of thy Masters I will returne in spite of all Mexico to chastice thy disloyalty and to bury the pride of thy Towres and Pavilions underneath their owne ruines From this transport he fell into another He repeated the name of Isatida hundreds of times He called on Death as often and I doubt not but he would have given that to himselfe if he had not feared to disobey the Princesse At last the day of his departure arriving he tooke leave of Montezuma and went out of Mexico accompanied with all the Court and the most part of the people He went to lodge at Tlacopan where he was received as he had been the King and the next day followed by two men that Tumanama had left him and fifty slaves to carry his baggage he tooke the way of the Province of Cotosta which is fifty Leagues from Mexico towards the East He had already travelled two daies and two nights when he fell into an ambuscado which infallibly Hismalita had laied for him He was assailed in a vally by a great many theeves and enforced to use all his endeavours to defend his life Tumanama's two men were there slaine and fifteen or twenty of his slaves He himselfe there received divers sleight woundes but he did such things in this encounter that are beyond humane beleefe and went beyond the force even of Giants After neer a whole daies resistance he became Master of the field and retired into the next Village with the remainder of his Traine He was compelled to abide three or foure daies there that he might not anger or inflame his woundes but he underwent in that place a greater hazard then he escaped in the field Two nights together his lodging was beset by unknowne people and assayled with so much fury that but for the helpe which the Inhabitants brought him it had beene certainly mastered and entred These last assaults causing him to reflect on the first he judged they could come from none but the expresse command eyther of Hismalita or Montezuma and by consequence that he could hardly avoide Death His high courage made him respect this danger as he was wont to doe others and made him resolve to surmount it in making shew that he contemned it He came forth therefore in the open day from his lodging and buying some slaves in stead of those he had lost gave the Inhabitants of the Bourg to understand that he had not gotten himselfe so many Enemies had he not saved all Mexico from the fury of the Theviciens and other Rebells Those few words wrought such an Effect in the mindes of those Mexicans that they all went into the field with him left him not till he came to Cotosta Tendilly who was Governor thereof for Montezuma came forth to meet him and did him so many extraordinary honors that if Zelmatida had been capable of feare or suspition he might well have doubted that Hismalita was contriving some new plot on him And indeed his Death had been unavoydable if the very party who was to murther him had not preferred the life of this Prince before the hope of a great fortune He came into Zelmatida's chamber whilst he slept and awakening him my Lord said he arise and save your selfe there are here twenty men sent to kill you The Prince casting himselfe out of his bed tooke a Javelin which he carried as he travelled and turning himselfe to the stranger where said he are those traytors Doe not stay nor amuse your selfe replyed the stranger by fighting with them but follow me and know that thou hast not a greater Enemy then our Governour Zelmatida beleeved the man got out of Cotosta without giving notice to his slaves and forsaking the common way slipped yet once more from the rage of Hismalita He got into the Deserts of Calcicoëca with his guide Ten or twelve of his slaves escaping the hands of Tendilly fled from Coâ—…osta and ignorant what way to take followed the first that they sawe They were yet so fortunate that without any such intention they came to the Port of Calcicoëca They had not beene there two houres as they told me when I arrived with the first vessell that touched the firme land of our world But be pleased to let me make a necessary digression to cleare you of some things which doubtlesly you have stumbled at and that leaving the Inca my Master in the Deserts of Calcicoëca I relate to you my adventures Although I speake Arabian yet was I borne at Cusco and sonne of the Iâ—…ca Miâ—…raïc the last of the brothers of Tupac Inca Yupanquy Soveraigne moderator of the Empire of the Incaes Nature bestowing on me nothing good but an incredible desire to see other countries then mine owne and other manners then those of my country-men I stole from Cusco at the age of seventeene yeares and went thence with certain Merchants which traffiqued along the coasts of Chily We were driven from the land by a tempest and after we had beene above fifteene dayes at Sea we were shipwracked against a desert Island which is farre from the maine Land Those that could save themselves by swimming got to the Island but finding it Desert and not inhabited they saw well that they had not escaped their first shipwrack but to fall into a second Of twelve that remained of us sixe died in foure daies and the two next dayes ensuing five more followed them When I sawe my selfe alone and equally depressed with griefe and hunger I ranne to the top of a Rock to find within the waves the end of my afflictions but at the same time I descryed a great vessell in full sayle comming right to me I gave the gods praise for so unhoped a succour and descended to the haven to meere it That ship had great sayles made of Palme-leaves and many huge Anchors of wood and seemed so unwiedly and heavy that it was scarcely shooke by the Tempest It came at last into the haven and I presently besought the ayde of those were in her and by signes having made them understand the wofull estate into which I was brought I got them to succour me They tooke me very humanely into their vessell and after they had given me to eate asked me the name of the Island I made knowne that I was throwne on it by a tempest and that they should not finde therein eyther man or beast They were it seemed very much grieved at it and abode all the rest of the day in their shippe not knowing whereon to resolve At last they put to Sea againe and taking to their first course were more then thirty daies without seeing land They arrived the three and thirtieth at the Island Junagava and being knowne there made a solemne Sacrifice on the Shoare and a feast to all those of the Island that would be assistants I learnt in a small time the languâ—…ge of my Conductors and understood that parting from a great Island called Japan or Japon
what griefe this generall ignorance of the world cast on me and to what extraordinary meanes it made me run to know at least whether Cydaria were alive or no I confesse I refused none and meeting among our Pirates with an Italian which brag'd of his great familiarity with Spirits I press'd him to consult with them for me and to learne what I was to expect for the future he promis'd to satisfie my curiosity within three dayes and indeed at the houre appointed he came and led me to the mosâ—…â—…ncouth and dreadfull place in all our Island hee brought me under a rocke which could be no fit receptacle for any but for Spirits and lighting five branches of Pine with a tinder-box he had brought and laying them on a little table before which he had spread a sheet told me I should see passe along betweene the lights and the sheet such figures as should truly represent to me the good or ill successe of my designes I stood very earnestly heedfull not to lose any one of the apparitions and presently saw a sea covered with many ships and a land-skip very little differing from that about Morocco In the midst of that Countrey description I saw a City besieg'd both by land and sea After many conflicts I noted one wherein a Knight having often changed his arms and cloathes sometimes seem'd to me a mâ—…n and sometimes a woman At last he drew very neere to me and â—…ttering somewhat which I understood not presented to me a picture which I instantly knew to be the lively portraict of Cydaria Whilst I was ravished with that object a thicke cloud rob'd me of it and presently I heard or at least thought I heard some deafe sounds and plaintive lamentations which bewailed the death of a father a daughter and a lover Those complaints were no sooner ended but divers peales of thunder coming from a farre off broke over the besieged City and orewhelmed under its ruines the most of them that were within and without in a moment I saw the sheet cover'd with dead bodies at which sight I was stâ—…en with an extreame feare for my Princesse Whilst I sought for her amongst the dead I saw her come from the sea side all sad and desolate making signes to mee to forsake so dismall a place wherewithall all those figures vanished and I found my selfe so weary and so little satisfied in my curiosity that I went thence with a resolution never to have any so ill againe Neverthelesse not knowing what to conceive of such things as I had seene I did some while neglect them but by little and little feare making them passe for truths melancholy made them more horrible then they were I thought I should be suddenly besieg'd in mine Isle and after my being kill'd in some Combate my vanquisher would bring me to see Cydaria againe I meane that being dead I should goe againe to meet with the shade of that faire Princesse So blacke a fancy having long time roll'd up and downe my imagination I held for certaine that Cydaria was dead and that beliefe made such an alteration in my health that by little and little I lost the strength which I had recover'd after my last sicknesse and I fell into a languishing that made mee undergoe for three moneths together more cruell deaths then death it selfe I had no more left then my speech and my sight when Almaid arriv'd and knowing well there was but one way to save me he was no sooner come but he put it in triall hee therefore related that he had seen Cydaria and how the King of Morocco forcing her from Tunis had brought her to his Court but so guarded that it might at once â—…e said she was a Queene and a prisoner So good an information had all the effect Almaid could promise himselfe The desire to free that Princesse and my jealousie of the King of Morocco surmounting my weaknesse and staying my continuall faintings I presently design'd â—…n African warre to that end I sent for the Captaines of the Pirates and making knowne to them the abatement of my sicknesse and my intention they ingaged themselves to serve me and to dispose their companions to that expedition They fail'd not of their promises the next day was their Assembly call'd and all things passing therein according to my wish some were deputed to me to let me understand all their resolutions two dayes after I went into their quarters to thanke them and perceiving their affection I appointed the generall musters to be the day following when all the Army was at the place destin'd for the like actions I came out of the Fort with my Principall Officers and taking a review of al the battalions I stepped up into the place whence I was wont to speak to them I made knowne to the Rovers my resentment of the last proofe of their affection and when I would have come to the point and excited them to warre through the hope of booty they shut my mouth with their acclamations and clapping of hands Which done they drew their swords and holding them over their heads began to cry out that I should lead them whither I listed that they had no other will then mine and that they would alwayes value my content beyond their owne profit I returned thence to the Fort so satisfied with their conformity that the remainder of my melancholy and my weaknesse gone on a sudden I found my self in better case then I had been all my life Almaid desirous to raise my joy to the height told me I was not the â—…nne of Abrinzias and Andromeda but of Zabaim and Almanzaira and spent part of the night in recounting to me particularly those accidents from mine infancy whereof I was ignorant Assoone as he had ended his pleasing narration I promis'd him to returne to Senega and casting my selfe at the feet of the King my father to beseech his pardon for my extravagant actions but my duty and honour obliging me to put a period to Cydaria's teares before I gave any beginning to mine owne quiet I imbark'd two dayes after and arriv'd at Morocco so as Iphidamantus hath related Thus ended Bajazet and presently Zabaim and Almanzaira retir'd into their ship Cydaria and Melicerta abode in their own in company of their Lovers For Polexander and Achomat they caus'd themselves to be wasted to shore and mounting on horsebacke came to the camp a little before day-breake They enquired of what had pass'd in their absence and understanding there was an extraordinary silence in the beleaguer'd City imagined that Hely was fled thence and the Citizens would no longer hold out This opinion made them resolve for bed to take that rest which their enemies gave them They slept as long as their disquiets would give them leave and awaking after many interrupted slumbers went to Iphidamantus and Almanzor who loath to trouble them were walking before their tents thence they went all foure whither the Lawes
a broad side gave them fifteen Canon-shot Their approaches were more fearfull then they were mortall although the two vessels the aire and the sea seem'd all on a flame After we had we had fought in some distance we laid one another aboard and then there began a combat between Almanzor and the Captain of the great vessell which merits a particular relation Never strength and addresse were found so equall in two combitants and never did the greatnesse of courage sustain so long time two bodies so stricken with wearinesse and infeebled with wounds But why relate I a combat to thee that knowest it better then my self since it was with thee Polexander that Almanzor contested As soon as the tempest had made an end of this duell and that thy ship was carried one way and Almanzors vessell another This Prince commanded the Portugals to follow thee if it were possible and after this order given went through all the ship to see who were wounded amongst his own he found one of thy souldiers that lay as it were dead he had a great care of him and when he saw him in case to speak ask'd him what thou wert and what thou lookest for in those seas I wonder said the souldier that thou art ignorant of that which is known to all the world beside He whom thou knowst not is called Polexander a Prince descended from the greatest Kings of Europe and himself King of all the kingdomes he will look upon Many are the causes that make him wander these seas At this time he is in search of that famous Captain of the pirates Bajazet to force him to restore a picture which he hath stolne from him Almanzor thought at first that he was that pretended pirate and that by some false intelligence Polexander had been peswaded that Bajazet had the portraict of Alcidiana he therefore drew it out and shewing it to the souldier marke said he to him if this be not the picture which Polexander hath lost The other viewing it well cried out see see the fatall face that hath been the cause of all that we have indured and will yet be the subject of all those dangers which we are yet to run through O! deare work of my hands why are not we or rather why is not Polexander in that place where his love gave me the invention to limne thee without the knowledge of Alcidiana Imagine great Prince if after this declaration Almanzor had care of thy souldier or no truly he was so chary of him that he caused him to be lodged in his own Cabin and commanding him to be used as himself entertain'd him continually either in discoursing of Alcidiana or of thee When the souldier recompted to him thy great actions you might have seen Almanzor stirred with a thousand agitations sometime he blush'd as if he had been asham'd of himself sometime he sighed as if he had envied so brave a life sometime he grew cholerick with his destiny and then talking as if thou hadst been present What Polexander said he and is all that is valourous all that is famous and all that is happy reserved for thee O how well hath Alcidiana done to have chosen so deserving an adorer But what sayest thou poor and unfortunate Almanzor knowest thou not that that Polexander is the the fatall Demon which crosseth thy intentions and who without all doubt will make all thy hopes vain and frivolous Get out get out infamous creature from this vessell where unprofitably thou consumest thy time and finde out this cruell enemy in what corner soever of land or sea that fortune hides him from thee See Polexander the different language that one same passion made thee poor Almanzor guilty of He grew well this while and love and jealousie giving him suddenly such strength that in all likelihood nature could so soon have brought him he earnestly besought thy souldier to shew him where he might meet with thee This Prince said he is continually at sea and tries all means to recover the good which he hath lost sometimes he imployes the art and experience of Mariners to attaine it otherwhile he gives himselfe over to fortune and the winds and is absolutely resolved to perish if the heavens have doomed that he shall never more see Alcidiana Wandring thus on the Sea thinke with thy self if it be possible for me to denote to thee a place where thou maist find him T is true since the day wherein his incomparable valour saved the Canarians from the Portugalls and for conserving the liberty which he got them he accepted the title of their King he hath sometimes come on shoare in the Isle of Teneriffe and otherwhile in that which he calls Alcidiana But his new Subjects have been forced to an extraordinary care of his person when he hath been above a day or two on land I have told thee that one occasion that made him wander so far from the Canaries was the desire to recover the Picture of Alcidiana I will relate another to thee which to him was not lesse considerable He is in quest of a Pilot of that Queens who is now at Sea bound in her name to acquit a vowe which every yeare the Princes of the Inaccessible Island are obliged to render to some unknowne Gods When I was in that Kingdome I learnt a secret touching this ceremony which to you may seeme fabulous yet among the Islanders passeth for a verity which no man must call in question T is that whosoever is chosen by lot to goe in the name of the King of that Isle to celebrate the yearely Sacrifice failes not to meet in his returne a bird as white as a swan by whose flight steering his ship he infallibly finds the right course to the Inaccessible Island Polexander who hath no other hope then in meeting with these Pilots waites for them every spring between the Canaries and the Gorgades He was so fortunate the last spring that he discried the vessell of Alcidiana but that good hap was but to encrease his afflictions for he lost sight of her by the violence of the winds and in spite of all industry was carried on the coaste of Guineâ—… After he had run the hazard of a ship-wrack among so many Shelves and bancks of sand which makes those coasts so dangerous he found himselfe in the hands and at the mercy of Pirates and without that prodigious valour that makes all those enemies fall at his feet which fortune raiseth against him he had been now in the number of those brave slaves of whom the famous Bajazet composeth the principall part of his magnificence T was in that very place that he thought he had lost the picture of Alcidiana but seeing it in thy hands I begin to beleeve that Bajazet is innocent of that theft whereof we have so often and so injustly accused him At that word Almanzor interrupting him not only told him by what adventure he got the Protraict but let
