I. F H A K A M N D. tears, a? if with the Habit, I had pur on the weaknefs of a woman J that a foul fuH'©f fwcerncTs like that of Alhifvida could difficultly prefcrveail her anger vand I dcnotcd'-ih her looks fo foon as I durll lift up my eyes, that (he was not abfolutely determined to ruihe me, and that if I knew how to mmage thofe g^ood intentions flic had foir me, it would not beimpolilblc to appeafe her: And I can alTure you Sir, that I forgot jiothing of ail that my love tould infpire mc with, and I perfwaded her in fuch manner, that without giving me a death, llic could perieverc noioiia;er in her anger, and in her grief, and that t)Dth the one and the other were caufed by a fault, and a misfortune, much- Ids tiian what flie imagined them, that in the end ihe permitted rnc to Qbferve iome fwtctning in \vit tyes, and afvcr I had fume longer time prclTed her, raking away tlic Handkerchief frorti before tliem to behold me i B«t in fine, faid ihe, ivh tt defire y.nt of ;kc, and if I Jhonld by thjt rpea'{>ifjs fromivhich you, drarv fo msny advjntrtyes^ pjrdoa ihe fault yon have c:mmif~ t.'d^ rvhst d) yan hope ? T)a yon exp:U I ftjould litU k^^ep yojt rvith me under the hshit <^ Ericlea, or th.tt I jho:tld [UU ^rjHt yon the fjtme favours yott hive drawn from my abufed imif' ccftce, a'tdf)f'ivhichth^rei»einbra:icetpill>}ja\emcbluJhto my'tomh ? No Mtdatn ( faid I ) / (voitld d-fire uothins; of yon which may give you any dijiurba^fic^^ and besides that I afpire not ta a happinefs I have fo -little merited, the fc:ir I have to fre difcovered by atoo liv/r jiayjtear yoit, ipould mal'^ me rejolve to tak^ have of you this very day and run to thofe occafions to n>hich you kttorp I am called both by my Honour and my Duty \ but in abfeitting my felf from ynu, J have hopes it jJ.'all not be forbidden 7Ke to feek^ the means to fee yon again, to ferve you and to pleafc you if it be po^ible, which I may hope to doby time, favourable events,, and the affijiance of Prince Viridomar, no longer an enemy to our hiufe, whatever chanq^e there may be in the humour and abatement of the aweroft'he King your Father : Nor am I my felf forbidden to hope, fom my Sivord and the Arms of the King my Brother, a Cromn rvhich is neceffary for me tn ajj>ire to for the Daughter of a great King, and that in the end I may raife my thoughts to all things mhich may contribute to ren- der me happy. See here,my Princefs, what is my defire, and what are my hopes in abfentin? tny felf from you, and I dare hope it rpill be permitted me, or tvould willingly dye if this defire or this hope were forbidden me. IVo Marcomire ( faid the Princefs in tine to nie ) no, they are not forbidden you, and in defpite of my felf, my heart confents to you that which my refe/tt- ment would willingly refuje you, hnt abufe not again this goodnefs, nor render me unhappy 'by thij weakjtefs I te\\tfi£ to you, I abufe your patience Sir, by this long difcourfe, and, to conclude it, fufTer me to tell you in the end my fortune was fuch, that I not only appcas'd the Princefs, but I con- "Jlrain'd her toconfefs that (lie could not repent her felf of the affeiffion flic had conceived for Marcomire, and confent to the defign I had to undertake all things to render me hap- py : She was pleas'd that I (hould do all things poffible in thofe opportunities that offered toalTwage the an^erof the King her Father, without whofe confent (lie declared I could hope nothing i (he approved particularly the thought I had to make ufe of Prince Viri' domar, and doubted not by an equal endeavour to gain him to my part. In fine, all that I could hope from a virtue, which in its natural fweetnefs is full of feverity, was granted me i and (he dfTured me in fuch manner againft thedifhuft I might have of the fortune of Gondemar, and all others who might have the fame pretences, that on that fide fhcputrny heart in repofe : but flie would not that I (hould flay longer with her, nor prefent myself ionce more before her, nor before any other perfons under the habit of Er/c/f « •, but^flie was pleas'd that I (hould depart that fame day to come towards you, pdwnitting me to render you, againfl her own Party, that Service I owe yoU, and to feck in thccourfcof a war, wherein flie wis to be prefent with the Princefs Koprnw/^/, all thofe occafions to fee her which fortune could offer me ; She commanded me likewife to affure you, that what- ever you might fear for the time p3fl from the Sifter of Viridomar, flie fliould not only not oppofe to you with Ko/iwoW, but continually take your part, and entertain the Princefs in thofe inclinations which are as favourable to us as fortune is contrary. ■ 1 took my leave of her with a grief, which all the happinefs which fheodord had pro- cured me, by endeavouring to ruine me, could not hinder i when at the fame infhnt Im- bergida appeared at the door of the Arbour, aud the Princefs having called her, after I had juftitied her before her as much as it was poffible, not only pardon'd her the part flie bore in the deceit wc had adfcd, but promifed flie would love her as much as flie had don$ in time paff , nor deprive her of the leaf\ part of that confidence flie had m her. But why Sir, fliould I hold you longer, after fomc marks of weaknefs which I eould rot refrain , I retired with Imbergidd , to whom all the reft of that day I gave all the proofs were poilibleof my afledion and acknowledgment, protefiing to her, that t ^Vowld ■248 THARAMONR Part. JIL ;!would all my life confider tier as my Mother, and that in a time more happy I would tefti- rte to her in a more ample manner my jnft refencmcnts. On her part (lie promifed me the continuation of her alliilanccs with Albifindj : And bccaufe her Son had conceiv'd an affcdti- on for me, which would not permit him to leave me, (he permitted him willingly to ac- company me in the Voyage, and that he (hould fix himfelf entirely to me. She had already prepar'd what (he would fay in the'Court concerning the departure of her Ncecc, and I doubt not at all but Mathilda had done the fame for Iheodora : But I had difpofcd the Princefs to manifeft nothing to her, for fear to difclofe a thing that (he would have kept as fecret as poflible. I parted the fame Night under the Ccndu(ft of Gerontet, who was come to Lifurgis with Clotarius, and marching the Day following by ways known to him, we came in the end into the Country of the Narifqnes, and to the City whither I had fcnt my Equipage, but it was not without having taken a great Compafs, (out of the fear Gerontes had of encountring the King of Cimbria's Guards at the PafTes) which made us fpend in our Voyage twice as much time as we fliould have done had we come the dire(ft way. I was afterwards refain'd at the City ofNar/fqaes, by a fall from my Horfe, which injur'd me fo much, as to (lop me for fome days : And it was by reafon of thefe delays, 5ir, that I came fo late to you, and that I came not till the Day of that Battel which you gain'd with fo much Glory. The End of the Firfi Boo\ PHARAMOND. Book II. M ' Arcomire in this manner coucluded his Relation , and Tharamond who had hearkned with infinite attention, and with no lefs pleafure, when he had made an end, embracing him with a loving tcndernef,, I aver ta you my Brother^ faid he, that your difcottrfe hath given me a great fatisfaUion^ as Tvell for the recital of your pleafant adventures, as __^^ for the k>iowledge it hath giveH me of your intereji in my fortune, and the mixture of eur concerns, which blend themfelves in the fame quarrel, and againjl enemies rvhich are common to us both. But if Fortune hath plac'd this conformity in the caufe of our paftons, fie hath put a great and cruel differenee in our conditions : And I underhand rvith aU the joy that ourfriendfl:ip can give me, that you are as haffy in your Love, as I am unfortunate in mine : For infumm Brother, after that objiruBion which you have cleared, all gihcrs that can flppnfe your felicity, are not confiderable, and if the heart of Mb'iCmdi be yours, all the Objlru- Ciions the King henFather can raife are eafie to fuppert. For the default of a Grown, which in all likelihood is neceffary to afpire to Albifinda, you ought not to affliUt your felf, for besides what you may hope from your Valour, and the a0ance of your Arms, the Crown of Franconia can- not be wanting to you, either by the end of my life, which cannot be of long durance if my mis-^ fortunes continue, or by the change af my fortune, which permitting me topafs the Rhine, to receive that of the Gzuh, to which lam call'd, will permit me to give you that of Franconia, ]vith greater joy without doubt, than you can have in receiving it. This generous offer of the King of the Franks, touch'd the Soul of the Prince his Bro- ther with a rcfentment proportionable to the Grandeur of that Benefit he promis'd him, and Book II. THAKAMONt): 249 and kiil?ng perforce one of his bands, wiiicli he had locked in his own, when he had finifh- ed his diicouifc. My Soverji{^H^ (aid he, 1 doubt nit but y^m m.iy give Cr^rvns^ and mahfi Ki>t:rf n>l>i^ \OMpleafe : Ai- the ll^'urid already kjiowi^ that ua force can ajpire the dignity cfyonr enemies^ a^ai'tji the potver of your Arms : I tvottld therefre receive from your liberality all that might raife me to the h.ipes to pofjtji Albllinda, fo that I might hold it from your good fortune : But by that mifery which yon bane dnlar'd, not only the entire Empire of the World trould he odiouf to me, but tn\i life it felf iafupportable. There is however a great deal of appearance (replied tlie King of ihcFra-ikj) that by this tvay ymt (hoiild Jooner momit to the Koyal dignity : Aid though I jhort'd hope to overcome th.fe enemies nhich now oppofe us^ as I may hope without doubt ^ if Fortune be mt contrary to us: yet you k^ft^^ i^y Brother, thati have apotver torefiji^ Httder which I muji yield ■■) and that inthe cotdition to which my deplorable days are red;:c'dj= they cannot in all l/kelihi,id extend to any great length. Be pleas' d to permit me ^ replied the Prince, to oppofe this opinion you have of your fortune, and fince you have told me that if the heart of Albllinda be mine, al thofe vbjlacles which might appear from the hatred of the Kiw^ her Father were little confderable, you nay thiak^good my Lord^ that I ti'll you that the inch' nations of the ^ueen of the Cimbrians being favourable to yon, as without doubt they are, yott may hope a^J things, and fo much the rather hope, becauje jheU not at prefent, /i/;f Albiilnda, fubmitted to the ivill of a cruel Father, but by the death of hers, is Mi^iref of her own thoughts, I believe, K\>\'\Zy Oaths, which jhe cannot violate, and by a Duty, which (J.e wili all her life prefer to her inclinations.! believe they may make her forget that which thefricndfiiip of Gondioch made me do againji her Father and againft his Temple. I may likewife expe^ that they (hould blot out a part of that refentment fl.'e hath again\l the Murder of a Trince flie loved^ and who ought to have been her Spoufe : and to flatter my felf as much as pcffible^ 1 may per, Jwade my fe'.f, 'that they may fuffcieutly open her eyes, to mak^ her difcern how little I have, contributed to the death of the King her Father.^ of which by the fame continuance of miferies. lam unhappily accused. But for the death o/Theobaldus, whom before her eyes I few with my own hand, I cannot comfort my felf with any favourable thatight, for btftdes that my felf heard the promife flje made before all the Gods, to purfue my deflruUion to the laji of my days., when that anger which fl'e hath conceived, (hould be entirely appeased by the kfiowledge fl-:e hath of my innocence and grief , and when fl;e (l:ould abandon a defign to which fie is engagd by her Oaths and by het' Promifes, Tou h^ew well that that hope on which the thoughts of all Lovers are flx'd, is forbidden to me ahne, and that whihl I fee all my Rivals pretend to the poff'rfflon of Ro-^ famcnd, I am affur^d with whatever good motion flie may be folicited in my favour, jhe will ne- ver efpouf him, who before her eyes flew her brother. '"'' The Qo^i replied Marcomire, may adt V in this fortune as in the merit of men, and as tliey have made you ditfereiu from others, by ** fo many advantages which your modefty permits nic not to reprefcnt to you, they may " as well by events citranged from the ordinary courfe, force thofe obftacks vyhich mig}it "oppofe a common fortune, and make them pollibly yield to yours. "The Gods rnaj "do miracles, replied Pharamond, but beizdts that you may judge how weak that hope is, '" which is founded upon Miracles, the misfortunes of my .life are fuch, that they cannot " work them in my favour in this Condition, for nQt being able with all their,-power to recal "what is paft, they cannot raake me not to have dcpriv'd of lifcthe j^^,qiiha- of.K"/*- The defolatc Pharamond had- dilated himfelf farther on this matter, if the PrincehLj Brother, who Well faw how much he was griev'd, had not perfwaded him to talk of {om^-r thing elfe, by entreating him .to ttU him wlxat judgment he triade of the Emerprife and Adions of GoHdemar. " I judge the fame thing, faid Phara'uond, of his as of yours, and "the conformity is fo entire, that it will be very difficult to put any dilFercnce : But ior hi^ " Pcrfon, bciides what renown hath already publiih-d of his Adions, I avpwto you, that " the recital you have made me obliges me to love him, and that in all his proceedings I hnd '• fo much Nobknefs, and fuch grcatnefs of Courage, that I could witii all my foul wifti he •' might be my friend, and that he were not your KivaL "Though he be my Rival, re^ "^ plied Marcomire, and polhbly by reafon of his merit the moft to be fcar'd of all I need fear^ " I confcfs that I can difficultly hate liirn, and that the Generofity he hath tefiihed in making Kk "nic 250 PHARAMOND. Part. Ill '* me knoWn to only Alhifmda, in a time wherein he might have fcvenged himfelf of me, and "expos'd me to a great danger iiad he difcovcr'd me to other perlbns, iiatli beget in me as " great an efteem for him, as I have difdain tor the ingratitude of his Brother : And to the '■purpofeSir (comimted\^o.x<:om\xit regafding Pharamond) Will you fuiTer your felf Hill " tohruggic with thofe fcruplcs which have made fo great a W ar in tavour ot your friend- "(hip!* And will you yet prcfcrve for Cnndiach that elteem which no kfsoppofcs your " happinefs than the hatred of Kofamond i " I proteli, anjhered Fharamond, that herein " Fortune hath treated me better than I durft hope, and of thofe two great Obllrudions, " having taken away that which was not poilibly the leaft in my Spirit, hath comforted " me in good part of my misfortune : for the Hrfi Adions of Gond'mh after our Divifions, ''they had not that cffed which you have defir'd, and whilft he was only guilty towards " me, of a Dellgn to feife my perfon in Mambttda, of tjie defire he had teliiticd to fight a- '' gainft me, of the defiance he fent m,e, of the endeavours he us'd to encounter me " in the battel, and in fine, of all things he enterprifed in the War we made for the liberty " of Kofamond, I preferv'd Hill fo great a friendfhip for him, that I could not dcfirc my hap- " pinefs to his prejudice : But fincc he hath moft (hamefully (ought the alliance of a King " who was not my Enemy but for the Service I did him, and that without calling to me- '■ mory his Wounds, and the (hame he futfer'd in the Combat againrt Balamir^ he hath '• joyn'd with him, and the re(t of the Lovers of Kofamond^ to affault the head ol' Fhara^ " mond. I vow, my Brother, that I have difficultly preferv'd the leaft remaining Conlide- '■ ration for him, and that without being troubled, and without any fenfe of our an- "cient friendfhip, I earneftly defire at prefent, that which at other tim.es I durft not "defire. The two Princes entertain'd each other in this manner : when night arriv'j, and the King of the Frank/ judging it time to go into'the Chamber of Con\iance to Sup with him, was about to depart from that oiUarcomire^ when Valerius came to pray him on the behalf of his Mafter, to permit hiin to dedicate that night entirely to underftand without any inter- ruption, the recital of his Adventure, with which he was CharmM in fuch manner that he could not fuffcr a moments difcontinuance. Fharamond accorded to Cmijiance what he de- fir'd, teftifying however to Valerm that it was with fome difpleafure that he found himfelf depriv'd of his fight till the morrow : And a little after being entred into a great Hall, where the PrinceSi and all the confiderable Commanders of his Army were AfTembled by the Gran- deur of his Courage, he to pleafe them dillipated a part of that grief which might be obfer- vable in his countenance. And as he made his Greatnefs confift in the Glory of his Adlions, rather than in Formalities, fullof a vain Pride, by acuftom which hedailyprad-ifed, though different from many other Kings, he caus'd all thofe illuftrious perfonages of which tKaC fait Company was compos'd to Sup with him, and entertain'd them during the repaft, with that chartring affability which fubjeded to him the molt fierce minds, and which gain'd the hearts of all that had to do vvith him. After Supper he mounted on horfeback at the head of that fair Troop, and with five or fix hundred horfe that followed him, the Night being bright and clear, he went round the Camp, and vifited all the quarters as he often us'd to do, to oblige the Officers to acquit themfelves exadly of their Charges, and keep thf mfelves in a condition not to be furpris'd by the Enemy : But though he made a great Circuit, yet he return'd a great while before CoK[t>««« had'heard the conclufion,from the mouth ofC/fo»2fr,of the recital of hisAd ventures; And therefore bidding good night to the party that accompanied him, he devoted the reft of that night apparently to repofe, but in effed to the fad Confiderations of his Misfortunes, which were his infeparable Companions. The nextmoriiing he arofe very early, but having underftood by Cleomer that he had no t left Con^auce till it was extremely late, deferring for fome time the vifit he intended him, he cinployed a part of the morning in taking Orders concerning the War, and entertaining his Friends : and when he underftood that the illuftrious Tx.oman was awake, and might be vifit-* ed without inconvcniency, he went into his Chamber : Cortjiance no fooner faw him approach his Bed, but beholding him with a greater rqfped:, asitfeem'd, than Ae had done fome pre- ceding days; "Great Sir, pi^ /w, Youfeemcyet in an admiration to which I have dedica- " ted the greatcft part of the night, and though I had before underftood thofe of your Adi- "ons, whichmade the n^oftnoife in tlie world, the particular recital I have now received, "hath given me an aftoniftiraent which I cannot exprefs, and a veneration for you, which ♦'obliges me toconfidcr you as a man infinitely rais'd above all others. "I might, replied ^'- rharamnnd, make yo.u this difcourfe with more reafon, at leaft for one part of it : for from "the other I will not detend myfelf, and aslremain in the fame opinion with you, that "there Book II. PHARAMOND. 251 "there are Adventures in gay life fo Grange as to caufc alic-r/iflimcnt, you may aver u'itii "me, if you pleafc, that there is much difference between thofc advantagLS 1 iiiay dravV " from fomc n.oft happy Combats I have iought againll the Barbarians^ ot which tlicrere- *' mains no fruit or bencht neither to me nor to my Country, and the glory wiiich cnvi- ''• rons you for fo many famous and important vidoiies, wiiich in their events have in- " terefted the whole Univerfe, and upheld that Empire which for fo many ages hath ruled " over Co many Nations. 7 en)ift'(! to yoH^ replyed Coajiayice, th;it n-e have thU advantage over yott, to give our AUions a greaterT-.e>i)tvnin the world than you can yours; a;tdjf the Hubie or Vrefervation of the Empire iiiterejts the rvhole earthy fo it fuems thai aH the rcorldhave their eyes jixedon the leaji things which contribute to it : And moreo: f r, af in oUr N^tioit^ and am'>ngli the Greeks, there h.ive beenin all Ages men more capable than among yours^ to refund the great AUinns of their Captains ■■> fo it is certain, that their Glory is jf^readin the rvorld, and tranf milled to piilleriiy, with tn advantage rvhich others could not find amongjl a people rrhufe igno- rance or dejjtifdl of Letters hath not permitted them to render to their famoiu men what they might merit. Ihere have been pujfibly a great number rcho might equal the mofi renon'ncd of ours, if Fame had done them jujiice, whvfe names are farce come to our kjiorvledge, but a- mongH thife rvhom the injury of time could not deprive of being kitotpn, to what degree of Glory do you believe might Hannibal have mounted, if he had found amongji the Cartliaginians perfons capable to have declared to men what they have not underjiood but by the recital of his enemies? His Reputation would farce yield to the Chief eii cf the Cafars, and though a Roman as I am^ I fhould give him the advantage of all others for Military Vir- tues, " I believe, replyed Vharamond, that you may vvith jufiicedo it, but as Military Vir- "tues do not alone merit that prail'e which may be given to great men, thofe whodcfpife^ " all others, are worthy of a plrt of that oblivion in which they remain clouded by igno- ' "ranee, or by the barbaroufncfs of their Nation-: And fince, to the Glory of their Arms, " by which the Romans havcrendred themfelves Mafters of the world, they have known " how to joyn thofe noble Sciences by which they are rais'd fo many degrees above barba- " rous people i it is with too much reafon that they are become Mailers, and that they ''have extended their Rule and Domination over thofe men whofcatce knovyhow to "difcern Empire from Servitude, • Having been born ( added Conjiance ) among men whofe warlike inclindiions make theni fieglecf all other things, it feems to me my Lord, that for any ef thofe Sciences you fo much elieem, you have no reafjn to envy- either theGxceks or Romans, and that in this advantage you no lefs excel other Trinces,uhan in that of your Arms. " I am polfibly inferiour to tliem '*■ in all things, C replyed Pharamond modeftly ) but it was not the fault of King Marcomtre " that I loft not a part of the rudenefs of my Country by the diligence he took to educate " me under perfons of your own Country : and moreover I can fay in favour of this Nation, "that it is at prefen^very different from other people oi Germany, and that after the time " of Genebaud, the tirft of our blood that inhabited it, and who covered the Bank? of the " Rhine, the Meine, and the Salh with this Colony of Frankj, of all the Princes who have " fucceeded him to my felf, there was none who did not endeavour to polilh the people by " their examples, and the inftrudlions of many Grangers, whom they have called in, and "flayed here v,;ith great diligence, and no lefs fuccefs. We are likewife vvholly different " in the Worftiip of the Gods from the other people of Germany , and that according " to the CKatnplecf theGaK/j, from whom we draw our Original, we keep to the ancient '' Inftitutions of Vritts and Samothes, we adore that God they iiave made us know, and re- " verence that Virgin which conceived him. For Peace, our Anceftors have made very "excellent Laws to keep the people in Equity, honourable inclinations, and the inno- ''cency of the ancient Gauls i and in war it felf, we have made them in part apprehend "the good ufage of Valour, the juliice of Quarrels, and the glory to pardon the van- "quifli'd i fo that I dare allure you, that if both the one and the other were known to " you, you would place no fmall difference between thofe people that obey me, and the " Sueves, the Cimbrians, Juringians, or Bur^undians. Idoubt not at all ( replyed the gallant Roman ) but the worthy example of a Trince fuch ai you are, rhay produce an effect yet msre difficult ; nor is there any thing which I jliould not eafily hope from thofe admirable qualities your converfation.and the recital I have had of your Ad- ventures have made me difcover in your perfon : But Sir, to return again to the difcourfe of your Adventurer, which your modeflj would needs interrupt, will you not permit me to oppofe a lit' tie that opinion ypu have of your misfortune^ and that by the knowledge you have received in K k 2 fi. :>52 PHARAMOND. Fart III. fi mjiiy occafwm of the fintiments of Rofamond, *I tnahe you confefs your fortune is much lift defperate th.tn mine ? " Ah my Lord, ( replycd the King of the Frankj ) do not flatter "me, nor make any compavifon between an ordinary misfortune of which the examples "are familiar, and a prodigious mifery of which no age can find a Precedent, for in titre, "vvhen 1 might Hnd fome comfort in the judgment I might make of the intentions of '■'' Rnfamoud^ I can hope nothing in my fortune more favuurabk than what I at prcfcnt " prove i Kofamond m^iy efteem me, but flie hates me, lince [he arms fo many thoufand " men agagainfi: me, and though (he (hould ceafe to defire my ruine, or ceafe indeed to hate "me, nay though I fliould be beloved by her, I can never hope flienioukl render mehap- " py : For you my Lord, youare alTured of the affedion of Flacidia, and though fhe be "not at prefent in condition to give you the lall proofs, Autalfh may dye, and by his "death you become the moft happy man in the world •, but for me, unfortunate am I, far '" diftant from being able to hope any change in my condition by the death of a Rival, or a "Husband, though Ko/iwoHi^ Oiould be in the fame eftate with Tlacidia^ for unkfs I re- '' vjve th-e dead, 1 can expedt nothing from my deplorable deftiny. CoM^ance was about to reply to the difcourfeot Tharamohd^ when they faw Valerius en- ter ftt chamber, and with him a man of a very noble Air, of about twenty five years of age, and who according to all appearances was a perfonage of great worth; the King of the Franh looking upon him inlhntly with an infinite elkem, rofe from his place" to re- ceive him as he judged him worthy by his noble prefence : But Co«;r«/;cf had no fooner known him, but raifing himfelf up on his Bed, tranfported with an affeftioH) which he could not refirain, and reaching him his Arm in a m.oft palfionate inanneri Ah my dear ^x- tajbure ( faid he J a it piiffible that I am again permitted to fee yon? Artabure cart himfelf into the Arms of Co»j}(j/;cf.!eceiving his embraces without reply, fo much was he furpris'd to meet with fo great aperfon, but his vifage anfwered for him, by thofe tears which in a moment covcrM it, and which as foon attradted thofe of theafflidted Con\]ance. Bdngthusm.utually touch'd with extraordinary affedion, they remained for fome time u-ithout being able te ("peak i but in the end Artabure forcing away his aftonifliment, and his grief, and recoyling two or three paces, to behold the countenance oi Conjiance more wiftly than before, Ah! uur great Captain, faid he, onrVpholder and our Confolation, U it J).>f7hle that the Heavens, have once more granted me the fight of you ? Te/, generous fviend^ rcplyed ConflaHce, you behold me again, and yllit behold me as miferable as you left me in the City of the Tedofages. This difcourfe brought to the remembrance of both the one and the other, things that plung'd them into a profound griefi wheti Conjiance thought of tharsmond^ who beheld the interview of thefe two men with infinite tendernefs, and ad- drclling himfelf to /^rtjliwc, Artabure, faid he, /?f t/'fre K/^^ Pharamond, and I believe by that nanH\ I make you itnderjland him ai the man of the rvhole rvorld moji rvorthy our re- At thefe words Artabure beheld the King of the Franks with that admiration which none that faw him could deny themfelves, and whillt he falutcd him, and Tbara- tnond received him both as an illuUrious triend of Cowffi^/jce, and as a man vvorthy by his proper merit of fufficicnt elkem, Confiance again breaking filence. My Lord, ( faid he to Fharamond ) in the recital which Valerius hath made you of the Hijioryof my Misfortunes, he ought often to have Jj'oke to you 0/ Artabure, and he hath Co glorious a part in all that jve have done for tl>e jervice of the Empire, that he cannot he entirely unk^ionpn to you. JlenorvH, re- plyed the King, hath already made me k^iorvtbe name of Artabure i and befides rvhat I have underjlood in the difcourfe of Valerius, 7 krtorv rfeU that this is the v»liant Artabure, • xvhich de- livered Rome jromthe oppreffiun of the Goths, and chafed Attalus out 0/ Italy. My Lord ^ C rcplyed Artabure modelUy, ") I orve without doubt to that friendfl-)ip Valerius may hear me^ a good p.irt ef the honour you have done me hy your difcourfe, but I camot diforvnthe glory, to have learn'd the myilery of IFar under the great Conliance, and to have accompanied him in a good part of his great expeditions. Both with me, and without me, replyed Conjiance, you have done Actions rvorthy of eternal memory -, fetv Romans have fignalized themfelves like you, in an a^e like yours., but without extending our felves farther on a difcourfe, which hy your modcjly you would oppnfe, relate to tne my dear Artabure, what if the fortune which Reunites m, anhby what encounter jo little expecied, you have again found out the miferable Confbnce, in a Country where in all likelyhood you could not have fearched him ? I will fatlsfe you, replyed Artabure, in all things you defire of me, but the difcourfe I have to make, to inform you fo fuliyai you defire, will not be fo fhorl, but it will require fome hours of yoHf attention. And I believe, added King Fharamond, that it cannot be of fo lit- tle importance^ k»t thit the prefence of witneffes may be fuffeCted, and for this reaf.n I mil it tin Book II. PJtARAMOND. 253 retire fa foon as you fhjll think,, fit to entertain ynitr fclf particularly tvitb Conftancc. Artabure anfwered not to thefc words, but by looking!; upon Conliance^ who jjcrccivin* it, broke lilence i / k>for» not ( faiJ he to Artabure ) of what nat.n-e that Secret is^ nitlj jvhich you defisrii totruji me^ but if it hath M'lthiw/ more impm-i ant or msre particular.^ tha>t there can be in all thin^^s that have pajfed^ in which I have any intereli^ 1 believe theKiniof the Franks cannot be fufpe^ed n^ith your difcourfe^ if he hath time and patience to lend his at^ lention^ for there have happen' d few thia^s either to the one or the other ^ of which tve have not bad a mutual k^tuwledge^ even to the mnji fecret circumliances. In the difcourfe J hjvetomake ya//, replyed Artabure^ there are certainly fune thinjs very particular, and of fnch impor- tance.^ to the chief perfms of the rvorld^ that they ought not to he puhlijhed •, httt fnce you have made the King nnderliand the fecrets of yur life., that which I have to fay cannot be of great' er importance.^ and if he can find any divert ifement in the recital nfthofe thinfrr I am to re- cjunt, I (JjaU give it him rpith infinite fatiffadion, and rvitb a confidence which may oblige me to difcover to him greater things. Pbaramond defended himfcif for fome time agaiiift this civility o( Artabure., hatCan- ^ftjwcf tcftihed in fuchfort the defire lie had to hearken to the difcourfe of Artabure in his prefence, that in the end he conicntcd to his will, moved by the intcrcfl he took in all things that concern'd him, cither inlns ovvn perlbn, or that ot his friends i but he was pleafed tirft that Artabure tliould go and repofe himfelf in the apartment which was pre- pared for him, the neareft podible to that of Conlrancel where he remained till fuch time as Dinner was fcrv'd. Conftance, Fharamnnd, and /^ru^wr^ dined together without any 0- ther company, and after the repaft, the King having teftirted that he would entertain him- felf pirtkuhrly with Conjiance and Artabure, gave ncceflary orders not to be interrupted > Soon after whi:h, ^r/j^«re being featcd near Cowjfawce's Bed-fide, began tofpeak in this manner. The Hijlory of the Emperour Honorius^ of Belimira^ and of Artabure. ALL the world beheld as a Prodigy the ftupidity of Ho;/or/w in the ruine of his Country, and though there Was always known to have been more fwtetnefs, or rather more fear in his difpolition , than refolution and vigour, and that his wcakncfs was look'd upon with pity, byreafon of the Grange power he had permittedthe prefumptuous 5ti//Vfl;;, to ufurp over the Empire, and over his own difpcfdtion i yet Iiow- cver, in fome occafions he had forced himfelf to teltihe that he wanted neither courage nor knowledge, neceffary for the Government of the Eltate, and after that, by the death of that puilTant Favourite, he feemed to have thrown oif the yoke which he had fo m.any years lived under, he made fome appearances of a courage to fliine forth, which had not before been obferv'd in him, and gave the people fome hope that he would render himftlf capable to govern them himfelf, without returning them into a fervitude, from whence they were fo lately releas'd : Bnt in thefe deplorable calamities of Italy, which have touch- ed with- pity the mofl cruel enemies of the 'Roman name, and which might inflame to its defence the moli taint-hearted refolution, he hath appeared fuch to the eyes of all the world, that they could not, nor ought not attribute his forgetfulnefs of his Conn- try, nor %vhat he did himfelf, to his natural weakncfs only, nor hinder themfelves from believingthathisknowledge was clouded-, and his very reafon troubled, by fome pallion or fnare, which rend red him incapable to ad, orfomuch as think of fuccouring infortu- nate Italy, which he raifcrably abandoned to Barbarian cruelty. We have all felt the de- plorable efFedts, and you particularly, generous Conjiance., by that cruel lofs which hath made you fo long figh, and it is juft that you underftand the extraordinary caufe, as you will without doubt by my difcouife. After the death of StiUcon., thofe which had groaned under the burden of his unjirft au- thority, began to take breath, and there was great hopes of a change in affairs, as in all likelyhood there would be in the condition of many illuftrious Perlonages, and in the Government of the En>pire. The Emperour himfelf as if he were efcaped out of Fet- ters, after he had fo longtime worn them, look'd upon iiimielf with joy in a different condition, and made others by his example believe, that the face of things would have a more ple^ling afped. But by the misfortune of the Empire, all thofe people which were arm'tj 254 FHAFvAMOND. Part III. arm'dagainftitsrepofe, invaded its Provinces on all fides, and by the particular misfortune of Rome and Italy, the great C^>i\taHce march'd to the alliUar.ce ot the Ga»ls, agair.fl Cajijian- tine^ and by a misfortune which he cnuld not forcfee, going to defend dilbnt Provinces, a- bandon'd hisCountry in a time when by his prefence he might without doubt have diverted its ruine, and thofe terrible miferics to which a little atter it was fo unhappily expos'd : I ac- companied him in this voyage, and therefore I cannot relate to you, the chief things 1 have to recount you, but only by the recital after made me, with fufficient truth and exad- nefs. After his departure, and that of the moft valiant Captains, who with their Troops were fent into thofe Provinces whither necellity call'd them, the Emperour remain'd in great tranquillity at Kowe, and by. the love he naturally had for rcpofe, endeavour'd to remove from his Memory all things which might diOurb his quiet, fecking occafions to'divertifc himfelf with Ladies (whom his inclinations made him always lovej in Walks, in publick flievvs, and in all other things which might yield Pleafure and Recreation. The Princefs Flacidia remain'd at Kome with him, and with her the charming Princefs Ibeodulinda, Daughter to the King of the hhtns, and Siller to the famous Balamir, whofe Reputation Renown hath fo largely publi(h'd : The Fair Cleomira^ Princefs of the I'ongres^ and many other P.oman Ladies confidcrable both tor their Birth and Virtue. The moft valiant among the Romans were departed to th.e Provinces whither their warlike occafions feverally call'd them, but there remain'd a fufficient number with Homrha locompofe a Court worthy of an Occidental Emperour: and amongd thek Heraclian, though with little merit, (hone in the firft: degree of favour*, he had raif d himfelf to what he poflcfled by ways which would have been odious to many others, and though in the Death he gave Stilkon^ he had poffi- bly done fomething unworthy of a great Courage, and by that of his Lady diflionour'd himfelf among vertuous perfonages, he was however fo proud of the fervice he had done the Emperour, by delivering him from the Tyranny of a too potent Favourite, that he believed by this Adion he merited all things , and thought nothing above his am- bition. The event made it afterwards appear, that he was not at all deceiv'd in his hopes, and the Emp3rour after having teftified for fome few days, fufficient grief for the misfortune of Stilicon, and his Houfe, to perfwade the Komans that he had not given fuch cruel Orders as had been executed, made it in the end be thought that the Execution had not difpl'eafed him, when preferring him before many perfonages illuftrious both for their Birth and Ser- vices, he gave Heracliaa the Government of Africa. In effedl, the Dignity of fuch a Go- vernment appear'd to all the Wotld fo little proportionable to the merit and former fortune of Heraclian, that many perfons found fufficient rcafons highly to condemn the Condudl of the Emperour, but it was not prefently that he was honoured with this Charge, there hap- pening things Vtihich before I ought to recount in their order. The Emperour in this time often vifited the Princefs TheodaliMJa, and as (he was a Prin- cefs for Beauty and merit fo extraordinary that few in the World could equal her, many perfons there were that believ'd the Emperour had a great inclination for her. I cannot doubt but that he had an inclination to love her, and that if fome other things had not fall'n out, hehadengag'd himfelf more firmly. Oneday having fent to enquire the eftate of her health, and whether he might without inconveniency vifit her, Word was return'd, that {lie was mounted an hour before into her Chariot, and gone out of the Gates of Rcwe-, and as it was believ'd, towards the fair Gardens of "trajan, which are feated upon the Banks of the Tibur^ and which fince the time of the Emperour whofe name they bear, many of his SuccclTors, and particularly the Emperour Theodofms, had diligently endeavour'd to itn- btllidi with all thofe Ornaments Art can add fo Nature. The Emperour having underftood that Iheodolinda was gone thither, refolv'd with the PrincclTes Flacidia. and Cleomira, with whom he atprefent was, to find her, and with her to divertife himfelf in thofe Walks : The Emperour made ufe of the Chariot of Flacidia^ with her went likcwife C/eowira, and fome other Roman Ladies, and in many others fol- lowed a great number of perfons both of the one and the other Sex : Heraclian who at that time never abfented himfelf from the Emperour, now accompanied him, and with him Flavian., Maximus, Anaxilla^ Foniianus^ and many others, among whom might be parti- cularly confidcr'd the young Jitins, a Youth of about eighteen years of age, born of an IlUiOrious Family among thtJxBtnam, and who in thofe tender- years had already given marvellous hopes of his Courage, Spirit and Vertue. Arriving at the Gates of the Gardens they found the Chariots of "Jtheodalinda, and not doubting longer but fl^e was there, this lUuIlrious Company allighted, entred the Gardens, and Book II. THARAMOND, 255 ^jid in fearch of the Princefs of the Huns began to walk in the fair Alleys. After they had vifited apart of them, they faw coming towards thein tlieVrincefs whom they fought, ai;d whci*! (lie was joyn'd to the Comp-iuy, the Emperour gave her his hand, and walk'd a long tiirie with her, and t\\cVx\\\a:ky!u:idia: but afterwards the two PrincclTes giving iiim to' underitand thas they had foniethiug of (ecrccy to conveifc of he lett them, and caullng Heraclian to approach, began to entertain him, and to walk with him towards anotiier lide leaning upon his Ihonldcr. As Heraclian was a man ot Spirit, ar.dof a humour fo much the more pleaflng when he plcas'd, being iis'd to flattery : the tilings he fpokc.to the tmperour divertis'd him in fuch iDanncr, that, he th.ought no longer of rcjoyning with the Company,' but had inl'tnlibly ab- fented hirafclf a great fpace from them, and entrcd into one ai tiie rnof'c pleafant and (hady woods in the world, %vhich \vas ad joyning to the great wall : The beauty of the wood be- ing at prefent in its fairelt feafon, attrafted him more and more, and made him in the end rcfolve to vilit the moll folitary and rctir'd places of it. Thofcof his Train which remaiu'd rot with the Ladies, obfervingthe plealure he took to enttrt-in \wx\iiAi Wn\\ Heraclian, followed at a diliance, and Aopt when they faw him ftop, leaving him an entire liberty to fpeak without tear of being underlhjod or ovcr-licard. Walking in this manner, he arriv'd at the molt retir'd and leaft frequented part of the Wood, and in a pbcewhere oneof the great Chanel swhicli water the Garden difchargeth it felf with a murmuring noife into the7/^«r, 'which with its filver fircams wafluth the ut- nioll parts of the Wood : from this Stand the Emperour. tix'd his eyes for fome time on the River: till by chance cafling them aiide, he beheld not far diftant, a woman laid down in a mort verdant plat, at the foot ot a great Tree, which extended itsfhady branches over the River, She was refted on her lide, her Vifage turn'd towards thofe Itreams, and her head leaning in part againil the Tree, and in part on one of her hands, whilll the ether negligent- ly extended upon the grafs, appear'd to the eyes of the Emperour, and of Heraclian^ of forefplendent a whi-tencfs, that they were adonilli'd. I know not whether it was a hand fo extraordinarily white, that gave the Emperour fufficieat Curioiity to approach nearer to that perfon, whofe limple habits, and all other appearances might make him judge but of a rpcan fortune. He inight advance towards her without being feen, becaufe {he had her back turn'd towards him, and he might likewife approach her without being heard, and that fo much the eafier, becaufe he trod on the grafs, and the water falling from theT"/- httr made fufficient noife to hinder any thing from being heard, which he made by walking, yet it was not fo great as to binder him when he drew near this Woman, from hearing fomc fighs, and fome complaining words, wliich ilTued from her lips, and from hix breaft and this was that which yet touch'd him with a greater Curiofity for this adventure, but he was more cngag'd by the found of a Voice which had fcmething in it fo Charming, that from the outward Organs ot his Ears it in a moment pafs'd to his heart. Hononus was feifed with fo extraordinary an Affedfion, that he no longer needed the So- licitation of Heraclian^ to advance to a place from whence he might dillindly hear the words which a violent pailion made this atflided perfon from time to time pronounce. It fecm'd likewife by their mournful accent that they were accompanied with fome Tears, and this thought adjoyning pity to the Curioiity of the Emperour, made him redouble his attentioo. Fraud 7ibur^ faid this defolate perfon, Jhou Kiver proud with the Spoils of fo tnatiy Nations^ can it he^ that amongli all thofe mifcrable perfons thott haji dratvn into thy frvitude^ thott never beheldejl anyfo unfortunate as jhe who this day miferably siroans upon thy Sanks^ or that the mi' feries offo many Slaves^ which on thy Kives have followed the vanquijhers Chariots, Jhuuld have^ nothing in them comparable to th^e that perfecute me ? les it may be, fines fo it hath ple3i''d tny cruel Dejiinies, and this Fortune which hath rendred thee famous by the ruine of fo many peo- ple, will likjswife that I encreafe thy Waves by thefe 'tears I give thee. Ah my Eyes^ added the a little after. Tour out at length the fource of a Kiver of tears, which no length of time oug^ht to fiop, andfnice you are accus''dfor a part of my misfortunes, ferve no longer to any other ufe but to deplore them to the lajl moment of my Life, for you cannot let me behold the He a- ens without accujing them of fome rigour, at the remembrance of thofe fad Calamities to which our miferable Fortune is expos d: Nor turn your lookj to Earth, but to fee Objects much dijfe^ent from what you have lamented , and renew by the Ogbt of all fuch as may be prefented to yoii , the remembrance of that ri-^hicb you have miferably leji, and of the deplorable ejtate of my Con- dition.- This afflided petfon rnight poffibly have faid more, mov'd by the violence of a grief, which troubled her reafon, making her exprcfs her thoughts by words, and endeavouring by a difeourfe, which fobbs and lighs every moment interrupted , to make room for a part 256 PHARAMOND, Part III. part of what flie felt within, if while the Emperour was the moft fixed to the atten- tion- of thefe doleful and mournful plaints, another woman whom he had not lecn, but who had difcovered him from a place a little farther difiant, had not lifcn up "and advanced .towards her that thus lamented, to advertife her of the preftnce of the Empe- rour. Thfs advice made her raife her fclf up with no fmall halle, and by this change of porture, having made the Empernur obfervc the beauty ot her pcrfon, which was admi- rable, llie ftrongly incrcas'd tlie dcfirc he had to fee her face ■-. I believe however, that he had been depriv'dof that fatisfadion, if flic could have found the means to have avoided his fight, but as with her back towards him, fhe could not advance but very few paces, either towards the Fviver, or towards the Channel, though fhe had a deiign to retire her felf from that place, and that fhe feared todifpleafe the Emperour, who was known by her companion, (lie wasconilrain'd to turn towards him, and permit him to fee her face againlt her will. But O Gods 1 what light was that ? Or by what difcourfe can I exprefs it to you ? That of a Lightning which with furprifal fmitcsour eyes, or at kafl that of the moft beautiful Rayes of the Sun, when ditilpating the Clouds, it makes the day ferene and fair, might be compared to it, but hath nothing fo marvellous. Ha«or//w was dazied, andHeraclijit remain'd immoveable through an excefs of altonilhment v it may with truth be faid, that nothing could appear to any eye, capable to tranlport the Spirit with a more jull admiration, nor wound the SquI with a blow more powerful, and lefs forefeen. The eyes of this admirable perfon, though fwollen with tears, in the midll of a charmhig iweetnefs, which accompanied all their motions, and an amiable janguifhment, which rendrcd them yet miore fair,darted a fire which made them no lefs refplendent than they were fwect, or languifliing. The whitenefs cf her complexion fullies and darkens all that Na- ture ever made ir.olf like to Snow, but it is a whitenefs relieved in thofe places where it ought to be with the molt beautiful Carnation in the world ; that of her mouth feems to have fomething fupernatural, in that little fpacc it covers > but as her form is no lefs ad- rnirable than her colour, and the whitenefs and order of her teeth accompany anfwerably all her ether beauties ; in whatever condition Ihe appears, there is no adion nor no motion but what is charming. Her face is but very little, but well proportion'd to the delicate- refs of her ftature, and adorned with a great quantity of fair locks, but fair to 4 per- fedion of beauty, and fuch as they (hould without doubt be to agree with the colour of her eyes-, her neck, her hands, and afl her perfon, havebeauties which merit a defcription I am not capable to make, and her whole compofure is doubtlefs fuch, that Nature ne- ver formed any thing more beautiful, though our Age be rcplenif/ied with many beauties truly admirable. The Emperour flood amazed, or rather wholly loft at a fight fo little expeded, and turning towards Heraclian, on whofe (houlder he lean'd, Ah Heraclian, faid he, IFhjt is that Ifee? Hfrjc//a« had without doubt anfwered him to any other queftion, butatthis he was no lefsartonifli'd than the Emperour, having his mind entirely hxed on the con- templation oi this tair objcd, and by his filence and immobility, giving the Emperour leave to give himfelf with liberty to thofe impetuous thoughts that afTaulted his fpirit, this charming, or rather this divine unknown Lady, not daring to retire incivilly trom before the Emperour, whom her companion had made known to her, and being as un- willing to have any communication with the world which (he fled from, held for fome tim.e her eyes fix^d upon the earth, with a countenance which denoted her iricfolution, or rither her perplexity i but in the end being deterrnined what to do, having fa- luted the Emperour with a reverence full of fubmillion was about to pafs by him , . when he moving fome paces towards fhe place whither (he diretjed hers, and forcing that filenee which his aftonilhm.cnt had hitherto made him keep. Stop I pray you, faid he, /ittd fly not JTiimone tehim mthiiuj^ (Ijould make \o» flyefrom. and whom nothing can comfort for your de- parture^ if you make it with fo much ha^i. Ihiiisnot, ( continued he, feeing her Hop ) hy ibe authority rvhich my dignity may give me ^ that I eppvfe your retreat;, 1 am (ilready fujficieatly cattvindeJ^ that aU dignities Life their right before you, hut in that ejlate in which yju appear to my eyes, it is ju[itbat I inform my felf, whether ym are not rather fimethin^ Cxle\ii.althan a Mortal perfuu; in other Nations andin another Keligion, than that which tve .prnfefi, i hey would be really to erect you Altars; mr can all the ref]>eZi I have for Heaven but d/ff.cultly pcrfivade me that you be horn amongli men. However, if. you be as appearances make me judge, and that you have made any jiay in the Lands of our Empire^ what rampart or what cloud could conceal this prodigioM beauty from the kftowledge of men ^ Honnrius fpoke in this manner in the alioniihment which pofTcffed him, or rather in that paliion which already ruled over all his Soul, when this beautiful and charming uti- knovvr. Book II. FHARAMONI). 257 known Lady, lifting up for a inomcnt her luoks upon the earth (' wliereon (he had hitherto held them hxcd ) to behold the countenance ok the- I'tripcrour, or rather dartingu light- ning into the eyes and into the Icul of lLini>rius^ which intlam'd his very vitals, opcn'd her mouth with a behaviour whicii might make the Graces envious i Neither do I flye, faid iVic, from jh Empergur full of JujUce and Caodnef!^ nor am I born n»th any advantage over other mortal perfons^ my misfortunes may pofibly taufe fame difference^ a fad^ ( added flic witli a figh ) a fid and deplorable difference. She flopp'd at thefe words, cither out of a prefling effedt out of her gtief, or out of a delign (he had not to difcover her felf further. But the Emperour whofe foul was naturally fwect and tender, and already touch'd in its moft fcniible part, could not obferve her adion, nor obferve thofe tears which trickled down her tair cheeks, without being wounded with a new arrow, and receiving an alTault againft which he had not Forces powerful enougli to defend himfelf. Nor could dilTemble it, but beholding this mar- vellous perfon with thofe eyes which might make her eafily perceive a part ot what he felt in his Soul i / k^wtv mt, faid he, if what nature thofe mvs fortunes are rvhich you deplore^ hut if they be capable uf any remedy^ or if this remedy maybe found in the porvcr of the OC- cidenta! Ew/>dT(?7 from my orvn any advantage more dear or more* agreeable ■■, and in that confidence yott may have of the ivord of Hororius, you may let him nnderfiand ivhat if your Name^ what is your Country^ and what are thofe misfortunes^ and if he be fo unhappy as to he unable to brii^g any comfort^ at leafl you may be ajjitred^ that the kflowledge he {hall receive^ ll-all never bt caufe of any dijpleafure to you. The admirable, unknown perfon, kept filence a fiiort while after the Emperour had fpoken thefe words, but in the end breaking it with a behaviour full of fweetnefs andre- fpe(ft, / k^naw well^ faid (lie, that from the Sun of the great Thcodofius, and from an Empe^ rour whofe virtue and piety vs publ/Jb'd to the whole earthy miferable perfons like my felf can- Hot but exped proteCiion and ajfrjiaitce ■■, nor is it perhaps a new thing fjr our boufe to iniplor^ it from thofe of your Blocd ■, hut my Lord, my misfortunes are fuch^ that m humane affijianoe can help or yield comfort tothem^ and though a powerful Emperoiir mayrejhre a ruined Fami^ ly to its ancient Glory ^ yet he cannot reflore life to the dead, nor comfort me for a lofl which I ought to lament to the lj{i minute of my life. My name is Bellamira, my Country is Greece, my Birth is fuff.ciemly noble, but by the cruelty of the Barbarians, whi) dejiroyedmy native Soil^ my unfortunate Parents pertjhedwith all their Goods ^ and of a moji iliufrrioui Family theri fcarce remains one unfortunate perfon in the world to deplore fo many loji.; n~'. i.^i . .y.:L ■;i:;jt. while (hefpoke in this manner, the Emperour hearkened to lier difcoutfe with a'fixjf-J tion of fpirit, that might eafily have made HfracZ/^;? obferve that pallion to which he had wholly abindon'd himfelf, if Heri/c/ijw himfelf, by a deftiny equal to that of his Sovcraigni had not been already expos'd to futferings like to his, or had not as well as he, received in the middle of his heart the fair image of Bellamira. Both the one and the other expeded from her lips a farther knowledge of her fortune, and in all likelyhood (he had continued to fpeak, if the Emperour notwithftanding the attention he gave to her difcourfe, had not obferv'd coming towards that place the PrincefTcs Flacidia^ T'heodolinday and Cleomtra^ and with them the fair company which he had quitted fomc time before. Never had the prefence of thefe tair and illu(frious perfonages been other than cxtrciucly acecprabJc tti him,«but at this time it dilpleafed and fen(ibly aiilided him i that violent pallion tec w]iicli he had already fubraitted himfelf, not permitting him to defire witnelTcs oftheconvef- fation in which; he was employed. He faW however, he could not avoid it it he conti- cued it,, and after he had Ijgh'd for grief, fo loud as tobc heard by Bellamira, As I ca}in»t j*^o^5 ( f^'d he to her) that you wditldrhal^e your f^lf known to this great number of per' fons which approach us, l.gotodivert the injury which yott.may receive, and 7 /c4w Heraclian with yJu, to underfr and more particularly the eftate of your fortune, and the means I may have to endeavour yrrKt relief or edmfvrti ; And at thefe words, after having commanded Heraclian in his ear, not to forfake her without knowing the place of her retreat, he de- parted trom her wholly a(loni(hed, and advanced ( ahnoft without knowing what he did ) towards the fair company .which approached. . He endeavoured as much.as polfibleto dif- femble whathettlt, and to conceal the change of his Soul from perions fo highly intelli'* gent i but they caiily obferv'd the trouble which appeared in his countenance, thougli they were ignotantot the caufe, and all the time they were together,. .it .pjtoved impollil^le to recover him into his former ferenity and good humour. . \t j»A ; ■ ■ *' '^ In the mean time Heraclian remained with Bellamira both by the •command of the Empe- tour, and by his inclination, which as (Irongly liJied him i and fo foun as the Eoiperou* L 1 vfii =58 PHARAMOND. Part III was a little diftant, approaching her with a behaviour that betrayed his want of cnr.fidencc, and regarding her with eyes full of a Hre which denoted that already kindled in his Soul v Divine Bellamira, laid he, 1'ott have heard the Orders I have received from the Emperoiir^ and yott fee a man deliin'd to your Service^ both by his Prince^ and pnffihly by another power nit inferiour to his : 7e obey the Emperour^ I would underjland frem your month if you pleafe in what his authority may be capable to yield comfort to your griefs and to obey another Majhr^ yon rvill permit me to go a little beyond the Orders I have recerJ'd^ and to offer you not the power o/jw Occidental Emperour^ but the Service of a man who is not pojfibly deffijable. It is not always the mo[i exalted pon-er which contributes to our happinefs^ and a greatnefs fo bright and rejjjlendent ai that of the Emperotir of the Romans, is often Jnjpeded^ and almoji altvays tender a cloud. I Jfjall J^iioxv tnd/fcharge your truji^if you have any tnme, in whatever manner yntt pall defre ■■, I pall k^orv haa> to conceal what yott rpeuld have kept fecret^ or which pojfibly you would not depafe in the hofomof a man exposed to the fight of the whole world. Heraclian, whofe pallion ( acffing in this manner in a Soul naturally unfaithful ) had already made him betray his Malkr, had without doubt been induc'd to fay more through that inftigation which made him fpeak, if this charming pcrfon had amufcd her felf to hearken patiently to his difcourfe : but whether (he had already conceived difdain for a man io little faithful to his Soveraign," or that fhe had rcfolv'd not to difcover her felf far- ther, and not to ftay longer in a place where (he was expos'd to fight more than fhe had a dclign to be, (he lent him little attention, and breaking (ilence before he had done fpeak- ing> "If I had any other thing ( faid flie ) to make the Empcrour underf^and than vvhat " I have my felf told him, I would tell it you to report it to him, and not to conceal it, '.'not knowing any reafon fliould oblige me to have more confidence in his Servants than " in himfelf; But I neither have any other thing to difcover of a Fortune too obfcure to '' merit his knowledge, nor other favour to demand, than that of leaving me a free and " peaceable retreat in that Solitude I feek, and t.o which you may be pleas'd to permit me " fo retire. Concluding thefe words, after fhe had very civilly faluted Heraclian, but with infinite coldnefs, five parted from the place where fhe was, and went towards one of the Gates of the Garden, with fo much haife, that Heraclian, who had order from the Empcrour not to leave her without knowing the place of her retreat, but who was much lefs folicited by che Empcrour, than by his paffiou, found fome difficulty to execute his defign, not daring to run violently after rhofe women for fear of affrighting them, efpecially fince the Empc- rour and all his fair company were IHU in the Garden ; he made his way however through the Trees with fo much fpeed, that hefawthemgo out of the Garden by a little Gate, by which there was an entrance into that of a Ko»J«« Knight named Saturninm, who had a yery fair Houfe there adjacent i and he aded fo well in the end, by the diligence he rook rhc rett of tjie day, that he underftood this charming perfon had no other retreat than that Houfe of Saturninus^wWich is fcated upon the Banks oi'tibur, and whofe Gardens open in- to thofe Gt' 'Trajan i that flie was Kinfwoman to the wife of Saturninm^ who was a Grecian^ whom he had brought to Kome, having married her in Greece^ during the firfl wars with the Goths v and that by reafon of the abfence of Satuminus^ who had for fome time been &om Kome^ the fair liranger remained with her Kinfwoman at that Houfe, out of the CJtv, and diilant from the fight and troublcof the world, which (lie willingly fled. He came that. fame night to make this report to the Ertiperour, and he found hfm Co d'jang'd from what he had been fome days before, that fo (hange an alteration might have begot fome pity in him, if his own paflionhad not wholly employed his thoughts: In cfted, the foul of Hmoriiiswzs by this fole view wounded with an imprellion fo deep, that fcarce any heart the moft fufceptiblel>f Love had been fo fenfibly touch'd in entire years* for indeed as his Spirit was naturally fweet,amorous impreflions are in itjformcd with much more tacilitiy than in any other. So foon as he faw Heraclian,he took him apart,and having led him into a Clofet, where he (hut himfelf alone with him, he hearkened with much impatience, and iio Icis dillurbance, to what he had to tell him concerning Bellamira. Heraclian ealily obfciv'd in his vifagc, and inallhisadion, the violence of that pallion which tormented hitniibuthcknew it yet better, when after he had done (peaking, and made the Empe- rourundcrftar.d, that it was in the houfe of SatHrnimuxhzt flic at prefent fojourncd, the Empcrour having thanked him in an extraordinary manner, and beholding him with an afpedt wholly palhonatc ■, Heraclian, faid he, I am fcarce freed from one jlavery but I am fallen into another-, but as yott delivered me from the firji^ if you comfort me i>^ this ^ as I hop^ yon will., there is no dignity nor no recompcnce which you may Mot af^ire to. I confeji to you^ that I lave that admirable ^ranger.^ or rather that 1 dye for love of her ^ and that if 1. find »Dt Boo K 11. PFIARA MO A a 259 »jt fume comfort in this pajJioH^ my condition rviJ! be the nioil unhappy in the reorld •, far it /> certain 1 have fitfered mure in thcfe few hours than I have done in all the yejrs tf my life ■-, ' and that the image of tbif Bdlamira, vrhofe name ne fcarcely /yjaw, ii ftx'd to my remem- brance rvith fu much force ^ that in til likflyhood neither time nor reajon n>ill be able to banijh ii tbence. He added to thefc words many other, which were patiently hearken'd to, and when he had done fpeaking, Heraclian broke filcnce with a dilTcmbling countenance, My Sove- rai^n^ faid he, Tottr Sacred Mj']efty need not doubt but thst I am entirely devoted to you^ and that in this occjfun as ii>eli as in all others which have given me the means to teiiifie my fidelity to you, I fhall exptfe all endeavours to your fatiifaaion and rep fe. 7cu muji fee Eel- lamira, and (he muli needs be very terrible ifjhe returns not her ajfedion to an Empcrour fb potent by bis Dignity, and fo amiable for his perfon. I ought hotvever to advertife you my Lord, that by what I can judge by the little entertainment I have had with Eeliamira fhe is a Lady, xvhj either by her inclination, or fome reaftn commanding over her Spirit hates the f'ciety of the ivorld, and feekj only retirement; and there is little appearance that a per- fon tpho cannot fuffer the ftght and converfation of a particular man, tviU expofe her felf to the great clamour ifhichthe affeaions of an Emperour rfill make in the reorld, if ne ferve not our felves with fome jiratagem to engage her to fuQer it, or if you conjirain her not by your au- thority . Ah! For my' Authority, replyed the Emperour, it is not that in fuch affairs as thefe t rcould employ it, and it Jhall never be caji as a reproach on the Son of Theodofius, that he made ufe of it again\i a woman, let m try other ways if rfc can fndthem, for that we mull not thinks of. J have been of the fame judgment, replyed HeracUan, b'At 1 find uy felf mucG troubled to think^ of any means to make this Lady endure yotir love tritbout affrighting her } for as Jhe is a Stranger, and perhaps hath no occafion to jiay her at PvOme, I fear leji xve lofc her if we makf any noife^ or if n>e do not deceive her by fome appearance advdnta.reoui to her. At thefe words heftopt, remaining a (hort while without fpeaking, and in the pofture of a perfon who fought with difficuhy in his mind thofe inventions neceffary for his de- (ign, and in the end breaking filence ■, '' Iknownot, faid he, if the means I have thought *" onmaypleafe your Majelty, but I cannot find one better to make Bellamira endure " your approaches ; as I haverefolved to facriHce my felf entirely to your fatisfadrion, if " you think it fitting, I will feign to be enamoured of Bellamira, and that I would efpoufe " her •, and as I believe her Fortune is very mean, and that it will be polGbly a great ad- " vantage for her to efpoufe a man eftablifhed as I am. by ytiur gocdnefs, I do not only " believe that flie will hearken to us, but in feigning to favour me in this defign, and being "• willing to render her happy by marrying her to a man whom you canraifeas high as " you pleafc , you may have a tree accefs to her, and you may beliow on me what " perfonage yOu pleafe, whom I fhall acceptvvithout reluclancy, if you draw thence any "fatisfadtion. HeracUan fpoke in this manner, and to thefe words he added many like, to perfwade the Emperour of the (incere intention he had to ferve him i and you may be pleas'd to hear how he made ufe of this firatagem, and in what manner he abufed theeallnefs of a fpirit, tiie fwectnefs of which he was well acquainted with. His hrll defign was to be ferviceable to his own palTion, in feigning to ferve that of the Empeiour, and to gain to himfelf the affcdtions of Belamira, and that at his expences for whom he made fiiow Iq ad. In fum, he was in hopes to receive from the liberality of the Einperour fuch Riches and Dignities as might dazle the eyes o( Belamira,; not doubting but that to make her fenfiblebythishopehe would raife him to a higher degree than that to which he was alieady mounted. And as by the dildain which Bellamira exprtfitd at his hrd difcouife. h,e doubted not but in the end (he might advertife the Emperour, and acquaint him witl{ the little hdelity he us'd towards him •, he by this device cancell'd all he might fear on that fide, imagining, and with much probability, that the Emperour would receive alTTie fliould underftand of his love by the report of Bellamira, tor the cffecfts of a feigned pailiori which he pradtifed for his fervice. Any other but the Empcrour would have fufpecfled the propofition of Heraclian, but the weak Hj«9r/;w penetrated not into his malice, and inftcad of diftrulting him, he lookt upon HeracUan as a man faithful and affcdionate to hi? interefis, and made him promifesj fo great and magnificent, that he had reafon to hope all thihgs, both in his Love, an^ in his Ainbitioii. The greatdt difficulty the Empcrour thought of, was the danger' to! Vthkh HeracUan expos'd himfelf, of becoming truly amorous, whillt he feigh'd tob^Tor L 1 2 and 26o PHARAMOND. Part III. And in this cafe faid the Empgrour to him, J (lia^j find my fflf much trojtbled^ mt helievhi^ that lean ever have thf f oner to give you iicWzmnz, tbest^h I frctend apparently to a def:gn to i-ntke yoHefpimfeher. Heraclian^ notwithftanding all his confidence and aiTurance, blufli'd tufficjently at this Difcourfe,' to have begot in the Erriperour feme fufpicion, if he had at that time cafl his eyes on his Countenance : but having at that prelent hx'd thtm other wherd, he minded not his blulhes, and fJertorvHot, (faid he, very low, and in a manner which ob- lig'd all that could underOand him to retire,) whether yott will pardon what I this day do in co- ming to feeh^yoH, contrary to your intention, but I conceived fo much grief fur the refufal yox made me of fervingyouwith my Fortune for the repair of yours, th it I could not hinder my felf from coming to complain to you, and to demand of you fomefatisfartion. IJljoutd not have made thufe offers to a perfon who perhaps by her Merit is above all that we can »jfer, if J had not under - fioai from your own mouth that you were unfortunate, and that that changUng Goddeji^ who ought t9 Book II. PHARAMONR 25t to have fubmitted her Empire to ynurs^ hath not rejpeaed you. Jreat we to day more favourably thaayejierday, tfyourvllithatljhouldcoitifurtmyfelf fur that trouble^ and leave me not inthnf thjugbti which notppojfeflme^ that you have not dtfdain'd thcfe offers^ bat oat of oppoftion tj hitti that made them. In this manner fpoke the Emperour, with a Countenance which yet fpoke more than his Tongue, and Belamira who hearkened to him with fomuch the more trouble, bccaufcflie was oblig'd out ot a refpedt to hearken to him, breaking liknce without lifting up her eyes from the Earth, where Ihe had tix'd them : " My Lord, faidjhe. Your goodnefTes con- ''■ found me, and one miferablc like my felf who is fo little worthy of the pains you take to ''explain them. -You are too worthy, (replied the Emperonr^ reithout permitting her " to fay farther^) both of all that I can do, and of all that I can imagine, but I am too un- "liappy, not tohnd fomeoccalion to pleafe you : for in any opportunitic to fcrve you, I " would purchafe it without doubt at tlie price of what I hold moft dear, and next to "what I have given you, neither the Empire, nor my Life it felf can be very confide- " rable. " Allonifh not your felf, {centimted he^ obJervtngfometrnHble in her Countenance^) " at this lalt etfcd of your beauty, I doubt not at all, but it is futficiently extraordinary to "gain Slaves in every place, and in underftanding that a Kowjw Emperour is captivated in " your Fetters, you underftand nothing but what you might well have expeded, if you have " believ'd that I have fecn you, or that I am not infcnlible. Hoiiorias accompanied thefe words with many lighs, and with a behaviour fo palfionate, that Beliamtra could not doubt their truth : beiidcs flie had fo much reafgn to be perfwa- ded of the power of her beauty, that there needed no great v/itnefs of the effedts it could produce. She rcceiv'd thefc lafl: words without any other ditbrder than what the Hrft had caus'd, and bchoiding tlie Emperour with a difcontentcd afpedt, but however with eyes ' which pierced his heart with new wounds. My Lord ^ faid fiie, I am reditc''d by my fortune ta a ftecejfity to hearken to what ynu Jhall pleafe to make me hear^ and though my grief and my mis- fortunes {hould be augmented by yaur difcourfe, I am not in a condition to defire a forbearance. Had I believed^ replied the Emperour, that the hjtarvledge of my Love could caufe any grief in yoti, I had concealed it till my death, and IffJould he the moji abided of aV ;k?«, if you can ima- gine that it was toivards you, Irvould abufe my Dignity^ and make ufe of the advantages it might give we, to makf you fuffer an affedion not pleafmg to yutt. No Divine Bellamira, do not this injury to a Prince^ mho hy aV the aUions of his life wiU never oblige yoH to it^ but in permitting me to affail your heart by Love and Services ; Receive the rford which Igiveyoie, never to employ other Arms, " You may make ufe of them, replied 'Bellamira^ in fome enterprife more worthy of you, " and of which the fuccefs may prove more anfvverable : tor though my heart is not worth *' the pains you will take to alTault it, moft certain it is, you will all your life in vain com- " bat it. "This is molt cruelly to foretel me my mifery, (replied Honoriuf^ in a very fad '•'■tone^) but when the fear you give me, (liould turn into an entire certainty in my fpirit, it "would work nothing to my recovery, for my Soul is in fuch fort abandon'd to the Love "I bear you, that! cannot hope an end of it, but only in Death. " I fhould be much gricv- ^'ed, replied (he fair Stranger^ if what you fay fliould be true : for as I am by all forts of 'rcafons bound to rcfpedl you, it cannot be without much grief that I fee n;y felf all the "days of my life, incapable to anfwelr your Affedion-, "The grief you have^ replied thi " Emperour^ may change your inclinations, and it is from that, rather than from your in- *'clinations that I hope a better fortune than you pronounce me. He fpoke likewife many other words, which I omit to abridge the recital : but. though Bellamira anfwered him with infinite refped, yet (he gave him no occafion to conceive the leaii Hopes, but though his Hopes dimini(h'cl, his Love was doubly augmented by this fc- cond Hght, and he return'd from the Gardens of Saturninus^ polhbly as much loft as ever man was. He return'd fome days after in the fame manner, and behdes this villt gave her many others i without being able to know whether all the proofs of his Love produc'd a- ny effedt over the fpirit of Bellamira. This appear'd fo much more Orange to thofe who had any knowledge of it, as it is certain that few other perfons would have treated in this mari- ner, and that beiides the dignity o{ Honor ius who (aw nothing greater than himfelt in the World, he being young, fair, of a wcll-compos'dperfon, of a fpirit fweet, gallant and plea- fmg, liberal and generous, he was capable to make himfelf belov'd by all petfons who had not fought in him Conllancy of spirit. Grandeur ot Courage, and thofe other qualities which coiTipofe great men. In the mean time he vVas charged in fuch fort by this Paflion, cnetrry to his rcpofe, that the Princefs Placidij and all the Court peicciv'd it with no fmall grief, and tliough none but Heracliait :62 THARA?AOND. Part. Ill V.endian knew his fecret, they fearch'd fo far into the caufc of his change, that notwith- Oanding the diligence he took to conceal it, it was known by many perfons. Being naturally liberal, he lent many magnihcent prefents to the houfc oi SaturHinus, but though the Wite cf Saturnin:!n£cdv''d them from the hand oiHeracUan who was Ihll charg'd with thcm,flie made him in the end know that 'Bellamira accepted them with indignation, and that fl^.e durfi no jon^'er offer them. Hoiurins was much afflided at it, but he knew by the trial he had at the beginning made, what was the Soul of Bellamira who in an eftate apparently infortunate, tefti- lied a difdain for tilings which generally enllavc the very minds ot other perfons. The little eikem fhe made of thim, and other marks of Grandeur which he faw in her carriage and in her perfon, made him fometimes believe that (lie was of a degree above what (he would per* fwadehim, and though he had often heard fay that the Wile ot Saturninm was of an illuftri- ous blood, and that he could not underftandany oxhzx oi Bellamira than that flie was her near Kinfwoman, and that the misfortunes of her Houfe had oblig'd her to retire to her, he difficultly could rcprefent fo himfclf, but that (he was fome otjier perfon than (he ap- pear d. But if the love of Honoring was ill acknowledged by this infenfible perfon, that of Ile- raclian was receiv'd with fo much difdain, that any other patience but his had been over- come, and though at the beginning he aded with her, as with a perfon whofe fortunes he mic'ht make, and bcliev'd to dazle her with the hopes of his Marriage, he had been fo hum- bled by the little refped (he had to his propofitions, that he was conlirain'd to change his ■ proceeding towards her, and to look upon her as if (lie had been in fhe moft refplendent and exalted fortune. Yet with this he was happy, that he could fpeak to her under pretence of lendring fervice to the Empcrour, without the Emperours being able to conceive any pre- tence, and to tell her what he thought, without fearing the knowledge the Emperour might receive of it : Not but that Bellamira when he was importunate, had often threatned him to tell the Empcrour, and that in the end feeing him not repulfed by thofe threats (he was perfwaded to it, by the hopes (he had to defeat the perfecutions of a man whom (Ik neither lovM nor cfieeinM ; But it was for this reafon that this adventure fecm'd flrange to her, and that having prayed the Emperour to deliver her from the importunity flie receiv'd by the Love of Heradian^ and to content himfelf that (Ik fuffer'd his out of the refpedl fhe ought him, without expofing her to the perfecutions of a man fo little faithful to him. The Em-^ perour receiving her difcourfe with a figh, See^ faid he, what is tbi mifery of my condition^ ' ani pardon thofe ways tvhick I am conftrain'd to make ufe of to combat an injenfible heart : I conld ffjfer no more than ynu the tejiimaniei of the Love of }i£X3c\hn^ if they tvere true, or if he mere not eng^ag'd to this fidion toferve me, out of the fear rve have lejl the fplendour of my greatncfi and dignity (Ijonldgive you fome Sttfpicion. Horv my Lord, frcplied Bellamira, look- ing on him fotnewhat angrily) is the love of Heraclian then afeign'd agreement between him ttnd yoii, to render the greatnefs »f Honorius more fitpportable to the meannefs of Bellamira ? 7here is nothing great in Honorius in comparijon of Bellamira freplied the Emperour,) nor a- ny thing to be thntight mean in Bellamira, rvith a man rtho is bound to adore her to his death : tut it is certain that it is toferve me, Heraclian hath teftified a love to yon, for fear leji mine (lioiildmnke too much clamour in the vjorld, and you fl)ould fear its rumour : Beftdes, we have^ believed that under the pretence of doing him fome good off.ce rvith you, Ijhould have an accefi more free to you, and abufe more eaftly thofe perfons that might take any intereji therein. Add to this my Lord, replied Bellamira, that you thought to, tempt me tvith the hopes to efpoiife Hera- clian, and that you have believed this Fortune fufficiently great to dazle andfeduce me. I can- nA but difirvn what you fay, (replied the feeble Empcrour) but muji confejl, that 1 could Kot have confented to the felicity of Heraclian, though he fiould have been fo happy as to have per- fwaded you^ butlmttjicanfe^toygu, that inthe pofittre in mhichUetzdun is atprefent, there are fert> ladies in the Empire to whom he may not afpire. Know my Lord, (replied Bel'amira, with a iit'h full ot difdain,) mt only that Heraclian // toiwo) 'hj of Bellamira, b»t that when you.your felf would grant the fame honour to Bell^ynira which ysu ijrly ajjnred y,tn are not \ f.tr befides that yon have heard tne jpeal^in a time rvben nothhtir^ could he agreed biirveentis^ yton>led^e no Empire but yours, nor other fidelity than I (hall preferve fir you till my T'omh ■, and if you doubt it, (added lie a little after ; J rv ill give fi (nedt proofs, that you (hall difficultly remain inthat errour. AH thofe that yoti can give me ^ rcplycd Bellamira, tviH not be more acceptable than thofe I have already received, and I {hoitld choofe rather with [iono\'ms to remain in that errour, than clear my felf farther pom vou. Twas in this manner fliealmolt continually fpokc to him, and it leem'd likewife that flie forced her very humour to a difdain, not natural to h^r, out of the avcrfenefs flic had for him. He was fomctimes rcduc'd even to defpair, but out of the interefl he had to con- ceal his love from the Empcrour, hedilTentblcd hisgriet as much as was poliible i and as his Love made him not forget his Ambition, he found in few days that given to his Am- bition, wherewith he might comfort the little progrefs he had made in his Love i for the Government o{ Africa being void, by the death ot him tliat polllfs'd it, the Empcrour who at that time gave him the chief place in his confidence, though others might have it in his elleem, preferred him before all thofe perfons of merit he might liave found among the Romans, and made him Govcrnour of Africa, againfl thcdelires of the whole world, Tliere were few perfons in Rome who did not murmur, not only at the pre-eminence given him, aboveallthofe who tnight legitimately pretend, but becaufe the Government of Afri- ca was the mod important ot all the Empire, and that it had been prov'd few years be- fore, by the example of Gildon, that if that Government fell into theh3!ids of a perfon ill minded, he had the means almoft, with an equal force, to make war upon the Em- pire. HeracliaH being thus appointed Governour, was oblig'd ro pafs into Africa, to take pof- fcflion of his charge, and as the Empcrour knew well the little fcrvice he drew from him in his Loves, he was willing he ihould make this voyage to appeafe fome troubles, which asit wasfaid, were railed in fome of the Provinces. HeracUan departed apparently with the belt intentions in the world, but not without having protefted to Bellamira before his departure, that he would return to her in a little time, in a condition which would not permit her to defpife him. His particular friends knew well however, that notwithftand- ing his Ambition, he carried a wound in his Soul, of which that was not able to cure him, and only Honoriiis remain'd in the opinion of his feigned love for BeHamira^ and his fideli- ty to him. By the abfence of his Confident, the Empcrour loft nothing of his Love, and though the Princcfles Placidia, Iheodolinda, Cleomird, and many other amiable perfons, endea» vour'd by all means to divert him, as they had at other times done> all their endeavours prov'd vain, and he dedicated himfelf in fuch fort to Bf//i»»»;Vj, that he had no more eyes nor thoughts but for her. He refrain'd fometimes as much as it was poliible, from vilif- ing her fo often as lie dcfired, out of the fear he had todifpleafe her, and at thole times that he did vilit her, he us'd all his power to perfwade her to retire to the Palace, and ac- company the Princcfs P/iy firjlit^ my Lord^ 7ior that grief you obferve in my countenance^ to thofe caufes yon are pleased to give them; neither have I feen any thing in your perfon vchich ought not tj vuke me ejleem it ; nor have I fesr''d any thing fiom a Prince all rchofe aliions are ruled h\/ Tiety and Virtue. I rviH fay likewife^ that the affection rvherervith you have honoured me^ iii'lead of the oppofitio>^tvherewith you reproach me^ hath placed in my heart infinite ackjiotv ledgments of your gnodmji v but it is the condition of my Soul, of my life, and of my For- tune, aud not my infenfibility which I ought toaccufe. J have been, ( continued fhe with a ligh ) and am p-'fftbly yet but too feiifible, that it is that which caufs the unhappinefiof my infortunate days, and makes me lead them in an affliction which cannot be ended but by the af- fiance of Heaven, and the retirement I feek^for. It U that my Lord, that unhappy e\\ ate of t»y life which makes me flye, nft fiom you whom I rejfeif, but fiom all men in general, fiom an affeUion which I cannot fuffer, and fiom a Court, where contrary to the defigti, and the reafns I had to conceal my fclf, I have been expos''d to the fight and view of all the world. I will add, that the forrow I have to fee you fuffer for a perfon by whom your fifferings can never be relieved, and whofe abfence might produce a good effeU for your repofe, made me precipitate my refolution, and feek^ my repofe in a place where 1 thought my fef fortified a- gainji all the perfcctltions of Fortune ■■, yet you however, my Lord, envy that repofe which Hea- tien would afford me, and you come perhaps to trouble it in a time li^herein 1 had reafon tj believe you thought no longer of the infortunate ^cWimita. Yet I come to trouble it, ( replyed the Emperour, rifing from his feat ) or at haft I come to oppofe my Jelf not only for my owninterefi, but for that of the whole earth, which you would deprive of- what it hath of mofi fair and mofi amiable. And do you believe then, my Lord, replyed Bellamira, 7hat this defign is conformable to the promife you have made tne, never -to employ your power and authority againfl me. It is not by my authority, rep]yed Homrius, that t wiiroppofe your defign, but by thofe ways which a Lover is permitted to make ufe of iitthisoccdfion, and by that death which you IJ.'all fee me fuffer before your eyes, if thofe prove unprofitable. Ah my Lord, added Bellamira, When I (Jnit the IVnrld for Heaven, will yoit dye for that ? The life of fo great an Emperour is too confiderable to all the world to facrifice it to a lofi of fo little importance : For thofe other obfiruUions yon may hrin" to my refolution, I hope you will make them yield to reafon, and to that pity you would your felf have to ft 9 me eternally miferable, and you will not then have any intention for me, which you cannct reafonably oppofe to that Vefign Hea: en bath inffired me with. *' The intention I have for you, ( faid the Emperour, after fome few minutes of fi- " lence J hath not yet appeared to you, and I murt confefs to you, that it was not form'd " in my heart fo foon as I began to love you j but llnce fomany Virtues which accompany *' your Beauty, may juftihe the love I bear you, I am content that my defign (hould be "known to you, and that all the world Ihould undcrlhnd as well as you, that HonoriUt " will efpoufe Bellamira, if Bellamira difdains him not for her Husband. This Difceurfc of the Emperour furpris'd all thofe perfons that heard it, though the^ doubted not but his love was fuffklently violent to carry him to all things. Bellamira feem'd the Icaft moved, though flieblufli'd ; and having kept her felf lilent for fome fmall time, " My Lord, faid (he, you too much honour one that is miferable, whofe low degree never " permitted her to carry her thoughts to fo high a Fortune :- But my Lord, I ought not to "abufe your good nefs nor takeadvantageof what an unjuft pallion makes you ad .igainft 'reafon, whilft it rules Miltrefs in your heart, and which your reafon will without doubt " niake you condemn fo foon as (he hathregain'd her Empire. 1 refped too much both "your Perfon and yonr Dignity, to permit you to commit fo great a fault,- and it *' will be fo much the greater, bccaufe you ate yet ignorant whether I ati) born of a Noble Mm ♦' Blood, / i66' PHARAMOND, Fart III. bloody or of a blnodrvith ryhicbyou m»y rpithoHt pjatfie ally your felf. I fee too rvell, replied Ho- norius, that ynu are horn of an il!niirious bloody and J have vbfrv^d too much N.fbkn^jl and tob much Grandeur in ail your Aliinns ^ and in your perfun, to believe that there can be any meaneS in your birth i but token there Jhould be f>^ fo many wonders both of body and mind tvould but too frell repair th.it faulty and you ivould appear rvorthy of fomethingyet greater than the degree to which I deftre to raifeyou. Ton may then from hence my Lcrd^ replied Bellamira, juJsi^ of the great neji of my mtferies^ ^nce being able to hope^ and by your goodueji able to merit fo great a Fortftnc, I am not permitted to accipt it. How Bellamira (laid tlie Emperour, crolling his arms upon his breart, and beholding her with a Countenance highly troubled,) Have I then in vain given you this lajl proof of my love f And cannot the Imperial Dignity which I iffer you, change any thing of the difdain you have for the perfon of Honorius \ I (J-iould be much pleafedy faid Bellamira^ that you would ack^towledge at this time., that it is not the perfon of Honorius I have defpifed: for by the necejfity which conjirains me to refufe rvhat ffu offer ^ you may judges tpell my Lord, that it is fiot for light reafons that I have appeared fo little fenftble of the affetiion you have tejiifiedtne. Ah difconfolaie Honorius, (cryed he on a luddain, walking in a polKire wholly pailionatej Lover too unfortunate^ rvhat a cruel destiny is thine ? Alas! added he a little alter, is this aV.Iam tohopefromfo much love? and come I Tvith fo good intentions to feek^at Ravenna <» mournful death by this lajl h^iorvledge of my mifery ? He after tliis continued walking in that defolate manner without fpeaking, whilft Bella' mira tclliried by many raarks that (he was not infenfible oi his grief: And atterwai;ds turn-' ing himfelf towards Eeliamira^ and beholding her with eyes tull of tears ; Asl am not bi an f/?jfe..faid he,ti? remain any longer time rvith you J go in fome hours offolitude tofeek^afjiilance and fuccoiir againji that defpair to rohich you have driven me : I proteji to you yet once more, that it fljall never be but by prayers that I will give any ObjiruViion to your Vefign, and I will govern my vi^ts eit/^erat Ravenna, or in any other places, as you defire them, and in fuch manner that I may he the leaji importunate pojfible i but if yoit will notbave me run after you through the whole World, and perhaps make me dye by a kind of death which will beget a pity in you, do me the fa- vour to defer the Dcfign hath led you to this Houfe, and jly not from Ravenna, as you fled front Rome. Bellamira, who truly was touch'd with grief, and acknowledgments of the affe- d;ion he teftified, promis'd what he delir'd, and immediately after he departed from that Houfe, (0 retire to the Palace which was prepar'd for him, but in a condition which mov'd t6 pity all thofe that accompanied him. They who hitherto had admii:'d the beauties of Bellamira, aud the virtuous refiftance (he made of the Eraperours Love, while his intentions might be fufjjefted by her virtue, admir'd row the greatncfs of her courage, and the difdain fhe manifefted of the higheft dignity, to which any woman could raife her ambition. For Honorius, he was blam'd tor the defign he Iiad to efpoufc her, by all thofe who had not feen Bellamira, but amongft thofe who could fee her, there were few who did not excufe him, or did not believe themfelves able to give a like proof of their Love in a like occahon. In fine, it appertain'd only to Bellamird's will, that (he was not Emprefs of the Occident, and it was not only this time that flie was impor- tun'd by the Emperour, but every day following : He preffed her with much more affedion than I can reprefcnt to you, and liv'd daily with her as with a perfon whom he pretended to cfpoufe, if he could be fo happy as to gain her confent. Bellamira after this declaration of his intentions, treated with him in another manner than [he had done before, and teftihed to liim as much refpcd: and acknowledgment as flie could make appear without teftify inga love i but neither this acknowledgment nor rcfped could at all fatisfie the pallion of Honoriiis, and the miferable Emperour confum'd himfelf in fuch alanguifliing manner as mov'd the whole world to compallion. Though Honorius employed not his Authority to fee Bellamira, {he had not the cruelty to lefufe him her light, knowing well how truly and fincerely fhe was belov'd, and how that though this was the only happinels granted him, yet he dedicated himfelf fo entirely to it, that he believ'd he could no longer live when he wasabfent from her. This made him for- get in fuch fort the alTairs of the Empire, and all other things in the world, that though he undcrif ood at that time the return of the Goths into Italy, and the Siege they had laid to Rome, ■he feem'd fo little inoved at it as if he had no intereft in it : It is true, that by reafon of the uncxpcded return of thofe enemies, and the diftance of all the Troops of the Empire, he was (carce in any poUure to remedy it though lie had had fuch intentions : But it appear'd that lie ufed no endeavour to do it, nor thought fo much as of fortifying hirafcU in B.aw;2«J to re- fill his Enemies if they (hould turn that way : However thofe that were about him took all pofliblc care» and as Liavennit is a very Ihong place, and well furnilhed with all things necef- fary to defend it, by tli£ former diligence of Stiliaott, the Emperour feem'd to be in great iccurity. They Book II. P H A R A M N D. ^6y They who were the moft familiar 'with him, endcavour'd to cxcife him to Tome rcfolur tion tor the defence of his Country, and the rclid of that famfiiJs City which had lul'd for fo many Ages over the greatcft parf of the world \ but he fecm'd infcnllblc of cluir im- portunittcs, and when Bellamirj her ftlf, who with great grief faw her felt accuicd of his ihus abandoning all things, and wlio had a courage as great and iiigh as his was feeble and daunted, would reprefent to him Vhat he ought to the degree he held, and awaken in him fiunc vertuc by her difcourfe. Let all per/jh, faid I;e, if tkaven have fo refdved : and f:»ce I myfelf m.i\i mifer,iblv /"•''' 'j'^-', / rviii J'ee the /o/? nf the a>ho!e world, without having any interejl in it. It vvas faid however, that he feemVi very much touch'd at the news he recLiv'd of the taking of Rome^ which furpris'd him fo much the more, bccaufc he bcliev'd it in a con- dition to make a much longer r';lilhiice, and that all his infenlibility could not hinder him from exprelliiig infinite grid lor the mistortune ot the Pxlncck Placidia^ he lamented it fcvcral days betorc Be'.j)?ura her fclf, and accus'd himfelf ottcn, not to have preferv'd Pla- cidij ioxConjjncc, as he had prom i fed him. His weaknefs created both difdain and anger againft: him, in all thofe that were dilhnt from him, but it begot pity in thofe who faw it, or at leall whilft thty accus'd him, they could not refrain from lamenting him.He fent however to demand the Princefs Flacidia of Alaric, offering large Provinces tor her liberty, but the Love of Antalpbe caus'd him to refcdi all propofals that could be made, and all care taken to redeem that great Princefs prov'd vain. Ah Hor.orius, ''crycd Cortjiance^ interrupting Artalure at this difcourfe) could you abandon Placidia to the Barbarians ? He fpoke only thefe few words, accompanied with many fighs, and Artahnre continued his difcourfc. Honoritts faid he, lived in this manner continually, fix'd at the feet of Eel- lamira, not only whilft the Goths having quitted Rome^ ravaged Lttcania and Campanu, but after they had left Italy to embarque themfelves on the 'Thiffene Sea, atter the death of Alaric, and fo by the LigiitHqne Sea went to feek the Coafts of Spam, and that Attains whom they had left, remain'd Mafter at Rome), where in few days he became fo infolent, that he durft take the Name of Emperour, and ufed the ruin'd , weak and difarm'd Romans^ as if he had been truly Emperour. And in the end, till, the affairs of Italy being in this eftate, I arriv'd with thofe Troops which had ferv'd under you my Lord, (faid ^xtzhux& to Conftance) in the War againrt Conjiantine and Jovian^ and which you had commanded nie to lead back. Having underftood all the mifery of my Country before I enter'd it, I refolv'd immedi- ately to fuccour it all I could, without Attending Orders from the Emperour, who no more adJed, but who in all likelihood would approve all i fhould do for the fervice of the Em- pire : I therefore march'd without delay, towards thofe places where I knew there were any Forces of the Enemies, and preventing their intentions by our diligence, we not only conftrain'd them to fight us, but were fo happy as to Defeat them m many Encounters ; and whtn Attains dared to come out of Rome to meet us with his whole Forces, we fought him with the fame fuccefs, and having cut in pieces all his Army, we drove him from Italy , which he quitted with lix or feven hundred Horfe , the only remains of his Defeat. when I faw Italy entirely dcliver'd from its Enemies, and the Romans in liberty to re- pair in fom.e manner the ruineS of their City, I refolv'd to go to Ravenna to fee the Empe- rour, and I prefcnted my felf to him with the Prince taxander, Caliinits, and many other valiant men, who had no lefs part than my felf in the defeat of AttaUs, and in the relief of our Country. I found the Emperour in that condition I have endeavour'd to reprefent to you, nor could I fee him fo different from what he ought to have been, without being touch'd with compalTion. As he believ'd that I had done fomething for his Service, and as he had always preferved a goodnefs for me, he treated me better than I merited, and re- ceiv'd "laxander and Cajiinus with his natural fweetnefs. The averlion he had to all thing? but his Love, could not hinder him from fpeaking to me many things of you generous Conjiance, and he told me many times that he had no greater forrow than that of being wanting in the promife he had made you, to preferve for you Tlacidia : but if it plcafcd heaven to return you to him, he would repair that fault by the greatelf proofs 6f his afFe- dion he was able to give you, and fuch as you lliould have rcafon to be fatistied with, at leaff added he with a figh, if an enamour'd perfon can be fatisried with any thing after the lofs of his beloved Objeft. Having fpoke to mc of others, he would fpeak to me of himfelf, and having drawn me from thofe who micht underiland us i I doubt hot at all Artabure faid he, but \oh have con- demned me as weU as all the reji of men, ami^\i rvhom I cannot httt imagine I am extremely Ha' med ; I rpillnot fay tha t lam exempt from a part vf that blame they lay ttpan me, and fo^ibly that M m 2 pa^wti 268 THARAMOND. Part. III. Pa^tnH which hath U\\ we, had not pre due' d the fame ejfeB in another Saul that it hath in mine-, but hntvever it be^ out of the elieem I have for ynti I am content that yon jboaldpe the cauft\ and 1 a^kre my felf that you nvH be forty for me tf yon cannot excufe me. He pcrform'cl wiiat he had promifed, and the next day he made me keBellamira, contrary tohiscuftom, which was not to lead men to thofc viilts : I fay only he made me fee hur, continued Arta- bure furhni'j , for a Cenfible man to fee Beltam/ra , and to love her with an inej^prcllible pallion^ is'^'withoiit doubt the fame thing. All that 1 have told you of her beauty at the beginning of my Dlfcourfe, is but a light part of what (he appear'd to me at this latal view, and all that which I could imagine by theeffcdt llie had produced in the heart of Ho- itorius^ would but very imperfedly reach the truth. The aftonifliment which feifcd me at fo Super.excellent an ObjedV, and which only for fome few moments preceded my Love, mighrcaiily beobferved in my Face, and the Emperour having perceiv'd it by all forts of marks, conceiv'd no fmall joy to read in my Countenance a part of what he delir'd, and approaching me with forae appearance of Chearfulnefs,not ordinarily feen in him for a long time pall > And well Artabure, faid he, did you ever fee beauties parallel to thofe of Bellamira ? And have .you not a little more indulgence for my misfortune than you had before the caufe was \notvn to you ? I was' fo afloni{h'd and furpris'd, either at what I faw, or at what I began to feel, that I had not at prefent the power to anfwer him : but when he had commanded me once more to tell him what I thought of Bellamira, My Soveraign, faid I with fome difficulty, 'J hat rohich I can fay to you will but ill exprefi that vchich appears to me^ and my filence may poffi- bly fpeak^ better. than my n^ords can do. The Emperour was as much fatistied with my Anfwer as he had been with my Countenance, and turning towards Bellamira., who had undcrftood our Difcourfe, and to whom he had before prefented me : 1 cannot be difpleafed^ faid he, to have a man like Artabure jttjUjie me in the World, for he hath fufficient repute among men to draw a ^ood part to his opinion. He hath fervid you fo rvell my Lord, replied Bellamira, as to merit the ejieem you teliifis to him^ and all things appear to us in his perfon conformable to n>hat Kenorvnhathpttblijljedof him. ■ ■ This praife fo little exped-ed, and fo little merited, from the faireft lips in the World^ added fome confullon to what I had already found in my Soul, and methought that by the prepofTellion of my Spirit, I difficultly rcfolved on the anfwer I ought to have made to fucli obliging wordi- : But a little after, by the will of the Emperour being mixed in their en- tertainment, I cndeavourd to repair thofe faults which this new conceiv'd trouble had made me commit, and by a delign we naturally have to pleafe perfons which pleafe us, was much latisfied that Bellamira attributed not to ftupidity that which proceeded from ano- ther caufc. By having the honour thus to be near her, I carried her Effigies into my heart, and at one fole fight it pierced fo far, that I durrt not hope any trace of time fhould fnatch it from me. During the night which fucceedcd to this fatal day, I entertain'd my felf continually with the fair image of Bellamira., and I fought in vain lleep and repofe in a War much more ter- rible to my Spirit than thofe in which I had accompanied Conjiance : Yet it was not without fome endeavours to defend my felf, that I was made a Prifoner to this imperious beauty : for t often plac'd before my eyes, both what I ought to my Emperour whom I faw wholly abandon'd to the love of Bellamira^ and the little fuccefs I could hope, in my -love, being enamour'd on a perlbn whom the love of Honorim, with the Crown of the Occidental Em- pire could not touch witli any fenfibility. J^hat canji thou offer (would I fay) to this proud beauty rehich defpifeth Emperour s with their Empires ? Or ifthoa couldji offer her Empires^ reith rvhat honour canji thou violate that fidelity thou oweji to thy Soveraign ? I will not at all amufe you with the recital of the difcourfe I made to oppofe this cruel ^affion, which affaulted and came to overwhelm all the whole repofe of my life, but as it is of little importance, pafs it over to come to things of greater concern, and vyhich by reafon of their importance, though they happened but lately may pollibly be fpread by renown as far as you. Infum, 1 lov'd truly and I lov'd like one wholly loft : and though I fcldom faw Bellamira bccaufe the Emperour denyed himfelf as much as poflible too frequent vitits, and that 1 was not permitted to enter the place where flic was but in his company, this-admirable perfon had in a tew minutes done that which others could fcarce do in many years, and when 1 had the liberty to entertain her I found thofe Charms in her convcrfation which did but too much finifh what her beauty had fo well begun. I know not whether my eyes gave her at thefe times any knowledge of what my SouTfuffcrM, but my mouth durfl not utter it : for befides the refpcd 1 had to the love of the HRperour, I had fo much fear to difpleafe her, and fo little hopes to be well reeeived, that I could not be fo hardy as to open my mouth to Book II. P H A K A M N D. 269 give her'thc kaft knowledge of what I felt : 'Tis true 1 had few cccalions to ilo k, ar.d much fewer afterwards by rcafon of an accident which tell out. BeUamirj had often been upon the point to execute tiie dcfign flic had to quit the world, and fliut up her felf the rell of licr days with the Virgins confccratcd to the fcrvicc of thae Divinity we adore, amongft whom (lie had taken her retreat, but the trnperour had continually hindrcd her, not by his Authority, but by prayers accompanied wi:ii tcars^ and lo many marks of a grief which feem\l to approach defpair, tliat this acknowledging Lady could not refufe iiim many delays Iicdcmanded. She was in thefcterms with iiim, when /y^»-ji;//,»« return'd from kfric^ ( where he had made a IcWgcr Aay than was necelfaiy to take poflTfllion of his Government J and coming prefcntly, to Rave n>iJ„-pTcicMcd him-, Icif to the Emperour. Honorius who had permitted iiimlelf to be feduced by liiis flat- tering Spirit, was very glad for his return, and made him great welcomes, which the dif- fcmbiing Heradian received with apparent marks of as great a pallion tor his Service: But few perfons rcjoyced with the Emperour for Ids arrival i for hcljdes that he was before little lov'd, thelplendorof that new Dignity to which he was advanced by the faired and modimportant Government of the Empire, had raifed a pride in his mind, which fevy perfons ct^uld fuffcr i for my felf, I ever but lightly elkem'd him, nor did his Government of /^/ric<« make me conlidcr him any whit the more, . Tiie deareft proof the Emperour gave him of his affedfion at his arrival, was the lead- ing him the fame day to fee Bella>nira ■■, hut ii tig- ichart^ in whole heart love had been but too well prcferv'd, revillted Bellamira with infinite joy, I am confident BeUamira faw liim with as much ill will, and gave him but little caufe to be fatisfied with the reception (lie made him, both at that time, and upon other following days in which he was permit- ted to fee her. The Emperour believ'd that what he had difcovcr'd to her at Komeoi the feigned love of Heracliafi, had begot in her mind fome rcfcntment againlt him, and bccaufe he was now fenlible his deiigns were too well known to have any need of Heracliait's hdtion, he would excufe him towards her, and intreat her for Iiis fake to pardon what was pall to a man who had been foatfedtionate to his Service: W/hcn Bellamira^ who had had particular converfations with Heradian, which had dif<;ovcred but too much, (haking her iKad with a figh at the difcourfe of the Emperour, the innocence of which begat a pity in heri My Lord, faid (he, I tpHI alteays pardon to Heraclian rather the fHiion jhan the. truth for my intereft ^ hut if you think fit that I give yotc an advice, which by all forts ff reafoHf J ant obliged to give you, beivarg cif Hcraclian, fori am much deceived if he f)e Toell affected to your fervice. I fee well, ( fa^id hnnornu fighing } that yon cannot- pardon him, it tnuji be time and my prayers that muji Tvorl{^th/s effeli over your ill opinion. It is then ihrouah my own apprehenfmt, replyed Bellamira, that I advert ife yon once more to beware of him, and to pardon m^, if both for you, and for me, 1 c,annot hinder my jfelf from fearing him. , ; £e//^w/rii gave this advice to the Emperour, but he neglected it, not only by l\is rt^w tural negligence, but by reafon of an ill-founded imagination whicii rendred it fufpecffed from the mouth of Bellamira., but it was not long time ere he repented himfeif , and to abridge my recital, five or fix days after the arrival oi Heradian, one morning at the ri- ling of the Emperour, fomecame toad vertife him, that during the niglit, tljc Houfe in which Bellamira rcfided, and which as I told youwasfeated in a very folitary FaubourgS,, liad been forced, the Gates broken, and Bellamira with only one Damfeltaken away by unknown men, v»ho notwithftanding their cries and refiftancc had by violence conftrain'd them to go with them. At this news Hunorius was (iruck as with a Thunderbolt, ai;d ri-^ main'd half dead in the prefence of thofe that brought it i for along time he was notable neither to fpeak, nor to z& in any manner, and his grief was fo great, that it permitted l)iin not to cxprefs it by complaints i heopcn'd his mouthat laft, either to bemoan hiinfclf, or give orders for the SLlY^Cxznce oi Bellamira, but the trouble of his Soul confounded both the One and the other, his commands were indifcernably mixed with his plaints, nor could it be known whether we (hould comfort him, or run to the (uccour of Bellamira. All thofe who were moft affectionate to him now prefcnted themfclvcs, nor was I one of the laft, but Hfrjc//d« was. not feen. The Emperour prefcntly enquir'd for him, and though no tidings could be heard of him, he could however not lo foon fufped him, I was not of the fame opinion, but as by the love I had for Bellamira, and the interclt (lie Iiad made iTi'e take in all that regarded her i f had already underltood that Heraclian was enamoured of her, I no fooner heard of her being forced avvay, but I accus'd Heraclian, liot doubting but he had done it, with intent to tarry her to ^/r/'cii my grief for this ac- cident, was pollibly no Icfs than that of the Emperour, though I made it Icis appear.' and ^-^o THARAMOND. Part III. and if I (heel nof tears, ror uttered cries like him, the grief I refepted within, produced no fmallereifed:, than if I had as much tormented my fclT. He obferved however there was none in the company appeared fo afflid:ed as my felf, and believing to have a great obli- gation to me for ic, ^/j Artabure, faid he, I fee well yott are tonched with my misfurttine^ nor can yoit give me a fneater mark, of the affeUion you have for me. But why my Lord^ faid I, do not you remedy this rnhfortune ? Or what jhould hinder us from purfning the Ka- vijliers of Bellamira.'' Ah let its purfue them^ rcplyed the Emperour, thofe that love me will do it^ atfdteftife their love at a time wherein my life lies at jlakf. As I had before refolv'd to do it without his Orders, I expeded them no farther, but mounting immediately after on Horfe- back with thofe of tny Friends I found ready in any pofture to follow me, I went where my Love and my Anger guided me, without know- ing what way I (hould certainly take, to overtake the Raviflicrs. The difficulty was not fmalli for as they had afted their defign in the middle of the night, whilft the Gates of the City were (hut, and that for that reafon the Virgins whofe Houfe they had forced, could not advertife the Emperour till many hours after, the Ravifhers had gain'd fo great an advantage before the Purfuers, that there was little hopes or appearance to reach them •, I ported ftraight to the famous Port on the// ^rid//c^ Sea, believing they might be ein- barqued , but as that Haven had fince the time of the war been diligently guarded, and that they had well forefeen the difficulties they (hould there encounter, they had taken another way by Land, and put me into a ftrange difficulty to divine what courfe they followed. W'hiUt I purfued them, the Emperour being gotie to the Houfe of the Virgins, had underftood the particulars of the Rape, and found that it wuHeraclian himkU by whom Beit» gave him of his infidelity. There werelikewife fome of the Virgins, who ad- drelling themfelves to him, alTuredhim, thzt Bellamira cued out to them at her depar- ture, and whilrt fhe yet ftruggled in the arms of her Ravifliers. lellthe 'Emperour that He- ncWzn forces me to carry me i« to pafs into Africa^ having found that way more convenient for him, than to coaft Italy to Brundufum^ by which he might meet with great difficulties ) unto that very place, Heraclianhzd left at- equal diftances a- Jike number of Horfes, that he might change in all, as he had done in that place, and that by this Order he would be embarqued before we could make the third part of the wzy to Genoua; that he was expeded by a great number of armed Sliips, fitted for war, and that he had put himfelf in a condition to fuftain all the Forces of the Empire if they fhould afl'ault him i that all the Coafts were full of VefTels, and that there was never feen fo great an Armada \n Africa. I caliiy believ'd wh.at this man told me, not being ignorant of the Maritime Power of the African Governours', but I was much more atflided at the lofs oi Bellamira^ than at the great power of Heraclian, and fo much the more, by reafon of the order Heracl/ayt had taken in his tliglir, by which 1 faw it impollible to find any means to fuccour her, or to follow with Horfes wearied and tired, thofe men twho through their whole Journey, had frcfli ones to change, t faw then that I murt of force return to the Emperour, and that it was only in Africa^ that we ought to gokekBellamira. I went back the way we had come, with the Horfes and man of Heraclian, whom 1 intended to prcfent ioEono- riitf^ to the end he fliould not doubt of the intelligence 1 was to give him. and becaufe ac- cording. Book IL F H A R A M N D. .271 cording to tiic inlhu(fiiohs which had been given him, \vl had followed the fame path witK us, I marched no long time before I met with him. -I will not recuuni to yen all he did, and all he faid in this difalkr i it will be di^Flcalt tbi- me to reprcfent to you the great- nefs of his grief, when he undcrllood that there was no other means to recover VeHamira- than by carrying the war into Africa^ and that though the fuccefs oi' it (hould be favourable to hiin, he could not be afl\ircd to Hnd her. He uttcr'd forth a thoufand plaints to Hea- ven, he wept, he tore his hair, and did all that a molt dcfolatc woman could do in siie likeoccaiion. As all his friends had beheld with a great deal of grief, the negledf which this love had made hiin make of himfclf ; fo there were few pcrfons in his'Court, afflidcd to fee the caufe taken away, and I had without doubt been ot their opinion, if love had liot ranged me on his party, or had not hllcd iTiy foul with the mo({ violent grief it could poliibly apprehend. Hwmww fcem'd much conccrn'd at the marks I gave ut it, and gave iTiefuch proofs of his refentment, as I not at aU merhed. After he had that day extremely tormented himfelf, when I faw him a little more ca- pable to hearken to me, than he had been for fome hours part. My Soveraign, faid J, it k jio lunger time to feeh^confolatian or revenge in complaints, you. ought to thir\ of the rvar^ and fend into Africa the revengers of your quarrel. Ah Artabure, f faid he to me ) I (hall ne- ver mare jee Bcllamira. I'bough you f-oiild ntver fee her more, replyed I, the Son of Tlieo- dolmsoM^^f ^0 refolve againji thk mufrtune ■■, but I hope you way again fee her, and that the Heavens rvili revenge yon of that perfidious Iraytor, who bath robbed you of her, if yon carry a rvar into the place of his retreat, and prevent by your Arms the defgn he hath to do you greater injuries. JUs for greater injuries, tcplycd Honorins, he rcilinot k>toxvhon>to dothem: for though he Ihould with my life deprive me of my Empire, he can deprive me of nothing fj dear m Bellamira, yet I rvould however, added he, arm againji him all my potver, and m I have no man about me mare capable of this war, than your felf nor any friend more ajjliaed at fny misfortune, it is to you that 1 ivil! commit my revenge, the repofe of my life^ and the fafe^ ty of the Empire, Thefe words of the Empepour afforded iric infinite joy : for befides the confideration I had of the Honour he did me, I received infinite fatisfacffion from the occafion I had to ^o[i\ccout Bellamira, and wage war with an unworthy Rival, and unfaithful Subjedf. 1 ttdihed to the Emperour thcapprehenfion I had ot the favour he did me, protelling that 1 would acquit my felf with al^Tiaginable fidelity. He had without doubt in his Court perfons more worthy than my felf, and more capable of fo important an employment-, but as he knew that I led from among the G -that the City was in a condition to endure a long Siege, if wedurft affault it , and that which he conhdered net the leafl:, was that he had left Beliamira under tlie Guard of his mort atfedtionate friends. After this defeat of Heradiait all his VciTels were difperfed on all fides, and of that terri- ble number which he had fome,time before* there fcarce remain'd one on the Sea in a po» fture to Hght. We praifcd the Heavens for thcfe Vidories fo cafily obtain'd, and with an entire hope of the fuccefs of this War we rowed divedlly towards Carthage. I underftood that Bellamira was there, and with the dcfire I had to ferve my Soveraign and my Country, my love importun'd me to pierce with our Arms into the very bofbme of Africa : we expe- ded in all likelihood to find yet more rcli fiance, but while vvc approached Carthage^ Heaven and Fortune fouglu for us, and facilitated our Vidory, by an aililtance which we expcded not, and of which the recital will give you fome altonifliment. After that HeracUan had taken away Bellamira^ and with fo much diligenceasl have told you led her into Africa, he had employed all manner of endeavours to fwecten that averfion and difdain fhehad for him, but he had laboured in vain i and this virtuous and touragioui . perfon drawing from this hi\. effeft of his infidelity, farther fubjcd to defpife him, had con- tinually look'd upon him with a difdain as great as polfibly (lie could bear to the meancff ot worft of men. HeracUan however was not daunted, but as he truly lov'd her with a vio- lent paflion, and wanted nothing of fpiritand addrefs in any thing he would apply himftif to, he had forgot nothing which was probable to produce the effedl he defir'd, in a mind lefs firm than that of Bellamira: He had continually treated her with all appearance.^ of 3 great refped, and faving only liberty which he had never offerM her, and which (lie had ne- ver deign'd to require of him, knowing well (he (hould have in vain demanded it, there was no civility but was rendred to her. He likewife ufed towards her this fubmifiion with-; out rcludlancy, and without diilimulation : for as he had known thofe excellent virtues with which her admirable beauty was accompanied, by all forts of marks he judg'd her de- fcendcd of an illulfrious blood, and by the relufal tVie had made of the Dignity to which the Emperour would have advanc'd her, regarding her as fomething moregVeat than that {h.6 had difdain'd : he had truly adelign to cfpoule her, and adtcd vvith her as with a peifnrf who expeded to poiTefs her by honourable ways. But in this defign he was no Jcfs odious. to Bellamira than in all others, and when he made the propofition (which was on the-iSea between . Ge«o«.« and Carthage) beholding him with eyes full of difdain, "There is fame Ap- pearance^ faid flie, that if I mitfl have ajpoufed f />/;fr Honorius or Heraclian, I fliotild hav^ freferred Honorius before Heraclian : but there is very little faid flie, that 1 will become the 5'/'i'K/f 0/ Heraclian, haviagrefus^d to be Spottfe to Uouonus. Itrvillmthe rvithottt example, replied Heraclian, to fee a perfon /t% Heraclian preferred, tvho hathcmrdge, fpirit^ and birth fttfficieijtly ilufirinus., before a wj»//;^f Honorius, i»ho by his faintheartednef is rendred uiln'or' thy of the degree he holds. in the world, and is exposed to the difdain of all the earth. Ion ought pcjfibly^ repHed Bel:ainira, tofpeak^with more'refpeU of yostr Soveraign: but thousj) l^^ vverB not /b, and tKzt yott were equal to him in birth arid dignity, this equality f^jouldttot turn the baHttnce in the difference Intake between yom I'ott would ptdge otherwife, replied Heraclian, if \ote were leji prepofj'effcd with dn aversion I have not pvjfibly merited ■-, but 1 hope that time w/li bar.ijh it fromyoar thoughts, and n^ke a more favourable opinion frtcceed ; but if the Imperii! P/griity can bring any change in my condition with yott, I am not perhaps fo far dillantfym it, that I May mt aCpire to it with no fmall likelihood. Heaven, faid Bellamira, ches not always favourable events to wickfd intentions^ mr can I believe yon can mount fo eafily to the Vignity of 'your ' - "N n hUjUri 274 THARAMOND. Part. Ill Majler •■, but when this change l})all happen, tt will not excite any in my heart for you, nnr tvoUld yoK be more considerable to me than yon are'^ fliould you be Emperoitr of the nhote world. He never received more favourable anfwers, nor was it known that her captivity wrought any ctfcft on her courage, and when he was come to Carthage^ where he faw liimfeU with an abfolute power, and that in all likelyhuod (he had little means to defend herfclf againfk his will, he found no change in hersi and though Eelamira had a fpirit fweet and moderate, which permitted her not to tranfport her felf to threats and in- vedivcs, in allher moderajion (he was unfliaken, and the amorous Heraclian loft in the end his hopes, that time or the proofs of his love might bend her. This knowledge which hereceiv'd with infinite ^ricf, rendred his fpirit more fierce than it.had hitlierto ap- peared, or rather the true inclinations of Heraclian which hitherto he had endeavoured to difiemble, were now difcovcred in their natural colours, and as in his foul he had no virtue, which could oppole thofe motions his pallions infpir'd, it was fo much the ealier fubjefled 'to them, bccaufe it found no fuccour to which to retire. It was now that he banilhed fubmilliou and refped, and that he began to talk like a Malkr, to a perfon whom licr ill fortune had fubmitted tohim, and whom all forts of reafons ought to have made him refpedl.. But this change of proceeding was not at all favourable to him, and the couragious Bei'iiwJriJ was no more mov'd by his threats, than (lie had been touch'd by his prayers. The fpirit of Hf)" <»(://<»« hourly Iharpen'd by this relilbnce, and being one day tranfported to threaten her, and to tell her, that after (lie had fo long abus'd his patience, fl\e ought to fear all things from a man who could do what he plcas'd i Belamira beholding him with an admirable conllancy. Ton may kjU me C faid (lie) /or having depr/ied of life the wife tf Stilicon, you are not ignorant how to rid ygiir felf of a perfon of my Sex. I mil t^otlqll you^ rc^Aytd Heraclian, hut I rvill feek^my fati^faiiionby thofe rvays rvhich my for- tune permits me^ fince you refufe it me by that you ought to accept. Bellamira notwithftanding all her courage, trembled at this threat, and looking upon liim who made it, with eyes in which her con(\ancy could not hinder fome tears from ap-. pearing, I hope^ faid (he, that Heaven rvill defend me again\l you^ and that injiead of aban- doning me in fo cruel an extremity, it will mak^ you feel the effeds cf its jujiice in my fa- vour. and for my protection. IFe Jhall fee, ( faid Heraclian^ departing from her chamber ^ if either Heaven or men can give yon any affiance s but if in few days you change not your refuliition^ you IhaU find rvhither mine will carry me. The unfortunate Bellamira (igh'd with grief atthefe cruel words of her enemy, and fpent, by what 1 haveunder(\ood, the left of that day in tears and prayers, imploring the aliiftance of Heaven as moft ncceflary for the defence of that honour which was a thoufand times dearer to her than her life. She vvaslikewifeconlkained todo that for itsprefervation, which (lie had hitherto refufed for all other confiderations, and the defire (he had to hold Heraclian in that refpedl, whicii fliould hinder him from coming to thofe extremities he had made her fear, ' oblig'd her to a(^ a violence on her inclinations, and difTomble apart of the aver(ionfliehad for him. She withheld her felf for fome days from giving him fuch fierce replyes as (lie had beenac- euftdm'd, and forced her vifage to appear lels fevere than it had iforfomc time accuftom'd to be. Heraclian knew this to be tiie effedof his threats, and would not be abus'd by this feigned fwectning of Bellamira, but pern(kd .to naake her know, that he would be hap- py in lome manner or other. HedifTembled however a part of hisdefign, till fuch time as he undcr(\ood wc came again(t him, that we had defeated his firft Squadrons, and that we marched again(\ the others. But when in fine he was advertis'd of the other ad van. ♦ages we had gained, that his Fket was difperfcd without hopes of rea(Tembling, and that he doubted no longer but we would fall upon him, the necellity to which he faw himfelf obliged to fight us, hardened his refolutions to the utmolt, and carried him with an ex- tremity of violence againft Bellamira^ fo that there wanted but little but that before his departure he had fnarched by force, that which (lie would fo dearly prefervci he was however withheld by an cfFed of the Majefty of this admirable perfon, which ftopp'd his fury for that time, and having at his departure uttered threats much more cruel than thofe that had made her fo much fear, J depart, faid he, to go fight againji thofe ^enemies' you arm againji me, aod I depart withoitt having drawn any advantage hitherto cf that power I have over yon, but believe not to triumph over my indulgence, by the event ef the Combat, whatever it may be\ but be ajfured that whether Fanquiffjer or v^nquiflied, you (I) all fee me return with thofe refolutions ho confiderations can or JhaU divert. He quitted her witli fpcaking thcle words, not attending an anfwer, having left her guarded by thofe men in whom he had an entire conridencc, and whom iie Ijad intcrefled ty Book II. P H A R J M N D. ^75 by all their fortunes, to be faithful to him in this occallcMi i he had a deflgrt to have led her with him on the Sea, but in fine was diverted from it by many confldetations, and as he had rcfolved to-flye and retire • to Carthage, if he were overcome^ he chofc rathefi to leave iier, thantoexpofe her to the danger of the Combat, and the uncertainty of gn event, by which he might lofe her in his Ship, much eafier than in the place where Qie was. He put himfclf then toSea, came toward us.^ gave us Battel, which as I liavc.told you he loll, after a Combat more rcfolutc than any of the foririer, though rot fufficientto gain us any great glory from the Vidory. So foon as he faw his forces funk or diipers'd, he fled as he had rcfolved, avid with an admirable fwiftnefs regained the Port of Carthage.; Being little loved in his Government, and fear of his Authority only having made the A- fricans arm in his favour, the Inhabitants of C(»r//;rf*f faw him return alone, and indifor- der, without much forrowfor him » and if they had not feared the Troops which he had yet in the City, and in the Field, they had pollibly given more vihble, marks. But the poor Ee/.'.«w7/Vj, though (he underftood hi§ defeat with intinite joy, faw him return with a tear that almort depriv'd her of life, and remembring the cruel refolution he had pro-\ nounc'd at his departure, flie remain'd aftonifli'd, immoveable, and like one forth of her (elf at his arrival. Nor was it without reafon that (he feared, and that (he trembled, the danger being pof- fibly greater than what (he had conceiv'd to her fclf. In effcfl:, this wicked perfon had fcarce givenfome Orders at the Port, and at the City, to prepare things for defence, and thofe fuch Orders as denoted the diforder of his Soul, and the trouble which pofTcfs'd it but full of fury which perplGx'd him more than ever, now that the ill ellatc of his atifairs ought to have infpir'd him with other detigns, he went to find iJellamira , (he grew pale, and trembled frotn head »c foot feeing him enter, nor had (he the power to remove from her place, by reafon of the fear which had gain'd a predominancy in her foul, and pollibly the marks tlie gave of it were favourable to her, and by making Herachan believe iViC was (liakcn in her re(olutions> flic made him omit the efTeds of his own till the mor- . iow. Infumm, were it for this reafon, or others unknown to us, feeing that the night was already far advanced, and himfelf appear'd wearied with the travel he had that day fuffer'd, he contented himfelf to tell Bellamiraih a terrible manner, and with a voice whicli had fomething in it of fatal, that he gave her yet that night to refolve her felfj but that he would not deprive himfelf longer of what the uncertain events of war might rob him of for ever, nor make thofq cnetpies laugh at his innocence, who already tri- umphed over his ill fortune i In fine, that arrive what could , the day following he would be pofTeffor of^ Bel'amira. Having ptOnounc'd her this cruel feiitence, he left her as it is faid to refolve her fel^ and wertt to give the reft of the night either to repofe, or to the difpofal of thofe affairs his ill fortune had «it upon him. The corafortlefs Bellamira remain d in her ciiambcr in a condition which itwill be difficult for me to rCprcfent to you, and letting her fclf tall in- to the Arms of that Damfel which had been taken away with her, there llream'd down a river of tears from her fair eyes, and fpoke things would have mov'd to pity the fellcft Monftersof that Africit wherein (he faw her felf cxpos'd to fo great misfortunes. ■ Having lamented her unhappy condition as much as her great courage would pennit her, (he en-i deavoured with that Damfel to feek fome means to fave her felf during the night, not doubting but that if (lie could efcape out of that detefted Houfe, and conceal her fclf in fome place of the City, (lie might yet hope fome allillance from the ill eftate of ileracti- ax's affairs i but (lie faw her felf depriv'd of this hope by the order Heraclian had taken for her guard, and approaching her Anti- chamber v inftead of fome women of C^jr/Zia^e which HfMc/ijw had given her to ferve her, (liefaw Hfrijc//,?«'s Guards lying at the door, and undcrllood that for that night he had fe't them in the place of the women whom he had caus'd to retire. BeVamira would needs tempt thefe Guards, out of the hopes of a great rcccmpcnce (he pjomis'd them, to fave her, but the fear they had of Heraclian's an- ger, rather than any ill will for BeHamira, had made them rcjcdt ilie propotition i (he viiited then the windows of her chamber, but flie found them barr'd, and faw her felf in th^ ' end reduc'd to hope for no alEftance but Heavens in the danger which thrcatned her. It was then to Heaven that (he had all her recourfe, and calling her felf on her knees, with that t)amfel which (licd tears with her, (he dedicated the night almoin entirely to prayers, and would not difrobc her felf, nor caft her felf on the Bed, though the Virgin often impoi- tun'd her. This cruel night pafTed in this manner, and on" the morrow, fcarce did the Sun apppear, but (lie favv Hfrac//«« enter her chanibcri there wanted but little that this fight had nof N fi 2 carried' 276 PHARAMOND. Part III. carried a deatli intobcr Breafi, or had not at leaft dtpriv'cl Iicr of that courage which was necelTary tor her in thii occailon i but in the end Oic tortitied her felf by ihe aliiftance of a power that ftie had not in vain invoked, and feeing Heradian approach with a coun- tetiance which denoted but too well his detelhble intentions, and with a diforder which permitted him not to explain himfelfi Heradian^ (aid flie, 1 hough yon come into my Samber at an honr rehkb may make me fear your vifit^ I will hope^ that hy the affiiiance of the '.Divinity which we adore^ that night nhich you have given me to take my refolntion, may have 7vroitght fame change in yoitrs^ and made yon confider the fjame^ and poffthly the ruifte to which yen expofe your felf by that enterprife yon have made me fear: Ton kyiow well that your Army if defeated, that your viciorious enemies are coming towards Carthage, and that in all likelyhoodthe Eniperour, whom you have fo cruelly offended, will bt ere long in a condition to revenue himfelf of ihe injuries yon have done him ■-, I dare however hope, nay I dare, rtc- raclian, promife you a pardon for all; and 1 have fo much confidence in the Emperour's good- nefi towards me, as to enz^age fomething greater for you ; make advantage of this meaits you have both to preferve your life, and your fortune, and lofe not th'n occafion by thofe crimes which will permit you no more te hope it. Confider moreover, that I am a Virgin, born of a "Blood fufjlciently illullrioUS to merit ref^eCj, a Virgin who hatb nothing merited of what her ill fortune mak^s her fuffer, and a Virgin whom you cannot unworthily ajjault without drawing the Arms of Heaven againji you. B#//^wi»-* was about to fpeak more, when Heradian interrupting her, If it be by tbefe words faid he, that you would let me underjland your refilution, you jhall underjiand mine by thofe effects which you will pardon in time \ nor will you be the frft fair perfon hath for- gtven offences of thk nature. J prefer this pardontothat of Wowoi'ms which you offer me, and when I jliall have fatisfiedmy love, let Heaven dijpufe ofmyd^iny. Finifliing thefe words, he called two of his men, whoat a fign hcmad'e them, took the Damfel which was with Bellamira, and though (he cryed out, and (huggled in their arms with all her force, they carried her out of the Chamber, and (hut the door after them. At thisacftion Bellamira not doubting but (he was loft, fending a cry to Heaven, and lifting vp her eyes thither. Divinity which I adore, faid (he, affijl me, and at the fame time feeing Heradian come towards her with a fury againft which all her forces were not capable to defend her, (lie recoyled to the corner of the chamber, to which feeing him yet ap- proach, in a po(ture which permitted him not ttf take much h^ed of himfelf, (he threw her felf to the guard of his Sword which (he faw by his fide, and drew it out of the (heath withfo much haft, that Heradian hzd the peitit againfl his breaft before he perceived the acSion, and when he would havedefended it, the couragious Bellamira plunged it into his bofom to the very hilts, and made him tumble at her feet, vyeltring in a River of' his own blood. . At the cry he made at his fall, and at the noife he made beating hinif|f againft the floor, vfhillt the pangs of death feis'd him, thofe of his Attendants who waited in the Anti- chamber to fervchim in his wicked intention,and who poliibly (hould have joyned their for- ces wit IS his to have overcome the rehllance of Ef/Z^Jiwiri?, i( he could not himfelf doit, o- pen'd thedpor in hafle, and advancing into the middle ot the chamber, they faw the de- i'pzum^ Heradian tcud'wg to his end, and rcndring his h(t Cighs, and fome paces diflant from him the couragious Bellamira holding yet in her hand his Sword dy'd with his Blood, and prefenting her felf to them in a pofture to oppofe what injury they might do her, with the fame courage that had fo well ferv'd her in fo dangerous an occafion > befides, that it was difficult for any humane eye to fupport thofe looks of hers in their ordinary e- (tate, it feem'd that theadion (he came from executing, the extraordinary pa/fion with which (lie was animated, and that poflure in which flie appeared to them, terrible in her charms, yet charming in the midft of her terrours, had not only given a newfplendor to her admirable beauty, but had added fomething of Supernatural and Divine to what Na* tiire had placed wonderful in herpcrlon, and made her eyes dart rayes like coelcftial fires, which pcrmiited none to behold her as a mortal perfon. In fumm, (lie appeared fuch to thofe which entredhrll, and to thofe which followed after them into the chamber, that they remained wholly da^led, and wholly aftonifned, without daring to approach her, and without having the alTurance to approach Heradian, to give him any alliltance, had lie been in a condition ro receiveit. Bf//jw/V^ attributing this refpcft which withheld them, to theaflifiance of Heaven, tc which (lie bcliev'd (lie owed all things, and not to the power of her beauty, contmued in the place where (lie flood without being mov^d, and purfuing thofe infpirations that had fo aVcII ferved her i If you come, faid (lie, to revenge the death »;/" Hcraclian, j^a may kjH »»f BookIL THARAMOND. 277 iv'ith your Arrows without, approaching >«this time approach'd to us, permitted us not to proceed further in this difcourfe, and I remain'd in a condition not capable to make any alTur'd judgment of my fortune : for though on the one tide I found fome comfort in the fatisfaflion to have dilcover'd my felf toBeliamira, yet on the other, I faw little appearance to hope after the knowledge I ought to have had of her great confhncy and iumneis of mind. In the mean timel was oljlig'd by my duty, to make a progrefs through fome Cities of Afi-ica, to fettle them in their i^ibcdicnce to the Emperour, and where my prefence being ab^ ■ folutcly neccffary, whatever grief I felt to abfent my felf from Bellamira, I was con- ftrain'd to do it, by leaving her iiv a place where (he was treated with as much lefped as if flie had been the wife of Honorius •, and in taking leave of her for foine days, I entreated her to expect my return, after which I would accompany htr to whatevci place flic would picaf? Book it PHARAMONh 279 plc^fe to retire, giving charge my felf before my departure, to prepare all things for Hct Voyage. My journey was the (hortell poflible, and though I had many Cities to vilit» and that I found irtairs proper to Iky me, the impatience I had to return to fee BelU' mira^ permitted me not to (lay more than Hfteen days out of Carthage ■■, But O Gods what aftonifliment was mine, when at my ifeentrance I underftood BeUamira was no longct , there, and that under pretext of going to walk at Hipponc, to confer with a man who lo- i(>urned there,c3lled Aitguliin^ whofe piety and admirable devotion had acquired him a mar- vellous reputation, not only in /Ifrica, but in all other parts of the world, the had. with- drawn eight days before, and no news poliible to be learn'd of her. This pierced me to the bottom ot my heart with the moft Cruel grief I could receive, but flie confirmed it much more ftrongly in my foul, when one of the women which had ferved her at Carthage^ gave me a Letter which the had lett with her for me , and in which 1 (bund thef': words. Beltjmira to Artahiire. IT is not out of a fear to ftid an Heraclian in Artabure, that I fye from yon\ I ^;?rtm too well your virtue^ to entertain fo injuriotu a fufficion •, hnt it vs to render to Heaven rvhat J have for too long time orved it^ and to ac\noivhdge the ajjijiance I received in that Lil nmfortjtne into rvhich I fell. Adieu Artabure, believe that I Jhall all my life have ait fjieem and acknowledgments for you^ and take not, to feek, wf , that pains^ you will take in vain. In my Letter (lie had inclofed another for the Emperour, and becaufe (he had left it 6- pen, I read thefe vvords. BeUamira to the E'rnperour Honorim. THe dij^leafHre rvhich J fliouldhave tofee my felf accused of Jngratitttde, hy a Trhi'ceto jvhom Tarn bound, mak^s me Sir, tah^ this leave pf you, before I go to feek, '/^■«* repofe to_ which I am called^ Ihe memory ef the honours you have done me, is ingraven in my heart in fuch manner, that neither time nor the accidents of my life can ever deface it •■, pardon to the misfortune of my life, the tittle means 1 have to acknorrledge it ■■, and be pleafed to believe thai for the Empire you have vpith fo much genemfty offered me, J wottld wilingly give you that of the Tvhole tvtrld, if it were inmydijfofuian. Remember in the mean ti>ve, that you are Emperour of the Romans, aiid Son to the great Theodofius. and make ufe of your virtue to forget an unfortunate Virgin^ rvbomll nevet pardon her felf the trouble Jhe hath brought to your repofe. At the fight of thefe Letters a good part of my conOancy forfook me, and I- failed but little totellirteas much weaknefs as Bonorim had before done i yet I endeavoured with all my power to hinder C-i'f/Wj- and the young -(i^fwfronD knowing the caufc^f my grief » and I dayly reprefented unto them the (brrovt^ I had, not to be able to retard BeUamira to theEmperour, as he had commanded me. I therefore declared tothem-'the intention I had tofcekhclr, and that I would not retake the way to Eowf, witho«jf br'/ing vifit'M a partof ^/r?<;tf, to learn news of her, they teflihed great forrov/, both for the lofs of BeUamira, artd for my refolution,'but they could not make me change it v^hatcver en- deavours they ufed, and being charged with the command of the Army which I left f hem, and with the Letter of the Emperour vi'hich I gave them, they embarqued to re- pafsfor Italy. '■'''" I parted from Cdribdge 'ziioox] as they, feeing I could there learn riothing of BeUami- ra, and hll'd with a mortal grief, I pofted with a little equipage through all the Ports of Africa, and almofl: thfough'all the Cities to inform my felf. I found not at Hippone that famous Augujiin from whom t believed I might draw fonfie knowledge of her retreat i and who was departed fome days before without being known what way betook. Afl thefe things, and the Letters I had received from Beliatiiird, made me judge that (he was recired into fome Monaftery of Virgins, confecrated to the fervice of Heaven, and pof- iibly to that (he had made choice of at Kavenna, where (he might have changed her name to deprive all the world of the knowledge of her retreat. In fumm, I fought through a.ir, 28o PHARAMOND. Part III. all, but I fought in vain, without being able either to hears news of Bellamira, or find confolation for my grief i but after that I had quitted Africa^ and put my felf to Sea, to fee if I (hould be more happy there, than on the Land, after thofe courts which it will be needlefs to relate to you, andatter having efcaped many Tempers in which I had poiiibly perifhed if my life had been more happy, I coalied 5pa/« and the Gaules, and having run through the Britain Ocean, I was conduced by my fortune to a Port in the Country of the Trifons^ where being known for i Roman by the HolV with whom I lodged, he told me in great fecret, that a little time before, the great Conjiance^ him whofe reputation was fo fairly fpread throughout theUniverfe, had lodged with him, and had been known contra- ry to his intention : he likewife told me fomc particulars which permitted me not to doubt it, and gave me fome knowledge of the way he had taken. The remembrance of Bella- mira, how powerful foever it was in me, could not deprive me of the honour I ought to have for that name of Conjiancek dear unto me, and the hopes I had to find fome confola- tion with him, rather than in any other place of the world, made me rcfolve tofeek him, by the tokens of his Arms and Equipage s 1 met with no fmall difficulty in it, and 1 of- ten loft his trace, though I followed it as much as it was poflible for me, from the place where he had lodged', but in the end, I have as you fee effcded it, and have encountred him by a good fortune, only capable to comfort me in my affiidions. The end of the Second Book of the Third Part. PHARAMOND. iVU'i'. 'i Book III. AErtabiire having thus finifhed his Difcourfe, Conflance, who could not underfland the end of it without being fenhble of the affedtion he telHficd to hin^ breaking lilence fofoon as he had ceafcd to fpeak i How too mitch (reneroiK Artaburc, . faid he, if it then the unfortunate Conffance yoti norv Jeek^in Germany? And that love to ^c\hm.\x3. which jhould in all Ukglyhood employ your entire thoughts, could it yet leave a place for the remembrance of one fo miferahle, whom the change of his fortune ren- ders fo different from what he was at the time you gave him your ajfeCiion ? In truth, this proof of your friend(hip touches Ke .is jirongly oi it ought, and as the loll of Bdhmixa could nut make you forget Conllance, the lof! ef Placidia cannot hinder me from feeling a true joy at, the fight gf Arzdibinc. I hope Uketv/fe^ whoUy unfortanate, and whol'y difconjolate as I am, to contribute fomethin^ to your confolatinit, and ma]{e you l{iiow that you ought not to makf any comparifon between your evils and thofe of perfons truly unhappy. When' thofe cf the King of the Franks are l{Ho>vn to you, you will not dare to think^yours to be true miferief;- and for mine, they are too well known to you tn find any equality with yours. I believe that yuu might /we Bcilamira with th*t height of affeCiion I have loved Placidia, and I wiH likewife, againjl the cHJiom of all other Lovers, believe that Jhe was ho lefi fair, nor lefi amiable than Placidia » but in lofing Placid la / lojl a good ivhich ou^ht to have been mine by my fervices, by her affedion by the promt fe of the Emperour, and by her own; whilji you have never been loved by Bella- mira, have mt k^town her, have fiarcefeen her, and in lufmgher have loll nothing eught ever to bans Book III. THARAMOnA iSt hjve hem yours. If yoti have any caiife to l.vne>it your fortune^ it is il'c'itot'hjviii^hcfs InednfBdhmhz, but in that 1 mufi accuji yon more than bervail ymt^ and if live nuy ih fome intervals bearkeit to reafon^ what is it that yoH feeh^f iVhat is itthat yein pretend/ Fmhf a perjon, if ho by jV her praceditre, and particularly by the refttfal jlw made- of the Knipire^ attH of anEmperottr young and amiable in hit perfn^ might ri'ell mul/e ynuindge that (l.iown, replyed King Phai-amond, by two more noble aUioHii than the death of HevicVizn, and the re fuf at of the Empire, arid in this I find fomething fo great, and above any thing common, that it would be difficult for me to perfwad's my felf thaiflie were not of iUujlrioits birth. She is fo without doubt, rcplyed Artabure, " and had you feen her, all things in her perfon would but too much confirm vou in that "opinion. B«( Artabure, ( faid Co«/?iJ«ce to him^ is itpojftblethat Jhe Jhouidbefo fair as jfou reprefent her, or may I not well ask^ the quefiion whether flje were m fair at Fhcidia ? " You may better ask me the quelUon, replyed AfaZizfre, than I can reply, butv^ithout " making any ftop at the judgment which your palfion and mine may caufe us fnake, or "without particularlizing any thing of the beauty of the princefs Placidia, whom I don- " tinually reverence as I ought, I will tell you, that all dilintereikd perfons who have fceft '''■Bellamira, have judg'd that there was nothing fo fair as (he in the whole world, "fhey ( anfwered the King of the Franks, though coldly ) have not poffibly travelled over dll the ivorld^ and it may be that in fome part of the world there may be fomething fatind as fair as Bellamira. They had fome farther difcourfe on this fubjeft, after wliich King Pharamofid leaving Artabure with Conjlance, return'd for fome time to his apartmcfit, where he had fome Or- ders to give to the Officers of his Army. He entertain'd himfelf for a while \Vith Ibere and ^baramont, concerning a delign he had a dcfire to execute the day following agaihfi: hij Encmiesj obfcrving with impatience that repofe in which his refped to Rofamond had ob'. O o rt|?df 282 VHARAMOND. Part III. ig'd bim for fome days paft to leave tliem, and not doubting but that without wounding theconrideration he had tor her, he might afTault them in thofe Qiiarters, fartheft dillanc tromher Tents, lie gave Orders to Lbdrannmt^ to prepare all things tOr what he was to execute on the morrow. Afterwards he vilited Prince Marcomire, whom he found in a good condition, and very impatient to quit his chamber, and from thence he return'd to fup with Co«!fa?jce and Artabure. After Supper, ConlUnce cfpyed the Pcrfian Mitranet, Efquire of Prince Varauez^ and 'him whom he had left him to recount the particulars of his Adventures, which he only yetconfufcdly underftood ; both ConjiaHceznd ?haramond had a great curiofity to hear the relation of them, and therctore Co/;j{(»«cf no fooner faw hhtntnes^ but addrclling himfelf to Vharamonel^ If you have {iill^ faid he, the fame deftre you have teliified to me, to under- jiandthe Adventures of the Prince of Perlia, and if this evening you have no affairs which may hinder yoH from lending a time necejj'ary to their recital., n>e rvili entreat Mitrancs *o /<»i^ the pains to recount them, and I ajjure my felf bythofe things I have already co7tfufedly »n- derflood, that ynu will have no fmall pleafure to underjiand in the fame day, netvs both from theEaJi andlFejK If I may not ijtterrnpt the difcourfe of Mitranes, ( replyed Pharamond ) J fliaH be very rviUing to hear my part tvith you ef the recital he is to make yen, and if there be any things which merit to be kept fecret, you may affure him for me, that I will inviolably keep them fo, I promife him the fame thing for Artabure ( replyed Conftance ) and J affitre him moreover, that the Prince his Majier (l>all not be at all troubltd that he hath trujled them either to the one or the ether. 7here is without doubt, ( hid Mitranes with a becoming rc- fpedt ) fimething in the difcourfe you defire from me, is fo particular, as not to be published, and perfons fo eminent are concerned in it, that I fiould he very firry to give the knowledge «f it to men lej! worthy this confidence or ejieem of my Prince. But fmce he hath commanded me to obey you, 1 fl>all do it without fear of being blam'd, or without fo much as a fear to di- vulge the fecret of his affairs, by trujiing them to perfons who know too well how to difcern things which ought to be kept private from fuch as may be made ptthlick. Tom may, replyed Conjiance, have an entire ajfuranceof it, and we will be obliged to you, if in a time wherein the King can give his attention, and Artabure and my felf cannot better employ our felves^ you will fatisfieour curiofity, and a curiofity { concluded he with a figh ) which in the pre- fent efiate of our life, the fole efieem we have for your Prince can infiire us with. Mitranet anfwered no farther to thefe words of Conjiance, but that he was ready to obey him, and being cntred within the rail of his Bed, from whence he made all other perfons retire, he remained alone with his three Illuftrious Auditors, and being feated by the command of Conjiance and Pharamond, he began his difcourfe in this manner. The Hiflory of Varanez Trince ofPerCm, THere are few perfons in the world unacquainted with the power of the great Kings of Perfia, who firft in the world made Nations behold the Magnificence and Grandeur of the Pvoyal Dignity. All the world hath underftood, to what degree the great Cyrw advanc'd this Monarchy, and in what fplendourit remained under his Suc- ceffors ( who extended their Dominions over all Afia, and a good part ot Africa ) until the lad Dariits, who yielding to the fortune of /j/fxj«^er, faw that proud Dominion o- verturn'd by iiisfall, and fo many great Provinces as had compos'd his Empire, fubdued under the power of his Enemies. Yet they were not the Succeffours of Alexander, which reigned over Pfr/id : for foonfoon after his death itwasfnatch'daway, together with P<»r« thia, Hircania, Margiana, and many other great Provinces, by the valiant Arfaces, who form'd and left to his Defcendents,that proud Empire of the Parthians, which under thofe great Arfacider, whofe names have been fo famous in the world for four ages, oppos'd the Kowaw Puiflancc, and in the end, whUd Cordianus he]d the Reigns of the K£»w out of tlie good opinion he iiad of the fidelity and integrity of the King of the Persians ^ he dcclar'd him Tu- tor of his Son, charging thofe who were prefent at his laft Will and Teftamcnt, to prai? him by all the friendthip he had promifed him, and which they had fo carefully preferv'd during their lives, to take care of him as ot his own, and to uphold his young years with his counfel and ailiftance. This Ad:ion of Arcadiut aftoniili'd the whole World , and that oi Ifdige^ies was praifed as well for thediligerce he took for the education of The young Ibeodofins^ as for that he had to keep his Empire in peace, employing his Arms for hisinterefts as well as for his own. There was likewife this Circumftance Confidcrablc, that having drawn near him with infinite difficulty, the fage and virtuous Antiachus, a man highly contiderable for his great virtues, and having begun to employ him to govern the young years of the Prince Varanez. his Son, who was born four or five years before Iheodoftus, he took from his Son that excellent Governour, to give him to the young Prince, truHed to him, and fent him to CoMlUntinople^ where he hath educated the young Emperour with that prudence which hath acquired him a marvellous efteem through all V the World. It was then from this great and wife Jfdigefles that Prince Varanez. rtly Mafier ws born, his only Son and lawful SuccelTor : and as in his blooming years the King his Father faw all things in his perfon anfwerahle to his deiires, fo he employed all his diligence to make him t great Prince, and forgot nothing which migiit improve either in his body or mind thoic advsmtages he had receiv'd from Nature. The illulf rious Antiochm whom I mentioned but now, educated him until his fifteenth year, nor did he leave him to go to Conji^ntimph but with infinite forrow. At this time the young Varanez, had already receiv'd thofe fair imprelfions he could defire in hiin, fo that thofe who came after him had no great difficulty to render him in a little time fuch as the King his Father cpuld wi(h him. As his Body was perfedtly well made, and fuch as you may have obferv'd, Mafters were given him, which by the excellent inclination they found in it, foon rendred him more underdanding and more ready in all forts of cxercife than they were themfelvcs : and as he had his mind live- ly,cager and ready of apprehenfion, they infttuded him in all noble Sciences with an extra- ordinary fuccefs, fo that it might be faid with truth, that there were not only few Princes, but few men in the World who both in».bcdy and mind had better profited than himfelf under an excellent education. He was infttufted in Learning by a man whom the King bis Father had drawn from his folitudes, and forc'd 4||it were with no fmall pain from his books and ftudies, which was an .(^t^e«2(OJ Philofopher named Lf£'« Book III. THAKAMOKD. ' 285 free, and in an age might render (iich a Voyage plenfant and profitable togetlicr, (hould, to teftihe to Iheodnfuis the true atTciSion he had for him, go vilic him at C.ntjiantinople^ and confirm in pcrfon that alliance he dcfired (hould be eternally between their Ciowns.' My Prince recciv'd with no fmall joy the Proportion which the King made him, of a Voyage, from which in all likely hood he might hope both pleafure and divertifcmcnt, and prciling it himielf, he prepared with an impatience, which made it be judged he did it with delight i having been always very Splendid and Magniticent in all things, he was not wanting to be fo in his Equipage for fuch a Voyage, and all things were prepared an- fwcrable to tlic grcatncfs of the degree he held in the world. I was of the num- ber of thofe appointed to follow him , and by my good fortune was none of thofe for whom he had the leafl conlideration, or whom he the leaft honoured with his confi- dence, when all things wereready he departed from Media, where the Court at prefent was, but before he would go to Conjiantimple^ by a curiolity agreeable to his age, and which was approved by thofe from whom he took counfel, he refolvcd to viiit a part of the Cities of Crffce, and particularly thole of whom Hiltoiy hath made foilludrious men- tion, wliich had turniOied Antiquity with fo many ftmous Captains, and learned Philofo- phcrs, and which a thoufand years before had made war with fo much glory again!! Xerxes^ and the firfl T>jriiis his Anceflors. To eff^ft this dcllgn, inllead of taking the (horteft way, which had been by the Hfff- f^»wf, he pziTei by Annertij^ and Pamphilia, zud leaving B/z/'/wm on our rij^ht hand em« barqucd on the Eg£an Sea, and leaving to the right the Iflands of C/;/o/, A:idros, Mytelene^ zndVelas, he landed in Felopannef,(f, where he faw the famous Sparta^ fo much renown- ed for its excellent Laws, for its ancient Difcipline, -and for thofe great men it yielded Greece. After Sp^rti he faw Skane, JLpidaunis, and the remains of the miferable Co- rinth., Argos^ and Micette, celebrated for tljofe Heroes they fcnt toth'eruine of Tr/rvaid Telnponnefiu s and palling mto /i?c/;j/;i, he faw the illuftrious T/^fifj- fiefs famous for its hundred Gates, than for its Epaminandar^ itsTelnpidjf^ and ofher great perfons it bore') Velpboj, and Eleuc^nia ; and with more curiofity than all the reft, he would fee the ancient City of Athens, the Country of PhaioH., Pericler^ ArijUdes, A'cihi*des, Themiirocler and Miltiades, who by Sea and Land had gained Battels fo memorable againft a world of ene- mies, which his' Ancel\ors had arm'd againft Greece. But in thofe which he vif^cd .( for he executed not entirely his delign ) we found only the miferable remnants of what we fought, and fcarce found we any trace of what Antiquity had fo much celebrated, which the injuries of time had cruelly ruined. My Prince wasfo difpleafed at what he faw, that he forgot a part of the defire he had to fee the reft, and of many other Cities which he had propofed tohimfelfto viiit, he now propos'd to hiriifelf only the tight of Athens^ and he told us that it was lefs, becaufe it had produced thofe excellent men, who had gain'd againft his PrcdecefTors the Battels cf Mafsthrm, and Salamna, than becaufe it was the Country of his Mafter, the Philofp- pher Leontin, a man conliderable through all the world for his profound Learning, and ad- mirable irirtuci in effed, there were few men comparable to hiin either for the one or the other i and ashe was accomplidied in allfortsof good Doftrines, fohc had found out true VVifdom, and the difdain of things vain and unworthy of his efteem. After his departure from Perfij'he had very particularly applyed himfelf to Judicial Aftrology, and had found fuch ddight in this Science which had made him negled a part of others to which in his youngerdays he had been more addicted, and by which he had acquir'd fo much Reouta- tion. Hf had been requefted by feveral great Princes to accept an employ inent like to' that he had in our Court, and he might if he would have purchas'd great riches, and have gained no ftnall efteem in the world i but he defpifcd riches as things too vile to merit his refpeds, and dedicating himfelf intirely to his Books, and to his Studies, had embraced a folitary life, from which no confideration vvas capable to withdraw him. Prince Varafiez remeinbring the good inftrutSlions he had given him, both in learning and manners, kad preferved in his Spirit an intinitaKfteem for him, andat hisapproachin* Athens, where he knew he dwelt, feem'd to rejoyce out of the hopes he had to fee him : He wasnot deceiv'd in this expedtation, and though the folitary L^o«t/« feldom left his Clofet, and had little convcrfation with the world,- yet for fo illuftrious a Scholar and a Scholar in whom he no lel~s confidered the fair fruits of his' inftrudlions, and the glory of his noble actions, than his Pvoyal Extrad, he at prefent leff his folitudc, and came to meet him' half a days Journey from Athens. Varanez recciv'd him with all polfiblc marks of efteem, fpoke to him in the moft obliging words in the world, embraced him many times, and caus'd him to ride in his Chariot, praying him to give him fomcdays of his con- vefatiuH 286 THARAMOND. Fart III. verfation, aftdnotto leave him, atleafl: whilehe (liould ^zf'm Athens. The Sage If owj/w received the CarefTcsotF-arjwz with great humility ( and fo much the greater, becaufe he was not ignorant of the difficulty he had to bow his Spirit to the leal! fubmilhon ) and offered to (how him carefully all thofc things in the City which might merit his cu- riofity. My Prince had a moft magnificent Entrance, but that which feemed to us moft rare f for all the reft was indeed but what was ordinary ) was, that after that he had alighted at the Palace prepared for him, by a cuftom which the /^i/'fMMW/obferve when they would do any one extraordinary honours, all the fair Virgins of Athens ( I fay the fair ones, for the others were not admitted to this Ceremony ) entred almoft as loon as he into the great Hall where he was to dine, vvith habits very magnificent, and Garlands of Flowers on their heads, and prefented him in the name of the City Baskets of Fruits, Flowers, and other prefents of that nature i Fi^raafz received this fair Company with infinite civility, but he had nofooncrcaft his eyes on het who wasat the head of them all, and who as the faireft had been chofen to fpcak for all, but he was raviftied, and aftoni(hed at her admirable beauty. And one may truly fay^ th^ his aftonifhment, and the other thoughts which fucceeded it in his mind, could not be caufed but by an Objcft fo tranfcending i and that all the beauties we had fcen in Terfjj. (where the women arc ordinarily very fair^ or in all our Voyage, had nothing which in the leaft part might approach that wonder wc at pre- /ent beheld. Her Stature was lofty and delicate, but the molUlraight and frccftin the Tvorld, and accompanied in her carriage, and in her gate, with a grace wholly charming, and almoft fupernatural. Her complexion the whiteft, the moft united, the moft carnation in thofe places where it ought to be, the moft delicate, and in fine, the faireft in the world, receives a new fplendor from her fable curls, and from that of two eyes of the fame co- lour, but fo beautiful, fo lively, fo bright, andfofweet together, that it is impoflibleto find in any others fuch flames accompanied vvith fo charming a fweetnefs, nor fuch fweet- nefs accompanied with fo bright a vigour > the colour of her lips, and the admirable form cf her fair mouth Jiave beauties which no difcourfe can reprefent ■■, and when by a figh full of charms, or by any other adtion of her mouth, her fair teeth were difcovered, both by their dazling whitenefs, and their admirable order, they gave ^ new fplendor to her coun- tenance, which begat the moft agreeable effedl in the world. There were a hundred other excellent things in this perfon, part of which have not appeared to'tte ■, as her neck, which I never faw uncovered, and others which can be but impcrfedtly apprehended by what difcourfe I can make you. This admirable perfon was clad with a habit not improper tocaufe a great part ofhei beauties to be obferv'd, and by the dreffing of her head after the Greek faflnon, apart of her locks, as black as Ebony, fell in curls upon her fhoulders, and the other on her fair cheeks, making by thefe two extremities of black 'and white, thofe twooppofite colours ftiine more advantageoufly. :. . But if Varanez had been furpris'd at the firft view of this beauty, now when this amdired perfon open'd her mouth to acquit the employment with which ftie was charged of fpeak- ing for the reft, and that to the grace of the adion which accompanied the difcourfe, and to that charm which proceeded from the found of her voice, flie added words fuTl of elo- quence and dclicitenefs, and explained her felf in terms worthy thegreateft politenefsof the ancient Grce1f, began he, Vivnte perfjH^ repeated he again, ihe ajionilJjment which the fight ff an Objeci fo admirable may give to all hearts^ leaves me not liberty to explain my jelf^ mr have 1 tvords but to tell yott, that neither ancient Greece, mr all the Nations of 'the world have ever produced any thing which may approach your beauty. He fpokc only thefe words in anfwcr to her difcourfe, and afterwards turning himfelf towards Lftf«*/« which ftood behind l|^mi /4/jLeontin, faid he, Is it pontile that amongji the rarities you have recounted me of your City ^ you have made no mention of a rvonder which it without doubt the greatcji ornament of it. Leontin figh'd at thefe words of the Prince \ and in fine, anlwering him with an auUere gravity i Ihat rvhich yen call a wonder^ my Lord^ (aid he, docs not feem worthy far yoitto tak^ the leaj} notice of it^ nor is it ry-ith a Virgin of fo mean a merit that 1 oiigjit to entertain you. From any other than yon^ replyed VaraneZy I Ihontd rvith dtffctdty fuffer fuch a difcottrje^ but I fee rpell yon fpeak^ of ^beauties in Pbi- lofphy^ and like a man more us'd to your Bookjy than the contemplation of fo fair aH0b]e8\ ieE me however^ -i^dcd he, tvhatit thename^ andrvbat is the Birth of this admirable perfon? if Book III. THARAMONV. If after h.ivlKc; ff^nkeit fo imrvnrthily of hcr^ J ff)OHli yetaddrefl my fclf to yntt. No perfntt:^ f rcplycd the Pliilofopher ligliing ) c-*« *ell you more of her than my felf and fnce ynu com- Piand it^ my Lord, I ivitltell yflw, that this Vire^in is railed ^ihcims^ and that her Father is Leontin. H'w Lcontin, cvycd my Prince, // this admirable perfnn then yuur Daughter ? and is this that Atlienais of n'hom I have heard you ifeak^^ and whom you left fo little in yniir hgnfe rvhen yea were called to the Court of Perlia > " It is the fame, my Lord, " f rcplyed Leontin ) and it is a Virgin to whom you ought to pardon the tanks your '' prelcnce makes her commit, fo much the readier, becaufe (he hath paffed a!ir.olt all her " life in a Chamber, and that for any other but the Prince df Terfia flie had not appeared "■ at this Ctreniony. '' O Gods./cryed rrty Prince, mov'd by the tirlt paliion tiiat had tfanC- " ported him ) can it be that a perfon fo admirable fhould be born to Leontin^ and not to "■ an Emperour of the Orient ? For being the Vauehter vf a poor Philoffher^ replyed Leontin, Ike hath her inclinetions mthintr^meitner^ and n>e haw underjiood:^ both f.'e^ and me ^ to mak^ le(! eliecm of Forttine than Virtue. " My Father, ( faid the Piincc, for he oftCn " called him fo ) I have not fpoke thcfe words to offend you, but firice all the world are " not Philcfophers, you ought not to wonder that 1 have wilhed your Daughter a Foif- " tunc proportionable to her merit, and our inclinations. ■ ■.;■, " At thefe words, without fpeaking farther to him, or to any other of thofe perfons who ftood in great multitudes in the Hall, approaching AthenaU, who v/as retired forne paces amongll the other Virgins, after fte had acquitted herfelt of whatfhe had in charge, and addrc/ling himfelf to her with as much refped as if flie had been truly what he wifbcd her, " Fair AthenaU, faid he, as you are the Daughter of my Father,' and I the Scholar " of yours, I have a little more right to approach you than if there were not this kind of " alliance between us, and you mult permit me to look upon you at prefent, not as the " Deputy of the fair Virgins of Athens, but as the Glory of Greece, and the Ornament of *' the whole world. The charming Atbenais blufli'd at this difcourfe of Varanez, and her modefty made her keep fome moments of filence i butaS flie was admirably well m- ftruited, not only in all things which perfons of her Age or Sex might undcrltand, but in many fair Sciences which ordinarily pafs their learning and knowledge, and as her Fa- ther feeing in her mind no lefs beauty than in her body, had improv'd it with an admirable diligence, (heremov'd her baOifulnefs by a modeft boldnefsi and having obferved in the countenance of Leontin, which (Ik confulted with her eyes, that (he was permitted to an- fwer the Prince's difcourfe i ''My Lord, (aid (he. As the Hrft quality you dome the ho- *'nour to give me is more due than the laft, I receive it with much more joy, and I "doubt not but it was for the honour my Father had to contribute tb your education^, *' rather than for my beauty, that I waschofen among my companions to pay you the du- " ty of our City. " Your Father, replyed Varanez, is much more confiderable for the " birth of Atbenais, than for the education of the Prince of Perfia ■■, and when with me *' he had educated all the Princes of the world, he would have been for it lefs glorious than "for having fent into the world the faired perfon of the world. But, ( added he, (peak- " ing to her a little lower _) it is not here that I amtodifpute with you concerning this "queftion, and I hope, as the Scholar of your Father, you will permit me to return the " vifit I have received from you. After thefe words he fpoke no more to her particularly, not finding himfelf in a con- dition to entertain her, concerning any other thing but what he was (enllble of, and not judging it convenient tofpeak to her of that in fo great company : A little time after (he Company of Virgins retired, and it feem'd that the Daughter of Leontin carried with her all the brightnefs of day from my Prince's eyes. In effed , all things that the Athenians did the reft of that day to do him honour feem'd but troublefome to him, and he retired at evening fooner than he had been accullomed, that he might in his folitude think with more liberty of the adventure had befallen him. He devoted to thefe thoughts the whole night, without permitting ileep to take the leaft part, and the remembrance oi AthennU kc\ixh\m company fo that he could not put it a minute out of his mind: Not but that his foul, fierce and haughty, did not fubmit without reludancy to the yoke his palhon would impofe, or that before he fubmitted to it, he did not maintain within himfelf a great combat. To this age he had prefcrvcd his liberty entire, though by the advantages of his excellent compofute, the fair qualities of his perfon, and the glory of his adtions, he had obliged more, than one of the faireft Ladies in Terfxa^ to refpcdl him favourably, but now he found himfelf dcpriv'd of the grcateft part of his flrength ■■, or at leaft he (bund not fuf- ficient to defend himfelf againft this imperious beauty, which at hrft had fettered him. HaB» ( faid he, tormenting himfelf in his Bed ) feeble Varanct, wilt thoti furrender at the pa 288 PHARAMOND. Part. III. fr(i fighr of a Virgin ? 'thoa who bafi httherto beheld with indiferc)icy, aud pflffibly rvith dif- dain, all that Alia hath of mo\i great and moji fair ? and after fo many proofs thote haji given ef thy conflancy^ in the mojl dangerous hazards^ fl^all a fimple Virgin of Athens frpfeming thee fiowers^ imperioujly fnatch arvay thy heart? h it from the habit the Athenians have gain'dto vanqitijl) the Vexihns from the time ef my frji Progenitors, that they rejolve to make fne a Slave Jbfoon as 1 appear in their City ? And do they lookjtpon me as defcended from tbofe Kings rvhufe ■innumerable Armies a handfal of their men have defeated ? Ah ! 1 would pardon them this in' iention of theirs if Athenais were defcended from the blood of Miltiades, or Themiftocles, bat Jhe is the Daughter of Lcontin : fl->e is born among the people, and hath not perhaps drawn one drap of nohle blood from all her Anceftors. Ah I mean fpirited Varanez, is this a yoak, worthy of thee ? Or doil thou thinkjhy felf born for fo difgraceful a fervitude f He remain'd for fome time content with this thought, and thinking he had reprefcntcd to himfclf with fuccefs, all that could infpirc him with a difdain ot Athenaif, or at leafi: of thofe chains wherewith Qie would fetter him : but a little after her beauty prcfenting it felf to his imagination with its entire forces, difpcrs'd infenfibly all that would oppofe its power i and when he found this re-afiault in his Soul, But my courage, faid he, jlnce it is e>y thee that my pajjion is affaiVd, andfince it is thou that art offended at my weal^ne^, why cd- mejl thou, not to defend me with forces able to refill the enemy thou difdaine\\ ? and why def end- eft thou not the entrance of my heart againjl Athenais ? If thou judgejl her unworthy to reign there, arm agaiftf her all thou feemefl to offer in vain, and drive her from my foul, or era fe to torment me. It is not neceffary to be of the blood of the Gods to beget a love in man : It is beauty and it is merit that creates love, and not birth and dignity : I may love without propofmg to my felf any thing of bafe in my Love, and reafau it felf doth not forbid me from loving what is too amiable for any to be able net to love it. He paffed the night in this manner, without having determin'd any thing in his fpirit, or without being able to draw other refolutions from all his reafonings, or other knowledge from all he refented, than that he was abfo- lutely amorous, though he knew not to what he ought to carry his love, nor in what matl- ner he ought to feek comfort. This nights watching, and the trouble with which he was tofs'd, made fome diforder obfervable in his Countenance, or at leaft fome alteration, and he was forc'd himfelf to al- lege fome light indifpoiition to conceal the true caufe. But when he was gone forth of his Palace to vilit fome places of Athens, for which the Hiftory had given him fomecuriofity, or at Icaft thofe which had efcap'd the cruelty of SyVa, who had taken and deftroyed this City four or five Ages before, and that he began with a Temple of Minerva, which is yet kept with great diligences by an accident .of Fortune rather than dcfign, the firft objedl that prefented it felf to his fight, was the chaft:iing Athenais, who there made her prayers, and who as all other perfons which were there, tofe up and difcover'd her face at the arrival of the Prince. The fight of Athenais made him inl\antly forget all that he had a defire to fee in the Temple, and he was ftruck in fuch fort, that had he been obferv'd it had not been difficult to have noted his difturbance in his countenance : he recover'd himfclf the moft readily pollible, and turning towards Leontin, who accompanied him every where, Tok did not advertife us, faid he, that we Ihould fee Atheazis in thisTemple, but fmce we have that happinef!, you mttji not thinks it ill that I demand fome part in the prayers Jfje offers ttp to the Gods : And at thefe wotds without attending an anfwer, headvancM tov/aids Athenais, though it were with a tumult in his thoughts difficult for him to conceal. Athenais was retired fome paces from all company, and the refped we had for the Prince, making us keep a di- ftance, he found himfelf alone witli her, or at Icaft fo far from all others, that without fpeaking very loud, he might fay any thing without being heard. In all likelyhood this conveniency (hould not have infpired him with a defign to fpeak of his love to one whom be had feen but a fmall while before, and to one whofe peifon was compos'd in fuch man- ner as might create a refpedin all men : but we muft not meafure other minds by hisi and befides that, he hath a boldnefs in all things which never had its parallel, and that he be- liev'd that what he (hould fay could not offend Athenais, it is certain that the great difpro- portion between him and Leontin, made him think, and poiFibly with fomercafon, that he was not oblig'd to the fame circumfpednefs with his Daughter, as if flie had been born in a degree equal to his : By this rcafon, and perhaps by a motion which he could not ma- fter, having accoftcd her with a behaviour and words full of civility , Come you hither, faid he, to demandpardon of the Gods for the ill you have done to your Father^s Scholar ? Athe- nais wlio undcrftood not thefe words, though flie might well have expcdcd frcm her beauty an effed equal to what it had produc'd, blufh'd in fuch manner that from the place where we itood we might obfetve it, and bending down her eyes with infinite modetty, {he Book IJI. V H A ll A M N D, -jo flic made (he Prince judge Hie was in fome trnuble, what anfivcr flic (liould return to his difcourfe. He felt foiiie hinifcif for the ttTt.d it had produed, and repented polhbly for fome time for the quicknels he had ufed to difcovcr himftlt : but feeing the h\i\ difficultv was pal}, and that the lilence of Athenais gave him time to purfue what he had begun, jf the Gods will pardon yon, (added he to what he had laid J / »-/// not lament fur this effcH pf their ^oodnefi, but I null implore them on my behalf, that they mak^ you a little fenfihlc of pitv for the evils you may commit. Athenais was pollibly unwilling to anfwcr to this difcourfe, if (he could have excufcd it, but not knowing how to retire her fcif from this convcrfatiori with a Prince, whom rcl'pcd: permitted her not to treat as tlic would have treated anothti perfon upon the fame fubjcdt, feeing in the end ilic could not defend her fcU from anfwer- ing him, 1 have enough to do, to beg pardon from the Gods, faid (he, far thofe faults 1 trul^ an, rcithoHt begtri'ti:^ it for thofe evils rvhich I neither bate nor tvili commit during >n\ life. Toii may be ignorant of this, replied Varanez, and I believe yon aUed it rvitbout defi^fj, b:ii yoU mill no longer be ignorant of it, nrhen yon fl^all nnderjland from my rnotttb, that Itruh dye for you. ■ . ' . Concluding thefe wotds, he vt^as fomewhat afliam'd himfclf of his boWref^', r^nd rioc being willing to continue a difcourfe which might have made the fpedatorS conceive ill had it continued longer, he tetircd having falutcd Athenais very civily, and havin?, done what he intended to do, and fcen what he detir'd to fee in the Temple, he went to vific thofe other parts oi Athens whither he was condaftcd, aiid devoted tlicrefi of the day ro that employmcntibut it was with a prepoflcllion fo great,and he took fo little notice of thofe things on which he had before his curiolity fo intent, that it iiad been ealle to remark, had he been well obferved, that he had his thoughts fuU of fomething extraordinary, which ren^ dred him infenfible to all other things that could preient them{clves. He ufed however fome endeavours to dilTemble it, and to prevent the fufpicions of the Inhabitants o( Athens; he told them that he had found their City fo delightful, that it would be difficult to pare from it fo foon as he had done from many others, and that if his affairs would permit, he would make fome Hay there. This fecond night he had very little or no more repofe than he had the lirrt , or at leall he flept little more, though it be true that he was lefs perplex'd with thofe contrarieties which had difturb'd him at the birth of his love, and that he found fome content in the ad vancenient he had made by difcovering his paliion to Athenais, though he bcliev'd, as well he had obferv'd, that his proceedings had not oblig'd her. But on the morrow when Lfo«<;« would yet have (howed him fome rarity in Athens, Leontin, laid he, we TviU fee to morrow what yoit n>illJhon> me, for fince I think^to makffotnejiay in the City; jve jhall have time enough to fee all that can be confderable, but m the mean time it is juli thai I return to the fair Virgins of Athens the vifit they haze made me, or at leajl, ml beinr able to vifit them all purticularly, that I acfjuit my felf to their Leader of what I owe them, and that by the fame means I fee my Mafer in his ownhoufe. Ah my Lord, replied Leoniin, both my "Daughter, my hotife and my felf are unworthy to receive you, and it is notjftji ."/// enough TZ^WeAVaranez interrupting him, and if my vifit may not at all prejudice you, all that you ca/t fay fljall not hinder me from paying you that vifit ta day. He performed it according fo his word, and an hour after having caus'd Leontin to ride in his Chariot with fome of us, he caufed it to drive to his houfe, which was about a furlong out of the City, and on the way to Megara. Wc tound it very handfome, though not magniHcent, and accompani'rd with a Garden very curioufly kept, and imbellilli'd with many Fountains, and fome very plea- ling Alleys. At one of the corners of the Garden, flood a very fair Arbour or banqiietting houfe fomewhat diltant from the body ot the Houfe, in which the Philofopner Leontin kept his Books, and where he pafs'd in retirement the greateft part of his lite. Athenais had het Clofet within the Houfe, which was the neateli in the World, though it had nothing of rich or proud i (lie had likewile a great quantity of Books, by tlie readii.g of which her Fa- ther had given her the knowledge of all liberal Sciences. But it was not all this iny Prince fought, though hefeem'd to fee them with infinite )oy, for in the fole Athenais he encoun- tred all that could at prefcnt pleafe him in the world. He found her accompanied with fom.e Ladies of the City which were come tovitither, lor by the elkem.all the City of /^//^^/r had for her, her houfe had been continually lull of cpn)pany, if they had not knoWn the lit- tle inclination flic had her felf to m.uch fociety. Her Mother was dead fome years before; and (he had been educated under the care of her Father, who fbr this education rather than any thing elfe had quitted (he Court of Ifdigejies. Athenais blufli'd at the light of my Prince, without doubt out of the remembrance (he had of thofe words that had already wrought the fame cffcdt, hut flie did not at all difcom- f ofe het felf nor fcem'd troubled at his vifit, and though ilie rcceiv'd him with all the marks P p bit 290 PHAKAMOND. Part.. III. of a profound rcfpeit, fl-.e gave him however the honours of hcr hdufe with fo rruch grace an d freedom, as if (he had been daily acculiom'd to receive Princes ot his quality. Be plea- fed^ (faid my Prince, abording her and fainting her very civily,) to receive for all your Compa- ny, the thanks I otve to the fair Virgins of Athens , and you mi per/nit me to part this vift be- tmeen rvhjitlorpe thein^ and what 1 rvoiild render to my Mafler. My Lord, anfwered Athe- nxls, neither the Virz^ins of Athens, nor the Father ef Athenais could bare expeded this ho- mur yoie are pleafcd to do them, and by the part I have as a Virgin 0/ Athens, and the Dangh' ter of Leontin, youfhall pardon me my Lord, if 1 dare for them ajfureyou of au ackitovpledge- me nt full enough offubmifton. , My Prince return'd noble and civil anfwcrs to hcr difcourfe, but after the publioli dif- courfe had endur'd for fome time, knowing well that in that company he could.not enter- tain her with that for which only he came to entertain her, he teltified to her a great dcfire to fee the Garden and Cabinet of Leontin, and Athenais having offer'd to accompany him, he gave her his hand, and going forth of the houfe, he began to walk in the Garden with Jier i all the company as he had well forefcen out of rcfpedt kept a good dillance behind him, fo that he had as great a conveniency to fpeak to Athenais as he could delire. Nor did he lofe it, for he had no fooner walked fome paces with her in a very pleafant Alley, but beholding her with eyes full of all the marks of his love, and fpeaking low, not to be underl\ood by thofe who came behind him, Ikiiorv not, faid he, If you can rveU pardon me fir the interruption I yejierday gave you at your prayers in the "Jemple ef Minerva, or if you have confidered rvithyour felf of tvhatlthen told you. All that comes from you my Lord, replied A- thenaij, ought to be regarded tvith refpecl, but as thofe things you did me the honour to tell war, rpere but an ejfeCt ef your bravery, and a desire you had to divertife your felf, Iconfefs to you my Lord,that 1 hate notfincefo much as thought ofthem.Honul replied Varanez,doyou call them the ef. fed of a defire to divertife my felf, the confejfion I have made you of the moji violent pafion can reign in a heart, or do you believe any perfon can find a divertifement in lofing his liberty, and all therepofe of his life ^ As I do not believe my felf capable, iz'id Athenais, to produce atf effect parallel to what yonfpeak^ of, and particularly, my Lord, over a heart like yours, JJhall with pain believe it is come to pafi,andpojfibly jhould have no leji difquiet tofuffer this difcourfe,ifthe refpeU 1 owe you did not oblige me to it : hut you are the Prince o/Perlia,a«(s! I am the Daughter o/Leontin. lfl}allbever\/ forry, replied Fi»rj«ez, if you can believe that for the quality of the Prince ofPei- fia,/ willdifpenfe with the refped owing toyoitr merit \ for though you (houldbe the Sijier of Theo- dolius, as you are the Daughter of Leontin, this advantage of your birth jhould not hinder me from declaring the love I truly bear you. Tou would poffibly have aifed more circumfpeUly, re- plied Athenais, for perfous of your rank, and degree have other ways to explain themfehes, but es thofe are uot .for me to expeli, 1 confefi the reft are little conformable to my inclination, and that they give me infinite difpleafure, I Jhould chufe rather, replied my Prince, to be exposed my felf to the greateji mifchief that Fortune can make me feel^ than contribute to the leaji of thofe you may receive, but itfeems to me, that there is no reafon why you (Iwuld he aJjliCiedfor the kttnwledg^of an effeU of that beauty who fe glory is whol'y for you and the mifery only for me i for infumm, it is not you that the arrival of Varanez in Athens hath made lofe repofe and liber~ »y, nor is it you who by the rigours and abfence of Varanez will be rendred miferable, but it is you have deprived Varanez of his heart from the frji moment be ftwyou, and who have triumph' ed in an injiant over a Prince, who hitherto bad defended himfelf and his liberty againji all other Beauties. If Ihad beauty fufficient to have done as you fay, replied the Daughter of Leontin^ I would willing^ly have been ignorant of it all my life i and I had been much oblig'd my Lord ifjoit hadfpar^d me the trouble to hearken to you or anfwer you in a matter fo little agreeing with the wif- dom I have been taught, JFith teachingyou a wifdomfo pernicious, replied my Prince, Leon- tin ought to have depriv''dyou of your beauty, either be ought not to have inftruUedyou in a wifdom mhich permits you not to be beloved, or he ought not to have left you in a condition that muji force all the world to love you. The whole world tcpVicd Athenais, have not thoughts like to yours, or at leaji few perfms have hitherto given me knowledge nf it. I confefi, faid Varanez, that the impa- tience of m\ love made me a little ton ra{hly difcover the knowledge I have givenyou, but it is a fault younit^ht to pardmbnth becaitfe I could not retrain it and becaufe that being Scholar to Le- ontin, I thought in that refpcct I had fome little priviledge : However it be it is certain that Ipaf- (mnately love you, andlfeelUkewife that IfhaUfo love eon till death. IwiU give you thofe proofs that JfjaV not permit it to b: doubted either by \ou or Leontin, ^-nd if I can oblige you to fome acknowledgments, Ijhall not belefihappy, thanlfliall be miferable if my love cannot makf you fenfible. He hafrned to fpeak thefe words, being come neat the end of the Alley, at which he mulf of ncceliity return, and expofe himfelf to the tight of the company, to go towards the Book III. THARAMOND. 591 fl'.c Banqiietting Houfe of Lw«t//;, which as I have told yoi», was in a corner of the Garden, and Athsmis was much plcafcd to be dLlivcicd by this means tn;iii a di cmiric Irom which fhe could difticulrly Iiave retired her fclf, out of' refpciii to the Frince- She - therefore made a lign to one ot her Friends, not to abfent her (clt any longer (<,\ far trorn lieri and tlie Frince feeing himfelt deprived ot the lidpcs again to entertain her in particu- lar, or contenting himfelt with what he had faid for thcHrll vilit, employed the rclt of the time which he (l.iyed with Leontin^ to vifit with all the company, the beaiuies of the Garden and the Banquctting Houfe, in which, belidcs the great quantity ot Books, he fawno fmall number of other things worthy his curiotlty. On the morrow he ^zvc Aihenah a like vilit, and afterwards many other?, in which, though flic tcllihed no fmall rcludancy to hearken to him, he continually entertained her with his love, and that in a manner fo pallionate, that perfwaded her by all appearances,' that there was no man more truly amoroL^s than he. Athenais being a Damfel extremely fage, iheat firll fupported very impatiently both his frequent vilits and pallionate difcourfcs, and (he had without doubt not eafily accuftomed herfelf to them, if her Father for parti- cular rcafons which he had, and wlijch were unknown to all the world, had not com- mandcd her to fufter them, and had not vifibly tefiified that he approved them, fo that in a little time the Prince F.jrtf;jfz favv himfelf in an entire liberty to fee Athenais, and to fpeak to her of his love. And to her he dedicated his whole time, or rather his entire life, and gave himfelf over in fuch a manner to his love, that he fcem'd to live no longer but for Athenais^ nor to think of any but her. He fpoke not at all of leaving Athejjr. nor feem'd to think longer of his journey to Co»\Untinople, but left himfelf to bis palfion in fuch manner, that never any man feem'd fo iix'd to otie. He believed likewife, that in the thoughts of Athenais there was fomethingfor him, which went beyond the fuffer- ance of his love, and as he faw himfelf of a psrfon fo well compofcd, as might be loved by the moft fevere perlon, he believed that he was not indifferent to Athemu, In eflecS', qs there are few men in the world of a better mind than he, of a difpoiltion more agree- able when he pleafes, of a fairer reputation in the world, and of a birth more iliuHrious, it would not have been ftrange if withfo much love as he had, and as he had tefiified, he bad touched the heart of Athemit. In line, he had reduced her to hearken favourably unto him, and to tell him fometimes things fo obliging, as might make him believe he was a little lov'd i however, this was all the advantage he had gain'd, and when at fa- vourable opportunities he would f^rive for little liberties with her, fuch as killing her hand, he faw her (hew a countenance wholly different from the ordinary, and beheld him- felf repulfed with a fcverity that gave him as much fear as he had love. He had likewife taken notice of one thing which much troubled him, which was, jhat neither Athotais nor Leontin would ever receive any of his prefents, ( though he had made ufe of many .de- vices to make them accept them ) nor fuffer any of thofc propofals he had made for their advantage. This feverity of Athenais in granting him favours, ( for (he had always re., tufcd hitn, even to the lca(\ things J and her contfancy, and that of her Father, in refufal of his Prefents, gave him infinite diflurbance, and though he faw himfelf well rccciv'd, and favourably hearkened to, and knew likewife by the difcuurfes of Atheuais^ that fhci had fomealfedionfor him, it feem'd to him that he found nut his aims either in the be- haviour of the Father or Daughter, and that he had yet much more to do^ to render him* fel^tmly happy. ,' " •fcnelancholy which he had at certain hours, miglu be obf.rv'd in his countenance by thsle who like my fe If were continually near his pcrlbn. or had any part in his confi- dence > and one day feeing him more dilquiettd ; hart; p,\dipfiry making ufe of the liberty he gave me to demand the caufe, It will be difficult, for me to tell vm it^ faid he, and I (hall likecpife have the fame difficulty to tell y,iit rt'hat /<■ fse^^^'ji\> to make _ me happy ^ not hui that as yoH igay judge the pjjffffion of ?ithcnais would re.H4-r me the moii fortamte of all me/t^ but out of the k>tpwledge I have of an aujlere ijrt:»«/, was ended zt Athens-., . and that all the thoughts cf a Prince fo great in all things, were fix'd at the feet of a P p 2 Virgin, 2Q2 PHARAMOND. Part III X'irgin, who thougB of an cxtraoirdinarY merit, yet was but Daughter to LeoKtiw. In fine, his defires incicaling with his love, ar.d polhbl^ with his hopes, he contented himfelf no longer with the condition of his fortune, but after having made AthenaU it' vera! times judge that he afpir'd at a better, without lier having teltihed any knowledge of his delires, one time being alone with her, after he had feveral times in vain endea- voured to kifs her fair hands, Ton amijhle and too well hchved Athenais, ( faid he, with a pallionate behaviour ) fljall I be all my life in the condition you fee me, and will you re- fnfe me till death tbofe marhj of your affeciion^ which may render me the moji happy of all tnen ? " I believe not my Lord, ( rtplyed the Daughter of Leontin ) that you can com- " plain of me with jullice, for I muft believe 1 have granted you eatily enough all " that depends on me for your fatisfaftion. M that yn:t have granted me^ leplyed F-*- ranez^ might be (riven without any afFedion^ nor have I obtained hitherto any thing but liberty of difconrfe. " That liberty, rcplycd Athena'a, is not poihbly fo fmall as you believe it, "for I had naturally fo great a reludtancy againll it, as could not have been overcome but " by the refped and by the efteeni I have for you. for this rejhed, replycd my Prince, it feems to me more injurioM than obliging, and for the ejleem^you kitoiv it hath been often given to went alone, rvithottt affeUions hearing any part. "You have perhaps, h\d Athenaif, known "fomething fufficiently particular in this clkerri, to difcern it from that which merit a- "■-Mone can give i and you may well )udge my Lord, that I am not infenfible of the ho- "nouryou have done me i if you demand further, it doth not depend on me, it is of others than my felf you muft- ask it. If your heart be not yonr own, faid my Prince, t have in vain employed all thefe proofs of my love, and it rvill be difficult for me to draro it from another place if you have engaged it, but if it he yours, from rohom but front your felf can 1 demand it ? '" My heart is my own, my Lord, ( replyed the Daughter of Leontin ) at " kaft, if you will permit me yet to call mine, that which you pollibly believe due to '' you for thofe proofs you have given me of your affedion, but it hath done for you '•'-all that is permitted it, and if you deiire farther, you muif addrefs your felf to him, to '/.whom the difpofition isreferv'd. Andto rvhom is it I muji then addrefr my felf ? (faid hevery hafiily. J "It is to Leontin, whom you fee, ( faid (he, efpying Leontin to enter '•' at the fame time into the chamber ) and it is Leontin who difpoleth of my heart, even !5,to the leaft thought of it. -: This difcourfe of AthenaU in the prefence of Leontin^ who had hearkened to it, and by which my Prince knew well that both the Father and the Daughter had a defign to make him explain himfelf, furpris'd him with a great aftonifhment, and made him remain fomc time without reply i but in fine, making ufe of his boldnefj at that time, as he had done hral! others, and anfwering very loud to Athenais, to be underflood by Leontin as well as her, Ik^toivrvcll, faid he, that Leontin is not ignorant of the love I have for you, and he kotows tvell I have not made it a fecret to him ; but though in the beginning he hath been lefi oppof.te than you, I krtoiv not whether in the purfuit, he rvil} be lefr favourable, " You 'Miced not doubt if my Lord, (replycd Leontin, breaking filenceinlkad oi AthenaU ) but " that with the profound refpedl I have for you, I have all thofe thoughts you can dc- t'-Ctein a manpalhonatefor yourfevicei but I know not in what manner I can be more -'"favourable fo your defircs, than by cotnmanding Athenais to receive the honour you do -■ .her with that refpedt and acknowledgment (he owes to your perfon, andto that af- " fedion you teltitie- Ah Leontin, faid my Prince, this achrtowledgment of Athenais^^/^ limits very fir ait, and a man tvho truly gives his heart, is ill repayd n-ith only civilitj^lfjl^y Lord, C replyed Leontin very fcrioufly } Athenais hath done hitherto but rvhat 1 have com-- fttandedber, and I ajfure my felf, that pe hath done for your fatisfaCtion all thatwifdom and virtue can permit her. Greater proofs of her affection cannot be granted, but to him that Jhall be her Spoufe ; and fi nee by reafon of her meamie^ Jf;e cannot hope that honour of you, you OH^ht to ptrdon her if (fje keeps tvithin thofe hounds prefcribed her by her duty, Thefe words aftonifli'd the Prince, notwithflanding all his natural conhdence, but a little after behold- ing Leontin fiercely, J believe, faid he, that you cannot think^ that 7 {hould ejpoufe Athenais. I (re well my Lord, rcplycd Leontin, that I cannot trell hope it ; hut you muji permit me to iell yon, thit tna'^ty other gualitv, 'and tvith any other dcfign, yntt ought to hope mthing from AthfcnaiiS. In fitf opinion, ( replyed the Prince with his Hrll Hercenefs J that tpith'nttt havings the design yoif'jjfeak^of, 1 mi^hr dl) for your fhrtttne, and for that a/ Athenais, things fuf~ jicicntly confiderahle to content reafonable ambition; but though there be fero things in the rvorld which m'y l&iie for h^hefi-3\% A-nuld not fnitkewe do, yet the Daughter of Leo\a'm Jf'all never be pen featcdon the Ihrone of Cyrus. "Ho my Lord, faid now Athenais, pe (hall ne- ver be feen feated there ^ but as pe is unrrorthy, of that high degree ^ all other things you can do Book III. F HAKAMOND. 2^5 d> for her, are tinvoorthy of her courage and her virtue; a.id as (lie l^torr's her fclf rtorriore Tvorthy of the hmnur of your f?J't^ (he entreats \on my Lord^ r.^ith all tl'e refpeii foe ntvet v.)«, reverto fee her more. And ccncluding tlielc word';, (he retired with a profound re- verence, and left the Prince witli Lenntirt. " Huw, ( faid he, (ceirg her retire in thac "inanncr J at Icfs than efpouling the Daughter of Lemtin^ h it no more pcrmitrcd ine to "fee Athena'n ? "My Lord, my Lord, (faid the Pliilofoplier, with a behaviour that *' denoted hisdifcontent ) you fliall not efpoufc Athenais^ bur I dare affurc you, thac the " man who fliall efpoufc her, fliall be no lefs great than you, and that you (hall fee her " in a degree not at all lefs exalted than that of the Qil.°ens of Verfa. It is the belief " I have in a Science wh.ich is not accuHomed to deceive me, which Iiath made me under- *' ftand this, and it is that knowledge h.ath made mecomm.it faults ought not to be par- ■ "doned, cither to my age or to my profcflion, if I had not a deHgn to repair them. '" Fdt-jwz laugh'd at thisdifcourfe of the Philofophers, and having made him know the little belief he gave to what he had predidled of the great fortune of his Daughter, he ' departed {'rom his houfc, to retire to the Palace where he was lodged. He pafTed the reft of that day in a ftrange melancholy, not being able to take any refolution between two extremities, either to efpoufe the Daughter of Leo:itin, or never more to fee Athenais. "How, ffaid he, walking at a great pace in a Gallery v/hich was by his apartment ; (hall " I no more [ee Athenais^ to whom I have given my heart, and to whom I have given it " witiiout hopes of withdrawing it > Tiiat Athcmzli which I adore, that Athenais " for whom I die, and that Athenais whom noreafon, nor no confidcration caii make me "abandon. That happinefs I proposM to my fclf inahopes to be beloved by her, is it '' vanKhed then like a vain fmoak, and fhall I not only no more fee //f^f^a;/, but fliall " I be hated by her for the injury I have done her ? But what injury, ( added he a little " after ) what injury haft thou done to the Daughter of l.eontin ? and whatever c/fedts her " beauty inay produce, what appearance Was there that the only Son of Ifdii^elles, and the "Heir to the moll Illuftrious Crown of the world, (hould become Son in-law to Leon-- ^'■tht? Oh Love.' Oh Athenais ! Pardon me if you think fit, but I (hall never acCt this " meannefs, and I muft choofe rather never tnore to fee Athenais^ than efpoufe the Daugh- *' ter of LeontJM. He alone tormented hiinfelf for fome time in this manner, but having feen me, and ha- ving obferved upon my countenance the grief his difquicthad created in me, he called me, and recounted tome word for word, all that had befallen him that day at Lee/itin''s. I know not how to tell you my Lords, \vhether the recital he made of this adventure, af- flifted or rejoyced me > for as on the one fide I was not at all troubled that he would not efpoufe Athenais ( though by the merit of her perfon I judged her worthy of a Crown ) nor yet that he retited'hiir.felf from apdflionto whi^h he was abandon'd in fuch manner that he forgot all other things •> on the other (ide, I feared that a rupture made in fo ftrange a manner, would beget in him a difcontent, of which he would not ealily be cured. This incertainty of my thoughts made me remain a long time without faying any thing, and when he commanded me to fpcak and tell him the judgment I made of hj^ proceedings, "My Lord, faid I, I know not how to condemn the de(ign you have not " to efpoufe a Virgin born among the people, and in a meannefs fo difproportionate to youf "Dignity, and I approve icfomuch theinore becaufe you are rnade mailer of your paf- *' fion in an age wherein for the moft part, itrendersitfelf Miftrcfs of man's rcafon i but " if you be as enamoured of .(^fl'e/Mi/ as you have done me the honour to teflific to me, or "rather, if it be true, that the repofe of your days is fixed to this love, as your adirions "make me judge, you need not fo foon make this manifeftation, or do itatleaft w-jth " fome fweetning, " Ah for the manifeftation, faid my Prince, I cannot well hinder my ^'' [di from making it, and by the difcourfe both of the Father and Daughter, you may '^ judge well they haverefolved to caufe me to explain my felf, and I will add likewifc, "that truly efteeming Athenais^ it is impodible for me toabufeher, or to make her hope " I would efpoufe her, not having any fuch intention. "You may my Lord, replycd I, *' rcprefent to her your prefent condition, and the dependence you have on the will of "your Father, who in all likelyhood will never confent to this alliance, and by this means *' my Lord, you would give a different face to this explanation of your rritentions, though *' in effeft it would be but the fame thing. " I confefs to you,, rcplyed F,jrij//fs, that J *' ought to have aticd in this manner, but the boldnefs of the Philolopher having mov'd ■" me, Icould not become mailer of Tome fmall motions of choler which tranfportcd me, *' and made me declare my felf foincwhat roughly. If this may be repaired, and that to ^morrow, yOu viCn'm^Athen^ir on tny behalf before I feeheragainj can recover what is "paf^, 294 PHAKAMOND. Part III. '' paft, by tbe dependence I have on tlie authority of the King my Father, rather than any ''other reafons dilobligLing to her, and by your difcourre iiioUifie a part of her anger, you '' will do me the beft office 1 can receive from your affcdfion : For in fumm Mitraner, though "I would not cfpoufe Athetiais^ I muft confcfs that it is impollible for me to live without " loving her, or without endeavouring to make my felf be lov'd by her if it be polliblc^and *' that if I lofe that hope, I fliall with difficulty rind any joy or rcpofc in my days. I pro- mifcd him to do what he commanded mc, and to torget nothing I believed capable to {often the difgui^i of Atbemis. He wondred not at all that on the morrow at his rifing, he faw not Leonthi, though he had waited on himalmoft every day lince our coming to Athem, believing that he could not now fo well expedt his vifits : but not being able to live without the hghr of Athenais^ and remcmbring that llie had prayed him never more to fee her, to teftihe the fetpedi he had for her, he would not return to her houfe without demanding permillion, and for this rea- fonhe fent me as we had agreed todifcharge thccommilfion he hajj given me the day before. But my labour was in vain, for (not to lengthen my difcourfe in places little important; I could neither that day nor the following rind either Athenais or her Father at their houfe, but the third day we underftood that both Father and Daughter were departed from Athens on a voyage, from which by all appearances they would not in long time return, and no- thing couid be judged but that they were gone to Thebes,, to the Kindred oi Athtnaii''s Mother. At this news Varanez was touch'd with a grief fo piercing that it it was irnpofliblc for him to difleaible if, or hinder it from breaking forth by moft violent marks, '' How cried he have '' I chafed Athenais from her houfe and from her Country ? and becaufe I adore her am I be- "comefo odious to her, to make her quit her Native Soil, pollibly to fcek a retreat and San- actuary in ftrange and forreign Nations? Ocn\c\ Athenais, O unfortunate F^ara^fis, Oam- " bitious and revengeful Leontin. Alas, added he a little after, it is to fly from thee, that " the fair and Divine Athenais hath cxpofed her/elf to the labour and travel of an incommodi- " ous voyage,and expofed her felf polliblyto more terrible dangersiand it is thou alone ought- *' eft to be accufcd for all her ill fortune can make her fufTer. He added to thefe many more •words, by which hcexprefled the violent agitation of his foul, and not content with words he commanded with all fpecd that his Equipage fhould be made ready to go for thebes, whi- ther he believ'd fhe was retir'd, and to follow her if he mift her there through all the Cities of Greece till he had found her. I let the firft violence of his inward motions vanifli, without cppollng my fclf,hindering in the mean time as much as it vras pollible xheAthenians and other pcifons who were not of his Confidents from the knowledge of what pafs'd, and I adJed my part fo well that having ftoppt him at Athens for the remainder of that day,at night feeing hitn a little more ready to hearken to me,I reprefented unto him the great roife that the effc&s of his palUon would maJie in the world, and the judgments would be made of him through al! the Earth, if they faw him run through all Greece to purfue a Virgin that fied him , the dif- pleafure which that rumour would beget in the King his Father> and the ill cffcd it would caufe in the Court of Iheodofms, whither he ought to go ; And in fumm, to fpeak to him likewife of that of which he was mo(f fenfible, and by which I might beft perfwade him, I told him that if it were true that Athenais and Leotttm fled from him, he could with little appearance of fuccefs follow them with an Equipage like his, and that it not being poffible for him to march without great notice taken of him where he pafTcd, he might well judge that thofe that fled him would have the knowledge of his removal on all fides, and by cor> fcquence as much liberty as they could defire to fhun him i whilft if he thought tit to ftay yet iomtnmtzt Athens, in which place he might poflibly learn more affurcd news oi Athenais, than thofe he had yet received, and from thence take his march to Co)!\iantinople and virit in his paffage fume other Cities of Greece the fight of which he had propos'd to himfelf. I would engage in the mean time to go not only to Ihehes, whither marching without Equipage, I fiiould give no caufe of fufpicion by my arrival, and that if I were not fo happy as to rind A- ihenais^\\txc, I would feek her through all Grcfce, and not only promife him to find iicr if (be were to be found in thatCountry ,but to appeafe her in fuch manner by thofe thingslfhould ttll her on his part, without yet engaging him farther than hedefir^d, that I durff afTure my felf (he would no more fly from him, but that at his return from Con\\amimple where I would again meet himif I did not overtake him before he arriv'd there, he might fee her as much as hedcfircd, and with 3 leifure fo much the greater, having acquitted himfelf of a Voy- age he way of neceliity to make, and for which the King his Father had fent him out of ferCui. I added to this difcourfe all thirgs I judged likely to perfwade him, and as there was much more Book III. P H- AJi A M N3. 295 more appearance ofreafon in what I propos'd, tlian in what lie Iiad before dcdgn'cl. And as he had nofmall conhdcnce in me, both by vLalnn of my fidelity and my addixfs to hnd A' iJyenais if (he were IHII in Greece^ he in the end {'ufFcT'd himfdf to be perfwadcd, and con- fented to all I dcfired : but it was after he had recommended to me thofe things I prnmis'd. him in fuch a m.anncr that he made mc cafilyjud^e all thcrepofe of his life depended on them. I departed on the morrow for Ihebes, and my Prince havinj:^ remain'd yet five or iiiz days at Athe>ts, during wh.ich he had no news of Athenais^ departed in the end for Conllan- tiftnple by thofe Cities he had delign'd yet to fee, and in which he t^atcer'd himfelf with forr.e hopes to find Athenais or hc^ar feme news of her. This hope feeble as it was made hirh flay in thofe Cities longer than he had othcrwife dune, where in the mean time he employ- ed all manner of diligence to inform himfelf of the Philofophcr Lenntitt^ and his Daughter-i butall his labour proved vain, for he vitlted all he had defign'd to vif^f of Greece^ without hearing of cither of them. Befldcsthc defire to find Athenais^ that ^vh^dl!■nade him make a longer ftay during the refi of his journey than he had othcrwife done, arid, gave me the means to arrive at CoKjiaKtinople as foonas he, rhough 1 had trn through 3i]\ Greece^ was th'e coimfel which many confiderable perfons of his Train Jjave him, nor to appear ztConHanti- nople before he had by a little time cTtpcU'd a part of that grief v.'hich had chingcl both'lYls Ipirit and ids humour, and not to come to a place wheire he fliculd be fo miuch obfcrv'dj -iihd where his reputation and the Px.enown of his arrival, had already for a longtitjie been tpread abroad, far different from the fair reprefentation thereof .that had beeti conceiv'd from the extent of his fame. IneffeiS:, he hearken'd to their counfels, and particularly to Me^^^.^j-, who v^as a perfon of merit whom the King his Father had placM near him in the (tead of Antiochtis^ to perfecft what, was yet wanting in his education : And though he could with difficulty difTemble a part of the effefts of his love, yet having a haughty courage equal to all that could be called mofi: great, by the force thereof he became Maffer of a part of his ^rief, and appeared himfelf in the end at Conftantimple vtl a better condition than could have been cxpedled. For my Voyage, the difcourfel could make you would be needlefs, I will only tell you, thit I not only wttxx.o'lhebes but that I vifrted Argos^ Micene, Maderta^ and almoff all thofe Cities my Prince was not to pafs through without finding cither Leontin or Athenais, or without hearing any news of themj and being returned to Con(iamimple the fame day that hearriv'd, I had increas'd hisdifquiet, bythe little fuccefs of my voyage,if his Mind had not been already refolv'd on what he had defign'd to do after his departure from the Court of "theodofius. Many days before his arrival he met the Officers of the Emperour, who received him and treated him with a fplendor worthy their Maffer's greatnefsi and approaching nearer to the City he not only encountred the Chariots of the Emperour who cam.e to meet him with a magnificent Train , but the Emperour himfelf Jwho was come to receive him at a great difbnce from the City, having caufed all things to be propar'd for the moll noble reception. I believe you defire. not Iflioald make a particular recital of his en- trance. You my Lords who have often feen thingsof much greater importance, I will on- ly therefore tell you, that the young Emperour defcendingfrom his Chariot fo foon as he faw my Prince, who was already allighted to move towards him, made him a Salute full of fweetnefs and Majeff y : And though Varanez not being yet f ofTefTed of that Dignity to which he was to mount after the death of his Father, knew well the difference which was between the degree of the Emperour and his, and treated him with that refped ufually pra- ftis'd in the like interviews. The ^om-\^lheodof:us^ without conlidering in him tlie de- fault of a Crown which he ought one day to wear,look'd upon him not only as the Son of a Prince whom he had always called his Father, but like a true brother, and like a Prince in whofc perfon he would acknowledge the obligations he had to the King his Fa- ther. At prcfcnt all things in the perfon oi Varanez accompanied fo well his dignity, and be- fides the reputation which the renown of his fair aftions had already given him in thd'world, his high and noble Afpcft anfwered fo worthily to what was publilhed of him, and parti- cularly that day when it was fet off by a moft refplendent attire, and the moft magnificent habit tlut poflibly was ever feen in CoMjlaHtiitnple, that it was difficult to behold him with an ordinary contidcration : And when the Emperour and he were both mounted into the farne Chariot, but fo open in which they might be feen of all the world, and that in tliis pQti\p they marched through the Streets oiCottjiaHthtople. We took notice with infinite pleafure that the people and perfons of quality that were [n the Emperour's Train, and which com- pOs'd without doubt the faireft Court in the V\ or! I, teffihed no fmall af^onifhmen? at the 196 FHARAMOND. Part III. fight of ray Prince, fo different from common men. The Emperour conduced him to his appartment at the Palace, and forgot nothing ufiiall in fuch entertainments, when all ho- nours potlibly were to be paid to a Prince of the quality of J'aratiez. The fame day he let Jiim fee the Princefs his Sifter, I mean the Princcfs Pulcheria, for the two younger PrinccfTcs Flavilia and Marina^ liad already renounc'd the World and fliut themfelves up tor ever in a Houfe confecrated to the Service of that Divinity they adore. And becanfc I am much ob- lig'd J my Lords, to tell you in this part of my'difcourfe, it? what eftate we found the Court of the youDgTheodofms, and how it remains to this day, I will do it the more fuccindly for that I doubt not but every one of you is better inftruded than my felf, and I will tell you on- ly what is necelTary in the purfuit of my difcourfe. You know my Lords, what was the Reign of /ircadius. Father of the young "theodufiui^ and Son to the great Ibeodofuts whofe memory is fo glorious : Nor are you ignorant of any thing hath happened of memorable in the Empire, fince the great 7heodofiut at his death parted it between his Children, and made them reign in the Orient and Occide>it. You have underftood the diforders which the InHdelity o(Knffinus caufcd in the Eaft, who by the great Facility of Arcadnts had ufurp'd an Authority parallel to that of Stilicon's in the Weft, but with a merit much unequal : For though there be fome fimilitudc between the laft intenti- ons of SuUcon and thofe of Ktt^mf, yet in the per(on of KnffinHS there was none of thofe great qualities which both for War and Peace had with )uftice acquir'd Stilkon the reputation of a great mari. The wicked Kuffinur, who without any virtue had a power almoft abfo- lutc, tormented miferably the Empire with his Faflions, and had entirely ruin'd it if a juft death had not prevented his deteftable intentions. Eietrepia as wicked as himfelf, had an end little different from his ; and the good Emperour Arcadius began to tafte fome fwect- nefs in his Government, wlien too hafty Death cropt himi in the flower of his Age. The young'Iheodofnis his Son who was but Ten years old at the death of his Father, was educa- ted as I have told you and as you very well know by the diligence o(Ifdigejies our King, and by the good condud of his Governour Aiitiochus ; who finding in this Prince a nature full of Swcetnefs, Wifdom and Piety, did in his Education all was polfible though poflibly not all he defir'd. He found truly in him a great part of the qualities of the grat Iheodo^us his Grandfather, but he did not find them all, and- with thofe which he poiTefTed he without doubt wiflicd a greater vigour of Body and Spirit, and a part of thofe great virtues which compofe Heroes. Making ufe then of what he forund, he made of the youn^Theodofms no ilrong and able man for War, or for the management of great affairs, at leaft by what may be judged of a Prince who hath as yet fcarce paffed his twentieth year, but a Prince full of piety to Heaven, of Goodnefs towards men, of Jnftice, Clemency, Liberality and all that which we may call good or acceptable. He had poflibly infpir'd him with more vigour of .Spirit than he hath, if he had not died before he could accomplifli his work, which was two or three years before we arriv'd at Conjlamimfle. As Antiochns had very well known the ill effeds which the credit of Favourites had produc'd in the Empire in the F>.eign of Arcadiui^ he decried Favourites as much as he could in the affedion of Theodofwf, and exhorted him fo well, not to let himfelf be govern'd by perfons whom love to themfelves makes ordinarily facrifice the publick intereft to their own private ; that he infpir'd him truly with a very great conftancy to fupprefs the ambition of thofe who after the death of Antiocbus fought to af- pire to a degree like Ktfffitias and Stilkon. But as he faw himfelf young and naturally an e- nemy to affairs, by a delign which all the World at firft blamed, but by the happy event have fince approv'd, he caft his eyes not upon a Favourite who might eafe him from the weight of affairs, but upon a Favourite who by her natural knowledge or by the infpiration of Heaven he fouud more capable than all men he could make clioice of. This was the Princefs Pulcheria his Sifter, who not above a year or two elder than he equalled already both for the greatnefs of her Spirit and that of her Courage, all that the World can boaft of as nioft great. With her fpirit and courage (he was endowed with many excellent virtues, with which the Emperour was likewife endowed, and though aperfon admirable in the Po- liticks flie was obferv'd to have no lefs Sweetncfs,Piety,moderation and Goodnefs than he. For her pcrfon it may be faid that Fukheria hath an admirable beauty, and thofe beauties which do furprife and aftonilh, but as (he hath her complexion fair, her features well com- pos'd, her body mcft exacft, and an infinite grace and majefty in her perfon, fo there arc ma- ny beauties do outfliinc hers, though to fpeak truth it may in the general be faid that Ful- cheria is a beautiful Princefs. 'Twas then into her Arms that the Emperour disburthened himfelf of his load of affair", and he found things in a fmall time fo well manag'd, that in the end Vukheria did entirely govern both the Empiie and Empcrourj hut it was with fo much approbation of all the VVoild'. Book HI. ■ VHAKAMOKh. 597, World, by reafon of her admirable condud, and tbe good order flie by her prudence toolj in the moll preliing affairs, by herexadnefsin cauling jiillice tobe obferv'd, in entertain- ing alliances for the Empire, her knowledge in the ciioicc of thofe men the calkd to the War, or to the affairs Oi State, her good ceconomy in the difpofureot the Revenues, her excellent orders in the Provinces to keep the people in obedience i and in fine, in all the funilions of that great employ with which (he was charged, that the Eitipcrour ravifhed with theeledion he had made, her. <' It (liall not be Varanet, rcplyed the Prince, whowill difpute againll the inerit '■'■ of /Ithenais, for I fliall ealily agree^ that Fortune could do nothing for her but what '^ would behcKnv her merit. " I know not, replycd AthenaU^ If you believe as you fay-, "but I can vender my felf that jultice, never to attribute to my merit, what I hold from '• my fortune. " All the world ( faid the PriVicefs Fulcberia ) ad not with a modefty pa- " rallel to yours, and few pcrfons with a merit like yoiirs, would believe they owed any " thing to their fortune. " I am content ("replyed very readily Athenais ) not to owe "anything to my fortune, bccaofe it is to you Madam that I truly owe all things, for by- "a fecond Being which you have given me, 1 am more bound to you, than to thof^ " which gave me my Hrit. " But Madam, ( faid Varanez, who gave no attention to this " difcourfe ) by what wonder is it pollible that I find you at Conjiantinople ? And if it " be permitted me to make this complaint before the Emperour, m:h what cruelty eould " you conceal your fclf from a Prince wiio honours you as he ought. " My Lord, ( re- "plyed AthenaU very fiercely ) I was not worthy of your^remembrance, and my mind " hath been fo fix'd on thofe great employs I have had llnce \ czmc to Con\iantinople^ that "it was difficult for me to retire from them. " I confefs, faid Varanez^ that the employs "you have had are great and worthy of you, fince you have made the molt illuftrious "conqueft you could make in the whole world. " 5 believe not, C replyed the hhAthe- " «i»w j that you can make this judgment of the Daughter of Leontin., but however it be, " I am fomuch fatisfied with what I have done zt ConjiaHtimple^ that I lliall praife tiie " Heavens for it fo long as I live. " Yeu have done both good and ill, replyed the Em:* " perour, but you may repair if you pleafe, that ill by another good, and net futfer any " to be unhappy whiirt all their good fortune depends upon you, \ ivi Thefe words were as fo many mortal wounds to the Soul of the jeailoiis andafflided- Varanez, and whatfoever endeavours he ufcd to difTemble it, it was impolhble for him to hinder his eyes from difcovering a-fortof his referitmenti therefore whiUUic durii: not fpeak what he thought, and Athenais out of prudence would not explain her ielf iri the prefencc of the Emperour and Pulcheria^ whilft the Emperour obferv'd the trouble in which Varanez was involved, and Fulcheria in the difordtrs both of tlic orieand tiie o; ther,^read a part of the truth, the converfation of thefe four perfons was very much forc'd* and had nothing in it of agreeable or pleafing \ which the Emperour haviug.in a HiClc time perceiv'd, riling from his Chair, asked the Prince Fiirawfz if he would defcen'd, and wallc a turn in the Gardens, which were under the windows of the Chamber, fo hedrevvhHir- from the greateft trouble in which ever in his life he had found himftlf, and kd him aw?y- in a time when he knew not what to fay, nor what countenance to keep. , -.^w when they were in the Garden, they took fome turns in the Alley without fpeakin^',' the difquiet of Varanez feifing the Emperour, though rather by his goodnefs, which made~ him fympathize in the diforder of his triend, than any other reafon ; but in the end Vara- nez, who nQtwithtlandingthe violent agitation of his Soul, knew well he-was wanting in his proceeding, and who could not hinder himfelf from difcharging a pafr.t of what he had on his heart, turning himfelf towards the Emperour with more appearance of Caiin- nefs than he really had in his fpirit, befoughthim to relate ,to himby what adventure Atbe^ tia'u v/3$ come to Conliantinople^ why (he was lodged in the Palace, and whai;vV'as the de- fign he had for her. - V,, , To anfwer to rvhat yon demand of me in few words , faid Theodofiuf, I mttfl teV ydtt, that\ few days before you arrived at Qovii^intmo^le^ the venerable Att'iQUS who holds here the chief place among thofe dedicated to the Service of that God we adore, and Succeffr of the great Chryfoftom, who for his piety and admirable eloquence^ made hifnfelf famous through all the: Tvsrld -, knowing the intereji which the Frincef! my Sijier takes in the augmentation of oUr faith^-^ dndtheKeligionwe profefi, and the zeal flie hath, for all things which rega^'d it, cams to ad- iiertife her, that he had for fome time had with him two perfons., whom the defa^n to quit the. tP'trlhip of thofe Cods yen adere^ had led from Greece,- and that they had prayed him to' caufei,. QL.9 2 *^"^ ^oo THARAMOND. Part. them to be injhitrted^ rvith a zeal which xvas extremely edified., and moreover, thjtthcy tvert in>o excellent perjonx, the nne for his proJott»d Learnings the other fur her marvellous beauty., that they KPere Father and Daughter^ the one called Lcontin, the other Athenais. In fitmn:^ h: jpoke in fnch manner to my Silier^ ( who wm alivays xveH intended to perfons n'ha had ftuh e. defij^n, ) that (he defired to fee them^ and prayed Atticus to bring them to her. Atticus o- beyed her. and on the morrow prefented to her Athenais, and the Thdofopher Leontin. Pul- cheria found Athenais fuch as Jl^e is, and having found by her converfation., that the bcatt~ ties of her mind were not inferiourto that of her body ^ fje grew fo affeUionate to the fair A- thenais, that fl>e would not permit her to return rvith Atticus, but having rrell known flie would not be troubled to remain rvith her., flie gave her an appartmentnear hers, where [he con- timed to caufe her to be injiruUed., and in few days made her quit both her Religion and her Ntme, to take ours, and that of Eudoxia which (he gave her, and which was that of the "EmpreQ our Mother. On the morrow (he made me fee the new Eudoxia, and in telling you. that Jl)e made me fee her^ I muji tell you that Jhe made me love her, fnce in me feeing and loving was but the fame thing. I w>/7/ net entertain you with what this new born and fond- ling love made me feel, believing you have fuffciently proved it to apprehend it, but only, that having fume days figb'd, and being more and more inflamed by many conver fat ions which 1 had lui*/; Athenais i in fine, out of the confidence I in all things had of the Primed Pulcheria, I difcovered te her my love. She feemed not overmuch furprifed at the declaration I made her .^ but Jhe told me that at prefent Jhe kfletv not what counfel Jhe oughtto give me, but prayed me to thinks yet fome days of the intention I might have for Athenais, and not to fitffer in my heart any, which might offend Heaven or Virtue ; in the mean time I continued to fee Eu- doxia, and finding in her Spirit and in her conver fe, charms not inferiourto thofe of her beau- ty, I not only could not conceive any thought which might offend her virtue, but I permitted with- out oppofition to enter into my heart, all thop which I might have had for a Trince^ of a de~ gree equal to mine, and dtfcoveriitg in her dayly new qualities, which made me judge her worthy of all things, but among others, a courage, exalted above her fortune, but without pride, and 9Ht of the true greatnefi ofherSoul^an extraordinary Tiety for Heaven, an admirable fweet~ nefiinher manners, a marveVons eloquence in her difcourfe, accompanied with a great ({nowledge ef the faireji Learning, and a prodigious readinefi in fpeakjng and writing feveral languages^ and in verfe as well a s profe, a regularity in her carriage, full of wifdom and moderation; and in fins, all the fair marks of afolidand true virtue \ in few days I told my Silier, that ac- cording to my inclination and the Idea I bad of the merit 0/ Athenais, J could not fancy tt my felf a greater felicity than to efpoufe her, and though I were a perfnn young in years., being fcarcely twenty years old, I propofed to my felffo much happinefl in this marriage, that if fhe approved tt, and Eudoxia would confent, nothing Jhould retard it. Pulcheria appear- ed not ajhniflied at my difcourfe, but (he demanded of me fome d,tys to obferve Eudoxia bet- ter than fhe had hitherto done, before fhe would give me her advice ; and thofe expired.^ Jhe tefiified to me not only that Jhe did not condemn my choice, but that (he Jhould exhort me with all her foul, not to change my defign, for (he believed that Heaven had fent Eudoxia *(» Con* ftantinople for our happinefi; that of all the qualities I could wijh in a woman, to niak^me regard her as fit for my Spoufe, fie wanted nothing but Birth, but that Jhe minded lep tht default of that, than of others more neceffary, and that (he ejleemed more a Soul exalted in a mean Birth, than a low Soul from a high defcent ; That I was of a Family firengthned with fo mary alliances fuffxiently Illujiriow, that I had no need to make new ones, and that in, fine, by the Marriage I (l)ouldlofe nothing of my degree, and that 1 found a Spoufe, in whom ■ havim; ivf B ohfen^d her, Jhe found nothing which wns not worthy of admiration, ihe difcourfe of Pulcheria charm" d me, confirmed me in my defign, and made me refolve not to defer the exe- cution, "the fame day I made the proportion to Eudoxia, with all the marks of anaffeUion fulltof rejpeU, and flie receiited it with a fubmiffion, wifdom and moderation, which had no- thing in it of affeUed, and gave me place to believe, that (he was no lefi fenfible of this f.i'r proof" of my love, than of the hopes of that dignity, to which I would raife her. "the Fhilofo. fher Leontin, who after his coverjion was entirely fixed to the fervice of Heaven with Atticus, regarded the fortune of his "Daughter likf a Father, but yet like a man already withdrawn from the world. And in fine, my Brother, all things are advanced in fuch fort, yet however without puhlifhing any thing, that after the return of a per fon whom I have fent to Italy, to the Empe- rar^r Honorius my Vncle, j hope by ways allowed by Heaven^ and approved by her Virtue, to te pofjejfnr of my fair Eudoxia. Iheodofm fpoke in this manner, whilft Varanez. hearkned to him with an impatience M^hich almoft reach'd a fury, and which with all the power which reafon preferred over him, he could hardly mafteri but when he had done fpeaking, beholding him with an afpcifi Book III. P H A R J M N D. 501 afpcvfl full of tnnfportation, and eyes from whence Iiis pallir-n ('ccincd tolparklc, Horp my Lord, faid he, /'/ it then pnfible you rviUefpinfe the Daughter ofl.ccmUn > les Irvili efpouje her if Heaven foplcdfe^ replied the young Emperour, and I bold )L\.\io%ii more worthy ufThcQ- dolius, than Thco^of\u?. is rvorthy ofE-M^Oxn. Ibis humility, replied F^r^j^fz, rvottld Jo well in aperfon of the profejfto}] of Atticas, but an Oriental Emperour, rvhife great lufs all the rvorld beholds, cannot withottt too much ojf ending it have fuch a thought for the Daughter of a man, ivho hath nothing fu gjorious for him in the rvorld as the hsnour of hiving hcen my Tutor. He hath f well acquitted that employment, replied fweetly the Emperour, that in that refpcci he is yet more conUderable to me : but however^ it is nnt Leontin that 1 efpoufe hut the fair Eu- doxia in whom the defjitlt of birth is too much repair''d by her beauty, by her mind and by her vir- tue. But my l.nrd, (aid the paliionate Prince, if you rciU permit the Son of, a per fan Khom yntt have always Ijnl^d upon as ymr Father, and who hath pnffibly aBed in your interejis, as if he had had that quality : If, I fay, you tpill permit the Son of IfdigeRes to fpeai^to you n>ith a lit- tle freedom, in an occafion wherein you ought not to be flattered. May mt 1 reprefent to yott that thofe who counjelyju to a marriage fo unequal, regard only themfelves in fa doing, and that the de(tre ta govern the Empire, as they have for fame time psli done, induces them to give you from their hand a woman, rvho fljaH be obliged to them for her fortune, and nh.i will not trouble them intheit dominion as another might do, not beholding to them for her greatnefl ? Ihofe r»ho coun- fel me this Marriage, replied the Emperour lighing, cannot be fufpccied by me, hut if cur friendffjip would permit me to fufpeS you, after jvh at I have feen to day and what I now fee and under\\and, you would be rather fufpeded by me, than thofe perfens of whom you would give me fame fufpicion. 7es my Lord, (faid the Prince giving the reigns to a pallion he could no lon- ger keep ill,) yes my Lord, I ought to befufpeSed byyoK, andfmce I fee my felf reduc''d to an ex- tremity permits me no longer to diffemble. I confejl to yott, that I am not only enamour'' d, but paf- ftojtately and lil^e a loji perfin enamour''d of Athenais ? JheodofiHS appear'd fo aftoni(h'd at thcfe words of my Prince, that he flood a long time tvithout (peaking, te(^ify ing a great furprifal and no lefs difcontent. Varanez a while beheld him in that condition, and in the end breaking filencc, I fee well my Lord, faid he, tbat the tonfeffion I have made you gives yatt jome aflonijhmeut, and J ought without doubt to have conjirain^d my felf by a greater violence, to have conceaVdfrom yew that which I have difcovered info cruel an extremity. I had great reafon to deubt, faid the Emperour, the bcfi part of the truth yott have told me, but tiot in fuch manner that I could underjianditfrom your mouth without ajionif}- ment, or without a fenfible grief to fee that of tieceffity one of as two muji be tniferable. Ah my hard, replied Varanez, there is no needto conyder which of us two it ought to be, for I am alrea- dy too much prepar''d for my ill fortune. Asyourlove, faid Thcodollus, without doubt preceded mine, and as by the greatnejl of your merit and that of your degree there is fuf.cicnt appearance that Athenais hath not been infenfible, it is mt juji that a latter comer, and a per fan that makes profejjfioM of a fraternal amity with you, flfould deprive yott of a benef.t you merit better than hr^ Bftt lloskjtpon it as a cruel thing that Athenais hath told me nothing of it, for ifjhe be cn.7a^'d by any word or any affedion for yott, Jhe ought not to have accepted mine, nor permitted us to pro- ceed fo far as ive have done. 1 owe my Lord, xepVicd Varanez, a tejiimony to truth which 7ioin- tereji can hinder me from rendring, and I confeji, that having in the love I had for Athcnz'is, re- prefented to my felf, the fame things I endeavottred fome minutes pad to reprefent to yon, I could ttft overcome in my heart that reludancy which I had to be Son in law to Leontin. And at thcfe w ords V ar ane z ke'mg that the Emperour hearkned to him without interruption, he made him underrtand in few words that which had paffed of molt importance between him and Athenais, and gave him to underftand by a difcourfe of the entire truth, that though he had obferved in the heart of Athenais fome good will (or him, and a great inclination to efpoufe him, if he had had thofe thoughts, yet (Vic had made no engagement to him, which might deprive her of the liberty t6 difpofe her affedtions, or receive thofe proofs the Empe- rour had given her of his. Iheodofius figh'd at this difcourfe of Varanez, and beholair.g him with a coimtenancc more ferenc than before, " I (hould have been much altonifli'd, faid he. to underftand that " with a rnerit like yours and an intention like mine you could not have gain'd the afT:dions *' of Athenais : but fmce you have had no defign to cfpci (l her, I wonder not at all that (he " hath by her virtue defpis'd all other things unworthy of her. For my felf, wliofe eyes * this Idea of Grandeur hath not ftoppt to an extraordinary merit, like that oi Athenais, *' and who have as much refpecCted her virtue as you have difdain'd her birth, I contcls, that ** by a thought much diQant from yours, I have judged her too worthy to be Rated in the * Tlirone of the Cxfars, and that in giving her my heart, I vyould with too much joy have offered her fomething of greater value than the Empire hard it been at my difpofal. You 502 PHAB.AMOND. Part III. " will not then be fo unhappy as 1 fl-iould be in loling a perfon whom you would r.ot poflcfs, '■ bat by vvays not permitted by iicr virtue > or rather in leaving to another that which you " have not judged worthy of you v and it at.prelent you iiave no delign to cipoufe her, you " have no realon to dilpure it with itie, nor to deiire that a perfon deltin'd to the Empire, '■fiiould hx her thouglus on an affcdlion of that nature with yours. "It is true, replied '■• Varaitez, that hitherto I could not bow my courage to any defign toefpoufe Atheuais^ but ''your example hath dillipated that reludancy, and as aperfon who hath merited to be tm- "prefs of x\-\t Orient^ may well merit to be Queen of Ferfia^ I would atprefcnt efpoufc her '• with an cxcefs of joy, would heaven permit it. At thefe words, the trouble which was in part removed from the Countenance of T'beo' dofius^ entirely return'd, vvho thereupon beholding my Prince with an afpeft full of all the appearances of his grief, " This is a tirange elTcd of my misfortune, faid he, that a delign '' which all the beauty and all the merit of Athenah could not beget in you whilft I had r.o "interelt, (liould be infpired into you to render me miferablev but this confideration (hall "not hinder me from adiing with you as the frienddiip between us and what I owe to the " King of Verfia oblige me. I do not tell you that I yield you abfolutely Aibenais^ though " I may have lefs love tor her, yet after the word I have given her and in the terms wherein '' we are I would not do her that injury^ but as I doubt not by the knowledge I have of your " merit and the difcourfe you have made me, that her inclinations might have been favoura- " ble, if you had had the intention you at prefent have, you may hope that by the knov/- " ledge you may give her of it and by the entire liberty 1 fhall leave you, that the may do " that tor you tlie is upon the point to do for me. In fumm, I will do no violence to lier "inclinations, nor will I make ufe of the word tlie hath given me to exadt the efftd ; nor "will I tell her any thing againit you. You thai! fpeak with her alone, and with all the " liberty you can dcfire, and if (he wil chufe rather to be the Spoufe of Varanez, than "theo' " do{ms, you thall hn'd no obfirudion to hinder you from polTelfing her this way and leading *' her into Pfr/ic». Ah my Lord, cikd Varanez, this is too much, and rvhen my life pould be more ftrongly fixed to the love of Athenais, I cannot confent to this effeH of your goednefs. Itpili fufcr my mis fortune if I have fufficient courage, and if my courage abandons me, death cannot be reanting, but Itvill not abufe "lis enough, (faid Theodofius interrupting him,) and yon cpppfe in vain the refolution I have ta\en ; though the confideration of your repoje did not oblige rhe, 1 would do it for my otvh, for I would not efpoufe Eudoxia if I did believe fhe had any affe- xiionfor yotft to morrovo we will mak^e the proof, and I wiH give you the opportunity to entertain her, and maJ^e with allleifure that propnfition, by which you may hope as much change in her in- tentiojts as there is at prefent in yours. Negle^ nothing to gain her, in au occafion wherein the excellent cornpofure, and great qualities of your perfon may cattfe a happy ijfuc. I will my felf o- pea to her the difcourfe inyourprefence, and leave you to do the rf/f, but afterwards if the fucce^ is not coy^formablc to your defues, demand no more ■, and if you cannot oblige Athenais to efpoufe you, thiiik^it nut jirange that I efpoufe her, and conjure you not to trouble the repofe in which I would willingly t\\ablifl} the whole felicity of my days. Varanez yet for a longtime oppos'd the defign of the Emperour, but he oppofed in vain, and Iheodvfna having ttlHtied to him an untliakcn refolution, he was conttrained to fubmit-, protefting that if Fortune were contrary to him, he would die rather than dilturb his con- tent by the leaft thought that might injure him. Aftervpards they both retired to their ap- partments at the time when the night began to fpread darknefs over the Garden, and my Trincc fpent the fame in thofe agitations of fpirit betvpeen hope and fear, whiclvfcarce per- mitted him a few minutes of fleep. ..,.•••'■ The end of the Third Book of the Third Part. PHARAMONDi Book IV. 30J PHARAMOND Book IV. But it was not only by the effeds of liis fear that the fpirit of Varanez was tor-; merited, but amongft tho(e pleafures which hope might for feme moments make hira conceive, he was afTaultcd by thoughts with which bis generofity infpircd him, and by the oppofition it created in him to accept the oiftrs of Iheodofiiis, judging, that if Fortune (hould be fo favourable as to make him be prckrrcd, he ought not to make ufe of that advantage, againft the repofe of a Prince who had aded wixh fo generous a goodnels, and exposed himfclf to fo cruel a hazard to teftifie to him his friendfiiip. Shall 1 he fo ignoble^ faid he tj abufe ingrJtefuHy a goodneji without example ? or pall Iftiffer a ma}i of the degree of Theodo- iius, to ejiablijh my repofe at the expence of his oxph, and render himjelf miferable to make me happy ? cannot Ijudge of the ejiate of his foul by that of my ow;;, and imagine how cruel the hfs of Athenais tvohU be in him, (in a time wherein he might without any objhutiion pojjef her) from the grief I have to lofe her, mtheut having ever had any hope to enjoy her j* Ah Varancz coa- fent not to a n^eal{>iefi that will di(ho»oiir thy whole life, hut makf ufe of thy courage to efcbew a difgrace thou prepare^ for thy felf, and which pojfibly, added he with a figh, thou prefareli in iiain. This laft thought affli(ftedhim no lefs than the firft,butfrom thefirft proceedino to the latter with great facility, " Who hath aflured thee, faid he^ov who can make thee hope that '''■Athenais will prefer thee before 7'heodofius .? thee, who haft fo unworthily dcfpis'd her " thee on whom (he no more thinks, before him who hath fo honourably and fo generoully *' treated her, and before hira to whom (he is already engag'd ? Is it by a vain conhdence *'thou ha(\ in fame advantages thy perfon may have over that of Iheodofus, iii fomewhat "of a more martial Air, or in fome honour thou haft acquir'd by thy Arms ? Aluhouabu- "feft thyfelf FrfrjMfz,7'/»fi>ioj;«j Is no lefs amiable for his beauty and for his virtue,and for the "fweetncfs of his manners, of his difpo(ition and many other qualities, no lefs deferving "love than thou mayft be , for a courage polfibly greatci than his , or fome reputation of " valour. , He ftopp'd a long time at thefe thoughts, and out of this double confideration of the fliame would accrue to hira, and the incertainty of his fuccefs, he endeavour'd what polfi- blein him lay to vanquilli himfelf, and gain fo much power over his'pallion as to rejedt:the offers of Iheodofius. But foon after, the violence of his love ftrongcr than all his refolu- tions, made them vanifh, and flattering him againil what he miglit fear of the choice of Athenais, by a thoufand advantages it reprefented to him in his perfon above that oilheo- dnfius, and flopping his eyes againli the fhame he had conceiv'd and forefeen in that dcl]gn ot rendring himfelt happy, by reprefenting unto him that Iheodofius was without doubt lefs amorous than he, iince he durif expofe himfclf to the hazard of a certain happinefs i and that he did but a thing very ordinary, and to which all Princes were oblig'd, in leavin.^' Athenais to the freedom of her choice. This thought did indeed rather make him refolve" than any other, imagining that he might with honour difpute a benefit not abfolutely yield- ed to him, but which he was permitted only to difpute, whiltt the other forfook not his ad- vantages. He would however cxpedl the effeft of the refolutions and intentions of the Emperour without teftifying to him any eager delire to urge them-, but he attended not long, tor im- mediately after Ditiner the Emperour fent to entreat him to defcend into the lame Garden, •"■■here he had the day before encertain'd him. Varanez went without delay, but wifh whatevcir 504 PHARAMOND. Part lit. whatever refoludon he was fortified, he could not fee thcEnipeiour without confufion, and having faluted him, lifting up one hand before his face, as if lie had endeavoured to cover his biurties, My Lord, taid he, / commit a weaktteji which renders me poftbly univurthy of the degree I hold amongmen^ or of the glory I have pitrchafed ■, but befides' that you have forced me tj it^ by the obedience I oree yon^ you on>e poffibly a pardon to a pajjion too violent to leave me in a liberty to do what I ought : And moreover my Lord^ there is fa little appear- anc'e thatVziziiQi jfjould be preferred before Theodotius, that you hazard but very little in the favour you do me^ Itvould willingly do more^ rcplyed the Emperour, but Homur and jHjiice permit melejithan love^ and,;! 1 would nit i». my own favour force the inclinations of Athenais, J believe yott would not defire I jhould force them in yours, or premije to mak^ you ejpoufe her if it be not her intention. Varanez was about to reply, whcn^ they faw Tttkheria and Athenais appear from to- wards the apartment of Pulcherta^ whom (he Emperour had intreated to come and bring Athenais with her > at the tight of Athenais, and at the remembrance of what pafled, both the Emperour and Prince equally changed colour, and they were, I believe, both the one and the other, furprifed with a heart beating, which denoted the agitation of their Spirits. The Emperour however appeared the moft confident, and advancing fo- rwards Eudoxia, fome paces before my Prince, \^ho followed hitn not but with infinite "marks of confufion, he accofted them, and faluted them with a countenance fo fad, that both the one and the other felt nofmali ciifquiet i and a little after addrefling himlelf to the charming Eiidoxia-y "Madam, faid he, As great fortunes are difficultly eftablifhcd '' without fome obflruflion, it was neceiTary that mine ihould fitid one fufficiently coti- '' liderableto counterballanceits greatnefs-, and Iconfefs, that I have not bought it dear J' enough, to merit it. Yerterday I believed my felf alone in the faireft hopes in the " world, to day 1 have a companion, tor the Prince Varanez, as well as my felf, pretends " to the glory 'o polTefs you. We come, both the one and the other, to decide our for- " tune, and I leave the Prince with you, to explain to you his intentions better than he " hath for the prefcnt explained them ; I will tell you nothing in his favour, nor to his " difad vantage, but of two men which adore you, you have the free liberty of giving pre- *' eminence i but as I have referved to my felf the profit of your choice, if it be fot my *' advantage, fo if it be to that of l'''aranez, you may render him happy without the leaft *' murmur of Iheodofms. The Emperour concluding thefc. words, prefented his hand to Vnlcheria to walk with her on the other fide, when Eudoxia notwithl^anding her natural refervednefs, appeared more hardy than ordinary at this time, (topping him by the Arm, and beholding him with eyes whofe exceflive languour did feem to dart an extraordinary fplendour v "Is it Vara' nez, my Lord, faid flie, who pretends I ought to be his ? Or is it the Emperour would give me to Varanez ? " I tell you not that, replyed the Emperour, Nor yet ( added he, fpeaking a little lower ) that if I lofe you, Icanfuffet this misfortuiie without dy- ing, but only that you are free, and Miftrefs of your will, in the Dominions, and in the *' houfe of 'Iheodofius s and that with an entire authority you may choofe a Spoufe either " in the perfon of Varanez or 'Iheodofms. *' It is enough, my Lord, ( faid (he, with more " ferenity than had appeared fome moments before in her eyes ) and I ask pardon of your *'Majefty, if I have required this explication in a bufincfs fo important. And at thele words, feeing that he pafled into another Alley with Tttkheria, and that the Princefs made a fign to her to ftay with Varanez, (lie receiv'd the hand which he prefented to her, to allifl: her in her walk in the Alky were they were at prefent. They made fome paces, both the one and the other, teftifying fome confufion, though there appeared lefs in the countenance of ^f/be«aij than that of Varanez ■, but in the end the Prince (\opping, and lifting up his eyes on thofe of Athenais; "And well Madam, " faid he. You fee in the end him whom you have fled with fo miuch cruelty, and I (hould "fpeakit withanextafieof joy, that I fee you again, if this fight were not much more *' cruel to me than your moft doleful abfence v for it had been much more fweet to me not " tohavefeen you. than to fee you in the Palace of Ibeodofrm, and upon the point to e- •'fpoufchim. Yes Madam, you are within few days to become Em-prefs of the Orient^ "and Heaven gives that to your merit which with too much reafon it ought to do. Your " beauty could cxpcdt no lefs, but the love I bear you is not worthy of fo ill fortune \ *' nor ought 1 to be led iiither, by my pity lefs deltiny, to allifl at the triumph, and be mif-r- "ably bound to the Triumpher's Chariot. You fee however, that it is my duty, and that "which is moft auel, is, that you behold me without pity, and without the leaft mark "of any remembrance of that love which merited pollibly fome part in your memory. I " -^ I'. Book IV. P H A K A M N D, 50^ *'Hnd l.owevcr in die Soul of my Rival that coinpaflion which I find not in yours, anJ '' that Rival whole tdicity I come to trouble and difuirb with difiiculty accepts iiis iup- " pincfs, fincehehath cometo iinderftand it due to my love, and not to liis i and that it i5 *"not juft that he (hould triumph over my life and fortune, without having bought v.-ith " one ligh that felicity he would deprive me of. Will you be lefs )uft than he, Divine /!• " ihenais ? Or will you oppofc what Heaven feems to have infpir'd him with in my favour ? " You do fee me, I will not fay more enamoured than at ^//^m/, but more enamoured tharl ^^ IbeodufiiK, or all other men in the world can be, and yet as unfortunate as enamoured, »' if you regard not the elhte of my condition with pity, and if you furrender not your felt" "to deprive others of what they would unjuftly deprive me of. Tdr^wz fpokc in tliis manner, with a palfion which permited him not the liberty to cx- f.lain himfelf, but with confufion and diO^rder i and tiie fair Atbenais having peaceably hearkned to him, anfwcring him with a behaviouir full of modefty and fwectnefsi " My " Lord, faid (lie, 1 wonld anfvver to the complaint you make if I could apprehetid it, ''but fince I know nothing of it, you will do me a kindnefs if you will better explain "yourself. " I confcfs, replyed rny Prince, that my love hath created fufficient difordcr " in my thoughts to leave me in an cftate unable to exprefs my felt in acceptable terms, but " I have no need to do it with you, wiio fee fo vvell mto my heart as to know its moft " (ccret thoughts. " I will not give my fclf this vain trouble, icplyed Atheaais, I have *' been already too muchdeceiv'd to have longer this opinions but in the end my Lord, " what is it you complain of ? Is it of me? Is it of your felf > Is itof l'i« that you have it -entirely^ 4nd you have ttnd&jiaod it from the very mouth of Theodoilnst . I b^ve-well n^tdet^hod from fh^ Etnperour, replyed Eudoxia, that he will not force my inclinations, which thojtgb he had mt i,iidme, I could have hoped from his jnjiice, and frOm his goodneji; but this power tahich he leaves me over -^y will; -doth not difengagenie from an obligation, ofivhichthe gift of a thoti- fandlivet canttot acquit me, and n^hikh permits me not to prefer him who hath defiifedme, be- fore him who from the jlirrop hath lifted me to the Imperial Dignity. Ah cruel Ath«nais, rc- plyed Varanez, and have you fo foon forgot the promife you made me not to remember my fault ? J will not remember it, faid Eudoxia, to k^ep any refentment againji you ; but you Jhall permit me to remember it to compare your procceedings with thofe q/" Theodofius ; and to hinder me from aUing an impiety, and horrible injuftice, in preferring him to whom I otve no' thing before him to whom I owe all things. Do you believe then to owe nothing, replyed my Prince, to a man- who hath devoted hi>nfelf wholly to yoii from the fir jl moment he faw you, and who at prefent offers you aV that Heaven bath put in his d/fpofe? Hath Theodofius flo»^ more^ or hath he not done leji than I? Since in the efrate wherein he is^ bemaydiffofe of his Terfon, B o K IV. THAR A MON D. 907 Ferfjn, and of his f.mpire^ xvbil\l I expofe my -felf to the anger of a Father fnffxiemly fjf- midable, if my love did Hjt jiop my eyes to that^ and all other confuUrations. ; fior is he htm- felfrefolv^d onrvhat he hath t a do for you mithout the advice nf VM\c\\i.xn^ rvbo hath an ab- folttte pomer over bis Tfill-, finr you pojfihly any thi>ig more indebted to his hvi^ than to the am' bitiod of his Sijier. "To n-hatfoever I may otre it^ replyed Athenais^ I hxiie all due appre. henfion thereof fixed in the middle of my hearty and the proceeding 0/ Theodoiius is fj fair^ fo noble,- and fo rh!i(r;nz towards me, that my mnii fenfible grief is, that I cannot exprcfi my ackjifltvlediiment of it buthythe fole gift of AthcRSiis. 1 have hkereife this miifortune, that it maybe believed th: Imperial Vicnitv hath at lea'l as many charms to incite me, as the perfor-t that z.ivestt, and that eidcaiwir rvhich I JJ.'all ufe to infure the contrary, rvi]} fcarce gabtaji afcenJent ove* this opinion •, but I will not refrain from telling you, rvhatfoever jifdMnent yon may make, that though the EmperourTh'to^O^WK^by a prodigious change of his fort MHe,flioald to mirrow fee himfclf reduced to the meanell condition of the moll infortunate perfoH of his'. Empire, 1 would not only prefer him before ym with the CroUrn of Pcrfia, and before all men of the world, hut J would ^ii e my felf to him in that condition, though impoffthle to find Any chaize, and in p^''jj''°f'>ti; only his perfjn, I (hoiild not appear le(i fatisfied, than in p"ffeffi»g with him the Empire of Con llan tine, / will add to this my Lord, that I had done the' fame' for you, if I had been bound to y:>u for an entertainment equal to that which I have receiv^di from him, and that in whatever efiaie fortune could have caji yoit, I h.id- net only refused ThtO'- dofius /ir Sp^nfe, but preferred your perfon before the piffeffion of the world. " But if it be' " true, (aid Varanez, that you have had feme conllderation for my perfon, do you -nof *■• Hnd that itjs a little ditfirent from that of Jheodofvu ? and with a dignity not at all " inferioiir tfl|lli?, the glory of fome very noble and gallant adions, ciight to have touch'J "afoul like yours witii fome favourable thoughts. "I confefs, rcplycd Aihenais, ttiac- "there are few great qualities which you poffefs rot, and that the glory of your atSiiors "isfpread thrqugh the world i but as IheodofiiH fpeaks not of your perfon but with c- "ftecm, you ought pollibly ufe hinn with the fame generofity, and it you oblige me to^ "judge, the difference I fhould place (according to my inclinations ) would not b^i " for vour advantage. '-But in fine, ( replyed the Prince of Perfta) though all the merir "and all the advantages were on the part oi'fhegd^ws, would you devote nothing to pity\'. " nor fufFer your felf to be touch'd by the deplorable fortune of a man that dyes for you >' " it is no longer by reafon that I will Itruggle with your inclinations, for all reafon *a^ " nifhes betore your authority. I am without merit, I am guilty, I am unworthy of all *' things i but Athenais, once morel dye for you, and it is certain that the firlf moment "of the felicity of T/:'«^i)//»j, will be the la(l of my life. Will the fafety of aninfortu- " nate Prince, whom you reduce to this deplorable eflate, gain no conllderation with "you? or can you fee him yield up his foul at you feet, without being fenlible of com- "patfion? At thefe words, without confidering that he might be feen, he caft himfclf at her knees, and embraced tljem with a bi^haviour fo palfionate, that Athenais had never been fo troubled in her life. She releafed her felf in the end from his arms, and having made him rife up, with a countenance which teftiHed to him the little confent fhe rcceiv'd in that\ ■ adtion, "I knovvyet lefsmy Lord, faid fhe, what it is you can dcilre of my pity, than fi " can judge you delire of my aifedion : for fince all the pity with which you would in» "fpireme, cannot make me fail of my Duty to the Ernperour, I know rot to what in- " tent you would employ ir. I believe likewife, that it is not at all neccflary for you, *' but that you have futficient courage to receive, like a great man, all that grief which a " lofs like that of Athenais czn begtt in you. Sun)mon It up at this time my Lord, if it *' be true that you have need of it, and do nothing which may be unvvorthy of your Birth *' or fair Reputation •, with its adiltance, and that of your virtue, a months abfencc, or the " view of fome perfon more worthy of you than the Duighter of Leontin-, you will drive ''her from your heart i and fince you ought never to fee her again, there is fome appcar- '' ance that time will banifh her in fucii fort from your memory, that there will not remain '• theleaft tface. How Madam, faid Varanez, fl\ill 7 itever in my life, fee you more ? No my Lord, ( replyed Ihe very readily ) ^a>id if you will believe my cottnfel, thif fhnuld be the. l*\\ difcourfe we f.ould have to^ethen lot* are at pre feat too mucbfu^eded b\ me, replyed Varanez, to take ynir ciunfel, for I cannot only in this manner not abandon you, hut I (hall , tt^ith difficulty do it all my life. "I know not what are your intentions, ( added Eudoxia "very coldly 3 but as mine (hall always be, never to do any thing againft my Duty,.! '"knovv well that when I fhall be the Emperour's, I fliall not fufflr the fight of any itan V whq,raay givchimfufpicion J and if I have not the power to make you depart fronri • R r 2 " Confrdniinoplt., 3o§ THAR'AMOND. Part. III. '' Can{ianthiot)le^ I (hall cor.tine my felf in thofe places where you fliall difficultly fee me. '• Ah cruel perlbn, {faid the Prince, beholding her with an eye ftdl of refefitment, (lay at Icaft till you are Emprcfs, before you drive me iiom Conjla»timple, how know you whether this " condition be too well aiTur'd, or who can anfwer to a Rival too happy, tor the wifdom of ''• a man whom his felicity makes defpair ? " I will anfwer for him my felf, replied Eudoxia^ "out of the knowledge 1 have of your virtue, and againft fuch cnmts and treacheries I will "with you feek no precautions. "Khali not be capable to adt them, replied Varanez^ " whilit I fliall have any remnant of Reafon in my foul, but when that (hall have abfolutely " abandon'd me, I know not to what I may abandon my felf. Since there ii nothing capable to drive it thence, replied the fair Ettdoxia, I believe that it wiU jiill remain hlijtrefs, and the belief I have hinders mi from what I would do xvire I lefs a^ur'd. Concluding thcfe words, (he found her felf at the end of the Alley, from whence (he faw in another that crcffed it the Empcrour and Pulcheria, who walking and judging thar (he had long enough entertained the Prince, "• I believe my Lord, faid (he, that it is time to '' feek the Lmperour and the PriiiCcfs, who cxped'us, and we have poilibly by fo long a dif '• coutfe pafTed the rules of civility." You may tee it not feafonable for mt/aid the Pr/«cf,that ''"intlic condition wherein I am, I (hould prefenc my felf before them : I cannot do it at frefent without te(\ifying fome weakntfs or difturbance which will ditpleafe you, and you may pronounce Vi:ji thou draw from thy cotirafre^ ac^ainji thy terrible misfortunes f ffilt thou patiently fee li~ thenais in the arms of a happy lUval ? or wilt then fttffer to break^frth on this too happy ILiial fame efeCts of thy defpair ? canji thou fujfer that he fhuuld enjoy peaceably befure thy e\es that only good can make thee love thy life? or by an effed of that fury, into which thy tl fortune hath precipitated thee^Ttlt thou make him find his Funerals in thofe cruel EfpouCals which fend thcc tb thyfomb? ^^ Varanez, added he, 1 feel that thou canji do neither ■, the firjiis no lefs imp'fible to thy love, tt»nn the laji is forbidden by thy virtue : Miferable that thou art, what wdt thou then do ? and to what dolt ihou refolve thy felf after the lofi of Athenais ? thou wili loje her for ever and thou\noweji that her lojiis for thee a misfortwse without remedy, without confolation. Alas !• laid he a little after, what refolution can I take but a refolution to dye f this feems to me fi eafie that it is that alone at which I mu\i \\op, for in the eftate in which I find my felf, mtkirig can he fo fweet to me, mthingfa agreeable as death. He tormented himfelf in this manner, and his heart was miferabiy afflided withthofc cruel thoughts that opprefled it, when from another part of the Garden, where I had wal- ked fince he had entred with the perfons that had attended him, I went to him, knowing well that my prefence v/ould be lefs troublcfome than that of any other. I found him in the condition I have told you, and yet more difconfolate than 1 can reprefent to you : and he faw me no fooner near him but caffing himfelf upon a feat of Hone which was bchird hiiTi, and beholding me with eyes which made me conceivt a part of what he had to fay /» /■/ fo ^jy Mitranes, faid he, it is today that llofe {ithenz'is for ever. And well my Lord, faid I, though thii misfortune pould happen, (for to be complacent to your paliion I will believe it a misfottunc to you) have not you courage enotigh to fupport it ? NoMitranes, cried he I have MO courage again\i the proof of fo terrible a misfortune. It feems to me however my Lord, replied I, that you ouaht to have been fuffxiently prepaid before you came to the proof you have made^ fcp after the different ufage which Athenais bath receiv''d from you and Theodofius, there was littli appearance that (he would quit Theodofius. " Ah vain pride, cried the Prince, which all men ''have blamed in me with too much reafon, wherefore hearkcn'd I to thee at that time > " and why coniidcr'd I not that it was only againft enemies, and not againft thofe whom I a- "dore, that thou wert pardonable. Put, added he a little after, vain ref1e6lions,unprofita- " tabic repentance, wherefore come you to torment mc ? and wherefore /oyn you your " forces to that of a grief, fufficiently powerful to give me a death without your zliih- " ancc. He made many other difcourfes, little diiTcrent from thefe, and by which he made me know that he was in an extremity of grief, little diihnt from defpair. I was little cipabk to comfort him, (though btholdin^ his mifery without padion, 1 tound it not fo great as he fancied it,) I however did all that was p oilibie for me to reftore his mind into a more fettled condition, and I reprcftnted to him all that reafon and the affed-ion I had for his rcpofe, could infpire nie with, to appeafe i pin of his giief, butllabour'd in vain: and having hearken'd peaceably to me j Ah IsLtranes, cried heall on a fudden, I fliaL never more fee A- thenais. " That may happen my Lord, faidL, but it may in all likelihood fall out as Well, " that in little time her hght will be no longer ncccfTary for your repufe, and that when yoit "havelet Reafon re- poHeis her entire Empire over your mind, you will not only comforr " your felf for the abfence of Athenais^ but will be better content that the Daughter of Ler entin (hould reign in the Orient than in TerCja. "• Ah Mitranes, [faid he looking upon me with "^ an incensed eye) let us behold Athenais no Ipnger as the Daughter of Leontin^ ror flatter 3IO PHARAMOND. ' Part IIL "more a pride which you ought to have condcmnM at a time that it produced an efftdt fo "fatal to my repofe. ' Since Jthenais rc'ie^ued in my heart, I ought to liave made her reign " through all -the earth ■, and lince ilie had fubn^ttcd my felf to her, I ought not to have " doubted the fubmilfion ot my people. Would to God it were permitted m.e to advance '■ iicr as much above me, as 1 am above the meanell of the Terfians : or that beholding hct "as my Sovcraign, I might pafs my life in her fcrvice like a vile flave, ratiier than fee her *' Spoufe to Ihedndus. " But my Lord, [did 7, lince you love her truly, and it is ordain'd " by Heaven, that (he fliall not be yours, had you not rather that fhe fliould live advanc'd " in dignity, and be happy with Theodofmr, than pafs her life in a inilerable condition ? •hUtranes^ faid my Prince, feek^ ml for lleafofi in we, 1 kiiorp neither what 1 rvould have mr rKhatIthin\: bat I kttoiv only that the death of Varanez or the death of Theodofius, are the two only things of ts>hich lean at prefent think,. " Ah my Lord, faid J, think rather of a- "ny other thing, and both in the one and the other, hearken to your Courage and to your '^yirtueifor the life ofFar^j/zez precious to fo many perfons,and precious to the whole world, -*:* 'tis not in fucli a humour as this it ought to bcabandon'd:and for thatof 7"/;fp(i)/!KJ I am af- ^'.fur'd that if any one (liould make you the propolition you would hearken to it with horror. "It is a Prince who hath treated you in all things like his brother, and who in that very .*' thing which renders him odious to you hath done that for you you would rot have done •".for him. When he laid tlie dcfign to efpoufey^tl'fWJi/, he was ignorant of the intereft '■'•you Iiad in her i and when he knew it, he hindrcd not but Athenais might have been yours, '' tbongh he had all forts of ways and all forts of rcafons to preferve her. You have feen "that his proceeding hath been the fweetert the miOft generous and moft obliging in the " world : And for this rcafon my Lord, you not only ought not to conceive any ill will a- " gainft him ; but by an endeavour worthy of your courage, you ought willingly and cheai** " fully to yield him that you cannot difpute with him. Let the whole world fee 'that it is •" no lefs eafie for you to overcome by Gcnerojity than by Arms : and remember in the end, " the word you have folemnly given, not to bring any trouble to his love and to his repofe, "if the choice of Athenais were not favourable to you. It is true, faid Varsnez fighing, that I have given this word, and I rvill k^ep it if it be pojfjble^ (faid he,lifting himfelf from the place where he was featedj but let us go feek^repofe if it be permitted us in a place more gUomv andretired than this, and do you Mitnnes manage things fo, that Ibe not this day feen b\ any ferfon. ■y Speaking thefe words he went towards his Apartment at a great rate, and having fhut himfelf alone into his ^lofct, he paffed the reft of that day and the whole night without fuffcring himfelf to be feen, and without receiving any nourifhment. We had fome diffi- culty to make him take aiiy on the morrow, nor had we brought it to pafs, if wc had not icprefented to him, that by that proceeding he would make himfelf be accus'd of fecblenefs by thofe perfons to whom his great courage was not fo well known, and that it would be of ill cbnftquence to expofe himfelf to their difdain, in a place where he ought fo carefully to preferve his reputation. Being alway fenfible of glory more than all other things,he had ibme refpcd to what regarded it, and aded a violence on himfelf which he had not been capable ot for any other confideration. But when he underitood that the day of the Em- pcrours marriage was agreed on, and that there were but four or five to come, before that which ought to give to the Emperour the poffellion of Athenais, he relapfed into his firlt tranfportments, and wanted but alittle to enter into afury ready to Aop his eyes to all things. In fine, he moderated himfelf by the wife counfcls of Megabifes, for whom he had an infi- nite refpedJ, and if we could not give him any comfort, yet at leaft we manag'd fo well his difcontcnt by the allillancc of his virtue, of which we made great advantage in this neceflity, and which with fuccefs we piac'd before his eyes, that in the end we made him refolve to fup- port his misfortune like a Heroe, to keep his word which lie had given to the Emperour, and feek his recovery in the abfence of ^j/jfwj//. He had not feen her lince fhe had declar'd her felf in favour ofTheodofws, and he had fo welllhunn'd the iight of Iheodofius, who, knowing the condition wherein he was, would not aggravate his gritf by his prefence, fo that they had not feen each other Cncc that day. But when he had took his rLfoIution, and wasdctermin'd ratlier todye than doany thing un- worthy of his courage, he refus'd no longer to fee the Emperour. 'Theodofius viiited htm in his Chamber, where he rcccivM him not with a fprightly Countenance but with an afpcdt whicli denoted a part of his refolution : and the Emperour willing to cxcufe himfelf of the grief he had caufed in him, and comfort him with words full ot fweetncfs, and the moft obliging in the world, Ceafe >ny Lord, faid he, tocnmfartone fom?ferable,rvhoit not rvortbtbe care you take of him ; aitdfmce the good fortune c/ Athenais tvilis her to you and not to me, re'joycr 'both Bo o K l\\ P H A R A iV/ N D. 9 u both the one and the other in thofe pleafitrci.tph/ch ai-e dcjUned to yo;t, without receiving aii^ trottbU from the remembrance of my misfurtHiics. 'lime or Keafoii rvill poffihly afford f>mfi, comfort to my evil-, but becaiife 1 havennJerjlood that it ii within three djys that you are to, efpo^tje Athemis, thinks it not inconvenient that I do not appear to grace a folemnity which wiJL put my coHJhncy to too cruel a proofs and permit me to retire before this great day arri-Je^ '■• It will not be without great ibrrovv, replyed tlie Empcvour, that I fliall fee you clcpaiLj ''rr(miusi but 11 nee I dare notintreat you to be prcftnt where you will receive, fo inuclij 'grief, I ana conlhained toconknt to your departure with iniinice regret, that .a,}QUJfneJ^ '" by which you have Co deeply obliged us, liath not been more happy to you. ■ '■ , ,• -^ . ^ . They had little diieourfethct day, my Mailer not being fo well able to diiremble his grief, as to continue with the Emperour in any long convcrfe \ and the Err.perour was unwilling toeonllrain him longer to fee the face of a man v/ho was to render him mifcr- ablc. But from that moment we prepared all things for our departure, and we laboured with fo much diligence,, that two days after, and precifcly that which was to precede the Marriage of the Emperour, all our Equipage was ready in the great Court ojt the Palacg^ and my I-'rince went to take his lall leave of the Emperour. He knew not whether \\n ougiit to bid adieu to Athenais, and if on the one tide his love importun'd him once nioxg to lee her, the fear he had to renew his grief by that fight, and tc) prbjcure fome ot)-, ftrudlion to the cure he fought, made him hy what he dclircd, or at Icaft hindred iiim fryiri demanding it. I know not what he had in the end refolv'd, but as he was upon the poin^ to depart the chamber of the Emperour, havjng. received all his civilities, and told liiiji all that his grief would permit him to fay, H»w, ( faid Iheodifuis to him, embracing him j XV ill y OH depart ivitboiit bidding adieu to Athenais ? and iviU you quit her Uke an enemy having fo much loved her ? I will do what you pleafe^ C replycd my Prince, with a ilgll which lie could not withhold ) but believing the fight of me might iDetroubiefome to her^ I durll not demand a permillion to fee her. And at thcfe words, without fpcaking fai^tjat, he followed the Emperour to Endoxia^s Apartment, but with fo much diforder and trou- ble in his fpirit, thathchad fcarce knowledge how to demean himfelf. ^ . •, The Emperour was advanced fome paces before him, to prepare E« however he with no fmall impatience open'd the Paper and found thefe words. Leontin to the Prince oiPerfia. SLice yoM kftotf tny Lord^ that by reafon of the honour I have had to be nigh you, I am not ignorant of any particulars of your Birth , and fince by the fuccefi of thofe predidions I have made of the Fertune of Athenais, you may judge that I have fome knowledge of the Start ■■, I will ajfure you out of the intereji I taks all my life in your repofe^ that you (ffall in a fl}ort time recover of the misfortune you at prefent fuffer under. But it is upon the Bank/ of the Rhine that you mnji find the remedy, and it is there only that you tpill lofe the Uvt and th* remembrance of Athenais. iha is an ajj'urance given you by LEONTIN. If my Prince had not had too frefh in his memory the remembrance of the cruel efFcds of thofe predictions Leontinhzd made of the grcatnefs of his Daughter, and which he fiad before derided, he had not laid fo great foundation on this Letter, but after fuch a proof had of the knowledge of the Philofophcr, he believed that what he had pronounced might befal him, though he could not imagine in what manner, for he fancied that only by death he could forget Athenais. However it were, this was the reafon which com- pleted his refolves, in the defign he had not to return again into Perfa, till he had freed his mind from that cruel pallion which tormented him , and an hour after having caufed Megahifcs to be called, who was the chief officer of his Houfe, Megabifes, faid he» you Jhall lead back^ my Equipagf into Perfia, and leave with me only my ^rll Efquire, and two others in ferve me. Tok Jhall return with the reft, to the King my Father, and having reported to him thofe truths you kitow^ you jhall tell him^ that for not doing an aCiion which might haze given Book IV. ^PHAKAMOKD. jtj f^rvCHbrn di^teaf/tre, I am become the ntnl} miferdhle of aU men\ and that mt ditivgto pre' fent my ftlf to him tvhilji I labour under this fad condition, I go unknown to rrandcr tbrout^'^ Europe, and feek^ a remedy to my p^^lfton in this vityage, and in the diverfity of oh'jeOi vpbiir may conduct to my recovery \ that I will return to hint fo foon as I Jhail have a mind more cotn- fofed, and that befides tbofe very necejfary kjtowledges I may gain by this voyage^ I have bopet it mil not be uprojitable to bis fervice, Megabifet did a long time oppofe this defign cf the Prince, and reprcfented unto him all thofc reafons he believed ftrong enough to divert it, or at leaft to ob'ige him to fuffer him to accompany him, but he could gain nothing over his refolution, for the Prince in the end tertified to him fo abfolutely that he would be obeyed, that htegahifes, though with infinite grief, was conftrained tofubmit to hiswill, and to prepare to pafs the Boj^-Ww with his Equipage, leaving with him onlymy felf, and two Efquires, the beft of his Horfe5,*and the precious Stones and Silver, which might be ncccffary for his Voyage. With this little Equipage he began his Journey, refolving to effay, if the predictions of Leontin would produce any effedl, and co do with that little proof, all that he had an intention to do, if he had not been flattered with greater, which was to feck from Province to Pro- vince, and from occafion to occafion, all that could divert his thoughts from /4fif«. and to this purpofc we took our way towards Mdcfho but mrv departed hence^ I rpiU not make a»y profit of ft.