Aretaphila, a Cyrenaean, was not of ancient time, but lived in
the time of the Mithridatic war. She arrived at such a degree of
fortitude and experience in counsel as might be compared with the
conduct of any heroic ladies. She was the daughter of Aeglator and
the wife of Phaedimus, both renowned men. She was a great beauty,
excelling in discretion, and was not unacquainted with the most knotty
pieces of policy; but the common disasters of her native country
rendered her famous. Nicocrates, having then usurped the tyranny
over the Cyrenaeans, not only murdered many other citizens, but also
assassinated Melanippus, a priest of Apollo, with his own hand, and
held the priesthood himself. He slew also Phaedimus, the husband of
Aretaphila, and married Aretaphila against her will. Unto a thousand
other villainies he added this, that he set guards at the gates, who
mangled the dead corpses as they were carrying forth, pricking them
with their daggers and clapping hot irons to them, lest any citizen
should be carried out privily under pretence of being a dead corpse.
Aretaphila’s own proper calamities were very grievous to her, although
the tyrant, for the love that he bare to her, suffered her to enjoy
a great part of his regal power; for his love had subdued him unto
her, and to her alone was he gentle and manageable, being very rude
and savage in his behavior to others. But that which troubled her
more than other things was to see her miserable country suffering
such horrid things in so base a manner; one citizen being slaughtered
after another, without any hopes of a vindictive justice from any.
The exiles also were altogether enfeebled, affrighted, and scattered
here and there. Aretaphila therefore supposed herself to be the only
hope remaining for the state; and emulating the famous and brave
enterprises of Thebe of Pherae, although she was destitute of the
faithful friends and helpers which circumstances afforded to Thebe,
she laid a plan to despatch her husband by poison. But in setting
herself about it, providing the materials, and trying many experiments
with poisons, the matter could not be hid, but was discovered; and
there being proof made of the attempt, Calbia, Nicocrates’s mother,
being naturally of a murdering implacable spirit, presently adjudged
Aretaphila to torments and then to death. But love abated the rage of
Nicocrates, and put him upon delay; and the vigorous manner in which
Aretaphila met the accusation and defended herself gave some plausible
ground for his hesitation. But when she was convicted by the clearest
proofs, and the preparation she had made for the poison was even in
sight, admitting no denial, she confessed that she provided poison,
but not deadly poison. But truly, O sir, she said, I am contending for
matters of great concern, no less indeed than the honor and power which
by thy gracious favor I reap the fruit of. I am maligned by many ill
women, whose poisons and treacheries I stand in fear of, and therefore
have been persuaded to contrive something on the other side in my own
defence. These are haply foolish and woman-like plots, but not such
as deserve death, unless it seem good to thee as judge to take away
thy wife’s life on account of love-potions and charms, which she has
used because she wishes to be loved by thee more than thou wouldst
have her. Notwithstanding this defence which Aretaphila had made for
herself, Nicocrates thought good to commit her to torments; and Calbia
presided in the judicature, rigid and inexorable. But Aretaphila bore
up invincibly under her tortures, till Calbia herself was tired, sore
against her will. But Nicocrates being pacified discharged her, and
was sorry he had tortured her. And it was not very long ere he went in
again unto her, being highly transported with affection, renewing his
favor towards her with honors and courteous behavior. But she would
not be brought under by flattery, who had held out so stoutly under
tortures and pains; and an emulation of victory, conjoined with the
love of honesty, made her betake herself to other measures.
She had a daughter marriageable, an excellent beauty. Her she
presented for a bait to the tyrant’s brother, a young stripling and
lasciviously addicted. There was a report, that Aretaphila used
such enchantments and witchcrafts towards the maid, that she plainly
charmed and destroyed the young man’s reason. He was called Leander.
After he was entangled, he petitioned his brother and accomplished the
marriage. Now the maid, being instructed by her mother, instigated
and persuaded him to set the city at liberty, insinuating that he
himself could not live long free under an arbitrary government, nor
could he marry a wife or reserve her to himself. Also some friends,
Aretaphila’s favorites, suggested to him continually some accusations
or surmises concerning his brother. But as soon as he perceived that
Aretaphila was counselling and aiding in these matters, he undertook
the business, and excited Daphnis a household servant, who slew
Nicocrates by his command. In what followed, he attended not so much
to Aretaphila, but presently manifested by his actions that he was
rather a fratricide than a tyrannicide; for he managed his affairs
perversely and foolishly. But yet he had some honor for Aretaphila,
and she had some influence with him; neither did she manage any enmity
or open opposition against him, but ordered her affairs privily. First
of all, she stirred up an African war against him, and incited Anabus,
a certain duke, to invade his borders and approach the city; and
then she buzzed into Leander’s head suspicions against the favorites
and officers, saying that they were not forward to fight but rather
ambitious of peace and tranquillity, which indeed (she said) the state
of affairs and the security of his dominion required of him if he
would hold his subjects in firm subjection; and she would effect a
cessation of arms and bring Anabus to a parley with him, if he would
permit it, before an incurable war should break forth. Leander gave
her commission. First she treated with the African, and with the
promise of great presents and treasures begged that he would seize
Leander when he came to treat with him. The African was persuaded,
but Leander was backward to it; only for the respect that he bore to
Aretaphila, who said that she would be present, he went unarmed and
unguarded. But as he came nigh and saw Anabus, he made a halt, and
would have waited the coming of his guards; only Aretaphila being
present sometimes encouraged him, sometimes reviled him. But at last,
when he still hesitates, she undauntedly lays hold on him, and dragging
him resolutely along, delivers him to the barbarian. He was immediately
seized, confined, and bound, and kept prisoner by the African, until
Aretaphila’s friends, with other citizens, procured the treasures
promised. Many people acquainted with this ran forth to the parley; and
as soon as they saw Aretaphila, they were so transported that they had
like to have forgot their indignation against the tyrant, and reckoned
the punishing him of no great concern. But the first work after the
enjoyment of their liberty was the saluting Aretaphila, between
acclamations of joy and weeping, and falling down before her, as before
the statue of one of the Gods. And the people flocked in one after
another, so that they scarcely had time that evening to receive Leander
again and return into the city. When they had satisfied themselves
in honoring and applauding Aretaphila, they turned themselves to the
tyrants; and Calbia they burnt alive, Leander they sewed up in a sack
and threw him into the sea, but they voted that Aretaphila should bear
her share in the government together with the statesmen, and be taken
into counsel. But she, by great sufferings having acted a tragi-comedy
consisting of various parts, and at last obtained the reward of the
garland, as soon as she saw the city set at liberty, betook herself to
her private apartment; and casting off all multiplicity of business,
she led the rest of her time in spinning, and finished her days in
tranquillity among her friends and acquaintance.