Chapter VIII: Part TWO (3)

"Now Rome reign'd Empress o're the vanquished ball,
As far as earth and seas, obey'd by all:
Uneasie yet, with more desires she's curst,
And boundless, as her empire, is her thirst.
In burden'd vessels now they travelled o're
The furrow'd deep to seas unknown before:
And any hidden part of land or sea,
That gold afforded, was an enemy.
Thus fate the seeds of civil fury rais'd,
When great in wealth no common pleasure pleas'd.
Delights more out of fashion by the town:
Th' souldiers scarlet now from Spain must come;
The purple of the sea contemn'd is grown.
India with silks, Africk with precious stone,
Arabia with its spices hither come,
And with their ruin raise the pride of Rome.
But other spoils, destructive to her peace,
Rome's ruin bode, and future ills encrease:
Through Libyan desarts are wild monsters chas'd.
And the remotest parts of Africk trac'd:
Where the unwieldy elephant that's ta'en,
For fatal value of his tooth is slain.
Uncommon tygers are imported here,
And triumphant in the theatre;
Where, while devouring jaws on men they try,
The people clap to see their fellows die.
But oh! who can without a blush relate
The horrid scene of their approaching fate?
When Persian customs, fashionable grown,
Made nature start, and her best work disown,
Male infants are divorc'd from all that can,
By timely progress ripen into man.
Thus circling nature dampt, a while restrain
Her hasty course, and a pause remains;
Till working a return t'her wonted post,
She seeks her self, and to her self is lost.
The herd of fops the frantick humour take,
Each keeps a capon, loves its mincing gate,
Its flowing hair, and striving all it can,
In changing mode and dress, t' appear a man.
Behold the wilder luxury of Rome,
From Africk furniture, slaves, tables come,
And purple carpets made in Africk loom.
Thus their estates run out, while all around
The sot-companions in their wine are drown'd;
The souldier loads, neglected is his sword,
With all his spoils the dearly noble board:
Rome's appetite grows witty, and what's caught
In Sicily, to their boards are living brought:
But stomachs gorg'd, (a dearer luxury)
Must with expensive sauce new hunger buy.
The Phasian banks, the birds all eaten, gone,
With their forsaken trees in silence moan,
And have no musick but the winds alone.
In Mars's Field no less a frenzie reigns,
Where brib'd assemblies make a prey of gains.
Their servile votes obey the chink of gold,
A people and a senate to be sold!
The senate's self, which should our rights maintain,
From their free spirits, stoop to sordid gain,
The power of right by gold corrupted dies,
And trampled majesty beneath it lies:
Cato's pretence the giddy rout neglect,
Yet did not him, but him they rais'd deject:
Who, tho' he won, with conscious blushes stands,
Asham'd o' th' Power he took from worthier hands.
O manners, ruin, and the people's shame!
He suffer'd not alone, the Roman name,
Virtue and honour to their period came.
Thus wretched Rome does her own ruin share,
At once the merchant, and at once the ware,
All lands are mortgag'd, and all persons bound,
And in the use the principal is drown'd.
Thus debt's a feaver, and like that disease,
Bred in our bowels, by unfelt degrees
Will through our thirsty vitals ev'ry member seize
Wild tumults now to arms for succour call,
(For what may dare and never fear a fall.)
Wasted by riot, wealth's a putrid sore,
That only wounds can its lost strength restore.
What rules of reason, or soft gentle ways,
Rome from this lethargy of vice can raise?
Where such mild arts can no impression make,
War, tumult, noise and fury must awake.
Fortune one age with three great chiefs supply'd,
Who different ways, by the sword that rais'd 'em dy'd;
Crassus's blood, Asia; Africk, Pompey's shed;
In thankless Rome, the murder'd Cæsar bled.
Thus as one soil alone too narrow were,
Their glorious dust, and great remains to bear,
O're all the earth their scatter'd ruin lyes;
Such honours to the mighty dead arise.
'Twixt Naples and Puteoli there is,
Deep in the gaping earth, a dark abys,
Where runs the raging black Cocytus stream,
That from its waters sends a sulphurous stream,
Which spreads its fury round the blasted green,
O're all the fatal compass of its breath,
No verdant autumn crowns the fruitful earth;
No blooming woods with vernal songs resound,
Nothing but black confusion all around,
There lonely rocks in dismal quiet mourn,
Which aged cypress dreadfully adorn.
Here Pluto rais'd his head, and through a cloud
Of fire and smoke, in this prophetick mood,
To giddy fortune spoke,--
All ruling Power,
You love all change, and quit it soon for more;
You never like what too securely stands;
Does Rome not tire your faint supporting hands?
How can you longer bear the sinking frame,
The Roman youth now hate the Roman name.
See all around luxuriant trophies lye,
And their encreasing wealth new ills supply.
Golden aspiring piles here heav'n invade,
There on the sea encroaching bounds are made.
Where fields contriving as from waters sprung,
Inverted nature's injur'd laws they wrong.
So deep the caverns in the earth some make,
They threat my empire, and my regions shake;
While to low quarries others sink for stone;
And hollow rocks beneath their fury groan.
Proud with the hopes to see another day,
M'infernal subjects 'gin to disobey:
Fortune be kind, still I'le their fure dare,
Turn all your smiles, and stir up Rome to war,
And a new colony of souls prepare.
Our sooty lips no blood have taste,
With thirst Tisiphone's dry throat does wast.
Since Sylla's sword let out the purple flood,
And guilty earth grew fruitful from the blood.
The black grim god did thus to Fortune say,
Reaching her hand, the yielding earth gave way
The fickle goddess, thus returning, said,
Father, by all beneath this earth obey'd,
If dangerous truths may be with safety told,
My thoughts with yours a just proportion hold:
No less a rage this willing breast inspires,
Nor am I prest with less inflam'd desires;
I hate the blessings that to Rome I lent,
And of my bounty, now abus'd, repent:
Thus the proud height of Rome's aspiring wall,
By the same dreadful god 'twas rais'd, shall fall.
Their blood I'll offer as a sacrifice,
T' appease the ghost of their departed vice.
I already see Pharsalian armies slain,
The funeral piles of Thessaly and Spain:
Egypt and Libya's groans methinks I hear,
The dismal sound of arms now strikes my ear,
An Actian sea-fight, and retreating fear.
Make wide the entrance of your thirsty soil,
New spirits must i' th' mighty harvest toil;
Charon's too narrow boat can ne're convey,
Scarce a whole fleet will waft the souls away;
Pale furies be with the vast ruin crown'd,
And fill'd with blood, remangle every wound.
The universal fabrick of the world,
Rent and divided, to your empire's hurl'd.
She scarce had spoke; e'er from a cloud there flyes
A blasting flame, that bursting shook the skyes;
At Jove's avenging thunder, to his hell,
From the clos'd earth, affrighted Pluto fell.
When soon the angry gods their omens show,
That bode destruction and approaching woe:
Astonishment surpriz'd the darkned sun,
As if the war already were begun;
Approaching ills the conscious Cynthia knew,
And blushing, from impiety withdrew.
With hideous noise the falling mountains cleave;
And streams repulst their usual courses leave.
Ingaging armies in the clouds appear,
And trumpets raising Mars himself to war.
Now Ætna's flames with an usual roar
Vomit huge bolts of thunder in the air,
Amidst the tombs and bones without their urns,
Portending spirits send up dismal groans:
A comet's seen with stars unknown before,
And Jove descending in a bloody show'r:
The god these wonders did in short unfold,
Cæsar their ills no longer shou'd with-hold.
Impatient of revenge, quit Gallick jars,
And draw his conquering sword for civil wars.
In cloudy Alps, where the divided rock
To cunning Grecians did its nerves unlock,
Altars devoted to Alcides smoke.
