Father for at voiding such inconveniencies as might happen she was thereto more pressed by the perswasions of Lisimena who seeing the Kings rage each hour increase for want of news was of opinion that by telling him the true extraction of those two Princes it was best to hold him no longer in errour who were not Subject to his jurisdiction nor the observation of his Laws But whatever great appearances obliged her to this discovery Orazia feared to be worse than that word she had given the two Princes not to make them known untill they were returned to Gouzarat and therefore she entreated Lisimena to continue the secret and not reveal it till the time were come So our two Heroes remain'd conceal'd in Saradins Castle untill Anaxander were recovered and being both assured of their mistresse savours burnt with one equal impatience of returning to their own Provinces where they expected earnestly that the good Evander who should have been long since returned should have regained for them Alcidaris good will but this sage old man was taken and held sick some six or seven daies journey from Visaporus which hindred the performance of his commission so soon as he ought and that he could not come time enough to divert an Embassage which tended to the ruin of Anezanders contentment as you shall understand by what does follow Alcidaris the great had by the common noise learnt all that had befaln his son Anaxander and his nephew Piroxenus in the Kingdom of Decan which gave him wonderful discontentments And because in that great sally they had made where the two Princes Araxus and Demonax were slain upon the place some of those who sled from the confusion as well as they themselves had spread the news of their deaths as in truth sew men knew what was become of them the King of Cambaya believing them out of the world notwithstanding all their youthful parts and follies past was hardly able to be comforted especially when he reflected on their amiable presence and the good education which they had gotten in his house and that which added to his affliction was to see that that child which remained to him by his former wife was so unhappy born as not be acceptable to one subject he had the most complacent and foulest flatteners of his Court wanted boldnesse to applaud his ridiculous actions or commend him be never did any thing but out of season if he had a mind to oblige he did the contrary and dulnesse was as natural as vice unto him however this unhappy father who believed that he had no other child alive finding himself obliged to marry him not for any good inclinations he had for him but for the proper interest of his greatnesse and to perperuate his name and memory having known of the death of Arontus sole son unto the King of Narsinga who had remaining but one only daughter heir to all his Estates thought good together with his Counsell to seek her in Marriage for his son for this purpose he dispatched Pirobus who had worthily served him in divers other occasions in an Embassage towards the King of Narsing a as well to condole with him the losse of his son as to desire his daughter of which the young Alcidaris had no sooner understood but he burst out a weeping as if he had lost all his friends For he had fallen in love with a mean towns-mans daughter whom by all means he would marry and for her sake despised the love of the greatest Ladies and the rarest beauties of the Court This faithful Pirobus whose age and abilities made him very venerable soon after departed from Campanel and having learned on the way shat the King to whom he was sent remained yet at Baticalus made so good journeys as he arrived there the very next day after that Duel had been fought The King received him magnificently and dissembling the displeasure he took at that so late fought Combate he resolved to give him Audience before he would depart for Bisnagar that the grave oid man might have lesse labour and journey to return He knew not the cvill conditions of the Prince of Gouzarat nor any thing but of the greatness of his race and his possessions for that indeed there was not in all India a more mighty Monarch than the King his father He stood not long deliberating whether or not he should satisfie Pirobus and prefer the alliance offered by him before all other that might be hereafter And a speciall motive which so much rather made him give him his desire was the assurance given in the King his Masters behalf that be had but that child only hopeful to inherit four Kingdoms And thus you see how the King of Narsinga sent back Pirobus with great embraces and fair presents and fully pleased every way with his so happy imployment Before he departed he was by the Kings leave to kisse the hand of his future Princess who having nothing dearer in the world than that name of Cambaye to whose lovely Prince she had already vowed her self receiv'd him with a smiling countenance and dessembling the knowledge of his evill parts for whom he sought her said to Pirobus that the gods had favored her too much that had design'd her for the most perfect and accomplished Prince of Gouzarat She was even on the point of opening her self wholly to the grave Embassadour because she knew he was the man that had treated the match for Anaxanders mother and that she happily might do him an exceeding favour to declare him his adventures and to tell him where with Piroxenus he was concealed for having been one of that Combat which he heard so much noise of in Baticalus but she thought best to say nothing for fear of disobliging Anaxander who would not be known in Narsing a but with a Royal train and worthy of the love he made to Orazia However because she had a perfect knowledge of her Lovers story and because she had learnt it from his own mouth that after the taking of Visaporus the good Evander his old Governor returned to Gouzarat where he was to declare unto Alcidaris the adventures of his son and nephew she very much wondred that Pirobus assured the King her father and her self likewise that the Prince in whose behalf he was sent was the only son of his Master among other questione which she made him of the Kingdom of Cambaya she askt him what was become of the wise Evander of whose abilities she had heard so much discourse Madam answered the Embassador we know not what fortune he hath run since he stole from our Court to pursue the two Prince whose losse we have felt so sensibly as we shall never come again to our selves and for mine own part Madam I should be the unthankfollest man alive if I did not weep for their losse as long as I lived The Princess imagined by this disoourse that some accident had befallen Evander on the way
