and whose childe it was which I presented to him I satisfied his demands and gave him such an affright and terrour at the repetition oâ—… Zabaim's extravagancies that falling on his knees and lifting his eyes and hands towards the Sun Thou still-waking eye cryed he of that Divinity whose shadow I am and nomore irreproachable witnesse of all the actions of men call me to judgement before the throne of eternall Justice and deny me thy pure light if ever the tyranny of sense or the weakenesse of spirit force me to the like brutishnesse After he had made this holy protestation he tooke the young Almanzor and holding him in his armes Yes mercifull heaven said he I receive as from thy hands the prefeâ—… thou sendest me by this stranger and subscribing with joy to the decrees of thy will I will be this Innocents father and betwixt him and my Son divide all my love and care With these words he delivered me againe the young Prince and intimating to me how happy he thought him selfe in finding so faire an occasion to exercise his charity entreated me to follow him He commanded one of his Camels for baggage to be given to the Princes Nurse and would have her still before him We rode till Sun-set and then came to a royall house which is Abrinzia's usuall aboade when the necessities of his State and the love of his people permit him to leave the City and in retirednesse to taste the delights of a Private man I will not relate to you with what care that good King caused the young Almanzor to be bred but will onely say he respected and considered him as his owne Son and the vertuous Andromeda his wife finding in him those causes of satisfaction which she met not in the person she had brought into the world would even have given him the first place in her love if the feare of heaven had not obliged her to observe the order of Nature and not to bestow that on a stranger which was onely due to the childe of the family Almanzor's youth was as noble and faire as the Prince of Benin's was insupportable Perseus so was he called had a melancholy accompanied with a brutish fury which made him not onely incapable of submitting himselfe to his Governours or to the King his father but so awkeward and indisposed to all exercises both of minde and body that it seem'd heaven having so much exhausted its treasure at the birth of Almanzor had reserved nothing for that of Persâ—… This which I have spoken if you please shall suffice for the first foureteene yeares of Aâ—…life Come we to the fifteenth and by the apprentiship of his valâ—… judge what this Master-peeces should be In the season wherein the Sun swerves from the Equiâ—…tiall line to get up to the Tropique of Cancer there rush'd out of the Deserts of Zanâ—…ra a prodigious Serpent which having laid waste the Territory of Guangara by the death of more then a thousand men made himselfe an entry into the kingdome of Benin He came on even to the gates of the City Budis and marching as a hardy and judicious Conquerour came the soonest he could to the City of Benin as if he would have presented battle to the King himselfe He utterly left desolate all those Provinces through which he had pass'd by the justice of heaven The people assembled and armed themselves against this Monster as against a common enemy but their resistance was vaine for that puissant adversary overthrew whosoever presented himselfe before him No arrowes so great or weighty or sharpe soever could pierce him and there was no better way found by any for their security then to shut themselves up in townes After he had made a generall havock through the Kingdome he set him downe in the territory of Benin The wood and fountaine of the Sun he chose for his usuall abode and as if he had beene satisfied with his Conquests and would now stop their progresse he stirr'd not more away farre from a place the most holy most religiously kept in all the Estate of Benin From time to time he came even to the Towne Gates and kept the King in a manner besieged within his walls and wholly interdicted the peoples commerce and exercise In the meane time the devoute Abrinzias contemplating that Monster as a scourge which heaven would make use of for the chastisement of his offences thought this persecution would not cease but by a publique penitence He had therefore recourse to those remedies which were taught him by that eternall Law which the most barbarous have graven in their hearts He wept he fasted he punish'd himselfe for his people he added publique processions and solemne sacrifices to his private devotions and reclaiming the people from their Luxury and debauches went himselfe every where preaching teares repentance and amendment Whilst all the Court was in prayers and mortification a valiant and generous Knight had an intent to fight with that Monster He was called Bellerophon and had gotten so great a reputation through all Africa 〈◊〉 't was held for impossible that which he could not execute At all points arm'd he rode out of Benin mounted on an excellent horse and resolv'd to dye or to deliver his Countrey from that terrible slavery The people drawne by the hope of their safety followed that generous warrier but at sight of the Monster feare freezing their bloud made them abandon their deliverer and shut them up againe within their walls Bellerophon was left alone and his courage encreasing by the generall affright he went to search for his enemie even among the Palme trees wherewith it seem'd he would crowne himselfe The Serpent not being now so eager at his prey as he was at first would scarce lift up his head when he saw Bellerophon but by some hissings contented himselfe to make appeare how much he contemn'd his adversary Bellerophon came on for all the turbulency and furious frightments of his horse and making use of his agility in shooting answer'd the hissings of the Monster with those of his arrowes But none of his shafts could wound him He was every where invulnerable Yet Bellerophon gave not over shooting but hitting him above the eye made him reare up his red and blew crest which made on his head a kinde of a crowne and to unfold all those great circles in which he seem'd to have insconc'd himselfe He suddenly darted himselfe on Bellerophon and had infallibly inwrap'd him but for the extraordinary leape which out of feare the warrior's horse made The Knight seeing his Steed unserviceable alighted cast his horse off approach'd the enraged Serpent and by a good hap worthy his courage with an arrow which strooke out his right eye we learnt the Serpent was not invulnerable But alas that knowledge was dearely sold for Bellerophon could not avoid the coming to gripes with the Monster 'T was related to Abrinzias that the bold Knight defended himselfe to the
surprized to heare all this and so lively touched with Hypolitus amorous and pitifull words that he could not retaine his sighes nor teares He kneeled downe by this dying Princesse and taking her by the hand Madam said he by what indignation of heaven do I see my selfe guilty of the most horrible crime it ever punish'd Hyppolitus shewing the joy she received from Polexander's greif Deare Polexander said she interrupting him I give thanks to my wounds since they have purchased me farre more then J hoped and I wish they were not mortall Your compassion renders me my first hopes and seeing you so good as to suffer me curse my destiny that plucks me from the World But what said 〈◊〉 No No I have lived long enough and beleeve certainly that some great obstacle opposing my possesing you my precipitated end is an evidence that Heaven would not have me long time unfortunate I have almost a desire to accuse death for being too slow for I feare least having but a moment to live it be wrong'd by some new disaster But if my blood if my wounds and my approaching death do truly touch you and that you spend no feigned teares if you feel that sorrow you make shew of promise me that my memory shall be deare to you and that you will not suffer any in your presence to blame the Love of the weake Princesse De Foix Polexander who was wel nigh dissolv'd in teares during the Princesse speech forc'd his just resentment to answer to it and holding her hands between his own I swear said he by what is most holy to doâ—… for your contentment all that you can wish and I would to Heaven my life were pretious enough to redeeme yours You might then be secur'd of a long life The Princesse shutting her eyes and scarce being able to forme a word Since I know you in that resolution said she I have liv'd long enough Farewell deare Polexander And with that word she dyeâ—… The King gave such a shriâ—…k in seeing her depart that wee all ran to him to know what was betided him When the Squires of the deâ—… Lady had related to us her adventures we were no more constant then they Every one bewail'd that losse and Polexander in particular was so 〈◊〉 sensible of it that it went neere to cost him his life Diceus in the mean tiâ—…e embalm'd the body of the Princesse and at the request of her Page which was a disguised Maiden and her to Sqâ—…es she was carried into another Ship They iâ—…treated â—…kewise Polexander to be pleas'd that they might return into Frâ—… with the body of their Mistris