Selected quad for the lemma: fire_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
fire_n	woman_n	work_n	young_a	26	3	5.6309	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A51901	The seventh volume of letters writ by a Turkish spy who lived five and forty years undiscover'd at Paris : giving an impartial account to the Divan at Constantinople of the most remarkable transactions of Europe, and discovering several intrigues and secrets of the Christian courts (especially of that of France) continued from the year 1642 to the year 1682 / written originally in Arabick, translated into Italian, and from thence into English, by the translator of the first volume.	Marana, Giovanni Paolo, 1642-1693.; Bradshaw, William, fl. 1700.; Midgley, Robert, 1655?-1723.	1694 (1694)	Wing M565DC; ESTC R35023	159,469	386

if I were a Christian Thou seest I have a Doctor of the Arabs for my Author A True Believer and reputed Saint Besides if I am worthy to advise thee let not the Common Practice of Mussulman Professors in the Imperial City tempt thee to despise the Blessed Son of Mary of whom our Holy Prophet speaks so honourably How many Chapters in the Alcoran do celebrate his Praise I rather counsel thee to imitate the honest Turcomans who are esteem'd the best of True Believers These honour both Jesus and his matchless Virgin-Mother So do the Chupmessiasi and all good Mussulmans As for the Rest they 're either Superstitious and Morose Fanaticks Profligate Renegades or Loose Wild Libertines who fear neither God or Man And now I 've mention'd that Incomparable Mary Mother of the Messias of whom the Mighty Alcoran speaks such Venerable Things it is a fit Occasion to return from my Digression and proceed in relating what the Jewish Rabbi's say farther in Commendation of the Female Sex They consider the Order which God according to the Writing of Moyses observed in the Creation viz. That among his Works some are Incorruptible and Immortal others subject to Corruption and Change and that as he began in the Noblest Species of the Former to wit pure separate Spirits so he ended in the Most Illustrious of the latter that is Woman the last of all his Works and the most Perfect of Compound Beings for in her are center'd and consummated the Nature of the Heavens the Earth Air Fire and Water with Minerals Plants and Animals and whatsoever else was made before her This is the Opinion of some Hebrew Writers who believe that God having made Eve and then survey'd the System of his Works found nothing more Excellent or Divinely fram'd than Woman Therefore in her he rested and commenc'd the Sabbath as if his Power and Wisdom now were tir'd and foil'd and that he cou'd not start the Idea of another Creature more perfect than her Or as if he did not esteem the Vniverse it self compleat without the last and most accomplish'd of his Works For they hold it is absurd to believe that God wou'd finish such a prodigious and admirable Task in any mean or abject Thing They also illustrate this by a Similitude asserting That the World being as it were an Intire Circle it follows by a Necessary Consequence that it was finish'd in that Part which by the most Intimate Union couples the First Atome to the Last They endeavour to strengthen this by the Common Principle of Philosophy which teaches That the End is always First in the Intention and Last in Execution Woman therefore being the Last Work of the Creation it is evident say they that she was the Chief Design and Aim the Almighty had in building this Immense Fabrick which he first furnished and adorned with infinite Riches and Delights and then introduc'd her as into her Own Native Proper Palace there to reign as Absolute Queen over all his Works Besides they take Advantage from the particular Place of her Creation to exalt her in that she was form'd in Paradise among the Angels whereas Man was made in the Common Waste among the Brutes And therefore they say Women have this peculiar Privilege That when they look down from any Eminent Height or Precipice they feel no Dizziness or giddy Symptoms in their Head no Mist or Dimness in their Eyes being as it were nearer their proper Element or lofty Birth-Place Whereas it is common for Men to be troubled with these Accidents in such a Case But the most prevailing Argument they use is taken from the Stupendous Beauty of that Sex which like the finer Sort of Clouds in Summer seems to engross the Splendors of Immortal Light and so reflect them on the World How matchless is a Woman's Form What dazz'ling Majesty environs her from Head to Foot Gaze on her lovely Countenance without Astonishment or fix your Eyes on her's without an Ecstasie Those Lights which do mislead the Morning Stars and cause the Gods to ramble from their Heaven if what the Ancient Poets say be true So did Apollo for his Daphne and Jupiter for others of that charming Sex Neither need we wonder at this since the Written Law it self records that Angels fell in Love with Admirable Maids of Human Race and took 'em for their Wives or Concubines from whom the Progeny of Giants came Thus more Modern Writers testify that Incorporeal Spirits and Daemons of all Ranks and Qualities both Good and Bad have been