Sample pages from Continuations to Sidney's Arcadia, 1607–1867

8/13/2019 Sample pages from Continuations to Sidney's Arcadia, 1607–1867

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Sir PHILIP SIDNEY ’ARCADIA,

’By Mrs.STANLEY.

B III.HE Shepherds having, with great Applause on all Sides, nish’d their rural

Sports, and the Night being ar spent, Basilius gave them Permission to retire;and waiting upon Zelmane to her Chamber, which Complement she wou’dmuch rather have paid to Philoclea, they all separated under Pretence o goingto Sleep; but that takes little Place in Lovers Eyes; and so ar were they romsharing any Degree o it, that their busy Toughts wou’d scarce suffer them tocounter eit it, but kept their Eyes upon the Watch all the long weary Night; andmore particularly ew the air Pamela, whose anxious Toughts had never had aMoment’s Respite since the ime that her dear Shepherd’s Danger had put themin Agitation; she ne’er be ore was sensible how tenderly she lov’d him, and howinsupportable Li e wou’d be to her without his in uencing Presence; her lofyMind, made sof and yielding, by her Apprehensions o losing all on Earth she valued, would no longer suffer her to carry on that cold indifferent Behaviour, which she had hitherto maintain’d to her humble Lover; spight o her sel , herEyes and Words con ess’d that Passion, which be ore / her Heart was only privyto; and earing, by every sad particular o his Behaviour, that his Despair must very shortly triumph o’er his Love, she determin’d not only inwardly to compas-sionate his Cares, but to give him outward Proo s o it; which she took everyOpportunity o doing, by not only hearing all he had to say, but making suchReplies as suited with the most sincere Regard. When speaking o himsel , bythe Name o Musidorus, as a third person, and complaining o the Rigour ohis Fate, she wou’d, with healing Pity, mitigate his Sorrows, by saying, Tat hadshe been the Lady whom that meritorious Prince had lov’d, she wou’d have us’dhim with more Gentleness, and not have suffer’d such a disinterested Passionto have gone without Reward; since certainly that Love cou’d never justly becondemn’d, that had Virtue or its Basis. Several Tings she urg’d to this Pur- pose, e’er Dorus cou’d perswade himsel that they were meant to him; but wheneach Day’s Behaviour con rm’d him more than other in the happy Certainty, his Joy at the unlook’d- or Change exceeded all reasonable Bounds, and pain’d him



2 Continuations to Sidney's Arcadia, 1607–1867: Volume 3

almost equal to his late Despair. As a poor Wretch, who has long been disus’d tothe Sun’s Brightness, upon being restor’d to a View o his enlightening Beams,

nds them too power ul or his tender Opticks to support; so our Lover’s Spir-its were scarcely strong enough to bear the Effusion o Delight, which Pamela’sLooks and Words shower’d on him. But when he had a little recover’d the rstExcesses o his Rapture, he thought himsel now assur’d o the Summit o hisHappiness, and there ore could not perswade himsel to delay a Moment reach-ing it, not considering that then he was most likely to tumble headlong downthe vast Ascent; but arbitrary Love, like a haughty yrant, not content with possessing a Kingdom, without making it an unlimited Monarchy, and prescrib-

ing no Bounds to his Proceedings, urg’d Dorus on, by one rash Action to bedepos’d, and in a Moment dash’d the ull Measure o his Happiness, and madehim through his own rash Error ing away that Jewel, he had with so much Assi-duity been labouring to obtain: For being one Morning, by Accident, lef alone with Pamela, his raging Passion, like a mighty Fire that has long been pent, burstout in the most violent Manner; and not regarding any Ting but that Oppor-tunity he had been waiting or, he took her in his eager Arms, and upon her Lipsattempted, in some Degree, to recompence the Agonies which she so long hadmade him suffer. Te righted Fair was so astonish’d at his presumptive Rashness,that or some ime, without Resistance, she permitted him to hold her; but ashe, who at that Moment was insensible to every Ting but the Dictates o histransported Passion, was proceeding on to prophane that Love which she had

trusted to him, she hastily sprung rom his Arms, and darting Flashes rom herEyes, more erce than the red Lightening rom the hissing Tunder-Bolt, and which struck him with ar greater error, looking at him with a erce Disdain:Be gone, she cry’d, thou Poyson to my Sight, Stain o my Judgment, / and lastingMonument o my too easy Faith; O! how I hate my sel or trusting to thy tardyHonour; but be assur’d I loath, detest, and hate thee more or thy presumptuousBreach o it: Be gone, y ar away, and never more attempt to come within myinjur’d Sight, which through the utmost Limits o the Earth can never nd soloath’d an Object. Upon this, without giving him ime to make the least Reply,she call’d aloud or Mopsa; and chiding her or having lef her, she retir’d, leav-ing the poor Shepherd almost dead with Shame, Grie and Resentment againsthis own rash Love, or having hurry’d him on to snatch at once that Happiness, which by Degrees ’twas highly probable he might have well secur’d, but which henow believed to be or ever lost.

Distracted with that cruel Tought, scarce knowing which Way he took, heew into the Woods, and throwing himsel down at the Root o a shady Elm, he

lay or some ime motionless; then starting up, Wretch that I am, cry’d he, howam I allen, and in a Moment sunk rom the greatest Height o Bliss that everMortal prov’d, to the last Degree o Misery; and that by no unlucky Chance,



Sir Philip Sidney's Arcadia, Moderniz'd by Mrs Stanley, Book III 3

no Blow o Fortune, but my own incorrigible Folly! Monster that I was, not tobe sensible that her diviner Virtue wou’d shrink at the unhallow’d ouch, and

y the Stain o impious Wishes and unbridled Love! o bear the Weight o herDispleasure, on any erms, was what I never cou’d have undergone without thelast Regret; but to be conscious that I have merited her Frowns, and in so higha Manner, that I can scarce hope to be orgiven, tortures my Breast with morethan mortal Agonies, and shocks my Reason almost past its Use. orn withthese killing Toughts, he wander’d up and down the Woods all the long tediousDay, careless o his need ul Food; and when the Night approach’d, incapableo Rest, he wou’d have let that pass in the same neglect ul Manner, but earing

the impertinent Enquiries o Dametas, he retir’d to the Lodge, where Sleep wasdistant rom him as his Joys; and revolving ten thousand Ways how he mightmake his Princess sensible how dear his rash presumptuous Love had cost him,and that his bold Proceedings were spur’d on by Tat, and not the Effect o alascivious Purpose, or Wantonness o Heart, he at last determin’d to write to her,despairing that he e’er again shou’d gain her Presence; and taking Pen and Inkhe sate him down, the only Moment’s Rest that he had prov’d since his unlucky

respass: Long he remain’d irresolute what Stratagem to x upon, by which shemight insensibly be drawn in to read it; or much he ear’d, that i she knewabruptly that it came rom him, she wou’d certainly commit the Perusal o it tothe Flames; at last he concluded it wou’d at least be necessary to counter eit hisHand, which she was too well acquainted with, not to know on the most super-

cial View: A thousand imes he set his trembling Hand to the unsully’d Paper,and as ofen drew it back; at last he / wrote a Line, then in a Rage de ac’d it, asnot hal expressive o his Meaning; then he began another, but that he thoughtstill poorer; this Sentence was too brie , that too prolix, this too unintelligible,that too plain; in short, at length tir’d with not approving, yet unable to make itbetter, he nish’d it: Afer it was done, he was a thousand imes about to tear it;but at last re ecting that he cou’d not possibly be in a worse Condition, shou’dshe reject it, he determin’d to let it go, and olding it up, all the ime devoutly praying that it might meet the wish’d Success, he watch’d his Opportunity, whenthey were all gone to the other Lodge to Dinner, and going with timerous Stepsup to Pamela’s Chamber, he laid it in a little silver Standish1 which he knew sheofen us’d, and kissing it, and imploring its riendly Shelter or that humble Paper

rom all Eyes but hers, he return’d; but e’er he had got hal way down the Stairs,he thought it proper to move the Standish to some Place, where he might besure she wou’d observe its Change o Situation; and turning back, he placed itupon her Pillow, that when she went to Bed, she might be sure to see it, i be oreit escap’d her Observation; and then returning to his own Apartment, he gavehimsel up to pining Melancholy and black Despair, the only Companions thathe had admitted since his sad Banishment rom Pamela’s Presence.