I leave you to thinke with what content I gave care to a request so pleasing to me I not only promised that great Prince to conduct him whither he would goe but protested to him that if he did not refuse my service I would not abandon him whilst I lived My inclination said he that makes me incline to your company will have me take you at your word but the cause that commands me to preferre your contentment before mine owne forbids me to use the power which you give me over my selfe These speeches were seconded by many other and concluded to depart without delay Our ship had received some wrong at sea but the Marriners meeting with that which was needfull for her new trimming that they put her in case to feare nothing but Land and fire This while Zelmatida called for the Governour of the place and seeing him in a deepe melancholy Your loyalty said he and your courage are capable to make you beloved even of men that esteeme farre lesse of virtue then either Alisma or I doe We should therefore sin against our owne consciences if in some sort we did not recompence your excellent qualities Common men esteeme not brave actions but when they are done by themselves or by those of them most affected But we are more just and respect virtue in the person even of our enemy This consideration obligeth us to give you that which the chance of warre tooke from you and to leave you free in your Port with all those who are now our prisoners Live then as you have done hitherto and let the safety you have found amongst your vanquishers be an advertisement to persevere in your â—…irtue The Mexican gazing on the King I am sorâ—…y said he to be so much endeared and to see so much noblenesse in a person whom I may not lawfully love Yet since the great soule of the World who forbids me to be a traytor forbids me not to be thankfull I will without fayling in that which I owe my King every where publish the favours I have received from you and continually beseech the gods of Mexico that Montezuma never have successors but such as are as worthy to reigne as your selfe He could not refrayne from teares in ending these words Alisma embraced him in bidding farewell and wept too In the meane time Zelmatida sent to his shippe for all those whom he had caused to be chained and when they were come caused their fetters to be taken off and delivered them to their Captaine There arose a great noyse amongst them proceeding from the admiration they had of the noâ—…lenesse of my deare Master Every one kissed his hand in taking their leaves and their Captaine himselfe was enforced by his excellent nature to wish him all kinde of good fortune Zelmatida intreated him at parting to send one of his men to Montezuma and in signifying 〈◊〉 him the deliverance of Alisma to let him know that it was done by the sâ—…me Zelmatida who had served him against the Theviciens and who went from his Court upon intelligence given to him that Hismalita plotted to have him murthered The Mexican promised that he would not fayle and with that we went aboord Though the winde and calme tempered one with another seemed to have as much affection as our selves to the successe of our voyage yet being ignorant of what course to steere in so vast a Sea and so unknowne we were neere two moneths as well in crossing that great extent of water as in coasting the long point of land which advancing far into the Sea runnes along that Isthmus of fifteene leagues only in breadth which is as the middle of Quasmez kingdom At the narrowest place of that Isthmus there is a Port the fayrest safest and greatest of any I have seene in my voyages Into that we fortunately entred after we had many times tryed the incomodity of navigation and leaving there our shippe with those of our Mariners which were the worst souldiers we tooke the rest gave them armes and landed together Zelmatida knew the countrey no better then those that followed him It therefore behoved us to finde some Savage to be our Guide and to employ our fire and sword to make us way through the Mountaines Precipices Forests and other places to us inaccessible We travelled foure dayes in those Desarts and on the fifth came to Careca which is a pretty towne where the same Torrucia kept his Court who was by Zelmatida taken prisoner in the warre of the twenty revolted Caciques and a little after set at liberty We found him not in his Pallace for he was gone as we were told with thâ—…rty thousand of his Subjects to the ayde oâ—… Quasmez who was besieged in his capitall City by an army of two hundred thousand woemen Alisma interrupting him that spoake assure your selfe said he to Zelmatida that the valiant Telesmana Queene of the Amazons and mother to the incomparable wife of Guina Capa is come out of her kingdome to revenge the death of the king my Master and to have the body of the Queene her daughter which Quasmez hath got into his hands if the common report be true Zelmatida had scarce heard this discourse but the fire getting up into his face Le ts away father said he to Alisma lets away and serve the most just and best Prince that the Sun hath ever brought into the World Before Alisma replyed I spoke and seconding with content the conception of my deare Lord. Let us not deferre this journey said I for it behoves us one way or other to hinder their proceeding so that Qâ—…asmez receive not the dishonour to be abused by women Zelmatida embracing me for joy my deare Garruca said he thy advice is so generous that I should be unworthy to live if I deferred the executing of it Alisma who would have beene glad that nothing had opposed his first designe asked Zelmatida if he remembred not his promises I shall never forget them said Zelmatida but long before I made them to you I was engaged to serve Quasmez preferrably before all others Ah my father consider that the question now is not only of honor but of duty of a duty so holy that it cannot be violated without wronging in the same instant that which is annexed to the mysteries of Religion and the service of the gods Alisma having nothing to answere approved of Zelmatidaes resolution and desiring to lose 〈◊〉 â—…tle â—…ime as might be advised him to stay no longer at Careca We therefore parted thence 〈◊〉 day breake and marched till Sun-set The next day we made the like Journey and the third had not been shorter but for an accident which happily fell out for Zelmatida and Quasmez too Wee descended a Mountaine from whose top we had discovered the Towne wherein Quasmez was beseiged and the Amazons campe when suddainly came on us a troope of women who incompassing us commanded withall that we should yeeld Zelmatida
of Africa Polexander had begū to take breath after all these turmoiles whē a new enemy as much to be feared as all the Portugals together ingaged him to exercise once more his valor T was the generous Almanzor Prince of Senega I have told you he found Polexander sleeping neer the sea shoar and how he took away his box Alcidiana's picture 'T was a fatal theft to him He saw himself takē as soone as he had takē for Alcidiana's admirable beauty communicating to her picturs some beame of her light a part of her power stroke those with love that had never seen her flash'd forth flames from a cold piece of copper and a few dead colours As soone as Almanzor had made tryall of that prodigious adventure he coveted nothing no not life but for Alcidiana and turned all his youthfull valour against a Rivall whom he thought to be more graced then himselfe Nor was he tormented with that sole Demon for those of honour and renowne did not lesse afflict him His generous disposition upbraided him with his these and represented to him his poorenesse of spirit which could not sufficiently be condemned for stealing and robbing a man that was a sleepe These two motives with his jealousie and repentance made him leave his owne Territories the very day of his Coronation and forced him to crosse an unknowne sea in quest of Alcidiana and Polexander The last he met withall as I told you and fought with him unknowne But after they were seperated by the tempest he knew it from out Italian Painter which was left in his ship and then he thought of nothing else but of finding him againe As soone as he was in the roade of Teneiffe he sent back the Italian to Polexander and by him a letter so full of excuses for his fault committed and so many testimonies of his repentance that by the accusation and humiliation the King my Master knew the magnanimity of that Prince At the end of his letter he spoake to him of the greatnesse of his love and said his passion had reduced him to that point that he could not without death restore a thing which he himselfe confessed could not be detained without the losse of his honour Polexander sent Alcippus to him with the Italian to assure him of the estimation he held of his courage and intention to intreate from him the honour to enter his Territories and assure him he would contribute to his contentment all that did not oppose the service he owed to Alcidiana Almanzor grew almost desperate to heare all these generosities and made shew of an extreame sensibility of what his Rivall had offered him called himselfe a most unfortunate man to have to contest with so high a virtue and at last told Alcippus he most humbly besought Polexander to give him the happinesse to make an end on Land of that fight which they began at Sea Alcippus set all his wits on worke to alter that Princes resolution but seeing 't was all in vaine I will said he goe and make knowne to my Master the King the true cause of my voyage I beseech you doe so replied Almanzor and after his imbracie would have loaden him with jewells But Alcippus very civilly refusing them got himselfe to be landed and so went to give an account to his Master of what he had done with Almanzor That brave and great King sent him back with new complements to his enemy and till the day of fight treated him as if he had beene Zelmatida or Iphidamantus The Indian Prince smiled at the old Pimantus addresse and intreated him to relate the combate betweene those two illustrious Rivalls The particulars answered the Vice-roy deserve your curiosity Those two Princes met at one instant on the place of combate armed at all points and mounted on two of the best horses in all Africa They threw away their speares after the first course and with their swords beg◅n so furious a comba◅e that I cannot expresse it to you but in saying it was the dreadfull effect of a prodigious cause That fury and rage which yong men call love in arming those two youthfull Princes dispoyled them of all judgement and humanity Thinke after that what they were capable to act They contented not themselves in covering the earth with the bloody pi◅ces of their broaken armour but made rivers of their owne blood and becomming far different and unresembling the men they had beene till then confinde all their former generous ambitions in the fearefull desire of each others destruction At last Polexanders invincible Angell compelled Alma◅zot's to contend no more against his fate and to humble himselfe before a power that mastred his Almanzor covered with blood and woundes fell downe under his horse legs Polexander was as quickly alighted and to him with his sword in his hand you desired said he to be overcome confesse now that you are so That Prince seeing himselfe neere the losse of his life contemning the threats of his enemy cast his thoughts on Alcidiana and addressing himselfe to her made to that Queene a resignation of his life in such tearmes as drew teares from the eyes of his Conquerour What said I his Conquerour No the King my Master in hearing them confessed himselfe vanquished presented his sword to Almanzor begged him his life and avowing that he was only worthy to serve Alcidiana he added yes certainely you deserve that honour and you are too sole vanquisher for our combate having for object nothing but Alcidiana's service he alone may justly be termed victor who hath given the best testimony of his love and constancy Polexander yet went further for seeing Almanzor desperate of life he left him his sword and going away as if afraid strove to make it believed he had had no advantage ore Almanzor That poore Prince would faine have died where he fell but his Servants carried him back into his ship and finding his woundes not mortall omitting nothing to hinder despaire from doing more then the sword of Polexander But all their labour was in vaine for Almanzor would absolutely dye and after a languishing of many moneths perceiving he began to amend he caused himselfe to be carryed into that stately Tombe which is to be seene in one of our Isles and unmercifully turned on himselfe a weapon more cruell then that of his Rivall The King my Master heard not of his death till a long time after by meanes of his forsaking his Realme as soone as his woundes were healed and rebeginning his errant life to lose the sorrow for his victory as also to tempt fortune againe and meet some Angell or some star that might reconduct him to the Inaccessible Island But neither on the waters nor in the skies found he ought but what had conspired his ruine Neverthelesse he returned to the Isle of the Sun and had long conference with some Priests whom he had wone by his gifts From them he got all that
your vessels Hamet offered his and whilst they were providing to goe our Hero withdrew in private with Alcippus instructed him what he should say to the King of Portugall and appointed him to goe thence to Fez and Morocco and so to Senega if at the two first townes he heard no newes of Alcidiana's ship Enquire said he every where for it neglect nothing and never think of returning to the Canaries if thou bring me not some good newes and I will stay there for thee Ximena understanding by those that guarded her what Polexander had done for her liberty gave him extraordinary thanks and after she had bid him farewel I was not yet weary said she of being a prisoner in the hand of so magnanimous an Enemy Our Hero as bravely answered her and assoone as he saw her under sayle he sent to entreat Bajazets chiefe Officers to come aboard him They did so and when they were come together My companions said hee there is a faire occasion offers it selfe to enrich you The King of Portugall hath sent a fleet to invade my kingdome If you will set on them you are sure of their defeate Let 's flye then to so certaine a victory and by the great number of prisoners and vessels which cannot escape you make your selves more formidable then you are to all the force of Spaine The Pirates all at once arose and laying their hands on the guard of their Cymeters See said they to Polexander wherewithall to confirme the good opinion you have of our courage Let 's on then my Lord to these Portugals who are certainely lost if they dare to attend us The Councell being thus ended they thought on the meanes of rightly putting it in execution Our Heroes great ship was all new fitted in lesse then foure and twenty howres and all the rest put in good equipage for fight A favourable winde arising the second day Polexander and the Rovers set saile and in a marvellous good order steered towards the Canaries They were six dayes ere they could see it the seventh they descried the prodigious mountaine of Teneriffe and the eighth they began to distinguish the Isles Polexander held a counsell of Warre in the fight of his deare Countrey and finding one same heart and one same will in all the Pirates bore up right to his enemies Did the copiousnesse of my subject permit me to expatiate my selfe in the description of combates by Sea and Land of sieges of assaults of taking of places and vessels of duels of considerable deaths and other glorious adventures which accompany the act of warre I should have in this warre of the Canaries sufficient matter to obliterate the illustrious and proud events wherewithall the renowned Cities of Troy Thebes Carthage Hierusalem or any else have furnished their Poets But I must smother all those brave acts and besides having consecrated my pen to the honour of Alcidiana I veyle without sorrow a part of Polexanders his brothers and Zelmatida's That which comforts me in the wrong I doe them is they praise my ingratitude and had rather I should speake of their misfortunes then of their achievements I will therefore imitate their example in this warre and relate it with as much nimblenesse as they executed it The Portugals being advertised of the forces were comming on them forsooke the great Canary since they could not keepe it without their owne losse They dismantled in the other Islands the sorts which were not yet defensible or too hard to be kept and leaving a good Garrison in the rest shipped themselves to encounter Polexander or at least wise not to have at one time their Enemies both before and behinde them Our Hero trifled not the time but put himselfe in battalia within Cannon shot and compelled them to forgoe their usuall slownesse The fight was bloudy on both sides but incomparably more on the part of the Portugals then Polexanders I must needs expresse to the praise of the Portugals that to know how many they were there needed but to count the dead and the prisoners There was not a vessell saved for all that were aboard them had made a vow to overcome or to dye Ipidamantus and Zelmatida at the noise of this battaile left their postes got a shipboard and comming fitly in performed so many heroicall actions that the least of their glory was to come off victorious The Pirates fought as people who were certaine to carry away all the booty and indeed though the recompence were great yet was it below their Service The fight being ended Polexander highly praised them and sent away that very day to Bajazet to give him notice of his victory and the hardinesse of his followers Zelmatida and Iphidamantus who during the battell had often admired the incomparable valour of our Heroe who had likewise his eyes for witnesses of theirs came up to him in the Port of Teneriffe Their joyes their civilities and praises were great and reciprocall Polexander oftentimes asked Zalmatida's pardon for so long time abusing his goodnesse called him the Defender of the Canaries and the revenger of the growing slavery of his world Zelmatida in lieu of an answer onely sighed and gave way for Iphidamantus complements Polexander forgat not to render that testimony he ought to his courage and said aloud that to be master of his Art he was bound to be taught by his younger brother Iphidamantus modesty hindered the continuation of that speech and that being done they landed on the Isle of Teneriffe and because it was that wherein the Portugals had most fortified themselves he resolved to make there his beginning of driving them out of the Islands The Canarians were not idle whilst their Masters laboured so happily for them Some of them cut the throats of their Garrisons others went and assaulted the Forts which kept them in awe and those of the best sort came to the three Princes Army Some Portugals defended themselves in their holds even to the extremity in hope there would arrive a new fleet Others more judicious knowing they could not be relieved yeilded themselves to the discretion of the Conquerour so that in a month all the Isles were free and no other Portugals were seen there but such as they sold in the markets and carried hither and thither to end their lives in that servitude which their ambition had deserved Polexander yet was not satisfied with the driving so unjust and obstinate Enemies from his dominions but would needs fight with them within their own wals and by some great and remarkable losses imprint in their minds for a long time the feare of his Name and Armes After he had therefore a while refreshed his Troopes after their long travels with Zelmatida and Iphidamantus he joyned his own fleet with the Pirates and having paid them even to prodigality for their service done him and principally the ransome he promised for Ximena's liberty he embarked himselfe with a favourable winde and staid not
till he came before Lisbon with an Army not only victorious but invincible by his presence and that of the other two Heroes All the coasts of Portugall felt his arrivall Many townes were pillaged many burnt and an infinite number of young and old of poore and rich were sacrificed to the just resentment of the Canarians Lisbon it selfe was got to the point of her ruine and the fire and sword were about to make of it a horrible place of buriall when our Heroe considering this neere desolation staid his anger and was moved with the horrid object which had followed the sack of so stately a City Let us pardon the guilty said he to himselfe for the innocents sake Let those live who have provoked us for the love of them who never offended us Let us not arme against our selves the cryes and teares of a great number of orphanes of widowes and virgins The astonishment which his arrivall had cast as farre as into the heart of Spaine was so great that Ferdinand and Isabell shut up in Valledolid were a great while without knowing how to oppose this tempest They imagined that all the Moores were againe comming out of Africa into Spaine and to reconquer it in farre lesse time then they had lost it But Polexanders departure calmed all their troubles and dissipated their apprehensions and if he returned without being King of both the Spaines t was because his justice and noblenesse would never consent to it He returned home by Africa drove the Portugals out of all the places they were possest of and razing the fortifications would have both the Christians and Moores to know that he came into the world onely for the extirpation of tyranny The King of Morocco hearing of our great Conquerors being so neere his territories sent him a solemne Embassy It was received after a new way of State for t was at Sea and in the midst of a fleet consisting of above three hundred saile The Embassadors having had their Audience and done the accustomed complements returned loaden with presents Polexander seeing them upon parting asked Iphidamantus if he would send no newes of himselfe to his old servant I doe not think replied Iphidamantus but that after the turne I shewed her they would be very welcome to her Truly said Polexander you cause me to remember a promise you made me long since You must now acquit your self with putting it no longer off And in so saying and taking Zelmatida by the one hand and his brother by the other he shut himselfe with them into his Cabin Zelmatida understanding whither he was led and to what purpose was wonderfully joyed at it and pressed Iphidamantus as much as the King of the Canaries to tell him how he fell into the hands of the King of Morocco and by what meanes he got thence The brave Prince not able to deny two so dear to him and so considerable told them he had no other will then what they might command but withall said he had already so often troubled them with the recitall of his fortunes that he could not resolve to go on Yet added he since I see you wil absolutely have it I am ready to obey you Know then that after the mis-haps which hapned to me at the siege of Lepanto and after the tragicall end of the too constant Hysteria I left all the pretentions I had in the court of the Grand Seignior and made a vow never more to present my self to my most dear father and worthy Lord Achomat In speaking which words Iphidamantus fighed often and Polexander noting it You sigh said he if I be not deceived and at the remembrance of your losses what a change is here What is become of that insensibility which equall triumph'd over all things Hath Bajazet turned that heart of marble into a heart of flesh You may justly jest replied Iphidamantus sighing againe but let 's give over this talke if you please and give me leave to relate what you desire to know Assoone as I was at Sea I called to minde that which the generous Basha Achomat had told me not a yeere before touching my birth my captivity and the misfortunes of our house This remembrance bred in me a desire of returning into my native Countrey to the end I might learne whether or no I were the sole man left alive of our race With this intent I came to Argier and habit and language having gotten me a great many friends in a small time I understood the Canaries had not changed their master and how the great Polexander of whom I heard so much spoken in Constantinople was not only king of them but what more astonied and extraordinarily pleased me was that Aladin Bashaw Vice-roy of Argiers assured me that that Prince was the son of Periander and Axiomira and by consequence the unfortunate Iphidamantus had the honour to be his younger brother Polexander having smil'd at the quaint phrase of his brother We will said he make answer another time to these fine words for the present Zelmatida and my selfe have no other designe then to heare you Proceed then if you love us and plainly satisfie our curiosity Iphidamantus resuming his discourse thus continued it THE ADVENTURES OF IPHIDAMANTUS AS soon as the Vice-roy of Argiers had intimated to me the prosperity of Perianders worthy successor I got to sea again and with the most diligence I could sailed along the coastes of Barbary I was like to have been lost in the straights of Gibraltar and but for the extraordinary skill of my pilot my ship had been split in peeces against the point of an Island in the midst of the straight At last I got into the open sea but 't was to be beaten with new tempests The second day that I was got into the Ocean my mariners who had never sailed but on the Mediterianean sea were intertained by a winde they knew not and against which by consequence they could not defend themselves The billowes went so high that for three daies we were every foot carried from heaven to hell and from hell to heaven At last the winde threw us on the coastes of Morocco 'T was there that the storm redoubling and that the elements having made a particular combination to punish my offences turned topsy turvy if I may say so the first order of nature reconciled contrarities which should be everlasting found nourishment for flames in the water composed two rights of what should be one day and made both the land and the sea equally dismall unto us Many leagues on this side Morocco there is seen a rock on which is built a Castle which they call Guargetsem the tempest bore me right against it Twice did my ship strike against this fearfull rock and by the impetuosity of the shock not only opened it in the mid'st but was thrust off farre into the sea that of all those aboard there was not one who saw not his
