could not extinguish Assoone as he saw the Princesse What Princesse said Almanzor to Osmin interrupting him Pardon me that mistake my Lord repli'd Osmin I would have said the unfortunate Axiamira Goe on father said Almanzor and eâ—…e no more so The poore Osmin blush'd and all asham'd for disclosing a thing he would have kept secret thus continued his discourse Assoone as Zabaim saw Axiamira You would not be Queene said hee and you are now going to be a miserable slave who shall languish all the remainder of your life under the cruell yoke of an inhumane Mistris Thy threats replied Axiamira sway me as little as thy promises I have scorn'd the one and I feare not the other With the same courage that I trod under-foot thy Crownes I can undergoe all kinds of torture Yet when I have a mind to free my selfe from thy tyrannie and the slaverie wherewithall thou threatnest me thy guards and thy irons shall be too weake to hold me Zabaim mov'd with those words and feeling his flame rekindling by the generositie as well as the attraicts of Axiamira wept before her a long time and cursing the rigour of his Destinie shew'd he had no minde to have her ruin'd and yet he could not save her He presently flew thence as if he had fear'd Zelopa knew of his visit and left us in a firme resolution to die rather then to fall into the hands of that inhumane Sorceresse Axiamira would not have us linger any longer and proposing to us death as an expedient or helpe the most facile and pleasant besought us for the last course to renounce all desire of life and not put our selves againe to the hazard dangers and incommodities of a flight which could not be discovered but it must be far more dismall to us then death I need not my Lord tell you it was not for our owne sakes that we could not resolve to die Had we been alone my wife and I we had soone disburthened our selves of an irksome old age but when we came to consider that we should destroy in the birth a miracle which nature had produc'd to be the ornament of her age our constancie vanish'd and death seem'd to us a monster which we were obliged to avoid as long as we had any meanes left to escape My wife and my selfe having therefore resolv'd to try for our safetie we propos'd it to our daughter she shew'd her selfe very repugnant to it neverthelesse her obedience being farre stronger she consented to all we desir'd of her Presently we provided our selves for that escape and taking hold of the occasion which may be was offer'd us we deceived our slaves in faining Axiamira to be sicke The night then after the departure of Zabaim being come we disguis'd our selves and getting through a lower window which look'd into the Palace gardens we got into the wilde fields and from thence into a desert which is frontire betweene Guinea and Senega Though our flight was favour'd by the departure of Zabaim and a very precipitate breaking up of Court yet was it discovered and as we entred the desert we saw five or six black slaves which pursued us their Scimitars ready drawne Affrighted with the yellings and furie of those barbarous villaines wee flung our selves into the next Caverne we saw without feare of meeting any of those furious beasts which usually retire themselves into such like places Our feare was our safety for sliding into that hole with all the silence that accompanieth timiditie we hid our selves among bushes which almost stopt up the mouth of it Those who ran afterus redoubling their shouts and threatnings cast themselves into the Cave but having without doubt by their yellings awakened two lions which lay there asleep they were constrained in lieu of taking us to defend themselves This unhop'd for succour made us turne up our eyes to heaven which we saw not and beg that great Soule which animates it to restraine the furie of the lions and not suffer them that had been our Defenders to be our devourers Our prayer was heard Those lions after they had satiated their hunger on those wretches forsooke their den and lessening our feare by their departure gave us liberty to breathe and to know our selves My wife and I searching for Axiamira gropingly found her farre lesse affrighted then in Zabaim's Court and received from her that heartning and comfort we would have given She advis'd us to forsake that place whilst those we feared were gone We did so and after vve had vvandred above a moreth amongst the mountaines of Lions without any food but what we got by our prayers from the Inhabitants of those mountaines we passed the River of Saban to the towne which carries the same name Many Merchants of Mansara who were come thither to trafique received us into their companie and taking pitie of my wife's age and mine and of Axiamira's tender yeares set us all three on their Camels and conducted us happily to the Citie of Ponda Finding my selfe so neere the ordinary abode of Zabaim new feares followed my ordinary ones and they were yet augmented by the report that ranne of that Prince his returne with his wife I forsooke therefore the towne where I had beene so well receiv'd by night with my little company and having none other Guide then the same who had so happily conducted us to that time I came at last to the house of charitable Servonitez His reputation which is not much lesse great then Zabaims but more worthy to be envy'd invited me to him and there made me meet yet with more then I was made to hope for I need not my Lord recount to you the particularities that Knight said he pointing to me hath not held till this time from relating them to you Almanzor seeing Osmin give over I know said he the end of your adventures but the beginning of them which I would faine heare is yet behinde But we will deferre that recitall to another time and imploy the time we have in giving order for our particular affaires For Zabaim we will forget him till the time come wherein we may make him know without avenging his perfidy by another that he hath more wrong'd himselfe then us when to satisfie his sensuality he hath undervalued our requests and friendship Speake therefore father to me freely and tell me whether you intend to follow my fortune and love me so well as to end your dayes with me and give over into my hands the care of your family This proposition was conceiv'd in such sort as Osmin noted in it a hidden necessity of abiding with Almanzor But that necessity was so conformable to his thoughts that he receiv'd it as the highest favour could come from the Prince He told him likewise that since he had left his countrey and the advantages of fortune because he would neither violate the divine Lawes in flattering his King in his vices nor the humane in running into rebellion
the first that shall deliver the Maiden into the hands of our enemy Hismalita at that word interâ—…upting the King her husband I know said she an expedient far more easy then all that T is fit that the death of one single person should save the lives of a whole Nation and that we secure our owne and our Empire by cutting off those that are to deprive us of them O never have so horrible a thought replied Montezuma it is expresly forbidden us to lay violent hands on the Virgin She ought to be more pretious to us then our owne lives and I have learnt from the very mouth of the great Mirzenia that in the very same instant that this Innocent shall die I shall meet the full period of my daies Know then what we must doe answered Hismalita let us send her to my Brother and conjure him to keepe her for us as carefully as he doth the valiant Inca which those of Quito put into our hands after the death of Guina Capa We shall have cause to live at quiet when this misfortunate Protectresse shall â—…e so far from all mens knowledge and seeing that the captivity of Alisma who without doubt is the to-be-feared stranger with whose fury the gods doe threaten us hath made us live these twelve yeeres in a tranquâ—…y which hath not beene interrupted but by your bondage let us be confident that the imprisonment of our Daughter will make our good daies everlasting I should be of your minde replied Montezuma if Mirzenia had spoken to me but of one stranger but I take notice of two in his prediction and when I shall beleeve that Alisma may passe for one of them I must yet feare a second And that second is no other then that invincible stranger who may terme himselfe more then I the absolute Master of my Empire To put him to death besides that it is expresly forbidden me I cannot consent to it since I have no moâ—…e life nor other Crowne then what his valour hath given me I am not said Hismalita swaied by these considerations unworthy of a royall soule but I am resolved by the menaces of Mirzenia Make me see that that stranger cannot die without the losse of our selves and I will make you soone knowe that Kings ought not to have any consideration but for themselves and as they are above all the services that can be rendred them they are so too above all the conceptions that nature gives to common persons May the gods this very day accomplish all their threates said the King to her rather then I consent to those mischievous Maximes No no the stranger shall never perish by my will nor shall the life that he hath given me be the cause of his death Thâ—…t which we have to doe is to intertaine him in such sort that our people may know that we are neither so weake spirited to be jealous of him nor so ingrate to deny him the recompence of his labours T is possible that time may cleare our doubts and make us see that we interpret ill the will of our gods Galtazis after he had thus faithfully related the discourse between Montezuma and Hismalita advised him to stand on his guard and not to trust so much in the goodnesse of the husband but that he should be alwaies armed against the malice of the wife My deare Master thinking lesse on his owne conservation then that of Isatida but Galtazis said he where is the faire Mistris What doth she with Hismalita is it impossible for me to see her And should she be taken for the Virgin mentioned in this impertinent prediction To all this said the Dwarfe I can give you but little satisfaction My faire Mistris is more strictly guarded then her Sisters she lies with the Queene her Mother and goes not out of her Chamber She weepes she sighes she pities your misfortune more then her owne and knowing in what perplexity you are she sends me to entreat you either that you will goe out of Mexico or secke not the meanes to see her As for that which belongs to the prediction I cannot tell you whether Isatida be the Virgin so necessary for the conservation of Montezuma but I will tell you that I most passionately wish it for if she be the Maiden I feare not any more that terrible anger which I read in the eyes and all the actions of Hismalita For other things prepare you selfe for the honours that Montezuma resolves to conferre on you and faine so well that he may not perceive that you doe dissemble I will informe you to morrow if I can the councells which the night shall give to my faire Mistris Galtazis tooke back againe the letter after he had given this advise to Zelmâ—…ida and returned to the Pallace The Inca was left alone and knowing not what to resolve on passed in a moment from pity to indignation and from love to all hatred At last reposing all his affaires in that providence which had never forsaken him let us suffer Zelmatida said he to himselfe and prepare our selves for all the injustices that fortune is capable of provided that the hope to see Isatida again be not taken from us we may vaunt our selfe sufficiently strong to overcome all things These speeches and others the like intertaining him all night he rose without taking the least rest He was no sooner out of his bed when five or six of those old Princes who during the siedge of Mexico had beene witnesses of his noble actions came to him and said that Montezuma had sent them to accompany him to the triumph that all Mexico did owe to his incomparable vaiour Zelmatida much surprised at so great a change begun his discourse by very obliging demeanures and continued it by as humble thanks which he besought the Princes to present to Montezuma I know said he that all that which comes either from gods or Kings ought to be received by men with as much amazement as glory and t is a most proud humility to reject their presents under pretext that they doe not deserve them The king yet I hope will have so much goodnesse as not to constraine me to a thing which I refuse not because I am unwotthy of it but I would refuse it because my condition of a banished man and the calamity of those that brought me into the world permit me not to be fortunate Those Princes used aâ—… their eloquence to get him to receive that honour and grew so earnest in it that they deputed one from among them to give notice to Montezuma of Zelmatida's refusall The weake King if ever there were any going from one extreamity to another came himselfe to the lodging of my Lord the Inca and after he had asked his pardon for his retirement told him that he had not kept himselfe alone two daies but to the end that he might passe all the rest of his life in the others company Your
to Zelmatida but the Prince unwilling to give him that time he held his peace and a while thence calling by their names five or six of the principall Rovers that were come to visit him he spake to them in this manner My Companions since in the estate I am I cannot promise to serve you any more I have entreated Polexander not to forsake you You cannot doubt of his courage nor experience The only thing you are to feare is that he loves you not enough But be assured of the contrary He hath promised me to doe in all as my selfe if he find that his government please you Make your selves worthy of a protection far more powerfull then mine and be confident that you will have no cause to lament my death But said he turning to Polexander I yet aske you one favour and t is that you will let me know in what case I am and be not so cruell under the shadow of pity to let me dye without setling my affaires I have such things in my minde that the rest I expect in the other life depends absolutely on them and I protest as being ready to give up my soule that if I dye without time to discharge my selfe of one thing I never yet told I shall dye desperate There hapned then in the persons of those Pirates a novelty that their nature might make passe for a prodigy They were moved to pity and as if from wild beasts which they were wont to be they had beene suddainely turned to men they felt themselves sensible of griefe and wept in beholding the constancy of Bajazet Fame that gets in every where and hath wings to fly over the walls when the gates are shut against her published this sad newes in the Army and knew to paint it to the Souldiers in such lively colours that the desire of booty was neither their only nor the strongest passion whereof they found themselves capable Their shouts of joy were changed into lamentations their laughter into teares and the hopes of their safety being on the suddaine utterly extinct they were strucken with the apprehension of a thousand different tortures Yet since it was the custome during the sicknesse of their Generalls that the Pirates incamped and abode day and night in a body of an Army they stirred not from the place where Bajazet had left them in going to the Magazins Notwithstanding to give them some refreshing during so long a toile it was advised to execute all that Bajazet had appointed T is true that the largesse was a great ease to their sorrow and brought them to themselves by the greatnesse of the present liberality and promise of a second that should surpasse the first On the other side Bajâ—…zet being left to rest for the space of foure and twenty houres begun in good earnest to feele how extreame great his wound was Yet as weake and pained as he was it was but little more perceived then in the Princes They were so cast downe with griefe and feare that it was hard to be judged who was the sickest of them or Bajazet When they were about to take open the greatest tent there was not a man in the chamber whose feare gave him not severall conjectures though they were all sad ones and deadly The Chyrurgions were not the last that doubted of the vertue of their remedies and power of their art since Bajazet had had withall a Fever above thirty houres They already heard him talke idely and now and then sigh and lament Sometimes he seemed to threaten and then that he tooke leave with a great deale of sorrow from some one whom he called his soule and his life By reason of this they duâ—…st not meddle with his wound but when they saw they were not to deferre it any longer Diceus and his Companions put their hands to the worke As soone as the hurt place felt the paine there gush't out a streamâ—… of blood by whose losse Bajazet fell againe into his first swoundings Yet they gave not over to finish what they had begun and when t was done neere all the Chyrurgions confessed that they had seene signes of a dangerous wouâ—…d and said openly that if within twelve houres the accidents which began to appeare ceased not there was no more hope of him Diceus only despaired not assuring Polexander tâ—…t if bsides the Fever there happened not some other thing he promised himselfe to save Bajazet Whilst every one according to his severall passion was of the one or the others minde the wounded man came out of his swound and began to sigh so often that they well judged some great thing afflicted him As soone as they saw him well come to himselfe they gave him something to strengthen him and perceiving he had a minde to speake every one retired to take from him that desire All the night passed in this manner and the next day till evening they thought he would have dyed He knew it well enough and fearing least death might prevent him commanded paper and incke to be brought Zelmatida and Polexander intreated him and the Chyrurgions threatned to divert him from those strainings which they foresaw he must undergoe if he began to write But neither of them could doe any thing There was no remedy but to give him what he called for but he had not writ above two or three lines but the extreame paâ—…ne he had put him to was like to cast him into a swound He grew setled againe and resolute to what he had undertaken and making a little Roll of the paper in which he had writ drew from under his shirt a Picture boxe that was enamelled with green incarnation and white As soone as he had opened the boxe his strength failed the cover fell out of his hand wiâ—…h the Roll that he held and himselfe fell backward on his bolster senselesse Iphidamantus was the first hat ran to him who putting his arme under Bajazets head for ease saw the Picture in the box The sight had almost done him as much hurt as to Bajazet He made shew of a great alteration retired two or three paces changed colour and as if he was become Bajazets enemy had no more care of his recovery and was a long while in withdrawing his eyes from that portract Those that tooke of the novelty at first wondered But ignorant of the true cause took Iphidamantus transport for an effâ—…ct of friendshippe At last he became recollected and impossible to hide all his concâ—…ptions O God said he must mine eyes deceive me Reason would not have me beleeve what they see Bajazet then opening his eyes as if he had awakened with Iphidamantus words and comming to himselfe just heaven said he with a dying voice must it needs be that after you had obliged me in occasions such as I most desired not you would forsake me in the principall Permit not if it be your pleasure that I perish under the burthen that orewhelmes me
should you content her fury Nephizus is very deare to her as disloyall as he is and her satisfaction should be farre greater in seeing him penitent then beholding him dead I have lesse interest then she in the preservation of this Prince since I have lesse hope of possessing him yet I beg his life and if my head be worthy to be the price of his I offer it you with joy beseech you by that exchange to satisfie Izilias anger Yes too-avengefull Izilia continued she turning her to that Arabian do what thou wilt on me execute all thy sufferings on this Body and make it a lamentable example of thy vengeance Tear out my heart steep thy hands in my blood use me worse then thou wouldst handle Nephizus I will endure all without complaining so that Nephizus have his life I know he is disloyall I know he takes not an oath but with intent to breake it But he is still Nephizus He is the Idol of my Soule nay he is my very Soule Izilia regarding that Heroicall Gardneresse with severity and since when is it said she bold Zaida that you have lost your respect What you love Nephizus Truly unfortunate Slave I shall well chastise your impudence Leave answered the faire Zaida give over if you please these Injuries and threatnings If I were as little Mistris of my passions as you I would reproach you justly farre more then you revile me You are the cause of my sufferings you have the good I injoy'd In a word Nephizus was mine before he eversaw you Izilia became mad at those words had I not held her she had without doubt faln on Zaida Whilst these two thus shew'd the contrariety of their humours Nephizus came to himselfe and knowing Izilia Well now mistrustful-one said he do'st thou any more doubt of my love Ah Traytor repli'd Izilia thy cunning is no more in season thou must dye and by thy death recover the Honour which thy false oathes and disloyall flatteries have rob'd me of Thou art faln into the snare thou foresawest not Dost thou not remember the promises thou mad'st me in going to Morocco Am I that Amatonta for whom thou hast taken Armes against thy Brother Thou might'st well thinke disloyall that Heaven would not alwaies be deafe to the cries of the Innocent and to the end to chastise thee it would permit that after thou had'st deceived others thou should'st deceive thine owne selfe Know that he who thou see'st before thee is not the miserable Scander-Stianack T is the victorious Knight that carried away the Honour of the Turney at Morocco Thus would shee pay me for the service I had done her Polexander said thus with a low voice and retaking his First tone went on thus Scarce had Nephizus knowne who he was but that lifting up his head a little whilst the faire and desolate Gardneresse held her hand on his wound since said he I dye not by the hand of the Traytor Stianack I dye without any great deale of sorrow But tell mee I beseech you by what chance came you hither The intreaty said I of Izilia brought me hither and engaged me to Fight against you unknown And this is enough of that for the present t is fit now to look after the saving of your life to the end that when you are in better case then now you may know from Izilia with what Dexterity she hath brought to pass this intricate businesse The faire Gardneresse then began speake having newly torne her Vaile to binde up Nephizus wound Turne likewise your Eyes on me said shee and know Benzaida She would call her selfe extreamely unhappy if Fate had not at last brought her to a place where she might yeeld thee some new proofes of her affection It may be thou hast lost the remembrance of that name thy new love suffers thee not to cal to minde thine old or rather the disasters of our house the calamities of Granada and the deplorable condition of her Princess makes thee contemn and abhor the Poore Benzaida Open thine Eyes Nephizus She that Speaks to thee in the habit of a slave and a Gardneresse is that Princess not long since ador'd of so many people and serv'd by so many Princes who for her too much Love to thee forgot what shee ow'd to her Birth and her selfe Imagin Madam said Polexander applying himsefe to Ennoramita whether Izilias and my astonishment were not great when in an instant we saw a Gardning maiden become a Princess but withall if you please think in what a confusion Nephizus was when he found himselfe convinc'd of his faithlesnesse by two so irreprocahable witnesses Yet instead of repenting him of his crimes he preseverd and not being able to justifie himselfe beleev'd that in his great heart he was bound to be obstinate in his offence Vnworthily therefore thrusting away the deplorable Benzaida and plucking aside her hand which was on his wound Thou object said he more dismall to me then the black Angels that wait for me at the entring into my grave who hath made thee outlive thine Honour and thy Fortune Go miserable Exile accomplish the Fate of thy Generation Go finish thy liâ—…e in the fetters of Ferdinand and Elizabeth or as thy unspirited Father go beg thy bread from doore to doore and vainely implore the assistance of all the Princes of Africa Izilia hereat taking the word for Benzaida who dissolv'd in teares O abhominable renegado Musulma cried she dar'st thou thus out rage that innocency which thou hast made miserable Tread'st thou under foot that which thou sometimes adored'st Doe'st thou Triumph over the sad Fortune of thy equals O Unfortunate that I am what can I expect from this Barbarian since so faire a Princesse is so cruelly wronged I must I must even instantly teare out his treacherous heart and avenge Benzaida since she is not hardy enough to avenge her self And with that put her self forward to execute her resolution but I stop'd her and so did Benzaida who holding her hands suffer said she Nephizus to go on with his revilings No no Madam said I t is not fit to give that liberty to Nephizus in such a case as permits him not to thinke on what he sayes Anger and paine have deprived him of reason Think of bringing that againe and afterwards we will take care for the rest Presently we called for some of Izilia's Servants and in spight of his violences carried him into a chamber that was richly furnished Benzaida who retain'd the quality of those Kings whence she was descended of being very skilfull in Physick and Chyrurgery dress'd with her owne hands her unfaithfull Lover and as you shall heare receiv'd for it a most lamentable recompence Assoone as the applications had brought Nephizus from his fainting wherein he had still been after they had brought him out of the Garden Benzaida came to him and with a sweetnes able to mollifie a heart of Diamond ask'd how he
stricken by the same hand whence I expected my protection and my miserable soule exposed to eternall tortures was condemn'd towander incessantly through the solitary Deserts of Numidia Ennoramita could not longer be in quiet after the hearing of those last words without testifying by her cries that she was that Dead-living-Lady or rather that dead-one reviv'd who was painted on the buckler of the desolate Knight she doubted not but he that had spoken was Muley Hassen and throwing her on the Neck of her confident who was seated neere her Atalida said she marke that Knight t is Muley t is Muley without doubt But let 's heare the continuation of his History and mine Muley who had not been interrupted by Ennoramita's agitation thus continued on his Narration Some short time after I was confined to the deserts of Numidia my Princess as if shee had been guilty for not loving her Enemy was deliver'd over to his fury and condemned to a punishment that was to last as long as she had either faith or life T is even he said againe Ennoramita Good Heaven How discreet is he to hide what should not be known She implor'd not the mercy of her Judges said the Knight to make them lenify the sentence of er Condemnation but seeing that it could not be revok'd she went willingly to her torture and in the height of her torments exceedingly blessed the Executioners for giving her so illustrious means to make her virtues the more renowned In the meane time I led on a miserable life among the precipices and mountaines having no more to hope for in the world I went out of it by a voluntary retirement and sequester'd my selfe into the Caverns of our Mountaine Atlas O how wife was he in the art of love who said that Love is a just Master and if so be wee would suffer and have patience wee shall infallibly receive the wages we have deserved I had not there abandon'd the World six moneths with the hopes that had so pleasin gly stayd me there when the very voice of my faire Princess call'd mee thence O heaven cried out Ennoramita he Speakes of that time when he was a Hermit and that I visited him with Nephizus That visible Angell continued Muley took the payn to descend into my solitary vault and by a light derived from her selfe to expell the obscurity of my cavern I saw that miracle I spake to her I told her my afflictions I Petitioned that I might aveng her and offered to lose my selfe for her safety But unwilling to have any other will then hers I intreated that I might be once for all commanded what I should doe I would have thee live said shee but not live contented since I am unfortunate Give over then this manner of obscure and dismall life and get thee far hence making the renowne of thy actions to sound so farre that the noyse of them may come into my eares My Honour and faith forbid me to have any particular communication with thee but they forbid mee not to rejoyce in thy Fame O poore Prince said Amatonta softly how well hath he concea'ld that which I spake in banishing him from my presence I obeyed without resistance continued the Knight a command that was so glorious for mee and so worthy the vertue of my Princess I put my selfe into the Armies of mine own Enemies and during two yeares serv'd them so well that it was my fault alone if I brought no other fruits thence then that of Honour Hee lies not said Ennoramita but alas what hath he done since Whence comes he now I was on the point said the Knight to put in execution one of the fairest enterprizes that a faithfull Musulman could conceive against the Christians when they who were imployed in the Secrecies of my affection gave me intelligence that my Princess had been taken away from that place wherein her Ty ant had long time kept her prisoner and conducted into some other that was not known but to her Tormentors Presently I forsook my Armes and infallible designes and under the habit you now see mee in have traviled from the one end of Africa to the other Two yeares now or rather two ages have I wandered from Province to Province from Sea to Sea from Isle to Isle to lâ—…arn newes of my faire unfortunate Princess and to Know whether I should live or dye to the end to have the contentment to be neere her But getting nothing that might cleare me of my doubts I liv'd as if my Princess lived yet and dyed as if I were sure of her death Love which usally is accompanied with feare hath changed his wonted custome it ma be to make me languish the more and in spight of me would have me to hope stily 'T is that hope but imperfect hope which hath brought me hither and makes me mainâ—…taine that the princess whom I adore is the most accomplished be it for beauty of body or that of the Soule of all the Princesses this day living Assone as Muley-Hassen for 't was he had finished his history there grew a humming or muttering noyse from the midst of the Auditors and presently after some shouts and talke which intimated that he had given satisfaction to all the Company But if the rumour had not taken from the faire and constant Amatonta Ennoramita the liberty of being heard O how had the publique joy been augmented â—…and the shoutes and clapping of the hands been redoubled In the meane time the Heraulds imposing silence Abdelmelec began to speake and told Muley that though in the causing him to lose his Buckler there would be nothing gotten to Alcidiana or himselfe yet he was glad that he should make an end of the day by his defeat Muley answered nothing to that boasting but went to take one of the strongest lances that was in the field and brought his Horse gently to the end of the Tilt. The Trumpetters that were weary with calling so many Knights sounded for the last time and seeing the Sun set invited by a hasty sounding our two Princes to a speedy decision of their difference At the parting of Muley Ennoramita grew pale and if she had not lean'd on one of her Women She had infallibly discovered that she was Interested in the Iust. 'T is a strange malady or rather a pleasant folly this Love Ennoramita knowes how strong her Lover is how expert and how many more redoubtfull Knights then Abdelmelec he hath overthrown yet she feares least some disgrace betide him and that the same Demon which had so many yeares persecuted her should enter into the body of Abdelmelec or at least-guide his arme and lance so that Muley might receive an affront from him But whil'st she was in these feares the hardy Hassen astonish'd his adversary and all the Spectators with his vigor and dexterity He had already broken three lances and at all the three courses carried away the Honor from
of thinking no more on worldly businesse She thereupon writ to the King her son that she desired to see him for some urging occasions and conjur'd him by her letter that leaving for some time the businesse of Warre he should make a turne to the place of her retirement she writ the same to me and commanded me to bring back to her the King her sonne The Prince who was endu'd with all virtues in the highest degree put it not in deliberation whether he should obey the Queen but told me that wee were to retire to his Mother the Honour wee acquire by Armes is worthyly to be desired but I beleeve that to be no lesse which is gotten by doing what we ought 'T is true said I and therefore you ought if you please to give without delay the Queen your Mother the contentment she expects by your presence Come said he let 's give it her but before we goe hence try if we can see our Enemies He needed not goe farre to be satisfied for the day before our imbarquing the Portingalls return'd on us and fail'd little of surpâ—…izing that port where the Kings ships attended him There was a furious conflict wherein without adding any thing to the truth Polexander secur'd the Honour of his Armes and dis-ingaged both his men shipping The Enemies Fleet retir'd to the Isle of Palmes I thought it had been out of feare but the next morning I knew 'T was out of cunning The Kings departure was not so secretly kept but that the news of it came to the Enemy whereupon they resolved to fight with him at Sea and by taking of the King to make an end of those warres wherewithall he threatned al Spaine For mine one part who dayly took care for the conducting the Prince I left al our vessels in the roade of Tenerif which was opposite to that of the Palmes and one night crossing one of the Islands caus'd the King to imbarpue himselfe at a port over against that of Gomera At daie breake wee set saile and in a little time our vessel had gone by all the Canaries but entring into a sleeve or narrow passage which seperated this Isâ—…and from the Fortunate we discovered â—…ve saile which surely expected us They made up and the feare I was in for the King my Master redoubling my foresight I commanded Presently our ship should take another course and to regaine on the South the Fortunate Island These five shipps chas'd us all the rest of the day and my Pilot was constrained to goe Roome-ward to Sea that they might not know the course he steer'd Two vessels of provision which followed ours were commanded to bestow some shot to amaze the Enemy Polexander was almost enraged that I would not fight with them He besought me to feare nothing and casting himselfe at my feet my deare Governour said he if you love my life give not the advantage to our Enemies to publish they have made us fly from them What will they say of thee unfortunate Polexander he added in sighing when it shall be known that five poore ships have enforc'd thee to fly as a theefe and forsake a Part of thine owne Company to save thy selfe by their destruction Ah! let me rather dye a thousand deaths And in so saying like one desperate he ran through the ship to oblige the Pilot and Mariners to tack about But the Command I had given could not be chang'd but by me and the Prince prevail'd not in giving any new He took notice of it and presently drawing one of his Guards Swords and turning it on himselfe however said he yet will I not have the dishonour to live after the flight and diobedience of mine one Subjects I stop'd him ere he could wrong himselfe and casting by all obsequiousnesse told him that If he would not be govern'd I should be constrain'd to make use of that authority which the Queen his Mother had given me Doe so my good Governour said he do what you will with me I will indure all provided that I run not away This while Night drew on and with the Night a winde so contrary that I repented me for not landing at the Fortunate Island We were forc'd to strike all our Sayles for feare of being put back to the place from whence we came Which when the young Prince perceived he shew'd an extreame joy for it and told me that Heaven more exorable then I had heard his prayers and would not permit that I should cauâ—…him to fly any longer The night passing over with a furious Tempest at breake of day we saw our vessell within a Cannon shot of two others We knew thempresently to be Enemies by their flaggs They made up shot and press'd on us so that in spight of us we must fight I wish I were able to represent to you the cheerfullnesse wherewith the young Prince prepar'd him to the combat and the confidence wherewithall he ordered others My companions said he to the Souldiers see how the Justice of Heaven favours us in exposing to your revenge those which have expos'd your families to all that their tyranny had the most barbarous Do not beleeve that these cruell Pyrates give us the chase They would be glad to be further from you But the windes and the waves which they would have so often made confederates in their robberies bring them to you whether they wil or no to the end they might purge themselves by such a delivery of those crimes whereof you might accuse them Consider besides that you are not as these theeves two or three hundred leagues apart from him for whom in particular you are to fight You have your King not only for a witnesse of your actions but also for a companion in your fortune And in so saying he took a halfe Pike and went and plac'd himselâ—…e in the most eminent part of the ship The Artillery plaid the best of an houre on both sides at last the two Portugall Vessells drew neer and being grapled with us there began a horrible fight The Canaryans seven or eight times repuls'd their Enemies and forc'd above fifty into the Sea Polexander was in the midst of the combatants Some he stir'd up by his words others by his actions the least resolv'd ran into danger at the sight of their Princes miraculous boldnesse Neverthelesse we were forc'd to forsake our sides and to resist a little longer fortifie our selves on the poope One amongst us in the meane time resolving a couragious and determinate act charged a Culverin on his shoulders and placing himselfe on the highest part of the poope caus'd fire to be given to it The blow was strange It kill'd above twenty Portugalls and the bullet striking through one of their ships without notice taken of it either by Souldier or Mariner they were amaz'd in the height of the fight to see that ship sink right down with all that was in her The Portugalls were so infinitely
