or banishment would force the throne to be yeelded to her To bring that to effect she altered her ordinary course of life she avoided all occasions of being with Zabaim and when she was engaged to see or speake to him 't was with such a coldnesse that not a King but a slave would have beene troubled to endure it After she had a while thus dissembled and saw by her disdaines and cunning refusals that Zabaim had more love and lesse reason then ever she counterfeits one very passionate and complaines that her too much facility hath made her the scorne of him she so highly adores Zabaim not able to resist her charmes cast himselfe at the feet of that harlot gave her such honours as are due to none but a Deity confirm'd the vowes of his eternall servitude and excepting nought in the world protests not to retard any thing she will command him to execute When Zelopa saw him in that fury What am I the better said she for all these protestations since they prove at last but false hopes and vaine words whilst another is plac'd in the throne and solely acknowledged for Zabaims wife She must likewise onely enjoy you or if I doe 't is fit I see no more such a difference betwixt her and me as may make me justly doubt of your affection Ah Zelopa replied Zabaim you know my love is unfained and that every moment I lay at your feet those Crownes which Almanzaira weares on her head If that be not enough exact from me stronger proofes of it and he who to please you hath not spar'd his owne Son will not stick at things of lesse moment Put therefore out of my thoughts the displeasing object of Almanzaira's happinesse replied Zelopa and let not my love have any more the affliction to be crossed by so powerfull a Rivall Zabaim contented if not to the death at lest to the banishment of his wife But when it came to the point of pronouncing the Sentence he was strooke with an extreme remorse and would not have Zelopa's Instruments employed in that Commission He chose one of his Gentlemen whose age and vertue assured him he would acquit himselfe of it with as much addresse as modesty Him he sent to the Queen who since the losse of her Son was falne into such a strange disease as she had scarce strength to stand and yet was it impossible for her to endure either lying or sitting she was walking in her Palace-garden when Zucalin so was the discreet Gentleman called came to her Assoone as she saw him you are welcome said she and pronounce boldly by what death Zelopa would have me end my miserable life Madam replied Zucalim that is hapned at last which all good people forelaw Ordinary crimes have drawn on extraordinary and the love of a Strumpet after it had quench'd that which Zabaim ought you now enforceth him to account you for his Enemy O heaven cried the Queene at that word of Enemy doth the King then beleeve after so many proofes of my obedience and love that 't is possible for me to hate him Yes Madam said Zucalin He beleeves you plot against his life and use all kinde of meanes to oblige his subjects to take Armes against him Almanzaira could not answer to that supposition but lifting her eyes to heaven Thou knowest it infinite Intelligence who seest the hearts and thoughts of all men thou knowest it said she weeping Yet avenge not that calumny laid on me for I feare Zabaim may be compris'd in the punishment Zucalin admiring the resignation and vertue of Almanzaira told her he had an expresse command to see her out of Senega and to conduct her to Melly Do you imagine whether these newes might touch her Yet she received them with a constancy which seem'd insensible of all kinds of persecutions But when Zucalin told her she was to prepare for her departure How said she shall I not be permitted to see yet my Lord once more and be able to assure him in my leave-taking that not onely banishment but even death would be welcome to me if he had commanded it Madam replied Zucalin that contentment is taken from you till your Innocency after better examination be generally knowne Ah Zucalin said the Queene 't is not credible that the King feares my Innocency But I can yet well undergoe that last of misfortunes for his sake After that she went to a Chariot which to that end attended her at one of the Palace â—…tes and entring it was with a Guard conducted to the frontiers of Melly She 〈◊〉 â—…o sooner gone from Senega but Zabaim and Zelopa made their entry there as in triumph and within a few dayes after the blinded Zabaim was publiquely married to his Sorceresse and not onely caused her to be crowned Queen of all his Realmes but declar'd that the children he should have by her should be the onely lawfull Inheritors At that word Almaid turning to Polexander Since you knew the false Almanzor said he I doubt not but you have heard how six months after the crowning of Zelopa she was brought to bed of him and in her lying in receiv'd a discontent which in all likelihood she could not expect from Zabaim if Almanzaira had been as deere to him as she was before her banishment The King of his absolute authority and may be to testifie to his Subjects he yet remembred and affected Almanzaira would have Zelopa's son to bear the name of Almanzor The tears the prayers the fury of that cruell ambitious wretch could not alter his resolution She was forc'd to let her Son carry the name of her mortall Enemy and to avoid by that little disgrace those greater which threatned her This rebellion of Zabaims will contrary to hers made her verily beleeve that so long as Almanzaira liv'd her name would never be blotted out of that Princes memory She therefore stood no longer trifling out time but resolved to make her away and to that end gave an accursed Commission to such as she thought fit for such an imployment But Almanzaira having twice or thrice escaped the knife and doubly the poyson after neere fifteene yeeres of imprisonment was advised by her most affectionate Servants to free her selfe from Zelopa's fury and by a feigned death to divert a true one Zucalin who by Zabaims expresse command had her alwayes in guard thought notwithstanding all his care and precautions she would at last fall into Zelopa's traps and he was the first who gave her that judicious counsell She consented to him and after a sicknesse of some forty dayes which was not counterfeited but in the successe the report went that Almanzaira was dead Her women who the better to deceive others were the first deceiv'd so lamented her losse in speech and behaviour that in seeing them Zelopa's Spies and the Queens Enemies could no more doubt of her death At that very time I came to Melly and confirming the
dis-engage my Father After he had sayd thus much he call'd for his Gardner and his Wife and commanded them that in publique they should use me as the other slaves but in private to serve me as Izilia her self Hereupon he tooke leave of me and since that time I never heard of him This true recitall of my misfortunes without doubt will not be sufficient to take from thee the opinion which thy owne crimes have laid on mine innocence But if this confession serve me for nothing with thee yet I am well assur'd 't will stand for mine avayle with all persons of Honour and virtue Yet beleive not miserable Nephizus that the seeing of thee convicted of so many falshoods and perjuries I have as thou hast done chang'd my affection and desire No No I am still the same Benzaida Such as thou as known me at Granada such am I at Fez. I love thee because I have been capable to love thee But since my love is a fault which hath made thee commit many others I will beare the punishment of all those offences and in revenging my selfe on my selfe avenge all the Innocents which thou hast abused after me In finishing these words Benzaida turned on t'other side and calling Zamaella who had follow'd her made a signe that she should come neer her when she was come Have a care said she that when I can no more think on my selfe there betide nothing that be mis-becoming the pudicity of Benzaida She had no sooner ended these words but she drew out a Ponyard which she had under her robe and with it strook her selfe a blow to the heart She stagger'd presently and leaning on Zamaella had care even in dying to preserve that honesty of which the excess of love could never make her neglectfull Izilia first of all saw the Ponyard and ran to stop Benzaida but neither she nor I were quick enough All that I could doe was to clap a handkercheif on the wound of that Generous Princesse She gently thrust away my hand and her beauty being invisibly increased in this last moment of her life she appear'd to me so farre unworthy of the usage she had received from Nephizus that to revenge her I was at the point to perform what I had promis'd to Izilia But that African Lady almost plucking Nephizus out of his bed by force of tormenting him See Tyrant cryed she in his Eares see what thou hast done O Barbarous and inhumane wretch canst thou live and see Benzaida drown'd â—n her blood It behooves nay t is most fit that I should execute my selfe what thy vaniquisher will not grant me and with that she ran to Benzaidas Ponyard and questionles had plunged it in Nephizus brest had I not held her I got her out of the Chamber and â—â—treating her for recompence of the service I had done her to enterprize nothing against â—hat Prince J saw well that if J joined not my force with prayers it would be impossible for me to hinder some new mischance Yet the night following there fell out a very bloody one For the House wherein we were was broken open by strangers and for all the resistance I could make they tooke away Izilia and Nephizus and left me for dead in the Court of that fatall Lodging T is needlesse to tell you by what chance I was brought thence for those particularities will serve nothing to the clearing of your doubts Polexander having thus related the History of Nephizus perjuries Ennoramita after she had shewed her astonishment by divers actions spake thus I confesse said she that I have much adoe to imagine that one man hath been capable of so many wickednesses Heaven is Heaven added she after the manner of the Mahometans and its Justice that never sleepeth breakes out fearfully when its patience is exhausted At so holy and profitable a thought Polexander bad the Princesse goodnight and commanding his Pilot to make use of all favour of the Wind his Vessell made so good way in two dayes and two nights that he came neere to the coasts of Morocco The wind fail'd them under the Fortress of Guargetssem compel'd Polexander his Company to make the rest of their Journey by Land Ennoramita being very much disguised and her Women too tooke Camels and by little Journeys came with their conductor to that famous City which the follies of the Old Hely and the Tyrannies of his ridiculous Sons had made more desolate then an Army of Christians would have done Ten dayes had the Justs been open when this Troope arrived and a great number of Knights had appeared with severall Successes and all had been constrained by the Lawes of the Turney to declare publikely who they were who were their Mistresses Polexander who came expressely to chastise the indiscretion of Abdelmelec and avenge Alcidiana of that Princes impudence had a great minde to put himselfe into the lifts the next day after his arrivall But Ennoramita intreating him to give her one intire day as well to see the Combat as to be informed of the Combatants he put it off to the second day and went with her to take up their Lodging in one of the great Innes wherein strangers had all kind of freedome Ennoramita was no sooner lodged but she sent one of her Slaves to enquire through all the Innes if there were not any Knights of Tunis But for all the Slaves diligence in that perquisition he returned to his Mistris without learning any thing that might content her She passed all the night in much unrest and assoone as 't was day clad her selfe in the habit of the Lady of Morocco that she might be the lesse noted A little before noone she went to the place of the Justs and taking her seat in the place appointed for Spectators of quality and cheifly for Ladies she heard the sound of many Trumpets The desire to find Muley-Hassen turning her all into eyes there was not a man entred were he on Horseback or otherwise that she surveyed not from head to foote The trumpets which she lately heard came into the field They were clad like so many Fames and served as Vant-Courtiers to a Knight clad according to the ancient Greekes He came to the place prepar'd for the recitalls and all being silent he spake thus T is superfluous that I tell my Name since so many Fames publish who I am yet not to interrupt that Order which many valiant men observed you shall understand that my Name is Sidy-Bu-Median famous by the reputation of the great Saint from whom I am descended And more famous yet by the affection which the Princesse of Telensin hath always born me in spight of the cruelties of that Tyrant who possesseth her estate Those who have come in here before me have appear'd to give a proof of their love and valour and I am come to publish the virtue and beauty of a great Queen and to oblige all those in this
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
tremble yet so that it neither troubled his minde nor judgement He thought a while on what he had heard and made a little noise that he might as well satisfie his eyes as his eares presently he saw come out from behinde the tombe an apparition like to that Alcippus had describ'd to him he was extreamely pleas'd at that sight and not doubting but it was a Spirit resolv'd to aske it newes of what was to come and to know whether he should give over the hope of seeing Alcidiana againe when therefore he saw the Ghost neere enough to him Be not offended said he faire soule who even in the grave retainest thy love and fidelity if I disturb the peace and silence of this sad abode unfortunate lover that I am I seeke every where for some one that may instruct me by what way I may return towards the glorious and worthy cause of my flames and afflictions If pity have any place in thee amorous Spirit be favourable to a man full of love Help a wretch which wanders sea and land without regaining the blisse he hath lost and tell him whether Time reserves nought for him but death for the end of all his miseries Thoâ—… art deceiv'd replied the Spirit I see no clearer then thou dost into future things and though my abode my habit and countenance make me passe for a Ghost know yet I have onely the resemblance of one but am indeed a most unfortunate mayden who in this tombe bewaileth a bloudy and precipitated death and a life farre more worthy of compassion This speech amaz'd Polexander more then the former had done or the thought he had of that miserable mayden and looking on her as on something more strange then a phantasme Who will ever beleeve said he that your love to an ingratefull man hath been able to worke in you so prodigious a perseverance as to make your selfe an enemy to light life and your selfe only to preserve your heart for an unmercifull man who contemnes it Goe not on in these revilings repli'd the mayden I love the cruell Solyman too well to suffer him to be censured his rigours are pleasing to me his insensibility augments my passion I am all fire because he is all ice But let us breake off a discourse which neither merits thy paines nor mine Since thou art in love get farre away from these aboades which are so mortall to Lovers and trouble no longer the unhappy peace of two poore Sisters who have met with none from the time of their birth I wish Madam replied Polexander it were fitting to obey you I should then be farre from interrupting by my presence the repose you finde in your selfe-persecution for I know by a long and rigorous experience that consolations are new griefes to afflicted soules and the greatest enemies the misfortunate meet withall are those indiscreet Counsellours who would perswade them they should leave to be sicke assoone as they should cease to refuse the remedies But when I call to minde what my birth and profession bindes me to I finde my selfe compell'd to continue troublesome and to intreat you by that ingratefull man you too-much love to let me know if there be no meanes left to you to be avenged of his ingratitude I have vowed said the desolate Lady never to discover my griefe but on a condition to which I thinke it not just to ingage you How strange soever that condition be repli'd Polexander I subscribe to it provided I may execute it and not be faithlesse and disloyall Your generousnes quoth the Lady revives those hopes which were with me buried in this tombe I imagine you may bring some ease to my afflictions and I may finde their end if I left to you the guidance of my fortune I therefore accept your offer and even now make you the Judge betwixt Solyman and my selfe and condemne me voluntarily to finish my miserable life farre from those faire eyes which sometime inlightned my Soule if my pretentions and prosecution appeare not as equitable as they may seeme strange unto you After the Lady had ended this Speech she opened the place inclosed by the ballisters and taking Polexander by the hand Let us said she goe hence into another place not farre off we shall there finde a place more fit to entertaine our passions she walked whilst she spoke thus and Polexander who led her saw come from out the sides of the tombe two maydens clad like the former which slowly and softly followed her and seem'd by their action they were not loath to abandon so sad an habitation Assoone as Polexander was out of that obscurity which shaded the beauties of the desolate Lady he found them so extraordinary as he began in good earnest to hate the ingratefull person that had despis'd them He took too from thence a new occasion to entertaine the Lady and intimating to her his admiration That barbarian said hee who could look on so much attraction and yet preserve his infamous liberty was surely borne among those horrible rockes which an eternall winter covers with â—…akes of ice and snow 'T is doubtlesse some monster whom angry nature produc'd in some extream corner of Scythia Turkes are naturally cruell and unpitifull but they are not insensible and the furious tyrants who in their unjust anger spare nor age nor sex yet have hearts capable of love and to please their slaves can sometime lose the title of master and conquerour If any allurement repli'd the afflicted Lady could have mov'd the heart of insensible Solyman it must have beene more powerfull then my sister's or my beauty neither have we pretended thereby to gaine to us that great heart who as obdurate as he is can neither be accused of savagenes nor barbarisme He is no Turk but by the injustice of his fortune nature hath made him born from a Prince who was no lesse polite then courageous and both France and Greece which have equally contributed to his birth publish who shall most that if Solyman had not the great Polexander for his brother he should be held the first of men Madam said the Prince you amaze me to have so much love and goodnesse for one so ingratefull as should have exhausted all But who should that Solyman be halfe Greeke and halfe French Was it not the sonne of the unfortunate Periander whom the cruell Usurper of Constantinople even feared in his fetters You know repli'd the Princesse the amiable author of our long afflictions 'T is that Prince happy in his misfortunes who changing his name of Iphidamantus for that of Solyman exchanged his prison for the favour of the redoubtfull Baiazet and is found susceptible of all kind of alteration excepting that which may be advantagious to my sister or my selfe Polexander had more particularly inform'd himselfe of his brother's adventures had he not seene Cydaria who all affrighted with the seeing him conversing with that faire apparition drew backe still as he came
him not to place in his throne the man who had pluck'd thence the lawfull Inheritrix Rather said he render that Justice which so many good men petition for against the ingratefull Phelismond Let him die or at least make him a vagabond and wretched all the rest of his dayes since he hath dar'd to faile in his obsequiousnesse and respect to your owne bloud Those words drew teares from the Kings eyes and so mov'd all the assembly that even those who came thither most averse for Phelismond were the first that desir'd the conclusion of his election He on the contrary seeing it not likely to be longer hindered would at least have delai'd it and therefore fell againe at his master's feet and more and more expressing his generousnesse Sir said he if my good destinie can give me the boldnesse to force from your Majestie any thing beyond that which you have pleas'd to bestow on me accord to my humblest petition and the just instances of so many illustrious personages that my election which you intend goe no further on but be defer'd till the returne of such as shall be chosen to goe in quest of the Princesse All the assembly falling on their knees to obtaine from the King that which Phelismond had propos'd had the satisfaction to get from him what their respect and loyaltie scarce permitted them to demand The estates being thus dissolv'd the businesse was for the chusing of such as were to goe in quest of Helismena Phelismond would be one and for all the obstacles the King could lay in his way he got to sea assoone as the rest and was neere six moneths in the voiage 'T is best to speake of things as they are he had either an inclination to the Princesse of Denmarke or with his hope of enjoying Alcidiana had lost all the love he bore her but acknowledging himselfe extraordinarily indebted to both the fathers and daughters love he would give to his resentment and to Justice what he could not to love He return'd as he went and reap'd no other fruits of his labour but the satisfaction of having done his dutie At that word Polexander interupting the Dane Be pleas'd said he that I renew my accusation and noting so great a coldnesse in the King your master persist in my former expostulation For his sake I will thinke that 't was for the sole consideration of the honour and dutie he bore to Helismena but how will he justifie his small remembrance of Alcidiana Certainly were I little lesse his friend then I am I would goe further and say there remain'd not in him the cold ashes of all that great fire which the faire Idea of that incomparable Queene had kindled in his heart You may without offence speake it repli'd the Dane for 't is true from that time forward he was cur'd of his wonderfull love to Alcidiana yet must you not for all that change accuse him of inconstancie He alter'd not but when he saw that reason his conscience the lawes of honour and the successe of your combate absolutely forbad him to persevere And if those powerfull considerations had been too few to sway him to that alteration he had receiv'd such advertisements from Thamiris as after them he was not permitted to be any more the passionate servant of Alcidiana I would faine know said Polexandervery coldly of what importance those advertisements of which you speake were before I can justifie Phelismond's alteration They were these repli'd the Dane Some two moneths after my master's returne into Denmarke Thamiris fell sicke and as if she had receiv'd some secret notice of the end of her dayes she assured Phelismond she was to die of that sicknesse That Prince who had alwayes lov'd her as his mother left the Court and giving no care to his flatterers abode two moneths intire with that Lady There was no kinde of service which could be expected from him wanting nor ordinary or unusuall remedies but he made use of to preserve her life Yet Thamiris receiving them onely to make Phelismond beleeve shee desired not to die secretly prepared her self for it with all the love and feare could be expected from Heaven and seeing her selfe neere her end was desirous to speake with Phelismond apart presently all were commanded to avoid the chamber and the doores being shut that good Lady in lieu of speaking fell lovingly on Phelismond's face as he lay weeping on her boulster After she had lean'd there a while she rais'd her selfe and making no shew by her speech of her weaknesse Phelismond said she you are like to lose a mother who hath ever loved you as tenderly as possibly she could doe who brought you into the world but first I will tell you who she was since I alone can informe you of her Know Phelismond you are no Dane but an Englishman at least by your mother and sprung from that ancient family which at this day reignes in England you are of the bloud of Yorke born among the High-landers in Scotland and brought up in Denmarke This exceeding newes is to be but the least part of your contentment I am to tell you another farre greater You are the sonne of the great Alcidus King of the Inaccessible Island and brother to Alcidiana Brother to Alcidiana said Polexander interrupting the Dane Yes Sir repli'd he Phelismond is Alcidiana's brother and when Thamiris made knowne that secret he was not lesse surpris'd then you seeme to be That I am Alcidiana's brother said he to Thamiris Ah! Madam pardon me if I beseech you to come againe to your selfe and a little suppresse your malady which seemes to hinder your thought of what you have to relate to me No no my sonne repli'd that good Lady I talke not idlely I tell you once againe that you are Alcidiana's brother and if you will give me leave to end what I have begun you shall be fully cleared of that which so much amazeth you Phelismond grew silent for feare of displeasing Thamiris and rested farre more attentive then he had been that he might not lose the strange particularities of his birth Thamiris hereupon began againe and holding Phelismond by the hand You may know said she that amongst other fundamentall Lawes of the Inaccessible Island there is one by which it is commanded whoever reignes there of either sex to chuse every yeare from among the Princes and other great Lords of the Kingdome a man of extraordinary vertue and to constitute him chiefe Priest and King of the Sacrificatory to the end that in the name of the Monarch and the Subjects he may goe and render the tribute of love and acknowledgement which from all times the Countrey is bound to pay to the Temple of a certaine God which is adored under the figure of the Sunne Pimantus father of Alcidus desirous his sonne should receive that Soveraigne Priest-hood before he came to his Regality chose him to goe into the Isle of the Sun to performe
Fortune said he in drawing thee from the depth of the Sea hath justified herselfe and possibly 't was done for thee to justifie thy selfe too Thy companion accuseth thee and if I well understand his language maintaines that thou hast robb'd him of those chaines he tooke from thee Confesse the truth and let not the desire of being rich bee more powerfull over thy minde then that of preserving thy life Thou art amongst men who make profession to protect innocence and to chastise what is criminall but they have learn'd by their owne weaknesse not to condemne all the infirmities of humane nature The wretch not daring to deny a crime whereof his owne conscience men and the very elements fouâ—…d him guilty and besides seeing himselfe so favourably dealt withall threw himselfe at the feet of the young Turke and imbracing his knees My Lord said he it is true I have committed that theft whereof the Mute accuseth me The jewells are his if he can be câ—…ll'd the true owner of them who for their acquisition hath violated the sanctity of the Tombes and robb'd the dead of those riches the living had lefâ—… them But foâ—… feare you may beleeve that I will adde some imposture to my theft bee pleas'd to have the patience to know what I am and how I became master of this dumbe mans riches Know that I am born from one of the most unfortunate and daring families of tâ—…is Island in giving me life it gave me both her destinies from my childe-hood I lov'd those undertakings where there was something to be gotten how hazardous soever they were and without any other knowledge then that of the common sense I thought it better to 〈◊〉 young then to growne old and miserable I have travelled both by land and by sea 〈◊〉 have borne armes with the Christians and with the Turkes I have indifferently violâ—…ed my faith and all for gaine and yet neither by waies tollerated nor those forbidden â—…ath it been possible for mee to get any thing I was not long since with the notable Pâ—…at Bajazet I learnt from one of my companions that an unknowne Prince caused to â—…e built a magnificent Tombe in the Island which you now see and not content to mâ—…e use of marble and brasse he intermingled gold and precious stones in the structure 〈◊〉 that proud building This newes came so home to my swaying passion that instaâ—…tly I tooke leave of my Captaine and abandoned a profession which in spight of all the â—…erills wherewith it is encompass'd may be called the delight of life I will not tell yâ—…u the dangers I ranne in returning to my Countrey It is sufficient that you know I â—…me home but yeasterday and that Fortune who hath alwaies delighted to feed mee wiâ—… faire shewes presented mee presently with all the treasures which I came to search fâ—… I entred into a wood of the weeping trees which is not above two hundred paces froâ—… the Rock whence I fell and being got into the middle I descried the rich Monumâ—…t of the unknowne Prince If my eyes were dazeled with the luster of so much gâ—…ld anâ—… gemms my minde was farre more astonished I ranne to those treasures as to my soveâ—…aigne happinesse and conceiving designes as ridiculous as high lost my reason so farre as to beleeve that I could take from the great Polexander the Crowne of all thâ—… Caâ—…ies Whilst my wild imagination was painting these pleasing Chymeras certaine gâ—…anes and a languishing voice came from the hollownesse of the Tombe and by the extreame terrour wherewith I was stricken some while was stopp'd the covetous desire of my eyes and hands But this vaine affright lasted not long The ancients have expell'd this tale and though there be no misfortune equall to mine I did not think my selfe so unfortunate that the dead must needs come out of their graves to crosse my intentions I came neere to the entry of the Monument and through a grate of gold wherewith the â—…ore was shut I saw so horrible a sight that I cannot keepe my selfe from trembling whilst I relate it to you The Mute whom you have saved was shut within the Sepulchre and without doubt had newly cut 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of a man which laie stretch'd at his feet The Cymeter wherewith he had done this sad act reek'd yet with the bloud that it had shed and he transported with the horror of his murder seem'd as he were losing his senses after hee had lost his humanity For in lieu of benefiting himselfe by his homicide he betooke himselfe to weeping with most strange lookes and howlings But it is very hard for a villaine to keepe long the good motions which reason gives him The barbarous Mute pass'd presently from one extremity unto another and be again the same man he was Hee made an end of the extravagant actions on the body of the dead and though by his sighs and tears he seem'd to be exteamely afflicted yet forbore he not to take from him a scarlet robe wherewith he was covered and by a cruelty without example cleft open his left side and tore out his heart I was terrified at an act so barbarous He himselfe that committed it had such a horror of it that the heart and the sword which he held fell out of his hands but as if he had lost his sense or had â—…raightwaies repented him of his câ—…uelty he took up the heart again kissed it oftentimes 〈◊〉 bloudy as it was and after by his tears and cries he had given it his lâ—…st dues he shut it 〈◊〉 one of those boxes which he tooke from me whilst I was thinking on the meanes to 〈◊〉 this precious heart and was measuring my courage and strength with those of the 〈◊〉 I sawe him rifle the dead again and take from him a lesser box then the first but as 〈◊〉 thought farre more faire and more rich Instantly I resolved to punish this cruell 〈◊〉 of the dead and to get by a just conquest those treasures which he had purchas'd â—…y â—…hominable Sacriledges For the easier execution of this resolution I got mee furthâ—… off from the entry into the Tombe and hid mee among the trees the better to surprâ—…e this Mute and to send him to keepe company with the other which he had rifled Hâ—… did not suffer mee to exercise my patience long but out comes he from the Sepulche his sword all boudy in his hand and so full of griefe and rage that to have undertakeâ—…â—…im a man ought to have been no lesse desperate then hee Hee stalk'd along fast by â—…ee threatning by his gestures both Heaven and Earth and his fury transporting him â—…e ranne with all his force right to that Rock from whence wee fell headlong together This unhop'd for flight made mee to change my resolution to betâ—…inke mee that this busines ask'd more cunningthen force I follow'd him then with that sâ—…iftnes which hath gotten mee the name of the best runner of