The temple with eternal ice is crown'd,
Whose milky top so far in clouds is drown'd;
You'd think its shoulders in the heavens bound
Not the warm rays of a meridian sun,
Or the hot southern winds can melt it down.
So fixt with ice and snows it did appear,
That its aspiring top the globe might bear.
Here conquering Cæsar leads his joyful bands,
And on the proudest cliff consid'ring stands.
The distant plains of Italy surveys,
And, hands and voice to heaven directed, says
Almighty Jove and you, Saturnia, found,
Safe by my arms, oft with my triumph's crown'd.
Witness these arms unwillingly I wear,
Unwillingly I come to wage this war,
Compell'd by injuries too great to bear.
Banisht my country, while I make the flood,
That laves the Rhine, run purple all with blood.
While the Gauls, ripe our Rome to re-invade,
I force to skulk behind their Alps afraid:
By conquering my banishment's secur'd.
Are sixty triumphs not to be endur'd?
A German conquest reckon'd such a fault?
By whom is glory such a monster thought?
Or who the vile supporters of this war?
A foreign spawn, a mobb in arms appear,
At once Rome's scandal, and at once her care.
No slavish soul shall bind this arm with chains,
And unreveng'd triumph it o're the plains.
Bold with success still to new conquests lead,
Come, my companions, thus my cause I'le plead,
The sword shall plead our cause, for to us all
Does equal guilt, and equal danger, call:
Oblig'd by you I conquer'd, not alone.
Since to be punisht is the victor's crown,
Fortune invokt begin the offer'd war,
My cause is pleaded when you bravely dare,
With such an army, who success can fear.
Thus Cæsar spoke: from the propitious sky
Descending eagles, boding victory,
Drive the slow winds before 'em as they fly.
From the left side of a dark wood proceed
Unwonted crys, which dying, flames succeed.
The sun-beams with unusual brightness rise
And spread new glories round the gilded skies.
New fir'd with omens of the promis'd day,
Cæsar o're untrod mountain leads the way;
Where th' frozen earth o're-clad with ice and snows,
At first not yielding to their horses blows,
A dreadful quiet in dull stiffness shows.
But when their trembling hoofs had burst the chain,
And soften'd milky clouds of hardned rain;
So quick the melted snows to rivers run,
That soon a deluge from the mountains sprung.
But thus you'd think 'twere done by fates decrees,
For the flood stopt, and billows rising freeze,
And yielding waves but now are rocks of ice.
The slippery passage now their feet betray,
When soon in miserable heaps o' th' way,
Men, horse, arms, in wild confusion lay.
Now pregnant clouds, with whirling blasts are torn,
And, bursting, are deliver'd of a storm:
Large stones of hail the troubl'd heavens shoot,
That by tempestuous winds are whirl'd about;
So thick it pours, whole clouds of snow and hail,
Like frozen billows, on their armour fall:
The earth lay vanquished under mighty snow,
An icy damp the vanquisht heavens know,
And vanquisht waters now no longer flow.
Thus all but Cæsar yield; on his huge lance
The hero leaning, did secure advance.
Alcmena's son did less securely rush,
From the proud height of rising Caucasus;
Or Jove himself, when down the steep he prest
Those sons of earth, that durst his heaven molest.
While raging Cæsar scales th' aspiring height,
Big with the news, fame takes before her flight;
And from Mount Palatine approaching ills,
To frighted Rome, thus dreadfully she tells:
A numerous fleet is riding o'er the main,
The melted Alps are hid with Cæsar's train.
That reeking from a German conquest come,
And with a like destruction threaten Rome.
Now arms, blood, death, and dismal scenes of war,
Are to their eyes presented by their fear;
With dreadful thoughts of coming war possest,
A wilder tumult raigns in every breast.
This flys by land, and that the sea prefers,
And thinks his native soil less safe appears,
The souldier trusts the fortune of the wars.
Prest by their fate, thus as they fear they run.
'Midst these disorders, through th' abandon'd town:
A moving sight, wild tumults here and there,
Follow the blind impulses of their fear.
Vanquisht by rumour all, prepar'd for flight,
Their much lamented habitations quit:
Trembling, this takes his children in his arms,
And that protects his guardian gods from harm.
Scar'd from their homes, unwillingly they go,
And in their wishes stab the absent foe.
Some bear their wives, amidst ten thousand fears,
In sad imbrace; and some their aged sires:
The tender youth, unus'd to burdens, bear
Only that with 'em for which most they fear:
Some less discreet, strive to bear all away,
And only for the foe prepare the prey.
So in a storm when no sea-arts avail
To guide the ship with any certain sail;
Some bind the shatter'd mast, with thoughts secure,
Others are swimming t'ward the peaceful shore;
While with full sails kind fortune these implore.
But why do we of such small fears complain,
With both the consuls greater Pompey ran,
That Asia aw'd, in dire Hydaspes grown
The only rock, its pyrates split upon;
Whose third triumph o're earth made Jove afraid,
Proud with success he'd next his Heaven invade:
To whom the ocean yielding honours gave,
And rougher Bosphorus humbly still'd his wave.
Yet he, of empires and of men the shame,
Quitting the honour of a ruler's name,
Meanly at once abandon'd Rome and fame.
Now this to Heaven it self does fears impart,
And the mild train of quiet gods depart;
Frighted with wars they quit the impious world,
And leave mankind in wild confusion hurl'd.
Fair Peace, as leader of the goodly train,
Beating her snowy arms, did first complain;
A wreath of olives bound her drooping head,
And to Hell's dark insatiate realms she fled.
Justice and Faith on her attending went,
And mournful Concord, with her garment rent.
On th' other side from Hell's wide gaping jaws,
A train of dire inhabitants arose:
Dreadful errings, fierce Bellona there,
Fraud, and Megera arm'd with brands of fire,
And th' gastly image of pale death appear:
Disorder'd Rage from all her fetters freed,
Proudly 'midst these lifts her distracted head,
And her hackt face with bloody helmet hid.
On her left arm a target old and worn,
Pierc'd with innumerable darts was born,
And brands of fire supported in her right,
The impious world with flames and ruin threat.
The gods descending, leave their still abode,
And the stars wondring miss their usual load;
For all the inhabitants of Heaven come,
Choosing their sides, with factious fury down.
For Cæsar first Dione does appear,
Pallas and Mars with his huge brandisht spear;
Phœbe and Phœbus too for Cæsar came,
And with Cyllenius, to fill the train,
Alcides went, in all his acts the same.
The trumpets sound, when from the Stygian shade
Wild Discord raises her disorder'd head;
From whose swoln eyes there ran a briny flood,
And blood congeal'd otre all her visage stood;
Her hideous rows of brazen teeth were furr'd,
A filthy gore there issu'd from her tongue,
With snaky locks her guarded head was hung;
Rent and divided did her garb betray
The image of the breast on which it lay;
And brandisht flames her trembling hand obey.
Thus from Hell's deeps she past with dire design,
Up to the top of noble Appennine,
From whose proud height she all the world descri'd,
Earth, seas, and armies march on every side,
And bursting out at length, with fury cry'd,
Let murderous rage the world to arms inspire,
That every nation may appear a fire:
No age or sex shall from the war be free,
No subtle fear be a security.
The earth it self shall tremble, and the shock
Make mountains cleft against each other knock.
Marcellus guide the laws, Curior the crowd,
Let Lentulus inspire the warlike god.
But why is't Cæsar such slow measures takes?
Not scale the walls? Nor force th' aspiring gates,
Nor to the town, nor to the treasure makes?
At Rome, if Pompey fears th' approaching foe,
Let him to fatal Epidamnum go:
Fill all its plains with blood. Thus Discord said,
And impious earth her black decrees obey'd."