death and though the Serpent had enfolded his armes and legs he made him feele the weight of his blowes but his resistance was all in vaine for he was torne in pieces for all his Armes and devour'd by the Monster This strange accident fill'd all the towne of Benin with desolation and feare Almanzor was with Andromeda when the newes came of Bellerophon's death He had ever dearely lov'd that Knight being as his companion in all his exercises You may imagine whether he were mov'd at his losse Truly he was so much that it drew teares from him But his love not being satisfied with these demonstrations made him resolve on others more worthy his valour and the memory of Bellerophon He therefore prepar'd him to avenge his death and his high Spirit carying him to great undertakings he would by so faire an occasion give a beginning to the miracles of his life The generous Prince would willingly have communicated his designe to me but imagining I would not approve of it he conceal'd it from me and one day secretly withdrawing himselfe unknowne to any man he went to finde out that dreadfull Serpent even among the Palme trees and to fight with him took only his sword his bow and his arrowes You wil hardly give credit to what I must relate though there is nothing more true Almanzor went alone into the wood of the Sun approacht the Serpent with an heroicall confidence look'd on his hugenesse and deformity without astonishment and by his noise calling him to the combat by some arrowes he let flye towards his den would give him time to defend himselfe The Monster animating him by beating the earth with his tayle rays'd his crown'd head and throwing at once venome and fire from his eyes made the Cedars and Palmes to tremble againe Almanzor stood firme and with himselfe consulted how he might best encounter that monstrous adversary Straight he nock'd an arrow and lifting his eyes to heaven I doe what I can said he doe thou the rest and let thy powerfull hand conduct the shaft which mine lets goe at hazard He was heard That arrow was so well guided that it pierced the Monsters tongue and there stuck fast The next was more fortunately addressed It strooke out the other eye and with the meanes of bringing himselfe on tooke that away of his defence Almanzor mark'd what he had done and doubting no longer of his victory shun'd the grapling of the blinded Serpent After he had long time fought with the trees and his rage turning on himselfe had extreamely weakened him by his owne blowes he lay extended on the earth and discovered a part of his white and yellow panch Almanzor perceiving so fit a marke for his arrowes shot him through and left not till he laid him dead When he was secure of his victory he went out of the wood and after his thanks to heaven and vow to hang his bow and arrowes with the Serpents skin he return'd to the City and told all those he met there was no more to be feared for the Serpent was dead Whilst the better hearted went to see whether Almanzor spake truth he came to the Palace and there found every body much troubled about him He presented himselfe to Abrinzias and falling at his feet Sir said he I humbly beseech your Majesty to pardon the fault I have commited I come from the fountaine of the Sun and the Serpent is dead Imagine Polexander how Abrinzias was affrighted though he saw Almanzor unhurt He enquir'd who had advis'd him to fight with the Serpent and who went with him to that Enterprise Bellerophon's death replied he sighing drew me to revenge it I could not live and suffer the murtherer of my friend to survive him Heaven hath favoured me so much as to acquit the debt I owed him Abrinzias lifted up his eyes with admiration and joy and to satisfie his curiosity asked Almanzor how all things had hapned He related it to him as I have to you but it was with so much modesty that Abrinzias foreseeing then what Almanzor hath done since My Son said he imbracing him search out new Kingdomes and Provinces worthy thy valour This little corner of Africa deserves not to containe thee With that he brought him to the Queene and recounting so heroicall an action oblig'd her to shed at once both teares of joy and sorrow the one for her love to Almanzor and the other for that of her owne Son The excesse of Abrinzia's contentment made him not forget what he owed to his people He sent his Heraulds through the towne not onely to publish the Serpents death which had so much annoy'd them but to make knowne to all the Author of their deliverance and the publique happinesse and after that went out of the towne waited on by all the Court and most of the people and so came where the Serpent lay slaine The multitude not forgetting their old use appear'd very hardy where there was no danger and running on the dead Monster cut him in pieces and by that meanes made Almanzor but imperfectly performe the vow he had made But whilst the people made themselves sport with their dead Enemy and vented all their fury on his skin Almanzor bewail'd the death of Bellerophon and in a generous piety gathered up his bones and broken armes scattered through the wood and giving both the one and the other to his particular friends follow'd them himself to a place fit to preserve the reliques memory of that valiant Knight The good Abrinzias was much mov'd to see so many verall vertues breake forth of thaâ—… young Prince and had esteem'd himselfe the happiest of Kings but that the defects oâ—… his owne Son and his vicious inclinations cut from him the best part of his happinesse But heaven who would recompence in the person of Almanzor the injury it had done him in that of Perseus gave him every day new causes to blesse the arrivall of my Prince and to forget the imperfections of the legitimate through the admirable qualities of the adopted But while Almanzor liv'd the joy of the people of Benin the admiâ—…ation of the rest of Africa the envy of all generous Princes and that the greatest Potentates sent Ambassadors to Abrinzias to rejoyce with him for Almanzor's honour and the delivery of his Countrey the ambition of Spaine an enemy to all mens quiet which runs through Sea and land to drive thence both peace and liberty came unfortunately to disturbe the delights of the best King in the world Vasquez de Gama Generall of the Portugall Fleet returning from Calecut was by a storme driven into the River of Benin In lieu of leaving to the Inhabitants that peace he found there he landed out of his ships men more cruell then the Serpent which Almanzor had slaine That young Prince hearing of the Portugals iâ—…rode ran to oppose them and by his exploits then made appeare yet farre more then by his first combat that
entreated from him the particalars of his voiage The Spaniard finding his fortune beyond his hopes thus satisfied Bajazets cuâ—…iosity I am said he of Arragon and am called Michael Diaz You have perhaps heard that the bold Christopher Columbus promising our Kings to discover for them a new world stored with gold and pretious stones hazarded himselfe to make a way through the Ocean and after a voyage of threescore daies cast anchor at the Isle of Guanaâ—…an From thence sailing further from the North he entred into one of the Ports of the Isle of Cuba and lastly staied in that of Hayty He there tooke possession of that new world for the Kings Ferdinand and Isabella After he had made a league with the Cacique of the Island and freighted his ship with gold pearles men and other rarities he returned into Spaine I will not relate the honours he received from our Princes and with what desires he enflamed the Spaniards to attend him in the conquering this unknowne Country I was one of them that accompanied him in his second voyage and after an abode of eight yâ—…ares in the Land of gold and pearles and being enriched beyond my hopes and now by the â—…ury of the winds and hatred of fortune brought to an eternall slavery or shamefull beggery God grant those which follow me have better successe and that so much gold which they have gathered be not all at once swallowed up by the seas Bajazet â—…ceiving by the Spaniards discourse that there came a fleet from the new world asked him whether his companions had not been shipwracked with himselfe No said he I paâ—…d thence before them to carry the nâ—…wes into Spaine of their comming Yet I feare that the tempest hath sunck them For Don Francis Bovadilla who is Generall of the fleet would not be advised either by Roldan Ximenez or Antonio de Torrez Captaines of the men of warre but is put to sea Bajazet being satisfied in that he desired to know dismissed the Spaniard and gave Achaim charge to be very carefull of him Achaim tooke the Spaniard with him and spread through all the Island the newes his prisoner had brought The Officers aswell Mariners as Souldiers were so overjoyed with it as if the extreame desire they expressed of possessing those new treasures had been an infallible assurance of their getting them Other Pirates giving themselves the liberty of things unworthy the mentioning ran up and downe the Isle exciting one another to the conquest of these riches and fancied to themselves every Spanish vessell to be a Mountaine of gold their wise and valorous Generall had more judicious thoughts for not being able by the relation of the Arragon to compute how many faile there were of the Spanish fleet he would therefore send to discover their number that he might so fight with them without running the hazard of being beaten he called for one of his most expect and judicious Captaines and giving him instructions in those things he intrusted to his prosecution commanded him to goe aboord and set saile without suddaine returning till he brought him certaine newes of the Spanish fleet Trust said he none but your owne eyes Number if you possibly can all the ships in their fleet and by your speedy returne doe so that we may have time enough to arme so many vessels as we shall need to fight with them The Captaine failed not instantly to prepare for the execution of his Generalis commands He first sought out Achaim to be informed of the course he was to steere and chusing those he would make use of in his voyage went out of the haven by the favour of a little gale from the Land Bajazet the very next day assembled the principall Officers of his Estate and confirming to them the newes Achaim had brought I doe not thinke said he that we need deliberate long on this affaire Our Lawes our Customes and the examples of all Ages taking from us the liberty of deliberation reduce us to a necessity of fighting Nor is it to know what your thoughts are that I have caused this meeting but to agree of the meanes whereby we may atchieve what we are bound to execute Thalemut a contemnor of whatsoever was divine and the Image of all brutishnesse interrupting Bajazet Providence said he and Councell are as unnecessary to great executions as incense and sacrifices Only chance makes the successe happy or unfortunate That gives victories and causeth overthrowes and if we must be once more beaten t is not all the wisdome in the world that can prevent or warrant us from it Raiz spake and advised that an enemie to be fought withall is not to be fleighted but at such an enterprise to take with you all that was requisite both of wisdome and courage was not to leave to chance all the glory of what should happen the rest were of his opinion and after their custome applauding the valour and conduction of their Generall retired to provide what was fitting to revenge themselves of the affâ—…ont they had received from the Spaniards in their last encounter Bajazet seeing himselfe at leasure for the rest of the day visited Iphidamantus and acquainted him what was resolved on They were together till the night was far spent anddeaving matters of warre for more pleasing discourse fell in talke of their amorous adventures Bajazet sighing at their remembrance witnessed how unfortunate he was and casting his eyes on Iphidamantus as if he had been the cause of his passion why is it not permitted me said he to lay open to you the woundes which a too tyrannicall respect and more violent considerations have hitherto kept hidden from the knowledge of men Bajazet could open himselfe no further for in the same instant he entred whom he had sent to discry the Spanish fleet He told him that he had not been far to fullfill his Commission and that he had met with the Spaniards far on this side the Islands of Capevert and said he if now you have a mind to them there is no more time to be lost They have the winde good and their vessells are not so sluggish but that they make good way For their strength t is not to be thought on they are but thirty or five and thirty saile and come on with so much security by a course which they thinke unknowne to all else that they will trouble us more to find them then to vanquish them Bajazet hearing this newes would presenâ—…ly have embarqued if the respect he bore to Iphidamantus had not staid him He could not leave the Prince and yet he would not engage him in the voyage standing sometime without knowing on what to resolve at last he turned towards his prisoner and observing him as he had been his King be pleased said he that I bestow some daies on the necessary occasions of my charge and that I submit my selfe to a Law which at the same time that it makes me commit
Zelmatida willing to make appeare their deserts mastered the intrenchment forced the barricadoes and though they defended themselves very well within the Bourg yet at last they became Masters of it They flew all that had not time or cowardise enough to save themselves by flight This first exploit succeeding so happily Zelmatida thought it fit to pursue the enemy All his Troopes were resolute on it when there came news from Hismalita by which my deare Master understood that the Cacique of Zempoallan was within a little journey of Mexico with above thirty thousand men Hereupon he assembled the Councell of war to know what was expedient to be done There were divers opinions but upon the intelligence received that the Cacique of Thevic and five other Princes were but a daies journey thence and came with above foure hundred thousand combatants they made Zelmatida resolve to retire and to goe and oppose that inundation which came by the way of Zempoallan The next day at day breake the army dislodged from the bourg except foure thousand men which Zelmatida left there to amuse the Enemy But the Mexicans who for the most part are heartlesse and who fight not but when they are assured by their great number no sooner saw the Theviciens but they forsooke the bourg and came to seeke their safety in the grosse of the Army By this Zelmatida understood the defect of his troopes and changing his first Councell intended to undertake nothing that should be difficult with a people that obeyed not very well and fought a great deale worse Well then imagine him encamped on the side of the lake in a great plaine that on the North hath the towne of Culhuacan on the South that of Iztacpalam on the East that of Mexico and on the West that of Tlacopan Having lodged his Army in places so advantageous and made good all eminenties that might annoy his enemies he came to Hismalita and stayed not longer then he was enforced to take new commands and consult of a meanes to hinder the joyning of the troopes of Zempoallan with those of Thevic This done he visited Isatida and seeing her in an affliction that could not be augmented Madam said he I intend not to condemn your sorrowes since that nature and reason it selfe cannot give you more just ones But if the desire to serve you deceive me not and did not make me hope for more then I ought assure your selfe that you shall yet see the King your father on his Throne and all those enemies that from all parts come to pillage this brave City shall be soone sacrificed to those teares which their perfidiousnesse hath caused to fall from you Isatida could not answere my deare Master but speaking to him with her eyes which all dying as they were were yet capable to revive him she made him know that the imprisonment of the King nor the debordment of their enemies was not solely the cause of her afflictions Zelmatida was constrained to leave her sooner then he intended and to get him againe to his Army which affâ—…ighted at the comming of the Theviciens would have forsaken the field and retyred into Mexico But the Princes arrivall confirmed and retain'd them in some order Presently he went to descry the enemy and unwilling to give them time to lodge presented them battell This boldnesse did not alone astonish the Theviciens but withall gave a terror to the Mexicans But the last tooke heart by the beliefe they had that Zelmatida was a god to whom nothing was impossible and the worst Souldier amongst them animated by the Prince his presence made himselfe beleeve that he was become extreamly valiant When the Inca perceived all that multitude prepared to fight he would needs hearten them to it and an oration fitted to the humour and spirit of all that were there perswaded them that there were no forces able to resist them The Cacique of Thevic carried away by the unruly notions which the â—…ge to reigne gives the amoitious made his Army march to meete with that of Mexico As soone as they were in that case that they could not goe off but must fall to handy blowes Zelmatida made his first troopes give on but they found such a resistance that they began to give back when he sent others to assist them Wheresoever Zelmatida appeared the Theviciens were defeated but every where else they were masters and knew so well how to presse the Mexicans that without the conduct and valour of Zelmatida they had beene all cut in peeces He endured the shock of three or foure thousand men slew the Cacique of Themocolapan and made so glorious a retreate that in the judgement of the very enemy it went for a victory See in what manner the Theviciens remained masters of the field and block'd up Mexico by Land and Water Every day the king made sallies wherein his prudence and valour going hand in hand crowned him with the more glorious palmes by how much he had the worst Souldiers and fought with the best and in great number Hismalita was not in a little trouble to see the cowardize of her Souldiers and knew not what way to witnesse how much she was oblieged to Zelmatida but being dextrous and crafty she thought she could not more powerfully winne my deare Master then by giving him the meanes to see and entertaine Isatida This conjecture being confirmed by her confidents she notedly increased her former affection to the Princesse and tooke more care then ordinary to discourse and to have her in her company She even some time made her to be dressed before her and desiring that she should be alwaies richly attyred caused to be made for her both roabes and dressings of such value and so artificially wrought that the feathers if they did not therein contest for the prize yet did they for their well suting with the Dyamonds and Pearles Zelmatida enjoyed all these felicities and knowing Hismalitaes intention bethought him to make the Seige last long that his good fortune might be the longer lasting He forgot not for all that any thing that could give him the name of a great Captaine and not hazarding but when 't was to good purpose neyther himself nor his troopes wearying the enemy and made them repent of their enterprize He from time to time also proposed to Hismalita divers waies of finishing the seige and advised her to joyne the Inhabitants of Mexico with the men of warre to force the Enemy and make him resolve on a battell But the Queene that would not hazard any thing before she had heard news of Montezuma conjur'd him to suspend this good designe and attend the succours which would infallibly be sent her from those Provinces which were not revolted The King easily consented to it and blessing in himselfe the blindnesse of Hismalita was ravished to see that his fearefull Enemy seemed to affect the occasions that might please him Now one day being with her there came