I he was in a Posture o the utmost Sorrow and Uneasiness, the air obdu-rate Source o his Anxiety was ar rom being at per ect Rest; the Night had past away with leaden Wings, and the approaching Day deny’d her that Repose which she had rob’d him o , whose only Fault was a too violent and ill-tim’dExcess o Passion. In Company she was uneasy, and restless when alone; but stillchose the latter, that she might, undisturb’d, enjoy her own Re ections; andthere ore, soon as ever Dinner was over, she retir’d to her Chamber; the Momentshe came into it she saw the Standish had been mov’d, and Curiosity oblig’d herto look into it; but when she saw the Paper, her sympathizing Heart immediatelyin orm’d her who it came rom; and shutting it to again, as i In ection had beenin the harmless Box, she threw it down, and with great Precipitancy retir’d tothe urther Corner o the Room, as i she ear’d that it wou’d ollow her: Butmany Moments did not pass e’er she repented, and wish’d that she had look’d itover; and yet, cry’d she, shall I encourage his rude Insolence by reading his vainExcuses; but then, continued she, he is not by, to see my Folly, or take Advantageo my Weakness; besides, ’tis possible he mayn’t persist in his heinous Crime,but by his Penitence in some Degree alleviate it. Pleas’d with this Tought, shesnatch’d the Paper up, that no rigid one might inter ere, and stop the scarce-

orm’d Resolution; and opening it, with trembling Hand and beating Heart, with aultering Voice, she read the ollowing Words. /

‘I Don’t pretend, thou injur’d heavenly Creature, by this Presumption, to extenuatemy Crime; I know it is o much too high a Nature to bear the least Alleviation: I only wou’d convince you, that nothing but the Malice o my most inveterate Stars cou’de’er have urg’d me on, by one rash Step, to or eit that Esteem I have so long beenlabouring to gain; tho’ wou’d your just Resentment suffer you coolly to re ect uponthe whole o my Behaviour, you wou’d, I think, allow it has been ar rom answer-able to any wanton Flame, or sensual Passion: It has, till that unhappy Moment,been restrain’d within the strictest Bounds; and tho’ I own my sel to merit all theSeverity you can impose, yet think there is a little Partiality due to him, who wou’d with his own Hands revenge upon himsel the Violence he offer’d, but that he owns you only have a Power to in ict an equal Punishment. Te most rigid Judge wou’dmake Allowance or a Madman’s Rage; and sure I ought to be as little answerable

or my Behaviour in that extatick Moment, when the Height o my in atuating Pas-sion render’d me utterly incapable o any thing but the Impulses o its too arbitraryPower. O had you ever been but in the least Degree subservient to that commanding

yrant, or e’er experienc’d his resistless Force, you wou’d not sure, unheard, condemna Wretch, whose aw ul Love (i not subdued by its own Force) not all the Powers oEarth or Heaven cou’d have work’d up to such a Rashness, which nothing less thanall his Stock o uture Quiet can make Atonement or. I own my Crime, and knowthe Greatness o it: By Heaven, ’twas more than Sacrilege, with impious Hands, toattempt prophaning that angelick Form, by which alone we judge o heavenly Per ec-tion; yet were our Maker’s Image stamp’d upon the Loadstone, the attracted Needle wou’d certainly wound it with its rude Embrace, tho’ sure it cou’d not be accountable

or the involuntary Prophanation. I think the Parallel is just: But hold, my Pen! how




am I hurry’d on by rantick Grie , to excuse that Crime, which can in no Degree beheighten’d, but by being justi ed! Not all Minerva’s Oratory 2 can lessen it; my Doomis x’d; and I, like a poor Wretch, depriv’d o all the Joys in Li e, must wander upand down the solitary Earth, attended with the double Curse o having rst prov’dthe greatest Raptures it could yield. Permit me then once, e’er I go, to take my lastFarewell, ’twill be the most effectual Method you can imagine to encrease my Punish-ment, and, i possible, heighten the ortures I shall prove at Parting. I won’t pretendto say my Li e will ollow the Separation; no, that wou’d be too great a Happiness;but I shall drag it on a useless Load or any Purpose, but to prolong my Misery, andmake me every Hour more sensible how great a Wretch I am. But i your Mercy willnot suffer you to grant this last Request, I then at least shall have the Satis action / oknowing that my orments are already answerable to your Resentment. However you

determine, may Heaven still make your Peace its most distinguish’d Care; may youne’er be sensible how much I suffer, nor how great a Load o Woes your Rigour hasimpos’d upon a Wretch, whose greatest Crime was being too sensibly affected with your distracting Beauties; lest too late you shou’d relent, and by regretting the severeDecree, suffer a Moment’s Pain; which set in Competition, wou’d ar outweigh myLi e, tho’ spent in the severest ortures. Farewell; a long Farewell to you, and all myHappiness: May the Gods provide or you a Man more worthy o your Regard and your Esteem; and, to preserve that greatest earthly Blessing, may he love you less;and then he will, ’tis possible, submit to those cool Rules your rigorous Virtue wou’dimpose; tho’ sure the least Degree o Passion which you inspire, must be beyond thehighest In uence o any other Woman. I dare not hope you can so ar orget myCrime, as to indulge me in a last Adieu; but re ect upon it as the last Request o aMan, who has, in more than Words, or you abandon’d his Country, Parents, Honourand his Fame; and wou’d, by the eternal Powers, con rm the Compliment with his

own Li e, cou’d that convince you o his ruth, or make Atonement or his neces-sitated Crime. But whether do my presumptuous Wishes hurry me! As well mightI pretend to appease offended Heaven, or stop the hissing Tunderbolt, when levied

rom the Hand o angry Jove, to strike some destin’d erring Mortal, as but imagine your Justice will give Place, and not be x’d as every other Attribute, which boun-teous Heaven has so liberally given you rom its own Stores. I know not whether you will ever deign to give these melancholy Lines a reading; i you commit them tothe Flames unheard, they will but share their Master’s Fate. O may the all-graciousPowers put as quick a Period to my Woes; or else incline your Breast to eel a little

enderness or him, who, ’spight o all your Rigour, will be still your Slave; and by theeternal Powers, glory more in that Captivity, than in being an arbitrary Monarch overthe habitable Earth, and the once unconquer’d

M .

P. S. I think your Goodness will not suffer me long to prove the more than humanorture o Suspence; I there ore, (i my trembling Limbs will give me leave) shall this

Afernoon attempt to see you; and believe me, they are so obedient to your Com-mands, that i you can be so cruel as to insist upon it, they will afer that convey thisoffending Object or ever rom your Sight.’ /




She read this Letter two or three imes over; the Dispute ran high betweenher Pride and Inclination; but e’er even she hersel cou’d determine which shou’dget the better, she was interrupted by her Sister and Miso’s calling her down toreceive Zelmane, who was come to pay her Complements to the two Sisters; while the restless Queen still press’d her Bed with her uneasy Weight, giving Miso an Opportunity to exert her shrewess3 Offi ce, which she charg’d her strictlyto observe, and not suffer Zelmane and Philoclea to have a Moment to them-selves; which Charge, like a restive Cur, she snarlingly per orm’d. Zelmane thushunted betweenGynecia’s Jealousy, and Basilius’ offi cious Dotage, was in theutmost Strait; it was impossible or her to grati y the one, and highly dangerous

to re use the other: She had nothing to alleviate this continual Evil, but as muchas possible to avoid them both; and Basilius being then in his Wi e’s Chamber,consulting upon the Account which Philanax and some other Noblemen hadsent him o the late Riot, in which they very much suspectedCecropia had aPart, she took that Opportunity o carrying her Body where her Soul continu-ally attended. Philoclea receiv’d her with a bash ul Joy, as being conscious there was more emerity due to the Lover than the Friend; besides, she now vainly

ear’d that every Eye shou’d nd, what even the penetrating ones o Love had inher so long escap’d; so weak a Judge is apprehensive Fear; but notwithstandingthat, she cou’d not resist joining with her Sister, in caressing and shewing themost offi cious enderness to Zelmane.