staine you have thrown on the house of your King We dare die said those unfortunate illustrious Gentlemen but we protest to you for the discharge of our consciences that if the intention be not a crime worthy of death we shall die innocents The most condemnable Prince having lost all humanity with his reason and being truly possest with the Devill of blood and fury which serv'd for a soule to his mother hastily resolv'd the death of those young Lords and brutishly had them ponyarded by foure Irish men After this execution done he would have gone to the innocent Eolinda's chamber either to have cut her throat or done her some other bloody indignity but as he was in a place of the staires whence you might see Eolinda's chamber doore he heard somebody call him by his name and forbad him to goe further He cast up his eyes and saw in the doore of that chamber a young English Gentleman of his houshold who with his sword and pistoll in hand threatned him to throw by all respect if he came any neerer The Prince ask'd him the cause of his extravagancy Aske me rather repli'd the generous Englishman the cause of my just resentment and I will tell thee blind and enraged Prince that I am here to protect as farre as my life can the innocent Eolinda against the persecutions of thy wicked mother The Prince threatned to have him punished according to his desert and commanded two of his murderers to seize on him A great Irish villain stept forth with a partisan in his hand but when he came within a few paces of Eolinda's generous defender two pistoll bullets stopt his journey and roul'd him to the bottome of the staires His fellow beleeving that the brave Englishman had no more fiery weapons furiously came up towards him with an intent to strike him through with his halberd but he had not time to perform that brave thrust for he received a like chastisement with his companion for the like offence committed They perceiv'd then the valiant English man had forgotten nothing of what was necessary for his long defence Indeed he had yet three pistolls charged and was so advantageously placed by reason of the thicknesse of the wall that he could not be set on but before The Prince would have obliged the two other Irish men to revenge the death of their companions but they would doe nothing unlesse they had peeces They therefore brought them two long fowling peeces and the villaines discharg'd them both on Eolinda's courageous martyr O heaven quoth hee feeling himselfe shot in so many places receive my soul and my life which I have freely expos'd for the defence of vertue and with those words fell downe dead yet for all that remained vanquisher For the unhappy Prince having had leisure to bethink him of the execrable murder he would have committed or else with-held by the last words of the heroicall English man return'd from whence hee came and told his cruell mother he would never kill one whom he had so much affected The damnable hagge after she had some time grumbled told him he worthily deserv'd his dishonour since he took pleasure in preserving the cause of it The Prince offended with this reply entred the great hall of his Palace and the first that came before him was the execrable Lycambus who very likely came to demand the reward for his treason And art thou there then thou infamous and perfidious slave by whose assistance I have lost mine honour and comfort The miserable Scot cast himself at his feet and the Prince taking him by his long haire dragg'd him about a great while and then with a brōad sword that he had stroke his head from his shoulders The traytor to save his life would have accused the old Dutchesse but before he could speak a word there was neither speech nor life in him The Prince then called for Pantaira but she was so close hidden that it was impossible to meet with her His mother seeing him in such a fury ask'd him if he could not distinguish between the guilty and the innocent You should discharge your choler said she on that lascivious French woman and not on those wretches who durst not disobey her Never doubt it said he Eolinda shall have her punishment with the rest but it shall be so that no one whosoever of mine shall besmeare their hands in the blood of that miserable woman Presently his wit furnishing him with a new kind of punishment he commanded that barque to be made ready wherein you saw the innocent Eolinda die and cutting off the two Earles heads and that of the charitable English man made them to be nayl'd with the other of Lycambus in that manner as you saw them Then went he into Eolinda's chamber and though she fell into a swound at his entrance yet he caus'd her to be carried into the vessell and set her in the same posture you found her That done he commanded all his followers out of the barque the sayles being all hoys'd and tow'd her into the open sea by two shalops and then abandon'd her to the mercy of the winds See a great many tragicall events yet am I not at the end of all for scarce was the Prince got up againe into his chamber when Pantaira it may be repenting she had been the cause of so many murders came to him and beseeching him to heare her confess'd that neither Lycambus nor her self had done any thing but by the command of his mother Protested boldly that Eolinda never knew ought of their practices nor done any thing misbeseeming the vertue and honour of a most chast Lady That shee had never seen but in publick any of the two Earles and that the letters which were found in her cabinet had been conveigh'd thither without her knowledge and that she had never seen them She had told more but that the old Dutchesse flew on her and in the fury she was would have strangled her if she had not been taken out of her hands The Prince in the meane while filled with horrour at what he had heard reflecting presently into himself What hast thou done cri'd he unnaturall mother I now doubt no more Eolinda is innocent and with those words fell into a swound and had not I borne a part of his fall he had infallibly broken his head against the floore of his chamber We laid him on his bed and whilst his faithfull servants bewail'd his misfortunes and strove to recover him from his fainting his wicked mother caus'd Pantaira to be strangled and sent to make ready a ship of warre which lay in the rode with a secret order to her most Confidents to make after Eolinda and to throw her into the sea All this could not be done presently In the meane time the Prince recover'd his spirits and spying me at the head of his bed Altoph said he if my faults have not taken from thee that amity thou hast
heavenly life since you goe to your death with a firme belief that the same steele which deprives you of life puts you in possession of a better Presently even presently one of you shall receive that worthy guerdon of his faith and with the same eies wherewithall he sees the lively image of that Deitie which he confesseth by the voice of his blood he is most assured to see him himselfe in the mid'st of his glory The Chiefe-Prelate having thus finish'd his Exhortation foure Priests came out of a Chappel carrying on their shoulders a table cover'd with plates of gold and on it a large vessell of Crystall of the rock in which were the names of all the noble Slaves The expectation of all the Spectators was doubled at sight of that fatall Vessell and though among the Slaves there were some that could not chuse but look pale on it yet they all made shew as if they were alike prepared for death Polexander had not so much as the slightest apprehension whether because he thought that Death respecting him in the most dangers and shipwracks would not be so daring as to set upon him in the haven or whether he beleev'd his life not to be in the disposall of Chance but depended absolutely on that eternall Providence which assignes a beginning and end to all things His passion adding many other considerations to these perswaded him that in exposing himselfe to death so voluntary for Alcidiana he gave her such proofes of constancy and fidelity as farre excelled all those he had ever rendred her But when Reason got the upper hand and came to be heard she shew'd him all things on the right side they were to be look'd on and made him see how most vainly he precipitated himselfe to an infallible death since Alcidiana being not a God to know his intentions he might beleeve that when she came to heare of his death which may be might never happen she could call it no other then a mischance or a blow of Despaire This thought made him not repent of what he had done but bringing him to bewaile his Fate I must said he to himself faire Princesse confesse my death is lesse welcome to me then it should be if it were known to you Long long agoe I was resolv'd to die since your just anger thought it not fit that I should live and that Fortune deni'd me the happinesse of your sight But I could wish to die in some place where your faire eies might be the witnesses of my death that so nothing might hinder you from beleeving that I died for you onely When by some exceeding good hap it may so betide that the newes of my last houre shall come to your knowledge what can I promise my self by it if you be ignorant of the cause The remembrance of me will be no lesse odious to you then was my life and may be you will account the death I have suffer'd as a punishment for my disobedience in swerving from what she had commanded me I dare speak it Alcidiana and it is most true I have had sufficient tokens of the care heaven hath had to perswade me that my ill Face proceeds onely from your indignation and that I could well have o'repass'd my miseries if the sentence you have pronounc'd against me had not made them eternall Here he stop'd and thinking on what he had said condemn'd it as subverting that extreame generousnesse which had been alwaies annexed to his passion He even grew angry with his owne wisedome and beginning againe with much sorrow How cowardly and perfidious am I said he to have more consideration of my self then of that incomparable beauty for whom I suffer In lieu of giving thanks for the miseries she would have me undergoe and run to my death since I can give her no other testimony of my humblest servitude I would articulate with her finde waies of moderating her sentence not performe her commands but conditionally chuse mine owne punishment and in short not present my selfe to the Martyrdome till I were assured of the Crowne Farre farre from me be this selfe-love I here faire Alcidiana quit it for ever I desire death since you command it I neither look for comfort nor recompence but goe instantly to present me to the steele that must end me with as much content as if it were in your owne hands Polexander transported with these imaginations went out of his station and had he not been with-held by Diceus as the day before he had given the whole Assembly cause to think strangely of that unexpected passion In the meane time the Chief Priest commanded those that carried the Lot vessell to approach and holding his hand over it Thou light said he which the Sun cannot obscure Intelligence which govern'st all others guide my hand and give thy selfe that victime which is most pleasing to thee By our last sacrifice we have confess'd thee to be the Author of our lives by this which we are now making ready for thee we intend to acknowledge thee to be the Author of death and as by the one we confesse thee All-good by the other we avow thee All-powerfull With that he put his hand into the Vessell and drew thence a ball of Ebony Presently he read the name of him that was to die and all the Priests together instantly began to cry out thrice Be favourable to thy sacrifice O milde Deity which takest not away the lives of thy Creatures but to render it more perfect and happy That done foure other Priests presented themselves at the foot of the throne carried a Vessell of gold made like one of the ancient Urnes The Chief-Prelate threw the ball into it which hee held and presently the Master of the Ceremonies caus'd all the Assistants to march The slaves by two and two went before the Priests and the Soveraigne Prelate seated in a chaire which was borne on the shoulders of eight Slaves held still his hand on the mouth of the Vessell wherein was the ball of death They went all into the Temple without making there any offering or prayers and came out of it by a gate open'd to the West That gate led to the long walk of Cedars of which I have spoken and beyond that to a rock which advanc'd it selfe farre into the sea There was discover'd a dismall Preparation On the left hand was seen an Altar built of marble as red as blood and on the right a funerall pile at whose soure corners eight little children held divers silver fire-pans full of burning coales The Pilgrims incompass'd the place The Clergy and the Embassadours of Gheneoa were rank'd before them The Priests joyn'd with them and made a second circle The Noble Slaves made a third and the Chief-Prelate staying in the midst of all with those which carried the Vessell of Death at last took it with his Assistants and put it on the Red Altar These Ceremonies were perform'd with a very deep silence
and as in an act of sorrow every one witness'd his astonishment and feare At last the Soveraigne Priest drew out the ball that was to cleare the doubts of so many terrified mindes and presently they cri'd thrice that the Officers of death should come forth of their darke dungeons Instantly foure doores which were in the foure sides of the bloody Altar opened and foure men came out having their eies banded with black Cypres to shew that with a blinde obedience wee are to goe where we are call'd by the voice of Religion The Arch-Priest deliver'd into their hands the ball which he had taken out of the Urne and presently he and all his Clergy fell with their faces flat on the earth The foure Executioners of Justice which those Slaves call'd divine read the Name that was written on the ball and going behinde the Slaves who by a particular prohibition were enjoyn'd not to turne their heads they seiz'd on that miserable Granadian who the preceding evening as if he had fore-seen his death had before Polexander unburthen'd himselfe of all the sinnes wherewith he was tormented by the remorse of Conscience The Executioners presently blind folded him and making use of no other thing to binde him but the chaines he was wont to weare led him to the Altar Strait they cri'd out that all were to fall flat with their faces to the earth and that done there arose from among the Priests a lamentable voice which filling their minds with horrour Remeâ—…ber it said O powerfull Deity that thou hast not made man to destroy him That being spoken they heard it no more till the pile being kindled another voice but lesse mournfull then the first cri'd out thrice thus Let O mercifull Divinity by thy All-powerfulnesse be enlightned again this life which is newly extinguished for thy glory When this prayer was ended the High-Priest arose and all the Assistants doing the like without any prayer they went about the pile and with no more Ceremony return'd towards the Temple The gates were found shut conformable to the ancient Ceremonies and then the Chief-Prelate turning towards all the Assembly Let every one said he retire and obtaine by his private oraizons what is not to be gotten by the blood of Sacrifices After hee had pronounc'd those words thrice he entred the Temple by a little doore which was then presently opened The Priests departed to their Quarters the slaves to theirs the Embassadours to the High-Priests palace and the Pilgrims to their particular lodgings The Noble Slaves that day eate together in common and after their repast went to walk together in a garden which was appointed for that purpose Polexander took him by the hand who came to visit him with Menscenarez and separating themselves from the rest led him into a long and close alley and witness'd there his grief for the death of their common friend The Slave stopping to answer Polexander I bewaile not said he Menscenarez but I lament my selfe for the losse I have had For him he hath met with what he wished for the end of his torments and the Deity which they worship in this Island making to appeare at need the succour which he promis'd to such as are in misery hath taken home to himselfe our friend from a place where his affliction had infallibly made an end of him by a more dismall blow then that which he lately receiv'd The newes you told him yesterday threw him back into his former designe of dying and the last night calling on Benzaida and bewailing her death I will follow thee ingratefull but amiable Princesse said he from time to time and will let thee know by my death that I knew how to love and by consequence how to die aswell as thee Acknowledge then his death is a particular gratification of the Deity which he hath so faithfully served and that we are more to be lamented then he since we are bound to attend yet may be five or six yeares till the lot free us from our chaines and the remembrance of our misfortunes Polexander admir'd at the slaves understanding and looking on him more cursâ—…usly then he had done saw in his face something of I know not what which made him desirous to know who and from whence hee was Hee therefore ask'd how long and by what accident he came into that Island of the Sun My too much daring said he hurried me hither and that which is to mee the most insupportable of all the torments I indure in my conscience I know I have deserved them I would have gone beyond that which was permitted me My good fortune made me proud and that pride made me forget my self Wretched bird of darknesse that I am I feard not to flutter out of my obscurity but expos'd my weake eies to the beames of a more radiant Sun then is worshipped in this Island In a word I would have committed a Saeriledge and from an adoration permitted gone on to a love that was forbidden me It is now almost three yeares since my impiety was discovered and almost as long time have I undergone the punishment enjoin'd me for it I was at last brought into this Isle and without the hearing my justifications they consecrated me to the service of the Sun Polexander being not to his wish well satisfied intreated the Slave to make known the place of his birth and if he might aske him with modesty to let him understand more cleerly then he had done the cause of his Exile and Captivity It would bee very hard for mee though I indevour'd it reply'd the Slave to refuse any thing you shall request of me Your desires have a certaine charme which compels all mindes and they get with a great deale of violence what they intreat with farre more sweetnesse Let us therefore I beseech you retire to some place where none may interrupt us and I will there amaze you with the recitall of a passion which may serve for an example to all young Spirits which through a ridiculous presumption perswade themselves that all things they affect should be permitted them Polexander putting himself to be guided by the Slave travers'd a great many Alleies and at last came to a place where the murmure of many fountains and the shade of divers Palme trees and Cedars made a retreat fit for the converse of melancholy lovers They sate downe both farre enough from the fountains that they might not be troubled with their noise and Polexander intreating his companion not to deferre the Contentment he had promised him wonne him to beginne his discourse in these termes Certainly they knew well what a passion that is which we call Love when they represented it by an Infant that had his Eies banded They would surely thereby intimate that 't was a two-fold blindenesse since 't is true that Infancy is as it were a blindfolding which hinders the Soules operation with knowledge and permits it not either to consider the end of
carry mee forth and by vertue of some remedies they brought mee againe But I was so sensibly touch'd with it that with sorrow and anguish I fell into a sicknesse wherein my recoverie was so much despair'd of that Alcidiana to comfort my mother who was a sick as I was so noble and good that she took the paines to visit mee and to let mee know that my death would not be an indifferent thing to her I think verely that the power of her sweet eyes triumph'd or'e the violence of my disease For the fever presently left mee but there rested such a feeblenesse that I usually swounded sometimes thrice sometimes foure times in the day In the meane time I pray'd continually that I might not recover of that weaknesse because my amorous swoundings being taken for the reliques of my sicknesse I had the content of seeing the Queen and could swoune before her and yet she not suspect the cause One evening as I meditated in the great garden on the estate I cannot tell whether I may say happy or unhappy of my life on a sudden Alcidiana came into the arbour where I was and being surpriz'd with mine incounter witnessed no lesse anger then if shee had heard all that my reaving had put into my mind What doth this melancholy man here said shee and presently calling for a Lady nam'd Amintha which alwaies attended her See said she Pisander would you not say by his disfigured countenance and his melancholy humour that he is no more already then his shadow Amintha who truly merits to be call'd the example of all courtefie and goodnesse repli'd according to her admirable wit But Madam said she since the wise should make benefit of all things I humbly beseech your Majesty to draw from the losse of Pisander a meanes of preserving your selfe The love of studie and the pleasure he tastes in these meditations hath made him fall into this deep melancholy Beware if you please lest you run the same fortune Your books and your Râ—…aiotez which without intermission take up your thoughts will infallibly throw you into some profound melancholy and at last make you abandon the throne to bury you alive in some one of those Grottes where your Philosopher tells us so often that his Predecessors found out all their Sciences Alcidiana laughing at Amintha's pleasâ—…nt conceit I am said shee no such wise Philosopher to come thither I make profession of a lesse austere doctrine and thou shalt know it my deare Amintha that though I love Philosophy well yet I love Alcidiana better I advise Pisander to doe so too You would be caught repli'd the good Amintha with a great laughter if Pisander followed your counsell You are not so wise as you were wont to be said the Queen who was the best Mistresse that ever was borne The counsell I give to Pisander iâ—… that his Philosophy should be as mirthsome as mine Alas how vainly did that Princesse advise the unfortunate Pisander Hee was not in case to hearken to her for from the beginning of her discourse he was fallen into his usuall fainting Amintha perceiv'd it and ran to help me Presently I recover'd and being a while without abilitie of discerning who was about â—…ce at last I knew that Lady to whom I gave thanks for her assistance and after I had ask't her pardon for the paines shee had taken with mee Shall I said I be ever so unfortunate as to bring nothing but disturbance to such persons whom I have most affection to serve Pisander answered Amintha you should take a little more care for your health then you doe and not suffer your selfe to be thus over-growne with melancholy which will bring you to your grave if you doe not quickly ston the course of it My malady said I is now incurable I have done my utmost to overcome it and from ordinary remedies I have betaken me to extraordinary but both have been alike to me unprofitable Nor indeed doe I expect any else then death and the worst that can beâ—…ide mee is to live I am very sorry repli'd the Lady that I cannot apprehend the cause of that sorrow I note in your discourse but the Queen is gone and I must follow her With that shee went out of the arbour and left me in as much griefe as my sad destiny could make me sensible of What will become of thee Pisander said I then to my selfe Know'st thou not well enough the perill thou ruâ—…'st into to resolve to free thy selfe Seest thou not that all discretion condemnes thy designe that thy flames are criminall that thou wilt be held for a foole if they be discovered and that thy daring is such as far off for being any way glorious to thee it will make thy death and thy memory alike ridiculous Thou art at one extremitie and Alcidiana at the other and these extremes are so farre distant that he who shall undertake to joyne heaven and earth together would not be thought so very a foole then the miserable Pisander if hee perswade himselfe that hee shall be rais'd to Alcidiana or that she will descend to him Let judgement then effect what love cannot Be a victor by flying since thou canst not be so by contesting Desire no more since 't is impossible for thee to obtaine what thou desirest and spend not thy whole life in reavings and dreames which make thee run after phantasmes which thou shalt never attaine to After I had thus discours'd with my selfe and brought mee to be a little capable of reason me thought I saw Love who full of indignation and fury reprov'd me for my disloyaltie and infamous resolutions What said he doest thou so ill acknowledge the favours which thou owest to my bountie and dar'st thou so cowardly betray him who plucking thee out of the centre of the earth hath on his owne wings carried thee as high as heaven To what greater glorie aspirest thou or to what height wouldst thou have mee lift thee if thou be not content to be in heaven But I heare thy murmures and I know thy thoughts Thou tell'st mee thou lovest in vaine that thou shalt never win Alcidiana to the least thought of pitie That thou shalt languish all thy whole life and yet shee shall not so much as know 't is for her and when thou dyest thy death as the death of one of the meanest of her subjects shall not make her bestow a teare on thee Answer mee disloyall Pisander When thou began'st to love this Princesse did thy common sense faile thee so much as to promise thee thou shouldst be belov'd again No no repent thy selfe of thy repentance perfect thy ruine for Alcidiana and remember that the glorious thought which gave thee the boldnesse to adore Alcidiana is of more esteeme then the possession of all that is fairest in the whole world These last counsells made all the former to vanish and my passion flatter'd by these pleasing imaginations taking new root
goodnesse so neere approaching to the Divinitie who in stead of punishing offences proposeth a reward to the guiltie on condition they will be converted You will have care of my life Madam and yet it is an unhappy source from whence have flow'd all the discontents your Majestie hath met with since you came into the world The Gods love you Nature hath out-gone her selfe to make you the chiefest of her miracles Strangers admire you which never had the felicitie of seeing you Your people find no other difference betwixt the Deitie which they adore and you save that the first is invisible and you are seen among them Even things inanimate seem to take a soule when the businesse is of pleasing you In short there is nothing which conspires not to make you as happy as faire The detestable Pisander onely opposeth that generall Law and by an attempt worthy of thunder hath dared to contest with heaven and earth with Gods and men fortune and vertue Take Madam take Pisander out of the world and you shall find nothing after to molest you The Queen not induring the continuation of this speech But said shee at least let me know what thou pretendest Madam said I I pretend to die since it is forbidden me to have any other intentions The desire of death repli'd Alcidiana is a pleasing errour which is hardly forc'd from a soule that gives no eare to reason yet must thou strive to overcome this frenzie Labour at it Pisander if thou wilt be advis'd by Alcidiana and take her word for it thou wilt get the upper hand I had a great mind to contradict this counsell but Alcidiana arose and gave mee no time to answer Amintha who without doubt knew the Queens intention no sooner saw her retired but shee took mee by the hand and causing mee to sit downe by her You see Pisander said shee there 's no more time to flatter or feed your selfe with idle hopes which vanitie usually puffes up young men withall The Queen loves you and you cannot doubt of it after so many proofes given you But shee loves you so as a good Mistresse should love an excellent servant and a Queen extremely just a most usefull and loyall subject Beyond that you are to expect nothing And I make known to you now as a person who much values you and takes part in all your interests that if you had a thousand lives and that they were all absolutely needfull for the Queens preservation shee would see them all lost rather then to give any longer way to the continuance of your follies And beleeve me Pisander it should even make you dye for shame or at least if you have not been wise enough to hinder the beginning yet to be so in stopping the progression Doe not seeme to be wise to no purpose nor strive to conceale from me what you have in your heart Is it not true that you are in love with the Queen 'T is an offence which you esteem too glorious that there should need the torture to draw the confession of it from you You are not the first foole of your kind Others farre beneath you have had the like extravagancies But doe not you think with your selfe that as those Darers have made themselves the laughter of all the Court and the scorne of judicious people that in the end you will make your selfe ridiculous and be taken for a man fit for a bable or to be shut up in the Hospitall of the Incurabili In your owne conscience can you be so vaine or rather mad to beleeve that the Queen can fall in love with you or to make amends for that which she hath shewne you you would oblige her to take her Nurses son for her husband When Amintha had no more to say I thus repli'd My birth as you know Amintha is so eminent that I see none the person of the Queen excepted who is above me and I dare say without boasting that shee shall either never marry or be constrain'd to link with such a man whose extraction shall not be able to parallel with mine Not that I will place a thing to me of so small esteem in rank with those that may merit the favour of Alcidiana There are requisite to it qualities of courage and wit as rare as are her vertues and beautie There must be a long perseverance a faith inviolable there must be respects and extraordinarie submissions in briefe there must by long services be a testimoniall that the enjoying of so inestimable a jewell is the onely end of all thoughts and actions Amintha at those words interrupting me You said shee imagine these things to be of great value but I assure you they are worth nothing if they be not approv'd of by such for whose sake they are done Now the Queen not onely gave no approbation to your errours but from time to time let you understand by her wonted discretion that you thereby irreparably offended her From this veritie draw a necessarie conclusion and you shall find that even that on which you build your merits and pretensions destroyes both the one and the other If it behove me to consider my actions I repli'd as you look on them I confesse I never did Alcidiana any service nor am to expect any thing from her But I have a way of reasoning which confutes yours and to tell you sincerely what you but now demanded of mee 't is that I will rather forgoe my life then that passion which Alcidiana condemnes and in spight of her rigour disdaine and threatnings will never give over the prosecution of that which I esteem as my chiefest happinesse Thou art lost Pisander cri'd that judicious Lady Would Heaven might please to divert my presaging and restore to thee that reason which thine ill Angell hath depriv'd thee of After these words Amintha arose and remitting mee into the hands of the Chamberlaine commanded him very severely to observe strictly what the Queen had given him in charge I quickly understood what that new command was As soon as I was return'd to my prison I was shut into a chamber whose windowes were all grated with iron none of my friends or servants were permitted to see mee and thus was I kept neere three moneths speaking and thinking such things as you may well imagine At the end of that time the great Chamberlaine came and brought me newes of my libertie and told me that the Queen had chosen mee to goe to render in her name the tribute to the Sun her father and to celebrate in this Isle the sacrifice of their Alliance I accepted of that honour as of an evident assurance that the Queen had resolv'd to ruine mee My despaire too broke out more then ever and if eight or ten men who flew in upon me had not taken away all power of offending I had well let them know that any man may die when he list The Queen hearing of my furie sent some devoutly
of that reward and make you confesse that Love and Honour are certainly two of those Inchanters which promise pearles and diamonds but give us onely a few oaken leaves and acornes My sonne repli'd the Hermit Ignorance is alwaies unjust but it is not alwaies criminall and is not so principally when it is accompanied with a deale of affection Yours is of that nature and therefore I condemne it not But know that the man whom you bewaile is not in case to deserve it Neither Love nor Death shall ever rob him of the felicities are due to him I dare say he enjoyes them already and though his troubles have been great his recompence shall be farre more But let us break off this discourse since I have not so long time to live that I should bestow any part of it on any other save my selfe In this sort having ended our conversation the holy man intreated me to goe and finish the grave he had begun and leave him a while alone to prepare himselfe seriously for the great voyage he was to make I obay'd him and was above an houre in digging That done I ascended againe up to the Cave and found the good Hermit laid on his bed of mosse I came neere to give him an accompt of my labour but he was not in case to receive it He lifted his eyes and hands towards heaven and seem'd to be so transported thither already that he remembred no more any thing that was earthly I took him by the hand all amaz'd to see him in that estate and demanded what he ailed and what I might doe to comfort him But he answer'd not I then thought him to be extremely sick and to get him out of his swoune began to stirre him By little and little his judgement return'd and presently knowing mee Oh! my son said he out of what a trouble have you brought me I saw the habitation of the Blessed all open My soule ravish'd to quit this clog of earth which hinders her flying thither did her utmost endeavour to be absolutely disburthened of it But as she complain'd for seeing all her industry bootlesse a voice call'd mee by my name Beware said it that thou break not those ligaments which hold thy bodie bound to thy soule Thou wantest one thing without which it is forbidden thee to enter into this place of all delights The voice flying into aire I call'd a long time to intreat it to instruct me what it was I wanted for my felicity But I re-claim'd in vaine It would not deliver me out of the torment whereinto it had throwne me and I was in such anguish of mind as is not to be imagined when your calling brought mee out of so strange a dreame or rather so wonderfull a transportation of the spirit No sooner had the holy man recounted to mee his vision but I imagined that heaven desirous to bestow on him that reward it hath promised to all good men had wrought a miracle in the moment of his departure that so by the knowledge of that verity which had never been spoken to him he might attaine the beatitude propos'd for the salary of its beliefe Hereupon I told him it was reveal'd me from heaven what was wanting for his gaining that true happinesse and afterwards as fully as I could in so short a time made knowne the mysteries and fundamentalls of what we beleeve After which that learned man who all his life time had made profession of the most solid and rationall parts of Philosophy witnessed so great a submission and gave so great a credence to such mysteries as being infinitely elevated above all reason must needs justle with his and cleane overcoming it hee demanded to be perfected by lavation which I performed and had no sooner done but he with an hearty ejaculation and instant prayer sunk downe by mee and testifi'd that the death of a good man is a true peace and a pleasing sleep I confesse I wept at so great a losse and you were not the onely man whom I was bound to bewaile I watch'd him till next day and as soon as the Sun arose carried him to the place chosen by himselfe for his interment His funerals ended I resolv'd to take possession of his Hermitage for the remainder of my life But knowing not where to draw the water or get the dates whereon hee liv'd I determin'd to dye with that absolute resignation and religious constancy which the holy man had taught me Yet was I not reduc'd to that extremity for eight dayes after the Hermits death I saw a little Barque arrive at my rock guided by two Negro's They descri'd me on the top of the rock and the distance hindring them from any certaine knowledge they surely took mee for my predecessour By their shouts they made shew of their joy and brought on shore eight or ten barrells of fresh water and some six little chests of dates As soon as those things were unshipp'd the Black-Moores cri'd out againe as 't were to take their leaves and so return'd without any curiositie of visiting me After I had long meditated on somewhat that was not very likely I imagin'd that the late Hermit being not desirous to be seen by any man had given order to such as were to furnish him with his ordinary pittance to land what they brought at the foot of the rock and so to returne without troubling him in his solitude How ere it was I remain'd there three moneths living according to the incouragement which the life and death of the holy Hermit gave me and receiv'd such things as were necessary for me from the hands of the same Negro's And I grew then so well accustom'd to that manner of life that the most pleasing things of the world pass'd not through my memory but as objects of commiseration and contempt and I thought on nothing but how to dye well when a great ship whose sailes were of purple and gold shew'd her selfe one morning some miles off my rock I confesse to you that object did not almost a jot move mee and I wished often that they who were in that proud Vessell fearing to fall on my rock would turne their sailes another way But I had not my desire satisfied On the contrary the tall ship came with full sailes within a mile of my rock and casting anchor there for feare of the shelves and the crags I perceiv'd five or six men which descended into a great boat and then with an extreme swiftnesse came right to the rock There they landed and presently came up to my Cave My haire was so exceedingly growne since my living there that I had not much lesse then I have now and besides being growne gray as you know it did begin to be so from mine age of five and twenty I seem'd to be above threescore and ten though I was not five and forty Those men certainly taking me for my Predecessour cast themselves at my feet imbrac'd my knees
the weather was faire The Prelate who had plotted with Polexander about all that he had spoken to the Embassadors sent for him with all the other Presents and he came not in the habit of a vulgar Slave but like a triumphing King foure Black-moore Slaves carried the ends of his chaines and did not ill imitate the grave and majestick gate of their Master Alcippus seeing he was about to lose him once more could not suppresse the emotions of his good nature but weeping imbrac'd him and intimating to the Embassadors that his tears were out of compassion Goe said he to Polexander whither thy Fate calls thee let not the Servitude which thou hast preferr'd before a Crowne make thee lose ought of that great Spirit which is able to conquer the whole world and whether Fortune use thee better then she hath done or continues her aversnesse to thee remember that Araxes was borne to trample on her Alcippus imbrac'd him againe to bid him the last farewell and though he was absolutely off from his ancient affection yet could he never quit himselfe of that which he bore to the King his Master he accompanied him to the Port under colour of honouring Alcidiana's Embassadors and seeing him imbark'd with Diceus was constrain'd to return for feare of further tempting his weaknesse and humanity Assoone as a little gale from the shore had put the sacred Vessell out of the Haven Diceus who had Lynx his eyes and in all places where ere he came discover'd what was most hidden perceiv'd in the Pilots cabbin two birds as white as swans and marking unnoted how they fed them imagined that 't was by that sleight Alcidiana's Pilots were us'd to returne to the Inaccessible Island Assoone therefore as the ship was out at sea the birds flew out of Linceus his cabbin at a window and presently appearing over the ship were saluted with many shouts of joy by the Mariners and Pilgrims those birds flying in a middle height were alwayes a bow-shoot before the ship and serving Linceus in stead of Star or Compasse shewed him what way he was to steere Whilst they did so well their dutie and the winde as if who should doe best was extreamely favourable Alcidiana's Embassadors entertain'd themselves with the fained Araxes and desirous to know his adventures cunningly besought him to relate how the Prince who so dearly lov'd him could resolve to sacrifice him to the Sunne or make him to consume his dayes in Alcidiana's fetters Because that judicious King said Polexander could no way better testifie his affection to me then in dividing his fortune with me and bequeathing me to those Divinities on whom he had bestowed himselfe But repli'd the Embassadors he depriv'd himselfe of the contentment of seeing you Hee was answered our Heroe sequestred from a greater blisse since he had not the happinesse of being inlightned by the faire eyes of Alcidiana He should then have hazarded somewhat said the Embassadors for so great a felicity He hath adventur'd all repli'd the King to attaine it but whilst the violent and sweet tyrannie of Alcidiana's charmes drew him one way the invincible power of a necessity as irrevocable as cruell thrust him another and I may say without exaggeration that never poore malefactor indured more violent tortures that hath beene torne in sunder with wilde horses and he is dead of them and now his unfortunate ghost which hath found no rest no not in his grave wanders the world All the day long it hides it selfe in the obscurity of deep caves and gloomie forests and in the night with long groanes and uncessant laments accuseth Heaven complaines on Love accuseth Fortune and it self but it complaines most on the strange and uncouth destiny of the Inaccessible Island and sometimes wishing what it alwayes fear'd O happy cause said it of my misfortunes why art thou not absolutely subjected to the necessity of thy condition And wherefore doth the Demon which presides in tempests change the order of things and dare violate what nature hath forbidden Be at last what it is resolv'd thou must be become altogether Inaccessible and concealing thy selfe for ever from our eyes cease to feed us with longings since thou depriv'st us of all hopes I should be too long said our voluntarie Slave if I related to you all that the amorous Phantasme invented either to demonstrate Fortune's Injustice or to publish the Justice of his Love Let it suffice that you know the Prince of whom I speake desired onely to live and die for Alcidiana and dead as he is overcomes by the vertue of his affection fate time death and oblivion Alcidiana's Embassadors who were in a manner as tied by the eares to Araxes tongue no sooner perceiv'd themselves freed from so sweet a captivitie but they found fault with that troublesome favour and intreated Polexander not to continue it to them You said they have given us both admiration and delight in speaking to us of the King your Master finish if you please what you have begun and to perfect our contentment if you like it speake of your selfe I see nothing said the feign'd Araxes that you can imagine may please you in the relation of my adventures I was borne unfortunate brought up among a many miseries I have lived sometimes in exile sometimes in prison alwayes in affliction this in few words is the whole historie of my life If the remembrance of so many miseries repli'd the Embassadors is not more insupportable to you then the sufferings themselves make us a just narration of so mysterious an abridgement and condemne not a curiositie which onely proceeds from the esteem which our charmed minds as well as our senses inforce us but mildly to have of a personage which is scarce knowne to n◅ I will obey you said Polexander and presently addressing himselfe related to them without making himselfe knowne the most of the adventures we have recited by that discourse which seem'd short to the Embassadors though it lasted almost five houres he satisfi'd them and were it permitted me to debunch the modestie of Prose and carrie it to the libertie of Poēsie I would say that the soules of the Embassadors lay a long time drown'd in that delicious bev'rage wherein Polexander's Eloquence had throwne them All this while Alcidiana's ship steering the course which her winged guides directed got farre from the Island of the Sunne and by a very fresh gale sensibly had triall of that Deitie's assistance to whom it was consecrated Diceus being extraordinarie curious and a great enemie to all Superstition could not indure that they should call the birds which guided the ship Angels sent from Heaven and particular favorites of the God of Light he talked sometimes with the Priests sometimes with the Mariners otherwhile with Linceus to be clear'd of his doubts and to overthrow the miracle which was presuppos'd in the flight of the two birds his inquisit i◅enesse had all the successe he could expect by