prison This was not done so secretly but that Zelmatida was advertized of it by breake of day Doe not aske me if you please what his resentments were comprehend them by your owne if ever the like disaster put you into the like despayre The same day Montezuma assembled the Citizens of Mexico and declaring to them the outrage offered him represented to them the continuall cares and disquiets wherein he was engaged for the preservation of his estate That nation inconstant bruitish and fearefull if ever there were any cryed out that the theeves were to be pursued and without making any distinction of persons to punish all those that should be found guilty Montezuma seeing things brought to the point that he desired I am not said he so carelesse of your preservation that I am yet in an estate to feare ouâ—… common Enemies My daughters are in a place of surety and free from running the hazard of being stolne from me they shall enjoy all those delights and pleasures which they had with me After this Declaration all those poore people retyred blessing the wisedome and providence of their King These faire shewes were good enough to deceive the common route but among men of understanding the affaires had another face Zelmatida more cleere sighted and more interessed then the rest presently knew Montezumaes intention and knowing not what to doe to succour his Princesse and relieve himselfe saw himselfe brought to the cruell necessitie of not daring to make his sufferings to be knowne By himselfe he wept he sigh'd he cursed both heaven and earth sometimes he resolved to strangle Hismalita Then he intended to retyâ—…e to Quazmez and to returne with a hundred thousand combatants to make good the feare of Montezuma and Hismalita and forcing Isatida from her prison to accomplish the predictions of their Prophet But 't was to much purpose for him to make these generous propositions he was too faithfull an observer of Isatidaes law and will to put them in execution It behooved him therefore to be patient and to try if he could doe that by cunning which he was fobidden to undertake by force Perceiving then that Montezuma bore him not so ill an aspect that it should be taken notice of nor so good as to obliege him to the often sâ—…ng him he dissembled as the oâ—…her did deceived that extravagant Prince as that Prince thought to deceive him and in the meane time strove to see or at least to write to Isatida To this end as soone as t was night he got into a boate and hulling on the Lake lay there till breake of day Many a time he ran the hazard to be slaine on that Lake and was forced to carry a great bâ—…ckler to defend him from the shafts that rayned on him as soone as he came neere to Isatidaes prison But neglecting those small dangers he forbore not to put himselfe on the Lake eve ry night and to discover all places of that fatall Castle Now one night when he had resolved to goe a shore on a point of land by which there was an entrance into the Fort he saw comming out a man who after he had made them retyre who had accompanied him put himselfe alone into a boate and began to rowe with an incredible swiftnesse Zelmatida that had well learned that art in a very little time followed him and overtaking him almost in the middest of the Lake thrust hard of purpose on the other boate The man in it growne angry by the incounter asked my Master what he was and why violating the expresse commands of the King he durst in the night stay upon the Lake Zelmatida that had more minde to gaine then to fight with him answered that he was of Tlacopan which is a little Towne scituate on the banke of the Lake and who being about his affaires late at Mexico was then getting homewards The way you take answered the other and your language give you the lye and intimate to me sufficiently your ill intention You are infallibly one of those who dared to attempt on the lives of the Princesses and therewithall threw a dart at Zelmatida My deare Master happily avoided the stroake and in lieu of avenging himselfe whoever thou beest said he that hast wronged me both by thy words and actions know that I resent it not since intreating me as thou hast done it witnesses thou knowest me not I confesse answerd the other that at the first I knew you not but I doe now and give the Gods thankes that their providence rather then chance hath brought me to a place wherein I have liberty to discover that which till this time I have been constrayn'd to keep hidden Zelmatida thinking he had been taken for some other replyed I am not he whom thou imaginest Yes sayde the other you are the very same and your speech as well as the action lately done is to me an infallible testimony of it Yes you are the worthy heyre of the great Quasmez you are I say that Zelmatida to whom I ow my liberty life Zelmatida being unable to call to mind a person that knew him so well came as neere to him as he could and after a conjuration to tell his name I am indeede said he Zelmatida but I remember not that I have yet ever beene so happy to oblige you for your liberty or life yet I owe you both t was replyed how ill soever your memory be it can neither forget my name nor fortune I am that same Axiaman who driven by a desire of glory entred into your territories with five hundred of my companions and from your owne hands received a condigne punishment for my so much daring I was vanquished and taken prisoner but I must confesse to your glory that never man so generously treated his Enemies as you did both me and my companions The remembrance of it is still with me but not daring to signifie it to you for feare of your losse I have waited till some occasion might offer it selfe wherein without fayling of my dutie to my Lord the King I might by some service acquit my selfe of the favours you have done me After Axiaman had made this generous declaration to Zelmatida he came into his boate and acquainted him how he came to know him and what reasons had induced him not to make any demonstration of it For other things said he you are in that place of the world where you are the most feared and I assure you that were you knowne here for what you are your life would have its period before the next day but Zelmatida said he if my obligations to you may free all suspitions which my byrth and condition may give you and if you beleeve me of honesty enough to be trusted I beseech you by the liberty and life that I owe you I conjure you by your own safety to let me understand what might be the cause that hath made you leave the Markes of your
to traffique to the Iâ—…es of Zebut the Tempest had driven them to that where they found me They set sayl as soone as they could to get into their owne Countrey but as they were within sight of Zebut they were descryed by a Pyrat of China called Ocya Acem He set on them tooke them and putting all in chaines steered on for China and there sold them and me amongst the rest and by that misfortune I saw that great Empire which to say truely is farre more rich and admirable then the Inca's T was in that delightfull Countrey that fortune began to be weary of afflicting me I there recovered my liberty which I had lost and the charity of that Nation was so great that in lesse then two yeares I was Master of six great shippes which the Chineses call Juncks I got from the Governour of the maritine Townes a permission to traffick to Liampao and other Ports I was acquainted in sayling with the Portugalls and their communication causing me to remarke in them a subtlety of wit a politenesse and valour which I had not met with in any other Nation I gave my selfe over to my insatiable desire of travell and resolved to see that Countrey which bred so generous a people I therefore sold my Juncks and my Merchandize and putting all I had into golde and pearl I embarqued my selfe with a Portugall called Duart Tristao and sawe all places of the east Indies where the king of Portugall is Master I stayed some time in the straytes of Meca and during my abode there I bought two Arabians who taught me the language I speake and gave me the knowledge of the Empire of the great Signior I pased by the fortresses of Diü and Goa and finally arriv'd at Lisbone I was presented to the great King Emanuel and abode two whole yeares in his Court and that of Ferdinand and Isabella kings of Castile and Leon. It was there that I understood how a Genovois called Christopher Colombus had discovered a new world and by the description they made to me of it I knew it must needes be the same where I was borne Presently I was touched with a desire to see my deare Country I therefore put to Sea with the sonne of that happy Genovois and arrived with him in the Island of Hayti he gave me a vessell to goe to that of Cuba After that I had stayed some time there and learnt the customes and language of the countrey I returned to the young Columbus and by my intreaties obtained from him a pretty good ship but it had not any Cannon I embarqued with an intention to get into mine owne countrey but the winde drove me to the Port of Calcicoëca a little after that the slaves of Zelmatida arrived there I humanely received them and understanding their adventure put what they brought in a place of safety I asked them news of the kingdome of the Incaes when loe a great noyle comming from the land broake off our conversation and made me come out of my Cabin to discover what was done on shoare I saw two men pursued by aboue a hundred and defended themselves against so great a number The tallest of those two hardy combatants made shewe of an extreame valour I sawe how he mingled with those that followed him and dispersing them by his incomparable blowes gave not over killing till he was call'd back by the cryes of his Companyon But what need I tell you all that passed on this occasion T is ynough you know that Zelmatida was the invincible warriour who alone fought with so many madde men The inequalily of his combat and the desire to assist so valyant a man drewe me out of my vessell I landed with thirty of my mariners some arm'd with weapons of fire and the rest with halberds and pikes I march'd right to the murtherers and gave a discharge so to the purpose that my musketiers shot downe twenty of them and so terrified the rest that they tooke themselves to flight But their Leader who was the same Tendilly of whom I have before tolde you compelld them to returne to the charge When I saw that they came on againe I came neere to Zelmatida and presenting him one of the two swords which I had brought Inca sayde I to him not thinking to speake so well avenge thy selfe now of these Barbarians and knowe that in employing this iron which I put into thy hand thou shalt give as many deaths as blowes Zelmatida admiring the new weapon would faine see whether it had as much virtue as lustre He caused ten or twelve of my musquetiers to advance and putting himselfe in the Front went to meete Tendillyes Souldiers He strooke at the first and seeing with what facility his sword entred the bodies of his adversaries beleeved it to be some inchaunted weapon The Traytor Tendilly was in the midst of his Company who cryed out that they should lay holde on that mortall Enemie of Montezuma and the future Destruction of all Mexico His souldiers affrighted with the shot gave no eare to his coÌ„mands but imagining to scape death by getting further from the harquebusiers they tooke no heed that the fatall bullet strook them as mortally a far off as neer Zelmatida angry to have so good armes and finde so poore resistance ranne to Tendilly and comming to him almost strooke off his left arme with one blowe of his Sword Tendilly fell downe and asked his life from Zelmatida The Prince seeing him in so ill a case keepe it said he since thou lovest it so well but learne to make better use of it He presently left him and turning to me whoever you be said he whether man or god who are come to assist me with armes sufficient not only to exterminate these poore theeves but all the men in the World make an end of what you have begunne and taking me from a place wherein I have as many Enemies as Montezuma hath faithfull Subjects deliver me from this vexatious necessity eyther of losing my selfe or destroying of others This speech full of judgement joyned with the brave aspect of the speaker and the brave actions he had newly executed assured me that Zelmatida was something more then a man I told him that I had a ship in which he might imbarque himselfe and by that meanes be secure from the fury of so barbarous a Nation and there withall shewed him my vessell He left his Enemies who had no minde to stay him and giving them the honour of the field which he had wonne marched towards the Sea and we all presently went aboord Those which I had before taken into my ship no sooner saw Zelmatida but that they beganne to make great shoutes of joy and threw themselves at his feete He praysed their fidelity bewailed the death of their companions and promised to reward their affection Which done he turned him to me told me his name and his quality and in few words
desires is to see that so many honest men had rather perish then to forsake so miserable a wretch as I. Those words drew teares from the most insensible of our Saylors and we all told him with one voyce that we thought our selves too happy to be in such an estate as not to survive so good a Master If my Soule said he were capable of receiving a new affliction your love and friendshippe would redouble my despayre Whilest we were thus talking our vessell was sometime driven towards the East and then to the South At last the Tempest ceasing and our Mariners perceiving themselves in that fearefull extent of Sea which separates the old World from the new came and told me that they were not farre off from Cape Vert and that it be hooved us to try to land there They had already fitted their sailes for it when they descryed Bajazets fleete and being afraid of that encounter steered for the Canaries yet were we assayled as you have eyther seene or heard and forced to yeeld not so much by the courage of our vanquishers as by the shew of Zelmatidaes obstinacy not to defend himselfe At this word Gurruca speaking more softely a see said he to the Princes the principall part of our Kings adventures I have passed by many excellent particularities and clouded the raies of his heroicall life by my simple relation but you are enough cleere sighted to discover the splendour of his actions through the obscurity of my language This accomplisht Favourite ending in this manner his relation left Polexander Iphidamantus Bajazez and Alcidiana's slave in an admiration so great that they could no otherwise expresse it but by their silence They then arose and went to finde Zelmatida who was still walking on the terrasses of the Castle They heard him complaining and now and then invoking the name of Isatida I live said he and thou art dead O weake and traytrous Zelmatida I How long wilt thou be a faith-breaker Polexander came first to him and witnessing to him the part he tooke in his grievances and the admiration of his whole life Doe not suffer cried he your sorrow to governe you so absolutely that it makes you forget what you owe to the memory of Isatida T is fit that Mexico should know by her propeâ—…ruine rather then by that of her enemies how much Zelmatida is to be feared Entertaine then by a vengeance that should last as long as your selfe a passion eternall and give to the prophesies of your Prophet an explication worthy the virtues of Isatida Bajazet and Iphidamantus who were of the same opinion advised to the same purpose and amongst the praises they gave Zelamtida did all they could to winne him from despairing of Isatida's life The chances of the world said Iphidamantus to him have such strange revolutions that every day our feares are as much deluded as our hopes and I know by mine owne proper adventures that we accuse the heavens for the death of those we love whilst yet their goodnesse is doing miracles for the preservation of their lives Fortune is thus pleased to crosse our contentments and to play with that false providence whereby we would imitate the Sages Zelmatida comming from his musings at the discourse of the Princes yet replied to it as little as if he had not understood them but answering his owne thoughts Yet I live said he and my cowardize hath made me criminall that all the Mexicans deaths with mine owne cannot expiate my last faultes But whither doe my vaine imaginations carry me Must I yet thinke on the world I who came into it but only to dye and who endure life as a long and violent torture to which the justice of heaven hath condemned me at that very instant when I tooke a resolution to leave Isatida These discouses had beene seconded by many more and the sad thoughts which these infortunate Lovers communicated to one another by an amorous infection had furnished them with new matter of entertainement but that a furious winde arising threatned them with one of those tempests to which all the Coasts of Africa and the neighbouring Isles seemed particularly to be condemned This tempest accompanied with lightning and thunder took soone from the Princes the sight of the heaven and the starres The aire seemed all on fire The sea carrying his waves even to the places where the thunders framed strove to quench the flames The shores roared and the Isle it selfe trembling under the feet of her Inhabitants seemed to breake those eternall bonds which had fastned it to the Center of the earth and would by her flight steale from the fury of that conflagration In effect they saw fire fall from heaven in divers parts of the Island but the raigne as suddainely following it smothered the ill in its birth Our foure Lovers having far other enemies to contest with then the toilsomnesse and varieties of that Climat retired to their chambers and having no other witnesses of their actions but themselves gave their griefs all the liberty that constraint and civility had tyrannically taken from them The end of the fourth Booke The first Part of POLEXANDER The fifth Booke POlexander seeing his intention crossed by the violence of the tempest could not sleepe all night He accused innocent things for the ill which his passion made him suffer and imputing the ordinary agitations of the windes and the sea to the cruelties of Fortune perswaded himselfe that Nature and Heaven Demons and men looked on him as their common enemy He threw even on Alcidiana's a version the cause of his misfortunes and ascribing to her by an amorous Idolatry that absolute power which is reserved to the Divinity I feele cride he oftentimes I feele faire Queene the effects of your anger The Elements who are no lesse sensible then men search out occasions to please you and affect the glory of being your servants They are armed to destroy me They are affrighted with the threats of your declaration and looking on me as a traytor pursu'd by your justice they feare least that in favouring me they may become my Confederates At that word he remembred he had lodged Alcidiana's slave in his chamber and that thought smothered the rest of his complaints But the generous slave beginning Leave said he your complaining on Alcidiana and Fortune They seeme to be your enemies but I doubt not at the last they will discover what they have concealed and declare themselves for you I know some things which in spite of your scruples all your distrusts and all the conceipts touching your selfe shall be able to comfort you I expected wee should have gone from this Island to have acquainted you with them But if the storme compells us to stay I will relate to you some particularities which have never come out of my Princesse Cabinet and which are not knowne but to her selfe Amalthea and Me. Polexander that could hope for nothing answered the faire slave