At first he denyed that leave because he would have brought them to the Canaries Yet at last importun'd by their reasons he permitted them to return homewards He on the other side after his being three or four dayes in-exorable to the Petitions of his servants suffered himselfe to be perswaded to the finishing his voyage All his Shipps then being returned with a great many prisoners he stood for the Canaries But the King's griefe ceas'd not by the absence of the object which had caus'd it He lamented the faire Hyppolitus as she had been his own Sister or to say better as if effectively he had guilty been of her death His griefe spread into his followers and made them lose all sence of joy for their victory Those who considered Polexander farre more then they did the King went a great deale farther for they found fault with their own good Fortune and detested such happy successe as had been bought by the teares of their Master and the blood of so rare a Princesse But time which to this day never found malady which it could not cure by little and little gave remedy to our Master and presented him so many new imployments that he was forc'd spight of himselfe to forget those which sorrow had made so deare to him When he was near the coasts of Morocco he learnt of certaine Merchants that were sayling into Scotland how the Prince Abdelmelec eldest Sonne to the King of Morocco had proclaim'd the most glorious Turney that had ever been seen in Europe or Africa Our young Prince seem'd he would be glad to see this Moorish bravery and breake a lance in memory of the Princesse De foix To dash the businesse I exhibited to him the great necessity of his presence with his Subjects and how much a delaying might be advantagious to his Enemies We came from beating them said he smiling and I think they will not be able in hast to put themselves in case againe to assault us But Governour added hâ—… how long do you think I intend to be on this Voyage Within eight dayes at most I shall have seen all that I desire 'T is so little a time that the least calme or weakest Tempest may make us lose more After thus much spoken he cal'd for all the Officers of his Army and making a faire Oration by which he immortaliz'd their valour and fidelity intreated them to intimate to the Queen his Mother and his Subjects the newes of his returning and when said he you arrive at the Canaries divide equally al you have gotten from the Portingall and Spanyard His Commanders threw themselves at his feet to beseech him to lead them whither he was going but when he had made known that his absence would be only but for three or four dayes and desired not to be known in Morocco they took their leave with al their vessells got to the happy end of their navigation In the meane time the King my Master causing al the badges and other things of markabout his ship to be taken off and his Servants to be clad in the French Fashion entred with two little vessells that followed him into the River of Tansif He landed assoone as he could and commanding me to wait for him in his Ship took no other followers with him then Alcippus Diceus and ten or twelve Slaves At his taking Horse he commanded them expresly to name him for a Frenchman and began a journey which instead of eight dayes lasted neer six Moneths I confesse yet that as long as I live I shall repent me for not following him for as I understood by Alcippus and Diceus there will never beseen any thing equal to the wonders of readiness valour courtesie which Polexander shew'd in Abdelmelec's Turney 'T was there the Wicked Angell jealous of the greatnesses which were infallibly promis'd made him see that dangerous picture which troubled his reason dazled his eyes and made him lose the fairest of his time under a deceiptfull hope of an imaginary happynesse But to tell you in few words what passed at Morocco Polexander there overthrew Abdelmelec and after two different Combats compel'd him to renounce at least publiquely all the love which he seemed to beare to Alcidiana Queen of the Inaccessible Island he came after back to me loaden with that princesse's Pictures
her affliction that he might work a remedy if he were powerfull enough to bring it to passe That desolate faire one gave the Prince no answer but with her teares and seem'd to feare something more then the shipwrack which she had escaped Thus passed the first day of Iphidamanta's arrivall the night after made an end of undoing the good Hely and the following dayes brought him to such an extremity that being no longer able to hide his malady made good that ancient verity That Love is a fury in the soules of old men He strove to retrive in the wrinkles of his face and feeblenesse of his body some remainder of beauty and strength He consulted with his glasse to disprove if he could his fifty five yeers which upbraided him with his folly It seem'd to him he was not altogether old and that time had dealt with him far kinder then with others of his age Not content with flattering himselfe thus he sent for Osmin to have a Rivall in his selfe-love and a confident in that he bore the illustrious Shepheardesse But Osmin whose integrity could not be corrupted gave eare to the Kings dotages with much griefe and severely answer'd him Are you well advis'd said he what you doe Have you forgotten that Abdelmelec and Nephisus had not been criminall but for suffering themselves to be transported by a passion which is so delightfull to you And if I dare speake what I thinke I hold them lesse guilty then you Both the one and the other have violated the Lawes imposed on them by nature and engag'd themselves in passions which you cannot approve of This is true but they have this excuse so generally receiv'd that youth and wisdome are incompatible and without a wonder it is impossible to be young and not be amorous Can you Sir justifie your errours by the same reasons Are you young Should not you be wise Hely suffered him not to proceed but interrupting him Osmin said he the greatest part of humane actions are onely condemned for not being well knowne You disallow of my intention because you are ignorant of it you will approve of it assoone as I have disclosed it to you object not to me neither my age nor the judgements which your counsell hath made me give against my sons You know that Abdelmelec is not in exile for loving Alcidiana and that Nephisus is not in prison for being ingaged to the service of the Princesse of Tunis and for your upbraiding me with mine age I am so but not so old by much as were our holy Prophets Mahomet and Hely when they married their last wives Know Osmin know that since my children are so great enemies to my Government and age I ought to seek my preservation and support in some illustrious alliance Heaven more carefull of my good then my selfe hath miraculously sent me the Princesse Iphidamanta to the end that getting Polexander for my ally I may be secured against all mine enemies Osmin perceiving such strange alterations in Hely's minde I confesse repli'd he these reasons would not be very considerable if they were true But how should it be possible for that man to thinke how to defend himselfe from the ambushes of his children who by a pernicious indulgency hath alwayes cherish'd their ill nature and hath himselfe invited them to stab the steele into his brest No no Sir you doe not seeke for the confirming your authority by Polexander's alliance but the satiating your voluptuousnesse in the enjoying his sister This is too much for Osmin quickly repli'd Hely yet I pardon his boldnesse but on condition he give a more favourable interpretation to my intentions and to take away his ill thoughts of me that he shall himselfe be Iphidamanta's Guardian Osmin perceiving his sharpnesse was unprofitable resolv'd to be no more so rigid to so little purpose He took on him the charge of Iphidamanta and sent for his wife to the end the Princesse might be in unsuspected company Assoone as she was come Iphidamanta left her habite of Shepheardesse but put not off her sadnesse Some dayes after Hely returned towards Morocco and before he went out of the Province of Sus sent privately to the Governour of Taradant to set Nephisus at liberty That Prince whom the prison had a little cool'd presented himselfe to his father and for some fifteen dayes gave him so many causes of satisfaction that the King forc'd by his nature and blinded with his passion discover'd to him the intent he had to give him a mother that by a just title should merit the surname of beautifull This declaration wrought a great effect in the spirit of Nephisus but it broke not out till sometime after In the meane while Hely was no sooner entred Morocco with the magnificence of a victorious King but he renounc'd all his glory to transferre it on Iphidamanta and to make knowne to all his Subjects that 't was she who was truly victorious and onely deserv'd the triumph He received her as such in the most stately appartment of the great Palace of Morocco and gave to serve her all the officers and white and blacke Eunuches which were wont to waite on their Queens Nephisus having enjoy'd his curiosity of seeing the Princesse return'd with an extreame desire of often