Lisimantus I promise you son said the King that I will never contradict what you think fit do but desire And to let you see I am as impatient for your contentment as your self I will presently go and dispatch Albalor Pirobus his eldest son in Embassage to the King of Zeylan to crave the Princesse Lisimena in your name if you will accompany my dispatch with a word of your own make haste for I already long that you and your brother were made happy in the possession of your Mistresses And hereupon they parted and Lisimantus ravish'd with content that all things suited to his expectation shut himself in his Closet where he writ this letter to Lisimena Lisimantus his letter to Lisimena Madam AT last the gods have shewn me justice and have furnish'd me with what I may excuse the boldnesse you have heretofore blam'd in me to seek your Love if to declare my self unto you it be requisite to be a Kings son you shall by this Embassadour know that Alcidaris is my father if for brave actions it be needful to be recommended you know what I have done for your Crowns safety if to have reputation in the world you must needs have been told of the renown that there are but few Provinces wherein I have not gotten worship for the name you gave me if you desire a faith with out example I call to witnesse all the powers of heaven and earth that I have never lov'd but you and if you do me now the honour to consent unto my just desire you shall see I have wherewith to blur the reputation and remembrance of those antient loves propos'd as miracles in their examples Because diligence was very requisite in this voyage which respected the contentment of the King in that of Lisimantus Albalor a brave and accomplish'd Knight and worthy son of so vertuous a father made ready his equipage with all expedition and taking with him fifty Gentlemen of the best born in the Court shipped himself at Bazaim to reach the Island of Zeylan as soon as possibly he could As soon as he was departed the King thought now on nothing more than of his dear Anaxanders return whom he proposed already to see King of Norsinga Bisnager and Orixa besides the Crown of that fair Kingdom of Dulcinda which he was to have by his mothers side That vertuous Princesse had so recovered her former graces and attractions since the news of her sons life and health as very few Lodies of that Kingdom exceeded her in beauty such a property hath joy to dilate it self and from the heart ascend into the face All day she entertain'd her self with Evander who on his part was to lesse ravish'd And as she had a great power with the King she caused great largesses to be distributed among the people which were accompanied with a thousand sports yet was all that but little in comparison of the pomp and state prepared for Lisimantus coming wherein Anaxander and Piroxenus were to have a good share their coming only was expected to celebrate it to the great contentment of their Majesties and accomplishment of all Evanders joys whom Lisimantus heartily forgave for that cruelty he was constrain'd to shew him and whereto his just resentement drave him THE INDIAN HISTORY OF ANAXANDER AND OF ORAZIA The sixth BOOK THe whole Court and City were full of joy and all the people of Cambaya forgetting their past grievances fell to invent new Dances and inviting one another to Feasts as well for the contentment they received already by the sight of the of their Princes as for the speedy return which they expected of the other when Fortune which pleaseth her self in a disorderly government of the things of this world and cannot endore them long in one condition cast the Cambayans again into a greater confusion than they were ever in and filled all the Court with fear and disorder During the time of the Ball without thinking of any thing save being merry as indeed there was no reason to suspect an evil the King was astonished to see the wise Almerin Prince Anaxanders faithful Squire comming towards him out of breath who at first throwing himself as his feet Sir if you make not haste to succour your son speedily he will run the hazard of dying the most tragical death that ever was Alas had he listed to believe me he had not been in this trouble for I did long ago conjure him to make himself known and to remember the affront done him at Visaporus but he was ever obstinate in his purpose as likewise Piroxonus to disguise themselves till now in so much as at present they cannot be believed that they are of your blood because they have been so long undiscover'd to the King of Narsinga who is about to punish them as breakers of his Edict having lately fought a Duel within his Dominions This news did no lesse trouble the Company than that which Pirobus had brought but lately had contented them and that a present remedy might be given to that inconvenience the King in great trouble commanded Almerin to tell him what new misfortune had befallen his Son and what course might be taken to save his Life Know Sir said the Past who had scarce the leisure given him to draw his breath that after the Prince my Master had fought with Lisimantus as Pirobus here come may have told you he concealed himself in a Castle belonging to Saradin the Princess Orazias Squire intending to return unto you as soon as he recovered of his wounds which were very grievous and just as be was ready to do so and depart with Piroxenus who never left him out of his sight he found an unexpected ambush layed for him I doubt not but you have heard how the Princess Orazia immediatly after that unhappy combat thought fit to spread a noyse that my Master was dead that the King her Father incensed against him as much as is possible night have the lesse reason to send after him The report of his death lasted for some dayes but being impossible to keep any thing very secret in the Court Saradin who till that time had been very wise could not chuse but reveal it at length unto a very intimate friend of his call'd Florestan from whom he hid very few things and told him for truth that our Princes but told him not that they were so were hid in his house on the way to Baticalus where the King had layn without knowing it This Florestan was in favour with a Lady of the Court called Corisba who was that Lerians Sister whom anaxander had slain in Duell at his first comming to the Court of Narsinga being provoked by him through his jealousie that the Prince Arontus favoured him too much and as it is the Custom of Lovers to conceal nothing from their Mistresses Florestan was so unworthy as to reveal his friends secret unto his This wicked woman finding a fair way to be
afflicted as if her Father had been spoyl'd of all his Countries whom formne and the valour of Lisimantus had made victorious over the King of Maldives and who had 〈◊〉 his Empire over all his enemies possessions Lasimena I say forgot the pleasures of these Conqueslis and only would remember that great loss so late received in that Country which she loved equall with her own although she had not had an obligation by the Laws of nature and of blood Now as she never fail'd from alwayes being with Orazia to assist in the contrivances of new Pastimes far was it from her thoughts to leave her in the woefull case whereto this new mis-fortune had reduced her But how was their entertainment now altered from thier former conversation for whereas they were wont to breath no other thing than sweetness and content they now could nothing else but mix confusedly their tears and sighs not able to speak a word Thus in embraces they were found when Saradin Arontus faithfull squire with a countenance bearing deaths picture in it entred the Princess Chamber and kneeling said Madam behold the first time ever I unwillingly observ'd my Masters commands and surely I obey him now in this last service in duty to a sorrowfull Commission and saying this he from his pocket drew a handkerchief to wipe his tears which ran about his face abundantly and in his other hand holding a Letter sealed with Arontus Signet Madam said he see the last reliques of that generous Prince which made all India tremble at him dying he