desires and thine own will to the safetie of thy Countrey 'T is a businesse resolv'd in heaven thou must swallow this potion which hath no bitternesse but whilst thou refusest it on then and let not thy brave heart faile thee at need taste those sweets thy vertues have deserv'd O new age of gold O Island truly fortunate O Slave worthy the regall throne O Princesse happily deceived O glorious alliance O illustrious posteritie In all likelihood Alcidiana at the reading of this Prophesie might have receiv'd some contentment but she renew'd her sighings and unable any longer to refraine from tears even let them fall down on the Prophesie in such an excesse as if she had beleev'd she could with the Characters have drown'd all the misfortunes they seem'd to threaten her Rhadiotez seeing her discontent spoke all he thought fitting to quiet her afflicted minde but Alcidiana not induring his discourse Retire father said she and assure your selfe that I have not so little profited in your schoole but that I know well how we must die when we can live no longer but with dishonour I was borne free and you propose to me something worse then death when you propound I am not to live but by making my selfe the slave of a Slave Rhadiotez willing to give the Princesse time to advise with her selfe and more seriously to meditate on the Prophesie return'd to his palace and Alcidiana seeing her self then at libertie began again her lamentations and turning to her confident Come Amintha said she am I not now at last arriv'd at that utmost point of misfortune which long since my visions my disrests and melancholy foretold me O cruell Fate certainly thou too tyrrannically abusest that soveraigne power which is given thee from above on us poore mortalls What wilt thou shall become of me But doe what thou list my good or ill shall not depend on thee the command I have over my selfe is no lesse absolute then thine I will keep it in spight of all thy violence and since death hath depriv'd me of all that could make me in love with life 't is in vaine by the object of greatnesse and felicities to bustle with my resolution and tempt my courage Cast thine eyes on me deare and worthy subject of my sorrow turne thine eyes on me and upbraid me of falshood if thou read'st in my soule any motion that counsels me to forsake thee for another The Princesse's confident seeing her teares and sighes had taken away her power of speech Polexander said she to her is worthy of these testimonies of love you bestow on his memorie and Madam he having lov'd you what said I lov'd having ador'd you as he hath done I doubt not but amidst all the pleasures which inviron him hee resents your displeasures and seeing you afflicted is even pensive and sad in the very source of all happinesse Ah deare Amintha cry'd the Queene how doe thy words pierce me and mournfully re-imprint in my memorie the remembrance of my folly and ingratitude She could not speake further for word was brought her the multitude was round about the palace and threatned to breake the gates if they were not let in All conspires against us Amintha said she to her confident but let us resist to the last and at least shew that faire soule which lookes on us from heaven that we abandon not his party though it be to the weakest With that she went out on a great Terrasse which ran along the first court of her palace and commanded the gates to be opened Presently the people rush'd in headlong but at sight of the Princesse whom they never look'd on without respect and wonder they rain'd in their fury and fell all on their knees Alcidiana seeing them in such a reverence commanded them to stand up and declare the cause of the tumult the multitude after their wonted manner speaking in confusion began to cry out that the Deliverer which had beene promis'd the State even from Heaven was at the towne gate and they besought the Queen's permission to goe meet him to see him and petition him for an end of their present calamities Alcidiana unable to indure the continuation of their discourse How my subjects said she all inraged you doe not thinke of me then otherwise then as of an enemie or at least as of one without power What doe you expect from a wretched stranger what you hope not from my vigilancie from my forces nor your owne courage who is the seducer that hath impoison'd your minds with a prediction as idle as it is intricate You see at hand the safetie my care hath acquir'd you and yet you tread underfoot what is sensible to run after Chimera's and meer leasings Assure your selves the date of your misfortune is pass'd the revolt is buried in the graves of the authors and the strangers are no more in case to annoy us have a little patience and you shall soone see them shamefully quit our coasts and carrie nothing of their crimes with them but their griefe for committing them The people repli'd she promis'd no happinesse but what was most certaine but that she might not be unworthy of it 't was fitting the person should be honour'd who had wrought it That reply absolutely angring the Queene she withdrew without giving the people any contentment and shutting her selfe up in her closet with Amintha onely O ingratefull people cry'd she that have neither thought of me nor my predecessors Reeds shaken with all winds minds adoring novelties you are then wearie of my Government and without the knowledge of what is beneficiall or hurtfull to you desire a Slave for your King and that Alcidiana who would not bestow her chaines on Polexander should offer her Crowne to Araxes Here she was silent and after a little musing threw her selfe weeping on her confident's neck And my poore Amintha said she see I pray thee with what eagernesse my misfortune pursues me and thinke what I should resolve on to avoid the accomplishment of our dismall Prophesie Doest thou imagine that Alcidiana hath so base a spirit as to preferre before death a Slave who without doubt is come from among that barbarous nation which wretchedly inhabits the in-land deserts of Africa No no let Fortune arme the whole universe to force me to that necessitie I will see my kingdome all of a flame if my bloud cannot quench the fire rather then undergoe the reproach of doing an act unworthy of Alcidiana Amintha desirous to intertaine the Queen in this just aversion There is nothing said she but your Majestie is bound to suffer rather then the dangerous beliefe which is slid in among your subjects Weak minds as your Majestie knowes are susceptible of all we need but propose things to them beyond their understanding to fill them with foolish admirations and from those idle wondrings carry them to beliefes more ridiculous and extravagant If once your subjects strongly conceive that their fafetie
Fortune came to assist Love and by a pranke of her wonted inequalitie would doe service to virtue deride the cruell policy of Hismalita confound all the providence of her Councellors and Divines and contribute her assistance to the accomplishing of things that had beene so often promised to my deare Master She corrupted if I must use that word those whom the Queene most trusted that so Zelmatida might be in safety and discover all the designes that they set on foote to destroy him Many of Hismalitaes domestiques wonne with the sweetnesse the courtesie and the liberality of this Prince advertis'd him of what was deliberated in their Mistresse cabinet and beleev'd that to be trusty to her was to be unfaithfull and traytors to their gods and themselves Amongst others Galtazis who in the body of an Infant had the wit of a man and as very a dwarfe as he was might bee called not the defect out a miracle of Nature was the first that gave Zelmatida intelligence of the bloody resolutions that Hismalitaes feare made her take against him This little one had beene given to Isatida when Montezuma conquer'd the Estates of the Cacique of Zampoallan and presently grew so passionately amorous of the Princesse that he every day blessed his misfortune and captivity since through it he had attayned to the glory to be the slave of so faire a Mistresse Hismalita that almost in all things shewed a jealousie of her daughter had taken him from her and imagined that by her savours and caresses she might so gaine him that he might serve her for a Spie But this generous little courage abhorring all basenesse and treachery continued constant to what he had promis'd Isatida and had it not beene by the expresse commandment she gave him to feigne and make a shew of extreame love to Hismalita he would rather have died then done things so contrary to his thoughts When Zelmatida came to Mexico Hismalita lov'd nothing more then this dwarfe and beleev'd him so much hers that she feard not to discover to him what she had of most secrecy But hee that knew well on what conditions he gave himselfe to that Queene judiciously advertised his true Mistrisse of all that most imported her and by his good Councell made her to take hold of such occasions to please Hismalita that the jealous Mother was constrayned in despite of her selfe to confesse that Isatida alone gave her more delight and consolation then all the rest of her daughters Now this little-one in all things following the inclinations of Isatida very often without knowing them had scarce seene my Lord the Inca but he lov'd him and so extraordinarily that he thought him only worthy to serve his faire Mistresse Zelmatida for his part was extreamly pleased in the conversation of this little-one and seeing how judicious and faithfull he was feared not to let him know his affection Galtazis seeing things happen to his wish interessed himselfe in this Love and contributed thereto not much lesse then Zelmatida himselfe And now knowing from Hismalita what feare the presence of this stranger threw on her and learning some of those predictions on which all those jealousies were founded he as soone gave my deare Master notice of it and concealed not from him that in the end the Queene infallibly resolved to have him murthered The dwarfe intimating thus much advised him to absent himselfe for a while and by a necessary flight avoide those cruelties that accompanied the jealousies of Hismalita But Zelmatida embracing Galtazis and laughing at his feares and councells My friend said he since by a Lawe imposed on nature all things must have an end O how happy am I to have met with so faire an occasion to perish in I shall not die of a vulgar death but shall have this advantage over all other men that my death shall beget an envy in all those that can lay a claime to any generositie Galtazis knowing the great spirit of Zelmatida I confesse said he that you are worthy to seâ—… my faire Mistresse Goe on invincible Prince and feare not but the gods will turn away those disasters that threaten you This little-one after he had thus confirmed my deare Master in his resolution left him and went certainly to make it known to Isatida The Inca having now thanked the Sunne to whom he had a particular devotion though he knew not yet that he was the Author of his Race bethought how to gaine Hismalita by some eminent service for feare to lose Isatida Yet among these different cares he forgot not to bethink himselfe that Quasmez asked his daughter from him and accused him for not being enough gratefull to him He therefore sought out Isatida with an intent to speake to her yet once more for Xaira but the Princesse â—…ut him off the displeasure of petitioning twice for one thing For as soone as she could with freedome speake to him I am to give you an account said she of the matter you intrusted me withall I have enquired after the Princesse which you seeke with so much passion and perceiving that my Governesse made some difficulty to speake to me I did often times by embraces woe her to tell me if she had heard any thing spoken of Xaira Whilest I sollicited her with so much earnestnesse she used such actions as made me beleeve she went about to discover some great secrets to me for on the suddaine she changed countenance and so great a trembling seized her that she was a long time before she could answere me At last she recollected her selfe and swore to me that she had never seene the Princesse Xâ—…ira But as if she beleeved that her oathes were not sufficient to make me credit it she accompanied them with so many sighes and teares and other signes of affliction that but for you I should have repented the asking her the question Yet Zelmatida let not this make you despaire you are assured even by the mouth of a Prophet that Xaira is living you are expresly come into this country to free her from prison you are he who infallibly must give her liberty let time then agitate and the superiour causes and thinke not that the wills of the gods eyther advance themselves or recoyle as it pleaseth the fantasticallnesse of our vowes The king perswaded by Isatidaes reasons admired the power of her wit and became daily so idolatrous of it that it is not a small signe of his excellent nature that in so generall forgetfulnesse of himselfe he constantly remembred how much he was oblieged to Quasmez Some fewe dayes after this conversation which had caused Hismalita to lose the rest of her complying or rather of her dissimulation she received two generall intelligences equally sad and deplorable which made her betake her selfe to other thoughts then how to be avenged of my deare Master The posts that came in hourely reported news that Montezumas was eyther killed or at least taken prisoner in the
with the same assured conntenance that she had seen he daies before and admiting in her selfe the great heart of the Prince grew angry with her selfe to have as many causes to hate him as she had to love him she had a minde to entertaine him but that one came and related that the Gyant had been twice already even at the gates of the towne This news was the cause that joy and sadnesse dividing mens mindes represented to some Zelmatida victorious over the Gyant and to others the Gyant triumphing over Zelmatida But he that thought on nothing but of doing acts worthy his love left the Queene and comming into the chamber of Isatida found her all in teares He besought her to ratifie the permission which she had given him and not beleeve his enemy to be invincible I know said she why you use this language to me No no I doe not thinke the Gyant invincible yet have I notwithstanding a thousand reasons to be afflicted The perill to which you are going to expose your selfe would obliege me to it I say were you a person but indifferent to me since for my sake only you are engaged in this combat and by consequence in spite of my selfe become guilty of your death if it happen that the chance of warre give the advantage to your Enemy Indeede knowing your courage and having heard related so many marvels of it I should have cause not to apprehend the event of this duell if all things were equall But when I consider that you goe to contend with a Monster as tall againe as your selfe I cannot receive those reasons that perswade me that I doe you wrong to have you feare him My Lord the Inca by these words felt himselfe bound in new chaines and without daring to take the boldnesse to aske from the Princesse the least favour in the world told her that before night she should be oblieged to prayse him alive or dead Whilest Isatida betooke her selfe to her prayers with her Governesse and dwarfe Zelmatida went to take his armes and accompanied with one only Squire went out of Mexico and came to the causey where the Gyant stayed for him The walls of the City were ranged with men and women to see by the successe of this combat what the fortune would be both generall and particular The lake was covered with Canoas and other vessells full of Theviciens and the place where Zelmatida was to fight was a square expresly made on the great causeway for a corps du guard and in case of necessitie to serve for a place of defence and to fight with those that after they had gotten the causeway would enter into the towne Zelmatida appeared there rather armed for the tryumph then for the combat He wore a head peece covered with a great many feathers which came on his shoulders and covered part of his face His armes were halfe naked and for all defensive armour had only a Cuirasse of quilted cotton and a buckler of gold on which to signifie the extremity of his love he had caused to be painted the mountain Popocampecho all on fire and round about the buckler these words engraven My heart preserves all his owne He had a quiver full of arrowes a bowe hanging as a scarfe and two long Javelins armed at the ends with golden pikes For the Gyant he was more extravagantly covered and more advantageously too He had the whole skin of a very great Tyger the muzell of the beast served him for his head-peece and the rest tyed in five or sixe places was for a good Cuirasse He wore a bowe and arrowes and a great club As soone as he saw Zelmatida within shot of his arrowes he shot two at him that had pierced him through and through if he had not dextrously avoided them My deare Master in comming neerer darted at him one of his Javeâ—…ns but it rested hanging in the skin of the beast that armed the Gyant and could not wouâ—…d him He knew then that fighting after this manner he should not make an end of his enemy he therefore came close up and passing upon him thrust the halfe of his Javelin into his right thighe and by that would tooke away his strength of upholding himself The Gyant retyred to be reveng'd and to brayne his adversary with one only blowe but his rage taking away his judgement and my deare Master returning upon him ran him through the second time The paine of this new wound made the monster foame and he threw himselfe on Zelmatida to have stifled him in his armes and cast out his left hand to have catched him by the hayre but the Inca avoiding his holdpierced his arme and left the Javelyn in the wound This great wound made the Gyant mad he threw his club away and uncovering all his body cast himselfe on his enemy Zelmatida seeing so faire an occasion tooke his â—…owe and let fly an arrow which passing under the Gyants left arme which was then lifted up stroake him right at the heart With this the Monster gave a great cry and catching his vanquisher in his armes bore him to ground with him he fell on one side and Zelmatida on the other so unhappily that meeting the head of an arrowe he gave himselfe a deepe wound the Gyant died presently and by his death strooke so strange a terror into the hearts both of the Thevic's and Zempoallan's Army that had the Mexicans beene men of valour there is no doubt but that very day they had given end to a Seige which began to make them practise by force that sobrietie which is naturall to them As soone as they had stynched the blood that Zelmatida lost by his wounds he returned into Mexico with all the pompe that so great an action could be attended He was not only admired of Hismalita and of all the Court but his enemies themselves were forced to acknowledge that whilest he defended Mexico they had little hope of taking it In the City they spoake more advantageously The people blessed the day in which that valiant defender came thither and from the defeate of one sole enemy promising to themselves the like of three or foure hundred thousand more foolishly called on to the fight those whom they durst not see but from the top of their walls As soone as Hismalita heard the successe of the combat she made shew of an excesse of joy which makes me say that the incomparable power of the virtue of my Master overcame the ill nature of that Queene and made her capeable of a good action That which makes me thinke so is that he was received with an extraordinary freedome and that all the evening she spoake of nothing but his victory but cry up often times in exaggerating the generositie with which Zelmatida would overcome his Enemy Let us leave here if you please the vulgar resentments and entertaine our selves a little with those of Isatida Though the Queene her mother knew she was
the walls of Mexico a great Scaffold raised in the middest of the Lake upon many boates linked to oâ—…e another On one side of the scaffold there was an Altar on which was an Idoll of gâ—…ld which held a Javelin in his hand many great â—…aions of gold round about the Altaâ—… and in them those instruments wherewithall the Mexican Priests did use to open those men that were sacrificed to their gods When the enemies sawe all the walls of Mexico ranged with men and women they caused those Priests to mount the Scâ—… which they had chosen for that sad ceremony The Priests perfumed the Idoll and repeated oftentimes the words of Venâ—…ce Retribution and Liberty After them were seene some Souldiers who gâ—…ed and brought those that were condemned to their deaths The first being at the place destiâ—… for execution was laid on a table and with an horrible inhumanity a Priest â—…ke 〈◊〉 great knife into his left side and thence drew out his heart presently he stuck it on the end of a javelin to make it seene the farther off and after he had so held it a while gave it to one of his companions This done two Souldiers tooke the body and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 iâ—…to the lake twenty men were executed in this manner and 〈◊〉 knowiâ—…g sâ—…e of them cryed out alas thus infallibly will these Barbarians put to death all 〈◊〉 Tâ—…iths the Mexicans call all their great Lords so which have beene taken prisoneâ—… 〈◊〉 the King She had scarce ended these words but she heard a muttering of voices mingled with the resounding of trumpets and presently saw on the scaffold the wretched Montezuma who clad in his royall habiliments had his chaines on his legs and hands and witnessed by his trembling and lamentations that he was never worthy of that quality which he was now about to lose At this sight Hismalita growing furious tore her hayre plucked in peeces the Diadem she had on her head and was with much adoe held by the Princes that were about her What ye Mexicans cryed she will you endure that the hangman shall lay his abhominable hands on the sacred person of your King of your visible god What is become of that faith you swore to him on the Altars and in the presence of the gods Doe you no more remember that you have acknowledged him for your Master for your Father for your Life and at his coronation all falling on the Earth offered your selves as Sacrifices ready to shed your blood for his preservation She would have continued her remonstrances but a new object of griefe depriving her of understanding as well as speech put her some time from her selfe she came againe with being much troubled and came againe to her more sorrow and anguish for she sawe foure Priests take Montezuma and despoyling him of his robes bound his eyes and layed him along on the same table where the other prisoners had lost their lives The excesse of her resentment rendring her speech Hangman cry'd she strike not the King see mee here ready to receive the blowe come come glut your rage upon the unfortunate Hismalita and in so saying she fell as dead among the armes of her women and fortune would have it so to the end that that Princesse by the violence of her afflictions should learne to be no more insensible of the misery of others She was no sooner swounded but the boates of Mexico fell on those of the Theviciens and during their fight one man alone forcing his way in spite of so many enemies ascended the scaffold where Montezuma was ready to be executed threw five or sixe of the Priests into the lake overturned the Altar and the Idoll and unbinding the King of Mexico changed his scaffold into a theater of tryumph The Mexicans seeing so glorious a beginning of the enterprise of my Lord the Inca you may well thinke that any other then he could not have performed so difficult an action rushed in on their enemies and fearing no more death fell on them so vigorously that above a thousand boates and more then sixe thousand Theviciens â—…nke to the bottome There were taken of them some foure thousand who loaden with chaines were throwne into the towne Prisons Hismalita returning â—…rom her swound was told that by the wonderfull valour of Zelmatida the Theviciens were overthrowne on the lake and Montezuma delivered when he was at the point to receive the stroake of death The enemies wounded and fettered which they drew along the streetes were sufficient proofes of those victories which she might doubt of yet imagining that her happinesse was too great to be true she could not beleeve it till she sawe Zelmatida who leading Montezuma by the hand came to restore to her that other precious halfe of her selfe and bring againe all those prosperities and glories she had lost As soone as she had resettled Montezuma in his throne and left him with his Queene and daughters he departed without saying any thing and causing the trumpets and other instruments of warre to sound every where drew out of the towne all those that were of age sufficient to fight He made them to be fylde along the causseyes with an extreeme diligence and put them into batalia in the sight of the enemies The Cacique of Thevic knew the designe of the beseiged and in spite of the terror that the name of Zelmatida gave him prepared himselfe to fight and did all that could be expected from a man that was as valiant as he was ambitious He put his people in order aâ—…d told them that if they overcame their enemies they went not away with one sole victory but that there were five or sixe linked one to another Therefore in winning the battell said he your liberty is assured you your Tyrants become your slaves all Mexico is conquerd and our short misfortunes followed by perpetuâ—… â—…elicities Zelmatida for his part went from batalion to batalion and according to the diversitie of mindes and countries changed his tongue and perswasions Every one was animated by his owne interest and the eloquence of this invincible Commander Presently the skyrmishes began and continued on both sides At last the grosse of the Army moved the battalions joyned and their arrowes gave place to more mortall weapons I will not make you a particular description of the battell nor anoy you in remarking what the Mexicans performed Let us fixe if you please on Zelmatida since 't is his victory that you would knowe and not that of his enemies This Prince then searching out the ambitious Cacique of Thevic among his troopes was compelled in finding him to come to handy stroakes with many hardy Theviciens whom he overcame not without much hazarding himselfe At last being already all bloody and weary with so many brunts already sustained he met with Coatelicamat that was driving before him a whole batalion of Mexicans he put himselfe betweene the Runawayes and the Cacique and comming up to
clad after such a fashion that a man must have beene voyde of all curiositie that would not earnestly have regarded him He had an habilliment imbroydered with gold and silver made in so particular a fashion and so becomming that you could not have seene any thing fayrer He wore a kinde of Helmet after the ancient manner on which waved a great plume of feathers of all colours and about his neck he had a coller of gold in which was written in letters of Diamonds Alcidiana gave it Two the like circles served him for garters and to those were fastned two long chaines of gold which were carried by two dwarfes As soone as he came before Bajazet he presented to him a linnen Roule and before he unfolded it I am said he the slave of Alcidiana The richnesse of my chaines may let you know the greatnesse of her that makes me weare them I goe from Country to Country to publish her mervailes and for feare lest the incredulous and jealous should accuse me of flattery I alwaies carry her picture to make all eyes witnesses of those truthes I proclayme A tempest throwing me on this Isle I had neere neglected to come on shore for feare of prophaning the beauties of Alcidiana in shewing them to Barbarianâ—… But when I understood it was the seate of famous Bajazet I presently set foote on shore to lay open to his eyes all that which nature and the Sun ever yet made most worthy of admiration Unrole then that linnen cloth and see or rather imagine in seeing an Image though imperfect of that divine Queene what thinke you should she be her selfe Bajazet ravished with the discourse as well as with the faire presence of the slave unfolded the cloth that he held and discovered so faire a picture that he was forced to cry out that Art had gone beyond all that Nature could doe You blaspheme said the slave to him for if ever fortune bring you a shore on the Inaccessible Island and that you have a sight of Alcidiana you will cry out more justly O how farre hath Nature gone beyond all that Art is able to produce I My exclamation replyed Bajazet is an effect of my astonishment and not of my incredulity I doubt not but Alcidâ—… is farre fayrer then she is in this portraict and if you wanted another witnesse then your selfe to confirme me in that opinion there is a Prince in this place that will not refuse you his testimony A Prince replyed the slave and who may that Prince be never other then Polâ—…xander hath beene so happy to sâ—…e Alcidiana It may be I speake of him said Bajazet The Slave would have gone on with his discourse when Polexander pale and trembling as a man in the cold fit of a violent ague presented himselfe before him and kissing the fetters he wore yes said he O most happy Pallantus I am the unfortunate Polexander whom destiny judgeth not only unworthy to review thy incomparable Mistris but also to carry as thou doest the markes of her glorious servitude The Slave after he had some while considered Polexander threw himselfe at his feete and against his will kissing them What Prince said he reignes there this day on the Earth who owes not this homage to him whom the divine Alcidiana hath acknowledged worthy of her esteeme as well as of her anger Ah Pallantus replyed Polexander thou hast not joyned the â—…steeme of thy divine Queene with her anger but to imitate those cunning Phisitions who to make their bitter and unsavory pills or potions to be taken mingle it with somthing pleasant and sweete But I am too much used to bitternesse to imagine that thing that is offered me can have any kinde of sweetnesse Tell me then deare Pallantus the most cruell of all my destiny and without flattering me with an esteeme that I shall never deserve let me know that which the just choler of Aâ—…cidiana hath reserved for my rashnesse Pallantus would willingly have hiddâ—…n from Polexander that which he knew of his fortune but fearing to offend by his discretion the blinde obedience which he had sworne to Alcidiana Doe not doubt said he to our Heroe but that my faire Queene esteemes of your valour and heares not without astonishment that which Fame speakes of your noblenesse But your daring hath not pleased her and when she knew that you respected her not with all the fâ—…are and all the reverence that we ought to beare to sacred things she hath resolved by a long absence to chastise the irregularity of your desires Her indignation had beene satisfied by putting you to this affliction if the impudency of her Subjects had not oblieged her to take from you for ever the contentment of seeing her What said Polexander was it not enough for me to be punished for my offences without engaging me to beare the iniquity of others No answered Pallantus the faults of your friends being mixt with your owne hath set you for a marke to which aymes all the most rigorous justice of Alcidiana The errors of Amalthea the solicitations of Pisander the teares of Amintha and the irregular love of a people made foole by your valour have brought my Queene to forbid you the comming into her kingdome and to condemne you to death if you ever chance to violate what she hath forbidden O errors O solicitations O teares O popular blindnesse said Polexander how much am I beholding to you that have obtayned for me a favour that I value not much lesse then the love of Alcidiana Yes faire Queene he added casting his eyes on the picture of Alcidiana yes I will die of that death to which you have condemned me and will die if I can without displeasing you by disobedience Polexander stopping at these words seemed to expect Pallantus answere but perceiving that the Slave repented him of what he had spoken Goe not about said he by your word to disguise the passions of your Princesse Remember t is she alone to whom you owe both your respect and complying and that in mincing those things which her Majesty commands you you violate the purity of your faith and make your selfe unworthy of those faire chaines which your unsoyled loyalty hath acquired you Say then boldly that Polexander must perish and that Alcidiana her selfe hath designed to pronounce his Sentence of death But Pallantus to the end that none may doubt of the will of that Princesse conceale no longer my just condemnation let me see the termes that begot 〈◊〉 in what words 't is contained and be assured that I shall receive it as the most glorious signall by which my life hath yet ever beene honoured I will satisfie you answered Pallantus since Alcidiana will have it so and that at the same time I make her beauty to be adored I cause her power to be redoubted In saying this he unfolded a great volume sealed with a golden Medal where was the portraict of Alcidiana on one side on
of thy Masters I will returne in spite of all Mexico to chastice thy disloyalty and to bury the pride of thy Towres and Pavilions underneath their owne ruines From this transport he fell into another He repeated the name of Isatida hundreds of times He called on Death as often and I doubt not but he would have given that to himselfe if he had not feared to disobey the Princesse At last the day of his departure arriving he tooke leave of Montezuma and went out of Mexico accompanied with all the Court and the most part of the people He went to lodge at Tlacopan where he was received as he had been the King and the next day followed by two men that Tumanama had left him and fifty slaves to carry his baggage he tooke the way of the Province of Cotosta which is fifty Leagues from Mexico towards the East He had already travelled two daies and two nights when he fell into an ambuscado which infallibly Hismalita had laied for him He was assailed in a vally by a great many theeves and enforced to use all his endeavours to defend his life Tumanama's two men were there slaine and fifteen or twenty of his slaves He himselfe there received divers sleight woundes but he did such things in this encounter that are beyond humane beleefe and went beyond the force even of Giants After neer a whole daies resistance he became Master of the field and retired into the next Village with the remainder of his Traine He was compelled to abide three or foure daies there that he might not anger or inflame his woundes but he underwent in that place a greater hazard then he escaped in the field Two nights together his lodging was beset by unknowne people and assayled with so much fury that but for the helpe which the Inhabitants brought him it had beene certainly mastered and entred These last assaults causing him to reflect on the first he judged they could come from none but the expresse command eyther of Hismalita or Montezuma and by consequence that he could hardly avoide Death His high courage made him respect this danger as he was wont to doe others and made him resolve to surmount it in making shew that he contemned it He came forth therefore in the open day from his lodging and buying some slaves in stead of those he had lost gave the Inhabitants of the Bourg to understand that he had not gotten himselfe so many Enemies had he not saved all Mexico from the fury of the Theviciens and other Rebells Those few words wrought such an Effect in the mindes of those Mexicans that they all went into the field with him left him not till he came to Cotosta Tendilly who was Governor thereof for Montezuma came forth to meet him and did him so many extraordinary honors that if Zelmatida had been capable of feare or suspition he might well have doubted that Hismalita was contriving some new plot on him And indeed his Death had been unavoydable if the very party who was to murther him had not preferred the life of this Prince before the hope of a great fortune He came into Zelmatida's chamber whilst he slept and awakening him my Lord said he arise and save your selfe there are here twenty men sent to kill you The Prince casting himselfe out of his bed tooke a Javelin which he carried as he travelled and turning himselfe to the stranger where said he are those traytors Doe not stay nor amuse your selfe replyed the stranger by fighting with them but follow me and know that thou hast not a greater Enemy then our Governour Zelmatida beleeved the man got out of Cotosta without giving notice to his slaves and forsaking the common way slipped yet once more from the rage of Hismalita He got into the Deserts of Calcicoëca with his guide Ten or twelve of his slaves escaping the hands of Tendilly fled from Coâ—…osta and ignorant what way to take followed the first that they sawe They were yet so fortunate that without any such intention they came to the Port of Calcicoëca They had not beene there two houres as they told me when I arrived with the first vessell that touched the firme land of our world But be pleased to let me make a necessary digression to cleare you of some things which doubtlesly you have stumbled at and that leaving the Inca my Master in the Deserts of Calcicoëca I relate to you my adventures Although I speake Arabian yet was I borne at Cusco and sonne of the Iâ—…ca Miâ—…raïc the last of the brothers of Tupac Inca Yupanquy Soveraigne moderator of the Empire of the Incaes Nature bestowing on me nothing good but an incredible desire to see other countries then mine owne and other manners then those of my country-men I stole from Cusco at the age of seventeene yeares and went thence with certain Merchants which traffiqued along the coasts of Chily We were driven from the land by a tempest and after we had beene above fifteene dayes at Sea we were shipwracked against a desert Island which is farre from the maine Land Those that could save themselves by swimming got to the Island but finding it Desert and not inhabited they saw well that they had not escaped their first shipwrack but to fall into a second Of twelve that remained of us sixe died in foure daies and the two next dayes ensuing five more followed them When I sawe my selfe alone and equally depressed with griefe and hunger I ranne to the top of a Rock to find within the waves the end of my afflictions but at the same time I descryed a great vessell in full sayle comming right to me I gave the gods praise for so unhoped a succour and descended to the haven to meere it That ship had great sayles made of Palme-leaves and many huge Anchors of wood and seemed so unwiedly and heavy that it was scarcely shooke by the Tempest It came at last into the haven and I presently besought the ayde of those were in her and by signes having made them understand the wofull estate into which I was brought I got them to succour me They tooke me very humanely into their vessell and after they had given me to eate asked me the name of the Island I made knowne that I was throwne on it by a tempest and that they should not finde therein eyther man or beast They were it seemed very much grieved at it and abode all the rest of the day in their shippe not knowing whereon to resolve At last they put to Sea againe and taking to their first course were more then thirty daies without seeing land They arrived the three and thirtieth at the Island Junagava and being knowne there made a solemne Sacrifice on the Shoare and a feast to all those of the Island that would be assistants I learnt in a small time the languâ—…ge of my Conductors and understood that parting from a great Island called Japan or Japon