visiting her but Hely taking notice of it became so jealous of him and so furious that he was at the point of ruining Nephisus yet his naturall debonairity withholding him he commanded Osmin to deny all men whatsoever the entrance into Iphidamanta's Palace and himselfe forbad Nephisus This prohibition caus'd fearfull disorders in the meane time Hely in love with Iphidamenta even to folly visited her punctually foure times a day and though he could not o'recome her silence nor stint her sadnesse yet he promised himselfe the fruition of her For her sake he violated all the Lawes of his Religion he re-established the Idolatry which Mahomet had so rigorously forbidden and sent as far as Italy for a Painter excellent enough to draw for him Iphidamanta's picture One day leading that Princesse into a marble Cabinet which is in the midst of the garden of flowers he cast himselfe at her feet and never blushing for Osmin's wife being a witnesse of his extravagancy It said he extreamly troubles me that I am not able to offer to your incomparable vertue but things so base and vile as are my Kingdomes and my life But cast not your eyes if you please on the smalnesse of the offering consider the heart and the humility of the offerer and assure your selfe that if he had in his hands all the Crownes of the world he would lay them at your feet with the same zeale as he doth those of Fez and Morocco Iphidamanta hearkned to this Speech as she was wont to heare some others that is without making shew of any aversion or content These coldnesses yet added new flames to the Prince his former fire the more he was neglected the
preservation Goe and make ready for your departure Get you quickly out of a place which will soone be filled with your greatest enemies Intreat Osmin as I doe with my heart that he forsake you not in the meane while I will beseech Heaven with all the zeale I can that you may be as faithfully beloved and if I dare say so as religiously ador'd by him that must enjoy you as you have alwayes beene by the most unfortunate Hely Iphidamanta had not fail'd answering him but that she was hindred by fearefull cries noise of armour and the affright given her by a great many Souldiers who with their Symeters in their hands confusedly entred the Court of the fortresse Hely seeing her so much amazed and hearing withall the shouts of the victorious Souldiers Flie cried he dying as he was flie faire Princesse and stay not till you are in the pawes of the Lion that will devoure you And thou Osmin said he if thou hast ever lov'd me and if the affection I have borne thee deserves any acknowledgement save the best part of my self and suffer not base feare to make me dye more cruelly then can all the barbarousnesse of my two Sons Osmin hearing himselfe so exceedingly conjur'd not to abandon the Princesse in that extremitie withdrew her from the Kings chamber and running to his lodgings for some of his slaves and what he had of most value descended by a private staire to the foote of the rock and with his little company entred into a Barke which the Governours of Guargetsem alwaies used to keepe there for any urgent necessitie All things favoured their flight The tumult and confusion which alwaies accompanieth the taking of places the calme which could not be fairer the night approaching conspir'd together for those innocents safetie and drew them from the sight and furie of Nephisus Osmin put his hand to the oare and in the night time got to certaine high rocks farre enough from Guarguetsem which might have serv'd them for a safe retreate He was not long there for a Merchant of Madera being driven on the same place tooke him into his ship with his companie and promis'd to waft him into the Isle of Teneriffe or any other of the Canaries Osmin having thus recounted to the Prince Almanzor Iphidamanta's adventures You have understood my Lord said he that the Madera Merchant could not performe what he promis'd us for when we had beene a while under saile a tempest arose and cast us on the coast of Guinea I must confesse said Almanzor then to Osmin you have related to me strange adventures yet is not my curiosity absolutely satisfied You have not told me how Iphidamanta was stolne from the place of her abode who that Tyrant was out of whose hands Spimantus vaunted he had redeem'd her nor by whà t accident the two vessels were fired My Lord replid Osmin I have had the same desire as you and cannot yet get any further satisfaction Onely I will tell you that the Princesse seeing her selfe voyd of all protection but mine threw her at both our feets and besought me and my wife to take her for our daughter to conceale the truth of her birth and in stead of the name of Iphidamant a which was not hers to call her Axiamira There now remaines nothing for me but to petition you for that Princesse sake to let her perceive nothing of what you know and to actuate all that honour and love shall advise you to give a glorious issue to her long wandrings Father said Almanzor imbracing Osmin I will strive to performe what you injoyne me and if it be not that you should have a good opinion of me be assur'd you shall never repent your confidence of my discretion After these promises he dismissed him and remaining alone to give himselfe wholly over to his owne contentment and to be overcome by those transports which the excesse of his good fortune brought on him he tasted the remainder of that day more sweets and resented more ravishing joyes by the strength of his imagination then he will ever meet withall againe either by the knowledge of his parents the conquest of all the Empires of the world or the very possession of Axiamira He himselfe hath confessed to me that which I tell you and having laid before me all the faire chymeraes which in that happy time had passed through his fancy Almaid said he to me what felicity can there be compar'd to mine if by the number of my exploits and by the immutability of my faith I be able to oblige Iphidamanta to the not disdaining my humblest servitude O how capable doe I finde my selfe of the most honourable and difficult enterprises How doth the elevated birth of that Princesse raise my thoughts beyond ordinary conceptions How am I asham'd that I have done no more since I knew the world How powerfull a spurre to honour is the desire of making me worthy Iphidamanta's esteeme And what emulation and disquiet do Polexanders famous acts which are still before mine eyes bring upon me I will follow his steps Almaid I will undertake something great enough to the end I may without impudency make knowne mine affection to Iphidamanta and at least give an honourable pretext to my boldnesse I should trouble you brave Knight did I repeate all the brave words so faire a passion put into the mouth of Almanzor Assoone as Andromeda was come from the place of her retirement that Prince went to visit Axiamira and inventing new humilities to come worthily neere her I wonder much said he that the Deity with whom you have so privately communed these foure dayes could be wonne or resolve to let you goe out of his temple 'T is true replied Axiamira my returne is a just cause of wonder The sanctity of the place whence I come the authority of the Deity which inhabits it and the example of so many religious soules which burne with love should for ever have made me renounce the company of the world But alas my weakenesse hath been stronger then all those powers and I have found my selfe so incapable of so high a perfection that I should thinke I had more ambition then zeale if I durst onely pretend to it You are a very unjust Interpreter said Almanzor pardon me Madam if I speake to you with so little respect You give my words a cleane contrary sense to my intention You accuse your selfe for not being devout enough and I accus'd the god with whom you were so long for not being sensible enough Truely I cannot conceive how that Deity who hath perceptions and penetrations farre beyond those of men and by consequence sees in you those beauties which are conceal'd from us such perfections as we cannot discover and such brightnesse as our too weak and dull eyes cannot perceive hath not reserv'd to himselfe a wonder which of all those that are visible comes neerest to it selfe Give me leave replied the Princesse to aske