ever named you and when he saw Physicians left him having but two houres time to live he spent that space to let you see his last desires under his dying hand in this short letter which he wanted strength to finish yet had he care to have it sealed in his presence whiles he lived and among all his people who lamented him about his bed within his Tent he chose out me and thus said to me Saradin as soon as mine eyes close go to my Sister and tell her she observe what I advise her by this Letter which thou shalt trust no other hand with than her own scarce had he said these words but that his soul followed them and took its flight to heaven The fair Orazia who had not need of this addition to her sorrow had notwithstanding resolution enough to open the letter which she received from the faithfull squire But yet her tears which choak'd her eyes gave her not leave so soon to see that it contain'd these words Arontus Letter to Orazia MY deer Sister the little time I have to live I spend in teaching thee to bear my death with comfort I pray thee trouble not thy self because it could not be more glorious for it has succeeded the destruction of our enemies whom I have over-thrown in battell The only grief I have in dying is that I cannot with my person clear a truth unto you which is needfull you should know Those accomplish'd Knights who under names of Ariomant and Calistenus have so long aisguis'd themselves among us are two of the most renowned Princess of Asia and I conjure thee to observe the Gods intention and thy Brothers last will which do ordain the first of them to be thy husband he is the son of great Al The poor Prince would have said Alâ—idaris King of Cambaye and Father to the generous Anaxander whose qualities and manners he intended to describe if so his hand had power to second his desire but strength upon a suddain fayling him by reason of his mortall wounds received he was constrained to leave unperfected his Letter and in his presence have it sealed as it was to keep his promise given the Prince Anaxander and his Cousin Proxenus that he would never make them known but to his Sister Orazia nor make their birth apparent till they were fit to shew themselves in Princes equipage before the King of Narsinga This letter did redouble her affliction and among the violent touches of her sorrow waked her amourous dislurbances After she had a thousand times accused the heavens and curs'd Arontus fatall victory which cost his life comming at length to cast her eyes upon the notice he had given her in his Letter admire the force and power of love a suddain alteration surprised her and mov'd her thoughts from the sad mourning of her brother to reflect upon her Lover She alwayes had opinion that Ariomant whose actions were so Kingly must be of eminent quality and notwithstanding his so humble fashion in the King her Fathers Court she knew that in his eyes and Courage there was somewhat great and famous But at that instant she receiv'd so glorious a testimony of his birth she neither could disguise apprehension nor dissemble from Lisimenaes eyes the passion she was in to be more fully satisfied For which cause drawing Saradin apart My friend said she to him since the misfortune hapned to us by thy Masters loss hat testimony hath Ariamont given who now commands the Army Madam answered Saradin since that wofull day where in the Prince forced to leave us gave him the guidance of our Troops he hath so worthily discharg'd himself that though he be a stranger and known by nothing but his actions he hath not purchased the smallest jealousie all our Captains with delight obey him and though the Prince had not himself appointed him as chief I think he had been chosen by the Armies generall consent His wisdom and his valour are so met and so full of every vertue sit to make up a commander that if there be any thing which may administer a comfort to us in this dire mischance it is to see our Prince his power hath fallen into so noble hands The Princess receiv'd a two-fold mitigation of her sorrow when she learnt that he to whom she had already given her heart not knowing his descent was not alone a Prince by birth but that his reputation was so great and universally admired by all the King her Fathers subjects as that she saw fair likely-hoods of good success unto her loves The only curiosity she had to know his parentage and over what people he commanded did yet keep her unsatisfied and gathering by Saradins discourse that in the Army he was not held for what he was she guest there was some reason why he publish'd not himself and that she could not know the truth thereof except himself did tell it her This was the reason why among so many other questions ask'd of Saradin she enquired of him whether his return would not be shortly Madam answered the faithfull squire as soon as he shâ—ll have conquered that rest of the Kingdom of Decan which had been made a prey unto those two revolted slaves whom we have punished and overthrown in battell he will bring back the victorious army which as you know have decreed sacred honours to my Master whose pretious body embalmed will be within a
few dayes conducted hither drawn in a triumphant Chariot which shall accompany his pompous funerals It cannot be long ere they returne for the Decanians ravished with joy to be delivered from two slaves who have driven out all their blood Royall from their government came every day to yeeld themselves unto the valiant Ariomant and bring him still their City keyes and Castles likewise And that poor people incapable of defending themselves with pleasure rank them under the Kings dominion whose clemency they know as surely as his justice The fair Orazia not able at that time to learn more newes of her deer Ariomant with much impatience look'd for his return and still she sought her common comforts from Lisimena from whom she could not hide the new occasions of her joy nor yet conceal her Lovers birth which from her Brothers Letter which the Gods would not allow an end to she began to know But she conjur'd her she should keep it secret and make no mention of it till a fitter season Mean while for her diversions and to beguile the time of Ariomants absence she often talked with Saradin and made him repeat the prayses which she already had tasted with so much content in his behalf whom more than all the world she lov'd And because she would make Saradin entirely hers whose faithfulnesse she knew unparallel'd her chief squire being slain in the battell she chose Saradin to succeed him to which she got the King her Fathers consent who was much pleas'd to give him that reward as worthy of his long good services If hitherto I have not spoken of that great Monarchs sorrow and excessive grief for losse of his dear son upon whose magnanimity and valour he had built his rest and hopes 't is to speak truly that I hold his woes unspeakable Besides in telling you the little strength he had to meet that unexpected newes and the despair which more than once had tempted him to do violence on himself I fear to lay a blemish on the other actions of his life Let us forget his sorrows and his over-passion then and call to mind the constancy wherewith he shortly after arm'd himself and resolution which he took to honour as his army had desir'd his deer Arontus memory and funerals He alwayes kept the brave Lisimantus with him and so much valued