\ far I believe I.^ught to give it one of my Efquiret to Jpeed after them, and refiore it if he can overtake them. " It is juft my Lord, faid I, but your Highncfs will indeed " have but little curiofity if you fend it without opening. Let us open it Mitranes, faid he,, but rather ta fatiifie your, curiofity than mine. And at thefe words he open'd it, and carting his eyes within it, he faw that which none can be capable to rcprefent to you, he faw, my Lotds, a face,' to the beauty of which no imagination can reach. I fhall therefore not make you the defcription of that, which without making any particular difeernment, no mortal beauty could approach, fo rare was what I faw in the PourtraicSure. Varanez beheld With a curious eye which nothing was able to remove i his aftoniihment, caufed at the fight of fo prodigious a beauty, was expreffed better by his behaviour and by his fi- lenc«, than it could have been by words. In fine, opening his mouth, yet without drawing his eyes from the Pourtraidure, Mitranes, faid he, can it be pofibU that then is any beauty r>t the rvarldrobich may approach this ?. " I cannot believe it my Lord, faid I, *' and I (hould imagine ratherthat it is a Pidure made for fancy. " There is fo little ap- " pearance, rcplyed he, that any mortal thing can refemble what I fee, that I (hould ea- "fily be of your opinion V but however, added he, there is little reafon fo believe, that |"jx- Box fo fair and rich, fliould be employed only to keep a Pidure made for fancy or ^l^lea'fure. At thefe words he yet remain'd fome tiine without fpeaking, ftill keeping his eyes fix'd on the fair Objed, and dedicating his contemplation entiidy to the adrnkariou it had caus'd in him ■■> but in the end drawing his eyes a little afide, and turning.thcm to- wards me, "Idonotdefpair, faid he, to feethe effedof the predidibns of LeotttiH^.iot Si if i I meet a true beauty equal to this I fee in painting, I doubt not at all but I (hall ^Soi^ctAthensis. " Ah my Lord, faid I, would to God this might happen. " I Qiould ?'jiot poihbly be more happy, replyed the Prince, but however it be, Ifeelthatit would y.eafily come to pafs, if I chance to fee that in the original which I fee in the Pour- l^lraidure. I willufe all my endeavours to know if there be anything like this inthc '-'; world, nor will my mind beat reft till I fatishemyfelf. .;..,! Speaking in this manner he ftill beheld the marvellous Poutraidure, and his eyes were fo firmly fettled on it, that though we heard a great nqife of Horfes. behind us, it wias not able todifturb him, but he wasftillin the fame pofture, when a Cavahcr attended by two Efquinej, eame near him. I judged well ( by what I could mark of his Arms ata.grcatr tr drftancc J that it was the fame whom we had feen depart frotn tha^t; place when We apj preached iti butbeciufe hehadhi^ Vifer lifted up, and a part of his vifage difcovered, I obfervedhim to bciapcribn little ditHcrent in age from my Prince, but et thc.nobleft de^- pOTtment that I had ^ver beheld any man. Hi? Ar«is were rich and magnificent,, and aK things about him had a very advantageous appearance. Beingcome near my Prince, ■ ha. fore he perceived his arrival, he found him ferioufly contemplating the fair Pourtraidureik and accol\inghjm.without aligjulng from his Horle, Sir, faid he^^ that VonrtraiUMre which yon hold in yoHrhandjs mine, .and Ibefeeh yon rejiore it me^ Varanez, at thefe words liti his eyes towards the countenance of this Cavalier, and appeared furprifed at his goodlfj prefence, at the fame time when his without doubt produced the fame effetft in the eyes ofl theftrange Knight i. but though.hc believed that it was the fame he had feen depart frotilj thence fome moments before, and doubted not but the Pourtraidure belonged to hiirr, th^ manner after which he demanded it pleafed him not at all, and he had already fixed his affcdion on it in fnch fort, that if he had thought he could with honour have kept it, he had hardly inclin'd himfelf to reftorc it, and therefore looking upon him ver>^ fiercely. If this FoHrtraiCiKre be yours, faid \i£^lJhsll»ot ksep it^ yet I fhall very unmllingly reflate it ■you. Book IV. V H A R A M N D. 515 )'()», if you oblige not your felf to let me fie the Oriiiitnl^ if it he p.'Jfible tha^ there ir aii Ori^ind of lo admirable a beauty. Jit fekingto fee hcr^ laid the Knight, V-v M{_tvitboui doiti?t yaur otpn mifery^ and rpithout dnin'^ yon ihjt ill cffice^ 1 hope yon rpilt reKire me my Ticlitre, tou h,>pe in vain^ leplyed my l-'rincc, and if ymt engine not your felf to this con- dition, yott Jhall not draw it front my handt. 1 rvill en^a^e my fclf to nothing hut tvhat I pleafe^ ( replycd the unknown Knight, with a Hercencls notiiing lefs than tny Manors ) and I tvill have tvhat is miKe voithoHt any condition. 1 fee wel^ ( fajd Faranez, with a ligh full of difdain ) that thnu k^nnweli not him that threatefi ; but Once there is fame appejr- ance tee fljatl one day be Rivals^ if it he true that there is in the world a Beauty equal to tJlir PiUhre, there is Utile danger for m to begin to day fir the FiUfire, what tve pall one eiiv finiC,} for the Origin jI. If I had not, replycd the unknown Knight, llivals m'lre formidable th'in yo'.t, I llioitld hope better of my f'rtune than n;irv I can^ hut rvith expeltPfigthat thou jhalt ptt'i thy felf in a condition to do what tboti fayli., thna (halt re\hre my Fidttre. And at thcl'e W'jrds, feeing that he lUn h.cld the Box in his hand, he fpurrcd his Horle by the fide of him, and putting hii hand to a Chain bf Gold to which it was fanned, he laid hold en it (o Unexpectedly, that he fnatched the Cafe from hii hand before he cotild put hinr.ftlF into a polture to hindeir it, ar.d at the fame time fliutting it, and taking a Laiince froni one of his Elquircs, Now^ crycd he, / will attend thee rvithoitt any trouble y and in £tfc(fi- he attended him in the polUirc of a man wliom in all appearance the prefence of an Enemy could not affright. Varanez tranfported with a violent Choler, was in a moment on liorfeback, cafiing as it were flames out of his Vifer which he pull'd down, and taking his Launce and Shield frorri the hands of his Efquircs, brandilhing it with a menacing cry went to take his Caricr : his Enemy had already done the fame, and having at tlie lame time turn'd head chc one to- wards the other, they parted,ran and encountrcd with a terrible tury ■-, their Lances without (haking them in their Saddles broke on their (hicldsinto a ihonfand little Splinters, and they fini(hed their cariers with the beft grace in the world ; turning about they drew their fwords and affaulted each other in fuch a manner as would have put tear into any other hearts but theirs ; I cannot tell you which of the two tirlf thuck hi; Enemy, nor particularize to yoii the blows they gave with an equal fury and fcrces little different j And I believe likewifc that the recital I could make of the whole courfe of the Combat would be ncedlefs, but \ will only tell you, that in little time they equally krvew that neither hsd any reafon tode- fpife his enemy, but that Loth the one and the other had Glory chough to acquire by thd ifTueof the Combat. I will not fpeak to you of the grief I refentcd, feeing my Prince en- gag'd in a peril wherein I could be only Spcdaror, both by the laws of Honour and the particular Laws of our profelh'on. In a little time the Combat was hcightned iri fuith man- ner, and the two valiant Combatants dealt blows fo terrible, that their Arms begun to blu(h with blood in fcvetal places, and my affedtion pollibly rather then the truth made me believe that there v»as inore on thofe of my Malkr than on thofe of his Enemy : The Combat wis brought to a very doubtful condition, and in all likelyhood had not beeii tiriilhed but b^ the death of one or the other of the Warriours, and polfibly of both, if Fortune had not led to that place another Knight cover'd with Arms all black, and followed only bv two" Efquires : though by all appearances it might have been judged he had little cunolicv for things in which he had no intereil, yet he Hupped at the fight of fuch a Combat, and i.a- vingfufficicntly beheld it to be fenfible of the valour of the two Combatants, on a fuddain drawing his Sword, without confidering the danger he ran into, by caitinghimfelf betvveea the Arms of twoincens'dand two men fo terrible as they appcar'd, he (puned between them with a countenance might make him be judged a great Mailer in wh.at he faw others do, and joyning his voice to his Adion, and to his voice the fight of a countenance full of nia- jefty, which he difcover'd to them, he adlcd fo well that he oblig'd them to hearken to him. My Prince was however fhe laft who had this refpcd for him, and his Eneihy ('i-hcr lefs irritated or naturally more fweet than he, rettred firft, though to fa^ truth he had no difadvantjge of the Combat : It is enough valiant men, faid he fhat had parted them, I fee ioj much blood upon your Arms ? and however important may be the canfe of yottr Combat yoi'c have done enottgh. He fpoke thefe words and fomc otiiers with fo good a grace, and with an afped fo well actbrtipanicd with all marks of a true grandeur, that the indoubtable Courage of the Prince of rf)^i, MJ'hich nothing but fuymillion could bend, began to be f >ftned, and to moderate that boyling Choler which tranfported him, and his Enemy wi^h a very good grace addrcf- (inghimfelf to the Knight in black Arms, "lam content, faidhe^ to grant yuu what you 'ddire ot me,iince you by many marks appear worthy a greater eftccm : A'nd turning in S f 2 th^ ^i6 FHAFX.AMONI). Fart III. the end towards my Prince, " By the proof I have rnadc of thy valour, faid he, and the bc- ''licf Ihave that all things in thy perfon^aie agreeable to it, 1 judge thee worthy to enter in- " to the pumber of many illultrious mifcrable ones, who will not difdain thee for thcr com- "panioniand if we fee one another again, I will out of good willdothatfor thee which thou "hadit not mademe otherways do. IwiUfee^theeforveW^ iWd Varanez, that IJhalltpitheut doubt find thee, nor art thottfo little remarkable but I may foJlotv thy footjiept. His Enemy did not underfland thefe lart words, for fcarce had he done fpeaking but he drew back with all the fwiftnefs which the labour of the Combat had left hisHorfe capable toundergo: r<«r4«fzburn'd with deiite to follow him, but he was hindred by him who had caufed the Combat to ceafe, and feeing my felf have fo good a helper, I joyn'd my felf to him with fo much fucccfs, the rather becaufe liislofsof blood began to weaken him, that ■we obliged him to go to the next adjacent City to drefs his Wounds. That generous Cava" !ier knowing my Prince by many marks to be an extraordinary perfon, would not leave him, but going with us to the City where we had a deCgn to drefs him, would not only lee his ■wound; drefTcd, but having underftood that they were not dangerous but might in few days be cured, he would not forfake him, but rnade him be attended as if he had been his brother : my Prince obliged to his generofity made himfelf known to him for whom he was, and that great perfon to teftihe to him that he had in him the like confidence,difcover'd himfelf to him for that great Co«/fjHef, who hea'kens to me, andwhofe Reputation is fo glotioufly fpread through the univerfe. You may have underfiood from him, my Lord, faid Mitranes to Tharamond^ that ■which hath paflcd between them after this knowledge, and the affurance they gave each other of a reciprocal amity. Nothing happen'd to them worthy recounting to you i and after the wounds of my Malkr were cured, as they were in few days, they began t;heir Journey, and fcparated not, but by the departure of Varattez, who as I believe is gone in queft of that valiant Cavalier againft whom he fought, not having fince that time had othet thoughts but rofee the Original of that admirable Pidture, having confefled to us many times, that it he met with a Beauty equal to that, he fhould hope to forget AthenaU. You may judge by this my Lords, if he be not in a condition to recover of his love, and to fee the effcA of Leo»iin's Predidions. I attend hete news of him by his order, and be- lieving he hath not forgot me, I doubt not but I (hall receive it in few days. , Mitranes concluded in this manner.the recital of the Adventures of Varattez^ of which Co»lia»ce had before a confufed knowledge, which yet hindred him not from taking in- finite pkafure in the Narration. He had many things to fay concerning the intereft of "theodofm and Atbenais, and King Tharamond ftudied not a little of the laft Adventure of Varanez ; but becaufe the greateft part of the night was part, they deferred till the mor- row the difcourfe they intended to have concerning this matter, and King Fharamattd hi' ving conduced /ir/j^«r^ into his chamber, notwithftanding all the excufes he made, re- tired foon after into his own, to fet apart fewer hours tofleep, than to thofe fad thoughts that had prepofTeffed him. The end of the Third Part of PHAR AMOND, PHARAMON Book I. 57 PHARAMOND. The Fourth Part. Book I. tng Vharamond having rcfolv'd to execute an cnferprife he had de- fign'd on fome parts of the Enemies Camp, awakened a long time before the day broke, and immediately after his Chamber was filled with a great number of Officers of his Army, who were to have a part in that days adlion", among the chief he faw the Prince »$'««■; Kfia, the Princes IberCy CeriebaHct^ and Meroveuf^ accompanied with Cleomer^ and after them enter'd Priam^ and Tharabert fol- lowed by Clodeple^ Kithimer, and T'heodumir, and many others, who for their Birth and Valour merited a particular efteem a- mongftraen. The King received them with aU that charming atfa- bility which made them adore him, nor was there any one particularly to whom he gave not fotne mark of el\eem by obliging difcourfes > and in the end addre/fing himfelf to thofe whowereneareft to him, I hope, faidhe, that tvs may to day acquire fome ^lory tO' gether^ and puce by the Orden of Rofamond defence is permitted us, I believe rvf jfhall rer.^ der our felves nothing ^ore criminal, byvifitin^todjy the Herules and Gepides, My Lord rcp'yed the valiant Jbere, tou rvould be lejl exposed than you are, to the fear to offend the j^een of the Cirabrians, if you rvould not go to feek. occafionr in perfon, and if you would be fleat'd to referve your felf for the moil important^ leaving to us thofe rvhich are lej!;^ and i>i which your prefenee is not altvays neceffary. 1 fee well, my Coufw, replyed the King of the Franks, that you would have all the Peril, and all the Glory to your felf hut ynu muii give me ieave to (hare both the one and the other with you, qnd, that for my particular quarrel^ I expofe not fa many brave and generous Friend/ to thofe dangers wherein I will bear no part. Ah my Lord, ( faid the famous Priam ) you do but dayly tak^ too much, nor can you by any example, oranyreafon, jujii^e that uegleU you jhew of a life which ought to be precious to M the earth. Tou fee to the contrary, replyed the King, that it is odious to a great part of the world, and that it is not but againfl my life that fo many thoufands of men are armed, which defray our Conntry, and which, for the misfortune of one fole man., make fo many miferable. It would be much more jufi, added he with a figh, to abandon it to the fury ofjfa many ene- mies which demand it, and to the legitimate refentments of the ^fe« Rofamond, than de- fend it at the price of fo many others, to whom the Vejlinies might grant one thore long and happy. But fmce it is mt your intention, ( added he with a figh accompanied with fome tonfiraint ) and fmce you love too much a miferaple perfon, hated of Heaven and Forttine; I will not deprive you of the objeU of a friendjhip which is dear to me in niy misfortunes, nor rob you of the fruit yen defire offo many fair mark/ of your affeUion : and to this end, ( pur- fuedhe, turning towards his Efquires) let them give me my Arms, to the end, that we may not prefent our naked breajis to the Steels of our enemies, and that they defend us from any blow of Launce or Sword that may afflici fo many generous Friends, Finifliing thefe words, he put on his fair Arms, and appcar'd foon after in thitterfibls foflure, which to the eyes that beheld him might make him pafs rather tor the God of 5i§ VHARAMOND. PAkr IV, War than any niortal. Having uiickinoot! afterwards by the repoit of Charamont^ that according to tin Orders which he had y ven the day before, all the Battalions were already ifi Arms, as well t]iofe which were to march with him as thole which were to remain in the Cainp to attend his Orders. He prepared hiiiifelf to depart when he faw K ?c^.r and Viocres enter the Chamber with countenances that niade him judge they bruughc fome news , and in eftecfl, he had fcarce opened his mouth to ask them, when ?«£/(■/ breaking filence, My Lord, laid he, yoi( ft^ed hot take jo mmh paim togofiek^the Unemy ai yett have thowiln, fvr by rrhat I can jftdge^ they C(nNe to hs rvith a dffigft like tt> ours^ and are hou' not f,tr dijiantfrc'm OMT Camp. And at theie words he prelented him an Officer who having received command- ment to relate to him what he knew, My Soveraign, laid he, wf have been on horfback, all this night, under the condud of Adelard, to vehom your Mitjejiy had given that command^ and rve n>ere advAnced far dijhint frnm the place where ree began to draw a line between S^sp^nnum and the M'ttntain, But in the end^ having a longiime beaten the Champaign^ tie^t enconntred the Fant-Cnnriers of the E'lemy, tn namber little different from curs : And Ad chid %vitbout delay having given us command to charge them, rve ajjlinlted them rviih fo much vigour^ that not able to make any long refjiance^ they retired in difrdcr. The night being very clear^ rve purj'ued them a f^reat n^jy, and had prjp.bly enga^d farther^ if from the height of a Hill^ which ]ve came to in the purfmt^ rre had not heard in the adjacent Valleys, /?r(f the neighing of Herfes^ and afterivards the noife of Anns, rrhich made us kiioir, that not far di,\ant from us, there was a body of the Enemies mtichjironger than that rve had fought. Addixd jiopt in this place, to iearn more^ and as you knotp my Lnrd, we bear things more eafly by night than day^ lending an attentive ear, we heard the fame noife in feveral other places, and eafjly k^jew that thofg droops rvhich made it, ppjj'ejfed a great part of the neighbouring Coiintry, Adelard d/fpatch'd two or three Horfemen of thife who beji kjiew the Country, to go take a nearer notice of them, and in the mean time he thought it his duty not ti defer longer advifing your Majefty, he commanded me at the fame inji ant to depart, and I have fpeeded hither with all diligence pofible. This Officer fpoke in this manner, and the King who knew the Country, having asked him more particularly of the place where he had left the enemies, and judging very near of the advance thf.y might have made fince the time he had left them, ajjd turning to thofe' that were about him. By what I fee, faid he, we (hail take lefs pains t'an we thought, and more glory than we could hope : hut the defign we have had will not be unprofitable to us, fmce it tpiU hinder us from being furpris''d, and caufe the enemies to find us in another pgfiure than poffi- b'y they hop^d. At thcfe Words feeing he had no time to lofe, nor fcarce any to change his defign, he commanded the Prince Sunnon to begin to march at the head of the Cavalry : Tharabert had command to place himfelf at the head of the Giules, and keep them in Arms in their quarter,till they (houkl have advice from him: and to Triam to do the fame through- cut all the Camp, leaving all Officers that were nectfTary to make them obferve their Or- ders in their grand body. But he left particularly tlie charge to Charamont, to remain at the guard of Coniiance and Marcomire, with thofe Tioops that were able to defend the CafHe from the whole Enemies Army, fhould he have had rone to ogpofe them. He had muc^ difficulty to make Marcomire remain in bed now hc went to the held, but he was conflrain'd to obey at thisfeafon, and fo much the rather he did it, becaufe the King permitted him not to be advcrtis'd of tlie Enemies marcli. Having difpos'd all things like a great Mafter with an admirable diligence, he mounted on one of thofe horfcs which he ordinarily rode upon on thofe days, and of which he or- der'd a good number to be led near him at fuch times, and repofing the truft of what re- iTiain''d fo do in the Camp, on the experience of the valiant Triam, Vhardbert, and many o- thcr brave Commanders, whofe valou^and intelligence was known to him by many fair proots : he appear'd himfelf in a little time at the head of the firrt Troop, which march'd under the Conduft of Sunnnn, and by his prefence he infpir'd into the fouls of his own that confidence of vidtoty which nevet forfiiok them whilli he fought in the head of them. He drew forth fome Infantry along the Valley, which was very near the Camp, to poflTefs an advantagious Pod which was upon the paflage, and iieleftagreat body behind, with many fquadruns of Cavalry, on the tvi'o wing':, to fulbin them in cafe of need, dividing the < aVdlry which he led into two bodies, of which he gave the firft to Sunnon md the valiant Jbcre, at the preffing iniportunity of Sunnon, Who Would effay the firft danger, and fee the enemies before the King could approach them. It was juft about the time when darkncfs began to give place to the firft fplcndour of the day, when the King having pafs'd the valley in which he had lodg'd his Infantry, and from thence being advanced to a Place high cnougii to difcover all the plain to Segndunum, and the foot of -the oppofite Mountain, might obferve very diftindly a part of the Enemiei Squadrons Book i. Tl^ARAMONf). giQ Squadrons, which coaftinga wood on thdr left hand, advanced in fair order in the Plain, and with. fome choice men charged AdeUrd m'\ his Troop, who rciired fighting in a)! places wliere the fituation of the place gave means to a fmall number to ainufe a greater. At this fight it was difficult for the King of the Frj«/(/ to ftopthe boyling heat of the young Sunnon, and he had no fooner obtained leave to fuccour Adelard^ but headvancetl with Ibere^ followed with ten great Squadrons, while Fharainond with the rell came on an cafie pate after him, obferving what happened in the Hrft rencounter. Snnnon znd Ibere mounted on two fair Horfes, and, richly arm'd, covering their left liands with their Shields, and carrying their Launccs fix'd in their Rclh, in a pullure al- together warlike, marched fiercely towards their enemies, and coming near them, having paffcd a riling ground, which robbed them of their fight for fome moments. 1 hey now bbfervcd both what was their countenance, and in what polhire they came towards them \ irhcy eafilyfawthat they had oppos'd them with a Body of Cavalry, little different to theirs in number i or if the enemy appeared more ftrong, it was not with a difference fo great, as to caufe in them any fear, or make them affaultthem with lefs adurance. Thofe who caitie to encounter them, appeared no kfs affured than they, nor in cffedt were they lefs, and two men who Were at their head, having obfcrv'd the adion of the two French Priftces, l^Jrengthened themfdves like them with two flrong Lances, -and brandifhing thein, at the fame time they faw them depart, they ran with a violence like to theirs, and encountred in the middle of the courfe, with a fliock that made the Plain re-ctrcho like the found of Thunder. Their Lances flew into a thoufand fpHnters, and the four valiant Cavaliers finifhed their carreer without any confiderable advantage of either fide. They rctlirned immediately with their Swords in their hands, and the tvio Troop? cither pollibly by theordercf their Captains, oir poflibly by their own, having expedtcd the event of their courft, without flirrihg before they joy ned, they had time enough to accoffcach o- ther and exchange fome blows. Bere began a furious Combat with the enerny he had be- fore him, and they charged one another with an equal -vigour, and forces little different. But he who add reffed himfelf to Prince 5«««(j«, having made a figii with his hand, lift- ing a little up his Vifcr, to fpeak with moire freedom, I k?oiv not^ faid he, rvheiher it may p'e perttritttd'ti an cntniy to demand youT name. fVithout mforming my felf of the reafon you mi)!. ^(i?>^,'ahfweied the Prince of the Frankj^ I xpitl tell you that J am Sunnon. I f»i\imt f^fiifi, replyed hi? enemy, the glory I have to acquire againll you, but I cottld have defired thiti- you had been Marcomire. J doubt mi^ replyed Sunnon, but you are Gonde- niar, and you. will pojfihly fee M^t<;omite fooner than you defire but in expeSiftg . u^ had wit^lodt doubt faid more, if the Troops which at thait time charged, had given* hini idfure, oi' if he had had time to explain htmfelf, otherwife than by a great blow of his Sword, Miich he made fall on the head of Gondemar^ for it was truly he. f The BVotherof Gondioch knbwirig by this rude attempt the force of his enemy, could iiotdcfpilehim, though the paifions with which his foul was ftimulatid, made him feck MdTrtww, but he, ^o let his Brother know a part of thatrefentincnt he had againft a Rival itiorc happy than himfcif, he made him feel by a terrible blow, what in all occafions where^ in ht had etiCoiintted hinri, he had never proved v they exchanged fome others by the dilii- gence they had to difengage themfelvesfromtheprefs, and I know not what would havj Been the forturie of the yoUng Brother of Pharamond, fighting againft a man inccns'd hy^ a vrolent pklHon; . But they lud not long time topurfue their Combat, the multitudes ^df thcit tnen ftparated them horwithffarding their endeavours, andmadethcm carry amoiig fht multitudes; the efflClls of their choler and their valour.' There and Gontran againft whotn hc'fouglrf. found the fame obliiudibh, and the particular animoiity of each yield* ingtotherem'Jmbrancepf what thty ought to theemplbymenr of that day, they ran to theit funt^oW, making their Troops fight with all tliolc advantages they it is true he felt at the fame inftant choler againft an enemy who was his Rival mofl to be feared, jealoufie for the ad vantage he had over him of the (ight and ixkndOnlpoi Kofamond^.giid to fee him employed in enterprifes toTerve a Prin- cefs whom he had eternally offended, and joy for his rencounter at the prcfent time, to difpute his happincfs with his Arms. He had not time to exprefs what he thought, but he had enough to take that refolution which his fevcral pallicns infpired him with, and cau- finga Trumpeter to be called, Go, faid be, to Prince Balamir, rvhom thou fteft at the head of that Party of the enemy ^ and tell him^ that if he believes to find Pharamond an objeQ wot- thy of bis valour^ he may before our Squadron joyH^ breaks a Lance^ and excbangJi tsta hldt$t with his Sword for the love of Rofamond. T'he Trumpeter parted with this order, and the King having charged his left hand with his Shield, and his right with a flrong Lance, marched a little pace after him, andfollow-^ ed him fo much the more patiently, becaufe that he faw well, that the Troop of Suhhoh had not need of his affiftance, but fought without difadvantagc againft that of Ga«7s, and having killed with two blows of his Sword, Gtlmond Captain of the Cold/iles^ Vlric nephew of Briomer, who commanded all the Cimbrians next to Balartiir^ and threw to ground the famous Gontrati Prince of the illuilrious blood of Con- diocJ), by his admirable courage he had diforder'd, and ftruck a fear into his Enemies, when the valiant Gqndemar feeking a glory proportionate to the greatnefs of the danger to which he was expos'd, prefented himfelf before him, not fearing to engage his life againft the valour of fo formidable a Warriour ; He had likewife the happinefs to fuftain the Combat againft him with little difadvantage, fo long as they had liberty to fight, but the Bwc^kk- disns^ whojcaftthemfelves before their Prince, and the Fr^jal^x, who by their example co- v^t'd their King, deprived them equally of its continuance. In the mean time they tought pf each fide with an equal courage and a fortune little different : The Plain on all lides was cover'd with blood, and the bodies of dead or dying men, while yet it could not be judg~ ed to which ■{idf:thie yidory would incline. The invincible Tharamond ■with whom it feem'd jto have contraded an eternal alliance, bluth'd with fliame and Choler at the fame time to fee itfo flowly declare it felf in his favour, and he made it appear with an anger which jea- lowlic and emulation rendred more violent m his Soul than at other^Mps, caufed by the va- lour and experiejicieiof Balamir ^nd Gondemar, who with TroopslB>at all flronger than his difputed with bim the Field and the Glory of the Day : This kaj^edge made him run taall Gde5-tt>%ifg^i[hen with his prefence the weakeft places ■, but pafling near a hill, from wi^ncebe.mjght.tafily difcover all that was done in the plain, a ddign to obferve the Aate of the Combat made him attend it, and from that height calling his eyes not only upon the Xtoops which foilght, but many furlongs farther unto the very Camp of the Cimhria»f^ which fropi that place he might difcover, he faw appear, though ata very great dilla'nce, a great number of Squadrons which, marched tovpards him, and whofe Forces were not in- fpr^pur to thofe Which fought under Balamir and Gondemar : He could not prefcntly dif- eern their numbea!,.:but Hxing his fight more accurately, he faw a great part of the Country covered, and did.npt doubt but that unlefs he 'fpcedily remedied it, he (hould be forced to engage with a power too grcatforhim to withftaiid with thole Forces which now he had about him : But as in thefe adventures his prudence and his courage always equally fervcd him, immediately taking his refolutions and turning towards Prince Meroveur^ and the faithful C/eojwfr, who were next him, he cornmanded Cleemcr to poll with diligence to- wards the Camp, and caufe thofe Troops to advance which were deftiu'd to his aififtance,' and whom he had left fo near that he might cafily receive a fuccour from them in cafe of necellity : but becaufc he judged well that he could not be foready to oppofe them of his Enemies whom he faw coming, he orderM Merovrus to caufe a retreat to be founded, and to adverfife Su/mnn, Ibere^ aud other the mofl confiderablc Captains to rally their Squadrons and make them retire fighting, toWards the Valley where he had lodged the Infantry, which was not far diftant from that place, and where he hoped to fight the Enemies' with Book I. T HA R A M N D: ^^j with a greater difadvantage for them if lie tould engage t!icm. All things were executed as he commanded, and tiic trjjikj, however dcfirou? they were ' of the Combat, heard no fooner the Tvumpcts whicii rccdikd them to the Standard, but rhey rallied with that diligence vvhich made their Enemies admire their difcipUne, and for- ming their Squadrons, mairgre the diforder into whiqh they were put, they began to light and retreat with an admirable order, and like men who quitted the I'ield out of any other motive rather than fear. Both the Cimbnatti and Btirgwiduns were for the prefent alioniih'd at the retreat of their Enemies, but the valiant Princes that commanded them, having pre- fently difcovcr'd the caule, were forc'd to take fom.e more time to confult vvhat refolution they were lo take, and Ba/.{w?r turning towards Vx\x\ccGottdema)\ who was come to iiis quarter, Pharamond rfZ/rc/if/yrez/j-, faid he, but 1 believe that it is not fear that nmkes him tiee, fiirfince rve k^nom him for a greit Mjjier in the myiiery of Tf'af^ we oiight not to doubt but dnthat fide vphither he would draw us, he has forces to fujiain us : therefore in my opinion wo have no other rt>ay to tak,e, than either to engage him with thofe men we have, before he can joy it ihith the red of his, or attend thofe who come to eur ajjijiance, to ajfault him in the pnji he (rocs fofeek^y but as the one of the two feems hard t!) execute^ fo the other is below our courage. T.hjt A>hich you fay is very true, replied Condemar, but tv follow that Party you judge the mgji honou- table, we may in my opinion, pref the Enemies without eypeBing greater Forces until we came t9 fueh places where we can m longer fight them without difadvantage, in which I judge as well as you, we ought not to engage our men without abfolute necejjity. • ^ EaUmir approv'd the advice of CondemaY, whofc merit he extremely efteem'd, thougli he was brother to his Rival : and at the fame time thofe two valiant Princes prelfed wit!) their Squadrons on thofe which retir'd, and had without doubt diforder'd them, had it not been for the great endeavours of their King, who fuftaining the charges of the Cimbrians and Burgundians with thofe Bodies which heoppos'd to them, and which he changed from time to time, whillt the Grofs retired towards the Valley, hindred his Enemies from draw- ing any great advatitages from that little retreat. Sunuon, Ibere, Gtnebaud, zv\AMeroveus: did an hundred worthy Adions, and the great Tharamond was that day fo well fatisried With what he faw his young Brother do, that it highly augmented the eflecmand afFedion he had for him. Fighting in this manner, they arriv'd at the place where the Plain ftreight- ning, there appear'd the beginning of a great Valley, bounded on the one fide with a RiVer, which taking its fource from fome Fountains very near the place, went to difcharge it fclf in the Segue : and on the other, with fome Trees which took root in the foot of the Moun- tain. It was on the fide of the Trees that iJw, accompanied with Mtroi/f^/, fufiain'd the Powers of the C;/«^r/i»«/ with an admirable courage, and the valiant 5a««o«, followed by the \\zxAij Genebaud, ftopp'd the violence of the £arga«:i/i.»«i" on the River, whilft PWd- niond Gdmbated every where, and keeping in the rear of thofe that retired, turned every moment his terrible Countenance towards thofe which purfued, flriking fear by his fight in- to the Souls of the moft hardy, and flopp'd them more powerfully by his prcfence thaii thoufands of men could have done. He faw however near the place where the fair Mea- dow begins to expatiate it felf between the Wood and the River, Balamir at the head of his, with one blow of his Sword tumbled to ground before his eyes him who commanded thofe Guards which were ordinarily near his perfon : the tall of this man who was very particu- larly beloved by his King, incenfed him with a terrible Choler, and notwiftanding all Ob- flruftions, once more opened his paffage to the Prince of theH««/, who for his part did not fly the Combat, and at the fame time prefled him with his Horfe, and direii^cd the point of his Sword to his Vifer : The Sword did not work that effed he expeded, but in- Ikad of finding the pafTage he fought, by the care which the Heavens had in this attempt of a life precious like that of Balamir, it lit on one of the edges of the Vifcr, and broke irt many pieces, leaving the incenfed King wholly difarmed i but the Shock was more advan- tagious, for the Horfe of Bj/jwir either feebler or more wearied than his could notfupport it, but fell with his Mafter at the feet of the Combatants- .Thefe accidents that befel thefe two great Princes aftohifhed them much Icfs than thofe who fought near them, and if in a fmall time there was feen in the hand of the Kingf oftheFranks a Sword which he had wrefted from one of his Enemies, the Prince of the Huns, whom thefallof his Horfe had little, or not at alldifordered, was ftreight reinount* ed, much lefs by the alhl\ance of his, than by his proper valour •, his fall haying inceus'd him, he began to charge the Franks in the Meadow with a fury which made him forget, the refolution he had taken with Gowifwjr, when he faW the Infantry which Tharamond had left in the Valley advance, and which marching along the River, and the foot ot the Mountains, which the Cavalry of the Cimbrians could not approach, made.fhowet down' lit upoi* 524 TH^ARAMOND. Part. IV. upon them a flight of Arrows, which in a moment deprived of life a great number of thofe that were engaged in the Meadow. Balamh and Gondernar prelcntly knew the difad vantage they might receive in this kind of fighting, and the damage they fuffcrcd by the Infantry which it was difficult for them to force •, but having feen appear at tlic fame time the Troops which arrived to their fuccour, they prepared to ufe all their endeavours toopprcfs thofe they had before them, not doubting but notwithftanding all the valour of tharamond^ they might compafi their defires, when, from the place where tliey were, be- ing fomewhat more exalted than that to the fight of which they were cppofed, they dif- covered the Troops which came to alfift Pharamond-, which Cleomer had gone to fetch, and which marched in fo great a number along the Valley as mig^ht juftly deprive them of the hopes of Vidory. Balamir zud Gondemar, both zs from Kofamond znd Condioch, acknowledging a power above their own, and not having orders to engage the Armies in a general Battel, ftopp'd at this fight to confider what they had to do ■-, and a little after Balamir^ to whom Gondfi- mar out of refpcdt yielded the Command, following the example which Pharamond had fome time before given him, retired his Troops from the fight, and made them regain the Plain in the faireCt order in the world: Pharamond purfued them hotly to the very Plain, where feeing that he could not be followed by his Infantry, nor feconded by the Cavalry which came to his alliltance, who were yet too far diftant to joyn with him, he wasconftrained toconfent to their retreat, and to fuffer with infinite difpleafure that B<*/i»- mir (hould (liate with him the Glory of that Day. He marched however after him, but very flowly, to give time to his Troops to come up, if there fhould be farther occafion of fighting i but before they came to the Plain, the enemy was too far diftant to follow them, with any hopes to make them renew the Combat. The Field remain'd in this manner to tlie Franks^ but it was without any other advantage, than that of making ihtCimhrians do what the Frank! had fome time before done, and for the lofs of men, it was almoft e- qual in both parties, for both of the one and the other party, there fell near eight thou- fand upon the place. The King being advanced to the place where the Fight had begun, ordered them to feek among the Slain, forfuch as might yet receive fome help, amongft whom he with infinite joy faw Adelard living, and fome others with him, whofe lofs ht had before lamented v but he found with infinite grief the bodies of Elimer and Ibtodo- mir^ who loft their lives by the Sword of Balamir^ and encouraging himfelf at this fight with a new jngcr againrt a Rival and an Enemy, whom he could not forbear to efteem, he fettled refoiutionsfor their revenge, which added a new fire to what his love and jcaloufie had enlightened in his foul. Whilft he gave his orders both to fuccour the living, and bear away the moft Confider- able of the dead, and by a goodnefs fcldom pradfifed, took the fame care to afford help to thofe of his enemies who were able to receive it, fome Scouts which he had fent on the right hand, and towards that Mountain which is oppofcd to the City o( Segodumtm, re- turned to him, and brought him advice, that in a Valley at the foot of that Mountain, they had difcovered a grofs of Cavalry, of about feven or dght hundred Horft, which ac- cording to their opinion, took their way by the backfide of the Wood, towards the right handi and that they had feen, though very indiflinftly, by reafon of thediftance, Chariots full of Ladies, which marched amongft the Squadrons, of .which the Body was com- pofed. The King hearkened with a great deal of coldnefs and negledt to the beginning of the report of thefe Hofemen, but as foon as they talked of Chariots and Ladies, be hearkened not only with more attention, but v»ith much commotion of fpirit i and judg- ing that it was not impollible but it might be the fair Queen her felf, who was with thdfc Chariots, he could not receive this advice without a trouble eafily obfer vable in his countC" nance by thofe about him. Ihere and Cleomer perceived it firft, and the King beholding them with a behaviour that confirmed their thoughts, I fee tveV, faid he, that you read ih my eyer, a part of what pajfes at prefent in my fpirit^ and I am content to tetl you, that yon are not deceived if yon believe^ that the report of thefe Cavaliers, by giving me fome bops, ta /ff Rofamond, have made me forget all other things to feel{_ the occafion. Concluding thefe words, having left in that place thofe perfons that were neccfTary to execute what he commanded, both for the dead and wounded, he placed himfelf at the head of fome choice Squadrons, commanding Prince Sunnon to follow after him with the reft, towardstheplace which thofe Horfemcn had defcribed. It being moft true, that 3it the mme of Koftmnnd, not onJy all his prudence, but all his reafon abandoned him, the hope he had conceived to fee her, poffelTcd him entirely in fuch fort, that he was not ca- , pable of any other thing but the Idea of Refamond. This prclUng and imperious remem- brance, Book I. T H A R A M N D. 52.5 brancc, made liim march with great diligence towards thehappincfshe wcnt.to feck, but not without thofe troubles which (hon^ly counter-balanced his iiopc, and as in tiie eliate of his fortune, he had but too much lubjcd to fear, fear did at prcfcnt hold but too much place in his fpirit. Sometimes he imagined tliat tlie Queen of the Cimbriatts would not fo far hazard her fclf in that manner from the Camp, or if it were polhble that (he (b.ould do fo, (he would in all probability be accompanied by a greater Force than they had dil- covcrcd, and by a Troop which would not permit his accefs: Not but that he could hope to open himfclf his palTagetoher with his Sword in his hand, if he had thouglit he miglit take the liberty to hgiit againfl her Guards, when tlie was there in pcrfon, but this was hothis dclign, for he had without doubt preferred death before the leall occalions to com- mit againrt her new offences. 0Ht when he fancied to himfcU that it was not impoUible that Kofimond might be tiiere, and that he might hope to approach her, it was in this aft ion that he feared to difpleafe her, as much at leaft as in combating againft her Troops, and the fear to difpleafe her, was more powerful over his fpirit, than all other confidera- tions. Jrhat gneji thou unfortHUdte to feek^ ? ( faid he with a figh ) ^Fhat though thou jhouldj} be fo happy as to fee Rofamond, daji tboH hope that [he will to day behold thee mo-'e favottrahh than jhe hath fur the time p.tji .<" or though her indimtiont fljould not be contrary to thee^ dojl than believe that fliC can approve thy prefumption ? or that before fo many wit' tteffes fvhich accompany her^ (Ije can fiffer thy prefence without offence .? What now can in- duce thee to hope that thy mercileji fortttne hath made a truce nrith ' thee ? or rather^ knoxring it as thou doll know^ what hinders thee ffom believing that (he leads thee to nere occafions, to injure her whom thouadoreti? Ah too unfortunate Pharamond, return back, if thou art able yet for fame fetx> minutes^ to hearken toreafin^ and content thy felf jvith thy miferies^ xpiih- out going to feek^ more^ to which witheutdeubt thy cruel deftiny cvnditUs thee. There Wanted but little at that time, but that thcfe conliderations had Hopped him, and made him direft his march another way j but he remain'd not long in this opinion, for all that he could kit from the fight of Kojamond, could not hinder him from deliring it. Let Us TKW, added he, let us march whither our love calls w, and let m hearken Ho longer to that reafon which we have fo long fince abandoned to our love. It is againji this power it ought to defend tts if it were in its forver^ and not cruelly oppofe it felf to that good^ fuch as it k whieh fertuHe-effert M.. though I [hould not approach Rofamond, I tnay probably be per- mitted to fee her ^ and though I (hould not fieak^to her, nor underjiand the found cf her voice t Jhould be happy if tny eyes could fee het^ tvhatever dijiance feparates us, her fight in what- ever manner I obtain it , cannot but be of great value to the enamoured Pharamond, and from her fair eyes, h.iw dijiant foever, I JhaJi receive a new day, much more fweet to me than tphat the Heavens great Luminary gives us. Speaking to himfelf thefe words, more agreeable to his paffion than his ordinary wif- dom, he came with the Troop that followed him to the borders of the Valley, and found bimfclf in a p»!ace fo high, that he might eallly obferve all that was there, and all that pafTed > he knew prefently, not only that the report brought him was true, both for the number of the Cavalry, and for the Chariots which they conduced •-, but he faw that the Chariots and the Cavalry were ftill in the fame place where his Scouts had left them, and that the Ladies, who in all likelyhood had been flopped by fome hindrance, remounted their Chariots to depart. At the view of this He flopped, holding his eyes fix'd on the objed which employed it, without power to determine on any refolutioni but he faw that he was likewife feen , and the Troop vfhich he beheld, not marching without diflruft, they had no fodrer difcovcred him, and with him five hundred Horfe, which followed him, but they rallied about the Chario't, and placed them in the mid- dle of four Squadrons , vvhich they ordered in a moment. Fharamond obferved them in the place where he flood, without flirring, and judged by their countenances that they were in a good refolution to fight if they were affaulted. In effed, they gave him ftccafion to judge fo, whilft there appeared not only that Troop which followed the King ; but Prince Stinmn, who fearing by the remembrance of things part, the eftefts which the love of fharamond might produce, would not let him advance with fo ie\'9 men, without following him with the grofs, with much more diligence than he had or- dered, fo that he had flood but a little time to behold the Chariots, and the men which accompanied them, when they might behold all the Hill covered with Squadrons, which advanced at the fame time, and inftead of five hundred Horfe which appeared at firlt to them, they might now behold more than four thoufand. At this fight, the fair refolution' they had teftihed againft the fmall number, abandoned them, and not being in truth in iry condition to fight thofe they beheld, tear firfl wrought contulion and difordcr amongi! theon. 525 FHARAMOND. Part IV. them, and in the end fpread fo generally fhroiigh all, that the whole Troop was disband- ed in a moment, the Horfenien Hying both along the Valley towards the other Hil) and on all fides where they could hope to find tlreir fafcty, leaving about the Chariots but a fmall number of men, more generous than the common, who ranged thcmltlves about the Ladies, refolving to exped their deiliny in their duty. The King of the Frtf«iy beheld this diforder with intinite difcontent, fearing to Iiave already done a new injury to the Queen of the Cimhrunt^ if it were truly iTie, by af- frighting her men , but in a moment after he found fome confolation, in the hope he had he might approach her, and demand pardon for the difoider to which he had not contri- buted, but by his prefcnce. But as he began by fome appearances to fear that it was not Kofamond^ he would clear himfelf before he would go nes«|hc Chariots, and as he was a- bout to fend a Trumpeter, C/eowfr prefented to him twQ; of the Fugitives, whom fome of hisHorfemen had taken, among whom their fear had made them feek their fafety. The King having commanded thofe about him not to- make him known, neither by their adtionsnordifcourfe, cauftd thele two Horferaen to approach, and commanded them not tofear any thing, but tell him with truth who were the Ladies they accompanied. Thefc men being realTured by the fwcetnelsof the ufagc ihey received, one of them breaking fi- lence. My Lord, faid he, the Lady rvhem rve accompany, is the Princef! Amalazontha, xeho if ^een of the Turingiens, by the death of Amalaric her Brother^ who loji his life in Battel by the hands of King Pharamond. Thcfe words which deprived the amorous Prince of the hopes he had to fee his adored objedf, touched him with a fenlible difpleafure, and tiiofe who were near him, ealily obferved the marks in his face, but he ufed his utmoll endeavours to vanquifh it, at lead to dilTemble it, and breaking filence with fome fighs he could not retain, Horr, ("faid he to the two 7uringieHs'), the Princefiipbom yox convoy^ is fl}e then the famous Amalazontiia, rcho by the wtotvn of her admirable beauty, is k^own throHzJ} all the world, and rvhoby the death of Atpalaric is at prefent ^eenof «/jf Turin- giens > Thofe two men having conhrmtd what he faid, / doubt mt at all, added the King, but your fair ^een pajfes this Country to go te the ^een 0/ «/^e Cimbrians, and pyn rvith thofe other Beauties, who encourage the N-ationt to war <»gJi/» Pharamond. hit true my Lord, faid the 'turingiens, that our ^een goes to vifit the ^een of the Cimbrians, where the T'roops of the King her Brother yet are, and it is believed they mil Hot feparati^ till this roar be at an end, Thisdifcourfe drew many new fighs from the brcft of the paffionate King, feeing that with fo many millions of men, fo many Beauties united themfelves together for his ruine > but this knowledge of the intentions oi Amalazontha, could not prefeiitly cxtinguidi that profound refped he had for her Sex, and what he ought particularly to her beauty, the fame of which was fpread abroad ■, and therefore permitting his civil and gallant humour to reign over all his palfions, which feemcd to make him incapable of all things but the' remembrance of Ho/i/Howi^, he refolved to render to this fair Queen, though (he were his enemy, all (he could have expedted from him, if (lie had palfed through his Territories with intentions wholly contrary to thofe which now conducted her. And to this purpofe^ having commanded the two turingiens to return to their Queen, and to caufe their com* panions to rally, he commanded Prince Sunnon to (liay in the place where he was, with 7- here and all the Troops, and taking wltii him only Cleomer, Geneband, and Merovetu^ to whom, out of a refpedt which defended him from prefenting before the eyes of that Princefs, him who had (lain her Brother, he gave order not to render any refpcd to make him known i he defcended the Valley, and marched towards the Chariots, after having confirmed to thofe which were about them, by a fign which he made many times with his hand, what their connpanions whom he fent back might have informed them. To accoll the Queen of the "Turingiens with more refped, he had lifted up tlic Vifer of his Helmet in fuch manner, that his countenance was wholly difcovered, and the (\\r and heat of the Combat having added a little rcdncfs to it, it feemed that his natural beauty re- ceived a new fplcndour, and that charming and majefiick afpedt, againfl which nothing could refift, appeared exalted that day, like fomething extraordinary, and more than hu- mane i to the charm of his face was added that which equally fpread it felf through all his perfon, and his whole compofure was fuch, that it had been ditticuli for pcrfons that had never fecn him, to behold him without admiration. Approaching the Chariot of the fait Queen, he beheld in her habits, and in thofe of her Ladies, and the Officers of her Train,, all the marks of a profound fad ncfs i but when he ca(t his eyes on her face, hefoundafub- jed of alionilhment, from which, nothing but the prepofll'lfion of his foul, and a foul. prepoflTciTed foi Kofamond, was capable to defend him. And it might indeed be faid ' ' _ with Book L PHAR A MON A 327 with truth, that few beauties in the woikl could equal that ti Amalazontha, and that next Keftmoid^ there was perhaps none, with whom (l\e might not dil'putc. Notiiing can appear to the eye more white, more Hvcly, and more united, tlian her complexion* nor was ever any proportion found more regular, than what was oblcrvcd in all the tca- tures, and in the whole form of iicr face. Her eyes were black, though fomewhat different from thofe which truly are fo, but they had a piercing fire, whici) rcr.dred their Glances difficult to fupport, and when they would fwecten a part of what they had of natural ihercenefs, they had a charm which did ir.fenllbly (urprifc, and againll wl.ich, itwasdiiVi- cult for any to defend thcmlelves. Tlie beauty of her lips, and that of her teeth, was ad- mirable, and thofe of her hands and neck, agreed wonderfully with the abfoliitepcrfcdion of iicr whole pcrfon i her hair approached rather to black than fair, nor could it be of a colour more proportionate to that of her eyes i her fiature was little inferiour to tliat of Rofjmond^ and in her port, her gate and all her adion, (he had fomething fo great, lb fair, and fo exalted, that it was difficult to behold her. Without fubmictinf;; to her all that refpcdt, which a Tranfceudent and Royal Majeily could exad. She had likewifc in the tone of her voice, a particular charm, nor could any hearken to her, without receiving fhatimpirellion which her difcourle intended. Notwithltanding all that the prepodeilion of Tharkmond could do by obferving at firft fight apart oi thefe wonders, and by the effcdf they produced, aftonidiment found place in afoul, which in all probability was little capable to receive any •, but it he received any, he cauled no lefs in the fpirit of the fair Queen, aijd though (lie feemed at prcfent overwhelmed in the grief that had feizcd on her fpirits, and that what (he felt for the lofs of a Brother whom the dearly loved, cxprefTed it felf by all mournful appearances, from which the af- fright and fear of her Troop, and the danger thrcatning her v^as not able to divert her at the light of fuch a perfon as Tharamond^ (>ie could not remain in the cdatc wherein fhe was, but lifting up her head which (he had negligently leaned on the flioulder of one of her La- dies, (he fixed her felf entirely to obferve a man fo extraordinary as he appeared to her eyes., All that had ever ama7ed them before, was expelPd from her memory at the fight of fo excellent an objed, and tiie fair figure which prefented it felf to her i'ght, fpread its reprcfentation through her whole foul in an inlfant. The King of the Franks having as well as (he pay'd fomc time to the furprife which the fair ob^cdi had caus'd, faluted her with a profound f'ubmillion, bowing himfelf to his very Saddle Bow i and when he lifted up his eyes to fix them on her countenance, fccking terms to explain himfelf witli- out making himfelf known, or without offending the truth, for which he had an invio- lable fefpedl, Great ^een, faid he, if Pharamond veere at the head of the Troops yon fee, or if the misfortune he hath to be odiom to you, permitted him to prefent himfelf before yoK, he Tpould tvithaut doubt do the fame I come to do for him i and therefore Prince Sun- tion hit Brother, who commands this Party, hath thought good I jhoitld come to afjurv ynu, that the deCign which leads you through bis Brothers Territories, cannot hinder you from be- ing Mijirep there, and that you may not only call bac^yoiir men, whom their fear hath made flye from you, but if their convoy fuffices not to condnSi yon to the Camp nf the §hteen of tha Cimbrians, he will in perfon afj'ure the March to her very 'Tents, This is all he can offer jfffw /ir Pharamond, nor djtb his mUfortune permit himto hope youwould fuffer more. The King of the Frankj fpoke in this manner, and the fair Queen of the TnringieMs hearkened to him with a trouble (he had never before felt, which appeared hi her eyes whilft he fpoke, and breaking lllcnce fo foon as he had done, / ani much more content, faid (he, to owe to Prince Sunnon or to you, the civility I receive, than to the King of tht- Franks i and though the fame which is frread through the world of him, makfs him efreeni'd by his very enemies, J cannot receive d more fenfihle difcourtefte, than to be obliged to one who hdth jlainmy Brother, lean, replyed the King, tell you for the defence of Phiramondy that it if was only defending his own life, that he gave death t.> the King your Brother, and that pflffiblyit is nut jitli, that with fo much innocence, he fliould be exfofedto a mifery fo great, 01 the hatred of fi fair a Princefi. Tott hy/orv well, (replyed Amalazontha with a ligh ) that neither friendjhip nor hatred are always founded on reafn, and, that we ought to yield fomething to misfortune, when we are fuhjedcdio Fortunes Empire. If that cruel For- iune, added Pharamond, did ad with the King of the Franks M with ordinary enemies, he might find fame confolation in Ins mifery, and in the juiiice of his caufi'i, but he fees with too much grief, and poffibly with fme injujiice, all the Beauties of the world armed againft him^ by feeing himfelf expofed to the hatred of ^mzhlonth:i, Albifinda, and Rofimond. Since be.hjth (lain the Brothers of thefe three Princeffes, replyed the "Queen of ihc 'furingiens, he eJHnat vponder if he bt hated by them, tior cdH he^ having fpilt fo much blood, jpeal{ himfelf inncctnf. 3i8 PKARAMOND. Part. IV. inmcfnt. I ajfurs my felf^ icplyed the King, that he TfiS do at th'jt is foftbh fur him, to appfafe your dttser, and in thofe occasions of War yott force him too, yon jvill f,nd him faff.cifnt' Iv favourable, to repair a part of th,fe crimes, his ill fortune hath made him commit. He rvauld efteem himfelf ninii happy ^ if re'ith all hit blood, he could fatisfie the attg^er cf thafe itf censed Beauties, and rvhen I jhotild offer it for him, I believe he would not diforcn it. ■ The Qijcen at this very time beheld the King with an afpedt, which to thcfe that were near her, appeared altogether pailionate, and breaking filence with a figli, I co}ifeji, faid fhe, that an Interccffor lik^ yntt U capable to app^afe the moji incetifcd fnd \ and ^fvh at ever hath been ptihlijhed of the perfm of the Kin^nfthe Franks, were he likf you, rt would he difficult to hate him. Thefe words flipt between the fair lips of //;«a/j«oat/^j, poffibly a- gainft her intention, and no fooner had (he pronounced them, but her countenance ,was covered with a bUi(h, which yst made her feem more fair to thofe that beheld her. Her confiilion increas'd from minute to minute, inftcad ( f diminifhing, and whatever cndei- vourtlie us'd to recover her felf, fh.e could fpeak no more but in diforder. The King fearing that (lie began to know him, and that this knowledge of the murtherer of her Bro^ thcr, had caus'd this trouble which he obferv'd in her facev having told her he would re- turn to the Prince Sttnmn, and that he doubted not, but that Prince would come to render her in petlon, what he ought her, he took leave of her with a profound reverence, and refurn'd towards the Hill. Amalazontha followed him with her eyes fo long as (he could diriingui(h iiim from the others, or rather, her heart followed him more than her eyes v and by the prodigious eiTed of an extraordinary fnerit, like that of King Tharamond, a heart, which poflibly till that fatal moment had been infentlble of alTaults of love, or rather, a heart, which till then, neither love, nor the merit of many great men, could touch, po(rib!y by the revenge of a God whom (he had cruelly dcfpifcd, and by an effed of her ill dcftiny, began to burn with a fire (lie had never felt, and -to burn for a man, who though fenfible and too fenfible of love, could never pay to hers, any acknowledgment could content it •, ■fte iigh'd with grief as vvell as love, at this change of her condition, and though fhe felt it but imperfedly, (lie did all that waspollible to excite her anger againft this prefuroptu- ouspadion, which hitherto, not having been able to open its paffage to her heart, feemed now to be in a moment eltablillied with Soveraign Authority : But her anger langui(hed» riotwith(tand:ng the fcyce (heufed to incenfe it, and refuhng to ferve her in this affair, it feem'd to yield to a more lofty power, which difarmed it of all its forces. She for fome time flattered her felf againft the knowledge of her evil, but fcarce had (he cbnfulted a fmall time, but fhe found (lie truly lov'd, though fhe were little experienced in the knowr ledge of an evil which (he had never well prov'd, and (he pcrceiv'd more, than (he was •willing, that the Idea of that pcrfon (he yet fought with her eyes, was fixed in the middle -of her heart, in fuch manner, as it had appeared to hcrin his converfe. This knowledge ^vantcd little of drawing tears from her faireyes, or, that (he had not open'd that ftream which her unfortunate pallion ought to have made her many days let flow. Alas, (faid fhe at prefent to her felf J what am I? where am I? and into what terrible mUfortune am J fallen ? She who among(\ her attendant Ladies was molt dear to her, and who was at prefent feated near her, obferv'd in her face the trouble of her fpirit, and demanded with great eagernefs and atfedion, whether (he were indifpofed \ but the Queen prelfing her arm, and reaching her lips to her ear, Let me tofv poffibly but too much, would to the Gods that I were dead. Concluding thefe words, (he reinain'd iti this pofture, her head leaning on the fliouldcr of that Lady, without thinking of her de- parture, or without fo much as fpeaking a word to her Officers, who with inhnite difficult ty rallied their affrighted men. In the mean time. King Tharamond was returned amongft his men, ravi(hed with the beauty, and what he had feen of the merit cf Amalazontha, and willing to render to that fair Queen, what he ought to her degree, to her beauty, and to the e(\eem (he teftilied ■for his perfon, he commanded the Prince Sttnnon t.o go himfeU with a thoufand Horfc, to accompany her as far as (he defired, and to endeavour byJiis carriage, and by the re- fpcd he fliould telHhe, to blot out a part of the anger (he had againlf him. He ordered him to difcover himfelf to her for what he was, and to to fignihe to her, that the Brother of Tharamond was highly honoured, in finding an opportunity to fcrve her, but he forbid him cxprclly to let her know, or to give her place to imagine, that he who had before fpoke to her was King PifcarjmoW, fearing to have been wanting in the refpccft heought to her, in prefenting to her eyes the perfon who had (lain her Brother. Swinon defcended the Valley with a thoufand Horfe ( whillt the King with the re(f took their way towards the Camp ; and advancing with the principal Officers Ibme paces before the Troop, he approached the Chariot, ■ Boo It I. THAR A MO ND, ^ chariot, and accoflingtffe Queen, falatctl Iicr with infinite fiibiiiiinnn i but when lie fix'd his eyes on her fair counrenance, and was about to have Ipoken to her, tiic Jplcndour of ^that Cceleliial Beauty dazlcd his eyes, and amazed Iiis fpirit at the fame tin^ie, troubling him in fuch fort, that he forgot in a moment, both what he had to fay, ind what he ought to do in an accident of the lame nature. The Queen having underllood that i^was the Brother of King Vharaimnd^ had put licr felf into a poflutc to receive him, with a civility due to his R.anl:, and to the treat- ment he ufcd towards her, and all things in this Prince being truly conformable to his Dignity, his afpedl being admirably accomplifli'd, his Arms of the faireft and moff magni- ficent, and all forts of external appearances denoting truly what he was, (lie eahly con- cciv'd him Brother to Phjrjmond, and rendircd him all (lie thought due to his Dignity i but though fhe fawall things in hiin worthy remark and confideration, (hefaw nut fhara- tnond^ or rather, that unknown perfon whom (he loved, and whom (h.e on all ficles fought "for with pa/lionateeycs. The trouble (lie had, not to fee him near the Prince, made her grow pale, but neither that pilenefs, nor the languor which by reafo'n of tliat trouble feis'd her, did any thing diminilli her iicauty, nor hinder the French Prince, from tind- ing too many chairms to^referve a liberty \^'hich he had till that fatal moment defended igainft all other Beauties. In tine, were it by the merit oi Tharamondzvid. Amalazontha'^ •or the ill delliny of the Queen of the "tttrifigietis d.x\ditht Brotlier of PharamoHd, two Souls were op the fame day enflamed under unhappy figns, and in an ill con jundure botii ■for the one arid the other. The young Prince was foon fenfible of his evil, but being ignorant of the moinruelcil:cum(\ances of it, and the hard obllrudion which his i!lfor» tuneoppofcd, he beheld his flavery notas a mifery,. but permitted himfelf with pleafure, to be tranfported by a torrent of pallion, fufficicntly violent in its birth ; He had accofied fhe Chariot, and beheld a long time thd Queen with the countenance of an aftonifhed man, and if he had not had to do with a perfdn wfaofe fpirit was at prefent no freer ithan his, he had been in great danger either to difcover to her all the diforder in which he was, or td create in her a very bad opinion. He at length by force overcame what he refented, tcs acquit himfelf of what he ought, and breaking lilence, which according to the Laws, of Civility he had too long kept. Be pleafed to pardon Madam^ faid he, tb? fattltj n'hifh a too jufl allonijhment mak^s me commit^ nor thhtk^ it (Irakge^ ti)at baViftg fo grelit a fuhjeti to admire^ I have jf'ent fome mimiies in admiration. I beJieve I come hither to render \o:i in the abfence of King Pharamond,-*^it rvhich he rcottld himfelf have rendred you with too \nueb joy ^ if his iU fortune had not appofed it', and I fee^ that I am cmne to deplore the htiifrtHne he hath to he odious to the fairefl perfon in thercorld, I hopehoxve*Jer Madam, that your hatred roill not extend to the innocent, htii that yott will permit a Vrincetvho truly is Jo' though he be the Brother of Pharamond, to prefent you tbet>uty of a Country you honour H'iih yottr prefthce, though the intention tvhich hath condt/Sed ym he not favourable to us. The Prince fpoke in this manner, and notwithftandirl'gth* trouble of his fpirit, cxprcf-' fed himfelf U'ith a grace, Which all]fl:ed by the other advantages of his degree and petfofj'^ might have obliged the Queen to a very {^articular dk'em for hlin, zuS it is moll: certairv that an hour before, in defpite of the hatred (he bore the. King his Brother, 'he might hav^ been deceived in a manner as obliging, as he could reafonably defire ; but in the elUte he at prefent found her, (he fcarcelent hini any attention : Not but that (he forced her fclf, to' tcceivc with civility a Prince, whofe carriage was fo obliging to her, in a time vvhefoti (Vie might well have difpens'd with a patt of what he rendred her i but het foul was in luch minner repleat with the Ideji which wholly pofTefs'd it, and with the grief fhe felt, that it ftem'd (he had neither eyes nor remembrance for any other thing, and therefofe" turning her felf towards the Prince, v^ith a languor which in his fight rendred her yet more fair. It if to me d very great misfortune, faid (he, to fee my felf obliged to thofe jpef' fhns , dgaifijl n>hom J come to mdke rvdr^ -and to fi>id at prefent fo great an objirudion H the jull defire I have to revenge the death vf my Brother. I (^lonld not have been expofea to it, but by the errour of my Guides, dnd fome Occidents that are befallen Uf. But however it he, I will again t ell yoii, mjLord, what I told to him who made me the firjl offers oStyiuf part, and confefi that my trouble w much le(i, to owe to you for the entertainment you give rhe'^ than if I received it from King Ipharamond. I can affnre you, ( replyed the Prince, ivitlt a trouble (he might ealily obferve on his face ) that ^ing Pharamond would render you with too much fatisfaUion the fervice which his Brother corties to offer you, nor hath he pof- fihly ever fo much refented hit mifery, as he would this day d», if he canldh^orv, towhathii misfortune hath rendred him odious. My beauty, replyed the Queen, // in little efteem in the ^orld in comparifoH cf that of ^of^rp^oM-, and the love which Pharamond hath fot beii\ and 550 THARAMOND. Part IV. that which Kemrv)} hath puhliiljed, leaves him apparently in little J0n(:bility for other Beatttjes, I have mverfeen the ^ueen of the Cimbrians, replied Stotaon^ but whatever remwn tnayfpeak^^ I can difficultly imagine that there can be any thinz, fofair in the rvorld as rvhat nutv appears to my fyes : and if I could hope, added he witli a figli, that the hatred yon have for a Prince^ who hath attraUed it rather by his misfortune than defign tvoftld net extend^ I (hoiild value rvith little grief that ef all other enemies rvhich our unhappinefs may raife us. Tou ought not to doubt ^ rc- plyed the Queen of the Turingiens^ that my thoughts are conformable to jujiice^ fo far as I underjlandit : But in the mean time (added fhe, feeing that her men were rallied) ifyouwiU not treat me like a Prifoner of f Far you pall permit me to purfue my journey, and to retire towards the ^een of the Cimbmns. ICou will rather make Pnfners, (replyed the Prince, cafting her a paliionate look,) than be in danger of being a Prifoner^ for the liberties of thofe that fee you^ are not in the fame fecurity with yours, lou may depart when you pleafe, (continued he, ma- king a fign to his men to march,) but youjhall permit me if you plea fe to accompany you through thafe places where you may yet ineet fame troublefome encounter^ and you (hall receive this light fervicefromv Prince^ who would with all his foul facrijice toyou fomething more precious than his life. He pronounced thefe words with a behaviour which might eafily have made the Queen obfervea part of what he felt, if (he had taken notice, but her foul was prepoffeircd entirely with a thought which left no place to all others, therefore infiead of replying to thefe laft words, which had fomething in them very paliionate, (he contented her (elf /o oppofe the dclign he had to accompany her, and to refufe it if it were pollible i but (be oppos'd in vain, for the Prince who had done her this office, had he been obliged by civility only, joyning to the power it had in the foul of a high-born Prince, all that love could moft vio- lently contribute, to fix him to the (igbt of the beloved objeft, would not permit himfelf to be overcome, though he had yielded up his Arms to this imperious beauty i and ha- ving reprcfented to her that (he was not ouj of danger of encountring yet forne Party, from whom (he miglit receive difpleafure, he made her in the end refolve to fuffer him to accompahy her beyond the Wood, the other end of which was little diftant from th? Ene- mies Camp. Having obtained leave be marched on the fide of the Chariot, finding in her fight fomc- what to enflame him more and more, and fwallowing down at every inftant, the fatal bait which had already intrapped his heart. The charming Queen did Hot fo mi4ch as think of this lad effeft of her beauty, nor fuffer but with difficulty, anyother objedrbut what (he had in her breaft, and turning her eyes from time to time on thofe who neareft followed the Prince, (he fought with little fucccfs but infinite trouble, that admirable figure (he had too well engraven in her remembrance. She was oftentimes tempted to demand his name of the Prince, but the fear (he had either to difcover fomething by this curiofity of what (he would willingly conceal from her fclf if it were poilible, or to rencounter in the per- fon whom (he would know, fym whom (he defired not to know, (topped her mouth, and as (he had a defign to oppofe this pallion with all the force her virtue could fortilic her with, inftead of feeking-the knowledge pf )yhat flie loved,^ Pif jrefolved to do all was pollible t demand pardon for the incivility he believed to have a(^ed towards him, before he took a- ny repofe, or caufed a wound he had receiv'd in his Shoulder to be drefTed, which was not fo flight that it ought to have been ncgledied. Entring into the apartment of the illudri- ous Roman, he found him rifcn from his Bed, and faw with him Prince Marcomire^ who could no lefs than he keep his bed longer for a little wound, whilll the King his Brother vvas fighting, whom he prepared to go leek, if his return had been a little longer deferred. He was troubled to find them in that condition, fearing thatjtheir health miglit receive fonic prejudice, and was about to complain both to the one and the otiicr, of the little care they took of themfelves, when they prevented him by their complaints, and the generous Conjlancc accofting him with fweetnefs equally natural to both, Vo you believe my Lord^ faid lie, that my grief hath made me forget a Myliery I have praUis^d all my life ? Or is it pojji- ble that I could be fufpeCied, by reafon of the alliance the Sueves have had with the Romans > Book I. PHJRJMONT)] ' 551 If Keith er the one nor the other he true^ as J tviV believe for my ow)i co»fuIati,}i^ permit me tti complain and to tell yott^ that pnffibly you ou^ht mt to have left me in the bed^ vchen y»tt wervt to the f eld. 1 hough you had been in perfect health, replied the King, J had very great re a- foiis not to abufe yottr goodneji nor yottr friendjfjip infuch hazards^ but 1 l^non> mt tvbether I have any jhon^ enough to jujiifie my felf for abfenting my felf fo long front you as 1 have done^ nor had I done it, had Ibeliev''d that the enterprife I went about, tvould have retarded me longer than till you awaken'' d. And for me my Lord, (aid Prince Marcomire, what reafm hadyosi to fur'- fake me ? For you Brother^ (aid the King, 1 had not forgot you, had T thought you in a conditi- on to mount on horfehacl^reith uf, hut if you hadlaffkre my felf you had found fume divertife'-i nient, by the encounter of a Lady who with a very good grace asked news of ycu, Thc(e words iiiadeA/.^rcum/reblufli, cither with anger or jcaloufie, but)iaving foon alter rccovcr'd him- ielf, I doubt not at all, (aid he to the King, but it was Theodora demanded news of Erkki and 1 believe they mi(rht have divert/fed yon with their converfation bad they encountred. The King Was about to reply, when Artahnre who was in the Chamber, coming to him, hJy Lord^ faid he, thouih I am a Koman, mine wboHy conform with the thoughts of the great Conftancc^ itnd thofe he hath for you are fo jtiji, that without informing my felf ivhether your Enemies be Allies to the R.omans, I dare offer you a Souldier and a Sword againjl them. As Artabure made this difcourfc with the beft grace in the World, fo Vharamond received it with the fame, and faking the hand of the valiant Roman, Which he preffcd in one of his with infinite aflfeflion i Ton have reafon, faid lie, to believe you may offer me a Souldier j the valiant Artabure /'/ a Souldier fo famous that what ever party he embraces tnay hope a vicio' ty from his Sword : I receive the offer he makes me with all the ack^iowledgment is due, but the advantage I may receive, will not oblige me to ahiifeyour goodnefi, unlefi reduced to the great- er necfffities. He had fpokeh mort, and he had pollibly ftopp'd to inform Cc/«'?awe of the particulars of the Combat he came from, if h'e had not prayed him to difarm himfelf, and takcfome repofc after the travel he had undergone i and-if Charamont who was near them and to whom the King's fafety was much more dear than his own, vlfiting all parts of his Armour, \viiich were in feveral places bcfmear'd with blood, had notobferv'd, that with ivhich they bluOied on his (houldcr, was his own and not his Enemies : He had no fooneit jS'erceived it, but he complained to hira of the neglcft he had for tlie prefer vation of his life, ■^ndCoH/fiwcf and Miircomirf having fignified their trouble at it, Ihardiitondto fatisfic them departed the Chamber, having told them laughing that that which fo allarm'd them Was but a fciateh, though he received it from one ot the flrongefi Arms in the world. So foon as he was in his Charnbcr, Marcomire and Charamont caiifed him to be put to bed, and foon after the wound to be dreffed, which they found fufficiently great though n©t dange- rous : After he was drcfs'd they coniirain'd hiin to take feme nourifliment, and^^prcfent!/ after, knowing well that his wound oblig'd hirti not to filence, he gave an account to Priam, FharaJifrt, and the Other Commanders who were near him of the particulars of the Combat, and his meetingthe Queen of the T'uringiens y dnd if he fpoke advantagioufly of the beauty of this Princcfs, he exalted all that he had feen that day of the Valour of Bahiatit and Gondemar^ in terms which made them about him know, that in a Soul Ji^ke (o his, no interc(f coUld tnake Merit lofe the efteem Vvds due. All the world gave infinite praifesto the great aifiions of Balainir, though the death of Iheodomir and E/iwir, and the great vtround of Adelard had inctns'd them againti him. But Prince Marcomire flopping with in intereft wholly particular at what he underftood of Gondemar, hearkncd to him ivith alterations v^^hich made themfelves obfervable in his eyes, and on his countenance v when the King had done fpeaking, It contents tHt much my Lord, faid he, that Fortune hath given me a "Rival whomyout felf judge Worthy your efieem^ aitdlhope before this IFar be otdfd wefltall breath one aHdthef, he may in the mean time vaunt to have tryed himfelf againft the three Brc~ tlilrs, but after the glory he hath acquired in Combating agJinji you, he hath not «iuch more to feek. He went off however, replied the King, in a better condition from.th^ Gotnhat he madi againflme, than from that he made againliynu, and by the proof he hatljmadtVof the fire.7!ig'b of Pharamond, he hatb ho reafon to def pi feMarcomhe'i ; but however itif hth in LoveaiiU •War t highly ejieem his manner ofading.dnd I could wi(h both for. your and for'rnyfakf, that he were ' neither your Kival nor our Enemy. But Brother, if I make this obfervation foryou as to Gon- demar, yoit may render me the fame as to Balamir, for it ismofi certain that among all men For". tune cdnnot raife tne up a more formidable Kival, not but that G ov\A\oc\\ is poffbly in greatef elieem than he among his, both beciiife he is a King, becaufe ue hath a powerful Army, and iei. eaufeheis tH truth no lejiagreat Warriour than lie, nor lefi capable to command Armies, though he had the difddvantage againii him in the particular Combaty but with all thefc advantages I fear little that Pvofamond (hould look, Mpt>K hm favourably.^ ajid I doubt not at all but Jhe bath V V 2 conceived 352 PHAKAMOND. Part. IV. conceived for hit carriage tbst difdain he hath merited^ while both in the pnfon and adions of Bilamir all thincs are rvorthy her ejleem v nor is it but too mu-ch to be feared that ejieem maygrotp to an affeUionfor a man cantinually employed in eccajions to ferve her, againji a man rvho by an invincible OhjirtidioH can never be happy : befides^ Rofamond being at prefent a ^teen her felf fince by efpoufing a Prince (he can Inje nothing of her Dignity^ a Koyal birth is fnfficient for Balamir, nor hath he need of any other Scepter hut rvhat he mil receive from her, if he be fo happy to pojfefSher. Ihavefeen him however te day, faid Gfnebattd who was prefent, a)id I bate feen him tvitb all hisValour throxvn te the ground, and forc'd to fumble at the Horfes feet by thejhock^ of King Pharamond. Ihe difadvantsge he had in that encounter, replied Thara- mond, came from his Horfe which mas more feeble than mine, for in the proof I have made of bit Valour both at the Launce and Sfvord, I have not k>totfn that his jlrength was inferiour to mine. It is true, added Prince Meroveus, that Ihavefeen him this day do an hundred A&ions worthy eternal memory. And I doubt not at all, concluded the valiant Ibere, that it was only by the obl}rudion he brought, that viUory did not do that this day in our favour^ which it bath hitherto done in fo many great Battels. Whilft before a vertuous Prince, juftice was thus rendred to virtue, in theperfon of his Enemies, Prince Sunmn returning from accompanying the Queen ot the Turingiens, ar- f iv'd at the Camp, and came prefcntly into the Chamber of Pharamond : So foon as he faw him, he made him approach his bed, and beholding him with a figh, And well my Brother, faid he, Have you accompanied ^een Amalazontha, and have you found her as fair as I re- pi-efented her to you ? The young Prince blulli'd at this difcourfe of the King, finding him- felf in fuch a confufion, that for a long time he was not able to anfwer him : The King who did not prefcntiy perceive his alteration, gave him all the leifure was neceflary : and the Prince having a little recover'd himfelf. My Lord, faid he, I have done what you com- pimded me, and have accompanied the ^ueen of the Turingiens within fight of the Tents of the Enemies Camp, I could never doubt , replied Pharamond, but you had acquitted your felf of that employment with 4 very good grace, you are too gallant to have in this enterprife been wanting in the leajiduty of a Cavalier, but you anfwer me net to what I have demanded of the beauty of Amalazontha, though in my opinion it fnfficient ly merits your mention of it. It would be difficult for me my Lord, replied Sunnon, to tell you what Amalazontha appear''d to me, I have found herfo much above all that my imagination can fancy ^ as jlie is above all difcourfe I can mak^ tf her. Speaking thefe words he chang'd colour (cveral times, and appear'd' to the eyes of Th*- ramond who took notice of him, in a condition which difcover'd to him a part of the truth •> fcarce had he fufpeCled it, but the eyes of the Prince, and his behaviour confirm'd it, and permitted him no longer to doubt but this misfortune was befal'n him : Being full of Wifdom and Moderation, he would not declare his thoughts before all the World for fear of difpleafing him, but a little after feeing that there was none but Marxemirs near the bed, and that the reft of the company were a good diltance off, taking him by one hand and Prince Marcomire by .the other. Is it pofftble, (faid he fo low as not to be heard by any others ) ThatystrP'ould haveadejiiny equal to ours, and that it jliould be equally fatal to three $Yother> to Itxve their Enemies. Thefe words rriade the young Prince utterly lofe his Coun- icnanee, andMarcomire liaving obferved him as well as the King, Ah my Lord, laid he, you »eed }pt doubt, but that we are not pnffibly more amorous of the ^teen of the Cimbrians, and ifheiPrincefi of the Sueves, than Sunnon w of the ^ueen of the Turingiens. Sunnon anfwer- cd no more to this difcourfe tlian he had done to that of the Kitig, but by his filence he as iTuly perfwadcd the King of what he had begun to btUeve, as if he iiad made an entire con- tfeffion of it. No my Brother, faid he to Marcomire, I doubt it not at all, and truly the beau- 4y fl/'i Amalazontha ////' prevented by any other pallion, and much more for a Brother ofPharamond and Marcomire, •' but certainly I did not forefee it, and as I judge well that we cannot all be fo happy as " Marcomire, I contented my felf with my mifery with communicating it to my Brother. "1 do not believe my Lord, faid Marcomire, that you are more unhappy than I : For though B o o K i. THAR AM N R \^^^ " tliongli (lie inclinations of Albifmda Hiould be a$ favourable to mc as I could Jefire, I;iir.cl '^ no Ids Impediment in the Authority of the King iicr hatlicr, than you do in the engage- ''• incnCS of liofiwond for the revenge of her Brother. As you have caufed my mrsforiuKC, l^id prince Swuton to the King iiis Brother, To« an obliged to jfili we, and it U from your afjj{>- ance that Imu'^ hope all my happiiief. " I fear ratlicr, replied Tharamond very fadly^ tl^c in- " Ikad of ferving you I obHrud your affairs, nor do I believe you iiavc any greater ObHacic " in your love tiian that of being Brother of Phararnond^ hovvevcr it be, we will run the '' fame Fortune, ihice Fortune hath made us Companions, and we will be milliablc together " by the effefl of a defliny with which never any could compare. After this he cauled Fiince Sunnon to recount to him the particulars of all that bcfcl hirr, and all the convcrfationhehad w\{.\\Amalazontha^ and by thcdifcouifchemadc him he judg- ed well that there were for him but few favourable inclinations in the Spirit of the Frinccis, thoiigii he could not judge the true caufe, and that it were far from his thoughts to beJicv.s Fiimfelf bclov'd by a Queen who came her fclf in perfon to make War againfi him at the head ol her Arniies. Having fpent fome longer time in this con vcrfation, they dcllr'd that he would dedicate to rcpofe that little which rcmain'd of that day, as well by rcafohof the blood lie had loll and labour he had rufTer'd, as to repair the preceding nights watch, great part of which l.e liad pafTedon horfeback, and heconfcntcd to the prayers of all his Friends, having fcnt to malie hisexcufesto Coajf^wf, and charged Prince Marww/Ve to yield him the honours cf the Houfe till the morrow. The young Prince acquittc-d himfclf with an admirable grace, and in the company he kept with Coijldnce, he made him find thofe charm? in his convcr- Dtion that augmented iniinitely the cfteem he iiad for iiim, and efpecially when licljncw that he was not ignorant of any important particulars of the Adventures oiTharamoiid^ he would not let his be more referved to him, but by the agreeable recital he made chaim'd for (bme moments that cruel grief that perplexed liim. Tharamond that night repos'd very peaceably, at lead for his Body, for his Mind had, few quiet minutes, tiie image of his ftrange misfortunes being continually hx'd to his remem- brance. Marcomire pafled fome hours in a mixture of hope and fear, which confounded his imagination. And the young 5;w«o«, whofe wound was more frefli, and whofe Soul Jefs accuflom'd to what it began to refent, was he of the three Brothels who gave thejeaft time of that night to fleep. But the defolate Cenfiance fcarce clos'd his eye-lids, but as the cruel remembrance of his irreparable lofs inccflantly atflitl^ed his memory, he neither icunii nor fought rcpofe. The recital he had heard of fo many fair adventures of Fbaramond, Horioriur, Varanez^ and Marcomire, feem'd to have drown'd for fome time what his grief had of moft lively and prelling; and in truth the love he had for virtue, made him hud near Tbaramond a fweetnefs capable to fufperjd fome part of it : but in thofe hours vvhcrein filence and folitude brought back to his Spirit the true Iniage of his misfortunes, his deplorable condition appeared in its own form, and without any cloud which might fliadow the know- ledge of it, fo that he fcarce found in all his courage, in his piety towards heaven, or in his refpedl to the orders of Placidia, helps againft that defpair, to which he was not per- mitted to hearken jn thefc mournful difturbanccs which perplexed his Soul with fo much cruelty, fending forth a thoufand fighs fron\his opprefled brcaft ; " What feekcfl thou mi- "ferable? faid he. Or to what referveft thou thyfelf? Can there be yet among Mortals " any good for thee or any ftiadow of hope to make thee love thy life ? whither dofl thou " lead thy felf not to offend the orders of Heaven and to obey the commands of Placidia > Is "it as (he hath commanded thee for the defence of the Empire and for that of thy Religion " thou preferveft thy f;lf/ Or belie vcA th9u that a Religion defended by an infinite power "hath need of thy Arm to maintain ? Or that the Arm of a miferable perfon hated both by " Heaven and Fortune,and expofed by the forfaking of the one and perfecuting of th^ other to " thofe misfortunes that ' render him uncapable of all things, (liould be capable to hinder tiie "fall of the Empire, which the Anger of Heaven, and the Arms of all Nations which rife a- "gainft it threaten with general ruine? ^\\ Cmc^ Placidia hath given thee this counlel " (he ought to have put thee in a condition to execute it, and fhe ought to have refiored thee " that cour would not now be ufelefs but (lie " hath not at all confidercd that he who at other times carried it, is not the fame Co^jiancc who "fo happily made ufe of it for the glory of his Country and for his own, and (he believes " without doubt that having lofl all, we can live with all our courage and all our virtue, be- " caufe flie fees her felf in the Arms oiAtttal^he with a full repofe, having loft the miferable ^^Can^ance; ' ' ' Ifii'j 394 VHARAMOND, Part IV. He rcmaiijcd a while in thcfe thoughts, which infcnfibly incensed him againft what he adercd, but a little after he banifiicd them as criminal, and regaining his natural patience, and natural moderatio6 •, But why? ( faid he J may not rve betvail our fdvcs without do- I'tg injiijiices / And ruhy d) rve not accnfs our m'tsfortitne rvithjut accufmg the innocent and vhtnotif Placidia? It is not by her wiU that rve are fallen into thefe mijeries^ it is mt by her inclination that (Ire hath ejf>oufed Autalph, though ff^e live nith him, as (he hath been obliged by her virtue ■, nor hath fiie pn^tbly appeared more content in her condition than ws are in ours though ejfoufed to a Husband that adores her, and to a Haiband neither dejpicable for bit Birth nor Ferfm. Let us content our felves then rvith rvhat Jjje hath done for lis, and content •our felves with n'hat flie bath given us, though it be nothing but tears, fuice it is nothing hut tears flie could give us ; and if it be impojjjble for iis to live and obey her, let m feek^ death by thcf ways that are permitted us, and upon thofe occafions wherein rve may fnd it without offending tieaven, or the reffeH rvs owe to the commandment of Placidia. Tet kyiojv rve not to rvhat place of the earth rve fljould yet carry the refi of onr unfortunate life, rve rviU. no more fee the deplorable Italy, nor the deflate City which hath given us our Birth , for alM, rve f.iaU no more there fee the deplorable CouiHnce, but infiead of that beloved objed, and in thai pompom Court, in which xve have pjjfed fo many bleffed days, rve (liaU norv fee nothing but the terrible mark,! of a barbarous fury \ and in the perfoH ef Houonus, n^ho at other timer ■was a great EmperoHr, dear to Heaven and men, and an Emperourrvhohad promifed me 'Ph~ cidia, rve fn all ^nd ncthingbut a Trince lojl and difjjonoured by his feeblenefi, and a Prince nfjj haih fuffered the ruine of his Country, and the lofi of Placidia. We ivill not go into Spaiti; to appear there in this miferable ejiale, having left there fo famous a memory of out atiions : Nor rvill r^e flay among the Gauls, rrbere rve fought unhappily, though rvith fufficient glory, and fufficient good fucciji, rvhilji rve hji all in the infortunate Italy. 'T ij only that vir- tue ifphich I have found m the perfonof Pharanaond, more than in all the reji of men, that can beget in me any fettlednef!, and I rveuld fay love, if after the lofi of rvhat 1 have loved, lean yet love any thing. Let us feek^ in the interefis 'of a man whom we ]udge worthy of our af- feVtien, that end of our misfortunes, fo defireable and defired ■, and f nee in the abandon we have made of all things, rve have no farther confiderations neither for alliances Mr parties, let • us follow our inclinations without delay, and not other where fee\_ what we ttiay here find fghting for a friend, and for a. quarrel full of jujlice. 'Twas this thought which bufied him more than any other, and he fought the means to execute what he projeded, without cxpollng hiinfelf to thofe reproaches he might fear; On the inorrow fo foon as he was rifen ( for he would no longer keep his Bed ) and ] "hour in vain, as that may happen, either cut of the obftinacy of theKing of thcSafff/, "or thofe other obftades which the Lovers of Ko/iwaw^ may caufe, I (hall be juftihed as " much as I can defirc againft the aceufation may be made, that I have embraced your " Party againft ^he Allies of the Romani, by making the whole world know, thofe Al- *Mies of the R(MWj«j-, defpifed my mediation, whilft thofe who were lefs obliged, aded " with me with more candour and confideration. CoMfbwf fpake in this manner, and fharamond having hearkened to his difcourfc, with ill the marks of a tender refentmcnt, made him know by his countenance, a part of what he had tofpeak, four goodnejl, faid he, puts me in a confitjion, rvhich leaves me not in an en- tire liberty to exprefi my felf, but it draxps me at prefent out ef a great trouble, by o^erinc me a favour, which I can better accept, than that you offered me yejierday, and vaherein yon have confirmed me, in the beginning of your difcourfe. Doubt not my Lord, but 1 affeUionatC' ly defire peace, not only becaufe it is Rofamond makes war againji me, but becattfe fo tndny thoufands of innocent perfons are inveloped in my difgrace^ and Jo many lives, more happy than my otvn, expos^dto the dayly danger that threatens them, not for the prefervation of their liber- ties, but for my particular quarrel : It U this that makes me lament my mifery with tears of blood, and renders more odious to my felf this unfortunate life, to the defence of tvhich, fo ma~ »y others have been facrificed, than it is pojJJbly to thofe enemies rvho come roith fo many forces to a(fault it. Be pleas''d therefore to believe, that I not only defire peace by your mediation, fiHce you have the goodnefi to offer it, but without fearing mhat judgments might be made in the teorld, I would demand it of Rofamond, a§ of the Sovereign Miliref .^f a life which t have often offered her, for the reparation of thofe injuries I have done her ; I will demand it of the ^ueen of the Turingicns, with pardon for the death of her Brother ■■, I tvill demand it of the King of the Sueves, tphofe Son I have fldin, defending my own life vphich he affattlt- tdt and 1 will demand it of Gondioch, whofe jriendjhip I have innocently offended, and who with more indignity.than all therejl, hnth armed ^imfelf for my ruine ■, I will receive it likfwife as a grace from all the Lovers of Rofamond, , and IJhmtld be content that our pre- tentions might be ended hy the hazard of our lives alone, rather than fo manji thottfands >nore jhould be offered np as ViSimes to our interejis : But my Lord, I k>tow too well I jhall demand it in vain, from enemies objhnate to my ruine, and from Rivals who at the price of i»y head^ hope tht pojfeffion of Rofamond. If any confideration can mak^ them hearken to this propo- fitiort, it will without doubt be what they owe to you, and by the beginning they cannot fo ivell hope the fuccefl of this war, but they may as well as we fear the event -^ I. am content likewifs^ they jhould have all the advantages they could defire, only the poffeffion of Rofamond, which I will difpitte with them till death: Nor is there any reparations which I would not willing- ly make by your orders, to the King of the Sutvcs, to the ^een of the Turingiens, and to the new King of the Bafternes, for the offences I have committed again]} them. " In truth, f faid the great Coitjiance to the King of the Frankj, when he had done fpcakirtg ) " I did " exped no lefs from your virtue, than what I find true in this condefcention, and I now ''know better than I have done, the difference between a courage truly great, and truly "generous, and thofe who have only the appearances of grandeur and generoiity. You' "make it more appear in defiring peace, and infpeakingas you do, than your enemies *' have teftified it in the ardour with which they have made war againft you, and you have " this advantage, that it will never be believed, that it was the fear of their Arms which " hath 3?^ THARAMOND. Part. IV. *' hath made you fijbmit to conditions you voluntarily impcfc" on your fclf. I will try *'my fortune, tince you permit it, and it you think it good, 1 will this day (cud Valer/us '' to the Qaeen of the Cimbrians^ and to the King ot the Siteves, to incline them to " hearken to the propotltions i have to make them, and to demand of them a ceffation of '" Arms for three days, and to entertain them in their Camp, whither I will go fcek them till " tiiat time be expired. Jou may ad as yon fileafe^ ( replyed the King of the Frankj 3 fitter not only both our enemies and wf, oii'cht to hold it to he an infinite honour.^ to have the great Con- ilance the Arbitrator of oirr differences ; but that on my fide, there is no Laip which you may not impofe with Soveraign Authority^ fare only, ( added he with a figh ) to mak^ me renounce R.ofamond, and I believe ysn have not fo much cruelty ar to oblige me to it. They were in tiiefe terms, when there came one to tell the King, tljjit a Trumpetet from Prince Balamir, was arrived in the Camp, who demanded to fpeak with him on the behalf of his Mafter. This news made them turn pale, who remembred themfelves o"f the adventure of Prince Viridomar^ and the fear they had of a like began to excite a murmur in the Chambe* PWj«jo«^, without amufing himfelf to examine theit thoughts, demanded permillion of Conftance to let the Trumpeter come in, and Conjiance having anfwered that civility as it defcrved, he was a little after led into the Chamber. All that were there approached him, fo foon as he appeared, and affembled about him when he drew nigh the Bed. He accofied the King like a man who well underlfood his bufincfs, and the King having demanded of him the caufe that brought him to his Camp, Mighty Sir, faid he, I come on the behalf of my Prince, to demand of your fjajejly permiffion, to inform my felf, if a Knight who was bred up with him, whom he dearly loved, and whofe loji he uijinitely laments, were either dead, or prifoner, in the fght you fought yejlerday, and ta feek^ him amongji both if you pleafe to grant that liberty. '' I would do fomething more " difficult for the fatisfadion of Prince Balamir, replyed Fharamond, and though by his " valour and merit, he be the molt dreaded of my Enemies and my Rivals, 1 will not *' lofc the opportunity to render what wc owe to virtue in the very perfons of our Ene- " mies. . After this, he demanded the name of the man whom he fought, and in what place he belifved him to have been ranged. He is called^, Telanor, replyed the Trumpeter, and he fought yeflerday near the Prince, when hit Horfe WM thrown down, and maintained a great Combat to remount him. The King immediately commanded an Officer to go with the Trumpeter, and feek cither arrtongll the Dead or the Prifoneis, for the perfon he deitiand- ed, and to bring him with him if he found him living, and in a condition to come, and thisOfficer having obeyed him with infinite diligence, whilft the King cntertain'd himfelf with Conjlance, on the dcfign he had to employ himfelf for Peace, a little after was (een return into the Chamber, with the Trumpeter and the Prifoner he fought^ who was a man of a noble afped, and who by all appearances, feera'd of no fmall merit. He faluted the King in perfon, having been accuftomed to converfe with great Princes, and the King being informed of the particulars of his taking, by thofe which took him, and of the u- fage he had receiv'd, and having underftood from him, that he had been taken by the Offi- cers of the Sicambres, after the Combat which was fought in the Valley, and in which he •was engaged under his Hoife, which was (lain under him, from whence he could not re- cover himfelf, but by the ailiftancc of thofe which took him, and from whom he had le- ceived very courteous ufagc. 2'eu had received yet better, ( faid Pharamond, having peace- ably hearkened to him) '/j'w had made you felf k^iown : for befides what is due to your went, of which I judge by fufficient great appearances i the great intereji whicJ} Prince Balamir tal^es in you, bad obliged us to confider you particularly, and to do what I da at prefent, which is to rejiore you your liberty , a>td power to return to your Prince when you pleafe. Telanor received this favour of Pharamond, with great marks of acknowledgment and refpedl', and breaking (Pence, with a behaviour full of affurance and modciiy together, My Lord, faid lie, though J have not merited the care Prince Balamir takiis of me, I affure my felf, he will remember your carriage totvards him, in the perfon of one who is bis, and thaf .if he finds the dccafwn to acknowledge it, he will certainly and gladly do it, "He doth but Y/ too well all he doth, ( replyed the King of the Frankj ) and it is by that, he givcf? " me morecaufc to fear, than he would do with all the power of the King his Father, " were it at his difpolal v he is but too valiant, too generous, too amiable, and too great *• in all things? but with all thefe great qualities, you cannot juftifie him of a fault he " makes known to all the world, and of which I ought particularly to accufe him, be- *' caufe I believe he is not fallen into it but for my miferyi for in fine, tliough tlie fatjr,td and thole about him, that thefe vvords had begd in T'elamr fome profound thoughts, and after the King had done, lifting up bis eyes from the earth where he had held them fixed during his difcourfe, " It is not however ju(}, faidhe^ to "condemn n,cn upon an incertain rum.our, which rnay prejudice the truth v and I am *'much alfoniili'd my Lord, that thi^ fame renown *vhich hath made you underrtand fome ''•partofthe adventurcsKf Bii/^wV, hath tiot given you a knowledge of the latter, wh.ich "without doubt are no kfs important, and by the knowledge of which he vvould pollibly "be julfified of the infidelity with which you reproach hiin, I have reafon to fpcak in ffis " juflificatiOn, fmce 1 can do it more thin any man in the world, and that there is none to " vthotn like my felf all the Adiions of his life and all his mod fecret thoughts have been *' known. " If it be fo, ftid Pharamond, you arc yet for tome hours a prifoner, and for *'thc price of that liberty which I give you, I deinand of you nor only the knowledge of " what wc are ignorant of in tlie life of Prince Balamir, but the entire recital of his adven- "turcs, at.iealt of thofe which you are not oblig'd to keep fecret, for thof^ wc hare no " right over you to oblige you to violate your fidelity. '' In all that I (yjj- rejate to^^iui "of the life of Prince Bahmir, replied Tel juar^ there is nothing which at prefent requires " to be kept fecret, the things have made all the noife they can make in thofe places where " it had been poflibly the mof^ important to conceal them : But the difcourfe you demand "of me is not fo (liort but that you muft of force afford it fome hours audience,' and I have *' rieed to employ fome time to recal to my memory the particulars, which time and acci- " dents that have fince fall'n out may have made me forget. "You (hall then if you plcafe, "fpend this day with us, replied Vharamond, and the Trumpeter may return to the Prince " his Matter, and telling him the c.aufe of your iiay allure him you fhall be with him to •'. morrow. Pardon me added he with a figh^ if I offer you fome violence but you are fo "fufficicntly obliged to juftifie Babmir in the fpirit of the great Conjhnce whom you fee as well as in mine, that you oug,htnot to have any concern for the trouble we give you. I •'(hall never have any to obey you my Lord, replied Tehnoi, and beiTdes that I thus pay "my ranfom ealily, I take fo much plcafure to fpeak of a Mafkr who is dearer to me "than rtiy life, that you will poUibly have fome difficulty to make me filent when I have "begun. After thefe words he demanded permidion to fpeak to the'Trumpeter who return'd, and rhe King commanded Cleomer to take care of him as of a perfon of merit and quality, and to bring hirh back after Conjiance had din'd, who dcfir'd as well as he to take part in the Adventures of Bdlamir. Coniiance defir'd that Valeriw fhould depart with the Trumpeter" who took charge to conduft him to the Queen of the Cimbriant j and Valerixs being a' mart of fpirit and capable of a commiflion more difficult than that he gave him. CoHJijnce cx- platn'd hirafelf to him in few words concerning what he had to fay to that Queen, and to the King of the 5«fw/, and permitted him to part, with afTurance that he would acquit himfelf well of this employ. A little after this Dinner was ferved in to Co»jiance, at vvhich the Princes and many other illuftrious perfonages bore him company, the wound of Fha- rjwo« was at prefent employed againft Eugenes and Arbogajius, and afterwards againlt Maximuf in thofc Wars which gave him neither time nor means to provide againft others. Balamber making ufe of this advantage and having pretences fufliciently great and poflibly juft reafons to make War againft Athanaric, entred his Dominions with a mighty Army. ThisWaJ: hath been too well known iu tlie whole world for me to believe it neceflary to recount its particuhis, and it will bepollibly fufficient to tell you that at the beginning many Battels were fought between thefe two, in which Fortune was various, but in the end the King of the H:t>is made her incline to his Patty, and having gained two Battels againft Athanaric, he rcndred himfclf Malier of the greateft part of the Cities which obeyed him, and hnally expelled him entirely from his Kingdom. The unhappy and defpoiled Athanaric pofTelling no longer one foot of ground, nor ha- ving any more Forces to oppofc the VanquiOier, retired tc> the Emperour 'theodofms^ who at • prcicnt returned triumphant from his Expeditions ; and though he had formerly Waged waif againft him, he made no difficulty to feek for refuge in his Court, and go in perfon to de- mand allillance againft the Ufurper of his under his power. He was likewifc in fuch man- ner prcfTed in his retreat, that he had not the means to lead with him the Queen his Spoufe, who had at that time newly brought forth an Infant into the world, and who not able tc5 follow him in that cliate, remained in a miferablc condition, which three days after furien- dred to the difcretion of the Conquerour. All the world have known with what huma- nity the infortunate Athanaric was received by the great Ibeodofiur, who treated him in his misfortune, not like an exiled King, but like a Prince' his equal whom his ill foftmit had nothing deprived of his dignity, and not only content to proiriife him aid againft art Enemy whofe power he was*bound by his proper intereft to reprefs, I ^ prepared truly to r'e- ftore him to the Throne he had loft i when he fell ill and in few days dyed at CoHJiantinofle:^ as all the world have known. The Emperour caufcd magnificent Obfequies to be celebra^ ted ias for a great King, and having converted the delign .of ailifting him into that of re- venging his quarrel, and making war againft a man whofe greatnefs was not only fufpeded by him, but who advanced himfelf in part on the ruines of the Empire, raifed a great Armv to fall upon him. In fliort, our King had reafon to have feared fo ill efFcds, if his good fortune had not diverted them by the death of lheodofiushimk\(, who furrived Athdnaric but a very little time, and left his Empire to Children much different from their Father, who (through their tendernefs permitting themfelves to be governed by Strangers little af- fe(Sed and more efpecially by Kxjjittus, who through the fimplicity of Arcadius remained abfoluteMafter in the Orient) gave him but too much opportunity , not only to eftablilli himr^rf in his Conquefts but to purfue tkcm into other Provinces.The Widow oiAAyanaric with a lit- tle Daughter which fhe had then brought into the world, loft almoft at the fame time her Crown, her Spoufe, and her Liberty ; The King of the Huns did in truth neither reftcrd her to her Husband nor her Crown, but he treated her in the beft manner ftie could hope from a generous Prince, preferved her entire dignity, left her wherewith to rr.aintain hci* Houfeinan honourable eftate, and in fine, ufedherin all things in fuch manner, that that Princcfs who naturally had her Spirit fweet, an admirable patience, and a great devotion to- wards Heaven, inftead of going into the Courts of other Princes to demand alfiftance or revenge, contented her felf to live peaceably in that of her Vanquilher, offering to Heaven as it is faid all the lofTes fhe had made with an admirable refignation, and tying her felf in a very particular friendfhip with fhe Queen, Spoufe of our King, a Princefs of an esceli lent virtue; ahd who refpeifling hers in her misfortune, comforted her with all forts of good Offices, and marks of her affedtion. She had already fince her Efpoufals born to the King two Sons, and at this time flie bore him a Daughter; The eldeft of the Sons was named Mmidific, a name fo refpeded in the Family of our Kings that they have almoft con-* tinually added it to theirs i thefecond receiving that of his Father was aWcd Balamir^ and thcPrincefs wzs nzw.edlkeodohnda, ■ ' Our King feeing himfelf peaceably fettled in a very ample Dominion, though he afphred at greater Conquefts, and r.ot fearing any thing of the Goths who chuling rather to quit their Countries than live under the power of the Huns were gone to feek other habitations, refolved to dedicate fotne time to the fwectnefTes of Peace and the Education of his Family. In truth he found matter to employ himfelf contentedly though with inequality: And to let you know in few words what was and what at prefent is the Family of the King of the Buns, I will tell you that the Prince Mmidifw is a Prince of a noble Air, of a Majeftick Port^ X X 2 artij 340 PHARAMOND. Part IV. and who hath notliing in all Iiis perfon which doth not denote his Dignity , his inclinations are great and exalted, histiioughts vaft, and his. ambition without bounds i his Spirit is tierce, poiliblytoan excefs, and hardly doth he fuffer a reliftance in anything he cntet- prifes j and efpecially believing that all things are his due, he is led by his paffion rather than reafoninfomeenterprifes i he harh his Soul warlike, his Courage firm, and fcarlefs in the greateft dangers, and it might truly be faid, that he had indeed a gallant Spirit if it were fonnewhat milder than it is. For Prince Balamir^ I ought to maiie you a more ample defcription, as well becaufe it is his particular Hiftory 1 recount you, as becaufe tiiere is certainly in all his perfon, both For mind and body, fomething extraordinary ■» for his alpcd, it is not only nobler than that of the Prince his Brother, or at leaft much more taking, but it is certain that there arc few men In the world who for noble deportment can equal him, and before I entred into this Chamber I believed there had not any furpaffed him i his Stature is admirably complete, the ftraighteft , the Freeft, and moft exadt that can be feea , his vifage is brown, and his hair very black, but his countenance is the nioft amiable that can be ima- gined, and his hair being very long, and ringed in great curls, accompanies it admirably well i all hii adlion is noble, but without affediation, and all the air of his perfon hath a particular grace. I faw him yefierday under hit Afms^ C faid the King of the Frankj to T'elattor, inter- rupting him) and I could Hot hut difcern the beauty of his Stature^ and his excellent grace an Horfeback^^ but I l{>iert> perfons that have feen him in another t^ate^ ( purfued he, be- holding Marcomire and Cleamer) and who defcribe himfuch as you reprejent him. That which appears not to the eye, replyed Telanor, is without doubt more Fair than what is feen, nor ever was Soul more truly noble than that oF Balamir, nor better en- dowed with all inclinations to excellent virtues i For the greatnefs oF his Courage nothing can furpafs it, nor is there danger, or milery, or any effedi 'of good or ill fortune, that can ihake his Conftancy, nor move him From his ordinary temper i he is naturally very fierce, but his fierceneFs appears not but at thoFe times when he muft neceflarily pradife it i in all others, nothing can be Found more fweet or tradlable than he. All his incli- nationscarry himtogood, and to be a mortal enemy to tyranny and injuftice. Hehatha greater knowledge oF Learning than can be believ'd oF a Prince born in a Nation which hath truly Fomething oF barbarous i and For the exerciFes oF his body, he is Fo grand i Mafter, that Few Knights in the world can acquit themFclves either on Footer HorFeback like to him. He hath an admirable vigour, a prodigious Force, and there are Few perFons which poiTeFsFo great military virtues. I could Fay more, but it will not poflibly be con- venient to enlarge my FelF on thefe praiFes beFore men who are above all praiFes that can be given, and who will poffibly attribute to my paffion a part oF thoFc I believe with juftice to give my Princt. The Princefs 'theodolinda might well merit a particular Elogium, and though the beau- ty of her body hath few parallels in the world, yet I may fay with truth, that that of her mind is not at all inferiour ■■, and I would enlarge my felf farther, if I did not know my Lord, ( Faid "Telanor^ addreliing himFelF to Conliance ) that you have feen her at Komi i and though I did not believe, that you knew all that I could repreFent to you, yet at preFent 1 have little to Fay oF her in my recital, but it is upon the adventures of another Beauty, to whom Heaven hath poilibly ^iven advantages over hers, that I muft extend my FelF more particularly. It is true, Faid Conjiance to Telanor^ that I have feen the Trincef! Theodollnda at Rome, tvhere jhe rvas companion in the misfortunes of Placidia, and 1 have ^onverfed tvitb her fo particularly ai to bear tellimeny of her merit, and to ajfure thofe to xphom it it le^ hriorvn, that for beauties of body and mind^ jlie is one of the moji excellent perfons in the xvorld : / kriatv likevcife of her affairs more than you think^^ and I can C continued he, lurninghim- felt towards Fharamand) inform you fomething when you defire it. You may believe, continued lelanor^ that our King Feeing himFelF Father oF Fo Fair a Family, Forgot nothing which he deem'd necelTary For their Education-, and I will fell you, that he contributed all he ought, and that For that oF the two Princes, hecaufcd Strangers to be Fent for from thofe Nations where men are at prefent moft polite, whom he employed with all the fuccefs he could delirej it was however with Fome inequality, and they would willingly have Found intheFpirit oF Mundific tlie Fame FweetneFsand do- cility they diFcerncd in that oF Balamir ; the difference was eafily obFerved in their very youth, but that exceliive herccnefs was more pardonable in a man born to command, as they knew Mmdific io be, and they judged, that the fweetnefs oi Balamir agreed bet- ter Book II. FHARAMOhlR 341 tcr with his fortune, which, by the ordcrof fiicccllion, oiiplit fo be niuch difR rent from that of his cider Brother i tlicy therefore bc,-m to lovcliitn lo foon as they began toknovir him, and befides the advantages he had receiv'd from nature, to gain the hearts of all by rJiegraceof hisperlon, that of his carriage foon attiadtcd the aifcdions of ail the world; Bnt it was not only tho(e Mafiers the King gave hiin, wliich laboured to form in him an excellent perfon, he had foon another, which contributed poiiibly no kfs than all the in- Itrudions they had given him. The Queen of the Gotbf^ Widow to Athanjtric, who, as I have told you, facrificing to Heaven by her piety all the prejudice (he might have againft him who had defpoilcd her Husband of liii Dominions, or preferring a repofe, to a tumuUuous life, which (he muft have pafs'd, in feeking an affidance, cr revenge, which it would have been djfficuU for her to have found againl\ a power like that in which the King of the Huns was at pre- fcnt eftablilhed, had reduced lier felf to a private life, becaufe it was full of quiet i and contenting her felf with her condition, by the conformity (he found in it with her inch* nations fvveet and peaceable, had lived without murmuring, citiier in the Court of our King, where the Queen his Spoufe Ihyed her as much as it was polfiblc by dcmonftrations of affeition, againll which Jlie could not defend her felf ^ or in thofc houfes the King Iiad left her, vvith revenues much greater than was neceJTary to maintain her according to her liumour, and indeed condderable enough to permit her to live without care, and in port iTio(t magnificent. It was for thefe particular reafons that (he had lived for feven or eight years in a folitude more conformable to her fortune and temper than a Royal Court, and which (he had employed, asitwas faid, in the Education of a Daughter, the only ifTue Heaven had left her of her marriage, and on whom (lie had fixed all her hopes, and all her atTedion. It was believ'd, that if (lie had followed her own defire, (lie had ended her days in this ttianner, but (he could not re(i(i the prayers and affedlion of the Queen of the H«»r, who loving her dearly, and reverencing her for her admirable virtue, left her not at quiet till (he had obliged her to return to the Court to (iay with her : fhe was foon per- fwaded by fo virtuous a Princefs, and return'd to the Court in a time wherein it vi^as truly great and magnificent, and like that of a puilTant Monarch. But it may be faid with truth, that it received its greate(lfplendour by the arrival of the young Princefs Humimon- Ja^ who prefently appeared as a Star fu(ficient toeclipfeal] other brightnefsi (he was at prefcnt aged about twelve years, Balamir fifteen or fixteen, and Mundific two more, and IheoaMnda was a year elder than fhe, and in that age had already made her bcautiei be admired, when they were a little eclipfed by the arrival of the Princefs Hunmmorida. Is it pojjlble, ( Cdiid Conjlance to lelamr^ interrupting him J that the beauty of the Trin- cifi Vlanmmondi JJwuld exceed that of the Vrbice^ Theodolinda ? Or is it mt fame parti- cular interejlyonhave tahen^. which maizes you make this judgment ? It belonged not to me poiiibly to judge, rCplyed lelanor^ nor had I done it, if the general opinion had not cre- ated mine j but without deciding particularly the merit of thefe two Beauties, I will tell you, that in our Court, all thofe who have travelled mo(f, do concur, that there is nothing in the world car> equal the beauty of Hunnimonda ■, and I fhould likewife be of this belief if I had never feen Queen Uofamond , I can yet very hardly believe, that in all her pcrfon (he hath any charm greater than H«w«/mo«i:/i», though (he hath a greater Splendour v nor that (he. is more capable to infjnuatc a tender paffion into a Soul, though polfibly (lie may furprife, and d ail e more. , . ^ I will not make you a particular defcription of this" l^e^nty, difirufting the weaknefs', of my abilities to reprefent her to you as (lie appeared to me ■■, nor will I (peak to you o^ the whitenefs of her complexion, which fcarce hath its parallel in the world ; of the beau- ty of her eyes, which may caufeto dye with love all thofe that fie them i of that of her lips, of her hair, of her admirable (liape, of a grace fpread through all her perfon, in which there feems to bcfoniethingof Divine and Supernatural. But without making this particular defcription, 1 will tell you only, that Hunnimonda is in every part m«de to make her felf be beloved, or to fpeak better, to fnatch the hearts of the fiercefl perfons with a fvi^eet violence, againft which it is impnlEble for them to defend thcmfclves. But the charms of her Body have no advantage over thofe of her mind, though by her confti- tution there appears in all her perfon more languor than vivacity •, and if ever any Soul ap- peared fair by marks of piety, wifdom, greatnefsof courage, and all other excellent vir- tues, a too confirmed truth may affirm that of Hunnimondd to be fo, It is likewife moft certain, that never any perfon was fo generally, and fo truly beloved ■, and though (he con- tributed not to that love all the world bore her, but by the advantages (he could not con- ceal, and by a fwcctncfsfo infinuating and engaging, that it was impollible for any to de- fer but he who ap- pear'd fo, and who without doubt was the moft lively touch'd, was the Viincc Balamir^ though he had yet fcarce arriv'd at his fixteenth year ; and if the fight of Hunnimondit made him prefently feel, what hitherto he had not known, in a little time.his familiarity and converfation begat in him as much love, as aperfon of the age of Hunnimonda could create, and a Youth of the age of Balainir was capable to redeive. The firft imprellion which feis'd his heart, eflabliQi'd it felf with fweetnefs, and his evil at tirft feem'd plea- ting to him, though it troubled the repofe in which he had before lived, interrupted his fleep, and gave himnofmall trouble-, hitherto his thoughts had been intent on nothing but War, nor had he flattered himfelf with other hopes, than thofe to acquire fame, and torender himfelf renowned among great men, by the efleds of that courage he knew in himfelf, though he had yet found no occafion to make proof of it. But fo foon as his heart had fubmitted to love, that imperious paffion would entirely pofliefs him, without leaving place toother thoughts, than thofe which it infpired, and that dehre which he be- fore had in his tender age, to go to the Wars, and feek occafions to fignaliie himfelf, could not enlarge it felf in him, at leafl, it began to languifli, and to ftir him up much Icfs than it had formerly done. Every inftant of the fight and converfation of Hunnimonda, gave new additions to his love, as every moment feem'd to add to her beauty, and he fteing her every day, and almoft every moment, it was every moment his paffion felt a redoublement. He had the liberty to fee her when he pleafed, at leaft when (he was to be fcen, and befides that the Queen her Mother us'd great circumfpedions, that (he might rot give any caufe of complaint to the Son of a King, whom her ill fortune had rendred Mafterof her deftiny, that affedion which all the world had for' Prince B^/^j/Kir-, was very particular to her felf, and belides what (he ought to his fair qualities, which rendred him amiable, the obligations (he believed to have to the affedion of the Queen her Mother, to whom (he was abfolutely dear, obtain'd with her greater complacencies, than po(fibIy (he had for any other con(ideration. Htinnimonda her k]f, by her natural inclination, and by the knowledge (he had of his merit, beheld him with delight, and by a manner of adling with him full pf fweetnefs and freenefs, engaged him more and more, and in the end, reduced him to a condition, that rendred him incapable any more to think of the return of his liberty. This greatjchangc which lie fuffered in his intentions, caufed the fame in his humour, and in his manner of living, and as it is very ordinary in like occafions, he began to become melancholy, ta feck retirement, or at leaft, not to love any company, in which he could not fee Hunm- trionda. I had been placed with him from his Infancy, and being of an age little differ- ent from his, and he knowing in me a fifong paffion for his fervice, had honoured me with his particular affedion, and a greater confidence than he had entruf^ed any perfons about him with, fothat 1 may truly fay, I was the firft to whom he gave the knovyledge of what he had in his heart. With this, though the tender age of tJttmimonda mi^ht give hiiii n\ore boldnefs, and inore liberty with her, than he durft have taken in riper years, and though in that, wherein (lie at prefent was, difcretion is not ordinarily fo great, as to im- pofe iilence to a pallion fo violent as his already was, yet moft certain it is, hedurftnotde. terminetodifcover hisloveto-this young Princefs, and that he for a long time made his eyes and fighs fpcak, bcfo.re he open M his mouth, to make her know, what her beauty made him fuffer -. Not but that he gave very particular teftimoi^ties of it upon all oppor-. tunities which offered, or that in all thofe little diligences which love can infpire, he did not appear what tiiat which iie truly was. But in fine, he durft not publickly declare • whathercfentdd, though he felt nothing but what was full of innocence and virtue, but his love had imprinted in him, a refpeft which rendred him timid, and made him fear to difpleafe the Princcft he adored. The Book IL P H A R A M N D. 543 Tlie beauteous Humimmda^ who wasnot yetOf an age ripe enougl;, to make tht;ie obfervations fhe might have done in another, and who, by a Mother vvholly Hx'd to piety, and to a folid virtue, had been educated in a manner, that might for a long time make her ignorant of all thofc things,' which might give the l?#ft knowledge of love, perceived not any thing which the heart of the Prince fuffered for her, but following the inclination (he had, to efteemhim for his virtue, and for his fair and obliging carriage towards tlic Queen her Mother, and towards her, gave him with inHnite finccrity, many marks of hci affedion •, nor made fl-'.c any difficulty to let hiir. know, the precedence he had in her e- (lecm before Prince Mundific. B^lamir confidercd with infinite joy this beginning of his hapinefs, yet he was not able to reft fatisfied with it, but as he had vvholly given up his heart, fo lie would have th.at of Hnnnmcnda^ and fixed all his thoughts to the dctire to win her, without daring to demand, or making her know what he defired. He ha7arded however one day more than he had ever before done, and open'd his foul in part before the Queen her Mother, whom he met happily at that time, to advance his ariairsmuch more than he durft have cxpedled. .'•■',■ He was in her Chamber featcd near the Princefs, and the Queen was at fom'ediflance from them, bulled about fome littleaffair, in which, the prefence oi Balamir^ whom (he dayly faw, and with whom (he liv'd very freely, hindred her not from employing her feU, vvhen on a fudden Hunnimanda^ who for fome time had obfcrv'd him very peniive, and much more addicted to melancholy, than naturally he was', obferving in his eyes all the figns bf a profound fadnefs, or rather, of a lively and violent grief, by the excellen- cy of her nature, and the efteem (he had for him, intcreffing her felf already truly for him with much affedtion, demanded the caufe Qf it. The young Prince anfivered her not at firft, biit by a (igh drawn from the bottom 6f his heart, and a padionate looki but in the end , being importun'd by the Princefs, whof; defire was augmented by his behaviour^ 1 }{Hon>nni^ faid he, by what mirks you cauldkttow the grief with rvhich my heart is oppref- fed, vnrhad I any deftfrn to declare it this day to yon ^ but in truth it is fo violent^ that it is impaffihle for me to dijj'emble it^ and very diffitil t.i fupport it. I k>tow weU^ that fome grief ajfli&s you^ faid the Princefs, bttt 1 would^'riow the caufe ^ if you have no caufe to concsatit^ arid I Jhall then do what is poffible for me to comfort it, 'Xhe caufe is not new, (aid the Prince, but I coHfefi, that I have not for the time pall felt it as I Jtari^.do, but it caufeth fuch an ef- feU upon my lj>irit^ that it it difficult for m^ in my whole life to find any conflation^ if ii eome not' from yok. Mj grief fmce ynn command me to iellit, comes, only from a fear, 'which perplexes my jfirit, and all the fear that can a§{iil me, is. the only fear 'I have, that I ffiall he bated by you. By we, ("'faid Uunnimonda, with an dfpecli which fufticfently denoted htr furprife J and rrh'at markj have you received of my hatred? and what caufe have ydil given hie to hate you ? I think^I have given you -none, repiyed my ?nn<:t, neither by my aUioKSHdr hy my intent idns, and I dare heliive, I neveY hid any thought, which you coitld condemn, but I rorld\ ftari of him who poffejfes your Kingdom, and who hath deprived you of a CriSrPn that belongs 'He yon. '- ' ..-.'i', :•■ ....,,»., ■,•,■■ . . ..^ t,.' •,,.■',:..; ^'-> The Prince pronounced thefe words -with fo many marks of grief, thai tlie youn:; cefs wastouch'd, bufbeheyhig that this difcourfe palTcd the reach of her age apd t^ici ty, and that it was not for her to decide' tbofe Sentiments (he ought to' have ft rtli^^.i', of ai King that had ufurped her Crown-, llie beheld the Qjet^n her Mother,' as it , , a'd fromherananfwer i buttheQueen, who had heard thc'difcourfe of i^^lfj/Mr)"; aiv.-. u,;.',iad| vvifhed it;- trufting in her difcretion, made nodiffi-uky tc'ha'-zair'd thv;pri3dft of '■it,;'wfiiti] fhe might now do, and made her JL^ge-by her countenance, that flie left her in' a liberty to fpeak her own thoughts. Hii'ini.tion'id inought fonie- moments on 'whar (he (huulj (ay, and in the -end breaking (ilence vvith'a behaviour full of fv7cetnefs, and with a Majefiy which furpafs'd her prefent age-, lou have fo little part, faid (lie, in the tnufriunes of our H)ufe, that we can neither aceitfe you nor hate ym without too great jnjujiice , andfincethe ^senmy hiother tejiifies mrefentment agaPnIl you, y»u need not fear any from d per fin,, qt whife thoughts ought to he';' and always- flt.tV be conformahU to hers. I approve the aiiftver iff Hunnimonda, ( (aid the Queen, interrnixing her felf in their difcourfe) and i will add^ that we not inly regard yM as a ?rimi^mo\\ innocent of our m'u fortunes., but that by the pari ticular obligation! which wVhave for you,' and the great efiiilitlh of yoitr perfon, youoUght'tb e.^ped jirom us thoughts wholly contrary t« thofe you fearl s • ' ..•'.• Tliefe woyds of the Mother and the-'D-iughtcr touched th'e Prince wiifra io)'WeBlill}' 544 PHARAMOND. Part IV. Hot at all difTenible, and turning to the Queen in great haft he took one of her hands kiffirg it offeree, and bending one of his knees whatever endeavours (he ufed to hinder him j Toic render me a life Madsm, faid he, t^y this effect of your goodKcfi and from an extremity of gy'ief yoH make me pa^ to fitch an extremity of ]oy that I cannot cxpreji. IV^enld to God^ (con- tinued he riling up by the command of the Queen, who would not fuffer him a moment in that pofluref that it n^ere pnlJihlefir me to make yoitfee hoth the one and the other rejentmentf rrhich I have in my hearty and that at the price of my hloiid and my tife^ J could offer the Trin- cf/THunniirjOnda /jwf reparation rf thnfe loff'es fl:e hath fuffered by the Arms of the King my father. If I :rere in the place of Mundific, I could hope to prefent her one day with the Crorrn of the Goths, that of the Huns, and all that birth ^ Arms and Fortifne have granted to our houfe^ hutfmce the order of birth leavesme not this potrer: permit me to hope Madam^ (continued he fpeaking to the Queen,) thit if by any Valour rvhich 1 may i:iherit from my Ancejiors, or by fmie ajjfijfance of Fortune rvhich fmetimcs favours Courage and good intentions^ I may be raised to a degree equal to that of my elder Brother^ and fee my flf p'^ffiffor of aCrorvn rporthy te be of- fered toihe Pr/wcf/THunnimonda, you veil permit me to lay it at her feet^ and prefent her with a heart rchich 1 have dedicated to her, and nhich 1 will preferve hers to my Jomb^ though IJhould fee myfelffo unhappy as to fee her defpife the gift I mak^ her. The'Fiince pronounced thtfc words with a behaviour fo paflionate, that neither the Mo- ther nrv the Daughter could doubt ot the Imcerity of his intentions, nor find any thing too hardy \v. the declaration he made in a manner fo noble and obliging •, the Princefs how- ever bluihtd and rix'd her eyes on the ground : But the Queen having dedicated fome time to the admiration which this difcourfc had caufed, broke filcnce, and beholding Balamir •witii ,1 c'juntcnirce which could not make him fear any thing j Certainly, fa id (he, nothing could be more obliging nor more generous than what you now jpeak^, in a time wherein the ill for., tune of Hunnimonda/^;o«W mt draw the Itkf declarations from a Prince likf Balamir, hutasin- lleadof complaining at your dfcourfe jhe hath ali the reafon in the world to praife your intention, 7itither jhe nor I ought to ahufe you, nor permit that in a Youth and in an ejiate which leaves you mt at your own difpofal, youjhould engage in a defign which would not be appnved by the King your Father and which may mine your fortune. See that which Hunnimonda can anfweryott and I am content to add to tejiifie my ackflowledgment and follow my inclination, that //Huntii- monda prjfeffed the Crown of her Father which appertained to her, if the fortune oflVar aitd^ the JFiJ] of Heaven had mt deprii'ed our Hotife ofit^ I would not that fljejhould value the default of a Crown before the perjon of .Edihrniv, but prefer him without a Crown before all the Princes that either weatone or may wear one. At thcfe words of the Q^een the tranfported Prince had once more caft hirafelf at her feet if ihe had not oppos'd u by all her Authority, and fcarce finding in the pleafing trouble of his Spirit, words able to exprefs himfelf in the diforder lie felt and what he thought , Ah Madam; faid he, f^nce by a grace to which I dare not ajpire and the precious marks of "t ^fieeoi t have never merited, you render me to day the mofl glorious and fortnnate of all men, in the nkme if the Gods, trouble not that glory and that fortune by a confederation which ought not to beable to ob\\ruVi it. Ihe King my Father will not be an enemy to my happiiief!, in a marriage whei^eitt all the glory and all the advantage is for us \ and though Ifhould be fo unhappy as to fedr he would not be favourable to me, ttotwithjianding the rejped I owe to him, and which I would pre- ferve to my "tomb in things pojjihle for me ■, I am born with a heart free and with a heart thatfljall never ack^towledge other Empire than that of Hunnimonda. lou confder mt, faid the Queen fighing, that Hunnnimbnda is yet an Infant, and that you make herunderjiand things of which neither her Ane iiorpofsibly yours are yet too capable; in another more ripe you may change defign^ "when this fhall happen, Replied the young Prince very coldly, Ifhall be neither worthy of " her cficem nor remembrance, but if that never arrives, forbid me not from hoping I fliall " have fomiC part both in the one and the other, and permit me in the mean time to feek oc- " cations to put my felf in an eftate not to abufe your gencrofity nor offer a Prince without *' a Crown to a Princefs, whofe fortune ought not to be bounded to theyoungeXl Son of the " King of the Wh«/. He had faid more, and the difcourfc had extended farther, if the Queen had not been advcrtifcd that the Queen of the Hawwuscoming towards her Chamber to vifit her, fo that all the time fhc had was to tell him as (he rife to go meet the Queen his Mather i " You me- '■'■ rit more than you demand, and I would not that Hunnimonda (hould be fo ingrateful to " your good will. It was thus that by the favourable accident of that delight which the Queen of the Goths took in »he convcrfation of Balamir and Hunnimonda, fortune feem'd willing to do for him more in one day than he could without doubt have done by other way* ill many whole years > and Hunnimonda was of that humour, that though to the efteeifi fne had iBoo K II. P H A R A M N D. ^45 liad for him, (he had joyncJ a true and flrong affldion, it is certain tliat iTc dad nrvcr "i- ven the lead mark ot it without the advice nor wirhoiir the orders of tlic Qiiccn her Mo- ther, whilll having heard her that day explain her felt (ii tavourably forhim, and knowini?, by all kind of marks that this dclign was not difagrccable, (he oppos'd not at all as flic had elfc without doubt done, that inclination which the merit of this young Prince might 2,ivc her for him, but futfcred the proofs in another manner than (he had fuffcred them, if they had been lefs approved. v So happy a beginning begat in my Prince the moft acceptable hopes with wliich he could flatter himfelf, and not willing to negled his fortune whilft it was favourable to him, the Evening of that fame day knowing the render aiftdion the Queen his Mother had (or liim, for the Queen ot the Goths and HuHnimondj^ and the great alii(lance he might re- ceive not only with the Qtieen of the Gotln^ but with the King himfelf, over whofc dif- polltion (lie had a great power, he demanded a particular audience ot her, and feeing him- ielf alone with her in the Cloftt, laving ca(i himfelf at her feet and done many other A« dtions which let her fufficiently know the palhon that made him fpeak, he di(cover'd to her tlie love he had for HiDntimonda^ and all that (he had made him (ufter, and in the end \vas about to recount to her the converfation he had that day had with the Queen of the Coths^ when the Queen hrll by a llgh and in the end by the difcourfe (lie made fpared him that pains, and let him know that (he had under(iood it all from the mouth of the Queen of the Cothi^ who in cffcd: living in an innocent life, and unskilful in all forts of deceit and artifice, ard knowing her felf bound to the proofs (he daily rcceiv'd from the tender amity of the Queen of the Huns, would not keep (ccret any thing for which (he believed (he might incur her difpleafure, nor attend the rebuke (he might tear from her friend(hip, if this affedfion had come to her knowledge by any other mouth tiian her own. Bala^nir wasaftonifhcd for theprefent that the Queen of the Ci7/&j- had fo readily acqn.iinted the Queen his Mother with a bufinefs in which he plac'd ail the importance of his lite and rcpcte ; but a little after bar- vingmaderefledion on the rcafons Ihe had, and the little (lie had hazarded for him in dif- covcringitto a Mother of whom he knew he was infinitely beloved, he approved her pro- cceding,and perfevering in the delign which had occalion'd him to begin to fpeak.he conjur'd the Queen by all the patlionate words which his love could put in his mouth, to be afhflant to him in his love, to which all his thoughts and all the happinefs of his life was fix'd, and in the good or ill fuccefs of which all his good or ill fortune confided. The Queen who truly loved the Prince with the moft rtrong afRAion a Mother could have for a Child, who had linked her felf with a very firait fricndihip to the Qieen of the Co//;/, who e(i;eem'd infinitely the merit of the young Princefs /:/««»;/»;. W./ and wlio by an inclination full of piety, belie v'd that no right of Conqued could make the King her Husband retain with jullice a Oown that legitimately appcrtain'd to this Princcfs, and that by no rule of policy he could marry her to any other fave one of his Children to hx fo his Houfe that right which (he had to a Country of which (he was depriv'd, was not contrary to the dclign of Balamir: but inftead of condenrming his love (lie told him that he ceuld never be cnamour'd of any perfon more worthy than that fair Princefs on whom he had tafc his af- fem you.' It is true that I have jiru^gled^ and d} jirujgle with my grief bnth by the uecejjity^of my duty, and thnfe hopes prhich may fatter me, but between the Combat and theVidory, there is a great difference, and I dutbt tiot but my courage will give me in this confliU, the fame affjiance J hope for inthof I go ,ij feek^ X'lH may well believe this truth, my fair Trincefi, added he with a hi^h, and ■v::^ld to Cod that in the donbt you may have, I might b( fo happy to fee in you fome fignof i\>;;cefs, concerning the difcontent which their feparation ought to caufe in them i and as he had at ptefent no reafon which might hinder him from rendring this kindnefs to his Brother, he t)f his own free will pray- ed the Princefs to prefervc him her affedion, during a Voyage, which in all likelyhood would be very long, and during which he doubted not but her abfence would make him fuffer much. Balamir thanked the Prince for what he faid in his favour to the Princefs i and Hunnimonda anfwered him modertly, that (he did not believe, that Balamir could fuflfer any thing for the love of her, and that (he would .not be wanting, during their ab- fence, to offer prayers to Heaven, for the prefervation, both of the one, and the other, and for the happy fuccefs of their Arms. In fine, notwithftanding the grief which Balamir had to abfcnt himfelf frpm Hunni" mondit, heteftified thatday fufBcientconftancy andrefolution, and during the time which we remain'd at Alba Julia, which was the principal City of Vacia, formerly named Ap' fulum, feated on the River "B-habon, or Marifus, in which the King kept his Court, he gain'd from his courage a part of that afliflance which he defired againlt his love, and with a great grace made all things ready for his Journey i but when the day of his departure came, and that he was to take leave of Hunnimonda, a part of his conftancy and fair refo* lutions forfook him, and he could not hinder himfelf from making the Princefs a witnefs how much he was feniible of the difcontent he had tt» part from her. Then he appeared like another perfon, he faid all that grief could put into his mouth of moft affediionate, nay he likewife (hed tears, Accufe me not of tveaktteji, ( faid he to the Princefs, drying them ) but be pleafed to believe^ that it it difficult to feparate a body, rphich I carry into Msfia, from a heart which I leave tvith you, mthout making it fuffer a violence which 1 cannot conceal : Ihe better part of Balamir remains without doubt with you, and that which ii tobeabfent, cannot in quitting you, preferve fufficient jirengtb to fupport his mifery, with a greater eonjiancy, 1 leave you, my fair frincefi, and I (hall return when the CodsJhaU pleafe^ and my good fortune permit me ■, but whatever dijiance feparates us^ your remembrance (hall never one moment forfak^ nit \ and I hope the defire to render my felf worthy of you,, wilt makfi me do things which you may own. Fermit me if you pleafe thus to flatter my felf with fome cotifolationin my grief, and forbid me not from hoping, that you will preftrve me fome place in your memory. 1 mt only permit yau to believe it ^ faid the Princefs, but 1 pray you, and ajfure your felf with certainty , thiit no abfence , »or no traci of time , Jhall ever banijh She pronounced not thcfe words without blu(hing, though (he knew well, that flie did wasapprovM, and the Prince was tranfportcd with a joy which made h\m for fome time forget all his forrow. It was confirmed by the fight of fome tears, which at the fame in- ftant 'overflowed the fair eyes of the Piincefs, and the Prince fubmitting himfelf to the charm which the knowledge of his good fortune had prepared for him, found himftlf in adiforder, between two oppofite p:^iions, which permitted him no longer to explain him- felf, but with confuliqn. In this eltate he bid adieu to the Princefs, and taking leave of the Queen of the Coths, he conjured her, with his knee bended before her, to remem- ber her ielf of the marks (he had given him of her goodnefs, and to believe, that in the confidence he had in it, he had built a good part ot his fortune. This virtuous Princefs, who loved him as if he had been her Son, and who found no misfortune for her Daughter in Book IL T H A R A M N D. 54.;^ in the love he bore her, promifcd Iiim rnorc than he dttnandicl : and tlicQ^icen of t!ic Huns his Mnrlicr who made him likcwife ixiTumbrr the prutrd^ion flie Iiad given him in h;s Jove conhrmed the promifc.to him uith all the aflldliun he could defirc. We parted thus from Alhs JuUa^ and on the (amc day tlie Kirg with the ycun» Prince Balamir^ took their way towards M^fia, and Prince Mwidific by a Road quite oppolitc that toviix^s Sarmatia. The two Armies were little different in Forces, and in the lealHhcre was near an hundred (houfand fighting men. The King lift the government of a/Tafrs in r^oj to men moft capable, and whole tidelitvcni.il d not be fufptdfcd i piarching towards hUfia, wiclias much diligence as it was polhbiei without wcaryrjig his incn who were to tiglu at tlicir arrival. We crolTcd the Ancient Country ot the Gf^'a'-/, anJ that of the Br/- ridiott, left on our left hand t'/p/tf, Irajatia^ hcxaoiorernn^cA ZaYmiz^rtiifi^ pafTed at the foot of the CcrauniaH Mountains, and by the Country ol the Burres^ ante to the banks of rhc Danube, which we were to pafs to enter into Mjifitf ■■, by gO' J tortnne thofe Cities which were fcated on the banks of the Pd««ir, between tlic Rivers of Mi-^gii and Ciabra re- mained in obedience to the King, by which means he was Mailer of that famous Bridge of Irajan, which he had with fo inuch coft and pains built over that gr:at River, which yet rtands as one of the wonders of the world > and it was that which gave us an entire advan- tage to pafs the Pvivcr, which had without doubt flopped us, if the Eiiemics had rendrcd themftlves Mailers of thefe paflTes, as they were from the Country of thl lrihaJlie»r^ to the place of its disburthening it felf in the Euxine Sarmatique Sea. The Countrey of the Mtfi- fiis and all that which extends from the River Sava to the T'riballiens^ which make a part of higher Afct/ti, was of our party, but all the lower Mdijia which is bouiided by the Danube the Sea, and Mount Hemiu, wliich is much greater, better peopled and flronger in Cities and Men, %verc Armed againit us, and under the Conduct of two Princes, who pretended their Anccftors had fome right over that Country, before it wasfubdued to the Em.pire, by the Arms of Trajan, and who had caused Forces to march out of Thracr. anc' had Armies ori foot whofe force was not inferiour to that of our King: The Princes were brave and vali-, ant, the People warlike, all the plain Country, and the grcateft part of the Cities were at their difcretion:and thusfortihed they hoped to drive usback,and remain Malters of the Provinces: but in the perfon of our King they had for their Captain a Warriour famous and celebrated for his great A<5ions, and they proved in little time that in that of the ycurg Balamir they had an Enemy fio lefs redoutable. I will not recount to you the particulars of this War, though tSiere happened things with- out doubt very obfervable, the renown of a part of which may poflibly be come to you, but becaufe the recital would be too long, I will only tell you in the briefell iTianncr I can podibly, that the King having rcpos'd fome days in the Country of the A/^/?fffj-, marched! towards the River of Ciabra^ over which we were to pafs to cnt€r into the Country of tiie Trihalliens, and on the banks of which the Enemy liad ranged a party of theirs to difpute our pafTage : If they had well managed this dcfign, they had given us no (mall trouble, but believing themfelves ftrong enough to fight vs, and thofe viho commanded them to give a better opinion to the people, perfwading them that they would not fly the fight, they en- dcavour'd not at all to break a bridge which we had at a City called v/laiiis, as they might have done, being abfolute Mafters of the other River, and ranging in battel thofe Tidf ps they had on that fide, they refolved to let pafs a party of cur Army, witii titfign to ciiarge it, and iiopcs to defeat it before the other could come to its fuccour. There was a great likelihood in their dcfign, and it had poflibly took efilcS-, if they had bad to do with ordinary men, but by misfortune for them, it was Prince Balimir who pafs'd at the head ok the ftrft Troops, who having for his entrance into Arms demanded this charge from the King, which he granted him with much difficulty, marched towards them with an affurance which (liuck them with a pannick fear, and inflead of vicifoiy which they cx- pc^dence I ought to have in the promife you have made me ^ never is forgst your faithful BALAMIR, I believe that the Anfwer which he received from her, was this, or little difTcrerit. The PrinCefs HmnimoncJa to Prince Balamir, I Believe yon do not fuffer fo much as yntt would perfwade me, that love you have for glory - rri// eaf}ly make you amends for the tft'«>«ce of Hunnimonda, hnhever, if the ajfurancel of my remembrance can ferve for your fatisfaSion, you maybe ajfured that I (hall never while I live forget yoii. Such obliging words put the mind of Balamir into diforder, through the joy that tran- fportedhim, nor was he wanting to feek like confolations to his paliion, as often as it was poffible, and I remember, that having received a Letter from her, after the rirft Battel . tought, of which the King had fent the news to the Qiipen, with the praifes due to the ▼aloiir of B(»/affjir, he writ thefe words, or the like, ' " fiii-.c' 352 THARAMOND. Fart IV, Prince Balamir to the Princels Hunnimorida. THe praifej you give me, cannot but be very delightfpil to a Soul rrholly yours, artd the part yoH take in my happy entrance into Arms, flatters me more pleafingly than the glory I expeUed, I fljould however, choofe rather to be confiderable to you for my love, than for all the glory which my Arms may give me, and I rt'oitld otpe much le(i to the advantages I may hold from them and fortune^ thart to the fidelity I fljall preserve for you to my tomb. I remember not what the Princefs replyed to this Letter, but I have not forgot, that after the famous encounter of E/c(Jwf/, at which he had acquir'd fo much honour, he re- ceiv'done, thf words of whicb were thefe, or very like them. The Princefi Humimonda to Prince Balamir, Jt" is mojl pleaftng »en>s to me, to hear Marvels already puhlifh^dofyou in the world, and to take in your glory that part, which you would have me taks » ^"^ ^'"* mak^ me buy it ^y fears you give me, and whatever joys 1 can refent, by underjianding that great ViVtoriei ''re orving folely to your valour, it is not fo great, as the fear you put me in, by pajfmg Kiverr, and fwimming to fight thofe Armies which attend you on the Bankj. Remember my Lard, that Kalhnef! if no very great virtue, and be pleas'd likewife to remember ^ that you ought not to expofe fo lightly a life, which is not whoHy yotirs, if your words be true. This Letter hath remain'd in my mettiory, rather than many others, becaufe it made my Prince feel an immoderate joy i for I faw him a thoufand times kifs thefe laft words with an extafie that could not becaufed but by a violent paffion » I have likewife preferv'd in memory that which he writ in anfwei of this, and I believe it was to this effect:, or fomewhat near it. Prince Balamir to the Princels Hunnimonda, Vt if you ^ojtld only take part in what is entirely yours, for as I have no part in my felf, fo my life and my glory are equally to. you atone ; fear nothings neither of the one or the o- iher, (mce they are orpn'd of yon, and be pleas'd to believe^ that J will die rather for the love t hear you, than by the Arms of our enemies. I will tell you no more in this place, as well, both becaufe that I have not well pre- ferv'd them in memory, as becaufe the recital may be tedious to you ; but to return to our difcourfe of the War, fo foon as the Seafon would permit, the King drew his Army together out of their Winter Quarters, and retook the Field, to tight his enemies, vvho being no weaker than he, and having great advantages, by reafon of the many places they held, and the Sea, cf which they were Mafters, and by which they received often fuccours, avoided not the Fight, but as he did, they fought thofe opportunities which might give them the greatert advantages. The King took his like an experienced Captain, as he truly is, but he vvas interrupted in the execution of his defigns, or at leaft, forced to be- take himfcif to others, by reafon of the news he received from Sarmatia. Prince Mundi- ftc had maintain'd the War with infinite valour, and at the beginning with no lefs fortune, having defeated the enemies in almoll all places where he had encountred them. But in the fccond year affairs had a little changed their face, and the enemies lide being flrength- red, his began to be weakened, by (ome loffcs he received, and he in the end beheld himfcif in no fmall danger to be driven out of fSarmatia, if he received not fome alfift- ancc. ,' ,-, ; . This news not a little difpleafcd the King, and held him for a whole day in an irre- folution I Book II. P H A R A M N D. ^53 fi:i1ution what he ouglu to do, but in the end lie confLiltcd no furtlicr, for knowing not only the admirable valour of Balamir^ but his knowledge in War, he dcubrcd no: but ht might leave to him the commandment of the Army, and the ciiarge of" all aft'airs in M^fia wlullt lie repaired into Dacia^ whieh is direcftly between M^fia and Sarmatia, from whence he might both fend Troops to reinforce Mundific^ and if it were neccffary, pafs himfclf infoSarmatia. Hediditashe had refolv'd, and notwithllanding the youth of Balamir, left all things to his difpofal, believing that he could not trull tliem in better hands than his. After his departute, Bjlamif remaining Maftcr of this War, began to piirfuc it with vi- gour, wliich (uon allonidied his enemies, and in a little time he beat them in fevcral cn'» counters, took fcveral places by force or compofition, and gain'd fo much of the Coun- try from them, tliat in the end, they cealing to flee before him, and believing themfelvcs able, and in a condition to give him Battelj^avoided net occafion to do ir, but expected, him in fair order, in a large Plain, near the River Naxiiis, and in the Country of the T^-' ?«/Uj;/, which the exile of the renowned Ovid hath made famous. The valiant Balamir^ that day flicwingin his eyes die joy he had to fee himfclf in a conditfon to dcquire wHaY' he fought with fo n»uch ardour, embattell'd his Troops more like ati old Captain, than a young Warriour. He gave his left wing to the famous A'nu, a Captain illulhious by ma- ny great Adtions, and who had bore no fmall part in the COnqucfts of the King his Fi'*^ ther i he placed himfelf at the head of his right Wing, where his noble pofture, arid the grace he kept in fpeaking to the Soldiers, wrought an admirable effedt in their Courage, who look'd upon him as a Demi-God. The Battel was cruel, doubtful, bloody, and as rcfo- lutely maintain'd as it could be by valiant men, who had delign'd either to overcome or die» but in fine, by the wondert'ul endeavours of our Prince, the enemies loft ir, with more than forty thoufand men, who lay dead on the place. Balamir in the heat of the Fight, flew with one blow of his Sword Tiwjc;f«f-', bneof the Hoflile Princes, and did belides an hundred noble adions, which truly gain'd us the Vidory, By the favour of the nights black fhades, which hindred the entire ruine of the enemies, Elizdr retreat- cd with the xe(\ of the Army towards the flreams cf Naxita, and, beyond it, lodg- ed himfelf in the Country of the7rogloditet^ where he fortified all places, and by feafon of the fitilation of the Country, put himfelf in a pofture, for fome time longer to fuftain the War. Balamir having reaped the fruits of hi^ Vidory, which inade all the Cities along fhe Danube^ unto the Country of the Etenfes, declare themfelves for him, went to feek him in fhe place whither he was retired, but not without great difficulties, by reafon of fhe re- fiftance he found from thofe places adjacent to the Sea, 'tomos^ Callat'n^ "Timogetid, Ijiria^ and many others, not following the example of thofe which bordered on the Vaimhe^ ftood out till they were taken by force, or furrendred not, but at the laft extremity, win- ter for fotne time retarded the progrefs of the Prince, being ordinarily very (harp in that Country, yet fo foon as he could again take the Field, he went to feek EUzar^who pof- feifed the Country of the Iroglodites, and all that is behind it to the Sea. But to abridge my recital, having driven him from the Country of the "Iroglodites^ into that of the Pe- veiniens, and thence to the mouth of the t>a»uhe^ he conftrain'd him to engage in Battel, and gain'd it fo entirely, that the unfortunate E//Zi»r perifhcd with all his Army, leaving Balamir no other enemies to fight with in M£fta^ belides thofe that were in the Cities, a- gainft whom he immediately march'd, and having by this laft vidory acquired an admi- rable reputation, and being abfolute Mafter both of the Field, and the Banks of the T>a. nube, and Maritime places, only thofe which were in the Country of the Cor^jiV/, and from the E and that it would f^fibly be I efi delightful to me ta gain Battels, than toi fee you dayly. He had however foon after that felicity which he Retired with fo much ardour, for the King knowing there was nothing rnore to be done in Sarmatia, commanded him to return to Court, whereafter three years abfencc, and adioris which had throughout all the world given him a name equal to that of the greateft men, he was impatiently expcded. Heo- beyed this command with all 'the joy wiiich his love could in this occallon infpir'e him with, and having given necetfary orders to his Army, he, with' his Equipage, took the nearcli: way, and by the Mounta.iBS which border on the Country of the Jgatirfes, entringinto that Pitc/J which is called the Mediterranean, he followed the ccurfe of the River Rj^oa, or Marifus, unto Alba Julia, where the Kingat prefent kept his Court. After an abfencc fo glorious, he was admirably well receiv'd, both by the King, and / Queen, ; Book II. PH ARAMONU 555 Qiiccn, and tlic whole Court, of wliich hy rcafiui of Iiis great anu ruble qiuliiics, I'.e was the whole dch'giit, fothat the King had wi'thout doubt cudcd to be prcpartd forliiir. thofe honours due to fuch great adions, it he had not feared to give greater caufc of envy td Vrincc NhindifK^ in whom the ill fuccefs of his Voyage had begot ro fmall malice, and mc- lancholly : He treated him however as much as iiis paternal dignity could permit, like a perfon extraordinary : And the Queen regarding him with tiioughts more tender than flic had all her life had for him, fliewed him all thole endearments he could hope from her at- fedtion. The Vi'incck ^IheodDlmrij his Siller, who now appeared in an admirable beauty, and truly was in a condition to difpute with all other Beauties, wclcom'd liim with all the demonrtrations of the tlrongcll and tendere!\ aiTedtion : But Prince Mtindifk received hiiJi very coldly, though he embraced him, and was conftrain'd to forac violence to hinder his countenance from cxprelling a difcontent : Lalamir pcrceiv'd it with infinite forrow, but judging that his dilcontentmcnt came from hk envy of the happy fuccefs he had had in a war, and in a Country where he had been a little infoitunate, lie hoped he might in this fatisfic him, by a carriage full of that rcfpcd he ought to his elder Brother who might one day be liis King. But whcti after he had paid Ms firfl duty to the Royal Houfe, he went to villt the Queen of the Goths ^ and iiaving faluted that Queen it was permitted him to fee the fo much de- fired Hnnnimonda^ whofe Effigies he had IHII prcfcrved in his Soul, he found himfclf at the light of her in a furprifal, for which he was not prepar'd •, and though the Queen his Mother and many other perfons had feveral times writ to him of the cncreafc of her beau- ty, it was difficult for him to imagine it what he found it. In effedt, the change was fo extraordinary, that the light alone could make it be apprehended j and this prodigious Beauty being arrived to its pcrfedion, both for Stature and all other advantages, which it could not have gained at the time of Balamir's departure, appeared to the loll Prince like lomething Supernatural and Divine, fo that the aflonifhment he received tyed his tongue, and held him a long tiine in a profound Contemplation, which permitted him not to do any thing but behold her. The fair Princefs faluted him with a civility in which if he had been lefs furprifed, he might well have obferved the joy fne had to receive him ■■> and feeing that he ftill remained fix'd to an admiration, by beholding her without fpeaking a word to her : What loak^yoit for my Lord? (aid (he, Vo you no longer kflow \{ux\n\monA3.> I have too well engraven her hi my memoty^ replied my Prince in the end, to he able to forget her •, but though I expected mon- ders which appeared not to me formerly^ I conjejl to yonlfee things which have -prevented my very imagination. I have poftbly believed it fince your departure, replied the Princefs and there was fame appearance it ought to happen, but there is yet lefs difference from what Hunni- 'monda at that time ivas, and what penoip is., than there is betrceen the young Prince Balamir and a great Hero, who already Eclipfes the glory of the greateji men in the world. I wuuld to God, faid the Prince, that there were as much truth in what you fay of me, as there is in what I obferve of you, and the Gods are my witnejfes, that Ida wijh it much rather out of the hopes to merit your ejleem, than out of a defire to eclipfe the glory of other men. As before thefe Treat AUions which have rendred you fuch as yau are, reply cd Hunnimonda, I already infinitely e- Jleem'dyoH^ you ought to believe that by this encreafe of your glory, m\ thoughts cannot be chan- ged but to your advantage. The Prince was about to reply, when the Queen of the Goths not being fatisHcd wiih the firl\ reception (lie had made him, came again to welcome hiin, and knowing well that (1* was neither fufpedted nor troublefome, mixed a long time in their converfation, which pafTed, as is ordinary in thefe enterttainments, in demands they mutually made of what hap- pened to each other fince their feparation, though the Prince at every moment interrupted all other difcourfe, to enlarge on that which appeared to him of the beauty of Humtimon- da. In fine the Queen again left them alone with an entire liberty to entertain each other and the Prince having employed a 'part of the time in recounting to the Princefs that which his abfence had made him fufTer, and given her afTurance of a fidelity which he ought, and would prefcrve her to his Toinb, had the fatisfadtion to underliand from her fair lips all that he could defire of mof^ obliging, and to know that he was truly loved as much as h; could hope from a virtue hke that of Hunnimonda, He departed that Livening from her full of joy which he could not difTemble, and as hi- therto both in Love and War, all things had been favourable to him, the refledion he made of the happinefs he received both in the one and the other, made him pafs the night in tht: moll delightful manner pofhblc. But on the morrow returning to vifit the Princefs Huh. mmonda, fo foon as he believ'd he might fee her, he had been there but a very fmall while-, 1 ^ ^' but ?5^ PHARAMOND. Part I V -r bat he beheld Prince Mmdific enter, who looked upon him with a coldnefs yet greater than *hat of the preceding day, and %vho being fcated near the Princefs, departed not the rert of that day, tefHfying no lefs trouble to cn)oy her company, than Hie might have to Tuffer his. On the morrow the fame thing happened again, as it did many others after, in which he obferved in the Prince his Brother, an impreliion equal to his, and in the end knew by to9 many marks, that he was cnamour'd ot Humumonda. This knowledge atflidcd him with a mortal grief, and as amongft all men there could not be found a Rival more formidable to him, than a Prince to whom he owed all things, -and a Prince who ought to be his King, if his valour gave him not other Crowns than thofe now appertained tohisHouCc, he regarded this misfortune as the greatclt, and moft terrible that could ever bcfal him. He complained to Htaven, accufed his iortune, ex- amined all things in it, but in the end knew not how to fupport it, the more he made re- flexion on it, the more dangerous he. found it, but in what manner foever he regarded it, he found for him neither remedy nor confolation. G»ds (cryed he walking in his Clofet, where he had conHn'd himlelf, debarring all perfons from the light of himj Gods ! mnll it he that Iflionld fo miferably fall into that fole fiiare of misfortune, which can ruine my happi- iiefs and the rvhole repofe of my life ? Ah Hunnimonda, how great and dangerous a proof muji the ajfeUionyouhavefor me be ptit to^ if it be not already fo ? And rvhen I might hope thee fit f~ fciently generous to prefer the Love of Ealamir before the Crotvn of Mundific, I have reafon to fear that the ^een thy Mother reill mtperfevcre in herfirji thoughts, btit that to fee her Vaugh- ter in a place will no more permit her to regret the fortune of herHoufe^ Jl.'e rp ill let her felf be blinded by the fortune of Mnudliic. What reafon haii thou, (faidheagain reproving himfelf,) to fufpeB offuch bafenefs a Trinceflin whom thou hafl k^iorenfo much virtue, and of xvhom thou haji received fo many mark/ of a true cfteem, andfincere affeUion ? Ah ! I have but too much, added he, And rvhen this change jliould come to pafs in the Spirit of a Princeji, and a Mother interejied in the fortune of her Daughter, I cannot condemn it. I ought not perhaps my felf to defire, if 1 truly /oL'f Hunnimonda, that to fix her felf to the fortune o/ Balamir, J/^tf (Ijould refufe that which prefents it felf for her, in the love of Mundific , and to aS both as a dif-inte- re\ied Lover, and a^ true one. 1 ought to counfel her to turn her affeUions towards Mundific, who may make her «ne of thegreatejl ^eens oftbe world, and abandon Balamir, who hath no- thing but lave and hopes to offer her. I might he perhaps capable to do it, (purfued he fome minutes after) if I believed Hunnimonda would be more happy in Mundific, than in Bajamir : bttt Crowns do not often Crown felicity, and I dejpair not one day to give her me, either by the gcgdnejl of the King who hath many at his difpojal, or by the ajpjiance of a Sword which may conquer one, ftnce it k^ows fi well how to preferve one : 1 will not then give her this proof of a difinterelledlove, Iwillmt, mrottghtl, ttorcaul, but I will fooner abandon my life to the wt- juji and cruel Brother, than thofe juji pretenfinns I have to the heart of Hunnimonda. He ought rather to renounce it, if he hath any k^iowledge of virtue, he who hath fcarce begun to figh for her, and if he doth it not, I will reproach him of his inhumanity and ingratitude, I will give him my blood if he pleafes, but I will not yield to him Hunnimonda. He entertained and tormented hirnfc-rf in this manner the reft of that day, during which he would not be feen by any perfon i and on the morrow taking his time to fee HunnimoH- da before Mundific, by reafon of the liberty he liad at all hours to vifit het, he went to her, and found her in her Clofet, in the beft eibte he could defire to entertain her : He feated himfcif by her as he was accuftomed, but he had fcarce the power to fpcak a word to her, and whilft Ihe demanded of him why he had paffed the preceding day without vifiting her, iuftead of anfwering her he contented hitnfelf to behold her with a countenance which fpokc what he felt better than words could do. The Princefs foon doubted the truth, but ftie would underlland it from his own mouth, and not her felf pronounce it, and therefore pray- ed liim with infinite fwcetnefs to tell her the caufe of the trouble (he obferved in his counte- nance, and to let her underltand whethet it were not the fame had hindred him the day be- fore from vifiting her. " The Prince in the end preventing with fome fighs what he had to fay, I came not hither fellerday, faid he, becaufeMwndiCicfpent the whole day with you, a}id I am troubled or rather ntjrtally ajflided doubt iiig leji he (Ijould be amorous of you. 1 know not, faid the Princefs, ;/ he be enamoured of me, but it it moli true, that he every day tells me he it, and gives me all thofe proofs men moft paffionately affeCxedcan. 1 would not tell you thU at your arrival, believing you would too foon have the l^towledge of it, nor advertife you of it during your abfence, hoping that reafon, or the little futisfaBion he received, might vanquifl} his pafsion before you could have the furrow to h^tow it. Ah Madam, cryed the Prince with a great figh, lamloli: And repeating again thefe words without adding more, heremain'd in the Chair wherein he was feated in the pofturc of a man overwhelm'd with a mortal grief. The JBoo K If. P H A R A M N D. 557 The Princefs beholding him with an eye whicli made him wcl! know ihcprirt flic tooli in his gvicf, and Rhcarling thofc words lie had i'aid with a tone wiiich appeared a liitlc le- verc : Tok are Inft^ faid he, and why are you loji ? Or what do yon fear if it fliotild be true that t>.\unA\'C\c bare love tome ? 1 fear aVithhiji^s^ replied the affliftctl Prince, mr is there anv thing J oii^ht not to fear from this terrible misfortune ■, mould to God that my death might have present- ed it, or that fome Sarmatian Lance had pierced my heart before 1 had had the kitowledge of it. Ikjtirvmt, rcplycd the Princefs, rvbether you give tne not a ]ttl\caitje to complain^ or if I ought to attribute it to the little h^torvledge you have of me, or the lefyou have of your felf. "there U ttothinz i>t your perfon nor mine can make me fear, faid the Prince, hut there are things in our fortunes, rvhich foretel me the ruine of mine, and pnjfibly the intire loji of all my hopes. 1 did indeed believe, replyed Hunnimondt, that ihe love of h\\ihi\il]c might difileafe you, andcrofi us ; hut 1 never believed it could lofe or miue you as you fay ■, nor ought you your felf ta bel/ez'e it, if you rviljnotd) me an injury: For his perfon, yon need not in my judgment fear that I Jhould prefer it before yours, and for the advantages his fortune may have over yours, if you havehelievedthat I did ever value them, knort! Balamir that you have never rvell h^iorvn me. "I know you fnfficiently well, faid the Prince, ucvcr to fufpedt you, of any thought " unworthy the grcatnefs of your Soul, and 1 know that the Crowns which Mundific may " pofTcfs, are too much below your courage, to make me fear your preferring them to " the viirtuc and Hdelity of my lo^'e •■, but alas ! who can allure, that the pcrfons whofe " thoughts rule yours will to the end perfevere in the fame gcncrolity ? Or who can Jike- " wife alTure me, that I ought to dcfire it ? Or that if I truly love you, fur the love of " your felf, that I ought to prefer my fortune to that you will poUibly find in Mundific. JFill you then yield me to Mundillc, (" faid the Princefs, beholding him with adifcontcnt- cdafpedl ) Or can you have fj great a ref^eU for your elder Brother .<' " I will rather yield " him my life, replyed my Vrince, and wliatcver rcfpedl I owe him in other things, in "'this, he fliall ratiier have my Blood, to the lad drop, than oblige me to the leall com- " placence for his fatisfadion. 1 know likewife, though he be my elder Brother, how "to difpute with him my juft pretences till death, and he will poilibly find inmycou- "rage, more difficulty than he hath yet proved i but I doubt whether I ought oppofe "my felf to your advantages, if Crowns can make you find any againft love, or whe- " ther I ought to defire, you fliould give your felf to Balamir, if you might be tnore hap* "py, or atleart more high, in the Fortune and Dignity of Mundific. 7his is to love ge- fiefouJJy, C replyed the Princefs very coldly ) but I am not fo much engaged to you, as you perftrade your felf, and I declare it ta you, fmce you oblige me to it by this difcourfe, that in this you do nothing for me, and though I (hould Jiever be yours, I vs'ill never he Mundi'' ficV. " But if the Queen your Mother commands you to cfpoufehim, /a/^ Balamir, as " it may be feared , from a Princefs who will prefer your ellablinimcnt before all other " confiderations, would you difobey her ? Ton knotv not the ^een my Mother, replyed Hunnimonda, mr }{>toip you yet the greatnef, and confiancy of her Soul, fije hath once com- manded me to love, and rvithout her command you had not pa ffihly obtain' d all that was owing toyour p'^rit, I am aJJ'ured, that fije will never act a contradidion, nay fo [hong an afifurance have I of it, thai I dare this day ajjure you, fmce you conjhain me, that if I be not to you^ J tvill never be to any. Thek words were fo fwcet to the enamoured Balamir, that all the grief with which his Soul was oppreiTed, gave place to the alteration which they Caus'd i and lofing the remem- brance of all things elfe, he at the fame time fell at the knees of the Princefs, and held them a long time embraced, whatever endeavours (lie us'd to lift him up-, flieintheend ob^ lig'd him to it by all her authority, and the Prince returning to his place, having kiffed that hand which (he with fome little force ftretchcd out to him ■, After the ajfurance which you give, me, faid he, t will defend my fortune, both againji Mundilit, and againjl all the worlds and though in his love I forefee great crojfes ft me, and great obftrud ions to my fe- licity, I will overcome all by your a^^ance, mr fliall my courage dbandon me, if you forfakfi me not. "No Balamir, faid the Princefi, to give you this final confolation, I will never "during my lifcforfake you, nor will I have you to be obliged to me, that I prefer you *' before Mundific. I will likewife tell you with truth, that the knowledge I have had of *' his thoughts, hath not been more pleafing to me than to you, and I had poilibly let "him know it, if I had been toad with a man, who believes he ought one day to be " Mailer of our fortune, as with another perfon. She here gave him an account of a part of what had palTed between her and Prince Mundific, and cafily made him know, that it was no hopesfliehad given him made him obftinatc in his love. They were in thele terms when the Queen of the Gotht entred into the Clcfet, and ha- ving 358 PHARAMOND. Part. IV ving underftood the caufc of 'BiLnnir's difpleafure, which flie had before likcwifi: fufpccfl- ed, the conrirm'd what the Princcfs hcr.Daugliter had.faid, in fuch terms, as made him beHeve he need fear nothing on her fide. He departed foon after, fearing to I'ec hhmdi- fic^ and chooljng rather topafs fomc hours without the fight of HitnnimoTida^ than enjoy it in the prefence of fuch a Rival. Departing from the Queen of the Goihs^ he went to the Queen his Mother, who vvas allarm'd, not having for two days fcen him, and at what Ihe had heard fpeak of his fadnefs, by thofe who had ken him, and particularly by my felf, who had better obferv'd than all others, having more accefs to his perfon, and having found her at liberty to hearken to the complaints he had to make, Ah Madam, faid he, is it thus that you. have rememhred the protcaion you fo much pro»2ifcd met' and tvhilji I fight for the defence of Crowns rvhkh ought one day appertain to Mundilic, cannot I hope that you will defend me againjl his cruelty, which rcould deprive wf 0/ Hunnimonda ? I dilute nothing with him of tlje Heritage of our fathers, but would willingly defend it for him a- gjinll all enemies which would trouble his p-fjfejjion, fo that he would leave me Hunnimonda, ever whom he hath no right, and over wham no advantages of Birth can give him any. Against any other but him, I fhould l^jiow how to defend mine, other ways than by words and com- plaints y nor is there poffibly a man among the greatefl of men, who would not loo\ upon it at an enterprife fifjiciently daring, to deprive Balamir of his Mijirefi ; but he is my elder Bro- ther, I have not forgot what, I owe him^ and I will pay it him^ fg long m reafonjhall remain Mijtrefi of my foul. To thefe words he added many others, which he pronounc'd with a behaviour wholly pailionate, and which the Queen hearkened to with great patience, and nolefsfignsof her difpleafure, and breaking lilence fo foon as he had done fpeaking, IFhen I promifedyon my ajfijiauce inthe love yuK ^fjc iow it. 'I'm not ( faid he, turning him- felf towards Balamir, after he had yet for fome time walked without fpeaking } that this adventure ought to caufe in your fpirit, all the efeus which we obferve, or that a Prince, whe by fo great beginnings may ajpire to all things in the world, Jhould bound all his thoughts and all his fortune on the pp(feffion of Hunnimonda. Hunnimonda is a Princefi truly worthy the affedions of a great Prince, but fuch a man as Balamir fliould have an ambition equal to his valour, and find his confulations in thofe hopes, which his (rre.it courage jl)ould create in him , /^o«W/je/o/e Hunnimonda. "Ah my Lord, ifaid ^3.\zmix to the King ) be pleafed to be- *'lieve, that there is nothing in the world capable to comfort me after the lofs of Hunni~ ''• monda, nor can I, if I lofc her, regard the Empire of the whole world were it offered " me. I have courage my Lord, and I have pollibly fome valour, nor want I ambition, " but thefe qualities are not only firmly compatible with my love, but I may fay with 'truth, that nothing is fo powerful to rouze up my ambition, or fpur me forward to feek " occaficns of Glory, as the love of Hunnimonda, It is by your advice my Lord, or "atlcaftby yourLicenfe, that' (lie hath rendred her felf Midrefs of my heart, and if Mk«- " djfic wil fnarch her away, he need but tear my heart from my bread, and facilitate by "my B o o K it. PHJR A M N b. 359 " my death, the pofTcllion of a Iiappincfs he vvoiilJ unjuniy rub ii.c fif. I firefee^ faid tl.c King, tbM this love tpill be^ct fime jlrans^e affairs^ but tbuiigb rejfm be vn yntr fide^ and that yoH may hope that I rvill not oppufe yntt, there U a rejpeH you »;«(/ pay to Mundilic, and you k^totP'Well, that there are fOep thin^r rvith which he can difpenfe as to what you one him. " I know it my Lord, replyed the Trince^ nor do I believe he can complain to have ever " found me wanting, he (hall ftill fee me aft with him with all that rcfpcdl he can dclirc, "and if he demand from my rcfpedl and my duty but things that are polliblc, he Hull be '• fatished from inc, as foon as fiom the mcancll of your Subjcds •, but for my love, and " thofe hopes which arc a thoufand times dearer tome ti)an my life, I will prcfervc them " my Lord, and will defend th<.m till death. '■'• Go, faid the King, and fettle your mind, " rcmembring that the greatcif Conquerours, of whofe number you may, if you will, '' be, have not abandoned thcmfelves to love as you do. I (hall do botii what I can, " and what I ought to do tor your rcpofe v in the mean time you knovv how you ought to " live with your elder Brother, and what you ought to do, not to expofe me to thofe "difplcafurts this divifion miay caufe. Concluding thefc words he departed from the Clolct, and led the Prince with him, without giving him any probability to judge, whe- ther he ought to hope any thing from his ailiHancc, ot not. On the morrow, by what was afterwards underllood, the King called Mk^^z/Ic into the Palace Gardens, where he walked, and having m.ade feveral turns in the Alley with him, talking of other things than the affairs of B3/.»w/r, he infenfibly let hisdifcourfe fall upon the Queen of the 69//?/, and the Princefs her Daughter, and having obferved that on this matter he fpoke with much alteration, I ki'otv not^ faid lie, rrheiher I ought in the end permit my felf to he led n>ith the general opjiion, and believe rvith the whole Court, that you are enamtured ofHnmimowAiS there are f»ff,cient appearances not to doubt it, but not fuffici- ent to pirfivade me, if I nnderjiandit not from your orvn month. The Prince blufli'd at this difcourfe of the King's, but by his natural boldncfs recover- ing himfelf very readily, Ik^owmt, my Lord, faid he, why your Majeliy ffjoidd fo difficult- ly believe any one amorous of Hunnimonda, for after having feen her, as you dayly do, in my opinion there is mttch morereafonto wonder, that I jljould hitherto have feen Hunnimonda, and not become enamoured of her. " I confefs, (faid the King, not a little furpris''dat this '•'■ prefnmptMoM anfwer ) that the beauty of Hunnimonda is great enough to beget an infinite "love, without reafon to be aftoniflied at it, but you have fo great and powerful reafons to "defend your felf againfl this love, as may well make me believe you would not eafdy " yield to it. Tott l^now my Lord, faid the Prince, that love is not always the effeU of oiir tpill, and that our fouls permit this pa^on to vanguijf} them rvith a violence, againji whicb^ reafon is not always capable to defend its ; and when my Lord I gave any confeut to it, 1 do not yet well k^ow the reafons that may hinder me from loving Hunnimonda. " There are "fomCj faid the King, which you cannot be ignorant of, and fincethat you know well I " had other defigns for you, than to let you efpoufc Hunrtimonda, and that Hunnimonda " though of a Birth not inferiour to yours, yet is endowed with a virtue that*will not per- " mit her to fuffer the love of a man, whom (he hopes not to efpoufe i this had, in my o- " pinion, been fufficient to divert your thoughts. Ah my Lord, ( Czid Mundific, hindring him from continuing hi§ difcourfe ) I am much obliged to your goodnefi, for what it maizes you fpeak^in my favour, and fince you co>ife(i that Hunnimonda is neither for Birth nor Vir- inennworthy of me, in my judgment the love I bear her is fufficiently juftified. " It would *'be without doubt, replyed the King, nor indeed had it any need of jullihcattion, if my "intentions were conformable to it i but befides that they are contrary, you know the " love and the engagement of Balamir, and you ought ro have fo much value for a Ero- "ther, and fuch a Brother as Balamir, as not to trouble his repofe, whilrt he lights for " ours, nor take from him, 'what you ought to defend for him againA all other men who • *' (hould have fuch thoughts. Ah 1 for the intereli o/ Balamir, (replyed the Prince with a hafty vehemcncy ) I did not believe, my Lord, that it wjs that you would al'edge ■, and if ibe repofe of one of us be considerable to your goodnef, I (Ijould believe that among your Sons be who has the honour to be your eldejf, fliould have the advantage. " You (hould have it " without doubt, anfwered the King, if you had begun to love at the (ame time, you know " vvcll nothing is difputed you-, but after (ive years of a love which I have fuflfered, and " which you your felf have approved, in my opinion a Brother like Balamir ought not " to have caufe to fear his ruine from his Brother, though his elder. What you fay, my Lord, were juji, replyed Mundific, if the Law were equal between Balam.ir and me, but the difference which the order of our Birth hath made, leaves no concterrence between us j and^ fttrely my Lard, if you h.tve any defgn to marry Uunminonddi to one ef your children, it fhould hi 5^0 THARAMOND. Part IV in all appearance be reith no other thought than to reflore that CrorvH to her of rohich you depriii'd her Father: and I bel/eve not Sir^ that yon have any design tofeparate it from ygjirVeminioiis^ and give it to any other than him rvho ought to fucceed you. "• This is pollibly a thing, replied the King, of which I am not yet determin'd, and concerning which there is without doubt ro necelfity that I explain my fclf at prefent to you ■, but to convince you of that error I fee '' you in, I will tell you, that holding from my Sword and not by inheritance from my Fa- " thcrs, that Land I have conquered from the Goths ^ and a part likcvvifc of ihofe others " which are under my obedience, I have a right to difpofe of them according to my will, and when I (hould give to Balamlr and Hn>mimo)ida what once appertained to Athanaric you '■ would in my opinion have in the pofTellion of Vacia, Mafia, and Sarmatia^ fo lair a Mo- " narchy, that you would have but little reafon to complain of your fortune, jyell my l-ord^ faid the Prince very fiercely, d/Jpofe of your Vrovinces and Dominions by the right yott have over them, againji which I neither ought nor will oppofe my felf, hut for a Soul I have receiv- ed from Heaven, andfubmittedtohove, leave it in the difpofition of Heaven and of Love, and permit that it yield not to other 'Empire than theirs. Inrveyru all things my Lord^ andlrviUpay that duty until death : hut Balarairon'f/ me fomethiug, and if he forget to render it, tbink^it not ill that I mah^ him remember it. Thefc words wanted but little to tranfport the King to a pallinn, but being before well prepared, knowing the obiOnate Spirit o( Mundific, and fearing feme dire efledi if he (hould break into a fury againft him, he moderated himfelf with infinite prudence, and returning towards the company he had left, contented himfelf to tell him that he (liould be wife, and that if he departed from his duty, he ftiouid know how to make him return to it. In the mean time Balamir vifited Hunnimonda, as he had been accuftomed though he al- mofl every day found Mundifc with her, who caft upon him but an ill eye and Tcarce at all fpoke to him. In thcfe vifits they reciprocally difturbed each other, for the one not willing to fpeak before the other^hey were both filent of what they felt. Mundifc afted very herctly with Balamir, and Balamir though much difpleafed at his proceedings, ftill rendred him the refpeft he thought he owed him, and comforted himfelf for the difcon- tcnt he received at his rivalfliip, with the affurance he had of being beloved i befides he obfervcd that in all thofe condrained converfations they had together, all the favourable looks were his, and nothing buf civility ufed towards M««i//rc. The Princefs Ha«««/- monda likewife to exempt her fclf from the trouble of daily receiving him, fo foon as (he could went to wait either on the Queen of the Huns or the Princefs Iheodolinda, with whona flie had contradled a very (Irong friendftiip,, and who (landing for the interefis of Balamir, much more than thofe of Mundip.c, though (he durft not openly teftifie it, rendred him •willingly all the good offices he could defire, and facilitated as much as poflible, the fatis- fadion of Balamir. He was highly grateful to the affedion of his Si(ter, and certainly that Princefs was very worthy of his, for if Hunnimonda had not been in our Court, we might well have believed that there was nothing in the world mere fair nor more amiable than Iheodolinda.y hlunnimonda was one day with her, and likewife the two Princes with many Ladies and other perfons the moft qualitied of the Court, when Muadific who never knew juflice, fup- porting impatiently the advantage which Balamir had over him in the heart ot^ Hunnimonda, and not able to di(ren:ible the dilcontent he had, though he knew well he had no reafon on his fide finding h\tni'c\( nem Hunnimonda, and feeing that Ba/^zwir ex\iatzm^diheodolinda on tlie other fide, and the other perfons out of refpecS kept a diOance, having drawn his Chair nearer to that of Hunnimonda, than before it was, that he might be underfiood by her alone. Shall I be always tniferable ? faid he, and n-il! not you in the end conjider that it if Hotjud, that in the perfon of tivo Brothers fortune jfjottld make one the moll happy, and the other the majl reretcbed of all men ? For in fumm, I am not inferiour to Balamir, neither in noble- ne(! of blood nor greatnefS of courage, and our Birth hath put a difference between us that merits fome conf deration : I am likexvife ajfured that he hath not more love for you than my felf, and yet in the mean time it U but too true, that he is dearly loved by you, and that I cannot touch your heart n-ith the lea\l thought of good rvill. Ah my Lord, replied the Princefs Hunnimonda, make not this judgement of me, but believe if you pleafe, that though I e{\eein Prince Balamir as I aught, the e'ieem I have for him makes tne not lofe the rejfed I have for you, Tou oa>e no reject to any perfon, replycd Mundific, but are ef a birth and merit ivorthy to receive it from all the earth ; bat, you owe me p^fibly a little affedion, and it is pofibly too much againli reu' fon that you h cruelly make a younger Brother triumph over the fortune of his elder. lour for- tune, replyed the Princefs, is not fxed to thofe thoughts that Huunimondi may have for you, and ihffe 1 have for the Frinceyour Eroeher^ and with rvhich you reproach wf, have for many years Book IL F H A R A M V N IX 961 years been iafpired'into mr^ and p.ifsihiy cutimaiuUel hy pcxfints nhcn J mp^ht it ehfy. }f J hilieved added the Prince, that only nuediencc had produced tbem^ 1 [f.'ould jind m that belief an iit'inite coiifilatiott, and Z could iviih mfmali appearance hope fur orders as favourable forme ^ as the firjl have been for hi\im\T. Icouftf my Lord, rcplyed the Princefs, thjt rvitbdl my in- clinations agreed with my dnty^ and they have without dijf.cnlty permitted me to do rvhat 1 could not have dotte^ had they not been conformable, but the orders I have receizi'd cannot be revak^d^ nor roould your fetf approve that contradiUion. If 1 have nothing more dif.cult to do^ (aid tlic Prince, than to gain to my party thofe perfns from pjhnmyou receive them^ I do not defpair of my bappinefl^ nor do J beheve the §hteen y:iur Mother is fo great art Knemy to her on'>t advantages'^ cr to yours, if you will permit me to ufe that term, ar to prefer afiibjert to his Soveraign. Jhat quality of SubjeH, rcplyed the Prir.cels, raiders not the Trince your Brother defpicahle to thof? that k^noiv him, and there are fern Soveraigm in the tvorld to be preferred before a Sitbjea like EalaiTiir. All the tvorld, added tlie Prince, have not pofsibly thoughts lil^e to yours, but thai is my mifery , and it rvould he much more advantagieus to me, that thofe of all the earth tvere con • trary to me, and yours lef favourable to myKival. Ah my Lord, (aid.the Prir.ccfs, give not that title to the Prince your Brother, and be pleafed to remember that after Jo many years that he bath been the fame to me he is to day, you have never called him Rival. He veas notfo at that time, rcplyed Mundillc, but he is at prefent, and I Ihouldchufe rather that he had been fo all his life, fo he tvere not fo to day. He u however, added the Princefs, but rehat he hath alnnays been, nor fee I any perfon that cansccufe him of having changed } I believe liketvtfe that if he had feenyoH engig'd in any a^edion, he would rather have fuffered death, than any thought to trou- ble it, and rather hive attempted all other enterpnfcf, than that of beco>7iing your Rival. .J fell Madam, faid the Prince, it U I then that am his, andrcho by my misfortune or his fliaU be fo tin" til death, if the remembrance of his duty make him }iot ceafe to be mine. He had done fpeaking thcfe wocds when the Princefs Iheodolinda came within the rail, at the importunity ^f Balamir who fuiTered with inlinite impatience the particular entertain- ment between Mund^ and Hnnnimonda, and who ftot able to remain longer diliant came prefently after ; Muiidific faw him approach with infinite defpite, nor could he entirely con- tain himfelf, and though at that time he fpoke little to him, beholding him with aherce countenance, You come to the purpofe, faid he, to underftandwhat I am fpeakjng to the Frincefs of your happinefs, andfl;e can hardly difoipn you to be the happiejl perfn in the JForld. It mull be believed if flje fay it, replyed Balamir, for there is certainly m perfon canfpeak^ofmy happi- ttefs or miferyrpith fo much k>toTvledgc as (f;e. AU thofe who can fay the fame thing, replyed Mundific, are not for that more happy, and few perfons are there in the world who may not envy your condition. JFe are not always to judge by appearances, anfwered the Prince, the great eji felicity mayfometimes be troubled with that dijpleafure may hinder the enjoying it. It would bff too much, (faid Mundilic with a ligh full oi pride) if Fortune were equally favourable toyoti in all things, you are too happy in War, to defire with reafon the fame happinefi in Love. It is not always happineji, f replyed Balamir very fiercely ^ which governs fuccefi, either inWar^ or Love : fr I have always believed merit might bear its part ; however, the good Fortune thai I have had in JFar^ hath redounded more ta ethers advantage than- ifty own, but that which I fhall have in Lov?, wiU be fo much more fweet, becaufe it will he entirely mine, 'fis enough advantage you have gained in War, faid Mundific, to have done your duty, and acquired glory, but I kjtow not in Love, whether yon will accord fo well^ either to the one, or the other, as to have the fame fttccef. Balamir had fo much difficulty to command his paffions under the injuHice he fuffered that there was no fmall danger, left he (hould reply to Mttndific, in another manner than he had done, in a time wherein his fpirit had been mor? free, and the Princefs Hunnimon. da, who feared it, and Xvould hinder it, having made a fign to him to be filent, began "to fpeak of other things \vith the Princefs Iheodolinda, wlio had the fame fear and the fame in- tention, and they adied fo well together that they hindred the qontinuation of that difcourfe. They had oftentimes the like or little different in which Mundi(!c always treated the Prince his Brother with infinite pride, and Balamir (KU fuffered it with a moderation and wifdom admired by all the Court, and told his friends that he would fufler all things only the lofs 6f Hunnimonda, In the mean time that fair Princefs vt^as lively affli(2cd at this efTeift of her beauty, fearing continually thofe diforders (he might caufe between the two Brothers, which with an ad" fnirable prudence, (he by her good conduit diverted as much as pollible. The trouble fhe had conceiv'd might eafily be obfcrv'd on her vifage, and one day Prince Balamir finding;- himfelf alone with her, and having demanded with great trouble of mind, the caufe of her fadnefs, " Do you wonder to fee me fad ? faidjhe, knomng that I have as much reafon to A a ? "b» ^6: THARAMOND. Part. IV. '• be Co 35 any perfon in the WorW ? " I know that you have great iTafon, replied the Trince^ "and the mistortuncs ot your Koulehave been fo important, as to prefervea long rime your '"remembrance, but in my opinion you have by thcgrcatnefs ot your courage in part com- "forted your felf for them, nor have I ever feen you in that condition wherein you have " for fome days part appeared. " It is true, replyed the Vrincefs, that I am comforted for "our ancient misfortunes, and after the aliiftance of Heaven, I can fay it is from you I " have received my greatcft confolation : but it is difficult for me to receive any againlt '' thofe new misfortunes to which I fee my felf expofed, or to regard without mortal grief "the danger in which 1 am, to caufe troubles in your houfe, and diforders among thofe " Brothers whom no other interert had polFibly difunited. " Ah Madam, faid the Prince^ " liow good are you thus to interert your felf iji the repofe of a Houfc hath ruin'd yours^ " and which merits fo little the forrow you teftifie for it > "" We live in a Religion, replyed '■ Hunnimonda^ which teacheth us to pardon injuries eahly, and though it might not have '■ made me forget thofe ^Vve have received from our Enemies, it would be difficult for me '■ to hate a Houfc fropi whence you are defcended, or lee my felt on the point to beget a " War in it, without being overwhelmed with grief. "You ought ro pardon this eifefl: "for 'its caufe fake, faidBalamir, nor ought you to be ill fatisfied to have received from " Heaven a beauty can overturn Empires, and aft yet greater diforders > yours will not be " the Htrt that hath caufcd fuch things in the world, and if for any beauty we may with "juftice take Arms, it is without doubt — " Seek, (faid the ?rincef interrupting him) Seek "•for me iome better confolation, my beauty is very ordinary, but whatever it be I fnall "heartily hate it if I receive not from it better offices, and inrtead of fhowing it longer in " a Court where it produces not but fuch ill effeds, I will carry it to a retirement where it " fhall be conceal'd tor ever from the fight of all men. " Yes (^)m all others if you will, '■^faid the Prince^ but from Balamir you fliall with difficulty conceal it, into whatever place "of the World you retire, and you may believe my Princefs, that thoLC is no place fo fe- " cret, as to rob you of his knowledge. *' I (liall difficultly refolve awTelf toHy from you, "/i/^ the Princejf, but if I am obliged to it by misfortune, and by the efteem I ought to "have for you, I fliall find thofe retreats where it will be difficult for you to difcover me. "It would be much more facile," and it will be much lefs cruel, replyed Balaniir, to pierce " my- heart with a mortal dagger : for with whatever fpecious pretext you would cover your "ci-uelty, the death you would make me fuffer by forfakingme, would be lefs pardonable " by Heaven than that you may give me by ordinary ways. But my Princefs, (added he " beholding her rpith a pafsionate behaviour) if it be true that you love me, what reafon " cap hinder you from diverting thofe misfortunes you fear by an infallible remedy, and "oppofe an invincible cbrtrudion to the pretences oi Mundifc by efpoufing Balamir ? " I would confcnt to it with all my heart, faid the Princefs^ if the King your Father and the " Queen my Mother (hould fo order it, but without their confent 1 believe you your felt '■ would not counfcl me to it. " I will never counfel you any thing, replyed Balamir^ which "may give you the Icart offence, whatever interert i may have in it •, but I believe it will '" not be impollible to obtain from our parents their confent for my happinefs ; the Qu.een "your Mother hath fufficiently tertihed (lie will not be contrary to it, and the King's fo o- '■ pen approving my delign makes me believe he hath no averfion to it. " I am of your o- '■^ pinion, faid Himiiimonda^ but I judge that though the- King (hould have this intention, " fear to provoke the Spirit of Mimdific, and tranfport him to fome violent refolution, would " make him delay the accomplirtiment, and fince neither you nor I are any thing far gone " in age, I believe it would not be to the parpofe to prefs it, " I will obey you all my life, " replyed my Prince, but I think there is no danger in defiring the Queen my Motlier to pre- "fent my intentions if you permit it. Hminimonda confented to v/hzt Balamir dcfired, and few days after he in effedt found what (he had faid was true, and »he Queen having en- tertained the King on this matter, reported to him that (he doubted not but he would con- fent to his marriage with Hunnimonda, but that the time was not yet comc,that he muft at- tend till he had either made Mundific change his delign, toeffed which he would employ all his Authority, or that he had put his affairs in an ertate not to fear any difguft, which con- tidering the humour he Vvfas of might caufe great troubles. Thus things remain'd for fome time, but in the end Mundific grew perplexed at his con- dition, not contenting himfelf to find only civility whilrt all the affedioo was tor Balamir^ The fear he had to difplcafe the King,though he had" without doubt much lefs than he ought to have had,hindred his fury for fome days breaking forth, but in the end he refolved to pafs by all things and not fuiTcr longer a competitorlhip fo difadvantagious to him, in a place wherein he believed all things his due. Refolved on this delign going one day to vilit the Princefs Boo K II. P H A R A M N D. ^6\ Princcfs fZ/.'W^wwWj, he found Bjljmir^ who came tlicncc, and Iiavinf^ (Icpp'd him ( as he paired a gvca: Hall belonging to the Apartment of the Qi.ieen of the Gnths ) to ("peak to him, before many perfons,who tollowed both the one, and the otlur i My Brother^ (aid lie, I believe 1 have let yjii k.nr)xvrvhat J hsve in my heart fo fufficiently^ that I need mt further explain my felf to you, but becaufe I fee that yott are yet iniorant, or will be ignorant, I thought it good in f>te to declare toyou,th.it 1 love the Princef Hunnimonda. /* is true, my Lfiri^,rep]ycd Balamir,ih^t I have beenii^norant, and hitherto ihon:rht that I oitn^ht to be ignorant of what yon now tell me and thouii}) many great appearances might have perftvaded me to it, I haveftill thought I jhould do yott an injury in helievimr rvbat you now by your own mouth let me underjtand. And for whatrcafon, faid Mand/fc. have yott believed to offend me, by believing me ariorouf of Hun- nimonda? Becaufe I eier believed, rcplyed the Prince, that honour and virtue kept yoie from it, and that kriowingthe ancient engagement of a Brother, and a Brother not univorthy the honour he hath to be fi, yott would not be guilty of fo much cruelty, as to trouble his fortune, and carry a death into his hofom. 'Every one may deceive hirnfelf in his own opinion, rcplyed hliindific, and to draw yott from your errour, I advertife you, that my telling you, that I hve Hunnimonda, is to let you kjfd v, you ought iio longer to thinkjifher. "that I Jfjould no longer ibink^of her I (Taid the. Prince, llepping back.) "No, C rcplyed Mundific, with a voice louder) tou ought no longer think, of her. Ah my (Lord, ( added Balamir, beholding him ■with a fierccnefs which he could not then difTemble ) lk>towwhat 1 owe you, but I k>iow that tUs dttty hath other limits than ihoje you would give it : for when the King, who can do all things over me, pould command me no logger to thinks of Hanmmonda, he mttfl pardon me if I cannot obey him. He tnay ad according to hi^ own pleafure, replycd the proud Mundi- fie, and I will pnjftbly art according to mine, and make you remember, when time is, that you have for your Rival, a tnan who is to be your King. " You may be my King,, faid Balamir " very boldly, but my Lord, you are not, and there is yet more diiference between the "King and you, than between you and me. I hope likewife that you never [hall,be : for " by the Symptoms you already give of your manner of Government, you will not oblige "a Prince like Balamir to remain among your Subjeds : Yes my Lord, I will depart from "your Dominions fo foonasyou begin to reign, but id quitting your Dominions, I will " not quit Hunnimonda. Thefe words (\irred up all the choler of Mundific, and having caft a look at the Prince which made his anger obfervable, Tou forget the rejpeCt which you owe me, ( faid he, carry- ing his hand to the guard of his Sword ; ) but had I no other consideration than for you, I fhouldkycwhow to make you remember it. All thofe who obferv'd what he did, caft them- ftlves before him, to prevent a greater diforder, and Prince Balamir recoyling two or three paces, and beholding him in a dildainful mannet i Tou threaten me my Lord, faid he, but I hope, that the injury I fuffer, will mt diponoitr me among 'men, but that it will be believed that none elfe but his Brother durji threaten Balamir. Finilhing thefe words, he retired, not like a man capable to fear a power exalted above him, but like a man, who by his virtue made his juft refentments fubrnit to the knowledge of his duty. This diforder prefently caufed all that noife in the Court which in all probability it was like to do, by reafon of the importance of the perfons ; and almoft all perfons in riie Court, ran whither they weire called, either by their own inclination, or other confidera- xions. Thofe who may with reafon be called Courtiers, that is, whofc fortune is more confiderable than their virtue, flocked about him whom their intereft made look upon as who (hould be their Kingv but notwithftandirig what might be feared from his power and diftafte, there were found a great number of generous perfonages, who pailing by thefe low and mean confiderations, declared thcmfelves for virtue, and ranged them- felves with Balamir, efpecially the men of war, and thofe great Commanders and Officers v/ho had fought under him in M^efia and Sarmatia embraced his party, without other con- fiderations than for his perfon, and he had not pollibly found his party weaker than his Brothers, out of the love his virtue had gained him in all hearts capable to eftecm it, Jf he had not himlelf oppofed it, out of fear to give too much caufe of jealoufie to 'Mun- dif:c^ by this knowledge of his great credit, and the difpleafure of the King his Father, by reafon of the ill efteds it might produce ■, and for thefe realons, inftead of teftifying joy for the zeal of his friends, he appeared aiflito be called, and tiiougli he knew well he was not guilty, and though poC- iibly his inch'nations were favourable to him, dilTcmbling his fcntimcntsby a policy which kept him froiii wiictting the fpirit of A/«W/f/c, he fpoke to him fiercely, and blamed him with no Icfs rijyiur tor having been wanting in his Duty to his elder Brother. The Prince JiCirkcncd to him with infinite patience and fubmillion, and breaking filence when he had done fpeaking-, " My Lord, faid he^ if the truth hath been reported to you, you will " iinderlhnd that it is Prince Muudific who hath been wanting of refped to thofc perfons to " " whom he owes it, and not Balamir to Muudific i for befides that I never had any un. " willingncfs to pay it him, t know well, nothing can keep me from it, and that I do my '' felf honour by refpeding my Prince. But my Lord, it is not concerning refpeft we "difputc, it is Hitnaimonda, whom Mundific, with an injuHice, and cruelty, never to be " parallei'd, would deprive me of, and it is this, my Lord, I will not yield to him, if with " H««»//»tfM(^.i he take not away my lite: I have pollibly Sir, merited your proteftion in " a love which you have not condemned, ancT in which I had not engaged my felf, as I <' havedone, if you had not favoured the beginning i if I have rendred my felf unworthy '' of it, I am content to die, for to me there is no mean between death and the lofsof " HunnimoHda. " You would do better to turn all your thoughts to glory, faid the King " and by that valour which hath given you fo fair a reputation, put your felf in an ellate " never to fear the power of M«««^/iic : All things are in this delign favourable to you, if " you will attempt it, and I will give you thofe Arms which ftiall open you the way to a " Dominion little different from that of your Brother. When it pall pleafe you to replace me at the head of your Army, replyed the Prince, you jhall fee my Lord^ that love renders me not incapable of what you jitdge favourably of me, and if yoit perfevere in the defiga yntt have had againft Pannonia, snd if it pleafe you to give me that employment, I hope that I jhall yet add that fair Province to the Croa>n which Mundilic ought to pojj'eji) and I rrill add it rvith- out regret, if the time rvhich I employ in fighting, makes me not lofe a happinef for tvhich I would with joy.abandon to him aV the Crowns of the Earth. " whilft you travel for your '•glory, faid the King, you need not fear as to your love, for giving you employment, I " will not leave Mundific with Hunnimenda-', I would that be might, as well as you, make "himfelf worthy the glory of his Anceftors, and have therefore other thoughts for him "thantorix himnear Hunnimonda ; inthe itiean time, my will is,- that you live with him " as you ought, and that by your wifdom, you (hun thofe occafions which may carry him " to the extremity he is but too incident to. After thefe words, and many others, to which the Prince anfwered with infinite fub- tnillion ( though he remain'd ftill firm in his delign, to difpute Hunnimonda till death ) the King caufed Mundific to return, and having commanded him to embrace Balamir, he ordered Balamir, in his prefence, to give him the refpedt was due to his elder Brother. Ba- lamir did all things with a good grace, though he had too much reafon to be more in- fcens'd by reafon of the injuftice he fuffered from a cruel Brother i but Mundifx adled not only with fo much pride as difpleafed the King, but with all appearances of fo great a conftraint, that he gave but little reafon to hope any good effed: from this reconciliation. In the mean time, the fair and wife Hunnimonda had been fenfibly afflided at thcdif- crderbetween the two Princes, and knowing well, that (he was the caufe, (he had fomc difBculty to find any confolation in the forrow (he received, Balamir found it on her face fo foon as he again faw her, and having obtain'd an opportunity to entertain her in particular, inthe Clofet of the Queen her Mother, having made her read in his eyes the < pare he took in all might offend her ■■> My fair Princeji, faid he, ii it the pity you have of my mU fortune, or the perfecution your felf doth fuffer, which makes me obferve that fadncfi in your countenance ? And ought I fear, that the goodnefl yon have for Balamir, diminifhetb not the troubles to which his ill fortune expofeth you ? The Princefs rertiain'd for fome time without reply, and in the end breaking filence withafighj I have always judged, faid (he, ioat I could not but be unhappy, and that beginning of happine^ with which the k^ngwledge of your affediott flattered me, ought not to have made me for^^et the fortune of o:ir Houfe, or leave me any hopes, that in the continuance of my life, it would ftlfifie its beginnings. In effeU, it Ua happinefi too great for me, to pojfeji the heart of fitch a Vrinct as Balamir, and I ought iisi 365 PHJRJMOND, Part IV. ttnt to believe (he would let me pajfcfi it nvthjut trouble. Say with more tmth^ rcplyed Bdamir^ that it was not for one Jo unfortunate as Balamir that you tvere born^ and that the jujiice of hea- ven ilroHger than the dejitny of your lloufe referves yon for a fortune more exalted than what yoit can hope by fixing your felf to mine. 1 believe not^ (replycd the I'rir.ccfs bcliolding liim with an eye vvhicli (Jcuotcd fomc trouble) that yon canbeofthvs opinion^ orthatyoujujfedthatl can find m the dignity wrMundillc any thing that may touch me. No my Trinceji, laid Balamir, 1 cannot ptjped you^ it W from my ill fortune that J fear all and not from the change of your humour: but iu the name of the Gods trouble not your felf as it feems to me yon do^ fur thofe Objlacles wherein all the misfortune U for me and which yet cannot render me miferable if you litUhold on my party, lion)? faid HunniiTionda, If ill you not that Ifl.wuld be troubled at thofe diforders Jcaufe in your Ihufe i Or that by thefe trouble fime beginnings 1 fear thofe confequences which cannot but be unfortunate both for you and me? Heaven had.been more favourable to me in gi- ving me a dejliny like to that of Athanaiic, than in referving me tgfuch great difpleafurei ; and that which you j«(^Mai)dilic miy have found in my perfon to attraCi your affection, had not been given me but for my mifery if my fears be well founded : for infttmm, if Miindific change not, to what are we expofed ? Or what \\ ay can I mak^ in a Court where I jl^all kindle a IFar between two Firothcrs, and where I Ihall caufe mifcbicfs greater than any I can yet fore fee, Tou may put aperifd to all when ynu plea fe, replied the Prince, aud by deprivingMund'il'ic of hii hopes by the happineji of Balamir, deliver your felf from hit perfecution. When I could do what you think, a'nfwcred Hunnimonda, Ijhould byfuch a refolution but ill ejlablifli your repoje : for I know the Spirit of Mundific to be fo violent, that there are few extremities to which fuch a refolution would not tran{port htm upon fuch an aCiion. Ah Madam, faid the Prince, fear not for wf, when IjhaJl no longer fear the loflof Hunnimonda, and believe that ifjlje be one day mine I (hall know how to defend her both againii Mundilic and all the Towers of the Vniverfe. Hamivnou' ddijhall without doubt beyours fofoon asjhemay, replied the Princefs, and you ought to hope all that you can dejire from a Princefi in whom virtue is not lefi deat^to you than beauty. Ijhould be unworthy of you if I had other thoughts, and you would not your felf fee me expofed to the blame of the whole tvorld, by making me commit thofe faults your felf would condemn. In the mean time be ajfured, ((aid flic reaching him her hand with a look full of fwcetnefs J that I will nC' ver be tied to any perfon if I be not to you, and that I will not only reftji the perfecutions »f Mun- \l\\\c for your love, but that though with the Crown of the Huns I (hotdd be offered both the Ori- ental and Occidental 'Empires^ I' would reftife and defpife them to preferve my felf to you alone. Thefe words carried a fweet confolation into the foul of Balamir^ and the paflionatc Prince bowing down his lips to the fair hand of Hunnimonda, held it fo long fix'd there, that before he could return an anfwer, the Queen of the Goths and the Princefs 'theodolinda. cntred into the Clofct, and interrupted their familiarity. It is true the interruption they brought was not fo cruel to Balamir as that of any ether perfon but thefe two Princeffcs had been, the one of which was as favourable as he could delire, and the other entirely fix'd to his interelts, though.the fear flie had to incenfe Mundfic hindred her from teftifying it openly. He therefore not at all refcrv'd himfelf at their coming, fave only to render what out of refpeiil he ought to the prefcnce of the Queen, and this good Princefs hearkned as favourably as Hunnimonda her felf had done to what he faid before her concerning the com- petition of Mundific, and all thefe alterations it might produce againft his repofe. The Queen contirm'd to him all that the Princefs had tcdihcd to hini, and made hinii affurances that (lie would not be contrary to him, when the Kingliis Father Qiould confent to his re- pole and happiuefs ; and in fumm, he faw fo many marks of a true affeAion in all the pro- ceedings of Hunnimonda, and hop'd (o much protcdlion from the Queen his Mother in all that might happen, that notwithlianding all the thwartings which the love ol' Mundifjc might caufe and all that he might fear from his competition, he departed from the Queen of the Goths kfsafflidtcd than he cntred, and wuh a confidence which made him judge he was not too miferable. Some days palled, in wliich Mundific maintaining fome appearance of rcfpetowledgments 1 ought. The fair Princefs blufli'd at this difcourfe of her Brother without replying to him, and herbludiing made her appear fairer to thofe that beheld her ia that condition i but the Queen of the Gotht,\K\\o daily fought peace and endeavoured it vvith all her induftry, breaking lilence, juOiHed xhiiVi'mcdslheodulmda againft the reproach he had thrown upon her, ve- ry firmly afTuring him that on the Ladies part that divertifetnent had been unpremeditated. She would have added more to perfwade him to it, when Balamir whofe courage could not bend under it, lofing patience at this perfecution, And though it (hoidd be trite Madam, faid he to the Queen, thii you had a defign to wall{, are you therefore criminal / Thefe words difpleafed the proud Mundific, and regarding the Prince his Brother with an eye which marked his indignation. For the ^een, faid he, I k>tpw the rejJ^e'S I owe to her will, but for you if you k^tewyonr duty you would not do any thing might difpleafe me. " You " make me fo often remember my duty, rcplyed Balamir, that it will be hard for me to for- ''get it, but though the knowledge I have of it makes me avoid occations to difpleafe you» " there are fome in which I (hall be in danger to do it all my life. " I doubt it not, replied '^the proud Prince, but 1 (hall poffibly take a better order than you think. " All the order "you can take, replied Balamir, is to take away my life, and I know fo well how to defend "it as to make them fiiall dareaflault it, think more than once of the defign before they at- " tempt it. This anfwer quite depriv'd Mundific of his reafon, and things had pollibly come to fome extremity, it Hunnimonda with "Theodolinda had not thrown themfelves before Mun- dific, whilit the §hicen of theGoths giving her hand to Balamir led him another way i ha- ving a great relpedt for her, he humbly kiffed that hand llie prefcnted him, and though up- on another occalion he had without repining quitted the place to his elder Brother, in this he with infinite grief faw him remain with Hunnimonda, * A K'tle after judging well that Mividific would not that day#ave Hunnimonda^^c mounted on 368 PHARAMON'U Part IV, onHorfeback full of melancholy thought5, and returned to the City with thofe that had followed him tliencc. In the way, having made me approach tu him, Maji it not be o»v«V, ( faid he, with thofe marks of grief he could not diffemblt ) that I am the moji mthappi man in the rvorld^ and that Fortune hath in my love aaed all that Jhe hath of viofi cruel againji me ? For in Hne^ what man among aU men could (he choofe^ agaifiji rvhntn I might not di^ jhute ]iunr)imondi rvith lefi difadvantage than againji Mundific ? o/, what enemy could (he ratfe me ut>^ rvbom I cnuld not make fay. pn^jil/ly at the price of his hlood, for thife difcontents to tvhich I am exposed? Ihis is mt^ added he, that Mundiiic ought te hope the pojj'efron of Hunnimonda, fo long af thererefis to tne a moment of life., or that he ought mt to fear all things from my drjpair., when he hath deprived me of reafon. " Your complaints are very juft, my " Lord {faid 7, when he baddone ) nor can there be any thirg in the world lefs reafonablc " than the proceeding of Mttndific \ you have yet this advantage, that all the world con- "demns it, and all their inclinations are for you. Eutmy Lord, you mull not permit youf " felf to be conduded only by your^pallion, nor yet, if it may be permitted me to tell " you fo, make ufc of all the juilicc you have on your fide i you knovi^ what is the for- " tune of hhtndific, what is his love, and what your Servants might fear if you fliould ''come to extremity with him. TfxTelanor, replyed my Prince, 1 k^ion) all that yoit cart fay, and all that you can thmk^ in relation to this bufmefi., but I knorp likstvife, that there if no confideration fo powerful, af to oblige tne to abandon Hunnimonda, but with my life. 1 know aUthe advantages Mundific hath over me, tut that of reafon Ufor me, and to prop up my reafon, I have a courage which Mundific, though my elder Brother., ought mt to dejpife. [ will l^eep my felf, as much as pofible, within thofe limits tvhich the order of my Birth doth pre- fer ibe ; I will not aJJ'ault the life of Mundidc, M I Should without doubt have affaulted thatof any other man in the world, and I will hinder my felf from forming parties againji him inthe Dominions of the King otir Father ; but I will hinder him from poffeftng Huntiimonda, fo long as there jl-jali rejl a drop of blood in my veins, and if he will deprive me of life to conquer her he (Ijall mt pofihly effed it, without hazarding his own to no fmaU danger. To thefe words he added many more, by which he made me judge, that he was refolv'd to (ran- fport himfelf to extremities, and that Uundtfrc would difficultly bring to pafs his enter- prife. , ^3\dim\x had fo much reafon, (M Con^ance to lelanor, that I cannot hinder my felf from interrupting you, to tejiife the part 1 tak^ in his interejh again\\ thofe of Mundific,' and Mun- dific had fo little on his fide, that in tny opinion there could he few virtuous ferfons of his par- ty. " I am firmly of your opinion, added the King of the Franks, and though he be at pre- " fent my Rival, I willingly declare my felf in his favour i but I can difficultly apprehend, " how a man fo amorous, could from a paffion which made him defpife all confiderati- "ons, pafs to a fecond affedion. PoUibly my Lord, replyed T^e/^iwr, you ought lefs to wonder than any other peifon i you who have fo well felt the power of the divine beauties oi Kofamond, but I hope you will yet wonder lefs, when you (hall have underftood thofe other things I have to recount you, which are without doubt more worthy of your at- tention, than thofe you have already heard. The End of the Second Book of the Fourth Part. PHARAMOND. Book III. ^6§ PHARAMOND. Book III. rHe lafl difordfer which happened between the two Princes, not only obliged the King to (liew his anger, with more authority than he had done for the time palt, but haften that deiign he had contriv'd, to fend them farther oft" from the caufe of their differences, by employing them upon other occafions. There Were affairs in Sarmatia^ wherein to employ one of the Brothers ; for the people of that Country naturally tierce, and impatient of Command, had retaken Arms in fome Provinces, and reduc'd the King to a neccflity to fend an Army to reduce them to obedience. He doubted not, but he might cafily have cffeded it, if he had had only this dcfign in his thoughts, but for many years he had hx'd all hisdefires tothcconqueftof Vannonia^ a fair and flourifhing Province, which the P He made many other complaints upon this fubjeft, whilfi Hunnimonda comforted him with all the affurances he could defire, of her affcdion, and when at the cruel hour of de- parture flie was forced to bid him adieu, feeing him in a condition wherein all his conftan- cy feemed to haveforfaken him, FarewelEzhvnit, faid flie, l0ve me always if you can, and be ajfured 1 will be faithful to you until death. She accompanied thefe words with fome tears flie could not refrain, and foon after went into the Chariot with the Qjjeen her Mother, VihG Book III. T H A R A M N D. 37} who had, on her part, forgot nothing, to aiTure the Prince as much as it was pcflible, of the continuance of her affedion, and the care (he would take to prcfcrvc Hmmimonda for him. After the departure of HiimnmonJa, the Prince rcmain'd in the Court as in an obfcurf: night, and not finding there any more plcafure, thought only of his departure, not only becaufc by haftning it, he haftncd his return, but becaufe he hoped that by tlie fuccefs of this voyage, he fliould incrcafethc efteem the King had for him, and oblige himtodo judicc, and protcdt him againU the perfccution of Mundifw. That Prince, who had o- ther thoughts, prepared for his voyage with no Icfs diligences and in hnc, by the care of the King and the two Princes, all things were in few days in a pofUire convenient, to at- tempt the execution of fuch great defigns. Before this Ealamir had been often comforted by many Letters he had received from the Princefs, which the length of my narration hin- ders me from reciting, and the fame day he departed, he received a Paper, thd words of which were thefe, or little diiierent. i The Princels Hwmimorida to Prince Balamir, Go Prince^ fvice of fore? it mitfl he fo, whither Heaven and your Vuty call you, and cnm^ pel FortHne, if it be pnffihle, to yield to your Virtue. In the mean time remember^ that you leave the d/fconfolate Hunnimonda without other confalatioH, than what fje can find in the hopes of your return. She dayly demands it of Heaven^ with the prejirvation of your life^ and the h.tppy fur.ce^ of your Arms ■■, but flie demands with no Icfi ardour^ that yju'fljall continue faithful, fince it U only on your ^delity, Jhe hath ejiablifjed the whole repofe of her life. Before the departure of the Princes, the King would have reconciled their Spirits, but the Authority he etnployed proved vain i and as M««^//!c was fo bold, as fo tell him, that he (hould never love B-j/^w/r, if he yielded not to him Hunnimonda, foheobferved by the countenance of Balamir, that he would never while he lived yield up Hunnimonda. In fine, all things were ready, and the Troops that were marched, arrived at the places where the Princes were to put themfelves in the head of them. Th(.y departed on the fame day from ^/^<* Julia, andat this departure, Vx'mct Balamir received from the King, the Queen his Mother, and the Princefs iheodolinda, whofe eyes overflowed with tears, all the marks of a tender affedion. The Troops that were to follow Mundific into Sarmatia^ cxpeded him in the Country of the Agathirzes, at the foot of the Mountains which fepa- fated Vacia from Sarmatia, and it was towards that part that he took his march, with a tr.agnificent Equipage, and having joyned with the Army, few days after he palTed the Mountains, and entred into the revolted Country, with an Army of Hfty thoufand men, which was to be ftrengthned, if it. were found neceffary, by other Forces which the King had in Sarmatia. 1^. Balamir took a way quite different, and following the Banks of the River Khahon, unto that place where it difgorgeth it felf into the Jebefis^ he found the Army he was to com- tnand, and having palTed that River, at the head of twenty thoufand Horfe, and forty thoufand Foot- men, he advanced towards the P^/;«6f, and palling it without any difficul- ty, ztTeutoburgum, he entred into that Famionia which is called the lower, or inferiour, and which is feparated, like another Province, from that which is called the higher, or fu- pertour. He advanced into the Country of the Amatines, between the Sava and Vrava^ two great Rivers, wiiich water the two Paitnoniaes; and becaufe he did indeed furprife them, he rendred himfclf Mailer, both of all that Territory which lies between theVa- nube, and thofe two Rivers, unto the foot of Mount Alinm, and of the Mariflies of Hiu- la, before the Lieutenants of the Emperour could oppofe themfelves with Forces fufficicnt to (lop them. I fpeak to you of this War fuccindly) not doubting but all the moit me- morable paflTages of it are come to your knowledge, and I will tell you with the fame, brevity, that it was only at the City of Cibalis, feated on the Banks of the Maridies of Hiula^ and in the Country which is called Pannonia Cibalienfis, that we began to find a- ny refilbnce worthy the valour ot our Prince, and that this City, flrong by its (ituation, and fortified with all things necefTary for its defence, though it were alfaul ted with an ad- mirable vigour, amufed us fo long time, as to give leifure to Philip Governour of Panno- nia to bring all his Army into the Field ,and march towards us with Forces not inferiouij B b b 2 to 572 THARAMOND. Fart IV. ^ocurs, whilfi Po«f/^«a/ his Lieutenant levied frcfli Souldicrs, and prepar'd to joyn with liim fo foon as he could get tlieni in readinefs. Tiie advice which the Prince received of tlve march of our Enemies, inftead of amaiing him, pricked him forward with a generous delire to tight, but he judged that he ought tirk if it were poliible to make himfclt MaLkr of the bcficged City, believing that he could not continue the ilege before an Army ftronger than his, nor advance to fight tlicm, without making himfelfMalter of the pafs which that City commanded, from ihe foot of Mount AlinM to the Marifli. For this reafon he refolved to venture fomething of ha7.ard, and a- gainrt the opinion of the famous Kena^ his Lieutenant and many other old Officers, he af- iaultcd the City by force on all fides, and after a refoluie ftorni with the death of a great number of men, and in which atter he had done an hundred wonderful 'aftions, he was rirlt feen to mount the Wall, and chafe with his Sword in his hand all thofe he found before him, he carried it by clear force, and the fame day he became Mafter of it. From the City he palTed into the Country adjacent to the Marifli, and to abridge my difcourfe, two days atter entrcd into the Country of the Scordipjues, and very near the banks of Vrava gave Philip battel, and by a fucccfs due to his admirable valour, gain'd it fo inrirely to us, that almoft all the Enemies Arm.y perifhed and their Captain, and that which remain'd faving themfel ves in the night, in a Country known to them, endeavour'd to joyn with Poat/anuf who raifed new levies. After this famous Vidtory, he made him- fclf Malkr, not only of the Country of the Scordifquei^ but of that part of the Savia^ of that which is called Biibalta^ and of all that which is between Sava and Vtava unto the Claudian Mountains. From thence turning on the right hand we pafied the Vrava and Limjira^ and marched againft Pontianus, who iViW kept the Country of the Andrifertes, of the Bathadates, the J'^fi^, the Carpiens, and all that is between the Vrava and theP^- nitbe 4 but becaufe he well knew that the lofs of one battel would be to him the lofs of all Tannmma^ he a long time avoided the Combat, nor had then refolved on it, if his Army liad not been llrengthned near the City ofMnrfeUa with a re«inforcemcnt which jnade it ftron- ger than ours, and put him in hope of vidtory. This hope ruin'd him, for few days after prefenting us battel, he loft it with his whole Army> and left us no more to fight within the lower Panmnta: the places which refifted were carried by force, and the greateft part feeing themfelves abandon'd of all hopes of af- llftance, voluntarily yielded to the Conquerour i and in the end he candudied this Wat with a valour and diligence fo admirable, that the conqueft of a Country fo great and flou- lifliing, was but the work'of fix Months : and before the rigour of the Winter conftrain'd us to retire into the Cities : Balamir by force or the terrour of his Arms had rendred him- ftlf Mafter of all the lower PannoHJa. And to thofe general Anions which might make him pafs for one of the grcatell Captains of our age, he had joyn'd a hundred particular exploits, and a hundred Adtions of his own hand, either in the battels or in the aflaults of Cities or in all the other Conflid^s which happened, that it might by them with reafon be judged, that his Valour was not inferiour to any man's in the world. The King hisFa- thej: by many Letters full of his aftedfion and marks of his efteem, teftified to him that he had lefs joy tor this augmentation of his Dominions, than for that of his glory, and made him )udgej that he ought to hope from him an entire protedJion againft the injuftice of hlundtfic. But all the Letters of the King touched not the heart of Balamir fo much as thofe that came from Humimonda, and they made him fo well fee the grcatnefs and fincerity ot her affcdtion, that he feem'd little fcnlible of glory to devote himfelf entirely to the fweetnefs of his love i he underftood and under ftood vvithoutenvy, whatever intcrcft he had to render himfelf more conllderable than him, that Mundific happily ended the affairs of Sarmatia, that he had gain'd one battel againfi the revolted, took many Cities either- by force or ca- pitulation, and that it was hop'd that in a little time all things would be peaceable 'wSar~ matia: but that which furprifed him moft was to underftand that by lenity and. fweetnefs, Virtues in which he excelled not, he had reduced a part of the people to their duty, and that among them he had made himfelf be as much beloved for his carriage, as fear'd for his Arms. Balamir as I have told you, beheld without jealoufie what was publifhed of the advan- tage of Mundific : for befides that he believ'd his good fuccefs would not rob him of the leaft of that glory with which he was crown'd, he hop'd in the following battels not only to render himfelf Maftcr of the higher Panmnia\ but by his Arms to raife himfelf to that height that he need not envy the glory of any perfon in the world. In etfedl, there was fufficient appeaiancc that the higher Pamionia disfurnifhed of meiiand other things neceffary for Book III. T H A K A M N D. 575 for its defence, would make no great refinance, to that he already carried liis defigns to J/- /ynii, defpoyl'd of its grcatctl Forces by rcafon of the abfence of the great Conftance its Go- vcrnour, who was at prefciu employed againd tiie Vandals in IUfpania Betica. But in the faired of his hopes he was ftopp'd in iiis deligns, by the news he had of a treaty made between the Emperour and the Ring his Father, and an order Which he rcceiv'd from the King not ro cntcrprife any thing but cxped his Orders in tiie Cities whither he was retired, without doing any ad ct HolUiiiy. This change in affairs and of the King's defigns furprifed liim : but he was confirmed in his furprifal, when about a month after lie underflood tliat the peace was agreed and figncJ between him and the Emperour Homotius^ or rather Stilkon who governed the Empire with ■ an abfolute power, that by the treaty the lower Pannonia which lie had then newly conquer- ed Ihould remain to the King of the /i«/;/, on condition tliathcflK)uld content himfeif with- out any farther invalion of the Lands of the Empire, the ncccllity and great affairs of which reduced them to make fo difadvantagious a peace > that for the greater aiTurance of it the King had fcnt the Princcfs 'TheuJaliftda to Rowe, to accompany the I'rincefs PUddia., that there were fccret Articles which.the King would not difcover to the Prince but with his own mouth at his return i and the Courricr added that the King had given him in charge to fay that in all likelihood the voyage of Ibeodolinda was nut without fome great delign, and it was believed that in what had been concluded between the King and StUicon, there had been propofitions of an alliance, and that Stilicon had given the King hopes of the Marriage of Mnndif-c xvith the Princefs Placidia ; and that of the Princefs Iheo^dolindA with the Emperour, who liad for fome time been a Widower by the death of 5^;7ici)«'i' Daughter. 7hefe Prppofttiom (faid ConfiaHce to "telanor not being able fo hinder himfclf from interrupt- ing him at thcfe words) were k^ept veryfecret^ if it be true that they rvere made : fur I mt only had not the lea)i k^totvledge of them ^ though I convers''d very particularly ivith the Princefr Thep- dolinda, hut during all the flay I made at Rome rvith her^ have never judged by her Aciions ei- ther that(l)e had any def-gn on the perfon of Honorius, or any thought to marry the Princefi Pla- cidia rvith Mundific : for iflhadfujpeUed her I had made complaints to her infiead of return- ing her thofe thanks I did^ for many goodofficesfie did me. Jt may be my Lord^ replied Telanor fhat the Princefs Theodolinda finding at Rome little diJJ>ofition to thofe things flte had been made hope for ^ diffembled her intentions^ and having a great and magnanimous Soul would not torment herfelfto create a love in the Emperour ■■, if by her fight and the ktiowledge of her merit he re- ceived it mt himfelf: fiehadpojfibly likervife fufficient complacence not to contradict or oppofe the inclinations of Placidia, finding them engaged to f great a Merit as that 0/ Conftance : befides thofe things which fell out a little while after, obliterated thofe defigns which the^ing might have /jitf^/orMundiilc, and Lft no place to f^eak^of them, however it was, it was bellAedthat it was H>t without reafons more important than thofe which appeared to the publick^, that the King fent the Princefs hisTDaughterfuch a journey, and we had pojjihly hrtownmore if after that time the Prince could have cleared hU doubts from the King as we hoped. With the news of the peace, the Prince received orders from theKing concerning all that was to be done in Pannonia, and he faw himfelf engaged to a longer (tay than he defired, to fettle that Country, difordered and made miferable by the War, place Garrifons in the Ci- ties, eftablifli Governours, and do all other things which are neceffary to be ordered in anew and important Conquefi. Love which flill reigned in the Soul of my Prince, and whofe force abfence had increafed inftead of diminilhing it, made him think it too long a time that he was compelled to devote to his employment,notwithnanding he pafTcd it over with an ad- mirable patience, and by the diligence of the famous Kena, whom the King at his entreaty approved Governour o( Pannonia, he put that Province into the befteftate that could be de- fired. He likcwife itiade himfelf be in fuch manner beloved, both for his amiable carriage, and generous proceedings that that people out of the rcfped they had for him and for his Nation though he had been their Enemy began to fuffer, and have ever fince peaceably fuf- Fered, that they (hould take from them their ancient name to give them that of Huns, and ■ they beheld without offence that of Pannonia infenfibly forgotten, to give place to that of Mungdria which both the one and the other impofed. But whilrt my Prince cfown'd with glory by the greatnefs of his Adions and rcpleat with' fill hopes he could conceive of the proteflion of the King, prepared himfelf to go rc-vific Hunnimonda, with a joy which the concurrence of M?Heen her Mother is dead with grief, and I Jhould be more fenfble of mine than I am, if I did not hope to reduce this Rebel to Keajon, by the valour of his Brother, Ha{]e from pannonia rvith thsfe Forces yott have in readinefi^ you tvill find others in the Country of the Jafiges, whom I will fend to ths paJJ'age, and you may enter into Sarmatia by the foot of the Carpatliian Mountains, with a porver not dejpicable to Munditic. Go releafe Hunnimonda/row //;? hands of her Kavi(her, and you may pojjefher without diifculty, if you redeem her fiom yourHival--, and I forbid you fiom [faring any thing to compaji it, fave only the life of Muudilic, who, however ingratefu! ^ and however unfaithful he is, 1 cannot but remember I am jlili his Father. It would be difficult, my Lord, to reprefent to you, what was the gdef of my Prince, at the reading of this Letter, you may better imagine it, than I make you apprehend it by my difcourfei to his grief was in an inllant joynedall other violent pallions, and he faw himftlf, at the fame time, aflaulted by jealoulie, fear and anger, which in a (hort time re- duced him to a moft deplorable condition. The lofs of Hunnimonda, or at leaft, t}ie great danger he was in to lofc her for ever, if Heaven, and his Valour, wrought not miracles for her fuccour, caft him into fuch an extremity of grief, as wanted but little to bereave him of his life i andriieforrow he had for the death of the Queen her Mother, whom he had fo tcnder'y loved, pierced his heart with afflidion. The refentment of the cruel injury he < received, excited his courage to a!! that it could be infpired with of moft violent, and thcj jealoufie he had to underfland that the Princcfs he adored was in the hands of his Rival,] •and of a Rival, from whom, by the knowledge he had of his humour, he might fear all] things, both for himfelf, and for Hunnimonda, icx'pos^ 6 his Soul to all that grief it could! polfibly fulfer, and caft him into tlie fear of all things moft cruel and dreadful. As he wasj a man, as he was fenfiblc, and as he was a Lover, he could not become Mafter of foj many pallions as tormented him ■, hefighed, he grievoufly complained of the raviflimentj of Hunnimonda, he dedicated tears to the death of theQaeen of the Goths, and by words! full of cholcr, he made his difpleafure thunder forth againft his cruel enemy. But in fine,! having a courage as great in all things as in feats of War, he became Mafter of himfelfJ and confidering that Hunnimonda was neither dead, nor efpoufed to Mundific, he fufpend^ ed his grief to let hisotherpadionsad, and prepared himfcif to ioxct Hunnimonda out of J the hands of Mwidifw, inftead of amufing himfcif to deplore her lofs by tears, and words f of complaint ; " Ah ! f cryed he in the end, with a behaviour which appeared to us wholy '■ <'• different frsm the firji mark/ of his grief) Ah 1 let us march, lince it muft be fo, let us j '' march againft that Barbarian, whom his cruelty permits us not any longer to acknow-" " ledge for our Brother, norconf^der any more Duty in a man who hath unworthily vio- " lated all. By the orders of tlie King we are difpenfed withal, and much better difi-l *■■ penfcd with by the cruel injury he hath done us. Thou fl^alt feel inhumane Brother,] "or rather cruel and unjuft Rival, what a juft refentment can work over a Spirit like- '' mine i and that fai^e hand which hitherto hath not fought but for thy grcatnefs, (liall at "prcfcnt without rekicflance arm it felf againft thee:'Iwill go feek thee in the midft of " thole barbarous people that favour thy crime, and with all that thoucanft fear from a " dtfpairing Lover, bring againft thee the thunder of an inccns'd Father, Afta Book III. PHJRAMOND. 375 After tlicfc words he rcmain'd fomc time wirhout fpcaking, revolving in his mind thofe ditrcrent rcfoliitions tiiat prcfentcd tliemrdves, and which all with cncconfent tend- ed to the dclign lie had to tight the RaviHier of Htninimonda; and a little after, caflmg hii eyes on that place of the Letter, where he promifcd him, that liefliould without dirticnlty polTcfs Humitnondj, if he redeemed her out of the hands of her Ravi(hcr, he found in this promifc a caufc of joy fuflicientto comfort a part of his grief, and judged, that it was rot impoliible, but it might prove for his happincfs, that hhoidific \\zd taken away Hhk- nimoiida, and that one of the greatcft oblhcles lie had was taken away, lincc the King, who hitherto had not declared, and who pollibly durfl not have done it, had not the in- gratitude of M/<«(i//(c obliged him to it, had now freed him from that difficulty, and en- gaged himfclf by a promifehe could not violate. "Let us comfort our (elves, (faid he, " having for fome time entertahid this thought) let us, with thofe reafons we have to do it, "comfort our felvcs, and believe, that we are not abfolutely miferable, fince we march " to the conquert of Humiimonda. Hitherto have we fought for glory , or for the " grcatnefs of Mk«^/(5c i ItUfia, Sarmatia, and Pannonia, have feen me gain Battels, cither " tor their Rcpofe, or Conqucft, but at prefent it is Hunmmond* mull be tlic price of my '" Vidfory, and fince lamaifurcd, that delivering her from the hands of Mundiftc^ flie is "to pafsintomy Arms, and be mine, Vv^ithout any Rival to difpute her, let us march with " joy to an affured Vidory. I could overcome at other times without benefitting my felf "by my advantages, but it is for my felf I muft this day vanquifli, and thou (halt with " difficulty A/wW/fie oppofc any thing to ilop me, when I fight to poffck Hit>t>timo«dj. After thtfe words, and by the thought which made him pronounce them, he in part comforted himfclf for his grief, and being willing to inflrud himfelf more largely of what he had fuccindtly underllood by the Letter of the King, he asked tH MefTcngcr who had brought it, and he being an intelligent perfon, and capable of fomething more important, made the Prince to underftand, that it was moft true, ihut M Sarmatia^ in which Prince Muitdific had aded politickly, with a fweetnefs and lenity not natural to him, had taken Anns for him, and entirely joyn'd themfelves to his intereOs ; that he had chafed from all places thofe Garrifons which were fufpe<9:ed to him for their fidelity tg the King, and had placed in them his own creatures v that he had done the fame with all Officer's of Troops, which were not at his devotion, and not doubting but that for what he had done, and for what he had a defign to do, he (houldhavea War to fuftain, he had made alfo great Le- vies through all Sarniatia. That the King would not believe this truth at the firft news he received, but having the cdnfirmation of it by the caOiicvcd Officers, and the Governours which Mundific had lent back, and not being able to doubt it, before he would commence a war with his Son, he had fent one of the moft confiderable perfons of his Court, to en- deavour by fweetnefs to reduce him to his Duty, but A/kW/^i; inlkad of anfwering the goodnefs of the King, retain'd the perfon he had fent, and while the King exped-ed his re- turn, not atallimaginingthat»M««(//frc would come into Dacia^ he was fccretly departed from Sarmatia^ concealing himfelf diligently in all- places where he pailcd, giving out, that they were Officers driven away by M«Wi|5c, which retired , and in fine, managed his defign with fo much fecrecy, that without being difcovered he came one night to Adrami- *«, ( which is that Houfe in the Country whither Hunnimonda was retired with the Queen her Mother, before our departure, and where (he had ever fince remained ) forced the { Houfe, and took away the Princefs with only one Lady j that this had proved fo much the more cafie to him, becaufe the Houfe ftood near the way between Alba Julia and Sarmatia, ^ by the Country of the Agitirfes^znA. that before the King could have any advice at Alba JiU ^W tia^ Mundific was got four days journey on his way •, that the King had not been wanting to fend after him, andfo go himk\( to Adramita^ to fee the Queen of the Got hi, who not. able to fupport this afflidion, had been taken with a Fever, whith in fix days had bereaved her of life, to the great grief of all the Court, and particularly of the Queen of the H««x, who would not be comforted i that the King had done all that it was pollible for him to do, to fuccour Hunnimonda, but that all his endeavours had been in vain, and that he un- derftood by thofe whotn he had fent after Mundific, that he l-.ad repalTed the Mountains with his fair prey, and wasre-ehtred into Sarmatid. Tliis recital again renewed the grief of Baldmir, but having already taken his refolution, herendred himfelf Mafter of his griefs, to acquit himfelf of his Duty, aiid the fame day ha- ving given to the valiant Kena, an abfolute power over all that was to be done in Pa/iiiouh, of which Province he remained Governour, he gave orders to caufe his Army to depart the day following, and in eflfed, they departed on the morrow, with himfelf at their head , from the City of Herculiaj wheife we then were, in the Country of the Arabifqttes. we marched » 37^ PHARAMOND. Part IV.' marched towards the PaH:«if, which we paffed at Aqu'inum, and came to the Country of tht Jjflges, where the Troops which the King had fcnt, arrived as foon as we, and of which, withthofehc led back trom Pamio>tij, hetormcd the Body of an Army ftronger than that which lie had led to the conquell of ?annonia^ with thefe Forces he marched to- wards the Carpathian Mountains, which are not far diftant from the J'^f'geiy and entred without difficulty into Sartnatia. Though the violent palfion which agitated him, fcemed to have abated fomewhat of his natural fweetncfs, and that he marched to this War with more anger and animofity than he had done to all others, yet heamufed not himfclt to lay wafte thofe places where he found no rellftance, though he looked upon the whole Country as an enemy's i but fccking only Mundiftc and Huunimondj, he marched towards the places where he believed to tind them, without liopping, fave only there where his paffage was difputed, and it wasdifputed with him in many places, and that with infinite obftinacy : but not Hnding a- uy thing hard to overcome in that ardour which carried him to the Combat, he pafled violently through all that oppofed him, and having haraffed like a violent Torrent, the Country of the Koxolans^ and that of the Almjuobieiis, whom he lirft found in his paf- fage, he advanced into 5i»r»2j//<«, and marched without delay towards the City of Cephw hnefe, where he underftood that Ilumnmonda was with M3«a({/;c. It is true, that the rc- fped the Sarmatians had for him, fince that glorious expedition he had made into thfir Country, and the remembrance they had preferv'd of the good and fair ufage he pradifed, toward them, hindred them from doing all that was polliblc for them to endamage him, and hnding before, more appearance to hope vidtory fliould attend his party, than that of Mu/idific, they would not incenfe him fo much as they might have done, that they might be in a better eftate fo make their peace according to the event of the War, and by this means they gave him greater opportunities to approach what he fought, than if they had oblHnately relblv'd to maintain the intercrts of Mundific. In the mean time that Prince ilept not, though his pallion was ftrong, enough to make him forget all things but a care to preferve Hunmmonda ■■, but as neither in valour nor in- telligence in v7ar he thought himfelf inferiour to Balamir, and as he knew well that in re- volts fafety conlilis in diligence, and that if Rebel-parties produce not their effedtwith fpeed, they deftroy themfelves by time, and by thofe incommodities which the people (uf- fer, in failaining a long war, knowing himfelf Ihonger in men than Bundei flood with inhniie joy that he took that refolution, and though he knew himfelf the weaker in number of men, yet confiding in tiie valour of his own, and the juliiceof his quarrel, he eafily refolv'd to give him oaticl if he prcfented it, and underftanding that he was parted from Cephalonefe^ to come to us with an Army of a hundred thoufand Soldiers, he went to meet him by little journeys, that he might not too much weary his Troops, and by his confidence and difcourfes, prepared his men not to fear the number of their enemies in fo jull a quarrel, and under the condudi of a Captain, with whom they had hitherto been invincible. Before Mundiftc approached us, lie caufed certain Pamphlets to be cart among out Troops, by which, having fct forth the rafhnefs of Balamir, who durft come to make war againll his elder Brother, he exhorted all the men of war to quit his party, and to take that of a Prince who was one day to be their King ; and to thofe orters which he made them of all forts of good ufage, if they would betake themfelves to his party, he added threats oi all tiiey might fear from his anger, v.^hen he fhould come to the Crown. But this Artifice was very unprofitable : for all thofe cither of the Soldiers or Officers, who tound thofe Pamphlets, either tore them without any regard, or brought them to Balamir. My Prince adlcd with him in a manner much different; for before the Armies were within a days journey of each other, he writ him a Letter, wherein, after all the fubmillions to which Mimdifx could pretend, he prayed him to pardon his boldnefs to come in Arms agaioft him» and Book ill. T H A R A M N D^ 377 and toaccufc for it tlie obedience he oiii^htto his Father, and the defpaii into which he had call him by taking away linmi'tmondti. In line he conjured him by all that honour and tlie duties ot iiis blood could have in them of moll obliging, to return to the obedience of bis Fatlier, who iicld out iiis Arms, to him and to render liberty to a Ptincefs whofe lieart ht (hould alTal by other Arms than violence, and promiling iiimon the Behali of the King, ac- cording to his charge not to prefcrve any remembrance of the injury he had done her, pro^ teficd to him that for this Adion he would not pretend any advantage with Uumtimondj^ but what his love and fervices might procure. There wera many other things in thi;, Let- ter fufficicnt to flatter the pride of A/«W/(/c, and to make him fee the advantage he might iind in thepropolitions of Salamir^ if he would hearken to them ; But inllead of having. any conlideration for them, he tore the writing in a thoufand pieces, and had caufcd him to be taken Prifoncr who brought jt, if the Officers had not uifcd all their credit with him to iiinder if. After this they marched without delay to the battel one againfl the other, and Mioidifx not being fo well alTurcd in a rebellious and unconflant people, as to truft them with a trea- I'urc^much more precious than his life, and (caring that their inclinations might change ac- cording to the events of War, and lefl it fortune fliould be contrary to them they (houlJ deliver Hitiinimonda to the Conquerour, he led Iier with him at his departure from Cepha- loncfe^ and the day before he gave Battel fnut her up in P^^m, aCaftle llrong both by its lituation and the diligent care he had taken to tortitie it, and left her under the guard of Bf- Ij him of all his dependents, in whom he iiad the moft confidence, and who remain'd with her with two thoufand men which were fufHcient for the defence of the Gallic, and which werechofenout of thofe he led out of Pac/iJ. , ' It was in a fair Plain very near the River Hipamf that the two Armies firft faw each other, and there it was that a cruel and bloody Battel was fought for the liberty of HKimimond}, Before the lafl llgnals were given, Balamir ga.ve command to all the Souldicrs to refpedt in the tight the perfon of Mundifw asif he were their King, and to take care upon pain of death not to let fly an Arrow in that place where he fought •, and he took thus great diligence for the prefervation cf Mteifdific^ while Miindiftc fought his particular deihuftion more than the gain of the whole battel, promifing great recompenfes to thofe who could kill Balamir. I will not tell you the particulars of this battel, no more than I have done of all the reft of vvhich I have fpoke to you, though there happened in this things fo memorable as to merit mention. The Combat was long, bloody and refolute, the Souldiers hardy and warHke, and the two Captains both the one and the other great Commanders, though fomevvhat un- equal : and if one ot the two were animated to a fury, the other had fu great an intercft in vidory, that he fparcd nothing that might achieve it, fave only the life ©fM««^//^c, whom I he might had he plcafed have llain in the Fight, but he not only defended him from his own 1 Arms but from thofe of all his. Mundific (ou^ht. hh\) often 'in the tight and many times called him with a loud voice, but Balamir ufed all endeavours to fliun his encounter, and contented himfelf to vanquifli in all parts where he (liewcd himfelf without feeking vi- dory in the perfon of his Brother : But to obtain it for us he did things palf belief, as well || for his good condud as for a thoufand effeds of a prodigious valour : and in hne he forc'd '' it to declare in our favour and remain as entirely to us as we could dcfire. Thegrcarcfl part of the Army of Mmtdific was cut in pieces, and the reft difperfed in fuch manner tliat it wi^ almol\ impoliible for his Captains to rally any, I fay his Captains/or,for himfelf he ufed no endeavours, though he had nobly behav'd hitr)felf during the right : but fo foon as he faw tlie Battel was loll, having exclaim'd againft heaven and his ill fortune, he forfcok all things! to return to llunnimonda^ and ran with all the fwiftnefs pollible to the Gallic where he hrid left her. This diligence was nccelTary to prevent that of Balamir^ for my Prince having nndeiftood from fome Prifoners taken in th'e Battel in what place the Pfincefswas fliut up, .no fooner faw the vidory incline to us, but inftead of amuling himfelf to purfue it as he might have done if he had had any fuch defign, he commanded my Father and another Commander, who had one of the principal employments in the Army, to hinder thetri from rallying, and do what other things are neceflary in thefe occations in which he knevv them very well experienced : and having commanded me to caufe ten thoufand Infantry to march after him with the greateft diligence pollible, he flew towards Pj^mwith three thou- fand Horfe, and made fuch fpeed that though he arrived not fo foon as Mivsdific who in ef- t£d gain'd the place before him, yet he came time enough to prevent the delign he had to carry away Hunnimonda^ and condud her to (ome other place where he might better defend , her than in a Caftle which in all likelihood could not long hold out againfl our Army.He foam-=. I cd with anger and gficf when he faw our tirfl Troops appear, which llreight ftopp'd all tiui i - C c c palTages I 578 FHJFX.AMOND. Part IV. pafTjges and deprived him of all hopes of a retreat. The ten thoufand Infantry which I led arrived fome hours after, who wearied as they were readily placed themlelves in the Ports appointed by the Prince, and the next morning the rcl\ of the Army being arrived formed the Siege, and affaulted the place in their orders on all lidcs. MitnJifc now knew tiie fault he had committed, by permitting himfelf to be clofed in, which he had not done, had he feared the lofs of the Battel or foiefcen the diligence of Ba- lamir. My Prince praifed the Gods for this happy progrefs of his good fortune, though he beheld with a mortal grief what Enemy his fortune gave him to combat, and the necelfity to which he was reduced either to befiege his Brother or to abandon Hunnimonda. This jTilxture of good and ill,of hope and fear held him for fome titne in a cruel dillurbance, and he made it known to thofe of liis to whom he open'd himfelf more familiarly by words which fenlibly touched them. I hope^ faid he to us, that we {}:all rejiorc liberty to )iunni~ monda, a>id if fome firange misfortune befal us not^ Ifirefee not horv they can any leng time de- fend her acrainft us. But alas ! what Enemies hath Heaven and my iJl fortune -pleafed to give me ? Or nhat repofe can I find in mylife^ if to recover Hunnimonda 1 make my Brother hfe hii life ? He is unjuji towards me, he is cruel and feekj all ways to deprive me of my life, but his Arms cannot authorize mine^ and though in the opinion of moji part of men 1 am not at all obli- ged tofpare him, the Gods are wy witne^'es, that if th'n mifery (lioiild happen Ifjould never more be capable of comfort. But wh'tt tnttji I then do ? added he a little after, M«/i I leave to him Hunnimonda ? and with Hunnimonda hm^i I give him my life ? Or ought I to give him my ho- nour engaged in her defence, and which permits me not to leave her to the mercy of her Enemy ? But this Enemy., replied he to himfelf, w a Lover that adores her, and a Trince who may one day he one of the greateft Kings of the world, a Vrince with whom /I'f can never be unhappy, if She can but refolve to love him. But dojl thou wijf), continued he, that Hunnimonda Jhonli love Mundific ? Or whatever generosity thou wouldji pradife, canjl thoufafoon and fo eafily for- get thy own intereji, as to defire Hunnimonda (l^mld be happy with Mundific ? fear rather left, that Should happen againii thy defire, and conf eft that death would be a thoufand times more fweet to thee than the kriowledge of fo great a misfortune. Jt would but too foon come to paft, if the confidence thou haji in the promifes o/Hunniraonda, did Mt re-ajfure thee^ there is but too much appearance that ftie would let her felf be o'rcome, either by the great advantages o/"Mundific or by thegreatneft of thofe di^culties Fortune hath oppofrd to us. This thought tormented him more cruelly than all others, fo long as it could find any place in his mind, but it cftabliflied it fclf there but weakly, and by the good opinion he had of the conftancy and courage of Hnn-timonda, all thefe fears were eafily dilfipated. In the mean time he found himfelf much troubled to deliberate in what manner he ought to affault the CalUe, not doubting but that if he gain'd it by ftorm, both the life of Mundiftc^ and Hunnimonda her felf might be expofed to fom.e danger, but he faw himfelf foon deli- vered from this trouble, by the advice which he rcceiv'd that Mundific having only fhut up Hunnimonda in that Caitle to keep her in fecurity till after the Battel and not to fuftain a liege, had not fortified it with any llores of vidual, or at leafl with fo little that two thoufand men which were in it could fcarce have enough for Gx days, and that there was fome appearance thatfo foon as they ihould fee themfclves prefled with hunger, all the affeftion they might have for the interells of Mundiftc, would not perfwade them to attend the laft extremities. Balamir found confolation in this advice, and rcfolved to fiarve his Enemies without making any enterprife upon them, and to guard the Avenues fo well that nothing (hould enter into the Caftle. This was ealie tor him to do, though he had not had the foutth part of the men he had. And in effed he gave fuch good Orders that the befieged foon loft all hopes of re- ceiving any relief of provihons. Mundific foon knew his delign, and the knowledge he had of it tranfported his Choler to extremity, and he made fome of ours feel the effefts of it by feveral Salleys which he made, and which he once or twice headed in perfon near the molt neighbouring quarters of the Ca- lUe. He would likcwife one day endeavour to pafs through us, and retire with Hnnnimon- da whom he led with him : and to this purpofe having made all his Cavalry mount on horfe- back he ordered them into three great Squadrons, which for the prefent overwhelmed all^— that flood in their way, and had opened a pafTage large enough to execute their dcfigns, iBH| Balamir whom rhc fear to lofe Hunnimonda Itill kept awake, had not arriv'd in that place, and .charged them with fo much vigour, that W««id/fic had ffopped at thisdifcourfe of the Princefs, beholding her with eyes full of the fury which agitated him, and that he had made all thofe who faw him in that eftatc judge that he was capable to tranfport himfelf to more fatal refolutions. That by the rea- fon of the adtion he had done and the defpair to which they were reduced the Souldiers wanted but little to arm themfelves againtt him, and that infallil^Iy the day following would not pafs without opening .the Cattle Gates , or delivering up HMmimonda to) Balamir. This report touched the Prince with feveraVdilf>:rent paflions, but it wrought not on his Spirit all that ctfedl Weexpeded, and though he faw things proceed as he had detired, and beheld fufficient place to hope for what he had fo much wifhed, that hope was accompanied with fuch cruel fears as were impollible for him to overcome, and made him only refent a joy to which he could not carry his thoughts without doubting greater miferies and terrible dangers. He imagined fometimes that pollibly Uunmmonda her telf was not exempted from that mifery to which the others were reduced, and that he might perhaps be fo unhappy as to make her periih by thofe l^ms he employed for. her deliverance : but when he recovered iTimftlf from this fear by the knowledge he had of the love of Mnfidific^ which in all likely- hood would make him pafs by all things himfelf, ratlier than fee her fuffer, that which he kncwof hisharaour,and that which he underllood of his rage which potTetTed him put other Fears into his Soul,againlt which all his courage was not capable to atTure him, and caff him into irrefolutions which he could not vanquilh. He pafTed the reff of that night in this man- ner without giving himfcif one moment's fleep, walking at agreat pace amongu us without fpeakingor without hearkning to thofe thatfpoke to hiin, not being able in any manner to determine what he had to do. C c c 2 The 38 o THARAMOND. Part. IV. , The day appeared before he could form any defign, and the Sun was already mounted feme degrees in the Tirmament, before he could take any rcfolution, when fome came to advertife him, that they founded fome parleys from the Calile, which denoted fome dc- llgn to capitulate i and foon after, one came to tell him, that Mundifx appeared on the Rampart of the Cat"ile, and demanded to fpeak with him. Bahmir trembled at this di[- courle and without knowing the caufe, felt that fear redouble which iiad for fome hours before'tormented him v he prepared himfelf however to fpeak with Mundifx, and when we would reprefent to him, that in the fury which poffefs'd the Spirit of that Prince, and wiiich might have blotted out in him all confid'^rations of honour, he was not in fecurity from thofe Arrows might be (hot from the Callle, if lie approached too nigh, Ah rvottld to God faid he, that I had nothing more cruel to fear from tvumdillc. We conilrain'd him tiow'ever to arm himfelf, to reaflure us the better from the fear we had for him, though himfelf was capable of none for himfelf. He had fcarce put on his Armour, when fome came to advetiife him, that the Princefs Hmnintoada was feen with Mundific upon the P^amparts. This lali advice made him again tremble, by reafon of fome prefentiments, which rendred him asfearfiil in thisoccalion, as he had appeared to us affured m all other dangers to which we had feen him expos'd i however, departing from his Tent, without fpeaking, he advanced ( with a great Troop of his Friends and Soldiers accompanying hitn ) to the very brink of the Ditch, diredly oppofi^e to the place where he faw Mundific znd the Princefs Htimiimondj appear. Tiie Ditch was not fo large, nor the Rampart fo high, but from that place he might cafily difcern their Vifages, and dii^inftly underftand their words s and his love making him immediately caH his eyes on the beloved Objedt, which he had not for a long time feen, he beheld that admirable Beauty, the image of which nad been fo well graven in his me- mory but he beheld on her countenance, in her habit, and in alliier perfon, the marks of her grief. Her Habit, befidts the faduefs it exprelTed in its colour, exprcffed likewife the edate oi her conditioi^y its negligence,' and that of her dreiilng, and all that was upon her whole perfon v teliitied fufficiently the little care flie .took to appear fair to the eyes of Mundific. But however, flne was fo, though contrary to her defign, but fomewhat more wan, languifb.ing, and pale, than ordinary, and we judged, by the eftate wherein we faw her that no accident could ruine that Cceleftial Beauty. The amorous Baiamir adhis eyes on her eyes, and kept them there fo tirmly fixed, as rendred him' incapable of all o- ther things, and we obferved with him, that the Princefs beheld him with an afpcft which appeared no lefs pailionate than his. He fpoke not to her but by his eyes, and with his fighs, not being able to tell her what he had on his heart i and judging well, that he was called for fome other intent, than to tell Hunnimond.t what he refented for her. He adted however a violence to his paffion, to turn towards Mttudific, to whom he was to fpeak, and having cafl his eyes upon him, he fainted him with the fame marks of refped that he would have rendred him at another time, and upon a better occallon. Mmidific took little notice of his civility, but behold- ing him with eyes in which his fury was fully pourtrai'd \ Ihou tritimpheji Balamir, faid he, a»d feeft thy felf there Vanqwiher of a 'Brother tvho ought to be thy King, but thy triumph f;a}l not be fitch as thou doji expeil, and 1 hope that thou n>ilt weep for thy victory as well as J. J have not expected fo much my Lord^ replycd Balamir very modeftly, and yon may tvell jud^e^ that a(r_ainji fuch an enemy ^ J cannnt obtain any pleafmg vidory ; nor is it like a Con- guerour I appear before you, nor pretend I other triumphs^ or other advantages^ jrom eur viSory than that ^ to render liberty to a Princefi^ iphom, both you and 1 adore ^ andrvhom yott ow'ht not to keep Captive, if it.be true you love her. I kjtoa> rvell, replyed' M«W///c, it if Hunnimonda thou demandefl^ and it is my life thou rvouldji deprive me of with Hunnimonda > thou flialt have her, if thou doji defre it, fince my ill fortune hath reduced me to a neceffty to render her to thee hut thou (lialt have her in an ejiate mill not permit thee to rejoyce in it. Thefe words made Balamir tremble, fcarce finding fpecch to.exprefs his trouble to Mun- dific. And in what ejiate, did he, rjtt you give me Hmmnnond^, which tvill hinder me fom rceiving her with joy ? Jhoii jhalt l{Hnw that in few moments, replyed the Prince, but thou Jhalt frjl underl}and, that her dejiiny depends nn thee ■, and to pronounce thee the good, rdther than the ill, I will tell thee, that if thou wilt pe her thy Sijier, if thou wilt fee her thy §^een, thou mayeji this day do it, by cmfenfing that jhe efpoufe Mund ilic. Balamir remained for fome time (ilent, without being able toanfwer this Propofition, but in the end, feeking words to explain himfelf in a matter fo intricate i Jf the Princefi, C faid he, with a trembling voice J A'iiV forget Balamir, to ejpoufe Mund ilic, I will not oppofe her will ; and if flie believes, f.'e catt he happy n'i Mundific, 1 will fooner lofe my life^ than trouble her felicity. No, no, ( cry- Book III. THAKAMOND. 