enflam'd with Ardent Passions for some Mortal Virgin Which is no false or vain Opinion as the Incredulous Part of Men wou'd fain insinuate but a known Truth confirm'd by many Experiences Indeed so admirable is the Figure Voice and Mien of a Fair Woman that he is willfully blind who does not see whatsoever Beauties the whole World is capable of concenter'd in that Sex And for this Reason 't is that not onely Man with Angels Daemons Genii Satyrs and the whole Series of Rational Beings admire a Fair Woman But also the very Brutes are struck with a profound Amazement at her Sight With Sighs and silent Vows the Animal Generations pay Homage to her and adore the stately Idol Every Thing in Nature is enamour'd and lies prostrate at her Feet She alone commands the Vniverse Yet after all my Brother they have their dark side too like the Rest of Mixed Beings They are the Frontier-Passes of the World Above and that Below The Gates of Life and Death the very Avenues to Heaven or Hell according as they 're us'd Like Fire they 'll warm and refresh a Man if he keep at a due Distance but if he approach too near they 'll scorch and blister him if not consume him quite Or like that other Element of Water they 're very good and serviceable whilst kept within their Bounds but let 'em once break down the Banks of Modesty they 'll threaten all with Ruine In a Word 't is neither safe to vex 'em in the least or humour 'em too much The Excess of Foudness as well as the Defect of Natural Love may equally undoe us Prudent Generosity is the onely Method of making our selves happy in the Enjoyment of this Sex Dear Pesteli let us Reverence our selves and then we cannot fail of due Respect from our Wives and Concubines For they love a Man that 's truely Masculine and Brave Paris the 15th of the 10th Moon of the Year 1667. LETTER XIV To the Same JUst as I 'd finish'd t'other Letter I was alarm'd afresh with new Disoveries of Solyman's Treachery That Barbarous Dog is certainly an Imp of Hell a Devil in Human Flesh an Adventitious Plant pluck'd from the Drery Banks of Phlegeton or Cocytus and engrafted in our Noble Stock on Purpose to ruine and destroy us The whole Tribe is bound to curse him with immortal Execrations He industriously seeks and studies all Occasions to do Mischief His Veins

scarce worth the Naming much less their Authority to be trusted to in compiling an Universal History which is to give a new Lustre to the Ottoman Empire and raise its Credit in the Learned World As for the Roman Empire it will be necessary to make Use of Josephus Tacitus Suetonius Philo Xiphilus Zonaras Ammianus Marcellinus Velleius Paterculus Seneca Florus Livy and Suidas These will be sufficient Materials with which the Translators Scribes and Compilers may accomplish this Illustrious Undertaking the Encouragement whereof I again earnestly recommend to thy Liberality and Munificence What concerns the Injunction thou hast laid on me to draw a Pattern or Model of this Great Work in presenting thee with a Brief Abstract of the Rise and Fall of the Four Monarchies with such Memorable Events as will be proper to direct the Undertakers in the Method of digesting this Universal History I will reserve it for another Letter not having those Books by me which are requisite to assist me in this Affair In the mean Time I pray Heaven prosper this Noble Enterprize and grant that thou mayst live the Space of many Olympiads to see the Effect of thy Bounty When this Universal History being finish'd shall instruct the Mussulmans and defeat the Calumnies of the Vncircumcised Paris 2d of the 5th Moon of the Year 1668. The End of the First Book LETTERS Writ by A Spy at PARIS VOL. VII BOOK II. LETTER I. To Mehement an Exil'd Eunuch at Alcair in Egypt THY Sufferings pierce my Heart I owe thee Pity on the Score of Humane Nature and a more Compassion as thou art a Mussulman But where 's the Tongue or Pen that can describe the Sympathy of Friends Canst thou in a desponding Manner cast thy self upon thy Bed there to exhale in Melancholy Sighs that pungent Sorrow which can find no other Vent unless those Vapours of the Spleen condense to Show'rs of Tears Canst thou do this and I remain Insensible all the while No! I in a perfect Eccho to thy saddest Groans And when thou weep'st my Heart is not a Stone that spatters back again the Drops that fall on it but 't is like Clay that softens with the Gentle Solemn Distillation Believe that I sweat Blood when thou dissolv'st in Tears I am not capable of Moderation toward my Friend My Love my Joy my Grief and Anger are all Excessive when such a one as thou occasion'st them 'T is equal Pleasure to live or die in this Magnetick Point For Souls of Friends are perfect Vnisons Then if thou hast a Spark of Love for Mahmut do not kill me with thy sad Complaints For whilst I hear that thou art thus abandon'd to Misfortune and Despasr how can I live without perpetual Deaths more Terrible than what we all must undergo by the Course of Nature Dost thou delight to make a Constant Martyr of me Thou 'rt bred a Courtier and so was I Our Infant Blood was season'd with the Grand Signior's Bread and Salt We equally imbib'd the Manners Habits Customs Maxims and the Pride