tooke notice that Diceus was all bloody Alas poore Diceus cried he thou art sore hurt T is nothing Sir said I since we are sure of your life There 's no feare that ouâ—…'s will run a hazard Yet let me tell you Pimantus is in great danger for I left him swoonded on the Hatches be therefore pleased that I go to take care of him Scarce had the Prince heard of my mischance but he came where I lay and finding me sencelesse fell into such Lamentations and teares as had been able had I been dead to have revived me had he found â—…e dead Diceus recovered me from my fainting and not to hold yoâ—… longer among the many slaine and wounded let me tell you that the King and his two Servants by a mutuall assistance were freed from that Fate wherein so many were involved In the mean â—…ime our Ship governed only by fortune for our Pilot was slain in his Cabin faâ—…l'd at â—…dome two dayes and nights The Third day a tall man of Warre assail'd us and by consequence took us Those that were abord her were more astonished at their prize then we were of their setting on us They knew not what to thinke of so horrible a Massaker but they wondered more when they saw appear a youth of about thirteen years who with a marvelous confidence demanded who they were and whither they came as Enemies or friends The Captaine of the straingers could not reply to the Kings question for he understood him not Addressing himselfe therefore unto me who was crept after Polexander rather then I would forsak him Father said he if by chance you understand my language I intreat you to tell me by what mischance you are falen into the estate I finde you By his speech I knew him to be a Frenchman and concealing from him the Name and birth of the King my Master related the accident which had lately betided us and withall presented to him the King as for my Son and shewing both our wounds besought him to conduct us to the Canaries the Frenchman who as I understood that same daye was a Gentleman of Britany hardly beleeving what I had spoken touching the valour of my supposed sonne took him into his Armes a thousand times kis'd him and highly praised that wonder of valour and spake of it as of a most certaine presage that he should be one day a great warrior I besought him againe to bring us to our Islands and though as it seemed he had another designe yet for the love of Polexander he promis'd me to make that voyage but fortune had otherwaies dispos'd of him For the Briton who was come into our Seas only to inrich himselfe by other mens labours seeing divers sailes a farre off with an extreame hast got to the coasts of Morocco and when he would have put to Sea againe a South winde for fifteene dayes with such a violence perplexed him that after the Tempest he found himselfe far beyond the Cape Finister in Spayne He advis'd me then to goe with him into Britany and to put by all difficulties which I named in the voyage told me that our Islands as happy as they were estemed were not yet more fotrunate then his Princesse Court and that I should finde there such a repose and abondance that I should infallibly forget the delights of our owne country Seeing there was no remidy and I could not do better besides perswading my selfe that Heaven did absent Polexander from tâ—…e Canaries but to save him from the cruelty of the Portingalls I resolv'd to credit the Briton and to let my king see the most renowned Courts of Europe without his being known Presently therefore Polexander Diceus and my selfe imbarqued our selves with the Briton and taking out of our ship two Coffers wherein were the Kings Jewels I left our ship to the disposall of our Guid. We sayled so fortunately that the fifteenth day we came into the River of Loire where the Gentleman Rover told us that for divers considerations he thought it fitting to conduct us right to his Princess Court But to the end we might be receiv'd according to our quality 't was convenient we should put our selves in good equipage and above all that I should forget nothing which might set out the gracefullnesse of my Sone I answered him that our present condition suffer'd us not to affect that curiosity yet on condition that he would assoon as pissible he could reconduct us to our Islands I would do all that he desired and withall told him that his voyage should not be unprofitable to him for said I I have ther such an abundance of al such thing for which men sayle from one World to the other exposing themselves tâ— all perils of Sea and Land that if I have the happynesse to see you in my Isle I engage my selfe to give you for my ransome my sonnes as much Gold as you can cary thence The Briton opened his eares at that promise imagining that I was a Prince of some one of the Canaries renew'd his civilities proâ—eâ—ations of service He impledg'd to me honour faith never to forsake me til he had brought me againe to my owne house and told me very seriously that he exerciz'd not the trade of a Pirat but only to accomplish a vow he had long a gon made to be al his lifetime an Enemy to the Spanyards I thanked him for his generossity for feare he might be tempted to take us for Spanyards I drew out of my bosom a chain of Diamonds which I had taken out of one of the Kings Trunks and presenting it to him in privat see said I some earnest of the promise I made you Keepe it for my sake and assure your selfe there hath betided you more then all you could have gotten from the Spanyards The Britain seeing himselfe so much enrich'd in so short a time was even ready to cast himselfe at my feet to thank me for that excessive liberality but I withheld him and clinging him to my brest Assure your selfe said I softly that this present is but the least part of what you are to expect from my gratitude But if you love me truly and affect your selfe make nothing publick of what you know The generous Britain by a thousand oathes confirm'd his promises and landing us at a very pleasant Town brought us the next day to another which was the ordiâ—…ry residence of the Duchesse Polexander was wholy cured of his wound but I was not so well as to get on horseback Diceus too was healing but because of his too much paines about the King 't was the more slowly Our Conductor was therefore faine to get a Coach for our Journey and comming to the place where the Duchesse of Brittany kept her Couâ—…t we were lodged in a very faire house There we refresh'd our selves some few dayes and by the kind entertainment of our Leader lost all the remembrance of our
condition you ought to take into consideration the Queen your Mother you ought to give her the Example of comforting her selfe and by your constancy facilitate the meanes of supporting her mis-fortunes All things sort well with you to go render her this necessary proofe of your good disposition She now bewayls your absence as well as your Sisters Go and ease her of one part of her feares and disquiet and since 't is impossible for you to give her all she desires give her yet at least all which she desires with reason I know t is vexatious and irksome to you to signifie to her the death of your Sister But it is not of necessity that you should your selfe bring her that unwelcome and heavy newes Besides Axiamira's virtue is no common virtue She is of proofe against the greatest Accidents and Fortune who hath often violently justled her hath not been able to stirr her At that word Polexander interrupting me Governour said he I yeeld to so many reasons and will not be â—…pbrayded that for being too nice I forsook one sick who might have receiv'd comfort by my care and diligence Presently the Pilot had command to returne to the Canaryes and as if the wind had been govern'd by that Prince it shifted in a moment from East to West and so fresh a gale that the second day we discry'd the prodigious Mountaine of the Isle of Teneriffe There we met with an obstacle which was as the presage of those hind'rances where withall Fortune went about to oppose the prosperities of Polexander Four-Pyrateâ—…hips which domineer'd in those Seas discharg'd all at once on our two Vessells and not thinking to meet with any great resistance came close up to us without any more My generous Master finding in this occasion wherewithall to exercise his great courage made it appeare to the Rovers they had been very ill advised He so affrighted them by the terror of his blowes but particularly by the death of their Captaine that they gave over the fight and contented themselves with the losses they had sustained Polexander was more hard to be pleas'd and would not overcome by halfes He hotly pursued the Run-awayes sunck two of their ships and but for the ill weather which seem'd to envy his victory it had not been unperfected But of this I intended not to accuse Fortune if by a pernicious sequell that Jealous-one had not made it appeare she had a designe not to save the Prince's Enemies but to ruine the Prince himselfe To bring it to passe she arm'd the Sea and the Winds and commanded them to wage Warr with him and after she had held him many dayes and nights without hope of safety cast him into a Port wherein he made a more dangerous shipwrack then if his Vessell had been split upon some Rock His ship then open and leaking in many places and unfurnished in her principall parts hazardously entred the mouth of a little River which our Pilots knew not and not finding water enough insensibly ran in on the owze The generous Polexander presently came to assist Alcippus Diceus and my selfe that could no more and assuring us we were out of all danger said that if we had yet but a little courage we might instantly enjoy our good fortune Get out my friends let 's get out of this sad abode and let 's see whether the Land will be more kind to us then the water and whilst our Mariners resume their Spirits let us take the benefit of that rest which an extream pleasant shore presents us Alcippus overcame his sicknesse to follow Polexander went a land with him Diceus follow'd presently after and I who had rather dye then be from my Prince caus'd my selfe to be carryed on shore by foure of our slaves The ayre of the Land streightwayes dissipating a part of our sicknesse we found our selves comforted and â—…as'd in lesse then nothing Polexander and Alcippus climb'd to the top of a Rock not farre from us to see whether we were arriv'd in a place that was inhabited But seeing neither men nor houses and the night too approaching they return'd where they had left me and told me we must set up Tents on the shore to passe the comming night better then we had done the eight or ten precedent Diceus receiving this order from me went back into the ship and commanded the Officers of the Kings Cabin to go set up the Kings pavillion in the most commodious place they could find All which was don with so much diligence that in lesse then an houre we found our selves very well lodg'd When every one had eaten we set Sentinells on the parts that lead to us for feare of being surpris'd and gave them expresse order not to disperse themselves for what cause soever This done we went to Bed Scarce had the Sun begun to whiten the top of the Rock at whose feet we had pitch'd our Tent when Polexander call'd Alcippus and my selfe and told â—…s we slept as profoundly as if we were in a friends Country We streight clad us and that while the Prince went to relieve the Sentinells and put some little Court of Guard about his Tents to make some little resistance in case we were set on and forbad us on paine of death to observe him as a King before any person whatsoever that should hap to come neer him This being thus ordered he commanded his horses to be landed but they had been so Sea-beaten they could hardly uphold themselves Yet there was a Barbary white as Snow which Polexander had bought to combate with Abdelmelec that took heart assoone as he was landed and refreshing himselfe on the Grasse seem'd by his neighing to assure the King his Master that he might make use of him The Prince after he had taken a little repast amongst all his followers took horse and Alcippus and Diceus following him a foot travers'd a plaine which stretch'd it selfe along by the River and grew broader in other Lands as farr off as the eye could extend After he had ridden three or four miles he descended by a pleasant slope hanging of a hill into so delight some valleys were it for the little Brookes which divided them for the Fountaines which slid from the top of the little hills for the meadow coverd with a thousand severall kindes of flowers or for the little woods which invirond them so that oftentimes considering them I have said to my selfe that the ancient Grecians had good cause to chuse the abode of their Heroes Soules in the Islands of the Atlantick Sea If Polexander were ravished at so faire a Scite he was farre more in meeting with those that inhabited it They were Shepheards so handsome and Shepheardesses so fayre and neatly clad that in seeing them Polexander thought on the Knights and Ladies of the French Court beleeved he saw them represent act some Pastoral in their rurall habits The first he met withall not a jot wondred to
you have given me some knowledg in this Countries Languages The Shepheard who had the generousnesse of a King answered that his businesse should never be taken into his consideration when his good Fortune would present him the occasion of doing him Service That he should absolutely dispose of him and ever finde a readinesse to give proofe of his obedience After Polexander had received those civilities according to his wonted courtesies he gave a period to their first conversation and lead the Shepheard to walke The old man made shew of enjoying the strength of one of farre younger yeares for though he was come that very day from a village neere twelve miles distant from that where Polexander lay yet stuck he not to walke till it was farre in the night and made the Prince confesse his legs were the worst of the two VVhen they were returned to their lodging they talâ—…ed of the quaintnesse and bravery of many remarkeable Nations of Europe and concur'd in opinion that even the French or neater English had no advantage o're the Subjects of Alcidiana From thence they passed to the richnesse of the tongues and the Old Shepheard made it appeare to Polexander by 〈◊〉 great number of Examples that his Language had all the graces and copiousnesse of the Greek It is very likely â—…aid he that we have got thence a part of our words For the most of our Names of men of Townes of floods of Beasts of Plants are all Greek Another part is Arabick and the rest which we may properly call our own is of so sweet and facile a pronuntiation that it seems Heaven desirous to treat us more favorably then the rest of men hath caus'd as care love to appear even in the Composition of our Language Polexander said he would learne without further deferâ—…ing and Alcippus noted the first word he asked the old Shepherd was that of Love For a whole moneth he gave all his time to that study and iâ—… his growing passion had not diverted his imagination and rob'd the best houres he imployed in that exercise he had drawne dry all the old Shepheards knowledge His disquiets pluck'd him at last from this idle life and the desire to see Alcidiana againe exercising and stirring him day and night he was constrained to leave the Hamlet where he had been so long and to goe passe some dayes in that of the old Shepheard where he met with all that imagination could conceive might conduce to make up a pleasant life But he who had confined all his felicitie in the sight of Alcidiana converted into bitternesse the sweets of his aboade and nourish'd his melancholy even with such things as should make an end of it But Love who had given the wound would bring a remedy for twelve or fifteen dayes after Polexanders arrivall to the Câ—…te of the old Shepheard Alcidiana came to a Pallace which her Predecessors had built at the Entry of a Forrest which was full of Stagges and wild Boares As soone as Polexander heard of her comming he gave thanks to the Author of his passion and not to lose the happinesse which he presented him resolv'd not to put off the enjoying it till another season He therefore caus'd a Shepheards habit to be made for him that under such a digguise he might come neer Alcidiana's Pallace and see her as often as she went to or came from hunting He departed with Alcippus disguis'd as himselfe and driving a flock before them got to a Land of many Leagues by which they went to the Pallace The very same day he saw the Princesse and that second sight gave the fatall blow whereof he will never be cured The Princesse in passing looked on him and marking through his habit the Majesty which he had as it were hidden there made the Ladies which accompanied her to take notice of it He the while that would possesse as much as he could a happines so pationately desir'd left his flock to the keeping of Alcippus and shuffling himselfe among a company of servants that look'd to the Hounds made so good of that little knowledge he had of their tongue that they not only receiv'd him into their company as they were wont to doe other Shepheards that came but also lent him what ever he wanted fit â—…or a Hunter When the whole Troop was in the Forrest the Hunts-men did their charge and first severâ—…d the Hounds Polexander was sent with six to a stand for a relay far within the Wood. The desire he had to be alone hindred him from saying he knew not the place whither they sent him He therefore went on at all adventures and when he thought himselfe well plac'd got him into a bush with his dogges and lay down at the foot of a green Oake Tâ—…s not hard for you to imagine the brave meditations he had in this attending and expectation Sometime he made a comparison betwixt himselfe and the wounded Deare Sometimes he accused the Stagge of more than a brutish stupidity to flye the glory of being pierced by one of Alcidiana's shafts and oftentimes wished him in his place With how much joy said he would I receive the death thou flyest from and how happy would I esteeme my Fate if being wounded as I am by Alcidiana's darts I durst promise my selfe to dye as thou must at the feet of that Princesse Surely if in that desireable moment I were seen to shed any teares they should be teares of joy and my sobs should be so many thanksgivings to that faire hand which should take me from among the living After some two houres almost of his thus intertaining himselfe he heard a noise and turning his head the way whence it came saw a great Stag in a rutt way that went quite crosse the Forrest from one end to the other There were neither Huntse-men nor Hounds that followed the beast and yet he saw well he had been very sore â—…ayd to For every foot he bow'd down his head held his nose to the Earth and instead of running made many great slydings When the Stagge was some ten or twelve paâ—…es from the bush wherein Polexander lay he heard the Prince stirre whereat streight he lifted up his head and shut his angles to make it beleev'd he went with confidence and was yet vigorous enough In that instant Alcidiana mounted on a Horse as white as snow came out of a thickeâ—… on the other side oâ—… Polexanders bâ—…sh The Horse fierce and proud â—…ut fearefull surpriz'd with the meeting of the Stag cast himselfe hastâ—…ly into our Lovers covert and the Deare in the same instant giving two bounds 〈◊〉 Alcidiana had not 〈◊〉 extreâ—…mely nimble to cast her selfe a ground she had run the hazard of her liâ—…e Her horse payd for 't for with two thrusts of his brow-ancklers he was layd flat on the sand At the shreeck Alcidiana gave seeing her selfe at the mercy of the incensed beast Polexander without thought of uncoupling his
he was borne for the ruine and extirpation of Monsters I in that adventure followed him but was so unfortunate as to be taken by the Portugals and carried prisoner into Gama's ship I offred him gold and pearles for my ransome and even told him I was Abrinzia's brother and omitted nothing of what might make him capable of a resolution to set me at liberty But the losse of his best Souldiers and the dishonor to be beaten back againe to shipping by Almanzor working him to a revenge made him inexorable The night after his defeate he weigh'd Anchor and unmov'd by my teares and supplications carried me into Spaine and presented me to the King his Master for Abrinzia's brother Those three yeares I passed in that servitude hindred me from being a spectator of Almanzor's great adventures But heaven infallibly permitted it for some good and if I deceive not my selfe to the end my Prince living unknowne to himselfe as well as to his Enemies might retard their ruine without taking paines for his owne Know then after he had repuls'd the Portugals and seene their ships farre from the coasts of Benin he muster'd his men but finding me wanting he was so afflicted and witnessed such resentments as I shall never recompence by any service or the losse of my life A hundred times exclaim'd he on his fortune cast his armes away and running where the slaughter had beene greatest searched all the dead to see whether I were of their number But not finding me he ran to the Sea and his griefe transporting him Theeves and villaines cried he to the Portugals give me back Almaid and if your avarice cannot be satisfied by an ordinary ransome I engage my selfe to conquer for you all the golden countrey for the liberty of my second father But in uneffectuall petitions I lose that time which I should imploy for Almaids redemption Therewithall he sent a servant of his to Abrinzias to advertise him of my losse and to beseech him humbly he would be pleased to command the Royall vessell to be made ready and arm'd to pursue those who had carried me away prisoner That ship was carefully kept in the River of Benin and as a thing consecrated to their Deity was not us'd but to saile some dayes in the yeare to carry those offerings which the Crowne of Benin owed to the great Temple of Congo Almanzor went to the Captaine of that ship and perswading him that the succouring of the miserable and giving liberty to those which had lost it was a pleasing Offering to heaven obliged him to arme his vessell and keepe it ready to weigh Anchor assoone as the Kings permission came to him The very same day leave came and though Abrinzias writ to Almanzor not to hazard himselfe in that voyage yet he imbark'd himselfe and followed the Portugals His ship being not so good a sayler nor so well governed as those he chased could never fetch them up But on the contrary in the first tempest being forsaken by the Pilot he was eight or ten dayes at the mercy of the Sea and at last ran on a bank on a coast farre distant from that of Benin Almanzor saved himselfe in a little boate that was in the ship and armed with his usuall armour landed on that unknowne shore No sooner was he on land but he saw himselfe environed with many armed men who infallibly taking him for another cast themselves at his feet and shew'd by their clapping of hands and their shouts they were exceedingly delighted The most apparent of the Troupe standing a while as ravish'd with admiration or joy Welcome said he O most happily return'd is this worthy Prince which was borne for the safety of Nations for the destruction of Tyrants and the protection of the afflicted O my deare Country dry thy teares revive thy hopes acknowledge thy happinesse behold thy tutesar Angel and come meet this powerfull defender who is going to pluck thy Princes out of Captivity and breake the chaines of their servitude Almanzor was much surpris'd with this mans acclamations and to know the cause of it would not take him out of that error On the contrary he entreated him to relate what had hapned who were the enemies he was to fight with and what was become of those should defend them Great Prince replied the man I should be too tedious if I recounted to you all the miseries that have betided us since your absence Know that the untameable King of Tombut the furious tyrant of Temian and the hardy Prince of Agadez renewing the wars they had other times begun out of meere ambition and yet under pretext of avenging our first Queene came thundring on this Kingdome with a powerfull Army and to make the people revolt publish'd all about that the King by the advice of the Queen now reigning had caus'd his first wife to be poysoned and poniarded his Son My King who without flattery hath all the qualities of a great Prince did what he could to repell force by force but seeing himselfe forsaken by most of his Subjects he was constrain'd to shut himselfe up in a strong place he hath on the River of Senega and to expect there the aide was coming to him from Melley and Guinea That succour was vainely look'd for for the Kings fault which grew not out of mens memories and his second marriage which was contracted by a murther and a sacriledge were the reasons why no body would take Armes for our defence The King seeing himselfe out of hope to be relieved resolved to dye like a man of valour He made a salley on his enemies but after he had lost many of his people and received divers great wounds he was taken and ignominiously led before the King of Tombut Zelopa so is our Queen called advertis'd of that mischance did not what another wife would have done She had no recourse to teares and cryes but got out of her Palace with a manlike heart and taking the place of the King her husband made a speech to the people and souldiers and wonne them to a defence even till death The Enemy in the meane time sent her a Herauld and word that if within eight dayes she resolv'd not to render her selfe to their discretion they would cut off the Kings head Those eight dayes expire to morrow Judge my Lord if hitherto we have not had great cause of affliction and seeing you return'd whether we have not more reason to rejoyce The man thus ending his discourse besought Almanzor to take some course instantly for the safty of his father and mother Almanzor somewhat troubled with the novelty of this adventure knew not what to resolve but his innate generosity dissipating all those cloudy made him see how honourable this occasion might be to him and the interest he had not to disbeguile those who tooke him for what he was not He resolv'd therefore to assist the imprisoned King and the afflicted Lady and intimating so