the courage of that invincible Knight as that he dar'd not in his presence shew his great resentments and truly 't was from him he had more comfort than from any other being a man who had despis'd a thousand deaths and one who though his life were glorious for a thousand brave exploits yet found no sweetness in it for the bloody discoutentments he each day received in the scorn of beautious Lisimena But whiles accommodations are preparing to solemnize the funerall pomps of that Prince whom they expect and whose body glorious though without a soul craves the honour of a triumph 't is requisite that by the way I tell you somewhat of this Lisimantus who for his vertue merits in this place to have a short abridgement of his life recorded He was a Souldier under fortunes banner who from his infancy being given a Page unto the Princess Lisimena and after given again unto the King of Zeilan her father as you shal see in the sequell of this story from step to step advanc'd him by his courage and by his excellent conduct rose to the greatest charges in the Kingdom and so far forth as after Arbiran's death he followed him and was made generall of that great Army which hath of late triumphed over the King of Maldives All the Indian Chronicles are full of memorable actions by him done in that long war and you shall by and by learn from his own mouth the reason why to take upon him the name of Lisimantus he forsook his own a name he borrowed from the King his Masters only daughter to whom from his first rising he was bold to send sighs and amorous aspects The fair Lisimena so was the Princess cald besides a private inclination which she had to cherish that accomplisht Knight for his own merits sake did yet besides account her self oblig'd thereto for great and noted services which every day he did unto the Crown of Zeilan whose chief support and prop he was but the great courage of her heart and honour which she valued more than all things else caused her to undervalue in her thoughts the secret love of that unknown young man whom she had seen to come so poorly fitted to the King her Fathers Court who knew no more than she his birth and could not enough wonder at the boldness which he took not only to send forth his looks towards her but even to sigh in presence of her whiles the whole Court saw and knew it because it was a Law throughout the Indes that a Princess could not marry but her equall nor without much dishonour suffer the addresses of a man who were not Kingly born And in some parts the Law was more severe than others as in the Kingdome of Decan where death was added to the shame of that Princess who should unequally dispose her self Which is at present yet the Custom among the Negres as well of the Kingdome of Cambaye as Calecut and all the parts of Malabar Not one however dar'd to speak his thoughts of Lisimantus open love envy it self was silent as well for that they knew the greatness of his humour as the respect which they were bound to owe the power of his command wherein he did so worthily acquit himself The King observed him as well as others but that his wisdome did oblige him to distemble what he saw because in truth he was very necessary as the chiefest instrument of that revenge he had ordained for his greatest enemy the King of Maldives who had for wantonnesse assaulted him and sworn his ruin But for fear of causing greater passion which he daily saw to grow in Lisimantus it seem'd him best to separate his daughter for some time and send her to his brothers in Law and friend the King of Narsingus Court to keep her Cousin Orazia company He wanted not a colour for this act for they had lately understood by an intelligencer that the King of Maldives who was then lately beaten in two sea fights by Lisimantus made great preparation to besiege the City of Colombo where the King of Zeilan commonly held his Court and he conceiv'd he should have lesse cause to fear when as his daughter who was the greatest treasure that he had though in his Countries Pearl and Emeraulds Saphires are found aboundantly should remain in safety This resolution he no sooner took but put in execution and sent his only daughter who long since lost her Mother to Narsinga with an equipage which well became her greatnesse Lisimantus would most gladly have diverted that voyage had he dared and had opposed his courage to the Kings
when you were about to die a shamefull death that I might turn from off you one of those blows your evill destinies had threatned you withall See Madam what discourse Evander entertain'd us with which set my thoughts into as great confusion as they were but two hours before for I believ'd I was Alcidaris his only son and much it angred me a fool should be my elder brother However I cheer'd up my self in hope or one day having the fair Kingdom of Dulcinda which could not be taken from me And however I despaired not of gaining others which my courage and my sword did promise me But as on our parts we were recounting our adventures to the wise Evander who much blamed us after having told him of Orixas loves and the change we us'd towards her for not revealing our selves to the Prince Araxus a Page came to advertise us the King was comming to see us in our Chamber I was a little surprized at it because I foresaw already what would be the issue of that visit However Piroxenus and I composing our selves as well as we could we went forth to meet him and after mutuall salutations he began and thus said to me I much admire Sir that being born as you are and for our neighbourhood knowing my greatness and my Lordship of the famous Potts of Chaul and Goa which adjoyn to yours you would chuse rather death than my alliance when you had first abused my daughter who had been alwaies till your comming hither the pattern both of honor and of vertue I finding his discourse grew to be long and that he went on reproaching me and excusing himself for the violence had been shewen us suddainly interrupted him to tell him every circumstance that passed I told him of the passionate affection Piroxenus bare the Princess his daughter how that he was my Conzin germain and the only heir unto the Kingdom of Citor how he had borne so great respect unto her as not to dare declare himself her husband though never any save hithself had known her how when he saw things grown to such extremity as they were and me condemned for his fault he went and cast himself at his Majesties feet who would not hear him At length I so far perswaded him as having appear'd his spirit and freed him from the trouble which his former rage had put him in he relished my reasons which he found most just and likely and taking us by the hand that he might suddenly finish Piroxenus Marriage he lead us to the Princess Chamber who was very sick a bed and by her sat the Queen in tears Although amid so many accidentâ— and misfortunes her soul were laden with profound and fearfull thoughts the spite she had conceiv'd against me had not gained so much over her but that her wasting body was still battered with love whose heat joyning to that of her Feavor kindled so great and violent a five within her as Physicians did despair already ever to be able to quench it Seeing me come into her Chamber and the King her father leading me by the hand believing he was come to confirm our Marriage and that it had been done more through compassion of her friends