of the Seraill ' with the Pillow the Milk Sorbets and other Nourishment of our Early Years Since which we have seen the various Revolutions of Mighty Kingdoms States and Empires We have beheld the Invincible Emperour of China fall a Victim to the Perfidy of his Slaves and to the more propitious Fortune of the Tartars After another Manner was the Glory of the British Monarchy eclips'd But no foreign Story can match the Barbarous Massacres of our Majestick Sultans Mustapha Osman and Ibrahim all within our Memory Oh! Mehemet we have liv'd too long after these Spoils of Royal Blood How can we repine at our own Private Losses and Afflictions whilst we do but sip the Flat Insipid Reliques of those Tragical sprightly Potions brew'd for the Palates of the Greatest Princes Henceforth let 's live as if we were among the Dead Let 's hear and see feel taste and smell these Outward Objects en passant without being sensible what we do or suffer Let us Anticipate by a wise Prevention the last Stroke of Death in dying every Moment Go to the Pyramids my Mehemet or would to God I cou'd go thither for thee there to Contemplate the Fate of Humane Glory the Mock Grandeur of this World Consider all the Race of the Egyptian Kings who built these Costly and Magnificent Structures or their Fathers for 'em Who fill'd the Hollow Piles with Silver Gold and Precious Stones Whilst with their Magick Laws they listed Legions of Spirits dwelling in the Air Fire Earth and Water obliging them to guard the Wealthy Sepulchers And tell me then what thou can'st find in those superannuated Vaults Nothing but Stench and Darkness Old Time has filch'd away the slighter Glory 's of the Place and his Younger Brother Avarice has plunder'd all the Rest which was the more Substantial Part. He cou'd have done no less in Common good Manners than take the Leavings of the Heir the Elder of the Two The Great Al Maimun thought to have the Gleanings of their Harvest but he found the Gain wou'd ne'er exceed the Cost But what 's become of all the Founders of these Astonishing Fabricks Look in the Tomb of Cheops who is suppos'd to build the Greatest of the Pyramids and thou wilt find not the least Relique of his Ashes Or if thou should'st 't will be Impossible to distinguish them from the Common Dust of other Mortals tho' his Meanest Slaves So Mutable is Human Glory So Inconstant all the Smiles of Fortune Do but reflect on all the Glorious Conquests of Alexander the Great and on the Triumphant Entry he made in Babylon when the Chariot which carry'd him was an Epitome of all the Riches which the Indies cou'd afford and yet that Chariot ought to be esteem'd but one Degree before his Hearse which in a very few Days with an Obscurity beneath the Merits of so great a Victor convey'd him to his Grave Consider Caesar who after Four and Twenty Battels wherein he always got the Day was drawn in a triumphant Chariot to the Capitol by Forty Elephants yet now his Name is hardly thought of So Epaminondas thought to outvye the world in his Magnificent Insults yet all this Glorious Pageantry ended in Dust and Ashes Aurelian led the Graces Captive with Zenobia yet he himself at last became the Prisoner of Death The Pompous Galley of Cleopatra when she Celebrated the Cilician Triumph serv'd but to mend the Poop of Charon's Boat when she was to be ferry'd to Elyzium So the Proud Sesostris whose Coach was drawn by Four Vanquish'd Kings at last was fain to owe his Uncouth Funeral to Four Sordid Slaves who stole his Naked Corps away from the Design'd Revenge of Factious Eunuchs and buryed it in a Heap of Camel's Dung. But where 's the Pen or Pencil that will to the Life describe the Unmatch'd Cavalcade of Pompey when by a prosperous Chymistry he had extracted all the Richest Spirits and

costly Pomp at his Funeral but burying him decently like a Man shou'd cause this Epitaph to be writ on his Tomb O Mortals I am Cyrus who laid the Foundation of the Persian Monarchy and was Emperour of all Asia Therefore envy me not a Grave To him succeeded Cambyses his Eldest Son who marching with his Army into Egypt and laying Siege to Pelusium caus'd a great Number of Cows Apes Birds and other Animals to be plac'd in the Front of his Army knowing that the Egyptians worship'd such for Gods and consequently wou'd forbear to shoot their Arrows that way By which Stratagem he took the City and afterward Conquer'd all Egypt carrying away many Thousands of the Egyptians with Foreigners residing there into Captivity among whom was Pythagoras the Philosopher After this Cambyses sent Spies under the Notion of Embassadors to the King of Aethiopia with Rich Presents But the King suspecting what was their Business took a Bow in his Hand and bent it as tho' he wou'd shoot and giving it to the Spies he bid them carry it to their Master and tell him That when he and his Persians had learn'd to bend Bows of that Strength he might think of invading Aethiopia and not before for that the Aethiopians were Gyants in Vigor And when the Spies return'd to Cambyses there was no Man found among his Soldiers which was able to bend that Bow Yet he march'd directly toward Aethiopia with a Great Army Part of which was overwhelm'd in the Sands