giving the Gods thanks for the recovery of her only son whom she had so lamented touch'd to the quick by the sense of that irreparable losse and for that time losing all patience and accustom'd modesty could not for bear accusing heaven and injuring its powers Ye unjust gods said she whom too in vain I have invoked with so great fervency and zeal for my sons safety I see plainly ye are deaf that have not heard me he that burns insense on your Altars foully deceives himself your power is but opinion or have you any it serves but to offend those that distressed make their vows to you Alas I had regain'd my dear child but for invoking you and you even since my vows and prayers have snatch'd him from me I perceive my dear Anaxander that I have lost thee for ever I shall no more see thee in this world and yet where ere thou art I am resolv'd to seek thee and die for sorrow if no other remedy But ere that be I mean to satisfie thy good Angel and since thy murtherer is fallen into our hands I promise thee to be revenged on him These sorrows served but to augment the Kings displeasure who was strucken to the heart as well may be a father who hath lost the honor of his house and hope of his Kingdom However he was infinitely just and generous seeing it was that brave Lisimantus whom Evander had brought whose known vallour was renowned every where he thought it would be too great an act of basnesse and inhumanity to revenge his sons death on him who had slain him like a gallant man in Duel and unknown but by a borrowed name which he had taken and thought it an action of a great King to send him to the King of Zeylan without punishment and seeing too that Anaxander could not live by tother death But however absolute he was in his Kingdom he could not then be Master his Subjects too much loved the memory of their Prince to suffer his murtherer to scape unpunished whom they had in their custody And seeing that the great Alcidaris inclin'd to mercy all the Judges assembled themselves suddainly and seconding the Queens angry purposes they hastned Lisimantus judgement and that very day condemned him to die As for Zenobus they judged him to a perpetual imprisonment who had not scap'd so cheap but that he averred himself overcome by Piroxenus whom he assured them he left alive and weeping by his dead friend When the sentence of Lisimantus condemnation was read unto him that great and invincible courage which had scorned death in all the shapes and forms it ever had appeared to him in was shaken by that so severe and terrible judgment He fiercely look'd upon the bringer of those cruel tidings and his rage prevailing in his sense of that cruelty shewn on him Thou wicked man said he who serv'st the fury of the most barbarous people of the world hast thou impudence enough to come and outrage me in the miscrable condition I am in and publish with a ceremony the injury prepared for my innocence My name which hath made so many Nations to tremble and is so regarded through the Indes shall it be so much scorn'd by you as you will dare condemn me for an honorable action Will ye be so unworthy as to stain the memory of your Princes death who did so valiantly defend himself and make me bear so many marks of his courage Can I believe I do converse with men where reigns so great in humanity Where is that generous Alcidaris whose praises are so ignorantly sung throughout all Asia He suffers me to be a prey unto his Subjects fury and endures that after having led a life full of honor I be put to a shameful death under his own eyes The Officer who was in truth a generous and compassionate man and touched at the misery of that famous Knight reply'd thus to him I come with sorrow brave Lisimantus to execute the sad commission given me against you but consider that my charge requires it of me and that I must whatever justice bids me Were it your safety did depend on me you should be soon made free I have admired long your vertue and however far from your profession I cannot but do reverence to men like you But what in this disability wherein I am can I tender you but vows unprofitable and pray the gods to give you resolution enough to bear your evill fortune patiently Do not accuse Alcidaris he wishes you at liberty and believe me his subjects have hastned your condemnation but since they saw his nature willing to remit you He is not this day master of his peoples wills who are doubly animated against you as well by the strong motions of the Queen as by their own resentments What manner of Country must it be replyed Lisimantus where the King is govern'd by his Subjects he that forbids not evill does command it and truly though divine and humane Lawes did not condemn Alcidaris cruelty yet she honour he professes should perswade him to defend me He to whom all power is given should shew it less than others and you will g rant me that your Prince uses too insolently his authority and makes too poor a use of my calamity Well well Death will deliver me from his tyranny but he shall not be freed from his neighbors blame I will let him see I can tell how to die and that the crosses of my fortune are not able to shake my Resolution nor deject my Courage 'T is true 't is hard to part with life at so young an age but 't would be more intollerable if I feared Death I know I live to dye and that the very day of my Birth nature sets limits to my dayes and besides an unworthinesse of heart it were a folly in me