a little while that he might at â—…is pleasure embrace the King his Master and for some 〈◊〉 enjoy the â—…ght of the yong Guina Capa And that after so much contentment he wouâ—… walke to his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with all joy and glory and esteeme himselfe the happiest of all men living The King insisted to aske Alismaes life The spectators of eyther sex made resound againe their joy and wonder and her Pallace was all in rejoycings and confusion such as I thinke the History of all ages cannot give us an accident comparable with it The Queene when the tumult was over entertayning the while Zelmatida particularly sent to command every one to take his place and when all were ranged she went againe into her Throne and pronounced these words aloude The supposed death of the great Guina Capaes lawfull Heire wrought by the malice of men wonne me not only to make a lawe which condemned to death all men that fell into my hands but likewise to denounce a warre against the King Quasmez my brother and ancient Ally But this finding againe my sonne by the helpe of men I will That lawe be for ever abolished and putting a period to the war I undertooke I acknowledge my selfe answerable to Quasmez and give him most particular thanks for so charitably gathering together the remainder of my desolate house When she had thus made knowne her will she descended from her Throne and taking Zelmatida by the hand gave Alisma and my selfe the best entertainment we could wish Quasmez Embassadours ravished with so incredible and such an unexpected revolution of businesse did their complements to Zelmatida as to the rightfull successour of the Incaes and besought Telesmana that she would be pleased they might send their Master these good news I my selfe said he will be the Messenger of our common happinesse let therefore some one of you returne to Quasmez and without giving him intelligence of what hath happened tell him that I am on the way to visite him The youngest of the Embassadours had that Commission and presently departed to put it in execution A little after the Queene went out of her Campe holding Zelmatida by the one hand and Alisma by the other Quasmez Embassadours were on each side of her and the Queenes guard crowned with chaplets of flowres encompassed that illustrious company In this manner we marched to the gates of the City where Quasmez expected us and in the incertainty he was failed not of that extreme quietnes of minde which even the most miserable find in the testimony of a good conscience and firme confidence every one ought to have in the goodnesse of the gods Telesmana at her comming to him presented Zelmatida and after their salute See said she the cause of the warre and the cause of peace See what hath made me take up armes and that which hath made me lay them downe I know just and charitable Quasmez that Zelmatida is my sonne as well as yours and if your love and care have made you taken for his Father blood and nature oblige me to declare my selfe his Mother Quasmez not knowing where first to expresse his joy and the proofes of his aâ—…ction whether to the Mother or to the Sonne would have beene glad at once to have parted himselfe betwixt Telesmana and Zelmatida Your imagination better then my relation can represent to you all the particularities of this interview I will not therfore speake of the Sacrifices nor magnificencies wherewithall Quasmez caused the returne of Zelmatida and the peace to be celebrated Let it suffice I tell you the Queene of the Amazons was a moneth with Quasmez and after she had witnessed to him an extreame resentment for those obligations she was bound to him in the behalfe of Zelmatida she with a royall pompe and convoy tooke thence the body of the Queene heâ—… daughter tooke leave of him and stayed not till she came to the City of Quito Zelmatida who followed her by Quasmez appointment after two daies stay in that town was importuned by Alisma to goe to the Caverne of the Javelyn He consented and we three parted thence with our ordinary servants beginning that journey which the generous old man had beene so long desired We travelled night and day and tooke but little rest till we came to the Cave that concealed so many marvels We found not the entry so easy as Alisma had told us but contrarily as soone as we came neere it were set on by a great Troop of Quitonians who by their howlings enraged actions signified an extreame apprehension of our arivall Zelmatida making use of the good Sword I gave him at Calcicoëca which the Amazons had restored to him slew so many of those desperate people that what he did even passeth all likelyhood Alisma old as he was made shew of his former vigour and I that was willing to defend my life tryed to make use of those advantages that I had fetcht so farre off But the wonderfull valour of Zelmatida and his consorts strength had beene vaine against so many enemies iâ—… the wisedome of Telesmana had not seconded the boldnesse of her sonne For as soone as she knew of his private departure she caused two thousand Amazons to follow him and commanded they should not returne without him Those generous Ladies fell in on the Quitonians when we were covered with wounds and round beset on all sides and drove them to the entry of the Caverne Zelmatida much moved with his owne disgrace put himselfe in the front of the Amazons and did so wonderfull deeds of armes that since they called him the God of warre At last he forced the caves enâ—…t left not one of the Quitonians alive Alisma entred next after him and â—…an â—…o the place where he had hid the fatall Iavelin He had much a doe to draw it out Yet at last he got it but he was much astonished when he returned to Zelmatida and sawe him busied in delivering a Prisoner He gazed on the man and presently letting fall the Iavelin out of his hand cryed out am I asleepe or doe I wake Is this a truth or a illusion that I see my Lord my deare Lord is it your selfe or your shadowe doe you know your Alisma or wot you who t is that vndoes your bonds Zelmatida was about to ask Alisma the reason of his astonishment when said the Prisoner takeing the generous old man by the hand t is even I Alisma who after so long imprisonment and a hundred times escaping the death prepared for me see my selfe freed by the valour of this brave yong man Doe you live then my Lord replyed Alisma Have you escaped the rage of your enemies Have the Gods preserved you among so many Executioners shall I beleeve it Yes O yee just Gods I will said he falling on his knees and acknowledging more and more that your incomprehensible providence governes by unknowne meanes the accidents of the worlde I will employ all
Incas If I follow this councell I make my selfe unworthy of the honor which the fairest Princesse of the world hath done me and rightly deserve that the glory of freeing her from prison be for ever taken from me But my deare Garruca I will not indure to be dazeled with such false lights for the charme of worldly greatnesse which troubles weake spirits can doe nothing on a soule that is full with those of Isatida Imparting to me thus his resolution he prepared to be gone and that Guina Capa and Telesmana should give way to it represented to them that without ingratitude he could not stay longer from giving thankes to Quasmez for so many favours he had received from him Telesmana could not approve of that journey but Guina Capa who hath the same generosity and thoughts with his Son gave him the permission he desired and with a great equipage sent him to Quasmez Court Zelmatida was received there not only as the Son of a great King but as the only Son of Quasmez The joy for his returne was generall and the good Quasmez with the Queene his wife seemed â—…o have forgotten their Daughter so glad were they at Zelmatida's arrivall But he that found himselfe guilty of the displeasure which those good Princes would not make him any shew of one day thus spoake to them I know whereto your affection and my duty bindes me I owe you my life and my fortune Beleeve not that I am so wicked as to forget that I likewise owe you the Princesse Xaira Thereupon he recounted to them all that he had done at Mexico and after that long discourse know said he that I am going presently to free that Princâ—…sse from the hands of your enemies Quasmez and the Queene did their utmost to divert him from so perillous a journey But Zelmatida falling at their feet either said he take from me the life you have preserved or permit me not to respect it as a continuall race of cowardise and ingratitude No no Zelmatida must perish or Xaira must be set at liberty The day after this he tooke leave of the two amiable Princes and without any other company save Bereamis some slaves and my selfe marched right to Mexico Whilst he was on the way he continued in so exâ—…raordinary a melancholy that it began to be troublesome to me But t was soone after knowne to be the presage of my deare Masters eternall affliction As soone as we came to the Frontires of Mexico we so disguised our selves that we could not be knowne and so kept on the most unfortunate and saddest journey that shall ever be made We were all so disconsolate that it seemed we were going to execution Zelmatida had disquiets which tooke away his strength of travelling yet would he never stay He wept every moment and sometimes being recalled from his musings by the redoubling of his griefes Isatida cried he pitifully how doe I feare the malice of those who have alwaies envied your virtue and my happinesse The neerer I come to the place where you should be the more my affrights and afflictions are augmented If nothing most dismall had betided the hope I have to see you had not beene crossed by those feares and horrors which inviron me His sighes often tooke away his meanes of speech and the dispaire to which he had given himselfe over failed little oftentimes of killing him by the way At last he came to Mexico and understood as soone as we were entred that all the Court was in mourning for the death of Isatida What became of the King thinke you at this sad newes It happened not to him that which is common to all men which are surprised by an unexpected accident He caused not the bringer of that frightfull newes to repeate the name of Isatida nor did he aske him whereof she died But on the contrary in lieu of questioning or complaining on the instant his sighes teares and wonted griefes stopped He gazed on us with his eyes open and wandring and at the same time his excesse of sorrow becomming absolute Master of his senses there was left him nothing of all the functions of life but that which during a long swounding gives a little signe that the party is not yet dead After what we applied had recovered him he commanded me to goe through the Towne to learne of what sicknesse Isatida died and intreated me that in acknowledgement of that affection he bore me I would be able to give him an accompt of all that he should aske me touching that dismall occasion I left him with Bereamis and went to get intelligence of a thing that was already but too much knowne to me By chance I met with a Courtier and growing acquainted with him I began to set him on discourse of the Princesse death and he told me all the particulars Presently I returned to Zelmatida and assured him that nothing had passed in the death of Isatida but what was common to all That she had beene but a while sick that after her death she had beene enclosed in the stately Tombe of the Kings of Mexico which is in the great Temple of Vacipala That her losse had beene generally lamented and that Montezuma and Hismalita came expresly from Mexico to Vacipala to the Funerall of the Princesse What hence forward hast thou to doe in the world miserable Zelmatida cryed the King Die now as one desperate coward and disloyall as thou art since thou hadst not the heart to expire as an honest man But if thou be not altogether ignoble leave not unpunished the death of the most accomplished Princesse of the world Avenge that Innocent whom thou hast murthered Cover Mexico with men of armes and by a generall desolation make that great King nothing but Isatidaes Sepulchre Here he grew silent and a little after turning his eyes on me Fortune said he then Garruca hath given me but imaginary 〈◊〉 to take from me that which was reall He cast his eyes up to heaven after he had 〈◊〉 said and so standing as fixed seemed to attend that death which he had already so often times implored At last he came to himselfe and desiring to be no longer at Mexâ—…co departed though it were night and kept on travelling till hee arrived at Vacipala The first thing he did after he came thither was to goe see Isatidaes Tombe he embraced it he threw himselfe on it and uttered such words as would make you die with griefe did I repeate them he passed a day and a night lamenting in this dismall place and remained so long fastened to the Tombe that Bereamis and I thought we should have made it his with much force we got him thence and by our remonstrances won him not to shew himselfe by day for feare that being knowne he might be the cause of his own losâ—…e and his followers He made us well judge by his discourse that if he had been alone or that he had loved us
Iphidamantus as well as Polexander and Zelmatida was deceived in the explication of those words They tooke them as if Bajazet had a desire to live but that passion which cannot be praised in a brave courage was too much contemned by him to cause thence the least lament in the world He shewed an anger that his weakenesse had surmounted him at that time and strove againe to take the little paper and the cover of the box which he felt in his bed Faine would he have shut the box and put in the little Roll he had but Polexander helped him since Bajazet found himselfe unable to doe it As soone as he had put backe the box where 't was wont to be he cast his eyes on the Princes and holding his hand out weakely to them see said he how fortune playes with us and our hopes But what It is no lesse injustice to complaine of her cruelties then here is of weakenesse if we follow her when she smiles Whilst he spake thus Diceus was behind Polexander who intreated him to hinder Bajazet from further talking Polexander wrought so that Bajazet tooke notice of Diceus and so fitly that it tooke effect Indeed the generous sick-man apperceiving it I am still said he and so on all hands that your eyes aske my silence Yes my friends I grant you that favour as I would doe you greater were I in the same case I was three dayes since During this sad converse the night came on and every one thought it best to leave Bajazet to his rest There were no more but the Princes and five or six of Bajazets most affectionate servants that staied neere him His Chyrurgions watched with him till day breake and thought it fit to take off the second dressing Polexander Iphidamantus and Zelmatida came in when they were on that resolution They intreated Bajazet patiently to suffer the paine they might put him too and assured him he should soone be in far better health Bajazet only smiled at that discourse and let the Chyrurgions doe what they pleased Diceus himselfe having seene the dangerous wound was in as little hope as the rest And the Princes seeing in what extremity their friend lay could not so well containe themselves but that they let fall some teares as often as they turned their eyes on him He alone was the man least sensible of his hurt and who looked on the dressing of his wound with so great a strength of spirit that you might have said he saw some strangers body dressed or that his owne was impassible Whosoever came neere him he presently comforted and by his ordinary remonstrances left them nothing to say that came prepared to resolve him for death The day ensuing this dangerous night was no more favourable to him then thâ—… three former The Fever left him not his ravings redoubled and all his friends looked on him as they had already seene him in his coffin After so many ill houres the fourth and fift dressing gave his friends the hope they had lost and Bajazet himselfe confessed that he found some kind of ease He would not lose that good moment and therfore prayed that instantly some should advertise all his Captaines that before his death â—…e desired to have once more the contentment to see them and to instruct them in â—…ose things which were necessary for their common safety and his particular consolation His command was executed with an extreame diligence and two houtes after his chamber was full of those old Corsaries who by their long services had attained 〈◊〉 the charges of the sea and war Bajazet seeing them about his bed caused the curtaines to be opened and shewing to all a constancy that death it selfe was not able to shake in this manner spoke to them I have not my Companions sent for you to be witnesses of the consent I bring to this inexorable necessity which wills that I forsake with the command that you gave me the felicities I promised my selfe from your 〈◊〉 and assistance To speake in generall there is a great deale of glory to looke on death with contempt and to receive it with pleasure But when a man hath lived some time among you this vulgar magnanimity loseth the most part of his luster and wee learne that the contempt of life and death is but the first essay of courage to which yet you beleeve there is due not the meanest praises I dye then without telling you that 〈◊〉 sorrow not for life and that of all the afflictions which my precipitated destiny throwes on me I will disclose to you only two since I cannot bury them with me without losing that repose which accompanieth the eternity of the second life The one is the griefe to dye before I had acquitted me of the extraordinary obligations by which you have plucked me from the outrages of fortune and made me conceive high hopes in the very extremity of my despaire The other which not to lye to you would make me wish for a continuation of life if that wish could preserve me is that I dye ingratefull and perjured and leaving in danger an innocent which my fury hath ingaged my death makes me guilty of her losse and throwes on my memory the curses of all faithfull soules T is in your power my friends to free me of these troubles to hinder the crimes which destiny would have me perpetrate to disengage my faith to save mine honour and in briefe that after death I may live love and fight Promise me then but sweare it to me by the holynesse of your great Prophet that without any further particular information of those things wherein I would engage you You will execute them under the command of Polexander and Iphidamantus Interrupt me my friends and give me if you please the last proofe of your generous obedience Bajazet could goe no further the vehemency of his action having exhausted the little strength that was left in him He was therefore constrained to lye downe againe and to shut his eyes to stay his spirits that began to be dissipated Polexander and his brother that were at his beds head gave him some ease and intreated the Pirates by their usuall generosity not to deliberate longer on so just a request Bajazet opened his eyes at the speech of those two Heroës and witnessing by his sighes how impatiently he waited for the Rovers answer either hasten said he by a favourable blow that lingering moment that must give an end to my feares and wishes or graunt me that which I aske you that so without any despaire I may endure the flownesse of that clocke which must strike the houre of my departure The Pirates unwilling that their Generall should againe solicit them at once lifted up their hands for a signe that they accorded to what he requested them Those that were neerer to him spake for the rest and told him that God was too just to heare the prayers of Mahomets enemies and to
that she tooke notice of it and knowing him was so strucken with greife that she fell into a swoon Assoone as her Women had brought her againe from her fainting She commanded her Squire to take that miserable creature from under the Charriot divers alighted to obey her and taking Polemander by the armes and head made him by force to let go his hold on one of the wheeles But assoon as they had pulled him off he threw himselfe on againe and those that would have hindred him could not doe it so wel nor the Charioteer so fitly take his time to put on but that one of the wheels ran over his right leg which pain he indured so patiently that no body perceived it and though he could scarce keepe himselfe up yet followed her more then a league on foot still caling on the Name of Infeliciana wishing her a happy Iourney He remain'd still in these violent passions and begg'd from Heaven eithera speedy death or the return of that beauty When he was told that she had forgotten her promises and given her selfe to one of the house of the Palatine T is very hard to expresse the excesse of Sorrow which that infidelity brought on Polemander But when he was in the height of his griefe he heard that Infeliciana was dead with sorrow for having left him for another Polemander after he had related all this stood a while speechlesse at last surmounting his passions and wiping off his teares he addressed him to the Prince of Morocco and discovering the Picture of Infeliciana I come said he to maintain that there is not a beauty in the world which should not give place to this Abdelmelec would have made an answer to that speech conformable to his peevish humour but the Judges of the field intreated him to give them leave to doe their charge and addressing them to Polemander Your intent said they is praise-worthy but it is contrary to the Lawes of this Turney the Prince Abdelmelec hath undertaken it to make all Knights confesse that Alcidiana is the rarest beauty in the World She who is pictured on your Buckler is dead and by consequence how faire soe ever She hath been she can be no more compar'd with Alcidiana That beauty which is no more is as a beauty that hath never been Judge after this If you may be received to the combat and whither Abdelmelâ—…c should hazard the glory of Alcidiana to ruinate that of a Shadow of a Name of a Picture of nothing Polemander had too much witt to stand without an answer He then replyed to the Judges that it was to wrong that beauty which he adored to beleive that death had been powerfull enough to destroy it That she Lived not onely in his heart and in the memory of men but in heaven where she shines fairer then She did on Earth and where She was assur'd of her immortality The Judges who knew how farre the gallantry of a Lover mightextend hearkned very favourably to Folemander but answering him in few words that a dead beauty could not be set in comparison with a living one they intreated him to retire til he had gotten a new Mistris give place to those that were yet to run Polemander loath to be noted by an unreasonable wilfulnesse the very same day got towards his shipping and after his setting sayle within few dayes happily arrived at Beyone The while Abdelmelec seeing the Sun ready to set promis'd to himselfe to goe victorious out of the Turney and bragged already amongst his Courtiers that the Theife who had stolne from him the Picture of Alcidiana durst not forsake his vessell nor appeare in so famous an Assembly But the pretended Thiefe was come and had it not been for Ennoramita's intreaty had long before made him with his Honor lose also the boldnesse of continuing his boastings Whilst that Princesse sate desperate of seeing him come in whom her heart and Eyes so servently long'd for She saw enter a Knight clad after the same manner as are the Knights of Senega and Thombut he was followed by six black Slaves and mounted on a Black Barbary caparison'd with Olive-colour Velvet cut into the fashion of Oakeâ—…-leaves and when he was before the Judges he ask'd them leave to speak and to fight Abdelmelec who was gone to meet him and had received him with a courtesie that was not natural to him intreated that before he told what he was he would shew his Buckler The Knight took off a taffata of the colour of dead leavs that was upon it shew'd him a prodigions shape instead of a Lady's picture 'T was a living death He had caused to be painted a body which in all parts was half bare to the bone and half cover'd with flesh One side of her face seem'd very faire and the other shew'd nothing but bones Abdelmelec was affrighted at the sight of it and asked of the Knight whither he had caus'd that Monster to be pictur'd in contempt of ALCIDIANA Such as she is said he she is more fair then your Queen and could you see he Originall as you now see but the Copy you will avow to the shame of Alcidiana that this body so faire in those places by which she seemes to be living is the sole object whereto all Princes owe their affections and services But that I may let nothing stick in your minde to hinder you from being of my opinion Know that picture you see is that of a Princesse who lately was adored through all Africa She is faire in the highest degree but she is more unfortunate her body which by a particular priviledg preserves all her beauties in her mseries is accompanied with a minde that incessantly dies and which is equally devour'd by love and hatred by duty and aversion If Christians who have the liberty of re-presenting all things by their colours had the Art of painting mindes you should see the fairest body of the world joyn'd to a minde even like death it selfe But what my Painter could not doe one way he hath done in another and not being able to make the mind seen with the body he hath divided the body it selfe and painted the one part alive and the other dead The Starre under whose aspect I took possession of earth gave me not life but to consecrate it to this faire Princesse I loved her before I was of fit age to know her and I adored her assoone as I was capable of reason I left Africa to try by the knowledge of strange virtues and manners to acquire such qualities as were worthy of her after 3 years carying her to an excesse which I had nocause to hope drew me out of the dirt to raise me even to the Skies My Rivalls were amazed at my good fortune and their pride not permitting them to suffer it they eâ—…ployed forces more to be feared and more powerfull then their own to compel me from that place of pleasure I was
no other love then a judicious and just desire to do good actions to render to every one what is his due to acquire a Noble reputation by legitimate waies and by a wise contempt of a life of few yeares continuance to aâ—…chieve that which shall be everlasting By hearing you make this distinction 〈◊〉 Hyppolitus it seemes you comprehend not that which is properly to be called love I say that violent and imperious passion which proceedes either from inclination or knowledg and raignes â—…o imperiously over our understanding that it â—…braceth the object presented as it were its soveraigne felicity I meane not to admit of that love said the King for I have condemned it from the beginning of my discourse This may be added Hyppolitus because you feare the troubles and disquiets which accompany it But you would not be sorry to see some young beauty passionately in love with you and to give to another that passion you would not entertaine your selfe I have as little intention answered Polexander to give as to receive any love and since it falls fitly now to be spoken of I will tel you truly that if by any fantasticalnesse of Fortune it should betide me to be beloved as you would have me understand it there is nothing I would not doe either to dis-beguile her that had made so ill a choice or to hinder me from seeing her And I said Hyppolitus sighing alowd would leave nothing undone to be never seperated from such a person as you who knowes not so much as the name of love and would fly from me as if I were his Mortall Enemy I pitty you repli'd the King and advise you to what a generous man should doe If you cannot cure your selfe by any remedy may please you try those which seem to you the most dis-agreeable and yet which by their hidden virtue may be extreamely profitable unto you I meane if you cannot be holpen by the enjoying cure your selfe by contempt absence or oblivion Ah! Cruell and bunexperienc'd Councellor cri'd Hyppolitus O remedies more painefull then the disease it selfe I am in the wrong repli'd Polexander 't is true I should have stai'd the prescribing you those last remedies till you had lost all hope Forget them till there be need deare Hippolitus an in the meane time go on to relate to me your fortune I have told it you all repli'd Hyppolitus What have you told me repli'd Polexander That I loved added Hyppolitus and lov'd a personage as insensible and as great an Enemy to love as your Majesty I am very glad continued Polexander for having that conformity with your Mistris since without it I know well you would leave me as some Barbarian that could not polish or civilize himselfe in the abode of politenesse and civility it selfe Thus ended the first converse of Polexander and Hyppolitus and all the time of ouâ—… voyage they had at every foot the like and Polexander alwaies desirous to oblige Hyppolitus to relate his story to him could never draw other thing from him but that he Knew it as well as himselfe and how it consisted in this only that he lov'd an insensible beauty In the meane time Hyppolitus visibly lost that lustre and freshnesse which made him admired at the first meeting He did seldome sleep or eate He never sung but when Polexander pres'd him to it and towards the end he sung so weakly that we judg'd him entring into some dangerous disease Polexander strove to comfort and cheere him and to draw him from this depth of sadnesse made him hope his Mistris would not be so insensible as he imagined To make me hope with reason answered Hyppolitus it behoves your Majesty to make tryall on your selfe and acknowledg whither you may be capable of being sensible No no Sir do not make a proofe so difficult 'T is done already and in saying so he held his peace and after he had some while mused Dye dye said he unfortunate Hyppolitus and by death finde that which thou couldst not get ether by neglect absence or oblivion At last we came to Nantes where Polexander was receiv'd yet with a greate Magnificence then he had been in any of the other Townes on the River of Loire Hyppolitus was the one cause of his disquiet But he was too generous to abandon him in the State he was He besought him to think on his cure and call his courage and Fortune to second his love I would faine make use of your councell said the languishing Hyppolitus but my owne weaknesse opposeth it and the more I endeavour to bring my passion to obedience the more rebellious I find it 'T is your virtue Sir t is that alone which I call to the reliefe of my infirmity Have pitty on a wretch who implores your assistance Lend your hand to one from whom you have taken the strength of upholdding him selfe Be sensible by commiseration if you cannot be so by love and if you will not heale a heart which you have cover'd with wounds yet give a testimoniall at least that you have a feeling and participate of his misery I speak to your Majesty in this manner because I see so great a resembiance betwixt you and the Saint I adore that I continually perswade my selfe if I could but see you once touch'd with my afflictions my Mistris would at last become exorable Polexander who was exceedingly astonish'd at the beginning of this speech came out of it by the artificiall conclusion And to content Hyppolitus he protested to him he was extreamely sensible of his miss-fortunes and wish'd he knew the meanes to overcome them These promises brought back a little courage to Hyppolitus and in a moment He regain'd new strength and beseeching Polexander to stay for him at Nantes two dayes he parted thence with two Squires and a Page and was a day and a halfe in his Journey He return'd not more merry but more resolute then when he parted and then assur'd Polexander he had an intention to follow his first advice and to overcome by absence and forgetfullnesse what he could not otherwayes subdue He told him more that having vainly attempted divers meanes to mollifie his Mistris obdurate heart he intenended to forsake France and in His company to seek the recovery from his malady Polexander was so good that without thinking on what he was He oftentimes imbrac'd Hyppolitus promisd to make him happy and to confirme him in his designe I will said he propose to you an exchange of which 't is possible you may approve Leave an ingratefull Mistris for an acknowledging friend Let friendship take the place of Love and to give your mind an object worthy it make it amorous of honor and immortality Take the Exercise of Armes for a counterpoyson to that melancholy which devours you and in lieu of shedding teares poure forth the blood of your Enemies Surely 't is farre more honourable to command men then to serve a Child and to acquire
Diamonds with a great deale of civillity Be pleased said he to accept this boxe for a remembrance of our meeting But doe not imagine I am so ignorant of the value of things that I thinke my selfe acquitted of the debt I owe you by the worth of the stones on it if I intreate you to accept it t is for no other consideration but that you may know if you come to the Court the name of the man whom you have obliged I dare not stay longer with you Thamiris command which calls me other where is too just to be obeyed At first Polexander was somewhat nice to take the boxe but perceiving by the Danes speech what a discontent that might have been to him had he refused it and besides conjecturing that token might be advantagious to him in his designe he tooke it and told him that going to the Court he would not faile to bring it him back aga he After this promise many great compliments passed assurd him that if any other then the Lady who had so well assisted him had commanded his carrying thence he would hardly have resolv'd to part with him The Dane besought him not to be troubl'd for him said that whither he went he raÌ„ no hazard Polexander expounded his words in the sence a Lover might give them and for feare of disobliging tooke his leave of him and the Lady and so with Alcippus and Dicâ—…us went streight to horse and recovering the high-way got quickly into a great Village at the end of the wood wherein he had met that bloody adventure Of necessity he was to alight there for Alcippus was so weake that he could ride no further He had him to be brought into the best Inne and commanded Diceus to treate him as himselfe It hapned as fate would that the Hoste was an old Souldier who after his bearing armes many yeares without bettering his fortune had retired himselfe thither and married an old Hostesse very well accommodated Polexander desirous to free the minde of his Hoste from the astonishment he had to see Alcippus in so ill an estate told him how in passing by the neighbouring forrest they had been set on by theeves You are not the first said he who have fallen into their hands There is none that passeth that way but he loseth his life or his money if he be not well accompanied Those are the inconveniences the wars usually leave behinde them and the disorders which happen through the negligence or purloining of such as are appointed the Souldiers pay masters This mans discourse made Polexander believe that he might informe him of what he so much longed to know He therefore in a small time grew to a great familiarity with him and to win him absolutely put himselfe to the trouble of inventing a thousand tales under whose probabillity he was got to be of his ancient acquaintance Some fifteene dayes he was in that Inne for Alcippus cure and one of them being wonderfull desirous to know who he might be whom he had ayded and finding his Hoste in a good humour asked him whether he went not sometimes to the Court He made answere he had beene there but too often and how after his unfortunately living there five and twenty yeeres he was constrained to retire to get his bread and play the begger no longer If so said Polexander there are then but few persons of quallity whose faces you know not 'T were happy for me said he if I knew them lesse then I doe and that their false semblances had not vainely abused my expectation and worne out the prime of my youth Whilst he was talking thus Polexander opened the boxe which the Dane gave him and taking out the picture shewed it to his Host. Scarce had he fully seene it but he cried out and clapping Polexander on the shoulder whence come you said he that you know not this face I come replied Polexander from wandring through most of Europe and am but newly come into Denmarke By chance found I this picture and imagining it belongs to some great Lord I would faine restore it and that bred my curiosity to know him You have good cause to prosecute your intention answered the Hoste for 't is the portraict of one who is likely to enrich you for the least service you can doe him his name is Phelismond our Kings Heire and Favourite or to speake more freely he is indeed the very King of Denmarke At the name of Phelismond Polexander was so supprised that he changed colour and was faine to sit downe to resettle himselfe His Host tooke notice of it and asked whether he were not well He replied t was the remaines of a late sicknesse and so cast himselfe on a bed as well to dismisse the man as to ponder seriously on so wonderfull an accident After a long times musing he rising addressed himselfe to his 〈◊〉 and told him he must participate of his astonishment and know who 't was whom they had 〈◊〉 from among the theeves T is said he Phelismond surely I know by this â—…at reaven delights in the confounding the judgements of men and laughing at 〈◊〉 deliberations will they nill they brings on them all which it had decreed from all eternity I came of purpose into this Kingdome to kill that Phelismond whom for Alcidiana's sake I have prosecuted as the chiefest of mine enemies and yet the first adventure which presented it selfe heere engaged me to hazard mine owne life to preserve his After this miracle I bow my head and see cleerely that heaven cannot suffer our rash thoughts to oppose themselves against the secrets of its providence My passion presented to me Phelismond as one of those happy Monsters whome fortune takes pleasure to raise aloft to shew how far pride and licence to doe any thing dare goe But I know quite contrary that this Prince is adorned with excellent quallities and his courtesie is no lesse winning then his valour is redoubtable without whose approbation there is not a virtue but is a vice nor courage but is unmanlinesse I am no lesse guilty then Phelismond since I have received other Lawes then those thou gavest me Tushe tushe I renouncâ—…e all these unlawfull motions for since thou hast resolved it Phelismond must perish When Polexander had ended Alcippus began and confessed there was something of he knew not what extraordinary good in this adventure neverthelesse said he to his Master I admire nought at all these strange accidents which betide in what you have undertaken You should not be the man you are if things did not befall you otherwise then to other men Well well said Polexander interrupting him t is enough once either Phelismond or I must dye The sentence of our deaths hath been given by the mouth of a Judge from whom it is neither lawfull for him or I to appeale Come let 's see whether he have as much courage against love as we have been witnesses he had