than of my own good will the tears ran in her eyes and to conceal the passion which surprized her she turn'd her head the other side My daughter said King Demonax unto her behold your husband whom I bring you and would it had so pleased the Immortall gods that I had had but patience enough to have understood the truth of a History which will no less amaz your self than me we should not then have had the labour to oppose our Laws against you nor threaten with a shamefull punishment your life and honours which at once I now do warrant you Know if as yet you do not know that those two Knights who have been condemned with you are sons to the most puissant Kings of India this same said he pointing at Piroxenus has the Kingdom of Citor already in possession and is Ceuzin germain to this other who lives in hope after the death of Alcidaris to reign over the Empire of Guzarat They have not only chang'd their names but their hearts also and he who you as you believed chose for husband was never yours more than for manners sake or for civility but hath in that good fortune given his Cousin place who only for his marvellous affection to you merits your possession Turn your self towards me think no more of what is past for which I am more sorry than your self and hence forth studying but to please your self receive with courtesie your real husband whom I here present you Here at the Princess turn'd her face towards the King and seeing it t was Piroxenus he presented her How Sir said she to him that impostor then is constant in denying me after renouncing of himself to quite undo me and you believe him and I shall be so miserable as that you will put off your common knowledge to be overtaken by his lies she would have prosecuted her reproaches when Piroxenus who till then had not dar'd speak a word emboldning him by presence of the King who favoured his love took liberty to interrupt her and casting himself down at her feet he fram'd her this discourse Madam said he though you should heap your scorns upon me and all my life I should repent me of my rashness yet I finde fit I should no longer hide it from you but make known the errour you till now have been in Know fair Orixa that I have never loved any save your self and that the meer consideration of my love and of your beauty hath compelled me to keep Anaxander so long in this Country we have between us both but one desire and one affection wherefore I having learnt by him that your unhappy Inclination carried you to bear him love who was already gaged in affection to another I conjur'd his help and favour to my sute he had compassion on me and admitted me instead of him and that which by good forune I was not able to deserve I got by subtility Love fair Orixa made me bold to deceive you blame therefore him not me who weak against so strong a Master was compelled to yield and follow him T was I whom Callias under favour of the darkness guided where you look'd for Anaxander and in short t was I who in your Nurses presence sware to be your lawfull husband and who made you a thousand protestations of unalterable Love which since I 'me sure I never violated the fear of death has not been able to do it nor shall your scorns of me prevail at all no though you should be more cruell to me than the destinies who have so threatned me with punishments and though by taking all hope from me of your favour you should condemn me unto death I vow I will preserve your love even in my grave Orixa
thereto it was casie enough for one man to know an other by his face and therefore Lisimantus who thought he knew the sound of that voice which spake unto him but could not possibly call him to mind seeing him so near knew him perfectly not having seen him in twelve or thirteen years before and crying out My Father said he casting his arms about his neck is it possible that you are that good and vertuous Eurimedes who brought me into the world and whose name I once bare If my eyes do not deceive me say what occasion brought you hither and what strange fortune made you leave the Trade you drove at Diu to weare the gown that you might condemn your own Son to death The good Eurimedes for he it was indeed was so astonisht at these words as remaining a good space without speaking O yee immortall Gods said he what do I hear what see I what miracle is this Which Lisimantus hearing sufficiently confirm'd in what he beleeved Oh my Father said he I know you without doubt and see the Gods for punishment of my forsaking your house and raising my self beyond my duty in forein parts and shaming my birth which I have till this time conceald from all the world will have me once appear before you for my more Confusion and to have my Condemnation from your mouth O how justly fortune deales thus with me and how reasonably may she repent her of her favours so prodigally bestowed on me I have treated in Equality with Kings I have pratled with the fairest Princesses of Asia I have commanded armies I have every day layd new foundations for vanity and conceiv'd new hopes of greatnesse I have reckoned of the goods of fortune as mine own and now she takes them not only all at once from me but Entrenches on the honor I have gotten with my sword and does not spare my life whereof she formerly hath seem'd to be so tender This my Father makes me see that the world is but vanity that its greatnesse after which so many ambitious spirits run is but vapor and smoak which slips out of ones hand when fastest seeming to be held and that the whole stock of her prosperities are frayl and mutable Eurimedes who by this time doubted no more that it was the very child which he had lost and precious pledg which Pirobus had made him formerly responsable for and for his better satisfaction pray'd him to let him see his right arm naked where finding the Arms of Gouzarat imprinted and his conscience troubled for what he was compelled long ago to do he cast himself upon his knees before Lisimantus and acknowledging him for his lawfull Lord Great Prince said he to him if you have been elevated by your courage and ambition if you have treated equally with Princes and if you have commanded Armies you have done nothing unanswerable to your birth or unworthy of your illustrious parents Know my Lord that you are son unto the great Alcidaris and only to avoid the blame which I had had for not producing you being required of me when you fled from my house I was fain to imprint the Royal arms of Cambaya in my childs arm which was set on yours to know you by when you should be taken out of my hands That child my Lord whom I dare not own is he who unjustly at this day holds your room and for whom all the Court and the King himself have so little good opinion I make you this comession with shame and I who am his father ask your pardon if necessity enforcing me I have so ill supplyed your place Lisimantus surpriz'd with wonder and astonishment caused Eurimedes to rise and prayed him to tell him what he knew of the truth of his History which he did from the beginning to the end and recounted to him how Alcidaris got him on the Queen Bernica his first wife and forced by his passionate love unto QUeen Anaxarete who resisted his sute because he had a son he was constrain'd to suffer his fatherly affection to give place to the violence of his love in conclusion he recited to him from point to point how Pirobus had trusted him to