Africk and getting hold 〈◊〉 him just as hee was about to throw himselfe into the Sea I did that through avaricâ—… which another would have done for compassion When hee found himselfe stai'd he â—…ell on mee with the fury of a Lion that is oppos'd in his passage I told him that his â—…paire was unworthy a man of valour and how extraordinary soever his misfortunâ—… were 〈◊〉 ought not free himselfe from them by a way so base criminall My discourâ—… having recollected him hee would have told mee hee had causes enough why he shoâ—…ld hate tâ—… live but beleeving hee did not sufficiently expresse himselfe by his signes he tooke me by the hand and led me backe to the Tombe where opening the goâ—…den grate and making me enter he shew'd me the body which I had before seene At tâ—…is sad object he renewed his plaints and teares and was a long time thus celebratinâ—… the funeralls of that dead I that had no other thought but to execute my first designe was about foâ—…re or five times to ridde my selfe of him but being I know not by what feare as often hindred I got him from the Sepulchre and led him towards the Sea side the night tooke us ere we got thither and was followed with so great a darknesse that in spite of aâ—… my care and all the eyes which hope and feare could give me I was seperated from the Mute I gave not over walking all night long for feare of losing him But it was already day when I found him sleeping at the point of that Rock whence you saw us fall Foâ—… feare of wakening him I laid my selfe softly downe close by him and made so good use of the sleight that divers excellent masters have taught me that nimbly and insensibly I got from him his two chaines the boxes tide to them I put them presently about my neck and to have no more to doe with the Mute resolv'd to send him to his eternall sleep But in the very instant Fortune who had runne mad if any good had betided me awak'd him and made him take notice not only of what I â—…d done but of that which I was on the point to execute He threw himselfe upon me with a terrible fury and in spite of all my resistance lifted me from the ground grasped me with his armes so strictly that I could scearce breath carried me to the point of our fatall Rock and howling as a beast enraged threw me headlong with himselfe into the Sea See Sir the unhappy successe of an enterprise whereon my highest hopes were planted Suffer me now to complaine of you and insteed of asking you pardon for my faults to accuse you for the hindring of their punishment Why have you drawne me from the bottome of the Sea and by a cruell pitty given me the feeling of my miseries and the knowledge of sad fortune Let the happy Mute possesse in quiet since I see it your resolution those so ill gotten riches but let him not possesse them for ever to my perpetuall despaire and at least grant me the losse of my life that with it I may lose the thought of so much treasure as was once assur'd me The young Turke that was not ignorant oâ—… forâ—…es injustices stood lesse on the ill inclinations of this souldier then on his coâ—…stancy and disgraces And assuring him that if he would live well he would make him fortune made him to reflect on the calumnies which he had invented against the Mâ—… and to confesse in spite of his envy that that man had asmuch innocency as courage It added he let us know the rest of his fortune and try to drawe from him by signe â—…r writing that which thou canst not tell me Herewith he caus'd the Mute to comâ—… with the rest that follow'd him out and having intreated him to remember no morâ—…â—…e actions of the Canarian besought him to make knowne what Prince it was wâ—…se heart he caried The Mute drew out that beloved heart from his bosome and after hâ—… often kissing it held it up aloft as if he would say that it was the heart of a man inâ—…mparable After many inarticulate exclamations he presented it to the young Turkeand shewing him with his finger the Island of Iron invited him to goe there on shot to have a full understanding of those adventures which he could not recount to him And when he saw that the young Turke made no more haste to be gone be feared that â—…hey conceiv'd not his meaning and therefore to make himself better understood he â—…oke his other boxe and with a countenance full of indignation and sadnesse deliver'd â—…t to the Turke He receiv'd it and curiously regarding it observ'd that the diamonds â—…erewith it was cover'd were not only of an extreame beauty and greatnesse but that they were too almost all graven Upon some they might see flames which seem'd to give the diamonds the luster which they ow'd them Upon others ciphers of severall fashions of Scepters mixed with arrowes crownes of palmes and mirtles interlac'd one within another After he had well view'd the cover of the boxe he opened it and found withâ—… the Pictâ—…re of a young Marvell who by the Majesty which the Painter represented iâ—… the face made her condition to be better knowne then by the Crowne she wore on her head The delicatenesse of her feature the carnation of her lips and the beauty of her colour would have made her to have been taken for a childe but that the becomming fulnesâ—… of her neck and brest and the luster of her eyes made them judge her to be about fifâ—…ene or sixteene yeares old Her haire was neither too light nor too browne and seem'd to be expresly made to accompany a face so perfectly delightfull and highten a tâ—…cture so wonderfull lively The young Turke having been long fixed on this Picture restor'd it to the Mute and told him he had never seene the originall The Mute oftenstriking his brest and receiving the Picture againe in choler made them know by hâ—…s actions that she was the sole cause of the death of the unknowne Prince The Turke â—…eing not yet well satisfied of his doubts resolv'd to land in the â—…sland of Iron and 〈◊〉 goe to that famous Monument to have some intelligence of the Mutes actions He câ—…uld not execute his intention for just then a mariner which was at the scuttle of the sâ—…ip witnessing at once his vigilancy and care cried out Sayles Sayles Sayles of Moâ—…cco These few words brought such a fright and confusion into the ship that the Marinâ—…s harkned not to the Pilot nor the Souldiers to the Captaine and some there were who â—…ot daring to attend the death that threatned them threw them selves into the Sea to â—…revent it The young Turke who was the onely man that stood firme amongst the fall of â—…ll his oppos'd an incredible greatnesse of courage to their not to be beleeved astonishâ—…nt He ran up
him very favourable for by that he had sooner the liberty to speake to Isatida and to continu e the discourse which he had begun the day before He drew neere her and unheard of any body tooke so fitly an occasion to make her know his sufferings that in lieu of those ordinary neglects which are most commonly the first answers of those that are spoken to in the dialect of love he received from Isatida only words of civility All the rest of the day passed in the like entertaines and if I may speake it before that my deare Master left that amyable Princesse he had cause to beleeve that her discretion much pleased him The night comming on the Queene returned with all her Court but more satisfied with Zelmatida's valour then his wit On the other side the Prince not being able to repent the overture of his affection to Isatida was willing to let some daies slip away to give time to that Princesse to accustome her selfe to his passion In the meane while the continuall converse he had with her made him discover so many new inticements that he had been indeed morâ—… insensible then judicious if he had preferred the hopes of an Empire before those of the enjoying Isatida Besides he saw himselfe received with so much sweetnesse and his discourse listned to with so many signes of satisfaction that had he been lesse scrupulous then he was he had been aâ—…ured of the Pincesses good affection But his discretion and love forbad him to hope for so great a happinesse yet finding her one day in a place where with freedome he might use his language he let his passion so much transport him that he made her a more ample and expresse declaration then any of his former and that shee might not condemn him of boldnesse or daring assured her that he was the sonne of a King This audacious proposition was in all likelyhood to have a contrary successe then it had but the Prince his infinite love and the purity of his intention deserv'd not a lesse favourable treatment Isatida blush'd at the freenesse of my deare Master and rested some while silent but comming at last from her bashfullnesse I shall be glad said she to see whether you be capeable of that perfection whereof you vaunt your selfe I accept of your service and promise you to put your patience to the test See how Isatida express'd her affection to my Lord the Inca but said she t is possible that you are ignorant how rigorous the conditions are by which I give you leave to serve me It behooves you to have an asseduitie without example that your respects goe even to Idolatry and that Death it selfe be not powerfull enough to breake your silence And more take it for most certaynâ—… that you lose me for ever if ever your love comes not only to the knowledge of the Queene my Mother but to any person else whatsoever though it were to wrong both the one and the other of these two lovers to attribute this effect to causes lesse illustrious then their virtues yet I have often thought that the overture which Zelmatida made of his byrth to the Princesse was not one of the least weapons that love made use of to subdue this imperious valour Things being on these termes the King bethought him of Quasmez and at the same instant resolved to imploy Isatida for the delivery of Xaira One day therefore finding an occasion to speake to her without any over-hearing he entertain'd her long time with the obligations he stood engaged to her gave her new assurances of his inviolable fidelity and making as I may say his heart to come on his lippes constrayned Isatida to confesse in her selfe that it was impossible not to suffer her selfe to be overcome by the perswasions of a Lover so discreete and passionate When Zelmatida sawe her so well prepared If I may be permitted said he to forget my selfe for a little time and glorying in my good fortune aspire higher then I ought be pleased faire Isatida that I desire from you a new favour to assure me that you have not repented of those which you have already bestowed on me Isatida stopping him as he was going on with this discourse told him that those words which he imployed to prepare her to accept his petition were so many injuries done to her friendshippe That she conjured him to beleeve that there was nothing whilest he was as sage and respectfull as hitherto hee had beene which he might not without vanity promise himselfe from a person who made a particular profession to be just That he should not therefore feare to make known what he desired from her and that he should assure himselfe that his request should bee absolutely unjust or else be granted him Zelmatida unwilling to shewe of too much boldnesse or too much feare lest any of them might seeme too much affected and by consequence vitious thought that he might adventure He besought therefore with his usuall grace a favorable audience from Isatida and obtayning it told her in few words his engagements to the King Quasmez made knowne the principall accidents of his infancy the revelation of the high-Priest the rapt of the Princesse Xaâ—…ra and intreated her not to take it amisse that next the honour of her favours hee wishâ—…d for nothing in the World so much as the occasions to serve that good King who had â—…ver beene to him instead of a Father These words were followed by many other â—…hat seemed to conclude how it was in the power of Isatida to set Xaira at liberty The Princesse hearkened very attentively to the beginning of his speech but seeing the ferventnesse where with he pressed her to deliver a person unknowne to her She interruâ—…ted him and assured that his high-Priest had ill divin'd and that there was nevâ—…r any Xâ—…ira nor mayde stolne away in the Court of Hismalita 'T is not that I would put you out of hope I have a Governesse who hath beene in the Court these fifty yeares and shee loves me with so blinded a passion that she will tell me whatsoere I would know of heâ—… though in the revealing it should hazard her life Set your minde then at rest and â—…xpect from my diligence all that you can expect for the â—…leering of your imployment Zelmatida had set his knee to the ground to thanke Isatida and began his actions of gratitude when by the comming of one of Hismalita's Eâ—…nuques he was interrupted For she naturally â—…ealous cruell and suspitious would not suffer my deare Master since she perceived he affected it but with much a doe the conversation of Isatida Yet she made him no shew of her ill humor but caused him to be continually watched by her trusty spies and as soone as she knew him to be with the Princesse she still found some pretext to take him off Garruca could not goe on with this discourse for divers of the Pyrats entring into
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
that would undoe you in feyning to love you They present to you your misfortune farre greater then it is and employing your noblenesse against your selfe make you beleeve that you are reduc't to that point that you have neyther heart nor faith if you are yet capable of hoping and living Stop your eares against these Impostors beleeve your friends and be confident that you have no malady absolutely incurable Your Physitians promise the curing of your wound and I will doe as much for your amorous misfortunes You adore the beauty of the person that makes you despayre and some adventure to fill the history of your life restoring to you that worthy Subject of your affection will give you more content then you thinke to have lost in losing the hope of reviewing it Bajazet sighing often at Iphidamantus words It will be very hard for me said he not to suffer my selfe to be perswaded by his eloquence that doth not lesse charme the Eyes then the Eares I will beleeve you my deare Iphidamantus I cannot doubt of the truth of your promises without distrusting a power which I set immediatly under that which is infinite Zelmatida who had beene a long time silent seeing that Bajazets despayre was not cleane voyd of hope suffered himselfe to be overcome by his ordinary imaginations and expressing them by words as sad as themselves were 't is for thee alone deplorable Prince said he to whom there remaines neyther hope nor comfort The most miserable are not deprived of that Thou only as a prodigy in Nature as well as in Love thou despairest not and yet livest void of any the least hope Thou knowest none but death can give thee any rest or at least insensiblenesse of sorrowe and yet goest thou drawing out a life through the one and the other World and dar'st not take that last resolution which farre lesse miseries then thine have put into the hearts of the most cowardous and fearefull Polexander turning his eyes on Zelmatida with such lookes as seemed to condemn the injustice of his complaints told him without speaking that despaire as well as hope was a genus under which divers species were inclosed That that despayre was the sweetest which depriving us of all hope and unlinking us absolutely from all life resembled those unpoysoned potions which by little and little freezing the blood and the Spirits and confounding death with sleepe make those beleeve whom they kill that they doe but slumber See Zelmatida what manner of one yours is said he but mine is of a kinde farre more prodigious It proceeds from hope it selfe It divides my Spirit and as I might say teares it in peeces imitating those cruell executioners that at once torment all the members together and doe so that of many tortures they frame one dreadfull that hee which suffers dies as many times as his body hath parts Diceus imposing these Lovers silence too ill handled by their passions intreated Bajazet to take a little rest and to give to the remedies and Nature time to perfect that which they had so well begunne The two brothers and Zelmatida taking this spoken as well to them as to Bajazet tooke leave of him and retyred into their ordinary lodgings Bajazet passed the night without eyther disquiet or raving The next day the Princes visited him and found his countenance so good that they no more doubted what Diceus had promised The following dayes gave them new assurances and being no more in trouble but for themselves they felt their ills growe worse by degrees as Bajazets diminished But Polexander when he had no more the diversion which that Princes wound gave him he cast himselfe altogether on the consideration of his owne He represented to himselfe that there were no kinde of obstacles where withall his desires had not beene crossed still as he overcame them and that for the height of despayre he attempted a thing which neyther wisedome nor courage nor force could ever bring to passe These melancholy thoughts which for some yeeres had beene the sole entertayning of his minde made him distaste all kinde of pleasures and have an aversion to all company And since he was in the Pyrats Islandthere was not a day passed in which he had not beene among the rocks and deserts of that place to give himselfe in prey to the fury of his disquiets He went forth all alone and leaving himselfe to be guided by two passions equally blinde lost himselfe so that he was constrained to passe the night eyther in the deepe bottome of some precipice oâ—… on some point of a rock The faire slave of Alcidiana bore him company in his retyrements but â—…t was rarely because our Hercë would as well hide himselfe from him as fâ—…om Zâ—…lmatida and Iphidamantus and in his afflictions avoyded all other witnesses but thâ—…e that were incapable of comforting him One day going out of the Fort with the â—…re Pallantus he was tempted with a desire to know the true inclinations of Alcidiâ—…na but condemning as soone that curiosity must said he to himselfe Alcidiana make a â—…cond Declaration to have thee know that thou art unfortunate and that 't is her absolâ—…te wâ—…ll that thou perish Pallantus infallibly heard those last words for at the inâ—…nt that they were ended he turn'd him to the Heroë and as if hee would be willing â—…o answere him I wonder said he at the obstination with which you resist all that â—…n give you any comfort Beleeve me Polexander you are not sick of any of those â—…ases which are not cured but by extreame remedies You have but this to doe to 〈◊〉 much and not to despaire I have made you a proposition some dayes past which should be extreamly deare to you and in the meane while I see that you eyther conteâ—… it or feare it will not bring you out of the troubles wherein you are 'T is neyther the one noâ—… the other reply'd Polexander but when I come to thinke that Alcidiana would have me die and that my very name is so odious to her that by a solemn declaâ—…ation she hath forbidden it to be pronounced within her territories I avoyd all that may lessen my despayre and strive to rid me of a life for which all moments make me a â—…ll since they are so many witnesses of the little obedience I beare to the commandements of Alcidiana Ah Polexander answered Pallantus perish but doe not murmure Alcidiana is a Divinity which is no lesse just when it punisheth then when it recompenceth Her virtues are exempted from those faults which proceede of humane frailty she doth well to pursue you as one guilty since your passion having offended her virtue by a little too much liberty hath oblieged her to chastise you by distance and silence But O! How advantageous is this to you for to consider matters well is it not true that since you cannot be belov'd of Alcidiana for men must not pretend to that happinesse 't is an
religiously with you then with the gods Give him more respectfull regards and forbid him that he You ought divine Alcidiana cried Polexander you ought to forbid mee to live rather then to impose on me impossible conditions and command that my understanding knowing its happinesse should become a Tyrant to it selfe even to enjoyne my will not to desire it But you have beene more just and suppressing the bloody Lawes which your rigour had invented you have dispenced with us for the necessity of observing them He continued his reading after hee had made this reflection and met certaine words by which Alcidiana had expressed her thoughts in looking in her glasse They were these Doest thou know thy self well Alcidiana These eyes afflicted and languishing this complexion so unlike what it hath alwaies beene these pale lips this leaden breast in briefe this dying person which thou seest in this glasse hath it any thing of that thou lookst for Confesse that Alcidiana is no more but that she lost her selfe when shee lost the peace of heâ—… minde The cruell Demon that changed her heart not only altered her countenance but disfigured it in such sort that 't is no wonder if thou knowest it not Doe not accuse the glasse to be lesse true then t was wont It is still the same it was but thou art not what thou hast beene Call againe dead Alcidiana make the two last yeeres of thy life to returne againe in a word rayse thy selfe if it be possible out of the grave wherein thy errors have buried thee and by what is passed thou maist judge of the present But witlesse as thou art it seemes thou art pleased in thine ill fortune Thou inwardly comfortest thy selfe with thy losses Thou findest allurements in thy alteration and since thy glasse doth not flatter thee thou endeavorest to flatter thy selfe Breake this charme unfortunate Princesse and know thy sicknesse is at the height since thou art insensible of it Polexander after he had read this knowing not whether he should complaine on himself or some other yet neglected not to declare him for Alcidiana and to sweare inwardly the death of the Author of so many disquiets Hee turned then another leafe and found this The Reflection TO whom should I attribute the cause of my malady Shall I accuse the starres or men or mine owne temper What ill influence could insensibly ruine the vigour of my fayrest yeeres Shall I beleeve that some Sorcerer by the power of his Characters or venome of his lookes his fascination hath impoysoned my heart and by little and little drawes my life from me My temper seemes not to mee any way altred though my disposition be changed and by consequence it is not the Author of my Sufferings Shall I say t is my Melancholly But that being the very ill I endure I should then make the effect guilty of the malignity of the cause But may it not bee Love If Radiotez have not deceived me t is impossible that my disease should come from that passion How often hath he assured me that Love came from desire and if it be so I am not in Love or else in Love with all persons in the World For all fayre objects give me the same desires I looke on the heavens with admiration I number the Starres with a ravishment I delight in the diversitie of floures of fruites and all living creatures But of all these there is not any one which I wish to enjoy more particularly then I now possesse it What is then the cause of my griefe Alas how can I know it since I have not this ill but because I am ignorant of it Dye Polâ—…xander and give over at last to suffer thy selfe to be deceiv'd by false hopes said our Heroë Not only Alcidiana hath my love but the heavens and the earth men and beasts are all to thee as one same object Griefe here hindred his farther speech Yet stopped him not from pursuing his farther inquiry Hee was almost at the end of the tables when he found this The Anger HOw I hate thee perfidious Amintha to print againe in my thought the name of thy Polexander Since these eight dayes there hath not a moment passed but this troublesome name hath mixed it selfe with my meditations It persecutes mee by day and in the night it permits me not to take my rest If I call any one of my slaves would I name any other eyther Citizen or Stranger my tongue following the error of my imagination will pronounce that Polexander Some times it speakes it halfe and every foote I am forced to stay it for feare of continuing in this mistake O Name of Polexander said our Heroë more fortunate then Polexander himselfe I hast thou not so much charitie to impart some of thy happinesse to him without whom thou canst not bee I conceive thy answere deare Name But my little merit suffers me not to beleeve it nor my respect to entertayne my selfe with it And with these words turned to the last leafe of the Tables and there met with this The last Resolution IT must be so I am resolved of it audacious Stranger Thou shalt out of my memory as well as of my Territories The more thou hast sought for occasions to appeare amiable the more cause hast thou given me to make thee hated I hate thee because I have run the hazard to love thee I wish that an eternall punishment avenge me of the crime thou wouldst have committed The Sentence for it is pronounced Traytor as he is Hee shall not vaunt unpunished to have essayed by virtue of his submissions and services to establish his dangerous Tyrrany Thou mightst well doubt unhappy Polexander cryd our Heroë that the last calme should be followed by a great tempest Thou hast not long time sayled but to be ship wrack'd and the end of thy Navigation must be that of thy hopes Deliberate no longer after thy condemnation leave to live in leaving to hope Yet not so Preserve thy life since thy divine Alcidiana wills that thou indure as much as thou art capable to suffer When Polexander had shut up the table booke and made a new reflection on his fortune he knew but too well that Alcidiana's last Sentments had ruined the little hope which the former had given him He turned his eyes pittifully on Pallantus redilivering his booke and would signifie unto him the excesse of his despaire But Pallantus prevented him and sayd he wonder'd infinitely that he would persevere to afflict himselfe amidst so many causes of joy Ah Pallantus answered the Prince I know t is too much honour for me to be remembred in any way whatsoever by Alcidiana My Judgement avowes it but my passion will not I have such desires as perpetually struggle with my reason and when I would force them not to go beyond the limitts she prescribes them they boldly take armes against us both and their insolencyes go so farre that they even think to doe
I lost in the world Heereupon I began to speake and desiring to engage the Hermit to relate his Story You must Father said I if you please take the paines to expresse your self more plainly if you desire to give me the satisfaction of understanding you I would say that passing from these generall propositions to circumstances more particular you would let me know of what nature was the happinesse you have lost and of what kinde that is which you have recovered in your solitude I will obey you Madam said the Dervis though by an expresse commandment from the spirit who conducted me into this Desart if it be forbidden me to publish the secrets of my solitary retreat Know then that I am the Son of a Shepheard who in times past had great and numerous flocks and many strong inclosed pastures in the large Plaines of Numidia The care he had of his beloved sheepe was the cause of his death for being too wilfull in the pursuite of some wilde beastes that would devoure them he himselfe became a prey to those savage Monsters I was left an Orphant by that dismall accident and my tender yeares being not proportionable to the paines that it behooved me to take for the preservation of my flock I left them to the mercy of their enemies and went wandring and desolate through places and Countryes to me altogether unknowne This miserable and wandring life having brought me to such an extremity that I wished for death a hundred times in a day Our great Prophet all shining with as many rayes as he had when he was carried up into heaven appeared to me on the sea strand and taking me up from where I was fallen take heart said he and be not weary of living The superiour power is mooved with thy disfavours and see his comforts come showring downe to sweeten the bitternesse of thy life When he had said thus he vanished and presently I saw glistring through a thicke cloud an Angell more bright then the light it selfe He deigned to be the companion and guide of my Journeys and within a few dayes bounding them by a gift he gave me of an infinite more value then all the goods I had lost promised me too that I should enjoy it till my death Alas I dare say and yet hope I blaspheme not that truth is no where but in Heaven and that even an Angell is not alwaies to be beleeved if he be not in that unchangeable abode I held me most certainely assured of the eternity of my happinesse when my Angell sad and heavy came and pitifully told me that a spirit sent from above for the chasticement of my offences was to constraine him to forsake me Ah! My Angell cryde I doe not leave me And if I have deserved to be punished let me yet in my torments have the consolation to behold thee I have long resisted this black Angell replyde mine Angell of light but there is power given him to overcome me and to torment thee With this my Angell gave a great shrieke and by force was compelled to leave me to the mercy of the most to be feared by Demons that the eternall justice makes use of for the punishing of mankinde I lost with my good Angell all the happinesse and delight that his company gave me and have lived ever since so miserable and tormented that to free me from my persecutor I intended to have killed my selfe A stronger arme then mine staied that blow and the voice of my absent Angell whispring me sometimes in my eare said come into the Desart com into the Desart 't is there where thou shalt recover what thou hast lost I beleeved his promises and streight forsaking the world retyrde me into these Mountaines The Dervis here stopping and I know not what new curiosity obliging me to speake But said I since you have been in these Desarts hath not your Angell performed that which he promised you He hath not only replied the Hermit rendred me the greatest part of the goods I lost but in an apparition said thus himselfe Hope and live The expiation of thy offences is almost accomplished I shall shortly have the freedome to be with thee I am now here but in feare since for my too much loving thee I have gone beyond that which is commanded me from above That faire Angell flew away as soone as he had in this manner comforted me But in that little time he was with me he gave me that contentment that to finish where I begun I can assure you that at this instant I am reestablished in the true possession of that good which I lost in the world Nephizus taking this Dervis for a foole and that his melancholy and austerity made him take these visions for realities would needes see how farre his extravagancies would extend and therefore said he but if it be so as you assure us how is it possible that in one same time when you suffered so many afflictions that at every moment they brought you to the graves brincke and yet in the meane while as you say you enjoyed such happinesse that you even dare to compare them with those which our great Prophet prepares for us in Paradise You might well have resolved the question your selfe said the Dervis if you had looked on me not by what I seeme but by that which I am You beleeve I differ not from other men and 't is that deceives you But I am composed of two different Personages I have one Nature which is proper to me and another which is accidentall Ther 's a strange substance inseperably knit to mine In a word another my selfe lives in me in the same manner as I live in my selfe and as it happens sometimes that nature thrusts into the world bodies which are so lincked the one to the other that they cannot be seperated but by their common dissolution and yet are agitated in one and the same time with divers passions So you see in me a strange concourse or to speake as I ought a miraculous medley of a man and an Angell of a man extreamely afflicted and of another happy When I speake to you of the infinite pleasures that I enjoy in this solitary life I talke to you in the person of that most happy â—…rt of my selfe and when I complaine of my suffrings I speake to you in the name of â—…e person afflicted In full and not to hold you longer in this unpleasing discourse I râ—…joyce that I am perfectly happy in my selfe and I am afflicted for being extreamely unfortunate in another Nephizus gathering nothing from this intricate discourse but a confirmation of the Dervis his folly left him and told me that if I tooke pleasure in the extravagancyes of a mad man I had found a meanes for my often diversion Though I was not of the same opinion with the Dervis yet in shew I forgot not to approve of Nephizus opinion and to laugh with him at the