Prince yet I freely confesse to you I am of your opinioâ—… and I love with so much fervency that I would â—…f 't were possible for me set all Europe in a conflagration rather then to make a cessioÌ„ of whom I serve to the greatest of Kings or dearest of all my friends I have well perceived said Polexander your love to Thamiris is very violent and t is by that example which I would prepare you to judge favourably of such things as love commands me to put in execution I will make knowne to you heere on what tearmes I am with Thamiris nor what the cause is which makes me so much affect her It shall suffice me that you know I love in so high a place that all the virtues and beauties of the world have conspired together to compose the object of my love Let the Reader imagine whether Polexander were sensible of these words or no whether the jealousie they imprinted were not powerâ—…ull enough to make him forget all his Rivalls courtesies He could not indure he should goe further and had not reason assisted him 't was to be feared that conversation had not ended as it began Polexander suppressed his first agitation and returning into cold blood thus went on againe Ther 's no more time left to conceale my selfe and â—…ide from you a businesse which you must necessarily know I am Polexander the servant of Alcidiana and Phelismond is the enemy I come by her command to seeke in Denmarke After this short Declaration he related to him at large the humours of that proud Queene and told him word by word the tearmes she made use of when she let him understand by one of her slâ—…ves her aversion to his suâ—…te and himselfe As soone as he had begun this discourse Phelismond loâ—…t both his colour and countenance and looked on Polexander as if he had been no more the man to whom he had vowed so much amity At last comming to himselfe he very distinctly spoake thus to the King I shall never be capapable of contradicting Alcidiana's commands Since you come from her I am ready to bring you into the field to him whom so great a Princesse holds to be so uncivill and barbarous Come Sir you that are happy in all things let us hasten her revenge and satisfie her justice by the death of this Northerne Monster This new proofe of Phelismonds generousnesse so cooled Polexanders blood that it neither left him the power nor the desire to doe what he had so often resolved Neverthelesse after he had a long time contested with himselfe it seemed to him that Alcidiana upbraided him with his thoughts of pity and accused him of private correspondence with her enemy This made him give Phelismond this answer If our Princesse could be won by merit or rather if the distance of places had not been so exâ—…reamely disadvantagious to you I doubt not but being one of the prime Princes of the world you might have prevailed as much ore the affection of that faire Queene as you have done ore the mindes of all the North. Questionlesse I should be that Barbarian which she hath a will to destroy and you had received in my place the command which I am resolved to put in execution But let us not amuse our selves if you please in condemning the disorder we finde in our adventures but since that great Princesse will is the sole Law we ought to keepe let us on where her absolute power calls us Can I take armes replied Phelismond without adding rebellion to rashnesse No there is nothing left for me to doe but to dye Too sweete a tongue hath pronounced my sentence of death that I should desire life Pâ—…lexander strove to bring him from this extasie and perceiving how insupportable Alcidiana's disestimation was to him he repented his naming the tearmes of Monster and barbarous After Phelismond had muâ—…ed a while in fixing his eyes on the earth he at last cast them on Poleâ—…ander and told him he would go to the King to dispose so well of all things that Alcidiana should have cause to hold her selfe saâ—…isfied and after he had thus spoke he imbraced him and besought him to doe nothing till he came back from the Pallace Polexander promised to obey his command and accompanied him to his chamber where they discoursed a while of indâ—…fferent things but as soone as he was adverâ—…sed of the Kings being awake he left Polexander in the company of five or six of his particular fâ—…iends Hâ—… stated above two houres with the King and when he saw him ready to goe to the place of the combate he returned to Polexander and told him he had nâ—…w nothing to feare and how he had obtained all that was fitting for his safety Polexander thaâ—…ked his for all his favâ—…s and said aloud he thought himselfe the most unfortunate man of the world in putting him to so many troubles Hereupon he tooke his leave because t was late and returned to his lodging to put things in order After he had beene there an houre there came a Gentleman from Phelismond to intreat him to come and arme himselfe in his lodgings where he should meet with five or six Lords whom the King had sent to conduct him to the field Polexander went to him and after more then an houres being with the Prince caused himselfe to be armed The King sent to tell Phelismond he was risen from table wherupon Polexander and his conductors got to horse and came to the Justing place The Windowes the Terrasâ—…s and the Scaffolds were filled with men and women of the Court and the City and the Kings guard stood about the railes he had not beene long there when Phelismond recompanied with five or six of his friends rid round about the field and then placed himselfe right against his Rivall As soone as the King was at the window of his pavillion the Judges of the field sent to search the Combatants and dividing the Sun betwixt them set them one opposite to the other Presently the trumpers â—…ounded and the word of letting goe together the good Knight was given by the Danes King at Armes Phelismond came on with his lance in his rest as if he would have 〈◊〉 Polexander through and through Yet he made his intention appeare to be cleane contrary For Polexander he had resolved to over come him wâ—…thout lance or sword When they were in the midst of their careere they lifted up their speares and so passed without touching one another All the Assembly gave a great shâ—…ute and seemed to aske the reason of this novelty In the mâ—…ne time the two Rivalls ran the secâ—…d â—…ime and dâ—… as aâ—… first Indeed their horses who were ignorant of their intentions iâ—…countred so furiâ—…usly thaâ—… Pâ—…lexanders failed but little of being overthrowne The other 's was foâ—…ced back to the earth on his crupper and so broke his harnesse that Phelismâ—… fell â—…n tge ground This disorder put
Polexander let not the coming on of these men trouble you they come for her assistance who is not now capable of it and if heaven doe not avâ—…rt the sequele of begun mischiefes I foresee yet more violent ensuing deaths then the former Scarce had he spoken these words but hee heard most fearfull and lamentable cries from the English ship and presently after saw a man of a good aspect and middle-aged who violently drawing an old woman by the arme forced her to follow him Come said hee to her cruell and jealous mother come and see the innocent Eolinda in those miserable torments which thy calumnies have inflicted on her Excuse not thy self by the excesse of love Eolinda's afflictions are the product of thy envy and ambition The love thou feign'dst to beare me is but a cunning and deceitfull vizard under which thou hast alwaies hidden hatred to this innocent Polexander having some glimpse of what had passed amongst so much obscurity thought that the English man who complained had need to be arm'd against those which the death of Eolinda and despair were about to throw on him Hee therefore with his Prisoner went to him but before hee could speak a word to him the English man perceiving the Prisoner Altoph said hee to him in fury what have they done with Eolinda My Lord answerâ—…d the other and then pointed to Polexander hee whom you see there had sav'd her from the rage of her executioners and you should have bin at the end of your afflictions iâ—… heaven had not otherwise dispos'd oâ—… hâ—…r How cry'd hee is Eolinda then dead Ah barbarous mother O inexorable heaven and in saying so would have gone into the vessell where the Lady was for whom hâ—…e lamented But the old woman whom he drew alter him resisting hee was forced to give a strong pull to make her follow him and when hee had his foot on the side of the vessell his heart failing him hee fell down his head foremost between the two ships and dragg'd his mother aâ—…ter him Every man did his best to save them and to that end severed the vessells Some of the mariners leapt into the sea though it was not altogether calme and searchâ—…d so well that one of them coming from under water lighted on the English mans mother Those that were gotten into the shalops seeing him come up made to him and tooke him in with his booty But the taking her out of the sea sav'd not her life for whether she had hurt herselfe in falling or that her age had not â—…rength enough to resist the harmes shee had received shee dy'd as soone as they had her into that Lady's ship whom shee had so cruelly afflicted for her son they saw him no more after his fall he having the happinesse in his unfortunate end not longer to survive his deare Eolinda Polexander griev'd very much for his losse because hee judged by his actions which hee saw and by the words hee had spoken that hee lov'd much and was very generous This consideration giving him a desire to know his adventures he called his Prisoner and told him hee should not returne into England till hee had pay'd him his ransome But doe not imagine said hee that I will have an ordinary one you must tell me the beginning of those things of whose lamentable end I have been a spectator After he had thus declared his minde to the English man and saw him ready to pay his ransome in the coine he demanded he commanded his pilot to steere on his first course and to all the English to follow him This order being given and presently put in execution Polexander shut himselfe into his cabin with his prisoner and intimating his desire to heare him obliged the other to begin thus Henry the Seventh that now reignes in England is come to the crowne by waies which some hold very honourable and others very faulty However he was compell'd to make the body of his predecessor a staire to mount up by to his throne and to ruine many great families not onely to take from his enemies the power of making head against him but likewise to conferre on his adherents such dignities and fortunes as were proportionable to the services he had received Hee whom you lately saw buried in the sea by these revolutions being rais'd from an ordinary Gentle-man to the degree of a Prince and from a man much necessitated to immense riches thought of nothing more then of giving his curious and voluptuous senses things fitting not onely to satiate but to keep them in a perpetuall appetite Amongst all his passions that of love was the most violent this torrent which had beforetimes been restrained by two powerfull damms travell and necessity having at last broke through them both by the assistance of wealth and peace so spread it selfe beyond his bounds that it ran through all the English shires and thence into France For this Prince enquiring after some beauty on whom hee might fixe all his affections was so nice in his choice that among the infinity of beauties which flourish in our Isle he thought none worthy of his perseverance Hee therefore sent those of whom hee made use in those plots of love into Scotland Germany and France to chuse him some beauty not onely of capacity to vanquish him but to continue also a long time victorious They found not in Scotland nor Germany any one from whom they could promise him that miracle France was the place which in the opinion of these new Judges of beauty had wherewithall to content the nicety of their Master After they were come from the court into the Provinces they met with this rare and to be lamented beauty whom inconstant fortune by an abhorred treason depriv'd of an heart whereof she should have been eternally victorious But I speak not as I ought Eolinda hath lost nothing of that glory which her charmes had acquir'd her You have seen her depart the world with palmes in her hands triumphing over all calumny cruelty and jealousy and in a word over all those enemies who had plotted her ruine But I am too long in the relation of an adventure which cannot be too soon ended The English Prince's Negotiators sent him word they had found the Phoenix he had been searching in so many severall countries That how nice nay how loathing soever hee were hee would approve of their choice and even find in it such rarities as his imagination could not figure to him That the beauty they had discover'd was of lustre lively and full of majesty of an age that had nothing of infancy but the freshnesse and sweet and round fulnesse of an admirable wit but milde and obsequious of an illustrious birth but by the mediocrity of her fortunes ignorant of all pride and insolence At the only recitall of these wonders our Prince became passionately in love he burnt he grew impatient and would even have abandon'd the place he held neere
whereof you accuse her she hath prostituted her self she hath lost her honour and deserves not to live one quarter of an houre longer This was all she said then and since that time for all their threatnings and all the tortures presented to her she never spoke but once when the Prince came to her chamber Two or three daies after this cruell proceeding that unfortunate Prince was inform'd that the Earle of Trinobant was abroad in the country with a great many of his friends and the Earle of Littidur disguis'd like a Fisherman had pass'd in a barque divers times under the castle This news startled him and made him looke as well after his owne preservation as well as the ruine of his pretended adulterers After hee had meditated on diverse evasions and was to avoide that mischief hee found none better then to force Eolinda to write to them and under a pretext of an amourous appointment to make them fall into the trap where he desired to catch them To give more colour to this assignation he sent back his mother to London and putting his wife into the custody of an old gentleman who had alwaies very faithfully serv'd him prepar'd himself to return to Court He took horse at full noon with all his houshold but at the first lodging he feign'd himself sick and put one of his Confidents into his bed to amuse the world In the mean time he got on one of those admirable gueldings which will run you some hundred or six score miles in ten or twelve houres and so in two and an half return'd to his house At day-break he came into Eolinda's chamber where he found her at prayers at her beds feet As soon as she saw him she arose came towards him with such a respect and meeknesse as would have mov'd the heart of the most barbarous man alive and falling at his feet My Lord said she to him I hope much since I and you are alone in this chamber Thou must said he rudely obey me if thou wilt hope with reason I never had any other intent amourously repli'd Eolinda Hear me then said her husband and bethink thy selfe well of the answer thou wilt make me The Earle of Littidur and the other of Trinobant are not far hence and without doubt are come upon some advertisement thou hast sent them If thou wilt save thy life thou must write to either of them according to my minde but doe not look to be much intreated for I condemn thee either to write to them or dy My Lord repli'd Eolinda I do not fear death since it is the certain repose of innocent creatures but had I committed that treason which my enemies have constrain'd you to alledge I should be so faulty that I would think my self worthy all the torments prepared for the damned Ah impudent woman cri'd the Prince what yet more testimonies of thy incontinency I endure these injuries repli'd Eolinda sweetly because heaven hath given you all authority over me but since I am not thereby commanded to obey you when your commands are offences be pleased that for this time I may be disobedient Thou must then dy said the unfortunate Prince I am ready prepar'd repli'd Eolinda strike bodly my Lord said she modestly opening her breast I will receive the blow without fear and blesse the hand that gave it me I will have thine own to be the executioner said he That is not yet permitted me replied Eolinda besides it would give you the greater satisfaction if you your self avenge your honour since you beleeve I have wrong'd it These words penetrated the hardnesse of the unhappy mans soule In that very moment he remembred what he had been before-times The standish and ponyard which he held fell out of his hands and pitifully looking on her Would to heaven said he thou wert innocent I am so she repli'd yet I deceive my self No my Lord I am not since you have been capable of mistrusting me The unfortunate Prince not deserving the grace of coming to himself departed the chamber overcome but not perswaded He lock'd her up and keeping about him the keyes of the door went to walk in his Parke to deliberate on what he should lastly resolve As long as 't was day he did nothing but go and come and was above thirty times to see what Eolinda did through a little hole in the door and found her still on her knees holding her eies and hands towards heaven and understood plainly once that she beg'd thence a pardon for her persecuters and that it would have commiseration on her husbands error Those words almost wrought that miracle which she would have requested from heaven and the unfortunate Prince began to be himself when his wicked mother arrived according as they had agreed at parting He told her what he had done and alledg'd the new doubts Eolinda's words had wrought in him The abominable hagge sharply reprehended him to suffer himselfe to be so easily seduced and to confirme him in his former resolution said That it behoov'd him to send Pantaira and Lycambus to the two Earles that by the successe of their voyage he might draw the last manifestation of his wifes incontinence Those two wretched agents were hereupon sent and so well instructed by the old woman that for the further misery of many innocents their journey took alike effect Lycambus met with the Earle of Trinobant and propounding to him the facility of delivering his mistris and by consequence of enjoying her he wonne him to hazzard himself in that enterprise with all the rashnesse of a man very young and very valiant The brutish high-lander conducted him even to the place where his master lay in ambush to surprise him where he was enwrap'd overloaden with cassockes and cloakes gag'd and so led away to the Castle The Earle of Littidur with the same easinesse was taken in his fisher-boat and as unworthily handled as his rivall They were presently shut up in two chambers and severally examined by the Prince himselfe They confess'd they were to blame and had no other excuse for their offence but the extream beauty of Eolinda and the tyranny of love But the Princesse said they both had other meanes enough to free her self of us without blemishing her vertue by so base a treason She needed but have made known the aversion she hath alwaies had to us though some traytors have told us the contrary and we would have shewn to her by a faire death that our lives were lesse dear to us then her favour You shall neither of you save your selves by these crafty excuses said the Prince Confesse your crime if you will have pardon Our offence repli'd they each one in particular is already confessed We do infinitly love Eolinda and would willingly give our lives to have some small part in her good opinion It hath not cost you so much answered the Prince Therefore prepare your selves to wash away with your bloods the
had a farre more cunning then extravagance After he had better weigh'd it hee judg'd him to be some excellent wit who as all others having its defect and weaknes was fallen into that vaine curiosity of knowing things to come He entertain'd him then very courteously and excusing himself for not performing it sooner Father said hee I feare for your satisfaction lest your Art be not so certaine as you present it to me And I assure my selfe that when you shall take the paines to review your calculations you will confesse that if you have not fail'd in the place yet you have mistooke in the person I say in the person rather then in the place because there is in this chamber a Prince which is yet more then you have discovered by your characters With that he shewed him Zelmatida and told him he was King of an Empire greater then the fourth part of Europe and richer then all Europe together If he be such as you say repli'd Ismeron how then hath he forgotten the only person of the world who can best free him of his doubts Zelmatida had not given any great attention to the precedent discourse but when Polexander by naming him had brought him out of his musing and the old man by the reproaching his forgetfulnesse oblig'd him to speake Alas father said he shew me that person which I search for through the world There he is quoth the old man and with that shewed the Lad which Alcippus had presented to his master The little one cast up his-eyes fix'd them on Zelmatida who as earnestly regarding him knew 't was the Princesse of Mexico's dwarfe Habul Ismeron made use of that disturbance this agnition wrought for when he saw Polexander was busied about Zelmatida he slip'd out of the chamber got again to his ship and so set saile He was scarce out of the palace when Zelmatida returning from his astonishment cast his eies full of teares on the dwarfe and drew him to the like passion too What Galtazis said he Izatida is then dead and cruell Hismalita could not then indure that divine maiden who by her innocent life too highly reprov'd the crimes of her own Galtazis standing a while unable to speak at last broak through his sighes and sobs and rather answering his owne thoughts then Zelmatida Why had I not died said he in my desert Island rather then be the dismall messenger of so deplorable a novelty yet said he doe not think I come to relate to you the death of Izatida No Sir she lives but 't is such a kind of life as in lieu of comforting you should adde to your just sorrows Weep then Zelmatida weep more then if my Princesse were dead And know that inhumane fortune hath for ever shut up those fair eyes which our Prophets our Priests and our own thoughts acknowledged for the auspicious stars of all Mexico Zelmatida apprehended not at first what Galtazis meant by his last words and therefore ask'd the explication Izatida is blind replied Galtazis sighing Blindleri'd Zelmatida and have the Gods which are represented to us for so just done so great an impiety When that poor Prince had thus spoken he fell down as dead and lay a long while in a swound in Polexanders armes After they had much troubled him he came to himself and being recollected O Izatida said he with a dying voice thy faire eies then the true fountaines of light are shut up for evermore and mine ingratefull and perfidious dare have recourse to that of heaven Pluck out remedilesse Zelmatida pluck out those objects of hatred and to dare doe something which may equalize the greatnes of our affliction teare out those unfaithfull eies which open themselves to such light as comes not from Izatida With that he lifted his hands to his eies and if Polexander had not hindred his resolution hee had seen him renew that ancient desperate act which is to this day the glorious and horrible wonder of the tragical Theater Garruca who ran to succour his dear master held his right arme and Polexander the other who intreating him to remember that Izatida was alive said further that if he surmounted not this furious fit he would make it beleev'd that he lov'd his Ladi's life far less then her beauty after he had thus spoken he made a signe to Galtazis to continue his speech The little one seeing his news and perswasions had wrought their effect farre beyond his expectation My Lord said he if that unfortunate and innocent Lady whom you justly bewaile could receive from any other then you the consolation which is so needfull to her in her blindnesse I would be the first should counsell you to dy but since Izatida's afflictions call to you for redresse preserve carefully that life which is not absolutely your owne and which you cannot lose without violating your faith without becoming ingratefull and holding correspondency with our Princesse enemies I am perswaded Galtazis said Zelmatida I will live and since my life as unhappy as it is can contribute somewhat to Izatida's contentment it shall hence forward be as dear to me as before it was irkesome Relate to me therefore I prithee the dysasters which ensued the supposed death of thy fair Mistris Whil'st all Mexico said Galtazis bewail'd the death of their Princesse and that the people ran thronging to the place where they thought her buried The silly Montezuma and the bloody Hismalita rejoyc'd for diverting from them the storme which to their brutish feares seem'd ready to powre down upon them but their joy was soon turn'd into an exteam desolation Posts came to them from all parts by whom newes was sent you had escaped from all those traps they had laid for you and that by the assistance of certain men who came from another world you were resolv'd to besiege them in their owne palace This intelligence was seconded by another more terrible to them They knew you had landed in the Isle of Cuba took the inexpugnable fortresse cut the throats of some of the garrison given life and liberty to the rest and freed the old Alisma whom Montezuma fear'd more then all the rest of the Peruvians My faire mistresse heard of all this in the prison of the Lake where she was straitly guarded she gave thanks to heaven for your preservation and honour and shutting her selfe up with her Governess pass'd over the daies and nights in praiers for your happinesse Some little time after the cruell Hismalita came to visit her and calling her a thousand times the farall firebrand that was to put all Mexico into a conflagration Go said she thou stranger go and dy by some other hands then mine since my Gods will not have me imbrue them in thy blood The night after these furious threatnings being halfe spent we saw come into the Princesse's chamber some unknown men who hood-winking her eies and seising on her Governess and my self gag'd and so led us out of our
by all those who assisted me as if he had beene the tutelar god by whose vertue the power of the Sorceresse should be absolutely annihilated A little after his birth they gave him me in mine armes As feeble as I was I tooke him and I befeech the gods said I to him thou beest borne to a more happy Fate then thy Mother Presentâ—…y the Messenger whom I had chosen to carry the newes to the King went away and used such expedition that in two dayes he came to the unfortunately inchanted Island Zabaim receiv'd the message with an appearance of joy but sent back my Posts not giving him leave to take his repast and made him set saile without the permission of speaking with Almaid of any other The same day he came to me conceal'd what might discontent me and inventing an extreme satisfaction said the King had promis'd he would be quickly with me Alas he came not and thought it enough to send Almaid That generous Favourite seeing me so desolate forc'd himselfe as much as was possible for feare of encreasing my afflictions but the compassion he tooke of my fortune overcame his resolution and drew teares from his eyes 'T was yet worse when he would have spoken to me for his speech failing him at the first word he stood as knowing not what to say and by that confusion told me what Zelopa's wickednesse was able to make me suffer In the meane time that Wisdome which is the Source of all other forsooke me not in that extremity In lieu of despairing at Almaids discomfort I found my selfe miraculously fortified My courage encreased and finding my selfe armed against all that might happen What Almaid said I must I contribute a constancy and consolation which I expected from you Cannot you endure the sight of an unfortunate woman or have you not the heart to tell to what new torments she is condemned Almaid seeing with what constancy I bore my affliction tooke courage and thinking there was no need of mincing my misfortune to make it the more supportable to me Madam said he the King who is not yet well satisfied in his former suspicions would see the little Prince before he would have him acknowledged for his Son He hath commanded me to come hither and to bring the child to him without delay Let nothing hinder you from being conformable to what he desires Doe this last violence on your selfe Give him that admirable proofe of your love and obedience and consider if you please the consequence and importance of his command Cruell and barbarous command cried I but I must obey it since my Lord will have it so and that with the sensibility of Nature I lose all those feares which our Enemy throwes on us Take this little Infanâ—… Almaid and go maugre your selfe deliver it to the fury of inhumane Zelopa She cannot endure Zabaims lawfull heire to live He must dye to assure her tyranny One same day must give and take away from me the quality of a Mother and without doubt by a fearfull agnition that monster must offer up the Son to those Demons which have sacrific'd the father to her Almaid having by his remonstrances and teares obliged me to put a period to my laments Madam said he if any of my actions have had the power to make your thoughts doe me the honour as to thinke me worthy the name of an honest man I submisâ—…y beseech you to believe the little Prince shall run no danger and that I will dye a thousand deaths if possible ere I suffer any whatsoever to attempt ought against his life Let your Majesty therefore set your minde at rest and satisfie the will of a father who is most dangerous to be provok'd I wil not say some great happinesse may succeed your obedience but I am certaine your refusall will render our wrongs absolutely incurable After he had thus spoake and told me what perill it was to detaine him he cast himselfe at the feet of a Lady of Senega who was most of my Counsell and all my comfort to dispose her to follow his opinion I knew well I must resolve to leave my childe I therefore call'd for it and bedewing it with my teares Goe said I little creature unfortunate assoone as borne goe under the protection of heaven which I adore whither his commands call thee by whom thou sawest the light Give him a tryall of thy obedience even before thou knowest him and when thou art with him suppresse thy cryes and teares for feare of his ill interpretation by imagining thou turn'st against him all those armes which Nature hath bestowed on thee With these words I fell into a swound and my childe had falne on the ground if Almaid had not caught him He carried the childe to his lodging and in lesse then two houres making all things ready put on his way with my Son and the women which waited on him The very day on which that desolate troupe came to a Castle on the Sea side Zabaim heard of it and leaving his inchanted Island came to see this living image of himselfe Almaira presented the child to him and said I beseech'd him by our first love to consider that Infant as he was the father of it 'T is that to which Zelopa represents me cried Zabaim She would have me use that power which the name of father gives me and would not have any thing that is mine owne to be deerer to me then my selfe Thou therefore poore innocent creature must bethe Sacrifice not for the expiation but the continuance of thy fathers offences Zelopa covets thy life weake and unfortunate Infant and will not believe my love to be without example till she have seene me commit a murther which shall never have any Dye then since my fury condemnes thee and let my weake and captivated reason give way to that unjust necessity which pronounceth the Sentence of thy death What thou weep'st my childe and thy little cries seeme to implore my assistance against Zelopa's cruelty Stay thy teares smother these laments and if thou wilt have me to be pitifull do nothing that may make me so But alas I see that all things conspire with thine Enemy Nature betrayes in fayning to succour thee Thy teares in lieu of pleading for thy safety solicit thy destruction and thy cries precipitate thy fate in going about to divert it Well 't is done I am vanquish'd Pity hath mollified my hard heart I feele the force of bloud I confesse my selfe thy father and therefore thou must dye for Zelopa assign'd me that fatall moment and commanded me then to begin thy murder when Nature gave me the most lively and tender feelings a father could have for his Son Zabaim could not continue his lamentations The overflowing of his teares and the violence of his fobs and sighes tooke away the use of his voyce He stood sometime like a Statue but on the suddaine passing from one extreme to another He
shall dye since you will have it so cried he he shall dye the little Monster who will not restore me the life I have given him Almaid staid not till the poore Zabaim put those dreadfull words in execution but snatched his Son from him and giving no eare either to his threatnings or prayers went out of the Castle cast himselfe into a barke which waited for him at the Sea side and carried his little Prince into a Sanctuary where in spight of all Zelopa's devils he hath found his happinesse and safety Yes my deare Almanzor that goodnesse which I have so often call'd to thy succour hath cover'd thee with his wings and leading thee as 't were by the hand to that honour thou enjoyest would have thy very infancy to possesse its beauties and wonders Till then Polexander abode in a deepe silence but at the name of Almanzor he broake it and looking on Almanzaira with a kinde of astonishment how said he Madam was Almanzor Prince of Senega your Son Almanzor the lawfull Prince of Senega said she is my Son but he of whom you speake to me is not Ah Madam replied Polexander how you affrighted me for if the unfortunate Almanzor had beene your Son you must have prepar'd your selfe for new sorrowes Almanzaira shewing her good nature even to her enemies entreated Polexander to relate what had betided the Son of Zelopa since he was crown'd King of Senega I am now cleer'd of all my doubts replied Polexander and to make an end of yours know that Almanzor is now no more then a little dust and he hath suffer'd for the sinnes of those which brought him into the world The same passion through which his father hath committed so many crimes hath made the Son act one which is so much the more prodigious since by its execution he hath cut off for ever the meanes of repenting him for it Polexander had not continued this discourse but seeing himselfe pressed by Almanzaira he recounted to her how Almanzor at the sight of Alcidiana's picture fell extreamely in love with that Queene That some few dayes after he was crown'd he forsooke his kingdome and put to Sea with a resolution to finde the inaccessible Island but despairing of his voyages successe and not enduring a Rivall in Alcidiana's love he was forced to satisfie his jealousie by a combat In which he had the better but receiving not so much as he hoped for he retir'd himselfe into one of the Canaries and after he had there caused to be built a stately Tombe had employed his owne against his own life Almanzaira sigh'd often whilst Polexander made her this relation and when he had done All powerfull heaven said she lifting up her eyes thou hast shew'd thy Justice in the death of that Infant of impiety now let thy mercy beseene towards the child of benediction The offence is punish'd let the criminals acknowledge it and after so long disorders let all things returne to the course thou hast ordain'd him Almanzaira and Polexander could not keepe on their conversation because an old woman coming in addressed her selfe to the Queene and said Madam Amalthea is dying and petitions from you before her death the honour of a visit The extremity wherein she is gives me the boldnesse to entreat you not to deferre that worke of charity Ah good heaven cried Almanzaira by what accident is Amalthea brought to that ill estate You may know it from her selfe replied the old woman in the meane time I most humbly beseech you from her that you will obtaine so much from this stranger as his staying in this place till your returne Polexander delayed not for Almanzaira's request but offered to abide there or follow her and if my Service said he may be any way beneficiall command me Madam what you please and you know your injunctions shall be inviolable lawes to me The old Matron casting up her wetned eyes on our Heroe O aspect too dangerous because too charming said she how true doe I finde that which Amalthea hath so often told me But Madam continued she addressing her to the Queene flye from this desirable Enemy and come understand such things which without so fatall an occurrence would not seeme credible to you Almanzaira comprehending nothing of the Matrons Speech arose and after entreating Polexander to give a few houres to the satisfaction of a personage which merited to be obliged She is said she of those unfortunate ones in whom reason is found to be weaker then affection She hath lov'd in spight of her selfe She loves still and hath for two yeares done pennance for a fault which deserves not that name since 't was never voluntary Polexander would gladly have knowne who was this Innocent-guilty-one but seeing the Matron extraordinarily presse the Queen he suppressed his curiosity and presented his arme to assist the Princesse in her walke She very gracefully would not accept it and to justifie her refusall told him the lawes of her Hermitage forbad the receiving of any such courtesies With that she went out of the roome where she had entertained him and making new excuses to him wish'd him to goe see the grots and water-caves in her wood You will there said she finde such paintings and rarities as will let you know how much paines the faithful Almaid had taken to make me finde some flowers among the sharpe thornes of my Exile So she left him and went as fast as she could possibly to the place where she was so longingly expected The end of the first Book of the third Part. THE THIRD PART OF POLEXANDER The second Booke AS soone as Polexander had left the Queene of Senega he entred an Alley wherein Alcippus and Diceus had long walk'd and calling them I must said he relate to you such adventures as surpasse all those you have ever yet heard of He began to walke a great pace after he had made them this preface and as if he had suddenly forgot what he had said to them made almost a turne in the alley without opening his lips At last he came to himselfe and astonish'd at his musing I know not said he whence this distraction becides me but I am an ill presager or this is a forerunner of some new misfortune Yet hap what hap may I am reduc'd to such a point that though heaven it selfe had undertaken it it could not make me more miserable then I am After these words he related to them Almanzaira's afflictions and amplified with all his eloquence the miracles of her patience and piety Alcippus and Diceus were extreamely mov'd at it and in their first emotion besought the King their Master to take so vertuous a Princesse into his protection Polexander seem'd insensible to his servants prayers and setting another discourse on foot I wish said he I were farre from this Island Certainely I shall meet with some discontent here I feele my selfe extremely otherwise then I use to be My body trembles and my