his education that he changed his name Alcidaris into his own Eurimedes lest in progresse of time he might be known for the Kings and that he might be bred among his children and passe for one of them untill he should be called to Court and used as himself the heir of the Crown But my Lord added he when you had stollen from me because Pirobus had exceedingly recommended you to my wife and self and that we received a great pay yearly for you we could not doubt but that you were of great extraction in so much as for the fear of being punished if you were found wanting as for the losse of a great Pension which we received I thought it best together with my wife having seen after what manner the Arms of Cambaya had been printed on your arm to do the like to one of our children who was very neer your age and shape and colour'd hair and is the same who at this day draws all the Court after him and thinks he is the only heir of all those Kingdoms which expect you Indeed had he been of a better inclination and of other breeding than he is my fortune had been greater But the King taking him for his son and believing that he got with me those evil customs and habits which he hath by nature only he thought it sufficient to take me from my trassique and give me an Office which was then vacant in the Criminal Chamber of Justice in Campanel wherein I am Commissary general of all Crimes against the Crown In truth the Office was but too good for me and I accounted it still honorable untill this fatall day of your condemnation wherein I have dishonored both it and my self by adhering to the beastlinesse of the Campanelens who covet to glory in the death of one of their Princes by the ignominious losse of the other but by the gods assistance I intend to prevent it I will go instantly and declare my knowledge to the King and though it be a sad intelligence to know you were your only brothers homicide not knowing him he must in sinte be comforted that you are living and his lawful race not quite extinct In uttering these words without giving leasure to the Prince to reply he left him in his prison with new disquiets for having slain a brother of so generous and good a nature and presently went to King Alcidaris at whose feet he cast himself and made him this discourse Eurimedes his Speech to King Aleidaris SEeing your Clemency is infinite most great and generous Monarch I hope it may extend on me although unmeasurably guilty and unworthy of a pardon for my fault I am here cast at your Majesties feet to accuse my self for having given you my own instead of your
Arontus life when they had held such rank and kept such state among the Courtiers of Narsinga as they had got more jealousie than friendship One only Saradin had been able to have helped them in that extremity and seconded the Princesse good endeavour if himself for his innocent ofsence had not partaken with them When the King came to know that he was guilty of concealing the breakers of his Edict he commanded him to be carried from his house where he was detayned to the same prison where the unhappy Anaxander was shut up All that Piroxenus with the Princesse could do was to scatter a murmur through the Court that he whom they had used with so great in humanity was the Prince Anaxander Alcidaris the King of Cambayas Son but very few were found that believed it and the King himself who heard thereof laught at it because he had long time believed the common report that he with Piroxenus was slain together with the two Princes of Decan in that sally they made during the siege of Visaporus besides the assurance they had lately received from Pirobus his mouth that the King of Cambaya had but one Son alive That had not retarded his condemnation one minute had there not hapned a contestation between the Ministers of Justice The Grand Provost pretended that he ought to give Judgement on him because he had taken and brought him by the Kings command and on totheer side because he had commanded in Armies and till that time done things becomming a Gentleman and a man of quality The Chief Justice of the Naires disputed that it belonged to him to make his processe and spent two or three dayes in this debate the one undoing and disanulling what the other commanded insomuch as the King was fain himself to regulate it He was then of opinion that seeing there had been certain of the guard slain by Ariomant there was no reason that their Chief should be both Judge and Party and that it was reasonable that the Court of Nayres knew that it was a very easie matter to proceed against a man convicted and that they should hasten his Judgement that he might quickly serve for an example The Princesse had some small hope that the King her Father would not so wholly yeeld himself up to his passions but that he would cast an eye to the many services which her Anaxander had formerly done the dead Prince Arontus as well as the Crown under the name of Ariomant besides she hoped for some good from the journey Almerin had made into Cambaya but when she saw that the King hastned so very much the Judgement of the cause and that purposely for that reason he had sent to the Chief of the Judges she thought he would run great hazard and that when it may be her Fathers nature might incline to Pitty and Compassion he ight be too much engaged to this honour and his word not to give such example to his people The greatest part of hte Judges were very sorry for that poor offenders misfortune and seeing when they came to give Judgement that there was no liklihood of saving him there was not one but did it against his will and with sorrow condemned a man of so great merit but the reverence of the Laws and the honour they bare unto the Princes authority oblig'd them rather to save his Oaths than him who had despis'd them and seeing they must do Justice they pronounced the sentencce of death against Anaxander and condemned him to have his Head struck off in the great place before the Palace When this sad sentence was read unto him in the Prison he was marvelously surpris'd for beside that he hoped for deliverance by Pirexenus and Almerin and from the Princesse favour he did not expect that the severity of the Laws would have extended to that last rigor and thought when they had only frighted him with punishment they would have let him go But when he saw it was in good earnest they condemned him to death Friend sayd he to him that came as Deputy from the Court of Nayres does the King know who I am and that he hath no power of right over my life Sir Answered the Judge there hath been a report spred here that you are the King of Cambayas Son but the King will not believe it and himself told us he had a thousand arguments to convince that falsehood heâ— ought at least said Anaxander to have known the truth before he had thus precipitated my condemnation and he should have found that report very true Remember my Friend that this sentence passeth against himself and his own blood because I am his Daughters husband and if he be so barbarous and unnatural as to proceed farther to the execution of an unjust sentence tell him that besides the revenge I expect from heaven he shall draw on his head all the powers of the King my Father who will never indure so foul an action to escape unpunished Is this the welcome that Strangers receive in this country which come to do is honour although I were not as I