he had not wandered by Sea and land but to live in a dominion where a man might applaud vertue and condemne vice without feare of being persecuted That double felicity said he doe I finde in all places where you command You are no lesse good then powerfull and the good you doe is never the recompense of a servile flattery nor a criminall obsequiousnesse Almanzor interrupting Osmin Beware father said he lest in condemning flattery you become a flatterer The onely thing I can assure you is that I will doe my best endeavour to hinder all good men from becoming miserable With that he dismissed Osmin and promis'd him that very day he would go and confirme these veriâ—…ies to his wife and daughter Osmin being gone Almanzor tooke Hydaspes by the one hand and my selfe by the other and walking up and downe the chamber now cast his eyes upon the one and then on the other At last standing still What said he You doe not doubt now but that Axiamira is somewhat else then what she goes for Poore Osmin â—…ath unwittingly discover'd all and possest me with a desire of knowing by what cruelty of fortune that Princesse hath beene pluck'd from the armes of her parents Hydaspes spake first and made a long enumeration of many Princes who by divers accidents were falne into the like misfortune as Axiamira If I durst have spoken what I knew I could have confirm'd Hydaspes proofes by the very example of Almanzor but thinking it not fit to let him know who he was before I had confer'd with Abrinzias about it I advis'd him neither to believe nor disbelieve what he thought of Axiamira I have a businesse more important to make knowne to you said he 't is that I marke I know not what in this adventure which troubles me and makes me feare lest you fall not into the crimes but the weakenesses of Zabaim I see your spirit stir'd with certaine agitations with which it was not lately acquainted You have disquiets in your most pleasing recreations You sigh and laugh together You make them hold their peace which speake to you and you are silent when you are bound to answer In that little time I have had the honour to be neere you I have seene you put on all those different formes and even during Osmins relation you sometimes seem'd inflamed as if you had beene in the heate of a combat and then pale as ready to swound Scarce could you containe your selfe in one place and I saw you every moment ready to interrupt Osmin though you witnessed a great pleasure in hearing him May be my Lord you know not what malady t is which discovers it selfe by these strange symptomes T is love replied Almanzor sighing but a love so pure and perfect that I should be an enemy to vertue if I were asham'd to confesse it After that declaration he held his peace and I presently began to lay open to him how unworthy of him the subject of his love was Father said he after he had intreated me to be silent if Axiamira's excellent qualities receiv'd no wrong by your remonstrances I would indure you as farre as I have done Hydaspes and would not thinke it strange that you should treat me as one blinded unreasonable like another Zabaim in briefe as an effeminate man who for a sensuall pleasure contemnes all honour treads vertue under foote and renounceth his part in all that is excellent in the world But when I shall have given you freedome to throw all those injuries on me what thinke you will come of it Even nothing but that you will have confirm'd me in my resolution and gain'd to your selves a continuall repentance for opposing the innocence of my intentions Be better advis'd my friends and crosse me not since you have not done it hitherto in seeing me in the most dangerous occurrents but be witnesses how I demeane my selfe pry into my least actions and faile not to reprove me if you see me swerve into any thing unworthy By this speech Almanzor silencing us both made us to fall from one extreame into another and of his Censurers which we would have beene to become his Confidents This conversation once ended he went to the King and understood from a Courier sent to him from Zabaim that very shortly by a solemne Embassy he would not onely give him thanks for so many countries he owed to his valour but offer him a great part of it Almanzor almost insensible of those promises us'd Zabaims Posts very civilly in the presence of Abrinzias but in private he made knowne that his Master had offended him and so he was sent back with a letter which we were bound to approve after we had long debated and it was thus Perseus to Zabaim King of Senega JUstice commands me to write to you as to the most unworthy of all men But I know not what Law which I cannot read under forbids me the upbraiding your crimes and the violating that amity I have promis'd you Not because of your undeserving and that I am not oblig'd to hate my selfe for my capacity of loving you Some other then I would repeate and reproach you my deservings but since in all my actions I never propos'd any other end but honour I also never expected any other recompence Enjoy happily if the remorce of conscience will permit you to be happy Senega which I have preserv'd to you against the power of your enemies and Guinea which I have finally reconquered for you I repent not for all that you have done me the yeelding you so many proofes of my affection But hence forward I shall know how to make a better election and not hazard my life for such men who loving nothing but their pleasures and brutish desires glory in their breach of promise and legitimate affections Go not about by your excuses and artificiall reasons to justifie your violences Though Axiamira's beauty were powerfull enough to captivate your love the consideration of Perseus should have beene as prevalent to have hindred you from shewing it But honoured knight I have too much troubled you with affaires of State I returne to those of Love and let you know that Almanzor had no sooner dispatch'd Zabaims Messenger but he came to Axiamira's chamber He found her in her ordinary neglect and melancholy He came to her with a feare that is not to be believed and utterly losing the remembrance of all that he had premeditated to speake to her he was brought against his will to call for Osmin to him to recollect his wits by that diversion and finde some cause of talke When the old man was come he tooke him by the hand and addressing his Speech to him Have you said he intimated to this faire Lady my resentment of Zabaim's insolencies Axiamira staid not till her father had satisfied Almanzor's demand but turning to the Prince her eyes still cast downewards My Lord said she if you commiserate our afflictions doe
Fisher-boats that were by the shore and commanded them to take in if it were possible all those that were not yet lost in that conflagration They obey'd but onely for fashion sake and indeed their paines was bootlesse and their feare of losing themselves in striving to save strangers kept them from that hazard One of these two burning ships being driven full against our rock split in peeces and left to the mercy of the Sea those whom the fire had not yet consumed The other met luckily with the mouth of the River of Sus and all burnt as she was downe to the water drove as we understood next day on a shelfe up the River Hely grieved at so strange a sight went to his bed and commanded me to take care of those who were taking out of the Sea I went downe to the shore and seeing there the good Kings guard blamed their disobedience and compell'd them to return to their boats It was exceeding darke the Sea went high and the feare so generall that this second attempt was as vaine as the former One of the boats being thrown against the point of a rock was overturn'd some of the Souldiers drown'd and the rest affrighted at the losse of their companions got to land and protested against ever turning Mariners againe I would have return'd but something I know not what staying me I remained there almost alone As the Tyde went out the winde calm'd and the waves growne smoother brought even to my feet some pieces of that double shipwrack As I was earnestly righting that which came a shore amongst chests fardels and halfe burnt pieces of plancks and other timber I saw a man who forgetting the danger from which he was not yet got free call'd with a loud voyce Iphidamanta and seem'd he had no minde to save himselfe but onely in regard he was loath to leave the person who own'd that name I thought it good with my self but knew not wherefore to answer at the name of Iphidamanta I had scarce twice or thrice repeated it but he who call'd put himselfe to swim and came to land fast by where I sate Assoone as he was out of the water I ran to him and offered on the behalfe of the King of Morocco all that he needed in his adverse fortune Afterwards to free him from the trouble wherein he saw him I said That I onely touched with compassion had made answer as often as he call'd Iphidamanta The man sighing at those words stood a while silent at last he ask'd me on what Province of Africa he was cast and besought me to tell him my name I satisfi'd his demands and strove by my best reasons to comfort him or at least to draw him out of his despaire But he insensible of all things but his losse Reserve said he for some more lesse miserable then my selfe the remedies your charity presents me I must dye said he and must finde by my sword what I could not meet with neither in the fire nor the water Ah! faire Iphidamanta thou art lost and even those indeavours wherevvith I strove to preserve to my selfe the happinesse of seeing thee have reduc'd me to the misery of never seeing thee more After he had thus lamented he left me and leapt into a little boat that was moar'd at the Sea side but when he was got some twenty or thirty paces the surges brought him back againe Five or six times he strove to force her and as often was cast backe a shore At last he came out of his vessell and finding me where I was left If said he your pity be not fained tell me where I may finde some Mariners My shipwracke is not of so little importance but the remaines of it is able to inrich many I advis'd him to stay till day ere he put himselfe to Sea and promis'd to provide him as many men as he needed Then I intreated him to retire in and passe the rest of the night with me but I could not possibly get him from the place where he was and his obstinacy cut off from me all meanes of comforting him I therefore took my leave of him and assoone as I was in my lodging sent five or six of my slaves to get Mariners to serve him At day breake I returned to the Sea side to learne what was become of him for I thought not to meet him againe yet I did but in the most deplorable estate you can possibly imagine He held in his hands a robe imbroider'd with gold and silver which was in some places burnt and in others bloudy When I came neere he lifted it up into the aire and with a languishing voyce cry'd out See just heaven what thou hast permitted Fortune to perpetrate See all that remaines of that wonder for whom thou seem'dst to have reserv'd the best Crownes of Europe Doest thou thus deceive the faith of men and reject the prayers of the most innocent Didst not thou incourage me to plucke Iphidamanta out of the hands of a Tyrant to whom she had beene inthrall'd Didst thou not make me hope to see her one day seated on my Throne only to ingage me to an unfortunate enterprise which hath hastned her fate and buried in those waves which have swallow'd her all that could ever make me happy Thou wouldst have it so just heaven and thereby I know thou redemandest the life thou hast given me I restore it thee and render it as a gift I am asham'd of With that he cast away the robe and tooke againe the ponyard wherewithall he had already strook himselfe but I held his hand as he was about to double his blow and making my selfe knowne Credit not said I your despaire follow more wholesome counsell and at least preserve so much of your selfe as remaines When he heard me speake he cast up his eyes and knowing me Osmin repli'd he I will dye and not give Fortune the contentment of seeing me longer under her tyranny But before I go hence I will trust thee with my last Will. Intreat from me the King of Morocco that he will please to send into Scotland and advertise the King my father of the tragicall end whereto his deniall hath brought me and if my last petition can move him obtaine that he send some one to the Canaries to let the Queen there know of my death Polexander was so vext to heare of the Scottish Prince his death and withall the contrary of what he had knowne from the old Narcissus that he had not power enough o're himselfe to suppresse his first agitations and remaine in that indifferency with which he had heard the other incidents of Almanzor's History he interrupted unseasonably Almaid and besought him before he went further on to let him know whether after the death of the Scottish Prince there had been nothing heard of Iphidamanta Almaid was far from imagining 't was Polexander spoke to him nor made he any reflection on his troubles and
tremble yet so that it neither troubled his minde nor judgement He thought a while on what he had heard and made a little noise that he might as well satisfie his eyes as his eares presently he saw come out from behinde the tombe an apparition like to that Alcippus had describ'd to him he was extreamely pleas'd at that sight and not doubting but it was a Spirit resolv'd to aske it newes of what was to come and to know whether he should give over the hope of seeing Alcidiana againe when therefore he saw the Ghost neere enough to him Be not offended said he faire soule who even in the grave retainest thy love and fidelity if I disturb the peace and silence of this sad abode unfortunate lover that I am I seeke every where for some one that may instruct me by what way I may return towards the glorious and worthy cause of my flames and afflictions If pity have any place in thee amorous Spirit be favourable to a man full of love Help a wretch which wanders sea and land without regaining the blisse he hath lost and tell him whether Time reserves nought for him but death for the end of all his miseries Thoâ—… art deceiv'd replied the Spirit I see no clearer then thou dost into future things and though my abode my habit and countenance make me passe for a Ghost know yet I have onely the resemblance of one but am indeed a most unfortunate mayden who in this tombe bewaileth a bloudy and precipitated death and a life farre more worthy of compassion This speech amaz'd Polexander more then the former had done or the thought he had of that miserable mayden and looking on her as on something more strange then a phantasme Who will ever beleeve said he that your love to an ingratefull man hath been able to worke in you so prodigious a perseverance as to make your selfe an enemy to light life and your selfe only to preserve your heart for an unmercifull man who contemnes it Goe not on in these revilings repli'd the mayden I love the cruell Solyman too well to suffer him to be censured his rigours are pleasing to me his insensibility augments my passion I am all fire because he is all ice But let us breake off a discourse which neither merits thy paines nor mine Since thou art in love get farre away from these aboades which are so mortall to Lovers and trouble no longer the unhappy peace of two poore Sisters who have met with none from the time of their birth I wish Madam replied Polexander it were fitting to obey you I should then be farre from interrupting by my presence the repose you finde in your selfe-persecution for I know by a long and rigorous experience that consolations are new griefes to afflicted soules and the greatest enemies the misfortunate meet withall are those indiscreet Counsellours who would perswade them they should leave to be sicke assoone as they should cease to refuse the remedies But when I call to minde what my birth and profession bindes me to I finde my selfe compell'd to continue troublesome and to intreat you by that ingratefull man you too-much love to let me know if there be no meanes left to you to be avenged of his ingratitude I have vowed said the desolate Lady never to discover my griefe but on a condition to which I thinke it not just to ingage you How strange soever that condition be repli'd Polexander I subscribe to it provided I may execute it and not be faithlesse and disloyall Your generousnes quoth the Lady revives those hopes which were with me buried in this tombe I imagine you may bring some ease to my afflictions and I may finde their end if I left to you the guidance of my fortune I therefore accept your offer and even now make you the Judge betwixt Solyman and my selfe and condemne me voluntarily to finish my miserable life farre from those faire eyes which sometime inlightned my Soule if my pretentions and prosecution appeare not as equitable as they may seeme strange unto you After the Lady had ended this Speech she opened the place inclosed by the ballisters and taking Polexander by the hand Let us said she goe hence into another place not farre off we shall there finde a place more fit to entertaine our passions she walked whilst she spoke thus and Polexander who led her saw come from out the sides of the tombe two maydens clad like the former which slowly and softly followed her and seem'd by their action they were not loath to abandon so sad an habitation Assoone as Polexander was out of that obscurity which shaded the beauties of the desolate Lady he found them so extraordinary as he began in good earnest to hate the ingratefull person that had despis'd them He took too from thence a new occasion to entertaine the Lady and intimating to her his admiration That barbarian said hee who could look on so much attraction and yet preserve his infamous liberty was surely borne among those horrible rockes which an eternall winter covers with â—…akes of ice and snow 'T is doubtlesse some monster whom angry nature produc'd in some extream corner of Scythia Turkes are naturally cruell and unpitifull but they are not insensible and the furious tyrants who in their unjust anger spare nor age nor sex yet have hearts capable of love and to please their slaves can sometime lose the title of master and conquerour If any allurement repli'd the afflicted Lady could have mov'd the heart of insensible Solyman it must have beene more powerfull then my sister's or my beauty neither have we pretended thereby to gaine to us that great heart who as obdurate as he is can neither be accused of savagenes nor barbarisme He is no Turk but by the injustice of his fortune nature hath made him born from a Prince who was no lesse polite then courageous and both France and Greece which have equally contributed to his birth publish who shall most that if Solyman had not the great Polexander for his brother he should be held the first of men Madam said the Prince you amaze me to have so much love and goodnesse for one so ingratefull as should have exhausted all But who should that Solyman be halfe Greeke and halfe French Was it not the sonne of the unfortunate Periander whom the cruell Usurper of Constantinople even feared in his fetters You know repli'd the Princesse the amiable author of our long afflictions 'T is that Prince happy in his misfortunes who changing his name of Iphidamantus for that of Solyman exchanged his prison for the favour of the redoubtfull Baiazet and is found susceptible of all kind of alteration excepting that which may be advantagious to my sister or my selfe Polexander had more particularly inform'd himselfe of his brother's adventures had he not seene Cydaria who all affrighted with the seeing him conversing with that faire apparition drew backe still as he came