But while they were thus employ’d, and giving Feathers to the leaden Wingso ime, there came to the Door o the Lodge six seeming Country Girls; they were all o them in one Dress, which was scarlet Petticoats that reach’d littlelower than their Knees, embroider’d up and down in Imitation o Vine-Leaves;their Legs were naked, only a little above their Ancles were ty’d black Silk-Laces,upon which were hung some little silver Bells, and the same above their nakedElbows; their Heads were crown’d with Garlands o Roses and Gilli owers; theirNecks were all uncover’d to the View: Te oremost o them was beauti ullyFair, and the rest might have been esteem’d exceeding lovely, but that they hadsuffer’d their Faces to be scorch’d by the strenuous Kisses o Phœbus’ too pierc-ing Beams. Te Appearance o a decent Modesty shone in their Eyes, and theirHabits seem’d not more simple than their Minds. Tey had each o them some

Instrument o Musick in their Hands, which they touch’d so regularly sweet,as composed a very agreeable Harmony. Te Sound o the Musick entering theLodge on such a sudden, surpris’d the Ladies, and gave them a Curiosity to know

rom whom so charming an Embassador cou’d proceed; and going all o themout together, they ound the Maidens standing at the Door; but be ore theycou’d have ime to ask any Questions, the oremost, in a respect ul tho’ livelyManner, approach’d, and thus address’d them. /




Most admir’d Ladies, whose superiour Charms have Power to make theselonely Woods the Mark o Envy or overlooking Cities, and whose Beauties aresuffi cient to orm a Court in the midst o Solitude, orgive the offi cious Zealo your unworthy Servants, and let your Princely Goodness deign to hear andto accept our Message, which is humbly offer’d to you in the Names o all our Arcadian Maids; who having been in orm’d o the ree Access, and the graciousReception which some o our Shepherds have ound in this sacred Place, andthat their rural Sports have not been displeasing, spur’d on by Emulation o theirHappiness, and a orward Zeal to shew their equal Care, and to convince yourHighnesses o their Duty and sincere Affection, hoping that their ardent Desire

to have their poor Per ormances accepted, and the Innocency o their Sex will plead a Pardon or their venturing without Permission to approach this orbid-den Ground, but not too ar to venture your Displeasure, they have chose us outto represent them, and in the Names o all the rest, humbly to intreat your royalPresence to grace some Country Sports which they have provided in the Woods,about a quarter o a Mile rom this Place. We have been at the other Lodge, and

ound your Princely Parents busied in Affairs o Consequence, and there ore durstnot disturb them, but came directly hither; we trust our Labour won’t be lef to payour Pains, but that your Goodness will vouchsa e to bless us with your Acceptanceo our Endeavours, and inspire our Songs with your in uencing Presence.

Having ended her Speech, the Ladies were in some Dispute whether theyshou’d venture to go, or ear Basilius shou’d be angry; but Miso, eager to haveher old Senses re resh’d with a little Pleasure, bid them leave considering, or she wou’d have them go, and cheer the honest Country People, and convince themthat they were not so squeamish as they might be represented. Te Princesses, who were inclin’d to go, were glad o her Authority to over-rule their Doubts;and leaving Mopsa to take Care o the Lodge, attended by Miso, they ollow’d thesix Maidens, who beguil’d the Way with their Musick and pretty harmless alk. Pamela cou’d not help casting her Eyes every Way around, to try i she cou’d any where see Dorus, who, unhappy Creature, was wandring up and down the un re-quented Woods, cursing his Fate, and imploring Pity and Forgiveness o her, who, cou’d she have heard him, wou’d soon have apply’d that Balm, the Woundshe had given him having pierc’d thro’ her own Heart. When they were come

into the thickest Part o the Wood, o a sudden they turn’d upon a little squarePlace, environ’d with rees, where there was a able set, and a Banquet prepar’do all Kinds o Fruit, which plentous Autumn yields. Te Maidens begg’d thePrincesses to sit down, and grace their little Entertainment with tasting the swell-ing Grapes, whose crouding Clusters seem’d to court the idle Press. Te Ladies wou’d not scorn / their Invitation, but tasted some o their Fruit, and drank alittle o their cooling Wines, which sparkled at the ouch o their glowing Lips.




But soon as the Repast was over, and they were expecting the rest o theCountry Lasses to appear, and begin some rural Entertainment, there suddenlyrush’d out o the Wood twenty arm’d Men, who enclos’d them about; and seizing

rst upon Zelmane, e’er she had ime to draw her Sword, they disarm’d her; andinging Hoods over all their Faces, thus muffl ed up they set them upon their

Horses, and gallop’d away with them ull speed, without saying one Word. Terighted Princesses in vain shriek’d, and call’d aloud or Help, while Zelmane’s

noble Heart was almost tore in Pieces with their ruitless Cries, and bursting with Anger against hersel or her own unwary Conduct, and Rage at the injuri-ous Villains, who had so treacherously betray’d them. When they had carried

them about our or ve Miles, one o the Villains stop’d, and setting Miso down,bound her Hand and Foot, and lef her to the Mercy o the next Passenger,4 while the rest spur’d their Horses on with the three Ladies: And by that imethe silent Night seem’d to conspire to hide their reason, they came to a Castle, which was about ten Miles rom the Lodges, where they were oblig’d to go intoa Boat, which waited ready or them; the Castle being situated in the midst oa Lake, upon a monstrous Rock, and in some Measure render’d so by Art, butmore contriv’d by Nature, it was by every body believ’d to be impregnable. Whenthey reach’d the Gate, they were unveil’d, and met by a vast Number o orches,by whose Light they soon discern’d their wicked AuntCecropia, who came hersel out to them. Tis Sight greatly encreas’d their error, as thinking they hadnothing less than Death to expect rom her ambitious and cruel Nature. While

she, making Civility a Dress or Mischie , came up to them, and begg’d them todisperse any Apprehensions that so odd a Proceeding might occasion, or thatthere was ar rom any Harm intended them, however Appearances might surprize; but that they were in a Place where they might equally depend upon theirSa ety, as in their Father’s Court. Te tender Philoclea, whose timorous Spirits were almost sunk under the sad Surprize, with Eyes ull o streaming ears, that would have mov’d a yger’s savage Heart, could he have been sensible o them,begg’d her to have Pity on their Youth and Innocence, and not use them hardly, who ne’er had merited her hate; while the resolv’d Pamela, whose noble Minddisdain’d to sue or stoop to Injury, tho’ ever so much oppress’d, looking at herAunt, with Eyes ull o Majesty and just Resentment, Madam, said she, whatever your Determinations are, the only Favour I shall ask, is, that you wou’d put aspeedy Issue to them; or me, I expect no Mercy where I nd Oppression, nor Justice to proceed rom Violence. /

Cecropia making no Reply, had them immediately parted, and carried allthree to separate Lodgings, ( Zelmane’s noble Spirit being so enrag’d, that it put her past the Use o Speech,) and there lef them: But rst disarming themeven o their little Pocket-Knives, or ear they should make any Attempt uponthemselves without her Permission; and giving Orders that they shou’d want no




Attendance, nor be depriv’d o any Ting but Liberty and Peace o Mind, she went immediately to her Son, (who still kept his Bed, oblig’d to that Con ne-ment by the Wound Zelmane had given him,) and in orm’d him what welcomeGuests she had contriv’d to grace his Castle with. Amphialus was but just come

rom his ravels, wherein he had gain’d himsel immortal Fame; when he, byAccident, intruded upon the Princess’s Privacy, and was wounded by Zelmane;and there ore was wholly ignorant o his Mother’s Stratagems, which he wou’dnever have come into; being, like a agrant Rose proceeding rom Briars andTorns, a Son o in nite Worth and Honour, born rom a merciless and inglo-rious Mother. When she told him o this last base and monstrous Action, he

was as much surpriz’d, as i he had seen the Sun dethron’d, and the whole Faceo Nature chang’d; and there ore begg’d her to in orm him what she meant bythat Proceeding, and tell him every Step she had taken. My Son, said she, I shall very willingly comply with your Request; and since every one o my ransactionshave been upon your Account, I shall keep nothing o the Whole a Secret rom you: For however loth I might be to reveal my Actions to the squeamish World, who might possibly judge hardly o them, yet since per orm’d or your Sake, theymust, by you, be esteem’d virtuous, however others might censure them; I shallthere ore make no Scruple o relating every minute Particular, rom be ore the

ime that you were capable o having a Share in them: Know then, that this olddoating Fool Basilius, who now reigns, having liv’d a Li e o Celibacy, till he had prov’d near threescore Winters; and in all his Words affi rming, and by all his

Actions shewing, that he ne’er design’d to marry; the Eyes o the whole King-dom were turn’d upon your Father, his only Brother, but younger by thirty Years,as his undoubted Successor; a Man worthy a Crown, and that wou’d brave allDangers to gain or to maintain one; while on the contrary, this Milk-sop, as yousee, hides his Coward Head, and ies e’er the Approach o Danger. Your Fatherbeing in this Situation, secure as he and the whole World imagin’d in being oneDay Monarch o Arcadia, he sought and obtain’d me o my Father, the King o Argos; his Brother contributing to the Match, by solemn Asseverations that he wou’d never marry; or else you may be certain, that neither the King o Argos,or his Daughter, wou’d have suffer’d their Royal Blood to be mingled with anySubject’s, how great so ever he might be. When I came into this Country, it wasas Apparent Princess, and I was receiv’d accordingly: Te Ladies o the highestQuality / paid me their Submissions; the State I liv’d in was every way answer-able to that Grandeur, due to the Daughter o the King o Argos: In my Presence,the Eyes o the whole Court were turn’d upon me, and their Ears attentive tonothing but my Words: Happy did he or she esteem themselves, to whom I paidthe least particular Regard; and the Advantage they had over one another, wasmeasured by the Notice I took o them: Te very Gods seem’d to attend myLeisure, their Devotions being always delay’d till my Presence gave a License to




them: When I pursu’d my Pleasures, those o all the Court seem’d center’d inthem; i I walk’d abroad, the Way was strew’d with crowding Numbers to waitmy Coming; but the Moment I appear’d, they made Way or me, and gaz’d ataw ul Distance, as i a Comet had struck their wondering Sight; my sleepingHours were enquir’d into, and crowding Nobles attended to pay their Morning-Complements on my rst Appearance.