am born a Prince yet ought my person to be safe even by the Law of Nations your Laws cannot by right extend themselves beyond the limits of this Kingdom nor punish crimes of honour in those whom you have not forbidden and are not subject to the observation of your Lawes Must I serve as an example and be the first man chastis'd for an action never yet by any man seen punish'd in Narsinga though Ducls frequent in it and Edicts chang'd a thousand times Ah pray bid the King he look more than once to what he does and that a Kings Son ought not to be the first mark of his vengeance Go to him presently if you love his honour and ask the Princesse whether in disgrace she will abandon those whom in Prosperity she hath made shew to love The Judge was much astonished at his words and thought himself oblig'd to tell them the King wherefore he came knocking to the chamber door to acquaint him w i th what he had learnt from Ariomant but the Door keeper would not admit him because the King was private with his Daughter and had forbidden any whasoever to be let in till she were gone That amorous Princesse having known of Anaxanders condemnation and seeing that all her vain hopes of his liberty promised no good overcome by her sorrow and most earnestly importun'd by Love forgot all respect and shame and believing that that very day he whom she so tenderly loved should unhappily end his dayes and be a shamefull spectacle for all the Court jealous of his Vertues and past Victories went and cast her self at the King her Fathers feet and full of tears told him the reason she had to beg Anaxanders life of him whom she boldly avowed for her Husband and with a thousand oaths and by the testimony of her dead brother Arontus she confirm'd the noyse that
to thank her for the honour which she did me and to kisse her hand but in such ceremony she used to kisse the conquerours face In truth I was much taken with the favour and yet more when afterward my name was with a common and loud voice borrowed from one to another through the Hall Then preently the Trumpets sounded which were Gold to cause the noise to cease and the Princesse commanded me to lead her a Dance where she appear'd so beautiful and sweetly graced as that Piroxenus most unhappily inclin'd to wish her well as she did me for though indeed his parts were greater and more worthy fo her love than mine yet being prevented by a former passion having seen me first she was not able to turn her heart or thoughts upon another and I who had your living image printed in my heart and taken up with a preoccupated will to give my self to you I could not fall in admiration of that unhappy Princess charmes who without lying might have ravisht any save my self Next day with just the like order as the former was the Combate perform'd with Darts where whether I may say my god or evill fortune would I know not I won again the prize for being again presented by that fair Princess hand enjoy said she softly in kissing it courage Cavallier there are other manner of prizes fitted for you Truly Madam I was at these words extreamly strucken for though I knew there were other prizes to be play'd the daies following and that it may be she might have meaned them which for my skill I might promise my self yet that so great a Princesse shou'd whisper me in my car as it were a thing which a meer effect of Courtesie might suffer her to speak aloud I could noâ— chuse but take it for an extraordinary testimony of good will which since she hath sufficiently declar'd Piroxenus who had still eyes upon her as the first and only object of his passion saw well enough that t was on me she cast her wisher and her in my ear for I never concealed any thing from him then was he troubled to the purpose and cry'd out upon his evill fortune dear Aâ—â—â—xander said he to me the gods bear record that thy interests have alwaiâ—s been more dear to me than my own and that if thou hadst the least pretension of the world to the most fair Oâ—ixa though my love be violent towards her yet should it give place to my friendship but since thou think'st not on her and that thy heart burns of another flame why have not I the fortune which thou scornest and how extravagant is that Gods humour who delights to trouble us all three by causing in our hearts affections so unequal Now loving him fair Princesse as I did and guessing at his passion by my own I swear I suffred more than half his torment and that in some sort I might swage his grief I promis'd from that time to do him all the faithful service that I could But it fell out that in those three daies following which were ordain'd for Fencing all the advantage fell on us for there being three prizes alotted for that exercise which is most frequent among the Indians sometimes performed pillmell sometimes as Duel one rival against another by permission of the Ladies lov'd Fortune would have it that Araxus Piroxenus and my self obtain'd them all which much encreased Demonax his jealousie and bettred much the love his brother bare to us When the Princesse presented me the priz which was again adjudged me she gave me yet more favour in her looks than formerly but then her eyes eprform'd the office of her heart and tongue and by a sweetly mixed smile of love and joy did more than ever make me invitation to her love She wondered greatly that among her many demonstrations of good will she could perceive no alteration in my eyes and that I still contain'd my self and passed not the bounds of common complements but as she flattred her self in her passion she did with case perswade her self that it was only fear that made me silent and imputed all my back warkness to the respect I ought her quality Thus by her foolish thoughts deceiv'd she let her motions sway her wholly and without dread of that severe and rigorous Law which did unpardonably condemn to death that daughter of the Royal blood who should admit the love of any private man the violence of her passion making her more bold than either her age or sex or her condition did allow of she resolv'd what ever hapned to discover to me by letter what she thought she had not by her eyes her actions and her words enough declar'd and willing to oblige her Nurse whose help she needed unto a secrecy of so great waight and dangerous importance when she perceiv'd how by her good and solid reasons she resisted her No no said she to her my Nurse the resolution is already taken and in this matter where alone the preervation of my life depends I rather crave your help than aske your counsel thou art the creature only whose assistance I can dare to ask because thy faith and thy affection are so known unto me if thou fail'st me at this need said she in tears some sword or poyson shall not These very words she since told Piroxenus of who never concealed any thing from me from whom I learnt besides that thus her Nurse did answer her Will you then Madam said she love a man unknown against your Country Laws and more against the Laws of honor and civility having been still till now a great example of vertue among us will you disgrace your good deeds by your hasty taking of a husband whom you must follow through strange Countries without rest or honor and it may be without maintenance what so disordred appetite perswades you to imprint this blot upon your royal house and ever after to dishonor it neither is that the least that may befall you for if it should be known you cannot shun a shameful death but that the King your father and the Princes your brothers grown your enemies will cause you to be burnt alive a punishment inevitable to those Princesses who from their blood do derogate by an unequal choice How mother reply'd the Princesse thinkst thou that I in Taxilus have chose a common man what though with us he be unknown his words and actions shew he is of royal birth and though I had no other witness of his blood than my own courage assure thy self it is too great to be subjected to a private mans affection and that that heart whose vertue thou hast so admir'd did never give so great a testimony as when first it burned in so true a love and sigh'd for Taxilus Help me I pray thee therefore for whether after I have in thy presence promised to Marry him it be most fit to keep our passions secret or else to follow him through