When Eumolpus, with his usual freedom, had deliver'd himself of this, we arrived at Crotona, where having refresht our selves in a little inn, we took up at the next day, designing an enlargement of our house and fortune, we fell into the company of some parasitical Corbacchio's who immediately enquir'd what we were and whence we came? When, according to our contrivance, prudently advancing our characters, we told the credulous parasites whence we came, and who we were. Upon which, immediately all their fortunes were at Eumolpus's feet, and each, to ingratiate himself into his favour, strove to exceed the rest in presenting him.

While this flood of fortune was for a long time flowing on us, Eumolpus, 'midst his happiness, having lost the memory of his former condition, so boasted his interest, that he affirm'd none in Crotona cou'd resist his desires; and that what e're crime any of us shou'd act, he had friends enough to wipe off the guilt.

But, tho' our daily increasing riches, left my pamper'd body no desire unsatisfy'd; and tho' I flatter'd my self into an opinion that ill fortune had taken her last leave of me, yet not only the thoughts of my present condition, but the means of getting to 't, wou'd oft break in upon my joys, and bitter all the sweet. "And what," said I to myself, "if some one, wiser than the rest, shou'd dispatch a messenger for Africk; shou'd not we soon be discover'd? What if the slave Eumolpus, pickt up, glutted with his present happiness, shou'd betray us to his companions, and maliciously discover the whole cheat? We should then be put upon the strole again, and be oblig'd with shame to renew our former beggary. Heavens, how ill it fares with wicked lives! they ever expect the punishment they deserve."