clamours arose in all parts of the wood and a little after a great number of women and children hurrying on the necke of one another into the Temple made the Arch-priest beleeve that either the blinde Prince was dead or his enemies were come to assaile him Presently our Heroe made out of the Temple and with the Priest ran to the Kings lodgings there he understood how the troupes of the tyrant of Thombut were got into the wood and that they had either slaine or put to flight all those that oppos'd their entrie He heartned the blinde Prince and his timorous Court and putting himselfe in the front of three or foure hundred archers made signes to them that they should go on courageously and repulse their enemies The Princesses who had now no other sanctuarie then his valour brought him part of such armes as he needed one of them presented him with a sword and target another caus'd a very brave horse to be brought him and all falling at his feet besought him to have compassion on their misfortunes and not abandon their honours to the infamous prosecution of the tyrant of Thombut Polexander overjoyed that he had gotten wherewithall to resist the enemie and so piously exercise his courage went to meet the Thombutians and surprising them as they were scattered either to pillage the Galatians or to murder them charg'd them so furiously that they were all routed and after so followed through the deserts that not one was left to carrie newes of their defeate to the King of Thombut Polexander return'd from the fight or to say better from the chase without the losse of any one that followed him and entering the Kings lodgings found him at his devotions with the Chiefe Priest and the Princesses his daughters He made known to him by the Priest that his enemies were retir'd and that they seem'd by their little resistance they had no great minde to drive him from the place where he was His modestie would not permit him to say more but his souldiers being dispers'd through the palace so highly extoll'd his valour which had overthrowne their enemies that they made him be esteem'd for the Deitie whom they adored The women and children seeing their husbands and fathers safely return'd cast themselves on the earth to render thankes to our Heroe and invocating him in their private necessities besought the continuation of his miracles among them The good King of Galatia let himselfe slip into that opinion and as there is no errour which so easily infecteth all humane mindes then that which leades us to the adoration of such as have redeemed us from our miseries he thought he could not without impietie denie divine honour to such a one as did the actions of a Deitie This thought so rais'd his abated courage that in the very instant he left his bed and leaâ—…ing on two of his daughters was led to the Temple to give thankes to heaven for Polexander's victorie Our Heroe admiring the zeale which that afflicted Prince made shew of to a Power of which he had scarce any knowledge resolved to instruct him ere he went thence and in the meane time told him by his Priest that he should goe on in his pietie and promise to himselfe from that Deitie which he invoak'd with so much fervour not onely all the greatnesses and goods he had lost but all that his imagination could represent unto him After these promises he desired instantly to prosecute the execution of such as depended on him and to performe them effectually intended to sallie out of the deserts with five or six thousand Galatiaus and charge in all parts of the countrey on the troupes of the tyrant of Thombut The blinde Prince who certainly beleev'd that Polexander was sent from heaven to establish him in his throne approved of his resolution and all those whom love and dutie had obliged to follow the fortune of their King prepared them to that warre with all the courage and cheerfulnesse which loyall and affectionate subjects could testifie in defence of their Prince Our Heroe drew them forth from their abodes made them traverse the deserts entered into Galutia and in eight dayes gave two little battles perfected three sieges out the throats of most part of the garrisons and drove the rest farre into the territories of Thombut Those that know not the Provinces I write of will beleeve I mean to make Polexander passe for an Aâ—…adis or some other inchanted Knight in making him conquer a Kingdom in eight dayes but when he shall understand that all the Kingdom of Galatia consists but in three great Bourghs and some twentie or thirtie Hamlets they will alter their cause of upbraiding me and accuse me for so ill husbanding our Heroe's time in making him lose so much in an enterprise of so little importance Yet let their second accusationâ—… be silenc'd as well as the former since 't is true that the King of Thombut's souldiers having notice of our Heroe's coming not onely came to meet him with a true warlike resolution but intrenched themselves in the villages after they had been beaten in the field and disputed with the Galatians for the least of their Hamlets There fell above foure thousand in the fights and sieges and the rest as I said being forc'd to save themselves in the ancient territorie of the King of Thombut strucke the inhabitants with such a terrour that if Polexander had intended to assaile them without doubt he had conquered them all But he thought it not to belong to the King of Galatia nor for the good of his affaires and therefore contented himselfe with the regaining of that which had beene unjustly usurped He therefore returned and brought him out of his sanctuarie and conducting him to the great towne that beares the name of the kingdome re-established him very solemnly in the ancient throne of his fathers Some few dayes after came to him the King of Thombut's Embassadours and after their congratulating his return told him that the King their Master had specially sent them to intreat an abolition of things passed and impute all which seem'd contrary to his promises and their ancient alliance to the iniquitie of the times To this they added that if the blinde Prince intended to preserve the peace and make his peoples tranquillitie lasting he should hearken to some alliance whereby the Crownes of Galatia and Thombut being united their interests might be common and their affections reciprocall The King of Galatia deceived by these faire propositions yeelded to all that the tyrant of Thombut desired from him and told his Embassadours that he not onely left to their Master the choice of foure daughters he had but also from thence forward would live with him as with his sonne or brother provided that he restored to him the two Princes his sons whom he had detained prisoners since the beginning of the warre The Embassadours dispatched letters to their Master â—…and had quickly their
first rayes on the rockes which inviron his Island all the Pilgrims were commanded to goe on shore and stay there every one with his offering till they had order to march forward Fifty of the King of Gheneoa's slaves followed the Pilgrims some carrying vessels of palme and cedar others censers of gold and silver and in all of them male incense and other perfumes which Africa borrowes of Arabia After these slaves went the Kings Embassadours then followed the Priests excepting the two principall which came after Polexander his robe was so long that Diceus was appointed to beare up the traine with the ends of the chaines Those who saw Polexander so full of Majesty and making himselfe the chiefe pompe of his triumph could not refraine their sighes and teares and knowing the hazard he ran prayed for his preservation and besought their God that the ball whereon his name was to be ingraven might not fall into the hand of the Archpriest The good people receiving command to march on put themselves foure in ranke and so went to the Temple which was but two miles from the sea The Hymne which the Priests begun at their parting from the shore ended not but in the midst of a long passage of cedars which had been expresly planted to defend the Pilgrims from the excessive heate of the Sunne and to serve them for a place of retreate at such hours as the Temple was kept shut Those of Gheneoa obeying the Master of the Ceremonies stai'd in that faire walke and put themselves in file on each side to leave the passage free Their Clergy meeting with those of the Sunne at the gates of the Temple made all the places around resound againe with new songs and new anthems Apheristidez Embassadours cast themselves at the feet of the Arch-priest and receiving his benediction by the imposition of his hands told him they were sent by the King their Master to offer to the Sunne his father in Sacrifice both his heart and his Crowne and to consecrate to him a victime the most accomplished that ever his life-giving light had ever produced on the face of the earth With that they turned them to Polexander and beckned him to come neere the African Priests advanced too and causing him to kneele tooke the ends of the chaines which Diceus carried and presented them to the soveraigne Prelate of the Sunne After that venerable old man had slightly touched Polexander with a golden rod which he held in his hand he recoyl'd two or three paces to look on him but he had scarce fix'd his eyes on his person when a sudden trembling seised the Priest from head to foot and testified by his agitations that his Deitie did not communicate himselfe to him with lesse violence then the Grecian Apollo conversed with â—…s Prophetesses The God said he to all the Assembly whom you come to adore hath a very private contentment in your arrivall his splendor which is seene by our soules in a greater lustre then it appeares to our eyes makes me feele and know by extraordinary agitations that your devotions and offerings were never so pleasing unto him Come then my affected children and well worthy your father and pray incessantly for us who are his servants but servants that deserve his anger and reprobation rather then the honour of presenting him with your offerings After hee had spoke thus he betooke himselfe againe with his Clergy to the