Tus bless’d, thus circled round with Happiness, to compleat and make it stillmore solid, I brought Tee into the World: And so art ully had your Father, bymy care ul Help, contriv’d, that we wou’d not have waited the lingering Delayso Basilius’ being remov’d by a natural Death, to have taken Possession o the

Crown; but when our Design was ready to be put in Execution, the Gods Ithink envying my Felicity, which nothing but their own cou’d equal, put someStop to it, by taking your Father’s Li e; yet neither did my Widowhood nor thyOrphancy deprive me o that pleasing Prospect, which the Hill o Honour yieldsto those aspiring Minds who are worthy to gain the vast Ascent, or the Peo- ples Eyes were then x’d on thee, as the undisputed Heir, and consequently theirDependencies still more x’d on me.

But e’er, my Son, thou hadst reach’d an Age to be sensible o the Sweets oPower, that unworthy Brute, Basilius, whom I can never mention within theBounds o Patience, alse to his Word, which he had given both to my Fatherand his Brother, married thisGynecia, our now haughty Queen, (curse on theTought!) then a green Girl, and brought her home to usurp my Place, receive

my Honours, and, in short, to ri e me o every Joy that Sovereignty can yield.Tink what a Shock this was to my exalted Mind, and how much more insupportable, than i I ne’er had known the Joys o undisputed Greatness; but thisUproar in my Mind, the Rage and Spite to see my sel so injur’d, was still harderto support, as I was orc’d to smother it, and outwardly appear pleas’d and sub-missive to the unexpected urn o my unhappy Fate: But the consummate Blowo all was, when by bringing these two mischievous Brats (now thy Prisoners)into the World, she at once cut off all Hopes o thy Succession; how irksome was it to me, when orc’d into the hated Presence, to nd / my Voice, which lateclaim’d the Attention o all about me, now heard but in the second Place! But what was still more insupportable to my tortur’d Soul, was, to think that notonly I, but thou should’st share in the oul Disgrace, and be degraded to themean Capacity o a submitting Subject. O Heavens! how did it rend my Heart, when I re ected that my rst-born Son shou’d be degraded below his nobleAncestors; and that the Grandson o a King, born o a Princess, and brought up

or some ime as Heir Apparent to a Crown, shou’d by two puny Girls have theDiadem wrested rom his manly Head, and tore to adorn their inconsiderableBrows. Had I been a Saint in Patience, these Injuries must have rouz’d my Rage:Besides, had I been willing to orget my Ills, I hourly was reminded o them; at




my Doors, that us’d to be throng’d and crowded with early Visiters, a solemnSilence reign’d; my Favour no more was courted, and I no longer ollow’d; a bareIntimation had ormerly more Weight, than now my most insisted-on Requests;and to compleat my Miseries, thou my darling Son wer’t now no more regardedby the alse Multitude, than a common Child born rom the People’s Lees.5 Forsome ime I suffer’d my sel to be carry’d down the Stream o Affl ictions, ventingmy Sorrows in ears and womanish Complainings; but at last, re ecting that inall Emergencies, to weep and bemoan one’s sel is only t Redress or Fools, andthat wise People may better spend their ime, by at least contriving how to extri-cate themselves, I have try’d a thousand Arts how to retrieve my Fortune, and

to draw both thee and my sel out o this Mire o Subjection; and tho’ my most promising Designs have ofen ail’d me, yet did I never connive with Fortune,and ail my sel , but still had Recourse to new Arts and new Inventions. Whenthe old Fool took up this retir’d Way o Li e, I order’d some wild Beasts to bekept in a Cave hard by the Lodges, and by Night had them ed in the Place wherethey heard their Pastorals, I then residing in a House hard by; and against theHour that the Shepherds were to come, and that I knew they wou’d be all assem-bled, I let the Beasts out, knowing that as they had been kept or some ime without Meat, they wou’d run directly to the Place where they us’d to be ed, andconsequently missing it, devour whoever was in their Way; but unluckily I wasdisappointed, and only my Beasts destroy’d. Afer that I employ’d my ServantClinias to stir up a Mutiny among the Country People; but those Lubbards were

too gross Instruments or my re n’d Inventions. At last, nding the Particulari-ties o Philanax ’s Examinations wou’d in all Probability grow dangerous, I wasdetermined to push my Fortunes, and play Double or Quits; and by the Help omy subtle-witted Engineer Artesia, join’d with some other o my most dextrousGirls, I wou’d e’er this have sent these dainty Inheritresses o Arcadia to pleadtheir Rights in grisly Pluto’s Court, but that, happily or them, you Yesterdaymade me acquainted with that / childish Passion which has so subdued you; or which Reason I have preserv’d their Lives, and brought them into your Power;but wou’d withal advise you to convert this sof degenerate Love into more nobleHate, that being generally the Parent o Success and Victory, while Love sub-dues a Man to the most mean Subjection. I meant by the same Snares to haveentrapp’d their Parents, but my Instruments ail’d o that, not daring to delay the

ime; but however, as I have these young Minions in my Power, you are oncemore immediate Heir to Arcadia’s Crown, and Basilius’ old Heart will quicklysink under this cutting Loss.

O! my Parent, cry’d Amphialus, i I am dear to you, and my Happiness yourCare, mention not the hurting their helpless Innocence, nor think o doing theleast Violence to them, more than you wou’d offer to my Person. Let others place what Joy their vain Imaginations ancy in Power and empty Government; or




me, I shou’d esteem my sel much happier in being accepted as Philoclea’s Serv-ant, than in all the Greatness a Diadem cou’d bestow. Well, reply’dCecropia, I wish you as much participated o my Mind as Person, then wou’d you not besubject to this degenerate Weakness; but since you have suffer’d your Toughtsto spin this Web o vain Desires, is it not happy that by my Policy you havethis Bawble o your Fancy at your own Disposal, and upon the Foundation oAffection (which seldom produces any Good) can build a certain Way to Sov-ereignty? Alas, reply’d Amphialus, my Heart wou’d ain perswade my ongue to pay you its Acknowledgments or putting me in the Road to Happiness, but thatmy cruel Apprehensions stop the hal - orm’d Words; or i my Philoclea is made

uneasy, how can I be pleas’d; i she esteems her sel injur’d and hardly us’d, as sureshe does, how can I look upon my sel oblig’d? Perhaps she charges me with thisbarbarous Action; how can I triumph then? Tose Beauties which but even inImagination res my Soul, may now, ’tis more than probable, be drown’d in ears;how then can I rejoice? You are in the right, reply’dCecropia with a scorn ul Air,I will there ore immediately send her home, that she may recover her Peace oMind. No, Madam, hastily interrupted Amphialus, since she is here, tho’ I wou’dnot or my Li e have orc’d her here, yet can’t I so easily consent to part with her. Very pretty intricate Follies truly, cry’dCecropia; but haste you up, and go tryhow you can prevail with her, while I visit the other Sister; or afer their Rape6 comes to be known, we shall have Business enough upon our Hands to de endour selves against Basilius, who no doubt will besiege our Castle. Upon this she

was going out o the Room; but recollecting her sel , she turn’d back, and ask’dhim how he wou’d have Zelmane dispos’d o , since he had now an Opportunity orevenging the Wound which she had given him. In the most honourable Manner;reply’d he, she has deserv’d no other / Usage o me; and besides, I hear that she and Philoclea have an avow’d Friendship, and there ore I shou’d be desirous they mightbe lodg’d in the same Apartment. O, by no Means, reply’dCecropia, Company isa great Con rmer o Resolution, and want o Society will tire her Toughts, andmake them more pliable to any Impressions that you shall attempt to make.