Going out full of these thoughts to divert my concern, I resolv'd on a walk, but I had scarce got into a publick one, e're a pretty girl made up to me, and calling me Polyæmus, told me her lady wou'd be proud of an opportunity to speak with me.

"You're mistaken, sweet-heart," return'd I, in a little heat, "I'm but a servant, of another country too, and not worthy of so great a favour."

"No, sir," said she, "I have commands to you; but because you know what you can do, you're proud; and if a lady wou'd receive a favour from you, I see she must buy it: For to what end are all those allurements, forsooth? the curl'd hair, the complexion advanc'd by a wash, and the wanton roll of your eyes, the study'd air of your gate? unless by shewing your parts, to invite a purchaser? For my part I am neither a witch, nor a conjurer, yet can guess at a man by his physiognomy. And when I find a spark walking, I know his contemplation. To be short, sir, if so be you are one of them that sell their ware, I'll procure you a merchant; but if you're a courteous lender, confer the benefit. As for your being a servant, and below, as you say, such a favour, it increases the flames of her that's dying for you. 'Tis the wild extravagance of some women to be in love with filth, nor can be rais'd to an appetite but by the charms, forsooth of some slave or lacquy; some can be pleased with nothing but the strutting of a prize-fighter with a hackt-face, and a red ribbon in his shirt: Or an actor betray'd to prostitute himself on th' stage, by the vanity of showing his pretty shapes there; of this sort is my lady; who indeed," added she, "prefers the paultry lover of the upper gallery, with his dirty face, and oaken staff, to all the fine gentlemen of the boxes, with their patches, gunpowder-spots, and tooth-pickers." When pleas'd with the humour of her talk, "I beseech you, child," said I, "are you the she that's so in love with my person?" Upon which the maid fell into a fit of laughing. "I wou'd not," return'd she, "have you so extreamly flatter your self. I never yet truckl'd to a waiter, nor will Venus allow I shou'd imbrace a gibbet. You must address your self to ladies that kiss the ensigns of slavery; be assur'd that I, though a servant, have too fine a taste to converse with any below a knight." I was amaz'd at the relation of such unequal passions, and thought it miraculous to find a servant, with the scornful pride of a lady, and a lady with the humility of a servant.

Our pleasant discourse continuing, I desir'd her to bring her lady: she readily consented, and taking hold of her petticoats, tript it into a lawrel labyrinth, that border'd on the walk; 'twas not long e're she usher'd her lady to me; a beauty excelling even the flattery of painters; words can't express so perfect a creature; whatever I shou'd say of her wou'd fall short of what she was. Her hair spread all o're her shoulders, and seem'd in easie curls to wanton in the air. Her forehead oval, and that naturally inclin'd the hair to its advantage. The proportion of her eye-brows was most correct. Her eyes eclypst the glory of the brightest star. Her nose had an easie turn, and mouth was such Pragiteless believ'd Venus had. Then her chin, her neck, her arms, and feet, gently girt with embroider'd sandals, to whose whiteness the Parian marble wou'd serve but as a foil. 'Twas then I began to despise my old mistress Doris. And thus broke out:

"Sure amorous Jove's a holy tale above;
With fancy'd arts that wait upon his love,
When we are blest with such a charm as this,
And he no rival of our happiness:
How well the bull wou'd now the god become:
Or his grey-hairs to be transform'd to down?
Here's Danae's self, a touch from her wou'd fire
And make the god in liquid joys expire."

She was pleas'd, and smil'd with such an air, that, she seem'd like the moon in all her glories breaking through a cloud, when addressing her self, her pretty fingers humouring the turn of her voice, "If a fine woman, and that but this year, has been acquaint'd with a man," said she, "may deserve your love, let me commend a mistress to you. I am sensible you have a comrade already, nor have I thought it below me to inquire it: But why not a mistress too? I enter the list on the same bottom with your comrade; nor do I desire to engross all the caresses; only think me deserving, and confer them as you please."

"Let me beseech you, madam," return'd I, "by all those cupids in your face and meen, not to scorn to admit a stranger into the number of your admirers. You'l find him most religious, if you accept his devotions, and that you shou'd not suspect I believe the way to this heaven, unlike all others, may be trod gratis, I present you with my comrade."

"What?" said she, "do you give him without whom you cou'd not live? On whose lips your very being hangs? Whom you so love, as I cou'd you." Her words were attended with such a grace at their delivery, and the sweet sound so, charm'd the yielding air, you wou'd have sworne some syren had been breathing melodies. Thus rapt with every thing so amazing, and fancying a glory shin'd in every part, I ventur'd to enquire what name the goddess own'd? "My maid, I perceive," said she, "has not inform'd you, I am call'd Circe; I would not have you believe tho, I bear that name, that I derive my original from Apollo; nor that my mother, while she lay in the god's imbraces, held the fiery steeds: Yet I shall know enough of heaven, if fate will give you to my arms. And who knows the dark decrees? Therefore come, my dear, and crown my wishes. Nor need you fear any malicious disturbance of our joys. Your comrade is far enough from hence."

Upon which she threw her downy arms about me, and led me to a plat of ground, the pride of nature, deckt with a gay variety of every pleasing object.

On Ida's top, when Jove his nymph carest,
And lawless in open view exprest:
His Mother Earth in all her charms was seen,
The rose, the violet, the sweet jessamin,
And the fair lily smiling on the green.
Such was the plat on which my Venus lay,
But secret our love, more glorious the day,
When all around was bright, and as the nymph as gay.