way which led to the Temple and those of Africa following him through the files of Pilgrims entered that stately and proud structure The figure of it was round though it were inclosed with foure marble walls which made a perfect quadrangle without were three rankes of columnes of Porphire of Jasper and Serpentine which were placed rather for ornament then necessitie though in sight they bore up some arches which on all sides sustained the bulke of the maine edifice Just in the middle of the Temple was a great Dome born up by two rowes of white marble columnes which served but for the basis to a second ranke of pillars all of massie gold the columnes were inriched with so many diamonds that when the Sunne shone on them all those within the Temple were dazeled with the great lustre that reflected from them The embowed roofe of that Dome as well as of all the Temple was composed of an infinite number of stones set together with so much art that imagination could figure to it selfe nothing which the eye met not withall in the intermixture of those stones and the variety of their colours The floore was inriched with an inlaid worke of Agats Cornalines and other curious stones in the center of that pavement which was just under that of the Dome was an Altar which seem'd to be made of one sole diamond cut For the workman for a master-piece of his art had covered the sides of the Altar with steele extreamely polished and in it had enchaced the diamonds with so much cunning that to looke on them a little way off they blended one within another that it seemed they made but one stone This Altar was never besmear'd with any bloody victimes nor was it made for that purpose For though the Basis were square yet it was sphericall on the top and nothing could be plac'd there but a violl of gold which intimated by its stopp'd mouth that the Deity whom they came to adore in that place was to be worshipped in silence About that Altar there were twelve others by which as 't was held were represented the twelve signes of the Zodiack or the twelve moneths of the yeare On these the Pilgrims lai'd their offering and the Priests performe their Sacrifices but not bloody-ones because they thought it a sacriledge rather then an act of adoration to deprive those creatures of life to make themselves acceptable to the Divinity which gave it them On the same Altars likewise the King of Gheneoa's Embassadors laid as delivered into the hands of their god himselfe the Presents that were consecrated unto him The other Pilgrims every one acquitted themselves of their duty by gifts answerable to their zeale and ability The Priests belonging to the Temple began presently the oraizons which precede the solemne sacrifice which was afterwards celebrated being onely of Praise Thanksgiving and Invocations for the generall good of the whole world These being ended the Arch-Priest threw the incense on the holy hearths and whil'st the smoak mounted with the private praiers of all towards that eternall Temple which the invisible Sun hath built with his owne hands the soveraigne Prelate ascended a throne of gold which was rais'd aside the Altars and lifting up his eyes and hands to heaven made a long prayer After which the people ratified it with a great shout or ejaculation and staying a few minutes longer in meditation went out of the Temple and retir'd to such places as were appointed to lodge the Pilgrims The King of Gheneoa's Embassadors the Priests and
of that reward and make you confesse that Love and Honour are certainly two of those Inchanters which promise pearles and diamonds but give us onely a few oaken leaves and acornes My sonne repli'd the Hermit Ignorance is alwaies unjust but it is not alwaies criminall and is not so principally when it is accompanied with a deale of affection Yours is of that nature and therefore I condemne it not But know that the man whom you bewaile is not in case to deserve it Neither Love nor Death shall ever rob him of the felicities are due to him I dare say he enjoyes them already and though his troubles have been great his recompence shall be farre more But let us break off this discourse since I have not so long time to live that I should bestow any part of it on any other save my selfe In this sort having ended our conversation the holy man intreated me to goe and finish the grave he had begun and leave him a while alone to prepare himselfe seriously for the great voyage he was to make I obay'd him and was above an houre in digging That done I ascended againe up to the Cave and found the good Hermit laid on his bed of mosse I came neere to give him an accompt of my labour but he was not in case to receive it He lifted his eyes and hands towards heaven and seem'd to be so transported thither already that he remembred no more any thing that was earthly I took him by the hand all amaz'd to see him in that estate and demanded what he ailed and what I might doe to comfort him But he answer'd not I then thought him to be extremely sick and to get him out of his swoune began to stirre him By little and little his judgement return'd and presently knowing mee Oh! my son said he out of what a trouble have you brought me I saw the habitation of the Blessed all open My soule ravish'd to quit this clog of earth which hinders her flying thither did her utmost endeavour to be absolutely disburthened of it But as she complain'd for seeing all her industry bootlesse a voice call'd mee by my name Beware said it that thou break not those ligaments which hold thy bodie bound to thy soule Thou wantest one thing without which it is forbidden thee to enter into this place of all delights The voice flying into aire I call'd a long time to intreat it to instruct me what it was I wanted for my felicity But I re-claim'd in vaine It would not deliver me out of the torment whereinto it had throwne me and I was in such anguish of mind as is not to be imagined when your calling brought mee out of so strange a dreame or rather so wonderfull a transportation of the spirit No sooner had the holy man recounted to mee his vision but I imagined that heaven desirous to bestow on him that reward it hath promised to all good men had wrought a miracle in the moment of his departure that so by the knowledge of that verity which had never been spoken to him he might attaine the beatitude propos'd for the salary of its beliefe Hereupon I told him it was reveal'd me from heaven what was wanting for his gaining that true happinesse and afterwards as fully as I could in so short a time made knowne the mysteries and fundamentalls of what we beleeve After which that learned man who all his life time had made profession of the most solid and rationall parts of Philosophy witnessed so great a submission and gave so great a credence to such mysteries as being infinitely elevated above all reason must needs justle with his and cleane overcoming it hee demanded to be perfected by lavation which I performed and had no sooner done but he with an hearty ejaculation and instant prayer sunk downe by mee and testifi'd that the death of a good man is a true peace and a pleasing sleep I confesse I wept at so great a losse and you were not the onely man whom I was bound to bewaile I watch'd him till next day and as soon as the Sun arose carried him to the place chosen by himselfe for his interment His funerals ended I resolv'd to take possession of his Hermitage for the remainder of my life But knowing not where to draw the water or get the dates whereon hee liv'd I determin'd to dye with that absolute resignation and religious constancy which the holy man had taught me Yet was I not reduc'd to that extremity for eight dayes after the Hermits death I saw a little Barque arrive at my rock guided by two Negro's They descri'd me on the top of the rock and the distance hindring them from any certaine knowledge they surely took mee for my predecessour By their shouts they made shew of their joy and brought on shore eight or ten barrells of fresh water and some six little chests of dates As soon as those things were unshipp'd the Black-Moores cri'd out againe as 't were to take their leaves and so return'd without any curiositie of visiting me After I had long meditated on somewhat that was not very likely I imagin'd that the late Hermit being not desirous to be seen by any man had given order to such as were to furnish him with his ordinary pittance to land what they brought at the foot of the rock and so to returne without troubling him in his solitude How ere it was I remain'd there three moneths living according to the incouragement which the life and death of the holy Hermit gave me and receiv'd such things as were necessary for me from the hands of the same Negro's And I grew then so well accustom'd to that manner of life that the most pleasing things of the world pass'd not through my memory but as objects of commiseration and contempt and I thought on nothing but how to dye well when a great ship whose sailes were of purple and gold shew'd her selfe one morning some miles off my rock I confesse to you that object did not almost a jot move mee and I wished often that they who were in that proud Vessell fearing to fall on my rock would turne their sailes another way But I had not my desire satisfied On the contrary the tall ship came with full sailes within a mile of my rock and casting anchor there for feare of the shelves and the crags I perceiv'd five or six men which descended into a great boat and then with an extreme swiftnesse came right to the rock There they landed and presently came up to my Cave My haire was so exceedingly growne since my living there that I had not much lesse then I have now and besides being growne gray as you know it did begin to be so from mine age of five and twenty I seem'd to be above threescore and ten though I was not five and forty Those men certainly taking me for my Predecessour cast themselves at my feet imbrac'd my knees