he was borne for the ruine and extirpation of Monsters I in that adventure followed him but was so unfortunate as to be taken by the Portugals and carried prisoner into Gama's ship I offred him gold and pearles for my ransome and even told him I was Abrinzia's brother and omitted nothing of what might make him capable of a resolution to set me at liberty But the losse of his best Souldiers and the dishonor to be beaten back againe to shipping by Almanzor working him to a revenge made him inexorable The night after his defeate he weigh'd Anchor and unmov'd by my teares and supplications carried me into Spaine and presented me to the King his Master for Abrinzia's brother Those three yeares I passed in that servitude hindred me from being a spectator of Almanzor's great adventures But heaven infallibly permitted it for some good and if I deceive not my selfe to the end my Prince living unknowne to himselfe as well as to his Enemies might retard their ruine without taking paines for his owne Know then after he had repuls'd the Portugals and seene their ships farre from the coasts of Benin he muster'd his men but finding me wanting he was so afflicted and witnessed such resentments as I shall never recompence by any service or the losse of my life A hundred times exclaim'd he on his fortune cast his armes away and running where the slaughter had beene greatest searched all the dead to see whether I were of their number But not finding me he ran to the Sea and his griefe transporting him Theeves and villaines cried he to the Portugals give me back Almaid and if your avarice cannot be satisfied by an ordinary ransome I engage my selfe to conquer for you all the golden countrey for the liberty of my second father But in uneffectuall petitions I lose that time which I should imploy for Almaids redemption Therewithall he sent a servant of his to Abrinzias to advertise him of my losse and to beseech him humbly he would be pleased to command the Royall vessell to be made ready and arm'd to pursue those who had carried me away prisoner That ship was carefully kept in the River of Benin and as a thing consecrated to their Deity was not us'd but to saile some dayes in the yeare to carry those offerings which the Crowne of Benin owed to the great Temple of Congo Almanzor went to the Captaine of that ship and perswading him that the succouring of the miserable and giving liberty to those which had lost it was a pleasing Offering to heaven obliged him to arme his vessell and keepe it ready to weigh Anchor assoone as the Kings permission came to him The very same day leave came and though Abrinzias writ to Almanzor not to hazard himselfe in that voyage yet he imbark'd himselfe and followed the Portugals His ship being not so good a sayler nor so well governed as those he chased could never fetch them up But on the contrary in the first tempest being forsaken by the Pilot he was eight or ten dayes at the mercy of the Sea and at last ran on a bank on a coast farre distant from that of Benin Almanzor saved himselfe in a little boate that was in the ship and armed with his usuall armour landed on that unknowne shore No sooner was he on land but he saw himselfe environed with many armed men who infallibly taking him for another cast themselves at his feet and shew'd by their clapping of hands and their shouts they were exceedingly delighted The most apparent of the Troupe standing a while as ravish'd with admiration or joy Welcome said he O most happily return'd is this worthy Prince which was borne for the safety of Nations for the destruction of Tyrants and the protection of the afflicted O my deare Country dry thy teares revive thy hopes acknowledge thy happinesse behold thy tutesar Angel and come meet this powerfull defender who is going to pluck thy Princes out of Captivity and breake the chaines of their servitude Almanzor was much surpris'd with this mans acclamations and to know the cause of it would not take him out of that error On the contrary he entreated him to relate what had hapned who were the enemies he was to fight with and what was become of those should defend them Great Prince replied the man I should be too tedious if I recounted to you all the miseries that have betided us since your absence Know that the untameable King of Tombut the furious tyrant of Temian and the hardy Prince of Agadez renewing the wars they had other times begun out of meere ambition and yet under pretext of avenging our first Queene came thundring on this Kingdome with a powerfull Army and to make the people revolt publish'd all about that the King by the advice of the Queen now reigning had caus'd his first wife to be poysoned and poniarded his Son My King who without flattery hath all the qualities of a great Prince did what he could to repell force by force but seeing himselfe forsaken by most of his Subjects he was constrain'd to shut himselfe up in a strong place he hath on the River of Senega and to expect there the aide was coming to him from Melley and Guinea That succour was vainely look'd for for the Kings fault which grew not out of mens memories and his second marriage which was contracted by a murther and a sacriledge were the reasons why no body would take Armes for our defence The King seeing himselfe out of hope to be relieved resolved to dye like a man of valour He made a salley on his enemies but after he had lost many of his people and received divers great wounds he was taken and ignominiously led before the King of Tombut Zelopa so is our Queen called advertis'd of that mischance did not what another wife would have done She had no recourse to teares and cryes but got out of her Palace with a manlike heart and taking the place of the King her husband made a speech to the people and souldiers and wonne them to a defence even till death The Enemy in the meane time sent her a Herauld and word that if within eight dayes she resolv'd not to render her selfe to their discretion they would cut off the Kings head Those eight dayes expire to morrow Judge my Lord if hitherto we have not had great cause of affliction and seeing you return'd whether we have not more reason to rejoyce The man thus ending his discourse besought Almanzor to take some course instantly for the safty of his father and mother Almanzor somewhat troubled with the novelty of this adventure knew not what to resolve but his innate generosity dissipating all those cloudy made him see how honourable this occasion might be to him and the interest he had not to disbeguile those who tooke him for what he was not He resolv'd therefore to assist the imprisoned King and the afflicted Lady and intimating so
from Morocco with Iphidamanta Osmin his wife and their domesticks and in all haste came to the Fortresse of Guargetsem There as if he had been in the highest peace that could be or had abjured all things but his love he even forbad Osmin from speaking to him in any manner about businesse nor to trouble his repose with the fortune of an Estate which he abandon'd to the ambition of Sonnes Osmin affrighted with this command was neither sufficiently coward nor traytor to obey him He secretly sent for the Governour of Taradant and besought him by the excellency of his vertue and by his valour so often approv'd to have pity on the Kings weaknesse and his countreys desolation That Governour promis'd Osmin all that a man of honour should in such an occasion but whilst he was in preparation the two detestable Princes made themselves masters of the best townes and found every where so little resistance that they were at the gates of Guargetsem before the Governour of Taradant had time to assemble his friends or his troups Hely who passed his time altogether in idolatrizing Iphidamanta and in promising her such Crowns as he had lost was much astonished when the roaring of Cannons and the clamours of Souldiers told him aloud what his most affectionate servants durst not whisper to him Presently he ran to Iphidamanta and casting himselfe at her feet Would to heaven faire Princesse said he that I might by my death free you from the danger wherewithall you are threatned by my cruell and unnaturall Sonnes You should see me run to it with joy and voluntarily yeeld up what remaines of my life for the ransome of your honour and liberty But their abominable ambition will be no more glutted by my death then it is by my Crownes 'T is your honour they aime at and the accursed Nephisus will not thinke himselfe fully clear'd of those execrable vowes he hath made if at once he commit not two of the greatest murthers can be imagined I meane if after his attempting on my life he doe not the like on your honour Iphidamanta according to her custome dissolv'd in tears whilst Hely spoke to her but at last urg'd by a just indigdation It behov'd you then to have had more care of my liberty repli'd she when it was in your power So would you not have been reduc'd to give me now such vaine testimonies of your feare and weaknesse but take no care for me I know better then you how to prevent the villanies of your Sonnes Hely stood wholly confounded with love and joy at those judicious words and leaving Iphidamanta with Osmin's Lady went to see whereto his enemies had brought him Osmin followed and charging him but with silken words if it be lawfull for me to use the Court tearmes with the irreparable faults his passion had made him commit would have perswaded him to thinke on his safety whilst it was not absolutely desperate Hely stopping at that speech There 's an end of the matter said he I must die Abdelmelec and Nephisus have too constant and assured an impiety to promise me the least good that can be That very day they combin'd to make war with me they resolv'd my death Should I give into their hands all regall authority and on the faith of a solemne Treaty open the gates of this fortresse assure your selfe they would not be satisfied They will have me end my miserable life by the most infamous tortures can be invented by their mercilesse impiety But that which I more feare is they will expose Iphidamanta to such horrours as the sole imagination of them kills me I will therefore prevent all these disasters by a death which shall not be unworthy Iphidamanta nor my selfe With that he walked on and ascended up a bulwarke from whence he might descry all his enemies camp He knew the ill estate of the place he was in and judg'd rightly by the advanced works and demolitions the Cannon made that he had but a short time to live He stood there above two houres as if he had expected some Cannon shot to finish all his disquiets by a faire death But heaven which is alwayes indulgent to humane frailty preserv'd that sacred head and would not by a tragieall end give his unnaturall children cause to glory in their wickednesse nor yet would it absolutely preserve that drowsie and rest-loving Prince for feare he should utterly lose himselfe in his remisnesse and too much insensibility Osmin perceiving Helies intention withdrew him against his will from the bulwarke and trusting in the Governour of Taradants promise assur'd him he should shortly have succour from whence he expected it not Hely laughed at it and as if he had knowne his approaching misfortune staid at the foote of a towre which his enemies battered A great part of it fell in that instant and in such a manner that without the particular providence of heaven Hely and Osmin had beene orewhelm'd with the ruine Osmin was not hurt at all but Hely scap'd not so cheape He was struck downe and wounded in his head and many other parts of his body Some of the garrison Souldiers thinking he had beene slaine drew him from under the rubbish and ruines of the towre and carried him to his chamber Assoone as the trusty Eunuch Atlas saw his Master in so ill plight he ran to Iphidamanta and melting into teares Come said he and see to what point of mishap your beauty hath brought the best Prince of the world Follow me Iphidamanta and try at least by one teare and one word of comfort to witnesse to my Lord the King that you are sensible of his wounds Iphidamanta was astonished at Atlas sad relation and her naturall goodnesse making her forget all other consideration she went with Osmins Lady to the Prince his chamber Assoone as she came neere his bed and that she saw him all bloudy O heaven she cried permittest thou thine owne lively image to be thus disfigured Hely knowing her stretch'd out his hand and raysing himselfe a little faire Princesse said he since my life pleased you not let me know at least that my death is welcome unto you Impute not to heaven nor to the inhumanity of my children the tragicall end of dayes They have both rather with pity then rigour treated me as they have done and death it selfe shews how pitifull she is since it hath prevented the despaire and contempt whereinto your losse would infallibly have carried me Give them thanks rather for being so conformable to your wishes and for delivering you at last from that bondage which hath cost you so many teares Farewell then faire Princesse weepe no more if you desire not to afflict me at mine end Rather by a pleasant countenance signifie to me that you take my death as a favour I will even hasten it if you desire it But whilst I seeke for comfort in my misery I forget the care I should take for your
HE IS DEAD FOR ALCIDIANA 'T IS A GLORY THAT COMMANDS YOU WHETHER YOU WILL OR NO TO ENVY HIM YOU WOULD HAVE ESTEEM'D HIM MOST HAPPY IF THE PLEASURE OF THAT PRINCESSE SIGHT HAD PRESERV'D THAT BRAVE LIFE HEE HAD BEGUN HOW MUCH MORE SHOULD YOU ESTEEME HIM SINCE THE ONELY FEARE OF NEVER SEEING ALCIDIANA WAS ABLE TO MAKE HIM DYE Whilst our Heroe was making amourous Comments on Almanzors testament Cydaria went to see a little Altar which was in the chiefe front of the Tombe Upon it were foure statues of marble Some lay along and others sate Two represented the Pleasures as well by their youth their mirthsomenesse somewhat alaid with a kinde of sadnesse and their Crownes of roses as by the Instruments of Musick which lay at their feet And the two other by the many Crownes on their armes and the Diamonds Pearles and other Jewels which they carelesly let fall from their hands plainely enough intimated they were Magnificence and Majesty They all foure held a great heart of Albaster and speaking by a Roll of brasse hanging downe from the same hands which held the heart thus seem'd to expresse their thoughts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 IN LIEV OF THIS HEART NOW IN OUR HANDS WE SHOULD HAVE HAD THAT OF THE GREAT ALMANZOR HAD HE NOT SCORN'D TO HAVE LIV'D FOR ANY OTHER THEN ALCIDIANA FEW HEARTS HAVE PREFER'D SLAVERY BEFORE COMMAND OR DISCONTENTS BEFORE ALL PLEASURES FEW HEARTS TOO CAN BE COMPAR'D WITH THAT OF SO GENEROUS A PRINCE AND FEW SHOULD WITH JUSTICE EXPECT FROM OUR RESENTMENT THOSE TEARES WHICH SO GREAT A LOSSE SHALL ETERNALLY DRAW FROM OUR EYES 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Polexander and Cydaria unwilling to stay longer among so many causes of sadnesse retir'd into the most obscure part of the Sepulcher and not thinking it an offence to implore heaven for a miserable soule besought it with teares to convert its justice into mercy and save him who like a mad-sick man had taken poyson in thinking to take a wholesome potion Their prayers once ended they came out of the Tombe where they found Osmin and Alcippus who by their action made knowne how much they were astonish'd Osmin spake first who shewing his admiration proceeded from somewhat else then Almanzors Sepulcher This Isle said he to Polexander may rather be call'd the Isle of Tombes then the Isle of Fer. I cannot conceive through what urgency so many unfortunate people should be compell'd hither to graspe with death About fifty paces hence you may see if you please to walke thither foure Monuments under which are interr'd so many Spaniards which are called by the Inscriptions the foure Lovers of the Princesse Benzaida A little further we have seene a Sepulchre as meane as this is stately The outside which is painted black and powdred all over with flames and teares made well guess'd what horrour there might be within In the midst is an Inscription which neither Alcippus nor my selfe can understand Cydaria besought her brother to goe see this novelty and getting his consent march'd foremost to satisfie her longing Polexander after he had seene the foure Spaniards Tombes went to the last and presently spied the Characters which neither Osmin nor Alcippus could decipher He thought it not strange for 't was Slavonique ill enough done to puzzle more understanding men then they in the knowledge of languages He turn'd to Cydaria after he had twice or thrice read it over and assuring her she was to heare some very strange thing Do you see said he the letters drawne on that linnen which two Cupids crowned with myrtle and Cypresse hold in so mournefull a posture and looke on with so much griefe that the teares fall from their eyes they tell us that Sepulcher is the Monument of two Sisters The other Inscription which is incompass'd with trophies of love troden under foote by death and cruelty and sowne with golden flames and silver teares is the Epitaph of those two Princesses This is the Explication word for word TO THE ETERNALL MEMORY OF HISTERIA AND MELICERTA'S MISFORTUNES AND TO THE PERPETUALL SHAME OF THE INSENSIBLE SOLIMAN ONe same instant brought us into the light and one and the same Destiny giving us equall inclinations made us alike misfortunate Death hath not sever'd those who by birth and fate were knit in so strong a ligament They are buried in one grave and have done that by Election which Nature had done by Chance Thy curiosity Reader is not may be satisfied with these generall notions See wherewithall to content it Yet if causes exacting teares comply not with thy humour turne thine eyes away from these following lines and give way no more to a desire that shall be so mournefull to thee But for all this thou wilt weep and no admonitions can coole thy charity Well then reade on and marke seriously with what rigour and command both the senses and passions do tyrannize o're all rationall soules The greatnesse of our births raysing us above all the Princesses of the world seem'd to have establish'd us in a felicity which could not be travers'd by the injuries of earth or heaven But O the vanity of humane condition what all the strength of the Universe could not execute weakenesse alone hath done it and Fortune to surprise us made use of that which we neither ought to feare or foresee A Slave hath triumph'd over our liberties and he whose life was at our disposall hath seene us at his feet shamefully begging the continuance of our owne 'T is true the mercilesse Solyman hath seene us implore his clemency and with teares beseech him he would afford us the honour of living his slaves Neither birth beauty nor love no nor vertue it selfe could obtaine any thing from that rock He saw the constant Hysteria dye and was no more capable of pity then he was of love Melicerta surviv'd her Sister but 't was onely to outlive all her hopes She hath beene inforced to intombe her selfe alive within this Sepulcher to finde in death that compassion which she could not meet withall in ingratefull Solyman 'T is enough Passenger we should be as mercilesse as he if we kept thee longer in the affliction of reading this Go then in peace and if it be possible obtaine from heaven that our second life may be more happy then our former After Polexander had read this Epitaph seeing his sister so much mov'd at it was willing to withdraw her from those mournfull places though he depriv'd himselfe of the contentment he receiv'd among the Monuments of so many desperate lovers But Alcippus entering on a sudden with an affrighted countenance ingag'd Polexander to inquire of him the cause of his astonishment 't is so strange said he that the more I call to minde the more I doubt of it mine eyes and eares which assure me of it cannot perswade me and I should beleeve I dream't if the thing were not yet before me And whence come you said Polexander that in so
himselfe over to his griefe would have converted the nuptials into a funerall and the mariage bed to a tragicall Scaffold But being diverted by his friends and hem'd in the hall where all the Nobility of the Province were assembled he turn'd now towards ne and then to another and speaking sometimes to the Lords and otherwhile to the Ladies See said he your selves and judge if the unnaturall Chersach after the act he hath done deserves that I looke on him as my father 'T is true I owe him my life but 't is as true that this day he hath rob'd me of it and the ill his last voluptuousnesse hath done me is infinitly beyond the good his first love hath givven me Cruell father turne thine eyes on me aswell as on the faire Astalia Thinke with thy selfe that I am not lesse sensible then thou and that the heate of mine age joyn'd with that of my love is but too powerfull to force from me the little reason I have left and that I can well forget the name of a childe since thy incontinence alone makes thee throw off the quality of a father The murther is no lesse when a father assasinates his Son then when a son kils his father If thou gavest me my liâ—…e when thou thoughtst not of it I have given it thee twice not onely on premeditation but even then when I was to hazard this life to preserve thee that same which is now the cause of my death I have paid thee with use Exact no more from me but permit that I enjoy in the fruition of my wife that life which I owe to chance rather then to thy selfe But what doe I faire and deare Princesse I lament in vaine and in the meane time you are brought to your prayers teares and cryes and it may be to something more worthy compassion Your Tyrant sollicites you presseth forceth you and not able of himselfe to vanquish your just repulses imploies against you the same hands he useth to strangle his Enemies And makes of his hangmen the Spectators aswell as the Instruments of your martyrdome and my dishonour He would have said more when an extraordinary noise farre above that he made in complaining on his father flew into the hall and put them all into a feare and disorder After the noise many people came in and all denouncing by their gesturrs and teares that accident which their mouthes durst not utter oblig'd Antenor with his sword drawne to flye out of the hall His friends followed and brought him back againe whether he would or no and then sent to know what had happened One of my poore fathers Pages came in all bloudy and addressing himselfe to his Lord told him with teares the Princesse was dead Before she resolved to lay violent hands on her selfe she spake and did all she thought fit to stop the violence of your father say Chersach cried Antenor and make an end of killing me But went on the Page when she saw her selfe in the hands of foure servants to Chersachs lust and that her women were enforc'd to undresse her Well my Lord said she I yeeld and give way to your excessive love I shall not altogether lose my lover since in his losse I winne the affection of him who was the Author of the others coming into the world Use me then as thy wife and forbid these Inâ—…olents to continue their outrage I shall grow despeâ—…ate if â—…hey touch me againe If thou lov'st me let them instantly be gone and give me all the liberty which my birth and the honour of being thy wife requireth in thine owne house Chersach deceiv'd by these words sent away his Panders and himselfe withdrawing from Astalia told her she was where she had absolute command and that his desire to make her as happy as she deserv'd had engaged him to take her from his sonne since he was neither prudent nor powerfull enough to make good use of so great a fortune Astalia seeing her selfe at liberty ran into a Balconi which look'd over a precipice and before Chersach or any of us which were left with torches in the chamber could withhold her Deare Antenor cried she 't is to keepe my faith to thee that I dye With that she flung her selfe downe the precipice Her body was broken against the rocks and the bloud wherewithall I am besprinkled came from the torne face of that generous Princesse Assoone as I saw her fall I ran out of Chersachs chamber and descending to the bottome of the downefall by the diâ—…ches of the Castle I saw her dye repeating thy name I was bringing you her body when Chersachs guard met me tooke it away and carried it back to the Castle My afflicted father hearing of Astalia's death would have spoken a thousand things at once but the extremity of his griefe would not give him leave to utter onely one His eyes became two Comets and his bloud-heated countenance too true forerunners of despaire and death made all the Assembly feare more tragicall accidents then those which had already betided The venerable Moceniqua reading in my fathers face all that he was about to execute Hearken said he to a friend that shall never be so unjust as to approve of thy fathers violencies nor to condemne the resentments of the Son Thy complaints are lawfull and Chersachs act cannot be too much censured If the severity of Lawes were not suspended as often as the faults of a Soveraigne come in question I should be the first would have recourse to their assistance to the end so extraordinary a rape and no lesse a murther should not remaine unpunished But when our Lawes and Magistrates trample under feete the respect due to the living Images of the Deity and would with all their rigour make a great example of a great Offender they must either cut off his liberty of justifying himselfe or see themselves reduc'd to a necessity of absolving him To judge according to your opinion Chersach is extreamely guilty but to weigh that which hath beene perpetrated in the same balance where we so exactly weigh the lives and deaths of men we shall finde Chersach to be very unfortunate but not very guilty Whosoever shall be chosen to accuse him will exaggerate his violence and maintaine with a great deale of likelihood that he is a Ravisher and a murtherer But what will not he reply who shall take on him his defence Chersach will he say confesseth he was capable of as much love as his Son and that Astalia's beauty had no lesse power over his white hayres then o're the flaxen locks of Antenor His bloud which age had cooled became all on fire at the sight of that admirable Princesse and those hot boyling desires which the Son borrowed from the heate of youth the father feeles out of the greatnesse of his affection In a word he would have her for his wife whom Antenor had chosen for himselfe After the example of many fathers who
protest to avenge her oppressed innocencie if my Embassadours have not perswasion sufficient to prevent thine owne destruction and give liberty to so many Princes as are fetter'd in the same irons wherein the faire Ennoramita is enthralled After I had read this Declaration of Bajazet I cast mine eyes on Hely and thinking to give him such counsell as he would not neglect It shall not cost much said I the preventing those disasters which threaten you send me to Bajazet it may be his affection will make him as cleere sighted as your selfe and winne him to beleeve he hath found what he sought when I am once in his hands Rather cri'd Hely let our great Mahomet perish from the memorie of the living let me rather see mine Empire desolate and the miserable Hely crushed under the ruines of his Palace With that he left me and his naturall quicknesse rekindling I know not what remainder of fire in his frozen veines he call'd for his armes and denying to heare Bajazet's Embassadours any further gave command they should presently depart from Morocco Those Rovers accustomed to cast forth their andacious threatnings storm'd thundred even within Morocco against her own King and one of them throwing downe his Cymetar in the market place I vow said he to those that were about him never to weare any againe till I see my selfe and my Companions Masters of this City This threate affrighted part of the Spectators and gave the bold Pirate a brave passage through the astonish'd people Assoone as Bajazet understood how his Embassadors had beene treated he call'd his Councell and desirous more and more to engage the Pirates in his designes 'T is no more said hee my sole interest that obliegeth you to besiege Morocco 'T is the honour of your former actions that calls you to its protection The insolence of this barbarous King hath of a private quarrell made a publique injury You are all wronged in the persons of your companions Your honour of which they were depositaries in the qualities of your Embassadors complaines of it by me askes you Justice for Helie's impudency and accounts you unworthy to live if instantly you run not to be avenged The Pirates animated by so powerfull a speech all at once swore the ruine of Morocco and without delay came in a wonderfull order to land on both sides the towne The Cavalry which was fallied would have opposed their landing but the Rovers artillery thundring among the Squadrons soone left the shoare free If Bajazet could indure to heare his owne praises I would tell you how valour and Judgement wholly possessing him triumph'd both on the power and wiles of Hely The very first day the City was block'd up and in lesse then fifteene more contrary to the generall opinion it was so inclos'd that even the Arabians which make their way any where were not cunning enough to get in I will not relate to you the many brave combats were had during the two first months siege I will onely speake of what concernes my selfe The City was hard laid to and the most part of the Inhabitants wanting what was necessary to maintaine life murmur'd against Hely's folly and spoake aloud that 't was fit to drive from the towne that secret plague which would quickly wholly ruine them For my part I besought Hely to bethinke himselfe to stop the torrent of the publique calamities and not to hazard his people his Crown and his life for an extravagancy To these remonstrances he was as deafe as he had beene to others and said that if he had not taken armes for my defence yet would he have done it to correct a company of theeves who for sport sake were come to offend him When I saw I could do no good on the old man I sent for Abdelmelec and told him I held my selfe guilty of his Countries ruine and the losse of his father if I conceal'd any longer from him a thing that might put an end to the warre Know therefore said I that I am not Ennoramita or rather Cydaria I am Iphidamantus her brother and Nature hath made us so like that in many places where fortune hath led us we have beene taken one for another What I say is so easie to be proved that you may instantly cleere the doubt Give me such a habit as I ought to weare bring me armour and before night I will shew you my actions shall not be those of a maiden When you shall be so farre assur'd I will go to Bajazet and obliege him by my armes or intreaty to acknowledge his error and not to doe an injustice out of a desire to resent an injury Abdelmelec shew'd a great deale of judgement and courage in his answer I beleeve said he that you are Iphidamantus rather then Ennoramita and aske no other proofes of it then those you gave at Tunis If the King my father thinke it fit I am of opinion you should be set at liberty but shall never consent to your going to the Generall of the Pirates for an end of the siege We have beene too much wrong'd to hearken to an accommodation We have beene beaten and are so daily 't is fit we should have our turne too on our enemies and repell by force the insolence of these theeves I speake not this to hinder you from prosecuting your inclination If the Generall of the Pirates be your friend I advise you to do that which friendship expects from you I will engage my self to give you clothes armes and horses and to conduct you safely into his Campe. But assoone as you shall be there I will hold you as one of my enemies and in such occasions as the warre shall offer us I thinke we have no consideration of one another Abdelmelec said I your generousnesse makes me go from my proposition I will speake to you no more of peace or Bajazet but expect for whom the chance of war will declare it self For mine owne part I sweare to you to thinke on no mans interest but yours to vanquish or die with you and betide what may not to forsake you till the death of one of us dispence with my promise Assoone as I had made this Declaration Abdelmelec imbraced me and witnessing his resentment of my profers I now said he beleeve indeed that you are a man for your resolution cannot come but from a masculine heart But keepe this businesse secret that my fathers humourousnesse crosse it not The next day Abdelmelec sent me clothes and armes and both of us making use of the occasions offered by Hely's sudden sicknesse wee made divers sallies in all which I went by the name of the unknowne Knight I should be very vaine-glorious if I told you my presence rais'd againe the affaires of Morocco but since you command mee to relate my adventures I will not conceale my fighting so happily in divers conflicts that Bajazet was constrained to recall the troupes hee had lodg'd on the side
interrupting Eliza see the beginning of such things as it hath resolv'd My dreames have the same dismall interpretations I alwayes dreaded and I learne thence but most cruelly that in vaine the unfortunate take paines todivert their destinie Unprofitable words vaine considerations why keep ye me in my bed 'T is not a fit time now to talke of rest and health Let 's hasten Eliza ô let 's run whither our piety calls us and not be husbanding a miserable life which may be must this day be taken from us With that Melicerta flung out of her bed and scarce gave her woman time to cloath her she went privately from her ship and without taking leave of Almanzaira nor her deare Cydaria was carried in a chaire to Achomat's tent she entred that wherein he lay without giving notice of her coming and so surpris'd Polexander Iphidamantus and Bajazet that as amaz'd they cry'd out all at once The wounded man rais'd his head and about to aske what was betided saw Melicerta who unable to speak or uphold her self fell downe on his bed My deare daughter said he thinke on me and consider that thy griefes wound me a new curb then those too violent witnesses of thy love and give over at last to wrestle with a Power that cannot be surmounted Though Melicerta was extreamly transported yet she heard what her father spake and to conforme her selfe to his will so much forc'd her selfe that one might say she in a moment pass'd from an extreame anxiety to an extremity of quiet shee arose from her father's bed and having kiss'd him with an admirable constancy My Lord said she I could not be your daughter and do lesse then grieve for your misadventure not that I thinke it dangerous for if your friends countenances dissemble not nor deceive me I see no cause we have to feare set your minde therefore at rest and be pleas'd that I share with you at least in such ills as you had never tri'd had you never been father to your unnaturall Melicerta With that she grew pale and but for Iphidamantus who held her she had falne flat on the ground she was so weake with her former sicknesse and strove so exceedingly to hide her sorrow that without the wonderfull courage wherewithall she had alwayes us'd to oppose her miseries she had even then forgone that poore remainder of life which was left her She had not been there much above an houre when two of Bajazet's Officers entered Achomat's tent and told their Generall they brought him some Eunuchs which were taken in the camp and being forc'd to speake said they belonged to the Princesse Rozelana wife to Achomat How subject is the judgement of men to be deceived I say so because Bajazet rejoyc'd at the comming of Rozelana's Eunuchs and thought their bringing newes of that Princesse would not be a little comfort to Achomat He went therefore to the Basha's bed-side and assuring him his wounds were not mortall promised he should shortly receive such consolation as would much further his recovery Whence can it come said Achomat From the person you love best in the word replyed Almanzor Alas said the Basha my dear Rozelana knows not where I am and what afflicts me more is that thinking me lost with her daughters she laments and spends in tears and fighes the best dayes of her life She must needs be better inform'd said Bajazet then you imagine for two of her servants are newly come hither and desire to have the honour to see you Let them come in said Achomat let them come quickly and in saying so he put himselfe in such a posture as made Diceus beleeve his wounds were not so dangerous as he thought them The Eunuchs presently came in and because they were extreamly black and very unseemly they could not judge by their countenances whether they brought good or bad newes Achomat tooke the letter they presented him and without giving eare to his daughter or the Princes who intreated he would not straine himself call'd for a light and read what followes Rozelana daughter to the greatest of the Ottoman Emperours to her deare Lord Achomat BY my former Letters I intimated the cause by this I advertise you of my death Our perfect love seemes to tell me I am too cruell to send such tydings as will heap so much affliction on you but withall I confesse it would not have me part hence without assuring you that death it selfe cannot rase you out of my thoughts I die then my dear Achomat but I die contented since I could not live any longer but in affliction and by consequence you could expect nothing from me but teares and trouble I do not intreate you to be insensible of my losse On the contrary my deare Achomat I desire thou wouldst never be comforted for it yet if it be true that you love me I even dying intreate this favour that you will live as long as the eternall Providence hath appointed I can no more Death forceth on me and were it not staid by that victorious hand which triumph'd over it in the grave I should not have time enough nor strength to assure you that I die a Christian. WHen he had read over the Letter he sigh'd but so weakly that they thought not he had receiv'd so sad newes he turn'd to his Eunuchs and calling one of them by his name Narcissus said he didst thou see her die Yes my Lord reply'd the old Eunuch and these unfortunate hands with that he lifted them up have for ever clos'd her eyes He had no sooner said so but he tore that little haire remaining on his head and casting himselfe on the earth began againe to lament and weep with his companion Melicerta who had alwayes prophesied her afflictions anticipated those contain'd in her mothers Letter and forgetting all her high resolutions O heaven cry'd she must there need so many blowes from thee to kill so miserable a wretch With that Achomat reach'd her her mothers Leter and then fell back on his pillow she scarce tooke time to read it all but cry'd out O detestable creature that I am O monster twice a parricide blinded passion unjust or unpowerfull heaven We are all three alike guilty the one hath permitted the mischiefe the other advis'd it and the last could not defend her self from it Her respect to Achomat and the other Princes staid the current of her laments for that misfortune but it could not stop that of her despaire The presence the teares and entreaties of Iphidamantus could obtaine from her no other then a faigned complasency For Achomat he was silent and though his love to his daughter made her ever extreamly deare to him yet he never troubled himselfe with forbidding her lamentations nor intreating her to live In this manner was the night spent at day-breake Zabaim Polexander and Bajazet call'd on by their troopes with much griefe left the father and the daughter and would have obliged
force against Quasmes and said she go thou unluckie maid goe and in the armes of thy father injoy my cares and watchings with all the troubles thy infancie brought on me with that the desperate woman snatching an arrow from one of the guard stroke her selfe to the heart before any that were by could hinder her At these words Polexander interrupting Garruca You have been so hasty said he to be rid of your prisoner that you have forgotten one of the best peeces of your narration I meane the first interview of the father and the daughter and Quasmes joy he tooke in re-seeing Zelmatida after so long an absence I confesse repli'd Garruca I should not deprive you of a contentment which should be infinite were it equall to that which the good Quasmes resented to see his so much desired Xaira and Zelmatida whom he no lesse affected then if he had beene his owne sonne But my fault is not so great as I imagin'd for that adventure is too admirably high to be well expressed your imagination onely must represent it if you will not lose the principall beauties of it My relation would blurre it and I can conceive nothing that might describe to you the joy and astonishment of the father the gladnesse of the daughter the rapture of Zelmatida and the admiration of their subjects give me leave therefore to speake nothing of it for feare of being too troublesome and be pleas'd I may abridge my dear Masters adventures Quasmes who at the newes of Zelmatida's returne was falne into many faintings and seeing him come with his daughter was like to die for joy could not taste the excesse of his happinesse till many dayes after their arrivall Hismelita's death troubled him but his disturbances were accompanied with an extreame consolation when he began to consider that she had assured him of Izatida's being the same Xaira which she had caus'd to be stolne from him in her cradle neither had he left any more of those scruples feares and distrusts which the long losse of his Xaira threw on him but resenting his happinesse all pure as it was went to the Temples to give their infinite thankes to the author of it After a great number of sacrifices and offerings he caus'd to be published amongst his subjects the accomplishment of those Prophesies which had troubled him for so many years and to make his joy the more absolute he desir'd to communicate it to her that was the halfe of himselfe That pious Princesse kept her bed through a debilitation of all parts of her body and had not been able to follow Quasmes he went therefore to her with his children in his capitall citie and presenting Izatida to her was not much troubled to perswade that she was the true Xaira her bloud her bowels and her transports assur'd that veritie and at the very time the old Prophet Thisnatidez coming in Doubt not O Queene said he the Lady whom you see before you is the same whose losse I foretold you and now confirme her recoverie Taste in peace those contentments heaven bestowes on you for a retribution of your good deeds and recompencing Zelmatida's travels and vertues with a reward worthy himselfe strive to preserve in your posteritie that lawfull authority which the supernaturall favour crown'd you withall This speech calming all the vertuous Queenes agitations and confirming Quasmes in his beliefe the businesse was to perfect all things else The first resolv'd on was to send back Hismelita's body to the King her husband and in lieu of demanding reparation for the wrongs his Armies had done to offer him the alliance and friendship of Quasmes and my Lord the Ynca Whilst this Embassy was in hand Zelmatida pressed for the conclusion of the marriage he intreated Quasmes and the Queene that they would not take from him the quality of a sonne which they had given him from his cradle and though he acknowledged himselfe unworthy of it he humbly besought them to ratifie the will of heaven and yeeld to an alliance which had beene written there already Thisnatidez came in the interim of these sollicitations and taking off the sole difficultie on which they stucke No no feare not said he you have not recovered your daughter to lose her againe she shall never be taken from you and though the Prince to whom heaven hath destinated her is to reigne in a countrey farre remote from hence yet 't is decree'd that Xaira shall close your eyes and before you leave this life for a better make you live anew in two Princes which shall be the wonders of their age and the last defenders of our dying liberty These promises accomplished that great worke Xaira was solemnly promised to her loyall Zelmatida and a little while after given up to his impatient longings The very day of his nuptials six Courriers of Guinaca came ro Quasmes Court to inquire for Zelmatida and make knowne to Quasmes the estate of the affaires at Cusco these messengers meeting with such happinesse as they durst not hope for assisted at the marriage of their Prince and with their usuall diligence returned to the King their master Zelmatida thought on you in the height of his contentments and commanded me once more to crosse the Ocean to bring you newes of his happinesse Thus Sir have you all that you would know of me there remaines nothing else for me to say but that Time shall never blot out of my Master's memorie either the favours he hath received from you or the friendship he hath promised Polexander after Garruca had ended his relation sigh'd often and then Thy master said he is at last most happie but I deare Garruca am more afflicted then ever and thinke I should sooner make a way to climbe up into heaven then finde that which leads to Alcidiana's Island Yet must I persever and like our deare Zelmatida I propose to my selfe no other end but death or victorie After this discourse Polexander had many more with Garruca whereby he was fully informed of divers particulars which that wise favourite had too lightly touched on afterwards he instructed him in all such things as the good Quasmes and his children expected from his love and knowledge When he saw his wounds were halfe well and that time alone might perfect the rest he thought it best to returne to the Canaries in Garruca's ship that he might there give him one wherein to return to the new world and put himself in case to attempt againe the enterprise he had so often fail'd in Garruca understanding his resolution presently caus'd to be repair'd all that his ship needed and so set saile assoone as the winde served Diceus who was no ill Pilot judging very neere what courses they were to steere guided them so luckily and so well amended the Compasse by which Garruca had beene directed that the fifth day of their navigation they were in sight of the Canaries Our Heroe landed in the new Island of