deserts to avoid the King my fathers fury but especially my eldest brothers who does hate me mortally I never will forsake his company nor reply thou more hereto except thou wish me dead The poor woman knew it would be labour lost to make her more remonstrances and seeing to how dangerous extremity she was reduc'd finding her self distracted by so severall apprehensions her dear affection to her and the pitty of her tears prevail'd at length more with her than the fear of her destruction and the ruin of her honor and for that cause furthered her desires in all she could and so far forth as to make choice of Callias her own son to serve in that so dangerous a secret which but to me alone she would be glad to have communicated had the modesty of sex and eminency of her condition suffred her to call me to the consummation of our Wedding by her personal demands to which how ever she ordain'd her self then presently and boldly sent me Callias with a letter to this purpose with command to bring her back my answer Orixas letter to Taxilus SInce in Loves enterprizes thou art lesse couragious than at Armes and the respect thou seem'st to bear my quality compels me to prevent thee know that I love thee Taxilus and that however thou among us art a stranger and unknown thy noble actions have enough declar'd thee to oblige her who hath scorn'd so many Princes Loves Orixa to chuse thee notwithstanding all the Kingdoms Laws and good behaviour for her husband If thou dost only worth my sex no doubt but my proceeding will 〈◊〉 too bolds but in reflecting on thy own 〈◊〉 and parts accomplished I know thâ—◠〈◊〉 allow my choice and like the freedom 〈◊〉 thee with to come this night where Callins my Nurses son will with all saith will secrecie conduct thee by the favour of obserity and when in presence of my saithfull Nurse who shall be with me only to receive thy oath thou shalt have sworn thy self my lawfull husband thou shall finde me in my bed without more company than thy belov'd Idea and without other light than Cupids Torch whom I already have conjur'd to rule in chief our Weddings which with small ceremony but great affection I accommodate Callias who was of the Princesses houshold and had a mind to quit himself with reputation of the charge was given him cunning and wary as he was comes in the morning to my lodging and having asked to speak with me from the Prince Araxus says thus softly in my ear while Piroxenus and our people were in presence I present you Sir with this letter in private because I know you cannot read it without some expressions it contains a secret of importance which does promise better fortune than you look for but ere you do receive it I am charg'd to crave your answer which I will come to fetch within this hour because I know the secret joy it brings you will require some time to meditate thereon After this complement delivered me which yet I could not comprehend he went forth of my chamber and I retir'd into my Closet where calling Piroxenus I in his presence opened the Princesse letter which put us both into astonishment and truly Madam Callias was very right when he told me I should not read it without some disorder in my self for how could I but be troubled to perceive that so great and vertuous a Princesse so much honored me in vain by an election of such grace and favour and did lose her time seeking that heart which was already none of mine As for Piroxenus where the declaration which the Princess made me of her passion should in likelihood have cooled his and made it lesse it in such sort increased it and the incredible sense he had thereof wrung from him such complaints and lamentations as my heart was touched for him and I could not chuse but that my tears would shew it but when I saw his grief had choak'd his speech and that with dying eyes which seem'd to crave my help he turn'd towards me I confesse that tenderness did blind me Madam and drew guilt upon me of a crime which in your presence I accuse me of provided it be sin to knit two souls by an extraordinary means which by Loves tyranny were set asunder Do not torment thy self dear Piroxenus said I to him nor by thy woes which slay me cast us headlong into one destruction much had I rather since thy remedy is in my power than that thou shouldst be more afflicted hazard my honor for thy wellfare which than life has ever been to me more dear Seeing thou canst not then command thy passion nor my self obey that which the Princesse shews I will chuse rather to be false to her than fail in duties of that friendship which I vowed thee from my infancy but wherefore false for sure I think I shall oblige her if I send thee to supply my room and that she cannot take offence thou art as I am born a Prince thy qualities exceed and where in me she thought to have made choice but of a Knight thou wilt hereafter make her know by telling what thou art that by the gods allowance and beyond her thoughts she shall have met her equal Courage than Piroxenus nothing is to be feared in thy enterprize save the beginning and since she lets me know that Callias by the favour of the night must guide me and that there shall no other torch enlight her chamber but what Love provides thou mayst without discovery passe in my room and steal thee our again before the day reveal thee If in this counsel I offend the gods I hope they will forgive me when they call to thought that for thy safety and the Princesse life I have contriv'd it Ah my dear Anaxander answered he half wakened from his swounding by my words how is thy friendship helpfull and the comfort thou administrest a dear and real proof of perfect love but do not think thy honor is ingaged by the counsel thou dost give me nor that the fair Orixa taking me for thee can be abused since I am certainly thy other self and for like reason do not think the fruits which I shall reap under thy name from her embraces will be lesse sweet or acceptable than if I were received to her bed as Piroxenus or Cleontus But that in every thing she may not be deceiv'd since Callias is to fetch an answer to her letter let me have leave to write it for thee and that promising to come unto her I may make it good Madam I granted his desire and let him write his letter in my Closet which he had newly ended when as Callias came to take it from me I told him that he should not fail to come to me at midnight and that I would expect him in the door of my lodging to be guided by him where the Princesse had appointed which