381 ed the Princefs with great precipitation ) Icamot be happy with any other than Balairjr, a}td Captive Of I am^ 1 confirm to him the word J, have given hiin^ never to be any prrfonr, if I be not his. If iHefo, C crycd Bj/^w/V, railing Ills courai^e by ti;e ccnlolation thcic words had given him ) if tt be j'o^ Hunnimonda fl'atl never be Spoufe to Miindilic a-hilji Balannir jf • livinir, and it mull be by the death of Baiamir that he muji open his voay to the p'JJfffioH of Hunnimonda. If that n>ay were open to me, replycd Mundific, I would follow it with jny^ bat ftnce my ill fortune hath jiopp^d it, I n'iV foliorv that it hath left we, to revenue my felf- fufficientty of thee, and to hinder thee to build thy hjppinefi on my ruine ; if th.iu doji not fear anything from thy natural Prince, ihoumayli fear all thinfrs from a deff airing Lover; and con- f;der, that 1 am yet Mafrer of the ^/f/fwj »/ Hunnimonda, though thou believeji t,i be fo of mine ; than JJjalt have her however, frnce thou wilt, and that I am in no efrate to defend her longer a^ainfi the^ but it jhalinot be alive that thou fijaltfee her in thine Arms, and thou ought- eft refolte thy felf in a moment either to abandon her for ever, or receive her at the feet of thife Walls in the ejiate I go to fend her thee. Finifliing tliefe words, he drew his Sword from his Scabbard, and by thataftion, as well as by his words, (truck a cruel fear into the Soul ot B^/jwir, which not being able to exprefs, but by a cry, he pierced the Heavens with a voice fo refounding, as obliged all thofe who were near Mundific, and Mundifrc hinifelf, to turn their eyes towards him. How Miindilic, f cryed he, wholly tranfported ) rvilt thau be fo cruel as to kjV Hunni- monda'' 1 would do mnrc, foid Mundific, to hinder ihee from pnfpjfrng her^ and rathrr than fine her thee, I rvill facrifrce with her the whole world to viy dej^air. Cottfrder cruel one, (ad- ded the Prince, overwhelmed witli gief J confider the difference betcecenus, thounh I conft*it that Hunnimonda fhould be thine, if jhe defre it.yet thouwilt give her a death, to hinder her from being mine. And you who affift at this horrible Speaacle, ( continued he, beholding thofe tliat were about him ) fjve Hunnimonda from hU fury, and fear, if you do naf, all that race cm injpire of moji cruel againii you into a dejpairing Lover. Thofe to whom thcfe words were addrcffcd, beheld each other with fear, and Mundifc poflibly doubting fomeetfed: might hindir the execution of his deljgn, Know, fSid he to Balamin, that I am Mafter among mine, and^o give thee proofs, th.it 1 haze too loMg deferred it, receive Hunnimonda, whom I fend thee. Speaking thefe words, he, with his Sacrile- gious hand, laid hold on the Princefs's fair hair, and with-the other, diftancing his Sword to put himfelf in an eftate to drive it into her Bofom i Pardon me Princefi, faid he, an ef- feU of Love, rather than cruelty, and fmce you cannot be mine, fuffer me, that I defend yon from being any others in the world. At thefe words he was about to pierce her Stomach, which (he couragioufly held forth, .or at leali;, by his ad^lion, he made all thofe which beheld Jiim judge ir, when he had his car ftruck with a fecond cry of Baiamir, but a cry much more refounding than the Hrft, and aery accompanied with the moft vehement words he could pronounce to hinder the effedi of his cruel refolution i Hold Barbarian, faid he, t yield to thee Hunn'nnoud^, I abandon to t/'ff Hunnimonda. Thefe words, the only ones which apparently could work that cffedl, ftopp'd the Arm o( Mundific; and in the porture wherein he was, turning his eyes towards the dtfpairing Baiamir ; fhink^ not, {£iA he, to abufe me with words, hut if thnu tvilt that Hunnimonda jhoiild live, make thy 7roops at this inftant depart hence, and afterwards out of Siinizth, Tes yes, rcplyed the difconfolate Prince, Iwill depart from Sarmatia, and depart from the world, if thou wilt, to fave the life e/ Hunnimonda. Horv Baiamir, ("cryed the Princefs, calling her eyes upon him ), Do you give me thento Mund'idc ? Notp 1 choofe rather to give my felf to death, to preferve me to you. 4B had rather give you to Mund/fic, replyed the afjliCied " Prince, than give you to death, and much more willingly would' I fee you in the Throne ■' of my Fathers, than in your STomb. " Ah feeble Prince, replyed Hunnimonda, Is it thus ^' thou forfakeft me, by a fear unworth'y thy courage ? Or dolt thou fear, that a man who '■ loves me, will be capable to take away my life ? " I fear all things from that cruel one, " replyed the Prince, \ fear all things from my ill fortune, to which I fee my felf miferably "left, nor have I fo much coun^-.c, as ro fuftlr one threat of your death. Depart in- "ftantly from tiiis fatal place, ( continued he. turning to his Officers about him ) depart *'from Sarmatia, and lead me to death, fmce I cannot go but to death a^cr the lofs of ' Hunnimonda. Pronouncing thcfe words, he was feifed with fo violent a grief, that his firergth was not able to fulhln him, and his eyes covering themfclvcs v.;ith darknefs, he remained without lenfe, or knowledge in our Arms •, we carried him to his Tent, and laid him on his Bed, where he remained along time in that eftate, and v/hen he vt^as come to himlclf, turning his eyes onallfideSj and re'membring thcmiicrableeftate of his condition, he wanted little 382 PHArx.AMOND, Part IV. to relapfe intoa fecond Fit, fvom wliich pollibly our allirtance had nor been able to reco- ver him i fofoon as lie opened his mouth, he demanded it' the Troops were difeccampcd about Pafirii ■■, and having undertiood that they yet attended his Orders, Hotv^ ( faid lie, with thofe iighs which interrupted the courfe of his words ) JFtll they kjH me by this delay ? and >jet coiifide>\ that whilji n>e are here^ the ///> 0/ Hunnimonda if in danger.'' At thefc words he role from his Bed, though he had fcarce llrcngth enough to fupporC himfelf, and having commanded the Troops which were neareii the Caftle to difencamp withfpeed, and leave all pafTagesfree to the beficged, he mounted on Horfeback, and marched towards 'Toracia, which is half a days journey from Pafirii ; and in his way jo return to Vacia. Turning his back to the fatal Houfe in which he had abandoned HHm:imonda)\t calt towards it his eyes fwollcn with tears, and opening his mouth witii a multitude of Iighs, which fcarce permitted him to fpeak, Adieu Hunnimonda, cryed he, and fmce,it mnfi be fo^ a- c//f«Hunnimonda fur ever. He accompanied thefe words but with very few othefs, and the reft of that day he exprefTed his gruT only by his filence, much more doleful than if he had done it by words. All the endeavours we ufed to divertife him proved vain, and when we knew that we were troublefome to hirti, and that he anfvvered us only by llghs,^ and a river of tears, which all his courage could not hinder from trickling down hischeel^s, we were conftrain'd to leave all repofe, and to follow liim, with a filence which, did not ill accompany that which his had in it of dreadful. Thofe who marched neareft to hinrr- undcrftood fometimes fome words cut off, by fobs, but as hefronounc"^ them according; to thofe thoughts, which made him open his mouth, the moft common were generally ti^efci Tefterday., faid he once, 1 hoped, that this day Hunmmond^i fhould be mine, and thif very day I Infe Hunnimonda for ever ; Cods, what terrible change is this in the jjiace of one day ? Ailotlier day, being near him, I heard him pronounce thefe words very low, which he adjjreffed as it were to Mividific; And rrell, cruel one, faid he, fee thy felf mrv p.ijjejfor of Hunnimonda, wphilji nothing rejis to the unfortunate Balamir, but the very dejpair cf having a part in her. Arriving at toracia, he commanded my Father, and the other Commanders to take care of the Army, declaring to them, that h^could no longer think of it, and that they ought neither longer to hope any orders or counfel from him, no more than if he had not been in the. world. Thefe marks of fo lively and profound a grief, and of a grief we durft not condemn, after the knowledge we had of its cruel caufe, touched us in the very midft of our hearts, but we were much more concern'd, when after he had parted the moit cruel night that imagination could reprefent to us, on the morrow he was fcifed with a Fever, fo violent, that immediately by all Symptoms it appeared dangerous. He would however have rifcn, but his llrength failed hi-ii, and in twenty four hours he was more . weakcn'd, than a man, vigorous like him, could in all probability have been in eight days. \Vhen he knew the danger of his difeafe, he was glad inftead of affliding himfelf, and turning his eyes towards me, whom heordinarily (aw neareft his perfon, as to him who without doubt bore him thegreateft affcdion, Ipraifethe Gods^ faid he to me, that I pall not furvive the loji of Hunnimonda, and if thou loveji me Telanor, thou ottghtej} to rejoyce at well M I. Death, faide he a little after, horv much art thou def^reS of a heart that can love nnthinn^hut thee, having loji all it loved, and having lojt it, zddcd he,_ in fi terrible a manner ? Atthis dilcourfe, and others little difTerent, he n.ade all thofe who hearkened to hirn, burft into tears, and reaching forth his hand foraetimcs to one, and fometimes to another, ac- cord ing to the affi.dion he had tor them, fFe bebeved mt my friends, faid he, that begin- Minc^s fo happy, Jljould have an end fo deplorable ; but it is fife will of the Cods, and I fubmit to It my felf without murmuring. On the fecond day of his licknefs,,he commanded that the Troops (hould depart, and purfuc their marching without halting, till they catrie out of 5jr»wf/'<>, not believing that whilflhchad a man of our party in Arms, ih^Wk (A HivHimonda could be infecurity. and he commanded it fo abfolutely, that whatever regret the Officers had to abandon him, they were forced loobey, and there remain'd no more than thofe of his own Houfe with hiinat ioracia. At firft his grief made him refui'eall remedies, and that very fuftenancc which was prefenfed to him : but being of a fweet (pirit, and naturally full of tendernefs and goodnefs,"theaiBiftionheobfervcdamongft his Attendants touched him^ andtopleafe them and alTwagc their grief in a time wherein it was comfortlefs, he received what they gave him, but in a manner which made them well judge the little fruit he hop'd or ddired. In few days his weaknefsencreas'd in fuch manner, that almoll all hope of his recovery waslodi and as for his goodnefs and admirable virtues he was adored by all his friends, there was poJTibly none did not relent the danger of his Malkr, as ftrongly as if himfelf. had Book III. F 11 A K A M N D. ^Sj had been tlircatned with It, and who did not deplore with tears of binod, if if may be fo fpokcn, thelofsof the faircfl hopes were ever conceived, and the lots of a Prince, who in his tlirceand twentieth year, already by iiis great aflions, equalled the ciiieleil of thofc tamous men, which liad tor many pail ages been known in the world. The heat of his Fe- ver depriving iiim of a part of his knowledge and reafon, made him fometimes extravaj^^ant inhis difcoiirfes, and in thofe intervals, having his imagination replete with the misfor- tune bcfallcTi him, he (poke of nothing elfe, but continually addrt-ffcd his difcourfc to liini- niinonJj, or MHndific, Ah my PriiiceJ!^ faid he kmctmcs, remember that yoH cjimot be other than mine, and that if yon be not mint, yott ought never to be any perfons \ and then turning himfelf towards us v/ith as much readinefs as his (Irength would permit. Ah my friendT, faid he, fuccouf Hunnimonda, rehom Mundilic is about todeftroy. Stop cruel one, added he, and do not dare to kjU Hunnimonda > pierce rather this bofom xvhichl prefent, and take atvay Balamir's life to make Hunnimonda ^/V, for flje will elfe continually Hie in his heart. I abufc youi patience, my Lords, though I fliould without doubt beget in you a pity, if I fliould recount to you all the particulars of the licknefs and grief of Balamin it is true tiicy were not of the fame continuance, for after his recovery of the hrll, his grief continued as lively and violent as it had been at its ririf fpring. Having been reduced to the lall extrcmiiy, he recovered by the will of the Gods, who gave his lite to.our tears and prayers s but he received without doubt the knowledge of his recovery in no other manner than he had done that of any other mifchief. It feemed likewife, that his grief, after ha- ving lain as it were, fome time in a llumber, byreaton ot the violence ot his Fever, re- turn'd with all its ftrength, and flill gained new forceashis body gained Itrcngth. Heiv:^ ( faid he to us one day, atter the Phyficians had allured us he was out of danger ) // death it felf reftifedto the unfortunate Balamir ? and that death which often cuts off the faireji lives rvhen not defired, can it cruelly refufe its ajft\\ance to a miferable that demands it ? My Lnrd^ ( faid I, finding -iny felf now near him, as I continually was ) if yen had reafon to defre death, the Gods would not have refufed it you : but by the diligence they haze to preferve your life in fo great a danger, they make us judge they rcferve you to a better fortune. And to rvhat fortune can I bereferved, rcplyed he, fmce I have loji Hunnimonda ? lou have not pnffhly lofl her, reply ed I, though youhavelefther to Mundilic i and it is very likely, that a perfoit whom you beheld dejpifmg death for you, rvhen Jhe faw it prefent ed to her eyes, nvU hare the conjiancy to refjl him to the end. I'hougb what you fay (hould be true, replyed the Prince, J ought not to defre it , for fince by thofe means 1 have unfortunately attempted, I cannot rf- i/ffw Hunnimonda o;« of the hands 0/ Mundilic, I ought rather ivifl} that f:e flyouldbe his Spoufe than his Captive, and that flje should, if it rvere poffjhle, find <-epife, glory, and happi- Meji with him, than continually remain exposed to his violence and cruelty. ]f jhe could be hap- pyteith Mundific, I (hould have only my otvn misfortune to deplore, n-hilli by the mixture of hers and mini, in the condition I have left her, I am doubly unfortunate. However, concluded he with a tigh, rvbatever conjolation I can find in the conjiancy of Hunnimonda, I cannot flatter my felf rpith this tenjull hope, and though Hunnimonda hath hadfu^cient courage to dejpife death, there are other dangers for her Jhe cannot dejpife, and misfortunes too great not to make her rather accept Mundilic for her Sfoufe, than be expofed to them. By this difcourfe it feemed that the Prince forefaw the news he was foon to receive, for two days after, by the imprudence of the principal Inhabitants of "foracia, who vitited him., he underftood that after our departure from Fafiris, Mundific hid the fame day re- moved, and was retired to Olbia, a fair C ity, feated near the mouth of the Rivet Hijpa- nis, and which was entirely at his devotion v that he had employed fome days to fettle his affairs in Sarmatia, and that in the end he had efpoufed the Princefs Hunnimonda. Though Balamir was prepared to receive this news, and fecm'd to have expefled it, with a refolu- tion tofuffcr it conftantly, yet however he could not receive it, but with that augmenta* tion of grief he had not before proved and which wanted but little to condudt him to his Tombi he fell into thofe great weakneflcs which made us fear a relapfe of his Fever, his eyesltream'd down rivers of tearsi and he uttered the molt atfeftionate exprellions in the world •> and when atter the hrft days were palt, I endeavoured to make him remember what he had told me concerning that Marriage, and thofe rcafons by which he had tellified tome, that he dchred it, rather than feared it, Tes Telanor, faid he, 1 had reafon to de- fire it, and I have reafms at prefent to a^ici my felf. If I were offeree to hfe Hunnimonda, as I did believe Ifljould^ I ought to defirejhe fljould be Wife to Mundific, and not eternally hii Jlave: but at that-time the Cods miaht have a[ied a miracle in my favour, but at prefent by all their power I cannot hope it ^ though Mundiiic fjould die, though be rvould re!hre Uunmmon- ditome, flie cannot be mine, having effoufed my Brother, fo that vfhere-ever I feek^my remedy 6r conflation, I can find it no where but in death, ThiS 584 THATX.AMOND. Fart. IV. This cruel news was conrirmcd to us from day to day, and in little time it was fprcad through all Sarmatia though the particulars of this Marriage were never rccouDtcd, by which it might be judged in what manner Hnmiimonda had received the change of her condition, nor any thing elfe faid but that after her Marriage fne had been fcen by very few perfqns.The Prince could not at prcfent,notwithllanding what he had fome days before faid for her juftiti- cation, hinder himfclf from fometimes accufing her of infidelity and weakncfs, and at fome times iikewife fufpecling her to have permitted her felt to be overcome by the fpkndour of M«W//fc'j- fortune i and fome motions he had to defire this to be true that he might have more reafon to comfort himfclf for the lofs of an unfaithtutperfon : but this belief would fcarce fervehim inhisdetire, for he was fo well perlwadcd of the gcr.crofity of HK««i»;oWiZ, that it was difficult for him to receive a contrary impreilion. I will not extend my fclf farther on what I might tell you of the grief of my Prince, you will apprehend it lefs by the difcourfel can make you than by the knowledge I have given you of the greatnefs of his love. In fine, notwithitanding the obffacle it brought to his perfed recovery, by the alhlfance of Heaven and our care he gain 'd both his health and ftrength, and found himfelf in a condition to m.ount on horfcback and carry through the world that cruel enemy of his repofe which rendred it felf Miftrefsof hisSoul. He depart- ed from Joracia fo foon as he could, but it was with detlgn to abfent himfelf from thofe pla- ces where he had loft all, and from thofe places where he had Iikewife been happy, and not to return to the King his Father. He undcrftood by advices from him fome days before, that he was incenfed againft him and had accus'd him of weaknefs for having abandoned Sarmatia to MunJifc^ and being wanting to execute his Orders to the full : But it was not this hindred his return to Court ; he confided fufRciently in his innocence, and in the great- nefs of the fervices he had done for the Crown, to believe he fliould receive any ill ufage, but he refolved to flee from a place where all he could fee would but renew his grief and ne- ver reenter into that Kingdom where the cruel enemy of his life was to jeign. But becaufe he would wander in the world without fplendour or noife, or as one that fought death, believing in the fearch of it he had no need of any great train, at his depar- ture from "foracia he fent all his houfliold into Vacia v keeping only with him my felf and feven or eight men who obftinately refolved to accompany him to death and whofe affedi- on he could not refufe. He gave to thofe he fent back the greatefi part of what he had in gold and jewels, and I had fome difficulty to retain what was neceffaiy' for our journey.He gave them Iikewife Letters of recommendation to the Queen, by which he prayed her to recompence thofe fervices they had done himjand he charged them with one Letter to the King the words of which were thefe. Prince Balamir to the King of the HuHf. Have mt been unfaithful Sir^ though I have been rveak^j mr is it.by intelligence reitb Mundi- fic that I have abandoned to him Sarmatia. I tvar too enamoured to execute your Orders^ andyoM ought to have given them to a man to whom jomethingin the rvorldtvas lefi dear than thi ///(? 0/ Hunnimonda. Imujiconfefilhavefacrificedalltoherprefcrvation^ hut with your inte- refts I have well forgot m\ oren, and with Sarmatia you h^iow what 1 have abandoned, Xou may reduce him eafily to hvi duty^ now that he U pojJejTor of what made him violate it i and ifl may beg of you any favour J I will beg of you pardon for the Husband of Hunnimonda. With that little Equipage I told you he departed from "foracia, and becaufe he would turn his back to Bacia^ to Scandia, to Cothia, to Pannonia, and to all the Realms ot the King his Father, he followed the banks of the River lebefis to HarmonaUe where he embarqued in the Euxine Sea to pafs into Afu. It is not your pleafure my Lords that 1 (hould recount ^ to you the particulars of our journeys, in which there is nothing of what you deiired from ^H^ me though there happened many Ikange adventures, and that in the defign which Balamir ^M\ had to feek death or at leali to flee from life a"i much as pofIible,he did Afrr<»«f<»«,paffed between Sicilia and Africa^ left Sardigna on our right hand, and having coafted the Ealeares and the moft diftant part of Spain which we faw on our left we fet foot on ftiore at the City of the Majfilienf, . Wearied with the Sea as well as Land he would'no more return to it, but having remain'd fome few days at the City of the Mafilienr, we departed thence and entred into Aquitaine^ travelled the the greateft part of ihcGaules and by Belgiea came to the Banks of theR^iw, and paffed it below Cellen to enter into Germany : We travelled through the Country of the Catti and that of the Cherufques^ and being come to the banks of the Elba we approached the Frontiers of the Cimbriant or Bohemians, It was not the fame of the beauty of Kofa- mo»d^hov,xvex great in the world,that obliged my Prince to take his courfe this way ■■> and I can fpeak it with truth, that.though two years were paft fince our departure from Sarmatia^ and one iincehe underftood the death of Hunnimonda, his grief was yet entire in his foul j nor faw I in him any difpofition to hearken to thofe confolations we would give him,much ICfs to- receive any new imprellion : but having underftood of the War of the Frank/ and BurgHndianf againft the Sueves and Cimbrians^oi the defeat of the laft,of the retreat of their Kings into Suevia ■■, and in the end of the War then begun between the King of the Frank/ and the King of the Bun^undians : he found fo much juftice and generoiity in your proceed- ings my Lord, faid Telanor to King F bar am and, and had already, whatever emulation the fame of your great Adtions might excite in his foul,fo great a rcfpedt for your feir reputati- on,that without confulting he refolved to embrace your party againft that oiGondioch, and to fight unkfiown in your Army as he had done in other places either to ferve a juft caufe, and a Prince whofe renown had charm'd him,or in thofe Conflids to find an end to that dif- l^ilful lite that had fo long been burthenfdra to him. Ddd Hd ^86 PHARAMOND. Part IV. He did what he could to be prefent at that Battel which was fought between you,but came a day too late ; yet on the morrow he found reafon to comfort himfelf for that delay by the encounter of the Princefs Kofamond^ whom Gondtoch led away prif^ner, and the occalion he had to do her a confiderable fervice, by delivering her from tlie hands of her Ravi(her. You have already known my Lord all that pafTed in that Aftion : nor are you more ignorant than other men that it was here that the foul of Bdamir found its remedy againft that grief which had for a long time pofleffed it, and that by a miracle which could not be produced but by the divine beauties oiKofamond^ in afecond lofs of his liberty he lolt the remembrance of Hioiitimonda, It is true that fo prodigious a change aftoniflied me, but it was by reafon of the little difpofition I had feen in him to it, and not by the default of power in the beau- ty oiKofamond^ fufficient to work a greater effed i nor by thofe reafons Balamir might have to defend himfelf: for it is certain'that though he had not been recovered of the wounds he fuffer'd by the encounter of the Princefs of the Cimhrians^ he had already done enough for the love and memory of Huttnimonda, not to fear any reproach though he had been capable to find a remedy in time and reafon without any other fuccour : and I believe that though he had not thefe reafons to juDifie him, but had committed a real infidelity, the power that forced him would make his fault excufable. I will tell you however polfibly to remove you from an opinion common to otter perfons, that it was not by the firli: fight of Kofamond^ that Hutinimsnda was bani(hed from his mind,though he fpoke fome words accofiing her that made fome of that opinion. It is true that he was aftoni(hed and charm'd at the fight of that majeltique beauty ■, but the remembrance oi Hunmmenda^ dead as (he was, and unfaithful as he might believe her, before her death defended it fclf for fome time againft her, and quit- ted not the place till after a greater knowledge of all thofe wonders againft which it isina- poffible to be defended. T CotifefS^ (faid now the King of the Franhj to T'elanor^ feeing he had done fpeaking) thai Prince Balamir could not he accufed of infidelity towards Hunnimonda, and that by her Mar- riage with another^ and after by her death^ he was difpen fed from rendringfo much as he mat ■^leafed to do to her love and to her memory. But with ceafng to accufe him I cannot from being alionijhed and with difficulty can I apprehend horv afoul abandoned to love lik^ that of Balamir, and which for thU love had paffed by all other cotifiderations, and came with his elder Brother to thofe extremities you have recounted to we, and who after the lofiof Hunnimonda in thefiace of two years, and m fo long voyages could not find anyfolace to his grief could fo eafily give way to a fecond affedion. Jet pofibly I wrong my felf by being ajionifjvd, having felt as I bave^tbe power of thofe divine beauties which have produced this effe£i ; and I am reduced in the end to fay^ that if any other puiffance had caufed this change j Ifhould not have apprehended it. " It " is true, added the great Conftance, that that which lelanor hath recounted to us of the " love ot Balamir^ hath defcribed a paliion fo ftrong, and a Conftancy fo great, as might make us believe thai this imprellion would remain fixed in his Soul till death : but it is from admirable caufes that we are to exped admirable cffeds i and though I have never *' feen the Queen of the Cimbrians^ ytt by what I have heard of her beauty, I (hould not " wonder if (he (hould caufe unfaithfulnefs. " You would without doubt lefs aftoni(h " your felf, replyed the King of the Franks, if you had feen her, for it is difficult that by the " recital any fliould make you apprehend the beauty of Rofamond : but though no perfon " ought better than my felf to agree to the certainty of the effects (he is able to produce, I "will yet attribute a part of this to my ill fortune, which, againft all appearances and by "ways fo little ordinary, hath brought me from the extreme parts of Afia, a Rival, who " for his merit is more formidable than all the reft : not but that I hope to difpute Kofamond "againft him with fufficient courage i but we (hall give each other {ome trouble, and we " began yclkrday to prove that we cannot defpife each other. I know well my Lord^ faid lelanor to him, that he hath mtre refped and ejieemfurynu, than for allthere\iofmen^ and as hehath always beenof the humour to reverence virtue in the perfons of hisgrtatejl enemies, and that he hith never had reafon to he your foe ■■, I affure my felf that the love o/Rofamond, though it arm his hand againjiyou, doth not at all leffen in him that veneration the greateji of men owe to your felf. I have often heard him fpeakjbefore the ^ueen of the Cimbri.-ins, and beforeyour o- ther Rivals, and dare affure \ouyou have no friend pays you more jujiice than this generous enemy^ He hath more reafon than he believes, faid now Conftance, and if he remembers CoO' fiance A'ould have continued,whcn Fharamond judging well that he was about to fpeak of the obligation Balamir had to him for the alliftance given him in the Country of the Bohemians againft thofe Affafws that had aflaultcd him, not willing he (hould in this manner have the knowledge Book Hi. PHARAMONly. 3§7 knowledge ofiitjtook the hand o{Conl]smc and prcliing it in Iiis,at ihc fame tiuic made a figri to him with his eye which made him know his intention, and diverted him from the dclign he in effect had to (peak of that encounter i and feeing that he ftopp'd and that lie fought to the difcourfc he had begun another continuance than what he had intended, he to allilt him broke hience, and beholding T'f/i^wur in a very obliging manner, B;/t Ttlanor, faid he, ji(;« have Hot acquitted your felf of wf^ift you promifcd us ^ mr have yoti let us underhand any thhtgof what happened to Balamir//«cf he became amorous of Kofamond. " My.Lord, repUed'telanor^ *'I have recounted to you what 1 believed you ignorant of, or at kali what you could only " confuftdly know ■■, but for what hath happened to my Prince fince his being in Germany^ I " believe there are few things hid from you. I doubt not but you have underftood his war- *' like exploits againft the Burguttdians, whom he drove out of the Country of the Cimbrians *' with thofe Forces»the Princefs gave him before the arrival of the King her Father, you have ** underliood the favourable reception the King gave him,of his flay at Lifur^^ and the dan- "gcr to which he was cxpos'd by the treachery of fome AJfafms who would have murther'd " him, and had in effedt done It by what himfcif confefics, had he not received fucccur by the " valour of a rniraculous perfon,being wounded in fuch manner that he was forced to (lay at " Lifurgif after the departure of the Piincefs to attend his cure, and could not arrive with her, *' till after the lofs of the Battel and the death of the King her Father. " We have underftood " a part of what you fay, faid Fharamond, but there are other things which We may better *• underiland from you than from Renown, and having recounted to us fo at lefagth the loves "of Balamir and tlic Princefs Hunnimoitda, you fay nothing to us of his love to the Queen *'of thc'Cinibrians, and the progrefs he hath made in her atfeftion fince he hath been near *'her. "My Lord,#»-<'/'//WTf/»()Wt»^. ."Such an adt of cruelty is not without D d d -? "examcle,' 388 THARAMOND. Part IV. "example, (replyed Ibere;^ for there are many perfons, whom jealoufie and defpair " hath made to commit the like. " It might be, faid Conftance, that Mundific would " only affright Balamir^ but however, it was not eafie to run that hazard, to tempt a man, " fo palfionately amorous \ and as in that incertitude, he had fcarce a moment to lofe, in, " thedecifionof the life or death of Hmmimondi. \ confefs as wel as the King, I (houlcl " not have delayed toadlas he did. " You may affure Balamir^ faid Pharamond to Jela- "«or that among his enemies he may find friends to ferve him againft Mundific if they, ''had yet any occafioii, and that our interefts cannot hinder us from refpedling virtue, and, " it is that which makes me always put a difference between him and our other Rivals i but *' we flull iiave fufficicnt opportunities to know our (elves better than novv we do.' To thefe words he added yet otherj intermingled with fweetncfs and freenefs, and after Supper, Jelanor took leave of him, and had the liberty to return tohisMaftcrat his plea- fure, having received all fort of civility and good ufage. The End of the Third Book of the Fourth Part. PHARAMOND. Book IV. THis illuftrious Company were about the end of their Supper, when Valeriiu^ whom Conjiance had fent to, the Enemies Camp, enter'd the Chamber, with two men which accompanied him. All that regarded the Queen of the Cimbrians^ fo fenfibly touching the King of the Frankj, he could not fee i perfon who came from her, and who ought to tell them news of her, with- out. being furpris'd with fome alteration, which was obferv'd by all thofc who caft their eyes on his Countenance : And Conjiance caufing Valerius to approach, commanded him to tell what he had done with the Queen of the Cimbrians. My Lord^ (aid he 1 have done what you commanded we, and obtain' d ( ij the King agree to it ) a little more than you have demanded. 'Ihe §^eentif the Cimbrians hath Jhetved a great efleem for yottr name^ and as to the de(ign you have to fee her ^ and the Kingof the Sueves, though accord- ing to my opinion^ their inclinations are. far dijiant from peace ^ hath manifefied a great value for your mediation^ and defire to render you rebut is due to yon by the Allies of the Empire : He 'had already underliood that you rvere here, and told wf, that any mhere elfe he had before vifited yoH. In ^ne my Lord, the honour 1 have to be yours, hath made me receive from the ^een^ from him,- and the whole Camp, much greater honours than were due to my perfon. And con- cerning the Prnpoftion made for a ceffation of Arms fur three dayes, the ^een fearing that in that time you rpould not be in a condition to mount on Horfeback^, hath granted it for eighty and hath fent one of her own to caufe it be fign'd by the King, if he fo pleafe. " My intention, *^fiid Pharamond, Ihallnot beonly tolign itfor eight days, but I would fignitwithmy " bipod for the reft of my life, and if there need no more than the giving o( it, to make "the Queen confcnt, llie knows well Iiow willingly I would furrender it. Speaking thefe words, he caft his eyes on the Envoy of Kofamond, who faluted him with a profound refped, and caufing him approach his Bed, he faluted him with a civility and Book IV. ? H A R A M N D. m and fweetncfs which left not in his Soul any enemy-like thought. He prtfcntly figned,tlie ceflation of Arms, and rcturn'd it into his hands, praying him lo tdl the Qoecn, thatifur were only againlt his lite that flic made war, he entreated, that he miglit hvinf^-ifopcC more to her feet, and that Ihc would content her fcif with the dcatli of.theOimjiu!, \vi(|i. out engaging in his miferies fo many tliouCand innocents. The Cimhrjan was as much torched at the difcourfe of the K.ing, as charmed by his Maje/lick Afpcd, and tliat aJn>i, rable Grace he had, both in hisfpeech, and in all his adibn, and receiving with a becmn- ingrefped the agreement he tcndrcd him i IVouldtn the Gods^ my Lorci^Jmd he, th^t fhyt Seal yon do me the honour to ^ive me, were for an eternal peace, and mt , ottly for a trfice of fftv da\ but he remain'd firm in his belief, that if he. found a living Beauty equal to what had appeared to him in the Pourtraifture, he could forget Athenais ; and as he fought no other thing, or to fpeak more properly, all his thouglits being fixed to this fole defign, he refolv'd not to be fparing in any diligence, or labour, of body, or mind, to find that admirable Beauty, imagining, that if (he were fach as the painting had reprefented her, (he could not but have made that noife in the •world which would give himaneafie opportunity to know her. Moreover, he remcm- bred the Predidion oi Leontin, which had promifed him, thatit (hould be on the Banks' of theJR.ibi«f he (hould forget Athenais ■, and feeing this beginning of an alteration, he, hoped I Book IV. PHARAMOND, W hoped it entirely in that Country, and when he departed froir hence, it v.as nnly with defign to follow the Banks of the River to its mouth, without abllmting innilclt" troin you, fave only in fuch manner, as might give him liberty to return in tew days, either having found what he fought, or having lofi his hopes. It was with this intention, my Lord, that he departed from you, and it was out of th(j hopes of a quick return, that he kit Mitranes with you, whofc abfcncc, if of any )on^ durance, he could difficultly have fupportcd. He fuffered unwillingly that the Convoy which the King had given him, fliould accompany him, not finding any greater plca- fure than in folitude, and in the entertainment of divers thoughts with which his Spirit: was at prefcnt pofTefs'd •, but fo foon as wc were pafTcd that Camp, he would not fufTcr it to go farther, but prayed him who commanded it to return, with fo much refolution, that he was conftrain'd to obey him. He had fallen off to the right hand, to (liun tlieCamp oi the Cimbrians, in which he would notintanglc himfelf, with delJgn however to regain the Bank of the River, and to feck what Leontin had pJomifcd him, and which for few days part he had greater hopes to rind than ever before. The words of that Knight, with whom he had cncountred, augmented his hopes, and though by the proof he had madeof his valour, he could not eafily hope the vidtory, yet he had no otiier dellre than to ren- counter him, and to fight him once more, it he would not be obliged to ihcw him that mi- raculous Beauty which he had feen in painting. Rcfolved on this defign, he informed himfelf every where of him by his Arms, which he had obferved, not being able to give other enfigns, and it was out of the hopes he had to underlknd news of hirti in this Camp, that a little time before we encountrcd the Prircd Marcomire^ he had fent my Companion, who rejoyned us, at a place appointed, fome time after the Convoy had left us. He diligently obferved if he faw him not in that tair Troop which followed the King of the Frank/, and havfng with infinite difplcafure fccn he was not there, he defpaired not but he might find him in the Enemies Army, this thought made hirn conlider what cou'rfehe fliould take, and if on the one lide, he was unwilling to engage himfelf in a Camp where he might find fome retardment to his de« fign, on the other, he was troubled to abfent himfelf from a place, where, as well as ip any other in the world, he might find the Knight he fought, without uling other endeavours to hear news of him. Whillt in this incertainty he coafted the Camp of the Cimbrianr, paffing by the fide of a great Wood, which, by what I have underllood, is that beyond the Valley, in which Prince Sunnon yefterday found the Queen of the "TKringieHX, he itopp'd, either to deter- mine his itrefolution betore he went farther, or to refl iiimfelf after that great travel he Itid that day endured i and having obferved a fair green plat, under fome fprcading Trees, which made a very pleafing (hade, near the utmolt part of the Wood, and very near the Road, he alighted, took off his Helmet ("for he never rode without his Arms in an armed Country j and having left his Horfc with us, with liberty to go and repofc thereby as well as he, he laid himfelf down upon the Grafs, and reliing his head at the foot ©f a Chertnut Tree, covered with Mofs, hegave himfelf up entirely to thofc different thoughts with which he was turmoyl'd. We wondred not at all to fee him feek in that manner either repofe or folitude, having often feen himdothe fame thing incur Journey, and remembiing, that it wasin the fame manner that he had found the Pourtraidure. He dedicated fome time to the entertain- ment of fome wandring thoughts, which made his fpirit float in the incertitude of his con- dition, and he found perhaps fome delight in a free entertainment of them, when he found by and by that he was not alone in that retirement, for he heard the voice of fome perfons who difcourfed, very near him. Not loving to find any obltrudion to his defigns, he was prefently incens'd at the boldnefs of thofe perfons thatdurft trouble Ijis repofe v but in the end, making reafon gain the dominion over his firft motions, and have nothing more prcfent in his memory, than the defign to inform himfelf of what he fought, he made curiofity fucceed to his choler, and lent his car with great attention to the difcourfe oi thpfe perfons. At firlt he could difficultly uriderftand their difcourfe, but they being two men which walked ( as he difcerned alitrle after, by carting his light between the Trees J and who in walking approached the place where he was, with defign in all likelyhood to regain the great Road, which lay on the fide of the Wood, by little and httle he began to undeilland them, and in the end, heard very diftinttly all they faid, not only becaufe they were near him, but becaufe they raifed their voices, as they iVere heated in their difcourfe, by that paf- fion that made them fpeak. They were, for w^e faw them from the ph'-e wiierc wc iWod , 392 THAKAMOND, Fart IV. as well as our Prince, two Knights of a very fair Stature, (for we could not well d ifcern their faces, though they had lifted up the Vifers of their Helmets) one of the two very magnificently armed the other very plain,with black and white Plumes on his Helmet. Four Efquires who came fome paces after them, led their Horfes and carried their Launccs and Shields. We had but now begun diftindly to underftand their difcourfe, when they flop'd very near us, and he who carried the Plain Arms breaking lllence with a tone which had fomething in it very pleating. I cotifefinext to what I have feen^ faid he to his companion, that if it be nat fading, thU beauty 'a rather celeflial than mortal, and that it it difficult for i- magination it felf to reach to her perfe[iion > but you muji likftvife believe^ both you and alltho/e veho take Arms for her quarrel^ that it i^ not a light enterprife in xchichjhe engages you, and that there is pnjjlbly nothing more great nor more dangerous than that of ajfaultiug the life of Phara- mond likf valiant men, as I believe is your intention. It is not againji the life of Pharamond that 1 have taken Arms, rcplyed his Companion, 1 have neither imitated nor appraved the pro- ceedings of thofe who have raflHy promifed his head to the King of the Cimbrians, but in tbofe occaftons xvhich war may give me to ajj'ault his life, as I douht not but I expofe mine to a greater danger, fo mufi 1 believe that his will not be wholly exempt^ and the peril which may threaten ut U not greater than the ghrymay be acquir''d again[i a man of the valmr and repute of Phivamond, 1 am nat of your opinion, faid the firft, but as I doubt net but there is glory to be acquired in fight' ing againji a valiant man in a juji quarrel, itfeems to me that we fully tvhat we have already donf by taking an unjuji party, and declaring our felves enemies to virtue as you do in this underta- king. Ihere is pofibly leji reafon in your opinion than in mine, replycd the other Knight, and though I confefi that there is nothing but virtue and innocency it felf in all the proceedings of Pha- ramond, I cannot agree that the refentment of the ^een of the Cimbrians is unjull ; and though the love wherewith I am devoted to her, were not capable to excufe whatever I might enterprife for herfervice, not being engaged fo her Enemy by any alliance ifr the leafl obligation, I kflow no reafon which may hinder mefromferving her againji him in all thofe ways which virtue and mnour can permit. Xou will difficultly perfwade me to what you fay, rcplyed he who had fpoke firft, for I am fo much prepnjfejj'ed by the virtue of Pharamond, and the jujiice of his caufe, that my inclinations will not be eafrly changed from hU party. Xou may embrace his, faid he that carried the fair Arms, and though for many advantageous appearances I could have wiflied rather yon had been of ours, yet it will not be juliice to violate your inclinations. I would do what ye coun- fel me to without delay, faid the hrft, if it were fo well permitted me as you believe, but expell- ing till 1 have the liberty to fight the enemies of Pharamond, with thofe F trees I may oppofe to them, if my fortune permit me I will moji willingly expofe my perfon to all the danger may threaten it, by combating the moji valiant of all his Rivals, It is not po^bly fo ligbt a thing as you be- lieve, replyed the Cavalier with a figh, for among\i the Rivals of Pharamond, there are pe^ haps fome may make you repent this enterprife. If 1 could fear any one, replyed the firft, it fliould be xeithout doubt you : for by the k^towledge I have of your great name, I doubt not but in valour and all fort of virtues, all the other Ktvals of Pharamond are much your inferieurs ■■, but that which may caufe fear in others, works in me a contrary effeii, and by your example I would feek^glory in a great enterprife. I fee well, (faid the Cavalier with a feverc look) that you de- fire to fjgnalize your felf by combating againji a man of fome reputation in the World, and I havepgfibly acquired fufficient, to d/fpenfe if I pleafe with a Combat fo little necejfary againji a man I know not. If you k,new me (replyed the firft with a countenance as fierce as his) ^fl« would pvfsibly believe that I have no need df this Combat to fignalize my felf : but fmce I cannot discover my felf I will tell you that I am neither in birth nor the degree I hold in the world at all your inferiour: And for my reputation, though it pnjpbly may not equal yours, it is not fo little that you eught to fear to di^miour your Arms by turning them again^me, "•' All that I fee in your perfon, " replyed the Rival of Pharamond, perfwades me eafily to what you fay, and all that I have " obferved hath given me more delire to be your friend than enemy. " I could with truth " tell you the fame tiling, replyed the firji, but whatever efteem your virtue may give me for "you, I cannot but be your enemy if you ceafe not tobe the enemy of PW^i/woAj^. "When " I ftiall ceafe to be fo (replyed the other with a tone of voice yet fomewhat louder) it (hall nei* " ther be for his confideration nor yours i but in the mean time I will give you the pleafurc " you demand, and permit you to have what opinion you pleafe of a man hath fuffer'd him« " ielf to be fo much preffed to fight againft you. Concluding thefc words he called his Efquires, and demanded of them his Horfe, Launce, and Shield, whilft the other did the like, and equally prepared himfelf to that Combat he teftified fo much to defire. The Pritice of Perfu had hearken'd to a difcourfe fo little com- mon, and of two men fo extraordinary with a great attention, but he cnclined himfelf more firongly to it, when both by his Stature, Arms, the found of his voice, and many other mark?. BdoK IV: THAKAMOND, 59^ tnarks, he began to believe one of thcfe two Cavaliers to be him he foughr, «nd againfi whom he had combated tor the fair Pourtraidure. For fhis belkf whicU troin tnc them, were already fo near us, that lie began to difcern the objcds, which being more difcernable as they approached, he obferved in the end very diftindtly, that in the hrft of the Chariots, which was open before, there were feared only two Ladies, whofe habits wire black, without any garnilh, and thofe of the Slaves which followed a foot, the Cta- ' - riot, 1 Book IV. P H A R J M N D. 395 riot, and all the Equipage, were of tlie fame colour. Many other Ladies came in other Chariots which followed it, and about this rirft, might be fccn many Knights, wcM mount- ed, and clad in magnihcent Arms, wlio advanced about an hundred paces bctorc thofe Squadrons which accompanied the Train, we obiervcd thele things much better than our Prince, for he having well judged, that all he fought was in the tirll Chariot, 'twas on that alone he Hx'd his light, without fo cnuch as calling his eyes on the relU and I mult needs confefs, that he there encountrcd fufficient matter to employ both his eyes^ and all his obfervation, and that the Chariot of Jurora, or that of the Sun it felf, could not lance forth tires equal to thofe, which were darted from the Chariot of Knfamnnd^ to dazle his eyes, and inflame his very foul. The King of the Frankr^ and poliibly the greater part of thofe perfons who hearken to trie, have feen the Queen of the Cimbrians^ and the Princcfs of Suevia, who was now with her, and therefore I fee my felf ireedfroma difcourfe, in which I Ihould without doubt but ill acquit ray felf, fhould I undertake a defcription of this miraculous beauty: for (he appeared tons fo mucii above all that imagination it felt" could fancy, that we remain'd at the fight of her, like perfons in whom aftoniflTment and admiration had fulpended all the other faculties of our fouls. Varanez foon knew that fair Image, which the fole light of a Pourtraidture had engraved in his brealt, but he faw it now (hining with thofe htes, which painting could not give: and if hitherto he had not any difpolition to love, or a difpolition which might yet hinder Athenavs from finding fome place in his remembrance, at tiiis light he was enamoured, he was paliionate, he was lolt in aninllant,and now the moll fmallell lines ot tiie image oi AthenaU were quite blotted out of his memory i he had had lefs leilure to contemplate this prodigious beauty, nor had the wound poliibly pierced, as it did, the middle of his heart, if the Queen had not iiopp'd at the place where vvc were i nor had (he perhaps llopp'd, had not fhe known Prince Balamir, for whom (he had an infinite eftecm, who advanced towards the Chariot fo foon as he faw it approach. The charming Qupen, in whom we beheld with extafie and admiration,thert^oft accom- pliQi'd miracle of Nature, opening her fair lips before B<»/^w/> who drew near the Chariot, demanded of him with infinite fwectnets, what he did in that place, and why he had that day preferred retirement before company. The grace and majedy with which fhe fpoke though Ihe fpoke very few words, joyned to the natural charm of her voice, added yet fomething to the paffion of Varanez, and Balamir breaking filence, having faluted the Queen, and the Princcfs of the Siteves with a profound fubmiilion. Madam, faid he, it is not only to day that I have be^iin to feek retiremeut^ I have too often had fufficient reafms to prefer it before company^ but at prefent your arrival interrupts it happily^ fmce it jpares me a Combat^ of which this Knight^ ( faid he, (hewm^Varanez to her ) would tut have pardon'-d me, if I prefented him not to you^ dnd if I made him not fee in his dejiiny, an effeii of your di- vine beauty. Thefe words obliged the Queen to cad her eyes on my Prince, who whollyr tranfportcd and loll, beheld her with a Itedfaftnefs which fcarce left him any knowledge of what had palled i and becaufe that as well as Balamir^ he had his face uncovered, the Queen poliibly found in his noble air, whereon to fix her eyes with a particular conlidera- tion, wlienhein the end overpowering that power which feemed to have tied all the fa- culties of his foul, and forcing the charm which held him unmoveable, he approaciied the Chariot, and faluted the Queen with a fubmilTion, to which hitherto his fpirit had not pof- fibly bowed ■■, but becaufe in the diforder of his foul, he could fcarce find words to explain himftlt ashedefired, Balamir, to whomthecaufe of his filence was not unknown, taking" occaRon to fpeak whillt he prepared himfelf, Tou may judge by hU countenance, faid he to the Queen, if hU condition be much different from ours, and though I cannot hope to receive any freat friendjhip from him, I rpiU net omit telling you, that by what I have k^norvn of bis valottr ■ he vi not pojjtbly unworthy to enter into the number of thofe who carry your fair chains, " \ "judge by your difcourfe, (faid the ^een to 'Bi^hmh fighing ) that this is that valiant " man who had fome difference with you for my PitSure, but we muft not attribute it to " any other caufe, than what proceeds from fole curiofity, nor make of a perfon, whom you *'know fo little, a difcourfe will not be jullified. 1 Iqtow not now ( faid my Prince very fiercely ) whether I ought not to confeji hut a part of the truth whereof 1 can only underjlandi but however it be, I am obliged to Balamir, who renders me the ftrji day an of.ce^ which toC- fibly I Jhould not in many years have received f-om my courage. He pronounc'd thele words with an afpcdt, which obliged the Queen to view him with more confideration than fiie had done before, and it was obfervablcin all her actions that' fhe had no mean deli re to know a perfon, who by all appearances was of no common Rank,' when one of thofe Knights who were about the Chariot, having known our Prince fo E e c 2" focn' 39^ PHARAMOND. Part. IV. foon as he began to fpeak, alighted, accofted him, and faluting him with a reverent fub- miffion, Ab my Lord, faid he, i< it fofible that I fee yopt hi Germany > The Prince caft his eyes on him who had fakited him, and having 4:alled to mind the Idea with great readincfs, he knew him for Marcian, whom he had feen and often converfed with at Confiantimfle^ rear the Emperour theodofms, where, either by his virtue, or thofe fair employments to which he was advanc'd by his valour, he held a confiderablc degree. Varanez ictaxaed. hisfalute with all civility, as to a man whom for his virtue he inhnitely cftecmcd, and he had done more if the prefence of the Queen had permitted him, and if (he had not called Marcian to demand of him the name ot my Prince. Marciajt, who as we underftood afterwards had oftentimes fpoke to her fince he had been n-ear her, and had entertain'd her with what had had pafb'd between the Emperour and him Sit Coitliantinofle, obeyed her without difficulty, and the Queen had no {ooner under- ftood from his mouth, that he was the Prince of Ferfia, but believing that (he had com- mitted a great fault, in receiving a Prince of fo high a degree like a common perfon, (he would have defcended from her chariot to have falutcd him, with that refped to which (he believed her felf obliged, if the Prince had not fo (irmly oppos'd it, that if was impollible for the Queen to do as (he intended ■, but the Queen feeing that (he could not overcome his oppolition, bowing down towards him, with a refpcdt which (he had podibly never before us'd to other Princes, Why my Lord, faid (he, after thofe faults which ignorance htab made me commit^ will yoit let me commit others which cannot be excufed, now I k^towyou for the greatefi Prince of the world ? She added to thefe many other words, but by all, could not pcrfwadc the Prince, to confent to that civility (he would render, and (he was conftraia- ed to remain in her Chariot with the Princefs oi Suevia, whom he likewife faluted with infinite refped. But all the Princes who were about the Chariot immediately alighted, and though the gieatcft part beheld him as their enemy, and murmured againft Fortune, fot having railed them up fo great a Rival, they accofted him with a becoming refped, fo that in a (liort time he faw himfelf faluted by the King of the Sueves^ the King of the Eurgun- d'utns, and Prince Gondemar his Brother, the King of the Herttles, the King of the Alaim^ liim of the Bajlernes, and many other Princes who were prefeat, and whom Marciait named to him, as they faluted him. Balamir himfelf rctiuned to him with the reft, and with a behaviour full of civility and feverenefs together, demanded pardon of him, if he had not before rendred him what was due to his dignity. Varanez beheld with all that attention his love could permit him, fo many brave men, whofe names v/erc known to him, and faw likewife with feme allonifhment, and polGbly with fome envy, that in all their petfons, and particularly in thofe of Gondkch and his Brother, all appearances anfwerable to their fair reputation ; but though he faw many a- mong them who might make themfelves to be feared as Rivals, the greatelt obje<5 of his jealoutie was hxed on the perfon of Balamir^ in whom, (or all things, he obferved great advantages over all the other Competitors, and whom, by many marks, he judged the moft advanced in the edeem of Rofamond. He beheld him with an eye which gave a fu- fpicion of what he thought, and he fbund in his thoughts fomething little different, and fomething that enclin'd him to a m.ore particular unkindnefs for him, than for all hiso- iher Rivals,. The prefence of the Queen, and the Princefs Albi{inda (ixing the thoughts of thefe great men on them alone, hmdred them from entring into any conveifation, and incontinently after, Varanez being mounted on Horfeback with all the reft, approached the Queen to what place (lie had a dt(ign to go. We underftood a(terwards, that (he was departed from the Camp to go meet the Queen of the "twingiens^ who was to have arriv'd that day, but who, as you know, came not till yefterday i and the Queen of the Cimbrians was going to receive her, with tlie Princefe Albifinda, and all the Kings and Princes of her party ■■> but a little after we were remounted on Horfeback, there came a Me(renger on her behalf, to inform the Queen, that by reaibn of fome accident which had ftopp'd her on the way, her arrival would be for fome days re- tarded, and the Queen having receiv'd this news, ftopp'd her Chariot, and returned back towards the Camp with all that fair company, about the time that the Sun made his ap- proaches to take leave of the Weftern Shore. All along upon the way, the Prince of Ferfia marched by the fide of the Chariot, with Gondioch, Balamir^ Ardaric^ zni Godegefile, who yielding to him the honour of his Digni- ty , left him the neareft place to the Chariot, and molt commodious to entertain the Queen, whilll the King of the Eaiiernes^ Prince Gondemar, and (bme others marched bf thefideon whicii the Princefs of 5'«frii» fate, with whom they were in converfation, and the King of the Sttevci^ who was lefs in love than any of the refl:, came fome paces be-' hind, Book IV. T H A R A MD N D, 997 hind, entertaining Iiirft(clf with Mercian, vvlio' is a pcrfori of a noble ffiifi; anJ cxcclFcnt virtue. In the cntcruinmtnt of the Q lecn. Prince Kirjwt's found thofe charm"! u-hich chained him more hrmly in his tetters, and dfawin?^ in at his eyes all tiiat love his fcfipwii capable to contain,> he not only banilned ail that ir;ij^h.t yet remain there ot the rcmcinbratlti oi Atbenjis^ but favv hiniielt in few moments fubdued as much, as if^ (of irwny year-: h* had been enllav'd to Knfamond. vvcarriv'd at die Camp looncr than he delkcd, thougH the day was then ihut up, and having almoll quite crcjls'd if to go to the Quarter of tht* Queen, which is an old Ca(\le feattd near a great Village on the Banksbf tiicRii«Wi a^ ourarrival my Maftcr gavehis hand tothc Queen defccndin?, tromher Chariot, to- lead her to her Apartment, doing the duty at that time of fome other, v;ho b: held- Wiiv not without envy in tliis employment. ■. ^-^sZ ad* We.undcrllood iince, that fo foon as they arrived, the King of ^Wz/Mentcrf&Ine'rffW Queen for fome time in particular, and as in this War, by what hath been laid, he' had arf end quite different from that of all other Princes, whom love makes aft rather than any o. ther confideration, and that he beiicld not Varjttez, with the eycstof a Rival, as aTl the others might do i he rcprefented to the Qyeen, that in their delign of common revenge',' flie could do nothing more advantagevius, than to engage the Prince of Persia on chdir parrji^,- which according to his judgment (he might do without any ^reat difticolty ■■, that \>;'ith the defence and allilhnce which (he might hope from a King ot Verfia^ whofc power would be much greater than that of all the Princes of Gfr/M,i«y together, fhe might ealily o\>-e:^ throw her enemy, and if her inclinations agreed with her advantages, (lie might not oi\H find in the perfon of Vamnez a Husband much different from the King of the Herulei'^ the Burgundians, and Gepides, but a Husband not inferiour in power to the Oriental or OccN dental Emperours, and who would place her upon as renowned and as powerful a Thrcn^ as any inthe world. ■' I know not whether this counfel of the King of the Siieves f which my Prince on tlid morrow underftood from the mouth of Maraan ) v/roughtthc fame eiledt on the Queen that it wrought on him, or whether (he rendred of her own motion, what (lie believed ■was due to a Prince, than whom (he faw nothing greater in the world, and whofe merit accompanied his Dignity •, but mofl certain it is, that the rendred him thofe horjours which confufed him (though he naturally hated not to be honoured) caufed him to be lodged the mofV commodioully poflible, and knowing that he wanted Officers, had fenthimher own, if the King of Suevia had not prevented her, by fettling his Houlhold the next morning. I will not tell you in what manner he paffed this night, though I can tell you, that at his lying down he feemed to us as a man enchanted, and that on the morrow wc knew by his vifage he had not dedicated much time to fleep. You know my Lord, that inlove the commencements are alraoif always agrceabk, and as our Prince was delivered from a torment which had cruelly atHidfed him, to enter into another, which at prefcnt feem'd full bf charms, or to fpeak better, had thrown off his old Fetters, to load himfelf with new ones,which yet made himnolclsteel their weight, fo he beheld himfelf as another man, and with pleafure admired the change of his condition. By the knowledge he had of his degree and fortune, certainly much different from that of all thofe Princes engag'd in the fervice of Kofamond^ and by the opinion he with reafon had of his courage, and tl:e qualities of his perfon, he conceived thofe hopes which apparently no reafon could forbid him from conceiving: Nor could he flatter himfelf with the lealt hope of being loved' by Kofamond, whom he beheld as a Divinity, and no mortal perfon, without abandoning himfelf to thofe plealures which tranfported and enchanted him. HeopenM his heart entirely to the generous M^rciaw, and having underftood fromhirn thereafons which had drawn him from the Court of T.heodofms^ and which had conduced him into Germany^ he in requital, recounted to him what had happened to him imce his de- parture from CoHJiantmopie, what he liad fulTered tor the remeaibrance of the Emprefs, and the change that had happened in his ioul by the light ot Rofamond ; and Mat-dan not being retain'd near my Prince by that palfion which had chained others^ he promifed willingly to my. Prince, all the fervice he could deiirc of him in this occahon, and flattered his palfion with all thofe hopes he could with reafon give him. It was now that he let him undcrltand what the King of the Sueves had the day before done for him, and counfelted hitri to do all he could to get him to his iide, both as a man to whom Rofamond paid a hi.'*h re- fpeft, and as him alone of all the Princes not interefs'd by a palfion like to his. Varj>tez heatJincd willingly to Marcia>t's counfi;l, to wholi; merit he yielded much, and fo foon as the Qiieen might be vifitcd, he went to v/ait on her, and by this fccond light endamed himfelf more (ttongly than betore. ■ .i i.. . He 398 PHARAMOND. Part W. He faw her that day with all his Rivals, who abfented themfelves from herthekaft that poflibly they could, and were it either for their continual prefence, or the refpedi which her Majefty imprinted in him, he could not, or durll not fpeak to her of what he thought, though he had naturally a boldnefs which paffed over all other things which might caufe fear in lefs refol ved perfons. But on the morrow he found the Qjieen in a very fair Garden, which from the foot of the CalUe, advances it felf like a Terrace to the Banks of the TJnne^ and he found her walking in an Alley with the King of the Stievet, who in all likelyhood entertained himfelt with her about affairs of War, whilft the other Princes, to give him that liberty, walked in other Alleys. My Prince not flopping at that conlideration which with- held the others, went prelently to the Queen, and the King of the Stteves no fooner faw him, but were it that he had no more to fay to the Queen, ot that he would do him a kindnefs, as Marcian had teftitied to my Prince he had a defign to do, he prefented him the hand of the Queen, which he held, and praying him to take his place, whilli he went whither he was called by other occafions. Varanez, not willing to abufe his civility, made fome difficulty to do it, when the King beholding him with a tigh, Tj% this place^ faid he, rvhich I offer you, if you ivil! not hs- zard the dijpleafure of feeing it foon poffeffed by fame others, who mill not perhaps yield it yoii fo eaftly iff I do. The Prince let himfelf no longer be urg'd after thefe words, but taking the hand of the Qiieen, he began to walk with her, whilll the King of the Sueves retired. The Ladies of the Queen, and the Officers, who, by their charge, were obliged to remain near her perfon, kept themfelves at a diltance out of refpedt, and he had the faireft occafion to entertain her he could poliibly have defiredi he knew not however, as I underftood by what he that evening recounted to Marcian before me, in what manner he fhould make ufe cf it i for belides the fear which ordinarily accompanies love, the whole perfon of Ko- famond is fo proper to imprint that fear which proceeds from refpeft, that in all his courage he could not find fufficient affurance to explain what he had in his heart. Balaniir had fpoke enough for him at the firft light, he had fufficiently confirmed the difcourfe of Bala^ mir by his Hrft words to the Queen, and by his looks, and all his adions, he had enough difcovered thelovehehad for heri but notwithftanding all this, the Majefty of Ra/iwo/ic/ made him faint- hearted, and he thought he obferved in her fo little difpofition to hearken favourably to what he would, if hedurft have fpoken, that he knew not in what manner lie ought to undertake it, though he faw himfelf in a condition, wherein all the Princes of a degree worthy to ferveher, were received, to give her proofs of their love, and from her to receive a fentencc in favour of him, who ferv'd her with moft fuccefs againft the King of the Franks. The Qyeen having begun a difcourfe concerning his Travels, had obliged him to recount fome particulars, and they infenfibly fell upon the difcourfe of our arrival in that Country, of our coming to the French Camp, and of his meeting with the King of the Franks , and tny Prince having a Soul truly great and noble, and in which no complacence or intereft could oblige a difguifal of the truth, could not fpeak to the Queen of Tharamond^ not only not without praillng him for the good ufage he had receiv'd, but not without teftifying the efteem and admiration he had for all his perfon, and he had polhbly faid more, if he had not perceiv'd that the Queen ftopp'd and chang'd colour. This knowledge he received made him ftop, and beholding the Queen with eyes altogether palhonate, I beg your pardon^ Madam, faid he, if I have jjroken too much of your enemy, for I obferve fome marks on your Vifage, maks me fear I have dijpleafed you. The Queen yet fighed at thefe words, and hiding her face with her hand to conceal her blulhes, Thofe vohg k>ioiv well, faid (he to my Prince, rvhat are the injuries I have received from that Prince of whom you Jpeak^, rvould not wonder to fee fome figns of trouble on my countenance when I am to fieak, of him, and it is a hard thing for me to hear any mention made of him, without ^nding my felf in a great diforder^ but the pain I fajfer if very ordinary, for in our prefent occafions, there is fcarce a day pajfei in which I hear not a hundred times the name of my Enemy. But, ( added the a little after, withaligh, by which (he fcem'd to open a way to my loft Prince ) if it be permitted me ta tnaki you remember what you love, as you have made me remember what I ought to hate, wiB you Mot be dijpleafed, if I demand of you what you now feel in your heart for the Eniprefi of the Eaji, to whom you devoted fo much love, and who hath made you undergo Jo tediom Tra- vels ? "I believe, (replyed the Prince very coldly) that T fhall anfwer to your difcourfe, without "fhewing any figns thereof in my face, by which you may judge how I am touched: and " though certainly I have had as much love for the Emprcis Eudoxia or AthenaU, as any " heart is capable to receive, and that this love hath humbled me to all thofe fufferings which "may- Book IV. T H A K A M N D. 599 "may torment a pailionate Soul, it is certain however, that of that pallion tiierc is not the " kail fign that remains in my Soul, and that I prcfervc in my memory Icarce any reiixm- " brance of the name of Athenals. JVhat you fay can hardly be pafible, rcplytd the Qi_icen. "It is yet lefs than you believe, ( replyed the Prince, without permitting her to jfeak^far- " ther ) but that which would have proved impoHible to all other' force, hath proved t.a|e " to yours i and that image of Jthenaif^ which no endeavour of my courage, no ablmce " norno diverfity of Objedls, nor no fort of remedy, could for one moment drive tiom " my memory, has been banifli'd for ever at the Hrll tight of your Cckliial Bcauty.i .. You "have known it, Madam, from the very mouth of my Rival, and though my pivithad "not confirmed it, if you had call your eyes upon me, you had known it by too UKiny *' marks, to have been ignorant of if. '■ ; -';^ .-.'"i* '>■' Varanez, fpoke in this manner, calling his eyes on tftcVifageof tlTC-Quf^", 'o read hiS deftiny, but with a fear not ordinary to him, he found nothing in tliis beginning which migVit give him any great good opinion of his fortune. For the haughty Qi^ietn beholding him very feverely : "In another condition, and at another time, /^///i /ije, 1 had puni{hed " this prefumption in theperfonof a Prince of Pfr^^, as well as in that bf any othcs pcr- "fon, butyouknow what is my fortune, and the field is open to you as well as to otlrers, " fince fo it hath pleas'd my deHiny. If the bield be open to we, replyed the Frince, 1 pail enter it rvith out doubt, were I fare to leaiie there athonfandlhies, bad Heaven (riveu me fit many •, and if it be by the ferviee we ought to render yott J may hope to be happ\i^ I will mt re- noHttce thofe hopes which I may conceive on appearances more favourable than ail tbofe with which my Kivalt can flatter tbemfelves, I will arm pufftbly far ynur ferviee a ^power much different from rthat they all can offer, and I will arm it with m lefi py, if you will permit me to hope that your inclinations are 7iot more contrary to me, thantomyKivals, in a defigntn feek^death^ or jupreme felicity, upon all opportuniiies to ferve yott. It is my fortune which tnakcs the Law, replyed the Queen, and not my inclinations, and you may underjiand if you pleafe, that in a deftgn equal to yours, thofe wham you call your 'Rivals, confult my iartune, and net my inclinations. i lir^f . She concluded thefe words with a figb, which the Prince obferv'd," ' it^d turn'd towards the other fide, poilibly to call fome of her Ladies, when King Ardaric, and Kmg 6Wi?gf- file, who had fcen the King of the ^aewj- retire, appeared in that Alley, and cametoac- coll her. My Prince could not fo well difTemble the difpleafure they did him, but that they might obferve fome figns of it in his face, and he beheld in theirs little difpofition to remain long time his friends. He faw it no kfs in the eyes of Gondioch, who came imme- diately after them', and of all tiie Lovers ot Kofamond, there was none, to whom the greatnefs of his Dignity, and merit of his perfon, gave not fome fufpicion, and made them not look upon him in few days with the fame ill will which they all had the one fbr the other, and which is ordinary amongft Rivals, and which fcem'd greater tor him than for others, by reafon of the great advantages he had over them. Balamir was he who teftitied theleaft, and tofpeak frufli, the perfon who indeed fear'd the leall, but it was he whom my Prince moll feared, both for a thoufand fair qualities, wherein he exceil'd all the reft, and for thofe many appearances, that of all the Lovers oi Kofamond, he (hared the greateli part in her efteem, and poliibly in her affedf ions. My Mailer hath lived in this manner, my Lord, fince his departure from you i and in fine, having abfolutely determined, and refolv'd to run his fortune with the reft, and to feek the poflelfion of Kofamond by thok ways which that might afford, calPd me yeller- day, and having taken me atide from other perfons who might hear his difcourfe, Since 1 am bound here, faid he, by thofe chains whUt permit me mt to depart, go into the Camp of the King «/*fce Franks, and on my fart falute the great Conftance, and bring hither Mi- tranes, whom I left with him, lou may tel! CouRznce what hath beftllen me fince our fe^ paration, andbythekttowled^e you s^ivehimof the engagement of my Soul, you will oblige him to pardon the fault 1 may commit in leaving him, and engaging my felf ona fidr contrary to that of a Prince with whom I have left him, and who, by his merit, and the good ufage he hath 'given him, hath without doubt gained his friendjhip. Tou may ajjitre him^ that what 1 have fromifed him, JhaH endure ai long as my life i and ynu may teL the King of the Franks, that no 'fapoH, but that which engages me in the intereli of the ^ueenof t/'eCimbrians, fhouldy»iahi mi take Arms againjl hU , that T k}iow nothing greater among men, and that if I mtt\i be b'ts Enemy, I (I.^UH ma^e War upon him likg a man whom m pafJloH can binder from etieeminz his vir- tue, "This vi the Cnmmiffton which my Prince gave me, and 1 have acquitted my fe/f of it, (continued the Efquirc, turning himfelf towards the King of the Frankj ) as be hath or- der' d me. I was upon the paint to depart from the Camp, ir&fK Valerius arriji^, and k,wjw- 4od THARAMOND. Part. IV. inghim, I accofled him^ let him fee my Uafier ^ andtoak^my time t9 come hither mtb bim to obey the orders of my Frince. 'T' HE Efquire of the Prince of Perfja finidied thus his difcourfe, which put the whole Company into admiration, and when he had done fpeaking, tharamond and Conjlance for a long time beheld each other, leaving mutually liberty to the other to anfwer, but in the end it being to ConJUame to whom he was fent, and the King remaining firm in his defign, not to fpeak till after him, the illuftrious Koman broke filence. In truth (faid he to theE- fquire of Varanez) you could net well tell me news that could trouble me more than that y»u now recount : for efteeming the King of the Franks as 1 do, J could have wi{hed him any other Enemy ^ rather than him. He might pojjibly have confidered with himfelf better than he hath done, and better he had oppofed a pajjion, which according to my opinion will not give him mure fatisfaSion than thefirjl ■■, and by engaging himfelf to mak^ ff^ar againji King Pharamond, he does^ not pojji- bly well kjtow to what he hath engaged himfelf: but IJhall better in perfon tell him my thoughts^ fmcelhope to fee him to morrow. Tou may tellbim if you pleafe (added Pharamond, addref- fing himfelf to the Efquire, fo foon as Conjiance had done fpeaking) that I cannot underjiand xpithout infinite trouble, that a Prince for whom I have a great eileem, though he returned but rough anfwers to my civility, and a Prince who U afriendto the great Conftance (which renders him poftbly more conftderable to me than any thing elfe) (hould become my Enemy in a War only made agai?tji my life. "That however I approve hif fair defign, and that I am too well acquainted with love not to excufe what he may undertake, but that hU happinefiis not paffibly fa near at he believes if he expeUs it only by the ruine of Pharamond, and that I will defend my life with fo much courage, as may perhaps maks him more than once repent the defgn to ajfauli This was the anfwer he returned to the Efquire of Varanez, and when he was retired with Mitranes, turning towards Conjiance in whom this news had begot fome melancholly, Jou fee my Lord, faid he, what are the effects of the beauty of Rofamond, and that there w nothing in the world fo powerful asjhe, either to recover men from great evils or makf them un- faithful. Of three i\lu\irious unfortunate perfons, and unfortunate by the fame kind of mifery^ you fee two recovered by tbe fight of Rofamond, and I doubt not but (he may workjhe fame effeU for the third. 1 underfiand you, replyed Conjiance, nor can 1 believe but that it vs of Varanez, Balamir, and my felfyou fpeak,', but though there hath been in effeU a great conformity in our ad,. ventures, Ipromife you there {hall be none in the remedy, and that Death alone Jhall do for me^ what the fight of Bofamond hath done for the other two. Varanez and Balamir had without doubt done the fame thing, replyed Pharamond fighing, and an hour before they had feen tbe ^een of the Cimbrians, had poftbly fworn that they would not forget Hunnimonda and Athe- nais hut in the 'tomb, yet however my Lord you fee what if fallen out. There hath been in our adventures, replyed the illuftrious Roman, Circumjiancesfo different as to make a difference in our Obligations, and Balamir ought not to do for a perfon who lived not, nor Vznntzfor one who would willingly lofe him to give herfelf to another, what I ought to do for Placid ia. Moreover^ J carry the name of a virtue which if proof againji all the beauties and all the powers of the Earthy and to all thif I will add,that when 1 (hould have no other reafons to defend my felf againji what is it befallen the other two, but the confideration I have for you,! promife you my Lord that I will ne- ver be your Rival : Or at leafi, concluded he with a figh, that if thU mis fortune jhould fall out againji my intention, neither you nor Rofamond, nor any perfon in the world (hall ever have know- ledge of it. I have a con^dence in your virtue, replyed the King of the Frank/, which re- ajfures me againji all that fear which your merittmay give me, and I am firongly perfwaded that «<» pajjton can ever remain firmer in your heart than your virtue. J will likfwife tell you, that if my ill fortune give me the great Conftance/or Rival, I/hall net comfort my felfforfuch a misfortune^ as I maypojfibly comfort my felf for all that 1 can fear from the Competition of Varanez and Bala- mir. "Ihough I Should be your Rival, replyed Conftance, you would not be unhappy : for you have a merit puts you in fufficient fccwity againji Rivals more formidable than me : however, I feek^not my cure as Varanez fought it, nor would I receive it as Balamir received it though it were offered to me ■, nor do I k^ow if we ought to call thU change of their condition a recovery, for I doubt much whether in thif fee ond love their fortune will be more happy than it was in thefirji. Ikftow not what it may be, replyed the King of the Frank/, for in the ejiate to which my ill fortune hatb reduced me, there vs no Rival I ousjjt not to fear, fince of all the Lovers of Rofamond hope is de- nied to me alone : But if the friendlhip you prefervefor the Prijice y/Perfia leaves me a liberty to iejiifie to you my thoughts, Iwill tell you that though he may be great King of Pcrfia, andgreatat be iifor the qualities of h'ys perfon, he caufes in me lefi trouble than Balamir, and that nothing at thif Book IV. PHAKAMONI). 401 thii time fa much dilpleafes me, as thit I mttii iva^e JFar a^rairtjl one who is a friend to Connancc *' I may be a friend to Varanez in other matters, replyed the Roman : tor belidcs what I owe " to the affurances he hath given mc of his friendlhip, he lias really fuch qualities in his per- *'fon as have attradted my cfteem, though I have perhaps found fome things have net fo " well pleafed me, and you may poilibly have oblerved that he hath little conformity to out " humours : but the opinion I have of him cannot alter that I have ot you ; and as I was "not fo prepofTtiTed but that I could put a due difference between you, you fhall fee n.y "Lord, that if this war continue he and I fliaU not be of the fame party. "Ah this is too "much, cryedthe Kin^of theVxzwks, nor can I ever merit what you offer mcj bothagainft "the Prince of ?erfm and againft th^ Allies of the Homans : But if in thofe misfortunes to "which I am reduced, there relis to me any means to make you fee my refcntment, and " what confolation I in my ill fortune receive from thofe marks you give me of your friend- "^ (hip, you fhall certainly fee '' I fhall fee nothing (faid Confiance oppofmg himfelfto the " continitance ofbU dijcourfe) but I may hope more from your virtue ; nor can 1 by any proof " be perfwaded more than I am of the beauty and Grandeur of your foul.In the mean time, *■'■ {continued he rifmg from his feat) 'tis time to bid you good niglit, and retire to leave you to " your repofe, and on the morrow before I depart to go to the Camp of the Cimbrians^ I *' will fee you again, if you have any particular Commiliion to give me. After thefc words, to which the King anfwercd with all thofe which a true acknowledg- ment could put in his mouth, Cr,»\tancezx\6i Artaburercuxed : And a little after, Prince Mar» comire who had accompanied them being returned, all the Company departed the Chamber fave only Marcomire whom the King made flay, and with fiim Cleomer and the two Cim- briani Cloderic and Albimer^ who remained conilant to his fervice, induc'd both by thofe be- nefits which had eftablillid'them a fortune much different from wliat they had had in their own Country, and by the charms of his perion which had bound them too Ifrohgly to have any power to forfakc him. when the King fawhimfelf alone with them, and fome OfScers in charge who outof re- fpedt kept diffant from the bed, caufing C/fomf, Cloderic, zviA Albimer to approach, and turning himfelf towards Marcomire who was feated near him i " And well brother, faid he " is it without reafon that I have always feared the merit of Balamir i Or were not you de- *'ceived, when you believed that the Queen bore only towards him a timple civility or at , " moR good will ? " I ftill believe the fame thing, replyed the Prince, and in all the difcourfe *' this day made, you find nothing that can make me change opinion. "■ How Brother, re. '■'■plied Pharamond, have not you obferved all that the Efquire of Varanez told us, of the " difference fhe made between him and the other Princes of her party ? And do you efleem " as nothing that Pourtiaid:ure which began to make Varanez lofe his liberty, and which "fiie hath given him without doubt that hefBould keep it by herconfent, and which faith- " fully tell hirri her miracles, Gnce it can make Slaves ? Can a favour of fuch price feem to "you little confTderable from a Princefs of the humour and courage of liofamond ? Or can "you attribute it to fimple good will ? Ah Balamir without doubt is happy ; and though " his fortune ihould remain in thefe terms, it is great enough to tinake me dye with grief and " jealoulie. That which poflibly he had difficultly carried from me, if we had entred into '■'■ the fcivice oi Kofamond with equal advantage, the misfortunes of my life hath given "him, and there was fome appearance that with a merit like that of Balamir, fervices and " diligence fhould prevail againfl abfence and cruel injuries. It is then in Balamir that f ''ought to feek the Objed of all my refentment, and it is againfl his life alone much rather "thanagainft that of all others that I ought to turn my Sword, which I carry in vain by this " fide* it it knows not how to deliver me from fuch a Rival. Fharamond fpoke thefe words with fo much violence, by the effedJ of a paffion which at. prefent over- ruled the natural fweetnefs of his Soul, fo that neither Marcomire nor the others could flop the courfe of it nor durft oppofe it : but when he had done fpeaking hindred by fome fighs which permitted him not to continue his difcourfe, Cloderic breaking filerice i' "I know not my Lord, faid he to the King, if you haveothcrreafons than thofe are known' *'toyou to judge of the fortune of Balamir, but if it be the Pourtraidure of the« Queen *' which gives you fuch trouble, it it not difficult to compbfc your fpirit, by telling you, not " only that it was not from her he received it, but that there are few of her Lovers who have *' not the like : That the dcceafedKing of the Cimbrians caufed mariy to be drawn by the hand' " of an excellent Limner then at Marobuda, to fendto thofe Princes whom he would engage " in his party by the light of that admirable beauty ; and that it was from his own hand that •^ Balamir received it the fame day that he returned to Marobtida, having driven the Burgick' "«^a- gobert, Clodegefile, Cleomer, and many other ilUilhious perfons mounted on Hovfeback, to conduct him forth of the Camp, and accompany him a part of the way he had topafs to < chat Book IV. THAKAMOND. 403 that of the Cimbriant, rot belicTing it conveilicnt to go farther, though fomc of them ve- ty much defired it. He denyed as much as he could this civility, but in the end he was forced to accept it, by reafon of theconftancy of the Princes, whole reiolution he could not divertv and he marched towards the Camp between the two Brothers of FharjinonJ, at the head of the fair Troop which followed them » palling by the Quarters which were in their way, the two Princes difcours'd him of the manners and Ikength of the Nations that compos'd them, but when they had reached the utmolV bounds of tiie Camp, Li^h- fiance addrellinghimfelf to Mdrcomire^ demanded of him, if he would not give himfome •ommands to the Princefs Albifrnda, afTuring him that he would acquit hiniftlf vvith ail poliible affedljon v and the Prince, having thanked him for his civility, with great marks of refentment, prayed him not to fpeak of him to the Princefs, for fear led hisdifcourfe might put her to the blufh, or left flie (hould be offended to Hnd that he knew a thing which ought to be kept fecret, by reafon of the knowledge he had of the fevere humour of her Father. Con]\ ance pion\\kA him he would afl as he defired, and the Prince again break- ing filence, Jfy»u neill do any one ofuia good off.ct^you cannot better employ ynttr civility than by doing it for my Brother^ { faid he, (hewing him Prince Sunnon ) and 1 am much deceived if at prefent he hath not as much need of it as any of its. " Can it be pplfible, ( faid Ctn-, "fiance, feeing thdt Sunnon figh'dat this difcourfe ) that a fight of fo few minutes (hould " work fo great an alteration in the fi)u] of Prince Sunnon ? or can a paflion be eftabiiHied " with fuch entire power in the fpace of two days > Since yon knatv the affairs of all our Hotife, replyed Sunnon with an excellin^grace, 1 Jhall, my Lord, make no diff.culty to dif- cover to you mine, and to confefi to you, that I believe neither Pharamond nor Marcomire more enamoured that my felf. I believe likewife, that, I have in tn-^o days felt all that love tan make me feel while I live, nor can mine be of any longer durance, if this pajfien moderate Hot its violence. That which is befallen you is very extraordinary, faid Conliance, but not with-. cut examples, yoU have them frejb and familiar in the fortune of the King your Brother, and that of the Prince of Pexi\3. 7 here wanted but little, added the Prince M^rcawirf, hut ynti might have put me in the number ^ for though at the firji fight of Albifinda I reM not fo ena-. ntouredjf 1 wm fame days after, yet it is certain, that.rveak, and feeble as I was, I received her image into my heart with delight, and. that I loved her fufficiently the firji moment, to be-, lieve it impofftble to forgH her, though I had never in my life again feen her. 'ihat which I felt, did the yoang Stinnon, was with another force than what you jj>eak.of: for the Image •f Ama'lazontha is fo fyCd to my remembrance, and as itfeems to me, to my very eyes in fuch manner, that it is impoffible for my thoughts to be abfent one nwment from it, I faw her all the night, and I think, yet I feee her in thai rejpUndent beauty, whofe brightneji dazled me, and in that charming languor, which made me receive death with fweetnefi, whjljl (he carryed it into my bnfm. Allobjedf, injiead of diverting that Idea inmyjpirit, feem'd to dejpoil tkem- fehes of their farm to imprint hers j andin fine, Jhe pnffefs''d it fo entirely, that it was no long', tr capable io all for her alone. I kitow well by a language fo pajfionate, faid Conjiance, that you are truly inloviy nor can I fuffciently admire the de^iny of your Houfe, which would not create love in the three Brothers, but for the Sijiers of three Princes, who li^i their lives by the L<*««cf o/ pharamond". But Brother, added Prince Marcomire, you have nof yet told us iiij ttbat manner the ®ueen of the Turingiens carryed her felf towards you while you accnmpaitytd her, but if you can teU it its^ we may poffibly draw thence confequences which may give yott hope and confolation. \' -."> , ' " She treated' me without rudenefs, and without incivility., i»«/»erf(/ Sunnon,, andl'obr- *' fcrvcd in her all the proceeding of a Prin«fs well and nobly educated \ but with a tender *' grief, in which I faw her languifli, I obferv'd by her eyes, and by her words, much di- •Mhad^ion in herfpirit, and it feemed to me, that by reafon of the profound fadnefs, iii *' whieh file feem'd to be overwhelmed, (he minded me but little, and gave meJefs at- " tention. I was not adoniflied after what Ihad heard fpeak of the death other Brothery *' that at the fight of fome objedts which might renew the remembrance of it, (he had *' her eyes moillned, or permitted fome fighs to iffue from her fair mouth, but it feemed *'inmy judgment, that to her grief there was joyncd fome trouble in hct fpirjt, which "deprived her of the liberty of her fundions, and which made, it felf obfervable by the "incertitude of her regards, a^d the feveral changes appeared in her vifage. I had no "difficulty to accommodate" my aftion, and countenance to hers, and feeing her from " time to time lift up her' eyes towards Heaven, with an adJion which feem'd to accufe . it of fome cruelty v that which I gained froin her regards in palling^ (iopp'd mine ori " hercounfenance, with a force which permitted rrienot to draw them thence, aiid they "fpoke'l iffure nrty fdf, if the fair Queen Would have under(\ood their dif;ourfe, wliat Fffi "lefped'; 404 PHARAMOND. Part lY. " refped, and fear to difpleafe her, permitted not my mouth to declare. I would willing- " ly have accompanied htr into the middle of the Enemies Camp, though her prcfence " had notfecured mc i but (he commanded me to return much fooner than I defired, and "when I took leave of her, aided by the power of all my courage, I befought her tore- " member a Prince flie had that day feen, not as an enemy who waged war againft her, but " as a man vvho would be too happy to lacrificc his life for her fervice. lef, ( faid (he with a figh (he could not retain ) I rcill remember what I have this day feen^ and I believe 1 (haU never forget it while I live. " I lo(\ her after thefe words, and by her departure I remain'd *'in arjobfcurity not yetdillipated, though the Sun hath twice fince appeared inourHcmi- " fphcre. At this padionate difcourfe of young Sunnon, Conjiance and Marcomtre who hearkened to it with all attention, eaiily knowing that it was love put thefe words in his mouth, were about to tcll+iim what they thought, or at lead what they would perfwade him they thought, concerning thofe things he had told them, when Artabure^ Genebaud, and ma- ny others, before whom they would not explain themfelves, approached them, and ob- liged them to change the fubjedl; of their difcourfe. That which they had afterwards to- gether was not long, for CoH\\a)tce feeing that they were nearer the Camp of the Cimbrians than their own, would not permit them to go farther, but obliging them to return, he continued his way with /l''t^hiire^ Cloderic, and thofe other Knights which Fharamond hzd given him to accompany him. [ I believe it may be permitted us to follow h»n, for the two Camps flood atfo little di- (bncc, that we may pafs from the one to the other without wounding that regularityof the Scenceto which we arecon(ined,^ They in the Camp of the Cimbrims being advertifed of the coming of Conjiance^- by the Cimbrians, vvho the day before came to the Camp ot the Frankj, and was returned that morning very early, they rcfolved to receive him with the honour due to his Birth, the degree he held in the world, and the glory of his fair Adtions i and the King of the Sueiet being an Ally of the Romans^ and willing to honour the Empire in the perfon of Con- fiance, and pollibly oblige him to prefer his intereds before thofe of Vharamond^ he mount- ed 'on Horfeback to meet him, and the King of the Alainszx\A Gepides^ though he hgd been overcome in Spain by Conjlance, not prefcrving any remembrance of the mistortune he had in the war, which had only created in him an efteem and refpedl for his Conquerour, would needs accompany the King of the Saeves, and by his "example the King of the Ba~ jhrnes, and Prince Go)idemar were mounted on Horfeback , to receive among them, a man^Avhofe fame was fo glorioufly fpread through the world. . Gondioch, who was an e- nemy to the Koman name, and who had no kindnefs for the dellgn that led Conjiance ipto their Canip, was difpcns'd with, Godegefile, who vvas Succe(rour, and of the blood of K<»- ^dtiife, whom Cfl«/fiftance knew him, he rode rftUhe fame manner towards him, and they having contraded a friendlhip which banlflied all formalities in their complements, embraced without alighting, and notwithRanding the refentment of Cottjia>ice 3gdi[n(\Varjnez, thcyreceiv'd each other after a manner that well denoted their friend(hip. When they could fpeak, Varanez beholding Confiance with (hame. And well ^ faid he, what ptdgmettt do yonat prefent make of me ? ur rather^ to what da ym condemn me ? "■ l condemn you to fui-.'er, anffvered Conftance, at leaft, as much '■'■ fot Kofamond, as you have done for Athenaif, and if I deceive not my felf, tofufter it 5^ With the fame faccefs, and for my judgment, ^ou (liall pardon me if I cannot give it for ♦''y6\ir advantage, 7ou jj^eak^. replyed the Prince of Perjia^ like a man that kjtew mt love^ fmdwben you ihall have feen the ^een of the Cimhxizns, instead of condemning »Jf, 1 fe»r ■ym will be my K/val. " Fear it not, ( replyed^ though very coldly, the illtfjhioM Roman ) '^and believe; thatthough this mifery (hould befal me, as if hath done you, the refped I "hav(itothemeritof Pharamond, would make me iiruggle with this palfion, inlieadofta- " bandoning my felf to it. I rejfeii the merit of Pharamond, replyed the Prince of Perfia^ both Book IV. FHARAMOND, 405 both for Tvhjt I hjvek^oivii in his perfon, and what I h.ive heard fram 'Rer.nivH^ hut 1 am not enq^aned to hint either by fieitdpip^ or any other oblitr^aiion^ nor l^iow J any rcafon which ought to hinder me from feekjng my happinef hy his pre]tidice. " 1 bJicve, replyed Conltancc, "rhat with a merit like yours you may hope all things, but tor my (elt, vv^io have but a " mean one, I confe(sthat I (hould hope little from my tortune, againll.a Rival fuch as " Pharamond. I tinderjiand ymt ivell, faid Varanez, and hy yonr tttode\i dif:ouyfe ym ttiahe me apprehend enongh ■, but besides that I am not like ynit perfwaded, thjt nothing candiffitte agatHji the merit of Pharamond, it feems to me that there is nothing tn be dif^mted with him^ and that in the efhte rvherein his affairs are rvith the ^leen of the Cimbrizus, thmtq^h beh-td no Rival he could pretend nothing. I fee tvell^ replyed Cnnjiance^ that in nuiny things you and I are not of the fame opinion^ but if yon be in any condition to receive counfcl^ and I in any to give it, I rvill divert you as much as is prffible for me, from a drfign to make tvar agaitiji a Prince who hath not offended you, and who can without doitht make his enemies bear a fl:are of hi's peril. For the peril, replyed Varanez very fiercely, yon may well believe that it is Hot that which jhaU divert me from the IVar, and that fame of his valour which may canfe fear in other perfons, cannot work^ thf fame effeVi over a courage Hks mine. B/!t I. cannot bvc- Rofamond without efjioufmg her interefts-, though 1 have received no offence from her enemy ■■, and I bate.him much more, when I consider him as her lover ^ than as her enemy. Both in the one and the other quality, faid Conliance, it would be diffcult for you to hate him, if you knew him well. I aeni here fi>re' content, replyed I'aranez veiy briskly, fiot to kj^ow him farther: for I already feel, that if he fliould beloved by the ^cen of the Cimbrians, I fljall hate him more than any mait in the world ■, but it feems to me, added he with a (igh, that Pharamond bath gained your heart in a very port time. I frnd yours no le(i engaged to love, replyed the famous Koman, and I cannot believe there fliaulgl be need of longer time to become the friend of Pharamond, than the lover of Rofamond. They difcourfed in this manner, marching towards the Camp, and they hsd faid more, if they had not feen the King ot the Sueves. with the other Princes fo near thtm, that ihty had not the liberty to continue their converie. Sojoon as they were about aVi hundred paces one from the other, they all alighted, and Conliance and the K.ing of the Sueves to whom the others gave place, being advanced one towards the other, faUited with inhnite civility. Ardaric came forward next tlic King of the Sueves^ and next to him the King of the Ba- fternes, and Prince Gondemar, all whom Varanez named to Cowj^a/fcf as tlicy approached tofalutehim. All thefe Kings, and the other illuftriousperfons which had accompanied them, were no Icfs touched with the noble compofure of Co«|fi{«cf his perfon, than they bad been charmed with his fair reputation, and as there was no man in the world whofe re- nown was fpread like his, they btheld him with all tlie cfieem due to fo illullrious a name, and the King of the Sueves tirll breaking filencc, / receive with infinite joy, faid lie, the favour which Heaven this day doth me, and though I were not ^l!y to the Empire, nor concerned in the intereji of the Romans as I am, I canot fee the great ConHance, of whom all the world fieakj with veneratipn, without being fo fenfible aM dttght nf a happinef! fo little expeaed. I merit not, replyed Conjiance very modeftly, what your affedion to the R,oman name makes you ^ea\ to the moji wnfortunale of all the Romans i and 1 receive from a great Prince, l/ke your feif thofe marks you give me of your affection, with all due acknowledgment and reffieS. And forme, ( faid King Ardaric with a very good grace ) will you not that 1 render that Homage I owe to my Vanquisher ? and that I rejoyce to fee in Germany that great Captain, that drove me ok* o/ Spain. If the Romans vanquij^jed the Alains and Gepidcs in Spain, te- plyed Co«j? j?«ee, it was not throttgh the fault of King ^^rdnuc, nor is it always by the valour of the Coniinanders, that viUorytak^th fides ■> and J cantell'youwith truth, that 1 have always efteem'd you as a very great Prince, and that J have much defired, that the intereji of Na- titns might ^tot leave you any caufe of offence againji me. Myrefentment, faid prince Gi?;;- demar very pleafingly, could not hinder me from flying to the name of C*|ftance, for lam too much in love with hit noble fame and reputation to \iop at (tny confiderationfffftit might divert me. "•For my part, added the young Humbert Kingof the Balkrncs, I this day v;ith no fmall joy " behold the effedl of a defire I have for many years wifiicd, and I would have gone to the " end of the world to have feen that man who hath every where filled it with his tame." You " fee to my fliame (faid Conftance to the King of the Baderncs though he had fpokf lali) thai " Renown hath too much flatter'd me if it be true that it hath perfv&aded you fo well to my' " advantage. And for you ( added he fpeaking to Gondcmar J you are not fo little known as "you believe, and I am not ignorant that by the glory of your youngeft year's, you are al- " ready arrived at fuch a pitch of glory as need not envy that of more aged men. After thefe vi^ords, andothers little different pradifed upon this cntcrview, Co>^Mcc. prcftritccj^ 4o5 PHARAMOND. Part IV. Prcfented Artahttre to afl the Princes, and as his nami was famous In the wOrld,by means of *he great aftions he had done, fo he was received with all the honour due to iiim, arid a 'ittle after they all took Horfe again to proceed to the Camp, from whence they were but little diftant, and the King of the iSwefe/ riding by the fide ot Conjiafice, after fome mo- ments breaking filence i IVm not you^ faid he, after having tejiijied the ajloHiJhmeHt, and joy tve have to fee livings and xvith w, the fame Conftance, of tvhotft we have received no newt ftnee the laft War of the Gauls, and rvhnje lof all the tvotld hath deplored^ rve (hould mahg fome complaint^ the ^een of the Cimbrians, and my felf, of the injury and injuliice you have done us, in preferring the Enemies of the Koimns before their ancient Allies, and choofing ra- ther to fojourn with the Enemies of your Country, than with thofe whom the interejl of the Ro- mans hath made theirs .«■ Have we not reafon to believe, that it fhould be with the Sueves, and Cimbrians, rather than with the Franks, you {hould make fome abode ? Or are we not very unhappy, to have merited this forget fulneji, or difdain from the Romans, whilji we tak^ Arms for the interefls of their Empire ? Conjiance hearkened peaceably to the difcourfc of the King of the Sueves, and begin- ning fo foon as he had done fpeakingi " There might be fome reafon in the complaint *'you make, faid he, if it were by my choice, that I had fought a retreat in the Camp of " the frankj, rather than in yours ( though I can tell you, that when that (hould have been *' in the unhappy eftatc of my fortune, I preferv'd no remembrance of the intereft of Na- " tions, whether Enemies, or Allies of the Enapire ) but you may have underftood from " the Frince of Perfta, that it was by an accident, and not out of delign, I flayed with "King rharamoudy and you (hall underftand from me, that in the (iay which that acci- " dent hath made me make with him, 1 have found in him qualities fo great, or rather " fo admirable, that I could not refufe wha^t he will eafily obtain from all perfons to whom "he is well known : And moreover, I have found fo much innocence in his Arms, and " quarrel, and if you will permit me to fay fo, fo much cruelty, and fo little jufticc in •'yours, that! could not fuffer, that our Allies (hould di(honour their Aims in an unjuft '' caufe, makean innundation o( humane blood throughout all Germany, and commit all '' their glory to the event of a War which Heaven ought not to favour, and of which the '' beginnings have been unfuccefsful to their party. " How my Lord, ( faid the King of the *' Sueves, interrupting him, and beholding him with an eye that rendered obfervable the dif- " content he received by his difcourfe ) do ye judge our quarrel to be unjuft > Or can you be- *'lievc, that Ko/ii«fl«tow that you are any Ally to the Romans, and that it was for their interejl you lojl the Prince y»ur Son, and it is this reafm makes me came to you, m to our Ally and Friend, to endeavour to give you a repofe, you voluntarily deprive your felf of , and fiarit the blood of your people, whizh you facrifiee without pity to your immoderate revenge. It is becaufe you are our My, that I am engaged to this enterprife, in a time, wherein I havef' bandoned my fortune, and my life it felf, for againft others than our Allies, I had without de- lay taken the Artnof Pharamond, wbofe virtue is no lefi dear to me than aU the intereft of Nations. The King of the Sueves was about to r'?ply, and podibly in a manner which had dcpriv'd Iiim of a part of the hope he had conceiv'd to profper in his delign, but by this time they faw themfelves in the Camp, and favr thcmfelves on all fides accolkd by perfons who gave them not Icifure to continue their converfe. They followed on their way to the Quarter of the Oueen, by long Streets of Tents ranged in a very fair order i and all this appearance of War, in a Campcompos'd of fo many Nations, and the powers of fo many Kings, re« calling into the Spirit of Conllance, the remembrance of what was pafTed, made him oftcn- titiiss ligh for that change of his condition, which had cruelly interrupted the courfc of thofc Book IV. P H A R A M N D. 407 thofc fair adions by which he had acquir'd fomuch glory. Th;y came in the end to a great Village, featcd on the Banks ot the llhine^ at which the Princes had taken their Quarters, becaufe there were many tair Palaces, much more C(;mmodious thm the Tents, and aCalUe, which, out of rcfped, they had left to the Queen cf the Cimbrians, the Queen of the Turingienf, and the Princels of Snevia. It was here that they alighted, and Cnnjiance^ conduced by the King of the Sueves^ and the others, found the twoQiieens, and the Princefs, at the gate of the Hall, whither they •were come to meet them, with King Cro»^/oc/;, and King Goif^£j;/i?, who would not rcfufe to fee Cottfiattce^ though they were Enemies to his Nation, and more to the delign which conduced him to their Camp. All that Conjiance could imagine of the bca'ty of Eofa- mond^ by the recitals of Cleomer^ Vharamond^ and all other perfons who had Ipokcn to him cf that fubjedt, he now found infinitely below what now appeared to his eyes, and he con- fcffed, that no imagination could perfwade him to what he in truth beheld. He remain'd fy furpris'd at fucli a far excelling Objed, that for a long time he was not able to acquit himfcif of the Formalities ufual in fuch Encounters i and though his Soul was whplly fill'd with the Idea of Phcidia, his love for fome moments fufpcnded all its motion, and his Spi- jit feem'd to forget all things, to dedicate it lelf entirely to that fight which charm'd the jemembrance of his evil, and fpread fomething through his fenfcs, which rendrcd him quite different from himfcif. The habit of the Queen, though fuitablc to an auftere fadnefs, lefTened not her beauty, for the black colour did more fct forth therefplendtnt whitcnels of a complexion which out- vied the very Snow,and did but form an oblcurity from which her eyesfcemed to glance a fire more bright than ordinary. Tiie admirable proportions of her whole perfon, and the beauties of her port and gate, feem'd rather like to thofe of Hotner^s Divinities, than thofe of mortal perfons. In fine, all her perfon entirely atcradcd both the eyes and fpirit of Co«jfa»ce to its light and admirations and though he yielded not to fuch a power as Varanez znd Balamir had done, at kail, he excnled, and ccafcd to con- demn them. The wonders which he [iw in Knfimofid, hindred him not from obferving thofe which all the world acknowledges in the Beauties of AmaUzontha and Albifmd&^ he beheld them as two fair Stars near a brighter Luminary, and he judged well, thatif hehad fcen them 0- ther where than with Rofamond, he could have believed there was nothing fairer in the world. He faluted them with that, refpedt due to their Dignities, and with that which Beauties fo admirable could imprint in Souls, and they received him like that perfon of the world whom renown had moll made them know, and who, by his great Aftions, ought to be judged worthy their clleem. He was likewife civilly faluted by Gondioch siud Code- gefile^ though their intentions were ill, and he rendred them all tliat was due to their Disuni- ty, and to their Merit, fo much the rather, by their noble air, and graceful comportment he was perfwaded it. After the firll words, ufual at fuch meetings '' in which, if his modefty fuffered fome- thing by thofe praifes which he faw given him by the fairell lips, it was as well impoliiblc for him to conceal a part of thofe things with which a light fo extraordinary had replete his mind ) being come into the Hall, with the Queen of the Cimbrians, whofe hand he had taken, and from thence having conduced her into her Chamber, whilll the King of ihtSneves^ znd Artabure^ whom he had prefented to the Queens, rendred the fame office to the fair Queen of the Tmingiens, and the Princefs Albifvida^ having taken his place near the Queen of the Cimbrians, like a perfon to whom all courtly cufloms were well known ( whilll the reft of the company did the like ) beholding her with a refpedl which was pof- fibly above what is due to mortal perfons, and which deprived him of a part of the liberty hehad ealily to explain himfcif i I k^totv not., Madtm. faid he, if you mil pardon a perfon whofe mU fort unet have depriv'd him of his courage and boldnejl, thofe endeavours^ rvbich in a better fortptne^ he might have attempted, tvith mare appearance i cr if you mill grant, that it is yet permitted to aperfn, n'ho, by the goodnefi of his Emperaitr, xvis at other times in fome ejieem rvith the Allies of the Empire, to hope, that he may jiill find fo much amon^ them jf to make his Mediation acceptable, and the Tropnfuions he 11 to make of a peace, much more ad- vantagious and gluriotis for them, than all the events nf tvar can be pleafvtt^^ I ktiarv rveU Ma- dam, that your Father was an Al'y of the Romans, a7id I believe yon have not renounced their Alliance, and therefore thofe motions with which youfhall injpire them, and if you will permit mejxvill intreat them all before you, not to oppefe the defire J have to give them repofe, and hinder the ruine of Germany. 7hey know too well how many thoufand lives thii iVar hath already coji, both in the Lands of the Franks, thofe of the Cimbri- ans and Burgundians, aud though they might hope (as this hope is not denied them) that the e- vents of the iFar may be favourable to them, I cannot believe they can hope the ruine of Phara- mond at lefi price than that of three hundred thoufand men. In the mean time your people and theirs ^roan under the yoak^of a moft cruel War, you know already all their miferies and hardca^ lamities, and you k^iow moreover Madam that it vs not for defence of liberty theyfuffer, nor for the intereji of Nations, but far a particular quarrel. There is enough Madam, there ii enough blood facrifced to revenge, there ii nothing Jo jufl but ought to have its limits, and that which might have been juft in a time when the injuries were frefl}, and when nothing had been done to repair them, ceafes to be fo in a long and cruel oblUnacy. /Ind further Madam (continued he, turning himfelf wholly towards her) you k^tow what enemy youpurfue, you are not ignorant whether he hath offended you by his intention or misfortune, and you cannot doubt but by reafun of that which he hath to be hated by you, that life again[i which you armfo many thoufands ofmen^ if more odious to him than the worii of hU Enemies. I will not fay more, it belongs to another tongue than that of a Mediator (as J am) to perfwade you iathif matter, and if that I Jhould proceed in it, there are many perfons in this Company by whom I (fjould not be favourably heark- ned to : but I ought in my judgment to be fo by the moft interefted whilft I demand only peace, and offer them all fatisfaUion, from a Prince ( who fubmits out ef all other motives rather than fear) at prefent in a condition able to fuftain the War againji all the powers they can Arm. Conflance fpoke in this manner, and being naturally fweet and patient he would continue the difcourfe to the end, though at the beginning he foon knew by the countenances of ma- ny of the Company that it was not agreeable to them. There was a little murmuring among them fo foon as he had done fpeaking, which made him well judge he (hould find fome dif- . ficulty in his dellgn. And the fair Queen of the Cimbrians, who had quietly liftned to hira' having caft her eyes upon Amalazontha and on the King of the Sueves as molt interelkd ; And in fine, upon all the other Princes as it were to gather a part of their thoughts before flie declared hers, turning her felf towards Conftance, and breaking filence with fuch a grace and Majefty as aftonifted the illuftrious Roman ; lou ought not to doubt my Lord, faid (he, but your mediation is held in great efteem among perfons who rej}ed the Roman alliance andyour par- ticular merit, and you would do us injuftice if you (hould believe, that what might be yielded to the Oriental or Occidental Emperours can he refufed to the great Conllance ; but there are fume- times engagements which leave us not the liberty to follow our inclinations, and though we may overcome thoughts wemujl not violate folemn Oaths, nor break thofe unions in which our honour if engaged as well at our word. I tell you this particularly fr my interejl, and without makjng you the fad difcourfe of thofe cruel injuries I have received from the King of the Franks, by the ruine of our Ke alms, the lofl of my liberty, the Death of my 'Brother flain by bis own band before my eyes, that of a Father who loli it by his Arms, and fo many other evils which for the greatnejl of them are l^own to the whole Vniverfe, I will tell you that though I could pardon fuch bloody in- juries I cannot difpenfe with facred Oaths, and Oaths which I have made before all the Gods both to my Brother dying in my Arms, and to my Father expiring before my eyes, to purfue the revenge of their death to the laji moment of my life : Nor an I violate a facred union made with the King of the Sueves by the command of the King my Father, in a quarrel common to us and in which our interefts cannot be feparated. Ah for Heaven Madam (faid Conliauce to the fair Queen) yott ought not to doubt, but it will di^enfe with the performance of your oaths, and f.nce they are con- trary to its will, inWead ofbeimr incenfed it will favour your goad intentions : And for that union you have made with the King nf the Sueves, as we defire to appeafe andfatisfe him as well as you^ it will not be neceffary to difuniteyou in a treaty you flwll not mak^ but witb him, and to which l hapf Book IV. T H A K A M N D. 409 hope he will for our fakfs confent. Ton hope it in vain (faid now tlie Kino; of the Sieves verv briskly) andthottghlconfiderasloughtjboth the alliance of the Unmans and the mediation of fuch a man as Conftance, you muft not tvonder if I declare that no reafon nor no cnnf:deration(hall niakf me abandon the defign 1 have to purfue the revengs of my Son till death. " 1 believed, faid Con- fiance very faintly, that time and tlic blood you luve devoted to tlut deliie ot revenge might have fwectncd a part of your rcfcntment, and 1 dcfpair not but we may in the end obtain " what you refufeat our firft demand. And for you Madam (conthtitedhe addrefwg hlmfelf '< to the ^een of the TuringiensJ lince it is difficult to imaiync, but Heaven hath given to "your foul Beauties agreeable to thofe we admire in ybur perfon, I liof c that the forrow "you may have for the death of a Brother who lo(t his life in battel, and aiTaulting that of '''a Prince who had never offended him will not be more powerful in your fpirit than pity, "than the calamity of your people, and the cffullon of fo mucii blood as you mutl (pill in " the profecution. I fay the fame thing to the King of the Bajlernes (added he addrefmg hinf 'i felf towards him) and I doubt not but that by whatever honour he may be engaged to re-, " venge the King his Brother, yet that he will contider his death as an effedt of his courage *' and misfortune rather than the intention of King Fharamond, and that he will comply with " all things, reafon and the interceifion of his friends can exadt from him. . " I confefs (faid the charming Amalazontha) that blood, cruelty and employs of War, are " not conformable to to my inclinations, but there is nothing to which I would not form " my inclinations to revenge my Brother whom I loved more than my felf. " I owe the " fame re\fenge to mine (added the King of the Bafternes Lover of the amiable AlbifiridaJ but "fince I know the King of the Frankj killed him like a valiant man, it is lefs rcfentmenC "that aims me againll him than the concern I have in theintereftsof thcKingof the57/«'f/, "from which no confideration can withdraw me. " Befides thofe that feek revenge for " their Sons and Brothers (faid now King Gondioch who had not hefrejpoke) there arc fome a- '' tnongft us whom other reafons arm againft P/:'iJr Jwo?ji,and though all others Qrould ccnfcnt *' to a peace with him I would continue the W-ar till death. " For you (faid ConRzi\ce whom " this difcottrfe difpledfed^ and in whom all the proceeding o/Gondioch had begot in him an averfi • " on for him) as I never heard you had any reafon to be an Enemy to King Fharamond^ I con- " fefs that I intended not to addrefsmy felf to you as I have addrefled my felf to thofe, to " whom by his misfortune he hath given fome caufe ot offence, and though that of others "may be overcome yours will be permitted to ad with liberty. " Being neither Ally nor *' Friend to the Romans (replyedvery fiercely the Burgundian King) I will not inform my felf *' whether among them an infidelity like that of Pharamond may be approved. "If I "were not here Medhtoi, replyedConHance very prudently, I wouldanfwer both likeaRo- " man and like a man in whom the virtue o{ Pharamondhzd wrought that effedt it ought, to "thedifcourfeof a man from whom theRomansdefire neither alliance norfriendfliip:but ia "the quality I at prcfent am, I will only tell you, that I have underftood that you are bound *' to King Pharamond for your Crown and Liberty, and are thefole caufe of his misfortunes, " but I have never heard it fpoken that you could accufe of infidelity, a Prince to whom "you owe all things and who is not obliged to you but for all the misfortunes of his life. " The Queen knows well nor will (he difown it Cjuft and equitable as flie is) that of all the "a(5ions of pharamond which have attraded her anger, there, are only thofe done, in youc " favour whereof (he can with reafon accufe him, and that all the others are fallen out by "his misfortune and againft his intention. And all the world have admired that inftead "of arming your felf againft him, you have not expofed yours to defend his as the perfori " of the World the molt obliged to him. Gondioch was about to reply to Conjiance in thofe terms had poffibly tranfported him to extremities, if the Queen of thcCimbrianszni the King ot the Stteves had not cppoled it, by remonftrating to him the injury he did them in the perfun of Conjiance ; or if the Queen had not prayed him or rather commanded him by all her Authority not to fpcak a word more. After this command Gondioch left the Chamber with Ptincc Condemar his Brother, who by his countenance made it fufficiently be judged be approved not his procedure. And King Godegefde who was neither a Friend to the Romans nor to Conjiance particularly, departed with him, faying that his defign was conformable to that of Gondioch^ and that he would i?ever confent to a peace that would deprive him of the means to merit Rofamond. " For " my part, faid Ardaric, I am no enemy to Pharamond, nor know 1 any thing in him which is not rather wortby my efteem than avcrlion, but I will wage Waragainll him and agair.lt "all the world for the (ervice of the Qtieen, nor can 1 deliie that peace fliould rob me oC G g g " cccafion* 4IO PHARAMOND. Part. IV. " cccafious to ferve her. " And for me (faid Vr'mce Varanez who had not yet fpokf)\ not '' only confefs that I am not an enemy to King Fharamond, but I confcfs that all his perfon " hath charmed me and that never any thing appeared to me fo great as he .• but if I mud " wage war to gain Kofamond, I would renew the ancient fury of the Gyants and make war " againft Heaven it felf for fuch a Conquelt. Conliance fmiled at this difcourfe of Varanez though he was bat little fatisfied with the beginning of his negotitaion, and the Princefs /4/^//;«i^<» reaching ker lips to the ear of Ko- famoiid, who notwithitanding her Royal dignity rtill called her Sil'ler, "Alas my Siller (faid '■'(he very lotv that flje might not he underjiood by any other) what a great misfortune is it that V lalone am not asked my advice, for I can well afiUre you that my opinion fliould not be •i-'for v«3r. The Queen figh'd at this difcourfe of Albi(njda, and a little ahcv Conjiance ri- fing from his place to follow the King of the Suevet with whom he was to dine, and whom he;yet followed with reludlancy by reafon of the little difpofition he faw in him to peace, addrelfing himfelf to the Queen of the Cimbrians, "I did indeed believe Madam, faid be, " that at my tirft propofition 1 fnould not obtain what I demanded, but I hope the reflexion " wh ch you will make will be more favourable, and iince I have, eight days of ceffattoh of '' Arms, I will endeavour to employ them all in fuch manner that I may not be blamed " though the fuccefs may not conform to my intentions. After thefe words he told her that he would revifit her to take leave of her before he returned to Fharamond^ and he added with a low voice, feeing that there were fome perfons nigh who might und.erUand his dif- courfe, that he entreated her to confider the cruelty (he exercifed towards a Prince who dy'd for her, and who inftead of meriting her hatred was polfibly the only man of the world worthy her affeftion. The Queen changed colour at this dilcourfc of Cow/fi»««, a»dfeem- ed pleafed that Conftance by departing difpenfed with her returning an anfwer. r>- ■ . Going forth of the Chamber, CoMiance who underftood how the valiant 'Balamir kept his bed by reafon of his wound, and who by what he had underftood of the virtue and great Adions of that Prince had conceiv'd for him an edeem proportionate to his merit,demand- ed of the Prince of Terfia and the King of the Siteves, in what place he was that he might give him a vilit, when T'elannr who was come to the Camp of the Cimbrians with him> and who the day before had recounted to him the Hiftory of his Matters fair life, came to him on his behalf, and told him that Prince Balamir had Tent him to beg pardon for the obftru- flion his wound had caufed to the delire he had to come and render him all that was due to the great Cfl«;fjKce from perfons who knew how ro refpedt virtue, that without the vio- lence of hisfriends who hindred him frotn rifing,his wound had not been able to divert him. Conliance having hearken'd to this difcourfe of T'elanor, " I fliould be aftiamed at the civility " of your Princei faid he, if thefe Princes could not juftifie me to you by teftifying that I *' was on the point to vifit him : and I tliculd have a juft complaint againft hitn if he could " believe that 1 had any defign to depart hence, without feeing a Prince whofe fair rcputa- " tion would make me compafs the world to wait on him. Concluding thefe words he would have gone to have feen him without further delay, but becaufe it was very late the King of the S neves prayed him firft to go dine, offering him- felf to accompany him in this vifit immediately after the repaft. The Prince of Ferfia, the King of the Alainer, the King of the Baflernei, and many other Princes and illuftrious pcr- fonages dined with Conjiance at the King of the Sueves quarters : the Dinner was plentiful and magniriccnt, but Conliance took fmall delight by reafon of the little difpofition he found in the Spirit of the Sueviflj King to confent to peace : for that King naturally fevere and ob- ftinate in his defigns, though he aded civilly with him and teftified to him an infinite confi- deration both for his perl'on and mediation, made him eafily judg^he would difficultly aban* don that defire of revenge which above all things did predo;iiinate in his foul. Incontinently after Dinner €gn(iance went to fee Balamir, and though the Prince of Per, fia had no inclination for him, or rather becaufe he was the man of all his Rivals whom he beheld with moft envy and jealoufie, yet he would not leave Conjiance but with the King of the Stieves, the King of the Gepidei and the King of the Bajlernes accompanied him to the » Chamber of Balamir. This Prince received Conjiance with all thofe marks ot acknowledg- ment and refpedt could be given to the chicfeft perfon in the univcrfe, and Conjiance found in his countenance and in all his perfon wherewith to confirm himfelt advantagioully in the opinion he had of him : The(e two great men both the one and the other made truly great, by Book IV. V H A R A M N D. 411 by all that could raifc men above any thing common, beheld each other reciprocally with a fcrious confideration, and if Bjlsmir found in the perlon of Con\iancf a\] tliat he cxpc(5t-- cd to make it agree with his fair reputation, Conliance judged that he had feci) nothing equal to Balamir^ before he had fccn the King of the iranl^s : Not but that they had before fecn each other, when Cnttjiance hindred the continuance ot the CoiDbat between Varanezand Balamir^ but that was tor fo little time, and with To much difurdcr, that they could not make thofe judgments of each other, which they migiit do after fome moments conlideration. Balaniir began it by thofe thanks he leturn'd to Conflance with the beft grace in the world, for the honour he did him in this vifu: hut Co njhnce (lopping very readily the courfe of it, Tououzht not to thank^ we, faid he, for a duty I pay to my felf rather than to ynu: for For- tune offering me occafwn to fee the great Balamir, I could 7iot neglect it rviihnut doi»gmy felf an injury I pould never have pardon''d. Jon may believe^ rcplycd the Prince of the Huns^ that his RenoTvnhath begot a fitfficient defire to know the great Conllance, in all thofe whom hit virtue and great merits could touchy and that I am not little engaged . to my fortune in giving me fo eafily^ what I flwuld have fought with all pojjihle labour^ had jjje given me the means, f hough I have always pajfedmy life among great men, rcplyed Conjiance^ yet I have never k^torvn fuch as I fome days pjfi have feen ■, but the fatisfaclion I have had to fee them, kath been counterbalanced by a great dijpleafure, and as I have teflijjed to the Prince of Per- fia, the grief I had to fee him engaged againii a ferfm whofe admirable virtue hath gain''d my heart , I cannot hinder my felf from telling you , notivithjianding the prefence of the King of the Suevcs , whufe pardon I beg, that I find nothing more cruel and unjuft, than to fee you take Arms againji a Prince , tvbom you have no reafon to hate, and n'hom yon nouldtvithout doubt loie if yuH k*terv him. I already k>iniv him fo rvell, xcp]ycd Balamir, as to tell you, that I prefer him in my ejlesm- before all that the mtiverfe hath of moji great, and injiead of counfeUimr the rear againji him, you fiall fee me prefently give my opinion for peace, if it be demanded of me, but as I am engaged in the fervice of §^een Koiamoud, and by a paffion lironger than reafon, J believe you rpill not condemn the defign I have, to ferve her Uks a valiant man, andlikfi a man, whomm pajfion can make forget the rejfed owing to virtue! ihif is to ff>eak^ like a man truly valiant, replyed the famous Roman, for true valour is an tnemy to bruitijl) fury ■■, but I canajjttre you, that if you. have an ejieem for the Kine^ of the Franks, be renders you reciprocally jitlUce, and that ivhen you (l^all underjiand thofe things tvhich is not permitted me to relate to ynu, I fliall be much deceived if yon ceafe not to be his inemy, "• I am his Rival, rf/>/)if^ Balamir, and not his enemy, but though I am his Ri- *' val, and though I would feek the pofiellion of llofamond at the price of my life, if (he "fhould command me truly to declare my thoughts, no intereft Ihould hinder me from tcl- " ling her, that among all men, Pharamond alone can be worthy of her affection. fhU is a difcourfe, faid Confiance, truly worthy of Balamir " And it is, added Varanc7, "the difcourfeofa Philofopher, and not of a Lover, and a man hke Balamir ; for my " part, I am not of this opinion : and though I am no lefs perfwaded of his virtue than " Balamir, I believe, neither Pharamond, nor any peifon in the world , to be worthier than "my felf of the aifeftions of Kofamond ; and that though Fortune had not given me ad- " vantages overall her Lovers, there is none, who for courage, or qualities of perfon, "could better merit her than my felf. thofe are moll happy, faid Balamir lighing, who are fo well perfwaded of their own merit, I klfow that you are fo with infinite reafon, but you Jhall pardon me, if I fear that of ^hziamond ■, and that though great as you are, by Birth, Degree, and Valour, I look, not upon you as my moji formidable Rival. " I believe, faid *''' King Ardaric, that no Lover thinks himfelf infcriour to his Rival, and that the good " opinion wc may have of our felves, is more pardonable in this, than in any other occa- " lion. I agree with you^ faid Conliance, but however it be, I defire with all my heart, thai Balamir were not Rival to the King of the Franks, and that Heaven would again raifeup Hun- nimonda. All the pa/fion which B but dead as you are, I can with difficulty comprehend the miracle her beauties hath wrought over my Spirit, Whilft thefe illuftrious perfonagcs were in this converfe, Cloderic with the Queen of the' Cimbriins, endeavoured to dilcharge his Commillion i and f) foon as Conjiance was de- parted the Chamber, had prefented himfelf, and lalutcd the Queen. She entertained him Gg-g2- rrioU' 4X2 PHARAMOND. Fart IV. moft favourably, and told him many the moft obliging things in the world, before all that were prefent. After Dinner fne retired to a window with him, and beholdinghimwith thofe eyes which had inflamed all the Earth, and whofe dazling fplendour no humane force was able to fupport ■■, And mell, Cloderic, faid (he, you have then forfaJ^en m. " I "amftill, rf/)/)/f^ Cloderic, the moll faithful of your Subjects, but I am fixed to the fer- " vice of that Matter your Majefty hath given me, that I believe I fliall never leave him. " I fuffered you to retire with him, faid the ^een, in a time, when, by the " fervice you rendred him, you might fear all things from the anger of the King my Fa- " ther, but at prefent, that you have liberty to return into your Country, among your " Friends and Kindred, methinks there is fome cruelty in leaving them to fojourn with our ■''Enemies. ''Ah Madam, r/i»/^ Cloderic, inthe fadeji manner in the rvorld ) and what *' Enemy have you in King Fharamond? He fpoke but thcfe words, and the Queen having hearkened to them, with a look fuf- ficiently penfive, fixed her eyes on the ground, without replying. Cloderic regarded her for fome time in that eftate, and after breaking filence very low, that he might not be heard by any other perfon v " If it may be permitted your faithful Subjedl to beg a favour, faid " be, I would beg your Majefty to grant me one minutes audience. The Queen an- fwered nothing to thcfe words , but a little after, departed from the place where fhe flood , and entred into a Clofet, which was very nigh. Cloderic judging by her be- haviour, that (he would not be offendecf if he followed herv and being more hardy for the fervice of a Prince whom he palBonately loved, than he would have been for -his own intercll, followed her in effed:, and entred alone into the Ciofet after her. Sofoon as Ihe was entred, (he feated her felf in a Cair, and feeing Cloderic alone in the Ciofet, " Are you there C/'j^t'c/c <■ ( faid fhe. ) "1 thought Madam, anfvere d Clodetk, that *' your Majefty had commanded me to follow you, " I commanded you not, ( faid " the ^jtee before her, and prefenting her the " Letter of Pharamond, to perufe with fome motions of pity, if his merit and fidelity "cannot excite any thing more favourable in your heart. Concluding thefe words, he opened himfelf the Letter of Pharamond, and in that open pofture prefented it to the eyes ofKofamondy fhe appeared much troubled at the carriage, and difcourfe of C/(j(^fri perjons have Jo often demanded it mthout obtaifiing it ^ and I perhaps find my felf the only perfon among men "who defires death, and to whom it it not permitted to die. Ir this pity, is it cruelty^ or is it both together .»al{e me fpeakj more than 1 oMght^ faid (lie, but I prsy let ibis befal us no more. Go Cloderic, and leave me a little alone. CWovc having made a profound reverence, departed the Clofet, and tctifed with fa-, tisTaftion, to haveobfcrved, as bethought, that the King, whom his prcfcnt inclinations iTiade him fervc, was not fo unhappy as liC believed liimfclh Beltxe he fpok; to the Queen, ar.d while Conjiance, and the other Princts wer>. with her, he had fctn hubergida^ wlio' was' 414 PHARAMOND. Part IV. was hii Friend, and given her Prince Marcomire's Packet. Imbergida having opened it, found A Letter for the Princefs Alhifmda, and one for her felf, in her own ihe had read thefe words. Prince Matcomire to Imbergida, IKnow not if you retnember the promife you made me^ to love me always a$ your Son 5 but if you have forgot it, I will put you in remembrance^ by de- manding the effeH. Gerontes would vifit you, if he had as fiee an accejf into your Camp as Cloderic: If you love me as well as he, I Jljall not be un- happy^ and you know that my felicity in part depends on you, Jlnce, near my PrinceJ^, you are the only perfon in the world can aU moU for my repofe and fortune. Having read this Letter, Imbergida gave hers to the Princefs Alhiftnda^ fo foon as (he left Rofamond^ to return to her Chamber. And that fair Princefs truly loving Marcomire, could not fee his Letter without being touched with infinite joy, and no lefs tenderncts. She opened it with great impatience, and found thefe words. Prince Marcomire to the Princefs Albijinda. Your faithful Ericlea falutes you, fje advertifes you that it if impojjible for her to live without feeing her Prince f, yet fie would fupport her ab- fence more patiently, if it were likewife common to Theodora, but Theodo- ra dayly fees you, and Ericlea fees you no more 5 yet fhe fears this not to be the greateii of her misfortunes, but leB Prefence jfjould banifj) Abfence from your memory j ij this mifery muji happen, give her rather a death, and if you pleafe, believe, that pe would die much more cruelly by your forgetting her, than by the Arms of our Enemies. The fair Princefs of the Sueves, whofe heart was tenderly touched for the Brother of Pbaramond, read many times this Letter with all thofe motions her affedions could create. But Imbergida having advertifed her, that if (he would anfwer it, flie mu(i do it prefent- ly ConjiaHce^ whom Cloderic could not leave, being upon the point to return, (he Writ thefe words. The Princefs Albifinda to Prince Marcomire. T "^ Hough Ericlea be a' Deceiver, yet I vow I cannot hate her, and would jB. wiUitjgly fee her, if I could do it without expoffng her to jfbme danger y butftnce it is difficult, floe muU attend with me the opportunities of Heaven andi Fortune^ and in the mean time, fjc may be ajfured, the prefence of Theodora) Jljall not frejudice her, Jo that JJjc be Jidl faithjul. ImVergid's Book IV. VHAKAMOND, 415 Imbergida c^nkd this Letter to Cloderk, with that wliich n,c had writ to A/ir««.-/rf, )uft at the time that Conjlance iiaving quitted Balamir, was returned to the Queen of the Cimbrianr, with whom he found the Queen of tlic iKringiens, and the Pii^efs of the Sneves. Conjiauce tcniHed to the Queens his forrow to have fo ill profpcrcd in the begin- ningof his Negotiation, and intreated them to think good, thatduring the days of tfuce granted him, he fliould yet do what was poflible to incline ti^.eir Spirits, and that of the King of the Sueves to peace. The fair Qiieens, without explaining thcmfelves farther allured him of the conhderation they had for his perfon, and intercclllon. And a little al- ter Conjiancehzving taken leave of them,' retired with the Princes that accompanied himi and notwithftanding the endeavours they ufed to keep him that day in their Camp he too<^ Horfc to return to p/;jrawW. d The End of the Fourth Part of PHARAMOND. PHARAMOND, Book L PHARAMOND. The Fifth Part. B O O K I. jHen CoHJhnce had taken his leave, and was upon his return to the French Camp, the fair Queen of the Cimbrtans retired to her Glofet, to give fome few minutes of repofeto the hard conftraint, fhe was obliged ( by thefevere rulesof a cruel Duty J to impofe upon her felf i and to gain a fmall liberty to entertain that divcr- fity of thoughts her Soul then laboured with. It was not perhaps through her own inclination , that flic waged a war fo cruel againft the King of the Frankj ; and it was a very hard cafe, that confidering fo great, and fo extraordinary a merit, a love like PWawow^/'sfhould only give birth to hatred, and dcfires of revenge, rn a Soul which was not infenfible of Gratitude. She had been without doubt exafperated by former injuries flie had received at what time the intereft of King Gondioch had armed his hand againft the King her Father s flie remembred alfo with nofmall grief, the deplorable death of her unfortunate Brother j and in the King her Father's, although Vharamond could not with any juftice be accufed, flie neverthelefs had found fufficient matter of new refentment againft him, and had hearkened as much unto them, as either the Laws of Nature, or thofe of Duty could poflibly oblige her, and had payd them all the Rights' as could be due from a perfon, whofe inclinations were moft; fuitable to rhe deli res of Revenge. Through the rage which hisfirft offences had (Excited in her Soul, a. firft (7ght (he had exclaimed againft Pharamortd^ as againft a perfon meriting all the thunder of her anger: at the death of IheobaldfhthzA darted fuch flafties of Lightning againft him, as had been more fatal and tormenting unto him, than thofe -which he had to fear from the incenfed Heavens : and upon the death of the King of the Cimbrians, (he had willingly followed tliofe cruel F^ndocuments which he would have given her, and had wholly abandon'd her fclf to all that which thcKiqgof the Sueves and he had delired of her, for the execution oi their revenge. But amidft fo many Injuries, fo many Misfortunes, and fo many fatal Refolutions, fhe had referved a juft fenfe of the outrages (he had received, either by the misfortune, or by the intention of her Enemy i (he had had a clear fight, and a juft knowledge both of the perfon, and admirable qualities of Vharamond, and (he had polfibly been Miftrcfs of a heart, which being neither of Steel, nor Adanriant, could not prefervtf that obliinate tirmnefs againft fo many fair proofs of fo fair a padion. It wasalmoftim- polfible, but that the tirft tight of Vharamond fliould have wrought upon her Soul part of that efted, which hers had produc'd upon the heart of the French Prince i zuAzsVhartt' m'ond w:is not a peifon to be Icfs admired in his Sex, than Kofamond in hers, it might happen that by this rirft Aapparition ( if we may fo call it ) (he was furpris'd to his ad- vantage, or at kali, that it had bred in her mind fome difpofition to hearken more favour- ably to all that he could fpeak in his juftihcation. . A' Through 2 PHJRAMOND. Fart V. Through this advantageous impreffion, and through the interceffion of Truth and Rea- fon, (lie 'might believe, that thofe former injuries (he had received from PW^mto^, had been fufficiently repaired by what he had done in her fervice againft King Gondioch v and that the death of I'heobald had been an eftecS of his own misfortune, and of the intention he had to ferve her, and not to offend him i and that to the King of the Cimbriant, he had only contributed, through the malignity and cruelty of thofe Stars, which defign'd all things'tohis misfortune. However it were, either through this knowkdgewbich Ihehad oiTbaramond's innocence, or through the effedl of her love, and of his admirable quali- ties, all the thoughts n-ie had of him were not of an Enemy, feeing that her Soul laboured with many other Pallions than thofe of hatred, or delire of revenge. She fuffered much more than could be judged by appearances i but yet by thefe appearances you might eafily judge, that her Soul did not enjoy a perfeft rcpofe, there was no perfon that thereby could divine all the caufe of her difquiet •, for that which (lie endured without daring to make known, was for the moft part covered with what (he was permitted to declare. Thus while (he (bed tears upon theHerfe of the King her Father, and to the memory oilheohald, (he might mingle fome lighs which fprung from another caufe, and with the memory of thefe loffes, (he might feel the misfortune which conftrained her to revenge them upon a perfon, who was not fo odious unto her as he ought to be, to make her profecutehis ruine without repugnancy. Neither did (he love thofe of her party with that fervency wliich they had reafon to exped, confidering her engagements to their afliftance i and if when they went to tight, (he accompanied them with fome wifhes ■■> or if the found of the Trumpet, and noife of War made the Vermilion to forfake hei- Cheeks, neither were thefe fears for her own, nor her withes altogether for the vidlory of her party. They who ap- peared moft zealous, and ardent in feconding her anger, were thofe that in her heart found ]ea(t of recompence, (b that that eagernefs by which they thought to merit mo(f, was a fatal means to render them lefs efteem'd hy her. How often C viewing them clad in tlieir fumptuous Arms, cafting looks of terrour through their glittering Steel, when they mounted their hery Couriers in her prefence, and threaten'd with an arrogant temerity the life oi FharamoKd) hath (lie breathed forth fome fighs of which they knew not the true meaning, in lieu of a kind look which they filently entreated, cafting her eyes upon them, animated with another paliion than tliey drcam'd of i Go cmelones, ( faid (he to her {e\iy go find my hatred rvhere you believe to meet my love ^ nor expeVi that I tvill accompany your designs mth any favourable wifh ; may the Gods rather divert the efeH of your cruel threati^ and direVi the {harp points of your Swords to any other mark^, rather than againjl the life of Pharamond : that life is too dear unto the Gods, to he fo odious unto me as you believe it, and perhaps it may be defended at the price of yours. As they vvho appeared moft furious, and eager after pW^wo««/'s ruine, and that mo(t outragioully threatened him, and who either through his abfence, or the general hatred the Camp bore him, were approved and applauded for fo doing, werethe greateft ftrangers to her affection v fo they who proceeded with more moderation againft him, and fpake more fparingly of him, ftie moft favourably regarded •, fo that if Prince 'Balamir had had no other advantage over his Rivals, the modefty he always obferved in fpeaking of the Frm/^ King, with tiie high value he always profejfed both to his perfon and virtues, w«e not theleall motives to prefer him in her heart befotemany of her other Lovers i which was the reafon that the animofity, which ( above others J Gi^a^wc/? manifefted always a- gainft him, did render him the moft contemptible of all her Admirers, though in truth he was not (b, and obfcured all thofe great qualities he was endued with. In the mean time (he endured a torment fo much the greater, becaufe accompanied by an eternal conftraintv and for that there were few perfons in tlip world, to whomfliedurft unbofom her grief; Alhifindav[\\%\itio\d^ boaft tohave learn'd from herClf, part of this great fecrct of her heart, yet neither to her had ftie fully declared it ■■, for although ftie had in her an entire confidence, flie could not force the relutftancy (he had to confefs at large a fecret, which might tend any way to fl-iamcheri fo that in difcovering unto her a part of what 'ftie felt, flie left her to divine the reft, not fubmitting her felf to the judgment flie might make thereof: (he nevcrthclefs had not confe(red fo little, but that Mbif.nda had drawn from her confellion an-alTurance to inform her of all that which had happcn'd iin- to her, in relation to hUrcomire. And although K«/i/;;o«^ found fome what ot (urpvidng in this Adventure, and even of eminent danger to her friend, through the feventy ot the King of the Siieves, and that (he had reprefented unto her the difficulties which might crols her atTeftion, (he did it ncverthelefs in fuch a manner, as might eafily make her )udge that the friendlhip (he had for her, and not any hatred either to the perfon, or Houie ot Vharamond had obliged her to it. Amongft Book I. F H A R A M N D. 5 Amongfl: her Women, Perfmdj and Luciana were tliey who had the grcatcft know- ledge, or rather, thcgreated jealoufic of the truth, by reafon of her great indulgence, in giving them free liberty to judge ti',cir plcafure. But Cloderk^ next to Albifntdj^ was the perfon to whom fhe had declared her felf. As her rekzilng Pharamond out of the Prifon, wherein he had voluntarily cart hirvifelf might have been well imputed to her fole gcnerolity, ( and doubtlcfly, by her folc gcne^ rolity rtie might have performed it, without being excited and pulh'd forward by other motions ) fo made flie no fcruple ( after her Father's death ) to aver it, being more wil. ling the world Ihquld learn it from her free confelhon, than from the uncertain. mouth of fame; fo that (he only conceal'd the interview between Pharamond and her felf, a thing only known to Cloderic, Perfmda and Luciana. She had often found great confolation in the gentle difpofition, and fweet converfe of Albifmdj\ for this fair Princefs who loved Marcomire^ and hated not Pharamond^ inrtcad of oppoling thofe favourable motions flie had conceived in her heart, for the amorous King of the Franks-, did both approve, and encourage them, by all (he could pollibly in- vent to his advantage: but as (lie was not ignorant of thofe cruel obliacles which oppos'd King Pharamond's Fortunes, and perhaps the fair Rofamond's inclination, who had nei- ther reafons ftrong enough to vanquifh them, nor to put another face upon things ( by the whole world 3 fo well known ■■, (he thought rather to fweeten and mitigate thofe evils than to take them quite away, or to give a relief confiderable enough to (ettle the mind of Kofaimnd in a rtate of more repofe and tranquillity. She had remained till now in that condition, but then (he found new caufe, by CWmc's difcourfe, and Pharamoad^s Letter toprecipate herfeU into a Sea of fadnefs and afflidling thoughts. Affoon as fhe was alone, and private in her Clofet, and that by abfence of thofe perfons who might have given her fome divernon,the remembrance of what (he had heard, and feen fome minutes before in the fame place, return'd entirely into her fancy i (lie found her felf expos'd to the fevere war which her thoughts Were about to wage againit l>er, and aban- doned her felf to all thofe torments which her refledtions made her fuifer i (lie thew her lelf with a fad negligence upon that Couch, upon which an hour before (lie had received Cloderic s melTagt ■•, and with an a(Hiding fadncfs recalling to her memory all that (he had heard, or feen in that place; Waf it not here ( faid rtie^ that I have heard fo much taJk^of Pharamond > And rvM it not here I explained my felf more than my J)uty did permit ? Hoxv ! ( faid (lie, chiding her felf for thisnemembrance, or rather feeming to chide ) Pharamond who is only \norvn to thee by fo many bloody injuries^ he tcho hath laid thy Country rvafle, n>ho (letv thy Brother, tvhodejhoyed a Prince def^gned thee for a Buihand^ and tvh o caufed thy Fa- ther's ruine ■■, that very perfon rvhom thou purfueji with fo many thoufand men, U come to find thee in the middle of thy Camp, and will bring the war to thy heart, yet hath he the confidence to write to thee .? yes, it if thy heart he a(faults, he hM the boldneji to write to thee, but thou hafi not the courage to refufe hii EpijUe, nor the power to binder thy felf from perufwg it, nay not perhaps from beine; therewith touched: ^^ Rofamond, how great a weal^iefi is thine and to what Jfjaitie dojl thottexpofe thy felf, iri fo ill maintaining a d^gn wherein thou hajl en- gaged fo many Princes, and for which thou baji arm''d fo many thoufand men <" Cameji thou into thy Enemy'' s territories with a power able to, make all Europe tremble, only to expofethy vpeakitefitothe view of the whole world? And didji thou arm fo many Provinces for thy quar- rel, againji this Enemy whom thou canfi not hate, only to render thy overthrow merejhameful, and bis ViUdry more honourable ? Is it thus, thou doli preferve the memory of thofe facred pro- mifesy and of thofe folemn Oaths, by which ( to the whole worlds Iqtowledge ) thou art en- gaged to the revenge of a Brother, and a Father, whom thou ha(ifeeen dig, either by the hand^ or by the Arms of thii fame Enemy ; or if thou keepeji them in thy memory, is this the way to ob- fervethem ? She ftopp'd at thefe words, through the grief that this remembrance caus'd ; and Ihe found fomewhat therein of fo much cruelty, that (lie could not dillipate for a long time the trouble that had overfpread her Soul. But difpelling thofe mifly clouds which were rais'd in her fancy ■■, No, no, my Vows, faid (lie, I have not forgot you, I am ready tg offer you a Sacrifice which will make known at large the refpeci I have for you: yet all the rigor to which you can engage me, cannot hinder me fiom feeing that I have done it with in- juliice, that you have arm^d my felf againji an unfortunate Lover, but not againfi one that ii criminal ■, and that this unfortunate Prince is of all men the moji grexit, and mo^i amiable and that this fo amiable perfon loves me a thoufand times beyond his own life : ICe cruel ones you that incefjantly incenfe me to his ruine, moli mercilefi King, of the Sucves, bafe and un- grateful King of ihe Burgundians, // it poffible that your implacable hatred, and unjufi re- fentmenis cait clofe your eyes againji a merit that Jhines fo glorioafy through the tvorld i of i^. 4 PHARAMOND. Part V. jDur fury he fo blind, of to ohfcure this l^orvledge^ can yon believe that Rofamond hath a heart of Bra{i, or a Soul capable of thofe barbaroiu refentments you rvould infitfe ittto her ? And can you judge that Jhe can arm her felf rvith a rage parallel to yours ^ againji a life ivhick every day is offered at her feet rvith fo much love and refignation ? And that (ke can rvithout grief and unkindne^, turn the points of your cruel Swords againji a heart which is only flFd with her image, and only breaths to ferve her ? No, no, moll inhumane Souls, do not murip this opinion i and if you con[irain me to the cruel neceffity of obferving my promifes, and to acquit my felf of thofe unjuji Oaths, tvhich' rvere rvith fu much cruelty extorted from my tpeak^ef, at a time rvhen grief and mifery had perplexed my reafon. Let none of you un- worthy Rivals uf atoo illujlrioiis Rival, hope a happinef from h'n misfortune, or to poffefi Ro- famond by the ruine of Pharamond : Rofamond hath not propos''d her felf the rervard of Jo cruel an enterprife, and though jhe finds her felf confirain'd to execute the will of a father,^ for whom jhe is to a£i ( through a tyrannical rejpeS ) what her Duty obliges, frie will find a relief in her own courage which will difengage her of all, and will defend her from all the outrages which (he hath caufe to fear from her fini{ler fortune. And jhould you cruel Antagc nijis, give Pharamond his death, you give him his defire \ for you may tak^ away his life with much more eafe than I can oblige him to preferve it. Here are ( faid (he, taking up his Letter from the place where (he had left it ) Here are the too apparent and real tejiimonies of that fo great affeSiion he hath for me, and his little love he hath for his own life ; he per- fedly hateth it, becaufe he believes it odioiu unto us ■, and therefore as a jpecial favour, this unfortunate Hero defires nothing but his death. Here (lie opened the Letter, and leviewed it, flopping through a fecret agitation of her thoughts, at thofe places which had moft of pallion i but in reading it, Qie could not abftain from giving fuch evident figns both of tendernefs and grief, as might have been eafily perceiv'd, had any perfon been prefent. She feemed exafperatcd and dilturbcd, when (he felt her eyes as willing to difcharge fome tears, and tofwell with an accent betokening anger and vexation, repeating thefe words i Oh eyes of mine ! ( faid fliej do you bejiowyeu'r tears upon Pharamond'j Letter,and have denyed them to the death of fo many ihoufands we have loji in Battel i \s this pity ? Is this orief? Or is it fomewhat more offenfive ? Oh my eyes 1 It is not on Pharamond'/ misfortune that you be' l^orv thofe tears, but on mine •, without doubt you deplore the miferable condition of a Soul re- duced to fuch fevere necejfities, that death is not half fo cruel : you bervail this fatal violence which moji barbarous Maxims conjirain me to pnt upon my inclinations, and your tears are no le^ jufi, than if you payd them to my ajhes : Ah Pharamond ! f after fome few moments of filencc, (he added j wherefore Jhould our moji mercilefl fortune fo cruely oppofe our happinefi, and fince by vur own inclinations, and the mutual judgments of our Souls, we might be worthy of each ether, whererefore fhould (he oppofe an eternal obliacle to thofe hopes, which had not otherwije been prohibited. Ah Pharamond ! ( concluding with a ligh ) Wherefore, having fo many caufes of hatred, is it impoffible for me to enjoy thee ? or wherefore having fo many caufes of love, am I not permitted to love thee ? She accompanied thefe laft words with a River of tears which her conftancy could not retain, and plung'd h^Mblf infenllbly into an abyfs of grief from which all her courage was row uncapable to preferve her, at what time (he faw the door of her clofet open. And as (he had made known her pleafure to be alone, fhe began to grow angry becaufe her orders were fo ill obferved, but much more (he feared to be furprifed in a condition little fuitabic £0 that firm (lability which in appearance to the utmoff of her power (he ever prefervcd. But when (lie faw her dear Albifutda, and knew (he was only di(lurbed by her in this fad enr tertainment of her thoughts her difplcafure was foon appeafed. The fair Suevian Princefs by the confidence which her friendihip gave her, drew nearer without fear of o(Fending,and finding her eyes moirt and fome tears that yet like pearls hung on her cheeks, " How my dear Sifter, faid (fje to her, do you retire to afflid your felf without me, as if you could have any " misfortune or aiflidion in which Albifutda did not (hare ? I wi(h it were po(Cblc for mefo " to do, replyed the beauteous ^een, for it is no fmall vexation to me to fee you pafs your "mod fair and youthful days with fo unfortunate a woman, that mu(t render you miferable "by a participation of her misfortunes. If friendfliipand Amity did not allow methatihare "whichlonght to have, replyed MhiCmda., I believe you have few misfortunes which are " not common to us both : And it feems to me that we are tyed as it were by the (amequar- "rel tothcfamefortunc,and by anintereft very little different. " Ah my dear Sifter (faidthe ^u^een fetching a deep figh) what a difference is there between your fortune and mine,and be» " tween thofe difficulties which Marcomire and Pharamond iiifter for us. Ihere may perhaps be lefi between your condition and mine, replyed Albifutda, fur thofe objiacles which you find i* the rules of duty^ to which poffibly yoH bind your felf with too much rigour^ are not by much fo fiboK I. PHJRJMONR 5 fo great as tbofe rehkh I have caufe to fear from the King my Father's fevere humour. Ji ia (r/n^' replycd the Queen, Iforefee many difficulties in your afieiuoit^hit they are not invincible i ani there may arrive fame chajiges rebich may open a way to hope, but on me no change or revolution can bejiow that happinefi. I can think, nothing, nothing ask^ of the Cods fur my conflation. 7^ff Cods,- icp\yed the Princefs, can redrefl and give both covfolation and relief even to tbofe ills, jvbich are meji defperate in our opinions : And they have ivorl;^d miracles for things which qtie- ftionleji were of lef importance to them than your repofe and fortune. But my fair §hiei'n, (continuing her difcourfe and embracing her as Ihe late clofe by her) rviH you mt^i^\6. lhc,»«- form me tvhat greater fubjeii of grief you have to dayjhan at other ordiiutry. times .<* or at leajl miUyeu not permit me to judge of your grief by tbofe exteriour mark^ you give thereof? My dear Siji'er (replyed the QLi.een repaying her thofc Careffes (lie rcceiv'dj da you not find in me to day fufficient fub]eU for my afflidions, by feeing me rather coniiranfd by the inclination of the King your father than my own, to refufe peace to a man whom were it permitted I coaldlove extreamly^ and cannot now hate though I am prohibited from loving him .<' It feemed to me that Conltance was fent from heaven for our relief, and that all the Princes of our party had a fair occafion to withdraw themfehet with honour from an enterprife wbofe fatal beginning might give juji caufe to fear the fucceji. But as you k>iow dear Siller 7 was not ignorant of their intentions before the arrival of Conllance, for they had fufficiently explained themfelves to leave no place for any other anfwer than that which I was conjirained to make him. Ijhiiuld not have had that complaifance for any of thofe whom love or other pretenfwns have cemented by intereli to our party, as to have fnUcwed their inclinations to the prejudice of my own i nor becaufe they were covetous. of ffar jhould I have refufed a peace fo much more dear and acceptable unto me, but for the violence which the King your father impofes upon me ; it is he that tyrannically makes ufe of tbofe rights and cruelties which my oaths and the laji will of my dead father feem to enf.ave me to. I verily believe dear Sijier (taid (lie, killing her fair cheeks) thatlfjould hate him injine, if you could pardon it, more than the perfon towards whom hejirivet to wor^Jucb an averfion in me. I would not have you if you could help it, replyed the Princefs, hate him, but I pnd that 1 can heartily forgive ynu though you loved him lefithan Pharamond: and it may fo happen that without hating him you may both enfranchife your felf from hk Tyranny and from theperfecution of others: Al- though I am not very bold and hardy by nature, yet if I were the Cirnbrian ^ueen I would hap' pily rather follow my own inclinations than the diSiates of tbofe perfons which bad no authority c ver me. I believe (replyed the Queen with a forced fmile) that you would do much Ujl than I, and by the judgment 1 can makefince the time we have lived together, I believe my felf Mi' Jirejiof as great a courage as you ■■, but were you a Commandref of that bold courage would yow make k^toivn to the whole world the favourable refentments and private affeUtons which you bare your Brother's Murtherer, the Author of fo many bloody injuries as 1 have received from Phara* mond ? Ikntw not, replyed the Princefs, what 1 (fjould do, but I believe I could not be con- demned for informing the King of the Sueves, and all the other Princes that Ipityed the lofs offo many thou fund lii es > and that I held my felf no longer obliged to wage war againjl a Ferfon who bad only injured us through our own misfortunes, andthatlmight well rejifatisfed in having fa- crificedtomydij^leafure, which was not perhaps ever ju^i, the lives of an hundred tboufand men. l^iould have anticipated, dear Sifter, not followed your counfel, replyed the beauteous Queen, and I believe Ijhould not have done it with a more hardy confidence than you, if the King of the Sueves and the other Princes had not greater advantages upon me than thofe which the weak^efi and timoroufnejiof ourfcx afford them. But they alledge a duty againjl me or real or pretended much more formidable than the authority of the King of the Sueves, fo that being engaged to war with thofe folemnities and Ceremonies as you know were objerved, and having only received the Crown of the Cimbrians after tbe death of the King myFatberJby renewing thofe oaths which dying he made me make to continue the war until the total dejiruSion of Pharamcnd or our party,! can^ mt evidence my defire of peace againji the intentions and inclinations of all thofe we have intereji- ed in the war, without making them judgeand giving all the world caufe to helievel love our common enemy, and without expofng my felf by this opinion to a misfortune to me much more cruel than all thofe which the uncertain event/of war can threateH:Andbeftdes(de3ixS'ii\cti6cic^(h£ with atem- peli of lighs) if you only defire a peace for Pharamond, yo?/ wijh him net the thing which he defires for nothing will fatis fie him but death or the pnffeffiQn of Koiivnond, and if RofamondV heart can- not furrender to him by this peace, we cannot otherwife content him. He may have underftood and ktiorerperhaps too well that he Unot hateful unto me^he is not ignorant ofthe neceffty whichconjirains me to war upon him, and iflfhnuld withdraw my forces from his territories to retire to my oww, with the firm refolution which I ought to make never to fee him more, he would be never the more happy if he loves me as much as he endeavours to perfwade me; and I verily belie: e he had much rather be exposed to the evenis of War in waiting like you dear Sijier foins miracle which I ap- prehemt 6 THARAMOND, Part. V. preheni not^than to lofe by ordinary ways this unh^totvn hope n>ith which pajfton, not reafonfeemr to flatter an enamoured Joul. And I k^toip not Sijierfmce I muft confefS it, whether IJhould be my felf much happier in this peace and thvs retreat which muji deprive me of the hope ever to fee him than in a condition which verily kfeps my foul in eternal Alarms by divers events which muji ne^ ceffarily tend to the de\iruUion of that party whom fortune declares againji : But in this although I cannot conceive a hope yet methinks I am not neverthelefs entirely forfak^n. In fine dear Sijier my misfortunes arefo much the greater by reafon their weight cannot be apprehended^ and Phara- mond's are without doubt inferiour to mine fmce he is permitted to wijh andfol'ow without con- flraint the di&ates of his inclinations^ whereas 1 cannot vent one widi which is not either criminal or cruel to myfelf: for my inclinations are thofe which above all other things I mull eternally com. hat. Behold dear Sijier (after fome few moments of filence, prefenting her Fharamond's letter, faid {he continuing her difcourfe) fee here if peace be the only thing which Pharamond demands, read this Letter which he ajfumed the boldnefs to write me, this letter which I had not power to refufe, and judge if he writes lik^ a man to whom the events cfwar were more confidera- ble than the lofs of his hopes. . Albiftnda taking the letter read it over very diftinftly, and as flie vs^as no way concerned herfelf, (he did not omit to flop particularly at thofe places which might neareft touch the Queen, being willing to render the King of the Franks this kind office, both for the e- fteem (he always bore him and for the love (he bore to Marcomire whofe fortunes (he favv linkd in the Chain of his Brothers, when (he had read the letter, the Queen looking up- on her with a langui(hing countenance : " Well now dear Sifter, /aid (he, whofe misfortune "have you moft reafon to condole, or Fharamond's who has liberty to fpeak and write all " thofe pretty palfions he feels for me ? or mine who am con(\rained to declare all contrary " to the real thoughts of my heart ? " I know not whofe fortune I (liould moft complain of, "replyed the Princefs, but I know that Tbaramond is him 1 pity moft, for if your felicity *' were at his difpofal as his in yours, you would be quickly happy. " Whatever kind of " love Pharamond had for me, anfwered the ^ueen, I am well alTured he would do nothing " for me either contrary to his honour or againft his duty, and I believe he would never de- " fire that thing of me that might edipfe a glory more dear to me than my repefe. But " in fine dear SKkr, faid Albi(inda, may not I affumc the boldnefs to enquire what your in- " tentions are > To perform my duty even to death, replyed the beauteous Rofamond, and "to dye without regret when I have convinced the world my duty was dearer to me than "my life. "But Sifter, faid the Princefs, may you not be deceived in the judgment you *' make of this duty,could you believe your felf very criminal if you prefcrib'd it rules a lit- *' tie lefs fevere > " There may be as you fay much of error, replyed the ^tieen^ but thofe *' errors are in the general opinion and not in ray particular judgment, and as it is this ge- " neral opinion which creates a good or a fcandalous reputation, or that gives or takes away " our good name in this world ■■, It is to that wc very often ought to facritice both our repofe "and fortune. " But if, faid the Princefs, fortune (hould be more favourable to your pub- "lickdefigns than to your particular defireSjand that by the hands offo many valiant men,aS " you have armed againft the life of Pharamond, this illuftrious Hero fliould moft unfortu- } "natelyfall, what courfe would you then take ? ''I (hould refolve then, replyed the ^een " a great deal better and with more eafe than now I can, and having acquitted my felt from "what was due to my vows, to my father's a(hes, to my brother's death and the afties of " Vindimir, I would openly pay to thofe of Pharamond what I am not permitted to give him " during life, and 1 ftiould not fear the whole worlds knowing ray relentments after I had "made known to the fame world the glorious vidory I had obtained over my felf. The fad Rofamond in this manner explained her felf to her dear Albifinda, and the fair Suevian Princefs for a divertifement to her penlive thoughts, (hewed her a letter which (he had lately received from Marcomire, when fuddcnly they were advertifed that King Gondiocb with Prince Gondemar his brother were at the clofet dore. Gondwch's high quality did not permit the Queen to difmifs him, as if (lie could have fram'd any excufe (he would have done with all her heart, yet (lie received him after fuch a manner as did clearly at rirft denote the fmall fatisfadtion he was like to receive by this vilit , and the Princefs Albifmda, though (he could neither fleight nor contemn Gondemar, in whom ftie faw ail thofe rich qualities which might purchafe efteem, having her Soul at that time tilled with the perfed Idea of Marcomire, whom (he loved much more than him, gave him but a cold welcome. The two Brothers were no ways fatistied with this reception i but as they were naturally Mafters of much confidence, they would not take a repulie, but while the Brother accolicd the Princefs, the King of the Burgundians approach'd the Qiieen j "I know not, Madam, '■'faidhe, if I have been fo unfortunate to difpleafe you to day, by fome words which a "]uft \ Book I. P H A II J M N JQ. 7^ " juft rcfentmeiit made me fpcak to Cwjb^c? before you i but bcfidcs, that I love not (" as^ _ " I told liim ) the Komaiif, the dcfign that brought him hither was fci Iittlc,'g'ratdfii],'Y'h^^. ' " it was not in my power lo explain my fclf with fo much mildncfs and civility as ( coiifd " have dclircd, and fliould have done upon any other occafion. " Had you given ir.'c ther^-' *' by any diftafte, ( replyed the Queen with a great deal of coldn,efs ; you would not hivfe'' "thought yourfelf the more untortunatc for that •, for you know full Well, this is not the' "rirft time that you have done it, without cficeming your fclf a jot the more^miferable'i' " yet if you had proceeded in another manner with a perfonagc of the Rank and Merit 6f " Conftaitce, you had not merited blames and if any man had done as you did,, oyer ^J^iW" " I might have pretended any authority, I lliould quickly have made hiin know- how jit-' "tie fuch proceedings were grateful tome. ""For your power, ("cplyeithi; KiKgftf'thi " Burgundians ) ypu do mc a cruel piece of injuftice, if you can believe there is' any pci'ftri; " in the world, over whom you have more. " I well rememb&r, when I . Was under yodc'^ " power \rcplyed'the ^een ) but could never perceive aiiy power I had upon yoii:' irt\ " had I fliould have doubtlefly made ufe thereof for my deliverance from thofe. mistortgnes " which I fuffered in a contrary condition to liberty. "■' Ah Madam, fuid Condtocb, do ybii " not remember the promife you itiade the King your father to pardon all pad injuries, and " that you would never more remember thofe crimes which love forced me to commit. ■•' I^ " have promifed him things more difficult, replyed the ^een, and you can witnef? how. " truly I have performed them : and though in obedience to him I have not nourifhed are- '' fcntment for thofe injuries you did me, you your felf too often mind me of tlicm to lec^ '' me ever forget them. " And what would you do then (anfivered Gondioch rvith indij- '''' cretion enough) if Gondioch had murthered the Prince your Brother, and caufcd the King " your father's death : You have been the caufe of both, briskly replyed the ^een, and iince " you force me to tell you of it fo often, it is only you whom I can reafonably accufc for all '' thofe misfortunes ; but I could heartily wifli that Iheobald had loft his liffi by the hand of ''^Gfftdiach, for then I fliould ad without contradidtion againll a man who hath ever wil- *' fully perplexed mie,what now I ad with regret againff him who hath offended me.througli ''thectfcd of my own misfortunes. " P/7iiMw.iM«i is very happy Madam, replyed Gondi- " ochCjotnetfhat moved rvith her anfiver))'et I believe that he might exped his juftirication ra- " ther from the lips of any other perfon than yours. "It is not more ftrange, anftver''d the "/<*''■ ^tteen, fo fee him juftified by thofe he hath offended, than to fee him accufcd by thqfe " he hath fo friendly and faithfully ferved \ and I have not more reafon happily to hate him "for the injuries he has done me, than you to love him for the good offices he hath rendred " you. '' This is not the lirll time Madam, ftid Gondioch, that you have recalled to my " memory the obligations I might have to the iirft adions of Pharamond, but that which '' might be at one time juft when we were both criminals to you, polfibly ceafcs to be fo now ''that I am received of your party, andhave taken up Arms to revenge you of your enemy " at the dear price of my life and blood. " It was neither your blood nor your lite that I ''would have employed, rf/)/)if^P>ofamond, and as I cannot with reafon accufe this enemy " but of thofe harms he did us in combating for your intereft, iince thofe are the only crimes '" he wilfully committed,! will again inform you of what I have fo often told you, I Qiouid " have called any other aiGiUnce rather than yoursj and that certainly I ought nottocom- "mit the revenge 1 defir'd of Pharamond to a man of all the world the moft obliged unto "him. "If I had been obliged by his former Adions, rf/)/)/?^ Gondioch, his laft have been "fo vexatious and mifchievous as ought to leave no place in my memory for his tirft, and " that which he adcd for my Liberty or in the defence of my Crown, was little conlTderable "if he murt deprive me of KoCtmond. " Alas ! for Kofamond (faid the ^ueen rvith an /«- '' tvard Jmile yet full of fiercenefs ) Pharamend is not he you ought to accufe tor depriving you " of her, for if Pharamondhii never been, K/>famond had never been the Wife of Gondioch. " You might li^ve happily conlldered (anftvered the Burgundian King) that you have receiv- "ed others to the honour of fervingyouas little worthy as my felf: and pcradventureyou " might have yielded to time and reafon thofe rcfentments you have now againft me, which " you can only attribute to the cxccfs of an afftdion I had for you." If your love explains it " felf in this manner, faid the ^neen^ you ought not to admire that it is not underflood, or "ratheryouought not to Hnd it Rrangc (llnce it affumcs the fliape of hatred) thatthercis "no better admilfion given to it than what is ufually given to hatred. " Iniuli confefs (an ''''freered GonAiochvery forrorvfttliy ) thatl am of all men theiiholi unfortunate, and I evcnac- " knowledge that I may have nurited part of my misfortunes : but I hope that my repcn- " tance and thofe opportunities which may offer themfcl ves in your fervice, may w(>rk fuch " a change in my favour, that you vvill not find Itfs juflice in thecnd'for me than for others, ' " wha 8 PHARAMONb. Part V. "who were permitted to enter into your quarrel upon thofe amorous hopes you no ways "oppofed. WhMGondiech entertained her with fuch like difcourfes, the Queen (who endured this parly with no fmall trouble) ufed a kind of violence to her (elf to hinder a lar- ger difcovery of her difaffedion to him, and Gondemar who together with Albifinda had lent an ear to part of the difcourfe, although he endeavoured to have engaged the Princefs to a more particular converfe with himfelf, taking the words from her mouth, Hou> happy is Theodora Madam, faid he, that Ericlea m »ot mow here, and how much joy would Ericlea have to fee the part of Theodora fo iU managed ? It would not he the firji time, reply cd AlbLiinda. that (he hath had this pleafure : But as Ericlea thinks ^"^ "^ prefent of us and that Gondemar ought only to nourifh a repentance for the deceit he ufed under the name of Theodora ; He doth iU te awaken the memory of an adventure which afforded me only diffleafure. " Ah Madam, faid *' Gondemar, how willingly could I accufe you for want of fincerity duift I prefume it, and " as there is fmall likelihood that Ericlea thinks no more of you, how much lefs is there that " his love was ever the caufe of your grief and difpleafure. " What elfe could it have cau- *' fed (replyed the Frincefs with afiercenefs no ways fuitable to her nature) was it joy for thofc "great felicities I might theii exped ? do you believe the prefent conjunctures fo favoura- " ble to make me hope a happinefs from the affeftions of Pharamond's Brother ? " If ^ou " believe, faid Gondemar, that there is little happinefs or fmall advantage for you in Marco^ " wire's affections, Gsndemar will never labour to make you forfeit the opinion : but as you "have heretofore permitted Iheodofa to be jealous of Ericlea^ happinefs, you cannot Hnd "it ftrange that more than ever (he ftiould now fear it, and that with grief fhe remembers " thofe advantages her Rival had once over her. " 1 confefs, replyed the Princefs, that I "did dearly love Ericlea, nor couldlheodora comphih of my want of affedtion for her, " but they both ceafing to be the perfons they appeared, they ought not to be adonifli'd at *' the change of my kindnefs ; And as Marcomire has reafon to believe that the cheat he hath " put upon me hath exafperated me againft him, Gondemar might reafonably exped that the " refentment I had for his might havelafled as long as my lite, if by fome aftions which " have fenfibly obliged me he had not made me lofe part of my anger, " Ah Madam (faid "the Prince with a cbearful asped) tell me in the name of the Gods what adion I have per- " formed in my whole life that could ever pollibly pleafe you, and let me learn by this krtow- " ledge that I am not fo much unfortunate as I always believed my felf. " You ought not " to doubt, replyed the Princefs, but that you highly obliged mc both by the difcovery of *' MdrcowireV deceit and your own, and by withdrawing me from an error which might *' have engaged me to have committed great crimes > and inhneexpofcd me to no fmall "grief and vexation : And moreover I willingly acknowledge that I hold my felf indebted " to you for having as well concealed the fecret of Marcomire as your own from all the world , " and fo fpared my moderty that confufion which thefe adventures would have caft upon it " had they been noifed. " I well perceive (faid Gondemar unto her with afigh) that you " were highly pleafed, that I did not expofe Mi*rc«w/'re to thofe perils which menaced him, '' had he been known fo near you : but on that fide he had nothing to fear, for I could liot " without too much bafenefs revenge my felf of him by ways (o unworthy of my courage ; *' And for what concerned you Madam, you may well believe that I had rather forfeit a thou- *' fand lives than be deficient in the leaf\ confideration I ought to have had. " You may judge " replyed the Princefs, that it was not the interell of Marcomire that obliged me to you, fince " you fo well know that he departed from us as foon a?you, aad that no danger could threat- *'cn his life in a place where he made no (lay. But however it was your proceedings gave " me fuch an efteem for you i as did mitigate my refeiitments, and I (hould teftihe it as much "as was pollible forme,ifyou had no other thoughts for me than what might permit me to "doit. The Prince was about making a reply,when the Queen of the Ciwir/j«/ (who could not longer in the humour (he was in endure a parley with Condioch) entreated Albifinda not to part the fociety any longer ; And a few minutes after Ardaric and Godegefile being entred the Clofet, and after them the fair Queen of the lunngieits followed by the Prince of Per- fia, by Martian^ the King of the Bajiernes and by the Ladies belonging to the three PrincefTes the converfe became general, and neither Gnndioch nor Gondemar had opportunity to profc- cute the difcourfe they had begun. Gondioch was therewith much Itfs difpicafed than his Brother, for he met fo much rigour in every word of Kofanwnd's, that had he not been ac- cu(tomed to the likc,the ill fuccefsof this vilit might have been able to have made him dc- lift in his fuit. He could not ncverthelcfs abtiam from making known to the Company fome part of his perplexity, and for that he knew the Prince of Perfia, the King of the A- laini and the King of the Bajiernes weic newly returned from accompanying Conjiance through the Camp, he turned towards Go^fgfJ5/e for vihorc\ he had leli unkindnefs than (or cIj*- Book I. T H A K A M N D. 9 the reft, becaufc there was more conformity in tlicir difpontior.s, and towards tlriamer whorrt ht loved beyond all others bcca'.ife of the hatred heprofefTed to Fhararnond : '^ Oo you not " think, fjtd he to, them, that the Prince of Perf:a, the King of the /llaiits fmi tlic King of the Ealieritef iiivc ho bath hadfome coHf tetit with Conltance in Spain, / k^stp not rvhat reafoni could oblige him to fuch a Ceremonie, "Everyone aUs according to hU own inclination, replyed Arderic, andtbenghltvas vanquifh^d by Conlhnce as you tpere by Pharamond in Germany ; I cntfefl have preferred at much efieem for my ConqueroMr as yen have hatred for yours : and I am fcarce fat'ufied that your proceedings are more brave and generous than mine. If Pharamond tvere only odious in me for the advantage tvbicb fortune gaw him over me in the ivar (anfwered the King of the Burgundians) I fhould have no more hatred for him than you for Conllance, btti ^tis kriotvnftiH rveU that it was not the event of war which gave birth to our enmity : For my part, replyed Arderic, I have neither kjtown in war nor in peace any thing by Conftancc which hath not obliged me to efieem him, and the intereji of nations ought not to hinder our reverence to Virtue. One may rejped and efieem virtue, faid King Godegelife, without loving the perfon that U virtuous, and I muji con/efithat he of all my Rivals in whom I perceive moft of lirtue and merit U the moji odious to me. He may be Moji formidable to you (faid the fair Queen of thc'turingiens) but it is very rarely that the effeB of virtue attraUs hatred, I confefl freplyed the King of the Herules) that fear reill be thefirii effcH, and that this pajjjnn way in a little timeoutlirip my hatred in my foul, but hatred muji infallibly follow it at the heels, aud he of my Rivals whom I have moji caufe to fear will doubtlefily be the man Ifljall have moji reafon to hate, 7hvs refentment U very natural,(i[d Prince Gondemar, and if it U not the ttioji praife worthy it 'a at leafi the moji pardonable. Jf I could be* lieve, faid young Humbert, that my Rival would not precede me in happtncji as well as merit. hU deferts injiead of caufing hatred would caufe in me more love : but as it U very difficult to ac~ . knowledge our felves inferiour to any without believing our felves the more ttnfortunate of the two, it is almo{l impnjjible but that which gives us a belief of his happinefi beyond us, Jfjould not likervife create an averfion rather than an amity for him. It is very true, added the Queen of tiie Cnnbfians, that it is not in thefe occafiens which men praCiife moji modejily, for except in love itfelf it ii in the knowledge of our f elves that we are leaji juji and equitable. There are fame Ferfons of fuch a refplendent merit (faid tlie cliarming Princefs of the Sueves) that it is very difficult to flatter eur felves fo much as not to k>totv the advantage they have over us, Ihat may happen, faid Martian, between a low defert and a very tranfcending merit, but when the di^ro' portion is not fo great, we do not ordinarily do otirfelies overmuch jufiice. If the complaifanci, and partiality we have for our felves, replyed the fair Amalazontha, renders us unjuji in tbt judgement we make of our own deferts, I Itkewife believe that in the judgment of others merits^ pajjion as frequently prefides as reafon j and that we oft difcern more or lefs merit inperfons ac- cording to the affetxion or averfion we have for them. "That which you fay may be a great truth Madam, faid Brioraer unto her, forlconfej! that the hatred I bear to Pharamond doth not on- ly blind my eyes to aH tkfe brave qualities which others obferve in his perfon, but alfo reprefentf them to my apprehenfion either truly as they are, or elfe a; Ilook^upon them with prejudice at defe£ft and crimes that deferie my hatred, and I never yet kjtew either by (ight or report, any thing by bint which did not rather augment my antipathy than diminijh it.Rofamond dixxd'not reply to this dif- courfe of the fierce Eriomer as flie could have widied, but fhe wink'd upon the Princefs Al- biftnda who might much better do it than her felf, and who loved not Eriomer fince the im- prifonment of Marcomire,^nd who taking hold of his words with a plealing grace, 1 confefi Briomer, faid (he to him, that this opinion is perfeUly your own, andtbst there is no perfon here, frefent in whom we can find fuch as you have fnrnijJied us withal as to the point in hand, but though we jliould be jiiji to our enemies as well as friends at leaji in nur principles^ J fear there ii no fncb juliice inyours : However will you not ackjiowledge that this hatredwbich might blind you, in the judtrement you make of the Grandeur, courage, valour and other qualities of Pharamond d)th not hinder y nil from the l^iowledge of his clemency to the vanquifh'd, nor from finding a kjnd of frveetnefi in the civil treatment and entertainment he gave you when yon tvere his prifoner, or if you were not thereof fenfible, would you not rather have it attributed to fome natural caupy^ B' than.' lo PHAR.AMOND, Part. V. than to hatred which came by accident ? I have not better interpreted that alUoniof Phara- 'mondV, than others ■■, nor had 1 need to maks ufe of my hatred^ to h^iorpihat his civil nfage iVM rather an e^eUt of hvs love to the ^een^ than of his own generofity. In thU manner-, one may blaft all generous aUionf, ( reply ed the fair Princefs, with a fcornful fmile J hut very few perfons will be of th'u opinion, and I could eafdy convince you, were we permitted to fpea^ to the advantage of our enemies. As 1 am not very eloquent, ( faid Briomer to her j and that I hadneedof a good 'Second to maintain a bad opinion : I befeech you. Madam, to ftay till the King your Father be prefent, and not to be dijhleafed, if I implore hU affijiance, loit have fmaV need of his a^jlance, C faid Qyeen Knfamond unto him) in a place where your party h fnfficiently ftrong ■•, and^you will give me no great fat'ufaVtion in finding out fuch a Se- cond againjimy Sijler. Briomer, to this difcourfe of the Queen, made no reply, but gave fufficient evidence by his behaviour, and more furious looks to that fair company, that the choler and implacable hatred which reigned in his heart, would be as durable as his lifci and Toon after, the meat being brought into the Hall for the Queen and Princeffes Supper, who for the moft part did eat together, the Princes retired, and left them to their li- berty. After Supper they re-entred the Clofet, and fpept therein fome fmall time more toge- ther, ere they retired ", but the prefence of Amalazontha did not permit the Queen of the Ctmbrians, and the Princefs of the Stteves to entertain themfelves on that fubjcft which was moil pleafing to them. It was not for want of affedion for this fair Queen, nor that they would rot willingly have given her a place in that Amity, which did fo ftriftly bind them, as well in regard of thofe many fair and amiable qualities, that rendred her moft vvorthy > as becaufe (he had often with much earncftnefs requcfted that favour. They likewife lived with her, with marks of affeftion little different from thofe they had for each other, and the title of Sifter which they had always ufed to each other, notwithftand- ing the difference, which by the King of the Cimbrian's death, there was between her and Kofamond, was in common unto her with them, not only becaufe the title of Brother and Sifter is fufficiently common amongft Soveraign Princes, but becaufe it feemed more con- formable to the union they defired to preferve, during the whole courfe of their lives. But though Amalazontha was very dear unto them, both for the amiablenefs of her per- fon, and the marks which flie had given them of her friendftiip, there ftill retrained a thing, concerning which, they repofed little confidence in her v and they had found fo much the lefs appearance of calling her to this counfel with fafety, as they perceived in her a greater vehemency in the profecution of her Brother's revenge, and Fharamond's ruinc, (he hated the unfortunate man, without remembring that. once (he loved him equal to her life. The knowledge which (lie had given thereof, hindred them from explaining unto her the particular, and dear fentiments they had fojr the King ot the Franks, and the Prince his Brother* but iii all other affairs they ufed her with a molf (incere and cordial affedion, and loved her as a moft dear, and amiable Sifter. They had likewife with much regret ob- . ferved, that her mind was affaulted with fome fenfible grief, or perplex'd with fome other paffion more violent i and as they well judged by themfelves, it was very improbable for the lofs of a Brother to caufe all thofe diforders and diftradiors, which appeared in her Soul, they intereffcd themfelves with a great deal of tendernefs in the unknown mis- fortune which produced this effed. It was certainly ea(ic enough to read in Amalazontha'' s eyes, that her Soul was (ick, and that her languiftiments proceeded from a caufe more extraordinary than a natural grief, though the caufe which made them languifti, had not deprived them of their fweetnefs, but looking fomewhat more dull, and wandering, it feemed as if part of their vivacity was covered with fome cloud, but fuch a cloud, which by obfcuring fome part of their brightnefs, feemed rather to augment, than take away from thofe fwcet and powerful charms which accompanied tlieir beauty. Her complexion more beautiful than the fair Flowers ot the Spring, (uffered likewife fome decay of its luftre,' through the difturbances of her mind i and if at fome times, by the effed of cer- tain thoughts, in hoftility with her repole, the vcrm.ilion of her cheeks was fomewhat more than ordinarily heightened, it feemed that at other times they loft a part of thofe graces i and it was much to be feared, that if her illnefs continued, her health would be with much difficulty preferved. The language of AmalazoJitlni did not a little contribute with lier vifage, to difcovtr the ftate of her mind j and though (lie was Miftrefs of a happy wit, and natural readincfs eloquently to expiefs her felf, and a good grace i there wcrs certain times in which the diftradion of her mind, and the (lender attention flie gave to what was faid to her, caufed lier to return anfwers very different to thofe which (lie would have otherwife made, had her mind been lefs difturbed, and (lie accompanied them often with Book! VHARAMOND. h with fighs that iflued from an obftriiftcd breaft, ere fiie could- irccolled hcrfcir t6 detain them. Kofamond and Albifi'tdj, though fuftkicntly employed in their own concern";, had»ob- fervcd ncvcrthebefs foine part of that di(lra(ftion, which plainly appeared in the pcrfon of their new and amiable friend , and although the memory of their proper misfortunes might with much likelyhood haverendrcd them infenhblc of others miferies, yet had they with grief conlidered, that (he wjs much more unhappy than they could have wifli'd her. They were often inclined to ask her, what they were ignorant of, thecaufeof hcrafflidions : but as they loved her, and that their acquaintance was but of a few days, they thought that they could not with any civility, at that time fatistie their ciiriofity. But that very night, the Princcfs Albifutda^whok Soul was replenilli'd with bounty,and whofe nature eaftly com- paffionatcd the misfortunes of othcrs,obferving in her vifage more than flie had done before, all the ligns of a mortal {adnefs,couId not contain herdelirc, which fprangfrom a realaf- fcftion i and clafping'one ofhei^fair hands between hers, and prellingit with an aflttflionate tendcrnefs i Muji you Madam^ C faid fhe ) But trtuji ynu, ( W\d Amalazontha^lntct' rupting her firfl: words ) fn fwti forget the pfnmife which yon made me, t) call me alt^ays by the ttameof Silier. "I'll do as you pleafe, replyed Albillnda, however it be difficult for "metoufe that liberty with fo great Queeps, though in obedience to your commands. " what though you are no Queen f/i/^RoTamond unto her ) there's none that doubt but " that you ought to be one i and forme, you know full well, were I more your Sifter "I could not love you more. "We had hopes, fome time Imce, to be fo by a double " tye, ( replyed the Prince}!) and I do not yet defpair, but that the Gods will work fome " miracle to confirm this alliance between us. " I (hould be difpleafed, ( faid the ^iteen " ofe great effeQs which fiich alojican Operate. JVe do not in the leaji admire, to obferve fo much grief and affliUion in you ; J have grieved, and do yet day ly grieve for the I ikr misfortune; and yet the ^een of the Cimbnsns hath greater caufe of afflidion, which draws each day a river of tears from her fair eyes. But you muji give me leave to tell you^ that it is not grief only we have obferved in you, but that amidol your grief we have defcryed a trouble, and a dif/rder which is no ways natural to you and fuch a diforder which grief alone ii mt accujiomed te produce. Thedifconfolate Amala- zontha blufh'd at this difcourfe of the Princefs, and for fome few minutes kept (ilcnce, coveringher face with her l^and to obfcurc her ftiamci but foon after, taking hold of her. laft words •, 1 kttow not, ( faid fhe to Albifinda ) what this trouble and diforder if, you have fo much obferved, happily my dijj>ofition is naturally given to melancholy. "For your 'difpo- , B 2 "fition" 12 PHARAMOND. Part V. " fitiort (faidthe ^hteen of the Cimbrians ) we know full well what it is, when your mind *' is free, and at liberty i nor do we attribute to nature that which feme accident might " \-\3fc caufed : but I fear that the Princefs of the Siteves is a little too urgent, nor had flie <' been excufable, had (lie preft upon any other motive than the dear affecftion (he bears you. "Oh faired Queen, (/jz^ Albilinda, embracing her, and as it rvere excusing her felf of the '■'■ fault (lie had committed) I humbly beg your pardon, and proteft to you, that friendlbip " was tile fole caufe of my indifcretion. " Ycu could not injure me, ( faid Amalazontha, '■^ returning her back, her kind embraces, ^»d making her feel f^me tears which jiole dotenher ^'' cheekj rphen (he laid them to hers ) and inftead of complaining, I muft owe you a perpc< " tual obligation for your being both fo folicitous for my rcpofe and quiet. So may I likc- " wife mod fincerely proteft, that if with this grief, the caufe whereof you know, thereis " any thing mix'd in my mind which I have not difcovcred, and that I dare not declare "to you as yet, it is neither through any diffidence, or ingratitude to your affedtion, but " through a refpedi which I have for you, and a fear to appear lefs worthy of your friend- "(hip, when my afflidion (hall be made known. For the reft it is net impoffible, but " that which I moftrefent, and which isdoubtlefly the caufe of all that diforder you have " obferved, may one day ceafe by a relief from Heaven, or thofe remedies 1 have fought "for, and if I am not happy enough to fee the end, youfiwll be the fole perfonsof the " world to whom I will impart it, when throflgh a larger knowledge of you, I may hope "that you will have more indulgency for my misfortune, than polfibly you have as yet. She pronounced fhefe words with fo many figns of diftradion, that her two friends were touched with pity ; and the fair Quceaof tlie Cimbrians folding her once more in her Arms, " Do not believe, my dear Sifter, ( faid (lie ) that a longer acquaintance, is either ne- " celTary to imprint upon our Souls,all thofe tender impreflions which may be formed to your "advantage, or to receive the knowledge of your griefs in that manner your heart can "defire; but fince you have fomc reafons to conceal the fecret, defer the participation " thereof, till fuch time as you (hall judge us moft capable to give you confolation, and be " afTured ( for I am acquainted with Albifinda's thoughts, as well as my own ) that we " are as fenllbly touched with your afflidions, as with our own misfortune. The Queen of the "Turingiens hearkened to this proteftation of Kofamond, with all acknowledgment and tendernels i and a while after, perceiving it began to grow late, and finding by the eyes of Kofamond, that fliehad need of fome repofe, Amalazontha and Albifmda retired to their Apartments in purfuit of deep, but it was no ealie matter for them to rind it i and if the Princef? of the Sueves, whofe difquiet was lefs tormenting than either of the others, had more reft to hope for, (he had employments to hinder it,«which did not permit her to go to Bed at her accuftomed hour. Being come to her Chamber, where (lie found Imbergida^ and thofe other women' which ufually attended her to Bed, was about to undrcfs her felf, when Imbergida delired her todifcourfe a word or twoftie hadto tell her in her Clofet, and the Princefs was fo much the more willingly thereto difpos'd, in that (lie believed (he had fomewhat more to impart concerning Marcomire ; Imbergida took the candle her felf, for to hinder any other perfon from entring into the Clofet with them. In going out of the Chainber, Imbergida fliut behind her the door of a little Lobby they were to pafs through, and when they were at the Clofet door, the Princefs faw it was (hut, and that Imbergida had taken the key, that great warinefs gave fome fufpicion to the Princefs, and conftrained her to look upon Imbergida, as if (he would have asked her the caufe ■■, but Imbergida having opened the door, and entred the C1q|K without {peaking to herj the Princefs who followed her, was very much furprifcd blinding a man there, which Imbergida had cnclofed. Her a- ftonifhment at this fight made her fpeechlefs, not knowing on whom to lay the blame of this encounter, retiring neverthelefs towards Imbergida for her better fecurity : but it augmented much more her amazement, when tl\is man fuddenly ran to her with open Arms,embraced her, and kiffed her many times, (he not having the power or force to hinder it. Thofe familiar adions deprived her of the fufpicion ftie had had, that it was Mar- comire, knowing well that the pallion of the French Prince would not let him forfeit his refpedi and whilft (lie rcpulfed this Incognito, and was driving to force her felf from his Arms, Imbergida held the candle fo near his face, that notwithdanding the many years of hisabfence, which had caus'd fome change in his favour, die gave her th.e means to know him for the Prince her Brother, the valiant Viridomar, At this right her fright was dilfipated, but her amazement redoubled, and both the one and the other foon after gave place to joy,which fucceedcd them upon fo dear and defired a right. As Virid,mar and Albifin- da had two fair SoulSjand all other inclinations good and virtuous,fo had they bound them- felves Book I. FHARAMOND. ij fslvcs from their (cnderefl years in a firongcr cliain of a/ft(5f-io:i t!'an (lut of !)l()C>d, and there were few, or no examples extant in that time of a fraternal amity that niigkt paral- lel theirs i fo that Albi{inda could not have fecn an objca (b dear as this Brother, whom n)C had not fcen for many years, and fox whom the high adions he had perfmmcd h'ncc their feparation augmented her cfteem, without yielding iier Soul a prey to joy, and receiv- ing in this conjuncture, the moll fweetanddctp'iniprcUiocs that a real amity might maki lier fci>llblc of i fo that inftead of refcuing her felf from his Arms, as at Hrll rtic endea- voured to do, (he now bound him fait by her embraces, and returned his Careffes with all kindncfs. They fpent much time iflthefe acfls of affedion, without exprclITng thcmfelvcs in any u- ther manner. But in fine, the Frincc as the Icalt furprifed, came the tirll to himlclf, and looking more nearly upon the Princefs by the clear light of the taper, tiian before he had done. Oh my ..dear Sijier^ ffaid he) bom much do I rejoyce to fee yoii in fo good a con- dition^ and to behold what an advantageous change in your perfon thofe years ham wto»ght^ which I have Jj>ent without feeing, yon. " I might fay tlie fame of you v;ith more rcalbn, " ( replyed the Princef! ) and belides what I have cbferved in your perfon, 1 hope you " doubt not but that I have been fcnfibly touch'd, as I was obliged, with that fairrcpu- " ration of Viridomar^ which fame foJJidly trumpets about the world. J hav^ neither flattered you, C reply ed the Prince ) no^}ave a defign to he flattered hy you. hut hotvfo-, ever it is., you fee a Brother that hath altvays loved yott equal to himfelf and you ought to be- lieve.^ ihat i)t himyoujhall altvays flnd aU the afecii on (f Wndomzx.^ and all that of Wndit mir , tphom tve have both loji fntce our feparation. It w lilfeivife only you, my dear Silier^ ' that I come to fearch in thU Camp i for in the {late I am at prefent with the King my iatber, xvhofe humour yoH better ^orp than my felft there is little tf fafety for me. '' I verily be- "lieve, (faid the Princefi unto him) your life would be in no danger, although you " were difcovered, but I much fear the King might detain you i and my joy to ice you "is much mitigated, through the difquiet and tright I have for you. Tuu liketvife fee, ( anfwered Viridomar ^ that I give you this vifit with a iirange n>arine[i, and at a particular hour : and fince I entered thii Camp, 1 have ohferved much more than a timorous perfn could pojjibly have done. It is not but that I might hope to make my peace rvith the King, had I any fuch deCire ■■, but becaufe I cannot hipe it, but upon fuch conditions that I can neither cotifent^ nor fubmit to, I rvill expeU., if it be pnfpble, till time and tfafun have appcafed his anger ^ and continue this liberty offolloiving my own inclinations, as much M my duty can permit, fnce I cannot follow them as much as I dcfire. Ob! my dear Brother, ( faid the Princefs J if at leafi^ after the death of our eldeji, you will fiiO permit me to call you by that Tiile ) is it pof- fible, that having been as you rrere, defign^dtothegloryofpnjreffin?_B.oi\mon6, that is to fay, to the greatefi that ever mortal could ajpire to, you could pnjjihly confent to renounce her, or rather renounce her without dying. As I have never fcen Rofamond, ( replyed the Prince ) you ought not to admire, that I was [mitten with a beauty, not perhaps inferiour to hersi and at J deftre to draw you to my party, 1 hope, yott will ceafe, before we feparate, to condemn me^ ■ or at leaji tooppofe me, if it he true, that you fiill really love me. 1 love you, ( faid tiie Prin* cefs ) much more than I am able to expre^, and the amazement I difcovered, was rather an effed, than a default of my affeUiou, fo that you ought not to quejiion my being always afyuur party ; and although I am not ignorant of the King^s humour, nor very bold, and valiant by nature, I will affure you, dear Brother., that IJ};ali be much more hardy in promoting your iu' terefls, than in the profecution of my own, and that there can be nothing in the world fl>all ever makf me forfak^ them. 7his is all I dare fay to you in the ignorance I am, and to fay more, you kftow I ought to be injiruded both in your affairs, and intentions, 1'ou Jhall be, ( iaid the Prince ) when you pleafe, and I will render you not only a faithful account of my affairs, ' and prefent intentions, but likewife of every thingtbat hath befaln me fince our feparation, and that mill be to inform you almofi of every accident of my life. I would begin the relation without longer deferring^ it, not being well ajjiired to f.nd again the like conveniency, did I not fear to make you thereby lofe too many hours of (leef : but we Jhall endeavour • No my dear Bro- ther, C faid the Princefs interrupting him) fear not to make me lofe my fleep, for I haze of- ten lofi it upon occasions of much I efl concernment ; and when people are at trar, as we are at prefent, they JJjould accujhm themfelves to more labour^ andlefi reji. Befides, I can lie as long to morrow morning as 1 pleafe; nor can I Jpend the night more to my content, than in feeing and hearing yott. I confent ( faid the Prince ) to your defre, andfo much the more wiling- ly, becaufe I cm only have at nights the happinsfito fee you, and that a days I muft either remain at a dijiance from the Camp, or lie concealed, I have hard by fame particular friends to whom I^muji retire, before the Sun gives eyes to the world, vAtb whom I haie left my llorfes t4 PHARAMOND. Part V. Horfet and tm Efquires^ that are at prefent all my Attendant f. Do you alfo make fome excuP or other to your Virgins, that ihejimay not fujj>e£i the long jiay pu are to make in your Clofet^ where 1 came without being feen of any hut \mhtx^\diZ^ who conduUedme up the little Stair- cafe, which leads up to the Lobby, by which I may in like manner with liberty return, having the Word of thf nights IFatcb, whereby I can pa^ as before 1 did, without being jiopped by the Sentinels. Upon this, Imbergida went into the Chamber, where (he infornncd the Vir- ^ns, that the Princefs would fpend that whole night in writing, and that (lie had com- manded them to go to Bed, retaining only two perfons near her, in whom (he well knew that (he might confide. In the interim, the Prince and Princefs feated themfelves very clofe together, and after they had often repeated thofe CarefTes they had us'd towards each other when firft they met, and accompanied them with all thofe words of endearment, as might witnefs a real affeftion ; Jlbifmda feeing the Prince ready to begin the relation (lie dcfired of him, ftoppedhim before he opened his mouth ■, " Dear Brother, (faid (he ) do not believe, that *' you (hall (lightly acquit your felf of the relation I exped from you, for I defire you " to impart to me every thing to the very lea(t of your thoughts, and fmalk(t circum- '' fiances. I wiV perform your defire, (^ reply ed the Prince ) at leaji in Juch things that will molt concern your curiofity, and that are more fuitablfghaa others to your inclinations : as for the unprofitable particulars of my "Travels, and theWars which I have been in, you will mi think^ amifi if I pafi them fuccinUly over , that I may come to thofe pajfages more worthy your attention : it is likewife on thofe I jfjall be obliged to be the more prolix, to inform you both of the [late of my mind, and that of my fortune; and I pallreqaeji fi-om you the likf fa- vour when the entire confidence that 1 jljall have repofed in you, has obliged you to makg nd' thing afecret to me. Thefe words caufed the Princefs to blu{h, who gathered from thence, that the Prince had fome knowledge of her affairs, but this thought afforded her at the fame time fome content, in alTuring her, that this knowledge ( if he had any ) had not wrought in his mind any evil effeds again(t her, and that he was not lefs fatisfied in her, than happily he would have been, if he had known nothing of what had befallen her i but the refleftion (he was about to make upon the whole matter, was intenupted by the Ptincc his difcourfe, who began in this manner. The Hijlory (t/" Viridomar. ALthough I am to recount tn you every important Adion of my life, lamnever- thelefs difpenfed with, in much that I (hould relate to another perfon, of the noblc- nefs of my Birth, and the beginnings of my life,through the perfed knowledge you have thereof, as well as I. You know in what manner I was educated with Prince Vindimir my elder Brother, and the hopes which were nouri(hed from my tender years, to fee thofe cares which were then taken of my education, profper "with a tuturefuccefs. As for thofe virtues, to which they endeavoured to form my mind, they were implanted eafily enough ; and for the noble exercifes of the body, I did not only render my felf therein fufHciently knowing and adive, not to (hame my Ma(\ers \ but I was even very often conftrained to conceal before the King, a great part of that which I knew, who with difpleafure took notice that I furpalfed my elder Brother, towards whom his affedions were ever more ftrongly inclined, than towardsus i although we may fay amongft our felves, dear Sifter, •without offence to his memory, that neither in the advantages of body or mind, we were perhaps his inferiours. You likewife know, that to make me ferve my Apprentidiip in Arms, for which he perceived I had a great inclination, joyned with a body vigorous, and lufty beyond my age i in the feventeenth year thereof he fent meto the Wars, under the command of our Brother, and of fome old Captains he had given him to alfift his youth, by the grave experience he had of that Art ; that in the Land of the Semnons, and Calucons, againft whom, at that time we waged war, he fought many Battels, in the which, young as I was, I acquired fome r(;putation i and that before my nineteenth year, I co[tt- manded in chief at many Battels, and at the fiorming of fome Towns, where I did exploits proportionable to my age,, where by the aliiftance ot my courage and fortune, I had made my felf enough remarkable, to acquire fome name amongft the men of war, and to have given them an opinion of me much greater perhaps, than they ought to have conceived. Nor can you be ignorant, how at my return to the King, this report fprcad it felf to my advantage, i Book I. P H A F^ A M N D. 15 advantaj^c, though whatever I had purchafcd to make my fdf fiiflicicntly klovcd in the Court did not produce all tliofe good ttfcds whicli 1 could iiave deliied, out of that parti- cular avcrllou which the King naturally had againll all tliofc acSions which mighr any ways cclipfc the glory oiVindimir. Tiiis was ncverthelefs folely in^nafted in tiic King's mind, for in Viitdimir himfclfl never could perceive any thing unworthy ot liis courage, for lie always witneflcd eftcem and iiicndniip enough to make mcrtfpedi: his memory all the days of my life. You have not forgot all that which palt in our Court, wlicrc were to be fcen a thou- fand divcrtifcments and publick fpcdaclts of gallantry, after the King had concluded a peace witli lus neighbours : and you mull needs remember the fuccecding paflagcs vvhen the tiing our father had made an alliance witii the King of the Cimbrianr, and that upon the promilc which had part interchangeably between them to celebrate a double marriage of Vindimir with the Princcfs KofamonJ, and of Prince 7heobald with you ; the King fent Prince Vindi- mir to the Court of the Cimbrian King fo kc there the tair Princefs for whom he was dchgn'd, whofe beauty though then in the very cradle of her age, was loudly voiced through all £«- ro^e. Vindimir hereupon went for Bohemid with a magnificent equipage, and I had willing- ly accompanied Iiim if the King my father would have confented, but tor that reafon I be- fore fpoke of he would not fuffer me, but made me remain near his perfon, where I caukd him contrary to my intention to entettain a greater jealoufie of me than he ever cherilh'J. for the intcreli of F/W/OT/V, which obliged me toabfent my felt from him a while after, when I undertook thofe travels from which I did not return to him till he fent for mc back after the death of Vindimir, at what time he was marching with his Army againft the Franki: You know as much as was publick of the caufc of my departure, for at that time I fliould fcarce have trullcd thofc particulars to your tender years as now I dare, iincc likewife by the change of the condition of fome intercOed perfons, I am Icfs obliged to filencc by my difcretion, which then prohibited the publication thereof. You know that we had loll the Queen our mother long before that, and that the King had continued many years a Widower, not only without dreaming ot marriage but even without giving any caufe to believe he would ever think of it during his life : he was ne» vcrthclefs of a very amorous complexion although of a nature very fevcre and furious, and one that often cherifbcd inclinations no ways tending to marriage : but whilft that Vindimir was making love to Tinjamond, and that by the abfence of his Son who was the chiefeff ob- jedf of all his thoughts he permitted them to wander upon others who had power to attradl them, he became really and violently amorous of the tair Artemira who then rendrcd our Court happy by having made it her abode ever lince the death of the Prince of the Vandat^s her husband, who for our intei;e(ls had loll his life in thofe wars we had had agai^ilt the Se»i- nons. Although a widow flie was not above twenty years indebted to time, l^ie was fair, and had a great deal of wit, and was really very dehrable : Love and thefc perfeAions fo cnflamed the King that he buried all things in oblivion only to think of her, and that he might plcafe her he became much more gallant than he had been in all his life. He was not old, for as you know he numbers not yet above fifty years : He had a majcftick deportment and his vigour as entire as at the age of twenty five, fo that he no ways doubted to make himfelf be loved by a fair Perfon, and he was unmindful of nothing that might make him thrive in his detlgn. He had the happinefs of feeing Artemira every day, and was thereby in tine fo enflamed with her beauty, that knowing flie had too much virtue to permit a love that was contrary to it, and finding her birth and quality did permit him to marry her with out ofifence to himfelf, without doubt he would have efpoufed her could he have gain'd her afifedtion. I likewife believe that by the advantage (he might receive in becoming Queen of the Sueves after (he had been wife to a Prince much inferiour to him, it had not been ditB- cult for him to have difpofcd her to love maugre the difproportions of their ages if fortune had not madcufeof mc Cagainlf my intention) to oppofe an invincible obdacle to the King's atFedion. I vifitcd Ancmira very often, and as fne was the faired Lady of the Court and the perfon whofe converfation was moft grateful and all her parts m.ofl: amiable, I delight- ed much more in hers than in the company of any other, and was always more comple- mcntal and courtly to her. 1 likewife fometimes let fall %vords and difcourfcs v;hich favour» cd of gallantry, andlrendrcd her fervices and complacencies that mighr (ome what exceed the common rate of ordinary civilities, but 1 performed all rJiis without any real ardour or amorous refledion, and I had fo much tiie lefs dcflgn of engaging my fancy as the humour flic was of, and tiie condition of her tbte convinced me (lie could not have other thoughts than of marriage, from which mine were naturally very difiant. I know not whether flic perfwadcd her felt the contrary, and vvhether (he realty believed I had an atfcftion for her, or whether fortune had in this manner deligned it tocrofs the King's intentions ; But how- cvci' t6 THARAMOND. Fart V. ever it was at the fame time the King began to teiiifie his love for her, (he let me know by feveral figns that I was not indifferent to her fancy, ancfevcn after the King had rendrcd himfelf very alliduous in her fervice, and made manifcft to all the Court the reality of his affedion for her, and made her believe her felf that he might have a dellgn to marry her, fhe made the affedion (he had for me more and more appear : Although I had not much of affection for her I acknowledge that I percaived hers without any averlion not ha-- ving my heart otherwife engaged, 1 fliould not have aded the part of a cruel perfon to a La- dy fo fair and amiable, if (he had not endeavoured to have engaged and conhned mc to a place I naturally hated, and of which in the age I was I could not pollibly endure fo much as the fole mentioning. On the other fide, as all the world condemned the delign which the King feemed to have to remarry at that age, having an offspring like his that might well merit his entire affedions, which in all likelyhood would be then diftributed to the children of the fecond bed, fo had we great reafon to fear, and you your felf my dear Sifter though younger by four years than now you are was very much allarm'd thereat, and I vyas no ways difpleafed that he found in his delign fome difficulties fufficient to make him lay it afide, It is neverthelefs certain that I did not thereto contribate, and that I only gave fortune leave to ad what it feemed (he intended to do for us without oppofinghcr, and though in the gene- ral judgement of the world the King did us fome injuftice,through the refped I had for him, I would do nothing to offend him. I could not abftain neverthelefs from fpeaking of his Jove to Artemira when tit occafions prefented themfelves, and llic always replyed like a per- fon prepoffeffed with thofe more favourable refentinents Ihe had for me than for the King. As (he was very referved and had much of modefly, (lie continued a long time without clearly explaining her felf, and as I had no delign for her, although I had no averfion per- ceiving (he much favoured me, I did not perform all which I might I>ave done to oblige her : but being one day with her and others in her garden, and walking with her in an Alley where I uflier'd her along, (he let fall by accident a nofegay (he had in her hands I took it up with great diligence and reftored it her with a behaviour full of refped, and feeing that (he returned me thanks for the pains I had taken in expre(fions full of civility and humility, which feemed more than ordinary, Tou ought not to have faidfo much^ faid I unto her, had Irendred yott fome fervice of great importance^ for this return appears to me as much as yon could have done had I ve»tur''d my life i>t your fervice. The fervice, xep\)'cd Axtemirsi, jhould he as much confiderahle from the'perfon that renders it as from it felf and horvever light in it felf it muji he of value ivhen it it received from Prince Viridomar. Oh Madam it U too much, faid I unto hex^and methinkj you (hould by no means deal in this manner by me: for though you have done it in time paji (added I fmiling to my felf) yon ought to change your manner of converfe now with a perfon that isfudienly to look, upon you with the refped that he oxves to his §heeen and mo- ther in Law. Artemira blu(h'd at thefe worhs though 1 uttered them with a fmile, when clofing my hand in hers with a iigh^Ajfure your felf ^Csiid flie,t/;i9wn to you, and whatever reffie[l I owe them or that really I have for them^l cannot find in my heart fo much for them which obliges me to refufe the Crown o/Suevia, if it were offered me. I muji have alone then, faid I, an obligation which 1 would havofliared to others, and therefore alone mu[ilhave that refeiitment of your kjndnefs which you prohibit ai the reft of our family to acknowledge. I kttow not what refentment you have ( add ed the fair Ar- temira with a figh) but I muji really proteji to you that if I were obliged to love any of your houfe^ itflioitlduot be the King your father. lou'dUve perhaps the Prince my Brother, faid I, and I conftfihe might have wucb more reafon than my father to hopefo good a fortune. Oblige me no farther to enlarge my felf faid Artemira, for Ifenfihly perceive that I have exprefl my felf plainly already. She uttered thefc words with a blulh that covered all her Cheeks with marks ot ba(hfulnefs which gave me a fesret torment for the prefent, I continued neverthelefs my di(- courfe, and if it were not amorous it was at leall very obliging, and fuch as (he had no reafon to cbmplain of: but as (he would declare her felf no iarthtr thinking the had dcclar'd her i^lf too much already, (he turn'd her felf towards the perfons that toliowed us without giving me time to reply ; and the King a whilj after arriving, all that day entertain'd her himlelt with his'amours. I began to difcern from that day that he had conceived a great jealoufie of me.and he gave me a look in approaching her fufficiently crabbed to raife in mc a fluewd fufprcion of it : and as he had received but little fatistadiun from the converfe he thea had witfi Book I. THARAMVND. 17 with Artemira, he lookciJ at night upon me wuh an eye fo furious as made me difccrn in his face a great part of what lie had in his heart again(} me. •. ■ The day following his ill humour augmented, not only becaufel daily vifitcd Artemira, or that his flatterers which were cpmpiaifant to his pallion, had alTured him that 1 was in no ftnall cftccm with her, and made him ubftrvefomc palfagcs which might convince him of the verity of his fufpicion : but bccaufe in the difcuuifeshc had held with Artemira (he could not abllain from telling him a part thereof, who every time the King fpoke of rae,as he did frequently, and almolt every day to difcover her atfcdions for me, anfwcrcd him in words and behaviour fufficicntly palhonate to conhrm his fufpicion : and one day both of them growing hot upon this fubjed, flie unawares told hitri, that if all he believed were, a real truth,he could have no rcafon to be aftonidicd at it, and that it was no miracle for a pei'- fon of her years to caft her eyes upon fo liigh a merit as tliat of Vmdomar. Thcfe words of ^r/fOT/M,together with thofe proofs he fancied to have of her inclinations, did moll: fu- rioufly augment his Jealouiie i which grew in tine fo violent that he could not hinder it from breaking forth : And having one night rcproach'd me with his eyes fparkling with anger, for the impudence I alTumed to crofs his inclinations, he commanded me, upon pain of his higheft difpleafure,never to vilit Artemira more. I promifcdjthough not without reludtan- cy, to obey him, having really refcntments of eficem, of acknowledgments, nay even of tendernefs for Arttmira^zUhough they were not grown to the full Ihture of lovev and I o- beyed him alfo by ceafing that day to vilit Artemira^ or fearching occafions to fee her ; But on the other fide it Was true I did not much fliun her, and asl went every where,and Arte- mira frequenting often thofe places where (he might meet me,as either in ynurLodgings or in the appartments of thofe Court-Ladies 1 mofi vilittd,fo we met very often ; and every where Artemira gave me as much proof of her affedion as her modefty could permit her ; and through acknowledgements which I had of, and a natural difpofition not to hate fo beautiful a perfon, I did always without incivility receive them,though not with fo much of ardour as Artemira could have defired. The King endured for fome days thcfe kind of interviews, during which time he could not accufe me of alTedation in fearching the occafions to fee her.* But a circumlUpce which then fell out, as you Sifter may well remember/poyl'd a]], and quite ruin'd me in the Kings apprehenfion. You have not furcly forgot how at the marriage oi Almeric, him vvho of all the Sueves the King moil loved, and who after he had in battel loft his life by the hand of Pbaramond^ the King to honour him,commanded amongft other magnihcences certain Jufts and Turnaments, and that each Cavalier of the Court ftiould break a lance in the great Piazza of Stragone where the King then was ; and as I prepared my felf Hke others for the Adion, giving the day before a vilit to Almeric^s iii\cr,Artemira arriv'd, who,having been let blood the day precedenf,held her Arm in a very fair Scarf, the fancy and beauty whereof all the company praifed, and every one delivering their opinions, and I mine amongft the reft. Haldan who was there prefent and had for Artemira much af-' fedlion, undertaking to fpeaki In truth Madam^ faid he, methiukj you have very little need to wear th'n Scarf, and that the befl ufe yon could employ it to^rcere to fawurfome perfon of merit with it on rehomyou would coffer the honour of beingyour Knight to morrnry at the turnaments ,• Haldan, who by reafon of his own merit and the honour which he derived from the blood Royal of the Sueves might take any thing upon him > might the better hold this dilcourfe with Artemira^ and with fo much the greater confidence,tor as much as you well know,Sifter, at fuch times Ladies do not only make little fcruple to confer fuch favours, but alfo often bc- ftow them and of themfelvesfend them to thofe perfons they chufe for their Knight that day. So Artemira without ftudyingin theleaft upon his propofal, 1 Should willingly fot'otv your ad' vice ( faid (he with a fad and languilliing accent) if I believed the perfon on ivhom Ifljotild coxfef it would accept of being my Champion; but as 1 am not fuff.ciently happy to hope it, and that I may not for his intereji defire it J believe that Ijliali both kfep my fcarf and remain without a CbtmpioH. If I had efteemed Artemira much lefs than I efteemed her, or had not been fo feniible as I was of my obligations to her, thefe words would have in honour conftrained me to make her a reply, and let her know,that all which I had to fear from the King's anger could not deterr Irie from rendring whati owed to the great honour ftie had favoured me with : and thus fliut- tingmy eyes to all other refpeds^that I might the betteracquit my felf of thisduty,"Ido not " believe Madam, p/^ J unto />fr,that there is a perfon in the world, who,in to morrows adion " and all the adions of his life,would not glory in the honour of being your Champion,and " might I know the perfon you intended to honour with this favour,! dare alTure you on his; "behalf that no confideration whatever could deterr him from receiving it with a great deal, '!of refped. "If it be fo, rf/f/^'fi Artemira,you are in danger your felf to be charged with, " this trouble, for after an offer fo generous of Prince Viridomar, I affed glory too much tOj C "ca'i i8 PHARAMOND. Part V. " caft my eyes upon a meaner perfon than himfelf. She faid no more, but began to di- red her difcourfe to another fubjed, that that might be no more fpokcn of. But the next morning ere I was ready, one of her Pages entred my Chamber, with the Scarf and a Note, the contents whereof ran thus. Artemira to Prince Viridomar, IT is too much honour fer me to have this day Vrince Vm^LOmzx for my Champion^ to let me omit the renetvingtohU memory that kind offer he made me., but if there he any danger in thii a£iien, I had much rather renounce the glory, which I hope from theme, than expofe him to it, and he may k^ep the Scarf as a tejlimoHy of the ejieem I have for him, without wearing it to his peril in publicly Thefe words, by which it appeared, that Artemira would have me recal the offer I had made her, more forcibly confirmed me in the defign I had to acquit my felf bravely of it > and though 1 could not doubt, but this adion would expofe me to the King's fevereft an- ger, I did believe it unworthy of a Knight, if through fear or any other confideration, I had notrendred to a perfon of that merit, and quality as ^r/fw/ViZ, what I owed to this great mark of her efieem, and thence taking a refolution without weighing it, I thus an- fwercd her (liort Letter. The Prince Viridomar to the Princeis Artemira, "lyTJEcf the occafwn more perilous than it is, I would be this day, fince (he hath honoured me with that favour, the Priwcf/f Artemira's Champon,and 1 (l)ould be too happy ^ if my for- fiine would permit me to befo all the days ef my life. You may eafily, dear Siller, call to mind that I executed accordingly my promife, and that I wore the Scarf at the Tournament, appearing there as her Knight, and that none of my performances did any difhonour to the Scarf of Artemira. The King who had feen her wear it two days together, and prefently knew it, was inflamed with fo violent a lagcagainft me, that not being able longer to diffemble it, he withdrew himfelf from the wiiidow where he was a Spedator of the Sports, and having evidenced his anger by all the marks of a deep r^ejitment, to all thofe that were about him i no fooner did he fee me at night, but calling a look full of indignation upon me i "I faw your line Scarf, faid he^ "and you have willfully this day expofed your felf to all my hatred, by being Artemira's *' Champion. '' Sir, faid 1, if you have informed your felf of the truth, you will there- " by eafily perceive, that I did not feek out this occafion to difpleafe you > andyouknow " well, that I could not with good manners refufe it. "This good manners, replyed the "King, ought to be much lefs confiderable, than the refped you owe to my orders i but "(ince you have fo ill obferved that I gave you, never to fee Artemira more, I now pro- *'hibit you ever to fee me more, without my exprels command i my will is, that you "retire to morrow to Tenefe, and not to return hither, till you receive my orders. Sir, faid I, I will do much more than you have ordered me, and to ejirange my felf from aU oc cafrons to d/Jpleafe you, I will travel to fuch « dijiance ^e»; Artemira, that thofe who bring your Orders, may meet perhaps more difficulties in finding me out, than you would have them, when it may be yunr bufineji to recal mc. After thefe words I went from him, and the next morning departed with fuch an equipage as pure neccility required, and rode towards the Confines of Tenefe ; but inftcad of making my abode there, I went out of thofe Terri- tories, and engaged my felf in a Voyage, trom whence he found fonie trouble to recal me, as I had plainly focetold him. I have very fuccindly difcourfed to you of this caufe of my departure, becaufeyou had before an entire knowledge of all, except what I have in- formed you, of the tokens I received of Artemira''s atfedion. I will pafs over with like brevity, what you have heard of my travels, either by report in my abfence, or from thofe which might inform you after my return to the King, to go into Franconia : but I fbail enlarge Book I. T H A R A M N D. 19 enlarge my felf upon thofe mattersof which I know you altogether ignorant, and which now makes all that is in my life of imporcancc, and confiderable unto me. "It is true^ '■'■( [aid the fair Albifinda f« the Prince her Brother ) that I knew the greatefi part of what *'you have recounted to mc, or rather, I was only ignorant of thofe particulars you un- '' folded of the affedtion which Artemira had for you, the which by her good fortune " and your difcretion, were fo well concealed, tiiat they never reach'd fasyet ) theknow- " ledge of the Court. You may have likewifc underftood, how firm flie remain'd in the " proteftation flie had made, never to be our Mother-in-law i and how (he entertain'd the " proofs of the King's afTedion with fo much rigour,and fo little acknowledgment, that in "■fine, his difguft, and fliortly after, the return of Vindimir^ whonn he folely and particular- " ly loved, and employed all his affedtions for him, made him forget his dcfign of mar- "tying her, and finally extinguKhed his Amours in fuch a manner, that he favoured " Haldan in the affedion he had for her i and you are not ignorant, how after (lie had loft "by yourabfence all her hopes, and poflibly through the few marks flie received of your " remembrance of her, by the advice of her friends (he married Haldan, and hath made " ever fince her abode in the Court, where , in reg^d oi Haldan's quality, (he retains *' the next place in dignity to me. " I know it, dear Si(\er, replycd Viridomar, withma- " ny more particulars than you have recounted i and Haldan himfclf, who is the perfon *' i mort elkem of all the Sueenmar}{, and in few days addrelTed my felf to the King, He rather receiv'd me like a Son, than a Nephew -, and through the fame which had fo: much flattered me, confidering me more than I defcrved, he gave me employment in thofe wars, which then lay upon his hands, which gave me as happy opportunities of ren« dring my felf remarkable, as I could defire. I fliall not difcourfe it to you, becaufe I am confident you know each particular, and that Countries mucli more diftant than Suevia^ and perfons that could not pretend an intereft like yours, are not ignorant of them i and I (hall truly tell you, to keep a method in my difcourfe, that after I had in the firft year, with the Horfe which I commanded, beaten the Saxons in every place where we skirmifli'd, or joyn'd Battel, the King gave me in the fecond, the general command of all his Army v of which command, I made fo happy ufe, that without receiving any lofs confiderable, I routed the Enemy in more than ten Fights, and utterly defeated him in two fet Battels, con(\rain'd him to repafs the Elbe, and becaufe in the very fame conjunflure of time, they met with the like ill fuccefs in their wars againft the 'turingiens, they (ubmittcd to a peace as advantageous as the King of the D^wej' could deiire. After thefe great Services,-, the- C' 2 Kinjg' 20 THARAMOND, Part. V. King my Uncle cfieemlng me as his Son, ufed his utmoft endeavour to retain me near him, but it was impoffible, by reafon of my great defire to travel, and feeli out Wars where- ever I might meet them. I no fooner faw peace well eftabliOied in his Dominions, but I took my leave, paiTed the E/tf very near its fource, and following the Borders of the German Sea, I pafled over the Territories of the Canches, as well tliofe which are enclofed between the River Elbe and Vifurgue, which are termed the greater, as likewife thofe which are beyond the Vifurgue; I faw in order the Frifons, and the Salient, and having coailed the River Fleuon, I entred into the Country of the Batavians, which were in wars at that time againft the Menapietts, and the Vfipeies their Neighbours ; ^nd as I was known by them for that Viridotmr, who had acquired fome reputation in the Wars of the Vanet againft the Saxons, and one that teftified an. inclination to take their patty, which I found the moft juft,~ they entreated me to take the command of their Army, which I accepted, with fo good fuccefs for them, thatinalhort time I chafed their Enemies out of all they pcflefs'd in their Country i and having given them battel between the VJ.>al and the Meufe, I gain- ed ix> full a Vidory, that they feeing themfelves ruined, were conftrain'd to implore a peace of the Bat avians, znd. to receive it upon any conditions they would impofe upon them. Af- ter I had rendred them this fervice, T embarqued my felf upon the Ocean, vifited Great Britain, and Ireland which is near unto it i and for that I found all things there peace- able, and underftood that Conftantine their Prince, who had aflamed to himfcif the Title of Emperour, was then amongft the Gaa// where he made war, and where he fought for the Empire with the famous Confiance, Lieutenant to Uomrint : Having confumed fome time in viewing what was moft rare and remarkable in thofe Illands, the moft famous of the Ocean i 5 put to Sea again, I coafted the Gauls, and having underftood thofe Wars were finiftied by the valour of Con^ance, who had vanquiflied, and taken the Renowned Co«,'f i2«f i«e Prifoner, I made no ftay there, but keeping on towards the Coafts of 5/'<»i« : In fine I arrived at Lufitania, where landing my felf, I vifited the greater part of Spain^ applyed my felf with a great deal of curiofity to fee the Cities, and the jplaces famous for thofe great events which I had read of in Hiftory. And in fine, I was preparing my felf to enter into Betica, which the Vandals had lately conquered, and where I might meet with war, when I found one of thofe Meffengers which the King our Father had fent into all parts, to let me underftand the death of Vindimir, and to rccal me home. The Letter which he (hewed to me from the King was to this effedt. The King of the Sueves to Prince Viridomar. Vindimir Uflainby the King 0/ t&e Franks's ovca hand, and you are called upon to re- venge his death, both by y^ur orvn good fortune, and by a Father's grief, who can find no cenfolation but in the defiruViion of his Eflemy : Come Viridomar, pojfefl the Seat of Vindi- mir not only in my heart, where blood and nature give it you, but alfo in Rodmond's, vcbom your good fortune hath defigned you, and whom you ought to pjfe(i, if by the revenge of your ^ Brother's death, you render your felf worthy. This Letter was very fuccind, but the Meflenger that brought it, inform'd me at length of all that which had pafs'd, and recounted to me every little circunrftance which happened at the time of Vindimir's death, and in the Wars of the Sueves and the Komans againft the Frankf. You may believe, dear Sifter, that the change which I received in my quality by the death of Vindimir, which called me to the Suevian Crown, did not ob- ftruft,nor hinder me from lamenting a Brother I fo much loved,who was remarkable for his perfon, and who never had any hand or part in the evil ufage-I received from the King, although he had been fome time an innocent caufe. It is certain, that at the relation of his deplorable death, I was ftruck with a cruel grief j and that I fuffered all thofe tor- ments, which an afire(aion and good nature might in the like occafion polfibly endure. / was likewife fenfibly touch'd with the ;King's afflidion, which was reprefented to meto be very immoderate, which I eafily believed, by the knowledge I had of the unlimited affedion he always bore him, fothat without much perfwafion I entred into thofe refolu- tions of revenge, they endeavoured to infufe into me, and I only coveted life for this oc- cafion, to fee my felf with Arms in my hand, oppos'd awinft him who had been the death of my Brother. It was^not but that I knew ( by the^ifcourfc they made me ) that Th.iramond -Book I. F H A R A M N D, ii Pharamoitdh^d flain my Brother like a pcrfon of Valour, that there was no circumftanc'e in his death worthy ot my hatred, and that even in the War it fcif, the jullice xvasort Pharamond's lidc. But I on the one lldc believed, that to feck an honourable revenge by an open War, and by ways equally honourable, was not prohibited ; and on the othcrltdf, that glorious fame ot P/'iircJw^W, which then began with fo much noifc.tofpread rt (elf through the world, began to prick me with an emulation, which made me look vvith joy upon thofe occallons, todifpute the price of Valour with him. Moreover, as my heart was not then prepoffcfTed by any padion, which might hinder me from being fcnfiblcof the offer which was made me, of thepoffcllion oHlnfimond^ I was really therewith to'uch'd, as much as one could be by the confufed hopes of a happinefs, which I ligured to my felf by an uncertain Idea , and as the fame of this great Beauty was then fprcad, as a pro- digy, throughout all Enrepe^ I could only look upon that fate which called me to her fci*- vice, as a fortune which would draw all mens envy upon me. I then received without repugnancy, all thofe imprelfions which the King would ((amp upon my Soul, and big with adciireto give him the confolation he fought, to fight Tharammid^ and merit Jiofa- mond: I turned myHorfe's head, witiiout then confidcring the courfe I fTiould ftcettore* turn into Germany: 1 would not commit my felf to Sea, fearing leaft tiieincondaf.cyfef the winds (hould retard my Voyage ••, and for fear of finding impediments by land, '1 re- folved to pafs all the way incognito : fo that I thc« travelled over all that was io be fecri in SpiftH, fiom the Country oi' the CeltiberiaHT, where I then was, to the Pyrenean Mou^* tains, which were to be pafs'd to enter into Gallia , and I viewed the 'Kubetans^ the Hedi' iant^ the JVergets, and all other places to the foot of tlie Mountains, without makiiig-thfi leaftflay at any place upon the B.oad. After I had paflcd xhePyrenean Mountains, 1 cn- tred into Gallia^ which I was obliged alrao(i entirely to crofs : I pafs'd the Countrys cf th(* 7edofages, and the Mountains of Gahener^ I faw the Ambars, the Legufieus^ the Liiipmts^ and came in fine to the Territories of the Beiges^ and by thofe of the Fagio>if^ aboarded .the Khiiie, I pafs'd over to Mognnce, and arrived foon after in Franconia, At the.figiit p^ my Enemies Territories, and even of thofe places where I was to carry the War, my re- fentment was awakened, and I looked upon them as the fatal Champagnes, where in a Ihort time I (hould folemnizetherevenge of Vindimir, But it was in this Country, that I ufc'dl mo(t care and caution to pafs unknown, and although I had learn'd that King Fharamond, who was then the objeft of all my thoughts, much lefs perhaps through my hate, than through an emulation of his Glory, wasthen in Bohemia, from whence he had chaced by many great Vidlorics, theKingsof theCimbrians, and of the 5«f:r/i I madenoqucfiion, but if difcovered, I might have been Ilopp'd by thofe he had left behind ■-, and therefore to pafs the lefs difcoverable, I divided my Equipage, and having fent the greateff part by a different rode from that I travelled, I only referved Timanthiu, and two other perfons tor my fcrvice neat me. Neverthelefs, as I knew I fhould return therewith an Army, 1 ob- ferved the Country with thfenatural (frength and tltuation thereof, as much as the fiiort time of my flay did permit, I informed my felf of the (irength of their Cities, of the large- nefs and depth of their Rivers, and of art other thiiigs which might? ad vantage me in the War for which I was called: butit was not thcwill of fortune, tliat I fnould depart that Country with the fame liberty I entred it, for by an adventure very furpriling, fliemade me fuffer a great change in my condition. Ihad paffed that City, which they had newly deprived of the name HelleHnpoH!, or ra- ther changed it to that of FraKcfirt, and having after viewed in courfe fome places neigh- bouring to the Mein, I followed one day the Banks of that River' through a very pleafant and delightful Mead, which brought me to a Village where I was to have lain that night, when I lound my felf over againlf a' little rfliin'd that was imthe River, diflant many hours riding from any place inhabited. In an iiilfant, that which did appear to me of its Beau- ty fix'd my eyes upon it, which I the more eafily difcovered, by reafon the Ifland was on- ly fcparatedbya little Arm of the River, .about twenty" paces from the Road I travelled in, and that the Channel of the River ran on the further lide much more deep and large. I perceivad the whole Illand was covered with a fmall Wood, the mod pleafant in tiie world ; for the (Mature and beauty of the Trdeis.-' which donot only fliadow the Illand, in fuch a manner as the Beams of the Sun (JoUld' nrtf- pierce into it, but alfo extended tlicir fliade, by reafon of the Sun defcendiiig" towards the'\^cll,- very tar upon the other tide of the R.iver, which as 1 havt. tftJd yoiV ,i was the gbrtd Chginnel. Tliat which I obferved of the beauty ofthiS Ifhiid!, thok' up my eyes in palling with a great deal of pkafure, but would fcarce have maxi^m? t^irfakcn my Horfe to have fecn moie of it, it my cays had not been at the fame time reacl.'d by woniens voicc5,*that I h.card on the 22 PHJRAMOND. Part v.. the other fide, and a while after by the found of a charming voice, which was accompar nied by the harmony of a fweet infirument, (he fung words which the diftance of the place did not permit me to hear, though it no ways hindred me from judging that the voice ■which fung them, was one of the moft ravifhing in the world. You know, Sifter, that I ever delighted in Harmony, and this feem'd to me fo fweet, that you need not admire, that I was fuddenly touch'd with a defire to hear it at a nearer diftance i and as that which 1 had fome few moments before to enjoy the dflicioufnefs of that (hade, which prefented it felf infohot a feafon, was joyned more ftrongly to the former, fo I had not ftrength enough to refift them, nor to deny my felf a fatisfacSion, which the free con- dition I was in permitted me to enjoy. I caft my eyes upon the fmall Arm of the River, where the water was then low enough to ride over it, and although 'timanthiu repre- fented to me, that we had not much day to ride to the place where I had defigncd to lodge, this confideration was not capable to ftopme, nor hinder me from entring into the Ifland, which I got to with much facility.However,becaufe I feared that the (ight of us might fome- what amaze and (tartle the perfons that were finging, and fo deprive us of the pleafure I had in chafe % I and my two men alighted on the Banks of the Ifland, which were the two I told you before, I had only referved of- my Attendants, and making them flay in the fame place with my Horfes, I advanced under the Trees on foot, and made very foftly towards the place, towards which I found my felf attrafted by the voice which continued finging. The Ifland was fo fmall, that it contained fcarce a hundred paces in length, and half fo much in breadth, fo that I had not far to walk to hear more diitindly, what more confufedly I heard before at fome diftance, and fuffering my felf to be guided by the voice, I arrived in fine at a place where I might both hear the words, and fee the per- fons that fung, which were two fair Virgins, who fate upon a green Turf at the root of at great Tree, fufficiently well accoutred, to let ;me judge by their habit, that they were not of the vulgar fort : but almoft at the fame time they left of finging, and I could only hear thefe four Stanzas which were the laft. OH.' de^ife not f acred Love, Xet cruel Fair, you feel it not : But it may fatal one day prove. When it jhaU faH to be your lot. "Xhey are much more fair than tvife, "Xhat the fower of Love dejpife. 2. He that cottquered all the Gods, And made them feel his cruel Vart: Vpon a mortal hath great odds, Whofe flrength is in a jlubborn heart, At which, aliH, if he oncedratHy ^ ' He wiU impofe a cruel Lam, 3- 'ALavfto Tphich yon muji ehey. Although your Love be payd with hate : A Law which men dare not gainfay. Since Cods themfelves ne'er alter fate \ "then ceafe your enmity to love i 'Repentance may fome pity move. 'fhere'^t none fo alginate in Sin, But when they come to pmtijhmenf, Could wifk that it had never been. And would, when 't'u too late, repeat. Be you more wife, prevent y4)ur Fate, Lejl when you love^ it prove too late. She Book I. THARAMONB. .23 She that fung had fcaicc uttered thefe vcrfes, but {he and her companion rofe from the plat- where they i'atc without turninf, their eyes towards rrx, and taking each other under tlicir Arm haftncd to tlie other fide ot thclllc, where I heard the troiccs of other woir.cn. As the Io7c which 1 had for finging and tlie curiolity which this adventure mig!u have given me, had not made me receive the fatisfadion which Ihoped,fol refolvcd to try my fortune farther, once more to feall my eyes or rny ears with that vvliich they mi^htf xpcd from this accident : But 1 endeavoured to ufe therein all pofOble warinefs, and in lliding from Tree to Tree to follow thefc two Virgins, I arriv'd near the bank of the Kiver, in the place where the Trees were both talleft and thickeft, and where they then call forth a Oiadow which covered almolt the whole dream of tlie River : from thence I prefcntly efpicd without being feen divers women upon the bank in a polUire little different from thofc I had feen before. and a Barge covered,at the end whereof a Lady of a good grace, although fomewhat indebted to time was feated, and feemed to give orders to the Maidens that were fate upon the banks of the River: I falfned my eyes for a while to thefe obje{fts,when quickly they were taken off by a little noife I lieard in the River from the fide which I had not as yet viewed, although it was much more near me and under thofe very trees with whichlobfcured my felf from being feenjc was by tfrokeof the fame delliny which conduced me tu that pl3ce,thatlca(t my eyes there where 1 not only found wherewith to arrell my light, but alfo to bind in eternal chains a foul molf generous and mort undaunted : and behold dear Sifter in what a manner this de- fliny which governs our days did adl again!! me, (ince to .make me fubmit to this Amour, which flie armed againrt my liberty, (he was not content to prefent a fair face or rather a ce- Iclfial vifage which might have produced alone a much greater efTedl:, but as if (he weredi- ilruftful of her own ftrength (he expofed to my view (uch a furpaliing bcautie able to fubju- gatc the v/hole world inftcad of a particular perfon, and difplayed to my eyes rarities which only this accident could have expofed, more indeed than a mortal eye could ever hope to fee. Be not dear Sifter aftonifli'd if a man were therewith enchanted, and believe there is no power amongll men able to defend a heart upon fuch an occalion. I there faw my dear Sifter, caftingmy eyes upon the river,two Ladies thSt bathed tiicirifclvcs cjofe by the bank, being not bold enough to wade farther into the Stream. The leaft beautiful of the two was certainly a very fair and handfome perfonagc, and I (hould not have doubtkfly neglc(!^ed the confideration which was due to her beauty, if (he had produced it ellewhere and not fo near another perfon that obfcured her luftre : but fhe that in an inftant interrupted both my eyes and my thoughts, appeared to my dazled fight a thoufand times more fair than the Mother of love ifTuing out of the fca,or whatever the itioft charmingldea could prelent to the imagination.Oh my Sifter'how weak and uncapable do'l find my felf to defcribe whati faw, and how difficultly can you apprehend it unlefs you read in my eyes that which my difcourfe cannot delineate nor reprefent unto you. "I fear my Lord (fiid Albifmda blufljinz) that you " will reprefent it too lively,3nd I could wifli if you fo pleafed that you would help your felf " with my imagination to fave you the difcourfe, No my dear Sifter replyed the Prince, fear nothing, I have not forgot what is due to your modefty,3nd on the other tide I faw nothing but what I may mention without offending it. This adorable wonder which fcem'd to have brought heaven into the waters, was in part covered with a fine Lawn which the water made cleave fo clofe to her body that it feemed pafted unto it, and expofed to the eye even the admirable form of, thofe parts which it covered, and left many others free to the fight, as the face the entire neck withall its beauties,the arms almoft uncovered and nothing in rinewas hid Irom me which her companion could fee:and you well know Sifter that there are boun.df in the greateft familiarities which are created between two perfons of the fame fes which Modefty doth not permit perfons well born to exceed. The upper part of this miraculous perfon was only covered with a little Coif of Tiffany that prefented the great braids of hair which were neverthelefs difcerned throughit,nor did it hold them fo firmly but that fome got Joofe and dangling upon her ftioulders with that fhining blacknefs heightned the dazling whitenefs of her body. The coolnefs of the water had fomewhat abated the -vermilion of her cheeks and the colour of her lips, yet did it rather fwccten than take away the tin- ^ure, and in caufing in her a kind of a charming languiihment did feem to work no bad ef- feft on her face in which you might obferve m.uch more than when it was fprightly. Or.e might even judge that by this element an enemy to the fire, that which fparkled in her eyes was become more fupportable to the weaknefs of our fight than it was accullomed to be in the ordinary vigour, and one might perceive fomewhat of more fweetncfs than cliofe flafhes which accompajiied or forerun the lightning which the ufed to dart forth. Hei Neck was admirable both for its form and for its whitenefs, laying open to the heavens all its "beauties made them ailumed of their own fplcndour. It feemed rather a kind of pride than 24 FHArx.AMOND. Part. V. the fanning of the wind which moved the waters, and naake them fwcll by intervals, and their Arms and hands which accompanied it ig playing upon the Wavcs,feemed to make the fame war againft the God of the Sea which this fair objed had already rais'd in my heart. This was all which then appeared to me, the envious waters obfcuring the reli, although they could not hinder my thoughts from penetrating therein and fupplying the defeiana^ of a (lurtTecmingfy rich though veiy liglit,(he rofe and turn* ingherface to tlie lideof the wood, in the fame ir.Hant I litred up my head to view her fhe both faw me and obfervcd my behaviour v furprifcd with this fight flie gave a Hidden fhrcek, audi turning towards that Lady which appeared to be her Mother ; " Oh the Gods '■'■faidfhe to her, what is that fhape Jfce of a m.an fo near us, and of a man that hath fccn us "in the water.Thcfe words obliged the Lady and all the Maids to call their eye towards mci and rinding my fclf difcovered 7 did not endeavour to obfcure my felf, perceiving it thenim- poflible, but Zreiriaind in ashigha confulion.asif 7had been taken committing (ome greater <:rime, 2 am not naturally very timorous, neither had 7been foin thisoccalion if Zhad con- tinued in the fame Itate I was in fome moments before, but the elTedl which this admirable beauty had produced upon my heart deprived me of all alTurance, and wanting confidence to look on her exafperated vi(age,7 kept my eyes fixed on the ground wi h the countenance of aperfon much abaOi'd. At length I raifed them towards the object they moll coveted although it were with fuch a fear as never daunted me in the mort dangerous otcafions and not till then did I difgovcr either by the etTcds of fhame or anger upon that celefiial face which I already adored i the vermilion which the coolncfs of the water Iiad fomewhat va* nillied, returned to its full pcrfedion i and tfiofe eyes which appeared languifhing before began to fparkle like fire, and their natural fladies were more enflamed by the additional heat of her rage. This exafperated Beauty had at tirft deilgncd to Ike from me in that in- ftant, as from a man who had feen more of her than flie dclircd ; but flie could not obtain fo much of her anger, for (he believed that my impudence merited a fevere reproof, at Icaft that ftiefliould give me fome marks of her difpleafure. She pierced me thorow in a moment with her eyes, although flie turned her face fcarce half way towards me, and carting a look at me which gave me lefs caufe to fear than love i And n>ho art thou inconfiderate foul faid ftie to me, thou rvho hy thy prefcnce prophanejl facred places, and rcho forcing a refpell which no man ever durj} violate, doll ca\i thy audacious eyes upon objects prohibited to all mortal fvf /.Thefe words which like a clap of thunder having (Iruck my ears and heart at the fame time had quite chafed away the boldnefs of my courage, if I had not rtrove to retain it in the ne- cellity I had thereof, or it I had not in fine met with a fufficient relief from my courage to render my (elf in a condition to fpeak and juflifie my error. I fixed my dazled eyes With much difficulty upon a face which anger caufcd to fparkle with an extraordinary fire and exprelling my felf in the terms my new pallion iiad infpired me ; If you are aCoddefs fafd I unto her, you k>iow that I am innocent, Cmce chance and mt my intention was author of thU crime, and if you are mortal you may permit me to fty the fame in my j unification, and to add, that yon ought not to be exafperated for what Ihave feen, fmce all the evil wH fall npori me and all the glory be yours : for in fine, what I have feen mayjufily fhame all that the Sun e^ verfaw of beautiful, and by thU vifion Ihave loji 1 had faid more if r had not tfpicd her face to clothr it felf in a new fcatlet, which made me conceive tliat my difcourfe did rather aggravate than in the lead appeafe her. I wasfludying terms that might have worked a better effed, when preventing me with a fhrill voice i U^hat arajhnefiU thii, faid flie unto me, and from what part of the world doji thou come hither to offend me both by thy behaviour and thy difcourfe ; lama firanger, replyed I, that a fortune lefl happy than glorious has lead in thii occafwn to dijpleafe you, or I am rather an Adeon, who for a crime parailel to hU, find my felf expofed to a torment much more cruel than he endured. If J had the power to expofe thee to it (faid the fiercely exafperated beauty) I jhould have purfued thy crime fo clofe, that thou fjouldji not have had time to mal^e a reflexion on what thou haji feen : but if I wanted that power Jflfall have at leaji enough to hinder you either from kttswing or feeing any more that pcrfon whom you have viewed already more than yau ought, and more than (}je would have had you. Finifli- ing thefe words with an angry voice flie departed with her train, and retired into the boat which began at the fame inltant to make towards the farther bank i where I faw their chari- ots and men to attend them ; I then advanced towards the bank from which I always held my eyes hxM on the River, and I wiflied very often that the Mein had been as large as the. Danube, that I might longer have retained the fight (although indiflindt and contufed) of that fierce beauty which already reigned in my heart. But when after flie had pall the Ri- ver, I faw her go forth of the Barge to mount theCf>arlot, and that a moment after I loft her with all her (rain in a wood on the other fide of the bank, I rcmain'd "much m.orc a!to- liifli'd and alflided than lean polfibly exprefs. Ifaw my'ftlf at the fame time deprived cfa'^ t> vlfioa 26 PHARAMOND. Part. V. vifion which was dear enough to me to caufe a forgetfulnefs of all things eire,expofed to the rage of a beauty which I already moft patlionately loved notwithdanding all the endeavours I made to the contrary, and without all means either of feeing her or obtaining a knowledge of her perfon, the Pviver hindring me to follow and I feeing no perfon to inform my felf of her ; and this misfortune which. became g;:eat by a pallion which had already gained a con- fidcrable ftrength, touched me fo near that I found much difficulty to comfort my fdf In the mean time, the fair Idea of what T had feen, employed all the faculties of my Soul, and I abandoned my felf thereto in fuch a manner, that I had not of a long time quitted the place where I had fo plcafantly loft my felf, if limsnthus^ to whom my long itay, and the approach of night gave much of difquiet, had not quitted the place where I left him, to come to feek me, and to advertifeme, that the Sun was ready to forfake our Hemifphere, and that we had many hours of riding, to reach any handfome place of Receit ; He repeated it twice or thrice before he could extort any anfwer from me, and turning in fine towards him withagefture which much furprifed him : And if ire (Jteuld pafi the night here^ faid I to him, would you thtn\ it^ Timanthus, any ^reat misfortune? "the inconveniences which yon might fujfer, replyed 'timanthus^ is a ftif.cient misfortune for perfons to whom your fnfety is fo dear •, and give me leave to tell you^ my Lord^ you ought Hot to pafiit here without gTeM neceffity. I Jhould Jpend it with t:vomuch of joy^ replyed I to him, if I could noHTifh a hope^ to fee to morrow what I have feen to day, but I kjtow too much ever to hope it : know thin in the mean time^ Timanthus, that it-is not without reafn^ that I abandon this place with regret, and that I (hall never fee in another place what here J have feen i and that the fmall time I have jfent in this place^ hath wrought a very largos change in my condition. I accompanied thefe words with a figh, and geftures fufficiently pallionate to give fome difquiet to iimanthus s but as the confidence I had in him, did not permit me to make a fecret of what there happened uhto me v I began, whillt we were walking to the place where he left ourHorfes, and continued when we were mounted and departed that fatal Illand, to relate unto him my adventure, with many more particulars than! have obfcrved in the relation I now make to you, and in fuch pallionate terms, that he doubted not, that I had already really entertain'd an affeftion for her. He kept filencefcr fome (hort time after I had finifli'd my difcouife, and then taking hold of my words j I confe(i^ my Lord^ ( faid he ) that thefe adventures you have done me the honour to relate, caufe in me no ordinary aflonijljment^ and that a Beauty which could produce on your S'oul fo great an effect, mttji necejjarily be more than an ordinary beauty : But^ my Lord, all the imprefjionjlie hatb left, will be (juickjy defaced by the fight of RoLmond ; iJ«i Z'f/orf Rofamond's Beauty all o- thers will vanifJj, like the little Stars before that Vianet which ujhers in the day. Do not tah^^ faid I, that Beauty which hath wounded my Soul, for one of thofe little Stars \ neither believe that the beauty of Rofamond, can with eafe chafe it from my heart. I a!fo fe^el fomething in my hearty which hinders me from defiring her : and to fyeal^ with the confidence I have in you, k^iow Timanthus, that if I were folely called by the thoughts 1 have for Rofamond, they would not be capable to fnatch me hence^ nor hinder me from fearchin? out the Beauty tvhich hath wounded we, f-om ufuig all means to k>iow her^ and to make my felf beloved by her^ and perhaps from chaining my felf to her all the remainder of my life ; but it is my Duty^ ana, Honour which more loudly call , than any other confederations. I know I am to revenge my Bro- ther that I am tn combat Pharamond, whofe glory covers me with cenfufwn; and that no afl feUion can plead my excufe to the world, if I omit the farch of tbli great Enemy ^ and to an- fwer worthily thofe hopes the King hath conceived of m\ Valour. Ihefe reafons conjirain me ts ufe a greater violence upon my felf than you can paffibly fancy ; and though I bear an unkind ufage in my hearty which perhaps may always continue ; I will march with him in ^9ms^ or by hii orders in Franconia, or any other place, to find the Murtherer of V'mi'imiT •■> and when I have given my honour all her rights, I wiE fearch a folace for my affeVions in th'fe oppor- tunities which honour jhall prefent me. It was thus I exprefs'd to limanthd my intentions, and put them afterwards in execution, in the fame manner I had explained them unto him, though not without a great violence to my inclinations, which made me feel by this cruel necellity that honour had much more impofed, than I can polfibly make you appre- hend ■■> the care I took to inform my felf by the way, was very unprofitable, and all which I could learn, was, that on the other lide of the Ifle which I remarked. Prince Pmw, Ba- fogajlus, and otiicr pcrfonages of the higheft Hank in Frmconia had tlieir Pahces ; but al- • though I was informed, thefe perfons had Daughters which fame publilli'd for beautiful-, they did not character them fufficiently, to let me find out that Beauty which had wounded me i and fo without larger information, and remitting my felf to be inflrudfed in another manner, at my next return into /■>.»««;».? in a warlike equipage ; I profccuted iny Journey by Book II. THARAMOND. 27 by thofe near ways, which brought roe quickly to Suevh, near the King who received me with more tcmlcrnefs than his Soul had ever tcftihed before. I tell you not the particu- lars of the reception he gave me, although you could not have learn'd it but by the recital of others, for you had been long before with the Princclsof the Cimbrians. You were in- formed no doubt, that the memory of Vindimir made the King (bed many tears at my atr rival, which gave me fome affurancc that 1 Oiould fucceed Vindimir in his afTcdtionsv and that he folicited me in tine to revenge my Brother's death, with all the Rhetoric^ which might either animate or perfwade, and gave me to undcrftand that he coul4 find no confolation in this life except in the ruine of his enemy. Ihave learnt all th^s yott now tell, faid Albifinda, -and I believe my felf fcarcely iji^mrant of any considerable parage rphuh happened at the time of your arrival, andlkiiore that the King't hopes n-ere much tmre height- ned by the confidence he had inyottr valour than by the power of all the other forces af his King- dome : But 1 never heard of that adventure, you lately recounted, which made you lofe your li- berty, and I expert with a great impatience to underjiatid ivhat followed fo extraordinary a begin-- fling I although by fame hath taught hs,1 believedmy felf already enricht with the kjtowledge of that beauty tvbich worked upon your foul fuch afudden and wonderful effecf,}tot having fo bad a>f tpinion of yon to attribute that to many beauties which ought to have been can fed by o>te only. Your defire is to be infsrmed of the truth, replyedthe Trince, fd that I fliall flightly pafs <3- ver the things you know to enlarge my difcourfe upon fuch as never came to your know* ledge or that could not poffibly come but confufediy. The End of the Firfl Book of the Fifth Part. PHARAMOND. Book II. ^ -^trrrr? Ome days before I arrived at the Ring my father's Court, the King of the OVwi brians and Prince Iheobald his Son who had retired tbemfelves, after they had been chafed by Pharamond and Gondioch from their Territories, were departed with a confiderable force towards the frontiers of Bohemia,whcvc they held in- telligences, with a deli^ to fall upon the two Kings their enemies while they were engaged in a war one againft the other, or (if they found not a cjonyenient opportunity) to tranflate the war into the Territories oi Gondioch whilft we in- vaded Pharamond's. I approved this defign much more than the former, and if the-King of the Cimbrians had not been Unk'd by the Chain of intereft to the King of the, Sueves, and ^thereby obliged to allirt him in the revenge he thirfled afteril fliould have found much of cru- elty and ingratitude in his obrtinacie to war upon him who was righting againft Gondioch to make him reliore his and his Daughters dominions. I did not likewife much approve that unlimited eagernefs which the King manifeftcd in the revenge ot a Son, whcfe life the King o( the-Franl^s did only takeaway in the defence of his own ; and perhaps I might havete- ftified it if we had had to do with any other enemy than this perfon whofc renown had alt r^ady filled the whole world, and whofe invincible valour gave all thofe (hat had a deHgn towaragainft him too much caufe to fear, forme to manifcll imprclHons any way favourr ing of cbwardife by feeming favourable to the reludancies or excufes 1 mig!it have made.^ D 2 This 28 PHARAMONJD. Part V. This, and the confideration of what honour I might acquire againft fo great a pcrfon. made me freely confent to whatever the King impofcd upon me > and all things being pre- paid for this Expedition, I accompanied him at tlie head cf a hundred thoufand men, to march into Franconia; J endeavoured to my utmort, to diffwade the King trom making this War in perfon ■■, but though he had fogood an opinion of me, as to tru(t me with the condud: of this War, he liftenedmuch more to his own refentments, than to the reafons I could allcdge, for he could not believe it poffible for him fo fatishc his revenge, unlefshe executed it in perfon. He made the truth too evident, aiToon as he eiitred thi. Ejiemies Country, where he immediately began to confume all by Fire and Sword, adii.g with fo much rigour, that neither refpedt nor complacency could make me approve it, fo that I both condemned and hindred it, as much as was poffible. You have known, dear Silkr, the full progrefs of our Arms, and you have heard, how having flormed (ome places of fmal! importance, and vanquilYi'd our Enemies whertfoever we tound them ■, in the Cam- paign 1 forced Bafogajius to come to the Battel he hazarded againft me, becaufe the King was fome where elfe with one half of the Army, and that he loit twenty thoufand of his "men which remain'd dead upon the place, and amongli them fome Princes and confidcr- aWe perfonages, Allies, or Subjedts of Fharamond. You have likewife hcaid, that after this Battel, we found no rriore refiftance capable to flop us, and that afterwards having re- duced to our obedience and power all that might oppofe us, we went to beljege Peapnli^^ the Capital City of Franconia^ in which Baf'gaiim, having performed all the duties of a brave Captain, and fuftained his misfortune with a great deal ot courage and prudence, was immur'd with the remainder of his Army. But dear Siiter, although you have liad this knowledge of the publick occurrences., you know not the fecret war tliat was kindled in my bread, and with what it was concern'd : For yvur infojmatior therefore, I lliall tell you, that neither the preparations for the war, nor the bulie employments of the war it felf, had power to chafe from my Soul the fair image of that tierce ai'd imperious Beauty, whjch became the fole Commandrefs of my heart, by that accident I have already related to ycu. This dear and pleafing refemblance remained in fuch a manner rooted in my reirtmbrance, that tliere part few minutes in the day, in which I had her not prefcnt in rriy thoughts, and that I did not feaft them upon thofe Beauties, which I had feen with fo much pleafure, that ravifh'd me, and tranfported me fometimes even to an extalle. The King was frequently aftoniflied, to fee me receive with fo much flcgmandcold- nds the liopes he gave me of the poffelfion of Kojamoad -, and I could not have cxcufed my felf, but by telling him, that it was very difficult for. the fole fame of a Beauty, how faviHiing foever, to create fuch violent delires in me-, and that to ground a perted: love in a tancy like mine, the light of her was necelTary : he fatished himfelf with this reafon, which W3<; very plaufible ■■> and whereas he did not perceive in me any impatience fur the iight of this celebrated Beauty, he attributed that to my warlike inclinations, believing that love would above all things predominate over my thoughts when leifure otfered , but iie fancied withal, that the fight oiKofamond wou\d more fervently engage me to contend for the enjoyment of her, and it was not perhaps impollible, but fome part of his thoughts might 'proveTrue i and that the time, the difficuties, and the apparition of a Beauty like that of the Princefs of the Clmbrians, might have wrought in my heart fomething contrary to an im- preffion which it had fo lightly entertain'd, had it not been otherwife Hxed by the will of Bekven, which had not detign'd me for F^ofamond^ and had-without doubt rtKerv'dher for a 'Lover much more' worthy than my felf, of having tiie glory to ferve her. It ia SuivU the memory of that unknown Beauty made war upon my heart, you may believe, dear Sifter, that it continued it with greater force an^ violence when 1 was in FrancoHia^ and that I could not approach thofe places where I believed her to be, without more and rtiore perplexing my felf, with the remembrance of what I had there feen, and the defire to renew again that hap|*iinefs. As 7'/OTJ«t/;/w was the fole pertbn that knew this fecret of mjf heart, fo it was oniywith him that I dayly entertain'd my felf With the difcourfe thereof, and the cruel neceflity which chained me to the head of my Army, did not alfor exafperate ottr Troop, that hi a lit'' tie time, they cut in pieces all thofe which did not fave themfehei by flighty and the Chjriotr remaining at the mercy of the Conqueroitrs, they pulled out the ladies, which feemedto be perfons of fireat qiialitv. and who are now in danger to fujler all thofe miferies of J'/iir, which the fury of a diforderfd Troop without a Leader may inflict upon them, unlcfthcy be with dili- gence relieved. Thefe \=7ords pierced my very heart, either through fcon paiLVnaterefcnti ment, ora natural averlion I bore todiforders of this nature, vvithout conkiltirg inyfe- cond thoughts, I flew in perfon to their fuccour, which any other than my felt could not perhaps have catily afforded them : but becaufe 1 iincw the King would not be pkafcd,witli what -pity made me do in favour of my Enemies,and that he would often in great fury taurit me, with my being merciful, I charged all thofe which were near me, not to tell ray name that day to any perfon that fliould ask it, and having afterwards commanded liivamhia x.o give the fame orders to thofe in the Valley, I rode with the greateft fwiftnefs that was pof- fible, arfd 1 had not long rid, but I faw thefe miferable remains of the Combat, fome men flying before the Conqucrours,the Chariots without a Guide,and the Ladies which they had forced from thence ( piercing Heaven with their outcries _) in the hands of \\\c Sueves^ who dragged them along without either pity or refpedt. Affoon as I could make them hear my voice, I called to them on pain of death to flop ; but if my voice to fome were known, who at my light withdrew themlelves, there were many others, that the heat of the Skirmifti, or the defire of thefair Prey had fo inflamed, that they were a long time before they could know me. They were ten or twelve Ladies, every one guarded by eight or ten men, that were difputing amongft themfelvcs vvhofe Prifoncrs they ftiould be, fo*that the number of their Enemies was thcsr fafety at tliat tiiiie^ the fitif which I accofted, having commanded away all thofe that were about her,feemcd t6 ineaLady of a very good deportment, and who, by all appearances, was a perfon of vo ry great quality : and this opinion making me more narrowly obferve her, mtthoughtit was the fame Lady, who had been prefent in that fatal adventure which made me love s and that (he appeared by feveral marks, to be the fame 1 took for the Mother of my too much beloved, and unknown Millrefs : I was deiigning to fpeak to her to clear this doubt, when (lie halHly prevented me : Ah I whoere y:>ube^ C cryed (he with a (lirill voice J yoii, whom the Gods and your virtue have conduced hither to our relief faiethe honour ofthife per- fons ^ who would willingly give their lives to prefervc it\ and if this defign did guide you, at I believe it did^ ^ye where the evil M greateji, a: and after herall the reft ( finding themfelves at liberty _) ran to the fame place. This Lady having feated her fclf near the fwooning perfon, laid her head upon her knee, and wa(hing her face with tears which trickled down her own, (he endeavoured to recover her to life again : the fight hereof obliged me to alight, being tenderly touch'd with pity, and agitated with much ftronger motives, than thofe of compaltion, and to draw near this difconfolate Lady ; Comfort your felf Madam, ( faid I ) a>id fear mt any thing of th'n accident, the mifchief whereof U already paj}. 'This fear had not perplex'd you^ if my good fortune had fooner guided me hither ■■, hut not having the porver to defend you from it, lajfure you, you jhall receive no farther harm. This Lady who already knew me for her deliverer, look'dupon me, and by that means difcovering the perfon that lean'd her head upon her knee, (he gave me both an opportunity to obferve, and know her, by thait re- femblancc I had already engraved in my memory, for that fame perfon I adored, and whofe image I bore in the center of my heart. I cannot tell how, dear Sifter, to repre- fent unto you, either theaftonifhment which then furprifed me, or the many differing paf- fions my Soul at that inftant laboured with. If ioy durft prefent it felf to my Soul at tfie view of the Lady I fought after with fo much eagernefs, and for the opportunity I had to do her fo confiderablc a piece of fervice, it was very fuddenly repelled by the grief I had conceived, to fee the Beauty I adored, in a condition that made me doubt of her life, and to underftand that it was by my own men (he was fo unmannerly handled i and this lad pallion growing much ftrongcr in my heart, did not only hinder me from feeling the firft, but likewife touch'd me in fuch manner, that I ftood in need of all my courage to preferve any appearance of refolution, or moderation, And in the mean time, by this fecond fight, a- light which pierc'd the very bottom of my heart, my love augmented more in an inftant, than it could polhbly have done by ordinary ways in many years. This fair vifage, although defpoiled of. thofe lively colours, which in a better condition of health, ufed to heighten its refplendent whitenefs, and deprived of the fparkling luftre of its bright eyes, retained neverthelefs fuch beauties in its languiftiment, as your imagina- tion may much better make you apprehend, than my difcourfe. Her natural fairnefs which feemed.to receive by this accident, a kind of augmentation could not be looked upon without amazement. And whereas by the reliftance and ftruggling (lie had made, the dreffings of her head were fomewhat flackened, (ome part of her hair falling in fome dif- order upon her cheeks, heightened their luftre by their different hue : her head negligent- ly refting upon the Ladies lap that fuftained her, infinuated fomewhat of fuch tend erncfs by its languiftiing pofture, that it was impollible for even the hardeft hearts to defend them- felves from it •, and a part of her fair neck, which the Maids had laid open ( by unloofing her cloths ) to give her the liberty of breathing, appearing at a nearer diftance to my eyes, than the iirft time, expos'd but too much of beauty to complete my undoing, if I were not quite loft before. I beheld a while thefe wonders, with the countenance of a man to- tally amazed i but in fine, not being able to mafter the pafton which tranfported me'-. Oh celejiial Beauty, ( cryed I, and accofting her, and kneeling clofe by her ) have my eyes, and my heart fo much fearch^d and enquired after you, tofindygu in thif condition, and mull I pur chafe a happinefi, fo vehemently defired, with a grief fo cruel. Oh Barbarians, ( added I, turning to the Soldiers with a menacing look J yeu Jhall pay with the price of your lives ^ for thif diikjndne^ you have done me. Thefe words, aiid my more paffionate geftures, ob- liged that Lady to whom all the other bore a refped, to look upon me much more heed- fully than before, and feeing my face which was then totally uncovered, painted with all thofe marks or a moft violent grief i It muji either be, C faid (he) that you are very gene- rous, in intereffing your felf as you do in our mis fortunes, or that this perfonage which caufes all our grief is mt unknown to you. I once appeared, replyed I, as a criminal before hevj though very innocent, nor do I 'J^yiow in what condition I appear before her at this time, "lott ought mt to doubt , faid flic, butthatwelook^upon you as our preferver, andour tutelar Angel^ hut you muji forgive our griefs, if they do not permit w to reader you thofe refpeiis which are due, whilji we remain in this uncertainty nf a life, which U of greater value than our own, and of much dearer concern untv us. Theie words multiplied infcnfibly my griefs, and Ihp that before fpoke to me, feting that the fair fwooning Lady did not return to her felt : May it pleafe you to permit me^ faid Oie, to let my Vanghter be carried i?t my Chariot to fome plao' rvhe.e fhe may receive that relief which we cannot here find, fur I have fine reafoii ta hope that you have th'a kiudnefl for thofe Trifoners which you have fa lately refcued from a greater mis- ertfune. I made nO anfwer to thefe words which cleft my heart with furrow, but tearing fotrif Book 11. FHARAMOND. 