to fear what I cannot avoid I have so often beheld Death as my eyes are acquainted with him and I call the gods to witness nothing aftonishes me but the manner of my dying I pass the headsmans hands ah who soere thou art that look'st with pitty on me and are touch'd with my misfortune if thou have any credit with the King or those that seek my life obtain of them that either a Dagger or poyson satisfie their cruelty Excuse me from the shame prepared for me and permit not that I outrage nature so much as to deliver my self out of their hands which doubtlesse I should rather do than to expect their punishment This compassionate Officer was so touched that the tears came in his eyes at those last words and curseda thousand times that day wherein for his preferment he was taken from his ordinary commerce with men to be a Judge of their lives he then drew near Lisimantus to comfort him and to offer him all the aid was in his power and however dark the Prison might at first entrance seem yet by a little stay and accustoming the fight
sometimes I met her in the Palace I saluted her a far off with certain gestures which equally witnessed my passion to serve her and my fear to discontent her and that beauty who had still the signs of my foolish passion fresh in her memory look'd over from me whether out of scorn or judgment I cannot tell Forgive me Sir if I busie my self in telling you a thousand needlesse circumstances but most pleasing to my remembrance which are nothing to our matter but contrary do set me off from the design I had to tell you the fust and principal cause which so absolutely goâ—me the King of Zeylans favour That Prince who is exceeding pious and alwaies delighted in serving the gods according to the custom of his Country and devotion of his fathers having understood that that new sect of Mathometans was lately slid into his Island which is the fairest and fruidfullest of all the Inde desirous to banish that strange religion which was able to undo his Subjects and to disunite them from their lawful obedience unto him he made an Edict by which he proclaimed guilty of high Treason to his the Divine Majesty all those that should be convicted of adhering to those new opinions and as such he ordained that their goods should be consiscate and banished within a months space out of his Country There were a number of those Infidels dwelling in the Port Tanadarus who as soon as they heard a breath of this Ordinance seizâ—d on the Castle which is one of the best in the Kingdom and expecting that they should be assâ—ulted deputed three or four of them to go speedily to the King of the Maldives to seek his aid seeing he was of their Law and had embraced the sam unhappy belief which they had done This King of the Maldives who was Lord but of several pieces of land seperated by arms of the Sea and envious of the King of Zâ—ylans prosperity was very glad of so fair an occasion offered to enter upon his Countries so convenient for him And that he might not want pretext not be unprovided to answer the blame which his nâ—â—ghbours might lay on him he dispatch'd an Embassidor to the King of Zeylan by whom be prayed him to use his Subjects with more faver and to permit them the liberty of their religion in his Island if otherwise he should be obliged to protect them as his brethren united with him in belief toward the god he worshiped according to the Divine Laws of Mahomor his great Prophet The King of Zeyland gave a generous answer to that Embassador that he very much wondred at his Masters extravagancy and rashnesse who Impertinently thrust himself into the knowledge of his Subjects affairs that if his threat did stir him unto any thing it should be to a greater rigor towards those who without any good ground had miserably forsaken their fathers gods and for his own particular he should instantly depart out of his Countries lest his anger might make him violate the Laws of Nations and in his person punish his Masters insolence whom he would prevent That Embassador who look'd not at all for so rough an answer so exasperated the King his Masters courage which was enough irritated before that he immediately sent forth a hundred Ships and more from the Port of the Maldives to go succour the Rebels of Tanadarus In the mean time as the Sectaries of that cursed law think they cannot do God better service nor finde a shorter way to heaven than by murthering those that oppose their belief they plotted a furious conjuration against the Kings person twelve of the most resolute of his Rebel Subjects drink each others blood to encourage themselves and take a firm resolution to go kill the King in his Palace Hal and in the middle of his Guards This open and generous Prince who till that time had arm'd himself with no defence gave liberty to all sort of people as accustomed to be in his Palace where four of the conspirators entred without notice taken of them and as the formost of them lift his arm to strike the King it was my happy fortune only of the company to perceive him for that Traytor not at all troubled at his damnable design had so well taken his time that if the Tutelary gods of Zeylan had not directed my cies unto him undoubtedly the King had died As soon then as I spied the action and motion of that perfidious murtherers arm I threw my self at all hazard betwixt 〈◊〉 and the King and taking his hand to put by the blow which slightly hurt me in the face hold Traytor said