But my voyage was interrupted by the arrival of that faire Arabian which I nam'd to you Azilia she came one Evening into my ship and when she was alone with me shee cast her selfe at my feet her Eyes ful of teares besought me to commiserate abused innocence avenge her of a Traytor Who under promise of Marriage had robd her of her Honour I took her up assone as I could and promising to assist her in so just a quarrell If any thing may hinder mee said I t is the opinion I have that your Enemy is in such a place where t wil be hard to bring him into Question Questionlesse he will laugh at my defiance as he hath been merry with his faith and will do you may be some new injuries in Lieu of asking your pardon for the former I will hinder him well enough answer'd the Lady from using his former treasons He shall feele what t is to be a faith-breaker But noble Knight I beseech you to grant me two favors at once The one is that you will not deny me your sword and arme and the other that without informing your selfe by what way I intend to effect my revenge you will promise not to leave me till I be fully satisfied I granted her all and taking but one Squire with me followed her to a house that was at the Gates of Fez. All our way she gave not over intreating me to observe exactly what I had promis'd and when I had overcome her Enemy not faile to cut off her head Assoone as I was in my lodging she renew'd her petitions and receiving me with a great deale of civility besought me to call my selfe Scander Stianack and to take on me the Arabian habit I agreed to her and after I had been some dayes in that lodging I knew it was the very same wherein Izilia's Lover was wont to meet her Now one morning as I was walking in an Alley of the garden I saw a man enter very richly clad He came right to me and drawing his Cymiter t is at this time said he thou Man with heart and faith that thou shall undergo the punishment thou hast long since deserved When I give thee thy life did not I command thee never to set foot within these doores nor within this Kingdom Yet I see thee return'd to perfect the assassinate which thou began'st the last year and continue thy cruelties on a person that is deare to me but I have prevented thee Thou must dye Traitor thou must dye This discourse was sufficient to surprize me yet from the beginning and judging that Izilia had kept her word with me and deceiv'd her deceiver I beleev'd it behov'd me to hold on the jeast and oblige this ill-advised Man to give satisfaction to his beloved I therefore drew my Cymiter and answering him in the language he had us'd I can no longer suffer said I the shame of mine house Izilia through too much loving thee hath wanted that love which she owes to her selfe and kindred and that blemish wherewithall she hath fullied her own honor and that of her race must be wash'd away either by thy blood of Allyance The Man began to laugh at my threatnings and using me as a Poltron or infamous fellow let fly at me a furious blow with his Cymiter I put it by and presently gave him another so weighty that but for the greatnesse and softnesse of his Turbant I had without doubt accomplish'd whether I would or no the will of Izilia We were in a large Alley and girt on each fide with a palisado of Orange and Pomegranat trees No body appeard in the Garden but the wife and daughter of the Gardiner Izilia was there but she was hidden and expected behind a palisado of Iesemins what should be the successe of her deceite Her Enemy the while beleeving that I was Scandar Stianack promis'd himselfe to bring me quickly to the case of asking him once more for my life I who desired that his busines might be ended by kindnesse solicited him to have regard to the ancient fidelity of our house to remember what he had promis'd to Izilia and not exasperate a whole illustrious and couragious family What answer'd me fiercely the abus'd man thou yet dar'st to open thy mouth Ah miserable fellow thou must perish and in saying so let drive a blow at me with al his strength I avoided it happily entring upon a point with him sheath'd my Cymiter in his thigh truly he witness'd that he had a good heart and skill for he made extraordinary essayes to revenge the loss of his blood and thinking it best to fight with more caution then he had done preserv'd himselfe with so much Judgement that I was neere a quarter of an houre in bootelesly beating the Ayre and the Iron But the blood he lost by his wound taking from him by little and little his strength and agility he did nothing but feebly ward I might say to you without Vanity that it had been very easie for me to have kild him in that case but I would not make use of my advantage On the contrary being desirous to oblige him to satisfie Izilia rather then to satisfie her my selfe Iintreated him to acknowledge the Injustice of his cause by the ill Successe of his armes not to contest any more against that which was resolv'd in heaven and to preserve his life by keeping his word Thou shalt dye murderer cried he instead of answering me and with those words cast himselfe in upon me with all the rest of his strength I stood firme for him and his choler taking away his Judgement he fel head long into mine armes The blow he received by his own fault was great and dangerous He lost his courage by it and after he had let fall his Cymiter he himself fell too along by the palisado As I came neere to helpe him She that called her selfe the Gardners daughter came running cross the palisado and catching me fast by the arm cried out Ah noble Knight take not away the life of the Prince of Fez. I started at that word and turning to her what said I is this Knight a Prince T is Nephizus said she and unable to speak further her sobs and sighs made an end for her I then perceived well how Izilia had deceived me as well as Nephizus She presently appear'd in the Alley running with al her speed was presently with me When she saw Nephizus stretch'd on the grasse al bloody Make an end make an end said she brave Knight T is not enough to have brought the perfidious Nephizus to the state he is but you should give his head into my hands you are engag'd to it and cannot deny it if you are a man of your word The fair Gardneresse this while held my arme though there was no need and turning on me her sweet and languishing Eyes Beleeve not Izilia said she She will be very angry
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
terrified and astonish'd by that accident that they utterly lost that eagernesse with which they strove to make themselves Masters of our Vessell In this Intervall we regain'd what we had lost knock'd our Enemies in again to the ship that was left them Polexander no way appear'd daunted in so great a danger but alwayes avoyding me was alwayes amongst his men and still promis'd them the victory Notwithstanding their number was so diminished that we had left us both of Mariners and Souldiers but fifty The Portugalls awakned from their amazement took notice of our weaknesse and about a hundred or sixscore of them flew into our Vessell All the Mariners as well as Souldiers thought now on nothing but how to defend themselves The fight began afresh and not a man of ours was slaine which had not before kill'd at least one of his Enemies Though Polexander was as you may imagine extreamly wearied with so long a toyle yet resisted he couragiously that fatigation and witnessing the greatnesse of his heart ran to assist his people As I followed him and had my Eyes only on him he saw me fall at his feet by two thrusts of pikes which I received at once Ah my Governor is dead cri'd he and in the same instant preventing a Portingall who without doubt came on to dispatch me thrust his sword through the others body He fell dead fast by me but in falling with a Mallet at Armes gave such a blow on the Princes head that he fell with him Though I was sore wounded yet I arose and seeing the King my Master in so ill case I carried him all in a trance into his Cabin and disarmd his head to see whether he had yet any life in him Presently he came to himselfe and streight ask'd me what was become of his Enemies Alas said I what ere is become of them they have their wish and gotten enough by cutting off a Life that was to be so fatall to them I spake it wholly transported with griefe seeing all the Princes haire knotted with blood so that I beleeved he had received so dangerous a blow that it was impossible to save him and so gave him for dead I laid him along on me and carefully search'd his head wherewith he clapt his hand on it and seeing at the drawing it back 't was all bloody I perceive now my good Governor you feare I am much hurt but let it not trouble you for I feele no paine After I had well search'd I saw that he had no wound on his head but that the Axe wherewith he was struck down sliding along his Helmet entred into his shoulder and from the wound it made there came that blood which after he was fall'n ran into his hayre I streight disarm'd him and finding the place where he was wounded I thought the hurt not mortall and so went about to stench the blood which being done I told that Heroe it was fit he should rest a while as he was whilst I went to see in what estate our businesse stood and would send some of his Servants to attend him The generous Prince would have risen but fainting with Weaknesse he grew pale and striving for feare I should perceive how ill he was since said he you think it fitting I will stay here I went presently out of the Cabin and wondring to heare no more noyse got quickly up to know the cause of their silence Truly 't was terribly fearefull and t is possible you never yet heard speak of the like adventure Our Vessell seem'd to me a bloody Scaffold on which had been executed a great number of unfortunate and miserable wretches Of above a hundred and fifty Canaryans and Portugalls which I had left fighting I found not one standing Some were dead others wounded with mortall blowes with sighes and groanes were giving a period to their lamentable Destiny The Portugall Ship too which was grapled with ours at the beginning of the fight had either been forced off â—…y some gust of Wind or unhook'd by some of their own who seeing their Companions so ill handled had thrown themselves into her for their safety After I had been a while as it were out of my self by so dismall a spectacle I re-collected my wits and perceiving by this generall defeate that the King my Master was in some safety I gave thankes to heaven and besought it with all my heart that it would perfect what was begun for the good of Polexander 〈◊〉 view'd all the dead and wounded of our party and found amongst the last a Young Canaryan that serv'd in the Kings Chamber His Name was Diceus and for his age he was an excellent Chirurgion The need I had of him obliged me to see in what plight he was and whither his wounds were deadly I drew him from under many bodies that were faln on him and laying him in a place commodius enough caled him so often so much tows'd him that he opened his Eyes a little I imagined there might be found some Essences about him and therefore rigging in his pockets and finding what I search'd for made him take the half of a little glasse bottle Presently he retook heart and his affection rendring him the memory of his Master he asked without knowing me what was become of the Prince He lives said I thankes be to heaven but Diceus said I he is in such a case that he needs thy assistance See what a true affection can do Scarce had Diceus heard Polexander was living and yet wounded but he arose and knowing me my Lord said he bring me speedily to the King Prithee replied I do thou take the paynes to help me to him for I cannot keep my selfe on foot and feeling a faintnesse Diceus said I the King is in his Cabin Go quickly and help him So that thou savest his life t is no great matter what becomes of the rest With that I fell and lost all perceivance and understanding Diceus fore-seeing that my swoonding would be long left me after he had commodiously seen me laid and went to the King whom he found in a heavy slumber whereof he had no good opinion and therefore awakened him and telling who he was Sir said he all your Enemies are dead It is fit your Majesty should now relish the sweets of so brave a Victory Whilst he spake thus he perceived his wound and having gently searched it was assured that not a Ueyne was cut nor Nerve wronged and by divers actions intimated his exceeding gladnesse for it and besought the King not to feare any ill successe of his hurt I have none replied the King all that troubles me is that I finde a certaine weaknesse that duls me Hereupon Diceus got him to take five or six drops of a Cordiall Potion which so strengthned him that after he had closed and bound up his wound he arose as cherefulll as if he had not been hurt But as he was about to aske for me he
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
prejudice and cannot doe lesse then preserve that liberty which hath protected my life Yes you are free and a liberty so priviledged that it is at your choice to abide heere or returne to your owne Countrey But if you have an intent to live in this Kingdome you may promise to your selfe from our just sensibility all that the greatnesse of your service hath cause to hope for Our Pallace shall be open to you no audience shall be denyed you and by a very particular exemption it shall be even permitted you to be sometimes of our association and to our sports The Princesse Chariot comming as she ended her speech she went into it and losing the memory of the hazard she had run returned to the Pallace I know not with what joy more quicke and lively then that she was accustomed to shew That Lady amongst the rest which I named Amintha made a particular compliment to our shepheard and told him that if he had neede of her he should know she could be and was a good friend Polexander gave her many humble thankes and very proud of his good fortune returned to finde Alcippus He related to him what had betided but it was done so disturbedly and out of order so many interrogations nothing to the purpose and so much distraction that Alcippus perceived the Prince not to be at all where he was My friend said he to him sighing from the bottome of his heart why wert not thou spectator of my glory O Heaven How faire is Alcidiana What a grace what a Majesty what a height of courage If thou hadst seene her in the danger I beheld her thou wouldest confesse she hath nothing of her sex but what it hath of rare and beautifull Certainely she is incomparable and whosoever can resist her charmes may brag but to his shame that instead of a heart he carries within him a cold and insensible stone I see well now answered Alcippus that 't is not lesse difficult to get out of this Island then to come into it 'T is farre worse replide Polexander and especially for me for I sweare to thee nothing but death shall be able to make me get from it But said Alcippus what shall become of your followers What shall the Queene you Mother doe Aâ—… cruell Alcippus replied Polexander why throwest thou againe into my remembrance such things which in the case I am cannot be preseâ—…ed â—…ut to increase my afflâ—…ctions Yet I tell thee Alcippus that that which is alreaâ—…y passed furnisheth me sufficiently for not fearing what may happen hereafter My good mother hath preserved my estate during my first absence and I hope she will doe it as well during my second And if to assist her she have neede of a new Alcippus I hope she may yet finde some one in my Kingdome I hope no lesse then your Majesty said Alcippus and besides promise to my selfe that if you will make good use of your fortune you will not repent you for loving the fairest creature of the world How easily replyed the Prince doest thou passe from one extremity to another But lately thou madest me feare even to the least accidents of life for so I call the disorders that may happen in my fortune and now thou wouldest have me promise my selfe such greatnesse and heights that it would trouble the most disordered and unbridled ambition to imagine But without flattring my selfe with any hope without proposing any end to what I undertake Know Alcippus that I will right on where â—…ve and reason inclination and merrit equally call me The Prince and his Favâ—…urite thus discoursing drove their flock before them and were so earnest in their talke that they came to the entrance of their Hamlet when they least thought of it Their Host from whom familiarity had no way taken any thing of his first courtesie came to meet them with a countenance that openly witnessed the content he received in their aboade and asked whether they had well acquitted themselves in their preâ—…ship of being shepheards Polexander unwilling to have his passion knowne answered the old man that Alcippus was sloathfull enough to please himselfe in the case of a pastorall life But for himselfe his blood was too hot and he too â—…uch affected noise and action to put on a resolution of sleeping or meditating all day long The old shepheard laughed heartily at that answere and â—…mbracing Polexander You are in the right said he 't is for gray haires and chill bloods to 〈◊〉 themselves to solitarinesse As he had spoake thus he saw enter the Court of his lodging a very proper man whom he knew by his chaines to be one of Alcidiana's slâ—…ves He met him with a great respect and askâ—…d whether he had neede of his service Father said the slave one of the Queenes fooâ—…men assuring her the shepheard who saved her life was to be heard of heere hath commanded me on her behalfe to visit him The old shepheard replied he had not heard of that accident and intreated the slave to relate to him something of it The slave presently satisfied him the shepheard streight thought Polexander had concealed from him the best adventure of his journey He then led him to the valiant shepheard and the slave shewâ—…ng by his submission the credit our Prince had with Alcidianas Stranger said he the Queene wills you should weare a badge wherby her Subjects may know what you have done for her and them She hath therefore sent you this box which by the whole extent of her Territories will cause that honour to be given you which your action hath deserved and theâ—…e with he presented him a box of Diamoâ—…ds which was not lesse costly for the graving then for the greatnes of the stones You might see on it that in the midst a Phenix on her funerall pile and the workeman had so wittily made use of the faire lustre of that Diamond that it seemed the bird was not only in midst of the flâ—…mes but that it selfe was all on fire Polexander received the Present after a protestation of his being unworthy of iâ—… and thaâ—… he accepted it only to testifie his oâ—… edience He then opened the boxe but found nothing in it save a piece of limming which represented a Phoenix rising a new out of her ashes and about it some Arabick words which said that her liâ—… should be more miraculous then her birth The slave thinking Polexander sought for somewhat else there A Lady said he of the Queenes called Amintha gave me this boxe and in delivering it charged me to tell you there wanted the principall ornament which was the Princesse picture but it was a gratification you ought not to demand since the Queene for some reason or scruple only knowne to her selfe would never suffer her picture to be taken After this discourse the King my Master having nought else to doe but his humble thanksgiving put in use all that he knew of the Countrey language
Take here if you please this sword the cause of your displeasure and assure your selfe that your just griefe shall advise you to nothing which I will not undergoe without a murmure These words surprised the King and cooled his choler Yet his love not permitting him to make use of his judgement you imagine said he that your courage can finde nothing which it cannot overcome but since you have contemned my friendship I will make you see what my power is Polexander could not answere him for he had lost so much blood since he got up that all his strength failing him againe he fell so as the King was faine to prop him or he had run the hazard to have fallen with him He therefore commanded five or six of his guard to take and carry him into the great Tower of the City which was instantly performed whilst he was in his swound The King of Denmarke freed from the object of his choler cast his eyes on his deare Phelismond While he thought of nothing but to have him carried away Alcippus and Diceus rushing out of the croude where they concealed themselves came and fell at his feet and besought his eare What are you said the King We are replied Alcippus servants to that Prince whom you treate not conformably to the Covenant whereby you permitted him the combate But in the name of Heaven Sir hearken to reason how just soever your resentment be and call to minde what you have sworne The keeping of your word ought to be no lesse deare to you then the preserving your Authority But if you thinke you have no cause on this occasion to stick to it reflect on the greatnesse of your prisoner and decree nothing against him till you have well pondered who Polexander is I know what I have to doe answered the King In the meane time I command you to get out of my Court within these foure and twenty houres if you will not run the fortune of a man who within these two dayes was but a meane Gentleman and now forsooth must be taken for one of the prime Pâ—…inces of the world But I sweare to make of him an example and at once give condigne punishment for the imposture and the murder Alas Sir replied Alcippus I beseech you humbly not to suffer your selfe to be transported by your indignation Your Majesty shall pardon me if you please should I say you would lose the respect I owe you The King justly offended at Alcippus indiscreet zeale grew more in rage then ever and commanded him with Diceus to be carryed to prison Both of them thanked him for that favour and uncompelled went whither they would lead them They were shut up in the same Tower where their Master was and presently after they sent him Physitians and Chyrurgions to see his woundes which they found to be great and dangerous But Diceus was not of their opinion and desired he might dresse his Master Those good people that were no more cunning then they should be thought this request was not to be denied and therefore gave way he should looke to him which he did and neglected nothing that might prevent those accidents which cause woundes to become mortall In the meane time the King of Denmarke was much troubled for Phelismond He had commanded six of his Gentlemen to take and carry him and not only went with him to the Pallace but had him laid in his owne bed where he was visited by all the Court Physitions and looked too for all things necessary as Heire to the Crowne Neverthelesse for all they could doe to his hurts they were so dangerous that till day breake all thought them incurable His Master went not to bed that night and swore if Phelismond died he would instantly command Polexanders head to be stroake from his shoulders After 't was day Phelismond grew sensible and as soone as he could open his mouth â—…asked where his King was and what was become of his enemy The King kissed him often and shedding teares for joy to heate him speake my Phelismond said he take heart and aske after nothing but thy cure He for whom thou inquirest is where he wants nothing since I saw by the letter thou writtest to Thamiris thy desire he should be treated as thy selfe Ten or twelve dayes slid away during which time the two Rivalls woundes threw forth part of their fire and cast them into such violent Fevers that their youth was the best preserver of their lives Phelismond now grew to be out of danger as well as Polexander when he called to minde he was not to faile of his word given him That consideration moved him to supplicate the King his Master he would be pleased he might be carried to the place where Polexander was Phelismond replied the King whilst the greatnesse of your woundes made me feare what would become of you I dissembled my resentment and would not thinke of your offending me but now you are out of danger I will tell you my minde and command you as I am your Master and Father to invent no pretext for having any cause to contradict me I have so much affected you Phelismond that in my life time I would have setled the Crowne of Denmarke on your head This extraordinary token of my love should intimate how deare your safety is to me and indeed it is so much that there is nothing which I would not doe to give you all the satisfaction you can desire Yet there is one thing I receive to my selfe and for which I will neither lend lend eare to my affection nor your intreaties 'T is the life of that stranger who without doubt hath bewitched you since you love him even after he hath declared himselfe your enemy and without regarding so many generosities which should perswade him hath done what in him lay to deprive you of your life Phelismond the most noble of men answered so advantagiously for his Rivall that his Master imposed him silence I will hold my peace Sir replied he since your Majesty commands me but I must submiâ—…ly beseech you to believe that my life is inseparably knit with that of the King of the Canaries and had rather dye then be the cause so great a King as you should not fullfill what he hath promised Verily Phelismâ—…nd replied the King t is too much anger me no more and call to minde that my crowne and amity deserve your care of pleasing me Phelismond would no longer exasperate his Master but put off further discourse of that businesse till another time Polexander was this while in prison very well treated and served with as much care as if he had beene even in the Island of Alcidiana Besides Phelismond who was not able to be wearied with shewing his generousnesse towards him sollicited his deliverance but his Master grew obstinate in refusall One day when the Favourite had but two or three woundes yet open he would needs try his last indeavour
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
took a crosse which was on her deske I desire said shee to him to lose that part of salvation which was wrought on that tree whereof this is the figure if in the matter you command mee to relate I either adde or diminish any thing for my justification The Prince much astonished to see his wife at the end of so blithe a humour to fall into an act so serious Is it in good earnest or in jest said hee that you have put on such an austere countenance Those things I make use of repli'd Eolinda are too sacred and venerable to be imploy'd for so profane an use My Lord. I speak in earnest and I humbly beseech you to beleeve the businesse is the most serious and important that you ever had yet in handling Without doubt repli'd the Prince smiling my honor is in question my mother hath discover'd that Eolinda hath her gallants Well well henceforward I shall take better heed to what concernes me Ah! my Lord cry'd Eolinda if it be true that I am dear to you and that I hold of your heart by stronger bonds then those of I know not what you call beauty I beseech you not to jest with that which regards your honour and to grant me at last the request I have so often made to you What request repli'd the Prince 'T is my Lord that you would take me from Court and draw me by a most pleasing absence from thence out of a torment which every day renewes it selfe The Prince laughing now with a better heart then he had done I see then said hee that I have divin'd it and thereupon embracing his wife againe Tell me said hee who are your gallants and how many be there of them I will waite on them and bring them to thee Eolinda that could not understand this scoffing got from her husband and casting her selfe at his feet Doe not make mee beleeve my Lord that we are no more the same we have been hitherto Doe mee justice examine my life and my offence and throw me not headlong by your indifferency from the top of all felicities where your onely goodnesse had rays'd mee The Prince desirous to give his wife the content she desired grew to be serious in spight of himselfe and granted her all the audience she requested Eolinda forgot not the least particularity of her meeting with her lover and her mother in law and having related all would have falne on long justifications But the Prince her husband stopping her You are a foole said he and if respect could permit it I would say that my mother is not very wise You both vainly trouble your selves the one for having too much experience and the other for having too little But I will take order this trouble go no further and get not to mee I confesse my Lord repli'd Eolinda sighing I have but little experience yet have I enough to know that of the like sparkles which have not been quenched in their births there have proceeded such flames that the least distrustfull have been the first involved in them Never trouble your selfe about it repli'd the Prince I will so well smother these that they shall neither fear nor hurt you Do you so too and suffer not a poor lover whom you burn so He could not make an end of his new gybe for Eolinda put her hand on his mouth and wept with so much violence as if her husband had made her undergoe some cruell effects of a true jealousie Hee so left her to comfort her self at leisure and went to his mother who after the long discourse to him of a cunning and scandalous old woman ended it by this pernicious conclusion That that man hath neither honour nor courage who suffers his wife to take those freedomes which may be ill interpreted Then shee filled his head with examples of fore-passed times represented to him how much the present were perverted how dangerous the Courtiers were and what a hard thing it was to preserve a great deale of vertue with a great deale of beauty This discreet son gave his mother leave to speak as long as shee would but when she was weary and yet not satiated with depraving the innocent Eolinda in these few words hee answered her I must needs take a liberty to me which at first will not seem respectfull enough to you Yet could you retire into your selfe and make your selfe mistris of that choler which hath as it were plucked you thence you would acknowledge my freedome to be very just Be pleased not to interrupt me and permit me to tell you I never expected from a person so filled with honour and vertue as you a discourse so declining and so much an enemy to them both 'T is the annotation or signe of true goodnesse to interpret all others actions to the best sense and not to beleeve them ill till a long time after there is no permission to doubt them so But now in lieu of calling to mind who you are and of observing those lawes imposed on you by your owne vertue you would become a slanderer and insteed of judging my wife by your selfe your judgement of her is no otherwise then if it had come from one of the pratling gossips of the Court. If through too much love of me you have so grosly erred I beseech you to lessen some part of your affection to the end you may not hazzard the making the like slips and to beleeve that Eolinda having you for her domesticall example will preserve alwaies an infinity of vertue to accompany an extremity of beauty The old woman growing mad at her sons wise remonstrances wonderfully upbrayded him reviled him and threatned him with her malediction protesting shee would never take any more into her consideration either himselfe or his affaires The night will better advise you repli'd the discreet Prince I entreat you to be led by it and when your choler is over to reflect on your self and me that you may know who is most faulty In the meane time I bid you goodnight and so presently went away The old woman all enraged being got to her bed and unable to take any rest by reason of her rage and malice which equally deny'd it her spent the best part of the night in devising new plots for Eolinda's destruction When she laid the ground of her abominable devices she rejoyced with her selfe at her good invention and turning her thoughts on the small regard her sonne had to her advertisements His father did the like said she the first time my enemies would have made him jealous But a little while after he made me know well enough that he had swallowed the poyson which in all appearance he had utterly rejected All manner of men how generous and wise soever they be nay though they have never so good an opinion of their wives are apt to be caught in this trap if they be brought to it by a dextrous and cunning