31 fomc other might anticipate nic in this office, and deprive me of tlie mofl caGe Ial>oiir which I ever undertook in all my htc. I took this admirable perfon in my arms, aiid railing iiei: gently from the earth, I be^an to carry her towards the Chariot,with a delight which I cpul4 not compare to any other in the world, liad 1 met with it upon a Icfs fid occafion : Oh hory fwcet this burden feemed, oh how dear and precious tliofe minutes were to mc ; and with how much fweetnefs , whilft this fair body was in my Arms, did I feel hex head lun uppfi my flioulder, and her face fo near unto mine, that I might calily have (Iqllcn kifl'es, if fear, which is the ordinary companion of Love, had not rpadc the theit appear too ^rjuiirial. All the Ladies followed me as faft they could, and I had but two or three Ijeps to go, tpdif- charge my felf of my dear burthen into the Chariot, whofc doors were before broken ^pwn ; when my fair fwounding Lady, either by the trotion or other caufes recovered her fenfes, and opened her eyes, railing her head which flic had repofed upon my flioulder i fiie imfi^c* diately turned her eyes on every lide : and as the remembrance of the lall accident came Krft to her memory i flie could not fee her felf within the arms of a rtian that carried her, with- out taking him for one of the fame perfons frorh whom I had refcued her : ajid believing what might be moft of cruelty in heir condition, flie (truck her hands agpinft my.f^cQjj ^na repelling me with all her force, " Let 'me go Barbaria^^ faidjl.'e^ apd coptent tjiy fejf yytjH " my lite, without doing mt a greater injury. Althougli I had' nnt dcferved this reproach. I fufifered it with an immoderate joy,and feating her ffrom whom 1 received jtj ip fhcGliavU" otjWhich then was at Iiand,I gave her to underltand by that Aflio.n, tha;t I ,v^3S ppnepfrtli.piS Ejr/>jrijM/ (he feared. Tlie Lady which I took for her Mother, with* all the other mai^l? feated themfeives preftntly near her; and when I perceived by her beliaviour, that (be be- gan to have more allurance, and to look upon my tage with lefs of horrpur than.f^C h^4 teftiticd fome minutes before, bending my knees upon the Boot, and Ibdkipg upon hervvith an afped: as full of refped as pallion ; "Fear nothing Madam, /j/i^/, in a place where all " your Enemies are at your mercy, and do not t^e that perfon for your Enemy that woulU *' abandon his life with too much of )oy,to the Iraft occalion that might either pieafc or fe.rvc "you : thefe Barbarians which fo ill knew the refpedls they owed to your divine beauty, ''(hallbcpunifhedfor their crime: and though lam fuflficiently innocent, Ifind my felf ex- " pofcd to a torment, which will render me no lefs worthy of your pity than they of your " anger. By thefe difcourfes that divine perfon grew more and more afTured in her imagi- nation, and that Lady to whom all the others bore a refpedi, having informed her in fevv ■words, of what I had performed for her fervice and theirs i (lie tix'd her eyes upon my f^ce, in which perhaps (lie had foon difcerned fomething that appeared not barbarous i and ha- ving a long time conlidered my Countenance, without fpeaking i " I fee plainly, /i/^J^f, " that I am indebted to you for all things, but I know not to what, nor to whom I owefhis "relief, yet I am much deceived if this be the tirfi: time I have feen you. " You faw me " once before, (Caidlwito her with fjme ftgm ofconftifion) but it was againft my defign, and " becaufe I faw you againft your intention, I (hould not have perhaps remembrcd you oi " that accident ; which expofed fo innocent a perfon to your anger. " How (faidjhe rvith ^^ a blufj] that covered her ivhole face) we have but two times met, and at the.fird you faw me " in a condition, in which no man ought to have feen me, and at the fecond, 1 found my "felf in your arms. "You fee, replyedl, what fortune hath done for me, and you ought " not to envy me her favours, fince I purchafe theui by the lofs of a happinefs which is very "dear unto me. " I (liould be very forry, faidffie^ that the fervice you have rendred us, " [hould caufe you any lofs or difpleafure, and I know that it is great enough, to merit a lar- "ger acknowledgment than I can pollibly teftifie : but I (hould have been' very much bb~ *'liged to yon,' it you had not confefs'd to me the firft accident : and althougii I fee y6u "without rcfentmcnt , it will be very difficult for me ever to fee you without being "a(hamcd. " I mart then (Jaidlrvith a fad accent) eftrange my felf at a great didance "Trom your fight, when my prefence will be no farther neceffary, and I will do it Ma- dam, as foon as I may, without expoiuig you to fome danger. I uttered thefe words with fuch marks of forrow, that they touched the Lady's heait which I took tor the Mother, and who by all her A ftions feemed very grateful to the fervice I had rendred her : So likcwife taking upon her to fpeak with a very obliging countenance ■, " My Lord, ^'■faid fl>e. you mull fomcwhar pardon the Mndcify of a young pcrl'on, that was not by "her fortune accuftomed to find her felf in a man's Arms : but I pray think not, that the " (hame that (he mentioned will take au;ay in the leall from the jcknovvledi>iTient (he owes "you. " No my Lord, {added *ny nmli adorable aiiJ unlimtvn Mijireji) thelhame ot a mis- "fortune which betel me, will not render me ungrateful tov a beticht, and I could wifli yoii '• were not ot our Eiicmics Party , that I might find oceafions to manitell my gratitude. 92 PHARAMOND. f art V. And if it he true Cadded the other Lady with an inward fmile) that you have pre ferved ever ftnce ourfirji encounter, that affedienate remembrance you tvoittd perfwade us to believe : I can~ not imagine how your heart could yield to the refolutioH^ of coming hither to rvar againji us. I came faid I, beeaufe I rvas born a fubjeU to the King of Suevia, and that I could not in duty difubey him who commanded me to follow him^ g'^'Hg *»^ '* command very confiderable in hif Army ; and Icamerather^ beeaufe J flattered my felf with a belief of meeting fome happy occafion to fee you andferveyoit, than to offer you any particular injury:, not believingyou had any m.re than a com- mon interefi in this war : Nor have we any other (replycd my fair Millrefs very readily J but at you appear to me an extraordinary perfanage^ and that 1 have feen few whnfe deportment fpeakj more to their advantage^ I could perhaps have roiped you were not an Enemy. to Phararrond > and pojjtbly if you k>iew him, it would be difficult for you to be fo. JfliaUbe, faid I, no farther his "Enemy than my duty conjirains^and tofo great a King as he\an Enemy lik^ me will be Utile con- fiderable. I was unwilling to enlarge my felf upon this fub)ed, kll I (hould enter infeji- fibly into a debate of the feveral powers of leve and duty ; and feeing thztT'iman- thus had perform'd the orders I gave him, in recalling rhefcattexed fervants of the F^ady, and in caufmg thofe who guided the Chariots, to return to their feveral duties i I enquir'd of the Ladies what they had farther to command me, but I asked them fo movingly, that they might eafily perceive the repugnancy I had, to forfake the perfon that I loved ■■> and the elder Lady taking hold of the occatlon, My Lord, faid (he,, you k>:ow that our intentions muflbefubmittedtojours, and as we are your prifoHers, we have no intention to make you lofe thofe advantages you may gain by our ranfom, we wiU not fo much as obfcure from your kftowled^e the quality and rank^ we hold in the King of the Frank's Court : and through the confidence which I have in your virtue, I will confe^ that I am called Theodomira, wife to Priam, a Prince of the Koyal Family of theFniiks, that one of the fe Ladies is my daughter, and that jhe whom you carried in your Arms^ andwhofor her beauty has merited from you a more particular ejieem than the reji^ is ««_y ZV/Vce Blefinda, whnfe neareHconfanguinity^ and greater merit, renders her as dear to me as if (he were my own. Now you have underjiood thus much, difpofe of our liberties at yourvirtue f jail direci you, and believe, that after this obligation we have to you, there are few things which you may not hope for our Kanfome. JJhouldfet perhaps fo high a price, replyed I, with a fmile, that you^d have much of diffculty to refolve the payment, and for this reafonit if necejfarythat Ifaiiifie my felf, and that I pay as the price of your liberty, the lo^ of my own. Jn the mean time, you may be pleafed to tell me the place where you defign to retire your felves, and to permit me to gttard you till you are out of danger : Oh I 'tis too generous, replyed the divine Blefinda, and I am confident the King of the Suevcs will never approve your proceedings, 'that maybe, faid I, but 1 li^now Trince WndomsiX will approve them, and Ibope he Will msh^ my peace with the King, if this aUion (liould come to his kjtowledge. If you fall into any d'lfgrace for what you have now done, zddcd tbePi'mcekfheodomira, you (hall find a retreat with us, andljhjjl per/wade 'BkCmdito fee you without beinn afj}am''d. Tou will find therein much diffculty, faid Blefinda blufliing again, andyou might fafelier promife him, that Vrince Priam, and King Pha- lamond himfelf would be fenfible, as really they ought to be, of hU civil ufage and deportment towards us. However it fucceed Mddam, faid I to Theodomira, I fliaU remember the promife you make me, and Jhall mind you of it whenfoever I am reduced to the neccffty of accepting it. I fhail not forget it, replyed thew ife of Priam, and in the mean time, if you have the bounty ta caufe us to be conduced to the City o/" Artaune, which U not far from this place, you willcompleat the entire glory of your generofity : And I affure my felf that Prince Priam my husband will teiti^ fie to you, thofe acknowledgements t» which he u obliged. After thcfe words which inform'd me of the place where they defigned to retire, I mounted on horfcback with my men, whom I caufed to march at a great diliance behind me under the command of Timanthiis, having made them obferve the like didance all the while wc difcourfed, and having commanded thofe who drove the Chariots to keep the road that led to Artaune ■■, I marched by them, feaftingmy eyes with the fight of my mofl dear, and moft adored Blefinda : I plainly per- ceived that it fomewhat dilturbed her to fee me, but methought, (or I was willing tor my comfort to believe fo) that this repugnancy, rather took its birth trom the remembrance of that difplcaling accident, than from a natural averfion. 1 had many things in my mind to have faid to her, but belide the prcfcnce of 'theodomira, and her train which hindrcd mei J found fomething fo full of awe in her face, and of majcfty in her perfon, that the privi- lege! had of being in a rank above her, could nut make me difpenfe with as great a rcfped: for her, as if I had known her to be the grcateft Piinccfs in the world ; and when (lie turn- ed her fair eyes upon mc, as fomctimes (he did, to afTure me that (he was lenfible o( my ci-. vility i (lie did fo daunt mc, tliat 1 had not the conhdcncc tu dilclofe my paflion, fo that i Tatisfied mv felf in having given fuch proofs of my alTci3:ion as could not permit her to dcubt I Book 11. VHARAMOND. 33 jt, and in having faid enough to make my fclf be undcrnood by a pcrfon of a much mean- er capacity ; 1 had marched fome time by their Chariots lide, notwithlianding their entrea- ties to eafe my felf of tiiat trouble , by giving thciT\ only a Trumpet or fume other pcrfon in whom I might trull their fate condudt ■■, wlicn Iheodjra looking upon me in a very obli- ging manner, Bat muji ive^ (aid the, part from yntt^ tvill'ont the leaji kjion'ledjre of our gene- rous defender ? or are the obligations we have received^ of fo ftnall importance to leave tis in ig- norance of the perfon to rvhom we are indebted ? My name n fo little kjiotvn in the world (replycd I to her) that I did not believe it necejfary to let you k>ioiv it, and it rvill not much improve your l{not»ledge, to tell yott I am called Ahneric. J have heard much nf that name of Almcric ( faid the charming Neece of Iheodomira) and 1 k^torv be w one of the Grandees bath in the Court^ and Army of the King of the Sueves. Itoldyou before, freplyed I with fomcthing of fliamc which always aacompanics a Lye j that I had a very confiderable command in the Army, but I did not believe that my name was l{itown unto you, and I much Iffi defre it (hoiild be fo by exploits of roar, than by thofe opportunities which might lefi attract your hatred. Our hate, replycd Elefinda, can neither enter into comparifon with the obligations we owe you, nor with the ejleem your generous anions have given us of your perfm : but a perfon may make himfelf be (liun'd, veilbout making himfelf be hated, and the reafons of the one and the other, are not alway alike difadvantagious. I did judge by many mark/, added Thcodomira, that you were no vulgar perfon > and every thing appears fo extraordinary about you, that 1 can hardly believe your Frince''s perfon, of whom fame publifljesf) many wonders, it fo compleat as yours. And I am confident, replyed I fuddenly, that the Trincefi PoVixcna, whofe beauty U fo loudly mifed, is not half fo fair as Blefinda's. " The Princefs Polixena { replyed Blefinda blujking) hath many more ad- " vantages over E//^tfWjr perhaps ovqt Almeric : or rather, anfweredl, Vi^ " ridemar hath more over Almeric, than Polixenaovct Blefinda. " However, added Theodo- '••mira, I could wifli Almeric were Prince F/r/^/ew^r, that we might the better acknowledge "our obligation to our generous protedor. ''You might wi(h at the fame time, faid I, " that Blefmda were Polixena, and though you (liould put the wifli farther, I airi confident "that neither Almeric nor Viridomar would difclaim it. "The inclinations of Viridomar "are not conformable to yoms, faid Blefmda, for if they were, Iheodomira believes we (hould *' not long have war, and perhaps that reafon conftrained her as much as her obligation to " make that wi(h for you. " The difpofal of peace or of war, faid J, do not depend upon '■'■■Viridomar, for you may have heard, that the King of the Sueves doth not fquare his in- *'t?ntionsby thofe of his Son : But although his Son had his father's anger to fear, if he had "feeti what I have feen, and that Blefmda were Polixena, lam confident he would hardly " wage war againft Pharamond. We (hould have faid much more, and I perhaps by the ef- feft of a paffi'on, very oppofite to prudence, might have explained my felf too far, if in advancing upon the plain, we had not difcovered a body of two or three hundred Horfe, which marched diredly towards us. As foon as they difcovered us thfy made a ftand, and the followers of Iheodomira prefently inform'd her, that it was the Governour of Artaune, who came to meet her, with a Convoy which ought to have received her much farther, however retarded by fome tlnilkr accident. '' It is becaufe we went too far, faidjheodo- " m/V«,and I (hould (peak it to our misfortune,if our meeting with generous Almeric,had not " put it out of my thoughts. She then difpatcht one of her train to the Governour of Ar- taune, to entreat him to advance no farther, and commanding the Chariots to Hop i (he en- treated me to return, and thanked me for what I had done tor her and her company, with fuch high marks of acknowledgment, as made me much a(hamed of my felf, a/Turing me^ that Prince Priam her husband, who was then with his King in Bohemia ■■, and King Pha- ramond himfelf, who in all likelihood would come to the defence of his Country, would not mifs of telHfying their floblc refentments of a generofity fo little common : and if that fortune (hould minilier any occafions to demonlhate unto me her particular acknowledge- ments, (he would embrace them with fuch an excefs of joy, as might fufBciently evidence flie was not ungrateful. Blefmda her felt with lefs fervency and fewer words, but with the beft grace in the world, afTurcd me that (he was not infenfibleof the fervice I had done her and whcn»with a face upon which the grief of this feparation might make her difcern a good part of what I endured, I took my leave of her, and entreated her withno fmall diforder iFnot a vit^ible extafie to remember her felf once in her life, if it were polhble, of a perfon that could never forget her the lead minute of his, looking upon me with a fmile intermingled with fweetnefs and rigour s " Yes Almeric, faidjhe, for more than one reafon I (hall rcmtm- " ber you, and though we (hould know each other no farther > I hope that you will not have " caufe to complain of me. She fpoke thefe words, and gave me leave to depart with an Air fo full of gtandeur, that if I had not been blinded by my pallion, I (hould have opened E ' my', 34 FHARAMONB. Fart V. tny eyes to the knowledge of the truth ■■> and prefently after, being unwilling to be fcen nearer by the Frankj, which came to convoy her, and who by Ibecdomifa^s order had Itill kept their ftation, I returned with a flow pace towards our Camp, fo touched and difmay- cd with this laft adventure, that I was even loft to my felf. My love took fuch ftrength and vigour from this fecond encounter, that all I could do in oppofition to it, could not poffibly Hop its courfe ■■> and 1 not only omitted nouri(l\- ing any kind thoughts for RofjKond^ whofe Beauty was inceffantly founded in my ear, but that I even forgot to preferve any tor my felf, giving my fclf entirely up to my pallian. I was in this very condition when I gave Battel to Bafigajins^ which, as you know, I won with as great advantage to us, as lofs to our Enemies-, and a few days after, having lejoyned with the King, we march'd according to his will, which I wanted power to op- pofe, to lay Siege to Peapol'u ; within -a few days we knew that the Princefs folixena^ whofe Beauty fame had already loudly founded, was there immured i and I learn'd alfo, that Princefs !r/^fo^D/«/rj, and by confequence, that Ble{ji>trla which I adored, was in the fame City which \we affaulted, and happily as much expofed as the refi, to the calamities of a Siege. This thought gave mefo much of afflidion, that I could not conceal it from the King, though I always difguifed the caufe i and I aded all things in this Siege with fuch a reludlancy, that thebefieged had opportunity enough to make thereby their advan- tages. I know not what I had in fine refolved, but as fortune would have it, that the King received at that inftant Letters from Suevia, and from the King of the Ciwtr/ and no fooner did I perceive the day break, but I laboured to fend away the Ar- rty : and when Pharamond was preparing himfelf to return to the Combat, he received that little Note, of which you have heard fo much fpeech, and I may repeat it to you, becaufe it is very (hort. Prince Viridomar to King Tbaramond. PHaramond^ tbnu haji deprived my 'Brother of hU life, and thy Sifter hath given me mj death \ confider in tvbat a manner thy Hoitfe triumphs over ouri, and do not expeU to be encountered by a perfon rthn profecutes no longer the revenge of Vin^'imix, and tgbo dilutes no farther with you your intercji inKohwond. At the fame time I fcnt thefe few lines to Pharamond, I refign'd the condud of the Army to Ha'dan, and I mounted on Horfeback with only Timanthiu, and two others, ap- pointing the reft of my Equipage to follow Haldan into Suevia, where I told them 1 would fuddenly overtake them. Hitherto, Sifter, you have had fome knowledge of part of myadions, becaufe they appeared in publick, and it was that which caufed the difor- der and confulion in my recital ; but as you can have learn'd nothing of what remains for fne to tell you i I (hall difcourfe it to you in a better method. If you (hould ask me. Sifter, with what intention I took Horfe, and for what place I was deligned, when I departed from PeapolU, \ (hould be fomewhat puzled to anfwer i and I (hall only tell you, that having then noother dellgninmy Soul, than to ceafe to be zn'E.ntm'i io Pharamond, and to repair what was pafs'd by deeds quite contrary to thofe which might have given him a juft caufe of hatred, I only thought to abfent my fclf far from' thofe places where I had warred too much, to feek out means to give fome fatis- fadion to my love ; and without having determined anything, neither as to one, or t'o- ther defign, I expeded as much from my courage as I could hope, and left the reft to Hea- ven and fortune, I had no intention to return into Suevia, not only becaufe \ knew t ftiould bt ill received of the King, having fo ill followed his inftrudions, but becaufe this journey deprived me of the means to fee Polixena,'who at that time took up all my thoughts, and from whom 1 could not without much difficulty abfent my felf; I was unwilling to go to King Pharamond, not that I doubted his gencrolky, nor that I feared any thing of unkindnefs from him. contrary to the grandeur of his Soul, but becaufe f although I no longer made war againft him J honour did not permit me to affociate my felf with him, whilft he had war with my Father. But I could have been well pleafed to have waited on Polixena, without being fcen by Pharamond, and this was it wljich moft perplexed me, not doubting but that through the peade which the Princefs would foon enjoy, the King of the Franks would for fome time take a progrefs about !§s Country, and vifit his Cities, the people after fo many years abfcnce moft eagerly deliring it, and that the Princefs his Sifter would always accompany him, orat leaftbe aslittlediftant from him as waspoflible. Neither did I know, though tortunne ?8 PHARAMOND. Part V. fortune fliolild be fo favourable to give me an opportunity to fee her, under what name to prefent my felf to her, or that of Almeric^ or Viridomar. Under that of Almeric, the quality of a private perfon, prohibited me to hope fiom VoUxena^ what I might have hoped from Bleffinda-, and on the other fide, this Almerk , whofe name I borrowed, had been killed in battel by Fharamend's own hand, at the head of a Wing of Horfe which he commanded \ and as he had always kept that degree, which rendred him remarkable to all the world, his death was no lefs known in the Camp of the Frankj, than in ours. Un- der that of Viridomar^ although I did not doubt but Tolixena had a large and generous Soul, 1 feared feme remains of a refentment againft an Enemy, who had caufed fo much defolation and damage to her Country, and who had fo often aflaulted the perfon of the Kinig her Brother ■■, and though 1 liad fome hopes, that through the fatisfaftion I had made, (he might have pardoned me in part i I thought however, that a Virtue fo fcrupu- Jous as hers, would with much difficulty frame it felf to endure a private fuit, with- out the approbation of the King her Brother ; fince even by reafon of that happinefs which I had to fee her bathing, (he could not fuifer my light without reludtancy, after fo conhderable a fcrvice. The remembrance of the offers made me by Iheodnmira^ and of theadiflance which I might hope from her, brought a kind of relief to my difquiet s and when I called to mind the affedtion with which (he fa(iened this aflTurance upon mc, I flat- tered my felf with a hope which afforded me fome content : but fate had defigned it for my misfortune, that I fnould wound Prince Triam her [-lusband ^vith my own hand, in the rtrff Battel which I gave to Pharamond; and though (lie did not accufc ///'Wfric for his wound, Ihe too well knew that he had received it from Viridomaf^ and could not in fine . know me for what I was, without looking on me as a perfon that had expofed her to fo fenfible a grief. This diverfity of thoughts which dif^urbed my mind, and this uncertain- ty, which of the two names I ought to afTiime, made me to loiter fome days in Franconia^ without determining what refolution to takci and as my equipage could hardly give any fufpicionof my quality, I freely vitited many Cities in that Country, cxpefting what the Heavens would inlpiremc, or fome favourabeoccafion to make me take a refolution. I knew not very well what I (hould in fine have done, for I ftill found difficulties fuf- ficiently great in every defign which I contriv'd ; but in reapproaching Feapolii^ after I had taken a great circuit by the lide of Franck,furt, Mogunce, and fome other places near the Rhine ^ 1 learn'd that King PWjmjoW, upon the news of the great Forces which the King of the Cimhrians had raifed againll him, was gone to vilit the Frontiers » and that upon a belief which they had, that he could not fuddenly return, the Princefs Tolixena^ who loved much more a Country than the City Habitation, was retired to Femtfe a Royal Seat, diffant one days journey from the City, and iituated upon the Banks of Tiberon, fomewhat near the place where that River difcharges her felf into the Mein. Ilikewife ] knew that the principal Ladies of the Court had accompanied her, and particularly the Princefs Ibeodom/ra^ who left her as little as was poliible, and whom for her fair qualities, and the care (he had taken in her education, (he loved rather like a Mother than a Kinf- woman i that together with "theodomira, the Princefs Artefmda her Daughter, who is a very beautiful perlbn, and the very fame which I had feen with the Princefs FoUxena in - the River, and Laomira Daughter to Bafo^ajiiii were there alfo, and that the Court would be both full and plcafant. This news which feemed to offer me the conveniency which I had fo long delired, gave me fufficient contentment, and although (roml heod^imira liear- ed fome refcntments again(\ Viridomar for the wounds of Triam^ I wouy neverthslefs ven- ture to prefent her Almeric, and recal to her memory the retreat (he had offered him i and becaufe that it Fenufe befides the Royal Palace, there is a very large Town not nriuchin- feriour to a City > I thought I might there lodge my fmall attendance, till an pccafion offered it felf for me to go to the Caftle, and (hew my felf to Iheodomira, by whom I only intended to be prefentcd to the Princefs. As I had refolved it, I put it in execution i and through the care of my men which I had fent before, I found a convenient Lodging rear the Caftle, where I pafs'd a night full of all thofe pallionate motions, which my de- lires, and the hopes to fee a Beauty that I adored, could poflibly raife in mc > and in the morning affoon as I thought the Ladies in a condition to be feen, I went to the Palace, going as I was guided, to Princefs T.heodgmira''i Pipzttwcnt. Neither (he, nor the Prin- cefs of the Fra«i^r had ever feen me out of Armour i and that day it not being necefTary, nor indeed very convenient to go armed to fuch a place, I had clothed my felt in a habit very rich, and much in thefafliion, which through the care wetal^ topleafe thofe whom we love, had nothing of very negligent about it : this made me, as I pafs'd, to be obferv- ed more than I cared for, and obliged thofe perfons to whom I addrelTed my felf, to (hew me more civility than was rcquilire to my remaining unknown. For Book II. V H A K A M N T). 59 For tlic veil, neither in the carriage of nur pcjp.'iis, nor in tl\c accent ot om-trngucs, arc wc very different from the Franks^ and I (poke their language wt'.l cnougli to make me pafs for a Native of that Country, (b that very few amongU them took ine tor a ftranger; and the tirrt of whom I enquired the appartment of Iheodnmira-, offered himfclf moll officious- ly to be my guide where 1 might fpcak witli her. As foon as I was in her chaiiibcr, and that (he had call her eyes upon me (he knew me, and parting from ilic place where fhc was, with a voice which denoted ailoniniment i " Oh/ Almeric^ f^idjhe^ is it poliiblc that 1 fhoulj *' fee you again ? And at the fame tinie coming towards me with open Arms, and believing lier felf obliged, to make me a reception more obligin?;, and more familiar tiian at our for- mer encounters i fl^e embraced me, and treated me with as much kindncfs, as (lie polfibl^ could have fliown to Prince Geneband her fon, I received her Carcffes with all the fubmKli- on that Almeric might owe her, but a little time alter, withdrawing her felf a little back, and looking on my face with fome ligns of aftonifliment i " But is not this an ilUUion, faid "/?je, that 1 have newly embraced, have we not all heard that ^//«i?r/c by the King's own *' hand lo(f his life in the Battel. "He that dyed by Ring P/^arawo/j/iV liand, replyed J to her, *' was called ^/wjcr/c like me s for that name hath been born by divers perfons in 5«fz^/j : "but you fee Madam, that lam not that Almeric. "It is true, replyedlheodortiira, " that by the report made to us of his age, and the make of his perfon, wc concluded that "it was another of your name, or elfe ( added jf:e with an inrvard fmile) wedioufd not fo "foon have left mourning for the lofs of a perfon to whom we (tahd fo much obliged. "You are not, faidl^ obliged to me for having only rendred what I owed, and what every "man born of a noble blood, would have done for you as vvell as I. But although that fer- "vice doth not (for thisreafon) merit your remembrance, it hath neverthelcfs produced " the effedt which I feared, and my King thereby hath been fo exafperated agiinft me, that " a!! my friends and Prince Viridom.ir himfelf, who is not in the be(t condition > did not bc- "lieve there was any fafety for mc in Suevia. I mufcd fome time what Sanftuaty to take, and rcmembring my felf in fine of the offer you had made iiiC, I thought that you would not be difplcafed, if I came to fpend fome days with you, in expectation of my peace being made with the King : or till the Prince his Son (liould be in a condition to give me a retreat, or unfil I might Jind one elfewhere, which may not perhaps be very difficult, whilft 1 was fpcaking in this manner, 7beodomira g:ive fufficient proof in her countenance of the content fl^e received in my difcourfe •, and as gra- titude had worked upon her foul,all thofe effcdts it could pollibly produce in a worthy mind,, the could not but hear with a great deal of pleafure, the occalionwhich fortune had offered her to witnefs her refentments. She made it appear to me by new CarelTes more obliging than the former, and when flie took upon her to explain her felf farther i "In truth, faidflie, *' you could never have fecon(Jed the firft kindncfs you did for us, with any other more ob- *'liging or more grateful than this : and we are much more indebted to you, tor having " fought out this little retirement with us, than you to us for granting it. So that Inoton- " ly confirm to you with all my heart, the offer 1 made you at our la(^ parting, but I likewife *' affure you, that Prince ?riam my Husband, and Geneband ray fon will not omit to render " you what from them is due to our prelerver ; and that the King himfelf like a noble Prince *' will let you know how fenllble he is of any fervice done to the Princefs his Sifter, ■■' I have "reafon fvladam, faid I^ to hope by your own proceedings, that the adlions of all yours "mull be very generous; And I doubt not but that King Pharammd will ad in this affair, " as he ads in all other, but as for divers reafons I am conftrained to obfcure my retreat, if "you will permit mc I would keep it as fecrct as poUible. "You will be contc nt at leaft, *' (faidjhefmilincjv) that Blefinda (liould have knowledge of your being there, for 1 do not •'^believe you have delTgned to conceal your felf from her. '■'■ ^or Blefmda, rcplyed], I may " have fome reafons if you approve them to (lie w my felf to her : But for the Princefs Polixe- '■'■na, 1 do not think tit to hazard it after the faults which your deceit made me commit. " I deceived you (faid (lis) by an order which I could not violate ■■, and it was of great impof- *' tance in fuch an encounter,that the Sifter of a King (hould be concealed.'but you faw plainly *' that when I fpoke of my felf and family I was lincerc. Howeverit were, 1 affure you that "this deceit hath worked no bad effed for you, and that if Blcfinda can behold you without "being afnam'd, Polixena will fee you without any ill will. And of this I am fo well per- *'fwaded, that I will defer no longer to give her notice of your coming, and fo advance the " joy which you will receive froin her tight. And at the fame time without expcding a reply, (lie left me with the Princefs Artefmda her Daughter, whom I very rcf pedfully fainted, and (lie gave me a very civil reception (although the lame accident gave her a parr in the balh- fulnefs of Blefutda) and after fliS had entreated me to Hay with her daughter till her return,fiiG 40 PHARAMOND. Part. V. went into the Princefs Folixena's Chamber^ Artefinda^ who to a great deal of beauty, had an equal proportion of wit, teftified unto me in the moft obliging terms her particular re- fentments : and fomc of thofe maids being prefent, which had (hared in the relief I had given their Ladies, made it appear to me both by their difcourle and Anions, thatrhey had not forgot it : But they had not then much time, although it feems always tedious in the cx- pedation of a happinefs we much deiire, for Iheodomira coming foon after to call me, gave me her hand, and led me to Folixena^s Chamber. I followed all the way trembling, al- though I defired nothing fo vehemently as to go to the place where (he led me : And as me- thought, I ufed a fecond deceit to the Princefs, in hiding again from hei Viridomar under the fhape oiAlmeric, I entred her Chamber with many marks of fear, which (he might have perceived upon my face, had (he but well obfcrved it. My light at firft begat a blufh, which as I judged, was raifed by the remembrance of that (irft accident, which neither ihe nor I could ever forget, yet neverthelefs (he gave me a reception full of civility aud fweetnefs : and though I faluted her as Almeric ought to falute her, and not as Viridomar might have faluted her, fhe appeared with lefs riercenefs under the perfonage of Polixena, than of B/f- fmda. The generofity of her Soul without doubt produced this efFecft, and as (he was but newly informed hy "Tbeodomira, that through the fervice Ihad rendred her I had lo(t theJi- berty to return to my Country, and was reduced to feek for (belter elfewhere, (lie was wil- ling to fweeten her natural iiercenefs, and make her (\ruggle with the remembrance which gave her fome trouble to fee me, to let me under(tand that I was to exped all that from her acknowledgments, which Iheodomira had made me to hope. Upon this conilderation, without doubt looking with a favourable eye upon me i "I am very glad, faidjhe^ that " you have not forgot us, and that you are fo juft to make your retreat amongfl thofe per- *' fons that had cauled your difgrace. I hope'you wilt not find them ungrateful, and that if " you will fee the King at his return, he will not give you any caufe to repent your good " deeds. " Your bounty (faidlunta her with a great deal ofjubmijjionj makes me too much "alhamed of my felf, and in lieu of expeding here marks of acknowledgments, I ought "to demand pardon for thofe faults, which my ignorance of the truth made me commit. " I plainly fee (faidjhe with a charming fmile) that you remember ftill Ble(mda, but if they " ufed any deceit towards you, accufe none but my Coufin who deceived you : " Ah Ma- "dam, (faid Thcodomixi unto her J you know that I did nothing but by your order, and "befidcs that which you gave me in parting, not to permit you to be known in cafe of any " encounter : tell me before Almeric^ did you not afrefli (as wc were getting into the Cha- " riots) command me not to difcover you. "All that you fay is very true, faid the Vrincep^ " but you know that I had fuflicient reafon to do it, although I had none to be difiruftful of " Almeric's virtue > nor am I fatisfied that he hath not dealt to us the fame meafure, for we ** have fufficient fubjedt to dilUuft him, feeing him return alive, after he had taken the name "of a perfon that was flain fome days before. Thefe words put me into a kind of confufi- on, and to augment it, 'theodomira undertaking to fpeak, whilft this little diforder ob- ftruded my reply •, " To return the like meafure (faidflje to Polixena^ it mult have fall'n *'out, that ^/weric had been Prince F/r/i/i?»zi«r, zs Blefinda w^is the ?nuctk Polixena : and, " if you can remember it Madam, I wilhed it in your prefence. " I know not in fine, piid " J unto her, if I am obliged to you for this wi(h, nor can 1 believe it at prefent to be very ad- '' vantagious tor me."The Prince of the Sueves is in all things fo excellent,*-?/)/}'?^ 'theodomi' " ra,that there are few perfons can be injured by that wifhjfor belides the grandeur of his birth " and the glory of his Adtions, which fame hath fpread through the world, all that he hath " done in Yranconia appears to me fo great, that though in the laft Combat his face was hid " by the Vifer of his Helmet, his perfon appeared fo fair upon his Horfe, and all his deport- " ment fo majeftick i that I believe there are few men in the world, which might not wifh " thcmfelves to be the fame, or fo refemble him, " I am too good a fubjedl, replyedl, to '' difpute with you the praifes which you allow my Prince : biit all thefe advantages will nc- " ver make me envy his condition,till 1 am affured that he is not hated by the Princefs Polix- " f«i«." I (hall anfwer you lincerely,/i/«/»;5>ePr/«cf/?, that thefirft Actions ot the Prince of the " Sueves againfi: us, and the eager defire which he manifelkd to fight hand to hand with the *' King, had begot in me fuch a refentment againfi him, as might well have grown to a per- " fed hatred : but by the lali Adions he perform'd in quitting tiie Combat againR the King, " and reftoring peace to our Country, he might eafily have reconciled himfelt to me, if in " that (hort Letter, fo much noifed in the world, he had not writ fomething which difplea- '"' fed me. " Ah Madam (faid I unto her rvith an ad'ion fttff.ciently pa§!o>tate) is it poifible " that a perfon fo divine as your felf, could be capable of fo great an in)uftice, and that you " fliould nouriflr refentments againlt love, when you pardon injuries, " Although I could, . rrplycd' Book It. PHARAMONB. 41 ^* reply ed the Princef!, pardon tlicfentiments which Viridomar hath ((^r mc, if it be true that "they be fuch as he hath publifhcd them, 1 fliould never approve tlic coniiJeucc lie had ro "declare them to the whole world, and with a boldnefs which poliibly vvaius a prtcedenr. " This Adion of my Prince, replyedl, was fonicihing extraordinary, but to Ijiin it was of "an indifpcnfibie nccellity, if he meant to prefcrve his reputation : for as it depended up- ''on the quitting a Combat, already begun againlt fo brave an fc.nemy as King I'huramund^ *'and the abandoning a War to wiiicli he was obliged, by a double obedience to his tathcr, *' and to his King i fo he judged, that lie could neither perform the one nor the other, with- "out manifelling to the world tliat great caufe which conllraincd if, and was only capable *' to juftirte it. li'n true, added Theodomira, that it xvas of great importance to him tojujH- fe an aBion which might cattfe rumour t, and judgment i fo difadvantagious to hU honour. He did aV then for hit otvn glory, replyed the Princefs, but he had done much more for h'n love, in cafe that he had reaHy any, if through^ a refpeH to me he had not pttbfijhed it, but rather expofed to hazard an honour, which his former ACtions merked perhaps e^ugh to protefl. IhU tvhich you fay Madamis moji true, replyed I unto her, and WudomzT had doubtlefy done welJ, to have facrificed all b'n honour, as he hath facrificed unto you all things elfe : but perhaps in a pajjion which might dijiurb h'n mind, he did not fo nicely argue it : nor is lleafon always predominant in an amourous foul. I know not if it were a fenfe ofthU crime, which made him to abfent him~ felffrom you, as foon as he had made kjtown hU love : but in what place foever hU difgraces »!al(e him at thU time wander, if he believes that he hath dijfleafedyou, J am confident that heis there- mith m»re abided, than with the anger of the King b'vs father. I am extremely /<^'"0'> f'J'd the Princefs, that what he did for us jhoitld cxpofe him to this difgrace, but be will mal-^e it ceafe by forgetting us, for the fight efRofamond wit! eafily raze from his Soul, all thai which renders him criminal to his father. I was going to reply to this difcourfe, with an eagcrnefs enough to have difcovercd me, bur I moderated my felf, by appearing lefs paliionate in the concerns cf Viridomar : fo that I was only content to fay very coolly ■, I cannot believe Madam, that the fight ()/ Rofamond nor of any other beauty^ can wi>rl{the effeci you conjeciure, and feem to defire : but although the beauty o/Rofamond were capable, I ktiow that the Friuce of the Sueves ipill net fee\there hU remedy, and that he too much defires thefriendjliip of King Pharamond tj become his Kival. Ibelieve, ii\dl\\tVi Artefnda, that it wiH not be very difficult for him to ac- quire the amity of the King, and if the Frinceji were as favourable to him as he, he would not be muc^ unfortunate. Toupafs ihisVerdiU, faid the Princefs to her, upon the difcourfe youheari ihe King maj(e after he had read the little Note, but you l^now that he is too noble to have f poke in any other manner, and you ought to attribute what hefo largely expreffed at that infiant, to an excefrof joy which he received, in finding himfelf quit of a Rival to whom Rofamond was de' fign'd: But methinkj wefpend too much time infpeahjwg of a perfon,who happily at prefent thinks not of us, and it would be as juji to ask^ Almeric of his own concerns, as fo entertain him with Viridomar'/, I would not anfwer what I thought to this difcourfe, for fear of difcovering my felf too much : fo that without oppofiiion, I futfered them to change the fubjedl of their difcourfe, and having anfwered fome qucftions which the Princefs asked me, concern- ing the reafons which obftruded my return into Suevia with the Army i I lillncd with a great deal of pleafure, though with little defign to beriefit my felf, to the obliging offers (he made me, and to the aflurance Qie gave me, of tlie King'her Brother's acknowledgments, for the fervice t had done her. She would not permit me to return to the lodging 1 had ta^ ken in the Town, but entreated Theodomira to take care of me as her Guell, fince it was to her that I had tirft addrert my felf. 7 heodomira hut too well acquitte4 her felf of her charge, and having provided me a lodging in the Caftle, although (he knew me for no other thari Almeric, yet my entertainment was little different from that which (he could have given to Viridomar. Thus by a happinefs as great as I could defire, wast obliged to remain near the Princefs, and from that time I had liberty to fee her, if not fo much as my pallion made me to willi^ as much at lea(\ as civility did perowt, or a man of my quality, to whom (he believed her felf extreamly obliged, could demand : And dear Siller it was by this fight, and this con* verfation that my heart became more and more enflamed, and now perceiving a thoufand admirable qualities in this fair Princefs, which a flight enterview would not let me difcover, I approv'd,as an* effed of tjie bcl^ and raoli wary judgement in the world, all that which a palfion born in an inftant had made me perform. In etfedt Siikr, together with this charm- ing beauty which had given the iirl^ firoke, and fo much enchanted me, in a few days, I difcovered an excellent wit, an admirable wifdom, a generous bounty, a greatnefs of courage, not only much above her fex, but fuch as might flume ours in many rclpedls, and a regularity in all her behaviour, which was much admired by the moll prudent per- t iocs,' 42 PHARAMOND. Part V. fonsi upon knowledge whereof my love augmented, and through that increafe of my affedi- on , all the fears I had conceived of the King's feverity, and of the oppofitions which the enmity of our houfes might raife, gave place to the fole fear of not being able to make my felf be loved bv Folixena. This was in effed the only perplexity of my Soul, for as I did not doubt, by the advan* tages of the pcrfon beloved, but my affection would be approved by the whole world i I did not longer think of juftifying it, either in the opinion of men, or in the apprehenfion of the King my father : but employed all my thoughts to combat a heart, which I perceiv- ed naturally very diftant, from all thofe fentiments which love might infufe. It was here I met the greatcft difficulties, not knowing how I ought to behave my -felf under the per- fonage I prefented .- for although I did not doubt but that I had given the Princefs occafion, to difcern the love I had for her, both by my words and by my Adlions, in our two hrft en- counters, and that (he had received this knowledge of love without offence, through the knowledge (lie had of my alror. l knew withal, that what was pardonable to Almeric from Blefiada^ would not be Venial from Polixena, and it was no longer time to continue that which my ignorance, upon occafions that fprung from a ftrange adventure, had made her fuffcr, and that few would endure it at a time when the danger was paft, and where the af- fiftance of the defender was no more neceffary ; So that I found my thoughts in a fufpence which way to go, and what to refolve, whether I (liould endeavour to pleafe her under the Title of Almeric^ or whether I Ihould labour for Viridomar, by juftifying his Actions to the Princefs, and difcourfing advantagioully unto her, both of the grandeur of his love and of the merit of his perfon. I knew too well, that whatever refentment (he had for the good office Almeric had done her, (if u were poiliblc that his perfon were not difpleafing unto her) (he would never humble her thoughts to fo unequal a perfon : and truly methought I ought not to have delired it, fince th.e intereft of Viridamar more nearly touched me than that of Almeric^ and that Viridomar ought not to fulfer Almeric to have the advantage upon him, nor even permit him to enter into competition with him. To forget the interells and perfonage of Almeric^ whofe perfon had been known unto her, who had had the happinefs to have done her fo great a fcrvice, only to fpeak of Viridomar^ whcfe face ffie had never feen, and to whom her fentiments feem'd no ways favourable, appeared to me fomewhat fevere, for that I loft by that means, all which my good fortune or that fervjce might have gained upon her foul, and it might beTurpriliing to her, to fee me aft a perfonage fo oppo- lite to that which might be|xpe(3:cd from a perfon, who hacl but too much manifefled the palfion he laboured with. Afnidft thefe contrarieties, I found my felf for fome days following difturb'd, without being able to determine what I ought to do .- But methought in hne, that it made for my purpofe, to render the perfon oi Almeric (if it were poffible) grateful to the Princefs,with- out making the leaft'mention to her of his love, and to extol with my utmoft eloquence, the love and merit of Viridomar^ that £b when fhe came to the true knowledge of me, (lie might encounter with that love the merit and rank of F/r;c/(7;M,*r, which (he had conceived to the perfon of Almeric^ and meet in the perfon Almeric (which had not been difagreeable to her) the birth and glories oiViridomar^ which could be no ways difpleating to her. This was my thought, and this was likewifemy refolu^ion, and from that moment I fearched all occafions to pleafe her, and omitted none which might better her opinion of FzWcwar, or reprefcnt his affediions unto her. This proceeding was much more pleafing to her, than the contrary could have been, and although naturally tlie was unv/illing to hear any fpeak of love, (he lent an ear with much more patience, to the difcourfe of Viridomar''s affedion, than fhe could have afforded to the love of /4/»/mc.- Andlconfefs, that though I had defigned to havea* fted otherwife, I (hould not have had the confidence to have done it, knowing the Prin* ceffes fpirit fo fierce, and fo nice withal upon this occaiion, that all the advantages which t might have pretended, were not capable to have fecured me from her anger, if I had run the hazard. She no ways admired at my new manner ^ proceeding, judging that through ^he knowledge of iier quality, I had correded thofe pallionate inclinations whichlhad te- ftified for Blefmda^ and although (he might pollibly believe, that my foul was not fully re* leafed from a mifchief which had (hewn it felf fo vigorous in its birth, fhe was glad to fee that my refpcdr did predominate over my pallion, and that in my proceedijjgs (he found no caufe to exafperate her agiinlt a perfon, fo whom flic believed her felf obliged. I found my felf neycrthelcfs at the beginning fufficiently puzled to ad this perfonage, for I fancied that I aded fomev/hat contrary to my felf, in ferving Viridomar to Almeric^s prejudice, and that after I had felt my felf wounded by this beauty, I aded fomething unworthy my courage, in pleading to her the intercft of another. I likev;ife endeavoured to do Viridomar the bdt offices Book II. FHARAMOND. 43 offices to Iheodomira which might be convenient i nor did I forget to juflific as much as waspoirible^thofewounds which he gave her Husband, by telling her, that in the heat of a Battel, no perfon could didinguilli his T'riends from his Enemies i that I my fclf, not knowing Prince Priam^ might have aded in the fame manner as the Prince of the Sueves i and that if he had been informed of his hurt, and known him f as Hid ) to be Husband to the Princefs Iheodomira^ he would have qucdionkfs manifcfled a real forrowfor thofc wounds which he gave him, I'/^ftf^/wz/Vj hearkened molHavourably to this judification and as (he was a very rational perfon, flie told me, that thelc many years, both under the Reign of ?baramond^ and of Marcomire his Father, (\\c had been accultomcd to fee her Hus» band dangerouily wounded, and that her rcfcntments againlf the Prince of the Sueves had lafted no longer than the danger which menaced her Husbands life, and that fhe had more eafily left them, becaufe his wounds were honourable, and that the perfon who gave them, could not be hated, nor with reafon accufcd : and that tor theie reafbns, I ought not only to believe that (he had nothingof hatred for him, but alTure my fclf, that none would be more favourable to him towards the Princefs, than her fclf. And fhe was for the moft part, really the Hrft that put us upon the difcourfe , (or the Princefs al- though (he gave us liberty to fpeak our opinions, did never minifler an occailon. We walked one day in an Alley of the fair Gardens of that Palace, where the Princefs keeping T'heodomira on the one tide, permitted me to walk by her on the other, when Iheodomira^ who knew well this difcourfe was not ungrateful unto me, furprifinglyask'dl itie, whether I did not know in what place the Prince of the Sueves rclidcd at prelent i I demurred fome time before Ireplyed ; butfoon after, I cannot tell you ^ faid I unto her n>here his body is at frefekt^ but I can aJJUreyou, that hii heart U not much dijiant jrom yoti > and that it is nei'er abfent from the Vrincefi. Ton fpeak^ of ViridomarV hearty ( faid the Princefs, with an inward fmile) m if you mere in it., I doubt rphether he rcoitld avouch a quarter of what you have faid. I Jhould be very imprudent^ replyed I, to have J]>ekfinthii manner, rvithout having had k^totvledge of hli inclinati^ms i for befides that tvhich the Trince bath evidenced by thofe proofs which nothing can coniince, he hath fufficiently explained himfelf to me, to anfreer this point with boldnep. Although this might have been /rKe,replyed the Prince(s it may not be fat prefent ; andfmce the quejiion U concerning hearts, there happen in the hearts w, nor me, that he (fjould ^e/VzAlmericV place --t and Jurely you might wijh things more advantageous to him, and lefr difrleafing tome, Thefe words uttered fomewhat fiercely, fuddenly ftruck me with a kind of grief, and keeping the iUcnce which they impofed on me, for fome time : "theodomira taking her time, I pray Sir, faid {he, be pleafed to clear a doubt which hath given me much difiurbance, and to many other perfns as well as my felf, and tell me whether Prince Viridomar had not feen the Prince^ elfewhere, than upon the Scaffold, where Jhe was feated the day of the Combat, and whfre, that moment he evidenced the effeSl which this fight iiad produced upon his Soul. This queltion, for which I was no way prepared, though I had much reafon to have been fo, entangled me more than all they had faid to me, fince I was near the Princefs'i and being altogether ignorant what anfwer to make, I remained for a time forfiewhat amazed > but "iheodomira importuning me to anfwer : I know not, faid I to her in fine, why you ffjould reli ajionifrjed at this effect of fo admirable a Beauty, which I hold able to produce much great- er wonders. " I am of the fame petfwafion, replyed Theodomira, concerning the Prin- "ceflTes Beauty i but befides, having an Enemy fo formidable as Km^Pharamondhdoxc " him, that it was very difficult for him to have a moment free to receive fuch an impref- " fion, there were perfons upon the Scaffold, which did hear the Prince cf the Sueves fay, "looking upon the Princels, Oh ye Gods! 'tis (he her felf: and thefe words fecmed to "denote fufficiently, that this was not the firft time he had feen her. I cannot thereupon^ faid I, anfwer you precifely i and were there any fecret which my Prince had confided to wf, you might well pardon my not revealing it. " He is very happy, faid the Princefi then to we, " in having a friend like you, fo faithful and pallionate for his interefls. 1 am Madam^ faid I, much more than you can believe, and would wiHingly forget all the interejls of A\mc- ric, for thnfe of Viridomar. We had alfo more difcourfe, the remaining time we were to- gether, and I often found my felf much entangled by the queltions they asked me, againft which I was not fufficiently forearm'd. In the interim I had obfervcd, and more and more dayly did obferve, the Princefs to be touch'd with a fcnfible grief, and that it was not without much violence to her felf (he ftrove todi(remble it. llikewife faw very much in the vifage of 'theodomira, and that a kind of fadnefs was fpread through the whole Palace. I (hared immediately in their grief, though B'ooK II. THAKAMONR 45 though the caufe of their fadnefs was to me unknown, and I had in tine fo great a di- fturbance, that I could no longer hide it \ and as notliing could grieve Fy//.-y:f»«« without wounding mc to the heart; I could not but obCcrve, that often entringhcr r.hamb.&r, 1 found her eyes red with weeping, and that oUcn through a remembrance which niadq hej flied fome tears, flie would withdraw into her Clofet, cither to dry them, or give them 3 free courfe, without being much more cruelly aftlidcd than Ihc her felt , and having (me day found her xxuhc C\o(ct oi 'theadomira in this fad condition, with only her and Arte- i»Wj in her company, and forne time obferved with an infupportable torment, thqciidca- vours ("he ufed at my arrival, to conceal her afflidlions i not being able in Hne to m^ftex that which this ilght hadcaufed, I caft my felf at the Princeffes feet, and intrcated,he)r t<> pardon the palfion that 1 had for her intcrcft, whjch did not permit me, without dying, to be longer ignorant of the caufe of her grief, if it were fuch at Icafl as was lawful fgr a faithful perfon to enquire into. The Princefs made me prefently to fife, but continue^ feme time without fpeaking to me, wiping her eyes with greater liberty, and having in fine confulted T/^co^'>M/><» by a look, and judged by her eyes, that (he believed me worthy of a rruft, (he told me. That the grief I obferved in her, ( which (lie had endeavoured by the King's Command, and for other reafons to conceal as much as was pollible ) was caufed by theimprifonmentof Prince M<«rww/re her Brother, a Prince great and amiable for a thoufand fair qualities, to whom (lie was bound by the mod tender, and moftpov?- erful amity, which blood could introduce : that he was a Prifoner in Eohemia, not a fair Prifoner of War, but through the bafcnefs and ingratitude of the King of the CimbrinHs^ who caufed him to be feifcd in one of his Cities, where he remained in cure of thofe wounds he had received in hghting againli Gondemar^ and the Bptrgundians, for the liberty of the Princefs o( Suevia-., and (he told me in fine, Si(kr, the entire flory ( as it vijas re? ported to the King her Brother ) of all that had happened to Marcomire, and made me un- derftand, that it was only for your interelt, and for thofe fuccours (which with the pries of his deare(\ blood he had given you ) that he was in the power of the King of Cimbria. She added, with a fufficient confidence of my fidelity, that it was for this rcafon King Tharamond Wis dcfixted Peapol/s^ to march towards the Frontiers with a part of his Ca-- valryi and that he found himfelf reduced to cruel extremities, between his obligations to relieve a Brother, and his infupportable difpleafure to war againft the Father oi Kfi/jmond i that upon his departure, he had entreated her not to publilh this accident, and to conceal her grief f for divers conilder§tions ) as much as was podible, and that for any other than my (elf, of whofegood intentions (he was confcious, (he had made fome difficulties. of dit obeymg his orders. , , This difcourfe of the Princefs, which (he accompanied with divers remarkable circum* ftances, made me as fenfibly afBi<3:ed,as I had ever been in my life, as well by a participation of her grief, as through the necellity I faw of abfentingmy felf from her, to fearch out oc- cafions of ferving her in the perfon of her Brother : But belides this, dearSilter, I mufl confefs, that I thought my felf thereto likewife obliged by your intereft, and although I had not been amorous of Marcomire's Si(\er, I had neverthelefs haiarded all things to re- lieve a Prince, that had fo generoufly expofed his life for your defence, and that wasfei(?d againftall the Laws of Honour by the King of the Cimbr/artr. Neither did I paufe one moment upon the refolution which I took, but addrelling my felf to the Princefs adoon as (lie had done fpeaking i I am too much obliged to your bounty^ faid I unto her, for the ho^ ttour you have done mefy informing me of the caufe of your a^iUinns \ and I affiire yon, that it pajfes from your Soul to mine, with a violence no lef^vijrorous than thofe rvhicb afflicted you, Jt is not byrpords that I muft tejiific it, for words tvould be very feeble, and rveak^ upon fuch aH important occafwn, but becaufe the fervice which you might receive from Almcric would he little cnnftderable, I pall arm a perfn in your quarrel, more porcerful than my felf: And in the midji of this misfortune, I praife the Gods for the opportunity they give the frince of Sue- via, either to render you fo grateful a fervice, or to die in the attempt of performing ity had he nothing of affection for you, he were obliged in h,nioitr to fitccour a Prince, who was only a prifoner for the fervices he had rendred his Sifter \ and if he did not owe in honour this fixcotfr to Marcomire, you might eafily judge what his love would conjiraia him to undertake for th^ Brother of Polixena. ^itite forfaken as he is, he hath yet fome friends, and not only migl^f arm a part of Suevia /'« his quarrel, if he pleafed, hut find as much obedience in the Army\ as the King his Father could find there, and poffibly he will put himfelf in a condition to g in rvhat corner of the earth to find him^ and 1 flwuld depart this very infant about that defi^n, had I but day enough remaining to further my journey : But 1 fhaB. iakf borfe to morrorv by breaks of day, and I give you my parol, upon which you may build an ajfurance, that Viridomar rpill either rejiore you Marcomire, or lofe his life in the defign. J pronounced thefe words with fo paflionate a bcliaviour, and with fuch a forgetfulncfs of theperfonage I prefented, that I have oftentimes admired, how fuch intelligent perfons as I difcourfed with, could fo long cfcape the knowledge of me •, but, were it becaufe their thoughts were very diftant from the truth, or becaufe the Princefs her mind was taken up by her grief, I had the fortune to remain undifcovered. The Princefs neverthelefs, looked upon me with a countenance which denoted the afto- nifhfnent my bold promifes had given •, and atter fomefew moments of filence, 1 am too much obliged to you ( faid (he J for the pafjon which you tejiipe for my interefi, and as I am much engaged to you already, I jliould be exceeding glad liketvife to owe you for my Bro- ther's liberty, but as it is not perhaps fo eafie to perform, as you believe it, I am not of opi- won that you jhonld leave us upon that defign, nor that you go to find out the Prince of Sue via, to give him a trouble which he will not happily entertain, with that willingnef! as you imagine : it is not but that 1 believe ( through the good opinion I have of you ) you are very well afcer- tain'd of all that you teJl me, and that the Prince of Suevia is fufficiently generous, to under- take things moji difficult, and moji dangerousi but as in that defign there may be much mere hazard and danger than you can forefee, I Jhould be very forry to expofe therein the perfon of fo great a Prince, or to tre^aflonhis generofity, and perhaps unfuccefifuUy. " I well perceive, "faid I very forrowfuVy unto her, that you have no very good intention to do juftice to that "poor Prince, and that he hath very much to fuffer, before he can touch your heart j bat " I do not defpair, but this opportunity may contribute to his happinefs, and whatever " grief I refent in abfenting my felf fo foon from you, I die with impatience to fee him "flye to thofe opportunities which may as much pleafe you, as his aftions hitherto have " difpleafed you. Finifliing tiiefe words, I departed from the place where I was> and though the Princefs and Theodomira ufed fome perfwafions to detain me, I got privately from the Clofet, to go and prepare my felf for my voyage i after I had demanded liberty of the Princefs, to take my leave of her that night, that I might depart the earlier next morning. I went to prepare all things for my departure, v«hich would have mortally af- flidled me, had I not divided my thoughts between the grief I had to abfent my felf from Folixena, and the hope ( with which I flattered my felf) of doing her a fervice, which might be grateful to her, and which might give me an affurance of prefenting my felf to her in my real perfon, and of acquiring King Pharamond's friend (hip, v.'hich ought of nc- cellity to be gained, if I defued to be happy. It was not but that I forefaw great difficulties in the deliverance of Prince Marcomire, neither could I imagine by what means to perfed my defign, without carrying matters to a great extremity ■, but I was determined, if eafic means failed me, to make ufe of the moft rigid extremes, and either perilh in the attempt, or bring it ( as I had lately promifed ) to a fuccefsful period : but for that time I had neither the trouble to employ my felf therein, nor to depart Fenufe •, for an hour after I had quitted the Princefs, Genebaud, Son of Priam and 7heodomira, a Knight full of valour and merit, who made himfelf known by many fair deeds under King Pharamond, arrived thi- ther from the Frontiers where he had left the King, and brought news of hlarcomireh liber- ty, who had ( as it was faid ) been delivered by unknown perfons in Arms, whilll they were condudting him by the King of the Cimbrians's order, from Egitina to Marobuda, This news reftored joy to the Princefs ( as much at leaft as the abfence of the King hef Brother, and the part which flie (hared in the misfortune of his amours, might give her } and at the very fame inftant, (he had the bounty to fend one of her Train to inform me of it, and to alfure me on her behalf, that the news was the more grateful, becaufe it would obArud my departure, and the trouble to which I defigned to engage my felf. As I could rot omit being very fenObleof all her concerns, fo I immediately (hared apart of her joy i and if I faw my felf on the one fide, deprived of thofe hopes to render her fo great a (er- vice, 1 faw my felf on the other enfranchifed from that grief I had conceived, to abfent my felf from her, at a time wherein I made fo delightful and pleafant a ftay, and tromi thofe troubles I was cafling my felf into, which would have expofcd me to all the hatred of the King my Father, Affoon as I returned to the Princefs, who made me a reception much more obliging than flie had ever done before, and retaining afrefli memory ot the' offers which I had lately made her, (lie made me larger acknov?kdgmcnts for this, tharf for" Book II. VHAKAMOND. 47 for all which I had done till that time, or had any intention to do in her firvice. Genebaui^ was prefent, who having long lince from his Mother and Sificr, undetllood what 1 had done in their fervice, and having had no little defire to fee mc, through the advantagiuus chara- dter they had given him ot my pcrfon, he carcfltd me in the hightft manner as that time (the Princcfs being prefcnt) could permit, and anliour after in his Mothers appartmcnt he gave me all thqfc proofs of his ellecm which lie could pollibly give,and demanded my fricnd- fliip with the belt grace, and in tlic moll accomplifli'd manner in the world. . . _. The next morning, Prince Sunnon came from Feapolh to Fenuje to vilit his Sifter, and i~^ here and Meroveits with him, all Princes like ?riam and Chubavd, of the P^oyal Family of the Frj«;^r,whomKing Pharamoytd hzd difpatcht with ordcis from the frontiers to makcgrca^ Levies, and with thefe, divers other pertbnages very conliderable both for their birth, and merit. The famous Vriam remained Hill at TeapolU, where with b^fogatlus he gave orders for the preparations of war, which in the opinion of all the world was pouring down in-^ (hort time upon Francotiia, not only by the united povycrs tif the Kings oiGimbria^ and of Suevia^ Pharamoad's mofl cruel and inveterate enemies, but by the forces of divas other Kings, whom Kofamond's beauty had attraflcd to her Faihcr's intereft, .and armed againfi their common Rival. .r- {f^ The Princefs prcfented me to ber brother, who by the relation he had had of tiie tniiely relief I gave his Sifter, was already well aifcdcd towards me, and fliewed me all thofe mark? of acknowledgment and efteem, that I could have pollibly expcdted from a well bred Princa I received them not as Viridomar^ but as Almerk ought to receive them ; and bcfides th^t the merit of Sunnutt^who for his goodly afpe<3;,h:s valour, and all other fair qualities to non? inferiour, was fuffident to render them very confiderable s you may judge that I priz'd them much more as com^ from the brother of Polixeita. I like wife tendred to Ibere imd Me- roveits, all thofe civilities that might be thought due from Almerk, and certainly throjigli thofe advantages which railed them no lefs than their birth beyond the vulgar, I paid this duty without reludancy, and efpecially to Ihere, whofc valour I had tryed in the fccOB^. Battel I gave Pharamond. Sunnon immediately alfurcd me (as the Princefe ^and 'theodamm had often before done^ of what I had to hope, from the acknowledgements of the King hi^ Brother : and iindingfomewhat in mj^perfon which did notdifpleafe him) lie was unmind- ful of nothing that was probable to oblige me to him, offering me,upon the alilirance vvhicb he had that it would be well approved, notonlya fecure retirement in liis Court, butlike- wife employments enough confiderable for the quality of Almerk, to make him forget his grief for what he had loll in Suevia. I anfwered thefe generous and obliging offers," in the (ame manner as I had replyed to thofe of the Princcfs*, and nevefthelefs in kich a manner, that I gave him only cauie to believe that the engagements that I had to the Prince of Suevia^ hinder'd me from accepting them. This fair Company met that night at the PrincelTe^ lodgings, where their rtrll difcourfes were of the imprifonment and freedom ofMarcomire who after he had been delivered by unknown perfons, whom thofe that conduced him took iotBtirgundians, had not as yet appeared in any place from whence they could receive any tydings of him, although he had had time fufficient (if he had taken that way j to have re- turned into Frdnconia : From thefe difcourfes of hlarcomhe, they paffed to thofe of Virido' mar, and as that which I had adted in Suevia, either in making war, or in concluding of peace, had been fufficiently noifed to give matter of difcourfe, the d^fcourfe continued up- on that fubjedti and Prince Sunnon addre/fing himfelf to.the Princefs with an extraordinary, graces hi truth Si\ier, faid he, beauty-hath larg^e advantages, and considering -what yours hath done for your Country, you have reafon t^o refpe£i it : for in- fine, Franeonia had never feenjy great an Enemy, nor the King never cop'd with Viridcmar's equal. Polixens made no r^jy^o thefe words, and bccaufe the whole Company looked upon me as a perfoainterefted in wh^t. was faid of my Prince, I judged my felf obliged to a reply : and addrelTing myielf to Prince Sunnon i It was rather my Lord (faid I unto him) the good fortune cfSucvia, thanijiat of Fjranconia, rvhich armed a beauty in our favour : and as there « no glory n'hich ought not to yield *tfPhararaond's, that w/Viridomar was in great danger, if love had not decide^ the Combat. I believe, replyed Sunnon, they would have put themfelves to no fm all trouble, aiidthat the vi- ilory would not have been eafily obtained : But if one may credit the t'etiimony of K/W Phara- mond, there is nothing inthe world more great thanWlridomzT i and for my felf by what I have foen of him in two battels, and in particular Combats, I confefl that all his Anions have charm''d me. I perfectly hated him fme days for the wotoids fl/Priam, fafd Gcnebaud, and I would have givena part of my blood, to have fronted him in the battel. You might happily have been auick- ly weary of it (faid tlie valiant Ibere) if at leall your fortune had been like unto mine,for alihoug^, J hadthe glory tofujiainfomc time the whole force of />« valour, itn>as with the price cftfiy bloo^j 48 PHJRAMOND. Part V. and with fo little advantage to my felf, that if the Combat had lajied any thing longer^ the event onmy fart rvat much to have been feared. I have heard the ?rinceflfSucvhj}eal{ofit^ ((aid I to Ibere) in another manner than your modefly permits you to difcourfe it^ and I hjiow he was at much fatiified of your valour^ as he would reft unfatiifed of h'n owu^ if he kjtew it had procured him the hatred of Gcnehiad. Although I had conceived a hatred^ reply ed Genebaud, it could not have beenfo lafting^for that which Viridoroar bath fince that time done^ muft of necejjity have razed it from my memory. As for my felf added Mfrwf«/, I have not only admired hvs valour^ and h'n martial kitowledge (although I may fay he arrefted viUory which was not acculiomed to wa^ ver before'PhsxiWond) but all that which appeared of his perfonjboth in the general and the particu- lar Combat ^although J only f aw him in Armour and on horfeback^\ 1 found hU carriage Jo noble hu firm fo majeftick^, and all hit aCiions fo graceful ■■, that according to my opinion there were few could equalhim^ and th«fe that havefeen his face fay ^ thit there are few perfens in the world of a better afped. . . • Although I heard my felf flattered by thefe difcourfes, I had nevcrthelefs a fecret joy to hear my felf praifed hdoieToUxena, on whofe foul I ardently defired an advantagious im« preflion of Viridomar might be ftamped h and as a fear of difcovering my felf, did not per- mit me through modefly to oppofe the praifes oi Viridomar^ nor my modefiy to maintain a difcourfc fo much to my advantage •, I tookz medium between both,which might neither ren- der me fufpcdted, nor give me any caufe to be afnamed ■, and addtelling to thofe which had fpoken of me fo well ■, Ihe Prince o/Suevia is very fortunate, faid I, to have merited that efteem you all affirm to have for him, and although yon were not in your felves entirely perfwaded tf aU that good you fpea\ of him s you could not difcourfe it before the PrincefS, without rendrinr him the beft office he could ever hope from your generofities. As for myfel^dXd Prince Sunnon, IjhaUrender'him both that and aU others with an excefiofjoy, as often asfWtune Jfjall favour me with an opportunity, and on the other fide I am fully perfwaded that my Sifter cannot make a nobjef choice than thk which her fortune or her merit (if you willfo have it) hath made for her, fo that I believe I may always ferve the Prince iow we have oulyfeen thi proportion of h'u body. I found my felf hindred from anfvvcring to this difcourfe, for thofe reafons I told you, and I was fearching fome means to difentangle my felf, when 5«««oa lefuming the difcourfe -, "Rather Madam (faid he to Thzodoxnhdi) zsk Almeric {{Viridomar " have as good an afped as himfelf, for if he have, he doth not yield in that particular to " any man in the world. This difcourfe of Sunnon aflifted me to withdraw my (elf from the quertion of "fheodomira, and taking upon Almeric all the (hame which it could polfibly caftuponme". "Ifhould makeyou underftand, /iii/faSunnon, very ill, theafpedlof Fi- '■^ridomar by this comparifon, for tho(£ that have feen him may certifie you, that there is very little between that of Almeric and his : They made me feveral other difcourfes upon this fubjedt, ot which in the end t found my felf weary, fearing to fall into fome miftake, or furprife to difcover me, and particularly when I \*as neceflitated to anfwer Sunnon to the fame que(^ion vrhich T'heodomira had propofed fome days before, about the beginning ot rife of my love : to whom as near as I could, I gave tbe fame anfwer, which I had before done to Iheodomira. The liberty of Mi«>"«wrV?inthemeantime, although they had no news of his abode, had banilh'd the extremity of grief from the Princefs, but the abfcnce of the King, and an ab- fence which was attributed to fuch cruel caufes, did not permit an entry for joy, but left ftill fufficicnt fubjedl forfaddefsand inquietude. It was this vvhitih deterred that fair company, from giving the Princefs thofe divcrtifements, which (he would have gratefully received in a more happy fcafon. Prince Sunnon nevcrthelefs obliged me to be of the party he made to chafe a wild Bull,that had fome time remained in the forreft o[Fenufe,which had made him- iclf fufficiently known about the Country, by the ill fuccefs of all thofe attempts that they had made to kill him. Prince Sunnon knowing how long this Beaft had rendred himfelf formidable to all the Hunters i was pricked by honour to this chafe, and having command- ed a great inclofure to be made, about the place where they reported him to be ■■, he invited the whole Court to this divertifement. The Princefs had no mind to go, by reafbn of the (lories' Book II. THAKAMONID. 49 (lories which flie had heard of this terrible heart : but the Prince her brother told her, (he needed not to fear any thing, with fuch a guard as (he would have that day to accompany her, and that remaining in her Chariot without the Toils, ihe was expofed to no danger ? and in fine, bccaufc fhe had a great deal of kindnefs for him, he obliged her to it. By break of day he prefented me a very fair horfe, which he entreated mc by the perfon that brought him to mount that day for his fake.l had rarely fecn a ftatelier heart, and the richncfs of the Saddle and Harncfs were not ill fuited to his handfome rtiape. So that finding my felf fo well mounted for that day, and knowing that the Princefs was of the company, and that for the Ladies fakes, the Knights would very gallantly accoutre themfclves i I was refol v'd if it were pollible, to appear grateful to the eyes of Folixen*: fo that having brought rich fuits with me, ("for you know Sirter I ever took a delight in bravery j I wore one that day, to which for a day of hunting or war, nothing could be added for its Gentilenefs, and ve^^ fy little for its richnefs. The Caffock was of a TilTue of gold and filk very light, but all the feamcs were embroidered with Pearls aud little Emeraulds at certain di(\ances, and at the bottom of the fleeve, which reach'd below the Elbow, and the Caffock round about was fet forth with the fame imbellimments : and it was faftned by Clafps of fair and large Emeraulds. The Chain of gold wherein my fword hung, appeared on the top of my (houl- der fuitable to my Caflbck. The Hilt of my Sword was enriched with tiie fame iflones, and iny head was covered with Plumes of white and green feathers, which reach'd alraort to my flioulders. My habit was not too magnificent for the Prince of Suevia, but it was a' little too noble for Almeric, and thofe that faw me in it were fomewhat furprifed. Sunnm and "theodomira thought them very gallant and rine, and as the Horfe which Sttnnnn had gi- ven me, had much vigour and mettle s I managed him in the riding with fuch a grace, to the end I might be the more viewed and obferved by the Princefs,and flattered my felf with an opinion that (he could difcern nothing in me, that day of a bad deportment. I (peak ire this manner only before you, SiUer, for before others 1 always fpeak of my felf with more modefty. I rode a long time by the fide of the Priiice(res Chariot, in which fheodomira, Artefmda-^ and LaorHira daughter to Bafigafius, a fair Lady and of much merit, were feated with her, keeping incelTantly my eyes iix'd upoii that fair Vifage which I adored, and when I was con- ftrained to withdraw them to fpeak to'SxnnoHot other that fpoke to me,it was always with a ligh or foine other mark of the perplexity it gave me. The Princefs fpoke very often to/ me, and almort every time I retired at fome diftance from them, I obferved "theodomira would,looking upon me, whifper her in the ear : I knew not well what judgment I ought to make thereof, neither did I well know what I ought then to wi(h : whether 1 fliould de- fire that Almeric's perfon might be favourably regarded, to the prejudice oiViridornar'j af« itfXxon > or that the love and quality oiViridomar^ might caufe a forgetfulnefs of Almeric's perfon. When wc were arrived at that part of the forreft where the Toyks were extended, SHmon caufcd the Chariot of the Princefs and others that followed her, to be placed in a fta- tion froiTi whence they might receive the pleafureof the Chafe : her Chariot was open on e^ very fide, and having left fome horfemen to guard her i we entred into the Toyles to fearch the wild Bull, i^ow becaufe Sunnon's Hunters had a great guefs at the place where he was, we had not much difficulty to find him : and being at firrt affrighted with the noife of the Horns and the Dogs, for a long time he ran about without feeking other defences than by flight. But finding himfelf in rine penn'd up, both by the dogs and the Hunters, and that fceforc the Toyles which obftrufted his palTage, he faw himfelf furrounded by men and dogs onallfidesi he turned head furioully, and having roared in a mort terrible manner, he ran again(\ all that refi(kd his paflage, and trainplin'g over the Bellies of thofe dogs which he en- countred, againft whom he difdained taemploy his other forcesi heturned hisutmoft fury upon the men, and encountring one oiSunmn's pikemen, whom fear had already diforder'ci he bore him to the ground with the pu(h of his Horn upon the ftomach, of which he in- iJantly dyed : and running upon others with his head rtooping, he overthrew another in thd ,fame condition, and flew Meroveits''s his horfe with a ftroke of his horn upon the flank. /*. here without fear wich his Sword in his hand, came in between Meraveut and the Bull, which immediately made at him : when Prince Sunnon made full fpeed towards him, after having as it were defied him with a loud hollow, pafling by him he wounded him with his fword in the Flank, which did not enter very far by reaCon the fword flipt along his lide, but caufcd neverthelefs much blood to fpout forth, and fo enraged the furious Bull, that leaving Ibere and Merovetts to purfue him that had wounded him, he overtaking him jurt upon the inrtant he was turning his horfe to make at him, he thruft his two Horns with fo much force iu, the . Horfe's bxeart, that the wounded Horfe mounted da his hind feet, and overthrew hiunfeig G upon 50 PHARAMONR Part V. Upon the Prince. Ey good fortune t was near him, t-: do hira the fame office which Ibere had done to Meroveits, and rtriking the Bull upon the Flank, a? he was making at him i I overthrew him v^ith the blow upon fome brakes on the other fide ; and as he rofe again to come at me, i gave him fo violent a firoke with my Sword upon the Nofe i as fplit a part of his Noftril. I know not whether this wound allonifl\ed him, but inHead»of making at me again, or at Prince 5«««tf«, who was now rifen by the hdp o( Genebattd^ he turned head another way : and having opened a paffage through all thofe which oppofcd him, he ran to thatfide where we had left the Princefs, broke the Toyles near the place where (he was, and direded his courfe ftraighr to the Chariot, as if he had been guided by fome fatal ftar. But as I had by good fortune, an extraordinary fwift bealHinder me, feeing him take that way I followed him fo near, that I got there almoft as foon as he : and redoubling my courfe with a great (hout, when I faw him coming near the Chariot, through the cowardife of her de- fenders whom fear had made run away •> I rode in with fuch a flying fpeed, that I arrived in fine between the Chariot and the Bull, juft as he was running his terrible head into the boot of the Princeffes Chariot, My horfe received the main blow upon his (houlder, for I had ©nly a fmall fcratch on the thigh ; but I gave the Bull at the fame inftant, fuch a ftrong and fortunate blow upon the neck v that my (word, whofe edge was exceeding (harp, and ma- naged by an arm vvhofe Ikength was redoubled by love i liruck his head clear off, and it fell amongft the wheels of the Chariot. My horfe at tlje fame time fell from under me, but rot fo fuddenly, but that I had time to flip my feet out of the Stirrups, and fo throw my felf upon my feet. But when I turned my felf tovv'ards the Chariot, on which my thoughts were always fix'd, I faw that the Princefs through the fright (lie had received, had almoft lo(t her fenfes, and neither knew nor faw any thing that had pall:. Laomira, who fate at the fame fide of the Cliariot, was in a perfedt fwoon ; hut "I'heodoKiira and Artefmda, who were on the other (ide, and for that reafon much lefs expofed to danger h were in a better condition, and feeing the danger now pad:, turned themfelves to the Princefs to aliift her. I approach'd her like a perfon almoft diftraded, through the fad condition I found her in, and I'heodomirj who had fcen with no fmall content, the happy blow I had newly given in her defence, looking upon me in the moft obliging manner in the world ■■, Ah Almeric, faid (he. Is it thenyoK thai the Gods always [end to our relief? She faid no more by reafon of the fad condition wherein (lie faw the Princefs, and beheving it only an effcdt of her fright, which would be foon over, (hedefired us to take her out ot the Chariot, and to carry herto afountain,which was not twenty paces diftant from thence.Ycu may eaOIy believe,Sirter,that I did not fuffer my felf to be much importun'd, to be once more fcrviccable to her : but when that I had taken her in my Arms, and was carrying her out of the Coach, ftie came to her felf, opened her eyes, and entirely recovered both her Senfes and knowledge. She caft her eyes immediately upon me, and feeing that I yet embraced her in my Arms, (lie pulhed me gently away with her hand, flinging her felf towards ^/'ffl^ow/Vi?, and looking upon me in a langui(hing manner •, Hon? Almeric, faid (he, mujl I find m^ felf agaitAn your Arms, ami never to receive any relief from you, but I miijl pttrchafe it with fo much (f:aine. I was opening my mouth to juftifie my felf, but Iheodomira prevented me, and briefly ^informed her of the condition wherein flic was, and the reafon that brought her into my Arms ; but in ju- flifying me flie made her likewife underftand, that flie was obliged to me for her life : and flicwing her the head of the wild Beafl, and my dead horfe near the Chariot, (he made h'er fenfible of the impprtance of what I had newly perform'd in her fervice. Polixena liftned favourably to her difcourfe, and then gently turning her eyes towards me i r;^(f// Almericf (faid flie with a low voice) conld yon alf) ivifh Viridomar the happine^ of thvs encounter^ and had you rather that Ifljoitid he indebted to him than to Almeric for the faving of my life. \ knew not well what anfwer to make to this queftion, heiiher had I time to do it, for imme- diately Prince 5m««o«, Jbere^ Cenebaud, Meroveus, and all the whole company came about the Chariot. They had all feen what I had performed though at a diftance, but when they faw nearer hand the Bull's head, and my Horfe killed by the terrible blow he had receiv'd, they be(\owed a thoufand praifcs upon the brave AdionI had performed, and admired the happinefs 1 had to meet the Beafi fo precifely , at that necclTary moment of time for the Prin- ceffes fafety. But Prince Sunnon did not fatisfy himfelf, with giving me thcfe praifes, nor by te(tif ying an admiratjon of fo extraordinary a fucctfs, but remembring what I had done fox him, when the Bull had difmounted him, and caft him from his horle, he thanked mc as the preferver of his life : and declared to the Piincefs in exprelfions full of acknowledg- ment, how in the fame day I had favcd both their lives, and that they were obliged to praife the Gods, for having fent me into Vranconia^ for the defence and fafcguard of their family. He accompanied thefc words with all th.e CarcflTes, that a noble refcntmcnt mi^ht oblige him to Book It. P ti A K A M N D. 51 ro render, and though I felt them as Viridomar^ I always rcceiv'd them as Almeric, and ahfwered both his thanks and liis praifes with all thcmodtfty that was poHible. The Prin« cefsremembring the danger to which her fclf, the Prince and hlerovew had been cxpofed, and touched with compallion for the death of the two men, and the wounds of fome o- thers, whom (Tichadfeen carried off in a bad condition, blathed the Prince tor his great imprudence, in committing them to fo great a peril, and recalled to his memory how un- willing fhe was, that he (hould proceed in fo dangerous a divertifement : Nor did -the Prince fay any thing elfe in his excufe, but that he was put upon thisdellgn by the Gods without doubt, for the glory of Almeric, to the end, Qie might be obliged for her life to a pcrftn, to whom (lie had been formerly fo endebted, for fome thing more precious, .'ie looked very favourably upon me» but a while after, there appeared a b\u(t\ upon her cheeks, which 1 attributed to a remembrance of that adventure, which made her look upon me with a kind of lliamefacednefs. I mounted a -while after, a Horfe which "timanthus prefented me, and (hewing the Prince the Steed he had given me, in the bad con- dition it was ; " ( am very much troubled, my Lord, fjid /, to have loft him fofoon, "for you may believe, that coming from you, and having done me the fervice he did to *' day, he mu(\ have been always very much valued and eftcemed by me. '' I hope, faid "the Prince^ that you will not refufe another from the fame hand i and I could heartily " wi(h, that you would likewife receive all that would be offered you in the Court of King ^''Fharamond. I thank'd him, fliewing feveral fgns of my fatisfadtion, but neverthelefs, like a per(bn that did not tcliirie any delign to abu(e his offers. A while after, Iheodomir^f Calling me, I went to the*Chariot, and becaufe all others, either to favour a (hanger, or to jfecompcnfe the a<3:ion I had lately performed, gave me way, I rode by the Boot of the Qjariot as long as the way would permit it v and whil(\ I was fearching in the fair eyes of the Princefs, tor that fweetnefs which was the entertainment of my life, theodomira^ who really loved me, as if I had been her own Son, looking on me with all the marks of a ten- der affedtion, ''How much do I rejoyce, Almeric^ faid Jhe, that we owe to you, rather "■ than to any other perfon in the world, this laft obligation : And if it pleafed the Gods, I "would that you wcte VnnctViridomar, " If that change, replyed I very readily^ could *' render my condition to the Princefs more happy, I (hould wi(h it with all my Soul, but **iFit did not work that effedt, nothing could make mcdelire it. " Remain (lill 4/wfr/c, '■'■faid the Prince^ unto we, for after thofe obligations you have laid upon me, it would be *' difficult for me to have thofe fentimcnts for Viridemar^ which I have for you. " If you " did him juflice, Jj/<:/7, you would put thofe fervices which all the world owes, and all *' the world would have payed you as well as my felf,in comparifon with what he hath done "for you, or at lead, with the love he hath for you. The Princefs turned towards 'theo- iomirj with an inward fmile, and Jheodomirj looking upon her with an aftrou little dif- ferent from hers, ff^ell Madam, faid (lie very foftly to her, ca» yoit apprehend any thing by this? But 5K««fl« and the other company, then approaching the Chariot, caufed the dif- courfe to be genera?, all the remainder of the way. When we were got home. Prince Sujtnon, who had caufed the head of the wild Bull to be brought along, ordered it to be faftcned to one of the Gates of the Ca(\le, with thefe words engraven upon the ftone which was under it. 1^0 i]ye Honour of the Sacve, Almeric, rvbo' favedby his valour^ the lives of Surmon, ana sf Polixena, And becaufe the urgent affairs of the King his Brother, cr.nflrain'd him to return next morning, he teftitied unto me all the remainder of that day his acknowledgments by fo many real marks, as made me almoin atham'd s and the next morning, one of his Grooms brought me tvyo Horfes for a prefcnt ( haadfomer, if poflible, than that he gave me the day precedent ) with a Suit of Armour moll richly ^ilt, moft excellently tempered, yet exceed- ing light, the workmanihip of a fam'ous Artill, who in his return from Greece, and paf- (m^xhxow^h Germany, had made fome (tay ztFrancfort. \ would not refufe this prelent, Jrom the Prince, which I might have accepted from him, had my real condititionbcen- known, but becaufe I delighted as much in giving as he, and for that in thefe occadons, it . was very difficult for me to belye my inclinations, not daring, under the tigure of ^//»er/c, return a prefent to 5i<««(7« : I gave the Gentleman of his Hurfe, a Sword, whole Hiltyyas enamelled with precious (tones, which certainly lar exceeded in value the prefcnt oiSunnon,^ G 3 and 52 PHJRAMOND. Part V. and defircdhim to keep it as a mark of the cfteem t made of the prefent he brought, and of the merit of his perfon •, the Gentleman (hewed the Sword to his Prince, who ad- mired to fee fuch prefents from a bani(h'd perfon, and laugh'd perhaps at the boldnefs of one of that quality wherein I appeared, who feemed, as it were, to contend with the liberali- ty of fo great a Prince. He confirmed to me oftentimes before his departure, the obliging offers he made me, and the Princes Ibere^ Genebaiii and Merovew^ who were to return with him, forgot nothing which might evidence the great efteem they had for me, 5«»- non entreated me not to quit this retirement for -any other in the world, whilft the con- dition of my fortune kept me at a diftance from my Country j and I told him that I fliould be conftrained for fome days to remain here, but that I did not defpair to fee him fudd«nly, and remember him of the good intentions he had teftificd towards Prince Viridomar. After SftwMo^'s departure, I had more liberty to entertain the Princefs, than during the time of his abode, andfor that flie treated me as well as I could defire-, I (hould have been too happy, if (he would have done as much iot Viridomar, as (he had done for ^/werici or rather, if I had received under my real form, thofe favours I received under a borrow- ed (hape. The reflexion which I dayly made on the little folidity of my happincfs, hin- drcd me from enjoying it entirely, and on the other fidej I faw it could be of no long continuance > and that it was very difficult for me to make a long (\ay in a place, where I had made my felf more publick than I intended, without dayly expofing my felf to the danger of being known, either by my own proceedings in pleading (as I dayly did ) for Viridomar^ or by the arrival of fome perfon that might have feen me, or by athoufando- theraccidents which might difcover me. And therefore, forefeeing it might fo happen, I took up my refolution, for I really believed, that though they found me unknown in the Territories and in the Houfe of King Pbaratnond, ( an aftion in Politicks to be condemned ) the Ring of the Franks would not accufe me to have come with any defign againft his State, nor with any intention which might not excufe me to a Prince, to whom the power of love was not altogether unknown. However, I obferved, that what the Princefs had foretold m?, that (he could not fee me without real (barae and continual ba(hfulnefs -, and although in the remembrance of the fervices I had done her, {he look'd favourably upon tne, and ufed me more kindly than all other men that came near her i I often perceived a kind of blurti upon her face, and always a refervednefs in her adions, that (be often told mc the contrary, to what her eyes feemed to tell me, and that the remembrance of her ob- ligations, made her ad fome things againit her inclination. I one day went to meet her in the Garden where (he ufually w;ilkcd, and where after I had viewed many of the Allies, I found fome of her women, who had all affedion enough for me, near a fair fountain, and they imagining that I look'd for her, fliewed me the place where (lie was, in a clofe Arbour at the end of the Alley, and told me that Artefmda and L,aomira were with her : I immediately diredted my feet thither, or rather, I made them follow my heart, which flew thither before them i but when I approach 'd the Arbour, I faw Arte^inda and Laomir a a.t the portal, who prefently by a lign which they made me, ordered me to make no noife, fo that coming near the door, they (hewed me thf Princefs afleep upon a little Grafs Bank j (lie was fate upon the ridge, from whence letting fall her head upon that part which was moll raifed upon one of her Arms which fullained it, (he had fallen afleep. As in all po- ftures fhe appeared to me admirably fair, fo I conceived her all charming in this, and al- though fleep had clofed her bright eyes, and concealed a part of their beauties, methought it rendred them more fupportable to mine, and that this negligent languifhing, in which fhe appeared to mine, added a fweet air to her whole perfon, which rendred her more ami- able. Thus I beheld her from the portal like a perfon tranfported, nor had Artefinds much trouble to make me obferve the filence (he had commanded me. As (lie had often feen me in this condition, and that ( as well as her Mother ) fhe was not entirely igno- rant of the caufe, (he did not admire to fee me like a (ktuefix'd in ihis contemplation, nor to hear tiiofe llghs which forced a paffage through my breaft. In the mean time, they duril neither make a noife in that place for tear of awakening the Princefs, nor be at any diftance from her whilft (be flcpt •, but in ^ne, fluy ventured to walk near the Arbour, cafting their eyes from time to time through the portal, till by little and little they went farther otf infculibly, 'after they had defired me to have a care of the Princefs from the place where 1 ftood, and to call them, if flie chanced to awake. Oh! how fweet was thisCommillion, and with what willingnefs did I charge my felf with this care, to fea(t my eyes with the pleafure of that dear objcft, they fo covetoully delired. My Soul went many degrees beyond tliofe bounds which limited my light, and by force of the prefent objefl; the rcmembrai.ceuf what 1 had formerly feen, returning entirely to my memory, plunged Book II. TH AKAMOND. 53 plunged me in a Sea of amorous thoughts which arofe in my brcalf, and in fine tranfpoi't'' cd me in fiich a manner, that not be'ing able longer to remain within thofc limits they had prcfcribed mc, I cntrcd into the Arbmir, and with a How pace and a panting heart I ap- proached the Ijeeping Princef* : 'Twas not ncvcrthekfs without trernblmg, ror wirhout be- ing aflaulted by a fear which a long time deterred me from advancing, and almodfcer- fwaded me to retire out of the Arbour , but at lall ftriving againll it the beft 1 could t went to the very feet of the Prince{s, where calling my felf upon my kna-5, as before i Deity, I tix'd my eyes upon her fair countenance, and I told her by my looks, and by my fighs, what my mouth could not tell her, and without deubt, had (he been awake, (he would have underllood the dumb eloquence of my pallions. In this reverent pofture Sifter, I told her a thoufand (lories without opening my mouth, which through iny imagi- nation did (till pafs to my heart, and methought by the (Iruggling of my paflion, that minfi explained it felf unto her more eloquently than in another condition it could have done, and with more variety of words, Fair Light of my Sotil^ faid I to her clofed eyes, rejhre us that lie^ht youdeprive m of^ dnd bebffld a hover at your fcet^ that adore f yon at his Deity,, "ibis objeCt ought to ftartle or affright you^ and [vice your piercing hrightnefi tnay even penetrate to the hearty there you rcill better difcerit rvhat my looks and my difcourfe cannot make you uft^ Jerfiand: But da not, added I a moment after, fair eyes^ but do not open yonr plvet per- baps yotttviU difcern a criminal in th\i lover, whofe fight may dijhtrb your ferenenefl by fame motion of anger , rvhieh his boldnef! may injfire you tvitbal , remain rather jhut , to giiit him fome fere good minutes more rvith that good fortune which fo favourably offers them and Jo not e my him the happineji which he receives by adoring, fo near,, thufe Heavenly Beauties n>bich mu'ji eternally reign in hU heart. Alas! added I a little while after, unfortunate Viti- domar, ivhat a deplorable condition is thine, to fear all things^ and yet not dare to defire any thing!' Migbtelf thou not dijpel fome part of this fear which accompanies thy love, and make k^ownto tbofe fair eyes ( when they jhall open themf elves ) the true Viridomar in the feigned Almeric > WiH thy prefeme be more ediotu to the Trincef{,rrvhen (he pall fee it accompanied with a Koyal Dignity ? Or is the deceit thou bajl ufed in thy concealment, a crime of too high a nature, for thee to exped a pardon ? Behold thy felf in the condition and pojlure thou ewrbt- ejl to be, to implore it ■■, and it feems Heaven hath guided thee hither to that purpofe and fortune perhaps rvi)! never offer thee fo favourable an opportunity. This thought made a pro- grefs through my mind, but made no ftay •, and though polfibly, I did not entirely want the boldnefs to execute a part of what I had propofed, I judged it too early as yet, to attempt that hazard, and that neither as ^/wmc, nor as Viridomar, I had fufficiently en- gaged her aifedfion. with grief I made a refledion hereupon, and I wavered in my re- folution, whether to depart that place, or to remain fome few minutes longer, when one cf her fair hands negligently extended upon her thigh, prefented it felf to my eyes and lay fo near m?, that maugre the fear I had to difpkafe the Princefs, I could not find a furticient fuccout from my reafon againfl the violent endeavours of my love, to hinder me from carrying my lips to her hand, and prefs them thereon withfuch anextafie, ascaufed an unfpeakable delight to pafs in a moment from my lips to my heart, which had nothing of mortal in it, and which robbed me both of my knoWledge and reafon. By means of this violence of my lips, the Princefs awaked, butnot fo quickly as to perceive my amo- rous theft: but as I -well knew I could not hinder my felf -from being feen, I had much rather be found in that pollure, than in any other lefs fuitable to my condition, either of a Lover, or a criminal, if my fault had been known j fo that affoon as the Princefs open* ed her eyes, the hr(\ objed that appeared, was Almeric at her feet, in a poduje that gave her no lefs trouble, than aftoni(hment. She Hx'd her eyes for a time upon me, and after- wards turiiing them gently on the other fide i JVhat, faid (he, in coming out of the ivater. in returningout of a fxpoon, and in awakening from my fleep, always A\tx\exic before my eyes ! and I (hall be con\\rained to have him always prefent to my memory i becaufe he mil be eter- nally prefent in my fight: Almeric, what make you here, ( faid (lie, continuing her difcourfe and turning her eyes upon me ) how am I here alone with you, in what a pojiure do you ap- pear before me ? And what have you to ask^me in this pojiure ? I am to implore ycur pardon ( faid I, trembling all the while ) for the bollineji I affumed, in enter here whiljl you jJept and for adoring in the pojiure you now fee me, thnfe celejiial beauties, that a religious heart might wnrfhip to his grave, and which merit the adorati,m of the whole Vniverfe, liou doubt- lejly think, ( faid the Princefs ^ that I am ji;L' Bfclfinda, or elfe j^u believe your felf to be that Viridomar, of whom you dayly fpeak^ to me fi much. For you' hladam, faid I, I kjtow full well you are no more Blellindai but as fir wy felf, I have much ado to kjiow whether I am [iill Almeric, and I kitow not, if ( againji my own refulution ) 1 Jhall not in fine def.re to b(com4 54 PHAKAMOND. Fart V. become Viridomar. I have already told you, replyed the Princefs, that if you were fo^ yottr eonditioft would Hot he happier, and I add now, that if you were Viridomar, I jhould not par-- don you that, which the remembrance of his fervices mak^s me forgive Almeric. In the mean time, C continued (he, [ce'in^ Artefmda and L<»(?w7rtf entring the Arbour ) do not abiife my indulgence^ and for a penalty which you have deferved, by feeing me more than you ought, I command you to fee me no more in three days. Ihis penalty, faid I unto her, is not fo light 4S you imagine it, and if you ordered me to throw my felf into e before expe&ed; for we h>d like to have felt the utmoji effeliiof hn aw ^fr, and I verily believe, that the orders which he had given us to obey you, would mt have defended lis ^ if his (rreateji rage had ndt fallen upon you. It is not, my Lord, necefary'to inform you of all that which I difcerned therein, but you mtt\l kyiow enough to hinder your appearing be- fore him, before his anger be fomewhat appeafed \ and although your prefence be very dear to all the Sueves, your moji faithful Servants do fttpplicate you not to afford it them, till the liorm be over. Nor do I doubt, but that your love gives you a fiiff.cient emfhyment in the places where you are, to mal{e yon forget ■ The Princefs would not lead any farther, but reftoring me the Ltttcr ( when (he had read to that place ) with a countenance wherein [ pevcciv'd the marks of a dirturbancC fufficicntly apparent : " I did believe,/di^ flje unto tne^ to have fccn fome of Almeric'i affairs " in this Letter, but fince I perceive it was direftcd to Viridumar,\ have not the fame curi- ofity for his. " Yes Madam, (faid I very readily, and with a much greater confidence in ap- ^'■pearance than I was really owner of) it was directed to Prince Firidgmar, and you will " know wherefore he fent it me ; I had brought it hither this day to have fliewn you, bue " fortune hath happily done more for me, than my intention could have elTeded » but I *' (hall fay no more, for I well remember, that I am not to fpeak of Viridontar fof the fpace of tight days. No, Almeric, ( feplyed the Princefs, with an adion which tnademe judge, that thetroubleof her mind was not entirely removed by my words )you ought not ig j^eaii, of him tbefe eiqln days, aud in that time, both you and I may conftder what we have to do. In truth, ( faid Lj3W/Vj, perhaps to difguife the fufpicion (he had of the truth ) I am very ferry to have rendred you a good office, in believing I did yon an injury, hut another time t fhall better confult my revenges. " You may perceive, Madam, faid I, that fort^ane doth "net always favour bad intentions, though, to fay the truth, I do not believe you have "done any great good in feconding mine. '"■ As for my felf who am norfo tnalicious, '■'faid ArtefTnda, if I have done you no good, at lead I have done you no harm, and I " alTure you moreover, that I lliall never have an intention to do it. " To fpeak ferioully, '' replyed Laomira, I will a(rurc Almeric, that I have no worfe intention for him, than you, "and I had rather do him a kindnefs C if the opportunity were favourable) than ioVi, '■''ridomar, who hath wounded your Father, and won a Battel from mine. "lamcon- " tident, replyed I unto her, that neither Triain nor Bafogalius bear any hatred to Viridontar, " but I could have wifli'd, the Princefs had prohibited you as well as me from fpeaking of *'him, fori believe this difcourfe is not veryplealing to her. ''I know not how it may " be to her, /ii^ Artelinda, but I believe we have not difplea(ed the Vnncc oi Suevia, by " (hewing this Letter -, for I doubt not,but that this difgrace to which he hath expofed him- *' felf for the love which he bore the Princefs, will merit fome elteem from her. Ah Ma- ^am, ( faid I unto her, with a look full of acknowledgments ) how worthy a Daughter- are you of J^ihm and Theodomira, and how well I k>iotv you by your generous proceedings for a Frincefi of the blood of King Pharamond. T\hi}ll we were in this manner difcourfing, the Princefs obfervcd a filence which alloni(lied me, calling oftentimes her eyes upon me, with a carriage very different from her accullomed demeanour; but after I had replyed with fo much ardency to Artefuida, looking fixedly upon me : I clearly perceive, faid (he to me, that yotf continue very fenfihle of the interejis of Vmdomiir i and in the end, you will perfwade me that they are not le^ dear to you than your own : hut remember- in the mean time, the penalty I have impo fed upon you \ and let iss change thU place, that we may the better change uttr Jijl courfe. Concluding thefc words, (lie rofe up, and went out of the Arbour, permitting me as tlie had formerly often done, to receive the honour of fupporting her as tlic walked. I ufualiy payd her this fervice with an excefs of joy •, but this time 1 performed k Witii fuch a difiiirbance, that 1 could no ways dilfemblc, which by another accident was imme- diately augmented. The Princefs, when (lie had walked enough, diredted her (ftps to- wards the Callle, when as fome perforis of quality iicwiy arrived froni Feapolii, cams to liifs her hand, and amongll them, a perfon of a very fair appearance, \vl:o having aj thS 5^ THARAMOND. Part V. others performed his duty to the Princefs, and received, by the reception (he made him, the marks of a very particular efteem v caft his eyes upon my face : and he had no fooner dif- ccrn'd it, but (hewing fome (igns of aftoni(hment upon his own i he came to falutc me with a refpe(S that was no ways due to Almeric y and after he had (with a behaviour full of fub- niiflion) withdrawn himfelf at fome dilknce ■■, Ah my Lord, faid he, w it fojfible that Ifhould have the honour to fee you here, and to thank^yott before our Princefi, for that civil ttfage tvhichl received from your ^(7a«<'j». Although this adventure put me much to a nonplus,! return'd hini neverthelcfs his complement if not with fo much civility aslmight have done at another time, as much at lea(t as the Princeffes prefence, and the trouble which it caufed could permit me, and looking upon him with eyes, which in my opinion might have made him under- ftand my intention ■■, J am extremely happy, faid I unto him, if any aSion of my whole life hath been feafoHahle toferveyou, aHdIJhall tejii(ie my content to you, much more amply in am- ther place, than lean do it before the ?rince(l. I did believe that thefe words might have ob- liged him, to remit the reft of his civilities till another time : but he was ignorant of my de(ign, and taking hold of the words with a behaviour as refpedful as at firlt, and with an obeyfance that could not be due from a perfon of his quality to Almeric; My Lord, faid he, J have not merited you Jhould pre ferve the Idea of my face ; but yet permit me (if you pleafe) to recdl to your memory, that I was not the leaji of thofe prtfouert you fo generoujly fent back^to Ba- fogaftus, after he bad loll the Battel : and that doubtlefly there were none that have preferved a re~ fentment of that benefit, with an acknowledgement equal to mine. I did make him no reply for fear of obliging him to an anfwer which might haften my difcoveiy i but only by fnevy- ing him the Princefs with a refpedful look , I gave him to underfiand that this was no place to continue our difcourfe, fo that being a perfon that knew the world, either through the lelped that he owed the Princefs, or that he believed due to me, he withdrew himfelf a» mongft tliofe other perfons with whom he came, and walked with them at fome dillance after the Princefs. When I faw him at a diftancc not to hear me, I perceive (faid I to the Princefs) that it '» the name which I bear hath deceived this Knight : And as at the battel whic'a Bafogaftus lojl, 'that Almeric (who was (mce (lain) had the firji command under Pnaw Virido- luar in the Army, it was doubt lejly from him that he received thU ufage, for which be appears f» gratefully ack*towledging. It appears to me nevcrthele(i (replyed the Princefs very ferioufly) that it was to your face and not to your name, he yielded thtfc markj of ackftowledgment andrt' fentment : and on the other fide, J could not have believed that Almeric had the power ofdifmif- fing Trifoners, in an Army where hit Prince was in perfon. Jhe Prince (replyed I very much a- ftoni(h'd with this anfwer) left the Army often to attend the King his father, who was on the o- tberfide of the country \ and during that time, Almeric remained in the Army with an abfolute power. The Piincefs made no reply to thefe words, but did not lefs aftoni(h me now by her (Hence, than (he had done before by her anfwer : and a while after being come to her ap- partment, and having intimated her defire to be private i I withdrew my felf withfo di- llurbed a foul, that I fcarcely could find out my own Lodgings. As foon as I was got thither, making a reflexion upon all that had befalPn me that day, and particularly upon all which I had obferved in the looks, and in the difcourfe of the Prin- cefs i I no ways doubted but that (he had entertained in her mind, many, and great fufpi- cions of the truth : and methought (he had fufficient reafon for them, as well by the read- ing of the Letter, as by the complement of the French Knight i who had treated me as Vi- ridomar, and not as Almeric. limanthus, whom I informed ot all that had happened, as a perfon to whom I trufted all things, was of the fame opinion : and then recalling to our memories all thofe difcourfcs I had had with Pc//xf «j,the eagernefs I had always tcftiJicd for the interefts of Vtridomar, and all that which Ihad faid and done, more conformable to the perfonage oiViridomar than that of Almeric : we admired between our felves, that (he could permit her felf to be fo long deluded, and we likewife believed that if the truth were not already really difcovered, it was (uddenly in danger of being fo •, fince even the Princefs her felf might conclude it, by clearing her doubts with that perfon that had formerly known me. Tlien did I fend Timanthus to tind him out, with Iiopes, that if I could fpeak witfi him, I lliould divert him from all that might injure me : but "Timanthus could not rind bini and learnt that after that he had entertained the Princefs,with fome affairs which had brought him to Court, he was departed again for PeapoHs. I then found my felf involved in a deep perplexity, and a great irrefolution, what I had to do, in cafe I (liould be reduced to the necedity to aft as Viridomar, and no more as Almeric ; and though I might aWays think it very difficult, for a perfon of my quality to remain incognito, and (liew himlcU freely to the world, and principally in a Country, where he had made himfelf fo famous by (b ma- ny rendwhed actions, and in a place where his love obliged iiim, to ait in a manner iufSci- ent Book II. THARAMOND. 57 ent of icfelf to (lifcovcr him, though his countenance did nothing contribute; lalwjlys trulkd more to fortune than reafon, nor could 1 refolve how to behave iiiy rdf in this af- fair, fo that I found my fclf very much pcrplex'd, and I pafled tlic fuccecding night in fuch a various agitation of thoughts, as gave Httle or no liberty to llcep : but the next morning, much about that hour tlicTrinccfs ufually Ihewcd her I'cit in thepre(ence, a Gentleman be. longing to'Tbeodomira^ came to entreat me on tlie behalf of his Lady, to wait upon iv.r in her Chamber, Iprcfently conceived that Hk had fome advice to give me, concctningthdre accidents which had falFn out the day before, which turmoylcd iiiy mind : but m.y fuipriie was much greater, when Centring in her Ciiamber) I underllood (he was in iier Clotec with the Frinccfs, who both dehred to fpeak with me, and had obliged her to (end the me» lenger to fetch mc. This proceeding of the Princefs allonifhed mc i and I cntrcd into the Cloictwith a greater apprchenhon of fear, than in the molt hazardous encounters that e- ver I had been in. The Princefs (who was alone in effc(S with Ibeodomira) received mc with much civility, but witli a very ferious countenance , and full of fuch a Majelly as made me more timorous than I was i through all her charms, flic conArained mc to behold the foveraign authority which (he had over me. She remained fome time ere the began to ex- prefs her intentions, when on a fudden with an incomparable grace i Almtrk^ faid (he, you ought not to doubt ^ but that (through a remembrance of ihofe obligations vee hear yott^ and thit great ejieem your perfun merits) your frefence is very dear unto us^ and I believe that hithev' toyott might eafily perceive it ; but becaiife we ha: e at prefent fome reafont rvhich cnnjiraiit as to deprive our felves of it, yon cannot be offended that 1 entreat you to retire your felf not out of the territories of K/«_^ Fharamond, but out of the boufe of hU Sijier, and from thofe places wherein fliefliaU make her abode. We are not f ungrateful as to refufe yon a fand.uary, duriuT thofe difgraces you fuffer for loi'e of Hs^ but yoti will fnd it ^ if it be true you need it, mitch more fecnre and honourable ttear the King than near our perfon ■, and during bis abfence near Prime Sannon hif brother, or in any fortified place you (I] all pleafe to make choice of Tow /?;«// there find all things difpofed to receive y-u^ as you can expe[ifrom per fans that lofe not the memory of-thofs obligations they orve you j and inthe mean time you mull pardon me, that n^hich I now impofe tut of neceffity, and by the command of my duly which I am no ways permitted to dijlbey. .Tiiefe words, tliough I expeded fomewhat to this purpofe, ftruck me like a thunder-bolt, and for fome time I remained fufiiciently llupitied, not being able either to do or fay i but at laft, putting a force upon my alf onifliment, or rather abandoning my felf to my pallion, at a time wherein I faw there was no more ufe of fi(Sion i Ah Madam, (faid I throwing my felf at her feet j for what offence could 1 merit fo cruel a difgrace ? Shall Ifee my felf at the fame time expo fed both to that of my King and that of my Soveraign ? And jbould I ceafe to be this Almcric to whom fortune had gave thofe opportunities, to merit fome marks of your bounty, could Ipifjihly ajfume a jhapefo odious, as to defrvefo cruel abaniffjment. I believe^ replyed the Princefs that you arejiill Almeric "> and thofe likelihoods which might make others judge ynit were Virido» mar, cannot perfwade me to that belief. Viridomar is a Prince too highly generous, to have ex- pofedjuch a Princefi as my felf to thofe reproaches fl^e might reafonably fear ; or to the dijpleafure [he might fuffer all her days, for having concealed in her Bozife « perfon difguifed, who had declared to the whole world the excefs of affection be had for her ; and Almeric hath merited too well from me by all his other actions, to have endeavoured to blot out the obligation by fo cruel an injury : 'fj thatlbelseve -not that you can be Viridomar : andjhouldyou be fo, I do net believe that you are fo much an enemy either to him or me as to confef! it, and to coJijirain me by that confeffton to a feverity whicb'would be fo little agreeable unto me, 'fis not hut that I have all that ejieem for the Prince of the Sueves, which U due to his merit ; nor but that I was touch'' d ivith a fill refentment, for that rehich he did in favour of my country, by ceafing to make any farther war upon it : and if to his il. lutlrioHS Kan\, to thofe glories which environ him, andtothat rvhich he hath aaed for us, were addedthefefervices I have received from Wmex'ic, with thofe advantages we haie ebfervedin his perfon, there were too many perfections arid obligations to make him merit a better fortttne than his could poffthly hope from the ejieem of Polixena. But all the fe great advantages could not take from me the refentment and f^iame Iffjould have all my life, for thofe fatdts he has made me com- mit : And //"Almeric had been Viridomar, be would have preferved the rejfed due to his oirn dignity and mine, and hadfou(tht his jatisfaSion near the King my Brother, and not in a difgtafe fo much unrvorthy of his courage and my virtue. " But Madam (faid J thiio her with a molipsf. "■^fionate behaviour) (hould Viridomar have prefcnted himfelf unto you under the peribn of " Almeric,h3d he been fo criminal as ycu make him > and although he ought to have fought "apart of his good fortune in the approbation of the King your brother, vvas he leis concern 'd "to feek it in the happinefs of pleating you, if fortune had fo Car favoured him as to ha-\?elet " hina efFed it. Could he have done you fo cruel an injury by endeavouring to make you kind' 58 PHJRJMOND. Part V. . " to his perfon by fervicTes no ways dilbfteful, before he difcovered by any other way his de- fl " fign ? or had he (hewed any more confideration for yonr repofe, or for your fatisfadion, ^ *' by imploring the confcnt of the King your brother, before he knew that his perfon was " acceptable unto your felf •* 1 fpeak this Madam in the defence of Viridomar, though I am " ftill Almeric : and although the fervices, the thoughts, and the perfon of Almeric^ might "afTume a form much more advantagious from the birth and renown oiViridomar ; I fliould '<• be very forry (if it were poffible for me) to be Viridomar^ whijft he remains fo odious to " you. I'll go and inform him that he is the moft unfortunate of men, though poffibly not " the moft criminal i and that he mufl feek for refuge in the Arms of death, and not in the "Court o{ K'\r)gFharamond. "■ He (hall nevertheiefs iind one there, replyed the Vrincefi^ *' whenfoever he pleafes to honour the King by accepting it : for it is juft that he fhould be " well received in the King's dominions, fo long as he remains for our fake in iiis father's dif- " pleafure i which I believe is to him of much greater importance, than the frowns of Po/ixe- " na : but neither the one nor the other will further his death, pronounce their anger how fe- *' verely fo«vcr unto him : neither is it his death nor his misfortune that I dehre, but only the "departure of Almeric which is necefTary, although his fervices are fo dear unto me, that *' his perfon cannot be odious. Finiihing thefe words with a look which had nothing of unkind in it,and upon which methought (for my comfort I obferved a very great con(traint) (he faiuted me in another manner than (he was accuftomed, and departed out of the Clofct of Ibeodomira^ to retire into her Chamber. She would not permit Iheodomira to accom- pany her, judging perhaps in the condition I was, that (he might be ufeful unto me : And Iheodomira returning to me from the portal of her Chamber, to which flie had followed her, and finding me with a difcontented countenance i " what my lord (faidffje unto me " rcith a merry and lively countenance ) have you then deceived us ? " If that which you be- *' lieve were true, replyed I to her, you highly deferve to be dcceiv'd for the trick which you " put upon me : But Madam I am ftill Almeric, and Viridomar is too much Unfortunate for " me ever to wifli my felf the perfon. For my part, replyed J'heoddinira, I have too often " wirticd you before your face to have been Viridomar, to be troubled at it now •, and I can- ** not dilTemble the joy which I now have to find it fo. '' And wherefore (faid 1 unto her " with a mournful voice) ou£;ht you to re)oyce, to fee me under the difguife of an unfortu- " nate Prince, hated by a Princefs which I adored, after you had feen me under another form, *' no way: odious to her. I rejoyce, replyed! heodomira, to fee Almeric become the Prince of " the Sueves, becaufe I could not wi(h a more glorious fortune to a Perfon to whom I was " fo highly obliged, than to fee him from a private perfon, become one of the gyeatelt Princes " in the world, both by his birth and from the renown of his adions : and I rejoyce becaufe " that in your love to the Princefs (which I was always confcioiis of) had you (iill continued " Almeric, you had nothing to hope ; whereas you may hope all things being Prince Virido*- " mar. " Alas (faid I fetching afigh) you may perceive what Viridomar hath to hope, and you fee how the heavens and the inclinations of the Princefs favour him. " You ought not, replyed J heodnmira, to wonder at the proceedings of the Princefs, vybo hath treated " you much more kind ly than I could have expeded , according to her accuftomed feverity. " It was an obedience to her duty, which cannot permit her to retain in her houfe, a perfon ""difguiled that pretends fo much of affedion, which made her pray you to retire your felf: " And though I am as much engagcdln your interefts as your own heart can delire, I could ''not contradidlherpurpofe, when (he communicated her intentions to me ; but beconfi^ "dent that your perfon is not hateful to her, and that when the King her brother (hall dif- " pofe (in your favour) of her inclinations, (he will freely change her mind to your content. *' I mu(i likewife counfel you to purfue that courfe, as the mo(t afTured for your felf, and the " mo{i honourable for the Princefs, and as you well know the great foul of King Pharamond^ " and how much he is fenfible of a mf rit like yours, and favourable to a paflion to which he " hath but too much abandon'd himfelf •, you ought not to doubt, but that he will take as " favourable a cognizance of your delign, as you your felf can delire. You have heard what " Prince Snnmn hath fpoken to your face, and I Iiave heard fufficient from the King's own " mouth to give you this afTurance v nor can it be accounted a misfortune to the Princefs ?0' '■'■lixena, to have endaved the heart oiViridomar, nor to King Pharamondto have difcngagcd "hitjifelf from fuch a Rival, and a Rival for whom Kofamond was deiigned. Iheodomira fpoke tome in this manner, and to thefe words added many others, by which in fine (he made me apprehend, that I was not fo unfortunate as I had imagined my feif, and that the delign ■which I had in my difguife could not pollibly have met with a better fuccefs. She afterwards informed me, that the Princefs had had fome days before a great jea!ou(ie of the truth, by fome ferious reflcdtions (lie had made upon my anions, upon my difcourfes, upon the eager- nefs ( tt , Book II. F H A K A M N D. 59 nefs I had teftificd for. the intercftsof Viridomar, in a tiine wherein 1 had already made known, that I had my felt' an afTcdion for her, and upon the conforii.ity (he found be- tween my perfon, and the report they had made her ot that of Viridomar i b(.l]di.s, that they had not heard of any other Almeric^ that was conliderable in the Court of the Sueves, except him that had been flain i that the reading of Halda>is Letter, had left her little to make any farther doubt i and that flic was fully confirmed by that perfon who took ac- quaintance of me in the Garden, tljat flie had convcrfed with him after that I was depart- ed from her-, and that after flie had received the confirmation of the truth fnjin his mouth, (lie had obliged him by promife, not to dilcovcr to any perfon in tjie world, that he had known me, pallionately deliring him to deprive tlie world, as much as in him lay, of the knowledge of this accident ; or at leaft, to takt away all fufpicion, which men might have, that fhehad thereto contributed , flie being fo very nice upon this matter, that the Icalt fcruple deprived her of her repofc.She afterwards counfellcd me to obey her without farther delay, and not to feek any occafion of feeing her before my departure, for fear of exaf- perdting her mind, wherein I fhould find fomething more terrible, than what had yet ap- peared to me, if (he had once propofed to her felf the obligations of Duty •, and after that (he .e o«£>, nor the other can live^ if the hopes of appeafing you, be to them prohibited. They have fought in the occafwns to ferve the King your Brother^ thofe which might bring them to the glory of being »tr>ned by you, bat if fortune have oppofed them in this defign, death will be favourable in that of dying for you. I fhall not. Sifter, dilate my felf upon what remains to me to tell you -, for befides, the recital would not bemuchpleafing, if I fhould confine my felf to the repe#tion of parti- culars ■■, I find my felf ftiortcned in time, and obliged to rqtire, and leave you to take fome repofe i and I fhall only tell you, that after I had received from T^eodomira, all the affurances that flie could give me, cither of her aifcftions, or alliftances ■■, I departed not only from herprefencc, but within an hour after from Fenufe, not with any defign to ftay ztPeapolis, or inany other City of Frj«w;»ij, nor to oblige my felf near P/iiirjwowi, whilll he was in war with the King my Father, being confcioos that my honour could not per- mit it, although my affedions might approve it, but with an.intention to feck out fome occaficn of feeing Ybaramond upon the Frontiers, where he was gone, to the end I might make hitn undcrffand my love, and my intentions i no ways doubting, but that through his virtue, I might excufe the misfortune which hindred me from prolecuting my own in- clinations, and that I fliould oblige him to have more favourable thoughts of me, than I could ever hope from the oblfinacy of the King my Father : But I had neither the time, nor the occafion to<;xecute what I had propofed -, for I had fcarce travelkd.ibme days journey beyond Pfi«/»tf/w, travelling towards the Frontiers, towards which the King of the Frank^s was gone, when I heavdthe cruel news that was newly brought, of his being im- prifoned by the King of the Cimbrians, whofe prifone^he had voluntarily made Iiimfclf. This news pierced my heart with a mortal gief, but it did not permit me to Ifudy what refolution 1 ought to take i for although I forcfaw great difficulties in this defign, T eafi- H 2 ly 6o PHAKAMOND. I^art V. ly refolved, either to die, or fet King Thctramond at liberty, not knowing any rule of Du- ty, which ought to obftrud the performance of fo generous a deed, had not my love there- to obliged me. For fuch a defign, I was refolved not to confider neither my fortune, not my life it felf, and to put in pradice all that, which the fuccour of my Friends, or that of my courage might furnifh, at a time where all my concerns were at ftake i and where- in I ever believed, that the interefts of my honour, were notinfcriour to thofeofmy love, through that engagement which had chained me to the Princefs his Sifter. But all thofc defigns which I had in my head for Vharamond, vanifbed like thofe which I had made for Marcomire > and we underftood fome few days after, that he was delivered out of prifon by an accident much like his Brother's, and had retired himfelf, together with him, to whom they had committed the cuftody of Marobuda. The difficulties which I fotefaw inmy de- lign to deliver him, caufed me to receive the news with an excefs of joy, although it de- prived me of an occafion to render the Princefs the mofi important, and moft grateful fer- vice (he could ever receive from me, and of meriting by this a(^ion the amity of Phara' ntondy which for the happinefs of my life was become fo neceffary : And as the cruelty of his Enemies had made me fear for him, I forgot all that I might hope from his misfor- tune, to rejoyce at a happinefs wherein the whole world ought to have interefted it felf. I was upon the Frontiers of Bohemia^ but I faced about, and fleered my courfe towards Franconia, to endeavour the execution of what I had propofed fome days before, when that by an encounter , which had like to have coft me my life j having engaged my felf in the defence of a Knight , whom divers others endeavoured to affaffinate, I received a very great wound, and was conftrained to flay the cure a long time in his Houfe whom, I had refcued i who ordered me to beferved ( though he knew me not ) with all manner of care and acknowledgment. It was during the abode I made with him, that I heard of the march of the King of the Cimbrians, and his Allyes, towards Fran- eonia i and fome few days after, I likewife heard of the departure of the King my Father, with Gondiocb^ in order to joyn their Armies with the King of the Cimbriau's ¥otccs, and to pour them altogether upon the King of the Frankj, who received on his part the fuccour of his Allies, to defend himfelf from fo formidable a power. I then heard with an extreme grief,all that which fortune aded againft a perfon fo renowned amongft men, for his admira- ble virtue i and if I did not refolve to hght on his fide againft my Father, becaufe my Duty did prohibit me, there was at leaft, a ftrange difdain kindled in my Breaft, againfl: all thofe Princes, whom the hope of polTeffing Kofamond^ or fome other confideration, had cruelly armed againft his lifej and I nouri(hed a refolution to encounter the moft valiant a- mongft them, if I could meet with an opportunity, hoping thereby, as well to fatisfie the inclination which moved me to it, as to render Pharamond 3. kindnefs, which might bring me to merit his friendfliip. I took Horfe aflbon as I was in a condition fo to do, and though I was unwilling to appear in the Army of the King my Father, becaufe my love forbad me ; or in that of Pharamond, becaufe my Duty would not permit it , I neverthe- lefs took my journey towards Peapolis^ without having any defign determined, hoping from fortune fome favourable occafion which might eifedt more for mc,than all I could pre- meditate. But I was fcarce departed, when I heard that the King of the Cm;iria«j-, who with divers other Kings was entred fome days before into Franconia^ had given bat- tel to King Phajamond, and had loft it with the lives of a hundred thoufand men, which remained dead in the Field, together with two Kings, and divers other illuftrious pefons. I knew in courfe, the arrival of the King my Father, and o( Gondiocb, the union of their Army with the King of the Cimbrians, the King of the Ciw^rij»x's death, with all that which had happened confiderable, or of importance, duting thefe great emergencies. I heard alfo with an excefs of Joy, the illuftrious adions of the King of the Franks, and that glorious vidlory which he had obtained ; for as my love, and the efteem of his virtue, had made me take his part •, I confcfs that I foftered no favourable wifhes for my Father's : and I teftified at full fome days after, that I was not of his fide, in an encounter which I had in a Foreft fomevi^hat near the Camp, with the moft valiant of all the Kivzls o[ Phara- mond \ againft whom, in fatisfying my inclinatiens,the glory which I knew I ftiould pur- chafe, was enough to excite me to the defign. Ah my dear Brother, ( hid then Albifinda to the Prince, Hopping the current of his difcourfe ) voas it then you that fought fo near this Camp with the valiant Balamir, and who left him fo large a fubjeB tojpeak^rvsrthily of your vatour, and all that appeared to him of your perfon. les^ my dear Sijier, replyed the Prince, Jt was I that encountered Balamir, or at leaji that had be(:_un to encounter him, when we were feparjted by a Knight, whom I have fmce underiiood to be the Prince of Perfia i and that foon after ^ the fight of fome 'Iroopi of Horfe which 1 faw aiming from thxt Camp, conjlrained me tt Book III. PHARAMOND. 6i to retire. I pafs'd by the Army of the Frankjy and took my way towards Francfort^ where I wasinform'd, that the Princefs 7 /^^c^ow/r,* was arrived fome days bctorc, and knowing that (he had left Pa//x«w at Pf j/>(7/;*, by reafon of feme affairs which had brought her to Francfert^ which was under the Government of her Husband, I deligned to feehcr, and confult with her, as with an Oracle of my Fortune. Here, Sifter, I faw, and was received by her, as if I had been her own Son j I found her as well affcdcd towards me, as (he had given me reafon to believe > and in tine, Sifter, to finifh this recital, and to tell you what row brought me hither, I learn'd from her the love which Marcomire had for you, with part of thofe adlions he hath performed to let you underftand it, I knew moreover, by the Arid tye which is between Polixena and Marcomire, nothing could be more favourable to my Amours, than thofe afliftances that I might receive from Marcomire i and that doubt- lefly, he would never refufe them me, if I defired the fame kindnefs, which I could delire from him, on his behalf from the Princefs my Sifter. I accepted the propofal with an ex- ccfsof joy, not only becaufe it flattered my hopes, but becaufe there was nothing incffedt in the perfon of Wi^rcow/r^, either by his birth, by the fair qualities of hisperfon, or by the glory of hisadions, which made me not judge him moft worthy of your affcdions > and which did not oblige me ( if the choice depended on me ) to prefer him before the grcateft part of thofe Princes that I now feecrown'd with Diadems. So that after I had entreated theodomira to affure Marcomire^ when (he found an opportunity, of the intention I had to ferve him, I took leave of her to come fecretly to this Camp, and find the means to fee you without being known. And by the affiftance of Haldatt^ I thrived in my de- (ign, to whom I have trufted my felf upon all accounts, and he having the fame power in the Army of the Suevej I had formerly given him, and the firft command near the King's perfon, had the means to conceal me in his Lodgings, and to afford me the eafie oppor- tunity to fee you, and to give you fre(h afTurances of the affeiSion which I have always (ud for tny dear Sifter. The End of the Second Book (fthe Fifth Part. PHARAMOND. Book III. VJridomar thus fini(hedhisdifcourfc, and made the Princefs to blufh in fuch a manner by his laft words, that of a long time (he was in no condition to anfwer. He often importun'd her to a reply, but feeing his importunity augmented her confufion, and the trouble which appeared in her face, he en- deavoured to help her in the perplexity wherein he had caft her, andVo witJv a frailc. I did tut believe^ Sifter^ faid he, that that which I told you of Triitce Marcomire, could have rvrougbt that effeS upon you which it bath produced i or rather that you could have fufficiently forgot that amity which hath altvayt been between us to under- ftand with fo much Jhame, and happily withfo much diliajie^ that [ k^tow any thing \f your af- fairs : Nobody will admire, that a Princefifo fair, and amiable as your felf (hould bate yield- ed fomelove to Marcomkci attdthougbtbe kitowledge of bis kve^ with that of bis merit, had ttuchsd 62 PHARAMOND. Fart V. touched your hearty 1 jhould neither admire, mr could I blame yau for it, I kttow him of fg divine a form, that there are fetv perfons in the tvorld, which might not be fenjible of his af' feuions ; and flmtld fcsrce have loved you better^ if yon had been as referv''d as Polixena. But, my Lord^ ( faid the Princets at laft, taking fome confidence from his difcourfe ) al- though the perfun of Marcomire rt>ere perhaps fuch as you defcribe it^ and that I only. began to underjland it by a hjndne^ xphich he did me at the price of all his blood , xvhat judgment might you have pjji upon me, if I had entertained any complacence for the love of afrince, whom I ought always to lool^ upon as the Brother of Pharamond, and confequently as a perfon, vAjo in lieu of the confent, will always have the hatred of the King my Father. I fljould judge, re- plyed the Prince of the Sueves, that you were Mifirefi of a Soul capable to dijcern merits and to acknowledge ferviees , and as by beingbornof the fame Father as your felf, my thoughts however are not conformable to hit, I am not to thinks it jlrange, that you [houldnot conform- your felf to thife, which he cannot without injujUce have again)! a Trince fo innocent of his dif- pleafure^ and who at the peril of hii life jreed you frrom the hands of his Enemies. 1 mnfi needs teU you, S/jier, and I jjieak^it with fincerity, that I Jfjould blame you, if that compla- cence for the inclinations of a Father too rigorous, and in his hatred too immoderate^ could havt rendred you ungrateful towards a Prince, to whom yu were fo much obliged, and whom, e- fcaping from one danger, in which he had almojl loji hh life in your defence, you faw fall into another, which jhrough the injuftice of the King of the Cimbrians, was not Itfi dejperate, mr lefi considerable, I k^ow not. Brother, ( faid the Princefs, with more joy than (he durft ex- prefs ) tvhether I ought to believe, that your thoughts are really fuch as you endeavour toper- fwade me, and whether you have fo much indulgence, as you tell me, for thofe which you feetn to infufe into me. And I k>iow not, replycd the Prince, wherefore you fhould have this diffi- dence of my fmcerity, if it be true, that you have fo good an opinion of me, as you have former- ly had. But dear Brother, replycd the Princefs, do you k^ow all which hath happened during the love that Marcomire hath had for me? And hath Theodomira informed you of all tbofe par- ticulars ? Ihey were not k^own to her, added the Prince, for jhe only told me that fince his return, and fome days after the great Battel, Marcomire had vifitedihe Pn'ncf/? Polixena at Peapolis, and in declaring to her the love which he had for you, he had entreated her for his fal{e to be favourable to.me^ and to di the fame thing for him, which I now pray you to do for me i that f^ie had trujled this fecret to her, but Jhe told mem more particulars of the love o/ Mar- comire, rvhether it reere becanfe fke was really ignorant of them, or that JIjc would l^eep her Bro- ther's fecrets : Ihat fl)e only kitew, that Marcomire died for love of you, and that I could do nothing more advantj^ious for my own affeCiion, than to be favourable unto him in his. Since ■ Hts-fo, ( leplyed Albifinda, fully affured by her Brother's difcourfe) and that I ought to give an entire belief to thofe ajjitrances which you give me, I fhall open my heart to you, even to the very fecreteji of my thoughts, without concealing any thing 1 have learned of Marco- m ire's : but it will be neceffary, that yo u give me to this effeU a hearing, like to that I have af- fjigfiTiyou, when you catf conveniently do it ; and when you are throughly informed in all my con- ^ns,h'ou ffjall prefcribe mewbat rules you pleafe, with this entire a(furance, that tboughtbe :^kifii^(if Marcomire jhould he le^ aiceptable unto me than it is, there fljould be nothing that votre pjjfiblefor me to do, which I would not fubmit to for your fatUfaUien. At thefe obliging words, Viridomar embraced the Princefs his Sifter with all the marks of a moft tender at- " feSToDi and immediartly after, l -never doubted of your affeSHon , ( faid he with a confident look ) although you deferved it for that dijirufi you had of mine \ and as I am content to owe a great part of that happinejl that 1 expect from my love, to that you intend to do for me, fo you may reji confident, that to favour the love of Marcomire, if it be not dif- ^.agreeable to you^J (Jj all pafl over all thofe difficulties which you might fear from me. I haveaU ready) told you, ihat I confider not his not being a King, which may feem to hinder him, from aj^iring to a Vrince^that may well expert to efpoufe a King^ feeing that for his valour, and the rare .ejtdiwments of his per fan, there are few Kings in the world, to whom I ivould not willingly ,' prefer him: But 1 Jhall add, to fatisfre the defire you might cheriflj, not to defc end in dignity^ \thatX as Theodomira informed m^) King Pharamond did declare, when he went to receive '.the Crown of the Qciuh, to which he is. called, and which is of much higher importance than that of Franconia, jh^t he is refolved to give that of Franconia to Marcomire ; But of this we fimll fpeak^more at leifure, and [nice time forces me, to retire, and leave you to your repofe, we will remit the r^jf till to morrow, when I fl:>aJl mo{l gladly give all attention to the recital of yottr Adventftres, in which I intereji my felf as much as for my own. "to this effect, I (hall return hither at the fame h ur 1 came to day , and when we (hall rell equally inlirucied in our affairs, we will caufe our friendfl/tp to act, as it behoves w, for our mutual fatisfaaion. As 1 have not hitherto concealed any thing from' the ^een of «iE>f Ctmbrians, faid Albifmda unto him,' 'and tbae 1 1 I Boo!t lit. THAKAMOND. 6^ that Icannot fee you often without giving her fufpicion^ and that for her fecrepj^ J dire het' ter anfiper for her than my felf you rvould highly cblige me^ to permit me to fpeal^ of you to her^ and more effieciaHy to let her fee you ; and I am conjident^ that if the fight of her do not mak^ you forget Polixena, it tviH at the leaji^ fhal\e your affcBiun. lo convince yon that I fear not that danger^ replyed the Prince, Z rvill fee her rvhen you pleafe, well k^^toiving that (J:e hath a courage too great^ and that flie hath luji too little of it, to nourifh any refentment a'raiitll me ; and for the management of thii entervietv, that it may be fecret, I fhall rvholy rely upon you , wholly committing all to your prudence. After tliefc vvordsand fome carciles, whicli 3 long abicnce exadted from a tender and ftrong amity, the Prince bad his Sifter Good Night, and. withdrew himfelf bytliefame way that he came, by means of that li- berty which Haldan afforded him. Albiftnda, after his departure, went into her clumber, and fo to Bed , but it was not without fliaring to Imbergidazpnit of that joy flie rekntcd, both by the return of her Brother, wliom fliefo dearly loved, and by the hope of a pro- teftion, (he expedted from him in an affcdtion wherein the feverity of the King her Fa- ther, had created many fears of great oppoHtions. This joy in cffcd-, which then rook up her whole heart, was not fo flight, but that it might hinder her reft, which Imbergida know- ing, and that (lie had need of flcep after fo long fitting up, gave fuch orders that flie . might lie a bed the greateft part of the next day. But if joy could interrupt the fleep of Albifmda^ there were ot,her perfons not far off^ in whom different pallions did cruelly work the fame effcd > for whilft filence and dark- nefs gave repofe to a great part of the world, the unfortunate Amalazmtha was mifcubly tormented by^all that which an alfedion born under a fatal Star, could make her feci, of moft doleful, ormoft terrible. It feemed in all other places, that this pallion, to men fo natural, infinuated it felf with a kind of fweetnefs, or at leart prefentcd at rirft, fomething cf flattery agreeable to the mind. But in this fair Queen, the fame palFion feemed to in- troduce it felf as an enemy, and that having forced thofe defences flie had made tooppofe it, it carried a fire every where without pity, and cftablifli'd it felf with a fevere tyranny. Sometimes flie likewife lookM upon it as an effed of Heavens anger, which flie believed to have been exafperated by an ingratitude, with which flie fome times reproach'd her felf i and in fighing for the evils that it made her feel, flie languiflied without any hope of relief, and without daring todefireit. And the more flie defy'd her misfortunes, the more terrible (he found them, through the fmall difpofition ftie naturally had to fubmit her felf to love i and making a comparifon of her condition upon that of other perfons, upon whom for- tune exercifed her power with rigour, flic found nothing in theirs which was not lefs ftrange, and lefs cruel than that which flie made tryal of in her own. The fad refledlion flie made thereupon, plunged her into a Sea of grief, in whrch all her conftancy was fliip- wrack'd, and her eyes, thofe fair eyes which both knew to give life and death, and which' more than once had given wounds, which death only could cure, were eithe.r then drown'd in tears, or caft down with a languifliment, no ways natural unto tliera : it even feemed, as itlhe never turned them but with difdain upon all other objedts, not feeing any more that charming objedt, upon which ihe had fo fatally fixed them : and if contrary to her de- lign, any of thofe dangerous glances, which might enflame a heart of Ice, efcaped her eyes, they difowned the effed at the fame inftant^ and denoted it by fad and flow motions, which grief only could teiach them. She ftrove very much, and many ways to dilfemble her torments •■> but if at fome times thefe endeavours produced their effeds, at other times they flood her in no ftead, for they imprinted upon her vifage ( maugreher ) the marks of that cruel conftraint flie impofed upon her felf. She was likewife deprived of that fweet confo- lation which is found in the greateft evils, when we are permitted to communicate them v and flie found fomething in hers fo extraordinary, and fo little fuitable to her courage, and- to her tirft inclinations, that flic hardly durft open her mouth to depofit the lighteft part of her griefs, in the bofoms of thofe of her Attendants that flie moft loved i for although flie difcerned in the fair Qu^een of the Cimbrians, and in the charming Albifmda a moft real and tender amity for her, which might merit her confidence i and (hat ftie had even propofed. that comfort to her felf, of laying her heart open unto them, in thefe misfortunes wherein they might give her both advice and comfort, all thofe defires were banlfliM by the (hamc which flie put in oppofition to them, which fet a vermilion dye upon her cheeks, in that very moment flie tram'd the very thought in her mind. That fame day by the tender ca- reffes of the fair Queen of the Cimbrians, and by the fweet importunities of Albifntda, flie was tempted more than ordinary, through an inclination we naturally have todifcover the caufeof pur fufferings i but atlaft ftie became Miftrefs of her inclinations, and fancied that (he had obtained no flight vidory in the concealment of her fecret. Though when flie was^ ia PHARAMOND. Par-t V. in Bed, and that inRea'd of the repofe (lie there fought, that mercilefs paffion came to at- tacque'herin her fohtude and darknefs, with much greater forces than thcfe that could afTail her, in places and at times where company might divert a part of her grief, (he faw. her felf miferably abandoned to her moft fevere perfecution -, and this moft cruel and im- portunate refemblance, or rather this amiable and dear Idea, which was become with fo * arbitrary a power, Miftrefs of her Soul, prefented its felf to her clofed eyes in the obfcu- rity of the night, as fair and vifible, as if it had appeared in the clearelf day-light. The endeavours (lie ufed to remove it from her, feemcd to make a greater addition to it ■■, and when (lie perceived, that (he vainly laboured to put it out of her thoughts,exafperating her felf through its obftinacy to torment her. Leave me, faid (he, leave me, thou mercilef Ene- my of my repofe, and do not tvar tvith fo much inhumanity, upon a heart rvhich never before groaned under the like fufferings. Thy victory would he much fairer, if thm tvouldji proceed nnth leji cruelty \ and thou mightejl content thy felf with makjng Amalazontha/ig^ /or amtf- chief to her altogether nnkitorvn, without carrying death, m weU as love into her breaji \ neither canjUhon hngreign there, if thou reignell with fo much violence ■, for it w a rare thing, that in a Soul fo unaccuftomed to fuch terrible torments, it (fjould not produce a mofi fatal cf- fe&. But purfuing her Complaints, after a (hort iilence, If^hat art thou, cryed (he, mofi importunate vifwn, that incejfantly perfecuteji one ? And what is it, that thou eternally prefents ta my memory ? Mujl I burn, without kfiowing whs hath call the flame in my breaft ? And mtfjl I grow mad for an Apparition, or for a Phantom, which appeared, and difappeared lil^e Lightning to my eyes? What kflow J, whether the thing I love be mortal or no ? And how kftow I, whe- ther revengeful love hath not prefented me this fair Idea, to punip in me that ingratitude which might have exajperated him : thU m'vf fortune were not without president, nor fhouldl be the firji^ upon whom this God in his anger hath exercifed his vengeance. Alas ! ( proceeding a while af- ter ) unfortunate Amalazontha, doji thou not already perceive that thy love dijiurbs thy reafon„ and makes thee difcourfe lik^ a Frantick. enraged, having extinguijFd all the light of thy foul? He that thou loveji, is not only a mortal, though through thy own misfortune, perhaps more tha» in reality there appears to thee, fomething of Divinity in his perfon : But he is lik^wife a ftf fon of a Rank, very much inferiour to thine, a perfon that is a SubjeSi to Pharamond, a perfon ' thou canjl not look«poit without ofendingthy felf: and with all this C (he added, fetching a figh ) a perfon that loves thee not, and one perhaps that may never love thee whilft he lives. Hajl thou obferved any thing inhim might make thee judge that thy fight hath wounded him? And when thy eyes difcourfed to him, too largely ofthefentiments of thy heart, couldf thouperceive by the l^aft glance, that his were correspondent to thine ? So little of this was difcernable, that ( to thy misfortune j thou mis,hteji eafily obferve the contrary. He hardly afforded himfelf the time to jPeak^to thee fme words of civility for his Vrince, and as if thy fight were tronblejame to him, be quitted thy pre fence in an injiant, without fo much as turning his face towards thee. Thy ■ eyes which followed him as far as they could, did but too well obferve it, andwhilji he was dif- courfng unto thee, he applyed himfelf much more to the juliificat ion of ?\mzmoi\d, than to the contemplation of \hy beauty : Ob that for thy happinef, or for thy conflation, it had pleafed Heaven, that he had done as much as the Brother 0/ Pharamond, who rendredthee a fervice, to which civility alone could not oblige him, who applyed himfelf with fo much earnejhefi to ac- company thee^o the limits of this Camp, who difcourfed to tl^ee info paffionate a manner, both with his eyes and tongne, and who made thee judge, that he might have an affeclion for thee, if a wretch who could have fo eafily received it without a return, had been capable to touch a heart in that conjunHure of time wherein hers lo\i its precious liberty. But fenpf creature ( faid (lie a while after reproving her felf) of what dojl thou complain ? And if it be true, that thoie endeavourefl thy cure, why do\i thou lookjvlth difcontent on what may advance it ? That which tbott deftreft, had only ferved to have engaged thee farther, and made thee love- perhaps all thy days, what thou oughteil not pofibly to affeCt one moment. Alas ! ( continued (he fighing ) J kt^f^ not whether I ought to love him, but I much fear that I Jhall always love him, and that aU thofe endeavours 1 (lull ufe to break, my fetters, will only ferve to clench them fajier. Jhofe fuccours which J hope from my courage and virtue, m.^y well combat my pafwt, buf I fear fcarce vanquish it; for in fine, afthe fymptoms thatl obferve in my wound, rather foretel my death than recovery. Sh'b paufed fome moments upon this fad lamentation, and padmg in courfe to another, to which (he frequently applyed her thoughts, her Soul laboured to find out who this amiable and too much beloved obiedt of her thoughts might be, and revolving in her mind with fome kind of delight, all thofe things which had appeared to her in his perfon. But who, faid (he, can thk miraculous man he, who likg a Vianet fahtng from Hea- ven prefented himfelf to me ? What man parallel to this (fmce it is not Pharamond ) can be in Pharamond's/in«;/i« Germany, or iv the whole wiiverfe, ef whom fme hath beenfiUnt- Bo o i( III. P H A R A MO N D. H and rvhat a perfinaZ^ otie^ht l'h:ir2mon(i to h/", of whom (Ije hath puhlifhed fo mjnif woUdetiS >f ther,- he men like thvf iibntit hit perfon of whom {he tnak^t no mentinn. But doii thou nri j^ww, (laid Ihc reproving licr felt) that fame U not acctiiiomed t" fix her f'lf upon exiraorJhtjry appea~ rancer, that (he jvmld neither Jpeak^nf P\\:ir;in\Qi)d »or 15/Balaniir, if they had mthinghut d cnnd afped tvithout other ad.'antas^es : and that notivithjiandin:^ a celejiial beauty, a inajefty more than humnne, and a (rrace altogether niiracitlottr in hU deportment and difcnurfe ; th'n perfitt may be of fo lotvamerit^ that fame did fcorH to bear his name upon her glorious rvings unto thee. She had fcarce entertained this thought, but Ihe reproved her felf, and difown'd it at the fame inlbnf : Ah let us ;Mf offend, faid (he, xvhat rve mull love in Jpight of us, or rather let us not offend our felves, in believing that afubjeU without merit could give us (l)ackles-, rvhich pofftbly we WKjf wear all the days of our life. He that appeared to us is too great to be accompanied rvith a vulvar foul, a mediocrity of courage er a common merit : And my heart much better informs wf , than fame cmitd do with her hundred mouths, that he U hut too worthy of our affeclions. What Jhall we then do ? for it jV time to determine our irrefolutions : Shall we love that which we would not love ; or fJj all we dye not to love againji 'our will? Alas! ("concluded (he with many fighs) There ii the difficulty, and it is a dffculty that mull be decided by Heaven, and hy that porrerfitl liar which governs my deliiny not in\ own will. Suffer in the interim my hearty fince heaven and fortune fo ordain it, without abafing thy felf tu any thought unworthy of thee : and you my eyes^ futce it was you that prcfented this poifon to my heart, weep even to death for the crime you have committed, and wafh it, ifpoffthle, away with my tears. The unfortunate Lady in this man- ner tornicnted her felf, and her eyes to obey the commandment (he impofed upon theui, dilHlled at the fame infiant a River of tears upon her fair Cheeks, nor did the fhower ceafe, until! that her grief infenllbly flupified her fpirits, and made them yield to the domiuion of fleep. She ilcpt indeed, but could not find repofc in her deep : (or that amiable (hape which flie kept erernally in her memory, whilft her eyes were open i prefented it felf more charm- ing to her imagination in her dream, and much taiier (if it were polhblej than it appcar'd in reality. As in dreams all imprellions form therafclves, with no lefs violence than fn the real fight of the objedl, fo was fhe touched to the very bottom of her foul, with that fo dear and dc- firable light: and viewed with extafie the beloved objccS, and in her vilion '^bferved the fame features which had wounded her i when (he fancied that that adorable, though un- known perfon fhewed her his heart open, and made her fee therein a fair image which rul'd over it. Nor could he fo content himfelf, but he added words to his gefture ; "View, A~ '' malazontha, faid he unto her, with how great a power this heart is defended which thou' " alTaulteft, it might burn for thy fake if it were free, for alas it is but too too fcnfible : but "another objed entirely employs it, and if thou doll not chafe it thence, it is in vain for " thee to hope to reign there. A(ter thefe words (lie dream'd that he approaching unto her, (hewed her the fair image at fo near a diftance, that flie might calily obferve all the trads and lineaments, and that fixing her eyes upon it (tranfported with her grief and jcaloulie) fhe knew it for the Pourtraiture of Kofamond. The knowledge whereof fo fenlibly wounded her, that fieep could not refift the fmart thereof: for waking her felf fuddenly (lie opened her eyes, and call them on every lldc of the bed, to tind out the objcd Ihe had loft. This vilion remain'd fo ftrongly imprinted on her imagination, tb.at (lie found it difficult to perfw^de her felf that it was not a real appa- rition : and the torment (lie fuffered made her complain fo loud, that one of her Women, who lay in her Chamber awaked, and running to her bed in a fright, demanded of her the caufe of her complaints. At tirrt (he only anfwered with Hghs, but being again importun'd by het woman s " Let me alone Eundice (faid jhe unto her) it is my mind that fuU'ers, and "not my body : atjd the relief which thoucanft give me, will work but little towards my "cure. " But Madam, Euridice was faying to her " Let mc alone (faid the " ^een once more) and content thy felf to know that I am unfortunate, and that I am hard- "ly my felf After thefe words which caufed Euridice to withdraw, her thoughts returning to what fhe bad heard in her dream i her mind was for fome time fo totally taken up therewith, and (he liftned thereto with fo mnch attention, as if the words flie had heard had been pronoun- ced unto iier by an Oracle : then turning her thoughts with fome refentment upon the fair Queen of the Cimbrians ■■, " What, faid (lye, is it tlien liofamond to v/hom I have vowed fo ■ "tender and folincerean affed:ion,which mulf render me miferable, and that beauty which " till now I have looked upon without envy, though (he may caufe it in all that the Earth "hathof fair and excellent, will only make ufe of her Charms to my ruine? hh liofamond ! "how difficult it is to fee you without loving you, and yet how hard will it be for me to i ''leva 66 PHARAMOND. Part V • " love you, if you procure my^tatli. But wherefore, wherefore fliouldft thou ceafe to love " her, though (he fliould enjoy the place which thou wouldlt difpnte with her ? and what "caufe cinft thou have to complain,if fliehad made thisconquefi before that thou fawcft him, "and before that thou hadfl any intereft in him > " But why doft thou fo admire (««t/w«. *^ed (Ije awhile after) that in the condition thou art in, thou art capable of this injuliic.e : Is " it in love that one ought to feek reafon > Rather comfort thy felf in knowing this, that " it was only in a dream that thou didlt apprehend thy misfortune, and that dreams though " not always falfe, are feldom true. She fought fome repofe in this thouglu, and having dilpell'd (by the allillance of her reafon) apart of thofe imprcilions which might havegiven her caufe of rcfentmcnt againUKo/iwoWi fhe furrender'd up her felf a new to the protcdri- on of ileep : But becaufe it was day cr'e fleep begun to clofe her eye-lids ; (he waked fo late that the Queen of theCtinbrians (who by the privikdge which her fex and friendfliip gave her, came to vifit her a bed) was entrcd into her Chamber, and fate upon the fide of her bed, before (lie opened her eyes : fo that the tirlt objedf which flruck them in receiving the light, was the very fame which perplexed her mind the greztell part of the night. This (ight, which the remainder of an imprclfion tliat (lie could not entirely chafe from her mind, began indefpite of all her power, to render the Queen's prefencelefs acceptable than (till that moment) it had been unto her, furprillng her with alloni(hinent ; and at the fame indant recalling to her memory, all that her fata! dream had foretold, it extreamly troubled her, and caufcd her to llgh and blufli. The Cimbrian Qaccn no fooner fpicd her cy^s open, but (lie gently embraced her ", and kilfing her divers times gave her the good mor- row ; and the lair ^>wj/rfZ7«(^<« not to appear infenfible of her CarefiVs, though perhaps (he received them with lefs fcnlibility than at other times > drew her fair Arms out of the bed, flung them about her neck, and embracing her returned herkiffcs; but becaufe at the fame inltant, her vilion returned to her m.emoryj entirely fuch as it appeared in her Ileep i (he could not conceal what it put in her mouth : and giving the Queen thela(\ kifs withllghs, whofe violent paiTage fhe could not obftrud, "Ah my Siller, /i/di /fef, muli it needs be you that *'mulf render me thus miferable? She had fcarce uttered thefe words, moved thereto by a Arongpallion which ^^c was not Miftrefsofi but the bluOies which appeared on her face, witnelied her repentance : and the adorable Kofamond who had heard them with aftonilh- ment, looking carneflly upon her •, " How Sifter, jaidfl.'e unto her^ is it I that render you "mifcrable? " Alas dear Sider, replied Amalazontha^ do not take notice of what I fay, for " in truth I am not very wife. " You are too wife (replyed the fair ^een) to have uttered " thofe words without reafon, aud I am too fenlibly touched thereby to leave, you at quiet "till you have explained them. "You will foon fee my wifdom (replyed the charming " ^eeit of the TuringiensJ when you (hall undcrftand, that before my fleep I cxtoli'd my " happinefs in your friendQiip, and that through a dream I complain and exclaim againft " you. " I will not anfwer, replyed Rofamond rvith afmile, for the harm I may do in your "dreams : but in lincerity I know I (hall never wilfully do you any, and that there are none " in the world, to whom your repofe and happinefs is more dear than my felf. " This good "intention (replyed Anialazontha reith a fainedfmile) doth not fecure me from the mifchief " which my dream foretold, and you might well (although it were true) (incerely loveme, "yet caufe the misfortune of my life. " Make me underdand then., f aid B.ofamond, what " this dream was which doth me fo much prejudice, and then permit me to explain it with " lefs difad vantage to iny felf than polfibly you have done. "You can apprehend but little "by my dream (faid hmihionthz very forroivfuUy unto her) forafmuch as you are whqlly "ignorant of the (late of my inind : and 1 (hall inform you both of the one and the other, *' as loon as I am miftrefs of a fufficient courage to do it. " It is not courage that vou want " faid the ^een unto her.., but rather an entire confidence : and if I have no i:;L;ited it " whilft we were friends together, 1 (hall not demand it of you now your dream hath fet " us at variance : I told you ycflerday, dear Si(kr, replyed Amalazontha, that nothing hin- "dred me from telling you my misfortunes, but a delire I cherilh'd to maintain my felf in "in youreficem, and a fear that you had not kindnefs enough for me to attribute tomy mis- " fortune, and not to my natural inclinations > what really fprings from my misfortuncs- " when I (hall be known to you fuflrciently, and fomuch beloved by you to hope it v Khali " open my heart farther unto you than you de(ire : and likewife to the Princefs of the Sueves, " who intercflcs her felf equally with you in my afflidions, and whom through an opinion " I have of her inildnefs) 1 (liould lefs fear than your felf in confelling my weaknefs. " You "have little reafon to fear either the one or the other, faid thecharmtHg^eeit, or to expedt " a larger knowledge, or a (hider ainity from us, fincc it is mod certain (for I dare anfwer 'Hot Albififida^ as well as my felf) that none can have a naorefmcere fricndlhip than we " have Book III. P H A R A M N D. 67 "have really for you : and that we already fufficicntly know you, to judge of you as adr " vantagiouHy in all things as your felt can dclire. But if you iiavc any rcafon to conceal "from us what we are ignorant of, or any rtludancy to let us undcrlland it, do not con- "llrain your (elf, dear Siltcr, to inform us of any thing, rill you really believe you (liallHnd " fome relief by imparting it to us : lince you may fufficicntly affiurc your (elf that the con- "cealment can no ways alter our amity. In the interim you may rife for it is fomcthing " late, and when you are drefs'd we will raiie the Princefs of the Sueier^ who (lill llceps as " I am informed : and we will endeavour to hnd f for the remainder (A the day) fome diver- *'tifcnicnt together to qualifie our misfortunes : for you may well believe dear Sifter, that I have my ftiare of them as well as you. After thefe words, flie called for her women, and caufed her to drefs her felf before her : Ama/jzotttha did as flie delircd, and a while after they went forth together to the Princefs Albifmda''s Chamber, Palhng a Gallery which was in their way, they perceived on the one lide the Prince of ¥erf:j^ and Martian coming to- wards them, and on the other, Gondiocb and Gndegefile, who moil courteoufly gave them the time of the day : and taking thein by the hand (which their Squires then quitted j led them to the Princefs of the Sneves appartmcnt : but fo foon as the Queens told them, that (he was in bed and flcpt, they took their leave and left them at liberty. Albi(uidj was yet in elTedl a lleep, through the care which Imberjj^iJj had taken to favour her repofc, and liad pof- Jlbly flept much Ionger,though the Sun had halt tinithtd his coutfe,if the Chiten of the Ci/w- brians who had been that day the mod vigilant, had not waken'd her by acculing her of flothfulnefs. '' What dear Sifter, faidjhe^ you fancy your felf fiill at Strjgo>te^ and believe *' you are to ileep in War, and a Carnp like this as peaceably as at home. " As I am no great *' warriour (fj'd Albilinda stfito her rubbing her eyes) I confefs that I accuftom my felf to tb^ "maximsof waragainftmy will, and yet polhblythis night I was the lall fleeper amungft *' you. " I may perhaps difpure with you upon that point, [aid the fair Amalazontha unto '"'•her^ andperadventure {added the ^een of the C\mhxm\s) that thofe that compjain leaO •Miave not enjoyed a llcep, either more large or more peaceable than yours : Butasforvou *'dear Silkr (faid pe to AlbillndaJ who appear much more at eafe than my felf, and lefs "atflidfcd thanQj^een Amalazontha; I would willingly know what employments can have •'interrupted your tlcep , ilnce yefternight that we parted. It U not juji (faid (lie fmi- lingly to her) that yon (hould altvays k^totv my affairs, for in fine I xpill begin to k^ep fomethin^ referved to my felf. Ihat tvill not prove perhaps fo ea(ie as you fancy it, faid Rofamond unto her' for II{iiow ynu fo rvell at prefent^ that it mull be very hafdforyou to conceal any thing from me, lxvi]l not affirm the fame efyoti, replyed Albilinda, (mcelamvery confident that you have often eritertain^d thoughts rvhich \ote have not communicated to me. Ah Siller, faid the Queen tvilh horv little reafon do you acciife me, it being molt true, that I aften difcovered thcfe things to yon, which Ijirive my felf to be ignorant of. For the ^leen of the Turingiens (replyed the Princefs of the Sueves) jhe is very careful in preferving a fxret : but if Jhe have this advantage on the one fxde, to k^mrv that we cannot betray her ■■, fhe U deprived on the other f:de, of that comfort which we might admini{ler to her griefs, had toe the knotfledge of them. 1 perceive, faid Amala- zontha, that IJhallnot in the end be able to defend them againji the defire ynu have to kjiorp them although pojjibly I ought rather to dye than to declare them, and that I run an eminent danger to lofe (if you have not a great kjndneji for my misfortune ) a great part of the ejleem and affeilion I ou have for me. But becaufe it' is very important for me, to ma}^ you judge "of my inclinations, \y other proofs, than thofe rvhich you may extraU from the confejfiottl am to make you : before I come to it Ifhall relate to you with method, thofe principal events of my life rvhich confuftdly may hone arrived to your knowledge : and by the difcourje which IJhall mak^ you, J will fortife my eturage for a cnnfejjion, which will make mefo much afiam^d of my felf, that perhaps were you in my place, you would hardly confeff much tome, ''Ah dear Siiier (faid the ^een of the Cim- " biiins) do not impole this violence upon your felf, to fatistie the curiolity of Albifinda^ " who was never fo unreafonablc as (he appears at this time : and yet doubtleily only ceafes " to be Co, by intcrcfling her felf fo much in your griefs. But rcfj affuied that our friend- "fnip will never take it ill although you lliould always conceal this fecrct from us, which "you have fo much reluiSancy to difcover. the refolutionU already made, faid Amalazontha andfince it is f, the greMeli diffculty U vjnquijh''d. But as through the defgn which I'have to inform you of thofe paJJ'ages of my life you are ignorant of, or but impcrftdly k>iorv ■■, I am to make you a very long difcourfe^ it is neceJJ'ary that you fljould this day afford me the conveniency to per- form it, in fome place where we may not be interrupted. Ifyoupleaje (replyed the Princefs of ' the Sueves) we will d/ne together here in private, and upon the appearance which I will niak^ of being indiffus^djjhall charge Imbergrida to give out, that ynu defire to he here if lone fnrfome bours^' sndto imreat thnfe that have a defign tofeeyou^ to defr their vifits. The two Queens approv'd, I 3 Alhifmda's i 68 PHJRAMOND. Part V. Albifmda^s propofal, who only dreft her felf by halves, by rcafon (be defigned to keep her Chamber that day, and to receive again Prince J^iri^/owar in theEvening: and having cau- fed their meat to be brought thither, they din'd together without any company but fuch La' dies as ufed to wait upon them when they eat in private. After dinner Imbergida put in execution the order which was given her, ( which was ve- ry cruel to t!ie amorous Princes, who could not lofe without much difpleafure though but for an hour the fight of their beloved objeds :) and the Ptinceffes having dined in a private Lobby, /4/^/f?«i/i» who was not quite dreffed, flung her felf again upon her bed : Kofamond feated her felf clofe by her, and the Queen of the turingiens who was to fpeak, placing her felf in a Chair, remained a long time filent i either to finifh her refolve, or to recal to her memory thofe things which (he had to fay, and having often changed colour ere (he could give liberty to her tongue, (he exprefs'd her felf at laft in manner following. The Hiftory of Amalazontha. Efore I enter upon the recital of thofe things I am to inform you of, or rather of thofe lafi which I am to confefs unto you ffor I fliall more eafily make you a repetition of the former J give me leave to hope fair PrincefTes, that though the confedion which I am to make you of my misfortune, (hould caufe me to lofe fomething in your opinions, it will not at leaft deprive me of any thing in your affedions, and that you will rather attri- bute it to my llnidcr fortune, or to the anger of heaven, than to any thing which may ren- der me unworthy of your friendlhip i that you will rather pity than condemn me, and that you will not deny me that confolation I defire of you, in a misfortune the moft great, or at kaft the leaft common, which might befal a Princefs of my birth. And upon this hope, after I have informed you of thofe accidents (whereof fome part have been futficiently im- portant to come imperfedlly to your knowledge) I (hall pafs to the fevere confeflion I am to make you, of the original caufe of ray afflidion > the remembrance whereof already clouds me in fome confufion. It is not necelTary that I fpeak to you of my Birth, which is as well known to you a$ my felf, nor that I tell you I am defcended from many Kings to evidence my illuihious Blood. You likewife know, there only proceeded from King Cutheric my Father, the dtceafcJ King AmaUric and I, and that ( my Mother dying when I was young ) I was bred by my father's care with the Prince my brother, feven or eight years elder than my felf. The King omitted nothing in our education, and finding me very conformable to his defire, he caufcd my youth to be carefully improv'd in all thofe Sciences he faw me na- turally addided to, or that he fancied might pleafe him. He found me a proficient in all, and that for Mufick, Dancing, and other accomplifliments, few perfonsof my ageexccl'd me. Bcfides this, my perfon was not fo contemptible (if I may be permitted to difcourJe thus of my felf before the two perfedions of the Univerfe) but that the difcourfe of flatter- ers (joyned with the love my father bore me) eafily perfwaded him that I was a fair Prjncels, and this received opinion eafily augmented the affedion he had for me, for he negledted no- thing, to let me know it, of what he might produce for my advantage. I was bred up with a noble train, in a Palace magnificent for a perfon of my age, in the fair City oiLepbaae fituated upon the Elbe^ a River to us fufficiently known : which taking its fource in your Dominions, and palling through the King of the Suever, and in courfe through the Coun- try of the Calucons, and of the Catules, traverfes all 7uringia j and then powers it felt into the Sea, between the Country of the Cauches and the Saxons : And therein I confum'd my childhood, which no memorable Adtions renders worthy of recital. I (hall therefore pafs it over, believing that it can only prove tedious unto you : and (hall tell you that in fine the tranquihty of my rirft years was troubled with the publick, and that the King my father's dominions were cruelly affaulted by the Saxons^ a furious and barbarous people i who fome years fince got footing upon our Coafis, and made all tremble by the terror cf their Arms, from the lliore oiSuevia to the Ocean. Part of them fell with great forces into Vett- mark^^ and in a fliort time reduced that King to great extremity, from which he recovered himfclf by the valour of Prince Viridumar^ who by divers triumphant vidtories acquir'd im- mortal glory in that war. Their other forces under the condad oi Genfelaric xhc King's Son i came thundering upon Turhtgia^ and by reafon they furprifed the King my father, who enjoyed a profound peace (while the other people oi Germany were in Arms) they made a greater Book III F H A K A M N D, 6^ greater progrcfs on the iiiftant, than they could pollibly have done had he been prepared ; and foraging all the Country wliich tliey covered with a horrible number ut" ainicd men, they rendred themfclvcs mailers of all places, even fo the Country oixhc AngilieHs. The King w?ith his forces oppofcd them witli all poUible diligence, and Prince Jnularic my bro- ther, commanding them, acquired in divers battels he gave them a very tair reputation " but fortune was no tavourcr oi his real courage : for through a youthf^ulprefumption, and a too great confidence of his valour, having hazarded battel with troops weaker behalf than thofe of our enemies, contrary to the advice of his old officers, and the King's intention, who was then fick at Lephane ■■, he loll it with a great part of his men, and with the battel he loft his liberty : for covered with divers wounds, he remained, a prifoncr to oiiretie- mies. This great misfortune entirely ruined our aifaUs, foraltiiough die King with an 'ex- traordinary diligrnce, gathered forces from all parts pf his dominions, and put all things in the beft order was poliible for hioi i he neither found himfelf in a condition to fuilain the puiffance of the Enemies, confidcring his own weak condition i nor to keep the iicld before fo vidtorious an Army, which like a Torrent ravaged the whole Country : He might have hoped fome fuccour from his Allies, but belidcs the impreiiions of fear which the Arms of the SaxoHt iiad already imprinted on all nations, which made them loth to draw their fury upon themfelvesithere were fewProvinces which were not either engaged for themfclvesin war,or that found not themfclves intercfTcd in the Alliances, which were entcr'd into all Germany^ eithetfor the Komans and the King of the Cimbriam^ and of the Sueves who fought for them', or for P haramond and the King oi the Burgundtans, of whom the lall had already ob- tained great advantages againll the former i and the firll began to make himfelf known by his early vidories ■■, fo that the King ot the Turhtgi ear finding himfelf conlhained to defend himfelf with his remaining forces, and deprived of the fuccour he might receive from his Son's valours had not only always the difad vantage, but likewifc faw many of his Towns loft, without being able to relieve them : and was in fine conftrained to inclofe himftlf in his Capital City, and put the Elbe between his remaining forces and his Enemies. From thence he fent for relief on every flde,and yet received it from none : and a few days after the Saxons being come to lay (iege to that City, gave him to underftand that be niull be reduced to the laft extremities, if the Gods did not pity and relieve him. As he was Mafter of a great and refolute courage, and that he had many more men than was rcquifue for the defence of the City, and a free retreat on the other fide of the £/i"f, which being in that place tixtimes as large as inBohemia oiSuevia^ hindred our Enemies, from beficging us (without much difficulty : ) on the other fide, he did not ftoop to his mi- fortune, but endeavoured tothe utmoftof hispower torelift it. I do not tell you any thing of my thoughts in that conjunfture, for you may well judge that intercffing my felf as I ought in the misfortune of our houfe and dominions, that I pafTed immediately from their ruine to the grief of a father who tenderly loved me, to thePrifon of aBrother whom I had always dearly loved, and to all we had to fear in a City befieged. I fuffered all that a perlbn of my Age and of my Birth at fuch a time of diftrefs could fuifer : and every day with tears, implor'd the Gods to fend thofe fuccours, wich were necefTary in fo prefling a misfortune. The Gods in time fent it us from thofe hands whence we could leaft cxpedl it ; and I cannot without ingratitude but confefs, that it was in a feafon when the King had no more hope of preferving any part of his Dominions : and iiad abfolutely refolved to retire himfelf witlj me (by the way we had free on the other fide of the Elhe) to fome City which ftill remain'd to him on that fide. But at that very time a Heet of fifty or fixty lliips, appearing upon the Coaft of the Caachej, came to an Anchor juft at the mouth of the River Elbe. The Fleet was compofed of Gaules^ and commanded by the valiant /^w^/'cwfr, who by the fame of his valour had not only made himfelf known amongft the Gaales^ but doubtlelly through the world. I believe you have heard much fpeech of his name, and that it is not neceflary, that I (hould make you a copious recital of thofe brave adlions,which have given him fo great a reputation in the world to make you know him. No Siller^ faid the Queen of the Cimbri- ans^ for there are few Nations and few perfons even in the renrld^ that ottubt 'to he {irangers to the name of Ambiomer : For fame hath even ^iven us an account of r^hat he aUed in Turingia, but not fo orderly as to make tts to difpenfe with the relation tve expccl from yntt. 1 (liall make it ytju as fuccindly as is poliible, replyed the fair Amalazontha, as well not to weary you wirh the length, as bccaufe I am little vers'd in the affairs of war, fo that 1 Cancotdifcoutfe of them but very imperfedtly. Arriving at the inouth of the Elbe^ Ambiomer underftood the war which the Saxons waged in Tnringia^ and the fad conditif^n to which our alfairs were reduced > and fbraf- nnich as he was a perfon that fought tbr honour in the War, and one tliat btlieved h%~ could' ^o FHAKAMOND, Part V. c6uld not find it but on the jufter fide, and was therefore an enemy to iniquity and oppref- fion, and by reafon of the rumour every where fpread, of the Saxons cruelty, he had con- trat^ed a kind of hatred againft them, and fo refolved immediately to fucccAir us, and to embrace this fair occafion of employing his valour in fo legitimate a caufe. He drew his Soldiers eafily to confent, for they refpeded him as if he had been their King, although it was only for his own virtue that he then commanded them i and knowing that by the E/^f , VefTels of the greateft Burthen might pafs a great way into T'uringia^ with the Sea Tide, which flowed as far as Mariom^ of which place the Enemy was then in poflellioni takjng a time fit for his purpofe, he made up the River with his Ships, and by the help of the Tide, advanced with an admirable diligence without any oppofition, and without the Saxons leaft knowledge of his approach : he landed at a place very near Marionif, on that fide where the Enemy was encainp'd v and having fet afliore fomc of his Horfe on the other fide of the River, by which thepaffage into the befieged City was free, he fent them to ad- vife the King of his Arrival to his fuccour, of the order of his march, and of the defign he had to affault the Saxon Camp, counfellinghim to make a fally upon them with all his Forces, upon the fignal he would give him of his arrival. The King received with an ex- cefsof joy, the news of a relief fo little expeded, and being confcious of the reputation of Ambiomer^ he eafily confented to his propofal ; and to abridge the recital of thofe things I cannot difcourfe particularly to you, I fhall tell you, that all things were executed as Am- hiomer had defigned, as well by reafon of his diligence and good condufl, as through the negligence of our Enemies, who believing they had no other Foes to combat, than thofe behind the Walls of Lephane, negleded the Guard of their Camp > fo that Ambiomer zi' faulting them on the one fide, and my Father fallying out upon them on the other, with all his Forces, before they could dream of making any defence, Ambiomer and his Gatth had ma^e a bloody, execution > and at laft when they had rallyed, and came up in good or- der, he fought them with fo much valour, that on all fides he covered the ground with their dead carcafes, and ftruck fuch a panick aftonifhment into their Camp, that he fcarce- ly found any farther refinance, in gaining a paffage to the King, who had aflaulted, and broken with equaJ vigour ( on his fide ) the Ranks of his Enemies, chafing the Saxont from thofe Polls and Trenches they pofTefs'd neareft the City, and lodging his Gauh therein, who promis'd to defend them at the price of their lives. Having given neceflary orders, they entred the City together, where the King received and treated him, rather according to the grandeur of the fervice he had received, and the future occafion he had of his alTifiance, than according to his Birth or Quality i for ( as you may well know ) Ant' bhmer was neither defcended from Kings nor Princes, but only from Knights, who like hitnfelf had acquired Glory in Arms, and by their valour, had rendred themfelves illuftri- ous in their Country. He had fought his firft reputation in meaner employments, but raifinghimfelf from de- gree to degree, he had obtained in fine, fuch a rank amongft the Soldiers, and rendred him» felf fo illuHrious by many fair vidlories, in combating againfl the Komaus for his Countreys liberty, that not only a confiderable part of the Gauls had cledted him for General of their Armies, but at the age of twenty five, which he then numbred, he had rendred himftif the perfon moll efteemed, and moft confiderable for martial employments that wag amongft thtGauls s fame recounted of him admirable things, as well tor the valour of his perfon, which he had rnanifelled in all his Combats, by adlions which tranfcended belief, as for his underftanding in War, which furmounted the capacity of the moft ancient, and moft: famous Captains, and for his winning behaviour to gain the hearts of the Soldiers, amongft whom he was eftablith'd in fuch reputation, that they believed themfelves invincible whilft he fought at their head, with thefe military virtues he pofTcfTed aJl others in their higheft perfedion, and befides his knowledge in War, he was much more dignified with Learning, than you could believe of a perfon that had been always trained up in Arms, which Learn- ing of his was accompanied with an admirable and natural eloquence. All his incli- nations were tending to good, his manners full of innocence and equity, and with all thefe qualities you could rarely fee a perfon of fo good an afped, nor more grateful in all hisadtions. I fpeak nothing of him to you which is not perhaps beneath the truth, and you will have reafon to know at the end of my difcourfe, that it is not paflion makes me fpeak in thefe terms. 1 faw him with the King aflbon as he entred the City, and the King prefenting him to me as a perfon to whom we owed all, I received him both as the im- portance of the relief he had given us did merit, and as his fair reputation, and as his ad- vantageous prefcnce obliged me,. I faw nothing in his perfon which 1 did not judge wor- thy of confideration, and 1 wifli'd nothing more in him, but the fole quality ot a Princcj^ wliich Book III. THARAMOND. 71 which was wanting. He falutcd me, and fpoke to mc with a profound rcfpedt •, and when I thank'd hiin for what he had donefor us, he received my difcourfe with a better grace, than I could have cxpedted from a perfon born and nourifli'd in VVar> and he made me know that liis courage was not greater in War, tiian his wit grateful and plcafant inCourt- fliip:For my fclf,I know I was not difpleafmg unto him,as the fcqucl will (ufficicntly tcflihei but this time wc had but a fliort entertainment, and as he well knew, that he had no time toiofe, in rinilhingwhat he had fo well begun, he employed that wiiich he had, in learning the edateof the place, and the condition of our Army, and in putting liimfcU in a poUure to atcacque the Enemy, before they had time to unite their forces after their defeat and dif- order : He performed it before the next morning, for believing, himfclf M'iih tiiofe men he brought witii him, and thofeof ours that remained, too ftrong to bcenclofed, he not on- ly fallicd out at their Head, but making ufc, like a great experienced Soldier, of tlic ad- vantages of the former Combat, he charged the Enemy whilll they were yet in diforder, beat up many of their Quarters with great lofs to them, and caufcd them to judge by the fevcrai alfaults that he made, that his Forces were much greater than in cffed they were > he confirained them toraifethe Siege, and encamp at greater diftance, but he left them no more there at quiet than before i for having entreated the King today at Lephane^ where he might better provide for things neceffary, than in marching with the Army, where his prefence was not requilite, he tyred them without intermillion, aflaulting them every day with great advantages to us i and in fine, fo weakened them, that he believed himfclf in a condition to give them Battel, which bccaufc they did not refufe, as being yet much more numerous, he would not refufe them, and by his own admirable valour gained it fo entirely, that there fcarce remained a Saxon alive to carry news to his Country of their de- feat. All their Officers wereflain, and their Prince G^'w/f/iJr/e with many wounds which I'iC had received in fighting valiantly, was taken prifoner, and with much difficulty pre- ferved by the care of Amhiomer from the fury of the 'lurhtgieHt. After this Vidory, all the Cities that were in the Saxons power, returned to the King's i and the Saxons which kept them, demanded no better conditions than to have the liberty of retiring fafely to their Country. Amhiomer chafed them all out of luringia^ and having rendred it as peace- able as it was before the Si^xans arrival, he returned triumphantly to Lephane^ where fome days before he had fent Cfw/f/aWc, with defign to exchange \\\m{ox Amalaric, whom the Saxons had fent into one of their Caflles immediately after his taking. The King had ho- nourably treated Genfelaric as wcH through a confideration of his Dignity, as the recom- mendation of .(^wt/uwfr, and tefiified unto him, that notvvithftanding the juft refentment he might have towards him,for a war which he had waged with much injuflice againf] him he fhould fuifer no greater difpleafure by his captivity, than to be obliged to reftore htm his Son for the price of his liberty. Genfelaric with much joy had accepted the prnpo- lltion, but by reafon he was much wounded, the King believed it more necefTary to endea- vour his recovery, than to labour in the exchange. The fame day that Genfelaric was con- ciuHed to Lephane^ Ro/M&(j«rf, Son to the King of the Oriental Frifons, arrived there with fome Troops he brought to our relief, which he had condudled into T'nringiahy paffing thcJ^ifHrgue, after he had crofs'd the Br«flfrf/ Country. Although his fuccour came late and was fruitlefs, the King omitted not to own the obligation, knowing well when he left his Countrry to come to us, the War was neither tinifli'd, nor we able to judge what would prove the event thereof i and for this reafon, and that which was due to his Birth, and to his illuftrious Ranck, the King received him as honourably as he could havepof- llbly done, if he had arrived in our greateft necellity. Kambaud zppe2ired much troubled that the' war was finilli'd without him, and that the glory was ^hoWy Aml>iomer''s, whofe fortune was envied by the greateft number of tbq young Princes of the age, but he had now no better way than to comfort himfelf with the proofs he had given of his good intentions, and totefiifie the (bare which he took in the King's joy, who after he had feen his Crown fhaken, and his Dominions on the brink ofruine, now faw himfelf vidorious, and peace- able in his Kingdom, by the valour and afliiftacce of a perfon that was neither his Subjedf, xior'Aliye. The King really made him thofe acknowledgments to which he was obliged, calling him openly his Deliverer, his Defender and his Protefter, and profelling himfelf uncapable to acknowledge what he owed him, unlefs he made him a tender of that fame Crown which he held from his victorious Arms : And when he returned to Lephane^mum- ■ phant, and laden with Honour, and yet with as much modefly, as if he had performed nothing for us i he did not only go out of the City to meet him, and the vidtorious Army he brought with him •■, but he commanded me to accompany him with the principal La- dies of the Court, telling me, we could not render too much to a perfon, to whom we '■■ owed ^2 P HARAMOND. Part V. owed all things, and that he was more obliged, to perform this Honour to a Knight that had rendrcd him his Crown, than to a great King to whom he was not indebted. As the importanceot thofc reliefs we had received of Ambiomer^ merited inelTec^, that wefliould pay him that honour, I difpofed my felf thereto without any repugnancy i and I confcfs, that I faw Ambiamer that day in a condition, which might have infufed favourable thoughts for him, into a heart that had greater difpolitions to love. He marched at the Head of his Army, upon a very beautiful Horfe, which he managed with the bert grace in the world j his Arms were rich and magnihcent, and being he was not to fight that day. his head was cmly covered with a fmall Helmet, (haded with a hundred white plumes i his flupe appear- ed in his Armour the bell proportioned in the world i his poHure frank and unaift(ited in the Saddle, and his countenance fo fweet, and fo noble, that I belicv'd ( with all thofe that that day faw him ) few men in the world could equal him : even the Prince of the FriftiHf^ who had accompanied the King thither with ill will enough, being then near my Chariot, was conltrained to agree to that opinion •, but he noways approved it, till Am- ^/owfr alighted to make his obcyfance to the King, the King defcending from his Horfe To embrace him, and render him all thofe obfervances which might be due to a King's Son. In (hort, the King being alighted approaching.him, embraced him a thoufand times, and toldhimall that a ju(t refemment could put into his mouth of moll obliging, and moit honoutable for htm. /^w^/'ower vecei ved thefe marks of acknowledgment with much of modelly and fubmilfiou, although with a free and cheerful afped, and very gracefully op- pofed thofe praifes which he had juftly merited. After he had faluted Rambaud, who had alighted witii the King , whom he treated with a more than ordinary refpedt, having Itarn'd who he was-, the King conduced him to my Chariot, telling him, that fince by his valour, Amalazmfth.t and the other Ladies had obtained the liberty to go forth of a City, wherein they had been fo long time immured, it was very jufl that they (hould cm- ploy it in coming to thank their Deliverer, Ambiomer replyed very modeftly to the King's difcourfe, and following to the Chariot, he faluted me much lefs like a Vanquifher, than a perfon vanquilh'd ■, and he (liewed much lefs courage and affurance at that time, than doubtlefly he had done in the Combat. ' He replyed neverthelcfs like a man that well un- derliood himfcif both to the acknowledgments I made him, and to thofe praifes I juftly jpendred him i and when I reprefented unto him the importance of what he had done for us, It was very hard, Madam^ faid he, for thofe Enemies which fought againji you^ ta have fortune favourable, for the viBory can never be hardly obtained by thofe that fight on your fide. Itis notto me neverthelefithatihk honourU due, replyed I vi'xthzimWe., and if that of tri- umph anwngl^ us, as with the Romans, tvere in ufe, it would be to yott, and not to me that they rvould offer it^ and one might juftly confejl, that few viUories have fo well merited it. It it mi a triumph fiifficient for Irim ( faid then the.Prince of the Frifons ) to fee the Princeji fixnsthzomhz come to me^t him : was there ever Komzn Captain that received an honour pa- rallel m theirs ? I confef,([M Ambiomer unto him ) that it is much above my merit, and the fervice I have done, and I am not fo prefumptuous as to attribute it either to the one, or the other. loH may attribute it unto both, faid the King to him, for thefe marks of ackiiowledg- ments would feem very light, if we jhould not give you others of mare importance. After thefe words and feme others little differing, they all remounted, and returned on Horfe- back totheCity, where the King not only that day, but at all other times, made Ambio" mer know, that he thirfted with no greater defire, than that of acquitting himfelfof what he owed him, by all thofe ways that were pollible for him. He like wife ufed his utmofi endeavours therein, and on the inftant offered \\\m all his treafures, and all the Dignities of his Kingdom: but although Jm^iowfr telHrted no contempt of v/hat he offered him, he would not accept of any thing, and only entreated the King to be pleafed, that his Soldiers might bencHt fhemfelves with a part of that which they had gained upon the Saxons, whofc Camp they had pillaged after the vidory. The King would have given them greater rccompences, but Ambiomer oppofed it ■•, and the King feeing he could not oblige him to receive any of thofe marks of his acknowledgment he had proffered him, although he pre- fented him Provinces, refolved in defpiteof all denyal to leave one to pofterity in a Brafs Statue, which he caufcd to be placed upon that Gate by which he entred the City, thefirft time that he vanquilh'd the Saxons, and underneath the figure, which was equal to bis na- tural proportion, on Horfeback, and in Armour, he caufed this Infcription to be writ. 7o the eternal memory of the valiant Ambiomer, Deliverer of Turingia. They treated in the mean timewith the King of the Saxons, Father to Cenfelaric, for his BboK III. PHJRAMOND. 75 his exchange for Amalark ■■, and by reafon he was then engaged againft the Vaaei a in war, which began through the valour of Prince Viridomar to change the face of his affairs, he not only accepted the exchange of the two Princes, but he very willingly accepted of a peace > and after that it had been on both fides ratified, he fent back Amalaric^ although Cenfelaric was ftill amongft us, knowing well that it was only an expedation of the heal- ing of his wounds that retained him, and that after the peace concluded between the two Crowns, he rcnnained with us not as a prifoncr, but as a Friend, and an Allye. The pe^c being in this manner concluded, Ambiotner^ who feeing that his Soldiers did nothing but pillage the TurhtgieHx, who had already too much fuffercd, refolved to lead them back in- to Gallia s but the King could not confent to his departure, though he permitted it to his Army i -and he entreated him fo earneftly to remain fome time with him, thzt Ambiomer^ who perhaps had Icfs mind to leave us, than he made us believe, refolved to comply with his defires, and fent back to their Country four thoufand Horfe, and ten thoufand Foot which he had, under the condud of their principal Officers, who as well as the Soldiers returned very forry to leave him in 'turingia , nor had they refolved to depart, but upon his promife to liead them again within a fhort fpace. The Prince of the Frifom having found fome reafon to remain amongft us, fent likewife back thofe Troops which he had brought, fothat within few days we were difcharged of our men of War ; But we had in our Court Genfelaric^ Kambaud and Ambhmer, the firft ftaid by his wounds, the fecond as he faid, to fee Amalaric, whom we expected, and the laft to comply with the King's will i but all three by one and the fame reafon, more forcible than the other, as foon after appeared. Amalark arrived fome few days after, and by his arrival brought an inundation of joy into my Father's heart, into mine, and of all the Court, which for many days af- ter gave publick dcmonftration thereof. The King received him with all tendernefs imagi- nable •, and I felt at his prefence, all that joy which a real amity could poflibly make any perfon feel upon the like occafipn. As Amalirk was generous, fo he prefently vifited Cenfelark, who was now almoft well of his wounds, whom we had often before vifited, and treated him as honourably as waspoflible. He likewife gave great teftimonies of efteem, and acknowledgments fo the Prince of the Fr//o«/, who intimated to him an earneft defire of being link'd in a ftrida- mity with him: but when he hDCW Ambiomer (ot the perfon to whom the State owed its fafety, the King his Crown, and he his liberty, he omitted not any thing might make him judge he had a refeptment proportionable to the greatnefe of the benefit, and finding him conftant to his refolution, of accepting nothing the King had offered him, with which the ambitions of other men were ufually contented, he perceived in fine they were all beneath his courage j fo that tcr the future, he looked upon him with an efteem which could not permithim to prefent him any other recompence, than that which he found in the glory of his Aftions. Genfelarie in the mean time being perfedly recovered, and receiving both from the King, and the Prince my Brother,an ufage which might make him judge that his ftay in our Court was not difpleafing 1 In lieu, of thinking of his departure, he put himfelf in an equipage conformable to his quality, and begun daily to vifit me. Kambaud did. the VikCy zt\d Amr biomer came very often with them : But although the laft, through the greatnefs of his fer- viccs, and the advantages his perfon had upon theirs, had reafon to believe himfelf more welcome than they ■-, he was much lefs bold in his vifits, and proceeded in all things towards me,in a manner much different from theirs > were it becaufe he wasconfcious to himfelf of the want of that dignity they gloried in, or that he had a natural inclination to adt with more lefpeft \ but however it were, whilft the others fpoke, he was for the moft part filent though he could have difcourfed much better than they upon any fubie(St, yet many times mcthought his eyes exprcfs'd more than their words. Cenfelark could not fee him without fhame, nor refentment, by reafon he ftill remembred how he had vanquifli'd him and fnafch'd a fair Lawrel from his hand : and Kambaud bore an envy to his glory, and could rot without much difaffeftion, endure that he ftiould raife himfelf by his virtue, to a de- gree nearer his than he defired. Genfelark viz^ a Prince couragious and valiant, he was ot a handfome ftature, buthisafpeft was fomewhat grim, his wit tafted much of Barba- itfm, and therodenefs of his Nation, to let you know it was no way acceptable: Kam- hjHd\ was lefs rude, and indeed no way difpleafing, when he pleafed to (hew it ■■, but hp was naturally proud, and much more conceited than he ought, of the greatnefs of his Birth, and merit of his perfon V he had a reafonable handfome afpecS, and a high courage iull of ambition. As Kambaud and Cenjelaric fancied themfelves of (ufficient quality to iiicntidn love to me without offence, they both made mc in a fliort time know the affedion. K. tlicy 74 PHARAMOND. ■ Part V. fhey boreme : But Amhiomer, who certatinly had much more than they, concealed it to the utmoft of his power, and aded a violence upon himfelf, to which, through their pre- fumptionthey noways judged themfelves obliged. The firft that difcovered himfelf to me by dilcourfe, was Kambaitd, who was natuially of a bolder fpirit than Genfelark i and by reafon he met not often with opportunities to fpeak tome without witneffes, he took one day his time as I- went out of the^Temple, with defign to take a turn or two in a pleafant walk which fronted the Portal, he accolkd me, and my llfher through refped quitting my hand, he ceremonioufly affuraed his of- fice-, and taking occafion to fpeak tome of what I came from doing, Ton come from -pray- ing to the Gods^ Madam, faid he to me, hut I believe it rvas in a manner very different from eurr. And rvhat difference, faid I, believe you to be between my prayers and yours .2 Ihat replyed he, lohich may put us either in affurance, or incertitude of obtaining what we demand ■■, for as you are certain that the Gods wiU deny yott nothing, you petition them more boldly than thofe that have not that ajjurance. If J hope to obtain any thing of the Gods better than you replyed I to him, it is becaufe I fljaJ! demand things more reafonable of them:, for I h^ovpna other reafon rvhicb can affure me of a greater credit with them than yours. Ton mujl pardon me, added he, if 1 am not of that opinion, and if I believe that amongst the Gods, at well as amongji men,the Dignity of the Petitioner is no lefl confrderable than thejuliice of the pet itioJt.I cannot agree to your affertion, replyed I unto him, without accufmg the Gods ofinjufiice •, and bepdes, fhould what yoU affirm be true, that Dignity which creates a difference amongli men, hath not before the Gods the fame effed, for the meaneji have no mark^to dijiingujjh them there from the higheft. Nor is it, replyed Rambaud, of that Dignity yonnnderfraitd, that I woitld fpeak^, fr tpell 1 h^now, the Gods ought not to hear you more favourably than the people, becaufe you are Prittce^ of the Turingiens, but becaufe your Beauty is celeiiial like theirs, and that like them you have "Temples, and Adorers much more religions, and fubmijjive than thofe which projirate themfelves before their Altars. He fpoke thefe words in a manner fufficiently paffionate, to make me apprehend the fequel i and to divert his difcourfe, 1 did not believe, ( faid 1 very coldly un. to him ) that you had thus defgnedto conclude, for there is a vaji difference between real adora- tion, and adorations imaginary, of rvhich you jfieakj Ah, Madam, replyed he very fmartly, call not ima(rinary, that which is the mofl real in the world ; and believe, if you will be equitable ( like the Gods ) that no adoration is more true than that I have for you. Although I might have forefeen, by what had appeared fome days before in the looks, and in the behaviour of Rambaud, a great part of what I then experimented, I could not neverthelefs entirely defend my felf againft the furprife and difpleafure his hardy confidence had caufed ■■> nor had I the power to diffemble it, but looking on him with a fevere hercenefs, I cannot cre- dit, faid I to him, that what you find of divine in me fliould render me more formidable, for if to you I had been fo, yott would perhaps have been more timorous in exa^erating me, Tou fee neverthelefr, faid he, that the Gods are never irritated by any of thofe markj we give them of our affections towards them, but on the contrary, ordain and require it of us. 'the Gods may do as they pleafe, replyed I very briskly, but fince I am no Goddef, yott will do well to confider me as a Princef, to whom you owe a rejpe&. All Rambaud's confidence could no longer de« fend him from that artonifliment which my fevere proceedings had created in his mind, which was the more furpriling, becaufe ( by reafon of the good opinion he held of himfelf j little fufpede(^ : fo that returning to my Chariot, I got to it, and was mounted therein before he could recover himfelf. h\though Rambaud were of a fufficient quality to evi- dence without offence, the defign he had for me, I could not neverthelefs ( through a na» tural averfion I had to love ) abftain from teilifying my difpleafure ; and mcthought no man ought to have treated with me in that manner, without firf\ obliging me ( by my Fa- ther's orders ) to fuffer it. But if Kambaud that day angered me, Genfelaric two days af- ter was guilty of as much , for in the King's chamber, where we were, feeing me folely approach the window, I know not with what delign, he followed me like a perfon that had fome news to tell me i and having accol^ed me with a countenance which (liewed lefs of afTurance than at other times •, I k*tow mt, faid he, wherefore you retire from the compa- ny, nor which of us it is you file thus ; but as a prifoner is priviledged, I take the liberty to come and trouble your retirement, lou may come, replyed I, for federal other reafons, but not for thofe you have aHedged-, for you well know you arena more a prifuner. 1 cannot, re- plyed he, be longer the King your Father's, but I ll.'ali be yours even to death j for all the peace' which tan. be concluded betwixt our Fathers, is not able to free me from your Chains. My Chains, faid I to him, as much exafrerated by his difcourfe as I had been by Rambaud'/, are not perhaps fofoft as you believe them : and yon may asjoon weary your fl fin th'n Vrifon as in the former. J may fuffer there, replyed he, but never be weary of my fufferingt : fortheghvryofthif Prtfon' Book III. P H A Fx. A M 0' N D. 75 Prifon wiUfnfficiently ftvceten its rignnr^ fo at to make me wil'inn^ tn cnntiniie therein tvitb pleafur^ to the end of my life . 1 doubt frcplyed Iforaevvliat hziXWy) ynu would never find any pleafiire there^ and at JJhoitldnot have more than you, I neither defire the effeU mr love the dijcoitrfe. Gen' felaric at this anfwcr remained fomc time as if lie had been flruck dumb, but at length goin^ about to profecutc his difcourfe, hcprefently faw himltit interrupted by //w-^/jr/c and Zi^m. haud^ who were then approaching us,: And Ramhand might for his (atisfadion have per- ceived in my looks, if he had obferved it, that Cenfelaric's convcrfation had been as little grateful to me as his.I treated happily too rouglily with thofe perfonagcs whofc birth equal • liz'd mine, but befidcs that methought their proceediugs were not very conformable to the Tcfpedl they owed me, I could not believe tiiere was any man in the world, whofe love I could endure, fo much had the Gods endowed me with a foul, contrary by nature to what it is fmce become through my misfortune. Amalaric difcovcrtd my difpleafure in my countenance, and as the jealous Kamhaud had made liim obferve Cenfelaric^i 2&ions^ when he followed me to the window, and had perhaps obliged him to come and interrupt ourdii'- courfe i he eafily imagined the caufe : and taking me apart from the company i Is it not true, faid he drolling, that GcnCchx'ic hath a mind to begin the Jf^ar afre^ rpith you, and that if rve tvould believe him, xvejhonldfnoner become aHyed, thanreturntoour former enmity. Ik^townot replyed I, hU intention, butlkytow that if Iconfult my on-n, there k already a fufficient alliance hetrveenus. ip-jaUmt^ repl^jj Amalaric, promote a greater, fori avow J have not fuff.ciently pardoned him fir thejhame he made me underga,t9 take his part againfl aLover that ix>as more grate- ful to you. " No lover, replyed I, can ever be plealing or grateful to me, for that quality "would render odious the moll: amiable perfon in the world. In thefe words I then fpoke the reality of my thoughts, as being ignorant of my future delHny : and Amalaric fmiling to himfelf, having heard what I faid i " As for Genfelaric, Silkr, faid he, I may excufe you : '' and (hould you not much afTefS Rambaud; I fhould not much oppofe you : but if Amb/o- " mer had a difccnt equal to theirs ; I cannot fancy you could hate him, bccaufe he had an af- "fedtion for you. * I know not, replyed I, what I (hould do, nor is it ncceffary I fliould.; " fince that /4w^w»jfr can neither become a Prince, nor hath any affefftion forme. "The "one might more eafily happen than the other, anfwered Amalaric, and I could wift that in " acknowledgment of our obligations unto him, it were as ealie for me to make him a Prince '*as for you to give hiin an affedtion. *' You ice too much conceited of my power, replyed *''Ito him, but all the world is not of your opinion : for a foul like Ambiomer\ cannot be fo " eafily vanquifticd as anothers might be. Ambiomer approached us whiifi; we were thus dif- courfing of him though vpith much lefs boldnefs than the others, as a Perfon timorous of bfi- ing wanting in his refpedts by interrupting our converfe. Amalaric prefently aflTurcd him, that his company could not but be always very grateful to us, and a while attcr feeing that rio body over heard us ■■, "Sifter, (faid he fmilingly to me) Ambiomer is too much our friend " not to be admitted into our familiarity, and there is no perfon you can betteil advife with, " upon the choice you may make of Kambdud ox Genfelaric. Thefe words with thofe he *' fpoke before of Ambiomer created a bliifh, but the vermilion which appeared in my cheeks "was little confiderable, 111 comparifon of the change you might have obferved in Am- biomer' s : which in effedt was fuch, that the Prince my brother could not abftain from "asking him whether he were indifpofed. Henotwithlianding very quickly recovered himfelf, but as neither he nor I had anfwcred fo vihzi Amalaric had fpoken to me : "What (continued he, addreff/ng himfelf to Ambio- " mer^ would you not counfel my Sifter, if you found her at a lofs which of thefe two Prin- ' ces to prefer ; It is not my Lord from wf.faid Amh\or[\CT.jhat the Frincefi upon fuch an occa- jion would take counfel ; for I believe either the King's or yottrs ipould be fufficient : But ifffj? did me the honour to demand my judgment, concerning thofe Princes merits ■■, Ifl.'ould with fincerity declare it, " Do us then the favour if you pleafe, replyed Amalaric, for if flie dare not make "you that demand, 1 will requeft it for her. "I Hud, faid Ambiomer, that both the one " and the other have much of merit, but neither fufticiently defer ving to render them worthy •^ oi Amalazontha. He accompanied thefe words v/ith an adtion fo full of concern and paf- llon, that might eafily make'me judge he had an intereft himfelf. But although they flat- tered me, I could not abftain from hearing him with delight : And looking on him very favourably »" Either you have, faid 7,to() good an opinion of me, or a very bad one uf thofe "two Princes : or elfe you will make me believe that you love not Kamhaud, and that you "ftill cherifh fome refentment againft Genfelaric for thofe evils lie did us. " As -for K.aw- " baud, replyed Ambiomer, I know him not fufficien'ciy either to love or hate : and for Gf«-., ''^felaric, I ceafed to hate him, when he ceafed to be your Enemy. But neither hatred nor "any refentment could hinder me from doing them juftice : and mcthinks to judge^them K ^' *unwbrth'7 all tell you. Madam, I begin to day to do that I never did in all my life, to complain of fortune, that jhe did not caufe me to be born a Prince. Ton have fo many a- ther advantages, f faid I to him, feeing that none liftened unto us J that you may eafily com' fort your felf for that defeU, for you well k>totp, that fern perfont in the world have fo much ejieem and glory in the world as your fclf. lM«/>/?,replyed Ambiomer, that there art Trinces of fo fmall a merit, that all things confidered,! never wiflj'd till now to refemble them,bHt becatife they have the advantages of jpea^ng, when others mult be modefily filent, and ofexprejfingallthat lies upon their hearts, when others are obliged to dijfemble it \ I confef! that 1 envy their con- dition. Although thefe words might have much informed *me, I then made no refledion on them, but anfwering Ambiomer according to the real efteem I had for him ; And what can vouhave to dijfemble, faid I to him, in a place where you have all acquired by your merit^ and by your fervices, and where you can defire nothing, but what you may be affured of obtain- ing. I defire then, faid he, if you will permit me to be for this day filent, if you pleafe tg do me the favour, not^ oblige me to a farther difcovery. Thefe words followed by fome fighs, and the palGona^ behaviour which attended them, ought perhaps to have made me have known what he concealed from me, as much as the greafeft demonftrations could have done, and really I cheridi'd a kind of fufpicion in my thoughts, but it was not fuffici- cntly ftspng to convince them, yet it hindred me from prelling him any farther. At di- vers other times he deported himfelf after the fame rate, and might have made me perhaps fufficiently know the love he had for me, if I had been dcfirous of that knowledge » but as 1 both avoided and feared it, I did not dive into thofc things which might prove the caufe of my difcontent, irritating me againft a perfon to whom I owed fo much, and for whom I had fo great an efteem. In the mean time, both what he fuffered, and the violence he impofed upon l.imfelf fo conceal the caufe of his fufferings, wrought their effect as well upon his Body, as on his tnind, and you might perceive his countenance to wax paler, and his health fo impair. The K./ng who was therewith exceilively afflided, demanded of him every day the caufe, the like did Amalaric *, but neither could learn it from his mouth, though both had poflibly very great fufpicion thereof : and whilft they perplex'd thcmfclves, and that all the Court interefted themfelves in their griefs, through the high confideration they had oi Am- biomer. Genfelaric and Kambaud who hated him, and viewed all his Adlions with envy, rejoyced in their Souls, although their fear to difpleafe the King, hindred them from tefli- fying it publickly ; and taking their time whilll his indiipohtion, and the weaknefs it caufcd, difabled him from being a party in their Divertifements, in which he was always accuftomed to eclipfe them •, they made many in which they did (hew ( in emulation of each other ) tr.uch Magnificence and Addrcfs. Ambiomer beheld them with much difcon- tent, though he found fome comfort in the little effcd they wrought in my foul to theic advantage. But one day he had much ado to fupport their arrogance, in a kind of Tour- nament that they made in the great Piazza before the Palace, as it is now much in ufc in the world. They had obliged all Knights of the greateft ability fobe at the match ■■, and Amalaric would likewifehave made one, but they had entreated him to difpenfe with if, and to permit them for that day an honour which they would not difputc againft hitn. They were entred upon the place mounted upon very ftately Horfes, and clad in very glo- rious and coftly Armour, with devices fuitable to their dciign, and the name of Amala. zontha deciphered in their Imprefs : They had broken many Lances upon each other with- out any confiderable advantage, and in Hne, by a mutual confent, they forbare to tilt at each other, and had placed themfelves in the lifts," with delign to maintain it that day againft all the Knights of the Court ; and really as they had Addrefs, Force and Valour, they had acquir'd honour by tnany fair Courfcs, for no Knight had prefented himfelf which they had not born from his Horfe. I was at the wihdow of the Palace, with the principal Ladies of the Court i and that day alfo Ambiomer , who bore in his countenance the charafters of his languiftiment, had taken his place behind mc, which he took as often as he could, for the advantage it always gave him to fpcak fomctimes in my ear, without being heard of the company. As he faw all that pafs'd in the place, and heard the peoples acclamations for the fine courfes of the two Princes, he from time to time enquired foftly of me my judgment concerning them, and when in fine he faw the two Princes had almoft beaten down all the funnq^ian Knights, and that fwclled with the pride of their fuccefs, they rode about the place with an infupportable arrogance i and that at the . beginning Book itl. THARAMOND. 79 beginning of each courfe they turned thcmfclves towards the Windov/ vvlicrcl was, and by bowing down of their heads implor'd my favours : putting iiis Lips to my Ear, as he had ahcady divers times done i h it mt true Madani^ faid he, that you divertife yaur felf admi'- rably n>ell, and that you look^whh much ]ny npnn the fine courfes of thrfe fn' I difcovcred it to none : and continued in the mean time gazing upon what paf- fcd in the Piazza, expefting what was to fucceed upon Ambiomer's departure. The atten- dance was not fo long as I expedted, for as he lodged in the Palace and required but little time to go to his Apartment to Arm himfelf : and that from thence he had a back pair of Stairs, by which he might defcend without being perceived. Ifpycdhim much fooncr than I expeded, enter the Piazza, mounted upon one of tiie gaUantelf Korfcs in the world, and clad in Armour neither lefs beautiful nor Icfs rich than thofe o( Kambakd and Cenfclaric. The Mejeftick deportment he had on horfeback, rendred him remarkable to all, though fas I believe) he was known to none, but through a jealoufie I had of his detlgn, I eafily dif- covered him : And though 1 expedted from his valour fome change in the two Princes for- tunes, I feared that by the feeblcnefs which then appeared in him, his ftrength was too much impair'd reproduce ihofe brave cfFedts which we might have expeded from him in a better condition. The two Princes gazed on him very earnelUy, as well for the beauty of his {ki-> ture, as the richnefs of his Armour, but as they believed (hat fortune which had been all day fo favourable to theth, would not at night forfake them. They had not the leaft fufpicion it was Ambiomer, and they faw Amalaric at one of the Windows, fo that they refolved to ftand him in the fame manner as they had flood the others : and Kambaud being advanc'd to run the firrt, with hopes to fpare his Companion the labour, placed himfelf over againft him as he had done in the former courfe : and covering himfelf with his Shield, parted at the accuftomed hi^ual. The Courfe was gallant but the fuccefs was not fortunate to the op- ponent, for Ambiomer thruft him with fiicii a force, that he raifed him from his Saddle, fo that he tumbled over the Grouper of his Horfe. This fall raifed a great (hout through all the multitude, and fo much the more bccaufe /^wj^iower performed his Carrier, witMout be- ing in the lealt moved in his faddle, where he fate like a Rock. And the King and Amalaric looking on each other, aud at the fame time carting their eyes upon me, (eemed to demand who this Knight fliould be that had fo well abated the Pride of the Prince of the Frifons : But whilll he was riling by the allillance of his Squires, fo bruifed that he could fcarccly keep himfelf upon his legs, Genfelaric had taken his place, but he took it with lefs confidence than he had beiorc the fall of his companion : and arming himfelf with a tlrong Lance he ran againft Ambiomer, but his tortune was nothing more favourable than his Companion's, for without having iHrred his Enemy, he and his Steed were both overthrown, fo that his horfe rowled over and over divers times with him upon the Sand. After thefe two brave ftrokes, the Conquerour not fceking any glory from the other Knights, went prefently out of the lilh, and fpurring Iiis Hoife he Hole himfelf by his fwiftnefs from our light, and from the pur- fuit ot thofe wliohad adelign to know him i and by a Compafs he fetched coming to a back gate of the Palace, he palFed without being known amidft the huddle of Knights whicii were that day armed, and returned with an admirable diligence to his Apartment. This event fo little conformable to the two Princes expedations, was that night the whole ditcourfe of the Court : but they did not villt me as they were wont, cither through a re- fcntmcnt of the difpleafurc they iiad received, or through the incommodity their falls migiit n-iake them tccl ■■, they (pent that nigiit between tiicmfelves without being feen to any. All the Court was in my Apartment with the King and Amalaric, and Ambiomer alfocamc thi- i\Kr. -The King, the Prince and divers otliers had great fufpicion of him, as well becauf* fhey had oblcived his ftature, wliicli was no ways common to other perfons, as for that they believed few perfons able to perform what he had done ; But by reafon he was fe^n al- 8o PHARAMOND. Part V. moft all that day at the window, and that they could not think him prepared for that adion, they knew not what judgment they ought to make. The King and the Prince prefled hin> fufficiently to know the truth, and he defended himfelf fo well, as to take away a part of the fufpicion they had contracted. But as for my felf, when I fpoke to him at the end of my Chamber where I drew him, that we might not be over heard , Madam, faid he, n^hofo- ever you canfitfpeci io have humbled the pride of Genfelaric and Rambaud, lean ajfure you he only did it to pleafe you : and he tviU be very unfortunate if he have net fucceeded m hit defign. He if certainly therein very fitccefsfttl, replyedl to him, or rather, kmhiQmei, you have been fo, for tome you cannot makf it a fecret. If thit aSionhath dijpleas''dyou, faid he, I may well conceal it, but if itwere not dij^leafingunto you, I will confej! that it gave me Jome contentment, lou have then no friendjhip, replyed I fmilingly, to thofe perfons that love me. If they are un- fortunate Creplyed he blufhing) or if they fuffer through rejpect their misfortunes without ^eal^ ing, they may create apity in me : But if fortunate, and that their good fortune render them in- folent, it would be difficult for me to love them. Jajjarf jio« Ambiomer (faid I tohim)_yo« may either love 'or pity tbefe, for they have no fortune in their love, which may merit your diflih^, "they have the advantage, replyed he, of difcovering what they feel unto you, and to tell you dai- ly they dye for love of you : and thit happinefis not fo flight, but it may make them envied by thofe that arelefl happy. Thefe words which he pronounced with a mortal languirtiment, made me fufped fomewhat, and therefore being willing to turn the difcourfe, If that happmefi, faid I, had made them proud, lam confident that the accident which thk day befel them, hath fufficiently humbled them : and that for Come time they wiV neither return to the Lifts, nor be fa confident as to brag much, lou fee I was not ill advijed, to takf the way I did to bring down their pride, fori could not believe that victory which had accompanied you in all your Combats, would this day abandon you. Tou will makf me proud of my office (faid he with a forced fmilej but although it were true that 1 had fome fortune in the war, Ikflow too well that in all things elfe, I am the mofr unfortunate of Men. He fpoke in this manner, and was about perhaps to have difcover'd himfelf farther, when Amalaric approached us : and his fufpicion being augment- ed by the fecret difcourfe we held together i he prefled me in fuch fort before Ambiemer to make me confefs what I knew, that at lal) my countenance betraid me, and Amalarie having promifed to keep counfel, I confefled the truth, and Ambiomer confented to it not caring to conceal it, but through Modclly and no other confideration. Nor did Amalaric keep his promife not judging it neceflary,and incontinently after having informed the King,who kept the fecret no more than he, although he knew that both the Princes could not but be much difcontented at it : fo that in a (hort time it was known to the Company and confequently by all the Court. As Ambiomer was the perfon they adored, both for the good he had done us and for his own virtue, the whole Kingdom received this news with an exceffive joy, and "the Knights which had been born down by "Rambaud and Genfelaric, were fo fatisfied to un- derhand that it was he that had reveng'd their quarrel, that tliey could not abftain from ma- nifefting their thanks in publick to him. The two Princes knew it that fame night, and though the misfortune which had befall'n them, was no new thing among Knights that would venture, and that for the renown oi Ambiomer, they had no great rcafon to afflid themfelvcs,but rather to be glad that they were not vanqui(h'd by any perfon of lefs reputati- on ; yet the envy' which they bore him obftruded this confolation ; and the grudge they had againft him. in fuch fort augmented their refentment, that if they had not feared to exafpe- late the King, and happily to encounter fo valiant an Rnemy •, they had made it appear by fome marks of violence. They could not neverthelefs fo well diflemble it, but the next morning in the King's prefence, it appeared in their Faces to tlie view o( Ambiomer ■■, although they ufed a great violence upon themfelves to hinder it, and that they endeavour- ed to fupport cheerfully that little difgrace : and they believed themfelves obliged to fpcak the Hrft thereof, to take away the (hame which appeared in their looks. Genfelaric addref- fing himfelf the tirll to Ambiomer before the King, As you had formerly been a ViBor over me, laid he, you might have rejied fatisfied with that honour, without feeking another leff important conquejl, in which as well as in the former, fortune perhaps had herjhare. I confeji, replyed Am- biomer, that (he hath her part in all things, and thofe to whomjhe never gave viaery, are poffibly indebted to her for advantages they enjoy, not by vertue of their own merits, jbe advantage of Birth, proudly added 'Rambaud, are neither the children of merit nor fortune : Audit if not happily contemptible, fince fo valiant a'pe'fou as your felf dothjiil! owe it a kind of refpeS. My defcent U not Royal, anfwered Ambiom.er, though it be fuffciently noble not tojhame me: and I here render you without regret the reff>eU 1 can owe to yours. But (fmartly continued he) rvben I have my Arms in. my hand I rejpedfew per fans : and Ifljould cherifi) a better opinion of you in that condition, if you could force me to reff>e£iyou. Rambaud was going to reply, and doubtklly this Book III. FHARAMOND. 8i t his difcourfe had not ended but in fomc difordcr, had it been maintained in any other place than before thcKing,whohindred the fatal confcquencc,and veryll.arply ^{{nxcAllanihjudihzt his proceedings were no ways pleafmg to Iiim, and tliat from a perfon fucli as Ambiomer, few Princes could exadtarefpeA wiiich he would not willingly tender. He ncvcrUulcfs apr peafcd all things fo well, that through the refpcd they bore him they proceeded no farther. And whatever rcfentmcnts the two Princes had againll Ambinmer^ they made no Akw of ir. It Hkewife appeared to have been fmothcr'd for fome days after, till their hopes were rcani- inatcd by the Arrival of their Father's AmbalTadours, who at the fame time came to our Court to demand me of the King, with all thole Ceremonies that are ufed upon fuch occali- ons. It was for my happinefs that tiiey almoll arrived the fame day, that for tlie reafon which I have told you in this jundure of time, the King might find a way to fufpend his refolution i which after fucceeded according to my defires ; for although he gave to the Am- bafladouis favourable audience,and affurcd them that their Mailers intentions did him a great honours he gave them neverthelefs equally to underftand, that the prefent ftate of his af- tuxs would not permit him to refol ve fo readily, which of the two Princes he ought to pre- fer, not being willing (if it were pollible} either to irritate the one or the other ; and think- ing it better to wait fome more convenient time or change that might happen to give hinn a greater liberty. And when that Kambattd (difcourling upon this lubjc(ft) told him that he ought to put fome difference between an Ally, and a friend that entrcd intcj his Domini- ons to fuccour him, and a cruel Enemy who came thither to ruine him, and had flied whole Rivers of his Peoples blood. The King told him that this fame Enemy who had brought him fo near his ruine, might again reduce him to the fame condition, if he fliould force liim; to renew theVVar,or if he did not put himfelf in a better pollure to fuftain ic,than he conceiv'd himfelf at prefent to be in. And when Gf«/>/jr/c reprtfented the interelt he had to con- ferve the Alliance, which he had made with fuch a Neighbour as the King of the Saxoni^ to the prejudice of a Prince, whofe Territories were fo diftant from his, who could neither dlohim injury nor artift him. The Kinganfwered him that he could not (without expofing himfelf to the reproach of the World) make an Enemy of a King who was his Friend and Ally, and who had fent his Forces and his Son to his relief, and that it was neceilary before herefolved tomakeufe of fuch expedients as the prefent time did not afford. In this manner he delayed them, without either granting or refuting what they demand- ed, and expeded in etfed both time and occafion to take his refolution. Ambiomer , whofe counfel he took in all things, and whom he refpeded for his virtue as a miracle, confirmed him in this defign, and dayly reprefented to him, that he ought not to be precipitate in an affair of this importance, upon which, both the repofe of his life, and that of his peo- ple might have dependence : but by the prelfing importunity of the two Princes the trou- ble of his mind increafed, and fo much the more, by reafon he believed, that the fear of the Saxons power was more prevalent upon the King's Spirit, than the memory of the ob- ligation he had to the Frifon \ and that he would in fine permit himfelf to be fwayed on that fide, though his inclination lefs favoured the Saxon than the other, and that this fear might determine his irrefolution, in which he found all his fafety. I tell it you bccaufe he made me underftand it himfelf, and his confidence being augmented by the diffurbance, of his thoughts, it became at laft Ihong enough to make him break that (ilencc, which till then he had impofed on his affedions. He one day accompanied me to walk in one of the Gardens of our Palace, and as really there was no company there that was fo acceptable to me as his, I was content to give him my hand in walking, to entertain my fclf more par- ticularly with him, than with other perfons that wearied me ■-, for this reafon we walked at fomc diflance from the rell of the company, whicii was then only compofed of perfons which durft not interrupt usi and we were walking in the large walks upon the Bank of the River Elbe, when he difcovered the fufpicion he had, that the King's fear of the Arms of the.9i»xo«T, would at lal^ perfwade him to declare for Gf??/?/jric, and that the confidera- tion he had tor the Fr//o«, was not fufficiently prevalent to keep him lledfaft in his irrefo- lution i and having made me this difcovery with all the marks of a terrible difquiet^5^<«JZ I be fo unfortunate^ added he very fadly, to fee you the prey of a perfon, who fl^au have- gained by Iron and Bloody that rAj'ich the fervicex of a thoiifand Princes equal to himfelf could never merit ? And did 1 wtfortunstely (^ive him his life in the B.-tttel^ to mak^ him triumph o- ver another much better th an hh , though much leji happy? Ah! Wherefore am I not permit~ ted tortnem the war with him upon this quarrel f Ihen Jhould he fee^ whether the p'jpjjion of Amalazontha oH?ht to be the prey of a Barbarian. Thefe words which he uttered with a be-i haviourfhe moft palhonate in the world, revived fome fufpicions in my Soul, whicli I had endeavoured to fmother ; yet neverthelefs, llriving once mor'; to difpcl them, n'offjfaid i fo L V ■ hJni, 82 FHARAMOND. Fart V. him, tha.t you tviU never- fee thif nmfortme which your fr'tendfljtp makes you fear xvill befal me j for I have too much confidence in the bounty the King bath tejiijied to me, and hath parti' cularly promis''d me in th'vs very affair^ to believe he would render me fo miferably unfortunate ai to tnarry me either to Genfelaric or Rambaud. But Madam, rcp]ytd Ambiomer, if the Kinghad commanded you to efpoufe one of the trpo, yoii would not difobey him. No certainly^ made I anfwer, for were they much more odious than either of them are to me, I would without murmuring!^ ejpoufe either, if the King had fo ordained it. Ah Madam, ( replyed Ambiomer looking upon me very ftedfallly ) permit me to tell you, that neither Rambaud, mr Genfela- ric are in my opinion odiotii to you i for if they were, yon would not fo easily refolve to embrace your mU fortune. I have no hatred for them, faid I to him, that obliges me to wijh them ill, but I have a fufficient averfon to their perfons, to believe that I cannot be but very unfortunate with either. But Madam, added he, w itpo^ble,the love they have for you can no ways change your inclinations, and that you can fo frmly prefene them again{l: Frinces that adore you. I beiieve, faid 1 fmilingly, that yours have changed within this minute, fir.ce that after you have appeared fo animated againfl them, you appear fo dijpnfed to jpeak^ in their favour. I Jhould acquit my felf iV^ replyed Ambiomer, had J undertaken it ; for they could not find in the whole world a perfon fo unfit as my felf, to do them fuch a kindnefi. But it is very difficult for me to believe, that by the dayly proofs of their love, they rviV not at length touch your heart i and that a faithful perfeverance jlwuld not chafe from yjur jpirit, the dijlike you have of their perfons. Tou believe it, faid I, without reafon, for it hath been fufficiently experimented^ that if the. perfon catmot touch us, the greateft proofs of love are fruitlefito obtain an affeUion. Alas, ( faid he, carting his eyes fuddenly to the earth j i^nd what could the unfortunate A,m- biomer then hope, if with fo much difadvantage he had the boldnefito love you, Thefe words ( though I ought perhaps to have expc^cd them from thofe that had preceded, and a thoufand other marks of Ambiomer''^ affedion J aftonilh'd me fo far, as to take from mc the liberty of a fudden reply •, but at length, to hinder him from explaining himfelf far- ther : hmh\oix\tx is too wife, faid I, to entertain fuch unreafonable thoughts, and had he en- tertained them, is too prudent to declare them to me. Ah Madam, faid he very readily, do not feek^rrifdom with love, and believe, if you pleafe, that there n no prudence which can dif- ftvade me from telling you, that I die for you. As Ambiomer was wholly abandoned to his Padion in fpeaking thefe words unto me, fo had I almoft given my felf a prey to anger in lidcning to them ; and I was fo dittafted to hear them from the lips of a Knight, born with- out other advantages than thofe he atchieved by his Sword, who believing that I ought not to endure them from any lefs than a King, and hardly from fuch i that by his injury he al- moft blotted from my mind,the memory of all thatlovved to the great fervices he had rendred us, and all the elleem that I had for his Merit. In effedt he appeared quite altered to mc in a moment, and conlldering him much lefs as a Perfon that had done fo much for us, than as a perfon that had cruelly offended me , I pondcr'd in my mind upon many different refolu- tions which my refiintments infus'd into it : and in fine with much difficulty moderating my palfion > "I could not have believed, /j/^ I, that the efteem and acknomledgments 1 gave '• to your Merits and Services, could have made you forfeit the refpcd: that you owe to me, " In tiie perfon of one to whom we were lefs obliged, I knew how to punilh this boldnefs " as it deferv'd : and in the mean time I prohibit you from ever more declaring it, if you de- " lire not that I Ihould hate you, as much as ever I elkemed you. As I did not call my eyes upon Ambiomer\ face in fpeaking thefe words, I could not obfcrve the effedt they produc'd ; But a while after I judged it by his words i for breaking that lilence which for fome time he obferved > " I confefs Madam, faid he, that my rartmefs is worthy of punlfhment, but it '' was not voluntary ; for after I had long fulTered, I fpoke, compelled by a violence which ''acknowkdgetii no Empire. I fhall without the leaft murmureobey what you haveordain- "cd me,or elfedye if it be not podible to obey you." I would uoi,replyed l,i[\zx. you fhould " dye, but I would have you either obey me or never more fee me. Concluding thefe words, to hinder his reply I ftayed for the Company that were walking behind us, and I am confident if they had obferved our faces, they might have perceived marks ot fufficient trou- ble, t'o make them judge thedifcourfe we had held together, was no ordinary conver- faiion. In truth Madam (faid the Frincefi Albillnda to Amalazontha interrupting her) your pro- ceedings were very rigorous, towards luch a perfon as you have reprefented him unto us, and to whom you owed fo much : and in my opinion the offence he committed, was no way fufficient to make you fo readily forget what you owed to his great fervices. It was irkfomc "enough to fuch a Princefs zsAmalazontha, (faid the ^een of the Cimbrians anfrcring to "/(7wfr joyned to fuch Royal dcfcerrt. " In the mean time, hcconverfcd with me as I had enjoyned him, and if his eyes and iicliurcs did more publifh the fecrct fentimcnts of his heart than 1 could have delired, his tongue at lealt obfcrvcd that filence which I had impofed upon him •, and when chance made us encounter alone, in places where no body could hear our difcourfc, tcaJl it chance t. 2 bccaufs' I 84 PHAKAMOND. Part V. becaufc t (liunn'd tliofe occalions, and that he did not feek them for fear of difpleaGrg me heonlyadcd by his looks what his tongue durfi not perform, not permitting one word to efcape his lips which might awaken my anger, or give me caufe to accufe him of the lead breach of that command I had impofed upon him : neither did he fpeak to me any more oiKambaud ot Gen fel'tric, for he entertained me with difcourfes where the lover of /ima- lazoHtha (hould have no intereft. If on his part he impofed a conftraint on himfdf, I did no lefs on mine, that I might converfe with him before the world, with the fame freedom I had formerly done > and this conftraint was neither fo ealie to the one, nor the other, but that divers perfons took notice thereof, znd Amahric in particular, who through a par- ticular friend(hip he had for mc, intereifing himfelf in all that concern'd me, obferved di- vers times that Ambiomer did no more accoft me, and fpoke to me always with great ap- pearances of fear ; and that what endeavours foever I ufed, I could not receive him as I had formerly done. AiToon as he had any fufpicicn of the truth, he tormented me to know it, and prcfs'd n.e in fine fo far, that through the confidence I had always in him, I could not abftain from imparting the fecret, and related to him word by word what had happened between me and Ambiomer -. Amalark was not unmindful of the great obligati- ons he had to him, and had that efteem for his great qualities which no body could deny him i but he entred into my fentiment, and like me was exafperated at Ambiomer's bold- nefs. 1 confefi^ ( faid he, (peaking of him ) tb^it if a Vrincely Birth rvere not poantijtg, be had fufficient merit to ajfire to aH things^ and that what he had done for tif^ was enough eottfi- derable to deferve great recommences j but he might find them in tbofe offers the King doyly 77iakeshim, if he had a reafonable ambition, for it if not at the expence of \m;ihzomhz xae ottghf to recompence h'n merit , though others had fuch intentions. Sifter, I conld not ftiffer it^ for yott (hall e^oitfe none teith my confem, beneath a King. He promifed m.e neverthclefs, to manifeft nothing hereof to Ambiomer, and that he would always feign an ignorance of his affedions-, and in effed he behaved himfelf to Ambiomer conformable to his promife, and changed nothing in appearance of his former manner of converfing with him, not being unwilling to appear ungrateful, nor difoblige a pcrfon, of whofe valour we might have fafficient ufe : but he difcovered the fecret to the King, and related to him word by word what I had told him. The King, who already doubted if as much as he, was much af- fiided, but by a motive ditferent from his, and he refented much more the trouble, which this palfion wrouglit upon the Soul of Ambiomer, than the offence he had committed. "• How unfortunate am 1 ? ( faid he to Amalaric ) and how will itafflid me, if I may not " in this occalion manifeft to Ambiomer the affedion my hearx bears him. I could wifti as "well as you that Amalazontha [hould efpoufe none but a King •, but Ambiomer outvz' " lues many Kings, and could I give him my Crown without depriving you of it, I would *' raife him with all my heart to that Dignity , not to abafe Amalazontha in giving " her to him. Look in the mear\J|me, you behave your felf towards him, as to aperfon " to whom you owe your Crowir and Liberty \ and pray to the Gods, you be rot le- "duced to the necellity of offering htm your Sifter. He could not fatisfie himfelf with fpeaking thefe words to Amalaric upon this fubjed i but he likewife fpoke thereof to roe, and teftihed fo much of efteem for /4w^/fl»ifr, fo much difpleafure that he could not do for him what he defivsd, and fo much caution to pveferve his amity, that k caufed me to fear, that his inclinations were more favourable to him than I defired. " I am not angry, faii '■'•he tome, that you liave a courage proportioned to your Birth, and that you affednotto " defcend from the Rank wherein Heaven hath feated you v but I defire you ftiould refpcd " virtue, and that you fatisfie your felf in notcfpoufing Ambiomer, without looking on the " love he hath for you as an injury ,or blemilh to your Honour:! hope that time and hisown "courage will free him from this palfion i and in the interim, remember both what he *' merits, and what we owe him, and rather liften to this remembrance, than to the coan- " fels of Amalaric^ in whom with much grief I perceive ingratitude. He accompanied thele words with divers others, which made me underftand that he was tenderly touch'd with the merit of Ambiomer, and if he changed any thing in his manner of treating vvitU him, it was in tertifying much more of atfedion to him, than he had done formerly, in fearching more occafions both to pleafe, and oblige him, and by endeavouring as a lick per- Ibn, to divert him by all thofc pleafures which he could procure him. In the meantime, either by the fmall care Amalaric had to conceal it, or by thofe marks Ambiomer gave againft his will, his love came to the knowledge of divers perfons, and in fine to the whole Court j yet had he the iiappinefs that none fpoke ill of his pretentions, but many on the contrary, would fay, that a perfon Wkc Ambiomer ought to be preferred betore a Kin^'. For Kamband indCenfelaric, they received the news thereof with an cxcctfive rage, and iiad Ihcvvn Book IV. PHARAMONR 85 fliewnjt muchmorc than they did, had they been lefs fcnfible of the dancer of offending (uch a perfon as Amhiomer, They had inltantly recourfc to mc, and as the rumour which fpreid it felf of Amhtomerh love, had augmented my rcfcntmcnt againft him, they profper- ed 111 the dclign they had to exafperate mc farther, although they met little fucccfs in the hope they might chcrifli ot advancing their own affairs. They like wife fpoke to me many times in a double fence before him, but without daring fully to explain tliemfclves \ and. in fine, they gave him by divers adions to underltand, that they were not ignorant of what he endeavoured to conceal from the whole world, when he found they had attain'd this knowledge, he foon grew carekfs of diflcmbling it, and believing it a kind of cowar- dife to conftrain himfelf for fuch Rivals, he contented himfclf with obeying the com- mand I had impofed upon him not to fpeak to me of his love, and gave the intereffcd per- fons occafion to believe all that the rumour of the Court, and their own jealoulies might perfwade tiiem. They then found it very difficult to hold their peace, when fit occafions prefented themfelves of (peaking, and principally before AmaUrict whom they knew lefs favourable to him than the King. And going with him one day to courfc a Stag, together with Amhiomer and divers others \ this Beali, which at all other times is by nature timorous, is, as they fay, furious and terrible when he comes to a Bay i and being near bis end, and reduced to that extremity, which is accullomed to give him courage, he turned head a- gainff the Huntfmen, and having overthrown fome with his Antler, and making, with his Head bended downwards ( as they fay it is his cuftom ) at the firff that ftood in his way, heconftrained Genfehrk and Kambaud to give him palTage, and to retire themfelves in a fufficient diforder, Amalaric likewife avoided his fury by keeping at a diffance, as they had done, only Amhinmer manfully fronted him, and kill'd him with two cuts of his Sword before their eyes. The three Princes abaffi'd to behold this adion of Amhiomer, look'd upon his hardinefs and good fuccefs with fome fiiame to themfelves : but Amalaric being lefs concern'd than thercff, and more.carelefsoflignalizing himfelf in his ownCoun* try than ffrangers, who would difplay all that might purchafe thcmeftcem, very readily recovered himfelf, and having prais'd iheadionof Amhiomer, as a perfon that bore him no envy. '' We muff confefs, faid he in courft, that the braveff Atchievments arc referved '■'■iot Amhiomer, and that he is not lefs hardy in the chafe, than in the jyar. "Ibelievehe " is fo in all, added Rambaud, for they fay he is not lefs bold in love, than in the chafe or " war. " Perhaps they fpeak but the truth, ( replyed Amhiomer ve^y fiercely ) and as a " man cannot make me flee in the war, nor a Stag in the chafe, T believe that a Rival can- " not fright me in love. "The boldnefs in love doth not confift, faid Genfelaric to him, *'in not fearing a Rival, but in having too afpiring thoughts, as yours feems to be. A'td your Rival may he fitch^ added Ramhaud, that yott may yield tn him rvithottt difiepntdtioH, fmce it if not valour alone that decides the competitnrlhip in frich dijputej. " whofoever this "Rival may be, »■?/>/)■£•tqiti(h'd, replyed tlie Saxon^ fljall yield her to hts Vanqni\her^ or rather the dead to the furvivor^ for I do not believe any of lu will a- bandon her hut ipith his life. In hnifhing thefe words he laid hold of his Sword, and (he Frifun at tlie fame time drawing his, tliey affaulted each other with an equal fury, and made terrible interchangeable pafies s but the twt) Troops fuddcniy joyning gave them no rime to purfue the particular Combat, and they were conlirain'd to ti^ht in a body with tlie relr, and to animate their men to vidrory both by voic^ and example : two men of each Troop had ftopp'd tlie Horfes of my Chariot, and guarded the Boots to hinder my getting our, whilif the reft where difputing for meat the price of their Blocd, and that 1 faw my fLlf niiferably deiigned to be the prey of the Vanquiflier. If I had aiflded Blood, I might have then received fome fatisfattion in (eeing it run fo plentifully from my common Ene- mies, and as I ought to detlre equally the deftrudion of both parties •, I might have wifli'd a defeat jto both, but the vidtory to neither i I am not fo well verfed in Combats to dif- courfe to you cffedually of this, nor todefcribe it at length i I fliall only tell you, that the padion which obliged the two Princes to combat, having an equal inftucncc on both par* ties', animated them in fuch fort, that in a (liort fpace you might perceive the earth cover- ed with dead bodies, and all floating with blood. As the two Princes well knew there was no other way but the fole path ot vittory which lead to my conqueft, (b they purfucd it with an unparallel'd fury, and I certainly law them perform againit each other, adtions worthy of a better occalion : but when they were molf furioufly blooded, and engaged in the Combat, and that the number ot their men were reduced to t le moiety of what they were, by the fame rode we held from Lepbane^ they perceived another Troop coming, and that it advanced with allfpeed towards them : fome of my women having difcovered it, advertifed me at the fame inftant, and calling my eyes on that fide, I difcovered it as before I had done the former, and inftantly believed they might arrive to our relief, whilft I was flattering my felf with this hope, Kamband (who of the two Princes difcovered it firft ) called to Genfelaric with a loud crye, and by his voice and adlion having obliged him to hearken to him : Behold there^ ( faid he to him, fliewing him the Troop that was coming) behold^ tvithout doubt Ambiomer i^ coming to deprive us of Aimihjomh^ : 'tis he "'tis he himfelfwho intends to take her from us both : let us joyntly turn our Arms upvtt this com- mon Enemy^ that he may nut thro:igh ottr diffemion triumph over us i and when a>e have vanguijh'd him ( if fortune pleafetn give us the victory ) rpe rvill frnifJj our difpute. G^'/j/^/iirie approved hispurpofe, and having given him to underftand fo much by a motion of his hand, and, the command he gave his men. The remainder of both parties reduced themfelves in an inftant into one Squadron, and joyning themfelves with as much union, as if they had ne- ver drawn each others blood, they ranged themfelves behind their Captains, who placed themfelves at their head, cxpedted their Enemies with a brave refolution, and with a refo- lution fo much the greater, by reafon they perceived when the diltancc permitted it, that they were not much weaker in number than they, and that they might apparently hope the vidtory. Rawtaa^ was no ways deceived when he judg'd it was /^w^/wwfr that the Gods had fent to our relief, for it was really he himfelf, who upon the abfence of the Princes and' their Trains, which both difappearcd at the fame time, having fufpedfed the delTgn, de- clared his jealoulie to the King , and mounting his Horfe at the fame inflant, with thofe men he found ready to follow him, without cxpcdting greater force, put himfelf upon the rode towards Bir/e with hfty or fixty Horfe i before he overtook us he met fome of my men, , who by informing him of all that had pafs'd, had animated him with a rage, which joyn- !ed to iiis great courage, madu him contemn thenumberot" his Enemies, and hope a vidfo- I ry over them- He was weaker almoli by one half than they, but belides that, his prefence 'more tortitied his party than their number could have done, a part of the Enemy were ei- ther wounded, or wearied in the former Combat, and thofe that followed him were men of another courage, and higher quality than thofe they were going to encounter : neither did lie fland to contlder one minute, but thundering upon them with a loud cry, he (hook in luchfort therefclutionsof the two Princes, that neither the one nor the other oppofed them- iclves to his encounter. They did wifely to avoid liim, for he that endured it felt the power of his Lance, which piercing through and through, appeared all bloody bcliind his' I 88 PHARAMOND, Part V. his (houlders : immediately after he drew his fword, and thrufiing himfelf in the midO of his enemies, with a fury which nothing could equalize i he deftroyed as many lives as he had given blows with his Sword. His great example animating his men, made them to fight with an admirable valour : ioiGenfelaric and R^w^jW quickly difcern'd that the ad- vantage of their number, gave them no affurance of the vidory. They laboured neverthelefs on their fides with a great deal of courage to obtain it, but va- liant as tlicy were, they did not feck to encounter Ambiomer^ nor were they difpleafed at the afFe(ftions of their Men, who placed themfelves before them to defend their lives from fo c- ininent a peril. Oh how many brave Adions did I fee performed in this occafion, by that valiant Perfon, which merit a recital which I muft confefs my felf uncapable to make you > and how often did I complain to heaven, for giving Birth to fuch a man as he in a Rank fo unequal to mine. I really bemoaned it as a misfortune as great for my felf as him, and a- " inongrt the prayers which I then made to.the Gods, the confideration of my intereft had not perhaps a greaterxpart than that of his fafety. In fine by endeavours prodigious, which would not eafily find belief could I relate them, he conftrained vidory to turn to his Party, but not without buying her with the greater part of his men, and a large (hare of his blood. He had lofl: much already by fome wounds he had received, which the ardor of the Combat perhaps hindred him trom feeling : when perceiving the trouble and diforder amongft his Enemies i amidil the braveft he forced his paflTage toGenfelaric:znd having got to him with a menacing cry, he charged him fo terribly that he made him in a few moments fee death before his eyes. Genfelark received him with a great deal of courage, and to the utmoljof his ftrength, contended for vidory : But it was much inferiour to Jmbiomer, for he faw his blood diftil upon his Armour from feveral wounds, and only hoped his fafety by fome defperate blow : when that Kamband^ who would have feen him perifh with joy at another time (but in this had turned all his hatred upon Ambiomer, whom he believed the happier) arrived to his fuccour, and palling behind Ambiomer^ thruft his Sword in his Flank : which through a default of Armour in that place, pafled into his Body. Amb'iomer felt the cruel wound, and turning towards him that gave it whom he knew at the fame inftant \ Bafe Cotvard, faid he to him, than hajl killed me hut thoujhalt dye for it : and in uttering thefe words, he forfook Genfelark, and made at Kambaud with fo terrible a blow, that the Frifon as va- liant as he was, felt a mortal Ague which congealed his courage, and not having the bold- nefs to meet him, retired affrighted amongft his men. when that the furious Ambiomer ma- king his way with his Sword againft all thofe Obftacles which oppofcd them v forced his paf- fage to him, or rather came thundering upon him like the Royal Eagle on his aftonifht Prey, and thrufting his Sword through his Vifer, that itpalTed to the other fide of his Helmet, he thereby threw him breathlefs bathed in a River of blood under the Horfcs heels. After thiS' revengeful ftroke, he turned himfelf to Genfelark, and with a menacing countenance, pto- nounced to him a deliiny parallel to Kambaud's : But the Saxon affrighted by the death of his Companion, and feeing his life at the point of the vidorious Sword i loft courage and was not aftianicd to feek his fafety in his flight. Ambknier (who felt himfelf dying by the great wound he had received) and whom thedefireof revenging his death had inflamd with an extraordinary rage, followed him a while with much heat : But his firength did notfe- cond his anger, for extinguifliing it felf with his blood which ran in great ftreams to the earth, he began to totter on his Horfe, and few moments after fell from his Saddle. Thofc tiiat remain'd of his men, having no more Enemies to combat, for that the death of Kam~ baud and the flight of Genfelark had quite diflipated them i ran to him, wounded with fear and half dead with grief: and (cafting themfelves on the earth) made a circle about him, and endeavoured to fuccour him by flopping the ftream of his blood, which was all that their affedions could infpire them. I had feen from my Chariot the fall of Ambiomer, and I faw it with all the refcntments that a high efteem and a juft acknowledgment could give me : and being no longer held by thofe Enemies which had before deprived me of the liberty of going forth of my Chariot- I quitted it with a grief that did no ways permit me to refent the joy of that relief I had re- ceived, and running with all my force, together with thofe perfons that were near me, to the place where our moft valiant defender was extended in a ftream of his own blood : I caufed the croud to give place that Was about him, and prcfcnted my felf to him, when he had fcarce left in him any remainder of fenfe or knowledge : Neverthelefs he had fome for me, and feeing mc near himi in a condition that might make him judge, that my foul was wounded with a real forrow ; he fecm'd touched with a kind of joy, which for fome mo- ments retained his remaining forces, for finding enough to fpeak to me with a more lively .pofture, than his weaknefs (in all appearance) could permit him> Madam^ faid he to me. Book IV. THARAMOND. .89 TiJii have prohibittd me from living to adore ynu^but mt from dying for your fcrvke andwithout difobeying y9ur command/, I have the happinefi unce more to tellyoit I dye for you. 1 hope ytne rvill mt receive thefe lafl words forfo great an injury as the former which IJpoke to you, and that if my boldne^ hath merited your anger, you rpiUgive we a pardon at my death, which I willin^/y fuffer for yott, Hc would have fpokcn more if I Iiad not oppofed it, through the knowledge I had of the endeavours he ufcd to (peak that, and looking on him with eyes in whicli he might read that I was not infcnlible of his misfortune i For the offence you committed, faid I to him, I did not require the reparation you have given me, for my anger was fufficiently appeaf- ed by the obedience you have teliijied : And I defire farther of you, if I have any power over your inclinations, and conjure you to live, by all the defiresyou have to pleafe or obey me, . If it werepof- fible I would obferve your «rders (replyed he with a faint voice) but inexorable death will take w notice of them, and I am happily mote obliged to him than to your pity, which only commands: me to live to render me mifcrable. Thefe lad words came from him with much difficulty, and feme moments after his face was entirely clothed with a mortal paleriefs, and his eyes do- ling themfelves, he remained in a Trance within the Arms of thofe that were labouring to flop his blood. I know not Sillers, what judgment you will make of the fentiments I had then for Ambiomer, but you may believe the truth, in believing that a perfon who had the moftof affedlionforhim, could nor have been touched at that time with a more real forrovv^ than my foul felt : And although I had nothing of love for Ambiomer, I Iiad fo large a know- ledge of his great merit, and in my heart fuch a refentment of his great fcrvices, and par- ticularly for this laft, which at the price of his life he had rendred me ■■, ■ that it was difficult for me to fee him in that condition he appeared to my eyes, without fuftlring all that for- row, which afflidion in her higheft cruelty can make us endure. I gave leave to the Zand- ers- by to judge as much by tears, which I did not fo much as reftrain from (bedding them- felves upon fo juft an occafion- Whilft a part of thofe that were employed in the helping of Ambiomer, were labouring to make him a Bier of fome branches they had cut with their Swords, to carry him more eafily to B«r/>, than could be done in the Chariot i the others had almoft finilhed the binding up his wounds, and particularly that he had received from Kambaud, which had pierced him almoft through i for the others were not very dangerous. In fine, both parties having Hnifhed their work, they put him upon the Bier, and every one driving with an unparallel'd atfedion to carry him, they raifed him foftly from the earth and fo marched with him a flow pace towards Birfe, after they had difpatched fome men' that were beft mourtted to Lephane^ to fetch the Ring's Chirurgions, and fuch others as were beft experimented in the prefervation of a life that ought to be fo dear to the T'uringi~ ens. Before we reached this houfe we encountred Amalaric, with a ftrong Troop which he btought to our relief: and if through the Amity he bore me, he particularly interefled him- f(flf in what had befall'n me i through a remembrance of what he owed Ambiomer, he con- fidercd the danger to which his life was reduced, with an extraordinary grief: But the King's (who arrived at Birfe about Sun-fet) was fo immoderate that he could not have evidenced a greater for the Prince's death, or lofs of his Kingdom : and when he perceived upon their countenances that fearched his wounds in his prefence, the little hope they had of his rco ve- ry, he abandoned himfelf to all thofe extremities of grief, that the molt violent forrow could produce in a heart which had no fuccour to oppole it : and he gave fuch evident marks thereof, as rendred all thofe that were near his Perfon, partakers of the fame afflicftion : Oh! "turingiens, did he, you lofe to day your valiant defender, and were you fenfible of the greatne^ of your loji, you would deplore it in tears of blood : Oh valiant hmh'iom&x, the glory of our age, and the ?roteUor of the weak^and opprejfed : Muji Heaven takf you from the unfof' tundte Eutharic with fo much cruelty, and is thu the reward you receive frem a King and King- dom, who had nothing great enough to offer yotl. He accompanied thefe words with many tears,and was fo folicious in caufing this illuflrious wounded perfon to be ferved with care, that themeanert perfon in his Court, or the moft affedidnate of the Gaules could not have done more. He appeared pretty well fatisrted of me, becaufe he knew by many Signs that I was really afflidted, but by reafon he fancied, there did not appear upon the face oi Ama- laric, fuch an excefs of grief as was due to fo great a misfortune i and that he had already fufpedcd in him fome ingratitude for his fervice, and envy to Ambiomer''/ glory \ he looked 'On hinvwith an eye enflamed, and could fcarce endure to fee him. Hc was not neverthe- fefs obliged to ttlUtie to many his difcontcnt upon the fame occafions, for befides the com- placence they had with his inclinations, the virtue of ^»ji/o»»fr joyned with the memory of what he had done for ihcfuringlens fafety, had link'd them to him with fo (trong an aifc- 6tion, that the danger which threatned his life, appeared as if it were the ruine of the Rc- publick, and through all the Court who ported to Birfe in great crouds, and amongll the jpeople at Lepbane, you might remark a defolation little different from that which appeared M' ' Whc?' <^o PHARAMONR Part V. when the City was reduced by the Saxort Army to its greateft extremity. The firft day they recovered Ambtomer out of" his fwoon, by the force of thofe remedies they had applyed, but permitted no perfon for the fpace of many others to vifit him, and he remained a long time without any hope of his recovery : But in fine, thofe skilful perfons that endeavour'd it, began to believe that it was not impollible that he might live, and a while after they told the King, that if the heavens affifted them, and that the wounded would lend a helping hand, they did not defpair of his recovery, iie that firrt carried this happy news to the King, knew the excefs of his joy by the magnificent prefent he received from him, and by the fame degrees as this hope augmented in his foul, you might (as it were) perceive him return from the grave, wherein this aiBidion before had plunged him. He had fent honou- rably back the body ofKambattdio the King of the Fr//o«/ his Father, and excufed him- felf to him for the misfortune, to which he had no ways contributed, and for which he en- treated him not to become an Enemy to a Prince fo innocent, and fo ancient an Ally : And at the fame time he had difpatch'd an Ambaffadour to the King of the Saxons, to complain to him of the injury and violent enterprife of his Son, and to entreat him not to uphold and fuftain his evil intentions. But the care and diligence he ufed like a fweet and peaceful Prince, to appeafe their refentments, did not fucced to his defires, for a while after he received but too large intelligence of what he fcar'd. In fine, after he had given much fear and afBi(3:ion, to all thofe that intereffed themfelves in the fafety of Ambtomer, the Gods were pleafed that they who laboured therein, had great- er reafon to hope than fear it, and by little and little all the fymptomes were fo favourable that they did not any longer forbear from affuring the King of his recovery, or at the leaft from telling him, that if he had no other wounds than thofe of his body, they would be refponfible for his life : but that they well perceived he had others in his mind, that gave them more fear, and which doubtlefly might hinder, or at beft retard his cure. As the King was fully perfwaded of the great love Ambtomer had for me, he no ways doubted but that was the inward wound which theVlihirurgions had difcovered, and that I was the perfon to whom he oughtito addrefshimfelf for remedy^fo likewife he performed it, rather like the fa- ther oi Ambiomer^xhiw of Amalazontha: and he made me eafily judge by his proceedings,that nothing was dearer to him than the life of this valiant perfon : Amalazontha, faid he to rne, if y OH love your Father, if you love your Country, orifyouloveyotirfelftpreferve, both for yaw (elf, for me, and for the Turingiens, the life of Ambiomer: andfmce that glory is refervtd to you, do not refufe it through an ingratitude, jvhich rviU be afcandal to yon over all the world. I entreat you, although I might command you, andpould 1 not defire it, yet yeu owe him too ma- ny obligations, not to be thereto dijpofed of your fe If IjhaV not only approve and countenance all that you Shall d,o for hU fufety, but Ifftall accept it as kjndly as if you did perform it for mine j and inlahouring for Piwhlomcx, you pojjibly labour for ours, and far the fafety of Taxin^ia, I te- ftified to the King that I was ready to obey his orders, and to contribute what on me de» pended to the recovery of Amhiomer, as far as became the breeding and honour I had to be born his daughter : and by reafon they already began to vilit Ambiomer, and that the day before I had vifited him my felf, in the company of the King and of Amalaric ; he com» manded me to go fee him alone, and that I (hould endeavour by a fweet and yielding con* verfe, to givehim a defire to live, and to baniih that melancholly which oppofed his reco- very.' Dear Silters, I obeyed him, and even without repugnancy, not having any thought in my heart which was not advantagious to Ambiomer, and made me regard him as a perfon that merited poffibly more than I was able to do for him : fo that being informed by his Phy- ficians, that he was in a condition to fee me and fpeak to me, without expofing himfelf to a new danger, I went that day to his Chamber, only accompanied by two Ladies who did not come near his bed, but left me alone- within The rails. He was no otherwife concerned in the vifit 1 made him with the King, except in the pleafure we naturally take fo fee the per- fons we love, for befides that he could not then fpeak to me before the King and Amalaric, he only had reafon to look on me as a perfon that accompanied the King, and not as a per- fon that came to vifit him :, but feeing me enter alone within the Rail, and feat my felf in a Chair by the fide of his bed without any other company ; he was fo moved and furprilcd that of a long time he could neither reply to thofe quelKons I made him, concerning the ftate of his health, nor thank me but with his eyes for the favour I did him, and for intere/Iing my felf fo far in the ptefervation of his Hie : But when the firft effedts of his p2»(Iions were difli- pated,gazing on me with eyeswhichtoo much explained what then was moving in his heart, and beginning his difcourfe with a trembling voice, much lefs perhaps through his weakness than the fear he had to difplcafe me : Ah Madam, faid he, is it poffible that you (Jwuld vrfii a tvretch that hath offended you, and who too well merited death, fince he hath dejerved your «Hger. He ftopp'd at thefe words, carting down his eyes fomewhat dejcdedly i and as I vifited Bo K IV. PHARAMO ND. ^i vifitcd him with a defign to perform all that was poffible for me towards his fatisfaftiori, looking on him with an eye that evidenced nc^hing of anger, 1 have already tejiified, faid I to him, thai I bad no longer a rejentment ac^ai>i\i you , for had not the offence you committed^ been repaired by your obedience^ there arc few crimes which the blood you have In^ in my de- fence could not wijh away. Would to the Gods^ faid he to me with a figh, that I had JfHt it all, and that through the rage of Heaven I did not find my felf refervedfor a life much mere cruel, than that favourable death to rvhich I had furrendred my felf. I neither vpotild have yott die^ faid I, nor do I defire your life (hould be miferable ■■, and as your virtue vrill alxpayr be a great part of your happinep, llikeivife aJJ'ure my felf you mil reji contented tp'.th what others can eoHtribute to it. Ah Madam, ( replyed he, lifting his eyes once more towards my face ) you k*io-a> too well that I cannot contribute to my happinefi, and if I feared not to irritate you oHce more, I would tell you But no, (added he after fome moments of filence } I will tell you no- thing, fsr it was only in dying that 1 was permitted to fpeal{. I had rather, faid I, hear you fiea^, than fee you die, for your death would be much more dijpleafing to me, than whatever you can j^eak^to me offenfwe ■■, live then Ambiomer,, if you have any defire to pleafe me, and be confident J jhall not ejieem my felf lefi obliged for thU proof of your obedience, than for thofe yoit have already given me, Alas, faid he to me with a figh, what impojfibilities you defire of me ? And how would you hdve me live, fince all that Jhould entertain my life is prehim. bitedme? I have obeyed you, M^idam, in thofe things that were po£jble, and I have had fuf- ficient power over my tongue, to confirain it to obferve that filence you commanded me, but my heart doth not ack>towledge the fame Empire ; and as I cannot reftrain it fiom adoring you even to death,it were but juji, that by the period of my life, I /hould avoid thU new occafion ofdijpleafing you. If you could do it at another price, replyed I to him, I (hould happily remain obliged: but at the price of your life which is offuch importance, and ought to be fo dear to us, t would not buy the greateji fatUfaUion \ although the thoughts you have for me were much more dijiafie- ful, there is feniething which I ought to endure fiom a perfon to whom we are fo highly obliged^ As it feemed to him by this difcourfe that I approved his love, and that I had reftored to him the liberty to fpeak of it, which I had before deprived him of, I thought I had fpoken very obligingly to him, and had he been in another condition, it had not been poffible for me to have told him fo much without blu(hing, or without (hamefacednefs, fo likewife did I obferve, or at leaft I believed to obferve in his eyes fome marks of joy which had not before appeared ; aftd fome moments after they appeared in his whole countenance, fo that with a voice more vigorous and chearful than ordinary i Ah, Madam, faid he tome, IwiUlive, fince I am permitted to adore you, and I jhall more willingly endeavour the confervation of my life^ for that I hope it will not be ufelefl to you, and that I fi^all have fuddenly an occafion to employ it in your fervice. He would have happily faid more (although I was careful not to let him fpend his fpirfts J if Amdlaric had not entred the Chamber ; and his laft words were but too much verified by the news which the King received that very day, of the great pre- parations that were making, both in Frifia, arid in the Saxons Country, for a new invafion of our Country, and at the fame time to deftroy Turingia, As the King before fufpedled it, he was lefs furprifed than at the former invafion '■> but neverthelefs he found himfelf much weakened by the loffes he had fuffered, and though he believed himfelf in a condition to fuftairi the power of one of thefe Kings, their united Forces gave him fome terrour, and made him reafonably fear the fuccefs of that war. He prepared notwithrtanding all things for our defence, with the beft order that was poffible, and Amalaric that very inflant departed from B/Vpto go to Lephane, and all other places where his prefence might be ricceiTary to advance the Levies of the Soldiers, and to make them labour with greater diligence about the Ammunitions and Fortifications of places. But as the greatcft hope of the King was in his valiant Defender, and that he fancied himfelf invincible , if the Gods did fufficiently advance his cure, to enable him to fight in his affirtance, he could not keep from him the news he ha'd received, although he endeavoured to conceal it through the fear he had to difquiet him ■■, and that very day he difcovered to him the whole intelligence he had received of the defign and power of their Enemies. Ambiomer ted'Aed to the King how much he fliared in his mis- fortunes, although fince the time that his health permitted him to reafon, and confider of things better than he had done during his ficknefs, he had a fore- fight in part of what was then cnfuing : arid though in effedt, he appeared afflided for thofe misfortunes which threatened 1'Hringia,^ud in particular for the King's afBidion v he let him know th^t his gtcated grief was to feel himfelf then in a condition, which might not permit him to give him that fuccour'he might exped from his valour. He notwithflanding believed, that he might be recovered, if not before that the Enemies had, entred Turingia, at leafi, bei- f(irb thty had made theiteln any confiderable progrefs, fi nee that Amalaric was in a copdition M a to 92 FHARAMOND. Part.V. to .repeland oppofe them with Forces fufficiently confiderable v and that through the'mis- foltune which had befallen him in the former war,he ought to be inftruded in the managing cf this after a better manner. He would neverthelefs in attending his recovery, put him- felf inapofture of ferving him better than with his own perfon, although the Kingcon- fidcred his peifon much beyond, the relief he might receive from^a great Army i and the next day he difpatch'd one of his Attendants in whom he had the greateft confidence, to the CattU, with all polGble diligence, to demand relief from his Friends, as for his proper quarrel, by informing them of the State wherein he was, and how far he was intcrefled in ours. He inftrudled him more, than in all appearance his health could permit him, con- cerning all he had to do, and charged him in particular to bring thofe Forces they gave him by Sea, and with them to affault the Frlfon or Saxen Countrey, as well, to make a diverfion, which could not be but very advantageous to us, as becaufe the length of the way, which the Troops had to travel by land, permitted him only to hope for a relief too late •, and that they were much near'er by Sea to our Enemies Countrys, than to T'uringia. After this ftrft he fent alfo others the day following, for fear of accidents by which one might be fiopp'd ; and as his cure advanced, he gave more ample inftrudlions to thofe he fent, touching his in- ,tentions i and in the interim, advifed and counfelled the King concerning the preparations fqr war, like a perlbn noways therein lefs intereffcd than himfelf : the King (through the great opinion lie had conceived of him ) fubmitted himfelf entirely to his counfels •-, and if he perceived a zeal in Amhjomer to hisinterefts, he evidenced no lefs kindhefs to him in all thofe things which might pleafe him or advance his cure-, and he even proceeded therein fo far, either through his acknowledgment, and the real efteem he had for him, or through his defire of preserving to himfelf a perfon whom he judged might be fo ufe- ful, that he no longer diflembled to him the defign he had to be favourable to him in his fove to me i and meeting me one day as he was coming from his chamber, Amalazontha, faid he to me, J come from feeing a mart who is much leji rvomided by the hurt he received from Kambaiid, than that you have given him^ but if you rvill follow my inclination^ be poiildnvt b,c lefi fortunate in the wound he hath received from hvs friend^ than in that which he hath fuffer' ^:,ed from the Arms of -our 'Enemies. lwi(Jf,my Lord^ replyed I, that he maybe guickjy heal- ed both of the one^ and the other, and it is the mo(l advantageous wifh I caa^ mal^ for him. Far the wound of his Body, replyed the King, , I hope the cure from Heaven, andthofe reme- dies applyed^ but for that of his Soul 1 have not the fame opinion, and perhaps you may he obliged to do more for him in that particular, than barely to wifrj his recovery. I fliaH ever do, replyed I to him, a)l that your Mqjel}y (hall order me ■, and I hope that you will always cherijh a remembrance nf the Honour that 1 have tn be your Vaughter. Tou may believe, faid he, that l:jhall never forget it ■■, but if 1 jJjould command my Vaughter to prefer Ambiomer before Kings ^ J fljouldnot believe that J did her aft injury. He only then fpoke thefe words as he left me, but the days following, and upon all occafions that prefented themfelves, he fpoke many j.othei^, which made me fear his intentions were more favourable for Ambiomer thzn I dc' ifireii and as I had nodehgn tomarryhim, although I had an extraordinary efteem for -jhim, and I may fay an affecSion which went beyond good wiflies, yet this opinion of the fling's intentions gave me really no fmall difquiet. 