I to him and fearing lest he might redouble it I took him by the coller The King who saw my check bloody and with what rage I opposed that Ruffin whose design be know not ask'd what was the matter Ah Sir said I doubtlesse some great Treason plotted against your Majesty then by and by he saw the Dagger which the murcherer had let fall he was instantly set on the Pâ—ack where he confess'd â—he number of the parties sworn who were found out and quartered alive as well as himself The King was so much pleas'd with me for this action as he embrac'd me before them all and praising what I had done to save him I swear said he Euribaldus that I will not be unthankful for the service you have done me but posterity shall know thou hast oblig'd a thankful Prince wherefore dispatch and ask me any thing in my power and I protest to thee again by the tutelary gods of this Kingdom it shall begranted thee of whatsoever price it be I being dazled by so great a sevâ—â—â— made him this answer on my knee which 〈◊〉 than what had past oblig'd his love of me It is your only noblenesse Sir which makes the sinall service I was obliged to do you acceptable although at hazard of my life the gods forbid that I should ever pretend to deserve an acknowledgment from you for what my duty bound me to and for a thing I ought my self t is only Fortune whom you are to thank for having happily addrest mine eyes unto the murtherer to turn his stroak and I a ssure my self there is not any Subject you have but would have shewn the same zeal to save you admitting him the same good fortune The King seeing how gracefully I refused the good he offered me Observe truly said he turning towards Arbiran a great deal of youth accompanied with a great deal of vertue and I intend not that this service shall be unrewarded Say then Euribaldus what thou askest of me I protest to take thy silence as a scorn if thou crave nothing of me When I saw my self thus put to it Great Prince answered I I should be wholly ignorant if I did not acknowledge the graâ—â—ity which your Majesty offers me to proceed from your alone goodnesse and I should injuce heaven which hath caused me favour
astonish d and though she were recover'd from her swounding yet the freedom of her actions was so hindred as she could nor comprehend nor relish any testimony which was given before her of our births The Captain of the Guard whom the King had sent us was not in less amazement than our selves to see a thing so strange and extraordinary He had till then given such way unto Evanders passion as he had not dar'd to hinder his embraces or his tears but when he saw us silent and in admiration of our misfortunes looking one upon another he came and with this complement saluted me Great Prince said he for such we now acknowledge you and soon enough the Gods have by this sage old mans arivall cleer'd the truth of your extraction The King my Master hath in his behalf commanded me to wait on you and tell you that enough he cannot wonder why you should choose death rather than his alliance which so many Princes have made sute for That to excuse the usage you have had he thinks not fit seeing by concealing your names and blood and having knowledge of the Kingdom Lawes you have your selves occasioned the trouble you leave had and may accuse no other And besides he hopes you will acknowledge what degree he holds among the Asian Mâ—narchs and that if for his daughters love you will not at lest for love of him and honour to his quality you will repair the fault committed by a lawfull marriage Mean while he hath commanded me to guide you and your friend to certain lodgings in his Palace I would not trouble my self to give him any answer because it could avail me nothing I only followed him where he conducted me and we parted from Orixa both Piroxenus and my self not daring to say ought unto her for fear of grieving her a new or waking of her anger This most unhappy Princesse in despair for that her crime was known to all the world and for affronts so publickly receiv'd but more again for my pretended infidelity which she could not possibly forget would not be carryed to her Chamber and her extreme affliction reduc'd her to such pass as that a thousand times she griev'd for leaving the fire behind her as the only comfort left her and solt remedy to end her miseries I was impatient to entertain Evander that I might as well learn from him who so happily had thither guided him as to be told some news from Guzarat and the good man who had the same desires to be at freedom with us as soon as we repos'd a little and had rested in the lodgings were allowed us to satisfie my curiosity began in this sort his discourse My deer Children for so although ye be my Lords and Masters I from hence conjure yee to allow my age and deer affection to call ye many sad tears and sighs your absence hath drawn from me and little rest and comfort have I had since that unhappy day ye stole so inconsiderately from the King of Cambaya's Court where ye were adored of all how are the Gods most just in sending ye the troubles ye have had to punish ye in some sort for afflicting those who brought ye into the world and with such tender care have bred ye up Know then my Children that as soon as your departure was discovered in Campanel the King affâ—cted both with grief and anger having been told how that same night wherein ye had departed a Ship had gon out of the Port of Cambaye and made her