alwaies borne me goe quickly and strive to save Eolinda If thou bring'st me her not alive be secure thy Prince is dead I presently went forth not knowing where to finde a ship to goe after Eolinda but as I came out of the Castle those whom the old Dutchesse had sent to make an end of the innocent Lady told me the ship was ready and if I would be of the party I should follow them Though I was ignorant of their designe yet I took hold of the occasion and imbarqued my self with them and understood the command they had a little before our mariners had descri'd your ships I can tell you nothing of what past betwixt the mother and the son after my departure but by what hath hapned in your presence from the one and the other it is very easie for you to imagine how matters pass'd betwixt them Thus the Englishman ended his mournefull relation accompanied with many a sad teare Polexander let fall some to the memory of Eolinda and having blamed the imprudency and bewayled the misfortune of the Prince sent back all the English and commanded his Pilot to put off from the coast of England If the notes which are left me of the life of this great King have beene carefully written there hapned not to him any adventure worthy to be published from the coast of France to those of Spaine which are the neerest to Africa But it is remembred how in that place he made use of that incomparable valour and greatnesse of soule which had ever made him triumph over all dangers all fortunes and even of death it selfe He was beset with above thirty sayle of ships which falling in upon him without any observance of the ceremonies used at Sea assayled him so hotly that he had scarce time to put his men in case to defend themselves He fayled not to carry in a combat so unequall the same majesty of spirit he was wont to shew in his other combates But seeing no way of safety he would at least dye in one of the enemies vessels and make himselfe a glorious tombe of their bodies whom he had slaine Through sword and fire therefore he made up to the greatest vessell and grapling with her leapt in to make a terrible but chery of his infamous affailers He had no sooner put his foot into the ship but he was knowne by him that commanded her Hold cryed the Captaine to all he was clad after the Turkish fashion lay downe your Armes t is the King of the Canaries These words went from one end of the ship to the other and flying from ship to ship all the fleet knew in an instant they had beene like to have ruined the famous Polexander King of the Canaries In the meane while he who had first divulged this verity intimating to our Hero a great deale of joy My prayers are heard said he I have somewhat satisfied the obligations I owe your Majesty You once gave me my life and I dare say this day I have preserved yours For I most certainly know that at last you would rather have chosen an honourable death then an ignominious servitude I am the same Hamet whose life you preserved in the presence of Bajazet Iphidamantus and Zelmatida Know more Sir you are here amongst your servants since all of us know no other Soveraigne then the great Bajazet Hamet replyed Polexander this meeting is so strange that I can scarce beleeve what I see and understand But tell me I prethee where is Bajazet and why lyes his fleet on this coaste Sir said Hamet my Generall is sick in his Island and sick with griefe that he cannot recover the treasure he hath lost which if fortune and our diligence render not the sooner to him this Age will lose the rarest Jewell it hath next your Majesty and chiefly to prevent that mischance came we to Sea My companions and my selfe have altered our condition and suspending for Bajazets sake our former trade we are no more Pirates but to get into our hands the fairest women We flye up and downe to every place where fame tels us the most beautifull are and not dreading the hazard we run in so difficult and fantasticall an enterprise we place out highest felicity in the preservation of our Generals life Since you parted from our Island we have sent him twenty of the fairest women of the world but she whom he longs for is not among that number Two dayes since we tooke one in Portugall who is certainely the rarest and most wounding beauty can be looked upon She will not tell us what she is and that makes us believe it may be the same which Bajazet desires Hamet could say no more because ten or twelve of his companions came and did obeisance to our Heroe He entertained them with a courtesie which charmed the most barbarous and by a brave speech amplifying the fortune they had made him run told them t was not without cause their meeting was more feared on the Ocean then that of rocks and shelves The Pirates answered this commendation as well as they could and the aged Achaim among the rest told him it was farre from any intention of theirs to turne their forces against him for said he we have an expresse order from our Generall to obey you as himselfe and to follow your Majesty in all occasions wherein you please to do us so much honour as to make use of us and our armes T is not yet fifteene dayes since at the sacred name of Polexander we released one of the fairest ships we ever tooke She came from that inaccessible Island whereof all the world talkes and no body can see The Pilot which guided her a very venerable old man assured us he came from the Island of the Sun to see you at the Canaries and impart very important newes to you At these words the bloud flashed in Polexanders face and he felt a beating of his heart which was not usuall with him and being not able to suppresse this amorous emotion entreated Achaim to tell him what course he had seene that vessell steere We left her on the coast of Morocco replyed Achaim and the Pilot told us they went then to the King of Senega Polexander had gone away presently if his ship had beene in case But she had received so many Cannon shot that the highest sayle or top-gallant saile the maine mast and that which bore the sprits saile were shattered the maine sheet and the greatest part of the yards were torne and broken the very body of the ship was shot through in many places it required time to rectifie all this which Polexander was forced to give in spight of his impatiency To divert him Hamet propounded to his companions the shewing him their faire prisoner and his advice being approved Polexander went out of that ship into the Rover Selims and there into a Cabin where the faire Captive was kept Hee understood by Hamets
of his labours went on shore and commanded Alcippus and Diceus to follow him Assoone as he was landed he lay downe on the grasse to refresh himself but persecuted by his secret disquiets he arose sighing and began to walke in a way much beaten After he had gone some five or six hundred paces he saw a great wood and at the entrance into it many little houses He shewed them to Alcippus and Diceus and contrary to his custome seeming very curious Let 's go see said he on what place the storme hath thrown us And with that went towards the Cottages and as he came neerer to them descried such things as are not seene in the habitations of Fishermen nor other the like Islanders Though they were but of wood earth and thatch yet were they all of one Symmetry and disposed in such order that they were joyn'd together by very thick and high inclosures He came to the Gate and finding it open entred into a court not much unlike a cloyster of the Carthusians After he had a while consider'd the place and saw no body comming or going he was afraid to disturbe by his presence the quiet of those that dwelt there This made him resolve to retire but on the instant he was staid by the plaints and sighs of a personage he saw not He therefore drew neere as softly as he could to the place whence they came and beckning to Alcippus and Diceus to be attentive plac'd himselfe on the side of the third cottage doore The party that lamented was within it and made knowne the height of her affliction by the vehemency of her sighes At last she betooke her again to her speech which her sobbings had interrupted and with a voice powerfull enough to vanquish inhumanity it self spake thus I see well that in changing of place I have not chang'd my fortune and in carrying alwayes with me the unhappy affection which is the sole cause of all my miseries it happens to me as to those unpatient sick who think to recover their healths in forsaking the places where they lost it Ah incomprehensible wisdome which dost all things for the best I do not complaine either of the weakenesse or other infirmities of our Sex I admire the order of thy Justice in my owne calamity and beleeve it is not without some mystery that after thy causing us to be borne without defence thou exposest us to those irreconcileable enemies called men But why permittest thou that our eyes our hearts and our own reason should arme themselves against us and give us over will we nill we to the mercy of those monsters Why finde we allurements in our tormentors Why sweetnesse in our tyrants and in lieu of neglecting them even when they love us why doe we love them when they most despise us And thou too amiable Po ha what was I like to say I had almost named the cruell one that kils me and thou I say insensible Prince why seest thou not me in the extremity whereto thou hast brought me But for what new punishment return'st thou into my thoughts O get thee get thee from that place which is filled with nought but the markes of thy ingratitude and be not so barbarous to stay and gaze on those tortures which by thy meanes are inflicted on an innocent Lady Her teares and sighes gave a period to her complaints and encreasing Polexanders curiosity forc'd him to open the cottage doore He there saw a Lady laid on the earth upholding her head with one hand and wiping her teares off with the other She appeared to him so faire in the midst of her sorrowes that he confessed her beauty was farre more then her sadnesse The desolate faire one no sooner saw him but she gave an extraordinary shrieke and shut againe her doore without speaking a word Polexander amaz'd at the Ladies astonishment excus'd himselfe to her but saw her not and fearing to displease her went to another Cell He found the doore of it open he knock'd he call'd and for feare of committing another error expected when some one would answer him But 't was all in vaine no body came and had he not taken on a resolution to enter without leave he might have stood there till night He made signe to his Squire and Diceus to follow him and entered into a hall which had nothing of the austerity of an Hermitage The seeling was painted black and on the black there were fires quenched with teares Love-knots cut by Sythes wings broken mirrors shatter'd and among so many signes of despaire there were seene little Anchors which seem'd to say that the misfortunes describ'd in those Devises would one day have an end Polexander dwelt not long on them beeing woo'd thence by other paintings which fill'd all the one side of the hall He stood so much surpris'd nay truly so much astonish'd when he had well considered them that being not able to speake he took Alcippus by the arme and shewed him with his finger the causes of his wonder The Tables were all hung of one height yet some were longer then others The first in ranke was the portract of a Prince who by his smoaky colour by his curled haire by the littlenesse of his eyes and the disproportioned features of his face made them censure how sensuall he was and how inconstant aswell in his love as hatred Polexander knew him by his Inscription ZABAIM KING OF SENEGA OF GUINEA AND OF ALL THE LANDS WASH'D BY THE RIVER NIGER The second Table which was one of the longest represented an Amphitheater on whose degrees there were a great number of Spectators At one of the ends was pictured a Knight who held his sword to the throat of a man who seemed to be drowned in his bloud and at the other end the same Knight was represented betweene two Lions strucken through with many wounds and laid dead on the sand Above this Table were these words THE COMBAT OF ZABAIM FOR THE INFORTUNATE ALMANZAIRA The third Table was as the first and shew'd the picture of a Lady very sad and beautifull Polexander could not know her because there was no Inscription Underneath these three Tables were foure more of which the first was the second of the longest On that was seene a great assembly of all kinde of people and in the midst of them a Prince and Princesse holding hands The two next Tables were square and the principall causes of Polexanders astonishment The first shew'd a young Turk above him was writ BAJAZET and underneath these letters C. L. U. A. P. D. S. Our Heroe look'd earnestly on that Bajazet knew him for the same that was Captaine of the Pirates of the Ocean and did all he could to compose words from the seven letters which he thought to have some mystery in them But that which amaz'd him more was to see the picture of his brother next to the Turkes and the more he would doubt of it the more was he
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
her other aâ—…rements Zabaim interrupted this second contemplation and said to Almanzor smiling that he found it strange so great a heart which had not yeelded to the absolute power of Alcidiana's marvells could let it selfe be suddenly overcome by a beauty which was not comparable to her I shall never have that dishonour replied Almanzor for I am not of those imprudent men who leave their hearts in the disposition of their eyes All faire things please me but the delight I take in seeing them carries me not to the desire of enjoying them with that he broke off and addressing him to her father whom he could never be weary of seeing Old man said he tell me of what Country are you and what sad fortune makes you thus wander through the world with a personage so unfit to undergoe the discommodities of travell The good man first set one knee a ground and afterwards accompanying his voice with an abundance of tears My Lord said he the story of my afflictions which hath its beginning almost with that of my life askes too long time to recite it you be therefore pleas'd that I conceale it yet I will let you know that as miserable as you see me I am descended from a father who was as much renouned for the brave actions of his life as for the antiquity of his race My Countrey neighbours to this and the horrour of vice hath made me abandon my meanes and unfortunate Countrey both together and to renounce the favours of a King whom I was not permitted to contradict and with whom I could not comply without offending Zabaim strucken with those words as with a thunder-clap look'd on the old man and thought he had othertimes seene him but with another countenance yet would he not make it appeare that he knew him Almanzor for his part admir'd that young wonder and for her sake participating in her parents fortunes be sought Zabaim to have pity on that unfortunate company and give them a place of retreat worthy his bounty Zabaim perceiving well that Almanzor's compassion was mixed with love would needs give him some triall of his friendship by the well entertaining of those strangers Hee was not satisfied with lodging them in the Palace but he gave them of his owne choyce white and blacke Slaves for their service and commanded them to waite on the young strange Mayden with the same diligence and the same respects they did on the Queene Whil'st these things were executed Almanzor thought deeply on the beauty he had seen his memory presented her to him with incomparable graces and his judgement which govern'd now no more with its former liberty betraid it self and approv'd of that Prince's errors and agitations Zabaim who made no shew of knowing his disease and to intimate he had spoken nought to him but merrily discoursed with him about the conquering the rest of Guinea and by the way of his victories to reconduct him even to his fathers Kingdom Almanzor repli'd to that proposition but in such a manner as Zabaim tooke notice that the object of the faire Stranger solely possest all the Princes thoughts The time for bed separating them my deare Lord retir'd to his chamber overjoyed that hee might muse at liberty and got to bed that he might not be diverted neither by the lights nor the presence of his servants Assoone as he was alone he thought he breath'd more at his ease then before and from that first joy insensibly passing to the contemplation of the unknowne he of it fram'd a fancy more alluring and more perfect then the originall and spent all the night in contemplating the worke of his imagination At last he grew asham'd of his weaknesse and Reason re-entring by little and little from whence she had been driven represented to him the wrong he had already done himselfe and the misfortunes he was running into That light possessing so brave a mind dispersed all darknesse Almanzor broke his chaines and gloriously freed himself from the hands of his Conqueror He acknowledged his error blush'd at his weaknesse and filling his memory with those high designes which the charmes of the faire Stranger had banish'd thence Is it thus said he that thou practisest those lessons which so many excellent men have taught thee What is become of those profitable documents were read to thee for the guiding of thy life Hast thou quite forgotten the Counsell which the great Sacrificator Arismestidez gave thee Almanzor said he to thee thou wilt quickly grow to an age wherein thou wilt have no greater enemy to fight withall then thy selfe The strength of nature the goodnesse of your temperature the heat of your bloud the beauty of your minde and the presence of delightsome objects will combine together to triumph over you and to make you a slave to your owne infirmity Meet and oppose this dangerous conspiracy arme your selfe betimes to resist these potent enemies fortifie as much as you can possibly that absolute Empire which the superiour part of your soule should have over the rest But the best advice I can give you is such a one whereby you will conjecture I contradict my selfe As often as I have spoke to you of the excellency of the vertues and particularly of those proper to men of your condition I told you they had honour for their recompence aswell as for their object and how that honour was not to be acquir'd but in exposing our selves to dangers that in hazarding our selves in the most perillous enterprises and in preferring a faire death before a shamefull flight I now read you the contrary You must flye Almanzor yoe must flye if you will be victorious You must be extreamely fearefull if you will come gloriously off this combat in a word love is not to be overcome but in avoyding all occasions of incounter Almanzor stop'd after this speech and the better to consider the parts of it was a long time silent At last vanquisher of the strangers beauty and of the passion she had rais'd within him Let us said he aloud follow these wise rudiments Let us not give place to such enemies which will leave conquering us assoone as we give over fighting with them Let us rather fixe on the pleasures of the minde then the sensualities of the body and not deferre to breake our bonds since they are not yet indissoluble After he had taken that resolution he bethought on the meanes to put it in execution and found none better then to take on him the leading of the Army which Zabaim would send into Guinea and not see againe that inchanting beauty which in so short a time had wrought so great an alteration in him These high deliberations being confirmed he slept as if he would have Love know he was free from his tyranny and wakened not till Zabaim made a noyse by coming into his chamber That King who thought the Prince extreamely in love either out of jealousie or otherwise left his
Kings which sue to you and forgetting your condition and hopes suffer your selfe to be captivated by the allurements of a Wanderer who may be strayes from Kingdome to Kingdome to establish her a fortune by the sale of her beautie Almanzor in lieu of growing in choler at a discourse which had offended him abode in a patience not imaginable but his griefe for Hydaspes libertie being stronger then his constancie he was forc'd to carry his handkerchiefe to his eyes lest the other should see his teares Presently after hee look'd on him and accusing himselfe for Hydaspes fault 'T is I said he who am guilty of those blasphemies which you have vomited against Axiamira's vertue Yes Hydaspes I will punish my selfe for the crime you have committed through your too much love to me I know your thoughts contradict your words and in the very instant that your mouth wronged innocent Axiamira your heart derogating from your tongue ask'd her pardon for it See Hydaspes what 't is to contend with a knowne truth in lieu of being beleev'd you become suspected and by that unhappy cunning affirme even that which you had an intent to ruinate Imagine noble Sir to what a necessity Hydaspes saw himselfe brought by the strange interpretation Almanzor gave his words He stood a while without the power of answering him but when he perceiv'd effectually that Almanzor grew afflicted as if he had been guiltie he cast himselfe at his feet and besought him to call to minde who hee was and what he ought to so many people who expected their preservation their felicitie and example from him These considerations were not prevalent to bring him to himself He continually sigh'd and looking on Hydaspeâ—… with eyes bath'd in teares Criminall that I am said he 't is I 't is I that have compell'd thee so unworthily to wrong the most transcendent vertue of the world Hydaspes who one way or other would draw him out of that agonie perceiving that the thought of honour and of Abrinzias were too weake to move him At least said he reflect on Axiamira and since you love her witnesse to her your affection by other proofes then by sorrowings and unprofitable lamentings Admire if you please the efficacy of a passion which after it hath been long time contested with yet at last gets the victorie and to avenge it selfe of so long a resistance insolently makes use of its victorie At the onely name of Axiamira Almanzor came out of his perturbation and remembring no more his first resolution shew'd an extreame impatiencie for not seeing that beautie which longing was no lesse extraordinary then his constraints had beene thitherto to keep himselfe from seeing her Presently he sent backe Hydaspes to advertise Osmin he was coming to see him thither he went and had scarce delivered his Message when he saw his Master Osmin and his wife went to meet him and casting themselvrs both at his feet rendered him thankes for his incomparable favours He tooke them up and treating them with as much respect as he would have done Abrinzias and Andromeda assured them that thence-forward they foure would but have one fortune Axiamira was behinde her mother Almanzor came and saluted her She was nothing mov'd by seeing her selfe so kindly treated by so great a Prince but continuing in her former indifferencie and neither making shew of pride nor basenesse she gracefully receiv'd Almanzors complements The Prince strove to say somewhat to her but he made known by his discourse that his minde was disordered Yet I think Axiamira tooke no notice of it for she being alwayes recollected to her selfe had no attention to what outwardly happened Yet did she at that time more then was accustomed to doe Shee lifted her eyes a little to looke on Almanzor and presently casting them down againe You said she looke on a creature who for two yeares hath been exposed to all the outrages and violence of fortune Hitherto her malice cannot be satiated I know not whether your prowesse which hath quell'd so many enemies will be able to overcome her I wish for your honour and my peace you may have the victorie for I shall be glad to adde this new and supreame obligation to those I owe you already After she had thus spoke she was silent and Almanzor then beginning let her know he was not in case to vanquish but came himselfe to implore her aid against afar more redoubtfull Enemie then fortune Osmin his wife and Hydaspes drew neere to Almanzor and Axiamira and intermedling with their conversation tooke them both off from the worst straite they ever met withall Almanzor could have wish'd his interparlance endlesse but his discretion being at that time more powerfull then his love he retir'd in good time and left as I understood since Osmin and his familie exceedingly satisfied Assoone as hee was in his chamber he thought on Axiamira's speech and after he had intertained Hydaspes with all that which he found admirable aswell in the actions as words of that beautie Assure thy selfe said he Axiamira is not Osmins daughter Hydaspes who had ever been of that opinion confirm'd iâ—… in him and told him that infallibly she was some personage of high extraction who for some important considerations had beene intrusted to the wisdome of those two good people From that imagination they passed to others and Hydaspes continuing in the tearmes of complay sancie and approbation left Almanzor in the libertie of extolling as much as he would Axiamira's perfections and to extend and dilate himselfe into such praises as any other but himselfe would have thought too excessive or at least very tedious The Prince gave him leave to retire after his love had exhausted his Eloquence To bed he got him not to sleepe but to meditate-at pleasure and by that meditation to forme to himselfe new Idea's and finde new wayes to expresse his passion The next day in all appearance he was the same man he had been before times but indeed 't was another personage no more that Almanzor whose soule knew no other passion then the desire of honour who had his element in the most difficult enterprises and who so highly proclaim'd that it was more shamefull for men to make love then for women to go to warfare He was no more that Almanzor who had wholly dedicated himselfe to the practise of the most austere vertues He had transmigrated into another nature and esteem'd not the greatnesse of courage perillous adventures and the acquisition of fame but as they were subjected to the Empire of Love When I came into his chamber I found him in his amorous meditations He had sent for me by Hydaspes to the end to make knowne his passion to me and give me thanks for the service I had done him Imagine whether his discourse amaz'd me It was yet lesse then it had done if Hydaspes had not discover'd to me all that was pass'd since my returne I strove to restraine by some
Courtiers take notice of my extraordinary favour From that day he demean'd himselfe towards me as if truly I had been his father and added a many more slaves to those he had given us before your departure The more my credit increased the more I suspected him and knowing well it came not out of any respect to you nor from any merit in me I imputed and laid all the cause of it on the love Zabaim bore to Axiamira Nor was it long conceal'd from me The Kings frequent visiting us the excessive presents which hee continually sent my wife and the submissions wherewith he presented himselfe before Axiamira were to me too certaine proofes of his follie and too assured presages of our approaching ruine At last he resolv'd to put off the maske he had long worn and imagining Axiamira lov'd you he thought there was no better way to settle himselfe in her thought then by driving thence the memorie of you To that end he spoke to her of you but in such a way as taxing was subtlely intermix'd with praise contempt with estimation and envie with acknowledgement I will not my Lord relate the particulars of his discourse for Axiamira would never tell it me know onely that after Zabaim had well prais'd you he made an ample declaration of his extreame love Then hee told my daughter that if she would give him some assurance of her affection he would promise her no lesse a recompence then the three Crownes which Zelopa wore on her head Axiamira incens'd at his detestable propositions was ready to breake out but the greatnesse of her heart and that scrupulous vertue whereof she hath alwaies made profession neither permitted her to make shew of her spirit nor to answer Zabaim's words She would avenge it on her self and by teares watchings and other austerities ruinate the innocent cause of that Princes offences He for all that did not give over his enterprise for so comfort lesse a beginning On the contrary the difficultie of it adding to his desires he resolv'd to carrie away that victorie either by force or cunningâ—… 'T was then we began to see the infallibilitie of our destruction When it was permitted us to be alone and all three together could freely disclose the thoughts of our hearts we broke forth into infinite sorrowes and lamentations We invok'd heavens Justice to assist us against the impudicitie of so often and many wayes guiltie a Prince Wee call'd for it's thunder We besought you to be yet once more our deliverer but seeing our selves for saken of gods and men and growing desperate of your returne we fell from plaints and teares into a resolution to die Axiamira shewing her brave spirit in â—…hat extremitie Father said she my constancie hath now beene long in contestation with fortune I feare it may faint and after so high a flight have an ignominious stouping deliver it then from those new enemies which assaile her and if your power extend not so farre I pretend not to engage you on impossibilities Your example makes me but too well know by what way we must generously enfranchise our selves from a place where we cannot live with honour Let us get hence and make Zabaim know we were born free But if all passages are stopt us and we be no more permitted the use of our libertie let us trie our courage Death is alwayes ready to succour such who call on her as they ought It shall be it my deare Protectors it shall be it which in spight of all the tyrants chaines and guards shall put a period to our feares and slaverie When we heard Axiamira speake so generously my wife and my selfe stopped the teares which had so long time distill'd from our eyes and prepar'd our selves by a mutuall constancie to a glorious death Yet before our putting that last resolution in execution I had a mind to attempt some new meanes to save Axiamira I tri'd but in vaine to corrupt some of our slaves I writ to you divers letters which I gave to divers persons whom I thought very trustie I especially hop'd you would come and relieve us but I know wel now that my letters never came to your hands and that Zabaim had them from the traitor who promis'd me to deliver them to you I wonder'd no more why he was so jealous of me nor why he plac'd neer my daughter so many blacke Eunuches who not content to prie into all our actions would even heare out words too At last he tooke away that little libertie was left us Hee himselfe forbad us the going forth from our lodging and told me one day in choler that his love being too much contemn'd would turne into furie To this lamentable estate were we brought when Vice it selfe tooke armes for the defence of Vertue and though it was not its intention imploi'd all that could be of force and furie to make her victorious Zelopa who for six moneths had been sicke as they said of love and despaire understood by some of her confidents that Zabaim had forgotten her and passionately in love with a young maiden which had been sold him by her owne father note my Lord how wicked the vulgar are in their judgement was ready to seat her in Zelopa's place These newes getting her out of the bed wherein she languished made her leave Senega Into Guinea she came more furious then a Lionesse that pursues the hunters which have stolne her whelps She call'd to her succour all those Devills which the publicke voyce gave her altogether for her gods and slaves She sacrific'd to her furie three of her principall Officers for not advertising her presently of our arrivall or rather for not imploying fire and poyson against the father and daughter Zabaim hearing of his wife's frenzies was terrified with her threatnings and cruelties and as an offender escap'd out of prison seeing himselfe ready to fall into the hands of them who are doubly irritated by his flight he growes pale loseth his resolution repents him for breaking his fetters and lookes on those that advis'd him to escape as on so many enemies Axiamira who lately was his sole delight his happinesse his life and somewhat more then even Zelopa with all her Philters and Spirits was become to him a subject of horrour and hatred and if I know not what remainder of dying vertue had not opposs'd it selfe against the outrage of his bewitch'd soule he had doubtlesse himselfe to obtaine remission for his inconstancie cut the throat of Axiamira before Zelopa's eyes In the meane time that Witch like another Furie broke loose from hell came by great journey 's to fill the Court with massacres and impoysonings The blinded Zabaim hearing of her coming resolv'd to goe meet her and by that submission aswell as by his teares to pacifie the furie of his tyrannesse Before he parted he would yet once more see Axiamira and by that view give a secret and new aliment to the fire he