question whatsoever Phelismond spoke to him dismissed all the Physitians and thought that dances maskes playes and other sportive pastimes were the best remedies which my new physitian prescribed for my recoverie But that new Leech soone repented him of his counsell for the King imagining that Phelismond would be as able to suppresse my malady as he had judgement to discover it commanded him to be with me as often as he could and intreating I would cast off that melancholy which might be my ruine assured me that if I did but contribute somewhat to part of my health Phelismond's conversation would be able to perfect all the rest thus he parted after he had unwittingly given me so true counsell Phelismond who hath ever kept that respect to his Master as not to abuse his favour staid at my beds-head to shew his obedience and being excellent at the relation of stories was willing to begin one that might divert me and withall relate his fortune but presently I perceiv'd how violently he forc'd himselfe to it and therefore touched with his constraint I stopp'd him at the very first to let him know the excesse of my love by that of my compassion Doe not said I Phelismond force your selfe any more your concent is too deare to me to sacrifice it to my peace I had rather die then to redeeme my self from the grave with the losse of your happinesse leave then when you please the miserable Helismena and seare not that either to be revenged or to be cured she will ever complaine of your crueltie death is most deare to her since she is permitted to tell you that for you she dies Phelismond unable to resist his sweet nature nor the pity I wrought in him shed a torrent of teares before me call'd himselfe a hundred times ufortunate lastly cast himselfe on his knees and speaking to me with a freedome which gave me some satisfaction Madam said he if I may expect from your Highnesse a favour which I deserve not be pleas'd I may discover my thoughts to you and that without coloring either with feare or respect or any other specious falsities the refusall I am bound to make of your love I may say to you that being absolutely anothers I cannot be yours that Queene whose picture hath ravished all the Court possesseth what you desire of me and I should be a traitor if I promised you an affection which is not in my power to give you I confesse my ingagements to the King your father and your incomparable vertues should plucke out of my soule this stranger passion and forcing my inclination make me finde my pleasure in my dutie and what concernes me but Madam what opinion would you have of a man that should be capable of so great an infidelity and what can your Highnesse expect from a heart so remisse and weake as to accommodate his love with his fortune or faithlesse enough to conceive as many desires as there are objects worthie to be coveted Give me leave then Madam to repeate what I lately said and make a protestation which shall be just though it may seeme insolent and 't is that Alcidiana shall be the sole object of my love and that I will sooner die as many times if it be possible as your lawfull indignation can make you wish it rather then I will infranchise my selfe from the glorious servitude wherein my inclination and Alcidiana's vertues have so sweetly inthrall'd me When Phelismond had done I was so ravished at his constancie and generousnesse that it was not in my power either to condemne his resolution or to complaine of the contempt he made of my affection on the contrary I approv'd of them both and seeing that Prince at my feet which seem'd to confesse himselfe guiltie and ask'd me pardon for his offence Love Alcidiana said I since heaven will have it so and because 't is there decree'd too permit Helismena to love you Phelismond arose from before my bed-side so pusled and divided betweene his love and mine that I doubt not but in himselfe he thought him very unhappie that he could not absolutely become at my disposall and solely mine This inabilitie was the cause of my recoverie for I tooke comfort in my misfortune by knowing that the author of it was no lesse afflicted for it then my selfe and I thought that in his intimation of his impossibilitie of loving me he made knowne to me a new kinde of love whereof till then I was altogether ignorant Assoone as I had recovered my strength and was permitted to leave my chamber I appear'd in Court with that same cheerfulnesse which had before time got me the name of the delight of Denmarke for all that I was secretly fed on by my passion but I conceal'd it very warily for feare lest Phelismond should be thereby anew discontented and though there scarse passed a day wherein I spent not at least two houres in bewailing with teares apart the misfortunes of my life yet in publike I appeared so pleasant that Phelismond himselfe was deceiv'd aâ—… it and beleev'd time had absolutely cured me To that extremitie was I brought when you came to fight with Phelismond his defeature mightily afflicted me and but for his consideration which retained me I had wrought my father's choler to higher violence then it ran then It may be you are yet ignorant of the person who wonne him to violate the faith he had given you and made him so wilfully bent to your ruine I would have you know Polexander that my desire to revenge the affront you had done my love mademe imploy all my credit and power for your destruction The King who hath alwayes beene a great observer of his word was a very long time before he would hearken to the reasons I alledged against you but I so pli'd him on all sides and gave him so many severall assaults that he was forc'd to yeeld hereupon your death was resolv'd on but when I understood that Phelismond grew inraged at your ill treatment and had therefore pluck'd off all that which had been appli'd to his wounds of purpose to undoe himselfe my desire to preserve him kept me from perfecting your ruine I dexterously therefore put a new face on all businesse and had lesse trouble to obtaine your pardon from the King my father then I had in getting him to signe a warrant for your death When I was inform'd that Phelismond affected you I slack'd my hatred and turned all my choler on Alcidiana No said I to my self I will never indure that any poore pettie Princesse who for all her Territories hath but a little shelfe or rocke knowne only by the shipwracke of some unfortunate mariners should be so overweening as to esteeme of the most excellent of men no otherwise then as of one incivilis'd and unworthy either to breathe or to serve her Presumptuous Alcidiana said I as if she had beene present thy insolence will ruine thee and if Phelismond
day breake a Negro dragging a Lady by the hairs of her head that barbarous act made him forget his intention to save himselfe and with his sword drawne made towards that hangman and with one blow on the head slew him and made him fall at her feet whom he had so unworthily treated Assoon as the unfortunate Lady saw her selfe at libertie Pity me she would have said to Polexander but knowing him as she had the first word on her tongue Ah! thou powerfull origine of my race cri'd she author of light what see I Pardon pardon me my first thoughts I am guiltie of doubting of thy providence thou savest me when I accus'd thee of my ruine and thou left'st me not in the power of the perfidious Atalas but of purpose to deliver me into the hands of this deare and worthie stranger Polexander knew not presently who 't was that spoke thus but looking on her at leasure he thought she was one of the Princesses of Thombut and the very same who had set him at liberty The first imagination after this was that the tyrant had beene informed of his escape and suspecting his daughter to be the author of it had condemned her to be so dragged by the haire that the crueltie of the punishment might answer the enormitie of the offence This thought bred in him so extreame an horrour of that barbarous Prince that being suddenly seis'd on with an heroick furie O thou said he that instructest mine armes to fight and hast rendered me this sword with that he lifted it a lost to make thine anger felt by such as contemne thy clemencie give me now an extraordinary strength and be pleased that to avenge the Majestie which invirons thee I may exterminate the tyrant that dares wrong it in thy Images As hee ended this ejaculation he saw come out of the great gate of the palace a man all bloudy who being forc'd backe by neere twenty others witnessed by his resistance that he onely gave way to their number Polexander being mov'd with the Negro's valour left Diceus with Philesia and ran whither his great courage carried him Instantly he flew in among the murtherers and felling two or three of them so afrighted the rest that he took from them all desire of perfecting their assassinate He who had beene so fortunately assisted cast himselfe at Polexander's feet and kissing them Generous stranger said he though Galatia should erect Altars to thee should it be acquitted of that which it owes to thy valor No truely and I confesse for it that having for ever delivered her from the tyrant of Thombut's persecutions she is bound to invent new honours to let posteritie know that she hath not blended thee amongst her other gods Ah Prince of Galatia said Polexander goe not on with these blasphemies unlesse you have a mind to ruine your selfe speak with more respect of things divine and know 't is thence and not from me that you are freed from the hands of your enemies But tell me who hath reduced you to the state I finde you in where is the Princesse your sister What doth the King of Thombut That tyrant is now no more repli'd the Prince of Galatia another as cruell as himselfe hath strucke him out of the world but alas he hath had the comfort before he died to satiate his furie by the death of those you inquire after How said Polexander is the tyrant of Thombut dead He is so repli'd the Prince and with him his two daughters who truely for their beauties as well as for their vertues merited a better fortune But the new tyrant murdered not the father to spare the daughters and questionlesse you will fall into his traps if you hasten not to escape his fury Polexander would have been instructed of all these tragicall events but he had not time for a great company of Negroes rushing out of the palace came with a great shouting to fall on him he resolv'd rather to die then give ground and therefore slighted the danger and plunged his sword up to the very hilts in the belly of the ring-leader to that inraged troupe Fortune at that very instant had minde of our incomparable Heroe and repenting her putting his vertue to so cruell trials ingaged her selfe to be thereafter more favourable unto him and that she might not deferre the execution of her promise to another time she made the most part of the inhabitants of Thombut to run to the succour of our Heroe Rumour though confusedly gave them intelligence of all that which had passed in the palace and upon that newes they had armed themselves for the preservation of their libertie if they had recovered it and if not to get it themselves by the sword Assoone as they appeared in the place where the Princesse Philesia was left they would have ranged themselves in order both for offence and defence but the Princesse fearing lest their too much preparation might make them lose the occasion of assisting Polexander went to meet them all dishevel'd as she was and without losse of time in relating what had passed Run said she and make haste my friends to the aide of that man who gave the first blow for the subversion of the tyrannie which inthralled you he is in fight with the cruell Nigeran who by the murdering my father thinkes to become master of your liberties your goods and lives The Thombutians presently nock'd their arrowes and entering all headlong into the palace court so well behav'd themselves for the preservation of their Liberatour as well as for their liberty that he who would have oppressed them with all his complices was sacrificed to the memorie of the dead and the safetie of the living Polexander being so miracoulously with-drawne from the danger whereinto his valour had ingaged him turn'd to the Thombutians and speaking to them in Arabick My friends said he you are too much redevable to heaven to deferre to another time the thankes you are bound to render Get you to your Temple and offer up the spoiles of the tyrannie you have undergone as an eternall remembrance that you acknowledge your deliverance to have only come from thence Those who understood the Arabicke interpreted to their companions what Polexander had said and all of them approving his counsell resolved to follow it He put him selfe in the froâ—… and taking the Prince of Galatia with the one hand and the Princesse of Thombut with the other would march so that the people might have compassion on them both and be wonne more easily to what hee intended to make them execute When he was come to the Temple the Priests began their acts of thankesgiving and assoone as they were ended he intreated the Assembly not to depart till they knew how strange the accidents were which heaven had permitted for the punishment of miscreants and the comfort of honest men Philesia hearing this preface stepped forward and told the multitude that she being a spectatrix of
all the miseries which had befaine her house she could better relate them then any else The Thombutians intreated her to feare nothing and to make knowne to them all things as they had passed they pressed up thicke together that they might lose nought of what she spoke and got her to stand on a seate which by chance was by her that shee might be heard the farther off and a generall silence being impos'd thus she began If I did not inforce my resentments and sacrific'd not my teares and lamentations to the publike felicity I â—…eare lest you would thinke mee unworthie the compassion my misfortune winnes from you What shall I doe O ye Thombutians Shall not a daughter be permitted to bewaile the death of her father But shall a person who is obliged to you for her life be permitted to lament the death of your tyrant No Philesia will not confound things so differing she if you please will yeeld what she owes to nature and yet not denie the debt is expected from her to her Countrey She will rejoyce with you for the extirpation of your enemies and bewaile to her selfe the miserable death of her father and the desolation of her family But why should I with these thoughts deferre the recitall of those disasters which have finished yours Hearken ye inhabitants of Thombut and judge if that man be not devoid of reason that wishes for a Crowne Ambition which hath alwayes handled the minde of the King my father farre more cruelly then he hath done you advised him to adjoyne to his owne territories those of the most part of his neighbours He began with that of Galatia and the facility of the conquest gave him a desire to undertake some that were farre more considerable to that end he rais'd a mighty armie and was ready to proclaime warre against the King of Gheneoa when this visible Deitie with that she pointed to Polexander came to succour the King of Galatia and by the recovery of his Realme confounded all my fathers pretentions His ambition seeing it selfe curb'd in the beginning of it's course put into his thought such fearfull wayes of avenging himselfe that the onely relating them would be able to make that monster seeme more horrible to you then I can describe it My father therefore knowing the weaknesse of the King of Galatia was willing to make use of it he propos'd a peace to him on such conditions which he thought surely the other would not refuse it was accepted and the Princes of Galatia delivered not for a hostage but for the victime of that accommodation When my father had that infortunate Princesse in his power and with her this invincible stranger shewing Polexander crueltie which alwayes accompanieth ambition counsell'd him to joyne the pleasure of his revenge to the firme establishment of his authoritie Though that Devill be mercilesse yet is it farre more ingenious in the execution of its furie it perswaded my father that he should not be sufficiently avenged if he satisfied himself onely with murthering them and that temptation prevailed Thereupon he resolv'd that the Princesse of Galatia should die but he would have her suffer such a death that might fully glut his furie That Princesse was no sooner in the chamber where she was to receive the Crowne of Thombut but she saw her brothers enter not sumptuous and brave as she had seene them a little before but as two miserable slaves dragg'd to their execution Your enemy commanded them to strangle their sister which bloudy charge disturb'd all sense and reason in them and their sister upbraided them for their senselesnesse shewing the stoutnesse of her heart laugh'd at her husbands threatnings and made him beleeve that she came to Thombut with no other intent then to murder him The credulous King flew on her with an intent to take away the weapon which she made shew to plucke from under her robe but finding none he grew the more inraged and with his owne hands cast a bow-string about the necke of that to be deplored Princesse Long might she if she had listed have defended her life but she conceiv'd that to give it freely was the last signe of a true courage The executioners of your enemies cruelties bound the two ends of the string to the armes of the two Princes and compell'd them with blowes to be themselves their sisters stranglers Imagine if it be possible what their griefes what their sorrowes and what their torments were during that of their sister truely they indured so much of all that the eldest expired in seeing his sister die and he whom you see here had not been alive if in the height of his anxietie a long swound had not made him void of all sensibilitie These dismall beginnings had a sequell worthy of them the cruell Nigeran whom you banished from Thombut for the enormitie of his offences forsooke the ordinary place of his retreate and under favour of the night slipt into the palace to execute that which he had often attempted At his first entrance he cut the throats of the guard as they lay buried in sleep and wine and followed with above a hundred more banished fellowes flung into the chamber where your enemy feasted with pleasure on the bloudy fruits of his impious and abhorred vengeance To him he threw an impoyson'd dart which too well guided for me most miserable and disinherited orphelin entred under my father's left breast and with that blow fell'd him halfe dead on the body of his unfortunate wife My sister seeing him wounded ran in that she might not forsake him in that extremity but presently being shot with three arrowes she had the happinesse of neither surviving her father nor her fortune All the souldiers in the chamber were put to the sword and justly rewarded for their too wicked obedience For my selfe I fled and strove to save me by the most unfrequented places of the palace but my flight was bootlesse for I was found out by Atalas the most execrable of all Nigeran's companions many strange injuries he did me and hurl'd me on the earth either certainely to have torne out my heart or to murther me by some most cruell and inhumane way But by chance finding under my hand an arrow which that monster had let fall I gave him with it a deep wound in the thigh assoone as he felt himselfe wounded he arose and tearing off part of my haire dragged me by the rest crosse the court of the palace I cannot tell you what he would have done with me but I can well say that my invincible Protector staid him and with one blow depriv'd him of the power of doing any more mischiefe These my friends are the last night's events they are so strange and so many that they would be incredible were they a little remote from us I desire you not to looke on me now as on her that was lately your Princesse the dead have made that condition too odious
laid waste my deare Countrey But what remembrest thou perfidious and abominable Menocenarez Impose thy sorrowes an eternall silence and involve if it be possible in that darknesse which shall never have end those horrible treasons by which thy unbridled passion deliver'd thy King and Countrey into the hands of the Usurpers With that the Slave was silent and not able to suppresse his teares cover'd his face with his hand that he might weep at more liberty Polexander desirous to take him out of that agony I said he have knowne your name in the city of Fez. I have heard Benzaida utter against you all that the anger of a wronged Lady could make her invent yet rather pity then hate her For if her love have brought you into this servitude that which shee bare to the ingratefull Prince of Morocco made her turne on her selfe the point of that ponyard which shee had provided to avenge her selfe on that Infidell 'T was that traytor said the Slave who after he had strook the steele into the heart of Benzaida for he was the cause continually whetted that knife which is prepared to cut my throat But since you know the generall misfortunes of my Countrey I will relate the principall causes and tell you that Ferdinand and Isabella are beholding to my treason more then to their owne power for the conquest of the kingdome of Granado The unfortunate King under whose government that brave Province was lost was one of those timerous Princes who are so far from any intention of extending the limits of their kingdomes by forcible incroaching on their neighbours Territories that they scarce have courage to oppose the enterprises of their owne enemies Two yeares before the truce was broken betwixt the Spanyards and the Moores my ill fate made me cast mine eyes upon Benzaida I saw her faire for she was then in the prime of her age and may well say that in the very instant I began to die of a death which is not yet ended When I lost my liberty I lost my reason and not considering that I was but onely on ordinary knight my ambitious thoughts made me beleeve that my Nation owéd not the Empire and States it possessed to men of a royall extraction but to great invincible and persevering courages such as were Masters of the fortunes of Monarches themselves I therefore sought out the most fit meanes to get me the favour of Benzaida and knowing her to be of an exceeding high spirit and particularly esteemed men of valour I betook me to the Warres I dare say and so will my greatest enemies too that for eighteen moneths together I was plac'd as an inexpugnable Fort on the Frontiers of Granado against the invasions of Ferdinand My name was spread throughout all Spayne The Court of Granado was fill'd with it and the King my Master seeing himselfe secure under mine arme omitted nothing that might oblige me to the continuance of a service that was so advantageous unto him The affaires of Castile recalling Ferdinand and Isabella into their owne Territories our frontiers were left in peace I then returned to Granado and the honours I received there rather beseem'd a King that triumphes then a Subject whose services had made him usefull I was not only admitted to the Princes particular pleasures but to his Counsels and I dare say that if my my love to Benzaida had not troubled my senses and taken away courage I had put the Granadians in an estate of regaining on the Spanyards all those Kingdomes which they have lost within six hundred yeares But that furious passion possessing all the functions of my soule I was not able to reflect on any thing My thoughrs my designes and my wishes had onely the enjoying of Benzaida for their object I betray'd the publique affaires to adjust and fit them to my private contentment and subverted the Counsells of the Sages by the authority which my pass'd-actions had gain'd me In the meane while I burnt in secret and durst not make known to Benzaida that she had kindled the fire But at last the violence of my disease forcing me to forget all consideration I imagined that I should not be more unhappy then so many others who had ventur'd on the like boldnesse One day therefore as Benzaida walk'd in the Palace Garden only accompanied with her maides of honour I met her as it were by chance and feigning to be much surpris'd at the encounter made a low reverence and retired She smil'd at my astonishment and calling me What said she if I were a Castillian you cannot witnesse a greater mislike of me I repli'd even trembling Madam you may please to pardon me if I say your Highnesse doth your self a great deale of wrong by so unjust a comparison I have indeed an extreame aversion to the enemies of your state but their presence shall never amaze me For you Madam whom I am not to look upon but with respect I confesse that as often as I have the honour to see you my soule is full of dread and astonishment but of such a religious astonishment and devoute feare as our Alphaquies command us to feele when we approach things divine and holy Your words repli'd Benzaida more surprise me then my encounter did you I never thought that a man train'd up in warre and who all his life time breath'd nought but blood and battles was capable of so much and so high a jeering I answered that brutishnesse whereof your Highnesse accuseth me under such words as may seeme obliging is not that which hath hitherto made me delight in the acts of warre A fairer cause compell'd me to so noble effects and did I not feare to violate the lawes prescrib'd me by my subjection I would bring your Highnesse to confesse that till now I have not been happy enough to be well known of her I will never said Benzaida take you for my Interpreter since you come no clearer off in your explications I would have onely said that I thought it very strange how a man accustom'd to the serious discourse of warre could be so skill'd in those effeminate termes wherewithall both delicacy and idlenesse have compass'd the Courtiers language Your Highnesse then said I must hate that which is most to be beloved amongst us if you condemne a language which Love himself hath invented to render all things faire and eminent the testimony they deserve from all mens acknowledgements This language repli'd Benzaida is as ridiculous as its Author and though Spaine had nothing strong enough to make you give up your armes yet I will undertake to have the better when you dare defend so bad a cause You have already carried away one part of the victory I repli'd but since I am sure of the other be pleas'd Madam that I leave your Highnesse lest I may be engaged either to ore'come you or to waive all verity and my self With that I made her a low Reverence and went away that
the respect which Ambition and Impiety would have robb'd them of Let us on then said I my brethren and friends and forgetting all of us our owne interests labour for the glory of our great Master That very day I took leave of mine Hermitage and the blessed Ghost of the holy Hermit and imbarquing my selfe in the Vessell of the Sun happily arriv'd in this Island Here was I receiv'd by all the Clergy as some great Saint and install'd with a great deale of ceremony in the dignity of Soveraigne Sacrificator Since I exercis'd this charge I have seen the catalogue of all the Princes and Nations which have used to visit the Temple of the Sun and noting that the Princes of the Inaccessible Island came hither to celebrate the sacrifice of Alliance whereof we have spoken I not onely more lamented then ever your losse but I let my selfe fall into mutterings and speeches injurious to that Providence But it hath out of pitie and infinite wisdome subverted them and rendring me that blisse which I thought utterly lost ingaged me to convert my griefes and lamentations into thanksgivings Alter Alcippus had thus ended his discourse he humbly besought his Master to let him know how he fell into the hands of the King of Gheneoa Diceus said Polexander will at leasure informe you of all that The businesse is now to take order how I must hereafter demeane my selfe in this Island Alcippus having confirm'd him in all that Pisander had related touching the arrivall of Alcidiana's ship and made known the facility of sending to that Princesse for his being inroll'd in the number of her Slaves intreated he would not discover himselfe to any but expect with patience the houre of his good fortune Polexander approving Alcippus advice retir'd to his chamber as privately as he came thence When he was laid instead of sleeping he began to muse on the contentment he was to receive at his up-rising But as if his memorie had been jealous of his satisfaction though it was but imaginary it represented to him Alcidiana's anger farre greater and more mortall then it was and bringing him to meditate on that bloudy Declaration she had publish'd against his life made him conceive that he could not without disobeying her dare to set foot on the Inaccessible Island With that thought crying out as if hee had indeed committed some execrable crime Let me perish said hee since Alcidiana commands it nor let me by any subterfuge dispense with the necessitie of dying since the Lawes of this Temple ingage mee to it Throw in againe Alcippus throw in againe the ball to the vessell of death and doe not betray thy conscience for the sparing of a life which I cannot lose too soone since Alcidiana will not have it last any longer But may be thou wilt say You but little know that Princesses intention Those things which she hath made publick are different from those she retaines in private Her thoughts are not altogether answerable to her words You must interpret Alcidiana by Alcidiana and beleeve that she hath not pronounc'd the sentence of death against you for any other end then that she might have cause to make you sensible of her pitie Amintha and Pallante have said that you cannot doubt of Alcidiana's goodnesse without obliging her to doubt of your fidelity 'T is true Alcippus I have infallible testimonies of that Princesses favour If her Edicts affright me her thoughts re-assure me if I see my death in the one I meet my life in the other Let us therefore cast off all kind of settled will and resting in a generall indifferencie as to our selves goe and heare from the mouth of our Judge whether we must live or die With this resolution Polexander fell asleep and it caus'd it so soundly that the Sun was got far above the Hemisphere before he awak'd Diceus who durst not make any noise was as long in bed too But assoon as hee heard his Master stirre he arose and came and drew his curtaine Friend said the Prince wee doe ill observe the diligence prescrib'd us If our superiours come to know what we are doing and find us yet in bed I doubt we shall receive sharp reprehensions from them Your Majesty may give them leave to talk repli'd Diceus and laugh at the severity of a government under which you are so little while to live Thou sayest true said Polexander smiling Therefore help me up and expose me not to a displeasure which I may avoid Hee was no sooner clad but the usuall cry obliged him to goe to the common Hall There he found the King of Gheneoa's Embassadors which came to take their leave and to aske him in the name of their Master whether hee were fully resolv'd to persevere in the service of the Sunne and Alcidiana After Polexander had imbrac'd them all one after another Relate said he to the King your Master that I am more obliged to him then he can imagine and ere it be long I will send to give him thanks proportionable to the favours I have received The Embassadors tooke their leaves with teares in their eyes and went presently to imbark themselves with all the Pilgrims Assoon as the guards of the Isle saw they were out of sight the chiefe Priest with his Clergie and all the Slaves went to the Temple to make their accustomed prayers for the good successe of the Pilgrims voyage That day Alcippus had a long discourse with Polexander and ingaged Diceus to related to him in particular the adventures which had betided their Master since hee was left for dead in the Island of Astramadan Diceus forgot nothing in his relation but gave Alcippus so many new causes of astonishment that he could not chuse but cry out O great Prince by whose valour we see renewed againe the true age of the ancient Hero's what thanks and Altars doest thou owe to the Power that hath rais'd thee so high above all other Princes For a whole moneth intire Polexander Alcippus and Diceus did nothing every night but entertaine themselves with their adventures and prepare for the happy day whereon Alcidiana's ship was to be descri'd on the coasts of the Island of the Sun The very day they expected her there was a great Vessell by them discover'd which came steering the course from Alcidiana's Island The guards gave notice of it to the chiefe Priest and after the wonted ceremonies done they caus'd the ship to enter the Port. Those who were within her confusedly got to shore and thereby made the guard suspect somewhat Yet their habit of Pilgrims re-assuring them they brought them to the entry to the Temple But by chance one of the Priests being there and judging by their wilde and curst looks that they hid some wicked designe under their devout habit had the curiositie to come neerer and view them better But his prying cost him his life for those disguis'd theeves perceiving they were discover'd inhumanely murdered the
wonder of this age had not been long in our Court but by his admirable indowments he grew so extreamly recommendable that he became the love and admiration of all Alcidiana confesseth to you that that Heroës virtue join'd to the service he had done her against her rebellious subjects insensibly wonne her to wish him well She did that at the beginning by way of acknowledgment which she did afterwards for her owne satisfaction In a word she lov'd him but perceiving her love began to goe beyond the limits she had prescrib'd it and what she indevour'd to conceale would in spight of her divulge it selfe sometimes by her disturbances otherwhiles by her deep musing then again by complaysancies which she deem'd unworthy her virtue and in briefe by the alteration of her complection she resolv'd to indure it no longer To make it sure she thought the best way was to get Polexander away While she was contriving it an occasion was offered in the stealing away of Amintha by a Spanish Pirate So soon as the newes came to Polexander he got to sea made after Amintha's ravisher Many dayes he pursued him and as many nights but in vain for a tempest drove him one way the pirate another In the mean while the love that Prince bore to the Queen my Mistris scarce permitting him to live out of her fight he left poor Amintha to the mercy of the ravisher and preferring slavery before all the Empire which his vertue had given he thought on nothing but of entring into Alcidiana's chaines A thousand times he strove to get to the Inaccessible Island as often the quality of that Isle beguild his hopes made him run almost through all the Ocean and yet found it not again After he had spent neare two years in such bootless voyages and undergone all the incommodities which accompany long navigations he arriv'd at the Isle of two Tyrants There he slew Amintha's ravisher and set that Lady again at liberty but his generousnesse ingaging him to avenge the Queen Tysiphone for the outrages she had receiv'd from the gyant Astramadan he was murdered by that tyrants subjects and Amintha after she had long time bewail'd the death of that famous Prince was forc'd to get to sea to avoid the violence of those of that Isle Almost assoon as she was under saile a tempest arose and by a strange accident being separated from the faithfull and generous Alcippus Polexanders favorite she was at last fortunatly cast on the coasts of the Inaccessible Island where being known of all she was brought to the Court and welcom'd by Alcidiana with so much joy as if after the lamenting her for dead she had been newly rais'd to life againe But the Queenes contentment was disturb'd by that which Amintha related touching the death of Polexander And since that time our Princesse hath not given over the afflicting her selfe with continuall plaints and lamentations Her conscience or rather her affection continually upbraides her for the death of the Canaryes King and makes her believe that she is truly guilty of it Every night his Ghost all goary either appeares or seems to appeare to her and displaying his wounds See saith he to her to what a case the desire of seeing and serving you hath brought mee But how deare is my misfortune to me since you pity it with what pleasure doe I spend my bloud since it drawes teares from you and how beneficiall is my death to me since it hath acquir'd me a place in your memory I should never have done if I would relate what Polexanders ghost spoke mightily to Alcidiana However my Lord these visions wrought an alteration in her health troubled her repose and brought her to such extremities that if they leave her not I shall soon see my Country full of afflictio such calamities as must follow the death of Alcidiana Loe here my Lord all that which my Mistris commanded me to communicate unto you and since she can expect from nâ—…e other then heaven the tranquillity she hath lost she beseecheth you to offer sacrifice for the expiation of her offence if shee be guilty of Polexanders death Yet what e're betide she beseecheth you to remember him in your devotions and to beg from heaven for a cessation of these visions which persecute her and since she shew'd not her selfe insensible of Polexanders love but that shee might not be so in the respect of her honour that it would not permit her innocency to be look'd on as a crime After Lynceus had spoke Alcippus reply'd thus The Deity whom we adore is too cleer-sighted to find any blots in so pure a life as that of Alcidiana Assure her from him that shee is not guilty of Polexanders death and that her disquiets proceed from some other sourse then that pricking remorse wherwithall the Eternall Justice begins to inflict vengeance in this life on offenders 'T is her love Lynceus that brings on these dreames and is the cause of all the agitations which molest her I advise her to quiet her minde Yet I forbid her not to love the memory of Polexander since 't is all she can love of him now But I would have her love to be peacefull and quiet and if it be true that my minde is somtime inlightned by the beames which come from above I assure her that heaven in retribution of her virtues preserves for her such contentments as it communicates not to many Princes Lynceus fully satisfi'd with this answer took leave of the Arch-priest and so well imprinted in his memory all that was said to him that he truely related it to the Queen his Mistris Alcippus on the other side perceiving it lay in his power to render our Heroe perfectly happy was almost ready to disclose to him what he had newly discovered but being retain'd by the sanctity of his oath and the Majesty he had call'd to witnesse He thought in becoming perjur'd he should in lieu of advancing Polexanders happinesse infallibly ruine it by his execrable untruth He therefore protested again to discover to him nothing of Alcidiana's secret and went to bed so well pleas'd with his vow that from that very night he tasted such contentments as ever since made him tread under foot all those that are earthly The next morning he went to the Temple and consecrating himselfe wholly to heaven promis'd solemnly to have it ador'd with all the purity had ever been taught to man That very day the bloudy sacrifice was to be offered and Polexander as Prince of the Clergie was bound to supply the place of the Arch-prelate at that dismall Ceremony He then be thought him it was time to put in execution what he had resolv'd with Alcippus and to imploy all his eloquence and credit for the abolishing of that horrible custome of humane sacrifices Assoon therefore as they advertis'd him that the Priests of the Sun and Alcidiana's Embassadors were assembled in the Temple he went