least your excuses since those you made to us hereto fore would in the condition where you are now witnesse rather your scorne then respect Soliman receiv'd this Letter by the addresse of an old Jewish woman who hoped for a great setling of her fortune if our loves had a happy successe He advised long whether he should answer us At last he resolv'd to it not to entertaine us in our errors but to make us lose with the hope of their good successe the intention of continning in them See those cruell words which gave the first mortall blow to poore Histeria and have handled me more rigorously since they make me languish far far beyond her The Slave SOLIMAN to his two Princesses Histeria and Melicerta PArdon me Ladies if I begin my Letter with accusations in liue of most humble acknowledgements and thanks which obliege me to your incomparable courtesie You censure by appearances as well as vulgar Soules and think I have changed my condition because I have changed my bonds No faire Princesses I am not what I seeme to be I am still a Captive I am still unfortunate and therefore I must yet make use of the same excuses which serv'd me as often as you forgetting what you were borne had so much goodnesse as to deigne to cast an eye on your Slave I will never lose that quality because I hold it more glorious then all that fortune can give me Withall I will inviolably reserve for you those respects and yeild you the same duties which the law of that Servitude commands me THis Letter so respectfull in appearance but so proud in effect did but encrease our afflictions We therein found an absolute refusall of our affections and an infallible assurance of being eternally scorned Yet would we not believe our malady to be absolutely despâ—…ate We intreated we importun'd we writ in briefe wee let passe no occasion to thaw that heart of ice But we lost all hope when Solyman departed from Constantinople on that great designe which the Emperour had on the territories of the Venetian Commonwealth The navall Army being gone out of the Channell came to Nigroponte and a little after to Romagnia I will not relate the particulars of that war Far more strange events call on me and passing by all fights by Land and Sea would have me come with the insensible Soliman to the siege of Lepanto I will dispence with you for this present for not crediting all the truths I have to tell you for they are so extraordinary as they are beyond the beliefe of the most credulous Solyman was no sooner gone from Constantinople but my Sister and my selfe were almost our of our wits We were no more restrain'd either by the consideration of our birth or the interest of our honour or by the feare of death We resolv'd to follow our Enemy I confesse had I beene alone I should never have put on that resolution but I was swayed by the violence of Histeria's love We stole out of the Sultannesse our motherâ—… Seraglio and disguising our selves so as it was very hard for any to know us wee mingled our selves amongst those troupes were imbark'd for the Venetia war We came to Lepanto a few dayes after it was besieged The first thing we did after our landing was to goe to Soliman's quarter and to endeavour by all meanes to be entertain'd in his Service Our designe did not absolutely succeed well Yet we had leave to lodge in his quarter and to see him at severall houres in the day Histeria who had not told me her last resolution strove to bring it to passe without engaging me in it After a furious sally wherein the Souldiers of Lepanto did all that despaire could advise men of courage to Solyman sav'd a part of the Emperiall Army and unawares gave the rash Histeria her life The night following that fight my poore Sister seeing all things opposed her Designe and that Soliman himselfe tooke paines to preserve that life she desir'd to lose resolv'd to speake to him Finding therefore a convenient time to discover her selfe she aborded him with an extraordinary constancy and without faultering in her Speech I doe not said she give thee thanks for saving my life since those good deeds which are not voluntary obliege not those to whom they were done No I will do what I never resolv'd I will thanke thee for a good which thou never intendest to do me and if thou do not repent thee of it 't will be too much for me to be eternally indebted to thee Thou seest Soliman here before thee the most unhappy Histeria who unable any longer to endure thy deniall or thine absence hath in her strange resolution fear'd nothing but to finde thee yet insensible Thou wondrest at this declaration and seem'st to doubt whether my words be true But being never yet capable of love thou art no more neither of conceiving to what extremities Love is wont to carry such as affect truly Do not doubt of my being the same I tell thee My Sister whose alike passion hath made her undertake the same voyage and other testimonies lesse suspected will cleere thee when thou list of those doubts wherein thou art very willing to abide Soliman amaz'd and affrighted at so strange an adventure was a great while ere he could speake to my Sister At last he inforc'd himselfe and raysing up that disconsolate Princesse Would to heaven said he my death had accompanied my fathers We should then both have enjoyed that peace and quiet which fortune alike denies us O how hatefull hence forward shall that life be to me which hath hitherto been so troublesome since 't is by it that I see my selfe guilty of such crimes as cannot be too rigorously punished I deprive all at once my generous Master of all content honour and may be of life to whom alone I owe my life honour and fortune What shall I say to you Madam What will become of the Basha your father if he knowes of this vagary Nay what will become of your selfe In what corner of the world will your Sister escape the fury of a justly enraged father What can I doe that may avail you Tell me I beseech you for you have brought me into such a maze that I even scarce know whether I am my selfe or no Onely love me replied the poore Histeria with a voice able to mollifie a rock or if it be too much for thee yet at least give leave that thou be beloved and that being granted we shall have found remedies against all those ills which thou fearest Soliman had no reply to that proposition but stuck in a silence which proceeded more from his modesty and confusednesse then his naturall insensibility Histeria perceiving she wrought nothing on him rais'd her voyce a little and adding many teares to every word At least said she impassible Soliman if thou be not capable of love be capable of hatred and continue not
discontent I deliver her into your hands to be punished in a way proportionable to her offences Almanzaira in stead of answering Polexander addressed her selfe to Cydaria I doe not said she beleeve you so guilty as your brother would perswade me nor doe not thinke you are a stranger to me 't is long agone since I knew you and if Polexander call to minde what he saw in my hermitage he can tell you how you kept me company there and your picture was one of my principall ornaments Cydaria shewing her vertue by her modesty and her wisdome by her answer I was said she to the Queen most happy in a time when I esteem'd my self the most unfortunate Maiden alive and by that which it hath pleas'd your Majesty to let me know I acknowledge fortune did justly handle me so cruelly since in lieu of being thankfull for her favours I accus'd her for want of pity and justice I aske her pardon heartily or rather to shew my thankfulnesse for the good I have received to the person to whom I owe it I persever in my continuall contempt of fortune and cast my selfe at your feet to render you my humble acknowledgements for your exceeding favours Madam repli'd Almanzaira having staid her from kneeling I meane not that you shall so easily be acquitted of the debt you owe me I desire you would give me the Originall for the care I tooke in so well preserving the Copy and that you will contribute somewhat to the safety of him that would have hazarded his life so often for you Cydaria could not answer the Queene because Zabaim Achomat Bajazet and Iphidamantus entring the cabin they were ingag'd to begin new civilities The King of Senega blush'd in seeing againe that face which had power to overcome all Zelopa's enchantments Cydaria grew red too at the remembrance of some former passages but she presently grew pale and had much adoe to stand upright when she saw Bajazet between Achomat and Iphidamantus Zabaim as reform'd as he was left not to be very pleasant and gamesome and told Cydaria after he had saluted her he repented him not of his former perceptions I found you faire in Guinea said he I finde you faire in Morocco and if I may speake it with awaking the jealousie of any that shall hear me I love you no lesse now then I did then yet there is this oddes he added smiling then I lov'd you with an intent to enjoy you my selfe and now I love you that another may be happy in your fruition I am certaine the person will not displease you for if my memory faile me not I call to minde that you had no great mislike to him I would bestow on you Cydaria that had a flexible and pleasant wit and who gracefully altered her discourse and humour according to the diversity of such personages whom she would oblige smil'd before she would answer Zabaim and casting her eyes downe a little I do not remember said she ought of what your Majesty talkes to me The accidents which are befalne me since I came out of Guinea have so wrong'd my memory that I have scarce enough left to keep me from not knowing my selfe Zabaim in lieu of answering went to take Bajazet and presenting him to Cydaria Here 's one said he will put you in minde of those things you have forgotten I am sure he hath not and there is nothing that betided you whereof he cannot give you an exact account Bajazet would faine have borne a part in this franknesse of humour but he was not master of his fancy Love which is a severe God would not have him jeast with his mysteries he appear'd there before Cydaria overjoy'd but abashed and confused If he had hope he had feare too no sooner did any heate appeare in his face but it was called backe to its center and forc'd to give place to a chilnesse which ftoze his bloud and made him as pale as death Almanzaira did the part of a good mother in her sonnes extremity she spoke to his Mistresse for him and said so much that she must have been farre lesse inclin'd then she was to beleeve it if she had not been perswaded after the father the mother the brothers and friends had laid the foundation of this easie recomplement they thought it best to leave the remainder to love Bajazet had never a Second left to serve him against Cydaria and Iphidamantus was alone with Melicerta whilst these foure lovers swumme in such delights which cannot be knowne nor expressed by those that love not Zabaim Almanzaira and Achomat equally satisfi'd consulted together about the accomplishment of their childrens desires Polexander's Officers who well knew their charges had in the meane time prepar'd a feast worthy the company in their masters ship the neatnesse and magnificence of it strove for priority and though the sea have not those commodities which are found on land the place yet where those Princes were entertain'd made them see that Polexander was able to master all kinde of difficulties During the repast divers discourses were on foot at last Iphidamantus was intreated by the company to tell them by what meanes he fell againe under the habit of a maiden into the hands of the King of Morocco Melicerta who had a farre greater desire then the rest to heare her lover impos'd silence assoone as any one would speake and shewing an attention even before Iphidamantus began his relation anticipated the pleasure she was to receive by it Iphidamantus loath his Mistresse should stay any longer in expectation of what he desired began thus the sequele of his adventures The Continuation of Iphidamantus History THis is the second time the King of Morocco's eyes as ill judges of beauty as his old yeares are unfit for love have taken me for Cydaria The first was when I left the service of the Grand-Signior as I was in quest of Polexander I was ship-wrack'd on the coast of Morocco but never was shipwrack accompanied with so strange an adventure for no sooner was I got on shore but a many Souldiers of Guargetsem Fortresse tooke me up with extraordinary shoutes and making the places about to resound with the name of Ennoramita brought me right to their Kings chamber That Prince over-joyed to see me a hundred times repeated the same name cast himselfe at my feet kissed my hands us'd me like a Goddesse or an Angell brought me into a chamber royally adorn'd and left me among many women and blacke eunuches To this Iphidamantus added that which he before related to Polexander and coming to his departure from the Pirates Island till this time said he no man ever knew no not Polexander the true cause that made me forsake Bajazet I must now declare it to you and not feare to confesse my faults since I have so exceeding milde judges I was enjoying the delights of Bajazet's Isle and I confesse it to my shame never thought on Histeria's
be unfortunate The hundred leagues which they held to be from the Canaries to Alcidiana's Island were reckoned by so exact a computation that the Pilot's Mates assured Polexander they had not miscounted a mile for all that no Isle could be discovered and the ship still made on with all her sailes Polexander not knowing whom to accuse but his destinie imprecated against himselfe and if that principle of pietie which never parted from his soule had not stopp'd the agitations of his anger he had without doubt added one to the examples of those who to be delivered ouâ—… of the hands of fortune have daringly laid violent hands on themselves being then ingag'd to suffer till Providence had otherwise appointed he caused part of his sailes to be taken in and will'd his Pilot to alter his course and somtimes steering East and othertimes sailing West not to forget any thing on what his art depended The Pilot beleeving his reputation as well as fortune to be annexed to this discoverie followed it both wâ—…h the eyes of a Lynceus and the judgement of another Typhis Two dayes and two nights he attempted severall courses and rectifying himselfe by the help of his Compasse as often as the winde put him off from his first Rhombe he had the boldnesse to tell Polexander that in spight of the power of what Demons soever he would finde that inchanted Island These promises were too audacious to be licenced and indeed were punished by a contemning which was like to cost their Authors life At the fifth dayes break those that were in the top of the maine Mast beganâ—… cry Land and by that word filled all the ship with a noise that witnessed their universall joy Polexander who durst not beleeve what he so much desired went up into a place from whence he might discover all that was round about That land he saw and his heart beating so much did that object master his senses I know said he well enough what punishment Alcidiana's just anger hath provided for me but how worthy is my mishap to be envied since the lightning that threatens me is to come from the faire eyes of that Princesse Whilst he spake thus his vessell flew on the waves and seem'd to take part in her masters rapture Assoone as they were in the roade they knew the discovered land to be an Isle Polexander unwilling to trust to any body in a thing so important to him commanded the shallop to be lanch'd and taking none with him but Alcippus and Diceus caused himselfe to be landed with all haste He came on shoare in a very hidden and private place and therefore went further up into the Isle to descry it hee had not gone above five or six hundred paces along the coast but he perceived the points of many turrets with that hee went some hundred paces further without saying any thing but when he was gotten to the top of a rocke from whence he plainly discerned the pavillions whose tops he had onely seen before 'T is the fatall Palace said he which I forsooke to pursue Amintha's ravishers He spoke it imperfectly his excesse of joy transporting him he grew pale he trembled and underwent all the agitations that an extreame Love ever yet troubled the strongest minde with sometime hee thanked Fortune then he blessed Love and ever among mingling Alcidiana I have no sense said he but wrongs the extremitie of happinesse I enjoy I confesse O ye Divinities equally powerfull that to you I am infinitely oblieged but to shew such vulgar acknowledgements for so extraordinary benefits is to be ingratefull If there be any one which may be accepted 't is the confession I make that it is not lesse impossible for me to expresse then to acknowledge sufficiently your incomparable gratifications with that he turned to Alcippus and Diceus and knowing not what was best to be done Advise me my friends said he for in the case I am 't is a hard matter for me to counsell my selfe Alcippus replied he was not so well in Alcidiana's favour as to present himselfe to her without the advise of some one of his ancient friends by whom he might understand how the Queen was affected towards him 'T is true said our Heroe I should be more guilty then Alcidiana imagineth if I made no scruple of coming before â—…er incens'd as she is or bore so meane a respect to a personage worthy so much adoration as with an impudent boldnesse inforce her to violate her owne lawes and justifie that rash man whom she hath condemned to a shamefull death Let 's returne to our ship and there we will deliberate at leasure in what manner 't is fit I should prepare my self for the punishment my disobedience hath deserved Presently he turned himselfe to sea-ward but he had not gone twenty paces e're his mind altered and so resolved to attempt on fortune and to try what should become of him Alcippus laid before him all that he thought most perswasive to divert him from so dangerous a resolution but all was in vaine and so was of force to follow him After they had left the sea coast and traversed a plaine watered with many sweet rivers beautified with faire houses and encompassed with a wood of very high trees into part of which they entred because their way ingaged them they had not gone farre in when they stopped at the sound of a flute and bagpipe Polexander imagining whence the musicke came went out of the largr way and striking into a path fast by among the trees came to a crosse way invironed with five or six little cottages there they saw two shepheards seated at the foot of a tree playing on the instruments our Heroe had heard and ten or twelve young children dancing before them who made him see by their rurall habits but faire ones that their fathers were not reduced to the necessity of the European Shepheards Polexander ravished with this adventure would have addressed himselfe to the Pipers but the poore men affrighted in seeing him fled with the children our Heroe followed to the cottage whereto they retired and had made such an out-cry that five or six other shepheards well clad and armed with staves like our halfe pikes from severall places came resolutely towards him Hee spoke much to them but imagining they understood him not he tooke a little diamond which by chance he had on his finger and offering it to them 〈◊〉 a demeanor full of courtesie staid their furie They took the ring and after they had well gazed on it imbraced Polexander one after another and shewing him many civill respects invited him into their cottage thither he went where he beheld two women whose naturalnesse that had nothing of what was silly and beautie without art might have made them taken for some of those famous shepheardesses of the ancient Arcadia there wanted nothing to his satisfaction but to make himselfe understood but that being not then possible he thought best
it would never have created man but for witnesses and chanters of its glory puâ—… as you desire had been contented with the creation of Angels Doe not therefore imagine it to be Idolatry to represent the Divinity by palpable figures and if I dare-say so to incorporate that eternall Spirit to the end to communicate it more easily to men 'T is true wee adore the Sunne though hee be but a creature but doe you beleeve wee worship him because of himselfe No such matter Wee adore him onely as the Lieutenant-Generall of that all-powerfull Monarch who by him would exercise his authority o're all the Universe give life to all creatures dispell the darknesse from their eyes to cause the seed of all things to grow and sprout forth from the entralls of the earth and in briefe to make men happy or unhappy rich or poore according as that visible Image of the Divinity approacheth or declineth from them From all times this beliefe hath beene divâ—…ged through all those Counâ—…es which are washed by the river Niger and I beâ—…ve it to be good since heaven hath vouchsafed that neither the fâ—…xe of time for so many ages nor the many severall Nations which have flowed in on Africa have beeâ—… able to corrupt this ancient Religion Polexander unwilling to bee an obâ—…te disputer in a matter wherein the wisest men are wont to lose their moderation and temper answered the Priest that in the manner which hee explained their veneration hee saw not if hee thought rightly wherein hee was much to be condemned But yet said hee 't is defective in one thing and that is your imbracing the shadow for the substance and in attributing to the deiâ—…e a body which is impassible and inanimate all light as it is rather then to acknowledge it under that living body which it vouchsafed to take on for the good of all men After this preparation Polexander preached aloud his Reâ—…gion to them and accommodating the mysteries of his owne with the ceremonies which those Priests used in theirs so adapted their mindes for the imbracing of his beliefe that doubtlesly it had made a great progresse among the Negro's if those Princes who seeme to bee excited to convert the Nations had sought their conversion with the same zeale they explored for gold and precious stones In the meane time the vessells sail'd on and at last arrived where the Niger discharges it selfe into the Ocean The great Burgh of Jofian which commands the mouth of the River was the tearme of our pilgrims first navigation there they unloaded their boats and with as much diligence as they could carried their stuffe and provision into a great ship which was called the ship of the Sunne In it Polexander imbarked with the rest after they had paid the due customes to the King of the Countrey and entered the Ocean with an East winde which seemed so favourable it was to be sent by the Sun himselfe for the waftage and guidance of his adorers When they had lost sight of land they a little altered their course and leaving the Isles of Cape Verd on the South steered full North eight dayes together they had a calme so fit for their voyage that they made as much way as if the winde had blowne a fresher gale then it did The twelfth day those which were above in the masts descri'd the Isle of the Sunne and cryed out thrice The holy Land At that word as pleasing to the Negro's eares as an excellent consort to a melancholy man the Priests caused divers perfuming pots of gold to be brought and throwing into them perfumes of all sorts sent to the Sunne a fume which represented the heat of their zeale and the purity of their intentions After that sacrifice they offered another of praise and began a Hymne which lasted till the ship was entered the port of the Island of the Sunne They arrived at the very houre of that starres setting and seeing him more glorious then at his high Noone-sted they thought hee rejoyced at their comming and went to adorne himselfe in the night with all the treasures hee inricheth the Orient to be with the more extraordinary lustre and glory at the solemnity of their Sacrifices The end of the third Booke of the fourth Part of Polexander THE LAST PART OF POLEXANDER The first Booke AS soone as the sacred vessell was in the port the mariners crowned the poope and the masts with branches of palme-trees and placed among those crownes an image of the Sunne made of gold and covered it with precious stones as radiant as carbuncles The Priests in the meane time ended their Hymne and deputed one from amongst them to goe and advertise the Arch-priest and Clergy of the Sunne of their arrivall and get leave from them that they might land The Chiefe Priest having assembled the officers of the Temple to understand from them their ancient customes and hearing on what conditions the Embassadours of Kings and Pilgrims were wont to be received into the Isle sent to those of Gheneoa that the next morning at day breake they might come on shore and prepare themselves for the Ceremonies of the Sacrifice This answer made all the Africans to spend the whole night in prayer and in preparations worthy the sanctity of the place they were going to visit Polexander who in himselfe hoped for a great deale of happinesse by that voiage would not contradict his conductors in any thing they would exact from him he intimated that he was truely a victime who having no other will then theirs who brought him to the sacrifice offered himselfe not to the Sunne adored in that Island but to him whose heat he felt though he saw not the light of it Those who had the charge of purifying and adorning him brought him into a cabin of the ship appointed for that Ceremony where the Priests presently incompassed him with divers little silver pans in which they burnt severall perfumes and sprinkled on his head and arme some of the sea-water After that they put him into a bathe of fresh water perfumed and anointed him againe with excellent Pomata's and then putting on him a shirt of very fine linnen tooke him out two of the chiefest Priests put on his legs buskins made of a serpents skin covered with little golden skales after that they put on him a long vestment all streaked with threads of the same metall which being gathered up on the right shoulder and fastned with buttonings of diamonds hid his left arme and the other was at liberty His head-tire was very handsome and comely being a bonnet or cap compos'd of a gold tinsell and covered with many Ostrich feathers amongst which shin'd out a golden Sunne which serv'd for the band For the last ornament they put a coller of gold about his necke and two others about his legs with chaines of the same mettall in signe that hee was consecrated to the Sunne Assoone as that visible Divinity dispersed his