more amorous he grew and the lesse progresse he made in his suite the more happy successe he promised himselfe Whilst he was in these meditations the Painter he had sent for arriv'd out of Italy Presently he would have him draw Iphidamanta's picture to the end he might have the liberty of seeing her at all times and in all places But for all his extream desire to have it done he was yet a long time before he could consent the Painter should see her he call'd for him and ask'd if he could not draw a face by the description should be made of it The Painter answered as he ought to that demand and to flatter Hely's malady assur'd him if he could but onely once cast his eyes on the face he would have portraied he promised to perfect the rest by vertue of his imagination Hely was a long time contesting with two so contrary necessities at last Love carried it from Jealousie He resolv'd to set his Painter on worke but he had judgement and respect enough to undertake nothing without Iphidamanta's leave He therefore came and desired a permission to take her picture but being absolutely denied it he had recourse to the credit of Osmin's wife who promis'd to obtaine what he desired provided he left to her the managing Iphidamanta's spirit This promise restor'd to him all his lost joy and kept him from further pressing the Princesse Assoone as he was gone Osmin himselfe used many kind of reasons to win the Princesse to satisfie Hely He advertised her that her life and honour being in a manner in that Prince his power 't was not fit to discontent him for an indifferent matter The Princesse perswaded by this granted what Hely desired of her but know said she to Osmin it is to you I give my picture and not to Hely and remember if you please that this is the sole favour you must expect from my obsequiousnesse Osmin promised never to importune her with ought that should be displeasing to her and so went to Hely with these good newes The King took the occasion was presented him and after the observing a thousand ceremonies which we must be in love not to count ridiculous he got Iphidamanta's picture Assoone as he was possessed of that treasure he forgot the care of his affaires and neglected his owne preservation to have his thoughts and eyes eternally fixed on that Copy when he was not permitted to see the Originall That continuall contemplation so increased his love that it was impossible for him to deferre the accomplishing of it Hee made knowne therefore that without delay he would declare Iphidamanta Queen of Morocco Osmin confessed to my deare Master 't was not his fault that Hely had not satisfaction but knowing that Iphidamanta would resolve to die rather then to marry him he tri'd if he could unblinde him yet knowing he was one that would be deceived he laid before him that the Princesse being as a Prisoner in his power was not like acceptably to entertaine his suite that she could not beleeve his love was either true or just since he treated her not as a free-woman which is sought to by the wayes of honour but as a slave and vagabond whom no man feareth to outrage or ruine Do better Sir said he remit Iphidamanta at liberty send her with a great equipage to the King her brother and chuse the principall of your Estate to accompany her withall to demand her in marriage Your counsell is very good repli'd Hely but my affection will not permit me to make use of it make me any proposition the most difficult I will refuse none provided Iphidamanta stirre not hence I am ready to send Embassadours to Polexander I will submit me to such references as the Canarian Princes have not even dar'd to promise themselves from the least of the African Kings I will doe more I will release to him all pretentions which the Kings of Morocco have to the Islands he hath conquer'd and if he be not contented let him chuse of my three crowns which he likes best and I will give it him so he grant me Iphidamanta But that I should deprive my selfe of the felicity of seeing her under an uncertaine hope of enjoying her that I should put my selfe in jeopardy of losing a treasure already in my hands and to exercise I know not what superfluous correspondency that I should renounce essentiall possessions and happinesse t is that which must never be expected from me I will die before I be separated from Iphidamanta But not to lose the time in fruitlesse contestations this is my resolution Arzilland as you know is ready to imbarke for the conducting into Scotland the body of Spimantus and to present it to his father In his returne I would have him goe to Polexander and under pretext of visiting him from me sift that Princes minde speake wittily of the losse of his sister and if he perceive in the King any disposition to heare him he may let him know what is become of her and what my intention is Hely by this speech making knowne his minde to Osmin demanded what his was Osmin seeing there was no remedy and he could not help it approv'd of the Kings resolution and besought him in the meane while to behave himselfe so towards her that she might not have cause to beleeve her selfe a slave nor to presse him for her departure Hely promising Osmin both sent for Arzilland and giving him full instructions commanded he should set saile that very day Arzilland no lesse expeditive then affectionate obeyed his Master but the revolutions which followed his departure gave him farre other thoughts then those he had at his setting forth He was not got into Scotland when Nephisus rekindling the fire of division which hee had a while kept as extinguish'd made the King his father know that he was able to dissemble though not to amend He handled that good King more outrageously then he would a miserable slave he accus'd him of ignorance of folly and even threatned to pluck out with his heart that infamous passion which made him the laughter of his people Hely as insensible of these injuries made his excuses to Nephisus besought him to heare his justifications and almost asking him pardon for the others insolencies gave him the boldnesse to continue them That miscreant seeing his impiety to have so good successe left Hely got on horsebacke and accompanied with his confederates rode through all the streets of Morocco to raise the people When he perceived that his perswasions were powerfull over their mindes but not sufficiently to make them revolt he left the town and went to Abdelmelec who with a strong army had already violently seized on the Province of Hea. Hely thinking himselfe not safe enough in Morocco and not resolving on warre for feare of losing his Mistresse had no sooner newes that the two Princes came by long journeys to besiege him but he departed
scarce gave him leasure to put by or avenge himselfe Yet did he what a valiant man could and gave not ground till his Symiter was broken and weakened by the losse of almost all his bloud he could not possibly stand longer He was no sooner fallen but Almanzor offering his Symeter to his throat Thou shalt dye said he unlesse thou restore me the Princesse thou hast stolne The Rover making shew that that speech was more deadly to him then all his words Do not said he to Almanzor abuse thy victory but know that scoffing and jeering never well became the mouth of a Conquerour I confesse the desire of getting that Princesse of whom thou speakest hath brought me from Morocco to Benin but that designe hath not prosper'd and I acknowledge now that wicked projects sooner or later have but unfortunate events I feele I feele the blow wherewith I was long since threatned My crimes have exhausted all the patience of heaven and by a just retribution I meet with a violent death that so I may be exemplarily chastis'd for so many murthers which my command hath committed though my hand hath not beene able to execute them The Pirates Speech so sensibly touched Almanzor that changing in an instant from an irreconcilable enemy to a pitifull Comforter Hope better said he from the bounty of heaven and since it hath brought you to repent you of your former life doubt not but it hath in store a better for you You shall live for its glory and the example of others of your condition But let not your repentance be imperfect Be sorrowfull for offending without cause the Prince of Benin I sweare repli'd the Pirate by that just avenging Deity whose hand iâ—… now heavy upon me that I know not where the Princesse Iphidamanta is and I die with more griefe to lose her for ever then to lose the light of day With those words hee gave up the ghost and left Almanzor so extreamely afflicted that his victory went neere to have beene very dismall to him For the Pirates seeing their Generall dead in lieu of losing courage as men of warre usually doe in like occasions shewed themselves more hardy and furious then before They rushed all at once on Almanzor and if the necessity of defending himselfe had not drawne him from his dangerous compassion he had run the hazard of accompanying the vanquish'd Rover. He then turn'd head on the Pirates he drove them back he pierc'd them he dispers'd them and by his terrible blows inforc'd them to have recourse to that goodnesse which a little before they had despised Almanzor receiv'd them to mercy and stopping his Souldiers fury My Companions said he to them 't is enough that we have brought our enemies to aske their lives Let us use them so as they may be bound to esteeme us as milde to those which yeeld as we are redoubtfull to such as resist us The Pirates ravish'd at Almanzorse xceeding generosity as much as they had bin terrified by his in comparable valour threw their weapons turbants at his feet and as if they had now a time to accord their desires with their thoughts Fill cried they all to gether the place which Nephisus hath left empty by his death The name of Nephisus strook Almanzor to the heart and won him to grant the Rovers what they desired only to cleer such doubts as they had cast into his minde Seeing therefore so great an union where a little before there was so great contrariety and so profound a peace where so much war had bin kindled First of all said he to them I desire to know whence your Generall was what is become of the Princesse he stole from the Court of Benin One of the Pirates speaking for all I know said he better then my companions the reason of your demands and I can better then they satisfie you in them both Know said he further sighing that the unfortunate Nephisus whom you see dead at your feet is the same Nephisus who for the beginning of his miseries felt in the Prince his brothers Turney that your pastimes diversions are dreadfull 'T is the same Nephisus who following the counsell of his naturall ambition and the passions of the King his father's enemies violated the most sanctified Lawes and wrong'd a goodnesse which had never parallel 'T is that Nephisus who failing in his faith to the Princesse of Tunis and of his duty to the good Hely would have ravish'd Iphidamanta from him and besieg'd him in a Fortresse whereinto he was retir'd with her In summe 't is the same Nephisus who thinking himselfe by his taking that place not onely master of his fathers life but possessor of his Crowne and of Iphidamanta saw himselfe compell'd to abandon his defeated army to fly out of his fathers territories and that he might have a refuge to implore the assistance and protection of those who now demand yours I beleeve my Lord these generall things will be sufficient to satisfie part of your curiosity for the rest this is all the manifestation we can now give you When Nephisus left the Pirates Island for the stealing or forcing away of Iphidamanta he chose for companions of his fortune two of his most resolute Captaines the one was called Thalemut and the other Achain They promis'd him to throw themselves into Abrinzias Palace in two places which they knew and to take thence Iphidamanra whilst with his troupe he amused another where that Kings gard was They executed what they had promis'd but Nephisus being constrained to retire to his ships sooner then they had agreed upon together neither met with Thalemut nor Achain A tempest presently arose and our vessels were so dispers'd that this unfortunate Prince never heard since what was become of those two Captaines If you please I may have leave to tell you my opinion I thinke that Thalemut and Achain are certainly retir'd into their Island and carried the Princesse along with them Quoth Almanzor that which you have told me fills me with astonishment and gives me a great deale of satisfaction But I should have all I desire if you would instruct me what course I should steere to get to that fatall Island The Pirates who were about him spoke all at once and offered not onely to conduct him thither but also to cause Iphidamanta to be restor'd to him if so be she were in the hands of any of their Captains Almanzor imbrac'd them all one after another to thanke them for a promise that was so pleasing to him and in recompence told them he would if they thought them worthy fill Nephisus place and give them a Generall as affectionate as he if he did not give them one as valiant The Pirates taking him at his word forgot their pass'd losses by the gaine they had in him and betooke them to the course which their former combate had put them farre from Almanzor commanding his Mariners to follow him
Would to heaven reply'd Histeria a little angry that you were sensible as much as you strive to perswade us You would then take into your thought two personages who are more slaves then you and would hearken to their intreaties in lieu of deluding them with your vaine and subtle evasions The Sultanesse then coming broke our discourse and as much vex'd us as she pleas'd the disdainfull Solyman Assoon as he was got from us he made a solemne vow not to be so caught againe and indeed from that day till Achomat's returne 't was impossible for us to speake with him in private In the meanetime our love increased with our eares wee not onely forgot all things for Solyman but forgetting our selves were so foolish as to be jealous of one another we broke off our wonted communications we conceal'd our intentions and each of us working our projects apart we went so farre as that our Governesses tooke notice of our ill correspondency Nature who had made but one of us two could not long indure this disunion she knit again that which was not altogether broken and after she had let us know our idle extravagance made us conceive so great a sorrow for it as we were many dayes continually asking one another forgivenesse After this reciprocall fault had obliged us to a mutuall repentance we discovered all our thoughts to one another and being rejoyn'd not to be separated againe we promised each other to be together both Rivalls and Confidents some few dayes after this reconciliation the Emperour resolv'd to perfect and bring to some good issue an enterprise wherein his predecessours and himselfe had fail'd He would all at once conquer Egypt set on the heires of the Estate and rebellions of Scanderbeg and his principall designe was to avenge him of the Venetians and the Knights of Rhodes He therefore rais'd four mighty Armies and sent the greatest into Egypt under the command of Basha Herzecogli that was the title whereby my father was knowne He tooke Solyman to that warre and depriving our eyes of that onely and deare object made us make so many earnest prayers against the prosperity of his armes that many times since thinking on our amorous impiety I beleev'd it to have been the cause of the unhappy successe of Achomat's expedition He encountred the Sultan of Egypt and after a fight of two intire dayes wherein above two hundred thousand lay dead on the place hee fell from his horse was taken alive and carried in triumph to grand Cairo Solyman in that occurrence did such deeds of armes that it was not to beleev'd at a lesse rate then by loving him so much as we did He was not then above seventeene yeares old but his great heart giving him a strength beyond his age he had redeemed Achomat and put the Egyptians to the losse of that victory they had gotten if the Asians cowardise and the Europians disorder had not abandoned that victory which was assured them Solyman not knowing what else was to be done upon the routing of his party strove to die but his enemies having more care of his preservation then himselfe staid him and made him the partner of his second father's fetters Imagine if you please when these newes came to Constantinople how they were receiv'd the Emperour witnessed more griefe for Achomats imprisonment then for the losse of all his forces He presently sent a Messenger to the Sultan of Egypt to pay the Princes ransome and the other prisoners with menaces that if he did not deliver them he would goe in person to make a second Nile of the Egyptians bloud Lividarus a great Officer to that Souldan not thinking it best to drawall the Turks on his Masters hands for the keeping away of two or three of them sent backe Achomat and Solyman with all the civilities the state of businesse so standing could permit and remonstrated to the Emperour by the bold Thenor that they ought to make a League together and joyne their armes to make warre on the Christians their common Enemies The Emperour who had sworne the Souldan's ruine contemn'd the advise of his Officer But why doe I fall to perplex you with businesse of State as if our fond love were not sufficient enough to trouble you Know then that during Achomat and Solyman's imprisonment Histeria plotted such designes as were more proportionable to the thoughts of some great Captaine then of a young Mayden Shee told me a hundred times she would disguise her selfe and under the habit of a Janizary goe stab the Souldan for keeping in prison whom she held more deare then all the world my timorousnesse staid her valour and laid before her that after shee had made many shamefull and unprofitable endeavour she would get nothing by her losse but the death of her father and lover but the newes of their liberties making her lay by these fancies the hope of soone seeing them especially the faire slave gave her others cleane contrary Whereas a little before she was all furious and seem'd able enough of her selfe to conquer all the Mamalukes at the sight of Solyman she put on a spirit of meeknesse of submission and servitude and meditated long before how she should entertaine that insensible man Sometimes she would talk to him of his valour then of his imprisonment and againe extolling the dangers he had escap'd in striving to redeeme Achomat Be not lesse generous said she in his absence to the daughter then thou hast beene to the father Let that brave heart which hath made thee hazard all for Achomats safety oblige thee not to neglect that of Histeria Whilst she made these preparatives on her side I forgot not on the other what I was to doe I resolv'd to imploy if not of the same things my sister had prepar'd at least some others which in my judgement should have as good an effect I advis'd with the best skill'd in the roule of the Eye the sweetnesse and true time of the Voice and Action and in briefe if I dare say so in the imbellishing of beauty it selfe and all this to joyne the forces of the body to that of the minde to give a generall assault at Solyman's returne to that strong and well defended place He arriv'd sooner then we expected and fill'd Constantinople with so great an admiration of his valour that he had by this time enjoyed the supremest honours of the Port had he not contemned them After the Emperour had kept him and Achomat divers dayes in the Seraglio we were permitted to see him but not to speake the brave Orations we had studied to move him he scarce gave us time to congratulate his freedome he had no thoughts nor desire but for warre he solicited Achomat for nothing but to returne into Egypt and he was seen to have such a deep sadnesse in his countenance as often as he was told of the brave acts he had done there that they well imagin'd his disgrace
of being taken prisoner was more sensible to him then his honour of killing so many enemies The Emperour on the other side that would not sit downe with the affront he had receiv'd in the person of his Lieutenant put a terrible Army into the Field divided the Generalty between Achomat and Haly Basha and gave the command of the Janizaries to Solyman this second voyage was more glorious and favourable then the first The Souldan of Egypt was reduc'd shamefully to aske peace of his Enemy and constrained by Solyman's incredible valour to abandon many places he had taken But ô how fatall was the honour of your insensible brother to my poore sister and me And what powerfull baites did his palmes adde to the charmes and allurements of his person We look'd on him no more as on the faire slave but as on a victorious Prince who by his valour and fortune might aspire even to the Empire of the Othomans My sister who all her life time bore an extraordinary love to all extraordinary vertues and who had a courage no lesse high then her father and her lover was perpetually fix'd in contemplating the exploits of the latter and for his valour's sake excusing his insensibility Thou dost well said she sometimes thou dost well generous Solyman not to hearken to such requests as would stop the current of thy great actions Pursue them with the same boldnesse thou hast begun and leave us alone in our solitude to waste our miserable dayes in griefes vexations and unprofitable desires I was alone with Histeria when she thus talk'd to absent Solyman I interrupted her and beginning to be angry at our bootlesse perseverance Truely said I we justly merit the sorrowes we undergoe since we are so great Enemies to our selves as so much to applaude our tyrant What wonderfull thing hath this ingratefull man done who scornes us that we should with so much joy entertaine his disdaines and blesse the hand which cuts the thread of our life Beleeve me my deare sister Solyman laughes at our easinesse and infallibly holds that onely because we so submissively solicite him we deserve to be sleighted Why reply'd Histeria speak you so boldly since you finde in your selfe that your heart and thoughts disavow it Doe not flatter your selfe Melicerta but freely make knowne your resentment Is your reason able to make good the revolt it adviseth Are you sure it will not forsake you when you must come to the decision Consult with your selfe and examine whether you have courage enough to resolve in good earnest to scorne him that neglects you No no you cannot breake the fetters you weare all your endeavours to compasse it doe nothing but multiply your sufferings you resolve on many things but you cannot nor will not put them in execution make no doubt of it Melicerta you shall all your life time love Solyman with his indifferences his coolnesse and his insensibility For mine owne part I must cease to live when I would give over loving him Nature and inclination which have brought on my affection have made me love him without condition or reservation Neither disdaine nor ingratitude can release me from that necessity Love Solyman sayes my Inclination But if he be insensible if he be unrespective if he be even an enemy to my passion have I reply'd oftentimes For all that it hath answered love him still and know that thy amity shall be the more perfect because its existence depends on nothing but it selfe and hath lesse commerce with things without it Alas Histeria said I deare Histeria I am enforc'd to my great griefe to confesse my thoughts are conformable to yours and that I vainly strive to resâ—… the most unjust passion wherewithall our soules could ever be persecuted I love the ingratefull Solyman and I would dare say that I love him against my will if at the same time when I thinke so my will did not disavow it I should never make an end if I pass'd not in silence the most part of those discourses begotten and produc'd by our younger errours But I leave them and let 's see the victorious Solyman enter Constantinople as much cover'd with Palmes and Laurets as wee were full of flames and impatiency The Emperour willing to gratifie his great services made him a Basha and inriching him beyond his hopes gave him one of his fairest Palaces and this way tooke him out of the power of Achomat The liberty hee had recover'd and the great meanes he had acquir'd by so honourable wayes had beene the greatest part of our joy if that Prince's good fortune had not been the ruine of our own I will not tell you to what an extreame torment wee were brought by his absence his prosperities were to us new causes of sorrow and when we came to thinke they hastened our destruction we day and night cursed them and at one same time wish'd Solyman Emperour of the Turkes and that he might still be a slave These different wishes ruining themselves by their mutuall extravagancy we knew not at last what to eschew or what to desire The very evening that ingratefull man arriv'd onely advis'd by our phrensie we resolv'd to let him see in writing what we had no hope to let him know from ou mouthes Presently we severally writ to him but neither of us being pleased with our letters we threw them into the fire and were of opinion wee should better expresse our thoughts if we did inclose them in one same paper Histeria therefore began to write for us both I did so too and after many alterations we approv'd of the letter I will now rehearse to you and sent it to our enemy It was thus if my memory faile me not The two Sisters to SOLYMAN BASHA VVEE should be guilty of that crime whereof we accuse others if we were not sensible of your honour and 't is to witnesse the pleasure we take in it that wee have hazarded these lines to you your good fortune would have taken from us the use of prayer if it had cured you of your insensibility We begge nothing from heaven but the end of that ill after our obtaining the period of others doe not make it incurable Solyman but let pity worke the remedy We would say Love but we feare lest that word should offend you yet give us leave to tell you what we doe and read without anger that time and absence which ruinate things the best established daily strengthen our affection We have made a progresse from the Love of Inclination to that of Understanding and that which at first had no reason at all hath now such strong ones as you must absolutely deprive us of judgement if you goe about to make us alter our resolutions Doe not imitate such ill examples as those with whom the Princes favour hath fill'd up the History of this Court. Doe not forget your selfe because you are fortunate and if you have not alter'd your minde change at
least your excuses since those you made to us hereto fore would in the condition where you are now witnesse rather your scorne then respect Soliman receiv'd this Letter by the addresse of an old Jewish woman who hoped for a great setling of her fortune if our loves had a happy successe He advised long whether he should answer us At last he resolv'd to it not to entertaine us in our errors but to make us lose with the hope of their good successe the intention of continning in them See those cruell words which gave the first mortall blow to poore Histeria and have handled me more rigorously since they make me languish far far beyond her The Slave SOLIMAN to his two Princesses Histeria and Melicerta PArdon me Ladies if I begin my Letter with accusations in liue of most humble acknowledgements and thanks which obliege me to your incomparable courtesie You censure by appearances as well as vulgar Soules and think I have changed my condition because I have changed my bonds No faire Princesses I am not what I seeme to be I am still a Captive I am still unfortunate and therefore I must yet make use of the same excuses which serv'd me as often as you forgetting what you were borne had so much goodnesse as to deigne to cast an eye on your Slave I will never lose that quality because I hold it more glorious then all that fortune can give me Withall I will inviolably reserve for you those respects and yeild you the same duties which the law of that Servitude commands me THis Letter so respectfull in appearance but so proud in effect did but encrease our afflictions We therein found an absolute refusall of our affections and an infallible assurance of being eternally scorned Yet would we not believe our malady to be absolutely despâ—…ate We intreated we importun'd we writ in briefe wee let passe no occasion to thaw that heart of ice But we lost all hope when Solyman departed from Constantinople on that great designe which the Emperour had on the territories of the Venetian Commonwealth The navall Army being gone out of the Channell came to Nigroponte and a little after to Romagnia I will not relate the particulars of that war Far more strange events call on me and passing by all fights by Land and Sea would have me come with the insensible Soliman to the siege of Lepanto I will dispence with you for this present for not crediting all the truths I have to tell you for they are so extraordinary as they are beyond the beliefe of the most credulous Solyman was no sooner gone from Constantinople but my Sister and my selfe were almost our of our wits We were no more restrain'd either by the consideration of our birth or the interest of our honour or by the feare of death We resolv'd to follow our Enemy I confesse had I beene alone I should never have put on that resolution but I was swayed by the violence of Histeria's love We stole out of the Sultannesse our motherâ—… Seraglio and disguising our selves so as it was very hard for any to know us wee mingled our selves amongst those troupes were imbark'd for the Venetia war We came to Lepanto a few dayes after it was besieged The first thing we did after our landing was to goe to Soliman's quarter and to endeavour by all meanes to be entertain'd in his Service Our designe did not absolutely succeed well Yet we had leave to lodge in his quarter and to see him at severall houres in the day Histeria who had not told me her last resolution strove to bring it to passe without engaging me in it After a furious sally wherein the Souldiers of Lepanto did all that despaire could advise men of courage to Solyman sav'd a part of the Emperiall Army and unawares gave the rash Histeria her life The night following that fight my poore Sister seeing all things opposed her Designe and that Soliman himselfe tooke paines to preserve that life she desir'd to lose resolv'd to speake to him Finding therefore a convenient time to discover her selfe she aborded him with an extraordinary constancy and without faultering in her Speech I doe not said she give thee thanks for saving my life since those good deeds which are not voluntary obliege not those to whom they were done No I will do what I never resolv'd I will thanke thee for a good which thou never intendest to do me and if thou do not repent thee of it 't will be too much for me to be eternally indebted to thee Thou seest Soliman here before thee the most unhappy Histeria who unable any longer to endure thy deniall or thine absence hath in her strange resolution fear'd nothing but to finde thee yet insensible Thou wondrest at this declaration and seem'st to doubt whether my words be true But being never yet capable of love thou art no more neither of conceiving to what extremities Love is wont to carry such as affect truly Do not doubt of my being the same I tell thee My Sister whose alike passion hath made her undertake the same voyage and other testimonies lesse suspected will cleere thee when thou list of those doubts wherein thou art very willing to abide Soliman amaz'd and affrighted at so strange an adventure was a great while ere he could speake to my Sister At last he inforc'd himselfe and raysing up that disconsolate Princesse Would to heaven said he my death had accompanied my fathers We should then both have enjoyed that peace and quiet which fortune alike denies us O how hatefull hence forward shall that life be to me which hath hitherto been so troublesome since 't is by it that I see my selfe guilty of such crimes as cannot be too rigorously punished I deprive all at once my generous Master of all content honour and may be of life to whom alone I owe my life honour and fortune What shall I say to you Madam What will become of the Basha your father if he knowes of this vagary Nay what will become of your selfe In what corner of the world will your Sister escape the fury of a justly enraged father What can I doe that may avail you Tell me I beseech you for you have brought me into such a maze that I even scarce know whether I am my selfe or no Onely love me replied the poore Histeria with a voice able to mollifie a rock or if it be too much for thee yet at least give leave that thou be beloved and that being granted we shall have found remedies against all those ills which thou fearest Soliman had no reply to that proposition but stuck in a silence which proceeded more from his modesty and confusednesse then his naturall insensibility Histeria perceiving she wrought nothing on him rais'd her voyce a little and adding many teares to every word At least said she impassible Soliman if thou be not capable of love be capable of hatred and continue not