1 likewife knew tha^ he had fpokcn to ^/»/'/(jfKf r of it, and that though Ambiomer entertained his difcourfe with a great deal of humility, and an extraordinary modefty j he had manifefted to him, that the^e was no- thing fo great tq which his hopes might not pretend. , we were upon thefe difputes when the S axons. 2iffz\i]tci "Turingia, with an Army of fix- tythoufand men, under the cor\da(^o( Genfelaric-., and that we were informed, that the Frifons with a, power not much inferiour, had pafs'd the River Anife, and through the [Country of the lelTer BrnUeres had advanced as tar as Vifurgue, Amalaric was gone with a brave Army to encounter the Saxons, and the King had retained with himfelf fome Troops txi oppofe the Frifotis, Amalaric^ Army, ^condudted by a Prince that had Valour, might have itopp'd the impetuolity of the Saxons, by difputing their pafiages, and making a po- litick ufe of thofe advantages the Country gave him i but the Troops dcfigned to oppoff the Frifons, were,too weak to permit us to hope a happy fuccefs i and though by Ambiomer'^ counfcl tl>e King fent them before him to thofe places, where they might defend the palTage of-fomc Fvivers, \yhich were upon their way : he could have expedted little, iHie had not perceived /f»wt>?»/Mfr's recovery, c^il danced :beyond his hopes, fo that he found himfelt in a condition togo toLe/)/7jw, when the King was conflrained by the urgency ot his Atfairs, which did not permit iiim to remain longer at Birfe. In effed, we perceived him to re- cover his health and forces from day to day ■■, and divrrs perfons rather attributed this good cflfedt to the hopes whicii tiie King Iiad given him, than to the jfirduc of thf ifemedics ap- Book IV. P H A Fx^^JM N D. ^^ plyed; but notwitliftanding the impatience lie Iiad to be WtH, 'and.^it. t|}^/I^;j(l<,fiqyi Troops, his recovery was not fpctdy enough cooblirud the pregjefs ot -pur F-n"nics'> 8^4 by this means to render him more nccelTjry and coniidcrable to us, madf us Uill obliged to, him for our fafery ; tor atrer fomc cnnfiidis wliich Amalark had had wit^ ;ivMch v^lgur and a very equal fortune, he received a wound wiiich kept himalon^j time from his Sol- diers, and reduced him to a condition wholly uncapabiero thiqk on rhe ^odud of the Army, fothat Gew/J'/jric improving this advantage, preflld thc'iw/WjjjrK/fo h«ccly, tiut he conltrained them to give ground, and to quit thofc paffagcs, wliich till t!ien tbey had couragcoufly defended. After this the 5iixo«/ afTaul ted them witji fuch a fury, as rcndrcd thpfc Chiefs v/];i\eh commanded them in Amxlarich (lead, unable to fuflain the Brunt, fo tJiat befpre the IVinc€ was in a condition to mount his Horfe, he had received fudi great loflcs, it was impollible for him to keep the Field before the Saxour •, tor he was dayly conflraiiicd to;-etire, ojily in making good thofe Paffes which were moli advantageous, which hciWl defended wi^h much more courage than hopes ot vidtnry. Nor was fort.une in •our other war moje fa- vourable to us, for the Frifons had not only pafs'd the River Vifurgtce^ but many others ia defpite of thofe Troops the King had fent to oppofe them i but after they liad beaten them in divers encounters, by the advantage which their great number gave them, they bad foj' ced them to a diforderly retreat, and to quit all the Coun try from /''///rr^w^ to the Hive* Elhe to their fury , fothat dayly advancing without-any relllhncc capable to ftop them, thev marched dircdtly towards Lf/!/j?:»«e, tiireatening the whole Kingdom wjrhagcne-r ral dcfolation •, and the Saxont on the other tide, gaining always ground upon AmaUric drove him towards the City, and made us by all appearance believe that we fiiould within few days be enclofed between the two Armies, and reduced to oot laft extremities. But our fortune then decreed, not only that Amb'uimer thould believe himfelf in a CQndition to mount his Horfe, and to fight in our behalfs, ithough he was fufEciently weak, and indif- pofed enough to have difpenfed a much longer time withbimfelf, had he had kfs courage, oi Icfsaffedion i but by and by he underltood that the fuccours which he had demanded pt" theGaa//, were coming by Sea to our atfiftance, and that they were to arrive within few days at the mouth of th.e ]ilhe^ under the condu(S of Ci}lar and Vunnorix, two valiant CauJs^ that under him had acquired much reputation, and to whom the Lelgianr with an incredi- ble alTcdicfh had granted threcfcore Ships: he waslikcwife made acquainted that the-y kept the coart of Frifu, and the Country of the Cancbes ■■, and that before they came near the mouth of the Elbe tiiey cxpedled his orders, to know whether they ibould attacque the Saxons Country, according to his former intentions "» or whether they fliould come to him up the River, as they did formerly. Amhiomer raviQi'd with joy at this grateful news, and ch^n^ing ( through the then prelfing neceflity ) the deiign which he had had to make a a diverfion, which could not produce fofpeedy an eifedl as was necefTary for our relief, he fent to the Ga«// with all pofiiblc fpced, to make a (hew of alTaulting the -S^AiaMj Country, and to leave fome Ships near their Coafts to keep them in a continual Alarm, and to make with all the reft up the River, and to land on that fide which looks upon Vifurgxe^ and which was poiTefs'd by the f>//c)w/, hoping that Amahric for fome days more might withftand the ^-iJCOTj', who could riot joyn with the Fri/ow, by reafonof i\\tElbe which feparated them, dnd which was in that part of fuch a breadth and profundity, asrendred the pafTage impollible i and having chalked out the placeto them where they (hould land^ heput himfelf in aporture togo and meet them, and ioyning with thofe Forces which had been chafed by the Fr;/o«x, all thofe men he could find in Lephane capable of bearing AunSj and who in this urgent necellity rcfolved with too muc'n joy to follow fo famous a Captain, he formed a Body able to encounter all thofe Forces which the Frifms could oppofe, to hinder his joyning with the GhhU \ and affoon as he was in a condition to march, he re- folved to head them, and advance towards the place where his Gauls were to land, before thcFrifnis had made tJKmfelves Mafters of the Banks of the E/tf. It was then that the whole world lookM upon him once more as our Deliverer, and that tlie people following him with Acclamations which pierc'd the Heavens, and made him fufiiciently know that it was on him they built their utmoft hopes i but the King performed not kfs than tlie peo- ple, for not doubting that he was going to owe his Crowli once more to Ambkmer^ he made no difficutry of promifing him Amahzontha tor the price of his. Vidory : Ambiomer received his promife with a great deal of modefty, ard alTurcd the King thatlie would not abufe it, but he rcfufed not rlie performance v and this hope railing his courage, he marched to the Battel with fuch a confidence, aspromifed usbttorehand vidory > and cauling thofe Troops which were in the City to pafs the E/^Pover a Bridge, which for its Jargencfs was not 94 PHAKAMOND, Part V, riot much inferiour to that which 'trajak caufed to be made over the VaHabe •, he advance d with them to the place where he was to joyn with his Gmls, with the beft order and di- fcipline in the world. The length to which I (hould 'extend this recital, if I recounted particulars, which would not perhaps be the leaft grateful part of my difcourfe, would hinder me from re- peating the converfations I had with him before his departure-, and it is likewife certain, that not being willing to abufe that advantage which the King's promife had then given him over me, he fpoke to me lefs than ordinary, and did not mention the leart word which might make me judge that his hopes were augmented, either by the King's promife, or by the neceflity which we had of his relief j and when that the King embracing him before me, prayed him to go and fight, not only for the fafety of the T^uringiens^ and of their King, but for the conqueft of Amalazontha^ which (hould be his recompence, his face was covered all over with a blu(h, equal to that he might have obferved on mine i and cafting down his eyes through modefty, Jh, my Lard^ faid he to him, do not makf me hope a Glory vehich I k^ow my felf too much unworthy ofy and do not give fo great a caufe to the Princep to fray againji the pro^erity of our Arms. I remained with the Ring at Lephane, who by the coUnfel of Amhiomer was not to ab- fent himfelf from thence i and 1 remained in a perplexity, which I cannot otherwife cha- tader, than by telling you my fpirit was full of anxiety and difquiet, as well through the cftate wherein I perceived our Affairs, which cxpofed us either to the danger of lofing all, or to the neceflity of owing it once more to Ambiomer. It was not f as I before told you j but that I efteemed him above all other men , and that I had more favourable thoughts for him than thofe of efteem, or that we commonly call friendOiip -, but by the experience which I have fince made, that which I felt for him could not be properly called love, and without much love, I could not fee my felf reduced from thofe hopes I had always chc- rirti'd of cfpoufing a King without much regret. In fine, whether I had reafon on my fide, or through a pride which I ought not to cxcufe, and for which I happily with jufticc fuflfer this prefent puni(hment, I could not bend my mind to it, nor endure the thought of it without much grief, and at laft there wanted little in me of verifying the laft words of Ambiomer, for indeed I was not very real in the wiOies I ought to have made for the fuccefs of our Arms. But whatfoever my wifhes were, the fuccefs was greater, and more glorious for Ambio-^ mer, than any one durft to have hoped •, and to abreviate this difcourfe of the War, in the narration of which I am little skill'd, and whereof you have already learn'd- the moft im- portant events, I (hall only tell you, thst Ambiomer with the Forces which he condudJed, having in defpite of the refinance which the Frifeni ( who were farther advanced than the others ) could make, joyned with his Cauh i he faced them, and in divers conflicHis cut their firagling Troops in pieces i and in fine, by a (tratagem no ways inferiour to his va» lour, havirtg taken his advantage upon the pafs of a fmall River, which the Frifont victt to crofs to come to him, he not only defeated a part of their Army which was on his fide of the River, but after he had fodifabled themby thatlofs, believing himfelf fuffici- cntly (irong to fight the reft, he pa(red the River by night at fome diftance from that place where the Enemy lay encamped, and the next morning he gave them battel, and gained lb entire a vidory, that almoft their whole Army with their Commanders peri(h'd upon the place, for there were faved a very fmall number, which were after taken prifoners. After this famous vidory, he diredted his courfe towards Lephane^ where he came to pafs the ^Ibe to meet the Saxons, who had chafed and driven Amalaric even to the Gates of our City, It is moft true, that this Prince ( not being able without difguft, to fee all the braveft adions referved ht Ambiomer, and willing to have his (hare in the fafety of 7^«r/«- gia ) had adventured farthei than he ought, and by great lolTes had in fuch manner weak- ened himfelf, that one might conclude him utterly ruined, i( Ambiomer h^d not come to his relief. Upon his arrival the face of our Affairs was immediately changed •, for the name of ^OT&iowfr fo well known to the Saxons, ftruck them with fo much terrour, that they were content to put themfelves upon their defenllve pofture, without purfuing and pref» fing forward, as till then they had done; Bnt Ambiomer being confcious of their aftonifh- ment, confiding in the valour of his men, and deCrous to determine a war which ruined "iHringia, ftood not to difpute the giving them Battel, which Gf«/f/<«w not retufing, it proved fo bloody and terrible, that happily fuch inundations of blood were never fcen be- fore in the Fields of T«r;«5/j ^ znd Genfelaric^ who was refolved either to die or conquer, having loft his life in the Battel by Ambiomer, the greateft part of his Saxons found the I'ke dcftiny, either through their ftubbornnefs in continuing the Fight, or through the rage of Aifiataric, Book IV. P H A R J M N D. 95 Anijlaric who thoiight to revenge himfdf of the mifcliicfs tlicy had clone us, and deprive them of the means of invading our Territories for the future, without lilkning to the cki mency, which in their favour Ambiomer pcrfvvaded him to. In concluilon, the Saxonjzi^A^ tlie Frifjits were entirely defeated, and except the dead and the Prifoners, there rcmain'd oF neither fort in all Iwingia i and even the power of both the King's of thofe Nations wasfp weakned by this lofs, that the Saxon broiien by thofe others he had received from the Vancf^ fearing the Arms of his Conqucroufs, and the name of Ambiomer^ notwitbOanding the k-. fentments which he had for the lofs of his Son, made us of himfclf propofjtions of pc^ce : and the King of the Frtfuni who could not without much inconvcnicncy vva^e war agajrifl us, willingly confented, andfliottly after ratified it with the King of the 5dP:ff«/, thrpuel) the diligence of the C<»«c/>^x our common aflbciates, who had continued neuter dunng.th^ time of the war, and were now become mediators for this peace. ' ," The glorious Ambiomer was returned to Lephane with ^w^/jr/c, and asno one could doub,^ but that this fecond time as well as the firft, all "turingia wzs obliged to him for tJ]eir faftty^ and the King for his Crown, you may ju^ge tliat he was there received, not as a deliverer, butas the Tutelar Angel of our nation: and locked upon both by thcpeople and the Court; as fomething beyond a man, and raifed by a kind of divinity abovQ them. He excufe4 himfelf for refuting thofe honours they gave him, with an admirable mpdefiy : And as he was confcious that the gran'deur of his renown, and the acclamations of the people made ^wj/jr/c not a little afliam'd i fo he endeavoured to avoid his envy by oppoling himfelf a^' much as was pollible for him, to the effedi of the publick acknowledgments. He was dveri defirous to have the honour of the laft battel attributed to Amalaric, although none 'vyere ignorant that it was entirely his : and he advanced the Prince's aftions like a perfon who had' fuch a fupcrfluity of glory, that he might well (hare a part thereof to another. As for. my felf, I confefs that if his former aftions had touched me, thefc lafl gave tne much admirati- on, and that all his proceedings both in war and in.peace, had in fuch a manner charmed me, that t could not without confulion conlider the great repugnancy I had to give my felf to fuch a perfon. I faw my felf in the mean time appointed for him, for befides that the Ring was but too refolutely bent to keep the word he had given him, and that if he could havefpared him a Crown, he would moft gladly have given that alfo and his daughter to boot, even the people themfelves proclaimed aloud the neceflity of gmng^Amalazont^ba to Ambiomer, and to link for ever by that marriage fo great a perfon to the interells and defence of the iuringiens. The moft qualified perfons of the Court declared no lefs, and added thereto, that if Crowns were necelTary for Ambiomer to merit their Princefs, he might well hope to obtain them : and that with fo much valour and fuch brave friends as he had, there were few that remain'd in affurance to keep them, when he pleafed to affail them. Thefe difcourfes both of the people and of the nobility, exafperatcd the Spirit of Amalaric ; for he could not without an excefs of grief hear it faid, that the Kingdom which he was topof- fefs, had need of any other defender than himfelf. ife could not fo well dilfemble the difr like he had taken, but that it came to the cognizance of many perfons, and in fine to the King himfelf, who being therewith beyond patience moved, fpoke to him of it with a high refentment , and in fuch terms reproached his ingratitude , as ittade him very much afhamed of himfelf. Amalaric replycd to him very fmartly, and was not only content to let him underlland, that the necellity which the people impofed upon this marriage dilho- noured him : but that he could not without an extremity of grief, fee his Sifter efpoufed to a perfon (though never fo valiant) which was but a plain Knight. But the King with 4 great deal of fury interrupting him i Jf^itbout thk Knight, faid he to him, you and your Si- jier had both been in very had conditionx, lo have chofenyour Alliances; for few Kings tveuld have fojied to have married the daughter of a King without a Crown : I kttow not whether you have for- got that you owe it to Ambiomer, but the people cannot forget that they are bound to him for their fafety : and I am ajhamed to find in them as much of ackfiowledgment, ar there w of ingratitude in the foul of a Prince, In the mean time be confident, I will keep my word, and altbough I were not engaged by my word, to the performance of what Idefign to do, I difcem too much of advan- tage therein not to perform it. Thefe words giving more confulion to Amalaric, augmented the reludancy he had for this marriage, and that very day. being come to my Chamber, anife, for I am confident they tviJl never conjlrain you to ejponfe him. I may reafonably hope, faid I to him, that the King mil not ufe any open violence to me in thit oceafton, for I have found too much fweetnefi in his j}>irit, to let me fear thofe utmofi extremi~ ties: hut you knorp vphat my duty is ^ and may rveU judge that I (had want confidence to afpnfe my felf to the King's n>iJI, vehenhe (fjall explain it to me by an ahfulute command, 'there vs no diay^ replyed the Prince, rvbich obliges yau to do a mean adion, unworthy of your bloody and of your courage^ and happily another than your felf would appear more hardy in this occafien: But becaufe I wiU not expofeyoH to the King's anger ^ ("although it be not impo^iblefor me t o pelt er you froni it) 1 ctunfelyou to addrefi your felf to Ambiomer himfclf, for Ik>iow he hath fo much of rejjien for yoH, and fo great a fubmijjtonto your wiH, that if you declare to him your unwiUingnejito ejpoufi- him, and the misfortune you find in that condition for your felf , he will never exacl the performance 0f the King's word, What you fay, replyed I, may be true, and I had entertained this tbowbt before you difcovered yours : hut I kitovp noi in what manner to expref! fuch a cruel intention, to a. perfon to whom we arefo much bound. A man of Ambiomer's birth, replyed Amalaric, might fatisfie himfelf with recompences more proportionable to his fortitne, and the King hath many others to offer him, without facrificing his daughter to the ackpowledgments he hath for him. Hotvever itfucceed dear Sifter, attempt this way, if it he true that you will riot efpoufe Ambiomcf or if you refufe it, you mujlgive me leave to believe that you defire the marriage. To thefe words he afdded others fo urging, that, with the affiftance they received from the averfion that I fincerely had from a Marriage fo little proportionable to the Rank I might juftly hope, they made me refolve to execute all that he defired of me : and happily it was rather through my own ill fortune, than that of Ambiomer; that I permitted my felf to be vanquifhed by the influence which Amalaric had upon me. This refolution that he had inf ufed into me, might neverthelefs perhaps have been chafed from my fpirit, either by time or by the fight of the King, and a more abfolute explanation of his will v if by misfortune Ambiomer hid not entred my Chamber, a moment after Amalaric^s departure, and had not found me as yet wholly filled and taken up with thofe notions which he had left me. As'fince the return of Ambiomer from the entire defeat of our Enemies, all the Court haj believed that he was to efpoufe me, and that the King not concealing his intention from any, was willing that he (hould converfe with me,as a man appointed for my Husband might con- verfe i he might have ufed more liberty towards me than formerly, and have adcd with kCs refped through the advantage he had to be approved by the King. But he treated me after another manner, and in lieu of advancing himfelf by thefe advantages, he rather appeareci thereby more humbled, fo that he never prefented himfelf before me, but as a criminal who had gained the inclinations of the King more than I defired, and had opened to himfelf the. high way to a fortune much greater than I would confent to i fo likewife was he more cir- cumfpedi in his vifits than he had formerly been, he never fpoke to me but trembling,though elfewhere he always appeared the moft hardy of men, and always regulated his words in fuch a manner, as never gave me occafion to judge that he had conceived any hopes which might difpleafe me, and if he happened to manifeft more joy in his eyes than had formerly appear'd there, he chang'd in an inftant to a contrary conditions and rather accommodated his coun- tenance to his former fortune, than to that to which the intentions of the King had advanc'i him. He neverthelefs hoped the eifed of his promife, and he hoped it fo much the more, by reafon I had not publickly oppofed my felf to it : and that he might rather attribute the little inclination I icftified, to a natural feverity than to any particular averfion. He was not at all ignorant of the repugnancy that Amalaric had for this marriage, for he had difcernM it by too many marks, to permit him to doubt if,but although he found his foul exceffively oppreffed with grief, and perhaps with a juft refentment, the refpcd which he had for the King and me, obliged him to diflemble it : and he endeavoured to vanquiih the courage of /^wj/^r/c, by fubmilfion and patience i in lieu of making him remember what he, had done for him. That day he brought Cilair and Vunnorix to my Chamber, thofe two brave friends that had brought us our timely fuccour, to take their leaves of me, having deligned to march back the next morning with their Troopf?, and retire chemfelves amongll thtCaules. The King had retained them wilh him till the peace was fTgned, and Ambio- mer would not they (liould longer continue in a Country, that had already fufScicntly fuffer- cd by war : fo that the King permitted them to return after he had teftihed his acknowledg- ments, both to the Officers and Souldiers like a generous Prince, and full of virtue. Am- biomer being entred my Chamber, prefented me immediately thofe two illiiArious Gaulet^ and Book IV. VHAKAMOND. 9^ and after they had performed their civilities, like perfonsthat undcrftood thcmfclves.C?n they withdrew thcmfelves : and Am- i/oOTtfr intending to go out with them, Idefircdhim to ftay, and togo.with mc into my Clofet, whercl entred firft to oblige him to follow mc. As he was not accuftomed to re- ceive fuch like favours from me, this was immediately fufpicious to him, and he caufed thofe that remarked his vifagc, to judge that he expedlcd no good. 'Tistrue, that he might perceive on mine, a part of what he had to fear, and that notwithllanding theinfti- gitions of Amalarie^ and the pride which made me ad, 1 had no Icis repugnancy to perform this adion (which I looked upon as very unworthy) than to efpovife him : I ufed neverthc- lefs a violence to my felf to accomplifli it, fearing I fnould not have the fame means, where affairs were farther advanced, or when I had received more precife orders from the King, than thofe he had as then given me i and really it was not without fome violence, that I ren- dred my felf in a condition to execute the refolutions I had taken : for the Gods fakes dear Sifters, do not hate me for the difcourfe I am going to make you, ratiier bewail an unfor- tunate woman, who aded much lefs through ingratitude, than through theperfwafions of others, or through a dcftiny which guided her to her Misfortunes. ,,. Ambiomer and I had been very filent for fome time, and as their was an ill prefage for bim in mine, fo was there fomewhat in his of fatal and fad when I broke it i and in carting a look upon him, which my remorfe rendred fufficiently wavering, Ambiomer, faid I to him, after all that vehkhyou have tejHJied to we, may I not be permitted to believe, that I am really beloved by yott : I uttered thefe hrft words with much difficulty, and Ambiomer finding, it as hard to anfwer a demand fo little expeded, and fo little conformable to the difcourfes I was accuftomed to make him v "I know not Madam, (faid he to me at lali) in vyhat man-. " ner I ought to anfwer to what you demand, for I once found my felf fo unfortunate with '' having too much fpoke upon this fubjed, that I (hall never without trembling incurr the " fame danger. "You had not at that time, replyedltohim, the advantages that you now *' have, although we were then obliged to you for a part of what you have aded for us "and you may eafily perceive, that your fortune is not now limited to the fole liberty of " difcourfe, but fince you find fuch difficulty in it > I anfwer my felf for you, that you real- " ly love me,for I have received proofs fufficiently great, not to leave me any caufe to doubt ; " But if this be true, ought I not likewife to believe, that the rcpofe and happinefs of my life "are dear untoyou,and that you would not refufe to perform any thing that was pofliblc for "you to hinder me from being unhappy. " Yes Madam you ought to believe it, replyed Am- *' biomer, for if 1 had a thoufand lives to lofe, I would frankly facrifice them all to the leafl "occafion which might contribute to your happinefs. "'Ifitbefo, replyed I to him, Ihope •' you will not refufe what I defire of you,and hope from you through the fole confidence I " have in your vertue, for that only I fliall tell you : And I fliall tell vou as it is really in my *' hcart,that as you are the man of the world, in whom I have difcerned the highell merit > " fo are you likewife the perfon of the wotld,for whom I have conceived the greateft ef^eemi '' and that although I had loft the remembrance of what you have aded for us, I find you a. <' perfon worthy of a better fortune than that you can find in me. But in making you this. "confelfion of niy thoughts, it is likewife necefTary I (hould declare to you^ that all " the repugnancy you have difcerned in me towards love, is but an inconfiderable part to " the great ayerfion I have for marriage : and that though they gave me n God for aHusband, " I fhould cfteem my felf unfortunate. I believe ///w^iowfr, Ihavefafd enough, and that ■' although the felicity you propofe to your felf in marrying me, were a thoufand times great- "er in the reality, than it is in your imaginatioVi, you would not purchafe it at the ' price of all my happinefs, and of all the future repoie of nny life. I fliould doubtlefly o- ' bey the King if you will conftrain him to keep his promife, but you can have but very lit- ' tie fatisfadion in rendring a perfon you love extreamly miierable : and pcradventure you. 'cannot fee her unfortunate, without bearing fome (liarein her misfortunes. It isfor this '' tei(on Ambiomer, that I requeft of your virtue, and happily of your love it felf, thatyou 'fatisrie your felf with thofe other matks of acknowledgment that the King can give you,r ' without cjefiring he (hould facrifice unto you, the entire felicity of his daughter : and that ' by an Adion fo obliging and fo generous, you give mc the greateft proof that I can ever receive of your atfcdion. I fpoke in this manner, and might have fpoken yet much Ion--, ,cr, without fear of being interrupted, tlie grief and allonifhment of Ambiomer, having fp :ttered his tongu?, that of a long time he was not capable to anfwer me. His eyes never-^ helefs fupplyed the office of his tongue, for by the divers changes and alterations of his N countenance. I ^8 PHARAMONR Part V. countcnance,it was eafie to't>ei:c€ive that his Soul was feil'd with a tndrtal grief,and that had he not mainly ftruggled with himfelf, he had pollibly njanifefted more than he had a deflgn to thew. At laft beginning to fpeak though with much perplexity, and with a voice intet- fupted with many fighs i lu>asconfcioits, faid he, that I was too much anrvorthy of the fortune they made me hope : But you kpoa> Madam that I never demanded it, andfmce that I could not ■ merit it, they ufed a kind ef cruelty to flatter my hopes. He that noHriffoed them, replyed I to him, bath not changed hit fentiments for you-, and in lieu of approving my proceedings, J doubt not but it would expofe me to his anger, fhould it ever come to his kpowledge. IJhould be extreme- ly forry to expofe you to it, faid Ambiomer, for in tvhat manner foever you give me my death I ffoU never complain of you. NorfltaJl I complain of the King, being abfolutelj perfwaded that it is mt by bvi orders that my ruine is decreed-, but IJhaV complain of Amalaric, if you wiUgive taeleavetandifhe were net your Brother, I Jhottld makg him remember the condition wherein he was snd the condition be bad happily beeii in at this day, without thefuccour of that miferable perfou ■ be bath precipitated into dejpair. Madam, I well kftow that you ought not to.ejpouf* any but d great King, and I have not forgot that lam neither King nor Prince, but for my Birth it is fufficu entlyneble mttomakfme blujhatthe name of my Aneeftors : and for the Koyal dignity I had fojfibly hadfufficient courage and friends enough, mt to permit me to dejpair the atehieving it, if J bad believed that my virtue could permit me to ravijh aCrownfrom a legitimate poffejfor, or to render my felf the mafter of my Companions i fuchaslam, I had not eni/ied the fortune of any Trince^ if that mere dignity had not been fucb a charm to you, tfhich no other glory in the world nor ferviees fufficiently great could undo : andfmce that your inclinations are fa conformable td yotir Birth, I praife the Gods that I have not been unprofitable to you, in maintaining you in a eottdition of never efpoufmg any hut Kings. " Were it true, replied I, that I had this inclina- "tion for the dignity of my Anceftors, I do not believe that it were to be much condemn'd : *'But you cannot believe that this quality hath a charm able to make me fliut my eyesto your *' merit, when you (hall recal to your memory, that Kambaud and Genfelaric who were appa- ** rent heirs to Diadems, obtained no great advantages over you, although they had intenti- " ens very little different from yours. " I confefs, replyed Ambiomer, that you have teftifi* " ed but very little inclination for thofe two Princes : But Madam, you have not happily *' forgot that you told me, that if the King (hould command you to efpoufe them, you would " obey him without murmuring. " And I (hould have done it (replyed I to him) and I *' (hould obey as much, if he (hould command me the like for you : But as I have declar'd to "you, that I could neither efpoufe the one nor the other without being unfortunate, fol " ought to advertife you, that I cannot be happy with you. " Since it is fo, replyed be, I "wi(h the Gods may rather give mc a thouland deaths, than render me guilty ofyourmis- *' fortune in the leaft thought that might contribute to it: And into what ftate foever my bad ** fortune may reduce me, I had rather be unfortunate my whole life, than you (hould be fo ** one minute. Fear not then that 1 (hould abufe the good intentions of the King, not that " I (hould demand the performance o( a promife, which he only gave me through his own "bounty. The ferviees that I iiave done him, never aimed at the pofTellion of Amalazon- *^tha, though Amalazontha z\one can make me happy, and although they were fufficiently *' great to merit fome remembrance from the turingiens •, I eftcem my felf too much recom- " penced by the bounty of a Prince, who hath judged me worthy of the faureft fortune in *' the world. If the affeftion with which he hath honoured me, could caufe this blindnefi ** in him, you may well pardon that which a paffion much more violent could operate upon "my fpirit, and believe that it was very difficult, (if not impoflible) for a heart extremely "amorous to refufe the entry and entertainment of fo fweet and fair hopes. I lofc them " fince you command it, and would to the Gods I had before lo(t my life, and that the fword " of Kambaud had not left me thofe miferable remains which a feigned pity hath fo cruelly " preferved. It is only of this pity that I would complain, might I have leave, and I " would accufe it of all my misfortunes, if it had not given me the means to have rendred "you one fervicc more. Now that you have no more to defire from me, and that Amala- *'^rie hath no more need of my Sword, to maintain him in his Throne which he istoafcend, " I will go linger out as pleafes my deftiny, that little life you have left me : and for ever dc- " liver you from a fight, which might bring fome trouble to your repofe, in reproaching " you contrary to my intention. Ambiomer fpoke in this manner, and thefe words (roni the mouth of a pcrfon, much greater in all things than I have reprefented him to you, and of a man to whom I too well knew that I owed all things ■, touched me fo fenllbly, that it was not without ufinga cruel violence to my fdf, that I preferved my refolution : and to confefs to you the trutli, 1 believe that had I not feared the taunts of Amalaric, (who long before had obtained a great Empire over my heart) 1 had not preferved it : And looking en - him. Book IV. V H A Tx. A M N D. 5^9 him with eyes that tclHfied no manner of averfion : Ko, no Ambiomcr, faid I to him, jiw« i««/f mt quit US , and ftnce that the King hath not given you any fub]eU to accufe him^ ynte cannot without cruelty expufe him to that grief which yyw abfence would beget : he may happily ({ff J, g,if opportunities to acknowledge your great fervices^tvhich may comfort you, and make amends for the lofiof Amalay.ontha ; and the mk fortune If not fo great for you, but that a courage likf yours may eafily f/tpport it. 1 hope indeed, rcplyed lie, that my courage will fufficiently ferve me in this misfortune, to hinder me from doing any weak, adion which you may condemn; but it will not let me live neJt you after the lofl of my hopes, although I might have lived here without hope before I was permitted to hnpe ; and for thoferecompences which I might expeB from the King ( continued he, looking on me with an afpcfl, which through all his rcfpcd: (hewed fome- thingof hercenefs in it ) as that which he ordained for me^ was too much above me, all others- which he can give, are too much beneath me i and death only jhall be my comfort for the loji of Amalazontha, ;/ my juji refentment afford me m other\emedy. Adieu, Madam, ( finidi'd he, faluting me in order to his departure ) the Gods grant that you never repent this adion and that you may be as happy with the hfushand Amalaric defigns you, as you have believ' ed your felf miferable with the unfortunate Ambiomcr. After thefe words he retired him- felf with a confiancy greater than mine, but in cffefl fo difturbed, that he could fcarce-, ly hnd the door to go out of my Chamber. He ufed however his utmoll endeavours to diffemble his grief before thofe perfons he met in his way, but in paffing through the pre^ fence, to go to his-own Apartment, he met there Amalaric with divers other perfons ; an4 by reafon that the Prince ( who, notwithllanding theill offices he had done him, obferved ftill his wonted ceremony to him ) quitted his company to accoft him ; Ambiomer receiv- ed him with a countenance extremely different from that he was accullomed to have from him,and looking on him with an eye that denoted his indignation : My Lord,{iid he to him you have overcome, and you jhallmt have the flyame to have a plain Knight of your Alliance ;. but may pojjibly one day remember, that to tbvs Knight you owe the Crown you are to wear and. that if he were not hindered by a rejfeVt much \lronger than b'n juji refentment, he might yet make it to totter. He quitted him roughly after thefe words i and the Prince, who was not by nature very patient, were it either through the truth that he found therein to his iconfution, or through fome rcmorfe he might feel for his proceedings, or through a fear that he had to irritate the King, lethim depart without replying one word, although there appeared fafficient trouble on his countenance, to give caufe to thofe that were in the Pre- fence, and who had not heard the difcourfc of Ambiomer, to fufpedt a part of the truth. ; The reft of that day Ambiomer was not feen by any, and they told the King when he enquired after him, that he was employed in the affairs that the departure of the Troops, of the Gauls made him take care to difpatch. The next morning he underftood that he. had taken Horfe very early to accompany them, as was faid, half a days journey from the -- City i nor did he any way admire, that he (hewed this civility to his warlike Friends, who, had performed fo much, and fo gallantly for his interefts : but after that night they faw his Equipage depart, and the next morning we heard no news of himj but about the even- ing of the third day, one of his Domefticks who was a "Turingien, whom he had taken into his fervice fincehis coming to Court, arrived at Lephane, and came to inform the King that Ambiomer was embarqued in his Ships with his Cauls, to gain the Sea by the mouth of the Elbe ■■, and when that the King much a(ioni(h'd, would have ask'd him the caufe of tliisfudden departure, he prefentedhima Letter, whereof the contents were to this effefl:. Ambiomer to the King of the Turingkm. MT Lord, I was too unworthy of the honour you intended me j and by reafon 1 perceived it as well as Prince Amalaric, I was willing to ff>are him the dijpleafure of feeing the reproach, and the Prince^ the (hame of feeing her felf fo debafed ■, Jhe doubt lejiy merits an Em- perourofthe Eaji, or rather of the whole Vniverfe, and the unfortunate Ambiomei merits no- thing but death, either in the Waves, or in Arms, or in all that which h'u fortune can offer him to terminate his misfortunes. He is too much recompenfed for the fervices which he hath rendred yoM, through the defign you have had both for hit glory and happinefi; and although he was not willing to abufe it, he will preferve as long as he (haU live a juji refentment therecf. N 2 This' loo FHAKAMOND, Part V. This was the Letter of Jmbiomer, in which you fee, my fair Princefies, that notwjth- ftanding his grief and jufi refentment, he did not complain of me, for fear of irritating the Kingagainft me , and but little of Amalark^ although he knew the great caufe he had to do it. This fo modeft, and fo generous proceeding, augmented the remorfe that I al- ready felt in my heart, for the ingratitude I had teftitied to him ■•, and it became fo great, that I faw my felf within few days expofed to a fenfible grief and real repentance : Amala. ric was Icfs touched, and he fupported patiently enough the abfence of a perfon whofe glory obfcured his, and to whom the T'lirhigienr, together with their King, rendced more ho- nour than he defired. But for the King, he was fenfible of fuch an extremity of grief, as could admit of no confolation in that little time which remained to him of life after this misfortune ■■> and although that Ambiomer had not accufed me, miftrufting a part of the truth, he had fo great a refentment againft me, that after he had caft upon me a thoufand reproaches upon all occafions that ptefented themfelvcs, he ftill looked on me as a perfon that had cruelly offended him i and for Amalaric^ he was in fuch fort exafperated againft him, that after he had accufed him a thoufand tinxes of ingratitude and bafenefs, he ba- nith'd him his prefence, not being able to endure him, and without doubt he had not f of a long time ) pardoned him the unkindnefs he had done him, if he had not been ( fome few days after ) feifed with a defperate licknefs, ( to which, according to the common opinion, his grief had much contributed ) which in fifteen days deprived him of his life. In this condition he could not refufe to fee me, and helikewife faw ^/«<3/ttba, having her tancy taken up with the idea of Pharamond, and hearing toward the eas about to fend arvay her forces from the fide which (he had embraced, 'to tphat pttrpofe did 1 expnfe- my life tofave her liberty, tvhen the Franks vifiorious over their enemies, xvere ready to have feiz'd up- en her 'f Mu{i I be no lefl anfortttnate in the Camp thanlwas /« Turingia, rvhile rrith refent' ment I behold myfelf de^is'd by thoje, that otve their ackiiorpledgment as nell to my fervices xs tomypjfionf' .(^/^, Amalazuntha, wuj/cjf Amalazontha, thou denyeji Amb'iomei thy heart be- eaufe he has not a Crown to offer thee, and yet ingrateful Frincefi conftderejf not, that a Soldier renders himfelf worthy to reign over the Kingdom which he preferves, and that Aitibiomer could not defend thy Kingdom, without (hewing Iximfelf able to'fubdue other Kingdoms under thy fubjeUioH. While he thus complains of the Queen of luringia, and from time to time fills his ima- gination with the fweetnefs of the Lombard Princefs i the King of Suevia receives the Prince of Terfia with all the refped, that the natural ruggednefs of his difpohtion would permit him to fliew, denronftrating at the fame time all the joy, that he could be capable of after the lofs of the bittel, which had been fought by his advice. For he was pcrfwaded that his pity could never be overcome, fo long as Varanez was engaged thereto by his love, for whofe fake as being the heir of Idifgefies ?ir\d Theodofius's Ally, all the Ea(t would not fail to be in Arms, That which he underlknds, concerning the forces coming from Con- fiantinople, confirms his hopes, and the better to tart the pleafure of his expectations, he conjures Varanez to repeat the news fo acceptable to him with all the circumthnces. The Prince of Perfta who came to tell him, what he had already made known to the Qiicen of the Cimbrians, took his turn ; And notwithftanding the impatience of his humour, purfu- cd his difcourfe in this manner. Albeit the unfortunate Conflance enjoyed but little health, though deep e;iongh plunged in melancholy when we arrived at Francfort, however he received us with all the marks ot fatifadtion, teflifying to us that the very fight of us, had fufpcnded the greatert part of his grief.* We firrt began to talk of our particular adventures, and when we were con- Itrained to intermix our thoughts, concerning the fides that we had taken, we did it as fuccindtly as might be, to avoid an entertainment which would not have proved confor- mable to that friendfliip , whereof we gave one another fuch obliging tcflimonies. But o.ur converfe was better frSm'd, when we went about to comfort the afflided Conflance, And as ufually great courages are not touched, but with a violent Love or an unmeafura- ble ambition, \i/e laboured tp moderate thofe two pallions in a heart, wich in outward appearance feemed to be feverely befet with both. Martian tor his part ingenuoully declared, how free and willing he was to renounce thofe high employments, wljich he held under the Emperour of the Eart,being commands little different from thofe which Confiaitceevpyed in the Court of Honorius. For my partj 1 was utterly againlt that felf conceited obfiinacy, that renders us unfortunate after the lofs of the party beloved, for as I wasone that had feen the fair /^f/^f^a/V in the hrmsoU Theo' dofiut, and yet after that recovered my felf out of the abundance of my forrows, I en» dcavoured to perfwadc the difconfolate Lover of r/irc;^/;*, patiently to fuffer the happinefs of 45^ PHJRAMOND. Part IX of the King of the Goths, and to feek for that which I hadjbund in the beauties of Rofa- mond, from the charms of fome other Princefs. Conllaitce appeared little moved with my difcourfe, but at the time that he was intending by my perfwafion, to (hew tne more at large, that what I propofed was a remedy both irkfome and impoihble, we were advertis'd that five or fix Grangers who had paffed the Meht, were landed with fome Ladies in thtir company, among which fiit that appeared to be of the greatell quality, was a perfed mi- racle. They fpoke of her with admiration, and aven'd that only Kofamond or Telixena, could prefer ve in her prefence the fame which" they had acquired, nor that they themfelves had that advantage over her beauty, which in juftice ought to be allowed her over others; Thqfe extraordinary praifes raifed in us a defire, to fee whether they were lawfully due : And indeed we had no fooner beheld that fair Stranger, and obferv'd the lineaments of her face , as much as the lulhe of her beams would permit usi but maugre thofe palfiens that prepoffelTed us, we all three concluded, that neither P«/e^frw nor the Sifter of Ho>f9» r/a/, nor the celebrated /4<^f«i»Hdifcovered any thing more charming-, and that neither the Queen oi theCimbrians noi the Princefs of the frj»ily, would prove a conqueft of lefs time or lefs difficult. We made our thoughts known to the mofl: incomparable Stranger, fo that after we had refpeflfully and in a Courtly manner, manifefted the furprife where* with (he had aftonilh'd us, C(7«/b«ce offered her an Apartment in P^<»riiwo««i's Palace, and obliged her alfo to accept it. So foon as (he had refted her felf we went to her Chamber, and as Lovers ufually flatter themfelves, and hope for fuccefs in all new attempts which they propofe, I endeavoured to perfwade that charming beauty that I was come to vifit her, and to invite her to this Camp, imagining that her beauty might free me from fome of my Rivals. I thought that it might not be impcflible, but that Balamir who was the moft formidable might change a fecond time : Iccnfidered that hetiad noCrown toclaim, that he had feveral great Kings for his Rivals, and that having forgot Hunnimonda, as ha* ving utterly lo(t the hopes of enjoying her, he might ceafeto love the Qacenof the B»- hemiani, when he (hould find fo many obftacles in the way of his pretences, and found the chains he wore, to beasnobreand nole(s weighty. The Stranger blufli'd when I fpoke of theQueen of the Cimhrians ^ and what grandeur of courage foeverl had obfeiv'd in her Air and manner of movement, Ijook notice that (he could not hear the name of Kofamond pronounc'd, without manite(\ing a difconteni that might pafs for a kind of palfion, unworthy of fo fair a foul. True it is that a Calm was fuddenly refettled in her countenance, and that in the following difcourfe (he fpoke fo much to the advantage of Ropwow^, thati began to and while they were relating to me feveral particulars, con- cerning the Court at Co«ji:»Mfj«fl/i/f, and of the afliftance which was ftnt me, I obferv'd tha: the old Officer looked very earneiily upon Conjiance and Martian who were ftanding by mc, and that afterwards l^e ftill cal\ his eyes more wiftly upon the former. After he had confi- dered a while, he defired to know the Rowj«'s Name, and being told it,he perceived enough Cdoubtlefs by the correfpondency between the Lineaments which he had examin'd, an^^ obfervations which I believe he had made) to know that which concern'd the life of fo gtea- a rer- Book IV. P H A R A M N B. 45; z perfonagc who Iiad hccn tlic fiipport of the F.aflcrh Empire. He was thelrcupon fur- pris'd all ot an inlhnf, anJ addretting hitTiCcIf tu tne with more vchcmtncy than I could haveexpccScd from a pcrfon of his age and humour: " Sir, fa id he, when the famoUs Le^ *'■ oKtine (\m\\ have let you (cc the admirable experiments of an afTault which he makes his " fole employment and delight, 1 fliall hot fail to affure you that his rules are more infalH* " ble than the grcatelt part of the world believes, and that they are not to be accounted im» *' poftures, but among thofe people who have but little knowledge. At thofc words I made no doubt but that the Stranger was the Learned T'heott, whole re- putatibn is fprcad over all the Eall > and I was no (boner conhrm'd in my conjedture, but I fliewed new civilities to that wife Cree]^, and gave him liberty at length to explain him- fclf at large, wliich he thus performed : "• Sir, faid he, you (liall foon hnd that my knoW-- *' ledgeJias made me undertake a journey which my age might have excus'd ■■, neverthelcis, "as I forefee important revolutions, and that the whole world is about to put on a new "change: lam come into a Climate where will fuddenly be laid the foundation of many " great and famous Kingdoms. 'Tis In thefe parts that I aim to labour with fome fuccefs " for the (idc which you have taken, while Melufma, who is coming to the Camp of the Frank/, (hall to my counfels add her own cares, whether it be etfedually true, that Hea- ■venhas promis'd 11) much Glory to a Nation, of which (he has already \*rittcn to me " things altogether wunderful. If you doubt the truth of what I fay, let thole Officers "fpeak, they know it was niy felf that oi»liged them to leave the Army, and that I caufed " thetTi to make liarte hither, promifing to fliew them at Francfort three of the grcatell Po- " tentates in the world ■■, nor have I deceived them, added he with an extraordinary vehement *' iy, no, Sir, 1 liave not deceived them ■■, for here they fee, as well as I, ft'here that Prince *' who is one day to rule the flourifl ing Monarchy of the Perfiant, (lands in the middle be- " tween two great pcrlbnages, to whom Heaven has promifed the pofTcdlon of two Em* "pires. All the company feemed furpris'd at this difcourfe except Conjiance, whole heart "could not be touched witli any future event, (Ince the lofs oiF Placidia. when "Thioi per- ceiving us enclined to lillen more attentively, '' Wondct not, faid he, at my boldnefs I " utter my mind freely, not feeing any perfon that I have reafon to fufpe(S i nor do I fpeak " fo pofitively, but upon the real afTurances which I have gained by long fludy, and from " Leoiit/Vs Memoirs which I diligently prcfcrve. M(ti-?;d« fearing then lell Iheon llno\i\d difcovcr fome particulars that might render hirrf fulpeded in 7heodofmi'i Comt, or perhaps not willing to (hew any curiofity that might be taken for a mark of ambition, put the Stranger by degrets upon a difcourfe of mine and Cnitjiditce's future Adventures: for my part I gave him prefently to undefftand that it did'not much concern me to know what would- bctal me hereafter i fot T thought that a fuccelTorof the famous Cyrjf^, that a Prince who bcliev'dhimfelf perhaps not inferiour in grcatncfs of courage to his renowned PredecefTor, ought not to be fubjcdt to any fuch delirc ■■, but that on the contrary, ading upon all occalions with a courage worthy of his Dignity, he might with juftice believe hiiiifelt to be the Mafter of his own fortune. It was not fo with Con- fiance, who thought he lay under a burthen of ill fortune, and that he had nothing more to look after: "Speak on, [a^elheon, faid he fighing, but fpeak without giving your felf the " trouble to make the belt of things, I am an unfortunate perfon whom all the anger of " incens'd Heaven cannot render tnore miferable. After thofe few words he held his peace, and with a countenance wherein was to bedif- covered nothing but a* profound fad nefs, without any fymptom of fear or hope, he gave tar to the old man, who returned him this anfwer, "Sir, faid he, fo happy is your delliny,- " that I make no qncfiion but you will be fuddenly perfedlyfatisfied therein. The honouf " of being ad vancM to the Throne of the Cdifars is but one part of that felicity which you " are promis'd: you fliall lit with fuU content upon that Throne, and that you may have "no caufcto fighinthe midrt of that pomp which environs you, you (hall behold (itting- " by your (ide a fair and great Princefs which (liall render you that recompence which you " have fo well merited, and which you have fo long waited for, without any hopes of en- " joying if. Conijance, whofe heart was not yet capable o^ fo pleafing a faith, being fhuf up againft alJ comfort, (igh'd inlkad of returning an anfwer, or feemingtobe perfwaded i and therefore that he might not dilbblige Thenn, he chang'd the fubjed of the difcourfe, and prefently after delired the Stranger to take his repofe, which could not but be very necelTary after fo Jong a journey. To that purpofe he ordered Valeritu to take care of him, not being wil- ling to leave me, and when he thought he had fufhciently relied himfelf, he went to fechiirT in his own Apartment, and by degrees engag'd him to^ivea villr to the unknown Beauty M m m whom 458 THARAMOND. Part IX. whom I have already mentioned, I went before to her Chamber, together with Martian, where we ftaid till Co«/f^«ce came and brought T/jeo« along with him. The old man im- mediately fecm'd furpris'd at the Beauty of fo fairaperfon, which we took notice of i and to know his thoughts upon fo plealmg an occafion, we put him at firft upona fubjedfar kfs confiderable, and of which we thought he could better acquit himfelf : " You mull "needs acknowledge, T^heon, faid I, that if we may judgeof the favours which we expe(ft " from Heaven, by thofe which we have already received, you may without doubt promife " this Lady a long feries of happy events. _ I faid no more, Hnding that the knowing Greeks was not fo much attentive to what 1 faid, as eager to behold the Stranger's countenance i and I obferv'd in his thi-fe ditfercnt alterations, that intermix'd fome kind ot difcontent with the joy that appeared in it trom time to time. The unknown Beauty, out of an effed of modeiVy, blulhcd, turiyng her eyes toward me, and perceiving that the earnell contemplation of the old man was not thereby difturbed : '■' Methmks,' [if id Jf^e fmiling^ that it would be more delightful to hear "you relate your own Adventures, than to fee you take the trouble to prognorticate my "fortune. 'Tis not without caufe that I fpeak this: and to fliew you, that without the "help of your Art, I know many things that concern you, inftead of dcllring tobe in- " form'd any thing concernfng the Court oiConftantinople^ as the Prince of Perfia and Mar- '< tian may do, I only long to know fome tydings of Alexander, and the fair Hypajpa your "Daughter, and of the continual converfation. of Orejles with the Learned and Pious " Cyril. ■ Thefe names pronounced fo unexpedly, ftriking Iheon into an amaze, fufpended his prefent contemplifcion, infomuch that breaking filence, and beholding the Stranger, jyotfld ■ to God, Madam, laid he (ighing, that Hypallia's dejUny were abfolutely like yours i and that that unfortunate Maid, having undergone fa many misfortunes, might at length be happy by means of fome fortunate refolution. But, Madam, as Idefire this happinefitvithout having any hopes thereof, injiead of f peaking of a perfon fo dear to me, and whom 1 fee threatened with fo terrible death, I only wait with an abfolute fubmiffron what the fupreme caufe of all things (haU ordain, whofe effeVis it is in our wiH as little to regulate, as in our power to create. The fagc Greeks not only held his.peace after thofe words, but alfo fpoke but. very little during the remainder of that converfe , nor was hefo earntii in contemplating the Phyfi- ognomy of the unknown perfon i whether it were,that he had obferved enough, or that his mind began to be overcharg'd with grief. Towards the Evening 1 conferr'd with Martian, 'thenn, and the Officers that were new- ly cdme i when CoMjia^ce, who had taken Tharame, addrefmg her Jpeech to " me, that the Emperour Homrim figh'd full often at her feet, and that (lie looked upon his *' Throne but with an indifferent eye, and that (he never made any other ufe of her power " over him, but only to give him wholefome advice for the good of his Dominions. You " know Book III. PHJRAMONR ^^5^ *^know tliat the Rebel Heracliin took her by force away from Kavenna and carried her in** to flfricj^ thit llie was tlicrc expufed to thofc violences, from which lliccould not free her felf but by perlorming a noble exploit, and killing i\cr Tyrant heroickly. But neither is Homritis the great Prince^ that has offered Crowns (o Bellamira^ nor Heraclian the only Ravifiicr, whofc pertecutions the has fulTercd : And I could relate to you things n:orc won- derhii, and more agreeable with 7/'fo>;'s judgment ■■, had I time to let you know the in- comparable BeHamirj, And therefore I mull conlefs that Theon^s lall words^put me to a (land, fori cannot fee how Bellamira^ can be fo fortunate as he has promifed her to be. Trucitis that her courage has conllantly n tilled the moll rude alTaulcs of a fierce Enemy, and that ihc never (licwcd her rtrcngth, but when (he was alTail'd by a bold hand, and I " know there is oiie fort of injury that Ihe cannot patiently endure. She has already dcfend- " ed her fclf, againll an outrage ol the fame nature, flie fees alfo others in purfuit of her d- " very moment, fo that as it is impolfiblc to change what is paft and gone, or that for the " future (he can fuffer an injulfice fo hainous to her > I cannot imagine how a heart fo nice '*' as hers, can ever enjoy a pcrfed tranquillity. By rvhat J fee, Sagt Theon, rcplycd Con- ftancc, yoH have the gooditejito make the beji^ of what your prcdiUions threaten of fevere and harfh. But yoHjJjjU meet rvith fome unhappy and miferable people, whom fortune too objUnately terrifief, to give them Uny ground of hopes to be ever at peace rvith her^ by verlue of thoje changei xpith which yott flatter the in. Formyotpnpart, added he lighing, who pretend to mo Ihareinam »y thing that promifes me confolation, I have heard you more out of rejpeQ toyour perfon, than aut of any inclination to believe tvhat you foretel moli pleafing to me. The lojfej which I have had are f) great, fo cruel, that I (hall never find but only in my lomh^ that end of *ny fufferingt, K>hich yoit would have me expeSifrorn fime favourable change. But oh! tvonderftil I He had no fooncr uttered thefe words, when he was told that an Efquire oi Gonflantine''s, delired to be admitted ; whei* . ^on taking notice that my picli^nce caufed him to adt with a circumfpccSion which our trienddiip might have difpens'd with, I complained to him of ir, and not only obliged him to admit the King oi^ritant's tnvoy, but alfo to read m my hearing a Letter which he received, and whereat we were all furpri- fc'd as well as he > being much to this cffc(fir. Conjlcintim to Conflance. I ShaB render my fclf your prifonerfofjon at prjfiblyjcan, in the meantime, having mafl im- portant News to communicate to you, which I cann-it bring my felffo foon as I would > / have fent this Mejfenger to inform you ; that is to fay of the death of Autalph. Tes Sir, the King of the Goths i^s dead, and the illujiriout P\ac\diz is now in a condition, to recompence her faithful Con(lance> could I difer the relation of fa happy a change ? Receive it Ihefeech you with that fatisfadioM," which you ought to he fenfible of, and if you loo\upon it as a thing that has happen- ed hy the death of a perfon that was dear to Placidia, canfider him as the perfon that ravijhed your happineJS from you ^ and let not the generofity ofyourfottl^ difquiet the content of your heart. I mu(t confeil-, faid the King of Suevia, that the Britain arrived very opportunely for Cott- ftanceV conflation, and that Theon could not have wifljed for an accident more ju\i, to Autho- rize hit predidions. 'fis moji certain, replyed Varanez. that this was a very extraordinary precedent, and as fuch a one,welonked upon it with a^ionifliment, every one tejiifying his furprife as they were varioufly affected. Tie(7«,notwith(landing that moderation, of which long ex- perience had made him Mailer, feemcd to be not a little glad : and Confiance having much ado to believe the news, that brought with it fo great a change in liis life ; not only read ConliaHce''s Letter over and over, but to put himfcif out of all doubt from the Efquire's mouth i JViU you do us the kjndnefi, faid he, to give us a more diiiind relation of a perfons de. ceafe, the circumjiances whereof your Majierfeems to have committed to your care. The Britain then preparing to obey, related to us {'though cot fo fuccinft ly as I (liall do) that the Goths inccns'd, that !(^«m//)/:> through the perfwalions of F/jc/^;/*^ would no more wage war againit tbcRomansy rcbel'd againR their Prince, and flew him as he was preparing to reduce thern to obedience, * And while he recounted other particulars of that accident, Wedilcovered certain beams of hope and joy flreaming upon Coniiance^s tace, and dillipating that gloomy ^toudof longfadnefs that covered it bcioie. His forehead appeared more ferene^. his fait M m m 2 eyes 460 FljARAMVND, Part IX. eyes more lively and fparkling, howevel: he could net forbear fighiiig, fo true it was tliac his foul was not yet capable of tailing pleafure without fome perplexity. Paffinnately do f • love the ^een of the Goths, fa id he, I fancy her to my felf to be fairer than ever (he nras^ an}t I find her notv in a condition to mal^e good to the Emperour her promife, fo infinitely honourable ta me. But if the fatisfadion xvhich 1 receive from jo freeet andpleafmg a thought^ rcsre xvithout g mixture of grief, it tvnitld be ttnacorthy of Conltance'/ heart. It behoves me to mourn, injhon lmH{l becvail ^nt.d\^Ws mit fortune, out of a fence of humanity that requires us, to have com^ pajpon upon all thofe that are'mijerable. I am forry for a Vrince that has lived in good correffon- dence with Honot'ws, and had a high value for flicidisi: And though Autalph'/ misfortune had no reafon, to di{iHrb the happinefS which is befaliettme, may I not for the ^een of the Goths' fake be forry f' Who can aJJ'ure me that j})e has preferved at E,2rc\x\nonz for a miferable creature that afl ediontvhich the Princefi ?hcidh hadatF^.owc, for the fortunate Conihucc rfhofefrvi- ees were not unprofitable, either to his Country or to his Emperour ? Who can ajjure me that Pla» cidia, who truly loved the King her Spoufe, andrvho labowd inceffantly to jirengthenthat U' gitimate love in her breafi, hath not quite expelled from her mind, that kjndnefi which fJje was for-' ced to bani(h ? lu (Ijort, can Placidia forget a Prince, that rather chofe to fee bis people rebel S' gainji him and to lofe bis life, than to dijpleafe her by invading her Country. No, no, let me not flatter my felf in this particular, 1 l{tion> too well the malice of fortune,- tofuffer my felf to be deceived with this feeming reconciliation, without having caufe to fear fome new misfortune which will be however fo much the more infnpportable, by how much the lefi I am accujiom d to it, I mil afjitreyou, faid I very impatiently, you are more unjuji at this time, than that blind Deity of which you complain. She begins to favour you, and itfeems to be you your felf who will not be at peace with her, while yQu poyfm her favours at frji with a cruel prognofticatioK, which mak^ryou have an apprehenfion of tbofe evils which are no way threatned you. I am of the feme opinion with the Prince of Perfia, iMl^artian, that you ought not fo much tojiudy how to affliS your felf, but confidering the correfpondency between the King 0/ England's Letter, and Theon's predtciions, to expect a famous ifj'ue offo happy a beginning. Had 1 not laboured with allpofji^ ble exacinefi, replyed the ancient Sage, and were not the obfervations which the learned L^on- tin has made, abfolutely conformable to mine; 1 had Jfokfn more ^aringly of yotir adventures the moli important in the world. But as I have often made the fame computations, and{Ullarri' ved at the fame l^noivledge by different ways ■■, 1 make no longer any doubt but that all thingt^ wit fall out as I have faid. Thofe words uttered by a perfonof profound" learning, and already confirm'd in part by the experiment we had fcen, having fdmething refettled Conliance's thoughts, I told him, how glad I was to leave him more happy than I found him, and that I would be gone as foon as I had feen Bellamira, and had offered her my fervice to conduft her to Rofamond. " Sir, replyed the Stranger who was in our company, it you pleafe to credit me I would not. " that you fhould mention any fuch thing to her : For to tell you truth i though Bellamirs "has an intinitc efieerti for the Queen of the Cimbrians, there are fevcral weighty leafons, " that will net permit her to wait upon her, or it may be to hear her difcourfe with any great " fatisfadion. You would be of rbe fame opinion, were I permitted to let you underfland " them, as well as I may declare ioCleon without failing in my fidelity i that it was at Hip' "/>a where Bftiiwira heard tidings c\i Alexander, in the houfe ot the great and venerable " Auftin, to whom the famous Cyril had written concerning him. Thofe words having caufed me to change my refolution, I only took my leave of Bellamira, without making her any propofal. After which I had no fooner embraced Conflance, but I took horfe : And being followed by fome of the Greek^OBceis that intermix'd with mine, I return'd hither, while Martian and TheoM went to meet the Army, that is come from Conjlantinople. '' But, Sir, replyed the K 1 ng of Suevi^, I hear you fay nothing of the Knight that camea- " long with you, and who by the defcription they have given me of him, deferves to have "fome place in your relation. "Had 1 not feen at Fr-a^c/ir* perfons fo extraordinary, re- '■'■ plyedVaranez, you might have fome reafon to accufc me of a filence, which would have " been fo unjuft ; But Sir, as in all my )ourney I have met with ftrange accidents, and for "• that it was but this day that 1 met this ftranger •, it feems to me foon enough ro fjpeak of *' him now. This morning entring into the Forcft, 1 met there a Knight, whofe haughty and fierce Afped did no way difpleafe me. His Arms befprinkkd with blood, fliewed him not to have been long out of fome dangerous encounter, fo that being come near me > and having af> ter ccrtam complements demanded of me, whether I had not feen a Chariot i lanfwered him No; And then farther purfuing my addrcfs, Ihoiighl can tell you no news of what " yatt Book IIL F H A K A M N D. ^6i you defire to l^nntp^ permit met,) give yoH other fstisfaUion^ and to condud you to the Camp of the Cimbrians, rvbere you (I.'jII jwdlh.it repnfe and ajfijlaitce which is neci(J'jry for you. I am troubled, icplycd lie, that it it not /n my p.inxr to accept thefe cbli^ing o^ers^ but I cannot no to a place where I mult fee one of my vinjiimplacable enemies in high ejicem. I will rather betal^e my felf to the Army of the Vi^uliS, that I may meet opportunities to encounter a perfm whom I mortally hate^ fince he hath made me miferahle^ who at the J jme time had in my hands where- with to make me abfolutely ha^py. As he concludLcl thofe words, a certain Knig'it who was hid before by a Tuft of Trees, appcar'd in an inllant before us, and lie no fooncr knew tiie Stranger that fpoke to nic, but he laid his hand iip.on his Sword, and challeng'd him with a menacing look : I'erfidious Iraytor^ he cryed, thou jhalt die, unworthy of thy Birth^ and our h'riendflnp. He could uf- tcr no more he was fo tranfported with choler, and he lie w impetuoufly into the midll of ustoattacque his Enemy, without regarding the number of Defendants that might oppofe him : 1 would iiave oppos'd his fury, when the other unknown perfon feeing my intention. Stop, fa id he, and iitliead of feekjng another dangerous revenge, accept one of the greateji alli- ances in the world, 'thou kjtoweji me well enough that 't'u mt out of fear that — - — At thofe words, the incens'd Knight having interrupted liim, 'thou demandeji a reward, cryed he, rvben thou oughteji to expeil rather the punijhment that is due to thee. He was about to have fallen upon him without any more words, but feeing me ready to impeach his fury, at firrt he gave me a tierce look, afterwards that motion of anger giving way to otiier thoughts more rational i i /(■i-n'tfZ/, faid lie to me, that only Cenerofity moves you thuf toad, and thai juch a perfon as you cannot be an accomplice- with the mofi treacherous perfn that everwas i. Confider then, that they who proted the Criminals authorife the crime. Ihat Criminal tit appearance Crcplyed the unknown ptrfbn who was accus'd to be fo J fl)all need no other Arm than his own, if thou continueli ohjiinate to condemn a paffion rvhich thou rather.(l>ouldjl ap- prove, fry then, faid I to his adverfary, whether you can put an end te the difference. That can never be determined, rcplyed he, but by the death of one of us, and therefore if you defre to fee the end of it^ leave to tny revenge the perfon p^hom I am bound to purfue over all the world. Ihy enemy, rcplyed theothepStranger, jhall favethat labour; for thou knoweji whe- ther he be one that feelij to avoid the encounter or no'. Keep then thy hatred, (mce thou preferreji it before the prefervationofthy life, and the quiet\of thy people, feek^ no more for peace with a Prince whom tl>oH ha[i fo olftinately offended^ and wbo refuftng thee thofe advantageous repa- rations which he has offered thee, will fee\ thee out in the fartheji limits of aU thy Territories to fatitf.e his juji anger. He would have feconded thofe words with his Sword, had not I oppos'd his intention, while mine was feconded by all thofe that followed me. Thus the two Wairiours finding an obftack wiiich interrupted their dclign beyond their power to remove, caft a terrible look one upon another, and manitciling in that manner the condraint which I had com- pelled tiiem to endure, they took feveral Roads, yet before they parted, exprelling thus their refolutions, I mal^ no que\\ion, faid the Stranger who is in our Camp, but that thou wilt retire to Pharam.ond'j Army; and if thou ha\i not enfeebled thy heart by difl)onouring thy Arm, thou roilt not avoid the opportunity which J p^ll feek^ for to ciitne to a fpeedy decifon ef eur quarrel. No, no, I fljall never flie the leafi occafion^ replyed the other Stranger, whofc Arms were ftain'd with blood, and thou k^^oweli we fljall fee one another in the firji Battel that Ikall offer it felf, where we (fjall have the fatisfa^mn to fix our particular hatred upon the general enmity of the fides which we embrace. Thofe words having confirm'd me in the belief which I had already conceived, that thofe two Champions were of an illuftrious Birth, and of an elevated courage ; I acco/1- ed him whoin 1 found engaged in our Affociation, and having confideied his afpcdt, and tafied his converfe with an augmentation of elleem : I (hall be received in the Camp whither we are goings faid I, with more joy than I ought to have expected ; and many thankj will be re- . turned me for the^ijjijiance which I bring along with me, though it were none of my procurinT. "• They will rather apprehend, aufwered hi, that an unfortunate perfon leeks for Sanduary "in a great Army: for if yours have Captains like your felf, I fee noreafon why they "fhould wilh for ailillancc. On the other hand, though the atlillance which 1 bring to the ^'■Cimbrians ihoiild not prove altogether unprofitable, I do not believe they would be much " oblig'd to me, lince tlie life which I (hall hazard for their intereffs, is no other than fuch "a one that I contemn, and which at prcfent too many misfortunes render too odious to " me to take any care of^ its prefervation. Concluding thole words, heligli'd, and I took notice that a cloudy melancholy covered his face, where fo lately I faw a warlike ardour flame. For that reafon he fpoke but little afterwards. 4^^ VHARAMOND. Part IX. aftcrwar'Js, nor did he hearken tome without diftraflion, whenldifcourfed tohinn of the molt conliderable perfons in the Army. In regard he vode without any equipage, having butoneEfquire to attend him, Iconjedured he was unwilling that his real quality (hould be known, to the end perhaps that he might enjoy himrdf with more freedom, at a time when his difcontents rcndred him incapable of rcpofe, and an Enemy to all fociety. Foir that reafon I would not prefume to enquire his name, though atter he underftood mine, he (hewed himfelf very obligingly complaifant toward me. Hotvever SiT^ rcplyed the King oi Smw^j, be pleaftd }jot to >reglel3 tn drarc what advan^ tan you can from thif adventure^ for it is necejfary to k,non> with what forces we can furnijl} f) eminent a. [iranger^ whom we cannot permit to pafifor an ordinary Knight. " Sir, you judge " very right, replyed Varanez-, and belides you know my patlion to be fuch i that I Qiall ne« " veromit any thing that concerns the Queen of the Cimhrians intereft: And as I am per- "fwaded that you are tixed to mine, 1 have refolv'd to open my heart to you fully and " frankly. Let us therefore rivet the chain that links us together, let us this day folemnly " engage to fatisfie each others intereft, obtain for Varanez, the ienjoyment oiKofamond^ and " the Prince of ?erfia promifcs you the overthrow of the Ring of the Franks. If the " Queen of the Bohemians has not a Soul large enough, to prefer the moft puiffant Monar- "chy of all4fJ4, before a petty Country oiEurope; if (he be not moved with my orders, '' nor perfwaded by your counfels, then I fliall take another courfe, and I make no quelHbtt ■ *' but to carry that away, which Kofamond would afterwards be overjoyed ro grant me. " For in (hort, Sir, it would be a (hameful thing for Varanez to figh in vain, how illu(^ri- " ous or how charming foever fliould be the caufe of his padion : Nor (hall it ever be faid " that (lie refufed to give her hand to a Prince, who did not think he could give his, with- " out debating himfelf, to the fair Athenais, whom the Emperour of Conjiantinople after- " wards efpoufed. I defire only your forces and the King of the Bafiernes, whom Alhifm* "(i/iiwill cafily perfwade to be of our party, and when thofe forces (hall be re-inforced, " that are to hght under my command, we will make our felves fo abfolute here, that the '' united power of the Cimhrians, Burgundians, Alains^ and Gepides ■■, though fupported "by the valour of Balamir^ Condioch, Arderic 3nd Godegefile^ fliall be too weak to .: ." Ah Sir, Cft'd the King o/Suevia' interrupting him) let us not talkof dividing our " felves, for if you look upon the four Princes whom you have named as Rivals, I befeecb " you Sir confider, that the King of the Fr-ijw^j is both a Lover, as well as an Enemy of '' Kofamond. And therefore becaufe he is an enemy, replyed Varanez^ I do not look upon "himasaLover,that can ever hope to be happy ; yet if the death of T^fo^^W cannot render " him odious to the Queen of the Cimhrians, my pretentions (hall more forcibly impeach " his claim, than the lofs of a Brother. The End of the Third Book of the Ninth Part. PHARAMOND. Book IV. 4^3 PHARAMOND. Book IV. WHile thj Rexce Varanez was boafting in this manner, a Utralian Knight who came from the Franks Camp, cntrcd the King oiSue- via's Chamber. But becaufe he was fent by his MiRet-Godeirefrle who was a Lover of Rofamond, the Prince of Perfia went his way! In the way to his Quarters he underttood, that Pharamond^ Ade* laida^ and Cleomiraj had written to the King of the 7e»grf/ that Albifmda had received letters from Viridomar^ and that propofals were made on both fides for the exchange of prifoners, and to fign the treaty which was propounded. They added farther, thjt Cleomira and Blefmda, to oblige the Cimbriam to take care oi'taxander and Genehaud^ fent often to vifit and fometimes were themfelves vi. lited, by their moft conliderable Enemies, fo that the fortune of war, feemed tohavefub- tnittcd to the puilTance of the Frank^s : But above all Gondemar and Gontran were moft re- fpeded, whofchearts were as full of acknowledgment toward thole fair Princefies, as the humour of the King of the Her.'«//i»«/, appeared howard and untradtable. Godegeftle nzta- rally turbulent and fiery, could not behold himfelf fo far abfent from Kofamond, and fo near Pharamondf without a double accefs of inward vexation, when he confidered the double misfortune that was befallen him, through the viftory of a Prince whom he mortally ha» ted, both as his common Ryral and common Enemy, which fnadehim abandon himfelf to tra'nfportations of joy, liitle different from madnefs. Varanez when he had underftood thtfe particulars, and had demanded fome others that conccrn'd the Kingof the Fri*«i^j-i went on : but was all of an inftant furprifed whenhefavy thel^night, that he intended to have carried to the Kingof Jwrn^i walking along with /^fwZ'wiwfr toward the Caftlc, He went to him in all haft, when the Stranger having perV ceivcd him and as quickly meeting him i 5/r, Cfaid he with lefs melancholy, than he had for fometitne fhewn) Agelmond/z«^x his'Sijhr in your Camp, and for that reafonfesi himfelf more powerfully engaged in that intereft tvith rvhich you haw chofeit to ftde. The Prince of Tcrfia hearing the famous Natne of the King of x.\\t Lombards ■■, felt a new accefs offurprife: de- claring in a moft obliging manner, that all the Army would be overjoyed, when they heard ihit A'^elmondjiimons for fo many vi(!!torie5, was come to be one of their Captains and mcft valiant Champions. Saying thofc words he walk'd on, that he might not delay the fatisfa<2ion, which thofe two renowned pcr'ons vv;ould fuddenly enjoy at their meeting, and no fooner were they all three arrived at tlie place of fo agreeable an enterview, when 4,?^^""""'' running with o- pcn Arms toward the Princefs of the Lombards i " Is it pollible, faid he^ that I ftiould ever "fee you again, my moft dear Sifter, „or that Heaven Qiould intermix a happinefs with fo •' many misfortunes, as jjave for fo long time perfecuted me ? Agione^ for (o was that fair Priflcclscallcd, immediately knowing her Brother that was fo dear to her, notwithftanding that his countenance was changed, received his CarefTts with an extraordinary joy, and if the marks of iier fcndernefs fcem'd not to be fo vehement as his, yet they flowed from as fervent an affcffion, being only moderated by an Air of modcfty and decency, which ac- companied all Agin:e''s adtions. Varanez, and Ambiomer having manifefted, how much they were concern'd in the joy of that meeting, fpecdily retired, .left their prefcncc might interrupt a converfc, which they were dellrous to leave iVeeand private, to the King of the iombard} and his Sifter. This 4^4 PHARAMOND. Part IX. This news was not fpread through the Camp without great rcjoycing. The Queens of thtCimbriaHs ind tHringiens went to vilit Jgione, and the Princefs Albifmda taking her opportunity, followed Coon after. Agelmond was alio vilited by all the great Captains of fo numerous an Army i and thofe Princes who could not ftir forth by reafon of their wounds, fent their principal Officers. The King ot the Lombards admirably acquitted himfelf of whatever he thought to be his Duty, giving to everyone the marks of his ac- knowledgment, accordingto.theMerit of the perfons, the Grandeur of their Quality, and the difference of their Sex. Above all he lovingly tuxhxic'di Ambiomer ., forbelldes that he had long llnce underftood the reputation of his perfon, AgmiehzA'mioivri'AWxm in what manner he had reliev'd her. The generous Knight blu(h'd, and look'd down with his eyes, and hearing the obliging exprellions of the King, and conlidering the little he had done,and how little capable he was to do,he was aftam'd to receive from fo great a King fuch return of thanks for a piece of fervice fo inconllderable. For that reafon he difengag'd himfelf from Agelmond asfoon as pollib'.y he could ■■, and making a reflediion upon the con- dition of his life, he figh'd to fee himfelf always in the company of the greateft Kings of the world, and to be in danger either to reproach the incertainty of hi^ Birth, or to hear it fpoken that it was not fplendid enough for his Honour, Vafortunate per/on that I am, cryed he, pall I always live in an ignorance fo cruel^ (}jali 1 not kjtoTv at length whether >ny ex- iraQion be iHulhioiK enough to have Merited a more favourable reception from' the $^ee>t of iJ)e Turingiens ? Or whether the aciiont rvhich I have performed Jejerve m other rscompeHce than to repair the default of my Birth, and make me only fuffer for Amalazontha, without being able to authorife my too afpiring flames ? "tali^ up a refolution worthy of thy felf, Ambiomer, (faidhe all of afudden) "tUtime., and that thou mayft not ferve in the Camp as a mean Ve- luntier in the fight of thy haughty ^een : bring back^ to the Camp thofe troops that have eleded thee for their General, and fend for the Gzn\ that had the charge of thy infancy. For befides that thou wilt be more conftderable in the party which thou haji chofen, jhalt thou mt'alfo fireitgthen the Enemies of thy Rival? Shalt thou not reader thy felf in appearance at leafi more worthy the civilities of Agione ? But then fo many different thoughts turmoiled his mind, that to the end he might not be interrupted, he took Horfe, and rode forth of the Camp, being glad that he had difen- gag'd himfelf from going to the Kingof 5Kfz//a, where there was a Council to be held, and where he could not exped but to be ranked in a place not correlpondent to his cou- rage. So foon as he was out of the Trenches the light of the Wood allur'd him, whi- ther his own contemplation conduced him.Amaiazontha took up all his thoughts,and as he pafs'd by the place where he had formerly fought Sunmu^ the remembrance of that encoun» ter call'd to his mind the fcrvices which he had done for tf^ Queen of the T'nringiens. Immediately he accus'd himfeU of feeblenefs and folly for loving an ingrateful Princefs i but then his heart lifting up its felf againlf his reafon, he repented of his thoughts as cri- minal, while he laboured under thofe difcontents, he rode forward into the W ood, where fortune led him infentibly to that part where fome days before he had met the arniablc Sifter of Agelmon^: Here it was, (cryed he, after he knew the place again J that I found the fair Frincefl of the Lombards, here it was that Jhe received that fuccour from my hand, for which [he believes her felf fo much engag'd to me, thuugh lunderwent neither danger nor trou- ble : Alas I Can I perform nothing that may avail me ? 1 have expos''d my life more than enee for a perfon that is altogether infenfible^tbat remembers not my fervice s, but after fuch a manner as is^ rather injuries ta me, and only te put me in mind of her Dignity, which ^je believes ought to dejlroy all my hopes : if on the other fide Agione confiders that little I have done, ought I not to be mov''d with the acknowledgment of fo fair a Princef ? JVhy^ faid he immediately after, why jhould I not be mov''d,why j})all I Hot love Agione, fince there is a k'nd of fate that forbids me to love any other than perfons of her degree ? Let lugive over the ^een of the Turingiens, let us ferve tbt Trinceflof the l^omhzxds ^and chufe ayoks thatwill not doubtlefi he fj ponderous as that which to this very hour thou hajl too patiently born.But who ajfures thee^fsiid he, purfuing his complaint) that thou can^ change, or that Agionc's Chains would be lighter than the Fetters which thou wouldjl breaks? /iiE», Ambiomer ! ail i?icoMliancy is unworthy of i hearj like thine; far therefore from renouncing thy pretenfions for fear of difiCuhiet, meafure the honour which thou fl-'alt ob- tain above the objlacler which it becomes thee to furmount. But then, added he, if my heart . he jiillrefolvedtolove the ^een of the Turingiens, does not my reafon command me to difen^ gage my felf from a fervitude too rigorous ? Alas ! What rtfolution JJjall I takf P He held his peace, having exprcfled fome part of his grief i then in an infiant determin- ing with himfelf. Let us love Amalazontha, cry'd he, fince our defiiny will have jtfo. But lef :»s endeavour ta avoid the fght of her, let us endeavour to deprive her of the opportunity of exer. eiCoig Book IV, P H A K A M N D. 4^5 cifmg a tyfjiiny fu infufpnif table, let lii JUif^ently wvt upm the. Sijhr of Agclniond, let atJiifVir fo fsira Prutcefiivith all the zeal which tve had for the ^een of the Turingicns i itidif hj^ our performanees ive cad frainfhe ellcem of the charming Agi6nc< xve jhall have the fatisfaUioh to let the difdj'tHful Amala2ontlia/fe that all pcrfons of her high degree do mt deffife her too faithful Ambiomrr. He rode on, conhrmingin Iiis mind tliedcllgn which he had contriv'd^ when he pct- ceiv'd a Knight, who being alighted from his Horfe, was lifting upon the Grafs at the foot ' of a greaf Tree to take his reft, of which he feem'd to have great need. Ambiomer had no fooner fix'd his eyes apon hiscoiintenance.but hcfeltfome fpaiksofkindncfs begin to h\n- dle in his Bread i and when he rcflcdcd upon the motion that'furpris'd him,he attributed th>," caufe thereof to that efteem or compallion men might gO'nerally have upon the fight of fuch an objedt. Indeed the Stranger looked pale enough ealily to perfwade him that the con- dition of his Iioakh was bad, and yet that fymptom of indifpolition did not fo cloud hi'! face, but that there appeared an air of Grandeur that had fomething extraordinary. Ori the other liJc, the Stranger mitigated fome part of his natural haughtincls in beholding Ambiomer^ whether it was out of thofe fecret fympathies that Friends fomctimes expcrl^ ment upon their (irrt meeting, or that the Stranger defired fomc afliftarce. At length he fpake thcfe words, addreiling himfelf to /^w^/owjfr, 1 guefi^ faid he, that you are one of the Cimbrian/'J*-'J', and that y^)u can tell me tydings of certain Ladies that were conduUed thither if my information be true. There is no perfon^ faid Ambiomer^ that can better inform you of that AdveiUure than my felf. But fince it is apparent that you mean the the Princeffof the Lombards, and that l\non> (he has enemies abroad^ ij^ou he of their number^ do niit expeEl that I (hould take your part againj} ber^ though I find my fe If well enough encUn'd to befriend you upon any other occafwn, Al.is ! replyed the Stranger, lighing, 1 am fo far from batinff her that 1 love her but too well, as infinfible as Jhe continues •, and n is only to fee her ^that I, defire of you the means how I may remain in the Cimbrian Army without being htown. Jhat this circumjiance may nothindir you from aUing according to my intentions, wr sHal^e yoitun* tvilling to grant me fo fair a courtefte^ J^now that I aw Mundific, the Son and lawful Heir of the great King of the Huns. By the knowledge of this youtafily judge that my pretences ate not injurioiii tothe Sijier of Agelmond, that you expeti a recompencc proportionable to the rank of a Frincewhom you will oblige i and that Idefirenot to conceal my f elf in your Camp, but only that 1 may not he obliged Jo fee the ra[h Ealamir, who not confrdenng the right of elderfhip has caus''d me to lofe the Frinceflof the Goths through the obflinacy of his pjjjion. Ton have heard without doubt that onceti pajjionately lov''d Hunnimonda, that to obtain the pnffejjion of her I was driven to moji extravagant extremities , and you have heard how mortally I hated Balamir : and I hate him \iill i and that for one heart that he has robbed me off, he {hall net be affured of his life, as long as Mundific en)>ys his own. But let not this confefion work, in your mind an ef. fed contrary to my defigns •, for ftnce it only declares how fenfible a heart I have, it is certain thai 1 JJjall be no lefi exa[i to acknowledge a benefit, thjn 1 am eager to purfue my revenge. • • while he thus talked, Ambiomer beheld him with aftonifliment, making no i^rtb^i douW but that it was Mundifjc himfelf, who, accui^omed to afts of violence, had us'd Agi^e af- ter that manner, fo unworthy of her Sex and Dignity, infomuch that he immediately feft an antipathy againft him, and remembring thcrefolution that he had taken to embrace the Queen of the Lombard's intereft, .he was about to have acfted accordingly, and to liave re- proached the perfecutorof Agione^ but. a fecrci force reftraining him, he accas'd himfelf of. weaknefs i and it may be he had ai length quarrelled MM«(//yjc, if the perfvvalion 'of kindi nefs that hindered him had not been fupported by fenfe of Generofity which forbid him to attacque a perfon whom he faw in a condition rather to crave his affiftance than the efFe(2^ of his anger. On the other fide, the Prince of the Huns conjedured By the looks and fi- lence of W/wi/ow^r that he (hould not obtain what he aim'd at i fo that in a rage, Is it ^f cryed he impatiently, that thou acknowledge{\ the truli and cenfidenci ef fitch n Vriiice asi^ri' dific ? 'though I was lefi feeble than I am, I would not leave unpunifhed frtch a denyal, the markr xvhereof I too plainly difcover in thy face-, however, I was dilfos''d before to let thee partake of that kjndnefi which 1 Jhew to few perfuns. Upon thofe words ^wtio/wfr more earnellly beheld Mundific, and confidering thehau<*Ii. tinels and misfortune of that Prince, he paus'd a' while whatanfwcr it bchov'd him to make ; but foon after declaring his mind, "Lis neither the Grandeur oflhy Birth, nor the pride of thy heart that proteUi thee from any refentment. I have met more than once great and vali' ant Princes arm'dagain\i me\ and 1 fujfer only from unhappy Mundific that which I would net take from the Prince of the Uiins in his Father's Court, in the midji of all his Guards. Bui, ( faid he, taking notice that A/»««i(/ic's ftrenjith began to fail) 'lii more feafonahlt now iiftici- ?5 n n cour i,66 PHARAMOND. Part IXI eoitr, iha» repreji thy fury. Ashe fpake thofe words he alighted, aijd went to\Vard t^e Prince to pull olf his Arms, and ufc his endeavour to girc him eafe. However, he. wa's'nbt long in that employment, for one of Af«M^/'fic's Officers coming jul\ in the interim into that fide of the Wood, aliifted /fffJ^/owfr with fo mucli diligence and fuccefs, that the Prince came fuddenly again to himfelf. After that cafting his eyes upon Ambiomer^ countenance with more moderation, GfKfi'W K«i^^t, faid he, I am ghd that this laji of your anions has fet- tled in my heart thofe thoughts which 1 hud at fir{\ to your advantage ; I return to the Camp of the Franks, where' I ^oidd not .have been, but that the Prince^ of the Lombards ir i« the Army of the Cirobriahs. But in whatever part of the rvorld Munditic jhall be^ yon may he fitre always to find a grateful Prime. And yon^ S;r^ replyed Ambiomer^ f:all find that Ambio* mer will take your part in all things where ;;/jficf will permit him to obey your commands. They were no fooner parted one from the other, but Amhiomer pondered in his mjnd upon this Adventure- What^ faid he (o himfelf, (ha^ I m fooner refolvi to adhere to the intere^s of the Princefi Agione, but J muji meet her Ravi(};er^ without having any power to ptt- nijh him ? Mnji I fee my felf obliged to do good offices to an enemy that provoked me with his pride ? Is it for this that Heaven decreed me to be born among the Huns ? Is it becaufe he is one day to rule that Nation, that I have fo deep a fenfe of re^ed for Mundific ? Ab^ Am- biomer, faid he with difdain. How miferable would{i thou be, wert thou to hve under the laws ef that Prince, thou that canjl hardly fubmit to his iVuftriow Brother ! But what authority can^ thou fubmit to, if Balamir'j be not fupportable .? TVhat extraSion doji thou require, wouldji thou owe thy being to fome great King, that is to fay, wouldii thoHwiJfj that which is impofible^ futce there is no Soveraign Prince in i%e world that complains for the h^ of a Son? Ihereis more probability that I defcended from a mean Family, whofeco^tplaints for the lof of me wers not worth taking notice of. The thought thereof very much difcontented him upon the Road •, fo that to drive it out of his mind, as foon as he was return'd to the Camp he went to the King of the Burgundi- ans to learn what was done in Council i there he learn'd that there was a Truce for one Month, tliat in three days there was to be an order taken tor the exchange of the Princes i and that there would be fuddenly a general fatisfadion to fee the Officers of both Armies pafs from one Camp to t'other, to vifit thofe perfonsfor whom they had the greateft kind- nefs. That laft particular was not very plealing to Amhiomer, who apprehended that Suh- non would notnegledlto wait upon Amalazontba. But immediately upbraiding himfelf for this fear, he went to kifs the Princefs of the Lombards hands on purpofe to weaken the palFion which he had for the ingratcful Queen of Turingia. How^tr, he thought it ex- pedient hrft to vifit the Kingof Suevia to let him underhand that it was not becaufe of the place that he refrain'd from being prefent at the Council. Coming then ro his Apartment, he there found the Kingof the Lombards, Balamir, Varanez, and divers other con liderable perfons, amorg whom the Perfutn Mitranes, and Viginizw Agelmond's Efquiie held no mean degree. The King of Suevia receiv'u Ambiomer very civilly, and after he had very obligingly rebuked liim for an abfence that deprived the illuftriou? company of his good advice. However, yoi{ [hail eafily make amends, faid he, and as thepreferverofpfthePrinceft Agione, if you can but obtain from the King her Brother to give us that fitisfadion which he can hardly deny w, I believe you may eafily obtain the pardon of your injujiice. In truth, 5/r, replyed Agelmond, it will be a very difficult thing far me tt fatisfie your defres as I would my felf y and to ffieak. tow in what condition your Country gnd people are, and what is the cruel caufe of your forrows, to the end we may either affiji you^ or wait for your relief, Neverthelefi,. (!i'\d Varanez, if the Kingof the Lomhixds be not him- felf di(pos''d to repeat his own famous ACr ions, I k^otv that Wigmzui can eafe him of the tasJ{_, and that he will acquit himfelf fo much the more to eur content, in regard his renowned Majler would have been unwilling to have been jo exjii in th fe parts of the Story, wherein his humour is moli concern'd. Sir, then, added the King of 5«fi'/.i, domthefavourwebefeechyo!t,.t~ permit him to inform its more precifely what we only k»ow as yet confufedly, and by report. Iru- ly, tep]ycd Agelmond, I may expettfo pleafm^a conflation fi-om the compaffion which you wii afford me, that I ought not to refufe the means of obtaining it, which you offer me: only I am to advert if e you before hand, */;i»* Viginizus loves me, and may perhaps attribute great part of my fitccefs to my own courage, which is dne to the warlike Nation that fought under my Banners. But, aUs ! added he fighing, though Vigini.'as may aggravate upon what I have aped', bj)Vf itt' capable is he to reprefent to your compaffi'm all thai I have fuffered? He Book IV. PHARAMOUD. kfij He tooli liis leave after tltofe few words, and rhen his Efqilirc being (eatccj at the reqijcft of the Princes that heard him, recollected his memory for a while, and prtfcntly after ad- dreffinghimfelf to the King of 5am*, he began his rclatiam iir the following wotds< The Hiftory of Agelmond. YOui-Majefly ^uts me upon a hard task, in commanding me to repeat the Adt'CnJ cures of the King my Maftcr : You fee, Sir, that the moft renowned among the miferable, dares not prefume to undertake that himfclf, wfhich you engage me to perform, and that it is evident that he docs not obfervc a ftlence fo doleful, but that ne is perfwaded he Ihould open his hps in vain, and that it would never be polJiblcfor him,tortnd out words to exprefs the fadnefs of his misfortunes. Howcvcr,Sir,Ifliall(hewmy' obedience, and the difficulties which I have reafon fo fear, fhall give way to the.iefpedf- which I owe to my Mailer's commands : Nor'fliall they hinder me from undertaking a re- cital, which would require more of art, than without doubt can be expeded from a per-. fon that has been alway bred up among the tumults of war. I (hall not ftand to^^peat the original of our Nation^ perfons of your degree know already the concernments of all con« liderable Kingdonr.s, at lead they are not ignorant, by what vidtpries all people have efta- blilhed themfelves in the Countries of their Conquelis, or by what misfortune they havd! been conflrained to fubmit to foreign yokes. 1 will only tell you that it is about fome fifty years (ince, that our Ancelf ors forfook the Ifland of Scandia, a famous Region out of which thofe terrible multitudes of Arrnies have fwarm'd, that have inundation'd all Eumpe. A3 for the name ofLoHgobardot Lombard^ you know, Sir, that according to common fancy we derive it from the length of our hair, whether it be that wc wear it fo at this time as a mark of liberty, not only upon our heads but upon our chins, or whether the opinion weie grounded fome time fince, upon fome extraordinary accident. In (hort, it is afcertain'd among us, that our Anccllors crolbng Gv«'»»)', to feek out habitations in fome pleafant Country, and finding themfelves weakned by many Battels, though they had been almoft every where vidorious, were at length conftrained to have recourfe to policvi after they had given a thoufand tefiimonies of their valour. UnderlUnding then that an Army fat more numerous than theii" uwrt, was coming to attacque them, they armsd their womenj'and to make them feem more like men, they caufed them to comb down their hair over thoQt parts of their faces, that required that Mafculine covering. So that their Enemies fcar'd by the report of their Scouts, who' at a diliance took thofe new Troops to be a part of the famous Veteran Body, fent to the Camp of the Lo»gnbards (for fo our Ancelf ors were call'd j to make them propolitions of peace, which were immediately accepted, as being very ad* vantageous to us. But thofe that are now curious among us, look a great way more back- ward, and afTure us that the name of our Nation has been known, and famous for above a thoufand years ago, aboat which time they fay there reign'd a very potent King among the Gaitles whofe name vsisLongo^ whofeSon that was called Bardus rul'd after him, in the I* fland of Albion. That thole two Princes having extended their conquefts, to the farther end ofGfrwjj?/v, to the end they might keep thofe remote Countries under their fubjcdion, fent Colonics from both places into thofe parts, thatfoon joyned together, whereupon the people of which they were compofed, took upon them the nanie of Longobardi, either a!s a mark of their union, or elfc to immortalize thofe two Princes, whofe puilTance they had in veneration, Thus the Longobards or Lombards as they are more commonly called, find- ing themfelves far remote from their Princes and their Country, and apprehending that they had no fewer Enemies than Neighbours, gave themfelves wholly to war. !t was a go(M while before they were governed by any other than Captain General?, who in protTefs of time having gained the hearts of the Soldiers, by degrees took upon them thecontroal ?!s well of civil as military aifairs, and at length quite renounced their obedience to their Sd» veraigns. Our two Captains that were moft famous, /igiomnd Ibor were the laft that wcfe only contented with that Authority, and you well know how many vidories they gained, and in how many battels they overthrew xhcVandals our particular Enemies. . ^|ifl«dy'd hden with renown, leaving behind him as a confnlation for our Lofs, a Son who had alrea- dy t^gnaliz'd himfelt in nrany encounters. Thereupon all the Lombards foon agreed to con- fer upon that Son, that is to fay the fanious Agelmond^ all the commands and employments of his illullrious Father, and charm'd with the greatnefs of his courage-, they went a little N n n :^ farthet 46.8 PHARAMOND. Part IX. farther and created him King, at the fame time that the Prjnk^s raifed ?haramntid to the fame dignity. We immediately became profperous under this torm of government, and foon grew to be the terror of our Enemies. The formidable ^gf/woW having ^iven them many overthrows, invaded their Territories, and hke a torrent that no ftrength of nature can flop, he overturn'd whatever oppofed the fury of his Arms, Infom.uch that Embafla- dors were fent from all parts, either to compofe fome war or enter into fome alliance or q. ther: And there were few Princes inGennany^ that were not glad to embrace tiie friend- ihip of a Nation, flulhed with vi(ftory. The Fj«(^<»//,maugre their haughty pride, fued to us for peace, and other Nationsthat were at war with us, followed their example \ even the potent King of the Hnm himfelf, delired to be our confederate : after he had loft the molt confiderable part of his forces, in the abfence of the invincible Balamir. After that for fome time we enjoyed afecute peace, which tranquillity it fclf was not unprofitable, for it foon brought forth plenty and civility. In fliort, Agelmond governed his Kinedomi with an admirable prudence, he took care to eftablilh the religion of his Fathers, and the moft noble Arts and Sciences : and to temper that auftcre hercnefs which we had contra ry pains himfelf, dclTrousto (hare in the honour which they both cxpcdfed toacquire.whilc the Prince of thcVeuedes his Brother, went to the Sea-fide to the Provinces allotted to his Government, to raile forces in thofc parts, while all tilings are in a hurley hurley in the vart extent of ground that obeys the Sarmatian King, and that the people talk of nothing but Arms and Engines of war, all the neighbouring Nations beheld thofe preparations ; and though they conjcdured, that in probability this Tempelf threatncd only the H/<«/, they negledted not however to prepare for their own fatety, and to put themfelves into a poftureof dctence, againlt fo formidable an Enemy. The 5«r/aMj, the Viduriafif, theO- manes, and the Velnceons, and in a word all the Nations that drink the waters of the Viada, and VifluU, behind Corrodan and the Mountain Afaburges^ to the tountrics of the SiJenians^ and KuticUatss, all thefe people fortified their frontiers toward the Gytbons and TbynniaHs, being a part of Sarmatia^ and raifed a great Army which they rendc7vous'd near Cilifia. On the otiicr l]dc< M'miJif:c loft not one moment of time, he aflembled all the forces of theHttns, and to render them equal to thofe of his Enemies i he drew out all the people out of. both the F aniwnia'' j , Vac'ia, and the higher and lower Mi5c judging he might have fome defign to fall into Pacia^ ad« vances with all fpced, intending to make Stmniatia the feat of a war, which he knew could rot but prove very bloody. The two Armies met in the Province of the Avarines^ where they came to blows without delay, maintaining the fight with fo much fury and obfiinacy. that above lixty thousand men were facrificed to the ambition of their Princes. The Sarmatians loll a far lefs number than their Enemies, fo that they remained Mafters of the field, and the Mttns were forced to retire in diforder toward Carpathui, being Mafters of all the Avenues at that vaft mountain. • ' . In the mean while the Nations whom I have mention'd, lying upon the Viada and the Viliula, being joyned in a confederacy together, not only faw themfelves in an inltant out of all danger, but fo obferving that the 5<«r-Wi»t/ach, while tbe King his father and the Prince of thcVcnedes^ ad- Vanc'd ^n iheother lide towatd the Province of the Ar^wis^ with an intention to march on as 470 FHARAMO ND. F kkt IX as far as the Vanub'm. Mundific finding with a more than ordinary vexation that as fa ft as his Enennies Forces increased, his own as faft diminilh'd, rcfolv'd to fctk to the King of the Lombards for aid", and that he might obtain the more confiderable allifiance, he was re- folv'd to intercede in perfonfor it: and this the rather, feeing his prefence in the Army was not fo ufeful in afeafon unfit for adion, belldes that he had left the famous Keva his Lieu- tenant to command in his room. To Califia theretore he came, and there fmds Ao^elmond^ where, though he had but an.ordinary fuit to make, yet the interview between tho(e two Princes was doubtlefs very extraordinary and magnificent. Mundifu preparing to fpeak with that refped which perhaps he would not have (hewed at another time: ^/r, faid he to the Kingof the Lombards^ if the Huns have been overthrown by the Sarmatians, they have thir confolation for the forrorv of their defeat : for by reafon of their alliance with the great Agel- mond, they may ajjure themfelves to vanquifhin their turn by vertue-of his effijiance. "Sir^ " anftvered the King my Majier, we (hall never refufe to aid the Confederates of the Lo/w- ^' bards ^ fince we never deny it to any Nation that is in diftrcfs, though they have no o- "ther right.but their misfortune to demand it. I confefs ajfo that you may perhaps have " betcer fuccefs with a confiderable reinforcement i for that the valiant Prince of tReH««j "being overcome by multitude, the Sarmatians will foon lofe their advantages when the " number of their Enemies (hall encreafe by theaccellion of our Forces to your Army, After fuch obliging cxpreilions as thefe, the two Princes not onl^ continued their famili. arity, but alfo for two days confulted together of every thing that might concern fo im- portant a War. 1 (hall net however recount the particulars of their Conferences, nor the circumfiances of a fatal engagement that afterwards occafioned fo many dire mi(haps : only this T muft not omit, thzt Mundific ohu'in^d whitevct he Kq\itl\cd' o( Agelmond; only he departed from Califia not fo well fatisfied with Agione -. for if he fpake of her as of the faireft Princefs of the world, yet he complain'd of her as the moft infenfible perfon that ever was. In (hort. Sir, it may fuffice that you will fee by the fequel of this Relation the effedsof that journey which the Prince ot theHnas made to the King of the Lombard/, to how many Royal Families they were tragical, through the over-tuling force of deHiny. So foon as the Spring of the year permitted them to take the Field, Agelmond ordered his Soldiers to their Rendezvous, to the end he might ma^kea general Mulkr i.and finding his Army to ccnfifi of above fixty thoufand fighting men, betook arefolution to pafstheFi-r (?k/j, and to mvdidc Sartnatia. But he was no fooner there arriv'd, when he felt a di(tur- banceinhis mind, to which he had not been accuftomed s'and refledling with furprifeupoa thofe unufual commotions, heconjedured them to proceed from no other caule than the vat^nelsofthofe extraordinary defigns which he had undertaken, upon the fight of that mighty Monarchy which he was about to affail. PrepoffLfs'd with thofe thoughts, and full ot that iiaughty confidence that accompanied him in the mo(f hazardous enterprifes. He exhorted his Army in thefe few words with an afpe(S fufficient to infufe courage into the moft timorous of his Soldier?. • "K /\Oji valiant Lombards, having triumphed over the Wznizh, and fo many other Nation/^ J\' 1 you fee that the Vinn^^ famous for many Vidories, fue for a0ance, and that roe are noxv come into Sarmatia to declare vfen war againji the mnji potent King in Europe. See here, my gemraui Friends, what was wantingto complete our Glory, here beholdthat which will purchafe us aperfeU immortality, which we may gain with lefs trouble than fuccefs. 1 confefs that we are going to ajjail an Enemy who has no lefs Provinces in his Dominions than we have Cities, but which they will hardly defend againji a warlike Army accuftomed to ViUorjj. Are they not a multitude of people undifciplin'd, which their own number puts into cmtfufion, and which we (lijll diforder before we can charge .<' Along then my friends, and cheerfully ht us vanquifh this multitude, and then we floali extend our Conquefts fo far, that advancing to the remotefl Cli- mates of this vaji ^mpire, we fhall caufe our power to be ackjtowledg'd in thofe places where our name is hardly yet kjtown, how famous foever it be among thofe Nations that are {{nown to us already. He had no foone* fpoken, but the Lombards with loud (howts and acclamations teftified their noble impatience to follow their valiant Prince wherecvcr he condud^ed them. So that ^gf/mo«(i according to the refolution which he had taken with MrtW///c, aiming to make a Diverllon, and having march'd very hafd to meet the King of the Sarmatians, he refolv'd to give him Battel, notwithlTanding the inequality of their numbers. While he was marQialling his own Troops, the Enemies omitted nothing on their part > and Har- tuaxes a hardy and bold Prince (Tiewed a very great deal of activity and experienc^ in exfr ' cuting Book 1Y. P H J K A M N D, 47,1 cuting the ordeis of the King his Brother, hut all liis diligence pro v'd in vain i tiznSt I have only eutred their dominions to fuccour my Allies. And therefore in regard Trinct Agathyrfis has obtained great advantages againfi the Huns, there rviH be no difficulty to makf a peace between two Kings ^ that have mutually tryed their jirength which they find to be foequal^ as not to defire the hazard and chance of many Battels, While he fpake, Vorcira n6t only began to look moreaflfuredly, but alfo more earnellly beheld the King of the Lowi^r^/, than 'tis to be thought it became her to have done at fuch a time. " After (lie had confidered a while i Sir, faid flie, the fucce^ that accompanies you in fight ^ may render us miferable, but it ff^all never hinder us from being juji. For my part^ 1 cannot ce^l my eyes upon the- reliques of our fcattered Iroops^ nor turn them toward thofe Toft'W/ which you have a>oH, without affirming at the fame time that never any Conquerour was more generous^ than the valiant King of the Lombards, mr did lever find any thing more obliging^ than your man' ner cf behaviour toward thofe p&rfons, who have offered up their prayers for your confufon^ and ftiV bewail your viUory. She thus concluded, when Gilifmene to whom the chief Prieft hadalfo fpoken, difcover- ing her face > difplayed a thoufand charms and darted a dazling Luftre from her eyes. The ftar that uftierj in the day appear'd not half, fo bright, after (he had difpell'd thofe clouds, that had overcaft her face. Nor could the apparition of a Goddcfs cnviron'd with fplendot, have difplayed more lively beams, nor haveaftoni(hed a mortal with more furprifeand ve- neration. I need not tell you thztGilifmene^s (hape is ftreight, her deportment herce and noble, only this I muft fay that (he deeply wounded the heart of Agelmond. For you mu(^ know that all the lineaments of the Sarmdtianfx'mctk are regular to rhe very exadJnefs of proportion, that her complexion is beyond imagination, being adorn'd with that white- nefs, that vivacity, that freflinefs, and that flower "of youth which is ufually ehe foul oi beauty. Admirable was the proportion that opened her vermilion Lips, and certain Teal's that flowed thither and there fiopp'd, feemed tome as if they there fought to terminate, their courfe with honour, having taken their fource from two fountains altogether celeltial. For in (hort, never was feen any thing more beautiful than Gilijmene''s eyes, their colour blew, and though fweet, large, and fairly difianc'd, yet they fparkle and are full of vi- gour. The flames which they darted forth even in that time of fadnefs, indead of being quenched by her Tears, brake through thcfe precious clouds, and received a brighter Luftre from their Eclipfe. All thefe wonders of which T ought to have given a more eloquent defcription, were ac- companyed with a grace that moft admirably became tliem, and which the prefent misfor- tune had in fome fort auginented : But then the carelefs attire of GiUfmene^s head , let fall upon her Neck and fome part of her Shoulders feveral curling locks of white fair hair, which though it were a Treafure fo profufely fcattered abroad, yet had a fecretcharm to move thofe perfons that wereleaii covetous of fuch kind of riches : at rirfi thea(ioni(h'd Kingof the Ltfw^jr^/ (iood like a Statue, afterwards he greedily furveyed the Beauties of Gilifmene : And as he had the fatal command, he had the leifure to fee to be engaged and !ofe himfelf- He feemed to feel feveral other paflions, which feemed only to increafe for the ftrcngtheningof that, which had got poffellion in his foul. He could not think upon G<- lifnene's fadnefs, but with an excefs of grief, nor could he without as great a fatisfa(3ion behold himfelf in a condition to render fuch extiaordiarny kindneflfes, as lay in his power, to that beautiful Princefs. And if compaflion ai;d repentance foftned his heart, his bloom- ing joys opened it to love, and all things at length made way^to admit that cruel palli6n, or rather fcrved to eftablifh its tyranny. Agelmond already defperately enamoured, could neither fpeak nor think wh^t he had to do, when the chief Priefi to put him out of that inelancholy fit, defired leave to fing a Thanksgiving Song. The King had no fooner given liis confent in two words, but he be- took himfelf again to feed his eyes, with that miraculous beauty which dertiny laid open to his view, but afterwards tranfported with a violent pallion that he could not moderate i Madam^ faid he, if you be the divinity of this Temple, as thefe Celejlial Kaysltbat dart from yoHrfair countenance^ are apt to perfwade me \ you may fee into my Soul and there difcover J)on> great Book IV. PHAKAMONb. 47^^ peat is my grief to have been the caufe nf yottrs, Tntt may fee with thofe divine eyes that pette- irate every tvhere, tfhether I rvould wtt fjcrijice the laji drop uf my blood, to jiup thffe tears that thave cjufed to trick,le dotvi^your fair Cheeks. Ah Sir, anfwered flic, offend not the (Jods I befeech you, take notice that yon are in a place confer jted to them, and that you onlyjfeakto an unfortunate Princejl, upon tvhum Heaven snly hokj in anger. But hotp incensed foever it may be againj} me, though it has raifedyou up to deliroy the Royal Houfe of the Sarmatians > your be- baviottr has been fo generous, that 1 quejiion not but I may gieak in the behalf of the King my father, 7>/, Sir, (added (he with a melting languiOiment, that had fomething in it inli> niteiy moving) 1 conjure you to have that kjndnefifor that unfortunate Prince, iphiclp my Sex may oblige you to have for me. In the Name of the Gods fuffer me to tvait upon him, that 1 may carry fome part of his chains, and link^ my fa^Un his. The Air wherewith (Vie fpokc all this whWf_ having made an imprelliop far more power- ful in tlie foul of tlie padionate King, he caft an Amorous look upon GiUfmene, he (Ighed without being able to return her an anfwer. But then when his eyes had promifed nujrc than the Printc(s requefied, and that he was preparing to fpeak •, he durft not proceed, fee> jng himfclf obliged to turn toward the Altar, by reafon the Anthem was begun. So fooq as it was ended, heolTeted the Princefllstocondudthemeither to their Palaces, or to what Wher place they would chufe, and to that purpofe giving order that thofe Ladies who had the principal charges about their perfons fliould attend i he prefented his hand to Cilifmene and gave me command to lead Vorcira. He went out of'the Temple, the High Prieft go- itj^ before, and followed by an infinite number of people, blefling and praying for him all the way. But the pleafure which he had, to lead his adored Gilifmene by the hand was rtiiy'd with a difcontent, that he coulci not dicourfe his affedion to that fair Princefs : For he was continually hindred by the throngs of people, that threw themfelves at his feet, or By the L«»mW . / As he entred into the Tent where the Princeffes Father w^s guarded, his heart faii'd him, being the Hift time he had found himfelf liable to fear. Agelmond was at tirft furprifed at, thofe new motions, but afterwards he called to rnind, that he might be undaunted in bat- tel, yet tremble upon fuch an occafion ; That that courage which made him venture, upon an Army of a hundred thoufand men, ought to give way to other paffions, in encounteis. of a ditferent nature : And in ftiort that he ought not to think it ftrange,if he did not prefenit' fiimfelf fo boldly before the Ring of the Sarmatians, when he confidcied that the I^rfrice*; O o o who 474 PHARAMOND. Part IX. who had reafon to hate hitn, had alfo the fole right of difpofing the admirable Gilifmene. The two Kings had a mutual refpedt one for the other at their firit Enterview. So that the King of the S received /4ge//wo«(/ as his Conquerour : and on the other fide, my Mafter looked upon him not only as a great Monarch,*but as the Father of that di- vine' perfon whom he ador'd : S/r, faid he, you are free, go and receive into your frcteciion all thofe yonr Sttbjeds who have fjtbmittedto our power \ but rvhile I abandon to you both my Intereft and my dnque^s, give me leave to plead if or my Allies rvben yo:t fljaV be out of our Camp^ •and at liberty to aU mthout controul. Ah, Sir, ( eryed the King of the Sarmatians, charm'd with Agelmond's Generolity ) what an Enemy have the Gods raifed up againji wf, and what fuccefs can 1 hope for, having fo much virtue to fight again\i. But it if not reafnahle that you fljouldvanattip me in all things, or that after you have overthrown me in Battel, andtal^entny "towns you {hould triumph over my Generefny,^Uyere remains yet fufficienl hope for me to re- cover my felf, by means of the vidorioui Arms o^Sgathy rfus, and by reafon of the vajinef! of my Dominions ; for as yet only thofe Countries lying upon the Viftula have felt the force of your Arms. Thofe Nations thatdrink^ at the two heads of Borylthenes, that obey me on both fidet the Tanais are aU yet entire, and/ire able to furniCii me withal to aU either for the Lombards, or »/^^ Huns whatever the great kgdmond (l^iall command me. My Mafter anfwered him in few words, That Prince Agathyrfm would cafily fpare him that pains i and therefore ashedefired nothing more than to reftore the King of the Sat'- matians to the Princefs his Daughter. He gave the King to underftand, that he might de- part when he pleas'd, and that he was impatiently expeded at home by his children, and by his people. Thus the fwo Kings return'd from the Army to the City, where but two hours before defolation raged in a moft terrible manner. Vorcyra teftificd her fatisfaifiior. to fee her Brother i znd GilifmeHe, who had an inconceivable affedion for the Prince, was not Miftrcfs of the motions of her own heart, gave evident teftimonies thereof^ which (he intermixed with thofe of her own refpc(ft. "_j\. Many other advantages attended upon the ptefent favours (hewed to thofe llluftrious perfons. For Agelmond drew vff his Army from the City where his Princefs' jeilded, in- tending they (hould take tfieir march toward the r//{«/Mf«f, replyed he very readily, for I ima- " gine it would not be as ftrange, that a Prince who gave a bting to fuch a divine perfon *' (hould fail in his acknowledgment, as it is impolhble iox Agelmond to fight againft the " Brother of Gilifmene. Then doubt no more, Viginizm, of the fuccefs of our Army, and " I wifti to Heaven, added he (ighing, that I had as much reafon to hope for fuccefs in thofe "other defigns which I have. All, Viginizus, how charming is the Princdfs Gilifmene! " But alas ! the King her Father is a powerful Potentate, in comparifon of a Prince that on- *' ly reigns in one corner of Germany. Inftead of exprefling himfelf any farther, he bluOvd and looked difcompofcd, after' wards walking about the Room in a great pallion, he ftudied for fome pretence to vifit the King of the Sarmatians, not being able to live long abfent from the Princefs his Daughter. He was very much perplexed in what manner he ftiould make this vilit ; for it wis not re- gular to go among thofe that were rejoycing for a Vidory which they had obtain'd over his Allies; nor would the Lav/s of good Deportment permit that he (hould (hew liimfelf fad in a place Book IV. PHAKAMOND, 47^ place wh&re tliere was nothing but gladncfs, crpccially before a Princcfs whorcpaflioiis fi^ delircd (hould fympatliize vvitii his. wliilc his mind was thus perplexed witli variety of thoughts, a SJimJtian of great quality from the King his Malkr, who told him that the King dill prcferv'd the fame; inclinations, and that he looked upon the v'i^oij oi Agathyrfiis only as a means to bring down the haughty ficrccncfs of the H««/,and make them more v/jl- ling to come to terms ot acccurmodation, and that he would have come in perfon to give him the fame affurance, had he thought it convenient at a time when their intcrefls were fo contrary. A^elmond was overjoyed at this complement ■■, for befides that it came from the ftin- cefs's Father, it determined his irrefolution, and gave him an occafion to vifjt the King of the Sarmatijn$. Thither therefore he went, but when he was jult readyto fee Gi/z/wcMf his heart laboured undcra new agitation : for the amorous Prince not being able to keep cn- clos'd in his Breallall the violence of his palilon, hoped for fome eafe by giving the incom- parable perfon, who was the real caufe of it, forae knowledge thereof: but then confidering that Gil ij metie W3S the Daughter of one of the greateft Kings of the world, and that (he might have received fome time before fome imprelfions of hatred againft the Hum and their Allies. He changed his mind, being troubled with a deadly fear left he might provoke the Piincefs that he fo muchador'd. But that he might not hefitate upon an uncertainty which appear'd fo cruel, he took an immediate refolution, and confidering how much the Royal Hcufcof the5<»r«»<»/;j«/ was obliged to him, he perfwaded himfelfthatit was abfolutc- ly nccefiary that Gilifmene (hould undcrftand his pa(lion. For thereby bethought the Prin- cefs would not only take into confideration what he had already done, but atfo what he might farther do out of his alTedion to her, efpecially fince there was fuch probability of a Treaty likely to begin. That fuch a publication of his love would alfo be of great weight to juftiHe his proceedings before all the world, that he might not be accus'd for not know- ing how to profecute his vidories, biit rather be with fome kind of pity excus'd when people underltood that imprudence had no ("hare in his Adions, feeing that love was the on- ly caufe of what he had done. Thus the Prince (ulTering himfelf to be guided by a perfwafion fo pleafing, and which he apprehended to conformable to reafon, rtfolv'd without delay to let Gilifmene underftand that (lie only reign'd with foveraigncontroul in the heart of Agelmond, fo that having vifi- ted the King of the 5ar/«jt/j«j-, and excus'd himfelf tohim that he durft not prefume to TV Mt upon Hir/Hi»OT/ whom he had wounded with his own hand, he wentdirecSIy to the Princcfs's Apartment , he tound her in a cheerful humour, with only one of her Maids of Honour, with whom (lie waS talking of Agathyrfm^s vidtory. Vorcira was iu the Prince of the Venedians Chanfiber, whom (he tenderly lov'd ; infomuch that Amafta ( for that was the name of GUifmene't Favourite ) being retired to the reft of her AiTociates, Agelmond faw his opportunity to fpeak to the Princels without being overheard. He render'd thanks to love, but in(kad of having the power to open his lips, all that he could do vvas to ad- mire the fair eyes of Gilifmene. He beheld them with fuch evident figns of a violent paf- fion, that the Princefsblufli'd and looked down upon the Ground: but at length fcarine- perhaps that /^gc/woK^ (liould farther exprefs his mind, (he took the confidence to begin the difcourfe, and to ground it upon a fubjed contrary to what intentions (lie thought the King of the Lombards might have. To that intent (lie chofe an argument that was gene- rally .talk'd of i and believing there was nothing more proper than to talk of a vidory which was the only news at that time, 6'/r, faid (he, you fee that we are not altogether unfor- tttnate^ and that Ah^ Madam, faid he, interrupting her v^'ith a figh, 1 k>ion> very reell that the King of the Sarmatians is very formidable, 1 l^nnrphe has a pnn-er fu.f.cient io o- vercome all the Natimis that (}jall atni themfelves againji him, that he has in bis ott-n Family fufficient to defeat them, andthat he has vanquipjed Mundific hy the valour of Agathyrfus and triumphs over Agelirmnd through thi charms of the divine Gilifmene. Tes Madam yoar eyes won him a triumph over the King of the Lombards : from the firji time I faw thofe ce- lefiial eyes, I felt my heart engaged to do them homage •, and it ceas''d to he free rehrleyou load-- ed me with fetters in the midji of my Conquejh. Though there were nothing in thefe words v;hich the moft fcrupulous virtue could dis- approve. The Princefs of the Sarmatians however could not forbear to appear difcom- pos'd, and as it were (omewhat otTended, infomuch that my Mader fearini^ to receive fom^ ievere anfwer, inllead of giving Gilifmene leave to reply, proceeded in thefe words, / Be- Jeech you. Madam, faid he, let not the conftfions of the mo^ refpedfui pafton that ever tva< prnvoke your anger againii a Frince that adures you. Confuler I adjure yoti, that crneltv ill bc- ismes a ConqueroHr ia ivhom the Captive yieldsncith an entire fubmifjion. And if you think _ O o o 2 thft% 47^ PHARAMOND. Part IX. thit the King of the Lombards has not altogether made an ill ufe of his viclory, can yoH^tnofl an- gelical Princefi^ difrionouT yoHTj by an AUion fg inhumans ? would you imbrue it in the blood of Agelmond, in the death of a Prince who mtili renounce his life, if you permit him not to be obe- dient unto your larvs. He fpoke with fo much vehemency, and beheld Gilifntene with eyes fo biightly fparkling with the fire of his love, that the Priiicefs was in a greater perplexity than betore. At firit the King of the Lombards protellations feem'd a little too bold, and perplexed her : but as (he was about to have (hewed the marks of her rcfcntment, the foft whifpers of equity ba- lanc'd that pretended injury, with the efftdual obligations which (lie owed to fo generous a Prince, and perfwaded her at length to return this anfwcr. 5/>, faid (lie, 10 bear in mind with Jo muih acknotvledgment, rvhatyou have done for our Family ; that I am niling to pafl by what you have now [aid to me^ on condition that you never gieak^more of it, or that you never fee me more. Kaiher^ Ccryed he with a new difcompofure in his countenance) rather forget what you tell me 1 have done, but without intermifton, bear in remembrance that Agel- mond adores yoM, and that if be could demean himfelf after fuch a manner, as was not altogf' ther dijpleafmg, before he was animated with that noble paffion that controuls him, there is no* thiucr now which be dares not enterprife, for the divine trincefi that reigns in his heart. He if ready to lay down his life for Gilifmene, he is ready to facrijice even his honom for the life of that fair Prince^. He had no fooner concluded thofe words, but Dorcira eiitrcd, and perceiving the fiffe that, gliftned in' Agelmond's Eyes, (lie cafi: her own upon Cilifmene''s face, and there obferv'd a difturbance not ufual, with a petfon of her moderation and prudence. At the fight there- of (he appeared furprifed and troubled, but her natural courage quickly ridding her out of that amazement, (he interrupted the filence •w\ik\\ Agelmond zuA Gilifmene HCiW obferved. Or I am deceived, (faid (he to my Mailer, not tying her felf to any exadincfs of circumfpe- ftion) or elfe your difcourfe has not been common, "'tis very true Madam, replyed Agelmond^ (labouring to recoiled himfelf ) that we are deeply pleafed with the ftibjeci of our difcourfe^ it being as true that Agathyrfus'/ viUory gave us the occasion. I cannot tell (replyed (lie, in lan- guage too difobligi«g to Gilifmene) whether it were the Princef? that began the difcourfe of thefuccefiofour Arms againji Prince Mundific ; but I confef for my part, Ipould never havecho- fen the defeat of the Huns, wherewith to entertain the King of the Lombards. And (lie had witiiout doubt pur(ued her picquant beginnmg, had not tiie King of the Sarmatians inter- rupted them by coming into the Room, who immediately addreffing himfelf to my Ma- iler ■■, Sir, faid he, when you came to this Chamber I went ]tervien>^ mutually fympathiz'd, that theyfoon underitood to rvhat they were dejini'd^ and that at the fame time min^ ' fubmltted to your laws : lours ^ through thofe perfwafwns that made you perceive tbeporver^vchkb you had over Agelmnnd'j rri//, gave yon a confidence that renders yon cruel, and me miferable ' Bat reign however^ divine, Prinr.efi, reign in the heart of the Lombard King, and never fitjfeCi ^ revolt in a place where your power is fo abfolute. Since you have forbid me to expref my felf in xphat concerns my pafion, 1 will only makf ufe of my tears andfghs, and only empliy my rejpeil and diligence. But infenfible Vrincefi, 1 will ff>eak^ in that manner and of fo great ferv ices, I wil' Jpeak^, xvith fuch an entire and abfolute refgnation of my felf to your commands ,^ that without doubt yort ■ u>iU underjiawd my language, and at length perhaps hear me without reludancy. Behold G'\V\i'' mene, after what manner 1 intend to combat your Antipathy, behold the weapons which I will tnal^e ufe of againji you. "fo morrow 1 will begin to affail your heart, by caufing my Army to rf- tUove, and not bein/ able to abfent my felf front that which I adore, return my felf to Tamyraque; There neill I furrender my felf up into the power of the King your Father, and that of your fair eyes ^ tbofe CelejUal Eyes that are more dreadful to me , than all the forces of Sar- matia •• In (horti We broke up the next day,and the Amorous Agelmond being defirous to flruggle with himfelf, in favour of an Army that was fo dear to himinot only forc'd himfclf to take leave of the Court of Tamyraque and to depart s but alfo for two days together, rtiarched at the head of us very chcarfully. True it is that at laft giving over the Combat, with a pallion that wholly raigned in his foul, he yielded to its imperious pa/fion, inftead of cotitri- ving any farther violence to rtfift it. Then the tendernefs of that Prince evidently appear'd, 3S well by the frequent fighs which it forced from his breaft ■■, as by a fott larguifhmenr,fhat difplayed it felf in his looks and in his adions. After that, a profound melancholy feizing his mind, and opprelling his heart fo much the more, by how much the farther he remov'd from Gilifmene, we perceived I'n an inftant an alteration in his health, being our felves imme- diately furprifed with fadnefs. In (hort, as our Army kept their eyes fixed upon the King, and that their Prince was really the foul of that great body, it was no wonder that Agel- nund's grief foon became the forrow of all the Lombards : or if they earneftly fought the caufe of an alteration fo fudden and fo ftrange. Every body made their conjcdures upon It, when my Mafter mov'd with the love which Tiis Army had for him, and befide thar,not being willing to fuffer the growth of an evil, that every day gathered new ftrength ; fent for me into his Clofet, and after he had carneftly beheld me ; " Vtginizus, faid he, I believe "you will not be furprifed, when I fliall tell you that! pallionately love the Princefs of the *'■ Sarmatians. The Lurtre of her quality and beauty fufficiently Authoriie my flame> and "I talk the Icfs of my pallion, to find whether you approve it, to the end you may fecond *' me with your care and aililtancc. We mulf therefore return to Tamyraque, (ince it is im- *'po(fib!'e for me to live abfented from thd light of Gilifmene, which 1 may the better do m *' regard the treaty of peace, which we are luddenly to begin with the King of the Sarma- ^'■jians, is a good excufefor me for having fent away my Army, without expoling my pr6» *'ceedings to cenfurc. "Sir, (anfwered I without making any wonder at his confeffion) it is *'n(5 extraordinary thing that the charms of a fair Princefs, fhould have fome pov^er oVer "the heart of a young King: Or that the fame heat which carries the valiant King of the ' Lombards to meet the greatell of dangers, fl^ould vender him capable of receiving thofe " impreflions which a beauty may make. Nor were we ignorant before, what were your *' thoughts for the Princefs Gilifmene, for by all that you aded to the advantage of the Sar- '■'■matians, it vv*as no difiicult thing to fee what love added at that time to your mutual ge» "neroiity, of which you gave every day fuch fignal proof?. But Sir, fliall I prcfume to " tell your Majelly, that you too much negledt thofe cautions which you might take, and "that the pallion which rules over you, dtliroys your hopes by thefe means, wheieby it "may be you think to eftablilli them ? What advantages have you not won ? jou were "Mafter of feveral places and of a great Army, you carried in your hands the fate of the "Royal houfe of 54)-Wiij/'.i, and when the Father of Gi/'/wfKf could have recovered neither *' the Cities which you had taken nor his liberty, but by yeilding the Princefs his daughter *'to be Queen oi the Lombards s think you he did not believe himfclf very much beholding " to Gilifmene^s beauty and Agelmond'i affection ? Could he accufe a Conquerour for rcrto- ''ring his prifoner to his Throne > . , Upon thofe words, my Mafier fancying to himfclf that he might perhaps have cafily ob-^ caincd the poGcllioh oi Gilifmene^ pleafed himfclf in the content of fo fwcet a r-ontemplariqni,> Bui: 478 PHARAMOND. Part IX. But when the thought of having loft fo fair an opportunity had difturbed that pleafurc, No^ no, Viginizus, faid he. It is not juji that tt>e flrmUi pitrchaje fo great a felicity at fo ea- fte a rate <, er that the faireji conqueli in the world JJmild coji fo little, I agree. Sir, laid I, that the Primefi of the Sarmatians is a Princefs altogether extraordinary. But 1 believe at the fame time that your manner of aUing has not been fo very common neither.^ nor can I teu nhc' ther there be many PrinceJJes that have let go fo many advantages as you have qtntted ifor . Bk(, faid he halhly, interrupting me, are there many Gilifmcnes in the rvorld to produce fucb experiments often ? No, Sir, anfwered I, there U but one, m more is there but one Agel- mond ■■, fo that if few Trinceffes are comparable to the Sarifiatian, few Kings are equal to the valiant King of the Lombards. Ah, Viginizus, replyed he fighing, how far art thou pre- pojj'tfs'd in favour of me ! But how foon wouldji thou ki'ow the difference between the celejiial Gilifmene and the Prince that adores her, had you lef good wi'J for Agelmond .' IFcre you yourfelf faid I, fomewhat lefi prepnjjefs'd with the lave of the Sirmztnu PrincefS, it may be^ Sir, you would find that I fpeak^ reafon, and that you had payed fnffxiently for the alliance of a Prince who was your prifoner upon the defeat of hU Army. How, replyed he impatient- ly, ^«^o« /;5>/«/^«j57f«n»f n^ere d We tj pay for a treafiire of fo infinite a value '^ JFould you that Agelmond, whofe humour you kflow, jhould have made thefe pretences out of a falfe Genero- fity to receive more considerable ? ibink^you I had been perfedly happy, had I obtained the en- joyment of Gilifmene without having mov'd or merited her heart ? Or that the only misfortune of the Sarmatians had forced a confent from that beautiful Princefs that ought to be always vo' luntarj, and that (l)ould proceed only from the meer motion of the inclination? <(4/:', Viginizus, it is that fire which I mufr labour to kindle in her heart, tnfread of fe^kjng to obtain that Angeli- cal Princeflby intere{i of State ; and to the end I may attain to an end fo glorious, I amrefolv'd to peri(h, or elfe far to outdo whatever you fay I have hitherto perform" d: let Uf go to Tarny* raque, whither my fate calls me to what 1 love, let us go and offer to Gilifmene But^ Sir, (anfwered I, not being able to forbear interrupting him ) will you leave your Army ^ jnil you go alone into a City where your Generofity has not yet abfolutely obliterated tl^remem' brance of thofe loff'es which they fu{\ained by your valour ? As for my Army, faid the King, that jhall march under the conduct of Grimoaldus, and take you no care for my perfon when I am at the Court of a King whofe virtue jf foweH known. Befides, I kjiow that for my fakf he has fent for Agathyrfus, n>ho has alfo fent himfelf to offer peace to the King of the Huns: though if nothing of this were true^or that I were to meet a certain death at Tamyraque before I could poffibly fee my PrJncefr, I would rather chuje to run to mv dejiruaionfo near Gilifmenejf ^j?j preferve my life by abfenting my felf from that angelical perfon. After all this oppofe not my refolution, but if you love me prepare to follow me. Thofe words impofmv^ lilence upon ire, I was glad of the opportunity to (hew ho.w zealoufly I would endeavour to maintain that precedency with which he had honoured me, making it my only buiinefs to rivet that chain which linked me to a Mafter fo great, and fo good withal. The nex day the King of the Lombards having bellowed extraordinary Gratuities a- mong the Soldiers, and taken order for every thing that was convenient, committed thenv to the condadoi Grimoaldus, giving it out that he was going to the general peace, which was true in part, though it was not his particular defign. He departed then for the Court oiSarmatia with a fair and numerous Train : whether it were that he thought to make out the pretence of his going by that preparation: or whether it were that he was willing to*fol- low theinftigations of a palfion,which ofttimes delights as much in Magnificence and State, asitisufually pleas'd toadmyfterioufly in all its concernments. When we iarriv'd atT^iwy- Mijxe there were none that were not overjoyed at the fight of Agelmond, unlefs it was Har- maxes s and yet the King inftead ofdiaring in the joy which he had caus'd, felt a new accefe of difcontent.The conftraint which he was obliged to put upon himfelf was more cruel than before, by reafon that after anabfencehe fawtohis thinking new charms in his Princefs's eyes, oratleaft he faw them in earnefl, at a time when peace and tranquillity had return'd all thofe Graces to her eyes, which the misfortune of her Country had eclipsed. Butnot- withftariding all thofe tranfportments of love caus'd by that accefs of Beauty, Agelmond'% lips were faithful to the will of Gilifmene, fo that the filencc which he kept, though infup- portablc, made up only a part of my Malkr's fufferings ; for Vorcira began to love iiim much more, and to hate the Princefs i and Harmaxes, who had a pallion concealed at the bottom of his heart for Gilifmene, of which he was not a.ware before, knew then by the Competitorlhip of an illulkious Rival what it was that troubled him, ^id at the fame time conceiv'd an antipathy againit the King of the Lombards, and a, more iirong atfcd-Jon tor the Sarmatian Princefs. Thus Vorcira and Harmaxes croiTed Agelmond^ dclign, though their intentions proceeded from contrary jnltigations, arid they no fcJDner mutually dif. covered t Book IV. FHARAMOND, 47.9 covered the thoughts which tlicy fcvcrally had for the Lowtiirrf Prince, but they entered iri" to a (hi<^ league, and tinding themftlves united by intcreft, as they had ever been by friend- fiiip, they promifed to ad unanimoully together, and to have recourlc to all forts of means to fupport thofe pretences which their ambition did as little authorife as their love. And another thing was, that beiidcs that the Prince of the yenediaittrcMy \ovcd Gilifhicne he looked upon her as the Hcirefs of Sarmatia^ iince A^athyrfw expos'd hinnfclf every day to extraordinary dangers. And as for Pcrc/cj flic would not have been difcontented to have obtain'd a lovely and valiant King for her Spoulc, After they had made an agreement fo fatal to the King of the Lomhardt^ that unfortu- nate Prince tound Vorcira and Harmaxes continually in Gilifme7ie''s prefence, and obferv'd that they watch'd her in fuch a manner, that not only he could not entertain the Princefs byhcrfelf, but he was never in her company bur he found himfelf conftrain'd to all the cxadnefs imaginable, and not fb much as to look awry. As he was much more fenfiblc of all that concern'd the incomparable Gilifmene^ yet when he perceiv'd that difaffedion of Porc/Vi* by fuch evident figns as put him beyond all doubt, he was infinitely difcontented at it. He forefaw that the peace and quiet of the Princefs would be every foot difUirbed by a fierce and cunning witi and he tound himfelf in a ftrange perplexity how to carry himfelf toward Vorcira. He conlidered her Birth, her Sex, and the kindnefs which flie had for him. On the other fide he beheld that Princefs with all the refentmentagainfl a perfon that hated Gilifmene that his love could infufe into himi but if he were in t!-;is racking torture in relation to Vt^irj^ he faw himfelf yet more unhappy when he. was fully affured of Harmaxa's affedbn. At firfl !ie thought that the kindnefs which the Prince had for Gilifmene^ was butthelov»e of a Kinfman i but taking notice that that pretended friend- (hip wjfs accompanied with vehemency and tendernefs, he began to conceive an affcdion fox Harmaxes, and fuffered therudenefs of hisdifpolition with more moderation. So true it is that fortune intermixes folly with the condud and prudence of the wifefl rrien. 'Tis very true that this Calm endured not long '-, for as the fame ti;:e that enflames Lovers gives them light, and that it is a difhcuh thing for them to deceive one another long, A~ gelmond fuddenly perceived t[\uliarmaxei was his Rival, how furprifingfoever an engage- ment of that nature might be. Then diving more deeply into the bufinefs out of an ordi- nary effed of love, he fancied that the Prince of the Vencdians was not at all difdain'd by Cilifinette, and to make good this perfwafion, he calle(tto mind thofe proofs of friendfliip which the Princefs had given to a near Kinfman, and upon thofe he look'd as the marks of a real paflion : nor did he attribute the Princefs's fierce anfwer whicn afflided him every moment, to any thing elfc but to G////»»e«eV being pofTefs'd in favour of Harmaxes, and that cruel thought calting defpair into his heart, had like to have made hirr. break out extra- vagantly againiT his Princefs, 'and in the midlf of his troubles 'to have a flighter opinion of her beauty than it became him. I confefs this injuifice did not long continue in the heart of the Lombard K'lng^ an4 though it vaU^U have held out againft the frail equity of that Prince, yet the fair eyes of G«///»7f«e would foonhave overcome it, The charming iTght of her was fo powerful, as fometimes to fufpend all my Mafier's difcontents : but that calrn^ foon gave way to thofe Tempells which the feveiity of Cilifmene, Harmaxes's hatred, ana* Porc/rj'/ love immediately rais'd. .while thofe different caufes concurred to render the amorous /^gelmond unhappy, there were many Councils held about the choice of a fit Minilkr to be fent to the place of Trea- ty ) and Vorcira'i Fadion proving the more prevalent, a Sarmatian nam'd Alicarfu^ en- tirely devoted to that Princefs, was fent to Carrodunaw^pomhc Frontiers of Pijc/.?, near the Spring of the River Tj"'J/ (for you know. Sir. there are three or four Cities of that name in Europe. ) To thefatisfadion caus'd by the departure of AlicarCu fuccecded that which the return of Jgathyrfu^ gave the Safmatians^ the whole Court and City were over- joyed once more to fee their Prince, ever Htrmaxes himfelf difTcmbkd the fccret malice which he bore him, and by many teftimoniesfeem'd to partake with the fame reality as he ought to have done in the publick rejoycing. I will not repeat the Carefles of the Sarma- tian King, how he embraced his Son, nor the marks of tendernefs which Gilifniene beflow- cd upon her dear and illulhious Brother i yet I may fay that there was not ever any thing more remarkable in thole publick ceremonies of gladnefs, than the enterview oi Ad^elmond and Agathyrfiis. Thofe two Princes being young, handlome, and laden with renown, be- ■held one another at firlt with furprife, aitd having already a liighelkem one for the other without any intermixture of jealoulie, they appeared not only well fatisfied, but by their looks it was evidently fecn that their prefence contirm'd the high opinion which they had mutually conceived of each other. Agathyrfm believing himfelf obliged to fpeak Hrfl, Sir^ 480 PHARAMOND. Fart IX. Sir, faid he to myMafter, I k^orv you have fo generoujly obliged the Sarmatians , that if it be true that our lo^es have gained m the amity of the great Agelmond, xve are fo far from hexvailing our misfortunes, that rve ought rather frefer them before the greatejl fucce(i of our Arms and that the moji famous of our Vidories was never of that consequence to us m one haf' py overthropp. The enamoured Agelmond was moved with that air wherewith Agathyrfns addrefs'd his fpeechi and having difcovered certain lineaments of Gilifmene in the face of a Prince thatfpoke fo obUgingly to hini, he was fo highly pleas'd, that not being able to moderate his pallion, herefolv'dto give the Generous /4g<»/V//M a glimpfe of ir. So that after he had both earneftly and pieafingly beheld him, Sir, faid he, you judge, too favouri-^ hly of a Stranger^ of whom you have yet but a fight kttoxvledge^ and I am afraid you mV change your opinion when 1 fpjall open my heart rvith all that frank>;e(i which your familiarity de~ fervet •■, and 1 cannot tell whether you will not find under the prktended liberality of Agelmond the mojl irtfatiable ambition that ever wm. Having faid ihofe words, he appeared moredifcompos'd than before 4 fo that inftead of proceeding he held his peace at the fame inftant, fearing to provoke Gilifmene by a confeflion which he thought might prove no lefs offend vc to that fcvere Princcfs, than that which (he had forbid him already to make- The Sarmatian Prince took notice of Agelmond's difcom- pofure,and though he had a fufpicion of the caufe, yet he would not put the Lombard King to explain himfelf, whether it were that fo young an acquaintance would not permit him, or that in common prudence he did not think it convenient to fpeak firft of his Sifter's Con- Quefts, Thus at this firft meeting, and at many others was my Mafter depriv'd of that eafc which he expeded 4 nor did he ever after that declare himfelf to Agathyrfh, but thcti when he could not help it, as you will find in the rehearfal of thofe ftrangfl revelations which overwhelm'd him in an abyfs of misfortunes. You muft know then. Sir, that the Deputies of the two Kings had nofooner began to confer together, but they drew a general draught of the Treaty, and fent Copies tnereof to famiraque and Alba Julia. The King of the Sarmatians having receiv'd that which Alt- earfis had fent, read it in the prefence of Agelmond, Agathyrfus and Gilifmene : neither Har- waxes nor Dorcira were ambitious to be there, (he being defirous by that careltfnefs to con- ceal how much (lie was concern'd in that Negotiation, and the P«nce of the Venedians not being able to brook that civility whtch the King his Brother (Hewed the King of the Lom- bards. The principal Articles upon which the EmbalTadours agreed, were much to this cffea. 'that both fides (l>ould reflore all the 'Tomns and Prifoners vehich they had taken: that King who had gotten moji being to pretend to Ho other advantages than the honour offliewing the great' eft marks of ViUory and Generofity. "that the Kiver Tyras and the Mountain of drp^ihus ^ouldbethe Limits of each other t dominions. That the City of Cixroiwni (liouldbe undertheprotedionof the two Kings, and remain Neu- tral at a place for general "treaties and interviews. that the King of the Lombards fhaU not only be comprehended in this Alliance, but alfo iii regard he did not enter into the War, but only to affift the King of the Huns, he may infiift upon bit damages, and fend to Carroduna to ^ate hU lojjes. that to render thif important Alliance more firm and lading, the three Koyal Families jhonld mutually bind themfelves in a double tye, not only of.Friendfhip but Affinity. that »^e Sarmatian King (hall give the Vrincefl Gilifmene to Vrince Mundific, and the King of rfc*Huns/fcal^ give the Princefi Theodolinda to Prince Agathyrfus. And that the Sarmatian Kiftg (hall beflow the Princep Dorcira upon the King of the Lom- bards, and the King of the Lombards, the Princefi A'gione to Harmaxes. So foon as the Sarmatian King had done reading, he fixed his eyes upon all thofe illuftri. ous perfons who had heard him with all the attention that a powerful intereft required « and then addrelfing himfelf to Prince Agathyrfus, Son, faid he, 7 believe you have heard ef Theodolinda, 1500K IV. r 11 ^ li. yi mu!\ u, 4?^r Theodolinda, and that it mil not be a trouble to you to tonfeUt to our happineji. j Ifjfgrv Sir,mfi(l certainly, xcp]ycd /^c^tbyrfuf, that the Princefi of the Uura it a mnii beautiful Lady, bui ttiith~ allknotp thatjhe is adored by Prince VVallia i and if he cannot move her heart, Agatliyrfus tviU but flatter himfelf too mnch^ to hope for better fuccef!. On the other fide, ;/ Wallia have giined the good rviU of ThcodoWnddi, would you. Sir ^brea^the Chain of fo fair an affeUion: or would you command me to diliurb thehappinejiofttvofuch conftderahle perfons, to be never a jot the mori fortunate ? At thofc words the Sarmatian Ring paufed a while, afterwards turning toward Gilif. tnene, infkad of making a reply ■■, " And you Daughter, /<»ic/ ^e, have you the fame rcludlan- "cy to accept oi Mundific's fervice?' Speak and take all the liberty, that ought to be allowed " upon fuch an occafion. You know Sir, anftvered (he^blufhing out ofmode{iy, tliat my obe- " dicnce only ought to anfwcr for me : but fmce your Ma jefty gives me leave, to declare tny " thoughts after another manner i I will tell your Majefty, that if you have forgot how M««. ^'difw behav'd himfelf, toward the Princefs of the Gotht and Prince Balamir^ I humbly be- " feech your Majefly, that I may revive if in your memory. You may better confider thefe " things (replyed the Sarmatian King to Gilifmene and Agathyrfus) and afterwards we will " iend our anfwer to Carroduna. Concluding thefe words he gave them a fign (o retire, and as foon as they were gone forth of the Room •, '' Sir, fatd he to the King of the Lorr.bards, I am very much troiibled " that the two ways propos'd to unite mine to the family of the King of the Huns, prove "altogether fruitlefs. But Sir, you know we ought not to put a conftraint upon the li» " berties of our children in fuch cafes as thefe. So that all that I can do out of my gratitude *' to your felf, will be to caufe Gilifmene to efpoufe Mnndific. As for Agathyrfut, you will " cxcufe me,if I make not ufe of all my Authority to force his inclinations, and I hope you " wil! confider that he is of a Sex and profellion, which tye him not to that exa<5l obedience that I have reafon to expe(ft from the Princefs his Sifter. But,Sir,I with you would your fell" difcourfe Gilifmene in favour of Mundific : She is a perfon tiiat has that acknowledgment and " eiicem for the King of the Lombards, which is altogether due to fo great a King and her "preferver, and befides that in regard you will intercede for your Ally whorn you know, *' but whom I never faw » your words will be favourably heard as the counfcl of a Friend, " while mine being only looked upon as the commands of a Father , will not be fo "pleafing. This Language furprifed the enamoured Agelmond in fuch a manner, that not being able to mitigate the anguifh which he felt all of a fudden v " Ah Sir, anfrvered he, you could not " have given me a worfe commillion, nor do I believe any perfon in the world more uncapa- "bletodifcharge it. The SarmatianKm^ feating he had difpleafed my Maftcr i "Sit, (aid "he, in taking a Liberty which you have not approved, I not only thought that the King ''of the Lombards, would have been glad of the opportunity to fpeak in the behalf of his " Confedetate.but that I was obliged to make you the judge oi Gilifmene's reafons, and con*' " fequently the witnefs of my proceedings. Agelmond being aware of the effed of that difcompofure, that had appeared in his Countenance, laboured to recoUedl himfelf : and being delirous to change the Srfrwjd/idK King's opinion ■> Sir, faid he, Idnfrvered you i» that manner, that you might tvell think^to bejirange, only to let you k^iaw that I am not fit to propound things^ that may not be well taken ; For befides that I may be fu^eCied in Ipeakjng in the behalf of Mundific, lthin\Imay be excufedof that office, and that my Alliance with him does not ob' lige me to contend with the affeUions of the Sarmatian Princeff. They would not long continue a difcourfe, v^herein they feemed to be fyed up by the fe- veral courfes they were both tc follow, fo that having taken their leaves of each other, my Mailer retired to contemplate upon this whimfical adventure that had befallen him, and the cruel defign that was intended againfi; his love. However he felt fome confolation when he called to mind, as well what the Sarmatian K\nghzd told him concerning Gi///OT?»fV thoughts, as the unwil'lingnefs which the Princefs had teftitied to efpoufe Mundific. But in the mean time that he was taking refolutions conformable to his dcfigns, and thathede* termin'd openly tooppofe all thofe that fliould be contriv'd to overturn his hof»es, thf Sarmatian i<^\T\^ applyed himfelf toVorcira, and having (hewed her what concerned her in the Articles, which had been fent him from Carroduna ■■, Sifhr, faid he, you l^fsew the Kin" of the Lombards, you are fenfihle of his generofity as well as I, and I believe you would not be trouhledtobe happy in fo renowned a husband. Sir (anfwered flie with a kind of fatisfadlion» which (he could not altogether diffemble) you have fo great an ejieemfor that Irince, andws have fo much reafon to be grateful for his kjndnef, that there is no ground tif imagine why Ifhould tnutmur at the obedience which I awe your Majejiy. 1 did expeU this anfwer from you, replyed P p p thg ^U^ * '-'■ ■^■M- -t^ -CJL j.T^ vx » » j^, X A n. i XuC\. the King, and J could mflo my Brother rvere of the fame mind as you. Cotne iheii dear Sifter let Hs go and feek^to overcome that ob{iinate antipathy^ which be has to the King of the Lombards ' and let us m longer fuffer^I befeech yon, that injupce to abide in the heart of a perfonfonearlv related to us. Sir^ reply ed Dorcira, in regard my Brother and my felf have alrvays lived to- gether^ with that trne confidence in each other^ correffondent to the equality of onr degree^ ioyn^d. to that nearnejs of blood rvhich tyes us together^ Ik^orv hU humour too rvell, ta tbink^there is any tamingthefiercenefs of it, and that injlead cf perfwading him into a compliance, we fhottld but provoke him and but drive him on, to ajj'ume upon himfelf an abfolute Authority,' to takf refolu- tions quite contrary to thofe, tthich he would have embraced of his own proper inclinatio'ts ''But, replyed the King, what can he do with his haughtinefs and his obftinacy > He may* "difpleafe you by ferae diiobedient language, replyed Dorcira, he may be fo far outragious " as to oifend the King of the Lombards,ind therefore in my opinion your Majefty will not do " amifs, to avoid both the one and the other. In the mean time I will go and fee my Bro- "ther, dnd try to difpofe him to a concurrency with us, and I will endeavour to make ''hirn ynderftandi how Generous the King of the Lombards has been to him in par- " ticular. After thefe words leaving Dorcira, he went to the Prince of the Venedians Apartment: and having fpoken to him concerning the Articles which I have recited i " I know nor Bro*. "■ that you feek to purchafe his friendfliip.But 1 alfo believe withal,that he will be fufficiently " engaged to our intereft by efpouling Dorcira, without any neceliuy of my deliring his Si- '' fter, confidering what has fallen out already. " Seeing Agiene is fo very beautiful, repli. '■'■ed the King, what will /^ge/wo«^ think of your refufal f Will he not believe thatyou have " ftill a hatred againft him, though he has aded fo obligingly in all things that concern your '' felf. I am a witnefs in perfon that he would havegivtn you a vilit, but durft nor prefume '• to do itjbecaufe he apprehended that " Ah Sir, (faid the fierce Harmaxes interrupt. ^'■ingbim) that this behaviour of his (hould conceal fuch an infuffcrable pride, under an out- " ward (hew of civility. Agelmond did not affed to (hew that refer vcdnefs which you praife "but to let you underftand that he had wounded and overcome me, and that his valour "had obtained fhofe advantages, which areoftner got by the favour of fortune than thecon- " dudt of Commanders. " You turn all things to a ftrange fence, cried the King, yet I will "overcome yourobiiinacy and you (ball efpoufe ^^/ow, becaufe I will have it fo. You " are my King, rf/^/zf^i Harmaxes with a confident behaviour, yet I do not believe your power " extends farther than that of the Gods, or that it can deprive me of the liberty which they "have given me. : He had no fooner uttered thefe words, but the King beheld him with an angry look and fo leaving him on a fudden i he went to complain of his humour to Dorcira. IFell Sifter (faid he, continuing his lormerdifcourfc) and have you found out any way yet, tofoftenthe ruggednefiqf htrdijl^ofition. I have beenjeekjng a great while, faid flic, and having fancied many ways to no purpofe^ at length, I may hit upon one that may be fuitable to your defign. But I would fain (faid (lie very cunningly,and laying her hand upon her face to hide her blu(h- ing) that yoH would think.upon fome other your felf , that] might not be obliged to tell you that t»y (ilf which modesty forbids me to think,. Speak,, dear Sifter, jjrea}{, replyed he; B«*5/>, (he replyed, // there a necefity for me to^eakto be plainly underjiood, and in a bufweft of this nature .? Have I not fufficiently expre£ed my felf infaying,that 1 dare not well prefume to expreS my felf? I partly guefi your meaning, replyed the King, youare wiUing we fl.mdd begin to ful- fil the Articles, hy^ the dtjpofal (f yo« firft : And in truth I fee no better way to accompliflj our de~ figns. For in (hort, either Harmaxes will follow your example, or at leaft he will ceafea hatred toward a Prince whom you have made.bis relation ; and if he ejpoufe not the Frincefiof the Lom- bards, Agelmond will never have any caufe to complain, that we refufe to unite our family to hif,when we have already done it in your perfon.Ihave no reafon then (aid (\\e,to make any farther dtiemm^^^ forfince itisfvryourfatisfaHionandfortbeintereji ofthe State; Ifhallbe very glad to teach the reji of the Koyal Family, to obey yonr MajelHes Commands without reluBancy. The Sarmatian King was overjoyed at this complyance, redoubled his Careffes, and told the Princefs Dore/M that he would endeavour, to underftand Agelwond's mind by Agathyrfm's peans. But 5/r, replyed (he, 1 befeechyou difcover not i our intentions, yet omit not any thing to accomplifh them with fuccefi. Let it not be made publickjo ourdifgrace, that the King of th Lombards would mt vouchfafe to accept of the Sarmatian King^s Al'iance. In fljort, added file moreover, engage neither your hono»rnormine,lcoHJ:tre you, and either ft' fak, not at all, or : ''■ _§cak. Book IV. PHAIlJMr)ND. 4§i ^eak, like •* ,?'■'''*' Ki»'^. I co'ifefl, replyed he, thai thefe cautions trere mi amif!^ hid I not to deal n>iih Agelmond. But as he kliow that generous Prince^ and l^now. him to be inclined /> friendjhig with our I'amily, we hazird n0tl)i>iii^inengantn(^hnn by degrees by the perfwafions of Agathyrfus ; and therefore rely altogether upon my care^ never fear my tvnunding a k,indne(l ivith rvhich lam Jo rpeO acquainted^ and l{iiotv to be fo ready to ferve perfons of your Sex: and I pre mife you befides to manage th'w affltr rvith more exallnefl than the humour of the Lombard Kin'-y requires. After lie had thus fatisficd Vorcira he left her ApartmenS, and no fooner was he come to his own, but he fcnt for the Sarmatian Frincc. He gave him charge dcxtroufly to dive inr to Agelmond^ thouglits, in relation to a Princcfs which was dclign'd him for a wife i and to let him know withal, that the Koyal Houfc of Sarmatia would be always ready to corr- fcnt to thofe Articles which conctrn''d him. Agathyrfiis being fully inllrud-ed by his Father went to Hnd out /(gf/fW(;«^, and undcrftanding that he wasin the Palace- Garden, he over- took him walking by the Bank of a Rivulet (o prepolTcfs'd in his thoughts, that he hardly took notice of the fair flream upon which his eyes were fixed. The Sarmatian Prince ac*' cofted him with an obliging afped, and after he had earnedly beheld his countenance, Sir^ faid he, the condition tvhcrein I find ynu^ makes me believe that your mind w not tpell at eaCe and perhaps out of adiflik^ of thofe Articles concluded at Carroduna in reference to the peace. Jf that be it^ open your heart I befeecb you to a Prince tcho is altogether at yotir devotion and mho will ajfiire you on the behalf of the Sarmatian King, that the vehole Court w more enclin'd to fubmit to the King of the Lombards rviH, than to agree to any thing done at Carroduna. The enamoured 4g^/»»flK(/ hearing thofe words fo frankly and obligingly uttered, looked \i\)0v\Ag3thyrfu(, but in regard he only (igh'd without returning any anfwer, the generous Prince of the Si^rmj^/jw/ conhrm'd in the fufpicion which he had already, 1 fee very rveV^ iS'/V, faid he, that I am not deceived in my conjertttres^ be pleated then to fpeak^^ and if there be any reafon that hinders you from ejj^oufing' Dovc'm, I tvill deliver you out of that perplexity roherein your own good nature may involve yott^ in breaking off the "Jreaty my felf^ horp great foever my defire mdy be to fee you allied to oar Family, or rvhatever fatisfadisn a Princef] fa nearly related to me may receive from the confent which [lie has already given. I proteji. Sir and i take the Gods to witne^^ at length replyed my Malier, that Agelmond look/ upon the al- Haute of the Sarmatian King to be the moji honourable in the world : but I am confrrain'd to de- clare to ynt at the fame time, that I cannot afpireto that happinefi which you propofe^ that lam an ittforiunate perfoH, that Dorcira k>toivs me not at a]l\and that if {he kriew the thoughts of my hearty floe woiild foon change thofe which (heijas for a Prince, who not being Majier of his owii hearty m not in a condition to render back^ that acknowledgment which is due to fo fair a Prin- cefi. Thofe laft words and the air wherewith they were uttered putting Agathyrfus out of alj doubt, IVeH, Sir, replyed he more cheerfully and pleafantly thanbefore, lam free to confent that the King of the Lombards may withfrand the beauty and kitidnefs of the Princefs Dorcira. Butts fay thetruth^ I fliould not be fo well pleas''d (houid I find him infenfible of Gilifmene's charms ; and on the other frde^ I Jhould not kiiow how to pardon my own Sijier^ jlwuldjhe bs Tvdntingto pttrchafe us ibe frienrljJ.vp of the great Agelmond. Ah, Sir, replyed my Matter, that you ffwuld fo little k^ow that divine perfon : Would it might pleafe Heaven, fmce you wii have me difclofe thd very bottom of my heart, yes. Sir, would it might pleafe the Cods to permit mebuttojpendmv days at her feet, devoted to the fervice of the S^itmztiznKing, how happy (hould I be ! ^heit far from afpiring to that honour to which you would have me prefumptu- oujiy advance my (elf, 1 Ihnuld content my felf without any other claim than that of not being bated by the perfm whom I adore. I know, replyed the .9iJrw?/eKe was above his prcteni'ions. But while his cares tncreale, he is furpris'd to fee from between the Trees, that the King and Prince of Strmatia were looking, up and downforhim. Immediately he went toward them, labouring in vain to fettle his coun- tenance, which when the Father of Gilifmen€ perceiv'd, running to him with open Arms, Sir (aid he, 1 praife the Cods for the love which they have infm^d into your Breaji ; I give • yo« Gilifmene, or to fay better^ ^ have provided for my Daughter a renowned Husband^ and for my Vominlnns a formidable Defender. . , The King of the Lotnbards was ftruck fo fuddenly with fuch language, that promifed him fo great a felicity, at hrll could neither return an anfwer, nor believe what I law, but when he be^an to give credit to what they molt obligingly repeated over and over again, he turned thanks to the Princefs's Father with all acknowledgment and fubmillion, yet not fenfible of all the joy w.hich fo charming a promife ought to have excited in his heart. A- gathyrfuf who Wis acquainted with the power of love, and the different effeds which it produces, when it is once become abfolute in the heart, faw that there wanted yet one word of kindnefs from Gilifmene^t lips to perfwade Jgelmond, and calm all his difquiet. He whifpered his thoughts therefore to the Sarmatian^io that my Mafter was immediately led to the Princefs's Apartment. But though he faw himfelf in the midrt of two perfons fo dear to that admirable perfon, yet he could not believe himfelf in fafety » he thought that he had not yet deferv'd Gilifmene^s heart by fervices great enough j he alfo feared left the Prin- ce(s (hould either refufe the confent which he demanded, cr that (he fliould not give it but only in obedience to her Father. But when he came into a. Chamber glittering with the luftre of his Princefs, his pallions became more lively, and he felt anew accefs of love. Though when he drew near Gilifmene., he trod with a guilty ftep, with his eyes all the while fixed upon hers, where he confulted his deliiny tvith allrefped imaginable. Immediately the Sarmatian King with a fatisfied countenance, addrelling himfelt to the Princefs, and prefentingmy Mafteri Daughter^ faid he, it ism longer MmidiWc that 1 defign for your Hus- band \ I have conftdered that there is nothing more recommendahle than Birth and Valour^ yet the fame which he receives from thofe virtues is eclipfed by the extravagancy of his dijpofition^ I have an affedion for you that tvill not permit me to expofe your life to the injuftice of that Prince^ J have better provided for your felicity ■■, and J am perfivaded you will make no dilute , to accomplifh my defign, when it is my defre with your confent to engage your fortune rsith that of the Lombard King, tou know very -well whatJois virtues are^ and we are too much obliged to that great Prince to forget thofe Anions which all Sarmatia will preferve in eternal remem^ br ance. Agelmond. wo\i\A not without doubt have heard all this difcourfc without interrupting him, but that inftead of liftening to the Sarmatian King, he abandoned all his atrention,tc» behold the Princefs : for her part fhe immediately blufli'd,and that there is a certain kind of fear from which Lovers cannot free themfelves, my MaOer examined with all the care that his pallion could infufe into him, whether he could obferve any iigns- of difpleafure or un- willingnefs in theerfcdof Gi/i/mfweV modeliy. After he had fought in vain what he de- fired not to find, he took notice that the fair eyes of the Princefs were in no fortincens'd agaiaft him, only h'e perceiv'd in* her looks both fearfulnefs and fweetnefs. Then my Prince's-heart gave a full reception to his joy, but afterwards he was fenlible of more extra- ordinary tranfportments when he faw that G«7//wf»tf teftitied by her refpe(2-ful behaviour, that her will was altogether agreeable to the willof the Sarmatian King. True it is that her modefly had not the conhdcncc to exprefs her mfnd in any other manner upon fuch an occalion : but the three Princes who knew her humour, were fatished with that con- feliion, inftead of offering any farther force to the referv'dncfs of fo prudent a perfon. The Kingof the Lom^Wjcharaa'd, and altogether in an extafic, abandoned himfelf in fuch a manner to the infpirations of his content, which his good fortune had intus'd into his heart, that notwithllanding the prefencc of a Father and a Brother, he would have thrown himfelf at her feet, to have rendered thariks to her whom he loved, but they not permit- ting him i in a moft pallionate tone, and with a profound fubmilhon, Divine Princefi, cty^ he, is it poffible that you flwuld confent to the felicity of Agelmond > Fe could only utter t.hofe few words i for the pallions that hindered him from proceed- ing, feem'd to rtop his mouth, that they might give his' eyes the liberty to exprefs them- felves more fervently and more feelingly. Inlhorr, his eyes fparkled with a new fire, and a mix:ure of love, hope and joy, enlivening his air and his countenance, his afpc^t appear'd • more amiable and more lofty, as it were taxing Ci/i/OTfW for not having fpokcn enough in favour of fo ^lovely a Prince. '» Book IV. P H A R A M N D, 485 In theintcrim tlic 5jrmj//j« King went his way, attended by /igathyrfux^ dcfirous that the two illalirioMS Lovers whom he purpofed to untc in one, nriight have an entire freedom todifcourfc their thoughts, intending to tell Dorcira liimfelf what had pafTed, to mitigate thecircuirillances whicii might incenic the mind ot that haughty Princcfs. The cnamour'd Aij^elmond was at' titll overjcyed, to hnd hinifelt alone with Gitifmene^ and as it were alrca- dy happy by tiie conlent ot her Faiiier. Nevcrthclels when he confidcted how favourable thofe two Princes who were gone from him, had been to him •, he figh'd : And by rcafotl of fome tiioughts not eonfoimablf to love, he was conHraincd to wilh withiri himfelf for their fudden return. He perceived that boldnefs , which their prcfencc had infpired into him, began infenlibly to walie, and the fear of difplcaiing G////^wf;/f afTaih'ng thofe pleaiing palfions that poffcflcd his heart, he beheld the Princcfs with an Air lefs confident, and rtfpcd producing in a Prince entirely fubnii/iivc the effedt whicfi modeOy Iiad pro- duced in the heart of Cilifmene v they both bluflied, looked down upon the ground and ri- main'd illcnt. Some few minutes after A^elmond firft adventuring ■■> Madam^ cryed he with an amorouS utterance, Ihall I be aJJ'ured that you rt>iV not gppofe my happhiefif' Then feeing that Cilifmene had not yet confidence to fpeak •, Ah for Heavens fak^ dear Prince fs, f purfued he beholding her with eyes infliOi'd) voucbfafe me an anfwer, and grudge not a few words I bcftech you to aFrince, to whom you are fo much defired to grant fo ^reat an honour, and fo large a fl^are of feli- city. ThcuGilifmene growing lefs batliful i rear'd up her eyes juli fo high as to look upon my Malkr : but not being yet adventurous enough to open her lips ■■, the Lombard King thus pa-liionatelv purfued his protcllations. Madam, faid he, had Ihad the prefumptiontj have defired, to be made choice of by the divine Gilifm.ene, Ijhouldhave rendred my felf unwor ' thy of fo great an honour : But^toofevere Princefs,rftll you remain fo cruel, as not to tell the Prince that adores yoit^ that you ate not difcontented that others have made choice of him. To tliefe he added other words fo urging, that the Princcfs at length. recovering her courage •■, Ton heard Sir, an(wcred (lie, that J could not forbear to utter my mind, when they fpoke to me concern" ing the Prince of the Huns. But when they prefented to me the King of the Lombards, Ihad nothing then in my memory but my obedience to my Father, and the obligations of the Generous Agclmond. After aE this, ffaid (he, laying her hand upon her fair Checks to conceal her blu[hing) ask^no more 1 hefeech youjhut permit me to retire to my Clofet, for in truth lam involved in that perplexity, which I never was acquainted wilh before. Thereupon my Mafter taking notice that the young Princcfs Aidured the fame pain which thofe perfons fuffer that firuggle with their inclinations, after a profound reverence took his leave, fatisfied that he had obferv'd both in her looks and and in her language ; a certain fweetnefs that could not proceed but from an inOindl of kindnefs. So loon as he was re* turn'd to his Apartment, he fent for me to let me participate of his joy, and no fooncr had he repeated thofe things which I have rehearfed to your Majefly, but he began to contem» plate upon what he had faid : And then beholding me very eameftly i Methin\s, faid he, 1 am promised loo much honour; For my part, W^mzus, 1 cannot yet believe my felf to be filre o/ Gilifmene, fomottvithjiandingthe probabilities that perfivade me to it, I feel from time to time a certain kind of fear in my heart. 'To tell you the trnth, fortune feems too favourable mi to be fuf^eUed, and I quejiion whether lam not tbreatned with fame misfortune as terrible, as the felicity is fiveet that flatters now my hopes. while thcfe ominous prefages too feverely madeout by the fequel of my difcourfe, dif- quieted the Lombard Kin^, the Sarmatianl^J'og^oesto'Dorcira: He finds her difcompos'd, and in deepconfultation with Harmaxes, infomuch that to appeafc the pallion of the fierce Princefs, he thus addrclTed himfelf to her. " Dear Silkr, we found that the King of the *' Lombards had all thofe thoughts of high efteem for your perfon, thatyou could reafonably " pretend to, and our dellgn had infallibly fuccceded, had not that Prince been prcpolfeired " with an affedion, that proved an obftacle to our intention?. Tis certain that we muft "not omit to purchafe the favour of that great perfonagc, feeing it is only his Alliance, " that wefecJi, and theretbre line: his affedion permits him not to be yours, being already ■^'fix'd upon GJ/(/wfHf, I quci^ion not but you will be willing, that by the means of aPrin- "cefs,your fo near relation, 1 may obtain that which I fomuch wilh for, and that you will " be fatisfied lincc I am contented, underrtanding tiiat you did not aft at our firfi confultati* "on, but tor my interelt. '" \ confels_Sir, anfiveredjl->e, that I lludicd only to pleaie you, " when I gave my confent to efpoufe Agelmond, and if that Prince had not had an unfatiable "ambition, of which you may fee perhaps toofoon the fad ctfedts, he Would have ftoop'd '' without doubt to a lower prize, and then after you had gained him by that means which *' you aim'd to make ufe of, you might have chofcn for the Princefs, fomc one of the greac- ^?§e) r n yi i\. ^ ivi u i\ jla tart ijs.. '■• eft Kings in the world. But I fee tco well (faid (Jje, pitrftditg her complaint tviih a kjni "f •' malice^ that (he could not altogether conceal) that 1 am too fincere hearted, and that I ough? " to have ade4 with as much cunning, as thofe perions that abufe my integrity. Not that •'1 blame you Sir, for I know you arc deceived as well as 1, and that your power and your "diligence is made ufe or, to difcover what Harw^xcx and Pov/r^ think ot your proceed- " ings. For in truth, Agelmond and Gilifmene did not hnd us enclin'd to favour tlieir fe- "cret correfpondencies, fo that they are glad to Priucefi, (faid the King im- patiently interrupting her, as not being able to endure the tart expreihons of PtfraVjJ IfviU have no divifwn in my family^ IreiU have you conliKne in frieiidlhip with Gilifmene, andlrviU have my Brother ceafe hijjpleen againji Agelmond. Horv Sir, rcplyed Rarmaxes very briskly, doym helive that 1 have an Antipathy againfi Agelmond ? Did 1 oppofe your intentions rvhen you tvortld have ejpoufed Dorcira, tvho has the honour to be the daughter of the Sarmatian R.".;- and yourMajejlies Sijier^ to the Son of a Lomhitd Captain? I agree with you^ replyed the King very coldly, that Agione rvas a Captain, and methiukj you fhould not forget that Agelmond is a Captain too. But if that great Prince rchofe merit had advanc'd him to a 7hrone^ had not had as much generofity after his vidories, as valour in fight ^ 1 cannot tell whether you would have been in a condition, to have tallied fo Jharply againji him. Take the part (reply cd the Prince of the Venedians blufhiilg) take the part of a Stranger agai nil us, effeSl a refolution offomucTf weighty without vouchfafing to fee the coujeqmnces, de^ife advice and hearken torn counfel. Tote may do it. Sir, the Soveraign power is in your own hands : Nevertbele(i, fince Kings are more obliged than their Subjects to mind the future, tvillyou not weigh the importance of what you go about fo fuddenly to accomplip ? For my part Fie maintain that the marriage of the Frincefs is of fo great confequence^ that the marriage of the Prince her Brother, is not to be advised upon with fo much deliberation. For injliort, Agathyrfus gives the precedency ofcourfe to thatperfon whom. he efpoufes, and all Sarmatia will ack,nowledge her ^een by cenjtnt, when you are gone to that place which is defign^dyou among the Gods. But if our misfortunes deprive us of the renowned Agathyrfus, in thofe dangers into which his valour precipitates him every moment ; think you Sir^ that the famous Monarchy which you command, willfubmit to the Ssveraignty of the Lombards? No Sir, the Sarmatians will never acknowledge Agelmond for their King. On the other fide if rvhile that ambitious Prince refnfes to renounce his Bright, we fhall fee the two Nations which your Majefly endeavours to iinite^ all together by the Ears, and it may be engaged in a war to their, mutual dejiruri ion. Very good, replyed the King with his firft indifferency, and to prevent a^ thefe great evils and to mak^e-<» triumph at the news. But how extraordinary foever their joy were, they cunningly difTembled it, and fram'd their countenances to the forrow which they obferv'd in the Court. In the mean while they have their meetings, they confult, they promife largely, and liberally beftow i in a word, they attempt all things, and omit nothing. To gain A^ gathyrfiff's Officers, they delude them with falfc fuggelUons, telling them that Agathyrfus had never left the Court, but only that he could.not endure to fee a Stranger more power- ful than the prefumptive Heir of the Crown. That Agathyrfus did really love Agelmond, but that after he had examined his proceedings, he found all his adtions fui'picious and dan- gerous, that he took notice that the King of the Lombards had not renounc'd a new King- dom and little confiderable, forfaking his Army which was the fupport thereof, but only to ertablidi himfelf more firmly and honourably in Sarmatia : that being the only perfon that fwayed the King's Counfcis, and having efpoufed his Daughter , it would be no difScult thing for him to rid himfelf of the only oblkde that could ob(1:rud his pretences. . iifiirwajcfT prcfting at lat\ with more vehemency than before. Let Agelmond return into Germany, crycd he, let him let m alone to live in our own Country according to the Laws of our : Ancfjhrs , and if be deftres our alliance , the Pri:tcefi of the Igy lions _//;<»(/ confsnt to give him her hand, bi*t if he refufe fo great tin advantage which vnc are rea~ dy to grant him, pjail we not have reafon to quejiion his infatiable ambition, that makes him a- jpire to thevery'fhrene a/ Sarmatia > Shall we not thereby conclude that he returned to Tan,J- raque ow/v to pojje^ himfelf of GiWfmcnc, ^f/fco)! Agathyrfus, and make way for bis fucceffion to one of the greateji Kingdoms in Europe ^ Let us then vigoroufy oppofe fuch pernicious de- figns, the inter eH of our Country prejfes it, nur honour requires it, and the*fafety of Agathyr- fus commands it. It was only fo conceal his flight that the Prince would not that you (Jiould follow him. He has left you atTamyraqueto jirengthen our party, which it hit ; and while be bafiens toward Tanais ^9 arm thofe people which are at his devotion in his-own defence, he TPOuld ^OO * '••» -'■» ■*-*■ ■'■* •*'■*• «^ -i « -«-'• -1 n. rv J x^vi waw/^ /bi»i/e K/ mak^ our felves Majlers of the Court and Army, which remains upon the Coaji of Dacia. By fuch fpeeches as thefe accompanied with great gifts, he engaged the principal Officers to gain their friends, to publifh cunningly the pretended reafon of Agathyrfus's de- parture, and to perfwade thofe perfons that could obferve it, that there was a particular friendfhip between tiie King of the Lombards and the Prince of Sarmatia^ that if the pre- tended generofity oi Agelmond had gained the heart oi Agathyrfus, that Prince had chang'd his opinion, having difcovcred the dangerous pradices of theStianger. At the fame time that they put in execution fo pernicious an order, the King of the Lom~ hards fpent the happieft hours of his life with the Princefs : For no fooner had he comfort, ed that charming perfon for the departure of Agathyrfus, but he had the fatisfadion freely ro entertain her with the proteftations of his own paltion. He difcovered to her the vio- lence thereof, how much he had fuffered, as well Unce the fatal moment that he bad feen her in the Temple, after the taking of Tamiraque j as after the anfwer with which (he had mortally afRided him. " Divine Princefs, faid he purfuing hisfttit^ by what offence had I *' merited that cruel language ? What caufe had I given you to hate Agelmoid that ador'd "you ? He fought even to the very bottom of his heart, if there were any thought that "might oflfend you, but he found it was altogether at your devotion, that his thoughts " were all fuch as he ought to have for thofe perfons that are above the condition of mor- " tals. I befeech you therefore my moft dear Princefs, permit me to underftand that which " yet I could never find. Declare your mind, aw/wfre^yfee, I conjure you : For in (hort, if *' you have given your confcnt that 1 (hall be yours, you ought to fufTer nothing in me that <' you difapprove. How Madam (be continued miih an impatience mix'd with grief) will •' you not vouchfafe me an anfwer ? Alas Sir, replyedjhe moji obligingly^ what can I fay, if I " mu(\ fpeak of nothing but your faults ! You may Madam, replyed the King of the Lom- *' bards, difcover to me the reafbn of your hatred, and their impofe filence upon me. It " may be, replyed Gilitmene, you will not fee fo many marks of my A verfion, in a bcba* " viour with which you tax me fo often, and I believe Amafia can tell you fome things to "that purpofe, of which you will have no reafon to complain. Ah Princefs (faid he in' " terrupting her, with a new accej! of joy both in his heart anU countenance ) if it be fo,permit " me to hear the fame from your own fair lips. He urg'd her at length in fopaflionate a manner,that Gilifmene at laft thus return'd : 5/r, J have been always perfwaded that my will ought to depend fo abfolately upon my Fathers^ that J have laboured to preferve my heart, that it might be at his entire di^ojal, fo that when Itoot^ netice thai you were about to deprive me of that liberty which I was wiping to defend, and that you affaiVd it with fuch a remarkable a£i of generofity ; I borrowed from my reafon all the wea- pons that it could furnifh me withal. But whenlfaw that they were too weal^, and that I already perceived in my heart, thefirji beginnings of an affeSiion that pleaded on your behalf, and aUed by confent with your honour; Ifirove the more with myfelf, and perhaps not without fome trouble: And therefore to deprive you of the means ofdiflurbing therejolution which I had taken, I thought with myfelf that it behoved me not to hearken to thofe words, which to tell you true, were terrible tome from the lips of the Lombard King, and of which Ifhould have been lefi ap • prehenfive,had they been uttered by any other Frince, for whom 1 had not had that ackftowledgment and efteem. " If I fo rightly conjedured, moft incomparable Princefs, replyed the King of " the Lombards, when I took you for a Deity, by thofe fparkling fires that darted from your '•' eyes, the farther proofs which I meet now, will not permit me longer to doubt the truth: "For is there any mortal perfon that could plunge me into an Abyfs of torments, and at " the fame time raife me to a heaven of joy, and oblige me to be thankful for the caufe of • ^' my fufferings ! No, no. Madam, there is nothing but a Goddefs could have extraded fo " much joy out of fo much grief, or fo delude me that I (hould miftake a teftimony of kind- "nefs, for a mark of feverity. But faireft Princefs, ad no more in that manner I befeech " you, for I mult confefs I am fo fearful to difpleale you, and fo unapt to believe that I do " not ftil offend you, that I (hould rather dye tor grief upon the fir(\ ad of your cruelty, "before I could find a favourable interpretation of your favour. " Alas Sir, replied fl^e with " a mojl obliging afpeS,\ fliall have no more need to make ufe of that caution,fince the know- "ledge of my Fathers will, permits me not to rclTd that innocent affcdion which 1 feel "in my heart, nor to difoblige the King of the Lombards, from (hewing me the inarks "of his. The enamoured«Prince charm'd with thofe expreffions, that gave fo much eafe to his paffion was about to have proceeded, when word was brought both to him and Gilifmene, that the Sarmatian King was taken very ill. They were equally afflidcd at the news, and inaraediately they went both together, to fee a Prince that was equally beloved ok both. The ■^BboK IV. THAKAMOND, 489 The Sarmatian King no fooncr faw tliein enter tlie Chamber, but he fpoke to them with a hearty utterance, to Ihew them that his indifpolltion was not confiderable, and when they were come near the bcd,and that all the croud w.is retired ■•, '' Sir, faidhe to my Majicr givinf^ '■'■him his hand^ look not upon this fickncfs as an obilrudion of my intentions, you (hail e- " fpoufe G////»wew within three days, and if Harmaxet and Dorcira^ whofe dcllgns I begin "to underrtand, continue obllinate in- the oppolition of mine, I know how to reduce them *'to that obedience which they owe me, and to punifli thofe Rebels that have taken tiicir "part. Aji^elmond xciviin'i thinks to the PrincefTcs Father, with all the acknowledgment that a' paflionate Lover, could fummcjn up for fo fair a promife : And after he had made him a protelhtion, to fpare neither his pains nor his life, for the intereil of a Prince to whom • he really believ'd himfelf fo highly engaged, he left the King and Princefs full liberty to difcourfe of the Dlvitiorfs of their Family. Not being willing to lofc a moment of lime in this important conjundJurp, he thought fit to wait upon the Prince of the Venedians^ to let him know that his dcligns were diico- vered, and to pcrfwade him to make his peace. He thought to have reprefented to him how difficult it was to attempt great things vvith fmall forces, and the impoliibility which was generally obferved in keeping private great confederacies. But if neither reafons nor entreaties, would prevail upon the refolutions of Harmaxes, tUac then the hery Agelmond was equally refolv'd to difpute the enjoyment oiGilifmene with him, to the laft drop of his blood, and that it became him not for a private difference, to make a general quarrel to the dirturbance ef the whole Kingdom and the Royal Family. That it was enough ^or the two Rivals only to venture, and that in expofmg their lives for the Princefs, the objed of their Love (liould become the recompcnce of their valour. However,thefc good intentions of hisprov'dfruitlefs, foras he was going to H^rwaxe/, he was inform'd that the Prince Was gone out of Town foir.e three or four hours before, and that moft probably he was gene a hunting. ^gf//»(7«ifufpicious of his departure, gave an account thereof to the SarmatianK.\x\g-.znife, and perhaps he may find that Agelmond wiU perform that (or the Sarmatian King^that he never did for the Huns or the Lombards. The Fa- ther of Gilifnene tranfportcd with acknowledgment,threw his Arms about Agelmond's neck, and embracing him with an extraordinary tendcrnefs ■, "Ihe Gods defend me, faid he, from (uffering Agelmond to expofe himfelf to fo great a danger. No Sir, youfliaH mt go to an Army, where without dnubt Harmaxes // by this too powerful, and fince yuu are the object of his hatred. eught I to confent that you [hould become avidimeto his revenge i' IVhat mitjildo then Sir rc- plyed he, ft}a\} 1 remain- (hut up immured within the walls of a City, when your Enemies and mine are MaftersofyourArmyandof the field f Or (haUlfeem to forfahe you, while! goto fetch that fuccour which I cannot bring time enough ? No, it is better fqf me to go try an Army where the generous Pr/«cf o/Saimatia has left behind fome remains of a ggod.opinion of tie Lombard King: whither I JJjallvot go without your orders, and the moli faithful of your Officers, andwhete it may be I may mt jind any one except Harmaxes, that dare lift up his Sword againji a King, ^ CLq q - f^ 490 PHARAMOND. Part IX. InfhortSir, my Matter fpake with fuch a graceful affurance, that the father of Gilifmene would no more oppofe his refolution, fo that he went forth of the Chamber, animated with a noble pride that fparkled in his very eyes. Neverthelefs that heroick heat (bon gave way to a profound melancholy: For while they were preparing all things neceflaiy tor a jour- ney of fo great importance, the enamoured /4gf/»«o«(i vifited the beautiful G/7//fMf«e, from whom he found himfelf conftrained to abfent himfelf. At firit that he might (hew no ill omens of hisenterprife, he laboured tofupprefs his grief, but ftrove in vain, for he no foon- er came into the PrinceiTcs prefance, but having fed his eyes with all thofe beauties of which he was now to take his leave, on a fudden he refolved not to forfake them, and he main- tained this change with all the arguments that could flatter his love. He thought that it behoved him not to forfake, neither thePrincefs nor the ikk King, nor the Capital Ci:y of the Kingdom. Nor did he want feveral other reafons, by vcrtue of that adive intention, that furnifbes Lovers fancies, which crouded to ftrengtheri his new refolution. But with the fame quicknefs he conlidered, that if he flayed in "Tamyraqne^ Harmaxes''s authority would increafe in the Army, and that confequently his Rival would foon appear before, a City, that would certainly fubmit to his power, rather than undergo a civil war in favour of a ftranger, againft a Prince of the blood. And therefore determining to follow thofe motives, that weremoft faitable to the.Conjundture of affairs, and the promife which he had made the King v I mttfl he gone Madam, cryed he fully refolved within himfelf, yes dear Tr'tHceji^ rvemujipart andlmuji have you, but never fear left my forrorp (iiould enfeeble me, or that our enemies (haV gain any advantage thereby. On the cmtrary, I find it accompanied with a de§air that mil prove fatal to them, and perhaps they may fee tbemfelves puniflied for fepara- ting the King of the Lombards from the divine Frince^ whom he adores. I would not Sir^ however, (anfwered (he with an obliging fadnefs) thatfuch a generous Prince (hould abandon kimfelf entirely to the beat of his courage, 1 would have him expofe himfelf lefS than he was xvont to do, and that he may return with fuecefi to the King and to a Vrinceji, that is not a little concern'' d both for his life and glory. Ah if it be fo, (replyed he with an extafie that he could not mafter) then Ifhall overcome Harmaxes, for were 1 alone and he at the head of an Army, 1 defire but my Arm and my love to triumph over fuch a Kebel. But alas, added he, how (hall I be able to hajien to this viUory ? how (hall I be able to feek^ it at a dijiancefrom my Prin- cefi f' With that he flopped, and perceiving that his paflion raifed new troubles i%his foul, he was afraid of hisreafon, and thereforeout of thatgenerolity that commanded him to with» ftand his love, he refolved'briskly to depart and to leave C/7//>«fw, without 'making any farther reflcdion : Yet could he not exactly do what he intended, and were I not in the fe- quel of the difcourfe, to defcribg more contiderable circumftances of the fame nature i I would have lefs fuccinftly declared the particulars of this feparation, let me only add this, that my Mafter having manifelkd to G«/i/wf«e all the maiksof his love and furrow, was forced at length to take his leave of her, and in point of civility gave a vifit tor'orw^,with whom he flayed a little while, and difcourfcd but with a cold indifferency. when he was ready to depart, the Lombards that were in Tamyraque, took horfe,' and all the Horfe-guard of the Sarmatian King were ready to attend him. But Agelmond unwilling to weaken the City wherein his Miftrefs refided, took no more than a hundred Lombards and as many Sar- matians, leaving the reft after he had recommended the King and Princefs to their valour, and exhorted them to an immoveable fidelity in their defence. On the other fide the Sar- matian King fent after Agelmond, thefe Troops which the Prince refufed to take along with him, and having declared his defire' that the King of the Lombards might have a con» fiderableConvoy, immediately the young Nobility of the Court, that were not tainted with faftion, made haft alfo to overtake him. Thus my Mafter at the head of two thoufand Horfe, m.arched to meet an Army of fixty thoufand men with that fpeed, as if the chief Commander of that vaft number, had had as much kindnefs and affedtion for him, as he had mortal hatred againft him. We found what we fought for fooner than weexpeded, forthePrinceof theFfWfi/jw/defirous tolyenearTajwyrijiyMf, advanced toward us: So that ^^f/woK(i difpatched away two Sarmatian 0?act\^, who had the King's orders in charge, accompanyed with feveral horfemen of their own Nation, to add the more credit to their folicitation. However he lingred not far behind, to the end that by countenancing them he might add the greaer Authority to their commilfion, as alfo if occafion required, to a- flonifti the Rebels by fome during or furprifing A(3:ion. The deputies met Harmaxes, who rode before the Body of the Army, with about four"thoufand Horfe, the impatient Prince being defirous to reach the City with all expedition, where he pretended to fatisfie his love and his ambition. He made no qucftion but that Tamyraqne would fuddenly fubmit to his fummonsj Book IV. PHAkAMOND. Summons, and if thepnU^cr of hisFadlioh, tlic fircngth wHich lit bfduglu along tvidi lilrti^ and the p.ing'sGckncf'; made liim conhdenf, the great Army tha^march'd (lowly after trt execute his commands, gave Iiim yet more certain alTurances. He rccciv'd Toxanct afii-i Indyrfet ( for fo were tlie Deputies nam'd ; but in regard they were to deliver him from the King thofe Letters which only ftrv'd as a pretence for their journey, they diCcharged themfclves of their Commi(!ion as foon as might be, that they might not engage in a di- fputc which might bring them to any prejudice. Harmaxcs inlkad of receiving thfe King his Brother's Packet, fiercely beholding the Sarmatidnt that prefentcd it, I fljall be fnddenly, faid he, at Tamyraque, rvhere the Ktng may tell me hU mindhimftlf. In the mean time teil him that I am advaucinfr toward him at the head nffixty thonfand moj^ rvho may per- bapt he able to proted me from the porvir of a Stranger whom he prefers with fi much injuilice. Thus he fent back the Deputies, whom he had feis'd without doubt^ but that he durft not begin a war by a violence that was contrary to the Law of Nations, the confeqnenec whereof might be dangerous in an Army where 7oxanerzwd. Udyrfes had fo many friends and Favourites. Sq foon as thofe two Sarmatiajis were rcturn'd, and had given an account of what had pafs'd, my N4afl;er commanded them to wheel about, and put themfclves in- •tothe Army, there to confer with the Lieutenant General, to whom they were particular- ly (cnt. while they manage that affair, A(^elmvnd makes it his bulinefs to obfcrve the fi. tuation of the Country, among the rell heipiesa fmall flipof land where a fmall number mightengage, without danger of being environed; of that Port he makes himfelf Mafter, 'and poflTtfTesit. And in regard he wasexadtl, inform'd of thediftance bet ween his Troops' and thofe of Hjrwiaxf/, he commands his own to take their repcfe, while he for his part fludics all the while how to bring all the danger of the Encounter upon himfelf. To this purpofe calling a Trumpeter, Go, faid he, tell Prince HarmaxfS '/// yet in hu power to fettle a calm in the Dominiont of hit Brother, and that if his hatred of me hinders him from coHfent' ingto a firm and entire peace, I am ready to breaks a Lance with him for the decifwn of our dif- ferences. Without involving in our quarrel fo many millions of men who are niT way interejled therein. After that when he thought 'twas time to embatxel his Troops, he rangeed them in aninftant, and marched at the head of them with a fiercenefs in his looks able to infpire courage into the nioft timorous of Cowards, On the other hand, the Ven'edian Prince could not determine what anfwer fo make, hfs natural boldnefs, and the necellity that engages a General to purchafe a good opinion of liimfelf in the beginning of a war, perfuaded him to accept the challenge which my Mafter fent him. But on the other hand, contidering that he (hould commit the probable fuccefs of a Battel to the diance of a particular Combat, he chang'd his opinion, yet not knowing what to rcfolve. During this turmoil of his thoughts, the Scouts on both fides meet rhey know one another, make a rtand and fall to parly. Immediately thofe of our party upbraid the other for Rebels, they accufc them of marching againll their Prince, while thefe that fidcd with Harmaxes revile the Sarmttians that followed Agslmond as Traitors to their Country, and for fetving a Stranger that was an Enemy to it i from words they fell to blows, and fought with an obftinate fury, as is ufual in a civil war. The vidory was forfome tiine doubtful, bat at length declared it fclf for us, and in regard that fome •of our party purfued the Enemy, the Prince of the Venedians to relieve his own, command- ed off fome few Troops from his main Body, which the King of the Lombards obferving, was forc'd to do the fame thing, fo that they prepared -for a general Encounter, and the two Generals advanced with the grofs of their Cavalry. The Hcrce Agelmond c-xhoxied his Soldiers in a few words, flies upon his Enemies with an unparallel'd fury, and at one blow -ciulingithe Sky to ring again, threw to the ground two Sarmatians with their Horfes, and all with his Lance that fhi. ;red in a thoufand pieces, being too weak to fccond the Arm that gave the ftroke. Then our undaunted Champion drawing his Sword, throws him felf among the thickeft, and fee king for Harwjxe/, calls him'by his name, challenges him, and at length cfpyinga certain Knight no lefs remarkable for his brave Exploits, than for the Magnificence ot his Arms, he made no qucftion but that the hated Rival that oppolcd his felicity was there, he rcGslves to clofe with hjm, he redoubles his blows, he opens a paf- fagefor himfelf by his valour that outbrav'd number and rellftance, and fought with that fury as every where begat terrour. Delay inctus'd the haughty Agdmond, he fecretly re- proach'd hisheart and arm, and af length difcharged fo weighty a blow upon the head of his Enemy, that his Helmet ftruck fire, and the Knight reeling awhile in his Saddle, at length fell under his Horfes Belly i however he was fet, upon his feet again in an inllant by fome of his own mcn,^ when the haughty King feeing lijmin that lamentable condition, in- ftead of finifliinghis Vidory,turn'd the fury of his Sword another way, His Sword glittered Q^qq2 ■ in' 49^ PHARAMOND. Part4X. in his han4 like. Lightning, and that Lightning is accompanied with a.;T,hiunder that k,iUs, overturn^, and'Mkesfuch a tertour, that the Enemy fled,: and left us Malicr of t!^ FgJd. ^ge/waw/fearing kll the Enemies might draw him into the Body ot tlie Army i, apd taitjfig notice that the flip of Land where they had fought began to widen into a wideanld.Ufge plain, he. iloppcd the forvyardeft of his men, prefaging by what had happened, 4h,at:,he fl^ould profper in what remain'd. He fent therefore to the two Lieutenant Generils, ,w|(h whom he thought that ^oxmes and Indyrfes had already conferred. He defifes'a fufptt)fee|n of Arms for the day, and eafily obtains it- ipr; indeed the Agentsoi tfie 5 maxes accufes to be the author cf'£i yaur dijfetttions, and has <^uejiionle(i made you believe to he'a Stranger detejiable for hispradifes.But examine AgelmondV proceedings ^and HarmaxesV Ani- ons v confider that a Stranger advifes you to obeyymr King^andto livi in peace ^ that the Prince cf the Venedians goes about to kjndle a civil war^ that he marches againft his Brother^ againjl his Country againji the Father of Agathyrfus your beloved and renowned General, j4fter all this mil youjiand to confider which (ide to ta\e ^ Haiher rviU you not forfah^ the high way to Vif- crder and Kebehon^ and chufe the Koad that brings you to your Duty and your Honour } Ihey that fg much deceive you, as to perfwade yoH to this revolt^ under the appearance of a parti- cular quarrel, let them iiill perfwade you^ provided that they jpare your blood, and that the TriHce of the Venedians oftly will maintain his iniereji againji the King of <7jir.Lbmfaards. jf he Accept the challenge which Imakf him, Ifi.'al be content^ and your troubles nyll h fom^ at hu end. If he refufe it, and tg fave his own vfould cxpofe the hves off viany i-^liaMt men, 1 hope you will change ynur minds, and that an Army fluih^d with fn many vmaties wiU, not obey jt Frince fo unworthy to cornmand them after he has manifcjied a qowardlfe f notgrioiu. ■ Sofoon as the King of the ^Lombards had done fpeaking, there Was heard a humming noife quife through the whole Army, when the gencvous Prince having careflcd the prin- cipal Officers .in a mult obUging manner, onafuddcn the confufed buzzing. of voices was accompanied with, many cries of GOD SAVE THE K.INGv while the Shouts of '«11 that mukitude made the Sky refound, Harmaxes recovered out of his Swoon, for it was with hiin that my Mafter had encountred, and becomingdefperate tofce the change ^hichhe too we'll obferved, wounded aa.he was, mounts his Horle, and flying tor his fato- ty flips into "J^aiHyraque ; he is not only received there, but fliewing himfelf to the people, fpeaking to them, and letting them fee his wounds, he mov'd them, to cofnpaflion, and to take part with him. Thus. in regard the King was fick, arid the moft faithful of his No- bility with us, and that the Pnncefs Vorcira's party joyned W\\h Harmaxes, that Prince in- fiead of.lofing an Army gair.sa City, and becomes Malkr of his King's life, and of the Princefs whom he lov'd. Toefkblilh his power he rewards the mofl forward of his Cabal and exercifes a cruel tyranny over thofe that he could not move. Agelmond is in- formed of his outrages, at the fame time feis'd with grief, and tranfported with choler, but afterwards comforts himfelf by the afliflanceof his reafon, and feeing himfslf abfc- iute, and belov'd in the Array, finds himfelf in a condition ftill to vanquifli the Venedian Prince and fuddenly to reftore the Sarmatian King and the Princefs his Daughter to their liberty'. But alas, fo far was'fonune ready to favour him, that flie now difplays the moft terrible of his perfecutions : for in his hally march towards lamyraque, one of Cilifmene's Attendants brought him a Letter that fully inform'd us of all thofe revolutions of which we had heard but imperfedly before. The Letter was to this effeft. Tlie Book IV, PhJ KAMO N D. 493, The Princeis oithtSdrmatiam to the King of the Lombards. '' BE froMySir, he gene from an iftgratifxl Land tvhereyournoble Veedj ar^e fo foully requited^ abaudott a Country irhere your Geiurofuy is the innncent caufe of our mitfertunes. h has endangered the life of my Faiher, jtreKdersmetheobjecioffhercbelliim peoples hatred; and I fear it will at length hamper yon liken>ife ht the faaresofoHt.\ Emmies. ' For Heaven's fii^ (bun this laji^misfortHne, and be not the caufe nf more 4 you may pacifie all things by your depot' fitrei and if you are unwilling to abfunt; your J elf from Gilirinene, I give yoKleaveto-beiieve that Gilifmenc // no Up troubled to be deprived of the fight of the Lombard King. :,uc,K!t, ,,;;i)r:} .l\r\ y uiVvU 'j _ r: How obliging foever chcfe laft words vBore,. they coiil3 potimitigateiny Maftcr'sdeffaif, No^no, cmel Princefr, ci'yed he, / fhall not ahfent my felf from.yoK \ for \nvtrvith^anding yoAr inkttmsnUy^ fo pajjiunate is my love^ that though the whole eahh (hould canjj'irexvith Harmaxes againjithe tmferable^ Agehnond , I would rather ceafe to livesthanforbearti) fie jo».,'?:;iiri3n " ' ■^ At thofe Avoids hc-.felt hiihlclf too fenl]bly.opprdftd with grief, ht walked in'a J3afli6n toandfiro, and at Icngtii addrefling bimfelt' to the 5<»mjariatorv what I have fuffered from the people of Tamyraque and the Prince of the Igylions, before I cnnfented never to fee you again. Never to fee me a- gami { cryed he with an luterancc that (liewed his dcfpair ) Ah, M^dam., 1 tpill fee you a' gabiy nor isihereany power in thewnrldthat Jhall make me renounceihat felicity, ^uefrion- ie(i it muft not bv iv'tth my confent that yoit ever fee me more ■■, for 1 have folewnly engaged i faid (he With- a doleful a(pedf ) to calm the troubles nf Sarmatia, and rejh/re the life of my Fa- i''i'r to fafeiy and repofe. fhislaji promt fe,' (aid he, does not dt-aU oblige ytu^ perform.mce ; frbifidts rh'dt n'veJs forced frirti you'againji your Trill, you kiiow J have already raceij'^d a pro- mife that, prohibits ynv fr.ini mahjng any contrary engagement. Norrpilll, i-cpl^cAOHiJmenc iver give liiyliandto PWute-Bai'maxcs, to whom I have tejiifred .ntiti fuffcimio^V^ancy. tl^atj, tpouid 494 PHARJMOND. Part IX. tvonld prefer death before marriage^ though thereupon the re-uniou of the Koyal Family^ and the peace of tfUSarmatia peould have enfued. Tes Sir^ for your fake 1 let the caufe of our troubles continue^ but it ts not necefj'ary for me to recount the particulars, of which you would be too jen- fibly apprehenfive. Nor is it fit for me to difcoiier te you all my affeUien^ at a time when it is for your repofe to lofe the remembrafice of aPritjcefi^ whofe thoughts yon caanot but fujpeci^ and who feems to aCf by confent tvith yeuT enemies. HowMadam^ rcplyed he fighing, canyon ivijh that 1 fhould forget you .? I cannot ieV^ faid (he, whether 1 can, but I l^ow well that 1 ought. Ah cru • el Princef^ (aid he interrupting her, if you are capable of doing your felf that' piece offervice, then am Ijhl] more miferable than ever I thought my felf^ and the nicenefi of my heart finds rnore of inhumanity in your lali words, than in all the perfecutions of my Enemiee : So that now beikg .only to follow theinjiigations of my dejpair, J will appear to morrow before thefe walls that encloft .a.power which you favour, 1 will throw to the earththofe cruel Barricadoes, that feparate you from ' me^ and after I have triumphed over my Kival, and fet at Jiberty a generous Prince, to whom I amfo infinitely engaged, I will expire at your feet, if you tvill not permit me to be themoji happy amongmen. .V'V'' '■>' i -iLu^ ■ v . ., '■.-,,- v^b'-. He pronounced thefe words with fuch an afpeft, tliat it was eafie to conjecture thence, that he intended what he faid, fo that Gilifmene fearing left Harmaxes (hould be tranfported, to ufe more violent extremities, llgh'd, and let fall fome tears from her fair eyes. Then looking upon my Maftsr with a languilhroent, not to be denyed whatever it requefted i " i make no. queftion Sir, Jaid jhe, but that you are in a condition to overcome all your c- " nemies, and to carry whatever Cities you affault: But what fucccfs foever you may " piromife your felf from your valour, it can never be poffible for you to fecure the life " of the King my Father. That unfortunate Prince muft undergo the fate which is threat- ."ned him by the Rebels, and Prince Harmaxes hy his death and the abfence o( Agathjr. "fus (hall be looked upon as King o( Sarmatia, it may be by thofe very Troops that at pre- ■ " fent obey your command. I need not tel! you after all this that if you march againft Ta- •^'■myraqus, the people will certainly accufe me of having betrayed them, and being once .*' incens'd that I incited you to my revenge, will without doubt facrifice me to their "fury. " Let me perirti hrft, cryed he in an Agony, Let all things go to ruine firft, but let " my dear Princefs live and live in peace. I will quit Sarmatia fince it is your pleafure, and " in regard it w^|aot be difficult for me to dye, when I find my felf condemned to be ex- "iled from youaBpcncc, 'twill be ealle for Harmaxes to difpofe of the body of the unfor- "tunate Agelmom[ that abominated body deprived of his foul becaufe deprived of his "love. Concluding thefe words and beholding thofe charming beauties of which he was now upon the point of lofing the fight, his eyes Hx'd in his head, when I feeing him begin to fiagger,ran to uphold him in my Arms. Gilifmene became fo fenfible thereof, that the fame •alliftance whichlgave him, feeaied almoft as feafonable from other hands for her. But that prudent perfon upbraiding the fymptoms of her weaknefs, and ufing her utmofi endea- vour to begin again » "You would then dye Sir, faidfhe, and is it not enough for me to " endure every moment the infultings, and beajr the threats of my Enemies, but that the "King of the Lombards h\mk\{ mud atHid me with his defpair, and expofe me to more "cruel permeations? I aonfefs I have confented not to fee you while Harmaxes lives, yet " that I neither do or ought to delire the death of the Princefs. But nature and honour re- 'Squired of me to ftrive fo far againft my love, for the fafety of my Father and the fecurity <■'■ of his dominions. Let us then fuffer iince Heaven ordains it fo to be, and inftead of im- " patiently wiuiing the cljange of our fortune, let us wait that happy refolution, Avith a " conftancy that may render us worthy of it. "•' what not a word of anfwer, (added (he, " ohferving that my Mafler had not the power to jpeak^) will not your reafon permit you to re- " foi ve " Ah Madam, replyed he, you muft not feek either for reafon or refolution " in me, for there is nothing in my heart but love and grief. He could utter no more fo was his foul opprefTed with fadnefs, but Gilifmene ftill ur- ging him i " Had you a real kindnefs for me, you would grant me that tranquillity, as well '• for my Country as my felf, but fince you ref^ufe me fo obftinately, I muft return to a City up in Arms, or "Stay my Princefs, faid he interrupting her, I befeech you ftay a " moment, with that he held his peace, he beheld Gilifmene, he figh'd, and at laft deter* mining with himfelf in an inftant i " Well Madam, faid he, I will obey, I will leave Sar- *' matia, and 1 will live becaufe you command me. while he thus fpoke, love had the honour to draw fome tears from his eyes, and the Princefs who obferved him, began to be fo deeply fenfible, that (be was afraid (lie ftiould ■"not beMiftrefs of her own heart, unlefs (lie put an end to a converfation that wrought fo B^ooK IV. PHARAMOND. fo pbwerfully upon her mind- Upon that (he turn'd avVay, but in regard her motion was flo'w, (he could not forbear to look back upon the unfortunate ^je/wo«^, and to give him this E'arewcl, Adieu, GettereKs frittce^ preferve the remembrance of a Princefi that never will forget yau. My Mafter'quite forlorn and ditconfolate, called aloud after her, and conjured Giltfmene to (lay yet a little longer j but as (lie made a fign to him with her hand to re- turn, Farewetthen, cryed he, toobeatttifHl, huttoo fevere and cruel Princef!. Viginizw was about to have continued his Relation, and to have proceeded to the inoft moving pafTages of the Story, but he was interrupted by a great noife and Hutly Burly in the Army, which obliged thofe illuftrious perfonagcs to leave the King of 5KfWi»'s Cham- ber, and to flicw themfelves in the Camp where the caufe of the tumult required their exa- mination. The £nd of the Ninth Part of PHARAMOND. PHARAMOND. < 49^ Part X. P H A R A M O N D. ■ 'f. 1, yi> ... .. The Tenth. Part. Book I. He Princes who had been hearkening to the Story of ;^^f/«jo»(i's Adventures, were no fooner departed out of the King of Sue* via's Chamber, but they faw a certain perfon in purfuit of a- nother, He Jhalldie^ cryed he, the Iraitorjhai die^ ttor'fkallthe refcue of any one prevail in his favour^ that feekj to rob him from an Arm firengthened with the jufteji indignation that ever wm. Thus fpoke the fell Briomer^ not only endeavouring ito accom- pany his threats with blow^, but, fo blind was his rage, to hiake his way alfo at the fame time througli an infinite compa- ny of armed men that oppos'd his fury. The implacable Ene> my of Pharamond underflanding'bat that Prince had fent fome propofals to the King of the Bajiernes for the exchange of Prifoners, was got out of his Chamber, notwithftanding his wounds, tobrcakoff the Treaty, to the end he might preju- dice thofeperfons whom the King of the fr<»«)^/ demanded, only bccaufe he thdwght they were belov'd by the unfortunate Vanquiiher of Theobald : but when he faw and knew a cer« tain Knight that was fent back to Fharamond, a particular intereft intermixing with that fa- mous averfion that furpris'd all the world, his rage augmented after fo ftrange a manner, that they who favoured not his pailion, were hardly fafe in the company of that furious Cimbriau. True it is that Bi»/(j»w/> came juft in the nick of time , being one of the firft that haftened to the Hurly Burly, either in regard it concern'd a Licutenant»General of the Army of which he had the command, or elfe becaufe his Genetofity delighted in the pre. fervation of any perfon in mifery. Briomer no fooner call his eyes upon thf Prince but he grew pale, arid fain would have difengag'd himfelf out of the Crowd , but the fierce Ba- /aw/r taking no^ce of his behaviour. Stay, cryed he, and feeing he made no halk to obey him, Stay, faid he again with a more commanding utterance, and force me not to make ufe of the authority Tvhich I have received from your Sovei-aifrn MHiref. I ackttawledge not^ info- lently replyed he, the power tvhich you have from the ^.een of the Cimbrians, while you em- ploy it to the advantage of her Enemies againji her moji fjitl^fnl SHhjeds. Upon that contumelious anfwer the incens'd Balamir caft a menacing look upon the out- rageous Briomer, yet afterwards confidering him to be an objcft unworthy of his anger. Know, faid he, that fuch vidences as thefe are not permitted during the time of a treaty. Ij kiiow, replyed the obftinateCi/wtriaw, that a Treaty ftifpeads ads of Uo\ulity between two Ar* mies, but does not prote£i a Villain from the punishment if a thoujattd crimes which he has com-, mitted among us. Let him fpeak^, cryed the Prifoner, let him freak, on, Kcured by the pre- fence of Balamir, to whom he addrefs'd himfclt, fo much it concerns yntt more than you thirji for^ to examine the cauje of an ajfault which I had no reafon to have fupeUed from BriocrurVl hands. Book I. P H A K A M ON D. 497 binds ^ conCiderht!, rvbat hat pjjh Ferhapr it may concern ynu more than your life j at lia(l it will be fame fatiffaUion to ynu to kjiotp at the fame time^ by the exawinatimof our difference what the Generom iMiarainond bar done for the renowned Balamif. At thofc words Briomer grew pale a (Icond time i wlicreupon tlic Prince ot the 77;/«/ who obCcrv'd him, conceiving that he waste omit no part ot" his Duty at i'uch a time fent to give KflpmiW Mn account ot all that had happened i and turning hinjfclf toward a Trumpeter that came trom Phjramofid upon his dilmilhon, Jelithe King ynnr Maftcr^ faid he that it it only to underfiand horv much I am engaged to his favour that I keep this Prifmcr ttpo or three days longer; and thattchen I have dijcovered rvhat I fcek^ for, I rviU conditU him my felf to the Camp of the Franks : and in the mean time 1 (hall not fail to take care of a pcf' fon vpho^ for ought I k>totv, is not indifferently e\]eemed by the King that fends to demand him. while Bd/tf wir fpake in this manner, and that the Soldiers gathered from all parts (o the noifeof the tumult, the Queen of the Cimhrians was not a little vexed to hear of Brio. wifr's outrageous deportment: and in regard that incomparable Princels had a very great value and kindnefs for Balamir; and that Pharamond was more deeply fixed in her heart than was convenient for her repofe, all the inclinations of her mind contended within her to arrcrt Briomer, and trt leave him to^hc rigour of the Law if he were conviiitcdnf an/ crime that deferved punilhtrient. But while (he was fending for the Captain of her Guards to give him order to execute what (lie had fcfolv'd upon, feveral perfons came into her Chamber to fpeak to her in the behalf of the furious Briomer, whether it were that they were already his Friends, or that they dehred to gain his friendfliip, by prcfcrving him from a difgrace which they knew was not enough to ruine him quite : Madam, faid one of the piincipal Officers to Rofamond, I am too feJrfulthat'what ynu are about to do may prove aft a^ion of too much feverity \ nor can Itell whether the fimple accufj.tion of a perfon already guil- ty, and already mifufed by Briomer, be enough to force yoti to that refolution which you hdije taken againfi the Lieutenant General of your Armies. Tou k.nutt>. Madam, how great an efleem the King your Father had for Briomer, and that the valiant ( imbrian has been very vigilant irt vour fervice. Tom alfo fee. Madam, that he is only accus'^d by a'fraytor as Unworthy to be beiiev'd, as uncapable of fidelity, and who accufes him at a time when he was about to pnnifh bim for deferting his Colours, and running away to the mnjl irrecoHcileable of your Enemies. Thefc arguments mad^efome impredion inRofamond's mind, and produced at length a good effcd, being feconded by a complement fent to the incomparable Princefs from tht King of Suevia : for that Prince was foon enclin'd to proteft a man whofe humour was f6 conformable to his own i fo that he having entreated the fair Queen of the Boijem/ans in. favour of him, (he would not refolve to execute altogether what (l-.e had refolv'd-, though her heart folicited her to give an entire fatisfad ion to the two Princes whom' (he preferr'd be- fore all the world; yet becaufe (he refolv'd not to leave altogether unpunifhed a fault of whichB^/iJw/V had reafbn to complain, fliecommanded an Officer of her Guards to feek out Briomer, and take him into cullody. The furious C/»j^r/j« fo foon as he underftood his Commillion, could not forbear to caft a fierce look upon him, and to lay his hand upon the Hilt of his Sword : and 'tis verily thought iiis fury would have tranfported him to a Rebellion, if the flrangc antipathy which he had for the King of the Franl^r, being the pre- vailing pallion of his Soul, had not (layed his Arm, when heconfidcred that his death', which would be the idue of fuch an attempt, would be the belt of tydings that could glad theear of a Prince whorahe hated fo mortally. He fubmitted therefore to the execution of the Queen'^ commands, but trembling (or madncfs ; and the multitude that was gather- ed togetlKr, not only beheld his difgrace withaftoni(hmenr, but alfo expcdtcd fome more extraordinary confcquence. The Princes and great pcrfonages whom the tumult had ei- ther drawn together, or who heard it djfcourfedof, were differently aiTeded in taking foir.e one part, and fome another. Varanez znd M thofe whom the charms of Rafamond h3.d rendered Rivals to Pharamond and Balamir, were not over glad of a change which they faw likely to happen in the fortune of a Ctmbriau who had always oppos'd the Prince of the Huns, and was the itTiplacable eneitiy of Pharamond. But ^wi/'owfr and all they whofe Generolity afted at full liberty, were well contented to fee the infolency of a violent man brought down and curbed, which was always quarrelhng with fome great Prince or o- iher. So foon as the Officer had executed the command which he had rcceiv'd fi'Om the Queen hisMirtrcfs, the multitude prefentlydifpcrfed. Varanez went up to the Cadle to vidt that renowned Beauty that reign'd Soveraign Milkcfsof his heart, notwithflanding the natural fierccncfs of his difpofition : and Balamir went to tlie King of the Bajiernff, to return info R r r his 498 PHAKAMOND, Part X. "is hands, and to recormrcnd at the fame titrie to his caSre, the prifoner whom he had prc» iTiifed to fend back in a few days to Pharamo»d's Army. As for Ambiomer^ he had no foon- er turn'd himfelf about, but he feemed to befurprifed to meet the Knight, whom he had difpatched toward Ambiorix (which was the name of theGatd who had bred him in hisin- ftncy) and being impatient to iinow the caule of his fo fuddcn return i Ciogeilltus, ^aid he, rvhat objiacle have you met with in the ■journey which Ifent you i" 5/r, (faid he prefentjng him a Servant of /4»2i/o>-/x) 7"/^// Gaul whom you kjtow, i^ill tell you the reafon of my fudden return, by informing you that Ambiorix is coming himfelf voith all the jpeed that hit aged years iviV permit him, to give yoa information of a Father^ whom you have fo lorn time defired to hjion\ which being confirmed by the G-«k/, and repeated with feveral other circutnflances ; Ambiomer who was ot an excellent difpoiltion, received no fmall fatisfadlion j and the caufe of his joy was no foo'ner fpread through the whole Camp, where his vertue was generally efteemed, but he was complemented by all the great perfonages. Yet how great foever Ant' biomer''s expediations were, he refolved fo obey Amalazontha^s orders, and to put himfelf prefently at the head of the T^uringiens-, unlefs (he would permit him to tarry two or three days for Ambiorix, if it might not be prejudicial to an obliging Queen whom he loved with- .!, As he was going to the Apartment of that Princefs, he perceived himfelf as it were Trained along to Agione's: And thereupon following the imperious motion of his heart, he was received by the fair Princeis of the Lombards, with all the civility which he could ex- ped from a perfon of her fex and quality. Generous Ambiomer (faid (he after a moft obliging manner) I maks no quejiion but that all the ivorld is glad of that good fortune rrhich ts promised you, but 1 afj'ure you, with th at frank>tc^ which your kindne^ and your obligations merit, that therf arc very few that more rejoyce at it than myfelf. Thefe words pronounced by fo fair lips, filled the foul oi Ambiomer with a pleafure that diffufed fomething of an unufual novelty into his heart, and as he was about to give fuch teftimonies thereof, as apparently appeared not to be the effcds of a fingle acknowledgment, fome perfonsof quality entred at the fame time, and changed the fubjedf of the difcourfe^ Ambiomer alfo for that reafon, in a fliort time took his leave, and notwithftanding all the joy that filled his thoughts, he was not a little vexed that he had not time to anfwer Agione after that manner whicli he delircd, infomuch that after he had examined what kind of dif. content it was, he found it to be a fymptome of change which his.gencrcllty upbraiding, he went to Amalazontha's Chamber, as it were to fortifie his former pallion. There he found a "turingien Officer fent by the General, to give her an account of what concern'd the march of -her Army. He told her that Prince 5«««o7/ had made, a hundred obliging offers to the luringiens, yet that not fo much as one among them had accepted them, atter all the Complements that had paifed, But Madam (faid Ambiomer fo foon as lie underitood the Tttringien's Errand) your forces will not be fo umvilling tojerve me, for befides that they have heenjuccefful already in obeying my commands, there is no particular caufe that can mak^ them have any averfion to me. Thofe words caufed Amalazontha to b]u(ii^ renewing the remembrance of ^raa/^jr/c, and caufmg her to meditate upon the ihong affedion which (he had for a Prince, who had de- prived her of her only Brother : However having fomewhat recollected her felf i "Jis not the death of the King ofTuringia, anfwered (he, that hinders ns from receiving the ajfifiance ofFrince Sunnon, he is no way guilty of it, nor can I complain of the valour of the King his Brother, as the only caufe of my affliction. 'Ihere are other reafons that perfwade ms to carry my felf circumjpedly toward the Brother o/Pharamond, and oblige me to fliew the fame refervednefl to Ambiomer Ihofe reafons which you Jpeak of , Madam, replyed he, ^^^^ in force while you were in Turingia, yet they produced not the fame effeUs, which 1 have abferved in your Majejiies mind, fince your Arrival in this Camp. At that time, replyed Amalazontha, Itvas under a ueceffity^ that put me out of a condition to cenfult the law of decency, fo exactly as 1 would have done : But fince I have no more enemies that can force me to put the fame rejiraint upon myjeul ■■, 1 am altogether perfwaded that it is ho longer lawful for me to a£i with the fame liberty. Ee- fides that I have forfot to talk^toyoU concerning Ambiorfx, or to tell you that it tfoitld hea very unjuli thing to fend you from a place, where they fay that famous Gaul will arrive in few days. Upon thc{e words pronounced with fuch a vifible indiffcrency, Ambiomer, a generous con- tempt about to take polTcllion of his foul, and to drive out of his mind the remainder of an affedion id ill bellowed, and beholding A linta with an afpcci that apparently upbraided her dif rcfpedi 1 muji confefi Madam, replyed he, that you have exceedingly obliged me, and that you could not ffeak^mnre engagingly to a perfon fo ttfelcfi as Ambiomer, of that which con- cerns the difcovery of his birth. Having BboK I THAKAMOND. 499 .Havinj?, fo faid,Iie (ook leave of tlicQiiccn of the T'ttriiigi.tHf, and the better to rricditatc upon the behaviour of tiiat Prince, he refolved to go iorth of the Camp, and to feck a pljice proper for his intcrition. In the mean time he revolved in his mind, wherein he obfervcd a certain negligence, which fccincd to be fo injurious and cruel to him, tiiat being no lon- ger Mailer of his anger ■■, Zhijitli Princrfi^ crycd he, irgrateful Amalazontha, // it thus that you jlight the moji important of aU the happine[jes of my life ? I have forgot methinks, do yon jay ^ to talk to yoa o( Ambiorix : Is this aW the acknowledgment tvhich you have referved for km- biomer ? Hotv ! ynu not only forget to fj'eak^ to him of that, for which all the greatiji perfonj in the . Army have mflied him joy, bttt n-ith fuch a Methinks, fofcornful as not to be endured. Totf fljeiv that you vouch/ a/e not fo much as to remember rvhether or no you^ake to me^ about the clear- ing the nobility of wy birih. IFeli difahliging ^ffw, tahf no more care for rvhat concerns thv life of kmh'iomct : Forget that he refiored you to your Kingdom^ forget that he efiablijhed your throne with the price of his bloody and to carry your ingratitude yet farther^ forget alfo that Am- biomer had a pafionfor you, tvhicb he infinitely preferred before the mofi important fervices he e- verdid ynu. For my part-, infenfible VrincejS^yet perhaps too fenftble for Come other Lovers good, that is to be more happy than Ambiomer, / rvill deface all thofe imprejjions rvhich the charms of your face had printed in my heart. Or if by accidentl come to think^uponthe chains which for joitr fal{e 1 have rvorn, I tviH never call them to my memory but to remember their weight, or to reproach mj own faint-heartednefi, that wore f hem fo patiently. when he had uttered thefe words, he went forth of the Entrenchments, and took no- tice that the diflance between the two Camps, feemed rather to unite than feparate them, by reafon oi the pleafing effed of the Treaty then on foot. An infinite number of Soldiers and Officers filled the Plain, feeking for one anothers friends, to give feme proofs of their kindnefs,that had given fo many of their Animcfity.In (hort, that Plain that had been fo fa- tal to fo many thoufand men, began to change the Copy of its countenance, and inftcad of thofe dread fullights of horrour, which it had difplayed fome days before, there was no- thing then which offered it felf to the eye, but objedts of divertifement and various marks of reconciliation, , Ambiomer was extremely pleafcd to caft his eyes upon fuch an infinite multitude of vari- ous Nations gathered together, but inftead of fianding to confider the variety of their Arms, Weapons and Habits, he perceived that the charms of Amalazontha, and the beauty of the Lombard Princefs had begun a Combat in his heart : So that he went a good way into the wood, to the end he might with more convenience examine his thoughts, and know tiie pttcife nature thereof. But net being able to find out a place retired enough for his pur- pofe, he took notice that thofe great Trees, which had been the occafion ot fo much dread and fear» by favouring fo many murthers and robberies i extended then their fair and large branches but only to afford a cooler Air, and to draw a greater number of people to their delightful (hades, fo many pcrfonages of the higheft quality of both Sexes, were to be feen in that part of the wood. Among the reft, Ambiomer faw two or three Magnificent Cha- riots, out of which fevcral Ladies were alighted to walk, in a place wriere fince th6 Ceflation of Anris, their Tranquillity was not dirturbed with the lead appearance of feat. The prepoffeiTcd Knight would not ftay, cither to behold the women nor to inform him* felf whether they came from Cologne or from the Camp of Pharamond. The fight of them wrought only this effed, that it brought to his remembrance that in that wood it was, where he firll met the fair Princefs of the Lombards. After that he thought with himfelf, that the Heavens had lliewed hei to him, to the end her charms might uphold the generous refolution which he had taken, of banilhhig the Queen of the Turingiens out of his heart. And at the fame time perceiving his heart more violently turmoyl'd i ^ejiioHlefi, cryed he, my fate ordains me to break^my former Chains, and to put on the fair hgionc^s fetters, for- tune defres at length to be reconciled to me, {he is upon the point of putting into my hands a hap- finejl which I have fdught in vain until this hour. For certain it is, that -flie had not brought me to Agiont's Chariot, but that {he intended Ifliould only ferve fo fair a Princefs. More than that have I not already obferved more ample markj of ackftowledgment from the Siller c/Agelmond than I have found ingratitude in Amalazontlia's behaviour > After two fuch oppofite experiments as thefe, is it lawful for me to take a moments confideration ? and ought 1 not prefently to deter' mine to prefer that lovely fwectnrfs, that ffreads a fecret charm through all the words and aciions o/t^f Lombard Princefs, ^f/arf Amalazontha's indifferency. At the fame inllant he thought himfelf to be no longer fuhjedl to the laws of the "turingi- en Queen,fo that he impatiently defired to fee Agione,to whom he thought himfelf behold- ing tor the repofe which he hoped to enjoy. But fo foon as he was got out of the Wood K t t 2 upon 500 PHAB.AMOND. Part X. upon his return to the Army, that conftancy that fortifies the hearts of great men againft al^ forts of change, caus'd him to make new reHedtions, and was at length the occafion of new difcontents : Vnhappy Ambiomer, cry'd he fighing, what is that tvhich makes thee conceive fmh flattering hopes ? Vnlejithey let thee kjietv the perfon that gave thee life, who can ivarrant thee that thy Birth is illujirious ? Who kjiows not but that it may obfcure the lujlre of fame Anions that have fpread thy name fo far ? And although the Lombard Princefi may tefii- fie feme kjndnef! for a Vutiful Knight that has faithfully fervid her, who can ajfure thee thatjhe will preferve the fame thoughts for a prefumptuom Lover^ the frji mark/ of whofe paffion may offend her ? He entred into the Camp with his thoughts turmoiled, and his mind altogether un. refolv'd •, but as he was going both to vifit Amalazontha and Agione^ to fix according to the favour which they (hewed him, ht underflood that they were both with Albifmda at the King of Suevia's Apartment, whither the Queen of the Citnbrians was gone to juftifie her felf to that Prince, in reference to what (he had adJed againft Briomer, Ambiomer therefore believing that theluftrc of thofe four renowned Beauties might diflipatefome part of his melancholy humour > or rather confidering that there was more than one Magnet that drew him to that fair Aflembly, went to the King of 5«*t7Vs Apartment, where befides thofe renowned perfons before-mentioned, he found the famous Balamir^ the Prince of Fer^ia, and the King of the 'fongras. They were talking of news which they had lately receiv'd, that the King of the Hw^j was fending a moft magnificent Embafly to the Queen of the Cimbrins \ which for that the fair Princefs pofTefs'd a large Kingdom, and in the choice of a Husband preferred virtue before power, was fent to her to negotiate in fa- vour of Bj/jw/i-.The haughty Varanez made his interpretations upon it,with all the heat that a Rival could be thought to make ufe of upon fuch an occafion : and the famous Balamir not being able to keep within the bounds of his ufual moderation when he met with fo fu- rious a Competitor, had anfwered him in fuch a manner, that there was no fmall reafon to fear the illconfequencesof thedifpute, when /^w/'/owfr entring, brake oif the violence of the conteft : and taxander, to hinder th«m from continuing the fame, briskly undertook theiifcourfefo foon as decency would permit, and falling upon a fubjed far different from That which they had left, he began to talk of the renowned 7heon who was come to the Camp but that very day, together with feveral other confiderable perfonages whofe names they yet knew not. Do you not acknowledge. Sir, anfwered the Queen of the Cimbrians, that Theon is truly worthy the reputation which he has acquired ? All perfons agree that he foretels very 'piftly what he can either hope or fear '■> and if you would take our part ^ I cannot teS whether we might not engage you as well as Balamir and Ambiomer, and as well as Vara« nez alfo, to vifit fo great a pet fon, from whom we may learn the kriowledge offtch things which cannot but be very advantageous to m. Madam, replyed he with a courtly afpedt, if my curiofity he not [hong enough to carry me to vifit Theon, '/w not fo much becaufe lam no where engaged in your Army, as becaufe Adelaiada refides in Pharamond's Camp, whofe fair eyes are the on- ly Stars which 1 mull confult to kttow my good or evil fortune. For my part, replyed Bahmif, taking notice o( Eofamond'f defign, though I expeU the Jentence of my dejiiny to be pt^- fiounc'd againli me by ether lips than Thcon's, yet would I not forbear to fee him, though it were only to k»ow whether his judgment be conformable to thofe appearances which we have ob~ fervedlnrelation to the ijjue of this famous War that has equally divided <»]!/ Europe into two par- ties. As it is lawful for every -tne to follow his own inclinations, or hisown interefl, replyed Varanez very haughtily, in my opinion I am no way forbid to renounce a curiofity that can be no way profitable for me, let the caufe be what it will that nouriflies it in my heart. In jhort, the only Heir of the King of Perfia is not to feek, after other prefages of his Grandeur, than thofe which his Birth affords him, Befides what Kcceffity can there he for a Prince that finds himfelf undaunted upon all occafrons, to perplex his mind with an idle curiofi:y to k^ow the fuccef} of his Enterprifes. "tis fuffcient for him to confult his orvn courage, to examine the frrength of his Forces, and then without farther confidering^ he may boldly venture upon the mo{l hazardous de- fignf. But, Sir, replyed the Queen of t\-ic 'Turingiens, when there is fome other pjffion bt' fides ambition, or the defire of Glory that prevails in the heart ; when this paffion becomes vio- lent, and is as violently croffed, is it not natural to be fomewhat impatient to k>tow the Iffue ? J/«»;fr, that the I'Tincefi of 'r/«j-, in a word your divine Princefs, to "be cxpofcd to the Tyranny of her Enemies, and to be expofcd for no other reafon, but *'bccaufe fhe was born with thofc advantages, that ought to win the efteera and afTedfion of "thofeperfons tint pcrfccutc Iieri" Sliall Heaven have beftowed thofe rare endowments up- "onher, onlyto render her unhappy. What though thofe graces wherewith Heaven has favoured her, caufe her fo be envied by her nearcd relation, (hall they not excite in your breds a veneration, able to proteft her from all forts of violences > He pronounced thefe words after fo palfionate a manner, that all the Soldiers felt a newr. accefsof zeal, and tertihed by their loud fiiouts that rent the very Skies, that they would al! cither perilh, or rellore their King to his former dignity. This franfportation of the Sol»- dicrs* filled the heart oi Azelmond'whh a fecrct joy, which for a time fupprcffed the grief that malkr'd it. However being palfionately in love, and conlcqucntly never without fear, hctlill recum.mended G////fWf«e to themover and over again, and fpoke feveral things that were altogether needlefs, left hefliould omit any one that might be of advantage. At. length, atter he had reiterated many thinjgs feveral times over,to make the deeper impreffion into the mcfnory of theSarmatiani, he took horfe,but with fo many marks of fadnefs, thai: there wasa univerfal pcnfivenefs in the Camp, where he was fo generally beloved and fear'd. But being fo extremely unwilling to leave Sarmatia, inftead of making haft he made a (lop every moment, he ligh'd and turn'd his head with a languifliing afptd, but 1 refolvM to withlland thisdingcrous pallion, that hadttverturn'd all the repofe ot hisSouli I endea- voured to awaken m his heart, thofc thoughts of love and kindnefs which he had for his peo- ple and his Army : I laboured to renew that aftcclion, of which he had fo often given fuch tender proofs to Uh Siller, and the more powerfully to move him, I laid before him all that Honour Hill promifed, would he but turn his thoughts toward her. But alas I fpoke in vain, tor all that 1 could fay made no imprcdion in his heart, which was wholly filled with the image o( Gilifmene : So th3t,Sir,inftead of troubling your Ma jefiy with the (lory pf a jour- ney, wherein there was nuthingextraordiny but the grief of an afflided Lover, I conceive ij more pertinent to repeat what happened in iamyraqtte^ while we were Travelling home- ward. Notwiihllanding the 7eal of fome Sarmatiam faithful to their Prince, lUrmaxes power encreafed together with his Brothers indifpohtionof body, whereby the Princefs was foon reduced to a molt deplorable condition. She was threatned with the lofs of the Prince from whom Ihe had her being, and with the perlecutions of a Lover, whofe paffion was more terrible: than the hatred of the moll implacable Enem.y. In the midd of thefe misfortunes whicii Ihc had reafon to apprehend, (lie found her felf without any fupport or confolation ; Her illullrious Brother the generous Agathyrfus^wzs perhaps in Afu upon fome defign which he had entertained before his departure : And though Agelmond^ her faithful and difcon- folate Afielmo'iid^xtmovcd but flowly from her, yet Once it was by her order that he abfent- cd himfelf, his return (conlidcring the troubles that enfued) was looked upon as an effedt of inconllancy, to which that incomparable Princcls, ought not to have (licwed her felf fub- jedi. In thi^ condition (lie found no com'fort but at the feet of the Altar, and in attending upon the perfon of the King hqr father : But when they began to defpair of the li(c of that Prince, (he no longer Itood t© conllder but determin'd x.o (cx\^ iox Agathyrfui . Not but. ihat fame fecrc: Lover when lie opened his heart to her, had conjured her r.eyer to recal him ; 504 PHJRAMOND. Fart X. him: but (he made that confideration give way to another more important, believing that the prefcnce of the only Heir to the Crown might produce fome happy revolution j (b that (he concluded at length to write to that perion who was moll highly concerned in the change that troubled the Court, of Sarmatia : but then (he found her felf at her wits end a- bout the choice of a faithful Officer whom to truft with- a Letter of fo much conridence. For Harmaxes and Vorcira had won to their (ide almod every perfon that belonged to her Family : fo that (he was in no fmall fear lea(l a packet upon which Agathyrfiis's life and for- tune in a manner depended, Qiould fall into the hands of fome of their creatures. At length (he fa w her felf oblig'd to ca(f her eyes upon Ihyfcon^ who was Brother to timafia the be(f belov'd of all her Maids of Honour, and who had already given her feveral proofs of her fidelity upon feveral occalions. For Ibyfcon therefore (he fent into her Clofet, and after (he had well prepar'd him, (he gave him the Letter, .charging him withal to omit no- thing that might perfwadc Agathyrfus to return. In the mean time the Prince of the Ve- nediaus and the.Princefs of the IgyUons loft no time in (frengthening their party, and kept fuch a continual watch upon the adf ions, words, and very looks of Gi///»2f»e, that they were foon advettis'd of the private conference in her Clofet : and judging thereupon that Ihyf- con could not be put upon any enterprife in a City that was fo abfolutely in their power, they made no queliion but that G/Zi/wifw reduc'd to the utraoft extremity had at length fcntfor Ai^athyrfui or the King of the Lombards. So that Harmaxes beholding the Prin- cefs his Sifter, By rvhat means, faid he, frjall tve find out this contrivance, which it fo much concerns uf to k^otv, and hovp (^lall tve da to examine a per j an that we could never gain to our par- ty? 'there is no ftudying upon the matter, replyed the t\etccDorcira, fince we have endea- voured fiercely to win Thyfcon to our fide, why may we not kjU him out of the way t Is there any necejfity form to examine him, provided we can get into our hands the packet with which Gilif- mene has entrujied hims ''is fu^cient that be die, and fort hofe of our people that way.lay him upon the Road to rid him out of the way, and bring lis hither carefully what they fljall find about him for information. Harmaxes approving Vorcira^s refolution, they chiefly took care how to execute their de- figni and two days zitet'thyfcoit having taken the Road toward tanaU, was fet upon by a Troop of armed Soldiers of the Rebels party. At (irft he defended his lite with an ex- ceeding talour, he felled to the ground two of his Aftallinates, and wounded Lycorax their Captain. But how extraordinary foever hijj^ndeavours were, he was forc'd fo yield to number. No fooner was he fallen to the ground, run through and through the body, but Lycorax himk\( fearch'd the pockets of the (aithtul and unioitumfe Sarmatian, and having found the packet, he carried it with all hafte to Dorc/riJ, triumphing as much in his treachery as it he had won fome great vidory. The Princefs of the JgilJons very haftiiy open'd thepacquet which he prefented to her, ^d was very well facistied i finding a little Note under Gilifmene's hands, (he prefentljr knew that the Letter was direded to the Prince o( the Sarmaiians, though it had no fubfcription, and having read it over and over again very a'ttentively, (lie walked about the Chamber in fuch a deep contemplation, which fuf- ficiently teftified that either (he was moft highly concern'd in what (he had feen, or that flic intended to make fome other advantage of it more coniiderable. Harmaxes hnding her in that condition, looked upon her very much furpris'd. Is it pojfible. Madam, faid he, that yott fljould be melancholy when you have fucceededfo projperoujiy at I nnderjiand you have done ? Icannot tell, anfwered (lie, whether you obferve any thing of fadnefi upon my countenance^ but I am furemy heart is very light: and when yott have feen, faid flie, giving him the Princef- fes Letter, what I haoe read, you will agree with me that we have an infalible way to triumph cwr Gilifmene and Agelmond both together. while (lie fpake in that manner, Harmaxes read on very ferioufly, and in regard he appre- hended not prcfently Vorcira' s delign, and teftitied as much by his eyes : JFhat^ Sir, replyed (lie, do you net take notice that in the Letter which Gilifmene fends to her Brother, there is not one word that fhe might not write to the King of the Lombards? fou may then conjeduretbat fl}e may recal Agelmond as well as the Vrince of the Sarmatians, and with more probability, in regard the King of the Lombards is not fi far off, if he he not liillin our 'Territories. Upon thofe words Harmaxes caft his eyes again upon the Princefs's Letter, and having read it, and paus'd a while, he found that Vorcira was not deceiv'd i for that Gilifmene wrote nothing to Prince Agathyrfus that (he might not have written to the King of the Lnm- bprds. Thus abuilng the intentions of that admirable Princefs, they refolv'd to fend for Agelmond, and to make thcmfelves Mafters of his life and fortune. This they might eafily do, infomuch that it was all their care to execute a defign wherein they had fo great hopes. For the accomplifliing whereof they fend for Licoratc, gave hiin inftrudions i then givifig him D u u a. 1. £ lA ^2. ji^ yi iv± \j i^ xy. 'JOT Kim Gihfmene^s packet, tliey fcnt it with him to the Ring of the Lnmhiris^ as if it had come from the Princefs, with order to play his part with Agelmond, as if he had been fent to the Prince oi Sarmatia in the unfortunate thyfdn^ place. Lycorax overjoyed to fee him- felf put upon fuch an extraordinary employment, made all the vows and protertations to Harmaxej and Porc/M that could be made to confirm their good opinion of his fidelity: and fo taking Horfe he ported fo diligently after us, that he loon overtook the King who mov'd but (lowly and unwillingly. Sofoon as my Mafter wasadvertis'd that the pretend- ed Officer of G////»«f«f was come, he perctiv'd no Icfs than two or three violent and con- frary palfions at one time allailinghis heart i Joy and Grief, Hope and Fear affail'd him at the fame time; fofoon had the only name of that divine Princefs rais'd a tumult in his hcar( that was wholly fubjedted to her : Dear Friend^ faid he to the Traytor Lycorax fo foon as he appear'd in his Chatnber, tvhat if ourPrincefi'j pleafure ? Requires fhe fame 'new proof tf my obedience^ having imposed that cruel tryal to which you fee 1 have fubmitted ? Sir an« fwered the diflembling SarntaliaH, yott will not find the lea]i unwiHingHefi to obey the Frincefi^f defire Kpon this occafmn : /or Harmaxes i»«^ Dotchi coWinuing jiih their perfecutioH, and mi rejhriHg peace to Tamyraque according to their promife^ force her te breaks her tvord rvith them and oblige her to call you back^ to a City where your prtftme may Hove ! faid the ena* moured King, interrupting him. Does my divine Princeji recal me? Does fhe confent that I (hould fee her again ? IVill Jhe deliver me put of a heap of miferier, tvherewith I find my felf overwhelmed to raife metothc top of all felicity ? Ah, m, m^ 'tis impofjible : nor do I find mv heart capabh nf flattering it felftvith a change fo happy. I am not to be the Judge of your hap- fine^^ replyed the Traytor, but I am fure you tvill have ho reafon to doubt of the good nervs tpbich I bring you^ vehen you (hall have read what the Prince^ her I elf has written. Concluding thofe words he prefented the King with Gilifmene's pzckct^ which the ena- moured Agelmond having f ak<=n and kifs'd with a tranfportation of joy anfwerable to tlic violence of the paflion that reign'd in his heart, he greedily open'd it, and read thefe word's that Gilifme/te had fent to Agathyrfm. SO odd and unfortunate a change has fucceeded your departure, that I find my felf conjlrain^d to recal you, whatever refolution you farv me takf to the contrary. . Return then 1 conjure jott, 5/j", return then to a City where your prefence may caufe fome favourable revolution. Flatter not your felf at all, for here the lawful authority grones under the weight of Rebellion. Our Enemies give Laws to difconfolate Tamyraque, and you may eafily fall under their potent tyranny. Shun not I befeech you this liifi blow of misfortune ■■, enter only in tbe^ght time, nor appear till you have made your party confiderable, and in a word follow tW advice of tbi hearer. He is the moji faithful perfon among all my Servants. Once more 1 befeech you take care that you be nat furpris'd by our Enemies. Confider how terrible you are to them i and that they will leave no ftune unturn'd to ruine a Prince ttibofe i/a- lour they fo well k^ow, and whofe anger they have fo much caufe to fear. Agelmond tranfpof ted With joy could not make an end of reading without killing again thofe charadters written with Gilifmeiie''s own hand. He was overjoyed to fee the carfi which that fair Princefs took of his prefervation : he hop'd to be fuddenly with her whei^e he might cart himfclf at her feet, to return her thanks, and to Venture in her quarrel a life Which he had wholly dedicated to her fervice : How am I bound to your kjndnefi, moji di^ vine Princefi, cryed he, not being able to utter anymore. Then of a fudden making an. fwer to a thoufand thoughts that thronged into his Breaft i Is it pojfible, purfued he, that the moji divine GiVtCmene pould vauchfafe to call me back^\ and commit the defence of her moji important concernments to my Arni ? What Honours does fhe intend to heap upon me after the lofief all my hopes .«* Will ftfe raife me to a felicity that I never could expeU ? Ah, th'iA n too much happinefi at once for one miferable wretch : ICou are too generous, dear Princefi, fo that Agel- mond has reafon to complain in the midjiof his good fortune : what is he able to offer to tb« divine Gilifmcne ? His life, his Dominions are to inconfiderable for this la\i favour which (lie bath dene him : nay, has he not already devoted bis life and his Vomiuions to his divine Priri' cefi. At thofe words a noble motion of choler joyning it felf to the heat of his love. Lei «f flie, cryed he, to the afjiiiance of that perfon whom we love : what can Harmaxes, what cats all his party do, when Agehnond fights in the defence of his Princefs ? Re would have made himfelf ready, taken Horfe, and been at the fame tirne in iaiAf* raque i yet how eager foever he were to perform all thofe things which his heart tumultu- Ouflyinfpired into him, he forgate not to teftihe his acknowledgment to the Traytor Ly- eerax. He gave him all his Jewels which he had at that time at his difpofal, anda(!:Vin^ S f f according SOO •* •*■■• ■*■* •«■*" ■** *'^-' *-'•'« *-^' A A n. I .^v. according to that diforcler which the excefs of his love and joy produc'd, he ptomis'd th^ pertidious Villain recompences above meafure, and gave him that kind entertainment which was above all his promifcs, or his prtfents. After that he gave order to the Army to con- tinue their march, and he himfelf departed with fo much hafte, that the Lombards fcem'd to be all (urpris'd, nay, 1 my felf was aflonift'd at it, as well as I knew the caufe of his precipitation. We were nofooner upon the great Road to lamyraqne^ but Agelmoncfs mind feem'd to be ftill more tormented than before : fo that abandoning himfelf to the violence of hjs paffion, he rode after that defperate rate that he got ground ot us every day. Ljicar^x and , I changed Horfes at every Town where we could without lofmg time. And I dare fafely fay without any Romancing, that the enamoured Agelmond rid more way in a few hours, return- ing to Gilifmtne^ than he had done in as many days while he remov'd from her. We be- gan to difcover the Towers of the magnificent Citv of Tamyraque^ when we underilood that the King of Sarmatia was dead, and that Harmnxei^ power was fo abfolute and fo e- ftablilh'd, that thofe few perfons that flood faithful to the Princefs were conftrain'd tu quit their Houfes, to avoid the perfecution of the Tyrant. Thofe fatal tydings griev'd Agel- mond beyond expreflion, fo that his impatience to be with Gilifmene as well to comfort as to ferve and affifi her, caus'd him to redouble the hafte which he already made, that not- ■withftandingthe dcfign which we had not to let ourfelves be feen, we were conftrain'd to ride with our Vifers up, only for air. 'Tis true that my Mafter and I pulled them down when we met with any people who as we thought might know us. But Lyorax did not think it neceffary to be fo cautious to his own inconvenience •, fo that we were nofooner come within two miles of 'Tamyraque, bu; a certain Knight of a very comly prefence, ac- companied with fix others, knowing LyMr,!*: by his face, prefently laying his hand upon his Sword, with a countenance enflam'd with anger, Ah, Iraytor, cry'd he, thott (halt die^ HOT do 1 makfufeof this advantagt^ rehicb 1 xvottld fcorn at another time^ but only that I may fHiiifh thee the more (peedily for thy crimes. Concluding thofe words, he flew upon L)>e«rj:ic with fo much violence, and his com- panions feconded him fo vigoroufly, that my Mafter had been delivered from thatpetfidious Villain who was leading him to tne brink of a terrible preciptLC, if his Generofity, feeing him fo near a cruel end, had not oppos'd his own happinefs by caufing him to fight for the author of all his misfortunes. In fliort. Sir, Agelmond not conceiving it for his honour to ftand to inform himfelf of the occafion of a quarrel at fuch a time as a ftronger party than his own affau^d his triends, ob!ig'"d him to defend ffiem i and perl laps not auributing the fubjedtof the^arrel to any other caufe than the animofitiesof theFadions. he took no far- ther care than only tofuccour him whom he thought faithful to his Princefs i which he did with fo much valour and ready adivity, that with the two firft blows he gave, having flain two oi Lycorax his enemies, he turn'd to the reft in fo terrible a manner, that he .either wounded or terrified them all in a ftiort time, when he perceiv'd them in a condition no longer to refift him, he felt the fury of his anger begin to flacken, and addrelfing himfelf to the chief of the company with a more moderate fiercencfs, Retire^ faid he, if thou wilt »gt undergo the fate of the moji unfortunate of thy companions^ and forbear to feek, a f articular mif chief in a general quarrel. ^ - » The unknown Sarmatian inftead of being obftinate, where he faW his life fo much in jeopardy, fpurred his Horfe forward, yet not being willing to part with Lycorax before he had given him fome farther teftim^y of his vexation •, for loiing the opportunity of his re- venge, Verfidtouf voretch^ crycd Iw, thy ruine is but delayed ; for Heaven is too jujl to raife thee up fuch defenders alivays. But though as he pronounc'd thofe words, he rode away in very great hafte, yet Lycorax would fain have purfued the advantage which he then had to have rid himfelf quite of fuch an enemy, had not my Mafter hindered his intention, wil. ling to continue his journey, it being now almoft fit time to enter into 'Tamyraque^ accord- ing to the Princefs's orders. So foon as day- light had given way to fo much night as was dark enough to keep us un- difcovered, we were conducted to the Palace of the King of the Sarmatians, and Lycorax led us into an Apartment that looks into the Garden. 'Tis impoffible to reprefent to your imagination after what manner Agelmond's heart wasmov'd, when bethought himfelf fo near his admired Gilifmene. The enamoured Prince inftead of refting after fuch atirefome journey, walked up and down the Chamber, cafting his eyes every moment toward the door, in expedation ftill of fome perfon or other to come and carry him to the Princefs i and every moment of delay gave him fo much difturbance, that it appeared not only in his eyes, but over all his countenance. At length the King of the Lombardi having waited long, faw Book I. PHAKAMonD, • ^6J ftw tycorax enter, anii advancing toward liiin \Vith an dfpedl thai tcnified fiis irfibatich'^e •, It it not yet ttme fur us to fee the Princefi^ cryed he. No 5/V, rcplycd the Traitor, '/// r^- pojfihle for me to bring you to her Apartment this evenings for Hannaxcs with m«i\ of the Saic- matian nobility^ are with her treating upon a general accontmodation. At thcfe words the enamoured Agelmmd b\ll([^cd, and fcemed vefy tnuch difiurbed he? could not endure to hear that his Rival fliould be with his Miilrefs, nor was he contcnfccl that the differences in I'amyraque^ (hould be ended by an accommodaficn, which would fc» cure the Rebels from his juft revenge. I do verily believe that the inclinations of his heat^ were for war, while he aim'd to revenge the affronts put upon Gilifmene^ by a way fo cori- formable to his difpofition, befides that he could the higher advance her intercll, by figna- lizing in her quarrel that renowned valour, whereof he had given fuch noble proofs, upon occaiions of lefs importance than that. But rcflcding upon his firft thoughts he con'» demnM them i for preferring the repofeof his Princefs before all other conliderations, he found that he could pardon the Rebels, provided they would return to their obedience, with lefs trouble he looked upon H«rw«xf/V ha ppineis, imagining that he vvas frefent with Gilifmene for no other reafon, but to reeftablifh the quiet of the Kingdom. But zi ihofe peribns that violently love, can never remain long in the fame calm, he was afraid left the Prince 'of the Venedians (hould move Ctlifmene's heart, by means of fome remarkable compliance, in furrendring into her hands all the anthority which he had ufurp'd : fo ihzt he could not forbear enquiring of Lycorax tiie particulars of Harmaxes and Gilifmene't er- terview.- look^yottm notice^ fa id he, after what manner the Tri»ce^ received her new Lover that has given her fuch {\range proofs of his pafjfion ? Could jfje preferve all her moderation entire ' Vfhenffje hebeld in her prefence her Lover, her Enemf, her Kinfman and her Perfecutor ? Injhori ili be no lefs againji the rules of decency, than according to the dilates of f.ifety^ but that rather Gilifmene willcomeherfelfto this Apartment, for fear you flwuldbe difc i^ered by giing to hers. Upon a promife fo pleafing, the enamoured /4^e/w»Wfcltfornepart of his difquiet to d'* minifli, nor all the night was his rert dillurbed, but only with his impatience to fee the pro» mifed fatisfadlion of liis hopes: Upon the firft appearance of day he mad(; himfelf ready,' and prepared himfelf to meet that happinefs with which his foul had becnfo iweetly flatter- ed. But while he expeded that the Traitor Lycor<»x fliould come and inform him of all things i iu came a Sarmatian O&ictr, who no fooncr drew near him \ But Sir, faid he, / am come by order of the Prince^, to attend at your Chamber door with twenty more of my compa- ny, lou have free leave, anfwcred the King of tiie Lombards, fvice it is the Princefthdt fendt you : tor 1(1) all never oppofe her will which is to me an inviolable law. 'fis not, (added he af» ter he had obferved the Sarmatian^s afpeft) but that if it were lawful for me to examine the proceedings of a perfon whofe d£ii»ns 1 reverence, I might quarrel at this as fomething extraor- dinary. For in (hort, whatever defign the Princrf may have, "'twas to Utile purpcfe to give yets that commiffion which brought you hither : For if it were to keep me from {iirring out of thU place one of her commands fhould have done more than all your weapons can do. If eit the contrary ii be for myprefirvation what needlto fear, what occafwn have I of your affiliance, //"Gilifmene. he kjnd to bim, that has nothing elfe to be afraid of but the misfortune of dijpleafwg her '( Ton k^now Sir, replycd the Officer, that it is not for me to dive into the Princejj'es dcfigns : 1 am only to obey, and to tellyoH that if I be not deceived, yoti will be very fuddenly better informed of her intentions. Having fo faid.he took his flation, a»d while the King of the Lombards was ferioufly mn-. fing by himfelt upon this adventure, in comes Vorcira magnificently habited, and glift^ing with Jewels. 