As she was talking, Amphialus observ’d the Knives in her Hand which shehad took rom the Princesses; and enquiring the Meaning o them, which shetold him, he begg’d her to give him that which was Philoclea’s; which she did,and then lef him. As soon as she was gone, he call’d or his Servants, and gotup with a Design to visit her; but when he was dressing, nothing cou’d pleasehim: Tis Suit he thought too gay, and look’d as i he triumph’d over her Captiv-ity; another was too grave, and seem’d like a Prognostication o evil Fortune; atlast, he pitch’d upon one that was rich, without being gaudy; the Ground wasblack Velvet, embroider’d up and down with large Pearls and Diamonds, whichshone through the tufed Velvet like twinkling Stars thro’ a clouded Sky: Abouthis Neck he wore a golden Collar, the upper Side o it set with a Row o Pearls




and Diamonds, and the other adorn’d with bleeding Rubies, and party-colour’dOpals, which he thought did aptly represent the two distracting Passions oDesire and Fear, which by urns usurp’d the Freedom o his Mind. Te Hurt which Zelmane had given him was ar rom well; but so much did the strongDesire o his Mind o’erpower the Weakness o his Body, that it supported him tobear being dress’d, and convey’d to Philoclea’s Chamber.

When he came in, he ound her sitting retir’d rom the light Side o her Bed;her Hands were clasp’d within each other, and her Shoulders rested against theHead o it; her Eyes were x’d upon the Wall with as much Earnestness as i thathad been the only Object that cou’d delight them. Amphialus stood or some ime

gazing on her, without a Power o advancing; but her Toughts a little varying,made her Senses more attentive; and his Cloaths rustling against the Curtains, sheturn’d her Head; and seeing him, started and cast her Eyes upon him, but with sucha Look, as plainly shew’d that Sorrow had usurp’d the Quiet o her Soul; or Lovetowards him she’d none, and Rage or Anger had no Place in her equal Composi-tion, which was all made up o Female Sweetness and Gentleness o Heart.

Amphialus, who had be ore his Coming studied an elaborate Speech with which to introduce himsel , was at the Sight o that Idol o his Heart, past theUse o his collected Judgment, and had only Power to / bring out some brokenSentences; in which he begg’d her to put the best Construction upon what hadbeen transacted, and rest assur’d, that not the least Violence was intended eitherto her Honour or her sacred Person. She made him no Reply, but letting all her

Hands, which be ore were clasp’d, casting a Look o Anguish on him, her Bosomheaving with a sti ed Sigh, which plainly shew’d she gave no Credit to his Prom-ises, he ell upon his Knees, and hal constraining her to let him take her Hand,and printing it with an aw ul Kiss, which her Eyes shew’d she suffer’d as his Cap-tive, not his Mistress, he begg’d her to take a little Pity on that Passion, which arsurpass’d even the unbounded Representation o unwearied Fancy, much less couldit be described by Words; that in her Hands she held the Ballance o his Fate, andthat his Li e and Death were equally in her Power; that i she did not design at onceto put a Period to his Days, and his unlucky Love, that she would break that killingSilence, which was more wounding to him than the most severe Reproaches, orthem he hop’d to mitigate, by justi ying himsel rom having merited their Force.

Alas, Amphialus! said she, what shall I say, or how teach my ongue a Lan-guage suitable to this sad Occasion; since my very Senses contradict each other!My Eyes tell me I am made a Prisoner by your Means, and my Ears con rm methat you are my humble Slave; you sue to me or Pity, and yet exert the utmostCruelty against me: You tell me that you love, and that I am the dearest Tingto you on Earth; yet all the ime your Actions answer the most inveterate Hate:You also say that your Li e is in my Power, and yet you drive me to such a Strait,that every Moment mine is at your Disposal; so ar am I rom being Mistress o




yours, that I have not my own at my Command: You give your sel the Name obeing my Slave, but too sure I am, I nd, that I am yours. I then Oppression,Injury and Violence, and depriving me o what is ar more dear to me than Li e,my Liberty, are Proo s o Inclination, then must I be perswaded that I am deepin your Regards: But yet let me conjure you, by our Affi nity o Blood, i thatcan have a Power to raise Remorse in your harden’d Heart, or else by that Love which you pretend, let not my high Birth be stain’d by the Name o Slavery, normy Freedom be disgraced with vile Imprisonment. ormented with Toughts o present Evils, and Dread o worse to come, restore me to my sel , and my affl ictedinjur’d Parents; then shall I believe you really are possess’d o some o that Regard

or me, which you so lavishly pretend: And the same Favour I petition or mysel , I ask or my unhappy Sister, and my almost equally valued Friend Zelmane;or without them to share it with me, I wou’d not own my sel obliged to you or

immediate Liberty. With this the trickling ears ell gently down her beauteousCheeks, and serv’d as a ull Period7 to her Complaint. /

Amphialus’ love-sick Heart was pierc’d with every Word she spoke; butlike the unhappy Shepherd, who has singled rom out his Flock one avouriteLamb, to eed and stroke with his domestick Hand, till orc’d by hungry Famine,(having spent all his Flock) he is compell’d, by craving Nature, to kill the littleFondling to preserve himsel ; ofen does he look on it with watry Eyes, and ofendraw back his Hand, e’er he can perswade himsel to give the cruel Blow: So Amphialus, urg’d on by the impatient Cravings o his Love, was constrain’d to act

the injurious Part, and yet the same Passion reproach’d him or offering to putthe least Constraint upon her Person; who i con ned by any other, his avengingArm wou’d stop the Ravisher,8 and justly strike him dead. In this cruel Strait, hestood or some ime mute; at length unable to grant or to re use, he made herthis Reply: I won’t attempt, thou Charmer o my Soul, (tho’ with the strictest Justice I might do it) to convince you that I was not the Author, or in any Degreeaccessary to your being so ungenerously surpriz’d, since while I detain you I amequally culpable as i I had been the rst Cause o your Con nement; but this letme affi rm, and believe my Words are sacred as those proceeding rom the Lipso dying Men; I call the righteous Heavens to Witness, and i I prevaricate, maythey immediately stop my tainted Breath, that rom my Soul I wish these Eyeshad never seen the Light, or made my Parents glad by my unlucky Birth, ratherthan I shou’d live to be the cursed Cause o making those lovely Eyes o’er ow, orclouding that Sky o Beauty with unavailing Sorrow: Yet miserable that I am, I wou’d obey you even at the Expence o my Li e and Happiness; but cruel Love

orbids, and will not suffer me to evade his Laws: ’ is to that yrant you owethe Injury; I am guiltless, these Hands wou’d in a Moment set you ree, but Loverestrains my Heart, and makes it hold them rom their Offi ce; your Beauties arethe Bands that hold you, they wind themselves about my Heart, and will not




suffer me to loose you: Since then you are the Slave o Love, not me, you mustapply your sel to him, to him complain; but believe me, he is a mercenary Judge,and only is by Bribing to be wrought on; ’tis but to grati y his Wishes, and then you may be ree as Air, and uncon n’d as your own Toughts; the rigid Masterthen will turn to an obsequious Slave; but without that Condescension he willcompel me, spight o my sel , to be your Goaler; there ore determine what Way you will pursue, since Freedom and Con nement are equally within your Power.

While he was speaking these last Words, the ebbing Blood orsook therighted Virgin’s Breast; a deadly Paleness spread over her glowing Cheeks, and

hal sinking down upon the Bed, Amphialus, earing some atal Consequence,

snatch’d her Hand, which late was warm and glowing, t or the Fire-brand oLove, now cold as Matrons Wishes; / and kneeling by her, begg’d her to banishevery shocking Apprehension, and be assur’d, that the only Force he e’er shou’duse to her, wou’d be Assiduity and respect ul Love. Tis Promise, pronounc’d inthe most settled one, a little brought her to her sel ; and casting up her Eyes with a eeble Look, My Lord, said she, I can’t dispute (i you really are possess’do that generous Passion you pretend) but what you say is true; but this let meassure you, that i you ever suffer it to transgress the Bounds o strictest Honour,tho’ but in Attempt, I shall detest, abhor and loath the very Mention o you; whereas i you continue to protect me rom the Violence o your own rantickLove, or others Malice, I shall hold that Degree o Value or you which our Rela-tion claims: But know withall, i your loose Wishes should ever prompt you to

stain my Virtue, that tho’ your Mother has secur’d those little Implements oDeath I wore about me, yet there are a thousand Passages to the grim Monarch’sCourt,9 and I will prove the most untrodden o them, rather than live with Losso Innocence, and that Repose it must inevitably carry with it.

Amphialus’ burning Love being thus dampt by her cool Behaviour, and nd-ing it vain at that ime to press it arther, he call’d some o his Mother’s Womento attend upon her, and then with an humble Bow retir’d; being in reality muchmore a Prisoner to her, than she cou’d be to him, as the Captivity o the Mind is

ar more insupportable than that which only con nes the Body. Being come tohis Mother’s Apartment, he with a troubled Look, and uttering Heart, repeatedall that had pass’d between him and Philoclea, begging her to try i she cou’d byher Perswasions sofen the obdurate Maid, while he went to take all necessaryPrecautions against Basilius’ Rage, which he did not doubt wou’d soon prompthim to besiege their Castle.Cecropia bid him set his Heart at rest, or that shedid not at all dispute, at a proper ime, working that peevish Girl to their Lure;but that it would be best to let her Mind or some little ime work upon its ownPassion, and tire itsel with its own Severity.