could not extinguish Assoone as he saw the Princesse What Princesse said Almanzor to Osmin interrupting him Pardon me that mistake my Lord repli'd Osmin I would have said the unfortunate Axiamira Goe on father said Almanzor and eâ—…e no more so The poore Osmin blush'd and all asham'd for disclosing a thing he would have kept secret thus continued his discourse Assoone as Zabaim saw Axiamira You would not be Queene said hee and you are now going to be a miserable slave who shall languish all the remainder of your life under the cruell yoke of an inhumane Mistris Thy threats replied Axiamira sway me as little as thy promises I have scorn'd the one and I feare not the other With the same courage that I trod under-foot thy Crownes I can undergoe all kinds of torture Yet when I have a mind to free my selfe from thy tyrannie and the slaverie wherewithall thou threatnest me thy guards and thy irons shall be too weake to hold me Zabaim mov'd with those words and feeling his flame rekindling by the generositie as well as the attraicts of Axiamira wept before her a long time and cursing the rigour of his Destinie shew'd he had no minde to have her ruin'd and yet he could not save her He presently flew thence as if he had fear'd Zelopa knew of his visit and left us in a firme resolution to die rather then to fall into the hands of that inhumane Sorceresse Axiamira would not have us linger any longer and proposing to us death as an expedient or helpe the most facile and pleasant besought us for the last course to renounce all desire of life and not put our selves againe to the hazard dangers and incommodities of a flight which could not be discovered but it must be far more dismall to us then death I need not my Lord tell you it was not for our owne sakes that we could not resolve to die Had we been alone my wife and I we had soone disburthened our selves of an irksome old age but when we came to consider that we should destroy in the birth a miracle which nature had produc'd to be the ornament of her age our constancie vanish'd and death seem'd to us a monster which we were obliged to avoid as long as we had any meanes left to escape My wife and my selfe having therefore resolv'd to try for our safetie we propos'd it to our daughter she shew'd her selfe very repugnant to it neverthelesse her obedience being farre stronger she consented to all we desir'd of her Presently we provided our selves for that escape and taking hold of the occasion which may be was offer'd us we deceived our slaves in faining Axiamira to be sicke The night then after the departure of Zabaim being come we disguis'd our selves and getting through a lower window which look'd into the Palace gardens we got into the wilde fields and from thence into a desert which is frontire betweene Guinea and Senega Though our flight was favour'd by the departure of Zabaim and a very precipitate breaking up of Court yet was it discovered and as we entred the desert we saw five or six black slaves which pursued us their Scimitars ready drawne Affrighted with the yellings and furie of those barbarous villaines wee flung our selves into the next Caverne we saw without feare of meeting any of those furious beasts which usually retire themselves into such like places Our feare was our safety for sliding into that hole with all the silence that accompanieth timiditie we hid our selves among bushes which almost stopt up the mouth of it Those who ran afterus redoubling their shouts and threatnings cast themselves into the Cave but having without doubt by their yellings awakened two lions which lay there asleep they were constrained in lieu of taking us to defend themselves This unhop'd for succour made us turne up our eyes to heaven which we saw not and beg that great Soule which animates it to restraine the furie of the lions and not suffer them that had been our Defenders to be our devourers Our prayer was heard Those lions after they had satiated their hunger on those wretches forsooke their den and lessening our feare by their departure gave us liberty to breathe and to know our selves My wife and I searching for Axiamira gropingly found her farre lesse affrighted then in Zabaim's Court and received from her that heartning and comfort we would have given She advis'd us to forsake that place whilst those we feared were gone We did so and after vve had vvandred above a moreth amongst the mountaines of Lions without any food but what we got by our prayers from the Inhabitants of those mountaines we passed the River of Saban to the towne which carries the same name Many Merchants of Mansara who were come thither to trafique received us into their companie and taking pitie of my wife's age and mine and of Axiamira's tender yeares set us all three on their Camels and conducted us happily to the Citie of Ponda Finding my selfe so neere the ordinary abode of Zabaim new feares followed my ordinary ones and they were yet augmented by the report that ranne of that Prince his returne with his wife I forsooke therefore the towne where I had beene so well receiv'd by night with my little company and having none other Guide then the same who had so happily conducted us to that time I came at last to the house of charitable Servonitez His reputation which is not much lesse great then Zabaims but more worthy to be envy'd invited me to him and there made me meet yet with more then I was made to hope for I need not my Lord recount to you the particularities that Knight said he pointing to me hath not held till this time from relating them to you Almanzor seeing Osmin give over I know said he the end of your adventures but the beginning of them which I would faine heare is yet behinde But we will deferre that recitall to another time and imploy the time we have in giving order for our particular affaires For Zabaim we will forget him till the time come wherein we may make him know without avenging his perfidy by another that he hath more wrong'd himselfe then us when to satisfie his sensuality he hath undervalued our requests and friendship Speake therefore father to me freely and tell me whether you intend to follow my fortune and love me so well as to end your dayes with me and give over into my hands the care of your family This proposition was conceiv'd in such sort as Osmin noted in it a hidden necessity of abiding with Almanzor But that necessity was so conformable to his thoughts that he receiv'd it as the highest favour could come from the Prince He told him likewise that since he had left his countrey and the advantages of fortune because he would neither violate the divine Lawes in flattering his King in his vices nor the humane in running into rebellion
to the living to preserve it I renounce it most willingly and intreate from you nothing but that burying in one same tombe the body of my father and the hatred you have borne him you will be pleased that I may abandon the troublesome titles of Soveraigne and Mistresse and partake with you the pleasures which accompany private fortunes Philesia had no sooner ended this oration which had drawne teares from the eyes of most of the hearers but there arose a humming noise such as often happens in a great Assembly wherein is deliberated the peace and safety of the Weale-publike At last as those voyces broke out and besought Philesia to chuse a husband worthy of her to fill the throne of her ancestors and by the honourable actions of her government gaine so much on the hearts of all that without injustice none might absolutely condemn the memory of her father Alas cry'd the Princesse hurle me not againe into that tempest from whence I am miraculously escaped suffer me to enjoy with your selves the sweets of libertie let them desire and sue for thee that list most miserable and glorious condition which hast nothing but bitternesse and vexation for those that make good use of thee and art nought but feare and torture to such as misapply it The mournfull example of the King my father is too recent in my memory to suffer my selfe to be blinded with thy deceitfull allurements and ye my friends who to heape on me imaginary felicities would make me lose such as are reall have sufficiently tri'd that an injunction is no lesse dangerous to those that undergoe it then to such as put it in execution Root out therefore that monster that can but work mischiefe and doe so that there may not be amongst you any condition incompatible with innocence If the people were astonished to heare the Princesse speak so judiciously Polexander was far more ravished at it he then intreated the Assembly to give him audiâ—…nce and addressing himselfe to such as understood the Arabicke Thombutians said he you cannot doubt but she will raigne well that so perfectly knowes the miseries of a tyrannicall government Ingage her then whether she will or no to tâ—…ke on her the care of your fortunes and that she may have some one to lend a hand to so high and weighty a charge give her the Prince of Galatia for a husband He is descended from so good a father that 't is impossible for him to be ill besides the long bondage which he hath constantly indured may well assure you that hee will sustain his regality with the same courage This counsell savouring well to all of the best ranke the multitude would needs know what 't was and assoone as they understood it they not onely gave their approbation but in the very instant proclaimed the Prince of Galatia King of Thombut and husband to their Queen Philesia did her utmost that she might not yeeld to the peoples requests but assoon as Polexander added his to theirs she could no longer denie them but descending from her seate and extending her hand to the Prince of Galatia I am yours said she since my deliverer commands it The Prince seeing himselfe in an instant brought from a slave to a throne did what he could to meditate on so great and so happy a revolution but as one should say taking his happinesse with too much greedinesse he gave not himselfe leasure to taste it The people did not so for these sudden and unexpected changes gave them cause of pleasure and extraordinary rejoycing they shewed well that their nature being of it selfe insensible cannot be roused up but by very urgent spurs and if it doe not instantly passe from one extremity to another they are not capable of resenting the alterations which betide them Polexander finding all things so well disposed was desirous before he parted thence to see them well perfected in the very instant the officers of Thombut resolv'd with him of what they had to doe and to that end went to the palace to take thence the dead and having left nothing there that might retaine the memory of what passed so altered the face of the place that a man might say they had built their Queene a new palace Shee was conducted thither with much ceremony but of all her fortune nothing so much pleas'd her minde as the freedome she had to see and intertaine Polexander Assoone as she was in a place fit to speake in private she made knowne her affection to him and besought him never to forsake her Polexander taking notice of a great deale of innocency in that Princesses love was willing to remedy it with as much sweetnesse he therefore told her she could not blamelesly love him since she was ingaged to another and that the promise she had made newly to the Prince of Galatia was a continuall barre for her affecting any other If it be so repli'd the Princesse with a great deale of simplicitie I recall the promise I made him for I can love none but your selfe and with that she fell a weeping Polexander very loath that the Princesses follie should be known abroade intreated her to strive with her selfe in an important affaire on which depended so much of her reputation and intimating a great resentment of her affection protested that of all those which had the honour to enjoy her presence there should be none able to surpasse him in the intention he had to serve her These words a little pacified or rather sweetned the Princesse discontents but her sicknesse being not of that kinde which is cured by such slight remedies the more our new physitian applied them the worse grew his patient When he perceived that his being there ruined all that his advice would have perfected he resolv'd to be gone The very night therefore of the Princesses nuptialls he stole away from the palace and put himselfe on the Niger in a boate belonging to a merchant of Gheneoa which Diceus had privately retain'd Let us leave Philesia in quiet since she is not to be so long and follow the course of the Niger and the precious charge which floates on it Though that river runs along a most plaine and eaven champion yet runs it as swiftly as those flouds which have a far greater declining The lesser vessels in which the Negro's trafficke goe thirty five or forty miles a day and those which use their sailes make as much way more That wherein Polexander imbark'd was of the latter sort for within five dayes saile he came to the frontiers of the kingdome of Gheneoa 'T is a great province and extends it selfe along the Niger above a hundred miles from East to West it hath Galatia on the North Melly on the South Thombut on the East and the Ocean on the West The Niger which over-flowes like to Nilus covers the lands of that Province in the moneths of July August and September and makes them so fertile that the
inhabitants want nothing useful for life Polexander took great pleasure in seeing the abundance of those places which the ancient Geographers set down for uninhabitable wildernesses and intertain'd himselfe with his mariner about the customes of that kingdome of Gheneoa and the fashions or manners and exercises of the Prince He was informed of many rarities by so pleasant a diversion a little beguiled the continuall discontents which his little hope of ever finding the Inaccessible Island threw on him at last he saw the tops of those high Pyramids which are at the entrie of a famous Temple consecrated by the inhabitants of Gheneoa to the Sun by little and little the other structures appear'd and when he came neerer he distinctly noted the faire scituation of that great village which sometimes is in the continent and at others in the midst of the waters When he came within a mile of it he descri'd in the open fields a great many men both horse and foot which ran against one another as they had been in fight thereupon hee commanded his boate might be stai'd to see the event of the skirmish but not well perceiving that which passed by reason of the dust which arose under the men and horses feet he cauâ—…'d them to land him no sooner was he got on the top of the banke but he saw two men which in full speed strove to get to the river at first he thought it was for a wager but a little after he saw a huge lion who violently throwing himself on the hindermost of the Knights pluck'd him off his horse and almost as quickly tore him in pieces Hee who had escap'd the danger in lien of flying away whilst the lion was busied stai'd when he heard his companion cry out his affection had no sooner made him commit that fault but his reason caus'd him to repent it he would saine save himselfe since he could no more serve him whom the lion had slaine but he had not time for the beast in ten or twelve leapâ—… got to him and had handled him as ill as his companion if he had not suddenly cast himselfe from his saddle and on foot oppos'd his horse against his fierce enemie's furie He had torne out the horses intrailes before the Knight could get twenty paces off and then flew on him proud of his victories and presenting him his bloudy pawes seem'd to call him to the combate Feare had pusled the man's judgement even till then when he saw himselfe at the point of losing his life so far that he put himselfe in no posture of defending himselfe Polexander was mov'd at it and presently with his sword in his haâ—…d redeeming as I may say the life of that miserable man out of the pawes of the lion would see whether it were more difficult to vanquish men then beasts he wound about his left arme a kinde of a short cloake which Diceus had bought for him at Thombut and using it as a buckler stopp'd the fury of his enemy Those who have related that those beasts beare a respect to the Majesty of Kings never saw them in an equall estate of hurting one another the lion with whom Polexander contested flung on him with a fearfull roaring but our Heroe making him twice feele the edge of his sword beli'd the fable that sayes the rage of that beast is never so great as when hee sees his owne bloud gushing out When he saw Polexander shield himselfe so well that he could not fasten on him he drew backe and flinging presently into the aire with a wonderfull impetuousnesse would have thrown himselfe over Polexander and seis'd on his head in passing but our Heroe avoyding that attainct thrust his sword into his belly and so fortunately met it glyding upwards with his heart that the beast was no sooner pierced but he fell dead on the sand During the decision of this combate the man for whom it was undertaken was upon his knees with his hands extended to heaven for his defender's victory assoone as he saw his prayers were exauc'd he came to him and looking on him was not lesse ravish'd at his brave appearance then he had beene already at his owne preservation If thou be not said he the Deity whom I adore thou art at least one of those faire Spirits which incompasse his throne and as Ministers of his power never appeare but for our safegard What would that Negro have said if he had seen Polexander before his voyages his disquiets and insupportable heat of the South had not only decai'd the first lustre of his youth but so sun-burnt him that he was not to be knowne by such as had not of a long time seen him yet was he an Angell neer that Devill and indeed he tooke him for one and falling at his feet besought him not to forsake him so soone but retire to his palace to repose and unweary himselfe of the paines wherein hee was ingaged for the safety of the others life Polexander who began to understand the Negro's language and principally that which was spoken by persons of quality who among them are called the Surnigay knew by his speech that he was King of Gheneoa whereupon he intertain'd him as a Prince and reply'd after his accustomed civility that it it was too great an honour for him to have contributed any thing to the preservation of a life which was so necessary for the weal of so many people and though Fortune made him wander miserably from Countrey to Countrey yet he confessed he was indebted to her since she had presented him an occasion to serve so great a Prince That King which might be betweene fifty and threescore fainting by the feeblenesse of his age as well as through the resentment of the good he had received let himselfe fall on our Heroe's neck Deare stranger said he since thou art a man as others subject to sorrowes and afflictions take part of mine and stay with me that by thy company I may receive some comfort after my late losse That fierce and cruell beast which thou hast laid stretch'd at my feet hath devoured the onely hope of my people and sole delight of my old age that sonne whom I loved so dearly is now no more but the woefull remaines of a monsters fury I have lost him in the flower of his youth Alas who shall hereafter oppose the enterprises of mine enemies Rejoyce ambitious King of Thombut thy prayers are heard the rampiers of Gheneoa are demolished and the buckler of the miserable Apheristidez is torne in pieces In a word he whom thou feared'st is now no more Polexander taking hold of so faire an occasion to divert that Prince's sorrow told him that he came from Thombut and as he passed through it understood that the King thereof had been murdered by one called Nigeran But said he in as much as the story of his death is very strange and long I thinke 't will be fit to remit the