1 quejiion mt Sir, (faid ftie after the firft complements had palfed betweer) them J but that ynu are furprifed at this vtfit, and that you rather expelled to fee the Princefi of <^f Sarmatiaos, than the Princefs of the Igv .ions. I mu\i cnnfefs Madam-, replyed he very coldly, that J cannot tell what (liottld be the reafon of this honour which I receive, and indeed it is a wonder to me to fee a Princefs in my Chambef, who perhaps ought not to have known of my be- ingintheloivn. Gilifmene i««^Harmaxes,cunningly ftie replyed, who fentforyoubacl{_, did. mt conceal from me a thing — -Ah Madarn, faid Azelmond interrupting her, it is net fiffible that the Princefs of the Sarmatians and the Prince of ike Venedians, JJ.'ould have adfd S i f 2 ■ ly 5o8 FHARAMOND. Part X. by confent upon this occafion. No, w. Madam, Gilifnnehe tvonld never have recd'ed me by the advice of. my Enemies, and it teas rather for the punijl'ment of a Rebel that I was fentfor to Ta- rriyraquc, than to be facrijiced to the hatred of my Rival. If that co>ifide»ce,tc].i]ycd Dorcira, would ferve for the tranquillity of your mind, 1 rvouldgive you leave to remain entirely undeceived and injiead of contending tvith it, let you wait till the proceedings of the Prince fi her felf altered your ■belief, lill the proceedings of the Princejl altered my belief, (crycd he wirh an aftonidi- merit mix'd with an extravagant difcompofure) Horv Madam, are you able to fay th^t a Prin- ce(!fo divine, can he capable of anions untcorthy of her birth ? Who 1 Sir > Ifay nothing ffaid (he with an affeded refervedncfs) nor ami ignorant but that all I could fay n^ould never be be-., lieved, rvhile I jpokf of the Prince(S of the SsLtrnztuns. Ah Madam, replycd the en^iTiouTed Prince, jpeak I befeechyou, if it be of Gihfmene that you have any thing to fay. By what [ (perceive replyed fhe with a kind of difdain) the reafon that urges me to this difcourfe, is «/- together an obligation to my felf, 'tis no matter however, I wiUjjieak^ on fmce yon defire me, but [ jhaU §eak,with that freedom, which may ma}^ you perhaps repent your ctiriofity, andf'ewyou the difference between mine and the Princeffes heart , whom you have always preferred before me. How great foever were the efteem and veneration, which the pa/Iionate King of the Lombards had for the fair Princefs of the Sarmatians, he could not hear Vorciras'hti words without an extraordinary difcompofure, which the diffcmbhng Princefs no fooner per- ceived, but fhe continued her difcourfe as follows. Sofoott as yoH rvere upon your march toward the Vidnh, in order h yotir repajjtng i«to Ger- many, our troubles began, and the fire of civil war brake forth more furioufly than before. In a tvord,Sir,the defolation was fo fatal, that the Princefi took^pity of a City which Jf)e highly rejpelf' ed, and perhaps Jhe alfo looked upon the adions of Harmaxes, rather for proofs of his love than markj of his rebellion, "fo this purpofe flje no longer oppofed the propositions for peace, and bein^r at more liberty to ad by reafon of your abfence, fhe confented to a treaty, the principal condition whereof you would never have granted, "the people defired to joyn Harmaxes and Gilifanene »9- gether, thef could not endure that you (huuld be preferred before a Prince, who was in a proha' tility to be their Soveraign j and the Princefi her felf, how unrefolvd foever {he might be at the beginning, felt at length that the love of her Country prevailed in her hearty above the kindntji which fi^e had for a Stranger, whom fhe had already banifhed from her pre fence. My Malkr hearing thofe words more attentively, beheld Dorc/ra, while there appear'd in his eyes, that Oiught for nothing more than fome clearer evidence of the truth, the fevc- ral cxccfies of love, anger, grief and jealoulie. TeGods, crycd he, cnuld you fuffer that fr ■prodigious an example ofinconjiancy, fhould dijhonour the fairefi piece of aV your workrnanShip. Having fpoken thcfe few words he held his peace, (landing in a deep ftudy foj a while, but the thoughts of efteem wh^ch he had for Gilifmene, prevailing ftill in his heart above the diforders that (he was going toraifes No no Madam, purfucd he, Gilifmene /V not capable offo flrange a piece of infidelity : Nay Madam 1 will tell you more, it is impi'fible that a Princefs fo accompli(f;ed, fhould deport her felf after a manner fo little conformable to thofe inclinations^ zvhereof her ordinary proceedings are a continual tefiimony. Tou Jpeak. reafon, coldly replyed the diflembling Dorcira, and "'tis I then whom you would perfwade without any ground, that yott have given over your pretences to the Princefs o/Sarmatia. 'T// 1 whomyou would make believe^ that Gi\i[met)cfent you back,to your ownTerritpries, that beingreadyto »j<«rr)/ Harmaxes, ^'ff has reca^ed you, that (lie has fet a guard upon yoU^ to proted from your anger the perfon who is ts be her Spoufe, and to <;onjirm the eSurage of a people, who have already but too well experienced yeur valour. But,Sir-, you mafi begin to underjiand that all this is but an illufwn, that Gilifmcnc never defired you to quit Sarmatia, nor to return thither again, thatflie never wrote to you after^ wards to draw you into a place, where others might be the controllers of your life and fortune, nor is it true that you fee Soldiers at the dore. There is nothing of reality in any thing that has hap' pened to yoH. nor in any thing that you have fe en, 'tis only Dorcira that bewitches your eyes and yeur imagination. Wliile (he fpake in this manner, Agelmond perceived that defpair began to take the place of thofe paliioDS that had turmoyPd his mind. The unfortunate Prince recalled into his memory, all the circumftances, that feem'd to fortihe the difcourfe of the crafty Dorcira^ and fatally aflTcmbling whatever could augment his grief, his colour changed atter a (irange manner. He grew palei, hii= eyes loft their lively luftre, and after he had fixed them tor fome time upon the Princefs ot the Igylions, without bein^ able to make any an(vver, he funk down upon a feat that ftood nearcft him. Vorcira feeing him in that condition, touched with fome kind ot r<;pcntance^ could not forbear to (hrick out, and to run to the aliiftance ot the aiflidied Prince. For I tS O o K 1. f tl A i\ A mu [\l LI 509 . For my own part, fciz'd as much as I v/as with an affright which I never fcit beforc> t foflowed the Princefs of the Igylioni^ and many of the Officers raking our example, . we af- fillcd her moll readily and zcaloufly . Nevcrthckfs wc laboured at Hrll in vain, for the dif- confolate'^^f/»jo««e, her bright Image that continually hovers in my thoughts, feat, "ters them like fo many mifls. Vorcira was unimaginably enraged at this conftancy of Agelmond^ but politickly dilTem- bling her fpite to the end the might be the lefs ful'pedled, and take her opportunity the bet" ter another time •, " I am very glad, replyedflie, that you bani(h all fuch thoughts as may di» " fturb your rell, and I will even be gone too, that I may be no farther a trouble to you my, felf. But Sir, permit rnc to leave with you fuch attendants, that may take all the care that " may be of your perfon, till you have recovered your former healthy and who in ferving "you (hall obey no other orders but thofe of F'/g/'«;z«x. As (lie had concluded thefe words, and was turning avvay to go towaid the Chambeic. doori "Iproteft to you, aaded flie with a pofttive ingenuity, that I would have concealed *' thofe things which it fo much concerned you to know, had I thought that my franknefs *' of which I only made ufe to give you the better fatisfadtion, would have produced anef. *' feft fo contrary to tny intention. But tince it is impofhble without fo deeply afBidiing *' you, to difcover thofe truths which concern Gilifmem, I promife you Sir, not to fpeak a "word more of that Princefs, but when you fliall allow me. I will go yet a little farther, *Sir, and to render you a kind office, which I fee will be fo very acceptable, though you *' will reap no advantage by it, I will do all that in me lyes to bring hither the Princefs her " felf, to the end you may underftand from her mouth, what you have to hope or tear in re. '• ference to her favour. The dilTemblingDomr4 had no fooner made this promife, which (he never had any in- tention to perform, but the cmmouTcd Agelmond more vehemently than before i "Hov^ *' much (hall I be bound to your Mindnefs. faid he, if I may but obtain fo great a favour by " your means. In the name of the Gods forget not to grant me but this, and if afterward •' you demand iny life as an acknowledgment of fo great a benefit, I will furrender it freely,, *'and facrifice it with joy : For yet once more Madain, I pailionately love the Princefs of *' the Sarmatians, whatever injury (he may have done me, and how unfaithful foever (he " be, I will adore her to the lail gafp of my breath. Thofe words did fo dagger Vorcira'^s dillimulation> that fhe could hardly forbear to (hew her diltall, but being refolved to lay her plots at a great didance, (he took her leave with- out manifefiing the leaft mark, of that cruel jealoulie which devoured her heart. When I found I had the Liberty to fpeak to my Mader, with that freedom which I had the honour always to ufe when I was alone ■> "Sir, faid J, after all this that you have done in confide- "ration of G'/i/iwfw, after you have '■'■ h\\Viginizus, faid he haliily interrupting *' wf, keep your felf within bounds, and do notcafl any reproach upon the^armatian Prin- *^cef3, fori only permit you to bewail the misfortune of a Mader whom you love : For I *'can never endure that cither you oj any other pcrlon in the world, (hould fail of your rev 5IO P HAKAMOND. Fart X. "fpedt for ifo divine a perfon whom I adore, notvvithftanding all the proof which I have " heard of her inconftancy. He pronounced thefe words with fuch a refolutioh, his countenance appeared fo difcoin« pofed, and his health fo alter'd •, that I durlt not prefume to open my lips fo fet forth the injurtice which they did him. But on the contrary, that I might deprive him of all pccifi- on of continuing a difcourfe that fo much tormented his mind, I retired out of his pre- fence, and called in the moft confiderable of the Sarmatians that Vorcira had left to at- tend him : for I had feme reafon to believe that Agelmond's wifdom would moderate the tranfportments of his grief before fuch perfons with whom he had no acquaintance, and after the firft inftigationsof his palhon were over, he would become more capable to hear what fliould be (aid to fortihe his reafon againli the violence of thefe commotions that reign'd too tyrannically in his heart. This courfe that I took, though it were not altoge- ther fruitkfs, yet did it not contribute a jot more toward the repofe of the King of the Lombards : for though the Prince did not fo much bewail his misfortunes in the prefence of the Sarmatians, yet the conllraint which he put upon himfeU was but a redoublemcnt of his torment. In (hort. Sir, the violent agitation of his heait, the heat of hi? temper, the fire of his youth, and the reftlefsdifquiet of his thoughts threw him intoa vciy great fit of ficknefs, enflaming his blood with that foreign heat that ufually contends with the heat of nature. They immediately advertis'd Vorcira thereof, who was much afflidcd at the news. Shefentatthe fametime to vifit the Kingof the Lefw^tfr^/, and to tell him, rhat iince fiic had been the innocent caufe of his ficknefs, (lie durlt not prefume to ccmie her fclf to mani- feft how fenfible (he was of the injury (he had done. She alio fent him lhy(icians, but fuch as (lie had inftruded, and who all the while my Mafter was under cure, omitted no opportunity to fpeak according to Vorcirfj intentions. while the Princefs of the Igy lions thus abus'd the poor King of the Lombards, Harmaxet as cunningly deceiv'd Gilifmene -.for he no fooner undentood that Agelmond was tick, but he went to the iS'jr»jj*ij« Princefs, and aftcf feme general difcourfe, Tou have fo great an ejieem, faid he, for the King of the Lombards, 'that I do not wonder you cannot believe hit affehion to be changed with hU fortune. However, true it is that be has turn'd his lave torvard the Princefi Dorcira, finding that yon were not rn a condition to favour his pretences, fhould I refufe to grant my confent^ which yett well kjtotv I never will. But, Madam, I am more fur. prised that you jhould not believe Agelmond to be .in thii City, nay, in the very Palace., and that he is every dav rvith the PrincefJ of the Igylions : for in fhort, to difabufe you, I do itot much care if I jliert- yen the King of the Lombards, that you may fee hoiv,jira»gely you are fre'judic'd again{\ aPrince that firives toferveyou, and how averfe you are to believe thofetrutht mhich are advantageous to him : if therefore you willfendti his Chamber either Amafia, or/ome other perfon whom you can truji, yott will be foon fatisfied, feeing that AgehiiOnd is in no con- dition to conceal himfelf being dangeroufly fick^ in his Bed. , , This cruel aifuiance eaus'd the Princefs oi the Sarmatians to bluflu but 'after (he had paus'd for fome minutes, (lie began with a Majetly that eafily concealed fhe troubles of her mind : Sir, anfwered (lie, 1 have feveral times protejied to you, that J (hould be glad that Agelmond wmld return to Tamyraque tp/f Wt »yi confent, that J might be obliged never.to fee him more ■■> but after that, reltore the people to their former quiet, and ta\no more to me of a Prince that I am willing to forget. How, Madam^ replyed he, then you bear Agelmond tK your remembrance ftill, for all h'u infidelity. AIm, he h.ti too jiil! fettled a habitation there^( re- plyed (he withafigh that efcaped from her fair lips ) and fmce I muft openly declare my felf to difabufe you altogether^ 1 muji acknowledge with that fmcerity to which our sonfanguinity ob- liges uf, that to this hour 1 have laboured all to no purpofe'io iawfi'^ Agelmond out of my mind., He was fo fettled tn my heart, fo ejiablijhed by fo many confiderable fervices., by fo many mark/ of affehion, by the earneli importunities of a dear Brother : and in a word, by the command of a Father to whom I owed an entire obedience, that I k^iow not whether it be in my power to raft ottt of my heart that innocent affection which I thought my felf obliged to grant him. What be- comes then, briskly replyed Harmaxes, of that great courage wherewith 1 thought you fo am' ply endowed ? 7hat little confiancy which you call greatnefs of courage, replyed (lie, wiUferve me to no other end than to hinder me from changing my thoughts for the King of the Lombards, or at lea^ from yielding my heart a fecond time^ if 1 can at length recover the free di^ofrtion of it. Upon thefe jyords the fierce Harmaxes beheld the Princefs with eyes enflamed with cho- lerand madne(s, and though he broke not forth into any extravagancy againfl her, 'twas not fomuch through an effedf o( moderation, as to compafs his defigns according to thoft' confultations which he had held with the Princefs of the Igylions: indeed it behov'd hitri HOt Book 1. Jf tf A^K A M U iSl V, 511 not to jar with Gilifmene, for fear of quadiing the report that was already fprcad abroa^i that he was to cfpoufc her, on purpofe to deceive the King of the .Lo»«iar«// with more probability: and therefore liifling the rancour which he carried in his lireali, Msdam^ re- plyed he very cunningly, '"J moliHeajfjry^ to the end yon may give fame fat is faction to the Sarmatians, that ynu Jhould declare that yoH have ttow fome kind of inclination to render me bappyi '"All Sir, faid flje interrupting him too difcompefedly for fo wife a perfott, that you "fhould fo litik know Gilifmene, to believe that (he can fpeak thofe things which are not in *^ her thoughts. " But Madatn, impatiently replied he, what is it hinders you from dccla- *'ring what I Jclire while you tell the truth > " I have fo often told you, replyedGtlifmene^ " that mcthinks you Oiould not labour thus to pluck words out of my mouth, which yon " know to be altogether unplealiiig to your' humour, if it be true that you aim at thofe pre- "tences to which you lo otten court me. Concluding 'hcfe words (lie was about to go into her Clofet and leave Uarmaxes, but the Prince holding her by the Garment i " How Madam, faid he, do you not then underlland I what my deiign is ; You refufe to gratifie a people that adores you, but only with an out- " ward condeftenfion, and will you not coniider that I engage you to nothing by thofe bare " pTOinifes which I rcqued. 1 coniider, faid jhe, that I am not to betray my own thoughts. *' But fince your intentions are not evil, and that I am not obliged tocontradid you betore "all the world, you may give out what you think convenient, fo long as I open my heart " to no other pcrlbn than Amafu, and that I am not compelled to bewail my misfortunes, *' but only with her alone* Thus it was that the Prince of tlic Venedians parted from the generous Princefs, Bcver« theltfs by his countenance and by his difcourle, he could not chufe but dilcover that he had furmounted thofe obllacles that oppofed his happinefs. To give the better credit alfo to the report of his being married, which he was going about to fling abroad, hemadeamof? magniHcent preparation, as for fome remarkable folemnity the better to prepoflefs the peo« pie : And in regard I had my liberty to go in and out as I would my felf, I was the more cafily abufed, and impofed my own error upon the King of the Lombards. In the mean while the Prince's Phylicians put me into moJt terrible frights, they wavcr'd between hope and fear, and could give me no affurance till after the feventh day of his licknefs. At that time nature reinforced her felf, and growing more powerful than the diltemper, that had almoft got the upper hand, gave us fymptomsof a favourable change, and made me hope that Heaven would at length reftore /Igelmond'i life, as the Guerdon of my Tears and prayers. , The Princefs of the l^ylioas went often to vidt him, nevcrthelefs (he did r.ot entertairi f,im with any thing of dil'courfe that might dilf urb his thoughts as before, being willing to preferve the perfon whom (he loved, out of hopes that flie might obtain him in ihe end. But when the di(con(o!ate Prince began to recover his health, when he was permuted to talk, and that his v«eaknefs having left him,his aiilidions only ftook by him, he fought after no- thing rnore than to fpeak to GiUfmene. He enquired after her of all perfons tiiat cams near his bed, and [ had order my felt to try what 1 could learn concerning the Princefs. 1 was prefently told that (Vie was refolved to marry Harmaxei, that her own mdifpotltion of health and the King of the Lombards (icknefs, was the caufe that they deferred fo magnificent a fo» lemnity. 1 was difple^fed at the news beyond txpreiiion, I ran from place to place and at* , tempted every way to fpeak to Gtlifmene, and in regard no perfon was permit iccl to come into her Chamber, I refolved at leaft to fpeak to Amafia. I waited for her fo long in a little Gallery, joyning to the Apartment belonging to the Princefs's Maids cf honour, that at length I tnet with her. But fo foon as ihc faw me (he blufhed, went into her (ham- ber, and halfily locked the poor after her , which tefty behaviour of hers I then attri- buted to the effed of her (liame. But from that day forward it was no lefs impolliblc for me to fee her, than to fpeak with Cilifmene ; fo that all my pains took no effed, and all the ac- count I could give my Matter, was only of a report that 1 heard in the City, the mo(\ irfe- fome circumtfances whereof 1 laboured to conceal. Vorcira, and the perfons tl;at attended the King of the Lombards by her order, no way thwarted my intentions, but fo foon as the pallionate Lover had recovered fome flrcngth, finding himfelf but half inform'd of that which moif conccrn'd him in the world, he put us into a very great perplexity, by re^fon of certain fpecches which he uttered. For he deter- minatcly averr'd, that he would eitiier fee Lulifmene or dye, then darting from his eyes cer« tain looks that had fomething of more than ordinary terror i "If they think, continuedhe, "to keep me from the Princefs whom I adore, their weak endeavours (hall prove all in vain, "to hmAtt Agelmond. Though without any Arms but my delpair, XmWktkHarmaxeT 512 ttiAKAMUND. Part X. " in the midftof all his numerous Guards, and either die at the points of their javelitis, '* or reaching the ufurper of my happinefs, I will tear out that unjurt heart thatcaufes all " the misfortunes of my life. Then feeing the Princefs of the Igyliont enter the Room, Wherefore^ Madam^ continued he, addrelfing his fpeech to her, wherefore xvili you not at length to all your other kjndne^es add that only favour which may render them profitable to me, and which is themoji important of all that I can receive «" Wherefore, added he, jhall I not fee the Princefi <" Or do you thinly me able to live without feeing her ? Sir^ replyed the diffcmbling Vorcira, I have omitted no perfwaftoMS to perfwade her to give you but one vifit, I have entreated Gilifmere even to impnr- tHHity, I have made ufe of all HzxmzY.ti's credit : in award, J have left no means uneffayed to obtain that which 1 defire fo earnejily : but mt to flatter you, Gilifmene ;/ inexorable. She is inexorable, cryed he, Oh, heavens, what is my crime , that I am thus barbaroufly dealt tvithal? if you desire that I (houldperill:>, w /'* not in your power to ruine me ? Am I net return'd alone to a City among a million of my Enemies ? Is there a necejjity that I muji tajie all the bit- ternefiof that fortune which is prepared for me ? Andmuji I be referv''d for a death fo jlrange and cruel ? Ah, too charming, but too inhumane Princeji, have you recalled me only to betray me to the mofl terrible punilhment that ever was endured ? Js thit your reception of a Prince that returns only by your orders ? Isthis your kjndnefs to that Agelmond which the King your Father by your own confent was willing to advance to the fublimeji height of his felicity ? "That Agdmond fo often recommended to your heart by the generous Agathyrfus .*' "That Agelmond that adores you notwithjianding your infidelity, even at the fame time when you overwhelm him with fufferings intolerable ? Ah, faidhe, it is too much, endeavouring to raife himfeU up in his Bed ; and as they went about to hinder him in an attempt that feem'd prejudicial to his health, he beheld the perfons that flood about him with fo terrible an afpeft, and fo ma* jeftick withal, that he hlTd their hearts with fear, and their thoughts with refpeft, info- much that there was not any perfon, unlefs the Prinafs of the Igyliens, who durft lay be- fore him the ill confequcnces of fuch an attempt : but the difcOnfolate Prince immediately interrupting her, " Is there any regard to be had, cryed he, to a miferable creature that de» *' fires to die, and whom they are throwing headlong down a precipice ? " So far arc we *' fromcafting you from the precipice, that in defpiteof your felf we labour to draw you **out of the danger. "That, replyed he, is only to prolong the torments that tear my " heart. But, Sir, replyed (be, " But, Madam, faid he, interrupting her again, what " reafon is there that I fhould be thus miferably perfecuted ? If there be any remembrance "left of that fortunate fuccefs which my Arms have obtain'd in Sarmatia, and that there "beany defire of being revenged on me for that, let them take it all at once : have I fo ill " us'd my Vidories, as todeferve thus to be kept in a lingring pain. " On the contrary, ^''replyed Dorcira, we are all ready toconfefsthe acknowledgment which we owe to your " Generollty, " I befeech you then, Madam, rf/>/yf(i Agelmond, explain your felf,and llncc " you have been pleas'd to tell me the caufe wherefore the Princefs fent for me back,let mc "aifo know to what fortune (he deligns me." In few v/oxds,re^lyed ihe,io unfold the Riddle " which you fo carneftly defire to underrtand,! will tell you, that the Princeffesof the Jg;i/«- "o«/and Sarmatians ^xckxvt 3. great efteem for the King of the Lombards ^vihlch will never " let them confent to the lofsof fuch a Prince : I will go farther. Sir, faid (he, Harmaxes " himfelf no longer hates his Rival, not finding any probability that he will ever be hap- "pyto his difad vantage. "I would he did hate me, cryed the enamoured Agelmond, and *' that I (hould come todifpute with him the polTellion of a heart that has been fo folemn- " ly promis'd me. But, Madam, if he hate me not, if he do not defire my death, what is " it that he demands from the King of the Lombards s" " His Friendlhip, and his Alliance, " r^^/yf^:^ Dorcira : But I cannot tell, Six, fo flje continued, laying her hand upon her face t9 '•^ hide her blufhes, whether modefty will permit me to declare to you the means which they " would make ufe of to unite the Royal Houfe of Sarmatia to your Family. However, " added {he, to give you a hint out of a manifelt Generofity I am obliged to make you this " proteiiation, that all thofe little offices of kindnefs which I have rendred you, as well by *' their order, as by my own inclination, I have not performed out of any aim to engage *' your Gratitude: for I mud publickly declare, that a Princefs of my humour and incli- "nation would fcorn to afcend the moli glorious Throne in the world by any indire(3: "means unworthy of her Birth and Courage. Having made you this ingenuous confeflion, " which you could not have expected from me, I would willingly be fo kind as to leave *' you, that I may not give you the trouble of returning an anfwer upon a fubjed no waj *' grateful, if it prove not a greater perplexity. Neverthelefs, permit me before I go to r^ *' qucft you that you will be pleas'd to moderate thofe pallions which may hazard your f '' It Book I. P H A K A M ON I>. 513 " in the lead. If you will do that, and obferve thofe inftruAions which I am obliged to "give you, 1 dcfpair not of bringing the Princefs of 5<7>-»ji»»/* into yourcompany, and to " tell you the truth I have thought upon a way that cannot fail. Thofclaft words having in fcircmeafurc, recovered my Mafteroutof that aflonithmcnt into which the lal1: difcoutfc o(Vorcira had put him \ " Ah gencroys Princcfs, cryed he, *' labour to obtain me buf that one happincfs, and doubt not but Aa^elmnnd will yield to all '' the proofs of obedience, that can be required toaccomplifli your mod obliging intentions. "For your part Madam, lampcrfwadcd that you pretend not to a heart, prepofltired al- "ready by another beauty. And though 1 were not an utter enemy to all diflimulatiou " think you I would betray the Princess Vorcira^ after fo many kind offices as (he has done " me. No no,Madam, 1 (hall never be capable of fo black a piece of ingratitude, and the "only protcftation lean make you, without wounding the lincerity\vhereof I make pro- " fcllion, is that I preferve in my breaft all thofc thoughts of acknowledgment and refpedj, *' to which you can pretend. But Madam, forfo he prefenlly xvent on at if he had done fame '■"injury to bit Princefi, I am bound to acknowledge at the fame time, with that franknefs " your proceeding merits, that I referveall myafil'edion for Gilifmene, and that it is impof- " fible for me to wear any other chains, but thofe which that unfaithful, yet overcharming " Princefs impofed upon me, after the taking o(tamyraque. Vorcira making as if (he had been fatisticd with that anlwer, though (lie Xvere inwardly deeply enfaged at it, left the King of the Lo/wt^r^^/ and went to her own Apartment, where (he was ad vercifed that the Prince of the Venediant impatiently expeded her. At firfl they beheld one another without fpeaking a word, and with an afped (ull of difqviict and (hamc, but at length Porc/r^ begintiing the difcourfcj " And well Sir, faidflje, have you met with " as muth obdinacy in the heart of Gilifmene, as I have met withal in Agelmend's con(tancy> "I wi(hfor your fatisfadtion,rf/'/yf ^ ^e.that the King of the Lomhardf mzy be moreeatily mo- 'Ved than theprincefs oi thcSarmatiani.Howfyi that offered to thelight whatever almofl could pleafe the eye. In {hort, at one glance they faw borders ■ of flowers, Streams, Meadows, Woods, and among feveral great Trees a great number of Arbors, falls of water, and Statues. I»M*tji cotifefi. faid the Prince of the Venediam, that a mare charming variety was never feen^ and that rve cannot chofe a place more proper^ to fl.ew »s rvbatever is mojl delightful info heantiful a Faradife, Irueit is, added he as the plot was laid, that our pleafure tt^ill foon be di\iurb^d if J be not deceived, for I am afraid the King cf the Lombards and the frincefl of the Igylions, wilt he both together there by and by. Ihey ufe'to tpalk^together in yonder Al!y, and I tvtnder that they are not there already., fince Agelraond w in a condition to go abroad. No fooner had he faid the words but my Mafter appeared indeed, being kd,er'e he dream.t of it, by Porcira, to the fame place of which Harmaxes was fpeaking: fo that he beheld the Princefs of the Sarmatians, Handing with the Prince of the Venedians, which two ob- jeds of his love and hatred had no fooner pierced his eyes, but his heart began to be mov'd with an extraordinary violence, and his countenance manifefted the trouble ot his mind, by many vifible alterations. Dorcira obferving the vehemency of the commotion, and willing to avoid the confcquen* ces that (he had reafon to fear s Sir, faid flie, fince your heart is not fortified with that refolu- tion that I thought it was, let us mind our rvalk.1 befeech you, and not concern our f elves with ferfons that will but excite your choler and your indignation. Agelmond far trom returning a- ny anfwer, held his eyes tixed upon that face which was his only delight, a face that foon rendred love and joy the MiUreffes of all thofe other paffions that difputed the Empire of his heart, infomuch that the King of the Lombards not being able to moderate thefe tran- fportments, began to walk toward the Balcony, when Dorcira furprifed and fomewhat af- frighted i How Sir, faid (he, have you forgot that you promised 1 have not forgot, faid he, that the Trincefs of the Sarmatians is the fair eji per j on that ever was in the world, and that it will be more eafiefor the King of the Lombards to renounce bis life, than the hopes of en- joying what he loves. As he was thus talking and flill moving toward Gilifmene, Dercira laying hold cf his Arm > IFbat is it you are about to do, cryed (he ? lo bewail the cruelty of my fate, replycd he, and to dye at the feet of my divine Trincefs, ^" He was about to have flung himfelf out of Doreiro's hands, but Gilifmene at the fame time beholding him with difdain, turn'd away her eyes, and retum'd in balk into the Chamber with Harmaxes. The King of the Lombards touch 'd to the quick with that de- portment Book 1. F ti A K A Al U N V. 515 portment of hers, figh'd, and like a Statue Aood immoveable. Certainly, had he only followed the inltigations of his love and defpair, he would have left T>nrcira^ he would have ran into the I'alacc, and in defpitc of all his KivaPs Guards, I quedion not but that he would have opened his way to the fair Princefe of the Sarmatiant : but the fear of dif« pleating her was of greater force to refhain him, than all the force of his Enemies i fof that tear had fo much power over his enamoured heart, that the penfive /tgelmnid^ uncer- tain what refolution to take, remain'd as before expos'd to the Artifices of the I'rincefS that betrayed him v infomuch that flie ealily pcrfwadcd him to return to his Apartment, whither he was no fonner come, but thcdintmbling Lidy complain'd of his behaviour : jyeH^ Sir^ dn yon think^ you have done well to fail of your promt fe y or would ynu be glad thai Gilifmene [hould accufe me for breaking mine ? 1 kflow not^ Madam, rcplycd he, what [ promifed ya«, nor in what I have offended you : 1 only kjiow that G'MmcnQ is the moji amiable perfin that ever -was ^ and that fljeii exaffierated agaiuji the unhappy Agelmond. Vorcira pricked to the heart with thcfe words, quitted the King of xhc Lombard r, ha- ving much ado to keep her fclf fioiti breaking forth into a rage, and flievling her rcfent- itient as well againll Agelmond, as againll the Princcfs whofe Empire he acknowledged with fuch a firm fidelity: nevcithclefs, becaufc (lie had fomc hopes left toaccomplilh her de- fign, (lie betook her fclf to policy > and having infhuded Lycorax, (\)e fent him as frotn Gilifmene. The perfidious Traytor went to the King of the Lombards^ and conforming his countenance to the commillion whicii he had in truff : Sir, (aid he, the I'riitceff was very much furpris^d, that you jhauld venture to come fo near and Jpeak^ to her, contrary to the promife which you made, he pleafed to consider the confequences of fuch a difcourfe^ feeing that if the fight which flie put upon Harmaxes had come to the ears of his pariy^ they mighi thereupon in a rage have tak^n Arms. If the fear of a tumult , replycd he, were Agelmond'x cnly misfortune, I have Friends in Tamyraque whom my prefence would encourage to declare far the jujier fide : and though Sarmatla (fjould refufe me Forces ts punifh the Rebels, I n-ould re- turn at the head of my own Lombards, but J (hould return far more terribly irrefriiablc jn Ql- lifmene'j defence, than when I fought for the King of the Huns. Jf^e have had fuf,cient ex' perience of your valour, replyed Lycorax, to que\iion the fupport nf whatever intereji you main- tain. But, Sir, whatever Forces you bring againli Harmaxes'/ Fadion, you will fiill employ them againji the SurmiUim \ and I leave you to guefi whether the Princefs would be pleased to fee her Cities ruined, and her SubjeUs cut in pieces. And indeed (he takes fo much care above all things, fwcc the death of the King her Father, to k^eep HarmaxcsV. humour jieady, that flie conjures you by all the ejleem andkjndnefs which jhe liill preferves for you, not to intereS your felf againfi a Prince of the Blood, nor to (hew your fe If openly in a City where your prefence may caufe fame di\\urbjnce, but to follow as much as in you lies the advice of a Trincefs, who by the k^ndnefs which Jhe manifeiis towards you every day, does not/fjew her felf unworthy the trull which jhe defires you to repofe in her. The King of the Lombards believing that the Traytor fpoke according to Gilifmene^s true intentions, " Ah, Lycorax, [aid he, I will obey to the end : but if I have a refpedt to Gi- *' lifmene's Relations in the perfon of my Rival, if I remain clos'd up in this Chamber, *' and with reverence a(fl according to the Princefs Vorcira, what may 1 hope for as the re- " compcnce of fuch an abfolutefubmiflion > Shall I afterwards fee the Prince of the Vene- *dians triumph unpunished over the King of the Lsw^an;// /" Shall I fee him advanc'd to " that happinefs that was promis'd me ; and do they think that I ihall be a peaceable Spcda- *' tor of H^rwajcf /'s ha ppinefs > No, no, Lycorax, let thefnnot deceive thtmfelvcs, I will " purfue HiirwiJACf/ as the perfon that ravKh'd from me all my joy: nor will the command " of Gilifrnene that withholds my Arm at prefent, be powerful enough pcrhap> fo protcA " that unworthy Lover from my defpair. Infhort , let them determine aiiKng them- *' felvcs, now they have an opportunity , let them put Agelmond to death , if tliey ** intend to affure Harmaxes his life, unlefs Harmaxes will renounce his claim. How- "ever, replyed Lycorax, to me there feems to be a great deal of danger in adting over "halHly in fuch a -veighty affair as this, feeing there is a moderation to be obferved as well *'in reference to the King himfelf whofe memory all Sarmat^ia zAora, as alfo in relation " to a Prince ot the Blood, and who in the abfence of Agathyrfus we look uporras ouf So- •'veraign: annd therefore the better way will be to give way to the Seafon, and far from "running upon defperate courfes, to flay either till the return of our Prince, or that the Kingdom be better fettled. In the mean time, I make no queftion but the Princefs will ■ frequently fend me to give you an account of affairs : Bclides that, the Princcfs Vorcira "will continue her vilits, and inliead ot keeping clofe in yourChambcrj you may have the "liberty to walk in the Girden wherever you pleafe. T t t 2 thus «' 'J "I ^10 r n yi jx yi ivi u i\ u, fart Jv, Thus had Vorcira inRtai^ed him to fpezk to the King of the Lombards •, for flie was a- fraid Jed too much grief fliould deprive her of the Prince, and therefore (he was willing to moderate and fweeten his forrows, hoping at length to move that heart which (he could not believe altogether infenfible of acknowledgment. But my Mafter after he had ferioufly ponder'd upon the melfage which G>Ufmene''s pretended Officer had fent, and had gathered from thence fome kind of confolation, he return'd this anfwer to the dilferobling Sarr^atiaft, Lycorax, faid he, ajjure our Frincefi that I will obey her commands rvith all the exaSinefi that jhe can expeU from a Prince that only lives toferve her : but tell her withal^ that fhe mujl net think, to depend tipon Agclmond'/ promifes^ could he apprehend that fhe tvould e^oufe Har- maxes : for 1 cannot anfvper for my orvn hearty fhould Jhe deliver it over to dej^air by fo cruel n piece of injuftice. By and by, not being fatisfied with what anfwer he had m^de, he called T.ycorax back more than once or twice, and having'given him fevcral commands and inftrudions, In the name of Heaven^ faid he, let the Frincefi hiiorv^ that 'tis impojfible for me any longer to live a life fo deplorable •, and that 1 (hall fuddenly feck^ to put an end to it, if Gilifmene her felf do not f^eedily tell me what jhe intends to do vpith the unfcrtunate Agclmond i that Agehnond whoje life ought to have been fo happy, but ncrv groaning under the weight of intolerable fuf- ferings. Sir, replyed the diiTembling Sarmatian, rely upon me in every thing ihat concerns your interefl in thU affair, my diligence jh all be extraordinary, and I only beg of you a little long' er patience, that 1 may have time to aH with fuccefs. Concluding thofe words, he departed, and I underftood an hour afterwards, that there was exprefs order given not to let any perfon, without any exception, enter into that part of the Garden which was under the King of the Lombards's Apartment. That day the Prince and Vorcira having been together, I made ufe of the liberty I had of going abroad, and went into the City to try if I could learn any news that might concern a Mafter whom I fo dearly loved : I coined feveral pretences to get into feveral places, and in the Even- ing I gave him an account of what I had learn'd : Sir, faid I, there runs a report in Tamy- raque that you are return dy and that they cannot imagine wherefore you fljould keep your felf concealed : fome fay you have no reafon to fhew your felf in thife places where your Kival has the foveraign auhority : others more bold, andlefs affeded to I-'-')a know, replyed the generous Agelmond, thaf Lycorax wants no " wit, and perhaps becaufe he believes that he may the better ferve Gilifmene by keeping a *'fair correfpondence with her Enemies, he labous to preferve HarwjArfx's good will, fo " that 'tis no wonder it perfons whofe flattery is nor fo profperous, or who dive not fo far " into Lycorax''s intentions fp-^ak either out of envy or ignorance. But, Sir, faid I, 'tis mof certain that Harmaxes has bejUwed a moji cotjtderable command upon him. " Can any perfon, '' replyed he with the fame goodnefs, think it ftrange that Harmaxes fliould gratifte Lycorax, - " if Lycorax can ferv;; him with the Princefs > Imuji confefs, replyed I, that your Maje(Ues reafous flop my mouth : bat. Sir, to tell you the truth, I am not abfolutely perfwadedef his fidt^ lity, and yet 1 cannot teU wherefore. " Ah, Viginizus, replyed he, Agelmond never taugiitthee *'tobe jealous without a caufe. *' I know very well. Sir, anftvered I, that my thoughts " are not conformable to the high Gererohty of your Soul : neverthelefs, I cannot but be- *' lieve that your Majeity would do better not to confide fo much in people of whom your " knowledge and experience is fo uncertain. " I will not deny, replyed my Majier^ but "that it is a piece of imprudence to give credit too (lightly : but Viginrzta, I can juftitie " my proceeding, and demonilrafc that I am not dcceiv'd when I believe that Lycorax is "faithful to Gilifmene. You know the Princer<^. s writing, read over the lalt Letter " which I received from her. and remembci- that it was Ljcor^^v himfelf that brought it "me. Ccncluding D u o K 1. r LI yi i\^ yi ivi u i\ Lh ^ly . dflk^lAding thcfe words Ii^flievved mc the fatal Letters which I have already trienlion'd, I^^^hI no fooner fcen the words which were mod fo be interpreted in iavimxoi Lycorax HUPrking of the Luw^Wx thus continued, ^^f// Viginizus, faid he, r^en ym fee that choke that Gillfmenc made^ the words that (lie has fo obligingly rvritten in his behalf CiinyoK be fo uitjHji as to qieejiion the Sarmatian'/ fidelity ? Though by tlitft' Arguments and fome others of the fame rature,thc King of the Lombards Iiad in fome mcafure convinced mc in favour of Lycorax, yet I could not forbear to have fomethinjf of a fecret avcrfion againft him, wiiich I could not put out of my mind. In fo much that I was not a little troubled, to find my Malkr fo unapt to receive thofe impreifi- ons which I endeavoured to imprint in his mind concerning a peifon, whofe behaviour was fo generally fufpefted by all good perfons. And therefore I ponder'd all the night long up- on thofe circumftanccs, wliich mod (Uangely harafled my thouglits. In the hrft place I could not apprehend why a wife and generous Princcfs, fliould fend fc far to bring a potent Monarch backi and never come near him, not fo much as to fpeak to him when he was re* turn'd. Then the rcafons that Vorcira had fo plaufibly given my Mafter, began to appear very weak, for though Gilifmene''s Letters kept me from accufing Lycorax openly, however they did not abfolutely juftifie him in my opinion. Every day fome new doubt or other arofe which made me delire to examine the Princefs's Letter, and I had no fooner weighed and confidered every word, but I obferved that Lycorax s name was not fet down in the writing By degrees I began to think that the Letter might be intercepted, and that certainly lo judi- cious a Princefs, could never cad her eyes upon a perfon of whom fhe had fo little knowledge or experience, for the management of an affair fo nice and of fo extraordinary confequence. At the fame time that thefe fufpicicns began to fortirie themfel ves in my fancy, the King of the Lombards how generous foever he were, began to be of an opinion litttle differen': horn mine: But his natural franknefs and ingenuity, would not permit him to fix his thoughts ferioufly, and not only quitted Lycorax of all manner of collufion, but alfo infufed into iiiin an obdinatc opinion, that all thofe perfons that fent him could not be guilty of any injudice. However this is true, that being in his Chamber when he rofe and having difcovered my thoughts, he made a more confiderate refleflion than he had been accudomed to do, and at length began to think it neceffary not to negled thedifcovery of an Affair, that mod con» cern'd him of any in this work. As he was conlJdering which way to proceed, Lycorax entred, and acceding my Mader with a countenance more confident, than became a perfon fo much anofFcnderi 5.r, faid he, while I was feeding an opportunity to do yoM fome fma]i piece of fenici\ 1 r>ie<- rvith a Lom» bird, tvbo paftonately defires to l^fj your Majelliej hands. However ii jvili !>j recjuifite that with your leave Iprefent him ^rfi to Harmixcs, wh^ is at pnfent entrufiei v;-ih the Soveraiga Autho- rity^ e^eciaVy fmce the d'jjiKte rvill he abont iitt'ndudffg a Stranger i ■■ it keeps himfelf private^ yei tvhom the other more vigoroufy and e^rrnilHy feekj after. Take yon a care of that, (r^'plyed ray Mader lericully fixing his eyes upon Lycorax )For you would be very ingratefdihonld you fofoon forget your duty to a Prince^ to whom you were fn lately engaged^ for fa confiderable an Ein> floyment. Upon thofe words Lycoraz feemed furprifed,and Agelmond giving him to underftard thai he began now to take better heed of hiiri,the politick Sarmatian reaffuringhimlelf wi(h that diflimu-lation, that had rendred him fo worthy to betruded by Harmaxes and Vorcira ; Icon-. fefs^ faid he, that you may perceive me to befomewhat amazed^ but Sir^ Ih tve too muchcaufe^ nor can I apprehend why a generous King fliould privately fu^e£i me, cthen 1 make open profefton of ti'kingyotir interefls. Nor will your Majejiy I hope judge me a criminal^ for having received a benefit from the hand of a Trince which I durfi not refufe, and which 1 intend to furrendcr up again for fear of bein^ obliged to live too remote from my Mi{lrefs. And yet you might have had a bet- tet opinion of her than yotthave, coldly replyed the King of the Lombards^ had jhe given you a clearer teiiimony of your fidelity, byputtingyour name into a Letter which (he wrote to a Trince, who had never anv k^owled^,j of your perfon. Ab Sir^ prefently replyed he, would you that fo prudent a Princefs (hould be tied to'a formality fo unneceff'ary, and which might have proved very dangerouo to me. For if I could come to give you the Letter myfelf, there was no need of men' tioning my Name^ hut had it been loli by any accident that might have eafity happened, would not fhe fight of my Name have procured me as many enemies, as there be Sarmatians in HarmaacsV party^ or inDorc\ri''sfaaioM. Thefe Arguments though outwardly propable enough, yet did not fully fatisfie the King of the Lombards, which when L^/wrux perceived i "• 1 find Sir, faid he, that you are not " fufliciently perfwaded of my innocency ; But that you may better undeiftand a difpofition " upon 5 is r n /I r>. j^ ivi u i\ u. r a r t ^. "upon which you look withfome difadvantageous prejudice, 1 leave your Ma jelly, ^gBaks " yet farther pains for your fake, while you are jealous ot my proceedings : 1 am gftifg tfi " fpeak again in your behalf to ihe Princefs, and 1 will carry the Lombard who is fo eager to " kifs your hands to the Prince Harmaxes. Thus this diflembling Sarmatian parted the laft time from my Mailer, leaving the Prince flrangely agitated and tormented : Iconfejl^ faid he, that L'jcoxax' t difcourfe is grounded up- on fomething of probability ; Tet en the other fidet there are fo many other likelihoods that di' (troy it, that J makf no farther (juejUnn that 1 am abufed and GMmcnc betrayed^ altd therefore rvithout any farther meditation or confiderotion, it behoves me to know the truth from the mouth of my Princef! her felf. But unfortunate as 1 am^ rehat greater proof can 1 have than xvhat I have already? Have I mt GWiim^n^s Letter^ do I not there find tbatperecals me, and after that do I not find, that inftead of letting me underjiand hotvflje intends to d/jpofe of my dejiiny. flie rvill mt fuffermefo much as to jpeak^to her ? Alas fhe beholds mexvith indignation, (lieflyes my fight, jhe retires from me in the band of my Rival. At the fame time the afflided Prince ponder'd upon all the circumftances that might aug- ment his grief, and by and by all of a fuddeni Hoip knocptve, continued he, that this Letter was directed to the King of the Lombards without a fuhfcription: Or if it xpere really direded to me, as the words feem to imply, why may not Lycorax be thought to have betrayed me, brib'dby Harmaxes ? May not he have perftvaded me to aci contrary to Gilifmene'j thoughts, on purpofe to JHcenfe that divine Princefi againji the unfortunate Agelmond. Having uttered thcfe words, he held his peace, turmoy I'd for fome time with variety of uncertain thoughts, but at length he refum'd his firft intention , which was to fpeak with the Princels of the Sarma^ tiani. At that time his natural boldnefs filled his imagination only with hazardous defigns, in fo much that though a Prince fo mild, fo amorous and fo amiable, of a fudden hetclt him* felf animated with that noble courage, that always accompanycd him in fight, and ren- dred him fo formidable. But as he w js conlidenng what ways to go, for the removal of all thofe obftacles that might oppofe the execution ot his dclign, he faw a ftranger coming into his Chamber, whom he prefently knew to be the Ntphew of that Grimoaldus, whom Agelmond had entrulled with the Command of ail his f'orces.MyManer received the Lombard with many TeUimonies oi atfedion, and taking nuticc that his Countenance was clouded with many fymptomes of fadnefs, he was unwilling luddci.ly to demand the caufe of his coming. But confidcring that no news how dolelui focvcr that did not concern Gilijmene^ could augment his forrows in that deplorable condition, to which he faw himfeU reduc'd \ Garibaldus, (aid he, I fee too apparently that fortune has fcrfiken ui, fur the language of your eyes too loudly tells me, if I am ntt deceived.^ that my Army in my abfencc has not been able to treferve its renown entire. Ihat vil:ory, laid he, which is always hound to folow you, has mt yetferfakfn us, for though perhaps we have not fought with that fucrejl. which a'ivances the re- nown of our great King, yet we have no reafon to complain of any cro^ misfortune : And there- fore Sir, that is not the caufe of my coming, this little Letter from Grimoa'dus, will inform your Majefiyfo well^ that [hope your MajejJy will dijpenfe with my declaring what I cannot relate without an exceeding forrow. Having fo laid i^e piefented a Letter to the Kmg ot the Lorn* hards, which he had no fooner opened, but he read thele following Lines. Grimoaldus to the King of the Lombards. Sir, 1 am at prefent in a condition fo difconfolatf and forlorn, that thefe few words mujl now fuffice to inform your Majejiy, of a misfortune that has begat a general con^ernation in the people. \A\XT\d\(\cis accuflomedtolxapes^ and to violate aL the rights of Nations, has ravifhei dway the Princef! from us, I am makjng al the hajie that may he after that perfidious "traitor, and Jprotefi before all the Gods whom we adore, that 1 will not give over the purfuit of him as long as be lives, ttnlejihe rejiore the Sijier of my King. Upon the tydings of this new misfortune, the afflided Prince lifted up his eyes to heaven, and then caft them again upon the paper, which he read over and over, to fee if he could i find out the leall realon, to doubt the truth of this his Ia(l misfortune. But finding it too | certainly telHficd, he turned his head toward Canbaldur, and with a look that demonftra- ', ted both trouble and fadnefs, hefeem'd torequirethe circumflaneesof the mithap, that had] befailea j A Book J. PHARAMONR 519 befallen the Princefs Ag/one, The Lombard undcrllanding the King's intention more in- Tpired with melancholy than eloquence, he thus began. It 16 mrv^ Sir^ faid he, about pfieen dayr fmce Mnndiric came to Lupia, rather at one of eur Renowned King's Allies, than as a Lover of nttr fair Prince^, And the firji ihing he did rvjs to offer himfelf to head the Lombards, and to march againii the Sarmatians fr your de- livery, or to revenge any rvick^d attempt which they (hould makf upm your facred perfon. The Trincejinot only tejiified her ackiiowledgme?it to the perfidious Traitor, but underlianding that hg defiredto take a view of our Troops, (he caui'dhn commands to be obeyed with all exiraordinarj diligence. The politick^ y[\iViA\[\c ordered the Kendezvouz in a large plain fame twelve miles dijiant jromhuph, to remove allthe Lombards, from whom Jhe might receive pre feut afpiiance far enough from her. Afterwards, that he might the more eafily commit his intended crime un' der the advantage of a long journey, he perfwaded the Princefito Jftew ber felf at the Kendez- voKZ to the Lombards, , to the end, fne miglyt the better encourage them to frght for your Ma jeliies interejif, but (f>e had uo fooner rdde a (puudred furlongs from the City, rehen be ordered thofe of his party whom he had already employed and rewarded to take a a quite contrary Road from that which he led to the Rendezvouz. In (hort. Sir, what can I tell yoit more hut thai the faithle^ MiimdlGc carried away the Princcfr, and vp as got a great way o^ with his Royal Prey before Grimoaldus, who was at the head of the Army, underfrood the leaji tittle of the news, Sofoon as he was advertis''d thereof, he flew after Mundific, and I followed him. But mtwith- flanding all our extreme cdre, and the fwiftnefrof our Horfes, we tinderfreod two days after by ftich as we met upon the Road, that it would be a very difficult thing to overtake the Ravifl^er whom we purfued. Grimoaldus was very forrowful to hear it, yet he followed MurdificV freps with the fame diligence, and Recording to his Duty fent me away with this Letter to give yon an acceunt of all things. But, Sir, as if one misfortune were linked to another, your abfence and Grimoaldus being (o far out of the way, has fo enflam'd the ambition of many of the Lombard Princes to take upon them the Government, that aj I came along through our own Coun- try, I found nothing but faQion and difrtirbance^ and every one frriving for the Soveraign Au- thority. While GijriiaWw made this Relation, 'Agelmond walked up and down the Chamber pondering upon the cruelty of his mifchievous misfoirtune : he found how deftiny and fate feem'd to take pains to trouble and perplex his life i that they feem'd ingenious to per- Ifecutehim fo many ways, and that at the fame time that they kept himat T^awDirj^aeforhis love's fake, they recalled him into Germany for his own honour to the fuccour of Agione^ and the good of his people. Through this contrariety he felt a pain v^hich he had not til! then experimented i for though the confidcration oi Cilifnene moft ftrongly prevailed in his heart, 'twas a very hard thing for him to determine what courfe to take : and then his reafon not being at liberty, while all his thoughts were in a tumult he retired into his Clofet : but the dilturbance that followed him thither, foon after having as it were fctch'd him out again, he went down into the Garden, whether it were that he detired to be lefs obferv'd, or whether it were that while he walked, Hie thought he fhould put a lefs con- ftraint upon his mind that was fo violently turmoiled. And though perfons were fuffered to come into that part of the Garden, yet he chus'd the mofi; remote and lovely walks, and there in the midft of a thick Tuft of Trees he abandon'd himfelf to his defpair : Vnfortu- nate Agelmond, cryed he, unhappy Prince, wilt thou not put anendto a lifetbattbou frjouldii have determined long fince ? If thou flieji after the Ravijher of Agione, will it be pofible for thee to live abfented from Gilifmene ? If thou cowardly abandonejl Agione to the power of him that has taken her away, canjl thou, having once renouncd thy Honour^ endure the f re fence of that Lady whom thou adore{i ? Having pronounc'd thofe few words, he figh'd, cjrofs'd his Arms, and walked flowly : " Alas, faid he, fince love and fortune hrft joyn'd together to make men mifcrable, was e» " ver Prince more cxpos'd to the rigour of their ftrokes ? Did ever unhappy wretch more "cruelly feel their tyranny? Ah, Agelmond, 'tis not for thee to confider fo much as one " minute \ /lie from Gilifmene that flies thee, flie Gilifmene that looks upon thee only with " the looks of an ancient Enemy : run to alfift Agione that loves thee, run to a Silkr that " calls thee to her fuccour, to a Sifter that will receive thee with tears of joy and aiTcdion. " Ah, treacherous Lover, prefently replyed he, perfidious Lover, canft thou frame a thought "fo criminal? what fecft thou in the whole world which thou oughtcft to prefer before "the divine Gilifmene} How canft thou pretend that that Princefs (hould owe thee any *' thing of acknowledgment, and give her but a heart divided ? Confiderthat Qieisnotto " reign in thy heart unlefs (he reign there alone, and Soveraignefs •, and to manifell a Loyal- - '* ty worthy of her divine qualities, it behoves thee to be always ready without repugnancy to 520 FHAKAMOND. Fwvrt X. " to facrifice to her intereft thy Armics,thy people,thy Siftfr,and thy own honour.Eut,tr.ifer- " able Prince is it for thee to lodge fo fair and illuiuious a Princels in a heart difhonoured > " Ah, A'relmoMd, blind Agelmond^whzt an errour art thou running into?Canft thou abandon '■^ Agione, and not cowardly renounce Gi/z/wifMe at the fame time ? Satisrie both thofe Prin- " cefles 'tisin thy power, v'lWt thtSamiatian Princefs, try whether (heabufethee or not, "and whether (he have any kindnefs yet left for thee; if that be true, deliver her from " the tyranny of her Enemies, and then haften to the relief of thy Sifter, that with extend- " ed Arms implores thy alhftance : but if Gilifmine hate thee, die miferable, fince how un- *' juft foever the may prove, thou canft not but always love her pafiionately i but afore " thou dieft, according to the obligations of confanguinity revenge and deliver A- '■ nione. "To this refolution. Sir, at length the King of the Lombards came : but in regard it was not eafie for him to execute it, how undaunted foever his courage were, he fate down at the foot of a great Tree, that he might in quiet cpnfider of a way to fatisrie himfelf in refe- rence to Gilifmem^ and bring the well affeded Sarmatians to take Arms. While he was in this deep meditation, he heard a kind of a noife, and turning his head, he beheld two men that came and fate down upon the brink of a little Fountain on the other (ideof athick Tuft of (hady Trees i at firft they looked upon one another without fpeaking a word, but by and by he that was moft advanced in years beginning the difcourfe,To» fee, faid he, that I have the file prver over him that lookj to the Gardens, and that he made no difficulty to bring us through h'vs hotife into this flace, where you k»on> no perfon has been fufered to come fmce the lafi order which was given tt the contrary. At thofe words the prudent Agelmond \\i\en- ing more attentively than before, he heard the ^.Jrwjfijw who firft began, proceed, We may , makf choice of this Garden as a moft convenient place for our conferences, and we can fiay here tiUTo-xsrescamej hither t» tell ut hU refolution. In the mean while, injiead of profecuting your revenge too haftily againft Lycorax, 'm very inconvenient for you to appear in Tamy- raque, nor that your Friends fnould meet together for fear of giving our enemies toe great a caufe'of fuj}icion. How, Indyrfes, replycd the other Sarmatian, interrupting his Friend, (hall Lycorax that treacherous Flatterer of Harmaxes always abufe us, andefcape unpunifhed ? Shall he caufe til to be exiled ? Shall he enjoy our Goods and Eftates ? Ah, no, no, either he mtiji die, or I perifl) : he will Mot always meet with valiant Defenders, and though he were lately refcued from me upon the great Koad to Tamyraqne, 1 may tight upon him with more fuccefi a fecond time. In (hort, I will never endure that my Father's employment fljall he tak/nfrom him, hecaufehe ftandi firm to hit allegiance, and takes part with the Prince^ to recompence a Villain for the treafons which he commits. But, replyed the former, Toxzxt%''s advantage, andaur common fecurity require M to moderate a heat that may prove dangerous to m all in the confe^ auences. We have no long time to be Sufferers, Agathyrfus will fuddenly return : and certain it is, that the King of the Lombards lies fomewhere concealed in this City ■■, could we but make known our intentions to that generous Trince, I make no queftion but that he would head our party ^ and that ICou have no reafon tiT doubt it, ( replyed my Mafter, and accofting Indyrfes with whom he was acquainted } for here you fee Agelmond ready to joynhis zeal with yours for the intereft of the Frincef, The younger of the two, who was moft paffionately concern'd, would have caft himfelf at the Ring's feet, had not Agelmond, who took notice of his intention hindered him in a moft obliging manner: and as he raifed him up he no fooner caft his eyes upon his face, but he knew him again to be that fierce Sarmatiandigiin(\. whom he had defended Lycorax : in« fomuch that he admired at the fantafticksof his Deftmy, that had arm'd his hand againft fo faithful a fervant of Gilifmene, to fave the life of a Traytor that only laboured to make his own miferable. While he was making this refledVion, he omitted not to give his hand to 'foxares'sSon, and addrelfing himfelf m particular to him, Generous Knight, (aid he, you be- hold a Vrince of whrm you had once reafon te complain, yet one that now deftres to gain your friendjhip by aUions quite contrary to that through which he merited your hatred. In jliorf, it was Agelmond, who deluded by his own fate, fought againft his own proper intereft, andrefcued Lycorax from your ]u{l indignatim. 'true it is, that fortune was not altogether unkjudto me at that time i yet though jlie made me take part with your enemy, (he was alfo no left the caufe that now I li^ow you fufficiently ta have a better confidence in your valour when we come to draw our Swords for our Frincel!. "Sir, anfweredthe Sarmatian, I had abfolutely conjefturtd by " the blows that fell from your Arm, that you were either the invincible Agelmond^ ex the *^ (oxmidibk Agathyrfus i but the injufticeof the Sarmatian whom you proteded oppofed " that belief ot mine ; nor could I apprehend that the King of the Lombards would have " fought for the Agent of Vorcira and Harmaxes, that is, for the chief Minifter of Gilifmene^s " perfecutors Book II. P H J R A M N D: j^i " perfecutors. Tnu tvtil mi he furfrrifed, anfwercd my Mafter, far havrnp; feen mf ulte Lyc6« rax'/ pitTt, tphen I give yon to underjiand that it was he with whomiltbe Pr/wr/f ejitrathd the fecret of my return, and thjt it was Lycoxzx himfelf whom jhe dijfatched nith ihn Letter to recal me: But you rr/1 wonder to hear that GililmcnC has never permitted me to vifit herf.n^.e my retttrn, and not contented with fo injurious a proceedings one time when Ihadthe happi»rj?tofee her in the Garden, that f^jejhould bthdd me as an Enemy, and the only objed vf her hatred. Ah Sir, replyed Indyrfes, ;( mull necrjjarily be that he has betrayed both ynu and her^ mr mil! it be difficult to nnderjiand by what trtckj and devices, and this very Evening will J be better in-' form'd of all thefe things from the Princefi her fetf. Tou k^noiv very well, that jhe has fume con- fidence in me, fr befides that J have been alway devoted to the fervice of her Father ^ Amafia w my Niece, and] k>tow that (he hjf given G'\\\(mcx\c notice of my being returned to jerve her^ intO' a City where 1 can promife very little fecurity to myfelf: So that it behoves me to confer with het, vphat courfe we ought to take to nppofe HarmaxesV Tyranny, and 1 promife you ^Sir, that I will find out, by what juggle they have deluded fo wife and quick^fighted a Lady, and to morrow in the fame place and at tbefame hour, I will give your Majefty an account of all things. The End of the Firfl Book of the Tenth Part. PHARAMOND. Book IL AT the time that Indyrfes concluded thefe words, and that the grateful A* gelmond was about to reply, one of the Princefs of the Igylions Pages, was feen coming toward the Wood, to feek for the King of the Lombards' in the behalf of his Milhefs. His appearance not only caufed the two Sarmatians to retire, but fo thorowly vexed niy Malkr th^t he blufli'd, and that fo remarkably that his colour was obferved by Indyrfes and A' teras, for that was the name of the other Sarmatian. Agelmond there- fore return'd to his Apartment, where he found the Princefs Vorcira who flayed for him^ to teftifitf how much (he (har'd in his forrow for the lofs of Agione. Their^ifcourfe was ve- ry fad, tedious, and ill hung together,, but in, the mean time, Indyrfes, dcfirous to acquit himfelf of the promife which he had made to f he King of the Lombards, went accompanied with Ateras to the Princ^ Chamber, into which Amafia had introduced them. Gilif mene received thofe two ^^atians with many marks of her affedion, and notwithfland- ing the melancholy that raigned inhevfair countenance, (he fcemed to be touched with fome kind of joy. Ind*fes, and Ateras, faid flic, why do you expofe your felves thus to no purpofefor a Princefs dejiin'd to be unhappy ? Toujee I am alone, forjak^n by all the world tmlefs Amafia. the King my father is dead^ I hear no news of Agathyrfus, my enemies environ me on every fide^ and what is yet more dreadful, I receive daily injuries fi-om thofe perfons fiom whom I expelled ail tnyfuppoTt and conflation, Keferve your felves therefore 1 befeecbyou, and figHalize your fide- Huh lit'/ ^22 PHAKAMOND, PartX. thy when the King my brother returns. Itfuffices Madam, faid they, thdt we have Agelmond to bead us Ah for Heavens fah^, laid (he interrupting them, never talk.tome more ef that very perfon whom it behoves me mortally to abhor ^and whom Imuji be forced tolook upon to my very death as the objed of m\ hatred, 'lis my opinion^Madam^ that you are moji certainly abufed and betrayed, 'lis your Agelmond bimfelf replyed (he very halUly, that has fo dealt by me as you Jay, and that you may be fully convinced in reference to a difcourfe^ which 1 cannot endure to bear, as it is not true that Agelmopd is returned to Tamyraquc, contrary to the pro ' mife which he fo folemnly made me. But Madam, replyed Atcras, did not you recal him yuur felfattddid Hot Lycorax cjrry the Letter fj-om your hattd.Hyho 1 .''reply cd Gilifmene very much aftoni(hed, Vid J write f Did 1 fend hycoxix} He afured us fo, icplytd Indyrfes. I fee ve- ry reeH, anfwered (he, that his crimes coji him nothing noan he has begun to commit them, and that he can eafily add impo^ure to infidelity. However it would have better become him to have invented his untruths with more likelihood, and not make you believe that I recalled him, when he is never out of Dorcira's company. Hepouldhave done better alfo to have nominated fame o- ther carrier of his pretended Letter than Lycorax : For injhort what probability U there, that ever Ij})ould chofe Lycorax with whom 1 was never concerned, and whom all the world k>tew to be a creature of Harmaxes and Dorcira's. Ibusyoufee Indyrfcs, thus you fee Atcras, that the ambitious Agelmond had no Ioniser any love for me, when hefaw that Fortune hadforfak^n me. It may be alfo he defpifed me^ when he faw that I being a perfon not given to \\udy fraud and de- ceit, expo fed my felf every day to the devices of my Enemies, and believing my diff>ofitionto be more moderate and juji than his, he has preferred Dorcira whofeGemw Imuji canfefs is much more ftiitable to the humour of a young Soldier than mine. Is it pon)ble,Madam, replyd Inn "dyrfes that /^ff/>wo«(^,thegreat,the generous Agelmond,([\ou\d be guilty of fuch a Treachery " as this. 'Tis not only poilible,r<'/'/if(/ Gilifmene,but there is nothing more true,I am aiTured " that Agelmond has not been out of Vorcira''s company ,not a moment ijnce his return to , " Tamyraque.^itvi it vvas but once thatlftep'd forth of my Chamber to take the Air,whenIob • *' ferved him my felf walking with that Princefs. I obferv'd alfo that he fpoketo her- alter a *' veryipalfionatc manner,yet he no fooncr faw me but he flood like one that had been ilruck " dumb.as much accuftom'd as he had been to injure me : He drove alfo by what 1 read in "his eyes to have paid fomething to common civility, and I believe he would have come to " me, with an intention doubtlefs to have put off fome of his pitiful excufes in my hearing, " had I not retired into my Chamber, or that Vorcira had not ftop'd him to prevent the con- *' fequences of a Confullon which (he faw in his face. " O ye Gods, crif^ Indyrfes, what " relyance is there upon the faith of man, if the moft honourable among men are capable of " fo ungrateful a change. Well,Madam,I begin to be convinced, and now 1 remember that " we had not been long in Agelmond^ company, but there came one from Vorcira to feck " for him, and I found that he was very much troubled, when he faw the Princefs of the /. ^^gylions Page. '' I remember far better, faid Aterat, that Agelmond fought for Lycorax., *' and that he ventur'd his life to preferve Vorcira fo ncceffary an Agent. " Well then, ad* 'Vf^ Gilifmene, will ye open your eyes, will ye at length confefs that theKingof theLow- " hards is unfaithful to the Princefs of the Sarmatians, though a kind fervant to the Prin' "cefsof the JgylioMs ? We are not only of the fame mind, anfwer^'d Indyiks much perplexed, " but for my part I believe that Aterat and I (halt not doamifs for our better fecurity, rather *' to leave T^amiraque than to meet where we appointed Agelmond. The Princefs approv'd Indyrfes purpofe, and after (he had fully inrtrudied him by what means to hold a correfpondence till the return of the new King, the two Sarmatians ftole out of the Town, and went to all the principal of their friends, to Jet them undeiftand the pretended inconftancy of Agelmond. Indyrfes alfo went to the overfeer of the Gardens, and having related all things to him, engaged him to quit his houfeand follow him:where« upon lelchir, for fo was the Officer called, confented to obey Indirfes, yet that his flight might be the lefs.fufpe(!Jed, he left his Wife at home (ick abed. However before he depart- ed, he inftrucftcd her what anfwers (he (hould make to fuch perfbns, as either Harmaxes or Cilifmene fhould fend to make any enquiry there. Thus my Malkr who failed not to be at the place, where Indm^s and Ateras had appoint- ed to meet him, waited for the two Sarmatians : But when he (w it was to no purpofe,they being gone out of Town, he was extraordinarily troubled at it. At (ir(J,he imagined, and that with probability enough, that Harmaxes had feiz'd upon them, and therefore all his thoughts and aftions, having no other aim than only the fervice oi Gilifmene, he dellgn'd altogether the delivery o( twoperfonsfo faithful to the Princefs. To that purpofe he com- manded me to try all ways, to learn what was become of them, and to that intent I went to their Lodgings, and to all the neartfl of their Relations. I enquir'd alfo of a hundred feve- ral Book U. PHARAMONR yn^ ral perfons, but could by no means be inform'd of whatldcfir'd to know. AH people dc> nyed ihzt Jndirfes ot Ateras, were rctuin'd lolamiraque |]nce ibcy bit Ictt ir, and obfervM alfo that tiicir afpedts were full of fear, and that they looked upon me with a (tr^nge kind of averlion : So that when I gave my Maltcr an account of the Iitt!e lucccls 1 liad had •, he was prodigioully alHidcd at it, and making a fad rericdion upon every circuinllance when he was alone \ Hsip, crycd he, are there itoue that tvill come near me hut they that betray me^ and do all that are faithful to Gilifmene/ff me^ and refufe- to fee me again ? Indyrfes and A- ttras, rvhi) fhetved ibemfelves fo free ttjrynmth me^ roho deftred Aj^tliDond only fir their Lea- der, tvhn appeared rpiiiii(r to obey my commands^ the very Indyrlcs the fame Atcras, thjt appear- ed fo willinn to follow we, they alfo break^their tvordi and jhuH me. But alai they neither breaks their rvords norjhun we, tiS they have jpoken with Gilifmcne. After thQfe words he ponder'd a.whiic, and then he darted forth (uch terrible looks, tiiat I was pcrfwadcd my fclf, that he was torining fome dreadtu! refokition in his thoughts. Ntverthciels how difconfolate foevcr his condition were, and how inflam'd foevcr lii? courage fccm'd to be, he did not go about blindly to precipitate himlcU upon tiic execu- tion ot liis dclign : On tlie contrary, before he abfolutciy abandon'd iiinileit to dtfpair, he rtfolv'd to try all things, that he might not have any thing wherewith to upbraid himfclf. He went therefore to7Wc/?ir's houfc,but not licidinghim.he addrcfltdiiimfcU to his wife,who as 1 told you before lay ikk zhcA.Can yon tell me ^(lid he,no w^-n'/i/Indyrfcs > 0/ Indyrfes,an- fwered ilie with a cfunterfeit furprifc, Ab Sir, is it for fucb a per [on as I to fatisfieynur curiofi- ty iufttcb a particular? It if certain however, faid he, that the Ma(ier of the hstife could in" form me what I defire to l{notv. He concerns himfelf replycd (lie, but very little in any other affairs but bis oren : For fmce the troubles in Tamyraque have produced fo many different farti' onr, tve never difsourfe ef any perfon at Court^ for fear of begetting enemies to our felves that might make a bad eoHjiruSion of our words. She uttered thefe words with fuch an evident ingenuity, that my Mafler had not urged her any farther, could he have confin'd his moderation, in reference to GiUfmene's con- cernments, or had he not poilibly known that the perfon vjhom he fought, had brought Indyrfes mto the Garden : So that he refolv'd to inform himfelf yet nioreexadly. To which purpofc he related all that he had heard, and proceeded with all the cunning that a noble courage could make ufe uf, without having rccourfe to deceit or dillimulation. But all his indullry was ineffedual, he could get no intelligence of any thing, fo that being touched to the quick at his ill fuccefti Poor Princeli, cryed he llghing, U it imp:'Qible for thofe perfons rvho are moi^ faithful to thy interefts^ to teliifie their zeal but to thy pr(]udice^ is there a jtecefity that they muji be thought to do thee mijcbiefj at the very time when they labour moji to ferie thee ? He accompanyed thefe words with an afpedi which demonfiratcd fuch a vifible fincerity, that that tranfportment of his paffion wrought more of a fudden, than all his proteftations that preceded. Infhort, the Wife of T^/c^/V more exadly obferved his countenance, but fo id^ flie was from beholding any thing that might render him fufpedcd, that flie difco» vered there nothing but the fymptomes of Grandeur and ingenuity, in the midlt of thofe other effeds of love and grief. My Malkr thereupon taking notice that (lie began to totter, redoubled hisintreaties, repeated the particulars which he had learnM from Indyrfes mouth, and to thofe incitements added the perfwalion of a conliderable jewel. Thereby (he that was enclin'd to an(wer him with more freedom, began to make him a clear con(e(lion ot all things, being ftrongly prepoiTcfTed that it would be an ablolutc betraying Gilj'menc, to adf otherwife with a perfon, whom (lie faw fo devoted to her fervice. Afierwards more ear- nelily beholding Agelmendi 5/r, faid (he, you fee horv candid lam xvith you, nevertbelefi I do not believe IJhall have any caufe to repent^ or that you rviU ever reveal this fecret tn the Prince of the Venedians or the King of the Lombards. "To the King of ihe Lombards, crycd he altor gether aftoni(h'd, do you then thinks that Agelmond w not faithful to fee the Vrincrfi. Oh Sir^ .replyed (he (baking her head, I fee you are. abufed as well as many others at the Court, fuue you believe that the King of the Lombards loves the Princefs of the Sarmatians. But '/i^o true that that Prince having changed his affedioH as well as his party, without any ground or cattft^ is fo afham^d thereof that he ^fakj of GMi^^^c ftill as if he had the fame paffion, which caus'd fomuch joy in Tamiraque. And thus that d.'fjimulation^ which was thought to be incompatible with AgelmondV generofity^ onlyferves to lead many people into error. Among the re}l Indyr- fes was fo deceived, that the Princefi G.lilmene her felf had much ado to convince him of the iruth^ he was fo far prepoffijji'd in favour of a Prince, that gains the hearts of all that k^norfi him, U u u 2 Hot* 524 THAKAMOND. PartX, H««' ti^^'f'*, replyed the 'ptn'iwt Agelmond, doeithe Trhtcefi believe that the King of the Lom' bards has renouncd his love to her ? She not only believes it, rcplyed the other, hut Jhe h.n with her own eyes feen fuch ajjured (tgns thereof, that for that reafon (he look} «/"■'" him as her greatejl enewy; and at length \udytks and Pnens confirmed by thofe reafuns^ called to mind fe- veral circumjiances which caitfirm''d the Yrinceji much more in rvhat already {he had too apparent grounds to believe. But, ( rcplycd he, labouring to conceal fome part of his grief ) may not rve for the advantage of the Frincejl, and the jujiification of the King of tiE)? Lombards Ah, Sir, crycd tlie, fpitefully interrupting him, and turning tothe othir lideof the Bed, J begin to ktioxv reho you are, and if 1 be not deceived in my coujeciure, take yuttr Jewel a~ gain 1 n>il} not only not take it again, replycd the King haftily, intemipting her, but 1 tvill take, care of your advancement. I had rather chufe a quiet and innocent poverty^ rc- plyed flie, than riches that xvtli every moment upbraid me rvith a crime.- "lis very jirange, re- plyed he, that you ivill continue in anerrour i and that yon fhouldrefufe fo ohjiinalely a fatif. faaton which can never do you any damage. For infhort ln>i\l tell you now, and Imujifay it as long as I live, that I adore the Princef, that I am as faithful to her at any perfon under Hea- ven, not excepting King Agatliyrlus himfelf; and 1 defire to talk^ with her but for mie moment..^ or with any of her Attendants whom jhe fliall make choice of: I will go to her Apartment alone, and difarm d, if you will but introduce me in fuch a manner as may not be difpleafng to her. " The Gods prcferve me, replyed fl}e with an utterance more d-njiant than before, fiompro- " miiing to trieddle in an affair of this nature : no, no, Sir, 1 have bcei^ortwarn'd, 1 know " howdeluHve you are in perfwafions, and 1 fhould never deferve to be pardon'd, (hould " I adl for your interefts after all tiie advice that 1 have had. For all this niy Malkr would not yield, he prayed, he entreated, he promifed, he urged, but all to no effeft v fo that at lad he was conlhain'd to depart without any farther infor- mation. He beheld that refolute woman with a mofl fenfible anguifh of mind i neverthc- Icfs, inftead of breaking out into any extravagancy againll her for her obftinacy ■■, for fo nice was his love, that his heart was rather pleafed to fee her fo well afftded to the Prin- ccfs whom he admired. So foon as he came into the Garden he croffcd his Anns, and lift- ing up his eyes to Heaven, '• Thou providence, cryed he, whom I have alwaysadored, con- " tent thy felf to have rendered roe the moft mifcrable' among men i but extend not thy "anger tothe moft perfect perfon that ever was. After that he pondered as he walk'd, then of a fudden, " Good Gods, cryed he again, let my prayers prevail, that you would let a " fair and innocent Prir.ccfs rcl\ in tranquillity, who bePter defcrves thetffedls of your prc- " tedion than thofe misfortunes with which her lite is^continually turmoiled : if youafflift " her to make me fuffer the more dreadful torments, trouble not the repofe of her life, " Agelmond will put an end to his, he will remove out of your light the only caufe you have " to render Gilifmene unhappy ; Nay, it behoves him to die, purfued he, in{Ugated by his " defpair, fincc there is no longer any doubt of the continuance of my mifery : for in "(hort, adoring G////»2fMe as Ido, notwithllanding all her cruelty, it is not my Duty to de- *'• liver from the odious objed: that troubles the tranquillity of her Soul > Let us thqi no " longer ftand to deliberate, Icr us die, let us overturn all thofe obllacles that feparate us " from Cilifmene. If Heaven, fo much our enemy, will permit us at length but to preftnt " our felves before the feet of that Princefs, we will facrihce to her the vidime which (he " dtraands. Happy in that laft misfortune, if thelofsof our life may appeafe that impla- '' cable hatred with which the Gods torment my mifcrable days. Having taken this rcfolution, he marched toward the Palace with a haughty and furious Gate i for my parr, as 1 had attended him together with Garibaldm, not willing to forfake hi!i> in that difconfolate condition, I was conhrm'd in my fears, obferving the terriblenefs of hislooks, and how he began already to flare fome what wildly with his eyes, whereforewc refolvcd to keep fight of him, and following him at a dillance, I heard the undaunted Prince demand leave to fee the Princefs. The Ofliccr that commanded the Guard anfwercd hinji with little CI no refped, having fhid order not to let any perfon enter : " Did you "Jpow wlio lam, replycd Agtlmond, doubtlefs you would believe that my quality de- "lerv'd a more particular conlidcration, and perhaps I may teach you, if you deny a more " peculiar privilege to tlic Ring of the: Lombards. I muji not omit my Duty, rcplyed the Commander very briskly, and it fiiff.ces that Ik^iow that among aH the men in the world lam only to except the Prince Harmaxes. My Maltcr lieaiing the name of his n)orc fortunate Rival, felt a new acccfs of anger, and laying his hand upon tiie Fliltof his Sword, Force me not, cryqd he, to make thee repent of thy behaviour, and k.noiv that if I have recourfe tn that means which is tn my power to open my jcif e p-iffag:- — ■■ — J Jhall never repeat, cryed theOlficer, interrupting him, of doing my Vu' Book II. P H A R A M N D^ 523 ty^ and to Jhervyon that 1 ititend to acquit my felf with all fidelity^ if yntifar^it that y4u are out of your otvn territoriei : I jliall it may be remeiii^er better than yoH Would hai e me, thai yoA are iint here Kin^ of thU Country. Tlic enraged Frincc then loling the retraindcr of his patience, drew forth tint fnririida> blc Sivoid which the Sarmatians had fo oltcn felt to thtir coll, ai;d*as he was abiMr(/x, deliin'd to do him continu- al injuries, had not oppofed him with fcven or eight Armed men. For he apprehended that the cnterview oi AgelmondiLnA CilijmeHe, would be worfe than death, conieduring very rightly, that it would produce a revolution to his ruine. Belldes that at that time preferring Harmaxes advantages before Vorcira's intereli, he thought It no time to diflcm- ble, feeing that nothing now remain'd but only for him openly to withftand tny Matter's defigns, as he had already fecretly countermin'd him in ail his purpofes, and therefore ad- drefiing himfelf to thofe that accompanied him, left us to revenge the diilionour of Sarma- tia, and dcftroy a Stranger that never. came among us but to our damage. The undaunted Agelmond beheld with a new fupply of courage, the new recruit, whofe nutnber in all like- lihood threatned his ruine, and having fpyed Lycorax among them i " Ah Traitor, cried he '■'■ivith a menacing utterance^ thou (halt dye, tor heaven has not brought thee before the " King of the Lombardr, but to receive the punifluncnt of thy crimes. With thofe words he reinforced his fury, and how formidable focver be had always appeared before to me in combat, 1 can fafejy averr, that he outdid all the former adfs of liLs valour, at that very time. In fliortSir, i4ge/»«9«i excelled himfelf fighting for his own juftification, and thefcrvicc oiGilifmene. But while he Urikes, while he kills, while he overturns, notwithflandingbis wearinefs and the wounds which he had received, he finds the number of his eijemies in' creafe, and though there feemcd no great probability, that he could preferve his lite in the inidff of fomany dangers, however he defpaired not to revenge himfelf, and to perform what he had threatned againit Lycorax. Garihaldus znd I followed him profperoufly, but I fear that neither all our endeavours nor all our zeal, could have warranted him from an in- evitable death, had not Darciri* her felf underflanding what had pafTfd, halien'd tohisfuc- cour at the heid of feveral of her own fervants and Attendants; The valiant King of the Lombards had by that time made his way to Lycorix, and vigo- Toufly prefTed upon him, fo that at the very inllant that Dorcira appeared, he iiad Iheath'd his Sword in the bowels of the perfidious Sarmatian^ though unluckily for iriy Mailer, Ly' corax did not expire upon the place, but reeling off he recovered fo much fhcngth as to get to G/'/i/fWfw'/ Chamber, " You fee Madarti now, faidhe, that /^^^•/w'jW no longer conceals "his defigns, you fee that he aims as well at your life as at the life o( Harmaxes, and that his "intentions are to advance to the Throne of Sarmatia that Princels that has joyncd with " him in the midfl: of fo many Swords Points. ^ ' Concludingthefe words he gave up his black Soul, and dyed like a Traitor as he had al- ways lived, and Gi///«e«e feeing the belief fhe had already fo conhnn'd by Dc(rc;rj'x for- wardncs and the teftimony of a dying man, felt fuch a violent agitation of fpiie, grief, an- ger and jcaloufic, that as wife as llie was flie forgot all her moderation, and furt.rcd litrfelf at length to break out into complaints and reproaches. Amafia for her part no fooner be- held Dorcira's Attendants fighting for the King of iheL»wtir,i'f,and Dorcira her fllf encoura- »;,ing them with more than ordinary manhood,but her pallions alnioffcquard thofe of htr fair '^lillrefs, that now Ib.e began to fpcak a jainil a Prince, whofe part Ihe had always taheu, at ^:26 PHARAMOND. Part X. all times, that (lie found the leafl appearance of rcafon to defend him : Well, Amafia, faid the Princefs witli a refentment that had enflam'd her lovely countenance, do yeu mrv any longer qiie\\ionthe fjlfuynf this inqrateftil perfon ? I am fo far from quejUoningit^ Madam^ anfwered ^mafia, ihatl palpably behold it^ and abhor it. In this manner came Wri7iaxes zKo, and put himfelf into apofture to have overwhclm'd my Maftcr witli his multitude : Vorcira trembled at it, and believing there was no way to deliver the Ring of the Lombards from the greateft danger that ever threatened his life, but to caufe Hijr/Hj.icf J to retire , (he forfook the perfon whom (he loved, and took Harmaxej along with her, who was the more ready to obey her will, fancying that in the abfence of that Princefs, Agelmond would be expos'd to fome new danger. But on the contrary that valiant Prince foon made way to Gilifnene her felf i and he no fooncr came near her but he dropped the point of his Sword out ofrefped, that warlike tury that encouraged him changing into a profound fubmiilion. However, furpris'd at the light cf the moll amiable Beauty which he fo pallionately lov'd, he had not power prefently to draw near her, be- ing hrit dellrous to difcover in Cilifiyienfs Heavenly eyes the condition ot a fortune of which they were the Soveraign Controllers. The prepofftlfed Princefs took that mark of rcfpcd for an effedof (hame, and the countenance of a pretended offender wiiich (he thought (he had reafon to abominate, excited in her Soul a new addition to her indignation. So foon as (he perceiv'd that /4^f/w««^ mov'd toward her, Approach.^ crycd (lie, approach perfidious rvretch^ to give me my death^s Tvonnd^ rvbich I prefer far before the fght of a Moniier reho is the objeU of all my antipathy. Upon thofe words more terrible than the Thunder of the Sky, our difconfolate Lover tremblingly ador'd the Princefs that pronounced them ; he felt a mortal Ague run through all his Veins, and as he was about to throw himfelf at the feet of the exafperated Gilifmene, (he turn'd about hafiily to have gone into her Clofet together with Amafia: but Agelmond holding her by the Garment, Stay, cruel Frincefl^ faid he, liay, fee if you can fnjped the tejU- many which I am about to give yon of my love ; fee ifyott can quejiion the de^air into rehich a hatred rvhich 1 have Jo little merited has thrown me ? Having fo faid in a moft doleful, yet pallionate manner, he beheld that lovely Princefs who had reduced him to thatllrange extremity i then turning the point of his Sword a- gainftBreart, and throwing himfelf upon it, he tumbled upon the Floor before we could poliibly hinder the execution of fo terrible a defign : Amafia gave a loud Ihriek, and I ran to my poor Mafter, whom I faw fwimming in two Rivers of Blood, while a mortal pale- refs covered all his face. How extreme foever my afflidions were, inftead of deploring in vain fo dreadful a mis- fortune, I made it my bufmefs to try whether I could do my Soveraign any fervice, if he were in a condition to be the better for its I gently drew out the fatal inftrumtnt of our dif- confolation, and if Amafia came not to our relief, it was bccaufe (he was obliged to alfift the Princefs her felf who was fwooning away in her Arms ', yet notwithftanding the trouble wherein the generous Amafia found her felf, (he fent mc prefently her own and the Prin- cefs's veil, wherewith I (lopped both Agelmond's wounds, then I caufcd the Prince to be carried to a Bed, expeding the coming of the Chirurgeons whom 1 had fent for with all the fpced imaginable. Then it was that all my courage forlook me, having beheld my Mafter as earneftly as my love would give me leave, I watered his face with my tears \ and not being in a condition to confult the Laws of good Manners, or of Reafon, I fpoke and aded whatever a kind of rage with which 1 found my felf tranfported could infufeinto me : "Poor Prince, cryedl^ was it poflible thatthou (houldft put an end to thy renowned days " in fo deplorable a manner? Was it pollible, that fortune having alTaikd theefo often with " fo little advantage to her felf, (hould at length make thee thine own enemy, having no "other way to triumph over thy great courage. But th.en not able to fpeak a word more, opprefs'd with a grief too quick and vigorous, I looked upon Agelmond's eycsi but alas, the lovely fire was gone that always enlivened them > I could neither defcry the fweet^ nor the terrible which they had accuftomcd to di- fplay according to the difference of occations, while thus I was rccnlleding my forrows, the Phyllcians and Chyrurgeons came i who, without lofingajmoment of time, opening the wound, were not a little altonilliedat the widenefs of it, but when they had wellfearch'd thedepth of it, they all agreed that it was not mortal, and that the Sword that made it had rot well anfwered the dcfpairing hand that fhruft it in. This opinion of theirs recovered my Soul, yet notwithftanding that confolation which I receiv'd, I was a little afraid of my 6eix MaftL-r's life » and every moment I confultcd the countenances of the Chirurgtons, to ke whether they had fpoken according to the truth of their thoughts. In the interim they appiyed Book II. PHAKAMOND. P7 applyed their Hrft dreffing, and poured upon the orifice of the wound a certain Balfam of tliat wonderful efficacy, that in a fliort time he came to his fcnfes. Then did lie foftly turn his cjiesupon thofe perfons that ftood about him, and having difcovertd my face, he fixed iiis eyes upon me with a kind of earneftnefs which upon fuch accidents infufcs into a man fuch a dread as cannot be wellexprcfTed. It may be, that having but a contnlcd {know- ledge of things, he beheld me in that manner cither to fatishe liimfelf, or rather to require fome other kind of fci vice from me, than he rcceiv'd from thofe that drcfs'd his wounds. InQiort, he wasnofooner able to diftinguifh theobjcdisof light, and to judge of things, but perceiving that he had been drcfs'd, and that there was an intention to favehis hfc, he looked upon all tliofe that were diligent in his relief, as his moll cruel enemits: nay, he went farther, fo that vchen he was able to Hir his Arms, he endeavoured to tear off the plailkrs that were laid upon his wounds ; and bccaufe it was an eafic thing for us to hinder him, in regard of his weakncfs, he complained thereof with an afptdt that forced our pity, feeing himlelf in acondition not to ad otiitrwifeagainll himlclf, ortoobtain that by vio' lence which we refus'd to his entreaties ; And yon alfo, Viginizus, faid he to me with a feeble utterance, tvill you coniirain me to live^ that tf , to he yet more miferable ? Are net yeu a rfitnefi that Gilifmene hates me ? And. tvould ynu then defire me to love my life ? Live^ Sir anfweredl, live^ fir Gilifmene has chaitt^ed her refvlulio», Jhe m longer has any unk^Hdnefi far you ^ or to fa\) better^ (he never had : thty had deceived her to incenfe her agaiuji y$n ; but the Gods ittjpired you xfith this violent rffohttinn that Jhe might jee her errour^ and to deliver you from tbofe afjliUions with which your life has been miferably perfecuted. Though the King of the Lombards had fliut his heart againll all the founds of joy, yet he could not chufe but fetlfomc kind of confolation, hearing thofe words to which his in- nocency gave credit. True it is, that not being able long to flatter himfelf, he call his eyes once more upon me, and he was about to require fome proof of what I told him, when the Fhyilcians gave him a farther alTurance of it, and conjured him at the fame time onGi- lifmene^s behalf not toobftrudt the pains which they took to preferve his life. That af* furance wrought as effedJually as they could detire upon the enamoured Agelmond^ fothat he not only fuffer'd them to attend his cure,but he refrain'd from talking as they had ad vis'd him, how great fcever his defire were to talk, and to Icarn the particulars of all thofe ways which they had made ufe of to deceive the Princefs. In the mean time the afflidfedGi/z/mf/ff had a longing impatience to vifit the King of the Lombards : but Harmaxes and Vorcira fo artihcially oppos'd it, that the fair Princefs could not have compafs'd a deHgn lb favourable to my Malfer, had not the King, out of an eager defire of fo abfolute a happinefs, rclapfed into a dangerous languidment : whereupon the Princefs of the Igylions looking upon the death of the perfon whom fbe entirely loved, as the greateft evil that (he could expedt, not only confented to Gilifmene's deiire, but fh.e fa- cilitated that very vifit which (he hadfo much caufe to be afraid of j for my part I thought it convenient to give my Mafter.fome reafon to hope for fo great a happinefs, and to pre- pare him infenfibly to undergo without danger fofudden an alteration from the extremity of defpair to the height of joy i fo that when I had us'd all thofe cautions that might fettle A gelmond's heart in fome fecurity, the Princefs came to his Apartment, but (lie came in fuch a manner as had like to have overturn'd all the foundations which I had taken fo much care tolayi for fhe was negligently habited, and grief having fwcctencd all that (he had terrible in the luftrc of her fair eyes, (he was to be beheld with more delight than fear, and yet no perfon could behold her without being mov'd to compalfionate that ladncls that vigo- roufly aifailed her heart i (he mov'd toward Agelmond with a languilTiing air, and that lan- gui(hmcnt (hewing it felf in her Majeftick Gate, had fuch an unutterable charm, that it powerfully commanded all the hearts of thofe that ilood by. As foon as (he perceiv'd the King of the Lombards^ (he figh'd j but when (he came near him the tears hoed in her fair eyes, notwithrtanding the flames that enlivened them. The enamoured Agelmond no fooner faw her, but, not being able to contain his joy: Ah, 'tii too much, dearPrincep^cry'd he, and though 1 fuffered a thoufand deaths for the dn ine Gilifmene, yet (liould 1 accufe my felf ef too much pride, if I durji frefume thy felf deferving the favour rrhich I now receive. 'iis you, molt Generous Prince, replyed (he, rvbofe perfeverance is too obliging toward a per- fon that reduced you to th'vs extremity : true it ji, that jeveral probabilities made me coled thai you had changed y nir faith, and you might have the fame rpinion of Gilifmene. In jhort, we have been both guilty and innocent: or, to fay better, wehave mutualy both prejened an invio- lable faith, not knowing the fwcerity of each other ; Itt M prefer: e to the end fo fair an affernon^ and be confidently perfwadtd, that if the King efihe Lombards continues h'n favour to the Prin- «e(!of the Sarmatians, the Frinceji of the Sarmatiansjicili' never be engaged to any ether perftt tbati 528 PHARAMOND. Part X. ihantotheKmg o/Zibf Lombards. She faid no more for fear of injuring a Prince, altogethct tranfpnrted wjt^ love and joy, while the pallionate Prince inftead of returning an anfwer, kept his eyes fixed upon the fair eyes of the Princefs, there to confidcr that aflcdion which it was no difficult thing to difcover. Some few days after my Mader finding himfclf in a better condition, to refift the power- ful effeds which Gilifmeiie's vilits produc'd, the fair Princefs came again, and I had no fooner caufcd thofe perfons to withdraw, whom 1 had any reafon to fufpcd, but thofe two illuftrious perfons began to give each other that fatisfaftion, which they hadfolorg delir''d. AgelmoHd (hewed her the Letter which the perfidious Lycorax had given him, and the Prin« cefs having looked upon it with an extraordinary furptife, declared to whom and to what intent (he had writ it. After that they mutually gave each other the abfolute knowledge of all things, wherein as 1 hive told you, they had been abufed, when the incens'd Prince not being able, as he deiired to have done in Gilifmene's prefcnce, to reftrain the violence of his refentmcnt ■, Ah T^raitor, cryed he, unworthy TJval^ difhanourahle Harm.axes, ThoK rpilt find one day by the fnccefi of thy perfidy^ vehether it be by fitch treacheries as thefe that thtm art to pretend to that fair CoHqneli which thou tvoutdjl ravifh from me i Thou wilt one day fee^ rvbether it be poffible to projfer by fuch ways as thefe, fo contrary to thofe that lead ts the acconi- fhfljing of all generous enterprifes i He would have fpoken more in that extafie, nor can I tell whether a Sex for which he had a general refped, could have prottdi-ed Vvrcira from his ju(t reproaches, it the prudent and moderate Gilifmene out of the effedt of her admirable virtue, had not interrupted him, to put him belide all thoughts of revenge. Sir, faid (he with an incomparable fwcetncfs and Mjjelty, what U become of thtt mafrnanimoiu courage^ of which you have pivnt fo many fair proofs uponfo many various occafjons s" Ought not that to fet you at this time above a^ thofe injum ries which yon have received, as it has alcvays taught ysu to dejptfe the ^reateji dangers ? I find the courage of my foul, replyed he, fufficient to pardon all thofe wrongs that have been offered to the King nf the Lombards, and da really pardon them every one : But^Madam, it troubles me to fuffer thofe perfecittions to go unptm(hed, which they have made my Princefl fuffer, nnr can I re- member them without a juji indignation, without a juji defire to revenge the injuries, done te that fair Princef! whom I adore. Ah,Sir, replyed the generous Princefs really moved, canyou think upon the proceedings (?/Gi!ifmene and Dorcira, without considering at the fame time the proxi- mity of blood that unites them to Gilifmene ? 'think^you that it were poffible for me to fee them miferahle, without being my f elf aj^iUed} And in a word Sir, can you affail them without Jpil- ling my blood? Befides that after all this^ neither the Prince of the Venedians nor the Princejiof the Igylions have offended us, but as they were capable of an affeUion, which 14 not always ground-^ ed upon reafon. If tbey had recourfc to thofe contrivances that are beneath us, are we not in a manner obliged to pity their errors and their ignorance ? Ought we not injiead of offering violence for violence, rather bewail the perfons of an illufirious extradion, whom the immortal Cods have ttot favoured with th fe advantages, which we have received from heaven ? The King of the Lombards hearing fuch evidencesof a prodigious virtue, beheld his Prin- cefs more earneftly, and tranfported with admiration ■, "Madam, cried he, how does the " Grandeur of your Soul advance you above the degree of mortals, even as the beauty of " your eyes, exalts the excellency ofyour charms above whatever was charming upon earth? " But my dear Princefs, amoroufly added he, is it to be imagin'd that in fo generous and fo " great a Soul, there (hould be fo much tendernefs with fo much moderation > Can I be- " lieve that a wifdom, the eXi(ft regularity whereof I cannot chofe but fear, will ever fuffer " in your heart thofe motions of affedion, which a Prince that adores you may be fubjeA ** to require ? Pvather Sir, replyed jhe, can you imagine that the Princefs of the Sarmatians^ " can fjil of a true kindnefs for the Ring of the Lombards ? No no, Sir, Gilifmene can never " want an affedion tor a Piince, to whom (he is fo much engaged ; For this real kindnefs ''is fo well founded upon eminent fervices, fo firmly e(\abli(h'd by the confent of a Father '■ to whom lowed an entire obedience, fo well fix'd by the folicitations of a Brother infi- " nittly dear, that I know nothing able to fliake it, unlefs it be the infidelity of AgelmohJ. *' How happy am 1 divine Princefs, cried he interrupting her, taking her by one of her fair *' hands, wbicb he kjjj'ed with a deep reffeU before (he could withdraw it. Yes my divine Prin- " cefs I am happy, and fince the Milircfs of my deftiny has fpoken thcfe words of comfort " to me, I dctie ail that the malignity of fortune can raife againlf Agelmond, to trouble thofe " joys that have taken pofTcllion of his Soul. " However Sir, replyed (he, I cannot tell whe- "therii be jult thatlfhouid giveyou this afTured fatisfadion, fince I have iiill fome ground " to fear your refentmcnt againff the Prince of the Venedians and the Princefs of the Igyli- * vns, " Well Madam, replyed he^ lines you forget that Hirmaxes and Vorcira were your "mofi Book II. PHJRAMQND- 5|: "moft cruel enemies, and only remember that they aje your neareft relatiqpi r'<:?'y;oiifrJ5»* f'theCj lam willing to facritice all the anger wliidiiUiaiAtoogcived jgaip/jjhc j t ( fof ^t_prS **of your lire. Ycs.Madam, I pardon both tiic rtinufs-ofjhc l^ylio/ts jkn This made ihc Prihce o( the Venedians and the Prinecfs of the Igyliou believe, Mnc^il^y daw no change in Gilifmene^s carriage, that their wiles and cheats were not. di[co Jeered, which was the reaibn that neither did they change their tnanrcr of adting.' \n the nne^ time, the Princefs of the 5drm<»<;j«j having rather fliut up, than difpeir4.fhe.violen(,fipj' her grief, by mtansof that conftraint which llie had put u\.>on her felf, perceived. ijyjjtjlc and little the eft'ecfl of a profound melancholy, which was retired to the bottom of her fuu\ fo that the conceal'd poyfon had no fooncr gathered new, (Irength, but itcat) ytheincompa- rable Gi///»»f /If into a troublefome fit of llcknefs. The Pripce of the f f«f<:/i, faid (he, lam quite weary of a- Sotgin vji», >iDr cjn 1 endure that an iftgrateful Stranger Jhould receive as inJHriei all the good (ifficex which I labour to render him every moment, '"tn much more grievous Madam, ("replyed he in a tone that te(H(ied his malice, that aperfon fo nearly related to we, [hotild fight and contemn me in this mmner ; Bttt my mUforttme ajionilhef me tvorfi than yours, that 1 (ho^d meet reith as much cnti^ancy and reflation in the heart of a young Virgin^ as yon find in the brejl of a haughty Soldier, Well Sir^ replyed the Princefs of the Jgylionsj then let lu caji off this lCoa\rvhich they have impefed upon kx, fo little conformable to our degree^ and the grandeur of ear courage. Let us hate at length mhat n>e ought not to love, andfince our power is abfulUte iu Tamyraque, let us dejiroy what we cannot purchafe to our fehes. Praifed be the Gods iHaddm^ replyed the Prince of the Venedians, for having injpir'd yj)it with this generous rtfolution ■, vinv it PS that you (hew yottr felf to he that illujhioin Princefi, whofe conjlant and elevated thoughts have ^Tuck^ an admiration over a\S Sarmatia. For indeed there is a neceffity for its to dejiroy a common Enemy, that refufes you a heart which you htve /j well deferved, and that robs me of the Princefi Tvhoml adore, Hocv, faid (he interrupting him and blufliirig, would you that we fhonld begin our Revenge upon Agclmond .<" fFould you draw down all the forces of the Lombards and the Huns, into a Kingdom where we arefo ill ajJUredofihe Soveraigniy, and where that veryperfon^ far more popular than, you^ if able to raife all the people againji your faCiion. No no. Sir, 'tit mare fecure for us to dejiroy Gilifmene, (Jj: hts more Right than you to Sarmatia, and her death will not only ejiablifl; you in the throne^ but will facilitate a. way for you to purchafe an Aliance with the King of the Lombards. " But Madam, cried he {hewing his diflik^ of her advice, v»ill "it be polfible fot you to purchafe this Alliance, rather do you not believe th^t Agelmond " will arm all the force of his Kingdom againll us ? Can you otherwife think but that he "will be more ready tofaciiticeyour life to theGiioft oi Gilifmene, than to yield you a place "in that heart, wh'ch (lie with (o much Soveraignty po(rcfres. " And you Sir, (balUlyre- "^plyedjhe, being touched to the quicl^ at Harmaxes'/ words) think you that you (liall fooner " overcomcGi///>«fMe.th3n I gain the good will o{Agelmond?Thit ftiend(hip,/aii!^ if, which is " ordinarily among kindred, may at length perliaps encline the Princefs of the Sarmatiani, " not to hate the Prince of the Venedians. Quite on the contrary, replyed (Ije, there is no* " thing fo oppofire to love, as that (rieridlhip o^ parents from which you hope fo muchre- "licf. And it may be boldly maintained that Gilifmene will never have that alfedtion for " lUrmaxes which he aims at, feeing that from her infancy her affedion has been of a- ''"liothernaturc. "That's your opinion Madam, replyed be, but fincemine is quicecontra-: •'' yy to yours, I declare to you that I will not quit my hopes : And therefore that we may 'lote IK) time in proving which of our opinions is bell, Icr us take fuch eourfes as may ht X X X ''eq,iully 530 THARAMOND, Part X. " equally advantageous •, let us leave which of thefc two perrons we love to the dc- " termination of fate, and which of us two fortune fliall favour, they thai! labour for the " others fatisfadion. Vorcira having confcntcd, they went forth both togctliek-', -and con« ferred privately in the Gatden, very likely with an intention to deceive each other. However, fome few days after a report was fprcad abroad that Gil>ft)tene's tirll Phyllcian wasdifcarded : that Amdfia had receiv'd orders to be gone •<, and that becaufe that generous Virgin would not obey her Miftrefs's Enemies, flie was taken away by force, and carried to a Houfe which her Father had built upon the River Boryfthtms j the news hereof very fenfibly afflifted me, and I remember it ftruck me with fuch a fecret terrour that might well pafs for a prefageof the misfortune that threatened us. However, I fpoke not a word thereof to my Mafter till fome time after, that upon the arrival of one of his Subjeds which catnc (o'tamyraque upon extraordinary bufinefs, I did not bind my felf to fo llrid a filence- That Lombard havjng undertaken a voyage, and meeting by accident with a Knight of the Hun's Nation, had quarrelled with him, and briskly encountered him, being encouraged by the intereft which his fidelity to the Royal Family of his own Country made him take. The Hun lefs ftout than he was forc'd to delire Quarter after he had received three or four wounds i and whether it were that he thought more ealily to obtain Quarter out of the hopes which he gave him of fome great reward, or that he defired to charge his Enemy with the troublefome commillion which he had in trull, and was weary of by reafon of his wounds : the Hun delivered into the Lombard's hand a packet, which the famous Keva General of the Hum had fent to the King his Mafter : alto to (hew the importance of the packet, he told the Lombard that Keva did therein give an account to the King of the Huns of the Negotiation that kept him at the Court of Honorius i and gave him intelligence be- fides of a fair Princefs that Mundific had taken away by force. At thofe lafl words the Lorn- hard was overjoyed, and preferring the fidelity he owed his Prince before any other zGt of duty or promife, he ported withal! hafte to "tamyraque, Ket/ij'x Letter was very welcome to Agelmond, who having opened it with great expedalions of news, to the bell of my remembrance read therein thefe following words. • Keva to the King of the Huns, Sir, xvt have continued our private conference} ^ and J have obtain'd aliHofl all thofe things which I demanded in your Majefty's name : 1 make no queftiou^ibut together with the alliance vf the two Nations^ to mak^ another^ which may unite your Koyal Family to that of the great Theodofius and to fettle the Frinceji Thcodolinda uponthe Throne of the mofl famolu Empire that ever WiK. I did believe that Honorius would mak^ fome obftruHion in that important af" fair, for I was certainly inform'd by Uetzdhn, that the Emperour was pa^onately in love with a Stranger who was cabled Bellamita. Bw, Sir, can you believe it .? for Bellainira does but (light the lofty 'title which the Empereur ol the Romans fo fubmiffwely offers her-, and that which I more wonder at, was, that that noble Stranger is no other than the fair Trince^ which, to the great digileafure of your Majejiy, Mundific cjrr/r^ away by force through the impulfe of his love, the violence whereof be could not moderate. The King receiv'd fome confolation, underftandingin what place he might find Agione^ and that (he was treated with rcfped by the moft potent Monarch of the Weft: neverthe- lefs he refolv'd to fend EmbafTadours to H^norim as foon as poffibly he could, to demand her back again, orelfeto invade I»«(y with a powerful Army, (hould the Emperour, pof- fefs'd with too ftrong a paflion, refufe to deliver a Princefs fo near and dearly related to him. But while hedelires foearneftly to fee Gilifmene, and to deliver Agione, while fo jufl a defirc contributes fo vifibly to his cure, and that Gilifmene her felf began feemingly to mend, at the fame time. Sir, that incomparable Princefs dies, and her fudden death caus'd a general confternation among all the Sarmatians. But in regard i^tfrw<»xfj- and Por«M were very much dreaded in lamyraque, the people durli not openly accufe them to be the authors of her death : fo that thofe perfons'who fpoke with moft freedom, did but only mutter that the death of Gilifmene was the fatal cffed of fome poifon prepared by the diforderly rage of ambition and jealoufie. The difcarding Amafia and the Phyfician whom the Tyrants could not entice to their party, fufficiently confirm'd the fufpicion, but the orders which \ the Book II. THARAMONti. 551 the Prince of tlie Ve»eiians afterwards gave, put them alhioH quite out of dcuBf. Fbt ftl fliort, Hirmixes would not permit any pcrlbn to come near the Princcfs, not the very ptiti^ '.ipal of her own Servants, caufinj> her to be carried out in the night, and to be buHtd wirhout any State in the Tomb of her Arccllors, for fear, as he (aid, that the light of fo lad an objcd (lioiild augment the afflidionof the Sarmjtrant. 'Tis true, that tlie next day he ordered fiimptuous preparations for C>////fMf«f'/ Funerals, and counterfeited a (hev^ pf all the llgns of forrow and heavincfs i wliether it were that he were really grieved, dt that he thought it necelTary to appear fo in the liglit of a people that were linccrely dejedted for their lofs. In the mean time I was obliiicd to ad vertile my poor Ma(kr of the molt ter- rible of al liis misfortunes; 'twas expedient for him to underftand the extremity ot his mi- fetics,and the moddifmal firoke that the moll dreadful Thunders of Heaven hid ever givert him.To this purpofe I pondcr'd for fome time how to prepare his fancy ,and how I might in fome meafure qualihe that mortal grief which I knew would fei(e his heart upon the tirll bad tydings of the accoitipliiliment of his misfortunes •, 1 forbid all perforis to go near himj but by order, to the end, that being alon€ with him, I might with lefs difficulty take fticb opportunitiesasmightgive the fairer fucccfs to my defign. Firft therefore I began to tell him that Gilifmene^s licknefs was more dangerous than it was thought tobci and be- caufe the forrow of my countenance agreed with iny words, the enamoured Prince impa- tiently interrupting me. Ah-, Viginizus, cryed he, as if he had taken fome alarm, JVhat is it that you tell me ? 7bjt n>hich I ought not to conceal^ anfwered I fighing. B:tt^ ViginiJus' ]f)urfued he, is my Princefi in any dang^er ? 7hou^!> (fje tpere^ .?/r, replyed I, and though it voere the rvlU of Heaven it felf to take from the earth that ornament that fo adorns it, U it for we. Sir, to tel! ynn the news? Is it for me to hringthe tydings of juch a direful jlroke of foK tune i Upon thofe words Agelniond appearing much more troubIed,earneltIy beheld mejaridrt'ltW. a trcmblrng utterance, I beg of thee, Viginirus, faid he, to explain thy mea much courage to desire you to tak£ care of your oi9n life^ though my own have an infeparable dependency upon it, Thofe words having furpris'd Agelmond, and as it Were difarm'd his grief, he beheld me vv'ith more moderation, and in the language of his countenance fcem'd to tell me, that h« relyed With an abfoluteconhdence upon mc : that it was from me that heexpedted the de- termination of his tate : and that it was from my mouth that he looked to be inform'd of what he had to hope, or what to fear. Wiien I found that my innocent wile had thus fuC- cceded, and that my Prince was abfolutely difpos'd to give credit fo what Ifhould fay, S'tr^ faid I, purfaing mydifcourfe, fmce 1 have pnmi fed not to flatter a Majier to whom I am ch' tirely devoted, it behoves me to advertife you, that though you fhould lofe the Princefi of the Szt^ matians, the Heavens have not decreed that you ^oould foUon'her, and at the fame time put an end to all your troubles. H«n', Viginizus, cryed he, interrupting me, do you change yout opinion already, ^ite on the contrary, Sir, faid 1, that which I fay is a true ft gn of my dei-. votian to your intere\is, fmce it is only for your honour, and the honour of the Princefi that I Jj>eal{ as Ida. In fhort. Sir, would you die, dejpoyled of your Kingdom, like a cowardly Prince whofe low courage had fithmitted to bis misfortune? IFould you that the world fhould believe that you die for grief to fee your only Si{icr Agione under the power of a Prince fo potent^ that you could never hope to reduce him to the necejfity ofrefloring her ? Do you not believe, Sir^ that the rtorld will attribute your death tothefe two great loff'es, the report whereof U already fpread over alithe earth? Ihink^you that men will dive intoyour heart for argument! frcperto excufeyour de- Jpair, which only love can render pardonable in the Souls nf great men ? Ah, Sir, if that be your opinion, I befeech you chafe it from your Breaji, it if too flattering, it will injure yea toi much : all the v/crld gazes upon your 'Territories, while your people harrafl one another zvith civil wars: all the world kjiows that the Princefi of the Lombards is carried away by force ^ and after al! the fe remarkable misfortunes can you imairine it honourable^ that a, paffion known H fo few fhould be the ctufe of your death ? Tmrreafons, impatiently cryed lie, ari fut without very good ground : but, Viginizus , how dreadful they are to me ! How fadly do 1 fiffev already from the difmal apprehenf:o>ts which they have infus'dinto me I For Heaven'' t fak^ hoU X X X ?. i^'4 53 PHARAMOND. Part X me no longer in fufpence^ fp^^K explain your meaning i you have no >/nore to do for a miferable TDTetch that endures a torment athoufand times more horrible than death. Upon thofe words ! refulv'd to make ufe of that favourable opportunity, for fear I fliould beconrtrain'd torenew my Malkr's afflidion : fo that I fummoned up all my Orengthto enable mc to reveal to him at length that which I knew he could not long be ignorant of. So foon as he perceiv'd that 1 began to behold him with a penfive look, and that the rears fell from my eyes, Gods, cryed he, Viginizus , like one dilha<3-ed, what do your tears denounce ? That all is loji. Sir, anfwered I lighing, and that G'lWirtcne— — How, cryed he, iterrupting me, tranfporttd with defpiir, if Gilifmene dead ^ And ob- ferving that my countenance gave him too much affurance, not having the power to fpeak a word more, he laid his hand upon his wound to have tore it open, that he might not furvive the greateli of his misfortunes, I no fooner conjedured his intent, but I laid hold of his Arm, and while he beheld me with a threatening afpedf, and endeavoured to get loofe, I called the Servants ill, to the end that the difconfolate Prince loling the hope of executing his dellgn, might at the fame time moderate a violence no lefs dangerous than that from which 1 fought to avert his defpaiting hand. Thus difappointed, and darting wild and furious looks upon the perfons that ftood about him, barbarians, cryed he, wi\l. you never ceafe to perfecute me xvith your importunate double diligence ? Will you never leave to do me kindnejfes that only prolong my fuferings ? And you, Viginizus, once fo faithful to your King, but jiow fo difobedient to his trill ■■, what is become of your affeCiion ? What is become of the Generofuy of your Soul ? Vo you hate me becaufe \ok fee the Heavens and the Earth abominate me .? Are you my Enemy when you fee me encompajjed round with none but Enemies^ And do you conffiire with thofe Enemies to prolong the torments which I endure ? Sir; replyed I with a more courageous and refolutc utterance, 1 have already teld you, that it is not for you to die lik^e a mean and cowardly Sufferer. Keafcend your 7hrone, Sir, reafcendyour Throne, and die like a King i deliver Agione, and then die honourably, rather than give the world an occafion to report any thing difadvantageous to our memory. But, Vigiuizus, replyed he with tears in his eyes, have I not given fufficient proof .oft my valour , which may both affure your belief and permit me to die without that nicety of which you would fain make me afraid ? "though you have given thofe proofs of your courage, you are jiiH Soveraign of a warlike Nation^ you have a potent Army under your command, and you are now to declare a war againji the Emperour of the Romans. But, Sir, now you are fo far from all ajjijiance, jhipped of your Dominions, without Arms i while you have an honourable quarrel with the Succeffors of the Grf«/ Theod oil us, what wiU all the world fay, what will pojierity fay, if now you faint with' out doing fomething worthy that name which you rendered fo famom, fo renowned. This difcourfe of mine having made fome imprellion in the King of the Lombards^ heart, he more carneftly beheld me i and after he had fetched a deep ligh, Is it pnfible, faid he, that you will fo obliinately con'^rain me to prolong my torments ? And that I muji be obliged to live for a Princefl's fake that is dead? "Tis not for Gilifmene's fakee, replyed I, that yott prolong your life : it would be more noble to let the world fee that you died for that fair Trin- cefi, than when it were in your power to live likf a great King, when furrounded with all the fame that you have won, you might be faid to forfa^e all that honour for her fake. But now all the world rriU attribute your death not to the death of Gilifmene, but to AgelmondV own mis- fortunes which he poorly fainted under. Well, Viginizus, anfwered he, I will eitdure this mi- ferable life a little lon^er^ ftnce it mujl be fo ; and that it is not jul}, that loving Gilifmene I fmuld leave behind any fujpicions after my death which may be prejudicial to my memory. Af- ter thofe few words he paus'd, and (etching fcveral fighs, then of a fudden returning an anfwer to his own thoughts, Tes, yes, purfucd he, / will live : the end of my fufferings is not yet come : it behoves me to furmomit all thofe misfortunes that crofi my life ; and to (hew to all the world, that the misfortunes of Gilifmene o«/y /W power to opprejs the courage of A' gelmond. He had no fooner taken that refolution, but he requefted the Chirurgeons to redouble their care, and {or his part he contributed all he could to the fucccfs ot their endeavours. And thusit might be faid, that he defired the recovery of his health that he might die the fooner. But now having got a little time while this eager dcfire of his advanced his cure, I went abroad and walked into every Quarter oi the City where I was not known, to leatn what news wetc|tHrring that concern'd my Mafter: chiefly I defired to tind out whether the people were not enclin'd to take his part, fliould the Frincefsof the Igylions be fo unjuit as to ftop him in lamyraque. But I could not hear of any ddign whicli they had upon his liberty, there being nothing more pryed into than Harmaxes^s behaviour at that time.- • Alt Book II. FHAKAMOND, 533 All people wor.dred that he was Icfs Zealous than at fird, in providing for Ci7//ff;?wV funeral, that he took (uch pirticular care not only toappcafc the cxaiperatcd Amafu^ but abfolutcly to purchafe her triendfliip : 'Twas thcrctorc faid that he would have given the Command which lie had bcftowcd upon Lycorax to Amafia's I'ithcr^ but that he would not accept it, and yet on the other lide Lycorax's Father could not obtain it, though he fucd for it as a recompcnce due to him, and a right already belonging to his Family. I gave my Malkr an accompt of what I had Icarn'd, but inltcad of minding fuch things as did not concern Gilifmeue, he continually bewail'd the iofs of that fair Princtfs. He bcg'd iier par- don for not following her, and notwithllauding the great deligns that made him dclire to live, he could not but look with iViame upon the remainder ot his days. When he began to fit up, I made it my bufmcfs to get all things ready, that there might be nothing to ob- ftrud our departure, and notwithllanding my unwillingnefs to fee the Princcfs of t\\cJgy. lioHi, 1 omitted not to go to her Apartment, that I might difcover what her intentions were toward my Prince. Tliere I cafily perceiv'd that though (he did not vifit him fo often, as Ihe had accull/im'd to do. out of meer ftiameand madnels, yet (he had the fameaffeftion for him as (ormerly, and that inlkad of putting any conlhaint upon him, (he had a defign to renew her kindneffes, with an intention Uill to try if Ihecould ftir his heart. In fliort, (he not only offered me all things necefTary'for the King of the Lombards, but alfo (tudyc-i for all accommodations , that might make a tedious Journey more pleafant and calle. When I came back to the un("ortun3te Lover, whofc hope and joy were buried in Cilif' mene's Tomb, lobfervcd that,maugre the refolution that he had taken, maugretheconfhn. cy of his mind and all the vigour ot his courage, his mouth was open to his iighs, and that his eyes paid the tribuce of their Tears, to the memory of his departed Piinccfs. Cruel death, cryed he, that injiead of dartiug thy Arms at a heap of perfons inconfiderable, didjl turn thy fatal Arms a^aiiiji the divine GMmene} Sinie thou haji not power emu^h to hurl me and that thou can[l not re\hre me what thou haji taken from me, rvhyduli thou not alfo take thcdepl.ira^ ble remainder oftbatPrincefiof which thou haji robbed me .f Then inveighing againft heaven thougli he were always very religious v Envious Deities, (cryed he tranfported with the vie lence of his grietj why have yoti deprived the earth ef its mo{i glorious ornament .? Vid you fear that Gilifmene received here belorp, thofe homages vehich are only due to your felves ? Or tpoi it only to make me mifcrable^^ that you have di^layed all your malite againji me t" ll^hy did you not throw down upon ha abominated head your moji confuming thunders, injiead of meanly affailinz the life of a fair and innocent Prince^, injiead ofde\iroying the perfsUion of your own handy reork, nhich you hadfram'dwith fu much care and confultation? And Tou Gilifmene, TrincefialtogG' ther charming, if in quitting whatever you had of mortalit)/, you have net altogether yet forgot ail thoughts of earthly affairs, caft your eyes upon your /j///?/«/ Agelmond. Nay lam jiill faiths ful , and if I live after your deceafe, "tis not for any kindnefithat I have for a world that has no- thing in it which 1 covet ^ unleji it be to dye fuch a death as may not be unworthy nor beneath the virtue of a Prince who is entirely yours. I am wiling to dye,dear Princeji^ J am willing to dye and fince you cannot be deceived in that immortal light with which you are environed, certainly you cannot queiiion the defire which I have to follow you. While he thus entertain'd his forrow,not» withltanding the (trid injunctions, which his Phyficians had laid upon him to be filent, I flill made it my buline(s to provide things necelTary for our departure. To relate the circumlknces of a journey,which we undertook fome few days after.wouM be to little purpofe, it (hall fuffice therefore to tell you, that the difconfolate Agelmond (igh'd all the way, and continually bewailed the Iofs of his Princefs. lie took along with iiim no other Arms but what he always ufed to wear, only a black Plume (hadowed hisHelmet,and all the outward marks of his grief, were fuitable to the fadnefs of his countenance. Thus we travelled through the vail Province of the Teucons, palTcd the Vijiula, and arrived at L«. pia. The nearer we came to the Territories of the King my Ma!kr,the more news we heard of what was aded there; we underftood that there were feveral fadions, tliat there were two Armies on foot, whofc Commanders afpir'd to the Sovcr3ignty,notwithrtanding a third party, which the friends of Crimoaldm and mine oppofed again(l the other two, for the in. tcrell of the Pvoyal Authority. Neverthe'efs you may judge from hence, of the alTedion and veneration which the Lombards !iad for A^elmoud their Prince, for no fooncr had he fet foot in his own Territories, but the report ot his return being noifed abroad, and (uc^fs- fully Iprcading it (cl( through the whole extent of his Dominions, though his Face was grown pale,fad and lean, yet did his prelence caufe an univerlal joy, all fadions united, and tliecontormity of their Allegiance, embodying them all together under the StandardsA-/the valiant Agelmnnd, it feemed as if they had not taken Arms, but only to furnilh their King with a more numerous Army, v^ithout giving him fhe trouble of railing men. My 554 PHARAMOND. Part X. My MaftEr feeeing fuch a brave Army ready to follow him, fent EinbaiTadours to th$ Emperourof the Komint xo demand the Stranger Efi'awira, whom he took to be A- giane, and marched toward Memfgade with an intention to invade hal'y^ if EomriiK (hould refufe to reftore him the Frincefs oi the Lombards. Twenty feveral Nations were alarm'd at our formidable preparations for War, being ignorant of Agelmoud's defign : and Kome it felf alfo trembled, hearing that our invincible King was not fatished with Hoftorius's Anfwer : for he being then at Rtfi'f >««<», told the Lowfc/»r^ EmbafTadours, that it was not in his power to reftore BelJjmha^ becaufe Heraclian had carried her away by force ■■, and not only ggve them fmart language, but alfo flew out againft Agelmond himfcif, wiie- ther it were that he was vexed to think of lofing a beautiful Lady, whom he fo palfionate- ly lov'd, or that he thought to recover his reputation in that manner, who had fliewed fo little courage during the irruption of the Gofi^/ into J/z»/y : 'tell your Ma^er ^ Paid he, that be need not have fought for fuch a. pretence to declare a war againjl me : 7 J^tnw that the richer of fleafant Countries more happy in their Climate than his orvn, more porverfully invite him to in- vade OUT Lands^thanhif rej}e3 to Bellamira: but thoujh the misfortune ofFxOme^and the ahfence ef Con{\ince embolden him to quarrel voith the Emperour of the Pvomans, he Jkall kjiow that it is mt an eafie thing for the Son of Agion to affail the Succe(for of the great Theodofius. The Lombard EmbalTadours not enduring Honorm''^ language fo contrary to his wonted mildnefs, returned him an anfwer becoming the haughtinefs of their Nation, 5/r, faid they, either you are ignorant of the King our Majier''s reputation ; or rve our fe Ives may mt «h- derjiand with what fitccef! your fercene^ againji Agelmond may infpire you^ fmce Rome's mis- fortune which you mention your felf. But you are to k»ow that the invincible Majler whom t^e ferve was never engaged in any war wherein he was not abfolutely vidorious. They uttered thofe words with fuch an undaunted afped, that you nfiight haveeafily perceiv'd in their countenances the confidence which they had in the valour of their King: and Honoriiif, though naturally gentle, having begun to raife his voice, had certainly ilown outintoa paffion, had not thevoifcr and more conliderable of his Favourites over-ruled his heat, for fear of confequences worfe than thefe which they had yet any ground to appre» ' hand, with this anfwer the Lsmti^rii Embaffadours departed, and in regard they were no way fatisfied with Hwnoriw's demeanour, they gave out threatening fpetches inallthe.Ci- ties through which they travelled. But fo foon as they came to the King their Mafler, they gave him an account of their Embafly, and not omitting the leaff circumftance fitting foe him to know,thcy rekindled in the Bread of the Generous Agelmondz dclire of Glory, whicfi tthedeath oiCilifmene had almoft extinguifhcd. Tf^ell, anfwered he witli a fiercenefs which his melancholy rendered more terrible,we (halt fee how bravely he will maintain the magnificent litles of Emperour and Sncceffor of Theodofius againfi the Son of Agion. Nor did he fay any more, his humour not permitting him to boaft, Or threaten a Prince whom fo many feveral Kingdotns yet feparated from his Army. Some Lombards there were that did not put fo favourable an interpretation upon his filerce, irpagining that he did not march with that confidence which was wont to accompany him in the greatell dangers, being then to lead his Army againft that famous people who had fubdued all the world by fo many remarkable vidorics. But on the contrary, the haughty King felt a double augmentation of his courage, while he prepared to invade the Territories of the Cdfars. The Glory of the enterprife kindled anew heat in his Soul, fo that after we had marched through feveral Provinces, we drew hci'wecn Menofgade and Marohude, and cameat length to the Banks of the Vanubim, with- out the leaft oppofition. True it is, that at that time all the Fojces of the Yrank^^ Gault^ 'Burgttndians, Cimbrians^ Suevians, and feveral other Nations whom Kofamond s quzxttl had arm'd one againfi: the other, were then as now they are er.camped upon the Banks of theKhine in the tight of the famous Cologne. So thit AgelKi/^nd without any moleftation inarehcd through Vindelicta^ not finding any refinance tUi he came into the Country of the 'Rbcetians. There it was that the Lieutenant ot Honoriiis, fuppcited by a fell and warlike Nation, livingat thefoot of thc/^Z/if/, briskly opposed our Van- Guard. Their onfct was fo vigorous, that they might have made us give ground, if not abfolutely routed us', had not the admirable courage of our Chief, who tought at the head of his Army, flopped their fury. But /^gf/wdx^ having born the firrt brunt, broke in among their Ranks, drave them vigoroully before him, and had cut them all in pieces, had not their Forefls favourable to their flight, refcued them from his valour. Italy alarfli'd at this fuccefs, but inuch more at the renowned name of the Enemy that was making long days marches toward her, af« fembled all her force to oppofea Conquerour whomvidtory followed every where ; which when Agelmond heatd, he refolv'd to give the Txomans Battel before they recovered their courage ;■ Book II. THAKAMOND. 53^ courage: to which pur pdfe, having pafs'd i\\c Alpes^ he encamped his Army in a wide plain that enlarges it felf at the foot of the Mountains, and having relrcfh'd his Suldicrs for two or three days, he advanced towards the Enemy lying between Mantua and Mip derta. There it was that our valiant King pcrform'd Exploits far furpaillng thofc which till then we had admired •, whether it were that he fought with more contciDpt of his lite, or whe- ther it were his cagernefs to deliver his Sifter, to the end he might with the better txcufe put an end to his fufferings and miferies by a quick death. Ncvcrtlickfs, at Hrft he found a ftout refinance i (or CajitMUf^ Aurelian znd A/ioh/ndin miraculoufly fignalizcd themfeivcs for their Country, and the young Jt'iiiu did wonders worthy the renown of ancient Rome In (hort, he fell into our left Wing, and had qucftionlcfsdifordered it, had not the victorious Agtlmond haftened to their relief, after he had wounded Cajiinus, taken Ariobindus and forc'd the main Battel to give ground, notwithftanding all the bravery of a multitude of Voluntiers that fought there with an extraordinary valour. The fiery Mtius loft neither his courage, nor his judgment in the view of an invincible enemy i but on the contrary, he afTailed him with all the vigour that a great courage could infufe into him, but being parted from his illuftrious adverfary, they forfook one another with more malice than advantage. However, viiSory was faithful to the King of the Lombards^ and declared her felf abfo- lutely forus, infomuch that Agdmo7ti not only found himfelf in a condition torefr^ his men in fairer Quarters, but alfo to march to Ravenna when he had refted fome few days. After that he led us into the fertile Country about Bf»o>tia[oi our greater rcfreflimcnt > and indeed we Lombardi were (o taken with the pleafures of that foil, that We parted not from thence but with an extreme forrow, and an eager defire to return again, and to fettle a Monarchy in our own renowned name. But when the hardy Agelmond refui v'd to take his march toward the City where Hmor'm had ftut himfelf up, to the great good fortune of that Prince, as we were about to (it dovvn before it, Agelmond received a Letter that ftaycdhis Arm, and not only fet a bound to his Conquefts, but made him alfo repent that he had proceeded fo far. The Letter was fcnt by the Princefs Agione her felf, who underftanding what /4(7<>/wo«i had perform'd for her deliverance, was willing to divert the fury of the TetBpeU from a Country whereof (he had no reafon to complain : and at the fame time to give the King her Brother an account of all things that concern'd her. The Letter was to thiseffed. The Princefs Agione to the King of the Lombards, Qir, eouJd 1 have fooner fent you this uetvs, I bad prevented the fljeddinir of much inHocent blood, and hindered you from declaring war againji a Prince that never did you any injury, 1 rvip to Heaven that I were i» his power, rather than to be continually perfecuted by the perfm that forced me from my Country. Ihis 'Tyrant finding no Sanduary in the King his Father's. Territories, is gone to feek^for refuge either at Cologne, or in the Army of Pharamond mt daring to adventure among the Cimbrians, where Prince Balamir is in high ejieem. Ihis is all that an unfortunate Virgin can inform you, tvho has not one moment of liberty. I conjure you to make ufe of the advice which I fend you, and remember that I exped yeu with all the int' patience that can torment a Captive Princefl, n>ho lookj upon you as her only deliverer. Agelmond juft in all his actions, had no fooner read the Princefs his Sifter's Letter, but he found all his anger bent againft Mundific: fo that he not only caus'd all adts of Hoftility to ceafe, which we wereconftrain'd to cxcrcife in an Enemy's Country for our fubfiftence v but he refolv'd alfo to fend offers of peace to Honorius, and to reftore him all thofe places which we held in haly. The Emperour tranfported with my Mafter's Generolity, receiv'd his Commiflioncrs with as much kindnefs and acknowledgment as he had ftiewed difobli- gation to our former EmbafTadours i fo that that war was concluded with more hafte and more joy than can be imagined. Agelmond almoft the very fame moment after gave orders for the march of the Army, and then leftit i taking along with him only a fmall but feledt number of Horfe, that he might with lefs trouble performa journey, to the end whereof he might makefomuch hafte, as alfo left the news of his approach ftiouldcome before his ar- rival to the ears of an enemy that had fo much realon to (hun him. We crofs'd tlic Alpes^^ and travelled through Gallia m\h an extraordinary fpeed, and when we came into Belgia. wc 536 PHARAMOND. Part wc begart to enquire what news in all places, and to inform our ftl ves of all particulars that might be of any advantage to us. Every, morning cur little Troop divided it felf, with order to meet again at Night at the Rendezvous appointed. But though we did all that lay in our power, our diligence was all to no purpole, for we not only fought for Muttdifif ia Ten feveral Countries, and Thirty feveral Cities in vain, but we remain'd a long time eithjet in Cologne, or in Pbaranto»d' JVemi^ ceHfej!, faid he to Vighiizus, that there have been jirange intermixtures in the life of your illu- flrious Majler. 'that great perfon has mt triumphed upon all occafwns, where he rvanted no af' fifiance but his own couraq^e^ but tnly to be the more unhappy in h'n pretenfions to the Vrince^of Sarmatia, and fortune that always favoured hit vjlour in Combat, has beenfo ingeniom and fo objiinate, to perfecute him upoti thefcore ofhU affeUion, ibai certainly, as great as he teas, he bad fainted under the burthen, had not your prudence prevented his fatal intentions. But Viginizus, added he inftigated by his prevailing paihon, feeing that it was through your care that Agel- xnend liiO lives , andthat r»e en]oyhU prefence in our Camp,tvhy jhould not tre be hebAdingto ygu alfo for the aftlianee of pi great a King : Since bts Army mufl pafs quite through Germany, and fiHce his Kingdom is in perfeCi peace, *6f Lombards might as ipell joyn rrith the Cinibiiins and ' Suevians, and tvin their (hare of honour in fo memorable arpar, rvherein you fee , may at leali giveibme confolation to the King of the - " Lombards. " I believe, replyed Ambiomer^ that there are few examples among great men ''of fuch a change, and 1 mull confefs that notwithfcanding that veneration which I bear to ;;rthe Prince of the H««/virtiie, I always thought from rime to time, that fo fairalilewas *' notalways exempted from blemiih. When 1 coniider that he has forgot the moll adiv/ira- '; ble Princefs of x\\QGotbs, by whom he was fo tenderly beloved, I could never endure that " kind of inhdelity, let the beauty be never fo divine that caiifcd it. " You are very pre- "ti(c, replyedthe King of Suevia, but Ihouid the eyes of the LflW^dr*:? Princefs Ileal away '• your heart from the Queen of the Juringieniy would you fear to be guilty pf fuch an ap- ''. parent ii o o K 11. r n A lUA ivJ- uiv n. 5^7 " parent Inconflaricy, Upon thofc words Ambi(/mer blufhed, but having recovered hitufcFj Sir, (aid he, Jf through the iiijUgat ion nf a heart too haughty fir my fortune,, 1 dur^l pretendj^x wear fis,iO]]t^'^xbjinf, after Had had the jiraigtl} to breaks thofe Fetters which Aiiialazontli^ h.K itthuma^eljf^>rnfofed uppupie^ ijliouldmt^ ar^ly, find my excufe in the different behaviour, cf. thofe ttf-o Pri''tcfj)e{,. but lulfo bel^Kve that.^ll^^^jends nyttUrejoyce vfith ine, furfo happy ^ change. Jf XKlja.t^\U upor.t'cd be^true^ rtplyQcJ thc^m^oi Suevia^^l agree that. the ^eeii.:of Tunngia J&i»{' «j^ l^fen, ayer grjiit^fHl to tloevaiuiut dander of her Vominiotts^^a^d therefirf. fince that, contrary to the reili of the King her V^ftljen rvbo had a l^iridiief fjr you^ /Zif, hf^s refufj:^ yostthe mrvafd that tvas ynur dne^you have.tuifeaj^nt^ continue your fervice to a ptrfotn^fo M)Py thankful. For my part 1 found fomethittg fojhaiige in}nr behaviour^ when fi.x'fym her fircf^ away pom our Cavip, that L(^Jojfid be very gli^d.to bear rvhatyvn did for. her in Turingia, tlfni I might have the fatufauiun'to admire the anims vf fo brave a Knight^ and fo fy flieiMgrat/iy tude of a Princefi who has renotviced her own konottr, by fepjraiing her fe If from your tHferefij;.^ "Xbofe adventures whereof you require the rebearfal, replyed AmbjojtriCr, are t^<^ inca^tdtraiii^ to be repeated after the great exploits of tlje Li^mbatd King, but if your Majvlfyca^^fitfe,hf %^ fame mind to morrow, lej! pnffejfed perhaps with thofe remarkabUcircuinliauces <^x:yiginiz^J5 has rehearfed, a certain GdiU\ that knows all the particulars of my life, fjall iuia few words gjve you a full account^ fl^g^^h P''S'^§, "''"^ ''-"'^^ which are more commonly known, Itt the,mean timei faid he, be pltafedto let me take part in wh panions, with an Intent to drive it along with him, he returned to the Princefs's Chariot, and took out the Horfcs, for fear they ftiould draw it to fome place lefs remarkable than where he had left it. Thus in few words you fee, Sir, how the Sifter of my Soveraign was quite forfaken and abandoned in this deplorable condition : to which, when the fair Prin- cefs fa w her felf reduced, it afflided her to the heart, that what with wearinefs, and what with weakncfs, not having fully recovered her ftrength lince her ficknefs, (he fell into that dangerous fwoon from which Ambiomer recovered her. And therefore, Sir, that generous Knight can better than 1 relate to your Majefty the circumftances of that laft accident, fincc it was he who was fent by Heaven to fuccour Agione, and that it is to him that fo ami* able a Princefs is beholding for the life which flie enjoys. Ididfo little far her, replyed the famous Gaul, when he perceived that Viginiz'M had end- ed his (hort Relation , and it was fo eafie a thing for me to do that which all perfons would have done for her, that had feen her in that extremity, that 1 wonder (lie (hould ftill prefrrve the remembrance of it, more e^ecialy that (lie (hould continue the markj of an acktiowledgment fo extraordinary. Ton kjtow however^ replyed the King of the Suevians, that we do not al- ways meafure the importance of the fervice by the trouble to which be is put that performs iti for there he thoje happy accidents when we may do that without objirudion which at another time we Jhauld meet with jirange difficulties to attempt, Ihus did you fate the life of the Lombar4 Frincefl, without expofmg your own tt any danger \ and methinkj for that very reafonyou have le^ caufe to wonder at k^\ot\t'sach^iowledgment, than at the carriage of an ungrateful §ueen for tdjom you have run fo many hazards, and performed fo many memerahle exploits. The King of Suevia was difcourfing in this manner, at what time they heard certain Chariots make a ftop, and by and by! in came the charming Qiieen of the Ci/wirMW/, and the amiable Sifter of the King of the Lombards. Theie two l-'rincelTes were return'd from taking the air, whither they went before K»^i«izK/ began his Relation, and being delirous to take Albifinda with them to the Caftle, they came to delire leave of the King her Father. To whom the Kin^, having a moft high refped: for thofe two illuftrious perfons, not only confented that ftie Ihould leave him that Evening, but that ftie ftiould alfo refume her for- mer Apartment, and live unfepaiably with Kofamond. Thougtj Albifnda vi^cre not a little glad Book li. FHAKAMOND. 55^ glad to hear her Fath er's rcfolution, yet the excellent temper of her difpofition would not permit her to part without fome marks of forrow j of which pretty prccilcnefs when the fair Queen and the Princefs of rht Lombards took notice, theychtared her up with a flior c difcourfe, and brought her to the Chariot where Amalazontha Aaid for them who fliun* ned the light oi the King of Suevia as often as decency would permit her. It foon appeared that it was not polliblc for thefe admirable perfons to be together without giving each other mutual tcftimonies of their joy : nor could they behold them-" felves environed with fo many great Princes that adored them, without appearing ani- mated with a haughtinefs equal to their charms and their quality : yet all this while tliere was to be feen in their eyes lefs fatisfadtion than languifhment i and thefe lips in whofo ■ power it was to pronounce the dertiny of fo many great perfons gave free paflTage to their fighs, and made it manifell that they did not altogether enjoy their own tranquillity, while they troubled the repofcof the molt iilurtrious hearts in the world. As for Agione^ who had no other caufeof grief than what proceeded from the misfortunes of the King her Bro- ther, who was as incapable of receiving any confolation, as T'heobald^ VinJimir, ox Amu-' laric capable of living again. The Princefs of the Lombards feem'd to be lefs afflicfled ha- ving her thoughts at liberty, and her heart free from all thofc pallions wherewith Kofamond, Albifmda and Amalaz'intha were prepolTefs'd. But on the contrary, the Queen of the Turingiens having feen that day feveral of the Frankj, and caft her eyes towards the En- trenchments ot their Army, returned from taking the air fo prepolTefs'd with an imperi- ous inclination, which the laboured inetfedlually to vanquilh i that the Cimbrian Queen wa? teally griev'd at her aiisfortune. However, fhe durft not prefume for more than one reafon to fpeak a word to that unfortunate Princefs concerning the extraordinary merit which had produc'd an elTedt fo furpriling in her heart i infomuch that by degrees (he parted with the company to difcourfe alone with her dear Albiftnda, leaving theafflided Queen of the 7a- ringiens and the Silkr of the Lombard King to entertain one another; for nothing hinder- ed Agiom but that Qie might freely talk of the King of the Frankj, and of all the illuftrious' Princes of that Royal Family, without obferving any thing of caution. "Whctezs RofamoMd and ^/iiW** were obliged to be fo cautious, not only as the Sifters of 'Theobald and Vindi- »M»r,but becaufe it was^publickly known that they were moft tenderly beloved by Pharamond and Marcomire. Thefe fair PrincelTes, thus dividing themfelves, went up to the Caftle, attended by fe- veral Princes that followed like Captives tied to the Vigor's Chariot. But by reafon it was late, they all retired immediately, except B^^jwir, whom the Q^een oi the Cintbriant detain'd a while. Though there was no pcrfon but underfiood the pallion of that Prince" Kc/iwoW however did not deny to grant him particular privileges, fo far as the rules of decency Cvyhich (lie exadly obfervcd) would permif,and which flic might the more readily condefcend to, in regard that famous Soldier commanded the Ci»j^r/"j«j-, and for that rea- fon was by his employment engaged to confer often with the fair Queen from whom he held it. True it is, that at that time Rofamond ftaid him not fo much for the concerns of the Army, as out of a particular kindnefs, nor did (he fcruple to take him afide, and to lead him to the window, while Amalazontha and the Princefs oi Lombardy related to Albifmda what they had feen when they were abroad. The charming Queen call her eyes upon Bj- /jwir's face, difplaying an obliging trouble in ihofeceleftial lights which preceded her dif- courfe, Ge>:erons Frince, faid (he with afwciet Majcfty that always accompanied her words' and adions, yon have fo much obliged W, that 1 dare not finJ anyreludancyte pafi beyoud thofe bounds which my Sex ought to prefcribe to themfelves, and to declare to you with all the confidence that your virtue merits, that I was this day nwre afraid for you than ever I was be-- fore\ I could not call to mind the words of - curity, ■ when we heard a name fo beloved, and fo adored among the Ci/xJrijw/, Menebaldus zvd I beheld one another with aftoni(hment i when Briomer beginning to fear leaft the venerati- on which we might poffibly have for the Prince of the Huns, (hould caufe a change in ouf refolution, purfucd his difcourfe to hinder us from confulting our reafon, which made him fpeak to us more vehemently than he did before, IFhat, faid he, do you deliberate upon x thing refolv^d upon ? Or is it poffiblethat the reputation of an unkytown Stranger (hould cajl fucb a terrour into the hearts of two fuch valiant perfons, and who wiB be affijled by feveral others in the execution of. their defign. It is not, replyed I, fo foon as my (urprife would give me leave, that I am feared with the danger which you propofe \ for I could willingly attack^Bzhmit, were he but only a formidable Soldier, and were he not alfa, as without doubt he is, a mo(l genergut Trince, and moft lovely in aV refpeUs. And do you thinks, faid he, briskly interrupting me, that Iwould deftre the ajjiflance of fuch men as you, and promife fuch ample guerdons ^ if I were to rid my felf only of an ordinar\ Enemy. No, «o, Giler, donotabufeyovrjelf IJfjould not be fo ready to facrifice all things for your interejis, were not you devoted to do the fame for my advantage ■, nor could you ever thinks to be Majier of a confide -able fortune all of a fuddett^ were you not to perform fome exploits the defert whereof might procure it. After thofe words he fpoke to mc by way of aggravation, as to the power which he i-.ad in Bohemia, and laid before mc the intcreft he had to fix iT>e at Couit, by reafoatf at he had the difpofai of great part of the Employments, and of the Exchequer it fclf : tlven he Ihcw* ed me how little danger there was in attacking a Stranger in a Country where all the Sol- diers would take our part, fca that I muft confefs my reloluticn was (haken, zt^il- Menehjl- puld^«£yeal the crime whereof it lay in^my breaftto-accofe him. ■ - - i " Giler had no fooner concluded but he fix'd his eyes upon the ground, cxpedting with an extraordinary difquiet and (hame, what anfwer thcfc two illuftrious perfons whom he liad wronged, and who had thcfoveraign power over his life, would return him. Kofamond and the Prince of the Htuis flood flill a while without making any reply, pondering very ferioully upon v>'hat they had heard ; Afterwards the fair Queen out of her love to juliicc, and incited by the good will (he bare to Balamir, was about to have fent to apprehend Brio. «)fr in the field , and to leave him to the rigour of the law together with his AccompHcesj 542 FHAKAMOND, FartX. but her prudence would not tumultuoufly determine upon an aifair of fo much weight.Be- fides that, Ci/cr's recantation mov'd her by degrees not to mix him in the Lili vvith the reic of his Confederates. And therefore with a Majedy that immediately bred vi.neraiioH, lour change of life^ faid llie to G;/i?r, and the forrorv which I have obferved in your counte- nance, have tvrottght the full effeSt which yon could hope for i aytd that yon may meet with fa • vaur for a crime that deferves the moji fevere funifliment, 1 remit your dejiiny to the willef * Frince who never did you any wrongs though you have attempted his life. But can you not teU^ continued (he, the reafon that tranfported Briomcr to fa horrid a villany ? Could you never team from whence the Letter^ came that was brought him from Alba Julia ? Nor can you tell whether be hot jent into Dacia or no-, nor againfl whom he gave that commiffion that was the caufi of your forfakjng him f No, Madam, rcplyed he, 1 cannot certainly inform you\ for 1 mufi acktiowledge thtt 1 can go no farther than only conjeilure, to which feveral circumjiances give little certainty. At firfl I fuppofed that there was no perfm in Dacia, unlef} it rrfcf Mundilic, that could have any cattfe to rid himfelf of the illujiriow Balamir i for befdes that he h.is no kind' »ej! at all for him, 1 heard fay that there ran a report among the Huns, that in the Royal Fami' ly virtue rvas to be prefetr'^d before Jeniarity in the fucceffton of that Mona'^chy. So that he could addre^ himfelf to no perfon with more probability for the execution of fuch a fad ■, not only becaufe he is ambitious, bold, and one that never \\umbles at any fcruple, but alfo becaufe there was nothing more deftred of him than to deflroy a Stranger in a Country where he was both feared and powerful. I am of the fame opinion, replyed Balamir, fighing, that the Prince of tie Huns has not always that kiudnefi for hU neareft Relations that he ought to have ; but had bis fury tranjjiorted him to aVis of violence, I cannot conceive why he fhould rather have recourfe to fraud and contrivance than to open force. Befrdes, replyed the fair Queen, if the lafl attempt were an effeU of the former, I cannot imagine that MundiGc Jljould be any way concern d there- in^ whocouldhavemneedof^nomtt's people in a City where he has fo many creatures of hn axon and where he is looked upon as Heir prefumptive to the Crown. Concluding thnfe words, (he beheld Balamir with an afpcdt which let him underftand that (he gave him full authority to difpofe of the prifoner, which the generous Prince re- fus'd at tirJi i yet afterwards, direding his fpeech to Gi/fr, Co, faid he, and live: 'tis not ju'f that you fhould return miferable from the pe fence of the §ueen. I flia]i not inform you after what manner you may repair your pa(i offences, fince lam obliged to fend you bacl^to Pha- lamond's Camp, where the prefeuce alone of fo virtuous a Frince will he enough to in^irp tbofc thoughts into your Breali, which it behoves you to follow. After Bii/J»jir had exprelTcd himfelf in that manner, Ciler was fent back to the King of the Bajiernes''s Tents, when Kofamond manife(\ingin her countenance a certain kind of dif- content which did not ufually refide there, the Prince of the H««/earneflly prefs'd her to know the caufe. Thereupon the incomparable Queen finding that the confidence whi^h fl-,e repos'd in the virtue of that Prince did (iill from time to time encreafe, no fooner under- ftood what that eagernels meant that (he obferv'd in his eyes, but (he refolv'd to tell him her real thoughts. But confidering howlong (he had been kept from the Queen of theTit- ringiens^ and the Prince(res who were to fup with her that night, (he thought it convenN ent to return to them, and to defer till after Supper the giving Balamir that fatisfa^aion which he fo carneftly wi(h'd for, yet for which he begged only with his looks, whofc e*^ gernefs was ftill accompanied with fubmiflion. The End of the Second Book of the Tenth Part. PHARAMONa Book IlL 54 j PHARAMOND. Book III. THc fait Queen had no fooner made known her intentions to Balamir^ but (he returned to her illuflrious companions > and the Prince of the Hk«/ depart- ed with a defign to return again fo foon as decency would permit him, ox that he could gather any pretence from his employment. At his own A- partment he found the King of the longres who waited for him with » more than ufual impatience, the caufc whereof when Balamir demanded |n fuch a manner as teftified that he was ferry to have made him wait fo long, 1 ackitowledge. Sir, faid I'sxauder, fighing, that when I was tvalkjngto day upoft the Road that leads to my amiable Adelaiada, I felt my impatience to fee her, doubly reinforc'd : yau btotv my engage- menty and were my humour as well l^nown to yon as my pajjion, I might have fome hopes fud- denly to fee the Trincefiof the Nemetians; for then I might be permitted to go to the Camp of the Franks upon my paroll, either to return, or fend back to this Camp the King of the Heruli- ans, who no le^ ardently than my felf defires the exchange which I propofe. Sir, replyed Bd- iamir, Telanor has told me hon> generoujly you dealt by him at the end of the Battel, I kjtow that you rather chofe to furrender your felf a prifoner in a Camp whither you had only promifed to fuffer your felf to be conduced, than to return with the valiant King of the Franks, wha fought in your behalf, and refcued you from *^e Cimbrians that had the Guard of your perfon. AJter all this can you fuff>e£i that we (hould refufe you whatever you ^jall think, fit to demand? Or do yau believe that I would not grant it my felf without the leaji hefitation, had 1 the abfo- lute difpofal of thofe affairs, feeing that all the power which I have in this Army depends upon the fair ^een only, on whom my defiiny depends ? "thit evening 1 will fpeah^ with her about it, and I makf no quejiion but flje will do all things conformable to the Generofity of her Soul ; and that you will have as much caufe to extol her noble carriage, as many other Princes have reafon to complain of the power of her charms. Immediately thofe two Princes agreed upon what they had to do i fo that they had no fooner fuppcd, and underftood that it was a feafonaWe time to wait upon thw Queen, but they went up to the Ca'ftle with all theeagernefs that the hopes wherewith they were ani- mated could infufe into. them. Balamir had all the leifure he could delireTo entertain Kofj' mond, not only in the behalf of 7<»x»»«^fr, butalfoto hear from her fair lips fuch expref- fions of her confidence in him, which flie never had been capable to pronounce before. For as good luck would have it, none of the other Princes that us'd to meet there, came to the Queen's Apartment that evening. For Martian and Theon, who were but newly arrived with kmc o( Theodofius's O^ccis, wercalready come to Prince F^raw^-z's Lodgings. On the other fide, Agelmond, contrary to his cullom, and notwithnanding his profound melan- \ choly, had put Ambiemer upon a difcourfe of War and Politicks i fo that ilie King of the lonrres was alone with the Qjeen of the luringiens, and the Princcfs of the Lombards, while Rofjmond, Alhifmda and Bi/jwir entertained one another widi all the freedom that might be. Then it was that the Queen found her felf fwectly inclined to fpeak her real thoughts, fc that beholding Ej/j»»/r in a mort obliging manner-, I mitti acknowledge Sir, faid (he, that I bave no dijpefition to chofe me a husband among fo m^ny great frinces, as pnt themfdves to tbf trouble 544 FHAKAMOND, VM^X. ttouble to oblige tm?, hut I wiU teUyoa ai the fame time^rvitb all the freedom that you could expeV. ^:^dmthe PriMfjITheodolinda, that neither Varanez, Gondioch, Arderic war Godegefilefcait »'' ft&'-^^f "^ IPj.are.ia..my. esteem and favour as Balaniir.. Tes^geMercus^Pnncej for you Ihavean af- felfion mbicb I never had fur any of them, and that affeUion bus made me more afraid^fur yeur life tvJyen Ik*ten? it tvat in dans^er than ever I thought 1 (liofild have been, "true it if that yom homm which called you to thefght, and that modefiy rvhicb fo le.comh perfoni of our Sex, reould not permit mejo mg^fejltbqfe mari^f of my apprehenfwn. ^utfmce it is laveLd foLmej^dj^ *in(t^ to foVort^thnfii^iotioits which tnyfei/ inj}iref\nto m^aM to clgaih them nvp anacmn opjujlice^ I rvlli have Briomer fHmjh'ed accordirm to the qitality of hit crime^ t^'^iigl^'the Kfngff 9bc^ia(hoitld hate mt for fo doing. J he^my Sifters pardoft, af^ifflje be furpiife^Td hear t^at I am grown more bold^ to explain my felf in reference to your concernment s^ than formerly 1 was wont to be, I mufi tell her that the thoughts n>hich I have for yon, are exempt from that pajjion :^hich cattfes mjor the moll part, ioj^eak^mihmorereJerve^JtelfrMiredWrfnceJfindthey have enclin'd me to give Balamir that place in my heart, which J have refolvcd to refufe all thofe other Princes that fight to obtain it, I do not thixk, i^yfelf obliged to fitch an exaU ciictufiffeCiion. Whi'e fhe fpake in that manner, Balamir,\cty fenoudy beheld Iier, not being able to deter* mine what anfwer to make. He was at the fame time aboUt to eorapjain of the fair QB€€flj and to retiHrn hei thanks, he had an affedion for her not to be expreffed, but that elkem was balanced in a generous heart, by an acknowledgment and elleem that he held for ,the Kiiig of the Franh^i. I fee verv tii>el\Madam, re^jljed he all of a fudden, and 1 hate alteadyfard it, thjtl'teTi's n'everbornio tnjoy that honour, the hopes whereof ynn are norv goingaboiituttc'rtji t« tjk^from me. Tou may remember quejiionlefi^ that during tbe Truce which WiH made dt,tl/e mediation of the great Con- ftance, I began to teS you that vohich it behoves me ^ifotv tnote per^i:;nph(Iy to unfold, I will m plonger dilute with Fharamond a pfemittm of that. value, nbertof beiifar -more worthy than Balamir, and whither it be that thofe favourable thoughts^ thai you have fcr that Prince Jo re- gulate mine, by virtue of that power which you have oxer my Soitl^ or whether I am guided hy i^lpirations that lunderflandnot^ Xperceive that J mufl adore you at long as I lite without any hope, nor being capable to hate the inojl formidable of my 'Rival's. Infl^ort, I mnl] ackitonledgt; that heaven has not fent me into the world^ only for the fair and unfortunate Frince(iof the GothS fal^^ nor be[\dwedfo many admirable endowments, upon the cele^.ial ^ueen o///;f CimbrianSj hut torecompence the deferts of the King of the Franks ; B«t alas Madam, Hunnimonda w dead, i?;;i/ Phatamond has fain Theobald.. •, " '\ ' '* '". ■ At thofe wofds Balamir llghed ah^ 'Kofdiho'fti bluflied, infomuch tliat the arlhiable Prin^ cets of Suevia^ to break off a difcourfe tliat was but irkfome to both, "Do ye believe that the Gods-, faid ftie, hate been fo favourable to ye both, 'to no other purpofe thtn to make ye both mi^ ferable ? For my part 1 can never thinh^it, nor do I deff>air to fe'e a change in yourprefent fortunes* Why Silier^ replved Rofamorid, .dnyou ihink^that the Tomb will re(iore me my only Brother a- gain : Or though the fame miracle (hould'happen to the Trincefi of the Goths, continued Bals- mif, do you think^that MunditicV wife will return to the earth, to vifit an unfortunate Frince^ that xvas confirained to renounce bis title to her ? I ground my thoughts upon a little better feun- dation, replyed Albifinda, for I do not believe it to be very impofjble. but that a weighty reafon cfjiate, may make the §^een of the Cimiirians lay afide her dijjleafitre againfi a family, which (he l<)oks upon as one that U more willing tj difienfe with her pijiice than her prudence : Otherwife could we think it jhange, that Balamir fhould accept of the heart of a fair Princef!. who for the love of his merit, readily cotifents to repair the lofi of which he complains. But my Sijier, Cad- dedfheaddrellingherfelf to theQuee'n,andrpcaking withao afpedt more chearful to change the fubjecS of the entertainment) for fear leji I my felf alfo fljould have fame reafon to complain^ tell me 1 befeechyou, whether in the punipment of Briomer you will net obferve fuch rules as may • Ah Madam, faid Balamir interrupting her, how much fliould I have been ajharit'd of my felf for not having beg'd the Cimbrian's pardon of n horn you are fpeakjng, had 1 not hein bound to give'tbe utmofl of my attention to a difcourfe, that abfolutely pnffeffed my heart.- Con- cluding thefe words he turned toward the Queen, and to obtain Briomer's pardon he bcg'd it of her with lo much earnelVnefs, that more he could not have fliewn for any pcrfon that had done him a fignwl kindnefs. Kofamond cou\d not but admire a gcnerofity, of which flie faw fuch evident tcftimonics every day, but (he could not prcfjntly confent to let go fo many crimes unpunillicd, of which flie was fo deeply concern'd to take notice. She could well call to mind with'oiyr a- ny refentment, that BnViwfc had always oppofed her intentions, but (lie forgot her nfu^ll mo« deration, when flieremembrcd that tiiat violent Cimbrian had adailed the lives of Vbara- mend And Balamir, and that he had done a very great diskindnefs to her dear Sifter, the in- comparable DOO K. HI. X Li. ^X I.K. ^X J.VX W l\ JU. J"fJ comparable Princefs of .?«ft"''* ■, however i4/^/f;Wj and o^/jwj/V gave Iicrfo many rcafons, and urged her after (uch a manner, that (he could not witbliand their powerlul entreaties. JFeli^ faid (he, I give you the offender xvhtmyoH require^ hut it U mypleafme that he may under- hand^ that '«^< to you that he owes the pardon which 1 grant him^ to the end that Baljinir'j de- meanour may difarm hU rage, and th.u the King o/SiiCvia may give my Sijier thankj^ n-ho hai been always fo ready to prnmnte htf defignt . jult as fhehad concluded thtle words, and was turning about to go to the Queen of the Twr/Wfj/rM/, Baljmir{'pi\<,t in the behalf of the King of the T'ongres, and had immediately granted what the happy lover v( Adelaiada liad fo paf. tionately delired. The illudrious company being got all together, the fair Qyeen addrcfild her fcif tofax' ander^ and having molt obligingly given him her own grant, thereupon by degrees there began a difcourle, concerning the forces on both lides. In Ihort, the King uf thctongret having teftihed his acknowledgment to Rofamond, could not totbear to talk of the Camp^ whither he was going to fee the perfon that he fo entirely loved. Hoiv overjoyed (hould I he^ Madam^ faid he, horv vpelifaiUjiedaiTvell inmy defeat as in my imprifunment, noip that I have the liberty to paf from one Camp to another^ if I could but with Conilance/'/ afijiance^ bring things to a general accommodathn : For in (Jjort hotp many ihoufand men muji periflj^ how many great Captains muji fall for the humour of a ferp Princes, vpho mi fcrably drill their allies into the mife- ries of a long mar ? Jf^e find in a league made in your iUujiriaiu name^ on the one fide the Cim« Brians, Suedes, Burgandians, Gcpidcs, Alains, Hau\cs and many other Nations engaged^be- fides that the Emperour of the Eaii has fent confiderable forces to ihii fide^ to rrhich an Army of Saxons have alfo joyned, and they fay that the L om bards makf an additional jirength to thU par- ty. But Madam, thous^h this preparation be very great, though it be very formidable, the valianf Prince perhaps whom they would makf you believe^tt beyrur irrecnncileable enemy,dots nut fo much fear it : for befides the Gauls and funks, pitent and warlike nttttons, who have filled the world with the fame of their Arms, I am infjrm'd that he will have the Britainers of both Britains^coM' manded by Conllantine himfelf, that the Vandals lead by Thrafimond are coming to joyn with him, that the famous Wallia brings him lwent\i Ihoufand Goths, and that by the order of Ho. norius f^veral Legions are advancin^^ toward his Camp, which the renowned Conliance and Ar- tabure are to head. "How, replyed the ^een of the T\ym^\cn$, dots, IFali a zudThrafi. " /w«/i' that was thefirangers name. Prince IFaliia believes that you wHI be ve- '' ry much furprifed, to hear that he has taken the contrary interelt to that which you have " embraced : and therefore he has fent me to affure you that he is deeply fenhble of it, and *' that he will never right againit ihofe Troops, where he fliall undcrlland you to be in prifon. *' And I have order alio to make you this proteilation in his behalf, that he would not have " marched to the fuccour of your Rival , had he not been conftrained thereto by tiie pa/Iion " which he has for tiie f rinccls 'Iheodolinda. "■ How, faid Balamir interrupting him., does " my Sifter raifefuch formidable enemies to the Cimbrians s' She did not engage ^/^«iViJ. to "declare himfelf againll Rofamond, replyed HWdcxk, but being reduced to a nccclfity, cither *' to joyn with the Cimlrians or to reinforce Pharamond's Army, he durli not ierve a Princefs *' for whom, as we all knew, Iheodolinda had no great kindnefs. '"'"Can you not tell, faid "he interrupting him again, the reafon of a prejudice that teems fo ftrange? No Sir, repty- " ed the Goth, nor could If^aliia ever learn it from a Princcls, who is altogether very reler- " vcd, when there is any inention made of the Queen of the Bohemians. ''■ I have niorerei- "fon on the other Udi to complain of her, replyed Balamir, for repofing fo little truli in a Z z t '> Prince, 546 FtLAKAMUNU:^ r^ART A. " Prince, to whom,as I am inform'd,(he owes fuch vaft obligatiors. And I (hould be very " much obliged to you my felf; would you but be pkafed to let me underftand the patticu- " lars of an affc(ftion of which I know fo very few, though I am fo much concern'd therein, " and in reference to which I (hall never oppofe an iliulf rious Lover, wbofe virtue is to be "■preferred before thofe Crowns, with which his merit ought to be rewarded. "Sir,«. '■''plyedhe, you may command 'he relation when ever you fhall think it convenient, not on» "ly becaufe it is my duty to obey your commands, butalfo beciufe there is a necellity that " I Ihould julHhe Prince TFallia as to this lall adion of his, which perhaps you may not ab- "folutely approve. In (hortjl am to let you fee that he Hopes for very great advantages, " and fuch advantages as may in time advance him to the Throne, and put him into a con- "dition to pubU(h his honourable pretenfions to the K.ing your brother, which he has re« " fpedfully concealed to this day. But in regard it was hte^Hilderic retired for that night, but the next morning being introduced by telanor into Balamir^s Chamber, after fome few complements, and that he had paufed a while to recolledt his memory, he began as follows. The Hiflory of Wallia. YOu well knowSirjand there are fewPrinces that know fo well as the illuftrious BaU- mir what ftrangeeffeds fuch obftacles,as oppofe themfel ves to the execution of their defigns, produce in the hearts of great men. Fierce and bold fpirits are ufually exafperated at the fight of difficulties that crofs their hopes, and I am apt to believe that they never can behold them without a more violent defirc, to enjoy the happinefs to which they afpire. You will beeafily convinced hereof, by the'proof of thofe adventures which I am about to relate. Not to fpeak any thing of his birth or education, who was fo neer a kin to Alaric renowned for fo many vidories, and immortaliz'd by the taking of Koto<*, JFaVia had no fooncr learn'd the performance of all martial exevcifes, but he was refolv'd to pradife them, tranfported with a warlike impatience that then only reigned in his foul, and fignaliz'd himfelf fo eminently upon all occafions that offered themfel ves, that the Goths as much atcuftom'd as they were to fee great adions, beheld the exploits which he perform'd with a kind of aftoni(hment. But Sir, after what an extraordinary manner did this admi- ration fuddenly encrcafe? In(hort, he was no fooner at liberty road, without confuking thofe perfons who had the care of his youth, but he appeared like a Lyon let loole from his chains, he only followed the diftates of his courage, and continually throwing himfelf in- to danger, he ran on with an impetuolity that had fomething in it botii charming and tcrri» ble. And in regard he always returned laden with honour, and for that there appeared in his face, what has fomething in it more than ordinary of great and lovely, caufed either by the adive heat of fight, or the fatisfadion which proceeds from profperous fuccefs, he became the love and delight of the Gflf^x in war: And if the Soldiers looked with refped upon Alaric, they had an affedion for young IVaVia. This univerfal arfedion was accom- panied with fubiniffiou and refped, infomuch that the Gotbs were aUoIutely perfwaded, that it was enough but only to march under Wallia to obtain the vidory. AUricd.\{o who was not eafily led by the blind opinions of the multitude, better underftood than all the Captains in the Army, the heroick qualities that adorn'd my Mafler, and not looking upon the Prince's youth, as an obftacle to cbftrud the recompence of his valour, did not ftick to entruft him with the moft important employments in the Army. You well know Sir, that in the Reign of the Emperour Iheodofm, our Nations left their cold and frozen Countries, to fix themfelves in more pleafanc habitations, under the lead- ing of their two Rings, Athanarie znd Fridigeru : And that thofe two Princes return'd back into their Counrries well fatisficd, by the prudence of that famous Emperour, many of whofe moft plcafant Countries they had already invaded. We had not the fame reafon to commend the proceedings of Honorius^ inlemuch that Alaric and Kadagaifes refolv'd fome time fince to invade his Territories, and the better to maimain the hideous multitude that followed them, they thought fit to divide themfelves and to take different ways. Kads' gaifet fell into Italy zi the head of two hundred thou[and fighting men, either Ojirogothj or Hemles, and the valiant Alaric led the Vifi^ntbs into lllyria and Palmatia. But after the defeat of the Ojjirngoths and the death of Kadagaifes, Stilicon puft up with his good fuccefs, for which he was almolt abfolutely beholding to C(7«,'/rf/?«'s valour, advanced furioufly toward Book III. PHAKAMONR 547 toward us, and foon found us out ; for wc wetc no lefs eager than hcfo come to a gene- ral Battel. But the two Captains who had a mutual edcem for each other, minded no-* thing more than to watch one another's motions, and to endeavour to get all the advan- tages they could fpy out for their own benctit ; but at length after they had fcvcral times re- mov'd their Camps without attempting any thing, after they had fent out feveral parties wherein Conlhnce ind IFallia mod memorably lignali/'d themlelves, they came to a pitch'd Battel, which was fought near the City ol UpidimM. Mefceceli famous Soldier, renowned for thedcleat of the Rebel Gildm his Brother, led the Right Wing of the Romanr^ Euchenif Stilkott^s Son commanded the Left ;" and the Cavalry was all under the condudt of the renowned Conjhnce. The Right wing of ou* Army was under AutalpbiY^ince of great valour, the Brother of our King: the Left o- beyed the orders of Sif^cric, whoat this day reigns over the Gotht in BarcinoHs^ and theCa- vairy were commanded by young /AjWj, who was clkemed by the Enemies as well as by all our Soldiers the molt valiant and moft virtuous of all the Goths. Never any thingap- pear'dfo lively and vigorous as his afpe<3: and behaviour upon that occalion, his deport- ment thirfted to be engaged v andthat noble emulation which lie felt in his heart, excited by the reputation of the great Con\\ance^ encouraged him in fuch a manner, that he (urpafs'd himfclf infhat Battel where we fought to prelerve the honour of our Nation. Sometimes he brake in among the Kowaw with an unlpeakable and moft impetuous fury ^ fometimcs he fuccoured thofe that began to give ground i fometimcs he rallied thofe that were broken. In a word, he (litwed himfelf with that quicknefs every where, that inllead of one jyalJia you would have thought there had been thirty all the time of thatdefpcrate Fight. No doubt. Sir, but you have heard that Conjia»ce and the valiant Prince fought for cneanotherat the beginning of the Fight, that they brake their Lances one againft the o- ther, with fucii a bravery as attraded the admiration of both the Armies, and that not fa- tistied with a courfc which fo many great Soldiers had wondred at, they drew their Swords, and met with that terrour and fury as froze the hearts of tiiofe Spedtators who were con- cern'd in their lives. And when they were (eparatcd by the great Bodies that aame to meet, they fought with a double accefs of valour in all places whfte there Commands call'd them, (hewing fuch experience and atftivity , that it rnay be truly faid that they both van- quiflied, and both kept each other from vanquilhing. In (hort, both Armies, after they had fought with great obllinacy till night, retreated with equal lofs, and the next day, there being a truce granted for three days for the more convenient burying the dead, my Mafter and the valiant Conjiance^ charm'd with each others mutual reputation, defired to fee each other j nor did they only fee one another with an augmentation of mutuall efteem, but they entred into a moli infeparable league of friendOiip, whereof they promiled to give each other the moft fignal proofs upon all occalions that were not injurious to thepublicfc intereft. After that, they laboured fo diligently in both Armies, that they brought Ala- r/eand 5//7/co?* to confer together, and at lad to conclude a peace for four years. Alaric promifed to depart out of the Territories of the Empire : and Stilicon on the other fide promifed to fulfil the Articles which had been granted by 'tbeodoftiu formerly to the Kings of the Goths. He aUo gave us fome hope* of reparation for our damages fuflained by a war which we had not entred upon, had not Howri;w denyed to fullhl feveral Articles that had been granted us by the Emperour his Father. Thereupon our King quitted the Ter» ritores, which were under the power of the Rowjwt, with a refolution however not only to return, if they failed in the performance of their Articles, but to march dircdtly to Kome with an Army fufficient to carry it by force. You have hcavd alfo that we were no fooner departed out of the Provinces of the Em» pire, hut C^njlance was chofen to oppofc the /4/i«f/ and Gf/>/'^fx, who under the command (# Ardaric and Acaces were fallen into Spain\ and that he was alfo forced afterwards to ad- vance as far as Beticj, to drive out the Vandals that haralTtd the Country under the com- mand of Gundcric their King. In hisabfence neither Homrim nor Stilicon had taken any care to fa (is tic ///ar/c i infomuch that he provoked by fuch unjuft delays, with an Army fat more powerful than that which the Empcrour's Favourite had tncountred, march'd diretS- ly toward 7/j/y tlirougli Fii*/«««/'« and ///yr/j. Our advance foon territitd ■Kewe, while 5*/« //m«, to buoy up the courage of the Emperour and the people, with what Forces he could raifeof afudden,put himfelt into 'Kavennj, which we intended to behege, being advanced to a place not far off, which is called CaWijM. And while the Army of the Ky^i-^'M lay on the otbrr (ide f>f Raventa, ordered his own to march toward Pallenc) a fmall To\\.*n in the fight of the Enemy, where the Gethi had no fooner retrefli'd thcmfclves, but their va« Jiant Leader Offered Battel to Honorm'€ Lieutenant ; Stilicon durft not, run a ha/avd of fo Z 7. r z much? 548 THARAMOND, Fart X. much importance, but Fearing that juft before the Gates of Kome the lofs of his Army might be the lofs of the Empire, he lay under the Walls of Ravenna^ and like another Fa. him was refolv'd to attend the deftrudion of an Army which could not longfubfiil in an Enemy's Country, furrcunded with Enemies. Alaric on the other hc^e, like another Han- nibal, feveral times made feveral attempts upon 5oring the winter feafon,the former propofitions for peace were renewed s and after fc* veral conferences wherein each party fcann'd the difficulties that could oppofe their preten- fions, they agreed that Stilkon (hould perfwade the Emperour tofurrender to theCothi thofe Lands whicii Ihendofm had promifed to give them in Gallia : and that Alaric fliould fend Embafladouis of the moft conliderable quality to Rowe, to treat themfelves with the Emperour. Atttalph and my Malkr were entrulied with this Commilfion, and were re- ceived by the Emperour with all the honour that two fuch Princes could pretend to, who were the neareft Relations of fo formidable an Enemy. Tliey appeared in the Court of Honoriuf zhei z different manner » for the Prince of the Goihs was very magrificent in his expences, yet in the fumptuoufnefs of his Equipage the Romans obf&rvcd lometliing that flill appeared to be Gothifh » for in every thing that belonged to him there appeared the fymptoms of a haughty Vain glory. On the other fide, they acknowledged that IFalia's Magnificence was better underftood, and that there was agatb of politenefs in allhis E- quipage that did not fo much as border upon any thing of pretended Earbarifm, for which our Nation is condemn'd. Their affedions alfo were dilTerently engaged ■•, fox Autalph no fooner beheld the Princefs Vlactdia but he fell in love with her ■■, but my Mafter minded no» thing more than to ftrengthen that noble and generous friendfliip with Conliance, who was , now return'd, which they had already contracted, notwithftanding the enmity of their party. Some feven or eight days after we had beenatKo>«e, there was a rumour fpread, that the Prinsefs of the Huns was coming to that City, Heraclian was fent to the other fide of the Alpes to receive hef in the Emperour's name, and when fne approached the famous Metropolis, Cotijiiineehy Honorius''s order went to meet her about twenty miles off, attended by all the Court raoft magnificently habited i for they had newly left off their Mourning for the Emprefs lermantia that was Stilicon's Daughter. That Favourite was not then with his Mafter, being unwilling to part from the Army till the truce were concluded and figned. But they that appeared moft gallant at that CourtlyCeremony were Artahure^ Mefcezel^ Maximm, Cajiinm, Aurelian, Aftaxilla and Ariobinda. On the other fide, Tlacidia was no lefs earneft than the Emperour her Brother to pay thofe honours which were due tolheodo' linda, being accompanied by Ckomira, the Princefs of the 'Tongrei, the Silier of Taxaader^ Virginia^ Camilla^ Herfilia, Hyppolita, F/<»wi«i<» and feveral other beautiful Ladies of the greateft quality at Court : Anialpb^ WaHia, T'axander, Encherui Stilicon''s Son, the young Jttiut and the famous Claudian would needs be of the number : and I remember that I was not fo much furpris'd at the remarkable di(courfe which I heard, as I was at the Magnifi- cence of thatftately Train that attended the Sifter of Homrins : not but that the jealoufic which Autalpb and Euchere had of each other, fometimcs fpoiled their difcourfe, and made it incline to a little too much ferioufnefs, hui Claudi an bc'wg kcondcd by Herfilia^ Camilla^ TfaUiaii^d laxander^ was fo careful to intermix his own jollities, that it foon continued its former Gayety, True it is, that being devoted to 5////w«'sintereft, he often fpoke in the behalf of Eucbere, but it was with fo much ingenuity, that it was no difficult thing to difcovcr the fubtilty of his wit. Claudian had fixed his eyes upon thofe beautiful Ladies that were next Flacidia , and Wallia who took great delight to hear him talk, JVere yon not, faid he, *<;%». up n>ith Me consideration of fo many wonders,. I fliould be furpris'd at your filence which robs us of a thou- fandpleafjut eonceitt tvith tvhicb your fancy abounds, lou rvould rvmder more, fmartly an- fwHTted he, to flatter Stilicon'/ Son, if I jhould teli you that it is the ivifdom of Friitce W,allia that I admire ab.w. all thofe lovely countenances that you fte me behold. In (]-:ort. Sir, J aw of oJfiAioH that you have not tvitbjiood fo many charms, but only hecaufe you n-'oald not engage yattt felf in the fervice of thofe Ladies from tvhom you are fo fuddenly to depart. Eticherut prefcnfly apprehended the true meaning of that difcouife, and addreffing himfcif to Claw didn,"T)o younot alfo believe, faid he, caftinghis eyes upon Placidia, that our Ladiet ate ob-^ liged to aS mote maril}/ than Prince Wallia, and to defe?id themfelves againji the Strangers^ rvhofe friendship they no fooner ft;all have gained, but they muii lofe them perhaps for ever, ac- cdrding to all probability .? "thofe Strangers, replycd Autalph very briskly, ipny not onl) cun- '- tinue ^Pf Book III. FHARAMOND. 549 i'lHue infepsrahle from thofe fair Ladiei^ hut they are nf that quality that they can coHfederatc themfelvei with whale Nations^ and re[iore peace to a good part of the world. Tliofc words pronounced with a fowr utrerance, touched the enamoured Ewc^cre to the quick, and in regard he was fupported by Simeon's power, he was about to have made a re- ply to the Prince of the Vifi^oihs, when we perceived a far off that (he Emperour had made a flop with his magnificent Train, and P/<»c/£//4 judging that he had inet 1 heodolindafiidet'A us to make more haft, and to interrupt a difcourfe the confcquences whereof might have proved dangerous, (he took upon her to dcfcribc the fair Princels that vVai fo near at hard. MyMafter Hitncd to the Sifter of llomrius with an exceeding attention, •^'tfieh ^'jV^/mm ta- king notice of, made him a moft obliging challenge, wherein the Prince of thcGe//;/de» fended himfelf like a compleat Courtier. But that jollity and the lively air cf his countc* nance foonvaniOied, when we were come to the place of entetview between Ho«or/«j and iheodolittda. The Emperour being arrived at fuch a diftance, that he might be cafily cbferved by the Princefs of the fl««/, prefently alighted, znd the chaim'mg theodolinda having done the fame, thefe two illuftrious perfons, of the higheft rank of any perfons in the world, ad- vanced toward each other, with that Majefty as teftified more evidently than the magnifi- cence of their Train, the grandeur of their birth and the loftinefs of their dignity. The noble prefence of HoHoriiu was fet out with a magnificent Helmet, ftaded with a moft ftare- ly Plume of Feathers, and a rich Coat of Arms altogether as fumptuous. On the other fide, the jewels tliat glitter'd upon 1heodAinda''s head and her other habiliments, fecmed to borrow from that Princefs the luftre, which they were wont to lend to beauties lefs fur- prifing. All the Court of Kome flood in admiration at the fight of her, while the Princeft alighting from her Chariot, feemed to be fome Goddefs defcended from heaven to honour the Earth, and tn favour the vows of mortals thatador'd her. For being tall, ftreight and rarely proportioned, having a complexion altogether dazling by virtue of its whitenefs,and her eyes black, fair and full of fire, (lie immediately darted a pleafing trouble into the Soulof every one that caft their eyes upon fo accomplifhcd a Princefs. As for my Mafter, he was furprifed with an admiration of v/hich I thought him fo little capable, that I foon forcfaw what wowld be the effed of that firft motion,^ which made me narrowly obferve his looks, and every particular adion at that time. I perceived that the Prince took delight to receive into his heart the glances of thofe fair eyes which headmir'd I took notice that he was fo mov'd at tlie light of that wonderful Princefs, that he minded nothing but her, liftncd to nothing but what flie faid, and that he fecmed to have accotri-. panicd Fhcidia, only to offer to Tj}eodalinda a liberty, which till that fatal day he had pre- fcrv'd entire. He was ignorant a good while of the lofs v.'hich hefuftain'd, but asv/e were upon our return to Kome^ it was no difficult thing for him to perceive, that he was paffib^ nately in love with the Princefs of the Hitnt, He never took his leave of her without be» ing troubled, he never came into her prefence but overjoyed, and he began to take more pleafure than ever he had done before, in Balls, Turnaments, and fuch like magnificeftf paftimes. At firft thefe marks of his growing paflion, made him fufped a good part c\ the truth, but a few days after a violent jealoutie feizing his heart, abfolutely convinced llilTT. * ' ' He was the firft that took notice that the Emperour was not fo refpedful x^^htodolmda, out of that civility which was due to the daughter of a great King, as out of a certain incli- nation, which he feemed to have toward fo lovely a Frinccfs : And upon a rumour that was fpread abroad, th^ there was to be an alliance between the Komans and the Huht, fo^ the ftrengthcr.rng whereof, the charming Iheodolinda was to be matched to the Emperoiii' Honofiin, he became fo infupportably melancholy, that he fellinto a fit of ficknefs. Now in regard that he was generally beJovcd, all the Court took notice of the change of his hu- mour : But Plaeidia and Ceniiance who had a particular kindncfs fbr him, were more high- ly conccrn'd. Nay Iheodolinda her felf, who began to have as great a kindnefs for him a^ the Sifter oi Hoaonus^ often delired to know the caufe of his diftemper : But the penfiVC Wa]liato\A her enough without fpcaking, while he looked upon hcrlighing, and then look- ed down upon the ground, not daring to return an anfwcr. ' True it is that theodolitida could not uTid«rfiar;d that manner of his exprelUng himfelf,' fot (he being a' haughty Prhl- cifs thatlTightdd the very offers of Howor/w lijtnJelf., would not believe thafa Prince wfiH was not heir to a Crown, and indeed in no proli^bility of 'ever attaining one, 'could be fo bold as to tliink fo prcfumptuous a thought. My Mafleron the other fide, wb'o'had nothing but what was great and lofty in his Soul, rcloHcd more than orice to let !ier underftand, how he dyed tor love of her, but a profound rifpedt always ftopp'd the iinpetuoiity of hi?, paflion. ' aV 550 PHARAMOND, Part X. At that t\meStilicon''s Son prepared a magnificent Turnament in honour of Vlacidia, there Jf («i//« rcfolved to fight for the honour oilheodolinda^ but he ran without declaring his in- tention or making himfelf known, fo much he feared leH his prcfumption (hould difpleafe the Princefs whom he adored. At the end of thofe famous courfts wherein he honourably ilgnaliz'd himfelf, the enamoured Prince retired to his Chamber, wholly taken up with the bright ide^ of IheodoltHda's beauty, and the magnificence of the Court of Kewf. Then re« flecking upon his having engaged himfelf, where he could not hope for any favourable fuc« cefsj VnforttimteVrince, crycd he fighing, wilt thou alvtmys love 'ThcodoWndz^ or to fay bet' ter, wilt tboH attvays love without hope, not daring to make kjtown thy love ? What frttit canjl thou expe[} from that rajh pajjion that reigns in thy heart ? Knoweji thou not that Thcodolinda M the daughter of a potent monarchy and w not an Emperour thy Kival ? What hopeji thou for un^ happy man^ wouldjl that TbeodoVmdi fhould renounce one of the chiefejilhronej in the earth ta ejpoufe VVallia and become the Subjeii 0/ Alaric ? Thefe thoughts fo cruelly tormented him, that he refufed to fee any perfon all that even- ing, and he took a hundred feveral refolutions, without determining any thing. He would be gone in all haft from Kome fometimes, fometimes he would love no longer, hml'beodo- lindd's beauty more prevalent than his rcafon, detained him in the Court ot Honorius, more firongly riveted his chains, and incrcafed the violence of his paifion in that manner, that he found he could not chufe but love her as long as he lived, and that be could not live un- lefs he made known his pallion to her. Neverthelefs though he were as bold as any perfon living, though "fbeodolinda had a very fair efteem and a great kindnefs for him, he durll not prefume to complain of his fufferings before her, had not the fair Princefs her.felf given him a very favourable opportunity. One day finding her alone without any 01 her company than one of her Maids of honour, (he intimated to him that (he had fomcthing to fay to him in private, and thereupon taking him afide, and beholding him in a moft obliging manner. Generous ■WzWiiy faid fhe, thePrincefSYhcidhrepofesfuch a confidence in your virtue, thatfhe requejied me te declare to yon her real thoughtt, with an abfolute freedom of f^eech -. Itfeems (he JjM apprehended for feme days fwce, that Autalph has a more particular kjndnefifor her, 4ni therefore fhe mt being in a xonditien, to receive thofe "feftimonies which he gives her, with that acknowledgment which he may pretend to^ (he hopes yoH wHl divert the Prince from pnrfuing his deftgn. The fair Princefs of the H«ttx had no fooner concluded thofe words, but ^r^Wa behold- ing her in a moft paffionate manner i Alas Madam, faid he, how difficult a thing it U for a man tojliflleinhps breafl the marks of a violent inclination, and how unhappy are they that fiifer, when it if not lawful for themfo much as to complain, while he fpake in that manner,he Ogh'd, and caft his eyes downward, fo that 'theodoUnda beginning to apprehend fome fufpicion of the truth j blufhed out of modefty, and went about by degrees to alter the fubjed of the difcourfc. I am apt to believe-, replyed flie, that you never ffeak, but of bufmefi with Ptinct AutalphjixW therefore ftnce without doubt you intend to be gone fo foon as your bufinefSif difpatch* td, the Prince^ would do herfelf more right to perfwade the Emperour, to determine your af< fairs with all^eed^ rather than trouble you with a commifjion, which you may mt thinh^fo proper to difcharge. The enamoured Wallia was more afflided at thefe words than before, finding his jealou* fie thereby awaked, infomueh that lifting up his eyes to the fair Countenance which (he a- dored ) 1 am perfwaded Madam, replyed he, that Phcldiz's mediatiou would very much for^ ward our affairs, but it not from her alone that we might hope for kjndnejfes cf the hrgheji na- ture, had we a defire to return to our Camp. 1 k»ow no perfon, te^p^e^Kt wbofe reputation is fo great with the Emperour as hers. How Madam, replyed he interrupting her, can you be ig- norant of what all the world already kotows, and ef what you have reafon to kriow better than aU the world? Ah no no., Madam, it is not poffible that you (hould be ignorant of the power which your charms have obtained over the Emperour, and I make no quejlion but the Emperour has al- ready told you jeveral times over, what an unfortunate Prince, that has no Crown to offer y»Uy dares not prefume te declare. At thofe words the Princefs blufhed, not only out of modefty, for there was fome- thing of honour that had a (liare in the change, which appeared in her fair countenance, which made her defirous to let Wallia underftand , after what manner Honoriiis liad be- liaved himfelf toward her, and to ftiew that the dignity of that Prince had not made jicr fo hardy as my Mafter imagin'd, J mufi ack^nrnledge, anlwercd fiie, that the hmpe- rour has given me to underiiand, that he had fome kjndnefi for me : But J am alfo ohlit^ed ta tell you, that he did not let me knotv Co much, but with all thatrefJ ttU you the real thoughts of my mind : for as I neither rectiv'd the ojff ;•><%/" Honouwi with incivility-, fo fcrhjpj I neither conftdered them to be of juch anobH^in<>i>:ilit^\ fince met bought it rvas. not for the Priircef! of the Huns to he tranjjiorted mth thofe honoutiikdi had been f» eifily beliott>ed:ep}/tSu\icou''s Vdughter before. 1 confefithat Honorius is a-rfdod nun, and fitll of integrity, bnt I cannot tell whether thofe two qualities are j'u^cient in J F^ihte that I would accept for a Husband^ and whether I fhould not defire fome other fcrfn nior^^ieof thy myejieein. In jhnrt., whether this humour proceed front my Country^ gr from my Birihc thfl thinks I canfot but fcurn, that the Succefjor of the CaefarS, thai the Son of the gr^al TWcddo- fills fhould fn de(nade himfctf to feek^for an Einprefi in the family of his Favourite. T^t ffici} matches mnny times happen, replyed IFallia, for love feemx to takf pleafure fometimes toiirfHe ferfons unequal in dejrree^ the better todilplav the effeilt of his power. 7hlif we feeprefumpiu. em hearts that fometimes dare afpire to the Thrones of their Soveraigns., while on the other j^de there ate Kings that let their fighs fall upon Beauties which they chufe among theit Suhj^Gti 'lis necejfary then, replyed Theodolinda, that fuch Princes pould be as great in the*'ndttii>t. ments of their minds and perfuns as in the extent of their Pominions, They ought to be K^f de- light and honour of their people^ the terrour and admiration of their Neighbours i and bihig fuch^ I give them leave to love where they pleafe, fince "'tis their fate that they can m whtr^lovt above themfelves\ and far that reafon they cannot be accused of doing any thing beneath them- felves. I will go a little farther , Madam , replyed JFaL'ia.^ fmce it is hiy bpinion ihat ge-- rally all great Princes are obliged to love. Fur injhori, arfi they always obliged, thoit^hthip eould do it^ to put on the feverity of command, to l\eep their State, or ohferve the exa& rules of n-ijdom f Kather is it not better for them to defend a little ? And which wav can they better Jhew their courtefte and humanity, than by appearing fenfible of that mble pajpan which 1 dii fend? -^ while he fpake in that manner, he fo amoroufly beheld Theodoliiida, that the prli dent Princcfs took upon htr to fpeak, that (he might hinder my Malierfrom pi^ceedingin a dif- courfe, the confequcnccs whereof (he began to fufpefl : But, Prince, (aid (he. do you' not believe but that a King who has not thofe endowments which I [pake of, would render hitnfelf contemptible by fuch a match as you mean ? And will y.)u not acknowledge, that of the two it U mire noble to offend out of pride, than of I not only aclqtowledge ii, faid he mod pa/iio- nately, interrupting her, but, divine Princef!, added he fighing, and with a guilty utter- ance, I muji confeji moreover that the charms for which you are fo ador'd, coHiirajn me to put ii inpraUice ; yes, yes, great Princefi, the prefumptuousW iUia. Ah, Prince.^ faid (he I befeech you praUife it no more, nor oblige me to change the manner of my behaviour toward you. How ! Princef!, too fevere, cryed he, would you not fo much as underhand thai I adore you ? AIm, if it be f, I am far more miferable than I thought my felf; for if you take the tefli' monyof the mofl reffedful pajpon that ever was for an offence, I muji then prepare my felf to die fwce it is impoffible far me to live without doing you that injury every moment. At thofe words his grief opprelTed him in fo violent a manner, that he could fay no more i but his fighs having as it were opened a paflage for his fpeech, and Theodolittda^s irrefolution giving him time to refume his lamentation : Hah, Madam, I hefecch you faid he, leave thofe nicetie j ; you k>tow that my Birth vs fufficiently illujlrious to hinder me from blujf^~ ingy when you Jhall vouchfafe fo far to humble your eyes, as to count me among the number of your flaves. Though on the other fide I k^ow this Birth of mine ought te be fupported by fmfe Crowns which fortune has denied we, and which it ought to he in my power to offer you if I would pretend to a felicity fo infinitely abive my hopes. But, Madam, I do not affire to thai honourable felicity , iior do 1 beg any other advantage, than only to ferve the fair Princef of the Huns with herpermijpon. while he fpake in this manner Theodolinda felt a khid combat of her heart between that edeem whicii (he had for my Mailer, and thercfentment which perfons of her humour and quality might have upon fuch an- occafion : fo that the enamoured JFallia feeing her he- htate in that manner, V/bat, Madam, anfwered he with many iigns of difcompofure as well ill his looks as in his behaviour, have ynu any reafon to jludy f much as one moment what to anfiver, after fi many real protellations which I have made you ? Have I conceived theleaflra^j hope whereat you can be in reafon offendfd, and though perhaps 1 have declared my felf with more freedom than 7 ought, has it not been accompanied with all the veneration that could be of- fered to a Deity? By that time the Princcfs having abfolutcly determined, with a ferious afpedt, Pr/wce, replyed (he, I fee too well that thofe tejiimonies of ejieem which I have given yott upon fvcral uccaftons, have drawn upon me the effells of a boldnefs which offends me ; but ahfo^ Mely 552 PHAKAMOND. , Part X. iutely k^ow th'n^ that either yon »»«(? forbear to fee me any more, or elfe never let me hear a word more of your affedion^ which infallibly will produce thofe confequences, which will never pleafe your humour. Muji I forbear tofeeyott more^ rcplycd he in a moft penfive inanncr, Ah '. too inhumane Pr'tHcefi, exaH from me other proofs if my obedience. Kequire of me that which it if pi^bU for me to grant. No Madam, I will Jee you as long as J can fee day^ for Ifeel that IcaH- ftot Xou jhall (peak^Ho mare to me, replycd (lie with a more rcfolute utterance, of a thing which I require you to banifl} from all your difcourfe. She pronounced thefe words with fuch fymptomcs of her ar.gcr, infomiich that IFalliit being touched to the quick, and beliolding her with a grief intcrmix'd with fubrrjillion ; tFeU Madam, replyed he fighing, Z will endeavour to the utmoli of my power to hold my fugue, 1 will fay MO more if it be pofible, hut that you are the moji charming Prince(I in the world, pro. videdyou will reward fo painful a filence, and that at the fame time when only my eyes, my dtli - genet and my fervices {hall ^eak^for me, you will fuffer your felf to be convinced that 1 adure you, and that I am willingto wearto my lomb thofe chains which you have put on. He would have fpoken more without doubt, but Flacidia entring at the fame time , brake oif the difcourfe. My Mafter afterwards ccnverfed with "theodolinda, after fuch a manner that (he could not difapprove. The air of his countenance, his languifhment, his diligence, his entire fubraiffion to her commands, and that blind obedience which he punitually obfcrved, were seftimonies of his love fufficiently vifible. But thefe marks of his pallion were arcompani- ed with fuch a refervednefs, that the moft rigorous feverity could not in reafon condemn him : On the other fide, being fupported by a great merit and a noble reputation, 1 am per- fwaded that Theodolinda zs (he was, did not always with difpleafHre behold the Empire, which her beauty had obtained over the heart of a Prince, young, handfome and famous for fo many renowned deeds. But before (he would difpofe her fclf to permit this illuflri: ous Lover to prefume to complain of her cruelty, Honorm upon Vlacidia's foliciration had fign'd the Treaty, for the compleating whereof they refided at Home: So that they left be- hind them that which they held moll dear in the world. Whatever paflion they deferve that are forced to abfent themfelves from what they love, certainly none did ever deferve more than J^i»l'/^ merited upon that lamentable feparation. For he not only left his Frincefs, almoA without any hopes of ever feeing her again i but alfo left her with a Rival who had great probabilty of fuccefs, a Paval who was Enipcroui cf the Komani, young, courtly, and very amorous. Befidcs that it was not permitted him to difcover his torments , fo that his grief and his affection only appeared in his eyes. But inftead of relating all the circumflances of this departure-, I will only tell you that TFallia was fo afflided, that all the Court of Honorius (efmed to grieve for his fake. Tia- cidia and Conflance openly teftitied the high efteem and friendfhip which they had for that Prince, indtheodolinda her felf bid him farewel, with an afpedt neither fo haughty nor fo chearful as (he was wont to carry ; And though the Emperour had given thofe two Princes an abfolute fatisfadion, yet they found fo little in abfenting themfelves from Flacidia and Theodolinda, that they made but eafie journeys toward the Army, and that with no fmall affliftion to their minds. At their arrival they perceived that the Vifigoths were already ad- vanced toward Gallia, to take pofPeflion of Aquitain which the Emperour had granted them. But Sir, you know the revolution which overturning all the good intentions of Homriw, caufed Alaric to change a refolution. For at that time a certain Jew named Sauhis, a har- dy Soldier, and wholly devoted to the favourite oi HoHorias, commanded feveral Provin- ces through which we were to march. To him had Stilicon fent a private order to fet upon our Troops, and not to queftion the fuccefs, provided he began the war. Sauluf obeyed his commands with all exadnefs, fo that we were no fooner upon the Frontiers of the Pro- vince of Narbonne, but he tell upon us unawares and cut our Vanguard in pieces. The {ur» prife and fear thereof was fo great among the Vifigoths, that they had been abfoluteJy de- feated before they could have made any defence, had not my Malkr rallyed them and led them on well encouraged to th£ Battel. He thunder'd in upon the Enemy with fuch an impetuofity, that he bore to the ground the fioutell refiftancc, while death and terror were his attendants wherever he appeared. He fought out 5i»K/«5, met him, fought him, kill'd him, and faved the life of the King of theCoths, and changing the fortune of the two Ar- mies, conftrained vidtory to declare her felf in our behalf. The generous .^/ar/c had do fooner acknowledged, how much he was bound to him tor fo proiperous and fo unlocked for an event, but he rtorm'd again(\ the prodigious pertidy of the Komaus, and vowed be- fore the principal Officers of his Army, tc take a revenge worthy the jullice of his provoca- tioa. D o o K 111. r n yi IV ^ ivi u i\ u. 55^ tion. Prefently lie confuUed which way to execute what he had icfolv'd upon, and be- lieving he could not undertake a nobler delign than the famous City of Rome^ he made 't his whole buliiitls ro prepare all things rit tor an cntciprife conformable to the grandeur of his thoughts. The C(;/A/ overjoyed at their King's defign, dcfired nothing more than to march back into Italy^ and encouraged with the hopes of the plunder ot that rich City, fiU'd with the fpoils of tlie whole earth, they promifed themfclves the ranlackingof that populous place; though it had been defended by thofe very Citizens that had formerly made her MilUcfs of all the world. Nor was there one in all that numetous Army that fhewcd any fadncfs iri the midn of the general rejoycing of the Soldiers, unlefs itwercrr«!/Vdhimfelf. He could not hear of marching as an enemy againll a people by whom he was fo well beloved, and he made ufe of all the power he had with the King, to divert the Horm which threatened a Country that he could not think upon but with affedion. And ftill his difcontent en- creafed, to fee that all his entreaties nothing prevailed, and that he could not handfomely continue in the Army, when y^/jr/Vs Honour, and the reputation of the Gothifh Arms lay at flake. But his grief encreafed beyond meafute, when we underliood that Tlacidia^ Iheodoliitda and Cleomira were unanimoufly refolv'd to endure all the hardfhips of a Siege, on purpofe to encourage the people to defend themfclves, while the fainthearted Howr/wf figh'd at Ravenna in love with a Stranger that was called Bellamira. A conlblation which did not a little pleafe him to fee himfelf delivered from thecorrivalfhip of an Emperour, and made him think himftlf not altogether the moft unfortunate Lover in the world ; Ah, Hilderic, faid he to me fevcral times in our march to Jtaly^ to rvhat an extremity am I re- duc'd, andvchatrefidutionoughtltotake? Muji Iforfa^ my Soveraign'i hitereli^ or elfe bring Fire and Smord rvherethe divine Thcodolinda remains (hut up : Ah^ horv (I:' all I beevervmo' ment furrotindedn-ith deadly feari, fur the life of that celejiial Priacef ! I fancy already fame Barkarous V'll'igoth mayjljeath hit Sacrilegious Svpordinher bofom-, methinkj 1 already fee her lovely Body buried in theruines of that magnificent Palace where 1 have feen her fhine fo bright with all her charms. Then tranfported with his defpair, May tee all perijlj and he rw tned, rather than a dejiiny fo lamentable fhonld put an end to her days. But fainthearted Wallia, added he again, determine with thyfelf: dofi thou \\and considering, poor Jpirited Lover, when thou art to ferve Theodolinda ? Get into Rome, offer thy life to her whom thoit love{}, and take a generous ?rincefs''s part againli an ambitious King to whom thou art fa fcru' .puloujfy loyal. Thefe thoughts fo violently and fo long affiifted him, that by that time we came into h taly he was neither in a condition to fight for /^/^r/f, nor to offer himfelf to Theodol:rtda\ he fell into a lingring Fever that prefently weakened him, and caft him afterwards into a languifhing condition, which fo difheartened the Go Madam, faid he, that my i/irth and honour obliged me to fight for the King of the Goths, however 1 mak^ you tb'vs protejiatio.n, that I had never horn Armt againjl a City^ rehichyour divine perfon had rend^ed facred, had not the hope ef being ferviceabje to you at fuch a difmal time as thU, more powerfully engaged me^ than my duty to Alaticor Wallia'i own reputations. Not Madam, that the fervices I bate done or may perform^ are of that importance but that you might have received them, from thefirfl Officer that had any fence of honour. But Madam, I have fome credit with Alaric himfelf and fome power . among the Goths, and 7 will lofe both the one and the other, hat I will obtain the liberty of a fair and noble Princefi, which we have only found by an accident jl)ut up among our Enemies. Gene* roiis Wallia, replyed flie with an air as obliging at it was polfibje for her tc (ViCw, during the trouble that ftill difcompofed her, we were not deceived, neither the fair Frincijfes nor my felf^ 7»ben we had fome hopes that you would fuccour m in thefe dreadful calamities, enough to daunt the fioute{i courages in the world. We alfo find that your rejpeU has far furpajfed, what we ex- pelled fi-om you. and if the temper of the King of the Goths be anfwerable to his fair reputatiou, and if his blood that fprung from the fame veins with yours, have infufed into him inclinations lit^eycur own, we (hall hatu fome reafon to comfort our felves in his mvfrtunes. But whatever fall out, we bavefo great a con^dence in your virtue, that we (haS commit our felves wholly to your protedion. Wallia fenfibly obliged to his Princefs, return'd her thanks with all the fubmiffion that he could have done, had he received the fame kindnefles which he offered : And as foon as he had order'd fome Companies to guard and attend the Princefles in the abfence of Ala* ric, who was gone to look after his wounds, he went to vifit tloe King where he found Au' talph, Sigeric, and Attalus. The King of the Goths very joyfully received him, and be- holding him with an obliging countenance. Come hither Confin, faid he, come andreceive the firji tejiimonies of my ath^owledgment, till we canreward thofe aaions that have fo great a (hare in the honour of our fitccef!. lour valour by the taking ofKow.e, affords mc a moji remarl^able advantage to acquit my felf, toward thufe perfons to whom I am moji deeply obliged : And I (hall dye a very ingratefnl perfon, ifl(fjouldnotfindfomething worthy your acceptance, in a City wbsfe magnificence all the world admires. With the government of this famous City, accept alfo the choice of all the Spoils, and therefore feek, out for what is mo\l precious among all the treafure, or mofi considerable among all the Prifoners. Wallia return'd no anfwer at tirft but only by his fubmiffion, but taking notice that Alaric^ words did authorize the intention which lie had, to demand the liberty of the PrincefTes, he relblved to explain himfelf to a Prince fo gene- rous and grateful. The King of xhi.Goths taking notice thereof, and being willing to en- courage himj JFhatCoufJn, faid he, (hali Wl Ma's genercfity continually contend with Alaric'/ acknow' JLIUU IV XAA. 4- i- t- ^J. M^^ ^x xrj. w i\ ±y, iSS <'cJ{ttoivleJgme)tt^ and tvill yon never permit me that boldaefi which fo fuccefsfuUy accompanief you in fight ^ to follow you after the victory nhen tee defire that you ffjould reap the retvard ofyi:ir virtue ? Sir., then anfwered my Mailer, 1 cannot tell whether ^our Majefiy may not be furpris'd to fee me make ufe of that freedom tvhich you ^ive me., and whether I may not be acciifed f.r o~ keying too exaSily your commands that mab^ me fo bold^ tphen 1 (liall pre fume to beg the liberty of three fair Princejjcs, who are more worthy to fetter others.^ than to wear Chains them- felves. . Autalph^ Sigeric, and Attaint., appeared fomcwhat difTatisficd af Wallia's words, and tbc former who could not rehain from looking upon him with a kind of envy, addrelling himfcit to his Brother \ Sir, faid he, J am of opinion that noperjon can defire you to let go tbc Pr;«ef/f Placid ia, but fuch aj would at the jame time deprive you of feveral other great advan' tages : For in (liort^ whether you think^jUting to continue the war or to make peace., what may Mot you demand and jland upon, when you have at your difpofal all that Honorius hjs moji dear in the world., and the moji conf.derable perfun in the Empire. Befides if your Majejiy think it more convenient to enter into an Alliance, PJacidia may be a means to unite your hottfe to the family of the great Theodolius, and to make Autalph the moji happy Prince in the world. As he con» eluded thcfe laii words he bluflied, and turning toward my Matter with the fame commo- tion, "You are not ignorant, faid he., what thoughts I have for the Siller of f/t ■ l_j V7 vj n. iiji. X M.X ^j. j^\. ^j. xrx K^ i\ jw, 11/ be ever able to abntdon them in chains^ tonturn into my own Country .<' Tour behaviour ohligt»i, in appearance manifelh as much outtvardly^ but fecretly upbrcidi me, yet which of my aVtioH'-, bat overperfwaded yon t' How did you ktiotv that I tvas xnrviCiHg to fitffer afervitttde^ which your^ sontinual kjridneQes render fo eafily fupportable, and indeed what I livelihood w there that I (hould leave my companions, having had the honour topartal^f with them in the misfortunes of a hcfieged while x\\c\ncoTt\\>ztdh\c'theodolindai ftrcngtlincd Wallia's paflion with the fair proof of her gciicrofity, Vlacidu^ Cleomira and //mm//*/; cntrcd the Chamber, and interrupted ihcir converfe for (otne time, but my Mafter foon renewed it by letting them undtrftand, aftct what manner the Princcfs had refufed the liberty, which the King of thcCoths had gtvcn her. Flacidia and Cleomira tcftiricd to their iliullrious friend, how much they were bound to her with all the Careflcs that a real alTcdlion could infpirc, and indeed the charming Si^ fler of Honorius, conjur'd her moft earncftly to forfakc unfortunate Z«a/j|v ,,But whcnlliCj faw that her entreaties nothing avail'd, flic bbm'd her with an extraordinary tcndeineCsy and endeavoured to vanquifli a refolution, which (he however found her fclf more willing to follow than condemn. The two Princes on the contrary, gave Jheodolitfda all the com^ mcndations that fhe deferved, and took their leaves of hei fo charm'd witlx the beauties.o^ her Soul, infomuch that Autalph talk'd of nothing elfc to the King his Brotjier^ but of tlie lare qualities of that Trincefs. WaUia wji? at firft overjoyed to hear a difcourfe, fo much to the praifc of her whom he loved, but foon after his joy became fecretly difturb'd, for tiiough the honour of Iheodolin^ da was infinitely dear to him, the report thereof that then bcg.an to fpread, cauftd him to figh though he could pot by any means conjedure the caufe. Alaric who had not only all. the accompliflimcnts of a great King, but the conditions alfo of a jull and honeft man, wafi; extremely taken with an adtion fo worthy hiselleem, which made him fo eager to give a, vifit to the FrincefTes, that he refolvcd no longer to defer it. The next morning he fent tl^jft, Captain of his Guards to thofc illulfrious prifoners, to know whether they would be plca^ fed, to permit him the honour of attending upon them, who being very juft and not able, to blame Alaric for any thing but his valour and his fuccefs, they admitted the officer that came from him very civilly, returning for anfwer that it was not for the vanq'jifliedto prejj fcribehim laws. y The King ot the Goths no fooner heard their anfwer, but he would needs go to their A-: partments, notwithlianding the trouble of his wounds. Thisearnelinefs of his v/as no fmiflt'. but fecret difturbance wIFalia, though in all outward probability he ought to have been' well pleafed, as well in reference to Alaric's honour, as in relation to the advantages which the Princeffes might gain by his vifits. But examining a certain kind of envy fo little con- formable to his ufual humour, and not able to underdand the nature of that inward motji,* on that caufed it , he took it for an ill omen of that misfortune that threatned his; paffion. •;. In the mean time Alaric went to vifit the PrincefTcs, affeding at that time to appear more magnificent than he was wont ; He was molt fplendidly habited, \\hi\c Autatpy ^ Si^eric,^ and J^rfi/j went before fliining in Coats of Armour, tjiat glittered all over iv /.'a, precious flones, and followed by hve or fix of the moll confiderable Officers in the Arhiy.He was nc» fooner entred tlie Chamber rcfting his hand upon Attalmh Arm, but his eyes were dazlcd at the luflre of fo many perfons as came forward to receive him : Nov did the charming" Princeffes appear kfs furprifcd at the noble prcfcnce of the famous Ahric, and he upon the fight of 'ibeodolinda^ felt a kind of pleafing dillurbance in his heart , to which he had never been accuffom'd before, but whether it were that he were defirous to recompole himftlf,G)r that he thought he was obliged to addrefs himfcif in the firit place to Flacidia^ to whom thefuccefs of his Arms had been moft fatal, to her it was that with aMajcfty mingled with fubmillion, he thus began. Great Princefi^ faid he,. Alaric had appeared bef.re you rnthb^ terror^ and Rome had jiill enjoyed her native freedom, bad Honorius ohferved tbofe a^ greemeuts to which he bad fo folemnly fworn. But fmce be would bring a war into the very heart of bis Empire, 1 have been con^rained to ajjail aCity, which you fo powerfully defended at^ait^h me. However Madam, we (hal! always make a d/ference between what you have aUed aa^ainji US, and the real injuries that we have received from our Enemies, and we fr^,:ll loal^ with more ad' miration upon the honour which we have obtained by your means, than with refentment upon th» lojfes which y It have caiiC^d Uf to fiijlain. Sir, anfwered (he, 'tis not for Vldcid'iz to e:i3mine the proceedings of Hocotias, efiecialy in affairs of important weight which are mv{i maturely deliberated upon: So that if he were deceived in his counfel, or othr/wife thought be bad reafon to aii ss he did^ 1 only followed the diUaies of tf tf^ r n ^ j\ y^ IVl U 1\ JU. r A R T .A.. my own duty, andlabourlngto dothat formy KelatioHt^ for my Country^ and for a miferahle people, rvhkb it became the daughter of the great Theodolius to ait agahili the enemies of his Succeflors, But after all that, it behoves me mrv to make a more exa£i dijUnd'ion^ and as before I put up my vows and prayers to Heaven for the ruine of a potent Adverfary, whom I beheld arm' d to the deftruUionofmy Country ; yet to the King ef the Goths 1 muji confefi my felf ob- liged to render all the ack>towledgment due to a generous Conquereur, whofe chains are }o light and eafie, Alaric believing that he had difcharged the full of his Duty to Tlacidia, made no other anfwerthan with arefpeftful bowi and therefore knowing as well the pallion which Ah- talph had for her, as out of his defire to difcourfe theodolindd, he left the Prince of the Goths with the Sifter of Homrius, while he addreffed himfelf to the Princefs of the Huns : to whom with a courtly air, and a countenance which he had rendered more ferene, through the ftrength of his imagination, Madam, faid he, I mitjico^ifcfi that you are a good friend to the Romans even to the end : for injhort, not to fay any thing of what you have done for them by (hutting up your felf in their City, during the inconveniences of a long Siege : I very well fe that you only flay in Italy to caufe fame revolution worthy of your charms, while you compel the Conquerours of a Nation fo by you beloved to wear your fetters. My Matter, who liftened with an extraordinary attention, hearing thofe laft Words, feem'd to be very much difturbcd, infomuch that he could not forbear from coming to the Kingof theGotfc/. Thereupon I^fo<:/w// ««'-», who already had a kindnefs for him, fome- times would caft her eyes upon his countenance, and perceiving the trouble that was cafie to be obferv'd therein, (he was fenilblc thereof, and taking care to revive the heart of her illuftrious Lover, to whom (he thought her felf obliged for fo many real kindnelTes .• Sir, anfwered (he very obligingly to the Kinguf the Goths, were I fo formidable as to caufe the revolution which you ^ea\ of: however, yeu would be very fecurefur all me ; for befdes that, my humour does not lead me to make fuch eminent diflurbances, I would not give Pr/'wcf Wallia, to whom I am fo infinitely obliged, any ;«/? reafon to accufe me for obtaining viUories which I ought not to do, fince perhaps be may be fomewhat concerned at the conqueji. My Ma(\er'had been overjoyed at the anfwer, could he have apprehended all the fence : but he was fo little inclinable to put favourable interpretations upon what concerned his af- fection that he wasbutin part fatisfied. On the other fide, Alaric prefently underftood the force of the words : both in regard that /^«t. apeiifweafpeH., I know it too well for my repofe : and I fee too apparently that "■ I am the moft unfortunate of men. Alas, purfued he fishing, was it not enough that I " was born to love the Daughter of a great King, without being born to reign, but mu(i I *' be immediately crofted by the Competitor(hip of an Emperour, and meet a Rival in tlie " perfon of my King > But vvhat King, tnf>dejlly replyed Alaric, he is not fuch an one as "your affedion would tnake him appear to be: for. Prince^ lean affure you that for your "fake he has contended with the pallion which he feels for the Princefs of the r/««j-, and "that he is rcfulv'd ftill to withftand it, though wi;h litttle hope of vidory, fo that " though you are not in a condition to fupply a place which he would freefy furrender into " your poflelfion : ftrive you on your part, added he, and we willlhortly give youanac- *' count of the progrefs we our fclves have made in fo juft anenterprife. Concluding thofe words, he went foriJi, and my Mafter remained fo exceedingly per* plexed, tiiat he knew not whether it were beft to follow Alark, whether he were be ft to return him thanks, or whether he ought to complain of a procedure which he found fo bb« liging, at a time when he percciv'd that he could not have that acknowledgment which it behoved himto fliew. However, he went to his Apartmenttoargucwithhimfelf whether it were poliible to be complacent to Alark's perfwalions. But after many various refledi- ons, after many unprofitable fighs, and extraordinary difturbances, Iheedolinda was ftill Miftrcfs of his heart, and he was lb far from being willing to break thofe chains with which that charming Princefs had fettered him, that he only found that he had not fo much as th'e power to think of any fuch thing: neither could he forbear to vifit that incomparable per- fon i fo that /^/anc coming in a little while after, bluftied fofoon as he perceived IVallia, d^nAlValliaicxhh part turn'd away his eyes, and caft them upon Iheodoliada't face, as it were to fnew the King a fair excufe for thofe faults which he was conftrained to commit. They both prefently faw that they fliould be a mutual Iiinderance to each other, in their in= tentions to entertain Theodolhtda alone : and therefore .4/jaa:' inftead of ftanding upon his Dignity, eonlidering that lVallia\ engagement was before his, and that a Prince v/hom he infinitely cfteem'd, had reafon to bewail the fmall hopes of fuccefs in his affedion, departed lirft out of the Room, and by that obliging adt as it were violently pulled away the ena- moured IValia from out of the charming Princefs's prefence. However, Autalph ftaid with Flacidia, S%e«capplyed himfelf tothe Princefs of the Huns; and Attains^ as diligent as he was to keep near the perfon of tl-,c King, now ftaid with Cleomira. - -'-[■ The Kingof the Got/:»/ was no fooner returned to his Palace, but taking mf N^after afide, and ftedfaftly beholding him i Prince, faid he, have you foUoroed my advice to good ptrpofe ? Ha-je you yet forgotten Theodolinda ? In fijurt, what can you ieJl me in reference to thifc things vrhich fo much concern in .? 'that the great Alaric, anfwcreJ my Mafter, is the moji ge- nerom that ever vpas j and that Wallia is the moji in love of any perfuu in the world ; for ha- vingdonenhatlcan, ] am obliged after all. Sir, -stddcd he, lighing, fo confef to your Majeffy that I am fo far from being able to vanqtii(h my paffion, that I mw never able to contend with ii in the leajh "But, Prince, rf;)/>/f^ Alaric, what hopes have you> How will you order " youiL* 560 PHARAMOND, Part X. "your affairs iti fuch a nice occurrence as this, or how will you divide Tf^d'ia between 7fcf- ^^edolinda and Alaric ? The King of the Goths^ replyed my Mafier^ (ball have my Arnn whol- "ly devoted to his fervice, and the Princefs of the Hkhs (liall enjoy my heait, where flie " fliall be adored to the laft gafp of my breath. Upon thefe words the King feemed to be prepofltffed with a thought that wholly took up his mind, fo that after he had (ludied a while i " Well then Prince, added he of afudden^ *' let us even take our chances, let us both love "theodolinda llnce heaven has fo refol ved if, " I will neither put a conftraint either upon your intentions or my own : and 1 promife you " withal not to make ufe of any advantage, which I may expcd froril my Royal dignity. "I do not find my felf altogether deftitute of endowments, fit to purchafe an illufkious "heart, andlqucftion iwt tobeabletoaflail theodolinda, notwilhftanding the cortivalfliip " of a young Prince, though of fo fair a reputation and fo great a merit. He had no foon- er concluded thefe words, but he turn'd toward a company of Courtiers, who were retir'd out of refpedi, and fVaVia inikad of making any anfwer, (igh'd to fee himfdf overcome by generofity, having no other comfort but the pleafure uf knowing that his love was greater than his Rivals, and that he had given vilible teitimonies thereof. At the fame time that thofe two renowned lovers prepared to contend for the enjoymei^t oilheodolinda^ yet without any injury one to another we departed from R#wf, whereof Attalus as it is well known was made Govc«r;our: For how ncble foever the employment were, the generous Alark durfi not b.;f.ow it i.pori TFallia, to whom he had already offer'd it, that he might not feem to offer him an envenomed potion, while he feparated him from "Iheodolinda. As for Autalph, he rr;' her choie to follow the Sifter of Honorins whom wc carried along with us, than to comnwnd in lialy. And Si^erk alfo,though no perfon could ever tell the reafon, refufed that honour which he had well deferved by his famous exploit, and which would not have been bellowed upon him, but in regard of his birth. VS hife thofe things were a doing, the Goths who were in pay earneitly fought the protedion of the Princefs of the Royal Family, to ihe end that by their favour they might obtain the em- ployments to which they afpired. To that purpofe they would not loie fo fair an oppor« tunity to fix themfelves, minding nothing elfe but to get rewards and recompences, before they left a Country where it was not difficult to find fatisfadion. The Army was march'd toward Calabria, the government whce of was given to me at JFaJlia's vcqucll, and that of Capua Wis in a manner promifed to a Soldier of fortune, who was named /4«»/7i»r/c, whofe interefts Prince Sigsrk moft ardently fupported. He had alfo feveral private conferences with him, the meaning whereof we could not prefently difcover, though we were no toCMer arrived a Constance, but there happened firange Revolutions as you (hall undej- ftar.d. Hilderk had proceeded thus far in the hif^ory of Wallia^s life, when the King of the7a«- gres came to confult with Balamir^ what he had to do as well in the Camp of the Cimbii" am before he departed thence, as alfo in the Array of the Frankj when he came thither. They prefently agreed that 7axandcr (liould vi(it thofe two Princes, whofe intereft had been moft prevalent with Kofamond^ to gain that leave which he had obtained : And Balamir not only thought it convenient, to let him have a convoy proportionable to his dignity, but alfo to fend Telanor after him , to carry along with him the Cimbrian prifoner, which Fbaramond had demanded from the King of the Baflernei, For that reafon he called htS faithful Squire fo foon as taKUHder was gone, and as he was about to inftrudt him what he fhould fay from him to the King of the Frawj^/, he obferved an extraordinary melancholy in his eyes, whatever the other ccu'd do to conceal it. Balamir who had an extraordinary kindnefs for him, feeing him furpriied and compaflionately fad, dcfired to know the caufe thereof; WhenTf/a«or fighing. Ah Sir, faid he, would to heaven I were not obliged to fatvijie your curiofuy in that particular , and that the news which I exped, may not prove ajijwerable ta the news which I hare received. Now 5ir, 7 hefeech you ask^ me m farther^ to clear a thi»^ tfhich Ik^iow no more of my felf] and for your own quiets fak^, never meet a misfortune which it may be will never happen. Though thole words had in fome meafure moderated Balamir^s defire of a more exac^ information, yet could they not havehindred him from being eager, 10 know at Icaft what Jelanor already underilood, had he not obferved in his countenance an unwiningnefs to ex plain himfelf, which was the reafon that he only fpokc to him about fucli aft^irs, as he had to do in the Camp of the Fraitkj : and prefently fent him away perceiving .-Imbiomer co tning into the Chamber. It was a particular dciign that led him thither that morning, be- fide the pleafure which that famous Gaw/ took in the company of a perfon whole virtue L€ fo highly reverenced ; For, faid he to Balamir, lou k^ow Sir, that tbefaireji lips in the wsrld 4 BOOK 111. F tiAKAMOND. ^6i Vforld have eontrnandeii you to vift that learned Greek, that cante yedcrday to the Canip togethtt n>itb Martian . And the imertainty of my ervn birth having bred in me acuriofitv fo treat, that Ijliould not have a greater, but nnly to kjtoff thejiory of your noble adventures^ obliges me ta Vjfti Thcon as xvell as the iJluilrioM Balamir. NnrfliaB I have any reafon to complain of the commana I have received : For if in the vifit rve (lyaU make both together, I hear my owif life threat ned tvitb. accidents that I have reafon to be afraid oftbis will be my comfort ivhen Balamiryfed// be promised all the hapfinefi that hU merit can he recompenced withal. ^' Alas to this hour, replyed thf Prince^ I never faw that I had the Icafl ground to expect a fortunate deltiny, for excepting " only fome few adiions, the fuccefs whereof has not been altogether contrary to my hopes, "You know how I have in other things tteen pcrfecuted ail along by fortunes So that I ha\rc " as little reafon to hope well as the valiant Amhiomer, and were I not affured but that I am " Son to the King of the Huns, I know no caufe that I have to vilit theen with more confi- ' dence, than you may have in his predidions. • j . , They went forth continuing all the way this difcourfe, and calling upon Martian whofc virtue was at that time nolefs famous in the Ci»a^r/tow thee too well. She would havefaid more no doubt, confidering tlic tury (he was in, had not Iheodolinda, hear- isg her voice, ha(iened to her with all ipccd i Tjear Brother, cryed (lie, I befeech you force not the wiH of the Prince^; '/w enough that you have wronged her^ and jiill continue injuriouf t» her, without perfeeutingher in thefe folitaryre^remmts, where fflie feeks that repofe which you dijiurb. Ala, purfued (lie, beholding the Prince with eyes full of tendernefs and grief, tpho would once have thnught that Hunrwrnoudi would have ever fed from Balamir? Or that Balamir would have worn any other Fetters than Hunnitnonda's ? But fince you have been the eaufe of that injujiice from whence the change proceeds^ let m talk, no more of a change that ex- ttemely affiiUs me, *nd not croji ihife joys which we ought to have upon the fight efeath ether. VVhilf cc cc (( B o o K I. FHARAMONn while fhe was thus falking, het besutiful friend tan in all haft ihto fhe Wood, and J>ef- ting inXo her Chariot, (lie fled trom her inconllant lover whom (he could not hate iioweveri Then Ejlamir beholding 'Iheodolinda with all the lymptomes of a new dillurbancc i Hoai S'Her, faid he, mujl 1 always receive the mo\i fen(jble MnkindnefJ'es firom my uearejl Relations i WiK it not enottej) fnrMwnd'KWc toravifl)frnm me the Celejiial Hunnimonda, but muji it be Tiieo- dolinda's care alfo^ to deprive me uf the fight of the mly perfou whcm Hove which the propitiom heavent have rejiored me again .^ ""Dare you (ay, faid fhe difdainfuly entertaining him that 'you love llunnimondj^ot do you believe that fair Princcfs can be ignorant of your palhori '' ^or the Qiieen of the Cimbriant ? No Biorhcr never flatter your felf,all the world knows that you are the moll dreaded Pvival that Vharamond has. " Cruel Siller, replied he^ why fpeak you fo Mfitively to augment my grief: I fay no more than what all the world re- " ports as well aW. " Well then Brother, purfuedflje all ofaftiddeit, will you promife me " to fubmit again to Hunnimonda' j Commands. I not only piomifc it, replyedhe rvith a cer- " tain livelmfjiin his eyes, but I alfo vow dear Si.'ler to dye her captive. Then you are no " longer in love with Rafamnnd, faid Theodolinda, and taking notice that Balamir anfwer- "ed not a word, "Speak, faidjl>e very earnejily^zxc you in love with the Queen o£ theC/w. '■'^briani or no > "I cannot betray my thoughts, replyedhe at lengthy and therefore I muft "confels, that notwithftanding the violent paliion which I have for the Princefs of the Goths ''I feel a kind of tendernefs toward Kofamondn the bottom of my heart, which Ifliall have " to my dying day. " By what I rind, coldly replyed (fje, you have not loft all your infideli- ty, but what has this Kc/iwo«(/done for you, that you are only conftant to her, and what "■ has not my generous triend done for Balamir^ from the verj time that he ingratefully for* ''•got her ? *■ I befeech you, ftid he interruptingJw^ tell me what thefe laft obligations ard '* which iTie has laid upon me. They are fogreat that I amafliamed torelate^them, for "tear of making you alhamed, of the indilTevency of your behaviour. Balamir then be* " holding 7/:'foiij//«;^j in a (uppMcating pollnrci "DearSilkr, faidhe^ will you not tell m-: " whether the report that ran of Hunnimonda^s marriage with Mundiftc^ be as falfe as the "news of her being dead, and will you not- alfo tell me by what miracle, that heavenly " Princcfs faved her (elf from the hands of her RavifliCr. '» T'is not material, anfmered (hf " very pi^htl\^ for a lover o(R"fam:>»d to underftand the concerns of the Qiieen ot the Goths " Ah cruel woman, faid Balamir interrupting her rvith a deepfigh^ how well do you confirm " me in the fufpicion of my meaner birtli > For were you my Sifter, you would not fo cru« •'elly rcfufe the fatisfadt on whichldefire. Were I your Sijier^ anlwered ftie with fome furprife , what have yon as clean forgot Theodolinda as Hunnimonda ^. Or U it becaufe I have lived fo long in Honorius'/ CoUrt^ that you remember not that I am the daughter of the King of the Huns > I know it very tveV, replyed he, but Madam l.k*i0tv not whether I oxve my life to the fame perfon that gave yon yours : For I can teliyou of an adventure that rvill perhaps very much (larger your belief in reference to my Farents. 1 cannot apprehend, replyed the Prin- cefs, upon what ground you build thif uncertainty^ but 1 confefirvithal that were Ipofnively con' vinced of the untruth of a thing that I have believed from my infancy, yet I could not chufe but have a 'greater affedionfor BalamirV virtue^ than for Mundific bimfeif. And upon that affw ranee 1 bfe you rvill not be unwiLing to difcover to me the reafons of your fufpicion, at tbefrji co» venieni opportunity, Balamir more tranfportcd with his love than with any other confideration, offered im« mediately to fatisfie the Princefs of the Huns rcqueft, imagining that thereby he might infen- fibly engage her, to tell him what coi^ern'd the fair Hunnimonda. But how great a com* lortfoever it were for 7/»fo£/«//W.», toTce a Prince whom (he fo entirely loved, and what- ever intei'eft flic had in the adventures of his liie, (he yielded rather to good manners, than to her own fatisfadtion at this (irll enter view, and referred it to Balamir^s next vifit. Bw as (he was about to t9ke her leave of the Prince, he looked with fo much atflitSion in his Countenance, finding himfcU conlhained to return without rebeholding his Princefs, that Iheodolinda touched with compallion, and being willing to give him fome confolation* 1 prote'ii Brother, (aid (lie, I tii'oifld wiHingly by a full relation of her Story, let you underjland the rvbole heart of the incomparable Hi^nniuionda, could J do it without asking her permi^ion, perhaps fie wiP not ahfJitelj Ji"»v me. But reiii (lie not n>>l fully refiife my company, cryed he interrunting her. I dare not unJertakf-, replyed Theodolinda, that I can bring her into yottr con^any by her own confeitt ; for fhe is m unfiled pe^fnn in her refohttions : But,Triuce,aU but you as a Lover c/Hunriimond a , and I willjhew myjelf to he BalamirV Sijier. This is all I can fay at frefent, and th':ref.nc 1 hefeech you ask^no more, but give me leave to fallow that fair Fr/»l» deji from whom 1 cannot long he abfeiit. She had nb fooner faid thefe words but (he took her leave of Balamir-, and though the E e e c 2 Prince 588 THARAMON D. Fart XL Prince fain would have flayed her longer, flie abfolutely refolved fo return to Uuw.nimnda^ and defer the reft of the dilcourfe till a longer time. Thereupon the Prince beholding Vjeo- dolinds with all the fymptomes of fadnefs in his face i " Well then, jaid he-, \ n.uli parr from " my Princefs and from you, not being able to obtain fo much conip'aifaiicefroin a Silkr, " as to hear my juftihcation to the pcrfon whom I adore. But it may be you will be both " more juft the next time I fee you, for in regard I cannot tax mv ielf v.ith the guilt of a- '' ny crime, I defpair not utterly, but that I may one day move the irxenfed Hunnimondd's " heart. In this manner Balamir took his leave of Jheodolinda, and the Prince of the Huns return'd to the nobleft enterview that ever was in the world, whither he wa? no fooner come among thofe renowned perfons, that environed !r^6fo« and Melufma. but he reiurned thanks to the Princefs Tolyxena. After that he accofted the renowned Conftance^ who vm difcourhng the incomparable Sifter of Homriuf : who had no fooner caft l;er eyes upon his face, but ftie ob» ferved the extraordinary diflurbance that appeared in his countenance, but in regard fhe knew the reafon > "lam deceived, faidflie-, or you hace found more than you fought for, " and that infiead of one you faw a couple for whom you had no indifferent efteem. '' Ah "Madam, replyed be, in regard you are not ignorant th^t HimnimondsMves ^ I have only " your protedion to beg> againft a Princefs that has c»if tufted you with the moft important " fecret of your life. " Should I take Balawir''s part, replyed the ^een of the Goths, perhaps "it may not be the firft time that I have openly declared in his behalf: But the change of " your affedion has made fuch a noife, and fo enraged the fair Princefs> that Iheodoltnda. "and Phcidia have been little hearkned to, when they undertook asfeveral times they have " done, to fpeak in your juftification. CoHJiance from whom they kept nothing fecret, was overjoyed to hear that the charming Bellamira proved to be Humimonda^ and addreffing himfti' to the Prince of the Huns, By xvhat Ifind, faid he, there may be a reconcili ttlon at length I tttveen tpeo potent perfons that in- finitely ejieem each ether, for that jealoufie that ar:n'd them one againfi another, and made them feel{_ each other rvithfo much aiiimofity in fight rr/'Ii nm> be laid afide, feeing that ifl he not de- ceived, yox are no longer the King of France's Kival. Iconfefi, replyed Balamir, thatlmuji return tohny former capacity Jbut on the other fide generoHsConCtinrc^ibe difference ii great hettveen us two in the recovery of our Mifireffes : For you appear before fhe incomparable Placidia, with all the confidence that can proceed from the innocency of a faithful he an. But the unfortunate Bala- TTiir M looked upon to be guilty by the fever e Hunnimonda, rvho fries him and beholds him with detefiation. After he had fpoken thcfe words, he took notice that the King of the Franks, was difcourfing with the Queen of tlic Cimbrmns and the Princefs of Suevia, and it was the firft time that he beheld the King of France''s happinefs , more pleafed than difturbcd at it. The enamoured Virid»mar had done that kindnefs for Po/w«ijV brother, for he gueffing that Tharamond wculd not prefume too boldly to approach Kofamond, and that Rofamond would not endure a long familiarity withPharamond before fo much company, prefentcd the King o( France to the Princefs Albifmda, who was always infeparable from the Queen of the Bohemiant. Thus having ftiewed himfelf the contriver of that enterview , 'twas his own fault if the more fcrupulous fort refledcd a little too feverely upon him. He had alfo gone fomewhat farther, for knowing that Varanez might difturb their communication, he had drawn him afide by degrees, under pretence of acknowledging the kindnefs which (he had (hewn hirii, after the conflid which he had Ijad with Balamir. Ambiomer and Agione were very bulily unfolding their thoughts one to another, and the, Queen of "Turingia, who would fain have been where the King of the Franks was, durft not ftir from that part of the wood where Agelmond remained with her, ftaying with that Prince not only in point of decency, but out of a virtuous refolution wherewith (he oppo- fed that violent inclination, of which flie was not always the Miftrefs : So that Balami^r found Tharamond and Kofamond without any other company but Albifinda's, and accofting thofe three illuftrious perfons, he cunningly fell into difcourfe with the Princefs of Suevia, on purpofe to give the King of France ftowards whom he had nothing but a perfed efteem and affedionj the more liberty to fpeak his full mind to the Queen ot the Bohemians. But that fair Princefs as alfo the generous Pharamond, no fooner caft their eyes upon him, but they prcffed him very earneftly to know the caufc of his difcontent, when Balamir return- ing for anfwcr that he had been to fee Hunnimonda , put them into ap extraordinary Amaze. Immediately they thought that either they had not rightly underftood him, or that B the Prince of the Franks in your company, the antipathy rph/ch | have againji war, made me look.ttpon the entervietv of both the Generals as a (rood omen, Jou arefo iniprudetli to day, replyed the Queen yet not fo ferioufly as (lie was wont to do, that lampe'ffvadedljhouldbe angry, did I not confider that the fight of a famoM and beloved Bro- ther, does infome meafure authorize agayety nnt tifualxvith your mirth. while (he fpake in this manner, the impatient Varanez bruf^les up in great haft fo her and obferving more of fweetnefs than difdain in her fair eyes, he was rnad at the heart and, toon would havedifcoyered his fury, had not theprefence of the charming Qtiecn humbled his haughty humour. Fearing however left Pharamond's virtues, might take too deep a root in Kofamond's heart, he could not but look upon his Rival with a mortal hatred, ima- gining that one day he might be happy. Nor could all thofe rare qualities which he for- merly admired intheperfofi of theKingof tlieFcjwi^/, defend his heart againft the alfaults of a jealoulic which his temper rendred fo vicjlcnt. In the mean time Pharamond had an o- pinion tar different of the condition ot his fortune, for though the Queen appeared lefs in- cenfcd than formerly, the laft words that fhe had fpoken convinced him plainly, that the obftacles of his pretcnfions were as invincible, as Kofamond's lofs which he had occafion'd was infeparable. Upon the neck of this fell another vexation, for it being now time for both parties to re- iixe, the Queen began to walk toward the Chariots that waited for her. The ena- moured pbaramond could not then take leave of the Queen, without apparent teftimony of his grief, neverthelefs that he might not fail in the pundilio's of good rvianners, as alfo in obedience to thofe tender whifpcrs of afl'edf ion which he had for his brothers, he gave the lovely Stiki of Viridomar to underftand, what extremities of forrow Marcomire fuftained, by reafon that his cruel wounds kept him from appearing at this entervicw. Afterwards accofting the fair and penlive /imalazontha, he let her know that the painonare.5«««o« was departed from the French Camp to afiift the "turingians. And you may rceU tbink., added he, that Ijhall always moji rvillingly pardon him, when he leaves me to fcrve fo incomparable a Prium cefi, and ft) worthy the veneration xvbich he has for her. 1 am ft accujiomed, anfwered Amaltt- zontha, to receive kJndHeJps Sir, both from your felf and Prince Sotmon, that I am nothing fur» prifed to hear that yott have laid nere obligations upon me. J am mure obliged my fetf, replyed he, to your favour, nor can 1 remember but with an infinite return of acknowledgment, that yoK fljouldfend away your Troops to weaken my Enemies Army, ejpecial'y when my own Arms have done youfu much injury. The efedualfervices which ym have done me, replyed ftie, have made a deeper impre^ien in my foul,iban the refentment of offences uHwiEincly committed : But witting" ly, added (l\e, my ack>towledgments are Utile to be regarded, for ail perjont that have f '.iff ered far more than I under your vidorioiu atchievments., yet give you more rejpeci and a higher ejicem. I agree Madati with you, replyed he, that no perfon in the world has ever looked upon my actions withfo much indulgence as you have done. But in regardtbe ^leen of the Turiii»',iens7^ her Bmiher before ber own eyes. It may be you and I may differ in our thoughts in reference to the ^teen, llightly replyed Pharamond^ hut if 1 muji be of your opinion to dUiurb my Kivals, I rviiitelj you, that the Princefitpas fo jujias to confider my intention, when I had the misfortune to di^leafe her. AmoniT thofe Kivals whom you fo little ejieem, aniwered Varanez, I l^notv that fome are fuf- frciently able to impeach your enterprifes, and to dilute with you the p^ffeffon of R.ofamond, even to the lafi drop of their blood, "though youjkould mean Prince Varancz himfelf impati- ently replyed the King of the Frankj, 1 jhonld never believe it to he the greateil of my mis for- tunes to undertake the combat with him. •Upon thofe words, the haughty Son of Ifdigejies redoubled the rreafure of his fury, and had certainly haftened to the dccilion of his quarrel, if notwithllanding the heat of his boiling rage, he had not conlidered thofe illuftrious perfonages that were injprcfence, as fo many obihclcs that would oppofe him in the execution of his wrath. He judged it alfo better to ftay till the Queen had made choice of a Husband, that he might afterwards if- fail the Lover whom (he intended to render happy •, fearing alio left before that decifion his other Rivals might draw any advantage from hi<; quarrel with Pharamond: and therefore addreffing himfelf to the King of the Franks, Kemember, faid he with a lefty utterance, iberefulutiontve have both taken, and k^iow that there muji be no garter between Phinmond andVitznez, »/Rofannond her felf declares either for the one or the other. Pharamond w/B never beg it, replyed he, and you may do as you pleafe,ifyoii gain the viDory, of nhich yoa are no way affured. The King of the Frankj and the Prince of Ptrfia were upon thcfe terms when Vi- ridomar, Con\{ance, Martian zuA'Iaxrnder came in, and altered the fcene of the difcourfc. However, thefe great perfonagcs did not converfe long together ; for the Troops being ob- liged to march, they were piefently conftrain'd to take their leaves, and return to the fair Princeffes whom tliey had accompanied all the day. Never did two contrary parties re* ceive greater fatistadtion the one from the other : never was fee n more occafion to breed emulation, nor hearts more capable to harbour it. Kofamond, Amalazontha, Alhi(tndj znd Agione did nothing but extol the Princefs of the Frankj, the Queens of the Goths, and Eri- tains, and their fair and ijlufirious companions: and on the other fide, Fo/)ixf»i», Placidia, Odavij, Adelaiada, Chomira snd' Blefinda were in a manner charm'd with the bright and furpalSng MajeJty of the BohemianQueev. They alfo acknowledged that lovely languilh- menf inthe Queen of Tw/'w^/Vj- Beauty, which no heart could withdand, that the fweet- nefsand mildnefs of the 5«fv/j« Princefs infinitely pleafed them i and that there were few peffons tncwe amiable than the Si(kr of the Lombard King. Thus did thofe two renown* ed and Royal AfTemblies entertain each others and when they that followed the charming Kofamond were come into the Camp, thefpiritof joy fpread it fclf through all that vaft Army, and every one prcfs'd to repeat the circumliances of an enterview fo worthy of ad» miration. In the mean time Briomer waiting with a - llrange impatience to be refolved about the de- tention of Mfw/'dW.'M, underflood that they brought along with them that great accom- plice of his, that they intended to have him examined before the Qaeen. The hair-brained CJ/»tr/j« hearing luch dreadful news, fcem'd to be in a manner quite difmayed i but his natural boldnefs, that rendered him capable of undertaking any abominable enterprife, foon diliipated the greateft part of his fear : nay, his pernicious audacity went farther i for Brjw omer hnding himfelf warranted in his thoughts by tlse implacable hatred which he bare to Pharamond, and fuftained by the fypport which heexpedtd from the King of Suevia, took i'uch refoUitions as he thought moft proper to prefcrvc him from the danger that threatened hitrj. Immediately he went to Albifinda's Father, the moft zealous of all his protcdors, and detires to fpeak with him in private, which requcft he obtained : he fpokc long, aad fpuke Book I. THARAMOND, '5^1 fpokc vehemently, fo that he put the King of Suevia into an extraordinary furprifc. Th'e King beheld him very earnelily, but faid very little: afterwards having given him fomc- thing which the C/wtryjj/ very carefully concealed, (To o«, faid he, taking him faftbythe hand, I iviU never forfuk^ thee., only return as foon as may he, that n>e may not lofe the leali moment in the execution of our elef:(/ns^ Briomer being rcaifured by thofe words, was no fooner in his own Quarters, but feeing 'twas night he fcnt the people that were in his Chamber upon feveral Errands. Afterwards advancing toward the Cimbriatt, who had order to obfcrve him, he comes up clofe to him feigning as if he had fome earnell rcqucft to make him; and when he perceiving him bu- lily minding to hear what he would fay, he lifted up his hand, and ftuck his dagger fuil inhisbofoin, and fo quickly redoubled his blow, that before he could cry out, or defend himfelf, the C/w^r/j;i tell dead at the feet of his wild AfTallinate. The famous Villain was no {ooner at liberty, but he fled to the King of ■S'«pi'?i»'s Quarters i and being introduced into his Clofet, there he found the King impatiently cxpcding him, to whom he thusad- drefs'd himfelf, 1 cannot thinks, 5/>, you fvill be furpnfed at what I have done, fwce you hiion> that 1 have formerly execttted all that ambition conld infufe into a Father for the advancement of b'n Son to the fttpreme Vignity. Afterwards he conferred very fuccindlly with Albifinda's Father, being delirotis to get out of tlie Camp before his laft crime came to be known : In (hort^ Sir, added he, all that I can do is to put my felf /«/o Cologne, and if you do but a£i at me have refolii'd^ we fJjall not only hinder our common enemy from triumphing in the poffeffion of Rofamond, hut you may alfo be Majier of that Princefi's life and fortune, and reduce the Vrauks under your power. He faid no more, but difguitmg himfelf with all expedition he fol- lowed certain Suevian OfHcers, who had orders to allift him in his efcape. While he was upon his journey, led by fome evil Angel fatal to many illudrious per- fonages, the laliof his cruelty became publick through the whole Camp, and they fought to punifti the Orfcnder, whofe future violences they had fo much reafon to fear. At Hrrt it \vasbcli»v'd that fuch a perlon as Briomer would not lightly forfake his commands, that he had fome more than ordinary reafon to do what he had done ■> and that he muft be upheld by fome Sovereign Authority. All perfons fulpeded that the King of Suevia was his pro« tedor. Kofamond only, Albifinda and Balamir, who had heard Menebaldm's confeffion conjcdlured that the imprifonment of Br/owfr's accomplice had mov'd the Cimbrian to that flrangerefolution which he had taken, for fear hcfliould be left to thefeverity of 'the Law. The fair Queen was very glad toHnd h.cr felf rid of a fubjed whofe humour was fo dan- - gerous •, and in regard (he could not imagine fo wicked a perfon Qiould be the Father cff Balamir , befides that he had confpired his death , fiie took upon her to mitigate the difcontents of that Prince ; to which intent flie fell into a difcourfe with him concern- ing the Frincefs of the Goths, that admirable Princefs that had rendered the names of Hum- kimonda and Bellamira fo fanrious over all Europe. This fhe did after fo generous a manner and fo far from all fort of jealoulie, that Balamir nol biing able to ma(kr the fuddcn mo- tions of his Soul, Would to God, cryed he, fetching a deep figh, that the incensed ^tWimi- iiandthe incrednloiis Theodolinda rpere well acquainted with that affedion that permits the Cimbrian §^ecn to commend the Prince^ of the Goths i and hinders not Balamir /ro»j J}eaJ^ng in favour of the King of the Franks. That very tranfportation of mind convinced thefairQiieen how kindly Bj/^w/r thought of Hunnimonda ■■, and therefore as flic was very much interets'd in all her concerns, flie let him know how glad flie fliould be to underftand what had befallen him in the villt which he gave to IbeodoUnda. Balamir t'ediu^ I cannot tell what kind of fweetnefs in trufling' Kofamohd with the moll important of his concerns, and the moft fccret of his thoughts, gave her an exaft account of all that had happened in the Foreft, where by accident he met with the Princets of the Goths: and tlicn continuing his difcourfe with many marks of grief in his face , Madam , faid he, do you not plainly fee the malignity of^ my Starr iand haw that fortune could be never more ingeniom to perfecute a miferable man? J confefl fhe has advanced me to fime reputation among men^ but that was only a poifoned prefent \ for it was that very fame that diffipated the melancholy that reigned in my Soul, by ajiron^r defire of Glory which it pojjejjed me with tn lieu of the other : and by that means I was hindered from fearching among my furrows fur the end of my unfortunate days, or indeed of a life that J find I muji lead like aiperfon forfaken of aU the world. For after all. Madam, I fear that in a fhort time I (hall lofe the dignity of my Birth, which hitherto has been accounted great ; and perhaps J may appear to be the Son of that perfon rvhcfe violences and enormities you are fo well acquaint- ed with, for the Son of an inhumane Father, who would facrijice me to his own fafeiy : on the other fide,l frndthat my affeClion for your Maiejiy will remain for ever in my heart ; andtbaf th'is 592 PHARJMOND. Fart XL tbisjojuji affection rviU coKJirain me ta be bated by Hunnimonda, and if my duty oblige me to head ^/E'ff Cimbrians, ^tis only to fight agaitift a Generous Trince to whom I am beholding for try life^ to fight againji an Army that f cures me a Sijier and a Miiirefl. The penlive Balamir could not conclude thefe words without a fgh, fo that the charm* ing Queen fcnllbly moved at his afflidion, inliead of returning an anfwer fecni'd rather in aftudy, what means to hnd out to alTwage the grief ot a peifon fo renowned, and yet fo unfortunate. But the Princefs oi Snevia drawing near on purpofe to break elf Iwch a me* hncholy difcourfc, '• What Sifter, whzt^iince, pleafjntly faid(l:e lo bpth, think you to rind "a way to comfort one another without coniuhing Albifinda, or that there reeds no more " than a moment of time, to hnd out remedies for fuch extraordinary evils ? No no, we ■■' muft have more than one confultaiion in this cafe, and therefore lince it is tiir.c for us to '^' return to our company, let us take a little time to arm Balamir with neceffary cautions *'againft the accidents threatned him as well by fortune, as the renewed love of Hunni- *' monda. Concluding thefe words the went forward, together with the Cimbrian Queen towaid Amalazontha^s ^pzxtmcnt, where there was a moft noble meeting of great peifonages.But the enamoured Balamir inftead of making any ftop there, departed prefently to try whether he could get a fight of the fair Princefs, that reigned in his heart more impcrioufly than ever. To that purpofe he went in all haft toward the Camp of the Frank/, and though he had a great defire io fee Pharamond, to whom the concerns uf HunniiKonda were no my- fteries, yet he went diredly to the place where Iheodolinda was lodged. But he was ftrange- ly furprifed to Hnd Folixena, the Queen oi Albion, and Adelaiada in Ihendotinda'j Chamber, and to liear that Fbaramondind Placidia were with Hunnimonda, ufing their endeavours to inollihe and appeafe the incenfed and hatdned heart of that fair Princefs. Balamir was re- ceived by all thofe charming Princeflcs, with all the marks of efteem that a perfon cf his high renown, and to whom TJXJM^cr, Conjiance, and P/-'jra»wo«^himfelf had been behold- ing, could poliibly exped. However 0£iavia, the Princefs of the Franks, and the Princefs ' ot the Nemetians, believing that Balamir snd'Theodolinda might have feme private bulmefs together, were not long c're they took their leaves, and left them their full liberty of dil- courfe. The enamoured Balamir, who had nothing in his mind but the image of that incompa- rable Lady, who had made two Names fo famous over all the world, the hrft thing he did, he enquired whether H«««?»»o«<^.* continued inexorable, and underftanding to hisgrief,that her anger was not yet appcafcd, in regard he could not fee her then, he refolved to juftihc all the adfions which be had done, fince an inhumane Brother had ravifhed from him, all his happinefs and all his hopes. He related to her the defpair of his heart, when he was conftrained to abandon all that was dear to him, he repeaitd all thecircumftances of his travels, while he rather wandred at the mercy of his grief, than out of any curiofity. Then he told her how ftrangely he was difraayed at Hunnimonda's marriage, how difconfolate he grew upon the news of her death. After that coming to what concern'd the Cimbrian Queen, 1 vorv dear Sijier, did he, that it tvonld be happy for me that the too fevere Princefi rrhom 1 adore,could biit difcover in the bottom of my heart, the nature of my affection to the fair Rcfamond. I am perftcaded /he would rather approve than bate me for it, for there being no quejiion to be made of berJMJiice^ I Cannot conceive (lie (l.wuld tal^e it ill, that ijhould be grateful to a Prince^, that has not only gi- ven me the greateji command jhe could bejioiv upon me, but repnfes alfo a greater truft in Balamir, than in all thofe potent Princes that tak^ her part. But brother , replyed Theodolinda, Rofa- mond is fair, jo fair that you might rather give your gratitude fome other name^ for 1 cannot teli whether in having been fo zealous to ferve her, it may not amount to an affection for a Beauty ^ that in^ires nothitg but violent paffwns. ' Hotv SHier, replyed he fighing, tviU you alrvayj /«- terpret my xvords fo contrary to my intentions, and will you not believe me tvhen I fl^all proteji ta you, that my love to the ^een of the Cimbrians U not greater, than that nhich 1 bear to the trincefi of the Huns, and that Kotumcnd's aff^dion for me is no other, than what you your fe If have altvays tejUfiedfor me. " Were Kp/amond the King of the Huns daughter, replyedlbeo- ^'■dglinda', or were Balamir the Son ofKofamond's father you might overperfwade us, but "— But, faid he impatiently interrupting her, 'tis moft certain that I have lighed " and mourn'd for H«««/wo«^/j, that 1 thought her dead at that very time, whenfJiadfo " much reafon to acknowledge the Queen of the Cimbrians kindnefles. " Had you done *'tnore for the Princefs of the Gat/^/, replied (he, all your performances would not have out- " vyed the fame of her adions. " I btftech you, jaid he in a fupplicatingpojiure, let me but "iiiiow what they are ana do not, I conjure you, fo obftinatcly refufe me a favour which - "you Book I. THAKAMOND. 59^ *' you (hould be glad to grant me :For in fo doing you ha«C an op|)ortuni(y to fpeak in JDraife *' of the incomparable HunnimonJa, and to extul a Princels whofc part you take fo zcaioufly " againft a brother that loves you, and who without doubt is more unhappy and Icfs guilty " than you imagine. I haze not only permiffton, replyed Thcodolinda, t9 fatiifie your defire hut alfofor a reafon that yon jfjall kjtorv at the end of my Helatitn, todifcover to \ott the moji f*^ eret of her thoughts. Upon thefe words the enamoured BaUmir impatiently liltned, and the lovely Princcfs thus proceeded. The Hiftory of Hunnimonda. I Do not believe there is a greater proof to be found, of our uncertain knoyvledge of hu» mane affairs, than by reflecting upon "^alam'tr''s adions or Uunnimonda's government of her felf : For in (hort. Brother, who would have thought that a Prince of an un» daunted courage, could have been fubjcd to inconftancy, and that a Lady without any fup. port in foreign and remote Countries, fhould contemn death with fuch a licroick refoluti-. on. That this Princefs defpoiled of her fathers fortune, thould defpife Empires, to prcfcrvc her heart for an ungrateful man, whom (he beholds unfaithful in the fight of all Enrope, Yes Prince, you have been both ungrateful and unfaithful, but I fliall be fo far from up- braiding you with a crime which lias made fo much noife, that I will only tell you the fto« xy of a virtue unknown, which you will confider with admiration, when you under* ftand the particular circumftances of my relation. Know then that your departure out of Sarmatia^ foon appeafed the tempeft iii Mundific's brcft, fo that as violent as he was in all his paffions, he appeared very moderate for fome days, through the fatisfadion which he received from your abfence. He vifited Hurjtti- monda, he fpake to her with all refped, he offered to remove her from the Caftle oiPazhif, either to Olbia or to any other City which (lie would make choice of, among all thc(e un- der his jurisdidion. But the afflided Princcfs gave fo little ear to him, and gave him fuch cold and flight anfwers, that the impatient Mundific flung from her in a rage, refolving not to endure fuch kind of ufagc, fo difrcfpedful to a Prince of his birth. The next day un- derllanding that Hunnimonda't fadnefs incrcafed, and that (lie did nothing but fpend all her time at her devotions, or in refleding upon your Ibrrows, he grew mad at the advantage which his diftant and inferiour Rival had over him. Infomuch that being come to the Prin* cefs's Apartment, 1 (fjaU not kton> Madam, faid he fiercely, vehether or no f oh xviH ever open your eyes to my preteafions, or whether the Ittlire of thofe Crowns 7 offer ^ will not overcome at lenc'th jivur antipathy agdinfi me. 'lis time Madam^ 'lis time to have your reafn about you and to jield to a Frince that can advance you to one of the mojl potent Thrones in the world, rather than is preferve your heart for a Lover that cannot e^oufeyou, hut he mttjl ma^e you my fuhied. Sir aiifwered the generous Hunnimonda, befides that I prefer the virtues of that Vrince you men- Hon he fore all the Empires in the world, it may be his conquering Sword may one day gain as ma- My Scepters, as youwill lofe by your injullice. I find then that I an no otherwife unjuji but be-- eaufe 1 am in love, becaufe I would remove a Rival from you^ by whom your heart is prepoffefj'ed ■ and becaufe that notwithlianding the blihduefiof your paffion, JJhive to advance you to a glorious fortune, 'the pretendea fortune which you boajl of replyed the Princcfs, if but a torment to, me, when I cenfider how difagreeable our humours are, and the happinefl IpaU meet with in the pi'jfejjion of a noble heart. Upon thefe words the furious Prince beheld the rnagnanimous Hunnimonda, with eyes enflamcd with anger, but believing that time and Balamir's abfence might work a change, that neither rudenefs nor threatning language would ever prevail, he rather chofe to depart than provoke a fair Princefs whom he really loved. However fome few days after finding that nothing would weaken that tender affcdion which Hie had prcferved with fuch an immo» Table c'onllancy, he alter'd his courfe of proceeding, and (hut the generous Hunnimonda up in a very clofe confinement, allowing her but two Virgins to attend her, in her captivity. While that unfortunate Princefs led her life in fo languiihingand deplorable a manner, Man' dific came to vifit her with a more ferene countenance than turmcrly, and bluntly ^ddreliing himfeif to her at length. Madam, (aid he, heaven favours my defigns, and tal^ni Bala- riiir o«f of the world has at lajl removed the ohjiacte, that cppofed my pretcufiotis and yonr happine^. At thefe words the Princefs grew pale and turn'd away her eyes, unwilling to behold the. F f f t odious 594 PHARAMONR Part XI. odious peirfon that fpake them i but afterwards hearing him confirm the dreadful news by feveral probable circumftances which he had framed out of his own head, (lie felt her ftrength begin to fail her, and that Balamir^i untimely fate had (haken that courage of hers, which her own misfortunes could not move. But how charming (bever the Princcfs ap- peared in her forrows, MK«^//rc could not behold her without a certain madnefs which he found he could not mafter, fo that he left her for fear of difcovering the marks of his rage, and that he might not leave her in that dangerous extremity into which he had thrown her, he fent others to her by the by to contradid the news, and to tell her the improbabili- ties of your death. But this faithful Princefs, who without doubt had never furvived fo great a lofs, by reafon of your abfence only, lived in that languifliing condition that would have moved a very Monfter of cruelty to compaffion j and feeing that time did nothing a« vail to mitigate her forrows, the impatient Mundific publi(hed abroad, that he was refolv'd to marry her in three days. Henofooner told her of ithimfelf, but with her wonted Ge- nerofity, 5/r, faid (he, methmk/ you (Ifouldmt thus deceive yttfr felf, nor feeh^to enter into a heart which none bat ^z\ivim fhaU ever enjoy. Ti?