course towards the Coast of Zeilan he doubted by reason of hot Wars late made in that Countrey against the King of Maldives that ye might have thither gone to seek occasions whereunto your Courage called ye for this cause he immediately sent after that great Vessell two light Saylers from two divers Ports and sent as well to seek ye over land But long they were not without newes from her which they thought had carryed you away for she was scarce gone out of the Gulf of Cambaye to enter into the great Arabique Sea when threatned by a tempest and finding her self neer the Heaven of Bazaim which is one of the securest of that shore the Pilots thought it fit to cast Anchor there and shelter themselves so long as till the storm were over This stay gave opportunity to that Post who had been sent from Campanel to Bazaim to send out a Ship to meet that same which had put all the Court in trouble But when it was known that you were not therein rage in the King increast so much and the Levity of your flight touch'd him so to the quick as all the love he bare ye he turn'd to hate and indignation I went about to tell him how I had from certain pieces of your discourse with one another in your privacies collected that ye had purposed a voyage to Narsinga and told him 't would be very good to send there after you and that in case you were not met upon the rodes it would be very fit to dispatch an Embassader to the King of Narsinga that at least ye might not pass as unknown people but be receiv'd like Princes No no Evander said he to me they have shewn themselves unworthy of mâ— care or trouble and I am asham'd for having so much already grieved my self for them let thâ—m even pass for inch as they will There declare my self from henceforth not to own them Come go with me into the Queens closet and you shall see that Anaxander hath play'd more the fool than he is ware of The Gos be thank'd I have another Child and Heaven is just in robbing me of him whom I alone did love and upon whom I built all my delight and hope As soon as we were come into the Queens Cabinet the King caus'd Pirobus to come unto him who had negotiated his last marriage with that fair Princess who brought you into the world and who had alwayes served him so faithfully And sure I was exceedingly amazed when turning to the Queen he made her in our presence this discourse Madam said he to her I know the sorrow you conceive for your Sons Levity is so great as that to understand he were no more alive would no more grieve you than his slight wherefore because it cannot add a jot unto your present forrow I intend to tell you of a thing which does exceedingly concern me and which these twenty years I have conceal'd from all the world and most especially from you You may remember Madam when first I sent you Pirobus in Embassage to seek you for my wife you after having courteously received him gave him an answer somewhat cold by framing an excuse touching your brothers death Spimantus who because he had been dead two years before finding that reason insufficient to oppose my just demand he was desirous to instruct him better in your truer meanings and understood by one of your chief States-men that the
found it no hard matter to perswade their resolutions thereunto We therefore purposed to assemble only two or three thousand of the best and ablest men of the City to make a fully by night upon the enemies out at the Port of Goa where they wre with least strength entrenched But when the Visaporians knew their Princes went in person they would all go and left to guard their walls women and children only and old men among the which was sage Evander to whom what ever good or evill might become of us we bid farewell desiring him that if he could get out from thence he would return to Cambaye and that he would endevour to regain Alcidaris his favour to us whom we assur'd him we would see as soon as we had seen a little of Narsinga in case the Gods preserv'd us in the hazard we were falling into he therefore with all possible regret imbraced us because he did believe he never more should see us and much ado we had to change his wilfull purpose to accompany us in that sally The Princes had design'd to follow us and go the voyage to Narsinga with us if we could scape out of the multitude and for that cause we took for rendezvous an old decayed Temple which lies upon the â—ode to Goa a league out of the City but otherwise the Gods had ordered for in that memorable issue which we made upon the enemy both brothers after great and worthy actions of their valour by them done were slain at our fees As for our selves Madam we hew'd our way through those that followed us and slew what ever from that side opposed us The Moon was lightsome and heaven so much favoured us that Pirox nus and I sound our selves neer to one another and but lightly hurt poor Neander was wounded with a dart in his thigh and was carried back into the City ready to die that we must go without him and Almerin who lost not sight of us pursued us when we had given Neande charge and some other of our Souldiers to spread a moyse that we were slain with the twoi Princes lest we might draw a blame upon us for forsaking the besieged We therefore secretly with-drew our selves else where not willing to be witnesses of that poor Cities misfortunes which could not long hold our and which by the losse of those two Princes who beyond all other reasons had oblieg'd us to that