Upon this Determination, they sent orClinias, and some others o theirCouncil, and consulted about their present Affairs: And rst Amphialus




dispatch’d private Letters to all the principal Nobility and Commoners o thatCountry, whom he imagin’d, either by Alliance or Friendship, wou’d be inclin’dto take his Side; employing sly Incendiaries to corrupt the Minds o such, whomeither Necessity, natural Inconstancy, or who thought shing in troubled Watersmight afford the most pro table Plunder, wou’d make ready to come into anyChange: Following the Method o his Mother, and behaving to each particularPerson as he believ’d wou’d be most likely to draw them in to his Interest; assur-ing his Friends, that his Advantage wou’d be theirs; promising vast Rewards tothe Ambitious; to those that / were urg’d, and thought themselves hardly us’dby the present Court, a Prospect o Revenge, to the greedy Hopes o Spoil and

Plunder; and in short, to every Man whatever he believed wou’d prompt themon to orward his Purposes. He also sent Embassadors to his Uncle, the Kingo Argos, to implore his Assistance; but he was too deep engag’d in de endinghis own Kingdom to afford him any great Help, and there ore he did not muchdepend upon Succours rom that Quarter.

His Business being so ar dispatch’d, he began to consider how great an Effectuncertain Rumour would have upon the Minds o the Populace, and how littlethey were capable o distinguishing between Right and Wrong; and there orecontrived a Justi cation o this, indeed, unwarrantable Proceeding, to be wrote,and privately to be dispers’d among the People; wherein he endeavoured to prove, that the Duty enjoin’d us to our Country was ar more sacred than anythat cou’d be expected rom us to a particular Person, though ever so near to

us; that when the Wel are o Tat comes in Competition, we ought to orgetour Kindred, Friends, and even our very selves, and sacri ce them all, i neces-sary to its Support: Ten by art ul Insinuations, he went about to prove that what he had acted was entirely with Regard to them; or tho’ Basilius was sonear to him, yet he cou’d not help pre erring the Good o so many Tousands, which he thought neglected by him, be ore any consanguenial ye; that as theEnd whereunto any Ting is directed, ought to be esteem’d o greater Conse-quence than the Ting it sel , so he thought the Good o a Community oughtto be much more consider’d than the particular Good o a Monarch, who abus’dthat Power which was only invested in him or the People’s Bene t; that i thatPower was abus’d, it rested upon some Patriot to de end it with all his Might;and he being o the Royal Blood, and the next Heir Male, he thought it incum-bent upon him to be watch ul or their Wel ares, which he had ever rom hisChildhood been: And now nding, with great Regret, that his Uncle not onlyneglected and despis’d the Government, but had invested all his Power in theHands o Philanax , a Man neither by Birth nor any other Quality render’d capa-ble o such a rust; and not only that, but had plac’d his Daughters, in whom(as immediate Heirs) the whole State had an equal Interest with himsel , in soimproper and de enceless a Place, as was not only unsa e or their Persons, but i




they shou’d be convey’d away (which was very possible in that Situation) to anyoreign Land, would prove pernicious to the whole Commonwealth; to prevent

which threaten’d Mischie s, he had taken Means to secure them in his Castle:and tho’ the Method might seem strange, yet they were to consider that desper-ate Distempers require as desperate Remedies, and that the Ladies wou’d be ashonourably treated, only their Persons wou’d be much securer than with / theirFather, and that they shou’d only be detain’d till there cou’d be proper Alliances

ound out that wou’d be equally advantageous to them and to the Common- wealth; or that he never had the least Intention to violate that Duty which heknew was due to them and to their Father: But i be ore the Estates cou’d be

assembled, to consider o the Disposal o the Princesses, he shou’d be attack’d, he wou’d then in De ence o them, and o himsel , appear in Arms; and in that Casehe conjur’d all those, who valu’d the Wel are o their Country, or had a naturalLove to Justice, to assist him: And i the King shou’d issue out a Proclamationto orbid it, to think him in such a Case no more to be obey’d, than i he shou’dcommand them to give him Drink o deadly Poison, or not dash the Cup when it was offer’d ull raught with Death to his mistaken Lips; or that every Step whichhe had taken, or shou’d take, was meant entirely or his Service, however seduc’dby Philanax ’s Interpretation o them, he might believe the contrary; avowing, that whatever he shou’d act in his most just De ence, shou’d be only against Philanax ,

or that he wou’d much sooner submit his Li e, than lif an Arm against the King.o this Effect, branch’d out with numerous Arguments, and disguis’d with all

the Arts o Rhetorick, did he disperse the Vindication o his treasonable Action; which as it prevail’d with some, who had more Quickness o Wit than Solid-ity o Judgment, so did it sofen the Minds o Numbers, and keep them rom proceeding with Violence against him, and indolently stand neuter till Chanceshou’d decide the Controversy: Besides this art ul Method which Amphilalus pursued to weaken the adverse Party, he omitted no Care to strengthen and con-

rm his own; and not having a regular Army to maintain the Field, he repos’dhis chie Con dence in the Security o his Castle, which at least wou’d gain him

ime, that Parent o thousand un oreseen Mutations: o the Security o Tat hethere ore bent his chie est Cares, endeavouring to make Art and Nature contend which shou’d most contribute to the Forti cation o it; the Situation Naturebestow’d, but Art gave the Building, and that so well contriv’d, that no under-mining Stratagem cou’d shake its rocky Substance; and he took Care to makeall Approaches to it, i not wholly impossible, yet not to be attain’d without theutmost Diffi culties; neither did he neglect to store it with all kind o Provisions,and that in so plenti ul a Manner, as in every Degree it was provided to hold outa very considerable Siege.

But what he was most cautious in, was with Regard to his Men, knowingthem to be the Master-Springs that must set all his Stratagems a turning; and




that in an art ul Management o them, depends the nicest Rules o Government,either in Civil or Military Affairs: He there ore took Care to secure as many asthe Castle wou’d conveniently / hold, without Danger o In ection by too greata Number, and that he believed he had Provision to support or at least twoYears: all o them able in Body, and some ew answerable in Mind, and capa-ble to direct the rest; not desirous o many Commanders, but content that theGenerality should be the most skil ul in Obedience; distributing each Offi ce, asnear as possibly he could, according to the Disposition o the Person that was toexercise it, being well enough acquainted with humane Nature to know, that noLove, Fear, or Discipline, can soon root out long-grounded Habits: Tere ore

he took particular Care not to place an indolent Person in an active Post, nora liberal One to dispose o the Provisions; the sof and yielding wou’d he nevermake the Instruments o Punishment; but took such Measures, as to exercisethe Virtues o every particular Man where they might be most advantageousto him; making it his chie Care to be thoroughly acquainted with every indi- vidual Person; and not only know the Disposition o their Minds, but strictlyregard the Constitution o their Bodies; and nding some o them better ableto endure tedious Watches, others to struggle with Cold and Hunger, and oth-ers to per orm laborious Offi ces, he dispos’d them all accordingly, making alltheir Abilities o the utmost Use to himsel , yet not burdening them beyondtheir Power. Teir Hours were regular, and a due Proportion o ime allotted

or every Purpose; and as well in that as every other Particular, no Neglect, no

small Error, either wil ully committed, or through Oversight, was wink’d at, lest,encourag’d by that Lenity, greater should be animated: Even the very Vices ohis Men, by his skil ul Management, he prov’d o Use to him, giving the DastardClinias the chie Care o the Watch, well-knowing that his own Fears wou’d keephim waking; and be ore the Siege began, or there was any visible Preparations

or it, he contriv’d Rumours to be spread and Libels to be dispers’d (tho’ uller oMalice than insinuating Perswasion) against himsel , partly that he might nd who was aptest to be wrought on by such Practices, that he might separate them

rom his more aith ul Followers; but chie y that they might be con ounded when such kind o Tings were in earnest attempted, and by the Use o themgrow to give them the less Observation; even be ore the Enemy approach’d, heexercis’d his Men continually in all their Charges, as i the utmost Danger hadbeen at their Gates, instructing and teaching them by Example much more thanPrecept, being himsel neither more sparing o his Labour, nor more extravagantin his Re reshments, than the meanest Soldier.