/, Sir^ that heart rvhich I never fet open to any but that Prince^ I rvill keep clofe ^at againfi all ether men : nor do you take the way to move it, by feekjng to rend it from your own Brother^ to tvhom yott ought to ackftofpledge yeur felf obliged far fo many famoM Vidories. " He has won one, jpitefully replyed he, that defaces in " my mind the remembrance of all the reft : and if he be yet alive, I will furrender into " his hands all the Provinces which he has added to the Dominion of the Huns, provided he " will but let me reign in one place, whereof he (hall never have the pofleffion. " That "place, refolutelyanftvered jhe, is able to hold out not only again(\ Mundific, but again(i all ''the world V fo that all your alTaults be but in vain: and therefore inftead of being fb ^'obftinate in your Siege, confider how unjuftly you aflailan innocent affedion, which " Prince Bj/^/w/r gained by many fignal fervices, and which your Father's confent and Ha«« "«i>w(7«^ii'x own inclinations have authorifed. " 'Tis a molt ingenuous confeffion. Madam, " replyed he very fmartly, but to (hew that I have as much privilege as you, I muft tell you *' that in three days I intend to marry you, and fo long time I give you to prepare your "felf, and to confider of it: and if then you (hall refufe me that fatisfadion which you " ought not to have denyed me the very moment that I demanded it, I (hall fake that courfe " which a pa(fionate man that has all things at command can prompt his rage to make ufe ofi " I know, replyed flie^ that you can kill me, but your power as abfolute as it is cannot reach "the liberty of my Soul: and for that reafon I do loudly declare, that I will never be " Mundifc's Wife,but if you eon(\rain me to an ad which the weaknefs of my Sex cannot re- "iift? I (hall publickly proteft again(t the giving my confent, that your violence will but " draw upon you the anger of Heaven, and theaverfion of your people. '' The Heavens, '-•■faidbe^ not at all dijiurbed, and our people will but blame your own blind nefs , and "when my perfeverance has opened your eyes, you will thank my conftancy that procured " you that good fortune which you fo obftinately refus'd j and therefore I leave you to *' confider of it, and not to flatter you, I give you this farther advertifemcnt, that a Prince " of my humour would never ufe the utmo(t extremities, if he did not intend to reap thofe " advantages which he expeds from thence. He flung out of the Fvoom after he had fpoken thofe words, and not only continued firmintherefolution that he had taken, but alfo refolved to celebrate the day of his mar- riage with fuch an extraordinary folemnity, that the report thereof fnould come to his Ri- val's ears. To that purpofe he fent Bela, one of his moft trufty confidents, to the City of Olbia, with orders to fpread the news, and to provide all things proportionable to the pomp that was intended. In the mean while, the fair and mournful Princefs had no other confolation but in her devotion, and in converfing with her faithful Zwf/ij : Alas, faid (lie, fetcliing adeepfigh, rehat will become 0/ Balamir, who is only miferable for the afeSi- on which he bears to an unfortunate Virgin I And what will become of the unfortunate Maid her felf if (he remains under the power of a cruel tyrant, whofe heart nothing can move, fofar dijlant from au ilinlkrioM Prince that fo well deferves her love and refied ? Then letting fall certain tears from her fair eyes; Ah, Balamir, purfued he, that thou (lysuldji not be able to fee what pajfes in the heart of thy beloved Hunnimonda.' "There thou wouldji find fuch thoughts as would not be perhaps unworthy of thine : there thou wottldji fee thy virtues triumph ever all the proffers of MundiWc : there thou wouldji laflly obferve a conjlancy, that 1 am apt to thinl{^ is able to refiji all the perfecutions that threaten me. But now. Generous Frince, 'tis better ' I (hould fuffet, without defring that thou (houldji ttnder\\and what 1 endure for thy fikf i the comfort thou weuldji receive thereby, would but produce doleful effeUi, and the mure doleful thy Hunnimonda appeared, the more fenfire thou would beef thy a§iUion. However, Madaat^ replyed t>ooK 1. r n Ji i\. j^ ivi u L\ u, 595 rcplycd Lyriana^ ( one of thofe Virgins wliom Mundipc hid put. to wait upon licr, bcin'>- the Diiightcr of Cephaloneze ) ynu may be happy^ and yet not render Balamir itnfortuniti : fiy if hit Invebereal, cj» he be dijpleafed ta fee you one day (itting upon the Throne nf your Ak- ce{iors ? And rviH he not prefer your advancement before his orvn particular fatisfaViion i But if he loves bimfelf better than he loves Hunnimonda, may you not larvfrSy dijpenje with your e- Jieem firbim, that nwuld perfwade y:^ut» flight a Crorvnf "That thou Oiculdll fo little un- " dcrlhnd mc / replyed ^.'e, to think that I am one who regulates the motions of my hcar^, " othcrwife than according to that real love and acknowledgment which is (licwn me/ "For my part, added the faithful 'Lcnc\h, addrcffingher felfto Lyriana rpithakjndof dif- *^dain, I cannot think it to be the part of a generous Soul to change upon any confidcratiota *' of pomp or advancement i and I am ftrongjy perfwaded that our Princcfs will never for- " go that kindnels which (Vie has for the illuflrious Balamir, though the Prince himfclf out " df an inconftancy, of which I cannot think him capable, fliould negledl her precious af- " fedion. Lyriana durft not reply for fear of being furpe(fled, ntverthclefs it wasfoon di£- covered, that flie aded only for Mundific's interell. The fair and afflidted Hnnnimonda hacJ fpent in prayers and tears all the time which the Prince had allotted her : when upon the morning of the third day they brought her mo(t liiagnificcnt Habits, and at the foot of the Callle they beheld the numerous Convoy that was to attend her to Olbia. Then Lyriana began to commend Mundific''s Magnificence » but the prudent Princefs, inftead of breaking out into vehement language, gave her not a word of anfwer, only (he made it appear, that 'twas not outward pomp, or appearance of fabmiflion that could move her heart. In the meantime, Mundifjc., attended by Beta, and glidering all over wifli Jewels and precious Stones, entred the Chamber, and notwithlland- ing his natural fierccnefs, having faluted the Princefs with a very great deal of refped, hUdsm, faid he, n>iU you not furceafe at length to oppofe our common felicity ? JFiU yon not furceafe at length^that xve may be both as happy as our nuijf^es can make m ? Otir di^ofitions dre fo different, anfwcred (he, that I cannot fee that your fatUfaUion can ever prove the content of my mind. Methinkj bowever, replyed M««J/frc, that if the enjoyment 0/ Hunnimonda coa/^^ tend to my felicity, that fair Trincefl Jhonld be tviSing to fee her felf ejiablijhed in the Ibrene ef her Ancejiors, and to be the ^ueen of a flourifhing Nation. I rviVingly renounce all thofe glorious claims, replyed the generous Princefs, and provided you tviH but al!on> me that liberty which I was born to, I freely give you leave to be\lom> thofe Crervns which you offer me upon fame per/on more ambitious. Hotv, Madam, faid he fmartJy interrupting hct, are youftill fa chjiinate in your denials ? iriV you never leave troubling the repofe of a Frince that adores you ? But, Sir, rfiill yeiiyour felf, anfwcred (he, never leave pcrfecuting a Prince fo worthy of your elifem, will you eternaly fecl{ tn rob him of what he eternally loves ? And will you never be perfwaded that Hunnimonda would refufe the faireft Empire in the world to follow the fortune of an illu(irious Prince, wbofe interefls ought to be fo dear to your felf ^ I can never look^ upon that happy Rival, fiercely anfwered he, but as the moil irreconcileable of all my Enemies : the more you love bim, the more I jhall hate ■, and I will feek^ him over all the world, to tear oHt that heart which yoK fo unjuj\ly prefer hefore MundilicV : but before Heave you, 1 willniak^ fure of you, and advance you to that degree you cannever expeU from^d\im\t. Sir^ replyed Hunnimonda with a charming langui(hment,I believe affuredly thai you will never open my eyes to (unftder the advantages offuch a change; and therefore if my Sex and Birth cannot prevail with your pajpon to be civil to the Kiug of the GothsV Vaughter, yet you afmotbut remembet^ that Hunnimonda's confent is neceffary for the execution of your defrgn. . -1^^% «of, ignorant, re- plyed he, of the ufual formalities : but. Madam, your vanity and my quality difpetife tpith thofe things at this time. In port, that we may not lofe time., taking her briskly by the hand, h^nnrp that I am in love, that I have all the power in my own hands, and that you mu{\ go along with me to Olbia, there to be married in the fight of the immortal Cods, and a. multitufle of peopleihat willbethere afpmbledat fo folemn a Fejiival. But,Sir, faid (he, fear yiou not tbfife immortal Cods that you are about to mal^ witneffes of your violence ? Jo JiiJjri'?; :i" iMo;. Upon thofe words (he not only beheld Mundific witb a look dut would f^afifi^^rcClpity^ but alfo let fall fonfie tears from thofe eyes whofe Heavenly power you aKqfo-.vvell acquaint- ed withal. Thofe precious drops di(\illing from two fountains of tire ti)ar had enriamed fo many noble hearts, more vehemently fcorched the Brealj of rt/Ka/o,tiiiit^ how im- perious foever he was wont to bein his jiaffions, he' beheld tlie ttie cliarming Princefs for fome few moments in fuch a manner, as if there had been fome hopes of .being mollified : at what time the perfidious B^/aaddrellinghisfpcech tQ^un, '_' What,Sir,/i7ay give my conftnt, nay 1 will ^ca\itfo loud and mth fuch a reJolu' iion, thatl(hali have the confolatioittofeetbe whole ci^wd lool{upon you with horror, when they (hall behold me with that compafjon, which any heart but MiiiidiiicV would afford me. At this very pafTageB'/Ziiwirfighed, he felt his eyes moill, and' he had certainly interrupt* t^lhsodolinda, had not his admiration of H«««iwoM^«V refolution kept him filent, while Ibeodolinda putfued her f!ory. The Princcfs faid (he, had no fooner fpoken thefe words, but the Prince of the jF7««/'s courage was fomewhat Qiaken notwithftanding his natural favagenefsi but a few triinutes after the heat of his palfion, the violence of his humour, BeWs advice and his refentment of a denyal, tranfported him beyond all the refped: which ought to have proceeded from his love, and now the Princefs miift be led to the Temple as a vitftime to the flaughter.She was no fooner come thither, but Bela who knew her con(tancy to be immoveable, put'hct into a place encompaiTed with great Balifters, together with Mundific and fome faithful Officers. As for his part he fate a horfeback at the head of a great number of the Guards, to keep off the people, while the Prie(i who was at the Prince of the Hum devotion, was ready to begin the ceremony. But he no fooner advanced toward Hunnimonda, when (he ■ undertaking fo fpeak, with fuch a prefcnce as would have infpired refpeft into the mo{l bar- barous brclt, loM are now to maks it appear before all the world, faid (he, wbetheryoutnufl re^ (pe£i the fjcred commands of the Gods, or your own terrejlrialintereft : The Gods whom you fervt forbid you to put any force upon my will, Mundific commands you to do an aU of violence, ate you now to confider what courfe to tdk{, or dare you prefer the injujiice of a Tyrant whom you ought ts abhor, before thofe laws which require your adoration? Thofe words pronounced with a'Majefty fo formidable, begat a(\onifiiment in all that flood by, fo that they (^ood with their eyes fixed upon the ground, when the impatient Mundific offended at their behaviour and filence, threatned the Prieft with a menacing look, and turned towzrd Hunnimonda to have upbraided her in her mifery : but his fury was dif- airm'd when he beheld her fair face, that was the innocent caufe of his rage, He cbferved how the lovely Carnation that enlivened her cheeks, gave way to the palenefs that carrie in place, and there was alfo a languilhment in H»««»»o«3jV eyes, that convinced him of her indifpofition. In (hort the Princefs fwoonded away, not being able to endure your abfence nor the indignities of Mundffic: The Prince who really loved her, fearing (he might dye thould he finifh the ceremony, inftead of venturing any farther caufed her to be carried back to the Palace, and to take all the care imaginable to rcftore her to her health. In the mean time Beta to blind the people, told them that the Marriage was done, but that the reafon why there were no acclamations nor no (houting, was beeaufe the Princefs was fick with her journey. • This,Brother,was the ground of the report of Mundific^s being married fo Hunnimonda^ though that fair Princefs has always continued faithful to you, fo that Mundific having try'd all ways which he thought proper to gain her affedtion in vain, abandon'd himfelf to what- ever defpair could infpire into a Lover of fo- violent a humour, that few himfelf defpifed. I kno«^ Book I. THARAMONR 597 i know he had often an intention to have (heathcd his facrilegious Dagger in her b&fom,nor did any thing divert him from that barbarous defign, but tliat he would not put an end to the fuftcrings of a perfon that wa^'ic ciufe of his. But in (hort he return'd to fafiris^ car. tying fiitunimoHda along with him although at that time very ill, and after he had warned her witii all the reproaches and thrcatnings which his fury could devifc, he departed front thence in a proud difdain, and thinkingto ufe the Princefs yet more unnocrcifully, he left the furly Bela to command the Caftlc and obey his orders. After he wasjgoue, his creature did but too exadly obey a Princc,from whom he expedtcd all his advancement, and having (hut up Hnnmmonda in a very clofe imprifonment, fomc tew days after he came to fee her, with this infolent language in his mouth. Iroth Madam, faid he, I cannot but admire your €oniuU, and rejoyce to fee yon in that condition nhichyou have fo earnejlly fought after, 1 con- feflym have marveUaufly pro^ered in your defi^ns, for being refolved to contemn grandeur andde- fiife a Prince that frnffert you fo many diadems^ you could net have advanced yotir felf nriih more bonaw, Upon thefe words the generous Princefs iofing fome part of her moderatJon, Infelentfel. low, dlfdainfully anfwered (he, 7/ tbU the re^eVt which thou ihetve^ to my birth, and ta ihat rvhich ftrtune cannot take from me ? Open thy eyes and behold the Daughter of the King of the Goths, whjm thou ttnjujily detaineli a Prifoner by the command of a Tyrant, and if thou bafi s mind toproceed to extremity with Hunnimonda, pierce, pierce tbU heart which I have dinied to thy Mailer, and I wil rather pardon thee that murther than thy want of re[^e[i. She pronounced thefe words with fo much MajeAy and fuch a lofty Air, that Bela as au» dacious as he was was forced to look down, fo true it is that Royal Pcrfonages bear that cha- radler about them, which awes the reft of the world with Fear and Submiflion. Thus Mun- difjc'shgcnt retired notwithftandingthe violence ol his humour, bur he was no foonerout of the Chamber, but having loft that veneration which Htiunimonda^s prefence infpired in- to him, he felt himfelf tranfported with rage, and more tranfported than before tofecond the intentions of a dcfpairing Lover. Thereupon he began to put a thoufand indignities up. on that fair and great Puirccfs, he allowed her but two Chambers and a Clofet, he fixed grates to the windows fo ftrong and clofe, tlut it wis imoolEble for the unfortunate Hua- nimonda to fee or be feen. He kept a conftam Guard at the door night and day, and for fear the Princefs might corrupt any of his Soldiers, he took from her all her mony and her jewels, all her books wherewith fhe was wont to divertife her mind, and the ufe of pen aiid paper. Yet could not that Barbarian hinder her, but that fometimes (he felt fome cer- tain motions of joy, when fhe called to mind that (he fuffered all this for your fake.Bj/jw/r was all her confolation, the name of Balamir was always in her mouthy and the only belief that Balamir was faithful to her, ftirred up in her heart thofe motions of tendernefs, that turned herforrows into real pleafures. Neverthelefs a life fodeplorabe could not have long endured, had not her heart fuftained her body, and Zenelia had funk under the burthen of fatal a melancholy, had not her affirdtion for her illuftrious Miftrefs, produced the fame ef. fed in her foul, as that conf^ant courage which was fo admired in Hunnimonda. Yet then did that Princefs appear no lefs charming than ever, and there was fomething of tranquilli- ty fiill in her countenance, only your abfcnce troubled her repofe, that was more harfti to her than her confinement. And thofe pains which (he thought you fuffered, mote fenfibly affliftcd her than all het own fufferings. As for Lyriana who was only (hut up with Hunnimonda to ferve Mundif-c^ upon hopes of fome great preferment, (he foon grew weary of fuch a melancholy li{e, feeing how much in vain (he laboured for the Prince, from whom (he expeded her reward : L^femuch that (he defired leave to return to Cephaloneze, but A/?««J/^c unwilling to leave any ftone un» turn'd, obftinatcly refufed her. Tiiereupon out of meer madnefs and for the inconveni- ences that (he fuffered every day, (he fell into a difeafe which proved mortal. But though Hunnimonda and Zenelia had then more liberty to talk gf you, than before a perfon that they knew to be treacherous, yet the geneioqs Princefs could not forbear to pity Lyriana,\\\Q\i^ fhe were a confident of Ai«««i(/3c's. ..iilj IW : ^■ In the mean while there was a hot Alarm in that part of Sarmatia, for the report ran that Agathyrfu! vyasreturn'd into his Father's Kingdom, and that he was marching with a for- midable Armyto regain thofe places, which the Huns had taken during his abode in Afu. "Mundific who was really a perfon of a very lofty courage, was fully relc.vtdto defend hiS con«ue Its that hadcoftfo much blood. But he wasftrangely hamipti'd when he found hino* felf obliged to fend to Court for orders :' For in regard he was not niijch in the King's fa- vour, that he had but few friends, and that the greateft part of the i/«/»/ were devoted to your feryice, he was afraid left you (hould b€ fent for to command the Army to his prejudice, 598 PHJRAMOND. Part XL nor could he tell who to pick out to fend to Albs Julia : fome were more capable, others more zealous. At firft he caft his eyes upon Keva, whofe merit and valour you know. But bcfides that, he did not like the honeUy of that go^d man, he was afraid to call him -from his command at fuch a time. On the other lidc, believing himfelf to be hated by all the Huns he was unwilling to truft any one of that Nation, and therefore pitched up- on Satitrninuf a Kontan. That Stranger was a perfon of wit and courage, and which ren- dred him the more acceptable, he had only ferved under himfelf, and had never known you. However the Prince changed his mind, when he conlidered that Saturninm had little or no acquaintance at Alba Julia : [o that at length no perfon pkafed him like Bela^ and yet his unwiliingnefs to take him from Taziris, kept him in a cruel fulpenle \ but ftill there was anecelfity of powerful recruits to defend a Country that was, to be fo vigoroufly attacqued. In the mean while, the fair Princefs and her faithful Zenelia (pent their time ufually in talk- ing of you and your condition i when on a fudden they heard the Trumpets found, and thenoife of feveral great Bodies of Horfe upon the ma*rch, Zenelia was very glad, imagio- ing that no change could happen fo bad, that it was not be wifhed for : Pray God, fai«Whe to HuMHimonda rnore than ufually merry, it be not Prince Balamir come to fetus at liberty ! Ah Zenelia anfwered the Princefs, can^l thott flatter thy felf with a hope fo far diflant from probability. "Tis but too true I fear me, that Balamir is dead, or at leaji not in ibofe Cottw tries that have been fo fatal to him : 1 knew his heart, 1 kflew his affection ; and 1 mak^ na quejiion but he believes that Mundific has married Hunnimonda, and has thereupon renounced all the interefts in the world. 1 had renounced them indeed, cryed the enamoured Balamir : hut alas, fome fecret fatali~ iyhas injpired into me a tenderneji for the ^een of the Cimbrians, mttmithjianding thefaf. fonwhich 1 have always preferv^d for my divine Hunnimonda. The Princefs of the Goths had no fooner made fome fuch kind of refle(!Jion, purfued "Iheodelinda, but (he fell into a deep meditation upon what (he had to fay, fo that Zenelia being defirousto abate fome part of her melancholy. Madam, faid (he, what can fall outj from whence we may not hope for fome eafe of thofe miferies which cannot be multiplied. If the Kincr of the Huns recover the Country which is at Mundific'/ devotion, will not ytur fortune thenchange with all the advantage* you can wijPfor, On the other fide, if the Prince of the Sai- mzuzns regain the fame Country which the liuus pojfejiin his "territories, will it not be to your fttijfadion to leave the tyranny of Mundific for theproteUion of Ajgathyrfus ? But, Zenelia, replyed (lie, fetching a deep figh, fhould I recover my liberty, fhould they fet me upon the "throne of my Ancejion, what good would all thofe felicities do me without Balamir ? For ift^at Prince be dead, what is there more for me to wifl-) ? For my part, replyed Zenelia, 1 cannot imagine that Balamir would mal^e away with himfelf, how great fever his torments were, fo lon^ as yours lajled. But doji thou believe, replyed the Princefs, that there is arty way to makf ;iKt//c^Hunnimonda's deftiny ? J will make it kiiown my felf, replyed Zenelia with a confi- dent utterance, for the march of fo many troops cannot he difadvantageom to my Prince^. Having fo faid, (he fought always to bring about her purpclei but not being able to find any, by rcafon that (he could neither call, nor be fcen out at a window, flic cut of a piece of Sheet-Lead that lined fome part of the Room, and with her Bodkin, in(\ead of,* Graver, (he wrote thofe words, ' •(TT^tHo ever you are that pafs by thefe Walls a \ ▼ V foot;, know that Heaven has not brought you this way , but only that you may have the Honour to free the fair^ but unfortunate Hz/ww/^^cW^. She has been feveral Months confined in this Caftle , and the unjuft Mundific, the Ravilher that tyrannizes over her, dayly puts innumerable Indignities upon her. That's enough for you to underftand, if you are but fofficiently gene* rous to attempt her deliverance. ■Vvheq Book I. THARAMOND. 599 when flic had written thofe words, flie threw the piece of Lead out at Window, ward,xf>ould hteome prejudicial to you on jvhich fide fever the victory falls ■, for if Agathyrfus be ViUor, then yott tvih loflf your command ; if Mundilicco«(j«fr Agathyrfus, he xviU be fure purfue hisviUo' ry, and fo '^xi'ms tvili be ineonfiderable, ceafutgto be a Frontier Town. Bf/jlillened very at- tentively, and K'si'j finding him begin to waver, continued his fpcech to thiseffec!^. Do yon Ttot think^, laid he, that all commands that are near the perfon of the Frince are not to be prefer- red before thofe that are at a great diftanc^, hotv important foever their fsrvices may have been <" For my part, I am of opinion, that no great Officer can be in any fecnrity that foVsxvs not the Court i for they are fubjeii every moment to be deflroyed by a rvord ar two Jpok^en to their prcjw dice. lagree tor»hat you fay, anfwered Bela, and therefore it is tiotxpitbout reafon that lam troubled to fee my felf [hut up in this Fort, Pfhen every body elfe is in the Field, But, Sir, I hope you tvillnot refttfe me your afjillance, having given me your advice, rather that you xviH jiand my Friend to obtain that leave which 1 fljall entreat you to beg of your Frince in my behalf, 'Twill be no difficult thing for you to obtain your wi[hes ; mr will it be a hard matter in fuch a numerous Army to find out employments more proper for you, nor difficult for him to find out ferfani more fitting for this courage. It may he, anfwered Bela, it will not be fo eafie as yott thinks for, to find out a per fo;i fitting to be entrujled with this Cajile, and yeu will confep at much when you (hall tinderfland that the Fort is not f> confiderable as whatlkfep therein by Man' dific'/ command. Having fo faid, he looked upon Keva more earneHly than before, and being well ac« quainted with his fincctity, he made no fcruple to declare to him all the concerns of his fair prifoner the Princefs. Upon thofe words, the General of the H?««j- diffembled thefurprife which it was convenient for him to (hew in his face •■, and then refuming his difcourfe with more earncftnefsthan before: '' Having told me what you have done, faid he, there is no " dallying any longer in the cafei for befides that in the Army you will ferve your Maftct "with more honour, than in fpending your time with his unjuft paffions: moft certainly " while you perrccutef/aM;:/»2o?2(/j, you will but draw upon your fclf the King's difplea- *' fure, Balamir^s anger, and Mundific''s contempt , when better thoughts have opened his "eyesv it may be all Generofity is not quite extinguifhed in his Soul i and though the Prince " fliould be fo unhappy as not to be capable of fo fair a virtue, are you therefore to renounce " it your fclf ? Would it not better become you to appear with your Sword in your hand in "a Battel fighting for the honour ot our Nation, than to be doing poor offices which no *' body dares mention > So far will you be from receiving thofe applaufes which arc due to *' noble adlions > Inf^ead of faying any more, taking notice that Bf/** v»as fufficiently convinced, he only then difcourfed him after what manner he (hould (ker his courfe in fo tickli(h a conjundurc, and having confulted with him how to carry on his own delign, he left Faziris without fo much as asking to fee Hunnimonda, guelling that fuch a villt might create a fufpicion, rtiould it be known that he had made if, whereas he might be othcrwife more ferviceable to the Princefs. After this, Kej^^J attended very diligenrly upon hhindific, and he had not been wi^h h[m above goa THAR.AMOND. Part XI. above three days before he received a Letter from ^ela, as they had agreed at Faziris^ con- juring him to fecond the petition which he had Tent to Mundific for an employment. The Prince feem'd very much perplexed vvhat anfwer to make to a perlon who was fiift to be prepared before he could fpeak. But having agreatefteem for Keva^ in regard the nobk Knight fpake to him in the behalf of the Governour of Taziris^ he made no fcruple to truft him with his (ecret, to the end he might more julily confult him in an affair of fo much importance : For my part^ Sir, faid the General of the Hunr, 1 fhould never \\attd to remove a ferfoH from a charge of which be profejjes himfelf weary ■■, nor would I fray till bis fidelity were corrupted by bis {^omaching a denyal. But, Keva, replyed the Prince fomewhat di- fturbed, who is there among all the Huns whom I tan entrufr to fecure the ^eert of the Goths? There Kfyajpaufed a while, but afterwards the better to carry nn his dclign, "tis very trut^ Sir, replyed he, there arevry few in our Nation that may not be tempted to rejiore the Priii- eefito her Father, in hopes ff a reward which Frince B:.lamir maj be forward enough to pre- rnife : but, Sir^ cannot you think, of an honefr Officer that has no relation to our Court, I h*tow one, replyed the Prince, that J thnik^ very fit to fucceed Eela: hut in regard he is m Stranger, and hM no tie in our Country, you cannot believe it fafe to commit the fortune of the Trincefrl adore to fuch anone. It may be faid as weV^ Sir, replyed the Knight, that the gua- lity of a Stranger can give no fufricion in this cafe. For in (fmt, the Princefr of the Goths ir not in a condition to gain an Officer by prefents : nnr is it probable Jhe can ever perfwade him, by letting her go to renounce the recompenfe which he may he may expeU from your liberality, Mundific mzdc fomekind of refledion upon that difcourie, and retorting afterwards all of a fudden : Tou f^ea\reafon, faid he to the General of the Huns, and 1 thinks Saturninus to be a very fit perfon to be entrufied with a charge as precioiu to me as my life. I confefr, faid Keva^ that Saturninus really deferves to be chofen out for fuch an employments^ and there is no quefrioit but he will very faithfully acquit himfelf. He had no fooner fpoken thofe words, but the Italian entred into Mundific's Chambei*, who having determined to beftow the Government of Paziris upon him, received him af- ter a molt obliging manner. He declared his intentions to him, he inftrudcd him in all things that he could pollibly think or imagine to tell him i and in a few days he difpatchcd him away to fupply Beta's place, whom hefent for into the Army. Saturninus had no fooner taken poffeifion of the Caftle where Hk«k/»wW« was imprifoned, but he behaved himfelf as refpedfuUy toward the Princefs, as Bela had carried himfelf rudely ; and com- ing often to comfort her, he found fomething that was very amiable in Zenelia's face. He was alfo taken with that fidelity which the Generous Virgin (hewed to her Miftrefs i and he had difcovered his thoughts to her, but that coniidering the place he held, and the con- dition to which Zenelia was reduced, the more power he had to fpeak, the more it became him to be refpedful and wary. However, his eyes, his complaifance, his paffionate dili. gence, which could not be the effeds of an indifferent love, gave her to underftand tliat her charms had fubdued Saturninus\ liberty: nor was the lovely Maid, asmodeft as (he was, troubled at all to perceive the eft'cds of her Beauty, not only for that Saturninut was both virtuous and deferving, but above all that (he might thereby be ferviceable to the unfortunate Princefs. One day that this fame Knight met with a favourable opportunity to entertain the per* fon whom he loved : " How much to be dreaded are you, faid he, moft charming ZenC' " lia, you reign where you are not at liberty your felf, and Saturninus wears your Fetters " in a place where all the world acknowledges his authority. "•' You will notealiiy per- •' fwade me to fuch a belief, replyed jhe, for as long as I am in Mundi(ic's prifon, I fliall nC- " ver believe that any perfon wears my Fetters that has power to break my chains. " I " could refolve to break them, rfp/j?^ Saturninus,, but after all , how unjuft foever Muh- ** dific be, ought I not to remember that he has entrijiied me with all that is dear to him in " this world ? And is it not lawful for me to with that you might recover your liberty with- •"outany blemifh to my honour ? You are too prudent for a perfon that profefl'es fo great " apaffion, flightly replyed Jhe, butfince you take part with tyranny, and that the interelis " of our perlecutors are fo dear to you, never come — " Ah, too (evere Princefs, aufwered *' he, impatiently interrupting her, why interpret you my words with fo much cruelty ? And "why do you fo bloodily reproach me, when out of a thought that you cannot but ap- " prove, I only fear to lofe your tfteem by proff<;ring akindnefs? To cure you ot that " fcruple, rf/j/yf J Zenelia, coniider that Mundifjc is no Prince of yours, that you give wea- *'■ pons to a mad man, by obeying him fo exaftly i and that if you are engaged to prcferve " Faziris for him, ail the Laws difpenfe with your being an inl^rument ot his inhumanity. "in a word, I beg at your hands rlie Princefs's liberty, tell me whether I may expett it, or . . "if Book i. F JtiAKAMOND, 6Qi »' If " Yes yes, you fball liavc it, crytd be inttrruptiHg her in a very fafiouaie mamer\ "for there is nothing that Saiurninus can refufe the amiable Zenelia, but 1 bcfccch you Ma- " dam, let us be careful how we undertalie an enterprise of this nature. Mundific is in love, " it may be he has fpies upon me, and I am certain that the Garifon is not all fo much under "my command, as pubhckly to give you your liberty. However deny.mc not your ad^ " rice, and let the noble flame, which you have kindled in my heart, enlighten my invention " and (hew me the way which 1 am to take, at fucii a tickU(h conjundure as this. Zenelia glad to fee her Lover fo well enclined, Generew Saturninus, faid fhc, I was not at all deceived in my hopes ivhen I obferved ynxr civil behaviour^ Ibefieved,! told the Frincefl^ that heaven rrat at length moved mth oUr misfortttnes^ futce it had put into your hands the government of the place ofeur captivity, ''Tuytittr part to makf good tny beliefs And mine to feek^after all means that merj^ bring out defigni to a good tffue. Vo y oh your duty ^ and be ajfured that Zenelia's heartfhaU «f. ver fail of ackftotvledgment. 'Twas about this time that they feared Lyr^ana would dye, fo that her indifpofitioil in* €reafing they wrote to Mundific, that the health of the Princefs was in fome danger. The prince was tcally affiided at it, and in regard his paflions did partake of the irtipetuofity of his ttmper, he would have quitted all things to have returned to Hunnimonda i had not Keva who torrcfponded with Zenelia and Saturninm^ taken great care to divert him. He reprcfentcd to the Prince that the very fight of him, might caufc new troubles in the Prin- cefs, and that his prefcnce would prove as hurtful at VazirU, as it was neceflary zxOlbia^ Mfhere was the general Rendezvouz of all the Army. BefideS xhtSarrnatians making in- Todes upon all that fide of the Country, he laid before hitn that there could Be no fafety for him, unlefs he took along with him the greateft part of his forces, but that at that time it Would beof dangerous confequence to divide the Army. At length he perfwaded the Prince who was pretty well fatisfied, that his going to ?azirif would fignifie little. But fome few days after Keva was harder put to it , to tnanage his impatience , as you (hall bear. Lyriana's ficknefs encreafing,that pootVidime toM»i»^(/5c'spa{fiondyed, fiotwithflancl- ing all the remedies that were ufed fbr her recovery : The Princefs and Zenelia who were truly generous, vfrcre ferry for her death ■■, but wheci Saturninus and his Lieutenant came in haft to fee her before (he expired, Zenelia was nothing forry that he beheld more forrow it! her face, than (he might probably be fenfibk of. She met them and beginning her fpeech after an ingenious manner, in language which Hunnimonda might as well have uttered as LyHdna, fte ftill fpoke nothing contrary to truth. Tou fee Sirs, faid (he, that only deatb can put a period to ottr miferies, and hereby you may judge what nue are to exped from Mundific, n>hen a per fan that rvas fo dear to him or elfe ought to have been fo, could not- breaks thofe chains^ which that unjuii Prince hadpkt upon her Arms, but by breakjng the bonds of life. But for yori^ parts I cannot think, youfo hard-hearted, as to fufer the unhappy Captives that furvive, fo mifem rably to perijh, and I hope that when you give Mundific an account ef what has happened^ yoH mil both put in a good word far two perfoHs , whofe ack*towledgment may not be cantetHm ptiblt. After (he had fo faid (he pulled her veil over her eyes, and retiring to the farther end of the Chamber, (he gave the Officer that was with Saturninw, liberty to confirm himfelf iri the opinion which he had alteidy conceived, that the Princefs was dead. Herderic,(ot fd was he called, was one of thole Soldiers of fortune, who knew nothing but what concern* their trade, infomuch that nevtr having had any inclination to vifit Ladies, he never had feeri thofe at TazirU, nor knew fo much as their faces. Saturninus who was well afTured thereof, failed not to fecond Zenelia'' s intentions, and fo walking with Herderic coward the fair Maid, Madam, (iH he, 1 k^tow you can procure us friends at the Court of MbZ']\i]h, and that Prince Balamif will never let thofe kind offices which we have done for you go unrewarded^ But tbaugh we [hould not interefs our felves in your concerns at th'a time upon thofe eenfiderationst yet humanity it felf which as not altogether left w in the Army, perfwades w tn take yourpart'^ and to ajfrli you in the change of your fortune, and without doubt it mufl of necejjity change : For befides that 'tit very improbable that the Prince friould trouble himfelf in vain, to give me any or » der to the contrary, 1 believe he will be too fadly affliVied, when he (hall upbraid himfelf to have been the eaufe of the Princejfes death, to have any thoughts nfperfecuting thofe Virgins thatfer^ ved her : fo that you may be abjohitely ajfured,Madam, that Jfl)all ledve nothing undone to procure your liberty, from thU captivity which you have fo long fufered. Herderic whs pities the defo- laiion that we behold vi going for Olbia, he will fee the Prince, and after he has made a faithful ielation of what has happened, he will not fail to add a few prayers, toihe petition Iffidll mak^ '* yoter behalf. After this communication Satum'iniK and Herderic departed : And the G g g g Roman' 5o2 r n ^ i\^ ivi u iM £j. r a r t ^i, Jloman Knight wrote both to the Prince and Keva^ the Lettet to the Prinse being to this €ffe&. Saturninus to the Prince of the Huns. Sin, the tiems thai yoti vptli receive tviU he fo lamentable andfo doleful, that 1 have not the heart to mention it, and I had rather you (hould underhand it from Herdeiic'x mouthy than he the fublifher my felf. Me fvill let you underjland the lofi that you havefujiained netrvithjiand. higaliyour caret and therefore feeingthat thU change mil caufe yoti to alter your refolutions^ I expeU your commands tvhichljhall obey with more zeal^ than 1 bad an inclination to 4p^ fiib you ' - , This Letter and the Relation that followed were fo ttrribk to Muadifie, and excited fueh a redoublement of love in his heart, that the Prince fuffering himfelf to be guided by the impetuofity of his temperament, was about to have left all things at fix and fevens, to poft to the place where he thought he might fiill view the body oi Hnnnimonda. Keva labour- ed very hard to divert him from adefign fo much to be tcared.but feeing all hisentreatiesand all his arguments nothing availed, he refolved to oppofe a violent paffion with a fmart re« fcntment. "Sir, faidhe, I befeech you confider and do not leave the Army, do not run " to Paziris only to fee a dead Corpfe, which can be nothing but a fpedacle of horror : But *' this is not all Sir, will you go weep over a Vidime wholly devoted to your Rival ? Can " you teftifie your (elf fo highly afflided for a perfon, that chofe rather. to dye mifetablc \^(ot Balarnir^ than to live fitting upon your Throne? Ah no no, Keva, replyed he tranjjidrt' " ed xvitb jealoufie, no longer will I bewail that ingrateful perfon, that has preferred Balamir " before me with fo much obftinacy and boldnefs. Having fo faid he held his peace, but a few moments after love and grief infpirirg himi *' Why, purftfedhe {iaring rviih his eyes, why (hould I not bewail the death of a fair Princefe, " that I my felf have brought to her grave. " Yes, added he fjghing, 'twas I that was the '•' the caufe of her death, 'twas my inhumanity that.held a dagger to her breaft, fo far from " admiring her conftancy, that I ufed all the tyranny I could to fiiake it. After all this who " can condemn my affliition for having been fo barbarous, for having been the muitherer of " Httnnimonda ? He fpoke with fo much vehemency, that at length his grief, the agitation of his mind, and the heat of his temper excited fuch troubles in his heart, that they almoft difturbed his jeafon : Infomuch that inftead of thinking any more upon going to Faziris^ he fell into a' rambling difcourfe, wherein he often confufedly mentioned the names of Bunnimonda, Ba- lamir and Keva. Sometimes he asked pardon of you as well as the Princefs , for the mis- fortunes he had occafioned to both. Thefe tranfportations of mind endured for three cr four days, and had weakned him in fuch a manner, that he was not only not in a condition to take a journey at that time, but his impetuofity waxing le£s violent, he began to give ear to Keva and to follow his advice : So foon therefore as the generous Knight took notice o£ the Calm, which the abatement of heat and want of ftrength had produced in the brcft of Mttndifte, he drew near the Prince and in mournful language, " Sir, faid be, 'tis not my bu- •'finefs now to oppofe your defire to fee Hannimenda. By this time you cannot but think, *' that her Corps can be no other than a gbaftly fpedacle, and therefore inlkad of taking a *' journey to no purpofe, were it not better to fend order for the funeral of that Princefs, " whole death you fo lament ? Is not your refentment dead with her, or can it hinder you " from paying to the deceafed Uunnimonda, the laft tribute due to mortality ? " No KevSy "no, anfivered the Vrince, for I will ered a magnificent Monument in memory of that ad- " mirable Princefs, and engrave upon her Tomb all the marks of ray love and grief. This " is alll can do, and this is all that remains for me to do for the fair and unfortunate Hunnif ^-mondti. Yes, replyed Keva^ you may do her one kind office more, and that is by giving "the two Virgins that ietvcd her their liberty. However Sir, added he very politickjy, 'tis " for your interell to fend out of our Territories fuch perfons, as I believe have no kindnefs " at a'l for you, who in bewailing their Miftrefs will talk of your rigor after fuch a manner, " as will make but bad imprelllons in the hearts of all that hear them ; And in my opinion " 'tis no w;y convenient, that a people who are one day to live under your laws, flioul4 " have their cars filled v^ith complaints, Wliich they may take for ads of your injufticc.You "fpeak: Book I. THARAMOND, 60^ " fpcak rcafon, replyed htiaidific, I think it abfolutcly neceflTary that letieUa be fcnt nuf " of the dominions ot" the Hu>is^ but I think there is no.Tuch necellir.y but Lyriana may ftay. "Oh Sir, you cannot imagine, faidhe^ that Lyriana^xW ever applaud the ill ufagc flie re» "ceivedatyour hands during her conrinement, ffo (he termed her abode at Pd^/m J for you " know that although (lie took your part all the while (lie lay lick, you would not give he* "leave to return to Cephalonezefov the recovery of her health : And in regard (he never fa- "voured the Princefs, her complaints will be lefs fufpcdtcd and more dangerous than ''Zenelia's. ... ., . .Mundifjc having made a fliort reflexion upon Kev^^s words, ''• I will follow youradvicei *'■ [aidbe., fo that we are now only tocotitider whom to truft, for the conveying thofe'two " Virgins away. That's a thing very eafie to determine, replyed Keva, for I conceive that " Satarniatu being a petfon fo conceited of his own Country that he defpifes allothers, will ," not think much to return into haly^ and to carry along with him fuch perfons, as they " that (hall oblige him by the effeds of your liberality. Mundific pleafcd with what the General of the Huns had faid, fent very confiderable pre* fents to SaUirnimif, made him larger promifes, and charged him to convey away quite out pf our dominions, both Zenelia and Lyriantt. The Roman Knight full of love and genero« fity, was overjoyed to receive thofe orders which he fo ardently waitedfor, and then which xhe Princefs delired nothing more but that they fliould be quickly executed, for (he had nr» mind to rtay in thofe Provinces, where (he might fall again under the power o^ Mundific. Befides (he had a great defire to fee me, believing (lie might live with hct dcsv Jheodolinda^ with more comfort and with more reputation, than with any other perfon in the world. But before her departure (he was willing that Satttmitttts (hould receive his reward, for be- lidcs that the fortune of the Roman who was of a noble extradtion, would thereby be well rtxcd in the world, flie wifely thought it inconvenient to undertakefo long a journey with him, till l.enelia and he were mutually affianc'd together. After that flie deemed it necelTary to change her name, in regard her own was fo well known over all Europe^ but here,Bro.ther,we may admire the quick invention which her ten- «ier alTedion toward you inlpired into her : She never fludied for the choice of a name but prcfently called hcrfelf Balamira, pleafed that (he (hould always hear your name repeated, while Qie was called by her own. True it is that when (he came into 5iJt«r«iwz«'s Coun- try, the Italians more polite than our Nations, accuOomed themfclves to caJl hexBellamiray as being more foft in pronunciation. And thus brother, by that only name you may un- derftand already, the greatcU part of thofe Adventures, which yet remain for me t() relate. Hojv Sijhr., faid Balamir interrupting her, U it pnffiUe that the ^/r'/«f Hnnnimonda (hould call herfelf Bellamira, through an effeCt only of that kj>td>te{i n-heretrith jhe honoured Balamir? ^Xtvas only by a motive of that very offeUion^relher^ thit (he choje that name which has been f) famous in the vcorld.^ and only under that name has \he done fo many ^reat and obliging aUions. for your fake. I k^noxf confufedly, replyed he, *^<>tHonorius/i»n' Bellamira w TrajanVgar- den, that he became dejperately in love rvith her., and that his favourite Heraclian ivas enamour. ed of th^t incomparable Princefl^ with the fame violence efpa^on. I havs alfo heard of thi famous revolt of that Roman, and of hii carrying Hunnimonda ap?ay by force : 1 have alfo been convinced that if the divine Hunnimonda's Soul^ rvere too large for the Empires that were of» jered her, her courage appeared yet more heroicl^.^ when that generous Lady alone unarmed in an enemies Country fleoD her Kavijher, to defend her honour which jhe infinitely priz'd beyond hep life, W^f// <;E)fM, replyed Theodolinda, 1 (hall but lightly touch upon thofe particulars^ which fame has already brought to your knowledge., and dilate only upon thofe whichlamfure you w» ver heard of. So foon as the incomparable Hunnimonda, (whom I (liall call henceforward by the nam* of Bellamira) had palTed the Alpes, I wasadvertifed thereof by her own order, and (he was no fooner arrived at a houfe, which Saturninas^s Father had built near I'rajan^s garden, but I made ha(i thither with that impatience and joy which I cannot exprefs. Immediately we ran to each other, we threw our Arms about each others necks, and thus we rtood for a good while mutually embraced, not having the power to fpeak, while the tears which af- tedion and the remembrance of our pall mistoitunes drew from our fair eyes, trickled down our cheeks. Dear Sijier., cryed I at length, am I cctdin that I fee you again, and that you are that incomparable ]^\.mv\iV[\ox\Az, whohas beendead in the opinion of all the world ? Sofhe be not dead in ThsodoVnidi^s breajU anfwered (he, Mor /« Balamir'/ fefrfrt, ^le troubles Hot heir fdf TPith the reji of all the world. Pronouncing thofe words (lie embraced mc with all her ftreilgth, and beheld itie with G g g g 2 charming? 5o4 FtiAKAMOND. Fart XI. tharming eyes that have enthralled fo many illafttious Hero's. Afterwards > True it is, that though (he had never told me what (lie had leftifed^ to the great aflqni(h- mentof all theCourt, yet was 1 tfot ignotaTit of any circumlfan<;e of that noble denyal, fo that I went to Hunnimonda, and' as foon as I faw her, I ran to her and embraced her with It redoubled affedtion. Vear Sijier, faid I to her in a kind of extafie that I could not mode- rate. By what means can the fortunate Balamir ever requite tvhat you have done for his fake? Ah Sijhr, anfwered fne, you are too good ttatur'd, Alas tvbat have I done to merit that acktioW" ledgment which you Jpeak^of, and the ineliimablecarejfes of your favour ? Iconfefi, replycdiaf* ter an ironical manner, 'w no great rponderfor a perfon of our Sex to crave dfath^ and for tt frimefi dejl'oiled pf the fortune of ker Ancefiors, to refufe the Empire o^ the great eji part of the Ttorld. But after all^ added I fcrioufly, though you have forgot that Bellamira didallihii^ you muji not tbink^te hinder all the reorld, and future Ages from preferving it in memory. Ibough it TPeretrue^ replyed (lie, tbat I had (hewed feme conjiancy of courage^ hotv do you k>tovD Sifter rvbether Prince Balamir nfould be more obliged to me, than I (hould he beholding to him .<* For in S^iort. faid (he with a pleailng fmile accompanied with a model! bludi, I (hould never believe Balamir to be fixedin my heart as he is, t»ere there any thoughts there that could dij^leafe bim, er be unworthy of his ejieem. ■ Thus the affedionate and generous Bellamira, made her fclf a debtor to you for the kind^ ilefs which (he continually (hewed you, and not only refufed the fiift degree of honour in the world with an admirable conftancy, but what was more extraordinary in a heart like hers, (he rclifted the very tears of Homriits. That Son of the great Iheodef.us wept a hun- dred times in vain at her feet, and without moving in the leafl: that ftrong affedion which flie prefervcd for a Frince,of whom (he could not fo much as hear any tidings. Ncverthelcfs this behaviour of Hiimiimonda that in a manner furprifed all Italy, wrought no change at ajl in the heart of HonoriKf, for the fair Princefs ffill commanded with Soveraign power over the Emperours heart, as the happy Balamir ftill reigned in hers. But at length that gene- rous Lady moved with pity toward a Prince that fo highly obliged her, (Irove to remove the caufe of a paflion fo improbable to be happy in the event, and declared to me the refo»- Juition that (he had taken, in fuch language as manifefted her affedlion both for you and me. l^earSijier, faid (he embracing me, there is an abfolule neceffity for w to part : Ibe malignani Star that has perfecuted me from my infancy, envying thofe pleafures which I tafl in your compa- ny, bales me from your Arms, and tofeparate me from Theodolinda, convinces me that Balainir'x intereji commands my quick^departure. " Ah Sitter, cryedl, forbear to proceed in a defign, '= that already fo much aftlifts me: For in (liort, though you are not able to hearken toHe- '■'•norm in prejudice of my Brother, what need you take any courfe fo grievous to your "friends > " what, faid (lie interrupting me with fttr^rife, would you have me endure that any D o o K X. r n ji jx jn ivi u i^i jj, boj "any other than Balaniir fljould give me proofs ■of hi:; affcdion every moment i orthar " being obliged to Hoimm, my prcfencc (hould infpirc fiicb thouglus tntD hislrcart is can* " not but trouble his repofe > No, my Princef^ crycd I, 1 dtji/e mthiug that may give y^k any offence. But I muji confefi^ added I, embracing her in my Arms, J defir^ y«nr campairy, and then is nothing rvhicbltvauld nnt dotoenjuy Ji) gteat a happiiiejl, tlevertbeltjl^ replyect BeVamira, 1 do not fee how it is pofjible for us to enjoy that fatisfa(iion i for indeed there is dti ahfolute neceffity for me to avoid Honorius, feeimr that thouii^h Bdbmir (hould never I'jtorv that Bellamira // Hunnimonda, or that ^le bad dej^ifed for his fal{e the cbiefeji Throne in the rvorld^ Hunnimonda mtiji not for all that forbear to do thofe things rvhich her orvn virtue, claims ftam her felf, rvith as much right as Balamir has reafon to expeU them pom tbemo]l exaH andfcrit'i, puloiis conj}anc\, "• ' In fliort. Brother, tellaniira was rcfolved to be gone > and all that I could do by my of- ten repeated prayers and entreaties, was, to prevail that (lie would not depart out of Italy ^ to the end we might write one to another, and have the happinels to travel together to AU ha Jttlia, when my Father (hould call me home. I need not tell you that the fair Princefs fled to llavenna, which is no more than you know, as alfo in a fliort time the Empetour followed her thither, that he might abide infeparable from hct charms j whereby aban- don'd Rome became a prey to the terrible Alaric. But this you mufl: know that the Em- perour of the Romans and the Queen of (h^Goths lived in that manner together til! the re* volt of Heraclidn. You have heard how that Favourite rebelled in Africa where he was governour, that he came to Ravenna, that he took away Bellamira by force, and that al length he was killed by the couizgeous Hunnimonda, at a time when he was about to have flonelier an injury kfsfupportable than death it felf. You may well guefs then, Brother, tvhat was TlJeadolinda's grief when (lie underrtood that Bellamira was carried away to Car- ibage, and her felf feparated by the Sea from a perfon fo dcor to her > 1 proteft that all (he afflictions of a Siege without any hopes of being relieved, lefs diflurbed my mind, during Rome's misfortunes, than the force put upon Bellamira. Bat at length the fair Princef? ■wrote to me, and I undcrl^ood by her Letter that flie was gone to Hjppcne, there to hnd fome confolation in the company of a renowned perfonage, vvho was called S. Atifiin, a man bf great virtue and fublime wit. It was to the counfel of this prudent African that we ow-e thercturnof Hunnimonda, for fhe believing you were dead, would have led a languifhing life in fome religious retirement, never dreaming to have rcturn'd into Germany, had not fhe holy AH{iin perfwaded her to 'the contrary, by an infpiration that feem'd to promife nwre profperity than yet we had eJtpericnced. In (hort, Bellamira and I being mutually advertised 6f the time of our departure for Alba Jnlia, and being defirous to travel together fome jpart of the Way, tve appointed to meet in thefe Countries : Hunnimonda not daring to pa& through Ual<', or Gallia^ for fear of falling again under the power of Honorius. But no fooner had the fair Princefs, whom Zenelia never forfook, and whom Satnrnima attended in Africa, fet foot upon the European Shoar, but together with the news of the irrcconcild- able war between the Cimbriaus and Franks, flie alfo heard the fatal tydings oi Balamir's in- fidelity. At firft (he would not believe it, but wheft it was contirm'd to her with all the circumflanccs by feveral pctfons of great reputation, nay, by the report of whole Nations, ftie had not power to withftand this lafl (troke of misfortune i even that conftancy of cou- rage, which had rendred her fo famous, quite forfook her in that terrible conjuncture. That undaunted Princefs that had brav'd death and fortune,could not fupport her felf againft. your inconftancy : that fprightly air that enlivened her fair countenance gave place fo pallid fanguilliment ■■, and thofe eyes,thofe lovely eyes that were wont to dart forth flames and ter- rour,lay drowh'd in tears, while fhecomplain'd of your injuftice. She ufually addreifcd her la- mentiitiorts to the generous wife of SatHrnimts ■-, and Zenelia found £o much reafon, and felt fuch charms in her grief, that (he could not chufc but have the fame rcfentments of her injuries: Alas, faid the difconfolate Bei/dw/Vj, fetching a deep figh, tobat crime have I com. mitted ? By rvhich of my dUiotis have 1 drawn upon my head fuch a crowd of difmal misfor- iunes.fJVas it not enough for me to fee my Fatber'^s throne quite overturned,hut that I muji be torn from the Arms of her that brought me forth?lFas it not enough to be under the tyranny and impfi« fonmentuf Mundific, to fee bn Sword bent again{l my Breaji to facrijice me to his rage, but the malignity of my fate mnti fepjrate me from what I ioved? Not the Inf of Kingdoms, not all the force that has been pat upon me, not all my being threatened with death, not all the attempts of my KavifJjers ever came fa near my heart as this la[i injury which I have received. Then add reiiing licr felf to you, as if you had been there, Wel!^ ingrateful Trince, added (Tie, llool;^ uptn thy infidelity more inhumane than ah the violences of Mandilic or Heraclian. Ihey never t^ere helovid by Hunnimonda, but than hajl received the mofr obliging teliimonscs of her affeciir. ■ 6% ^XA, OH, /jh^ Balamir, is it poffible thoit potdd court Rofamond for the fakf of a Crorvn^ rehen I for the love of thee fled from Honorius, rvho offered me the moji Jple»did 'throne in the world? Then turning toward the companion of her misfortunes and her forrows, Ah, Zenelia laid die, rvhat have I done that can ii(Jiijle Balamir'/ imonfiancy ? Nothing but was great, an- swered (he with tears in her eyes, nothing but xoas heroic, nothing but what might deferve the heart of the moji remtvHed perfon in the world. JFherefore then, replycd Ihe, has Balamir proved inconjiant? Beca/tfe, i'iii (he, you are out of fight, ^odmondjiill inhis eyes, and be-, caufe he is only a man. Tbde were Hunnimonda's 3nd ZeHelia''s lamentations, after they underftood the news of your change. But when 'theodolinda and (he met together. Ah, cryed I, fair TrincefS, h^m charitable you are Hill to preferve a k^ndnej! for ^dihmix^ s S ilhr ? but while you are fincere it hehoves not me te prove unjuji : I tak^e your part againji the mofl ingrateful of men, and wholly devote my felf to your interejt. lou are too generous a Friend^ anfwered the afflided Hunni" rnonda > but I fear you will not be thought a charitable Sijier in condemning ^sX^Lmixs proceed-' ings, I eonfefimy felf, the^eenof /^e Cimbrians // wore beautiful-, and her fortune mors fplendid ; and that the incon{iancy of the Trince your Brother may pafS rather for an eff'eS of bit judgment, than a marl{_ of lightneji. Such as this was generally our difcourfe, and though we ufually fought out the moft re- tired and folitary places, yet we {WW met upon the Road either the Princes, or the attendants ofthofe Princes that ferved in Tbaramondh Army. Bellamira, who avoided all fociety, was troubled at it, yet this was her comfort, that (he met with no perfon that knew her: only the other day (he was fomewhat furprifed to fee Artabure in a Country from whence (he thought him tar enough off. That hmous Roman no fooner perceived the Princefs ■whom he alfo loved, but in a mo(\ refpediful manner falling upon one knee. Divine Bella- mira faid he, yoti need not fear the approach of a perfon that dares not draw fo near with any other thoughts than thife of veneration Tour beauty and your virtue have wrought quite contra- ry effeUs in mine, to what they produced in the heart of Heraclian : I feek^ after you only for my 'M(tiier''s fake, to ejiablifh your felicity : for I have order from the Emperour, tn afftire you that he has not yet changed his miud. 1 offer you more earne(ily, and with more fubmiffion than be- fore the Crown of the great Theodotius, and with that Diadem a heart whofe affe£}io» and fi- delity are to be preferred before all the Thrones inthe world. Thofe words made Hunnimonda l]gh ; (he could not chufe, when (he heard them, but accule her fcU of ipju(\ice to Honorius, and be afliamed of her felf, that (he could not hate a p;rfon that had forgot her upon the firft (ight of another Beauty. Neverthelefs, not all the obliging protedations which he made her on the Emperour's behalf, nor the crime of an inconlhnt Lover could move her heart. Still you remained there with ab- folute Dominion, notwithftanding your egregious levity : and Hunnimonda return'd for anfwer only certain complements of her acknowledgment both fo Honorius, and to Arta- bure. No,»Oymy Frincefs, xcf\Yed Bellamira, thefe are no examples for me to imitate ^ i/Bi- Izmir be guilty, his crime cannot juflifie a fault in me. But would it not be great fatisfaUion, replyed I, to behold from the Ihrone of the Csfars, your Rival moving with Balamir in a lew er orb ? At thofe words Bellamira bluQied and (Igh'd i but then with a langui{hing and dying tone, Ah, try dear Sifter, purfued (he, that you Jhould be fo little acquainted with Hunni» monii^s heart, and h?^zm\I^s merit 1 Can you believe that I Ihould be lefs troubled to fee Ro- famond Balamir'j lyife-, than flje would be to fee me Emprefs of the Romans ? Alas, how different are thefe two fort! ofjealoufie! Jealoufie of greatnefs is not half fo powerful in a heart like mine, which obeys no law but that of my affeUion. But moft heroic Vrincefs, cryed I, tranfported inmind, what is it that you intend to do? Die for grief, replyed (he, fetch- ing a deep figh, for 1 can no longer live, frnce the ingrateful Balamir lives no longer mine. Af- ter thofe fad words, (lie let fall feme tears (rohi thofe divine eyes that formerly you would have fo religioully adored. Then turning them toward me, as (he wept in a langui(hing poflure that would foon have made you (hake off your laft chains : Fair Princefs, continued (he, I have but one thing more to hegofthat generous friendfhip of yours, of which you have given me fo many proofs : tell the inconjlant Balamir that his infidelity cofl me my life, that he fheathed a more fatal weapon in my Breaft than the Sword of Mundjfic: and relate to him the manner of my death with ali the circumtiances that may produce a repentance inhim for the crime that caufed it. But, alas, replyed (he, redoubling her flghs, with what vain hopes do I falter my misfortune i No, no, my Princefs, there's no tailing to that fickle Lover, of Bellami- Ti's deplorable fate ; for he purfaes hisCourifliipto Rofamond, and never mentions to her the Frincefs of the Goths, which as a Viliimc be has prepared to facrifice to her charms. Bi^i after Book I. PHARAMOND. ell, replyedl impatietuly, if Balamir be recHy perftvaded that HunnitriOnda U lojl io htm, ei- ther by death or marriage vpitb Mundilic, does hemt proVe thereby the lefs guilty^ and may hs not at length dry ttp his tears upon the fight of the ^neen of the Bohemians. No, faid fhe, bo could Hot rvithoMt injujiice, his heart tvM mine, he Jhouldhavepreferveditffr tite to thebjigajp ; thereloMghtjii!} to have lived, mtwithilaitding the pretended death that feparated us. Alas f who tpould have faid that Hummiondoi^ (houldhavefet ^i\in\\x an example of conjiancy^ and that Balamir tvould not foUotp it ? Ah Balamir ingrateful Balamir, how cruel arttboM to the cok> flant anddifconfulateUuimimondi, who was always thine. Ah ^ueen of the Cuwhihns too fortunate Princefi, if the ornaments of thy Soul are cerref^ondent to the beauties cf thy face, why art thou more rigoroiis than fortune, why haft thou deprived me ef the only felicity that flie. left me^ io comfort me for the lofl of all the reft ?Haft thou not renowned Captives enough to wear thy chains but thou muji covet Balamir jfow me ? But wherefore do I always flatter myfelf, added (he re- doubling her fighs, ought 1 not to confider that the malignant Star that governs my unfortunate days^ preferves me alive only to perfecute me without ceafmg ? But alas my miferies are not yet compleat, inhumanity ftiU purfues me, and that fatal conliellatioa hurries me into a crowd of mis * fortunes, and provoked at the conjUncy whichljhewed in thofe ajfaults whence it delivered me^ it ajfails my heart upon the fcere of affe£fion,to fmk^it into utter ruine. that fate which could not move me with the fplendid proffers of Crowns and Scepters, that could not fcare me with the: threats of fire and/wordy at length to overturn my conftancy mttfi render Balamir unfaithful and that ungrateful perfon whom I cannot hate,^ muft ceafe to love me. Pronouncing thofe doleful fyllables (he turned her (elf toward me, in fuch a dying poflurci as would have drawn compaflion from a Barbarian, and beholding me with eyes drowned in Tears, Generous Princeft, purfued fhe, you wiU in a (hort time be freed from all thefe my troto- ilefome complaints. You have not long to hear the repetition of the difconfolate Bcllamira's moans you will in a few dayr behold the end of her life^ which (he leads after a manner fo deplo- rable. At that part of T'heodolinda^s Relation Balamir let fall certain tears, which he had till then retained, and though he knew that Placidia and Pharamond were both in the Room with THunnimonda, he rofe hadily from his Seat and ran into the Princefs's Chamber. True it is he was not ignorant, that the King of the Franks and the Queen of the Goths took his part, and that they were pleading for him at that very time : So that without any fcruple by rea- fon of their prefence, he threw himfclf at Hunnimonda's feet c're (he were well aware of him, and embracing her knees which he watered with his tears, Behold that ungrateful,cxY» ed he> behold that faithlefl perfon, who is now come either to expire at your feet by the force ef hk^ repentance, or merit a heart which you have fo generonfly preferved for him. At the fame time the violence of many other pallions (!opp'd the courfe of his words, but Pharamond and Placidia leaving the Room, that tlie two illuftricus Lovers might enjoy the more freedom, the enamoured Prince refuming his lamentation, Moji divine Pr/wi'/?,(aid; he, behold yoUr Balamir, 'tis you that are to dijpoje ef his deftiny, muft he dye for the expiatioti of bis crime^ or may be refttme thoje j^lendid hopes which he once conceived by your allowance ? Uttnnimonda who could not hate the faithlefs Balamir, redoubled her affedion/orhim fiow fo paffionate and repenting, andasfoonaaher furpri(e would permit her to {pezk. But arc you then returned Balamir, cryed (he. lam mt only returned, cryed he very earneftly inter- rupting her, but mo^ dear Princeft, there U nothing how potent or powerful foever in the world^ ibatfhaU ever feparate me raore^ow Bellamira. IFillyou never fee Rofamond agai^n then? re- plyed (he. Then Balamir finding fomething of injuftice in her words, notwith(t3nding the violence of his love i But my dear Princeji, anfwered he, fuffer How iagrateful^ cryed (lie fmartly interrupting him, does the only name of B^o(aLmoi\dftartle thy refolutioH^naf can it caufe TheodoYmdn alfo to favour thy perfidioufnefi ? , . Having uttered thefe few words (he threw her felf into.a little Clofetjand clap'd the door after with that violence and haft, that neither the aftonilhed Balamir nor the Princefs of the H««/ v/ith all her fpeed could prevent it. Iheodolinda obferving the furprife that fprcad it. felf, all over the countenance of the enamoured Prince, JFhat brother, faid (he fomcwhat difcompofed, have you given the incomparable Hunnimonda any new caufe of complaint i Or voiU you not tell me the reafon of your trouble ? AIm, rcplyed he fetching a deep (igh, it proceeds. from a miiforlune that always attends me, and which doiihtlefr wiU never forfake me as long as I live. . The unfortunate lover then gave an account to Iheodolinda of what had befallen him, who being very much concerned for him, Haw am I vexed, faid the, at the traerruptian you (T^av^ me, and that your impatience hji thus inoenfed Bellamira, confidering the courfe irhich I hadta-; P^ntooppofe ber anger. Aljs, abruptly anfwered he, I could no lunger defer the joy which t e-vpeUed^ 6o8 PHARAMONR Part XL fxpe^d^ from the fight of my fair VriHcefi, for certainly you would not have had me as tsnfrttu fi'te inthU houfe aslwM in tbeForeft, when my Alhniflment ^ Hunnimonda's ftg/^t and your pverity, jlop^dmef-omthepurfuitofrvhat ladored. But Brother, tep\yedtheodolinda. If you havethofe thoughts which you pretend for the Frincej! of the Goths, whence U it that you avoid «st all occafims of dijpleaftng her ? " The Gods are my witneffes, replyed he, tliat I had ra- " ther fuffer the moft cruel death in the world, than fail in the leaft tittle of my duty and '' fubmiffion ; But Dear Sifter Cif it be lawful for me to call you fo) ufe your endeavours I '' befeech you to affwage the rigour of Humimondas feverity. She would not have me fee '' the Queen of the CiwtrMW/ any more, but you know how deeply I am engaged to that *' Princefs, you know the nature of that kindnefs which I have for you : And therefore will '' you not take my part, will you not fpeak to Bellamira for a Prince, that would not be un- '' grateful to Refamond? "Had you had but patience to the end of my Relation, faid (he^ *' wc had aded by confent and perhaps profperoufly enough. Dear Sifter, then faid Bala- '' mir, for heavens fake finifli your Relation, that we may try in the conclufion whether *' there be any remedy for this mifchief that befals me, only becaufc I am too defperately in *' love. Con^ance then faid (he, and Artahure have fcen her feveiral times, though not knowing her to be any other than the charming Bellamira, for whom Homrius had fo great a paffion but whatever they could fay in behalf of that Prince, they could never draw any thing from the conftant Huftnimonda, but complements of acknowledgment ; So that the Queen of the Go»^/ and my fe If to whom the heart of that Princefs was open, thought there was no better way to affwage her difcontents, bat by taking part with the perfon whom (lie Ibv'd : To which purpofe F/iici^id feconding my intentions, Imakg m quefiion, faid (he, hut that Balamir will fee hit error fo foon as he underjiands Bellamira to he Hunnimonda. But fair PriH' cefi if that fugitive Slave fhak£s offhU criminal Chains, and refHmes thofe fetters which he ought to wear^lhall not hii repentance blot out the memory of h'n crime,and will not yon receive a Loverjum ftified by that very laji aB of his. " I muft acknowledge, anfwered the affliUed Bellamira, that *' I (hould be very well pleafed to fee him change a fecond time, and that after he had for- "got me forRofjmo«(i's fake, he (hould forfake that fair Princefs, and return again to an *' unfortunate Lady that cannot hate him. But after all, though he ftiould highly prefer mc "before a Rivalefs whom all the world admires, though he fliould return and weep at my " feet for the expiation of his crime, can he perfwade me that he has not been falthlefs, or *' can my love hnd any fecurity in the affedion of a Lover, who as all Europe knows has "figh'd for another befides H«««Jwo«(/towledges the Empire of an over ruling pajfton f Vo yon not know^ or at leajl have I not told you, that Roramond's Beauty would always render that good will fujpeded? And after that^ can you be jUll irrefolute ? And fliaU I mt at length re- turn your positive iiifwer, which the charming Hunnimohda expeds in an agony that your ir-^ refolution is ton unworthy of. Speak^then, Broihet, explain your meaning, tell mc what I (fjaU. fay to the Princeji ? Ihat Iwill adore hertothe hjl gjfp bf my Breath, replyed he : And as to what concerns the §^een of the Cimbrians , purfued Iheodolinda ? "that 1 do nit feel my felf Ma{ier, replyed Balamir, fighing, of tbofe motions of affection which I have for her. Upon thefe words 7Aforfo//Wi»bUilhed for very madnefs, and Bj/i^wir changing co- lour, when he conhdered vvhat he had faid. " Alas, added he with a fcornful countenance^ •' to what purpofe is this conteft between us, now that I am threatened with fuch a terrible " overthrow, which wo'jld make you blu(h as well as Bellamjra , if you have Itill the famd *' kindncfs for me that formerly you had. 'Iheodolinda then interrupting Balamir , defired hifn to recite the circumftances that made him queition his Birth, who having given her an account accordingly of all that he. had underltood from Narva's and lelanor^ mouths.tiius purfued his difcoutleir/^/^.'^ I was at Alba Julia it grieved me to be the Son of a Trince who had defpoiled Hunnimonda's Father of her Dominions \ andl wiffjed that the King of the Hiins had not been my Parent. But as the cafe now glands, I am C9n\irained to lotk^ upon that which I tonk^ to my greateji ttnhappinefl, as, the only means to procure my good fortune : for after all. Madam, I am but too well a(fured of my ill fate, that jhange'love which the Cimbrians bear me, convinces me that I was borti, among them, and the affeUion which I have for their ^ Then he paufed upon what he had Caid> he fighed, and refuming his lamentation : Te jufl Gods that 1 have always adored, puifued he, // there any reafon for you te be always fo incensed againjl me that I mujl be reduced to a neceftty of doing fo terrible a piece of injuflice ? Tou kporv the ob' ligations that Rofamond has heaped upon me, vphat an opinion that generous Frincefi has of the unfortunate Balamir, and yet you con\\rain me to forfakf her party at a time when (liejheves me tnoll affection, and honours me with her moji fecret trujis : what will (lie fay of my proceedings ? What will all the Citnbrians fay, that fo well Uve me ? What will all the world fay^ that have hitherto applauded the reputation of my ABions ? For I find that I (hall never jiand to prefer the chains of mv divine Bellamira before all that is great andprecious in the world : but 1 mould willingly return to h'^r with all that ackjtoivledgment which is due to her^ without Jhew- iug an ingratitude to the ^een of the Bohemians, which lean never pardon my felf. Thus he lamented a longtime, and his forrows foturmoiled his thoughts, furprifedby night and wearinefs, thar he tell into aflumber which he thought impolfible to havefeifed upon his eyes. No fooner was he fallen aflccp, but he dreamed that he faw the two Prin- cefles that continually haunted his imagination, but fo fair withal, that nothing was ever comparable to thofe charming (hadows. They did not feem to behold each other like two Rivals but on the contrnrv, having faluted one another, they feem'd to teftifie in moft ob- liging language both their furprife and fatistaftion. Balamir obferving them very diligent- ly feem'd to take notice, that at the end of their difcourfe, Kofamond took iiovn hex own head the Crown which (he wore, and prefented it to Hunnimnnda, who received it more ioyfully. than (he had difdainfully refufed the Diadems of Honorius. With that the ena- moured Prince wasfofatishcd, that he awaked in an exralie of joy, and f\is fancy being yet •wrapped up in the pleafures of his Vifion, he ftretched forth his hands toward the place where he thought he had Teen the two Princeffes ftand. But afterwards it was an imagi- nary jcomfort of real miferies : Ifee, cryed he, fetching a deep figh, 1 fee that the miferabU muft not flatter themfelves , and that Balamir wrongs himfelf to draw favourable conje^ttres fromarepofethathe fo feldom en]oys' Afterwards refleding upon what he had feeninhis dream, Is it not a very hard thing, continued he, to guefithe meaning o/Rofamond's re^eU ta Bellamira ? Voes it not fignifie that the Cimbrian ^een having a bare rejpeS for me, yields the Empire of my heart to a Princefs that has pre ferved the moft tender and obliging thoughts iH the world for Balamir. But, alas, very penfively added he, what will fueh an ineftimable tendernefs avail me, if the misfortune that threatens we, render me unworthy all thofe tejiimt- nies andproofs of her afeUion i The End of the Firfi Book of the Eleventh Part. PHARAMOND. Book IL ^ g 11 PHARAMOND Book II. THe zffi'i&ei Balamir concluded his complaints but only that he might the more feriouflly ponder upon the various aflTaults of his evil fortune. He walked crofs the Wood, not minding that the obfcurity of the (hade mighi' lead him out of his way: fothat in lefsthan an hour he came by chance to a certain place where he heard the tongues of fome that were difcourfing together. At firft he thought they might havcbcen his own Attendants.,' but hearing immediately a voice that he knew not, he made a Itop, and liftened with that attention, that one would have thought he had not then been capable of. Prefently fome perfon or other thus purfued hisdifcourfe: '''' Sir, faid be, 'tis moll certain that the Princefs " of the Ooths is in the Camp of the Franks : they that told me of it know her, and can- "not be.miftaken. From them alfo I underftood the news that is reported among the ''chief Officers of Tharamond's Army, that Balamir had renounced his pretenfions to thb V Queen of the Cimbrians, that he had feen Hunttimonda, and that he loves her more *' pallionately than ever. "I make no queftionof it, aaftfertd the other to nbomthe difcourfe *^a>as addrefi'd, but that you might have been betrayed, and that this Beilamira fo famous " over all the world may be that very Princefs whom you thought to have been fo long •'.dead. I can tell, and it may be by experience, after what a manner a Lover may be a« " bufcd upon fuch an occalion :, and I obferve alfo that the friend(hip which is between **us, iiot only rofe at firft from the coirefpondence between our difpofitions, but alfo from **thc conformity of our fortunes. Youfliall be convinced when i tell you fome circum- *' ftances that make me fpeak in this manner : for I muft confefs , that I come as well a^ " you to feek out a Rival that is in the Camp of the Cimbriam, Yes, Sir, I come to feek " out Agelmond, and to be the death of him i for my antipathy againft him is no lefs, nor- *' no lefs lawful than your hatred againft the Prince that fickle from you the affections of " Hunnimonda. . . . . ; . - Balamir not quertipning but that the firft that fpoke was Miindific, felt an inclination- to combat his defplkd R.ivaj,.that had caufed all the misfortunes of his life. Nevcrthelefs,' the generous Prince kept himfelf within bounds, out of a fenfe of that refpeea: which he prelerv'd as yet for an Enemy which he had always acknowledged for hij elder Brother, and farther out of a tirm belief that his Adverfary woqld never be entertained by the Prin* cefs of tilt Goths. On the other fide, fcornjng to flip an opportunity that invited him to' take //^f/fW9«t- to thiiik^Ihave made a right conjeUttre. while he fpoke in that manner^ Come body was heard to come along toward the place where the difpute began, however, Mundiftc continuing his fpecch, Jf thou Jenej} in the Cimbrian Army, added he, let Balamir h^ore the hatred which I bear him , and tell him moreover that I am refolved to have his life,^r ' -' . iJIJpoh thofe wor(fc Balamir could itpt hold, when a certain perfon comes up of a fudden, an'd interrupting Mundiftc, " You may chance to mifs of your dcljgn, faid he mafurly totte^ " and it msy be a valour infcriour to Balamir's, may teach you another LelTon and fchool "you for your raflinefs. ''The raQinefs of your Language is more to be wondred at, re- *'-^lyed the euraged MMVi^l'ac, and were it not for the darknefs of the Night, we ftiould ^' quickly try whether the gallantry of your Adions could fo well maintain his quarrel, that " you have fo audacioufly undertaken. You fliall hear of me and my Friend in Pharamond's " Army, at the Tent where the King of the Herules lodged, and becaufe I care not to con- *' ceal my name if thou enquireft for Mundiftc, thou (halt meet with a Prince that will make "thee repent thy boldnefs. And having fpoken thefc words, he thruft himfelf into a Thicket of Trees, together with the King of the Low/^-jr^/ Adverfary. Balamir was iurprifed at the ftrangenefs of the accident, but inftead of examining any farther intoit at that time, he rather chofe to teflihehis acknowledgment to the perfon that had taken his part. - To which intent advancing toward him, " You have fo obligingly em- " braced Balamfr''s quarrel, faidhe^-thitl my felf being very much his friend, would glad- ** ly know whofe generofity it is that has fo much obliged him. " If you rightly knew me, " anftveredthe other, you would be foon of another mind, and never believe that a perfon " fo unhappy as I, did any thing extraordinary for the great Balamir, in venturing a life on- "Jy which I lead in fo much forrow. :'. The language and the voice made the Prince of the Hu>it fufpedl the truth, fo that after he had paufed a while upon the words. Either 7 am deceived, faid he, or it U the valiant King of the Lombards, whom Balamir mull ackriovpledge for hys Champion, the very fame unfortu- nate perfon, replyed he fetching a llgh, the miferable h^ttXmond, rvbo at a time and f I act that he had chofen to hervail his mis fortunes, never dreamed of fuch a lucl^y opportunity^ to ferve a perfon rahofe virtue he reverences, Jhe famous AgelmondV virtue, replyed the Prince of the Hunt, rvith more jujiice deferves the veneration of all the rvorld, and Balamir tvho cannot conceal birnfelf from fo generous a friend, fhallever have How Sir, replyed the King of the Lombards interrupting him in a furprife, Is it pojftble that a frince fo great and happy as yoti^ fhould be met rpitb in a place only proper for the moans cf the miferable. Alas, repjyed Bala- mir, it appears that you never heard of the malignity of my Stars : But Sir for your better un- derfranding, you need no more than remember the vpords of the Trince of the Huns, for you k^orv Ihave a Rival that has ruined all my happine^, you hpovp how objiirtately be feeJ^s after my life^ not cuntented to have made it fo mijerable. let mtwithfranding all this afrran^e rvhimfey of for- tufie, that binder t me from being at peace tviih my felf di farms my revenge, for while ]he fhows me the moji implacable of my Enemies, (he ^^ervs me the perfon of a Prince, rvhom 1 have altvajs ack>totvledged far my- elder Brother, (f^e (hews him wounded and in a condition rather to move my (ompajjiou thait.provokf my anger. And therefore I beg your excufeforjfeahing in his behalf, pre. fumingthat the great>te(i of your daring courage, will fcorn to handle a weapon againfl an adver- fary, whofe overthrow rviU yield you no honour, nor feek,the death of a Prince who has been fuffi- cientiy pmiifl^ed for his violences ^ by the contempt and hatred of thofe Princeffes, that he has jiiU i'ak.eit away by Foikit ''''■^' " ''' Thus the magnanimous Bat^tiiir took care of the fafefy of an ingrateful man, %vho fought to take away' his Ijfc;, but notwithflanding all the power which liehad over the King of the Latnbards, Agdyttotid being naturally proud and having received fo terrible an injury could not fpeak of Agione's being aUmir\ accWmpanied witii fcven or eight otliers. "Sir, faiethe, I knew by the Lyons in your Arms that we did not follow " you in vain, for I perceive we have now found, vyhat we have fought after with fo mucH 1^ pains. "I cannot apprehend , replyed Batamir, why you fliould put your fcl vcs to fo much trouble, but' believing you had feme reafonfor it, Ifuppofe you will not be unwilling to reveal it. '"I vvill tell you then Sir, replyed the uther^ that the King iiiy Matter having intcHigencc that you left the Camp in a difcontent, fent fevcral parties alter yon with or- *^dcrs to tell you, that he longs for a meeting between himfclf and you, with an intent t^ "try whether he caufcd the ditfcrence which you have with Prince Balamir. "i do not "wonder, anftveredhe, to (ccrtiy felffo far engaged to the King of the Frawl^x, having re- *' mved fo many tellimonies of his g^nerofity upon feveral other occafions, and if the Prince *' for whom you have taken me be of the faite mind, the Fxoyal houfe of the Hnni vpjll not " be divided. " Is it poflible, replyed the Frank, that fo many probabilities fliould deceive; "me, and that you fliould not be MHhdip.c? 'Tis very probable, rf;>//>a Qneen, that be might by degrees wean himfelf from her company, being obedient to the commands of the inexorable Beliamira. 'Tis very true that lie faw himfelf forced to go to the C'atllc, not only becaule his employment and civility obliged him, but alfo becaule Rjm famntid hei fclf hid fent for him, impatiently defiring to know the fucctfs of his vifit. Bj« /jwrr therefcre'believed that he might liften to themotives of good will,. yet never wound the duty ot his I6vc. However he was at a great Ibfs, when he begin to think it neccfTatjr for the Queen of theBohemians to underfiand, what Beliamira h^d impoftd iipon him.Nt-. vcrtl-yslefs he delayed it as long as he could, but "Rofamond taking no'ice of the trpuble thit appeared imhiJ face. Prince^ (fafdOie with an Air that teftifted how much fh&diared in tiij; afflidfion) 1 befeecb you never fiand to confid^^ hntfrnce yon cannot' live tvithottt ybm Princ^^ go to PharamondV Camp^ and let me riot loo\ upon my felfds' the cajtfe of your forrotps. AIj^ Madam, cryed he, thotyeiilhottidbefogeHerotn i^tdEahmirfoMfjforttiTtate: For'tit impo^Mc far me to fi^ot a^ai)i\\ the ^uee'ri of ihe'(2.\mht{in% intereft, ortdbe a>t Enemj' t(rtf>e trince^ of the Goths, laflietpyott, replyed fhe, that your being in that Aftfiy wiU mt trouble me , and to cure you af tl^e fcrttple ofcanfcience that detains )iou here, lfyoa> that the fatisfadion a>hichyiitt, jpii recf/re /wHunnimonnda's ertjoymenty will maie me amends fdr,iThatlif>^l?fAff'er for yoiir, abfence. But if I muji tell you all, added (lie ^vith a blufli, I trratf-at^tamled^tlrafl more feat, the reinforcement of your valour given to pharamond, tha>i all thefiicnuf! ivhreb-^e eicpcds from^ TheiidohU's. -I find Madam, replyed he, that you arejulito the'Kiftgo'f'tf/e'fhniis, and I. i*otild tnGid »/':»f'tA«/cwrf Hunnimonda, vponld be but as juji to'the tinfriunate Balamfr, to , permit him to prefcrve an a^eliion for you, though not cofnparable to that pjffm which 1 have for ^ir^Jo i^i^eve'w'^ tnSght one day be all fat'v^ed ^ — But kith what kind if felicity, re«. y- • ;•« - p'y^dt' gi4 FHAKAMOND, Part XL clyed (he intetruptjng him, would you flatter V.ofimond} IwauUfdin^ arfwercd Balamifi fee ym ^ueenof the Franks, and in regard that Pliaramond w not nuilty but enly m the falfg accufatigns of his enemiejy metkinkj there v nothing hlttders n>hy hi- way not a/pire to the hn^^nr which 1 intend him. Ah^Ho,Ho^Trince^ reply ed [he with a refolute utterance, Rofamond wiU never do thai iajury to a Brother Jlain before her eyet, and hore feufible foever (he may be of Pha* raaiond'sTOfrjf, fhe tvill rather peri(h in the Ruinet of the laji City that holds out againji him), rather thanyieldtq what you advife me. For in \hort my heart rvould tcpbratd me^ though ni^ reputation were fafe infuch a necefity, that I rKuji either peri(lj or ej^oufe Pharamond. Ihin^ therefore no farther of it, hut fmce I am the eattfe of your a^iQiens^ cbferve boa> I rviU report yoti So yourfuli content, lou (hah k^^orp then all that lyes concealed in my hearty forKodmondrviH difcover to you oft her thoughts, thatjhe never fully revealed^not to the Frincefl o/Suevia her felf Upon fhcfe words a flight blu(h fpread it felf in the cheeks of the lovely Quern, and after (he had* while caft down thofe Angelical eyes, that ruled the deftinies ot iu many great potentates, the turned them in a languifhing poftare upon Balamir, and thus continued her dilcoutfe; JhtowM Ke]l Of you and a little more, too mnch indeed for the repofe and quiet of my life, what thofe noble qualities art xrhich are fo much to he admired in Pharamond. Ihe extraordinary t)Urit of that Trince which hm gained your extern, has had a more ahflttte dominion in >vy heart, than ever my refentment^ though left me as a legacy by my deceafed Father^ and at it tvere implo- red at my hands by the T'ears of a Brother jlain before my eyes. In a rrord 1 cannot hate the King of rlje Franks, and mtrvithjianding all my endeavours to have an aversion toward him, when I was obliged tolook^upon him as my irreconcilable enemy, I found my intentions always il feconded by the motions of my heart, andthat heaven had not created that Trince fuch as we behold him, io render him pdioM to Koi^iOiond. " Hitherto,Madam, replied Balamir, you have faid no- " thing that furprififs me, and I lefs wonder to tear you (b juft with Pharamond's vertue, " than if you had been unjuft toward a Prince fo potent and fo lovely. "Would ro God, ^'repUedthefair ^4een,fetcbingadeep fjgh, that I had continued in this moderation, but, a- '• las, I know too well how far my affcdion extends, the more I fiiid my felf conftraincd ^'- to fmother my love, the more it encreafes and ftrives to break forth, being accompanied " with certain troubles that make me aftiamed. Yes Balamir, I am fometimes aftiamed of *'• my weaknefs, and when to flatter my pride I begin to commend my courage, I chide my "felf for thofe fears which I cannot but pity, I fear left Pharamond (hould in the end growr " weary, left he fliould ftiake off his chains which it will never be lawful for me to eafe him " of, and fometimes I am thinking that Amalazontba's Glances and her carriage toward him, *'• will one day rob me of his affedions. " Ah,Madam, cried B^hmh, interrupting her, can "you fo injurioufly fufpcd the King ef the Franks ? No,no,Madam, Pharamond will never " change, but to the laft gafp of his breath he will adore that Angelical Queen, to whom *' he is always ready to facritice his life and Kingdoms. " Should what you fay be trae, ^^ replyed Kofamond, as lometimesi make my felf believe for my own repofe, 1 (hould not " be altogether unhappy, for being free from any other Prince in the world, this would be "' my fatisfaftion that no other Princefs in the earth, could deprive me o( FharamoHd'sbetrt, *' This confolation will be fuppoited alfo by my joy, to fee you reftored to Hnnmmonda'f *'aff£vho was conftrain'd to take worfe advice from him than that, readily confented. Thereupon , notwithftanding her unwillingnefs to animate an Army againftaperfon too dear to her for her repofe, (lie gave orders accordingly, and the tVree Princeffes went along with her, attended by the Prince of terfia, Martian and Ambi" omer. Nor did the King of Suevia make any fcrupk to open his very heart to Varauez, de- claring to him thereafon why he had made this match> and the advantages which pLm- mond''s Rivals would reap thereby. As for Balamir, he faw the departure of the Queen, but could not follo\y heri for beildes that his honour detain'd him in the Ciw7fcrieding that it was you that mre the King of the Lombards'/ friend. "■^Thereupon, confirm'd as he was in his refolution, Balamir fent for the principal Officers of the C/wl>ni»« Army, who were-nofooner met in his Chamber, but he thought good to €>thort them to' continue in their loyalty, not only becaufe the Queen was abfent, andbe- ciufe he was going to the Camp of the F»- and that Phcidia^ importun'd by the proteltations of his love, never minded any thing but the misfortunes of Kowf, thp wcaknefs of Honorins, and the abfence of her dear Co»jla)tce. As for Sii^eric that now reigns over the Fi^^o/i&j', he is a Prince naturally proud, impatient and furious. At thajC lime he mightily affeded "ibeodolinda'j company, but the Princefs always avoided it as much as civility would permit.Howevcr,one day that Alaric and Wallia were taken up with fome great affairs, (he was perfecuted by this new Lover, after a molt cruel manner : for he not only beheld her with a boldnefs that difplealed her i but when (be turn'd away her facq, lyeU^ Madam, faid he, according to his wonted pride, I fee you fcorn my heart, that will mt Co much as vouchfafe me one hok^totcard the conquefi of it. Ibefeech yott. Sir, faid 7hea' dolittda, talk^mtof heartt, nor conqueftf, norlookj, they are rpords that no xvay pleafe me, and 'theydoHotalatays dijlik^ you, faid he, interrupting her, for when they come fut of AlaricV or Wallia'j mouth, then no quejiion but they are very .mellow and well accepted, h\ix\c and \Nz\]\i demean themfelves in fo different a manner fi-om you, replyed TheodoUnda^ that I Jhould be unjuji t» complain of their behaiiiour. You. weuld fay, anfwered he, that they are more happy than I, , but I cannot tell whether their pajjion be jironger than mine, or fo weU tvortby to fucceed : for theirs is too moderate and wife ; but a vigorous love proportionable t^ your charms, can only impofe Fetters upon Sigcric. Perhaps be would not find them very light, rc- flycd the Princefs, but ''tis well fur him that I am neither in a condition nor humour to impofe 4' Tty^^ackjes at all upon hitn. ■ 4(i This difpute began too fmartly to have ended fo foon, had not /4/i«r/c at the fame time fiepped into fheodolinda^s Chamber, and by his prefencc altered the fubjed of the difcourfe. Immediately he was not a little troubled to obfervea dillurbarice in Siberia's face, and a dif- ti»» boix> to carry yur fetf^ k>ioiv that your Kii^bas a divi>jeve»ers. tion for the divine Theodolinda, and would mlitfgly mak^ her your 0HeeH, could 1 but pptn her confent. As far as I can fee, 5/>, replyed he, with a defpite that he could notdiffem- ble the Trincefi of the Kuns is fo accujiomed to hear of the ejfeUs of her Beauty^ that flie takes a hare complemeiit of Sigeiic for afcriom proteflathn of love : but fvtcc the fmootheli of my ex- prefjions rviU tiot pleafe, I mill even hold my tofigue^ though at the very fame time that 1 mufi mt dare to jj>ea}{_, Wallia ^>allbe permitted to bold the PnKcfJJ Theodolinda in a difcourfe of nf his love^ and to profef himfelf unpunifljedto he the King's Kival. Alaric, provoked with his word?, and yet not willing to flie out in the prefence of a Princefs that he adored, gave Sigerit only fuch a look that his pride was foon quelled ■■> and away he went out of the Chamber, for fear of incenllng the King any tarther ; and now the King being alone with the Princefs of the Huns^ with a tntlancholy deeper than he was wont to (hew, Tou fee. Madam, faid he, tvhat a coMJpiracy there is againft me: for not only Wallia'/ merit is a potent objiacle to my claims, but SigericV violent humour alfo threatens me fvithjirange crops. Hotv, Sir, anfwered (he in a kind of furprife, is it pnjfihle youlhould fear Sigeric for a Competitor ? Ido Mot fear, replyed he, that he will ever xvin your heart : hut fomething has flrangely difompofed my mind ever fmce Sigeric has been under your Laws. Were you acquainted with my Laws, replyed 'theodolinda, yon would quickly fee that Sigeric U not a man to be feared i fo that you are fafe enough as to him. But am I as fafe as "Wallia ? replyed the King, fetching a deep (igh. J confef^ faid (he with a (light blu(h in her cheeks, the virtue of that Prince has equalled the kiftdnejj'es that he has done me, and made far different impreffiens from ihofe which Sigeric has imprinted in my heart. So then. Madam, aniwered the King, you prefer the happy Wallia before all thofe other Princet that adore you .<■ Ihereis a great di[lance, replyed (lie, between your thoughts and mine : fer I believe there may be'pt" (lice done to Wal'ia, without anynecefjity of determining fo hajiily upon the choice of him in that manner that you intend. But is there no hope, anfwered Alaric, for the King of the Goths ? As I am not the Miflre(i of my own will, replyed (he, 'tis a ueedlefi thing for me to break^the Lawsof civility by a pofitive anfwer. But, Sir, you have dealt fo generoufly by me, that J dare f-ankjy make you this protejiation, that the kindnefi which 1 have for \\a.\\h f^^all never lejfea that ejieem and acknowledgment which I owe to the King of the Goths. while they were upon this difpute, the illuftrious Prince of whon:i they were difcourfing ■entred, fo that his prefence did not a little trouble Alaric : and TFal'ia himfelf was not a lit- tle^ifquiered to behold the difcompofureof mind that appeared in both their faces. Im« mediately he began to examine the nature of their difcontcnt, and carting his eyes upon the Princefs, he Teemed to conjure her by that very ad^ion to lay afide thofe fears that vexed her foul, "theodolinda underftgnding that fecret requell, anfwered him with a look that inight have confirmed Ifallia, had not the prefence of fuch a Rival as /^/lar/e weakened theeffed of that innocent favour, infomuch that thofe three illuftrious perfons fo worthy to haye been all happy, and yet fo unlikely tobelo, obferved one another a good while with a mutual filence > and when they did fpeak, their difcourfe hung but ill together, (hewing only the e(kem which they reciprocally had for one another: but when they were parted, tlity went feverally to bewail the misfortune- of their virtue ; and while their Generolity ■bounded their dellres, Sigeric ^zve all the Iwinge to his that his rage couM demand. He had (hut himfelf up with one Autharic a Soldier of fortune, upon whom for his valour the Government of Capua was bedoWed at the fame time that I obtained tlie command of Ca* labriahy ff^allia's me3r\s: fo that he being beholding to Sigeric for his advancement, that Prince determined without any more to do,to difcover his whole mind to him. To which purpofe, beholding him as attentively as his troubled thoughts would permit him, Autha- JHC, faid he, youkjfowl have fo well carried onyour inter '>}s upon all occafwns, and by the proof f W>at you have received of my good will, you may eaply con]edure irhatyou have (iill to h pe. 5/V, Anfwered he, not giving him time to fay more, all the marks of your gondnefs are fo deeply •engraved in my memory, that you need hut tell me your bufmefs to be affured of my zealtoferve 'you. Sigeric was very well fatisfied with this anf wer, but though he qucftioned not in the Icafi the< fidelity of the Gotfcjf/; Officer, he could not fully refolve what to do. His pa(fions increafing his natural boldnefs, he found there was a neccllify of declaring himfclt ; but the greatnefs of the et'ierprife, the difticulty of the execution, and the incertainty of the fuccefs, fo violently turmoilcd his mind, that 'twas impollible tor him that day to explain his thoughts: and therefore addrclling his fpccch to Autharic, Wonder not, faid he, that I ' feein Book II. T H A K A MO N D. 6i^ /eemninrf cautiom thinl rvM rvoMt to be^ ofdifcoVfrhi^iayoHihefecrstsefmyhrefl: Ibiy'art of that cojifequencf, that it is beji for you to examine the tboifghts of my hearty and to confult thai fidelity which you have promifed we, before 1 entruji yen tvithfo great afecret, Tlic Goth woull have made him vows and protelkatioiis, but the Prince interrupting him. No, ««, 't'n net time for me to f^cah^yet^ (to and ponder upon what I have faid already, and come again to morrorJ> if you find your felf undaanted enough , to fatUfie yonr Ambition by {ignalizing your Arm. Autbaric, ajfcr he had fworn a hundred Oatiis, that no danger how terrible foevcr (liouM make him change his reCoIution, went out of Sigeric's Chamber, while the Prince aban- doned hiti^fcir to all thofe violent thoughts, that jealoulie and defire of Reign could infuP; into him. He looked upon Alaric aS a Tyrant, Jheodelinda'i MajeOy feemed to be an un- mannerly rudencfs,- and he looked upon fVallia'j noble pride as an infupportable prcfum- ption. JfT^at^ faid he, xvouldiithouthat the "Daughter of a great King, that aPrince(itphohas fcorn''d the offer of Kingdoms (fjould take notice of thvs paffion ? lVould[i thou that (lie (Ijould pre. ferthee before thy Majier, and when flje may he a ^e, than to thwjrt yiurinclmatioHt . Hofpner divine, Princeji, added he, beholding her in a moft paliionatc inarncr, vpiUynuMat at lea\i referve fame ack*ion>ledgment for a mifer able per fott^ that reftgns fa j itbnu^wely to yom xpill^ though to his oxvn ruine ? ,,r ,; . ;, j He had no fooner exprcffed himfelf in that manner, but T^m^o//Wj out pf 3 pure refpefi: toward him, " Sir, anftveredjhe^ your carriage has been fo obliging, that if can never lica- "ny (tain to my modefty to tell you, how fcnCiblel am of your obligations. " Hp.wCvcr, ^'^ replied he^ you would not (tick to efpoufe my Rival befoxc my face, had yj|p but the con- " fent of the King your Father. *' Were it the King of the Hunt will, rep/Wd "Ibeodolinda^ "that I (hould marry IFallia, moll willingly would Iconfent: But Sir) I declare withal, ** that never of my own head , would I prefer that Prince before the Hing of the "Go*/;/, fmce I find you take the true way, to make your fclf Maftcr of my De- "ftiny. Alaric tatisfied with what (he had faid, departed from her lefs melancholy than havvas before, and ff^allia who faw iiim not long after, obferving a kind of tranquillity in his eyes, apprehended a thoufand ftrange fancies in his mind, not without being mortally grieved at it. For which reafon inftead of taking order for his departure from Capua, he lent for me to bear a (hare in his affiiClion. So taking me into his Clofet, he beheld me with an extra- ordinary trouble in his countenance : ■•' Ah Hilderic, cryed he fetching a deep (igh^ I am loir : "for xhc zmh\\.\o\xs'iheodolinda without doubt prefers /4/i»ric's Diadems, before the moft " tender aflcdion that ever was, *' But Sir, faid I interrapting him, who inform'd you that "the Princefs of the Huns has taken upfuch a hafly refolution, vvhcrein (he has hitherto "appeared fo wary. " The King by his eyes afTured me of it, and Lovers are feldom de« "ceived by thofe conjedurcs. Yes Hilderic. it muft of neceflity be, that either Iheodolin- " da has been very kind to Alaric, or very unkind to WaHia : But 'tis no ftrange thing that "the daughter of a great King, (hould forget a Prince that has nothing but his Sword and "his Lcve, or that (he fliould favourably accept the vows of an illu(\rious \ idtor, that has " filled the greateft part of the world with the Renown of his conque(ts, '• Ah Wallia.ad ■ ' ded he, flatter thy felf no longer, but if through thy injuf^ice thou wouldft not render thy "Celf woithy of this misfortune, approve thofe reafonable and lawful thoughts, and thew " thy 7eal and thy refped, as well for thy King as for thy Miftrefs. He held his peace after he had taken this rclblution, but then having confidcred a wliiie,, whether he were able to keep it or no i "I know right well, anfwered he to himfelf, that I " can never ceafe to love IheodgUnda^l know (he will Reign with abfolute Sovcraignty in my "heart, till thelaftgafpof my breath. But after all, does it behove mc to be contented " only with being more in love than the King of the Goths, without attempting to carry my "gcnerofity, as tar as I have feen the extent of his. He has contended with his pailion for " my fake, though he knows himfelf in a condition to gratifie it, and (lull ff^allia who loves " without hope, endeavour nothing for the King's fake ? Shall he give no proof of his ac- "knowledgment to a magnanimous Prince, to whom he is fo much beholding? No, no, *! will never tax m.y felf of fo much ingratitude, rather he (hall find that I am not altoge-. " ther witftout that virtue, which makes us thankful for fuch benefits as we receive. I am " refolved not to go along with the Court, but here in this City will I (liut up all my ior-j " rows, and never go to Capua there to intermix them with thofe delights, that Alaric and ^^iheodolinda wiW enjoy after thofe obliging prote(fations, which in all likelihood they^ "mutually made to each other. But immediately repenting, '■'■ Whevehxe, Jaidhe, (hall f " let my Rival reaceably enjoy the company of the perlbn whom I adore > and not go if it "be but to interrupt his difcourfe, dillurb his joy and be always in his ()ght ? But alas,<»i- " ded he fetching a figh^ fo fav (hall I be from dillurbing Alarit's fatjsfadiion, that I (hall bu: "go to be a witncfs of hisfuccefs, I fliall but go to bdiold tny misfortune in his Counte* "nance and in 7'/&ffl the King my Father earnejUydepres an alliance tfith hhric, and that he will never encline to prefer you before thofe Kings that feek^to be in amity with him : fo that yon fee it only lies in AlaricV power, whether he will have Theodolinda er no : and therefore fince he has prohiifed not to force my will, and that it is impofible for me to be yours, rvherefore Cmuld not I have a kj»dnefs for the King of the Goths, which being far from being prejudicial to you, may k^ep him conjiant to thofe thoughts which may always prove for our good? Muji that Frince then, Madam,xtp\ytd he, digtofe of your affeUions ? Would you have me pro' vokehim, anfwered (lie interrupting him, or that I jhould incenfe him to prove my Mafter, in» \]eadof my Hmband? Ik^ownot what Iwould have, replyed he fighing, but it may be, I ff^rould thinks my felf lefs unfortunate in dying fuddenly, than to fee you ^een of the Goths, and linger out a lonjr and languiflnng life, 'then'tis with your confent, replyed 'Theodolinda with a kind of difdain, that 1 fhould marry Alaric? 1 have told yon already, anfwered Wallia, that I neither know what 1 would have, mr what it becomes me to defire ; for you kjiow. Madam, that having fo much love, and fi; little hope, 'tis a very hard thing for me to preferve my reafon entire. He concluded thofe words when the Sifter of UonoriUs entrcd the Chamber, and no foon* er had ftie caft her eyes upon my Matter's countenance, but that taking compallion upon a Prince for whom ftie had fo great a kindnefs and efteem, flie fpake to Theodolinda in his be- half i nor was it without good fuccefs, for the Princefs of the Huns not daring to promife Wallia, and not caring at all to promife Alaric, thought it enough to ftiew, that her affedi- ons inclin'd toward my Mailer, not repenting hovvevcif of thofe teftimonics ot her acknow- ledgment, which ftie had given the King of the (Joths. Flacidia 'woa]d not give her oiT foi but as (he was about to have put a fmooth interpretation in ^i»///<»'s behalf, upon what Theodolinda had (poken in behalf of Alaric, one of the King's Attendants came in, and withaftrange alteration in his countenance brought word, that the King's dilicmper in- crealed to that height, that they began to be afraid of his life: that Autalph and Cleomna were in the Chamber, and that the lick Prince only defired tor his eonfolation to fee thole two Book II. F H J R A MON A[ 62. * _. .... ^ two PrinccfTes, together with JFallij. Thereupon they all three v/cnt to the Royal Apart- ment with all the I'pccd they could make. . • .. ;, Alaric would have rilen up to have faiuted them, Btat Jiis Pnyficians nof thinkirrg it convenient, " Friends, /ii'^ be tnthcm^ you liave nothinj^ more to dot'orr»,cv for lintel " cannnot end my life with honour at the head ot my Army, as I iiad rciolvcd to do, you " fliall not conftrain the King of a warlike Nation to die in iiis Ced, like one that had nei- " tiicr the Dignity nor rcfolutions o( Ahric. Thus Autalpb^ CUvmira, and afterwards ?/<«• eidia^'Theodoliitda and IVallia tound him litting in an Elbow Chair, and as they were about to have exprclTed their forrows, 5/j^fr;c delired admiihon, complaining that there had facer no regard had to his E.ank and Quality i he fcnt in word, that he had not only never been inform'd of the King's indifpolition,but that he could not be permitted to come to pay thofc^ devoirs which fo great a King had reafon to exped: from pcrfons fo near him in blood. A- laric^ as feeble as he was, yet his blood rofe at the very found of Sip^erk^ name, but in re- gard he had nothing but bare fufpicions againft that Prince, he only return'd him this an- fwer : " Let Sigeric, fjid he, have but a little more patience, for it he can but wait a (horc " while longer, he will fee me v/ith much more joy than now. Having by fhofe few words given him to underftandfthat it was he whom he fufpedJ-ed he tnrn'd toward Prince Autalph, and majefticaliy addreliing his fpeech to ihem, "Bro» *'ther, [aid he, my death will fuddenly put you into the pofifellionof my Throne : but re- •' member your felf I conjure you, and let not the greatnefs of your power range according " to the didates of your unbridled padions, but let your virtue give it thofc bounds which "your people cannot prefcribe. It may be you think it a tine thing to fee thedcilinies of " three fair Princeffes at your difpofal ■■> but have a care that you forget not what you owe *' to perfons of their Rank and Sex. Above all lememhcr that the illulirious Tlacidia is *' the Daughter of the great 'Iheodofiiu, and if (he refufes you to be Queen of the Goth " inftead of putting a force upon her inclinations, conGder that (he may look upon us as " the deftroyers of her Country, and Princes more than barbarous. Asfor the two Prin» " ceffcs of the Hunt and 'ton^res I recommend them to you with more hopes to obtain the *' cffed: of my prayer : for fince you can have no prejudice again/t them, I cannot imagine "you will ever give them any caufe to think themfclves your prifoners. But, Brother " what 3m I not to fay in the behalf of Prince Wallia ? his Arm, liis Prudence and his Gc- " nerofity will fupport your Reign with Honour. You have nothing to do but to give him. " an Army to keep your people in aw, and your Neighbours in fear. There is nothing can ''(hake your Throne if he uphold it i and if the F/figoths will give that iicnour ro fo va. '' liantand generous a Prince which is due to his virtue, I make no queliion but you wiU *' quickly lay the foundation of a lafting Monarchy. Eefides this National advantage, f "deiire one kindnefs in particular : for I mult acknowledge, that having a very great af- *'fedion forthePrincefs 'IheodoUnda, I cannot die in peace unlefs I kavtJFaliia in a con> " dition to protedt her againft 5/gmc : and therefore once more, Brother, added he with aU *Uhe vehemence he could, I recommend to your care thefe four illulhious perfuns. At thole words he fetched a deep (igh, his fpirits being wafted. Afterwards having kiffed TlacidWs and Cleomira''s hands, and given his own to Autalph, but ftill holding fa/t fFaliia"'/ and "thcedolinda's : at i^r(\ lie beheld them without fpeaking a word, but foon after his love, and the firength of his courage exciting him to do his utmoft, he pronounced thefe words, which he accompanied with fume tears" Prince, faid he to my Ma lingly, though I die wearing thofe freciotu Chains rvheretvith you fettered wf, and tvhichJ »av9 refign to my Rival. Tei Madam^ 1 refign them to Wallia of to the Prince, who of all the Princes in the world he[i deferves to enjoy your virtues. But Princef, willyeu ahfolutely forget A'aric > IViliyou not fometimes pity hit endfo much to be deplered ? But then Iheedtlmda and ffallia feeling the finews of their conftancy and courage fail, loft theu{eoffpeech, and tofuchob* liging queftions only return'd him the doleful anfwers of their Tears ■■, while the King of the Goths cafting his farewel look upon the Princefs of the Hw«/, took her by the hand and kiffed it, tafting fo much fweetncfs thereby as feemed to make his departure cafie, which fome few minutes after enfuing, left us all unfpeakably difconfolate. ThcVifigotbs had no fooner loft their renowned Prince, but their forrows were attended with many troubles ; For in (hort, Sir, when our Princes and the moft confiderablt Offi* cers of our Army, were aflembled to acknowledge the new Ring, Sigeric put in his claim to be chofen Lieutenant General of the Crown, pretending that /4«tn t%e death of a Vrince whofe virtue was an Afylum again]} all vielence. And if the King of the Goths, replyed my Malkr, treats mt the Princeji oj the Kocdzus with that re^eVi which is due to her, will you then prefently be gone to Alba ]ulia ? Is there a neceffrty, if Autalph pr'fi how he kept the Princefs of the 'tongres a long rime (hut up in a Tower, after he had ftoUen her away from us ; and how that Rebel was atter- wards beaten, taken, and fent prifoner to the Prince whofe Majcfly he had ufurped. As for Autalph, he being charmed with the Beauties of his Queen, left Kome and Italy emire to the po(relIion of her native Soveraign : only before he marched from Ram«o«tf the Ca- pital City of his Dominions, he (eniTheodoHnda back to the Court of Honor/us, being there- to requelted by Plaeidh (or feveral reafons. For indeed the Rape of Cleomira and Sigeric's humour l^ooK li. FtiAKAMONn 62j humour made her the ttiorc careful of thcPrincefs of the H««/, On the other fide fijc thought that fuch an incomparable Frinccfs as rtie, while (lie fiaid for an opportunity to re- turn into Djc/j, might work her Brother to do an ad of Geiierolijy lor a Princcfs's fake who had had fo great a rcfpedt for his Sifter. To which purpofc (he thus reafoncd with IheoJoliitda before their departure: laif Frincef}^ quoth flic, in the prefencc of IVallia with rears in her eyes, 1 am notv by the rvill of Heaven Autalpli'/ ^^''j/f, and my h^ attune U fo linked to hU^ that 1 am no longer permifted to ihink^ofbim whom once I loved fo inmceMly' I dare Hot prayformyRelationj, nor for my ruined Country^ if the Prinee^ whofe interelii muji govern mine^ (fjould refolve either to march againfl Rome or Honorius himfelf^ I muji ao farther, dear Prince^^ feeing I find my felf obliged to fljnn \our company •, for yon arefo like' ly to take aivay from me fume part of that affedion which is due from me t$ the King of the Goths, that your company otherivife fo charming and alluring^ feemi now as dangerous as it ■was really charming before. Ah, my fair ^een, cryed Iheodolinda^ your confcience m too nice i fa that injiead of parting from you, 1 muji blame your virtue Jo fievere to my prejudice, however, replyed (he, notvtbat I am the KiHgmyHtuband's, and muji behis aloae^ 'twill be a difficult thing for me to refufe you a [l)are of my heart HotP I faid the Princefs of the Huns, impatiently interrupting her, rvill you then no longer love me ? Not fa, dear Frjncefs, replyed Flacidia, but titell you truth, Itpouldmt that your prefence (tjoutd augment my affediou for you v for 1 fear 'twill weaken my affeciion to the King of the Goths. And you Frince, faid (lie, add re(Iing her felf tomyMafter, do you not take my part, or do you fight the joyful honour of condnBiifg the charming Thcodolinda to the Court of Honorius ? 1 have perfwaded Autalph to make an alliance with the Romans by your mediation : and in regard Ho- norius has that ejieem for you which he has not for any of the Goths, I make no que\xion but he rtfilleafily grant Prince Wallia thofe Provinces which the great Theodoiius promifed your Coun^ trymen, T^he care which Alaric took^ of your fortune, puts us in remembrance to labour in your advancement, as well as to humble the pride of Sigeric : fo that the intentions of fo great a King^ being conformable to Autalph'j inclinations, you may befure that nothing ^lall be omitted to ren^ der the journey which I propsfe fuccefful. Autalph (hall not limit your Commifjion ■, and I my felf will write in your behjlf fo as to produce fame eff'eii : and it may be alfo, added (he witii a blu(h, you will regain a Friend zealous for your interefisf and in fafficient credit rvith Ho norius. You may well conjecture, Sir, that my Mafterwascafily perfwaded, and that Placidia't difcourfe gave him hopes, which otherwile hedurO; not have conceived. Neverthelefs, before he would return an anfwer in teftimony of his acknowledgment, he confulted the fair eyes of his Princefs with a paflionate look, feeming to demand whether theodolindj confented to the Queen of the Goths propofal : and not obferving any rcludancy to the e- fiabli(liment of his good fortune in the eyes of her that was to raife it, hcreturn'd Placidia thanks, and then purfuing his defign, '''Madam, faid he, I would renounce both ^ijm/*j/m, "and all the Kingdoms of the world, would the divine "Theodolinda vouchfzfc to crown " all thofe Grandeurs, and add thereto one happinefs infinitely above all the Empires in the ** earth. *' Think you, replyed the Si{ler of Uonoxias, that your lovely Princefs is fo un- •' ju(i, ii neither to be mov'd with Wallid's virtue, nor fo many Cervices which that gene- *' rous Prince has perform'd for her fake ? You are little acquainted with her upon my word, *' if you think her capable of fuch a coynefsv nor did I ever obferve that (he ever gave you *' caufe to have any fuch fufpicion. " Ah, Madam, replyed the enamoured Wallia, that I " (hould have fo little reafon to be at quiet in my mind, feeing I am not able to gather any. ''precife or pundual anfwer from the lips of my Princefs, fo that my heart continually •' floats in a cruel uncertainty. For 'tis very probable that the King of the H««J"may bead- " vis'd of afudden to make fome alliance for the advantage of his Kingdom, where I arh '' every moment likely to be deprived of the Princefs whom I adore ; for there is no doubt '- but the over- nice "theodolinda will certainly obey thole commands, though never fo fa- cial to the fortunate /^r/^ ^^, "you deiire there fhould be nothing of certainty in thofe hopes with which you are rc- " quefted to blefs me. " Ah, iVallia, replyed (he,)'o\x have little reafon to complain, (incc I " havefufficiently declared to you the meaning of my thoughts, by permitting you the " bbldnefs to urge me fo far, without fearing to difpleafe me. " Very good, replyed Placi- K k U k 2 dij' ^ ^>5 r n yi i\^ yi ivi w i\ JL^. i a k t .a.1. *' dia, and do you think that to be a plenary fatisfadion to the Prince ? Do you tiiink it " docs not become him rather to have thofe affurances which he demands from your own " lips ? For my part, pitrfued [he, I will know before we part, whether Iheodolinda and *' f^(«///4 (hall be happy or no : promife me then, dear Princefs, the matter wholly depends " upon you ■■, and therefore vanquifli I conjure you a nicety of lefs moment than IVallia's " merit > and which with fome fort of juftice may give place to that affedion which you " have for Placidla. I find, fair ^een, replyed the Princefs of the Huns, that I mptjl ohey your commands ; and therefore I declare to Trince Wallia, that he fli all never have any reafonto cmtflain ef his dejiiny, if Theodolinda can contribute to his bappinefs. She could not conclude thofe words without blulhing, and then continuing her fpeech on purpofe to recover her felf, Toufee, faid flie with more boldnefs, what you have obliged me io fay, yet not repenting ef my conformity to the illujirious Placid ia's thoughts, beftdes thai it would not be civility to difohey the ^een of the Goths in Autalph'j Court. My Malkr o- verjoyed to hear fo charming a protellation, tefHfied his acknowledgment to both Princef- fes, but in fuch expreflions as are not eallly repeated by one not infpired with the fame paf- fion. Thus, Sir, ftood things at what time I'beodolinda zni the Queen of the Coths parted. The former took her way for Kavenna, accompanied by Wallia, and the greateft part of the "Roman Ladies who had accompanied that Princefs: and Flacidia in a (Tiort time after fet forward for Barcinona with the King her Husband. My Mafter had all his Letters, his Commillions, and his inftrudions in the moft full and ampleft manner : and being thus fut- nitVied with the means of ellablifliing his fortune, and having alfo every moment the oppor- tunity of enjoying the company of his beloved Miftrefs, he forgat all his part troubles, pleating himfelf in tlie afTurance of his hopes. Homriiu received Iheodolinda with the fame tertimonies of his aire(ftion which lie could have given flacidia: and Wallia he treated alfo with fo many marks of his eftcem and confidence, that only CowjJaKce could have ex- peded fuch a welcom. In a few days the alliance between the two Nations was made j Aquitain waspromifcd toWallia\ and Honorius, whofe mind was wholly fet upon Bellami' ra, undertook to unite my Malkr's and the fortune of the Princefs of the Huns together. On the other fide, Autalph fent for Wallia, and after he had conferred with him, and fet- tled affairs together, he gave him twenty thoufand men, either to ferve the Ro»»(J«/ if they hadoccafion, or to take poiTcilion of that part of Ga/Z/j which was promifed him. But you know. Sir, that there happened fuchllrange revolutions afterwards, both among the Vific^oths, as alfo in the Court of Honoriiu, that my Mafter's good fortune was very much difturbed, if we may not fear its total overthrow. In fliort, Sigeric underftanding Au- talph's intentions, plotted againft him more than ever; and by gifts and promifes wrought fo far to difcrcdit his Government, and render the King odious to the people and the Sol» diers, that the people firft murmured againll their Prince, and loon after brake out into open Rebellion : Aatalph was killed in his Palace, and Flacidia forced to fhe from a City where her party was not ftrong enough to aflift iier againft the Rebels. Wallia nofoonerunder- ftood the news of this terrible revolution, but he marches for his own Country with all the principal Officers of the Army i but notwithllandingall the hafte he could make, he heard thit Sigeric was crowned King before became to the Borders of Spain. And therefore though it is very probable he mighthave made great alterations again, in regard of the high authority he had among the Fi^i;9t/;j, yet confidering that his Enemy was his King, that the crimes he had committed were done when he was a private perfon, and that he fate in Autalph''s Throne by right of fucceffion, hercfolved not to give any pernicious Prefident to thofe that fought to authorife their ambition. However, he went to Tarracoua, where he undcrftood tliat Autalph's Widow was retired, offering to ferve that fair Queen to the utmodof his power. Flacidia having returned him her thanks, and given him to under- ftand the comfort (lie enjoyed by his prefence : 1 know, purfued (lie, by rvhat means this fe- dition was raifed fo fatal to the King my Hiaband ■■, yet after all that, I have no great reafon to revenge his death. Then (lie enquired after 'theodolinda, and told him how willing (lie (linuld be to return to the Court of Ho?iorius. In anfwer whereto, my Mafier gave her a full account of all things, and promifed withal to convoy her fafe into //j/)'. But the Queen of Albionhdng then at "I'arracona, whither (he came to be refolved by Plac/diain certain jealoufiesof Cow/fiJKt/Ke's fidelity. The two Queens entrcd into fuch a ftridl league of Friendlhip, that they refolved never to part but in the Territories of the Gauls, and to travel together fome parr of each others way in their return to their native Country. Oaavia, to whom renown had feveral times reported IVallia's famous Deeds was very ghd to be acquainted with fuch a Prince, giving Book 11. F H A K A M ON D. giving him fuch marks of her eficem, as were little different from the Queen of the Goths Thereupon thofe three illuftrious perfonaj-.es having given orders tor their departure fct forward with a numerous Train toward OjliiaNarbott»enju^yi\ittcm^l it behov'd him to begone to tight Harmaxes i for which purpofc he quickly made himfelf ready, and got him out of the Trenches. But bccaufe he was inform'd that Mundiftc fought all opportunities to fight him, with whom his Generofity would not permit him to encounter, not fo much regard- ing his valour, as his wounds, he left "ielamr in the Camp, and putting on a plain Coat of Arms that he might not be known, he took the direft way to the Wood, believing that M««^ //ic would (Tay for him in the high v.ay between the Camps. But while he is thus parted from the Cimbrian Arnjy, the Princefs Albifindd's Efquire comes thither from Ce- logae in that poft hade as put them in expedation of fome Ikange news. Prefently he went to the King of the Sueviant, to give him an account of the reafon of his return, which was to tell him that the Citizens of .^^np/j/wj were refolv'd to detain the Queens of xhcCimbrians and TMri»^ient, the Princeffes of Suevia and the Lombards in their City till the end of the war. The Father of Albifmds feem'd to be lefs furprifed than indeed he was : but in regard he was flow to demand any farther Relation, the Squire went on with his meffage: " Our Princeffes, faid he^ were no fooner arrived at Cologne, but they were '' received by the Magiftrates with all the fubmillion of Loyal Subjeds •, and when it was "perceived that they intended to go farther to meet the CenflantinopolJtan Troops, the ''Magiftrates came again and befought them to change their refolutions, and to ftay in their " City, there being no place more convenient for iheir Sex and Dignity than a Spacious "'and Noble Town. But the Princefs oi Snevia, in obedience to your commands, per* " fwaded tiie Cimbrian. Queen to meet the Army. Rofamond preferring Albifmda's fatjsfadi- " on before any other confideration, return'd a civil anfwer to the Citizens of Agri^pina, "but inftead of giving ear to their requeft, gave order for their departure : thereupon the " people mutinyed, and threatened to take Arms, while Martian and Ambinmer endeavou- '' red CO bridle their infolency vvith fuch as they could procure to ftand by them. But that '? v^hich was mol'i to b,e wondered at, was the remifnds and tamenefs of the Terfun Prince ' that ufed to be fo zealous, and fo amorous •, and not only fo, but he encouraged the De- "puties that came to fpeak to the Queen. He told the Queen that flic had no reafon to "blame the Citizens of Cologne^ if tortunc having by accident thrown into their City a '' G-^gc Book III. THARAMOND. 6 ft " Gagefufficient to fave them hartnlefs froth the dammages of the war, whereeverthe v!- " Cioxf fell, they let not flip the oppottunitics that were put into their hands. while he fpakc in that manner, Briomer was fccn riding from ftrcct to Orcet, exhorting the people to iland rirm to that rcfolution, which as it was thought he himfclf had infpii'd into them. The Princeffes no fooner undciftood that the Bohemian was in Agrippina^hnt they no farther quedioned who had laid the foundations of that tumult : And examining Varaneiti proceeding, they made as little doubt of his being in confederacy with the C/w- briatt^ and that your MajcHy was not ignorant of the accident : And therefore they thought it convenient, rather than to«vcnture the lives ot Ambiomer and Martian^ and for feat of hs- i|ipg any thing of ill ufage put upon them, not agreeable to the refpc(fi due to their quali- ty i they fent me, Sir, for your advice upon an adventure fo furpriling. Ought they HbHo wonder^ replyed the King of Sifevia, that the Cityfljould be loth to let them go, when thdh frefence U fo profitable ta the inhabit ants it Or is it for perfent of their Sex to refufe fitch ajecn^ rity M that when it U offered ? By that brisk zniwct Albiftnda't SqOiire rightly judged, that his Mifirefs's Father had mo're than an ordinary ftiare in the violence offered to th6 Princeffes, and therefore know* ingand fearing his humour he faid no more. But the King of Sueden for fomc time ea- gerly beholding him, in regard he had often felt liis pulfe but knew not what to tliinK of him, now tryed him again in this manner. Vindericj faid he, I never thought I tpas deceived, rvhen I advanced you to the fervice cf my Daughter, believing you to be a faithfrtl Servant, and tbstymi would never prefer the (light ri'. tttardi I)/ Albifinda, before the fubftantial favours ofyottr Prince, which are to employ yoti in thi mod important affairs of my hortfe, and to give you other opportunities to raife your fortnftes; 'fo oblige thee yet more I wiHtrufi thee with a fecret.^ and iH a few xpords let thee uiiderjiand the re^z- fon of this aUion. Know then that Briomci and I have tal{e>l notice, that there it a wonderftil kindnefi between Balamir and our ivrecancikahle Fjiemy,t»hich private amity has given ins Alarms jo much the more terrible, by how much the more dangerous we apprehend the effeds of it mud be. For certain it is that Balamir carries a very great f way rtith Rofamond,. and that ff^e nfnohff} Princeli, his a kjndnefifor him whom fpje ought mortally to hate : So that the Prince of the Huns having allth^ Cimbrians under his command, and their ^een at ha beck^, wili not fail to oblige Pharamond, to the end be may give him the poffeffon of Hunnimonda,. By thii pernicious ex» change (I'laHonr league be diffolved, the murtherer of Theobald and Vindimir, f'laU triumph o- ver mine and Biiomer's antipathy, and thou wilt fee me die for grief, after the overthrow of all my defigns. For this caufe we thought fit to remove Rofamond p-om the Camp, and to drill her into ajirong City, whofe intere{l it is to k^ep her fafe. Briomer no lefi couragioiis, than fJitbful to his Majier whom he has loji, w j^a«f fo Cologne to keep the hearts of the Citizens firm, and you fee that Varanez is of otir apinion, to whom we impUtcd the defign as being a Prince, that has a natural antipathy agoinji Pharamond. In the mean time this Army (haU advance toward A- grippina, and there joyning withthat which comes from thotUaji, we fltall be able not only to fe~ cure a place, where we have flored fo inejlimable a treafure, bnt alfo to defend it againji the King of the Franks and all the world befide. Having thus declared to you what concerns our party in general, I mufl difcover now my ewn particular interc\]s : Tou may eafily guefiVinduic, what an afjliaion it is to me to fee Viridomar in Pharamond'/ Camp, and to bear how the Coward fighs fcr the Sijier of the moji odious nf all my Enemies. Unnatural bruit, be forget t that that very Pharamond whom befo ignominioufly courts, kitted his Brother, robbed me not only »f a Son, but alfo of an eldej} Son and the Heir to my Crown. I have laboured all I can to tedtite this ifigrateful, that fo objlinately difobeys me, and to reunite him to my Fatherly affeSion, but to the grief of my heart, all my endeavoiirs have proved vain. 1 mufl nowfeek, other ways to accomplifh my ends, fmce this perfidious youth has de* fertedme, 1 mufl get into my power the abfolute Mifirejl of his will, and to recover my only Son^ I mult have my enemies Sijier at my dijpofal. lou may contribute to this double fatUfaUion which 1 hope for, and I doubt not but you wili perform your duty, chufing rather to aj}ire to thofe re» wards which you may expeVi at my hands, than to dye tormented for betraying your Soveraign, Ion are only to go to the Camp of the Franks, to fee Viridotnar as if you had been fent by his Siller, and to tell him what has happened at Cologne as a Cloaks of your coming, tou may tell him then that Albilinda def:res you to fee the Priwfff Polyxena, and to complement her in her behalf. This is what I wculd have at pre fent, and be affured that though the command he flighty 1 (hali meafure my liberality by the impertance of your fervice, rather than by the pains r^ihicb you take. Vnrderic overjoyed to be a ll'arer in the fccrets of the King, promifed him to obey his Orders with all exadtnefi and tidelity imaginable, and as he was preparing to be gone to v fkafamond'^ ^52 FHARAMOND. Part XI. Fhaf smottd's ktmy, there Was a rumour fpread it felf in the Ci>wtrij« Tents, growing fiill louder and louder till it came to the King of Suevia's Quarters : Thereupon the King de- lirous to underftand the realon, was about to have fent out, when of a fudden there entred three or four Officers into his Chamber looking very melancholy, that brov^ght along with them a Knight, who prefently averred that Balamir was flain. The diffembling King coun- terfeited both wonder and afflidtion in his eyes, and manifefting a defire to knov^ ihe cir- cumftances of an accident which he called fo fatal, he commanded a fnort R:laiiun to be made him, not fo much cut of compaffion as to feed his revenge, with fuch tycings as he had impatiently looked for. Thereupon the perfon who wis brought before him, began his relation and told him, that he faw Balamir run through in feveral places of the boJj^, deadand ftretched forth upon the ground, that feveral of the Franks had taken away his body, and carried it probably into their own Camp. That the Prince had defended him- telf even to* admiration, but was at length forced to yield to number, and theobftinacy of thofe that affailed him. At thofe words the King of Suevia fceming to be moved for the death of Balamir^ cried out aloud, that the whole confederacy had fuftained a very great lofs, for that he believed ^here was no perfon in the Army, who had won greater fame by his honourable Atchiev» rnents.. Then making a (hew as if he defired to be better inform'?^ much the more he xvas able to hurt you ^ tcithout bcintr fufjieEied. Tom ^ttefi right if you think^l mean Bilamir, andlmak^ no quejlion that none of ymi an deny, but that he was a more terri' hie enemy at a private friend f/ PharamondV, than dt a Lo^jer of the §httcn of the Bo- hemians. ■ . ... After he had thus prepared their ears, he repeated to them all that he had already faid to Vindericy and perceiving that they were very mucli concerned in iiis difcourfd, he continued after this manner with more vehemence tlian before. Befides that, Balanir, faid he, reajt then in a condition to have deprived ye whom he named Ambiomer, together, with all the particulars which he had learn'd from Briomer''s own mouth. At the end of that repetition the King conti- liuing his difcourfe i Ihus you fee, faid he, that Balamir who lived among tis as General of the Cimbrians, was the true Theobald Brother of Rofamond, and that Ambiomer who is now at Cologne with the Princefj'et, is the real ^3]?Ar)h fecond Son to the King of the Huns, and that Theobald whom Pharamond kjlled before Rolamond'x face , was anly a Son of Brio- mer 's. Thofe words having redoubled the Princes wonder, thty beheld each other for fort^c rime without fpeaking a word, till at length the King of the Burgundiant breaking lllence, I am apt to believe, faid he, that Theobald who n^as thought to be the Prince of the Cimbrians was' Briomer'i Child, hit natural fercenefi and fomething of his Air in tb'k Touth^s face, dud lajUy^ Briomer'/ implacable hatred 0/ Pharamond, ferves to convince ttsfuly of the truth. For Brio- mer ivfluld never continue fo objiinate ag.iinli the King of the Franks, had not his valour depri- ved him of a Prince, whom he made it bit only care to advance, and when he was jo near being iC/«go/ Bohemia, 1 make as little quejiion but that that Balamir rvho is \iHed wat RofamondV L 1 1 1 Brother^' 'Brother^ inregard of that trHJl and confidence rvhicb they had each for the ether ^ and the little fcruple they made tomanifejitheiraffedionii ateflimony fufficient^ fl^ould we omit the extraordi- nary reverence which the Cimbnzm hare to their General, which n\is nothing but aninjiina of natare which carriedthemto love their Prince. For my part, added the King of the Cepider, I not only agree to the truth of what has been already faid, but I am of the fame opinion alfu i>t relation to Ambiomer i for certainly fuch a perjon as he could never defcend bttt fiom a Y-oyal "ExtraUion. The King of Suevia obferving that the three other Kings were convinced, Judge you HOW faid he, whether Briomer had not reafon to fear, leji Balamir (l-jculd come to be k>t9vnt^ and left the Trince whom yoti mortally hate {liould be reconciled to the fair ^nS^, for thee preiervcs that fair Piincefs, who would at this hour be furrounded with " dch»Hrs, did not thy abfenee caufe her to llgh in the midft of He would not have condUided, but that he began to faint away i and foon after gave up the Ghoft j as if thofe rftcmetitsof life had only been fpared him, to tell ^^f/wjo«(i the happy refolution of a for- tune wshrch had fo long and fo unjuflly crofled him. Balamir and Agelmoud could not but pity his untimely fate i but when they had caus'd him to be carried olf, !><»/<»>»/> perceiving that the King of the Lombards was ftill in doubt of thofe acceptable tydings, " Sir, faid be^ ^■' 1 muft acknowledge that there isfomething in the Venedian Prince's laLt words very much " to be admired : but though the fpeechcf a dying man were little to be heeded, there is '■ no accident whatever, of which the Adventures of the Erincefs of the Gothi will not " confirm the probability. For in fliort, Sir, why fliould nbt Harmaxes do as much to co- " 2en you, as Mundifw did to cheat me ? He took Humrmonda from me, he buried her in "the opinion of the worlds and the report of her being deadj and wherefore may not " Harmaxes ufe the fame deceit that Mundific ufed ? Thofe words fomewhat abated the King of the LamLtrdi gx'itf ■, yet not being able to let fo much joy into his Soul at once, as (uch a happy change deferved to produce, he refolved (or Sarniatia, fo foon as he fhould return to the Ciwiria^j Camp. But notwithftanding the agitations of his thoughts at fuch a conjundture, he minded Balamir's fecurity: and there- fore to advertife the Prince of what had paffed, "Sh^ faid he^ I know not whether Har- " maxes made ufe of the fame contrivances as Mundific did, but I am certain both thofe " Princes have undergone the fame deftiny to day, being bothflain in (earch of our-lives. " Hov>^, replyed Balamiri is Mundific dead ? " He is moft certainly dead, replyedthe King vf "t/^e Lombards, for Cleomer.KwgPharamond''% Efquire, faw him expire ot his wounds : " he alto caufed his Body to be carried into the Camp of the Frankj, where, it is faid, they " intend to keep him, till the King of the Huns pjeafure be known. '" I proteil, Jaid Bala-r "mir, I bewail the lofs of that Prince, notwithltanding all his violent humours: for to " fay truth, methinks Generofity compels me to pity his fate. while he was purfuing this difcouifc, Agelmond led him to the place where he had ap» pointed Cieomer to meet him, and by the way he told him the whole contrivance which was laid againll him in the C/'wtv/a« Camp. Bdlamirwzs not much furprifed, having al» ready difcovered fome of Bripmer^s deligns, and knew the humour of thofe Princes that were in league with that famous Villain. However, he could not chufe but be nettled, and as his moderation kept him within bownds, one way ioxViridomar^sind Albifndd's fake i on the other lide, the wounds of Godegefilus fufpended his rancour. Neverthelefs, he could not conceive why thoie two Kings who had eontpired with Briomer to take away his life, (hould go about to deprive their party oi an ailiftance not readily to be defpifed, unlefsthey had fome very powerful reafon. And indeed Agelmond ind he were diving into the nature of this fonl and unworthy fccret, when CUomer drew near, and in difcharge of his Com* miffion, offered him a hundred men, and the King of France at the Jiead of them. Bala- mirreturn'd an anfwer to that obliging language, with all the acknowledgment which he thought due to Fharamond\ and having carcffed his Efquire according to his quality, he would needs return with Agelmond to the Cimbrian Camp, though Cieomer would fain have perfwaded them to have gone another way. So foon as he came to the Trenches he met 'telattor, who nofooner fpyed him, but he ran towards him with all the marks of an extraordinary joy ; and being come near his illuftri- cusMafter, not able to moderate his tranfportment, VVelcome^ Sir, hid he^forihe Cods your viftble protedors tiot only rejhre yon to the toivs and rsifhes of all good and virtuous men^ but it is their pleafure at length that you be ach^iotvledged for the true Theobald us. Brother of the incomparable Rofamond, Foi* Theobald? cryed Balamir, interrupting him, and with a furprife that made him change colour. Tff, Sir, for the fame per fm, replyed T'elanor, nor vs there any perfon through the whole Army that (jueHions but that you are King of the Cimbri- aiis, and that Ambiomer i< the Son of the King of the Huns, and the real Balamir. After that he told the Prince fuccinftly all that the King of Suevia had diicovered to the three Kings: how they had wrote to Keva^ who was come to Ce/o^«e already, and to con- vince him that he fpake nothing but truth, he thus purfued. The Embaffadorsof the Huns very patiently heard the Stiedifl) Deputy, but how potent foever their Arguments were, or how conliderable foever they were in their perfons, Ke-ja would not declare his mind either one way or other. In the mean time he went to vifit the Piinctfs of the Cimbriaas, there he dilcovcicd all Briomer' s crimes, and rather chofe to • ♦ affiia Book 111. FHARAMOND, toj afflift her with your pretended death, than longer to keep her in an- error wivich rendrin'^ her the enemy of tharamond , had 'prolonged a war belvVeen fp manV 'VaHbus Nations. The incomparable 'Rofamond was cafily pcrfwad.ed to believe what Keva and iiTrAebaldiit iaid, a iiundred circumtiances fccmcd to fuppar.t the Relation, but then rcmcmbrinc that atfcftion which the always had had for him, (he looked upon ft to be ancffcdt of nature and rliat abfolutcly convinced her. But hearing that this Brother newly brought to light was as newly llain, flie was !o fcnfibly afilidicd that (h.c fainted away, and the faireft eyes in the world began to be lavilh of their tears. This news being fpread abroad, caused a flraree furprile in Colotnte and in our Army, and you mvf well think, Sir, that it was varioufly received according to the variety of accidents. For my part, in regard I could give a bet- ter account of your condition, I difpatchcd away meflengers hoth to Cole gne and to the Camp of the h'ranhj^ as well to difabulc and revive the incomparable Ko/^ot^w^, as to ex- cite the great Pharamond tofuccour a Prince, to whom he would now moll certainly flievv redoubled kindnefles : Not but that the Cimbriant impatiently cxpeifl their King, or that they are not difpofed to fpend their blood to the very laft^rop in your fcrvice i but you know there are fo many Princes in our Army jealous of Pharjmond^s happinefs, that there isnoqueliionbut they willoppofc the belief of a truth, fo prejudicial to your intcreftj and it may be take up Arms againft you, if they find you inclinable to the King oif the Franh, interell. Balamir having liftned with very great attention. Is it poffihle, cryed he, that one day (fjoMldbe famous fotfominyfirange accidents ? How fortunate^ Sir^ffiould webe^ if what r»e have heard from the month of Harmaxes and Tclanor, Jhould prove as true as the probabilities feemto promife ? Let us go then, let us go where our dejiinies call m. Formypart^ faid theLowo ^jriKing, IfjaU return into Sarin^th mthout aay farther confiderat ion, though my heart mif- gives me that my hopes are gronndle^. But, 5/V, added he in a moft obliging manner '//x hntjitji before IgoJ'or me to fiudy^ which way I may be ferviceahle to Agelmond'/ defender ^ upoK dS important occafions that may hefal him : For the Cimbrians being overjoyed to have found thscr loji King, wtU svithoHt any reluUancy ack^otpledge their Soveraign : So that there tvK be m obiia- eleof my departure. If my advancement be fo near as I arnprornifed, replyed "^alamir 1 had rather you would jiay with lif, that when yott fee what befals me, it may be a confirming amen of what you are to expeU. ■ ' . ' Concluding thefe words he entred the Camp, and 'telanor being gone before to give no- tice of his return, all the young Cimbrians cams to attend the perlbn of their King. The. Soldiersof that Nation were prefcntly in Arms, and the principal Officers meeting him in 3 body faluted him King, and carried him on their flioulders upon a buckler tofliew him to their Army, commanding their Shouts and Acclamations; So that the Sky refounded no* thing but, God fave King Theobald : Let our Great King Live : And let the Traitor Briomer dye^ that would have deprived us of fuch an accomplifhed Prince. Thefe loud cries furprifed Arderic and Gondioch^ but the King of the Suevians and the tierules were fo raging mad at it, that they were about at firll to have openly declared agaitifi Balamir, and to have fet upon his forces. But forefeeing the confequenccs of fuch a divi- fion in the Army, they refolvd to take another courfe : So that inlkad of fending to com- plement the new King of theCimbrians, they went in perfon and told him, ordinary civi« lities were not fufiicient upon extraordinary accidents. "Iheobald who had a lair profpefi of their inward thoughts, received them with an indiiTerence, which he was liot wont to (hew to perfonsof that dignity, and it other confiderations had not held him within the limits of moderation, he had certainly told tliem more ot his mind, The King oi Suevia furprifed at hi<; carriage, was fo raging triad at it that he looked red again in the face : ncvcrthelefs diffcmbling his choler, that he migiit a6t more conformably to his dtfignSj he undertook to fpeak addretiing hinr.fclf to tiie Brothei of Kofamcnd. Or^ Ian 6^8 PHARAMOND. Part XI. I am deceived^ Sir, fald fie, orelfeyouno lefi inherit the Kin^yourFather'^s dijpofition/ihaH hif t>i)rHimonr, fo that there is little probability of your provinz any great friend to Vhixsmor.d, in regard that he rvbo gave yon being, left the antipathy which he had for the commnn enemy rf cw^ league^ at a Legacy to bis Son by his JFill and T'ejiawent. loufee hon-ever Sir, rcplyed the King of the Cimbrians, that the foundation of that hatred is quite taken array, for it is impof- fible forme to be the Bruf/^'^r o/Rofamond, unlefi at the fame time you rvill ackitorvledge, that Pharamond never fetv the real Theobald. " How / added the King of the Hctulc«, you fpeak "in juftification of Tbaramond, not taking notice that you cannot be kind to that enemy of ** the Bohemians, without being unjuft to many other great Kings, who haveexpofed their '' lives, and facrificed their fubjeds in your Sifters quarrel, and tor the defence of your peo- "ple. "I cannot tell, very regardlefly crjf^ Theobald, but that thofe great Kings you "mean, minded more their own particular interefts, than the fervice of the Queen of the " Cimbrians. " what lignifies it, cryed the Suevian King, impatiently interrupting the other^ " whether thofe Princes aded for love of Kofamond, or out of hatred to Pharamond P Is it *' not fufKcient that while they are thus united, you are Mafter of the moft powerful Army " in the world, if you know how to make ufe of thofe advantages which Fortune offers *' you ? For you will be looked upon as Head of the League, and as the fole difpofcr ef Ko- '■^famond: And in regard both fweetnefs and honour wait upon command, no doubt but " you will delay the marriage of your Sifter, to keep thofe Princes that figh for her at your *' devotion. " 'Tis very like I may be of your opinion, replied the King of the Cimbrians, " but I am not bound to tell you my thoughts, only this I will declare before ye all, that " I will always give Kofamond the freedom of her own will, and as I am one that either have " no enemies, or none that 1 much care for, I ftiall never labour much for thofe preferments " which you would heap upon me. " I confefs, replied the King of Suevia, there are few " enemies can fcare a courage like yours : Yet for all that you muft confefs you have an ene- "my, if you are entirely perfwaded that you are the Son of a Prince, that mortally hated " Pharamond. " Otherwife, added Codegefile, think it not ill that we carry on our councils, "diftin(Sly|iccording to the diverfity of our detlgns. "Let every one do as he pleafes, '■^ fiercely replied the King of the Bohemians, for yc have known Balamir long enough , to " think thatT' ?i?ijW will eafily change his refolution. Upon thofe words the Kings of the Sueviant and the Herules, feemed to be more exaf* perated than before, and were about to have difplaycd their paflion, had not Cnndioch and Arderic entred at the fame time, who come to pay their vifits to a Prince, whofe good will they gladly endeavoured to purchafe : So that their difcourfe was not {o tart as before though it continued not long, by reafon that they all laid a great conftraint upon thcmfclves, dif* guifing their thoughts according to their different interefts. Thereupon they all took their leaves of Iheohald, not with that coldnefs as they ought to have done, if they thought him to be a Friend of Pharamond's, nor with that kindnefs which they owed him, had they taken him for the Brother of Kofamond. Being altogether at the King of Suevia^s Quar- ters, they curfed the fatal deftiny, that to the overthrow of all their defigns, had at the farme time and in the fame Country, kept alive all thofe very perfons that could have been picked out, for thedifcovery o( Balamir and Ambiomer''s extiaho is certainly arrived at Cologne, will foon fatisjie you, rvheiber I was deceived in giving credit to a dying man. How, Sir^ replyed Agelmond'inz furprife, Aga^ thyrfus fo rr/;o>w 1 am fo infinitely beholding, Agithyrfus, the Brothtr of my Vrince^, if he fo near this Army? At leaji, rcp]fha'lf hiscncmies.wercarrmingthtmfclv£S, and-.tlut riiey would thim4c!»'a.H-uport Rifn,^pbT that they might not be environed on every fide. while the faithful Squire obeyed his orders, though not a little troubled to be fo far re- Biote from his Mafter, whom he had left in the place of greateft danger, Iheobald brings Uptherere, confiftingof the old Soldiers, there with an undaunted bravery expecting the difmal tempeft that threatened him. He had no fooner fecured his men in the bcft pofture he could but word was brought, that the SnevianT, Herules and Burgundians were at hand, and that the Alatns^ Cepidei and Bafiernes were to be the referve. The King of the Eoifx'wiaw/ heard the mefienger, but thetydings rather excited his fury than appalled his courage > and therefore turning toward thofe Officers that were about him, he beheld thenr* with an afped that would have infus'd courage into the moft timorous of Cowards, and thus incens'd their warlike anger. My dear Companions and Friends, I make no queftion but that you are this day willing all to fignalize your valour in the prefovation of a Prince whom ye have recovered, notwirhflanding all the cunning of a.Cm~ hrian, who would have deprived ye of him fb many years ago. R emember then tnat ye have taken Arms for the defence of your King, and for the liberty of your Princefs; and thatfo jufl a quarrel promiies fa* vourable fuccefs. On the other lide, am not I at the head of ye ? and is not Pharamond coming to your alliftance? What have ye then to fear ? What though your Enemies were never fo numerous, their number will but render your Vidory more glorious. No fooner had he fpoken thefe words, but a Soldier of a moft noble prefence came znd joyned himfelf to Theobald, attended by half a dozen other Horfemcn. The King im- mediately knew him to be the great Agetmond, who, to (hew how fenfible he was of the the others Generofity, J fear me, faid he, yourvillmt find me fo fucceflfitl as you were pro* fieroui when ye fought for my intereti. Rather, replyed the King, / Jhali find^ that i»\\e»dof otte Rival of yours tphom I affailed. that you are about to encounter enemies without number in tuy quarrel. However-, the wonders which Ihave heard perform'd by the great hgt]mond, in' ftruH me that 1 need not wonder at h\i manner of ading, and that I ought not to refufe the af fijlance cf fo valiant a perfn. They faid no more v for the Bohemians advancing tc the place where Theobald thought the Fra«ily^ would joyn, the enemies feeing him at a diftance from the Body of the Ar- my, fent out a numerous party led by Oondioch^ who flew like lightning upon the Body of Horfe iioOK 111. rtlAKAMUNJJ 649 Horfe that theohald kept near his perfon. At other times, neither that Prince not Age l^ mondwere wonc toexpcd their Enctnies, but were always the Aflailants. B^it n,ow they were obliged to mind the prcfervation oi the E»hemij»J^ rather than to fatisfie their owr^ courage : they threw to the ground all thofc that duill venture to feel their tirll blow?, and^ having in a (hort time beaten back fcveral Bodies that radily attacqucd them, Ardarie was forced to haficn to thefuccourof the King uf the Bure_u»dia>tt, with the Battalia under hi^ command. At the fame time thofc two Lovers of Kofamond fearing the conjundtion of the Cimbrhns and Frankj redoubled their fury, thinking to have ruined jheobaldbdotc Pharj^ mond could come to his allidance, but though they perforin'd great things, and that they far exceeded i4gf/»»o«ii and 7/^foijWin number, the vidory was obllinatcly difputed, and the Ci//;^r/j;fj had undoubtedly carried the day, had not the whole Army of the Confede* ratescome in allof a fudden : yet, notwithftjnding the inequality of the two parties, the 'Bohemians teflihed an incredible refolution. But being now all either wounded or wearied, their relillance began to flackcn, and not long after they were put to a very great diforder, infomuch that Iheobald endeavouring to rally them, neither by words nor his examnJe could do it, fo great was the terrour amongft them. And therefore the valiant King afpi^* ling only to die with honour, flew among the thickeft of his Enemies, fccking out for ths principal Leaders, and like Thunder overturning whatever oppofed his palTage, at length meeting with Gondioch, who was encouraging his men tothepurfuit of the Cimhriant King of the Burgundians, cryed he, '»w more proper for thee to turn thy Sword upon facb a-^ ^dverfary M Bihmh ; for M I am Theobald, thou art to !oeI^ upon him as the only ohjiruSlim of all thy hopes. Bylhatconfeffion^ briskly replyed GoWmc/:', J amreleafedfromfliervingthee any kjndnefl as RofamondV Brother; and 1 tal^e thee for no other than a perfidious creature, that hafi brokfn thy faith with us to take Pharamond'/ part. To thofe words the incens'd theobald made no reply, but with a back ftroke he let drive at Cmdinch^s head, and that with fo good a will, that the Burgundian Prince was wounded, notwithrtanding the goodnefs of his Helinet, and reeled in his Saddle : but being young and vigorous, he quickly recovered himfelf, and made a thruft with fo mucli flrengtii and animolity, that he pierced the King of tlie C/'«6m»/ Buckler, and gave him a flight wound in his Thigh i which incenfing Tifff^^iWs rage, he prefled fo hard upon Go«. dinch, that he drew more blood from him, and flew upon him to put a period to a Com- bat that Mndercd him from looking after Agelmond^ and a Troop of young Gentlemen of Quality that fought about the perfon of their Prince. As for Agehnand, he was come to handy ftrokes with Ardaric i but though the Lombtrdhzd advantage enough, yet there wm little likely hood that his valour or I'i&^oZ'jWs could fa vc the C/«irij«x, or fnatch a vidory. out of the hands of fuch a number. But when thofe two great perfonages, invincible till then, were menaced with utter deflrudion, thtCimbrian Bands that had almoft forfakea. the Fii-ld, of a fudden return'd to the charge with an extraordinary courage, "theobald was at firft furprifed, but believing that new confidencennight be occafioned by the arrival of the Frank/, he turn'd about to fee if he were not deceived in his conjcdures. Then it was, th« carting his eyes upon certain Squadrons that haftily advanced to his relief, he fawfevcral young Soldiers whofe prefence and beauty begat his admiration. But though they were all able to have produced the fameeffed, yet was it no difficult thing to obferve fome difference between them, but among fo many there were two that were particularly remaikable, the King of the Frankj, and the famous Prince of the Suevians. Thofe two Princes and "Theobald nofooner met, but that they vehemently defirod to fhew the proofs of that efteem and value which they had each for other. Viridomar unwilling to attacque the Sueves^ flew upon the Gf^/^/f/ with an impetuofity that nothingbut Thunder could parjl- lel. Theabjld threw himfelf into the thickeft of the Heruler, and performing wonders worthy his fame, broiight death or terrour among all the Troops of Godegefile, At ths fame time the King of the Fran\t having drawn his Sword to defend the Brother of his Princefs, and being free from all confiderations that nhight withhold his Arm, charged the B'.trgnndians with fuch a rapid fury, that he threw down all that Hood before him, and pierced as far as Gondioch^ who was rallying his own men, and laboured to bring them to a new charge, nptwithflandingthe dreadful Adverfary that Hood before hyn. ^ The King of tiie Frankj no fooner fpyed the BHTgu;idianK\t\^, but he made towar(l.him, when a young* er Brotlier of Gttntran, to fheyv himfelf worthy of the ill,u(.':ripus blood from whence. he fprang, rcfolv'd to guard his King, advancing betwten FW^wjo««/ and Gondioch^ and to make good his attempt, he offered fome blows at the. moft famous Soldier of the world. But luvingncithcr (hcngth nb.r luck to maintain the Grandeur ofhisenterprife, he waspre- fently beaten to the ground. True it is, that he vyas no fooner out of the Fight, but.be M m m m 2 was 644 FHAKAMOND, I^art XL was out of danger, for he Was drawn from among the Horfes heels by fome of his own Of- ficers. On the other fide that obftacle being taken away by the fall of the BurguT^diaMVTir.ce, the two hery Rivals joyn d , and affailed each other with that cruel animofity, as it that day were to have been the laft of thier lives. Fharamond could not moderate his an- ger againft an ungrateful perfon that endeavoured to deprive him of his Prin- cefs : and Gondioch\ jcaloulle raged to fee FharamoMd fight for the liberty of Hcfa. mond, and in the defence of her Brother. But how equal foever the animofity of thofe two Warriours appeared, there was a great difference between their ftrength v for the vi- of one of his own Squadrons that fled. Nor was it poffible for the BurgHndiani to make any long re- fiftance, elpecially zhe Cepides snd the Herules giving ground, feeing themfelves ready to be attacqued by a Body of Franks kd by ConjiaHce, the King of the Britains^ the King of the "tongres and the valiant Artahitre. ^Thofe renowned Captains made hafle to the relief of Fhara»w»d, 'theohald and Virido' mar, but when they came to fight, they found they had nothing to do but to purfue. In the mean time, Condiochznd Ardaric^ wounded as they were, did all they could to encou- rage their Troops. They (hewed themfelves to the Soldiers, and not only told them that the Confederates vrere fiill ftronger than the Bohemians ot Franks, but that they were the inore fecurc, having Cologne their Friend, and the Army of Theodafuu being at hand. On iftie other fide, tiie K ings of the Suevians and the Herules left nothing undone that could be thought upon on their part, underftanding to their unfpeakable vexation, that their par- ty was routed, they caufed themfelves to be carried among the Troops that were rnoftdif- ordered, and by threats and prtmifes endeavoured to reftore that courage to their Army, which their more valiant Enemies had taken from them. While they beftirred themfelves every way, Brjfwjfr, tranfporfed by his implacable hatred, comes in from Co/o^we with fome of the Militia which he had fcraped together ■, but his endeavours were all to little purpofe, as had been before the utm.oft diligence of four Kings, ineenfed againft the life of Fhara- mond. And all that great multitude that would have fwallowed up 'theohald, were novV no other than a frighted Remnant that fled far fafety to the Woods, and to the City of Co- logne. The King of the Franks, 'theohald, the Prince of Saevia, Conflance, Agelmond. Con- ffantine, Taxander and Artabure, always accuftomed to overcome, were fo far from being ■puft up with the vidory, or eager to profecute farther, that they advanced toward each other •> and having in imitation of PWtfwoHd^ furrounded the new King of the. Cimbrians^ they teftified their joy to fee him advanced to the Throne of his Anceftojs, theohald moft gratefully acknowledged the marks of their efteemand affcdion-, but tsking notice that Fharamondznd thok other Captains would have given him the honour of the day, he yielded them the vidoiy, looking'bpon them as his proteftour, and uponhimfelf as only fafe in their triumph, in a word, where nothing a little before was to be heard, but the horrible cries of the rtiifcrable, nothing to befeen butflaughter and defolafion, tli£ie no» thing now appeared but kindnefs and Generofity. Fharamond could not but witii tender- nefs behold the Brother ol that Princefs whom he adored : and theohald, who could not forget the obligations which the King of the Frankj had laid upon him, paffionately defired to deliver Kofamond, to the end he might complete the feUcity of a Prince that fo well de- ferv'd to be happy, as well fot the qualities of his Soul, as per(bn. But now it was high time to take care of the Army and their own prefervation : thereupon orders Were given to take care of the wounded, and for Burial of thedeadi znd Fharamond pxopoCed to lodge the Army in the Camp which the Enemy had forfakcn : Viridomar, Corijiance, the King of the BritaiHs, tongres, and Artabure not only agreed that this change would be very conve- nient, bur themfelves ready to aflift the King of the Frankj in any thing that he thought conducing to his defigns. As for theohald, in regard he had not feen Hnnnnnonda fince he was auknowledgcd to be King of the Cimbrians, and for that he feem'd not tnuch to like the refolution they had taken,i[/^e,5ir, faid ?haramnMd,that yon are in m mttch hafle for Sego» ilunum, as l ani defirouf to flay near Cologne; g^otben vehtiber youfpajjion calls you, receive the glorious recf'Hpenfe which w ynttrdue, and never abfent your felf any longer jrom a moftin-- comparable PrtKcefi, rehobya fecret conduSi of dcjiinyh^ti been always prefen^d for Theobald, itottftthflanding ihe infidelity of Balamir. ■ At rhofe words the King of the Cimbrians fetched a deep figh, wl.ich he offered to HuH' Mij*iflw«f«V abfencc : and after that refuming a more pltalar.t pciturc, Tvpillgo, Sir, faid he, ^licd^ur Enemies are in m condition to hurt us, and in hopes that you mil pardon my impatience^ that fo p?eUhave experienced the force and power of love. He Book IV. PHARAMOND. 645 He had no fooner rcfolv'd to vifit HKmimondi^ but Pharantokd refolved to fend for the Princeffes to the new Camp, and to give the fame Apartments which Kofamonct, Amatazoti- tha^ Albiftudaind Agione had held before. The King of the Cimbriani cfftrcd to be their Convoy, and having received lull Commiffions from Viridomar and the lert of the illuftri, ous Lovers concerning their Princeffes, he put himfcif in the front of a numerous Convoy which PfciiMWJowrf particularly ordered to attend him i and taking the Road that led to his felicity, he marclicd to it with alkhc fpced that a Lover could makCj encouraged by a hoj)c above all croffes and misfortunes. The End of the Third Book of the Eleventh Part; PHARAMOND. Book IV. No fooner had he left the Camp which Tharamond hud quitted, but he enqui- red after Humimonda j but as he rid on toward the place whcie flic lay, Pri" am^ Charamont and many other conliderable perfons among the FraHkj who had been left behind for the Guard of the Princeffes, meeting with all the refped and all the fatisfadicn they could fhew him, conduced him to the ve- ry place, deferring till another time to do him thofe honours which were due to fo great aTrince and the Brother of Kofamond. Foljixeua and Placidia being at that time with the Princefscf the Go/^jr when they underfiood of his arrival, would have left their Friend, but whatever excufe they made to be gone, the Princefs of the Ge//E'/ knew their meaning, and with a modeft bluth endeavoured to ftay them, but (lie could not obtain what civility made her requeft) tor the two Princeffes, without taking any farther notice, left her in a kind of perplexity that feem'd to havefomething in it very moving, and infinitely amiable. But if modcfty added new charms to her Beauty, 'tis as certain thexe appeared a new fplendour of Grandeur in the prefence and carriage of the King of the Cimbrianr whether it refle by what qualities thefe Vandals win the friendihip of my nearejl KelatioHi. As far as I have heard, replyed Queen OCIavia, the Brother of GundtricV prttcnCons were far deferent from StiliconV, And lam ajjhredihat he never ftrore to win Theodofids'j fa- vour but upon defi?ns which the other never could have. Beit then n.oreiinfcrfun ate than J: for, replyed the Queen of the Vifigotbs, I I^how nothing more mfuPportahJe for a man that h in love than to fiTh for a perfon that cannot truly love kim. But, my dear S/jicr, faid the King ot the Cimbrians, whKptung to Theodoliiida, "tU but juli that the Prinre that comes a- long with ThnlTmond {hould enjoy abetter fortune. ''Tis not in Theodollnda'j/iowfr, re- plyed 'lie blufliing, to be the Mijirefi e/ther of hii gond or bad fortune. But hold you, added Placidis, we never mind that our difcourfe has held very long, and that it is time for ui to leave OUT (iek^patient, unlef we intend to- retard his cure, llpow the conclulion of thofe v/ords, the. four PrincelTes took their leaves of the Cimhrian King, after they had perfwadcd him to follow "lelanor^s advice in reference to his health. No fooner was the paifionate T'benbald alone in his Chamber, but all hi'i thoughts ran upon Hmnimonda : but jiotwithftanding all the fatisfadion which the charming Idc^hat filled his Soul could afford him, he felt certain fecret diflurbances which he- couHftiot throw off; hcfent to her Lodgings to be better inform'd what the meaning (liouM be of this taking thq air, a thing which as it no way liked him, would by no iDeaiiS go outof his mind ; but her Attendants return'd him for anfwer, that they did not exped their fJliflrefs till the Evening, there being a magnificent Supper and rare Mufick provided ', and befides, that the Boat was to return by the light of fevcral artificial fires by night to conclude the Solemnity of the Entertainment. The Ring of the Cimbrians faw very well that there was likelyhood enough that Albifwda might be thus facetious to divertife Volyxena. How- ever, that opinion inlkad of becalming his mind, turmoiled it wiih fecret fears, till they werefufpeiided by theariival of Walliaznd lhrafnm>id. Tlfey were delirous wiih the firft eppurtunity to vifit that great perfonage, whofe renown fame bad piiblidved through all the world. Iheobald was as glad to ice two valiant Soldiers whofe .Adventures he had heard of, for as Hilderic's Relation had begat in him a relped: for JVa'Hia, Martian had given him no !c[^ a charader of Thrafwiond, and touched him with a delirc to underftand the con- cerns of Guftderic, For which reafons he teftihed all the dcmoniirations of joy that he cculd teftifie at a time when his Soul was under fuch an affliSing prognoflication. And certainly they were truly worthy of that Reception ■■, for belides the IvAhc of their Birth, and ihe noble Reputation which they had won, the qualifies of their minds and perfons werefuch, that it was no difficult thing to afford tiicm fomcthing mure of eftcem than is due tQ ordinary merit, {■y'allia had an air inore brisk and lively in his carriage : hut fn Ihra' pfftf«Acounccnanct there appeared a fwect languiftment that moderated the ficrccnefs of JilS BboK IV. PHAKAMOND. 64^ hislooks, and which without much trouble was cipablc of touchirig (lie heart ivith the qiiickcll motions of alfedion : 5/>/, faid the Cimbrian ¥J\im^^ ynm arrival permits me not io doubt the fuccefi of ihif war; for /i«cf Pharamond'/ valour receives thif day fiicb are'mforcet ment, I dare fiy the jxliej} fiJe is not the rveakfji. Great King, reply cd IFal'ia^ oi^r afiiiancf rvas fo needlef!^ and the event of the war fa ajfured, ejj'eciaiy nhere you commaitd an /Irmv xvith Pharamond ■> that it muji he thought that nothing but our prnper intereji brought m hi' ther, fmce aVthe rvorld kjtorvs, thatthey rvho would he viClorioin, need only foVorv thofe invincu hie Princes, to whom we offer both our Forces ana our Sword. For my part, purfucd liie LrOf ther of Gundericj I muji ingenuoufy confefs, that my fervices wili be little or no obligation to.ths Army where I Ifyall perform them, rather muji I be engaged to the Bohemians and^xinks : far i» regard the fe warlike Nations never fght without fuccefs, 1 cannot die in their fervice^.with' out lofing honourably a life which J linger out in mifery. J never heard, replyed Iheubald, that you have had any fuch caufe to complain of fortune : for by what Martian has related to me of your Adventures, I do not remember any misfortune capable of infufing fuch tnelancholy thought. t into your mind. Then itfcems, replyed the Prince of the Vandals, my friend has not told \ion any thing concerning the King my Brother, or what has befallen me fmce my departure from Con- ftantinople. I grant it, anfwered the King of the Cimbrians. But, Sir, you may he pleafed your felf to perfeli his Relation, a»d to grant me the favour which I beg, not fo much out of a curiofity, but becattft I would willingly contribute to your eafe, bearing fo great a (hare as I da in your forrows. 'Though your intentions were not fo obliging, replyed Ihrafimoud, there is nothing that I can refufe the King of the Cimbrians. BefiJes that, it feldom happens that a per fin in mifery defires to lofe an opportunity to talk^ of his mvi fortunes. Having coududed thoie words, he took notice that Theobald and JFatia began to liften :■ fo that airer he had paufed a while upon what he had to fay, he thus brake filcncCj adjref- fing iihnfclf to the King of the Cimbrians. The Hijiory of Gunderlc. T Hough I am but young in years, yet I have found by my own experience, that the. pride of men has but weak foundations, fince there needs but one bare rcfledior^ to overturn it •, and it is impollible for us to defend it, if we but confidcr our owif wcaknefs for is there any thingbefidesourthouglits that is within our power > But if we form them into refoiutions, do we not find them always attended by a fuccefs quite contra- ly to our hopes ? To give you a remarkable example hereof, I need no more than relate the Story which you require .• give me leave to tell you then, that the Vandals, after they had maintain'd feveral bloody Wars, and often changed their Habitations, at length inva- ded 5/)<*i« under the conduft of their King G«Mc/mc, a Prince of. a yafl afnbition, and if I may prefume to fay it, of a great and magnanimous courage. While we advanced toward the River Bftis, and that the Romans had gathered an Army together to give us Battel, a perfon of a goodly prefence and well ftricken in years came into our Camp toward the clofe of the day, who declaring that he had bufmefs of importance, was conduded to the King's Tent: Gundiric, though naturally proud, received the llrangcr very courteoufly. The. Vandals retired to the other end of the Room, and I was about to follow, ,when the King< holding me by the hand, Frince, faid he tome, do you think^I keep any thing fecret front fuch a Brother as Thrafimond ? Upon thofe words I made a l\op in a pollure of acknow- ledgment, and obfcrvcd that the unknown perfon was nothing frighted a't ihefplendour of Majefty : bur on the contrary, he accofted the King of the Vhndals like a perfon of Qua- lity, and having made him an obeyfance in a poft ureas far from abjedt huuiility, as from, pride. Sir, faid he, 1 make no ,que{iion but that you have forefeen thofe oh{iacles which yor, ifillmeet with in the design which youhavi contrived : you march againjl the Romany andSpi; niards. Nations powerful and warlike, who can every moment be recruited from Countries where. you will frnd none but enemies. But, Sir, I come to offer you a way juji, {certain and acccpta«\ t>le, how to purchafe the hearts of the Inhabitants of this Country, and how to ejlablijJj a noble and lawful Monarchy in thofe Provinces, from whence, if you will not follow my counfel,, you ttillbe driven out by the whole Nation as an odious Z/furper. I have correffondenclcs in mojl of the gre.tteli Cities., feveral "troops of cbufen and atiive men at my command, who only expeU m^ . orders to declare themfelves ; and what is moxfi coufiderable I have at my dif^ofal, the only Heirefs cf the Kingdom which you ftetend to conquer.^ "this Vrincefs was born wi'ih an abundance of N n n n tbofe ^5© THAKAMOND. Part XL ihnfe prfeUions which »io/f peo-^le admire. And if yoti never heard of her beauty and her'mrh- ditiions^ 'twin only becaufe jtje mw privately carried arvay and kept concealed^ for fear the Ro- mans (hould mak,e ufe of fame cruel way of prevention againji a perfon, fo likfly to raife them up great enemies. Confider miv^ Sir^ whether you will feat her upon the 'Ihrone of her Anceftors and fit there with her your felf or ho. IhU alliance will fo unite the Spaniards and the Vandals, that y OH wiH be no longer looked upon as Strangers, you wiH fght then for your own advantage and we may be able with ourjoynt forces, not to drive them only out of Betique Spain, but alfo rvagt war with their whole Empire, He had no fooner done fpeaking but I began to be of his mind, and in regard it appeared in my face, 1 obferved as much gladnefs in his, and that he feemed in fome meafure to ac- knowledge it. But he received not the fame fatisfadion itomGunderic, for that Prince naturally ambitious, confulting his own pride rather than the other's folid reafonSjteturn'd him an anfwer much to this purpofe, I grant you, faid he, that the claims ofycur young Prin^ tefi are juji and beyond controverfie. 1 believe alfo you have forces and intelligence, fuffcient t(> •procure me the viUory, However I declare to you 7 {hall not accept your propofition,. for I had ra • iber be beholding to my Sword, for that which you would give me by the marriage and in right t>fa woman. I will make ufe of no other but the Conquerours right, I will march againil the Re- mans and Spaniards at the head of my own Vandals, and if 1 flatter not my felf too much I be- lieve 1 fljall overcome themboth, andthat you will fuddenly fee me in Hifpaly, Mafierof all Beti* Ca. T^benyoK may Jpeal^to me in the behalf of that fair Lady, whom //^e Spaniards /W de- j^oiled of her Dominions, and then you will find that in that place, IfhaU be more prone to be li- heral to give, than now to receive that ajfijiance, to which 1 muji bs beholding for a part af my viSories. The Stranger was netled at this anfwcr, and beholding Gunderic with a diffatisfied look, Terhaps, faid he, yeu will not find thofe viGories fo eafdy won, whieh you fcorn to ffiare. But fhould you fight with all the fuccefi you could defire, never believe that I intend to put you in mind ef your promifes : Fur I had rather dye or pa^ the refi of my days in exile, than become a fuppli* ant to a Prince, to whom I repent that I have made fuch advantageoHi offers. Having uttered thefe few words with a kind of difdain he went his way, leaving the King of the Vandals firangely furprifed at his boldnefs, fuch as he was not wont to fuffer in his prefence. Ne- verthelefs, the King who was truly generous, never took care to (top the Spaniard, but on the Contrary turning toward me full of moderation, he asked me what I thought of the boldnefs of that unknown perfon. Sir, faid I, 1 believe the Stranger mw /kI/v perfwaded that you would have lifined to his propofitiens, and that in all probability you would have accept- ed what you have now refufed. But Brother,(i\d hc,what would you have done in the fame cafe ? Speaks, purfued he, perceiving I was unwilling to tell my opiniofi, for I find by your counter stance, my thoughts and yours are not conformable. Since your Majefty commands me, anfwered I, to Ipeak^my opinion concerning this matter, Iconfeji that l(ljould have well examined the mat- ier, and if I had thought that 1 could have made thofe advantages which he oppofed, I (hould with' out any more to do, have made the alliance which he offered me. Ton could not then be faid tt have vanquiff^ed the KomznSt zn{wexed Gunderic, but by the alliance of the Sfimnds, and fb infiead of founding ef a Monarchy of Vandals, you would only but fix the Empire of your confedt' rates. 1 grant it, faid I, ^twould have been lefi honourable to have a&ed in that manner. But Sir, as mythtughts are lefi exalted than your Majefiies, I (hould have been contented to have to- \enthefurefi!way. And then you would have married a perfon, anfwered Gunderic, that had Tto other fortune but what you might have won by your Sword. If this Princefi befo fair as they report, faid I, I (hould not have beeufo unwilling to unite my fortune to hers ■, and her want of ejiaie would have been a new charm to have allured me. Inflwrt, I (hould have thought that ac' hpowledgment had begat my love, andthat as upon one handle had made me lawful pcffeffor ef herJerritories, that very obligation would have proved thereby the more happy. For my part, faid the King of the Vandals, I will not love any wDoman that it not the greatefi ^ueen in the world, and 1 declare to you there mujl be fomething elfe befides beautiful cheekj, to move Gunde- ric'/ heart. By what I find Sir, replied I, the difference of our humours is as great as the diffe- rence between our qualities : Fori (hould rather love a perfon that were of a condition infer iour famine, believing it to be a pleajttre to advance what we lovf, andfiill to be looked upon with ac- kfiowledgment. , Thus inftead of convincing one another of our oppofite opinions, we both of us kept our own, but thefe difputes were now to give place to other thought's, opportunity offer- ing us an occafion to invade Betica, while the Alains and Gepldes under their Kings Acaces and Arderic, fell upon the other fide of Spain, aitd were advanced almoft as far as the River Iherut. We were overjoyed to fee fo povsrerful a diverfion of the Komtin Arms, and indeed W8 Book IV. THARAMOND, 651 wc d.d not find that HomrhishiA Captains enough, to oppofc againfl fo many enemies, in fhort, it was reported that StUkon^s authority dimini(hed every day, and that he had refolv» ed to Hir no more from his Mafler's fight, for fear of lofing the remaining (tock of hit cre- dit, by fuch ill offices as might be done bim in his abfcnce. Not but that renown had alrea- dy filled our ears with the tame of the renowned CoMJiaMce, but we hardly believed that be- ing not above four and twenty years of age, they would chufe him Captain, to undergo the weight of fo important a war ; So that confidering the kindncfs of the opportunity,we marched toward Beiit full of hopes. The Romans and Spaniards with a body of four and twenty thoufand men, commanded by MaxintifiUf, AnaxiUa^ and Licinm, expe<3:ed us upon the banks 01 the River, having walled all the Country round about, to ftarve our Army which was very numerous and in an enemies Country : But Gttnderic being young and fierce, made fuch haft that we had no want of victuals, and withal came fuddcnly in fight ot Maximinw^ though he had fentouc feveral little bodies to difputc the paffes, and annoy us upon all occafions wherein we al- ways had the upper hand. The{e fmall fucceffes though fcemingly of no great importarlte, yet produced very con- ilderable cffedls, for the Spaniards took them for omens of a great vidtory, fo that many of the Soldiers came and joyned with us, and feveral of their Cities opened their Gates to out Forces. The Koman Generals finding that their Conduit had nor fuccecded according to their hopes, refolved to come toapitch'dfield, to regain the rcputationof their Arms, for they faw that if they were vidtors, we were without all manner of recruits, that if fortune (hould not favour them that then they could retire over the Bf/w, break down the bridges, defend the paflage of the River, and every moment receive recruits from the Spaniards^ whom common intereft called to tlie defence of his Country. Thereupon the two Armies advanced in very good order, the King gave rne the com* mand of the right wing, the left was led by Gidifcles a famous Soldier among the Vandals a kinfman and rclalioH of Stilicon''s. On the other fide Anaxilla was oppofed againft me Liciniiis fought againft our left wing, and Maximinus was to bear the brunt of the valiant Gunderic, who thunder'd in upon his enemies with fuch an impetuous violence, that he brake immediately the firrt ranks of the enemy, and forced his way even to Maximinus him- fclf, whom he challenged and encountred. Gunderic was run through the fhoulder, but hlMximimu was run througli the body and fell olf his hotfe : Licinius hatlned to rally and fuflain the main battel. But for Anaxilla I held him fo in play, that he could give little or no relief to AIis:/»«z«/«. InfhortSir, I had no reafon to complain of my fortune, I had the good luck to beat the left Wing of the Komans, to wound Anaxilla and take him prifo» ner. Then intending to help the King, I found him in a vigorous purfuit of the enemy, having wounded and taken Licinius prifoner : So that the vi(Sory was compleat on our fide* having flain above thirty thoufand, with the lofs of ten thoufand men. And certainly their defeat had been the greatelt that ever was , had they not been fuccoured by a miracle. For while Licinm ran about the field encouraging tlie Soldiers, which the valour of Gunderic and the fall of Maximinus had altogether diimayed, a certain perfon fplendidly arm'd, and followed by feveral Squadrons threw himfclf into the Battel, and declaring for the Romans fought for the King of the Vandals^ in all places where he thought there was mod danger. GidiJ^les comina to joyn with Gunderic met this unknown perfon, and after a tedious combat remarkable for the valour of thofe two great Soldiers, they parted with fome lofs on the Va)tdals fide. For this unknown perfon took feveral of our Officers pri- foners, rallied feveral Troops and retreated in view of us like a great Captain, making ufe of all advantages, either of the ways which he knew better than we, or the obfcurity of the night which by that time began to grow on apace. Niu long after he made great fircsf upon a hill which lie had got pufTelfion of, and judging well that we would certainly be- lieve that he intended to keep that poft, he deals away toward the River in the dark, pafTed it, and made iifcof all advantages to hinder usfrom purfuinghim ; So that when we came to the River fide,we were forced to (top there, till we had made boats enough to pafs the Ar- my over. In the mean time the Officers who were fent back upon exchange, affured us, (hat the unknown perfim was not at ail for the Roman infcrcil, but on the contrary quite cppofire to all tiicir tuterprifcs, and that he had nox fcrvcd them at this tim.e, but that he bare a greater hatred to the King of the Vandals^ againd whom he was refolved to arm all Spain, protcfting that if fortune were fo unjufl as to tavour the defigns of a ufurper, he would exile himicif irom aCouniry miferably cnllavcd, and end his days in fome ditefo* Jitude beyond the Seas, in expe(3a5ion of feme happy revolution.' N n II r 2 ThtS 6<2 FHAR.AMOND, Part XI This Relation m3(3e usronjedure that this Enemy of the King of the Vandab was the fame Stranger who made thde propofals v^hich I have mentioned i and that which con- firm'd us kt'Our conjecSures, was, that it was alfo reported, that the fame Spaniard tcfii- fied a far different opi;iion of me, than he had of my Brother : " 1 am very glad, faid the " F'«^ that you are fo well'beloved by this unknown perfon : but to fay the truth, I ',' could be very well pleafed that he had not fuch an antipathy againft me. However, 'tis '• not becaute he is a brave perfon and a great Captain that I defire his friendfliip : but, faid '■'■ he^ fmiling, becaufe hehas afair Lady at hisdifpofal. Nor for thatcaufe neither, reply- '■yedheto himfelf, for were (be the moft charming Beauty in the world I could never love <^hti : nay, I will go a little farther, I do not believe '(is poflible for me to 11 gh for a- " ny Beauty, living, to whom fortune had refused thofe Grandeurs to which my ambition a • " fphes. *' Then, replyed I, 'tis only out of a natural inclination to be beloved of as m^ny "you can, that you defire the Spaniard Qiould change thofe bad ^thoughts which he " has of your inclinations. " The defign you fpeak of, replyed he, is in me too general to " be too deeply fcnfible of it : and yet I muft acknowledge that at this time I find a certain " alteration within me, which it becomes not a perfon of my humour to undergo for one *? that he never faw in his life. But, Brother, added htofafndden, upbraid not the weak- "^'nefsthat Ihave difcovered, I will foon chafe it from the heart of G««i/fr/'cr, I will hate the "perfon that hates me. Nor can I tell whether he will not find it as troublefome to pro* '' ted himfelf from the effeds of my anger, as for Gunderic to defend himfelf againft his " threats. Having made known his defign, he minded nothing but performance, and to that end Iiefo encouraged the workmen, that in a few days we had Boats enough ready to pafsthe Pxiver. The King himfelf led the way, and fo encouraged others by his example, that not- withftanding whole (howers of Arrows, we gain'd the other fide of the River, chafing the E-nemy> after a bloody fight and a long refinance, Atalorgne, for fo was that Soldier named that fpoke fo boldly to Gunderic, caufed himfelf to be carried, wounded as he was, from Rank to Rank, to encourage and rally thofe Troops of his that either the hardinefs or impe- tuofity of ours had difordered and frighted i but all the Spamfh Captain endeavoured, did but ferve to prolong the Fight and the Slaughter, we remain'd Mafters of the Field 4 and indeed that vidory was the conqueft of Betica. But while he was preparing to fubdue the whole, and to befiege certain places that ftill held out againft us, we received intelligence that the famous Conliance had defeated the Gepides and Alains^ that King Acacet was (lain, and that ^r^<«r/c hardly cfcaped with eight or ten Horfemen. Moreover, that the Con- querour of thele two Kings was marching againft us, together with Artabure and Ario' hindits ■■, and that /4ai in fuch language as gjve me a moreperfed k^naifledge of him than ah that you have faid : fo that 1 have too patiently fuffer- ed you to conceal out ef a modejiy a hundred noble exploits, rvhich Martian would have more juiUy related than you have done i for had be not publifhed your valour by comtzriHg yoit to tbi Cod of ll'^ar, I could never have kjiorvn it by thofe Adventures which you have recounted. In regard that friendlhip mifprifes hyperboles, and in fome meafure excufes them, re- plyedthe Vandal Prince, Martian was not obliged to ufefo much fincerity in my applaufe, only he thought to fpeak that of 'thrafimond, which Threfwtnnd would have fpoken of A/jr- tian with more juHice and good will. Buifince he has fo highly applauded the little t have done, I will content my felf to tell you, that after feveral Engagements upon the E. geahSez, at length we came to a fet Fight, which havint^ very much vpeakened both (ides, both parries thought good to put an end to a war, which through the valour of their Ca- ptains could notcluife but be very bloody,' without any great advantage to the Vidlor. To' this purpofe Martian and Gunderic had feveral parleys, and in regard I was generally ad- mitted to their Conferences, the Lieutenant ot Iheodofms took an affedtion to tne, and fympathy <554 FHARAMON D. Fart XI. fympathy wrought the fame efFedl in his, as merit produced in eaine. In a word, we lov'd entirely, and I went upon his engagement to ConJianti»ople, to agree with the Emperouf upon fuch things which Martian had not power to conclude. Here the enamoured "thra^imond ftop'd to give free palfage to feme fighs, and to appeafe certain ftorms that arofe in his breft, when he called to mind that fatal voyage that had oc- cafioned all his misfortunes. Then refuming his relation with a more penfive Air, and a countenance altogether changed, Alas Sir, continued he, that Mami>«(hould leave my ad- ventures unfiniflied , thus to revive my forrows ? But I (hall not tell you all the particu- lars, for beGdes that they arc known to you already, 'tis the Story of the King of theF^K. dais that you exped, and not of the valiant lhrafmo>td. You muft know then, that that man whofedefrres were fo moderate, that man who would loue nothing but what was be- neath himfelf, fell in love immediately at the Court of 7heodofm^ nay he loved the mod exalted perfon in the world without exception, fmce he loved the Emprefs of the Orient, at that time when the Row»'»« Emprefs was dead. But Sir, I fay nothing, when I tell you thatlloved the incomparable ^^f«<«j, the divine E«^ox/.«, if at the fame time I forget to tell you that I loved her without hope, in fuch a manner as would have drawn compaffion from my enemies. In (hort. Sir, all that Martian could fpeak upon this fubjed, did but imperfeftly exprefs my torments, and the torments that I (hall endure while I linger out this miferable life. But not to engage my felf in a fubjed, from whence it is impoflible for me to retire, let us fee what became of the King of the Vandals^ during my abode at Conftanti' nople. while he was in treaty with Martian^ the report ran that there was a rebellion in Spain^ and that the illuftriousCo«/fi*«ce was flain, but the particulars of his death were unknown. Gunderic was extremely aftlufted at fuch a rumour, concerning a perfon whom he both e- fleemed and loved, and had prclently fent to Rome to have been {atisfied of the truth, but that he thought that Gidifcles then at Kome in the Court of Hemriuf, would have infallibly fent him word had it been a truth. So that he only difpatched away a light Veflel to the coaft of Betica, and in expectation of the return thereof he obtained leave of Martian, not only torefrcfli himfelf for a Month in fomelfland of the .<4rc&//)f/tfgo, but alfo gave him liberty to chufe which he thought moll convenient. You may well guefs that he was not long deter- mining, for he immediately landed in Greet, the faired and moft renowned Ifland in all the Egean Sea. After the Army had refrelhed themfelves, the Officers were deGrous to fee the rarities of fo famous a Country, and were (hewed by the molt knowing o( the Iflanders, all that re- mained of the Temple, and other Monuments raifed in honour of Jupiter^ ro whom that Ifland was confecrated. But G«K^fr/c was for fatisfying another piece of curiofity, accord* to his humour. He examined the firength and government of the Ifland, and when he •went a hunting he took great delight, to obferve the places where battels had been fought, cither during the war between Mark^ Anthony the renowned lover ot Cleopatra, and the young Augujius, or elfe during the war that MeteVm fo profperoufly ended, when by the en- tire conqueft of that llland. he obtained theSirnameof Cr-eww. One day that the Prince had rid very hard, he had agreatdefireto reft himfelf as he crof- fed a pleafant wood, which the King of the Vandals beheld with that pleafure, which he had feldom before been accuftomed to betray, and thereupon alighting, he walked about in fearch of a commodious place to lye down. Immediately he found one as fit for hispur- pofe as he could detire, covered with high grafs and a thick tuft of trees, Cmtderie, be- ing tyred fought no farther but lay down, and while the company kept at a di(\ance, foon buried in fleepall thofe cares with which his ambition perplexed him. When he waked inftead of rifmg, he lay muGng and feeding his eyes with the pleafurcs of theprofped, and while he turned them about to view the fair variety of objeds, he fpyed two women that were difcourGng together not perceiving him. Their habits were very ordinary according to the Country mode in that placej and though Gunderic had no dcGre to hear what people laid, that he thought could difcourfe of nothing but either of their Gardens or of their (beep, yet without any deGgn of liitning, he overheard one of the two continue a difcourfe begun between them both alter this manner, But did we ever thinks, faid (he, when rvechofe thlf Ifland for a retirement, that we (hould haue feen an Army, ejpecialiy an Army ef the Van- dals, landed in thel'erritories of the ^reat Thcodofius^ Thofe laft words foniewhat netled G««iifr/c, for believing that his nation were mon. firoully fet out among thcGreekj, and that thofe people had a (Irange averGon toward his Countrymen, becaute they were {o far remote from all commerce. That reflexion made him curious to underltand more, and not only to know what opinion they had of his Ar- niv. Book IV. PHARAMOND ^55 my, but alfo wlicther they had any resfon to make any complaint. To that purpofe he went osvard thcni wit!i all the civility imaginable, that he might not put them into any affright, but no fooner had he call his eyes upon the countenance of the youngell, but he found liimfclf frr.itten with amofi dazling fpjcndour. And his Soul was feizcd with that admiration, which he had never experienced in all iiis life before. He was fo unable to ftcp artcp farther, that he became immoveable: He could do nothing more than look, nor could he tell but that what he faw was one of thofe Deities, that were faid to have appear- ed formerly in that llland. On the other fide the two Strangers were truly furprifcd, to meet in fuch a folitary place, a perfon fo magnificently habited, and whole prefence was anfwerable to his Royal Dignity. But in regard their altonidimcnt had not wrought the fame etfcd in them, as it had produced in Gunderic, they rofe and took a private path, that led in all likelihood to the houlc which they had chofcn for their retirement. The King not being able to fufferthe departure, of that which already he fo paflionately lov'd, went after the wonderful perfon that had becharm'd his heart, and holding her by the garment with a trembling hand, and a refpe» ner, to the pleafure of beholding that lovely Stranger, that he forgot his dignity, his am- bition, and all thefe noble defigns of never loving, unlefs it were one of the greateft Prin- <;effes in the world. And thus Sir, you (be how anger'd heaven fported with Cunderic's re*- folutions as well as mine. . .. i In the mean while to return to the charming Stranger, I muft tell you that (he entreated the King to let her go along with her mother : But the pallionate Prince not being able to give his confent •■, How, faid he fetching a deep figh, can you leave fofoon a place fo pleafant, or can you be afraid to meet a man, you that carry in ynur eyes enough to make your per fon reve- rcnced by all the earth. Sir, anfwercd fhe, you may do well to referve your obliging difcourfe to_ ferfons of aatiher condition, and rvho have more leifure tg hear you. Having fo faid (he made an offer to o|^one, when the enamoured Gww^if/c beholding her with a tranfportation of tcndernefs and affonifhment i Oh! faid he, that you (liould jo little underhand your potver o^ ver fouls, or fo little l^notv the anguifh of my heart, fmce you have fo little regard for a King, ilpon thofe words the two Jtrangers beheld each other with furprife, and the younger un- dertaking to fpeak with morecourage than before. Sir, rcplycd flie, then you mu^ give me leave to tell you that 1 am the more obliged to fiee ynur company, and that 1 fhaH avoid it as much as lies in my power. Inftead of attending G«Wfr/c's anfwer, flie pulled her garment briskly out of the King's hand, and tripped away in great hafte crofs the Wood. The king o^thcF^ij/Zij// could not chufc but follow her a few ftep?, and taking hold of her by the Coat, Once more for heavens fake., cryed he, fijp but one moment, and di not tbink^a King U a monger prepared to devour you, I have abetter opinion of Kiugs, replyed (he, than yott are aware of^ turning towards him, for I believe they kfiriv more and love vertue better than o» iher ^6 PHJRJMOND. Part XI. iher men. For that reafoH, added (he very coyly, Ixvonder that y oh this purfue wf, and feei;^ to put a force upon a perfon who vs mne of your fubjeU^ a perfon whofeSex ought to be tifed tvitb more re^eU by yours. The Majerty wherewith (lie pronounced thefe words, furprifed G««^fr;c, terrified and flopped him, but it the fear of difpieafing that fcvere Lady kept him from running after her, his love would not permit him to negled: the means of feeing her again. After he had followed the fair Stranger with his eyes as far as it was poffible, finding thofe pafTiges for his eyes which a thoufand great Trees feemed to deny him, he called his Attendants, and chofing out the moft nimble witted among them, he commanded them to divide themfelves and to looR for a houfe which could not bt far off in fome part ot the Wood or other.Then he told them all thcfc circutuflances that might ferve for their inftrudtion, and fome that were nothing to the purpofe, fo great a care he had not to omit thoi'e that were necefiary, and after he had with many aggravations,but confufedly,defcribed to them the perfon that he would have themtind out, he promifed them great rewards if they brought him tydings according to his mind, fuch as he expcded from their fidelity and cunning. He called them back alfo more than once, to repeat to them what he had faid already, and returned home with fuch a change as well in his face as in his humour, that all the Court was afto- ni(hed, and earncftly fought to know the caufe. However it was no eafie thing to conje- flyre, what (hould be the reafcn of G««io(vyoH have one of the mojl beautiful perfons in the world, in Book iV. PHAKAMOND 657 in one of yattr Honfes ? I proteft. Sir, replyed the libndcr, '/w wore than 1 l^iot":^ my felff only I have heard, and that but cunfitfedly neither, that my k'jthcr has entertained certain Strangers in a Houfe of hU near the ll^ood Minos. "^Ihen youotighttothanl\_ me f(fr tnynetptj rcplycd Gttnderic, and you are obliged in gratitude to carry me to a place vohere you can go when youpleafe. Ihat JJjall he trben your Majejiy thinkj cuuvenient^ replyed he, and I be- lieve the beji excufe we can make, will he to hunt that way. Canwe not mak^ that match to mor' row .<' replyed the enamoured Gunderic. No rjuejiion hut I may, replyed Cydillign^ for 1 fjall f refer your Majeliy^s fatUfaciion before any other bufinefs of my ovph. The King ot the Vandals had uo fooner received that promile trom Cydillion, but he gavo all orders ncceffary in reference to his delign, fothat the joys which hetek were only crolled by the length of a day, to which liis telicity was next to fucceed. Not but that at Hill h« would willingly have deferred the ieeing of a perfon whom he had not yet given liberty e- iiough to recover her felf out of a furpr.ife which he himfelf iiad occalioned ■■, but the heat of his temper being joyned to the ardour of his love, wasl'o far from enduring any fuch de-f lay, that it infpircd into his mind a rcfolution to make himfelf happy by that infallibly means which he feem'd to have in his power. Yes, Sir, the famous Gunderic, who had made his way through fo many Provinces of his Enemies with his Sword..in liis hand, that Gunderic that pretended to lay the foundations of a Fj»«ij/ Monarchy, he that would love none but the chiefeft Princefles and Soveraigneffcs of the world, that \cxy Gunderic de- termines all of a iudden to marry an unknown Lady that wanted both extradion and for- tune : and to remove thole obftacles which his ambition might hy in his way, he called to mind the example of 'fheodoftm, who advanced to the Imperial Throne the fair /4/fce«jjf, Daughter of the Philofopher Leontinus. The next day away he went with all the (atisfadli- on which the hopes of fo fupreme a felicity could afford him, not doubting but to mollifie the difdaiti of his ilnknown Millrefs, and to gain the affedtion of thofe perlons whofc wills he was obliged to follow, fo foon as he fhould make known his intentions. To this pur- pofe he made as much halk as one that runs to meet a certain happinefs i nor was itwith» out an extraordinary commotion of mind, that he difcovered the Wood that had been fo fa- tal to his liberty. Cyi/'//w« would have told him that Mwibj- vvas formerly a Park, which carryed the name of the ancient King of Crete ; but Gunderic not being in a condixion to li« ften to his Tale, gave little heed to his words, his fancy being wholly taken up with the paf* fionthat had vanquiflied his inclinations ! he was fo uncapable torefolvc what he had to do, that Cydillion perceiving it, Sir, faid he, fince your Majejiy hjs made your felf kjtown, I l{norp not whether per fans not accujiomed to fee great Princes will be willing to appear before the King oftbe\'inda,\s, and whether it would not be better for me to go befre and prepare the Lady to receive a vifit fa extraordinary.? for God's fake go then, anfwered Gunderic, andbe ajfured that you ta^ this pains tio lefs for the advancement of the Lady, and Cydillion'i good for- tune, than far the repofe of the King of the \ifidi3\s. Long it was ere the Ladies would be won to receive an unnecefTary vifit from the King, till at length the entreaties and perfwafions of their Govemefs more than Cjc/z/Z/w^'s pre- vailed, when they had given their confent, the Kingentred the Hall where they were, never giving them leave to meet him, in cafe they had thought therfifelves obliged to do it : immediately he asked which was the Mother of Vhilinira, ( for that vvas the name of the beautiful Stranger ) and after he had addrefTed to her his firl^ complements, " if you know *' the merit of your incomparable Daughter, faid he, you would be lefs furprifed to fee a " King come to find her out in fuch a place as this, than you would be to fee him negle(3: " his attendance on a perfon to whom all the world ought to do homage. " Sir, anfwered "' Herminia, {for that was her name ) I fo little expeded to hear any fuch difepurfe, efpe- " cially from the iips of a great Prince, tliat 'tis no wonder to fee me fo unable to anfwer " your Majelsy as others might do more accujiomed to fuch converfation. While (he uttered thofe words, the enamoured G?««^mc eovetoufly caft his eyes upon the charming fhilinira, and though (lie kept behind her Mather, and that.her Mother had but halt unveiled her face, he prefently knew her again, whether it were that (he had ne- ver been ablcnt from his fancy, or whether there refleded from ?biliniTa''s Beauty any fplen- dour more than ufnally enlightening the fight. The diligent Cj^i//w«, obfervingthe King of the Vandals looks; cunningly drew near Herr/iinia, and in regard flie was a perfon that lay in his Fatncr's Houfe whom he had not yet feen, he made it a plaufible pretence fitft to complement her, then to entertain her in difcourfe, thereby to give Gunderie an opportuni* ty to difcourfe the young Fhilinira. , . , The Prince lofl: not a ujouient, but going to her with an extraordinary commotion c^f mind. Fair, btt't toa rigorous Lady, cried he, Iconfefj that the firji time Ifawyox, Idrovsyott^ O o o f''''^ ^58 FHARAMON D. Part XI. (rem the place cf your doHteitt; "But in regard^ was contrary a tny defire that you left it, I have lefireafonto beg youf pardon than to complain of your cruelty, toflee that perfan that adoredyour beauties. 'lU very true Sir, anfweted (he, that your Majejiy rvas the caufe, that I retired fioner than I jhould have done, yet you mujl grant me withal that it was not civility for me, t» tarry in a wood with a perfon that 1 kliew not, and that the fame civility commands- me to implore your Maje^y not to return thither any mere, unlej! yo» give your felf the trouble for fome ether reafon, than to dijlurb thofe perfons that only feek^retirement. 'the dijprnport ion between our conditions and your exalted dignity, cannot fufer Pif/Vf/f Philinira, cryed the King interrupting her, why would you deprive me of Jo great a happinefi, before you k^ow wy ifitett' tions that carry me thither ? Know then that 1 come to repair the injujiice of fortune, you were born divinely beautiful, and together with that beauty,thereffl)i»es a virtue which if above your charmt^ and in regard that having all thefe admirable qualities^ you yet want a Ibrene, the King of the Xinda]s comes to offer you a Crown. Tes Madam, Gandcticlays his Scepter atyour feet, trou- bled only that he has mne of greater value te give you, and they that wonder that hehasfofud- denly refolved upon a matter of fo great importance, let them only caji their eyes upon the heavenly Philinira. andconfiderthe force of an extraordinary merit. "lam willing to believe, replied '■'■fhe, that your Majcfty fpeaks according to the reality of your intentions, and that you " have that kindnefs for an unknown perfon, that you hardly ever faw before, which you " only ought to refer ve for fome great Princefs. But Sir, to tell you my thoughts alter my "humble thanks to your Ma jelly, my humble fupplication is, that you would be pleafed "not to engage your felf any farther, in uniting two perfons between whofc extraftion^ " there is fo wide a difference, i^ may be far greater than you are aware of. "" Though '"' yours, rf/'//f(iGunderic, were as mean as it ought to be exalted, to keep any proportion " with your virtue, that (hall be no obftrudJion to my purpofe, rather will it be a greater fa- "tisfacSion and joy to Gunderic, to have brought you out of that obfcurity, to (hew you *' to the world with all that fplendour, wherewith you ought to be furrounded. " I cannot " (ell, replied fl}e, whether your Majef^y can bring thofe things to pafs fo eafily as you ima- " gine, and whether your will, which has been accufiomed to be a Law among the Vandals, *' has the fame power at this time. " How cruel fair one, replied he beholding her with eyes " fuU of tendernefi and grief , Am I become fo abominable in your fight, to refufe the Crowns '' I offer, for fear you (hould make me happy by your acceptance > I (hould be too unjuf^, '■' replied Fhilinira, to nouri(h any fuch ill grounded fcorn, nor is it for that reafon that I "oppofe the Kin^ o{ xht Vandals intentions, but only to fpare him the pains, which he " knows how to fpend, more profitably in enterprifes of a higher nature. The ir.oft im- ^'portantdeiignlhave, replied the enamoured Prince, is to move the heart of the incompa- " rable Vhilimra , and llnce that through her contempt of my Scepter, I know (he is above " all the grandeurs that I can proffer her, 1 (hall only employ my fervices and refpeds, but " fervices both long and faithful, and reipeds'as deep as it js poffible for me, to tender the " grcateft Princefs upon earth. Thus ended their firft entertainment, and Gunderic took his leave of Thilinira, firmly Jefolved to omit no means unattempted, to gain the efteem of fo fair a perfon : And Fhili' ttira haviHg hearkned to Gunderic with an admirable moderation, notwithftanding all his promifes, contented her felf only to return all thofe refpeds, which (he thought due to fo great a Prince : That is to fay to value his degree and merit. But whether (he were touch- ed with the proofs of his generous afTedion, that preferred an unknown Virgin before all thofe Princefles, to whom fuch a Prince zsGunderic might pretend,! know not. The paflionate Lover return'd home very well fatisfied,that he had made his mind known to Fbilinira, and though the fair Stranger had not tef^ified all the acknowledgment which he thought (he would have done, yet was he not a little overjoyed, that he had crofs'd thofe difcontents that fof^er'd his melancholy. She feemed to him fo prudent, and fo worthy the efleem he had for her, that running toward CydiVion, " Think you, faid he, that there " are many Ladies of Vhiliniria's humour ? Are ye acquainted with any more of thofe young " and fair Ladies, that would have been fo refcrved hearing fuch promifes made, fuch a "fortune offered as would have enflamed the ambition of the molt moderate among them. " For my parti cannot believe, but there are certain beauties in the Soul of this Stranger, " as admirable as thofe that (Inne in her face, though her graces be the moft perfed and molt " charming that ever I beheld. Then he made a defcription of her beauty, and fevcral times asked Cydillionif he had ta« ken notice of fuch and fuch Lineaments, but above all things he entreated the young Greek, to carry him again the next day to his Fathers houfe. But Sir, anfwered Cydihon, 1 believe your Majejiy would do better not So move fo violently, for the too frequent vifts of a King, may chance Book IV. FHARAMONB, ^.59 chance toJeave ferfons at firfl that are not in a condition high enough to receive them. §>Hitc contrary, replyed the enamoured Gnyidcric^ it hchovei me to uji no delay, for if I [heuld bed negligent as you fay, 1 fiionld ferfrvade ^UiWrna, that all my premifcj mere but outward Couri- ffjip^ tDithoHt any thing of Sincerity. In Jhort, CydWUon, you might da as you pleafe, but for Gundctic rfheiril} never be accompted a dijj'embler by any perfon living, effieciaHy ^v t'liilinira ke rvill certainly go to morroiv, ,j$ tvell to confirm the promifes he has made to day, as to ffjerp him', felf ready to perform them, nhen ever Philinira (Jjallgive her confent. Cydillion undcrflandina the Kings rcfolution, thought itthe bcH way tofubmit, and from that time forward he de- voted himfelf to the Prince, for the remainder of his life. Gundcric was not only well (atislied but returned him thanks, regarding not only the I- flandcrs merit, but knowing the kindnefs he might do by allilling hitn in his Courtfliip which was now become his only bufmefs. The next day Gunderic failed not to make another journey to the wood Minos, and that with all the fpeed, that a moil paffionate Lover could have doc£ upon the fame occalion ; He was no fooner come near tbe houfe, but his joyS augmented in fuch a manner, that it is impoflible for me to exprefs the figns that he gave of his paffion. But Sir, to fee that Co much delight fliould be changed oE a fudden, into fuch an overwhelming forrow. For no fooner had the King enquired for Philinira, but anfwef was made that (he had left the Illand with two other Strangers, not difcovering in the leaft whither they went to feek a new re« tireriienr. Upon that terrible and furpriling anfwer, Gunderic ttood like a man that had been thunderttvook, then calling forth fuch looks as eafily (hewed the trouble of his mind he caufed the people to repeat thofe fatal words , which he had heard too often al- ready. The Governefs of Cydillions family, related to him more preclfcly what he delired to know, but what (he faid being all to little or no other purpofe, than only to give him the greater a(rjrances of his misfoirtunc, he had furtered himfelf doubtlefs to have been tranf- ported by the violence of his dcfpair, if his faithful C)'i/iVo« who forefaw it, hadnotper- fwaded him that 'twas not for him at fuch a time to (land bewailing himfelf to no purpofe, but that it behoved him to difpatch away Pofts to all the ports of Greet and to leave nothing undone to get intelligence , which way Vhilinira was gone. 1 will do whatever you thinks good , anfwered the King fetching a deep (]gh , but fmce tbe ungentle Philinijra flees the unfortunate Gunderic, t^iW fl}e not take that proof of my love for anerv perfecution, and is it not better for me to dye for grief than trouble the repofe of a perfoK whom 1 adore, notipithftanding all the cruelties that altogether void of pity {lie exercifes toward me? Then turning toward the w6man that gave him the anfwer, and promi(]ng her v'aft rewards, I befeech you, faid he, if you can, give me fame better information concerning fhUi. riira. Is fje not coticealedin this If and ? does (l)e not lye fomewhere hid to avoid the companv o/ Gunderic ? Knorvyiu not how Ihave difdbliged her .? Is there no means to appeafe her an^er and obtain pardon? The djfconfolatc Prince demanded a hundred things of this nature over and over again, but taking notice that he eithei asked the queiUon in vain, or that the pcrfon to whom he addrelTed himfelf, cither kacw nothing at all, or was elfe fo faithful toThilinirazs not to reveal the fecret, he e'ne followed Cydillions advice and returned back, to the end he might fend away meflengers to the fcveral Port Towns, to inform tliemfelvcs if it might be donCj what was become of theStrangcr fo lately departed. While the MelTengerS were upon their duty, he himfelf weht to Vifit the Wood Minor as a place which he reverenced, as a place that was conformable to his thoughts, and a place that would make him always think upon Yhilinira. Neverthelefs he was no fooner come thlthef, but he found a remarkable change, the very fliadcs themfelves feemed more obfcure and penfiVe, iht grafs looked not fo ftefli and verdant, the murmuring fountains pleafcd not his ears, the chirping of the Birds feemed harfn and unpleafant, and what more tor- mented the enamoured Pxin'cb,. Thilinira was not there.- How many times fetching deep lighs, did he demand her of'the Trees, the Fountains and the Rocks ? how many times while he accuJed them to. have neglcded their own advantage, did he upbraid them > Iii (hort Sir, neidicr Cydillion pgr ihc moil: confi derable of the Vandal Officers that were about them, could by any means affwage the forrows of C«W(/mc. They were fo numerous that they foon begat an alteration in his countenance, and when upon the return of his mcffcn. gers, he found no likelihood of hearing any a^ws of Fbtlinira^ he fellinto a languiihing diftempcr, not unlike to that which feiz'd upon me, when I feparated from the incompafz« ble Eudoxij. T arrived about that time in the Ifland of Greet, being forced from theCourf of Ccnjiantinople, by th? cruel order of tlie Emprefs : And though I took little notice of O o o o 2 ' thofc 66o PHARAMOND- Part XL thofe things which did not concern that heavenly perfon, yet when I faw my brother redu- ced to that lamentable condition, the burthen of my forrows was more than too heavy by that addition of grief. At firft we bluflvd and figh'd, though then we neither of us knew the caufe of our misfortunes, and as I was about to tellifie the (hare which I took in his mis. fortunes, " Ah Prince, faid he, how happy (hould 1 be were it in your power, to a<;^ fuc- '' cefsfuUy for my confolation. But only fate has overwhelm'd my quiet, and only fate can "reftore my repoft. He fetched a figh at the conclufion of thefe words, and beholding me as earnefily as the troubles that turmoyl'dhim would give him leave, "Brother, purfuedhe^ cither lam ve- ry much deceived, or you arc as little in health as I, and enjoy as little tranquillity in your mind. "Alas Sir, replied 2, that it (hould be fo eafie a thing for me> not only to grant what " your Majefly has faid, but alfo to acknowledge my felf the molt miferable creature upon "earth. "It well appears, replied Guuderic, that you know not what my misfortune is, " while you contend for fuperiority with me in fadnefs, or think you have more reafon to " complain than I, or any other far more miferable than "thrafimond. If you think there be ''any fach, faid I, you know not what it is to love paflionately without hope. I know it " too well, replied he, and the proof oi it which I apprehend, is far beyond your experience "ForinDiort, Brother, you feemed formerly difpoftd only to love with moderation, to "love only thofe that would be glad, to receive the marks of your favour and be thankful, " 'Tis very true Brother, replied 1, that was my fancy once when you fancied quite the con- "trary. But a malignant Star has intruded it felf todifpofeof ray inclinations, and to make " them fo foaringly bold, as to afpire to the Emprefs of the Eaft. You have heard of the vir- " tues of the fair AtbenaU, and her obligations tolkeodofm, and therefore it will be no fur- " prifc to you, when I tell you that it was (lie thatfeverely commanded me to begone from *'■ Coiijlantinople, forbidding me abfolutcly to return thither while (he lived. Inpurfuit of thefe words I gave him a relation of all the pa(rages between mc and Eudoxia, which when Cttnderic with great attention had heard, "I confefs, faid he, your fate is hard: But " e're long you will acknowledge that Guaderic^s is much more fevere. In (hort,Brother, " y ou ha ve the comfort to love a great Princefs, to know where (lie is, to hear her difcours'd "of every hour, and you may fee her in difguifc. But G««^^ric the King of a warlike Na« *' tion, Gn»deric that loves honour and nouri(hes in bis breft all that ambition, which keeps " perfons of his rank and age in perpetual motion;That Gnttdericno foonei" cart his eyes upon " an unknown Lady that he met in the Country,but he loved her with all the heat and paf- " fion imaginable. However Prince, this was but the beginnning of my misfortunes, this " Virgin,fccmingly but of a mean extradlion, rudely treats the humbled Prince of the Van- " dahfi)e refufes a Crown which I offer her, and as if (he had only (liewn her felf to make "me miferable,no fooner (lie appeared but Qie vanidied, and cruelly leaves in my heart thofe " flaming darts that confume it, and hurry me headlong to my Tomb. Thus the two un- fortunate Brothers bewailed their own miferies, and though generally the unhappy receive iome confolation from the tiiutual repetition of their affiidtions, it far'd not fo with Gun* deric and 7'hrafmond. On the contrary it rather augmented their grief, every time that they repeated the caufe of their fufferings : This it wsfe that ca(\ us both into a languifliing dirtemper, that would Jiot let us think of any thing elfe but of our loves, and as for the King of the Vandals, he fo totally abandon'd himfelf to the remembrance of his unknown Miftrefs, that he minded reither Army nor enterprifes, nor fo much as his own honour. At the fame time Gidifcles returned from Kome, and told us, tranfported with his difguft againft Homriw, that the Weflern Empire was threatned with a fpcedy and abfolute ruinc, that his Kinfman Stilicon was killed by Heraclian, thit CoMJiance wiS certainly dead, and that /4/<*ric was marching toward Italy, at the head of a formidable Army. He added that it was not fit for the Vm- dals to lofe fo fair an opportunity as this, to fix themfelves in Spain, which Gunderic had all along defigned, and that Atalorqne had raifed great divifions, between the Komans and the Inhabitants.' This news which would have been.moft welcome to the ambitious Gunderic, was but coldly received by the difconfolate Lover of Fbilinira, and if he bewailed the great and generous Coafiance, he never minded the conqueit which Gidifclei propofed to him. The Vandals artonirtied at fo great a change, languifhed like their leader Gunderic, yet not daring to murmur again(t their prince. But while they were in that general con(iernation, and that all our aHairs went tu wrack, I began my felf to have fome fenfe of pity, for a Nation that had been always dear to me, and that for their lakes I might prcferve the life of C««- deric^ I went to the Prince, and after I had fome time difceurs'd him concerning the un> litiown Book IV. PHARAMOND 66i known thilinirs. Sir, faid I, rvere it not better for tu to feek^anhomnrable death at the head of a* Army, than thus to absnden our plies to the confiiminz paifon of love melancholy ? Is it fitting for the great King of the Vandals to end his days in obfcurity? It it for him to die in an JJIaad as if he tvere bani[hed^ or that he were commanded and dttr\\ not fiir out of it / Let us be "one let tii hajien out of a Country fo fatal to your quiet., and rphen you begin to aci like a great KiiiT^ all the world tvill jirive to pleafe you, and tviU find ont Philinira for you. Tou have dratvn thcfc poor people from their homes ^ tvill you leave them without h^itations^ when you may foeafily fettle them in fair and fertile Provinces ? I took notice that Gunderic be- gun to hearken to my difcouife, which made me continue it more vehemently and vigo* roufly than before : Gidifcles and Cydillien were my fcconds, fo that at length we obtain- ed orders from Gunderic to be ready to fet fail in a tew days for Betick, Spain., which we had begun already to call Vandalufis, after we had made thofc conquers already mentioned. ' Here the Prince of the r^H^tf// broke off his Relation, not thinking tit to continue it a» ny longer, as well by reafonof the King of the Cimir/a/i/ indifpofition of Body, as for that he heard people at the Chamber Door, whom he judged to be fuch as had particuhr bufinefs with "Iheebald. Thereupon he rofe, promihng to finifli the reft when it might be done without injury to an illuftrious perfon, whofe health v/as too precious to the world not fo be taken care of to the utmoft of humane ability. The King of the Cimbrians made anfwer to thofe obliging expreliions with all the acknowledgment imaginable, and figni- fying that he would hear the reft of the Story of G»«^mc in 'fhrafmond's Apartment, he teftihed withal how great a fhare he bore in the misfortunes of two Princes fo well worthy of a better fortune. After that, as Jfallia had taken hisleave,and was going forth in JhrafimciLf'i company, Ti&ftjijWaddrellinghimfelf toboth, lam glad, faid he, there is fojirid a friend- pip between two Princes of fo fair renown. But, Sir, faid ff^allia, have you taken notice of the cgrrejpondency between Thrafimcnd '/ life and mine, the Gods and Theodolinda, reply- ed the pen five Lover /"■f/frijf you from fuch a refemblance. I confcjl, anfwered the Prince of the Vifigoths, that the divine Princefi whom you laji mentioned has mt yet dijpofed of her heart, as the fair ^thev.z'is has done in f avour of Theododas ; but if you except that only cif' cumflance, you wiUfrnd few accidents in my life that do mt anfwer yours. In fhort, we were both born among warlike Nations that have quitted their own to feek, out more pleafant Habit j' tions i you were jent to the Eafiern Emperaur by Gunderic, and I by the King of the Goths m the Court of Honqrius ; you are in. frieitdjhip with Martian, and C<:)ni\incc has honoured me with h'u : and in a word, we both loji our liberties during the time of our Negotiations, you at Conftantinople, a>f(i/ *» Rome. Upon the conclufion of this difcourfe, the report that had already flown abroad begai^ toencreafei fo that the two Princes took their leaves, that they might not intrench too far upon the privacies of the Cimbrian King. They were no fooner gone out of the Cham- ber, when lelanor entred with a Orange alteration in his countenance, and prefenting a ftrange Officer to the King his Matter: Sir, faid he, behold here one of the K ing of SntvW s and Briomer's Agents i behold that Vinderic whom your Majejly may probably have formerly feen attending upon the Frinceji Albifinda. How ! cryed Iheobald, interrupting him, afer^ vant of Albifinda, <»«i afl/cr Briomer the moil deadly of my Enemies, and the mo(i wicked perfon living ! Ah,my?rincefr, continutd he, lifting up his eyes to Heaven, what is become of thee, if what I bear be true ? Then turning toward the Sueve, ^eak^, purfued he, §eak^, and (iay not till 1 tear from thy lips the truth which I long to know, fhe Boat which was to be for their Vivertifement, and was fent as a prefent from Albifinda, wja it not fame tricl^of Eriomer'/ contrivance ? The Sueve then preparing to fpeak with more confidence than be- came his guilt. Sir, faid he to the King of \.he.Bohemians, before I anfwer to your Maje. flies demands^ 1 muji declare that the Frincefs Hunnimonda, in the place where Jhe it, will find n» better ufage than 1 (hall find here. And now. Sir, I mull tell you, that I am come hU ther by the order of the King of Sue via, according to which 1 ailed, in Jhort, Sir, 'twas I that conveyed away Hanmmondi \ and Briomer, whofe contrivance it was, it now conduUing her to Cologne, to 0, Heavens, cryed the difconfolate Iheobald, interrupting him, can ye fuffer the mail famous Villain that ever wM to be the Ma\ler of Wawmmoniai's dejliny, and that the chiefeji piece of Nature' t work^an(ljip fhouldbe fnatched out of your hands to be deli- vered up into the power of the moft perfidious among men ? But let us flie, added he, raifing himfelf in liis Bed, let usflie to the refcue of my Princefi, and not lofe inunprojitahle complaints, that precious time which may be ilillemplnyedinber delivery.. "Sir, <»«/B-vrf^ Vinderic, youE " Majcfty will but put yourfclf to a vain trouble v for be affured, that having ferved the " King my Marter, I would not have been the meffenger of. a lofs which I my felf had a *' hand in, but that I know how to repair it at the fame hour. 'Tis not for nothing .that. ' "Hare 662 THAKAMOND, Part XL " 5 date appear before a Prince whom 1 have provoked, but that I come with a remedy " proper to cure the wounds which I my felf have given : and therefore I muft tell you, ''Sir, it will be your fault if HHrnimonds do not return when you pleafe j you have a " great predominancy over Yharamond^ and you are only defired to ufe your power fo far *' as to make an alliance with the King of 5Kfi'/<» by the 'marriage of Tolyxena, " I will '' joyfully make the ptopofals, and I queftion not but fucccfsfully too, replyed the Cimbrian *' King^ for befidcs that fuch a reconciliation will reftore peace to Europe^ the merit of Vi- " ridomar is fo great that I fliall be overjoyed to " 'Tis not for the Prince of Sttevia "thatlfpeak, 'tis for the King his Father, cryed Windetky'iintemtpting him, who paffio» " nately loves the Princefs of the Frankj, and has obftinately refolv'd the enjoyment of "her, ortoperifh, having refolv'd in his ruine more perfons than you are aware of. He " holds in his hand that which Theobald zccounts moft dear to him in all the world, and " what Pharamond eftecms above his Hfe i fo that he can bring you both to an advantageous " coropofition when he pleafes, or make you tremble in the midft of your vidiories. '' And "we, cryed TUcobM, impatiently iHterruptiMghim, can deliver our Princeffes, maugre alS " the affifiance of Theodofm, or the Ramparts of Cologne. In the mean time, talk no '' no more to mc in the behalf of a Prince whofe in juftice I abominate : retire you where " "Telansr fliall condudt you, and fear nothing for Hunnimondai's fake ■■, for though you have "thus cruelly afflided me, I (ball take more care of yourfafety, than thedeareft of your " Friends : I will be your convoy, I will expofe my life for your prcicrvation ■■> and fmce " the fantaftical condud of fortune will have it fo, tHT fair Princefs whom you have be* c' trayed, (hall be the caufe that you receive fuch advantageous rewards of infidelity. The End of the Eleventh Part of PHARAMOND. PHARAMOND. Book I. 66:i PHARAMOND. The rwcJfth and Laft Pare. Book I. w .^. He pafliorate King of the Cimbrians burnd with fb fervent an 1^, impatience to deliver H«««/wcWiXi that having clofed his ears againft all the admonitions of the Surgeons, he caufed himfelf to be made ready, notvvithftanding the pain and trouble of his ^''wounds, refolvingpcrfonally toa(fiinall things which might be advantageous to his love. Immediately he went to the Qiicen of the Vifisioths, where he found Odavia, Iheadalhtds and Adelaiada, and hardly giving him fo much time as to pay them his refpcds, fo deeply was he prefTed with his own griet^ he made his addreffes to them in this manner, after he had ta- ken notice that their forrow was as great as he could poffibly expeftit tobe; "I fee, faid he, moft generous Ladies, that you are moft fenfibly touch'd " with the misfortunes of your illudrious Friends, and that you will not take it ill to be "haftened from hence, to the end that our Forces being united, may be in a condition in a "few days to march againft the common Enemy. "Sir, atifteered Placid ja, wearerefol- " ved to fecond your intentions to the utmort thatpcrfons of our Sex can contribute there -^ " to. '"And it fliall be none of our faults, purCued the §h(een of Albion, if this veiy day '' you do not quit this Camp to return to the King of the Franks. IheodoltHda and Ade- laiada immediately told him that the/ were ready to go forthwith^ and prayed theKing of the Bohemiant not to take care for any thing that might concern their departure. The Prince however was not flack to ufe all the diligence which the troubles that tormented his mind would permit himi and after he had ilTued out all neceflary orders that concern'd the Troops, WalUa^ Ihrafimond, Priam and feveral others of the chief Commanders un« dertook to fee them carefully put in execution. Afterwards they conjured Theobald to re- ly upon their condudt, and urged him foearnedly, that at length he was well fatisfied, how contrary foever it were to his natural adivity. True it is, that his mind was never the more at reft •, for in regard he was not Mafter either of his love or of his refentment, the violence whereof he could not keep enclofed in his Breaft, he was glad of a flight occafion to retire for threecr four hours> where he might not be encumbred with compa* ny. Underftanding therefore that Marcomire had a defign to give him a vifit, he was rer folv'd to prevent him, and to fcek him out on the other fide of Segoduna, in a little Vil- lage, whither by the advice of the Phylkians he had withdrawn himfelf, for the more quick recovery of his health. But as he was juft ready to go, there came a perfon from Calosite to fpcak with him from Keva, with a command alfo to attend the Princcfs Theodo-. linda^ That Officer had no foonerobtain'u the audience which he dellred, but he adver-n tifed theobaid, that the King of the Hnts would be the next day at Jgri^piHa : that he h^d, not 66x TUARAMOND: Part XIL not laid much to heart the death of Mundefic, having exchanged for fuch a Son as Ambiomn. and underftandingbefides that the illu(hiousBtf/a»wzr lb generally efteemed, and always io afftdtionately beloved by himfelt, was how difcovered to be the true fucccffor to ihc Kinf,s of Bohemia, theobald who iott^ot nottheleaft particwlarof that gratitude, which he owed iQ a pcrfon to whom he was fo deeply engaged, as well for bis education as for many other marks o{ his liberality, enquired after the profperity of that Prince, with all the vehemency that his grief would permit him, and when Keva's mefTengerhad fatisHed him in all other things,hc inform'd him infewwoids,how joyfully the Kfng of the Haw had acknowjedg'd and owii'd his Son Ambiomer inllead of Balamir. But can yoa not tell me, replyed the ena- moured Theobald tranfported with his pallion, whether Hunnimonda ivere at Agrippina, tvhenyou came from tbence? or if fl'e be there, how the King of Suevia behaves hinifelf toward her. Sir, anfwered the Hun, the report that 1 heard was that they had carried that Princefito Cologne> with other very canfiderable perfotis in her company. And that the King 0/ Suevia badcaufed them io be cunningly fioln away, to the end the Citizens o/ Agrippina, might be in a cmdition to mak^ the better conditions with yeurfelf and the King of the Franks, if for thefw tttre, viihr\ (fjould attend you both, with thatfucce^ as hitherto it haf done. But Sir, added he, tak^ m care I befeechyou for the Frineefi of the Gc«hs, neither /he nor any of the reft need he afraid^ in a City which mufi be forced to implore their protedion ; Nor is there any thing which they dare deny them, only the liberty of going out of the lown. Not that the Trinceji of the Franks enjoys the fame repofe with the reft of her companions, fe* (to Jpeak^ingenuoufy) the King a/ Sue- via loves her with an extraordinary affeaieu as the report goes. But confidering hit humour, you may well imagine that hif company cannot be very acceptable, e^ecially it being fo impoffible for him to conceal the implacable hatred, which he fo choicely foments againft Pharamond aud Vi* lidomar. when theH«» had given TkoJ^W an accompt of thofc things which he defired to now, he wasfent back with a moft obliging anfwer, and while he went to attend the P.mcefs IheodoUnda, the King of the Cimbrians made choice oi Narva, for hisxnvoy to the King of the UuHs, for which purpofe he gave him a Letter and inlbudions what he had to iay.Tc* fi-a'^ ajfure the King, added Theobald, that 1 pall always think^my felf happy in the Title of hvs Son, and that I befeech him to preferve for Theobald that ajfedion, with which he always honoured ^alamir. Tell him that 1 would mo^ gladly wait upon him, were it fa* for me to come into a City, where lity enemies have an abfolute power, and that he would j:,,fibly oblige me, ■ would he but afford me the opportunity of a meeting, and I might mak^ him the fame proteftati~ ens which I make by another. B«f Narva, purfued he blufhing, and earneftly beholding the Hmi, above all things difcharge your felf of this farther commijjion which Ifljallgive you iHtrufi, Befeech the King of the Huns to proteU my Friucefi upon all occafwns, wherein ffje ftjall have need cf hii fupport. Tut him in mind that he had often defign'd the little Hunnimonda/sr the young Balamir : and therefore fince he never had any diflikg of that innocent affediopt, which I ever had for that moji admirable Lady, tell him that he hjf fome reafon, and it in fome meafure con- cern' d to contribute to that union which he approved, and formerly fo earnejUy fought after. For your part, Narva, Imahe no quefiion but when you are at Cologne, you will endeavour to find o«t tAf /j/r Bellamira, if you prove fo happy, and fee withal my moft adored Frincefl, can yott fiifficiently reprefent to her what I undergo for her fal^e ? Can you defcribe my forrows to her ? were ycj^ ever inlove ? But, added he immediately, it is impofjible that you (hould have ever lo- "vedfo pii^tonately as the unfortunate Theobald, andfu it is impoffible youfhould ever expreftmy thoughts. However endeavour to omit nothing that you can imagine I would fay to my Prin- cefi , could I come to Cologne without prejudice to that party , which muft fight fgr ber liberty , ■ The enamoured Prince ufcd many other pallionate expreffions to Narva, but at length Iiaving difmiffed him with much ado, he went away himfelf to viiit Marcomire, as he liad fully refolved before. No fooner was he gone beyond the Trenches,but the beauty and misfortunes of his Prin- ccfs crouded into his thoughts : But when he began to confider that H:innimonda had been forcibly taken from him, at a time when there was noobliade littwcen him and her happi- nefs, he began to be fo far tranfported as to complain of the cruelty of his deftiny. Divine Prince^, cryed he as if (he had heard him, wm it not enough that thy innocent life has been criffed fvithfo many misfortunes, but that thou muft fall into the hands of the moft unjuft of aU Frinces, and under the power of the moji wicked villain that ever lived. Having fo faid he began to confider with horror, the affrights wherewith Hunnimonda might be daily terrified, the rudenefs of the King of ^weim and Br/owv-r's cruelty : and then ihe conilancy whkh that moll incomparable Lady had (hewn upon all occafions the moft dangerous. Book I. P H A R J M N D. Uk dangerous, inftead of patting him out of fear, cart him into new apprchbn(tons,pcrrv»aJir!g him every moment, that Uunnimondci's courage might provoke and incenfc her pet* fccutors. He was as it were ingulph'd in thofcfad rcflcdlions, when a great noife awakcn'd his contemplations ; When turning his head he fjw two parties of Soldiers in combat one z* gainft the other. Immcdiitcly h'. rode up to tlie place where the skirmifh Was,ard he had nofooner obfeived the dirference of their Armcs, but he perceived that about three hun- dred Ramans fought, retreating before a greater number ot Sandals who vigoroully purfu- ed them, to the end they might complcat the vidory which they had already in their hands. The generous 'Theobald never Hood to coiilider what he had to do, but advancing with his Sword prepared to ftrike, he refolved cither to moderate their fury by Tome gentle admo- nition, or elfe to t ake the weakeft fide if they refufed to give fair Qiurter. He was )u(t a- bout to execute \that he intended, when a certain Roman addrcUing himfeif to that Randal who fought with grcatcli fury , Hold, faid he, f}>are the life of the great Theodoflus, 'tis Honorius rvham thjupurfueji. Rather the tnuriherer of Serene (»«^Stilicon, cryed the fierce Vandal interrupting him, and therefore oppofe not my refentment^ rvhich arms me tepmi^tbai iyrant^ if thou intendeji to avnid the dejiiny. By the furlinefs of his anlwer, the King of the Cimbriam gueffed the Vandal to be that Gidijcles, of whom Ihrafimond had made mention in the Hilfory o( Gunderic, and therefore never confidering that Honorius was his Rival, or examining what delign might bring that Prince where Bfi/i»/«/r^ was, he only applyed himfeif to divert the ilorm that threai^ned him. To which purpofe addrelling himfeif to the enemy of Honorim, after he had lifted up his Vifer, To«jjf<»/^o/Stilicon, faid he, like a perf on fo deeply concerned for him that I believe yott arf Gidifcles : So that I am apt to think n>ben yon underjiand that my Name U Theobald, yott tviU at my entreaty moderate that fury ^ rvhich carries you en to reveyige your Kinfmans death. Thofc wordsand the countenance of the King, having fufpended a while the l^andals rage. How Sir^ replyed Gidifdes, for it was really he, rpill fucb a Prince as you proteci ingratitude and perfidy.^ For indeed by the death ofSctcncyott are fnffciently dijpens'd rciih, though yoit extinguif}} thofe effeVis of your generosity, torvard perfons fo unieorthy to merit them. Concluding thofe words he would have fallen upon the Empcrour of the KoWi»K/,whcn "Theobald difplaying his Sword aloft. Hold Gidifcles, crycd he with a commanding utter- ance, and force me not to fght againli thofe Troops tthich are come to our fnccour. Tou may da as youpleafe^ furlily replyed the J^ and laftly (he bewailed the lofs of her Husband in the fury of a fedition of which ftie had been the innocent caufe. The pallionate Honoriits, inftead of continuing a difcourfe that no way concern'd Bellamira, im- patiently enquired after the welfare of that moft incomparable Lady whom he had fo ex- ceedingly lov'dj and ftill lov'd fo tenderly. The Queen of the Goths told him in few words Book i FHAKAMOND. wbtds that BeJJaniira wzs Huitnimonda -^ and afterward 5 expla-ning lier felf more aflSr^e* (he gave him to underftand that that fair Princefs had not run tiuough fo rtiany dange^rs* had not defpifed death, and rctufcd Empires, had it not been for Balamh^ fakq wh6 tv^l now difcovcred to be King of the Cimbrians : So that^Sir^ purfued flic, beitt^fo jtifi at yon are^ J have no reafon to doubt that you have any dtfl^n la interrupt fo nable a>t affeUiom e* giecially after fuch an exploit of TheobM, as merits that you Jhould in fume meafitre firhJi with your felf in favour of fo generom a Frittce, ' Upon thofe words the Empcrour (igh'd, and feem'd to be firangcly accu'fed by his ovvn thoughts: when Placidia perceiving that her difcoiirfe had made fome impreilion in his mind, Ah, Sir-, purfued (he, cofifider 1 befeech you hotpfar Hunnimonda might be engdged before ever yau fatp her •, aud if you have thoughts of that Princefi rvorthy of her^ renounce all your own pretences to bet. Injiead of contending with her inclinations^ injiead of aitemptinl to. render that incomparable frincefi unfaithful to a Prince fo worthy of her affection and id trbom you are beholding for faving your life, do that which acknowledgment challenges, and change that violent pajjion which you have for Hunnimonda into a rational friendfhip ; fo (haU you not only preferve the e{ieemof that fair Frincefi, but alfo engage to your intere\\s a King Tvbofe valour will be no mean ajjijiance to you, at a time when all the world is up in Amis, and the two Empires fhaken by the invasion offo many Nations. Tour counfel it good. Madam re- plyed Honorius Gghing, and 1 muli confefi that you have faid nothing to Me but what my reafati bis advifed me to a thotifand times. But, my dear Siiier, purfued he, bow little your advice bow tittle lily refolutions are able to prevail over a heart where reigns the faireji perfon that f- ver teas ! however, forbear not continually to tell me efmy duty i jpeak^ to me often of the ilullriJ ««f Theobald, lay before me all the jujlice of hif glerioM hopes, and procure for we Beilamira's eiHverfation, or at lea\i a Letter front her, to the end, that the wifdom of that incomparable per-- fan may in fome meafure appeafe the tumults of mv mind^ and at length produce the effeds wbicQ yau defire. Nevertheleji, do not believe that I defire fo powerful an afijiance, to jpare my felf the labour in an affair of this importance : for I intend my felf to ufe all my endeavours and t leave yju noti^ added he with a ferious difcompofure in his countenance, to enter into a Combat where I am fure I (hall never get the viUory^ and wherein I cannot tell whether 1 fl:ould be gladtabe theViUor. The forrowful Honorius had nofooner concluded thofe words blithe left the Princefj tlacidiai Chaniber, and went to the Apartment which was prepared for him, where he minded moreto recolIedV in hismmd whatever could for tifie his reafon, than to take that reft which was neceffaty for him. Recalled to mind the virtues of the grezt T'heodofius that he might not do any thing unworthy his Birth i he perfwaded himfclf upon goocf ground that Bellamira woa\d Beasconflant at Cologne, as fhe had been at KaveHna, wheri the never hoped to' fee that Prince again to whom flic had bequeathed her afTedlion : and laftly heraifed up againft himfelf the acknowledgment due to a Rival who had ventured hi^ own for the prefervation of his life. However, he could not bring his delTgn to perfe- ^ion, fo that it 'behov'd him to ufe other endeavours to break thofe Fetters wherewith Eellamira had chained him, Bellamira whom all the world admired. However," he de* fpaired not altogether to conform his paflion to Hunnimonda's will, and that he might o- mit nothing that could further his intention, he went to vifit the Priricefles, not'fo much in point of decency, as out of hope thit "fheodolinda's eyes, which had once enthrajlej him, might ftill make fome jmpreliidn in his heart, which would not prove difadvantage- ous to the defign which he had' laid, Nev'erthelefs, that vifit produced not the efftd whicfi he exped^ed \ for after the ufual complements, they fell into a difcourfe of Vindertc's trez* chery, a«id for that reafon it was impoflible to talk of thofe fair Princeffes which had bted carried away by force, without giving a thoufand applaufes t© the incomparable Bellamira, So that Honorim was altogether as deep in love when he left the Queen of Albion's Lodg- hlgs, whcttlheodolinda and ^Jf/d/WJo«, he fought for fyaVia whom he found with fheodolinda, while 'iaxander plealed himfelf in the company of his lovely Adslaiada, Fharamond gave the Prince of the fifigethi, all the marks of efteem that were due to his viftuei but inllcad of engaging in a long difcourfe with hit*, as he might h^ve done at a- . rothej* Book I. P H A R A M N D. '66^ nothcrtime, he left him with the Princefs oftlicI/M;// and advanced toward T'hrafuttoHii^ whom he had dcfcried among a great company ot Vandal OfWccxs. To that Prince he made known the liigh opinion, which he had conceived of liis extraordinary merit, and taking notice that he was pofTefTcd witli adecpiDclancholy, he omitted nothing which he thought might contribute to his confolation, hoping that he (hould (bou be in a better condition, than upon a march, to render as well to him as to iVal^ia^ thole honours which were due to princes of their ilUiUrious birth and unfpottcd rCputasion. In the mean umcJheobald was not without fome fears in reference tnVindcric, Co tha^ whatever coiu'idcnce he had in Telannr, to whofe care he had committed him, he felt in him- felf fome certain diflurbanccs, which he could by no means quiet. To fay the truth, he thought and that upon very good grounds, that in the confution of fuch a noble meeting of fo many ilUiftrious perfons, the Suede might be tempted to make his efcape, and that being fufSciently hated and as fufficiently known, he might be killed in the execution of his defign: Infomuch that the enamoured Prince fought tor him, asfoon as in point of de- cency and civility he could, with all the earr.eftnefs and all the fear ot a true and real friend. But hcno fooncr met the Troop which guarded that fame T»aitor,but his fears were as foon over, for he perceived that lelattor v^zs very careful of his charge, and that Vinderic was fo far from fljcwing any difcontent in his face, that he marched along with that tranquility of mind, which offences generally do not atTord the guilty. When they came near the Camp, Conijiant'nte and Viridomar marching cut with a fair Train, advanced three or four furlongs to mctt Honorittf, and received that Prince with all the Ifonaurs that were due both to the Emperour of the Weft, and the Son of the great 7heodnfm. Tiie King of the Bri/4<«/ add re ihng his fpeech to him in the behalf of Co«/b«cf, who prefented him to HvHorim, Sir, faid he, I confejsl have not always been a friend ef the Ro mans, hat though my Conqueror tvould not hat/e made my peace, as be did at Arks in the mnjl generoiif manner in the rporld, I believe I (liouldhave found fome other tvay to have courted the fa' vourofa Prince, rvbo difdaining to march againfi me himfelf, onlyfent his Lievienant to overcome me. lam beholding in all things, rcp\ycdiionoxi\iS, to that Lieutenant of mine: For ivithout doubt that great Captain, has always been thefupport nfmy Empire. But S/r, added he, among ai the moji important fervices which he has done, I am apt to believe that the amity of the King of the Britains , /'/ one of the greateji advantages tphich his courage has procu" red me. They were going on in their difcourfe, when the Prince of 5amtkj forbore not to prefs UoHoriui, fcac Seeing it vain he was contented that the meeting (hould be at his own Apartment i the Caillc where Rofamend^ theQucen oi the "THriH^ieas, Albifinda^ and tiieSKicrof tlic king of the Low^<»ri^/ had lodged before, being left for the PrincefTes. But now the noife of the Army no fooner hll'd the new Camp of the ¥ran\s^ But that Cnndemar and GuHiran, who were now in a condition to retire to Cologne^ rtfolvtd to be gone, left their prefence might raife any new fufpicions. To which purpofc they imme- diately took their leaves of the moll: conUderablc perfons of the Army, they were ju(i going out of the King of the Franks Apartment, at the very inftant that Smumi arrived, after a long abfence, and they took notice that he had a more numerous Train, than was ufually accurtomed to attend him. But they foon perceived that it was compofcd of feveral per- sons of quality of the 'turingien Nation, who would not forfake a Prince to whom they were fo much obliged, for having fettled the affairs of that Kingdom. Nor were they want- ing publickly to declare, how much they were engaged to their valiant ptote(Sor •, and one of the moft conHderable among them, having taken his opportunity to fpeak to Tbaramond.^ ata time when5«««o« was otherwife employed, gave him an exadt account as follows, of all that paffed in the Capital City of that Countrey. '• You have been informed Sir, faid he, without doubt, how flrangely the King of Sue^ "wjand Briomer, were tranfported againrt the fair/i?/Ma/(»zo«t/^ii:whcnfliefent back her Ar» *' my into Turingia, being unwilling they fhould fcrve againH a Prince, that had (b infinitely "obliged her. Now as the fury of perfons of that humour never fleeps, but continually: " wakes for mifchief,you cannot wonder at the effedts which it produced to the prejudice of *' the luringiens. You muft know then Sir, that the King of Suevia had particular confe. " rences with the General of our Army, before it marched from the confederacy. wherein he " laid before him whatever could flatter hiS ambition. He told him he ought not to negledt " the opportunity which he had of raifing himfelf to the Throne, and enjoying a fair and *' lovely Princets, who would be conftraincd to efpoufe him for the prefervation of her Do- " minions, JVe will here, added he, fifely k^fp Amalazontha as a pledge for thepromife I have made you, you have the power in your hands, you are going into a Kingdom where there is no Kina and where yott may ea[ily have the Soveraign power, purchafing, as it is eafiefor you to do the good wiU of the Souldiery. Beftdes, faid he, youfliaU receive continual fupplies of men and mo* neyfromme, J will alfo give you ho\\ ages for the performance ef my word, andwbicb ismoreldo not heliveyoK can find any ohjiacle to your pretences^ how difficult foever they may feem to be at firjl : Fori do not fee that the Turingiens have any Captain, who is able to oppofe your defigns. Nor can I believe them to be fo much the enemies of their own honour, as to chnfe rather to obey iz Stranger than one of their own Nation, to whom the jhutefl among them are cojttented tofubmit tbemfehes already, and who already underflands the Laws and Cujioms of their Country. " In a word Sir, the King of Suevia made it out, that there was fo little difficulty in the "enterprife which hepropofed, that Hildion, forfo vvas the name of our General, (hut his " eyes againft all that reafon could lay before him,and abandon'd himfelf intirely to the con- " 6udc of a Prince, who had promifed him the poffeffion of fo fair a Queen, together with *'thc Soveraign power over the Nation. " The Ambitious General therefore having laboured to make himfelf Matter of the Ar- " my under his command, in a (hort time accomplKhcd his dellgn : For they no longer o- " beyed any orders but his, finding the Scepter of T«ri«g/4 in the hands of a perfon, that " knew not how to make ufe of a Sword. However Prince Sunnan would not forfake the *' Army of a Princefs, whofe interefts were fo infinitely dear to him, whether it were that " he fufpefted any thing of Hildions dtfign, or that he would notftir from an Army that " was not formidable enough of it felf to defend themfelves, if affaulted on their march. " However it were, he refolvcd to march along with us even into "luringia it felf, whatever *' perfwafions our General could ufe to him, not to abfent himfelf at too great adiftance " trom the Camp of the Franks. Though it be very true that he made no great oppolit ion " to the Prince's intentions,not believing he had any reafon to be afraid of a (ingle pcrfon,but "rather conceiving it to be for his advantage, that he had in his power a Brother of *' Vbaramond. " No fooner were we arrived at Lephdnte, which as you know well is the Metropolis of "^ 7'uringia, but Hildion endeavoured to gain the people, as he had got the hearts of the Sol- ''diery, and hefwelled to that degree of infolencein a (hort time, that he undertook to di- "fpofe of Offices and Commands, without wdiking Amalazontha privy to his Aiitions.5««- " mn could not endure that any one fliould ufurp the rights of that Princefs, but having " alfembled together the remainder of thofe, that continued faithful in Lephaate^ he not "onW 6'ji PHARAMOND. Part XIL ''only oppofed HfW/oK in hisdefigns, butbyaftions full of wonder vrpheld Amahzontha'j ^ tottering Throne, having with only four thoufand men raifed in haft,oveithrown fcven« *' teen thoufand "turingieni^ reinforced with three thoufand Saxons and as many SMeviatts,\a "■ a word Sir, the Prince fliewed himfelf a perfon worthy to be the Brother of the greaif '' Pharamo}id upon all ocafions, wherein he had an opportunity to fignalize his valour, an4 *'conftraining the Rebels whoie leader he had flain to beg their peace, he rcftorcd a perfed" "calm, and cftabliflied ^»2ii/az£)«j/^<»'/ authority over all Iari«g;.». Nor have our people " proved ingrateful, but having given a thoufand thanks to heaven for their protedor and " fet up his Statue with an honourable infcription in the Piazza of Lephante, they have de- ,** pntcd me for Cologne with a fufficient Train, to make their humble addrcfs to the Queen, *' and to propofe to her in all humility, that as well out of acknowledgment as for the good ''of her Kingdom, (lie would not fefufe to make choice for her Spoufe, of a Prince who ''preferved her Crown upon her head, and who is able to keep it fixed, as well by his own ''valour, as by the alfiftance of the Frankj. But my commillion Sir reaches farther, for the "government not being abfolutely Monarchical,as it is not in many other parts of Gfr/M;?«jf, "Ihaveordertofpeak more home, \i Amalazontha refufe to yield to the reafons and fuppli- " cations of her Subjed-s. Without douht^ replied the King of the I'rankj^ you do more fat Triua: Sunnon than he himfelf requires at yonr hands : But generous Thanaric, 1 dare ajj'ure, you that he has fo great an affebionfor the interejis of the Turingiens, that yeuneed mt go about to oblige hiin^ by doing him any kjnd Offices vpith Amalazontha : Katber I believe it rvould be a ^riffto him^ to hear that there (fjould be any violence or cnnfiraiMt put upon the intentions ofthati fair Frince(i : So that if you rvill take m\ coitnfel^ inftead of endeavouring to force a c$nfent which fhouldbe ala^ays left free, let Prince Sunnon only have the liberty to obtain it by hU jervices^tvbicb he may have daily opportunities of rendring her, while you afford him the eccafwns. fharamond was thus difcourfing with 'thanaric^ when the Prince of whom they wera fpeaking entred the Chamber, and befought his Brother that he might go toColcgne to vifit the Queen of the Ttiringien}. Provided you might do it with fafety^ anfwered the King, I would very willingly J}arc yotiforfo fmaV a journey^ and that you (houldgo to a City where I would be glad to go myfelf could 1 do it without the ruine of our defgns. But Brother^ confider that the King of S^ievh and Er'iomcr keep there feextiU a Guard in that place, that itis impofiblefor any fingle per fan to enter into Agrippina, till they have examined him from whence he comes, and what bufrnefhe has there. "Sir, replied Sunnon, I know it is of great importance for mc "not to be flopped at Cologne, becaufe it is only my defire to fee the Queen of luringia^ixid '' and to return fo foon as your affairs call me away, and therefore I have made fucli provi- " lion, that certainly I cannot fail in the fuccefs. I know that the two BurgmidianViiriCts " which are in the Camp, are now about to return, and therefore in regard that Guntran " had never any particular quarrel withany Prince of your family i but on the contrary that *' he became a Captive to a Princefs of your blood, while he was a prifoner of war in your " Army, I thought he would not deny me a favour which I durft not demand oiGundemar, " To that purpofe I requefted of Gtattran, that he woufd permit me to ride along as one of "his Train, there being no fear that any of them (hould be obferved or examined, at the " Gate of a City into which they were known to enter friends. Nor did the Prince fcru- " pie in the Icaft to grant me my defire, deeming perhaps that it was only love that drew " me to Co/ogMf, or elfe believing that I might do him fome greater piece of fervice. Thus "Sir, you fee that 1 am certain to get into the Town, without any likelihood of being di- " fcovered, and if I am not deceived, you will eafily agree with me, that it will be an eafie *' thing for mc to return before you can lay any formal Siege to the City. BeCdes Sir, T-ba- '•'•■aaric will never be refufed the liberty of going out of the Town, when ever Amalazon- " *^j(hall think fit to fend him back, and to carry along with him as many attendants as he " brought, (o that it will be eafie for him to leave one of his own men behind with the "Qufcn, and to take me in his room along with him. "But, ahftvered Fharamond, inre- " gard that mofl of them that follow Ihanaric, may be fufpedcd by the jealous King of Sue* '■'■via, my apprehenfions are that they will be as (Iridly examin'd when they go away, as " v?hen their names were given in at their entry. And therefore good Brother, if you do "not think my fears to be groundlefs, do nothing raflily but (lay with Amalazontha, till you "have a m.orc convenient opportunity to return, and take heed of being kept in reftraint " from us, out of too eager a zeal to come to ouratliftance. Sunnon telUfied his acknow- ledgment to his Brother, for his refpcdful admonitions, and was about to have explained himfelf more precifcly, when! heobald ame to viik Pharamond, and for tome time inter- ifupted their dilcourfe. True it is that they fell iivto k again foon after; for the King of the Frankj addreffinghiiih- felf Book I. THARAMOND. p73 fe!f to the King of the Cimhrians^ Sir, fjid he, there is a Lovfr in my[Chamber^. thai is likely to be more happy at Cologne than either TlKobald or Pbaiainond in tkU Army ^' jo that aj it it impnfiblepr htm to jfend all hU time with the Princeji nbich he loves, it xvili be in hit power to ^eak^ in the behalf of the King of the Cimbrians , and not to forget the inierefh of Pharamond. Havingfofaid, he told him in a few words of .9«mw«'s rcfolution, and having aUb in» form'd him how I6j«jr/c was likewife bound for the facfic place. Ion fee Sir, faid he, th^i Ihave here a very feture opportunity to write to Rofamond, if you rviU be but pleafedto give me leave. Xon kttotvSir, tbatyoumay do it obligingly, anfwered Theobald, andlbelieve that V\\2iXimoT\A''s merit has a greater influence over my Sijier, than the near relation of a Brother, I confefi, replyed theKingof thcFM«il^/, that 1 have formerly taken the liberty, but n was r»ben ikpetvnoperfon that had the priviledge to grant me jngh a favour, 1 underfland , replyed Theobald, you tpottldhave authority from the Brother pf Rofamond, and lam content with a chear^ftlnefi equal to your affeUion, which is a truth I believe you little (jnejiion. Thus the two Kings parted, but with an intention to meet again fo foon as they had writ (heir Letters, which they had an intention to (hew each other but did not however : For 'Iheobald refuling to look upon Pharamond's, Sir, faid he, you k^naw that love choofet te kfep his Court[hips private, and you may perhaps incenfe her by letting a Brother fee, what yott. have only defigned to the Sifter. However, replied the King of the Frank/-, methinks it would be a furplufageof fatisfaUion, if the Frtncefi Koi^amond jhould only fee what the King of the Cicri' Brians hadfmgly approved. " Your virtue, replied 'Iheobald, governs me in that particular " far beyond your billet, fo that you may write to my Sifter whenever yeu have an oppor- "tunity, without any regard to my infpcdtion, which would but injure that friendfliip, " which we have fworn to preferve as long as we live. But Sir, continued he, a Brothers "Letter and a Lovers Letter are two different things, and therefore you may look upon " what T have writ to Kofamond, and never fear to deprive my thoughts of that fweetnefs "which is wrapped up in a pallionate Billet. Having (o laid he prefented his Letter to the King of the Frank/., but the Prince having lefufed to take it, " Sir, faid he, I am fufficiently fatisfied what I am to exped from you "at this time, for the great T^eoW^'s gcnerolity is fo well known to me, thatlqueftion " not the new encomiums you have given of me, without being fo curious as to look into *"■ your Letter. Upon thofe words, the King of the Cimbrians never urging the King of the Frank/ any farther, gave his Letter to Ihanaric and not to Prince Sunnon, not only becaufe he thought it more decent, but alfo becaufe it feemed to him more probable that a Letter wiitteninPharamond'sbthilf, might be lefs fufpcded, and produce a better effcdt if it were delivered by a Stranger, than by the Brother of the King of the Erankj, who for his part gave his own Letter to his Brother Sunnon: and though he had expreffed therein,all that tendernefs could infpire into the moft paflionate Lovers upon fuch occafions, yet was hediffatisfied in his own Oratory, and prayed Sunnon to add by the advantage of conver(a- tion, whatever he found omitted in the Letter. " Brother, purfued he, fince you have for " Amalazontha's fake felt the whole power olt love, and in regard you have a friendfhip " for Pharamond, it will be a needlefs thing to recommend my interefts to your care. For "I cannot imagine that you will omit any thing to the advantage of a Brother fo dear to' "you, and who fuifers as much as any man can fuifer, by the abfence of the perfon whom' "he loves. After thefe words and fome other cxpreffions of affedion, which it was importible for him not to add, he gave Sunnon leave to depart, who carried the Turingien Deputy to his Chamber, where he fell into a long difcourfe with him concerning the Prlncefs, who had no Icfs thepofieifion of his thoughts, than the Sovcraignty over his heart in words.to thiS' effect. " Generous T'banaric, faid he, you will have the advantage to fee out Queen foon-' "er than t, fince I muft be conftrained to attend the motion of two Princes, that perhaps" "ftay all night in our Camp, and therefore I conjure you to fpeak to the divine Amalazon- '■'tba, as little as poilibly you can, concerning the fervices which you fay I have done her. " Attribute to £ he faithfulnefs of her fubjeds, what we have hitherto imputed to my fideH- " ty, and never make ufe of the unfortunate Sunnon^s name, to raife any new difcontent in " the Princefs whom he adores. You know that Amalazontha is full of acknowledgment "and juUicc, and I know moreover that there is not any inclination in that fairSoul,whieh *' is not favourable to Sunnon. For affurcdly Ihanaric, it would be no fmall trouble to her, "to fee her (lit obliged to a perfon that (he has no deike, or it may be no will to love, "belides that Ihe believing my prcfence to be a kind of reproach of her ingratitude, the " fight of me would become the mofi infupportable thing in the world, and I'lhould pi"jvfr " the moft unhappy Lover in the world. Q_q q g 'the ^74 THARAMONB. Fart XII. ,,■!••. The tteriHgfe'ft^ tnov'd with the exprefiions and looks of Sunnon to a compaffion mixed with aftonifhment, and having thought upon a means to give him an anfvver, without en- gaging himfelf to any thing that might offend the generous Prince: 5/r> faid he, neiihet you HOT I can iujily tell what xve have to fay to the §htee)t ■, but as I am not altogether ignorant of herdi^ofition, and for that 1 intend to obferve horv (I'le jlandi affeded, before I explain my felf^ yoH have no reafen to fear that 1 rvill ever go about to everthrerv that nhich 1 fo fervently defire tnav be effectually e^ablifhed, "He made fome farther proteftations alfo which fully fa- tisfied the refpeiiful Lover. After which the 'turingien took his leave, and departed for Co- logne, attended by thofe of his Nation who were ordered to wait on him in his Deputa- tion , On the other fide, Tharamondhtm^ inform'd that the famous Keva was coming to the Camp, teftified no fmall gladnefs at the news, as well for the merit of the Knight, as for that he thought him fent by the King of the H««/, he received him therefore with aJl the marks of his efteem, and with a moft hearty welcome j but before he fuffcred him to fpeak a word of his journey, he carried him to IheodoUnda's Apartment, that he might not retard the joy which he knew the Princefs would receeive at the fight of a meffengei? from her Father. The Princefs therefore had no fooner paid all the civilities to Kft/.* which he could poffibly exped, but he began to unfold the contents of his Deputation as fol- lows : " It would be a difficult thing, Madam, faid he, for me to exprefs either to your " felf, or to the King of the Cimbrians how much overjoyed the King was, when he un. " derdood that you were both in this Army, and that notwithftanding the great jout» " neys which the Princefs has undertaken, and the change that hasfallennout in the for- " tune of our firfl: Balamir, you have ftill the fame tender refpedt for him which you had " at Alba Julia : for that reafon has he given me order to affare you in his name, that he " has ftill the fame paternal atfedion for you which ever he had, and that he has an ex- " traordinary impatience to let you fee the truth of his words, chufing rather to come to " this Camp, than to fend for you to a City where he is every day a witnefs of their in ju- " ftice and violence. Befides, lie has an infinite defire to vifit the great Fharamond, whofe " Renown is fo far fpiead, and to be likewife acquainted with the famous Conjiaace, who *' has fo long upheld the Roman Empire, theilluftrious Viridomar, and all thofe other Prin- *'ces in this Army, who have rendred their names famous by fo many renowned Actions. ** The King of the Sarmatians, and the Prince of .the S«x««/ having the fame defire maybe "induced to come along with him : fo that if I am not deceived, you will have a good " part of the company at Cologne in your own Camp before the Forces of either party be in "a condition to undertake any enterprife. But what do you fay concerning the Prince^ of the Goths ? faddenly replyed T'heobald interrupting him. " That (he is highly efteemed in ''Cologne, replyed Keva, that flie is admired by alii but that no perfon dares prefurac to "make love to her, having heard the (lories of her immoveabit confiancy, which made *' her defpife death, and refufe Empires for a Prince's fake that (he never expeded to fee a« *' gain as long as (he lived. The King of the Hum and Prince. Bj/jw/V, who flill adhere '*' clofe to her intere(\s in whatever concerns her, not only take particular care of them, but " are alfo refolv'd to crown her Queen of the Gothr, and to reftore her thefe Provinces *' which they had won from her Father. Hunnimonda return'd her thanks to the King with "a moderation becoming the Grandeur of her Soul j andafter(he had given him to un» "derftand that neither her difpofition was inclinable, nor the feafon proper for the cere- " monies which they propounded : (he added, that as for the reftitution of her Domini- ^ Ons, (he would refer her felf in reference to that aiTair to the King of the Cimbrians. ** I '' am in a rapture of joy, replyed the King of the Huns, and my Son Theobald (hall not on- "ly feat you again upon the Throne of your Anceftors, but he (hall alfo have when he " pleafes under his command the entire difpofal of all thofe conque(\s for which I am be- *' holding to his valour. His Brother who hears me will not contradid me in what I fay : '* for as 1 leave him a large Dominion befides, and the friend(hip of the King of the dm- *'■ Brians, I believe he will have little reafon to complain. "I (hould have had fome rea- *''fon to complain however, replyed the generous Balamir, if all that your Majefty has fpo- '^' ken had befallen me by the lofs of fuch a Father. But, Sir, I (hall be very well content- ''ed with tny fortune as long as your Majefty rules that Monarchy which you govern with "fo much fame, provided withal, that the King of the Bohemians ha the fame kindnefs "' for me which you have a(rured me of. l^heobald wisvcty much fatisfied in what Keva had repeated to him: and having ob. ligcd him to tell them fome more particular news of the Princefs of the Goths, the Queen of thcCimbrians^ and all the other Ladies in Cohgnej he took particular care of the Knight, c-i ' and Book L P H A R ^ M N D. o.] and flaying a vvliile vAtU IheodoUnda^ he Enterfaincd her in difcourfcs cipher of thtGcne* foliry ot the Frinccfs of the H««/, , or of the extraordinary qualities which he admired in the Princcfs liunnimondj. ^ Inthewein time, Fharamond going to vilit the two Princes of the Vifni^nthsindyji;-, »jb>;ce had already done, forbade Thrafimond's Attendants to tell thqir Malkr, being unwilling to interrupt the Prince in a converfation which was in all probability of fuch importance to him : fo that he entertained himfclf with the Prince of the Go*/;/, and the Lieutenant of Hoaoriw. Afterwards he went with the illullrious llomau to Queen Placidia's Apartment, where he met the Emperour, and a great number of other perfons of Honour. As for fVallia, he return'd to 'thrafimond^ and in regard he took part in all things that concern'd him, he was overjoyed to fee him lefs penhvethan he was wont to be. He was about to have teftified his joy, when the Prince of the Vandals taking the words out of his mouth, and prefenting the Stranger to Wall'ta^ Generous Friend^ faid he," *^J^M Cydillion, of whom 1 have fo often made mention. He comes fi-om Betica, and brings me news that the King of the Vandals ii very like to be ha^py. Tott could not have told me more ^leafing tydings^ anfwered JFallia, after he had moft obh'gijigly leceived Cydillion, and there nothing remains but that I may fee a change in your fortune^ Ah, Frince^ laid Ihrafimond interrupting him, how unlikely U that change to be I for infliort-^ fljould Theod ofius die, and his divine Ifidow confent ta give me her band, conld I think to ren- der my felf happy to her prejudice ; Would it be jujl that the Emprefiof the Eajl (liould ejpoufe Thralimond rvitbont a Crown or Kingdom ? No, mo, Wallia, the divine Eudoxia would never condefcend to fo mean a fall from the mojl exalted degree, .wherein all the world admire s her :. fo that all I can'hope for if to die with fame conjolation for the good fortune of the King of the Vandals. In a word, if you would be fo kjnd as to employ your intereji with the great Coti- {\3nce in his behalf, I ma^e no quejiion but he will peaceably enjoy all Betica, to which he may pretend as well by the conquejl he bji made of it, as in right of a Frincefi which he is now j- Ifottt to efpoufe. "To fay the truth, xep\ycd jyallia, Ida not well apprehend upon what grottnd yeu build this pretenfton ■■, for if the King your Brother ejponfe the Heirefi of Betica, I cannot fee what happinefi that will be to him, conftdering the violent pajjion which he had for his unkhgwti. Philinira : fo that I would willingly be a little better informed of his Adventures^ wherein I hold my felf very much concerned, and wherein it behoves me to be the better injiruCied, that I may be the better able to jpeak^to Conftaoce and the Emperour. 'though ther( be no great Medep fity for that, replyed Thrafimond, yet you may well believe that I would not deny you there-^ bearfal which yoitrequeji, and that your friendjfjipis a Law as binding as any consideration which yoH can alledge : and therefore, if we be not interrupted, you (f^aJl hear in an hours time all. that I have more to repeat of the jhry of the King of the Vandals, and what I have fince heard from Cydillion'/ mouth. ; ; Having fofaid, after JF^illia had forbid that any perfon fliould be admitted till fatthes order, he began his recital as follows. The Continuation of the Story oj Gunderic YOu know, Sir, that the King of theVandals was at lafi moved by our Entreaties, and having made a generous conteft with the profound grief which had almofi o- verwhelm'd him, he refolv'd upon the conqueft of fomepleafant Country where- in to fettle himfelf. He alio looked with an eye ot his former tendernefs upon his peopla that followed him in fo many perillous adventures, and that for fo long time had under- gone the tedious toils of pajnful war with him. Thereupon he gave orders for pur de- parture, which we fpeedily put in execution. So that in a few days being in a readinefs to quit the Ifle of Crete, we failed away for the Coaft of Betic Spain, where we earneflly de- fired to found a Monarchy of our own name, and to put an end to all thofe labours which Nations arc forced to undergo, that have no fubfiltance but what they win by their Swords, Our Army was in a good condition, and very numerous, befides a reinforcement of Vo-. luntiers which Cydillion broughthim, who had alfo hired into Gunderic' s ferviceone of ths mbfl skilful Chyrurgeons that was to be had', not only in Greece, but all over E«ro/'e, and: his narhe vvas fo famous for the wonderful cures he had dpne, that when he was brought to ^ Q-^ '3 9 3 Gmderic^ (,-]s PHARAMOND. Part XII. Gunderic, 'tieadofm vfoM hiveinvvn him to Co»ftantimple, with large proffers anfwer~ able to the merit of his art and skill. Thus we embarked in our Vcfkls full of men, and furnifhed with all neceffary provifions ; and the report being fprcad abroad in what place we were like to land, Atalorque made no queftion but that we would hrft fet footing in Be- iica., of vfrhich he had madehimfelf almoft the fcleNafter, by many Vidories which he had obtained againft the Komans. We were about ten leagues a this fide the mouth of the River when we defcryed a Fleet confifting of fevcral Sail making toward us ; and when we came within ken of them, we difcovered that they carried at the Top Mart head the Standard of Honorius. At the fight of thofe Eagles, fo dreaded in all places, new defire of Honour, fo natural to our Nation, began to kindle in our Breafis. However, I muft confefs, that we (hould not have refufed a Treaty, had the great Coufiance at that time been concern'd in the affairs of the Empire. But in regard we did not fo much as know what was become of him who was the only illuftrious Soldier, for whofe fake Gxnderic would have withheld his Arm, we refolv'd without fcruple to mind nothing more than to extend our Conquefts as far as poflibly we could. You have heard how the King of the Vandals fignalized himfelf in that firft Battel, and therefore not to dwell upon particulars, it (hall fuffice that I mention only thofe things which were moft worthy obfcrvation.^/ fo that oat Soldiers might have beheld my adions with aftoni(hment, had not the adions of the King drawn off" their admiration. In (bort, we took four Galleys and twelve Ships, and puifued the reft to Nerv Carthage, which you know is the Kft port which the Spani' ards have in the Mediterranean. Gunderic not willing to lofe time, but land his men du- ring the rout and fear among his Enemies, made back again toward the mouth of the Ri- ver Betif : but before he landed, he fent for fuch prifoners as could give him the beft infor- mation both of the Shoar, and of the Country. Immediately they brought before him a Nephew oi Maximinm cMcd Sextili^s, whom the King having received very civilly, made a fign for all others to depart the Cabin, unlefs it were my felf: and then addrelling his fpeech to the Koman^ 1 k>ton>, faid he, that you are none ofthefe perfons that are to be threa- tened : and I Hyjon? alfo that you vcill find me ironblefome in demanding queftions which you tvill be unrvilling ta anftver, and indeed fuch as you cannot xveU anfiver reithout prejudice toyouf Country. But may I not enquire how Maximinus and Atalorque came to joyn together, fince their pretentions are different ? Sir, anfwered Sextilim, it may be they are not fo different as yott imagine them ; for I cannot tell but that you have caufed them to tak^ up an interefl which they rv'tll hold together as long as they live ; for upon the news that you had an intention to maf^ your felf Lord of Better, there happened that which ufually falls out upon fuch occafwHs, that it to fay, that Maximinus and Atalorque came to an accommodation without any more to do, and agreed to joyn together againfi an Adverfary whom they called the common enemy. Now as they often visited each other during the 'Treaty, Maximinus beheld in Atalorque'/ Palace a young Trincefi with whom he {iraight fell in love, and that moti def^-^rately, Jhe being a Lady that would have eerily inffired the fame pajjion into any perfon lefi capable to receive it, I then prayed 5f3c»i//«f to defcribe that lovely iS'/'j«/jr^, for to fay truth, Icculd have been content that GaWfric would have fallen in love with her, to have taken off his incli- nations toward the unknown PW««/r<*, as alfo that in right of the Heirefsof Betica^ for I R)ade Book I. FHARAMOND. 6j7 made no queftion but that (he was the perfon, he might the more fecurciy Tettlc himfelfjand with lefs lofs of the Vandals. Sextilius then returning his difcourfe, "This incomparable Lady, /<»»(^ he^ had hardly *' attained to feventccn years of age, y^t as young as (he is her Ihturc is very tall,nraight and " free, with an air of grandeur that enUvens both her gate and her behaviour. Her com- "pkxion is extremely clear and lively, her hair moft beautifully white, her mouih little "•with a vermilion Lip, her eyes blew, eqaidiftant, and fparkling, are for ought I know "the fairefteyes in the world. "Ah Sir, (cryedl, addrefwgmyfelf to theKi»gof the VzT\di\s) how do I wifh that you "had feen this Princefs, when Atjlnrque had propofcd you the match, for as Sextilius de- *' fcribes her (he refcmbles Fbilinira fo exadly , that I make no quefiion but you would have ** loved her at t\t(i hght. Thereby would you e're this have enjoyed fo fair a Lady, and " been King of all Betique Spain quietly and without any noife. " How Brother, /aid he **fmarily interrupting me, do you believe this Princefs is to be as beautiful as that incompara- "ble Lady which I faw in Crete ? Sir, dnfweredl, what I heard of Philinira then and what *« Sextilius tells us, do mo(t juftly agree together, and I am apt to think your Majefly would * confirm me in my opinion, if I durft prefume to beg Phtlinira^s pidture. " That which "youdefireis notfoeafie to be had, replied the prejudicated Prince^ and had you feen that "charming Lady, you would agree with me that (he carries in her face, fomething of fplen- **dor and divinity, which is rather to be conceived than exprelTed : And therefore brother, "let us forbear to make compatifons between people that we know not, and give Sextilius "leave to goon. " Sir, I cannot tell whether that Vhilinira which you feem to prefer before the Princefs "■of Hiff>aly, were able to challenge her for beauty beforedifintere(kd Judges; But I know " that all the world agrees that Spain never produced fo perfedi a creature. 