service had lost her finall hope Three things before we went we recommended to Neander the first was that he should not fail to cause the bodies of Demonax and Araxus to be buried in their Fathers grave and that he likewise should be carefull of interring the Princess Orixa their Sister The second was that notwithstanding he was hurt he should not leave the poor besieged people who did already want provision and that he should assist them to make as honourable composition as he could a thing which we indeed held far unfit for us and which to farther the great service they had newly done would much import And thirdly that he should help all he could the good Evander to return unto Cambaye and assure him of our safeties that as for him as soon as he were whole he should not fail to come unto us and that he should hear of us in the King of Narsinga's Court under the names of Ariomant and Calistenus for fear we might be known by those of Taxilus and Cleontus and we had given the same directions to the good Evander before we parted from him Thus Madam left we that unfortunate City and I must confess the willingness wherewith Piroxenus followed me without despair is not the smallest argument of that extreme affection which he bears me The Image of that unhappy Princess presented it self evermore before his eyes he had no other pleasure than to afflict himself with the remembrance of her death That was the sole meditation of his dayes the only dream of his nights and the continuall trouble of his soul and yet among so many peircing griefs and bloody discontentments hee compell'd himself to live to bear me company We then put off our Arms and Almerin who knew full well the Countrey made us go that night on foot as then we were brought us to a little City named Foya some four Leagues off from Visaporus upon the rode to Bisnagar because he knew that none of Rosalcans Troops lay on that quarter We found there the inhabitants quite lost and vext with fear not knowing of which side to be not where to rank themselves however after having taught them that they must give place to force that all their Princes were dead and that their great City was threatned with approaching ruin we after we were furnished with horses and what else we wanted for our money left them resolv'd to send towards the two usurpers The wounds we had receiv'd did not hinder us from proceeding onward and therefore we went right to Bisnagar well provided both of Money and Jewels to rub through such extremities as might befall us I will not spend my time Madam in relating you all the adventures which we met on the way for fear of abusing your patience I will only mention that which gave me the honour of your acquaintance which was the reason why at first we were received happily into the King your fathers Palace When we were come within two Leapues of that great City of Bisnagar where we had learn'd the King made then his six moneths residence passing along by a Forest of Palm Trees in the middle of the rode which leadeth strait to the City we spied a hunter of a goodly countenance and richly clad who being mounted on a horse as swift as was the beast he followed had left his fellow hunters far behind him Scarce had he passed us an hundred paces rushing again into the thick without more train than one page only who never left him but that a dozen Robbers who had lain in ambush in a thicket by the which he passed cast themselves suddainly upon him and held his reigns to stop his passage ere he scarce perceived them As soon as he had found himself infested with this rascall rout nimble and active as he was he flung himself out of his saddle to the ground and drawing out his sword cleaved his head who first aborded him but seeing that hismatch was too hardly made and that he must at length be overcome he was resolv'd to sell his life full dear By good luck as he passed we were turned about towards him and his rich furniture caused that curiosity in us and was the means that even about the very instant we perceiv'd him in this trouble we ran unto him hastily and found the Page thrown to the ground by a hurt in his thigh and the hunter sorely wounded yet having set his back against a tree did most couragiously defend himself The aid we lent him redoubled his
the King my Father to whom you will not yet discover your self thunders extremely against you and my self as well for diversion of his wrath as that you might surprize him wholly at your return have sowen the newes of your death through all the Court. Were it true indeed replyed Anaxander your only presence and words comming from so fair a mouth in my favour were sufficient to restore me again to life But Madam do not think that I can conceal my self however carefull I may be to do it nor do you think that my wounds are secret no more than those which your fair eyes have caused in the bottom of my heart since you are privy to my evils I believe all the world is full of them wherin you only are to me considerable But said he smiling and flriving to take the Princess hand to kiss it I believe Madam you are come hither of purpose to tell me of the good fortune which the marriage of my Brother Alcidaris promises you to whose merit you are dedicated and that you do me the honour to visit me as your Brother in Law rather than as your servant the Princess who could not endure jesting upon that subject I do not think said she with a cone more serious that you have