"Live, my dear Rhetea, live to give me the pleasure of repairing my fault; I am now acquainted with all the value of your heart." These words brought her again to life; her beauty returned by degrees with her strength. She departed soon after with Stryangeus for Ecbatana, and from that time nothing ever disturbed their union.

"You see by this, continued Hystaspes, to what extremities love may reduce the greatest heroes: you see likewise the power of resolution and courage in conquering the most violent passions, when we have a sincere desire to get the victory. I should fear nothing for you, if there were at this court such persons as Zarina; but heroic virtue like her's would now be thought romantic, or rather a savage insensibility.The manners of the Medes are very much changed. Cassandana, continued he with design, is the only person I see here who is worthy of your affection."— He was going on, when Cyrus interrupting him cried out, "You have named the dear object of my heart; Cassandana has rendered me insensible to every thing that could have seduced my virtue; I love her, but I am not loved." The prince stopped here, fearing to have said too much; he looked upon Hystaspes to see whether he approved of his love.

Hystaspes, overjoyed to have discovered the prince's passion by this innocent artifice, resolved istantly to employ all his endeavors to cure him of it, but yet to manage him with delicacy and tenderness; he dissembled his concern, and, embracing the young prince, with a serene countenance said to him, "Cassandana's beauty is the least of her charms, her heart is as pure as her understanding is bright. I cannot however ap

prove of your passion; you know that Cambyses has other views for you. He designs you for the daughter of Cræsus, one of the most potent monarchs of the East. It is by this marriage that you must begin to verify the oracles; Persia is a tributary province, too inconsiderable to be the center of a vast empire, and the scene of those great exploits to which the gods have destined you; do not oppose their decrees. You cannot without a crime give your heart to any other but her whom Cambyses has chosen for you; remember the story of Stryangeus, and the excesses to which that hero was hurried by his love." This discourse threw Cyrus back into his former sadness; but out of friendship for Hystaspes, he concealed his pains without disguising his sentiments. "If the great Oromazes, said he with a submissive tone of voice, decrees me for the daughter of the king of Lydia, he will doubtless give me the strength to get the mastery of my passion. But, alas! can you compare my love for Cassandana with that of Stryangeus for Zarina?" That prince's love, answered Hystaspes, was criminal, but yours cannot be innocent, if it be not approved of by Cambyses. He durst not say any more, well knowing that opposition for the most part serves only to irritate the minds of young persons. He contented himself with observing for some days all the prince's motions, and at length concluded that the only means to cure him of his passion was to separate him from the object of it. He informed Cambyses of Cyrus's affection for Cassandana, and as the king of Persia had other views for his son, which suited better with his politics, he recalled him into Persia.

The

young prince received his father's orders with a concern that was suitable to the violence of his love.

Cassandana, on the other hand, could not support the thought of a separation, which left her wholly exposed to the importunities of Cyaxares, and she gave herself up to grief; even love itself obliged her to fly what she loved; she was afraid of contributing to the misfortunes of Cyrus, by approving of his passion. But while she carefully avoided him, he sought for her with eagerness; and decency at length required she should see him to receive his last adieu. The prince was no longer able to hide his sentiments; he discovered at the same time both the violence of his passion and the excess of his affection. Some tears dropped from the princess' eyes, and in spite of her reservedness, these words escaped her: "Ah, gods, why have you given me a heart capable of tenderness, if you forbid me to love?" She blushed as she uttered these words, and retired. Cyrus durst not follow her; the joy of finding that he was loved by Cassandana, and the fear of loosing her, excited such a tempest of contrary motions in his soul, as exceedingly distressed him. After a long struggle and violent agitations of mind, he at length flattered himself, that when he arrived at the court of Persia, he might be able to move Cambyses, by the help of Mandane, and this hope hindered him from sinking under the weight of so cruel a separation.

The young nobility would accompany him to the frontiers of Media. As he went from Ecbatana, he often stopped to look back upon the place where he had left Cassandana; at length he lost sight of that stately city, and continued his way. When he came to the frontiers where the young Medes were to leave him, he made them all rich presents, but with admirable dis

tinction, preferring merit and service to birth and rank. During the rest of the journey the hope of engaging Mandane in the interest of his love seemed entirely to calm his mind, and diffused an air of contentment upon his face which he had not before. His return into Persia was celebrated by public feastings and rejoicings; and when these were over, he left his father's palace, and retired to the place allotted for the education of the young Persian nobility, where he continued till he was eighteen.

The young Satrapes, seeing Cyrus returned, said one to another: He has been living delicately at the court of Media, he will never be able to accustom himself to our simple and laborious manner of life.— But when they saw that he was content with their ordinary diet, that he was more temperate and abstemious than they themselves, and that he shewed more skill and courage in all his exercises, they were struck with admiration, and confessed, that he had yet a juster title to the throne by his merit than by his birth.

Some days after his return, Cambyses sent for him, and seeming ignorant of his passion for Cassandana, imparted to him the design he had of speedily marrying him to Candaules, daughter of the king of Lydia. Cyrus made no answer, but by a deep sigh and a respectful silence; but the moment he left the king he ran to the queen's apartment to disclose to her the secret of his heart. "I have followed your counsels, said he, at the court of Ecbatana; I have lived insensible to all the most enticing charms of voluptuousness; but I owe nothing to myself on this account; I owe all to the daughter of Pharnaspes; I love her, and this love has preserved me from all the errors and extravagancies of

youth. Do not think that my attachment to her is only a transient liking, which may soon be over; I have never loved any other than Cassandana, and I feel that I never can love but her alone. Will you suffer the happiness of my life to be made a sacrifice to political views? It is pretended that my marriage with the daughter of Croesus is the first step I must take to enlarge my empire.; but surely the gods can make a conqueror without making me miserable." Mandane perceived that her son's passion was yet too strong to suffer any remonstrances against it, and hoping that time and absence would insensibly weaken it, she in the mean time soothed and encouraged him.

Cassandana lived still at the court of Ecbatana, but she always received Cyaxares with great coldness.He owed all the complaisance she had shewn him to Cyrus's presence. The pleasure of seeing Cyrus, of loving him, and being loved by him, filled her soul with a secret joy that diffused itself through all her actions. But after the departure of the young prince, her conversation, which had before been so sprightly and cheerful, was changed into a mournful silence.~ She languished, her lively wit seemed to be extinguished, and all her natural charms to disappear. In the mean while Pharnaspes fell dangerously ill at the court of Persia, and desired to see his daughter; upon this news she left Ecbatana in haste, to pay the last duties to her father. Several ladies of the court regretted her, but the greater part rejoiced at the absence of a princess, whose manners were too perfect a model of discreet conduct. Cyaxares saw the departure of Cassandana with inexpressible dissatisfaction.