so unmercifull as to suffer me to live Soliman extreamely perplexed with my Sisters speech call'd for five or six Eunuchs whom he trusted with his most important affaires and committing Histeria into their custody Have said he a speciall care of this Souldier and be accomptable to me for him on your life He will bring you to his lodging where his brother is Goe and bring them both to one of the Tents next mine owne This command was executed as it was enjoyn'd and we were shut up where Soliman had appointed and serv'd by his Eunuchs with so much care that we thought his noble entertainement had beene an infallible presage of the end of our miseries In that error we liv'd eight or ten dayes but when Histeria saw that Soliman neither came nor sent to visit us she resolv'd to dye and told me her constancy was at the last gaspe and she could no longer endure Solimans insensibilities I was of the same opinion but had not the same courage I wish'd with all my heart to be out of the world but all the wayes to it seem'd hydeous and fearefull to me I see my deere Auditors you grow weary of my laments and the relation of our miseries begins to be irkesome I am now ending it by a bloudy Catastrophe Know at the generall assault which the Turks gave to Lepanto Histeria finding a way to deceive her keepers fought above two houres in the first rank of the Janizaries and even in sight of our father and her Beloved She then receiv'd many mortall wounds and the assault being ended entreated two of her Companions to carry her off into Solimans Tent. That insensible man came in almost as soone as she and knowing her was so inly touched at that tragicall spectacle as he commanded all his followers to withdraw When he was alone with her he would have said something but she impos'd him silence and though she spake with a great deale of paine Of so many requests said she which I have made to thee since I was borne at least grant me one I will aske no unjust thing of thee 'T is that after my death thou wilt be a little more humane then thou hast beene whilst I liv'd Thy prayers are heard Soliman see this is the last time the unfortunate Histeria will importune thee she hath obtain'd from her selfe a great deale more then she desir'd from thee But she laments not the losing her life to please thee for 't is the least losse thou hast made her suffer O happy among so many miseries if she can by her death purchase her sisters felicity Thou weep'st Solyman since when began thy stony heart to change nature Hath my bloud had the vertue to mollifie it If it be so ô how precious are my wounds to me since in bringing my death they end my miseries and melting that congeal'd ice within thee promise some peace to my deare Melicerta What more could she adde to these words truly nothing but ending them she died and seem'd to die joyfully because she thought it would be the price of my redemption Alas my deare sister thou died'st with that generous thought and I unfortunate and coward that I am dare live with that knowledge give Melicerta give somewhat else then vaine teares and Iamentations to her that hath bestowed her bloud and life on thee I yeeld to it my deare Histeria and am fully resolv'd to follow thee for I feele in my selfe I know not what strange motion which assures me my death is at hand and that the insensible Solyman shall not much longer triumph o're my unreasonable perseverance But return we my dear Auditors to that unpitifull man Histeria's death almost made him desperate not that he had lost her but that hee had beene the cause of it and by consequence of the most sensible sorrow his Benefactor Achomat had ever resented He was about to have slaine his Eunuchs yet weighing that their diligence how exact soever could not be sufficient enough to hinder the resolutions of a furious Lover hee enjoyn'd them for penance to take better care and charge of me then they had of my sister he sent me a little after the body of that unfortunate Princesse and a Jew Physician intreating me by him to imbalme it I gave her those sad duties that very night and help'd to inclose her in a cedar Coffin covered with plates of silver which Solyman sent me with a great many excuses in that he could not himselfe give me that respect he was oblig'd to by my birth his duty and our common affliction I knew too well for my quiet he had not changed nature and that the teares he had shed at my sisters death were rather teares of ceremony then pity The next day he sent me a new Messenger and told me by him that to what place soever I would retire I should finde a Tartane ready in the haven to carry me thither with the body of Histeria He who brought this message said he had command not to leave me and he would not onely performe it but being Captaine of the Vessell would either hasten or retard his voyage as I pleas'd I have no more to doe here said I but to take leave of Solyman That will be a hard thing for you to doe he repli'd since he is busied about the batteries and 't is thought the Venetians will this day come to a Treaty about the reddition of Lepanto What he said prov'd true Solyman who hath ever been the good Fate of his Masters ô happy Histeria and Melicerta if he had been so of his slaves tooke the Towne by composition and accompanied Bajazet into it at his glorious entry The day of triumph being pass'd Solyman without any mans knowing or so much as suspecting the cause with a few of his followers left the Camp and renouncing all the honours riches and supreme greatnesse which the Emperours favour and his important services might justly make him hope for stole away in the darke of night from all the Turkish Fleet. The flight of a man of so great a consideration was soone noys'd abroad after it hapned but divers dayes pass'd in the Camp before it was beleeved The Emperour my father and many others fill'd with the love and admiration of that Prince lamented his losse as the greatest could a long while betide the Ottoman Empire Assoone as the newes was brought me I imbark'd with Histeria's body and intreated my Pilot to land me in some part of France or Italy I thought I should finde Solyman there for since he was a Christian there was no safer retreat for him I was almost sixe months in quest of him but all my care and diligence was fruitlesse sometimes I enquir'd for Solyman sometimes for Iphidamantus and seeing â—…was all in vaine I thought then to aske for Polexander's brother That Name which is knowne through all Europe was my guide to bring me to Solyman I was told that
from me and I would finish before you what Achomat hath begun if my desire of restoring Melicerta to him did not imperiously command me to live Achomet interrupting the two brothers discourse If said he to Polexander I could be happy the sight of you which I have so long wish'd for would be the end of my misfortunes The name of Polexander which hath stirr'd in me so much emulation and that high vertue which I have propos'd for the Idea of my actions would fill my soule with such delights as would not be found neither in the favour of Princes nor the reputation and fame of a great Command nor the possession of riches But I am too miserable to taste of any felicity and therefore 't was necessary my daughters losse should betide that the pleasingnesse of meeting with you might be as it were poysoned by so great a sorrow I accept your civilities repli'd Polexander since they are so many witnesses proclaiming your generous soule hath preserv'd her purity in the corruption of a Court where the greatest fortunes are not usually rais'd but by villanies farre greater But what doe Iâ—… in lieu of contemplating you by what you are I consider you by what you seeme Achomat is but the maske under which is hidden Antenor the Prince of Montevera The favour nor alliance of the Turkish Emperour have not been able to pervert that incomparable heart which nothing hath been able to conquer but love and I know well these alterations which some indiscreet man would construe to be ambition or lightnesse are signes of his moderation and constancy But since love hath sway'd the father to things so incredible could he without injustice condemne that which the same passion had made his daughters undertake You are just Achomat doe not then punish that in another which you approve in your selfe and thinke two young Ladies being but weaknesse ignorance and infirmity were not able to resist the most sweet and contagious of all maladies since he could not doe it who by his valour as well as by his wisdome had infallibly ruin'd the Ottoman's if the misfortune of Christendome had not arm'd them for their preservation Attribute therefore to Fortune or if you will to Nature the disasters of your house and bury in eternall oblivion the errours of two young Ladies who could not almost avoid them since they had the amorous Antenor for their father Would to heaven repli'd Achomat that Histeria and Melicerta were in case to receive that pardon you intreate for them you should get it though nature and bloud would not force me to that indulgence but death makes your intreaties and my love effectlesse and may be you would have me beleeve Melicerta alive to accustome me to a misery before I know the greatnesse of it I have said Polexander related to you matters as they are Melicerta lives and since my brother is become rationall I doubt not his redeeming her from the hands of that Tyrant who to tire her constancy puts her daily to new tortures At those words the fire flew into Iphidamantus face and his action full of impatiency witness'd sufficiently hee was no more an enemy to love I shall beleeve said he to Polexander you are of intelligence with that insensibility wherewith you upbraid me if you doe not without delay let me know where Melicerta is For the Tyrant that keeps her his captive either he is invisible or I am most certaine that Princesse shall be reveng'd for his wronging her That Tyrant repli'd Poleaander is to be seen but he is almost invincible He goes alwayes arm'd and lives in a place so strong and so well furnished with resolute Souldiers that of those which have hitherto assaultâ—…d him some have lost their honour others their lives or liberties and generally all have repented their undertaking to vanquish him The successe said Iphidamantus will make it appeare whether I am happier then the rest but hap what hap may be confident I will not repent me of my enterprise The onely griefe that â—…ickes by me is that I have but one life to lose and out of my poverty I cannot acquit my selfe to Melicerta but I must remaine in debt to Histeria But that faire soule which amongst the eternâ—…ll lights that inviron her may be penetrates into the obscurity of our hearts and discovers their secret'st thoughts knowes Solyman's intention and repentance and no more accuseth him of his forepast ingratitude she already receives for a full satisfaction my will which hath no bounds nor sees no impossibilities and considers not my power which is limited by obstacles too powerfull to be surmounted Why deferre you Sir said he addressing him to his brother Why conceale you Melicerta from me Are you become jealous assoone as you saw me sensible And have you not presented me with my happinesse but then when you thought me incapable of knowing it No brother repli'd our Heroë I am neither jealous nor cunning but will give you even more then you could hope Yet shall I but vainly intimate how you may be happy if Achomat consent not to your felicity My Lord said Iphidamantus let not the thought of that hinder you I thinke not of inriching my selfe my intent is onely to pay my debt Let Achomat doe what he pleaseth with me I owe him all that I owe not to Periander when he shall use me as his slave he shall doe nothing unjustly leave therefore in his hands my good and ill fortune and let him dispose of either as he pleaseth whatsoever hee shall deliberate I can never be unhappy if I but once suppresse Melicerta's miseries Achomat was about to speake and may be to testifie to Iphidamantus that he held him not in the quality of a slave when Bajazet who had left Abdelmelec in as ill a case as Polexander had the Moorish Knight came to know the cause of so long an interparley and who the stranger Knight was but he no sooner look'd on him then he alighted and with open arms astonished and overjoyed went to imbrace him with all the kindnesse his accustomed noblenesse could cause any to expect from him A hundred times he kiss'd him and had not given him over but that the faire Prince said Polexander was jealous of his imbraces Straight he left him to salute Polexander and because he had heard from Hydaspes and Almaid what that Prince had done for Zabaim and Almanzaira he câ—…t himself at his feet call'd him his protector and said aloud he had sav'd his Parents lives preserv'd his State and ruin'd the fatall cause of all the disasters befalne his house Polexander not induring him in that posture nor to heare him speake so tooke him in his armes and willing to make knowne he had heard all his life Is it possible said he that you reserve yet some cause of hatred against Zabaim and that the love of incomparable Almanzaira hath not been more powerfull over your resentments then the ill
nature of the King your father Had you seen him as I did ready to expiate by the effusion of his bloud those faults which Zelopa had made him perpetrate you would be more sensible then you are of his repentance and not deny him the comfort he expecteth in your returne But what doe you here Are you not satisfi'd with the death of Nephisus and may be with that of Abdelmelec Would you have their unfortunate father to be ranged in the number of those sacrifices which Axiamira demands from your amorous anger and that it shall be deadly for all Princes to have had any affection for that happy infortunate one Bajazet deeming by this discourse that Polexander knew all his designes would againe have falne at his feet to have ask'd pardon for the love he bore the Princesse his sister but Polexander who look'd on him as on something more then a King retain'd him in his armes and after often calling him brother If said he your discretion had not so long time contested with your quiet and not given to Iphidamantus and my selfe thoughts unworthy to be related to you we had both contributed all we could and may be more reclaim'd the untractable humour of that Princesse which sometimes under the name of Axiamira then under that of Iphidamantus or againe of Ennoramita set on fire all the Kingdomes of Africa Is not she the cause of this warre too have you not mistaken her brother for her Bajazet waxing pale at that question There is no doubt of it said he my misfortune is as great as ever and I know too well for my peace that Almaid being deceiv'd next the King of Morocco tooke Iphidamantus for Axiamira This discourse had infallibly continued but the Sentinels seeing a great Troupe of horse sallying out of Morocco gates advertis'd the Princes they were to be set on Achomat instantly commanded foure Squadrons of foot to advance which had stood to their armes since the beginning of the combate and placing himselfe in the front of a Troup of Cavalry rid to force the enemy backe againe into the Towne The three Princes got on horsebacke to assist him though he had no need of them and were Spectators of that incomparable valour which had rais'd him to the supreame greatnesse of all the Ottoman Court Assoou as feare and night had shut up the last Enemy within the walls of Morocco Polexander and the three other Princes return'd to the place of their Combate and scorning to intermingle ought of base or cruell with their victory commanded fires and torches to be lighted to see in what case Abdelmelec and the Moorish Knight were Our Heroë found the last sighing for his misfortune and cursing the stars which seem'd to affect the dishonour and ruine of the Princes of Grenada by the same charming humanity he comforted him wherewithall he was wont to suffer himself to be overcome by such as he had vanquish'd and without any importunate soliciting either to tell him his condition or name commanded some Arabians to take him up and carry him into Morocco In the meane while Bajazet who found Abdelmelec dead lamented that the chance of Warre was not able to make him a vanquisher without depriving so valiant a Prince of his life Iphidamantus came just as he was bewailing and seeing his friend all over wounded and drown'd in his blood was almost at the losse of his judgement and life at last reason recollected him and then his sorrow breaking forth Unfortunate Prince said he how fatall have thy fathers errours been to thee And what a dangerous Enemy hast thou had of thy great courage Thou art dead Abdelmelec and I live and avenge not thy death But the same law which seemes to engage imperiously forbids me to undertake it My duty is oppos'd by my duty my friendship by my friendship and my faith by my faith I am Polexanders I am Achomats I owe my selfe to Bajazet I cannot be thine Thou knowest it now deare Abdelmelec and thy soule which reads my heart sees well whether I be so perfidious as to faile of my word I have sworn to thee an amitie not to be terminated but by the one of us thy misfortune hath disingaged my word and â—…y interests ceasing by thy death give me the libertie on thinking on mine owne Farewell then Abdelmelec and since 't is the will of heaven enjoy for ever the glory thy vertues have deserved Achomat and the two other Princes were extreamly sorrowfull for the losse of their Enemie and would not have been so indisconsolate but onely for taking off Iphidamantus discontent Bajazet by the advise of the rest sent the body of Abdelmelec to the King his father and intimated by Hydaspes they had been both deceiv'd and their errours being equally lamentable the griefe of the one should not be lesse then that of the other Hydaspes performed his Commission but whilst the too amorous and inraged Hely bewailed the losse of his pretended Ennoramita more then the death of his son and ruminated in his long watchings all the tragicall events wherewithall the beautie of one same person had laid waste his Estate the foure Printes retir'd into the Campe and without giving themselves any rest after so much travell meditated on the execution of some new designes Polexander that thought on nothing but how to see Alcidiana againe would not cause Bajazet and Iphidamantus to languish any longer nor put off till any other time the contentments he was able to give them But how extreame soever his owne longing was that of the two other Princes was no lesse Iphidamantus came and cast himselfe at his feet and embracing his knees My Lord said hee if without impudence I may dare take the boldnesse of calling you brother and if any one action of my life hath made mee worthy that honour I intreate you even by that or rather by Alcidiana not to leave mee any longer in my offence and infamy Let mee not be guilty even after my repentance nor let Melicerta continue her reproaching my ingratitude when I have given over my being ingratefull Get leave of Achomat repli'd Polexander to goe and free that Princesse and assure your selfe you shall no sooner have that granted but you shall obtaine all the rest too Achomat over-heard what our Heroe spake to his brother and desirous to witnesse to them both that hee remitted all his resentments to their merits and his affection Goe said he to Iphidamantus goe my deare Solyman gather up if it be possible the remainder of my shipwrack and assure your selfe that what you can save of it you preserve that for your selfe After this declaration which not onely included the leave Iphidamantus requested but withall a cleere assurance of enjoying her whom he was to deliver he tooke Achomat's hands and moystning them with his teares My Lord said hee is it possible that you will forget those offences which my mishap hath made me commit
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
your bloud is an effect of fortunes ordinary malice 't is an act of love's goodnesse he is not satisfied with my wearing the tokens of your favour but would have me the depositary of one of the most precious parts you can call yours that so in the conflict I might remember you fight with me and should feare nothing having a second that is perpetually victorious Heaven grant repli'd Melicerta that your interpretation may be truer then mine and that it may be onely the excesse of my affection that fills me with such extreame affrightings Melicerta seeing her lover upon parting cast her armes about his neck and gave her faith to live and die with him Iphidamantus promised the like and those two faire soules ratified the accord more strong and solemnely then all publicke contracts by such kisses as were by vertue of their promises made innocent and lawfull This short content was followed by long sadnesse at least counting the time not according to the course of the Sunne but the computation of such amorous Soules They broke from one another with a like violence and whilst Melicerta gave her self over to new griefes Iphidamantus went to Bajazet He was with Cydaria and tasted such pleasures as till then he was ignorant of He related to her the particulars of his Rovers life and during the recitall tooke those civill liberties which the scrupulous virtue of his Mistris permitted him When he was forc'd to take leave of her Madame said he assure your self that fighting for your honor it is not possible but wee shall come off victorious In speaking it his countenance action and words were as so many infallible presages of the approching victory Cydaria so tooke them yet seeing her lover departe could not refraine from teares Zabaim Polexander and Achomat at the same time taking their leaves retir'd to the Campe and spent part of the night in rest that they might not sinke under the travell the next day provided for them At day-breake the four Princes arose and having offered their hearts and lives to the all-powerfull Deity mounted on horsebacke and rid to see the order and number of the Troupes Their Army consisted but of twenty or five and twenty thousand men but all so valiant and well disciplin'd that there was not an Army how numerous soever was able to overcome them The Infantry was divided into two and thirty battalions which by their distance might succour one another without running the hazard of intermingling or disordering one another The Cavalry was placed on the wings and lead by Polexander and Alcippus The Moors march'd out of Morocco in good order and had placed themselves in a place very advantageous had not Bajazets Canon hindred them Their Cavalry began the skirmish The Granadians came on horse as well managed as theirs and made their Enemies confesse there were not better horsemen to be met withall After the Cannon had played and the horse met the battalions mov'd Bajazet fought on the right wing with sixe thousand Pirates Achomat on the lefte with foure thousand Iphidamantus led the battle and Polexander who was every where with a thousand horse forsooke none that had need of his great courage The first discharges fi l'd the ayre with fire and smoake and covered the earth with blood and dead corps The Pirates who were used to fight by dint of sword assoon as they had given their first volleyes taught the Moores a manner of fighting as new to them as harmefull Polexander with his body of horse transpierc'd all that came before him and reserving his sword for illustrious blowes killed none but such men as were extraordinarily remarkeable either by their quality or valour Achomat who did no lesse wonders passed even to the Rere-guard of the Moores to meete with the King of Morocco or of Granada but they had no minde to be there but were placed on the walls from whence under the covert of a Scarlet Pavillion they beheld the voluntary sacrifice of so many men whom their private interest exposed to thâ—… violence of sword and fire The valiant Basha fretting at the Kings cowardise discharged his choler on the first he met and at that time his Cymeter might be compar'd to thunder when it lights in a forrest Bajazet as the most interested in the battle was likewise the more eager in the fight he searched every where for the bold Abinzerrague who had brag'd he would fight with him and met the Granadian after he had beaten downe many of their partie assoone as he came up to him 'T is said he now at this time that thou must make evident to us thou knowest how to make much of the liberty we have given thee The Abinzerrague knew him and came on so bravely that he doubted not but the strength of his arme would answer the boldnesse of his speech they fought almost a quarter of an houre without advantage yet they saw the Moore was inferiour to Bajazet as much as a hardy Faulcon to that alwayes victorious bird which findes his element in that fearfull region where the thunder is bred The illustrious Rover was neere assur'd of the victorie and his Enemie reduc'd to the quitting his armes or life when above two hundred Moorish Knights came to aide him and forc'd Bajazet to thinke of his owne preservation in lieu of prosecuting his victorie Iphidamantus who had put to flight the King of Morocco's troupes and beate them into the gates of the citie brought back his forces where the Granadians yet disputed the victorie one squadron of the Moorâ—… he routed and put to their heeles and so came to the place where Bajazet was ingaged these two great courages being met and followed by a small companie of the most resolute pirates made the stongest battalions to stagger and by wondrous valour which terrified the valiant'st Granadians compell'd maugre their ancient pride to leave to them the honour of that day The slaughter was great and had beene farre more but for the approaching night and neernesse of the Towne there fell in the field but fifteene or sixteene hundred of the Pirates Zabaim neither left his station nor fought of the foure other Princes three were lightly hurt the fourth which was Achomat return'd from the fight cover'd with wounds and bloud he tooke heed of nought but to overcome and that care tooke good effect as you have heard but so unfortunately for him that after he had put off his armour and Diceus had searched his wounds two of them were found if not mortall at least most dangerous Polexander Iphidamantus and Bajazet went to visit him and witnessing their sorrow to see him in that case complained of their fortune and detested so deare a bought victorie Why my friends said Achomat did you thinke me invulnerable I confesse I am wounded but I have life enough left me to fight againe to morrow if our Enemies have courage enough to come once more out of their walls
be unfortunate The hundred leagues which they held to be from the Canaries to Alcidiana's Island were reckoned by so exact a computation that the Pilot's Mates assured Polexander they had not miscounted a mile for all that no Isle could be discovered and the ship still made on with all her sailes Polexander not knowing whom to accuse but his destinie imprecated against himselfe and if that principle of pietie which never parted from his soule had not stopp'd the agitations of his anger he had without doubt added one to the examples of those who to be delivered ouâ—… of the hands of fortune have daringly laid violent hands on themselves being then ingag'd to suffer till Providence had otherwise appointed he caused part of his sailes to be taken in and will'd his Pilot to alter his course and somtimes steering East and othertimes sailing West not to forget any thing on what his art depended The Pilot beleeving his reputation as well as fortune to be annexed to this discoverie followed it both wâ—…h the eyes of a Lynceus and the judgement of another Typhis Two dayes and two nights he attempted severall courses and rectifying himselfe by the help of his Compasse as often as the winde put him off from his first Rhombe he had the boldnesse to tell Polexander that in spight of the power of what Demons soever he would finde that inchanted Island These promises were too audacious to be licenced and indeed were punished by a contemning which was like to cost their Authors life At the fifth dayes break those that were in the top of the maine Mast beganâ—… cry Land and by that word filled all the ship with a noise that witnessed their universall joy Polexander who durst not beleeve what he so much desired went up into a place from whence he might discover all that was round about That land he saw and his heart beating so much did that object master his senses I know said he well enough what punishment Alcidiana's just anger hath provided for me but how worthy is my mishap to be envied since the lightning that threatens me is to come from the faire eyes of that Princesse Whilst he spake thus his vessell flew on the waves and seem'd to take part in her masters rapture Assoone as they were in the roade they knew the discovered land to be an Isle Polexander unwilling to trust to any body in a thing so important to him commanded the shallop to be lanch'd and taking none with him but Alcippus and Diceus caused himselfe to be landed with all haste He came on shoare in a very hidden and private place and therefore went further up into the Isle to descry it hee had not gone above five or six hundred paces along the coast but he perceived the points of many turrets with that hee went some hundred paces further without saying any thing but when he was gotten to the top of a rocke from whence he plainly discerned the pavillions whose tops he had onely seen before 'T is the fatall Palace said he which I forsooke to pursue Amintha's ravishers He spoke it imperfectly his excesse of joy transporting him he grew pale he trembled and underwent all the agitations that an extreame Love ever yet troubled the strongest minde with sometime hee thanked Fortune then he blessed Love and ever among mingling Alcidiana I have no sense said he but wrongs the extremitie of happinesse I enjoy I confesse O ye Divinities equally powerfull that to you I am infinitely oblieged but to shew such vulgar acknowledgements for so extraordinary benefits is to be ingratefull If there be any one which may be accepted 't is the confession I make that it is not lesse impossible for me to expresse then to acknowledge sufficiently your incomparable gratifications with that he turned to Alcippus and Diceus and knowing not what was best to be done Advise me my friends said he for in the case I am 't is a hard matter for me to counsell my selfe Alcippus replied he was not so well in Alcidiana's favour as to present himselfe to her without the advise of some one of his ancient friends by whom he might understand how the Queen was affected towards him 'T is true said our Heroe I should be more guilty then Alcidiana imagineth if I made no scruple of coming before â—…er incens'd as she is or bore so meane a respect to a personage worthy so much adoration as with an impudent boldnesse inforce her to violate her owne lawes and justifie that rash man whom she hath condemned to a shamefull death Let 's returne to our ship and there we will deliberate at leasure in what manner 't is fit I should prepare my self for the punishment my disobedience hath deserved Presently he turned himselfe to sea-ward but he had not gone twenty paces e're his mind altered and so resolved to attempt on fortune and to try what should become of him Alcippus laid before him all that he thought most perswasive to divert him from so dangerous a resolution but all was in vaine and so was of force to follow him After they had left the sea coast and traversed a plaine watered with many sweet rivers beautified with faire houses and encompassed with a wood of very high trees into part of which they entred because their way ingaged them they had not gone farre in when they stopped at the sound of a flute and bagpipe Polexander imagining whence the musicke came went out of the largr way and striking into a path fast by among the trees came to a crosse way invironed with five or six little cottages there they saw two shepheards seated at the foot of a tree playing on the instruments our Heroe had heard and ten or twelve young children dancing before them who made him see by their rurall habits but faire ones that their fathers were not reduced to the necessity of the European Shepheards Polexander ravished with this adventure would have addressed himselfe to the Pipers but the poore men affrighted in seeing him fled with the children our Heroe followed to the cottage whereto they retired and had made such an out-cry that five or six other shepheards well clad and armed with staves like our halfe pikes from severall places came resolutely towards him Hee spoke much to them but imagining they understood him not he tooke a little diamond which by chance he had on his finger and offering it to them 〈◊〉 a demeanor full of courtesie staid their furie They took the ring and after they had well gazed on it imbraced Polexander one after another and shewing him many civill respects invited him into their cottage thither he went where he beheld two women whose naturalnesse that had nothing of what was silly and beautie without art might have made them taken for some of those famous shepheardesses of the ancient Arcadia there wanted nothing to his satisfaction but to make himselfe understood but that being not then possible he thought best