misunderstood the answer I gave Pirobus and which I by and by communicated to you by Saradin to wit that I accounted my self too happy in that heaven had ordained the most perfect and accomplish'd Prince of Gouzarat to be my husband for you know better than I that that praise can belong to man save your self and that having made me know the wants of Alcidaris I should seperate my self as far from his sute as you are from his ill behaviour Anaxander could not forbear laughing to see her justifie her self so seriously in thing which she had said to his advantage and finding that she was a little moved How Madam said he would you have so ill an opinion of me as to be perswaded that I should think you guilty of loving a sot I pray believe I have too good a one of my self and that I have too many testimonies of your love to imagine you were pleased with Alcidaris sute but I thought that in talking of so ridiculous a man a little sport had not been out of season and to say the truth although he be my Brother I cannot think on the description made me of him without bursting with laughter During their entertainment with such like discourse the Princess of Zeylan entertained Piroxenus and without seeming to have any interest in Lisimantus safety making him tell her every particular of the combat she understood that he had been carried very much hurt aboord his bark but that he thought him not in worse plight than Anaxander and that where ever he was he thought him still living This assurance gave great cause of comfort to Lisimena who in truth feared nothing more in the world than the death of that accomplish'd Knight who had performed as many brave actions for the love of her as of himself besides that she knew that last encounter grew but from the extreme affection he bare her which was grown to such a pass as in his very despair he could endure norivals They were all four more than two houres together having no other witness of their contentment but Saradin but when there was a word of parting sorrow trod short upon the heels of joy And what ever means Orazia used to dissemble her displeasure it was so plain to see in her fair eyes bedew'd with tears as Anaxander could not restrain himself from seconding them with his in that tender motion which did seaze him and a thousand times kissing that adorable Princesse hands he made her as many protestations of eternall constancy then in presence of three witnesses they renewed with extreme and reciprocall affection their promises of mariage which they had formerly made in Baticalus desiring the Gods to exterminate the first of them that should break faith They being thus fortified by that mutuall assurance finished their adieus wherein Anaxander promised his Princesse that believing himself to be able in a short space to depart from thence for Gouzarat he would return sooner than she thought for the accomplishment of both their wishes The night being well spent the two fair Princesses returned to their Chamber where they entertain'd themselves untill day which no sooner appeared but the King who was already cloathed caused them to be advertis'd that they should make themselves ready to depart if they desired to avoid the heat of the day which the beginning threatned they shut not their eyes all that night and yet Orazia desiring nothing more in the world than that the King her father were departed from that Castle where she had never been in quiet she suddainly made her self ready and having again sent a new complement by Saradin to Prince Anaxander she ascended with Lisimena her Chariot and so following the Kings she little and little lost sight of the Castle which as long as she was able she kept within her eye The amorous Prince whom she had left behinde her paid full dearly for the pleasure of her visit for he was so much moved by excesse of joy which his Mistresse presence caus'd him as he fell into a violent Feavor which accident very much retarded his recovery but let us leave him to amendment by a long rest untill a perfect health grow on him Lots likewise leave the King of Narsinga arrived at Bisnagar where he did a thousand honors to the Princesse Lisimena who would not permit him to accompany her any farther and let us suffer that fair Princess to depart who although she returned to the King her father and to an Island which the Arabians In their tongue call the land of delights and the Indians the Paradise of the earth and that over and above those considerations she hoped to see her Love again there could not chuse but be extremely afflicted â—â—en departing from Orazia she lost the sweetest conversation she had in the world Let us I say leave all these matters as they are and return to Cambaya and see that unfortunate Knight whom Evander conducted to the great ALcidaris arrive as Campanel and who had unawares accus'd himself of Anaxanders death As soon as the King was told of that sad news it was as much as he could do to live for torrow Unfortunate Anaxander said he must I lose thee again the second time and be deceived so soon of the hope was given me that I should see thee yet alive Ah Evander how unacceptably hast thou vifited me my rage was over and I had dryed my tears caused by the imaginary losse of my son and thou hast let me know his being alive and his brave actions but to increase my sorrow for his death indeed Great was his grief but the Queens extream That fair Princesse who was but newly come from