Here we prepar'd for battel, and through ten thousand kisses prest to a closer engagement; but a sudden weakness rob'd me of my arms. Thus cheated in her expectations, she highly resenting it, asks whether her lips, her breath, or some ill scent of any part of her, offended me. Or, if none of those, whether I fear'd Gito?

I was so asham'd of my self, that if there was any spark of the man left in me, I lost it. And finding every part of me feeble, and as it were lifeless: "I beseech you, madam," said I, "don't triumph over my misery; I'm surely bewitcht."

So slight an excuse could not allay her resentment, but giving me a disdainful glance, she turn'd to her maid, and, "I prithee Chrysis," said she, "be free with me, don't flatter your mistress. Is there any thing misbecoming or ungentle about me? Or have I us'd art to hide any natural deformity? I don't know how you've drest me to-day."

Upon which, e're Chrysis cou'd make a return, she snatcht a pocket-glass from her, and after she had practis'd all her looks, to try if any appear'd less charming than before, she took hold of her petticoats that were a little rumpled with lying on, and immediately ran to a neighbouring temple dedicated to Venus.

I could not tell what to say or do, but as if I had seen a vision, at last began with horror to consider whether I had been rob'd of any real joy.

So when a dream our wandring eyes betrays,
And to our side some hidden gold conveys;
Our busie hands the inviting treasure seize,
And hid in guilty folds the fancy'd prize.
Sweating we fear lest any conscious spy,
Might search our bosom, and the theft descry.
But with our sieep when all our joys are o're,
And minds restor'd to what they were before,
Concern'd, we wish the fancy'd loss regain'd,
And with the image still are entertain'd.

This misfortune might make me justly think it not only a true vision, but real witchcraft; for I had so long lost my strength I cou'd not rise: My mind at last, a little freed, began by degrees to recover its vigour, upon which I went to my lodging, and dissembling a faintness, lay down on the bed. A little after Gito, being inform'd I was ill, came to me, much troubl'd; but to allay his concern, I told him I was only a little weary, and had a mind for a nap. Several things I talkt to him of, but not a word of my last adventure, for I was afraid because I knew he envy'd every one that had a charm for me, and to prevent his suspicion, throwing my arms about him, I endeavour'd to give a proof of my love; but disappointed of the expectation I had rais'd him to, he rose very angry from my side, and accusing my weakness, and strange behaviour to him, told me that of late he had found my chief favours were bestow'd in another's arms.

"My love to you, Gito," said I, "has ever been the same, but now my dancing-days submit to reason."

"Therefore," said he, laughing at me, "in the name of Socrates, I thank you, because like him, you propose to love me: Alcibiades, Encolpius, did not rise a virgin from that philosopher's side."

"Then," added I, "believe me, Gito, I hardly know I've any thing of man about me, how useless lyes the terrible part, where once I was Achilles."

When he found how unfit I was to confer the favours he wanted, and to prevent suspicion, of his privacy with me, he jumpt up and ran to another part of the house.

He was hardly gone, e're Chrysis enter'd my chamber, and gave me a billet from her mistress, in which I found this written:

"Had I rais'd my expectation, I might deceiv'd complain; now I'm obliged to your impotence, that has made me sensible how much too long I have trifl'd with mistaken hopes of pleasure. Tell me, sir, how you design to bestow your self, and whether you dare rashly venture home on your own legs? for no physician ever allow'd it cou'd be done without strength. Let me advise your tender years to beware of a palsie: I never saw any body in such danger before. On my conscience you are just going! and shou'd the same rude chilliness seize your other parts, I might be soon, alas! put upon the severe trial of weeping at your funeral. But if you would not suspect me of not being sincere, tho' my resentment can't equal the injury, yet I shall not envy the cure of a weak unhappy wretch. If you wou'd recover your strength, ask Gito, or rather not ask him for't--I can assure a return of your vigour if you cou'd sleep three nights alone: As to myself I am not in the least apprehensive of appearing to another less charming than I have to you. I am told neither my glass nor report does flatter me. Farewell, if you can."

When Chrysis found I had read the reproach, "This is the custom, sir," said she, "and chiefly of this city, where the women are skill'd in magick-charms, enough to make the moon confess their power, therefore the recovery of any useful instrument of love becomes their care; 'tis only writing some soft tender things to my lady, and you make her happy in a kind return. For 'tis confest, since her disappointment, she has not been her self." I readily consented, and calling for paper, thus addrest myself:

"'Tis confest, madam, I have often sinned, for I'm not only a man, but a very young one, yet never left the field so dishonourably before. You have at your feet a confessing criminal, that deserves whatever you inflict: I have cut a throat, betray'd my country, committed sacrilege; if a punishment for any of these will serve, I am ready to receive sentence. If you fancy my death, I wait you with my sword; but if a beating will content you, I fly naked to your arms. Only remember, that 'twas not the workman, but his instruments that fail'd: I was ready to engage, but wanted arms. Who rob'd me of them I know not; perhaps my eager mind outrun my body; or while with an unhappy haste I aim'd at all; I was cheated with abortive joys. I only know I don't know what I've done: You bid me fear a palsie, as if the diseast cou'd do greater that has already rob'd me of that, by which I shou'd have purchas'd you. All I have to say for my self, is this, that I will certainly pay with interest the arrears of love, if you allow me time to repair my misfortune."

Having sent back Chrysis with this answer, to encourage my jaded body after the bath and strengthening oyles, had a little rais'd me, I apply'd my self to strong meats, such as strong broths and eggs, using wine very moderately; upon which to settle my self, I took a little walk, and returning to my chamber, slept that night without Gito; so great was my care to acquit my self honourably with my mistress, that I was afraid he might have tempted my constancy, by tickling my side.