thither with all the Slaves and beseeching the company to give him audience thus bespoke them If I were yet bound to the observation of those criminall Lawes which make Religion to become a Sacriledge and blend piety and homicide together I would impose silence on my just sorrow and patiently indure the injustice of your Ceremonies since I could not condemne them but by making you call in doubt either my zeale my obedience or courage But being infranchis'd from so cruell a slavery and disburthen'd of those chaines which submitted my life to the blind necessity of Chance I will tell you boldly that your Predecessors have made an execrable mixture of Religion and Impiety of heaven and hell of divine worship and that of the divells You adore you say a Deity which is nothing but Spirit Light and Puritie and yet as if he were a tyrant which took pleasure in bathing himselfe in humane bloud or some furious beast that feeds only on the flesh of men you cut the throats of your brethren at the feet of his Altars and if it were in your power you would make him drink their bloud all hot and reaking I know at other times he hath commanded the immolation of beasts on his Altars but I know it was ordered to affright a brutish people and to tell them by so many massacres that if they were not exact observers of his Lawes he would leave them as a victime to the vengefull sword of their enemies I have not time enough nor sufficient learning to unfold to you another mystery of that bloud Let it suffice that I tell you 't was a figure of an immolation which was to be but once perform'd And as for the sacrificing of men I protest and assure you 't is an invention of hell and the relick of that Idolatry which had almost infected the whole world Advise with the monuments of your fathers have recourse to the establishment of Religion in this place reflect on these sad and fearfull Ceremonies which you never put in practice but with horror and condemning them and you shall find that you have offended in thinking to doe well cut off then from the number of your mysteries these abominable superstitions and from hence-forward adore a Power which is all Innocence and purity with Ceremonies as innocent and pure Assoone as Polexander had ended his remonstrance all the Assemblie cast their eyes on the Arch-priest and expected what he would say either in condemning or approving the fained Araxes Speech and he full of that zeale which had consecrated him to the Altars tooke heaven to witnesse that he had not entred into that holy place but with a firme resolution to die or to make them renounce the abomination of their bloudy Sacrifices Yes my companions said he I am of Araxes opinion and to confirm it I tell you Heaven hath expected but one the like Sacrifice for the satisfaction of it's Justice the Devill who takes pleasure to imitate the workes of the Divinitie or rather by his execrable malice endeavour'd to annihilate all religious mysteries hath wonne us to slaughter one another that he might confound in these detestable Sacrifices the maine one which concernes and deprives us at once of all our knowledge and hope which depends on it My deare companions therefore and this Assemblie if it be not by a blind and brutish custome but a true devotion which makes you apply your selves to Heaven intreat from thence an inlightning of your blindnesse and in bestowing on you that knowledge which you want it would please to let you understand in what manner you should yeeld your adoration All the Assemblie without further deliberation cri'd out against the bloudie Sacrifices and the whole Clergie presently being shut up to consult advisedly upon a matter of so much importance set downe among their constitutions that it was neither fit to sacrifice men nor beasts To this resolution Alcidiana's Embassadors gave their consent and did it the more willingly since in the Inaccessible Island the bloudy Sacrifices were so seldom practised that in a whole age there were but two or three seen Every one rejoyc'd at this alteration but the illustrious Slaves as the most interessed made their joy to be taken most notice of for though there was but one of them to die that day yet they thought themselves all to be redeemed from death since there was none among them who from the Lot was exempted yet were they not absolutely disingaged from the vowes of their servitude but in stead of being bound to expose themselves to a voluntary death they were onely to passe the rest of their lives in the service of the Altars The next day Alcidiana's Embassadors having ended their Ceremonies the Arch-Priest made them their farewell feast and after he had assured them that he would take paines to his utmost for the reformation of abuses and establishment of a right worship he intreated them to make knowne his intention to their Queene and win her for the discharge of her conscience to make the like reformation within her Territories After that he brought them into his withdrawing chamber and suddenly composing out of divers true accidents a mysterious Fable thus bespoke them My Lords said he I must discharge my trust and satisfie the passionate desires of a Prince which holds your Princesse for a visible Divnitie I beleeve there is none of you all but knowes him as well by the magnificence of his Offerings wherewithall he hath inriched the Temple of the Sunne as by Princely presents he hath often sent to the Queene your Mistresse Before he passed from his condition to a better and ere time had cover'd him in that darknesse where he lies interr'd he sent for the last time his Embassadors to this Island and after he had satisfied his zeale he would likewise content his passion he therefore be sought me by his letters and Embassadors that assoone as you arrived here I should deliver into your hands the last presents he had appointed for Alcidiana I am intrusted with these treasures and to acquit me of my word given to that Prince I intend presently to put them into your charge That which is most to be valued amongst them is our Prince Araxes who as the wonder of his age and the glory of men hath beene consecrated to heaven and destin'd for Alcidiana You may say that having received his libertie for the great service done to this Island it were Injustice in your Queene to put him againe in the company of Slaves but let not that thought hinder it Araxes so passionately loves that Prince who deem'd him worthy the service of Alcidiana that he preferres the will of that King before his libertie and life the Queene may doe as she please either give him her chaines or infranchise him The Embassadors overjoyed that they had so great a Present for their Queâ—…e urg'd the Arch-Priest to dispatch them that they might set saile while
not as other men subject to the dammage of wounds For as lame as he was he fell in amongst the Spanish barkes burnt some ten or twelve of them sunk above fiftie and beat the rest before him under the bastions of the gotten town Whilst he was performing these admirable exploits one of Alcidiana's Embassadors ravish'd that he had so good newes to carry to his Princesse left the fight and went straight to the gates of the upper towne all the night they had been there in a great alarme and the Queen's guards with the most of the inhabitants were still in armes at the gates on the walls and market place Nor would the Clergie alledge their priviledges to be exempted from that service but on the contrary were the first weapon'd and by their example drew to the common defence such as were accustom'd to free themselves from all travell and danger of warre When the Queen's Embassador came neere that gate which they call'd the East he was staid by the sentinels assoone as he had told his name they straight went and made it knowne to Radiotez the chiefe Priest who not able to beleeve this unexpected newes ran to the gate and causing the wicket to be opened took in the Embassador and then had as much adoe to perswade himselfe 't was the same man though he knew him very well and ask'd him often if it were possible he was not deceiv'd If you take me for Amintas repli'd the Embassador you are not mistaken but if the sight of me hath astonish'd you that which I have to relate will doe it farre more Bring me quickly to the Queene and know now the while that we have gotten the Spaniards Fort that neither the strangers nor rebels can endamage us more and that hence forward you shall not be imployed but in giving thankes to that eternall Bounty which hath shew'd it selfe so punctuall in sending us the succour long since promised The Chiefe-prelate strove by all meanes to get Amintas to speake more clearly but perceiving he was resolv'd to speake no further till he came to the Queene he brought him to the palace where he found the Princesse prepar'd for all manner of accidents and resolv'd rather to die an honourable death then to be expos'd to the insolence of her enemies At the sight of Amintas she startled againe and her longing furnishing her with many demands at once she would even have been glad that Amintas could have prevented her questions When he had leave to speake Madam said he I bring your Majestie so great and so happy newes that I will not thinke you have lost any thing of that good opinion you have heretofore had of my fidelitie though you doubt of those truths I am to make knowne to you yet I beseech you to give credit to what I shall relate and to beleeve your selfe so deare to the Deitie you have so religiously ador'd as not to doubt of the assistance it hath miraculously sent you That Slave said he which the Prophesies promis'd â—…s in the time of our calamities is in your dominions he is at your gates the vanquisher both of the rebels and strangers disloyall Tantalus hath felt the power of his invincible arme and as he was the first that attempted against your authoritie so hath he been the prime man that was sacrific'd to your indignation After this victòrious Slave had slaine him hee cut his troops in pieces and came to this towne with above twentie thousand of your subjects this very night hath he surpris'd the fort which the Spaniards had built to cut off from you all hope of relieving Whilst Amintas spoke Alcidiana often chang'd colour and sometime felt her selfe as cold as ice and then againe as hot as fire her dis-rest at last not permitting any longer silence Of what Slave talke you said she sharply to her Embassador Who is that stranger whence comes he where found ye him and how long have you been the Interpreter of our Prophesies Amintas beleeving he had wherewithall to please the Queen I will said he fully satisfie all your Majesties questions and tell you before hand that they have not well understood the mysterie of our predictions who casting a dread on the hearts of our late King your father and your selfe for the Slave that was to come out of the deserts of Africa to whose valour you are to owe your estate every private man his safetie and the whole Island its entire deliverance But that I may omit nothing can be expected in what I am to say I will begin if your Majestie please with our arriving in the Island of the Sunne Alcidiana then bending to the backe of her chaire and leaning her head on her left hand seem'd to be very attentive when Amintas began thus After our landing in the Isle of the Sunne and the accomplishing the Ceremonies of the sacrifice of Alliance wee propounded as the custome was the celebration of the bloudy sacrifice but the Chiefe-prelate and the Prince of the Clergie let us understand by two learn'd and eloquent speeches that in lieu of making our selves acceptable to the invisible Sun by our humane immolations we became the enemies of his glory and profaners of his puritie We gave credit to it without contesting against their Doctrine unanimously consented to that reformation and obliged our selves not onely to give you notice of it but to winne you to a speedy abolishment of all bloudy sacrifices The day of our departure arriving the Chiefe-priest tooke us into his private chamber and after he had many times intreated us not to let slip a word he should say thus bespoke us I must my Lords discharge my trust and give satisfaction to the passionate desires of a Prince which holds Alcidiana for a visible Divinitie I think there is none of you all but knows him as well by the magnificence of hiâ—… offerings wherewithall he hath inrich'd the Temple of the Sunne as by the royall presents which he hath often sent to the Queen your Mistris before he pass'd from this condition to a better and time had involv'd him in that obscuritie where he now lies buried he sent and 't was the last time his Embassadors hither and after he had contented his zeale desir'd likewise to give satisfaction to his passion To that end he besought me by his letters and Embassadors that presently on your arrivall here I should deliver into your hands the last presents he had appointed for Alcidiana I am the guardian of his treasure and to acquit my selfe of my promise made to that Prince I intend at this time to give it you in charge That which is most to be admir'd amongst his gifts is our Prince Araxes who as the wonder of his age and the glory of men hath been consecrated to heaven and destin'd for Alcidiana You may tell me that since for this great service to this Island he hath been infranchis'd it would be a great deale
lastly for the preservation of him which it had sent for their defence After she had ended her praier all the people confirm'd it by their acclamations and applauses and so went out of the Temple blessing the Queen and waited on her to the Palace with such testimonies of affection as were farre beyond all that had preceeded As she entred the second Court of her palace Diceus who had plotted that action with his Master presented himselfe and humbly besought her to have pity on a Canarian who had lately escap'd out of the Spanish fleet Alcidiana was so troubled and diverted that shee took no heed to what the man said But Amintha who attended her thought she should know the Supplicant and staid to look on him Ah madam said Diceus if the memorie of a personage whom you have somtimes affected be yet deare to you have compassion on that miserable estate whereto his losse hath reduc'd me Amintha knowing Diceus by his voice better then by his countenance and unable to suppresse that violent passion which she alwaies had in any thing concerning Polexander How Diceus cri'd shee art thou yet alive Arise and follow me Alcidiana at Amyntha's noise turned her head and saw the Lady talking to Diceus but not imagining whom he might be kept on her way and retir'd to her chamber where she presently â—…eil on a Couch and commanding all to withdraw fell to her usuall reveries An houre after she awoak and call'd Amintha They told her she was gone Let her be fetch'd hither said she and after that Commandement fell again into her former imaginations Amintha came presently after and approaching the Queen your Majestie said she may be knowes not the man who this morning fell at your feet The Queen answering that shee had not taken notice of him 'T was said Amintha that faithfull servant of Polexander who was only with him when he was murthered by Astramadans Subjects He was about to tell me in what manner hee escaped after his Masters death and by what accident hee arriv'd in this Island when your Majestie vouchsafed the honour to send for mee At these words Alcidiana coming as it were out of a deep sleep How said she is Diceus here O you thou lov'st me Amyntha let me see him The recitall he will make me of his Masters death will serve me for a great diversion A sad and dismall diversion replid ' Amyntha I doe not think Diceus can relate any thing more particularly to you then I have done 'T is all one said the Queen I shall be glad to see him and hear the reproaches he will throw on me for the death of his Master Hee hath been too well bred repli'd Amintha to take such libertie as shall not please you I am in such an humour said the Queen that whatsoever he shall say will not be able to displease me Therefore without losing more time let me see him With that Amintha making a low reverence went out of the chamber and calling for a Squire commanded him to go call Diceus The Squire obey'd the command and Diceus presently after entring the Queenes chamber Amintha brought him where she lay Alcidiana trembled at his sight and finding her selfe more troubled thâ—…n she thought she could be Alas poor Diceus said she thy Master is then dead Diceus continuing on his kneees though the Queen bad him arise Madam said he my Master dy'd because your Majestie thought his life was not worth the preserving Neither his life nor death depended on my will repli'd the Queen The will of your Majestie said Diceus hath alwayes had more power over him then that soveraign law on which depends the destinie of all other men It seemes then by what thou saiest answered the Queen that thou wouldst make me guiltie of thy Masters death Heaven said Diceus who can make us immortall was never accus'd but by blasphemers for confining the course of our life to so short a date Nor hath the King my Master who alwaies look'd on you though not as a Deity yet as its living image otherwise then with a benediction receiv'd the sentence of death you pronounc'd against him And the last time he did me the honour to speake to me Diceus said he let my death come when it will I will take it for a speciall favour from heaven since 't is the onely thing iâ—… left me whereby I may witnesse my obedience to the greatest Queen in the world Alas repli'd the Queen how knew he that I bore so great a hatred to his life Hee hâ—…d read it quoth Diceus in the declaration which Pallantus shew'd him in the Pirates Island but he read it more clearly in the effects of your anger I mean by the warre which nature her-selfe had denounc'd against him and by the ill successe of â—…ll the voyages he undertook to have the happinesse of continuing to you the testimonialls of his most humble Servitude I should condemne my Declaration answered the Queen though it were justly done if it hastened the death of your Master But 't was his valour and not Alcidiana that slew him Hee thought himselfe immortall as he was invincible and judging of his enemies by himselfe imagin'd there was none base enough to commit a murther Hee had too much loved life said Diceus or to speake better he had been as he was the superstitious observer of your commands if he had thought on the preservation of a life which he knew pleas'd you not He is dead Madam and died the more happily since he was perswaded in dying he should give you a strong and unquestionable proofe of the greatnesse of his love and obedience These last words touch'd Alcidiana to the heart so that spight of her selfe she sigh'd and feeling her teares in her eies turn'd her head towards Amintha that her too lively resentment might not be perceiv'd Assoon as her amorous teares were wip'd off she beganne again and would know of Diceus by what meanes he sav'd himselfe after the death of his Master I will not relate to your Majestie said he for what cause the King my Master came to the Isle of Astramadan Amintha was by when he was ingag'd to sight with him and I doubt not but she hath entertain'd your Majestie with it I will therefore content my selfe with the narration of the most strange and diversified Combate that ever was seen since weapons have been us'd He related how Polexander had sent to defie Astramadan with how many Knights he had to do till he came to haâ—…die stroakes with the Gyant in brief all that which we have descri'd at large heretofore But when he came to that part wherein we spoke of Tisiphone's arrivall and the firing of Astramadans City I had said he to the Queen the honour that day to serve my Master in the place of his Squire and to doe somewhat worthy my new quality assoon as the Tyrants Guard assail'd the King I fell in amongst them and wâ—…s so
almost inevitable snares to draw us into mischiefe I have liv'd long enough Amintha since if selfe love deceive me not I thinke I have reasonably well imploy'd all the moments of my life But if I may be permitted to speake more I say I have liv'd too long since I have surviv'd Polexander Amintha finding by the excesse of resentment that speech which the same excesse had taken from her Then said shee you are resolv'd to dye That beautie which heaven admires as its Master-piece must even in its birth be the prey of steel and death and that wonderfull wit which hath confounded the wisdome of the Ancient and the subtilty of Philosophers must now turne its weapons on it selfe and meeting with nothing that can vanquish it denounceth a warre against it selfe because it would not be still invincible Come Polexander come and relieve Alcidiana if there yet remaine any thing of thee Imploy that power which men attribute to Soules freed from their bodies in averting a blow whereat Nature it self trembles and if the fear of being anothers then thine puts the steele into thy Princesses hand free the world from the cause of that apprehension Alcidiana smiling at Amintha's exclamations you said she shall be heard for Polexander loves us too well to abandon us in this extremitie The Princesse spoke truth unawares for at the same instant when Amintha invok'd him to the ayde of Alcidiana he was mightily labouring the ruine of her enemies Hee had discovered an ancient Aqueduct under the ditch by which in all likelyhood the water of a fountain in the upper towne was convey'd to the lower But time had ruin'd part of the Vault and buried the knowledge of it under the same earth which cover'd it A Pioneer first discover'd this meanes to get into the towne and secretly gave notice of it to Polexander who presently going to se the Vault made it be search'd and understanding it went through the enemies intrenchments attended patiently till the night were well come on to convey some companies that way and so more easily worke his ends of the Spaniards That which made him the more to hasten it was the arrivall of the Fleet on the Lake on the side of the upper towne They had cast anchor a little before night and ranged themselves along the shore no man knowing whether they were friends or foes The Inhabitants of Eliza who had never seen the like there certainly beleev'd they were Spanish ships and on that belief grounding their absolute ruine hastened as much as in them lay the marriage of Alcidiana with Araxes as the onely refuge they were to flye to in their calamities and the last remedy they could get for them Rhadiotez whom they had not forsaken and from whom at every moment they demanded with threatnings the accomplishment of his promises was compell'd to find out Araxes at the begâ—…ning of the night He related to him at large the particulars of the fatall Prophesie the Mutiny and all the Elizians desires and finally the Queenes last resolution Polexander had not so ill a servant of Diceus nor so little intelligence of that which pass'd at Court but he knew alreadie part of what Rhadiotez had told him Yet he made semblance to know nothing of it and aggravating the incertainty of most predictions condemn'd the Elizians proceedings and above all intreated the Chief-priest to go to the Queene and beseech her in his name that shee would not so farre forget herselfe as to share her Crowne and life with the most unknowne and miserable of men Rhadiotez admir'd the virtue of our feigned Slave and fixing on his last words told him that his moderation and the respect hee bore the Queene merited an infinite applause and if time would give him leave he would goe and fully make it knowne to the Queene and free her from the remaines of aversion and feare But said he the multitude more urgent then time will not admit of this delay They are in armes at the gates of the towne and the Palace and if at the stroke of midnight they see you not in the Temple of wisdome prepare your selfe for the most horrible spectacle that the furie of a desperate multitude is able to bebloudy the Chronicle of their owne times withall or affright all ensuing ages Polexander answering the Prelate that this disaster was to be prevented and for himselfe he was readie to obey dismiss'd him with an assurance that he would march on with the first command he reciv'd from him or the Queene Assoon as Rhadiotez was gone Polexander retir'd with Diceus related to him the state of his affaires and shewing him a timidity which onely love could justifie seem'd no lesse irrationall then the very multitude which he but newly condemned But Diceus o're-throwing all his scruples and nullifying all his difficulties advis'd him to be present in all pompe at the glorious assignation and by a happy deceit terminate for ever his owne misfortunes and the Queenes discontents Thou knowest Diceus repli'd Polexnder through how many tempests and shipwracks I have sought for the haven thou shewest me and would even have bought the sight of it with my bloud and life Thou knowest whether in these twenty dayes that I have been in the Inaccessible Island my desires and actions have tended to any other end then the advancing the happie moment wherein I was to be inlightned by that incomparable starre which hath so long time not vouchsafed to shine on me Yet me thinkes I know not what feare which seems just to me congealeâ—… my bloud slackens my longings disavowes my former wishes and accusing me to my selfe of subtilty and treasons threatens me with some new misfortune if I dare present my selfe before Alcidiana 'T is a suggestion said Diceus which the ill Angell of your quiet throwes into you Reject it boldly and without losing time which should be better imploy'd in unprofitable deliberations prepare your selfe to receive this night the Crowne of your travells and perseverance Polexander vanquished by a perswasion which so pleasingly flattered his inclination resolv'd to obey his servant But before he would leave the lower towne he reinforc'd his guards survey'd thâ—… places he had wonne dispos'd of all things in such sort that hee doubted not but at his returne to put his great designe in execution and left the command of the troups to Alcidiana's Lievtenant Generall The orders given he went to the Fort and shutting himself into his chamber was there clad according to Diceus intention more then his owne A very rich suite he put on with the chaines given him by the King of Ghenoa and was forc'd to weare the long pâ—…ple cloak imbrodered with gold and pearles which hee had presented him from the Priests of the Sun as their Prince and Defender But he had no sooner put it on but his Guard came and told him that above two thousand men were in armes on the Counter-scarfe of the Moate and intimated a
the verity which the other would have perswaded him Though he saw himself fully satisfi'd yet he persever'd in his doubts and look'd for Polexander in Polexander What said he you live then and are not the Slave born in the depths of Africa for whose valour heaven reserv'd the safety of this Kingdome Yes said our Heroe I live and am a slave come out of Africa But I am not so happy nor so valiant to believe that the safety of a Kingdome such as this is should be reserv'd for me You are repli'd Pallantus both too fortunate and valiant then needs to accomplish so great a businesse but I place not on that the height of your felicity I fix it on this that Providence it self who from all Eternity had destin'd you to the government of this Kingdom hath lead you to it by wayes so faire and ordinarie I suffer not my self to be dazeled by my friends flatteries repli'd Polexander I know mine owne value and what I ought to hope for and if you will give me leave to declare my mind freely I shall tell you dear Pallantus that the highest pretention I have is that my service may at last obtain me from Alcidiana the honour to weare her chains and to watch for her amongst her Slaves This converse had lasted longer but for Diceus coming in Assoon as Polexander saw him he step'd forward and ask'd with a trembling voice if he had had the honour to see the Queen I newly came from her reply'd Diceus and bring such newes as may much amaze you Pallantus thinking Diceus would not speak before him made a semblance to withdraw but our Heroe staying him by the arme You said he shall wrong me if you imagine that that I am distrustfull of your discretion Do you not know that you have undertaken to justifie me to the Queen and how can you do it unlesse you know how she is disposed and what thoughts Diceus hath put in her Tell us said he to his servant what you have done Diceus dissembling his joy Before said he I acquit my self of the command you impos'd on me I thought it fitting to visit Amintha I went to her lodging and met her as she was entring No sooner had she an eye on me but she came forward and feigning to be all in choler What Diceus said she you have been capable of this treason and Polexander could conceale from me a thing wherein I might so effectually serve him Surely you have both done very fairly Now see for some body that may repair the faults you have committed Madam said I if the King my Master have been in an error do not if you please impute it either to the diminution of his affection nor any other cause as culpable Fortune is guilty of all and if you will have me name her Complices I must say all Alcidiana's Subjects No sooner had the King my Master set foot on thâ—… Island but they took him for a certain African Slave foretold of by some prophesie and on that foundation building all that a popular extravagance can produce they won him to take armes and march to the relief of this City The very day he got the Spaniards Fort he was wounded as you have heard and but for my ordinary curiosity he had not known either of your reâ—… hither or whether you were alive or no. I can assure you it for truth because I have seen him many a time lament you for dead and he no sooner knew from Alcippus by what unhappie accident you had been as it were forced out of his armes but falling as it were dead on me Let heaven said he hence forward doe what it pleaseth since Amintha is lost and since with her I lose all the hope of my reseeing Alcidiana I have nothing else to be depriv'd of Amintha was so inly touch'd with these words said Diceus that the teares stood in her eyes A while she stood and could not speake to me At last being recollected Come said she into my Closet and let 's indeavour to recompose such things as Polexander's ill fortune hath disordered Assoon as we were in private Before all things else said Amintha you must relate to me all that your Master hath done I may say since his resurrection I repli'd Madam I recounted to you before Alcidiana how he dyed I will now tell you the manner of his reviving and the brave adventures which have befalne him in his second life After that I related to her your Majesties death and resurrection as I took it and forgot nothing of what had betided you both by Sea and Land I will not tell you how often Amintha wept during my recitall nor how often she made me say over againe the same things that she might make them credible to her When I had done Diceus said she 't is to be confess'd that the generousnesse and constancie of the King thy Master were impossible to be rewarded if heaven had destin'd them a recompence lesse then Alcidiana But note with me how that Eternall Spirit which so wisely presides o're the fates of men hath by secret insensible and unconceivable wayes brought Polexander to that high point of honour and felicity where his virtues are to be crowned Indeed that Providence would not by common meanes worke the conjunction of two such extraordinary personages as Alcidiana and Polexander It hath done well to hide that admirable effect of Justice in thick clouds and to inviron it with seeming invincible difficulties to the end that the one becoming dissipated and the other surmounted that admirable worke of its powerfull hand might amaze all mindes with joy and admiration Or if thou wilt have me say so to the end the Deity making appear what it is by so visible a miracle might deeply reingrave its love and fear in all such hearts from whence it was alike effaced Our Prophets threatned Alcidiana either to be taken away by strangers or to be the wife of a Slave com'd out of the deserts of Africa and denounc'd how without that fatall marriage her estate ran hazard to be lost with her selfe Whil'st all things were preparing here to bring to light the beginning of that Prophesi Heaven laboured in the depth of Africa for the Accomplishment of the rest It sent tempests discover'd rocks and ordained Shipwracks to the end that a great King losing all the signes of Dignity should become effectively a Slave and under that miserable condition wander long time through the deserts of Africa But thou seest not Diceus the mysterie of this inducement Heaven made not Polexander a Slave but to witnesse its decrees are unchangeable and withall to provide for him a way right and open whereby it might be easie for him to arrive to that happie port whither neither his â—…avells his watchings nor industrious searches had ever been able to have brought him All these things have I represented to the Queen and have so well perswaded her to
of the Sun and to die for his service in that very place where that generous victime had been immolated When the slave had thus ended the relation of his crime and love he was as it were transported with fury He arose from between Polexander and his Companion and speaking to one that heard him not Thou hast then cri'd he O ingratefull Princesse preferr'd a violent death before the fidelity of a Lover that was not altogether unworthy thy respect Thou hast unfortunate Benzaida and unhappy aswell as I in thine inclinations lov'd the Traytor which contemn'd thee and treading on the sweetnesse and timidity of thy sex wash'd thy hands in thine owne blood O! what a sad but powerfull example art thou to me to avenge my selfe in my turne and at last triumph o're that cruell one to whom my perpetuall flames were despicable Yes Benzaida I will imitate thee and if the lot doe not quickly put me into the hands of the Executioners I will act mine own destiny and get from the power of my reason what I could not obtaine from the giddinesse and uncertainty of Chance With that he stood mute A too piercing griefe and extreame violent contention of thought stopping his spirits in their source hindred their communicating themselves to the parts they animated and the body being abandon'd of so necessary an assistance fell as dead at Polexanders feet His fall was not so heavy as it might have been if the Prince seeing him staggering had not caught hold on him and being not strong enough to stoppe the fall yet he hindred the violence of it With the aide of the other slave he rais'd him up and laid him on the bed they had sate on whil'st they discoursed together The unfortunate man quickly recover'd from his fainting and calling upon death with as much fervency as he had made shew to fear it at the beginning of his discourse made plainely appeare how changing and unweigh'd the desires are of such who without any reservation give themselves over to the mercy of their own passions Polexander who had learn't by his own infirmities not to be too rigorous in censuring another mans comforted the Moore with all that his brave spirit could furnish him either to extenuate the enormity of his treachery by the old excuse which men borrow from the power Love or to justifie it by the example of many other Lovers This discourse got somewhat on the slave but not enough to bring him wholly to himselfe He took leave of our Heroe with his Companion and retir'd into his lodging passing there the most dreadfull night that despaire and anguish could bring on a man that would not live and yet fear'd to die Diceus in the meane while who had been abroad till night came back to his Master with a countenance that well witness'd the content of his minde Yet durst he not make knowne what he had learnt because some Officers belonging to the Temple came in with him to advertise Polexander of that whereto his condition bound him To put him in possession of his charge he was brought to the Temple and told him the last slave that was admitted ought to watch on the Dome of the Temple all that night long which succeeded the Eve of the great sacrifices and there from houre to â—…oure to awaken by a Cry all such as were shut up within the close of the Temple that they might betake themselves to prayers and prepare for the next mornings Solemnization Polexander thought that nights work a little too troublesome yet conceiving 't was not to be dispens'd withall he resolv'd to watch out the night on the top of the Dome They brought him up to it by a winding staire very artificially contriv'd within the thicknesse of the wall and when hee was mounted he came into a little chamber wherein he might as well stand upright as sit According to the ancient custome he lighted about an hundred or sixscore lampes which were about the Dome amongst which there were twelve whose matches were so equally measured that at every houre one of them was to goe out whereby Polexander might precisely know when he was bound to make his Out-cry In this exercise he spent the night and was not taken from that station till he had cri'd out thrice that the God of that Island began to guild the Dome of his Temple Hee acquitted himselfe so well of his charge to the content of the Priests that he was applauded by all and conducted to a place where he might take amends for his watching and fasting Yet hee eate but little but was presently brought to his lodging and laid with as much care and delicacy as if he had been in his owne Palace Five or six houres hee slept and was call'd up by the same persons who brought him to bed Diceus was of the number who getting leave to make ready his Master was so straitned by those about him that he had scarce liberty to tell his Prince he should hope still and that a great many of his conjectures were true Assoone as our Heroe had on all his ornaments which he wore the day before he was brought into the Hall where all the other slaves were assembled When every one had taken the ranke according to his admittance the Embassadours and Pilgrims of quality were plac'd on scaffolds After that the Chiefe-Prelate presently entred clad in his Pontificiall vestments and ascending a throne like to that in the Temple by the waving of his hand impos'd silence on all the Company and when he perceiv'd that all were attentive hee turn'd himself to the slaves surnam'd the Noble and spake thus to them One of you this day must by the losse of a miserable life purchase the honour to die for a God and the felicity of a condition which is to continue as long as the Power that promiseth it I would not at the very first have laid before your eyes that dreadfull Image which might even amaze men voide of all feare if I knew not that your courage being as great as your zeale and the oblation you make of your selfe to our Deity being a voluntary offering I should lessen somewhat of your vertue if I went about to dispose you for death by long persuasions And indeed I should most vainly undertake it since I see in your countenances so great a desire to shed your blood for the honour of him to whom you owe it that I doubt not but there would be a most ardent contestation amongst you who should offer himselfe first if the precise will of our God had not prescrib'd the order by which he brings you to him What a brave emulation is this generous Sacrifices and how should your magnanimity confirme in the resolution to die those who being well perswaded of the future estate of soules look on their bodies as on cruell tyrants which keep them bound in loathsom and obscure prisons 'T is true you live already an