aske mee pardon for troubling my retired quiet by their coming and having protested that they had not done it but by an expresse command from heaven besought mee to accept the dignitie of its Arch-priest which it selfe came if they might say so to offer him by their mouthes I answer'd them that men had their understanding too dull to conceive that which came from above for it hapned often that the Oracles and the advertisements from thence were ill expounded and by such a mistake men did cleane contrary to what was expected from their obedience Assure your selves therefore that you are fallen into that mischance and you have not well understood the words of your Deity Have recourse to him againe and beseech him that hee will vouchsafe to be the Interpreter of his owne Oracles and leave me to finish on this rock the pennance which I owe for the sins of my youth The most remarkable of the company speaking then for all You strive in vaine said hee to resist the voice of Heaven which calls you Those inconveniencies which you propose to make us alter our intention are so many reasons to confirme us in it Humility is the true signe of the soules sanctity and yours which strives to lessen you even to nothing in lieu of making us quit the opinion wee have of your life reacheth us that it is more miraculous then we have heard it related To this answer I repli'd with a little earnestnesse to shew my heart spoke by my tongue But remembring at last that the holy man had often charged mee not to resist such occasions as Heaven should proffer for my retirement from my solitude I yeelded to the requests of those strangers Yet before I went so farre I am said I ready to obey since the command which is brought by you deprives me of mine owne free-will and forbids my thinking on any other thing then the service of heaven Tell me therefore to what imployment I am destin'd He who spoke last beginning againe after all his companions were risen up You must be pleas'd said he to give you a full light into all you desire to know that I begin my discourse from the establishment of those ceremonies whereof Heaven hath appointed you the chiefe Orderer and Dispenser Know that some seventy leagues from this rock there lies an Island which is not frequented but by such as adore the Creatour of all under the image of the fairest of his creatures I would say under the figure of the Sun Six of the greatest Kings that rule on the Niger that of the Kingdome of Manicongo the mighty Monarch of the Abissines and the Prince favour'd by Heaven which raignes in the Inaccessible Island are the principall which have continued in the adoration of that Deitie Every yeare they send to the famous Temple which their Predecessors built offerings truly worthy their royall piety and acknowledging though they be Kings that they are nothing but a little dust in the sight of the supreme Majestie present to that Excellence part of their treasures as so many severall tributes which subjects owe to their Soveraigne Within this seven or eight hundred years that those Princes have continually inrich'd our Temple it is so replenish'd with gold and jewells that if it were not preserv'd by a particular miracle it had long ere this time been the prey of Pirates or of such Kings which search and rifle land and sea to satiate their prodigious avarice Nor are wee onely to feare such strange Pilferers but we are to doubt of those who by our suffrages are call'd to the soveraigne Priesthood and by consequence to the ordering of those dangerous riches Those who liv'd before us have been so happy in the election of their chiefe Prelates that if we except one who would have turn'd his Priesthood into tyrannie and worne a Crowne in stead of a Mitre there hath not been knowne any who with a great deale of innocencie dispenc'd not the treasures of our Deitie It is now five moneths since the great Uranias who had fitten on the Sacerdotall throne neer thirty yeares left us with the grief of his losse the sorrow for not being able to find him a successour Many of our Clergy were propos'd but the ignorance of some and the sicentiousnesse of others excluded them and wee did not beleeve that the dignity of Arch-priest had the vertue of conferring learning and honesty on such as had none before In the meane time for want of a head the members began to languish and we saw plainly that if disorders were not stopp'd by a speedy election the Temple would be profan'd and the treasure abandon'd to the covetousnes of an Usurper Hereupon we entred the second time into the place appointed for so important a choice and came out againe without agreeing on it In this necessity we had recourse to extraordinary helps We made publick processions we redoubled our oraisons wee added ashes and sackcloth to our prayers our fastings and sacrifices and begg'd from heaven to chuse it selfe an agreeable Sacrificator After we had spent a full moneth day and night in these actions of pietie Benycirac the eldest of the Priests forcing himselfe from the incommodities which detain'd him in his bed came one day to us in the Temple and I sweare said he by the sanctity of this place and what we worship here that I will speak nothing but what hath been reveal'd to me from above The last night whilst I prayed and with teares besought for an end of our contestations in the nominating us an Head I heard a voice which said Leave afflicting thy selfe I have heard thy petition and those of thy companions Your requests are heard and if you persevere you shall quickly have a Soveraigne the most pious man that ever ascended the throne of the chiefe Priesthood Right against this Realme which is round ingirt either by the sea or the river Niger ariseth in the midst of the waves a high rock which for this many years hath been the aboad of the most religious man which my rayes inlightens 'T is hee that must succeed Uranias But hasten lest you lose the occasion As soone as Benycirac had told us his revelation we began the unbloudy sacrifice to begge for some visible signe whereby wee might be confirm'd in what the Priest had propos'd to us What we desir'd we obtain'd and presently concluding that wee were to come hither wee cas'd the sacred Vessell to be made ready My selfe and my companions were chosen to make all knowne to you We have had a very happy voyage and should be ingratefull if we doe not render continuall thanks for our good successe and publickly confesse that it is an assured presage of our felicitie in your Priesthood Therefore wee come to beseech you by your owne zeale and the honour of him that sent us to accept of the charge whereof you are thought worthy and to restore to our Temple and Altars
Priest and presently casting off their robes shew'd their armour They were at least two hundred desperate fellowes that resolv'd to dye or to rob the Temple of its treasure They fell furiously on the guard that would have stopp'd them and left not one alive The lesser Slaves of the Temple running to their succour fought a long while but seeing themselves forc'd to give back retir'd under the Portico of the Temple with a resolution to dye ere they would forsake it The fight was bloudy and furious About an hundred of the theeves were slain in that skirmish but above three hundred Slaves bore them company and the rest dis-heartened abandon'd the protection of the holy places and sacred treasure to the ravaging and pillage of those bloudy minded villaines Presently then the Arch-priest caus'd the illustriouâ—… Slaves of the Sun to arme themselves and desirous to make knowne Polexander's valour commanded him aloud to goe and expose his life for the defence of their Altars Our Heroe seeing himselfe remitted to his former true profession went out of the Temple and falling in among the theeves made them feele the power of his arme As many blowes as he strook so many men laid he dead at his feet The most obstinate to fight recoil'd before him and finding themselves brought to stand on their defence lost all the great hopes they had long conceived The Prince seeing them stagger pierc'd in among the troop and so drove them furiously to the Sea side Some were drown'd others flying into their ship were there burnt by the wilde-fire was throwne into her This tumult being ended the High-priest and his Clergie searched among the dead bodies to know whom they had lost They found about five hundred and amongst them twenty of the noble Slaves who following Polexander had a great share in