The next day rising without prejudice, either to my body or spirits, I went, tho' I fear'd the place was ominous, to the same walk, and expected Chrysis to conduct me to her mistress; I had not been long there, e're she came to me, and with her a little old woman. After she had saluted me, "What, my nice Sir Courtly," said she, "does your stomach begin to come to you?"

At what time, the old woman, drawing from her bosome, a wreath of many colours, bound my neck; and having mixt spittle and dust, she dipt her finger in't, and markt my fore-head, whether I wou'd or not.

When this part of the charm was over, she made me spit thrice, and as often prest to my bosom enchanted stones, that she had wrapt in purple; Admotisque manibus temptare coepit inguinum vives. Dicto citius nervi paruerunt imperio manusque aniculae ingenti motu repleverunt. At illa gaudio exsultans, "vides," inquit, "Chrysis mea, vides quod aliis leporem excitavi?"

Never despair; Priapus I invoke
To help the parts that make his altars smoke.

After this, the old woman presented me to Chrysis; who was very glad she had recover'd her mistress's treasure; and therefore hastening to her, she conducted me to a most pleasant retreat, deckt with all that nature cou'd produce to please the sight.

Where lofty plains o're-spread a summer shade,
And well-trimm'd pines their shaking tops display'd,
Where Daphne 'midst the cyprus crown'd her head.
Near these, a circling river gently flows,
And rolls the pebbles as it murmuring goes;
A place design'd for love, the nightingale
And other wing'd inhabitants can tell.
That on each bush salute the coming day,
And in their orgyes sing its hours away.

She was in an undress, reclining on a flowry bank, and diverting her self with a myrtle branch; as soon as I appear'd, she blusht, as mindful of her disappointment: Chrysis, very prudently withdrew, and when we were left together, I approacht the temptation; at what time, she skreen'd my face with the myrtle, and as if there had been a wall between us, becoming more bold; "what, my chill'd spark," began she, "have you brought all your self to day?"

"Do you ask, madam," I return'd, "rather than try?" And throwing my self to her, that with open arms was eager to receive me, we kist a little age away; when giving the signal to prepare for other joys, she drew me to a more close imbrace; and now, our murmuring kisses their sweet fury tell; now, our twining limbs, try'd each fold of love; now, lockt in each others arms, our bodies and our souls are join'd; but even here, alas! even amidst these sweet beginnings, a sudden chilliness prest upon my joys, and made me leave 'em not compleat.

Circe, enrag'd to be so affronted, had recourse to revenge, and calling the grooms that belong'd to the house, made them give me a warming; nor was she satisfi'd with this, but calling all the servant-wenches, and meanest of the house, she made 'em spit upon me. I hid my head as well as I cou'd, and, without begging pardon, for I knew what I had deserv'd, am turn'd out of doors, with a large retinue of kicks and spittle: Proselenos, the old woman was turn'd out too, and Chrysis beaten; and the whole family wondering with themselves, enquir'd the cause of their lady's disorder.

I hid my bruises as well as I cou'd, lest my rival Eumolpus might sport with my shame, or Gito be concern'd at it; therefore as the only way to disguise my misfortune, I began to dissemble sickness, and having got in bed, to revenge my self of that part of me, that had been the cause of all my misfortunes; when taking hold of it,

With dreadful steel, the part I wou'd have lopt,
Thrice from my trembling hand the razor dropt.
Now, what I might before, I could not do,
For cold as ice the fearful thing withdrew;
And shrunk behind a wrinkled canopy,
Hiding his head from my revenge and me.
Thus, by his fear, I'm baulkt of my design,
When I in words more killing vent my spleen.

At what time, raising myself on the bed, in this or like manner, I reproacht the sullen impotent: With what face can you look up, thou shame of heaven and man? that can'st not be seriously mention'd. Have I deserv'd from you, when rais'd within sight of heavens of joys, to be struck down to the lowest hell? To have a scandal fixt on the very prime and vigour of my years, and to be reduc'd to the weakness of an old man? I beseech you, sir, give me an epitaph on my departed vigour; tho' in a great heat I had thus said,

He still continu'd looking on the ground,
Nor more, at this had rais'd his guilty head,
Than th' drooping poppy on its tender stalk.

Nor when I had done, did I less repent of my ridiculous passion, and with a conscious blush, began to think, how unaccountable it was, that forgetting all shame, I shou'd contend with that part of me, that all men of sence, reckon not worth their thoughts. A little after, relapsing to my former humour: But what's the crime, began I, if by a natural complaint I was eas'd of my grief? or how is it, that we blame our stomachs or bellies, when 'tis our heads that are distemper'd? Did not Ulysses beat his breast, as if that had disturb'd him? And don't we see the actors punish their eyes, as if they heard the tragick scene? Those that have the gout in their legs, swear at them; Those that have it in their fingers, do so by them: Those that have sore eyes, are angry with their eyes.

Why do the strickt-liv'd Cato's of the age,
At my familiar lines so gravely rage?
In measures loosly plain, blunt satyr flows,
And all the people so sincerely shows.
For whose a stranger to the joys of love?
Who, can't the thoughts of such lost pleasures move?
Such Epicurus own'd the chiefest bliss,
And such lives the gods themselves possess.

There's nothing more deceitful than a ridiculous opinion, nor more ridiculous, than an affected gravity. After this, I call'd Gito to me; and "tell me," said I, "but sincerely, whether Ascyltos, when he took you from me, pursu'd the injury that night, or was chastly content to lye alone?" The boy with his finger at his eyes, took a solemn oath, that he had no incivility offer'd him by Ascyltos.