Te only Odds was, that while they took Breath, his Bosom heav’d with Sighs;and while the rest beguil’d their Cares with Sleep, with Arms a-cross, he travers’dhis conscious Chamber,10 re ecting on his still unsuccess ul Passion; or Lovecan pierce through / Danger’s most pointed Apprehensions, and inter ere it sel




in the most busy Mind. Ofen, when he had begun to give his Orders, wou’d theImage o his Soul’s Desire appear be ore his Fancy, and draw so much the Atten-tion o his Toughts, that he wou’d break his Words abruptly off, and stand orsome ime motionless, e’er he cou’d reassume them, and nish his Directions. When his Hand has been lifed up, in order to per orm some Action, a Tought wou’d come a-cross him; and, as i the whole Mass o his Blood was stagnated,he wou’d stand a good while with his Eyes x’d in that Posture, till recollectinghimsel , he wou’d look abash’d about, to see i any body had observ’d him. Ofen wou’d he accuse the Weakness o humane Nature, and condemn that Assertiono pretended Wits, who affi rm, that Idleness only is the Source o Love. O you

severe Philosophers! (wou’d he cry) who set up or the only Standards o true Wisdom, by despising the In uence o Nature, attend and judge my Case: Am Iaccessary, by endulging voluptuous Ease, to this growing Sofness? Do I employmy Hours in wanton Revels or lascivious Sports? No Beds o Down enerveratemy strong Limbs, or costly Dishes heat my boiling Blood. Is not Dispair be oreme, and doubt ul Anguish in the Rear? I am enclos’d with Mischie s; Dangeron one Side, and In amy close on the other. Do I not walk on Torns, and is notevery Step I take thick set with Pains and Labour? And what is worst o all, arenot my Toughts continually kept in Agitation, by the orture o Suspence?And yet the more I busy and employ my anxious Mind, the more I think it yieldsto the Impression which Fancy makes. Te more Severity I use towards my sel ,so much the more the yrant Love imposes on me. O Philoclea! O thou heavenlyMaid! in the beauteous Sky o thy per ect Face is all my Astronomy enclos’d.Ty Vertues are my Standard o Philosophy; let me but be a Pro cient in thySchool, and then adieu to every other distracting and unpro table Study; butmuch I ear, thy Planets are in Opposition to my Happiness. Wretch that I am,they threaten my Distruction! I make my sel subservient to their In uence, andin Return, they exert their Power to destroy me. Why will the gentle Philoclea, whose very Composition is made up o Mercy, exert a Cruelty to me, which isinconsistent with her tender Nature? How is it possible that Death shou’d headhis Arrows rom those re ulgent Eyes,11 or that those warming Beauties shou’d bea Means to plung me in the cold Arms o Death? But why do I complain o her?Perhaps I am in Fault, and want the Power to please; some other happier Youth

may have prevented me, and enjoys that Effusion o Delight which I in vain amsuing or. I so, Amphialus thou art lost indeed. But yet whatever Fate allots orme, bless her, ye Powers, and let her never prove the Agonies I eel, unless it be toheighten uture Bliss. In this Manner wou’d he exert his Eloquence when he wasdistant rom her hearing; but when with her, and it might (at least or ought heknew) be o the utmost Use to him; he wanted / the Power o Speech: At lengthhe was necessitated to apply himsel to his Mother or her Advice; begging her




to employ her Toughts, that were calm and undisturb’d, in contriving how tomove the steady Fair, and be an Intercessor or his unsuccess ul Love.

Cecropia’s haughty Mind greatly disdain’d the Offi ce; but nding that herSon’s Happiness entirely depended upon that one Point, she resolved to under-take it, not in the least doubting but that she shou’d nd it easy to conquer anunexperienc’d Maid, and by her Arts reduce her to the erms which he desir’d;and measuring the Wantonness o Philoclea’s Inclinations, by the Lightness oher own at that Age, did not dispute but the same Baits which were us’d to her, wou’d be effectual; and bidding her Son settle his uneasy Toughts, and rely onher, she went to Philoclea’s Chamber: Te Door being a little a-jar, she stood

some ime observing her; the mourning Maid was sitting on a Cushion, whichonly a little rais’d her rom the Ground; corroding Melancholy, and keen-edg’dDespair, were striving which shou’d most eagerly prey upon her Beauties; herstreaming Eyes, like Fountains, over owed, and watered the Paradice o herangelick Face, while she neglecting to wipe the Drops rom off her bloomingCheeks, they hung like Morning Dews on opening Roses in the smiling Spring;her Hair ow’d loose about her Shoulders, and all her Dress neglected, except what Decency requir’d; yet careless as she was to help her own Per ections, theyshone more bright than the most studied Arts cou’d make another’s.

Altho’ the Sight o so much Beauty in such deep Distress, wou’d have almostmov’d a Heart o Adamant, yetCecropia’s more harden’d one was no arthertouch’d, than as she thought her Son concern’d in it; but that induc’d her to eign

a seeming Gentleness, and sofly opening the Door, she went in, and coming upto the musing Fair, who saw her not till she began to speak: What means thisrantick Shew o Grie , thou lovely Creature, cry’d she to her, in a dissemblingone? Why will you spoil those pretty Eyes with such unnecessary Weeping?

Shall briny ears wash off the Bloom o that Complexion, which all the Ladies o Arcadia envy, and the Men sigh afer? For shame, ing off this peevish Humour;indeed ’tis much untimely at your Age; look on that per ect Form, and judge your sel , whether it ought to pine away with needless Discontent and unavail-ing Sorrow: Wou’d you be pleas’d, these Hands that shame the driven Snow,more smooth than polish’d Marble or glossy Ivory, shou’d grow all wither’d, leanand yellow, and give the envious World an Opportunity o insinuating that youmust certainly have used some Art be ore, which you now neglect; or i thoseBeauties were natural, they never cou’d have ound so quick a Change? Do buttake the rouble o looking in yonder Glass, and see whether those ears areany Ornament / to your Eyes, though I must own their Brightness has a Powerto make even ears becoming? I know not, Madam, reply’d Philoclea sighing, whether my ears become my Eyes, but this I am very certain o , they suit myabject Fortune. Your Fortune, answer’dCecropia, were she not blind, has Reasonto put on her gayest Dress; but with Grie I see, and, to be sincere, with some




Resentment, that you misinterpret all my Actions, which are only intended or your Sa ety; you think your sel abus’d by them, whose only Aim is to preserve you rom Abuse; you look upon your sel a Prisoner, where you are sole Com-mandress; and apprehend your sel the Object o Despight, where you are theonly one o Love and Adoration: Much I cou’d say to prove what I have urg’d,and indeed came hither or that Purpose, and to disclose a Secret o great Impor-tance; but since you’ve thus obstinately made a League with Melancholy, and will give an Ear to nothing but its black Suggestions, I shall spare my sel thePains, and leave you to the Entertainment you are so ond o .

Here she stop’d, in hopes that the Woman’s Curiosity wou’d work up Philoclea

to enquire into her ambiguous Words; but the hapless Maid, who wou’d muchrather have orgot what she already knew relating to that Affair, than receiv’durther In ormations, only answer’d, Tat i she really had that Pity or her she

express’d, and had indeed no Designs that were not honourable, she begg’d thatshe wou’d prove it by giving her her Liberty, or else a very little ime wou’d makeher Grie s and Fears her Executioners, and put an End at once to them and toher Li e. As to that, reply’dCecropia, assure your sel , upon the Honour whichought to attend the Daughter o a King, you shall be ree as soon as you may with Sa ety to your sel , being brought hither only to secure you rom threaten’dDangers, which you know not o ; but i you wou’d indeed make me your Friend,and place your sel upon a Level in my Heart with my only Child; then lend me your Attention, and suffer not your Mind to be harden’d against my Words, but

exible and yielding to my ond Perswasions: Suppose, my lovely Niece, that inthe midst o these intolerable Agonies, which righted Fancy represents to yourbiass’d Judgment, while with Prayers and ears you are imploring Heaven or itsProtection and Deliverance; suppose, I say, that in the midst o these ortures o your Soul, an Angel shou’d appear, and bid you ollow him through the privateDoor that leads into the Garden, and assure you that you there shou’d be restor’dto your Parents, Liberty, and every Blessing which in Li e you value; tell me,my dearest Niece, wou’d you re use to ollow him, and continue still a Prisoner,unless he wou’d promise to carry you through the publick Gate? Wou’d you, were you very thirsty, re use to drink the Wine you like, because you cou’d nothave it in a particular Glass? I know you / wou’d not; and that your Reason and your Judgment are both too strong, to suffer you to stand upon such inconsider-able Niceties. I this be true, and I have answer’d justly or you, as sure I thinkI have, then think, my Niece, o me, as o your Guardian-Angel, who eelingall your Grie s, and unable longer to suffer that Breast shou’d heave with Sighs,and those Eyes ow with ears, am come, with riendly Arm, to lead you notonly to what Joys your Imagination paints in Liberty, but to a true and lastingHappiness: Te Way that I wou’d carry you, tho’ it may not possibly be the Path which your private Inclination has painted out, is yet a certain one to true Felic-




ity and solid Joys. o explain this seeming Parable, know, that my Son, (let it beno Disgrace to him to bear that Name, since by it he is Nephew to your Father,and Grandson to a King,) this Royal Youth, I say, being much more attach’d to you by Choice and Inclination than even by Blood, and using all his Efforts, toconvince you that his uncommon Passion is equal to your superior Beauty, doesby me offer you Liberty, i with that Gif you will accept a greater, the Commando himsel , this Castle, and all the Power and Wealth that he is Master o .