the glory of that day The generous Pisander who fought still at our Heroe's side was slaine by the Captaine of the theeves and by so glorious a death sacrific'd his life to his Goddesse as well as to his Deitie I would say to the Queen Alcidiana as well as to the Sun Polexander much bewail'd the losse of so brave a man and publickly testifi'd that the Island was depriv'd of her principall defender But all those who had either fought by our Heroe or been lookers on cri'd out that to him alone belong'd that title and that his invincible courage had solely preserv'd the Temple the Priests and the treasure of the Sun Alcippus himselfe went and pluck'd a branch of Palme-tree and making a crowne of it plac'd it on Polexanders head He call'd him the second Tutelar God of the Island the Victorious the Invincible the Protector of their Altars and bringing him into the Temple as it were in triumph there with all his Clergie rendred thanks to the Sunne and hung over the Altar high our Heroe's bloudy sword The end of the fourth Book of the last part of Polexander THE LAST PART OF POLEXANDER The last Booke ALcippus who was not lesse sensible and generous then hee was obliged to be to the King his Master had no greater desire then to be able to contribute any thing to the honour of his Prince Seeing therefore so faire an occasion offer'd him by his incomparable valour hee made an Oration to his Clergie and so elevated what Polexander had done for the common good that they were like to have taken him for that God himselfe whose Slave he was He afterwards told them that the Eternall Providence had lead them to the brink of the precipice to advertise them that they were not to sleep in their sound securitie nor trust so much to supernaturall aide as to neglect humane protection 'T is for us my brothers said he to make good use of the advertisement hath been given us and to serve our selves of that succour which heaven hath afforded us in the very instant that our danger betided The sacred Temple had bin prophaned the Altars had lost their veneration the treasure had become the prey of sacrilegious theeves our holy Character had been violated in a word the aboad of a Deity was like to be turn'd into a retraict for theeves if the invincible Araxez Polexander had taken that name in Gheneoa whom the favour of heaven hath miraculously sent us had not imploy'd his victorious arme for the preservation of our Altars our Treasure Character Let us bind him to our defence by some title that may be honorable unto him and by a kind necessity force him to continue to us that which he hath begun out of his own generous inclination Thus ended Alcippus his proposition and all his Clergy finding it not only equitable but advantageous intreated him to instruct them by what meanes they might bring what he propos'd to a good issue The Chief-Priest after he had excus'd himself withall necessary modesty to make him the more considerable and perceiving that his excuses did but increase the desires of the Assembly My opinion is said he that wee should free from the Chaines and the Lot the victorious Araxez and infranchising him in the name of our Deity from the Servitude wherein he was ingaged to declare him Protector of the Island and Prince of the Clergie Atthis proposition all the Priests clapped their hands in token of their consent and gladnesse and unwilling the businesse should be defer'd to another time they arose to fetch Polexander Assoon as they had brought him into the Hall of Assemblies they caus'd him to sit down in a chaire which was a little below the throne of the Arch-Prelate and Alcippus began again and renewed their thanks and then told him in his usuall eloquence that his brethren and himself were not those alone that were bound to him for their safety This Temple said hee seemes to shake on its foundation to testifie the resentment of what you have done for its preservation our Altars share in that obligation and if your piety could permit it I would say that even the Deitie wee adore thinks he owes to your valour the Soveraignty of this Island and the possession of his treasure In recompence of an action where the interests of heaven are commixt with those of earth this Assembly which cannot erre frees you from the chaines you wore and for an eternall remembrance orders them to be hung by the sword wherewith you delivered us from the fetters of a prophane Slavery With that he took the chaines from Polexander and two of the ordinary Slaves of the Temple by command caâ—…ried them to be hung by the sword This Ceremony ended Alcippus taking Polexander by the hand told him he was free and that his virtue had made him Prince of that sacred and soveraign company Polexander refusing so glorious a title There would not only said he be a great deale of pride but even very impiety should I accept of a title which brings along with it the power of disposing of things sacred and to rule
thither with all the Slaves and beseeching the company to give him audience thus bespoke them If I were yet bound to the observation of those criminall Lawes which make Religion to become a Sacriledge and blend piety and homicide together I would impose silence on my just sorrow and patiently indure the injustice of your Ceremonies since I could not condemne them but by making you call in doubt either my zeale my obedience or courage But being infranchis'd from so cruell a slavery and disburthen'd of those chaines which submitted my life to the blind necessity of Chance I will tell you boldly that your Predecessors have made an execrable mixture of Religion and Impiety of heaven and hell of divine worship and that of the divells You adore you say a Deity which is nothing but Spirit Light and Puritie and yet as if he were a tyrant which took pleasure in bathing himselfe in humane bloud or some furious beast that feeds only on the flesh of men you cut the throats of your brethren at the feet of his Altars and if it were in your power you would make him drink their bloud all hot and reaking I know at other times he hath commanded the immolation of beasts on his Altars but I know it was ordered to affright a brutish people and to tell them by so many massacres that if they were not exact observers of his Lawes he would leave them as a victime to the vengefull sword of their enemies I have not time enough nor sufficient learning to unfold to you another mystery of that bloud Let it suffice that I tell you 't was a figure of an immolation which was to be but once perform'd And as for the sacrificing of men I protest and assure you 't is an invention of hell and the relick of that Idolatry which had almost infected the whole world Advise with the monuments of your fathers have recourse to the establishment of Religion in this place reflect on these sad and fearfull Ceremonies which you never put in practice but with horror and condemning them and you shall find that you have offended in thinking to doe well cut off then from the number of your mysteries these abominable superstitions and from hence-forward adore a Power which is all Innocence and purity with Ceremonies as innocent and pure Assoone as Polexander had ended his remonstrance all the Assemblie cast their eyes on the Arch-priest and expected what he would say either in condemning or approving the fained Araxes Speech and he full of that zeale which had consecrated him to the Altars tooke heaven to witnesse that he had not entred into that holy place but with a firme resolution to die or to make them renounce the abomination of their bloudy Sacrifices Yes my companions said he I am of Araxes opinion and to confirm it I tell you Heaven hath expected but one the like Sacrifice for the satisfaction of it's Justice the Devill who takes pleasure to imitate the workes of the Divinitie or rather by his execrable malice endeavour'd to annihilate all religious mysteries hath wonne us to slaughter one another that he might confound in these detestable Sacrifices the maine one which concernes and deprives us at once of all our knowledge and hope which depends on it My deare companions therefore and this Assemblie if it be not by a blind and brutish custome but a true devotion which makes you apply your selves to Heaven intreat from thence an inlightning of your blindnesse and in bestowing on you that knowledge which you want it would please to let you understand in what manner you should yeeld your adoration All the Assemblie without further deliberation cri'd out against the bloudie Sacrifices and the whole Clergie presently being shut up to consult advisedly upon a matter of so much importance set downe among their constitutions that it was neither fit to sacrifice men nor beasts To this resolution Alcidiana's Embassadors gave their consent and did it the more willingly since in the Inaccessible Island the bloudy Sacrifices were so seldom practised that in a whole age there were but two or three seen Every one rejoyc'd at this alteration but the illustrious Slaves as the most interessed made their joy to be taken most notice of for though there was but one of them to die that day yet they thought themselves all to be redeemed from death since there was none among them who from the