'Tis needlefs **to give you a lilt of all her Charms, (he enthralled Maxtminuf at firft fight, who coveted " as a fuprcme happinefs, the enjoyment of fuch a Lady fo really deferving for a thoufand "incomparable qualities. Atalorque was little or nothing offended at his paflion, for Maximiuus was a handfome perfon, and defcended from one of the moft noble Families in Kome, and in regard there was no other likelihood but that he might enjoy a peaceable donr>inion iu Spain, could they but once oblige you to fix your pretenfions another way, there feemed to be no obfta- cle to hinder an alliance between the Romans and the Spaniards, by the marriage of our-Ge- neral to the Heirefs of Betica. " But who is that Atalorque, faidthe King interrupting bim, " whom you mention fo often ? and what right has he to difpofe of a Princefs, not being *'ing her Father? "Sir, anfwered Sextilius, thit Spaniard is of z very nobk cx.tx^'^ioT), de- *' fcending from the Race of King Mandonius, who found the great Seipio fo much work, *' being in league with Indibilis^ in defending thofe Countries in Spain which were not yet " under the power of the Romans, However it has been obferved for a long time, that A» " talorque''s predeceffors, never exadled more honour than was their due, but on the con- " trary that they lived with a moderation, which was moft proper to gain the good will of ** the Spaniards, and to remove all fufpicions which the Romans might have, of perfbns " that affumed too high Titles. True it is that there has been a ftrange alteration of affairs, ** (ince the death of the great "theodofm : For under the Empire of his fucceflbrs, the great* "eft part of thofe noble perfons, who either in right of inheritance or by plain t(>rcc,could "make any advantage upon the alteration of government, made their parties to (hake off " the Kora and to tye the bonds more ftrongly between him and Cordubare^ " for that was the name of his confederate, he gave him to wi(e his only Sifter named "thar- *^gire, a Princefs of a charming beauty. This alliance was at firft mo(t fortunate in the " coniequcnces, but in regard that feveral armed Nations, afterwards Qjrcad themfelves o- " ver the territories of both E.mpircs,Atalorque and Cordubar rcfolutely determining to make "all the advantage they could of that opportunity, took the field with all the friends and "all the forces they could rajfe,with an intention to drive thtRomant quite ouf of Spain,3T)d " to make themfelves Mafters of all thofe Countries, where theii predecclTors had formerly "reigned. At firft they fucceeded very profperouny,and feveral people rebelling in favour of "them,cut the throats of thcGarrifons that remained in theirCities,and tearing down theEa» '■gles that had been dreaded forfo many ages, fet uptheEnfign of the confederate Princes, " and (hewed themfelves on their fide with all the zeal, that fuch well pretended novelties- <' could infufe into the head of a rebellious multitude. "SOm^- 67S PHJRAMOND. Part XII. " Sometime afterwards Cordabare tranfpOrted by his great courage,fcll info an ambufcadc " which they had laid for him, where after he had molt valiantly behaved himfelf, here- "ceived awoundof which he dyed the next day. He fpent the remaining hours of his life " in taking care for the Princef s his wife and the young Atanalifa, the lafl: remainder of a " long ftock of Kings, whom he moft earneftly recommended to Atalorque''s care, who no: " only brought up Atanalifa with all the tendcrnefs of a Father, but he alfo refufed to " marry ,that he might employ his time and pains more feduloully upon the young Princefs.^ " whom he always looked upon as his own daughter. It may be faid alfo that he facrificed " his ambition, and infome meafure a part of his honour to the fafety o( AtaKalifa^ in re- " gard that contrary to his natural inclinations, he laid alade his great defign to husband his *' own life, the lofs whereof would have left the two Princes without any fupport, and ex- " pofed to the fury of their enemies. Certain it is that though he made a peace with the "Kow^M/, however he did not omit privately to preferve his friends, and waiting till '< the party which had been fiiaken by the death of Cordubare^ had recovered their for- ." mer courage, to take arms upon the firli opportunity that might favour an enterprife of " that importance. The calm which 5/'i«;« did at that time enjoy was very fmooth, and " continued fo till fuch time as the report was fpread,that Gunderk intended to invade Spain, " Then the Komant and Spaniards who had continued in friendfhip with them, vigoroufly "prepared to repulfe your Army, when Aiahrque overjoyed at the news which fo terrified " all the world, made no queftion but the hour to efiablifli and provide for Atanalifa was " come. For he knew himfelf able to give the victory to the Vandals^ by reinforcing them " with the potent fa(aion which he had in Betica^ whereby it was not only in his power un- " der the protedion oiGondemar, to authorife the pretenfions of Atanalifa^ but alfo in right " of the tair Princes, to legitimate all the conquefts of the King of the Vandals. Having " thus conceived thefe great and well grounded hopes in his mind, he thought of nothing *' elfe but of marrying Atanalifa to Gunderic^ and you may remember that he propofed you "a match, which I have heard (ay you did not think fo needful, as Atahrque thought it " was, confidering the fuccefs of your Arms. " Atahrque being enraged at this refufal, contrived in his mind a (hort time after, to do "that by the means of Maximimsy which he had proffered to you, provided the Spaniards *' and Komanj could drive your power out of the Country. For it had been no great difE- "culty to have eftabhftied Maximinus in the Soveraign Authority, in regard that Honorius " minding nothing but his Suit fo Bellamira, took no care of the affairs of the Empire " while On the other fide the great Conflauce, having renounced the cares of this world, lay "Gck in the City of ths'tenofag^ej expefling death, which he thought too flow in putting, ''an end to his miferies. " How, faid Gunderic interrupting him, is the hmoasConllance yet alive ? " Yes, Sir, he •' lives, replied Sextilius, if to fpin out the remainder of his unfortunate days may be called " lining. But is there no cure for the diflemper of fo great a perfonage, anfveered the King, " of the Vandals with that vehemency, rvhicb teftifed horv much he was concerned for h'u prefer' '^vation. "■ I do not believe, replied the Roman, that there is any cure to be found, fince- " the wound which a poyfoned dart has made mortal, is not the moft dangerous of his evils, " it being certain that the lofs of Tlacidia, folemnly promifed him by Honoriuf, threw him "• into that defpair which makes him wilh for death, as the only felicity that can befal himiit " fo miserable a condition. Upon thofe words Gunderic fell into a deep ftudy, bat remembring that Sextilim had been interrupted, he made him a fign to go on. " Thereupon, faid he, Atalorque findings *' that neither Honorius nor Cof^ance could prove any obftrudion to Maximiti's ptetences,in» " finuated into the Roman thofe hopes, the fuccefs whereof he judged would prove moft adr " vantageous to Atanalifa, and therefore you need not wonder Sir, to fee them united againft "a Prince, who wou'.d overthrow the foundations which they have laid of fo fplendid » " fortune. " That is to fay, replied Gunderic, with more difturbance than rvas thought he reould have '■'■fhetved, x\\2itMaximin would enjoy Atanalifa and Betica both together. Tou conjedure '' right Sir, that he would have been overjoyed at a fuch a double felicity, and I make no "queftion but he will ufe all his endeavours to defend Hifialy,' and give the other parts of " Spain time to fuccour Betica. " Well, faid Guxidexic interrupting him, you have your li- "berty to go and tell Maximinr.i, thzt it is high time for him to be iri a readinefs, for that i "lam marching diredly to the Capital City of that Country, where he expcds to rciga " himfelf, and you fliall fuddenly fee who will carry it, the King of the Vandals fit n fubje^' "■ oi Hcnoriuf , that revolts againft his Prince to ufurp a Crown, STavIsg Book I. FHAKAMOND. 6y^ Having thus cliGnifTcd Sextilius after lie had giv'cn him his liberty, he retired to write to the great Co«/f:»wcf, and fcnt T/Vwj»r(/fr to him, though lie undcarltocd the inconvenient ab- fenceof fuch an alUfiant. You have heard how that moft siiillul Chirurgion cur'd Homrius of a diftemper, whith all the world thought incurable. Gnnderk had no fooncr difpatch'J him away, but he gave order for one part of the Army to land, while the other remained aboard, fo to block up B'jj'ily both by Sea and Land, and to hinder any relief Ironn coming to the Town. He gave me the command of his forces by Sea, making Cydiliion my Lieu- tenant-General, and giving Gidifcles the fame employment by land, he put himfclf at the head of thofe forces, with which he had deligncd to attacque the City. Here fetting other ctrcumftanccs afidc it will fuffice to tell you, thatlW^/re and Aianalifa were retired intu Hijpjly, znd thit Atalorque and M^x/w;^ Hnding themfelves llraitned, by the King of thd Vandalt, laboured to fave thofe two Princcffes, tcortally afraid left they (hould fall into the hands of C««i:/mc. Thereupon it was defigned that Maximin (hould make a fally upon the Kings quarter,and that while the chiefcrt number, and the valianteft of the beGegers were bulie in fight. A' talorque (hould fally out on the other fide, and let forth a Chariot which he was to convoy with a Squadron of feled men. In the mean time in regard the uncertainty of the fuccefs held Maximimu in a cruel fufpencc, Atalorqtte taking notice of his melancholy, de-. manded thecaufe, when the Kowj« fetching a figh, Ah Sir, fzid he, horp unfortunate ihould J be (hould the enemy recover the ?rincejfes, and Gunderic heboid Atanalifa's beauty. / »ever beard faid Atalorque, that there is anyreafon to be afraid of Gunderic, in reference to tvhat yen apprehend, I grant it, replied the General o( the Komans, that the reputation of that prince jiandt fair enough to perftvade me, that he rt>ill by no meant ahufe the power that hU viSo- ries give him. But Sir in a word, Gunderic mould fee Atanalifa, aw^z/Atanalifa has thofe charms, which are fufficient in a moment to captivate the mofi haughty liberties, Gunderic is young., handfome and valiant : Besides he U a King he will be a Conquerour, and that fortune which heaps her favours upon thofe perfons, which (he begins once tofmile upon, may honour Gnn^ Attic tvith more than one fort of triumph. Sir, anfwered the S/'iJw//?; Prince, I could tellyox fame particulars in reference to tbU bufme^, that would encourage you to have a better heart, but »ot having time nerv, I (had only falemnly engage my word, that you Jhall never fee {ititii\i[i in the hands of Gunderic- Upon thofe words Maximin who knew Atalorque''s humour, felt his didurbances calm'd,- and giving thanks to the Kinfman of thePrincefs, manifefted a hery impatience fo put the defign in execution, which they had framed together. Affirft the enterprife in both pla» ces had very good fuccefs, for at the fame time that Gunderic was engaged with Maximinuf^ .Atalorque attended by a flout and chofen Squadron, marched toward G/Vj/c/f/ purpofing to break through the Vandals, and to open a paflage for the two PrincefTes. Gunderic's Lieu- tenant nofooner perceived them, but he furioufly advanced till theVandals having made a flout reliftance for fome time, were forced to give ground to /^/ij/or/jwf, who conduced the Chariot out of our Line, and brought up the Rear of his Spaniards to make good their retreat. The fiery Gunderic who had driven Maximinm back to the very walls of the City, being ad vertifed of the advantage which the Enemy had got, immediately flew where his prefencc was mod requirrd, and no fooner had lie rallied his men again, but they charged the Spa- ttiards with a redoubled valour: whether it were that their Kings example elevated their courage, or that they were touched to the quick for fhame, that they could not vanquifli under tbe conduft of a Prince, who was fo accuftomed to vidlory. On the other fide Ata- lorque made a fland, like a Soldier who was not fo eafie to be flirred, fo that in the Bickering which was not a little terrible, the two Captains fought for each other, fignalizing them- felves by exploits that were altogether extraordinary, bringing death or Tear along with rhem, wherever they broke through to come at each other. At length they met, and know- ing one another by the mark which eafily difiinguiftied them from the reft of the medley, they difdained all other oppofition that kept them afunder from a fingle Combat, wherein they engaged with an impetuoflty little different. But Sir, how vigorous foever Atalorque (hewed iiimfelf, how great foever his courage was, he was forced at length to fubmit to Gunderic's more puiffant ftrength, and it may be faid that he made no other reliftance but what became him, while two PrincefTes fate looking on, the witnefles of his noble adions. Inlhort, during the Combat between the King ind him, the Vandals having driven the Spaniards to the very Chariot, which I told you was gone before, brought back "thargirc and Atanalifa, who arrived time enough to fee that Atalorque difputed the vidory with Gunderic, At firft they rejoyced to find their Kinfman alive, who was fj dear to them, but prefentl/ 68o FHJRAMOND. Part XII. prefently the fear wherein Gunderic'^ valour put them, balanced that fatisfadion, feeing the unfortunate Atalorque ftaggering upon a fudden, and prcfently after fallen all along under his Horfes feet. When they beheld a fight that fo fenfibly touched them, they (hrieked out foloud, that the King feeing them, alighted, and coming toward Atalorque, whom they beheld with tears in their eyes, their atfliftion ftruclihim witha ftrangekindof diiquiet, which jll became him after a vidory, and during the tumult of a fight. , Thereupon he commanded Atalorque to be difarm'd, and to be attended with relief, if he were in a condition to receive it, and very courteoufly advanced toward the Princcfles, that he might in fome meafure affwage their grief : but he wa3 no fooner come near enough fo as todi(cern their countenances, but he was ftruck withafladi of Lightning, and by a furprife that Hopped his pace, where heftuck like one difmayed, and quite forlorn: for you muft know, Sir, that he had no fooner caft his eyes upon the youngeft of the two Prin- ceffes, but he knew her to be the charming Fhilimra, which he had always preferv'd in his memory. Yes, Sir, he found that the fair unknown Lady that reign'd in his heart was the Heircfs of Betica^ who had been offered him, and whom he had already refufed. Ne- verthelefs, how ftrange foever the aftonithment were, into which fueh an unexpcifted ad- venture had caft him, he could not chufe but feel thofe pleafing motions of joy which awaken at the fight of the beloved objed. But when he began to make reflexions upon the Combat between him ix\d Atalorque, he fo violently difturbed himfelf, that he feem'd to be mad at the viftory which he had obtain'd : Fatal ViUory I cryed he, and not being able to fay more, with fo many various paffions was his mind turmoiled, he approached the afBided Atanalifa, guided rather by the motion of his heart, than out of any refolu- tion that he had taken. Then beholding Atanalifa with eyes full of love and grief, T>i- vineTrincep, cryed he with a refpedlful utterance, and kneeling with one knee, could fate ordain m otherxvife but that 7 flwuld meet the tnoft incomparable Philinira, only to be the occtt' fion of that fadnejiof tvhich I fee the markj in her eyes ? Atanalifa, bufily employed in affifting /4fi»/ar5«f, gave little heed to his words: but as Gunderic was about to have proceeded in his fubmillion, (he tumM toward him, and look- ing upon him with eyes which drowned in tears as they were, yet darted forth a thoufand Beams of fire through thofe clouds of forrow, (he return'd him an anfwer with more dif. dain than feem'd to become her prefent grief : Jf^hat, Sir, faid (he, re ill you perfecute me ever all the rvorld ? Can I find no Sjnduary out of your reach, neither beyond the Seas^ nor in my own Dominions ? She would have faid more out of the indignation that emboldened her, had not the af- Cftance which (lie owed her Kinfman obliged her to help 7hargyre, who beftowed all hei cares and fears upon a Brother that was infinitely dear to her. In the mean while, G»«imc remain'd like one that had been Thunder flruck, at thofe expreflions fo terrible to a heart enamoured as his; and when the Spanifii Prince was dif. arm'd, he beheld the wound with fo much feat as plainly evidenced his forrow, and tefli- fied to the afliftants that he waited the fuccefs of the cure, as thedecifion of his deftiny ; fo that not being able to moderate his impatience, he iffued out feveral orders at the fame time, and caufed them to be put in execution with a celerity not to be conceiv'd j he com- manded Atalorque to be carried to his own Tent, which he quitted for his fake, he fent for the mod able Surgeons in the Army and City : h? wi(hed for the famous Jimanden he promifed great rewards to thofe that could be helpful to Atanalifd's Kinfman : and laftly, he charged them aloud, that they (hould take more care of him, than they would have ta* ken of his own perfon, had he himfelf been in the fame condition. This way of proceed- ing of his, accompanied with fo many other marks of Generofity and tendeinefs, at length fo far prevailed upon the heart of the juft Philinira, that flie began to moderate her refent- ment againft the Conquerour of Atalorque ; but neither Cunderic^s extraordinary diligence, nor his grief, nor his tears themfelves could overcome that difdain which that haughty Lady thought her felf obliged to preferve in her Bread toward a proud King that had fcorn'd to receive a Scepter at her hands. In vain he fought to entertain that fair,but fevere Princefs, with fo much cunning (he (till avoided his company : fo that the unfortunate Lover, tranfported with the violence of his paffion, was one day forced to take hold of her Garment, as (lie was nimbly whisking by him into Atalorque^s Chamber, according to her common cuilom when (lie met the King of the Vandals : Ah, Madam, cryed he, 1 /"■« feech you flop but one moment: and if you find me guilty n>hen you have heard me, J tviU ftt' crifice a life which deferves to be hated by all the rporld, if it be detejiedby a Frincef fvhom la^ dre. AtMilifa^ inftead of giving ear to the enamoured King) endeavoured to get away from him. Book I. ? H A K A M N D. 681 him, but finding that all her flriving was in vain, WhatU it ycuh'av? to yl-y t»nir^ fard fjj^^j do you give me notice to prepare my felf to be your fuppliint at the feet of that Throne mhiolf you are now iprcfliw^ /« Hifpaly /" . Ah^ Madam^ rcplycd he, fetching a figh, can you be fo unJHJl that are fo charming. •'* "''d tvtU you not open your eyes to behold the over-mlm^ petft* cf fate in all things that have befallen m f' By the decree of Heaven you are defended from an extraUion that entitles you to a great part of Spi'ih. But, Madam, your endowment si are in" finitely beyond all thofe advantages rthich you have gained by your Birth, aitd to thefe divine Qualities the Gods have fubje[ied the heart o/Gundciic : /* ncjf by the Ihjire of your eyes, rather than by allthe jplendour of your progeny that I t&M dazled. In a tvord, Madam^ 'tis not the ambition of Gunderic, but the merit of Atanalifa that makes me renounce my liberty to lead my felf in your glorious Fetters. And tell me moji beloved Prtnce(l, added he more ve« heniently than before, have younotobferved, that before 1 farvyou^ I was nothing tnov'd ti>ith all thofe Conquejis and Crowns rvhich Prince Atalojque promifed me ■■, but at the very moment that 1 heheld thofe eyes of yours, unk^norvn, in Country Weeds, and in a defart place, you tri- umphed over my heart : and that then I teflified more fubjeUion to your Glances, than uppn all thofe honourable propofals vrhich rvere made me ? He had continued his difcourfe without doubt, though he found that it made but little impreifion, if Thargyre had not interrupted him, coming of a fudden out of Atalerque^i ' Chamber. That Princefs treated Gunderic very civilly : and in regard (he pallionatel/ longed for peace, (he made him fome overtures that day, and the morrow after (he fent to Maximinus to let hira know, that there was not any thing wherein he could fo fen(]b]y ob- lige her, as in putting an end to the miferics and calamities that wafted a Country fo dear to her. But the Roman having intelligence of what fiffcd in the Camp, underftood that the King o( the Vandals was his Rival, and therefore hating him now worfe than he did before, he fet himfelf with all his might and main to the defence of a City, which, if ta- ken, would be the ruine of all his hopes ; fo that how fubmiliive foeveif Gunderic might be tolhargyre, and whatever proteftations of obedience Maximinus had made her, there was no likelyhood of any accommodation, (ince neither would renounce their pretences to A- ianalifa. Thereupon, as foon as the truce which they had made ztlhargyre's mediation was expired, afts of Hoftility began again on both fides with greater fury than before : and Gunderic prepared to cairy Hijpaly with all the fpccd that might be, not enduring his Enemy fliould command a place where hcrcfolv'd to crown his Princefs. But before he went about to batter a City which he had a dclire to preferve undelaced, that he might re.! ilore it to Atanalifa in its riourifliing condition, he went to tTie fair Princefs to know of her what her thoughts were upon the refolution which he had taken. No foonerhadhc caft his eyes upon that miraculous Beauty that had fo fuddenly charm'd him in the Ifle of Crete^ but tranfported with an odd kind of mixture of love, delight and grief, he was a- bout tohavecomplain'd of all hisfufferings ever (unce the fatal moment that he firft faw Fhilinira: but difcerning I know not what kind of dreadful Majefty in her countenance, he (Igh'd inltead of fpeaking, and durft not open his lips, but only in thefe few words, Tm kjioiv. Madam, faid he, that Maximinus refufs to leave the Capital City of your Dominions l neverthelefi, if it be your plea fure that J (hould drive him thence, and tvill but givi Gunderic a CommiJJion to that purpofe, it may be in a few days he will let you fee he is not every way un- fortunate, but that victory is more kind :o him than the Princefs j^e adores. But, Madam, if I muii be conjirsin^dto fight againji a City where your SuhjeUs are intermingled with Rebels and Vfurpers of the Crown, "'tis only that 1 may re\iore you tothelhrone of your Ancejlots^ only that the Vandals may recover fvr you a Scepter, which the Kom^n-iibad long fifice takfn from your PredeceJJhrs. No, no. Sir, anfwered Qie, take you no thought for that, but follow jiottr own ambitious inclinations that moved you to invade Betica at the head of fuch an Army, and leavemetomy quiet, which you cannot dijiurb bat with your injuliice, having linUje/ifiiH to bring a war into a Country fo far remote fiom the place of yauT Nativity. } -,i •_.;,' >j^" She had no fooner concluded thole words, but new difcontents. appeared in herface, and it was ealily perceived, tluf (he would have quitted the King of the Fdw/i»//, would civil decency have permitted her. Gunderic took notice of it to his forrow i however, .in- Head of complaining, he only made this anfwcr with all the marks of fubmiffion. Since you have mentioned, faid he. the defign nhich I might have upon Spain, I wit not make ufe of the reafons of Conquerours, in regard it is not as a Conquerour that I would fpeah^ in your pre- fence i I wiE not confefs to yon that I ever believed the Vandals could take from the Romans, what the IXomans had taken from the Sp3n\zr(ls, But, Madam, I will make you this prite[}a- tion, that I hive no other pretenfians at this time than to mak^ good the claim which you lay hy right of Birth and Inheritance. Sir, fakl Ihe, 1 thought I had already fn§idently ex^laiii'd R r I s >»;? 68j PHARAMOND. Part Xlt. myfelfupo;t the offer/ you have already made me, neverthelefi to reinforce that refentment rvhich you thought began to grotv tvea}{_, mt having apprehended the whole fcope of my xvordt, J do ted yott onee again, that Iremume the hopes of all your promijei, and that I would rather refuje thg Empire of the tvarld^ than be obliged to a Prince from whom I am refolved never to accept a l^ind^ »efl, JVherein do I oblige you Madam) replyed he fighing, who am wholly devoted to your fer- vice, andrefohedtofacrifiee my life to your fatisfaUion and interejis f tes Madam^ I willfacri-' fiee this life which is yours though you cannot abide ity or iflpreferve it jiill contrary to the inten- iionl havetodijpleafe you, 'tis only that I may free you fom the ambition of a Rival unworthy of you, a Kival rvho is net only but a bare Citizen of Rome, but alfo being a Rebel to his Prince gives you fufficientcauje to believe, that he will uever acknowledge thofe favours wherewith you have honoured him. The unfortunate Lover made ufe of many other inoft refpedful exprefiions, and pro- nounced them with fo much love and grief, that Thilinira appeared at length lefs difdainful and more moderate. However being in a high degree tender of her honour, (he believed that generofity obliged her to be inflexible toward a Prince, by whom (be thought (he had been (lighted even to contempt. Atalorque alfo having the fame thoughts as Atanalifa, was in a terrible perplexity, for he found himfelf cbnftratned to behold withforrow, the good Offices which the King of the Vandals did him. He was unwilling to be ungrateful, and yet he could not forget the de- nyal which had armed him again(\ Gunderic, nor did he think it became him ever to forget it. So that this uncertainty what to do infupportably turmoyling him, he ponder'd and confidered how he might calm the troubles of his Soul, and a:alifahy the help of Ajiigia^ one of her Attendants wherein (he molt of all confided, not to carry her felf fo (\rangely to- ward the King of the Vandals as (he had done, and to endeavour to vanquifh that averCon which (he h;d tor him. Fhilinira who was well acquainted with Atalorque\ conflarcy, was (trangely furprifed at the orders which he had given Al\igia^^owtvtx (he adcd conform- able to the Spanifh Princes will, having as much reverence for him as (he could have had for a real Father. Gunderic prefently perceived by converfing with her, the alteration which Atalorque''s new intentions had produced : However whatever joy he felt in a hcatt fo pallio' ftate as his, he was not only not the more remifs in carrying on the fiege, but maintained it rather more vigo^oufly than before, being encouraged by the fair hopes that began to flat- ter him. He fent me orders to land the greatelt part of the forces which T commanded, and in re- gard the enemy was not ftrong enough to oblige me to keep the Sea, the King gave me leave together with CydiVien to come adiore, being defirous to fignalizeour (elves at fuch a time of danger, wherein of neceflity honour was to be won. We landed then at the head of our beft Soldiers and raoft of our Volunteers, and in a few days after we had joyned with Gunderic, the enamoured! Priace not enduring to ftay till we had fully refre(hed our fclves^ caufed the Rams to be brought, and battered the Walls with fo much vigour and fo little intermidion, that we had foon made breaches wide enough to enter. Gunderic thereupon not content to encourage his men, by thofe noble exploits which they fawhim perform every day before their eyes, exhorted them to follow him to the taking of a City, wherein he promifed them they (hould find that repofe, which they had fo long fought for. On the other fide MaximinUs reprefented to the Romans and Spaniards, what a(hame it would be, to be driven out of their habitations, and to leave their e(iatcs, their wives and children, a prey to a hodge-podge of Barbarians. Thefe two Rivals after- wards made good by their valour the remonftrances they had given out: They fpyed each other at the breach, they challenged each other and met, and the proofs of their valour prolonging the fight, proved fatal to fome thoufands of tren. But at length Gunderic forced virtue to declare tor us, nolwithftanding the refiftance made by two warlike Nations in a fortrefs. And Maximinus finding himfelf wouiided, and not in a condition to rally his men, was fo afraid of falling into G««*«ii and who, ever fince he knew the Princefs, had ferved Kerwith an entire fubmilHon. In this uncertainty wherein he wavered, they fay that Acknowledgment would have prevailed above his Refentment, if at the fame time that his heart was agitated with two fuch contrary motions, a Roman Officer had nos found him out, and delivered him the following Letter, which Maximiim, as I faid be- fore, had writ to him. Maximinm to Prince Atalorque. 'fS it po^ble, S/r, that my intelligence fhould be true, that you are about to confent ta the ftli- ■'• city ef my RivaU againii the Engagements which you have fo fuUmnly madi' me ? Tou ^orv yoH promifed me, that 1 (heuld never fee Atanalifa in the poffejfton of Gonderic j and yet 1 am told, you are about to deliver up that fair Frince^ a Frey to the Barbarian > and to be'^otv her up' on a Stranger, remarkable for nothing, hut for having mailed yoiff Country with Fire and Stverd. What, fijaUSucce^ be preferred before Merit andVertue ? and fhaU a Winds] be advanced be- fere me, becaufe Fortune has pampered him up with ViUory ? An, mo, no. Sir, you muH not aU fuch a piece of Injujiice : For I hope you are fo far from changingyonr mind, cut of an in- eonjiancy univorthy the Greatne^ of your Courage, that youwiUtvhoVy apply your felf to the exe- f-ution of a defign that we have refolved upon, 7he Officer that brings you this Note if my faith- fid Confident, and rviU inform you what courfe we intend to take > and will affure you above t^ things^ that I hadrather die a thoufand times, than forfak^ yom Interejis, /iiaky'quf Book I. PHJRAMONR 685 AtalorfjHe had nofocner read this Letter, but with an augmented diflutbancc, inftcad of returning an Anfvvcr, he held his peace for fomctimc i whether it were tortudy what he had to fay, or that he would notfpcak (ill he found his mind better fettled. At length, when he thought tiiat more Moderation appeared in his Countenance, turning toward the KomjM : " You may, tell Miximinuf, faid he, that I remember the promifc that 1 made him > " but you may tell him withal, that he has no rcafon to claim it, nor that Ifliould difpofe of " the Princcfs Ataytalifa in favour of him, or forget the Obligations which I have received *' from the King of the Vandals. On the contrary, I declare that I will do for that Prince " all that lies in my power, to make him amends •, and provided I do not pr?fcr him before •' Maxiwi>ius, I have no rcafon to fear any ill grounded Reproaches that he can lay upon me. '' But, Sir, replyed the Roman, if you are willing that I (hould difcover, how by ading with " the Kowa« General you may furprife the ree;^ Officer failed not to wait immediately upon Atahrque : and he was no fooner come tothe Bed tide, but addrefling bis fpcech tohlm, Gfwrow Cydillion, faid he, ^tis along time ^mce your father became my Friend, and gave me fufficteut telitmonies afhis fidelity^ which made me trttjl him^ at you kyiovp, with the dejiiny of two Frinojfet which are infinitely dear to me. And if at your fir(i coming intethefe parts, 1 did not difcover to you the fccret which J now mah^ kjiown to you^ that the unl^nown Philinira w the Princefi Atanalifa, it was only becaufe you took^ part with the Vandals, hut the face of things being changed^ it behoves me now to aU after a quite contra- ry manner^ aitd that I not only open to you the bottom of my hearty but alfo beg your cottnfel and affjiance. Sir, zufwCTCd Cydillion, I dare not prefume to believe that it U in my power to do you any fervice; but in regard I am perfwaded that you expeU no other fervices but what I am capable of performing, you need not qMe{iion but that I Jhall obey your commands with all the zeal the Son of Ariftoclifus, and one fo well acquainted with Atalorque'/ virtue can pay t» your high defert. After fo obliging a protejiation^ replyed he, I muji tell you, that being ob- liged to Gunderic for fo many favours, and being alfo defirous to fettle a Frincefi whom I have looked upon as my 'Daughter for many years, I have refolv^d to bejlow Atanalifa with all her Claim andTitle to thif part of Spain, upon Thrafimond, k>towing how to open a way fir Gun- deric ro»/^fCrtfw« of Lulitania. Ah, Sir, Ibefeech you alter your intention, and do not be- lieve, that by any fuch refolution you will gratife thofe illujhiow perfons. For either I am ve- ry much deceived, if Gunderic does not prefer the enjoyment of hk adored Philinira before all the Grandeurs that can flatter his ambition ; and I cannot tell whether Atanalifa would be glad to Atanalifa, anfwered he, will be always obedient to Thztgyit^s and my will, and fo tnay I be able to difcharge my obligations to the King of the Vandals without thwarting Atana* Wia^^s inclinations. But, Sir, added Cydillion, what (hould hinder you from being grateful ta. Gundcticwithhrsowa good liking, ft nee it is for KtzridiWd^s advantage s' No doubt, replyed Atalorque, blufliing, but that you have heard, that the King of the Vandals refufed a propo', fal which he would now gladly accept : but befides my refentment offiKh an injurious denyal, t have a private reajon which hinders me from uniting Atanalifa's fortune and Gunderic'/ toge- ther. And therefore, Cyji\\\\fM, afftii me Ibefeech you, andtakf fuch order in the/e affairs of mine as much as in you lies, mtt tbey may fucceed according to the intentions of a perfon who 1}M love for, you, and whom you find in a jirange labyrinth. I (hall omit nothing, replyed. CydillioH, but to tell you the truth. Sir, T fear 1 fl; all not prejper inwhat lundertakf^ being it defign which will never be approved by thofe who are chiefly concerned. Thus Aialorque and Cydilliun parted \ the latter leaving the Spanifh Prince's Chamber, with a great dcfire to ferve hitw, but with little hopes of (crving him effedlually, confide- ling the love which all the world knew Gunderic bare to Vhilinira. Hovvever, he had a mind to difcover how Atanalifa flood affctSed to the bullnefs j . next how my (tlf would felifli fuch a propofal, to the end he might th? better fatisfie^ttf/jrgK'-. Fie knew that I had. refign'cl 686 PHJRJMOND. Fa'^t XIL tefign'd my liberty at the Court of 'theodufiUs, and that I paffionately adored tlie divine A- ihcnais. However, he came to me, and defiring to fpcak with me in private, he threw ms into a great furprife, and fenfibly difpleafed me when he had made known to me Atj. torque's delign. I was amazed that the Spanijh Prince fliould prefer me before the King of the Vandals, and I was forry to fee him deal fo unjuHly by Gunderic. On the other lidc, I was vexed to fee my felf reduced to that necslfity, that I iTiould be forced to confefs, that I could not love Philinira, and fo expofe her to the indignity of a fccond rcfufal. To avoid all which inconveniencies, I thought it my beft way to ablent my felf for fome time ; io that after I had return'd Cjdillion many thanks, and dclired him not to (peak a word of what he had difcovered to me, I prepared to leave Spaiu ■■, and to lay the grounds of a plaufible pretence, I went to the King, and without ever difcovcring/^fa/or^Kt's intcnti- ens, Toufee,Sir, faid I, that the Kotrans are utterly defeated and ruined in Eetica^ and not only that they have not firength enough in any other part of Spain to make any attempts upon your wew Conquejis, but alfo that neither Honorius nor Conltance are either in a condition^ or dijpofed to relieve them^ or to feek, to regain their 'Territories in thefe parts : fo that in m^ erpimon you may do wet to fend away fome part of your Army, to eafe a Country where you in- tend that Atanalifa jhouldreign, and to gain the hearts of a people rvhich your viUories have fubjeUed under your Dominion. With that part of the Army which you thinks fit to fend away^ if you hold it convenient, 1 tviU march to the City of the Tt&ofages, and offer them to the con' duCi of the great Conftance, whofe fortune I will follow, whether he intend to lead them againjl Nat/tnt that overdeluge the Empire, or whether, which U the moji received opinion, he intend to chufe his party in the great Wars upsnthe Banks of the Rhine, rather to end hit miferies, than to augment the honour which he has purchafed by fo many renowned exploits. When I had thus delivered my mind, I waited for Gunderic^'s anfwer i but the King, in. ftead of fpeaking fo me, looked upon me with fuch an eye, as told me he would firii con- fiderofmy requeft. After a long' filence, "Brother, faid he, fetching a figh, I do not *' believe you make any queftion but that the concerns of my Princefs are the higheftcon. " cernments to me in the earth ■■, that I would not only give her Eetica, but all the King- " domsof the world in a flourilhing condition. Neverthejefs, I would willingly defire " you to change your refolution : for I muft confefs I never found that reludancy to en- 'i-dure your abfence as at this time. " I know, Sir, wherefore you would now detain " me, replyed I, counterfeiting a fmile to cheat hif melancholy, becaufe you are here with " that perfon who is more terrible to you than all the world befides. But, Sir, Thilinira "will be better pleafed to fee you fend away fifteenor twenty thoufand men thatonly " fubfift uponthe fpoil of her SubjedSj than with the unprohtable ftay of a Brother that "can do you no remarkable fervicc. "You will have your reafons n\ore prevalent than '"mine, replyed the King of */;e Vandals : Well then. Prince, faid he, take your courfei " but to tell you the truth, I am very loath to confcnt. In regard he uttered thofe words with a fad air, I feigned a forc'd mirth to divertife him, all the reft of that day. But the morrow after, I made it my bufinefs to mufter thofe men that were to march, and to provide all things neceffary for my journey. Atalorque was extremely furprifed at my departures and fufpedJing that I underftood his intention, he con)e(fturcd prefently that the reafons of my leaving Spain, was, becaufe I faw my felf conftrain'd either to accept or refufe the offers which he had made. Thereupon he griev'd exceedingly, and keeping himfelf private all that day, he walked about the Chamber in a melancholy pofture, as long as the faintnefs of his body would permit him : Jf^hat, faid he ta himfelf, ^(>f/ Thrafimond, whofe dijjiofuion always appeared mild and courteous, does hr alter his dijpofition fo fuddtnly in contempt of my alliance ? And mujl 1 be fiill the perfon born unfortunately to bring affronts upon a Princefiworthy of a more noble ufage ? Then he made all the malicious refle(3ions imaginable upon what had come to paf>, and he refoWd more than once to be revenged upon Gunderic, by the means of Atanalifa''s dii- dain, becaufe that his pride had been the original of all his difcontent. But no fooner had hefram'd that unjuft defign, but he repented of it, and feiund himfelf in arrange per- plexity. For it became him to be grateful to a Prince who had laid fuch obligations upon him ; on the other Tide, bcfides the refentment which he had renewed in his heart againft Gunderic, he could not flatter the paflion of that Prince with any hope, after the promife which he had made to the Koman General. Ii> this contrariety of thoughts he had neither firength nor humour to diffemble before the King of the Vandals: lb that accounting it fome eafe to him. to avoid his prefence, he relolv'd to retire to a little houfe which he had. by the fide of the River Bfm for change of air. But in truth, to (ky there till he had more precifely contrived which way to behave himfelf toward Gunderic. Ihargyre and Atanalif» Book I. P H A R A M N D. 687 Atanalift would not ftay behind a Prince that was fo dear to bothi and you ftiay well be-' jieve that the King of the Vandalt would have been over joyed to have been of the company, but that he was atraid to interrupt that liberty, for tl»e fake of whicii in all likelihood Ai*- lorque retired into the Country, fo tliat he was forced to part with Fhilimra, not daring to follow hcribut with fo much grief, that I am not able to cxprcfs it. ImiT^cdiutcly every thing became infupportable to him, even his very Army that wont to be his fole delight^ leemed to bean importunate multitude that environed him,ashe thought only to keep him from thinking upon his Princcfs. So that fometimes he (hut himfclf up whole days toge- ther, that he might inore abfolutely give himfelf over to his unquiet thoughts, and to con' template without any obdaclc upon the fatisfadJion, which he had loftby the departure of Atanalifa. However that was but cold comfort to the enamoured Gunderk, the pallionat^ Lover could not live without feeing the charming FhiliHira, and having fpcnt fome days in a melancholy unexpreliible, he was at length conllrained to fend to Ihargire^ to know whe- ther he might give her a vilit, without any dillurbance to her retirement. ' The Mother of Ata»alifa who had never been very obltinate againft the King of the Vandals^ received his complement with all the civility which (bethought due to his rank and virtue, and G«Wmc no fooner underftood ^\\zt.lhargire had given ber confent, but he made haft to be gone, notwithftandingthe trouble and pain of his wounds. Thereupon he fpeedily gave fuch orders as concern'd the Army and Garrifon,3nd though "timander that attended iiim pcrfwaded him to make ufe of a Litter, yet he would needs ride a horfeback-j that be might be the fooner at the delired end of his journey. Upon the way he met with ten or twelve horfcmen, who having fpyed them quitted the great Rode, and flew into the foreft with that fpeed that it might be eallly con jcdured, that they neither defired to be piir- fucd or known. By their Arms they feemed to btKomans, but the Kings thoughts being Wholly taken up with the charms of that fair Lady which he was going to villt, he minded them no farther, but when he difcovcred the Towers of Medelim, then did he feel the a« gitations of redoubled joy, and redoubled melancholy both at once in his heart. No fooner was he arrived, but he enquired after the health of the Princeffes, and being conduced where they were, he was received with all the honours due to his grandeur, but not with thofe marks of a confiding friendfliip, which he would fain have obferved in their countenances. Atalerque himfclf (cetned more cold and more rcferved, nor was it a diffi- cult thing to take notice, that he laboured as far as civility would permit him, to avoid being alone with the King of the Vandah, to whom he was refolved to make no promifes, having pafled his word to Maximimu. Thus Gttnderk found that Atalorqtte did nothing favour his intentions, and becaufe he knew him to be conftant in his rcl'olution, and that thilhtira bare him an abfolute reverence, he apprehended that his fufferings would be tedi- ous, in regard he could expeft no change but with the alteration of a humour, that was not eatily Ilirred. This^b afflided him that the marks of his grief appeared in his face, yet before he abandoned himfelf to his difcontents, he had a mind to underftand VbilinMs in- clinations, and whether that Princefs would be more jiift than Atalorqne. i- He fought therefore all ways to cxprefs himfclf to Philinira, but flie underftanding his drift and AtaloTque'% mind, would not afford him any opportunity to entertain her in prl» vate, well confidtring in what a Labyrinth fhe fliould be, to be conftrained to give or quite bereave the Prince of thofe hopes, which feemed to be fo legally his due. But the impati- ent Gunderk not able to live in uncertainty, took his time at length, and underftanding that Aianalifa was alone in her Chamber, With no other perfon but A[iigia^ he entred not- withftanding the apprehenfions which his love infufed intb'him, and after he had made his obeyfance with a profound refpeft, 1 cannot tell Madam, faid he, tvhether a miferable perfon wbofe company you feem ta avoid^ may approach your prejence without intruding upon your liberty^ Sir^ anfwcred flic, / have not yet forgot that you are the Cenquerour 0/ Atalorque, and that Atanalifa U King Gunderic'j prifoner : fhif is my anfwer injiiad of giving you that leave which youfeem to desire. Ah Madam, replied he fighing, that you (hottldbe fofevere to impute the fauiis of fortune to me, to upbraid me with the difcontents you have received, and to perjtvade me that you are a prifoner to a perfon that adores you, and one whom you have laden with your- fetters. But over cruel Philinira, tell me J hefeechyou by what carriage of mine, I have inccns'd you againji the unfortunate GuDdaic, andif it be true that I am guilty, I wiV be fo far from era-, ving d pardon of which I am urtworthy, that 7 will pour forth my blood even to the hji drop^ a^ an expiation for my crime, >.. . . He pronounced thefe words with fo fad an air.that Atanalifa could not chufs but be mol- lified, however deeming that it was impoflible for the pretenfions of the Prince, to have a- liy favourable fuccefs, (he would not affbxd him the leaft glimpfe of hope, only contcntedj he.5 688 THARAMOND. Fart XII. her felf to tell him, that fnC was fo far from having any reafon to ccmpbin of his a(!5ions, that (he was highly bound to extol his generofity. But to fay truth flie Ipoke in that man" ner, rather at the inftigation of her innate equity, than out ot" the true meaning of her heart, giving him to underftand chat (he would never difpofe of hcs affedions, without the eon- fen t of Atalorque. Cunderk fretting at that injuftice of which he durfi not complain, retired, not being ma- fter of his grief, and nofooner had he quitted the Chamber with an air that tefiitied his af- fii(Sion, but Ajiigia was deeply touched therewith, and refolvcd to taiie the unfortunate Prince's part. She was about to have opened her lips in favour of hiin, when (he perceved the melancholy that clouded fair ?bili»ira^s eyes, and difcern'd that the Princefs was fo far from having that indifferency (at Gunderic, which that Prince had feemingly fo much rea» fon fo accufe her of; So that inftead of taxing her incomparable Mi(\refs, fne took connpaf- Con of her, and fet her felf rather to calm her difcontents, than to fpeak of the King of the Vandals. *w In the mean while Atanalifa unwilling to be difturb'd in thofe contemplations to which (he had abandoned her thoughts, took a walk in the cool of the evening, the Sun being upon (ettingin a little Grove, which fetved her always for a retiring place when (he avoid- cd company, or had a mind to open her mind to her faithful Ajiigia. She was no fooncr in a place as folitary as (he could well delire, buc (he fate down upon the grafs at the foot of a great Tree, and Ajiigia kneeling down by her, made it her buhncfs to divertife her with plealing difcourfe. Prefently (he took one of her fair hands, kilTed it, and prefling it be- tween her own, My moji fair PriMcefi, faid (he, beholding her with eyes fuUof atfedionjWiB yoH not tell me the caufe of your forrotp, at a time tvben all thingr fucceed fo proJj>ero:tf[y, and n>beit fortune feems to be rpeary of being your enemy ? Icannottell, anfwered (he, upontvhat groundt ^u build tbat reconciliation, but 1 kitovp 1 have been too unfortunate from my infancy^ to expeR any fuch propitious change. Hea> Madam, can you complain nchen you dtfarm the Couquerottr himfelf, rvben you fave your Country and are rejiored to your "throne ? But if it be not conveai- ent for me to accept his Offer and hit friendly Offices, do you think^they are not as difpleafmg to me, as you believe them acceptable if Jconfejl, replied (he, 1 cannot apprehend vpherefore you fhould be fo much troubled to be beholding to the King of the Vandals : For if he carried himjelf to A» talorque lik^ a young Soldier who had only ambition in his hearty have not you hadfince the plea' fure to humble his pride ? and rvhen he k*ien> the value of the felicity which was offered bim,bas he net coveted it with all the eagernefi imaginable i " I confels it, anfwered (he, but then you " muft likewife acknowledge that I am never a whit the more happy, feeing that difference " of carriage overwhelms me with an infupportablc difcoptent. for would it not be more "for my repofe, that I (hould either abfolutely hate or abfolutely love Cunderic, than fo " live in this fufpence what to determine. " But my dear Princefs, added Adigia in a mofr '''■ footbing andengagin^ manner, will you not tell me what though^ou would rather beob» " liged to have, were it in your power to cho(e,or that it had been in your power to have *' controuled Ga«^mc, when he hr(\ made war upon £fii Phihnira, that you would have me tell you more than 1 know my felf, and in» *' deed you have been the occafion already, that I have made reflcdiions upon fomc things ''which I never yet examined. I (liould be overjoyed Madam if that were hue, for indeed " Madam we are fometimes unfortunate, becaufe we believe our felves fo, and many times ''it happens that we are really miferable, at a time when we may ti«ke an exchange o( our mi»» Book I. P H A R A M N D. 6^ " raisforrunes far a cni^fidcrablc hrapJDincls. While you fpeaft bur in' genera), rtj)lj7(l:tlfe " Frinccfi, I mult tell ynu you may be diccived, when yru Come to that particular applies.-' ' "tion to which I fee you tending: But it grows late, added jhe^ and therefore 'cis better to "retire iiomc, than to enter lanhcr upon this difcouilc. . ■ Concluding thofe words (he rofc up, but as (he was gt)ing to take the path that led to the hou(e, ot a fudden tenor twelve armed men prcfcntcd thcmlclves before her, and pre* icntly after the knew the chief of thcin to be Maximimif. At an advcnrure io. unexpected jijiigia^iven loud (hrick, and Pbilinira feemcd extraordinarily lurprifed, but being a Vir- gin of great courage the prefcntly recovered her fclf, and beiicld Maximiniu with Icfs fear than indignation, IfeehUdjm^ faid he, that you never H>tder\\ood of my cnmingtalAcAcWn-ij toff oil the defi^mhjt ocas contriving agaiiiji me. But k,»oiv MadAtn^ I would have cr,j]edthi Seas and gong to tbetvorlds end, to hjve been revenged of your injujlice and AuUnquc's hreaclJ ofpromife, hy f Hatching yoH out of the hands of a Vandal, nbom yon ureuld prefer before wet ""How Maxi mi titif, aiifwered fhe^ come you then hither only to commitcrimcs, anddoyou "think you can carry otf your booty with fucccfs and fcot-free ? No, no, hUximinus^— ■ " Madam, (faid be interrupting ber^ as not willing to lofe time) 1 will hear what you have to " Jay, when you are within my jurisdidtion. He had no fooncr concluded tlufe words, but he felled Philinira, and was ju(t carrying her away, when the couragious Lady bcrtirring her felf in his Arms, Ab Coirard, cryed (hc M it by treachery that you thinkjo gain the affeUions of h.m\z\\ii'> More (he could not fay find- ing her felf environ'd by fome of Aijaci/wi««j's complices, who having no refpedt for her, were the more rudely diligent to ferve their Miller : So that the fair Princefs having madft all the refiltance that modelly would permit her, had like to have become a prey to Manimi' Wis, if live or lix of her attendants, who waited according to cultom at the tide of the wood, had not fpecded to her allillance, drawn thither by AjUgu's (lirieks. But when they came they found themfclves too weak, to accomphfli their generous defign to refcu-3 the Princefs, only they put a flop to the Ravilliers till better fortune happened. They did what they could, but were cut in pieces, by an enemy more numerous and better arm'd :. And by and by appeared a Troop of Komans at the very Callle Gate, to beat all that (hould sflue forth to relieve the dilhcffed Atanahfj : So that the fortune of that fair Frincefs wa* inMjxiini>tiis''s hands, when two women that had not entred into the Thicker, came and advertis'd Atalorque what had happened. ■ - • The Spaniel Prince hearing the news, made no qucftion but that Maximinm was the Ra- vinier,doing that julticc to the King of the Vaudalt as not to fufped him in the Icaftjthough Cunderic loved with as little hope as his Rival. Atalorque xnni^oncA with fury agsriolt an ingratetul perfon, for whom he had had fo great an elteein, ran to his Sword not having time to arm himfelf, he put himfclf at the head of fuch of his fervants, which he could na- ttily rally together to purlue after the Princefs. But no fooner was he out of the Caitle gatesj but heiound an obrtacle notfo ealie to be overcome, and yet fo far was he from ceafing to profecute his intention, though he faw but little hopes, that heflewtipon thcRowdw/ fhat liood in his way with an allonifliing vigour. Bur while he fought with more likelihctod, of deatli than vidiory, conhdering the inequality of the number, the enemies fet fire TDthe Callle Gate, at what time fome qI Atalorquii.kf'i^'at&'.xol-diGundem^ that theyvWeremut» thcring his Malter. . . ,;..,.' -:'"-?vi ;'i.*'''" ^ (,i r:if.:;:;i' ■ i - r . !.;» Tliendid the King of the V anials xcmttvhtt thcfe'verity o( the Spaniard^ yetunderftand- ing he was in danger, his love and gencrotlty prevaihng over his refen.tmcr;t, he (lew to ex« pofe his life for the prefcrvationof a petfon without pity, who had fo many times fet a dag» ger to his breft. He came jull in the very nick to fave his. life, forjull as he was come up with the Combatants, he (ivvsUoman ready tohave run him through behind with his jave- lin, while he was fighting with two of his enemies before him. The enamoured Gunderic foamed to (ce the danger that \.\\xQ,iXnt6. Atanalifa^s' \iT.c\t, and throwing himfelf be- tween the Spanijh Princeand his enemy,, received the' BTieiw which would itave provedtnore dangerous where it was diieGed, ,but little dream'd of by Atalorque. The Spani\h Princb obferved the noble adion of the Kingof theKaw^/dir, which not only infufed into him a full fenfe o( acknowledgment, but alio renewed his valQur by tiie confidcnce:wbidi- he Had in the alfiltanceof a Soldier famous for fo many viftories :. Irifomuch that theCdinbat was (b boyflcrous and bloodiy, that Maximinm tound himfeltconftrained, to XtvifiAtaHalifit in the cullody ot five or fix of his men, and hallcn to the relict ot his own party. Immediately he made himfclt known to encourageiiis Komans, when Cutfderk having.heard him nSim'd-, lingled him out, and tranfported with love and jealoufie, (lew upon him with a.moii.dil'ipal itupetuofity. Maxiinui, cr^d he, tuntftHrn 'fgaii^i Q\xyvicxk thi>[e t^fapons, with pehicb ^ S f f f iVafi^ 690 PHAKJMOND, Fart XIL $heK feekllt *o l/7/«/Vj, prodigal of his own blood, fought nothing but the life of MaximinHs. Immediately he I<:t drive a moft furious back blow at Maximinus, and perceiving himfelf environed by tbeKs- manr, and wounded in feveral places, he prefled however upon his enemy with fuch an undaunted fury, that maugre their number and his refinance, he thrult his Sword up to the Hilt in his Body. Upon the fall of the Captain of the Enterprife, the red were foon difpcrfed. But that which was moft doleful after fo profperous a fuccefs, was, that both Cunderiand Atahratte fainting away, fell both of a fudden to the ground, without any ap- pearance of life. Jhargyre, Atanalifa, ^flig^'*-, l^imander, and many Officers run with all fpeed to their affiftJncei and feeing both the Princes in fo deplorable a condition, by their fhrieks and by their tears they manifcfted the height of their affedion. But underftanding prefently that both thofe Illuftrious Soldiers were yet alive, they all diligently fet themfelves to work for their recovery, according to limaHder^s dire and caufed them to be carried to the Caftle, as charily and as gently as poilibic could be. They had no fooner opened their eyes, but the King of the Vandals enquired whether Atanalifa were at liberty ; And as foon as they had made him anfwer that (he was, and were about to give him an accompt in few words of what had happened i T'eU me rather^ faid he, what is become of Atalorque > He is very mitch wounded, as rtellas yo*, anfwered Ti>M wherein they fo behaved themfelves, that they made it clearly manifeli, that Atanalifa was no longer his Enemy, but that her Refentment had given place to a more equal Gratitude. On the other fide, ^t-j/or^Kf charmed with Gunderic's Noble Qualities, caufed himfelf to be carried into his Chamber, notwithftandingall the Chirurgeons Dirc- ftions to the contrary. And no fooner had they placed him fonear the Prince as to be un» rflerftood, but with all the marks of a real joy •, Sir, faid he, it is a long time finee your vertue won our hearts ■■, but we could not till now, confe^ our felves vanquijhed, or ackitow - ledge yeur ViQory, Having concluded thofe words, he grew faint, and made thargyre a figotogoonv which (he did: declaring that there had been an Engagement between ^- talorque and Maximinus •, and that in regard his Conqueft had removed that Obftacle out of the way, there was nothing now could put a ftop to his Pretentions. The paiGonate King of the Vandals \i&encd to At*Halifa's Mother with fuch a Tranfportation of joy, that I am not able to expre& : And for an addition to his Felicity, having confulted the fair Princef- fes eyes, he foon dilcovcred that (he gave her confent according to Jhargyre^s words. He beheld in thofe bright Mirrors the willing kindnefs (be had for him, he obferved therein an obliging fadnefs : nay, they feemed to make excufes for that mixture of Acknowledg- ment and Refentment they had fo odly (hewed at other times. After this they left the two wounded perfons to their repofe, and fent Maximinu(\ body to Sextilius^ who no way approved his Kinfman's defign. Ihiu, Sir, you have an accompt of the Change that has happened in the King, my Brother'/ Fortune : And now Cydillion brings me word, that both hii,as well as Atalorque'/ wounds are almoji cured ; and there is nothing more wanting to compleat his happinefs, but that the Empe- ror, by the Mediation of ConR^incc, would grant him the quiet Poffejpon of all his Conquejls, and that Atanalifa, according to her Claim, may be rejiored to the 1 krone of her Ancefitrs. tbrafimend had no fooner ended his Relation, but Wallia teflified the fatisfadion he had received thereby i and went that Evening to Honorius, to follicite for Gunderic's Intereft * which he did with all the zeal of a real Friend, and with all the fuccefs that Gunderic could have wi(hed or defired. ihe end of the Firji Book of the Twelfth ant hjl Part. ^ PHARAMOND. Book II. '6 pi PHARAMOtilD. Book II. -n" H E next morning (he two Burgmdidn Princes were no foorj" cr in a condition to leave the Camp, but they departed foi, Cologne : And Sa»«o»,having thruft himfelf amongft Gmiran's DomelHck Servants, took the fame Road, highly impatient to fee the Queen oi the 'TuriMgiens. But when they arrivec^ it the City v/hete Amalazontha, Ckomira zndBlefinda wereen- clofed, the Lovers of thefe three Princefles felt a ftrange com- motion in their minds. The Enamoured Suhuotj, more paf-, fionate, but more unfortunate than the reft, was feized with certain difcontents which wonld not have been concealed in his fa(ie, but that he marched all the way with his Beaver- down, becaufe he would not be difcovered. The Captain of the Guard at the Gate, was extreamly glad to fee Gondimar and Guntran •, and fending toad-, vertife Condioch of their Eeiurn, he received them with all the Civility imaginable, ^low,, in regard it happened ,. that day that neither Citizens nor Snevidni were upon the Guard, which was only of Heruhs and Gepider^ there was nothing but a falutation pafs'd between them and tlie Prfnce's Attendants* fo that 5K><«fl« had the lefs trouble to con-;, cealhimfelf; and when he was entred Agrippina, he return'd Ga«/riia thanks in a few, words, and went to 'thanaric's Lodging. The firft thing he did fo foon as he faw the Tw riHgien, was to enquire after Amalazontha : " Wdl^'th^ndric, faidbe with an extraordina- ^^ry impatience^ have you fecn my divine Princefs, have you had any words concerning "me ? And when you difcourfed to her of that unfortunate Lover, did you not gather "from her difcourfe, did you nj3t obfervein her celcftial eyes that cold indiffercncy that " caufes the misfortujie of my life? "Sir, anftveredhe, I could not make any true conr, " je(Sures upon the Queen's thoughts V for befides that a profound fadnefs that reigns In "hercountepancc, conceals the marks of other paffions, I flayed fo fliort a while with '' her, and (lie for her part had fo little time to anfwer me, and to declare her mind to me, *' that I dare not venture to affert any thing in relation to the Queen's intentions. " tiow- "ever, replyed the enamoured Prince, interrupting him, let your conjectures be never foufl- '' certain, you may tell me what you think i for whatever comes from Amalazontha is ot " too great value to me,to let me reft till you have told me your thoughts. Upon thofe words, taking notice that T/ja^aric was at a lofs, his curiofity redoubied, infomuch that not having that rcfervednefs in a converfation which concern'd his \orfe as I)e might have had at other times, he put the 7'«r/«gj^M lb hard to it, that he was forced to make this anfwer : "Since you conftrain me to fpeak, Sir, faid he, I muftconfefs that I '' mentioned to her the preferver of 'luringia,^ and related all the high fervices he had done "her with all the app'au(e that I thouglu it was rcquitire for me to give him, when I fpokd' '* to a Piinccfs who is liiil obliged to him for the Crown ftie now wears. " 6b, 'iBanarii^ replied the Prince intemtptinghim, wherefore were you not more faithful tome? .*'Be» ''caufc I could not, replied Thanaric, unkfs 1 (hould have been a Traitor tomy (^een, *' and unaratcfuho my Benefa<5lor. "-^ £y.n^ AmcHazomha^ feplyed he, was not (he vexeci' Sfffa "ani ^92 F HAKAMUNV, Tart Xli. =* and troubled to be beholding for Cervices done to a Prince wbom (be cannot love ? T'he Trittce^ tvat moved with famek^ndof acknowledgment^ anlwered l/ja^wryc, hut injlead of ex- plainingher felf any farther, jhefighed and ca[l her eyes downteard. " I forefaw, cry ed the '^Prince, that you would plunge her into that perplexity. You fee xh^t Amalaz.mtha's " {hanne does but too unhappily corrcfpond with thofe thoughts which I always told you " (be had for the unfortunate Stcnnon : and 1 was hated too fcverely before by the Queca *'that I adore, for any perfon to takefo much pains to render my peribn more odious : I " know your intention was good, but I knew better that it would not produce the effcSts *' which you expeded. He had no fooner fpoke thofe words, but he paufed a while, and then refolv'd at length to go and fee Amalazontha^ whether he followed the infligations of his love, or thought fopacifie thofe difcontents which his great obligations had been the caufc of. The Queen of the Tinriw^/Vwj- had languiihed under a double excefs of melancholy, ever fince Ba/^jnir had been acknowledged for "Theobald : for that unfortunate PrinceCs not finding any rea- fon why (he fhould look upon PWawowi as ilo/<«'M»«iV enemy, could not altogether forgo the hopes which (he had conceived, without falling into a relapfe of grief which (he could not conceal. However, her forrows were accompanied with a certain languilhment that rendred her charms more powerful » fo that the enamoured Sunnon's heart being but the jtote fUbdued thereby, felt at that enterview fomething which he had not experienced through the whole courfe of his pallion, how violent foever it were. Amalazontha re- ceived him with all the civility that her fadnefs would permit her, and after the firft cere- monies of complement (he thus continued : " Prince, faid [he, I have under(tood by Tfej- '^' « No, no. Madam, you are not in the lea(i beholding to me, and if I "(hould be fo inconfiderate as to expedl any reward from the Sovereign Miftrefsof my * heart, my pretenfions would favour of more .boldnefs than perhaps you are aware oC ''.For in (hort, Madam, I fear me they would afpire to thofe inelHmable atfeftions which are " infinitely above the Scepter which you offer me. ""Having done fuch great things for my '■ fake, replied AmaUzontba, I may lawfully declare to you that I am forry it is not in ray '^ power to give you that recompcnfe which you defire. But, Prince, that 1 may not deceive *'you, it behoves me to make a fincere profellion of my pre(ent condition; know then, "that fo long as I live, I (hall always preferve that eftecm for yout peribn which your *■ high qualities defer ve, aid all the acknowledgment which I owe for the iTgnal good of- • fices you have done me. But if you expcd from Amalazontha any thoughts more ten- *'• der, you exped them in vain from an unfortunate perfon that cannot dilpofe her felf to "gratifie your requells. Concluding thofe words, (lie fighM, and Sunnon beholding her with eyes full of love and forrow, Ah, Madam, cryed he, that I jhould be fo unfortunate, if the ebjiacle that op' pvfes my happinefS be invincible. But, divine Princefi, proceeds this misfortune from any diji- cultv which lean mend, or from any natural antipathy rvbicb yott are not able to vanquid?, " It *' proceeds rather from my injuftice, replyed the ^een of the Taungkns : but alas. Prince, " I find little likelyhcod that I (liall prove more jull to you : but I am not however fo blind " but that I fee well enough that you are worthy of a better fortune, which I wi(h you " with all my heart : I am forry for your fake, and perhaps I have more rcafon to be forry "than you. This is all that I can fay, and therefore I befeech you ceafe your fuit, and " retire to your Brother the King's Camp, inikad of (laying in a City where you cannot " come to be difcovered but with extreme hazard to your peribn. That misfortune which " will not fuffer me to have that affedion for you which you have right to claim, does not "hinder me from intereftingmy felf in what concerns your confervation, and I have con- evincing reafons not to be altogether ungrateful. But, Madam, fadly .replied Sunnon^ tvherefore [fjould you tak^ care of a life which you have reduced to fuch a fatal necejjity ? I befeech you. Madam, faid he bending upon one knee, which Amalazontha cou]d not h'mdct him from doing, either render that life altogether happy, fmce it is in your power, or permit me to furrender it up to fuch a dejpair, oi may foon put an end to that audio the fufferings rvhicb attend it ; fur J am noxv a mifsrable creature that have no more to do in this rvorld : for as ihevio- lence of an ili requited pajjion con fumes me, and hurries me to my lomb, 1 had rather die at Co- logne than in Pharamond'/ Army : I bad rather be in the City where you refide, than in the midji of all my Kindred and Relation^. Nor tvill I Madam, renounce fbefe hopes tvheremth I take e Book II. FHARAMOND. 6^^ take delight to flatter my felf every nfome»l^ tiVyou fiaV he mov'dto tah^ pity upon thofe dc' plorable mifcries that threaten the end of my unhappy dayj. Upon thofe words he figh'd, inftead of continuing any farther; and the Queen of the 'iuringiens was about to anlwer him, wlicn they brought her word, that the Princefs oif the. Lombard sznil'tons^rej deikcd admittance j 5««w« rciircd, rot fo mucli out ot tear to fhew himfclf to thofe Ladies whom he fuipcded not in tlie lea'*, but bccaufc that after that converfation whicli they had interrupted, he did not hnd liimltit in a condition to he good company in another, wherein perhaps hs might be little concern'd. Thereupon he was conlirain'd to leave /4»;j/dzoMf/>j, and he wasno foonerout of her Chamber, but he wenc without any itiore to do to the Princefs of the Cimbrianf, to court her on Vh^tramond^ behalf. True it is, that hearing that 2/jithin thefe few hours, bring a Letter from the King hit Brother > and will give you an accompt, better than I can do, of the condition of the Army which is to fight for your Liberty. The Tar/wg/f » had no fooner. returned that anfwer, but he related in (hort to Sunnon, what he thought the Princefs of the Cimbrtans would be very joyful to hear : And immediately he went to vifit the fair Amalazontha, and to receive from her fuch Orders as were neceffary for him to carry to Lephane, He was no fooner departed Kofamond's Chamber, but the Prince was introduced j and after he had been received bj^e Princefs in a mort obliging manner, when the firft Cere- monies were over, he prefented her with the paflionate Fharamond's Letter. Rofamgytd took it. but not without blu(hing •, nor did (he prefume to open it in Suttnen's prefence. Ibefeechyou, Madam, thereupon, faid he, carry not yourfelffo flrangely to me y forbefidet, that you are no way obliged to it^ it may be I may have fjme Additions to mak^ by word of mouth to what my Brother has written s and I fear the lofs of fuch an advantage, if you delay to 'rrant me the favour s in regard it would not be permitted me to vifit you any more, fijould I bedifcovered when I leave your Apartment. For that reafon, and upon his farther earneft en- treaty, the incomparable Princefs condefcended to his reque(\ ■■, and read thofe lines to him, which (he would rather have perufed without W itneffes. So that it was no difficult thing for Sunnon toobferve the little changes in her Countenance, when (he rehearfed tho(« words That gave her to under(tand the atfedion of the moll lllufirious of her Lovers, and with what thoughts that Affeftion was accompanied in the moft noble heart in {"he world. The King of the Fran^ to his Divine Princefs. r A 7* length. Madam, Heaven has done }u(lice to ike Great Theoh'ild •' But in re^eringhim JOL the Crown of hit Ance^ors, it makes him a Frefent le^ confiderable, than the favour thai it affords me, while he takes my part, and pleads for me to hU Divine Sifier. Not that hii ap- probation renders me worthy of my Divine Trince^ ■■, but 1 am apt to believe it permits me, to a- §iret as weV as the reji of my Rivals, to an Howur which they no better deferve than Phara- Hiond. / fpeak, ^i*h certainty of an event which may feem uncertain. But, Madam, I fpeai^ of it with thofe Advantages that fuffer me not to mak^ any quejiion of it. Considering the rein- forcements of Men and Friends which I daily receive, dees it not behove me to fight againji yoisi^ OppreJJors ? Am I mt afifi\\ed by the great Theobald ? And after all. Madam, w it ndt lawful for me to be tend^er of eae party, that if become yours ? We hope that it is for that Farty thai youwill pray forViUory. But mojl dear Frincefi, how happy fljould I be, if the Fray ers yen Make would not be all for a Brother, but that ?hiXimond, your faithful Pharamond, tiiighi have fome (Ijare therein ! HU Valor has more need thereof, than that of the Invincible Theobald : And though your own intere{i did mt oblige you to fortifie it with your ajfijiance, meth'inkj yott jhould allow fomething to the mojl tender, and mo[l refpeSfxl paffion that ever was. The fair Princefs, fo foon as (lie had read the King of the ¥ranl{s tetter, could not for- bear to caft her eye upon it once Hiore; but being Mi(^rcfs, for the prefent, of that dtl^re which (he had t» examine every Claufe, (he turned toward Sunnon, and thus addreffed her fdf tohim: "I do not think, S\x, faid fhe, that there is any nccertity for us to confer to- " gether upon this Letter which you have dcliveisd me •, for 1 find nothing in it that con- *' ccrns Book II. THAKAMOND, 695 ''cernsyou, though perhaps you may think there does. How i Madam, replyed S\ix\non " do you think I have no (hare in the mod important Affair of the King of the Frankj > and " that after I have delivered you a Letter from that Prince, I (hould be remifs in obferving " what impredion it makes in your mind ? Ah, Madam ! 1 befeech you do me more iu- *' ftice i and be perfwaded, that as long as I live, I (hall be always moft deeply fendble of " whatever concerns fuch a Brother as PharamonJ, You know. Madam, and all the world *' bcfidc knows it, that he lives only for your fake. You know to what dangers your dif- ** affedion has cxpofcd him hitherto. But now that his Dcftiny muft change with the II- " lu(trious Balamir's, I cannot believe that you can, with your (ormer averfion, look upon ** what the King of the Fra»J{s has done, or whatever he is ready to do for the Princcfs he "adores. And therefore, I will not fcruple to require your Anfwer to that Prince : And ** if I dare not prefume to fpeak of Fharamond's Merit for the attaining of it,yet mc thinks I *'may be fufferedto put you in mind of the protedion which the Generous King of the ** Cimbriant himfelf allows him. Rofamond feeling a Contc(\ in her breaA, between her Modeiiy, and the ftrong Inclination that (he bad for the King of the Frankj^ could by no means refolve what Anfwer to give Sh»»oh : But the Prince not ceafing to prefs her ■■, with an air that gave himnofmall fatisfadlion, "Sir, faidjhe, feeing you arc not prefently to " depart, and for that 1 am not accuftomed to do that which you dcfire me, I muft beg ♦' fome time to confider what I have to fay. How, Madam / cryedhe, fomewhat impati- *' ently, are you to confult any other thoughts than thofe with which your Juflice (hall in- " fpire you. I cannot tell, replyed (he, fmiling, whether tbe qualities of an affedlionatc " Brother, fuch as you are, be compatible with thofe of a good Friend. But however it be, " to grant you that fatisfadion which you will not allow me i I muft confefs that I have no " inclination to difoblige a Prince that fights for my Liberty i and who is united by In» " terertand FriendThip with the King of the Bohemiant. Thus ended that difpute, the Kings of the Burgundians and the HeruUs both entring ths Chamber, to whom the Princefs rendrcd that civility which was due to their quality, not thinking her felf obliged to treat them as Allies, who were indeed her perfecutors. In the mean time Sunmn vifitcd Hunnimonda, and fpake to her as effedually as the King of the Cimbriant could dcfire : But for Polixenay he knew not which way to fee her, the King of Suevia kept fo ftrid a Guard upon that Princefs, in a houfe where he had (hut her up. K»- famond, the Princefs of the Goths ^ Albifinda^ the Qu_ecn of the InriHgieHT, Agione, Cleomi- ra and Blefmda, had made it their rcquelt to live with her, but notwithftanding all the en- deavours-they could ufe to obtain permiilion, the King oi Suevia obftinately refufed them, making a kind of an obliging excufe, that it was not for them to be ufed like the Sifter of Fharamottd. However they would not give over fo, but the next day returning to the King of Suevia^ they preiTed him fo earneftly that he made a femblance at leaft of yielding to thcis requeft. Fair Princefi, faid he, fince you arefo earneji that befides VoVixcni's Maids »/ bo- ntur, there fhtmld be one efher friends to hear her company ■■, I aB»a> her Albifinda/or a ctmpani» on, not only to ehear the ftlitude of a Frincej!, whom I cannot look ttpon tu any way guilty of Pha* ramond'/ crimes, but alfo to puni(k a perfon that is not altogether an enemy of Marcomire, and bit too great a kjndnepfor Viridomar. Kofamond taking her beloved Sifters part, juftified her in relation to the difguifement, wherewith Marcomire and Gondemar had deluded her, and then continuing in a more earneft manner, Sir, added (he, for tvbat concerns the affeSion which the Prince^ Albifinda has for the Prince 0/ Suevia, you mufi be prepojfeffed by fame contrary intereft, ta be fo unjuji as t» con- demn her : For when you have faid all you can, Viridomar it a Brother too illujiriius , and too Viridomar, cryed he fmartly interrupting her, it aRebel, andfinee Albi(inda/»r*» ferves a fritndfhip for him that fullies htr innocence, (he deferves a punilhment more fever e, ihaH that which Igo about to infUd upon her. I grant, replyed the Princefs of the Bohemians, that the coHverfation of that incomparable perfon, will afford her morefatitfaUion than afolitude which eannot but affliS her : So that you may as wellfuffer me to hear her company, and aStw me as a l^indneflthat which you would infliS upon her as a punifhrneut. Ah Madam, Ccryed he with a tone lefs fevere, perceiving Gondioch and Godegefile to enter the Room) the Cods preferve me from giving my confent to your requejl, and from making many great Princes my enemies, from whom you defire that Ifhould keep youfafe. 1 jhall foon find in Cologne both the Soldiers and the inhabitants rife againji me, andmakf it their bufineft to break^your prifon, employing tbofe arms to that end which are defignedfor our defence. Bef;de, it would be thought jirange that a Princefs fo acculiomed to fetter others , (hould lofe her liberty among her adorers. He had not time to fay more, becaufe at the fame inftant the Kings of the Burgundiant and Heri*les entred the Room, who had no fooner taken their fcats, but the King of SHmiM additlCng 696 VHAF^AMONn Pakt XIIj addrelfinghis fpeech to them, Sirs^ faid he, J am cornering for your inttrejis^ with a fttfnti to tvhem all the world fubmits rvithout refijiame. 1 fee very voeH^ replied Godegcfikj/^a/jieK have taken ottr part againfi a Prince fs, that reithout douht complied tvith our enemies. But lean* mt teV^ added he, tranfported with jealoufie and the violence ot his humour, whether Ko- famond (hewingher felf fo favourable to Pharamond, does ttotghie m an o'ccafwn to treat her o* tberwife than vee have hitherto done^ to the end foe may he conftrained to carry her felf toward us after another manuer. *' Truly I cannot tell, replied Rofamond with a fcornfml coldnefs and '"'■ indifferemcy^ whether if you change your courfe of proceeding, we may have thofe " thoughts for you which we have hitherto diipens'd with. Bat I am deceived if I expe when you fight againlt her "brother, and venture your lives only to detain her in priion? " I mull confefs, replied the *' King of the Herulcs rvith a bitter ftnile^ that the Princefs of the Goths is very generous, in ^ taking part with lheihald''9^\&tx-> with fo much heat as (lie tcftihes, feeing (he is to be " Queen ot the Cimbrians. "But Madam, pxrfued he addreffing himfelf to Hunnimonda, " there are no fuch probabilities but that you may wait long enough for the Crown which " is promifed you ; For I believe the war will lart long enough, or perhaps may be ended " with a fuccefs quite contrary to your hopes. : Upon thofe words a lovely carnation overfpread the fair Bellamira's cheeSs, and that cou- ragibus Lady cafting a look full of difdain upon Godegefile, " As far as I fee, replyedfhe, you " arc cutting out more work for the King of the Bo/:»cwmm/ valour, than I expeded: and "for what concerns the events of a war which you defire fo much to prolong, give me leave "' to make my conjedures of the future by what is pM} : For in fo doing 1 have lefs realbti *' to fear the fortune of the King of the Bo/'fw/rf«/ , than of the King ot thcHentles. She had juft uttered thefe words, when the King of the Huns and Prince Balamir entjred the Chamber, and perceiving the dil\urbance in her countenance, they took upon tiicm to fpeak their minds, and gave theretl to undetffand that they \vere clearly ot that incompa- rable Princeifes fide. • The King oi Sttevia who mainly feared a divifion in the league, which he laboured to preferve entire, dexteroully changed the difconrfe, and Gondioch who had the fame fears, made anfvver.^ that he did not admire that the Princefs of tht Goths, and the Kingof ths Herules hd engaged with fo much heat upon a fubjed, wherein it was not eatle for them to accord, fince the King of the Cimbrians was the occafion of their difcourfe. " I do not ap- " prehend however, rf/'Wf^^K/a^»/ <^* Huns, why they fliould beoffuchdifTerent^udge- "inents in that particular, and why Godegefile fl-iould be an enemy to a Brother, for whofe "Sifter he has publickly declared fo great an affedion. "For my part, replied the Kingof " Suevia, I am no way furprifcd at it, that two perfons fo different as Kofamond ZT\d Iheo- ■" bald, fiiould be the caufes of fuch difcotding pallions in others. " Nevcrthclcfs you fee "in your own family, replied Kofamond, an example very conformable to what the King '^ of the Huns has fpoken, fince in defpite of the war between the Vrank,SiZx\d, Suedes, Prince '■"Viridomar is become the friend of Pharamond, contrading that friend(hip from the very -"time he knew thft that Prince govern'd the deftiny of Polixeiia. "How Madam, au- "^'■ftveredtheKingofSutvhwithfreinhis eyes, do you quote a guilty criminal, a Pvcbel, an '" unnatural Son, whofe very name I abominate to hear pronounced ? do you compare his " rath and wicked carriage, to the proceedings of the King of the Herules, who has always -'■ hated what it became him nevfr to love > '■' That violent Prince would have Qiewcd himfelf much ir.ore tranfported, at a time where- in his love was fo much intcrefted, had he not feared to difobligc the moll confiderable of 'his party, by difobliging Kofamond : and if the King of the Huus had not alfo interrupted hitn in a difpute, that began already to be fo (hai'p. But in regard that Prince was a perfen •that could not flatter, he fpoke for K/Vic^owjr and very boldly, and with much juftice de- clared himfelf in reference to Kofamond's concerns : So that the wliole company foon part- ed, not being able long to hold together, by reafon of the diverlity cf their opinions. It •maybe alfo (aid that there were two parties in Cologne, one that had confpired the death gf rharameudl Book II. PHAKAMDND. 6c)J Tharamond^ the other that fought an accommodation and to pacific VaraticZ', ■W-Ilo ws'j 'f^e cn/y perfon that flood cut againll the King ol thcf>"»>j/^/. The Ring of\?Kez;/a and thcB*"^ gtt ndiansficdec^cftle and Eriijwf r compofed the tirl\ fadion, and had all the (ainc intcntioifi. As for the Kings of theGepidet and Ba[lerHes, they were led away by thofe Princes, but ft was rather through tlic engagement of their Amours, which they had for Ko/jwo«i and Ai" bijtnda^ than for any particular fpleen conceived againll Pharamond. And for t!ic Prince 6 t the Saxons, Gondenur andG««ti-j«, they vverc lefs violent for that Cabal than citl.cr Arde" ric or Humbert. I • On the other lide the Kings of the Hu>ir and Sarmatia>it, Af!,elmond,MartiaH and the new Balamir^werc engaged by their own to follow the fortune of Varauez, and yet continually pealing that Prince in the car, they never gave over pcifwading him to lay alide thcfc vio' , lent inclinations, that had rendfcd him guiiry of adhering to that unjuft caufc, which the league had embraced, Qnt A^aibyrfif uled his endeavours more than any other, to oblige him to depart out of a Countrcy , fo far remote from that potent Monarchy to which he was the immediate heir : And knowing the vaftnefs of that Prince's ambition, he laboured to increafe the force of that natural pa (lion, that he might counterbalance the powerful impreC fion, which the charms of Kofimcnd had imprinted in his heart. However it was not fo ea^ fie for him to bring about his delign, and therefore the King of the Sarmatians finding that his reafons could not prevail againlt the beauty of the Cimbrian Queen, refolved not to flat- ter Varanez, but to difcover to him the danger he was in of finding a ufurper in the Em- pire, if he flayed but a month longer in Germany. • He had no looner difplayed in a tew words, what he had good grounds to fufpcd, but the Prince as much enamoured as he was, began to be very much troubled, and addreffir^ himfelf to the King of thi: SarmatiaHs^ Sir, faid he, rviJlyou not more preafely give me a re- lation, in what conditisn you left ibe Court of PeiUa, and let me underjland by nhat good fortune my Father came to obtain the friendpip of the ilujiriom Agathyrfus, the moji formidable enemy that ever he had to deal tviih. 1 tpiII Hat only obey your commands, replied the King of the Sarmatians blufning, hut Sir, continued he, 7 had made you the recital which you difire long before notv, could I have found as convenient an opportunity as norv I have, hy reafoH of your ear-^ rtejl folicitationt of a Frincefi, who to ^ff^^k. ingenuoujjy if really deferved by the King of the Franks and to a>h>m lam apt to believe fl}e U already engaged. Upon thofe words FaM?ifzbki(h'd, but having recalled his paffion, lk»on>not, anfwerM lie, tvhy theyjhouldbe more obliged to bellow Rofamond upon Phaiamond, than upon the Princi of Perlia, nor can 1 tell reho (hould fo rvell ivihudyou in the knorfledge of inierejis rvbich are not fo eaj-ly div''d ints. " I will tell you however, replied Agathyrfuf, if you pleafe, that ther4 "needs but a verycurfory examinatioQ,of the Prince of Ferfia's and the King of the Franks "pretentions, to make a man admire wherefore a perfon that has been fo publickly remar* "kablefor at^s of generofity as youhavebeen, tViould give your felf the liberty to dilluib "affcdions fo lawfully and innocently grounded. For Sir, you cannot be ignorant that by " the fecret conduft of heaven, it was Pharamond that killed the Son oiBriomer, it was Pha* " ramond that faved the real "theobald's. life, it was by the valour of that Prince that Bohemid "has been delivered from her opprctTot and ufurper, and that Kefamond hnds out an illu« "flrious Brother inllead of a wicked villain, that would have infcfted her houfe with the " blood of Briomer. " I do not fpeak this, added he, to moderate the fiercencfs of Varanez'i "indignation, or that you might not have performed what the King of the Fr<»w^j- has done, ''Bin fortune that apparently defigns him the poifdlion of Kcfamond, has made choice of "him to give him thofe opportunities to ferve'that Princefs, which (he has denyed you.Ne- " verthckls Rofamond ceafes not to be ahfolutely pcrfwaded, not only of the grandeur of "your courage, but of your zeal to fcrve her or whatever concerns your intereft.She does ■'you jufticein that, as wellasinallotherparticulars: She knows the advantages (lie might "enjoy by yielding to Varanez, and though flic be ignorant of the large extent of your Em- " pire, yet I am apt to think (he confiders no Icls the luftre of your degree, than the endow " ments of your perfon. Agathyrfus taking notice that Varanez. began to take his words into confideration," \Von- "dcr not, proceeded he, that I fpeak fo politivtly of RtfpwoKci's thoughts, and thatlfove- " hemcntly labour to retrieve your heart, from the power of a Princefs thafcannot give yciT " hers.For Knfamond her felf who has made me a clear contellion ot her raott (tcrct thoughts, " fhe begged of me to bcfcech you in her name to be fatistied with her eileem, and to remcm- " ber at all times that flie was not in a condition to difpofc of her a(fe, before I maks you a relation rvherein yott mE fee rvhat jjlkt, have to hops or fear as n?eV as 7, let us vifit the Cimbrian ^een, and rvhen Jhe hjs difcovered to you the real thoughts of her Seul, you may tak^ ttp a refolution conformable to your fortune^ and the grandeur of your cou- rage. The Prince of Terfta^ who was all fire and love, could not without difturbance hearken to what the King of the Sarmatians had faid : and you may alTuie your felf he did not o- ver patiently endure the pains which that Prince had taken to fliew him a way which he had fo little difpofition to follow. However, he kept his jindignafion concealed, notwith- ftanding his quarrelfome and contradidory humour i and he had fo much moderation as not to break forth in language againfl: an illu(\rious perfonage to whom he knew his Father •was mo(t (ignally obliged i and to whom he was alfo himlelf beholding for a potent rein- forcement: for in truth, Agathyrfut^ befides the Sarmatians, had at his difpofal the Huns and the Lombards, by reafon of the great (hare that Agelmond and Balamir had in the in- terefts of Gilifmene and Agione j fo that Varanez obferving that that concatenation of friend(hip rendred himcontiderablein the league, and being moreover fatisficd 'o{Agathyr' fm's good intentions toward him, he confented without reludancy to go along with him to \i\lt Kofamond. But it was not fo rauch out of any defign to change his mind, as to (hew himfelf complaifant toward the King of the Sarmatians, but more efpecially to gra- tlfie himfelf with the fight of his beloved objed •■, he found Martian in company with the the Cimbrian Princefs : however, the prefence of a perfon fo prudent, and fo much his Friendp did not hinder him from (peaking his m^nd, fo foon as they had finifhed thofe ce- retTJonies which proceed from a regulated knowledge among perfons of the higheft degree : J make no quefiion. Madam ^ faid he, but the King of the Sarmatians told me the truth, rvhen be gave me to nnderfland that you n>ould not be offended to fee Varanez among the number of your. Jlaves. "Uruly.^ anfwered (he, / jhould be very glad that you mere not of my Enemies fide, and that fuch a Trince as you, tvhom I really efieem, and for whom I flill deftre to preferve the fame tejpeU, would not firengthen the chains that bold me in prifn. Do youtak^e one of the fairefl Cities in Europe, Madam, replyed the Prince, to be a prijon ; a City wherein you are attend^ »d and adored by fo many great and potent Princes ? I fee, replyed Kofamond, that we are not agreed what title to give Cologne ; but for my part I cannot tell by tvhat other name t» dijiinguifh a place, from whence I would fain depart, but that 1 am detained by force. Ion tnigbt have your fullliberty, replyed Varanez, but that they fear youmU mak^e ufe of it in favoHT Book II. F H A R A M N D: 6^^ favour af the King of the Franks. But after all this ^ added he, tranfpoi^tcd by his Idye^ and a fentiment ot' that pride which was natural to him \ ii'hjf is there that yau fee i>t the. perfon uf Pharfmond, that you may not meet with in the perfan of Vardncz : And as /> ti'c Fortune of either^ are you f prepoffiffed in fivour of my Rival, not to fee the difference bc^ tween the Empire of Pc^Jia, and the Kingdom of ixdnanui^ I knoro the difference very weli^tr- plytd flic, with a haughty air i for though aU the rvorld tvere ignorant what degree the Kings. fl/PerHa hold in the rvorld, you have told me fo often yoiit fclf that I caMot but bear it in mind. , . ...... \ Agathyrfus ind Marcian, being willing to pacific a difpute that began to ^row fo fliarp, were about to have fpoken : But Kofamond not giving them time i " Sir, continued (he^ *'■ addreffing her felf to \3nnci', when to that Frj«co«/ii, you fliall fee thofe fair and noble " Provinces joy ned, which are comprehended under the name of Gallia^ I believe the Prince "that reignsover that Extent of ground, will have no great caute {6 complain of his for- "tune. Efpccially, rf/)/)/f^ Agathyrfus, to appeafe F^.odmond, that great Kingdom beiqg " in a flnurifliing condition, and in one of themoft fertile Scituations of the world. And " being governed, added Martian, by fuch a Prince as Fharamond. Varanez, upon that, blufliing for madnefs, he beheld Marcian and Agathyrfis with an air that fenlibly reviledl them i yet being refolved not to (liew his pailion, though they were never fo much prepof- fefled to the advantage of his Enemy, he departed , carrying a fire in his Countenancc/r that difplayed the agitation of his foul. The King of the Sarmatians and the Lover ok' pK/c/;fr/(* immediately followed him, not only to moderate his tranfportation, butalfo be- caufe they read in Rofamond's fair eyes, how much flic would take it in good part, if they fliould take i he pains to temper the fierce fpirir of that Prince, in regard the power of his Party bore luch a fway to encline the whole League to Peace, or continue the. War. The King of the Sarmatians fit ft accolling him, in regard he had moft reafon to prcferve his» Friendfliip : " Sir, faid he, I find that my freedom of fpeech has given you dillaik i buC " befides that we dcfire to put a flop to the Refentment of that fair Princefs whom you fo "admire, yet have fo highly incenfed, we thought it a piece of treachery to flatter you "with a poor fpirited complyancc, at fuch a time when your Repofe and Honour lay at " fiake. This is not all, added Marcian, for I believe we fliall not long have the difpofal " of the Troops that are come from Conliantinuple ■■, for I underftand that the Court of "jri&foall never have that fort of affedion for him which be infifis upon, ''Then you dcfign that for your beloved Viridomar, replied he with a rage which be labqur'd " to dijfemble. But without ftudying much to tell you, that a perfidious fellow that has be- " trayed me,may as well prove unfaithful toyou,I will as fincerely unfold my own thoughts " to yoH as you have done to me. Know then that I will make ufe of the power which is *' in my hands, to hinder you from giving your hand to l^iridomar^ and to obliruft your i- " die intentions, there is no extremity to which I am not able to carry my refentment. And " in a word, I will not fpare either Sword or poyfon to fatisfie my fell and injure you : and " by my actions part you may guefs, whether I am a perfon fo eafily wrought upon, to quit " the refolutions I have once taken. , Thofe words, were attended with a dreadful look v but the undaunted Princefs inftead of being terrihed, " I am defcended from a family, replied Jhe with a regardlef coldnefl^ and an '■'■ extraordinary Majejiy, that is fufficiently acquainted with your violent proceedings, and " how far your indignations can reach, but as you never faw any of my relations that were " ever frighted with menaces or dangers, it may be you will fin^ in Polixena a heart, not " unworthy the Royal blood from which (he is defcended. Perfons of my Sex have their "opportunities to (ignalize their courage, and if their modefty does not permit them to feek *' honour in Arms, they may meet with it otherwhere, and it fuffices for them that they " know to look death in the face, rather than change their refolutions, when they are affu- " red they cannot do it with juftice. " We (hall fuddenly fee, replied he reith a cruel jealoU' ^'■fie, how far that conftancy of yours will extend, for when I have advifed with Briomer, "" it may be you may find that fince I cannot move your love, I may caufemy felf to be fear* "ed, notwithftandingthat generofity which you afFeft to (hew, now that you fee no dan- " ger near. Having concluded thefe words he flung out of the Chamber in fuch a heat, that he had not time to take notice that at the name of Briomer Polixena changed colour, not fo much however out of any apprehenfion that concern'd her, asout of the antipathy which for the fake of her Brother's interefi (he had againft a Villain, who not long before had confpir'd the death of fo great a Prince. So foon as the violent King of Suevia was come to his own Apartment, he fent to feek out Briomer^ and while he expeded him with an extraordinary impatience, Martian came to fee him, and after the firft ceremonies of their complements were over, he fpoke in Kofa- mond's name on the behalf of the Princefs of the Frankj. " Sir, faid he, I believe that Po- *' lixena cannot be fafcr in the houfe where you have cnclofed her up, than if ftie had as much " liberty as is permitted to perfons of her rank and Sex who are in this City. For which '' reafon all the PiincelTes and particularly the Cimbrian, have defired me that I would make " it their requeff to you that " Sir, Cf^'^ *^^ ^'"^ interrupting him, with an extratr" " dinary difturbance in his iountenance^ before you make an end^f what I underftand but too " well already, I would fain know whether Kofamond have given you the trouble, to come " to exaS from me that which (lie may vycll believe I cannot grant her, or whether it be to " oblige Book 11. PHAKAMOND. 701 " oblige Tharamond^ whom I look upon as the moft hateful of al! my cncmic*. That kind of anfwer difpicafcd Martiatu, but in regard he was a pcrf-m of great moc!era» tion, and one that dcfired to mediate fuccefstuUy for Folixena, he was fo tar from fhcwing his refentment that he only made this reply. Sir, faid he, yon tbmk^the intentinns ef Rofa^ mond ta be very fcanty, as if it were fuch ajirange thing tt fee them engaged, for the interejis of a perfan of the fame Sex, of equal rank^and merit little different. Ihofe noble qualities trhkb yeu applaud in Polixcna, reply cd the King of Suevia, Jhall Ttot hinder me from K'-p>»g ^er in that place where fhe U guarded by my order, if you have no other reafonsfar whatyeu drfire uf me. When you have told me the arguments that move you to treat that Prince^ fo unworthily of you do, reply ed Martian fomewhat netlcd, 1 may perhaps in my turn tell you more of m\i mind, i/)j/e Polixcna, replied he blufliing, hecaufejbsit the Si^er of VhixzxnonA. And for the fame taufe, anfwercd Martian, Rofamoiid loves the Princeji of the Franks, in regard that l^hara- mond it a friend and ally of the King of the Cimbtizns. But Sir, fadded he very haftily, hear- ing that fome perfons were come to attend the Suevian King) 1 did not believe you tvould hate refufed mc that, which indeed you ought net to have given mean occasion to require, and I thought you would have confidered that it m the Princefiof the Cimbrians tbatfent me to requeftyou, and that it is the Lieutenant of the Emperour Theodofius that makes the requefr. He took his leave having fpoken thefe words, contrary to his accuftomcd moderation and few minutes after Bmwfrfucceeding him, by his only prefencecalm'd all thedi(}urban» cesof the 5«ma«King. He embraced the Cimbrian with all the demonftrations of amity which he was able to tefiifie, and addrelling his fpeech to him, My dear Briomer, faid he Imitji eonfefiyou are come infeafon according to my wi(hes. For inueed I bad an extraordinary impatience, to have your advice upon a refolution which I have tak^n, finding my felf at ajirange lofi. Thereupon he repeated to him all that Martian had faid, and then continuing his dif- courfe, " You fee, added he, to what an extremity I am reduced, either I muft deprive my "felf of the means of enjoying Po//xf«j'i company, or ellel nnufl hiczkv/'nh Kofamond zw^ ^^ Martian, who you know have a great ftrength and much credit in our aflfociation. "I "did verily believe Sir, anfwered the Q\mhnzx\, that you would not be well pieafcd with *' Martian's vilit : I never lik'd the difpofition of that man, and to fpeak ingenuoufly 'twas "my felf that fent in word, that there was company flayed to fpeak with your Majelly, on "purpofe to free you from his tircfome converfe;But now Sir, I cannot fee why you (hould " fland to coniider what you have to do, for in my opinion you may give Polixena the libcr- *' ty which the other Princeffcs enioy, without any difappointment or injury to the deilgn *'ycu have in hand. " How Briomer, replied the Suevian King in afurprije^ can you give *• me the counfel fo contrary to my own inclinations and your repofe ? " However, anfn'er- ^'■ed be, I mufl prefume to tell you, that you have no other way to take but that : For if "youxMajeftyobftinately rcfufe to grant Eo/awowrf her requeft, (he maynotonlycaufeamu. " tiny in the Army, butalfo have a plaufible pretence to render you odious to the inhabi- " tants of Co/oj«e,with whom it abfolutely behoves you to keep a fair correfpondence. But *' replied the pafionate King, when the greateft part of the Princes behold Polixena, what if ''•they (hould become my Rivals, and as they are in better efieem than >, (hould lay new ob- *'(lacles in the way of my pretenfions. Then Sir, replied the Cimbthv, you may lock her *' up in the fame place again, and Briomer that brought her out of Pharamond's Camp, dares '■ Hill engage his word, without being fufpeded by your Majefty to make you the Mafter of " Polixena^ J deftiny whenever you pleafc. "Would to God, replied the King ftgbing, that *' I could really difpofe of the fortune of that enemy of mine, though I purchafed the means '- to do it with a part of my dominions. After thefe words he paufcd a while, and then ftedfaftly fixing his eyes upon Briomer^s " fuccour me then at a time when your alliftance is fo needful, for you know I have no other '• perlbn faithful to me in the world to confer withal. Befides I have always found in you "a quick apprehenfion and a daring courage, together with a foul free from faintnefs or "fcruple. Inrtiort, you have the qualities tobedefired in a friend, to whom a King would " commit the management of his fortune i fo that I queftion not but you will give mc ad-. *^ vice beyond all the refledionsi have made, and that you will tell me precifely by which *'wayI(Tiall carry my felf both toward the Princeffes, and toward the Captains of thole *' Troops that compofe our League. ," Sir, anfwered Briomer with many markj cfjatisfacii' '■ on in his countenance, there is no ncceffity for me to ftudy an anfwer to what your Majcfty, " demands. In the firft place I muft tell you, it is abfolutely ncceffary for you to make fare.- ''6i 702 PHARAMGND. Part XII. f ' cfVarattez.iot befides that the valour of thatPrince will be no mean affiftance to os,it is rmoft "eertain that the C9«/?j«»i«opo/i^tf« Army depend chiefly upon his direall I do to mollifie the Sifter of Pharamond > JFhen complaifance and kjndneji prove in vain^ replied the Cimbrian, you have then the liberty to proceed in a different manner, not following tbe example of young Lovers, that vex themfelves with plaints andfighs, but by acting like a King, who having a defire Im alfo tbe power to fatUjie himfelf^ being Mailer of the means to gualijie^he moft violent fires that burn within him. The King of 5«m<» liftned to this difcourfe with an extraordinary attention, and ma^ king afterwards fome refledionsupon Tolixena's difpofition and his own, which he perceiv.- ed to be flattered by a pernicious confidence, 7oHfpea}{^reafon Briomer, faid he, and lam aU ready afhamed of the re^eU which Ihave fhewn to a perfon, that btK rendred her felf ft unworthy of it, by a behaviour too injurious to be endured. I will alter my manner of proceeding, and I wiU ufe the haughty Polixena not only as the Sifler of my moft irreconcilable enemy, but as a flave that ought to be entirely at my difpefal. And therefore fxnce we have refolved what courfe to take, let us haften to put our refults in execution, and I defne you mi to omit any thing that may bring Uf to a profperoHs conclufion of what we have defign'd together, lou would do well in my opinion^ie- plied thcCimbrian, to fend and make fome obliging overtures to Honorius, whofe ally youbavi been for along time, and to promife him thepojjeffion of Bcllamira,?/ he will but be pleafedto trull bimfelf with hit forces, in a City where he may enjoy the company of that Trincefs every day.l^n time alfo that you (hould give out orders for a general Mujier, not only becaufe it U necejj'ary to know in what condition your Army U, hut that the inhabitants e/ Cologne may be tbe more en' couragedto continue faithful to your ftde, ToufeeSir, haw im^rtant it n foryou to beabfoliite' Book II. THARAMOND. 70^ in Agrippina, for if a divifwn ffonld Jjappen, they ma^ esfily be induced to open their Gate/ to the enemy^ I am very glad, replied the Sueviatt King, to find that ym and 1 fo trell agree i» our opinions. To morreiv I will fee Witincz, and the moji considerable Chiefs of our party^ and it may belfhdH rvithoHt much trouble perfivade them to approve ourrefolutions, J mean thofe only which it U convenient for me to mak.e ktiorvn : For you muji not think^mefo impruflent to difcover all. In the mean time hecaufe ynu think^it fitting, and fur that there U fuch an obftinate bu{ile a- bout it, IvciU give Polixcna the fame liberty rohkh the other PrinceJJes enjoy. F«r*Eriomcr, added he bluihing all of a fudden, if by fo doing I chance to procure my felf a formidable Ki« val among the Frinces of the League^ yottpromife me to return theperfon rvhom I love into my otvh power again. *' 'Tis only Sir becaufe you are in love, coldly replied the Cimbrian, that you " fufped ',Br/(7Wf r's ingenuity, and that you have forgot the proofs which he has continu- "ally given you thereof upon all occafions, when you had otherwife little likelihood of '•fuccefs. In a w^ord Sir, without being obliged to convey them away by force into any " other place, or uling any other contrivances, 'tis but telling the Princtfles that the people "begin to murmur againft them, and that the inhabitants and Soldiers look upon them as *' the caufc of the war, and that therefore it is convenient they fliould have a ilronger guard "for their own fecurity. And then Sir, which of the Princes can better pretend than you, "tocffufe fuch Soldiers as you fliall think convenient to be entrulkd with a treafure k " ineftimable ? You may be fute that none of Kofamond's Lovers will be oHcnded at it, for " they looking upon one another with an eye of lufpision, every one of them will be more "ready to injure his Rival, than to allow him, fo grfat a priviledge. Befides there is not " one that does not believe you to be her friend and an enemy of Tbaramond, fo that you "need not doubt but they will all agree to give your Majefty that precedency, which will "eafily make you Mafter of the fortune of the Princeffes. There is an^pparent probability in what yoK fay, replied the King of Suevia, but rcho is there that I can confide in at fuch a nice conjunVture at this, unlefilrely uponmy faithful Briomer } For befides that for the good nf the tpbole party, yott are obliged to look^after all things, the fortifications, the Arms, the provifions, the Engines of war, perhaps you are not fo well beloved by the reft, becaufe you are not guilty of thofe general condefcendencies , which are tifuaHy accompanied with effeminacy and co' vpardife. He had no fooner concluded jthofe words, but he began to confider who was the fitted a- rfiong all the chief Commanders, to be entrufted with an employment of fo great a coDfe* quence, and after he had ftudied a while, '' I cannot think of any but the Prince of the Btir* '■'■gundians, faidhe, whom I can better truft upon fuch a tickli(hoccafion,foi' befides that he *' has as much courage as fuch a charge can require, his affedion for Jlbifmda whom I will " promife him, will be fecurity enough for Felixena and Kofamond. '' But Sir, replied the "" fu^iciouf Briomer, can you away with that humour which they call virtue mGondemar ? "or do you think that he will anfwer your expeftations ? 'Tis for the reputation of that " Prince that I approve the choice I have made, and until you can find me out another more '' likely to fecond my intentions, I (hall not alter my thoughts in reference to the charge, *' which I have refolved to truft to Gondemar^s fidelity. " But Briomer, added he, as far as " I fee you do not take notice that we are not yet at the end of our defigns, for there is an " abfolute necedity for me to get Viridomar into my poifeflion, to the end I may have him " within my reach, and that 1 may declare him a Rebel, and unworthy to fucceed before the " moft confiderable of the Suedifli Nobility. " i muft confefs, replied the Cimbrian with » '■'■ mifchievow ]oy, I have not yet (poken of the puniQiment which the Prince defervcs, but " Sir, it was not out of any negle^ of your concerns, but on the contrary becaufe I was per- "fwaded that Fir/^owijr being revolted to your Majedics enemies, has condemned himfelf "fufficiently to the puni(hmcnt which you (hall inflid, without obferving any formalities " in reference to a crime which he has perpetrated in the face of the world. However, faii "be, you muft not fpeak a word to any of Viridomar^s accomplices, for fear of lofing an *' opportunity to entrap himl *■ while the King of Suevia and Briomer were thus conjplotting mifchief, the enamoured Shhhoh fpent his time with the penfive Amalazontha. Balamir entertained the Princefs of the Lombards, zud Kofamond wzs pexphxed with the importunities of Go», Codegefile, and Arderic. As for Varanez he, being naturally impatient and fiery, ponder'd with vexa- tion upon what the Cimbrian Princefs, the King of the Sarmatians and Martian had faid to liim, and not enduring they (hould all fpeak for Fharamond, " Yes, yes, eried he walking " alone in his Chamber, I will follow thecounfel which you give me, I will take a refolution *'worthy of F^rawfz, rather I will not delay tine moment to execute the refolution which " I have already taken. Your Fharamond cannot forget upon what terms we parted, upon the 704 PHARAMOND, Part XII. " the Enteivlew between Itheou and Melufma;zx\d though he bs fo happy to contcfi with me " in the heart of a Princefs prepoflefrcd in favour of him, perhaps he may not always be " fo fortunate, but that he may be forced to yield in Combat i to which I will not chal- " Icnge him, but with Arms alike, and equal advantages. Upon thoft words fuffering bimfclf to be hurried away by the impetudfity of his hu» mour, he was about to call Mitranes to fend him away with a Tiuropet to the Camp of the Frankf-, when the King of Suevia, who was in a perpetual motion, came to the Prince tot: fJiis approbation of the general muftcr which he and Briomer had agreed upon i Varanez believing it would be a means to enliven the league, confented immediately, and notwith- ftanding the eager delirc which he had to fight Fharamond, he promifed to be at the Ren- dfzvouz in the head of all his forces under his command. The King of Suevia had no fooner received that anfwer, but he viiited Gendioch, Godigefilns^ Ardaric and Martian with the fame fuccefs. Then he went to thofe other Princes that had not brought along with them fuch numerous Armies as the King of the H««j-, the King of the Lombards, Aga- ihyrfus, the Prince of the Saxons, and the new Balamir, and many other Captains who were fufficiently conGderable to be admitted into their coniultations. while he thus em- ployed himfclf, Briomer made it his chief bufinefs to confider of a fit perfdn to fend as an Envoy to offer BeVamira to Homriuf, provided he would change his party i he endeavoured to debauch the chief Officers of the Sueviati Army, to give their confent to declare Virido- domar unworthy to fucceed his Father : but as tor the order which they had agreed upon, to give Bellamira the.fame liberty which the other Princeffes hzd,Briomer would by no rtieans meddle with it, whether it were that he looked upon the Princefs of the Franhj as the Sifter of Tharamond , or that he had a natural reludtancy to do her any kindnefs , was beft known ^o himfclf. Therefore that he might rid himlclf of that which' (he eftecmed fo great a trouble , he impowered Chilric, Captain of the King of SuS' via''s Guards, to give the Princefs that freedom which (he was allowed, and gave him like- •wife a commiflion to attend the Emperour of the Romans, efteeming him the moll proper perfonfor that employment. Though it was not poffible for him to go to the Cam.pof the King of the Frj«i^x till fuch timeasihe Mufter was over, not only fojr that he was to fervehisMafltr at fuehatime when his Army 'was to appear in its greateft fplendour, but that being to go along with certain Princes that were xoviV\lFbaramo»d, he had the better opportunity toobfcrve their behaviour, and to take notice of their very words and looks. The next day there was nothing to be heard but the found of a thoufand warlike inftru- ments, varying according to the variety of thofe Nations that were united agsinft the King of the Frankj. In all parts the Officers were to be feen running and riding about* fomc cxercifing the Soldiers, while others took a view of the Arms and Hoifes, others of the Engines of War. They fent to know whether the Princeffes would be pleafcd to fee the Army drawn up in Battalia, but Kofamond, Bellamira and Polyxena abfolutely refufed to f,o, not judging it a delightful objed for them to fee fuch a Mufkr of their Enemies ; Amala- zonlhs, Albifmda, Cleomira and Ble(mda, whofe interefts were little different, return'd tlie fame anfwer ^ and Agiotte would not forfake^the company of thofe moft incomparable per- fons, not fo much out of any engagement that flie had to be of Tbaramond's lide, as out of a meer motion of tendernefs and Generotity. Varanez, Gendioch, Godegefdus and Httmbert were not a little mad at the refufal which they took to be a flight of their Dignity, fo that they forbSre not to complain of it in pub- lick, and took it to be aftrange contempt, though it were no more than they rxpeded. The King of 5«mi« more fevcrely nettled, fent (or Albifwda to his Quarters, and after he had loaded her with all the reproaches that his rage could dicftate to his rcfentment, he commanded her with a (harp aufterity, not to fiir out of an Apartment which he had allot- ted her in his own Lodgings, to revenge himfelf of the pretended provocation that (lie had given him, by depriving her of the company of her illu(\r' >us Friends. On the other lide, he permitted Gondemar and Humbert to vifit her apart,''.'iiakinga fcmblance to then^as if he kept her as the reward of thofe fervices which he expcdsd from them. The news of Albifinda^s new misfortune was no fooner divulged in Co/s^Wf, but the Princeffes wejre extremely griev'd, and being no Icfs afraid of the violent humour of the King of Suevia, they offered to be Spcdatorsof the Mufler, provided they might enjoy the liberty of thtir Friend. The King of 5«fK»(i would yield neither to the one nor the other, obflinately rc- fufingto hearken to the propofitions of Ro/rf^waH^ and BeUainira, rightly judging that the thoughts of thofe Princeffes were not conformable to his intentions. Moreover, btcaufe he believed that fuch a denyal would Hand him in good ftead to purchafe the good v;)!! of the King of the E«/ff r«f /, and the Brother of Condiocb, he went to vifit thofe t v.- o Princes betoig' Book 11. PHAKAMOND. 705 ''cfore he rode forth (o the Army i and doming to Humbert, after the firft complements vrcra parted between them, 5/>, faid he, Jkiiowthe affedion which you have for Albilinda and becaufel would not have her prepnjj'ejfed tn favour ofPharamond'j Brother,^ / thoug^ht it conve- nient to keep her apart from the company of thofe perfunj that maintained Marcomire'j inlerejtt to your prejudice. Is itpoffible, rcplyed the enamoured Humbert, with many maiksof joy in his face, that you ffjould for my fal^e rcfufe to rejiore her to the fair Princejjex that defired her liberty? Tou are not to queflion it^ replyed the King, tnd farther ] intend you jhatl have thofe advantages by my aliance which you never expctied, Tott kjiow that Viridomar has ren-^ dred bimfelf unworthy to fucceed me in the Kincdi>m^ being revolted to the enemy ; Co that as the Huibandof Alh'iCmdi, I intend yox the right of inheritance to my Crown after my deceafe, and to enjoy that Ihrone where Witidomzt Jhould have fate ; that rebeliiouf Son that menaces hit rebeiliouf Sword at hii Fatber''s Breaji. However, not to flatter you^ rcplyed he with a fierce countenance, 1 declare that you are obliged to ufe all your endeavours, not only to revenge me of a Menjier that I abhor, but to free your felf from a Rival who is a continual plague to thofe "territories ofvfhich Idefign to leave you the peaceable pojjefjton. But, Sir^ anfwered the afto- niflicd Humbert, would you have me forget that Viridomar is your Son, and that he is the Bra* tberof " How, replyed the violent King^ interrupting him, do you believe that I can *' look upon a Friend of Fharamond as ray Son v a Lover of Polyxena, a piece of Perfidi- '' oufnefs, that hghts againft his Father, and one that I intend to facrihce to my juft Re* " fentment ? I would not require your aflilknce, if I thought I could prevent you and " meet that Traitor, whom I would cut in a thoufand pieces ; for that indignation that a» *' nimates me, would eafily fupply the weaknefs of my Age. And therefore, never ftudy " for the matter, quickly declare your felf i either renounce my Alliance, or be an Ene« " my to my Enemies, ifes Viridomar is my Enemy, a dangerous Enemy, an irreconcile- " able Enemy . and in a word, an Enemy more odious than Pharamond. . \ cannot think " you arc furprized to hear me thus exprefs my felt ; for, qucftionkfs, you know the " ha,te of Parents turns to an antipathy as implacable as their atfedtion was tender before. Upon thofe words he beheld Humbert with a manifcft open heartedncfs : And to touch the young Prince the mOre deeply to the quick, being yet in love, and full of hope i "Sir '■'■ ftidhe, with a low voice^ does the report ok Firidomar^s Valour fright you into a Renun- " ciation of your pretentions to Albi(inda, which you cannot well prcferve, but by the death " of that Traitor that feeks my life > For he looks upon me as the Oblhcle that croffes his " intentions of marrying the Sitter of Pharamond, and of giving the Princefs, which Ide- "fignfor the King of the Ba'^erns^ to Marcomire. Is it poffible, rep/>ifi!/ Humbert, that " you fliould put fuch an unkind Interpretation upon my words, as to think Humbert guil- '• ty of Cowardice » I am fure you never found me fo : and I will make it evident in a " (hort time, that I am not unworthy thofe Royal promifes which you have made me. " Yes, Sir, I will challenge Viridomar, fince it is your delire, and what nay Love com- * mands me. The King of the Suevians, over- joyed with that Anfwer, told Humbert^ that he nevct queftioned the greatnefs of his Courage. And then, to fix him in the refolution which he had already infpired into him : " Do not think, faid he^ however, that I put you upon a " necellity of liftening to the intereft of your Pallions ; or to the Courage that prompts " you to tight for a Prince, who has the Ible difpotal of Albifmda ; For things of this na- *' ture are to be left at liberty, there being feldom good fuccefs where there is Conftrainf, " Confider therefore what you have to do, that I may know how to deal with Gondemar, " You. know his Valour, you are not ignorant that he ]oves Albifmda i and in regard that " not being Heir to a Crown, as he is in hopes of the Scepter o( Sueviahy the Marriage of " Albifmda, you may well believe he will be glad to accept thofe Offers which I have made " to you. Oh, Sir, rf/)/)iei Humbert, with an extraordinary dijiffrbance in hit Countenance " wherefore (hould you prefer my Rival before me > What ad:ions of mine has created a- " ny fufpicions in you to my prejudice ? Forbear them, I befeech you, replyed he, with a " pajjiomte vehemence, and all the mark/offercenef! in hU lookj i and be atfured that I will " either lofe my life, or be the death of Viridomar^ whom I abhor, becaute you hate him, " and becaufe he loves Marcomire. The King of the Swedes tranfported at thofe laft words : " Sir, faid he, fince I perceive " you have taken fo Generous a refolution,, and fo worthy your pretentions, my bullncfs " muft be to flay the Prince of the Burgundians in Cologne, by giving him feme Employ- " ment, while we attack the franks. For belides the Honour he would gain, had he that " liberty, you may well guefs that he has the fame defign that you have, and that he may *' prevent you, and put me to trouble, when he (hall dtmand of me the Guerdon of thofs V V V V No&le 706 PHJRAMOND. Part XII. " Noble Anions, with which 1 (hould be more glad to gfatifie the Ventures of your Cou- '* rage. The Lover o( Albifmda could not but be fenilble of a double fatisfadlion, to fee that at the fame time that the King of Suevia went about to advance his hopes, he was no kfs zea- lous to ruin Cotidemar's, a formidable Rival i who belldes his Merit and fair Reputation, had the advantage to be of the fame fide with the Bajierus. In fo much, that not being Ma- tter of the joys which he felt : Ab^ Sir, cryed he, boa> apfarent is your gondnefi > Of how large an extent it is! How happy fli all I be ^ if your Intentions have that fucceji rvbifh I haft reafn to promife my felffrom a irndence likje yonrs ! Horv much pall I be obliged to your Made- fy to the m gaff)^ though in fatisfadion of your revenge upon Viridomar, / fjould lefe that life rehich you labour to render fo fortunate. For Heaven's fake, reply cd the Sttevian King, with an appearing Generofity, let us not lofe in Complements the time ivhich rre may more profitably employ ■, but permit me to takg my leave^ to the end I may go and perfivade « had already received his difpatches and was preparing to be gone, as he did accordingly the next day with the King of tlieiJ«ax, and tliole other Piin. ces which were refolved to vifit FWa?M« Ws Camp. ■!> ;. Pharamond had no fooner intelligence of the vifit which was intended him, but he refol- Ved to ride forth to meet the illuftrious company. However it was but ju/l that Iheodo- linda, the King of the Ciw^riMx, and the Prince of the ^i/r^o//jj (hould prevent him and be a little before him in their obfervanceof the King of the Huns, wherein they wcrefo di- ligent that they met him iuft in the mid way between the two Armies, and in his cotr,pany the famous Martian, Jgelmond, the King of the Sarmatians, the Prince of the Saxens and T^alamif. ~ "iheohald left Wallia clofe by 'iheodalinia^ s Chariot, that he might have the fatisfadion of giving his hand to that fair PrincefS, and making hafte firfi of all toward that great King whom he had always looked upon as his Father, he accofted him with fo much joy and re- fped, as if he had been his real Father. The King of the Huns immediately threw hi* Arms about his neck, he embraced him with a tendernefs unimaginable, he called him a hundred times his dear Son, not being able to fay any more. And in a word he cxprcffcd by his tears and his Careffes, much more than he could have done by the moft eloquent of word;. bacilru v Afterwards he prefented Balamir to hiro, and in regard It was his defire that the two princes (hould ufe all the freedom that might be between thcmfelves,they embraced with all thofe marks of efteem which they had already one for another. They were about alfo to have made mutual proteftations of an inviolable friendfliip, when they were interrupted by 'Ibfodelinda, v^ho impatiently hailed to the extended Arms of a father, whom fhe had not feen in (b long a time before. The King of the Hunj received that fair Princefs with a fatis- fadion fo extraordiuary, that it foon appeared in his looks notwithftandingall the care that he took to conceal fome part of it. And whereas he found that his incomparable daughter had acquired at KofWf fomething of an air which I cannot exprefs, thatflie had not to that degree of perfedion itAlha Julia, he had prolonged thepleafure which he took in behold- ing and carelling her, but that he was willing to give way to Balamir, to fee and difcourfe Vith; his Sifter. Thereupon Balamir Audlbeadolinda accofted each other, and were both overjoyed mutually to behold in each other thofe perfedions, above the defcriptions which feme had already made. But while they are thus awakening in the bottom of their hearts,an affcdion which a long ignorance had luU'd a fleep, the King their father gave to IFaliia whom ThetdoUnda had pre- knt«d tohim, all that he could imagine due to his quality, his merit, and the fcr vices which he had payed the Princefs his Daughter, and expreffed himfelf to him in that obliging man- ner that it was eatily to be difcern'd, that he was more inclinable to conlider tlie virtues of thiE Viftgotb Piieee, than to difrefped him as one that had not a Crown to offer his daugh- ter. On the other fide, f Pallia teltified to the Father of his Pnincefs, all the ackrfowledg- ment he was capable to return : At what time, AgelmoJid, Martian^ the King of the 5«r- matiitns ix\^ thePrince of the Saxons came forward, not deeming it fc convenient before, Agathyrfm, Aldemar, Martian and Agelmond were furprifed at the beauty of the Princefs of thei^fawx, though they lived in a City where they every day beheld the Kofamonds, the BeU iamitas and the Folixenat, that had filled the worJd with the loud report of their charmsi But if they belield 'ibeedolinda with admiration, ftie could not chufe but caft a moft ftedfaft k)ok upon thena, as much accuftomcd as (he was: to behold in P/'^mw9««^'s Army the moft lofty Airs, and the goodlieft prefences of the moft accompliflicd pcrfons living. » r. .At length appeared Tharammd himfelf,. and with- him Conjiantine^ Jhraftmoad, '^dxander^ Tj/lenrveus and Genebaud, while Conilance, Vindomat;, Marcomir^ and Aftabure (Vayed behind, as well to accompany Honerns as to take care of the Princcffes and the Army. What can I' iay more, bat that all obliging exprellions were made ufe of, and that there appeafed in fhs countenance and looks of Pharamond, an air that attraded the eyeSSnd furpriic of all that beheld him. ,, : * . As for the King of the Cimhrians^ fo far was 4ie from «app6aifirig lefs amiablij. ttiaC, being the delight of all the Earth under the name of Bala'mir^ • itirtiight be thert faid thkf'mcti wcieoverjoycd lo fee the goodly air of his couhtenanceqr:i ■ , In a word, all thele illuftrious perfons beheld and difcoavftd'i one with anolhtr with an* extra- Book II. THAKAMOND. 709 extraordinary cfjcem j and the King of tlic tlmsiX Icngtfi addrefUng !iimft;f to rlic King of the Frankj, made cxcufcs for all his friends, in that they were miftJrtunatcTy engagc4 on his Rival's fide, and then continuing his fpeech, " Sir, /i»tda are in your Army, and the Princefs of *' the Lombards and Balatnir at Cologne^ I can never be able long to endure;fuch a diftradi- " on of my affehich wc are re- folvedto ajfail. I confefs alfo that my perplexities redouble, when I remember that Agflmond and h'n illnjirioiis Friends have taken Vara'nezV part, yet 1 recover my hopes again rvhen I confider ihat nothing ought to be impo^ible to Lovers^ thatfrgh for the liberty of thofe they hve, Befides 710 THARAMOND, Part XIL you need Hot (jieeflion but that we have the prayers of many fjir Ladles for our prof^erlty \ and you may wellgueji^ that fuch an advantage will not permit m to queliion the fucceji of our enter- prifes. while they were thus difcourfing^ Martian and Jhrafmond withdrew themfelves from the company fofoon as they could with conveniency do it, and having embraced each o- cher with all the tertimoniesof kindneiTes which a long continued friendrtiip could ,infpire, they fell into a difcourfe which they knew not how to get out of, in regard it was altoge- ther of their Princefles, Athenais and Pulcheria. Martian inform'd the Prince of the Van" dais all that he had heard from the Court of 7heoeiofm^ telling him withal that he expedt- ed every day from thence tydings more than ordinary, which he would impart to him fo foon as they came. After that they returned to their company, and entred all together in-> to Tharamond's Czmp, where they were received at their tirfi approach by Marcomire and Viridomar. So foon as the Princes were alighted, they went up to the Cartle with Iheaf dolindjy who was led by the King of the Sarmatiansy and went to the Queen of the Vifi' gotbs Apartment, where they found the Queen of Albion, the Princefs of the Nemetiant^ the Empctcur of the Kemans, the famous Conflance aad the vilmn Jrtabure. The dif- courfe which they began was lofty, and conformable to the quality of thofe illufirious p'er* foDS, but it was loon interrupted by a Collation which the King of the Frank/ gave themj the magnificence whereof was admired by all the Court, which being ended, they dif- coutfcd a while before they retired, and when they came to talk of the Enemies Forces^ Ibaramond pxovniCed to (he^ him the next day a fullmuncr of thofe Baictaliuns that vvere to fight for the liberty of the Princefles. The End of the Second Book of the Twelfth andkft Part PHARAMOND. Book IIL 7F.1 -Xi-:.,'. iTi '.ri- . I /''i^ PHARAMOND. Book III. > \ ^t | ■ l i ^■|■^'^1 f , i>l ; i ii T , Haramond, "Theobald^ Viridomar, WaHia^ "Thrafyt^d ini M^rcomire, with all the military Ceremonies ufual in fo igreat a CatlBjEntertainecl the Kings of the Hxnf and Lombards, Agathyrfw, the Prince otrhc 5<7a:o«/, Martian an6 Bala<^ mtr,3t\d having acquitted themfelves with an Unwonted Gracc,they retired feve- ly to the particular Quarters which were affign'd each. After that, the King of the Cimbrians and the Suevian Prince went to vifit the King of the Franh where they met the enamoured Sunmn^ whofe fancy being wholly taken up with the Idea of ArHalazontha, he chofe rather to ftay with the King his Brother, where he might bt free to contemplate upon the Beauties that had charm'd him, than to appear in an afTcmbly ■where number would but deprive him of thofc pleafures which are tafted in folitude. Im- mediately he found himfelf environed with thofc Lovers whofe PrinceiTes he had been to wait upon s and though Vharamond, "tbeobald and Viridemar hzd a mutual refpcd} for each other, they could not avoid interrupting the contemplative Prince more than oner, while they enquired after Rofainond^ Bellamira and Folixena, Sunnon fatisfied them all three with all the fpeed that might be : he delivered to the Kings of the Cimbrians and Franks the an- fwers which he had brought from Rofamond. Then while he turn'd toward Viridomar to fpcik o( AlbifindaiTidPolixena, "Theobald oipei\cd the Letter which he received, and read therein the following coJitents. The Trincefs Rofamond to the King of the Cimbrians. " VEs, Sir, 'tis with more than an ordinary joy that I refign the Sce^ttt oi Bohemia,£xRct '' by that lofs I gain a treafure to be preferred before the Empire of the earth : but my *'joys abound, when upon the confideration of Heaven's Bounty, I find Balamir to be •■•' Theobald and that Txofamond is the Sifter of a Prince whom fhe had chofen for a Brg- '^' ther from among all the men in the world. I am extremely impatient to fee you that I *' may beabletoteftifie whati write: but, Sir, let not the knowledge of this defire of mine " put you upon any precipitate aftioni but on the contrary, be careful of your own pre-r "iervationupon all occalions, where your honour will difpenfe with expofing yourfclf to V danger. Your fair Princefs commands you, and Kofamoni conjures you with all her *' might. " I have fent aft anfwcr to the King of the Frankj, and fuch a one as I believe vriJI give *' you no caufe to complain. Thereby you fee, Sir, that I have not failed to acknowledge ** you for my Soveraign, and exadiy to obey your commands. ihiobaU 712 -THAKAMOND. Part XII. "Theohald had no fooner read thofe words, but be gave his Letter to PharamoMd, tliough the paffionate Prince had no power to look upon it till fomc minutes after : for he had employment enough to perufeover and over again the Letter which he had received hina^ Iclf from his fair Princefs, after he had kifled it a thoufand times. For he had now no far* thcr caufe to complain of K.o/if»o«i, in regard, that fince the change that had befallen the Fortune of Balamir, (he had made no fcruple to remit her iormer (e verity i and had tefti^ fied tothemoft Uluftrious of Tier Lovers, the marks of her Eftcem and Acknowledgment, in a Letter containing tbefe obliging word?. The Prince^ of the Cimbrianr to the King of the FranJ^. I Have writ you theft lines hy the Command of the King my "Brother •, Itit^ Sir, yoK are mi forbid to believe any othermfe, but that J obey without relndancy. I tpill go a little further^ aHdeenfefi^ that bow tranfcendent foevermy joys, might he for the difcovery of Theohild, they could not at the fame time hinder me from remembring my obligations to the King of the Franks. Jou have been fo far from deprimng me of a Brother^ that you have delivered me of an Enemy, And perhaps it has not been f^^^ <* trouble to me to have had fo little cauCe to complain of your Valour^ having fo much rlifmt to commenttyeur Generofity. IbU is as much as w permitted me to difcover you of my thoughts^ ftnce the laji Revnlution happined. And as fur xvhat con- cerns the prayers which you tell me 1 (hould make for your preff^eriiy, you may very well believe^ that the greateft Jhare of my good wifhes (hall be for the good fucce^ of a Prince, who expofes hi4 life for the interefts of Theobald, and the liberty e/Rofamond, while the enamoured Fharamond was bufied in fo pkafing an employment, "theobald enquired after Hunnimonda ; and Sumton gave him a full account, as far as he knew. More than that y Sir, added he, 1 think^it my duty to inform you, that the Captain of the King of Siicvh's Guards it in the Camp^ and hif hufmefl is to Honoxius. Flonorius J* gfwwo/tf anfwe- ted Theobald: But, continued he, with fome diflurbance, inreg^ardhe H a lover of my di- vine Bellamira, it behoves me to look, "bout me ; And therefore, Itbinb^ »' will not be amifl tovi- fit a refigniug Kival ; to the end, that by my prejence I may fortifre a Vertue, whereof he hat given me fuch obliging markj. He went his ways without faying a word more: and he was no fooner got to the Emperor of the Roman's Qaarters, but the King of the Frankj, the Prince of Suevia, and Marcian, who followed them prefcntly after, informed him ve- sy earnefily of whatever concerned their Princefles. Honorius tccci\cd T^beobald viiihiW civiVity , though with a Countenance, wherein it v/as no difficult thing to difcover both trouble and fadnefs : Anijl after he had done him thofe Honours which were due to his Rank and Merit, he turned toward a certain Stranger then in the Room \ and addrcffing his fpeech to him, Gilric, faid he, we may hold on our difcourfe before a Prince, to whom 1 am too much beholding, to conceal from him any thing that concerns the incomparable Bellamira. ihtn tell the King your Majier, that I am very unhappy to frnd, that fo divine a Prince^ will not vouch fafe me her affeSion, unlefi I render my felf yet more mi- ferable, by drawing her hatred upon me ; which lmu[\ certainly do, ffiould I accept the propnji* tioH which you have made me. And therefore, you may well thinks, that 1 fhaH never change the ^^de that I have taken. But if you couid procure me the fight of Bellamira, how far frjouldl be indebted to your kjndnefi ; or what is there that you may not expeU from the acknowledgment «/Honorius ? Ah Gilric, added the inamoured T\\tohi\d, do w the favour, I beCeech yau^ to let us fee our Princefi. I makf no quejiion, fadly replyed the Emperor, addrefling his fpeech to the King of the Cimbrians, but that we would bothdefire the fame thing, and with the fame fiaffion ■■, but alas ! it it with different hopes. Inftead of proceeding farther, he i^ghed > and the generous T'^m^jW, being touched with his grief, took his leave of the Emperor ; fearing to augment the forrows of an uc fortunate Rival by his prefence, while he looked upon him as the Caufe of his misfortunes. However, Gilric t^zvcHonorius to underftand, that there vvas no pollibiHty for him to fee Bellamira, but upon the conditions which he had propounded ; and fo quitted his prefence, perceiving the diflurbances that turmoiled his foul to increafe more and more. Neverthe- lefs, heputacoaftraintupon himleU to be at the Mulleri but it was rather out of ace ni- plaifarc? Book III. ? H A R A M N D. iii^ ^\a\hx\ct xo ThAxamoni, whohad reqncflcd hiscompany, than cmt of any cufioPty (0*36- hold SiKWsof that nature, how gay and pompous (oever tlicy were. And indeed, theft rever was any (ight fo Ihtcly, fo magnificent, or foformidablc, as the Battalions of thaC vaft Army i being drawn up in a wide Plain, which had fcparated the two Armies fotre days before. . Qyjtc through the whole Body there was to be fccn fuclv a fair and furprizing diverdty of Arms, Entigns, Standards, and military Habiliments i fuch variety of war- like Inllruments, fuch (rightful Woods of Pikes and javelins offered themfeives to vicvVi and yet their terrour afforded a delightful and pleating profped. But when the confufion' infeparablc from fuch great Bodies, had given way to the order wherein the Officers had ranged the whole Army, the illuftrious Fharamond appeared with an afpecft fo tierce aiidr charming, that heattrafted the eyes and hearts of all that namcrous Mulkr, Never wajJ any thing fo magnificent as the Coat and Buckler cf that Prince i nor were the pretiou? Stones that glittered every where fo remarkable, as wie workmanfliip that fecm'd to excel the materials in value. Upon his head he wore a light Headpiece, covered over with a plume that yielded to the breathings of a gentle wind, and was fattened with a knot of large Diamonds in tiie fore part of the Morrion. His Horfcs of the right MaMritanian breed , was of an //<»6f//ho will itot only be able tg hold out, till they be fuccoured by the falliei from the lotf^^ hut from the body of the Army whenever it f:.^V he requisite, Tharamond having inform'd him^lf in fome other Tittle circurnflances, fent for a Bur^uH- dian that Genebattd had taken, who being examined made anfwer, that there was not a bcC- tcr Army in the world, than that which had undertaken to defend Cologne. It conftflfof fix great bodies, continued he, under thee ommand of the Prince of Per f\3, M^tchn, the King of the Burgundians, the King of the Herules, Ardtric rf«^ Humbert. Btit befides the confi- dence they have in thefe Captains, they promife themfelves a great ajjifiance firom the four Prince^ that take part rvitb the Pcrlian Prince, meaning the King of the Sarmatians, the King of ths Lombards, the Prince of the Saxons and the valiant Balamir. For as for the King of the Huns it if reported that he »j;7/(?jy;« Cologne, onpurpefe to mollife the humour of the King of SaeviSf upon all oicafwMS wherein he might he tirged to ads of violence. After he had declared fome few other circumftances the Stranger waS difmi.Tei, ancT Conjiance, the Kings of the Britaiiis and Tongres, with many other Princes and Officers' came to confult with the King of the Franks, about the execution of their great dcfign in' fiand. The general opinion was, that they (hould forthwith malte a Bridge of Boats ta pafs fome part of the Army beyond the Khine, into the Country .of the TJbians, fo to be-, girt Agrippina in on every fide^ Thereupon Flavian and Vinox were-ordcrcJ to march to, Segodunttm^ there to buiM Ve^elf with allthe fpeed that might be, to h<: brdught into the. X X X X ?. Khsn& ']\6 PHJRAMOND. Part XIJ. %hi>te through the mouth of the Segtia. They concluded alfo to ftorm thetwo Forts that were kept by Gilric and Kicohald^ notwithftanding all the fuccours that could come out of JgfippitiJ, or from the Camp. By fach a vigorous adion the Princes thought they might win a reputa'ion to their party i and that which flattered their impatience was, that b^ fuchan Attack they hoped to draw out the Body of the Enemy, and to fight him out of his Entrenchments \ and fo by putting it to the decifion of a Battel, they fliould either fct their Princeffesat liberty, or in the Conflidi meet with the end of their lives and miferres, both together. Thereupon, it being the King of the Frankj turn to command next morning, "telamt and Valerius marched by his order towards the Bridge of Cologne. They had with them four thoufand Foot : for whofe relief followed thrafimund 3t\d Sunmn, with ten thoufand Horfe. Thofe two Princes had requeued that Employment, forreafons grounded upon Love and Friendlhip : For the Brother of Gonderk chofe rather to take the Road for Agrip. fintt, than to encounter an Army where he might meet Martian •■, and the paifionate Sxn- mn took pleafure in going either to tight or die near a City, where the fair Queen of the TuringieMS was immur'd. T'heobald and Conftance prepared to follow, with the two Bodies under their Command, the ten thoufand Horfe, led by Sumion and 'Thrafimund ; while fharamond, Viridomar^ Coni^anfine and "Taxander marched m good order toward the Camp of the Enemy. In the mean time, 'Idanor and Valerius being far advanced before, and difcovcred by the Out-Guards of the Sueviant, were fuddenly charged by a Party that madea moft vigorous Sally, to keep them off from the Forts. But thofe two valiant Pcr- fonages made fo good ule of what they had learned under the famous Confiance, and the Ring of thy Cimbrians^ that after a (tout refiftance, and confiderable lofs on both fides, Shey repaired Gilric znd Kicebald^ and had carried the Forts, had they not been charged on afuddain by the Garrifon of Cologne ■, while on the other fide, Balamir and Aldemar ad« vanced againft "thrafrniund and Sunnon at the head of many thick Squadrons, followed by Arderic and Godegefile, who led the two Bodies of the Armies under their Commands. The valiant Ambiomer, and the famous Lover oi Melafmtha, thundred in upon Ihrafimund, and the Brother of the King of the Franks : but they were encountered with fo terrible an impetuofity,ifthat their four Lances flew into a thoufand pieces > and the fliock of the four Warrriers was made with that violence, which I believe few of the flouteft among men were able to have endured. After that they drew their dreaded Swords, incenfed at a re- fiftance with which they were not accuftomed to meet : and they were about to have con» ginned a Combat, the confequences whereof would have proved very fatal, but that the Troops that they conduded v;ith a Hery impatience charged each other, and parted their Captains, whatever endeavours they made to meet again. So that being all four conftrain- eA to fct upon Enemies lefs worthy of their Valour, Alder.ar and Ambiomer poured in a- mong the Gert, whom they threw to the ground, at the fame time that Jhrafunund and Sunmn having beaten Kicebald ^nd Gil- ric, to the Earth, made a Squadron of the Suevians and Herules give way, v.'ho had fought till then with muchobftinacy. They chafed them with fo much heat, that not being able to moderate their Courages, they entred the very City it felf. Briomer came running to the Conflid, and foamed for madnefs to fee fo much ill fuccefs. He caufed the Gates to be fliut where the two Vidors were entred, which he intended to have facrificed to his Cruel- ty ; And commanding them to be environed on every fide, 'Thrafmund and Snnnon found themfelves in the midll of a difmal (howr of Darts and Ravelins. But perceiving the dan- ger wherein they were engaged, they minded lefs the prefervation of their lives, than to tight for the intereft of their Princcfles, by weakening the Forces of their Opprefibrs. Thereupon they flew like two enraged Lions upon the Soldiers that Briomer encouraged to their deftrudion, and charged them withfo much fury and violence, that every blow beat down an Enemy to the ground, fo that they flood almoft furrounded with a Ram- part of dead bodies, v/hlch, though it could not abfolutely defend them, yet the terrour of their Spedack rendred them more formidable than they had been before. But in re- gard they had received already many wounds, and that they were in the midfl of an ubt exhauftible deluge of adverfaties, without any likelihood of being relieved, their valour muft of neceffity have been overpowered by number, had not the King of the Huns and the Prince of the BurgHndinns, efpying t'leir diftrefs, commanded off the multitude which Br/o/Mfr had got together, rcprefcnting to the violent CiwirijK, that it was for his intereft to preferve two fuch Captains that could not but be very confiderable in their own party. With that they put ihrafimond and Sunnon into the hands of fome of their Officers, with ipecial order to take care of their perfons, and then rode about to vifit other parts of the City, Book III. FHARAMONB, )vj City, where their ptcfcncc was ncceflTary for its defence, or to fuccour the clinTcfTcd.- In the mean tiiiiC, /^wJ/^wwfr and /^/is^fmjr [laviiig brolicn in among the Cavalry v/hich Jbraftmdftd and Smmon had commanded, were of a fudd^n- furroundcd by Fharanwnd^ while C()>»/i««cf :ir\d Theobald^ hating taken the two Forts, were come to blows with Arda- ric indGodegefile •, and Martian and Viridomar liaving atracqucd one another, gave a thoy- fand proofs of that confpicuoiis valour which had purchaled them fo high a renov/n. In another Qusrtcr CaHlhntiite and Gondioch^ 'laxjuder and H«w/;fr/ oppofcd each other, and met with that licat and impctuofity that the Combat portended a very fata! event : ncvcr^ thelefs, thofe famous Warrioiirs were parted more than once, while the force of their owr. Troops carried them like a dream, one one way, one another, notwithl\anding all thcit endeavours to have had a fecond encounter : fo that they were conftraincd to turn tiicir fur" againft meaner Foes, and to offer up lives Icfs conliderable to their revenge, than they had affailed at the beginning of the Battel. It happened alfo that the grat Fharemond and the fiery Viranez, after they had broken their Lances, and made ufc of their Swords, could not fully accomplilTi tlicir purpofes, being feparatcd by their own Squadrons, v;ho, encouraged by their example, maintained the Fight with an extraordinary vigour. How- ever the vidtory enclined to Pharamond^ who was only flightly wounded, whereas the Perfjan Prince had received a great cut of a Sword that made him kiis the pommel of his Saddle. The haughty Varanez enraged at the fight of his blood, threw himfelf into a Body of the Frankj with fuch a violence as triuinphed fcon overall the reliliance that was made againllhim : and the valiant Kings of the Strmsijans and Lombards being joyned >vith him, made way through all oppolition, and having forced \.]\c .Skambres to give ground, they got as far as the ten thoufand Marfyans that were in the rere of the Army : ^rtjt«rf with his Refcrve, IFallia vjkh his Vi[igoths^ and Marcomire with a reinforcement of Praitkj hafted to the relief of thofe Troops which Agathyrfus and /fgi'/wowJ purlued s then began a Combat between thofe great Heroes fo bloody, and fo obftinate, that the fuc- cefs was very doubtt'ul : the dreadful Fharamond^ after he had overrun like a difmal torrent theGeeekf, Ihraciatts zni Gepides^ and was got as far as the Enemies Line, was advertifed of the progrefs of the Pfr(rj»« Prince, which made him turn to the alliftance of thoie that ftood inneed of hisaid. His preftnce immediately changed the face of tlic Combat, for Fjrjwfz's Troops being forced to retire, wes'e in a (hort time after abiolutely routed: So. that the Viincc Agathyrfus and AgdmondUzA no other thoughts butof joyning together and dying honourably. The King of the Sarmatiant took care only to defend the Prince of Ptrfia, and Agelmond laboured only to fave Agathyrftsf, when Fharamond zxuv'w^ and knowing who they were, caufed the Soldiers that environed them to retire, and thus bcfpajie thcin : Valiant Princtf^ faid he, live invincible^ and do not believe that among perfuns that kfiotvhotvto reverence vir- tKff, your lives (Ijollbe expofed to fink under the inequality of multitude. The three illuihious Iriends moved at fo magnanimous an adtion, and Faranez himfelf perceiving a certain mo- deration in his natural hercenefs, as he began to feel a remifsnefs alio in the.vioienceof love, undertook to fpeak, and addrcfting himfelf to the King of the Frankj, Pharamond, faid. he, / mujl acknowledge that thy generosity furpa(fes mine, and that Varanez mtiil at length yield thee that tvhich he had refolvedto dilute with thee to the laji drop of hU blood. . He had no foon- cr expreffed himfelf in that manner, but the Kings of the Sarmatiant and Lombards tefti« fled their acknowledgment to Pharamond, while Marcomire, TFallia, and Ariabure, cams up time enough to be witneffes of what had pafled. But now in regard that Night grew on, and that the two Armies were about to retreat, before the Frankj could make ufe of all thofe advantages which they had right to claim, Tbaramond was willing that Varanez, Agathyrfus and Agelmond ihould return to their Camp^, which they did accordingly after they had promifed to return to him again, if they could adl advantageoully for him, cither in Cologne or among the confederate forces. They were no fooner arrived within their ovvn entrenchments, but the King of the^jr- matians overjoyed, to fee the change that had happened in the heart of Varanez, would notlofe the lealt monaent of time, in fceking to perfwade him abfolutely from (laying iw Germany, and becaufe he had moll powerful arguments for his return to Perf^a, he made choice of that opportunity, tQ infule into him a defire of departing into his own domini- ons, repeating to him the generotity of the King of the Frankj, and Kofamtnffi engagement: to him. Afterwards having awakened his ambition, he gave him to underftand that the Ciown of Perfia was but in a tottering condition, if he did not go himfslf to fettle it upon the head of 7/y/gciff J-. Varenez more alarm'd at that revys than he had been fcTie days befose, was very ettriou*. 19 7i8 FHARAMOND. Fart XII, to know what had happened m the Court of T»fepolu during his abfence, and requefied th^ King of the Sarmatians to make him a Relation, to which he readily contented lo foon as they had fearched their wounds and had taken a little reft. Thereupon the two Princes leav- ing it to others to inform them of the condition of the tvf o Atmies after fo lignal a battel, retired into a Clofet, giving order not to be interrupted. And then the King of the Sar- matians addreffing his fpeech to the Ttr^ian Prince, thus began. The Hiftory of the King of the Sarmatians. • I Do net believe Sir, that ybu exptSt a long recital of my Adventures, for befides that it is not for me to enlarge upon the particulars of my life,l fee you fo taken up with thofc paffions wherewith your mind is agitated, that I will only infift upon thofe clrcumftan- ces which may be moft inducing, to make you determine beft for your advantage. I will only tell you then, that I was about fcventeen years of Age, when the King of the Hunt invaded the dominions of the King my Father, while on the other fide upon the banks of the great River Kba, which are the bounds between us and Scythia, the Terierbej and the Sapotrenes endeavoured to free themfelves from our Yoke, and made ufe of ah oppottu- nity favourable to the defign, which they had premeditated fo long before. Thereupon they openly revolted, and having either flain or expell'd their Governour% they gave the chief employments to thofe of the Rebels, who had been moft forward at the beginning of the fedition. At fuch a troublefome conjundure, the King of the Sarmaii' ans determined to march againft the Huhs^ as being the more formidable Enemy by the con* queft of whom he fliould reap moft honour. Whereupon, I being able to bear Arms, and unwilling to lye idle in the City when all the Court was gone to the war, the King my Fa- ther to fatisfie a defire which he could not well difapproVe, fent me toward the Kha with a Lieutenant General, whofe experience was well known and to whom he recommended me, as a trufl that was infinitely dear to him. Nor had I any reafon, Sir, to complain of fortune in my firft apprenticefhip in war, foi' after fome flight skirmifhcs I gave the enemy a general Battel, wherein I obtained a fignal vidlory, and reduced the Rebels to their obedience, though it be very true that I received i very confiderable recruit from Adamarfes King of the Scythians, who was our confederate and had cfpoufed the Sifter of the King my Father. Syrdenia^ (oi that was the Princefs's siame, was more than ordinarily tender of the concerns of her family : S'o that fhe receiv- ed me with the affedion of a Mother, when I came to IQ'edon to feturn thanks to the King her Husband. While I was at xht Coml oi Adamarfes, I was advertifcd tliat the King your Father was railing forces in all parts, with an intention to invade the Scythians^ and to retake from them the Province of the 5ffg:owledgmeiitt that are due to him ? It mttj} be fo my dear Megalafes, reply cd I, fur if J obtain not that which I Jefire yon to grant ^ you tviUdif- eblige me more fenfbly than you can thinks to do me kjndnejfej inbeflowing honours u^on me^ which puill only ferve to perplex and entangle my defigns : /«^f r me therefore to live at my own freedom I conjure you : if you rvilibe fo kind to me, I may fiay a ivbile in Pcrfia, otherwife I mu(i be gone again prcfenily, to feek^ out other Countries where I may be at liberty to live at t think^moji convenient for me. And therefore if you depre to detain me here, you muji only treat me as a certain Knight called Phradatcs, tbat w come to fee the moji floitrijhing Kingdom in ths world. , At length. Sir, I over-pcrfwaded Megalafes in fuch a manner, that he confented to my requeft : fq^that it was no difficult thing for me to conceal my fclf under the name of Fhra, dates. For Gobrias, who knew me as well, not being able to overtake cither the Army, or the King, was retired to a Houfc of his own, fome feven or eight miles diftant from TerfepoOt. Jfdigeiies zivznctd with fome part of his Houfliold as far as Marafum, which, as yod know, is a fair and great City upon the Frontiers of the Rebels Country which he was go- ing to fubdue : but in regard I was not willing they (hould prefent me to that Prince, till I had done him fome confidcrable fervice, I went and offered my fclf: and I was fo fortunate ip the firft Battel, that the principal among the Pfr/r!»«j- perfwaded the King that he owed the advantages which his Army had obtaincd,to me. Kef aces alfo confcffed that I had dif- cngaged him from his Enemies, and that I had flain the General of the Varthians. He would alfo have made me a very conliderable prefent i but Phradates, being A gat hyr fas, lud, no need of his gifts. The fame day they brought me a Sword from the King, the Hik whereof was enriched with precious Stones of a great value, which I accepted with that: return of thanks that it became me. But I could not forbear to give the Officer of JfdU gf^ett a Diamond, of which the Perftans fo well knew the value, that they were furprifed at. fny liberality : fo that the King imagining that a perfon who ufedthat kind of prodigalities^ could not be of a mean extradion, was not contented to beftow extraordinary CarelTes up^. on me, but he gave me honours little ditferent fromthofe which I might have expedled,had. my real condition been known. Thereupon he utged me feveral times to difcover my felt' iriore precifely than I had done before ; fo that not having the power to fpeak againft my, own thoughts i nor yet to declare that I was that ^^jf^/r/wf to whom he thought himfelf" beholding, I befought him only to believe that I had fuflicicnt caufc to conceal my name,. in regard I was to travel into Countries far remote from Perfiai But, interrupted Ifdige^ (ies, ii there no tvay to make our Court the bounds of your travels ? and to give yote that content that you (hall have no caufe to rvijh your ftlf in that Country which you quitted for the fake of ours ? 1 k»oi» 'tif not wealth that will Jiay yost with us. But if the lujlre of fome great em-, ployment can move you, and that you have Hdt a heart altogether infenfible, I will find iH thy Court, and that of the Prince^, wherewith to give you doubie falUfaSion. ; As it was impollible for me to oblige my felf to his fcrvice, he was furprifed at pny refu"j fals hovv refpeSfuUy foever I might behave my felf, fo that he was cxtrenfiely perplexed oo'^ Y y y 1^ ' o» y22 PHARAMOND. Part XII. of the defire he had to detain me in his Kingdome. Nor was it any more than he tefiified upon an opportunity, that prefented it felf a little while a,fter : For befides that he gave mc the government of a moft confiderable City, and the Country under its jiirisdiith him in fuch manner, that he may not repent him of having expos''d his life for your fervice. And if there be in this accompli(hed Court, (purfued he, cafting his eyes upon the fair Ladies that accompanied the Princefs) ere a lovely perfon rvhofe charms are able to retain Phradates among us, Ijhouldbe mere beholding to her for fuch a mhle pur chafe , than to any of my Captains that fhonld add a large Province to vty Dominions. 7/H/gf/ff/hadnofooner made an end of fpeaking, but that taking Kf/i»ce/ along with him, and all thofe, other Perfians that attended him, he left me alone with the divine Artaxira. But there I ftayed, not having either the power to behold her, fo much did the luftre of her beauty dazle mc, nor confidence to fpeak, my Soul was fo furprifed with joy, love, and admiration. The Princefs was not a little at a ftand, when (he perceived thofe changes which fhe ob- ferved in my countenance, and not believing that I was one of thofe as (lie confefTcd after- wards, that was to be put out of countenance by the fplendour of the Court, fhe thought that what the Kinghad fpoken in ray commendation, had caft me into that confufion : Info- itiuch that beginning to fpeak in a moft obliging manner, " For ought I iee, generous Thra- " dates, faid fhe, you are lefs willing to hear the praifes which have been beftowed upon you, *' than you were forward to perform thofe noble adions that have gain'd your applaufe. But "that modefty is fo far from impofing filence upon us, that it affords us new matter of " difcourfe. To thofe words I could not difpenfe with an anfwer, but having recovered my felf, *' Great Princefs, anfweredl tvitb a rejpedful Air, though it were true that the little I have "done for the Yerpans, had not altogether been for their difadvantage, lOiould be themofi "prefumptuous perfon in the world, to think I deferved the recompence I have received. " But Madam, ( added 1 trait^orted rvith that boldnefs which growing love in^ires) it may be *' one day I may render my (elf lefs unworthy. For I perceive thatif Imtet with moreop- " portunities to ferve the great King of Perfia, my ze^l will carry me fo far that he fhall *'have no reafon to repent him of the favours he has done me. We continued this difcourfe fo much to the joy of the ever happy Vhradates, that I could not part from the Princefs but with an inward delight, with which the heart never faili to be moved, when at the beginning of love it forefees not the obftaclcs that may crofs its padions. Book III. PHAKAMOND. 725 No fooncr was 1 retired into my Cnamber, but I made a refledion upon the condition of my fortune, and upon all that the Princcfs of the Scythians and I had dilcourfcd together, before I left Jjfedon: So that having found a pleafing concurrency between the ^ilcourfcs which I had had in Scythia^ and the adventures which had befallen me in Per(ia^ I rcfolvea to fend Sydemirij an account thereof, which I did in the following Lines, with an Air con- formable to the gayety of my humour at that time. Trince Agathyr&s to the Princefs Sydemiris. i ''A T length Madam, I havefeen the divine Aitzxin, and 1 mufl confe^ I m foonerptp, Itci XjL that I pajfionately loved : So that you are mt at all deceived in your coHJeClures, and for my fart I have given you an accomp thereof, according to mypromife. But Madam, to be fmnUual in *]1 things to mytvord, 1 have a defign in my head in reference to VaidincT, that I am fure will take according to your rvifhes. It rviU cnjl that Prince his freedom, and therefore you mttft f^tre- ftife me your afi^lance in an enterprife, which J am about to proceed in. Confider that it mleft concerns the honour of your charms, than the intereli of my paffion. For if I may (land in need of ihe proteUioH of Varanez, the heart offo ihjhioits a Prince cannot be a Conquefi ttnrvorthy of the tnoji incomparable Sydemiris. Thus Sir, I wrote to the Princefs of the Scythians, in the mean time! continued my v{- lits to the Terfian Princefs, and that with fo much diligence that the zeal which I had for her concerns was foon perceived. It was obferved that I particularly applyed my felf to at- tend her, and that when I either fpoke or aded for her intcrefl, I did it with that vehement eagernefs which was eafily remarkable. On the other fide, the Princefs being willing to treat favourably a perfon who was recommended to her by the King her Father, openly (hewed an eftecm for Phradates, which (he had never teftified for any perfon before. After that, finditig infenfibly both in my converfation, and the little fervices which I was always ready to render her, fomething that no way d'ifpleafed her, flic accuftomed her felf in hes fpeech and converfe with me, tp ufe a confidence which altogether charm'd me. She for~ . bore not to tell me how much (ht was perpkx'd with the paffion of Refaces^ and believing that I fliar'd in every thing that concern'd her,(he took it not amifs, but innocently afford- ed me new teftimonies of her good will. Thus tranfpotted with a joy which Icould not moderate, I was about a hundred times; to have caft my felf at her feet, and difcovering my name to have made known the paffion which I had for her, f o the end I might free her from the pcrfecutioos of Kefaces. But the profound refpedt which the Majefty of Artaxira had imprinted in my foul ftill reftrained me, and far from believing that Phradates happinefs could extend to Agatbyrfus, I was afraid left the Princefs fhould look with (corn upon the fallacy which I had put upon her. I thought (he mightnourifha refentmcnt againrt me, when flie found that my difguife had made her adt with Phradates, in another manner than flie would have carried her felf toward the; Prince oi Sarmatia. Belldes zs Phradates, who was entirely devoted to her, Idurftnot tdifcover the difign I had laid to revenge her upon Kefaces, fo much I feared to offend her moderation. However I refolved togoon with therefolutioni had taken, and if I did not put it prefently in execution, it was only to (iay till I could meet with an opportunity to do it without giving the leafi fufpicicn to the Princefs, for whofe fake I had undertaken the cnterprifc. The dtl'content which proceeded from my impatience, that I could not finfl an occafion to fight my Rival, was the only trouble which then affiid'ed me, b«ing favourably treated fls well by Ifdigefiet as Artaxira. And then it was that I received from Sydemiris an an- fwcr, of which it is neccffary that Ifliould make you a recital, in regard it contained ths' following Lines. Y y y y 2 The 7^ PHARAMOND. Part XII. The Princefs Sydemiris to Prince Agathyrfus. 1 Am glad you have found the Frhicefi of Pcrfia/o lovely as J defcribed her, and I mufi coufefifor my prediUions fake-, that I am nothing troubled that you rvere not able to refiji the power of her cbartns. But Frince^ canyon not love the Sijier without di^urbing the Brothers repofe ? For my part I am of Wixznez'sfide, far 1 cannot confent to the defignyou have againjl him : For be, fides that it is not generous to nourijh an evil intention^ againfl a Prince that never offended you 'tis certain yeu may meet «tth abbacies, of which you dream'd not, in the execution of your Vou fee,Sir, that SydemirU anfwcred me with a gayety which was ufual betwixt us, and yet her Letter produced a ftrange effea, as you will know by ind by. You muft know then that Kefaces continued his importunities to Artaxira, and that the Princefs carried her felf toward Kefaces after fuch a manner, as was no way pleafing to him. Infomuch that he being naturally fiery and impatient, refolved to unfold his mind as a Lover, whofe pre- tenfions were authoriz'd as well by the confent oi Ifdigeftcs, as by the general defire of all the Verftans. Thereupon he came to Artaxira, and- being received by her with her wonted coldnefs, " what Madam, faid he, will you always retain this cold indifference for me ? will you ne- *' vet open your eyes to fee whether a fcorn of this nature bie to be endured by a pcrfon of *'my quality ? To a perfon of your quality, anfaieredfhe, tender, Kefaces, render to mine " that which you know it is your duty to do, and I (hall then confider how to carry my fclf " toward you. You have no rcafon I think, replied he, in juftice to complain of my beha- " viour, for you cannot but havca thoufand times obferved,that I have always refpeded you " as my Soveraign Miftrefs. However you are miftaken, briskjy replied flje, and it would *' be the greatcft trouble to me in the world to be fo. But Kefaces, I am the daughter of "'Jfdige^es who is your King, and I am the Sifter of a Prince, who is to be your Soveraign *' after his deceafc. " Varanez, replied he, is fuppofed to be dead, and you cannot but know *' that by his death,nay by his very abfence, I am the prefumptive Heir to the Crown. How *' Heir of the Crown, aufwered (f;e fiercely interrupting him, no, no, Kefaces, that will revet " be as long asj live: And know that if Heaven take from us both Ifdigeftcs and Varanez, " Artaxira. will make you fubmit to her laws , and impofe a Maftei upon you when (he "pkafe^ . Concluding the laft words (he could not but blulh, and Kefacet replying with a laudable moderation, '* As.foryour laws,Madam, faid he, you know that I was always very fubmif- "(ivetothem, andamftillas willing to them, how fevere foever I may find them to be. *' But for impofing a Maftcr upon me, I cannot tell whether you can fo eafily do it, and *' whether the Perfians will fo readily incline to fubmit to the dominion of a Stranger. Ne- " verthelefs, fince you threaten us with a misfortune which we had always reafon to fear, "you would bring npon us, you mult not think it (Grange that Kefaees ztid the principal " Peers of the Kingdom, take a courfc to prevent it by oppofing a delign, fo prejudicial to " the honour of the Nation. Having fo faid he took his leave of the Princefs, and no fooner was he got (o the Palace, but he fent for the moft confiderable of his party, and gave them to undcrftand what had been his converfation with Artaxira, and then vehemently purfuing his difcourfe, " You fee, '■'■faid be, that we have no time to lofe, ,<4r/i», yet at the fame time waS I entranc'd with an unexprcllible joy, feeing how the fair Princefs tViW defended her heart againft my Rival, but on afudden fearing again that 'Kefacet misfortune proceeded only from the in* fenlibility of Artaxira, and that it might be alfo my own ill fate: I was feized by fuch a di- fturbance, that the Princefs taking notice thereof, pleafingly demanded of me, if I had em- braced the Courtiers humour, to (hew my felf more a friend-of Kefacet that day, than I had accuflomed to do. " Madam, anfrvered 7, I need not jurtihe my (tif in that particular, for " you may well conjedure me to be a perfon very uncapable,to take part with one who o» *'beys not you with afubmiflion never to be cart ofT. Upon thofe words the Princefs looked upon me, as if (he expected I (hould tell her the real caufe oC my grief, infotnuch that I was in aihangc perplexity, till having calm'd the troubles 726 FHARJMOND. Fa^t XIL troubles of my ceuntenance, \*ith all the confidence I could ufc before the perfon I adored hUdam^ faid I, if you e^oufcmt theme{i considerable among the Pertians, rvho it there out of, Perfia that may pretend to the felicity which you refufe Refaces / Theodolius w wedded to A- thenais i the Frince of Scythia is not in a condition to wear your chains \ ner do I believe you have any thoughts upon VhiiitiiOXii, Balamir or Viridomar, nho befides their remoteneji have feen thofe charms which already have enthralled their hearts. I am of opinion^ courteoully an- Iwered (he, that you did not refufe the commands of my Father laid upon you^ fince yeu take that care which I never expected at your hands, Thofe words put me to a plunge, and believing my expreffions had difpleafed her, j teftified fo much forrow, that the Princefs interrupting me in a molt obliging manner, Phradates, faid (he, yeu are not well acquainted with my humour, if you thinks thsre was any thing in your difcourfe that has di^leafed me^ rather I find your zeal extends very far for my fak^, fince it travels even into Germany for a match for Artaxira. Alas, rcplyed I with more freedom of thoughts, I need not go about to difunite the hearts of thofe iHujirious TriiV- ces from their beloved Frincejfes : for tpithout doing them any injujiice, Ik^tow where to fiih'je^ a Frince to your Empire, that never yet acknowledged other Laws. Upon thofe wordsl bluftied, not being able to explain my ftlf any farther, but immedi- ately recolleding my felf oat of a dcfire to know how the Princefs Uood aflfeded toward m^. Madam, faid I, / mak^ no quejiion but, you took^ notice that 1 held my tongue when 1 had yet more to fay, and I ntujl needs teS your Highnej!, with that liberty which you are pleafed fpme- times to allow me, that there is a curiofily ftill remaining, of which I would fain be fatisfied. I VDonld fainkftow, continued I, whether if ^gzth'^tius had been fo rafh as to afpirete the fame honour, he (houldhave met with the fame ill fate i«x Refaces. Were it lawful for me to give you » feriom anfwer to fucb a que{UoH, replyed Artaxira, 1 fliould mal^e a great difference be- tween one of my Father's Subjeds, and the Heir to one of the greatefi Monarchies in the world, But, Madam, replyed I, that Prince has fervid the Scythians againi^ the Perfians. 1 grant it, anfwered flie, hut be ufed his viUory fo generoufly^ that we have no Allies to whom we are man obliged. ^ Y(f).i.i, faid he, laying his hand upon his Sword, that I have wherewithal to command it in fuch a manner, that if I am not deceived, you will get no advantages b^ your ohjlinasy. Xf* you have [een me Mailer of fuch, rcplyed I without any paflion at all, that you have ne reafoa to believe your menaces can fright me. No more, cryed he, interrupting me again* tranfpoxt" ed with choler, fuch an impudmce (fjaH never go unpunifhed. Upon that he drew and made at me with an impetuous fury, and I being in a pofiure to receive him, the combat gjrcw obfiinate and vigorous, infomuch that the blood ftreamed down our Cloaths in a fhort time. At length the dcfire I had to deliver the Princefs fronn his perfecutions redoubling my {^rength, I gave my Rival three large cuts, receiving only a flight wound, fo that Kefaeef fury giving place to palenefs and faintnefsj he daggered and Vfi9 Book HI. PHARAMOND. 727 was juft ready to fall, when his fcrvants clrav;n thither by the clafiiing of our Swords and feeing what condition their Malkr was in, fomc ran to help him, others advanced toward me to revenge their Mailers quarrel. I looked upon my felt as a lolt man, confidcrine the number of my enemies, but refolving to fell my lite at a dear rate, and beholding them with a threatning Air, Come on Cowards, cried I, agoiHji a perjon all alone, and xvhom \ou dur^ not otbermfe affail. Thofe fiery words caufed fome confufion among them, and one above the reft addreding his fpeech to his companions, Let me alone^ cried he, to chaftife tb'n hauphty Stranger. So faying he raifed his Cymiter Arm, but I prevented him from doing any more harm for I cut him fo fully into the head, that he fell at my feet without any appearance of life! Two other of his friends taking his place had the fame fate, infomuch that then the livhole croud tranfported with revenge and rage, came powdering all upon me with an in- tention to facritice me to their fi^ry. I had fet my back againft a Tree, to keep my felf from being furroundcd, but their number was fo great, that notwithftanding all the refiftance I could make, I had been run thorow and thorovr in a thoufand places, had not Megalafer coming into the Garden to walk, made haft to the Throng where he faw fo many Swords drawn. He no fooner knew me,bur he applyed himfelf to moderate the fyry of my enemies, Hold faid he, kjV not Phradates before you hear him jpeaJ^for himfelf: He durfl not being a Stranger have made fticb an attempt as thii, but that he has other accemplices to back^ him. No no friends, lit us firji difcover the confpirators and then punif^) him. Thofe words and the autho- rity of the perfonthat pronounced rhem, wrought that effeGt upon the Perpans, that thev furceafed their fury. Thereupon Me^alafes to appeafe them all together, turning to me Phradates, cryed he, yield thy Sword to Mcgalafes, tvho demands it of thee in the Kings name, J yield it then to Ifdigeftes, replied I to A%4/<»/^/, and though a Stranger that might have died wnh his Stvord in his hand, I am tviHing to teach the fubjeds offo great a Monarch hew readily they ought to obey his orders. While I was thus fpeaking another croud lurrounded me and prefently they brought roc a Chariot, to carry me where the Prifoners of ftate are kept. So ibon as I was contin'd, they found that Kejaces^s wounds were not mortal, and the tempeft that threatned my life being overblown, they were content to wait the Kings juftice, for their revenge which was otherwife contrary to Law. Soon after Me^alafes fent me Chirurgeons to fearch and drefs my wounds, which were not very dangerous. When they were gone,my generous friend that took care of me came to my bed- fide, and addrelling his fpeech to me, ToufeeSir, faid he, what I have been coa- Chained to do to fave your life, but now yeu mufi of necejftty difcover who you are, for I cannot ihin\ef any other way (ptedilyto deliver you out of thu place, though lam refohed to ufe all my indujiryto obtain your liberty. 1h p^ort. Sir, though ynttr enemies be mtdead, they willpuni/h in your perfon the attempt j)f Phradates, which will not be thought otherwife than a quarrel be* tweenKehccsand Ag^nhytfas, when your quality is once k^town. ^^Megalafes, cryed I, be not fo bally I befeechyou, rather before you tell who I am, confider the confequences which I dread^ if you difcover a fecret which U to me of fa great importance. What would the King fay, what mould all Perfia fay, if they l^new that the Prince of Sarmatia had been fa long difguifed at Per- fepolis ? That he has often vifited Arfaxira, and fought Refaces the Lover of that incomparable Trinceji? fViU they not have reafon :o believe that Altaxira was not ignorant that Phradates wat Agathyrfus, that the Princefi has a kjndnefl for me which is the true reafon of her averflon to Re^ faces ? Ihey will imagine that the fair and innocent Artaxira, has kfpt a correfpendence with me, that it wasJJje that incenfed me againfi a Trince of the blood, andfliaU I con fent that they fljsuld have fueh an opinion of my Trincefl, by difcovering my felf to be the Trince of Sarmatia > Let Agithythsperifh firji a thoufand times, before he expofes the perfon whom be loves, to fucb an apparent jujujiice. Megalafes however would not give over fo, and therefore as he was going about to (hew me how well the Princefs might plead in her own juftification •, Never deceive your felf, faid I interrupting him. For there would remain that imprefjion in the heart of the King aud the people, which it wculd be never pojjible abfolutely to rafe out. Therefore, Mcgalafes^ take heed of bein^ tranfported out of an excefiof zeal, for I protejito you by all that Iu»der(ianJ of ftcred, that if after at' that ] have told you, you ceafe to be true to me, injiead of faving the life of a friend, ynu will put him to that tormenting death, which Refaces himfelf would never adjudge him to, either as an Enemy or a Txival. In(hort, Sir, my eyes and my countenance fo wellconfirm'd the reality of my thoughts, that Megalafes cofented to my rcqueft, notwiih(":anding the rdudancy which he had terti- tied before. But while I was fo cautious to keep Pbradjtes from being known to be Agd' ihyrjufj 728 PHARAMOND. Part XII. ] thyrfufy the fervants that*took off tny cloaths forgot not to pry into the crime of vvhich they thought me guilty i fo that having rifled my pockets, and found certain Letters fum- ptuoufly written, they thought themfelves very well fatistied, and failed not to carry them to Ifdigeftes. By them the King came to underftand to his for^ow all that happened, and ' walked up and down in his Chamber with an air that fiiewed how much he was troubled in his mind : and as he had for me a great cikem and a real kindnefs, he could not coh- fent to my deftruftion, though he found himfelf conftrained to do juftice to his blood, to the kindred of Kefaces^ and to all the Terfians. fie was extremely difcontcnted what courfe to take upon fuch an accident, whcn.he was plunged into fuch an extraordinary fur- prife, calling his eyes upon certain Letters, the fuperfcription whereof was hom the Prin- cefs Sydemiris to ViinceAgaibyrfuf. Buthis aftonifhment redoubled after a ftrange man- ner, when reading the anfwer which I had received from the Princefs of the Scythians; he faw fhofe words which I have already recited : B«f, Trince, canml yojthveihe Silver unlefi yox diflttrh the quiet of the Brethtr., for my part, I om clearly of Varanez's fide, and carniat confent upon the defign rvhich you have upon him: forbefidei, that there U nothing ej Cenerofityin having fo ill an intentign againfl a Frince that never offended jia»». "tif mo^ certain yon tvill meet n>ith thofe obfiacles which you dream mt of in the execution of your dejigti. Jfdigefies being hardly able to believe his eyes, read the fame words over and over again, and having made feveral reflections thereupon, he called to mind all the circumftanccs that might confirm the fufpicions he had conceived. He called to mind the frequent conver- fations which I had had with Artaxira, , che Princcfs's averfion hrKefaces, and the re- ludancy which T had to fpeak in his behalf, and at length the duel with my Rival ; " What "cryedhe in a chafe, docs Artaxira hold a fecret correfpondence with /^gj^iEyr/k, and as if " it were not enough to love him without my confent, is (he fo prcpofTciTcd with her paf- " fions, to feek to put the Diadem of Perfia upon the head of Agathyrfin by the mine " of Varanez .? Who knows but that I my felf may be facrificed to the ambition of Aga' " thfrfus, iXidtheunmtarsiArtaxira? Then examininingthecondudl, the moderation and the virtues of that Prince, "Have " I not abufed my (elf, cryedhe, and is there not fome myflery concealed under the ex- " prelfions of 5j^fw/rw, which 1 do not apprehend? No, no, replyed he to himfelf, after " be had paufed awhile, I muft not flatter my felf with fuch vanities, fince I find they are *'now upon the execution of their dellgns. The death, or ^t kaft the fatal wounds of " Kef :es open my eyes. That Prince is become the firft vidime, which the love and ambi- " tion ofArtaxira had required from Phradates, and Fhradates is without queftion Agathyr- ^'■fus himfelf, or an Agent whom Agathyrfus maintains near the perfon of the Princefs whom " he loves. But Agathyrfm, canft thou in this manner envcnome the kind offices with which -^' thou haft honoured JJdigeftes ? Couldft not thou have obtained Artaxira by fair means, " Snd is not Sarmatia large enough for a Prince, who ought to be as reafonable in his am* " bition, as thou hafi feemed to be in all thy paffed adions. Yet there are fo many charms " and fomuch Lufire in the Monarchy of Perfia, that might well tempt a Princefs who by " the abfence of Varanez, finds her felf to be the only Heir. Neverthelefs let us examine Ar~ " taxira, let us fee whether Fhradates be not Agathyrfw, and let us dive into the myflery of " a Letter and a Duel, which fo flrangely perplex me. Then fpuired on by hi^s own impatience, inftead of fending for Artaxira he would needs go himfelf to her Apartment, whither he was no fooner come but he caufed the Room to be cleared, and beholding the Pripcefs vvith that heat of anger, which he had never mani-. fefled to her before, Artaxira, faid he, 1 mnji advertife you beforehand, that it U a vain thing for you to feek^excufes for a crime, of which you fiandconviUed already, as well by the duel ef 'Phiziites, as by this Letter which you may read if you pleafe. Concluding thofe word he gave 5>"!i'f/w;V/j'/ Letter to the aftonifhed Artaxira, who ha- ving caf\ her eyes upon it with a fear which her eyes could not difTemble, no fooner faw the fuperfcription, but as one that thought her felf no way concerned in it. Sir, faid flie, J kttsa' not what part 1 ought to take, 1 have already given you fo underjiand, cryed Ifdigejies in- terrupting her, that your affeded Surprifes would nothing prevail with me, T^ead therefore, read, and then wejhallfee how you can iujlijie your felf, astothatfecret and prec'ious CerrefpoH'-^ dence which you keep with Prince Agathyrfus. "I Sir, replied ffie with an ajlonifhrnent that would not fuffer her to fay more. '' Yes you, anfwered Ifdigefles, .and when you have read "the Billet which I gave into your hands, you will find that I had in ray own keeping, a Book III. PHARAMOND. 729 " convidion in language that needs no interpretation. Thereupon the Princcfs opened Sy^^w/Vw'/ Letters, but when (lie found what the Frinafs had (aid of Ijcr Beauty, and the pi&ox\oi Agsthyrf us ^ (lie bluflied and ftood amazed. The King believing that eflfcd of fjrprife and modelly to be a mark of (hamc, " Go on, go on, ftid he^ I mind not the tirrt "■ words i for the Prince of the Sarmjtians may love the Princcfs of Pfr/Jj, witliouc fear' " ing to be contradidted by lfdige{\ei. But was it fo nccclTary, that Ills love, which I would "never have diiapproved, fhould be kept fo (ecrct from me, that Agathyrfm fhould comi " difguifed t>o PerfepoHi, that he fliould kill Refjcei, and dclign the dcltruQion ciFarturz ? ''I know you. will omit no argument to pcrfwade me thaf you arc not guilty of thcfe " crimes : but 1 know as wel', that it is impolliblc you (hould be innocent. In tlie mean " time, in regard it behoves me to be exemplary in the icvenge of my own blood which " has been fpilt from the wounds of Kefacct, I charge you not to ftir cut of your own A- "parfment, till you hear farther from me. Having fo faid, he flung out of Artaxira^i Chamber, while the fair Princefs was firange- ly troubled to fee her Father provoked, though Ihe were Icnfible how unjulily hehadac- cufed her. True it is, that fhe had no fooncr read Sydemtrif Letter, but (he faw there was fome kind of intimation of fome defign laid againit Varanez, by Agathyrfus. But fhd was always of this belief, that there was a concealed meaning in the words of Sydemiru. While they were thus fearching into the obfcurity of Ihange accidents above their reach, ihe Kingcaufed MegaUfes tobearreftcd, becaufe he was faid to have taken great care of Fhradjtei. He alfo fent GobriM to find out whether Phradatft were Agathyrftti or no -, what was the reafon of his quarrel with Kefacej, and what was his dejign againit Varanez. Gobriar went firft to Artaxira, and after he had difcourfed her in reference to the commif- fion he had received: "Tell my Father, faid (fje, that [ know (not whether Pbradatej be ** Agathyrfus Or no : but withal make him this proteftation in my behalf, that neither ?hra- ^'' dates nor Agathyrfur ever opened their mouths to me in reference to the Icati tittle what "the Scythian Princefs has written ; but, Cotrij/, 'tis for //^/gf,'ff/'s Honour, and the ho- " nour of the whole Nation, not fo (lightly to accufe a Prince to whom all Perfia is fo much "beholding-, or to lay a crime to his charge of which he cannot be guilty, if you confi» "dcr his virtues. Tn brief, GobriM', 'tis very Improbable that /^gaf/'^'r/w/ (huuld ^wtJfdi^ " gejies his life and liberty, if he had any defign againft Varanez. *' Neverthelef-, Madam, " replyed Gobrias, if Pbraddtej be Ag^athyrptj, and that he have yielded his Arms to our " Princefs, the King, in my opinion, may anfwer your reafons how ftrong foevtr they " feem to be : for Agatbyrfm may be generous in Scyihia, yet prove ambitious m Perjia, *' And having beheld the divine beauties of Artaxira, and the magnificence of our Court, "'tis very probable, that fuch temptations may kindle in the heart of a young and cou- " rageous Prince, not only an ambition to enjoy our Princefs, but to ufurp our Empire. *' For my part, rtplyed Artaxira^ blnH'sing out of meer modejiy^ I cannot apprehend why the " Prince of Sarmatia having an intention to court the Princefs ot Perfia^ (hould chufe to " conceal himfelf under the name of Phradates, rather than to z(k openly, as perfons of his " degree are wont to 'do. "Madam, I believe, replyed Gobrias, that at hril Agathyrfur " itiight come into Perfja for no other end than fo fatisfie his curiofity, and that he might " difguife himfelf to live with more freedom among us : but that afterwards he laid thii *' delign of which you are fpeaklng. " But, replyed (he, what (hould move A^athyrfni to " plot againfl the life of F4r<»«ez;, who is God knows where, rather than of J/^/^f/Jf/j whom *' he fees every day at Perfepolit. " Becaufe, anftvered Gobrias, 'tis more cafie to kill a *' Prince that travels alone, and helplefs, than a King in the mid(t of his Court and Armies; " Befides Ifdigejles may be more ufeful to Phradates to authorife his adions', and raift " a Fadionagainft himfelf. '' But what is this cnterprife, anftvered (he^ what arc thofeCa- "bals which he has contrived. "-Then, Madam, replyed the Perfian, you look upon Pbra^ *' dales Combat with Kefaces, and the Rx\& friendihip of a Stranger with Megalafes one of " the molt potent Princes in Perfia, next to thofe of the'Blood, as nothing. " As for what *' concerns the quarrel, replyed Artaxira, 'tis very probable that a perfon of courage, no " way obliged in this Country, might be provoked to draw his Sword againlf Kefaces, as " not willing to receive an injury from a Prince fo apt as he is to give it. As tor Megalafes " I (hould very much wonder if he had not that kindnefs for Pbradates, whether he look- " ed upon him as a Prince to whom we know he is obliged, or a? a perfon who has ferv- " ed us faithfully in the Parthian Rebellion. And if there had been any confpiracy betweert "them, think you Megalafes woM have bcenfoearneft to havefaved the lite of a per fort *' that might prove hisaccufer? "Iconfefs^ Madam, replyed he^ there is a great deal of " reafon in what you fay : and I wi(h to Heaven you may not be deceived in your conjectures. Z 2 2 2 "1 (hould j^o THARAMOND, Part XII. "I (hould be extremely joyful, as well for the King's, yours, and the fatisfadion of Me- '■'■gilafes, as for riie Stranger's fake, whofe reputatioijttands (o fair among us. Having fo faid, Gobrias took his leave of /Irtaxira^imi went to Megalafei, and having declared to him the intention of his coming,the generous Terfian preparing to fpeak with an air that nianifeded his refolution, " Tell the King, faid ke^ that neither the Princefs nor " P/^r^idtfj are guilty, and that inall that has paffcd, there has been nothing done to the " pre)udice of his Crown i and fo without failing in my fidelity, it was not unlawful fcr " mc to (hewfomefmall kindnefles to a perfon who is only unhappy becaufc he could rot " ftoop to Kf/4«i's pride. "Let us not talk at prefent either ot Rejaces oi FhraJates, an- "/tr^rf^ Gobrias, but as the Prince of ^tfrm^jtii* has confpircd againft the Prince of Perfia^ "will not you tell us "How, cryed Megalafes, interrupting him with a kind of a- " mazement, do you believe the generous Agathyrfus capable to z(k fo foul a crime ? " But " fuppofc wefhew you fonie evidences of his confpiracy, rf/>/)if^ Gobrias, what will Mfga- *' lafes then fay in jt'ftification of the Prince that he excufes ? " He will fay, Ihutly reply '' edhe, that the evidences are falfe s and (hall never perfwade me to the prejudice of a vir- *' tue wherewith I am fo well acquainted, and of which I have had fofair an experience. Thus Gobrias finding he could pick out nothing out of Megalafes\ words, he left him and came to me. He no fooner entred my Chamber, but though he had already fufpedted Thradates to be JgitbyrfHS, he was ftrangely furprifcd when he caft his eyes upon mc. "• How, Sir, cryed '■'■he, is it fitting that fo great a Prince, to whom all Perfia is beholding, (hould be a prifon- *' er at Perfepola / - I was vexed to perceive that my face was known, and to find that it was not poflible for tnetorhtain that favour from Gobrias, who came from the King, ViMichMegaUfes had granted me. But being forced to moderate my difcontent i "Yes, Gobrias, anftveredj, I ',' am a prifoner, though I have no re.' (on to connplain of the Persians, who could not do "any otherwife toward a Stranger that had drawn his Sword againft the Blood of Ifdigejles. " However, as Agathyrfm could ceafe to be Phradates upon fome occafions, you muft not "wonder that I aded after fuch a manner as might render Phradates more criminal than "perhaps the Prince of the Sarmatiansls. "1 mud confefs, replyed he, I cannot think " 'Pi'wce A gat hyrfus to have committed any fuch great crime, either in fighting Kefaces, or "in loving the Princefs: but *' In loving the Princefs, cryed 1, interrupting him^ '■•and blufhing, who dares to fay that Agathyrfus ever durft prefume tocaft his eyes upon "the divine Artaxira. " They have dared to fay more than that, replied Gobrias, having *' made publick the confpiracy which you intended againli VaranezJcon^ire againjlWitzntz! cryed I, interrupting him with morefurpri(€ than betorc.Then not being able to apprehend upon what ground they raifcd fuch an accufation, If the Friends of Rcfaces, continued I, are fo eager after my r nine, they muji invent fome crime more probable than that which they havelaidto my charge. " As it was not Kf/iefi's Friends that you trulkd with your moft " weighty fecrets, replyed Gohxhs, you may befure'tis not from them the King has rcceiv- "cd thofe informations which are foobfcure to his apprehcnfiOD. "Let me fee his evi. " dence, impatiently cryed I. " He has fufficient, replied he, but it is in the Princcfs's hands. " Does the Princefs then, replied 1, accufe the unfortunate Agathyrfus ? " Quite contrary, '' aw/o'erf^/ Gobrias, (he always fpeaksinyour jul^ification, though at prefent (he be con • *'fined to her Lodgings for your fake, and the King very much incenfed againft her, " notwith(landing his indulgent affedion toward her. "How, cried I in a rapture of de~ ■ ''/pair, am I fo unhappy to have contributed to the fufferlngs of the divine /4rttfx;>tf ? Ah, ^'' Cnbrias ! if.that be truelet themfacrificeme totheintercftsof my Enemies. In (hort, Sir, I was fo fenfible of ^rfjxir^'j misfortune, that I offered my life a thou» (and times for her liberty. In the mean time, not being able to apprehend what that ftrange accufation (hould be, I bcfought Gobrias with fo much vehemence, that immediately he went to the King for leave to brin^me SydemirWs Letters. He was no fooner gone, but word was brought me, that there was a Scythian come to Town, who had a Letter for me, and that Kejjces's Friends fought to arrcft him. After that Gobrias returning with the Let- ter, the fence whereof they had fo much mi(^aken, I was well enough fatisfied, feeing the hand of Sydemirit ; and thereupon turning toward the P^r/r««, '' Is it poflible, faid I, that »'mv Enemies Ihould have fo much power over the King, as to perfwade him fo eafily to " fhe truth of what they interpret tomy ruine!" "However, you fee. Sir, anfipered he^ ■"that the Scythian Princefs fpeaks very pofifively of a plot which you have laid againft Va- :" ranez. " I grant it, replied 1, but in regard that Sydemiris docs not fo pol^tively declare " ti-,e nature o( the plot, methinks the very jocuhr ftile of the whole Billet might have " prod:uccd a more gentle expofition. Their Book III. THARAMONB. 791 Then continuing my dKcourfc nnore for Artaxira't fake than my own juftificatjon, I gave GobriM an account not only of my convcrfes with Sydemiris^ but of the Lettcv to which he had (hewed me the anfwer, and fo convinced him of the truth of what I fajj, t}iat Cubriiu fully fatished, promifed to make ifdigejies a faithful recital of my juftihcation. But thoueh he kept his word exadtly my condition was nothing bettcr'd, for all Kefjces kindred re- doubled their follicitations againlt me, being more afraid of Agathyrfus than I'hradatet. Not that they durft mention the putting me to death, but.in regard my prcfence wa<; a great obftacle to the pretcnfions of my Rival, they prelfcd the King to lend me away, tcliina him it was not convenient for him to futfer a pcrfon in his Court, that would not have difeuis'd bimfelf had his intentions been llncere. Ifdi^ejiet having conlidered upon their reafons, refolved to fend mc out of his Territories and to remove Artaxira to fome remote place for a tim^ the news whereof, when Cd^iJs teld it me, I received as the fcntcnce of my death. Then pondering upon the Prir.ci.(s'5 misfortune and my own unhappinefs, *' No, no, cryedl tranf^ortedvpithrndttypaffidHi, I will " never forfake Artaxira ; mv enemies (hall fooncr make me renounce my life, than the com- " pany of that divine Princefs. But Gobrias^ added 7, wherefore am I hunted hence ? where- " fore are they incenfed againit the fairelt and wifeft perfon in the world. Is (he guilty of *' the crime which I committed in prefuming to caft my eyes upon her > And is th^t fo great "a crime that the Prince of ?erfia cannot expiate it with the lofs of his blood ? Might I " not have an innocent curiolity to fee one of the greateft Courts of the world ? and for the " more commodioufnefs of travel, might I not have the liberty to leave that Train behind " which ©ught to have attended upon Agnthyrfm ? " You know Sir, anftvered Gobrias that "'it is not ufual for fuch a Prince as you, to enter the Dominions of another without notice " firft given and appearing openly. ButGa/>r/j/, cryed I, tell me, good now, upon what "does Ifd/gejles ground his fufpicion, that Artaxira knows that I adore her ? VVhe-n you "give me reafons ftrong enough to convince him to the contrary, replied Gebrias^ Vw'V la- "bour to put him out of that conceit, which at prefent feems [o probable. Is it poltble '■'■replied I, that fuch an interpretation fhould be put upon my bare obedience to Artaxira f "J/^/gfj?f/ prefents a Stranger to her who had ferved him, fignihes his plcal'urc to her " on purpofe to flay him in Ferfepoli^ : who now can blame Artaxira for her compi ■ ency to '■'■ Fbradates : and if the daughter of the greatellKing of the world, condcfcends fc^iherFa- *'thers command to be familiar with a perfon, that feems to be but an ordinary Gentleman '■is that a blcmifh to hervirtue? But Sir, replied he, who can fay that the Princefs took you " only for Fhradates .<* And who dates to fay, cryed I impatieutly interrupting him, that (he " knew me to be Agathyrfus, for there is nothing but the Letter from SydemirU which has " been the caufe of this mifchief. But Gobrias, I beg of you to tell the King, that if he *'will but vouchfafe to fend to IjfedoH, we (hall not fail to clear out this my llcry fully to " his farisfadion : Or I will write thither my felf, and if I difguife any thing oi.ihe truth, " as he has me in cuftody let him either put me to death, or banifh me for ever from the *' fight of Artaxira. Gobrias fai'ed not to make this propofal to Ifdigejies, but the friends of Refaces whcfe intcreft it was to remove me, told the King that there was no credit to be given, to what Sydemiris (hould fay, in regard he might be lure fhc would take Arttxira^s part. On the contrary, they preffed him toarreft the Scythian that had brought me a Letter, from whence he might be (ure to make a truer difcovery, as well by reading the contents as by examina- tion ot the party. In (liort, they a(5ted fo cunningly and fo artificially perfwaded the King, thzt Artaxira knew who I was, that he commanded me without farther delay to be gone in three days, when Goir/a/ brought me this order, "For Heavens fake, replied I figbiMg, tell '•the King that I freely fubmit my felf to punifhmcnt, if he thinks meto beguijty. But.if " he cannot prove me to be an olfender,hc has no reafon to deprive me of my liberty. Wc *' know Sir, 'tis no fuch crime for the Prince of Sarmatia to love the Princefs of Perfia, buj. " to fpcak ingenuoully, though the King has no reafon to complain of the pallion of <^^a- " thyrftu, he may be offended at the behaviour of Artaxira. " Who can fay, /aid 1 inter: ^'■ruptiughim^ that ^rMx/rj knew how far my padion extended? "I confe(s, replied the "Perfian, that we have no other difcovery, than what wc gather from the Prince of fVr- "/ijV Letter, but in regard there is nothing meniion'd of Artaxira's ignorance of your " tlioughts, and that in ail probability (he will never write, but upon particular dclire which " is never intended, I think it Sir, for my part your beli way to be gone. " No, no, very '' earnejily replied 7, 1 (hall never forfake the Princefs : For I had rather dye in Ferjia before '^ the compleating of my Rivals happinefs, than undergo in Sarmatia a torment more cruel,' *' by underiknding that liefaces fhould be pofTclTed of the divine Artaxir^^. Z 7 7 Z 2 IW3(» 732 PHAKAMOND. Part XIL I was about to have continued fuch a kind of difcourfe as my giief (hould have infpired into me, when I was interrupted by a great noife, of which I was forced jo demand ol Co- hrias the caufe. He was inform'd that they were carrying to the Tower a Courier from the Princefs of Scyth'ia, who was fent to the Court upon bulinefs of great concernnicnt. And prefently after I underflood that they had carried to Ifdigejies^ the Letter which was dired- ed to mc from Sydemir'u. But Sir, we rauft here admire the condud of Provid£nce,while my enemies thought to have been abfolutely Matters of my Life and fortune, oblerve what Jfdigejies found in the Paper which came to his hands. The Princefs Sydemiris to the Prince of. Sarmatia. ^lyf/E underhand that ? finer Varanez it Kot far p-om Co\ogx\t in the Camp of the Cimbrians, ^ andltcas tpi'uiag to fend you fuch tydings mth all tbej^eed I could, k^toiviMg boxp gladly you rvoKld receive them., and hotv acceptable they rpouldbe to the King of Perlia and the Princef! Artaxira. But Trinee, domtyeu believe 1 give you this intelligence for my own intereft, for if Varanez be detained in Germany, 'tis only by the charms of the Bohemian ^ueen. So that you fee there is nothing for me to hope, and thatytur defign again^i the Prince of Perfia is co)nt to nothing, fmce as you cannot attaque a liberty which he has already loft, it is not for Sydemiris to bereave Rofamond of the Conquefi fhe has made. t Bat Sir, as if the Princefs of Scjthia had not thought it fufficient to have fpokcn for me in her Letter , the Poftfcript feemed to have been written on purpofe for Ar-. iaxira. WtHyou never let your Trincefi kitow the thoughts which you have for her> For Heavens faks refum^tltfe perfon o/Agathyrfus. For the Prime of the Sarmatians may be aUoned toj^eakjvhere Phradates ought to hold his tongue. Ifdigefies ovet]oytd at fuch a particular information, thatfo clearly juflified two perfons ^ for whom he had lo high an efteem, was extremely forrowful that he had been fo fcvere to Artaxira, z ;d that he had been fo eafily led away to favour the contrivances of my enemies, to whom the King was now fo far from liftening that he fent tor the Princefs, Megalafes^ and the Gv^rier that came from Sydemiris. And receiving Artaxira with all the tetlimonieJ of atfeftioH, which he was wont formerly to exprefs.he fhewed her that which had brought all things to light, and fatisiied his fufpicions. That (udden change no way ditpleafed the Princefs, and yet fhe behaved her felf with that moderation, as not to (bew the lead refent- mentagaintt the friends of Kefaces, not fo much as fpeaking a word of me, though Ifdi- gefteshdid given her opportunities enough in the communication he had with her. Which the King taking notice of, yet being delirous to know what her thoughts were concerning me, he took an occation to fpeak of Phradates and Agathyrftu, to whom the Princefs ha- ving recovered her felf out of that difcompofure which the Kings words had caufed, " Sir, "faidfhe, as it was only by your order that I fncwed fo many marks of kindncfs to Phrada- " tes, you may as well be fure that only your will (liall govern my behaviour, to the Prince " of Sarmatia. Jfdigejies obferving the countenance of the Princefe, made no queftion but that fhe fpake as the meant, and underftanding by Gebrias that I was patlionately in love with Artjxira, he never f\ood to confider, but immediately preferred me in his thoughts before Kefjces, However he kept himlelf very referved, declaring his mind only to Megalafes who was my friend. All this while Kefaces party murmured extremely, that Ifdigejies would fufipcr him- felf to be guided in the mott important affair of the Empire, by a bare Letter of S)demiris. But he overruled them by his own authority, promitlng for thtir farther fatisfadion, that Ifhould not marry the Princefs until your return into Perfta. He received alfo the fame day a pacquet from Mitranes which confirm'd the news which concern'd your felf. And it wasnofooner affured that you were in the Array of the C'^jz^ri^;;/ fafe and well, but that all the Perfians that loved Ifdigefles, highly embraced my interefi. As for Megalafes, he came to fetch me out of Pritbn- and brouglu me to Ifdigeftes by whom I was rcceivtd with • all Book HI. P H A K A M N D. 735 all the marks of kindnefs that I could poliibly expcdl. The King failed not to cxcufc iiin;- felf, by allcdging his ignorance of iny quality, and treated nic I'o obligingly, tliat I was then more fcnfibleof the kindnefs which I received, than I was before of the futlerings t had undergone. But the plcafurcs of Lovers never continuing long undilluibtd,! thought ot a fudden that it was iiiipolhbic bwt that Artaxira mull conceive lomc diigull againft inc. This fear fjddenly appeared in my looks, which Iffiigejies tak'iw^ notice of, he beheld me without fpeaking a word, intimating to me by hislilence, that 1 fliould tell him the caufe of fuch a ludden alteration. 1 could not determine at HrlUvhat to do i but thcdclirc I had to Cec Artaxira^ and to prcfcrve her kindnefs, carrying mc above all other conHdcrations, rais'd up all the contidencc I had to return him an anlwer : Sir^ faid 1, / make no quefiien but Gobrias h^ given you an account of all the f articular reafons I had to jujlipe my difguife and that he has told you rifithal what waved the Prtncefl Sydctn'ms to rorite to me in that man-' »er : and therefore Imuji only make you th'n prote{iation, that the liberty rebicb you have given me will he of ns value to me, unlejl I make ufe of it to let the Princefi under\iand that I was mofl certainty by mijiakfi the innocent caufe of her mUfortune. 1 have been unhappy, yet no rcay in fault : 1 privately adored ber^ and my pajfian was accompanied with fu profound a re(pe£r, that perhaps I (liould never have made itk.notvn to the divine Artaxira her felf. Hoaever^ Sir, as it was you that prrfented me to that moli incomparable Princefi, wbofe Fetters 1 am bound to wear as long as 1 live ■, as it was you that provoked her a^ainli me, by giving her the knowledge of thofe thoughts which I jhould never have difcovered to her : will not you. Sir, alfo Upon thofe words I blulhed, and made a liop, when the obliging Ifdigejies interrupting me, I under{}and you. Sir, faid he, I will m*ks your peace with Artaxira: or to f^eak^more juflly, fwce (he has mreafon of complaint, I will let herk^tow how glad I am that you have that l^mdneji fur her which jhe might have deemed a fault in Phradares. He gave me a thoufand teftimonies of his affedfinn, and that he fliould not be only glad of an alliance with me upon your return into Ferfia, but alfo to fee the peace which I had made between the two Kings, contirm'd by your marriage with Sydemir'vf. Such language as this, fo fincerely fpoken, redoubling my fatisfadlion, I made anfwer to i/^^/^f/f^/, that Adamarfe s woa\d be overjoyed to hear me make fuch a propofal ; and I promifed at the fame time to take all the care imaginable to bring it to pafs. The King highly fatisfied with my offers, gave me new marks of his affedion and acknowledgment i and then led me himfelf to Artaxira's Aparttrient : Prince^, faid he, here U the itlujiriouf Prince of Sar- matia, you k^tow how fignally we are obliged to him. KeJpeB him then, and ejieem him accord' ing to bii ^ality, hvs Virtues, and the obligations he has laid upon us. Megalafes, who u a Friend to hoth,wiU tell you the full of my mind, nor do I believe the refoltttion 1 have tak^n will be di^leafing to either. ]\ Artaxira blufhed at thofe words, with a modefty intermixed with certain marks of fub* million to her Father's will. When lfdige(\es was retired. Divine Princefi, faid I, condemn not 1 befeecb you the inconsiderate Agathyrfus : but confider that if he had the beldnefS tQ.w^r your Fetters^ hn re^eH was more than to let tbembe feen. But, Madam, may I prefume to ask, of you whether fortune was kjnd to me or m, when Jhe declared to you, that the firjf of your glances triumphed over my liberty. After thofe words I held my peace in expedlation of an anfwer that was fo be thefen» tcnce of my life or death, while my eyes fpoke in their turns, and interpreted the language of my love and fear, Artaxira importun'd Ijy my (ilence and my looks j Sir, anfwcred (he, youk»ow with what acknowledgment the King of Perfia looks upon the Prince of Sarmatia : and 1 believe you need not quepon AtU\ha.^s compliance with ItdigeftcsV judgment. But, Madam, ic^\yed I, find you no reludancy to obey your Father^s pleafure ? /fPhradatcs, an- swered flie, had no caufe to complain, 1 d« not think, P^^cf Agathyrlus will have any. Icon' fe(i, replyed I, that Phradates received favours, which were infinitely above his Services. How- ever, Madam, you were not aware of few boldnefi, but Agathyrfus you find to be one afthemifi prefumptttous among men. The Princefs believing fhe had faid enough, made no farther anfwer till upon my impor- tunity (he told me there might be thofe privileges allowed to Agathyrfus, which were not to be pardoned, had they been claimed by Phradates, Tn regard flie concluded thofe words with a blufh, and for that I perceived the force (lie had put upon her humour for my fake, I durft not prefume to urge her farther, but took my leave, to give Megalafes time to ex- plain the King's mind, and fpeak in my behalf. And indeed he did both with fo much 7eal and fuccefs, that from that time I was admitted as a Lover, whofc prcteiilions were au- thorifed by //y/;gWJ'J', and no way difapprovcd by Artaxira, But thtfe pleaCures that give lb fair hopes, were £oon intermix'd with croflcs the mofi: bittei 754 PHARAMOND. Part XII. bitter in the woilJ. There was a neceflity for mc to abfent my fclf from that which T ado- red, and that my abfence (hould be of a long continuance. For my hjppinefs depends up- on your return, nor could I trull any other perfon to bring about a thing of fuch import- ance, but my felf. I was alfo to pafs through Scytbia to propofe the m-tch, which //2/i- gejles fo much dcfired to fee concluded, and through Sarmatia 1 muft pafs to obtain rry Fa- thers confent, without which I could not enjoy the felicity which 1 expcdcd. Heaven knows how unwillingly, and with what reludancy I undertook this journey, though fo abfolutely neceflary. The Frincefs her felf perceived the diAurbance of my countenance, and underftanding the caufe, (he afforded me the pleafure of reading in her fair eyes, that tny abfence was not a thing indifferent to her, and that my Rival fticuld reap no advan- tage by it. This was all I could obtain at prefent from that feverc Lady, as (ox Ifdigejlet his carefTes tvere beyond exprcifion ; He befought me over and over again, to difpatch the alliance which I had promifed to make in Scythta, and hlegalafes gave me his word to take care of all things that concern'd the pallion prevailing in my heart. Thus I parted from PerfepolU^ having ^'■*<»xiri» always in my thoughts, and being arrived at Jjjedon, I was received by the King, the Queen, and the Princefs of 5nrf»M, after fuch a manner, as gave menofniall hopes of the fucccfsof my negotiation. I loft no time, I fpake to Adamarfesy told him how much it was for his intereft to have peaee with Ifdigeftes^ which could not be tfFeded, but by re- floring what the Scythians had ufurped from the Ferfia»t. Adamarfes was at firft furprifed at this propofal, and though he had a more than ordina- ry kindnefs for me, moft certain it was that he Was not well pleafcd to renounce the domi- nion of many fair Provinces. "Tis very hard, faid he, that 1 (fjould give that to purchafe a apeace, rvhich perhaps 1 fhould never lofe by war. But, Ireplied, that lawful rellitution was no gift, to which laddcd fo many other reafons, that finding him to be fomewhat (hakcn in his refolution, "Sir, ftidJ, if you will not give tho{e Territories to the King of the Ferf;- " ans, beftow them upon the Princefs of the Scythians. The immenfe trad of ground on " both iides the Imaus will fatistie your fucceffors, nor will Lycsrfis have reafon to complain " if to make hisSilkrQuecnofonecf the moft flourifhing Kingdoms of the world, you on- " ly give to the Perfians fuch provinces to which you have no certain claim. And therefore " for Heavens fake, unite the fortunes of the incomparable Sydemiris and the illuftrious Va- '■'■ranez, and ftrengthen Lycarfis with the alliance of a formidable Neighbour. Adamarfes was very unwilling to yield at firft, and made all the reftedions that fueh aa irtiportant affair required. But in regard he loved ^y^^w/V/j with a tender affedtion, and tor that the Queen defircd peace and the match whichl had propofed, he came to a pofitive refolufion, and with all the tcftimonics of acknowledgement, readily granted me, what- ever I reqiured in the name of lfdige{ies. As iox Sydemiris , (he was the moft fubmiffive perfon in the world to the will of her Parents : and therefore knowing that the Queen had Aioft excellent portraiture of the Princefs, I befought her to give it me that I might have wherewithal to jxiftitie the Beauty of her Daughter. • . The King, the Queen, and the Princefs had thus yielded to whatever I could delire, in order to the happy (ucccfs of my negotiation,! departed from Jjfedon to travel in learch of you ■foto thefe Countries. But Ihad not gone above four days journey, when 1 received the af- flidingnewsof my fathers death. That 5iar»M and if any thing troubled mc at my departure, it was only whether I (hould bring you any reinforcement of men, or whether I thould travel alone, that I might make that hafte which was conformable to the cagcrnefs of my dcfire. But while I was thus in doubt I received intelligence, that tbeodofms had fent you a confiderabic recruit. Thereupon I re- folved to accompany that Army, attended only by five Sarmaiian Knights, being received by the OiHcers of tbeodofm with all thchonopr they could have done me in my own Do- minions. They had alfothat reverence for me, that they offered to lend me a party fuffi- cient for an expedition, the particulars whereof are worth your attention. when we had paffed the F/]? ;iou> not whether be can have the btldnefito prefent himfelf befort fo great a frinceji, to jvhom he can only offer a heart that hat already loved kthcmis and Koi^^mondrr ith Jn little fuccefr? the Princefs Sy^t^ niiris camot be ignorant of it : fo that ■ 1 confefi, faid Agathyrfus interrupting him, fhe may perhaps' have heard thereof ■■, yet at the fame time no (juejiion but f:>e reas alfo inform'd^ that Varanez refufed to marry the Vaughter of the Philefopher Leontin : and that on the other fide, the Cimhthn ^een had at much ejleem and refped for him, as he could inreafon expeU from a frinceft already prepnjfejfed in favour of the King of the Franks. Horvever, if after thir declaration which I have made, if ftiU you continue a Captive to Rofamond, Sydcmiris miU have no great reafon to commend your proceedingt ; and perhaps it mi^ht produce a refentmeni wfcieib Varanez himfelf could not condemn. Shahf off then thofe fetters^ Sir, rvhith you have ■veorn thus long i and fince the Kings of Scythia and Perfia have refoh ed to unite Varanez aitd Sydemiris together , and that Sydemiris her felf has fo obligingly cenfented^ can you re- fnfevphat you (hould he overjoyed to grant to the defires of Ifdigeites, to tf^e charms cf Syde- miris, «fce wfr/t o/ Pharamond, the requeji of Roiiimond^ and your own particular Generofty f Oh, Sir, impatiently replyed he, never entreat from me any more what the eyes o/ Sydemiris have already exaUedfromthe heart of Varanez, rather be afraid, as I am, leji the divine Prin- cefs Jhould alter her mind, and repent of the favour for which 1 am only behJding to the court- (hip of the Sarmatian King. Neverthelefs, added he, in regard it r-ili not become me to forfak^ a party which I hare embraced with fo much vigour, I only beg of you fo much necejfary time as to conftder tvhat courfeto take in an affair of this importance. There are fo many ads of in- jiijlice in this league, tep\ycd Agathyrfus, which perfons cfourran^and humnu* oui}H not to endure, that we need not be fo cautious in abandoning thU party ^ when we may fo ml jtijiiff our oo o K 1 V . r n ^ i\^ j^ ivi U N JJ. n-^j onrpraceedinff^j before all the world, and indeed yon have but this to do, either to procure peace, to f) -nanyharra^ed Nations, to fet the Frinceffes at liberty, and dif charge the Vrifoners oh both j;des, or to declare againji that Army which (haU reject your oppnfitions, for a general accammo~ dation. Thus ended the communication between thofc two Princes, but the Ferfan keeping tl:c portraiture of ^yf/^-wirif in his ownliands, retired to his Quarters widi ail the convciiicncy he could, and there abandoned himfcif wholly to the p)cakirc«)tbcholdinga bcauiy, wliich to him appeared to be altogether divine, and of which he was fo fairly promifcd tiic pof- feffion. He tix'd his fight upon the countenance of that Frincefs which he already adored. He examined her complexion, her eyes, her features, and a|l thofc incxprefliblc charms which w:rc diHufcd through every part. Then pondering upon the hopes which the King of the Sarmatjans had given him. Is it pnfible, cryed he traniported with joy, that I have a priviledge to pretend, or does Agathyrfus incite me to afpire. }f that be true let us not delay our departure for IlTedon. ^let mfiee to the embraces of fortune, that defres to be reconciled to m and offers us a happineffar more fweet, than all the mifchiefs xve have endured have hitherto been painful. Concluding thofe words he made a refledion upon the diflference of the fetters he had worn, and believing that it was by thedecree of heaven, thathe had niifTed oi Athenais znd Kofamottd, he was no lefs confident that the fame deftiny had ordered Sydemiris for Vara- nez. while his fancy was thus contentedly bulled, Mjr«/a« came to give him an account of the condition of both Armies, and to impart to him certain intelligence that he had re- ceived from the Court of !Z/>f(7i^D/7«f. I cannot tell Sir, faid he, rvhet her you have been in- formed that Aldemar, Balamir, Ardcric aWGodegtlile were rrounded, that we have loriomer informed of the Kings refolution, was much dirmaycd, and haflcd to him to perfwade him to change his mind. What Sir^ faid he, are ym f< mifed .« tu fally out in perfon, or rather are you forveak^ai to furrender ap at once a porver, Tt>hich yott have had fo much trouble to eftabliflf, and which U not yet fe tvell fixed, hut that it may he at fuddenly ritin'd, fa foon as you leave the City .? Ihe King of the Huns whom you have reafonfuff.cicKt to fujjteci, is highly honoured in Agrippina. "the Princejfes are in great ejieem, and where you are only feard, you fvill foon he pghted in your ab fence. After all Sir, added he more earncflly, tpiil you ex- pofe your felf to the hazard of being takfn by your enemies^ and to he rejerved alive to fee Viri- domar in the pojfeffion of Polixena > At thofc words the King changed colour,and Briomer knowing that his mind was altct'd^ Sir, continued he, U it not better for me to make the fally, and for Gondemar alfo to be put up~ on the fame duty, rcho U not of an age to be confind in a City envimn'd with enemies ? Bffides that as 1 am informed hy fome of his ovph fervants, he has not the fame afeUion for the Frincefi of Suevia, as he had before the Battel where he was taken Vrifoner. And therefore Sir, 'tii but commen prudence to remove him with the Soldiers under hi^ command, from the charge yau have conferred upon him, and to place Sucv'unt in theftead of ihofe Eurgun6i3ns that followed hintf whereby you will become the fole Mafter of the dejliny of the Triuceffej, The King of Suevia pondered upon his advice, with as much conflderation as his trou- bles would permit him, and then embracing the Cimbrian, " You fpeak reafon Briomer,faid " he, 1 now forefce all that might have happened, through the fault which 1 had like to have "committed, and fined find your counfcl fogood, I promifc you never to undertake any "enterprife without it. Let us take no farther care then, but only to defend a City where "we have wherewithal to rendei our I'elves happy, if fortune favours our courage, and "where if (he prove unkind, we are in a capacity to render our Vidlors more mifcrable than " our felves."-' But Sh,replied Briomer tranfported by the violence ofh'vi aUive hMmour,'w\\\ it not " be necellary for me to make a fally, to let the inhabitants of Cologne lee, that it is not on. " ly in their City that I am able to do them fervice ? No, mo, Briomer, ciyed the King im« "jSaticntly interrupting him, never hazard the fallingunder your enemies power, butjiaywitb me, where we will t)iake them tremble in the midjl of their viUories. Then the ill natur'd C/wirwK refieding upon what the King had faid, and forcfceing the danger to which he expofcd himfclf, trembled to think of it not fo much out of a fear of death, as out ot|a mortal apprehcnlion that he Ihould be no longer able to milchievc ?hi- ramond or theobald, fliould he be dther flain er lofe his liberty. So that havirig confent- ed to the defires of a Prince, whofe inclinations were fo conformaWc to his own. 5/>,{aid he with a bold and fierce look, fuch as he was wont to put on when he? had any pernicious plot in his head, J will not only not forfakf your Majefly nor the Frinctfffs^ but I alfn folemnly ffete^ before that Trince, whom 1 reverence above all the Princes in the world, tbJt however for* tune deals hy us, Pharamond whomlwiV hate tothe lali gaJpfhaV rihfr hhhappy, if it be time that he'na Lover o/Rofamond. for in (hort Sir, Rofamond and ]i'LVMVmt'alhaU'pe.fi(b if we lofe Agrippina, and 1 will envolve PollXcna in the faine dejliny ^ ip^¥ipilt^iiot coHfeUt tgfubmit royour Majefiy. ,..;..■; ,.,,1 . :■, ■ un ttrl .di .Lti,! .-rdOf!. , ''■■ Briomer made thefc detcflablc ptoteftations, when news wa^'bi'ought of the^ftfolution which had been taken, to demand a truce for three days. The Ring &t'- Suevia was nothing furprifed atfirft, that thty had dcfircd thattimC, thinking it fiarf^ly bcen'tto bUry tiieir dead, and to require time to repair the damages that had been received in bofh the Lamps, but his fufpiciouS' humour rendi'ing all things doubtful, he exa^mincd theMcfl'engev that came from the Arniy^by whorti he found that it was Varanez, thifhad not only propound- ii' the fufpcrifion ot Arms, but alfo had thought it reafon'aBle that A//»r many djH- geroiis accounts. , ■• And having fo faid, he declared to him what he thought of the Prince. Lriamer agreed that Kjrj«fa had taken off his affcdions iiom RaJamo^J : But, Sir^ fiid he to the King if we intend to reduce a Spirit fo haughty asbii^rve muli i^o alotti^ tri-h hint for a time that- n>e may infenf.bly divert him from the conrfe he purfuei. But if he rviU be objimJte and //uf ihere be HO may to retain him with lis, let m endeavour to viik^ fure of Pmice Aldcmar that we may have the Sixom and Jutlandcrs to our Friends, injiead of oftbofe Forces wbichthee- tber will be fure to draw alon^ with him. 1 have the fame defign, rcplycd the King and it may be I have thought of a way to bring it to pjji. He was about to have cxprcfied himfelf more at large, when he was inform-d that Mar- tian was arrived, not only to make certain propolltions on the General's behalf, but to vilic 'tbrafimond,whofc difcontentsof mind were more to be feared than the wounds that he had received in the laft Conflid. The Suevian King was vexed to the Soul, to hear that Mar. tian was come tn Coloe^ne : and while he was confulting Briomer which way to onpofc the peace, without provoking the Captains, which tiicy intended to prefcrvc in the league Martian alighted at Ibrafmond's Quarters, faw hiiti, and endeavoured to comfort liim up' but told him nothing of the news which he had received, only what he thought would not beany way offcniive to him. But being gone to vifit ,S"k««oh in another Apirtment cer- tain Officers came to T/^-af/wflM^/ out of refpedt : and by them that Prince, wiiofc mind ran only upon Eudoxia, informed liimfclf of all th; particulars that concern'd that Princcfs. Jhraftmond^ who was well acquainted with Eudoxia's difpofition, knowing what thecf- feds ofher grief muft be, was pierced with fuch a lively and violent forrow, that HoThun* derclap could h^jyc-prov'd more terrible than the fatal lydings that he had iieard.He beheld the Officer without fpeaking a word,but with eyes wherein the trouble and wildnefs of his looks fpoke much more than his tongue could exprcfs.At length," Cruel Fortune, cryedbe " with more vehemency than wasfcafonablefr hif jirengtb at that time, was it not enough for " thee to hate 7brafimond ^hut that thou murt pcrfecute the incomparable Athena'nfS\)iic un- '*■ juft and cruel Divinity, fpare the greateft Beauty upon earth i and acknowledge that vir- *■' tue at length whofe brightncfs might be enough to clear the blindncfs of thy hght. He could fay no more, in regard his ftrength began to fail him: Martian, the Phyfici- ans and feveral others hailed to his relief i but all their endeavours prov'd in vain for a per- fon that defircd nothing but death ; when he had recovered a little ihength, he made ufe of it only to bemoan, himfelf j aud rather making anfwer to his own thoughts, than to the people that fpoke to him, "Fair Athenaii, dolefully cryedhe, incomparable Eudoxia, is ic " polfiblethey fiiould raife fufpicions againlt you, more offenlive to a pcrfon of your hu- " mour, than the gift of that Empire where I have fcen you reign with fo much glory > " Divine Princefs, did they crown you only as a vidime which they intended to facrifice >. *:* And thou prejudicated Prince, blind Iheodofiut, that Heaven fliould bellow upon thee the " poffeffion of a trcafure, of which thou knoweft not the value .' Call thy eyes upon the " unfortunate 7/»rjr/;mo«rf, and conlldcr, that if he dies becaufe he could not move Eudoxi- "<«'/ heart, there is little probability, that Tsulinus, who fo difturbs thy fancy with ill *' grounded fufpicions, could ever ttiutnph over AthenaU, or enter into a heart prepoffcflcd " by 'theodofws, and where he IHU reigns as ungrateful and unjuft as thou art. T^r<»/;m»«J accompanied thofe words with adeepfigh i and at length teais trickled down from his eyes in fuch abundance, as melted all the beholders into compalllon ; Martian, more fenfibly afflidcd, uled all his endeavours' to comfort his Friend. But the Prince be- holding him with a languilhmcnt that moved all the ftanders by, '' My dear Martian, jaid " he, and will you oppofe the only felicity that 7hrafimond can pretend to / He is about "to terminate a life which he cannot endure but as a continual torment; and can he more " glorioufly end it, than in facrihcing it to the divine Athenaii ? Yes, Martian, I will fa- ''cririceit, and the facrifice which I offer to the divine /ff/;o»<«w will not be unproritablcto "her reputation, when all the world ihallfee that PauUnus could have but little hopes, " where nothing but defpair proved fo fatal to the Brother of GwWfr/c. He would have faid inore, bbt the unfortunate Athenais preftnting her fclf to his fancy,, overpre(re.d his foul with grief, that he could proceed no farther. Martian rtill dellrous to fave his life, did not ftick to breath into him a dellrc and a probability of feeing Eudoxia a- A a a a a 2 * gain/ 740 r n ^ i\. ^iviu f\ u, r A R T ah. gain, fo foon as flie (hould be difcngaged from the Court. But Thrafmond perceiving the intention of his Friend, Ah, Martian, cryed lie, rchy (hould you propfe that nhkb yott could never approve ? JVithoHt qnejUo)t yox k^no hoiv fcrapitlnuf and nice Athenais J^, a»d you defire to make me hated by that incomparable perfon, at a time when I may move her compaffittt^ and perheps her acknowledgment. After thofe words he paufed a while , but having recovered a little ftrength, My dear Martian, faidheagain, nothing grieves me more but that I mn^k leave you before I feeyouuni- ted to that Princifiivhom yon fo entirely love. But, Martian, I conjure ysu by that friendjhip Tvhich I have alfcays faitbfuHy preferved for you, topublijh in the Court of Theodotius hopf Thrafimond came by his end, and to let the incomparable Athenais He would have made a concluiion, but he pronounced the name of Athenais with fuch a redoubkment of love and grief, that his Body being extrennely weakened by the tediouf- nefsof his fufferings, and a great lofs of blood, yielded to a viclent agitation, which his foul was no longer able to rclifl:. Thus died the illwilrious and unfortunate Ihrafimond, a Prince whom a thoufand noble qualities had rcndrcd more worthy of abetter fate. All the flanders by bemoaned a defti- ny fo deplorable i and Martian yet more afflicted, had not conftancy enough to conceal his grief. And after he had (bed fufficient teftimonics upon his Herfe, he took order that the Body (hould be fcnt to the Camp of the Franks, to the end, that Gi^//c/e/ returning in- to Spain might carry it to Gunderic. But as it was impoflible they could bcftow their moans and funeral Ceremonies upon him without a noife, 5«««o;» perceived that Ihrafimondvus dcad,and laying his death a?forrowfully to heart as his prefent fufferings would permit,^^^ poor Trince, cryed he, w th'^ then the end of thy virtuous life ? We have lo\i thee Thralimond, hut thou art gone but a few days before Sunnon ; for I find too n>eU the fatal paffion that reigns in my heart, will have no better fuccefi than that which thou ha[i experienced. Then the ferious protcftation of Amalazontha fo cruelly feifed his imagination, that the difconfolatc Lover, abandoning himfelf to hisdifcontents, was fuddenlj reduced to a moft rniferable condition. Every one was grieved at it in Cologne, except the King of Suevia and Briomer. And the PrincefTes no fooner heard the news, together with the death of Ihrafimond, but they were moft fenfibly afflidled as well for the one as the other. As for Sunnon, Kofamond znd Albifinda highly efteemed him, not only for his own merit, but for Tharamond ivd Marcomire^s iike. Yet durft not Ko/i»»o»//fpeak for him, not being wil- ling to addrefs her felf to a Princcfs who looked upon her as the caufe of her own misfor- tunes i but /^/^'}!«<^j went to the Queen of the T^wr/z/gifwr, and finding the Princefs of the Trenkj witjj her, (he not only fpoke, but was by her iecondcd with all the vehcmency that could be expedled from her friendftiip. Tolyxena coy\\\ixe.d Amalazontha vi'w^Mtixi'mhct eyes, to have compallion upon the Prince her Brother, a Brother for whom (he had a par- ticular affedion from her very cradle. The Queen of the "Turingiens figh'd, inftcad of rc« turning an anfwer, and by the languifliment which was obferved in her eyes and her coun« tenance, it might be eafily conje(ftured that (he was no better treated by fortune than thofc whofe miferics made the loudefi noife. For if Kofamond, Polyxena and Albifinda were cru- elly feparated from their dearert Brothers, and illuftrious Lovers, yet they had fome hopes tube relieved by their valour > even Hunnimondaher felf, that had loft her Kingdom and her Parents, believed (he (hould recover much more in the perfon of her beloved Iheobald, than (he had loft. But Amalazontha endured thofe mifchiefs without any expedlation of comfort or redrefs : (he loved a Prince whofe heart (he knew was prcengaged i flie loved him indefpiteof her own reafon, and againft her own willi and whatever refolutions (he took, (he could not forbear loving what all the world admired as amiable. Neverthelefs, the vigoroufly oppofed the progrefs of that tyrannous pajfionj and as (he was obliged to be juft to Sunnon, and generous to Kefamo?:d^ (he made thofe reproaches to her feif, which redoubled the violence of her difcontents. In this fad condition (he beheld Pc/)i5cf//a and Albifinda with tears in her eyes, and in words that (hewed the troubles of her mind, Fair Pr;«ee/?,anrwered ftie,? cannot tell whether 1 have not §oken to my felf for Prince Sunnon all that youyour fives have ffyok^t i» his behalf •■, attd whether 1 have not a tbsufand times confu dered,that it is enough for hmhiomet to accufe me of ingratitude, without giving Sunnon reafon to tnakg the fame complaint. But after all this, 1 have not yet overcome the malignity of my de~ ftiny i however, I dejpair not altogether to pal^e off the yoke ef my mU fortune, and todojufiice tea Prince who merits a better fortune than "That Prince, (i]d Polyxena, interrupting him, kjiows very well the value of your affeCiions. But, Madam, I am to let you underhand, that be is reduced to fo deplorable an extremity,- that I fear the kjndnefi you be-rin to have for him, wi// bt altogether inefedual, if he receive net qitickfy fome tefiimeny from you, either by Word 1300K IV. ftlAKAMOND. 741 tvord if moutb, or under your hand. I (}:ould never refuff, rcplyed the I'uringien Queen, ti gne Prince SnmoD a vifitittjoMr company, bad I that command wer my ftlf which 1 eu^ht ti have. But, Madam, what can I anfiver to a Prince wha fays I render him unhappy, (honld he prefime to declare my felf when 1 am not in a condition t« do it to his advantage. Be fatisfied therefore I befeech you xvith a Letter i 1 rvili rvrite my real thought! , and perhaps he Jhall have no reafon to complain. Polyxena molliHcdby the looks and language of Amalazontha, was contented thata Let- ter fliould fuffice at prefcnt, to mitigate Sunnon's defpair. Thereupon Amalazontha wrot« the following lines to a Prince whofc misfortunes fl\c did not look upon with that indiffc- tency with which he had taxed her. The Queen of the Turingiens to Prince Sunnon. I cannot tell whether the Gods be mov'd at our misfor- tunes or no; but this I know, that I perceive fuch a Combat in my heart in your behalf, that I never fdt the like before. Perhaps my reafon will not always pive ground, which in regard it is of your fide, and pleads al- together in your behalf ,- there is fome probability that you will hot always have caufc to complain of my inju- ftice. The hope of this change ought to mitigate fome part of your pains. Then mind your health. Prince, 'tis Amalazontha begs it of you and commands you by all that power which you defire (he fhould have over your heart. She had no foner wrote this Letter, but (he fent it away by one of her fervants to Sun- non. Prcfently after, P«//«aj waiting upon her, with an intention to have carried it her felf: I have already ^ Madam, (i\d (he, fent atpay rvbat you come for -, deeming it convenient that my letter fhould precede your vifit, u the end you might find the Prince in a better conditim on, if it be a truth that he has fuch a refpeH farme. The impatient Polyxena interrupting her, returned her thofe thanks which (he thought were her due v and immediately went to fee her Brother that was fo dear to her. She was nofooncrcomc to his bedfide, but (he cad her eyes upon his Countenance i and perceiving an apparent mitigation of thofcfor- rows that were imprinted in his looks before. " Well Brother, fsid (he, will you not ex- •' pel from your thoughts that defpair which has hitherto oppreffed your fpirits ? And will •' you not agree, that you have now Icfscaufc to complain of Amalazontha, than you belle- " vcd you had > I rnuft acknowledge, deatliftcr, anfwered he, that that Divine Princcfs " has done thofc things in my behalf, from whence I have received a more than ordinary " Confolation. And I dare alTure you, that if that kindncfs which (he has begun to (hew " me, could but overcome at length that reludancy which has always uppofed my good " fortune, I (hould not only recover and live, but I (hould alfo be the happjelt man in the " world. He had no fooner concluded, but a pleafing phanfie of love caufing him to ponder upon Polyxena^s words, perfwaded him that he was beholding to that Princcfs for the letter he had received \ which, in regard it produced a fuddain dejedion of mind : " But, dear *• filter, added he, did not your entreaties, rather than Sunnon's fufferjngs, move Amala- " ZoMtha to this compadion ? " If you go zboat, anfa-eredfPje, to feek new ways to torment yous' 74^ PHARAMOND. Fa^t XIL " your fdf, you may believe that the Queen of the "turitigietts only flatters you, to conti- " nuc your fori ows by prolonging your life : but if you knew her humour, and would " judge according to equity, you would fee that AmaUzontba is no diffetiibler, and that no " conlldcration of friendlhip could make her write contrary to herown thoughts. There- " fore, fince (he forbids you to defpair, you have reafon to hope : nor need you toquertion «' but that (he is very much concerned for your prefervation. "Well, (llier, anftvered he, •' my life and death are in the fair hands of the T'wr/wg/fw Queen v for which reafcn 1 beg of " you not to omit any thing which maybe eifedual to render her favourable and kind to my " fu(ferings i and to adt (or me with that aftedion which you have always teftihed upon oc» " cafions lefs important. ^iuv/ ;..,■■;. while Sunnon and To/yx^w* thus entertained each other, the King of Sutv'ta vtrasmorc differently perplexed > not knowing what anfwer to give to the propofals that Marcian had made him : For as he hated the very thoughts of peace, yet durft not provoke thofe pei- fonsthat defiredan end of the War, he bent his mind by what ftratagein he might difen- gage himfelf out of thefe intricacies. After he had confidcred of a thoufand ways, at length he (ixcd upon one refolution i at what time M^r/iaw caine to attend him; 5'r, faid he to the King, I cannot tell whether the Forces of your League are weary or no of the labours- and dangers which they have fo lon^ undergone : but thU I am fure of, that moji of the chief Ca^ plains are clearly for a general Accommodation i and to terminate the differences that keep foma- m Nations in Arms, one againji another. Though the King knew what Martian came about, however, at fir(\ he would needs fcem to be furprized, and indeed, to be very much vexed at it : and therefore, after a very fmart manner ■, " Sir, faid he^ either I am deceived, or few of our Generals are of that o- '• pinion which you declajrc : For can you believe fo many great Princes, paflionately in love " with Kofamond, will fo ealily renounce their hopes, to ellablidi Pharamond's felicity ? "However, replyed Mitthn, I muit tell you, that the King of the Fr««^» has fewer Rivals " than you are aware of i and there is one great Soldier in our Camp fo far (rom fighing for •' Kofamond, that his only aims arc to contribute to the delivery of that fair Princefs, and " to a general peace. *■' I underftand you, replyed the King of Suevia, tvith a vifible difcom- " ^ofure ■■, you mean Varanez without doubt ; but though that Prince be fo uncon(tant in '' his humour, there are Kings among us, that will more vigoroufly defend us, (hould you " your fclf deprive us of yopr Recruits. Wjr/iiiw, after he had'Juhified F.^r^w^'z upon the change of his mind, with which the King of Suevia taxed him j " I am apt to believe, ad- " ded he, that the ailiUance you fpcakof is not very n,ece(rary ■■, yet the manner of lo(ingof " it, for ought I know, may put you to more trouble than you are aware of. The King of Suevia apprehended too well Martian's meaning i and though he mortally dreaded, left the Army of T/ifo^io^Kf (hould ioynv/hl) Fharamond's, yet with his wonfed natural fierce* nefs : " lundciftand your meaning, Sir, faid he ■■, but let us ("peak and ad more plainly. " For your part, refolve as you pleafe, either to (lay with us, or joyn with Tharamrnd. "For my part, the world (hall know I am not fo much afraid of my life, to fear any acci- '' dent that can threaten it. Nay, it will be lefs advantageous to Pharamond to receive a " large recruit, than to keep that equality of number that might ballancc Fortune. For " though (he (houid bring me down to the loweft depth of defpair, I will neither defire nor *' grant any favour i but burying my felf uader the ruines of Cdlogne, \ will involve in "my deftiny thofe perfons whofe lofs will make my enemies repent ot being Vidtors. He pronounced thofe words with an air fo conformable to his language, that Martian, who had all theteafon in the world to fufped the violence of his humour, took his leave forfiarof provoking him any farther, and went to confult with the King ot the Hunt what courfe to take to moderate a fury, whofe menaces might prove fo tragical, . But the politick King of the Suevians had no other delire than to hinder tjie Creeks, that iwere about to leave him, from joyning with the franks, and to gain him time for the Sa- xons to come to the league before the truce were expired. To bring about his defign, it behoved him to remove I'heodofm's Army, and to prolong Martian's Negotiation : and theretore he v/ould by no means prefently hear of an accommodation,as well to fpin out the time, as to rake away all fufpicion, (hould he appear too condefcending to that from which all the world believed him fo averfe. However, he thought that Martian would not be eafily put off at the beginning of an enterprifc of fo much importance, and that the greater rcafori he had tolear the confequencesof the war, the more he would endea- vour for aconclulion of it. Nor was he deceived in his conjedrures : for while he was thus reafoning with him.felf the King cf the Huns came to him, and laid before him that it was wow high time to calm the Tempelt that had (hakcn all Etirope. Nor do 1 believe yeur can- ditim Book IV. FHAKAMOND, 745 ^itiontobefodr^erate, added he, to infufe into youth fere folutions^ ofvcbichMatUinba/git ^enfome intimation : But m the contrary that it will be much more for your advantage to make « feace and confent to the welfare of Pliaiamond. In (Ijort^ yon muli rvfolve quickly upan the one or the other, before the departure of the Greeks, upon whom there U a neceQity of leaving Gcr« many. He ufcd fo many other ftrong and prefling Arguments, that the King of Sxevia after he had paufed a while, and ma«lc as if he had had a ji^reat conflidt with himiclf, thus bcgan,5ir faid he, I find at length that there is a necejjity for me to dif cover my tery hearty and to jjeab to youwiththat confidence which the conformity of our age and quality requires that we flionldhave the one in the other. I mufi tell you then that 1 am ohjifnjtely fet upon war^ not out of the hit-, tred which Hear to Phaiamond, for that is not fo violent to hinder me from confentingto a peace could I but reconcile my felf to my enemies^ without the ahji)lnie ruine of my own affairs ; For if I confent to furrender Rofamond to Pharamond, Pde arm againji me the Burgundians, He- rules, Gcpides and Alains, and this only in favour of a Prince who believes he may fur fake mt wpithout being ingrateful. And therefore he fare the treaty begin, 1 think^it will be my heji way to fecure my fclf from the fcandals tbdt GonA'ioch, Arderic, , Arderic, zn^Codegefile to iuhmit to the accommodation which you deftre, "To which purpofe we mufi: refolve to weaken our (elves, by difmiliing the forces of Tfefi?- ^'■defius, provided we may be aflured that Tbaramond will not inlKl upon more fevere terms "than he now demands. " Were you well acquainted with that Prince, replied the King '"''oftheWnm, queftionlcfs you would have no caufe either of fear or fufpicion, and I dare "be conhdetiihis acknowledgment would grant you your own conditions, provided you *' would deliver Kofamond to the King of the Ctmbrians. " VVeli then Sir, replied the Sae- "vranK/«g, let us put an end to die diifefenccs wherein we have intereffed fo many Nati- "ons : Let us difmifs Varanez, and Martian Vvith their forces, and for my part 1 proteft thai *'Iwill endeavour to facilitate the fuccels of the negotiation to the utmoll of my "power. The King of the Huns fully fatisfied with thefe cxpreffions , failed not to fortifie the Suevian King in his good intentions, with all the arguments imaginable, as alfo to ad^er- tife Martian of all that had paffcd. Martian having jbyfulFy received the news, immediate- ly attended both the Princes, and in that laft conference it was refolved upon, that that ve- ry day orders (hould be given for the departure of the Greekj, and for meeting of the Com- millionerson bothlides in reference to the treaty. Martian thereupon took Itafve of the two Kings, and as he was going the SKfrwMftedfaftly beholding him, Pardon me Sir, faid he, if I make you a fmall requejl, which I cannot forbear to defire though 1 believe it to be inconfi* derable. It'uonlythii, that you would not give the leaji caufe of fuj]:cioK to Gond'iodi, Arde» fie or Godegefile, that 1 confented to the departure ofynur Iroops. For then thofe Princes wiD look^upon the lofi of which we have been the caufe, as the original of all thofe other mii fortunes^ wherewith they are threatned. 1 think it alfo neceffary for me to fend one of my Officers to the Camp, to conjure the Rivals of Pharamond not to oppnfe the march of your Army, leji theyfhould draw out the Franks to your relief, and give you thereby good caufe to joyn with »ur enemies^ Martian chearfully agreeing to the King oi Sueviah propofal, the King called for the Cap- tain of his Guards, and laving inftruded him m a few words, he commanded him to fol- low Martian, and difchargc himfelf of the Commifljon wherewith he had entruUcd him. , while they are thus refolving, and that nothing but furpiifeand admiration alarm'd the Camp ncii Cologne, to hear that thcGreekj were about to kave them, honour and renown fefplendently (hines in every part of the vidorious Army of Pharamond. And yet there was 3 kind of gloomy melar.choly clouded their joy, while every one grieved for the death of - ^hrafmiond, and the fad condition oi Sunnon. Every one bewailed the Brother of Gunde. ^ic, every one longed to fee the Brothei oi Pharamond, and it thatlovtr oi Amalazoniha would hive left the City whcie the iair Queen rcfided, the important oficrs which the King 744 PHARJMOND, Fart Xil. of thcFranhf fent for his Ranfome, \^ould have foon freed that valiant Prince, ficm that Captivity which had befallen him, only to moderate the heat of his courage. Eut he not finding himfelf in a conditihn to fight for the Frinccfs, was eafily induced to ilay in /4;^rip. piiia, till heaven and AmjljzuHthaOnou\d difpofe ot his future Ic rtune. However after he had received theQi!.eens letter, he was much more at cafe than before, and natienily endu. icd thole applications which were ufed for his recovery. The news of thai chanft,e being fpread in the Camp,of the Fraukj, caufed an extraordinary joy, and the fame day as mucli to their content there appeared upon the Khine a great number of bo. s and Vti'fels which F/azi/ but the politick Prince, to prolong the Treaty, re- folved to demand fevcr.jl Provinces in Germany for the At jut, Cepides, Herulei and lia~ fierner. Then being informed ihzt Sinibald was in the (Jamp ot t\iC hrankj, fo foonas Martian was retura'd to the Camp, he fent for the Prince of ihzSaxjns to come to Co* toji^ne, to which Aldemar readily confented. Thepolitick King tiaving received him with all the honour, and all the marks of affccSion which he could expedt from a Prince ot his ^ifp|||tion. Sir, faid he, 1 kjtow that SinibM ii in the Camp of our Enemies, -and that Phz-- ramjla. hat promifed him ah the ajjiliance he fljall ftand in need of, m vcell to repair hn l<^Jpt, at to reenter Mclalintha. But, Sir, I iviL^ let yau fee how highly 1 value fucb a Confederate as youare-f. for either fhsLtimond (hall fore-go the interejis of your Kival, and confent that yoU may be happy with the Prince ft, who U already yourt by promife, or elfe he pat! feel the war hot- ter than ever j and I will perifh^ together n\ith all my friends, in the fupport of your pretentiens. Aldemar^ who underftood that S^ffibald was really in the Army of Pharamond, tcfiihed his acknowledgment for fuch obligi,pg protellations ;, but declared withal, that he would lingly decide the difference which he had witli Sinibatd, without engaging many nations in a particular quarrel, who had undergone too many hardlhips and dangers already. Ne- verthelefs, in regard the King of the Sarmatians was about to abandon the League inafeyv days, Aldemar thought it convenient to offer the Suevian, finding it fo feafonable, the fame courtefie that he had offered to him » which he did with an incomparable grace, yet cot fo much out of inclination, as put of acknowledgment,, .;, The King of Suevia overjoyed that he |]ad engaged in the League the Saxons and /««« ianders, rninded nothing more than, to gain time, till fuch a conliderable recruit could come to the Camp. But when C//>Ko«ii and G/7/wfr were arrived with the forces undet their Command, he put off his vizer : fo that when Martian came to Cologne ^hc next time, their conference ended in a manner far different frorn the civilities they ufed to (hew at other times. The Lieutenant of 7headofms accofiing him with ail the marks of a true fatisfadiion in his looks ; I pr«te{i, Sir^ faid he, all the Prince t whom you call ymr enemies, are very generous \ they have readily confented to what you demanded for the King of the Bur- gundians i andthey will ufe aH their endeavifur^ to fatitfie Homhcit, Arderic and Godegefile, I atfi very glad of it, replyed he : bat after I have fpoken i}t behalf of my friends, I thinl{_it vfiO Hot be improper^ to defire fecurity from Pliatanxind for my fe If. 7ou JhaU have tt in m ample and firm A manner m you can expelf, replyed Martian : 'XoufnaU not only have the liberty to ally yaur Family to the King of the i'i2iiks,by.t he marriage o/; Viridomar tvith r^— How! cryed he, interrupting him with a Orange fury, and traniported with choler, would yotftbata perfidious wretch, that revolted to the f.twki, ?>ily to Jacrifice me to bn ambition * that an unnatural nionjier that feeks my life, (hould \irengthen himfelf bya>fif[ya>ice rvith Vhi" fimond,and wiih my confent too.'' Firji let tbepien whifb you wnyld fjve bf.a pface fo tragical /» me, pertjh a.thoufand times in the moli bloody war that evefjipa;/ waged upm the earth. But, Sir, replyed Mar tian, how can you elfe fo falidly reconcile your felf to the Kin^ of the Franks, as you defire? I /«ej^ ot you mean f Do you believe the Princefs of the Franks «?«" B b'b b b prif^r 74^ PHARAMONR Fart XII. prefer you before Viridomar, or that Marcian dares make a propofal- Let him let it a. lone, cryed he, interrupting him, and tranfportcd with his wonted fury : And I alfo de- clare^ that fhmmond f^all eMpvfietther peace mr happinefs as long as Hive: and new dn sr you thinks fitting, takf my Enemies part ^ ^jjii/ Cologne, tah^ the "town., but never expe£i that Pharamond IhaU get any advantage by a viSory which I can render tragical and fatal when J tleafe. "Yes, Sir, briskly replied the Lieutenant ofHonoiius, we will take Pharamond's "party, and beat up your Quarters with an Ariny fo fornr^idable, that the Ramparts of ^. "gr;^^/«jlhallnot pioteft you from the Fire and Sword wherewith they intend to com» " plcte the quarrel of their great King. Upon thofe words he flung out of the Room, and the furious Prince, inftead of re- turning an anfwer, began to confider whether it were not his beft way tofcife his perfon. But thinking himfcif in a condition to icC\(i Pharamond, not without fome flattering hopes of vidory, he would not commit an ad of violence that might provoke Varanez, Agatbyr- fui and Agelmond, and caufe them to march back their fcvcral Forces upon him. He alfo feared the lofis of Aldemar i but more left the Inhabitants of Cologne fliould take Arms in the defence of an illuflrious perfon fo highly affronted, only for endeavouring to reftore peace to their Gates. As for the Rupture,hc was unwilling to be accounted the author of it himfelf,and therefore hefent for the Magiftrates oi Cologne to make his excufeitelling them that it was not his fault that the Treaty did not go on with that fucccfs as they expfdted. " I gave my confent, faidhe, to whatever might facilitate the accommodation i but when " Ihad fubmiftcd to all that concern'd the general intereft, they would invade the particu- " lar interefts of my Family, they would difpofe of Viridomar and Albifinda, and compel "mc to reward a Rebel that has born Arms againft me. Then to perfwade theqj how moderate a perfon he was, " That the world may know, "purfuedbe howfarlam from iifing thofe aifts of violence of which my Enemies accufc " me, I give free liberty to all perfons that will leave our party to depart out of Jgrippma^ '* thoui;ii it be to the Army of the Frankj. While by thete politick infinuations he {drives fo preferve his own authority in a City where all his hopes were enclofcd, Varanez, Martian., Agathyrfu^ znd Agelmond rckhe to joyr. wifh the Camp of the Frankj. As for the King of the Huns and Prince Balamir, they had too great an avertion againft the injufticc of the league, too high an efteem of the no- ble- qualities of Pharamond, and were too amicably linked to the intcrefts of the King of the Lombards, not to embrace the fame party. Agelmsndat his departure horn Cologne., propofcd it to his Sifter to go along with him, but the generous /4gM«f befought him to let her ftay with her illuftrious companions, and to run the fame fortune with them, rather than toflielter hcrfelf in theCampof Pbartmond. The magnanimous King of the Low bards could not difptovc her anfwer, and the enamoured Balamir., who never parted from his charming Princefs but with a moft fenfible fdrrow, wasfo far from contefting with her refolution, that henot only admired it, but was overjoyed to hear it, notwithftanding the difcontcnts it might caufe him to fuffcr. As iot Aldemar, they perceived him infupport- ably melancholy, by reafon of the word which he had paflRd to the King of Suevia, whom he began to fufpcdt to have fpoken ill of Pharamond \ but Agathyrfx reftored his mind to Jts former tranquillity, by telling him the reality of things. He inform'd him after what manner Pharamond had received Sinibaldy and after he had juftified that Prmce, " Sir, faid " be, 'tis moft true that the moft juft of the two parties would rccdve a moft confiderablc " reinforcement both from your own valour, and the courage of your Soluicrs, yet I dare "' fay, if you ftay in this league, you may ad more friendly in Pharamond^ behalf, than if '■' you turn to his alllftance with all your Forces. You cannot think, added be xvitb afmile^ "thatlfpeak in this manner to injure the vktue of Prince Aldemar, but rather to tcftihe " the relyance we have in your Gcoerofity. Stay then where 1 fee there is none elfe that can *'oppofc the violences of the Suevian King, for the intereft of the PrincefTes. For though *' the Kiiig of the Gepides , and the Prince of the Burgtindiaus are noble in their inclinations, "yet fortune wiU have it thzt Ardaric \owcs Kofamond, and thu Gondemar has no powcc "but under a Rival of Phartwond. . /4/««r having confented to whatever the King of the Sarmatians requefted, promifed to keep in Co/o^«if with a good Body of Saxons, and in ferving the league, at the fame rime to ferve thofe moft incomparable perfons that were fo tyrannically treated. Then conti- nuing hisdifcourfc full of acknowledgment, " I will tell you more, faid he, to avoid be- *' ing ingrateful, and wor(tcd in tight, that is, that I may avoid engaging with the pre- "ferverot Melafintha, I will only feck out 5>«iW£/i 5i«i^jW fiiull be the only enemy that "I will have in your Army. Agatbjrfm Book IV. PHARAMOND. 747 /f^j/;&yr/"«/ having rcturn'd Iiim an anfwcr, with a gencrolity ihtk different fvnm /tide- war's, the two Princes embraced as they tc)o!< their leaves, and the King of tiie Sarmatiatif together wiih his illullriuus friends, departed to )oyn with thcFrankj^ as was vehenicntly fufpc(^ed in the League. But though their arrival produced an extraordinary joy in thofc places where their valour was fo well known, yet the enannoured Pharamond who trembled^ every moment for h\?,l\ofamond^ was conllrained fortrive with himfcif to conceal lijsgrigf at the reception of thofc Princes, to whom notwithrtanding his inwird difquiet of mind he gave thole due honours with which they were very well fatislied. Afterwards as hisafflidlion was accompanied with a vehement defire of taking Co/i;^^^ for the delivery of his Princcfs, he confulted the fame day with the King of the Huhi, Theof hald^ Varaitez^ Cottflance^ Viridomar^ AgathyrfuSy l'/''<»i/«, and thofe other Princes and great Commanders in the Army, about the quick execution of To important an enterprifc. Pre- fently it was rcfolved that they (hould Hnifli the Bridge, i"o that after they had taken a view of the materials provided for that purpofe, Pharamond ^ Viridomar ^ the Prince ol Terfia Martian^ Agathyrfuf^ Agelmond^ and Balamir^ marclied couragioully and in good order, to- ward the Trenches of the Enemy, to repel fuch forces as fnould oppofe the deligns of th? frankj. CoHJiance, the Kings ot the C;wir/,««/, and T'ongrej, the Prince of the P

    « and the fierccnefs of their looks was foon fupported by a(ftions that caufed a far greater dread. Al- dtmar w3i then 'v\ Agrif'pina, where heconlulted fometimes with G the furicus King gave fuch a look upon the Officer that brought him word, as fufficiently declared his mind ■■, and underftanding that Viridemar and Tharamond were in Jgrippina, he trembled for madnefs, and a (hort while after he was all over of a cold fweat. His affifiants did not believe then he had long to live, when the King putting his ftrength to the utmoft ftrefs, called to one of his Efquires next his Bed-iide, and demanded of him what news of Brio^ *»er. Sofoon as he underftood that he was alive, and Maftcr of the Cittadel, refuming his fpeech, I die fa't'njied, cryed he, fince there yet remains alive fa courageous a prfon^ and faithful to me, in fitch a conditon to mifchieve my Enemies, With a confolation of this nature expired a Prince whofeend was anfwerable to his life. Viridomar was much concerned for his lofs, how unjuft foever his Father had been. And whil e the Suevians thronged to acknowledge their Sovcraign, news was brought that Bri- omer demanded three days to fet his own particular affairs in order, as alfo to capitulate for thofe that adhered to him. The paflionate Lovers, who after fo many croffesand luf. ferings faw their happincffes (o near approaching, thought the time tobeinfupportable, Co that they vvcre more than once refolved to ftorm the Caltle : but the frantick humour of the Cimbrian being more dreadful to them than a million of armed men, they determined to yield to that perfon who made them tremble in themidft of their triumphs : not but that they fometimes flattered thcmfelves with hopes, th^t Briomer, thinkinjg to reap fome great advantages to himfelf, might at length prefer a confiderable advancement before the plea- fure of adting a crime which he could not commit without running the hazard of his life; Neverthelefs, thofe thoughts, though grounded upon ftrong probabilities, could not af- fure them, when they reflected upon the wickednefs of the perfon that ftill alarm'd their quiet i which made them undergo difturbances hardly to be expreffed, though they had bufinefs fufficient at fuch a time as that. In fhort, befides that they were wounded, it behoved them to pacific the prefent Tumults, and to receive Placidia, the Queen of All>i' «K, "theodolinda, the Princefs of the NfOTftiaw/, and the famous Mf/w/iwa \ who were arri- ved under the fafe conduftof the Kings of .<4r»i«ric«, and the "fongres ■■, being attended by a great number of Officers, by Iheon, Vinox and Flavian. Con^antine and Taxander had brought the Enemy's Army on their fide, to accept of Conditions of peace i fo that the Kings of the Ge fides and Ba^erns removed from the banks of the 'B-hine^ becaufe they would not be witneffcs of their Rival's happinefs. Varanez aud Jgelmond, whofc wounds were neither dangerous nor painful, entred alfo that day into Agrippina. And at the fame time Aldemar, Gontran, Gondemar and Sunnon began to rife, and refolve to go abroad the next day : So that all things began to tend to the revolution which was defired. Neverthelefs, the Princeffes not being yet at liberty, they durft not open their hearts to admit thofe jcys, which feemed to crave entrance. On the contrary, the enamoured tharamond, the King of the Cimbrians^ the King of the Suevians, the Prince of the H««j, Marcomire, Conde- mar, Sunnon, and Gontran, were poffeffed with a deep languilliment, that ftifled fheif publick rejoycing : and whatever could be faid for their confolation, they were always in lear for the lake of thofe perfons whom they loved i and that fear was incompatible witii all other plcafingpallions. The Qu^een of the Fifigeths, to whom Melufnahid declared whaj. Book IV. F H A K A M N D. y^k whatever concerned the fortune of Pharamond, Jabourcd to fill that Prince with hopes ; and alTured him that he (hould not only be (uddcrily happy with lUfamottd^ but that there was not any Monarch in the world, to whom the Heavens had proinifcd a nrjorc numerous, or more glorious train of Suet, ifors. Thougli the King ot the Frankj had too great a foul to entertain a flight Belief, yet ht could not chufc but hearken to TlaciJia with great atten- tion : for in regard llic quoted two Autliors, whofc knowledge he could not dcfpife, after fo many pregnant proofs of their experience, no queflion but the difeourfc of the Queen of the Vifrgotbs made fortie imprcHion in his mind. In fo mucli, that Placidu taking notice thereof, and being delirous wholly to convince the Prince, delircd 1 heart the fame day to trurt her with thofcobfervations which he had made, concerning the moft remarkable ac- cidents, that Ihould befall fhc Monarchy oi Ftance. loumay very well think,-, Madam, an- fwered he, that I (ha'.'' never be backivard to yield yott all obedience ■■, yet, jviih your Majejiy^s ferntijjton, 1 (hnuld be very unmBing that any other than Vhitimond (hould fee what J have done forbif fake: for there are many Kings at prejetjt in Cologne, rvbofe Kingdom one day /hall he aU reduced under the VominioH of the French i and there U no nece^ty far me to give them the trcuble efk>tospiHg fo much. Concluding thofe words, he prcfented fevcral papers to Tlacidia i who gladly receiving them, delivered them into the hands of the King of the Franks, when he came to viht her in the evening, and to know of her whether the Emperor Homriiu would be pleafed fo, come to Cologne, It wm hvs pleafnre, anfwcrcd flie, that I (hould come hither > and that I fijonli leave him, as (tck^ as he w, to accompany thofe fair Frincejfes with whom yon find me. But, Sir, added (he, / believe yott will fee bim here in a few days ■, for hvs reafon, andhii fra- Situdeto the Ki»g of the Cimbrians, have made a fair progrefi toward the fubduing a paffion, nbicb we have obferved to have been very violent formerly. After they had a while continued thisdifcourfc, P^(»rpy with Rofamond ■* A'o, no, he wili never be guilty of fo mean a fpirit ■, be %vtU have the pleafure to facrtfice to hn reveni^e that nhicb tb»u loveji above all the rvorld , and it O.'all be hif comfort to h'n dejtb^ that be has rendred thee as niiferable as thou hjfi rendred bim unfortunate. After thole words he was about to return, when the tti- r'lficd Pharamond, Bold, hold, crycd he, Q>are the mble\\ blood tn the tvcrld-t and rf thou feekeft fr viUimes^take the life of Pharamond,^/"*:^ H /^ detelied by thee. I mil attempt thjt life which thouo^erejl, rcplyed he, after the me\\ trae^ical way I can thinh^of, thai is, by the dejhuDionof Rofamond. HoPf 1 cryed the difconlblate Pharamond, m there no way to fofien thy cruelty / «j way to fave the life vf my Trincefi? 'fake my life, tak^e my Dominions 1 require no- thing, \£'(>\^ji.^\\^c\nhun\^v\t\\\\i\x\, f^»ce 1 have prefcrved my hatred to thU hour, and that I fee my felf in a condition to fecondit. He had nofutner pronounced thole words, but with- out expeding Tharamond's anfwcr, he turns about, goes where his rage carries him, and fcts hie to the combullible matter. Then the two Saxons who had laid their defign declared thcmfelves, and taking arms how weak foevcr their party might be, Felow Soldiers, ctycd one ot the two addulling himfclf to the Suedes, you are luji if you fave not the lives of the Tnncejfes, you have only this tpjy ta obtain your pardon^do yeu believe that a de^erate perfon who runs headlong to bis own de- flruQicn, takes any care of your interelis e He could lay no more the time was fo (horf, and t\\tSuevians perfwaded by his words, and thccxtiemity to which they were reduced, prcfently took the 5ill re- ceive help from a perfuu that brings me the mofi dreadful tydings that ever could have fierced my ears ? Go, cruel, go, maye{i thou perijh as miferably as J, and mayejl thou live to be another Briomer to thii Tharamond, tvhom I have thepleafure to hate to my lafl gaj}>. Upon thofc words he laid his hand upon the wound to hjve torn it wider, but his wcak- ncfs which would not permit him, foon accomplilbed that which his fury could not exe- cute. So dyed, but too late, the mol\ famous villain that ever wa<, who as he expired prcterved that iell afpcd in his face , whicii the palenefs of deatli could not fwecten. The PrincefTes as well by tiic will of thofe perfons who had the difpofal of them, as from their own inclinacions,and out of the acknowledgment due to their illuftrious Lovers had now remitted tiiat Icverity which decency did not now oblige them to contidue, atfucha Jubilee as that. So that love and joy difplayed thcmfclvcs in Cologne, more fplendidly tlian had been feen before in any City of the world. The Qoeen of the "furim^iens was fallen into a diftempcr, caufcd by thofe violent Conflifts in her heart that had been of fo long continuance. Herrcafon, her generofity, her triendlhip for K()/in»o«^, and her gra- litudc toward Sunnon perfwaded her to extirpate out of her heart a paflion which was the enemy of lici repofe : and yet that pallion, proceeding from a natural inclination, and fup- portcd by a valt merit, had held out againll all the aflaulls fl« could make upon it. Buc a war fo rude could not continue in fo delicate a place, without a fenfiblc devaftation. A' malazoutha^s dillcmper increafed through the happinefs of thcCimbrian Princefj, whatever the unfortunate Queen could do to refill it i Is ttpofible, (aid (he, with tears in her eyes tbatmf deliiny (hould he fo jpiteful, to make me guilty of thofe UHJuli a[i ions which I my felf condemn, and fain would not commit s' Why pjonld 1 love the perfon that cannot love me ? fFhere~ fore can I not look,upon RoCimojnd, rather as my friend^ than as my Kivalejl f And toherefore jhould I not bejiow all my affedions upon a Prince, upon tvhom 1 ought to have befiomed ihem long fince ? Thefe vehement complaints, the ctfeds of the King of the Franks's prefence and the fccrct reproaches which the light of Sunnon taxed her with, foon reduced that fair and unfortunate Princcfs into a condition fufficient to have moved the compallioo of per- fons lefs fenliblc. All the whole company went to fee her, but Ihe dcfired them to forbear frequent vitits, requeuing only the fociety of Sunnon and Polyxena. By the converfation of thefe two pcrlbns it was, that the paflion which flie had for fo long time endeavoured to chcrifh, began to take root in the heart of Amtlazontha. For while 5«««(J« continued near her, tranfported with love i and that (lie could net chufe but believe that Tbaramond zt the fame time, ncgledful of her, furrendcrcd up all his affedion to Ko/Ii/mo«c/, Hie redoubl- ed her endeavours in favour of a Prince that had fo well deiervcd her love. Thereupon (lie yielded to SunH»>t that heart, of which he had lb palfionately dcfired the polTeflion. But the Prince enjoyed it fo fmall a while, that he hardly had time to know whcther4iehad ob- tained it or no. For Amalazontha'f, malady encreafed with fo much violence, that her life begin to be defpaired oJ', fo that there was not any perfon of any Quality in Cologne, that did not bewail the condition of thefe two unfortunate Lovers. Sunnon obftrvcd the fym- ptoms that happened to Amalazontha, and all the while his lips were open to nothing but ids tighs \ and his eyes fcrvcd to no other ulc, but to behold the perfon he loved, and to ihcd tears for the pains Ihe endured. The Queen of the luringiens endeavoured to com- fort the affliftecl Sun'ion, (he concealed for lometimc thegreateft part of her fuflbrings i but when (ho liad no longer power to continue her kindnels, and that 5««/w» perceived what (he endured ^ fadly lamenting, Ah Madam, added he, horvkind would you be, and happy K>juldbc my fjte, Wire it but united to yours, Mydear Frittcefi^ added Folyxena, with tears ia 758 PHJRJMOND. Fart XII. ?n her fair eyes, I bffeech you in the tume of frienJjhip, grant that favonr to aTriitcf, nbotn yott No, m, my dear PrhtcefJ, anfwered the Queen of the 'turingknf^ interrurting her, 1 wi\l never grant that to the entreatiei of the Sifter^ tvhkh I ought to grant to the merit and affedionoftbe Brother. Tei, 5/r, puifued (he, giving her hand to ha pallionatf lover. A' iralazontha rvill be yours, and rvill die yours i (he declares that the ;V the JT/fe of Vrince Sun- non i and that nothing grieves her, but that ^le has been fo long ungrateful. Having Co faid, (he felt her felf fo faint, that after Sunnon had returned her thanks, (he bid adieu to Kofa. mond with a real tendernefs. She fpake afterwards but very little to BeJIamira, Tlaeidia, and all the other PrincefTes, to feveral of the Princes, and even to tbaramond huwklf. This laftconflraint which (he put upon herfpirits, contrary to the advice of the Phyficians, ba- ttened her without doubt to her end. For no fooner had (he turned her felf towards the King herSpoufe, toaddrefs herlaft words to him, but (he fetched her laft gafp j manifcft- ing thereby, that all her tendernefs was for that Prince to whom it was due. But oh, the wonderful effeds of love / no fooner had flfe yielded up her laft breath, but the paflionate Prince expired at the fame moment : So truly we may aver, that the foul of a Lover is in the pcrfon beloved, rather than in the body which it enlivens; Thus did Amalazonthaini Sunnon end their lives, wheat the fame time had fubmitted to different fetters under an unlucky Planet. The Princes and PrincefTes in Cologne were extreamly afflided at their death i and for fome days there was nothing but a gloomy fadnefs, where before there appeared nothing but mirth and joy. But as if thefe forro ws had been necefTary to fet off the publick rejoy- cings that fucceeded, we may fafely fay, that there was never any thing fo magnificent as thofe Fcftivals, at the Marriages of the moflilluftrious Heroes and Heroeffesinall the world at that time. Neverthelefs, there was nothing in all that pomp, which equalled the charms which thofe illuftrious Lovers found in their mutual converfations, more fweet and plea- ting than ever they had been before. Butinftead of making a rehearfal, which would be too large, I will conclude with a difccurfe conformable to their impatience i only giving this account, that the enjoyment of the fairefi Beauties upon earth was at length the reward of thofe Princes, who in all the worldbeft deferved them, Pharamond c(poukd the incomparable Kc/iwoM«/, and was de- clared King of the Gauls, "theobald reigned in Bohemia with the moft adr/iired Bellamira^ to whom the King of the Huns reftored all the Dominions of the King his Father. Viri' domar went into Suevia with the Princcfs of the Fratjk/, Honorius, who came to Cologne^ took Conjiance to be his Affbciate in the Empire, and gave him the fair Vlacidia for his Em- prefs : he alfo granted Aquitain to JFallia, who efpoufed 'fheodolinda, and added Catalo- nia to his Territories, 5/gmc being (lain by his own people. ConjiantinehY his marriage with OUavia united both the Britains under his Dominion. Balamir with Agione pofTefTed the upper and lower H««g.j'7' And Martian fom.e time after efpoufed Fulcheria, and was Emperour of the Eaft. Varanez. changed no more, but all his life long loved the Princefs Sydemiris, v/hom he efpoufed itijjedon. The King of the Lombards had Gilifmene for his reward. Marcomirevi'vih Alhi^-indaxtxgx^td'xn Franconia znd'turingia. And Aldemar, to whom they were all beholding, was happy in his beloved Melafmtha. In a word, all the Lovers that were at Cologne attained the felicity to which they had afpired. For as for Go»- dioch^ he would not come near a City where Pi&i*rawo«i enjoyed that happinefs which he had always envyed him, > F I N I S, THE LffiRARY K^iVEiiSiTY OF California I. OS AiSinFT »« SOUTHERN RP^7/!^ °' California Return this materfaMo Th'; »k ^^^^-^ea QL JAN 2 3 1999 (A OCTl 9 1< 3 158 01180 4522 KF''-'* l^f'r^■.^Al .IHRAt*. i!.< D 000 001 507 3