Much I might say to prove the Happiness which this Alliance will bring withit; but it wou’d be as vain a ask as to take Pains to perswade any Body that theSun shines upon the Earth, when just mounted up to his Meridian; since it is

ull as visible that Amphialus is orm’d in every Particular to make a Womanhappy: Tis ruth the meanest Judgment could not be a Stranger to, much lesscan it need illustrating to your penetrating one; there ore, dear Niece, let meentreat you, or your own Good, to weigh it well, and shew your Value o it by your Gratitude; let the intrinsick Worth o this generous Offer, make up or my Want o Eloquence in proposing it; and commission me ( or both your Sakes) tocarry back an Answer, that will alleviate the Sorrows o a distracted Heart, whichgreatly stands in need o Pity and Relie .

Philoclea, nding she stopp’d, and waited or an Answer, looking rst uponher Aunt, and then casting her Eyes down to the Ground; Madam, said she, I wish I was so much Mistress o my Heart, as to dispose it to receive my Cous-in’s honourable Love, or such I shall esteem it; but my Inclinations are already

orm’d (here she blush’d and paus’d, and then re-assum’d) to lead a single Li e, to which my solemn Vows have long since been made to Heaven. Now those Heav-ens orbid, reply’dCecropia: For ever lead a single Li e! No, no, my Child, believeme, Heaven will ne’er give Ear to such impious Vows, that rustrate the very Endo Nature: She has been liberal, nay even prodigal o her Beauties to you, orother Ends than, that you shou’d churlishly keep them to your sel , and unjustlysuffer / them to perish with you: As she bless’d your Parents and the World with you, so she expects that you shou’d at least do your Part to be a Mother, andadd your Offspring to enrich your Country; and, in order to accomplish thatcommendable End, she has given you Beauty to move Desire, and Penetrationto nd out when that Desire is justi able; she has endow’d you with a thousandCharms to reward and grati y a Passion worthy o you, which Generosity will be paid back with Interest, and the Delights you give be amply return’d in your ownBosom. O cou’d you know the Joys that crown a Parent’s Name! Were you butsensible o the unspeakable Delight o hourly seeing your own Per ections shinebright and bloomy in your Children, you wou’d most surely condemn your sel

or harbouring a Tought contrary to that greatest earthly Blessing! But possibly you may imagine I set this Happiness be ore you, as Generals do Victory to theirSoldiers, which they can ne’er arrive at, but thro’ an In nity o Dangers, Perils,




Grie s, and Cares: No, believe me, that is not the Case; trust my Experience, which with Sincerity assures you, that the Way that leads to it is still, i possible,more eligible than the delight ul End. I know not, answer’d Philoclea, earingher Aunt wou’d take her Silence or a Proo o Sullenness, what Pleasures you propose; but Marriage, which must be the Sum o them, is, in my Opinion, thegreatest Slavery; and in that, o any Kind, it will be impossible or my emperto nd a Pleasure. You much mistake this Matter, reply’dCecropia: Indeed, weall are born to Bondage, and have a heavy Yoke impos’d on us at our Creation;but Marriage, instead o adding to that Weight, is the only Ting that can helpto make it lighter; a Partner in Cares, must necessarily make them appear much

less; surely ’tis more desireable, since one must pass the rough uneven Ways orail Mortality, beset with Torns and Bryars, to have a worthy Husband to beatthe Way, and make it more passable or our helpless Innocence. Bear Witness

or me, O ye lonely Days and widow’d Nights! bear Witness what I suffer by theatal Change! How do I press my melancholly Pillow, and with unavailing ears

lament that cruel Liberty which I unwillingly enjoy! A Liberty only equal to that poor Wretch’s, who banish’d rom his native Land, is allow’d each other Cornero the Earth to roam in, but still deny’d the only Place that can delight him: Sothe poor Dove, beref o Sight, is by the cruel Falconer with seal’d Eyes cast off,and given his ull Swing, when he has not a Power to make use o it; and, believeme, Niece, Woman, without the Help o aiding Man, is ull as blind: My veryHeart dissolves, when I re ect upon that happy ime, when every Care that Isustain’d rebounded to another’s Breast, and every Joy with which my Heart wasgladen’d shone bright and sparkling thro’ another’s Eyes: How can I express thoserapturous Joys, which I might reely taste without the envious World’s layingthe least Imputation on my Modesty, or ear o Check rom my own / watch ulConscience! And is the insipid Pleasures o a single Li e to be compar’d to thoseconsummate Ones? Ten may one String make equal Harmony with the nestConsort; then may one Colour equally delight the Eye, with the various Rain-bow. But possibly ’tis not so much Marriage in general that you despise, as thegiving the Name o Husband to Amphialus: He is my Son indeed, and there ore you may think I look on him with partial Eyes; but yet I can’t but think the mostunbyass’d Judgment must own him ar above Contempt, and not unworthy the

nicest Virgin’s Love: He is virtuous, noble, rich, and generous; but that whichought to you to comprehend all these, and in nitely more Per ections, is, thathe loves you with an unbounded Passion; to you alone he pays his Vows, whomeven Queens do not disdain to sigh or: Kill not his growing Love, nor starveit with your Coldness; let not a meaner Beauty hereafer have an Opportunity, with Woman’s Vanity, to boast, that she has robb’d you o so true, so aith ul, andso sincere a Lover, as hardly any Age will ever parallel.



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EDITORIAL NOTES

1. Standish: a stand or container or writing accessories.2. Minerva’s Oratory: Minerva provided particular inspiration to poets and orators, the

goddess having sprung ully ormed rom the head o Jupiter.3. shrewess: ‘Shrew’ could re er to ‘a wicked, evil-disposed, or malignant man’; hence ‘shrew-

ess’ is used here to re er to Miso (though later she is also re erred to as ‘shrew’).4. Passenger : traveller, passer-by.5. Lees: dregs.6. Rape: As is the case here, ‘rape’ ofen re erred to ‘the act o carrying off a person by orce;

esp. the abduction o a woman’, rather than to the act o sexual violation that is ofen the purpose o such an abduction.

7. ull Period : ‘ nal stage o any process or course o action’; ‘in oratory, discourse, etc.: aconcluding sentence’.

8. Ravisher : one who has ravished in the sense o having abducted and ( in a not necessarilysexual sense) taken possession o another.

9. yet there are a thousand Passages to the grim Monarch’s Court : ‘Te grim Monarch’ is presumably death, as in Sidney’s corresponding lines, ‘the house o death had so manydores, as she would easily ie into it, i euer she ound her honour endangered’ (P. Sid-ney,Te Countesse o Pembroke’s Arcadia. Written by Sir Philip Sidney Knight (London:Imprinted by H. L. or Mathew Lownes, 1613), p. 245).

10. his conscious Chamber : ‘Conscious’ is presumably used in its gurative sense, ‘attributedto inanimate things as privy to, sharing in, or witnessing human actions or secrets’.

11. How is it possible that Death shou’d head his Arrows fom those re ulgent Eyes: Stanleyhas simpli ed, though possibly obscured, Sidney’s meaning in the line ‘O deare (thoughkilling) eyes, shall death head his dart with the gold oCupids arrow?’ (Te Countesse o Pembroke’s Arcadia, p. 248).

12. Errant : possibly ‘errand’, in the archaic sense o ‘mission’.13. Deckings: ornaments.14. Fortne: probably ‘ ortune’.15. injur’d : wronged.16. train’d : lured.17. Pioneers: members o an army sent ahead to dig trenches and build orti cations.18. the Cranes are too hard or the Pigmees: In Greek myth, every spring the pygmy tribe did

battle with the migrating cranes, and lost.19. Bugbears: ‘object[s] o dread, esp. o needless dread … imaginary terror[s]’; generalized

rom the bugbear, a type o hobgoblin ‘(presumably in the shape o a bear) supposed todevour naughty children’.

Documents

Sample pages from Continuations to Sidney's Arcadia, 1607–1867