This drove me to my wits end, nor did I well know what to say: For why, I consider'd, shou'd I think of the twice mischievous accident that lately befell me? At last, I did what I cou'd to recover my vigour: and willing to invoke the assistance of the gods, I went out to pay my devotions to Priapus, and as wretched as I was, did not despair, but kneeling at the entry of the chamber, thus beseecht the god:

"Bacchus and Nymphs delight, O mighty God!
Whom Cynthia gave to rule the blooming wood.
Lesbos and verdant Thasos thee adore,
And Lydians, in loose flowing dress implore,
And raise devoted temples to thy power.
Thou Dryad's joy, and Bacchus's guardian, hear
My conscious prayer, with an attentive ear.
My hands with guiltless blood I never stain'd,
Or sacrilegiously the gods prophan'd.
To feeble me, restoring blessings send,
I did not thee, with my whole self offend.
Who sins thro' weakness is less guilty thought,
Be pacify'd, and spare a venial fault.
On me, when smiling fate shall smiling gifts bestow,
I'll not ungrateful to thy godhead go.
A destin'd goat shall on thy altar lye,
And the horn'd parent of my flock shall dye.
A sucking pig appease thy injur'd shrine,
And hallow'd bowls o're-flow with generous wine.
Then thrice thy frantick votaries shall round
Thy temple dance, with youth and garlands crown'd,
In holy drunkenness thy orgies sound."

While I was thus at prayers, an old woman, with her hair about her eyes, and disfigur'd with a mournful habit, coming in, disturb'd my devotions; when taking hold of me, she drew all fear out of the entry; and "what hag," said she, "has devour'd your manhood? Or what ominous carcase have you stumbl'd over in your nightly walks? You have not acquitted your self above a boy; but faint, weak, and like a horse o'recharg'd in a steep, tyr'd have lost your toyl and sweat; nor content to sin alone, but have unreveng'd against me, provokt the offended gods?"

When leading me, obedient to all her commands, a second time to the cell of a neighbouring priestess of Priapus, she threw me upon the bed, and taking up a stick that fastened the door, reveng'd her self on me, that very patiently receiv'd her fury: and at the first stroak, if the breaking of the stick had not lessned its force, she might have broke my head and arm.

I groan'd, and hiding with my arm my head, in a flood of tears lean'd on the pillow: Nor did she then, less troubled, sit on the bed, and began in a shrill voice, to blame her age, till the priestess came in upon us; and "what," said she, "do you do in my chappel, as if some funeral had lately been, rather than a holy-day, in which, even the mournful are merry?"

"Alas, my Enothea!" said she, "this youth was born under an ill star; for neither boy nor maid can raise him to a perfect appetite; you ne're beheld a more unhappy man: In his garden the weak willow, not the lusty cedar grows; in short, you may guess what he is, that cou'd rise unblest from Circe's bed."

Upon this, Enothea fixt her self between us, and moving her head a while; "I," said she, "am the only one that can give remedy for that disease; and not to delay it, let him sleep with me to night; and next morning, examine how vigorous I shall have made him.

"'All Nature's works my magick powers obey,
The blooming earth shall wither and decay,
And when I please, agen be fresh and gay.
From rugged rocks, I make sweet waters flow,
And raging billows to me humbly bow.
With rivers, winds, when I command, obey,
And at my feet, their fans contracted lay,
Tygers and dragons too, my will obey.
But these are small, when of my magick verse,
Descending Cynthia does the power confess.
When my commands, make trembling Phœbus reign,
His fiery steeds, their journey back again.
Such power have charms, by whose prevailing aid
The fury of the raging bulls was laid.
The Heaven-born Circe, with her magic song,
Ulysses's men, did into monsters turn.
Proteus, with this assum'd, what shape he wou'd.
I, who this art so long have understood,
Can send proud Ida's top into the main,
And make the billows bear it up again.'"

I shook with fear at such a romantick promise, and began more intensively to view the old woman: Upon which, she cry'd out, "O Enothea, be as good as your word"; when, carefully wiping her hands, she lay down on the bed, and half smother'd me with kisses.

Enothea, in the middle of the altar, plac'd a turf-table, which she heapt with burning coals, and her old crack cup (for sacrifice) repair'd with temper'd pitch; when she had fixt it to the smoaking-wall from which she took it; putting on her habit, she plac'd a kettle by the fire, and took down a bag that hung near her, in which, a bean was kept for that use, and a very aged piece of a hog's forehead, with the print of a hundred cuts out; when opening the bag, she threw me a part of the bean, and bid me carefully strip it. I obey her command, and try, without daubing my fingers, to deliver the grain from its nasty coverings; but she, blaming my dullness, snatcht it from me, and skilfully tearing its shells with her teeth, spit the black morsels from her, that lay like dead flies on the ground. How ingenious is poverty, and what strange arts will hunger teach? The priestess seem'd so great a lover of this sort of life, that her humour appear'd in every thing about her, and her hut might be truly term'd, sacred to poverty.

Here shines no glittering ivory set with gold,
No marble covers the deluded mold,
By its own wealth deluded; but the shrine
With simple natural ornaments does shine.
Round Cere's bower, but homely willows grow,
Earthen are all the sacred bowls they know.
Osier the dish, sacred to use divine:
Both course and stain'd, the jug that holds the wine.
Mud mixt with straw, make a defending fort,
The temple's brazen studs, are knobs of dirt.
With rush and reed, is thatcht the hut it self,
Where, besides what is on a smoaky shelf,
Ripe service-berries into garlands bound,
And savory-bunches with dry'd grapes are found.
Such a low cottage Hecale confin'd,
Low was her cottage, but sublime her mind.
Her bounteous heart, a grateful praise shall crown,
And muses make immortal her renown.