and presently brought them to Izatida See here said he Montezuma's Spies which have been taken by your fathers Subjects Izatida was glad of this encounter and to satisfie her curiosity ask'd them the state of affaires in Mexico One of these Spies casting himselfe at the Princesse feet If said he my memory and mine eies deceive me not you are the fatall Virgin whom Montezuma hath lost and whose losse if our Prophets speak true will be seconded by that of all Mexico But why call I in doubt so true a verity Certainly you are Izatida The Princesse questioning who he was and where he had seen her the prisoner repli'd He was a Mexican of an illustrious family called Belizco and had borne armes in all Montezuma's warres either against Quasmez the Kings of Tlaxcallan of Panuco or other neighbouring nations For her selfe he had had the honour to see her often in the Court of Mexico Izatida taking him at that word intreated to know what Montezuma and Hismelita had done since her departure and whether any of them which were imploy'd for her destruction were return'd to Mexico I shall not said Telizco informe you of all you would know but I can say that the King and Queen beleeve you are certainly dead and that beliefe hath griev'd and so much afflicted them that if their Priests had not staid their fury they by some horrid death would have prevented those miseries wherewithall your losse threatned them Montezuma who is farre lesse violent then the Queen his wife and beleeves far more in the providence of his gods dispos'd himself by little and little to what their irrevocable destiny had resolv'd should become of him He fear'd the thunder was to fall on his head but he left not to lift up his eies nor to respect the place from whence it was to come Hee spent almost his whole daies and nights in the Temples and as often as I had the honour to waite on him there I noted how after his sacrifices addressing himselfe to the chiefest of the Deities he spake thus Thine eies which penetrate even to the heart have seen with what an intention I took out of the armes of my brother Quasmez the onely fruit of his marriage and the sweet consolation of his old yeares Thy Prophets have told me many a time that the safety of my people and mine owne should be secured when I made the son of a Virgin reigne with me which should be the delight and hope of Quasmez I therefore took away his daughter and did it to conforme my selfe to thy behest If I have offended in it thou art the Author of my crime Justifie me then my Deity before all my subjects testifie that I am not guiltie of those teares which Izatida hath shed nor of that cruell death which Hismelita's wicked Counsellours have made her suffer Hismelita said he had thoughts farre differing from these she beleev'd that in bearing down the Images of her Gods she should overthrow their power and going further she perswaded her selfe that she should divert the miseries she feared in proclaiming abroad there were no Gods at all Whilst she strove to beguile her subjects by her impieties she attempted all kind of meanes to hinder the effecting of her Prophets predictions she put to death all such as by birth-right or love of the Mexicans might ascend the throne she kept foure or five great Armies on foot to the end that by busying the Kings her neighbours in defence of their owne countries they might neither have will nor power to fall on Mexico But for as much as she saw amongst all those Kings none so much to be feared as the King your father she hath turned her principall forces against him and whilst her husband playes the Priest and the woman she acts the Generall of the Army and leads her owne troupes Twice already hath she cometo handy-stroakes with Quasmes and made a vow at her entrance into his kingdome never to lay downe her armes till she had conquer'd it This is a part of what you would know for that which concernes my self your subjects have told you the truth I came with a hundred of my companions to discover the passages of the mountaines and see if possibly I could slip in some troupes there last night we were descri'd and taken in the traps laid for us by the inhabitants of the mountaines My companions are slaine and so had my brother and my selfe if the generous Zelmatida had not taken us out of the hands of our enemies Izatida unwilling and not able to doe them hurt that had an intention to doe it her intreated Zelmatida to give the two Mexicans their lives which obtaining she sent them to be refresh'd and resetled amongst our servants and mariners Zelmatida in the meane while accepting the glorious occasion that Hismalita's warre presented to his courage as a new gratification from fortune intreated Izatida to crosse the mountaines and undergoe the incommodities of a way which would bring her into the armes of the King her father You may imagine whether she tooke time to resolve on that journey certainly if they would have been rul'd by her they had presently quit the ship but her safetie was too deare to Zelmatida to be put in hazard among so many enemies as were ranging in the countrey he intended therfore to march somewhat strong for the avoiding of mishaps and therefore landed with the most of his servants Some twelve or fifteene of them he sent about the villages at hand to make knowne his returne and gathered as much force as they could Every one with a great deale of joy made ready for the journey Mâ—…â—…care master promis'd to himselfe to doe so many valorous actions as should blot out the memorie of his predecessours and all wee that were with him wished for nothing else then to be at blowes with our enemies Wee had yet left us eight of those horses you gave my master and we were all so well arm'd that each of us might without rashnesse undertake a hundred Mexicans I caus'd our horses to be landed to refresh and easethem after their ill usage at sea and make them able within a few dayes to doe us service Zelmatida in the meane while courteously welcom'd such as at the first newes of his returne quitted their abodes to come to him and indeed the love which all those poore savages bore him was so great that the very women followed their husbands to the wars and the most decrepit old men would not be dispensed withall In lesse then fifteene dayes the Prince had seven or eight thousand men so resolv'd to fight as if every particular man had taken armes for his owne interest He did with these new souldiers what he had in former time done with the Mexicans he taught them to keep their rankes to fight and to relieve one another and having made them capable of discipline sufficiently reasonable for them he intreated Izatida to
be so farre bewitched by thy charmes as to persevere in his dishonour and Idolatrie I shall have heart enough to carrie me even to thy inchanted Island to scratch off that vaine beautie which makes thee insupportable to all the world Many other injuries did I to your Mistresse and meditated many extraordinarie avengements but ere they were to be put in execution I desired to see how Phelismond stood after so many trialls of Alcidiana's aversion The next day after your departure I went to visit him and finding he was though in his bed lesse distemper'd by his wounds then by the disdaines of ingratefull Alcidiana Shall it said I after some words of civilitie be published to the world that you are insensible of all affronts out-rages hatred and all contempt Shall that great courage which sees under it all whatsoever is most elevated among the fortune of Kings belie it selfe in so eminent an occasion and sticke senselesse on so urgent affronts whereof cowardise it selfe would have much a doe to be insensible As long as I thought your affection was just though averse to me I wished rather to be unhappie then to condemne it but now since it is not onely a scandall to your selfe but to all those that love you I cannot for your reputation sake and satisfaction of your friends but find fault with your unreasonable perseverance Phelismond turning his eyes on me swolne with teares If said he this unfortunate man hath truely any part in your favour and if that miraculous affection which you have shewed him be not as yet extinguished resume if you please those generous thoughts which it inspired you withall bewaile my destinie and indammage not that person who merits it least of all men living 'T is true Madam that Alcidiana doth but contemne nay hate me and to free her selfe from my presumptuous desires she hath set my head at a value and design'd my death as the highest marke of love and fidelitie which she can expect from her admirers But since 't is the will of my sad Fate to make me of that number should I not looke on Phelismond as on a monster whom the Sunne should no more shine on and to testifie fully the obeisance which I render to all Alcidiana's commands to account him mine enemie whom she deemes unworthie of her favour This extreame constancie of Phelismond said Helismena confirm'd mine owne and made me avow that he who knew how to love so truely could not be too much beloved Yet was I above three moneths continually urging him to retort Alcidiana's neglect with as great a slighting and at last to give over the imploring of a Power who was so farre off from assisting him as she gloried in rejecting his invocations I confesse yet that sometimes when I thought on Phelismond's wonderfull love I chid my selfe for so obstinately tempting a minde so persevering and reprov'd that malice wherewithall I strove to corrupt the vertue of him I lov'd No said I at last I will not adde to Phelismond's miseries but since I truly love him scorne to imitate the example of her that hates him My solicitings are but as weapons which I lend to that proud cruell one I follow ere I am aware her mercilesse humour and as if I had undertaken to please her would compell Phelismond to do what she desireth Rather Helismena give eare to thy ingenious and just anger make Phelismond to continue in his doating on Alcidiana since she enrageth to know that she is beloved and to be avenged in a way which may be was never imagined suffer him whom she despiseth to sue to her eternally But sillie creature that I am I perceive not that in meditating this revenge I doe my selfe farre more wrong then I could doe with it and that if Phelismond continue his love to Alcidiana I make my selfe truely miserable for no other end but that she might onely seeme to be so Avenge thy selfe more really Helismena and hazard not that small portion of life which is left thee but in doing an act worthie thy just anger let thy choler furrow up and make a way to that Island whereto none can arrive and forcing from the world that insolent Rivall who indeed triumphs more over thee then Phelismond subvert those obstacles which fortune makes use of to crosse thy contentment Doe not thinke Polexander that these resolutions were of the number of those which are ordinarily in our sex I meane such as last no longer time then there was to conceive them my indignation turn'd not into wind with my words but I stucke constant to the execution of what I had deliberated and to trample on all difficulties in the undertaking it To that end my nurse and my selfe stole from my fathers Court by the help of a Captaine of a ship who thought himselfe wonderfull happie to be ruin'd in my service and with a companie of gleesome young people and resolute we left Copen-hagen and at two moneths end landed on the first of the Azores From thence we sail'd as if we had stood for the Canaries because our Pilot assured us that the Inaccessible Island lay betweene the Terceras and the great Canarie I besought the Pilot to doe some wonder of his art in the finding out that cursed abode but the Devils into whose protection the sorcerers have committed that piece of earth were offended with his too exceeding skill and that they might not receive such an affront as to see their power mastered by that of a man they called together all the Northerne windes with the Southerne thunder and brake my vessell to shivâ—…s against the rockes of this Island All those which strove to save themselves were lost my nurse and my selfe who alone had neither will nor abilitie were throwne on shore by the same waves which had drowned our conductors I will not tell you how long I have been in this place for if I would beleeve mine owne account I should say I had been whole ages here This Polexander is the instruction you would have from me to make you my Embassadour to Alcidiana I perswade my selfe you like this imployment the rather because the businesse will be of reconciling us and causing all jealousie and hatred to give place to love and alliance After shee had thus ended she gave way for Polexander to use his Rhetoricke He gave her thanks for the honour'd Embassie whereof she thought him worthie and intreated her not onely to blot out of her memorie all wrong imaginations which jealousie had there figur'd but to permit truth to represent to her Alcidiana with all her charmes and perfections Your desires are already accomplished repli'd Helismena I see Alcidiana as faire and alluring as she is but you can scarce beleeve it for lovers cannot perswade themselves that any others are so cleere-sighted to take notice of all the graces in their Mistresses As she had said thus the Dane came to them and told her she might depart when
she pleas'd the Princesse loath to deferre a moment saluted Polexander and for a last farewell Brother said she I wish your happinesse may betide you in the same instant with mine and that the name I give you may be a certaine presage of it Polexander repli'd that he was borne too unfortunate to have so much as the thought of so great a felicitie and so brought her to her ship There he ended his last complements and delivering to the Dane the letters he had written to his Master went not from him till he had made him know the greatnesse of his liberalitie Assoone as he was come back to his owne ship he began to reflect anew on his misfortune and confirming himselfe in the opinion he had of his destinie Assuredly said he heaven is drawne dry of all good chance that it kept in store for mankinde there is nothing left but miseries and languishments and to see how plentifully they are showr'd on me with good reason I may beleeve they were all reserv'd for me From that he fell into a deep musing and when he was got out of it he had quite lost sight of Helismena's ship Presently he commanded to weigh anchor and putting to sea againe ignorant of what course hee should steere spent neere fifteene dayes more bootlesly in searching for that Island which truely too rightfully merited the title of Inaccessible and Inchanted The calme which had been so farre obsequious to our Lover's passion now seem'd to be angrie at its inutilitie and gave way to a furious tempest eight dayes together the Prince's vessell was driven up and downe the immense vasts of the Ocean and sometimes from hell carried up to heaven and straight from heaven to hell againe the masts were all shattered the saile-yards broken the sailes all torne the rudder stricken off and they might say that the storme like an insolent conquerour would triumph o're that miserable ship in all parts of her The Pilot depriv'd of what he was to guide withall began to deplore the wretch'd estate of those of his condition and the mariners being cleane tired with blaspheming betooke them to their beads and began to cast their eyes to heaven against which they had but newly vomited so many injuries Those which were not yet wearie of living made vowes to all their Countrey 's Saints and others which were resolv'd to die fell with a true contrition at their Confessor's feet and in hope of a second life comforted themselves for the losse of the first Some holding up their hands to that succour which they saw not giddied themselves with their extreame noise and crying and others having not courage enough to looke death in the face hid them in the hold of the ship In the meane time the tempest inraged to be so long time contesting with a few broken plankes and the waves perfecting what they had to doe tore the ship open at the poope presently the sea all white with foame and as proud of the victorie rush'd in at the breach got the deckes one after another and so fill'd her that on the sudden they perceived her sinking In that extremitie every one caught hold of what he could and at one instant did two differing things despair'd of their safetie and yet sought all meanes to secure themselves Polexander by chance meeting with a broken mast of the ship which floated by him got on it and with an incredible constancy expected when the storme should deprive him of that last refuge After he had sate a while on it turning his head he perceiv'd Diceus at the end which so overjoy'd him that he conceiv'd not he was in any danger at all Be not astonished said the Prince to him but waite for the resolution of Heaven in its disposall of us without despaire The noise of the waves was too high to suffer Diceus to understand his Masters words besides the terrour had so much depriv'd him of the use of the best of part of his senses that he scarce knew whether he were alive or dead As the Sunne was ready to goe downe Polexander descri'd somewhat before him that seem'd white among the greennesse of the waves Take heart cri'd he to his servant be of courage Diceus I either see a rocke or a vessell the winde drives us to it and if feare kills thee not my life for thine He had no sooner spoken but he found himselfe very neere to what he had discovered and found it to be a great shelve of rockes inviron'd with the sea many a time had it been the terrour and losse of many a mariner but was then the hope and safety of Polexander The Prince being driven neere to it thought that if he quitted not his mast before the surges threw him against the rockes he or Diceus without doubt ran a hazard to be crush'd in pieces among a great many other small ones which appear'd close by the water hee call'd therefore to his servant to follow him and presently betooke himselfe to swimming Diceus recollecting his wits and strength obeyed his Master and after some hundred or more stretches or fathomes overtooke him 't was most happie for him to be able to doe so much for in the very instant when he came up neere to Polexander his strength and heart failed him Our Heroe seeing him sinking swome to him and shewing how dearly he esteemed the life of that trusty servant hazarded his own to save him He tooke him by one arme and swimming with a great deale of trouble and pain got behinde the rocke Assoone as he got footing he drew him on the sand and made him resume his spirits when Diceus with scattered looking on his Master would have ask'd him where he was but Polexander preventing him Friend said he we are safe if to be so we need nothing but to be freed from the furie of 〈◊〉 sea we must indure yet and let us suffer with a good heart since heaven hath not permitted us to finde a grave where so many hath met with theirs Thou mayest tell me Diceus that 't was our own faults but we had then violated the most inviolable lawes of nature and that providence which reserves us to some other end would have punished us as selfe-murderers if we had neglected the meanes of our safety which its all powerfull hand miraculously offered us Here he stop'd and going along the side of a little creek which was hidden in the bosome of the rocke he found a staire cut like a screw into the maine stone by which one might ascend the top up he trod it all musing and when he was at the highest he found a little cave Presently he call'd for Diceus and entering the grot he saw two beds of mosse so neatly made that he could not imagine them to be the simple worke of nature on the foremost he sate downe and Diceus on the other night as well as their former paines inviting them to rest they unclad themselves to
inhabitants want nothing useful for life Polexander took great pleasure in seeing the abundance of those places which the ancient Geographers set down for uninhabitable wildernesses and intertain'd himselfe with his mariner about the customes of that kingdome of Gheneoa and the fashions or manners and exercises of the Prince He was informed of many rarities by so pleasant a diversion a little beguiled the continuall discontents which his little hope of ever finding the Inaccessible Island threw on him at last he saw the tops of those high Pyramids which are at the entrie of a famous Temple consecrated by the inhabitants of Gheneoa to the Sun by little and little the other structures appear'd and when he came neerer he distinctly noted the faire scituation of that great village which sometimes is in the continent and at others in the midst of the waters When he came within a mile of it he descri'd in the open fields a great many men both horse and foot which ran against one another as they had been in fight thereupon hee commanded his boate might be stai'd to see the event of the skirmish but not well perceiving that which passed by reason of the dust which arose under the men and horses feet he cauâ—…'d them to land him no sooner was he got on the top of the banke but he saw two men which in full speed strove to get to the river at first he thought it was for a wager but a little after he saw a huge lion who violently throwing himself on the hindermost of the Knights pluck'd him off his horse and almost as quickly tore him in pieces Hee who had escap'd the danger in lien of flying away whilst the lion was busied stai'd when he heard his companion cry out his affection had no sooner made him commit that fault but his reason caus'd him to repent it he would saine save himselfe since he could no more serve him whom the lion had slaine but he had not time for the beast in ten or twelve leapâ—… got to him and had handled him as ill as his companion if he had not suddenly cast himselfe from his saddle and on foot oppos'd his horse against his fierce enemie's furie He had torne out the horses intrailes before the Knight could get twenty paces off and then flew on him proud of his victories and presenting him his bloudy pawes seem'd to call him to the combate Feare had pusled the man's judgement even till then when he saw himselfe at the point of losing his life so far that he put himselfe in no posture of defending himselfe Polexander was mov'd at it and presently with his sword in his haâ—…d redeeming as I may say the life of that miserable man out of the pawes of the lion would see whether it were more difficult to vanquish men then beasts he wound about his left arme a kinde of a short cloake which Diceus had bought for him at Thombut and using it as a buckler stopp'd the fury of his enemy Those who have related that those beasts beare a respect to the Majesty of Kings never saw them in an equall estate of hurting one another the lion with whom Polexander contested flung on him with a fearfull roaring but our Heroe making him twice feele the edge of his sword beli'd the fable that sayes the rage of that beast is never so great as when hee sees his owne bloud gushing out When he saw Polexander shield himselfe so well that he could not fasten on him he drew backe and flinging presently into the aire with a wonderfull impetuousnesse would have thrown himselfe over Polexander and seis'd on his head in passing but our Heroe avoyding that attainct thrust his sword into his belly and so fortunately met it glyding upwards with his heart that the beast was no sooner pierced but he fell dead on the sand During the decision of this combate the man for whom it was undertaken was upon his knees with his hands extended to heaven for his defender's victory assoone as he saw his prayers were exauc'd he came to him and looking on him was not lesse ravish'd at his brave appearance then he had beene already at his owne preservation If thou be not said he the Deity whom I adore thou art at least one of those faire Spirits which incompasse his throne and as Ministers of his power never appeare but for our safegard What would that Negro have said if he had seen Polexander before his voyages his disquiets and insupportable heat of the South had not only decai'd the first lustre of his youth but so sun-burnt him that he was not to be knowne by such as had not of a long time seen him yet was he an Angell neer that Devill and indeed he tooke him for one and falling at his feet besought him not to forsake him so soone but retire to his palace to repose and unweary himselfe of the paines wherein hee was ingaged for the safety of the others life Polexander who began to understand the Negro's language and principally that which was spoken by persons of quality who among them are called the Surnigay knew by his speech that he was King of Gheneoa whereupon he intertain'd him as a Prince and reply'd after his accustomed civility that it it was too great an honour for him to have contributed any thing to the preservation of a life which was so necessary for the weal of so many people and though Fortune made him wander miserably from Countrey to Countrey yet he confessed he was indebted to her since she had presented him an occasion to serve so great a Prince That King which might be betweene fifty and threescore fainting by the feeblenesse of his age as well as through the resentment of the good he had received let himselfe fall on our Heroe's neck Deare stranger said he since thou art a man as others subject to sorrowes and afflictions take part of mine and stay with me that by thy company I may receive some comfort after my late losse That fierce and cruell beast which thou hast laid stretch'd at my feet hath devoured the onely hope of my people and sole delight of my old age that sonne whom I loved so dearly is now no more but the woefull remaines of a monsters fury I have lost him in the flower of his youth Alas who shall hereafter oppose the enterprises of mine enemies Rejoyce ambitious King of Thombut thy prayers are heard the rampiers of Gheneoa are demolished and the buckler of the miserable Apheristidez is torne in pieces In a word he whom thou feared'st is now no more Polexander taking hold of so faire an occasion to divert that Prince's sorrow told him that he came from Thombut and as he passed through it understood that the King thereof had been murdered by one called Nigeran But said he in as much as the story of his death is very strange and long I thinke 't will be fit to remit the
such of quality as came with them were lodg'd in the Appartment of the Arch-Prelate and entertain'd with a magnificence worthy the purity of the place For Polexander hee was brought into the Quarter of the noble Slaves and though it was not the custome to allow any of that condition Servants from abroad yet the Chiefe-Priest gave way for Diceus to waite on Polexander The Quarter where he was lodg'd was sever'd by a high wall from that of the vulgar slaves and made well appeare by the beauty of the lodgings and richnesse of the furniture how great and powerfull the Master was whose Slaves were so stately and so sumptuously lodged Our Heroe was no sooner in his chamber but he put off aswell all his saddish Ornaments as his his triumphant and being laid on a little bed cover'd with branches of Palme-tree at last said he Diceus I am arriv'd at a place where I have for a long time wished me Your Majesty repli'd Diceus may please to pardon me if I take the boldnesse to say that your greatest enemies could not wish you worse Hitherto you have run such hazzards wherein in all likelihood you might have perish'd I have beheld you in those places where your liberty was so extreamly ingaged that I should have been void of Judgement had I ever thought it in possibility to be recovered yet have you never been so captivated nor in so great danger of your life as you are among these Idolaters You may imagine that by some miracle of good fortune which shall betide no man knowes when you may deliver your selfe out of a prison which is the more to be fear'd by being held sacred and meet with a ship which miraculously too shall wast you to Alcidiana's Island But put the case it be so who can assure you that you have yet two daies more to live since but to morrow if it be true what a Priest of this Island lately told me you shall be put among the number of the victimes appointed for the bloody sacrifice and next day too the Arch-Priest may in drawing the lot light on the ball whereon your Name shall be engraven Friend repli'd Polexander thy thoughts leave not their old object but fasten themselves perpetually on such things as are no more But if thou wilt as earnestly take into consideration what is to come as that which is pass'd and be as clear-sighted as I am thou shalt behold such felicities as will make thee forget all our former miseries Know Diceus know that my fortune is alter'd and my long wandrings have found their periods in this Island and after my long and vaine search after the Inaccessible Island at last Love Time and Fortune and what is more admirable Alcidiana her selfe leads me as it were by the hand to the place where resides all my quiet and felicity Understand that this place is questionlesse the very same whither the Kings of the Inaccessible Island have sent yearly to present to the Sun the sacrifice of their Alliance Diceus interrupting the King his Master and falling at his feet Alas Sir said he let your Majesty be pleas'd that I may know how you came to any certaine intelligence of these happy intimations Love repli'd Polexander tells me this truth and I feele so great an alteration in my selfe that it is impossible to proceed from any thing but that important Verity How mightily doe I suspect those Authors Sir repii'd Diceus coldly and how much doe I feare lest Love deceive you with that Imagination aswell as he hath done in all others Rest thy self satisfied answered the Prince in this that I am not wont to flatter my selfe with vaine hopes But that we may contest no longer doe thou learne among those that are shut up with us what Princes usually send their Embassadors and offrings hither and above all forget not to know if thou can'st how long the Arch-Priest hath been in his Office and by what meanes he came to it For I have a suspicion which contributes much to the joy which flashes more in my heart then is to be seen in my countenance I have such a suspicion too aswell as your Majesty said Diceus but I see so little likelihood that I rather hold it for a dreame which I have as waking as I am rather then for a rationall imagination Goe I tell thee repli'd Polexander and after thine ordinary addresse hath got thee some familiarity among my companions faile not in those two businesses I commanded thee Polexander had no sooner ended but two slaves chain'd with gold as himselfe entred his chamber and intimating the desire they had to know so worthy a companion of their fortune spoke to him all that which civility puts into the mindes of men in whom is seen an admirable breeding joyn'd to a birth of most Eminence Polexander after his wonted seemlinesse and grace welcom'd the two famous slaves and rendring them their complements with interest astonish'd them with his Eloquence farre more then he had done with the sweetnesse and Majesty which flew from his face spight of all the scorching heate of the torrid Zone The civilities pass'd they sate down all three on one bed and whil'st Diceus was enquiring after that which his Master had given him in charge they entertained themselves with the cruell condition annexed to their servitude The eldest which was not above eight and twenty or thirty yeares old and who by his olive complexion made him known to be an African with a great sigh began thus I confesse said hee to Polexander that Death which I have so often wished for doth not only begin to be fearfull to me but the further I absent my selfe from the cause that makes me desire it the more doth the horror of its approaching make me repent my too inconsiderate engaging my selfe to the wearing of the chaines I have on me Is it possible repli'd Polexander that Death should be able to terrifie a man who never fear'd to defie it in those places where it hath alwaies been victorious In that repli'd the Slave I confesse my weaknesse and would were it permitted me to break off my chaines run into the midst of a battle to receive from the hand of some valiant man that death which I may meet with here dishonourably from some wretched Sacrificer Ah Benzaida said he lifting up his eies how mortall hath thy beauty been to me or to speak more truly how fatall have the furious fits of my jealousie been to us both Polexander looking earnestly on the Slave Your words said he make mee call to minde the tragicall end of a Lady which bare the same name you but now called on She was indeed a personage for beauty and generousnesse to be admired and well worthy the blood of the Kings of Granado Infortunate man that I am cri'd the Slave 't is the same Princesse whom I now vainly call upon Her beauty made me her servant before the ambition of Spaine had