of the Desarts to the Number of Fifty Thousand and the Rest being reduc'd for Want of Provisions to a Necessity of eating one another he returned in a great Rage to Memphis where he slew Apis the God of the Egyptians and caus'd his Priests to be Massacred He also slew his own Brother and kill'd his Wife because she mourn'd for him He shot Prexaspes through with an Arrow and commanded Twelve Persian Nobles to be bury'd Alive He set Fire to the Temples blasphem'd the Gods and at last kill'd himself by an Accident with his own Sword After his Death the Magi Crown'd one of their own Order and set him on the Throne of Persia giving out that he was Smerdes the Younger Son of Cyrus who had been murder'd by the Command of his Brother Cambyses And it was easy to carry on the Fraud in regard the Persian Kings rarely suffer themselves to be seen which is a Custom thou knowst observ'd by all the Monarchs in the East One Ostan a Persian Prince first discover'd the Cheat by Means of his Daughter a Concubine of the King 's For she by his Instruction found out that the King had no Ears Which was a convincing Argument that he was one of the Magi whose Ears Cambyses had commanded to be cut off This Ostan drawing Six other Princes into a Conspiracy they rush'd into the Palace and kill'd all the Magi and singl'd out of their own Number one Darius the Son of Hystaspes to succeed in the Throne This was not done by Election but by Lot For they agreed to meet all together one Morning before the Palace Gates on Horseback and that he whose Horse first Neigh'd after the Sun was up shou'd be King This fell to Darius's Share by the Stratagem of his ' Squire or Master of the Horse Then the other Princes Crown'd him and made him swear by the Sun and the Fire that he wou'd never put them to Death or deny them his Presence But Darius finding himself curb'd by these Princes was resolv'd to rid himself of such dangerous Companions Wherefore he caused a Stove to be built on purpose for a Banquetting-House and so artificially contriv'd that the Fire-place being under the Banquetting-Chamber should in so many Hours burn asunder the Pillars that supported the said Chamber and cause the Floor to fall down into the Fire Then he invited these Princes to a Feast which he held in this Banquetting-House and was merry with them till the Signal was given for him to depart At which Time he left them in the midst of their Mirth and within a while after he was gone the Floor of the Chamber fell down with all that were in it into the Fire underneath where the Princes were soon consum'd to Ashes After this Darius manag'd all the Affairs of his Empire without Controul He rul'd over all the Provinces of Asia from India to Aethiopia containing above a Hundred Kingdoms He extended his Conquests to the Provinces of Greece and setting forth a prodigious Fleet he sail'd into the Mediterranean and Archipelago He conquer'd the Islands of the Aegean Sea reduc'd Chalcedon and all the Cities along the Hellespont and Propontis even Byzantium it self the present Seat of our August Emperours At length having Reigned prosperously Thirty six Years he died and left Xerxes his Son to succeed him in the Throne Thou seest Great Guide of the Faithfull that I have not yet reach'd to the End of the Persian Monarchy whereas I thought to have comprehended all the Four in one Letter For I have only touch'd upon the most Remarkable Passages omitting the main Body of the History which it wou'd be too tedious for thee to peruse If thou approvest what I have written I will continue thus to abbreviate the History of the Persian Macedonian and Roman ' Empires in other Letters But if thou thinkest what I have already writ to be a sufficient Model for the Compilers of an Vniversal History I submit to thy Oraculous Appointment In the mean time I pray the King Eternal who Establishes and Dissolves all the Empires in the World and has put into the Possession of the Grand Signior those Ample Tracts of the Earth which formerly belong'd to the Successive Monarchies to extend the Limits of the Mussulman Empire through the Five Zones Paris the 17th of the 6th Moon of the Year 1670. LETTER IV. To Mirmadolin Santone of the Vale of Sidon T Was a long time before I could find out the True Secret of Humane Happiness I have for many Years grop'd after it in the Dark and when I thought I enjoy'd a Prospect of it as clear as of Things we discern in the Light of a Mid-day Sun that Sun was little better than the Sol Mortuorum of the Ancient Romans whose Beams serv'd only to give a faint Mock-Glimmering to the Ghosts that wander on this side Charon's Ferry and like an Ignis fatuus to mislead 'em up and down in the dark Suburbs of Elyzium the Fens and Marshes of the Stygian Lake So have I straggl'd all my Life through unknown Ways seeking the Road to Heaven yet finding nothing but the Paradise of Fools Sometimes I thought by outward Works of Vertue to purifie my Self and gain Perfection I was punctual in observing every Precept of the Law and perform'd not a few Acts of Supererogation Confiding too much in the Fidelity and inviolable Fastness of my Wings the Force of my Religious Passions first form'd by Nature afterwards