After which, she tasted of the flesh, and hanging the rest, old as her self, on the hook again; the rotten stool on which she was mounted breaking, threw her into the fire, her fall spilt the kettle, and what it held put out the fire; she burnt her elbow, and all her face was hid with the ashes that her fall had rais'd.

Thus disturb'd, I arose, and laughing, took her up; immediately, lest any thing shou'd hinder the offering, she ran for new fire to the neighbourhood, and had hardly got to the door, e're I was set upon by three sacred geese, that daily, I believe, about that time were fed by the old woman; they made an hideous noise, and, surrounding me, one tears my coat, another my shoes, while their furious captain made nothing of doing so by my legs; till seeing my self in danger, I began to be in earnest, and snatching up one of the feet of our little table, made the valiant animal feel my arm'd hand; nor content with a slight blow or two, but reveng'd my self with its death.

Such were the birds Alcides did subdue,
That from his conquering arm t'ward Heaven flew:
Such sure the harpyes were which poyson strow'd,
On cheated Phineus's false deluding food.
Loud lamentations shake the trembling air,
The powers above the wild confusion share,
Horrours disturb the orders of the sky,
And frighted stars beyond their courses fly.

By this time the other two had eat up the pieces of the bean that lay scatter'd on the floor, and having lost their leader, return'd to the temple. When glad of the booty and my revenge, I heal'd the slight old woman's anger, I design'd to make off; and taking up my cloaths, began my march; nor had I reacht the door, e're I saw Enothea bringing in her hand an earthen pot fill'd with fire; upon which I retreated, and throwing down my cloaths, fixt my self in the entry, as if I were impatiently expecting her coming.

Enothea, entring, plac'd the fire, that with broken sticks she had got together, and having heapt more wood upon those, began to excuse her stay, that her friend wou'd not let her go before she had, against the laws of drinking, taken off three healths together. When looking about her, "What," said she, "have you been doing in my absence? Where's the bean?"

I, who thought I had behav'd my self very honourably, told her the whole fight; and to end her grief for the loss of her bean, presented the goose: when I shew'd the goose, the old woman set up such an out-cry, that you wou'd have thought the geese were re-entring the place.

In confusion and amaz'd at so strange a humour, I askt the meaning of her passion? or why she pity'd the goose rather than me.

But wringing her hands, "you wicked wretch," said she, "d'ye speak too? D'ye know what you've done? You've killed the gods delight, a goose the pleasure of all matrons: And, lest you shou'd think your self innocent, if a magistrate shou'd hear of it, you'd be hang'd. You have defil'd with blood my cell, that to this day had been inviolate. You have done that, for which, if any's so malicious, he may expel me my office."

She said, and trembling, rends her aged hairs,
And both her cheeks with wilder fury tears:
Sad murmurs from her troubl'd breast arise,
A shower of tears there issu'd from her eyes.
And down her face a rapid deluge run,
Such as is seen, when a hills frosty crown,
By warm Favonius is melted down.

Upon which, "I beseech you," said I, "don't grieve, I'll recompence the loss of your goose with an ostrich."

While amaz'd I spoke, she sat down on the bed, lamented her loss; at what time Proselenos came in with the sacrifice, and viewing the murder'd goose, and enquiring the cause, began very earnestly to cry and pity me, as it had been a father, not a goose I had slain. But tired with this stuff, "I beseech ye," said I, "tell me, tho' it had been a man I kill'd, won't gold wipe off the guilt? See here are two pieces of gold: with these you may purchase gods as well as geese."

Which, when Enothea beheld, "Pardon me, young man," said she, "I am only concern'd for your safety, which is an argument of love, not hatred; therefore we'll take what care we can to prevent a discovery: You have nothing to do, but intreat the gods to forgive the sin."

"Who e're has money may securely sail,
On all things with all-mighty gold prevail.
May Danae wed, or rival amo'rous Jove,
And make her father pandar to his love.
May be a poet, preacher, lawyer too:
And bawling win the cause he does not know:
And up to Cato's fame for wisdom grow.
Wealth without law will gain at bar renown,
How e're the case appears, the cause is won,
Every rich lawyer is a Littleton.
In short of all you wish you are possest,
All things prevent the wealthy man's request,
For Jove himself's the treasure of his chest."

While my thoughts were thus engag'd, she plac'd a cup of wine under my hands, and having cleans'd my prophane extended fingers with sacred leeks and parsley, threw into the wine, with some ejaculation, hazel-nuts, and as they sunk or swam gave her judgment; but I well knew the empty rotten ones wou'd swim, and those of entire kernels go to the bottom.

When applying herself to the goose, from its breast she drew a lusty liver, and then told me my future fortune. But that no mark of the murder might be left, she fixt the rent goose to a spit, which, as she said, she had fatten'd a little before, as sensible it was to die.

In the mean time the wine went briskly round, and now the old women gladly devour the goose, they so lately lamented; when they had pickt its bones, Enothea, half drunk, turn'd to me; "and now," said she, "I'll finish the charm that recovers your strength": When drawing out a leathern ensign of Priapus, she dipt it in a medley of oyl, small pepper, and the bruis'd seed of nettles, paulatim coepit inserere ano meo. Hoc crudelissima anus spurgit subinde umore femina mea. Nasturcii sucum cum abrotano miscet perfusisque inguinibus meis viridis urticae fascem comprehendit, omniaque infra umbilicum coepit lenta mann caedere. Upon which jumping from her, to avoid the sting, I made off. The old woman in a great rage pursu'd me, and tho' drunk with wine, and their more hot desires, took the right way: and follow'd me through two or three villages, crying stop thief; but with my hands all bloody, in the hasty flight, I got off.