to the top of a rock whence he might easily ken her straight he perceiv'd the purple and gold imbryodered sayles which truely appear'd as waving flames betwixt the azure of the skie and the water Withall he mark'd Alcidiana's golden Pavillion which was fix'd to the maine mast and saw shine in a thousand severall places that Queen of birds which was not only the device but the symbol of Alcidiana The Ship with her artillery saluted the Port and that on shore answering a great company ran to the sea side to see the arrivall of that rich and stately Ship Polexander covertly retir'd to his palace and there expected when the Clergies officers came to advertise what he was to do In the mean time the strength of his imagination or to say better the violence of his love so troubled him that he felt himselfe suddenly strucken with some strange fit and fell on his bed as pale and cold as he had been giving up the ghost Diceus seeing him in that case How said he what will become of you when you shall present your selfe before Alcidiana since you are not able to indure the presence of her Embassadors Friend reply'd Polexander I thought thou wouldst not have ingag'd me to become Master of my former thoughts Yet I must neverthelesse in good time prevent such disorders as they may cause and by long preparations accustome my mind to take in most extream contentments and yet not seem sensible of them This discourse having as it were blunted the edge of our Heroës imagination his senses return'd to their usuall functions and then he thought himselfe able enough to constrain his deportment before Alcidiana's Embassadors Assoon as they landed they were entertain'd by such as had that charge and Polexander being called to the Temple by the dignity he exercis'd there put on his ceremoniall habit to meet those famous Embassadors He acquitted himselfe better then he thought he should have done of a charge so thorny and nice for him and by the extraordinary and obliging civility wherewithall he us'd to winne all hearts instantly acquir'd the love of all those strangers The next day every one rose very early to be at the ceremonies of the sacrifice of Allyance At day-break the priests came to the Temple and sun-rising the high-priest appear'd with his clergie in the most eminent place of the great Portico there to receive the Embassadors That done the same things were perform'd to them as had been to the Embassadors of the King of Gheneoa in bringing them into the Temple The chief priest then taking his place the feigned Araxes his and the priests theirs the Embassadors bare headed and kneeling at the foot of the high Altar did that homage to the Sun to which the Kings of the Inaccessible Island had oblieged themselves After that those who bore the offerings came in one after another The six first carried so many great vessels of crystall of the rock full of perfumes Eight following bore on their shoulders a table of gold on which was imboss'd the shape of the Inaccessible Island The ninth had in his hands a table of brass whereon was ingraven the termes wherewithall the person who represented the King of the Inaccessible Island renew'd and confirm'd his allyance between the hands of the chiefprelate The tenth carryed a heart of silver on which were seen drops of bloud naturally figured After these offerings march'd forty or fifty slaves chain'd with chaines of gold which plac'd on the twelve lesser Altars somewhat of the most rarest things in their kind which nature produc'd or art gave to the inhabitants of the Inaccessible Island Those oblations ended they celebrated the unbloudy sacrifice It began with thanksgivings was continued by burning of severall perfumes and ended in supplications and prayers The chief priest presented them to the living Deity after the wonted manner and after a benediction on all the assistants every one retir'd to his quarter All the remainder of the day the Temple stood open that the inferiour Pilgrims might performe their devotions and offer their offerings At night the archprelate sent for Alcidiana's Embassadors to entertain them according to the ancient custome Polexander supp'd with them and the recitall of what he had done for the safety of the Island was to his discontent the whole discourse of their feast The Embassadors look'd on him as if they could not have their fill and the more they regarded him the more increased their admiration The houre of retirement arriving all the company sever'd As the chief prelate was going to bed the famous pilot Lynceus came into his chamber and besought him for a private audience presently the archpriest commanded away his servants Speak then said he and feare nothing Before I make known reply'd Lynceus the cause that obligeth me to hinder your repose you must if you please ingage your faith that for no cause nor necessity whatsoever you shall reveale the secret which the Queen my Mistris hath commanded mee to intrust you withall Impose if you please this tye on your selfe and without retaining any reservation that may dispense with you for your oath swear by the Deity in whom you believe that you will rather suffer death then betray the innocencie of a Princesse who for the discharge of her conscience will intrust you with a matter that doth not permit her to injoy any rest Alcippus who had a great desire to know this important secret and who by I know not what inspiration was perswaded it concern'd Polexander The Queen said he to Lynceus is most judicious in being desirous in matters of great consequence to observe all that wisedom can advise her But she would not require these oathes or security from me if she knew that one of the principall injunctions in my charge is to keep as a pledge deposited by heaven such secrets of conscience as are made known to me No no Lynceus let not Alcidiana feare it Neither hope nor feare nor love nor hatred nor death nor life shall ever be able to make me violate a law on which depends the eternity of my blisse or wretchednesse I sweare by the sacred power of the chief priesthood and by the faith I owe to heaven that no person whatsoever shall ever know from me that which you have commanded to discover Lynceus made confident by so inviolable an oath My Lord said he the Queen though she never did act contrary to the rules of verue nor could not so much as inure an ill thought without stifling of it in the birth yet hath her conscience troubled and feeles I know not what remorse which both accuseth and torments her But to the end you may give her Majesty such remedies as are fitting for her disease 't is necessary that I make knowne to you the originall of it Some three yeares since the famous King of the Canaries was by a tempest cast on our coasts That Prince whom without flattery wee may call the
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
fortunate that I was beat down cover'd with wounds before that multitude of murtherers had overthrowne the greatest valour of the world I was a great while ere I came to my selfe again but at last recollecting my spirits and seeing all our enemies laid all o're the field I crawl'd to finde out the bodie of my Master Me thought I heard him groan and got to him and disingaging him from under a many bodies took off his cask and the rest of his armes Assoon as he had taken aire his senses came to him but he was so weak and so wounded that he could not possibly rise Presently I took some earth which was very soft being all soak'd with blood and stopping his greatest wounds with it brought him to a little more strength With much pain he arose so did I and helping one another got out of that unfortunate place by the meanes of the tumult and fire But how said Amintha interrupting him did not Polexander dye in the place of Combate No Madam repli'd Diceus he escap'd that great danger and should not be a languishing and wandring Ghost as he is now if he had not receiv'd more dangerous wounds then those were given him in that detestable occasion When I had lead him out of the town and brought him to the Sea side Whither shall we go said he Let 's make an end of a thing that is so well forwarded and since it is forbidden me by Alcidiana her selfe for ever to pretend to the happinesse of seeing her again let us Diceus let us shut up those eyes which can serve mee in no stead but to make me see what a miserable man I am 'T was then repli'd Alcidiana hastily that Polexander died Could he dye better Madam repli'd Diceus then to dye not by the wounds â—…e had receiv'd from his murtherers but of those as pleasing as deadly which he receiv'd at the same time both from your severe justice and his incomparable fidelitie 'T is enough said Alcidiana and in saying so she would not conceale from Diceus the teares which griefe forc'd from her eyes And he unwilling to lose so faire an occasion to further his Masters affaires O! too pretious teares to be lost cri'd he why have you not already rais'd again Polexander Wheresoever his faire soule straies she feeles your virtue and I doubt it not but she will returne and joine againe with his bodie if she could know for truth that 't was their separation which had drawne you from the eyes of Alcidiana Believe it Diceus said the Queen heartily sobbing and assure thy selfe that if the moiâ—…y of my life could recall Polexanders I would give it with all my heart That Prince Madam repli'd Diceus shall rise again since you will have it so or rather he will dye once more if he know 't is for his sake that your Majestie is so much discontented Alcidiana unable to give any interpretation to Diceus last words then what in all likelyhood they ought to have took them for a true exaggeration of that love which Polexander yet preserv'd for her even in his Sepulchre She then dismissed Diceus and told him she desir'd he would serve her After he had given her humble thankes and spent the rest of the day in the Palace or with Amintha he secretly got out of the Towne assoon as it was night and hastened to the King his Master To him he related the happie successe of his journey and made him so plainly see how much Alcidiana lov'd him that Polexander fear'd to offend the Princesse if he persever'd in in the ill opinion he had of his fortune But presently feare blotting out of his Soule that which hope had trac'd there Thou deceiv'st us both said he to Diceus The love thou bear'st me hath assuredly made thee give a too favorable construction to the Queenes words Didst thou not look on her angry eyes as if they had been pitifull or take that melancholy which appeares in the face of such as we importune for the compassion thou wouldst faine perswade me to Art thou certaine she wept Didst thou surely heare her sigh Canst thou secure me that my life shall not discontent her Thou answerest not Diceus Art thou to my greater misfortune better informed now then when thou gavest me so great assurances Sir repli'd his faithfull Servant your thoughts will never leave being ingenious in persecuting you They eternally doubt the truth of all good which betides you and the onely appearances of ill passe with them for most certain realties Yes Sir Alcidiana loves you and I believe it because she repents the rigour she hath shewne you because she bewailes your death because she respects any thing that puts her in mind of you and finally because Amintha hath often sworne to me that the verie moment she heard newes of your death shee made a vow to end her life in a rigorous kind of widow-hood Ah! 't is too much Diceus repli'd our Heroe I now believe my selfe to be happie but I must by some important service make my selfe worthie of being so Presently he resolv'd to disturb that rest which his indisposition had lent his enemies to hinder their going on and by a generall assault to let them know that the winning of Eliza was very ill assur'd them At breake of day he was abroad in the Fort and calling all the officers of the Armie together to make them capable of a thing which till then he could not propose to any Told them there was newes come to him touching the Spaniards and that they only expected to be assaulted to gaine an honest pretext for forsaking the Towne and to put themselves under saile All the hardie Islanders beleev'd what he had spoken and by what had pass'd judging of the future thought that Araxes as inspired from the Deity which had sent him could undertake nothing but what he was assur'd of the succes Every one therefore preparing himselfe for so daring an action they sent Rhadiotez newes of it He presently hastened to the Palace to informe the Queen but perceiving her to be in an extraordinarie insensibility for what so much concern'd her he thought it fit to treat her as some sicke person whose violent disease and the distaste of remedies had depriv'd of all desire of life Hee caus'd all the best troopes in the Town to march forth sent Artillerie to the Fort and having almost all the day executed the charge of Generall of an Armie imploy'd all the rest in the functions of his Priesthood Orders was given for prayers and the Temples were open all night long Mothers carried thither their children as innocent offerings they pretended to heaven to appease its anger and to obtaine out of pitie an end of their calamities Polexander in the mean while unwilling the enemie should know his designe beate them all night with the Canon The Peeces in the Barges and on the Caus-way shot continually and hid by the thicknesse of the
he dyed he commanded his deare Almandarin to pluck out his heart assoon as he was expir'd and to assay all meanes to come and lay it at your Majesties feet By a strange adventure that heart so noble and so famous is in my hands and I engag'd my self to see the last will of that Prince performed But some two yeare since loosing that Treasure with the vessell in which I inbark'd from the Canaries to my great sorrow I cannot but imperfectly accomplish the desires of that Semi-god Polexander thus ending Alcidiana repli'd that she held Almanzors heart as receiv'd And for fear said she you may be the cause of a new tumult goe and prepare your selfe for the thanksgiving which you aswell as my self doe owe for the saving of this Kingdome Those last words which could not be more obliging ended this sweet conversation Polexander arose as he stoop'd to take leave of the Queen he happily met with her hand and kiss'd it with such a transport as none but a discreet Lover is able to imagine and leaving Amintha there got into her Charior and commanded to be set down at the high Chamberlains 'T was there that in good earnest he began to taste the sweets of his fortune He related to Diceus all that had pass'd and his memorie to please him making use of some priviledges of the imagination represented to him as intire and consummated felicities a little Essay of his happiness to come And to make an outward shew of the joy he conceal'd within he clad himself as for a day of Triumph was loaded with so many Diamonds as by their onely richnesse he gave convincing proof of the greatnesse in which heaven had ordained him to be borne Night shortly after coming on every one prepar'd for the Temple All the streets were inlightned with an infinite number of torches and so full of goers and comers that 't was easie to be perceiv'd the people look'd after the action they were to performe as a certaine Gage and infallible Signe of their peace and perpetuall quietnesse Assoon as Alcidiana with her Court were come to the Temple of Wisdome she sent the high Chamberlaine her Vice-roy and her Captaine of the Guard with his band to meet Polexander They intimated to him the command they had and brought him to the Temple followed by all the great Lords of the Realme All those of the towne which either by crowding sleight or intreaty could get in had been there expecting him above six houres and persons of condition were on Scaffolds from whence they might see the Queens throne Assoon as the Slaveâ—… were come to the doores they dispersed such as might breed any confusion and then open'd them to Polexander He was receiv'd by the chiefe Prelate and conducted to the Incense Altar Presently after the Queen of more lustre and farre more glorious in her owne beauty then in that of her Jewells came and kneel'd downe on the same degree with Polexander Instantly he rose up and would have retir'd But Alcidiana staying him You must not said she at this time if you please have any will Our Ceremonies require that resignation Polexander taking those words as they were spoken kneel'd down again and in the very instant twenty Priests clad in linnen robes took their golden trumpets and by a very pleasing sound impos'd silence on all the company After that the Quire sang an Hymne of victory which done they celebrated with a great deale of devotion the sacrifice of thanksgiving At last the High-Priest arising took a golden Censor and putting fire on the little hearths where they stood the ayre was presently fill'd with a most extreame sweet and pleasing odour All the time the perfumes lasted the musick sung and when they were spent the venerable Rhadiotez put himself betwixt the Queen and Polexander and lifting his hands and eyes to heaven thank'd the Eterâ—…all Wisdome in most grave and holy manâ—… for the blessâ—…gs it had showâ—… 〈◊〉 on the Kingdome Which action ended he presâ—… 〈◊〉 Cenâ—…or to the Queen and ingag'd her to performe what belong'd to her Sacerdotall diâ—…y Sâ—…raight she went and perfum'd the Incense Altar and ascending a little Theater whereon were two chaires of Gold and Ivory sare downe in that on the left hand and presently intimated she would speak Presently the noise ceasing all were in a deep attention and she arising and presenting the end of her Scepter to the Company My Friends said shee aloud you have made me sufficiently know by your late actions that you are yet in doubt of your happinesse and that you cannot take for a true content a quiet which you imagine not perpetuall If the object of things present hath at first sight darted any mirth in your minds the feare of what might happen hath as quickly driven it out againe and you beleeve that your deliverance being not accompanied with all the circumstances which heaven desires 't is impossible it should be secur'd you You foresee new troubles you fear new enemies and the love to your children being as sensible to you as the love of your selves you do not think your selves perfectly happy because you see not your happinesse likely to descend to your posterity But give over your foresights and fears since 't is in my power to give you an end to both Yes my Subjects I will surmount all those difficulties which any way hinder the perfection of your felicity I lay this Scepter at the feet of the Infinite Wisdome which we adore within this temple To which I offer my liberty and quâ—…tting all soveraign power which was thence given me with my life I give my consent it may be transferred to him who by his wondrous acts hath deserved to be both your Master and mine The Princess had no sooner ended this short and judicious speech but there arose amongst the People a kind of humming noise intimating the content of all the Assembly Rhadiotez presently according to the order he had receiv'd from Alcidiana took Polexander and led him up the Scaffold where she sate She straight rose and making two or three steps to receive him presented Polexander the Scepter she held who did what he could not to accept it But the high Priest laying before him the necessity of that Ceremony and moreover Alcidiana intreating him to give her that last proof of his obedience he was inforc'd to yeeld to his honour The Scepter being in his hand al the people began to cry Long live the King and the Queen after these acclamatioâ—…s the Quire sung a Hymne of peace and another for that incomparable alliance The chief Prelate ended these first Ceremonies with those whereby he knit in an undiflolvable knot Alcidiana and Polexander and put off the rest to their solemne Coronation Midnight striking they departed the Temple and follow'd by the Court and almost the whole Towne returned â—…o the Pallace When they entred the shoutes the clapping of hands and other signes of joy began again The Canons went off on all sides the Towne fire-workes crown'd with a great light the Turrets and Domes of the Pallace and the Trumpets by their sound intimated the resounding noise of the people who had continually in their mouthes the names of Polexander and Alcidiana Two houres after midnight the High Chamberlaine went out of the palace and thanking the People in the name of their Kings invited them to the pomps and sports which should be celebrated a whole moneths time to solemnize so great a feast At these promises they clapped their hands gave a shout and retir'd Those who had the permission to follow our Semi-gods into their Sanctuary came forth assoon as the People were gone Let us imitate them that knew so much civility and not boldy knock at so sacred gates but be contented to know that Polexander and Alcidiana are together and since we have so long time injoy'd them have so much justice as to think it fitting now they should likewise enjoy one another The End of the last Part of Polexander Avec beaâ—…coup plus de reâ—…gnation Puis qu. aver asez de resignation * The Author tells us not how Abdelmelec came by Alcidiana's Picture twice for Polexander took one from him in the ship and how got he a second for the Iusts I remember no man speakes here but the author nor any else to whom Zelâ—… ida gave the copy but to the author The Author calls it Fine Terre I think he meanes Finister * An order of valiant Horsemen in the last Empire of Egypt
have voluntarily depriv'd themselves of such whom they passionately lov'd to satisfie the desires of their Sons Is it a wonder at this day to see a Son put off his strongest passion to content that of his Father But I come to thy selfe Antenor and enquire whether thou have not often run in hazard of thy life to save thy father and whether thou hast not often prayed to heaven that thou mightest by the shortning of thine owne dayes prolong those of Chersach I know even though thou wilt not now acknowledge it that thy piety hath often put those words in thy mouth Why then at this time belying that same goodnesse wouldst thou not wish thy father happy since thou onely couldst make him so I would willingly thou wilt say have given my life for my father What is wife more deare to thee then thy life Thou will answer she was and far more Thou art deceiv'd inconsiderate Lover Thou couldst have lived without the fruition of Astalia but without life thou couldst not enjoy Astalia Why giv'st thou not then willingly to thy father a thing which was of lesse value then that life which thou wouldst have given him Know at once to shut up thy lips for ever that neither interest pleasure life nor honour it selfe have ever beene put in the number of such cases for which the divine Lawes dispense with childrens obedience to their fathers Cruell reasons cried Antenor Injustices well colour'd I yeeld to you whether I will or no and leave Chersach's crime unpunish'd to the end that it may never by another be blotted out of the memory of man Live monster live to thy perpetuall misery and by a long and cruell decrepit age do penance for thy abominable impudicity After these imprecations my unfortunate Lord went out of Montevera and within a few dayes after not onely forsooke his owne Countrey but chang'd Religion and Sides and attain'd to the greatest honours of the Ottoman Empire under the name of Achomat Bajazet growing weary of Isaac Bassa's government and taking from him with his life that mighty authority which made him terrible to his owne Master cast his eyes on Achomats vertues and withall call'd to minde his many Services His valour which had won him so many victories and his fidelity which had held him so constantly link'd to that Monarchs interests call'd him to that Office Of Beglerbeg he became a Basha and from a Basha to that height of honour as to marry the fairest and best belovedst daughter of the Emperour That Princesse was the daughter of the Sultane Queene and aswell for her beauty as for her wit deserv'd to be call'd from her birth the Easterne Sun Bajazet who lov'd her far more then his Sons gave her an Arabian name which signifieth in your language Immortall Rose This faire Princesse was conducted to the house of the Basha her husband with that pompe and great traine by which the Ottoman Princes who without contradiction are the prime Monarchs of the world are wont to make their slaves admire their power and richnesse If some occurrences more worthy to be knowne then my mothers nuptiall ceremonies did not binde me to conceale them I should make you wonder at the infinite number of Jewels and houshold furniture where withall Bajazet the great would all at once witnesse the love he bore his daughter and the pleasure he tooke in enriching his deare Achomat That Rose which indeed deserv'd to be immortall found an Adorer in lieu of a husband and indeed by the charmes of her beauty and sweetnesse of her disposition she made her affectionate Achomat forget the mishap in his first love and his being forbidden to Idolatrize He imagin'd to himselfe that there was something beside heaven to be worshipped lawfully and looking on the Sultan his wife as on one of those faire draughts of that first and eternall beauty held Mahomet's commands but for vaine dreames and impious institutions he sent for a Greeke which was an excellent Painter and as if his eyes were not fully enough satisfied in having for their object but the living beauty of the Princesse my mother caus'd divers Copies to be taken of it and could not even in the Divan nor in the most important deliberation refraine from looking on it This love being so ardent could produce nothing but flames andincendments My sister and I were the only fruits and if I dare say so the twin daughters of that reciprocall and violent affection We were borne with such an inclination to love that though it be a shame to confesse it yet I must acknowledge that love was as naturall and essentiall to us as our lives and senses Wee were but eight yeares old when the vertuous and incomparable Axiamira came to Constantinople to obtaine on the day of Achmets Circumcision the liberty of her invincible Periander she had what she requested as you know better then I but what said I No she had nothing lesse then what she desired she was us'd after the same manner as the Sultans are wont to treate their slaves and Bajazet kept his word with her in that cruell interpretation wherewithall he knowes how to free himselfe from his scruples of conscience The very day wherein Axiamira for ever lost the Prince her husband shee was rob'd of Iphidamantus who was but two yeares elder then I Baiazet caus'd him to be taken out of her ship and even against his custome in lieu of shutting him up in his Seraglio amongst the other Azamoglans gave him to my father with expresse command to breed him like a slave and so make him lose with his memory of Christianisme that of his birth Achomat in part obeyed Baiazet but being himselfe a Christian and professing it amongst his confidents he bred up his faire slave by a Greeke Renegado in shew but indeed a Christian and a Priest Iphidamantus lost his first name for that of Solyman and was so tutor'd as he went for what he was not that young Prince his beauty comeliness which cannot be worthily enough expressed if it be not compar'd with yours said Melicerta addressing her to Cydaria wonne the Sultanesse my mother to breed him among that great number of faire maidens which her father had given her and to cloathe him usually as they were we saw him every day and that seeing drew us insensibly into a snare we saw not Histeria so was my deare sister call'd was the first that felt what shee knew not and unable to divine the cause of certaine unknowne desires which began to trouble her was compell'd to discover her passion to me I know not said she innocently to me what 't is the faire slave hath in his eyes but as often as hee lookes on mee hee wounds mee I feele I know not what sting at my heart which tickles me in hurting me I turne mine eyes from him when I feele the smart but in spight of me I am forced to looke on him againe and I
perceive that my griefe which is very sore when I looke on him is farre worse when I see him not Sister said I though I am the last that speake I am not the last that suffered I have long since examined my selfe of the reason of that change I noted in me and how I should feele my selfe sicke and yet not discover the cause nor the quality of my malady but your discourse hath freed me of my ignorance I know now that my sicknesse comes from the eyes of the faire slave the delight I take in seeing him is followed with so sensible a griefe that whether I see him or see him not I finde my selfe divided betwixt a delicious torment and a disquieted contentment See the first discourse that a growing and almost unknowne passion made two Maidens of thirteene hold together Age which is a great master in love chiefly when it is seconded by those which of old have beene instructed in it quickly taught us both by the example of our parents and the conversation of those faire slaves which waited on us not onely what we should call our sicknesse but how strange the effects of it were Solyman in the meane time not onely seem'd ignorant of it but shew'd himselfe so extreamely insensible that he was neither mov'd with our lookes our blandishments no nor with our speeches amongst many other proofes of his insensibility I remember one which as young as we both were made us see that our affection prepar'd strange afflictions for us The Sultanesse our mother being retir'd from Constantinople during a voyage of Achomat's into Egypt to a Seraglio which the Emperour had given her on the Channell which runs into the blacke sea we in that pleasant solitude passed our time in all the sports and merriments our Governesses thought fit for our exercise The Sultanesse our mother was usually a Spectatresse of our pastimes and noting that my sister and I passed them over with a negligence and pensivenesse not befitting our age was afraid left it might presage some great fit of sicknesse Had she been a little more informed she would have knowne our disquiets were not the presages but the effects of that ill which she feared Notwithstanding we conceal'd it not onely from her but even from those that were our greatest confidents and did our utmost endeavours to communicare or at least to discover it to the impassible Solyman His respect to the Sultanesse having one day whether he would or no forc'd him to stay betwixt my sister and my selfe that Princesse who tooke much pleasure in hearing the first proofes of our wit commanded us to speake to him and he had the like to answer us Our discourse at first was of meer franknesse of humour and principally of the neglect of men to which Solyman answered with so much discretion and vivacity that the Princesse confess'd aloud she could not heare any thing more witty but being diverted by a Poste from her deare Achomat she left my sister and my selfe in that liberty we had so oftentimes wish'd for As Solyman was about to follow her we staid him against his will and my deare Hysteria spoke thus You have good cause to quit us if you beleeve we spoke as we thought our misprising of men might make you doe the same to us but doe not beleeve Solyman that we are so wicked as to offend that All whereof you are a wonderfull part our injuries were but a sport and we cunningly made use of that artifice to conceale from our mother the too true affection we bear to the fairest of men With that poor Histeria blush'd and her languishing eyes stood fix'd on Solyman to let him comprehend that hee alone merited that glorious title Solyman blush'd too either for his owne shamefac'dnesse or Histeria's and unwilling to answer a speech that troubled him did what he could to get from us yet his discretion not suffering him to goethence by violence he saw himselfe obliged to stay yet a little longer with us I then began and casting down mine own eyes as to not see my selfe Why flyest thou us Solyman said I Are wee so unworthy thy company or is thy mislike of us so great as thou canst not indure our sight nor heare us speake to thee Thou may be valuest thy selfe by the miseries of thy fortune and quite forgetting the greatnesse of thy birth wilt observe that low submission which thy Tutors have prescribed thee and slaves should owe to their masters Is it not out of feare of making thy condition worse then it is in trying to make it better If such a timidity seale up thy lips and casts thine eyes downewards thou art as weake a valuer of our thoughts as thou art of thy selfe we could looke on thee as on a Prince which should one day sit on a Throne and not as a slave who hath lost for ever all hope of his liberty But our affections are too purely sublim'd to fixe themselves on such grosse and base considerations we love thee because heaven would have it so because thy gracefulnesse forceth and thy vertue obligeth us Wee intreate thee now to divide that love betwixt us and to be pleased that by kinde and mutuall exchanges thou wilt give us a part of thy servitude and accept as much of our liberty Histeria hearing I expressed her thoughts so well Deare Solyman said she interrupting me accept I beseech thee my sisters proposition command with us and we will be slaves with thee Solyman would have been overjoyed to have heard us speake on though it pleas'd him not because at least our continuall talke had freed him from the trouble of answering us but wee impos'd our selves silence of purpose to heare what he would say sometime he was consulting with himselfe at last seeing he was forc'd to an answer Faire Princesses said he you have shut my mouth even by that which you have made use of your selves for the liberty of breaking the silence is commanded me you say I am thought on and regarded by you as a Prince which should once governe and that consideration tels me I am but a wretch who with the title of Prince have lost all the priviledges of Principality though your proffers came from a true feeling you have of my miseries and that you should be so good as to contribute somewhat to the consideration of my birth yet beleeve not I beseech you that I can by such a charme beguile the knowledge I have of my misfortunes You may faigne being as you are to be slaves without making triall of any of the rigours of servitude but if the strength of imagination deprive me not of that of judgement 't is impossible for me in conceiting my selfe to be among the sweets of liberty that I should forget the bitternesse of slavery Give over then faire Princesses give over the presenting me with imaginary good since it doth but put me in minde of those true ones I want