Lot was exempted yet were they not absolutely disingaged from the vowes of their servitude but in stead of being bound to expose themselves to a voluntary death they were onely to passe the rest of their lives in the service of the Altars The next day Alcidiana's Embassadors having ended their Ceremonies the Arch-Priest made them their farewell feast and after he had assured them that he would take paines to his utmost for the reformation of abuses and establishment of a right worship he intreated them to make knowne his intention to their Queene and win her for the discharge of her conscience to make the like reformation within her Territories After that he brought them into his withdrawing chamber and suddenly composing out of divers true accidents a mysterious Fable thus bespoke them My Lords said he I must discharge my trust and satisfie the passionate desires of a Prince which holds your Princesse for a visible Divnitie I beleeve there is none of you all but knowes him as well by the magnificence of his Offerings wherewithall he hath inriched the Temple of the Sunne as by Princely presents he hath often sent to the Queene your Mistresse Before he passed from his condition to a better and ere time had cover'd him in that darknesse where he lies interr'd he sent for the last time his Embassadors to this Island and after he had satisfied his zeale he would likewise content his passion he therefore be sought me by his letters and Embassadors that assoone as you arrived here I should deliver into your hands the last presents he had appointed for Alcidiana I am intrusted with these treasures and to acquit me of my word given to that Prince I intend presently to put them into your charge That which is most to be valued amongst them is our Prince Araxes who as the wonder of his age and the glory of men hath beene consecrated to heaven and destin'd for Alcidiana You may say that having received his libertie for the great service done to this Island it were Injustice in your Queene to put him againe in the company of Slaves but let not that thought hinder it Araxes so passionately loves that Prince who deem'd him worthy the service of Alcidiana that he preferres the will of that King before his libertie and life the Queene may doe as she please either give him her chaines or infranchise him The Embassadors overjoyed that they had so great a Present for their Queâ—…e urg'd the Arch-Priest to dispatch them that they might set saile while
their Enemies Polexander who was resolv'd to dye in this occasion grapled presently with the greatest ship and spight of sword and fire made those tyrants of the sea to feel that valour they had already so often tryed 'T is hard for my pen to expresse the impetuousnesse with which the assailants and assailed hurried themselves to their common ruine Here falls a Spaniard shot through and through with a musker There layes drown'd in his owne bloud an Islander his head cleft by a Spanyard The iron neither flew nor fell in vain One stood Victor a moment which was straight vanquish'd for ever another escap'd a thousand bullets to fall but honorably for him under the victorious sword of Polexander At last that new Alcides forcing through all obstacles leapt into the Spanish ship with some twentie or thirtie of Alcidiana's valiantest subjects and slew or made to flie all that were in case to resist them The Spanyards preferring a glorious end before a shamefull slavery were sacrific'd to the honour of Alcidiana aâ—…d others that could not detest life how infamous and unfortunate soever had recours to the mercie of the Victor and abandon'd their honour with their armes Polexander made them be taken by such as had follow'd him and promising to treat them as prisoners of warre made himselfe Master of their ship In her he left to command the youngest of the Embassadors and hastned to the succour of the Sacred Vessell which was full of Spanyards and expos'd to their fury If what he had already done might passe for miraculous that which he did to avenge Alcidiana who was wronged in her ship might be esteem'd as true miracles To throw himselfe into that vessell fight with those that had wonne it and make them lose it againe with their lives were things betwixt which there was almost no distance The regaining the ship did not satisfie him he would perfect his victorie and laid not downe his armes till he had ended all was to be done So noble and important an action putting againe Alcidiana's Embassadors into their former admiration they tooke our Heroe for somewhat more then a man and whisperingly ask'd each other if he were nor the very Power whose slave he named himselfe In the meane time the violence of the vvindes as vvell as of their armes ceasing Polexander and his follovvers had found themselves in an admirable calme had they not been ignorant of the coast whereon the tempest had hurled them In particular our Heroe that could promise to himselfe nothing but disastrous upbraided fortune for his victorie and accus'd her of a deadly malice for saving him from the mortall blowes of his enemies but whilst he was on his unjust revilings Linceus came and told him that since he came to himself and had re-call'd to his memorie what the storm and fearfull lightning had as it were blotted thence he descry'd that the tempest had happily advanc'd the end of their voyage Be pleas'd to know said he that the River werein we are is one of the greatest in all the Inaccessible Island it is called Arzilea and gives name to a very faire citie some thirty miles hence Imagine if you can what Polexander's joy or rather extasie was at the recitall of this good fortune he was a while as out of himselfe and when he had recollected his spirits dissipated by his excessive rapture hee would have cast himselfe on his knees to aske pardon of Heaven for his murmuring and yeeld thankes for the favours he had received thence but that humane wisdome which tyrannizeth over our thoughts and will not so much as permit all that is just staid our Heroe's zeale he was therefore compell'd to let his heart speake for his mouth and by private thankesgivings and unheard vowes to satisfie for that which was passed and ingage himselfe for what was to come Alcidiana's Embassadors came presently in to rejoyce with him not onely for their arrivall in the Inaccessible Island but that they were got thither by the wonders of his valour Polexander answer'd them with his usuall civilitie and intreating them not to give the honour of an action to him wherein they had a greater share then he told them 't were fit to learn from some one of their prisoners what designe they had on the territories of Alcidiana or at least by what accident they got thither Presently he sent for the Captaine of the greater ship and when he came intreated him to suppresse the sorrow which appear'd in his countenance and not expect from his vanquishers any treatment unworthy of him The Spaniard putting on againe that gravity which nature hath bestowed on all the Nation My defeate said to Polexander nor my captivity shall never be able to make faile in what I owe my selfe I grieve not for my selfe the thought of my Kings service and the hinderances which the enemie of our Belief daily raiseth to retard the holy intention of our armes are the powerfull and onely cause of my sorrow the dishonour throwne on us by your valour is to me a certaine presage of our enterprises ill successe and though you are mine enemie I am forc'd to confesse that if the Queene of this Island whom we have besieg'd in her capitall city have many defenders like you shee may a long time yet keep her Crowne from paying that tribute which Spaine may rightfully exact from all the Kings of the earth What say you reply'd Polexander interrupting the Spaniard Have you then an Army in this Island Is the Queene besieg'd and have you dar'd to thinke to make her one of your tributaries What I have said is true answered the Spaniard The Prince of Medina Sidonia putting out of the ports of Spaine with a powerfull Armado to regaine the Canaries in lieu of getting thither was by a tempest throwne a month since on the coasts of this Island at first he thought it desert and not inhabited because it was unknowne to our mariners but since perceiving the fertilitie richnesse and beautie of it and understanding by some prisoners we tooke how well it was peopled he neglected the conquest of the Canaries and thought he should gaine his King a new world if he could conquer this Island Casting therefore aside all other designs he thrust his Fleet into a great river which invirons the capitall city and laying waste divers neighbouring villages to give the more terror to others and be an advertisment to them not to be obstinate in a defence that would prove so dismall and deadly these happy beginnings were so seconded as they seem'd to assure us of a most fortunate successe for a few dayes before our arrivall a Prince of this Island call'd Tantalus had tooke armes against the Queen and to avenge himself as he told us of the contempt he receiv'd in his wooing her and the instant supplications of all her Subjects was resolv'd to get that by force which he could not obtaine either by the greatnesse